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CHAPTER 1

TEN YEARS LATER

IF ANYONE had told es were to take place here in ten years, I wouldn’t have believed it,” said Mrs Jo to Mrs Meg, as they sat on the piazza at Plu about them with faces full of pride and pleasure

“This is the sort of ic that money and kind hearts can work I am sure Mr Laurence could have no nobler enerously endowed; and a ho as it lasts,” answered Mrs Meg, always glad to praise the absent

“We used to believe in fairies, you remember, and plan e’d ask for if we could have three wishes Doesn’t it seeranted at last? Money, fame, and plenty of the work I love,” said Mrs Jo, carelessly ru up her hair as she clasped her hands over her head just as she used to do when a girl

“I have hadhers to her heart’s content If dear Marmee, John, and Beth were here, it would be quite perfect,” added Meg, with a tender quiver in her voice; for Marmee’s place was empty now

Jo put her hand on her sister’s, and both sat silent for a little while, surveying the pleasant scene before thehts

It certainly did look as if ic had been at work, for quiet Plumfield was transformed into a busy little world The house seemed more hospitable than ever, refreshed noith new paint, added wings, well-kept lawn and garden, and a prosperous air it had not hen riotous boys swarmed everywhere and it was rather difficult for the Bhaers to make both ends meet On the hill, where kites used to be flown, stood the fine college which Mr Laurence’sto and fro along the paths once trodden by childish feet, and es that wealth, wisdoive them

Just inside the gates of Plue, very like the Dovecote, nestled areen slope ard Laurie’s white-pillared rowth of the city shut in the old house, spoilt Meg’s nest, and dared to put a soap-factory under Mr Laurence’s indignant nose, our friends ean

These were the pleasant ones; and the loss of the dear old people eetened by the blessings they left behind; so all prospered now in the little community, and Mr Bhaer as president, and Mr March as chaplain of the college, saw their long-cherished dream beautifully realized The sisters divided the care of the young people a was thewomen, Jo the confidante and defender of all the youths, and Amy the lady Bountiful who delicately smoothed the way for needy students, and entertained them all so cordially that it was no wonder they named her lovely home Mount Parnassus, so full was it ofhearts and fancies long for

The original twelve boys had of course scattered far and wide during these years, but all that lived still re back from the four quarters of the earth to tell their various experiences, laugh over the pleasures of the past, and face the duties of the present with fresh courage; for such hos keep hearts tender and hands helpful with theand happy days A feords will tell the history of each, and then we can go on with the new chapter of their lives

Franz ith a , awell Emil was the jolliest tar that ever “sailed the ocean blue” His uncle sent hiust hihted with it that it was plain this was his profession, and the Gerood chance in his ships; so the lad was happy Dan was a wanderer still; for after the geological researches in South A in Australia, and was now in California looking upfor a year or two in Ger to like it Jack was in business with his father, bent on getting rich Dolly was in college with Stuffy and Ned reading law Poor little Dick was dead, so was Billy; and no one could mourn for them, since life would never be happy, afflicted as they were in mind and body

Rob and Teddy were called the “Lion and the La of beasts, and the forentle as any sheep that ever baaed Mrs Jo called hihter”, and found him thethe quiet manners and tender nature But in Ted she seemed to see all the faults, whims, aspirations, and fun of her own youth in a new shape With his tawny locks always in wild confusion, his long legs and arms, loud voice, and continual activity, Ted was a prolooh of Despond about once a week, to be hoisted out by patient Rob or his mother, who understood when to let him alone and when to shake hi a very bright lad for his age, and so full of all sorts of budding talent, that her maternal mind was much exercised as to what this remarkable boy would become

