“I’lltry，“saidAmy，fortheadvicesuitedher，andafteraflurrytogetready，sheranafterthefriends，whowerejustdisappearingoverthehill。
　　Itwasnotfartotheriver，butbothwerereadybeforeAmyreachedthem。Josawhercoming，andturnedherback。Lauriedidnotsee，forhewascarefullyskatingalongtheshore，soundingtheice，forawarmspellhadprecededthecoldsnap。
　　“I’llgoontothefirstbend，andseeifit’sallrightbeforewebegintorace，“Amyheardhimsay，asheshotaway，lookinglikeayoungRussianinhisfur-trimmedcoatandcap。
　　JoheardAmypantingafterherrun，stampingherfeetandblowingonherfingersasshetriedtoputherskateson，butJoneverturnedandwentslowlyzigzaggingdowntheriver，takingabitter，unhappysortofsatisfactioninhersister’stroubles。
　　Shehadcherishedherangertillitgrewstrongandtookpossessionofher，asevilthoughtsandfeelingsalwaysdounlesscastoutatonce。AsLaurieturnedthebend，heshoutedback……
　　“Keepneartheshore。Itisn’tsafeinthemiddle。“
　　Joheard，butAmywasstrugglingtoherfeetanddidnotcatchaword。Joglancedoverhershoulder，andthelittledemonshewasharboringsaidinherear……
　　“Nomatterwhethersheheardornot，lethertakecareofherself。“
　　Lauriehadvanishedroundthebend，Jowasjustattheturn，andAmy，farbehind，strikingouttowardthethesmoothericeinthemiddleoftheriver。ForaminuteJostoodstillwithastrangefeelinginherheart，thensheresolvedtogoon，butsomethingheldandturnedherround，justintimetoseeAmythrowupherhandsandgodown，withasuddencrashofrottenice，thesplashofwater，andacrythatmadeJo’sheartstandstillwithfear。ShetriedtocallLaurie，buthervoicewasgone。
　　Shetriedtorushforward，butherfeetseemedtohavenostrengthinthem，andforasecond，shecouldonlystandmotionless，staringwithaterror-strickenfaceatthelittlebluehoodabovetheblackwater。
　　Somethingrushedswiftlybyher，andLaurie’svoicecriedout……
　　“Bringarail。Quick，quick!“
　　Howshedidit，sheneverknew，butforthenextfewminutessheworkedasifpossessed，blindlyobeyingLaurie，whowasquiteself-possessed，andlyingflat，heldAmyupbyhisarmandhockeysticktillJodraggedarailfromthefence，andtogethertheygotthechildout，morefrightenedthanhurt。
　　“Nowthen，wemustwalkherhomeasfastaswecan。Pileourthingsonher，whileIgetofftheseconfoundedskates，“criedLaurie，wrappinghiscoatroundAmy，andtuggingawayatthestrapswhichneverseemedsointricatebefore。
　　Shivering，dripping，andcrying，theygotAmyhome，andafteranexcitingtimeofit，shefellasleep，rolledinblanketsbeforeahotfire。DuringthebustleJohadscarcelyspokenbutflownabout，lookingpaleandwild，withherthingshalfoff，herdresstorn，andherhandscutandbruisedbyiceandrailsandrefractorybuckles。
　　WhenAmywascomfortablyasleep，thehousequiet，andMrs。Marchsittingbythebed，shecalledJotoherandbegantobindupthehurthands。
　　“Areyousuresheissafe？“whisperedJo，lookingremorsefullyatthegoldenhead，whichmighthavebeensweptawayfromhersightforeverunderthetreacherousice。
　　“Quitesafe，dear。sheisnothurt，andwon’teventakecold，Ithink，youweresosensibleincoveringandgettingherhomequickly，“repliedhermothercheerfully。
　　“Lauriediditall。Ionlylethergo。Mother，ifsheshoulddie，itwouldbemyfault。“AndJodroppeddownbesidethebedinapassionofpenitenttears，tellingallthathadhappened，bitterlycondemningherhardnessofheart，andsobbingouthergratitudeforbeingsparedtheheavypunishmentwhichmighthavecomeuponher。
