BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH. XV 



of a Young Naturalist," and "The Stepbrothers." This firm 

 paid he^* more liberally than Harris, and it was with the 

 utmost delight and pleasure that she sent the proceeds of her 

 pen to her mother at Reydon, grateful that she was able to 

 help even in so small a way to eke out the now reduced 

 income of the home. 



Messrs. Dean & Mundy published "Little Downy, the 

 Field-mouse," and " Keepsake Guinea, and Other Stories," in 

 1822. Many other short stories were written and published 

 in the various Annuals issued between that year and Katie's 

 marriage in 1832. "Little Downy, the Field-mouse" was 

 the most popular, and is, I believe, still in print. None of 

 the early works of the sisters were written over' their own 

 names, and a late edition of this story was issued by the 

 publishers over Susanna's (Mrs. Moodie) name, and though 

 both the sisters wrote protesting against the blunder and 

 requesting a correction, no notice was taken of their letters. 



" Little Downy was a real mouse," said Mrs. Traill recently, 

 when speaking of her early works, "and I well remember 

 how I wrote its story. I used to sit under the great oak tree 

 near where it lived, and watch the pretty creature's frisky, 

 frolicing ways, and write about it on my slate. When I 

 had both sides covered I ran into the house and transcribed 

 what I had written in an old copy-book, then ran out again 

 to watch the gentle dear and write some more." 



During the years which intervened between the death of 

 her father and her marriage, nothing of very great moment 

 occurred in Katie's life, save the falling in of a small legacy as 

 her share of a deceased uncle's property. She made occasional 

 visits to London, where she stayed with a cousin of her father's 

 or with other friends — visits full of interest from the people she 

 met, the glimpses obtained of fashionable life, and the often 

 amusing adventures which ever fall to the lot of those who 

 go about the world with their eyes open. Katie's brilliant 

 complexion, soft beauty and sunny smile won her the love 



