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25 - Under the Lilacs (version 3, dramatic reading) by Louisa May Alcott · U.S. Marine Operations in Korea - The Pusan Perimeter

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  Speaker 1: Chapter twenty four of Under the Lilacs by Louisa may Alcott.
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  Speaker 1: This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in
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  Speaker 1: the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please
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  Speaker 1: visit LibriVox dot org. Under the Lilacs by Louisa may Alcott,
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  Speaker 1: Chapter twenty four, The Great Gate is opened. The Browns
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  Speaker 1: were up and out so early next morning that bab
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  Speaker 1: and Betty were sure they had run away in the night,
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  Speaker 1: but on looking for them, they were discovered in the
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  Speaker 1: coach house, criticizing Lita, both with their hands in their pockets,
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  Speaker 1: both chewing straws and looking as much alike as a
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  Speaker 1: big elephant and a small one.
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  Speaker 2: That's as pretty little spin as I've seen for a long.
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  Speaker 1: Time, said the elder Ben, as the children came trotting
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  Speaker 1: down the path hand in hand, with the four blue
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  Speaker 1: bows at the ends of their braids, being briskly up
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  Speaker 1: and down.
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  Speaker 3: The nigh one is my favorite, but the off one
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  Speaker 3: is the best goer. She's dreadfully hard bitted.
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  Speaker 1: Answered Ben, the younger, with such a comical assumption of
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  Speaker 1: a jockey's important air that his father laughed as he
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  Speaker 1: said in an undertone come, boy.
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  Speaker 2: We must drop the old slangs since we've given up
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  Speaker 2: the old business. These good folks, I'm making a gentleman
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  Speaker 2: of you, and I won't be the one to spoil
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  Speaker 2: their work hold on my days. And I'll show you
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  Speaker 2: how they say good morning in California.
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  Speaker 1: He added, beckoning to the little girls, who now came
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  Speaker 1: up rosy and smiling bruffas is ready, Sir, said Betty,
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  Speaker 1: looking much relieved to find them.
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  Speaker 4: We thought you'd run away from us.
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  Speaker 1: Explained bab as both put out their hands to shake
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  Speaker 1: those extended to them.
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  Speaker 2: That would be a mean trick, But I'm going to
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  Speaker 2: run away with you.
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  Speaker 1: And mister Brown whisked a little girl to either shoulder
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  Speaker 1: before they knew what had happened, while Ben, remembering the
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  Speaker 1: day with difficulty, restrained himself from turning a series of
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  Speaker 1: triumphant somersaults before them all the way to the door,
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  Speaker 1: where Missus Moss stood waiting for them. After breakfast, Ben
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  Speaker 1: disappeared for a short time and returned in his Sunday suit,
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  Speaker 1: looking so neat and fresh that his father surveyed him
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  Speaker 1: with surprise and pride as he came in full of
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  Speaker 1: boyish satisfaction in his trim array.
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  Speaker 2: He is a smart young chap. Did you take all
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  Speaker 2: that trouble just to go to walk with old Daddy.
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  Speaker 1: Asked mister Brown, stroking the smooth head, for they were
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  Speaker 1: alone just then, Missus Moss and the children being upstairs
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  Speaker 1: preparing for church.
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  Speaker 3: I thought maybe you'd like to go to meetin.
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  Speaker 1: First, answered Ben, looking up at him with such a
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  Speaker 1: happy face that it was hard to refuse anything.
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  Speaker 2: I'm too shabby, Sonny. Else I'll go in a minute
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  Speaker 2: to please you.
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  Speaker 3: Miss Cilia said God didn't mind poor clothes, and she
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  Speaker 3: took me when I looked worse than you do. I
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  Speaker 3: always go in the morning.
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  Speaker 1: She likes to have me, said Ben, turning his hat
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  Speaker 1: about as if not quite sure what he ought to do.
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  Speaker 1: Do you want to go, asked his father in a
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  Speaker 1: tone of surprise.
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  Speaker 3: I want to please her. If you don't mind, we
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  Speaker 3: get have our tramp this afternoon.
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  Speaker 2: I haven't been to Maidan since mother died, and it
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  Speaker 2: don't seem to come easy, though I know I ought to,
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  Speaker 2: saying I'm alive and.
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  Speaker 1: Here, and mister Brown looked soberly out at the lovely
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  Speaker 1: autumn world, as if glad to be in it. After
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  Speaker 1: his late danger and pain.
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  Speaker 3: Miss Celia said church was a good place to take
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  Speaker 3: our troubles and to be thankful. And I went, and
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  Speaker 3: I thought you were dead, and now I'd love to go,
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  Speaker 3: and I've got my daddy safe again.
