25 Little Women Read By Stephanie Poppins

Welcome to Sleep Stories with Steph,

Your go-to podcast that offers you a calm and relaxing transition into a great night's sleep.

It is time to relax and fully let go.

There is nothing you need to be doing now and nowhere you need to go.

Close your eyes and feel yourself sink into the support beneath you and let all the worries of the day drift away.

This is your time and your space.

Take a deep breath in through your nose and let it out with a long sigh.

There is nothing you need to be doing now and nowhere you need to go.

Happy listening.

Chapter 13 Castles in the Air Laurie lay luxuriously swinging to and fro in his hammock one warm September afternoon,

Wondering what his neighbours were about,

But too lazy to go and find out.

He was in one of his moods,

For the day had been both unprofitable and unsatisfactory and he was wishing he could live it over again.

The hot weather made him indolent and he had shirked his studies,

Tried Mr.

Brook's patience to the utmost,

Displeased his grandfather by practising half the afternoon,

Frightened the maidservants half out of their wits by mischievously hinting one of his dogs was going mad,

And after high words with the stableman about some fancied neglect of his horse,

He had flung himself into his hammock to fume over the stupidity of the world in general till the peace of the lovely day quieted him in spite of himself.

Staring up into the green gloom of the horse chestnut trees above,

He dreamed dreams of all sorts,

And was just imagining himself tossing on the ocean in a voyage round the world,

When the sound of voices brought him ashore in a flash.

Peeping through the meshes of his hammock,

He saw the marches coming out as if bound on some expedition.

What in the world are those girls about now?

He thought.

There was something rather peculiar in the appearance of them.

Each wore a large flapping hat,

A brown linen pouch slung over one shoulder and carried a long staff.

Meg had a cushion,

Joe a book,

Beth a basket,

And Amy a portfolio.

All walked quietly through the garden,

Out at the little back gate,

And began to climb the hill that lay between the house and the river.

Wow,

That's cool,

Said Laurie,

To have a picnic and never ask me.

They can't be going in the boat,

For they haven't got the key.

Perhaps they forgot it.

I'll just take it to them and see what's going on.

Though possessed of half a dozen hats,

It took Laurie some time to find one.

Then there was a hunt for the key,

Which was at last discovered in his pocket,

So that the girls were quite out of sight when he leaped the fence and ran after them.

He took the shortest way to the boathouse and waited for them to appear,

But no one came.

He went up the hill to take an observation.

Here's a landscape,

Thought Laurie,

Peeping through the bushes and looking wide awake and good-natured already.

It was rather a pretty little picture,

For the girls sat together in the shady nook,

With sun and shadow flickering over them,

The aromatic wind lifting their hair and cooling their hot cheeks,

And all the little wood people going on with their affairs as if they were no strangers but old friends.

Meg sat upon her cushion,

Sewing daintily with her white hands,

Looking fresh and sweet.

Beth was sorting the cones that lay thick under the hemlock nearby.

She made pretty things of them.

Amy was sketching a group of ferns,

And Jo knitting as she read aloud.

A shadow passed over the boy's face as he watched,

Feeling he ought to go away,

Yet lingering because home seemed very lonely,

And this quiet party in the woods most attractive to his restless spirit.

He stood so still,

A squirrel,

Busy with its harvesting,

Ran down a pine close beside him.

Then it saw him suddenly,

And skipped back,

Scalding so shrillly that Beth looked up.

May I join you,

Called Laurie,

Or shall I be a bother?

Meg lifted her eyebrows,

But Jo scowled at her defiantly.

Of course you may,

She said,

We should have asked you before,

But we thought you wouldn't care for such a girl's game as this.

I've always liked your games,

But if Meg doesn't want me I'll go away.

I've no objection if you do something,

It's against the rules to be idle,

Replied Meg.

Much obliged,

I'll do anything if you let me stop a bit,

For it's as dull as the desert of Sahara down there.

Shall I sew,

Read,

Comb,

Draw,

Or do all at once?

Finish this book while I set my heel,

Said Jo,

Handing him the book.

Yes,

Was the meek answer,

And he began,

Doing his best to prove his gratitude,

For a favour of an admission into the busy bee society.

The story was not a long one,

And when it was finished he ventured to ask a few questions.

As a reward of merit.

Could I inquire if this highly instructive and charming institution is a new one?

Would you tell him,

Asked Meg of her sisters.

He'll laugh,

Said Amy warningly.

Who cares,

Said Jo.

I guess he'll like it,

Added Beth.

Of course I shall,

I give you my word I won't laugh.

Tell away,

Jo,

And don't be afraid.

The idea of being afraid of you.

Well,

You see,

We used to play Pilgrim's Progress,

Said Jo,

And we've been going on with it in all earnest.

I know,

Said Laurie.

Who told you,

Demanded Jo.

I did,

Said Beth.

I wanted to amuse him one night when you were all away,

And he was rather dismal.

He did like it,

So don't scold Jo,

She said meekly.

You can't keep a secret.

Well,

Never mind,

It saves trouble now.

Go on,

Please,

Said Laurie.

