The moment Aunt March took her nap, or was busy with company, Jo hurried to this quiet place, and curling herself up in the easy chair, devoured poetry, romance, history, travels, and pictures like a regular bookworm.

But please hug and kiss me, everyone, and don't mind my dress, I want a great many crumples of this sort put into it today.

A child her wayward pencil drew On margins of her book; Garlands of flower, dancing elves, Bud, butterfly, and brook, Lessons undone, and plum forgot, Seeking with hand and heart The teacher whom she learned to love Before she knew t'was Art.

strength and beauty must go hand in hand

The patience and the humility of the face she loved so well was a better lesson to Jo than the wisest lecture, the sharpest reproof.

Now and then, in this workaday world, things do happen in the delightful storybook fashion, and what a comfort that is.

Fame is a very good thing to have in the house, but cash is more convenient.