said Jo , trying to speak cheerfully . Beth lay a minute thinking , and then said in her quiet way , `` I do n't know how to express myself , and should n't try to anyone but you , because I ca n't speak out except to my Jo . I only mean to say that I have a feeling that it never was intended I should live long . I 'm not like the rest of you . I never made any plans about what I 'd do when I grew up . I never thought of being married , as you all did . I could n't seem to imagine myself anything but stupid little Beth , trotting about at home , of no use anywhere but there . I never wanted to go away , and the hard part now is the leaving you all . I 'm not afraid , but it seems as if I should be homesick for you even in heaven . '' Jo could not speak , and for several minutes there was no sound but the sigh of the wind and the lapping of the tide . A white-winged gull flew by , with the flash of sunshine on its silvery breast . Beth watched it till it vanished , and her eyes were full of sadness . A little gray-coated sand bird came tripping over the beach ` peeping ' softly to itself , as if enjoying the sun and sea . It came quite close to Beth , and looked at her with a friendly eye and sat upon a warm stone , dressing its wet feathers , quite at home . Beth smiled and felt comforted , for the tiny thing seemed to offer its small friendship and remind her that a pleasant world was still to be enjoyed . `` Dear little bird ! See , Jo , how tame it is . I like peeps better than the gulls . They are not so wild and handsome , but they seem happy , confiding little things . I used to call them my birds last summer , and Mother said they reminded her of me -- busy , quaker-colored creatures , always near the shore , and always chirping that contented little song of theirs .
You are the gull , XXXXX , strong and wild , fond of the storm and the wind , flying far out to sea , and happy all alone .
Beth Jo Mother creatures gulls home minute minutes peeps summer