“That’ssolikemyBeth!“saidJo，wavingherhat，withagratefulface。“Goodbye，Meggy，IhopetheKingswon’tstraintoday。Don’tfretaboutFather，dear，“sheadded，astheyparted。
　　“AndIhopeAuntMarchwon’tcroak。Yourhairisbecoming，anditlooksveryboyishandnice，“returnedMeg，tryingnottosmileatthecurlyhead，whichlookedcomicallysmallonhertallsister’sshoulders。
　　“That’smyonlycomfort。“And，touchingherhata`laLaurie，awaywentJo，feelinglikeashornsheeponawintryday。
　　Newsfromtheirfathercomfortedthegirlsverymuch，forthoughdangerouslyill，thepresenceofthebestandtenderestofnurseshadalreadydonehimgood。Mr。Brookesentabulletineveryday，andastheheadofthefamily，Meginsistedonreadingthedispatches，whichgrewmorecheerfulastheweekpassed。Atfirst，everyonewaseagertowrite，andplumpenvelopeswerecarefullypokedintotheletterboxbyoneorotherofthesisters，whofeltratherimportantwiththeirWashingtoncorrespondence。Asoneofthesepacketscontainedcharacteristicnotesfromtheparty，wewillrobanimaginarymail，andreadthem。
　　MydearestMother：
　　Itisimpossibletotellyouhowhappyyourlastlettermadeus，forthenewswassogoodwecouldn’thelplaughingandcryingoverit。HowverykindMr。Brookeis，andhowfortunatethatMr。
　　Laurence’sbusinessdetainshimnearyousolong，sinceheissousefultoyouandFather。Thegirlsareallasgoodasgold。
　　Johelpsmewiththesewing，andinsistsondoingallsortsofhardjobs。Ishouldbeafraidshemightoverdo，ifIdidn’tknowher`moralfit’wouldn’tlastlong。Bethisasregularabouthertasksasaclock，andneverforgetswhatyoutoldher。ShegrievesaboutFather，andlookssoberexceptwhensheisatherlittlepiano。
　　Amymindsmenicely，andItakegreatcareofher。Shedoesherownhair，andIamteachinghertomakebuttonholesandmendherstockings。
　　Shetriesveryhard，andIknowyouwillbepleasedwithherimprovementwhenyoucome。Mr。Laurencewatchesoveruslikeamotherlyoldhen，asJosays，andLaurieisverykindandneighborly。
　　HeandJokeepusmerry，forwegetprettybluesometimes，andfeellikeorphans，withyousofaraway。Hannahisaperfectsaint。
　　Shedoesnotscoldatall，andalwayscallsmeMissMargaret，whichisquiteproper，youknow，andtreatsmewithrespect。Weareallwellandbusy，butwelong，dayandnight，tohaveyouback。GivemydearestlovetoFather，andbelieveme，everyourown……
　　MEG
　　Thisnote，prettilywrittenonscentedpaper，wasagreatcontrasttothenext，whichwasscribbledonabigsheetofthinforeignpaper，ornamentedwithblotsandallmannerofflourishesandcurly-tailedletters。
　　MypreciousMarmee：
　　ThreecheersfordearFather!Brookewasatrumptotelegraphrightoff，andletusknowtheminutehewasbetter。Irushedupgarretwhenthelettercame，andtriedtothankgodforbeingsogoodtous，butIcouldonlycry，andsay，“I’mglad!I’mglad!“
　　Didn’tthatdoaswellasaregularprayer？ForIfeltagreatmanyinmyheart。Wehavesuchfunnytimes，andnowIcanenjoythem，foreveryoneissodesperatelygood，it’slikelivinginanestofturtledoves。You’dlaughtoseeMegheadthetableandtrytobemotherish。Shegetsprettiereveryday，andI’minlovewithhersometimes。Thechildrenareregulararchangels，andI——
