Editha's Burglar: A Story for Children

( Original photograph of little Elsie Leslie. ) EDITHA.
BY FRANCES HODGSON BURNETT
ILLUSTRATED BY HENRY SANDHAM.
BOSTON JORDAN, MARSH & COMPANY 1890
Copyright, 1888, By JORDAN MARSH & CO.
March 25 1888 Dear Mr Jordan Marsh & Co Mamma has left it for me to deside if I will let you have my picture for your book I think it wold be very nice. wont it seem funny to see my very own picture in Editha like the little girl that used to be in st Nickolas. I think mrs Burnet writs lovely storys I wrote her a letter and sent it away to paris and told her so and asked her if she wold hurry and write another story just as quick as she could I am looking for an anser everyday. I like to write letters but I like to get the ansers still better I am going to play Editha in boston for two weeks and I will ask my mamma to let me come to your store and see all of the butiful things I used to come every day when I was in boston last winter your little frend Elsie Leslie 72 West 92 Street New York City ( Written by Elsie Leslie Lyde, the original Editha, eight years old. )
By Frances Hodgson Burnett.
I will begin by saying that Editha was always rather a queer little girl, and not much like other children. She was not a strong, healthy little girl, and had never been able to run about and play; and, as she had no sisters or brothers, or companions of her own size, she was rather old-fashioned, as her aunts used to call it. She had always been very fond of books, and had learned to read when she was such a tiny child, that I should almost be afraid to say how tiny she was when she read her first volume through. Her papa wrote books himself, and was also the editor of a newspaper; and, as he had a large library, Editha perhaps read more than was quite good for her. She lived in London; and, as her mamma was very young and pretty, and went out a great deal, and her papa was so busy, and her governess only came in the morning, she was left to herself a good many hours in the day, and when she was left to herself, she spent the greater part of her time in the library reading her papa’s big books, and even his newspapers.