The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-05-07
The Home of Little Women"
BY Mary Richards Berry.

little sister," and with deep concern
VIII Franklin sat down on the divan
and tried to gather his weeping sister
into his arms.
"Oh. nothing, Billy dear" came the
scbbing answer from the pillows,
only I ana reading Little Women
and am just where Beth dies and,
anG-ofr,- rs ST. snc,- gr,eSg YOU
would cry. too" and up came Nir-
ginia's tear-stained face.
Yes, but | did not invite you TO
visit me in order tnat your might
waste seeh beautiful day AS this
with a weepy book. How would you
like to go to see the house where the
Little Women 1ieed?"
What? Did they really live In a
house And ! can really gee IL ?"
cried Virginia in establishment.
We'll, Well. which question shall l
answer first" laughed her brother.
"Of course they lived in house. and
right out here in Concord That il.
the Aicott family lived there and you
know Little Women is story of
taken the children out for walk.
suppose you put on Your hat and coat
and we will take the trolley out to
Concord and he back to tea
ION, that will be splendid" And
down went the book. while Virginia
fairly danced off to get ready.
1t was great treat to be able 10 go
somewhere with Brother Billy alone.
for he seldom came nome until late.
holidays his children claimed him. 10
that Virginia looked forward to this
little outing with keen enjoyment
What a. delightful ride it was, This
weather was perfect and as the err
whizzed along Virginia kept her eyes
open TO see all that there was ~ be
seen.
Afte' various changes nd waits
through Arlington and Lexington. the
peaceful little town of Concord was
finally reached and they left the car
at the center OF the town.
I'VE will come again some daE- "
declared Billy. and then you can see
the sights one should; but to-day We
have time only to walk to the Alcott
/ home"
! As Virginia walked along the path
she could easily imagine 10 and Me-
/ passing the same way. perhaps on
their way to school. or out making
those formal calls which 10 so detcst-
ed. or, again, as the sound of wheels
was heard. Virginia turned her beau
half expecting to see the old stage
drive up and 10 alight with the
Holsters under her arm.
! ]
needed no words to tell Virginia that
this was the dear little brown hous~
30 loved by Little Women There
was the walk leading up to it that
10 used TO shovel. There was the
old apple tree at the side which did
service for many a prancing steed.
There, in the rear stood The oit,
barn where so many tragedies and
dramas were enacted before a most
Z N too nA
But there were no. girls now play
ing Pilgrims Progress" from cellar
to attic No Laurie now came whist
/ ling across the garden. All was silent.
but the sleepy looking. dingy hou>-
seemed to say, II hold many secrets
within my walls, but l shall always
keep them"
''It looks quite deserted now, does
lit mott" And the two visitors werS
surprised to find themselves SPOKEN
to by still another sightaeer--only in
this case 1t was n woman with gray
hair.
lis this your first visit here?" sne
further inquired. encouraged by Nir-
ginia's smile.
Yes. replied Virginia; is it
yours, too -
swered II used to go to school over
in that house whose roof YOU can fus'
see through the trees Amy OF -aAttle
Women used to teach us drawing a-.d
painting, and even 10 herself used to
come to the school occasionally, but
we knew and loved the mother best
of all. Many and many day did we
girls slip away from school and steal
over here to the back door where Mrs.
AIcott, or Mrs. Marsh, Ii you prefer.
would greet us with plate of cookies
and "a pttchar Of milk 1t was 10 her
that we always came when we were
In scrapes, or for comfort when We
were homesick. and she was just as
dear a mother TO us all as she is To
her four girls In her book,
Then came other stories about Meg,
and Beth. and Laurie. to which Viz
ginia listened in fascinated wonder.
Dear me. there come my friends
back again, so j must say good-by.
Read Little Women over again. my
dear, and see how much more you
find in Il this time. Girls can't read
too many Of Miss Alcott's books nor
read them too often. either" And
with smile OF farewell their delight
ful acquaintance drove away.
/ II do think thai this has been Jus.
about the best day / ever had" de-
clared Virginia. when thcy finally
went out again at the little gate and
she turned for a last iook at the
house Think of actually meeting
some one who really knew the Little
Women. shall begin the book over
again this very night
IAN right" answered her brother.
"but pleaEe leave. out the teary part
this time
And then the conductor called out.
"Ali aboard" and Concord was soon
left far behind.-The Comrads.