　　well，I’mJo，andnevershallbeanythingelse。Oh，ImusttellyouthatIcamenearhavingaquarrelwithLaurie。Ifreedmymindaboutasillylittlething，andhewasoffended。Iwasright，butdidn’tspeakasIought，andhemarchedhome，sayinghewouldn’tcomeagaintillIbeggedpardon。IdeclaredIwouldn’tandgotmad。
　　Itlastedallday。Ifeltbadandwantedyouverymuch。
　　LaurieandIarebothsoproud，it’shardtobegpardon。ButIthoughthe’dcometoit，forIwasintheright。Hedidn’tcome，andjustatnightIrememberedwhatyousaidwhenAmyfellintotheriver。
　　I
　　readmylittlebook，feltbetter，resolvednottoletthesunsetonmyanger，andranovertotellLaurieIwassorry。Imethimatthegate，comingforthesamething。Webothlaughed，beggedeachother’spardon，andfeltallgoodandcomfortableagain。
　　Imadea`pome’yesterday，whenIwashelpingHannahwash，andasFatherlikesmysillylittlethings，Iputitintoamusehim。Givehimmylovingesthugthateverwas，andkissyourselfadozentimesforyour……
　　TOPSY-TURVYJO
　　ASONGFROMTHESUDS
　　Queenofmytub，Imerrilysing，Whilethewhitefoamriseshigh，Andsturdilywashandrinseandwring，Andfastentheclothestodry。
　　Thenoutinthefreefreshairtheyswing，Underthesunnysky。
　　IwishwecouldwashfromoutheartsandsoulsThestainsoftheweekaway，AndletwaterandairbytheirmagicmakeOurselvesaspureasthey。
　　Thenontheearththerewouldbeindeed，Agloriouswashingday!
　　Alongthepathofausefullife，Willheartseaseeverbloom。
　　ThebusymindhasnotimetothinkOfsorroworcareorgloom。
　　Andanxiousthoughtsmaybesweptaway，Aswebravelywieldabroom。
　　Iamgladatasktomeisgiven，Tolaboratdaybyday，Foritbringsmehealthandstrengthandhope，AndIcheerfullylearntosay，“Head，youmaythink，Heart，youmayfeel，But，Hand，youshallworkalway!“
　　DearMother，Thereisonlyroomformetosendmylove，andsomepressedpansiesfromtherootIhavebeenkeepingsafeinthehouseforFathertosee。Ireadeverymorning，trytobegoodallday，andsingmyselftosleepwithFather’stune。Ican’tsing`LANDOF
　　THELEAL’now，itmakesmecry。Everyoneisverykind，andweareashappyaswecanbewithoutyou。Amywantstherestofthepage，soImuststop。Ididn’tforgettocovertheholders，andIwindtheclockandairtheroomseveryday。
　　KissdearFatheronthecheekhecallsmine。Oh，docomesoontoyourloving……
　　LITTLEBETH
　　MaChereMamma，WeareallwellIdomylessonsalwaysandnevercorroberatethegirls——MegsaysImeancontradicksoIputinbothwordsandyoucantaketheproperest。MegisagreatcomforttomeandletsmehavejellyeverynightatteaitssogoodformeJosaysbecauseitkeepsmesweettempered。LaurieisnotasrespeckfulasheoughttobenowIamalmostinmyteens，hecallsmeChickandhurtsmyfeelingsbytalkingFrenchtomeveryfastwhenIsayMerciorBonjourasHattieKingdoes。Thesleevesofmybluedresswereallwornout，andMegputinnewones，butthefullfrontcamewrongandtheyaremorebluethanthedress。IfeltbadbutdidnotfretIbearmytroubleswellbutIdowishHannahwouldputmorestarchinmyapronsandhavebuckwheatseveryday。Can’tshe？Didn’tI
　　makethatinterrigationpointnice？MegsaysmypunchtuationandspellingaredisgracefulandIammortyfiedbutdearmeIhavesomanythingstodo，Ican’tstop。Adieu，IsendheapsoflovetoPapa。Youraffectionatedaughter……
　　AMYCURTISMARCH
