English
Likesunshineafterastormwerethepeacefulweekswhichfollowed.
Theinvalidsimprovedrapidly,andMr.Marchbegantotalkofreturningearlyinthenewyear.
Bethwassoonabletolieonthestudysofaallday,amusingherselfwiththewell–belovedcatsatfirst,andintimewithdoll'ssewing,whichhadfallensadlybehind–hand.
HeronceactivelimbsweresostiffandfeeblethatJotookherforadailyairingaboutthehouseinherstrongarms.
Megcheerfullyblackenedandburnedherwhitehandscookingdelicatemessesfor'thedear',whileAmy,aloyalslaveofthering,celebratedherreturnbygivingawayasmanyofhertreasuresasshecouldprevailonhersisterstoaccept.
AsChristmasapproached,theusualmysteriesbegantohauntthehouse,andJofrequentlyconvulsedthefamilybyproposingutterlyimpossibleormagnificentlyabsurdceremonies,inhonorofthisunusuallymerryChristmas.
Lauriewasequallyimpracticable,andwouldhavehadbonfires,skyrockets,andtriumphalarches,ifhehadhadhisownway.
Aftermanyskirmishesandsnubbings,theambitiouspairwereconsideredeffectuallyquenchedandwentaboutwithforlornfaces,whichwereratherbeliedbyexplosionsoflaughterwhenthetwogottogether.
SeveraldaysofunusuallymildweatherfitlyusheredinasplendidChristmasDay.
Hannah'feltinherbones'thatitwasgoingtobeanunusuallyfineday,andsheprovedherselfatrueprophetess,foreverybodyandeverythingseemedboundtoproduceagrandsuccess.
Tobeginwith,Mr.Marchwrotethatheshouldsoonbewiththem,thenBethfeltuncommonlywellthatmorning,and,beingdressedinhermother'sgift,asoftcrimsonmerinowrapper,wasborneinhightriumphtothewindowtobeholdtheofferingofJoandLaurie.
TheUnquenchableshaddonetheirbesttobeworthyofthename,forlikeelvestheyhadworkedbynightandconjuredupacomicalsurprise.
Outinthegardenstoodastatelysnowmaiden,crownedwithholly,bearingabasketoffruitandflowersinonehand,agreatrollofmusicintheother,aperfectrainbowofanAfghanroundherchillyshoulders,andaChristmascarolissuingfromherlipsonapinkpaperstreamer.
THEJUNGFRAUTOBETH
Godblessyou,dearQueenBess!
Maynothingyoudismay,
Buthealthandpeaceandhappiness
Beyours,thisChristmasday.
Here'sfruittofeedourbusybee,
Andflowersforhernose.
Here'smusicforherpianee,
Anafghanforhertoes,
AportraitofJoanna,see,
ByRaphaelNo.2,
Wholabouredwithgreatindustry
Tomakeitfairandtrue.
Acceptaribbonred,Ibeg,
ForMadamPurrer'stail,
AndicecreammadebylovelyPeg,
AMontBlancinapail.
Theirdearestlovemymakerslaid
Withinmybreastofsnow.
Acceptit,andtheAlpinemaid,
FromLaurieandfromJo.
HowBethlaughedwhenshesawit,howLaurieranupanddowntobringinthegifts,andwhatridiculousspeechesJomadeasshepresentedthem.
"I'msofullofhappiness,thatifFatherwasonlyhere,Icouldn'tholdonedropmore,"saidBeth,quitesighingwithcontentmentasJocarriedherofftothestudytorestaftertheexcitement,andtorefreshherselfwithsomeofthedeliciousgrapesthe'Jungfrau'hadsenther.
"SoamI,"addedJo,slappingthepocketwhereinreposedthelong–desiredUndineandSintram.
"I'msureIam,"echoedAmy,poringovertheengravedcopyoftheMadonnaandChild,whichhermotherhadgivenherinaprettyframe.
"OfcourseIam!"criedMeg,smoothingthesilveryfoldsofherfirstsilkdress,forMr.Laurencehadinsistedongivingit."HowcanIbeotherwise?"
saidMrs.Marchgratefully,ashereyeswentfromherhusband'slettertoBeth'ssmilingface,andherhandcarressedthebroochmadeofgrayandgolden,chestnutanddarkbrownhair,whichthegirlshadjustfastenedonherbreast.
Nowandthen,inthisworkadayworld,thingsdohappeninthedelightfulstorybookfashion,andwhatacomfortitis.
Halfanhouraftereveryonehadsaidtheyweresohappytheycouldonlyholdonedropmore,thedropcame.
Laurieopenedtheparlordoorandpoppedhisheadinveryquietly.
HemightjustaswellhaveturnedasomersaultandutteredanIndianwarwhoop,forhisfacewassofullofsuppressedexcitementandhisvoicesotreacherouslyjoyfulthateveryonejumpedup,thoughheonlysaid,inaqueer,breathlessvoice,"Here'sanotherChristmaspresentfortheMarchfamily."
