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Three People
They were unlikely companions, the pampered Pliny Hastings, solidly brought-up Benny Phillips, and uneducated street scamp “Tode” Mall . . . not much chance, under ordinary circumstances, that they would ever meet. But God's plans are never ordinary, and the greatest miracles need only the seed of a tiny prayer to bring them to fruition. Thus it was one day in the repulsive rubbish heap of humanity known as “Five Points” that a dying mother showed her ragged, neglected boy the only kindness he would ever know from her when she prayed. "O Lord, don't ever let Tode touch a drop of rum!" And so that one small, desperate prayer went forth, setting in motion the beginnings of hope—and stirring in little Tode a determination so great that it transformed not only his life, but also the lives of the astonishingly different people whom he came to know, protect . . . and love. Heartwarming stories of faith and love by Grace Livingston Hill's aunt—Isabella Alden. Each book is similar in style and tone to Hill's and is set in the late 1800s and early 1900s.
304 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1871
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About the author
Pansy
336 books31 followersNote: In her lifetime, Isabella Macdonald Alden was usually published under the pseudonym Pansy, and occasionally under the name Mrs. G.R. Alden.
Aunt to Grace Livingston Hill
The sixth of seven children born to Isaac and Myra Spafford Macdonald, of Rochester, New York, Isabella Macdonald received her early education from her father, who home-schooled her, and gave her a nickname - "Pansy" - that she would use for many of her publications. As a girl, she kept a daily journal, critiqued by her father, and she published her first story - The Old Clock - in a village paper when she was ten years old.
Macdonald's education continued at the Oneida Seminary, the Seneca Collegiate Institute, and the Young Ladies Institute, all in New York. It was at the Oneida Seminary that she met her long-time friend (and eventual co-author), Theodosia Toll, who secretly submitted one of Macdonald's manuscripts in a competition, setting in motion a chain of events that would lead to the publication of her first book, Helen Lester, in 1865.
Macdonald also met her future husband, the Rev. Gustavus Rossenberg Alden, at the Oneida Seminary, and the two were married in 1866. Now Isabella Macdonald Alden, the newly-married minister's wife followed her husband as his postings took them around the country, dividing her time between writing, church duties, and raising her son Raymond (born 1873).
A prolific author, who wrote approximately one hundred novels from 1865 to 1929, and co-authored ten more, Alden was also actively involved in the world of children's and religious periodicals, publishing numerous short stories, editing the Sunday Juvenile Pansy from 1874-1894, producing Sunday School lessons for The Westminster Teacher for twenty years, and working on the editorial staff of various other magazines (Trained Motherhood, The Christian Endeavor).
Highly influenced by her Christian beliefs, much of Alden's work was explicitly moral and didactic, and often found its way into Sunday School libraries. It was also immensely popular, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with an estimated 100,000 copies of Alden's books sold, in 1900.
Information taken from:
readseries.com
isabellamacdonaldalden.com
Aunt to Grace Livingston Hill
The sixth of seven children born to Isaac and Myra Spafford Macdonald, of Rochester, New York, Isabella Macdonald received her early education from her father, who home-schooled her, and gave her a nickname - "Pansy" - that she would use for many of her publications. As a girl, she kept a daily journal, critiqued by her father, and she published her first story - The Old Clock - in a village paper when she was ten years old.
Macdonald's education continued at the Oneida Seminary, the Seneca Collegiate Institute, and the Young Ladies Institute, all in New York. It was at the Oneida Seminary that she met her long-time friend (and eventual co-author), Theodosia Toll, who secretly submitted one of Macdonald's manuscripts in a competition, setting in motion a chain of events that would lead to the publication of her first book, Helen Lester, in 1865.
Macdonald also met her future husband, the Rev. Gustavus Rossenberg Alden, at the Oneida Seminary, and the two were married in 1866. Now Isabella Macdonald Alden, the newly-married minister's wife followed her husband as his postings took them around the country, dividing her time between writing, church duties, and raising her son Raymond (born 1873).
A prolific author, who wrote approximately one hundred novels from 1865 to 1929, and co-authored ten more, Alden was also actively involved in the world of children's and religious periodicals, publishing numerous short stories, editing the Sunday Juvenile Pansy from 1874-1894, producing Sunday School lessons for The Westminster Teacher for twenty years, and working on the editorial staff of various other magazines (Trained Motherhood, The Christian Endeavor).
