Page 372 - The Story of My Lif

her from a collection of juvenile publications, among which was the copy of

“Birdie and his Fairy Friends”; and, while Mrs. Hopkins does not remember this
story of “Frost Fairies,” she is confident that she read to Helen extracts, if not
entire stories, from this volume. But as she was not able to find her copy, and
applications for the volume at bookstores in Boston, New York, Philadelphia,
Albany, and other places resulted only in failure, search was instituted for the
author herself. This became a difficult task, as her publishers in Philadelphia had
retired from business many years ago; however, it was eventually discovered that
her residence is at Wilmington, Delaware, and copies of the second edition of the
book, 1889, were obtained from her. She has since secured and forwarded to me
a copy of the first edition.

The most generous and gratifying letters have been received from Miss Canby
by Helen’s friends, a few extracts from which are given:

Under date of February 24, 1892, after mentioning the order of the publication of
the stories in the magazine, she writes: “All the stories were revised before
publishing them in book form; additions were made to the number as first
published, I think, and some of the titles may have been changed.”

In the same letter she writes:

“I hope that you will be able to make her understand that I am glad she enjoyed
my story, and that I hope the new book will give her pleasure by renewing her

friendship with the Fairies. I shall write to her in a short time. I am so much
impressed with what I have learned of her that I have written a little poem
entitled A Silent Singer, which I may send to her mother after a while. Can you
tell me in what paper the article appeared accusing Helen of plagiarism, and
giving passages from both stories? I should like much to see it, and to obtain a
few copies if possible.”