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LITTLE WOMEN.

LITTLE WOMEN OR Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy

BY LOUISA M. ALCOTT

AUTHOR OF "LITTLE MEN," "AN OLD-FASHIONED GIRL" "SPINNING-WHEEL STORIES," ETC.

_With more than 200 illustrations by Frank T. Merrill and a picture of the Home of the Little Women by Edmund H. Garrett_

BOSTON LITTLE, BROWN, AND COMPANY

Entered according to Act of Congress, in the years 1868 and 1869, by LOUISA M. ALCOTT, In the Clerk's office of the District Court of the District of Massachusetts.

_Copyright, 1880_, BY LOUISA M. ALCOTT.

_Copyright, 1896_, BY JOHN S. P. ALCOTT.

BOSTON ALFRED MUDGE & SON INC. PRINTERS

"_Go then, my little Book, and show to all That entertain and bid thee welcome shall, What thou dost keep close shut up in thy breast; And wish what thou dost show them may be blest To them for good, may make them choose to be Pilgrims better, by far, than thee or me. Tell them of Mercy; she is one Who early hath her pilgrimage begun. Yea, let young damsels learn of her to prize The world which is to come, and so be wise; For little tripping maids may follow God Along the ways which saintly feet have trod._"

Adapted from JOHN BUNYAN.

Part First.

CHAPTER

I. PLAYING PILGRIMS

II. A MERRY CHRISTMAS

III. THE LAURENCE BOY

IV. BURDENS

V. BEING NEIGHBORLY

VI. BETH FINDS THE PALACE BEAUTIFUL

VII. AMY'S VALLEY OF HUMILIATION

VIII. JO MEETS APOLLYON

IX. MEG GOES TO VANITY FAIR

X. THE P. C. AND P. O.

XI. EXPERIMENTS

XII. CAMP LAURENCE

XIII. CASTLES IN THE AIR

XIV. SECRETS

XV. A TELEGRAM

XVI. LETTERS

XVII. LITTLE FAITHFUL

XVIII. DARK DAYS

XIX. AMY'S WILL

XX. CONFIDENTIAL

XXI. LAURIE MAKES MISCHIEF, AND JO MAKES PEACE

XXII. PLEASANT MEADOWS

XXIII. AUNT MARCH SETTLES THE QUESTION

Part Second.

XXIV. GOSSIP

XXV. THE FIRST WEDDING

XXVI. ARTISTIC ATTEMPTS

XXVII. LITERARY LESSONS

XXVIII. DOMESTIC EXPERIENCES

XXIX. CALLS

XXX. CONSEQUENCES

XXXI. OUR FOREIGN CORRESPONDENT

XXXII. TENDER TROUBLES

XXXIII. JO'S JOURNAL

XXXIV. A FRIEND

XXXV. HEARTACHE

XXXVI. BETH'S SECRET

XXXVII. NEW IMPRESSIONS

XXXVIII. ON THE SHELF

XXXIX. LAZY LAURENCE

XL. THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW

XLI. LEARNING TO FORGET

XLII. ALL ALONE

XLIII. SURPRISES

XLIV. MY LORD AND LADY

XLV. DAISY AND DEMI

XLVI. UNDER THE UMBRELLA

XLVII. HARVEST TIME

[The Illustrations, designed by FRANK T. MERRILL, drawn, engraved, and printed under the supervision of GEORGE T. ANDREW.]

PAGE

They all drew to the fire, mother in the big chair, with Beth at her feet

Preface

Contents

Tail-piece to Contents

List of Illustrations

Tail-piece to Illustrations

Christmas won't be Christmas without any presents

Beth put a pair of slippers down to warm

I used to be so frightened when it was my turn to sit in the big chair

Do it this way, clasp your hands so

It was a cheerful, hopeful letter

How you used to play Pilgrim's Progress

No one but Beth could get much music out of the old piano

At nine they stopped work and sung as usual

Merry Christmas

The procession set out

Out came Meg with gray horse-hair hanging about her face

A little figure in cloudy white

The lovers kneeling to receive Don Pedro's blessing

We talked over the fence

Tail-piece

Eating apples and crying over the "Heir of Redclyffe"

Jo undertook to pinch the papered locks

Mrs. Gardiner greeted them

Face to face with the Laurence boy

They sat down on the stairs

Tell about the party

The kitten stuck like a burr just out of reach

Curling herself up in the big chair

Reading that everlasting Belsham

He took her by the ear! by the ear!

