English
NewYork,November
DearMarmeeandBeth,
I'mgoingtowriteyouaregularvolume,forI'vegotheapstotell,thoughI'mnotafineyoungladytravelingonthecontinent.
WhenIlostsightofFather'sdearoldface,Ifeltatrifleblue,andmighthaveshedabrinydroportwo,ifanIrishladywithfoursmallchildren,allcryingmoreorless,hadn'tdivertedmymind,forIamusedmyselfbydroppinggingerbreadnutsovertheseateverytimetheyopenedtheirmouthstoroar.
Soonthesuncameout,andtakingitasagoodomen,Icleareduplikewiseandenjoyedmyjourneywithallmyheart.
Mrs.KirkewelcomedmesokindlyIfeltathomeatonce,eveninthatbighousefullofstrangers.
Shegavemeafunnylittleskyparlor––allshehad,butthereisastoveinit,andanicetableinasunnywindow,soIcansithereandwritewheneverIlike.
Afineviewandachurchtoweroppositeatoneforthemanystairs,andItookafancytomydenonthespot.
Thenursery,whereIamtoteachandsew,isapleasantroomnextMrs.Kirke'sprivateparlor,andthetwolittlegirlsareprettychildren,ratherspoiled,Ifancy,buttheytooktomeaftertellingthemTheSevenBadPigs,andI'venodoubtIshallmakeamodelgoverness.
Iamtohavemymealswiththechildren,ifIpreferittothegreattable,andforthepresentIdo,forIambashful,thoughnoonewillbelieveit.
"Now,mydear,makeyourselfathome,"saidMrs.K.inhermotherlyway,"I'monthedrivefrommorningtonight,asyoumaysupposewithsuchafamily,butagreatanxietywillbeoffmymindifIknowthechildrenaresafewithyou.
Myroomsarealwaysopentoyou,andyourownshallbeascomfortableasIcanmakeit.
Therearesomepleasantpeopleinthehouseifyoufeelsociable,andyoureveningsarealwaysfree.
Cometomeifanythinggoeswrong,andbeashappyasyoucan.
There'stheteabell,Imustrunandchangemycap."
Andoffshebustled,leavingmetosettlemyselfinmynewnest.
AsIwentdownstairssoonafter,IsawsomethingIliked.
Theflightsareverylonginthistallhouse,andasIstoodwaitingattheheadofthethirdoneforalittleservantgirltolumberup,Isawagentlemancomealongbehindher,taketheheavyhodofcoaloutofherhand,carryitallthewayup,putitdownatadoornearby,andwalkaway,saying,withakindnodandaforeignaccent,"Itgoesbetterso.
Thelittlebackistooyoungtohafsuchheaviness."
Wasn'titgoodofhim?Ilikesuchthings,forasFathersays,triflesshowcharacter.
WhenImentionedittoMrs.K.,thatevening,shelaughed,andsaid,"ThatmusthavebeenProfessorBhaer,he'salwaysdoingthingsofthatsort."
Mrs.K.toldmehewasfromBerlin,verylearnedandgood,butpoorasachurchmouse,andgiveslessonstosupporthimselfandtwolittleorphannephewswhomheiseducatinghere,accordingtothewishesofhissister,whomarriedanAmerican.
Notaveryromanticstory,butitinterestedme,andIwasgladtohearthatMrs.K.lendshimherparlorforsomeofhisscholars.
Thereisaglassdoorbetweenitandthenursery,andImeantopeepathim,andthenI'lltellyouhowhelooks.
He'salmostforty,soit'snoharm,Marmee.
Afterteaandago–to–bedrompwiththelittlegirls,Iattackedthebigworkbasket,andhadaquieteveningchattingwithmynewfriend.
Ishallkeepajournal–letter,andsenditonceaweek,sogoodnight,andmoretomorrow.
TuesdayEve
Hadalivelytimeinmyseminarythismorning,forthechildrenactedlikeSancho,andatonetimeIreallythoughtIshouldshakethemallround.
Somegoodangelinspiredmetotrygymnastics,andIkeptituptilltheyweregladtositdownandkeepstill.
