Join Host Bree Carlile as she reads the sixth chapter of Little Women.

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My name is Brie Carlyle and I love to read and wanted to share my passion with listeners like you.

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Today we'll be continuing Little Women by Louisa May Alcott Six beth Finds the Palace Beautiful The big house did prove a palace beautiful, though it took some time for all to get in and Beth found it very hard to pass the lions.

Old Mr.

Lawrence was the biggest one, but after he had called, said something funny or kind to each one of the girls, and talked over old times with their mother, nobody felt much afraid of him except Timid Beth.

The other lion was the fact that they were poor and Lori rich, for this made them shy of accepting favors which they could not return.

But after a while they found that he considered them the benefactors and could not do enough to show how grateful he was for Mrs.

March's motherly welcome their cheerful society and for the comfort he took in that humble home of theirs.

So they soon forgot their pride and interchanged kindnesses without stopping to think which was the greater.

All sorts of pleasant things happened about that time, for the new friendship flourished like grass in spring.

Everyone liked Lori, and he privately informed his tutor that the Marches were regularly splendid girls.

With the delightful enthusiasm of youth, they took the solitary boy into their midst and made much of him.

And he found something very charming in the innocent companionship of these simple hearted girls.

Never having known mother or sisters, he was quick to feel the influences they brought about him and their busy, lively ways made him ashamed of the indolent life he led.

He was tired of books and found people so interesting now that Mr.

Brooke was obliged to make very unsatisfactory reports.

For Lori, it was always playing truant and running over to the marches.

Never mind.

Let him take a holiday and make it up afterwards, said the old gentleman.

The good lady next door says he's studying too hard and needs young society amusement and exercise.

I suspect she's right and that I've been coddling the fellow as if I'd been his grandmother.

Let him do what he likes, as long as he's happy.

He can't get into mischief in that little nunnery over there and Mrs.

March is doing more for him than we can.

What good times they had, to be sure.

Such plays and tableau, such sleigh rides and skating frolics such pleasant evenings in the old parlor, and now and then such gay little parties at the great house.

Meg could walk in the conservatory whenever she liked and revel in the bouquets.

Joe browsed over the new library voraciously and convulsed the old gentleman with her criticisms.

Amy copied pictures and enjoyed beauty to her heart's content and Lori played Lord of the Manor in the most delightful style.

But Beth, though yearning for the grand piano could not pluck up courage to go to the Mansion of Bliss, as Meg called it.

She went once with Joe, but the old gentleman, not being aware of her infirmity stared at her so hard from under his heavy eyebrows and said, hey.

So loud that he frightened her so much her feet chattered on the floor.

She told Mother, and she ran away declaring she would never go there anymore not even for the dear piano.

No persuasions or enticements could overcome her fear till the fact coming to Mr.

Lawrence's ear in some mysterious way, he said about mending matters.

During one of the brief calls he made he artfully led the conversation to music and talked away about great singers whom he had seen fine organs.

He had heard and told such charming anecdotes that Beth found it impossible to stay in her distant corner but crept nearer and nearer as if fascinated at the back of his chair.

She stopped and stood listening with her great eyes wide open and her cheeks red with the excitement of this unusual performance.

Taking no more notice of her than if she had been a fly.

Mr.

Lawrence talked on about Lori's lessons and teachers and presently, as if the idea had just occurred to him he said to Mrs.

March, the boy neglects his music now and I'm glad of it, for he was getting too fond of it.

But the piano suffers for want of use.

Wouldn't some of your girls like to run over and practice on it now and then just to keep it in tune?

You know, ma'am, Beth took a step forward and pressed her hands tightly together to keep from clapping them, for this was an irresistible temptation, and the thought of practicing on that splendid instrument quite took her breath away.

Before Mrs.

March could reply, mr.

Lawrence went on with an odd little nod and smile, they needn't see or speak to anyone, but run in at any time, for I'm shut up in my study at the other end of the house.

Lori's out a great deal, and the servants are never near the drawing room after 09:00.

Here he rose as if going, and Beth made up her mind to speak, for that last arrangement left nothing to be desired.

Please tell the young ladies what I say, and if they don't care to come, why, never mind.

Here.

