PREFACE.

As Phronsie Pepper was the only one of the “Five Little Peppers” who had not a chance to become
“grown- up” in the three books that form the Pepper Library, it seemed (to judge by the
expressions of those persons interested in this family) a little unfair not to give her that
opportunity.
The author has had so many letters from the elders, as well as the children, presenting this view of
the case, that she has been brought over to that opinion herself. And as Phronsie appeared to have
something to say on her own account, that the public, ever kind and attentive¹ to the Peppers,
desired to hear, it was thought best to let her speak, to make her appearance as “grown-up,” and
then to draw the curtain over the “little brown house” and the “Five Little Peppers,” never more to
rise.
Nothing was farther from the mind of the author of the “Five Little Peppers” than a series
concerning them; for she did not naturally incline to the extension of a book into other volumes.
But the portrayal² of the lives of the Peppers seemed to be a necessity. They were living, breathing
realities to her; and when pressed by many importunate³ readers to know “more and more” about
“Mamsie and Polly, Ben, Joel, David, and Phronsie,” it was only like telling the stories in the
twilight⁴ hour, of what was so real and vital to their author, that it was as if she were not speaking,
but only the scribe to jot⁵ it all down as it fell from the lips and the lives of others.
And here let the author state, in answer to the question so often asked her, “Did the Peppers really
live? and was there any little brown house?” that the whole story is imaginative, existing only in
her mind; although they always seemed so alive to her, that she let them talk and move and act
from beginning to end without let or hindrance⁶; believing that Margaret Sidney’s part was to
simply set down what the Peppers did and said, without trying to make them do or say anything in

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