Alice Caldwell Hegan Rice
Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch
"Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch" by Alice Caldwell Hegan Rice is a novel published in 1901. Set in a turn-of-the-century urban slum, it follows the optimistic widow Mrs. Wiggs and her five children as they navigate poverty with humor and resilience. Inspired by Rice's philanthropic work in Louisville, Kentucky, the story captures one family's determined spirit while two wealthy individuals seek to help the community. This beloved novel sold over 650,000 copies and inspired numerous stage and film adaptations.