THE OLD PEABODY PEW (1907) A Christmas Romance of a Country Church1907 Kate Douglas Wiggin (September 28, 1856 - August 24, 1923) was an American educator and author of children's stories, most notably the classic children's novel Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm. She started the first free kindergarten in San Francisco in 1878 (the Silver Street Free Kindergarten). With her sister during the 1880s, she also established a training school for kindergarten teachers. Kate Wiggin devoted her adult life to the welfare of children in an era when children were commonly thought of as cheap labour.

"The Old Peabody Pew", by Kate Douglas Wiggin. Kate Douglas Wiggin was american educator and author of children's stories (1856-1923).

This Is A New Release Of The Original 1905 Edition.

This Is A New Release Of The Original 1905 Edition.

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Kate Douglas Wiggin (September 28, 1856 - August 24, 1923) was an American educator and author of children's stories, most notably the classic children's novel Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm. She started the first free kindergarten in San Francisco in 1878 (the Silver Street Free Kindergarten). With her sister during the 1880s, she also established a training school for kindergarten teachers. Kate Wiggin devoted her adult life to the welfare of children in an era when children were commonly thought of as cheap labour Kate Douglas Smith Wiggin was born in Philadelphia, the daughter of lawyer Robert N. Smith, and of Welsh descent.[1][2] Kate herself experienced a happy childhood, even though it was coloured by the American Civil War and her father's death. Kate and her sister Nora were still quite young when their widowed mother moved her little family from Philadelphia to Portland, Maine, then, three years later, upon her remarriage, to the little village of Hollis. There Kate matured in rural surroundings, with her sister and her new baby brother, Philip.

The Old Peabody Pew is written by Kate Douglas Wiggin. The story begins with the Dorcas Society, being female and possessed of notions regarding comfort and beauty, generally disapproved of making any impious alterations in a tabernacle, chapel, temple, or other building used for worship. This sentiment had been maintained for a quarter of a century but was especially strong in the old Tory Hill Meeting House. Every pew in the old Meeting House was scrubbed by members of the Ladies' Christian Temperance Society. "When men lose their wives, they lose their wits," said the Widow Buzzell. "If there's anything duller than cookin' three meals a day for yourself, and eatin' them by yourself, I'd like to know it!". A bird without a song stood in for Nancy Peabody's love each year. Since that gloomy day in November when Justin said goodbye, the months had seemingly never ended. If she had openly pledged to him, she could have waited twice ten years.

Kate Douglas Wiggin, nee Smith (1856-1923) was an American children's author and educator. She was born in Philadelphia, and was of Welsh descent. She started the first free kindergarten in San Francisco in 1878 (the "Silver Street Free Kindergarten"). With her sister in the 1880s she also established a training school for kindergarten teachers. Her best known books are The Story of Pasty (1883), The Birds' Christmas Carol (1887), Polly Oliver's Problem (1893), A Cathedral Courtship (1893), The Village Watchtoer (1896), Marm Lisa (1897) and Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm (1903).