Qass. Book. COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT J 1 .^j^vi. '^^iCcXnJ^ >*^ ^ i \ /**' <:•• / JK. , r"5 ' ■ 6 LOUISA MAY ALCOTT A SOUVENIR MISS LURABEL HARLOW WJTH JU.ISTKATIONS BOSTON SAMUEL E. CASSINO 18S9 ■ H CopvRiciiT, iSSS, Bv SA.MUlil. K. Cassino. /gl^r^/V'U'*^- Hxv~-*t-*-wrwv^ PSESSWOBK BY BERwrCK A SMITH, BOSTON. A S AMOS BRONSON ALCOTT lay dying, be received a visit from liis dearly loved daughter Louisa, — the last he would ever receive, though neither guessed it then. The father and child, who were so devotedly at- tached to each other, were not parted even in death ; for the loving daughter returned to her home only to leave it at the summons of that solemn messenger who had scarcely quitted her father's bedside, and together they awoke in Paradise. Loris.\ May Alcott was born in German- town, Pa., Nov. 29, 1832. When she was two years of age her parents removed to Boston, where her father taught school for a number of years. Of Mr. Alcott, Emerson has said, " He is a teacher. If he cannot make intelli- gent men feel the presence of a superior nature, the worse for them." I\Ir. Alcott taught his 1 school on Pestalozzian and Christian principles. His school was not a poi)ular one. Certain views on the New Testament which he held and advanced, gave offence to the parents of his pupils, as well as his advocacy of Grahaniism. Various newspaper attacks on his " Conver- sations on the Gospels," caused the school to rapidly decrease; and when, in 1839, he insisted on admitting a colored child among his schol- ars, so many children were withdrawn, that the school was closed. Mr. Alcott was eminently the advocate of the grand and pure in religion and society, and his daughter Louisa pays him a most touching tribute where she says, "Earnest young men found the gray-headed scholar as young at heart as they ; thoughtful or troubled women instinctively brought their doubts and sorrows to him, sure of finding the gentlest sympathy, the wisest counsel ; sinners told their sins to the pure-hearted old man, and were both re- buked and saved ; gifted men found a com- panion in him; ambitious men caught glimpses 2 of nobler ambitions than thoir own ; and evei worldlings confessed that hiii T)eliefs were beau tiful and true, although they 'wouldn't pay." — (" Lillle. Women") "When the school was given up, the AlcottJ went to Concord, where they remained a nura' bor of years, occupying a house thus delight fuUy described by Miss AJcott in one of hel stories : " Among green New-England hills stood an ancient house, many-gabled, mossy- roofed, and quaintly built, but picturesque and pleasant to the eye ; for a brook ran babbling through the orchard that encompassed it about, a garden-plot stretched upwai'd to the whisper- ing birches on the slope, and patriarchal elms stood sentinel upon the lawn, as they had stood almost a century ago, when the Revolution roUed that way and found them young." After living in Concord, the family went to "Tlie Fruitlands," Harvard. Here they dwelt in a religious community, where all hved by the work of their hands and refused to eat any animal food. This mode of living, Miss Alcott graphically sets forth in the amusing story of " Transcendental Wild Oats." During Miss Alcott's childhood, sho attended but one private school, taught by a Miss Mary Russell, now Mrs. Marston Watson, of Ply- mouth, Mass., her only other instructors being Thoreau and her father. It seems strange, as the father and daughter were thrown into such close companionship, and that, too, at the most imijressionable period of her life, that Louisa should not have imbibed more of the spirit of transceudeutalism ; but, though her stories have embodied much of it, she personally had little inclination for it. The history of her family in her early life shows how closely the practical and the ideal may be allied. Necessity and Philosopliy met and struggled in this household, and often the vic- tory must have been an even thing. On the one side the j^oetical, unpractical father, — an inspirer, a promulgator of philos- ophy, breathing an atmosphere of tenderness and ideality about his family, — and on the other tlio busy mother, striving against ahuost actual want in a royal way, and evincing all the while a sweet, firm faith and a gracious cour- age, which was no more marked when her after life of ease came. "The girls gave their hearts into their mother's keeping, their souls into their father's; and to both j)arents, who lived and labored so faithfully for them, they gave a love that grew with their growth and bound them tenderly to- gether by the sweetest tie which blesses life and outlives death." ^{'•Little Women.") WTien Louisa was twelve, her family returned to Concord, where they remained four years. Then their house was bought by Nathaniel Hawthorne, and called " The "Wayside." The family now went to Boston, and Louisa taught school for a time, winning her little pupils' hearts by the fascinating tales she related to them ; thus early showing evidence of an unusual power to interest all children. In her sixteenth year, she wi-ote the little book called "Flower Fables," composed for her younger sisters and their friends, the Emer- son children. Six years later the book was published, but did not win for her any great popularity. "Now, however, that her fame is established, the stories are receiving their meed of praise ; and truly, one obtains peculiarly sweet impressions from the lessons the flowers