Highly influenced by her Christian beliefs, much of Alden's work was explicitly moral and didactic, and often found its way into Sunday School libraries. It was also immensely popular, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with an estimated 100,000 copies of Alden's books sold, in 1900.
Information taken from:
readseries.com
isabellamacdonaldalden.com
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
June 6, 2017
One of top 5 favorite books in the world.
Basically a well put temperance lecture of the era. . .
However, it is so much more than that. The story of Tode Mall as he makes his way up from the gutter with just one rule. No Rum. He soon becomes a Christian and the way that changed his life and raised him farther up in the world. The story of his strong Christian faith has always been encouraging to me. That being said, I read it probably 10 times over the years and still find it enjoyable. That old adage about a good book being like an old friend. . . That is what it felt like when picking this up to re-read recently. So please. . . go read this fantabulous piece of period, spiritual fiction!!!!
Basically a well put temperance lecture of the era. . .
However, it is so much more than that. The story of Tode Mall as he makes his way up from the gutter with just one rule. No Rum. He soon becomes a Christian and the way that changed his life and raised him farther up in the world. The story of his strong Christian faith has always been encouraging to me. That being said, I read it probably 10 times over the years and still find it enjoyable. That old adage about a good book being like an old friend. . . That is what it felt like when picking this up to re-read recently. So please. . . go read this fantabulous piece of period, spiritual fiction!!!!
June 5, 2018
It's not the quickest read in the world, and it did take me several months to read it, but what an excellent story! Tode Mall, later Theodore Mallery, matures into an excellent Christian hero. The story is deep with Christian lessons, and will also make you think a lot about the temperance question. Not a lot of stories feature anything about true Christian friendship, so that was another aspect I really enjoyed.
Highly recommended.
Highly recommended.
December 21, 2023
5+ stars (9/10 hearts). I love this book so much, and yet constantly forget about it. It leaves me full of admiration and encouragement and motivation to live for Jesus…
In the city of Cleveland, during the late 1800s, two little boys were born—Ben Phillips to a middle-class storekeeper and Pliny L. Hastings to a millionaire businessman. In Albany, NY, on the same day, Tode Mall was born to a drunk and his broken-down wife. This is the story of the three boys and how their paths interwove.
Every character in this book is vivid and alive and realistic. The hero, of course, is Theodore S. Mallery. As a child, Tode was sharp and funny, and brings a lot of humour to the pages. But I particularly loved how tender-hearted he was. Only a brief knowledge of God grew into a desire to be His and a Christian, and the journey was beautiful and so well done. As he grew, Theodore just became more inspiring. He was resourceful and hardworking, productive and prompt. He was prayerful and knew His bible well, never wearied of trying to reach people for Christ, and spoke boldly for the Truth. His kindness, patience, and respect for everyone was very encouraging.
Ben does not figure highly. He is a weak boy and mostly led by Pliny, who’s stubborn, foolish, miserable, and hopelessly lost to drink—but who so desperately wants to be better. His journey is arduous and full of slips, but it is none the less encouraging.
Winny, Tode’s adopted sister, is funny and sweet and brings out the best in him as a child. Mrs. McPherson is a darling old lady and so inspiring, with her endless, steadfast praying and faith. Jim & Tom are great sidekicks to Theodore and nice fellows in their own rights. Mr. Stephens & Mr. Birge are wonderful examples of good Christian men, and Mr. Riley is an encouraging side story. The Hastings and Phillips were all sad warnings, except for Dora—such a sweet girl she is.
The plot is one of my favourites—the growth of a child into a young man, and how his life impacted those around him, and how God works throughout the years in hearts… and how choices cause repercussions unseen. The romance was barely present, yet very sweet! And Alden’s writing style is beautifully simple and straightforward. The passionate stance on the absolute abstinence of alcohol was so well done, but it wasn’t the only theme of this book. The reminders to pray without ceasing for people and keep trying to win them to Christ; the reminders about hypocrites and Christians who call themselves so but aren’t; the reminders that choices have huge repercussions… this book is just full of timeless reminders to Christians.
Overall, this is one of my favourite books ever, and one of those I will be rereading yearly. I highly recommend it to everyone, but especially Christians. <3
And just because I couldn’t pick, here’s some of my favourite quotes… all in one beautiful conversation.
“Why don’t everybody go [to Heaven]? I heard about that awful place where some folks go. Mr. Birge told about it in some of his preaching. Now what’s that for? Why don’t they all go to heaven?”
