Mildred Keith is about a sixteen year old girl who experiences many changes in her life. In the spring of the 1830s, the Keith family, currently residing in Lansdale, Ohio, is a happy family. But when lawyer Stuart Keith decides to move to unstable Indiana, where there won’t be as much business competition, some are happy, the rest are devastated. After weeks of preparation, a long journey on stage and by boat, the Keith family along with their wealthy aunt Stanhope arrived in the small riverside town of Pleasant Plains.
Pleasant Plains, though the residents were proud of it, was a huge disappointment after Lansdale. Though small, and not very aristocratic, he had what Mr. Keith had expected: no law offices. As no suitable home had yet been prepared for them, the Keiths stayed one night at the only hotel and moved into their house in the morning. Although they were grateful to have a home of their own, there was still a lot to be desired. Later they moved to another house that was better than the previous one, but even that house left a lot to be desired, so they made plans to build a suitable house for themselves. But, it would be providential if they started next spring.
Meanwhile, the beautiful Mildred is being sought out by all sorts of resident men. From the haughty Nicholas Ransquattle, who is sure his marriage proposal will be joyfully accepted, to Gotobed Lightcap, who can barely speak to him and is sure the other men will beat him to it, to Timothy Buzzard, the music teacher. , who is paying special attention to her, to Wallace Ormbsy, Mr. Keith’s apprentice, who is able to get ahead of the rest because of his close connection to the family. Mildred receives marriage proposals from Nick, whose hopes she has no problem dashing, and from Gotobed, whom she politely informs in a letter that she has no love for him and that she could not live without love. Mildred also puts many men on the ship who wanted to become her wife. Then, on July 4, Gotobed Lightcap is shot in the hands, and they both have to get out. Mildred is able to show how little she cared for him by staying with him during the operation. This shows that even though she couldn’t marry any of her suitors, she still had some affection for them.
Aunt Wealthy decides to return home, and just after, her young cousin Horace Dinsmore comes to visit. There he confesses to Mrs. Keith that he is a father! While at school, he met a beautiful orphan girl named Elsie Grayson, and they were married soon after. But when her father and her guardian discover their marriage, they are enraged and separate them. Elsie later gives birth to a girl and dies a week later. But, while Horace was away from her wife, her mind was poisoned against her, and he is ashamed of her and soon doesn’t even care about her motherless daughter of hers. Lady. Keith advises her to return to her daughter and take care of her, but she ignores her advice.
After Horace leaves, the fever disease that is so common affects the town, especially the Keiths. Baby Annis, Fan, Don, Cyril, Zillah and the father fall ill, and all Rupert, Ada, Mildred, Mrs Keith and her servant can do to care for them. Their servant, Rupert, is then called and Mrs. Keith falls ill and the Doctor cannot come. But when they are most desperate, they are helped by three friends: the minister called Mr. Lord, Damiris Drybead, who never liked Mildred, and Wallace Ormbsy. In fifteen days they are all recovered, and they thank their friends for their help.
Through difficult and sometimes even devastating times, Keith’s belief in God never wavered. They trusted him to take care of them, even when it seemed like they could never be helped. Therefore, Mildred Keith is a book that Christians should read if they are having a hard time trusting God.