The Life and Beauties of Fanny Fern

Inconsistent hyphenation and spelling in the original document have been preserved. Obvious typographical errors have been corrected.

Italic text is denoted by underscores.

On page 136, "othewise" should possibly be "otherwise". On page 165, unclosed parenthesis should possibly be closed after "clamorous for supper".

THE LIFE AND BEAUTIES OF FANNY FERN.

"Speak of me as I am; nothing extenuate, Nor set down aught in malice."

Philadelphia:

T. B. PETERSON, NO. 306 CHESTNUT STREET, GIRARD BUILDINGS, ABOVE THIRD.

Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year One Thousand Eight Hundred and Fifty-five, by H. LONG & BROTHER, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States, for the Southern District of New York

PREFACE.

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 LITTLE THINGS. 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