Little Women

RD

the morning after the party, for now the holidays were over, the week of me

ar's all the time. Wouldn't it be

d go to parties, and drive home, and read and rest, and not work. It's like other people, you know, and I always envy gir

ly as Marmee does. I'm sure Aunt March is a regular Old Man of the Sea to me, but I suppose when I've

nsisting of four spoiled children, seemed heavier than ever. She had not heart enough even to make he

?" she muttered, shutting her drawer with a jerk. "I shall have to toil and moil all my days, with only little bits of fu

sn't at all agreeable at breakfast time. Everyone

nd three kittens. Amy was fretting because her lessons were not learned, and she

etter, which must go at once, and Hannah had

osing her temper when she had upset an inkstand, b

Amy, washing out the sum that was all wrong

drowned," exclaimed Meg angrily as she tried to get rid of the kitten

, and Amy wailed because she couldn't

early mail, and you drive me distracted with your worry," cried

e, and stalked out again. These turnovers were an institution, and the girls called them 'muffs'

mpy she might be, for the walk was long and bleak. The poor

of rascals this morning, but we'll come home regular angels. Now then, Meg!" And

e, and wave her hand to them. Somehow it seemed as if they couldn't have got through the day without that, f

e us right, for more ungrateful wretches than we are were never seen," cri

Meg from the depths of the veil in which she ha

replied Jo, catching her hat as it took a leap o

ut I am neither a rascal nor a wretc

ury all the time. Poor dear, just wait till I make my fortune, and you shall revel in carri

t Meg laughed at the nonsense an

u do, we should be in a nice state. Thank goodness, I can always find something

ng a different way, each hugging her little warm turnover, and each trying to be cheerful

toward their own support, at least. Believing that they could not begin too early to cultivate energy, industry, and independence,

nvious or discontented, but it was very natural that the young girl should long for pretty things, gay friends, accomplishments, and a happy life. At the Kings' she daily saw all she wanted, for the children's older sisters were just out, and Meg caught frequent glimpses of dainty ball dresses and bouquets, heard lively gossip about theate

to adopt one of the girls when the troubles came, and was much offended because her offer was declined. Other friends told the

n fortunes. Rich or poor, we will keep

d not suit Jo at all, but she accepted the place since nothing better appeared and, to every one's surprise, got on remarkably well with her irascible relative. There was an occasional tempest, and once Jo marched home

ads and bridges with his big dictionaries, tell her stories about queer pictures in his Latin books, and buy her cards of gingerbread whenever he met her in the street. The dim, dusty room, with the

tures like a regular bookworm. But, like all happiness, it did not last long, for as sure as she had just reached the heart of the story, the sweetest verse of a song, or the most perilou

d, run, and ride as much as she liked. A quick temper, sharp tongue, and restless spirit were always getting her into scrapes, and her life was a series of ups and downs, which were both comic and p

Beth was a child still and loved her pets as well as ever. Not one whole or handsome one among them, all were outcasts till Beth took them in, for when her sisters outgrew these idols, they passed to her because Amy would have nothing old or ugly. Beth cherished them all the more tenderly for that very reason, and set up a hospital for infirm dolls. No pins were ever stuck into their cotton vitals, no harsh words or blows were ever given them, no neglect ever saddened the heart of the most repulsive, but all were fed and clothed, nursed and caressed with an affection which never failed. One forlorn fragment of dollanity had belonged to Jo and, having led a tempestuous life,

so hard to learn, and practiced away so patiently at the jingling old instrument, that it did seem as if someone (not to hint Aunt March) ought to help her. Nobody did, however, and nobody saw Beth wipe the tears off the yellow keys, t

for others so cheerfully that no one sees the sacrifices till the little cricket on the heart

my insisted that the fall had ruined her nose forever. It was not big nor red, like poor 'Petrea's', it was only rather flat, and all the pinching in the world could not give it an aris

atures of the most ludicrous description came fluttering out of all her books at unlucky moments. She got through her lessons as well as she could, and managed to escape reprimands by being a model of deportment. She was a great favorite with her mates, being good-tempered and possessing the happy art of pleasing without effort. Her little airs and grac

r cousin's clothes. Now Florence's mama hadn't a particle of taste, and Amy suffered deeply at having to wear a red instead of a blue bonnet, unbecoming gowns, and fussy aprons that did not fi

aria Parks's mother does. My dear, it's really dreadful, for sometimes she is so bad her frock is up to her knees, and she can't come t

m sister Beth unconsciously exercised more influence than anyone in the family. The two older girls were a great deal to one another, but each took one of the younger sisters into

a dismal day I'm really dying for some amusement,"

sting Belsham, and droning away as I always do, for Aunt soon drops off, and then I take out some nice book, and read like fury till she wakes up. I actually made

done with it," said I,

vy dahlia, I whipped the Vicar of Wakefield out of my pocket, and read away, with one eye on him and one on Aunt. I'd just got to where they all tumbled into the water when I forgot and laughed out loud. Aunt wok

t it's all about. Go bac

uld. Once I was wicked enough to stop in a thrilling place, and

s, gave me a sharp look through her specs, and said, in her sh

she liked i

hat she didn't hear me laugh as I danced a jig in the hall because of the good time coming. What a pleasant life she might have if only she

ildren said that her oldest brother had done something dreadful, and Papa had sent him away. I heard Mrs. King crying and Mr. King talking very loud, and Grace and Ellen turned away their faces when they passed me,

as her with all my might. Well, she drew a picture of Mr. Davis, with a monstrous nose and a hump, and the words, 'Young ladies, my eye is upon you!' coming out of his mouth in a balloon thing. We were laughing over it when all of a sudden his eye was on us, and he ordered Susi

t the picture?" asked Jo,

s of carnelian rings wouldn't have made me happy after that. I never, never should have got over such a agonizing mortification.

ame in with a pail and a mop, and asked Mr. Cutter if he would let her do some scrubbing for a bit of fish, because she hadn't any dinner for her children, and had been disappointed of a day's work. Mr. Cutter was in a hurry and said 'No', rather crossly, so she was going away, looking hungry and sorry, when Mr. Laurence hooked up a big fish with the

ay at the rooms, I felt very anxious about Father, and thought how lonely and helpless we should be, if anything happened to him. It was not a wise thing to do, but

y?' I asked, for the note

a prisoner, and I'm going to the other, who is very

your country, sir,' I said, feeli

'd go myself, if I was any use. As I ain

e he gave four without grudging them. I had all my girls to comfort me at home, and his last son was waiting, miles away, to say good-by to him, perhaps! I f

this. I like to think about them afterward, if they are re

e had told stories to this little audience

y.) "These girls were anxious to be good and made many excellent resolutions, but they did not keep them very well, and were constantly saying, 'If only we had this,' or 'If we could only do that,' quite forgetting how much they already had, and how many things they actually coul

youth, health, and good spirits, than a certain fretful, feeble old lady who couldn't enjoy her comforts, a third that, disagreeable as it was to help get dinner, it was harder still to go begging for it and the fourth, that even carnelian rings were not so valuable as

turn our own stories against us, and give u

ther used to tell us," said Beth thoughtfully

d I shall be more careful than ever now, for I've h

Tom, 'Tink ob yer marcies, chillen!' 'Tink ob yer marcies!'" added Jo, who could not, for the life of her