第8章

Shesanglikealittlelarkaboutherwork，neverwastootiredforMarmeeandthegirls，anddayafterdaysaidhopefullytoherself，“IknowI’llgetmymusicsometime，ifI’mgood。“

TherearemanyBethsintheworld，shyandquiet，sittingincornerstillneeded，andlivingforotherssocheerfullythatnooneseesthesacrificestillthelittlecricketonthehearthstopschirping，andthesweet，sunshinypresencevanishes，leavingsilenceandshadowbehind。

IfanybodyhadaskedAmywhatthegreatesttrialofherlifewas，shewouldhaveansweredatonce，“Mynose。“Whenshewasababy，Johadaccidentlydroppedherintothecoalhod，andAmyinsistedthatthefallhadruinedhernoseforever。Itwasnotbignorred，likepoor`Petrea’s’，itwasonlyratherflat，andallthepinchingintheworldcouldnotgiveitanaristocraticpoint。Noonemindeditbutherself，anditwasdoingitsbesttogrow，butAmyfeltdeeplythewantofaGreciannose，anddrewwholesheetsofhandsomeonestoconsoleherself。

“LittleRaphael，“ashersisterscalledher，hadadecidedtalentfordrawing，andwasneversohappyaswhencopyingflowers，designingfairies，orillustratingstorieswithqueerspecimensofart。Herteacherscomplainedthatinsteadofdoinghersumsshecoveredherslatewithanimals，theblankpagesofheratlaswereusedtocopymapson，andcaricaturesofthemostludicrousdescriptioncameflutteringoutofallherbooksatunluckymoments。Shegotthroughherlessonsaswellasshecould，andmanagedtoescapereprimandsbybeingamodelofdeportment。Shewasagreatfavoritewithhermates，beinggood-temperedandpossessingthehappyartofpleasingwithouteffort。Herlittleairsandgracesweremuchadmired，sowereheraccomplishments，forbesidesherdrawing，shecouldplaytwelvetunes，crochet，andreadFrenchwithoutmispronouncingmorethantwo-thirdsofthewords。Shehadaplaintivewayofsaying，“WhenPapawasrichwedidso-and-so，“whichwasverytouching，andherlongwordswereconsidered`perfectlyelegant’bythegirls。

Amywasinafairwaytobespoiled，foreveryonepettedher，andhersmallvanitiesandselfishnessesweregrowingnicely。

Onething，however，ratherquenchedthevanities。Shehadtowearhercousin’sclothes。NowFlorence’smamahadn’taparticleoftaste，andAmysuffereddeeplyathavingtoweararedinsteadofabluebonnet，unbecominggowns，andfussyapronsthatdidnotfit。Everythingwasgood，wellmade，andlittleworn，butAmy’sartisticeyesweremuchafflicted，especiallythiswinter，whenherschooldresswasadullpurplewithyellowdotsandnotrimming。

“Myonlycomfort，“shesaidtoMeg，withtearsinhereyes，“isthatMotherdoesn’ttaketucksinmydresseswheneverI’mnaughty，asMariaParks’smotherdoes。Mydear，it’sreallydreadful，forsometimessheissobadherfrockisuptoherknees，andshecan’tcometoschool。WhenIthinkofthisdeggerredation，IfellthatIcanbearevenmyflatnoseandpurplegownwithyellowskyrocketsonit。“

MegwasAmy’sconfidanteandmonitor，andbysomestrangeattractionofoppositesJowasgentleBeth’s。ToJoalonedidtheshychildtellherthoughts，andoverherbigharum-scarumsisterBethunconsciouslyexercisedmoreinfluencethananyoneinthefamily。Thetwooldergirlswereagreatdealtooneanother，buteachtookoneoftheyoungersistersintoherkeepingandwatchedoverherinherownway，`playingmother’

theycalledit，andputtheirsistersintheplacesofdiscardeddollswiththematernalinstinctoflittewomen。

“Hasanybodygotanythingtotell？It’sbeensuchadismaldayI’mreallydyingforsomeamusement，“saidMeg，astheysatsewingtogetherthatevening。

“IhadaqueertimewithAunttoday，and，asIgotthebestofit，I’lltellyouaboutit，“beganJo，whodearlylovedtotellstories。“IwasreadingthateverlastingBelsham，anddroningawayasIalwaysdo，forAuntsoondropsoff，andthenItakeoutsomenicebook，andreadlikefurytillshewakesup。Iactuallymademyselfsleepy，andbeforeshebegantonod，IgavesuchagapethatsheaskedmewhatImeantbyopeningmymouthwideenoughtotakethewholebookinatonce。

