An Old-Fashioned Girl

By Louisa May Alcott

Illustrated

An Old-Fashioned Girl, is the second book that my grandmother gave to me of Louisa May Alcott's books. This book, I also fell in love with, the first time I read it. Louisa May Alcott was a woman, who found fault in all of her books, and apologized for it. In the preface of this particular book, she says:

As a preface is the only place where an author
can with propriety explain a purpose or
apologize for shortcomings, I venture to
avail myself of the privilege to make a statement
for the benefit of my reders.

As the first part of "An Old-Fashioned Girl" was
written in 1869, the demand for a sequel, in beseeching
little letters that made refusal impossible, rendered
it necessary to carry my heroine boldly forward
some six or seven years into the future. The domestic
nature of the story makes this audacious proceeding
possible; while the lively fancies of my young
readers will supply all deficiencies, and overlook all
discerpancies.

This explanation will, I trust, relieve those well-
regulated minds, who cannot conceive of such literary
lawlessness, from the bewilderment which they
suffered when the same sxperiment was tried in a
former book.

The "Old-Fashioned Girl" is not intended as a
perfect model, but as a possible improvement upon
the Girl of the Period, who seems sorrowfully ignorant
or ashamed of the good old fashions which make
woman truly beautiful and honored, and, through her,
render home what it should be, -- a happy place,
where parents and children, brothers and sisters,
learn to love and know and help one another.

If the history of Poll's girlish experiences suggests
a hint or insinuates a lesson, I shall feel that, in
spite of many obstacles, I have not entirely neglected
my duty toward the little men and women, for whom
it is an honor and a pleasure to write, since in them
I have always found my kindest patrons, gentlest
critics, warmest friends.

L. M. A.

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