47-第2部分

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ience；　skill；　and　in　time　success；　for　no　mortal　boy　could　hold　out　long　with　Father　Bhaer　shining　on　him　as　benevolently　as　the　sun；　and　Mother　Bhaer　forgiving　him　seventy　times　seven。　Very　precious　to　Jo　was　the　friendship　of　the　lads；　their　penitent　sniffs　and　whispers　after　wrongdoing；　their　droll　or　touching　little　confidences；　their　pleasant　enthusiasms；　hopes；　and　plans；　even　their　misfortunes；　for　they　only　endeared　them　to　her　all　the　more。　There　were　slow　boys　and　bashful　boys；　feeble　boys　and　riotous　boys；　boys　that　lisped　and　boys　that　stuttered；　one　or　two　lame　ones；　and　a　merry　little　quadroon；　who　could　not　be　taken　in　elsewhere；　but　who　was　welcome　to　the　‘Bhaer…garten'；　though　some　people　predicted　that　his　admission　would　ruin　the　school。　

Yes；　Jo　was　a　very　happy　woman　there；　in　spite　of　hard　work；　much　anxiety；　and　a　perpetual　racket。　She　enjoyed　it　heartily　and　found　the　applause　of　her　boys　more　satisfying　than　any　praise　of　the　world；　for　now　she　told　no　stories　except　to　her　flock　of　enthusiastic　believers　and　admirers。　As　the　years　went　on；　two　little　lads　of　her　own　came　to　increase　her　happinessRob；　named　for　Grandpa；　and　Teddy；　a　happy…go…lucky　baby；　who　seemed　to　have　inherited　his　papa's　sunshiny　temper　as　well　as　his　mother's　lively　spirit。　How　they　ever　grew　up　alive　in　that　whirlpool　of　boys　was　a　mystery　to　their　grandma　and　aunts；　but　they　flourished　like　dandelions　in　spring；　and　their　rough　nurses　loved　and　served　them　well。　

There　were　a　great　many　holidays　at　Plumfield；　and　one　of　the　most　delightful　was　the　yearly　apple…picking。　For　then　the　Marches；　Laurences；　Brookes。　And　Bhaers　turned　out　in　full　force　and　made　a　day　of　it。　Five　years　after　Jo's　wedding；　one　of　these　fruitful　festivals　occurred；　a　mellow　October　day；　when　the　air　was　full　of　an　exhilarating　freshness　which　made　the　spirits　rise　and　the　blood　dance　healthily　in　the　veins。　The　old　orchard　wore　its　holiday　attire。　Goldenrod　and　asters　fringed　the　mossy　walls。　Grasshoppers　skipped　briskly　in　the　sere　grass；　and　crickets　chirped　like　fairy　pipers　at　a　feast。　Squirrels　were　busy　with　their　small　harvesting。　Birds　twittered　their　adieux　from　the　alders　in　the　lane；　and　every　tree　stood　ready　to　send　down　its　shower　of　red　or　yellow　apples　at　the　first　shake。　Everybody　was　there。　
Everybody　laughed　and　sang；　climbed　up　and　tumbled　down。　Everybody　declared　that　there　never　had　been　such　a　perfect　day　or　such　a　jolly　set　to　enjoy　it；　and　everyone　gave　themselves　up　to　the　simple　pleasures　of　the　hour　as　freely　as　if　there　were　no　such　things　as　care　or　sorrow　in　the　world。　

Mr。　March　strolled　placidly　about；　quoting　Tusser；　Cowley；　and　Columella　to　Mr。　Laurence；　while　enjoying。。。　

The　gentle　apple's　winey　juice。　

The　Professor　charged　up　and　down　the　green　aisles　like　a　stout　Teutonic　knight；　with　a　pole　for　a　lance；　leading　on　the　boys；　who　made　a　hook　and　ladder　company　of　themselves；　and　performed　wonders　in　the　way　of　ground　and　lofty　tumbling。　Laurie　devoted　himself　to　the　little　ones；　rode　his　small　daughter　in　a　bushel…basket；　took　Daisy　up　among　the　bird's　nests；　and　kept　adventurous　Rob　from　breaking　his　neck。　Mrs。　March　and　Meg　sat　among　the　apple　piles　like　a　pair　of　Pomonas；　sorting　the　contributions　that　kept　pouring　in；　while　Amy　with　a　beautiful　motherly　expression　in　her　face　sketched　the　various　groups；　and　watched　over　one　pale　lad；　who　sat　adoring　her　with　his　little　crutch　beside　him。　

