LITTLE WOMEN

MEG, JO, BETH, AND AMY

by Louisa M. Alcott

Author of "Little Men," "An Old-Fashioned Girl," "Spinning-Wheel Stories," and other books

With more than 200 pictures by Frank T. Merrill

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Preface

(adapted from John Bunyan)

Go, then, my little book, and show to all
who welcome you what you keep close inside.
May what you show them do them good,
and help them choose to walk a better path than mine.
Tell them about Mercy, who began her journey early.
Let young readers learn from her to value
the world that is still to come, and so grow wise—
for even young travelers can follow God
along the paths that faithful people have walked before them.

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Contents

Part One

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 Two

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

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CHAPTER I

Playing Pilgrims

"Christmas won't feel like Christmas without any presents," grumbled Jo, stretched out on the rug.

"It's so awful to be poor!" sighed Meg, looking down at her old, worn dress.

"I don't think it's fair that some girls get to have lots of pretty things, while other girls have nothing at all," added little Amy, sniffing as if her feelings were hurt.

"We've got father and mother, and we have each other," said Beth happily from her corner of the room.

The firelight lit up the four young faces, and they all brightened at Beth's cheerful words. But the light faded from them again when Jo said sadly, "We don't have father, though—and we won't for a long time."

She didn't say the word "perhaps"—as in, perhaps never—but each sister silently added it in her own mind, thinking of their father, far away, where...