she asked , with wistful , humble earnestness . '' Oh , Beth , so much , so much ! '' and Jo 's head went down upon the pillow beside her sister 's . `` Then I do n't feel as if I 'd wasted my life . I 'm not so good as you make me , but I have tried to do right . And now , when it 's too late to begin even to do better , it 's such a comfort to know that someone loves me so much , and feels as if I 'd helped them . '' `` More than any one in the world , Beth . I used to think I could n't let you go , but I 'm learning to feel that I do n't lose you , that you 'll be more to me than ever , and death ca n't part us , though it seems to . '' `` I know it can not , and I do n't fear it any longer , for I 'm sure I shall be your Beth still , to love and help you more than ever . You must take my place , Jo , and be everything to Father and Mother when I 'm gone . They will turn to you , do n't fail them , and if it 's hard to work alone , remember that I do n't forget you , and that you 'll be happier in doing that than writing splendid books or seeing all the world , for love is the only thing that we can carry with us when we go , and it makes the end so easy . '' `` I 'll try , Beth . '' and then and there Jo renounced her old ambition , pledged herself to a new and better one , acknowledging the poverty of other desires , and feeling the blessed solace of a belief in the immortality of love . So the spring days came and went , the sky grew clearer , the earth greener , the flowers were up fairly early , and the birds came back in time to say goodbye to Beth , who , like a tired but trustful child , clung to the hands that had led her all her life , as Father and Mother guided her tenderly through the Valley of the Shadow , and gave her up to God . Seldom except in books do the dying utter memorable words , see visions , or depart with beatified countenances , and those who have sped many parting souls know that to most the end comes as naturally and simply as sleep . As Beth had hoped , the ` tide went out easily ' , and in the dark hour before dawn , on the bosom where she had drawn her first breath , she quietly drew her last , with no farewell but one loving look , one little sigh . With tears and prayers and tender hands , Mother and sisters made her ready for the long sleep that pain would never mar again , seeing with grateful eyes the beautiful serenity that soon replaced the pathetic patience that had wrung their hearts so long , and feeling with reverent joy that to their darling death was a benignant angel , not a phantom full of dread . When morning came , for the first time in many months the fire was out , Jo 's place was empty , and the room was very still . But a bird sang blithely on a budding bough , close by , the snowdrops blossomed freshly at the window , and the spring sunshine streamed in like a benediction over the placid face upon the pillow , a face so full of painless peace that those who loved it best smiled through their tears , and thanked God that Beth was well at last . CHAPTER FORTY-ONE LEARNING TO FORGET Amy 's lecture did Laurie good , though , of course , he did not own it till long afterward .
Men seldom do , for when women are the advisers , the lords of creation do n't XXXXX the advice till they have persuaded themselves that it is just what they intended to do .
's drawn dying feel forget gave hoped seeing take tried