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  Speaker 1: No one saw him, so Ben could not resist giving
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  Speaker 1: his father a sudden hug, which was warmly returned, as
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  Speaker 1: the man said earnestly.
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  Speaker 2: I'll go and thank the Lord hot if a giving
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  Speaker 2: me back my board. Then I left him for a minute.
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  Speaker 1: Nothing was heard but the loud tick of the old
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  Speaker 1: clock and a mournful whine from Sancho shut up in
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  Speaker 1: the shed lest he should go to church without an invitation. Then,
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  Speaker 1: as steps were heard on the stairs, mister Brown caught
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  Speaker 1: up his hat, saying hastily, I.
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  Speaker 2: Ain't fit to go with them. You tell em an,
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  Speaker 2: I'll slip into a back seat after folks, Erene.
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  Speaker 1: I know the way, And before Ben could reply, he
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  Speaker 1: was gone. Nothing was seen of him along the way,
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  Speaker 1: but he saw the little party and rejoiced again over
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  Speaker 1: his boy changed in so many ways for the better.
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  Speaker 1: For Ben was the one thing which had kept his
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  Speaker 1: heart soft through all the trials and temptations of a
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  Speaker 1: rough life.
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  Speaker 2: I promise Mary, I'd do my best for the poor baby.
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  Speaker 2: Shared to leave, and I tried, But I guess a
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  Speaker 2: better friend than I am has been raised up from
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  Speaker 2: when he needed the most. It won't help me to
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  Speaker 2: follow him in this.
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  Speaker 1: Road, thought mister Brown, as he came out into the
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  Speaker 1: highway from his stroll across lots, feeling that it would
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  Speaker 1: be good for him to stay in this quiet place
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  Speaker 1: for his own as well as his son's sake. The
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  Speaker 1: bell had done ringing when he reached the green, but
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  Speaker 1: a single boy sat on the steps and railed to
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  Speaker 1: meet him, saying with a reproachful look.
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  Speaker 3: I was a going to let you alone, and half
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  Speaker 3: folks think I was a shamed my father, Come, daddy,
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  Speaker 3: we'll sit together.
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  Speaker 1: So Ben led his father straight to the squire's pew
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  Speaker 1: and sat beside him, with a face so full of
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  Speaker 1: innocent pride and joy that people would have suspected the
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  Speaker 1: truth if he had not already told many of them.
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  Speaker 1: Mister Brown, painfully conscious of his shabby coat, was rather
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  Speaker 1: taken aback as he expressed it, but the Squire's shake
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  Speaker 1: of the hand and missus Allen's gracious nod enabled him
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  Speaker 1: to face the eyes of the interested congregation, the younger
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  Speaker 1: portion of which stared steadily at him all sermon time,
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  Speaker 1: in spite of paternal frowns and maternal tweakings in the rear.
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  Speaker 1: But the crowning glory of the day came after church,
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  Speaker 1: when the Squire said to Ben and Sam heard him.
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  Speaker 5: I've got a letter for you from miss Celia. Come
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  Speaker 5: home with me and bring your father. I want to
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  Speaker 5: talk to him.
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  Speaker 1: The boy proudly escorted his parent to the old carryall,
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  Speaker 1: and tucking himself in behind with missus. Allen had the
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  Speaker 1: satisfaction of seeing the slouched felt hat side by side
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  Speaker 1: with the Squire's Sunday beaver in front. As they drove
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  Speaker 1: off at such an unusually smart pace, it was evident
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  Speaker 1: that Duke knew there was a critical eye upon him.
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  Speaker 1: The interest taken in the father was owing to the
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  Speaker 1: son at first, but by the time the story was told,
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  Speaker 1: old Ben had won friends for himself, not only because
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  Speaker 1: of the misfortunes which he had evidently borne in a
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  Speaker 1: manly way, but because of his delight in the boy's
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  Speaker 1: improvement and the desire he felt to turn his hand
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  Speaker 1: to any honest work that he might keep Ben happy
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  Speaker 1: and contented in this good home.
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  Speaker 5: I'll give you a line to town. Smithers spoke well
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  Speaker 5: of you, and your own ability will be the best recommendation, said.
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  Speaker 1: The squire as he parted from them at his door,
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  Speaker 1: having given Ben the letter. Miss Celia had been gone
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  Speaker 1: a fortnight and everyone was longing to have her back.
