“Whatadreadfuldaythishasbeen!“beganJo，usuallythefirsttospeak。
　　“Ithasseemedshorterthanusual，butsouncomfortable，“saidMeg。
　　“Notabitlikehome，“addedAmy。
　　“Itcan’tseemsowithoutMarmeeandlittlePip，“sighedBeth，glancingwithfulleyesattheemptycageaboveherhead。
　　“Here’sMother，dear，andyoushallhaveanotherbirdtomorrow，ifyouwantit。“
　　Asshespoke，Mrs。Marchcameandtookherplaceamongthem，lookingasifherholidayhadnotbeenmuchpleasanterthantheirs。
　　“Areyousatisfiedwithyourexperiment，girls，ordoyouwantanotherweekofit？“sheasked，asBethnestleduptoherandtherestturnedtowardherwithbrighteningfaces，asflowersturntowardthesun。
　　“Idon’t!“criedJodecidedly。
　　“NorI，“echoedtheothers。
　　“Youthinkthen，thatitisbettertohaveafewdutiesandlivealittleforothers，doyou？“
　　“Loungingandlarkingdoesn’tpay，“observedJo，shakingherhead。
　　“I’mtiredofitandmeantogotoworkatsomethingrightoff。“
　　“Supposeyoulearnplaincooking。That’sausefulaccomplishment，whichnowomanshouldbewithout，“saidMrs。March，laughinginaudiblyattherecollectionofJo’sdinnerparty，forshehadmetMissCrockerandheardheraccountofit。
　　“Mother，didyougoawayandleteverythingbe，justtoseehowwe’dgeton？“criedMeg，whohadhadsuspicionsallday。
　　“Yes，Iwantedyoutoseehowthecomfortofalldependsoneachdoinghersharefaithfully。WhileHannahandIdidyourwork，yougotonprettywell，thoughIdon’tthinkyouwereveryhappyoramiable。SoIthought，asalittlelesson，Iwouldshowyouwhathappenswheneveryonethinksonlyofherself。Don’tyoufeelthatitispleasantertohelponeanother，tohavedailydutieswhichmakeleisuresweetwhenitcomes，andtobearandforbear，thathomemaybecomfortableandlovelytousall？“
　　“Wedo，Motherwedo!“criedthegirls。
　　“Thenletmeadviseyoutotakeupyourlittleburdensagain，forthoughtheyseemheavysometimes，theyaregoodforus，andlightenaswelearntocarrythem。Workiswholesome，andthereisplentyforeveryone。Itkeepsusfromennuiandmischief，isgoodforhealthandspirits，andgivesusasenseofpowerandindependencebetterthanmoneyorfashion。“
　　“We’llworklikebees，andloveittoo，seeifwedon’t，“
　　saidJo。“I’lllearnplaincookingformyholidaytask，andthedinnerpartyIhaveshallbeasuccess。“
　　“I’llmakethesetofshirtsforfather，insteadoflettingyoudoit，Marmee。IcanandIwill，thoughI’mnotfondofsewing。
　　Thatwillbebetterthanfussingovermyownthings，whichareplentyniceenoughastheyare。“saidMeg。
　　“I’lldomylessonseveryday，andnotspendsomuchtimewithmymusicanddolls。Iamastupidthing，andoughttobestudying，notplaying，“wasBeth’sresolution，whileAmyfollowedtheirexamplebyheroicallydeclaring，“Ishalllearntomakebuttonholes，andattendtomypartsofspeech。“
　　“Verygood!ThenIamquitesatisfiedwiththeexperiment，andfancythatweshallnothavetorepeatit，onlydon’tgototheotherextremeanddelvelikeslaves。Haveregularhoursforworkandplay，makeeachdaybothusefulandpleasant，andprovethatyouunderstandtheworthoftimebyemployingitwell。Thenyouthwillbedelightful，oldagewillbringfewregrets，andlifebecomeabeautifulsuccess，inspiteofpoverty。“
　　“We’llremember，Mother!“Andtheydid。
　　Chapter12CHAPTERTWELVE
　　Bethwaspostmistress，for，beingmostathome，shecouldattendtoitregularly，anddearlylikedthedailytaskofunlockingthelittledooranddistributingthemail。OneJulydayshecameinwithherhandsfull，andwentaboutthehouseleavinglettersandparcelslikethepennypost。