Afterluncheon,thegirltookthemoutforawalk,andIwenttomyneedleworklikelittleMabel'withawillingmind'.
IwasthankingmystarsthatI'dlearnedtomakenicebuttonholes,whentheparlordooropenedandshut,andsomeonebegantohum,KennstDuDasLand,likeabigbumblebee.
Itwasdreadfullyimproper,Iknow,butIcouldn'tresistthetemptation,andliftingoneendofthecurtainbeforetheglassdoor,Ipeepedin.
ProfessorBhaerwasthere,andwhilehearrangedhisbooks,Itookagoodlookathim.
AregularGerman––ratherstout,withbrownhairtumbledalloverhishead,abushybeard,goodnose,thekindesteyesIeversaw,andasplendidbigvoicethatdoesone'searsgood,afteroursharporslipshodAmericangabble.
Hisclotheswererusty,hishandswerelarge,andhehadn'tareallyhandsomefeatureinhisface,excepthisbeautifulteeth,yetIlikedhim,forhehadafinehead,hislinenwasverynice,andhelookedlikeagentleman,thoughtwobuttonswereoffhiscoatandtherewasapatchononeshoe.
Helookedsoberinspiteofhishumming,tillhewenttothewindowtoturnthehyacinthbulbstowardthesun,andstrokethecat,whoreceivedhimlikeanoldfriend.
Thenhesmiled,andwhenatapcameatthedoor,calledoutinaloud,brisktone,"Herein!"
Iwasjustgoingtorun,whenIcaughtsightofamorselofachildcarryingabigbook,andstopped,toseewhatwasgoingon.
"MewantsmeBhaer,"saidthemite,slammingdownherbookandrunningtomeethim.
"ThoushalthafthyBhaer.Come,then,andtakeagoothugfromhim,myTina,"saidtheProfessor,catchingherupwithalaugh,andholdinghersohighoverhisheadthatshehadtostoopherlittlefacetokisshim.
"Nowmemustuddymylessin,"wentonthefunnylittlething.
Soheputherupatthetable,openedthegreatdictionaryshehadbrought,andgaveherapaperandpencil,andshescribbledaway,turningaleafnowandthen,andpassingherlittlefatfingerdownthepage,asiffindingaword,sosoberlythatInearlybetrayedmyselfbyalaugh,whileMr.Bhaerstoodstrokingherprettyhairwithafatherlylookthatmademethinkshemustbehisown,thoughshelookedmoreFrenchthanGerman.
Anotherknockandtheappearanceoftwoyoungladiessentmebacktomywork,andthereIvirtuouslyremainedthroughallthenoiseandgabblingthatwentonnextdoor.
Oneofthegirlskeptlaughingaffectedly,andsaying,"NowProfessor,"inacoquettishtone,andtheotherpronouncedherGermanwithanaccentthatmusthavemadeithardforhimtokeepsober.
Bothseemedtotryhispatiencesorely,formorethanonceIheardhimsayemphatically,"No,no,itisnotso,youhafnotattendtowhatIsay,"andoncetherewasaloudrap,asifhestruckthetablewithhisbook,followedbythedespairingexclamation,"Prut!Itallgoesbadthisday."
Poorman,Ipitiedhim,andwhenthegirlsweregone,tookjustonemorepeeptoseeifhesurvivedit.
Heseemedtohavethrownhimselfbackinhischair,tiredout,andsattherewithhiseyesshuttilltheclockstrucktwo,whenhejumpedup,puthisbooksinhispocket,asifreadyforanotherlesson,andtakinglittleTinawhohadfallenasleeponthesofainhisarms,hecarriedherquietlyaway.Ifancyhehasahardlifeofit.
Mrs.KirkeaskedmeifIwouldn'tgodowntothefiveo'clockdinner,andfeelingalittlebithomesick,IthoughtIwould,justtoseewhatsortofpeopleareunderthesameroofwithme.
SoImademyselfrespectableandtriedtoslipinbehindMrs.Kirke,butassheisshortandI'mtall,myeffortsatconcealmentwereratherafailure.
