Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-11-19

Anna and Louisa, the eldest of the
children early felt the pinch of pow
erty and saw how 1t was wearing on
their mother, who could do 50 little to
tighten the burden, so they went to
work to see how they could help.
In all this struggle with poverty,
Louisa never for q moment let go her
determination to be writer In this
she was helped and encouraged by her
mother. Mrs. Alcott had the habit
OF .eprimanding or praising her
children by writing them little notes
and pinning themsto their pillows. To
Louisa, whose tongue was impulsive
and whose temper was stubborn,
these notes came oftenest.
Beth, next to May, the youngest
sister, died when young and no one
can tell how Louisa felt the loss Of
this sister, who had always been her
especial charge, as May had been
Annals. So Beth's part in Little
Women" is really true, and ought to
be appreciated.
A year before the death of Beth,
the family had again moved to Con-
cord, this time to the house known
now as the .Alcott home, the home OF
the Little Women"
In 1851 war broke out, to her other
cares was now added sewing and knit
ting for the "Boys in Blue" she
wished that she were man so that
she might 60 to war. She knew she
couldn't OF course, SO she decided that
II she could not fight she could care
for those who did and SO she decided
to go to the hospital In Georgetown
to nurse. She had been the nurse.
.of the family 50 that she was fitted
for the place. Her experience in the
hospital was more bitter than she ex-
pected, for she missed the freedom Of
her former life, her run in the morn
Ing in the bracing air. and in spite OF
her determination, she grew sick.
When 1t was suggested that she had
better go home or she would die or
the typhus, she refused.
One day came, however, when she
had to keep her room, and after
while she beheld her father, and she
then knew that she had to go home.
While in the hospital she found time
The family had been further de-
creased by the marriage OF Anna.
Louisa went to Europe in 1866 to
see If she could regain any Of her
former health. She stayed year and
returned home much refreshed.
In one of the out-of-the-way places
she sought to rest, she met young
Polish boy, who very much interested
her, and who was the original of
Lourie in the story of Little Women. .
Shortly after her return her pub
Usher req, ested her to write a story
for girls. She would have preferred
to write story about boys but she
merely said, IN try, sir" She did
try and it was Little Women" that
she had written.
At last she was happy to ind that
she was able to pay all the family
debts.
In her second trip to Europe, she
took her sister May, with her, because
May wanted to be an artist. But while
they were in Europe, their brother-in-
law, John Pratt, died. A while after
they had came home Louisa again
sent Mary to Europe. Late In 1877 the
mother died. May was in Europe
when her mother died, but kind
friend came often to console her In
time the two married and they made
their home in Paris. After two years
OF happiness, the young wife died.
She bequeathed her little baby daugh.
ter to her sister Louisa. Miss Alcott
health steadily declined SO that when
her father was stricken for the last
time with apoplexy she was too weak
to wait upon him or to see him more
than once or twice week. They
died two days apart in 1888.
Miss Alcott never married but she
made the younger Of her two nephews
her heir.
Vida Wahle, age IL.
| IN n Court st. Otumwa. Iowa.