bring. The story of " Queen Aster " bears such teachings that all ■wiU be interested in reading it, though the thoughts are couched in language suitable for little people. The story runs in this waj' : For years the flowers had been ruled by Prince Golden-rod, and wlien, finally, it was decided to have the gentle little Aster for a sovereign, great was his dismay and fierce the indignation of such flowers as were his devoted followera. The modest Uttle queen had much to contend with, but bravely persevered, and in spite of opposition on nearly every side, effected such improvements in her kingdom, that at last every one was led to love her, and acknowl- edge the potency of her gentle rule. All but the prince. Ho was very sad and lonely, — at first angry at the little Aster's defiance of him ; but as time rolled on his heart too had been won, and therefore he was sad, for he felt the queen could never forgive his cruel actions. But at last, one moonlight night, as he stood near the queen, she noticed his dejection and inquiied the cause of it. When ho had told all liiH troubles, she softly asked if it were not possible to have everything forgotten, and for them to rule together on one throne ; and the story ends in this pretty way : " ^Tiat the prince answered, only the moon knows ; but when the morn- ing came, all the meadow was surprised and rejoiced to see the gold aud pui'ple flowers standing side by side, while C^ the maple showered its rosy leaves upon them, and the old rock waved his crown of vine-leaves over them as he said, ' This is as it should be ; love and strength going hand in hand, and justice making the earth glad.' " 8 Besides teaching, Itliss Alcott also undertook any remunerative employment which offered itself, and iu turn cared for httle iuvaUda, went out as a governess, or did sewing, while at the same time her literary work never flagged. Many of the vicissitudes she suffered during these years of toil have Ijeen transcribed in "Work," and the trials of Christie are often identical ^vith those she endured herseK. " Christie was one of that large class of wo- men who are driven by necessity, temperament or principle, out into the world to find support, happiness, and a home for themselves. Many turn back discouraged ; more accept shadow for substance, and discover their mistake too late ; the weakest lose their purpose and them- selves ; but the strongest struggle on, and, after danger and defeat, earn at last the best success this world can give us, — -the possession of a brave and cheerful spirit, rich in self- knowledge, seU'-coutrol, self-heli). " This was the real desire of Christie's heart, this was to be her lesson and reward ; and to 9 this liai)py end she was slowly yet surely brought by the long discipline of life and labor." Miss .ilcott's inventive mind never lacked the power to produce, and many were the stories she penned in her early days. She herself re- lates the joy afforded her by the first live dol- lars her pen won. "The Rival Prima-Donuas " brought her ten dollars and a request for more of her writings. This story was afterwards dramatized, but, owing to a disagreement among the actors, was never presented on the stage. Miss Aleott at one time meditated going upon the stage, for she and her sisters had con- siderable talent, having cultivated their powers in a domestic theatre in Concord. One recalls the amusing scene in " Little Women," where the four sisters gave " The Witch's Curse," and the audience, as they were about to give vent to their apjireciation, received a sudden check by the shutting-up of the cot-bed on which they were assembled. Her next effort, after "Work," was of a more serious nature, and she wrote the novel " Moods," whicli, however, met with an indif- ferent reception. Then came the Eebellion, when every loyal heart responded to the call so urgently made ; and she, in the ardor of her young womanhood, her pati'iotic heart fired with a desire to serve her country in some sphere, volunteered as a nurse ; and her " Hospital Sketches " won for her recognition when she was least exjjecting it. The story most vividly shows her experi- ences. Her first duty was to help care for the wounded who had been brought from the bat- tle of Fredericksburg to the hospital in which she was to serve, and she best tells the story of the sad scene. "Round the gi-eat stove was gathered the tlreariest group I ever saw, — ragged, gaunt, and pale, mud to the knees, with bloody band- ages untouched since put on days before; many bunilled u)) in blankets, coats being lost or 11 useless ; and all wearing tbat disheartened look ■which proclaims defeat more plainly than any telegram of the Bumside blundei'. I pitied them so much I dared not speak to them. I yearned to serve the di-eariest of them all." "When food was brought, she offered some to a badly wounded man. "Thank you, mai-m," he said ; " I don't think I'll ever eat again, for I'm shot in the stomach. But I'd like a drink of water, if you ain't too busy." "I rushed away," she says, "but the water- pails were gone to be refilled, and it was some time before they reai3j)eared. I did not forget my patient meanwhile, and, with the first mug- ful hurried back to him. He seemed asleep ; but something in the tired, white face caused me to listen for a breath. None came. I toiiched his forehead : it was cold ; and then I knew that while he waitetl a better nurse than I had given him a cooler di'aught, and healed him with