She was born under sunny skies. The storm had passed, and the Alcott family had removed to Concord, where they enjoyed many of their happiest years. A presage of May Alcott's artistic gifts, her queenly bearing, elegance, and charm, all familiar to readers of "Little Women," is found in this entry in the father's journal: July, 1840. A new life has arrived to us (July 26th). She was born with the dawn, and is a proud little Queen, not deigning to give us the light of her royal presence, but persists in sleeping all the time, without notice of the broad world or ourselves. Providence, it seems, decrees that we shall provide selectest ministries alone, and so sends us successive daughters of Love to quicken the Sons of Life. We joyfully acquiesce in the Divine behest and are content to rear women for the future world. As yet the ministry is unknown in the culture of the nations, but the hour draws near when love shall be felt as a chosen Bride of Wisdom, and the celestial pair preside over all the household of mankind. Bronson Alcott did not feel his responsibility as a father alone; he appreciated his own debt to his children, the mental and spiritual help that came to him through them, an appreciation that found expression in this poem, entered in his journal before the birth of Elizabeth: June, 1835 INVOCATION TO A CHILD She comes from Heaven, she dawns upon my sight, O'er earth's dark scenes to pour her holy light! In sense and blest the Infinite to see And feel the heavenly mystery--_To Be._ She comes--in Nature's tenderest, fondest name-- Daughter of God--'tis she--the same--the same Mine is she too--my own--my latest child, Myself, wrapt in Divinity, yet unbeguiled! Blest Infant! God's and mine! yet to me given, That I might feel anew my Being's Heaven-- In love and faith to urge my human way, Till conscious time be lost in Immortality! Love thee I will; for thou didst first love me-- My faith shall quicken as I dwell on thee, Thy Spirit lift me from this "Grave of Things," And bear me homeward, to the King of Kings. CHAPTER IV THE ALCOTT BABY BOOK BRONSON ALCOTT wrote the first Baby Book, a book which throws new light on the character of the lovable philosopher, showing one of New England's intellectual leaders as a very human and lovable man as well as "a fond and foolish father."