The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1888-10-03
HOW A BRATTLEsoRo GIRL
First Met the Author Of "LittIe
Women"
IN. Y. telegram


Several years ago live little girl, barely
earning enough to pay for her luncheons,
was an assistant in big Boston circulating
library. She had Just come down from Brat
tleboro, VT. where Jim Fisk was born. One
fine morning she determined to make a place
for herself in the world. SO she struggled
over bit of poem and sent 1t to Robert Bon
ner. The rich editor was struck by the lines
describing soldier boy In hospital. and he
sent the Boston girl his cheek for $40. She
was all broken up when she received the
money. 1t was more than she had ever
earned before in all her life. Then she took
to writing for the newspapers, and by and
by became a reporter on the Boston Post.
Then sheiiell lin love with a warm-hearted
chap, made him new neck-ties every week,
and finally accepted him in marriage and
was as happy as bride on Mt. Washington.
But she continued to write for the papers"
over her first name, "Sallie joy"
The other day, in describing her early life
in the Boston library, she related how she
first met Miss Louisa AlcOtt. She said:
When had been about week In the library
lady came In, whose face / liked very
much, and asked me for something delight
fully funny and nice" to read BY the
merest chance | had in my hand copy Of
Little Women" that had just been returned
to the library and tnat was about to do up
and send out again. With sudden impulse
i handed IL to the lady, saying, "Pm sure this
will please you." She took 1t, looked at IL a
moment inside and out then threw 1t aside l
was ast0nished TO see the. cherished book
treated with disdain, but managed to ask,
"Have.you read it?"
'I've seen it." was the curt reply.
Don't you like it?' Iagain ventured.
Its ridiculous thing" was the answer.
This was too much for me, and proceeded
then and there to give most eloquent de-
Tense Of the book mingled with little satire
| at the taste that could find nothing but what
| was ridiculous in 1t.
The lady listened to me without replying,
then turned away and sought the proprietor
| OF the library, and was soon engaged in earn
| est conversation with him. l saw her glance
around at me and his eyes followed her
| glance. She was no doubt complaining Of
my impertinence, and | was sure Of reproof,
/ possibly dismissal. Suddenly the proprietor
burst into hearty peal OF laughter, in which
| the lady joined. | don't know why 1t was,
but felt a little reassured, and Just then
was called to the receiving desk.
'Do you know who the lady is whom you
were just seryingP" asked the girl in charge
there.
what, the one talking with Mr.. Lorlng9'
"Yes."
mo. I'm sure DON'T" answered.
We'll, 1t was the mother Of Little Wo.
men,"
What not Miss AlcOtt"
"Yes, certainly, Miss Aleott."
30 dear and I've just been abusing her
because she wouldn't take her own book.
And that was just what had been doing,
but IL was such 9n unconscious tribute 70 ncl
story that Miss AlcOtt regarded ~ as a COM
pliment, and 1t is perhaps needless 70 say
neither of us ever forgot our first meetlns'
The National Union and y Mon mon savings
hanks of Fall River have S15l,OOO worth OF
GashjeT Memoirs paper. A director stated
last night that If time was given for collec-
tion. neither Institution would lose heavily
An engineer captain has been arrested al
Portsmouth, Eng, Tor showing an American