Shirley Temple did a lot to make Rebecca famous when she won the world's heart in the movie we all remember. But the story is more than Temple, the film, or our memory of it: this is the tale of the little showgirl who, sent to the country to live with prim and proper relatives, is forbidden to do anything, well, showy. But Rebecca has other ideas, of course, and you know she'll win over the hearts and minds of everyone who'll see her show. . . . Certainly she won over Jack London. In 1904 he wrote to Wiggin herself: -May I thank you for Rebecca. . . ? I would have quested the wide world...

SUMMER MAGIC When Captain Carey went on his long journey into the unknown and uncharted land, the rest of the Careys tried in vain for a few months to be still a family, and did not succeed at all. They clung as closely to one another as ever they could, but there was always a gap in the circle where father had been. The only thing to do was to remember father's pride and justify it, to recall his care for mother and take his place so far as might be; the only thing for all, as the months went on, was to be what mother called the three Bs -- brave, bright, and busy. Can mother Nancy Carey...

-My door is on the latch tonight, The hearth fire is aglow. I seem to hear swift passing feet -- The Christ Child in the snow.- Reba, the minister's new wife, was spirited, vigorous, courageous, and clever. She was also invincibly, incurably happy -- so that the minister seemed to grow younger every year. Reba doubled his joys and halved his burdens, tossing them from one of her fine shoulders to the other like feathers. She swept into the quiet village life of Beulah like a salt sea breeze. Now she has a plan -- one involving a few small verses she has penned. For there are rebellious...

. . . . drew the baby closer, and listened to the voices outside brimming with joy: -Carol, brothers, carol, Carol joyfully, Carol the good tidings, Carol merrily - -Why, my baby, - whispered Mrs. Bird in soft surprise, -I had forgotten what day it was. You are a little Christmas child, and we will name you 'Carol' -- mother's little Christmas Carol - Kate Douglas Wiggin (1856-1923), author of such works as Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm, Penelope's English Experiences and A Village Stradivarius, was one of America's most popular writers of books for young people.

""Ballyragget, " "Ballysadare, "
"Ballybrophy, " "Ballinasloe, "
"Ballyhooley, " "Ballycumber, "
"Ballyduff, " "Ballynashee, "
"Ballywhack." "Don't they all sound jolly and grotesque?""

These places in Ireland may sound that way to Francesca. But not to Penelope

You remember, Penelope, don't you? She's the delightful Kate Douglas Wiggin heroine of "Penelope English Experiences" and "Penelope's Experiences in Scotland."

But where or not you've read those books, (and really, you should ) you simply must read "Penelope's Irish Experiences."

After plenty of...