Sacredmoments，whenhearttalkedtoheartinthesilenceofthenight，turningafflictiontoablessing，whichchastenedgriefandstrengthnedlove。Feelingthis，Jo’sburdenseemedeasiertobear，dutygrewsweeter，andlifelookedmoreendurable，seenfromthesafeshelterofhermother’sarms。
Whenachingheartwasalittlecomforted，troubledmindlikewisefoundhelp，foronedayshewenttothestudy，andleaningoverthegoodgrayheadliftedtowelcomeherwithatranquilsmile，shesaidveryhumbly，“Father，talktomeasyoudidtoBeth。
I
needitmorethanshedid，forI’mallwrong。“
“Mydear，nothingcancomfortmelikethis，“heanswered，withafalterinhisvoice，andbotharmsroundher，asifhetoo，neededhelp，anddidnotfeartoaskforit。
Then，sittinginBeth’slittlechairclosebesidehim，Jotoldhertroubles，theresentfulsorrowforherloss，thefruitlesseffortsthatdiscouragedher，thewantoffaiththatmadelifelooksodark，andallthesadbewildermentwhichwecalldespair。Shegavehimentireconfidence，hegaveherthehelpsheneeded，andbothfoundconsolationintheact。Forthetimehadcomewhentheycouldtalktogethernotonlyasfatheranddaughter，butasmanandwoman，ableandgladtoserveeachotherwithmutualsympathyaswellasmutuallove。Happy，thoughtfultimesthereintheoldstudywhichJocalled`thechurchofonemember’，andfromwhichshecamewithfreshcourage，recoveredcheerfulness，andamoresubmissivespirit。
Fortheparentswhohadtaughtonechildtomeetdeathwithoutfear，weretryingnowtoteachanothertoacceptlifewithoutdespondencyordistrust，andtouseitsbeautifulopportunitieswithgratitudeandpower。
OtherhelpshadJo——humble，wholesomedutiesanddelightsthatwouldnotbedeniedtheirpartinservingher，andwhichsheslowlylearnedtoseeandvalue。Broomsanddishclothsnevercouldbeasdistastefulastheyoncehadbeen，forBethhadpresidedoverboth，andsomethingofherhousewifelyspiritseemedtolingeraroundthelittlemopandtheoldbrush，neverthrownaway。Assheusedthem，JofoundherselfhummingthesongsBethusedtohum，imitatingBeth’sorderlyways，andgivingthelittletoucheshereandtherethatkepteverythingfreshandcozy，whichwasthefirststeptowardmakinghomehappy，thoughshedidn’tknowittillHannahsaidwithanapprovingsqueezeofthehand……
“Youthoughtfulcreeter，you’redeterminedweshan’tmissthatdearlambefyoucanhelpit。Wedon’tsaymuch，butweseeit，andtheLordwillblessyoufor’t，seeefHedon’t。“
Astheysatsewingtogether，JodiscoveredhowmuchimprovedhersisterMegwas，howwellshecouldtalk，howmuchsheknewaboutgood，womanlyimpulses，thoughts，andfeelings，howhappyshewasinhusbandandchildren，andhowmuchtheywerealldoingforeachother。
“Marriageisanexcellentthing，afterall。IwonderifI
shouldblossomouthalfaswellasyouhave，ifItriedit？“saidJo，assheconstructedakiteforDemiinthetopsy-turvynursery。
“It’sjustwhatyouneedtobringoutthetenderwomanlyhalfofyournature，Jo。Youarelikeachestnutburr，pricklyoutside，butsilky-softwithin，andasweetkernal，ifonecanonlygetatit。Lovewillmakeyoushowyourheartoneday，andthentheroughburrwillfalloff。“
“Frostopenschestnutburrs，ma`am，andittakesagoodshaketobringthemdown。Boysgonutting，andIdon’tcaretobebaggedbythem，“returnedJo，pastingawayatthekitewhichnowindthatblowswouldevercarryup，forDaisyhadtiedherselfonasabob。
