their trouble, for Mr. March had had a relapse, and could not think of coming home for a long while. 4. How dark the days seemed now! how sad and lonely the house! and how heavy were the hearts of the sisters as they worked and waited, while the shadow of death hovered over the once happy home! Then it was that Margaret, sitting alone, with tears dropping often on her work, felt how rich she had been in things more precious than any luxuries money could buy-in love, protection, peace, and health, the real blessings of life. 5. Then it was that Jo, living in the darkened room, with that suffering little sister always before her eyes, and that pathetic voice sounding in her ears, learned to see the beauty and sweetness of Beth's nature, to feel how deep and tender a place she filled in all hearts, and to acknowledge the worth of Beth's unselfish ambition to live for others, and make home happy by the exercise of those simple virtues which all may possess, and which all should love and value more than talent, wealth, or beauty. 6. And Amy, in her exile, longed eagerly to be at home, that she might work for Beth, feeling now that no service would be hard or irksome, and remembering, with regretful grief, how many neglected tasks those willing hands had done for her. Laurie haunted the house like a restless ghost, and Mr. Lawrence locked the grand piano, because he could not bear to be reminded of the young neighbor who used to make the twilight pleasant for him. 7. Every one missed Beth. The milkman, baker, grocer, and butcher inquired how she did; poor Mrs. Hummel came to beg pardon for her thoughtlessness, and to get a shroud for Minna; the neighbors sent all sorts of comforts and good wishes; and even those who knew her best were surprised to find how many friends shy little Beth had made. 8. Meanwhile she lay on her bed, with old Joanna at her side; for even in her wanderings she did not forget her forlorn protégée. She longed for her cats, but would not have them brought, lest they should get sick; and, in her quiet hours, she was full of anxiety about Jo. She sent loving messages to Amy, bade them tell her mother that she would write soon, and often begged for pencil and paper to try to say a word, that her father might not think she had neglected him. 9. But soon even these intervals of consciousness ended, and she lay hour after hour tossing to and fro, with incoherent words on her lips, or sank into a heavy 1 sleep which brought her no refreshment. Dr. Bangs came twice a day; Hannah sat up at night; Meg kept a telegram in her desk, all ready to send off at any minute; and Jo never stirred from Beth's side. 10. The 1st of December was a wintry day indeed to them, for a bitter wind blew, snow fell fast, and the year seemed getting ready for its death. When Dr. Bangs came that morning, he looked long at Beth, held the hot hand in both his own a minute, and laid it gently down, saying in a low tone to Hannah, "If Mrs. March can leave her husband, she'd better be sent for." FOR PREPARATION.-I. This extract is from "Little Women" (Chapter XVIII.). While the mother, Mrs. March, is away nursing the father in a hospital in Washington, Beth is taken sick with the scarlet fever. At first they hesitate to inform the absent parents of the state of the case. Mrs. Hummel's baby, "Minna," had died of the scarlet fever, and Beth had been exposed to the disease while at Mrs. Hummel's. II. Noth'-ing (nŭth'-), buş'-ỹ (biz'zy), guilt'-y, pā'-tient (-shent), dūr'ing, thrōat (thrōt), fa-mil'-iar, fright'-ened (frit'nd), heav'-y, wait'-ed, vir'-tueş, vǎl'-ue, ea'-ger-ly, häunt'-ed, ghōst (göst), neigh'-bor (nā'-), should (shood), eom'-forts (kům ́fērts), read'-y. III. Describing-words are frequently changed to express comparison (sicker compares with another one; sickest would compare with more than one). IV. Suspected, allowed, excellent, infect, anxious, mention, deceive, trifle, devoted, uncomplainingly, control, hoarse, addressed, imploringly, relapse, pathetic, tender, acknowledge, ambition, possess, exile, service, irksome, regretful, neglected tasks, reminded, twilight, inquired, shy, protégée (pro-ta-zha'— -one under the care of another), forlorn, intervals, incoherent, consciousness. V. Notice the stages in the progress of the disease, as described here: The gradual increase in the interest of all as the case grows critical; the pathetical mention of Beth's thoughtfulness of her parents, sisters, and even of her cats; the traits of character exhibited by the nurse and the doctor. XXXII.