　　“Here’syourposy，Mother!Laurieneverforgetsthat，“shesaid，puttingthefreshnosegayinthevasethatstoodin`Marmee’scorner’，andwaskeptsuppliedbytheaffectionateboy。
　　“MissMegMarch，oneletterandaglove，“continuedBeth，deliveringthearticlestohersister，whosatnearhermother，stitchingwristbands。
　　“Why，Ileftapairoverthere，andhereisonlyone，“saidMeg，lookingatthegraycottonglove。“Didn’tyoudroptheotherinthegarden？“
　　“No，I’msureIdidn’t，fortherewasonlyoneintheoffice。“
　　“Ihatetohaveoddgloves!Nevermind，theothermaybefound。MyletterisonlyatranslationoftheGermansongI
　　wanted。IthinkMr。Brookedidit，forthisisn’tLaurie’swriting。“
　　Mrs。MarchglancedatMeg，whowaslookingveryprettyinherginghammorninggown，withthelittlecurlsblowingaboutherforehead，andverywomanly，asshesatsewingatherlittleworktable，fulloftidywhiterolls，sounconsciousofthethoughtinhermother’smindasshesewedandsang，whileherfingersflewandherthoughtswerebusiedwithgirlishfanciesasinnocentandfreshasthepansiesinherbelt，thatMrs。Marchsmiledandwassatisfied。
　　“TwolettersforDoctorJo，abook，andafunnyoldhat，whichcoveredthewholepostofficeandstuckoutside，“saidBeth，laughingasshewentintothestudywhereJosatwriting。
　　“WhataslyfellowLaurieis!IsaidIwishedbiggerhatswerethefashion，becauseIburnmyfaceeveryhotday。Hesaid，`Whymindthefashion？Wearabighat，andbecomfortable!’I
　　saidIwouldifIhadone，andhehassentmethistotryme。
　　I’llwearitforfun，andshowhimIdon’tcareforthefashion。“AndhangingtheantiquebroadbrimonabustofPlato，Joreadherletters。
　　Onefromhermothermadehercheeksglowandhereyesfill，foritsaidtoher……
　　MyDear：
　　IwritealittlewordtotellyouwithhowmuchsatisfactionIwatchyoureffortstocontrolyourtemper。Yousaynothingaboutyourtrials，failures，orsuccesses，andthink，perhaps，thatnooneseesthembuttheFriendwhosehelpyoudailyask，ifImaytrustthewell-worncoverofyourguidebook。I，too，haveseenthemall，andheartilybelieveinthesincerityofyourresolution，sinceitbeginstobearfruit。Goon，dear，patientlyandbravely，andalwaysbelievethatnoonesympathizesmoretenderlywithyouthanyourloving……
　　Mother“Thatdoesmegood!That’sworthmillionsofmoneyandpecksofpraise。Oh，Marmee，Idotry!Iwillkeepontrying，andnotgettired，sinceIhaveyoutohelpme。“
　　Layingherheadonherarms，Jowetherlittleromancewithafewhappytears。forshehadthoughtthatnoonesawandappreciatedhereffortstobegood，andthisassurancewasdoublyprecious，doublyencouraging，becauseunexpectedandfromthepersonwhosecommendationshemostvalued。FeelingstrongerthanevertomeetandsubdueherApollyon，shepinnedthenoteinsideherfrock，asashieldandareminder，lestshebetakenunaware，andproceededtoopenherotherletter，quitereadyforeithergoodorbadnews。Inabig，dashinghand，Lauriewrote……
　　DearJo，Whatho!
　　SomeenglishgirlsandboysarecomingtoseemetomorrowandIwanttohaveajollytime。Ifit’sfine，I’mgoingtopitchmytentinLongmeadow，androwupthewholecrewtolunchandcroquet——haveafire，makemesses，gypsyfashion，andallsortsoflarks。Theyarenicepeople，andlikesuchthings。Brookewillgotokeepusboyssteady，andKateVaughnwillplayproprietyforthegirls。Iwantyoualltocome，can’tletBethoffatanyprice，andnobodyshallworryher。Don’tbotheraboutrations，I’llseetothatandeverythingelse，onlydocome，there’sagoodfellow!
