Ida's new shoes

In Short

This work of nineteenth-century juvenile fiction follows young Ida Kent, a girl plagued by explosive outbursts that disrupt her home and worry her parents. Through the quiet guidance of her mother and the influence of a devout grandmother, Ida learns to view her temper as a moral hurdle to be cleared through prayer and conscious effort. The narrative balances the domestic trials of child-rearing with a sincere, earnest focus on Christian conduct. It has endured as a window into the Victorian emphasis on emotional regulation, character building, and the sanctity of the home.

The Story

The narrative opens in the Kent household, where little Ida’s high spirits frequently descend into unmanageable tantrums. Her parents and her Aunt Mary are deeply concerned by her outbursts, which often manifest when she is denied a whim, such as when her mother attempts to comb her tangled, curly hair or when she demands an orange her brother is already eating. Her father, while proud of his daughter, acknowledges that her "passion grows worse every day." The family’s search for a remedy moves beyond simple discipline to a focus on spiritual grounding; the mother begins taking Ida into her bedroom to pray for patience and self-governance, a practice that eventually yields moments of genuine, calm improvement.

The tension heightens during a long-anticipated visit to Grandmother Kent, who lives with her daughter, Mrs. Mason. The household is dominated by the volatile behavior of Ida’s cousin, Joseph, who is described as having a temper even more fierce than Ida’s own. The contrast is immediate: while Ida is learning to suppress her rage, Joseph is subject to his father's harsh, physical corrections, which only serve to fuel the boy's defiance. The visit concludes in violence when Joseph attacks Ida, leaving her eye badly injured and his own health fragile. The shock of this event becomes a turning point for the adults. Mr. Mason, confronted with the dire consequences of his own unchecked anger and physical discipline, experiences a profound change of heart. He resolves to stop ruling through fear and begins to pray with his family.

As the Kent family returns home, the narrative tracks the slow recovery of both children. Ida, now more mature, writes a humble letter of apology to Joseph, expressing her desire for his health and for their future friendship. Joseph, responding through his father, reveals that he is also learning to "conquer himself" through a new system of positive reinforcement and daily prayer. The book closes on a scene of restored domestic harmony. Ida’s temper, while not entirely vanished, is now a struggle she meets with prayer and humility. Her grandmother, having moved in with the Kents, spends her final years in peace, enjoying the companionship of her granddaughter, while the Mason family finds a new, gentler path forward. The story ends not with a claim of perfection, but with the quiet, steady progress of two children learning to be "lambs in the fold."

How It Unfolds

The new shoes Ida receives a pair of boots from her father, but her excitement quickly turns to a tantrum when she tries to show them off while her mother is suffering from a severe headache. This incident sets the central conflict of the book: the battle between a child’s impulsive desires and the needs of others.

The morning ritual The daily task of brushing Ida’s hair becomes a recurring stage for her struggles, as the discomfort of a snarl triggers immediate, violent anger. Her parents struggle to balance their love for her with the realization that traditional punishment is failing to reach her heart.

The orange epiphany After a particularly distressing scene involving a piece of fruit, Ida witnesses her mother’s silent tears and chooses to suppress her own rage. This pivotal moment of self-restraint is met with such warmth and validation from her parents that Ida realizes the joy of victory over her own spirit.

The visit to Grandma The Kents travel to a strained household where the cousin Joseph behaves with unchecked fury. The visit serves as a mirror for Ida’s parents, showing them the dangers of harsh, loveless discipline compared to their own attempts at spiritual guidance.

The aftermath of violence Following Joseph’s brutal outburst, the adults are forced to confront the failure of their previous methods. The transformation of the Mason home from a place of shouting to one of prayer signals a permanent shift in the family’s philosophy.

The People

Ida Kent is the vibrant, curly-haired protagonist who wants to be "good" but finds herself enslaved by her own quick anger. Through the story, she matures from a girl who screams to get her way into one who reflects on her actions and seeks forgiveness. Her mother is the patient, prayerful center of the home, whose own nervous health suffers under the weight of her daughter's volatile moods. She persists in the belief that grace, rather than just the rod, is the answer. Joseph Mason serves as a cautionary shadow of what Ida might become; he is defined by his uncontrolled rage until the trauma of his illness and the change in his father's behavior offer him a path to redemption. Mr. Mason, Joseph’s father, begins as a man who believes "whipping is the best remedy," but he ultimately humbles himself, recognizing that he cannot demand virtue from his son while lacking it himself.

In Its Own Voice

"He that ruleth his spirit, is better than he that taketh a city."

This ancient proverb, cited at the beginning of the book, establishes the primary moral standard against which Ida and Joseph are measured.

"I'm sorry I struck you, and called you ugly boy; I've asked God a good many times to forgive me, and I think he has."

In this letter to her cousin, Ida demonstrates the process of repentance that the author presents as the essential antidote to childish rage.

What It's Really About

At its core, the book argues that moral character cannot be imposed through external force; it must be cultivated from within through the exercise of will and the support of prayer. It explores the profound question of how parents can balance the need for order with the necessity of teaching children the value of self-regulation. The book posits that temper is not merely a personality trait but a spiritual condition that requires both the child’s honest effort and the parent’s consistent, calm example. Ultimately, it suggests that a home governed by prayer and mutual kindness provides the only environment in which a child can truly learn to master their own spirit.

Why Read It Today

Readers who appreciate historical domestic fiction—specifically that which focuses on child-rearing and moral education—will find this book a sincere and deeply observant read. It feels like a quiet, earnest conversation from a bygone era, full of Victorian warmth and an unyielding commitment to the idea that every child is capable of growth.

However, modern readers should be prepared for the period-specific attitudes toward childhood discipline. While the book eventually rejects excessive physical punishment in favor of prayer, the casual mention of "whipping" and "the rod" as standard tools of the time may be jarring. The dialogue, particularly the simplified speech of the children, reflects the mid-nineteenth-century literary style, which can feel repetitive or overly sentimental to contemporary ears. Despite these archaic elements, the book's core—the frustration of a parent trying to raise a difficult child and the child’s own confusing struggle to be better—remains remarkably relatable. What stays with the reader is the image of the "darkened room," where a mother chooses to stop lecturing and start praying, signaling a shift from external control to internal transformation. It is a gentle, measured portrait of how families learn to forgive one another and, in the process, learn to change themselves.