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Whenthefirstbitternesswasover,thefamilyacceptedtheinevitable,andtriedtobearitcheerfully,helpingoneanotherbytheincreasedaffectionwhichcomestobindhouseholdstenderlytogetherintimesoftrouble.
Theyputawaytheirgrief,andeachdidhisorherparttowardmakingthatlastyearahappyone.
ThepleasantestroominthehousewassetapartforBeth,andinitwasgatheredeverythingthatshemostloved,flowers,pictures,herpiano,thelittleworktable,andthebelovedpussies.
Father'sbestbooksfoundtheirwaythere,Mother'seasychair,Jo'sdesk,Amy'sfinestsketches,andeverydayMegbroughtherbabiesonalovingpilgrimage,tomakesunshineforAuntyBeth.
Johnquietlysetapartalittlesum,thathemightenjoythepleasureofkeepingtheinvalidsuppliedwiththefruitshelovedandlongedfor.
OldHannahneverweariedofconcoctingdaintydishestotemptacapriciousappetite,droppingtearsassheworked,andfromacrosstheseacamelittlegiftsandcheerfulletters,seemingtobringbreathsofwarmthandfragrancefromlandsthatknownowinter.
Here,cherishedlikeahouseholdsaintinitsshrine,satBeth,tranquilandbusyasever,fornothingcouldchangethesweet,unselfishnature,andevenwhilepreparingtoleavelife,shetriedtomakeithappierforthosewhoshouldremainbehind.
Thefeeblefingerswereneveridle,andoneofherpleasureswastomakelittlethingsfortheschoolchildrendailypassingtoandfro,todropapairofmittensfromherwindowforapairofpurplehands,aneedlebookforsomesmallmotherofmanydolls,penwipersforyoungpenmentoilingthroughforestsofpothooks,scrapbooksforpicture–lovingeyes,andallmannerofpleasantdevices,tillthereluctantclimbersoftheladderoflearningfoundtheirwaystrewnwithflowers,asitwere,andcametoregardthegentlegiverasasortoffairygodmother,whosatabovethere,andshowereddowngiftsmiraculouslysuitedtotheirtastesandneeds.
IfBethhadwantedanyreward,shefounditinthebrightlittlefacesalwaysturneduptoherwindow,withnodsandsmiles,andthedrolllittleletterswhichcametoher,fullofblotsandgratitude.
Thefirstfewmonthswereveryhappyones,andBethoftenusedtolookround,andsay"Howbeautifulthisis!"
astheyallsattogetherinhersunnyroom,thebabieskickingandcrowingonthefloor,motherandsistersworkingnear,andfatherreading,inhispleasantvoice,fromthewiseoldbookswhichseemedrichingoodandcomfortablewords,asapplicablenowaswhenwrittencenturiesago,alittlechapel,whereapaternalpriesttaughthisflockthehardlessonsallmustlearn,tryingtoshowthemthathopecancomfortlove,andfaithmakeresignationpossible.
Simplesermons,thatwentstraighttothesoulsofthosewholistened,forthefather'sheartwasintheminister'sreligion,andthefrequentfalterinthevoicegaveadoubleeloquencetothewordshespokeorread.
Itwaswellforallthatthispeacefultimewasgiventhemaspreparationforthesadhourstocome,forby–and–by,Bethsaidtheneedlewas'soheavy',andputitdownforever.
Talkingweariedher,facestroubledher,painclaimedherforitsown,andhertranquilspiritwassorrowfullyperturbedbytheillsthatvexedherfeebleflesh.Ahme!
Suchheavydays,suchlong,longnights,suchachingheartsandimploringprayers,whenthosewholovedherbestwereforcedtoseethethinhandsstretchedouttothembeseechingly,tohearthebittercry,"Helpme,helpme!"andtofeelthattherewasnohelp.
Asadeclipseoftheserenesoul,asharpstruggleoftheyounglifewithdeath,butbothweremercifullybrief,andthenthenaturalrebellionover,theoldpeacereturnedmorebeautifulthanever.