Shegavemeaseatbyher,andaftermyfacecooledoff,Ipluckedupcourageandlookedaboutme.
Thelongtablewasfull,andeveryoneintentongettingtheirdinner,thegentlemenespecially,whoseemedtobeeatingontime,fortheyboltedineverysenseoftheword,vanishingassoonastheyweredone.
Therewastheusualassortmentofyoungmenabsorbedinthemselves,youngcouplesabsorbedineachother,marriedladiesintheirbabies,andoldgentlemeninpolitics.
Idon'tthinkIshallcaretohavemuchtodowithanyofthem,exceptonesweetfacedmaidenlady,wholooksasifshehadsomethinginher.
CastawayattheverybottomofthetablewastheProfessor,shoutinganswerstothequestionsofaveryinquisitive,deafoldgentlemanononeside,andtalkingphilosophywithaFrenchmanontheother.
IfAmyhadbeenhere,she'dhaveturnedherbackonhimforeverbecause,sadtorelate,hehadagreatappetite,andshoveledinhisdinnerinamannerwhichwouldhavehorrified'herladyship'.
Ididn'tmind,forIlike'toseefolkseatwitharelish',asHannahsays,andthepoormanmusthaveneededadealoffoodafterteachingidiotsallday.
AsIwentupstairsafterdinner,twooftheyoungmenweresettlingtheirhatsbeforethehallmirror,andIheardonesaylowtotheother,"Who'sthenewparty?"
"Governess,orsomethingofthatsort."
"Whatthedeuceissheatourtablefor?"
"Friendoftheoldlady's."
"Handsomehead,butnostyle."
"Notabitofit.Giveusalightandcomeon."
Ifeltangryatfirst,andthenIdidn'tcare,foragovernessisasgoodasaclerk,andI'vegotsense,ifIhaven'tstyle,whichismorethansomepeoplehave,judgingfromtheremarksoftheelegantbeingswhoclatteredaway,smokinglikebadchimneys.Ihateordinarypeople!
Thursday
Yesterdaywasaquietdayspentinteaching,sewing,andwritinginmylittleroom,whichisverycozy,withalightandfire.
IpickedupafewbitsofnewsandwasintroducedtotheProfessor.
ItseemsthatTinaisthechildoftheFrenchwomanwhodoesthefineironinginthelaundryhere.
ThelittlethinghaslostherhearttoMr.Bhaer,andfollowshimaboutthehouselikeadogwheneverheisathome,whichdelightshim,asheisveryfondofchildren,thougha'bacheldore'.
KittyandMinnieKirkelikewiseregardhimwithaffection,andtellallsortsofstoriesabouttheplaysheinvents,thepresentshebrings,andthesplendidtaleshetells.
Theyoungermenquizhim,itseems,callhimOldFritz,LagerBeer,UrsaMajor,andmakeallmannerofjokesonhisname.
Butheenjoysitlikeaboy,Mrs.Kirkesays,andtakesitsogood–naturedlythattheyalllikehiminspiteofhisforeignways.
ThemaidenladyisaMissNorton,rich,cultivated,andkind.
Shespoketomeatdinnertoday(forIwenttotableagain,it'ssuchfuntowatchpeople),andaskedmetocomeandseeheratherroom.
Shehasfinebooksandpictures,knowsinterestingpersons,andseemsfriendly,soIshallmakemyselfagreeable,forIdowanttogetintogoodsociety,onlyitisn'tthesamesortthatAmylikes.
IwasinourparlorlasteveningwhenMr.BhaercameinwithsomenewspapersforMrs.Kirke.
Shewasn'tthere,butMinnie,whoisalittleoldwoman,introducedmeveryprettily."ThisisMamma'sfriend,MissMarch."
"Yes,andshe'sjollyandwelikeherlots,"addedKitty,whoisan'enfantterrible'.
Webothbowed,andthenwelaughed,fortheprimintroductionandthebluntadditionwereratheracomicalcontrast.
"Ah,yes,Ihearthesenaughtyonesgotovexyou,MeesMarsch.Ifsoagain,callatmeandIcome,"hesaid,withathreateningfrownthatdelightedthelittlewretches.
