“right，Jo。Betterbehappyoldmaidsthanunhappywives，orunmaidenlygirls，runningabouttofindhusbands，“saidMrs。Marchdecidedly。“Don’tbetroubled，Meg，povertyseldomdauntsasincerelover。SomeofthebestandmosthonoredwomenIknowwerepoorgirls，butsolove-worthythattheywerenotallowedtobeoldmaids。
Leavethesethingstotime。Makethishomehappy，sothatyoumaybefitforhomesofyourown，iftheyareofferedyou，andcontentedhereiftheyarenot。Onethingremember，mygirls。Motherisalwaysreadytobeyourconfidante，Fathertobeyourfriend，andbothofhopeandtrustthatourdaughters，whethermarriedorsingle，willbetheprideandcomfortofoutlives。“
“Wewill，Marmee，wewill!“criedboth，withalltheirhearts，asshebadethemgoodnight。
Asspringcameon，anewsetofamusementsbecamethefashion，andthelengtheningdaysgavelongafternoonsforworkandplayofallsorts。Thegardenhadtobeputinorder，andeachsisterhadaquarterofthelittleplottodowhatshelikedwith。Hannahusedtosay，“I’dknowwhicheachofthemgardingsbelongedto，efIsee’eminChiny，“andsoshemight，forthegirls’tastesdifferedasmuchastheircharacters。Meg’shadrosesandheliotrope，myrtle，andalittleorangetreeinit。
Jo’sbedwasneveraliketwoseasons，forshewasalwaystryingexperiments。Thisyearitwastobeaplantationofsunflowers，theseedsofwhichcheerfullandaspiringplantweretofeedAuntCockle-topandherfamilyofchicks。Bethhadold-fashionedfragrantflowersinhergarden，sweetpeasandmignonette，larkspur，pinks，pansies，andsouthernwood，withchickweedforthebirdsandcatnipforthepussies。Amyhadabowerinhers，rathersmallandearwiggy，butveryprettytolookat，withhoneysuckleandmorning-glorieshangingtheircoloredhornsandbellsingracefulwreathsalloverit，tallwhitelilies，delicateferns，andasmanybrilliant，picturesqueplantsaswouldconsenttoblossomthere。