Jo's Boys

whose literary eggs found such an unexpected market that in ten years Jo's wildest and most cherished dream actually came true. How or why it happened she never clearly understood, but all

d dear as this generous pair. Confined to her room, Jo got desperate over the state of affairs, till she fell back upon the long-disused pen as the only thing she could do to help fill up the gaps in the income. A book for girls being wanted

oyage, though the wreck continued to float long afterward, to the profit of the publisher at least. The hastily written story, sent away with no thought beyond the few

now booming gaily, and, better than all, many kind faces rejoicing with her, many friendly hands grasping hers with cordial congratulations. After that it was

oubt, and gratefully received; though it was not half so large a one as a generous world reported it to be. The tide having turned continued to rise, and floated the f

m who sends disappointment, poverty, and sorrow to try the love of human hearts and make success the sweeter when it comes. The world saw the prosperity, and kind

enjoy herself after her hard, heroic life. Now the dream had become a happy fact, and Marmee sat in her pleasant chamber with every comfort and luxury about her, loving daughters to wait on her as infirmities increased, a faithful mate to lean upon, and grand-children to brighten the twilight of life with their dutiful affection. A very precious ti

of her and all her affairs, past, present, and to come. Strangers demanded to look at her, question, advise, warn, congratulate, and drive her out of her wits by well-meant but very wearisome attentions. If she declined to open her heart to them, they reproached her; if she refused to endow her pet charities, relieve private wants, or sympathize with ever

'More stories; more right away!' Her family objected to this devotion at their expense, and her health suffered; but for a time she gratefully offered herself

n loses its charm, and she was too old, too tired, and too busy to like it. She felt that she had done all that could reasonably be required of her when autographs, photographs, and autobiographical sketches had been sown broadcast over the land; when artists had taken her home in all its aspects, and reporters had taken her in the grim one she always assumed on these trying occasions; when a series of enthusias

ffer some excuse for the unhappy woman, and give a hint to the

e and varied assortment of letters. 'To me it is a more vital subject than international copyright; for time is money, peace is health, and I lose both

od; and they'd see what bores they were when they "do themselves the honour of calling to express their admiratio

te for more. All begin by saying they know they intrude, and that I am of course annoyed by these requests; but they venture to ask because I like boys, or they like the books, or it is only one. Emerson and Whittier put these things in the wastepaper-basket; and thou

liebe Mutter,' said Rob, who often acted as her secretary. 'Her

ation in asking you to supply funds to purchase a new communion-service for our church. To w

ctfull

X.Y.

lothe the poor at my gates. That is my thank-offering for success. Go

he first edition your name is to be taken off and his put on. There's a cool proposal for you. I gue

d now, and barely time to read my own,' said Mrs Jo, pensively fishing a small letter out of the

can't write sequels to all the rest to please her. I should never come to an end if I tr

short a

pinion of your works. I have read them all many

r ad

Y BAB

th having, since he had read my works many times before expressing

w your views upon education. Also what careers they shall follow

r, as I shall tell her to let them run and play and build up good, stout bodies before she talks about

sort of a girl he shall marry, and if yo

he'll get,' proposed Ted, privately

and lend her money to study art abroad for a few years

judge by the ink,' asked Mrs Jo, who beguiled her daily task by trying to guess from the outside what was

J.

e I a he

d play

breeze of

d none sho

like the

s gilds the

s like the

oms a ro

s are wise

hem to you a

r spirit tak

om aflower

flattering l

r silence

treet or lon

ith the flas

e lilies, ho

not, yet

wers and Sol

of the world

AM

rewrite the tale, and make it end good?' another from an irate boy denied an autograph, who darkly foretold financial ruin and loss of favour if she did not send him and all other fellows who asked autographs, photographs, and auto-biographical sketches; a mini

d, and serials can't wait; so deny me to everybody, Mary. I won't see Queen Victoria

fessor Plock, who is to visit us today. The Junglings can lunch on Parnassus; so thou shalt have a quiet time.' And smoothing the worried lines out of her forehead w

aps that wouldn't be a blessing to the world though, as most of us write too much now,' said Mrs Jo, waving

bag and square shoulders and steady air that his mother laughed as she turned away,

had great larks together. Mrs Jo always arranged her own parlour, refilled her vases, and gave the little touches that left it cool and neat for the day

ang and the sound of whee

'; and Ted smoothed his ha

But before she could do so, a man appeared at the door with a card in his hand. Ted met him w

l,' began the newcomer in the insinuating tone of his tribe, while his quick eyes were taking in all the

ever sees re

all I ask,' said the man,

d glance showed him that his unhappy parent had vanished-through

r, bound to see something and bag a fact if he died in the attempt. 'It is not,' said Teddy, gently but f

marriage, and number of children, I should be much obliged,' c

thing else, sir?' And Ted's sober face was such a funny contrast to his ridiculous reply that the reporter

ht of her. I know it's early; but we are goin' to see Holmes and Longfeller, and the rest of the celebrities, so we ran out here fust thing.