“Sure enough, why don’t they? And the curious part of it is, that it’s just because they won’t. They don’t have to pay for it; they don’t have to go away off after it; they don’t have to die for it, because they’ve got to die anyhow; and they know it’s dreadful to die all alone; and they know that every single thing that the Lord Jesus wants of them is to love him, and give him a chance to help them—and the long and short of it is, they won’t do it.”
“That’s awful silly,” ejaculated Tode.
“Silly! Why, there ain’t anything else in all this big world that anywhere near comes up to it for silliness. Why, don’t you think ... there’s men and women who believe that every word in that Bible over there is true, and they know there’s such a verse as that we just heard, ‘Whatsoever ye shall ask in my name that will I do;’ and there’s tired folks who know the Bible says, ‘Come unto me all ye that are weary, and I will give you rest;’ and there’s folks full of trouble who know it says, ‘Cast thy burden on the Lord, and he will sustain thee;’ and there’s folks chasing up and down the world after a good time who know it says, ‘In thy presence is fullness of joy,’ and ‘At thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore;’ and there’s folks working night and day to be rich who know it says, ‘I am the true riches,’ and, ‘The silver and the gold are his,’ and just as true as you live they won’t kneel down and ask him for any of these things! Now ain’t that curious?”
“I should think he’d get kind of out of patience with them all,” Tode answered, earnestly, “and say, ‘Let ’em go, then, if they’re determined to.’”
“No, he loves them you see. Do you suppose if my Winny and my boys should go wrong, and not mind a word I say, I could give ’em up and say, ‘Let them go then?’ No indeed! I’d stick to ’em till the very last minute, and I’d coax ’em, and pray over ’em day and night—and my love, why it’s just nothing by the side of his. Why he says himself that his love is greater than the love of a woman; so you see he sticks to ’em all, and wants every one of them.”
“Then I should think folks ought to be coaxing ’em, folks that love him, I mean. If he loves all the people and wants them, and is trying to get them, why then I should think all his folks ought to be trying, too.”
“That’s it!” said the old lady, eagerly. “That’s it exactly. He tells us so in the Bible time and time again. ‘Let him that heareth say come.’ Now you and me have heard, and according to that it’s our business to go right to work, and say ‘come’ the very first time we get a chance. But, deary me! I do believe in my heart that’s half the trouble, folks won’t do it; his own folks, too, that have heard, and have got one of the mansions waiting for ’em. He’s given them all work to do helping to fill the others, and half the time they let it go, and tend to their own work, and leave him to do the coaxing all alone.”
In the city of Cleveland, during the late 1800s, two little boys were born—Ben Phillips to a middle-class storekeeper and Pliny L. Hastings to a millionaire businessman. In Albany, NY, on the same day, Tode Mall was born to a drunk and his broken-down wife. This is the story of the three boys and how their paths interwove.
Every character in this book is vivid and alive and realistic. The hero, of course, is Theodore S. Mallery. As a child, Tode was sharp and funny, and brings a lot of humour to the pages. But I particularly loved how tender-hearted he was. Only a brief knowledge of God grew into a desire to be His and a Christian, and the journey was beautiful and so well done. As he grew, Theodore just became more inspiring. He was resourceful and hardworking, productive and prompt. He was prayerful and knew His bible well, never wearied of trying to reach people for Christ, and spoke boldly for the Truth. His kindness, patience, and respect for everyone was very encouraging.
Ben does not figure highly. He is a weak boy and mostly led by Pliny, who’s stubborn, foolish, miserable, and hopelessly lost to drink—but who so desperately wants to be better. His journey is arduous and full of slips, but it is none the less encouraging.
Winny, Tode’s adopted sister, is funny and sweet and brings out the best in him as a child. Mrs. McPherson is a darling old lady and so inspiring, with her endless, steadfast praying and faith. Jim & Tom are great sidekicks to Theodore and nice fellows in their own rights. Mr. Stephens & Mr. Birge are wonderful examples of good Christian men, and Mr. Riley is an encouraging side story. The Hastings and Phillips were all sad warnings, except for Dora—such a sweet girl she is.
The plot is one of my favourites—the growth of a child into a young man, and how his life impacted those around him, and how God works throughout the years in hearts… and how choices cause repercussions unseen. The romance was barely present, yet very sweet! And Alden’s writing style is beautifully simple and straightforward. The passionate stance on the absolute abstinence of alcohol was so well done, but it wasn’t the only theme of this book. The reminders to pray without ceasing for people and keep trying to win them to Christ; the reminders about hypocrites and Christians who call themselves so but aren’t; the reminders that choices have huge repercussions… this book is just full of timeless reminders to Christians.
