Louisa May Alcott: 16 Novels in One Volume (Illustrated Edition). Луиза Мэй ОлкоттЧитать онлайн книгу.

      CHAPTER I.

       GENEALOGY AND PARENTAGE.

       Table of Contents

      TO LOUISA MAY ALCOTT.

      BY HER FATHER.

       When I remember with what buoyant heart,

       Midst war's alarms and woes of civil strife,

       In youthful eagerness thou didst depart,

       At peril of thy safety, peace, and life,

       To nurse the wounded soldier, swathe the dead,–

       How piercèd soon by fever's poisoned dart,

       And brought unconscious home, with wildered head,

       Thou ever since 'mid langour and dull pain,

       To conquer fortune, cherish kindred dear,

       Hast with grave studies vexed a sprightly brain,

       In myriad households kindled love and cheer,

       Ne'er from thyself by Fame's loud trump beguiled,

       Sounding in this and the farther hemisphere,–

       I press thee to my heart as Duty's faithful child.

      LOUISA ALCOTT was the second child of Amos Bronson and Abba May Alcott. This name was spelled Alcocke in English history. About 1616 a coat-of-arms was granted to Thomas Alcocke of Silbertoft, in the county of Leicester. The device represents three cocks, emblematic of watchfulness; and the motto is Semper Vigilans.

      The first of the name appearing in English history is John Alcocke of Beverley, Yorkshire, of whom Fuller gives an account in his Worthies of England.

      Thomas and George Alcocke were the first of the name among the settlers in New England. The name is frequently found in the records of Dorchester and Roxbury, and has passed through successive changes to its present form.

      The