“Well，then，whydidn’tthoutellmeallthissooner？“askedJobashfully。
　　“NowIshallhaftoshowtheeallmyheart，andIsogladlywill，becausethoumusttakecareofithereafter。See，then，myJo——ah，thedear，funnylittlename——IhadawishtotellsomethingthedayIsaidgoodbyeinNewYork，butIthoughtthehandsomefriendwasbetrothedtothee，andsoIspokenot。Wouldstthouhavesaid`Yes’，then，ifIhadspoken？“
　　“Idon’tknow。I’mafraidnot，forIdidn’thaveanyheartjustthen。“
　　“Prut!ThatIdonotbelieve。Itwasasleeptillthefairyprincecamethroughthewood，andwakeditup。Ah，well，`DieersteLiebeistdiebeste’，butthatIshouldnotexpect。“
　　“Yes，thefirstloveisthebest，butbesocontented，forI
　　neverhadanother。Teddywasonlyaboy，andsoongotoverhislittlefancy，“saidJo，anxioustocorrecttheProfessor’smistake。
　　“Good!ThenIshallresthappy，andbesurethatthougivestmeall。Ihafwaitedsolong，Iamgrownselfish，asthouwiltfind，Professorin。“
　　“Ilikethat，“criedJo，delightedwithhernewname。“Nowtellmewhatbroughtyou，atlast，justwhenIwantedyou？“
　　“This。“AndMr。Bhaertookalittlewornpaperoutofhiswaistcoatpocket。
　　Jounfoldedit，andlookedmuchabashed，foritwasoneofherowncontributionstoapaperthatpaidforpoetry，whichaccountedforhersendingitanoccasionalattempt。
　　“Howcouldthatbringyou？“sheasked，wonderingwhathemeant。
　　“Ifounditbychance。Iknewitbythenamesandtheinitials，andinittherewasonelittleversethatseemedtocallme。Readandfindhim。Iwillseethatyougonotinthewet。“
　　INTHEGARRET
　　Fourlittlechestsallinarow，Dimwithdust，andwornbytime，Allfashionedandfilled，longago，Bychildrennowintheirprime。
　　Fourlittlekeyshungsidebyside，Withfadedribbons，braveandgayWhenfastenedthere，withchildishpride，Longago，onarainyday。
　　Fourlittlenames，oneoneachlid，Carvedoutbyaboyishhand，AndunderneaththereliethhidHistoriesofthehapppybandOnceplayinghere，andpausingoftTohearthesweetrefrain，Thatcameandwentontheroofaloft，Inthefallingsummerrain。
　　“Meg“onthefirstlid，smoothandfair。
　　Ilookinwithlovingeyes，Forfoldedhere，withwell-knowncare，Agoodlygatheringlies，Therecordofapeacefullife——
　　Giftstogentlechildandgirl，Abridalgown，linestoawife，Atinyshoe，ababycurl。
　　Notoysinthisfirstchestremain，Forallarecarriedaway，Intheiroldage，tojoinagainInanothersmallMeg’splay。
　　Ah，happymother!WellIknowYouhear，likeasweetrefrain，LullabieseversoftandlowInthefallingsummerrain。
　　“Jo“onthenextlid，scratchedandworn，AndwithinamotleystoreOfheadless，dolls，ofschoolbookstorn，Birdsandbeaststhatspeaknomore，SpoilsbroughthomefromthefairygroundOnlytrodbyyouthfulfeet，Dreamsofafutureneverfound，Memoriesofapaststillsweet，Half-writpoems，storieswild，Aprilletters，warmandcold，Diariesofawilfulchild，Hintsofawomanearlyold，Awomaninalonelyhome，Hearing，likeasadrefrain——
　　“Beworthy，love，andlovewillcome，“
　　Inthefallingsummerrain。
　　MyBeth!thedustisalwayssweptFromthelidthatbearsyourname，Asifbylovingeyesthatwept，Bycarefulhandsthatoftencame。
　　Deathcannonizedforusonesaint，Everlesshumanthandivine，Andstillwelay，withtenderplaint，Relicsinthishouseholdshrine——
