Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1872-10-18
nE&TH OF FANNY FERN.
snva E'aysOn Parton.
lie New York Tribune says

Tie Now \ or}l Tribune says
sara Payson Willis, wife OF James Par
ton, whose death occurred Yesterday,
though size has left few enduring literary
works, has earned with her pen a wide
celebrity. Born at Portland. Me, in 1871,
she seems to have passed through a some
What stormy 5ni cloudy girlhO0d and Wo.
manhood and passed into Il mature LII"
before she made IN cntrcncc into the ticlG
n liter,. lirC. She was 4 dcscCDdcnt of two
old Puritan families Of New England, and,
in common with her brother, n. i. Willis,
Inherited from father and mother q large
share Of mental power and genius. The
father Of Sara Willis was founder Of
Tie pjTiitn Rcc0JdcT, Il religious journal,
published III Boston, aul The Youths Com
DURjOn, printed in the same city. The
mother Of the Willis children, Nathaniel,
Richard and Jane, is described as a large
Drained, Sreat-hcared woman of most
loyable character. When Sara was yet 4
child, her family removed to Boston, where
she passed all her early years. She was
educated at Hartford, Connecticut, by Miss
Catherine Bacchc", and was recognized as
4 clever young lady, high spirited and
eccentric, and addicted to mischievous
and c0mical cscap2dCs. Willie yet
young, and soon after leaving school,
she married Mr.. Eidrid5e, Of Boston,
After the birth Of three children, she
was left widow and in somewhat cmbar-
raSSed circumstances. OF these straits
came her first literary venture, and, in 1871,
she offered an essay signed "Fanny Fern
to one Of the literary Week!ies Of Boston.
1t was accepted, and acceptable, for the
great reading public Immediately demanded
more, and "Eanny Fern grew iuto fame
and favor. These leaflets were gathered
into volume with the title Of ''Fcrn
Leaves" aud had great sale, no less than
5000 copies Of the book having been sold.
"Litt!o Ferns for Fanny'S Little Friends, -
her next book, had fair sale, anG second
series Of the "Leaves' reached q very large
edition. In 1894, her first novel. "Rutll
Hail. appeared. 1t was not genial book
and over its family revelations and allu-
sIons generous charity draws q veil OF
tOrgetfulness. "ROse Clarke" published
III 1877, was a more sunny work, and com.
handed q wider circle CT readers than even
7 the unhappy not Oricty Of it's predecessor
had attracted. Tie two novels We're tho
only ones which "Fanny Fern" ever pub.
lisEod: they provoked much criticism, anL
were read by thousands who sought il
their pages the same grace and vivacity
which had been the cham Of her less pre-.
! tentiOus writings.
In 1856 the subject o. this sketch wa!
mar lcOl ~ MI JdulS5 dIiOIly OF IIllS Guy
the brilliant and effective historical write
and eSsayist. Since her marriage her pub
lishcd writings have HGt been volumnous
but their character has been consider bly,
modified and improved, compared will
those OF Ler earlier .rccr. She was "a
! goo d hater," and her pen, gentle and mild
! enough when pursuing congenial theme.
was pointed and CALLING when engaged il
the chastisement Of vice, cant or suobbery
She had d fierce hatred for every sort d
hypocrisy, and, with the inevitable tendeD
cy Of one who puIsuos these subjects Will
peItinacity. she sometimes driftcd into cX
trdVagance and uncEaritablenese. AS {
writer OF brief sketches and essays for ia.
weekly press she CXcelled aud in the pro
duCtiOn Of these She was indomitable il
industry, fertile in resource, and boundess
i'll patience. She has shown her struggling
sistelloOQ What woman CAN do with The
pen; for, in spite Of uumbcIiass obstacles
. She Won herself q place in current ltcra
tire, generous income, and many homes
friends and admirers. Her life was no
always sunny; but It's closing years wcr,
uucloudCd save by bodily ills ; and, after
long, busy wrestlc With ljfc's problems, sI,
sleeps well AZ hast.