Withthewreckofherfrailbody,Beth'ssoulgrewstrong,andthoughshesaidlittle,thoseaboutherfeltthatshewasready,sawthatthefirstpilgrimcalledwaslikewisethefittest,andwaitedwithherontheshore,tryingtoseetheShiningOnescomingtoreceiveherwhenshecrossedtheriver.
JoneverleftherforanhoursinceBethhadsaid"Ifeelstrongerwhenyouarehere."
Shesleptonacouchintheroom,wakingoftentorenewthefire,tofeed,lift,orwaituponthepatientcreaturewhoseldomaskedforanything,and'triednottobeatrouble'.
Alldayshehauntedtheroom,jealousofanyothernurse,andprouderofbeingchosenthenthanofanyhonorherlifeeverbroughther.
PreciousandhelpfulhourstoJo,fornowherheartreceivedtheteachingthatitneeded.
Lessonsinpatienceweresosweetlytaughtherthatshecouldnotfailtolearnthem,charityforall,thelovelyspiritthatcanforgiveandtrulyforgetunkindness,theloyaltytodutythatmakesthehardesteasy,andthesincerefaiththatfearsnothing,buttrustsundoubtingly.
OftenwhenshewokeJofoundBethreadinginherwell–wornlittlebook,heardhersingingsoftly,tobeguilethesleeplessnight,orsawherleanherfaceuponherhands,whileslowtearsdroppedthroughthetransparentfingers,andJowouldliewatchingherwiththoughtstoodeepfortears,feelingthatBeth,inhersimple,unselfishway,wastryingtoweanherselffromthedearoldlife,andfitherselfforthelifetocome,bysacredwordsofcomfort,quietprayers,andthemusicshelovedsowell.
SeeingthisdidmoreforJothanthewisestsermons,thesaintliesthymns,themostferventprayersthatanyvoicecouldutter.
Forwitheyesmadeclearbymanytears,andaheartsoftenedbythetenderestsorrow,sherecognizedthebeautyofhersister'slife––uneventful,unambitious,yetfullofthegenuinevirtueswhich'smellsweet,andblossominthedust',theself–forgetfulnessthatmakesthehumblestonearthrememberedsoonestinheaven,thetruesuccesswhichispossibletoall.
OnenightwhenBethlookedamongthebooksuponhertable,tofindsomethingtomakeherforgetthemortalwearinessthatwasalmostashardtobearaspain,assheturnedtheleavesofheroldfavorite,Pilgrims'sProgress,shefoundalittlepaper,scribbledoverinJo'shand.
Thenamecaughthereyeandtheblurredlookofthelinesmadehersurethattearshadfallenonit.
"PoorJo!She'sfastasleep,soIwon'twakehertoaskleave.
Sheshowsmeallherthings,andIdon'tthinkshe'llmindifIlookatthis",thoughtBeth,withaglanceathersister,wholayontherug,withthetongsbesideher,readytowakeuptheminutethelogfellapart.
MYBETH
Sittingpatientintheshadow
Tilltheblessedlightshallcome,
Asereneandsaintlypresence
Sanctifiesourtroubledhome.
Earthlyjoysandhopesandsorrows
Breaklikeripplesonthestrand
Ofthedeepandsolemnriver
Whereherwillingfeetnowstand.
Omysister,passingfromme,
Outofhumancareandstrife,
Leaveme,asagift,thosevirtues
Whichhavebeautifiedyourlife.
Dear,bequeathmethatgreatpatience
Whichhaspowertosustain
Acheerful,uncomplainingspirit
Initsprison–houseofpain.
Giveme,forIneeditsorely,
Ofthatcourage,wiseandsweet,
Whichhasmadethepathofduty
Greenbeneathyourwillingfeet.
Givemethatunselfishnature,
Thatwithcharitydevine
Canpardonwrongforlove'sdearsake––
Meekheart,forgivememine!
Thusourpartingdailyloseth
Somethingofitsbitterpain,
Andwhilelearningthishardlesson,
Mygreatlossbecomesmygain.
Forthetouchofgriefwillrender
Mywildnaturemoreserene,
Givetolifenewaspirations,
Anewtrustintheunseen.
