第15章

“I’lltry，“saidAmy，fortheadvicesuitedher，andafteraflurrytogetready，sheranafterthefriends，whowerejustdisappearingoverthehill。

Itwasnotfartotheriver，butbothwerereadybeforeAmyreachedthem。Josawhercoming，andturnedherback。Lauriedidnotsee，forhewascarefullyskatingalongtheshore，soundingtheice，forawarmspellhadprecededthecoldsnap。

“I’llgoontothefirstbend，andseeifit’sallrightbeforewebegintorace，“Amyheardhimsay，asheshotaway，lookinglikeayoungRussianinhisfur-trimmedcoatandcap。

JoheardAmypantingafterherrun，stampingherfeetandblowingonherfingersasshetriedtoputherskateson，butJoneverturnedandwentslowlyzigzaggingdowntheriver，takingabitter，unhappysortofsatisfactioninhersister’stroubles。

Shehadcherishedherangertillitgrewstrongandtookpossessionofher，asevilthoughtsandfeelingsalwaysdounlesscastoutatonce。AsLaurieturnedthebend，heshoutedback……

“Keepneartheshore。Itisn’tsafeinthemiddle。“

Joheard，butAmywasstrugglingtoherfeetanddidnotcatchaword。Joglancedoverhershoulder，andthelittledemonshewasharboringsaidinherear……

“Nomatterwhethersheheardornot，lethertakecareofherself。“

Lauriehadvanishedroundthebend，Jowasjustattheturn，andAmy，farbehind，strikingouttowardthethesmoothericeinthemiddleoftheriver。ForaminuteJostoodstillwithastrangefeelinginherheart，thensheresolvedtogoon，butsomethingheldandturnedherround，justintimetoseeAmythrowupherhandsandgodown，withasuddencrashofrottenice，thesplashofwater，andacrythatmadeJo’sheartstandstillwithfear。ShetriedtocallLaurie，buthervoicewasgone。

Shetriedtorushforward，butherfeetseemedtohavenostrengthinthem，andforasecond，shecouldonlystandmotionless，staringwithaterror-strickenfaceatthelittlebluehoodabovetheblackwater。

Somethingrushedswiftlybyher，andLaurie’svoicecriedout……

“Bringarail。Quick，quick!“

Howshedidit，sheneverknew，butforthenextfewminutessheworkedasifpossessed，blindlyobeyingLaurie，whowasquiteself-possessed，andlyingflat，heldAmyupbyhisarmandhockeysticktillJodraggedarailfromthefence，andtogethertheygotthechildout，morefrightenedthanhurt。

“Nowthen，wemustwalkherhomeasfastaswecan。Pileourthingsonher，whileIgetofftheseconfoundedskates，“criedLaurie，wrappinghiscoatroundAmy，andtuggingawayatthestrapswhichneverseemedsointricatebefore。

Shivering，dripping，andcrying，theygotAmyhome，andafteranexcitingtimeofit，shefellasleep，rolledinblanketsbeforeahotfire。DuringthebustleJohadscarcelyspokenbutflownabout，lookingpaleandwild，withherthingshalfoff，herdresstorn，andherhandscutandbruisedbyiceandrailsandrefractorybuckles。

WhenAmywascomfortablyasleep，thehousequiet，andMrs。Marchsittingbythebed，shecalledJotoherandbegantobindupthehurthands。

“Areyousuresheissafe？“whisperedJo，lookingremorsefullyatthegoldenhead，whichmighthavebeensweptawayfromhersightforeverunderthetreacherousice。

“Quitesafe，dear。sheisnothurt，andwon’teventakecold，Ithink，youweresosensibleincoveringandgettingherhomequickly，“repliedhermothercheerfully。

“Lauriediditall。Ionlylethergo。Mother，ifsheshoulddie，itwouldbemyfault。“AndJodroppeddownbesidethebedinapassionofpenitenttears，tellingallthathadhappened，bitterlycondemningherhardnessofheart，andsobbingouthergratitudeforbeingsparedtheheavypunishmentwhichmighthavecomeuponher。

