LESSON 31
AN OLD-FASHIONED GIRL

Louisa May Alcott (b. 1833, d. 1888) was born at Germantown, Pa., of New England parentage. Her parents afterwards returned to New England, and most of her life was spent in Concord, Mass. During the Civil War she went to Washington and nursed the wounded and sick until her own health gave way. As a child she used to write stories for the amusement of her playmates, and in 1857 published her first book, “Flower Fables.” Her first novel, “Moods, ” appeared in 1865. “Little Women, ” published in 1868, is a picture of her own home life. “An Old Fashioned Girl, ” from which this extract is adapted, was published in 1870, and is one of her most popular books.

1. Polly hoped the “dreadful boy” (Tom) would not be present; but he was, and stared at her all dinner time in a most trying manner.

2. Mr. Shaw, a busy-looking gentleman, said, “How do you do, my dear? Hope you'll enjoy yourself; ” and then appeared to forget her entirely. Mrs. Shaw, a pale, nervous woman, greeted her little guest kindly, and took care that she wanted for nothing.

3. Madam Shaw, a quiet old lady, with an imposing cap, exclaimed, on seeing Polly, “Bless my heart! the image of her mother—a sweet woman—how is she, dear? ” and kept peering at the newcomer over her glasses till, between Madam and Tom, poor Polly lost her appetite.

4. Her cousin Fanny chatted like a magpie, and little Maud fidgeted, till Tom proposed to put her under the big dish cover, which produced such an explosion that the young lady was borne screaming away by the much-enduring nurse.

5. It was, altogether, an uncomfortable dinner, and Polly was very glad when it was over. They all went about their own affairs; and, after doing the honors of the house, Fan was called to the dressmaker, leaving Polly to amuse herself in the great drawing-room.

6. Polly was glad to be alone for a few minutes; and, having examined all the pretty things about her, began to walk up and down over the soft,flowery carpet, humming to herself, as the daylight faded, and only the ruddy glow of the fire filled the room.

7. Presently Madam came slowly in, and sat down in her armchair, saying,“That's a fine old tune; sing it to me, my dear. I haven't heard it this many a day.”

8. Polly didn't like to sing before strangers, for she had no teaching but such as her busy mother could give her; but she had been taught the utmost respect for old people, and, having no reason for refusing, she directly went to the piano and did as she was bid.

9. “That's the sort of music it's a pleasure to hear. Sing some more, dear, ”said Madam, in her gentle way, when she had done.

10. Pleased with this praise, Polly sang away in a fresh little voice that went straight to the listener's heart and nestled there. The sweet old tunes that one is never tired of were all Polly's store. The more she sung, the better she did it; and when she wound up with “A Health to King Charlie, ” the room quite rung with the stirring music made by the big piano and the little maid.

11. “That's a jolly tune! Sing it again, please, ” cried Tom's voice; and there was Tom's red head bobbing up over the high back of the chair where he had hidden himself.

12. It gave Polly quite a turn, for she thought no one was hearing her but the old lady dozing by the fire. “I can't sing any more; I'm tired, ” she said, and walked away to Madam in the other room. The red head vanished like a meteor, for Polly's tone had been decidedly cool.

13. The old lady put out her hand, and, drawing Polly to her knee, looked into her face with such kind eyes that Polly forgot the impressive cap, and smiled at her confidently; for she saw that her simple music had pleased her listener, and she felt glad to know it.

14. “You mus'n't mind my staring, dear, ” said Madam, softly pinching her rosy cheek, “I haven't seen a little girl for so long, it does my old eyes good to look at you.” Polly thought that a very odd speech, and could n't help saying, “Aren't Fan and Maud little girls, too? ”

15. “Oh, dear, no! not what I call little girls. Fan has been a young lady this two years, and Maud is a spoiled baby. Your mother's a very sensible woman, my child.”

16. “What a queer old lady! ” thought Polly; but she said “Yes'm, ”respectfully, and looked at the fire. “You don't understand what I mean, do you? ” asked Madam, still holding her by the chin. “No'm; not quite.”

17. “Well, dear, I'll tell you. In my day, children of fourteen and fifteen didn't dress in the height of the fashion; go to parties as nearly like those of grown people as it's possible to make them; lead idle, giddy, unhealthy lives, and get blase' at twenty. We were little folks till eighteen or so; worked and studied, dressed and played, like children; honored our parents; and our days were much longer in the land than now, it seems to me.”

18. The old lady appeared to forget Polly, at the end of her speech; for she sat patting the plump little hand that lay in her own, and looking up at a faded picture of an old gentleman with a ruffled shirt and a queue. “Was he your father, Madam? ”

19. “Yes, my dear; my honored father. I did up his frills to the day of his death; and the first money I ever earned, was five dollars which he offered as a prize to whichever of his six girls would lay the handsomest darn in his silk stockings.”

20. “How proud you must have been! ” cried Polly, leaning on the old lady's knee with an interested face.

21. “Yes; and we all learned to make bread, and cook, and wore little chintz gowns, and were as gay and hearty as kittens. All lived to be grandmothers; and I'm the last—seventy next birthday, my dear, and not worn out yet; though daughter Shaw is an invalid at forty.”

22. “That's the way I was brought up, and that's why Fan calls me old-fashioned, I suppose. Tell more about your papa, please; I like it, ” said Polly.

23. “Say, ‘father.' We never called him papa; and if one of my brothers had addressed him as ‘governor, ' as boys now do, I really think he'd have him cut off with a shilling.”

STUDY GUIDE

A. Word Definition

1.imposing:exciting attention and feeling,impressive.

2.magpie:noisy,mischievous bird common in Europe and America.

3.drawing-room:room for sitting or entertaining.

4.vanished:disappeared.

5.meteor:shooting star.

6.confidently:with trust.

7.blasé:French word meaning surfeited,rendered incapable of further enjoyment.

8.frills:gathered or pleated cloth as an ornamental edging.

9.chintz:printed,multicoloured,glazed cotton fabric.

10.invalid:person who is sickly.

B. Comprehension Questions

1. How did Madam Shaw and Tom treat Polly at dinner?

2. What time of day did they have dinner?

3. Label these statements true or false.

a. A meteor moves very fast. _____

b. Boys never sing. _____

c. A piano is a kind of chair. _____

4. What did Madam Shaw wear on her head?

5. What colour was Tom's hair?

6. What did Madam Shaw call her father?

a. Papa

b. Governor

c. Father

7. How was Polly taught to treat old people?

8. How old was Madam Shaw?

C. Writing Work

Write an e-mail to your parents about a good dinner you have had.