Jo　was　in　her　element　that　day；　and　rushed　about；　with　her　gown　pinned　up；　and　her　hat　anywhere　but　on　her　head；　and　her　baby　tucked　under　her　arm；　ready　for　any　lively　adventure　which　might　turn　up。　Little　Teddy　bore　a　charmed　life；　for　nothing　ever　happened　to　him；　and　Jo　never　felt　any　anxiety　when　he　was　whisked　up　into　a　tree　by　one　lad；　galloped　off　on　the　back　of　another；　or　supplied　with　sour　russets　by　his　indulgent　papa；　who　labored　under　the　Germanic　delusion　that　babies　could　digest　anything；　from　pickled　cabbage　to　buttons；　nails；　and　their　own　small　shoes。　She　knew　that　little　Ted　would　turn　up　again　in　time；　safe　and　rosy；　dirty　and　serene；　and　she　always　received　him　back　with　a　hearty　welcome；　for　Jo　loved　her　babies　tenderly。　

At　four　o'clock　a　lull　took　place；　and　baskets　remained　empty；　while　the　apple　pickers　rested　and　compared　rents　and　bruises。　Then　Jo　and　Meg；　with　a　detachment　of　the　bigger　boys；　set　forth　the　supper　on　the　grass；　for　an　out…of…door　tea　was　always　the　crowning　joy　of　the　day。　The　land　literally　flowed　with　milk　and　honey　on　such　occasions；　for　the　lads　were　not　required　to　sit　at　table；　but　allowed　to　partake　of　refreshment　as　they　likedfreedom　being　the　sauce　best　beloved　by　the　boyish　soul。　They　availed　themselves　of　the　rare　privilege　to　the　fullest　extent；　for　some　tried　the　pleasing　experiment　of　drinking　mild　while　standing　on　their　heads；　others　lent　a　charm　to　leapfrog　by　eating　pie　in　the　pauses　of　the　game；　cookies　were　sown　broadcast　over　the　field；　and　apple　turnovers　roosted　in　the　trees　like　a　new　style　of　bird。　The　little　girls　had　a　private　tea　party；　and　Ted　roved　among　the　edibles　at　his　own　sweet　will。　

When　no　one　could　eat　any　more；　the　Professor　proposed　the　first　regular　toast；　which　was　always　drunk　at　such　times〃Aunt　March；　God　bless　her！〃　A　toast　heartily　given　by　the　good　man；　who　never　forgot　how　much　he　owed　her；　and　quietly　drunk　by　the　boys；　who　had　been　taught　to　keep　her　memory　green。　

〃Now；　Grandma's　sixtieth　birthday！　Long　life　to　her；　with　three　times　three！〃　

That　was　given　with　a　will；　as　you　may　well　believe；　and　the　cheering　once　begun；　it　was　hard　to　stop　it。　Everybody's　health　was　proposed；　form　Mr。　Laurence；　who　was　considered　their　special　patron；　to　the　astonished　guinea　pig；　who　had　strayed　from　its　proper　sphere　in　search　of　its　young　master。　Demi；　as　the　oldest　grandchild；　then　presented　the　queen　of　the　day　with　various　gifts；　so　numerous　that　they　were　transported　to　the　festive　scene　in　a　wheelbarrow。　Funny　presents；　some　of　them；　but　what　would　have　been　defects　to　other　eyes　were　ornaments　to　Grandma'sfor　the　children's　gifts　were　all　their　own。　Every　stitch　Daisy's　patient　little　fingers　had　put　into　the　handkerchiefs　she　hemmed　was　better　than　embroidery　to　Mrs。　March。　Demi's　miracle　of　mechanical　skill；　though　the　cover　wouldn't　shut；　Rob's　footstool　had　a　wiggle　in　its　uneven　legs　that　she　declared　was　soothing；　and　no　page　of　the　costly　book　Amy's　child　gave　her　was　so　fair　as　that　on　which　appeared　in　tipsy　capitals；　the　words　
〃To　dear　Grandma；　from　her　little　Beth。〃　During　the　ceremony　the　boys　had　mysteriously　disappeared；　and　when　Mrs。　March　had　tried　to　thank　her　children；　and　broken　down；　while　Teddy　wiped　her　eyes　on　his　pinafore；　the　Professor　suddenly　began　to　sing。　Then；　from　above　him；　voice　after　voice　took　up　the　words；　and　from　tree　to　tree　echoed　the　music　of　the　unseen　choir；　as　the　boys　sang　with　all　their　hearts　the　little　song　that　Jo　had　written；　Laurie　set　to　music；　and　the　Professor　trained　his　lads　to　give　with　the　best　effect。　This　was　something　altogether　new；　and　it　proved　a　grand　success；　for　Mrs。　March　couldn't　get　over　her　surprise；　and　insisted　on　shaking　hands　with　every　one　of　the　featherless　birds；　from　tall　Franz　and　Emil　to　the　little　quadroon；　who　had　the　sweetest　voice　of　all。　
After　this；　the　boys　dispersed　for　a　final　lark；　leaving　Mrs。　March　and　her　daughters　under　the　festival　tree。　
〃I　don't　think　I　ever　ought　to　call　myself　‘unlucky　Jo'　again；　when　my　greatest　wish　has　been　so　beautifully　gratified；〃　said　Mrs。　Bhaer；　taking　Teddy's　little　fist　out　of　the　milk　pitcher；　in　which　he　was　rapturously　churning。　
〃And　yet　your　life　is　very　different　from　the　one　you　pictured　so　long　ago。　Do　you　remember　our　castles　in　the　air？〃　asked　Amy；　smiling　as　she　watched　Laurie　and　John　playing　cricket　with　the　boys。　

