“I’dtakeitmanfully，andberespectedificouldn’tbeloved，“saidAmy，withthedecisionofonewhoknewnothingaboutit。
　　Now，Laurieflatteredhimselfthathehadborneitremarkablywell，makingnomoan，askingnosympathy，andtakinghistroubleawaytoliveitdownalone。Amy’slectureputtheMatterinanewlight，andforthefirsttimeitdidlookweakandselfishtoloseheartatthefirstfailure，andshuthimselfupinmoodyindifference。Hefeltasifsuddenlyshakenoutofapensivedreamandfounditimpossibletogotosleepagain。Presentlyhesatupandaskedslowly，“DoyouthinkJowoulddespisemeasyoudo？“
　　“Yes，ifshesawyounow。Shehateslazypeople。Whydon’tyoudosomethingsplendid，andmakeherloveyou？“
　　“Ididmybest，butitwasnouse。“
　　“Graduatingwell，youmean？Thatwasnomorethanyououghttohavedone，foryourgrandfather’ssake。Itwouldhavebeenshamefultofailafterspendingsomuchtimeandmoney，wheneveryoneknewthatyoucoulddowell。“
　　“Ididfail，saywhatyouwill，forJowouldn’tloveme，“
　　beganLaurie，leaninghisheadonhishandinadespondentattitude。
　　“No，youdidn’t，andyou’llsaysointheend，foritdidyougood，andprovedthatyoucoulddosomethingifyoutried。
　　Ifyou’donlysetaboutanothertaskofsomesort，you’dsoonbeyourhearty，happyselfagain，andforgetyourtrouble。“
　　“That’simpossible。“
　　“Tryitandsee。Youneedn’tshrugyourshoulders，andthink，`Muchsheknowsaboutsuchthings’。Idon’tpretendtobewise，butIamobserving，andIseeagreatdealmorethanyou’dimagine。I’minterestedinotherpeople’sexperiencesandinconsistencies，andthoughIcan’texplain，Irememberandusethemformyownbenefit。LoveJoallyourdays，ifyouchoose，butdon’tletitspoilyou，forit’swickedtothrowawaysomanygoodgiftsbecauseyoucan’thavetheoneyouwant。There，Iwon’tlectureanymore，forIknowyou’llwakeupandbeamaninspiteofthathardheartedgirl。“
　　Neitherspokeforseveralminutes。Lauriesatturningthelittleringonhisfinger，andAmyputthelasttouchestothehastysketchshehadbeenworkingatwhileshetalked。
　　Presentlysheputitonhisknee，merelysaying，“Howdoyoulikethat？“
　　Helookedandthenhesmiled，ashecouldnotwellhelpdoing，foritwascapitallydone，thelong，lazyfigureonthegrass，withlistlessface，half-shuteyes，andonehandholdingacigar，fromwhichcamethelittlewreathofsmokethatencircledthedreamer’shead。
　　“Howwellyoudraw!“hesaid，withagenuinesurpriseandpleasureatherskill，adding，withahalf-laugh，“Yes，that’sme。“
　　“Asyouare。Thisisasyouwere。“AndAmylaidanothersketchbesidetheoneheheld。
　　Itwasnotnearlysowelldone，buttherewasalifeandspiritinitwhichatonedformanyfaults，anditrecalledthepastsovividlythatasuddenchangesweptovertheyoungman’sfaceashelooked。OnlyaroughsketchofLaurietamingahorse。Hatandcoatwereoff，andeverylineoftheactivefigure，resoluteface，andcommandingattitudewasfullofenergyandmeaning。Thehandsomebrute，justsubdued，stoodarchinghisneckunderthetightlydrawnrein，withonefootimpatientlypawingtheground，andearsprickedupasiflisteningforthevoicethathadmasteredhim。Intheruffledmane。Therider’sbreezyhairanderectattitude，therewasasuggestionofsuddenlyarrestedmotion，ofstrength，courage，andyouthfulbuoyancythatcontrastedsharplywiththesupinegraceofthe`DOLCEFARNIENTE’sketch。Lauriesaidnothingbutashiseyewentfromonetotheother，Amysayhimflushupandfoldhislipstogetherasifhereadandacceptedthelittlelessonshehadgivenhim。Thatsatisfiedher，andwithoutwaitingforhimtospeak，shesaid，inhersprightlyway……
　　“Don’tyourememberthedayyouplayedRareywithPuck，andwealllookedon？MegandBethwerefrightened，butJoclappedandpranced，andIsatonthefenceanddrewyou。I
