Kate Townsend's little book

While I was helping Rob and Betsey put their books in order, I ran across another family treasure: a little book created by Betsey's great-grandmother, Kate Townsend (Shirley's mother's mother) when she was twelve years old (which would have been in 1880 in Harrisville, NH). We don't have and photos of Kate Townsend when she was twelve that I know of, but here is one of her as a young woman, age 20. Her husband, Josiah Langley, was a studio photographer by trade, and this is a formal portrait made in his studio in Manchester, NH.

Kate Townsend Langley, age 20

The book is a creative writing exercise book for a child: It contains about 30 pictures, and opposite each picture is a blank page on which the child is invited to compose an original story based on the picture. Kate has faithfully filled in every page with a story. This is a great idea, and I'm a little surprised that I have never seen a similar kind of book made for children today. Have you?

Here is the cover of the book:

And a detail showing Kate's autograph:

Twelve-year-old Kate Townsend's autograph

 And here is the first picture:

And the story that accompanied it:

Kate's story

The publisher intended the child who completed all 30 stories in this book to submit it to a contest, they would be judged and the top three entrants would receive cash prizes. Those who did not win would have their books returned. Maybe Kate submitted hers, but did not win.