The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-06-21
A Visit With the Author
of the Five Little Peppers

she was small and imaginative school
girl; she wrote, like Miss AIcott, in a
thin but copious stream 1t didn't
hurt her; it was good for her She
didn't publish until she was more than
30 years old. Harriet milford Stone
(now Mrs. Lothrop) was born in New
Haven, Conn.,, June %, 1874; her first
stories were printed in 1876, five years
before her marriage to her publisher
husband. 1t was IA years later that
she founded the National Society of
the Children of the American Revolu-
ton. She has been called an ideal
committee leader, representative
American woman, but the youngsters
know her only as the author of the
Little Pepper Books
1t is interesting to hear how she
happened to write the Five Little
Peppers
Always Knew the Five Peppers.
II think I have known them always"
sire explained, 81 didn't plan the books
at all. They've always been friends
of mine-Ben and Polly and Joel and
David and Phronsie. They opened the
door of the Little Brown House 1 went
in, watched what they did and wrote
about it,
'"They haven't shut the door, have
they?" worried Priscilla.
mo, indeed" Margaret Sidney assur-
ed her, IT have ever so much more to
tell"
Priscilla has the instincts of an in
terviewer.
Where did you write the Stories
Polly Pepper Told?''' she demanded.
Mrs. Lothrop laughed.
Il think I wrote some of them in the
garden she replied, land some of
them in the study. By the way,
wouldn't you like to go over the
house?''
Priscilla was more interested in
n -
thorne, IN Polly Pepper than Hilda,
but she followed obedient1y.
We went through the dim, rambling
old mansion. I think we snapped on
hundreds of electric lights, each of
which turned with one of the intricate
tricks for which Boston has a just and
malignant fame.
There was the cosy study which Mrs.
Temple of the MUSES. and the Delphic
Shrine" The fireplace is overhung
with shelves. The room is not lined
with books, as is Emerson's library;
A dozen greenbacked Little Pepper
books lay upon the table. The house
is full of antiques; there's a quaint
spinning wheel in the dining room.
Lothrop's room furnished in colonial
mahogany. We climbed the steep
stairs leading to the tower. friend
of the novelist had decorated the walls
ella glanced from the windows over
the "city of beautiful ideals" the
October meadows, and felt she could
write poems.
"But you don't climb a ladder after
ALL" she remarked.
1t was nearly church time, and we
descended hurriedly.
1.-The next time you have something
published you must send it to me,
said Mrs. Lothrop.
Priscilla beamed through her spec
tacIes She trod air instead of the
garden path.
"GIad 1t Was Her."
81 think she's adorable she con-
fided to Mrs. Romme1l; threw gram
mar to the autumn winds and muir
INJURED ecstatically, ''Im glad it was
her who wrote the Five Little Pep
perS.'
We rustled through Hawthorne's
walk, deep in russell leaves; it con- |
meets Wayside and the rejuvenated
Alcott house. Strange Margaret sgd
ney should write Five Little Peppers"
under the trees where Louisa May AL |
colt fashioned Little Women" Of
all juvenile literature these two have |
made children happiest. Church bells |
were pealing through the sleepy viii I
lage whose name spells peace.
Hurry up, Priscilla said Mrs. |
Rommel1.
Priscilla trailed behind; she was
thinking of the million joyous children |
whose laughter lies behind Mrs. |
smile. Alb.