Shesanglikealittlelarkaboutherwork，neverwastootiredforMarmeeandthegirls，anddayafterdaysaidhopefullytoherself，“IknowI’llgetmymusicsometime，ifI’mgood。“
　　TherearemanyBethsintheworld，shyandquiet，sittingincornerstillneeded，andlivingforotherssocheerfullythatnooneseesthesacrificestillthelittlecricketonthehearthstopschirping，andthesweet，sunshinypresencevanishes，leavingsilenceandshadowbehind。
　　IfanybodyhadaskedAmywhatthegreatesttrialofherlifewas，shewouldhaveansweredatonce，“Mynose。“Whenshewasababy，Johadaccidentlydroppedherintothecoalhod，andAmyinsistedthatthefallhadruinedhernoseforever。Itwasnotbignorred，likepoor`Petrea’s’，itwasonlyratherflat，andallthepinchingintheworldcouldnotgiveitanaristocraticpoint。Noonemindeditbutherself，anditwasdoingitsbesttogrow，butAmyfeltdeeplythewantofaGreciannose，anddrewwholesheetsofhandsomeonestoconsoleherself。
　　“LittleRaphael，“ashersisterscalledher，hadadecidedtalentfordrawing，andwasneversohappyaswhencopyingflowers，designingfairies，orillustratingstorieswithqueerspecimensofart。Herteacherscomplainedthatinsteadofdoinghersumsshecoveredherslatewithanimals，theblankpagesofheratlaswereusedtocopymapson，andcaricaturesofthemostludicrousdescriptioncameflutteringoutofallherbooksatunluckymoments。Shegotthroughherlessonsaswellasshecould，andmanagedtoescapereprimandsbybeingamodelofdeportment。Shewasagreatfavoritewithhermates，beinggood-temperedandpossessingthehappyartofpleasingwithouteffort。Herlittleairsandgracesweremuchadmired，sowereheraccomplishments，forbesidesherdrawing，shecouldplaytwelvetunes，crochet，andreadFrenchwithoutmispronouncingmorethantwo-thirdsofthewords。Shehadaplaintivewayofsaying，“WhenPapawasrichwedidso-and-so，“whichwasverytouching，andherlongwordswereconsidered`perfectlyelegant’bythegirls。
　　Amywasinafairwaytobespoiled，foreveryonepettedher，andhersmallvanitiesandselfishnessesweregrowingnicely。
　　Onething，however，ratherquenchedthevanities。Shehadtowearhercousin’sclothes。NowFlorence’smamahadn’taparticleoftaste，andAmysuffereddeeplyathavingtoweararedinsteadofabluebonnet，unbecominggowns，andfussyapronsthatdidnotfit。Everythingwasgood，wellmade，andlittleworn，butAmy’sartisticeyesweremuchafflicted，especiallythiswinter，whenherschooldresswasadullpurplewithyellowdotsandnotrimming。
　　“Myonlycomfort，“shesaidtoMeg，withtearsinhereyes，“isthatMotherdoesn’ttaketucksinmydresseswheneverI’mnaughty，asMariaParks’smotherdoes。Mydear，it’sreallydreadful，forsometimessheissobadherfrockisuptoherknees，andshecan’tcometoschool。WhenIthinkofthisdeggerredation，IfellthatIcanbearevenmyflatnoseandpurplegownwithyellowskyrocketsonit。“
　　MegwasAmy’sconfidanteandmonitor，andbysomestrangeattractionofoppositesJowasgentleBeth’s。ToJoalonedidtheshychildtellherthoughts，andoverherbigharum-scarumsisterBethunconsciouslyexercisedmoreinfluencethananyoneinthefamily。Thetwooldergirlswereagreatdealtooneanother，buteachtookoneoftheyoungersistersintoherkeepingandwatchedoverherinherownway，`playingmother’
　　theycalledit，andputtheirsistersintheplacesofdiscardeddollswiththematernalinstinctoflittewomen。
