The Argosy

The Story of Charles Strange by Mrs. Henry Wood dominates this January 1888 issue of The Argosy. The serial, illustrated by M. Ellen Edwards, begins with young Charles at age seven in the rectory at White Littleham, Hampshire, where his mother—the rector's delicate wife—reveals she is dying. She gives him a book called Sintram and her own Bible, teaching him a poem about death as a gentle passage. His father, Reverend Eustace Strange, interrupts the emotional scene, sending Charles to gather violets. The narrative introduces Leah Williams, the household's loyal servant. Chapters continue through mysteries involving Essex Street, the Old Bailey, and a missing will. Additional content includes travel writing, studio stories by artists and writers, numerous short fiction pieces, and poetry contributions from E. Nesbit and others.