Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1886-04-07
SHE BECAME FAMOUS.

Va VAN HSHNA~A
literature of America, whose recollec-
tons 60 back about a quarter of a
century, may remember the reputation
acquired by a gentle authoress, all
tenderness. spirit and vivacity, in the
sketches and essays which she published
under the name of Fanny Forester.
For 4 long time few knew her under
any other designation. She sub
sequently became known to a large
portion of, the religious world as the
wife of the eminent missionary, Jud-
son.
It may be interesting, as well as
encouraging, to know some of diff
culties she had to encounter at the be-
ginning of her literary career. OF her
life before she was fifteen, she gives
the following account
ION Monday morning I used to rise
at two o'clock, and do the washing for
the family and boarders before nine.
On Thursday l did the ironing; and
Saturday, because there "a but half a
day of school, we made baking day.
In this way, by Katie's Cher sister's)
help, we managed to get on with only
one servant. I also took sewing of a
mantua maker close by and so con-
tinued to make good the time con-
.sumed in school. My classmates had
spent all their lives at school, and they
now had plenty of time to study.
They were also, all but one, older than
myself, and 1 therefore found it d diff
cult task to keep up with them with
out robbing my sleeping hours: l sell
dom got any rest till n or two
o'clock, and then l read French and
solved mathematical problems in my
Sleep
Her constitution failed under these
sever labors. and the physician ad-
vised that she should leave school.
Her mother then proposed that she
should make millinery a e OF
livelihood; but she had higher objects
in life, and felt the impulses of the
nobler mental life within her.
In her extremity she consulted her
teacher. After some awkward hesita-
ton, she tells us, she ventured to ask
him if he thought her capable of teach
ing school.
Eyes," he replied, "but you are not
half big enough.
He gave her however, a recommen-
dation.
Losing no time. she inquired in a
neighboring district if the school was
engaged. She was informed that it
was, and was told of another district
lear at hand, where there might be a
vacancy, and proceeded at once to
the dispenser of this important patron
age. The meeting is described by her.
self.
II Took says she, "a short cut
across the lots, and soon stood trem-
bling in the presence of Mr.. J. He
was q raw-boned, red-headed, sharp
looking man, in cow-hide shoes, and a
red flannel shirt. is your school en-
gaged?' Itimidly enquired. He turned
his keen grey eyes upon me, measuring
me deliberately from head to foot,
while l stood as tall rs possible. He
asked me several questions; whistled
when l told him my age; said the
school was a very difficult one, and
finally promised to consult the other
trustees, and let me know in a week
OF two. / went away mortified and
heavy-hearted. and as soon as l gained
the woods sat down and sobbed out
right. This relieved me.
The next day, with the assistance
of companion, the canvass was re-
newed. A MI. d. proved more propi-
tious than Mr.. j.; and MI. B., the
acting trustee, more favorable still.
He would not make any definite en-
gagement with me, but said I stood as
fair chance as anybody, and he would
come to the village next week and set
tie the matter
A few days after he came, and the
thing was arranged. She was engage
ed at the stipulated sum of seventy
five cents a week, with the addition of
her board in turn, from week to week
at the differentfarmer's houses. She was
very homesick. but continued resolute-
ly at her task: serving through the
year at the school, and este blishing
herself firmly in her new calling.
Other engagements of the kind fol-
lowed until she became a resident of
the Utica Female Seminary. Here she
became acquainted with Anna Maria
Anable, who in due time became a
familiar acquaintance of the reading
public as Cousin Bell 4
At this time she began to think of
turning her literary capacity to &C
count in the publication of a volume
of poems. She was induced to modify
the plan by writing for the publishers
in prose, commencing with a book for
children. Her efforts oon took a
wider range, and contributions from
her pen began to make their appear
pearance in the magazines.
A visit to New York, which she
made in the spring of 1874, in company
with her friend, Miss Anable, incident
ally became the means of bringing her
before the public in this new literary
relation as q contributor to the popu-
lar periodicals of the country. Keenly
sensible to new impressions. she was
delighted with the novel Genes which
the city offered to her view; and, on
her return to Utica she addressed a
playful epistle to the editors of 1.-The
New Mirror,'a weekly literary publ
cation at New York, presided over by
those veteran caterers to the reading
public. Messrs. Morris & Willis, in