—fromLittleWomen (Chapter4)
LouisaMayAlcott
[1] “Oh, dear, howharditdoesseemtotakeupourpacksandgoon,” sighedMegthemorningaftertheparty, fornowtheholidayswereover, theweekofmerrymakingdidnotfitherforgoingoneasilywiththetasksheneverliked.
[2] “IwishitwasChristmasorNewYear’’titbefun?” answeredJo, yawningdismally.
[3] “Weshouldn’, andgotoparties, anddrivehome, andreadandrest, ’slikeotherpeople, youknow, andIalwaysenvygirlswhodosuchthings.I’msofondofluxury,” saidMeg, tryingtodecidewhichoftwoshabbygownswastheleastshabby.
[4] “Well, wecan’thaveit, sodon’tletusgrumblebutshoulderourbundlesandtrudgealongascheerfullyasMarmeedoes.I’msureAuntMarchisaregularOldManoftheSeatome, butIsupposewhenI’velearnedtocarryherwithoutcomplaining, shewilltumbleoff, orgetsolightthatIshan’tmindher.”
[5] ThisideatickledJo’sfancyandputheringoodspirits, butMegdidn’tbrighten, forherburden, consistingoffourspoiledchildren, .
[6] “Where’stheuseoflookingnice, whennooneseesmebutthosecrossmidgets, andnoonecareswhetherI’mprettyornot?” shemuttered, shuttingherdrawerwithajerk.“Ishallhavetotoilandmoilallmydays, withonlylittlebitsoffunnowandthen, andgetoldanduglyandsour, becauseI’mpoorandcan’’sashame!”
[7] SoMegwentdown, wearinganinjuredlook, andwasn’.
[8] Bethhadaheadacheandlayonthesofa, , andshecouldn’.
[9] , whichmustgoatonce, andHannahhadthegrumps, forbeinguplatedidn’tsuither.
[10] “Thereneverwassuchacrossfamily!” criedJo, losinghertemperwhenshehadupsetaninkstand, brokenbothbootlacings, andsatdownuponherhat.