　　“It’smydreadfultemper!Itrytocureit，IthinkIhave，andthenitbreaksoutworsethanever。OH，Mother，whatshallI
　　do？WhatshallIdo？“criedpoorJo，indespair。
　　“Watchandpray，dear，nevergettiredoftrying，andneverthinkitisimpossibletoconqueryourfault，“saidMrs。March，drawingtheblowzyheadtohershoulderandkissingthewetcheeksotenderlythatJocriedevenharder。
　　“Youdon’tknow，youcan’tguesshowbaditis!ItseemsasifIcoulddoanythingwhenI’minapassion。Igetsosavage，I
　　couldhurtanyoneandenjoyit。I’mafraidIshalldosomethingdreadfulsomeday，andspoilmylife，andmakeeverybodyhateme。
　　Oh，Mother，helpme，dohelpme!“
　　“Iwill，mychild，Iwill。Don’tcrysobitterly，butrememberthisday，andresolvewithallyoursoulthatyouwillneverknowanotherlikeit。Jo，dear，weallhaveourtemptations，somefargreaterthanyours，anditoftentakesusallourlivestoconquerthem。Youthinkyourtemperistheworstintheworld，butmineusedtobejustlikeit。“
　　“Yours，Mother？Why，youareneverangry!“AndforthemomentJoforgotremorseinsurprise。
　　“I’vebeentryingtocureitforfortyyears，andhaveonlysucceededincontrollingit。Iamangrynearlyeverydayofmylife，Jo，butIhavelearnednottoshowit，andIstillhopetolearnnottofeelit，thoughitmaytakemeanotherfortyyearstodoso。“
　　ThepatienceandthehumilityofthefaceshelovedsowellwasabetterlessontoJothanthewisestlecture，thesharpestreproof。Shefeltcomfortedatoncebythesympathyandconfidencegivenher。Theknowledgethathermotherhadafaultlikehers，andtriedtomendit，madeherowneasiertobearandstrengthenedherresolutiontocureit，thoughfortyyearsseemedratheralongtimetowatchandpraytoagirloffifteen。
　　“Mother，areyouangrywhenyoufoldyourlipstighttogetherandgooutoftheroomsometimes，whenAuntMarchscoldsorpeopleworryyou？“askedJo，feelingneareranddearertohermotherthaneverbefore。
　　“Yes，I’velearnedtocheckthehastywordsthatrisetomylips，andwhenIfeelthattheymeantobreakoutagainstmywill，Ijustgoawayforaminute，andgivemyselfalittleshakeforbeingsoweakandwicked，“answeredMrs。Marchwithasighandasmile，asshesmoothedandfastenedupJo’sdisheveledhair。
　　“Howdidyoulearntokeepstill？Thatiswhattroublesme，forthesharpwordsflyoutbeforeIknowwhatI’mabout，andthemoreIsaytheworseIget，tillit’sapleasuretohurtpeople’sfeelingsandsaydreadfulthings。Tellmehowyoudoit，Marmeedear。“
　　“Mygoodmotherusedtohelpme……“
　　“Asyoudous……“interruptedJo，withagratefulkiss。
　　“ButIlostherwhenIwasalittleolderthanyouare，andforyearshadtostruggleonalone，forIwastooproudtoconfessmyweaknesstoanyoneelse。Ihadahardtime，Jo，andshedagoodmanybittertearsovermyfailures，forinspiteofmyeffortsI
　　neverseemedtogeton。Thenyourfathercame，andIwassohappythatifounditeasytobegood。Butby-and-by，whenIhadfourlittledaughtersroundmeandwewerepoor，thentheoldtroublebeganagain，forIamnotpatientbynature，andittriedmeverymuchtoseemychildrenwantinganything。“
　　“PoorMother!Whathelpedyouthen？“
　　“Yourfather，Jo。Heneverlosespatience，neverdoubtsorcomplains，butalwayshopes，andworksandwaitssocheerfullythatoneisashamedtodootherwisebeforehim。Hehelpedandcomfortedme，andshowedmethatImusttrytopracticeallthevirtuesIwouldhavemylittlegirlspossess，forIwastheirexample。Itwaseasiertotryforyoursakesthanformyown。
　　AstartledorsurprisedlookfromoneofyouwhenIspokesharplyrebukedmemorethananywordscouldhavedone，andthelove，respect，andconfidenceofmychildrenwasthesweetestrewardI
