Jo pointed , and Laurie sat up to examine , for through an opening in the wood one could look cross the wide , blue river , the meadows on the other side , far over the outskirts of the great city , to the green hills that rose to meet the sky . The sun was low , and the heavens glowed with the splendor of an autumn sunset . Gold and purple clouds lay on the hilltops , and rising high into the ruddy light were silvery white peaks that shone like the airy spires of some Celestial City . `` How beautiful that is ! '' said Laurie softly , for he was quick to see and feel beauty of any kind . `` It 's often so , and we like to watch it , for it is never the same , but always splendid , '' replied Amy , wishing she could paint it . `` Jo talks about the country where we hope to live sometime -- the real country , she means , with pigs and chickens and haymaking . It would be nice , but I wish the beautiful country up there was real , and we could ever go to it , '' said Beth musingly . `` There is a lovelier country even than that , where we shall go , by-and-by , when we are good enough , '' answered Meg with her sweetest voice . `` It seems so long to wait , so hard to do . I want to fly away at once , as those swallows fly , and go in at that splendid gate . '' `` You 'll get there , Beth , sooner or later , no fear of that , '' said Jo . `` I 'm the one that will have to fight and work , and climb and wait , and maybe never get in after all . '' `` You 'll have me for company , if that 's any comfort . I shall have to do a deal of traveling before I come in sight of your Celestial City . If I arrive late , you 'll say a good word for me , wo n't you , Beth ? '' Something in the boy 's face troubled his little friend , but she said cheerfully , with her quiet eyes on the changing clouds , `` If people really want to go , and really try all their lives , I think they will get in , for I do n't believe there are any locks on that door or any guards at the gate . I always imagine it is as it is in the picture , where the shining ones stretch out their hands to welcome poor Christian as he comes up from the river . '' `` Would n't it be fun if all the castles in the air which we make could come true , and we could live in them ? '' said Jo , after a little pause .
`` I 've made such quantities it would be hard to choose which I 'd have , '' said XXXXX , lying flat and throwing cones at the squirrel who had betrayed him .
Amy Beth Christian City Jo Laurie Meg haymaking heavens people