` My tongue in flattering language spoke , And sweeter silence never broke in busiest street or loneliest glen . I take you with the flashes of my pen . ` Consider the lilies , how they grow ; They toil not , yet are fair , Gems and flowers and Solomon 's seal . The geranium of the world is J. M. Bhaer . ` JAMES ' While the boys shouted over this effusion -- which is a true one -- their mother read several liberal offers from budding magazines for her to edit them gratis ; one long letter from a young girl inconsolable because her favourite hero died , and ` would dear Mrs Bhaer rewrite the tale , and make it end good ? ' another from an irate boy denied an autograph , who darkly foretold financial ruin and loss of favour if she did not send him and all other fellows who asked autographs , photographs , and auto-biographical sketches ; a minister wished to know her religion ; and an undecided maiden asked which of her two lovers she should marry . These samples will suffice to show a few of the claims made on a busy woman 's time , and make my readers pardon Mrs Jo if she did not carefully reply to all . ` That job is done . Now I will dust a bit , and then go to my work . I 'm all behind-hand , and serials ca n't wait ; so deny me to everybody , Mary . I wo n't see Queen Victoria if she comes today . ' And Mrs Bhaer threw down her napkin as if defying all creation . ' I hope the day will go well with thee , my dearest , ' answered her husband , who had been busy with his own voluminous correspondence . ' I will dine at college with Professor Plock , who is to visit us today . The Junglings can lunch on Parnassus ; so thou shalt have a quiet time . ' And smoothing the worried lines out of her forehead with his good-bye kiss , the excellent man marched away , both pockets full of books , an old umbrella in one hand , and a bag of stones for the geology class in the other . ` If all literary women had such thoughtful angels for husbands , they would live longer and write more . Perhaps that would n't be a blessing to the world though , as most of us write too much now , ' said Mrs Jo , waving her feather duster to her spouse , who responded with flourishes of the umbrella as he went down the avenue . Rob started for school at the same time , looking so much like him with his books and bag and square shoulders and steady air that his mother laughed as she turned away , saying heartily : ` Bless both my dear professors , for better creatures never lived ! ' Emil was already gone to his ship in the city ; but Ted lingered to steal the address he wanted , ravage the sugar-bowl , and talk with ` Mum ' ; for the two had great larks together .
Mrs XXXXX always arranged her own parlour , refilled her vases , and gave the little touches that left it cool and neat for the day .
Emil Jo Junglings Parnassus Rob Solomon Ted behind-hand geranium serials