Her father liked the metaphysical streak which had unconsciously got into it , so that was allowed to remain though she had her doubts about it . Her mother thought that there was a trifle too much description . Out , therefore it came , and with it many necessary links in the story . Meg admired the tragedy , so Jo piled up the agony to suit her , while Amy objected to the fun , and , with the best intentions in life , Jo quenched the spritly scenes which relieved the somber character of the story . Then , to complicate the ruin , she cut it down one third , and confidingly sent the poor little romance , like a picked robin , out into the big , busy world to try its fate . Well , it was printed , and she got three hundred dollars for it , likewise plenty of praise and blame , both so much greater than she expected that she was thrown into a state of bewilderment from which it took her some time to recover . `` You said , Mother , that criticism would help me . But how can it , when it 's so contradictory that I do n't know whether I 've written a promising book or broken all the ten commandments ? '' cried poor Jo , turning over a heap of notices , the perusal of which filled her with pride and joy one minute , wrath and dismay the next . `` This man says , ` An exquisite book , full of truth , beauty , and earnestness . ' ` All is sweet , pure , and healthy . ' '' continued the perplexed authoress . `` The next , ` The theory of the book is bad , full of morbid fancies , spiritualistic ideas , and unnatural characters . ' Now , as I had no theory of any kind , do n't believe in Spiritualism , and copied my characters from life , I do n't see how this critic can be right . Another says , ` It 's one of the best American novels which has appeared for years . ' -LRB- I know better than that -RRB- , and the next asserts that ` Though it is original , and written with great force and feeling , it is a dangerous book . ' 'T is n't ! Some make fun of it , some overpraise , and nearly all insist that I had a deep theory to expound , when I only wrote it for the pleasure and the money . I wish I 'd printed the whole or not at all , for I do hate to be so misjudged . '' Her family and friends administered comfort and commendation liberally .
Yet it was a hard time for sensitive , high-spirited XXXXX , who meant so well and had apparently done so ill .
Jo Meg Mother Spiritualism confidingly minute overpraise right third years