A return to clay and plaster followed , and ghostly casts of her acquaintances haunted corners of the house , or tumbled off closet shelves onto people 's heads . Children were enticed in as models , till their incoherent accounts of her mysterious doings caused Miss Amy to be regarded in the light of a young ogress . Her efforts in this line , however , were brought to an abrupt close by an untoward accident , which quenched her ardor . Other models failing her for a time , she undertook to cast her own pretty foot , and the family were one day alarmed by an unearthly bumping and screaming and running to the rescue , found the young enthusiast hopping wildly about the shed with her foot held fast in a pan full of plaster , which had hardened with unexpected rapidity . With much difficulty and some danger she was dug out , for Jo was so overcome with laughter while she excavated that her knife went too far , cut the poor foot , and left a lasting memorial of one artistic attempt , at least . After this Amy subsided , till a mania for sketching from nature set her to haunting river , field , and wood , for picturesque studies , and sighing for ruins to copy . She caught endless colds sitting on damp grass to book ' a delicious bit ' , composed of a stone , a stump , one mushroom , and a broken mullein stalk , or ' a heavenly mass of clouds ' , that looked like a choice display of featherbeds when done . She sacrificed her complexion floating on the river in the midsummer sun to study light and shade , and got a wrinkle over her nose trying after ` points of sight ' , or whatever the squint-and-string performance is called . If ` genius is eternal patience ' , as Michelangelo affirms , Amy had some claim to the divine attribute , for she persevered in spite of all obstacles , failures , and discouragements , firmly believing that in time she should do something worthy to be called ` high art ' . She was learning , doing , and enjoying other things , meanwhile , for she had resolved to be an attractive and accomplished woman , even if she never became a great artist . Here she succeeded better , for she was one of those happily created beings who please without effort , make friends everywhere , and take life so gracefully and easily that less fortunate souls are tempted to believe that such are born under a lucky star . Everybody liked her , for among her good gifts was tact . She had an instinctive sense of what was pleasing and proper , always said the right thing to the right person , did just what suited the time and place , and was so self-possessed that her sisters used to say , `` If Amy went to court without any rehearsal beforehand , she 'd know exactly what to do . '' One of her weaknesses was a desire to move in ` our best society ' , without being quite sure what the best really was . Money , position , fashionable accomplishments , and elegant manners were most desirable things in her eyes , and she liked to associate with those who possessed them , often mistaking the false for the true , and admiring what was not admirable . Never forgetting that by birth she was a gentlewoman , she cultivated her aristocratic tastes and feelings , so that when the opportunity came she might be ready to take the place from which poverty now excluded her . `` My lady , '' as her friends called her , sincerely desired to be a genuine lady , and was so at heart , but had yet to learn that money can not buy refinement of nature , that rank does not always confer nobility , and that true breeding makes itself felt in spite of external drawbacks . `` I want to ask a favor of you , Mamma , '' Amy said , coming in with an important air one day . `` Well , little girl , what is it ? '' replied her mother , in whose eyes the stately young lady still remained ` the baby ' .
`` Our drawing class breaks up next week , and before the girls separate for the summer , I want to ask them out here for a XXXXX .
Amy Jo acquaintances day discouragements featherbeds gentlewoman left right stalk