Welcome,
My name is Nina and I am going to help you to fall asleep.
Under the Umbrella is one of the most romantic chapters in Little Woman and it is based on true events.
Because Louisa May Alcott was in love with her friend,
Philosopher Henry David Thoreau,
He passed away when she was 28 and Henry appears in Mitchell Disguises in Louisa May Alcott's novels as the love interest.
Later in life,
Louisa May Alcott wrote in her diaries that she believed that she was going to reunite with her loved one in her next life.
She believed in reincarnation,
She writes how she is lonely and that in her next life she is going to reunite with her loved one and then she is going to get her reward which to her were husband,
Family and children of her own.
In a diary marking that Louisa May Alcott wrote when she was in her twenties,
She wrote that one of her wishes was to start a school with Henry and in Little Woman,
Joe wants to start a school for boys and Friedrich is all on board.
And Laurie is based on Louisa May Alcott's ex but let's leave that to another episode.
And now,
Little Woman by Louisa May Alcott,
Chapter Under the Umbrella.
While Laurie and Amy were taking conjugal strolls over a velvet carpet as they set their house in order and planned a blissful future,
Mr.
Bear and Joe were enjoying terminates of a different sort along muddy roads and sodden fields.
I always do take a walk toward evening and I don't know why I should give it up,
Just because I often happen to meet the professor on his way out,
And I said Joe to herself after two or three encounters for though there were two paths to Mechs,
Whichever one she took,
She was sure to meet him either going or returning.
He was always walking rapidly and never seemed to see her till quite close when he would look as if his short-sighted eyes had failed to recognize the approaching lady till that moment.
If she was going to Mechs,
He always had something for the babies.
If her face was turned homeward,
He had merely strolled down to see the river and was just about returning unless they were tired of his frequent calls.
Under the circumstances,
What could Joe do but greet him civilly and invite him in?
If she was tired of his visits,
She conceived her weariness with perfect skill and took care that there should be coffee for supper as,
Quote,
Fridik,
I mean Mr.
Bear,
Doesn't like tea.
By the second week everyone knew perfectly well what was going on,
Yet everyone tried to look as if they were stone blind to the changes in Joe's face.
Never asked why she sang about her work,
Did up her hair three times a day,
And got so blooming with her evening exercise,
And no one seemed to have the slightest suspicion.
That Professor Bear,
While talking philosophy with the father,
Was giving the daughter lessons in love.
Joe couldn't even lose her heart in a decorous manner,
But sternly tried to quench her feelings,
And failing to do so,
Let her somewhat edge-dit life.
She was mortally afraid of being laughed at for surrending after her many and vehement declarations of independence.
Lori was her especial threat,
But thanks to her new manager,
He behaved with praiseworthy propriety,
Never called Mr.
Bear a capital old fellow in public,
Never alluded,
In the remotest manner,
To Joe's improved appearance,
Or expressed the least surprise at seeing the Professor's hat on the march's hall table nearly every evening.
But he exculted in private,
And longed for the time to come when he could give Joe a piece of plate with a Bear and a ragged staff on it as an appropriate coat of arms.
For a fortnight the Professor came and went with a lover-like regularity.
Then he stayed away for three whole days and made to no sign a proceeding which caused everybody to look sober,
And Joe to become pensive at first,
And then,
Alas for romance,
Very gross.
Disgusted,
I dare say,
And gone home as suddenly as he came.
It's nothing to me,
Of course,
But I should think he would have come and bid us good-bye like a gentleman,
She said to herself,
With a despairing look at the gate,
As she put on her things for the customary walk.
One dull afternoon.
"'You'd better take the little umbrella,
Dear.
It looks like rain,
' said her mother,
Observing that she had on her new bonnet,
But not alluding to the fact.
"'Yes,
Marmie,
Do you want anything in the town?
I've got to run in and get some paper,
' returned Joe,
Pulling out the bow under her chin,
Before the glass,
As an excuse for not looking at her mother.
"'Yes,
I want some twilled silesia,
A paper of number nine needles,
And two yards of narrow lavender ribbon.
Have you got your thick boots on,
And something warm under your cloak?
' "'I believe so,
' answered Joe,
Absently.
"'If you happen to meet Mr.
Bear,
Bring him home the tea.
I quite long to see the dear man,
' added Mrs.
March.
"'I'm sure Joe heard that,
But made no answer except to kiss her mother and walk rapidly away,
Thinking with a glow of gratitude in spite of her heartache.
