Loosely based on the author's childhood, Laddie is a double tale--the classic poor-boy, rich-girl romance and the story of a child of nature and her idyllic childhood. The narrator, Little Sister, is a girl who lives on a farm with her older siblings. Laddie, the oldest, is a strong influence on her life. As Little Sister grows, she realizes the value of experience in learning about nature. Although schooling and books teach her the names of plants and animals, it is only by being outside and observing her environment that she truly learns. Like Gene Stratton-Porter, Little Sister was not meant for a life indoors. Her joy in life is being with nature, not living and working in indoor confinement. This novel is a good one to read to understand Stratton-Porter's childhood and how it later affected her life and work. Newly designed and typeset in a modern 6-by-9-inch format by Waking Lion Press.