This passage is excerpted from Louisa May Alcott, Rose in Bloom, originally published in 1876.
Three young men stood together on a wharf one bright
October day awaiting the arrival of an ocean steamer with an
impatience which found a vent in lively skirmishes with a
small lad, who pervaded the premises like a will-o’-the-wisp
and afforded much amusement to the other groups assembled
there.
“They are the Campbells, waiting for their cousin, who has
been abroad several years with her uncle, the doctor,”
whispered one lady to another as the handsomest of the young
men touched his hat to her as he passed, lugging the boy,
whom he had just rescued from a little expedition down among
the piles.
“Which is that?” asked the stranger.
“Prince Charlie, as he’s called a fine fellow, the most
promising of the seven, but a little fast, people say,” answered
the first speaker with a shake of the head. “Are the others his
brothers?”
“No, cousins. The elder is Archie, a most exemplary young
man. He has just gone into business with the merchant uncle
and bids fair to be an honor to his family. The other, with the
eyeglasses and no gloves, is Mac, the odd one, just out of
college.”
“And the boy?”
“Oh, he is Jamie, the youngest brother of Archibald, and the
pet of the whole family. Mercy on us he’ll be in if they don’t
hold on to him!”
The ladies’ chat came to a sudden end just there, for by the
time Jamie had been fished out of a hogshead, the steamer hove
in sight and everything else was forgotten. As it swung slowly
around to enter the dock, a boyish voice shouted, “There she is!
I see her and Uncle and Phebe! Hooray for Cousin Rose!” And
three small cheers were given with a will by Jamie as he stood
on a post waving his arms like a windmill while his brother
held onto the tail of his jacket.
Yes, there they were, Uncle Alec swinging his hat like a
boy, with Phebe smiling and nodding on one side and Rose
kissing both hands delightedly on the other as she recognized
familiar faces and heard familiar voices welcoming her home.
“Bless her dear heart, she’s bonnier than ever! Looks like a
Madonna doesn’t she? with that blue cloak round her, and her
bright hair flying in the wind!” said Charlie excitedly as they
watched the group upon the deck with eager eyes.
“Madonnas don’t wear hats like that. Rose hasn’t changed
much, but Phebe has. Why, she’s a regular beauty!” answered
Archie, staring with all his might at the dark-eyed young
woman with the brilliant color and glossy black braids shining
in the sun.
“Dear old Uncle! Doesn’t it seem good to have him back?”
was all Mac said, but he was not looking at “dear old uncle” as
he made the fervent remark, for he saw only the slender blond
girl nearby and stretched out his hands to meet hers, forgetful
of the green water tumbling between them.
During the confusion that reigned for a moment as the
steamer settled to her moorings, Rose looked down into the
four faces upturned to hers and seemed to read in them
something that both pleased and pained her. It was only a
glance, and her own eyes were full, but through the mist of
happy tears she received the impression that Archie was about
the same, that Mac had decidedly improved, and that
something was amiss with Charlie. There was no time for
observation, however, for in a moment the shoreward rush
began, and before she could grasp her traveling bag, Jamie was
clinging to her like an ecstatic young bear. She was with
difficulty released from his embrace to fall into the gentler ones
of the elder cousins, who took advantage of the general
excitement to welcome both blooming girls with affectionate
impartiality. Then the wanderers were borne ashore in a
triumphal procession, while Jamie danced rapturous jigs before
them even on the gangway.
Archie remained to help his uncle get the luggage through
the Custom House, and the others escorted the damsels home.
No sooner were they shut up in a carriage, however, than a new
and curious constraint seemed to fall upon the young people,
for they realized, all at once, that their former playmates were
men and women now.
Three young men stood together on a wharf one bright
October day awaiting the arrival of an ocean steamer with an
impatience which found a vent in lively skirmishes with a
small lad, who pervaded the premises like a will-o’-the-wisp
and afforded much amusement to the other groups assembled
there.
“They are the Campbells, waiting for their cousin, who has
been abroad several years with her uncle, the doctor,”
whispered one lady to another as the handsomest of the young
men touched his hat to her as he passed, lugging the boy,
whom he had just rescued from a little expedition down among
the piles.
“Which is that?” asked the stranger.
“Prince Charlie, as he’s called a fine fellow, the most
promising of the seven, but a little fast, people say,” answered
the first speaker with a shake of the head. “Are the others his
brothers?”
“No, cousins. The elder is Archie, a most exemplary young
man. He has just gone into business with the merchant uncle
and bids fair to be an honor to his family. The other, with the
eyeglasses and no gloves, is Mac, the odd one, just out of
college.”
“And the boy?”
“Oh, he is Jamie, the youngest brother of Archibald, and the
pet of the whole family. Mercy on us he’ll be in if they don’t
hold on to him!”
The ladies’ chat came to a sudden end just there, for by the
time Jamie had been fished out of a hogshead, the steamer hove
in sight and everything else was forgotten. As it swung slowly
around to enter the dock, a boyish voice shouted, “There she is!
I see her and Uncle and Phebe! Hooray for Cousin Rose!” And
three small cheers were given with a will by Jamie as he stood
on a post waving his arms like a windmill while his brother
held onto the tail of his jacket.
Yes, there they were, Uncle Alec swinging his hat like a
boy, with Phebe smiling and nodding on one side and Rose
kissing both hands delightedly on the other as she recognized
familiar faces and heard familiar voices welcoming her home.
“Bless her dear heart, she’s bonnier than ever! Looks like a
Madonna doesn’t she? with that blue cloak round her, and her
bright hair flying in the wind!” said Charlie excitedly as they
watched the group upon the deck with eager eyes.
“Madonnas don’t wear hats like that. Rose hasn’t changed
much, but Phebe has. Why, she’s a regular beauty!” answered
Archie, staring with all his might at the dark-eyed young
woman with the brilliant color and glossy black braids shining
in the sun.
“Dear old Uncle! Doesn’t it seem good to have him back?”
was all Mac said, but he was not looking at “dear old uncle” as
he made the fervent remark, for he saw only the slender blond
girl nearby and stretched out his hands to meet hers, forgetful
of the green water tumbling between them.
During the confusion that reigned for a moment as the
steamer settled to her moorings, Rose looked down into the
four faces upturned to hers and seemed to read in them
something that both pleased and pained her. It was only a
glance, and her own eyes were full, but through the mist of
happy tears she received the impression that Archie was about
the same, that Mac had decidedly improved, and that
something was amiss with Charlie. There was no time for
observation, however, for in a moment the shoreward rush
began, and before she could grasp her traveling bag, Jamie was
clinging to her like an ecstatic young bear. She was with
difficulty released from his embrace to fall into the gentler ones
of the elder cousins, who took advantage of the general
excitement to welcome both blooming girls with affectionate
impartiality. Then the wanderers were borne ashore in a
triumphal procession, while Jamie danced rapturous jigs before
them even on the gangway.
Archie remained to help his uncle get the luggage through
the Custom House, and the others escorted the damsels home.
No sooner were they shut up in a carriage, however, than a new
and curious constraint seemed to fall upon the young people,
for they realized, all at once, that their former playmates were
men and women now.