"'How good she is to me!
What do girls do when they haven't any mothers to help them through their troubles?
"'The dry good stores were not down among the counting houses,
Banks,
And wholesale ware-rooms,
Where the gentlemen most do congregate,
But Joe found herself in that part of the city before she did a single errand,
"'loitering along as if waiting for someone,
Examining engineering instruments in one window,
And samples of wool in another with most unfeminine interest,
Tumbling over barrels,
Being half-smothered by descending bells,
And hustled unceremoniously by busy men,
Who looked as if they wondered,
"'How did yous she got here?
' A drop of rain on her cheek recalled her thoughts from baffled hopes to ruined ribbons,
For the drops continued to fall,
And being a woman as well as a lover,
She felt that,
Though it was too late to save her heart,
She might her bonnet.
"'Now she remembered the little umbrella which she had forgotten to take in her hurry to be off,
But regret was unbeaming,
And nothing could be done but borrow one or submit to a trancing.
"'She looked up at the lowering sky,
Down at the crimson bough already flaked with black forward along the muddy street,
Then ran along lingering,
Looked behind at the certain creamy warehouse with Hoffman,
Swartz,
And Goe over the door,
And said to herself,
With a sternly reproachful air,
"'It serves me right.
What business had I had put on all my best things and come feeling daring down here,
Hoping to see the Professor.
Joe,
I am ashamed of you.
Now you shall go there to borrow an umbrella,
Or find out where he is,
From his friends.
"'You shall swap away and do your errands in the rain,
And if you catch your debt and ruin your bonnet,
It's no more than you deserve.
Now then.
' With that she rushed across the street so impetiously that she narrowly escaped an irritation from a passing truck,
And precipitated herself into the arms of a stately old gentleman who said,
"'I beg pardon,
Madam,
' and looked mortally offended.
Somewhat daunted,
Joe righted herself,
Spread her handkerchief over the devoted ribbons,
And put in temptation behind her.
"'I am going on with increasing dampness about the ankles,
Much clashing of umbrellas overhead.
The fact that somewhat dilapidated blue one remained stationary above the unprotected bonnet attracted her attention,
And looking up she saw Mr.
Bear,
Looking down.
"'I feel to know the strong-minded lady who goes so bravely under many horse-noses,
And so fast through the much mud.
What do you do down here,
My friend?
' "'I'm shopping,
' Mr.
Bear smiled as she glanced from the pickle-factory on one side to the wholesale-hide and letter-concern on the other.
But he only said politely,
"'You have no umbrella.
May I go also,
And take you for the bundles?
' "'Yes,
Thank you,
' Joe's cheek wear red as her ribbon,
And she wondered what he thought of her.
"'But she didn't care,
For in a minute she found herself walking away,
Arm in arm,
With her professor,
Feeling as if the sun had suddenly burst out with the uncommon brilliancy,
That the world was all right again,
And that one truly happy woman was battening through the wet that day.
' "'We thought you had gone,
' said Joe hastily,
For she knew he was looking at her.
Her bonnet wasn't big enough to hide her face,
And she feared he might think the joy of it betrayed unmaidenly.
"'Did you believe that I should go with no farewell to those who have been so heavenly kind to me?
' he asked so reproachfully,
That she felt as if she had insulted him by the suggestion,
And answered heartily,
"'No,
I didn't.
I knew you were busy about your own affairs,
But we rather missed you,
Father and mother especially.
And you?
' "'I'm always glad to see you,
Sir.
' In her anxiety to keep her voice quite calm,
Joe made it rather cool,
And the frosty little monosyllable at the end seemed to chill the professor,
For his smile vanished as he said gravely,
I thank you,
And come one time more before I go.
' "'You are going,
Then.
I have no longer any business here.
It is done.
' Successfully,
I hope,
' said Joe,
For the bitterness of disappointment was in that short reply of his.
"'Are you to think so,
For I have a way opened to me by which I can make my bread and give my younglings much help?
' "'Tell me,
Please.
I like to know all about—' "'The boys,
' said Joe eagerly.
"'That is so kind.
I gladly tell you.
My friends find me a place in a college where I teach,
As at home,
And earn enough money to make the way smooth for France and Emu.
For this I should be grateful,
Should I not.
' "'Indeed you should.
How splendid it will be to have you doing what you like and be able to see you often.
