Butwhentheirfirstsorrowwasover––fortheylovedtheoldladyinspiteofhersharptongue––theyfoundtheyhadcauseforrejoicing,forshehadleftPlumfieldtoJo,whichmadeallsortsofjoyfulthingspossible.
"It'safineoldplace,andwillbringahandsomesum,forofcourseyouintendtosellit,"saidLaurie,astheywerealltalkingthematteroversomeweekslater.
"No,Idon't,"wasJo'sdecidedanswer,asshepettedthefatpoodle,whomshehadadopted,outofrespecttohisformermistress.
"But,mydeargirl,it'sanimmensehouse,andwilltakeapowerofmoneytokeepitinorder.Thegardenandorchardaloneneedtwoorthreemen,andfarmingisn'tinBhaer'sline,Itakeit."
"Andyouexpecttoliveontheproduceoftheplace?Well,thatsoundsparadisiacal,butyou'llfinditdesperatehardwork."
"Boys.Iwanttoopenaschoolforlittlelads––agood,happy,homelikeschool,withmetotakecareofthemandFritztoteachthem."
"That'satrulyJoianplanforyou!Isn'tthatjustlikeher?"criedLaurie,appealingtothefamily,wholookedasmuchsurprisedashe.
"SodoI,"addedherhusband,whowelcomedthethoughtofachancefortryingtheSocraticmethodofeducationonmodernyouth.
"Jocandoit,andbehappyinit.It'sasplendididea.Tellusallaboutit,"criedMr.Laurence,whohadbeenlongingtolendtheloversahand,butknewthattheywouldrefusehishelp.
"Iknewyou'dstandbyme,sir.Amydoestoo––Iseeitinhereyes,thoughsheprudentlywaitstoturnitoverinhermindbeforeshespeaks.
Now,mydearpeople,"continuedJoearnestly,"justunderstandthatthisisn'tanewideaofmine,butalongcherishedplan.
BeforemyFritzcame,Iusedtothinkhow,whenI'dmademyfortune,andnooneneededmeathome,I'dhireabighouse,andpickupsomepoor,forlornlittleladswhohadn'tanymothers,andtakecareofthem,andmakelifejollyforthembeforeitwastoolate.
Iseesomanygoingtoruinforwantofhelpattherightminute,Ilovesotodoanythingforthem,Iseemtofeeltheirwants,andsympathizewiththeirtroubles,andoh,Ishouldsoliketobeamothertothem!"
Mrs.MarchheldoutherhandtoJo,whotookit,smiling,withtearsinhereyes,andwentonintheoldenthusiasticway,whichtheyhadnotseenforalongwhile.
Butnow,thankstomygoodoldaunt,wholovedmebetterthanIeverdeserved,I'mrich,atleastIfeelso,andwecanliveatPlumfieldperfectlywell,ifwehaveaflourishingschool.
I'vealwayslongedforlotsofboys,andneverhadenough,nowIcanfillthehousefullandrevelinthelittledearstomyheart'scontent.
AsJowavedherhandsandgaveasighofrapture,thefamilywentoffintoagaleofmerriment,andMr.Laurencelaughedtilltheythoughthe'dhaveanapoplecticfit.
"NothingcouldbemorenaturalandproperthanformyProfessortoopenaschool,andformetoprefertoresideinmyownestate."
Besides,thebesthavetogetthroughthehobbledehoyage,andthat'stheverytimetheyneedmostpatienceandkindness.
Peoplelaughatthem,andhustlethemabout,trytokeepthemoutofsight,andexpectthemtoturnallatoncefromprettychildrenintofineyoungmen.
I'veaspecialinterestinsuchyoungbears,andliketoshowthemthatIseethewarm,honest,well–meaningboys'hearts,inspiteoftheclumsyarmsandlegsandthetopsy–turvyheads.
"AndI'vesucceededbeyondmyhopes,forhereyouare,asteady,sensiblebusinessman,doingheapsofgoodwithyourmoney,andlayinguptheblessingsofthepoor,insteadofdollars.
Butyouarenotmerelyabusinessman,youlovegoodandbeautifulthings,enjoythemyourself,andletothersgohalves,asyoualwaysdidintheoldtimes.
PoorLauriedidn'tknowwheretolook,for,manthoughhewas,somethingoftheoldbashfulnesscameoverhimasthisburstofpraisemadeallfacesturnapprovinglyuponhim.
