Ben Brightboots and other True Stories, Hymns & Music.

London: James Nisbet, nd. (c.1883).. Presumed first edition. Posthumously published by her sister Maria V.G. Havergal. "The true story of "Ben Brightboots" [a cat story] was written in 1869. Her beautiful allegory "The Spirit of Beauty" shows her youthful power in composition. "Robin Redbreast and Brown Mousie," and two or three other papers, were written for the Children's Special Service Mission, and have been translated into many languages. The unpublished "Talk with Philip the Boatman" was written January 24th 1879." (Prefatory note dated 1882). 17cms x 12cms. Pp.viii/145/6(advertisements for other publications), engraved frontispiece (Cedar Tree, Winterdyne), musical notation for hymns, very mild spotting to frontispiece and spotting to tissue guard and rear endpaper, minor cracking to inner hinge at pp.48/49. Green illustrated cloth showing a black cat peeping out of a roundel. Gilt decorated title to front and spine. Small faded spot to lower front board and faint rectangular trace where a publisher's label was previously pasted. Bumps to corner tips. Generally a clean tight copy of a scarce book. G+."Frances Ridley Havergal (14 December 1836 � 3 June 1879) was an English religious poet and hymn writer. Take My Life and Let it Be and Thy Life for Me (also known as I Gave My Life for Thee) are two of her best known hymns. She also wrote hymn melodies, religious tracts, and works for children."(wiki)."Frances R. Havergal (1836-1879) was born in her father�s rectory at Worcestershire, England, the youngest of the Havergal family. Some considered her a prodigy for being inclined to read, write, and memorize Scripture at the age of four. From childhood Miss Havergal wrote narratives and prose that were eagerly published and read in religious periodicals. By the age of 14 she was quoted as saying, �I committed my soul to the Saviour� earth and heaven seemed brighter from that moment, when I did trust the Lord Jesus.� Being frail of health her entire life, Miss Havergal died at the young age of forty-three. She is best remembered for her musical talents and the composition of many excellent hymns, which are still being sung to date." (blueletterbible).