A year seems very long to wait before I see them , but remind them that while we wait we may all work , so that these hard days need not be wasted . I know they will remember all I said to them , that they will be loving children to you , will do their duty faithfully , fight their bosom enemies bravely , and conquer themselves so beautifully that when I come back to them I may be fonder and prouder than ever of my little women . '' Everybody sniffed when they came to that part . Jo was n't ashamed of the great tear that dropped off the end of her nose , and Amy never minded the rumpling of her curls as she hid her face on her mother 's shoulder and sobbed out , `` I am a selfish girl ! But I 'll truly try to be better , so he may n't be disappointed in me by-and-by . '' `` We all will , '' cried Meg . `` I think too much of my looks and hate to work , but wo n't any more , if I can help it . '' `` I 'll try and be what he loves to call me , ' a little woman ' and not be rough and wild , but do my duty here instead of wanting to be somewhere else , '' said Jo , thinking that keeping her temper at home was a much harder task than facing a rebel or two down South . Beth said nothing , but wiped away her tears with the blue army sock and began to knit with all her might , losing no time in doing the duty that lay nearest her , while she resolved in her quiet little soul to be all that Father hoped to find her when the year brought round the happy coming home . Mrs. March broke the silence that followed Jo 's words , by saying in her cheery voice , `` Do you remember how you used to play Pilgrims Progress when you were little things ? Nothing delighted you more than to have me tie my piece bags on your backs for burdens , give you hats and sticks and rolls of paper , and let you travel through the house from the cellar , which was the City of Destruction , up , up , to the housetop , where you had all the lovely things you could collect to make a Celestial City . '' `` What fun it was , especially going by the lions , fighting Apollyon , and passing through the valley where the hob-goblins were , '' said Jo . `` I liked the place where the bundles fell off and tumbled downstairs , '' said Meg . `` I do n't remember much about it , except that I was afraid of the cellar and the dark entry , and always liked the cake and milk we had up at the top . If I was n't too old for such things , I 'd rather like to play it over again , '' said Amy , who began to talk of renouncing childish things at the mature age of twelve . `` We never are too old for this , my dear , because it is a play we are playing all the time in one way or another . Our burdens are here , our road is before us , and the longing for goodness and happiness is the guide that leads us through many troubles and mistakes to the peace which is a true Celestial City . Now , my little pilgrims , suppose you begin again , not in play , but in earnest , and see how far on you can get before Father comes home . '' `` Really , Mother ? Where are our bundles ? ''
asked XXXXX , who was a very literal young lady .
Amy Beth City Father Jo Mother South hob-goblins rumpling year