Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-05-26
LOUISA M. ALC0Tr.
AUT0BI0GRAPHIC REMINISCEN.
CES OF HER GIRLHOOD
Which Will be Read With Deep In
terest by Young People and
the Authors Admirers.

charming pictures of her girlhood and
their forecast of her busy and helpful
life:
One of my earliest memories is of play
ing with books in my fathers study.
Building towers and bridges of the big
dictionaries, looking at pictures pretend
ing to read, and scribbling on blank pages
whenever pen or pencil could be found.
Many of these first attempts at authorship
still exist, and l often wonder if these
childish plays did not influence my after
life, since books have been my greatest
comfort, .castle-building a never-failing de-
light, and scribbling very profitable
amusement.
Another very vivid recollection is of the
day when running after my hoop l fell
into the Frog Pond and was rescued by a
black boy, becoming friend to the COL
ored race then and there, though my
mother always declared that | was an alb
olitionist at the age of three.
During the Garrison riot in Boston the
portrait of George Thompson was hidden
under bed in our house for safe-keeping,
and am told that | used to go and COM
fort "the good man who helped poor
slaves" in his captivity. However that
may be, the conversion was genuine, and
my greatest pride is the fact that have
lived to know the great men and women
who did so much for the cause, and that |
had very small share in the war which
put an end to great wrong.
Being born on the birthday of Column
bus, | seem to have something of nv pat
ron saints spirit of adventure, and running
away was one of the delights of my child
hood. Many a social lunch have / shared
with hospitable Irish beggar children, as
we ate our 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 an impromptu picnic have | had
on the dear old common, with strange boys,
pretty babies and friendly dogs, who
always seemed to feel that this reckless
young person needed looking after
On one occasion the town-crier found me
fast asleep at 8 o'clock on a doorstep in
Bedford street, with my head pillowed on
the curly breast of big Newfoundland,
who was with difficulty persuaded to re-
lease the weary little wanderer who had
sobbed herself to sleep there.
OitOi oiiiAiC do pass VIC NOOl, anu
never forget to give grateful pat to every
big dog | meet, for never have | slept
more soundly than on that dusty step, nor
found better friend than the noble ami
NAL who watched over the lost baby so
faithfully.
Ny fathers school was the only one
ever went to- and when this was broken up
because he introduced new methods now all
the fashion, our lessons went on at home,
for he was always sure of four little pupils
who firmly believed in their teacher,
though they have not done him all the
credit he deserved.
| never liked arithmetic or grammar,
and lodged these branches on all occa-
sions; but reading, composition, history
and geography l enjoyed, as well as the
stories read to us with a skill which made
the dullest charming and useful.
Pilgrims Progress" Krummacher's
Parallels" Miss Edgeworth, and the best
of the dear old fairy tales made that hour
the pleasantest of our day. On Sundays
we had a simple service of Bible stories,
hymns, and conversation about the state
of our little consciences and the conduct
of our childish lives which never will be
forgotten.
Walks each morning round the common
while in the city, and long tramps over
hill and dale when our home was in the
country, were a part of our education, as
well as every sort of housework, for which
[ have always been very grateful, since
such knowledge makes one independent in
these days of domestic tribulation with the
help who are too often only hindrances
NaaJla Huprly ha,a,, aarlx- orI ct
skillful sister made linen shirt beauti-
full, while at twelve l set up as a dolls
dress-maker, with my sign out, and Won
derful models in my window. All the
children employed me, and my turbans
were the rage at one time to the great dis
may of the neighbors' hens, who were
hotly hunted down, that | might tweak out
their downiest feathers to adorn the dolls
head-gear.
Active exercise was my delight from the
time when a child of six drove my hoop
round the common without stopping, to
the days when l did my twenty miles in
five hours and went to party in the even
ing.
| always thought / must have been a
deer or horse in some former state, be-
cause it was such JOY to run. No boy
could be my friend till had beaten him
in race, and no girl if she refused to
climb trees, leap fences and be a tomboy.
My wise mother anxious to give me a
strong body to support lively brain,
turned me loose in the country and let me
run wild, learning of nature what no books
can teach, and being led, as those who
truly love her seldom fail to be,
Through nature up to natures God"
remember running over the hills lust
at dawn one summer morning, and paus-
ing to rest in the silent woods saw, through
an arch of trees, the sun rise over river.
hill and wide green meadows as l never
saw it before
Something born of the lovely hour, a
happy mood, and the unfolding aspirations
of child's soul seemed to bring me very
near to God, and in the hush of that morn
ing hour | felt that | "got religion" as
the phrase goes. A new and vital sense of
His presence, tender and sustaining as a
fathers arms came to me then, never to
change through forty years of lifes vicis-
STUDIES, but to grow stronger for the sharp
discipline of poverty and pain, sorrow and
success.
Those Concord days were the happiest
of my life, for we had charming playmates
in the little Emersons, Channings, Haw-
thornes and Goodwins, with the illustrious
parents and their friends to enjoy our
pranks and share our excursions.
Plays in the barn were fayorite amuse-
ment, and we dramatized the fairy tales in
great style. Our giant came tumbling of
the loft W hen lack cut down the squash
vine running up ladder to represent the
immortal bean. Cinderella rolled away in
a vast pumpkin, and long, black pudding
was lowered by invisible hands to faster
itself on the nose of the woman who
wasted her three wishes.
Little pilgrims journeyed over the hill:
with scrip and staff and cockle-shells in
their hats elves held their pretty revel.
among the pines, and Peter Wilkins
flying ladies came swinging down on the
birch tree-tops. Lords and ladies haunted
the garden, and mermaids splashed in the
bath-house of woven willows over the
brook.
People wondered at our frolics, but en-.
joyed them, and droll stories are still told
of the adventures of those days. Mr.
Emerson and Margaret Fuller were visit
ing my parents one afternoon, and the con
versation having turned to the ever inter
esting subject of education, Miss Fuller
| caid