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  Speaker 1: The first week brought Ben a newspaper with a crinkly
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  Speaker 1: line drawn round the marriages to attract attention to that spot,
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  Speaker 1: and one was marked by a black frame with a
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  Speaker 1: large hand pointing at it from the margin. Thorny sent that.
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  Speaker 1: But the next week came a parcel for Missus Moss,
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  Speaker 1: and in it was discovered a box of wedding cake
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  Speaker 1: for every member of the family, including Sancho, who ate
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  Speaker 1: his at one gulp and chewed up the lace paper
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  Speaker 1: which covered it. This was the third week, and as
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  Speaker 1: if there could not be happiness enough crowded into it
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  Speaker 1: for Ben, the letter he read on his way home
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  Speaker 1: told him that his dear mistress was coming back on
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  Speaker 1: the following Saturday. One passage particularly pleased him.
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  Speaker 6: I want a great gate opened so that a new
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  Speaker 6: master may go in that way. Will you see that
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  Speaker 6: it is done, and i'll make need afterward. Randa will
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  Speaker 6: give you the key, and you may have out all
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  Speaker 6: your flags if you like, for the old place cannot
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  Speaker 6: look too gay for this homecoming.
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  Speaker 1: Sunday, though it was, Ben could not help waving the
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  Speaker 1: letter over his head as he ran in to tell
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  Speaker 1: missus Moss the glad news and begin at once to
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  Speaker 1: plan the welcome they would give miss Celia, for he
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  Speaker 1: never called her anything else. During their afternoon stroll in
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  Speaker 1: the mellow sunshine, Ben continued to talk of her, never
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  Speaker 1: tired of telling about his happy summer under her room,
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  Speaker 1: and mister Brown was never weary of hearing, for every
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  Speaker 1: hour showed him more plainly what a lovely miracle her
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  Speaker 1: gentle words had wrought, and every hour increased his gratitude,
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  Speaker 1: his desire to return the kindness in some humble way.
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  Speaker 1: He had his wish and did his part handsomely when
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  Speaker 1: he least expected to have a chance. On Monday he
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  Speaker 1: saw mister Town, and thanks to the Squire's good word,
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  Speaker 1: was engaged for a month on trial, making himself so
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  Speaker 1: useful that it was soon evident he was the right
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  Speaker 1: man in the right place. He lived on the hill,
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  Speaker 1: but managed to get down to the little Brown House
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  Speaker 1: in the evening for a word with Ben, who just
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  Speaker 1: now was as full of business as if the President
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  Speaker 1: and his cabinet were coming. Everything was put in apple
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  Speaker 1: pie order in and about the old house. The great gate,
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  Speaker 1: with much creaking of rusty hinges and some clearing away
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  Speaker 1: of rubbish, was set wide open, and the first creature
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  Speaker 1: who entered it was Sancho, solemnly dragging the dead mulline
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  Speaker 1: which long ago had grown above the keyhole. October frost
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  Speaker 1: seemed to have spared some of the brightest leaves for
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  Speaker 1: this especial occasion, and on Saturday the arched gateway was
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  Speaker 1: hung with gay wreaths, Red and yellow sprays strewed the flags,
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  Speaker 1: and the porch was a blaze of color with the
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  Speaker 1: red woodbine that was in its glory when the honeysuckle
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  Speaker 1: was leafless. Fortunately it was a half holiday, so the
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  Speaker 1: children could trim and chatter to their heart's content, and
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  Speaker 1: the little girls ran about sticking funny decorations where no
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  Speaker 1: one would ever think of looking for them. Ben was
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  Speaker 1: absorbed in his flags, which were sprinkled all down the
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  Speaker 1: avenue with a lavish display suggesting several fourth of julys
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  Speaker 1: rolled into one. Mister Brown had come to lend a hand,
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  Speaker 1: and did so most energetically. For the break neck things
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  Speaker 1: he did with his son during the decoration fever would
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  Speaker 1: have terrified missus Moss out of her wits if she
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  Speaker 1: had not been in the house giving last touches to
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  Speaker 1: every room, while Randa and Katy set forth a sumptuous tea.
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  Speaker 1: All was going well and the train would be due
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  Speaker 1: in an hour. When luckless Bab nearly turned the rejoicing
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  Speaker 1: into mourning the feast into ashes. She heard her mother
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  Speaker 1: say to Randa.
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  Speaker 7: There ought to be a fire in every room. It
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  Speaker 7: looks so cheerful, and the air is chilly spot of
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  Speaker 7: the sunshine.
