The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1896-06-13
LOUISA N. ALcorr,s CREgp.
Wa, Taught that "thc Love OF GOodmc
wrs the Lave ~ God"

WIS the Lave Of God"
In a number Of letters written at long
and short intervals from 1872 to 1896 by
Louisa NJ. Alcott To five little girls In
Allegheny county. Pa, the author OF
Little Women" discioscs her nature,
and the missvcs are given to the public
In the Ladies' Home Journal. In one OF
the tendercst Of these letters, invoked
by the sad Information Of the death
Of ono OF the sisters, Miss Alcott wrote
her sorrowng correspondent:
"'s / will tell you my c%.
perIepce. and AS Il has stood the test OF
youth and age, health ana sickness,
10y and sorrow, poverty and wealth.
feel that It IL genuine. and seem To get
more light, warmth and help rs ! 20
on learning more of 1t year by year.
My parents never bound us TO any
church, but TAUGHT MS that the love If
goodness was the love Of God. the
cheerful doing OF duty made life happy,
and that the love Of ones nctGhhor IN us
widest sense was the best help for ones
self, Their lives showed us how lovely
this simple faith was how much hon
or gratitude and affection II brought
them. and what sweet memory they
left behind, for, though father sun
lives, his life is over, ms far nS thought
or usefulness Is possible, Thepdorc
Parker and Ralph waldo Emerson dId
much to help me to see that one can
shane life best by trying 10 build up
strong and noble character. through
rond books, wise peoples society, an
interest In all the reforms that help the
world. and a cheerful acceptance OF
whatever Is inevitable; seeing a beau
tiful cOmpCnsatiOn In what often seems
a great sacrihCc, sorrow or loss, ana be-
IlcvIng that wise, loving ana Just
Father cares FOR us. secs our weakness
and IL ncnr to help us If we call. Have
you read EmCCSon2 lie Is called ran
thcist. or believer In nature Instead OF
God. lie was truly Christian. and saw
God In nature finding strength and
comfort In the same sweet influences OF
The great Mother Us welt ms the Father
Of all. I. too. believe this, and when
tired, sad or tempted find my best com
fort In the woods. the sky, the healing
rnlltude that lets my poor, weary soul
find the rest. the fresh hope Of the pa
tIrnce which only God can give US.
People used to tell me that when spr-
row came / should find my faith faulty.
because Il had no name. but they wcr"
wrong. for when the heavy loss OF my
dear, gifted sister tuunu ne tpp I''pIt
to do anything but suffer pasR,yely.
still had the sustaining sense OF love
that never failed. even when ! could
moi zee why this lovely life should end
whom IL was happivst. As poor, proud.
struggling girl held to the belief that
u | deserved success 1t would surely
come. 90 long us my ambition was not
FOR selfish ends, but for my dear family,
and It did come. far more fully than
ryor hoped or dreamed. though youth.
health and many hopes went to earn II.
Now, when might enjoy rest. pleasure
and travel. am sim tied by new, duties
To my baby, and Civ" up my Dreams
sure that something better viii be given
mo In time Freedom was always my
longing. but l have never had II, SO !
am am trying to feel that this IS the
dlsclpllnr | need, and when am ready
t6n 1F}prrsfNs N,,tii come. 4"