Louisa May Alcott Manuscript Leaf.

ALCOTT, Louisa May.

$7,200.00

Item Number: 65051

Autograph manuscript page from Louisa May Alcott’s Jack and Jill, Chapter VIII, page 129. One page. The manuscript page reads, “up no capers with that child! The idea of a hot bath in the middle of the day, and him full of dinner, and croupy into the bargain! Wet a corner of a towel at the kettle-spout and polish him off if you like, but you won’t risk his life in no bath-tubs this cold day.’ Miss Bat’s word was law in some things, so Molly had to submit, and took Boo away, saying, loftily, as she left the room, ‘I shall ask father, and do it tonight, for I will not have my brother look like a pig.’ ‘My patience! How the Siamese do leave their things around,’she exclaimed [crossed out a moment after’] as she surveyed her room after making up the fire and polishing off Boo. ‘I’ll put things in order, and then mend up my rags, if I can find my thimble. Now, let me see,’ and she went to exploring her closet, bureau, and table, finding such disorder everywhere that her courage nearly gave out. She had clothes enough, but all needed care; even her best dress had two buttons off, and her drawers were a perfect chaos of soiled ruffles, off gloves, old ribbons, boot lacings, and bits of paper. ‘Oh, my heart, what a muddle! Mrs. Minot wouldn’t think much of me if she could see that,’ said Molly, recalling [crossed out ‘that Mrs.’] how that lady once said she could judge a good deal of a little girl’s character & habits by a peep at her top drawer, & went on to guess how each of the schoolmates kept hers, with great success.” The final printing reads slightly differently. Matted and framed opposite a photograph of Alcott. The entire piece measures 17.5 inches by 20 inches. Manuscript pages from Alcott seldom enter the market.

Jack and Jill: A Village Story was originally published in 1880. The story takes place in a small New England town after the Civil War where Jack Minot and Janey Pecq are best friends and next door neighbors. Always seen together, Janey gets the nickname of Jill, to mimic the old rhyme. The two go up a hill one winter day, and then suffer a terrible accident. Seriously injured in a sledding accident, they recover from their physical injuries, while learning life lessons along with their many friends. They are helped along their journey to recovery by various activities created by their mothers.