　　couldreceiveformyeffortstobethewomanIwouldhavethemcopy。“
　　“Oh，Mother，ifI’meverhalfasgoodasyou，Ishallbesatisfied，“criedJo，muchtouched。
　　“Ihopeyouwillbeagreatdealbetter，dear，butyoumustkeepwatchoveryour`bosomenemy’，asfathercallsit，oritmaysadden，ifnotspoilyourlife。Youhavehadawarning。
　　Rememberit，andtrywithheartandsoultomasterthisquicktemper，beforeitbringsyougreatersorrowandregretthanyouhaveknowntoday。“
　　“Iwilltry，Mother，Itrulywill。Butyoumusthelpme，remindme，andkeepmefromflyingout。IusedtoseeFathersometimesputhisfingeronhislips，andlookatyouwithaverykindbutsoberface，andyoualwaysfoldedyourlipstightandwentaway。Washeremindingyouthen？“askedJosoftly。
　　“Yes。Iaskedhimtohelpmeso，andheneverforgotit，butsavedmefrommanyasharpwordbythatlittlegestureandkindlook。“
　　Josawthathermother’seyesfilledandherlipstrembledasshespoke，andfearingthatshehadsaidtoomuch，shewhisperedanxiously，“Wasitwrongtowatchyouandtospeakofit？Ididn’tmeantoberude，butit’ssocomfortabletosayallIthinktoyou，andfeelsosafeandhappyhere。“
　　“MuJo，youmaysayanythingtoyourmother，foritismygreatesthappinessandpridetofeelthatmygirlsconfideinmeandknowhowmuchIlovethem。“
　　“IthoughtI’dgrievedyou。“
　　“No，dear，butspeakingofFatherremindedmehowmuchI
　　misshim，howmuchIowehim，andhowfaithfullyIshouldwatchandworktokeephislittledaughterssafeandgoodforhim。“
　　“Yetyoutoldhimtogo，Mother，anddidn’tcrywhenhewent，andnevercomplainnow，orseemasifyouneededanyhelp，“
　　saidJo，wondering。
　　“IgavemybesttothecountryIlove，andkeptmytearstillhewasgone。WhyshouldIcomplain，whenwebothhavemerelydoneourdutyandwillsurelybethehappierforitintheend？IfIdon’tseemtoneedhelp，itisbecauseIhaveabetterfriend，eventhanFather，tocomfortandsustainme。Mychild，thetroublesandtemptationsofyourlifearebeginningandmaybemany，butyoucanovercomeandoutlivethemallifyoulearntofeelthestrengthandtendernessofyourHeavenlyFatherasyoudothatofyourearthlyone。ThemoreyouloveandtrustHim，andthelessyouwilldependonhumanpowerandwisdom。Hisloveandcarenevertireorchange，canneverbetakenfromyou，butmybecomethesourceoflifelongpeace，happiness，andstrength。Believethisheartily，andgotoGodwithallyourlittlecares，andhopes，andsins，andsorrows，asfreelyandconfidinglyasyoucometoyourmother。“
　　Jo’sonlyanswerwastoholdhermotherclose，andinthesilencewhichfollowedthesincerestprayershehadeverprayedleftherheartwithoutwords。Forinthatsadyethappyhour，shehadlearnednotonlythebitternessofremorseanddespair，butthesweetnessofself-denialandself-control，andledbyhermother’shand，shehaddrawnnearertotheFriendwhoalwayswelcomeseverychildwithalovestrongerthanthatofanyfather，tendererthanthatofanymother。
　　Amystirredandsighedinhersleep，andasifeagertobeginatoncetomendherfault，lJolookedupwithanexpressiononherfacewhichithadneverwornbefore。
　　“Iletthesungodownonmyanger。Iwouldn’tforgiveher，andtoday，ifithadn’tbeenforLaurie，itmighthavebeentoolate!HowcouldIbesowicked？“saidJo，halfaloud，assheleanedoverhersistersoftlystrokingthewethairscatteredonthepillow。
　　Asifsheheard，Amyopenedhereyes，andheldoutherarms，withasmilethatwentstraighttoJo’sheart。Neithersaidaword，buttheyhuggedoneanotherclose，inspiteoftheblankets，andeverythingwasforgivenandforgotteninoneheartykiss。