New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-05-27
LOUISA ALCOTT.
RECOLLECTIoNs OF HER CHILDHOOD.

LOOISA dLCOII.
RECOLLECTIONS OF HER CHILDHOOD
From The Youths Companion.
One of my earliest memories Is Of PLAYING with
books In my fathers study. Building towers and
pre,ending to read, scrbbng on blank pages whom
ever pen or pencil could be found. Many of these
first attempts at authorship still exist, and often
wonder II these childish plays did not influence my
after lo since books have been my greatest comfort
castle-buldng never-faling delight, and scribbling
very profitable amusement
Being born on the birthday of Columbus I seem
to have something of my patron saints spirit OF
adventure, and running away was ono of the delight;
Of my childhood Many social lunch have shared
crusts, cold potatoes and salt fish on voyages OF
discovery among the ash heaps Of the waste land
that then lay where the Albany station now stands
Many impromptu picnic have had on the dear
old Common with stran boys pretty babies hes ana ana
reckless young person needed looking after on
on, occasion the town-crier found me fast asleep
at o'clock a. night on a doorstep in BEDFORD St,
big Newfoundland who vas with difficulty persuaded shaded
door, and never forget to give grateful par o TO
big aOg f a for Se 5 SayG seP bee
friend than the noble animal who watched over the
Ny fathers school was tho only one I ever went
to- and when this broken up because he introduced
methods now all the fashion our lessons went on a.
who firmly believed IN their teacher though they
never liked arithmetic or grammar and doiged these
branches on all occasions but reading, composition,
history and geography eni0yed as ., wei tho as Snc ns
charming and useful. "Pgrm's Progress" Krum.
macherS PARALLELS. Miss Edgeworth, and the best OF
OF our day. on Sundays we had simple service OF
bible stories hymns and T I aofu, d dnT
childish lives which never will be forgotten Needle
linen shirt bcaaially while at twelve set up
dolls dressmaker with my sign out and wonderinI
mr. nd nv furbaus were time to tho
great dsmay Of the neghbors hons VINO wrrs no1S
enSs to- nor the % dos
Active exercise was my delight from the 1 %e ow %hen
Sa Of M dg be Gav hoVP round aid nS my Wen
miles in Ave hours and went to party in the evening
horse an IN som Seo fomer state because It such
Joy TO run. No boy could be my friend tlli l had
e SsaS" R@ IL a ana and be o6oy Ny wise
mother anxious TO give me strong BODY 70 supper
mo run Wild learning of nature what no books can
teach. and being led those who truly love her
Through nature up to natures Cod dawn
remember running over the Illus Just az T., da YIN
silent woods saw through an arch OF trees the sun
S v y @ and mf green Born Of Rs
hour, happy mood and the unfolding sspraof S
God and I'm the hush of that morning hour always
felt that got religion as the phrase goes new
fathers arm came to me then never TO emango
through forty years Of lies ylGlssitudes, put 10
stronger
THOSE Concord days wcro the happIcst of lifc
Ter we Eaa aTthg and oodwn with The Illus
rlous parents and their friends TO enjoy our prahKS
'D PLAYS in The barn were favorc amusement and
dramazed the fairy tales IN great style, ,,o,,
and dro stories still told Of the adventures of
those days Mr. Emerson snG Mars gar FULLER %ero
ton having turned to the cvcrneresting subject OF
education Miss Fuller said:
!. Wcl NJ
your methods in your own family and should like to
She did in few moments, for the guests stood
:he door steps Wild uproar approached ana r1mna
baby May arraycd as queen was tho horse bttcd
and brdici and driven by my older sister Anna, while
Lizzie played dog and barEed as loud as her gentle
fun, which, however came to sudden end as wS
na @ a9He T pa all c Tsa. tn the saying with
Here are he model M children Miss Fuller
Ny sentimental period began al fifteen when fell
dreaming dreams of splendid future Browsing over
Mr. Emcrsons library ! found Goethe's Correspond,
G SPeG with with des Irs to be second Bctine
making my fathers friend my Goethe. So / wrote
len wild flowers on the doorscps of Master" sung
Mlgnon's song very bad German under his window,
and was fond OF wandering by moonlight. or sitting In
cherry-trcc al midnight till the owls scared me to bed
The gsh folly did not last long, and the letters were
burnt years ago. but Goethe IS stu my favorc author
and Emerson remained my beloved Mastern while he
lived. doing more for Inc, as for many another young
sonI than he ever knew by the simple beauty of his
life the r;h and wisdom Of his books, the example of
a good great man attempted and unspolled by the
world which he made nobler while In II, and left the
richer when he left.
The trials Of life began about this time, and my
happy childhood ended Money f. plentiful I'm a
philosophers house. and even tho maternal pelican
could not supply all our wants the small income
which was freely shared with every need; soul who
asked for help Fugitive slaves sheltered under
roof, and my first pupil was a very black George
Washington. whom taught TO write the hearth with
charcoal. his big fingers finding pen and pencil I'M
manageable Motherlcss girls, seeking protection were
guarded among us hungry travellers sent on to our
door TO be fed and warmed, and II the philosopher hap
pencd to own two coats the best went TO a needy
brother for these practical Christians who had tho
most perfect faith in Providence, and never found IL
betrayed