Beforethewordswerewelloutofhismouth,hewaswhiskedawaysomehow,andinhisplaceappearedatallman,muffleduptotheeyes,leaningonthearmofanothertallman,whotriedtosaysomethingandcouldn't.
Ofcoursetherewasageneralstampede,andforseveralminuteseverybodyseemedtolosetheirwits,forthestrangestthingsweredone,andnoonesaidaword.
Mr.Marchbecameinvisibleintheembraceoffourpairsoflovingarms.
Jodisgracedherselfbynearlyfaintingaway,andhadtobedoctoredbyLaurieinthechinacloset.
Mr.BrookekissedMegentirelybymistake,ashesomewhatincoherentlyexplained.
AndAmy,thedignified,tumbledoverastool,andneverstoppingtogetup,huggedandcriedoverherfather'sbootsinthemosttouchingmanner.
Mrs.Marchwasthefirsttorecoverherself,andheldupherhandwithawarning,"Hush!RememberBeth."
Butitwastoolate.Thestudydoorflewopen,thelittleredwrapperappearedonthethreshold,joyputstrengthintothefeeblelimbs,andBethranstraightintoherfather'sarms.
Nevermindwhathappenedjustafterthat,forthefullheartsoverflowed,washingawaythebitternessofthepastandleavingonlythesweetnessofthepresent.
Itwasnotatallromantic,butaheartylaughseteverybodystraightagain,forHannahwasdiscoveredbehindthedoor,sobbingoverthefatturkey,whichshehadforgottentoputdownwhensherushedupfromthekitchen.
Asthelaughsubsided,Mrs.MarchbegantothankMr.Brookeforhisfaithfulcareofherhusband,atwhichMr.BrookesuddenlyrememberedthatMr.Marchneededrest,andseizingLaurie,heprecipitatelyretired.
Thenthetwoinvalidswereorderedtorepose,whichtheydid,bybothsittinginonebigchairandtalkinghard.
Mr.Marchtoldhowhehadlongedtosurprisethem,andhow,whenthefineweathercame,hehadbeenallowedbyhisdoctortotakeadvantageofit,howdevotedBrookehadbeen,andhowhewasaltogetheramostestimableanduprightyoungman.
WhyMr.Marchpausedaminutejustthere,andafteraglanceatMeg,whowasviolentlypokingthefire,lookedathiswifewithaninquiringliftoftheeyebrows,Ileaveyoutoimagine.
AlsowhyMrs.Marchgentlynoddedherheadandasked,ratherabruptly,ifhewouldn'tliketohavesomethingtoeat.
Josawandunderstoodthelook,andshestalkedgrimlyawaytogetwineandbeeftea,mutteringtoherselfassheslammedthedoor,"Ihateestimableyoungmenwithbrowneyes!"
ThereneverwassuchaChristmasdinnerastheyhadthatday.
Thefatturkeywasasighttobehold,whenHannahsenthimup,stuffed,browned,anddecorated.
Sowastheplumpudding,whichmeltedinone'smouth,likewisethejellies,inwhichAmyreveledlikeaflyinahoneypot.
Everythingturnedoutwell,whichwasamercy,Hannahsaid,"Formymindwasthatflustered,Mum,thatit'samerrycleIdidn'troastthepudding,andstufftheturkeywithraisins,letalonebilin'ofitinacloth."
Mr.Laurenceandhisgrandsondinedwiththem,alsoMr.Brooke,atwhomJoglowereddarkly,toLaurie'sinfiniteamusement.
Twoeasychairsstoodsidebysideattheheadofthetable,inwhichsatBethandherfather,feastingmodestlyonchickenandalittlefruit.
Theydrankhealths,toldstories,sangsongs,'reminisced',astheoldfolkssay,andhadathoroughlygoodtime.
Asleighridehadbeenplanned,butthegirlswouldnotleavetheirfather,sotheguestsdepartedearly,andastwilightgathered,thehappyfamilysattogetherroundthefire.
"JustayearagoweweregroaningoverthedismalChristmasweexpectedtohave.Doyouremember?"askedJo,breakingashortpausewhichhadfollowedalongconversationaboutmanythings.
"Ratherapleasantyearonthewhole!"saidMeg,smilingatthefire,andcongratulatingherselfonhavingtreatedMr.Brookewithdignity.
"Ithinkit'sbeenaprettyhardone,"observedAmy,watchingthelightshineonherringwiththoughtfuleyes.
"I'mgladit'sover,becausewe'vegotyouback,"whisperedBeth,whosatonherfather'sknee.
"Ratheraroughroadforyoutotravel,mylittlepilgrims,especiallythelatterpartofit.
Butyouhavegotonbravely,andIthinktheburdensareinafairwaytotumbleoffverysoon,"saidMr.March,lookingwithfatherlysatisfactionatthefouryoungfacesgatheredroundhim.
"Howdoyouknow?DidMothertellyou?"askedJo.
"Notmuch.Strawsshowwhichwaythewindblows,andI'vemadeseveraldiscoveriestoday."
"Oh,telluswhattheyare!"criedMeg,whosatbesidehim.
