ties and affection, for
the 'Pine Tree State' is proud to claim this gifted daughter, not only
for her genius but her beauty of character and true womanliness.

Mrs. Wiggin's work is characterized by a delicious flow of humor, depth
of pathos, and a delicate play of fancy. Her greatest charm as a
writer is simplicity of style. It enables us to come in perfect touch
with her characterizations, which are so full of human nature that, as
some one has said, "we feel them made of good flesh and blood like
ourselves, with whom we have something, be it ever so little, that
keeps us from being alien one to another." Her keen but sympathetic
penetration attains some of the happiest results in the wholesome
realism of her child characters; her children become real to us, creep
into our hearts, and we love them, and in sympathy with this sentiment
springs up a spontaneous reawakening of interest in the child-world
about us.

EMMA SHERMAN ECHOLS.

POLLY OLIVER'S PROBLEM

A STORY FOR GIRLS

"_What you can do, or dream you can, begin it.
Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it_."

GOETHE.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER

I. A DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE
II. FORECASTING THE FUTURE
III. THE DOCTOR GIVES POLLY A PRESCRIPTION
IV. THE BOARDERS STAY, AND THE OLIVERS GO
V. TOLD IN LETTERS
VI. POLLY TRIES A LITTLE MISSIONARY WORK
VII. "WHERE IGNORANCE IS BLISS"
VIII. TWO FIRESIDE CHATS
IX. HARD TIMES
X. EDGAR GOES TO CONFESSION
XI. THE LADY IN BLACK
XII. THE GREAT SILENCE
XIII. A GARDEN FLOWER, OR A BANIAN-TREE
XIV. EDGAR DISCOURSES OF SCARLET RUNNERS
XV. LIFE IN THE BIRDS' NEST
XVI. THE CANDLE CALLED PATIENCE
XVII. POLLY LAUNCHES HER SHIPS
XVIII. THE CHILDREN'S HOUR: REPORTED IN A
LETTER BY AN EYE-WITNESS

ILLUSTRATIONS

PORTRAIT OF MRS. WIGGIN . . . . . . . . . _Frontispiece_

MRS. OLIVER AND POLLY

"IT IS SOME OF THE STUDENTS"

"SHE OPENED THE BOOK AND READ"

[Transcriber's note: The second illustration was missing from the
original book.]

POLLY OLIVER'S PROBLEM.

"Pretty Polly Oliver, my hope and my fear,
Pretty Polly Oliver, I've loved you so dear!"
DINAH MARIA MULOCK.

CHAPTER I.

A DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE.

"I have determined only one thing definitely," said Polly Oliver; "and
that is, the boarders must go. Oh, how charming that sounds! I 've