The Annotated Little Women Page 56

  5. “ ‘with a willing mind.’ ” The poem “Mabel on Midsummer Day: A Story of the Olden Time,” by English poet Mary Botham Howitt (1799–1888), concludes with the lines:

  ’Tis good to make all duty sweet,

  To be alert and kind:

  ’Tis good, like little Mabel,

  To have a willing mind!

  6. “ ‘Kennst du das land.’ ” The words of the professor’s song were written by Goethe and sung by the character Mignon in the novel Wilhelm Meisters Lehrjahre. Emerson gave Alcott an English translation of Wilhelm Meister in 1850. “From that day,” Alcott wrote in 1885, “Goethe has been my chief idol” (Louisa May Alcott, Journals, p. 60). Alcott later recalled singing Mignon’s song “in very bad German” under Emerson’s window (Shealy, ed., Alcott in Her Own Time, p. 36). By the time of Little Women, the song, which is among the most famous works of German poetry, had been set to music by a number of classical composers, including Beethoven, Schubert, Schumann, and Liszt. Which version was favored by Alcott—or by Professor Bhaer—can only be guessed. Below is a full translation of Mignon’s song:

  Do you know the country where the citrons bloom?

  Amidst dark leaves the golden oranges glow.

  From the blue skies drifts a gentle breeze,

  The myrtle is still and the laurel stands tall.

  Do you know it well?

  There, there, I would like to go with you, my love.

  Do you know the house, whose roof rests upon columns,

  The great hall glistens, the chamber shimmers

  And marble statues stand and say to me,

  ‘What’s become of you, poor child?’

  Do you know it well?

  There, there, my protector, I would like to go with you.

  Do you know the mountain and its trail?

  Through the mists the mule-driver seeks his way.

  In caves the ancient dragon dwells.

  Over the cliff cascades the flood.

  Do you know it well?

  There, there winds our path; oh Father, let us go!

  Mignon, from Goethe’s novel Wilhelm Meisters Lehrjahre (1795–96), is one of the most affecting and memorable characters in German literature. The French artist Jules Joseph Lefebvre (1836–1911) imagined Mignon in 1886, the same year that Alcott completed her Little Women trilogy. (Private Collection)

  7. “hyacinth bulbs.” In the language of flowers, hyacinths connote rashness and sorrow. Here, they may presage Jo’s reckless immersion in writing immoral stories and her later regrets when Professor Bhaer denounces the genre.

  8. “ ‘Herein!’ ” German for “Come in!”

  9. “ ‘Prut!’ ” A German interjection, expressing frustration or disagreement.

  10. “Ursa Major.” Latin for “great bear”; also the formal name of the Big Dipper constellation.

  11. “ ‘nargerie.’ ” “Menagerie.”

  12. “ ‘effalunt.’ ” “Elephant.”

  13. “ ‘Kobolds.’ ” Sprites that originated in Germanic mythology. Often helpful and capable of bringing good luck, they can also make mischief. The element cobalt takes its name from the word “Kobold.”

  14. “Herculaneum.” An ancient Roman town destroyed by volcanic lava. The correct word that Jo intentionally eschews is “herculean.”

  15. “ ‘Constant Tin Soldier.’ ” Better known as “The Steadfast Tin Soldier,” Andersen’s tale concerns a one-legged toy soldier who falls in love with a paper ballerina. The two are both eventually destroyed, but the soldier melts into the shape of a heart. The story suggests that imperfect people can endure misfortune and be transformed by love.

  16. “gingerbread will be a treasure.” Abba Alcott wrote the following ingredients for Sugar Gingerbread in her personal “Book of Receipts and Simple Remedies”: “Two cups butter, four sugar, one milk. Two spoons saleratus, one egg, two spoons ginger & flour enough to roll out. — little rose water” (courtesy of the Louisa May Alcott Memorial Association).

  17. “stand-dish.” A variant of “standish.” See Part First, Chapter XIX, Note 6.

  18. “ ‘mouchoirs.’ ” “Handkerchiefs.”

  19. “virtu.” An art object or piece of bric-a-brac.

  20. “ ‘banks of the Nile.’ ” Jo quotes two of Mrs. Malaprop’s errors from Sheridan’s comedy The Rivals. See Part First, Chapter XI, Note 7.

