“ She had wit, humor and pathos. With mature years and experience her productions took on a philosophical tone and became more polished. Her books have been sold by the hundreds of thousands, and many of them are still in demand. ”

“ She tried to support her- self and children by sewing, but the work prostrated her. She sought vainly to get a position as teacher in the public schools. After repeated discouragements, she, in 1851, thought of using her literary talent She wrote a series of short, crisp, sparkling articles, which she sold to Boston newspapers at a half-dollar apiece. They at once attracted attention and were widely copied. Her pen-name, "Fanny Fern," soon became popular, and her "Fern Leaves," as the sketches were entitled, brought her offers for better pay from New York publishers. ”