Daisy is the domestic element , and they all feel the charm of her quiet , womanly ways . Nan is the restless , energetic , strong-minded one ; they admire her courage , and give her a fair chance to work out her will , seeing that she has sympathy as well as strength , and the power to do much in their small world . Your Bess is the lady , full of natural refinement , grace , and beauty . She polishes them unconsciously , and fills her place as any lovely woman may , using her gentle influence to lift and hold them above the coarse , rough things of life , and keep them gentlemen in the best sense of the fine old word . '' `` It is not always the ladies who do that best , Jo . It is sometimes the strong brave woman who stirs up the boy and makes a man of him ; '' and Laurie bowed to her with a significant laugh . `` No ; I think the graceful woman , whom the boy you allude to married , has done more for him than the wild Nan of his youth ; or , better still , the wise , motherly woman who watched over him , as Daisy watches over Demi , did more to make him what he is ; '' and Jo turned toward her mother , who sat a little apart with Meg , looking so full of the sweet dignity and beauty of old age , that Laurie gave her a glance of filial respect and love as he replied , in serious earnest , `` All three did much for him , and I can understand how well these little girls will help your lads . '' `` Not more than the lads help them ; it is mutual , I assure you . Nat does much for Daisy with his music ; Dan can manage Nan better than any of us ; and Demi teaches your Goldilocks so easily and well that Fritz calls them Roger Ascham and Lady Jane Grey . Dear me ! if men and women would only trust , understand , and help one another as my children do , what a capital place the world would be ! '' and Mrs. Jo 's eyes grew absent , as if she was looking at a new and charming state of society in which people lived as happily and innocently as her flock at Plumfield . `` You are doing your best to help on the good time , my dear . Continue to believe in it , to work for it , and to prove its possibility by the success of her small experiment , '' said Mr. March , pausing as he passed to say an encouraging word , for the good man never lost his faith in humanity , and still hoped to see peace , good-will , and happiness reign upon the earth . `` I am not so ambitious as that , father . I only want to give these children a home in which they can be taught a few simple things which will help to make life less hard to them when they go out to fight their battles in the world . Honesty , courage , industry , faith in God , their fellow-creatures , and themselves ; that is all I try for . '' `` That is every thing . Give them these helps , then let them go to work out their life as men and women ; and whatever their success or failure is , I think they will remember and bless your efforts , my good son and daughter . '' The Professor had joined them , and as Mr. March spoke he gave a hand to each , and left them with a look that was a blessing .
As Jo and her husband stood together for a moment talking quietly , and feeling that their summer work had been well done if father approved , Mr. XXXXX slipped into the hall , said a word to the children , and all of a sudden the whole flock pranced into the room , joined hands and danced about Father and Mother Bhaer , singing blithely , `` Summer days are over , Summer work is done ; Harvests have been gathered Gayly one by one .
Ascham Daisy Demi Fritz Goldilocks Jo Laurie Meg Nat left