When I was 23 years old, I drove from Florida to Maine by myself. I borrowed the Little Women audiobook from the Jacksonville Library then mailed it back from Kittery.
Once home, I purchased a beautiful copy for the daughter I hoped to have one day. I’m several years from reading it to the little one in pink rolling beside me, but I flipped through it’s pages this week anyway and rediscovered a gem from the famous Marmee in chapter nine.
Louisa May Alcott (1832-1888) created Mrs. March, my favorite mother in literature. When her daughter Jo wonders about Marmee’s plans for her daughters, particularly in the area of marriage, she answers “in her serious yet cheery way,”
I want my daughters to be beautiful, accomplished, and good; to be admired, loved, and respected; to have a happy youth, to be well and wisely married, and to lead useful, pleasant lives, with as little care and sorrow as God sees fit to send. To be loved and chosen by a good man is the best and sweetest thing which can happen to a woman, and I sincerely hope my girls may know this beautiful experience. It is natural to think of it, right to hope and wait for it, and wise to prepare for it, so that when the happy time comes, you may feel ready for the duties and worthy of the joy… not that they would marry rich men merely because they are rich, or have splendid houses which are not homes because love is wanting. Money is a needful and precious thing- and, when well-used, a noble thing- but I never want you to think it is the first prize to strive for. I’d rather see you poor men’s wives, if you were happy, beloved, contented, than queens on thrones, without self-respect or peace.”
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