Josie had a month with Miss Cameron at the seaside , and threw herself so heartily into the lesson given her that her energy , promise , and patience laid the foundation of a friendship which was of infinite value to her in the busy , brilliant years to come ; for little Jo 's instincts were right ; and the dramatic talent of the Marches was to blossom by and by into an actress , virtuous , and beloved . Tom and his Dora were peacefully ambling altar-ward ; for Bangs senior was so afraid his son would change his mind again and try a third profession , that he gladly consented to an early marriage , as a sort of anchor to hold the mercurial Thomas fast . Aforesaid Thomas could not complain of cold shoulders now ; for Dora was a most devoted and adoring little mate , and made life so pleasant to him that his gift for getting into scrapes seemed lost , and he bade fair to become a thriving man , with undeniable talent for the business he had chosen . ` We shall be married in the autumn , and live with my father for a while . The governor is getting on , you know , and my wife and I must look after him . Later we shall have an establishment of our own , ' was a favourite speech of his about this time , and usually received with smiles ; for the idea of Tommy Bangs at the head of an ` establishment ' was irresistibly funny to all who knew him . Things were in this flourishing condition , and Mrs Jo was beginning to think her trials were over for that year , when a new excitement came . Several postal cards had arrived at long intervals from Dan , who gave them ` Care of M. Mason , etc. ' , as his address . By this means he was able to gratify his longing for home news , and to send brief messages to quiet their surprise at his delay in settling . The last one , which came in September , was dated ` Montana ' , and simply said : Here at last , trying mining again ; but not going to stay long . All sorts of luck . Gave up the farm idea . Tell plans soon . Well , busy , and very happy . D. K . If they had known what the heavy dash under ` happy ' meant , that postal would have been a very eloquent bit of pasteboard ; for Dan was free , and had gone straight away to the liberty he panted for . Meeting an old friend by accident , he obliged him at a pinch by acting as overseer for a time , finding the society even of rough miners very sweet , and something in the muscular work wonderfully pleasant , after being cooped up in the brush-shop so long . He loved to take a pick and wrestle with rock and earth till he was weary -- which was very soon ; for that year of captivity had told upon his splendid physique . He longed to go home , but waited week after week to get the prison taint off him and the haggard look out of his face . Meanwhile he made friends of masters and men ; and as no one knew his story , he took his place again in the world gratefully and gladly -- with little pride now , and no plans but to do some good somewhere , and efface the past .
Mrs XXXXX was having a grand clearing-out of her desk one October day , while the rain poured outside , and peace reigned in her mansion .
Dora Jo Josie K Mason Montana Thomas brush-shop pasteboard years