Overall, this is one of my favourite books ever, and one of those I will be rereading yearly. I highly recommend it to everyone, but especially Christians. <3
And just because I couldn’t pick, here’s some of my favourite quotes… all in one beautiful conversation.
“Why don’t everybody go [to Heaven]? I heard about that awful place where some folks go. Mr. Birge told about it in some of his preaching. Now what’s that for? Why don’t they all go to heaven?”
“Sure enough, why don’t they? And the curious part of it is, that it’s just because they won’t. They don’t have to pay for it; they don’t have to go away off after it; they don’t have to die for it, because they’ve got to die anyhow; and they know it’s dreadful to die all alone; and they know that every single thing that the Lord Jesus wants of them is to love him, and give him a chance to help them—and the long and short of it is, they won’t do it.”
“That’s awful silly,” ejaculated Tode.
“Silly! Why, there ain’t anything else in all this big world that anywhere near comes up to it for silliness. Why, don’t you think ... there’s men and women who believe that every word in that Bible over there is true, and they know there’s such a verse as that we just heard, ‘Whatsoever ye shall ask in my name that will I do;’ and there’s tired folks who know the Bible says, ‘Come unto me all ye that are weary, and I will give you rest;’ and there’s folks full of trouble who know it says, ‘Cast thy burden on the Lord, and he will sustain thee;’ and there’s folks chasing up and down the world after a good time who know it says, ‘In thy presence is fullness of joy,’ and ‘At thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore;’ and there’s folks working night and day to be rich who know it says, ‘I am the true riches,’ and, ‘The silver and the gold are his,’ and just as true as you live they won’t kneel down and ask him for any of these things! Now ain’t that curious?”
“I should think he’d get kind of out of patience with them all,” Tode answered, earnestly, “and say, ‘Let ’em go, then, if they’re determined to.’”
“No, he loves them you see. Do you suppose if my Winny and my boys should go wrong, and not mind a word I say, I could give ’em up and say, ‘Let them go then?’ No indeed! I’d stick to ’em till the very last minute, and I’d coax ’em, and pray over ’em day and night—and my love, why it’s just nothing by the side of his. Why he says himself that his love is greater than the love of a woman; so you see he sticks to ’em all, and wants every one of them.”
“Then I should think folks ought to be coaxing ’em, folks that love him, I mean. If he loves all the people and wants them, and is trying to get them, why then I should think all his folks ought to be trying, too.”
“That’s it!” said the old lady, eagerly. “That’s it exactly. He tells us so in the Bible time and time again. ‘Let him that heareth say come.’ Now you and me have heard, and according to that it’s our business to go right to work, and say ‘come’ the very first time we get a chance. But, deary me! I do believe in my heart that’s half the trouble, folks won’t do it; his own folks, too, that have heard, and have got one of the mansions waiting for ’em. He’s given them all work to do helping to fill the others, and half the time they let it go, and tend to their own work, and leave him to do the coaxing all alone.”
July 9, 2017
3.5 stars.
HA! Somebody, anybody, please give me a pat on the back for finishing this! It took me over two months, but hey! At least I did it!
HA! Somebody, anybody, please give me a pat on the back for finishing this! It took me over two months, but hey! At least I did it!
October 8, 2021
Three People is one of my all-time favourite fictional books, if not my very favourite. It was the first book by Pansy I ever read, and from the very first page I couldn’t put it down.
Tode, Pliny, and Ben… born on the same day, but so, so differently. Their stories, though each follow very different paths and end in very different ways, all have the same theme and proclaim the same message. Tode – what an amazing character. Both as a boy and as a man, I loved him. And Pliny – I just felt so sorry for him: in fact, for all his family. Ben – I couldn’t sympathise with him or like him as much as with the other two, because of what he kept doing to Pliny. I will say, though, that I did not expect his story to end as it did.
And then there were the other characters – dear Dora (one of my favourites), Winnie, Mr Hastings, Jim… They were all so, so well done and I loved them all – the ones meant to be loved, of course ;)
The story is a very clever one, and without giving any spoilers, I will say that the ending was perfect. Even though not everything or everyone in the book has a happy ending, everything has a purpose, and all serves to show what a terrible thing drinking is.
I can’t recommend this book enough. I wish I could give it 10 stars!
