They did not forget their motto , but hoping and keeping busy seemed to grow easier , and after such tremendous exertions , they felt that Endeavor deserved a holiday , and gave it a good many . Jo caught a bad cold through neglect to cover the shorn head enough , and was ordered to stay at home till she was better , for Aunt March did n't like to hear people read with colds in their heads . Jo liked this , and after an energetic rummage from garret to cellar , subsided on the sofa to nurse her cold with arsenicum and books . Amy found that housework and art did not go well together , and returned to her mud pies . Meg went daily to her pupils , and sewed , or thought she did , at home , but much time was spent in writing long letters to her mother , or reading the Washington dispatches over and over . Beth kept on , with only slight relapses into idleness or grieving . All the little duties were faithfully done each day , and many of her sisters ' also , for they were forgetful , and the house seemed like a clock whose pendulum was gone a-visiting . When her heart got heavy with longings for Mother or fears for Father , she went away into a certain closet , hid her face in the folds of a dear old gown , and made her little moan and prayed her little prayer quietly by herself . Nobody knew what cheered her up after a sober fit , but everyone felt how sweet and helpful Beth was , and fell into a way of going to her for comfort or advice in their small affairs . All were unconscious that this experience was a test of character , and when the first excitement was over , felt that they had done well and deserved praise . So they did , but their mistake was in ceasing to do well , and they learned this lesson through much anxiety and regret . `` Meg , I wish you 'd go and see the Hummels . You know Mother told us not to forget them . '' said Beth , ten days after Mrs. March 's departure . `` I 'm too tired to go this afternoon , '' replied Meg , rocking comfortably as she sewed . `` Ca n't you , Jo ? '' asked Beth . `` Too stormy for me with my cold . '' `` I thought it was almost well . '' `` It 's well enough for me to go out with Laurie , but not well enough to go to the Hummels ' , '' said Jo , laughing , but looking a little ashamed of her inconsistency .
`` Why do n't you XXXXX yourself ? ''
'm 's felt go kept laughing liked looking see wish