Eight Cousins; Or, The Aunt-Hill Read online

  ROSE AND HER AUNTS.--Page 37.]

  EIGHT COUSINS;

  Or,

  The Aunt-Hill.

  by

  LOUISA M. ALCOTT,

  Author of "Little Women," "An Old-Fashioned Girl," "Little Men,""Rose in Bloom," "Under the Lilacs," "Jack and Jill,""Hospital Sketches," "Work," "Silver Pitchers,""Aunt Jo's Scrap-Bag."

  With Illustrations.

  BOSTON: ROBERTS BROTHERS. 1887.

  Copyright, 1874, BY LOUISA M. ALCOTT.

  UNIVERSITY PRESS: JOHN WILSON & SON, CAMBRIDGE.

  To

  The many boys & girls whose letters it has been impossible to answer, this book is dedicated as a peace offering by their friend

  L. M. Alcott

  PREFACE.

  The Author is quite aware of the defects of this little story, many ofwhich were unavoidable, as it first appeared serially. But, as UncleAlec's experiment was intended to amuse the young folks, rather thansuggest educational improvements for the consideration of the elders,she trusts that these short-comings will be overlooked by the friends ofthe EIGHT COUSINS, and she will try to make amends in a second volume,which shall attempt to show THE ROSE IN BLOOM.

  L. M. A.

  CONTENTS.

  CHAPTER PAGE

  I. TWO GIRLS 1

  II. THE CLAN 10

  III. UNCLES 23

  IV. AUNTS 37

  V. A BELT AND A BOX 47

  VI. UNCLE ALEC'S ROOM 59

  VII. A TRIP TO CHINA 71

  VIII. AND WHAT CAME OF IT 84

  IX. PHEBE'S SECRET 93

  X. ROSE'S SACRIFICE 108

  XI. POOR MAC 118

  XII. "THE OTHER FELLOWS" 129

  XIII. COSEY CORNER 141

  XIV. A HAPPY BIRTHDAY 149

  XV. EAR-RINGS 165

  XVI. BREAD AND BUTTON-HOLES 179

  XVII. GOOD BARGAINS 191

  XVIII. FASHION AND PHYSIOLOGY 204

  XIX. BROTHER BONES 216

  XX. UNDER THE MISTLETOE 226

  XXI. A SCARE 241

  XXII. SOMETHING TO DO 253

  XXIII. PEACE-MAKING 265

  XXIV. WHICH? 279

  EIGHT COUSINS.