Essential Novelists - Louisa May Alcott. Louisa May Alcott

pet,

      And sigh o'er her hapless fate,

      For never more by the fire she'll sit,

      Nor play by the old green gate.

      The little grave where her infant sleeps

      Is 'neath the chestnut tree.

      But o'er her grave we may not weep,

      We know not where it may be.

      Her empty bed, her idle ball,

      Will never see her more;

      No gentle tap, no loving purr

      Is heard at the parlor door.

      Another cat comes after her mice,

      A cat with a dirty face,

      But she does not hunt as our darling did,

      Nor play with her airy grace.

      Her stealthy paws tread the very hall

      Where Snowball used to play,

      But she only spits at the dogs our pet

      So gallantly drove away.

      She is useful and mild, and does her best,

      But she is not fair to see,

      And we cannot give her your place dear,

      Nor worship her as we worship thee.

      A.S.

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      ADVERTISEMENTS

      MISS ORANTHY BLUGGAGE, the accomplished

      strong-minded lecturer, will deliver her

      famous lecture on "WOMAN AND HER POSITION"

      at Pickwick Hall, next Saturday Evening,

      after the usual performances.

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      A WEEKLY MEETING WILL be held at Kitchen

      Place, to teach young ladies how to cook.

      Hannah Brown will preside, and all are

      invited to attend.

      The DUSTPAN SOCIETY will meet on Wednesday

      next, and parade in the upper story of the

      Club House. All members to appear in uniform

      and shoulder their brooms at nine precisely.

      Mrs. BETH BOUNCER will open her new

      assortment of Doll's Millinery next week.

      The latest Paris fashions have arrived,

      and orders are respectfully solicited.

      A NEW PLAY will appear at the Barnville

      Theatre, in the course of a few weeks, which

      will surpass anything ever seen on the American stage.

      "The Greek Slave, or Constantine the Avenger," is the name

      of this thrilling drama!!!

      ––––––––

      HINTS

      If S.P. didn't use so much soap on his hands,

      he wouldn't always be late at breakfast. A.S.

      is requested not to whistle in the street. T.T.

      please don't forget Amy's napkin. N.W. must

      not fret because his dress has not nine tucks.

      ––––––––

      WEEKLY REPORT

      Meg—Good.

      Jo—Bad.

      Beth—Very Good.

      Amy—Middling.

      _________________________________________________

      ––––––––

      AS THE PRESIDENT FINISHED reading the paper (which I beg leave to assure my readers is a bona fide copy of one written by bona fide girls once upon a time), a round of applause followed, and then Mr. Snodgrass rose to make a proposition.

      "Mr. President and gentlemen," he began, assuming a parliamentary attitude and tone, "I wish to propose the admission of a new member—one who highly deserves the honor, would be deeply grateful for it, and would add immensely to the spirit of the club, the literary value of the paper, and be no end jolly and nice. I propose Mr. Theodore Laurence as an honorary member of the P. C. Come now, do have him."

      Jo's sudden change of tone made the girls laugh, but all looked rather anxious, and no one said a word as Snodgrass took his seat.

      "We'll put it to a vote," said the President. "All in favor of this motion please to manifest it by saying, 'Aye'."

      A loud response from Snodgrass, followed, to everybody's surprise, by a timid one from Beth.

      "Contrary-minded say, 'No'."

      Meg and Amy were contrary-minded, and Mr. Winkle rose to say with great elegance, "We don't wish any boys, they only joke and bounce about. This is a ladies' club, and we wish to be private and proper."

      "I'm afraid he'll laugh at our paper, and make fun of us afterward," observed Pickwick, pulling the little curl on her forehead, as she always did when doubtful.

      Up rose Snodgrass, very much in earnest. "Sir, I give you my word as a gentleman, Laurie won't do anything of the sort. He likes to write, and he'll give a tone to our contributions and keep us from being sentimental, don't you see? We can do so little for him, and he does so much for us, I think the least we can do is to offer him a place here, and make him welcome if he comes."

      This artful allusion to benefits conferred brought Tupman to his feet, looking as if he had quite made up his mind.

      "Yes; we ought to do it, even if we are afraid. I say he may come, and his grandpa, too, if he likes."

      This spirited burst from Beth electrified the club, and Jo left her seat to shake hands approvingly. "Now then, vote again. Everybody remember it's our Laurie, and say, 'Aye!'" cried Snodgrass excitedly.

      "Aye! Aye! Aye!" replied three voices at once.

      "Good! Bless you! Now, as there's nothing like 'taking time by the fetlock', as Winkle characteristically observes, allow me to present the new member." And, to the dismay of the rest of the club, Jo threw open the door of the closet, and displayed Laurie sitting on a rag bag, flushed and twinkling with suppressed laughter.

      "You rogue! You traitor! Jo, how could you?" cried the three girls, as Snodgrass led her friend triumphantly forth, and producing both a chair and a badge, installed him in a jiffy.

      "The coolness of you two rascals is amazing," began Mr. Pickwick, trying to get up an awful frown and only succeeding in producing an amiable smile. But the new member was equal to the occasion, and rising, with a grateful salutation to the Chair, said in the most engaging manner, "Mr. President and ladies—I beg pardon, gentlemen—allow me to introduce myself as Sam Weller, the very humble servant of the club."

      "Good! Good!" cried Jo, pounding with the handle