　　“Hasanybodygotanythingtotell？It’sbeensuchadismaldayI’mreallydyingforsomeamusement，“saidMeg，astheysatsewingtogetherthatevening。
　　“IhadaqueertimewithAunttoday，and，asIgotthebestofit，I’lltellyouaboutit，“beganJo，whodearlylovedtotellstories。“IwasreadingthateverlastingBelsham，anddroningawayasIalwaysdo，forAuntsoondropsoff，andthenItakeoutsomenicebook，andreadlikefurytillshewakesup。Iactuallymademyselfsleepy，andbeforeshebegantonod，IgavesuchagapethatsheaskedmewhatImeantbyopeningmymouthwideenoughtotakethewholebookinatonce。
　　“IwishIcould，andbedonewithit，“saidI，tryingnottobesaucy。
　　“Thenshegavemealonglectureonmysins，andtoldmetositandthinkthemoverwhileshejust`lost’herselfforamoment。
　　Sheneverfindsherselfverysoon，sotheminutehercapbegantoboblikeatop-heavydahlia，IwhippedtheVICAROFWAKEFIELDoutofmypocket，andreadaway，withoneeyeonhimandoneonAunt。
　　I’djustgottowheretheyalltumbledintothewaterwhenI
　　forgotandlaughedoutloud。Auntwokeupand，beingmoregood-naturedafterhernap，toldmetoreadabitandshowwhatfrivolousworkIpreferredtotheworthyandinstructiveBelsham。
　　Ididmyverybest，andshelikedit，thoughsheonlysaid……
　　“Idon’tunderstandwhatit’sallabout。Gobackandbeginit，child。“
　　“BackIwent，andmadethePrimrosesasinterestingaseverI
　　could。OnceIwaswickedenoughtostopinathrillingplace，andsaymeekly，“I’mafraidittiresyou，ma’am。Shan’tIstopnow？“
　　“Shecaughtupherknitting，whichhaddroppedoutofherhands，gavemeasharplookthroughherspecs，andsaid，inhershortway，`Finishthechapter，anddon’tbeimpertinent，miss’。“
　　“Didsheownshelikedit？“askedMeg。
　　“Oh，blessyou，no!ButsheletoldBelshamrest，andwhenI
　　ranbackaftermyglovesthisafternoon，thereshewas，sohardattheVicarthatshedidn’thearmelaughasIdancedajiginthehallbecauseofthegoodtimecoming。Whatapleasantlifeshemighthaveifonlyshechose!Idon’tenvyhermuch，inspiteofhermoney，forafterallrichpeoplehaveaboutasmanyworriesaspoorones，I
　　think，“addedJo。
　　“Thatremindsme，“saidMeg，“thatI’vegotsomethingtotell。
　　Itisn’tfunny，likeJo’sstory，butIthoughtaboutitagooddealasIcamehome。AttheKings’todayIfoundeverybodyinaflurry，andoneofthechildrensaidthatheroldestbrotherhaddonesomethingdreadful，andPapahadsenthimaway。IheardMrs。KingcryingandMr。Kingtalkingveryloud，andGraceandEllenturnedawaytheirfaceswhentheypassedme，soIshouldn’tseehowredandswollentheireyeswere。Ididn’taskanyquestions，ofcourse，butIfeltsosorryforthemandwasrathergladIhadn’tanywildbrotherstodowickedthingsanddisgracethefamily。“
　　“Ithinkbeingdisgracedinschoolisagreatdealtryingerthananythingbadboyscando，“saidAmy，shakingherhead，asifherexperienceoflifehadbeenadeepone。“SusiePerkinscametoschooltodaywithalovelyredcarnelianring。Iwanteditdreadfully，andwishedIwasherwithallmymight。Well，shedrewapictureofMr。Davis，withamonstrousnoseandahump，andthewords，`Youngladies，myeyeisuponyou!’comingoutofhismouthinaballoonthing。Wewerelaughingoveritwhenallofasuddenhiseyewasonus，andheorderedSusietobringupherslate。Shewasparrylizedwithfright，butshewent，andoh，whatdoyouthinkhedid？Hetookherbytheear——theear!