And the boys,
' cried Joe,
Clinging to the lads as an excuse for the satisfaction.
She could not help betraying.
"'Ach!
But we shall not meet often,
I fear.
This place is at the west.
' "'So far away!
' And Joe left her skirts to their fate,
As if it did not matter now what became of her clothes or herself.
' "'Mr.
Berg would read several languages,
But he had not yet learned to read women.
He flattered himself that he knew Joe pretty well,
And was therefore much amazed by the contradictions of voice,
Face,
And manner,
Which resolved him in a rapid succession that day,
For she was in half a dozen different moods in the course of half an hour.
"'When she met him,
She looked surprised,
Though it was impossible to help suspecting that she had come for that express purpose.
When he offered her his arm,
She took it with a look that filled him with delight.
But when he asked if she missed him,
She gave such a silly,
Formal reply that despair fell upon him.
On learning his good fortune,
She almost clapped her hands.
Was the joy all for the boys?
' "'Then on hearing his destination,
She said,
So far away,
In a tone of despair that lifted him onto a pinnacle of hope,
But the next minute she tumbled him down again by observing,
Like one entirely absorbed in the matter.
Here's the place for my errands.
Will you come in?
It won't take long.
' Mr.
Bear stood by,
Watching her blush and blunder,
And as he watched,
His own bewilderment seemed to subside,
For he was beginning to see that on some occasions women,
Like dreams,
Go by contraries.
When they came out,
He put the parcel under his arm with a more cheerful aspect,
And splashed through the puddles,
As if he rather enjoyed it on the whole.
"'Why don't we not do a little what you call shopping for the babies,
And have a farewell feast tonight,
If I go for my last call at your so pleasant home?
' he asked,
Stopping before a window full of fruit and flowers.
"'What will we buy?
' said Joe,
Ignoring the latter part of his speech,
As they hit the mingled odours with an affection of delight as they went in.
"'May they have oranges and figs?
' asked Mr.
Bear,
With a paternal error.
"'They eat them when they can't get them.
Do you care for nuts?
' "'Like a squirrel.
' "'Hamburg grapes,
Yes.
We shall surely drink to the fatherland in tows.
' "'Joe frowned upon that piece of extracavans,
And asked why he didn't buy a frail of dates,
A cask of raisins,
And a bag of almonds,
And done with it,
Where'd Mr.
Bear confiscated her purse,
Produced his own,
And finished the marketing by buying several pounds of grapes,
A pot of rosy daisies,
And a pretty jar of honey,
To be regarded in the light of Demi-John.
"'Then,
Distorting his pockets with the knuppie bundles,
And giving her the flowers to hold,
He put up the old umbrella,
And they travelled on again.
"'Miss March,
I have a great favour to ask of you,
' began the Professor.
After a moist promenade of half a block.
"'Yes,
Sir,
' and Joe's heart began to beat so hard,
She was afraid he would hear it.
"'I am bold to say it,
In spite of the rain,
Because so short of time remains to me.
' "'Yes,
Sir,
' and Joe nearly smashed the small flower-pot with the sudden squeeze she gave it.
"'I wish to get a little dress for my Tina,
And I am too stupid to go alone.
Will you kindly give me a word of taste and help?
' "'Yes,
Sir,
' and Joe felt as calm and cool as all of a sudden,
As if she had stepped into a refrigerator.
"'Perhaps also a shawl for Tina's mother.
She is so poor and sick,
And the husband is such a care.
Yes,
Yes,
A thick,
Warm shawl would be a friendly thing to take the little mother.
"'I'll do it with pleasure,
Mr.
Bear.
I am going very fast,
And he is getting nearer every minute,
' added Joe to herself.
"'Then with a mental shake she entered into the business with the energy which was pleasant to behold.
Mr.
Bear left it all to her,
So she chose a pretty gown for Tina,
And then ordered out the shawls.
"'Declared being a married man,
Consented to take an interest in the couple who appeared to be shopping for their family.
Your lady may prefer this.
It's a superior article,
A most desirable color,
Quite chaste and gentle,
' he said,
"'shaking out a comfortable gray shawl and throwing it over Joe's shoulders.
Does this suit you,
Mr.
Bear?
' she asked,
Turning her back to him and feeling deeply grateful for the chance of hiding her face.
"'Excellently well,
We will have it,
' answered the professor,
Smiling to himself,
As he paid for it,
While Joe continued to romach the counters like a con-firmed bargain-hunter.