　　Thesilverbell，soseldomrung，Thelittlecapwhichlastshewore，Thefair，deadCatherinethathungByangelsborneaboveherdoor。
　　Thesongsshesang，withoutlament，Inherprison-houseofpain，ForeveraretheysweetlyblentWiththefallingsummerrain。
　　Uponthelastlid’spolishedfield——
　　LegendnowbothfairandtrueAgallantknightbearsonhisshield，“Amy“inlettersgoldandblue。
　　Withinliesnoodsthatboundherhair，Slippersthathavedancedtheirlast，Fadedflowerslaidbywithcare，Fanswhoseairytoilsarepast，Gayvalentines，allardentflames，TriflesthathavebornetheirpartIngirlishhopesandfearsandshames，TherecordofamaidenheartNowlearningfairer，truerspells，Hearing，likeablitherefrain，ThesilversoundofbridalbellsInthefallingsummerrain。
　　Fourlittlechestsallinarow，Dimwithdust，andwornbytime，Fourwomen，taughtbywealandwoeToloveandlaborintheirprime。
　　Foursisters，partedforanhour，Nonelost，oneonlygonebefore，Madebylove’simmortalpower，Nearestanddearestevermore。
　　Oh，whenthesehiddenstoresofoursLieopentotheFather’ssight，Maytheyberichingoldenhours，Deedsthatshowfairerforthelight，Liveswhosebravemusiclongshallring，Likeaspirit-stirringstrain，SoulsthatshallgladlysoarandsingInthelongsunshineafterrain。
　　“It’sverybadpoetry，butIfeltitwhenIwroteit，onedaywhenIwasverylonely，andhadagoodcryonaragbag。Ineverthoughtitwouldgowhereitcouldtelltales，“saidJo，tearinguptheversestheProfessorhadtreasuredsolong。
　　“Letitgo，ithasdoneit’sduty，andIwillhafafreshonewhenIreadallthebrownbookinwhichshekeepsherlittlesecrets，“saidMr。Bhaerwithasmileashewatchedthefragmentsflyawayonthewind。“Yes，“headdedearnestly，“Ireadthat，andIthinktomyself，Shehasasorrow，sheislonely，shewouldfindcomfortintruelove。Ihafaheartfull，fullforher。
　　ShallInotgoandsay，“IfthisisnottoopoorathingtogifforwhatIshallhopetoreceive，takeitinGott’sname？“
　　“Andsoyoucametofindthatitwasnottoopoor，buttheonepreciousthingIneeded，“whisperedJo。
　　“Ihadnocouragetothinkthatatfirst，heavenlykindaswasyourwelcometome。ButsoonIbegantohope，andthenIsaid，`IwillhafherifIdieforit，’andsoIwill!“criedMr。Bhaer，withadefiantnod，asifthewallsofmistclosingroundthemwerebarrierswhichhewastosurmountorvaliantlyknockdown。
　　Jothoughtthatwassplendid，andresolvedtobeworthyofherknight，thoughhedidnotcomeprancingonachargeringorgeousarray。
　　“Whatmadeyoustayawaysolong？“sheaskedpresently，findingitsopleasanttoaskconfidentialquestionsandgetdelightfulanswersthatshecouldnotkeepsilent。
　　“Itwasnoteasy，butIcouldnotfindthehearttotakeyoufromthatsohappyhomeuntilIcouldhafaprospectofonetogifyou，aftermuchtime，perhaps，andhardwork。HowcouldI
　　askyoutogifupsomuchforapooroldfellow，whohasnofortunebutalittlelearning？“
　　“I’mgladyouarepoor。Icouldn’tbeararichhusband，“
　　saidJodecidedly，addinginasoftertone，“Don’tfearpoverty。
　　I’veknownitlongenoughtolosemydreadandbehappyworkingforthoseIlove，anddon’tcallyourselfold——fortyistheprimeoflife。Icouldn’thelplovingyouifyouwereseventy!“
　　TheProfessorfoundthatsotouchingthathewouldhavebeengladofhishandkerchief，ifhecouldhavegotatit。Ashercouldn’t，Jowipedhiseyesforhim，andsaid，laughing，asshetookawayabundleortwo……
