In preparing for the press "The Life and Beauties of Fanny Fern," we have given to the reader a statement of the most prominent incidents in her eventful career, which is authenticated, not only by the testimony of her nearest relatives, but by communications from her own lips. The lives of distinguished men or women have always been accounted public property, and, in narrating that of Fanny Fern, we have confined ourselves to simple facts, leaving the fancy-pictures to be filled up by others.
In giving selections from her "Beauties," we present the reader with a bouquet of "Ferns," all freshly gathered. In so doing, we have infringed on no one's copy-right; the sketches having been copied, in every instance, from the papers to which they were originally contributed. A large proportion of them have never before appeared within the covers of a book. These latter are the very articles upon which Fanny made her reputation. We have given quotations which do justice to every variety of her versatile style. One page flashes with the keen edge of satire, another brims over with mirth, and a third is tearful with pathos.
We have shown Fanny at home, on the street, and in church, and have thus furnished a key which will unlock many of the mysteries of "Ruth Hall," and "Fern Leaves."
CONTENTS.
| I. | |
| Genius in Pantalettes. | [11] |
| II. | |
| Fanny at School. | [13] |
| III. | |
| The New Name. | [18] |
| IV. | |
| The Husband's Death. | [20] |
| V. | |
| The Second Marriage. | [27] |
| VI. | |
| Fanny Fern at Home. | [31] |
| VII. | |
| Early Literary Efforts. | [37] |
| VIII. | |
| Fanny and the True Flag. | [39] |
| IX. | |
| Fanny Fern in Church. | [48] |
| X. | |
| Fanny Fern in Broadway. | [52] |
| XI. | |
| Fanny at the Tremont House. | [55] |
| XII. | |
| A Key to "Ruth Hall." | [60] |
| XIII. | |
| A Word about N. P. Willis. | [69] |
| XIV. | |
| Ideas about Babies. | [72] |
| XV. | |
| Praise from a Woman. | [79] |
| XVI. | |
| The Remarkable History of Jemmy Jessamy. | [81] |
| XVII. | |
| Jemmy Jessamy's Defence. | [85] |
| XVIII. | |
| The Governess. | [88] |
| XIX. | |
| All about Satan. | [103] |
| XX. | |
| Well Known Characters. | [106] |
| XXI. | |
| Horace Mann's "Opinion." | [111] |
| XXII. | |
| What Fanny Thinks of Hot Weather. | [113] |
| XXIII. | |
| Family Jars. | [114] |
| XXIV. | |
| Two in Heaven. | [119] |
| XXV. | |
| The Private History of Didymus Daisy, Esq. | [121] |
| XXVI. | |
| The Wedding Dress. | [125] |
| XXVII. | |
| Is it Best to Use Envelopes? | [132] |
| XXVIII. | |
| Feminine Wisdom. | [137] |
| XXIX. | |
| Always Speak the Truth. | [139] |
| XXX. | |
| Moses Miltiades Milton. | [142] |
| XXXI. | |
| Tom versus Fan; or, a Little Talk about LittleThings. | [145] |
| XXXII. | |
| A Letter to the True Flag. | [152] |
| XXXIII. | |
| The Orphan. | [154] |
| XXXIV. | |
| An Answer to Mrs. Crowe. | [160] |
| XXXV. | |
| Mrs. Farrington on Matrimony. | [162] |
| XXXVI. | |
| A Whisper to Romantic Young Ladies. | [164] |
| XXXVII. | |
| A Woman with a Soul. | [168] |
| XXXVIII. | |
| Clerical Courting. | [170] |
| XXXIX. | |
| What Fowler Says. | [175] |
| XL. | |
| The Other Side. | [179] |
| XLI. | |
| The Good-Natured Bachelor. | [186] |
| XLII. | |
| Catching the Dear. | [188] |
| XLIII. | |
| Helen, the Village Rose-Bud. | [190] |
| XLIV. | |
| Single Blessedness. | [200] |
| XLV. | |
| That Mrs. Jones. | [201] |
| XLVI. | |
| Mrs. Jupiter's Soliloquy. | [204] |
| XLVII. | |
| The Unfaithful Lover. | [206] |
| XLVIII. | |
| Petticoat Parliament. | [213] |
| XLIX. | |
| Fanny Fern on Widowers. | [215] |
| L. | |
| An Hour With Fanny's Father. | [217] |
| LI. | |
| John Bull's Opinion of "Ruth Hall." | [222] |
| LII. | |
| Orthodox Testimony. | [225] |
| LIII. | |
| Another Fern. | [227] |
| LIV. | |
| The Best of Men have their Failings. | [229] |
| LV. | |
| The Mistake of a Life-time. | [231] |
| LVI. | |
| A Wife's Devotion. | [238] |
| LVII. | |
| Mrs. Zebedee Smith's Philosophy. | [243] |
| LVIII. | |
| Interesting to Bashful Men. | [246] |
| LIX. | |
| The Angel Child. | [249] |
| LX. | |
| Uncle Ben's Attack of Spring-Fever. | [253] |
| LXI. | |
| Connubial Advertisement. | [258] |
| LXII. | |
| What Fanny Thinks about Sewing-Machines. | [260] |
| LXIII. | |
| The Time to Choose. | [263] |
| LXIV. | |
| Our Nelly. | [265] |
| LXV. | |
| I Can't. | [269] |
| LXVI. | |
| Mrs. Smith's Reverie. | [271] |
| LXVII. | |
| A Night-watch with a Dead Infant. | [273] |
| LXVIII. | |
| A Little Good Advice. | [275] |
| LXIX. | |
| The Other One. | [277] |
| LXX. | |
| A Pen and Ink Sketch. | [280] |
| LXXI. | |
| Fanny's "Rules for Ladies." | [283] |
| LXXII. | |
| The Little Pauper. | [286] |
| LXXIII. | |
| What Fanny Thinks about Friendship. | [289] |
| LXXIV. | |
| Truth Stranger than Fiction. | [292] |
| LXXV. | |
| Don't Disturb Him. | [299] |
| LXXVI. | |
| A Model Husband. | [301] |
| LXXVII. | |
| What to do when you are Angry. | [303] |
| LXXVIII. | |
| The Early Blight. | [305] |
| LXXIX. | |
| There's Room Enough for All. | [309] |
| LXXX. | |
| The Cross and the Crown. | [312] |
| LXXXI. | |
| Tom Fay's Soliloquy. | [314] |
| LXXXII. | |
| A Chapter on Clergymen. | [318] |
| LXXXIII. | |
| Fanny Fern on Husbands. | [321] |
| LXXXIV. | |
| Fanny's Ideas of Money Matters. | [324] |
| LXXXV. | |
| A Letter to a Self-exiled Friend in the Country. | [327] |
LIFE AND BEAUTIES
OF
FANNY FERN