` Well , she 'll enjoy punching your ears then . She 's never so happy as when she 's overhauling her fellow creatures and going for 'em with a knife , ' answered Emil , undisturbed . ` I 've got a lot of plunder for you fellows in my chest , but I knew I should have no peace till my cargo for the girls was unloaded . Now tell me all the news . ' And , seated on Amy 's best marbletopped table , the sailor swung his legs and talked at the rate of ten knots an hour , till Aunt Jo carried them all off to a grand family tea in honour of the Commodore . Chapter 3 . JO 'S LAST SCRAPE The March family had enjoyed a great many surprises in the course of their varied career , but the greatest of all was when the Ugly Duckling turned out to be , not a swan , but a golden goose , whose literary eggs found such an unexpected market that in ten years Jo 's wildest and most cherished dream actually came true . How or why it happened she never clearly understood , but all of a sudden she found herself famous in a small way , and , better still , with a snug little fortune in her pocket to clear away the obstacles of the present and assure the future of her boys . It began during a bad year when everything went wrong at Plumfield ; times were hard , the school dwindled , Jo overworked herself and had a long illness ; Laurie and Amy were abroad , and the Bhaers too proud to ask help even of those as near and dear as this generous pair . Confined to her room , Jo got desperate over the state of affairs , till she fell back upon the long-disused pen as the only thing she could do to help fill up the gaps in the income . A book for girls being wanted by a certain publisher , she hastily scribbled a little story describing a few scenes and adventures in the lives of herself and sisters , though boys were more in her line , and with very slight hopes of success sent it out to seek its fortune . Things always went by contraries with Jo . Her first book , laboured over for years , and launched full of the high hopes and ambitious dreams of youth , foundered on its voyage , though the wreck continued to float long afterward , to the profit of the publisher at least . The hastily written story , sent away with no thought beyond the few dollars it might bring , sailed with a fair wind and a wise pilot at the helm into public favour , and came home heavily laden with an unexpected cargo of gold and glory . A more astonished woman probably never existed than Josephine Bhaer when her little ship came into port with flags flying , cannon that had been silent before now booming gaily , and , better than all , many kind faces rejoicing with her , many friendly hands grasping hers with cordial congratulations . After that it was plain sailing , and she merely had to load her ships and send them off on prosperous trips , to bring home stores of comfort for all she loved and laboured for . The fame she never did quite accept ; for it takes very little fire to make a great deal of smoke nowadays , and notoriety is not real glory . The fortune she could not doubt , and gratefully received ; though it was not half so large a one as a generous world reported it to be . The tide having turned continued to rise , and floated the family comfortably into a snug harbour where the older members could rest secure from storms , and whence the younger ones could launch their boats for the voyage of life . All manner of happiness , peace , and plenty came in those years to bless the patient waiters , hopeful workers , and devout believers in the wisdom and justice of Him who sends disappointment , poverty , and sorrow to try the love of human hearts and make success the sweeter when it comes .
The world saw the prosperity , and kind souls rejoiced over the improved fortunes of the family ; but the success XXXXX valued most , the happiness that nothing could change or take away , few knew much about .
Amy Bhaer Bhaers Duckling Emil Jo fire first hour storms