  21. “Nick Bottom . . . Titania.” Nick Bottom is a weaver and Titania is queen of the fairies in Shakespeare’s comedy A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

  CHAPTER XI.

  A Friend.

  THOUGH very happy in the social atmosphere about her, and very busy with the daily work that earned her bread, and made it sweeter for the effort, Jo still found time for literary labors. The purpose which now took possession of her was a natural one to a poor and ambitious girl; but the means she took to gain her end were not the best. She saw that money conferred power; money and power, therefore, she resolved to have; not to be used for herself alone, but for those whom she loved more than self. The dream of filling home with comforts, giving Beth everything she wanted, from strawberries in winter to an organ in her bedroom; going abroad herself, and always having more than enough, so that she might indulge in the luxury of charity, had been for years Jo’s most cherished castle in the air.

  The prize-story experience had seemed to open a way which might, after long travelling, and much up-hill work, lead to this delightful chateau en Espagne.1 But the novel disaster quenched her courage for a time, for public opinion is a giant which has frightened stouter-hearted Jacks on bigger beanstalks than hers. Like that immortal hero, she reposed a while after the first attempt, which resulted in a tumble, and the least lovely of the giant’s treasures, if I remember rightly. But the “up again and take another” spirit was as strong in Jo as in Jack; so she scrambled up on the shady side, this time, and got more booty, but nearly left behind her what was far more precious than the moneybags.

  She took to writing sensation stories—for in those dark ages, even all-perfect America read rubbish. She told no one, but concocted a “thrilling tale,” and boldly carried it herself to Mr. Dashwood, editor of the “Weekly Volcano.”2 She had never read Sartor Resartus,3 but she had a womanly instinct that clothes possess an influence more powerful over many than the worth of character or the magic of manners. So she dressed herself in her best, and, trying to persuade herself that she was neither excited nor nervous, bravely climbed two pairs of dark and dirty stairs to find herself in a disorderly room, a cloud of cigar smoke, and the presence of three gentlemen sitting with their heels rather higher than their hats, which articles of dress none of them took the trouble to remove on her appearance. Somewhat daunted by this reception, Jo hesitated on the threshold, murmuring in much embarrassment,—

  In this 1938 Norman Rockwell illustration, Jo awaits the verdict of the editor of the “Weekly Volcano.” (Norman Rockwell [1894–1978], “Jo concocted a thrilling tale, dressed herself in her best and boldly carried it to the editor of the Weekly Volcano.” 1938. Story illustration for Woman’s Home Companion, February 1938, p. 11. Article, “The Most Beloved American Writer,” by Katherine Anthony. Norman Rockwell Museum Digital Collections. Printed by permission of the Norman Rockwell Family Agency. Copyright © 2015 the Norman Rockwell Family Entities.)

  “Excuse me; I was looking for the ‘Weekly Volcano’ office; I wished to see Mr. Dashwood.” 4

  Down went the highest pair of heels, up rose the smokiest gentleman, and, carefully cherishing his cigar between his fingers, he advanced with a nod, and a countenance expressive of nothing but sleep. Feeling that she must get through with the matter somehow, Jo produced her manuscript, and, blushing redder and redder with each sentence, blundered out fragments of the little speech carefully prepared for the occasion.

  “A friend of mine desired me to offer—a story—just as an experiment—would like your opinion—be glad to write more if this suits.”

  While she blushed
and blundered, Mr. Dashwood had taken the manuscript, and was turning over the leaves with a pair of rather dirty fingers, and casting critical glances up and down the neat pages.

  “Not a first attempt, I take it?” observing that the pages were numbered, covered only on one side, and not tied up with a ribbon—sure sign of a novice.

  “No sir; she has had some experience, and got a prize for a tale in the ‘Blarneystone Banner.’ ”

  “Oh, did she?” and Mr. Dashwood gave Jo a quick look, which seemed to take note of everything she had on, from the bow in her bonnet to the buttons on her boots. “Well, you can leave it, if you like; we’ve more of this sort of thing on hand than we know what to do with, at present; but I’ll run my eye over it, and give you an answer next week.”

