READER ! WHEN the frost curtains the windows, when the wind whistles fiercely at the key-hole, when the bright fire glows, and the tea-tray is removed, and father in his slippered feet lolls in his arm-chair; and mother with her nimble needle "makes auld claes look amaist as weel as new," and grandmamma draws closer to the chimney-corner, and Tommy with his plate of chestnuts nestles contentedly at her feet; then let my unpretending story be read. For such an hour, for such an audience, was it written. Should any dictionary on legs rap inopportunely at the door for admittance, send him away to the groaning shelves of some musty library, where "literature" lies embalmed, with its stony eyes, fleshless joints, and ossified heart, in faultless preservation. Then, should the smile, and the tear, have passed round, while the candle flickers in the socket, if but one kindly voice murmur low, "MAY GOD BLESS HER!" it will brighten the dreams of FANNY FERN. CONTENTS. PAGE AUNT DOLLY-HOW IT CAME TO PASS-TWO OLD MAIDS' OPIN- LITTLE TIBBS-AN INSTANCE OF MRS. MARKHAM'S "MOTHERLY 39 THE INVESTIGATING COMMITTEE "INSPECT" THE ASYLUM-MR. |