English
FortunesuddenlysmileduponJo,anddroppedagoodluckpennyinherpath.
Notagoldenpenny,exactly,butIdoubtifhalfamillionwouldhavegivenmorerealhappinessthendidthelittlesumthatcametoherinthiswise.
Everyfewweeksshewouldshutherselfupinherroom,putonherscribblingsuit,and'fallintoavortex',assheexpressedit,writingawayathernovelwithallherheartandsoul,fortillthatwasfinishedshecouldfindnopeace.
Her'scribblingsuit'consistedofablackwoolenpinaforeonwhichshecouldwipeherpenatwill,andacapofthesamematerial,adornedwithacheerfulredbow,intowhichshebundledherhairwhenthedeckswereclearedforaction.
Thiscapwasabeacontotheinquiringeyesofherfamily,whoduringtheseperiodskepttheirdistance,merelypoppingintheirheadssemi–occasionallytoask,withinterest,"Doesgeniusburn,Jo?"
Theydidnotalwaysventureeventoaskthisquestion,buttookanobservationofthecap,andjudgedaccordingly.
Ifthisexpressivearticleofdresswasdrawnlowupontheforehead,itwasasignthathardworkwasgoingon,inexcitingmomentsitwaspushedrakishlyaskew,andwhendespairseizedtheauthoritwaspluckedwhollyoff,andcastuponthefloor.
Atsuchtimestheintrudersilentlywithdrew,andnotuntiltheredbowwasseengailyerectuponthegiftedbrow,didanyonedareaddressJo.
Shedidnotthinkherselfageniusbyanymeans,butwhenthewritingfitcameon,shegaveherselfuptoitwithentireabandon,andledablissfullife,unconsciousofwant,care,orbadweather,whileshesatsafeandhappyinanimaginaryworld,fulloffriendsalmostasrealanddeartoherasanyintheflesh.
Sleepforsookhereyes,mealsstooduntasted,dayandnightwerealltooshorttoenjoythehappinesswhichblessedheronlyatsuchtimes,andmadethesehoursworthliving,eveniftheyborenootherfruit.
Thedevineafflatususuallylastedaweekortwo,andthensheemergedfromher'vortex',hungry,sleepy,cross,ordespondent.
ShewasjustrecoveringfromoneoftheseattackswhenshewasprevailedupontoescortMissCrockertoalecture,andinreturnforhervirtuewasrewardedwithanewidea.
ItwasaPeople'sCourse,thelectureonthePyramids,andJoratherwonderedatthechoiceofsuchasubjectforsuchanaudience,buttookitforgrantedthatsomegreatsocialevilwouldberemediedorsomegreatwantsuppliedbyunfoldingthegloriesofthePharaohstoanaudiencewhosethoughtswerebusywiththepriceofcoalandflour,andwhoseliveswerespentintryingtosolveharderriddlesthanthatoftheSphinx.
Theywereearly,andwhileMissCrockersettheheelofherstocking,Joamusedherselfbyexaminingthefacesofthepeoplewhooccupiedtheseatwiththem.
Onherleftweretwomatrons,withmassiveforeheadsandbonnetstomatch,discussingWomen'sRightsandmakingtatting.
Beyondsatapairofhumblelovers,artlesslyholdingeachotherbythehand,asomberspinstereatingpeppermintsoutofapaperbag,andanoldgentlemantakinghispreparatorynapbehindayellowbandanna.
Onherright,heronlyneighborwasastudiouslookingladabsorbedinanewspaper.
Itwasapictorialsheet,andJoexaminedtheworkofartnearesther,idlywonderingwhatfortuitousconcatenationofcircumstancesneededthemelodramaticillustrationofanIndianinfullwarcostume,tumblingoveraprecipicewithawolfathisthroat,whiletwoinfuriatedyounggentlemen,withunnaturallysmallfeetandbigeyes,werestabbingeachothercloseby,andadisheveledfemalewasflyingawayinthebackgroundwithhermouthwideopen.
Pausingtoturnapage,theladsawherlookingand,withboyishgoodnatureofferedhalfhispaper,sayingbluntly,"wanttoreadit?That'safirst–ratestory."