　　foundthatsketchinmyportfoliotheotherday，toucheditup，andkeptittoshowyou。“
　　“Muchobliged。You’veimprovedimmenselysincethen，andIcongratulateyou。MayIventuretosuggestin`ahoneymoonparadise’thatfiveo’clockisthedinnerhouratyourhotel？“
　　Laurieroseashespoke，returnedthepictureswithasmileandabowandlookedathiswatch，asiftoremindherthatevenmorallecturesshouldhaveanend。Hetriedtoresumehisformereasy，indifferentair，butitwasanaffectationnow，fortherousinghadbeenmoreeffaciousthanhewouldconfess。Amyfelttheshadeofcoldnessinhismanner，andsaidtoherself……
　　“Now，I’veoffendedhim。Well，ifitdoeshimgood，I’mglad，ifitmakeshimhateme，I’msorry，butit’strue，andIcan’ttakebackawordofit。“
　　Theylaughedandchattedallthewayhome，andlittleBaptist，upbehind，thoughtthatmonsieurandmadamoisellewereincharmingspirits。Butbothfeltillatease。Thefriendlyfranknesswasdisturbed，thesunshinehadashadowoverit，anddespitetheirapparentgaiety，therewasasecretdiscontentintheheartofeach。
　　“Shallweseeyouthisevening，monfrere？“askedAmy，astheypartedatheraunt’sdoor。
　　“UnfortunatelyIhaveanengagement。Aurevoir，madamoiselle。“
　　AndLauriebentasiftokissherhand，intheforeignfashion，whichbecamehimbetterthanmanymen。SomethinginhisfacemadeAmysayquicklyandwarmly……
　　“No，beyourselfwithme，Laurie，andpartinthegoodoldway。
　　I’dratherhaveaheartyEnglishhandshakethanallthesentimentalsalutationsinFrance。“
　　“Goodbye，dear。“Andwiththesewords，utteredinthetonesheliked，Laurielefther，afterahandshakealmostpainfulinitsheartiness。
　　Nextmorning，insteadoftheusualcall，Amyreceivedanotewhichmadehersmileatthebeginningandsighattheend。
　　MyDearMentor，Pleasemakemyadieuxtoyouraunt，andexultwithinyourself，for`LazyLaurence’hasgonetohisgrandpa，likethebestofboys。Apleasantwintertoyou，andmaythegodsgrantyouablissfulhoneymoonatValrosa!IthinkFredwouldbebenefitedbyarouser。Tellhimso，withmycongratulations。
　　Yoursgratefully，Telemachus“Goodboy!I’mgladhe’sgone，“saidAmy，withanapprovingsmile。
　　Thenextminuteherfacefellassheglancedabouttheemptyroom，adding，withaninvoluntarysigh，“Yes，Iamglad，buthowIshallmisshim。“
　　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
　　SittingpatientintheshadowTilltheblessedlightshallcome，AsereneandsaintlypresenceSanctifiesourtroubledhome。
　　EarthlyjoysandhopesandsorrowsBreaklikeripplesonthestrandOfthedeepandsolemnriverWhereherwillingfeetnowstand。
　　Omysister，passingfromme，Outofhumancareandstrife，Leaveme，asagift，thosevirtuesWhichhavebeautifiedyourlife。
　　Dear，bequeathmethatgreatpatienceWhichhaspowertosustainAcheerful，uncomplainingspiritInitsprison-houseofpain。
　　Giveme，forIneeditsorely，Ofthatcourage，wiseandsweet，WhichhasmadethepathofdutyGreenbeneathyourwillingfeet。
　　Givemethatunselfishnature，ThatwithcharitydevineCanpardonwrongforlove’sdearsake——
　　Meekheart，forgivememine!
　　ThusourpartingdailylosethSomethingofitsbitterpain，Andwhilelearningthishardlesson，Mygreatlossbecomesmygain。
　　ForthetouchofgriefwillrenderMywildnaturemoreserene，Givetolifenewaspirations，Anewtrustintheunseen。
　　Henceforth，safeacrosstheriver，IshallseeforevermoreAbeloved，householdspiritWaitingformeontheshore。
　　Hopeandfaith，bornofmysorrow，Guardianangelsshallbecome，AndthesistergonebeforemeBytheirhandsshallleadmehome。
　　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。IusedtothinkI
　　couldn’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，anditmakesthegoeasy。“