“It’smydreadfultemper!Itrytocureit，IthinkIhave，andthenitbreaksoutworsethanever。OH，Mother，whatshallI

do？WhatshallIdo？“criedpoorJo，indespair。

“Watchandpray，dear，nevergettiredoftrying，andneverthinkitisimpossibletoconqueryourfault，“saidMrs。March，drawingtheblowzyheadtohershoulderandkissingthewetcheeksotenderlythatJocriedevenharder。

“Youdon’tknow，youcan’tguesshowbaditis!ItseemsasifIcoulddoanythingwhenI’minapassion。Igetsosavage，I

couldhurtanyoneandenjoyit。I’mafraidIshalldosomethingdreadfulsomeday，andspoilmylife，andmakeeverybodyhateme。

Oh，Mother，helpme，dohelpme!“

“Iwill，mychild，Iwill。Don’tcrysobitterly，butrememberthisday，andresolvewithallyoursoulthatyouwillneverknowanotherlikeit。Jo，dear，weallhaveourtemptations，somefargreaterthanyours，anditoftentakesusallourlivestoconquerthem。Youthinkyourtemperistheworstintheworld，butmineusedtobejustlikeit。“

“Yours，Mother？Why，youareneverangry!“AndforthemomentJoforgotremorseinsurprise。

“I’vebeentryingtocureitforfortyyears，andhaveonlysucceededincontrollingit。Iamangrynearlyeverydayofmylife，Jo，butIhavelearnednottoshowit，andIstillhopetolearnnottofeelit，thoughitmaytakemeanotherfortyyearstodoso。“

ThepatienceandthehumilityofthefaceshelovedsowellwasabetterlessontoJothanthewisestlecture，thesharpestreproof。Shefeltcomfortedatoncebythesympathyandconfidencegivenher。Theknowledgethathermotherhadafaultlikehers，andtriedtomendit，madeherowneasiertobearandstrengthenedherresolutiontocureit，thoughfortyyearsseemedratheralongtimetowatchandpraytoagirloffifteen。

“Mother，areyouangrywhenyoufoldyourlipstighttogetherandgooutoftheroomsometimes，whenAuntMarchscoldsorpeopleworryyou？“askedJo，feelingneareranddearertohermotherthaneverbefore。

“Yes，I’velearnedtocheckthehastywordsthatrisetomylips，andwhenIfeelthattheymeantobreakoutagainstmywill，Ijustgoawayforaminute，andgivemyselfalittleshakeforbeingsoweakandwicked，“answeredMrs。Marchwithasighandasmile，asshesmoothedandfastenedupJo’sdisheveledhair。

“Howdidyoulearntokeepstill？Thatiswhattroublesme，forthesharpwordsflyoutbeforeIknowwhatI’mabout，andthemoreIsaytheworseIget，tillit’sapleasuretohurtpeople’sfeelingsandsaydreadfulthings。Tellmehowyoudoit，Marmeedear。“

“Mygoodmotherusedtohelpme……“

“Asyoudous……“interruptedJo，withagratefulkiss。

“ButIlostherwhenIwasalittleolderthanyouare，andforyearshadtostruggleonalone，forIwastooproudtoconfessmyweaknesstoanyoneelse。Ihadahardtime，Jo，andshedagoodmanybittertearsovermyfailures，forinspiteofmyeffortsI

neverseemedtogeton。Thenyourfathercame，andIwassohappythatifounditeasytobegood。Butby-and-by，whenIhadfourlittledaughtersroundmeandwewerepoor，thentheoldtroublebeganagain，forIamnotpatientbynature，andittriedmeverymuchtoseemychildrenwantinganything。“

“PoorMother!Whathelpedyouthen？“

“Yourfather，Jo。Heneverlosespatience，neverdoubtsorcomplains，butalwayshopes，andworksandwaitssocheerfullythatoneisashamedtodootherwisebeforehim。Hehelpedandcomfortedme，andshowedmethatImusttrytopracticeallthevirtuesIwouldhavemylittlegirlspossess，forIwastheirexample。Itwaseasiertotryforyoursakesthanformyown。

