33 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.

In her first effort at being very,

Very good,

Amy decided to make her will,

As Aunt March had done,

So that if she did fall ill and die,

Her possessions might be justly and generously divided.

It cost her a pang to think of giving up the little treasures which in her eyes were as precious as the old lady's jewels.

During one of her play hours she wrote out the important document as well as she could.

When Esther had signed her name as a witness,

Amy felt relieved and she laid it by to show Laurie,

Whom she wanted as a second witness.

As it was a rainy day,

She went upstairs to amuse herself in one of the large chambers.

She took Polly with her for company.

There was a wardrobe full of old-fashioned costumes here,

In which Esther allowed her to play.

It was her favourite amusement to dress herself up in the faded brocades and parade up and down before the long mirror,

Making stately curtsies and sweeping her train about.

So busy was she on this day she did not hear Laurie's ring,

Nor see his face peeping in at her,

As she gravely promenaded to and fro,

Flirting her fan and tossing her head,

On which she wore a great big turban,

Contrasting oddly with her blue brocade dress and yellow quilted petticoat.

She was obliged to walk carefully,

For she had on high-heeled shoes,

And as Laurie told Jo afterwards it was a comical sight to see her mince along in her gay suit,

With Polly sliding and bridling just beside her.

Having with difficulty restrained an explosion of merriment,

Lest it should offend Her Majesty,

Laurie tapped and was graciously received.

Sit down and rest while I put these things away,

Then I want to consult you about a very serious matter,

Said Amy,

When she had shown her splendour and driven Polly into a corner.

That bird is the trial of my life!

Laurie seated himself astride of a chair.

Yesterday when Aunt was asleep and I was trying to be as still as a mouse,

Polly began to squall and flap around in his cage,

So I went to let him out and found a big spider there,

She continued.

This made Laurie laugh,

Then she said,

Now I'm ready,

Shutting the wardrobe,

And took a paper out of her pocket.

I want you to read that please and tell me if it's legal and right,

I felt I ought to do it,

For life's uncertain and I don't want any ill feeling over my tomb.

Laurie bit his lips and turning a little from the pensive speaker,

Read the following document with praiseworthy gravity.

My last will and testament,

It said.

I,

Amy Curtis March,

Being in my sane mind,

Do give and bequeath all my earthly property To my father,

My best pictures,

Sketches,

Maps and works of art,

Including the frames.

Also my hundred dollars to do with what he likes.

To my mother,

All my clothes,

Except the blue apron with pockets.

Also my likeness and my medal with much love.

To my dear sister Margaret,

I give my turquoise ring,

If I get it,

Also my green box with doves on it,

And my piece of real lace for her neck,

And my sketch of her as a memorial of her little girl.

To Jo,

I leave my breast pin,

The one mended with sealing wax,

Also my bronze inkstand,

And I hereby also leave her my regret I ever made fun of old Joanna.

To my friend and neighbour,

Theodore Lawrence,

I bequeath my papier-mâché portfolio,

My clay model of a horse,

Though he didn't say it had any neck,

And also in return for his great kindness in the hour of affliction,

Any one of my artistic works he likes.

Notre Dame is my best.

To our venerable benefactor,

Mr Lawrence,

I leave my purple box with a looking glass in the cover,

Which will be nice for his pens and remind him of the departed girl who thanks him for his favours to her family,

Especially Beth.

I wish my favourite playmate,

Kitty Bryant,

To have the blue silk apron,

And my gold bead ring with a kiss.

To Hannah,

I give the band box she wanted,

And all the patchwork I leave,

Hoping she'll remember me when it you see.

And now having disposed of my most valuable property,

I hope all will be satisfied and not blame the dead.

I forgive everyone and trust we may all meet when the trump shall sound.

Amen.

To this will and testament I set my hand and seal on this 20th day of November,

Anno Domini,

1861,

Amy Curtis,

March.

Witnesses,

Estelle Renaud,

Theodore Lawrence.

The last name was written in pencil and Amy explained he was to rewrite it in ink and seal it up for her properly.

What put it into your head?

Did anyone tell you about Beth's giving away her things?

Asked Laurie soberly.

Amy explained.

She felt so ill one day she wanted to give her piano to Meg,

Her cats to you and the poor old doll to Jo,

Who would love it for her sake.

She was sorry she had so little to give and left lots of hair to the rest of us and her best love to Grandpa.

