A STORY FOR GIRLS"What you can do, or dream you can, begin it.Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it."GOETHE.CONTENTSCHAPTER I. [A DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE]II. [FORECASTING THE FUTURE ]III. [THE DOCTOR GIVES POLLY A PRESCRIPTION ]IV. [THE BOARDERS STAY, AND THE OLIVERS GO ]V. [TOLD IN LETTERS ]VI. [POLLY TRIES A LITTLE MISSIONARY WORK ]VII. ["WHERE IGNORANCE IS BLISS" ]VIII. [TWO FIRESIDE CHATS ]IX. [HARD TIMES ]X. [EDGAR GOES TO CONFESSION ]XI. [THE LADY IN BLACK ]XII. [THE GREAT SILENCE ]XIII. [A GARDEN FLOWER, OR A BANIAN-TREE ]XIV. [EDGAR DISCOURSES OF SCARLET RUNNERS ]XV. [LIFE IN THE BIRDS' NEST ]XVI. [THE CANDLE CALLED PATIENCE ]XVII. [POLLY LAUNCHES HER SHIPS ]XVIII. [THE CHILDREN'S HOUR: REPORTED IN A LETTER BY AN EYE-WITNESS ]ILLUSTRATIONS[ PORTRAIT OF MRS. WIGGIN . . . . . . . . . Frontispiece ]MRS. OLIVER AND POLLY[ "IT IS SOME OF THE STUDENTS" ][ "SHE OPENED THE BOOK AND READ" ]