Mr. Laurence hooked up a big fish

Tail-piece

Being neighborly

Laurie opened the window

Poll tweaked off his wig

Putting his finger under her chin

Please give these to your mother

Tail-piece

O sir, they do care very much

Mr. Laurence often opened his study door

She put both arms around his neck and kissed him

The Cyclops

Amy bore without flinching several tingling blows

You do know her

Girls, where are you going?

I burnt it up

Held Amy up by his arms and hockey

Packing the go abroady trunk

Meg's partner appeared

Asked to be introduced

I wouldn't, Meg

Holding a hand of each, Mrs. March said, &c.

Mr. Pickwick

Jo threw open the door of the closet

Jo spent the morning on the river

Amy sat down to draw

O Pip! O Pip!

Miss Crocker made a wry face

We'll work like bees

Beth was post-mistress

Amy capped the climax by putting a clothes-pin on her nose 151

Mr. Laurence waving his hat

Now, Miss Jo, I'll settle you

A very merry lunch it was

He went prancing down a quiet street

"Oh, rise," she said

A stunning blow from the big Greek lexicon

He sneezed

The Portuguese walked the plank

Will you give me a rose?

Miss Kate put up her glass

Ellen Tree

Tail-piece

Swinging to and fro in his hammock

It was rather a pretty little picture

Waved a brake before her face

I see him bow and smile

Tail-piece

Jo was very busy

Hurrah for Miss March

Jo darted away

Jo laid herself on the sofa and affected to read

November is the most disagreeable month in the year

One of them horrid telegraph things

She came suddenly upon Mr. Brooke

The man clipped

Tail-piece

Letters

She rolled away

I wind the clock

Yours Respectful, Hannah Mullet

Tail-piece

It didn't stir, and I knew it was dead

He sat down beside her

What do you want now?

Beth did have the fever

Gently stroking her head as her mother used to do

Amy's Will

Polish up the spoons and the fat silver teapot

On his back, with all his legs in the air

I should choose this

Gravely promenaded to and fro

Amy's Will

Tail-piece

Mrs. March would not leave Beth's side

Tail-piece

Letters

Jo and her mother were reading the note

Get up and don't be a goose

"Hold your tongue!" cried Jo, covering her ears

He stood at the foot, like a lion in the path

Beth was soon able to lie on the study sofa all day

The Jungfrau

Popping in her head now and then

He sat in the big chair by Beth's sofa with the other three close by

Shall I tell you how?

Bless me, what's all this?

For Mrs. John Brooke

Home of the Little Women

The Dove Cote

A small watchman's rattle

Tail-piece

The First Wedding

Artistic Attempts

Her foot held fast in a panful of plaster

Please don't, it's mine

Tail-piece

Literary Lessons

A check for one hundred dollars

Tail-piece

Domestic Experiences

Both felt desperately uncomfortable

A bargain, I assure you, ma'am

Laurie heroically shut his eyes while something was put into his arms

Calls

She took the saddle to the horse

It might have been worse

The call at Aunt March's

Tail-piece

You shall have another table

Bought up the bouquets

Tail-piece

Flo and I ordered a hansom-cab

Every one was very kind, especially the officers

I've seen the imperial family several times

Trying to sketch the gray-stone lion's head on the wall

She leaned her head upon her hands

Now, this is filling at the price

Up with the Bonnets of Bonnie Dundee

I amused myself by dropping gingerbread nuts over the seat

Thou shalt haf thy Bhaer

He waved his hand, sock and all

Dis is mine effalunt

I sat down upon the floor and read and looked and ate

Tail-piece

In the presence of three gentlemen

A select symposium

He doesn't prink at his glass before coming

Jo stuffed the whole bundle into the stove

He put the sisters into the carriage

He laid his head down on the mossy post

O Jo, can't you?

Tail-piece

With her head in Jo's lap, while the wind blew healthfully over her

Tail-piece

He hurried forward to meet her

Here are your flowers

Demi and Daisy

Mornin' now

My dear man, it's a bonnet

Tail-piece

Sat piping on a stone while his goats skipped

Laurie threw himself down on the turf

A rough sketch of Laurie taming a horse

The Valley of the Shadow

Tail-piece

Sat staring up at the busts

Turning the ring thoughtfully upon his finger

O Laurie, Laurie, I knew you'd come

How well we pull together

Jo and her father

Jo laid her head on a comfortable rag-bag and cried

A substantial lifelike ghost leaning over her

The tall uncle proceeded to toss and tousle the small nephew

O Mr. Bhaer, I am so glad to see you