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；
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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。