Finished fairy book in September. Ann had an offer from Dr. Wilbur of Syracuse to teach at the great idiot asylum. She disliked it, but decided to go. Poor dear! so beauty-loving, timid, and tender. It is a hard trial; but she is so self-sacrificing she tries to like it because it is duty.
_October_.--A. to Syracuse. May ill.u.s.trated my book and tales called "Christmas Elves." Better than "Flower Fables." Now I must try to sell it.
[Innocent Louisa, to think that a Christmas book could be sold in October.--L. M. A.]
_November_.--Decided to seek my fortune; so with my little trunk of home-made clothes, $20 earned by stories sent to the _Gazette_, and my MSS., I set forth with mother"s blessing one rainy day in the dullest month in the year.
[My birth-month; always to be a memorable one.--L. M. A.]
Found it too late to do anything with the book, so put it away and tried for teaching, sewing, or any honest work. Won"t go home to sit idle while I have a head and pair of hands.
_December_.--H. and L. W. very kind, and my dear cousins the Sewalls take me in. I sew for Mollie and others, and write stories. C. gave me books to notice. Heard Thackeray. Anxious times; Anna very homesick. Walpole very cold and dull now the summer b.u.t.terflies have gone. Got $5 for a tale and $12 for sewing; sent home a Christmas box to cheer the dear souls in the snow-banks.
_January, 1856_.--C. paid $6 for "A Sister"s Trial." Gave me more books to notice, and wants more tales.
[Should think he would at that price.--L. M. A.]
Sewed for L. W. Sewall and others. Mr. J. M. Field took my farce to Mobile to bring out; Mr. Barry of the Boston Theatre has the play.
Heard Curtis lecture. Began a book for summer--"Beach Bubbles." Mr.
F. of the _Courier_ printed a poem of mine on "Little Nell." Got $10 for "Bertha," and saw great yellow placards stuck up announcing it.
Acted at the W."s.
_March_.--Got $10 for "Genevieve." Prices go up, as people like the tales and ask who wrote them. Finished "Twelve Bubbles." Sewed a great deal, and got very tired; one job for Mr. G. of a dozen pillow cases, one dozen sheets, six fine cambric neckties, and two dozen handkerchiefs, at which I had to work all one night to get them done, as they were a gift to him. I got only $4.
Sewing won"t make my fortune; but I can plan my stories while I work, and then scribble "em down on Sundays.
Poem on "Little Paul"; Curtis"s lecture on "d.i.c.kens" made it go well.
Hear Emerson on "England."
_May_.--Anna came on her way home, sick and worn out; the work was too much for her. We had some happy days visiting about. Could not dispose of B. B. in book form, but C. took them for his paper. Mr.
Field died, so the farce fell through there. Altered the play for Mrs.
Barrow to bring out next winter.
_June, 1856_.--Home, to find dear Betty very ill with scarlet-fever caught from some poor children mother nursed when they fell sick, living over a cellar where pigs had been kept. The landlord (a deacon) would not clean the place till mother threatened to sue him for allowing a nuisance. Too late to save two of the poor babies or Lizzie and May from the fever.
[L. never recovered, but died of it two years later.--L. M. A.]
An anxious time, I nursed, did housework, and wrote a story a month through the summer.
Dr. Bellows and Father had Sunday eve conversations.
_October_.--Pleasant letters from father, who went on a tour to New York, Philadelphia, and Boston.
Made plans to go to Boston for the winter, as there is nothing to do here, and there I can support myself and help the family. C. offers $10 a month, and perhaps more. L. W., M. S., and others, have plenty of sewing; the play may come out, and Mrs. R. will give me a sky-parlor for $3 a week, with fire and board. I sew for her also.
If I can get A. L. to governess I shall be all right.
I was born with a boy"s spirit under my bib and tucker. I _can"t wait_ when I _can work_, so I took my little talent in my hand and forced the world again, braver than before and wiser for my failures.
[Jo in N. Y.--L. M. A.]
I don"t often pray in words; but when I set out that day with all my worldly goods in the little old trunk, my own earnings ($25) in my pocket, and much hope and resolution in my soul, my heart was very full, and I said to the Lord, "Help us all, and keep us for one another," as I never said it before, while I looked back at the dear faces watching me, so full of love and hope and faith.
[_Journal_]
Boston, _November, 1856: Mrs. David Reed"s_.--I find my little room up in the attic very cosey and a house full of boarders very amusing to study. Mrs. Reed very kind. Fly around and take C. his stories. Go to see Mrs. L. about A. Don"t want me. A blow, but I cheer up and hunt for sewing. Go to hear Parker, and he does me good. Asks me to come Sunday evenings to his house. I did go there, and met Phillips, Garrison, Hedge, and other great men, and sit in my corner weekly, staring and enjoying myself.
