Martha Finley was a 19th century American author of children's stories. Her characters were good children rewarded for their high moral character. She wrote Elsie Dinsmore in 1867. Elsie was a virtuous Christian girl who resisted small temptations. This series was enormously popular. Finley wrote 27 books about Elsie taking her through her adult life and ending with her as a grandmother. This series was popular in the United States and in Britain selling over 25,000,000 books. Elsie's Children is the sequel to Elsie's motherhood and the final book in the series. The book begins with Elsie joyfully telling her children that they have another sibling. This story of everyday life sees Elsie settling her children's quarrels, calming their tears, and doing all with a loving and Christian heart.