The Trail picks up the story of the May family (introduced in The Daisy Chain) five years after the action of the previous book set in mid-nineteenth-century England. A dreaded virus is spreading through the town of Stoneborough and Dr. May is called to the aid of the sick Ward family. With the death of the Ward’s parents from the virus the May’s help the recovering siblings Henry, Leonard, Averil, Minna, and Mary.

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Leonard becomes a close friend of Ethel and Aubery May who with their encouragement decides to begin training as a missionary. However, following an uncharacteristic outburst of anger by Leonard towards his older brother Henry, Leonard leaves his family behind to start work for his unscrupulous Uncle Axworthy. Shortly after Uncle Axworthy is founded murdered and all fingers point to Leonard as the culprit. With the help of the May’s Leonard must find the strength to undergo this trial. Meanwhile an embarrassed Henry emigrates with his sisters to an America on the verge of Civil War. Their own trial is just beginning.

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This novel explores themes of faith, love, endurance, and most of all hope. Charlotte Yonge was the bestselling author of the nineteenth-century and her works deserve a long-awaited revival.

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Unfortunately Charlotte Mary Yonge's books have been a little forgotten by the publishing industry and you will need to look around the internet for the most affordable copy. If you do not mind reading digital version then you can get her books for free through the Project Gutenberg. The books are well worth reading nevertheless!