Part 1

LITTLE WOMEN.

LITTLE WOMEN OR Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy

BY LOUISA M. ALCOTT

AUTHOR OF "LITTLE MEN," "AN OLD-FASHIONED GIRL" "SPINNING-WHEEL STORIES," ETC.

With more than 200 illustrations by Frank T. Merrill and a picture of the Home of the Little Women by Edmund H. Garrett

BOSTON LITTLE, BROWN, AND COMPANY

Entered according to Act of Congress, in the years 1868 and 1869, by LOUISA M. ALCOTT, In the Clerk's office of the District Court of the District of Massachusetts.

Copyright, 1880, BY LOUISA M. ALCOTT.

Copyright, 1896, BY JOHN S. P. ALCOTT.

BOSTON ALFRED MUDGE & SON INC. PRINTERS

"Go then, my little Book, and show to all That entertain and bid thee welcome shall, What thou dost keep close shut up in thy breast; And wish what thou dost show them may be blest To them for good, may make them choose to be Pilgrims better, by far, than thee or me. Tell them of Mercy; she is one Who early hath her pilgrimage begun. Yea, let young damsels learn of her to prize The world which is to come, and so be wise; For little tripping maids may follow God Along the ways which saintly feet have trod."

Adapted from JOHN BUNYAN.

Part First.

CHAPTER

I. PLAYING PILGRIMS

II. A MERRY CHRISTMAS

III. THE LAURENCE BOY

IV. BURDENS

V. BEING NEIGHBORLY

VI. BETH FINDS THE PALACE BEAUTIFUL

VII. AMY'S VALLEY OF HUMILIATION

VIII. JO MEETS APOLLYON

IX. MEG GOES TO VANITY FAIR

X. THE P. C. AND P. O.

XI. EXPERIMENTS

XII. CAMP LAURENCE

XIII. CASTLES IN THE AIR

XIV. SECRETS