Master Simon's Garden: A Story

The narrative follows a generous gardener and his young daughter in a small Puritan settlement whose peaceful household and productive garden become entangled with larger troubles when Indian emissaries seek help against a lethal pestilence. Religious leaders accuse the gardener of fostering idolatry because of his care for a peacock, and he responds by setting out on a risky pilgrimage armed with herbal remedies while his daughter navigates community fears and loyalties. The book mixes domestic detail, moral disputes, and adventure—including witchcraft accusations, sea journeys, and wartime dangers—to examine charity, cultural encounter, faith, and practical knowledge.