Touchedtotheheart，Mrs。Marchcouldonlystretchoutherarms，asiftogatherchildrenandgrandchildrentoherself，andsay，withfaceandvoicefullofmotherlylove，gratitude，andhumility……
\"Oh，mygirls，howeverlongyoumaylive，Inevercanwishyouagreaterhappinessthanthis！\"
GoodWives:Chapter3CHAPTER3ArtisticAttemptsIttakespeoplealongtimetolearnthedifferencebetweentalentandgenius，especiallyambitiousyoungmenandwomen。Amywaslearningthisdistinctionthroughmuchtribulation，formistakingenthusiasmforinspiration，sheattemptedeverybranchofartwithyouthfulaudacity。Foralongtimetherewasalullinthe`mud—pie’business，andshedevotedherselftothefinestpen—and—inkdrawing，inwhichsheshowedsuchtasteandskillthathergracefulhandiworkprovedbothpleasantandprofitable。Butover—strainedeyescausedpenandinktobelaidasideforaboldattemptatpokersketching。
Whilethisattacklasted，thefamilylivedinconstantfearofaconflagration，fortheodorofburningwoodpervadedthehouseatallhours，smokeissuedfromatticandshedwithalarmingfrequency，red—hotpokerslayaboutpromiscuously，andHannahneverwenttobedwithoutapailofwaterandthedinnerbellatherdoorincaseoffire。Raphael’sfacewasfoundboldlyexecutedontheundersideofthemouldingboard，andBacchusontheheadofabeerbarrel。Achantingcherubadornedthecoverofthesugarbucket，andattemptstoportrayRomeoandJulietsuppliedkindlingforsometime。
Fromfiretooilwasanaturaltransitionforburnedfingers，andAmyfelltopaintingwithundiminishedardor。Anartistfriendfittedheroutwithhiscastoffpalettes，brushes，andcolors，andshedaubedaway，producingpastoralandmarineviewssuchaswereneverseenonlandorsea。Hermonstrositiesinthewayofcattlewouldhavetakenprizesatanagriculturalfair，andtheperilouspitchingofhervesselswouldhaveproducedseasicknessinthemostnauticalobserver，iftheutterdisregardtoallknownrulesofshipbuildingandrigginghadnotconvulsedhimwithlaughteratthefirstglance。Swarthyboysanddark—eyedMadonnas，staringatyoufromonecornerofthestudio，suggestedMurillo。Oilybrownshadowsoffaceswithaluridstreakinthewrongplace，meantRembrandt。Buxomladiesanddropiscalinfants，Rubens，andTurnerappearedintempestsofbluethunder，orangelightning，brownrain，andpurpleclouds，withatomato—coloredsplashinthemiddle，whichmightbethesunorabouy，asailor’sshirtoraking’srobe，asthespectatorpleased。