Kezia is one of the characters in Pemaquid; or, a Story of Old Times in New England, then recently published.  She had written it with “indescribable ease and pleasure,” to use her own words, mostly during the previous January.  The pictures of New England life—­especially its religious life—­in old times are vivid and faithful; and the character of Kezia Millet for originality, quiet humor, and truth to nature, surpasses any other in her writings, with the exception, perhaps, of Aunt Avery in “Fred and Maria and Me.”

The following is an extract from a letter of Mr. Hallock, the publisher of “The Christian at Work,” dated Aug. 25, 1877, in which he begged her to gratify its readers by telling them more about Ruth and Juliet.  She accordingly added some pages to the last chapter, although not quite enough to satisfy the curiosity about Juliet: 

Let me express to you my personal thanks for your most excellent serial.  I feel that it has done a real good to thousands.  You need to be placed in my position, receiving hundreds of letters daily from your readers, to be able to fully appreciate how intensely interested they are in the story.  It does not seem to satisfy them to feel assured of Ruth’s marriage, but they want to be there and see it.  Juliet, too, is not with them, as with you, a mere impersonation, but a living reality, and they will never rest till they hear from her.  If I was a betting man I would bet five to one that what your husband struck out, is just exactly what is wanted.  What do we men know about such things, anyhow?

A lady friend, well qualified to judge, writes to her: 

I have read “Pemaquid,” and have laughed till I cried, then cried and laughed together.  In my humble opinion it is the brightest book you have written.  You know how to make a saint and how to make a sinner.  As for old Kezia Millet, with her great loving heart, if she is not a model of Christian “consistency” and a natural born poet, where will you find one?  She is perfectly fascinating.  How do you keep your wit so ready and so bright?  I suppose you’ll answer, “by using it.”  The chapter which contains Mrs. Woodford’s interview with Rev. Mr. Strong (the dear old saint) in her penitential mood, is very, very admirable.

To Mrs. George Payson, Dec. 20, 1877.

Before the year quite departs, I must tell you, my dear Margaret, how glad I am that you appreciate my dear, good bad Kezia.  It is nineteen years since I read Adam Bede, but I remember Mrs. Poysen in general.  Kezia is not an imitation of her; the main points of her character were written out long before Adam Bede appeared; I destroyed the book in which I trotted her out, but kept her, and once in a while tried her on my husband, but as he did not seem to see it, put her away in her green box, biding my time.  As to Juliet, my good man loathes so to read about bad people that he almost made me cut out all