The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1910-08-25
THE HOME OF LITTLE WOMEN"

lHE HOME OF ''IITTIE WOMEN
We'll, well. what is the trouble,
little sister," and with deep concern
Will Franklin sat down on the divan
and tried to gather his weeping sister
into his arms.
"Oh, nothing, Billy dear" came
the sobbing answer from the pillows,
only l am reading Little Women,
and l am just where Bert dies and,
and-oh, it is so sad, guess you
would cry, too" and up came Vir-
ginia's tear-stained face.
Yes, but l did not invite you to
visit me in order that you might
waste such a beautiful day as this
with weepy book. How would you
like to go and see the house where
the Little Women lived?"
What? Did they really live in a
house? And can I really see it?"
cried Virginia, in establishment.
well, well, which question shall
I answer first?" laughed her brother
SOf course, they lived in a house,
and right out here in Concord. That
IS, the Alcott family lived there, and
>eSou know Little Women is the story
OF their lives. Now as Margaret has
taken the children out for a walk,
suppose you put on your hat and
coat and we will take the trolley out
70 Concord and be back to tea"
"Oh, that will be sp1endid!" And
down went the book, while Virginia
fairly danced off to get ready.
1t was a great treat to be able to
go somewhere with Brother Billy
alone. for he seldom came home I'M
I'll late, and usually on Saturday or
aaif-holidays his children claimed
him, so that Virginia looked forward
To this little outing with keen enjoy
ment.
What a delightful ride it was!
The weather was perfect, and as the
car whizzed along, Virginia kept her
eyes open to see all there was to be
seen.
After various changes and 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 day."
declared Bill. ''and then you can see
the sights one should; but to-day we
have only time to walk to the Alcott
house"
AS Virginia walked along the path
she could easily imagine 10 and Meg
passing the same way, perhaps on
their way to school, or making those
formal calls which 10 so detested. Or
again, as the sound of wheels was
heard, Virginia turned her head half
expecting to see the old stage drive
up and 10 alight with the Holsters
under her arm.
Here you are!" said Billy, but it
needed no words to tell Virginia that
this was the dear little brown house
so loved by Little Women" There
was the walk leading up to it that
80 used to shovel. There was the
apple tree at the side which did SER
vice for many a prancing steed
There, in the rear, stood the old barn
where so many tragedies and dramas
were enacted before the most ap-
Dreciative, if limited audiences.
But there were no girls now play
ing Pilgrims Progress" from cellar
TO attic. No Laurie now came whis-
cling across the garden All was
silent, but the sleepy-looking dingy
house seemed to say, ST hold many
secrets within my walls, but I shall
ALWAYS keen them
cit looks quite deserted now, does
as not?" And the two visitors were
surprised to find themselves spoken
20 by still another Satisfactorily in
This case it was a woman with gray
aair.
S'Is this your first visit here?" She
further inquired, encouraged by Vir-
sinia's smile
Yes replied Virginia; sis it
yours, too?''
tOh, dear no." the stranger an
swered. 81 used to go to school in
that house whose roof you can Just
see through the trees. Amy of Lit
tie Women used to teach us draw
ang and painting, and even 10 herself
used to come to the school OCCASION