The Author is quite aware of the defects of this little story, manyof which were unavoidable, as it first appeared serially. But, asUncle Alec's experiment was intended to amuse the young folks,rather than suggest educational improvements for theconsideration of the elders, she trusts that these shortcomings willbe overlooked by the friends of the Eight Cousins, and she will tryto make amends in a second volume, which shall attempt to showThe Rose in Bloom.

　　Louisa May Alcott1.