Meglaughed，forshewasgladtoseeaglimmerofJo’soldspirit，butshefeltitherdutytoenforceheropinionbyeveryargumentinherpower，andthesisterlychatswerenotwasted，especiallyastwoofMeg’smosteffectiveargumentswerethebabies，whomJolovedtenderly。Griefisthebestopenerofsomehearts，andJo’swasnearlyreadyforthebag。Alittlemoresunshinetoripenthenut，then，notaboy’simpatientshake，butaman’shandreacheduptopickitgentlyfromtheburr，andfindthekernalsoundandsweet。Ifshesuspectedthis，shewouldhaveshutuptight，andbeenmorepricklythanever，fortunatelyshewasn’tthinkingaboutherself，sowhenthetimecame，downshedropped。
Now，ifshehadbeentheheroineofamoralstorybook，sheoughtatthisperiodofherlifetohavebecomequitesaintly，renouncedtheworld，andgoneaboutdoinggoodinamortifiedbonnet，withtractsinherpocket。But，yousee，Jowasn’taheroine，shewasonlyastrugglinghumangirllikehundredsofothers，andshejustactedouthernature，beingsad，cross，listless，orenergetic，asthemoodsuggested。It’shighlyvirtuoustosaywe’llbegood，butwecan’tdoitallatonce，andittakesalongpull，astrongpull，andapullalltogetherbeforesomeofusevengetourfeetsetintherightway。Johadgotsofar，shewaslearningtodoherduty，andtofeelunhappyifshedidnot，buttodoitcheerfully，ah，thatwasanotherthing!Shehadoftensaidshewantedtodosomethingsplendid，nomatterhowhard，andnowshehadherwish，forwhatcouldbemorebeautifulthantodevoteherlifetoFatherandMother，tryingtomakehomeashappytothemastheyhadtoher？Andifdifficultieswerenecessarytoincreasethesplendoroftheeffort，whatcouldbeharderforarestless，ambitiousgirlthantogiveupherownhopes，plans，anddesires，andcheerfullyliveforothers？
Providencehadtakenheratherword。Herewasthetask，notwhatshehadexpected，butbetterbecauseselfhadnopartinit。
Now，couldshedoit？Shedecidedthatshewouldtry，andinherfirstattemptshefoundthehelpsIhavesuggested。Stillanotherwasgivenher，andshetookit，notasareward，butasacomfort，asChristiantooktherefreshmentaffordedbythelittlearborwhereherested，asheclimbedthehillcalledDifficulty。
“Whydon’tyouwrite？Thatalwaysusedtomakeyouhappy，“
saidhermotheronce，whenthedespondingfitover-shadowedJo。
“I’venohearttowrite，andifIhad，nobodycaresformythings。“
“Wedo。Writesomethingforus，andnevermindtherestoftheworld。Tryit，dear。I’msureitwoulddoyougood，andpleaseusverymuch。“
“Don’tbelieveIcan。“ButJogotoutherdeskandbegantooverhaulherhalf-finishedmanuscripts。
Anhourafterwardhermotherpeepedinandthereshewas，scratchingaway，withherblackpinaforeon，andanabsorbedexpression，whichcausedMrs。Marchtosmileandslipaway，wellpleasedwiththesuccessofhersuggestion。Joneverknewhowithappened，butsomethinggotintothatstorythatwentstraighttotheheartsofthosewhoreadit，forwhenherfamilyhadlaughedandcriedoverit，herfathersentit，muchagainstherwill，tooneofthepopularmagazines，andtoheruttersurprise，itwasnotonlypaidfor，butothersrequested。Lettersfromseveralpersons，whosepraisewashonor，followedtheappearanceofthelittlestory，newspaperscopiedit，andstrangersaswellasfriends，admiredit。Forasmallthingitwasagreatsuccess，andJowasmoreastonishedthanwhenhernovelwascommendedandcondemnedallatonce。
