GATTY

gatty, margaret (1809-1873), english writer, daughter of the rev. alexander scott (1768-1840), chaplain to lord nelson, was born at burnham, essex, in 1809. she early began to draw and to etch on copper, being a regular visitor to the print-room of the british museum from the age of ten. she also illuminated on vellum, copying the old strawberry borders and designing initials. in 1839 margaret scott married the rev. alfred gatty, d.d., vicar of ecclesfield near sheffield, subdean of york cathedral, and the author of various works both secular and religious. in 1842 she published in association with her husband a life of her father; but her first independent work was _the fairy godmother and other tales_, which appeared in 1851. this was followed in 1855 by the first of five volumes of _parables from nature_, the last being published in 1871. it was under the _nom de plume_ of aunt judy, as a pleasant and instructive writer for children, that mrs gatty was most widely known. before starting _aunt judy's magazine_ in may 1866, she had brought out _aunt judy's tales_ (1858) and _aunt judy's letters_ (1862), and among the other children's books which she subsequently published were _aunt judy's song book for children_ and _the mother's book of poetry_. "aunt judy" was the nickname given by her daughter juliana horatia ewing (q.v.). the editor of the magazine was on the friendliest terms with her young correspondents and subscribers, and her success was largely due to the sympathy which enabled her to look at things from the child's point of view. besides other excellences her children's books are specially characterized by wholesomeness of sentiment and cheerful humour. her miscellaneous writings include, in addition to several volumes of tales, _the old folks from home_, an account of a holiday ramble in ireland; _the travels and adventures of dr wolff the missionary_ (1861), an autobiography edited by her; _british sea weeds_ (1862); _waifs and strays of natural history_ (1871); _a book of emblems_ and _the book of sun-dials_ (1872). she died at ecclesfield vicarage on the 4th of october 1873.