　　“Imaybestrong-minded，butnoonecansayI’moutofmyspherenow，forwoman’sspecialmissionissupposedtobedryingtearsandbearingburdens。I’mtocarrymyshare，Friedrich，andhelptoearnthehome。Makeupyourmindtothat，orI’llnevergo，“sheaddedresolutely，ashetriedtoreclaimhisload。
　　“Weshallsee。Hafyoupatiencetowaitalongtime，Jo？
　　Imustgoawayanddomyworkalone。Imusthelpmyboysfirst，because，evenforyou，ImaynotbreakmywordtoMinna。Canyouforgifthat，andbehappywhilewehopeandwait？“
　　“Yes，IknowIcan，forweloveoneanother，andthatmakesalltheresteasytobear。Ihavemyduty，also，andmywork。
　　Icouldn’tenjoymyselfifIneglectedthemevenforyou，sothere’snoneedofhurryorimpatience。YoucandoyourpartoutWest，Icandominehere，andbothbehappyhopingforthebest，andleavingthefuturetobeasGodwills。“
　　“Ah!Thougifestmesuchhopeandcourage，andIhafnothingtogifbackbutafullheartandtheseemptyhands，“criedtheProfessor，quiteovercome。
　　Jonever，neverwouldlearntobeproper，forwhenhesaidthatastheystooduponthesteps，shejustputbothhandsintohis，whisperingtenderly，“Notemptynow，“andstoopingdown，kissedherFriedrichundertheumbrella。Itwasdreadful，butshewouldhavedoneitiftheflockofdraggle-tailedsparrowsonthehedgehadbeenhumanbeings，forshewasveryfargoneindeed，andquiteregardlessofeverythingbutherownhappiness。
　　Thoughitcameinsuchaverysimpleguise，thatwasthecrowningmomentofboththeirlives，when，turningfromthenightandstormandlonelinesstothehouseholdlightandwarmthandpeacewaitingtoreceivethem，withaglad“Welcomehome!“Joledherloverin，andshutthedoor。
　　ForayearJoandherProfessorworkedandwaited，hopedandloved，metoccasionally，andwrotesuchvoluminouslettersthattheriseinthepriceofpaperwasaccountedfor，Lauriesaid。Thesecondyearbeganrathersoberly，fortheirprospectsdidnotbrighten，andAuntMarchdiedsuddenly。Butwhentheirfirstsorrowwasover——fortheylovedtheoldladyinspiteofhersharptongue——theyfoundtheyhadcauseforrejoicing，forshehadleftPlumfieldtoJo，whichmadeallsortsofjoyfulthingspossible。
　　“It’safineoldplace，andwillbringahandsomesum，forofcourseyouintendtosellit，“saidLaurie，astheywerealltalkingthematteroversomeweekslater。
　　“No，Idon’t，“wasJo’sdecidedanswer，asshepettedthefatpoodle，whomshehadadopted，outofrespecttohisformermistress。
　　“Youdon’tmeantolivethere？“
　　“Yes，Ido。“
　　“But，mydeargirl，it’sanimmensehouse，andwilltakeapowerofmoneytokeepitinorder。Thegardenandorchardaloneneedtwoorthreemen，andfarmingisn’tinBhaer’sline，Itakeit。“
　　“He’lltryhishandatitthere，ifIproposeit。“
　　“Andyouexpecttoliveontheproduceoftheplace？Well，thatsoundsparadisiacal，butyou’llfinditdesperatehardwork。“
　　“Thecropwearegoingtoraiseisaprofitableone，“AndJolaughed。
　　“Ofwhatisthisfinecroptoconsist，ma’am？“
　　“Boys。Iwanttoopenaschoolforlittlelads——agood，happy，homelikeschool，withmetotakecareofthemandFritztoteachthem。“
　　“That’satrulyJoianplanforyou!Isn’tthatjustlikeher？“criedLaurie，appealingtothefamily，wholookedasmuchsurprisedashe。
