Coolly she answers, ‘If you want my money, say so.’ ‘Not exactly money, ma’am,’ says the man, ‘for I don’t suppose you have much here. Chatterton’s varied life has brought her nothing if not self control. There is a slight click that causes her nerves to thrill. Dropping her fingers quickly and turning away from the glass, she exclaims, ‘How dare you come in without knocking?’ ‘If you make a noise I’ll kill you,’ declares the man standing in the shadow of a portiere and watching her underneath a slouched black hat. Chatterton, standing by her toilet table, carefully examining her wealth of gray hair, is surprised in the very act of picking out an obnoxious white one by a noise in the further corner of the apartment. This heartwarming tale is a testament to perseverance in the face of hardship, incorruptible kindness, and the power of family love that conveys a message well worth learning to this day. When little Phronsie is later placed in great danger, the Peppers meet young Jasper King, who will ultimately change their fates and lead them to the unexpected conclusion of the novel.

The family faces many challenges, such as sickness and an overflowing generosity stinted by their financial straits, yet they accept and overcome many obstacles with an optimism and good naturedness that is as surprising as it is commendable. While very poor, the Peppers live in a supportive little town in their beloved Little Brown House.

This first novel introduces Ben, Polly, Joel, Davie, and Phronsie, the children of their widowed Mamsie, Mrs.

The first in a series of books about the Pepper family, these imaginative children’s stories have delighted readers since their original publication in 1881.

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