Wife of David Lee Child, was born in Massachusetts, bat ^ the early portion of her youth in Maine, whither her fother, Ifi Francis, had removed when she was quite young. She found fci literary privileges in the place of her residence, but she had 1i» genius that nourishes itself on nature ; and from the influence ii the wild scenes which surrounded her home in childhood, -dw doubtless, draws even now much of the freshness of thought vigour of style which mark her productions.

In 1823, being on a visit to her brother, the Rev. Convers FnmcS^ then pastor of the Unitarian Church at Watertown, Massachusetts Miss Francis conunenced her literary life with **Hobom<^, a of the Pilgrims ;" which was written in six weeks, and pub in 1824; ever since that time its author has kept her place faithful labourer in the field of literature, and perhaps not one the American female writers has had wider influence, or m more earnest eflbrts to do good with her talents. Her next w< "The Rebels," was published in 1825 ; soon afterwards Miss Franck became Mrs. Child, and her married life has been a true and lovely exemplification of the domestic concord which congenial minds produce as well as enjoy.

In 1827, Mrs. Child engaged as editor of "The Juvenfle Miscd- lany," the first monthly periodical issued in the Union for Children. Under her care the work became very popular; she has a wann sympathy with the young — her genius harmonized with the under- taking, and some of the articles in this "Miscellany are amoi^ the best she has written. During the six following years, Hn. Child's pen was incessantly employed. Besides her editorial dutkf she published, successively— "The Frugal Housewife," written as she said in the preface, "for the poor," and one of the most nse- tal books of its kind extant— "The Mother's Book," an excellent manual in training children, though the author has never been a mother— and "The Girl's Book," designed as a holiday present^ and descriptive of Children's plays. She also prepared five volumes for "The Ladies' Family Library," comprising "Lives of Madame de Stael and Madame Roland;" "Lady Russell and Madame Guyon;" "Biographies of Good Wives ;" and the "History and Condition of Woman ;" which works were published in Boston. Besides all these she published in 1833, "The Coronal," a collection of miscellane- ous pieces, in prose and verse. The most important step in her literary career was that which she took with the abolitionists, by issuing her "Appeal for that class of Americans called AfHcans." This appeal was written with that earnest and honest enthuauim pervading all Mrs. Child's benevolent efforts. The design of the abolitionists is the improvement and happiness of the coloured race; for this end Mrs. Child devoted her noblest talents, her holiest aspirations.

Since 1883, only three works of her's have been published; "Philothea" appeared in 1835, a charming romance, filled with the pure aspirations of genius, and rich in classical lore; the scene being laid in Greece in the time of Pericles and Aspasia. The work is in one volume, and was planned and partly written before its author entered the arena of party ; but the bittei: feeling engendered