Preface

by Louisa May Alcott

　　The Author is quite aware of the defects of this little story, many ofwhich were unavoidable, as it first appeared serially. But, as Uncle Alec'sexperiment was intended to amuse the young folks, rather than suggesteducational improvements for the consideration of the elders, she truststhat these shortcomings will be overlooked by the friends of the EightCousins, and she will try to make amends in a second volume, which shallattempt to show The Rose in Bloom.L.M.A.