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Louisa May Alcott
Louisa May Alcott: 16 Novels in One Volume (Illustrated Edition)
Moods, The Mysterious Key and What It Opened, An Old Fashioned Girl, Eight Cousins, Rose in Bloom…
Published by
Books
- Advanced Digital Solutions & High-Quality eBook Formatting -
2017 OK Publishing
ISBN 978-80-7583-977-0
Table of Contents
Louisa May Alcott: Her Life, Letters, and Journals
The Mysterious Key and What It Opened
Eight Cousins; or, The Aunt-Hill
Rose in Bloom: A Sequel to Eight Cousins
Jack and Jill: A Village Story
Behind a Mask, or a Woman's Power
The Abbot's Ghost, or Maurice Treherne's Temptation
Pauline's Passion and Punishment
Introduction:
Louisa May Alcott: Her Life, Letters, and Journals
Chapter I. GENEALOGY AND PARENTAGE.
Chapter IV. THE SENTIMENTAL PERIOD.
Chapter VI. THE YEAR OF GOOD LUCK.
Chapter VII. HOSPITAL SKETCHES.
Chapter VIII. EUROPE AND LITTLE WOMEN.
CHAPTER I.
GENEALOGY AND PARENTAGE.
TO LOUISA MAY ALCOTT.
BY HER FATHER.
When I remember with what buoyant heart,
Midst war's alarms and woes of civil strife,
In youthful eagerness thou didst depart,
At peril of thy safety, peace, and life,
To nurse the wounded soldier, swathe the dead,–
How piercèd soon by fever's poisoned dart,
And brought unconscious home, with wildered head,
Thou ever since 'mid langour and dull pain,
To conquer fortune, cherish kindred dear,
Hast with grave studies vexed a sprightly brain,
In myriad households kindled love and cheer,
Ne'er from thyself by Fame's loud trump beguiled,
Sounding in this and the farther hemisphere,–
I press thee to my heart as Duty's faithful child.
LOUISA ALCOTT was the second child of Amos Bronson and Abba May Alcott. This name was spelled Alcocke in English history. About 1616 a coat-of-arms was granted to Thomas Alcocke of Silbertoft, in the county of Leicester. The device represents three cocks, emblematic of watchfulness; and the motto is Semper Vigilans.
The first of the name appearing in English history is John Alcocke of Beverley, Yorkshire, of whom Fuller gives an account in his Worthies of England.
Thomas and George Alcocke were the first of the name among the settlers in New England. The name is frequently found in the records of Dorchester and Roxbury, and has passed through successive changes to its present form.
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