Little Women

by Issam Garrouri

  "Yes, it's late, and I'm so worn-out." Jo's voice became greater pathetic than she knew. For now the sun seemed to have long gone in as all of sudden because it got here out, and the world grew muddy and miserable again, and for the primary time she found that her ft have been cold, her head ached, and that her coronary heart was chillier than the previous, fuller of ache than the latter. Mr. Bhaer was going away, he simplest cared for her as a pal, it was all a mistake, and the sooner it become over the better. With this concept in her head, she hailed an coming near omnibus with this sort of hasty gesture that the daisies flew out of the pot and were badly damaged.

  "This isn't always our omniboos," stated the Professor, waving the loaded vehicle away, and stopping to select up the poor little flora.

  "I beg your pardon. I failed to see the name relatively. Never mind, I can stroll. I'm used to plodding in the dust," back Jo, winking hard, due to the fact she would have died rather than overtly wipe her eyes.

  Mr. Bhaer saw the drops on her cheeks, though she became her head away. The sight appeared to the touch him very a good deal, for all of sudden stooping down, he asked in a tone that meant a extraordinary deal, "Heart's dearest, why do you cry?"

  Now, if Jo had no longer been new to this kind of element she might have said she wasn't crying, had a cold in her head, or instructed every other female fib right to the occasion. Instead of which, that undignified creature responded, with an irrepressible sob, "Because you are going away."

  "Ach, mein Gott, that is so top!" cried Mr. Bhaer, coping with to clasp his fingers notwithstanding the umbrella and the bundles, "Jo, I haf nothing but tons like to gif you. I came to look if you could care for it, and I waited to be sure that I changed into something extra than a pal. Am I? Can you are making a little location on your coronary heart for old Fritz?" he brought, all in one breath.

  "Oh, sure!" stated Jo, and he turned into quite satisfied, for she folded both fingers over his arm, and looked up at him with an expression that evidently confirmed how glad she might be to walk through existence beside him, even though she had no better shelter than the old umbrella, if he carried it.

  It was actually presenting below difficulties, for although he had desired to achieve this, Mr. Bhaer could not go down upon his knees, attributable to the mud. Neither may want to he offer Jo his hand, except figuratively, for each had been complete. Much less ought to he indulge in gentle remonstrations inside the open street, although he was close to it. So the most effective way wherein he may want to explicit his rapture became to observe her, with an expression which glorified his face to one of these degree that there actually appeared to be little rainbows inside the drops that sparkled on his beard. If he had now not cherished Jo very much, I don't assume he ought to have finished it then, for she looked a long way from lovely, with her skirts in a deplorable country, her rubber boots splashed to the ankle, and her bonnet a damage. Fortunately, Mr. Bhaer taken into consideration her the maximum beautiful lady living, and she or he discovered him greater "Jove-like" than ever, even though his hatbrim become quite limp with the little rills trickling thence upon his shoulders (for he held the umbrella throughout Jo), and each finger of his gloves wished mending.

  Passers-by likely concept them a pair of harmless lunatics, for they entirely forgot to hail a bus, and strolled leisurely along, oblivious of deepening nightfall and fog. Little they cared what all and sundry notion, for they had been playing the satisfied hour that seldom comes however once in any existence, the mystical second which bestows young people at the old, beauty on the apparent, wealth on the poor, and offers human hearts a foretaste of heaven. The Professor appeared as if he had conquered a nation, and the sector had not anything greater to provide him within the manner of bliss. While Jo trudged beside him, feeling as though her vicinity had usually been there, and wondering how she ever may want to have selected some other lot. Of course, she changed into the primary to speak—intelligibly, I imply, for the emotional feedback which observed her impetuous "Oh, yes!" have been now not of a coherent or reportable man or woman.

  "Friedrich, why did not you..."

  "Ah, heaven, she gifs me the name that no person speaks on the grounds that Minna died!" cried the Professor, pausing in a puddle to treat her with thankful pride.

  "I continually name you so that you could myself—I forgot, however I may not unless you want it."

  "Like it? It is extra sweet to me than I can tell. Say 'thou', also, and I shall say your language is sort of as beautiful as mine."

  "Isn't 'thou' a touch sentimental?" asked Jo, privately wondering it a adorable monosyllable.

  "Sentimental? Yes. Thank Gott, we Germans trust in sentiment, and hold ourselves young mit it. Your English 'you' is so bloodless, say 'thou', heart's dearest, it means a lot to me," pleaded Mr. Bhaer, extra like a romantic student than a grave professor.

  "Well, then, why didn't thou tell me all this faster?" requested Jo bashfully.

  "Now I shall haf to expose thee all my heart, and I so gladly will, because thou should cope with it hereafter. See, then, my Jo—ah, the expensive, funny little call—I had a want to inform some thing the day I said good-bye in New York, but I concept the handsome pal changed into betrothed to thee, and so I spoke no longer. Wouldst thou have stated 'Yes', then, if I had spoken?"

  "I don't know. I'm afraid no longer, for I did not have any coronary heart simply then."

