EWING

ewing, juliana horatia orr (1841-1885), english writer of books for children, daughter of the rev. alfred gatty and of margaret gatty (q.v.), was born at ecclesfield, yorkshire, in 1841. one of a large family, she was accustomed to act as nursery story-teller to her brothers and sisters, and her brother alfred scott gatty provided music to accompany her plays. she was well educated in classics and modern languages, and at an early age began to publish verses, being a contributor to _aunt judy's magazine_, which her mother started in 1866. _the land of lost toys_ and many other of juliana's stories appeared in this magazine. in 1867 she married major alexander ewing, himself an author, and the composer of the well-known hymn "jerusalem the golden." from this time until her death (13th may 1885), previously to which she had been a constant invalid, mrs ewing produced a number of charming children's stories. the best of these are: _the brownies_ (1870), _a flat-iron for a farthing_ (1873), _lob-lie-by the fire_ (1874), _the story of a short life_ (1885) and _jackanapes_ (1884), the two last-named, in particular, obtaining great success; among others may be mentioned _mrs over-the-way's remembrances_ (1869), _six to sixteen, jan of the windmill_ (1876), _a great emergency_ (1877), _we and the world_ (1881), _old-fashioned fairy tales, brothers of pity_ (1882), _the doll's wash_, _master fritz_, _our garden_, _a soldier's children_, _three little nest-birds_, _a week spent in a glass-house_, _a sweet little dear_, and _blue-red_ (1883). many of these were published by the s.p.c.k. simple and unaffected in style, and sound and wholesome in matter, with quiet touches of humour and bright sketches of scenery and character, mrs ewing's best stories have never been surpassed in the style of literature to which they belong.