IpromisedIwould,andhedeparted,butitseemsasifIwasdoomedtoseeagooddealofhim,fortodayasIpassedhisdooronmywayout,byaccidentIknockedagainstitwithmyumbrella.
Itflewopen,andtherehestoodinhisdressinggown,withabigbluesockononehandandadarningneedleintheother.
Hedidn'tseematallashamedofit,forwhenIexplainedandhurriedon,hewavedhishand,sockandall,sayinginhisloud,cheerfulway...
"Youhafafinedaytomakeyourwalk.Bonvoyage,Mademoiselle."
Ilaughedallthewaydownstairs,butitwasalittlepathetic,alsotothinkofthepoormanhavingtomendhisownclothes.
TheGermangentlemenembroider,Iknow,butdarninghoseisanotherthingandnotsopretty.
Saturday
Nothinghashappenedtowriteabout,exceptacallonMissNorton,whohasaroomfullofprettythings,andwhowasverycharming,forsheshowedmeallhertreasures,andaskedmeifIwouldsometimesgowithhertolecturesandconcerts,asherescort,ifIenjoyedthem.
Sheputitasafavor,butI'msureMrs.Kirkehastoldheraboutus,andshedoesitoutofkindnesstome.
I'masproudasLucifer,butsuchfavorsfromsuchpeopledon'tburdenme,andIacceptedgratefully.
WhenIgotbacktothenurserytherewassuchanuproarintheparlorthatIlookedin,andtherewasMr.Bhaerdownonhishandsandknees,withTinaonhisback,Kittyleadinghimwithajumprope,andMinniefeedingtwosmallboyswithseedcakes,astheyroaredandrampedincagesbuiltofchairs.
"Weareplayingnargerie,"explainedKitty.
"Disismineeffalunt!"addedTina,holdingonbytheProfessor'shair.
"MammaalwaysallowsustodowhatwelikeSaturdayafternoon,whenFranzandEmilcome,doesn'tshe,Mr.Bhaer?"saidMinnie.
The'effalunt'satup,lookingasmuchinearnestasanyofthem,andsaidsoberlytome,"Igifyoumywortitisso,ifwemaketoolargeanoiseyoushallsayHush!tous,andwegomoresoftly."
Ipromisedtodoso,butleftthedooropenandenjoyedthefunasmuchastheydid,foramoregloriousfrolicIneverwitnessed.
Theyplayedtagandsoldiers,dancedandsang,andwhenitbegantogrowdarktheyallpiledontothesofaabouttheProfessor,whilehetoldcharmingfairystoriesofthestorksonthechimneytops,andthelittle'koblods',whoridethesnowflakesastheyfall.
IwishAmericanswereassimpleandnaturalasGermans,don'tyou?
I'msofondofwriting,Ishouldgospinningonforeverifmotivesofeconomydidn'tstopme,forthoughI'veusedthinpaperandwrittenfine,Itrembletothinkofthestampsthislongletterwillneed.
PrayforwardAmy'sassoonasyoucansparethem.
Mysmallnewswillsoundveryflatafterhersplendors,butyouwilllikethem,Iknow.
IsTeddystudyingsohardthathecan'tfindtimetowritetohisfriends?
Takegoodcareofhimforme,Beth,andtellmeallaboutthebabies,andgiveheapsoflovetoeveryone.FromyourfaithfulJo.
P.S.Onreadingovermyletter,itstrikesmeasratherBhaery,butIamalwaysinterestedinoddpeople,andIreallyhadnothingelsetowriteabout.Blessyou!
DECEMBER
MyPreciousBetsey,
Asthisistobeascribble–scrabbleletter,Idirectittoyou,foritmayamuseyou,andgiveyousomeideaofmygoingson,forthoughquiet,theyareratheramusing,forwhich,oh,bejoyful!
AfterwhatAmywouldcallHerculaneumefforts,inthewayofmentalandmoralagriculture,myyoungideasbegintoshootandmylittletwigstobendasIcouldwish.
TheyarenotsointerestingtomeasTinaandtheboys,butIdomydutybythem,andtheyarefondofme.
