Little Women

[Illustration: LITTLE WOMEN MEG, JO, BETH, AND AMY LOUISA M. ALCOTT]

LITTLE WOMEN.

[Illustration: "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

[Illustration: Preface]

"_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.

[Illustration: Contents]

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