Books with author Carrol Watson Rankin

First published in 1904 "Dandelion Cottage" is Carroll Watson Rankin's best known novel. She first wrote the story for her own children. The novel became a regional classic in the Midwest, it tells of four young girls who negotiate the use of a derelict cottage as a playhouse by pulling dandelions for the owner, prosperous Mr. Black. Mr. Black character is based on, Marquette businessman and philanthropist Peter White, and the original Dandelion Cottage is also a real house that is still standing to this day.

Girls of Highland Hall: Further Adventures of the Dandelion Cottagers by Carroll Watson Rankin Copyright, 1921First printing, August, 1921Second printing, May, 1922Third printing, September, 1925 Books by Carroll W. RankinThe Adopting of Rosa MarieThe Castaways of Pete’s PatchThe Cinder PondThe Girls of GardenvilleDandelion CottageGirls of Highland HallCONTENTSDedicationThe Persons of the StoryChapter 1. On the WayChapter 2. PreparationsChapter 3. LostChapter 4. First ImpressionsChapter 5. New AcquaintancesChapter 6. Getting SettledChapter 7. An Old AcquaintanceChapter 8. Brave VictoriaChapter 9. Strange DisappearancesChapter 10. Mabel Finds a FamilyChapter 11. Mabel Stays HomeChapter 12. A Growing GirlChapter 13. Many Small MysteriesChapter 14. Unpopular MarjoryChapter 15. A Surprising FestivalChapter 16. More Mysterious HappeningsChapter 17. Henrietta Is WorriedChapter 18. A String of Blue BeadsChapter 19. Sallie’s StoryChapter 20. A Joyful SurpriseChapter 21. A Girl Leaves SchoolChapter 22. A Mystery ClearedChapter 23. Pig or Pork?Chapter 24. Still No NewsChapter 25. An Exciting FatherChapter 26. Henrietta Is MysteriousChapter 27. Sallie’s Present The Persons of the StoryBettie Tucker, Jean Mapes, Marjory Vale and Mabel Bennett…Once of Dandelion Cottage, now of Highland Hall.Henrietta Bedford…Their Best Friend.Peter Black…Bettie’s Best Friend.The Rhodes Family…Of Highland Hall.Miss Woodruff…A Stern Teacher.Maude Wilder…Her Most Incorrigible Pupil.Miss Blossom…A Timely Flower.Madame Bolande…Who Bathed in Perfume.Gladys de Milligan…The Daughter of a Foolish Mother.Abbie…A Sad Example to All Boarding School Orphans.Sallie Dickinson…A Boarding School Orphan.Elisabeth Wilson, Eleanor Pratt and Beatrice Holmes…The Lofty Seniors.Victoria Webster…A Brave Maiden.Isabelle Carew…Who Is Sentimental.Augusta Lemon…A Timid Girl.Cora Doyle…A Growing Girl.Various Teachers, Girls and Fathers—Especially Fathers.

The Adopting of Rosa Marie - A Sequel to Dandelion Cottage by Carroll Watson RankinRankin was born 11 May 1864 in Marquette, Michigan, in the Upper Peninsula, and raised her four children there. Her first writing assignment came at the age of 16, when she was hired as a reporter for the Daily Mining Journal. THE oldest inhabitant said that Lakeville was experiencing an unusual fall. He would probably have said the same thing if the high-perched town had accidentally tumbled off the bluff into the blue lake; but in this instance, he referred merely to the weather, which was certainly unusually mild for autumn.It was not, however, the oldest, but four of the youngest citizens that rejoiced most in this unusual prolonging of summer; for the continued warm weather made it possible for those devoted friends, Jean Mapes, Marjory Vale, Mabel Bennett and little Bettie Tucker, to spend many a delightful hour in their precious Dandelion Cottage, the real, tumble-down house that was now, after so many narrow escapes, safely their very own. Some day, to be sure, it would be torn down to make room for a habitable dwelling, but that unhappy day was still too remote to cause any uneasiness.Of course, when very cold weather should come, it would be necessary to close the beloved Cottage, for there was no heating plant, there were many large cracks over and under the doors and around the windows; and by lying very flat on the dining-room floor and peering under the baseboards, one could easily see what was happening in the next yard. These, and other defects, would surely make the little house uninhabitable in winter; but while the unexpectedly extended summer lasted, the Cottagers were rejoicing over every pleasant moment of weather and praying hard for other pleasant moments.Of all the games played in Dandelion Cottage, the one called "Mother" was the most popular. To play it, it was necessary, first of all, to divide the house into four equal parts. As there were five rooms, this division might seem to offer no light task; but, by first subtracting the kitchen, it was possible to solve this difficult mathematical problem to the Cottagers' entire satisfaction.But of course one can't play "Mother" without possessing a family. The Cottagers solved this problem also. Bettie's home could always be counted on to furnish at least two decidedly genuine babies and Jean could always borrow a perfectly delightful little cousin named Anne Halliday; but Marjory and Mabel, to their sorrow, were absolutely destitute of infantile relatives. Mabel was the chief sufferer. Sedate Marjory, plausible of tongue, convincing in manner, could easily accumulate a most attractive family at very short notice by the simple expedient of borrowing babies from the next block; but nowhere within reasonable reach was there a mother willing to intrust her precious offspring a second time to heedless Mabel.

How many girls have wished to spend a summer in a real camp on the shores of a lake, with soft grasss, kind to bare feet, comfortable camp beds of fragrant balsam tips and plenty of real adventure. Here are our friends of the Dandelion Cottage marooned on a point of land, indian boys, a castaway sailor lad, and many other happenings fill this book full of delight for the girls, who, having read the earlier volumes of the series, will be glad to meet again these cheery little lassies of the justly famous Dandelion Cottage Series

Mr. Arthur Mackwayte slipped noiselessly into the dining-room and took his place at the table. He always moved quietly, a look of gentle deprecation on his face as much as to say: "Really, you know, I can't help being here: if you will just overlook me this time, by and by you won't notice I'm there at all!" That was how he went through life, a shy, retiring little man, quiet as a mouse, gentle as a dove, modesty personified.