Joaccepteditwithasmile,forshehadneveroutgrownherlikingforlads,andsoonfoundherselfinvolvedintheusuallabyrinthoflove,mystery,andmurder,forthestorybelongedtothatclassoflightliteratureinwhichthepassionshaveaholiday,andwhentheauthor'sinventionfails,agrandcatastropheclearsthestageofonehalfthedramatispersonae,leavingtheotherhalftoexultovertheirdownfall.
"Prime,isn'tit?"askedtheboy,ashereyewentdownthelastparagraphofherportion.
"IthinkyouandIcoulddoaswellasthatifwetried,"returnedJo,amusedathisadmirationofthetrash.
"IshouldthinkIwasaprettyluckychapifIcould.Shemakesagoodlivingoutofsuchstories,theysay."andhepointedtothenameofMrs.S.L.A.N.G.Northbury,underthetitleofthetale.
"Doyouknowher?"askedJo,withsuddeninterest.
"No,butIreadallherpieces,andIknowafellowwhoworksintheofficewherethispaperisprinted."
"Doyousayshemakesagoodlivingoutofstorieslikethis?"andJolookedmorerespectfullyattheagitatedgroupandthicklysprinkledexclamationpointsthatadornedthepage.
"Guessshedoes!Sheknowsjustwhatfolkslike,andgetspaidwellforwritingit."
Herethelecturebegan,butJoheardverylittleofit,forwhileProfessorSandswasprosingawayaboutBelzoni,Cheops,scarabei,andhieroglyphics,shewascovertlytakingdowntheaddressofthepaper,andboldlyresolvingtotryforthehundred–dollarprizeofferedinitscolumnsforasensationalstory.
Bythetimethelectureendedandtheaudienceawoke,shehadbuiltupasplendidfortuneforherself(notthefirstfoundedonpaper),andwasalreadydeepintheconcoctionofherstory,beingunabletodecidewhethertheduelshouldcomebeforetheelopementorafterthemurder.
Shesaidnothingofherplanathome,butfelltoworknextday,muchtothedisquietofhermother,whoalwayslookedalittleanxiouswhen'geniustooktoburning'.
Johadnevertriedthisstylebefore,contentingherselfwithverymildromancesforTheSpreadEagle.
Herexperienceandmiscellaneousreadingwereofservicenow,fortheygavehersomeideaofdramaticeffect,andsuppliedplot,language,andcostumes.
Herstorywasasfullofdesperationanddespairasherlimitedacquaintancewiththoseuncomfortableemotionsenabledhertomakeit,andhavinglocateditinLisbon,shewoundupwithanearthquake,asastrikingandappropriatedenouement.
Themanuscriptwasprivatelydispatched,accompaniedbyanote,modestlysayingthatifthetaledidn'tgettheprize,whichthewriterhardlydaredexpect,shewouldbeverygladtoreceiveanysumitmightbeconsideredworth.
Sixweeksisalongtimetowait,andastilllongertimeforagirltokeepasecret,butJodidboth,andwasjustbeginningtogiveupallhopeofeverseeinghermanuscriptagain,whenaletterarrivedwhichalmosttookherbreathaway,foronopeningit,acheckforahundreddollarsfellintoherlap.
Foraminuteshestaredatitasifithadbeenasnake,thenshereadherletterandbegantocry.
Iftheamiablegentlemanwhowrotethatkindlynotecouldhaveknownwhatintensehappinesshewasgivingafellowcreature,Ithinkhewoulddevotehisleisurehours,ifhehasany,tothatamusement,forJovaluedthelettermorethanthemoney,becauseitwasencouraging,andafteryearsofeffortitwassopleasanttofindthatshehadlearnedtodosomething,thoughitwasonlytowriteasensationstory.
Aprouderyoungwomanwasseldomseenthanshe,when,havingcomposedherself,sheelectrifiedthefamilybyappearingbeforethemwiththeletterinonehand,thecheckintheother,announcingthatshehadwontheprize.
Ofcoursetherewasagreatjubilee,andwhenthestorycameeveryonereadandpraisedit,thoughafterherfatherhadtoldherthatthelanguagewasgood,theromancefreshandhearty,andthetragedyquitethrilling,heshookhishead,andsaidinhisunworldlyway...
"Youcandobetterthanthis,Jo.Aimatthehighest,andnevermindthemoney."