〃Dear　fellows！　It　does　my　heart　good　to　see　them　forget　business　and　frolic　for　a　day；〃　answered　Jo；　who　now　spoke　in　a　maternal　way　of　all　mankind。　〃Yes；　I　remember；　but　the　life　I　wanted　then　seems　selfish；　lonely；　and　cold　to　me　now。　I　haven't　given　up　the　hope　that　I　may　write　a　good　book　yet；　but　I　can　wait；　and　I'm　sure　it　will　be　all　the　better　for　such　experiences　and　illustrations　as　these。〃　And　Jo　pointed　from　the　lively　lads　in　the　distance　to　her　father；　leaning　on　the　Professor's　arm；　as　they　walked　to　and　fro　in　the　sunshine；　deep　in　one　of　the　conversations　which　both　enjoyed　so　much；　and　then　to　her　mother；　sitting　enthroned　among　her　daughters；　with　their　children　in　her　lap　and　at　her　feet；　as　if　all　found　help　and　happiness　in　the　face　which　never　could　grow　old　to　them。　
〃My　castle　was　the　most　nearly　realized　of　all。　I　asked　for　splendid　things；　to　be　sure；　but　in　my　heart　I　knew　I　should　be　satisfied；　if　I　had　a　little　home；　and　John；　and　some　dear　children　like　these。　I've　got　them　all；　thank　God；　and　am　the　happiest　woman　in　the　world。〃　And　Meg　laid　her　hand　on　her　tall　boy's　head；　with　a　face　full　of　tender　and　devout　content。　

〃My　castle　is　very　different　from　what　I　planned；　but　I　would　not　alter　it；　though；　like　Jo；　I　don't　relinquish　all　my　artistic　hopes；　or　confine　myself　to　helping　others　fulfill　their　dreams　of　beauty。　I've　begun　to　model　a　figure　of　baby；　and　Laurie　says　it　is　the　best　thing　I've　ever　done。　I　think　so；　myself；　and　mean　to　do　it　in　marble；　so　that；　whatever　happens；　I　may　at　least　keep　the　image　of　my　little　angel。〃　

As　Amy　spoke；　a　great　tear　dropped　on　the　golden　hair　of　the　sleeping　child　in　her　arms；　for　her　one　well…beloved　daughter　was　a　frail　little　creature　and　the　dread　of　losing　her　was　the　shadow　over　Amy's　sunshine。　This　cross　was　doing　much　for　both　father　and　mother；　for　one　love　and　sorrow　bound　them　closely　together。　Amy's　nature　was　growing　sweeter；　deeper；　and　more　tender。　Laurie　was　growing　more　serious；　strong；　and　firm；　and　both　were　learning　that　beauty；　youth；　good　fortune；　even　love　itself；　cannot　keep　care　and　pain；　loss　and　sorrow；　from　the　most　blessed　for　。。。　
Into　each　life　some　rain　must　fall；　Some　days　must　be　dark　and　sad　and　dreary。　
〃She　is　growing　better；　I　am　sure　of　it；　my　dear。　Don't　despond；　but　hope　and　keep　happy；〃　said　Mrs。　March；　as　tenderhearted　Daisy　stooped　from