“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？“