| She was a housewifely little creature, and helped Hannah keep home neat and comfortable for the workers, never thinking of any reward but to be lovedLong, quiet days she spent, not lonely nor idle, for her little world was peopled with imaginary friends, and she was by nature a busy beeThere were six dolls to be taken up and dressed every morning, for Beth was a child still and and loved her pets as well as everNot 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 uglyBeth cherished them all the more tenderly for that very reason, and set up a hospital for infirm dollsNo pins were ever stuck into their cotton vitals, no harsh words or blows were ever given them, no neglect ever saddened the heart or the most repulsive, but all were fed and clothed, nursed and caressed with an affection which never failedOne forlorn fragment of dollanity had belonged to Jo and, having led a tempestuous life, was left a wreck in the rag bag, from which dreary poorhouse it was rescued by Beth and taken to her refugeHaving no top to its head, she tied on a neat little cap, and as both arms and legs were gone, she hid these deficiencies by folding it in a blanket and devoting her best bed to this chronic invalidIf anyone had known the care lavished on that dolly, I think it would have touched their hearts, even while they laughedShe brought it bits of bouquets, she read to it, took it out to breathe fresh air, hidden under her coat, she sang it lullabies and never went to be without kissing its dirty face and whispering tenderly, "I hope you'll have a good night, my poor dear
Beth had her troubles as well as the others, and not being an angel but a very human little girl, she often `wept a little weep' as Jo said, because she couldn't take music lessons and have a fine pianoShe loved music so dearly, tried 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 herNobody did, however, and nobody saw Beth wipe the tears off the yellow keys, louis vuitton fabric that wouldn't keep in tune, when she was all aloneShe sang like a little lark about her work, never was too tired for Marmee and the girls, and day after day said hopefully to herself," I know I'll get my music some time, if I'm good
There are many Beths in the world, shy and quiet, sitting in corners till needed, and living for others so cheerfully that no one sees the sacrifices till the little cricket on the hearth stops chirping, and the sweet, sunshiny presence vanishes, leaving silence and shadow behind
If anybody had asked Amy what the greatest trial of her life was, she would have answered at once, "My nose When she was a baby, Jo had accidently dropped her into the coal hod, and Amy insisted that the fall had ruined her nose foreverIt 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 aristocratic pointNo one minded it but herself, and it was doing its best to grow, but Amy felt deeply the want of a Grecian nose, and drew whole sheets of handsome ones to console herself
"Little Raphael," as her sisters called her, had a decided talent for drawing, and was never so happy as when copying flowers, designing fairies, or illustrating stories with queer specimens of artHer teachers complained that instead of doing her sums she covered her slate with animals, the blankpages of her atlas were used to copy maps on, and caricatures of the most ludicrous description came fluttering out of all her books at unlucky momentsShe got through her lessons as well as she could, and managed to escape reprimands by being a model of deportmentShe was a great favorite with her mates, being good-tempered and possessing the happy art of pleasing without effortHer little airs and graces were much admired, so were her accomplishments, for besides her drawing, she could play twelve tunes, crochet, and read French without mispronouncing more than two-thirds of the wordsShe had a plaintive way of saying, "When Papa was rich we did so-and-so," which was very touching, and her long words were considered `perfectly elegant' by the girls
Amy was in a fair way to be spoiled, for everyone buy a chanel bag petted her, and her small vanities and selfishnesses were growing nicelyOne thing, however, rather quenched the vanitiesShe had to wear her cousin's clothesNow 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 fitEverything was good, well made, and little worn, but Amy's artistic eyes were much afflicted, especially this winter, when her school dress was a dull purple with yellow dots and no trimming
"My only comfort," she said to Meg, with tears in her eyes, "is that Mother doesn't take tucks in my dresses whenever I'm naughty, as Maria Parks's mother doesMy dear, it's really dreadful, for sometimes she is so bad her frock is up to her knees, and she can't come to schoolWhen I think of this deggerredation, I fell that I can bear even my flat nose and purple gown with yellow skyrockets on it
