Roller Skates — Ruth Sawyer

Lucinda's year in New York City began when her family went to Europe and left her -- not, thank Heaven, with Aunt Emily and her four docile, ladylike daughters, but with Miss Peters, who understood that a girl of ten wanted to roller skate to school, and stop and chat with Patrolman M'Gonegal, and make friends with Mr. Gilligan, the cabby, and even play with Tony, whose father kept a fruitstand down the street.

Roller Skates is a delightful story of old New York, about a tomboy who could not help being a lady at the same time, who was both quick-tempered and sympathetic, both stubborn and astute.