Edna Ferber was a 20th century American author whose novels, short stories, and plays were extremely popular during her era. She wrote the Pulitzer Prize-winning So Big, Show Boat, Cimarron, and Giant.

"And so," the story writers used to say, "they lived happily ever after."

Um-m-m—maybe. After the glamour had worn off, and the glass slippers were worn out, did the Prince never find Cinderella's manner redolent of the kitchen hearth; and was it never necessary that he remind her to be more careful of her finger-nails and grammar? After Puss in Boots had won wealth and a wife for his young master did not that gentleman often fume with chagrin because the neighbors, perhaps, refused to call on the lady of the former poor miller's son? 

It is a great risk to take with one's book-children. These stories make no such promises. They stop just short of the phrase of the old story writers, and end truthfully, thus: And so they lived. E. F.

(Summary from the Foreword to "Buttered Side Down".

Surprisingly refreshing, at times bittersweet, and very clever short stories about shop clerks, hotel staff and wait servers set mainly in the larger American cities in the early 20th century.