“I’lltry，“saidAmy，fortheadvicesuitedher，andafteraflurrytogetready，sheranafterthefriends，whowerejustdisappearingoverthehill。
Itwasnotfartotheriver，butbothwerereadybeforeAmyreachedthem。Josawhercoming，andturnedherback。Lauriedidnotsee，forhewascarefullyskatingalongtheshore，soundingtheice，forawarmspellhadprecededthecoldsnap。
“I’llgoontothefirstbend，andseeifit’sallrightbeforewebegintorace，“Amyheardhimsay，asheshotaway，lookinglikeayoungRussianinhisfur-trimmedcoatandcap。
JoheardAmypantingafterherrun，stampingherfeetandblowingonherfingersasshetriedtoputherskateson，butJoneverturnedandwentslowlyzigzaggingdowntheriver，takingabitter，unhappysortofsatisfactioninhersister’stroubles。
Shehadcherishedherangertillitgrewstrongandtookpossessionofher，asevilthoughtsandfeelingsalwaysdounlesscastoutatonce。AsLaurieturnedthebend，heshoutedback……
“Keepneartheshore。Itisn’tsafeinthemiddle。“
Joheard，butAmywasstrugglingtoherfeetanddidnotcatchaword。Joglancedoverhershoulder，andthelittledemonshewasharboringsaidinherear……
“Nomatterwhethersheheardornot，lethertakecareofherself。“
Lauriehadvanishedroundthebend，Jowasjustattheturn，andAmy，farbehind，strikingouttowardthethesmoothericeinthemiddleoftheriver。ForaminuteJostoodstillwithastrangefeelinginherheart，thensheresolvedtogoon，butsomethingheldandturnedherround，justintimetoseeAmythrowupherhandsandgodown，withasuddencrashofrottenice，thesplashofwater，andacrythatmadeJo’sheartstandstillwithfear。ShetriedtocallLaurie，buthervoicewasgone。
Shetriedtorushforward，butherfeetseemedtohavenostrengthinthem，andforasecond，shecouldonlystandmotionless，staringwithaterror-strickenfaceatthelittlebluehoodabovetheblackwater。
Somethingrushedswiftlybyher，andLaurie’svoicecriedout……
“Bringarail。Quick，quick!“
Howshedidit，sheneverknew，butforthenextfewminutessheworkedasifpossessed，blindlyobeyingLaurie，whowasquiteself-possessed，andlyingflat，heldAmyupbyhisarmandhockeysticktillJodraggedarailfromthefence，andtogethertheygotthechildout，morefrightenedthanhurt。
“Nowthen，wemustwalkherhomeasfastaswecan。Pileourthingsonher，whileIgetofftheseconfoundedskates，“criedLaurie，wrappinghiscoatroundAmy，andtuggingawayatthestrapswhichneverseemedsointricatebefore。
Shivering，dripping，andcrying，theygotAmyhome，andafteranexcitingtimeofit，shefellasleep，rolledinblanketsbeforeahotfire。DuringthebustleJohadscarcelyspokenbutflownabout，lookingpaleandwild，withherthingshalfoff，herdresstorn，andherhandscutandbruisedbyiceandrailsandrefractorybuckles。
WhenAmywascomfortablyasleep，thehousequiet，andMrs。Marchsittingbythebed，shecalledJotoherandbegantobindupthehurthands。
“Areyousuresheissafe？“whisperedJo，lookingremorsefullyatthegoldenhead，whichmighthavebeensweptawayfromhersightforeverunderthetreacherousice。
“Quitesafe，dear。sheisnothurt，andwon’teventakecold，Ithink，youweresosensibleincoveringandgettingherhomequickly，“repliedhermothercheerfully。
“Lauriediditall。Ionlylethergo。Mother，ifsheshoulddie，itwouldbemyfault。“AndJodroppeddownbesidethebedinapassionofpenitenttears，tellingallthathadhappened，bitterlycondemningherhardnessofheart，andsobbingouthergratitudeforbeingsparedtheheavypunishmentwhichmighthavecomeuponher。
