Alcott_Little_Women.txt topic ['13', '324', '378', '393']
a
merry little quadroon, who could not be taken in elsewhere, but
who was welcome to the `-garten', though some people predicted
that his admission would ruin the school.
, was a very happy woman there, in spite of hard work,
much anxiety, and a perpetual racket. 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. the years went on, two
little lads of her own came to increase her happiness--,
named for , and , a happy-go-lucky baby, who seemed
to have inherited his papa's sunshiny temper as well as his
mother's lively spirit. 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.
were a great many holidays at , and one of
the most delightful was the yearly apple-picking. then the
, , . turned out in full force
and made a day of it. years after 's wedding, one of these
fruitful festivals occurred, a mellow day, when the air
was full of an exhilarating freshness which made the spirits rise
and the blood dance healthily in the veins. old orchard wore
its holiday attire. and asters fringed the mossy walls.
skipped briskly in the sere grass, and crickets chirped
like fairy pipers at a feast. were busy with their
small harvesting. 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. was there.
laughed and sang, climbed up and tumbled down.
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.
. strolled placidly about, quoting , ,
and to . , while enjoying...
gentle apple's winey juice.
charged up and down the green aisles like a stout
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. devoted
himself to the little ones, rode his small daughter in a bushel-basket,
took up among the bird's nests, and kept adventurous
from breaking his neck. . and sat among
the apple piles like a pair of , sorting the contributions
that kept pouring in, while 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.
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. bore a charmed life, for nothing
ever happened to him, and 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 delusion that babies could digest
anything, from pickled cabbage to buttons, nails, and their own
small shoes. knew that little would turn up again in
time, safe and rosy, dirty and serene, and she always received
him back with a hearty welcome, for loved her babies tenderly.
four o'clock a lull took place, and baskets remained
empty, while the apple pickers rested and compared rents and
bruises. and , 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. 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 liked--freedom being the sauce best beloved by the boyish
soul. 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. little girls had a
private tea party, and roved among the edibles at his own
sweet will.
no one could eat any more, the proposed the
first regular toast, which was always drunk at such times--"
, bless her!" 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.
", 's sixtieth birthday! life to her, with
three times three!"
was given with a will, as you may well believe, and
the cheering once begun, it was hard to stop it. 's
health was proposed, form . , who was considered their
special patron, to the astonished guinea pig, who had strayed
from its proper sphere in search of its young master. , 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. presents, some of them,
but what would have been defects to other eyes were ornaments
to 's--for the children's gifts were all their own.
stitch 's patient little fingers had put into the handkerchiefs
she hemmed was better than embroidery to . . 's
miracle of mechanical skill, though the cover wouldn't shut, 's
footstool had a wiggle in its uneven legs that she declared was
soothing, and no page of the costly book 's child gave her was
so fair as that on which appeared in tipsy capitals, the words--
" dear , from her little ."
the ceremony the boys had mysteriously disappeared,
and when . had tried to thank her children, and broken
down, while wiped her eyes on his pinafore, the
suddenly began to sing. , 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 had written, set to music, and the
trained his lads to give with the best effect. was something
altogether new, and it proved a grand success, for .
couldn't get over her surprise, and insisted on shaking hands
with every one of the featherless birds, from tall and
to the little quadroon, who had the sweetest voice of all.
this, the boys dispersed for a final lark, leaving .
and her daughters under the festival tree.
" don't think ever ought to call myself `unlucky ' again,
when my greatest wish has been so beautifully gratified," said .
, taking 's little fist out of the milk pitcher, in which
he was rapturously churning.
" yet your life is very different from the one you pictured
so long ago. you remember our castles in the air?" asked ,
smiling as she watched and playing cricket with the boys.
" fellows! does my heart good to see them forget business
and frolic for a day," answered , who now spoke in a maternal
way of all mankind. ", remember, but the life wanted then
seems selfish, lonely, and cold to me now. haven't given up the
hope that may write a good book yet, but can wait, and 'm
sure it will be all the better for such experiences and illustrations
as these." pointed from the lively lads in the
distance to her father, leaning on the '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.
" castle was the most nearly realized of all. asked for
splendid things, to be sure, but in my heart knew should be
satisfied, if had a little home, and , and some dear children
like these. 've got them all, thank , and am the
happiest woman in the world." laid her hand on her tall
boy's head, with a face full of tender and devout content.
" castle is very different from what planned, but would
not alter it, though, like , don't relinquish all my artistic
hopes, or confine myself to helping others fulfill their dreams of
beauty. 've begun to model a figure of baby, and says it
is the best thing 've ever done. think so, myself, and mean
to do it in marble, so that, whatever happens, may at least keep
the image of my little angel."
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 's sunshine. cross was doing much for both father
and mother, for one love and sorrow bound them closely together.
's nature was growing sweeter, deeper, and more tender.
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 ...
each life some rain must fall,
days must be dark and sad and dreary.
" is growing better, am sure of it, my dear. 't
despond, but hope and keep happy," said . , as tenderhearted
stooped from her knee to lay her rosy cheek against
her little cousin's pale one.
" never ought to, while have you to cheer me up, ,
and to take more than half of every burden," replied
warmly. " never lets me see his anxiety, but is so sweet and
patient with me, so devoted to , and such a stay and comfort
to me always that can't love him enough. , in spite of my
one cross, can say with , ` , 'm a happy woman.'"
"'s no need for me to say it, for everyone can see
that 'm far happier than deserve," added , glancing from
her good husband to her chubby children, tumbling on the grass
beside her. " is getting gray and stout. 'm growing as
thin as a shadow, and am thirty. never shall be rich, and
may burn up any night, for that incorrigible
will smoke sweet-fern cigars under the bed-clothes,
though he's set himself afire three times already. in
spite of these unromantic facts, have nothing to complain
of, and never was so jolly in my life. the remark, but
living among boys, can't help using their expressions now
and then."
", , think your harvest will be a good one," began
. , frightening away a big black cricket that was
staring out of countenance.
" half so good as yours, . it is, and we
never can thank you enough for the patient sowing and reaping
you have done," cried , with the loving impetuosity which
she never would outgrow.
" hope there will be more wheat and fewer tares every
year," said softly.
" large sheaf, but know there's room in your heart for
it, dear," added 's tender voice.
to the heart, . could only stretch out
her arms, as if to gather children and grandchildren to herself,
and say, with face and voice full of motherly love, gratitude,
and humility...
", my girls, however long you may live, never can
wish you a greater happiness than this!"