BY L. M. ALCOTT "Which, naming no names, no offense could be took."— Sairy Gamp Boston: James Redpath, Publisher, 221 Washington Street. 1863. Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1863, by James Redpath, In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the District of Massachusetts...

These sketches are respectfully dedicated to her friend Miss Hannah Stevenson, by L. M. A....

Publisher's Advertisement. A considerable portion of this volume was published in successive numbers of The Commonwealth, newspaper, of Boston. The sudden popularity the Sketches won from the general public, and the praise they received from literary men of distinguished ability, are sufficient reasons,—were any needed,—for their re-publication, thus revised and enlarged, in this more convenient and permanent form. As, besides paying the Author the usual copyright, the publisher has resolved to

Hospital Sketches. Chapter I. Obtaining Supplies. "I want something to do." This remark being addressed to the world in general, no one in particular felt it their duty to reply; so I repeated it to the smaller world about me, received the following suggestions, and settled the matter by answering my own inquiry, as people are apt to do when very much in earnest. "Write a book," quoth the author of my being. "Don't know enough, sir. First live, then write." "Try teaching again," suggested my mot

Chapter II. A Forward Movement. As travellers like to give their own impressions of a journey, though every inch of the way may have been described a half a dozen times before, I add some of the notes made by the way, hoping that they will amuse the reader, and convince the skeptical that such a being as Nurse Periwinkle does exist, that she really did go to Washington, and that these Sketches are not romance. New York Train—Seven P. M. —Spinning along to take the boat at New London. Very comfor

Chapter III. A Day. "They've come! they've come! hurry up, ladies—you're wanted." "Who have come? the rebels?" This sudden summons in the gray dawn was somewhat startling to a three days' nurse like myself, and, as the thundering knock came at our door, I sprang up in my bed, prepared "To gird my woman's form, And on the ramparts die," if necessary; but my room-mate took it more coolly, and, as she began a rapid toilet, answered my bewildered question,— "Bless you, no child; it's the wounded fro

Chapter IV. A Night. Being fond of the night side of nature, I was soon promoted to the post of night nurse, with every facility for indulging in my favorite pastime of "owling." My colleague, a black-eyed widow, relieved me at dawn, we two taking care of the ward, between us, like the immortal Sairy and Betsey, "turn and turn about." I usually found my boys in the jolliest state of mind their condition allowed; for it was a known fact that Nurse Periwinkle objected to blue devils, and entertain

Chapter V. Off Duty. "My dear girl, we shall have you sick in your bed, unless you keep yourself warm and quiet for a few days. Widow Wadman can take care of the ward alone, now the men are so comfortable, and have her vacation when you are about again. Now do be prudent in time, and don't let me have to add a Periwinkle to my bouquet of patients." This advice was delivered, in a paternal manner, by the youngest surgeon in the hospital, a kind-hearted little gentleman, who seemed to consider me

Chapter VI. A Postscript. My Dear S.: —As inquiries like your own have come to me from various friendly readers of the Sketches, I will answer them en masse, and in printed form, as a sort of postscript to what has gone before. One of these questions was, "Are there no services by hospital death-beds, or on Sundays?" In most Hospitals I hope there are; in ours, the men died, and were carried away, with as little ceremony as on a battle-field. The first event of this kind which I witnessed was so

New Publication. Ready September 1. Speeches, Lectures, and Letters: by Wendell Phillips. Fourth Edition. In One Vol., crown octavo, pp. 570; printed on clear new type, and the best tinted linen paper; bound in the English green or maroon vellum-cloth; with gilt tops, and illuminated title; and illustrated with an excellent portrait of Mr. Phillips, on steel, by H. Wright Smith, of Boston. Price $2,50. The first three editions of this work were sold as rapidly as they could be bound, and demand