Martha Finley

Elsie at the World's Fair Martha Finley

Publisher Marketing: Hugh Lilburn was very urgent with his betrothed for a speedy marriage, pleading that as her brother had robbed him and his father of their expected housekeeper-his cousin Marian-he could not long do without the wife who was to supply her place. Her sisters, Isadore and Virginia, who had come up from the far South to be present at the ceremony, joined with him in his plea for haste. They wanted to see her in her own home, they said, and that without remaining too long away from theirs. Ella finally yielded to their wishes so far as to complete her preparations within a month after the home-coming from the North. The wedding was a really brilliant affair, and followed up by parties given by the different members of the family connection; but no bridal trip was taken, neither bride nor groom caring for it, and Hugh's business requiring his presence at home. A few weeks later Calhoun Conly went North for his bride. Some festivities followed his return; then all settled down for the winter, Harold and Herbert Travilla taking up their medical studies with Dr. Conly, and Captain Raymond's pupils resuming such of their lessons as had been dropped for the time, though the wedding festivities had been allowed to interfere but little with them, as-with the exception of Marian, now Mrs. Conly-they were considered too young to attend the parties. A matter of regret to none of them except Rosie Travilla and Lucilla Raymond, and even they, though they would have been glad to be permitted to go, made no remonstrance or complaint, but submitted cheerfully to the decision of their elders. A busy, happy winter and spring followed, bringing no unusual event to any branch of the family. Contributor Bio:  Finley, Martha Martha Finley (1828 1909) was born in Ohio. She was a private educator in Pennsylvania until she became ill and moved to Elkton, Maryland, where at age twenty-six, she began her literary career as a means to support herself. She wrote twenty-eight Elsie books and was one of the most beloved children s authors of all time, with over twenty-five million readers in both America and England.