“IwishIcould，andbedonewithit，“saidI，tryingnottobesaucy。

“Thenshegavemealonglectureonmysins，andtoldmetositandthinkthemoverwhileshejust`lost’herselfforamoment。

Sheneverfindsherselfverysoon，sotheminutehercapbegantoboblikeatop-heavydahlia，IwhippedtheVICAROFWAKEFIELDoutofmypocket，andreadaway，withoneeyeonhimandoneonAunt。

I’djustgottowheretheyalltumbledintothewaterwhenI

forgotandlaughedoutloud。Auntwokeupand，beingmoregood-naturedafterhernap，toldmetoreadabitandshowwhatfrivolousworkIpreferredtotheworthyandinstructiveBelsham。

Ididmyverybest，andshelikedit，thoughsheonlysaid……

“Idon’tunderstandwhatit’sallabout。Gobackandbeginit，child。“

“BackIwent，andmadethePrimrosesasinterestingaseverI

could。OnceIwaswickedenoughtostopinathrillingplace，andsaymeekly，“I’mafraidittiresyou，ma’am。Shan’tIstopnow？“

“Shecaughtupherknitting，whichhaddroppedoutofherhands，gavemeasharplookthroughherspecs，andsaid，inhershortway，`Finishthechapter，anddon’tbeimpertinent，miss’。“

“Didsheownshelikedit？“askedMeg。

“Oh，blessyou，no!ButsheletoldBelshamrest，andwhenI

ranbackaftermyglovesthisafternoon，thereshewas，sohardattheVicarthatshedidn’thearmelaughasIdancedajiginthehallbecauseofthegoodtimecoming。Whatapleasantlifeshemighthaveifonlyshechose!Idon’tenvyhermuch，inspiteofhermoney，forafterallrichpeoplehaveaboutasmanyworriesaspoorones，I

think，“addedJo。

“Thatremindsme，“saidMeg，“thatI’vegotsomethingtotell。

Itisn’tfunny，likeJo’sstory，butIthoughtaboutitagooddealasIcamehome。AttheKings’todayIfoundeverybodyinaflurry，andoneofthechildrensaidthatheroldestbrotherhaddonesomethingdreadful，andPapahadsenthimaway。IheardMrs。KingcryingandMr。Kingtalkingveryloud，andGraceandEllenturnedawaytheirfaceswhentheypassedme，soIshouldn’tseehowredandswollentheireyeswere。Ididn’taskanyquestions，ofcourse，butIfeltsosorryforthemandwasrathergladIhadn’tanywildbrotherstodowickedthingsanddisgracethefamily。“

“Ithinkbeingdisgracedinschoolisagreatdealtryingerthananythingbadboyscando，“saidAmy，shakingherhead，asifherexperienceoflifehadbeenadeepone。“SusiePerkinscametoschooltodaywithalovelyredcarnelianring。Iwanteditdreadfully，andwishedIwasherwithallmymight。Well，shedrewapictureofMr。Davis，withamonstrousnoseandahump，andthewords，`Youngladies，myeyeisuponyou!’comingoutofhismouthinaballoonthing。Wewerelaughingoveritwhenallofasuddenhiseyewasonus，andheorderedSusietobringupherslate。Shewasparrylizedwithfright，butshewent，andoh，whatdoyouthinkhedid？Hetookherbytheear——theear!

Justfancyhowhorrid!——andledhertotherecitationplatform，andmadeherstandtherehalfandhour，holdingtheslatesoeveryonecouldsee。“

“Didn’tthegirlslaughatthepicture？“askedJo，whorelishedthescrape。

“Laugh？Notone!Theysatstillasmice，andSusiecriedquarts，Iknowshedid。Ididn’tenvyherthen，forIfeltthatmillionsofcarnelianringswouldn’thavemademehappyafterthat。

Inever，nevershouldhavegotoversuchaagonizingmortification。“

AndAmywentonwithherwork，intheproudconsciousnessofvirtueandthesuccessfulutteranceoftwolongwordsinabreath。

“IsawsomethingIlikedthismorning，andImeanttotellitatdinner，butIforgot，“saidBeth，puttingJo’stopsy-turvybasketinorderasshetalked。“WhenIwenttogetsomeoystersforHannah，Mr。Laurencewasinthefishshop，buthedidn’tseeme，forIkeptbehindthefishbarrel，andhewasbusywithMr。Cutterthefishman。

