The next minute her face fell as she glanced about the empty room , adding , with an involuntary sigh , `` Yes , I am glad , but how I shall miss him . '' CHAPTER FORTY THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW When the first bitterness was over , the family accepted the inevitable , and tried to bear it cheerfully , helping one another by the increased affection which comes to bind households tenderly together in times of trouble . They put away their grief , and each did his or her part toward making that last year a happy one . The pleasantest room in the house was set apart for Beth , and in it was gathered everything that she most loved , flowers , pictures , her piano , the little worktable , and the beloved pussies . Father 's best books found their way there , Mother 's easy chair , Jo 's desk , Amy 's finest sketches , and every day Meg brought her babies on a loving pilgrimage , to make sunshine for Aunty Beth . John quietly set apart a little sum , that he might enjoy the pleasure of keeping the invalid supplied with the fruit she loved and longed for . Old Hannah never wearied of concocting dainty dishes to tempt a capricious appetite , dropping tears as she worked , and from across the sea came little gifts and cheerful letters , seeming to bring breaths of warmth and fragrance from lands that know no winter . Here , cherished like a household saint in its shrine , sat Beth , tranquil and busy as ever , for nothing could change the sweet , unselfish nature , and even while preparing to leave life , she tried to make it happier for those who should remain behind . The feeble fingers were never idle , and one of her pleasures was to make little things for the school children daily passing to and fro , to drop a pair of mittens from her window for a pair of purple hands , a needlebook for some small mother of many dolls , penwipers for young penmen toiling through forests of pothooks , scrapbooks for picture-loving eyes , and all manner of pleasant devices , till the reluctant climbers of the ladder of learning found their way strewn with flowers , as it were , and came to regard the gentle giver as a sort of fairy godmother , who sat above there , and showered down gifts miraculously suited to their tastes and needs . If Beth had wanted any reward , she found it in the bright little faces always turned up to her window , with nods and smiles , and the droll little letters which came to her , full of blots and gratitude . The first few months were very happy ones , and Beth often used to look round , and say `` How beautiful this is ! '' as they all sat together in her sunny room , the babies kicking and crowing on the floor , mother and sisters working near , and father reading , in his pleasant voice , from the wise old books which seemed rich in good and comfortable words , as applicable now as when written centuries ago , a little chapel , where a paternal priest taught his flock the hard lessons all must learn , trying to show them that hope can comfort love , and faith make resignation possible . Simple sermons , that went straight to the souls of those who listened , for the father 's heart was in the minister 's religion , and the frequent falter in the voice gave a double eloquence to the words he spoke or read . It was well for all that this peaceful time was given them as preparation for the sad hours to come , for by-and-by , Beth said the needle was ` so heavy ' , and put it down forever . Talking wearied her , faces troubled her , pain claimed her for its own , and her tranquil spirit was sorrowfully perturbed by the ills that vexed her feeble flesh . Ah me ! Such heavy days , such long , long nights , such aching hearts and imploring prayers , when those who loved her best were forced to see the thin hands stretched out to them beseechingly , to hear the bitter cry , `` Help me , help me ! '' and to feel that there was no help . A sad eclipse of the serene soul , a sharp struggle of the young life with death , but both were mercifully brief , and then the natural rebellion over , the old peace returned more beautiful than ever . With the wreck of her frail body , Beth 's soul grew strong , and though she said little , those about her felt that she was ready , saw that the first pilgrim called was likewise the fittest , and waited with her on the shore , trying to see the Shining Ones coming to receive her when she crossed the river .
Jo never left her for an hour since Beth had said `` I XXXXX stronger when you are here . ''
cherished feel gathered glanced learn listened make saw smiles spoke