Little Mother Mattie is a novel by Ellen Ross, first published in 1880. The story follows the life of Mattie, a young girl who is forced to grow up quickly after her mother dies and her father becomes an alcoholic. Mattie takes on the role of caretaker for her younger siblings and manages to keep her family together despite their poverty and the challenges they face. Along the way, she meets and befriends a wealthy woman who helps her to get an education...