　　Inatearinghurry，Yoursever，Laurie。
　　“Here’srichness!“criedJo，flyingintotellthenewstoMeg。
　　“Ofcoursewecango，Mother？ItwillbesuchahelptoLaurie，forIcanrow，andMegseetothelunch，andthechildrenbeusefulinsomeway。“
　　“IhopetheVaughnsarenotfinegrown-uppeople。Doyouknowanythingaboutthem，Jo？“askedMeg。
　　“Onlythattherearefourofthem。Kateisolderthanyou，FredandFranktwinsaboutmyage，andalittlegirlGrace，whoisnineorten。Laurieknewthemabroad，andlikedtheboys。
　　I
　　fancied，fromthewayheprimmeduphismouthinspeakingofher，thathedidn’tadmireKatemuch。“
　　“I’msogladmyFrenchprintisclean，it’sjustthethingandsobecoming!“observedMegcomplacently。“Haveyouanythingdecent，Jo？“
　　“Scarletandgrayboatingsuit，goodenoughforme。Ishallrowandtrampabout，soIdon’twantanystarchtothinkof。You’llcome，Betty？“
　　“Ifyouwon’tletanyboystalktome。“
　　“Notaboy!“
　　“IliketopleaseLaurie，andI’mnotafraidofMr。Brooke，heissokind。ButIdon’twanttoplay，orsing，orsayanything。
　　I’llworkhardandnottroubleanyone，andyou’lltakecareofme，Jo，soI’llgo。“
　　“That’smygoodgirl。Youdotrytofightoffyourshyness，andIloveyouforit。Fightingfaultsisn’teasy，asIknow，andacheerywordkindofgivesalift。Thankyou，Mother，“AndJogavethethincheekagratefulkiss，moreprecioustoMrs。Marchthanifithadgivenbacktherosyroundnessofheryouth。
　　“Ihadaboxofchocolatedrops，andthepictureIwantedtocopy，“saidAmy，showinghermail。
　　“AndIgotanotefromMr。Laurence，askingmetocomeoverandplaytohimtonight，beforethelampsarelighted，andIshallgo，“addedBeth，whosefriendshipwiththeoldgentlemanprosperedfinely。
　　“Nowlet’sflyround，anddodoubledutytoday，sothatwecanplaytomorrowwithfreeminds，“saidJo，preparingtoreplaceherpenwithabroom。
　　Whenthesunpeepedintothegirls’roomearlynextmorningtopromisethemafineday，hesawacomicalsight。Eachhadmadesuchpreparationforthefeteasseemednecessaryandproper。
　　Meghadanextrarowoflittlecurlpapersacrossherforehead，Johadcopiouslyanointedherafflictedfacewithcoldcream，BethhadtakenJoannatobedwithhertoatonefortheapproachingseparation，andAmyhadcappedtheclimaxbyputtingacolthespinonhernosetouplifttheoffendingfeature。Itwasoneofthekindartistsusetoholdthepaperontheirdrawingboards，thereforequiteappropriateandeffectiveforthepurposeitwasnowbeingput。Thisfunnyspectacleappearedtoamusethesun，forheburstoutwithsuchradiancethatJowokeupandrousedhersistersbyaheartylaughatAmy’sornament。
　　Sunshineandlaughterweregoodomensforapleasureparty，andsoonalivelybustlebeganinbothhouses。Beth，whowasreadyfirst，keptreportingwhatwentonnextdoor，andenlivenedhersisters’toiletsbyfrequenttelegramsfromthewindow。
　　“Theregoesthemanwiththetent!IseeMrs。Barkerdoingupthelunchinahamperandagreatbasket。NowMr。Laurenceislookingupattheskyandtheweathercock。Iwishhewouldgotoo。There’sLaurie，lookinglikeasailor，niceboy!Oh，mercyme!Here’sacarriagefullofpeople，atalllady，alittlegirl，andtwodreadfulboys。Oneislame，poorthing，he’sgotacrutch。
　　Lauriedidn’ttellusthat。Bequick，girls!It’sgettinglate。
　　Why，thereisNedMoffat，Idodeclare。Meg，isn’tthatthemanwhobowedtoyouonedaywhenwewereshopping？“
　　“Soitis。Howqueerthatheshouldcome。Ithoughthewasatthemountains。ThereisSallie。I’mgladshegotbackintime。