　　Justfancyhowhorrid!——andledhertotherecitationplatform，andmadeherstandtherehalfandhour，holdingtheslatesoeveryonecouldsee。“
　　“Didn’tthegirlslaughatthepicture？“askedJo，whorelishedthescrape。
　　“Laugh？Notone!Theysatstillasmice，andSusiecriedquarts，Iknowshedid。Ididn’tenvyherthen，forIfeltthatmillionsofcarnelianringswouldn’thavemademehappyafterthat。
　　Inever，nevershouldhavegotoversuchaagonizingmortification。“
　　AndAmywentonwithherwork，intheproudconsciousnessofvirtueandthesuccessfulutteranceoftwolongwordsinabreath。
　　“IsawsomethingIlikedthismorning，andImeanttotellitatdinner，butIforgot，“saidBeth，puttingJo’stopsy-turvybasketinorderasshetalked。“WhenIwenttogetsomeoystersforHannah，Mr。Laurencewasinthefishshop，buthedidn’tseeme，forIkeptbehindthefishbarrel，andhewasbusywithMr。Cutterthefishman。
　　Apoorwomancameinwithapailamop，andaskedMr。Cutterifhewouldletherdosomescrubbingforabitoffish，becauseshehadn’tanydinnerforherchildren，andhadbeendisappointedofaday’swork。Mr。Cutterwasinahurryandsaid`No’，rathercrossly，soshewasgoingaway，lookinghungryandsorry，whenMr。
　　Laurencehookedupabigfishwiththecrookedendofhiscaneandhelditouttoher。Shewassogladandsurprisedshetookitrightintoherarms，andthankedhimoverandover。Hetoldherto`goalongandcookit’，andshehurriedoff，sohappy!Wasn’titgoodofhim？Oh，shedidlooksofunny，huggingthebig，slipperyfish，andhopingMr。Laurence’sbedinheavenwouldbe`aisy’。“
　　WhentheyhadlaughedatBeth’sstory，theyaskedtheirmotherforone，andafteramomentsthought，shesaidsoberly，“AsIsatcuttingoutblueflanneljacketstodayattherooms，IfeltveryanxiousaboutFather，andthoughthowlonelyandhelplessweshouldbe，ifanythinghappenedtohim。Itwasnotawisethingtodo，butIkeptonworryingtillanoldmancameinwithanorderforsomeclothes。Hesatdownnearme，andIbegantotalktohim，forhelookedpoorandtiredandanxious。
　　“`Haveyousonsinthearmy？’Iasked，forthenotehebroughtwasnottome。
　　“Yes，ma’am。Ihadfour，buttwowerekilled，oneisaprisoner，andI’mgoingtotheother，whoisverysickinaWashingtonhospital。’
　　heansweredquietly。
　　“`Youhavedoneagreatdealforyourcountry，sir，’Isaid，feelingrespectnow，insteadofpity。
　　“`NotamitemorethanIought，ma’am。I’dgomyself，ifIwasanyuse。AsIain’t，Igivemyboys，andgive’emfree。’
　　“Hespokesocheerfully，lookedsosincere，andseemedsogladtogivehisall，thatIwasashamedofmyself。I’dgivenonemanandthoughtittoomuch，whilehegavefourwithoutgrudgingthem。
　　Ihadallmygirlstocomfortmeathome，andhislastsonwaswaiting，milesaway，tosaygood-bytohim，perhaps!Ifeltsorich，sohappythinkingofmyblessings，thatImadehimanicebundle，gavehimsomemoney，andthankedhimheartilyforthelessonhehadtaughtme。“
　　“Tellanotherstory，Mother，onewithamoraltoit，likethis。
　　Iliketothinkaboutthemafterward，iftheyarerealandnottoopreachy，“saidJo，afteraminute’ssilence。
　　Mrs。Marchsmiledandbeganatonce，forshehadtoldstoriestothislittleaudienceformanyyears，andknewhowtopleasethem。
　　“Onceuponatime，therewerefourgirls，whohadenoughtoeatanddrinkandwear，agoodmanycomfortsandpleasures，kindfriendsandparentswholovedthemdearly，andyettheywerenotcontented。“
　　Herethelistenersstoleslylooksatoneanother，andbegantosewdiligently。“Thesegirlswereanxioustobegoodandmademanyexcellentresolutions，buttheydidnotkeepthemverywell，andwereconstantlysaying，`Ifonlywehadthis，’or`Ifwecouldonlydothat，’quiteforgettinghowmuchtheyalreadyhad，andhowmanythingstheyactuallycoulddo。Sotheyaskedanoldwomanwhatspelltheycouldusetomakethemhappy，andshesaid，`Whenyoufeeldiscontented，thinkoveryourblessings，andbegrateful。’“HereJolookedupquickly，asifabouttospeak，butchangedhermind，seeingthatthestorywasnotdoneyet。
　　“Beingsensiblegirls，theydecidedtotryheradvice，andsoonweresurprisedtoseehowwellofftheywere。Onediscoveredthatmoneycouldn’tkeepshameandsorrowoutofrichpeople’shouses，anotherthat，thoughshewaspoor，shewasagreatdealhappier，withheryouth，health，andgoodspirits，thanacertainfretful，feebleoldladywhocouldn’tenjoyhercomforts，athirdthat，disagreeableasitwastohelpgetdinner，itwasharderstilltogobeggingforitandthefourth，thatevencarnelianringswerenotsovaluableasgoodbehavior。Sotheyagreedtostopcomplaining，toenjoytheblessingsalreadypossessed，andtrytodeservethem，lesttheyshouldbetakenawayentirely，insteadofincreased，andIbelievetheywereneverdisappointedorsorrythattheytooktheoldwoman’sadvice。“