FranzandEmilarejollylittlelads,quiteaftermyownheart,forthemixtureofGermanandAmericanspiritinthemproducesaconstantstateofeffervescence.
Saturdayafternoonsareriotoustimes,whetherspentinthehouseorout,foronpleasantdaystheyallgotowalk,likeaseminary,withtheProfessorandmyselftokeeporder,andthensuchfun!
Weareverygoodfriendsnow,andI'vebeguntotakelessons.
Ireallycouldn'thelpit,anditallcameaboutinsuchadrollwaythatImusttellyou.
Tobeginatthebeginning,Mrs.KirkecalledtomeonedayasIpassedMr.Bhaer'sroomwhereshewasrummaging.
"Didyoueverseesuchaden,mydear?Justcomeandhelpmeputthesebookstorights,forI'veturnedeverythingupsidedown,tryingtodiscoverwhathehasdonewiththesixnewhandkerchiefsIgavehimnotlongago."
Iwentin,andwhileweworkedIlookedaboutme,foritwas'aden'tobesure.
Booksandpaperseverywhere,abrokenmeerschaum,andanoldfluteoverthemantlepieceasifdonewith,araggedbirdwithoutanytailchirpedononewindowseat,andaboxofwhitemiceadornedtheother.
Half–finishedboatsandbitsofstringlayamongthemanuscripts.
Dirtylittlebootsstooddryingbeforethefire,andtracesofthedearlybelovedboys,forwhomhemakesaslaveofhimself,weretobeseenallovertheroom.
Afteragrandrummagethreeofthemissingarticleswerefound,oneoverthebirdcage,onecoveredwithink,andathirdburnedbrown,havingbeenusedasaholder.
"Suchaman!"laughedgood–naturedMrs.K.,assheputtherelicsintheragbay.
"Isupposetheothersaretornuptorigships,bandagecutfingers,ormakekitetails.It'sdreadful,butIcan'tscoldhim.
He'ssoabsent–mindedandgoodnatured,heletsthoseboysrideoverhimroughshod.
Iagreedtodohiswashingandmending,butheforgetstogiveouthisthingsandIforgettolookthemover,sohecomestoasadpasssometimes."
"Letmemendthem,"saidI."Idon'tmindit,andheneedn'tknow.I'dliketo,he'ssokindtomeaboutbringingmylettersandlendingbooks."
SoIhavegothisthingsinorder,andknitheelsintotwopairsofthesocks,fortheywereboggledoutofshapewithhisqueerdarns.
Nothingwassaid,andIhopedhewouldn'tfinditout,butonedaylastweekhecaughtmeatit.
HearingthelessonshegivestoothershasinterestedandamusedmesomuchthatItookafancytolearn,forTinarunsinandout,leavingthedooropen,andIcanhear.
Ihadbeensittingnearthisdoor,finishingoffthelastsock,andtryingtounderstandwhathesaidtoanewscholar,whoisasstupidasIam.
Thegirlhadgone,andIthoughthehadalso,itwassostill,andIwasbusilygabblingoveraverb,androckingtoandfroinamostabsurdway,whenalittlecrowmademelookup,andtherewasMr.Bhaerlookingandlaughingquietly,whilehemadesignstoTinanottobetrayhim.
"So!"hesaid,asIstoppedandstaredlikeagoose,"youpeepatme,Ipeepatyou,andthisisnotbad,butsee,IamnotpleasantingwhenIsay,hafyouawishforGerman?"
"Yes,butyouaretoobusy.Iamtoostupidtolearn,"Iblunderedout,asredasapeony.
"Prut!Wewillmakethetime,andwefailnottofindthesense.
AtefeningIshallgifalittlelessonwithmuchgladness,forlookyou,MeesMarsch,Ihafthisdebttopay."
Andhepointedtomywork'Yes,'theysaytooneanother,thesesokindladies,'heisastupidoldfellow,hewillseenotwhatwedo,hewillneverobservethathissockheelsgonotinholesanymore,hewillthinkhisbuttonsgrowoutnewwhentheyfall,andbelievethatstringsmaketheirselves.'"Ah!ButIhafaneye,andIseemuch.
