Alcott, Louisa May, Concord, Massachusetts, November 29, 1833—March 5, 1888, Concord. She was the author of widely known books for children, Little Women, Little Men, and others. Julian’s Dictionary, p. 1602, records her hymn,
A little kingdom I possess,
and cites Eva Munson Smith’s Women in Sacred Song as quoting a note from Miss Alcott dated “Concord, Oct. 7, 1883,” in which she says that this is “the only hymn I ever wrote. It was composed at thirteen - - - and still expresses my soul’s desire.” Notwithstanding this statement another hymn attributed to her, apparently written for use by young people and beginning,
O the beautiful old story!
is included in The New Hymn and Tune Book, 1914.
J 1550, 1602 H.W.F.
Alger, Rev. William Rounsville, Freetown, Massachusetts, December 28, 1822—February 7, 1905, Boston, Massachusetts. He graduated from the Harvard Divinity School in 1847 and in the same year became minister of the Mount Pleasant Society, Roxbury, Massachusetts. In 1855 he was settled over the Bulfinch Place Church, Boston. He was a popular lecturer and the author of numerous articles and several books, the most notable of which was his History of the Doctrine of the Future Life, 1864, and later editions.
His Christmas hymn
Jesus has lived! and we would bring,
written in 1845 while he was still a student, is included in Hedge and Huntington’s Hymns for the Church of Christ, 1853.