AstartledorsurprisedlookfromoneofyouwhenIspokesharplyrebukedmemorethananywordscouldhavedone，andthelove，respect，andconfidenceofmychildrenwasthesweetestrewardI

couldreceiveformyeffortstobethewomanIwouldhavethemcopy。“

“Oh，Mother，ifI’meverhalfasgoodasyou，Ishallbesatisfied，“criedJo，muchtouched。

“Ihopeyouwillbeagreatdealbetter，dear，butyoumustkeepwatchoveryour`bosomenemy’，asfathercallsit，oritmaysadden，ifnotspoilyourlife。Youhavehadawarning。

Rememberit，andtrywithheartandsoultomasterthisquicktemper，beforeitbringsyougreatersorrowandregretthanyouhaveknowntoday。“

“Iwilltry，Mother，Itrulywill。Butyoumusthelpme，remindme，andkeepmefromflyingout。IusedtoseeFathersometimesputhisfingeronhislips，andlookatyouwithaverykindbutsoberface，andyoualwaysfoldedyourlipstightandwentaway。Washeremindingyouthen？“askedJosoftly。

“Yes。Iaskedhimtohelpmeso，andheneverforgotit，butsavedmefrommanyasharpwordbythatlittlegestureandkindlook。“

Josawthathermother’seyesfilledandherlipstrembledasshespoke，andfearingthatshehadsaidtoomuch，shewhisperedanxiously，“Wasitwrongtowatchyouandtospeakofit？Ididn’tmeantoberude，butit’ssocomfortabletosayallIthinktoyou，andfeelsosafeandhappyhere。“

“MuJo，youmaysayanythingtoyourmother，foritismygreatesthappinessandpridetofeelthatmygirlsconfideinmeandknowhowmuchIlovethem。“

“IthoughtI’dgrievedyou。“

“No，dear，butspeakingofFatherremindedmehowmuchI

misshim，howmuchIowehim，andhowfaithfullyIshouldwatchandworktokeephislittledaughterssafeandgoodforhim。“

“Yetyoutoldhimtogo，Mother，anddidn’tcrywhenhewent，andnevercomplainnow，orseemasifyouneededanyhelp，“

saidJo，wondering。

“IgavemybesttothecountryIlove，andkeptmytearstillhewasgone。WhyshouldIcomplain，whenwebothhavemerelydoneourdutyandwillsurelybethehappierforitintheend？IfIdon’tseemtoneedhelp，itisbecauseIhaveabetterfriend，eventhanFather，tocomfortandsustainme。Mychild，thetroublesandtemptationsofyourlifearebeginningandmaybemany，butyoucanovercomeandoutlivethemallifyoulearntofeelthestrengthandtendernessofyourHeavenlyFatherasyoudothatofyourearthlyone。ThemoreyouloveandtrustHim，andthelessyouwilldependonhumanpowerandwisdom。Hisloveandcarenevertireorchange，canneverbetakenfromyou，butmybecomethesourceoflifelongpeace，happiness，andstrength。Believethisheartily，andgotoGodwithallyourlittlecares，andhopes，andsins，andsorrows，asfreelyandconfidinglyasyoucometoyourmother。“

Jo’sonlyanswerwastoholdhermotherclose，andinthesilencewhichfollowedthesincerestprayershehadeverprayedleftherheartwithoutwords。Forinthatsadyethappyhour，shehadlearnednotonlythebitternessofremorseanddespair，butthesweetnessofself-denialandself-control，andledbyhermother’shand，shehaddrawnnearertotheFriendwhoalwayswelcomeseverychildwithalovestrongerthanthatofanyfather，tendererthanthatofanymother。

Amystirredandsighedinhersleep，andasifeagertobeginatoncetomendherfault，lJolookedupwithanexpressiononherfacewhichithadneverwornbefore。

“Iletthesungodownonmyanger。Iwouldn’tforgiveher，andtoday，ifithadn’tbeenforLaurie，itmighthavebeentoolate!HowcouldIbesowicked？“saidJo，halfaloud，assheleanedoverhersistersoftlystrokingthewethairscatteredonthepillow。

Asifsheheard，Amyopenedhereyes，andheldoutherarms，withasmilethatwentstraighttoJo’sheart。Neithersaidaword，buttheyhuggedoneanotherclose，inspiteoftheblankets，andeverythingwasforgivenandforgotteninoneheartykiss。