Ihafaheart,andIfeelthanksforthis.
Come,alittlelessonthenandnow,or––nomoregoodfairyworksformeandmine."
OfcourseIcouldn'tsayanythingafterthat,andasitreallyisasplendidopportunity,Imadethebargain,andwebegan.
Itookfourlessons,andthenIstuckfastinagrammaticalbog.
TheProfessorwasverypatientwithme,butitmusthavebeentormenttohim,andnowandthenhe'dlookatmewithsuchanexpressionofmilddespairthatitwasatoss–upwithmewhethertolaughorcry.
Itriedbothways,andwhenitcametoasnifforuttermortificationandwoe,hejustthrewthegrammarontothefloorandmarchedoutoftheroom.
Ifeltmyselfdisgracedanddesertedforever,butdidn'tblamehimaparticle,andwasscramblingmypaperstogether,meaningtorushupstairsandshakemyselfhard,wheninhecame,asbriskandbeamingasifI'dcoveredmyselfinglory.
"Nowweshalltryanewway.YouandIwillreadthesepleasantlittlemarchentogether,anddignomoreinthatdrybook,thatgoesinthecornerformakingustrouble."
Hespokesokindly,andopenedHansAndersons'sfairytalessoinvitinglybeforeme,thatIwasmoreashamedthanever,andwentatmylessoninaneck–or–nothingstylethatseemedtoamusehimimmensely.
Iforgotmybashfulness,andpeggedaway(nootherwordwillexpressit)withallmymight,tumblingoverlongwords,pronouncingaccordingtoinspirationoftheminute,anddoingmyverybest.
WhenIfinishedreadingmyfirstpage,andstoppedforbreath,heclappedhishandsandcriedoutinhisheartyway,"Dasistgut!Nowwegowell!Myturn.IdohiminGerman,gifmeyourear."
Andawayhewent,rumblingoutthewordswithhisstrongvoiceandarelishwhichwasgoodtoseeaswellashear.
FortunatelythestorywasTheConstantTinSoldier,whichisdroll,youknow,soIcouldlaugh,andIdid,thoughIdidn'tunderstandhalfheread,forIcouldn'thelpit,hewassoearnest,Isoexcited,andthewholethingsocomical.
Afterthatwegotonbetter,andnowIreadmylessonsprettywell,forthiswayofstudyingsuitsme,andIcanseethatthegrammargetstuckedintothetalesandpoetryasonegivespillsinjelly.
Ilikeitverymuch,andhedoesn'tseemtiredofityet,whichisverygoodofhim,isn'tit?
ImeantogivehimsomethingonChristmas,forIdarenotoffermoney.Tellmesomethingnice,Marmee.
I'mgladLaurieseemssohappyandbusy,thathehasgivenupsmokingandletshishairgrow.
YouseeBethmanageshimbetterthanIdid.
I'mnotjealous,dear,doyourbest,onlydon'tmakeasaintofhim.
I'mafraidIcouldn'tlikehimwithoutaspiceofhumannaughtiness.Readhimbitsofmyletters.
Ihaven'ttimetowritemuch,andthatwilldojustaswell.
ThankHeavenBethcontinuessocomfortable.
JANUARY
AHappyNewYeartoyouall,mydearestfamily,whichofcourseincludesMr.L.andayoungmanbythenameofTeddy.
Ican'ttellyouhowmuchIenjoyedyourChristmasbundle,forIdidn'tgetittillnightandhadgivenuphoping.
Yourlettercameinthemorning,butyousaidnothingaboutaparcel,meaningitforasurprise,soIwasdisappointed,forI'dhada'kindoffeeling'thatyouwouldn'tforgetme.
IfeltalittlelowinmymindasIsatupinmyroomaftertea,andwhenthebig,muddy,battered–lookingbundlewasbroughttome,Ijusthuggeditandpranced.
ItwassohomeyandrefreshingthatIsatdownonthefloorandreadandlookedandateandlaughedandcried,inmyusualabsurdway.
ThethingswerejustwhatIwanted,andallthebetterforbeingmadeinsteadofbought.