"'Now shall we go home?
' he asked,
As if the words were very pleasant to him.
"'Yes,
It's late,
And I'm so tired.
' Joe's voice was more pathetic than she knew.
For now the sun seemed to have gone,
As suddenly as it came out.
"'The wood grew muddy and miserable again,
And for the first time she discovered that her feet were cold,
Her head ached,
And that her heart was colder than the former,
Fuller of pain than the latter.
Mr.
Bear was going away.
He only cared for her as a friend.
It was all a mistake,
And the sooner it was over the better.
"'With this idea in her head,
She held an approaching omnibus with just a hasty gesture,
That the daisies flew out of the pot and were badly damaged.
' "'That is not our omnibus,
' said the professor,
Bearing the loaded vehicle away,
And stopping to pick up the poor little posies.
I beg your pardon.
I didn't see the name distinctly.
Never mind,
I can walk.
"'I am used to plotting in the mud,
' returned Joe,
Winking hard,
Because she would have died rather than openly wipe her eyes.
Mr.
Bear saw the drops on her cheeks,
Though she turned her head away.
The sight seemed to touch him very much,
For suddenly stooping down,
He asked in a tone that meant a great deal.
"'Hearts dearest,
Why do you cry?
' Now,
If Joe had not been nude this sort of thing,
She would have said she wasn't crying,
Had a coat in her head,
Or told any other feminine fib proper to the occasion,
Instead of which that undignified creature answered with an irresistible sob,
Because you are going away.
Ah,
My God!
That is so good!
' cried Mr.
Bear,
Managing to clasp his hands in spite of the umbrella and the bundles.
"'Joe,
I have nothing but much love to give you.
I came to see if you could care for it,
And I waited to be sure that I was something more than a friend,
Am I?
Can you make a little place in your heart for old frips?
' he added,
All in one breath.
"'Oh,
Yes,
' said Joe,
And he was quite satisfied,
For she folded both hands over his arm and looked up at him with an expression that plainly showed how happy she would be to walk through life beside him,
Even though she had no better shelter than the old umbrella if he carried it.
' It was certainly proposing under difficulties,
For even if he had desired to do so,
Mr.
Bear could not go down upon his knees on account of the mud neither could he offer Joe his hand,
Except figuratively,
For both were full.
Much less could he indulge in tender demonstrations in the open street,
Though he was near it.
So the only way in which he could express his rapture was to look at her with an expression which glorified his face to such a degree that there actually seemed to be little rainbows in the drops that sparkled on his beard.
If he had not loved Joe very much,
I don't think he could have done it then,
For she looked far from lovely,
With her skirts in deplorable state,
Her rubber boots splashed to the ankle,
And her bonnet a ruin.
Fortunately Mr.
Bear considered her the most beautiful woman living,
And she found him more Joe-like than ever,
Though his hat-brim was quite limped with the little trills trickling dense upon his shoulders,
For he held the umbrella all over Joe,
And every finger of his gloves needed mending.
Passersby properly thought them as a pair of harmless lunatics,
For they entirely forgot to hail a bus as strolled leisurely along,
Oblivious of deepening dusk and fog.
They all take care what anybody thought,
For they were enjoying the happy hour that seldom comes but once in any life.
The magical moment which bestows youth on the old,
Beauty on the plain,
Wealth on the poor,
And gives human hearts a foretaste of heaven.
The Professor looked as if he had conquered a kingdom,
And the world had nothing more to offer him in the way of bliss,
While Joe structured beside him,
Feeling as if her place had always been there,
And wondering how she ever could have chosen any other loft.
Of course she was the first to speak intangibly,
I mean for the emotional reed marks which followed her impetuous,
Or yes,
Were not a coherent,
Reportable character.
Fetig,
Why didn't you?
Oh,
Heaven!
She gives me the name that no one speaks since Mina died,
Write the Professor,
Pausing in a puddle to regard her with grateful delight.
I always call you so to myself.
I forgot,
But I won't unless you like it.
Like it?
It is more sweet to me than I can tell.
Say too,
Also,
And I shall say your language is almost as beautiful as mine.
Isn't too little sentimental,
Asked Joe,
Privately thinking it a lovely monosyllabary.
Sentimental,
Yes.
Thank God we Germans believe in sentiment and keep ourselves young with it.
Your English,
You,
Is so code.
Say too,
Heart's dearest,
It means so much to me.
Pleaded Mr.
