Transcriber's Note:
All punctuation kept as per original, including unclosed quotes.
"The best of all were the cosey talks we had in the twilight."Frontispiece.
MAY FLOWERS
BY
LOUISA M. ALCOTT
AUTHOR OF "LITTLE WOMEN," "LITTLE MEN,"
"AN OLD-FASHIONED GIRL," ETC.
Illustrated
BOSTON
LITTLE, BROWN, AND COMPANY
Copyright, 1887,
By Louisa M. Alcott.
Copyright, 1899,
By John S. P. Alcott.
University Press
John Wilson and Son, Cambridge, U.S.A.[1]
MAY FLOWERS
Being Boston girls, of course they got up aclub for mental improvement, and, as they wereall descendants of the Pilgrim Fathers, theycalled it the May Flower Club. A very goodname, and the six young girls who were membersof it made a very pretty posy when theymet together, once a week, to sew, and readwell-chosen books. At the first meeting of theseason, after being separated all summer, therewas a good deal of gossip to be attended tobefore the question, "What shall we read?"came up for serious discussion.
Anna Winslow, as president, began by proposing"Happy Dodd;" but a chorus of "I'veread it!" made her turn to her list for anothertitle.
"'Prisoners of Poverty' is all about workingwomen,very true and very sad; but Mammasaid it might do us good to know something ofthe hard times other girls have," said Anna,soberly; for she was a thoughtful creature, veryanxious to do her duty in all ways.[2]
"I'd rather not know about sad things, sinceI can't help to make them any better," answeredElla Carver, softly patting the apple blossomsshe was embroidering on a bit of blue satin.
"But we might help if we really tried, I suppose;you know how much Happy Dodd didwhen she once began, and she was only a poorlittle girl without half the means of doing goodwhich we have," said Anna, glad to discuss thematter, for she had a little plan in her head andwanted to prepare a way for proposing it.
"Yes, I'm always saying that I have morethan my share of fun and comfort and prettythings, and that I ought and will share themwith some one. But I don't do it; and nowand then, when I hear about real poverty, ordreadful sickness, I feel so wicked it quite upsetsme. If I knew how to begin, I reallywould. But dirty little children don't comein my way, nor tipsy women to be reformed,nor nice lame girls to sing and pray with, as itall happens in books," cried Marion Warren,with such a remorseful expression on her merryround face that her mates laughed with oneaccord.
"I know something that I could do if I onlyhad the courage to begin it. But Papa would[3]shake his head unbelievingly, and Mamma worryabout its being proper, and