صفحة 1
LITTLE WOMEN.
"They all drew to the fire, mother in the big chair, with Beth at her feet"
(See page 9) Frontispiece
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 PAGE
- I. Playing Pilgrims 7
- II. A Merry Christmas 15
- III. The Laurence Boy 29
- IV. Burdens 43
- V. Being Neighborly 58
- VI. Beth finds the Palace Beautiful 73
- VII. Amy's Valley of Humiliation 82
- VIII. Jo meets Apollyon 91
- IX. Meg goes to Vanity Fair 104
- X. The P. C. and P. O. 124
- XI. Experiments 134
- XII. Camp Laurence 147
- XIII. Castles in the Air 172
- XIV. Secrets 184
- XV. A Telegram 195
- XVI. Letters 206
- XVII. Little Faithful 216
- XVIII. Dark Days 225
- XIX. Amy's Will 234
- XX. Confidential 246
- XXI. Laurie makes Mischief, and Jo makes Peace 254
- XXII. Pleasant Meadows 269
- XXIII. Aunt March settles the Question 277
Part Second.
- XXIV. Gossip 293
- XXV. The First Wedding
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href="@public@vhost@g@gutenberg@html@files@37106@[email protected]#XXV" class="pginternal" tag="{http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml}a">306 XXVI. Artistic Attempts 313 XXVII. Literary Lessons 325 XXVIII. Domestic Experiences 334 XXIX. Calls 350 XXX. Consequences 365 XXXI. Our Foreign Correspondent 378 XXXII. Tender Troubles 389 XXXIII. Jo's Journal 403 XXXIV. A Friend 418 XXXV. Heartache 435 XXXVI. Beth's Secret 448 XXXVII. New Impressions 454 XXXVIII. On the Shelf 466 XXXIX. Lazy Laurence 480 XL. The Valley of the Shadow 495 XLI. Learning to Forget 502 XLII. All Alone 516 XLIII. Surprises 525 XLIV. My Lord and Lady 543 XLV. Daisy and Demi 550 XLVI. Under the Umbrella 558 XLVII. Harvest Time 575
[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 Frontispiece. - Titlepage iii
- Preface v
- Contents vii
- Tail-piece to Contents ix
- List of Illustrations xi
- Tail-piece to Illustrations xvi
- Christmas won't be Christmas without any presents 1
- Beth put a pair of slippers down to warm 5
- I used to be so frightened when it was my turn to sit in the big chair 6
- Do it this way, clasp your hands so 7
- It was a cheerful, hopeful letter
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tag="{http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml}a">10 How you used to play Pilgrim's Progress 11 No one but Beth could get much music out of the old piano 13 At nine they stopped work and sung as usual 14 Merry Christmas 15 The procession set out 19 Out came Meg with gray horse-hair hanging about her face 22 A little figure in cloudy white 23 The lovers kneeling to receive Don Pedro's blessing 25 We talked over the fence 27 Tail-piece 28 Eating apples and crying over the "Heir of Redclyffe" 29 Jo undertook to pinch the papered locks 31 Mrs. Gardiner greeted them 34 Face to face with the Laurence boy 35 They sat down on the stairs 39 Tell about the party 42 The kitten stuck like a burr just out of reach 43 Curling herself up in the big chair 48 Reading that everlasting Belsham 52 He took her by the ear! by the ear! 54 Mr. Laurence hooked up a big fish 55 Tail-piece 57 Being neighborly 58 Laurie opened the window 60 Poll tweaked off his wig 64 Putting his finger under her chin 67 Please give these to your mother 69 Tail-piece 72 O sir, they do care very much 75 Mr. Laurence often opened his study door 77 She put both arms around his neck and kissed him 81 The Cyclops 82 Amy bore without flinching several tingling blows 86 You do know her 89 Girls, where are you going? 91 I burnt it up 95 Held Amy up by his arms and hockey
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class="pginternal" tag="{http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml}a">99 Packing the go abroady trunk 104 Meg's partner appeared 110 Asked to be introduced 114 I wouldn't, Meg 118 Holding a hand of each, Mrs. March said, &c. 122 Mr. Pickwick 125 Jo threw open the door of the closet 131 Jo spent the morning on the river 134 Amy sat down to draw 136 O Pip! O Pip! 140 Miss Crocker made a wry face 143 We'll work like bees 146 Beth was post-mistress 147 Amy capped the climax by putting a clothes-pin on her nose 151 Mr. Laurence waving his hat 153 Now, Miss Jo, I'll settle you 155 A very merry lunch it was 156 He went prancing down a quiet street 158 "Oh, rise," she said 159 A stunning blow from the big Greek lexicon 159 He sneezed 160 The Portuguese walked the plank 161 Will you give me a rose? 162 Miss Kate put up her glass 167 Ellen Tree 168 Tail-piece 171 Swinging to and fro in his hammock 172 It was rather a pretty little picture 174 Waved a brake before her face 178 I see him bow and smile 181 Tail-piece 183 Jo was very busy 184 Hurrah for Miss March 189 Jo darted away 190 Jo laid herself on the sofa and affected to read 193 November is the most disagreeable month in the year 195 One of them horrid telegraph things 197 She came suddenly upon
