Read Online The Revelation of Louisa May by Michaela MacColl - Free Book Online Page B

was in sight now. Far in the distance, they could hear the whistle of the train to Boston. From Boston,Marmee would take a stagecoach to New Hampshire. Louisa started to say something to her mother about the train being on time, when she realized that her mother was wrestling with some private concern. Finally she spoke. “Louisa, I don’t know how to ask you this . . .”
    â€œJust ask, Marmee. I’ll do anything.”
    â€œI trust your father completely, but . . . Miss Whittaker is persistent.” Marmee’s back was rod straight, and a flush started at the hollow of her neck and went to her hairline.
    Louisa impulsively threw her arms around her mother. “I’ll make certain that Miss Whittaker’s visits are always chaperoned. I won’t give her the chance to compromise Father.”
    Marmee clutched her close, then pushed her away, keeping her hands on Louisa’s shoulders and looking her straight in the eyes. “My darling Louy. I ask so much from you. I’m so proud that you’re able to take on all these challenges. I only wish you didn’t have to grow up so fast.”
    â€œMarmee, if I can lighten your burden, I don’t mind.” Louisa lifted her chin, letting Marmee’s praise buoy her.
    A long, plaintive whistle announced the train’s arrival. The next few minutes were a blur of loading trunks, presenting tickets, and lifting May into the train. Before Marmee climbed into the train car, she pressed a note into Louisa’s hand. Then Marmee said her farewells and the train puffed away. May waved from the window. A small stream of disembarking passengers headed into town on foot or in carriages.
    Louisa unfolded the note. Marmee had poured all her confidence in Louisa onto the page. She suggested Louisa write every day as a safety valve to her strong emotions. But above all, Louisa should have faith in herself.
    Alone, Louisa walked toward home. Marmee was right: Louisa was
capable
. And it was time to show everyone, especially the ones who doubted her.

CHAPTER SEVEN

    With the delightful enthusiasm of youth,
they took the solitary boy into their midst and
made much of him, and he found something very
charming in the innocent companionship of
these simple-hearted girls
.
    L ouisa took back paths home, picking her way across bogs. It would have been quicker to take the main road, but what waited for her at home except chores and responsibilities? As she walked, she thought about Marmee speeding toward adventure while Louisa had to stay at home. How was she to write interesting stories if she never went anywhere or met anyone?
    She cut through Mr. Emerson’s extensive orchards until she reached the Alcotts’ stand of apple trees. From there she could just glimpse their house and the occasional traffic on the main road to Lexington.
    Louisa heard the sound of chopping before she saw her father wielding an axe on an apple tree that had been struck dead by lightning a few months ago. She smiled, thinking how the wood would burn sweetly in the fire after it sat for a bit. Although her father refused to work for anyone else, he never shirked his duties at home. He loved farming and carpentry, welcoming the opportunity to put his theories into practice. This meant that their house was filled with unusual features, like indoor showers. On the other hand, Marmee and her daughters had to surreptitiously grow potatoes because Father mistrusted root vegetables. He preferred produce that didn’t grow under the ground. Since apple trees reached for the heavens, he considered them a purer fruit.
    The axe lifted high, then swung down to remove a large branch. Without a pause, the axe came up again. Another branch fell to the earth. She cocked her head, wondering at how quickly her father was working. She drew closer and saw with surprise it wasn’t her father. It was George, dressed in her father’s working clothes and