Now, I know it sounds nerdy to go for fun to the home where Louisa May Alcott lived with her family when she wrote the book Little Women, but hey, I'm kind of a nerd. I grew up without a tv and therefore read lots of books when I was a kid, because there was nothing else to do- my sisters and I devoured Louisa's. We wanted to live in the 1800's and be kind to one another and play under the lilacs and roses and wear pretty dresses like the characters in her books.
When I was younger and living in New Jersey, my parents brought us on an educational field trip to the Boston area. I thought it was the greatest place anyone could be lucky enough to live in- all those beautiful old homes, and history, and beaches, and orchards…. Little did I know that I would be one of those lucky people someday.
But, of course, now that I live here, I take most of the things that I thought were so wonderful as a visiting child for granted. Like Orchard House. I probably went there when I was about 14, already a huge Louisa May Alcott fan. It was like a holy place for me- seeing the little desk where she wrote her books that her father built for her by a window overlooking the front yard, the drawings that her sister May did all over the walls of her bedroom (I was so jealous of her when I saw this all those years ago- my parents would never let me draw on my walls!) seeing the dishes that they ate from, the clothes they wore, the beds they slept in. It was quite an experience.
Anyway, today I had the urge to go back. I thought it would just be nice to see the house in the snow, but as I walked around the outside taking pictures, a little old lady came out and said, "We'll be ready for you in a few minutes- we just have to turn all the lights on for you!" So, of course I had to take the tour…
I spent an hour and a half with a lady who was about 75 years old who knew ever little detail of the Alcott family and their home, and was full of fascinating stories. This one was my favorite:
There was a boy who lived in Concord who's father was a friend of Bronson Alcott's (the father of Louisa.) The man complained to Bronson that his son wasn't much of a student- he preferred "carving heads from turnips" to doing his studies. Since Bronson's daughter May was an artist, and did little art lessons for neighborhood children in her father's study, he suggested that the boy do some classes with her to see if he had any talent. May gave him a little set of carving tools- he made a beautiful bust of Bronson, which is still in the study. Later, when he was older, he made this statue, which is called The Minuteman and stands at the Old North Bridge, in Concord-
Later, he did this one. You're probably familiar with it.
His name was Daniel Chester French, and at his studio (which I now plan to visit) in Western Massachusetts, you can see that little set of carving tools that May Alcott gave him, along with a note that she wrote to him encouraging him to give sculpture a try.
I loved that story.
2 comments:
I love this little story.. I was there about five years ago and I was in awe of this wonderful home and all that went on in there.. it was inspiring.. I purchased their schedule that their mom made for them. I love everything about this home and the wonderful people that live there. Go to Authors row in the Concord cemetary and see the graves of all those wonderful writers.. they are a wealth!
I will- I want to to read all their books now and visit all those places- silly that I haven't done so sooner, since all of those places are about a half an hour from my house!
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