1 I wanted you to see her, but they have spoiled her entirely.
2 It was very splendid, and they have gone to spend the winter in Paris.
3 Six children are huddled into one bed to keep from freezing, for they have no fire.
4 Mothers have need of sharp eyes and discreet tongues when they have girls to manage.
5 Even the sad, sour sisters should be kindly dealt with, because they have missed the sweetest part of life, if for no other reason.
6 Men seldom do, for when women are the advisers, the lords of creation don't take the advice till they have persuaded themselves that it is just what they intended to do.
7 Amy smiled and was mollified at once, saying with a maternal air, "Women should learn to be agreeable, particularly poor ones, for they have no other way of repaying the kindnesses they receive."
8 At thirty they say nothing about it, but quietly accept the fact, and if sensible, console themselves by remembering that they have twenty more useful, happy years, in which they may be learning to grow old gracefully.
9 Don't laugh, Jo, gentlemen really are very necessary aboard ship, to hold on to, or to wait upon one, and as they have nothing to do, it's a mercy to make them useful, otherwise they would smoke themselves to death, I'm afraid.