Ethel Morton at Rose House

This 1915 juvenile classic captures a moment when young people believed they could change the world through kindness. Set during a May Day celebration in New Jersey, it follows Ethel Morton and her cousin Ethel Blue as they rally their friends in the United Service Club to do something bold: bring mothers and children from New York City's tenements to the countryside for a summer of fresh air and rest. What unfolds is a story of painted rooms, makeshift gardens, and the small miracles that happen when privileged young people roll up their sleeves to help their neighbors in need. Roger Morton's grandfather has provided an old farmhouse, and the girls must transform Rose House into a haven, navigating logistical puzzles, friendly rivalries, and the quiet satisfactions of meaningful work. The book endures as a window into Progressive Era optimism, when community service felt like an adventure and every small act of generosity carried the weight of genuine purpose.