The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1886-04-08
HOW SHE BECAME FAMOUS

dCqulicu W HSu1iC uueHoASs'ss go
tenderness. spirit and vivacity. in the
sketches and essays which she published
under the name Of Fanny Forester.
For long time few knew her under
any other designation. She sub
sequently became known to 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 used to rise
at two 0 clock, and do the washing for
the family and boarders before nine.
On Thursday | did the ironing; and
Saturday. because there was but half q
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. l 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 l therefore found it diff
cult task to keep up with them with
out robbing my sleeping hours. | sell
dom got any rest till one or two
O o'clock, and then l read French and
solved mathematical problems in my
sleep
Her constitution failed under these
severe labors. and the physician adj
yised that she should leave school.
Her mother then proposed that she
should make millinery a means 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 MS, 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, recommen-
dalton.
Losing no time. she inquired in q
neighboring district If the school was
engaged. She was informed that il
was, and was told of another district
near ut hand, where there might be q
vacancy, and proceeded at once to
the dispenser of this important patron
age. The meeting is described by her.
self.
Il took says she, "a short cut
across the lots, and soon stood trem.
bling in the presence of Mr.. j. He
was a raw-bOned, red-headed, sharp
looking man, in cow hide shoes, and q
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 as possible. He
asked me several questions; whistled
when | told him my age; said the
school was very difficult one, and
finally promised to consult the Other
trustees, and let me know in week
or two. l went away mortified and
heayy-hearted. and as soon as gained
the woods sat down and sobbed out.
right. This relieved nae.
1.-The next day, with the assistance
of a companion. the canvass was re-
newed. A Mr.. d. proved more propi
tious than Mr.. j.; and Mr.. B., tht
acting trustee, more favorable still
He would not make any definite en-
, gagement with me, but said stood Al
fair chance as anybody, and he wOulC
come to the village next week and set
tie the matter.
A few days after he came, and tht
thing was arranged. She was engag
ed at the stipulated sum of seventy
five cents week, with the addition O
her board in turn, from week to weel
at the different farmer houses. She wa
very homesick. but continued resolute
IL at her task. serving through thu
year at the school, and esta blishine
herself firmly in her new calling.
Other engagements Of the kind fol
the Utica Female Seminary. Here sh,
became acquainted with Anna Mari;
Anable, who in due time became |
familiar acquaintance Of the readin.
public as cousin Bel
At this time she began to think o
turning her literary capacity to &C
count in the publication Of volum
Of poems. She was induced to Modif,
the plan by writing for the publisher
in prose, commencing with book TO
children. Her efforts soon took
wider range, and contributions iron
her pen began to make their appear
pcarance in the magazines.
A visit to New York, which sh
made in the spring of 1874, in compan
with her friend. Miss Anable, incident
ally became the means Of bringing he
before the public in this new literar
relation as contributor to the popl
lar periodicals of the country. Keenl
sensible to new impressions, she wa
delighted with the novel scenes whic
the city offered to her view; and, o
her return to Utica she addressed
playful cpistle to the editors Of 9Th
: New Mirror weekly literary publ
cation at New York, presided over b
no those veteran caterers to the readin
IS public, Messrs. Morris & Willis,
+. which, under pretense of beinS fafcina
"i ed by Broadway bonnet, she very pre-
Il thy made the inquiry whether there w.
7. any likelihood of her being able
:, purchase it by writing for the pap'
j for u consideration-if, indeed, Il
New Mirror paid at all for article
do As the New Mirror" was, in fac
IS anything but paving concern, barel
g supporting its editors. and, indee
h ss hardly being able to accomplish tina
u for it was discontinued few month
= afterward, this was rather delica
question to answer. Willis parted
very gracefully. A master himself
/ the art of literary confectionery
I recognized kindred hand in Il
!, whipped syllabub of ''Fanny's" cor
= munication, which bore no other 81
nature. So he encouraged his CORE