  "Prut! That I do now not trust. It was asleep till the fairy prince came thru the wooden, and waked it up. Ah, properly, 'Die erste Liebe ist die beste', but that I need to not assume."

  "Yes, the past love is the nice, however be so contented, for I never had some other. Teddy became simplest a boy, and shortly got over his little fancy," stated Jo, stressful to accurate the Professor's mistake.

  "Good! Then I shall relaxation satisfied, and make sure that thou givest me all. I haf waited goodbye, I am grown selfish, as thou wilt locate, Professorin."

  "I like that," cried Jo, delighted together with her new name. "Now tell me what added you, at closing, just after I wanted you?"

  "This," and Mr. Bhaer took a touch worn paper out of his waistcoat pocket.

  Jo opened up it, and regarded tons abashed, for it was one of her personal contributions to a paper that paid for poetry, which accounted for her sending it an occasional attempt.

  "How should that carry you?" she asked, thinking what he supposed.

  "I determined it via danger. I knew it through the names and the initials, and in it there was one little verse that appeared to call me. Read and locate him. I will see that you pass now not within the moist."

  IN THE GARRET

  Four little chests all in a row,

  Dim with dirt, and worn via time,

  All common and stuffed, lengthy ago,

  By youngsters now of their prime.

  Four little keys hung side by using facet,

  With faded ribbons, brave and homosexual

  When fastened there, with childish delight,

  Long in the past, on a rainy day.

  Four little names, one on each lid,

  Carved out with the aid of a boyish hand,

  And underneath there lieth hid

  Histories of the satisfied band

  Once playing right here, and pausing oft

  To listen the candy chorus,

  That got here and went at the roof aloft,

  In the falling summer season rain.

  "Meg" on the primary lid, clean and honest.

  I look in with loving eyes,

  For folded right here, with famous care,

  A goodly collecting lies,

  The report of a non violent existence—

  Gifts to mild child and girl,

  A bridal robe, lines to a wife,

  A tiny shoe, a child curl.

  No toys in this first chest continue to be,

  For all are over excited,

  In their old age, to enroll in again

  In another
small Meg's play.

  Ah, satisfied mother! Well I recognize

  You listen, like a candy refrain,

  Lullabies ever gentle and coffee

  In the falling summer time rain.

  "Jo" on the next lid, scratched and worn,

  And within a motley shop

  Of headless dolls, of schoolbooks torn,

  Birds and beasts that talk no more,

  Spoils introduced home from the fairy ground

  Only trod by using youthful toes,

  Dreams of a future in no way discovered,

  Memories of a beyond still sweet,

  Half-writ poems, stories wild,

  April letters, warm and cold,

  Diaries of a wilful child,

  Hints of a female early antique,

  A lady in a lonely domestic,

  Hearing, like a unhappy chorus—

  "Be worth, love, and love will come,"

  In the falling summer season rain.

  My Beth! The dust is continually swept

  From the lid that bears your name,

  As if by using loving eyes that wept,

  By cautious fingers that often got here.

  Death canonized for us one saint,

  Ever less human than divine,

  And nevertheless we lay, with tender plaint,

  Relics on this household shrine—

  The silver bell, so seldom rung,

  The little cap which closing she wore,

  The fair, dead Catherine that hung

  By angels borne above her door.

  The songs she sang, with out lament,

  In her prison-residence of ache,

  Forever are they sweetly blent

  With the falling summer time rain.

  Upon the ultimate lid's polished discipline—

  Legend now both truthful and real

  A gallant knight bears on his protect,

  "Amy" in letters gold and blue.

  Within lie snoods that sure her hair,

  Slippers which have danced their remaining,

  Faded plant life laid by way of with care,

  Fans whose ethereal toils are past,

  Gay valentines, all ardent flames,

  Trifles which have borne their element

  In girlish hopes and fears and shames,

  The report of a maiden coronary heart

  Now mastering fairer, truer spells,

  Hearing, like a blithe chorus,

  The silver sound of bridal bells

  In the falling summer rain.

  Four little chests all in a row,

  Dim with dirt, and worn with the aid of time,

  Four ladies, taught by weal and woe

  To love and labor in their prime.

  Four sisters, parted for an hour,

  None lost, one handiest long past earlier than,

  Made with the aid of love's immortal strength,

  Nearest and dearest evermore.

  Oh, when those hidden stores of ours

  Lie open to the Father's sight,

  May they be rich in golden hours,

  Deeds that display fairer for the mild,

  Lives whose brave music lengthy shall ring,

  Like a spirit-stirring pressure,

  Souls that shall gladly bounce and sing

  In the long sunshine after rain.

  "It's very bad poetry, but I felt it once I wrote it, at some point once I changed into very lonely, and had an amazing cry on a rag bag. I never idea it'd cross wherein it could tell tales," stated Jo, tearing up the verses the Professor had treasured goodbye.