Tode, Pliny, and Ben… born on the same day, but so, so differently. Their stories, though each follow very different paths and end in very different ways, all have the same theme and proclaim the same message. Tode – what an amazing character. Both as a boy and as a man, I loved him. And Pliny – I just felt so sorry for him: in fact, for all his family. Ben – I couldn’t sympathise with him or like him as much as with the other two, because of what he kept doing to Pliny. I will say, though, that I did not expect his story to end as it did.
And then there were the other characters – dear Dora (one of my favourites), Winnie, Mr Hastings, Jim… They were all so, so well done and I loved them all – the ones meant to be loved, of course ;)
The story is a very clever one, and without giving any spoilers, I will say that the ending was perfect. Even though not everything or everyone in the book has a happy ending, everything has a purpose, and all serves to show what a terrible thing drinking is.
I can’t recommend this book enough. I wish I could give it 10 stars!
January 31, 2022
Great book! Old-fashioned, interesting. Unique characters, good plot, good morals, fun and meaningful story. Highly recommend.
August 27, 2018
Aaargh...this is a hard review to write. Pansy is a favorite author, but this one isn't one of my favorites of hers. Probably not my least favorite, and there was a lot that I did like about it, but some things still bugged me.
I think most of her books that I haven't liked as well as the rest have had a very strong temperance theme. That's not necessarily a predictor--Little Fishers and Their Nets is an absolute favorite--but it's definitely a theme I've noticed. Why it bugs me so much is something I can't quite figure out; I personally advise and practice total abstinence, and I'm in sympathy with a lot of the goals of the temperance reformers. I also realize I'm coming at the subject from a totally different (post-Prohibition) perspective. I generally don't mind reading temperance lectures in small doses. But when it becomes a main theme, it starts to bug me quite a bit.
One reason that I've come up with is that there's more likely to be real tragedy in her temperance-themed stories than anywhere else. FYI, I am not a fan of tragedy. At all. Even if it's just for one character. :( I also don't like the way anyone who opposes any of the arguments is written--they're shown as either hypocritical, illogical, or just wrong. Which makes it hard for me to even sit down and evaluate the arguments because I'm immediately aligned with "those" people. The interpretation of certain Bible passages got pretty strained at times. And I don't like the pretty heavy judgment that's handed down on anyone who isn't a supporter of temperance. Certain people seem to go from not caring about the issue to actively trying to thwart the recovery of those trying to escape from the snare. And there's also the fact that just about every disaster seems to have alcohol as the root cause.
Okay, mini-rant over... Not actually meant to be a rant, more trying to sort out just exactly what it is that bugs me about this and a few other stories. All that said, though, there was a lot that I did like about this book. I loved the picture of how God can work through just a few tiny seeds sown in someone's life. I adored Dora! I really liked the example of strong, solid, constant friendship, even after repeated disappointments. And I really loved the message that it's not our willpower that's the solution to breaking the chains of addiction; the real victory comes through God's grace and power. I also appreciated the fact that even with the strong temperance theme, it was never counted enough to bring someone over to the cause of temperance or get them to sign the pledge; the main goal was their salvation.
3.5 stars for the moment, although I may revise my rating later.
Content--numerous instances of drinking and drunkenness; dangerous situations; deaths; a boy steals and deceives without compunction but later learns better and puts things right
I think most of her books that I haven't liked as well as the rest have had a very strong temperance theme. That's not necessarily a predictor--Little Fishers and Their Nets is an absolute favorite--but it's definitely a theme I've noticed. Why it bugs me so much is something I can't quite figure out; I personally advise and practice total abstinence, and I'm in sympathy with a lot of the goals of the temperance reformers. I also realize I'm coming at the subject from a totally different (post-Prohibition) perspective. I generally don't mind reading temperance lectures in small doses. But when it becomes a main theme, it starts to bug me quite a bit.
One reason that I've come up with is that there's more likely to be real tragedy in her temperance-themed stories than anywhere else. FYI, I am not a fan of tragedy. At all. Even if it's just for one character. :( I also don't like the way anyone who opposes any of the arguments is written--they're shown as either hypocritical, illogical, or just wrong. Which makes it hard for me to even sit down and evaluate the arguments because I'm immediately aligned with "those" people. The interpretation of certain Bible passages got pretty strained at times. And I don't like the pretty heavy judgment that's handed down on anyone who isn't a supporter of temperance. Certain people seem to go from not caring about the issue to actively trying to thwart the recovery of those trying to escape from the snare. And there's also the fact that just about every disaster seems to have alcohol as the root cause.
