Mary Lerner "Little Selves" 1916

The main character of Mary Lerner's "Little Selves" is 75 year old Margaret O'Brien, an Irish-American immigrant, who is on her deathbed.  One of the first historically significant aspects of Margaret's life is the fact that she was never married and never had any children, both rarities in her time.  Margaret received many visitors (neighbors and friends) as her last day approached.  Most of her visitors kept conversation to a superficial level and many visitors like Mrs. Hanley reduced O'Brien's mind as "going back on her already."  Margaret's internal struggle, which is discovered by her thoughtful niece Anna Lennon, who enjoyed meaningful conversation with her aunt was the fear that Margaret's life and memories would disappear as she took her last breath.  Speaking with her niece she recalls Irish folklore that includes childhood belief in leprechauns and fairies.  She also describes her belief in the ivy test, which was a superstitious child's game she and friends played, the test consisted of writing a person's name on a leaf then soaking it overnight and reading the future by looking at the condition of the leaf.  This gives insight into children's games in the 1800's before the onslaught of media and technology that children face today.  Many of the immigrants of her time as well in this day in age are faced with the problem of losing their past because of coming to the new world.  At the time of Lerner's writing, during WWI, Irish-American were not wanted here, they were only tolerated because of their ability to fill an over-abundance of jobs.  Mary Lerner herself was a virtually unknown figure.  Lerner probably recognized parts of her own life in Margaret's struggle.  Perhaps it was Lerner's desire to use her writings as a way to not be forgotten, such as Margaret's conversations with her niece.