The Montana plaindealer. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1906-1911, 1906-11-02
1ug REAL "LlrTLE WOMEN
a Letter from Mias AIcOtt's sisteI
About the Four Giris-

About the your OAElAs
Doubtless many OF our girl readers
Who have also read and enjoyed Lit
tie Women" will be interested In the
following letter, written thirty years
ego to two young girls Of that day
vbo had sent a letter to Miss AlcCtl
herself, asking II the characters in
Little Women" were real persons
and II the story were true. In due
time they received the following letter
in reply.-Editor.
Concord, Jan. 20, 1871.
Dear Julia and Aice-From your
note to Miss Alcott l infer that you are
not aware that she is at present In
Italy, having gone abroad in April
last. with the intention Of remaining
a year or more. trying to get well. But
knowing how pleased she would be
with your friendly note, / think per-
haps a word from sister Meg" will be
better than leaving 1t unanswered and
far better than that any little wOnl-
an" should feel that "JO" was unkind
or ungrateful.
OF course ySu knew that neither
Meg nSr "JO" are young and pretty
girls new, but sober cid wsmen, nearly
forty years OF age, full Of cares and
troubles like other people; and that al
though nearly every event in tho book
is true, Of course things did not hap
pen exactly as they are there set down.
You ask II Amy" L. not May Alcott,
and l a truly say she is her very
self, and she Is the emily n Of tbs
Little Women wh0 would, l think,
realize you ideal drawn from the
story. She Is, indeed, Lady Amy"
and a fair and noble woman, full of
graces and accomplishments, and, what
IL better far, a pure and generous
heart. 10" Beth" and Amy" are all
drawn from life, and are entirely
truthful pictures Of the three dear sis
ters whS played and worked, loved
and screwed together so many years
ago Dear Better Louie, as we
called her-died, after long suffering,
twelve years since. She was a sweet
and gentle creature, and her deathwa
so great a borrow to poor 40" that she
has been quite happy since her
conscience" was laid away under the
pines of Sleepy Hollow. Meg was
never the pretty vain little maiden,
who coQuetted and made herself so
charming. But 40" always admired
poor, plain Meg" and when she came
to put her into the story she beauti-
fled her to suit the occasion, saying,
Dear me, girls, we must have one
beauty in the boOk!" SO Meg with
her big mouth and hOmely nose, shines
forth quite a darling, and no doubt all
the little women" who read Of her
admire her just as loving old 80"
does, and think her quite splendid.
But, for all that, she Ii nothing but
homely, busy. and, l hope, useful
annie" who writes this letter to you.
AS for dear old 40" herself, she was
Just the romping, naughty, topsy-turvy
tomboy that all you little girls have
learned to love; and even now, when
care and sickness have made her early
old, she is at heart the same loving,
generous girl. In Little Women" she
has given q very truthful story of her
haps and mishaps, her literary strug-
giles and successes, and she is now en-.
joyins her well-earned honors and re.
gaining her health in travel with her
sister Amy. They are spending the
winter in Rome. in a delightful circle
OF artists, receiving attentions and
honors that make proud the heart Of
the sister left behind. Amy" is In the
studio of a well-known painter, work.
ing hard to perfect herself in her
chosen art, while 40" is resting and
gaining strength and courage for her
promised Little Men," of which l
imagine "Meg's" Boys, Freddie and
Johnnie, are to be the heroes.
You inquire about Laurie" The
character was drawn partly from
imagination. but more perhaps from
a very nice hey Louisa once knew,
whose good looks and "wheedlesome"
ways first suggested to her the idea
of putting him into a book. She has
therefore put upon him the love-mak-
ing and behavior Of various adorers Of
her youthful days.
Dear little friends, If l have told you
all you wish to know, and shown that
you need have no fear of being
thought Intrusive" perhaps some
time you will honor Meg" herself
with a letter.
Be assured she will be glad to hear
from any of the little women" Sin
cerely yours,
ANNIE ALCOTT PRATT