-BETH'S SICKNESS (Continued). 1. It was past two o'clock when Jo, who stood at the window thinking how dreary the world looked in its winding sheet of snow, heard a movement by the bed, and, turning quickly, saw Meg kneeling before their mother's easy-chair, with her face hidden. A dreadful fear passed coldly over Jo as she thought, "Beth is dead, and Meg is afraid to tell me!" 2. She was at her post in an instant, and to her excited eyes a great change seemed to have taken place. The fever flush and the look of pain were gone, and the beloved little face looked so pale and peaceful in its utter repose, that Jo felt no desire to weep or to lament. Leaning low over this dearest of her sisters, she kissed the damp forehead with her heart on her lips, and softly whispered, "Good-by, my Beth-good-by!" 3. As if waked by the stir, Hannah started out of her sleep, hurried to the bed, looked at Beth, felt her hands, listened at her lips, and then, throwing her apron over her head, sat down to rock to and fro, exclaiming under her breath: "The fever's turned! She's sleepin' nat❜ral! Her skin's damp, and she breathes easy! Praise be given! O my goodness me!" 4. Before the girls could believe the happy truth, the doctor came to confirm it. He was a homely man, but they thought his face quite heavenly when he smiled, and said, with a fatherly look at them: "Yes, my dears, I think the little girl will pull through this time. Keep the house quiet. Let her sleep; and, when she wakes, give her " 5. What they were to give, neither heard; for both crept into the dark hall, and, sitting on the stairs, held each other close, rejoicing with hearts too full for words. When they went back to be kissed and cuddled by faithful Hannah, they found Beth lying, as she used to do, with her cheek pillowed on her hand, the dreadful pallor gone, and breathing quietly, as if just fallen asleep. "If mother would only come now!" said Jo, as the winter night began to wane. 6. "See!" said Meg, coming up with a white, halfopened rose, "I thought this would hardly be ready to lay in Beth's hand to-morrow, if she--went away from us. But it has blossomed in the night, and now I mean to put it in my vase here; so, when the darling wakes, the first thing she sees will be the little rose and mother's face." 7. Never had the sun risen so beautifully, and never had the world seemed so lovely, as it did to the heavy eyes of Meg and Jo as they looked out in the early morning, when their long, sad vigil was done. 8. "It looks like a fairy world," said Meg, smiling to herself, as she stood behind the curtain, watching the dazzling sight. "Hark!" cried Jo, starting to her feet. Yes, there was a sound of bells at the door below, a cry from Hannah, and then Laurie's voice, saying, in a joyful whisper: "Girls-she's come-she's come!" Louisa M. Alcott. FOR PREPARATION.-I. Meanwhile Laurie has telegraphed for the mother, and brings word that Mr. March is better. Mrs. March is expected to arrive at two in the morning. The doctor says that a change for better or worse will take place at midnight. Midnight has passed, but the sisters are still in doubt. II. Drēar'-y, kneel'-ing (neel'-), a-frāid', lĭs'-tened (lis'nd), a'-pron (a'purn), vase, heav'-y, watch'-ing, sight (sit). III. Explain the 's in "the fever's turned"; in "skin's damp"; in "she's come"; in "mother's face." IV. " Winding sheet," instant, "utter repose," desire, lament, homely, pallor, dazzling, vigil. V. Correct "She's sleepin' nat'ral." Use a better expression for "pull through." What does "O my goodness me!" express? (Anything more than joyful surprise and relief?) XXXIII. THE RAINY DAY. The day is cold, and dark, and dreary; And the day is dark and dreary. My life is cold, and dark, and dreary ; |