第72章

“Well，then，whydidn’tthoutellmeallthissooner？“askedJobashfully。

“NowIshallhaftoshowtheeallmyheart，andIsogladlywill，becausethoumusttakecareofithereafter。See，then，myJo——ah，thedear，funnylittlename——IhadawishtotellsomethingthedayIsaidgoodbyeinNewYork，butIthoughtthehandsomefriendwasbetrothedtothee，andsoIspokenot。Wouldstthouhavesaid`Yes’，then，ifIhadspoken？“

“Idon’tknow。I’mafraidnot，forIdidn’thaveanyheartjustthen。“

“Prut!ThatIdonotbelieve。Itwasasleeptillthefairyprincecamethroughthewood，andwakeditup。Ah，well，`DieersteLiebeistdiebeste’，butthatIshouldnotexpect。“

“Yes，thefirstloveisthebest，butbesocontented，forI

neverhadanother。Teddywasonlyaboy，andsoongotoverhislittlefancy，“saidJo，anxioustocorrecttheProfessor’smistake。

“Good!ThenIshallresthappy，andbesurethatthougivestmeall。Ihafwaitedsolong，Iamgrownselfish，asthouwiltfind，Professorin。“

“Ilikethat，“criedJo，delightedwithhernewname。“Nowtellmewhatbroughtyou，atlast，justwhenIwantedyou？“

“This。“AndMr。Bhaertookalittlewornpaperoutofhiswaistcoatpocket。

Jounfoldedit，andlookedmuchabashed，foritwasoneofherowncontributionstoapaperthatpaidforpoetry，whichaccountedforhersendingitanoccasionalattempt。

“Howcouldthatbringyou？“sheasked，wonderingwhathemeant。

“Ifounditbychance。Iknewitbythenamesandtheinitials，andinittherewasonelittleversethatseemedtocallme。Readandfindhim。Iwillseethatyougonotinthewet。“

INTHEGARRET

Fourlittlechestsallinarow，Dimwithdust，andwornbytime，Allfashionedandfilled，longago，Bychildrennowintheirprime。

Fourlittlekeyshungsidebyside，Withfadedribbons，braveandgayWhenfastenedthere，withchildishpride，Longago，onarainyday。

Fourlittlenames，oneoneachlid，Carvedoutbyaboyishhand，AndunderneaththereliethhidHistoriesofthehapppybandOnceplayinghere，andpausingoftTohearthesweetrefrain，Thatcameandwentontheroofaloft，Inthefallingsummerrain。

“Meg“onthefirstlid，smoothandfair。

Ilookinwithlovingeyes，Forfoldedhere，withwell-knowncare，Agoodlygatheringlies，Therecordofapeacefullife——

Giftstogentlechildandgirl，Abridalgown，linestoawife，Atinyshoe，ababycurl。

Notoysinthisfirstchestremain，Forallarecarriedaway，Intheiroldage，tojoinagainInanothersmallMeg’splay。

Ah，happymother!WellIknowYouhear，likeasweetrefrain，LullabieseversoftandlowInthefallingsummerrain。

“Jo“onthenextlid，scratchedandworn，AndwithinamotleystoreOfheadless，dolls，ofschoolbookstorn，Birdsandbeaststhatspeaknomore，SpoilsbroughthomefromthefairygroundOnlytrodbyyouthfulfeet，Dreamsofafutureneverfound，Memoriesofapaststillsweet，Half-writpoems，storieswild，Aprilletters，warmandcold，Diariesofawilfulchild，Hintsofawomanearlyold，Awomaninalonelyhome，Hearing，likeasadrefrain——

“Beworthy，love，andlovewillcome，“

Inthefallingsummerrain。

MyBeth!thedustisalwayssweptFromthelidthatbearsyourname，Asifbylovingeyesthatwept，Bycarefulhandsthatoftencame。

Deathcannonizedforusonesaint，Everlesshumanthandivine，Andstillwelay，withtenderplaint，Relicsinthishouseholdshrine——

Thesilverbell，soseldomrung，Thelittlecapwhichlastshewore，Thefair，deadCatherinethathungByangelsborneaboveherdoor。

Thesongsshesang，withoutlament，Inherprison-houseofpain，ForeveraretheysweetlyblentWiththefallingsummerrain。

Uponthelastlid’spolishedfield——

LegendnowbothfairandtrueAgallantknightbearsonhisshield，“Amy“inlettersgoldandblue。

Withinliesnoodsthatboundherhair，Slippersthathavedancedtheirlast，Fadedflowerslaidbywithcare，Fanswhoseairytoilsarepast，Gayvalentines，allardentflames，TriflesthathavebornetheirpartIngirlishhopesandfearsandshames，TherecordofamaidenheartNowlearningfairer，truerspells，Hearing，likeablitherefrain，ThesilversoundofbridalbellsInthefallingsummerrain。

Fourlittlechestsallinarow，Dimwithdust，andwornbytime，Fourwomen，taughtbywealandwoeToloveandlaborintheirprime。

Foursisters，partedforanhour，Nonelost，oneonlygonebefore，Madebylove’simmortalpower，Nearestanddearestevermore。

Oh，whenthesehiddenstoresofoursLieopentotheFather’ssight，Maytheyberichingoldenhours，Deedsthatshowfairerforthelight，Liveswhosebravemusiclongshallring，Likeaspirit-stirringstrain，SoulsthatshallgladlysoarandsingInthelongsunshineafterrain。

“It’sverybadpoetry，butIfeltitwhenIwroteit，oneday