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  Speaker 1: And never waiting to hear the reply that some of
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  Speaker 1: the long unused chimneys were not safe till cleaned off,
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  Speaker 1: went Bab with an apron full of old shingles and
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  Speaker 1: made a roaring blaze in the front room fireplace, which was,
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  Speaker 1: of all others, the one to be let alone, as
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  Speaker 1: the flu was out of order. Charmed with the brilliant
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  Speaker 1: light and the crackle of the tindery f Muele, miss
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  Speaker 1: Bab refilled her apron and fed the fire till the
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  Speaker 1: chimney began to rumble ominously, sparks to fly out at
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  Speaker 1: the top, and soot and swallow's nest to come tumbling
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  Speaker 1: down upon the hearth. Then, scared at what she had done,
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  Speaker 1: the little mischief maker hastily buried her fire, swept up
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  Speaker 1: the rubbish, and ran off, thinking no one would discover
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  Speaker 1: her prank if she never told. Everybody was very busy,
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  Speaker 1: and the big chimney blazed and rumbled unnoticed till the
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  Speaker 1: cloud of smoke caught Ben's eye as he festooned his
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  Speaker 1: last effort in the flag line, part of an old
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  Speaker 1: sheet with the words father has come in red cambric
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  Speaker 1: letters half a foot long sewed upon it.
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  Speaker 3: HULLO. I do believe they've got but bonfire without asking
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  Speaker 3: my leave. Mons Cili never would let us, because the
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  Speaker 3: sheds and roofs are so old and dry. I must
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  Speaker 3: see about it. Catch me, dadly, I'm coming down.
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  Speaker 1: Cried Ben, drop out of the elm, with no more
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  Speaker 1: thought of where he might light than a squirrel swinging
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  Speaker 1: from bow to bow. His father caught him and followed
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  Speaker 1: in haste as his nimble footed son raced up the
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  Speaker 1: avenue to stop in the gateway, frightened at the prospect
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  Speaker 1: before him, for falling sparks had already kindled the roof
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  Speaker 1: here and there, and the chimney smoked and roared like
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  Speaker 1: a small volcano, while Katy's wails and Randa's cries for
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  Speaker 1: water came from within.
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  Speaker 2: Over there, with wet blankets wagging up the.
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  Speaker 1: Hose, cried mister Brown, as he saw at a glance
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  Speaker 1: what the danger was. Ben vanished, and before his father
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  Speaker 1: got the garden hose rigged, he was on the roof
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  Speaker 1: with a dripping blanket over the worst spot. Missus Moss
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  Speaker 1: had her wits about her in a minute and ran
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  Speaker 1: to put in the fireboard and stop the draft, then
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  Speaker 1: stationing Randa to watch that the falling cinders did no
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  Speaker 1: harm inside, She hurried off to help me Mister Brown,
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  Speaker 1: who might not know where things were, but he had
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  Speaker 1: roughed it so long that he was the man for
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  Speaker 1: emergencies and seemed to lay his hand on whatever was
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  Speaker 1: needed by a sort of instinct. Finding that the hose
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  Speaker 1: was too short to reach the upper part of the roof,
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  Speaker 1: he was on the roof in a jiffy, with two
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  Speaker 1: pails of water and quenched the most dangerous spots before
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  Speaker 1: much harm was done. This he kept up till the
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  Speaker 1: chimney burned itself out, while Ben dodged about among the
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  Speaker 1: gables with a watering pot lest some stray sparks should
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  Speaker 1: be overlooked and break out afresh. While they worked there,
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  Speaker 1: Betty ran to and fro with a dipper of water,
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  Speaker 1: trying to help. And Sancho barked violently as if he
• 14:45
  Speaker 1: objected to this sort of illumination. But where was bab
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  Speaker 1: who reveled in flurries. No one missed her till the
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  Speaker 1: fire was out and the tired, sooty people met to
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  Speaker 1: talk over the danger just escaped.
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  Speaker 7: Poor miss Celia wouldn't have had a roof over her
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  Speaker 7: head if it hadn't been for you, mister Brown.
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  Speaker 1: Said missus Moss, sinking into a kitchen chair, pale with
• 15:07
  Speaker 1: the excitement.
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  Speaker 2: It would have been lovely. But I guess saw right now,
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  Speaker 2: keeping eye on the roof, Ben and I stepple garret
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  Speaker 2: and see if al safe there. Didn't you know that
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  Speaker 2: chimney was foul.
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  Speaker 1: Ma'am, asked the man as he wiped the perspiration off
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  Speaker 1: his grimy face.
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  Speaker 7: Randa said it was, and I'm surprised she made a fire.
