THEPUBLICBEREAVEMENT
　　Itisourpainfuldutytorecordthesuddenandmysteriousdisappearanceofourcherishedfriend，Mrs。
　　SnowballPatPaw。Thislovelyandbelovedcatwasthepetofalargecircleofwarmandadmiringfriends；forherbeautyattractedalleyes，hergracesandvirtuesendearedhertoallhearts，andherlossisdeeplyfeltbythewholecommunity。
　　Whenlastseen，shewassittingatthegate，watchingthebutcher’scart，anditisfearedthatsomevillain，temptedbyhercharms，baselystoleher。Weekshavepassed，butnotraceofherhasbeendiscovered，andwerelinquishallhope，tieablackribbontoherbasket，setasideherdish，andweepforherasonelosttousforever。
　　Asympathizingfriendsendsthefollowinggem：
　　ALAMENT
　　Wemournthelossofourlittlepet，Andsigho’erherhaplessfate，Fornevermorebythefireshe’llsit，Norplaybytheoldgreengate。
　　ThelittlegravewhereherinfantsleepsIs’neaththechestnuttree。
　　Buto’erhergravewemaynotweep，Weknownotwhereitmaybe。
　　Heremptybed，heridleball，Willneverseehermore；
　　4
　　Nogentletap，nolovingpurrIsheardattheparlordoor。
　　Anothercatcomesafterhermice，Acatwithadirtyface，Butshedoesnothuntasourdarlingdid，Norplaywithherairygrace。
　　HerstealthypawstreadtheveryhallWhereSnowballusedtoplay，ButsheonlyspitsatthedogsourpetSogallantlydroveaway。
　　Sheisusefulandmild，anddoesherbest，Butsheisnotfairtosee，Andwecannotgiveheryourplacedear，Norworshipherasweworshipthee。
　　ADVERTISEMENTS
　　MissOranthyBluggage，theaccomplishedstrong-mindedlecturer，willdeliverherfamouslectureon“WOMANANDHERPOSITION“
　　atPickwickHall，nextSaturdayEvening，aftertheusualperformances。
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　　AweeklymeetingwillbeheldatKitchenplace，toteachyoungladieshowtocook。
　　HannahBrownwillpreside，andallareinvitedtoattend。
　　TheDUSTPANSOCIETYwillmeetonWednesdaynext，andparadeintheupperstoryoftheClubHouse。Allmemberstoappearinuniformandshouldertheirbroomsatnineprecisely。
　　Mrs。BethBouncerwillopenhernewassortmentofDoll’sMillinerynextweek。
　　ThelatestParisfashionshavearrived，andordersarerespectfullysolicited。
　　AnewplaywillappearattheBarnvilleTheatre，inthecourseofafewweeks，whichwillsurpassanythingeverseenontheAmericanstage。
　　TheGreekSlave，orConstantinetheAvenger，isthenameofthisthrillingdrama。!!!
　　HINTS
　　IfS。P。didn’tusesomuchsoaponhishands，hewouldn’talwaysbelateatbreakfast。A。S。
　　isrequestednottowhistleinthestreet。T。T
　　pleasedon’tforgetAmy’snapkin。N。W。mustnotfretbecausehisdresshasnotninetucks。
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　　WEEKLYREPORT
　　Meg——Good。
　　Jo——Bad。
　　Beth——VeryGood。
　　Amy——Middling。
　　AsthePresidentfinishedreadingthepaperwhichIbegleavetoassuremyreadersisabonafidecopyofonewrittenbybonafidegirlsonceuponatime，aroundofapplausefollowed，andthenMr。Snodgrassrosetomakeaproposition。
　　“Mr。Presidentandgentlemen，“hebegan，assumingaparliamentaryattitudeandtone，“Iwishtoproposetheadmissionofanewmember——onewhohighlydeservesthehonor，wouldbedeeplygratefulforit，andwouldaddimmenselytothespiritoftheclub，theliteraryvalueofthepaper，andbenoendjollyandnice。IproposeMr。TheodoreLaurenceasanhonorarymemberoftheP。C。Comenow，dohavehim。“
　　Jo’ssuddenchangeoftonemadethegirlslaugh，butalllookedratheranxious，andnoonesaidawordasSnodgrasstookhisseat。
　　“We’llputittoavote，“saidthePresident。“Allinfavorofthismotionpleasetomanifestitbysaying，`Aye’。“
　　“Contrary-mindedsay，`No’。“
　　MegandAmywerecontrary-minded，andMr。Winklerosetosaywithgreatelegance，“Wedon’twishanyboys，theyonlyjokeandbounceabout。Thisisaladies’club，andwewishtobeprivateandproper。“
　　“I’mafraidhe’lllaughatourpaper，andmakefunofusafterward，“observedPickwick，pullingthelittlecurlonherforehead，asshealwaysdidwhendoubtful。
　　UproseSnodgrass，verymuchinearnest。“Sir，Igiveyoumywordasagentleman，Lauriewon’tdoanythingofthesort。