"Ithinkthemoneyisthebestpartofit.Whatwillyoudowithsuchafortune?"askedAmy,regardingthemagicslipofpaperwithareverentialeye.
"SendBethandMothertotheseasideforamonthortwo,"answeredJopromptly.
Totheseasidetheywent,aftermuchdiscussion,andthoughBethdidn'tcomehomeasplumpandrosyascouldbedesired,shewasmuchbetter,whileMrs.Marchdeclaredshefelttenyearsyounger.
SoJowassatisfiedwiththeinvestmentofherprizemoney,andfelltoworkwithacheeryspirit,bentonearningmoreofthosedelightfulchecks.
Shedidearnseveralthatyear,andbegantofeelherselfapowerinthehouse,forbythemagicofapen,her'rubbish'turnedintocomfortsforthemall.
TheDuke'sDaughterpaidthebutcher'sbill,APhantomHandputdownanewcarpet,andtheCurseoftheCoventrysprovedtheblessingoftheMarchesinthewayofgroceriesandgowns.
Wealthiscertainlyamostdesirablething,butpovertyhasitssunnyside,andoneofthesweetusesofadversityisthegenuinesatisfactionwhichcomesfromheartyworkofheadorhand,andtotheinspirationofnecessity,weowehalfthewise,beautiful,andusefulblessingsoftheworld.
Joenjoyedatasteofthissatisfaction,andceasedtoenvyrichergirls,takinggreatcomfortintheknowledgethatshecouldsupplyherownwants,andneedasknooneforapenny.
Littlenoticewastakenofherstories,buttheyfoundamarket,andencouragedbythisfact,sheresolvedtomakeaboldstrokeforfameandfortune.
Havingcopiedhernovelforthefourthtime,readittoallherconfidentialfriends,andsubmitteditwithfearandtremblingtothreepublishers,sheatlastdisposedofit,onconditionthatshewouldcutitdownonethird,andomitallthepartswhichsheparticularlyadmired.
"NowImusteitherbundleitbackintomytinkitchentomold,payforprintingitmyself,orchopituptosuitpurchasersandgetwhatIcanforit.
Fameisaverygoodthingtohaveinthehouse,butcashismoreconvenient,soIwishtotakethesenseofthemeetingonthisimportantsubject,"saidJo,callingafamilycouncil.
"Don'tspoilyourbook,mygirl,forthereismoreinitthanyouknow,andtheideaiswellworkedout.
Letitwaitandripen,"washerfather'sadvice,andhepracticedwhathepreached,havingwaitedpatientlythirtyyearsforfruitofhisowntoripen,andbeinginnohastetogatheritevennowwhenitwassweetandmellow.
"ItseemstomethatJowillprofitmorebytakingthetrialthanbywaiting,"saidMrs.March.
"Criticismisthebesttestofsuchwork,foritwillshowherbothunsuspectedmeritsandfaults,andhelphertodobetternexttime.
Wearetoopartial,butthepraiseandblameofoutsiderswillproveuseful,evenifshegetsbutlittlemoney."
"Yes,"saidJo,knittingherbrows,"that'sjustit.
I'vebeenfussingoverthethingsolong,Ireallydon'tknowwhetherit'sgood,bad,orindifferent.
Itwillbeagreathelptohavecool,impartialpersonstakealookatit,andtellmewhattheythinkofit."
"Iwouldn'tleaveawordoutofit.You'llspoilitifyoudo,fortheinterestofthestoryismoreinthemindsthanintheactionsofthepeople,anditwillbeallamuddleifyoudon'texplainasyougoon,"saidMeg,whofirmlybelievedthatthisbookwasthemostremarkablenoveleverwritten.
"ButMr.Allensays,'Leaveouttheexplanations,makeitbriefanddramatic,andletthecharacterstellthestory',"interruptedJo,turningtothepublisher'snote.
"Doashetellsyou.Heknowswhatwillsell,andwedon't.
Makeagood,popularbook,andgetasmuchmoneyasyoucan.
By–and–by,whenyou'vegotaname,youcanaffordtodigress,andhavephilosophicalandmetaphysicalpeopleinyournovels,"saidAmy,whotookastrictlypracticalviewofthesubject.