A little hand slipped into his, and Beth looked up at him with a face full of gratitude as she said in her earnest yet timid way oh, sir, they do care very, very much.

Are you the musical girl?

He asked without any startling hey as he looked down at her very kindly.

I'm Beth.

I love it dearly, and I'll come if you're quite sure nobody will hear me and be disturbed, she added, fearing to be rude and trembling at her own boldness as she spoke.

Not a soul, my dear.

The house is empty half the day, so come and drum away as much as you like, and I shall be obliged to you.

How kind you are, sir.

Beth blushed like a rose under the friendly look he wore, but she was not frightened now and gave the big hand a grateful squeeze because she had no words to thank him for the precious gift he had given her.

The old gentleman softly stroked the hair off her forehead and stooping down.

He kissed her, saying in a tone few people ever heard, I had a little girl once with eyes like these.

God bless you, my dear.

Good day, madam.

And away he went in a great hurry.

Beth had a rapture with her mother and then rushed up to impart the glorious news to her family of invalids as the girls were not at home.

How blithely she sung that evening, and how they all laughed at her because she woke Amy in the night by playing the piano on her face in her sleep.

Next day, having seen both the old and young gentleman out of the house, beth, after two or three retreats, fairly got in at the side door and made her way, as noiselessly as any mouse, to the drawing room where her idol stood.

Quite by accident, of course.

Some pretty easy music lay on the piano, and with trembling fingers and frequent stops to listen and look about, beth at last touched the great instrument and straight away forgot her fear, herself and everything else but the unspeakable delight which the music gave her.

For it was like the voice of a beloved friend.

She stayed till Hannah came to take her home to dinner, but she had no appetite and could only sit and smile upon everyone in a general state of beatitude.

After that, the little brown hood slipped through the hedge nearly every day, and the great drawing room was haunted by a tuneful spirit that came and went unseen.

She never knew that Mr.

Lawrence often opened his study door to hear the old fashioned heirs he liked.

She never saw Lori at Mount Guard in the hall to warn the servants away.

She never suspected that the exercise books and new songs which she found in the rack were put there for her especial benefit.

And when he talked to her about music at home, she only thought how kind he was to tell things that helped her so much.

So she enjoyed herself heartily and found what isn't always the case that her granted wish was all she had hoped.

Perhaps it was because she was so grateful for this blessing that a grater was given her.

At any rate, she deserved both.

Mother, I'm going to work.

Mr.

Lawrence a pair of slippers.

He's so kind to me.

I must thank him, and I don't know any other way.

Can I do it?

Asked Beth a few weeks after that eventful call of his.

Yes, dear.

It will please him very much and be a nice way of thanking him.

The girls will help you about them, and I will pay for the making up, replied Mrs.

March, who took peculiar pleasure in granting Beth's requests because she so seldom asked anything for herself.

After many serious discussions with Meg and Joe, the pattern was chosen, the materials bought, and the slippers begun.

A cluster of grave yet cheerful pansies on a deeper purple ground was pronounced very appropriate and pretty.

And Beth worked away early and late with occasional lifts over hard parts.

She was a nimble little needle woman, and they were finished before anyone got tired of them.

Then she wrote a very short, simple note and with Lori's help, got them smuggled onto the study table one morning before the old gentleman was up.

When this excitement was over, beth waited to see what would happen.

All that day passed and a part of the next before any acknowledgement arrived.

And she was beginning to fear she had offended her crotchety friend.

On the afternoon of the second day, she went out to do an errand and give poor Joanna the invalid doll, her daily exercise.

As she came up the street on her return, she saw three, yes, four heads popping in and out of the parlor windows.

And the moment they saw her, several hands were waved and several joyful voices screamed here's a letter from the old gentleman.

Come quick and read it.

Oh, Beth, he sent you, began Amy gesticulating with unseemly energy.

But she got no further, for Joe quenched her by slamming down the window.

Beth hurried on in a flutter of suspense.

At the door, her sisters seized and bore her to the parlor in a triumphal procession, all pointing and all saying at once, look there.

Look there.

Beth did look, and turned pale with delight and surprise, for there stood a little cabinet piano with a letter lying on the glossy lid, directed like a signboard to Miss Elizabeth March.