Apoorwomancameinwithapailamop，andaskedMr。Cutterifhewouldletherdosomescrubbingforabitoffish，becauseshehadn’tanydinnerforherchildren，andhadbeendisappointedofaday’swork。Mr。Cutterwasinahurryandsaid`No’，rathercrossly，soshewasgoingaway，lookinghungryandsorry，whenMr。

Laurencehookedupabigfishwiththecrookedendofhiscaneandhelditouttoher。Shewassogladandsurprisedshetookitrightintoherarms，andthankedhimoverandover。Hetoldherto`goalongandcookit’，andshehurriedoff，sohappy!Wasn’titgoodofhim？Oh，shedidlooksofunny，huggingthebig，slipperyfish，andhopingMr。Laurence’sbedinheavenwouldbe`aisy’。“

WhentheyhadlaughedatBeth’sstory，theyaskedtheirmotherforone，andafteramomentsthought，shesaidsoberly，“AsIsatcuttingoutblueflanneljacketstodayattherooms，IfeltveryanxiousaboutFather，andthoughthowlonelyandhelplessweshouldbe，ifanythinghappenedtohim。Itwasnotawisethingtodo，butIkeptonworryingtillanoldmancameinwithanorderforsomeclothes。Hesatdownnearme，andIbegantotalktohim，forhelookedpoorandtiredandanxious。

“`Haveyousonsinthearmy？’Iasked，forthenotehebroughtwasnottome。

“Yes，ma’am。Ihadfour，buttwowerekilled，oneisaprisoner，andI’mgoingtotheother，whoisverysickinaWashingtonhospital。’

heansweredquietly。

“`Youhavedoneagreatdealforyourcountry，sir，’Isaid，feelingrespectnow，insteadofpity。

“`NotamitemorethanIought，ma’am。I’dgomyself，ifIwasanyuse。AsIain’t，Igivemyboys，andgive’emfree。’

“Hespokesocheerfully，lookedsosincere，andseemedsogladtogivehisall，thatIwasashamedofmyself。I’dgivenonemanandthoughtittoomuch，whilehegavefourwithoutgrudgingthem。

Ihadallmygirlstocomfortmeathome，andhislastsonwaswaiting，milesaway，tosaygood-bytohim，perhaps!Ifeltsorich，sohappythinkingofmyblessings，thatImadehimanicebundle，gavehimsomemoney，andthankedhimheartilyforthelessonhehadtaughtme。“

“Tellanotherstory，Mother，onewithamoraltoit，likethis。

Iliketothinkaboutthemafterward，iftheyarerealandnottoopreachy，“saidJo，afteraminute’ssilence。

Mrs。Marchsmiledandbeganatonce，forshehadtoldstoriestothislittleaudienceformanyyears，andknewhowtopleasethem。

“Onceuponatime，therewerefourgirls，whohadenoughtoeatanddrinkandwear，agoodmanycomfortsandpleasures，kindfriendsandparentswholovedthemdearly，andyettheywerenotcontented。“

(Herethelistenersstoleslylooksatoneanother，andbegantosewdiligently。)“Thesegirlswereanxioustobegoodandmademanyexcellentresolutions，buttheydidnotkeepthemverywell，andwereconstantlysaying，`Ifonlywehadthis，’or`Ifwecouldonlydothat，’quiteforgettinghowmuchtheyalreadyhad，andhowmanythingstheyactuallycoulddo。Sotheyaskedanoldwomanwhatspelltheycouldusetomakethemhappy，andshesaid，`Whenyoufeeldiscontented，thinkoveryourblessings，andbegrateful。’“(HereJolookedupquickly，asifabouttospeak，butchangedhermind，seeingthatthestorywasnotdoneyet。)

“Beingsensiblegirls，theydecidedtotryheradvice，andsoonweresurprisedtoseehowwellofftheywere。Onediscoveredthatmoneycouldn’tkeepshameandsorrowoutofrichpeople’shouses，anotherthat，thoughshewaspoor，shewasagreatdealhappier，withheryouth，health，andgoodspirits，thanacertainfretful，feebleoldladywhocouldn’tenjoyhercomforts，athirdthat，disagreeableasitwastohelpgetdinner，itwasharderstilltogobeggingforitandthefourth，thatevencarnelianringswerenotsovaluableasgoodbehavior。Sotheyagreedtostopcomplaining，toenjoytheblessingsalreadypossessed，andtrytodeservethem，lesttheyshouldbetakenawayentirely，insteadofincreased，andIbelievetheywereneverdisappointedorsorrythattheytooktheoldwoman’sadvice。“