Peggy Owen at Yorktown Part 39

Mrs. Madison was born in Kirkville, Adair County, Missouri, but when she was four years old her parents removed to Louisiana, Missouri, and there her girlhood was spent. She was educated in the public schools of that place, and graduated from the High School with the highest honor-the valedictory.

As a child she was pa.s.sionately fond of fairy stories, dolls and flowers. Up to her eleventh year the book that influenced her most was "Pilgrim's Progress." Mrs. Madison's father had a large library filled with general literature, and she read whatever she thought interesting.

In this way she became acquainted with the poets, ancient history and the novelists, d.i.c.kens and Scott. It was not until she was twelve that she came in contact with Miss Alcott's works, but after that Joe, Meg, Amy and Beth were her constant companions. At this time she was also devoted to "Scottish Chiefs," "Thaddeus of Warsaw" and "Ivanhoe," and always poetry.

She doesn't remember a time when she did not write. From her earliest childhood she made up little stories. In school she wrote poems, stories and essays. When she became a teacher she wrote her own stories and entertainments for the children's work.

Mrs. Madison's stories for girls are:

Peggy Owen Peggy Owen, Patriot Peggy Owen at Yorktown Peggy Owen and Liberty A Colonial Maid of Old Virginia A Daughter of the Union In Doublet and Hose A Maid of King Alfred's Court A Maid of the First Century