Who is Elizabeth from Short Story Masterpieces and what is their importance?

Elizabeth is the main character in A Spinster's Tale. She is thirteen and filled with fear. Elizabeth's mother, recently deceased, has left her with having to learn to face the world alone, and although her father and brother, who both caring and loving individuals, Elizabeth fears their apparent "wild streaks". As Elizabeth deals with her fears, she slowly learns to deal with the world, and comes out of her safety zone to deal with the household as a young woman. Over time, her facing of her fear transfers over into the rest of her life, as she takes on the role of woman of the house.