So,ifI'vegotonatall,youmaythankthesetwoforit,"andhelaidonehandgentlyonhisgrandfather'shead,andtheotheronAmy'sgoldenone,forthethreewereneverfarapart.
Andthatnightwhenshewenttoherroomafterablissfuleveningoffamilycounsels,hopes,andplans,herheartwassofullofhappinessthatshecouldonlycalmitbykneelingbesidetheemptybedalwaysnearherown,andthinkingtenderthoughtsofBeth.
Thenafamilyofsixorsevenboyssprunguplikemushrooms,andflourishedsurprisingly,poorboysaswellasrich,forMr.Laurencewascontinuallyfindingsometouchingcaseofdestitution,andbeggingtheBhaerstotakepityonthechild,andhewouldgladlypayatrifleforitssupport.
Inthisway,theslyoldgentlemangotroundproudJo,andfurnishedherwiththestyleofboyinwhichshemostdelighted.
Ofcourseitwasuphillworkatfirst,andJomadequeermistakes,butthewiseProfessorsteeredhersafelyintocalmerwaters,andthemostrampantragamuffinwasconqueredintheend.
HowJodidenjoyher'wildernessofboys',andhowpoor,dearAuntMarchwouldhavelamentedhadshebeentheretoseethesacredprecinctsofprim,well–orderedPlumfieldoverrunwithToms,Dicks,andHarrys!
Therewasasortofpoeticjusticeaboutit,afterall,fortheoldladyhadbeentheterroroftheboysformilesaround,andnowtheexilesfeastedfreelyonforbiddenplums,kickedupthegravelwithprofanebootsunreproved,andplayedcricketinthebigfieldwheretheirritable'cowwithacrumpledhorn'usedtoinviterashyouthstocomeandbetossed.
Itbecameasortofboys'paradise,andLauriesuggestedthatitshouldbecalledthe'Bhaer–garten',asacomplimenttoitsmasterandappropriatetoitsinhabitants.
Itneverwasafashionableschool,andtheProfessordidnotlayupafortune,butitwasjustwhatJointendedittobe––'ahappy,homelikeplaceforboys,whoneededteaching,care,andkindness'.
Andthreetimesaday,JosmiledatherFritzfromtheheadofalongtablelinedoneithersidewithrowsofhappyyoungfaces,whichallturnedtoherwithaffectionateeyes,confidingwords,andgratefulhearts,fulloflovefor'MotherBhaer'.
Shehadboysenoughnow,anddidnottireofthem,thoughtheywerenotangels,byanymeans,andsomeofthemcausedbothProfessorandProfessorinmuchtroubleandanxiety.
Butherfaithinthegoodspotwhichexistsintheheartofthenaughtiest,sauciest,mosttantalizinglittleragamuffingaveherpatience,skill,andintimesuccess,fornomortalboycouldholdoutlongwithFatherBhaershiningonhimasbenevolentlyasthesun,andMotherBhaerforgivinghimseventytimesseven.
VeryprecioustoJowasthefriendshipofthelads,theirpenitentsniffsandwhispersafterwrongdoing,theirdrollortouchinglittleconfidences,theirpleasantenthusiasms,hopes,andplans,eventheirmisfortunes,fortheyonlyendearedthemtoherallthemore.
Therewereslowboysandbashfulboys,feebleboysandriotousboys,boysthatlispedandboysthatstuttered,oneortwolameones,andamerrylittlequadroon,whocouldnotbetakeninelsewhere,butwhowaswelcometothe'Bhaer–garten',thoughsomepeoplepredictedthathisadmissionwouldruintheschool.
Sheenjoyeditheartilyandfoundtheapplauseofherboysmoresatisfyingthananypraiseoftheworld,fornowshetoldnostoriesexcepttoherflockofenthusiasticbelieversandadmirers.
Astheyearswenton,twolittleladsofherowncametoincreaseherhappiness––Rob,namedforGrandpa,andTeddy,ahappy–go–luckybaby,whoseemedtohaveinheritedhispapa'ssunshinytemperaswellashismother'slivelyspirit.
Howtheyevergrewupaliveinthatwhirlpoolofboyswasamysterytotheirgrandmaandaunts,buttheyflourishedlikedandelionsinspring,andtheirroughnurseslovedandservedthemwell.
FiveyearsafterJo'swedding,oneofthesefruitfulfestivalsoccurred,amellowOctoberday,whentheairwasfullofanexhilaratingfreshnesswhichmadethespiritsriseandtheblooddancehealthilyintheveins.