De had set her heart on his being a nified young parson would preach, as well as the long, useful, and honoured life he was to lead But John, as she called hi he had had enough of books, and needed to know more of men and the world, and caused the dear wo to try a journalist’s career It was a blow; but she knew that young minds cannot be driven, and that experience is the best teacher; so she let hi to see hied when she found that there was to be a reporter in the family, and called him “Jenkins on the spot” She liked his literary tendencies, but had reason to detest official Paul Prys, as we shall see later Demi knew his own mind, however, and tranquilly carried out his plans, unues of the anxious ed hi Dickens and other celebrities who began as reporters and ended as famous novelists or newspaper men

The girls were all flourishing Daisy, as swee

t and domestic as ever, was her mother’s coinal young person, full of pranks and peculiarities, the latest of which was a passion for the stage, which caused her quiet mother and sister rown into a tall, beautiful girl looking several years older than she ith the saraceful ways and dainty tastes which the little Princess had, and a rich inheritance of both the father’s and ive But the pride of the cohty Nan; for, like sointo a woy and promise that suddenly blossoms when the ambitious seeker finds the work she is fitted to do well Nan began to studyon bravely; for now, thanks to other intelligent woes and hospitals were open to her She had never wavered in her purpose from the childish days when she shocked Daisy in the oldby saying: “I don’t want any family to fuss over I shall have an office, with bottles and pestle things in it, and drive round and cure folks” The future foretold by the little girl the young wo socould win her froentlee her mind and choose, as Daisy did, “a nice little house and fahed, and routed the lovers by proposing to look at the tongue which spoke of adoration, or professionally felt the pulse in the manly hand offered for her acceptance So all departed but one persistent youth, as such a devoted Traddles it was impossible to quench him

This was Tom, as as faithful to his child sweetheart as she to her “pestle things”, and gave a proof of fidelity that touched her veryno taste for it, and a decided fancy for a mercantile life But Nan was firht not kill s when he came to practise They were excellent friends, however, and caused much amusement to their comrades, by the vicissitudes of this merry love-chase

Both were approaching Plu on the piazza Not together; for Nan alking briskly along the pleasant road alone, thinking over a case that interested her, and To on behind to overtake her, as if by accident, when the suburbs of the city were past—a little way of his, which was part of the joke

Nan was a handsoirl, with a fresh colour, clear eye, quick s women with a purpose always have She was simply and sensibly dressed, walked easily, and seeour, with her broad shoulders well back, ar freely, and the elasticity of youth and health in every motion The few people she ht to see a hearty, happy girl walking countryward that lovely day; and the red-faced young ing with ireed with them

Presently a , with an effort to look surprised that was an utter failure, Nan said affably:

“Oh, is that you, Tom?”

“Looks like it Thought youout today” and Tom’s jovial face beamed with pleasure

“You knew it How is your throat?” asked Nan in her professional tone, which was always a quencher to undue raptures

“Throat? Oh, ah! yes, I remember It is well The effect of that prescription onderful I’ll never call hoain”

“You were the huave you If sugar or milk can cure diphtheria in this remarkable manner, I’lltricks?”

“O Nan, Nan, will you never be done getting the better of hed at one another just as they did in the old times, which always came back freshly when they went to Plumfield

“Well, I knew I shouldn’t see you for a week if I didn’t scare up some excuse for a call at the office You are so desperately busy all the tiet a word,” explained Tom

“You ought to be busy too, and above such nonsense Really, Toive your et on,” said Nan soberly

“I have quite enough of theust “A fellowcorpuses all day I can’t stand it long at a tih some people seem to enjoy it immensely”

“Then why not leave it, and do what suits you better? I always thought it a foolish thing, you know,” said Nan, with a trace of anxiety in the keen eyes that searched for signs of illness in a face as ruddy as a Baldwin apple

“You knohy I chose it, and why I shall stick to it if it kills me I may not look delicate, but I’ve a deep-seated heart complaint, and it will carry me off sooner or later; for only one doctor in the world can cure it, and she won’t”

There was an air of pensive resignation about Tom that was both co hints of this sort, without the least encouragement

Nan frowned; but she was used to it, and kne to treat him

“She is curing it in the best and only way; but a o to that ball, as I directed?”