　　Helikestowrite，andhe’llgiveatonetoourcontributionsandkeepusfrombeingsentimental，don’tyousee？Wecandosolittleforhim，andhedoessomuchforus，Ithinktheleastwecandoistoofferhimaplacehere，andmakehimwelcomeifhecomes。“
　　ThisartfulallusiontobenefitsconferredbroughtTupmantohisfeet，lookingasifhehadquitemadeuphismind。
　　“Yes，weoughttodoit，evenifweareafraid。Isayhemaycome，andhisgrandpa，too，ifhelikes。“
　　ThisspiritedburstfromBethelectrifiedtheclub，andJoleftherseattoshakehandsapprovingly。“Nowthen，voteagain。
　　Everybodyrememberit’sourLaurie，andsay，`Aye!’“
　　criedSnodgrassexcitedly。
　　“Aye!Aye!Aye!“repliedthreevoicesatonce。
　　“Good!Blessyou!Now，asthere’snothinglike`takingtimebythefetlock’，asWinklecharacteristicallyobserves，allowmetopresentthenewmember。“And，tothedismayoftherestoftheclub，Jothrewopenthedoorofthecloset，anddisplayedLauriesittingonaragbag，flushedandtwinklingwithsuppressedlaughter。
　　“Yourogue!Youtraitor!Jo，howcouldyou？“criedthethreegirls，asSnodgrassledherfriendtriumphantlyforth，andproducingbothachairandabadge，installedhiminajiffy。
　　“Thecoolnessofyoutworascalsisamazing，“beganMr。Pickwick，tryingtogetupanawfulfrownandonlysucceedinginproducinganamiablesmile。Butthenewmemberwasequaltotheoccasion，andrising，withagratefulsalutationtotheChair，saidinthemostengagingmanner，“Mr。Presidentandladies——Ibegpardon，gentlemen——allowmetointroducemyselfasSamWeller，theveryhumbleservantoftheclub。“
　　“Good!Good!“criedJo，poundingwiththehandleoftheoldwarmingpanonwhichsheleaned。
　　“Myfaithfulfriendandnoblepatron，“continuedLauriewithawaveofthehand，“whohassoflatteringlypresentedme，isnottobeblamedforthebasestratagemoftonight。Iplannedit，andsheonlygaveinafterlotsofteasing。“
　　“Comenow，don’tlayitallonyourself。YouknowIproposedthecupboard，“brokeinSnodgrass，whowasenjoyingthejokeamazingly。
　　“Nevermindwhatshesays。I’mthewretchthatdidit，sir，“
　　saidthenewmember，withaWelleresquenodtoMr。Pickwick。“Butonmyhonor，Ineverwilldosoagain，andhenceforthdevotemyselftotheinterestofthisimmortalclub。“
　　“Hear!Hear!“criedJo，clashingthelidofthewarmingpanlikeacymbal。
　　“Goon，goon!“addedWinkleandTupman，whilethePresidentbowedbenignly。
　　“Imerelywishtosay，thatasaslighttokenofmygratitudeforthehonordoneme，andasameansofpromotingfriendlyrelationsbetweenadjoiningnations，Ihavesetupapostofficeinthehedgeinthelowercornerofthegarden，afine，spaciousbuildingwithpadlocksonthedoorsandeveryconvenienceforthemails，alsothefemales，ifImaybeallowedtheexpression。It’stheoldmartinhouse，butI’vestoppedupthedoorandmadetheroofopen，soitwillholdallsortsofthings，andsaveourvaluabletime。Letters，manuscripts，books，andbundlescanbepassedinthere，andaseachnationhasakey，itwillbeuncommonlynice，Ifancy。Allowmetopresenttheclubkey，andwithmanythanksforyourfavor，takemyseat。“
　　GreatapplauseasMr。Wellerdepositedalittlekeyonthetableandsubsided，thewarmingpanclashedandwavedwildly，anditwassometimebeforeordercouldberestored。Alongdiscussionfollowed，andeveryonecameoutsurprising，foreveryonedidherbest。Soitwasanunusuallylivelymeeting，anddidnotadjourntillalatehour，whenitbrokeupwiththreeshrillcheersforthenewmember。NooneeverregrettedtheadmittanceofSamWeller，foramoredevoted，well-behaved，andjovialmembernoclubcouldhave。
　　Hecertainlydidadd`spirit’tothemeetings，and`atone’tothepaper，forhisorationsconvulsedhishearersandhiscontributionswereexcellent，beingpatriotic，classical，comical，ordramatic，butneversentimental。JoregardedthemasworthyofBacon，Milton，orShakespeare，andremodeledherownworkswithgoodeffect，shethought。
　　TheP。O。wasacapitallittleinstitution，andflourishedwonderfully，fornearlyasmanyqueerthingspassedthroughitasthroughtherealpostoffice。Tragediesandcravats，poetryandpickles，gardenseedsandlongletters，musicandgingerbread，rubbers，invitations，scoldings，andpuppies。Theoldgentlemanlikedthefun，andamusedhimselfbysendingoddbundles，mysteriousmessages，andfunnytelegrams，andhisgardener，whowassmittenwithHannah’scharms，actuallysentalovelettertoJo’scare。Howtheylaughedwhenthesecretcameout，neverdreaminghowmanylovelettersthatlittlepostofficewouldholdintheyearstocome。