“Idon’tunderstandit。Whatcantherebeinasimplelittlestorylikethattomakepeoplepraiseitso？“shesaid，quitebewildered。
“Thereistruthinit，Jo，that’sthesecret。Humorandpathosmakeitalive，andyouhavefoundyourstyleatlast。Youwrotewithnotthoughtsoffameandmoney，andputyourheartintoit，mydaughter。Youhavehadthebitter，nowcomesthesweet。
Doyourbest，andgrowashappyasweareinyoursuccess。“
“IfthereisanythinggoodortrueinwhatIwrite，itisn’tmine。IoweitalltoyouandMotherandBeth，“saidJo，moretouchedbyherfather’swordsthanbyanyamountofpraisefromtheworld。
Sotaughtbyloveandsorrow，Jowroteherlittlestories，andsentthemawaytomakefriendsforthemselvesandher，findingitaverycharitableworldtosuchhumblewanderers，fortheywerekindlywelcomed，andsenthomecomfortabletokenstotheirmother，likedutifulchildrenwhomgoodfortuneovertakes。
WhenAmyandLauriewroteoftheirengagement，Mrs。MarchfearedthatJowouldfinditdifficulttorejoiceoverit，butherfearsweresoonsetatrest，forthoughtJolookedgraveatfirst，shetookitveryquietly，andwasfullofhopesandplansfor`thechildren’beforeshereadthelettertwice。Itwasasortofwrittenduet，whereineachglorifiedtheotherinloverlikefashion，verypleasanttoreadandsatisfactorytothinkof，fornoonehadanyobjectiontomake。
“Youlikeit，Mother？“saidJo，astheylaiddownthecloselywrittensheetsandlookedatoneanother。
“Yes，Ihopeditwouldbeso，eversinceAmywrotethatshehadrefusedFred。Ifeltsurethenthatsomethingbetterthanwhatyoucallthe`mercenaryspirit’hadcomeoverher，andahinthereandthereinherlettersmademesuspectthatloveandLauriewouldwintheday。“
“Howsharpyouare，Marmee，andhowsilent!Youneversaidaworkedtome。“
“Mothershaveneedofsharpeyesanddiscreettongueswhentheyhavegirlstomanage。Iwashalfafraidtoputtheideaintoyourhead，lestyoushouldwriteandcongratulatethembeforethethingwassettled。“
“I’mnotthescatterbrainIwas。Youmaytrustme。I’msoberandsensibleenoughforanyone’sconfidantenow。“
“Soyouare，mydear，andIshouldhavemadeyoumine，onlyIfancieditmightpainyoutolearnthatyourTeddylovedsomeoneelse。“
“Now，Mother，didyoureallythinkIcouldbesosillyandselfish，afterI’drefusedhislove，whenitwasfreshest，ifnotbest？“
“Iknewyouweresincerethen，Jo，butlatelyIhavethoughtthatifhecameback，andaskedagain，youmightperhaps，feellikegivinganotheranswer。Forgiveme，dear，Ican’thelpseeingthatyouareverylonely，andsometimesthereisahungrylookinyoureyesthatgoestomyheart。SoIfanciedthatyourboymightfilltheemptyplaceifhetriednow。“
“No，Mother，itisbetterasitia，andI’mgladAmyhaslearnedtolovehim。Butyouarerightinonething。Iamlonely，andperhapsifTeddyhadtriedagain，Imighthavesaid`Yes’，notbecauseIlovehimanymore，butbecauseIcaremoretobelovedthanwhenhewentaway。“
“I’mgladofthat，Jo，foritshowsthatyouaregettingon。
Thereareplentytoloveyou，sotrytobesatisfiedwithFatherandMother，sistersandbrothers，friendsandbabies，tillthebestloverofallcomestogiveyouyourreward。“