Bear more like a romantic student than a great professor.
Well then,
Why didn't you tell me all this sooner?
Asked Joe bashfully.
Now I shall have to show thee all my heart,
And I so gladly will,
Because two must take care of it hereafter.
See then,
My Joe,
Ah,
The dear funny little name.
I had a wish to tell something the day I said good-bye in New York,
But I thought the handsome friend was betrothed to thee,
And so I spoke not.
Wouldst thou have said yes,
Then,
If I had spoken?
I don't know,
I'm afraid not,
For I didn't have any heart,
Just them,
Thought.
Then I do not believe.
It was asleep till the fairy prince came through the wood and raked it up.
Ah,
Well,
The asleep is the best,
But that I should not expect.
Yes,
The first love is the best,
So be contented,
For I never had any other.
Teddy was only a boy and soon got over his little fancy,
Said Joe anxious to correct the professor's mistake.
Good,
Then I shall rest happy,
And be sure that thou givest me all.
I have waited so long.
I am grown selfish as to well find,
Professorine.
I liked that,
Quite Joe,
Delighted with her new name.
Now tell me what brought you,
At last,
Just when I most wanted you.
This.
And Mr.
Bear took a little warm paper out of his waste-court pocket.
Joe unfolded it,
And looked much abashed for.
It was one of her own contributions to a paper that paid for poetry.
It accounted for her sending it.
An occasional attempt.
How could that bring you?
She asked,
Wondering,
What he meant.
I found it by chance.
I knew it by the names and the initials.
And in it there was one little verse that seemed to call me.
Read and find him.
I will see that you go not in the red.
Joe obeyed and hastily skimmed through the lines which he had christened.
In the garrot,
Four little chests,
All in a row,
Dim with dust and worn by time,
All fashioned and filled long ago by children,
Now in their prime,
Four little keys hung side by side with faded ribbons,
Brave and gay.
When fastened there with childish pride,
Long ago,
On a rainy day,
Four little names,
One on each lid,
Carved out by a boyish hand,
And underneath,
The light hit,
Histories of the happy band,
One playing here and pausing off to hear the sweet refrain,
That came and went on the roof aloft in the falling summer rain.
Maked on the first lid,
Smooth and fair,
I look in with loving eyes,
Fourfolded there with well-known care,
A godly gathering lies,
The record of a peaceful life,
Gifts to a gentle child and girl,
A bridal gown,
Lines to a wife,
A tiny shoe,
A baby curl.
No toys in these first chests remain,
For all are carried away,
In their old age to join again in another small,
Mixed play,
A happy matter.
Well,
I know,
You hear like a sweet refrain,
Lullabies ever soft and low in the falling summer rain.
Joe,
On the next lid,
Scratched and worn,
And within a muddly store,
A headless doll of school books torn,
Birds and beasts that speak no more,
Spoils brought some from the fairy ground,
Only trod by youthful feet,
Dreams of a future never found,
Memories of a past still sweet,
Half-written poems,
Stories wild,
April letters,
Warm and cold,
Diaries of a willful child,
Hints of a woman early old.
A woman in a lonely home,
Hearing like a sad refrain,
Be worthy of love,
And love will come in the falling summer rain.
My bed,
The dust is always swept from the lid that bears your name,
As if by loving eyes that wept,
By careful hands that often came,
That canonized for us one saint.
Ever less human than divine,
And still we lay with tender plain,
Relics in this household shrine,
The silver bell so seldom rung,
The little cap which last she wore,
The fair dead catring that hung by angels born above her door,
The song she sang without lament,
In her prison-house of pain,
Forever out this sweetly blend,
With the falling summer rain.
Upon the last lid's polished field,
Legends now both fair and true,
A gallant knight bears on his shield Amy in letters gold and blue,
Within the snoots that bound her hair,
Slippers that have danced their last,
Faded flowers laid by with care,
Fanciers and shames,
The record of a maiden heart,
Now learning fairer,
Truer spells,
Hearing like a plight refrain,
The silver sound of bridal bells,
In the falling summer rain.
Four little chests all in a row,
Dim with dust and worn by time,
Four women taught by will and woe,
To love and labor in their prime,
Four sisters parted for an hour,
None lost,
One only gone before,
Made by love's immortal power,
Nearest and dearest evermore.
Oh,
When these hidden stories of ours lie open to the Father's sight,
May they be rich in golden hours,
Deeds that show fairer for the light,
Lives whose bright music long shall ring like a spirit stirring in strain,
Souls that shall gladly soar and sing in the long sunshine after rain.