Okay, mini-rant over... Not actually meant to be a rant, more trying to sort out just exactly what it is that bugs me about this and a few other stories. All that said, though, there was a lot that I did like about this book. I loved the picture of how God can work through just a few tiny seeds sown in someone's life. I adored Dora! I really liked the example of strong, solid, constant friendship, even after repeated disappointments. And I really loved the message that it's not our willpower that's the solution to breaking the chains of addiction; the real victory comes through God's grace and power. I also appreciated the fact that even with the strong temperance theme, it was never counted enough to bring someone over to the cause of temperance or get them to sign the pledge; the main goal was their salvation.
3.5 stars for the moment, although I may revise my rating later.
Content--numerous instances of drinking and drunkenness; dangerous situations; deaths; a boy steals and deceives without compunction but later learns better and puts things right
April 10, 2024
This is a hard book to rate. Quite often I found it tedious and the characters stereotyped. And Tode, (or Theodore as he was later known) was annoyingly perfect . Plus I’m not really a fan of the intense focus on temperance. But in the end the book got to me. I have a number a members in my family who have struggled with alcoholism, and its effects have been devastating. This book helped me to rethink their situations, and how challenging it is for people addicted to alcohol to avoid it.
November 9, 2020
This is one of my all-time favorite books by my all-time favorite author. I have read this book many times, and I plan on reading it many more! Isabella Alden is the best!
August 13, 2025
It has been several years since I reread the entire book, though I’ve skimmed it and reread parts of it often since it is one of my favorites by this author.
Pliny, Ben, and Tode are all born on the same day but to vastly different families. Their lives intermingle as they grow older and circumstances change. I love the story of Tode and how he followed what little light he had even when he didn’t know what all was going to happen. So different than most other Christians who want to see three or five steps ahead before they take a step.
This story isn’t all happy. There are sad things and death, there is drunkenness and indifference, but for some reason, the deaths didn’t bother me like they do in other books.
This book has a very strong temperance message and theme and some very good arguments.
Pliny, Ben, and Tode are all born on the same day but to vastly different families. Their lives intermingle as they grow older and circumstances change. I love the story of Tode and how he followed what little light he had even when he didn’t know what all was going to happen. So different than most other Christians who want to see three or five steps ahead before they take a step.
This story isn’t all happy. There are sad things and death, there is drunkenness and indifference, but for some reason, the deaths didn’t bother me like they do in other books.
This book has a very strong temperance message and theme and some very good arguments.
August 6, 2023
While reading Pansy's "Three People", I thought it should have been named " Three Men" but then rethinking this, I decided that "people" was the right way to go because Pansy not only tells some about these young men but she is also commenting on three different classes in society and a little that they dealt with that made them different in that sense. I am always more thoughtful about God and life after reading her stories and although this one was more concentrated on temperance, its overall message is in praying and accepting Christ and living a Christian life. Three different male babies are born on the same day but life is very different to each. The public domain Kindle's only errors are for each new chapter the first letter of the first word is missing otherwise except for zero navigation, it had no other errors that I remember. Is this story dated? Yes, but drinking is too much encouraged in today's society that this story is important to see that alcohol maybe the cause of so many troubles and terrible decisions.
Story in short- Pliny, Ben and Tode enter the world on the same day and though their family's social economic means are different, they all have alcohol woven into their lives.
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The whole house was in commotion in honor of the fact that Master Pliny L. Hastings, only son and heir of the great Pliny Hastings, Senior, of Hastings' Hall, had
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"laughed and cried, and nodded and winked," through the entire space of three hundred and sixty-five days and nights, and actually reached the first anniversary of his birthday. A remarkable boy was Pliny Hastings. He didn't know yet that his father was a millionaire,
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Mrs. Phillips laughed carelessly as she nestled in the little sewing chair, and prepared to enjoy the grapes. "No," she said, gaily; "grapes are very harmless omens to me. I'm
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not the least afraid that Baby Benny will ever be a drunkard."
❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌spoiler alert
Tode is the poorest and the one boy with a clear drunkard father of the three but the other fathers have their hand in the alcohol business which in turn effects their sons. Is the father the one to only blame? Tode makes it clear that there is a choice in your destiny not only within self but with the help of the Almighty God! The main character is Tode and his life but his life is connected to these other boys and they themselves have a story to tell. When the fathers who had liquor part of their lively hood they did not accept that their sons were in danger of drink nor did they open their eyes to see they helped foster people to drink. I thought that Dora would end up with Tode though Winny at times seemed likely until Pliny and Winny were introduced. Mr. Hastings liking Tode until his not wanting to serve alcohol to customers no longer, I thought the man's dislike would change to gratitude before his death but that did not happen. Ben's life is the least mentioned and his succumb to drink did not prevent his father for lobbying to continue the selling of alcohol in his store. I loved that Tode had lived a Christian life though not perfect, he sought prayer and guidance. His mother and Mr. Birge's prayers helped this young boy turn his life towards God.
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In one of the lowest and meanest of these many cellars, on the very day, and at the identical hour, in which Master Pliny Hastings held
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high carnival at his father's table, and Baby Benny Phillips nestled and dreamed among the soft pillows of his mother's easy chair, a little brother of theirs, clad in dirt and rags, crawled over the reeking floor, and occupied himself in devouring eagerly every bit of potato skin or apple paring that came in his way. Was there ever a more forlorn looking specimen of a baby! It was its birthday, too—there are more babies in the world than we think for whose birthdays might be celebrated on the same day. But this
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one knew nothing about it—dear me! neither did his mother. I doubt if it had once occurred to her that this poor bit of scrawny, dirty, terrible baby had been through one whole year of life. And yet, perhaps, she loved her boy a little—her face looked sullen rather than wicked.
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"Birthday, eh? You ought to celebrate." "Humph," said the mother, with a darkening face, "we shall likely; we do most generally. His loving father will get drunk, and if he don't pitch Tode head over heels out here on the stones, in honor of his birthday, I'll be thankful. Tode Mall, you
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stop crawling out to that gutter, or I'll shake you within an inch of your life!"
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Three brothers they were, Messrs. Pliny, Bennie and Tode, opening their wondrous eyes on the world on precisely the same day of time, though under such different circumstances, and amid such different surroundings, that I doubt if it looked equally round to them all. Besides, they hadn't the least idea each of the existence of the other; but no matter for that,
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they were brothers, linked together in many a way. Perhaps you wouldn't have had an idea that their fathers were each occupied in the same business; but such was the case. Pliny L. Hastings, the millionaire, owned and kept in motion two of the hotels in a western city where the bar-rooms were supplied with marble counters, and the customers were served from cut-glass goblets, resting on silver salvers. Besides he was a wholesale liquor dealer, and kept great warehouses constantly supplied with the precious stuff. Bennie Phillips' good-natured father was a grocer, on a modest and unpretending scale; but he had a back room in his store where he kept a few barrels of liquor for medicinal purposes, and a clerk in attendance. Tode Mall's father kept an unmitigated grog-shop, or rum hole, or whatever name you are pleased to call it, without any cut glass or medicinal purposes about it, and sold vile whisky at so much a drink to whoever had sunk low enough to buy it. So now you know all about
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how these three baby brothers commenced their lives.
*** Three baby boys from different classes of society share the same birthday and each father deals some how in the liquor business. Pliny, Ben and Tode are their names.
Story in short- Pliny, Ben and Tode enter the world on the same day and though their family's social economic means are different, they all have alcohol woven into their lives.
➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖
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The whole house was in commotion in honor of the fact that Master Pliny L. Hastings, only son and heir of the great Pliny Hastings, Senior, of Hastings' Hall, had
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"laughed and cried, and nodded and winked," through the entire space of three hundred and sixty-five days and nights, and actually reached the first anniversary of his birthday. A remarkable boy was Pliny Hastings. He didn't know yet that his father was a millionaire,
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Mrs. Phillips laughed carelessly as she nestled in the little sewing chair, and prepared to enjoy the grapes. "No," she said, gaily; "grapes are very harmless omens to me. I'm
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not the least afraid that Baby Benny will ever be a drunkard."
❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌spoiler alert
Tode is the poorest and the one boy with a clear drunkard father of the three but the other fathers have their hand in the alcohol business which in turn effects their sons. Is the father the one to only blame? Tode makes it clear that there is a choice in your destiny not only within self but with the help of the Almighty God! The main character is Tode and his life but his life is connected to these other boys and they themselves have a story to tell. When the fathers who had liquor part of their lively hood they did not accept that their sons were in danger of drink nor did they open their eyes to see they helped foster people to drink. I thought that Dora would end up with Tode though Winny at times seemed likely until Pliny and Winny were introduced. Mr. Hastings liking Tode until his not wanting to serve alcohol to customers no longer, I thought the man's dislike would change to gratitude before his death but that did not happen. Ben's life is the least mentioned and his succumb to drink did not prevent his father for lobbying to continue the selling of alcohol in his store. I loved that Tode had lived a Christian life though not perfect, he sought prayer and guidance. His mother and Mr. Birge's prayers helped this young boy turn his life towards God.
