第66章

Sacredmoments，whenhearttalkedtoheartinthesilenceofthenight，turningafflictiontoablessing，whichchastenedgriefandstrengthnedlove。Feelingthis，Jo’sburdenseemedeasiertobear，dutygrewsweeter，andlifelookedmoreendurable，seenfromthesafeshelterofhermother’sarms。

Whenachingheartwasalittlecomforted，troubledmindlikewisefoundhelp，foronedayshewenttothestudy，andleaningoverthegoodgrayheadliftedtowelcomeherwithatranquilsmile，shesaidveryhumbly，“Father，talktomeasyoudidtoBeth。

I

needitmorethanshedid，forI’mallwrong。“

“Mydear，nothingcancomfortmelikethis，“heanswered，withafalterinhisvoice，andbotharmsroundher，asifhetoo，neededhelp，anddidnotfeartoaskforit。

Then，sittinginBeth’slittlechairclosebesidehim，Jotoldhertroubles，theresentfulsorrowforherloss，thefruitlesseffortsthatdiscouragedher，thewantoffaiththatmadelifelooksodark，andallthesadbewildermentwhichwecalldespair。Shegavehimentireconfidence，hegaveherthehelpsheneeded，andbothfoundconsolationintheact。Forthetimehadcomewhentheycouldtalktogethernotonlyasfatheranddaughter，butasmanandwoman，ableandgladtoserveeachotherwithmutualsympathyaswellasmutuallove。Happy，thoughtfultimesthereintheoldstudywhichJocalled`thechurchofonemember’，andfromwhichshecamewithfreshcourage，recoveredcheerfulness，andamoresubmissivespirit。

Fortheparentswhohadtaughtonechildtomeetdeathwithoutfear，weretryingnowtoteachanothertoacceptlifewithoutdespondencyordistrust，andtouseitsbeautifulopportunitieswithgratitudeandpower。

OtherhelpshadJo——humble，wholesomedutiesanddelightsthatwouldnotbedeniedtheirpartinservingher，andwhichsheslowlylearnedtoseeandvalue。Broomsanddishclothsnevercouldbeasdistastefulastheyoncehadbeen，forBethhadpresidedoverboth，andsomethingofherhousewifelyspiritseemedtolingeraroundthelittlemopandtheoldbrush，neverthrownaway。Assheusedthem，JofoundherselfhummingthesongsBethusedtohum，imitatingBeth’sorderlyways，andgivingthelittletoucheshereandtherethatkepteverythingfreshandcozy，whichwasthefirststeptowardmakinghomehappy，thoughshedidn’tknowittillHannahsaidwithanapprovingsqueezeofthehand……

“Youthoughtfulcreeter，you’redeterminedweshan’tmissthatdearlambefyoucanhelpit。Wedon’tsaymuch，butweseeit，andtheLordwillblessyoufor’t，seeefHedon’t。“

Astheysatsewingtogether，JodiscoveredhowmuchimprovedhersisterMegwas，howwellshecouldtalk，howmuchsheknewaboutgood，womanlyimpulses，thoughts，andfeelings，howhappyshewasinhusbandandchildren，andhowmuchtheywerealldoingforeachother。

“Marriageisanexcellentthing，afterall。IwonderifI

shouldblossomouthalfaswellasyouhave，ifItriedit？“saidJo，assheconstructedakiteforDemiinthetopsy-turvynursery。

“It’sjustwhatyouneedtobringoutthetenderwomanlyhalfofyournature，Jo。Youarelikeachestnutburr，pricklyoutside，butsilky-softwithin，andasweetkernal，ifonecanonlygetatit。Lovewillmakeyoushowyourheartoneday，andthentheroughburrwillfalloff。“

“Frostopenschestnutburrs，ma`am，andittakesagoodshaketobringthemdown。Boysgonutting，andIdon’tcaretobebaggedbythem，“returnedJo，pastingawayatthekitewhichnowindthatblowswouldevercarryup，forDaisyhadtiedherselfonasabob。

Meglaughed，forshewasgladtoseeaglimmerofJo’soldspirit，butshefeltitherdutytoenforceheropinionbyeveryargumentinherpower，andthesisterlychatswerenotwasted，especiallyastwoofMeg’smosteffectiveargumentswerethebabies，whomJolovedtenderly。Griefisthebestopenerofsomehearts，andJo’swasnearlyreadyforthebag。Alittlemoresunshinetoripenthenut，then，notaboy’simpatientshake，butaman’shandreacheduptopickitgentlyfromtheburr，andfindthekernalsoundandsweet。Ifshesuspectedthis，shewouldhaveshutuptight，andbeenmorepricklythanever，fortunatelyshewasn’tthinkingaboutherself，sowhenthetimecame，downshedropped。

Now，ifshehadbeentheheroineofamoralstorybook，sheoughtatthisperiodofherlifetohavebecomequitesaintly，renouncedtheworld，andgoneaboutdoinggoodinamortifiedbonnet，withtractsinherpocket。But，yousee，Jowasn’taheroine，shewasonlyastrugglinghumangirllikehundredsofothers，andshejustactedouthernature，beingsad，cross，listless，orenergetic