In 1850, when Louisa was eighteen years of age, Mrs. Alcott had, with the advice of friends, taken a position as visitor to the poor in Boston. She had also opened an intelligence office, where she often assisted gentlefolk, reduced from affluence to poverty, to situations where, without an entire sacrifice of pride, they could earn an honest independence. One day as Louisa was sitting in the office sewing on some flannel garments for the poor, under her mother's supervision, a tall man, evidently from his garb a clergyman, entered and said that he came to procure a companion for his invalid sister and aged father. He described the situation as a most desirable one, adding that the companion would be asked to read to them and perform the light duties of the household that had formerly devolved upon his sister, who was a martyr to neuralgia. The companion would be in every respect treated as one of the family, and all the comforts of home would be hers.

Mrs. Alcott, who, in spite of many bitter experiences in the past, never lost her faith in people and was rather too apt to take them for what they seemed to be, tried to think of some one who would be glad of so pleasant a home as described. She turned to Louisa and asked her if she could suggest any one. The reply came at once, "Only myself!" Great was her mother's surprise, and she exclaimed, "Do you really mean it, dear?” I really do, if Mr. R— would suit." The clergyman smiled and said, "I am sure you would, and I feel that if we can secure you, we shall be most fortunate."

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When Mrs. Alcott had recovered from her surprise, she prudently asked him what wages would be paid. The smooth reply was that the word "wages" must not be used, but any one who lent youth and strength to a feeble household would be paid and well paid, and with another smile he took his leave. Then Mrs. Alcott asked, "Are you in earnest in engaging to go out for a month to live with these utter strangers?

"Of course I am," said Louisa. 'Why not try the experiment? It can but fail, as the teaching and sewing and acting and writing have. I do housework at home for love; why not there for money?"

“But you know, dear," her mother replied, "it is going out to service, even if you are called a companion."

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"I don't care. Every kind of work that is paid for is service. is rather a downfall to give up trying to be a Siddons or a Fanny Kemble, and become a servant at the beck and call of people; but what of it?" "All my highly respectable relatives," said Louisa, "held up their hands in holy horror when I left the paternal roof to go to my place of servitude, as they called it, and said, 'Louisa Alcott will disgrace her name by what she is doing.' But despite the lamentations and laughter of my sisters, I got my small wardrobe ready, and after embracing the family, with firmness started for my new home."

She had promised to stay four weeks; but, after a few days, she found that instead of being a companion to the invalid sister, who was a nonentity, while the father passed his days in a placid doze, she was called upon to perform the most menial services, made a mere household drudge, or, to use her own expression, "a galley slave." "Then," said she, "I pocketed my pride, looked the situation squarely in the face, and determined I would stay on to the bitter end. My word must be as good as my bond." By degrees all the hard work of the family was imposed upon her, for the sister was too feeble to help or even to direct in any way, and the servant was too old to do anything but the cooking, so that even the roughest work was hers. Having made up her mind to go when the month was over, she brought water from the well, dug paths in the snow, split kindlings, made fires, sifted ashes, and was in fact a veritable Cinderella. "But," said she, "I did sometimes rebel, and being a mortal worm, I turned now and then when the clergyman trod upon me, especially in the matter of bootblacking, that was too much for my good blood to bear! All the Mays, Sewalls, and Alcotts of the past and present appeared before my mind's eye; at blacking boots I drew the line and flatly refused. That evening I enjoyed the sinful spectacle of the reverend bootblack at the task. Oh, what a long month that was! And when I announced my intention of leaving at its end, such dismay fell upon the invalid sister, that I consented to remain until my mother could find a substitute. Three weeks longer I waited. Two other victims came, but soon left, and on departing called me a fool to stay another hour. I quite agreed with them, and when the third substitute came, clutched my possessions, and said I should go at once. The sister wept, the

father tremblingly expressed regret, and the clergyman washed his hands of the whole affair by shutting himself in his study. At the last moment, Eliza, the sister, nervously tucked a small pocket-book into my hand, and bade me good by with a sob. The old servant gave me a curious look as I went away, and exclaimed, 'Don't blame us for anything; some folks is liberal and some ain't!' So I left

the house, bearing in my pocket what I hoped was, if not a liberal, at least an honest return for seven weeks of the hardest work I ever did. Unable to resist the desire to see what my earnings were, I opened my purse and beheld four dollars! I have had many bitter moments in my life, but one of the bitterest was then, when I stood in the road that cold, windy day, with my little pocket-book open, and