A sailor's lass

by Emma Leslie

"A Sailor's Lass" by Emma Leslie is a novel likely written in the late 19th century. The story revolves around Tiny, a little girl rescued by old fisherman Coomber during a stormy night after her ship wrecks. The novel explores themes of family, love, and survival within the harsh realities of a fishing community. At the start of the book, we meet the Coomber family living in a home fashioned from a boat on the edge of the sea. The narrative opens with a sense of urgency as Mrs. Coomber is alarmed about their boat being loose during a storm. Old Coomber, dismissive at first, dons his clothes to go and assist the crew of a nearby ship in distress, taking their son, Bob, along with him. After a perilous struggle against the elements, Coomber returns with a young girl, whom they name Tiny, after recovering her from the wreckage while searching for survivors. The family's dynamics begin to shift as Tiny's presence brings both hope and turmoil, revealing deeper tensions within the Coomber household, particularly concerning their father who struggles with alcohol.