Bess read these aloud as her contribution , and Josie took her turn at the romances , poetry , and plays her uncles recommended . Mrs Jo gave little lectures on health , religion , politics , and the various questions in which all should be interested , with copious extracts from Miss Cobbe 's Duties of Women , Miss Brackett 's Education of American Girls , Mrs Duffy 's No Sex in Education , Mrs Woolson 's Dress Reform , and many of the other excellent books wise women write for their sisters , now that they are waking up and asking : ` What shall we do ? ' It was curious to see the prejudices melt away as ignorance was enlightened , indifference change to interest , and intelligent minds set thinking , while quick wits and lively tongues added spice to the discussions which inevitably followed . So the feet that wore the neatly mended hose carried wiser heads than before , the pretty gowns covered hearts warmed with higher purposes , and the hands that dropped the thimbles for pens , lexicons , and celestial globes , were better fitted for life 's work , whether to rock cradles , tend the sick , or help on the great work of the world . One day a brisk discussion arose concerning careers for women . Mrs Jo had read something on the subject and asked each of the dozen girls sitting about the room , what she intended to do on leaving college . The answers were as usual : ' I shall teach , help mother , study medicine , art , ' etc. ; but nearly all ended with : 'Till I marry . ' ` But if you do n't marry , what then ? ' asked Mrs Jo , feeling like a girl again as she listened to the answers , and watched the thoughtful , gay , or eager faces . ` Be old maids , I suppose . Horrid , but inevitable , since there are so many superfluous women , ' answered a lively lass , too pretty to fear single blessedness unless she chose it . ` It is well to consider that fact , and fit yourselves to be useful , not superfluous women . That class , by the way , is largely made up of widows , I find ; so do n't consider it a slur on maidenhood . ' ` That 's a comfort ! Old maids are n't sneered at half as much as they used to be , since some of them have grown famous and proved that woman is n't a half but a whole human being , and can stand alone . ' ` Do n't like it all the same . We ca n't all be like Miss Nightingale , Miss Phelps , and the rest . ' So what can we do but sit in a corner and look on ? ' asked a plain girl with a dissatisfied expression . ` Cultivate cheerfulness and content , if nothing else .
But there are so many little odd jobs waiting to be done that nobody need `` XXXXX idle and look on '' , unless she chooses , ' said Mrs Meg , with a smile , laying on the girl 's head the new hat she had just trimmed .
Be fear intended lectures melt proved sit teach used waking