Shesanglikealittlelarkaboutherwork，neverwastootiredforMarmeeandthegirls，anddayafterdaysaidhopefullytoherself，“IknowI’llgetmymusicsometime，ifI’mgood。“
TherearemanyBethsintheworld，shyandquiet，sittingincornerstillneeded，andlivingforotherssocheerfullythatnooneseesthesacrificestillthelittlecricketonthehearthstopschirping，andthesweet，sunshinypresencevanishes，leavingsilenceandshadowbehind。
IfanybodyhadaskedAmywhatthegreatesttrialofherlifewas，shewouldhaveansweredatonce，“Mynose。“Whenshewasababy，Johadaccidentlydroppedherintothecoalhod，andAmyinsistedthatthefallhadruinedhernoseforever。Itwasnotbignorred，likepoor`Petrea’s’，itwasonlyratherflat，andallthepinchingintheworldcouldnotgiveitanaristocraticpoint。Noonemindeditbutherself，anditwasdoingitsbesttogrow，butAmyfeltdeeplythewantofaGreciannose，anddrewwholesheetsofhandsomeonestoconsoleherself。
“LittleRaphael，“ashersisterscalledher，hadadecidedtalentfordrawing，andwasneversohappyaswhencopyingflowers，designingfairies，orillustratingstorieswithqueerspecimensofart。Herteacherscomplainedthatinsteadofdoinghersumsshecoveredherslatewithanimals，theblankpagesofheratlaswereusedtocopymapson，andcaricaturesofthemostludicrousdescriptioncameflutteringoutofallherbooksatunluckymoments。Shegotthroughherlessonsaswellasshecould，andmanagedtoescapereprimandsbybeingamodelofdeportment。Shewasagreatfavoritewithhermates，beinggood-temperedandpossessingthehappyartofpleasingwithouteffort。Herlittleairsandgracesweremuchadmired，sowereheraccomplishments，forbesidesherdrawing，shecouldplaytwelvetunes，crochet，andreadFrenchwithoutmispronouncingmorethantwo-thirdsofthewords。Shehadaplaintivewayofsaying，“WhenPapawasrichwedidso-and-so，“whichwasverytouching，andherlongwordswereconsidered`perfectlyelegant’bythegirls。
Amywasinafairwaytobespoiled，foreveryonepettedher，andhersmallvanitiesandselfishnessesweregrowingnicely。