A year on roller skates! A year when one was free to stop and chat with Patrolman M'Gonegal, and make friends with Mr. Gilligan, the cabby, and even play with Tony, whose father kept a fruit stand down the street.

This was Lucinda's year in New York City in 189—, when her family went to Europe and left her—not, thank Heaven, with Aunt Emily and her four docile, ladylike daughters, but with Miss Peters, who understood that a girl of ten wanted to roller skate to school, and who wasn't always worrying about a little lady's social dignity!

This is a delightful story of old New York, about a tomboy who could not help being a lady at the same time, who was both quick-tempered and sympathetic, both stubborn and astute.

From start to finish it rings true—and no wonder, for if you read the introduction, you will find that it all really happened once.

From the dust jacket