  "Let it move, it has carried out its duty, and I will haf a fresh one once I study all of the brown e book wherein she continues her little secrets and techniques," said Mr. Bhaer with a smile as he watched the fragments fly away at the wind. "Yes," he introduced earnestly, "I examine that, and I suppose to myself, She has a sorrow, she is lonely, she could find consolation in proper love. I haf a coronary heart full, full for her. Shall I no longer cross and say, 'If this isn't always too terrible a factor to gif for what I shall hope to obtain, take it in Gott's call?'"

  "And so you came to discover that it became no longer too bad, however the one precious element I needed," whispered Jo.

  "I had no braveness to assume that in the beginning, heavenly kind as turned into your welcome to me. But soon I started out to hope, and then I stated, 'I will haf her if I die for it,' and so I will!" cried Mr. Bhaer, with a defiant nod, as if the partitions of mist remaining round them have been barriers which he was to surmount or valiantly knock down.

  Jo thought that turned into wonderful, and resolved to be worthy of her knight, although he did now not come prancing on a charger in gorgeous array.

  "What made you live away goodbye?" she asked presently, locating it so pleasant to ask exclusive questions and get pleasant answers that she could not maintain silent.

  "It was now not easy, but I could not find the heart to take you from that so happy domestic till I could haf a prospect of 1 to gif you, after an awful lot time, perhaps, and hard work. How could I ask you to gif up a lot for a bad antique fellow, who has no fortune but a little mastering?"

  "I'm satisfied you're negative. I couldn't endure a wealthy husband," stated Jo decidedly, including in a softer tone, "Don't worry poverty. I've regarded it long enough to lose my dread and be glad operating for the ones I love, and don't call your self antique—40 is the prime of existence. I couldn't help loving you in case you were seventy!"

  The Professor observed that so touching that he could have been glad of his handkerchief, if he may want to have got at it. As he could not, Jo wiped his eyes for him, and stated, guffawing, as she took away a package deal or two...

  "I may be robust-minded, however no one can say I'm out of my sphere now, for girl's special task is supposed to be drying tears and bearing burdens. I'm to carry my share, Friedrich, and assist to earn the house. Make up your thoughts to that, or I'll never move," she delivered resolutely, as he tried to reclaim his load.

  "We shall see. Haf you persistence to attend a long time, Jo? I should go away and do my paintings on my own. I ought to assist my boys first, due to the fact, even for you, I may not spoil my phrase to Minna. Can you forgif that, and be glad even as we are hoping and wait?"

  "Yes, I recognise I can, for we love one another, and that makes all of the rest clean to undergo. I have my duty, also, and my paintings. I couldn't enjoy myself if I not noted them even for you, so there may be no want of hurry or impatience. You can do your component out West, I can do mine right here, and each be satisfied hoping for the best, and leaving the future to be as God wills."

  "Ah! Thou gifest me such desire and courage, and I haf not anything to gif returned however a complete heart and those empty arms," cried the Professor, quite conquer.

  Jo in no way, by no means would discover ways to be right, for while he said that as they stood upon the steps, she simply positioned each hands into his, whispering tenderly, "Not empty now," and stooping down, kissed her Friedrich under the umbrella. It turned into dreadful, however she would have executed it if the flock of draggle-tailed sparrows at the hedge had been human beings, for she become very some distance long gone indeed, and pretty no matter everything however her own happiness. Though it came in such a very easy guise, that become the crowning moment of each their lives, while, turning from the night and storm and loneliness to the family light and heat and peace waiting to acquire them, with a happy "Welcome domestic!" Jo led her lover in, and close the door.

  CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN

  HARVEST TIME

  For a year Jo and her Professor labored and waited, hoped and loved, met from time to time, and wrote such voluminous letters that the rise in the fee of paper was accounted for, Laurie said. The 2d 12 months began as an alternative soberly, for their prospects did now not brighten, and Aunt March died abruptly. But whilst their first sorrow was over—for they loved the old lady no matter her sharp tongue—
they discovered they had cause for rejoicing, for she had left Plumfield to Jo, which made all varieties of completely happy matters possible.

  "It's a best old vicinity, and will convey a handsome sum, for of path you want to promote it," said Laurie, as they were all speaking the problem over some weeks later.

  "No, I don't," become Jo's determined answer, as she petted the fats poodle, whom she had adopted, out of respect to his former mistress.

  "You don't suggest to live there?"

  "Yes, I do."

  "But, my pricey female, it is a huge house, and will take a power of money to hold it in order. The lawn and orchard on my own need or 3 guys, and farming is not in Bhaer's line, I take it."

  "He'll try his hand at it there, if I recommend it."

  "And you count on to live on the produce of the place? Well, that sounds paradisiacal, but you may discover it desperate tough paintings."

  "The crop we're going to enhance is a worthwhile one," and Jo laughed.

  "Of what's this exceptional crop to consist, ma'am?"

  "Boys. I want to open a college for little lads—an amazing, happy, homelike college, with me to attend to them and Fritz to educate them."

  "That's a really Joian plan for you! Isn't that much like her?" cried Laurie, appealing to the own family, who looked as a great deal surprised as he.

  "I like it," stated Mrs. March decidedly.

  "So do I," added her husband, who welcomed the concept of a threat for attempting the Socratic technique of education on cutting-edge teens.