Of the world they knew nothing; lovers were ideal beings, clothed with all the beauty of their innocent imaginations. Love was a blissful dream; constancy, truth, courage, and virtue quite every-day affairs of life. Their few novels furnished the romantic element; the favorite fairy-tales gave them material for the supernatural; and their strong dramatic taste enabled them to infuse both fire and pathos into their absurd situations. Jo revelled in catastrophe, and the darker scenes were her delight; but she usually required Meg to "do the love-part," which she considered quite beneath her pen. Thus their productions were a queer mixture of sentiment and adventure, with entire disregard of such matters as grammar, history, and geography,--all of which were deemed of no importance by these aspiring dramatists. From the little stage library, still extant, the following plays have been selected as fair examples of the work of these children of sixteen and seventeen. With some slight changes and omissions, they remain as written more than forty years ago by Meg and Jo, so dear to the hearts of many other "Little Women." Concord, Mass., 1893. [Illustration: THE THEATRE OF 1848. "Those Concord days were the happiest of my life. Plays in the barn were a favorite amusement." _L. M. Alcott._] NORNA; OR, THE WITCH'S CURSE. CHARACTERS. Count Rodolpho . . . . . _A Haughty Noble._ Count Louis . . . . . _Lover of Leonore._ Adrian . . . . . . . _The Black Mask._ Hugo . . . . . . . _A Bandit._ Gaspard . . . . . . _Captain of the Guard._ Angelo . . . . . . _A Page._ Theresa . . . . . . _Wife to Rodolpho._ Leonore . . . . . . _In love with Louis._ Norna . . . . . . _A Witch._ COMIC TRAGEDIES. NORNA; OR, THE WITCH'S CURSE. SCENE FIRST. [_A room in the castle of_ Rodolpho. Theresa _discovered alone, and in tears._] Theresa. I cannot pray; my aching heart finds rest alone in tears. Ah, what a wretched fate is mine! Forced by a father's will to wed a stranger ere I learned to love, one short year hath taught me what a bitter thing it is to wear a chain that binds me unto one who hath proved himself both jealous and unkind. The fair hopes I once cherished are now gone, and here a captive in my splendid home I dwell forsaken, sorrowing and alone [_weeps_]. [_Three taps upon the wall are heard._] Ha, my brother's signal! What can bring him hither at this hour? Louis, is it thou? Enter; "all's well." [_Enter_ Count Louis _through a secret panel in the wall, hidden by a curtain. He embraces_ Theresa.