Didn't she tell you about this new plan of ours?

We've tried not to waste our holiday,

But each has had a task and worked at it with a will.

The vacation's nearly over,

The stints are all done,

And we're ever so glad we didn't dawdle,

Said Jo.

I should think so,

Said Laurie.

Thinking regretfully of his own idle ways.

Mother likes to have us out of doors as much as possible,

So we bring our work here and have nice times.

For the fun of it,

We bring our things in these bags.

We wear the old hats.

We use the poles to climb the hill and play pilgrims,

As we used to do.

When we look far away,

And see the country where we hope to live some time,

We call that hill the Delectable Mountain.

Jo pointed up,

And Laurie sat up to examine.

For through an opening in the wood,

One could look across the wide blue river,

The meadows on the other side,

Far over the outskirts of the great city,

To the green hills that rose to meet the sky.

The sun was low and the heavens glowed with the splendour of an autumn sunset.

Golden purple clouds lay on the hilltops,

And rising high into the ruddy light,

Were silvery white peaks that shone like the airy spires of some celestial city.

How beautiful,

Said Laurie softly.

It's often so,

And we like to watch it,

Replied Amy,

For it's never the same,

But always splendid.

Jo talks about the country where we hope to live some time,

The real country,

She means,

With pigs and chickens and haymaking.

There's a lovelier country than even that,

Where we shall go by and by,

Said Meg,

With her sweet voice.

It seems so long to wait,

So hard to do.

I want to fly away at once,

As those swallows fly and go in that splendid gate,

Said Beth.

You'll get there soon enough,

Said Jo,

I'm the one who'll have to fight and work and climb and wait,

And even then,

Maybe I'll never get in there at all.

You'll have me for company if that's any comfort,

Said Jo,

I'll have to do a good deal of travelling before I come inside of your celestial city.

If I arrive late,

You'll say a good word for me,

Won't you,

Beth?

Something in the boy's face troubled his little friend,

But Beth said cheerfully with her quiet eyes on the changing clouds.

If people really want to go and really try all their lives,

I think they'll get in.

I don't believe there are any locks on that door,

Or any guards at the gate.

I always imagine it is as it is in the picture,

Where the shiny ones stretch out their hands to welcome poor Christian as it comes up from the river.

Wouldn't it be fun if all the castles in the air which we could make come true,

And we could live in them,

Said Jo after a little pause.

I've made such quantities it'll be hard to choose which I'd have,

Said Laurie,

Lying flat and throwing cones at the squirrel who betrayed him.

You'd have to take your favourite one.

What is it?

Asked Meg.

If I tell mine,

Will you tell yours?

Yes,

If the girls will too.

We will.

After I'd seen as much of the world as I want to,

I'd like to settle in Germany,

Said Laurie,

And have just as much music as I choose.

I'm going to be a famous musician myself,

And all creation is to rush to hear me,

And I'm never to be bothered about money or business.

That's my favourite castle.

What's yours,

Meg?

Margaret seemed to find it a little hard to tell hers,

And waved a break before her face,

As if to disperse imaginary gnats,

While she said,

I should like a lovely house full of all sorts of luxurious things.

Nice food,

Pretty clothes,

Handsome furniture,

Pleasant people,

And heaps of money.

I am to be mistress of it,

And manage it as I like,

With plenty of money,

And plenty of servants,

So I never need work a bit.

How I should enjoy that.

But I wouldn't be idle.

I would do good and make everyone love me dearly.

Wouldn't you have a master for your castle in the air,

Asked Laurie slyly.

I said pleasant people,

You know,

And Meg carefully tied up her shoe as she spoke,

So that no one saw her face.

Why don't you say you'd have a pleasant,

Wise,

Good husband and some angenic little children?

You know your castle wouldn't be perfect without that,

Said blunt Jo,

Who had no tender fancies yet,

And rather scorned romance,

Except in books.

You'd have nothing but horses,

Inkstands,

And novels in yours,

Answered Meg petulantly.

Wouldn't I though?

I'd have a stable full of Arabian steeds,

Rooms piled with books,

And I'd write out of a magic inkstand,

So that my work should be as famous as Laurie's music.

I want to do something splendid before I go into my castle,

Something heroic or wonderful that won't be forgotten after I'm dead.

I don't know what,

But I'm on the watch for it,

And I mean to astonish you all someday.

I think I shall write books and get rich and famous.

That would suit me.

So that is my favourite dream.

Mine is to stay home safe with father and mother,

And help take care of the family,

Said Beth.

Don't you wish for anything else?

Asked Laurie.

Since I had my little piano,

I'm perfectly satisfied.

I only wish we may all keep well and be together,

Nothing else.

I have ever so many wishes,

Was Amy's modest desire,

But the pet one is to be an artist and go to Rome and do fine pictures and be the best artist in the whole world.

We're an ambitious set,

Aren't we?

Every one of us,

Said Laurie,

Chewing grass like a meditative calf.

I do wonder if any of us will ever get our wishes.

Well,

I've got my key to the castle in the air,

Observed Joe.

But whether I shall unlock the door remains to be seen.