a touch. I laid the sheet over the quiet sleeper, whom no noise could disturb, and half an hour later the bed was empty " 12 " Then came the tloctor's evening visit ; the administration of medicines ; washing fever- ish faces ; smoothing tumbled beds ; wetting wounds ; singing lullabies ; and preparations for the night. By twelve the last labor of love was done, the last " good-night " spoken ; and if any needed a reward for that day's work, 13 they surely received it in the silent eloquence of those long lines of faces, showing pale and peaceful in the shaded rooms, as we quitted them, followed by grateful glances that lighted us to bed, while rest, the sweetest, made our pillows soft ; while Night and Natui'e took our places, filling that great house of pain with the heahng miracles of Sleep and his diviner brother, Death." Miss Alcott worked most zealously at her duties as nurse, finding no service too humble, no act too menial, for those who had given their all for Freedom. The strain iipon her nerves, after a time, proved too severe ; yet still she toiled on, though she was but poorly fitted to endure the hardships of her daily life, worn as she was with overwork, until her father came for her, and she returned to her home. She was now forced to take a much needed rest, and she spent several months in Eui'ope as companion to an invalid lady. Upon her return, her father wished her to have her stories published, and u consulted Messrs. Roberts Bros, in regard to the matter. They advised the writing of a connected tale in book form, — -a story for girls; and Mies Alcott, with some inward misgivings, and to prove, as she said, that' she could not do > it, wrote the first part of "vT) " Little Women." One of the members of the firm j)laced the manuscript in the hands of his little niece to be read, and carefully noted the results. The Little girl in a ver^' short time waw whol- ly absorbed in the story. She heard nothing and saw nothing but the i)agcs where the deliglitfLil Btory was progressing. Now she laughed gaily, or again her eyes were filled with tears. Intent and engrossed, she road on till the tale was done, and then laid down the last sheet with the utmost f)raise for the story, and the deepest regret that it was finished. The book needed no further test. Its success was certain, and accordingly it was pubUshed in 1868. On its advent into the literary world. Miss Alcott's fame was established at once, and she then and there ijroved the truth of the as- sertion of a fiiond, that " One of Mr. Alcott's best contributions to literature is his daughter Louisa." "Little Women" is, as all know, a simple, graphic account of lour young girls, whose doings, as she says, correspond in iiaany instan- ces with those of herself and her sisters. She was " Jo ; " her sister, Mrs. Pratt, " IMeg ; " the sweet "Beth "was Elizabeth, who died nuany years ago; and "Amy" (a transposition of May) was the lovely artist-sister, who has also lUed. There can bo nothing but jjraise for " Little Womeu." The girls seem real flesh and blood, as we read of their daily home-life, told in such a charming' manner ; : girls who had their faults and foibles, who could ni>t always overcome the various small temptations that beset them, but who were ever guided finuly, but none the less ten- derly, by a w i s (^ . sweet mother, whose teachings, so faithfully tran- scribed, have served as a gentle monitor to thous- ands of little women all over the land, who felt their force not less potent- ly because they were deliv- ered in such an entertaining form. We love and take keen interest in all tlie sisters, but Jo \ win!! our hearts after all. Jo tried to do right, but she was very human, and we can feel her actual presence as we read. Following " Little Women " came " An Old- fashioned Girl." This also comes next in our affection for iVIiss Alcott's works, I think. Even now I can remember how I enjoyed reading it, and how, after spending the long summer after- noon iu plaj' with a dear little friend of mine, I would linger in the shady dooryard until I elicited the laughing inquiry, — " Now I know you're waiting to borrow 'An Old-fashioned Girl,' aren't you ? " and I would reluctantly but deUghtedly confess that it was so. An amusing incident is related of a gentle- man who, while riding in the cars, was reading "An Old-fashioned Girl." He became so inte- rested in the misfortunes of "Polly" and " Tom," that the tears rose to his eyes. Hastily glancing up to see if anyone had observed his emotion, he jjcrceived a young lady similarly affected. The work she was reading he saw was the second volume of " Little Women." 18 The next iu order of Miss Alcott's books was "Little Men," tlie mere announcement of which brought from the dealers advance orders for ' '? fiftj' thousand copies. In this charming story e r(ad of the sisters gro^\•n to wo- ^t' manhood, and it is with regret that we feel they can never be " lit- tle women " again. "Little Men" are jolly little lads, and we like them all, [aS ' especially "Nat,'" who, in his musical - . projiensities, re- y r' minds us some- what of " Laurie," iu "Little Women." original of perhaps both these characters a Polish youth, wlioin some writer has 19 The was lately met abroad. He loved Miss Alcott de- votedly, not only for the interest she took in his plans aiul pursuits, but also because of her noble self, and always called her " Little Jlam- ma." Jliss Alcott'a other works appeared in the following or-