The study in Orchard House was the real center of the household. For the chimney piece Ellery Channing wrote an epigram, which May Alcott painted upon it, and which has been used in the stage reproduction of "Little Women": "The Hills are reared, the Valleys scooped in vain, If Learning's Altars vanish from the Plain." In Orchard House to-day, walls, doors, and window casings are etched with May Alcott's drawings, many preserved under glass, including a miniature portrait of a little girl, naively and modestly inscribed "The Artist." High thoughts and cheerful minds triumphed over poverty in those Concord days. Shortly after the family's return from Fruitlands, Louisa wrote for Ellen Emerson the fairy stories, "Flower Fables." She was at the time only sixteen. This was her earliest published work, and it was many years before she achieved literary fame, although, as did Jo in "Little Women," she materially helped in the support of the family by writing lurid tales. Literature rather than commerce freed the Alcotts from the burden of debt. Louisa's fame was the result, neither of accident, nor of a single achievement, but had for its background the whole generous past of her family. Her "Hospital Sketches" were her letters home, when she was serving as hospital nurse during the Civil War. "Little Women" is a chronicle of her family. Louisa certainly made good use of the vicissitudes of the Alcotts. She always saw the funny side and was not afraid to make book material of the home experiences, elevating or humiliating. Her books number between twenty-five and thirty. Nearly every one takes its basic idea from some real experience. The books written by the Alcott family, including some eight or ten published by Mr. Alcott, Louisa's output, and one or two written by May, fill two shelves of an alcove devoted to Concord authors in the Alcott town library. Anna's little sons, familiarly known in the Alcott household as Freddie and Johnnie, or Jack, gave to Bronson Alcott in his later days fresh opportunity for his favorite study--childhood. To both boys came frequent messages and gifts from Grandpa, Grandma, and Aunt Louisa. Louisa Alcott sent to Freddie this poem on his third birthday: A song for little Freddie On his third Birthday. Down in the field Where the brook goes, Lives a white lammie With a little black nose. He eats the grass so green, He drinks the "la la" sweet, "Buttertups" and daisies, Grow all about his feet. The "birdies" they sing to him, The big sun in the sky, Warms his little "Toe-toes," And peeps into his eye. He's a very gentle lammie, He never makes a fuss, He never "saps his marmar," He never says "I muss." He hops and he runs, "Wound and wound" all day, And when the night comes, He goes "bye low" on the hay.