Highlight (Yellow) | Page 5
In one of the lowest and meanest of these many cellars, on the very day, and at the identical hour, in which Master Pliny Hastings held
Highlight (Yellow) | Page 5
high carnival at his father's table, and Baby Benny Phillips nestled and dreamed among the soft pillows of his mother's easy chair, a little brother of theirs, clad in dirt and rags, crawled over the reeking floor, and occupied himself in devouring eagerly every bit of potato skin or apple paring that came in his way. Was there ever a more forlorn looking specimen of a baby! It was its birthday, too—there are more babies in the world than we think for whose birthdays might be celebrated on the same day. But this
Highlight (Yellow) | Page 5
one knew nothing about it—dear me! neither did his mother. I doubt if it had once occurred to her that this poor bit of scrawny, dirty, terrible baby had been through one whole year of life. And yet, perhaps, she loved her boy a little—her face looked sullen rather than wicked.
Highlight (Yellow) | Page 5
"Birthday, eh? You ought to celebrate." "Humph," said the mother, with a darkening face, "we shall likely; we do most generally. His loving father will get drunk, and if he don't pitch Tode head over heels out here on the stones, in honor of his birthday, I'll be thankful. Tode Mall, you
Highlight (Yellow) | Page 5
stop crawling out to that gutter, or I'll shake you within an inch of your life!"
Highlight (Yellow) | Page 6
Three brothers they were, Messrs. Pliny, Bennie and Tode, opening their wondrous eyes on the world on precisely the same day of time, though under such different circumstances, and amid such different surroundings, that I doubt if it looked equally round to them all. Besides, they hadn't the least idea each of the existence of the other; but no matter for that,
Highlight (Yellow) | Page 6
they were brothers, linked together in many a way. Perhaps you wouldn't have had an idea that their fathers were each occupied in the same business; but such was the case. Pliny L. Hastings, the millionaire, owned and kept in motion two of the hotels in a western city where the bar-rooms were supplied with marble counters, and the customers were served from cut-glass goblets, resting on silver salvers. Besides he was a wholesale liquor dealer, and kept great warehouses constantly supplied with the precious stuff. Bennie Phillips' good-natured father was a grocer, on a modest and unpretending scale; but he had a back room in his store where he kept a few barrels of liquor for medicinal purposes, and a clerk in attendance. Tode Mall's father kept an unmitigated grog-shop, or rum hole, or whatever name you are pleased to call it, without any cut glass or medicinal purposes about it, and sold vile whisky at so much a drink to whoever had sunk low enough to buy it. So now you know all about
Highlight (Yellow) and Note | Page 6
how these three baby brothers commenced their lives.
*** Three baby boys from different classes of society share the same birthday and each father deals some how in the liquor business. Pliny, Ben and Tode are their names.
September 24, 2012
I really enjoy reading Isabella Alden's books. Each one touches a different area of my walk with the Lord and causes me to reconsider the way I live or think. I would recommend her books to anyone!
Three People was a very sweet and neat story about three boys who start life on the same day, and whose lives are intertwined by amazing circumstances arranged by the hand of God!
Three People was a very sweet and neat story about three boys who start life on the same day, and whose lives are intertwined by amazing circumstances arranged by the hand of God!
November 9, 2020
Loooove this book so much!
October 24, 2017
loved it
August 26, 2022
If you liked this one you should read A Peep Behind the Scenes by O.F. Walton.
April 3, 2020
definitely Not as good as a GLH book but it was okay. Not to plausable but I would read it again and i would recommend it as long as people understand that it is Not a GLH book no matter how much the cover looks like it. yep fooled me at a book sale a year ago.
January 30, 2022
OUTSTANDING! Strong christian influence. We should love our fellow man and do to them as we would want done to us. Excellent example of this idea.
Isabella Alden is an aunt to Grace Livingston Hill, another well known christian author. Highly recommend both of these godly women.
Isabella Alden is an aunt to Grace Livingston Hill, another well known christian author. Highly recommend both of these godly women.
July 29, 2016
Excellent read! Well written with an intriguing story-line that keeps your attention and carries a great message.
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