"Hereisone."Andtakingupthehandwhichlayonthearmofhischair,hepointedtotheroughenedforefinger,aburnontheback,andtwoorthreelittlehardspotsonthepalm.
"Irememberatimewhenthishandwaswhiteandsmooth,andyourfirstcarewastokeepitso.
Itwasveryprettythen,buttomeitismuchprettiernow,forinthisseemingblemishesIreadalittlehistory.
Aburntofferinghasbeenmadetovanity,thishardenedpalmhasearnedsomethingbetterthanblisters,andI'msurethesewingdonebytheseprickedfingerswilllastalongtime,somuchgoodwillwentintothestitches.
Meg,mydear,Ivaluethewomanlyskillwhichkeepshomehappymorethanwhitehandsorfashionableaccomplishments.
I'mproudtoshakethisgood,industriouslittlehand,andhopeIshallnotsoonbeaskedtogiveitaway."
IfMeghadwantedarewardforhoursofpatientlabor,shereceiveditintheheartypressureofherfather'shandandtheapprovingsmilehegaveher.
"WhataboutJo?Pleasesaysomethingnice,forshehastriedsohardandbeensovery,verygoodtome,"saidBethinherfather'sear.
Helaughedandlookedacrossatthetallgirlwhosatopposite,withanunusuallymildexpressioninherface.
"Inspiteofthecurlycrop,Idon'tseethe'sonJo'whomIleftayearago,"saidMr.March.
"Iseeayoungladywhopinshercollarstraight,lacesherbootsneatly,andneitherwhistles,talksslang,norliesontherugassheusedtodo.
Herfaceisratherthinandpalejustnow,withwatchingandanxiety,butIliketolookatit,forithasgrowngentler,andhervoiceislower.
Shedoesn'tbounce,butmovesquietly,andtakescareofacertainlittlepersoninamotherlywaywhichdelightsme.
Irathermissmywildgirl,butifIgetastrong,helpful,tenderheartedwomaninherplace,Ishallfeelquitesatisfied.
Idon'tknowwhethertheshearingsoberedourblacksheep,butIdoknowthatinallWashingtonIcouldn'tfindanythingbeautifulenoughtobeboughtwiththefive–and–twentydollarsmygoodgirlsentme."
Jo'skeeneyeswereratherdimforaminute,andherthinfacegrewrosyinthefirelightasshereceivedherfather'spraise,feelingthatshediddeserveaportionofit.
"Now,Beth,"saidAmy,longingforherturn,butreadytowait.
"There'ssolittleofher,I'mafraidtosaymuch,forfearshewillslipawayaltogether,thoughsheisnotsoshyassheusedtobe,"begantheirfathercheerfully.
Butrecollectinghownearlyhehadlosther,heheldherclose,sayingtenderly,withhercheekagainsthisown,"I'vegotyousafe,myBeth,andI'llkeepyouso,pleaseGod."
Afteraminute'ssilence,helookeddownatAmy,whosatonthecricketathisfeet,andsaid,withacaressoftheshininghair...
"IobservedthatAmytookdrumsticksatdinner,ranerrandsforhermotheralltheafternoon,gaveMegherplacetonight,andhaswaitedoneveryonewithpatienceandgoodhumor.
Ialsoobservethatshedoesnotfretmuchnorlookintheglass,andhasnotevenmentionedaveryprettyringwhichshewears,soIconcludethatshehaslearnedtothinkofotherpeoplemoreandofherselfless,andhasdecidedtotryandmoldhercharacterascarefullyasshemoldsherlittleclayfigures.
Iamgladofthis,forthoughIshouldbeveryproudofagracefulstatuemadebyher,Ishallbeinfinitelyprouderofalovabledaughterwithatalentformakinglifebeautifultoherselfandothers."
"Whatareyouthinkingof,Beth?"askedJo,whenAmyhadthankedherfatherandtoldaboutherring.
"IreadinPilgrim'sProgresstodayhow,aftermanytroubles,ChristianandHopefulcametoapleasantgreenmeadowwhereliliesbloomedallyearround,andtheretheyrestedhappily,aswedonow,beforetheywentontotheirjourney'send,"answeredBeth,adding,assheslippedoutofherfather'sarmsandwenttotheinstrument,"It'ssingingtimenow,andIwanttobeinmyoldplace.
I'lltrytosingthesongoftheshepherdboywhichthePilgrimsheard.
ImadethemusicforFather,becausehelikestheverses."
So,sittingatthedearlittlepiano,Bethsoftlytouchedthekeys,andinthesweetvoicetheyhadneverthoughttohearagain,sangtoherownaccompanimentthequainthymn,whichwasasingularlyfittingsongforher.
Hethatisdownneedfearnofall,
Hethatislownopride.
Hethatishumbleevershall
HaveGodtobehisguide.
IamcontentwithwhatIhave,
Littlebeit,ormuch.
And,Lord!ContentmentstillIcrave,
BecauseThousavestsuch.
Fulnesstothemaburdenis,
Thatgoonpilgrimage.
Herelittle,andhereafterbliss,
Isbestfromagetoage!
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