First published in two parts between 1869 and 1870, An Old Fashioned Girl follows Polly, a simple country girl, during two visits to the big city of Boston. Polly's stay with the rich and sophisticated Shaw family shows her that first impressions--namely flashy clothes and loud personalities--are what people in the city are judged by. Polly in turn teaches her city friends that simplicity and honesty are the things that really matter.