An entry in Louisa's diary during the Fruitlands period gives this insight into one of her average days, when a child of eleven: I rose at five, and after breakfast washed the dishes and then helped mother work. I took care of May in the afternoon. In the evening I made some pretty things for my dolly. Father and Mr. Lane had a talk and father asked us if we saw any reason for us to separate. Mother wanted to, she is so tired. I like it, but not the school part or Mr. L. Note, too, that when it came to a conference concerning family affairs, the father asked the advice of his eleven-year-old daughter, instead of following the more customary method of withholding from her the family confidence and deferring discussion of plans until the children had gone to bed. "Know Thyself," was ever the aim of Bronson Alcott in the training of his children, and Mr. Lane at Fruitlands followed this same line of mental development. This is one of his sample lessons which Louisa Alcott has copied into her journal: Sample of our Lessons "What virtues do you wish more of," asked Mr. L. I answer: Patience Love Silence Obedience Generosity Perseverance Industry Respect Self-denial "What vices less of?" Idleness Wilfulness Vanity Impatience Impudence Pride Selfishness Activity Love of cats In this same lesson comes the twelve-year-old Louisa's explanation of the difference between faith and hope: Faith can believe without seeing; hope is not sure, but tries to have faith when it desires. Louisa's love of nature, her trained habits of thought, her poetic imagination, and her keen appreciation of beauty are indicated in this entry in her journal, written at Fruitlands in 1843 or 1844, when she was a child of ten or eleven: I wrote in my imagination book, and enjoyed it very much. Life is pleasanter than it used to be, and I don't care about dying any more. Had a splendid run, and got a box of cones to burn. Sat and heard the pines sing a long time. Had good dreams, and woke now and then to think, and watch the moon. I had a pleasant time with my mind, for it was happy. CHAPTER VIII GIRLHOOD AND WOMANHOOD