Meg was Amy's confidante and monitor, and by some strange attraction of opposites Jo was gentle Beth'sTo Jo alone did the shy child tell her thoughts, and over her big harum-scarum sister Beth unconsciously exercised more influence than anyone in the familyThe two older girls were a great deal to one another, but each took one of the younger sisters into her keeping and watched over her in her own way, `playing mother' they called it, and put their sisters in the places of discarded dolls with the maternal instinct of litte women
"Has anybody got anything to tell? It's been such a dismal day I'm really dying for some amusement," said Meg, as they sat sewing together that evening
"I had a queer time with Aunt today, and, as I got the best of it, I'll tell you about it," began Jo, who dearly loved to tell stories"I was reading that everlasting 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 upI actually made myself sleepy, and before she began to nod, I gave such a gape that she asked me what I meant by opening my mouth wide enough to take the whole book in at once
"I wish I could, and be done with it," said I, trying not to be saucy
"Then she gave me a omega men watches long lecture on my sins, and told me to sit and think them over while she just `lost' herself for a momentShe never finds herself very soon, so the minute her cap began to bob like a top-heavy dahlia, I whipped the VICAR OF WAKEFIELD out of my pocket, and read away, with one eye on him and one on AuntI'd just got to where they all tumbled into the water when I forgot and laughed out loudAunt woke up and, being more good-natured after her nap, told me to read a bit and show what frivolous work I preferred to the worthy and instructive BelshamI did my very best, and she liked it, though she only said
"I don't understand what it's all aboutGo back and begin it, child
"Back I went, and made the Primroses as interesting as ever I couldOnce I was wicked enough to stop in a thrilling place, and say meekly, "I'm afraid it tires you, ma'amShan't I stop now?"
"She caught up her knitting, which had dropped out of her hands, gave me a sharp look through her specs, and said, in her short way, `Finish the chapter, and don't be impertinent, miss'
"Did she own she liked it?" asked Meg
"Oh, bless you, no! But she let old Belsham rest, and when I ran back after my gloves this afternoon, there she was, so hard at the Vicar that she didn't hear me laugh as I danced a jig in the hall because of the good time comingWhat a pleasant life she might have if only she chose! I don't envy her much, in spite of her money, for after all rich people have about as many worries as poor ones, I think," added Jo
"That reminds me," said Meg, "that I've got something to tellIt isn't funny, like Jo's story, but I thought about it a good deal as I came homeAt the Kings' today I found everybody in a flurry, and one of the children said that her oldest brother had done something dreadful, and Papa had sent him awayKing talking very loud, and Grace and Ellen turned away their faces when they passed me, so I shouldn't see how red and swollen their eyes wereI didn't ask any questions, of course, but I felt so sorry for them and was rather glad I hadn't any wild brothers to do wicked things and disgrace the family
"I think being disgraced in school is a great deal tryinger than chanel black bucket tote bag anything bad boys can do," said Amy, shaking her head, as if her experience of life had been a deep one"Susie Perkins came to school today with a lovely red carnelian ringI wanted it dreadfully, and wished I was her with all my mightWell, she drew a picture of MrDavis, 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 thingWe were laughing over it when all of a sudden his eye was on us, and he ordered Susie to bring up her slateShe was parrylized with fright, but she went, and oh, what do you think he did? He took her by the ear--the ear! Just fancy how horrid!--and led her to the recitation platform, and made her stand there half and hour, holding the slate so everyone could see
"Didn't the girls laugh at the picture?" asked Jo, who relished the scrape
"Laugh? Not one! They sat still as mice, and Susie cried quarts, I know she didI didn't envy her then, for I felt that millions of carnelian rings wouldn't have made me happy after thatI never, never should have got over such a agonizing mortification And Amy went on with her work, in the proud consciousness of virtue and the successful utterance of two long words in a breath
"I saw something I liked this morning, and I meant to tell it at dinner, but I forgot," said Beth, putting Jo's topsy-turvy basket in order as she talked"When I went to get some oysters for Hannah, MrLaurence was in the fish shop, but he didn't see me, for I kept behind the fish barrel, and he was busy with MrA poor woman came in with a pail a mop, and asked MrCutter 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 workCutter was in a hurry and said `No', rather crossly, so she was going away, looking hungry and sorry, when MrLaurence hooked up a big fish with the crooked end of his cane and held it out to herShe was so glad and surprised she took it right into her arms, and thanked him over and overHe told her to `go along and cook it', and she hurried off, so happy! Wasn't it good of him? Oh, she did look so funny, hugging the big, slippery fish, and hoping tiffany |
| 