`` I think so , '' said Mrs. Kennedy , smiling , `` if , as you say , you are willing to work hard and study hard . There will be a great deal of both and many disappointments . Sara Beaumont herself had a hard time at first -- and for a very long first too . Her family was poor , you know , and Sara earned enough money to send away her first manuscripts by making a pot of jelly for a neighbour . The manuscripts came back , and Sara made more jelly and wrote more stories . Still they came back . Once she thought she had better give up writing stories and stick to the jelly alone . There did seem some little demand for the one and none at all for the other . But she determined to keep on until she either succeeded or proved to her own satisfaction that she could make better jelly than stories . And you see she did succeed . But it means perseverance and patience and much hard work . Prepare yourself for that , Frances , and one day you will win your place . Then you will look back to the ` Newbury Bubble , ' and you will tell me what a good prophetess I was . '' They talked longer -- an earnest , helpful talk that went far to inspire Frances 's hazy ambition with a definite purpose . She understood that she must not write merely to win fame for herself or even for the higher motive of pure pleasure in her work . She must aim , however humbly , to help her readers to higher planes of thought and endeavour . Then and only then would it be worth while . `` Mrs. Kennedy is going to drive you to the station , '' said Grandmother Newbury after tea . `` I am much obliged to you , Frances , for giving up the picnic today and coming to the Bay Shore to gratify an old woman 's inconvenient whim . But I shall not burden you with too much gratitude , for I think you have enjoyed yourself . ''
`` Indeed , I have , '' said XXXXX heartily .
Beaumont Bubble Frances Kennedy Sara Shore day first neighbour prophetess