Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-05-15
LOUISA NJ. ALCOTT's CREED,
Was Taught That '.the Love of Good
ness WNs the Love of Gad.v


In a number Of letters written at long
ard short intervals from 1872 to 1886 by
Louisa NJ. Alcott to five little girls in Allie
gheny county, Pa. the author of Little
Women" discloses her nature. and the mis-
sives are given to the public in the Ladies'
Home Journal In one of the tenderest Of
these letters, invoked by the sad informa-
ticn of the death of one of the sisters.
Miss Alcott wrote her sorrowing cor
respondent:
/ will tell you my experience, and
as it has stood the test of youth and age,
health and sickness. joy and sorrow, power
ty and wealth. 1 feel that 1t is genuine,
and seem to get more light, warmth and
help as l go on learning more of it year by
year. My parents never bound us to any
CHURCH, but taught us that the love of
goodness was the love of God, the cheerful
doing of duty made life happy, and that the
love of ones neighbor in It's widest sense
was the best help for ones self. Their
lives showed US how lovely this simple faith
was, how much honor, gratitude and affec-
ton it brought them, and what a sweet
memory they left behind, for, though father
still lives, his life is over, as far as thought
or usefulness is possible. Theodore Park
er and Ralph Waldo Emerson did much to
help me to see that one can shape life best
by trying to build up strong and noble
character, through good books. wise peo-
PIC . SOCiely, dH interest IN all the reforms
that help the world. and cheerful accept
ance of whatever is inevitable; seeing
beautiful compensation in what often
seems great sacrifice. sorrow or loss, and
believing always that a wise, loving and
Just Father cares for US, sees our weakness
and Is near to help US If We call. Have
you read Emerson? He is called a Pan
theist or believer In nature instead of God
He was truly Christian, and saw God in
nature, finding strength and comfort in the
same sweet influences of the great Mother
as well as the Father of all. /, too, believe
this, and when tired. sad or tempted find
my best comfort in the woods, the sky the
healing solitude that lets my poor weary
soul find the rest, the fresh hope or the
patience which only God can give us. Peo-
pie used to tell me that when sorrow came
L should find my faith faulty because it had
10 name, but they were wrong for when
he heavy loss of my dear gifted sister
found me too feeble to do anything but
suffer passively, 1 still had the sustaining
sense of a love that never failed, even when
l could not see why this lovely life should
end when it was happiest. AS a poor
proud, struggling girl / held to the belief
that II L deserved success it would surely
come, so long as my ambition was not for
selfish ends, but for my dear family, and 1t
did come, far more fully than l ever hoped or
dreamed, though youth, health and many
hopes went to earn 1t. Now, when 1 might
enjoy rest, pleasure and travel l am still
my dreams, sure that something better will
he given me in time. Freedom was always
my longing. but l have never had it. so I
am still trying to feel that this is the dis
cipltne l need, and when l am ready the
liberty will come"