　　DearMisMarch，Ijesdropalinetosaywegitonfustrate。Thegirlsiscleverandflyroundrightsmart。MissMegisgoingtomakeapropergoodhousekeeper。Shehesthelikingforit，andgitsthehangofthingssurprisinquick。Jodoosbeatallforgoinahead，butshedon’tstoptocal’k’latefust，andyouneverknowwhereshe’sliketobringup。ShedoneoutatubofclothesonMonday，butshestarched’emaforetheywaswrenched，andbluedapinkcalicodresstillIthoughtIshouldadiedalaughin。Bethisthebestoflittlecreeters，andasightofhelptome，beinsoforehandedanddependable。Shetriestolearneverything，andreallygoestomarketbeyondheryears，likewisekeepsaccounts，withmyhelp，quitewonderful。Wehavegotonveryeconomicalsofur。
　　I
　　don’tletthegirlshevcoffeeonlyonceaweek，accordintoyourwish，andkeepemonplainwholesomevittles。Amydoeswellwithoutfrettin，wearinherbestclothesandeatinsweetstuff。
　　Mr。Laurieisasfullofdidoesasusual，andturnsthehouseupsidedownfrequent，butheheartensthegirls，soIletemhevfullswing。Theoldgentlemansendheapsofthings，andisratherwearin，butmeanswal，anditaintmyplacetosaynothin。Mybreadisriz，sonomoreatthistime。IsendmydutytoMr。
　　March，andhopehe’sseenthelastofhisPewmonia。
　　Yoursrespectful，HannahMulletHeadNurseofWardNo。2，AllsereneontheRappahannock，troopsinfinecondition，commisarydepartmentwellconducted，theHomeGuardunderColonelTeddyalwaysonduty，CommanderinChiefGeneralLaurencereviewsthearmydaily，QuartermasterMulletkeepsorderincamp，andMajorLiondoespicketdutyatnight。Asaluteoftwenty-fourgunswasfiredonrecieptofgoodnewsfromWashington，andadressparadetookplaceatheadquarters。Commanderinchiefsendsbestwishes，inwhichheisheartilyjoinedby……
　　COLONELTEDDY
　　DearMadam：
　　Thelittlegirlsareallwell。Bethandmyboyreportdaily。
　　Hannahisamodelservant，andguardsprettyMeglikeadragon。
　　Gladthefineweatherholds。PraymakeBrookeuseful，anddrawonmeforfundsifexpensesexceedyourestimate。Don’tletyourhusbandwantanything。ThankGodheismending。
　　Yoursincerefriendandservant，JAMESLAURENCE
　　Chapter17CHAPTERSEVENTEEN
　　Foraweektheamountofvirtueintheoldhousewouldhavesuppliedtheneighborhood。Itwasreallyamazing，foreveryoneseemedinaheavenlyframeofmind，andself-denialwasallthefashion。Relievedoftheirfirstanxietyabouttheirfather，girlsinsensiblyrelaxedtheirpraiseworthyeffortsalittle，andbegantofallbackintooldways。Theydidnotforgettheirmotto，buthopingandkeepingbusyseemedtogroweasier，andaftersuchtremendousexertions，theyfeltthatEndeavordeservedaholiday，andgaveitagoodmany。
　　Jocaughtabadcoldthroughneglecttocovertheshornheadenough，andwasorderedtostayathometillshewasbetter，forAuntMarchdidn’tliketohearpeoplereadwithcoldsintheirheads。Jolikedthis，andafteranenergeticrummagefromgarrettocellar，subsidedonthesofatonursehercoldwitharsenicumandbooks。Amyfoundthathouseworkandartdidnotgowelltogether，andreturnedtohermudpies。Megwentdailytoherpupils，andsewed，orthoughtshedid，athome，butmuchtimewasspentinwritinglongletterstohermother，orreadingtheWashingtondispatchesoverandover。Bethkepton，withonlyslightrelapsesintoidlenessorgrieving。
