University of Virginia Library

It is when sympathy with the “Little Ones” puts life into her pen, that Fanny's genius
appears in its most amiable and winning guise, and the fact speaks well for her goodness
of heart, and the practical earnestness of her Christian faith.

Short, pretty, and simple in the extreme, the youngest child can profit by them, while
the living breathing Fanny, is conspicuous in every line.

Her style is so clear, beautiful and attractive, and her subject so familiar, that the
little ones can't fail to appreciate this book.

A collection of little fancies blended into a large picture of truth—a miniature fountain
pouring out tiny streamlets of thoughts clad in the vesture of babbling childhood.

They contain many good hints at the fashions and follies of the day, and their general
popularity shows that they have secured a strong hold upon public sympathy.

A moral tone pervades the volume, and a mother's love for children beams out of the
pleasantly told stories.

We can commend the little volume as a fresh, heart-warm effusion of love for children,
full of vitality and tenderness, winning the sympathy of the reader by its glow of feeling.

Fanny wants to be loved by the children; and she has an intuitive perception that
by these gentle little critics, a page of good humored narrative is considered far more funny
than volumes of the keenest satire.

There is many a roar and many a cry enclosed within the covers of this little volume—
yes, both for young and old. It is a sincere book. Its tenderness is not an affected tenderness;
its wit is not forced; its simplicity is not artificial. It will go to the heart of its
little readers, because it came from the heart of the writer.

More of those glorious “Leaves” that Fanny only can drop upon the earth of this life.

All the deep tenderness of a true woman's heart flows through every thought and every
sentence.

Each separate sketch has its moral—every penciling is intended to leave a lasting and
happy impression on the mind of its little reader. The tales are all told in Fanny's peculiar
style—a style admirably adapted to such a work, and certain to prove attractive to the
young,

She has done a wise thing in writing a book which will be read with no less interest
by the grown up members of the fireside circles, than by the young rogues whom she
had in her eye in the composition.

Such a love of a little book, though—with such exquisitely dainty pictures, with such
lovely designs! Who, grown up child though he be, would n't read it?

It is published. We have read it, cried over it, laughed over it, marked it all up for
extract. Let all Fanny's little friends be set reading her Little Ferns forthwith. They
will make them happy and do them good.

Many little hearts will throb with delight, as they turn over the leaves with tremulous
impatience, eager to drink in at once all their wealth of pretty stories. Aunt Fanny will
henceforth be enshrined in their heart of hearts.

They abound in beauty, sweetness and virtue—a trinity that should ever be made the
desire and companion of the young. The pure hearted Fanny has greatly blessed the little
ones by this effort.