he buxom damsels, who fixed their six blue eyes upon him so beseechingly that

ou can see the house and grounds if you like,' he murmured, fa

at's where she writes, ain't it? Do tell me if t

of the Hon. Mrs Norton, with a pen in her hand and a rapt exp

hung behind the door, and afforded her much amusement, it was so dismal, in spite of a c

yed at the sad difference between the real and the ideal. The youngest, aged twelve, could not conceal her disappointme

her now,' said the honest child, walking off to the hall door, leaving her mother to apologize, and her sisters to

re a thousand times obliged. Give our best love to your ma, and tell her we are so sorry not to see her.' Just as Mrs. Erastus Kingsbury Parmalee uttered the wo

ll with her flock before Teddy could warn his mother, whose retreat had been cut off by the arti

ical dismay. 'No use for her to play hou

ay there, the man's slippers close by, and a pile of letters directed to 'Prof. F. Bhaer', she clasped her hands, exclaiming impressively: 'Girls, this is the spot where she wrote t

ing away with a glance at the boy, whose eyes w

the woman in the apron confirmed her suspicion. Touching her mo

is!' And hastily pursuing the unhappy woman, who

e busy, but just let me take

r hand like a tea-tray, submitting to have it heartily sha

to touch the pavement; for you'll be borne in the arms

written her name in the albums, provided each visitor with a memento, and kissed them all round, they at

shall be forgiven our sins in this line, but I don't know what is to become of us if we don't dodge. So many aga

he coast is clear! I'll head them off!' cried Teddy, lo

awn, and being denied the house, proceed to enjoy themselves by picking the flowers, doing up their ha

, when Rob came home to tell her that the Young Men's Christian Union would visit the college,

eady, in case they do call. You always see the boys, you know, though you harden your heart

ty of girls one fell into my arms and said, "Darling, love me!" I

'd better be prepared with a few dozen,' said Rob, laying out a quire of notepa

ng the day I was there, and I left a pile of cards and albums on my table when I came

her black silk, and resigned herself to the impending cal

apter; for thirty pages a day was her task, and she liked to have it well done before evening. Josie had brought som

hurrying across the field to receiv

t a minute to tidy up and run down,' answered Mrs Jo, scribbling away for dear li

the hall door. 'No! a dozen, I do believe; Aunty, look out; they are all coming! What sh

hall and leave them, and pile their hats on the table; the tree won't hold them all. No use to get mats; my poor carpets!' And do

et them at the gate, and was making a little speech of welcome, when Mrs Jo, touched by their bedraggled state, appeared at the door, beckoning them in. Leaving their host to orate bareheaded in t

y the hostess without a murmur, though some were wet, some very warm, and nearly all bore trophies of the day's ramble. One impetuous party flourished a small turtle as he made his compliments; another had a load of sticks cut from noted spots;

nd a rainbow shone beautifully over them as the good fellows stood upon the lawn singing sweetly for a farewell. A happy omen, that bow of promise arched over the young heads, as if Heaven smiled upon their union, and showed them that above the muddy ear

't let anyone disturb me till tea-time,' said Mrs Jo, leaving Mary to shut up the house; for papa and th

came giggling up to say: 'A queer kind of a lady want

pen with a blot; for of all the odd r

"I've got grasshoppers from the grounds of several famous folks, and I want one from

all be glad to get rid of them; always bouncing i

in a moment nearly spe

of yours to put in a rug she's making. Got a vest of Emerson's, she says, and

s; but this seems to be a harmless maniac, for she doesn't take my time, and gives me a good laugh,' said Mrs Jo, returning to her work after a glance

hen Mary popped her head in to say a gentleman wished

nd I won't be disturbed again,' replied the harassed authore

e I'm 'most afraid of him, he's so big and black, and cool as cucumbers, though I will say he's good-looking

s last half-hour to finish. Tell him to go a

lso that her maid was both pretty and timid, Mrs Bhaer flung down her pen and went to the rescue. Descending with her most majestic air she demanded in an

sists on remaining when I

and says you'll be sorry if you don't see him,' answer

black eyes full of laughter, the flash of white teeth through a lo

ed Mary's bewilderment by throwing both arms round the brigand's ne

er Bhaer. Now won't you be sorry if I go

to see you for a year,' laughed Mrs Jo, and she went down to have a