Henceforth,safeacrosstheriver,
Ishallseeforevermore
Abeloved,householdspirit
Waitingformeontheshore.
Hopeandfaith,bornofmysorrow,
Guardianangelsshallbecome,
Andthesistergonebeforeme
Bytheirhandsshallleadmehome.
Blurredandblotted,faultyandfeebleasthelineswere,theybroughtalookofinexpressiblecomforttoBeth'sface,forheroneregrethadbeenthatshehaddonesolittle,andthisseemedtoassureherthatherlifehadnotbeenuseless,thatherdeathwouldnotbringthedespairshefeared.
Asshesatwiththepaperfoldedbetweenherhands,thecharredlogfellasunder.
Jostartedup,revivedtheblaze,andcrepttothebedside,hopingBethslept.
"Notasleep,butsohappy,dear.See,Ifoundthisandreadit.Iknewyouwouldn'tcare.HaveIbeenallthattoyou,Jo?"sheasked,withwistful,humbleearnestness.
"_Oh,Beth,somuch,somuch!"andJo'sheadwentdownuponthepillowbesidehersister's.
"ThenIdon'tfeelasifI'dwastedmylife.
I'mnotsogoodasyoumakeme,butIhavetriedtodoright.
Andnow,whenit'stoolatetobegineventodobetter,it'ssuchacomforttoknowthatsomeonelovesmesomuch,andfeelsasifI'dhelpedthem."
"Morethananyoneintheworld,Beth.IusedtothinkIcouldn'tletyougo,butI'mlearningtofeelthatIdon'tloseyou,thatyou'llbemoretomethanever,anddeathcan'tpartus,thoughitseemsto."
"Iknowitcannot,andIdon'tfearitanylonger,forI'msureIshallbeyourBethstill,toloveandhelpyoumorethanever.
Youmusttakemyplace,Jo,andbeeverythingtoFatherandMotherwhenI'mgone.
Theywillturntoyou,don'tfailthem,andifit'shardtoworkalone,rememberthatIdon'tforgetyou,andthatyou'llbehappierindoingthatthanwritingsplendidbooksorseeingalltheworld,forloveistheonlythingthatwecancarrywithuswhenwego,anditmakestheendsoeasy."
"I'lltry,Beth."andthenandthereJorenouncedheroldambition,pledgedherselftoanewandbetterone,acknowledgingthepovertyofotherdesires,andfeelingtheblessedsolaceofabeliefintheimmortalityoflove.
Sothespringdayscameandwent,theskygrewclearer,theearthgreener,theflowerswereupfairlyearly,andthebirdscamebackintimetosaygoodbyetoBeth,who,likeatiredbuttrustfulchild,clungtothehandsthathadledherallherlife,asFatherandMotherguidedhertenderlythroughtheValleyoftheShadow,andgaveheruptoGod.
Seldomexceptinbooksdothedyinguttermemorablewords,seevisions,ordepartwithbeatifiedcountenances,andthosewhohavespedmanypartingsoulsknowthattomosttheendcomesasnaturallyandsimplyassleep.
AsBethhadhoped,the'tidewentouteasily',andinthedarkhourbeforedawn,onthebosomwhereshehaddrawnherfirstbreath,shequietlydrewherlast,withnofarewellbutonelovinglook,onelittlesigh.
Withtearsandprayersandtenderhands,Motherandsistersmadeherreadyforthelongsleepthatpainwouldnevermaragain,seeingwithgratefuleyesthebeautifulserenitythatsoonreplacedthepatheticpatiencethathadwrungtheirheartssolong,andfeelingwithreverentjoythattotheirdarlingdeathwasabenignantangel,notaphantomfullofdread.
Whenmorningcame,forthefirsttimeinmanymonthsthefirewasout,Jo'splacewasempty,andtheroomwasverystill.
Butabirdsangblithelyonabuddingbough,closeby,thesnowdropsblossomedfreshlyatthewindow,andthespringsunshinestreamedinlikeabenedictionovertheplacidfaceuponthepillow,afacesofullofpainlesspeacethatthosewholoveditbestsmiledthroughtheirtears,andthankedGodthatBethwaswellatlast.
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