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Mr. Brooke 199 The man clipped 203 Tail-piece 205 Letters 206 She rolled away 208 I wind the clock 213 Yours Respectful, Hannah Mullet 214 Tail-piece 215 It didn't stir, and I knew it was dead 218 He sat down beside her 221 What do you want now? 224 Beth did have the fever 225 Gently stroking her head as her mother used to do 228 Amy's Will 234 Polish up the spoons and the fat silver teapot 235 On his back, with all his legs in the air 236 I should choose this 237 Gravely promenaded to and fro 241 Amy's Will 243 Tail-piece 245 Mrs. March would not leave Beth's side 246 Tail-piece 253 Letters 254 Jo and her mother were reading the note 256 Get up and don't be a goose 261 "Hold your tongue!" cried Jo, covering her ears 263 He stood at the foot, like a lion in the path 265 Beth was soon able to lie on the study sofa all day 269 The Jungfrau 271 Popping in her head now and then 277 He sat in the big chair by Beth's sofa 277 Shall I tell you how? 280 Bless me, what's all this? 282 For Mrs. John Brooke 288 Home of the Little Women 290 The Dove Cote 293 A small watchman's rattle 302 Tail-piece
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tag="{http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml}a">305 The First Wedding 306 Artistic Attempts 313 Her foot held fast in a panful of plaster 315 Please don't, it's mine 322 Tail-piece 324 Literary Lessons 325 A check for one hundred dollars 329 Tail-piece 333 Domestic Experiences 334 Both felt desperately uncomfortable 341 A bargain, I assure you, ma'am 344 Laurie heroically shut his eyes while something was put into his arms 348 Calls 350 She took the saddle to the horse 355 It might have been worse 359 The call at Aunt March's 362 Tail-piece 364 You shall have another table 365 Bought up the bouquets 372 Tail-piece 377 Flo and I ordered a hansom-cab 378 Every one was very kind, especially the officers 378 I've seen the imperial family several times 384 Trying to sketch the gray-stone lion's head on the wall 387 She leaned her head upon her hands 391 Now, this is filling at the price 395 Up with the Bonnets of Bonnie Dundee 398 I amused myself by dropping gingerbread nuts over the seat 403 Thou shalt haf thy Bhaer 406 He waved his hand, sock and all 409 Dis is mine effalunt 410 I sat down upon the floor and read and looked and ate 415 Tail-piece 417 In the presence of three gentlemen 418 A select symposium 425 He doesn't prink at his glass before coming 428 Jo stuffed the whole bundle into the stove
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href="@public@vhost@g@gutenberg@html@files@37106@[email protected]#b158.png" class="pginternal" tag="{http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml}a">431 He put the sisters into the carriage 435 He laid his head down on the mossy post 438 O Jo, can't you? 446 Tail-piece 447 With her head in Jo's lap, while the wind blew healthfully over her 449 Tail-piece 453 He hurried forward to meet her 454 Here are your flowers 461 Demi and Daisy 466 Mornin' now 473 My dear man, it's a bonnet 477 Tail-piece 479 Sat piping on a stone while his goats skipped 480 Laurie threw himself down on the turf 485 A rough sketch of Laurie taming a horse 493 The Valley of the Shadow 495 Tail-piece 501 Sat staring up at the busts 502 Turning the ring thoughtfully upon his finger 507 O Laurie, Laurie, I knew you'd come 511 How well we pull together 515 Jo and her father 518 Jo laid her head on a comfortable rag-bag and cried 524 A substantial lifelike ghost leaning over her 525 The tall uncle proceeded to toss and tousle the small nephew 534 O Mr. Bhaer, I am so glad to see you 537 Mr. Bhaer sang heartily 541 Mrs. Laurence sitting in her mother's lap 543 They began to pace up and down 547 Tail-piece 549 Me loves evvybody 551 What makes my legs go, dranpa? 552 Dranpa, it's a We 556 Tail-piece 557 Mr. Bhaer and Jo were enjoying promenades 558 Looking up she saw Mr. Bhaer 561 Does this suit you, Mr. Bhaer?
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class="ralign">565 Under the umbrella 573 Tail-piece 574 Harvest time 575 Teddy bore a charmed life 582 Leaving Mrs. March and her daughters under the festival tree 583 Tail-piece 586