For me.

Gasped Beth, holding on to Joe and feeling as if she should tumble down.

It was such an overwhelming thing altogether.

Yes, all for you, my precious.

Isn't it splendid of him?

Don't you think he's the dearest old man in the world?

Here's the key in the letter.

We didn't open it, but we're dying to know what he says, cried Joe, hugging her sister and offering the note.

You read it.

I can't.

I feel so queer.

Oh, it is too lovely.

And Beth had her face in Joe's apron, quite upset by her present.

Joe opened the paper and began to laugh, for the first words she saw were miss March.

Dear Madam, how nice it sounds.

I wish someone would write to me so said Amy, who thought the old fashioned address very elegant.

I've had many pairs of slippers in my life, but I've never had any that suited me so well as yours, continued Joe.

Heart's ease is my favorite flower, and these will always remind me of the gentle giver I like to pay my debts so I know you will allow the old gentleman to send you something which once belonged to the little granddaughter he lost.

With hearty thanks and best wishes, I remain your grateful friend and humble servant, James Lawrence.

There, Beth.

That's an honor to be proud of, I'm sure.

Lori told me how fond Mr.

Lawrence used to be of the child who died and how he kept all her little things carefully.

Just think, he's given you her piano.

That comes of having big blue eyes and loving music, said Joe, trying to soothe Beth, who trembled and looked more excited than she had ever been before.

See the cunning brackets to hold candles?

And the nice green silk puckered up with a gold rose in the middle?

And the pretty rack and stool?

All complete, added Meg, opening the instrument and displaying its beauties.

Your humble servant, James Lawrence.

Only think of his writing that to you.

I'll tell the girls.

They'll think it's splendid, said Amy, much impressed by the note.

Try it, honey.

Let's hear the sound of the baby piani, said Hannah, who always took a share in the family's joys and sorrows.

So Beth tried it, and everyone pronounced it the most remarkable piano ever heard.

It had evidently been newly tuned and put in an apple pie order, but perfect as it was, I think the real charm of it lay in the happiest of all happy faces, which leaned over it as Beth lovingly touched the beautiful black and white keys and pressed the bright petals.

You'll have to go and thank him, said Joe by way of a joke, for the idea of the child's really going never entered her head.

Yes, I mean to.

I guess I'll go now before I get frightened thinking about it.

And to the utter amazement of the assembled family, beth walked deliberately down the garden, through the hedge and in at the Lawrence's door.

While I wish I may die, if it ain't the queerest thing I ever see.

The pianius turned her head.

She'd never have gone in her right mind, cried Hannah, staring after her, while the girls were rendered quite speechless by the miracle.

They would have been still more amazed if they had seen what Beth did afterward, if you'll believe me.

She went and knocked at the study door before she gave herself time to think.

And when a gruff voice called out, Come in.

She did go in, right up to Mr.

Lawrence, who looked quite taken aback and held out her hand, saying with only a small quaver in her voice, I came to thank you, sir, for but she didn't finish.

Brie looked so friendly that she forgot her speech, and only remembering that he had lost the little girl he loved, she put both arms round his neck and kissed him.

If the roof of the house had suddenly flown off, the old gentleman wouldn't have been more astonished.

But he liked it?

Oh, dear, yes.

He liked it amazingly, and was so touched and pleased by that confiding little kiss that all his crustiness vanished, and he just set her on his knee and laid his wrinkled cheek against her rosy one.

Feeling as if he had got his own little granddaughter back again, beth ceased to fear him from that moment and sat there talking to him as cosily as if she'd known him all her life.

For love casts out fear, and gratitude can conquer pride.

When she went home, he walked with her to her own gate, shook hands cordially and touched his hat as he marched back again, looking very stately and erect like a handsome soldierly old gentleman as he was.

When the girl saw that performance, joe began to dance a jig by way of expressing her satisfaction.

Amy nearly fell out of the window in her surprise, and Meg exclaimed with uplifted hands, well, I do believe the world is coming to an end.

Thank you for joining Bite at a Time Books today while we read a bite of one of your favorite classics.

Again, my name is Brie Carlyle, and I hope you come back tomorrow for the next bite of Little Women.

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