When I went Mr. Parker said, "G.o.d bless you, Louisa; come again"; and the grasp of his hand gave me courage to face another anxious week.
_November 3d_.--Wrote all the morning. In the P. M. went to see the Sumner reception as he comes home after the Brooks affair. I saw him pa.s.s up Beacon Street, pale and feeble, but smiling and bowing. I rushed to Hanc.o.c.k Street, and was in time to see him bring his proud old mother to the window when the crowd gave three cheers for her. I cheered, too, and was very much excited. Mr. Parker met him somewhere before the ceremony began, and the above P. cheered like a boy; and Sumner laughed and nodded as his friend pranced and shouted, bareheaded and beaming.
My kind cousin, L. W., got tickets for a course of lectures on "Italian Literature," and seeing my old cloak sent me a new one, with other needful and pretty things such as girls love to have. I shall never forget how kind she has always been to me.
_November 5th_.--Went with H. W. to see Manager Barry about the everlasting play which is always coming out but never comes. We went all over the great new theatre, and I danced a jig on the immense stage. Mr. B. was very kind, and gave me a pa.s.s to come whenever I liked. This was such richness I didn"t care if the play was burnt on the spot, and went home full of joy. In the eve I saw La Grange as Norma, and felt as if I knew all about that place. Quite stage-struck, and imagined myself in her place, with white robes and oak-leaf crown.
_November 6th_.--Sewed happily on my job of twelve sheets for H. W., and put lots of good will into the work after his kindness to me.
Walked to Roxbury to see cousin Dr. W. about the play and tell the fine news. Rode home in the new cars, and found them very nice.
In the eve went to teach at Warren Street Chapel Charity School. I"ll help as I am helped if I can. Mother says no one so poor he can"t do a little for some one poorer yet.
_Sunday_.--Heard Parker on "Individuality of Character," and liked it much. In the eve I went to his house. Mrs. Howe was there, and Sumner and others. I sat in my usual corner, but Mr. P. came up and said, in that cordial way of his, "Well, child, how goes it?" "Pretty well, sir." "That"s brave"; and with his warm handshake he went on, leaving me both proud and happy, though I have my trials. He is like a great fire where all can come and be warmed and comforted. Bless him!
Had a talk at tea about him, and fought for him when W. R. said he was not a Christian. He is my _sort_; for though he may lack reverence for other people"s G.o.d, he works bravely for his own, and turns his back on no one who needs help, as some of the pious do.
_Monday, 14th_.--May came full of expectation and joy to visit good aunt B. and study drawing. We walked about and had a good home talk, then my girl went off to Auntie"s to begin what I hope will be a pleasant and profitable winter. She needs help to develop her talent, and I can"t give it to her.
Went to see Forrest as Oth.e.l.lo. It is funny to see how attentive all the once cool gentlemen are to Miss Alcott now she has a pa.s.s to the new theatre.
_November 29th_.--My birthday. Felt forlorn so far from home. Wrote all day. Seem to be getting on slowly, so should be contented. To a little party at the B."s in the eve. May looked very pretty, and seemed to be a favorite. The boys teased me about being an auth.o.r.ess, and I said I"d be famous yet. Will if I can, but something else may be better for me.
Found a pretty pin from father and a nice letter when I got home. Mr.
H. brought them with letters from mother and Betty, so I went to bed happy.
_December_.--Busy with Christmas and New Year"s tales. Heard a good lecture by E. P. Whipple on "Courage." Thought I needed it, being rather tired of living like a spider--spinning my brains out for money.
Wrote a story, "The Cross on the Church Tower," suggested by the tower before my window.
Called on Mrs. L., and she asked me to come and teach A. for three hours each day. Just what I wanted; and the children"s welcome was very pretty and comforting to "Our Olly," as they called me.
Now board is all safe, and something over for home, if stories and sewing fail. I don"t do much, but can send little comforts to mother and Betty, and keep May neat.
_December 18th_.--Begin with A. L., in Beacon Street. I taught C. when we lived in High Street, A. in Pinckney Street, and now Al; so I seem to be an inst.i.tution and a success, since I can start the boy, teach one girl, and take care of the little invalid. It is hard work, but I can do it; and am glad to sit in a large, fine room part of each day, after my sky-parlor, which has nothing pretty in it, and only the gray tower and blue sky outside as I sit at the window writing. I love luxury, but freedom and independence better.
[_To her father, written from Mrs. Reed"s_]
_Boston, November 29, 1856_.