The Louisa May Alcott Library

Aunt Jo's Scrap Bag Volume 4 Story 6 - What the Girls Did

In which a group of young friends exchange the glitter of fashionable resorts for the honest joys of a modest seaside retreat, where fresh air, simple costumes, and cheerful company refresh both body and spirit. Among their rustic revelries, a kindly impulse brings a weary young seamstress from the shadows into the brightness of the sea and friendship, enriching all their hearts with a lesson of quiet charity.

Aunt Jo's Scrap Bag Volume 4 Story 5 - Old Major

In which a kind-hearted boy and his sister rescue a neglected old horse from a fate most cruel, offering him a peaceful refuge for his remaining days amidst tender care and earnest devotion. Their gentle companionship, and the quiet honour paid at his parting, quietly remind us of the dignity due to faithful creatures, even as the seasons turn.

Aunt Jo's Scrap Bag Volume 4 Story 4 - Roses and Forget-Me-Nots

In which a forlorn errand girl named Lizzie encounters kind-hearted Belle, whose simple acts of charity kindle hope and friendship amid their contrasting lives. Years later, an earnest quest for forget-me-nots leads to a heartfelt reunion, revealing the lasting grace of compassion and the bonds it creates.

Aunt Jo's Scrap Bag Volume 4 Story 3 - The Boys’ Joke, and Who Got the Best of It

In which the young relations at grandpa’s house manifest their restless spirits through playful rivalries and secret preparations for Christmas, culminating in a charming contest of wit and generosity between the boys and the girls. Their innocent machinations and quaint inventions, centred around dolls and a most extraordinary “kitmouse tree,” reveal tender bits of childish pride, laughter, and the gentle bonds of family mirth.

Aunt Jo's Scrap Bag Volume 4 Story 2 - Lost in a London Fog

In which two intrepid American ladies, venturing through a pea-souper London fog, find themselves hopelessly adrift in a labyrinth of fog-shrouded streets and unhelpful cab drivers, their spirits tested but not quite extinguished. Their adventures reveal the quirks and kindnesses of London life, as they navigate the city's nocturnal mist with a blend of anxiety and unexpected humour.