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She liked writing stories best of all her work； but she did not get much
money for them； and some people told her she was wasting her time。
At last； one day； a publisher asked Louisa； who was now a woman； to
write a book for girls。 Louisa was not very well； and she was very tired；
but she always said； 〃I'll try；〃 when she had a chance to work； so she said；
〃I'll try；〃 to the publisher。 When she thought about the book she
remembered the good times she used to have with her sisters in the big；
bare house in the country。 And so she wrote a story and put all that in it；
she put her dear mother and her wise father in it； and all the little sisters；
and besides the jolly times and the plays； she put the sad； hard times in；
the work and worry and going without things。
When the book was written； she called it 〃Little Women；〃 and sent it
to the publisher。
And； children； the little book made Louisa famous。 It was so sweet and
funny and sad and real；like our own lives；that everybody wanted to
read it。 Everybody bought it； and much money came from it。 After so
many years； little Louisa's wish came true： she bought a nice house for her
family； she sent one of her sisters to Europe； to study； she gave her father
books； but best of all； she was able to see to it that the beloved mother； so
tired and so ill； could have rest and happiness。 Never again did the dear
mother have to do any hard work； and she had pretty things about her all
the rest of her life。
Louisa Alcott； for that was Louisa's name； wrote many beautiful books
after this； and she became one of the most famous women of America。 But
I think the most beautiful thing about her is what I have been telling you：
that she loved her mother so well that she gave her whole life to make her
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happy。
MY KINGDOM
The little Louisa I told you about； who wrote verses and stories in her
diary； used to like to play that she was a princess； and that her kingdom
was her own mind。 When she had unkind or dissatisfied thoughts； she tried
to get rid of them by playing they were enemies of the kingdom； and she
drove them out with soldiers； the soldiers were patience； duty； and love。 It
used to help Louisa to be good to play this； and I think it may have helped
make her the splendid woman she was afterward。 Maybe you would like
to hear a poem she wrote about it； when she was only fourteen years old。＇1＇
It will help you； too； to think the same thoughts。
＇1＇ From Louisa M。 Alcott's Life； Letters； and Journals （Little； Brown
& Co。）。 Copyright； 1878； by Louisa M。 Alcott。 Copyright； 1906； by J。 S。 P。
Alcott。
A little kingdom I possess； Where thoughts and feelings dwell； And
very hard I find the task Of governing it well； For passion tempts and
troubles me； A wayward will misleads； And selfishness its shadow casts
On all my words and deeds。
How can I learn to rule myself； To be the child I should； Honest and
brave； nor ever tire Of trying to be good？ How can I keep a sunny soul To
shine along life's way？ How can I tune my little heart To sweetly sing all
day？
Dear Father； help me with the love That casteth out my fear； Teach
me to lean on thee； and feel That thou art very near；
That no temptation is unseen； No childish grief too small； Since thou；
with patience infinite； Doth soothe and comfort all。
I do not ask for any crown But that which all may win； Nor seek to
conquer any world； Except the one within。 Be thou my guide until I find；
Led by a tender hand； Thy happy kingdom in MYSELF； And dare to take
command。
PICCOLA＇1＇
＇1＇ From Celia Thaxter's Stories and Poems for Children Houghton；
Mifflin & Co。）。
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Poor； sweet Piccola！ Did you hear What happened to Piccola；
children dear？ 'T is seldom Fortune such favor grants As fell to this little
maid of France。
'Twas Christmas…time； and her parents poor Could hardly drive the
wolf from the door； Striving with poverty's patient pain Only to live till
summer again。
No gifts for Piccola！ Sad were they When dawned the morning of
Christmas…day； Their little darling no joy might stir； St。 Nicholas nothing
would bring to her！
But Piccola never doubted at all That something beautiful must befall
Every child upon Christmas…day； And so she slept till the dawn was gray。
And full of faith； when at last she woke； She stole to her shoe as the
morning broke； Such sounds of gladness filled all the air； 'T was plain St。
Nicholas had been there！
In rushed Piccola sweet； half wild： Never was seen such a joyful
child。 〃See what the good saint brought！〃 she cried； And mother and father
must peep inside。
Now such a story who ever heard？ There was a little shivering bird！
A sparrow； that in at the window flew； Had crept into Piccola's tiny shoe！
〃How good poor Piccola must have been！〃 She cried； as happy as any
queen； While the starving sparrow she fed and warmed； And danced with
rapture； she was so charmed。
Children； this story I tell to you； Of Piccola sweet and her bird； is true。
In the far…off land of France； they say； Still do they live to this very day。
THE LITTLE FIR TREE
＇When I was a very little girl some one； probably my mother； read to
me Hans Christian Andersen's story of the Little Fir Tree。 It happened that
I did not read it for myself or hear it again during my childhood。 One
Christmas day； when I was grown up； I found myself at a loss for the 〃one
more〃 story called for by some little children with whom I was spending
the holiday。 In the mental search for buried treasure which ensued； I came
upon one or two word…impressions of the experiences of the Little Fir Tree；
and forthwith wove them into what I supposed to be something of a
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reproduction of the original。 The latter part of the story had wholly faded
from my memory； so that I 〃made up〃 to suit the tastes of my audience。
Afterward I told the story to a good many children； at one time or another；
and it gradually took the shape it has here。 It was not until several years
later that； in re…reading Andersen for other purposes； I came up