| I did my very best, and she liked it, though she only said
"I don't understand what it's all aboutGo back and begin it, child
"Back I went, and made the Primroses as interesting as ever I couldOnce I was wicked enough to stop in a thrilling place, and say meekly, "I'm afraid it tires you, ma'amShan't I stop now?"
"She caught up her knitting, which had dropped out of her hands, gave me a sharp look through her specs, and said, in her short way, `Finish the chapter, and don't be impertinent, miss'
"Did she own she liked it?" asked Meg
"Oh, bless you, no! But she let old Belsham rest, and when I ran back after my gloves this afternoon, there she was, so hard at the Vicar that she didn't hear me laugh as I danced a jig in the hall because of the good time comingWhat a pleasant life she might have if only she chose! I don't envy her much, in spite of her money, for after all rich people have about as many worries as poor ones, I think," added Jo
"That reminds me," said Meg, "that I've got something to tellIt isn't funny, like Jo's story, but I rolex sport watch thought about it a good deal as I came homeAt the Kings' today I found everybody in a flurry, and one of the children said that her oldest brother had done something dreadful, and Papa had sent him awayKing talking very loud, and Grace and Ellen turned away their faces when they passed me, so I shouldn't see how red and swollen their eyes wereI didn't ask any questions, of course, but I felt so sorry for them and was rather glad I hadn't any wild brothers to do wicked things and disgrace the family
"I think being disgraced in school is a great deal tryinger than anything bad boys can do," said Amy, shaking her head, as if her experience of life had been a deep one"Susie Perkins came to school today with a lovely red carnelian ringI wanted it dreadfully, and wished I was her with all my mightWell, she drew a picture of MrDavis, with a monstrous nose and a hump, and the words, `Young ladies, my eye is upon you!' coming out of his mouth in a balloon thingWe were laughing over it when all of a sudden his eye was on us, and he ordered Susie to bring up cartier santos white her slateShe was parrylized with fright, but she went, and oh, what do you think he did? He took her by the ear--the ear! Just fancy how horrid!--and led her to the recitation platform, and made her stand there half and hour, holding the slate so everyone could see
"Didn't the girls laugh at the picture?" asked Jo, who relished the scrape
"Laugh? Not one! They sat still as mice, and Susie cried quarts, I know she didI didn't envy her then, for I felt that millions of carnelian rings wouldn't have made me happy after thatI never, never should have got over such a agonizing mortification And Amy went on with her work, in the proud consciousness of virtue and the successful utterance of two long words in a breath
"I saw something I liked this morning, and I meant to tell it at dinner, but I forgot," said Beth, putting Jo's topsy-turvy basket in order as she talked"When I went to get some oysters for Hannah, MrLaurence was in the fish shop, but he didn't see me, for I kept behind the fish barrel, and he was busy with MrA poor woman came in with a fake tiffany heart drop earrings pail a mop, and asked MrCutter if he would let her do some scrubbing for a bit of fish, because she hadn't any dinner for her children, and had been disappointed of a day's workCutter was in a hurry and said `No', rather crossly, so she was going away, looking hungry and sorry, when MrLaurence hooked up a big fish with the crooked end of his cane and held it out to herShe was so glad and surprised she took it right into her arms, and thanked him over and overHe told her to `go along and cook it', and she hurried off, so happy! Wasn't it good of him? Oh, she did look so funny, hugging the big, slippery fish, and hoping MrLaurence's bed in heaven would be `aisy'
When they had laughed at Beth's story, they asked their mother for one, and after a moments thought, she said soberly, "As I sat cutting out blue flannel jackets today at the rooms, I felt very anxious about Father, and thought how lonely and helpless we should be , if anything happened to himIt was not a wise thing to do, but I kept on worrying till an old man came in with an order for some prada bag with metal handle clothesHe sat down near me, and I began to talk to him, for he looked poor and tired and anxious
"`Have you sons in the army?' I asked, for the note he brought was not to meI had four, but two were killed, one is a prisoner, and I'm going to the other, who is very sick in a Washington hospital' he answered quietly
"`You have done a great deal for your country, sir, ' I said, feeling respect now, instead of pity
"`Not a mite more than I ought, ma'amI'd go myself, if I was any useAs I ain't, I give my boys, and give 'em free'
"He spoke so cheerfully, looked so sincere, and seemed so glad to give his all, that I was ashamed of myselfI'd given one man and thought it too much, while he gave four without grudging themI had all my girls to comfort me at home, and his last son was waiting, miles away, to say good-by to him, perhaps! I felt so rich, so happy thinking of my blessings, that I made him a nice bundle, gave him some money, and thanked him heartily for the lesson he had taught me
"Tell another story, Mother, one with a moral to it, like gucci twirl ladies watch this |
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