　　“Ilikeit，“saidMrs。Marchdecidedly。
　　“SodoI，“addedherhusband，whowelcomedthethoughtofachancefortryingtheSocraticmethodofeducationonmodernyouth。
　　“ItwillbeanimmensecareforJo，“saidMeg，strokingtheheadorheroneall-absorbingson。
　　“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，I
　　seemtofeeltheirwants，andsympathizewiththeirtroubles，andoh，Ishouldsoliketobeamothertothem!“
　　Mrs。MarchheldoutherhandtoJo，whotookit，smiling，withtearsinhereyes，andwentonintheoldenthusiasticway，whichtheyhadnotseenforalongwhile。
　　“ItoldmyplantoFritzonce，andhesaiditwasjustwhathewouldlike，andagreedtotryitwhenwegotrich。Blesshisdearheart，he’sbeendoingitallhislife——helpingpoorboys，I
　　mean，notgettingrich，thathe’llneverbe。Moneydoesn’tstayinhispocketlongenoughtolayupany。Butnow，thankstomygoodoldaunt，wholovedmebetterthanIeverdeserved，I’mrich，atleastIfeelso，andwecanliveatPlumfieldperfectlywell，ifwehaveaflourishingschool。It’sjusttheplaceforboys，thehouseisbig，andthefurniturestrongandplain。There’splentyofroomfordozensinside，andsplendidgroundsoutside。
　　Theycouldhelpinthegardenandorchard。Suchworkishealthy，isn’tit，sir？ThenFritzcouldtrainandteachinhisownway，andFatherwillhelphim。Icanfeedandnurseandpetandscoldthem，andMotherwillbemystand-by。I’vealwayslongedforlotsofboys，andneverhadenough，nowIcanfillthehousefullandrevelinthelittledearstomyheart’scontent。Thinkwhatluxury——
　　Plumfieldmyown，andawildernessofboystoenjoyitwithme。“
　　AsJowavedherhandsandgaveasighofrapture，thefamilywentoffintoagaleofmerriment，andMr。Laurencelaughedtilltheythoughthe’dhaveanapoplecticfit。
　　“Idon’tseeanythingfunny，“shesaidgravely，whenshecouldbeheard。“NothingcouldbemorenaturalandproperthanformyProfessortoopenaschool，andformetoprefertoresideinmyownestate。“
　　“Sheisputtingonairsalready，“saidLaurie，whoregardedtheideainthelightofacapitaljoke。“ButmayIinquirehowyouintendtosupporttheestablishment？Ifallthepupilsarelittleragamuffins，I’mafraidyourcropwon’tbeprofitableinaworldlysense，Mr。Bhaer。“
　　“Nowdon’tbeawet-blanket，Teddy。OfcourseIshallhaverichpupils，also——perhapsbeginwithsuchaltogether。Then，whenI’vegotastart，Icantakeinaragamuffinortwo，justforarelish。Richpeople’schildrenoftenneedcareandcomfort，aswellaspoor。I’veseenunfortunatelittlecreatureslefttoservants，orbackwardonespushedforward，whenit’srealcruelty。
　　Somearenaughtythroughmismanagmentorneglect，andsomelosetheirmothers。Besides，thebesthavetogetthroughthehobbledehoyage，andthat’stheverytimetheyneedmostpatienceandkindness。
　　Peoplelaughatthem，andhustlethemabout，trytokeepthemoutofsight，andexpectthemtoturnallatoncefromprettychildrenintofineyoungmen。Theydon’tcomplainmuch——
　　pluckylittlesouls——buttheyfeelit。I’vebeenthroughsome-
　　thingofit，andIknowallaboutit。I’veaspecialinterestinsuchyoungbears，andliketoshowthemthatIseethewarm，honest，well-meaningboys’hearts，inspiteoftheclumsyarmsandlegsandthetopsy-turvyheads。I’vehadexperience，too，forhaven’tIbroughtuponeboytobeaprideandhonortohisfamily？“