Work: A Story of Experience by Louisa May Alcott AUTHOR OF “LITTLE WOMEN,” “LITTLE MEN,” “AN OLD-FASHIONED GIRL,” “HOSPITAL SKETCHES,” ETC. [Illustration] “An endless significance lies in work; in idleness alone is there perpetual despair.”—CARLYLE. BOSTON: 1901. TO MY MOTHER, WHOSE LIFE HAS BEEN A LONG LABOR OF LOVE, THIS BOOK IS GRATEFULLY INSCRIBED BY HER DAUGHTER. Contents I. CHRISTIE II. SERVANT III. ACTRESS IV. GOVERNESS V. COMPANION VI. SEAMSTRESS VII. THROUGH THE MIST VIII. A CURE FOR DESPAIR IX. MRS. WILKINS’S MINISTER X. BEGINNING AGAIN XI. IN THE STRAWBERRY BED XII. CHRISTIE’S GALA XIII. WAKING UP XIV. WHICH? XV. MIDSUMMER XVI. MUSTERED IN XVII. THE COLONEL XVIII. SUNRISE XIX. LITTLE HEART’S-EASE XX. AT FORTY LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS, FROM DRAWINGS BY SOL EYTINGE. “How doth the little busy bee” Christie Aunt Betsey’s Interlarded Speech Mrs. Stuart. Hepsey Christie as Queen of the Amazons Mr. Philip Fletcher Mrs. Saltonstall and Family “No, I thank you” Helen Carrol Mrs. King and Miss Cotton The Rescue “C. Wilkins, Clear Starcher” Lisha Wilkins Mrs. Wilkins’ “Six Lively Infants” Mr. Power Mrs. Sterling David and Christie in the Greenhouse Mr. Power and Christie in the Strawberry Bed A Friendly Chat Kitty. “One Happy Moment” David “Then they were married” “Don’t mourn, dear heart, but WORK” “She’s a good little gal; looks consid’able like you” “Each ready to do her part to hasten the coming of the happy end” WORK: A STORY OF EXPERIENCE. CHAPTER I. CHRISTIE. [Illustration: CHRISTIE.] “Aunt Betsey, there’s going to be a new Declaration of Independence.” “Bless and save us, what do you mean, child?” And the startled old lady precipitated a pie into the oven with destructive haste. “I mean that, being of age, I’m going to take care of myself, and not be a burden any longer. Uncle wishes me out of the way; thinks I ought to go, and, sooner or later, will tell me so. I don’t intend to wait for that, but, like the people in fairy tales, travel away into the world and seek my fortune. I know I can find it.” Christie emphasized her speech by energetic demonstrations in the bread-trough, kneading the dough as if it was her destiny, and she was shaping it to suit herself; while Aunt Betsey stood listening, with uplifted pie-fork, and as much astonishment as her placid face was capable of expressing. As the girl paused, with a decided thump, the old lady exclaimed: “What crazy idee you got into your head now?”