Birdstwitteredtheiradieuxfromthealdersinthelane,andeverytreestoodreadytosenddownitsshowerofredoryellowapplesatthefirstshake.Everybodywasthere.
Everybodydeclaredthatthereneverhadbeensuchaperfectdayorsuchajollysettoenjoyit,andeveryonegavethemselvesuptothesimplepleasuresofthehourasfreelyasiftherewerenosuchthingsascareorsorrowintheworld.
TheProfessorchargedupanddownthegreenaisleslikeastoutTeutonicknight,withapoleforalance,leadingontheboys,whomadeahookandladdercompanyofthemselves,andperformedwondersinthewayofgroundandloftytumbling.
Lauriedevotedhimselftothelittleones,rodehissmalldaughterinabushel–basket,tookDaisyupamongthebird'snests,andkeptadventurousRobfrombreakinghisneck.
Mrs.MarchandMegsatamongtheapplepileslikeapairofPomonas,sortingthecontributionsthatkeptpouringin,whileAmywithabeautifulmotherlyexpressioninherfacesketchedthevariousgroups,andwatchedoveronepalelad,whosatadoringherwithhislittlecrutchbesidehim.
Jowasinherelementthatday,andrushedabout,withhergownpinnedup,andherhatanywherebutonherhead,andherbabytuckedunderherarm,readyforanylivelyadventurewhichmightturnup.
LittleTeddyboreacharmedlife,fornothingeverhappenedtohim,andJoneverfeltanyanxietywhenhewaswhiskedupintoatreebyonelad,gallopedoffonthebackofanother,orsuppliedwithsourrussetsbyhisindulgentpapa,wholaboredundertheGermanicdelusionthatbabiescoulddigestanything,frompickledcabbagetobuttons,nails,andtheirownsmallshoes.
SheknewthatlittleTedwouldturnupagainintime,safeandrosy,dirtyandserene,andshealwaysreceivedhimbackwithaheartywelcome,forJolovedherbabiestenderly.
Atfouro'clockalulltookplace,andbasketsremainedempty,whiletheapplepickersrestedandcomparedrentsandbruises.
ThenJoandMeg,withadetachmentofthebiggerboys,setforththesupperonthegrass,foranout–of–doorteawasalwaysthecrowningjoyoftheday.
Thelandliterallyflowedwithmilkandhoneyonsuchoccasions,fortheladswerenotrequiredtositattable,butallowedtopartakeofrefreshmentastheyliked––freedombeingthesaucebestbelovedbytheboyishsoul.
Theyavailedthemselvesoftherareprivilegetothefullestextent,forsometriedthepleasingexperimentofdrinkingmilkwhilestandingontheirheads,otherslentacharmtoleapfrogbyeatingpieinthepausesofthegame,cookiesweresownbroadcastoverthefield,andappleturnoversroostedinthetreeslikeanewstyleofbird.
Whennoonecouldeatanymore,theProfessorproposedthefirstregulartoast,whichwasalwaysdrunkatsuchtimes––"AuntMarch,Godblessher!"
Atoastheartilygivenbythegoodman,whoneverforgothowmuchheowedher,andquietlydrunkbytheboys,whohadbeentaughttokeephermemorygreen.
Everybody'shealthwasproposed,fromMr.Laurence,whowasconsideredtheirspecialpatron,totheastonishedguineapig,whohadstrayedfromitspropersphereinsearchofitsyoungmaster.
Demi,astheoldestgrandchild,thenpresentedthequeenofthedaywithvariousgifts,sonumerousthattheyweretransportedtothefestivesceneinawheelbarrow.
Funnypresents,someofthem,butwhatwouldhavebeendefectstoothereyeswereornamentstoGrandma's––forthechildren'sgiftswerealltheirown.
EverystitchDaisy'spatientlittlefingershadputintothehandkerchiefsshehemmedwasbetterthanembroiderytoMrs.March.
Demi'smiracleofmechanicalskill,thoughthecoverwouldn'tshut,Rob'sfootstoolhadawiggleinitsunevenlegsthatshedeclaredwassoothing,andnopageofthecostlybookAmy'schildgaveherwassofairasthatonwhichappearedintipsycapitals,thewords––"TodearGrandma,fromherlittleBeth."
Duringtheceremonytheboyshadmysteriouslydisappeared,andwhenMrs.Marchhadtriedtothankherchildren,andbrokendown,whileTeddywipedhereyesonhispinafore,theProfessorsuddenlybegantosing.
