Happy , thoughtful times there in the old study which Jo called ` the church of one member ' , and from which she came with fresh courage , recovered cheerfulness , and a more submissive spirit . For the parents who had taught one child to meet death without fear , were trying now to teach another to accept life without despondency or distrust , and to use its beautiful opportunities with gratitude and power . Other helps had Jo -- humble , wholesome duties and delights that would not be denied their part in serving her , and which she slowly learned to see and value . Brooms and dishcloths never could be as distasteful as they once had been , for Beth had presided over both , and something of her housewifely spirit seemed to linger around the little mop and the old brush , never thrown away . As she used them , Jo found herself humming the songs Beth used to hum , imitating Beth 's orderly ways , and giving the little touches here and there that kept everything fresh and cozy , which was the first step toward making home happy , though she did n't know it till Hannah said with an approving squeeze of the hand ... `` You thoughtful creeter , you 're determined we sha n't miss that dear lamb ef you can help it . We do n't say much , but we see it , and the Lord will bless you for ` t , see ef He do n't . '' As they sat sewing together , Jo discovered how much improved her sister Meg was , how well she could talk , how much she knew about good , womanly impulses , thoughts , and feelings , how happy she was in husband and children , and how much they were all doing for each other . `` Marriage is an excellent thing , after all . I wonder if I should blossom out half as well as you have , if I tried it ? , always ` perwisin ' I could , '' said Jo , as she constructed a kite for Demi in the topsy-turvy nursery . `` It 's just what you need to bring out the tender womanly half of your nature , Jo . You are like a chestnut burr , prickly outside , but silky-soft within , and a sweet kernal , if one can only get at it . Love will make you show your heart one day , and then the rough burr will fall off . '' `` Frost opens chestnut burrs , ma'am , and it takes a good shake to bring them down . Boys go nutting , and I do n't care to be bagged by them , '' returned Jo , pasting away at the kite which no wind that blows would ever carry up , for Daisy had tied herself on as a bob . Meg laughed , for she was glad to see a glimmer of Jo 's old spirit , but she felt it her duty to enforce her opinion by every argument in her power , and the sisterly chats were not wasted , especially as two of Meg 's most effective arguments were the babies , whom Jo loved tenderly . Grief is the best opener of some hearts , and Jo 's was nearly ready for the bag . A little more sunshine to ripen the nut , then , not a boy 's impatient shake , but a man 's hand reached up to pick it gently from the burr , and find the kernal sound and sweet . If she suspected this , she would have shut up tight , and been more prickly than ever , fortunately she was n't thinking about herself , so when the time came , down she dropped . Now , if she had been the heroine of a moral storybook , she ought at this period of her life to have become quite saintly , renounced the world , and gone about doing good in a mortified bonnet , with tracts in her pocket .
But , you see , XXXXX was n't a heroine , she was only a struggling human girl like hundreds of others , and she just acted out her nature , being sad , cross , listless , or energetic , as the mood suggested .
Brooms Daisy Demi Jo chats dishcloths fall kernal silky-soft storybook