13 A Telegram

CHAPTER 13 A Telegram The girls were in disagreeable moods on a dull November afternoon. Then Marmee arrived home and Laurie came over, cheering them a little. Laurie asked, "I'm taking Mr. Brooke home. Does anyone want to come for a ride?" Beth and Jo said they'd love to go.

"Is there anything I can do for you, Madam Mother?" Laurie asked Mrs. March. Before Marmee could answer, the doorbell rang and Hannah entered the living room with a puzzled look. She said, "It's one of those horrid telegraph things, ma'am." As Mrs. March quickly read it, her face turned white and she fell back into her chair. Laurie ran to get a glass of water as Jo read: "Mrs. March. Your husband is very ill. Come at once. S. Hale, Washington Hospital." Suddenly, the family's whole world had changed. The terrible news shocked everyone. Mrs. March held the girls tightly as she said, "I'll go at once, but it may already be too late!" Sounds of sobbing filled the room. The first to recover, Hannah sat up and said, "No more crying! I'll go get your things ready, ma'am."

Marmee said quietly, "She's right, girls. Let's be calm. I need to think." Each girl tried her hardest to be calm. Marmee was still pale, but stood steadily. She thought for a minute and then said, "Where's Laurie?" "Right here," he said, hurrying from the next room. "How can I help?" Marmee said, "Please send a telegram saying I will come at once. The next train to

Washington leaves early in the morning." Laurie nodded. "Is there anything else? The horses are ready. I can go anywhere or do anything!" He looked ready to fly to the moon if it would help. Marmee replied, "Perhaps you could leave a note at Aunt March's? Jo, hand me a pen and paper." Jo did as she was asked. She felt terribly helpless knowing that the money for the train trip would have to be borrowed from Aunt March. She wished that she could add something of her own. With note in hand, Laurie rushed out the front door and down the street as if his life depended upon it. Soon, Marmee put the girls to work. Beth's job was to fetch old bottles of wine from Mr. Laurence for her father. The elderly gentleman came back with Beth, bringing everything he could

think of for an invalid. He even asked if he could accompany Mrs. March. Knowing that Mr. Laurence was not fit for the long journey, Marmee thanked him and said that she would be fine on her own—even if she didn't feel that way. No one gave it a second thought when Mr. Laurence bid them a hasty good-bye. That is, until Meg answered the door to find Mr. Brooke. "I've come to see if your mother will allow me to escort her to Washington," he said, lowering his lovely brown eyes. Meg smiled warmly. "How kind you are. It will be such a relief for my mother. Thank you so much." Laurie returned with the money from Aunt March. The girls kept as busy as possible under the awful circumstances. They all tried hard not to think about their father and held back their tears. As the afternoon

wore on, Meg noticed that Jo was missing. She finally arrived, wearing a peculiar expression, then passed her mother a handful of bills, saying, "Here, that's my contribution." Marmee gasped, "Jo! Where did you get twenty-five dollars?" She answered, "Don't worry, Marmee. I earned it fair and square. I only sold what was mine." Then, Jo took off her hat to reveal that her long, wavy hair was cut short! Marmee cried, "Your hair! Your beautiful hair!" "I've sold it," said Jo. "It'll be good for me. I was becoming far too vain." Amy sighed, "It was your best feature! What made you do it?" She couldn't imagine such a sacrifice. "I was desperate to help Father. That was all I could do."