Welcome to Sleep Stories with Steph,
Your go-to podcast that offers you a calm and relaxing transition into a great night's sleep.
It is time to relax and fully let go.
There is nothing you need to be doing now,
And nowhere you need to go.
Close your eyes and feel yourself sink into the support beneath you and let all the worries of the day drift away.
This is your time and your space.
Take a deep breath in through your nose and let it out with a long sigh.
There is nothing you need to be doing now,
And nowhere you need to go.
Happy listening.
Chapter 5 Being Neighbourly What in the world are you going to do now,
Jo?
Asked Meg one snowy afternoon as her sister came tramping through the hall in rubber boots,
An old sack and hood with a broom in one hand and a shovel in the other.
Going out for exercise,
Answered Jo with a mischievous twinkle in her eyes.
I should think two long walks this morning would have been enough.
It's cold and dull out and I advise you to stay warm and dry by the fire as I do,
Said Meg with a shiver.
Never take advice,
Can't keep still all day,
And not being a pussycat I don't like to doze by the fire,
Said Jo.
I like adventures and I'm going to find some.
Meg went back to toast her feet and read Ivanhoe and Jo began to dig paths with great energy.
The snow was light and with her broom she soon swept a path all around the garden,
For Beth liked to walk in when the sun came out,
And the invalid dolls needed air.
Now the garden separated the March's house from that of Mr Lawrence.
Both stood in a suburb of the city which was still country-like,
With groves and lawns,
Large gardens and quiet streets.
A low hedge parted the two estates.
On one side was an old brown house,
Looking rather bare and shabby,
Robbed of the vines that in summer covered its walls and the flowers which then surrounded it.
On the other side was a stately stone mansion,
Plainly betokening every sort of comfort and luxury from the big coach house and well-kept grounds to the conservatory and glimpses of lovely things one caught between the rich curtains.
Yet it seemed a lonely,
Lifeless sort of house.
No children frolicked on the lawn,
No motherly face ever smiled at the windows,
And few people went in and out,
Except the old gentleman and his grandson.
To Jo's lively fancy,
This fine house seemed a kind of enchanted palace,
Full of splendours and delights which no one enjoyed.
She had long wanted to behold these hidden glories and know the Lawrence boy,
Who looked as if he would like to be known,
If only he knew how to begin.
Since the party,
She'd been more eager than ever,
And had planned many ways of making friends.
But he had not been seen lately,
And Jo began to think he'd gone away,
When one day she spied a brown face at an upper window,
Looking wistfully down into their garden.
That boy is suffering for society and fun,
She said to herself.
His grandpa doesn't know what's good for him and keeps him shut up all alone.
He needs a party of jolly boys to play with,
Or someone young and lively.
I've a great mind to go over and tell the old gentleman so.
The idea amused Jo,
Who liked to do daring things and was always scandalising Meg by her queer performances.
The plan of going over was not forgotten,
And when the snowy afternoon came,
Jo resolved to try what could be done.
She saw Mr Lawrence drive off,
Then sallied out to dig her way down to the hedge,
Where she paused and took a survey.
All quiet,
Curtains down at the lower windows,
Servants out of sight,
And nothing human visible but a curly black head leaning on a thin hand at the upper window.
There he is,
Thought Jo.
Poor boy,
All alone and sick in this dismal day.
It's a shame.
I'll toss up a snowball and make him look out,
And then say a kind word.
So up went a handful of soft snow.
The head turned at once,
Showing a face which lost its listless look in a minute.
Then the big eyes brightened and the mouth began to smile.
How do you do?
Shouted Jo.
Are you sick?
Laurie opened the window and croaked out as hoarsely as a raven.
Better thank you.
I've had a bad cold and I've been shut up a week.
I'm sorry.
What do you amuse yourself with?
Nothing.
It's as dull as tombs up here.
Don't you read?
Not much.
They won't let me.
Won't let you?
Can't somebody read to you?
Grandpa does sometimes,
But my books don't interest him.
I hate to ask Brooke all the time.
Have someone come up and see you then?
There isn't anyone I'd like to see.
Boys make such a row and my head is weak.
Maybe a girl then?
Girls are quiet and like to play nurse.
Don't know any.
You know us?
Began Jo.
Then she laughed and stopped.
So I do.
Will you come up,
Please?
Cried Laurie.
I'm not quiet and nice,
Said Jo,
But I'll come if Mother will let me.
I'll go and ask her now.
Shut that window like a good boy and wait till I come.
With that,
She shouldered her broom and marched into the house,
Wondering what they would all say.
Laurie,
Meanwhile,
Was in a flutter of excitement at the idea of having company.
He flew about to get ready for,
As Mrs Marsh said,
He was a little gentleman and did honour to the coming guest by brushing his curly pate,
Putting on a fresh collar and trying to tidy up the room,
Which,
In spite of half a dozen servants,
Was anything but neat.
Presently there came a loud ring,
Then a decided voice asking for Mr Laurie and a surprised-looking servant came running up to announce a young lady.
All right,
Show her up,
It's Miss Jo,
Said Laurie,
Going to the door of his little parlour to meet Jo,
Who appeared looking rosy and kind and quite at her ease,
With a covered dish in one hand and best three kittens in the other.
Here I am,
Bag and baggage,
She said briskly.
Mother sends her love and was glad I could do anything for you.
Meg wanted me to bring some of her belemange,
She makes it nicely,
And Beth thought her cats would be comforting.
I knew he'd laugh at them,
But I couldn't refuse,
She was so anxious to do something.
It so happened that Beth's funny loan was just the thing.
