Greatheart and Faithful gone before, Brave Christiana, Mercy sweet, Are shining ones who stand and wait The weary wanderer to greet. Patience and Love his handmaids are, And till time brings release, Christian may rest in that bright room Whose windows open to the east. The staff set by, the sandals off, Still pondering the precious scroll, Serene and strong he waits the call That frees and wings a happy soul. Then beautiful as when it lured, The boy's aspiring eyes, Before the pilgrim's longing sight, Shall the Celestial City rise. CHRONOLOGY It has been particularly the aim of the editors to lift these Little Women Letters out of the biographical and into the narrative class. For this reason dates have not been used with any degree of liberality, and chronological facts have been minimized. However, as this is a story of the Alcott family, and seekers for definite data will not be lacking, a chronological summary is herewith furnished: Amos Bronson Alcott 1799-1888 married Abby May 1800-1877 Their Children Anna Bronson 1831-1893 Louisa May 1832-1888 Elizabeth 1835-1858 Abby May 1840-1879 Anna Bronson married John Bridge Pratt, 1860. Their Children Frederick Alcott 1863-1910 John Sewall 1865 Abby May married Ernst Nieriker, March, 1878. Children Louisa May 1879 Frederick Alcott Pratt married Jessica Cate February, 1888 Their Children Bronson Alcott 1889 Elizabeth Sewall 1891 Louisa May 1900 Frederick Woolsey 1902 Elizabeth Sewall married Alfred Redfield June, 1913 [*]John Sewall Pratt married Eunie May Hunting January, 1909 [*] John Sewall Pratt adopted in 1888 by Louisa May Alcott and name changed to John Sewall Pratt Alcott. Children Elverton Hunting