J.
M.
—it's very bad poetry,
But I felt it when I wrote it one day when I was very lonely,
And had a good cry on the rack-bag.
I never thought it would go where it could tell tales,
Said Joe tearing up the verses the Professor had treasured so long.
Let it go,
It has done its duty,
And I will have a fresh one when I read O.
The Brown Book,
In which he keeps her little secrets,
Said Mr.
Bear with a smile,
As he watched the fragments fly away on the wind.
Yes,
He added earnestly,
I read that,
And I think to myself,
She has a sorrow,
She is lonely,
She would find comfort in true love.
I have a heart full,
Full for her.
Shall I not go and say,
If this is not too poor a thing to give for what I shall hope to receive,
Take it in God's name?
And so you came to find that it was not too poor,
But the one precious thing I needed,
Whispered Joe.
I had no courage to think that at first heavenly kind,
As was your welcome to me,
But soon I began to hope,
And then I said,
I will have her if I die for it,
And so I will.
Quite Mr.
Bear,
With a deviant note,
As if the walls of mist closing round them were barriers which he was to surmount,
Or valiantly knocked down,
Joe thought that was splendid,
And resolved to be worthy of her knight,
Though he did not come prancing on a charger in a gorgeous array.
What made you stay away so long?
She asked presently,
Finding it so pleasant to ask confidential questions and get delightful answers,
That she could not keep silent.
It was not easy,
But I could not find the heart to take you from that so happy home until I could have a prospect,
Or one to give you,
After much time perhaps,
And hard work.
How could I ask you to give up so much for a poor old fellow who has no fortune but a little learning?
I'm glad you are poor.
I couldn't bear a rich husband,
Said Joe decidedly,
Adding in a softer tone.
Don't fear poverty.
I've known it long enough to lose my dread,
And be happy working for those I love,
And don't call yourself old.
I never think of it.
I couldn't help loving you if you were seventy.
The professor found that so touching that he would have been glad of his handkerchief,
If he could have got it,
As he could enjoy wiping his eyes for him,
And said laughing,
As she took away a bundle or two.
I may be strong-minded,
But no one can say I'm out of my sphere now,
For woman's special mission is supposed to be trying tears and bearing burdens.
I'm to carry my share,
Fredrik,
And help to earn the home.
Make up your mind that,
Or I'll never go,
She added,
Resolutely.
As he tried to reclaim his load.
We shall see.
Have you patience to wait a long time,
Joe?
I must go away and do my work alone.
I must help my boys first,
Because even for you I may not break my word to Mina.
Can you forgive that,
And be happy?
While we hope and wait.
Yes,
I know I can,
For we love one another,
And that makes all the rest easy to bear.
I have my duty also,
And my work.
I couldn't enjoy myself if I neglected it.
I couldn't enjoy myself if I neglected them,
Even for you.
So there's no need of hurry or impatience.
You can do your part out west.
I can do mine here,
And both be happy,
Hoping for the best,
And leaving the future to be as God wills.
Ah!
To kiss me such hope and courage,
And I have nothing to give back but the full heart and these empty hands!
Cried the professor,
Quite overcome.
Joe never,
Never would learn to be proper,
For when he said that,
As they stood upon the steps,
She just put both hands into his,
Whispering tenderly,
Not empty now,
And stooping down,
Kissed her Fredrik under the umbrella.
It was dreadful,
But she would have done it if the flock of dragold had sparrows on the hedge been human beings,
Or she was a far gone indeed,
And quite regardless of everything but her own happiness.
Though it came in such a very simple guise,
That was the crowning moment of both of their lives,
When turning from the night and storm and loneliness,
To the household light and warmth and peace,
Waiting to receive them,
With a glad welcome home,
Joe let her love in,
And shut the door.
Ah!
To kiss me such hope and courage,
And I have nothing to give back but the full heart and these empty hands!
Cried the professor,
Quite overcome.
Joe never,
Never would learn to be proper,
For when he said that,
As they stood upon the steps,
She just put both hands into her,
Whispering tenderly,
Not empty now,
And stooping down,
Kissed her Fredrik under the umbrella.
It was dreadful,
But she would have done it if the flock of dragold had sparrows on the hedge been human beings,
Or she was a far gone indeed,
And quite regardless of everything but her own happiness.
.
