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“CUPID AND CHOW-CHOW” (1872) louisa may alcott (1832–1888) Although Alcott is best known for Little Women, she was also a prolific writer of adult fiction and became one of the most famous and well-remunerated writers of her generation. Influenced by her parents, she supported various reform causes and was particularly interested in abolition and woman’s rights. Alcott’s conception of woman’s rights was grounded in a“conviction that sexual equality is not the cause of a political faction but a tenet of common sense.”27 For this reason, perhaps, Alcott participated little in activist organizations dedicated to woman’s rights, but she did contribute periodically to the Woman’s Journal, the AWSA’s official publication. “Cupid and Chow-Chow” first appeared in the children’s pages of Hearth and Home, a magazine edited by Stowe and Donald Grant Mitchell. The story reflects Alcott’s cautious support of woman suffrage as well as her diffidence about activism—its potential for rhetorical and behavioral excesses that overwhelm larger principle. 62 R Mamma began it by calling her rosy, dimpled, year-old baby Cupid, and as he grew up the name became more and more appropriate, for the pretty boy loved every one, every one loved him, and he made those about him fond of one another, like a regular little god of love. Especially beautiful and attractive did he look as he pranced on the doorsteps one afternoon while awaiting the arrival of a little cousin. Our Cupid’s costume was modernized out of regard to the prejudices of society, and instead of wings, bandage , bow and arrow, he was gorgeous to behold in small buckled shoes, purple silk hose, black velvet knickerbockers, and jacket with a lace collar, which, with his yellow hair cut straight across the forehead, and falling in long, curling love-locks behind, made him look like an old picture of a young cavalier. . . . Cupid had made up his mind to love Chow-chow very much, both because she was his cousin, and because she must be interesting if all papa’s stories of her were true. Her very name was pleasing to him, for it suggested Indian sweetmeats, though papa said it was given to her because she was such a mixture of sweet and sour that one never knew whether he would get his tongue bitten by a hot bit of ginger, or find a candied plum melting in his mouth when he tried that little jar of Chow-chow. “I know I shall like her, and of course she will like me lots, ’cause everybody does,” thought Cupid, settling his love-locks and surveying his purple legs like a contented young peacock. Just then a carriage drove up the avenue, stopped at the foot of the steps, and out skipped a tall, brown man, a small, pale lady, and a child, who whisked away to the pond so rapidly that no one could see what she was like. A great kissing and hand-shaking went on between the papas and mammas, and Cupid came in for a large share, but did not enjoy it as much as usual, for the little girl had fled and he must get at her. So the instant Aunt Susan let him go he ran after the truant, quite panting with eagerness and all aglow with amiable intentions, for he was a hospitable little soul, and he loved to do the honors of his pleasant home like a gentleman. A little figure, dressed in a brown linen frock, with dusty boots below it, and above it a head of wild black hair, tied up with a large scarlet bow, stood by the pond throwing stones at the swans, who ruffled their feathers in stately anger at such treatment. Suddenly a pair of velvet arms embraced her, and half turning she looked up into a rosy, smiling face, with two red lips suggestively puckered for a hearty kiss. Chow-chow’s black eyes sparkled, and her little brown face flushed red as her ribbon as she tried to push the boy away with a shrill scream. “Don’t be frightened. I’m Cupid. I must kiss you. I truly must. I always do when people come, and I like you very much.” With this soothing remark, the velvet arms pressed her firmly, and the lips gave her several soft kisses, which, owing to her struggles, lit upon her nose, chin...

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