“It’smydreadfultemper!Itrytocureit，IthinkIhave，andthenitbreaksoutworsethanever。OH，Mother，whatshallI
do？WhatshallIdo？“criedpoorJo，indespair。
“Watchandpray，dear，nevergettiredoftrying，andneverthinkitisimpossibletoconqueryourfault，“saidMrs。March，drawingtheblowzyheadtohershoulderandkissingthewetcheeksotenderlythatJocriedevenharder。
“Youdon’tknow，youcan’tguesshowbaditis!ItseemsasifIcoulddoanythingwhenI’minapassion。Igetsosavage，I
couldhurtanyoneandenjoyit。I’mafraidIshalldosomethingdreadfulsomeday，andspoilmylife，andmakeeverybodyhateme。
Oh，Mother，helpme，dohelpme!“
“Iwill，mychild，Iwill。Don’tcrysobitterly，butrememberthisday，andresolvewithallyoursoulthatyouwillneverknowanotherlikeit。Jo，dear，weallhaveourtemptations，somefargreaterthanyours，anditoftentakesusallourlivestoconquerthem。Youthinkyourtemperistheworstintheworld，butmineusedtobejustlikeit。“
“Yours，Mother？Why，youareneverangry!“AndforthemomentJoforgotremorseinsurprise。
“I’vebeentryingtocureitforfortyyears，andhaveonlysucceededincontrollingit。Iamangrynearlyeverydayofmylife，Jo，butIhavelearnednottoshowit，andIstillhopetolearnnottofeelit，thoughitmaytakemeanotherfortyyearstodoso。“
ThepatienceandthehumilityofthefaceshelovedsowellwasabetterlessontoJothanthewisestlecture，thesharpestreproof。Shefeltcomfortedatoncebythesympathyandconfidencegivenher。Theknowledgethathermotherhadafaultlikehers，andtriedtomendit，madeherowneasiertobearandstrengthenedherresolutiontocureit，thoughfortyyearsseemedratheralongtimetowatchandpraytoagirloffifteen。
“Mother，areyouangrywhenyoufoldyourlipstighttogetherandgooutoftheroomsometimes，whenAuntMarchscoldsorpeopleworryyou？“askedJo，feelingneareranddearertohermotherthaneverbefore。
“Yes，I’velearnedtocheckthehastywordsthatrisetomylips，andwhenIfeelthattheymeantobreakoutagainstmywill，Ijustgoawayforaminute，andgivemyselfalittleshakeforbeingsoweakandwicked，“answeredMrs。Marchwithasighandasmile，asshesmoothedandfastenedupJo’sdisheveledhair。
“Howdidyoulearntokeepstill？Thatiswhattroublesme，forthesharpwordsflyoutbeforeIknowwhatI’mabout，andthemoreIsaytheworseIget，tillit’sapleasuretohurtpeople’sfeelingsandsaydreadfulthings。Tellmehowyoudoit，Marmeedear。“
“Mygoodmotherusedtohelpme……“
“Asyoudous……“interruptedJo，withagratefulkiss。
“ButIlostherwhenIwasalittleolderthanyouare，andforyearshadtostruggleonalone，forIwastooproudtoconfessmyweaknesstoanyoneelse。Ihadahardtime，Jo，andshedagoodmanybittertearsovermyfailures，forinspiteofmyeffortsI
neverseemedtogeton。Thenyourfathercame，andIwassohappythatifounditeasytobegood。Butby-and-by，whenIhadfourlittledaughtersroundmeandwewerepoor，thentheoldtroublebeganagain，forIamnotpatientbynature，andittriedmeverymuchtoseemychildrenwantinganything。“
“PoorMother!Whathelpedyouthen？“
“Yourfather，Jo。Heneverlosespatience，neverdoubtsorcomplains，butalwayshopes，andworksandwaitssocheerfullythatoneisashamedtodootherwisebeforehim。Hehelpedandcomfortedme，andshowedmethatImusttrytopracticeallthevirtuesIwouldhavemylittlegirlspossess，forIwastheirexample。Itwaseasiertotryforyoursakesthanformyown。
AstartledorsurprisedlookfromoneofyouwhenIspokesharplyrebukedmemorethananywordscouldhavedone，andthelove，respect，andconfidenceofmychildrenwasthesweetestrewardI