In laughing over the kittens,
Laurie forgot his bashfulness and he grew sociable at once.
That looks too pretty to eat,
He said,
Smiling with pleasure as Jo uncovered the dish of belemange.
It isn't anything,
Only they all felt kindly and wanted to show it.
Tell the girl to put it away for your tea,
It's so simple,
You can eat it,
And being soft it'll slip down without hurting your sore throat,
Said Jo.
My,
What a cosy room this is.
It might be if it was kept nice,
But the maids are lazy and I don't know how to make them mind.
It does worry me though,
Said Laurie.
I'll write it up in two minutes.
It only needs to have the hearth brushed,
And things made straight on the mantelpiece,
And the books put here and the bottles there,
And your sofa turned from the light,
And the pillows plumped up a bit.
That's it,
Now you're all fixed.
And so Laurie was,
For as Jo laughed and talked and whisked things into place,
He watched her in respectful silence,
And when she beckoned him to his sofa he sat down with a sigh of satisfaction,
Saying gratefully,
How kind you are.
That's what it wanted,
Yes.
Now,
Please take the big chair and let me do something to amuse my company.
No,
Protested Jo,
I came to amuse you.
Shall I read aloud?
She looked affectionately towards some inviting books nearby.
Thank you,
I've read all those,
Answered Laurie.
If you don't mind,
I'd rather talk.
Not a bit.
I'll talk all day if you'll only set me going.
Beth says I never know when to stop.
Is Beth the rosy one who stays at home a good deal and sometimes goes out with a little basket?
Asked Laurie with interest.
Yes,
That's Beth.
She's my girl and a regular good one she is too.
The pretty one is Meg and the curly haired one is Amy,
I believe.
How did you find that out?
Laurie coloured up,
But answered frankly,
I often hear you calling to one another and when I'm up here alone I can't help looking over at your house.
You always seem to be having such a good time.
Sorry for being so rude,
But sometimes you forget to put down the curtain at the window where the flowers are and when the lamps are lighted it's like looking at a picture to see the fire and you all around the table with your mother.
Her face is right opposite and it looks so sweet behind the flowers.
I can't help watching it.
I haven't got any mother,
You know.
The solitary hungry look in Laurie's eyes went straight to Jo's warm heart.
She'd been so simply taught that there was no nonsense in her head and at 15 she was as innocent and frank as any child.
This boy was sick and lonely and feeling how rich she was in home love and happiness she gladly wanted to share it with him.
We'll never draw that curtain anymore and I'll give you leaves to look as much as you like,
She said.
I just wish though,
Instead of peeping,
You'd come over and see us.
Mother's so splendid.
She'd do you heaps of good and Beth would sing to you if I begged her to and Amy would dance and Meg and I would make you laugh over our funny stage properties and we'd have jolly times.
Would your grandpa let you,
Do you think?
I think he would,
If your mother asked him.
He's very kind,
Though he doesn't look so and he lets me do what I like pretty much only he's afraid I might be a bother to strangers.
We're not strangers,
Protested Jo.
We're neighbours.
You needn't think you'd be a bother.
We want to know you and I've been trying to do it ever so long.
We haven't been here a great while,
You know but we've got acquainted with all our neighbours apart from you.
Grandpa lives among his books,
Said Laurie.
He doesn't much mind what happens outside.
Mr Brook,
My tutor,
Doesn't stay here and I've got no one else to go about with me so I just stop at home and get on as I can.
That's bad.
You ought to make an effort and go visiting more.
Never mind being bashful.
It won't last long if you keep going.
This made Laurie turn red again but he wasn't offended for there was so much good in Jo it was impossible not to take her blunt speeches as kindly as they were meant.
Do you like your school?
He asked,
Changing the subject after a little pause.
I don't go to school.
I'm a businessman.
Girl,
I mean,
Said Jo.
I wait on my great aunt and a dear cross-eyed soul she is too.
Laurie opened his mouth to ask another question but remembering just in time it wasn't manners to make too many inquiries he sharted again.
Jo liked this.
He was well-bred and he didn't mind having a laugh at Aunt March so she gave him a lively description of the fidgety old lady.
Laurie enjoyed that immensely and when she told about the prim old gentleman who came once to woo Aunt March and in the middle of a fine speech how Polly had tweaked his wig off the boy lay back and laughed till the tears ran down his cheeks and a maid popped her head in to see what was the matter.
That does me no end of good said Laurie.
Tell on,
Please!
Taking his face out of the sofa cushions red and shining with merriment.
Much elated with her success Jo did tell on all about their plays and plans their hopes and fears for father and the most interesting events of the little world in which the sisters live.
Then they got to talking about books and to Jo's delight she found that Laurie loved them as well as she did and had read even more than herself.
If you like them so much come down and see ours he said.
Grandpa's out so you needn't be afraid.
I'm not afraid of anything returned Jo with a toss of the head.
I don't believe you are exclaimed Laurie looking at her with much admiration although he privately thought she would have good reason to be a trifle afraid of the old gentleman if she met him in one of his moods.
The atmosphere of the whole house being summer-like Laurie led the way from room to room letting Jo stop to examine whatever struck her fancy.
And so at last they came to the library where she clapped her hands and pranced as she always did when especially delighted.
It was lined with books and there were pictures and statues and distracting little cabinets full of coins and curiosities and sleepy hollow chairs and queered tables and bronzes and best of all a great open fireplace with quaint tiles all around it.
What richness!
Sighed Jo sinking into the depth of a velvet chair.
Theodore Lawrence you ought to be the happiest boy in the world.