"Well,"saidJo,laughing,"ifmypeopleare'philosophicalandmetaphysical',itisn'tmyfault,forIknownothingaboutsuchthings,exceptwhatIhearfathersay,sometimes.
IfI'vegotsomeofhiswiseideasjumbledupwithmyromance,somuchthebetterforme.Now,Beth,whatdoyousay?"
"Ishouldsoliketoseeitprintedsoon,"wasallBethsaid,andsmiledinsayingit.
Buttherewasanunconsciousemphasisonthelastword,andawistfullookintheeyesthatneverlosttheirchildlikecandor,whichchilledJo'sheartforaminutewithaforbodingfear,anddecidedhertomakeherlittleventure'soon'.
So,withSpartanfirmness,theyoungauthoresslaidherfirst–bornonhertable,andchoppeditupasruthlesslyasanyogre.
Inthehopeofpleasingeveryone,shetookeveryone'sadvice,andliketheoldmanandhisdonkeyinthefablesuitednobody.
Herfatherlikedthemetaphysicalstreakwhichhadunconsciouslygotintoit,sothatwasallowedtoremainthoughshehadherdoubtsaboutit.
Hermotherthoughtthattherewasatrifletoomuchdescription.
Out,thereforeitcame,andwithitmanynecessarylinksinthestory.
Megadmiredthetragedy,soJopileduptheagonytosuither,whileAmyobjectedtothefun,and,withthebestintentionsinlife,Joquenchedthespritlysceneswhichrelievedthesombercharacterofthestory.
Then,tocomplicatetheruin,shecutitdownonethird,andconfidinglysentthepoorlittleromance,likeapickedrobin,outintothebig,busyworldtotryitsfate.
Well,itwasprinted,andshegotthreehundreddollarsforit,likewiseplentyofpraiseandblame,bothsomuchgreaterthansheexpectedthatshewasthrownintoastateofbewildermentfromwhichittookhersometimetorecover.
"Yousaid,Mother,thatcriticismwouldhelpme.
Buthowcanit,whenit'ssocontradictorythatIdon'tknowwhetherI'vewrittenapromisingbookorbrokenallthetencommandments?"
criedpoorJo,turningoveraheapofnotices,theperusalofwhichfilledherwithprideandjoyoneminute,wrathanddismaythenext.
"Thismansays,'Anexquisitebook,fulloftruth,beauty,andearnestness.''Allissweet,pure,andhealthy.'"continuedtheperplexedauthoress.
"Thenext,'Thetheoryofthebookisbad,fullofmorbidfancies,spiritualisticideas,andunnaturalcharacters.'
Now,asIhadnotheoryofanykind,don'tbelieveinSpiritualism,andcopiedmycharactersfromlife,Idon'tseehowthiscriticcanberight.
Anothersays,'It'soneofthebestAmericannovelswhichhasappearedforyears.'
(Iknowbetterthanthat),andthenextassertsthat'Thoughitisoriginal,andwrittenwithgreatforceandfeeling,itisadangerousbook.''Tisn't!
Somemakefunofit,someoverpraise,andnearlyallinsistthatIhadadeeptheorytoexpound,whenIonlywroteitforthepleasureandthemoney.
IwishI'dprintedthewholeornotatall,forIdohatetobesomisjudged."
Herfamilyandfriendsadministeredcomfortandcommendationliberally.
Yetitwasahardtimeforsensitive,high–spiritedJo,whomeantsowellandhadapparentlydonesoill.
Butitdidhergood,forthosewhoseopinionhadrealvaluegaveherthecriticismwhichisanauthor'sbesteducation,andwhenthefirstsorenesswasover,shecouldlaughatherpoorlittlebook,yetbelieveinitstill,andfeelherselfthewiserandstrongerforthebuffetingshehadreceived.
"Notbeingagenius,likeKeats,itwon'tkillme,"shesaidstoutly,"andI'vegotthejokeonmyside,afterall,forthepartsthatweretakenstraightoutofreallifearedenouncedasimpossibleandabsurd,andthescenesthatImadeupoutofmyownsillyheadarepronounced'charminglynatural,tender,andtrue'.
SoI'llcomfortmyselfwiththat,andwhenI'mready,I'llupagainandtakeanother."
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