“Mothersarethebestloversintheworld，butIdon’tmindwhisperingtoMarmeethatI’dliketotryallkinds。It’sverycurious，butthemoreItrytosatisfymyselfwithallsortsofnaturalaffections，themoreIseemtowant。I’dnoideaheartscouldtakeinsomany。Mineissoelastic，itneverseemsfullnow，andIusedtobequitecontentedwithmyfamily。Idon’tunderstandit。“
“Ido。“AndMrs。Marchsmiledherwisesmile，asJoturnedbacktheleavestoreadwhatAmysaidofLaurie。
“ItissobeautifultobelovedasLaurielovesme。Heisn’tsentimental，doesn’tsaymuchaboutit，butIseeandfeelitinallhesaysanddoes，anditmakesmesohappyandsohumblethatIdon’tseemtobethesamegirlIwas。Ineverknewhowgoodandgenerousandtenderhewastillnow，forheletsmereadhisheart，andIfinditfullofnobleimpulsesandhopesandpurposes，andamsoproudtoknowit’smine。Hesayshefeelsasifhe`couldmakeaprosperousvoyagenowwithmeaboardasmate，andlotsofloveforballast’。Iprayhemay，andtrytobeallhebelievesme，forIlovemygallantcaptainwithallmyheartandsoulandmight，andneverwilldeserthim，whileGodletsusbetogether。
Oh，Mother，Ineverknewhowmuchlikeheaventhisworldcouldbe，whentwopeopleloveandliveforoneanother!“
“Andthat’sourcool，reserved，andworldlyAmy!Truly，lovedoesworkmiracles。Howvery，veryhappytheymustbe!“
AndJolaidtherustlingsheetstogetherwithacarefulhand，asonemightshutthecoversofalovelyromance，whichholdsthereaderfasttilltheendcomes，andhefindshimselfaloneintheworkadayworldagain。
By-and-byJoroamedawayupstairs，foritwasrainy，andshecouldnotwalk。Arestlessspiritpossessedher，andtheoldfeelingcameagain，notbitterasitoncewas，butasorrowfullypatientwonderwhyonesistershouldhaveallsheasked，theothernothing。Itwasnottrue，sheknewthatandtriedtoputitaway，butthenaturalcravingforaffectionwasstrong，andAmy’shappinesswokethehungrylongingforsomeoneto`lovewithheartandsoul，andclingtowhileGodletthembetogether’。
Upinthegarret，whereJo’sunquietwanderingsendedstoodfourlittlewoodenchestsinarow，eachmarkedwithitsownersname，andeachfilledwithrelicsofthechildhoodandgirlhoodendednowforall。Joglancedintothem，andwhenshecametoherown，leanedherchinontheedge，andstaredabsentlyatthechaoticcollection，tillabundleofoldexercisebookscaughthereye。Shedrewthemout，turnedthemover，andrelivedthatpleasantwinteratkindMrs。Kirke’s。Shehadsmiledatfirst，thenshelookedthoughtful，nextsad，andwhenshecametoalittlemessagewrittenintheProfessor’shand，herlipsbegantotremble，thebooksslidoutofherlap，andshesatlookingatthefriendlywords，astheytookanewmeaning，andtouchedatenderspotinherheart。
“Waitforme，myfriend。Imaybealittlelate，butIshallsurelycome。“
“Oh，ifheonlywould!Sokine，sogood，sopatientwithmealways，mydearoldFritz。Ididn’tvaluehimhalfenoughwhenI
hadhim，butnowhowIshouldlovetoseehim，foreveryoneseemsgoingawayfromme，andI’mallalone。“
Andholdingthelittlepaperfast，asifitwereapromiseyettobefulfilled，Jolaidherheaddownonacomfortableragbag，andcried，asifinoppositiontotherainpatteringontheroof。
Wasitallself-pity，loneliness，orlowspirits？Orwasitthewakingupofasentimentwhichhadbideditstimeaspatientlyasitsinspirer？Whoshallsay？