Louisa May Alcott ~Original Hand Written Single Page~ Manuscript of Jack & Jill. Authenticated and includes a first edition copy

Louisa May Alcott Handwritten Draft Page of "Jack & Jill", Over 240 Words in Her Hand! A handwritten manuscript page from Louisa May Alcott's children's tale "Jack and Jill: A Village Story." 1p, measuring 7.75" x 9.75", n.p., n.d. (ca. 1880). Unsigned but with over 240 words in Alcott's hand. With flattened folds and minor edge wear. A small tear at the top right has been professionally restored. Light fingerprint soiling throughout. Overall very good. The draft is very similar to the final version, with only one word in the first sentence having been changed; the original "carefree" was ultimately changed to "happy" in the final publication. The page is written in ink, with a pencil notation in another hand at the upper left corner. In full: "…pretty, young, and happy, at its play. 'Little daughter has got something on her mind, I mistrust. Come & tell father all about it,' he said, with a sounding slap on his broad knee as he turned his chair from the table to the ugly stove, where three pairs of wet boots steamed underneath, & a great kettle of cider apple-sauce simmered above. 'When I've helped clear up, I'll come and talk. Now, mother; you sit down & rest; Roxy and I can do everything,' answered Merry, patting the old rocking chair so invitingly that the tired woman could not resist, especially as watching the kettle gave her an excuse for obeying. 'Well, I don't care if I do, for I've been on my feet since five o'clock. Be sure you cover things up & shut the buttery door, & put the cat down cellar, & sift your meal. I'll see to the buckwheats last thing before I go to bed.' Mrs. Grant subsided with her knitting, for her hands were never idle; Tom tilted his chair back against the wall & picked his teeth with his pen-knife; Dick got out a little pot of grease to make the boots water tight; & Harry sat down at the small table to look over his accounts, with an important air, for every one occupied this room, & the work was done in the out-kitchen behind. Merry hated clearing up, but dutifully did…" "Jack and Jill: A Village Story" was published by Louisa May Alcott in 1880. The children's story was set in New England just after the Civil War and centered around two close friends, Jack and Janey (nicknamed "Jill"). Louisa May Alcott (1832-1888) was born in Germantown, Pennsylvania, but moved with her family to Concord, Massachusetts in 1840, which would remain her home for the rest of her life. She began to first receive critical success for her writing in the 1860s, sometimes writing under the pen name A. M. Barnard. One of her first great successes was "Hospital Sketches" (1863), which was an account of her work as a volunteer nurse in Washington, D.C. Alcott's best-known work is "Little Women", which was soon followed by "Little Men." Throughout her life, Alcott continued to produce highly popular and idealistic literature for children, including An Old-Fashioned Girl (1870), Eight Cousins (1875), Rose in Bloom (1876), Under the Lilacs (1878), and Jack and Jill (1881). The book included is a first edition and is in fair condition. This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses. Shipping Information - Standard Shipping - We use USPS to ship all items. Standard domestic shipping for books is Priority Mail. All items are carefully packaged, insured for their full value, and tracking information is provided. - Shipping Upgrades - We do offer shipping upgrades on all items in case you need it to arrive sooner. There are additional fees depending on the size and weight of the individual item and how quickly you need it to arrive. If for some reason it does not appear as an option when you are checking out, please contact us directly. Refunds & Returns - Lost or Damaged Items - We are not responsible for any items once they have been shipped, and therefore cannot be held responsible for items lost or damaged in shipping. However, I do package all items with great care, and we provide all our customers with tracking information so they can see their order's tracking history and a more accurate estimated delivery date and time. If an item is lost or damaged during shipping, the buyer must work with the shipping provider to resolve the issue. If an item is lost (shipped but undelivered) and the tracking information has not been updated within 30 days of the last update, I will be happy to provide a replacement if possible or issue a refund. - Items Not As Described - If an item is not as described, please contact us so we can work out a return or an exchange. We cannot issue a refund in most cases until we have received the returned item. The buyer is responsible for all return shipping costs. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions whatsoever!