　　Chapter11CHAPTERELEVEN
　　“ThefirstofJune!TheKingsareofftotheseashoretomorrow，andI’mfree。Threemonths’vacation——howIshallenjoyit!“
　　exclaimedMeg，cominghomeonewarmdaytofindJolaiduponthesofainanunusualstateofexhaustion，whileBethtookoffherdustyboots，andAmymadelemonadefortherefreshmentofthewholeparty。
　　“AuntMarchwenttoday，forwhich，oh，bejoyful!“saidJo。
　　“Iwasmortallyafraidshe’daskmetogowithher。Ifshehad，IshouldhavefeltasifIoughttodoit，butPlumfieldisaboutasgayasachurchyard，youknow，andI’dratherbeexcused。
　　Wehadaflurrygettingtheoldladyoff，andIhadafrighteverytimeshespoketome，forIwasinsuchahurrytobethroughthatIwasuncommonlyhelpfulandsweet，andfearedshe’dfinditimpossibletopartfromme。Iquakedtillshewasfairlyinthecarriage，andhadafinalfright，forasitdroveof，shepoppedoutherhead，saying，`Josyphine，won’tyou——？’Ididn’thearanymore，forIbaselyturnedandfled。Ididactuallyrun，andwhiskedroundthecornerwheeIfeltsafe。“
　　“PooroldJo!Shecameinlookingasifbearswereafterher，“
　　saidBeth，asshecuddledhersister’sfeetwithamotherlyair。
　　“AuntMarchisaregularsamphire，isshenot？“observedAmy，tastinghermixturecritically。
　　“Shemeansvampire，notseaweed，butitdoesn’tmatter。It’stoowarmtobeparticularaboutone’spartsofspeech，“murmuredJo。
　　“Whatshallyoudoallyourvacation？“askedAmy，changingthesubjectwithtact。
　　“Ishalllieabedlate，anddonothing，“repliedMeg，fromthedepthsoftherockingchair。“I’vebeenroutedupearlyallwinterandhadtospendmydaysworkingforotherpeople，sonowI’mgoingtorestandreveltomyheart’scontent。“
　　“No，“saidJo，“thatdozywaywouldn’tsuitme。I’velaidinaheapofbooks，andI’mgoingtoimprovemyshininghoursreadingonmyperchintheoldappletree，whenI’mnothavingl……“
　　“Don’tsay`larks!’“imploredAmy，asareturnsnubforthesamphire’correction。
　　“I’llsay`nightingales’then，withLaurie。That’sproperandappropriate，sincehe’sawarbler。“
　　“Don’tletusdoanylessons，Beth，forawhile，butplayallthetimeandrest，asthegirlsmeanto，“proposedAmy。
　　“Well，Iwill，ifMotherdoesn’tmind。Iwanttolearnsomenewsongs，andmychildrenneedfittingupforthesummer。Theyaredreadfullyoutoforderandreallysufferingforclothes。“
　　“Maywe，Mother？“askedMeg，turningtoMrs。March，whosatsewinginwhattheycalled`Marmee’scorner’。
　　“Youmaytryyourexperimentforaweekandseehowyoulikeit。IthinkbySaturdaynightyouwillfindthatallplayandnoworkisasbadasallworkandnoplay。“
　　“Oh，dear，no!Itwillbedelicious，I’msure，“saidMegcomplacently。
　　“Inowproposeatoast，asmy`friendandpardner，SairyGamp’，says。Funforever，andnogrubbing!“
　　criedJo，rising，glassinhand，asthelemonadewentround。
　　Theyalldrankitmerrily，andbegantheexperimentbyloungingfortherestoftheday。Nextmorning，Megdidnotappeartillteno’clock。Hersolitarybreakfastdidnottastenice，andtheroomseemedlonelyanduntidy，forJohadnotfilledthevases，Bethhadnotdusted，andAmy’sbookslayscatteredabout。Nothingwasneatandpleasantbut`Marmee’scorner’，whichlookedasusual。AndthereMegsat，to`restandread’，whichmeanttoyawnandimaginewhatprettysummerdressesshewouldgetwithhersalary。JospentthemorningontheriverwithLaurieandtheafternoonreadingandcryingoverTheWide，WideWorld，upintheappletree。Bethbeganbyrummagingeverythingoutofthebigclosetwhereherfamilyresided，butgettingtiredbeforehalfdone，sheleftherestablishmenttopsy-turvyandwenttohermusic，rejoicingthatshehadnodishestowash。
　　Amyarrangedherbower，putonherbestwhitefrock，smoothedhercurls，andsatdowntodrawunderthehoneysuckle，hopingsomeonewouldseeandinquirewhotheyoungartistwas。Asnooneappearedbutaninquisitivedaddy-longlegs，whoexaminedherworkwithinterest，shewenttowalk，gotcaughtinashower，andcamehomedripping。