The Seven Little Sisters Who Live on the Round Ball That Floats in the Air | Page 2

decision of expression; her features are classic
and firm in outline, with pronounced resolution in the close of the full
lips, or of hearty merriment in the open laugh, illuminated by a dazzle
of well-set teeth; her complexion fresh and pure, and the whole aspect

of her face kind, courageous, and inspiring, as well as thoughtful and
impressive. The poise of her head and rather strongly built figure is
unusually good, and suggestive of health, dignity, and leadership; yet
her manners and voice are so gentle, and her whole demeanor so
benevolent, that no one could be offended at her taking naturally the
direction of any work, or the planning of any scheme, which she would
also be foremost in executing.
But there she sits looking up at her friends, with her papers in hand, and
the pretty businesslike air that so well became her, and bespeaks the
extreme criticism of her hearers upon what she shall read, because she
really wants to know how it affects them, and what mistakes or faults
can be detected; for she must do her work as well as possible, and is
sure they are willing to help. "You see," says Jane, "I have dedicated
the book to the children I told the stories to first, when the plan was
only partly in my mind, and they seemed to grow by telling, till at last
they finished themselves; and the children seemed to care so much for
them, that I thought if they were put into a book other children might
care for them too, and they might possibly do some good in the world."
Yes, those were the points that always indicated the essential aim and
method of Jane's writing and teaching, the elements out of which
sprang all her work; viz., the relation of her mind to the actual
individual children she knew and loved, and the natural growth of her
thought through their sympathy, and the accretion of all she read and
discovered while the subject lay within her brooding brain, as well as
the single dominant purpose to do some good in the world. There was
definiteness as well as breadth in her way of working all through her
life.
I wish I could remember exactly what was said by that critical circle;
for there were some quick and brilliant minds, and some pungent
powers of appreciation, and some keen-witted young women in that
group. Perhaps I might say they had all felt the moulding force of some
very original and potential educators as they had been growing up into
their young womanhood. Some of these were professional educators of
lasting pre-eminence; others were not professed teachers, yet in the
truest and broadest sense teachers of very wide and wise and inspiring
influence; and of these Thomas Wentworth Higginson had come more
intimately and effectually into formative relations with the minds and

characters of those gathered in that sunny room than any other person.
They certainly owed much of the loftiness and breadth of their aim in
life, and their comprehension of the growth and work to be
accomplished in the world, to his kind and steady instigation. I wish I
could remember what they said, and what Jane said; but all that has
passed away. I think somebody objected to the length of the title, which
Jane admitted to be a fault, but said something of wishing to get the
idea of the unity of the world into it as the main idea of the book. I only
recall the enthusiastic delight with which chapter after chapter was
greeted; we declared that it was a fairy tale of geography, and a work of
genius in its whole conception, and in its absorbing interest of detail
and individuality; and that any publisher would demonstrate himself an
idiot who did not want to publish it. I remember Jane's quick tossing
back of the head, and puzzled brow which broke into a laugh, as she
said: "Well, girls, it can't be as good as you say; there must be some
faults in it." But we all exclaimed that we had done our prettiest at
finding fault,--that there wasn't a ghost of a fault in it. For the incarnate
beauty and ideality and truthfulness of her little stories had melted into
our being, and left us spellbound, till we were one with each other and
her; one with the Seven Little Sisters, too, and they seemed like our
very own little sisters. So they have rested in our imagination and
affection as we have seen them grow into the imagination and affection
of generations of children since, and as they will continue to grow until
the old limitations and barrenness of the study of geography shall be
transfigured, and the earth seem to the children