Status
Available
Publication
Honor Books (1999), Edition: Book Club Edition, 122 pages
Description
" ... a Christmas story from Miss Alcott about a lonely orphan girl who finds a family to love her ..."
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User reviews
LibraryThing member riofriotex
This is a collection of three “lost” Christmas stories by Louisa May Alcott. The editor and publisher, Stephen Hines, implies in his forward that all three stories were written for inclusion in “Little Things,” a magazine started in 1871 by the five Lukens sisters and modeled after “The
The short stories are typical Alcott style and would be appreciated by her fans. It does bother me that the editor renamed the first story, probably to take advantage of the popularity of Little Women. With its content, red binding, gold dust jacket, and small Christmas-stocking size, the book was likely published to take advantage of the Christmas book market – but now it’s out of print.
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Pickwick Papers” in Little Women. However, according to the The Louisa May Alcott Encyclopedia, there is only evidence (from her letters) that Alcott wrote the first story, “The Quiet Little Woman” (retitled by Hines, originally called “Patty’s Place”), for the girls’ magazine. The other two stories are “Tilly’s Christmas,” originally published in 1868 (and later republished under the title “The Fairy Bird,”) as well as “Rosa’s Tale,” originally published in 1879 in a story collection.The short stories are typical Alcott style and would be appreciated by her fans. It does bother me that the editor renamed the first story, probably to take advantage of the popularity of Little Women. With its content, red binding, gold dust jacket, and small Christmas-stocking size, the book was likely published to take advantage of the Christmas book market – but now it’s out of print.
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LibraryThing member anneofia
There are actually three Christmas stories in this little book, and they all sound like the Louisa May Alcott we know from "Little Women" in that they are heartwarming, heart-wrenching, entertaining; and they all have very obvious morals. In "The Quiet Little Woman," a little orphan finds a family
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to love that will love her in return. "Tilly's Christmas" tells about the happiness a child receives on Christmas because she is kind to a little bird. "Rosa's Tale" is told at that magical first hour on Christmas when animals are said to be able to talk, by a faithful old horse who doesn't want to be sold away from the family she loves. Anyone who loved "Little Women" will love these stories. Show Less
LibraryThing member varwenea
3.0 star for the book. Plus 0.5 star for the charm of the physical book and its illustrations.
This is a book of 3 short stories that Ms. Alcott wrote in the 1870s for the 5 Lukens sisters who were her ardent fans. The admiration went both ways as these sisters, inspired by the “Little Women”
The 3 stories themselves were adequately delightful given its brevity. “The Quiet Little Woman” is an orphan waiting for adoption and what happens during her first Christmas afterwards – being an earnest worker and the rewards will reveal itself. “Tilly’s Christmas” is a lovely story about a little girl’s love and tenderness returned to her in kind. “Rosa’s Tale” shares a horse’s life story – somewhat contrived but I’m sure children will enjoy it.
The book further had an introduction, editor’s notes, and a description of the author. All were well worth reading.
One quote – not from any of the stories, but a poem from the publication of the Lukens sisters!
“A spider is a little thing,
But once a spider saved a king,
The little bees are wiser far
Then buffaloes or lions are…
A little pen may write a word
By which a nation shall be stirred.
A little money, wisely spent,
A world of sorrow may prevent,
A little counsel, rightly given,
May lift a sinful soul to Heaven…
A little fault, if left to grow,
An emperor may overthrow,
A little word but spoke in jest,
May rob your neighbor of his rest,
A little selfishness and pride
The kindest household may divide.
Little vices may times
Out-Herod felonies and crimes,
And little virtues in the sum
Great excellencies do become.”
This is a book of 3 short stories that Ms. Alcott wrote in the 1870s for the 5 Lukens sisters who were her ardent fans. The admiration went both ways as these sisters, inspired by the “Little Women”
Show More
Sisters, also launched their own publication which grew to a circulation with a 1,000 subscribers!The 3 stories themselves were adequately delightful given its brevity. “The Quiet Little Woman” is an orphan waiting for adoption and what happens during her first Christmas afterwards – being an earnest worker and the rewards will reveal itself. “Tilly’s Christmas” is a lovely story about a little girl’s love and tenderness returned to her in kind. “Rosa’s Tale” shares a horse’s life story – somewhat contrived but I’m sure children will enjoy it.
The book further had an introduction, editor’s notes, and a description of the author. All were well worth reading.
One quote – not from any of the stories, but a poem from the publication of the Lukens sisters!
“A spider is a little thing,
But once a spider saved a king,
The little bees are wiser far
Then buffaloes or lions are…
A little pen may write a word
By which a nation shall be stirred.
A little money, wisely spent,
A world of sorrow may prevent,
A little counsel, rightly given,
May lift a sinful soul to Heaven…
A little fault, if left to grow,
An emperor may overthrow,
A little word but spoke in jest,
May rob your neighbor of his rest,
A little selfishness and pride
The kindest household may divide.
Little vices may times
Out-Herod felonies and crimes,
And little virtues in the sum
Great excellencies do become.”
Show Less
LibraryThing member MrsLee
A sweet story, but not my favorite of Alcott's. Yet if you are an Alcott fan, this is a lovely addition to the collection of her works.
The story is one of an orphan in need of someone to care about her.
The story is one of an orphan in need of someone to care about her.
LibraryThing member crazy4reading
I have not read any works by Louisa May Alcott before and found these three stories quite enchanting. This book is short stories that once appeared in a newspaper. The Quiet Little Woman is Patty's Christmas story. She is an orphan who is eager to be adopted. When she is adopted she is treated as a
Tilly's Christmas is the story of a poor girl Tilly and how she keeps a happy disposition by believing that you should treat others the way you would want to be treated.
Rosa's Christmas is the story of a horses life told by the horse herself. When the clock strikes midnight on Christmas Eve all animals are endowed with speech for one hour.
The stories are heartwarming and have morals that you don't see to often any more.
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servant. She bonds with the aunt of the family and reveals things to her that she doesn't reveal to her adoptive family. Tilly's Christmas is the story of a poor girl Tilly and how she keeps a happy disposition by believing that you should treat others the way you would want to be treated.
Rosa's Christmas is the story of a horses life told by the horse herself. When the clock strikes midnight on Christmas Eve all animals are endowed with speech for one hour.
The stories are heartwarming and have morals that you don't see to often any more.
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LibraryThing member Kirconnell
I inherited this little book from my mother. It includes three charming Christmas stories that are very representational of Alcott's time period. Sweet and comforting for holiday reading, but I passed it on because I didn't feel the need to read them more than once. However, if the the mood should
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ever strike I can get it at my local library since they have added it to their permanent collection. What a compliment! Show Less
LibraryThing member jeffome
Interesting little book of 3 Holiday stories by Louisa May Alcott that were published in a fairly small-run literary journal of some period fans of hers that were unknown to the modern publishing world and discovered and published in 1999. Fairly simple predictable happy-ending Alcott children's
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pieces that glide along very quickly. Never meant for a huge audience, they are nonetheless fun to experience. Show Less
Language
Original language
English
Physical description
7.5 inches
ISBN
1562926160 / 9781562926168