couldreceiveformyeffortstobethewomanIwouldhavethemcopy。“
“Oh，Mother，ifI’meverhalfasgoodasyou，Ishallbesatisfied，“criedJo，muchtouched。
“Ihopeyouwillbeagreatdealbetter，dear，butyoumustkeepwatchoveryour`bosomenemy’，asfathercallsit，oritmaysadden，ifnotspoilyourlife。Youhavehadawarning。
Rememberit，andtrywithheartandsoultomasterthisquicktemper，beforeitbringsyougreatersorrowandregretthanyouhaveknowntoday。“
“Iwilltry，Mother，Itrulywill。Butyoumusthelpme，remindme，andkeepmefromflyingout。IusedtoseeFathersometimesputhisfingeronhislips，andlookatyouwithaverykindbutsoberface，andyoualwaysfoldedyourlipstightandwentaway。Washeremindingyouthen？“askedJosoftly。
“Yes。Iaskedhimtohelpmeso，andheneverforgotit，butsavedmefrommanyasharpwordbythatlittlegestureandkindlook。“
Josawthathermother’seyesfilledandherlipstrembledasshespoke，andfearingthatshehadsaidtoomuch，shewhisperedanxiously，“Wasitwrongtowatchyouandtospeakofit？Ididn’tmeantoberude，butit’ssocomfortabletosayallIthinktoyou，andfeelsosafeandhappyhere。“
“MuJo，youmaysayanythingtoyourmother，foritismygreatesthappinessandpridetofeelthatmygirlsconfideinmeandknowhowmuchIlovethem。“
“IthoughtI’dgrievedyou。“
“No，dear，butspeakingofFatherremindedmehowmuchI
misshim，howmuchIowehim，andhowfaithfullyIshouldwatchandworktokeephislittledaughterssafeandgoodforhim。“
“Yetyoutoldhimtogo，Mother，anddidn’tcrywhenhewent，andnevercomplainnow，orseemasifyouneededanyhelp，“
saidJo，wondering。
“IgavemybesttothecountryIlove，andkeptmytearstillhewasgone。WhyshouldIcomplain，whenwebothhavemerelydoneourdutyandwillsurelybethehappierforitintheend？IfIdon’tseemtoneedhelp，itisbecauseIhaveabetterfriend，eventhanFather，tocomfortandsustainme。Mychild，thetroublesandtemptationsofyourlifearebeginningandmaybemany，butyoucanovercomeandoutlivethemallifyoulearntofeelthestrengthandtendernessofyourHeavenlyFatherasyoudothatofyourearthlyone。ThemoreyouloveandtrustHim，andthelessyouwilldependonhumanpowerandwisdom。Hisloveandcarenevertireorchange，canneverbetakenfromyou，butmybecomethesourceoflifelongpeace，happiness，andstrength。Believethisheartily，andgotoGodwithallyourlittlecares，andhopes，andsins，andsorrows，asfreelyandconfidinglyasyoucometoyourmother。“
Jo’sonlyanswerwastoholdhermotherclose，andinthesilencewhichfollowedthesincerestprayershehadeverprayedleftherheartwithoutwords。Forinthatsadyethappyhour，shehadlearnednotonlythebitternessofremorseanddespair，butthesweetnessofself-denialandself-control，andledbyhermother’shand，shehaddrawnnearertotheFriendwhoalwayswelcomeseverychildwithalovestrongerthanthatofanyfather，tendererthanthatofanymother。
Amystirredandsighedinhersleep，andasifeagertobeginatoncetomendherfault，lJolookedupwithanexpressiononherfacewhichithadneverwornbefore。
“Iletthesungodownonmyanger。Iwouldn’tforgiveher，andtoday，ifithadn’tbeenforLaurie，itmighthavebeentoolate!HowcouldIbesowicked？“saidJo，halfaloud，assheleanedoverhersistersoftlystrokingthewethairscatteredonthepillow。
Asifsheheard，Amyopenedhereyes，andheldoutherarms，withasmilethatwentstraighttoJo’sheart。Neithersaidaword，buttheyhuggedoneanotherclose，inspiteoftheblankets，andeverythingwasforgivenandforgotteninoneheartykiss。