Hannah's Fancy Notions: 2a Story of Industrial New England

Hannah, 10, longs to see her older sister Rebecca return from her mill job in Lowell, Mass. Since their mother's death, their father has gradually stopped supporting the family, and Hannah is left to look after the three younger children. One day, Hannah makes a birthday gift for Rebeccaa bandbox devised out of wallpaper scraps and cardboard. Her father helps her perfect the design, and much to their delight, they drift into business, selling the boxes to working girls who travel home on weekends. Although her father's skillfulness helps, it is Hannah's creative ideas``fancy notions''harnessed with effort and thrift that save the family, giving them something to share. This is a pleasant, consoling story containing several charming vignettes, but it is thinly developed. The action builds slowly and comes to a rather sudden close. Illustrations not seen by PW. Ages 8-11. (August)