  Now Jo did not like to leave it, for Mr. Dashwood didn’t suit her at all; but, under the circumstances, there was nothing for her to do but bow and walk away, looking particularly tall and dignified, as she was apt to do, when nettled or abashed. Just then she was both; for it was perfectly evident from the knowing glances exchanged among the gentlemen, that her little fiction of “my friend” was considered a good joke; and a laugh produced by some inaudible remark of the editor, as he closed the door, completed her discomfiture. Half resolving never to return, she went home, and worked off her irritation by stitching pinafores vigorously; and in an hour or two was cool enough to laugh over the scene, and long for next week.

  When she went again, Mr. Dashwood was alone, whereat she rejoiced. Mr. Dashwood was much wider awake than before,—which was agreeable,—and Mr. Dashwood was not too deeply absorbed in a cigar to remember his manners,—so the second interview was much more comfortable than the first.

  “We’ll take this” (editors never say “I”), “if you don’t object to a few alterations. It’s too long,—but omitting the passages I’ve marked will make it just the right length,” he said, in a business-like tone.

  Jo hardly knew her own MS. again, so crumpled and underscored were its pages and paragraphs; but, feeling as a tender parent might on being asked to cut off her baby’s legs in order that it might fit into a new cradle, she looked at the marked passages, and was surprised to find that all the moral reflections,—which she had carefully put in as ballast for much romance,—had all been stricken out.

  “But, sir, I thought every story should have some sort of a moral, so I took care to have a few of my sinners repent.”

  Mr. Dashwood’s editorial gravity relaxed into a smile, for Jo had forgotten her “friend,” and spoken as only an author could.

  “People want to be amused, not preached at, you know. Morals don’t sell nowadays;” which was not quite a correct statement, by the way.

  “You think it would do with these alterations, then?”

  “Yes; it’s a new plot, and pretty well worked up—language good, and so on,” was Mr. Dashwood’s affable reply.

  “What do you—that is, what compensation—” began Jo, not exactly knowing how to express herself.

  “Oh, yes,—well, we give from twenty-five to thirty for things of this sort. Pay when it comes out,” returned Mr. Dashwood, as if that point had escaped him; such trifles often do escape the editorial mind, it is said.

  “Very well; you can have it,” said Jo, handing back the story, with a satisfied air; for, after the dollar-a-column work, even twenty-five seemed good pay.

  “Shall I tell my friend you will take another if she has one better than this?” asked Jo, unconscious of her little slip of the tongue, and emboldened by her success.

  “Well, we’ll look at it; can’t promise to take it; tell her to make it short and spicy, and never mind the moral. What name would your friend like to put to it?” in a careless tone.

  “None at all, if you please; she doesn’t wish her name to appear, and has no nom de plume,”5 said Jo, blushing in spite of herself.

  “Just as she likes, of course. The tale will be out next week; will you call for the money, or shall I send it?” asked Mr. Dashwood, who felt a natural desire to know who his new contributor might be.

  “I’ll call; good morning, sir.”

  As she departed, Mr. Dashwood put up his feet, with the graceful remark, “Poor and proud, as usual, but she’ll do.”

  Following Mr. Dashwood’s directions, and making Mrs. Northbury her model, Jo rashly took a plunge into the frothy sea of sensational literature; but, thanks to the life-preserver thrown her by a friend, she came up again, not much the worse for her ducking.

  Like most young scribblers, she went abroad for her characters and scenery, and banditti, counts, gypsies, nuns, and duchesses appeared upon her stage, and played their parts with as much accuracy and spirit as could be expected. Her readers were not particular about such trifles as grammar, punctuation, and probability, and Mr. Dashwood graciously permitted her to fill his columns at the lowest prices, not thinking it necessary to tell her that the real cause of his hospitality was the fact that one of his hacks, on being offered higher wages, had basely left him in the lurch.

  She soon became interested in her work,—for her emaciated purse grew stout, and the little hoard she was making to take Beth to the mountains next summer, grew slowly but surely, as the weeks passed. One thing disturbed her satisfaction, and that was that she did not tell them at home. She had a feeling that father and mother would not approve,—and preferred to have her own way first, and beg pardon afterward. It was easy to keep her secret, for no name appeared with her stories; Mr. Dashwood had, of course, found it out very soon, but promised to be dumb; and, for a wonder, kept his word.

