Louisa May Alcott

Little Men Louisa May Alcott

"Please, sir, is this Plumfield?" asked a ragged boy of the man who opened the great gateat which the omnibus left him."Yes. Who sent you?""Mr. Laurence. I have got a letter for the lady.""All right; go up to the house, and give it to her; she'll see to you, little chap."The man spoke pleasantly, and the boy went on, feeling much cheered by the words. Through the soft spring rain that fell on sprouting grass and budding trees, Nat saw a largesquare house before him, a hospitable-looking house, with an old-fashioned porch, widesteps, and lights shining in many windows. Neither curtains nor shutters hid the cheerfulglimmer; and, pausing a moment before he rang, Nat saw many little shadows dancing onthe walls, heard the pleasant hum of young voices, and felt that it was hardly possible thatthe light and warmth and comfort within could be for a homeless "little chap" like him."I hope the lady will see to me," he thought, and gave a timid rap with the great bronzeknocker, which was a jovial griffin's head. A rosy-faced servant-maid opened the door, and smiled as she took the letter which hesilently offered. She seemed used to receiving strange boys, for she pointed to a seat in thehall, and said, with a nod: "Sit there and drip on the mat a bit, while I take this in to missis.