　　Allthelittledutieswerefaithfullydoneeachday，andmanyofhersisters’also，fortheywereforgetful，andthehouseseemedlikeaclockwhosependulumwasgonea-visiting。WhenherheartgotheavywithlongingsforMotherorfearsforFather，shewentawayintoacertaincloset，hidherfaceinthefoldsofadearoldgown，andmadeherlittlemoanandprayedherlittleprayerquietlybyherself。Nobodyknewwhatcheeredherupafterasoberfit，buteveryonefelthowsweetandhelpfulBethwas，andfellintoawayofgoingtoherforcomfortoradviceintheirsmallaffairs。
　　Allwereunconsciousthatthisexperiencewasatestofcharacter，andwhenthefirstexcitementwasover，feltthattheyhaddonewellanddeservedpraise。Sotheydid，buttheirmistakewasinceasingtodowell，andtheylearnedthislessonthroughmuchanxietyandregret。
　　“Meg，Iwishyou’dgoandseetheHummels。YouknowMothertoldusnottoforgetthem。“saidBeth，tendaysafterMrs。March’sdeparture。
　　“I’mtootiredtogothisafternoon，“re；liedMeg，rockingcomfortablyasshesewed。
　　“Can’tyou，Jo？’askedBeth。
　　“Toostormyformewithmycold。“
　　“Ithoughtitwasalmostwell。“
　　“It’swellenoughformetogooutwithLaurie，butnotwellenoughtogototheHummels’，“saidJo，laughing，butlookingalittleashamedofherinconsistency。
　　“Whydon’tyougoyourself？“askedMeg。
　　“Ihavebeeneveryday，butthebabyissick，andIdon’tknowwhattodoforit。Mrs。Hummelgoesawaytowork，andLottchentakescareofit。Butitgetssickerandsicker，andIthinkyouorHannahoughttogo。“
　　Bethspokeearnestly，andMegpromisedshewouldgotomorrow。
　　“AskHannahforsomenicelittlemess，andtakeitround，Beth，theairwilldoyougood，“saidJo，addingapologetically，“I’dgobutIwanttofinishmywriting。“
　　“MyheadachesandI’mtired，soIthoughtmaybesomeofyouwouldgo，“saidBeth。
　　“Amywillbeinpresently，andshewillrundownforus，suggestedMeg。
　　SoBethlaydownonthesofa，theothersreturnedtotheirwork，andtheHummelswereforgotten。Anhourpassed。Amydidnotcome，Megwenttoherroomtotryonanewdress，Jowasabsorbedinherstory，andHannahwassoundasleepbeforethekitchenfire，whenBethquietlyputonherhood，filledherbasketwithoddsandendsforthepoorchildren，andwentoutintothechillyairwithaheavyheadandagrievedlookinherpatienteyes。Itwaslatewhenshecameback，andnoonesawhercreepupstairsandshutherselfintohermother’sroom。Halfanhourafter，Jowentto`Mother’scloset’
　　forsomething，andtherefoundlittleBethsittingonthemedicinechest，lookingverygrave，withredeyesandacamphorbottleinherhand。
　　“ChristopherColumbus!What’sthematter？“criedJo，asBethputoutherhandasiftowarnheroff，andaskedquickly，“You’vehadthescarletfever，havent’tyou？“
　　“Yearsago，whenMegdid。Why？’
　　“ThenI’lltellyou。Oh，Jo，thebaby’sdead!“
　　“Whatbaby？“
　　“Mrs。Hummel’s。Itdiedinmylapbeforeshegothome，“criedBethwithasob。
　　“Mypoordear，howdreadfulforyou!Ioughttohavegone，“
　　saidJo，takinghersisterinherarmsasshesatdowninhermother’sbitchair，witharemorsefulface。
　　“Itwasn’tdreadful，Jo，onlysosad!Isawinaminuteitwassicker，butLottchensaidhermotherhadgoneforadoctor，soItookBabyandletLottyrest。Itseemedasleep，butallofasuddenifgavealittlecryandtrembled，andthenlayverystill。
　　Itriedtowarmitsfeet，andLottygaveitsomemilk，butitdidn’tstir，andIknewitwasdead。“
　　“Don’tcry，dear!Whatdidyoudo？“