  She thought it would do her no harm, for she sincerely meant to write nothing of which she should be ashamed, and quieted all pricks of conscience by anticipations of the happy minute when she should show her earnings and laugh over her well-kept secret.

  But Mr. Dashwood rejected any but thrilling tales; and, as thrills could not be produced except by harrowing up the souls of the readers, history and romance, land and sea, science and art, police records and lunatic asylums, had to be ransacked for the purpose. Jo soon found that her innocent experience had given her but few glimpses of the tragic world which underlies society; so, regarding it in a business light, she set about supplying her deficiencies with characteristic energy. Eager to find material for stories, and bent on making them original in plot, if not masterly in execution, she searched newspapers for accidents, incidents, and crimes; she excited the suspicions of public librarians by asking for works on poisons; she studied faces in the street,—and characters good, bad, and indifferent, all about her; she delved in the dust of ancient times, for facts or fictions so old that they were as good as new, and introduced herself to folly, sin, and misery, as well as her limited opportunities allowed. She thought she was prospering finely; but, unconsciously, she was beginning to desecrate some of the womanliest attributes of a woman’s character. She was living in bad society; and, imaginary though it was, its influence affected her, for she was feeding heart and fancy on dangerous and unsubstantial food, and was fast brushing the innocent bloom from her nature by a premature acquaintance with the darker side of life, which comes soon enough to all of us.

  She was beginning to feel rather than see this, for much describing of other people’s passions and feelings set her to studying and speculating about her own,—a morbid amusement, in which healthy young minds do not voluntarily indulge. Wrong-doing always brings its own punishment; and, when Jo most needed hers, she got it.

  I don’t know whether the study of Shakespeare helped her to read character, or the natural instinct of a woman for what was honest, brave and strong; but while endowing her imaginary heroes with every perfection under the sun, Jo was discovering a live hero, who interested her in spite of many human imperfections. Mr. Bhaer, in one of their conversations, had advised her to study simple, true, and lovely characters, wherever she found them, as good training for a writer; Jo took him at his word,—for she coolly turned round and studied him,
—a proceeding which would have much surprised him, had he known it,—for the worthy Professor was very humble in his own conceit.

  Why everybody liked him was what puzzled Jo, at first. He was neither rich nor great, young nor handsome,—in no respect what is called fascinating, imposing, or brilliant; and yet he was as attractive as a genial fire, and people seemed to gather about him as naturally as about a warm hearth. He was poor, yet always appeared to be giving something away,—a stranger, yet every one was his friend; no longer young,—but as happy-hearted as a boy; plain and odd,—yet his face looked beautiful to many, and his oddities were freely forgiven for his sake. Jo often watched him, trying to discover the charm, and, at last, decided that it was benevolence which worked the miracle. If he had any sorrow “it sat with its head under its wing,”6 and he turned only his sunny side to the world. There were lines upon his forehead, but Time seemed to have touched him gently, remembering how kind he was to others. The pleasant curves about his mouth were the memorials of many friendly words and cheery laughs; his eyes were never cold or hard, and his big hand had a warm, strong grasp that was more expressive than words.

  His very clothes seemed to partake of the hospitable nature of the wearer. They looked as if they were at ease, and liked to make him comfortable; his capacious waistcoat was suggestive of a large heart underneath; his rusty coat had a social air, and the baggy pockets plainly proved that little hands often went in empty and came out full; his very boots were benevolent, and his collars never stiff and raspy like other people’s.

  “That’s it!” said Jo to herself, when she at length discovered that genuine good-will toward one’s fellow-men could beautify and dignify even a stout German teacher, who shovelled in his dinner, darned his own socks, and was burdened with the name of Bhaer.

  Jo valued goodness highly, but she also possessed a most feminine respect for intellect, and a little discovery which she made about the Professor added much to her regard for him. He never spoke of himself, and no one ever knew that in his native city he had been a man much honored and esteemed for learning and integrity, till a countryman came to see him, and, in a conversation with Miss Norton, divulged the pleasing fact. From her Jo learned it,—and liked it all the better because Mr. Bhaer had never told it. She felt proud to know that he was an honored Professor in Berlin, though only a poor language-master in America, and his homely, hard-working life, was much beautified by the spice of romance which this discovery gave it.