Genre:

Short Fiction

Subjects:

Reading, Piety, Botany, Biblical Authority, Astronomy

    A footnote recommends under the name of Dew Drops 'a very neat small selection of texts for every day, published by the Religious Tract Society'. Charlotte discusses with her mother the meaning of 'Dew Drop', the title of the 'beautiful little book' which her father has given her. Mrs. Williams expresses the hope that her daughter will 'examine this Dew Drop, and let it distil into [her] mind, like the dew on the flowers, that it may nourish and refresh [her], and make [her] fruitful in the ways of God'. She also observes: 'The whole word of God is presented for your observation and reflection, like the vast firmament thickly bespangled with stars, which constantly employs the thoughts and meditations of the astronomer, who avails himself of the powers of his long telescope, to render his knowledge of the heavenly bodies more complete'. (28)