“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。