Bessie on Her Travels

In Short

Bessie on Her Travels is a nineteenth-century children's novel following young sisters Bessie and Maggie Bradford as they embark on a summer journey through Savannah and Newport. Written to model Christian kindness and gentle manners, the book follows the girls as they meet strangers, navigate unexpected separation on a train, and extend charity to those they meet along the way. Joanna H. Mathews’s story has retained its charm through its affectionate portrayal of sisterhood, its lighthearted humor, and its unpretentious, sincere commitment to teaching children empathy, generosity, and moral responsibility.

The Story

The narrative opens in the bustling bedroom of young Maggie and Bessie Bradford as they eagerly prepare for an upcoming summer journey. Joined by their friends Belle and Lily, the sisters are set to embark on a multi-day sea voyage southward to Savannah, Georgia. Maggie’s earnest attempts to assist with packing lead to minor mishaps—such as hiding pickles and vinegar in her luggage—before her mother redirects her energy by gifting her a morocco satchel filled with smelling salts and lemons to ward off seasickness.

Once aboard the steamer, the children marvel at the open ocean, though Bessie admits her heart truly longs for the gentle, curling waves of the seashore. During the voyage, the sisters practice quiet acts of kindness, engaging with lonely fellow passengers and turning potentially frightening moments into opportunities for care. Arriving late at night in Savannah, the family is greeted by lush foliage, towering pine forests, and magnificent rosebushes that instantly captivate Bessie.

While visiting Mr. Powers’s plantation outside the city, the children delight in learning about southern agriculture, gathering Spanish moss from the trees, and working enthusiastically in the rice fields. However, their pleasant routine is suddenly disrupted at the train station. Due to a misunderstanding, their old nurse Daphne steps off the carriage right as the locomotive pulls away, stranding Maggie, Bessie, and Belle aboard a departing train without their parents. Though frightened, the sisters lean on their faith and upbringing to remain calm, eventually reuniting safely with their relieved family.

As their travels continue north toward the coastal town of Newport, Rhode Island, the girls continue to leave a trail of gentle goodwill. Bessie meets Old Joe, an impoverished former slave who owns only three worn leaves of a Bible; touched by his devotion, she gifts him her own pocket Testament and Psalms. Later, aboard a steamboat, Maggie faces mild embarrassment when a playful young gentleman, Mr. Temple, mockingly recites a heartfelt poem she wrote, but family and friends step in to defend her earnest creative spirit. In Newport, the sisters visit local poorhouses, share flowers and handmade baskets with an injured girl, and raise funds to help a struggling local boy attend school. Through every journey, mishap, and encounter, the book concludes with the young heroines returning home with grateful hearts, having transformed their summer vacation into an ongoing lesson in love and faith.

How It Unfolds

The voyage begins Maggie and Bessie Bradford prepare their luggage with eager anticipation, receiving small travel satchels from their mother before boarding a steamship bound for Savannah. The girls adjust to life on the water, where Bessie expresses her deep love for the sea and Maggie offers cheerful comfort to those around her.

Exploring the South Arriving in Savannah, the children are enchanted by the city's blooming rose gardens and the surrounding pine forests. They visit a nearby plantation, where they tour the rice fields, collect hanging Spanish moss, and learn about the local wildlife.

Left on the train A chaotic moment at a rail station leaves nurse Daphne behind on the platform as the train accelerates into the distance. Maggie, Bessie, and Belle find themselves traveling entirely alone, forcing them to hold onto their courage until they can be safely restored to their parents.

Acts of quiet faith While traveling, Bessie encounters Old Joe, a devout man who treasures a few torn pages of Scripture, and she gladly gifts him her personal Testament. Meanwhile, Maggie learns to navigate the gentle teasing of older acquaintances who discover her private poetry.

Summer days in Newport The family settles in Newport, Rhode Island, where the sisters spend their time exploring Lily Pond, visiting the local poorhouse to hand out small treats, and buying water-lilies to support a local family in need.

The People

• Bessie Bradford wants to be a thoughtful, obedient child who lives out her faith through practical acts of love. She struggles with occasional shyness and sensitivity, but her selfless nature leads her to give away her cherished possessions to help those in need.
• Maggie Bradford wants to explore the world, express her vibrant imagination through writing, and protect her little sister. Her impulsive enthusiasm sometimes leads to comical packing blunders or dramatic declarations, but her deep generosity and loyalty always shine through.
• Belle Powers wants to feel connected to her late mother and overcome her tendency toward short tempers. Guided by Maggie and Bessie's gentleness, she learns to replace outbursts with quiet prayers and thoughtful deeds.
• Old Joe wants to read the full word of God despite owning only three worn pages of Scripture. His patient, trusting faith inspires Bessie to share her own pocket Testament with him.
• Mr. Temple wants to entertain himself by playfully teasing the younger children, but his lighthearted mockery of Maggie's poem forces him to face gentle reprimands from the adults around him.

In Its Voice

“Maggie was farther consoled by a bottle of smelling salts, one of hartshorn, and three lemons; and this she appeared to think a sufficient safeguard against seasickness for all the passengers and crew of the steamer.”

When preparing for their maiden sea voyage, Maggie’s earnest desire to be useful leads her to gather a humorous assortment of remedies.

“And I pray our Father in Heaven that my Bessie will not die while I am alive even to go to Heaven for I would miss her so very, very much.”

In a long letter to her uncle, Maggie expresses her unconditional devotion to her sister with characteristic childlike drama and sincerity.

“I was just saying a little prayer inside of my mouf,” she said, “to ask Jesus to make papa feel like doing it, so dear mamma and I can do some work for Him togefer.”

Little Belle shares her quiet hope of helping a poor local boy go to school, linking her good deeds to her mother's memory.

What It's Really About

At its core, Bessie on Her Travels explores the moral and spiritual development of young children within a loving, privileged nineteenth-century family. The narrative argues that true piety is not found in grand gestures, but in daily, unostentatious acts of empathy, self-restraint, and active generosity. Mathews contrasts the inner lives of children who are taught to consider others with those who act purely out of impulse or selfishness. The book continually asks how young minds can remain untainted by cynicism, showing that small courtesies—such as sharing flowers with a sick child or forgiving a teasing acquaintance—build the foundation for a life of meaningful faith and strong character.

Why Read It Today

Modern readers interested in nineteenth-century domestic fiction and historical children's literature will find Bessie on Her Travels a sweet, comforting period piece. The novel offers a fascinating window into mid-1800s American travel, detailing steamboat voyages, early rail lines, southern plantation landscapes, and northern resort towns through the wide eyes of children.

Reading it today requires an appreciation for the era's stylistic conventions. The story moves at an unhurried, episodic pace, prioritizing moral lessons over high-stakes drama. Modern readers will also notice nineteenth-century period attitudes and phonetic dialect spelling used for working-class and African American characters, such as nurse Daphne and Old Joe. Despite these historical artifacts, the book’s warm humor, authentic depiction of sisterly affection, and gentle emphasis on basic human kindness give it an enduring sweetness that remains remarkably refreshing.