She never even thought of a will.

Laurie was signing and sealing as he spoke and did not look up until a great tear dropped on the paper.

Amy's face was full of trouble,

But she only said,

Don't people put sort of postscripts to their will sometimes?

Yes,

Codicils as they call them.

Then put one in mine,

Will you?

I wish all my curls cut off and give them round to my friends.

I forgot it,

But I want it done,

Though it would spoil my looks.

Laurie made sure to add it,

Smiling at Amy's last and greatest sacrifice.

Then he amused her for an hour and was much interested in all her trials.

But when he came to go,

Amy held him back to whisper with trembling lips,

Is there really any danger about Beth?

I'm afraid there is,

But we must hope for the best,

So don't cry,

Dear,

Said Laurie.

And he put his arm around her with a brotherly gesture that was very comforting.

Chapter 20 Confidential I don't think I have any words in which to tell the meeting of the mother and daughters.

Such hours are beautiful to live,

But very hard to describe.

So I will leave it to the imagination of my readers,

Merely saying the house was full of genuine happiness and that Meg's tender hope was realised.

For when Beth woke from that long healing sleep,

The first objects on which her eyes fell were the little rose and mother's face.

Too weak to wonder at anything,

She only smiled and nestled close in the loving arms about her,

Feeling the hungry longing was satisfied at last.

Then she slept again,

And the girls waited upon their mother,

For she would not unclasp the thin hand which clung to hers even in sleep.

Hannah had dished up an astonishing breakfast for the traveller,

Finding it impossible to vent her excitement in any other way,

And Meg and Jo fed their mother like dutiful young storks,

While they listened to her whispered account of father's state.

What a strange yet pleasant day that was.

So brilliant and gay,

Without,

For all the world seemed abroad to welcome the first snow.

So quiet and reposeful within,

For everyone slept,

Spent with watching,

And a Sabbath stillness reigned through the house.

Laurie posted off to comfort Amy,

And told his story so well that Aunt March actually sniffed herself and never once said I told you so.

Amy came out so strong on this occasion,

I think the good thoughts in the little chapel really began to bear fruit.

She dried her eyes quickly,

Restrained her impatience to see her mother,

And never even thought of the turquoise ring when the old lady heartily agreed in Laurie's opinion she behaved like a capital young woman.

Even Polly seemed impressed,

For he called her a good girl,

He blessed her buttons and begged her to come and take a walk dear,

In his most affable tone.

Amy would very gladly have gone out to enjoy the bright wintry weather,

But discovering Laurie was dropping to sleep in spite of manful efforts to conceal the fact,

She persuaded him to rest on the sofa while she wrote a note to her mother.

She was a long time about it,

But when she returned he was stretched out with both arms under his head,

Sound asleep,

And Aunt March had pulled down the curtains and sat doing nothing in unusual fit of benignity.

After a while they began to think Laurie was not going to wake up till night,

And I'm not sure that he would,

Had he not been effectually roused by Amy's cry of joy at the sight of her mother.

There probably were a good many happy little girls in and about the city that day,

But it is my private opinion that Amy was the happiest of all when she sat in her mother's lap and told her trials,

Receiving consolation and compensation in the shape of approving smiles and fond caresses.

They were alone together in the chapel now,

To which her mother did not object when its purpose was explained to her.

On the contrary I like it very much dear,

She said looking from the dusty rosary to the well-worn little book.

It's an excellent plan to have some place where we can go to be quiet when things vex or grieve us.

There are a good many hard times in this life of ours,

But we can always bear them if we ask for help in the right way.

I think you,

My little girl,

Are finally learning this.

And as Amy pointed the smiling Christ child on his mother's knee,

Mrs March saw something on the lifted hand that made her smile.

Aunt gave me this ring today,

Said Amy.

She called me to her and kissed me and put it on my finger and said I was a credit to her and she'd like me to keep it always.

That's lovely,

Isn't it mother?

I'd like to wear it.

Can I?

I'll try not to be too vain.

I don't think I like it just because it's so pretty,

But I want to wear it as the girl in the story who wore her bracelet.

This will help me remind me of something.

Do you mean Aunt March?

Asked her mother laughing.

No,

To remind me not to be selfish,

Said Amy.

And she looked so earnest and sincere about that,

Her mother stopped laughing and listened respectfully to her little plan.