Beth'snew'inkbib'wascapital,andHannah'sboxofhardgingerbreadwillbeatreasure.
I'llbesureandweartheniceflannelsyousent,Marmee,andreadcarefullythebooksFatherhasmarked.Thankyouall,heapsandheaps!
SpeakingofbooksremindsmethatI'mgettingrichinthatline,foronNewYear'sDayMr.BhaergavemeafineShakespeare.
Itisonehevaluesmuch,andI'veoftenadmiredit,setupintheplaceofhonorwithhisGermanBible,Plato,Homer,andMilton,soyoumayimaginehowIfeltwhenhebroughtitdown,withoutitscover,andshowedmemyownnameinit,"frommyfriendFriedrichBhaer".
"Yousayoftenyouwishalibrary.HereIgifyouone,forbetweentheselids(hemeantcovers)ismanybooksinone.
Readhimwell,andhewillhelpyoumuch,forthestudyofcharacterinthisbookwillhelpyoutoreaditintheworldandpaintitwithyourpen."
IthankedhimaswellasIcould,andtalknowabout'mylibrary',asifIhadahundredbooks.
IneverknewhowmuchtherewasinShakespearebefore,butthenIneverhadaBhaertoexplainittome.Nowdon'tlaughathishorridname.
Itisn'tpronouncedeitherBearorBeer,aspeoplewillsayit,butsomethingbetweenthetwo,asonlyGermanscangiveit.
I'mgladyoubothlikewhatItellyouabouthim,andhopeyouwillknowhimsomeday.
Motherwouldadmirehiswarmheart,Fatherhiswisehead.
Iadmireboth,andfeelrichinmynew'friendFriedrichBhaer'.
Nothavingmuchmoney,orknowingwhathe'dlike,Igotseverallittlethings,andputthemabouttheroom,wherehewouldfindthemunexpectedly.
Theywereuseful,pretty,orfunny,anewstandishonhistable,alittlevaseforhisflower,healwayshasone,orabitofgreeninaglass,tokeephimfresh,hesays,andaholderforhisblower,sothatheneedn'tburnupwhatAmycalls'mouchoirs'.
ImadeitlikethoseBethinvented,abigbutterflywithafatbody,andblackandyellowwings,worstedfeelers,andbeadeyes.
Ittookhisfancyimmensely,andheputitonhismantlepieceasanarticleofvirtue,soitwasratherafailureafterall.
Poorasheis,hedidn'tforgetaservantorachildinthehouse,andnotasoulhere,fromtheFrenchlaundrywomantoMissNortonforgothim.Iwassogladofthat.
Theygotupamasquerade,andhadagaytimeNewYear'sEve.
Ididn'tmeantogodown,havingnodress.
Butatthelastminute,Mrs.Kirkerememberedsomeoldbrocades,andMissNortonlentmelaceandfeathers.
SoIdressedupasMrs.Malaprop,andsailedinwithamaskon.
Nooneknewme,forIdisguisedmyvoice,andnoonedreamedofthesilent,haughtyMissMarch(fortheythinkIamverystiffandcool,mostofthem,andsoIamtowhippersnappers)coulddanceanddress,andburstoutintoa'nicederangementofepitaphs,likeanallegoryonthebanksoftheNile'.
Ienjoyeditverymuch,andwhenweunmaskeditwasfuntoseethemstareatme.
IheardoneoftheyoungmentellanotherthatheknewI'dbeenanactress,infact,hethoughtherememberedseeingmeatoneoftheminortheaters.Megwillrelishthatjoke.
Mr.BhaerwasNickBottom,andTinawasTitania,aperfectlittlefairyinhisarms.
Toseethemdancewas'quitealandscape',touseaTeddyism.
IhadaveryhappyNewYear,afterall,andwhenIthoughtitoverinmyroom,IfeltasifIwasgettingonalittleinspiteofmymanyfailures,forI'mcheerfulallthetimenow,workwithawill,andtakemoreinterestinotherpeoplethanIusedto,whichissatisfactory.Blessyouall!Everyourloving...Jo
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