Then,fromabovehim,voiceaftervoicetookupthewords,andfromtreetotreeechoedthemusicoftheunseenchoir,astheboyssangwithalltheirheartsthelittlesongthatJohadwritten,Lauriesettomusic,andtheProfessortrainedhisladstogivewiththebesteffect.
Thiswassomethingaltogethernew,anditprovedagrandsuccess,forMrs.Marchcouldn'tgetoverhersurprise,andinsistedonshakinghandswitheveryoneofthefeatherlessbirds,fromtallFranzandEmiltothelittlequadroon,whohadthesweetestvoiceofall.
"Idon'tthinkIeveroughttocallmyself'unluckyJo'again,whenmygreatestwishhasbeensobeautifullygratified,"saidMrs.Bhaer,takingTeddy'slittlefistoutofthemilkpitcher,inwhichhewasrapturouslychurning.
"Andyetyourlifeisverydifferentfromtheoneyoupicturedsolongago.Doyourememberourcastlesintheair?"askedAmy,smilingasshewatchedLaurieandJohnplayingcricketwiththeboys.
"Dearfellows!Itdoesmyheartgoodtoseethemforgetbusinessandfrolicforaday,"answeredJo,whonowspokeinamaternalwayofallmankind.
Ihaven'tgivenupthehopethatImaywriteagoodbookyet,butIcanwait,andI'msureitwillbeallthebetterforsuchexperiencesandillustrationsasthese,"andJopointedfromthelivelyladsinthedistancetoherfather,leaningontheProfessor'sarm,astheywalkedtoandfrointhesunshine,deepinoneoftheconversationswhichbothenjoyedsomuch,andthentohermother,sittingenthronedamongherdaughters,withtheirchildreninherlapandatherfeet,asifallfoundhelpandhappinessinthefacewhichnevercouldgrowoldtothem.
Iaskedforsplendidthings,tobesure,butinmyheartIknewIshouldbesatisfied,ifIhadalittlehome,andJohn,andsomedearchildrenlikethese.
I'vegotthemall,thankGod,andamthehappiestwomanintheworld,"andMeglaidherhandonhertallboy'shead,withafacefulloftenderanddevoutcontent.
"MycastleisverydifferentfromwhatIplanned,butIwouldnotalterit,though,likeJo,Idon'trelinquishallmyartistichopes,orconfinemyselftohelpingothersfulfilltheirdreamsofbeauty.
Ithinkso,myself,andmeantodoitinmarble,sothat,whateverhappens,Imayatleastkeeptheimageofmylittleangel."
AsAmyspoke,agreatteardroppedonthegoldenhairofthesleepingchildinherarms,forheronewell–beloveddaughterwasafraillittlecreatureandthedreadoflosingherwastheshadowoverAmy'ssunshine.
Lauriewasgrowingmoreserious,strong,andfirm,andbothwerelearningthatbeauty,youth,goodfortune,evenloveitself,cannotkeepcareandpain,lossandsorrow,fromthemostblessedfor...
Don'tdespond,buthopeandkeephappy,"saidMrs.March,astenderheartedDaisystoopedfromherkneetolayherrosycheekagainstherlittlecousin'spaleone.
"Ineveroughtto,whileIhaveyoutocheermeup,Marmee,andLaurietotakemorethanhalfofeveryburden,"repliedAmywarmly.
"Heneverletsmeseehisanxiety,butissosweetandpatientwithme,sodevotedtoBeth,andsuchastayandcomforttomealwaysthatIcan'tlovehimenough.
"There'snoneedformetosayit,foreveryonecanseethatI'mfarhappierthanIdeserve,"addedJo,glancingfromhergoodhusbandtoherchubbychildren,tumblingonthegrassbesideher."Fritzisgettinggrayandstout.
Wenevershallberich,andPlumfieldmayburnupanynight,forthatincorrigibleTommyBangswillsmokesweet–ferncigarsunderthebed–clothes,thoughhe'ssethimselfafirethreetimesalready.
"Yes,Jo,Ithinkyourharvestwillbeagoodone,"beganMrs.March,frighteningawayabigblackcricketthatwasstaringTeddyoutofcountenance.
"Nothalfsogoodasyours,Mother.Hereitis,andwenevercanthankyouenoughforthepatientsowingandreapingyouhavedone,"criedJo,withthelovingimpetuositywhichsheneverwouldoutgrow.
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