　　AmIallright，Jo？“criedMeginaflutter。
　　“Aregulardaisy。Holdupyourdressandputyourhatonstraight，itlookssentimentaltippedthatwayandwillflyoffatthefirstpuff。Nowthen，comeon!“
　　“Oh，Jo，youarenotgoingtowearthatawfulhat？It’stooabsurd!Youshallnotmakeaguyofyourself，“remonstratedMeg，asJotieddownwitharedribbonthebroad-brimmed，old-fashionedleghornLauriehadsentforajoke。
　　“Ijustwill，though，forit’scapital，soshady，light，andbig。
　　Itwillmakefun，andIdon’tmindbeingaguyifI’mcomfortable。“
　　WiththatJomarchedstraightawayandtherestfollowed，abrightlittlebandofsisters，alllookingtheirbestinsummersuits，withhappyfacesunderthejauntyhatbrims。
　　Laurierantomeetandpresentthemtohisfriendsinthemostcordialmanner。Thelawnwasthereceptionroom，andforseveralminutesalivelyscenewasenactedthere。MegwasgratefultoseethatMissKate，thoughtwenty，wasdressedwithasimplicitywhichAmericangirlswoulddowelltoimitate，andwhowasmuchflatteredbyMr。Ned’sassurancesthathecameespeciallytoseeher。JounderstoodwhyLaurie`primmeduphismouth’whenspeakingofKate，forthatyoungladyhadastandoff-don’t-touch-meair，whichcontrastedstronglywiththefreeandeasydemeanoroftheothergirls。Bethtookanobservationofthenewboysanddecidedthatthelameonewasnot`dreadful’，butgentleandfeeble，andshewouldbekindtohimonthataccount。AmyfoundGraceawell-mannered，merry，littleperson，andafterstaringdumblyatoneanotherforafewminutes，theysuddenlybecameverygoodfriends。
　　Tents，lunch，andcroquetutensilshavingbeensentonbeforehand，thepartywassoonembarked，andthetwoboatspushedofftogether，leavingMr。Laurencewavinghishatontheshore。LaurieandJorowedoneboat，Mr。BrookeandNedtheother，whileFredVaughn，theriotoustwin，didhisbesttoupsetbothbypaddlingaboutinawherrylikeadisturbedwaterbug。Jo’sfunnyhatdeservedavoteofthanks，foritwasofgeneralutility。Itbroketheiceinthebeginningbyproducingalaugh，itcreatedquitearefreshingbreeze，flappingtoandfroassherowed，andwouldmakeanexcellentumbrellaforthewholeparty，ifashowercameup，shesaid。MissKatedecidedthatshewas`odd’，butratherclever，andsmileduponherfromafar。
　　Meg，intheotherboat，wasdelightfullysituated，facetofacewiththerowers，whobothadmiredtheprospectandfeatheredtheiroarswithuncommon`skillanddexterity’。Mr。Brookewasagrave，silentyoungman，withhandsomebrowneyesandapleasantvoice。Meglikedhisquietmannersandconsideredhimawalkingencyclopediaofusefulknowledge。Henevertalkedtohermuch，buthelookedatheragooddeal，andshefeltsurethathedidnotregardherwithaversion。Ned，beingincollege，ofcourseputonalltheairswhichfreshmenthinkittheirboundendutytoassume。Hewasnotverywise，butverygood-natured，andaltogetheranexcellentpersontocarryonapicnic。SallieGardinerwasabsorbedinkeepingherwhitepiquedresscleanandchatteringwiththeubiquitousFred，whokeptBethinconstantterrorbyhispranks。
　　ItwasnotfartoLongmeadow，butthetentwaspitchedandthewicketsdownbythetimetheyarrived。Apleasantgreenfield，withthreewide-spreadingoaksinthemiddleandasmoothstripofturfforcroquet。
　　“WelcometoCampLaurence!“saidtheyounghost，astheylandedwithexclamationsofdelight。
　　“Brookeiscommanderinchief，Iamcommissarygeneral，theotherfellowsarestaffofficers，andyou，ladies，arecompany。