The vase of flowers fair;
The desk beside the window
When the sun shines warm and bright,
And there in ease and quiet
The promised book you write
While I sit close behind you,
Content at last to see
That you can rest, dear mother,
And I can cherish thee.
Louisa very early took upon herself the task of building up the family fortunes. When only fifteen, she began teaching school in a barn. Among her pupils were the children of Mr. Emerson. At this same period we find her writing fairy stories which she sent out to various editors. The editors promptly published these stories, but they sent her no money for them. But money she must have, so, besides her teaching, this enterprising girl took in sewing, which brought her little, but was better than writing stories for nothing! Louisa's intellect and ability did not make her vain; she was not ashamed to do any kind of honorable work.