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  Speaker 1: There began missus Moss, looking at the maid, who just
• 15:30
  Speaker 1: then came in with a pan full of soot.
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  Speaker 2: Bless you, ma'am.
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  Speaker 6: I never thought of such a thing, nor Katy neither.
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  Speaker 6: That naughty bad must have done it, and so don't
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  Speaker 6: darst show.
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  Speaker 1: Herself, answered the irate Randa, whose nice room was in
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  Speaker 1: a mess.
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  Speaker 7: Where is the child, asked.
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  Speaker 1: Her mother, and a hunt was immediately instituted by Betty
• 15:51
  Speaker 1: and Sancho. While the elders cleared up. Anxious, Betty searched
• 15:56
  Speaker 1: high and low, called and cried, but all in vain,
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  Speaker 1: and was about to sit down in despair when Sancho
• 16:03
  Speaker 1: made a bolt into his new kennel and brought out
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  Speaker 1: a shoe with a foot in it, while a doleful
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  Speaker 1: squeal came from the straw within.
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  Speaker 4: Oh bad, how could you do it? Mamma's frightened dreadfully.
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  Speaker 1: Said Betty, gently tugging at the striped leg as Sancho
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  Speaker 1: poked his head in for another shoe. Is it all
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  Speaker 1: burnt up? Demanded a smothered voice from the recesses of
• 16:29
  Speaker 1: the kennel.
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  Speaker 4: Only pieces of the roof. Then his father put it out.
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  Speaker 1: And I helped, answered Betty, cheering up a little as
• 16:39
  Speaker 1: she recalled her noble exertions.
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  Speaker 3: What do they do to folks who's set houses a fire?
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  Speaker 1: Asked the voice again.
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  Speaker 4: I don't know, but you ain't an't be afraid. There
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  Speaker 4: isn't much harm done, I guess, And Miss Sheiliah will
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  Speaker 4: forgive you. She's so good thorny, won't. He calls me
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  Speaker 4: a aation, and I guess.
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  Speaker 1: I am mourned the unseen culprit with sincere contrition.
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  Speaker 4: Oh ask him, he's always good to me. They will
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  Speaker 4: be here pretty soon, so you better come out on
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  Speaker 4: being aid.
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  Speaker 1: Tidy, suggested the comforter.
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  Speaker 4: I never can come out, for everyone will hate.
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  Speaker 1: Me, sobbed bab among the straw, as she pulled in
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  Speaker 1: her foot as if retiring forever from an outraged world.
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  Speaker 4: Mom won't choose to busy clean them up, so it's
• 17:33
  Speaker 4: a good time to come. That's one home, wash our
• 17:37
  Speaker 4: hands and be all nye when they see us. I
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  Speaker 4: love you, no matter what anybody else does.
• 17:44
  Speaker 1: Said Betty, consoling the poor little sinner and proposing the
• 17:49
  Speaker 1: sort of repentance most likely to find favor in the
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  Speaker 1: eyes of the agitated elders.
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  Speaker 4: Perhaps I'd better go home, for Satch will want his bed, and.
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  Speaker 1: Bab gladly availed herself of that excuse to back out
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  Speaker 1: of her refuge. A very crumpled, dusty young lady with
• 18:07
  Speaker 1: a dejected face and much straw sticking in her hair,
• 18:11
  Speaker 1: Betty led her sadly away, for she still protested that
• 18:15
  Speaker 1: she never should dare to meet the offended public again.
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  Speaker 1: But in fifteen minutes both appeared in fine order and
• 18:22
  Speaker 1: good spirits, and naughty Bab escaped a lecture for the
• 18:26
  Speaker 1: time being, as the train would soon be due. At
• 18:30
  Speaker 1: the first sound of the car whistle, every one turned
• 18:33
  Speaker 1: good natured, as if by magic, and flew to the gate, smiling,
• 18:37
  Speaker 1: as if all mishaps were forgiven and forgotten. Missus Moss, however,
• 18:42
  Speaker 1: slipped quietly away and was the first to greet Missus
• 18:46
  Speaker 1: Celia as the carriage stopped at the entrance of the avenue,
• 18:50
  Speaker 1: so that the luggage might go in by way of
• 18:52
  Speaker 1: the lodge.
• 18:54
  Speaker 6: We will woke up and you shall tell us the
• 18:56
  Speaker 6: news as we go, for I see you have some.
• 19:00
  Speaker 1: Said the young lady in her friendly manner when Missus
• 19:03
  Speaker 1: Moss had given her welcome and paid her respects to
• 19:06
  Speaker 1: the gentleman, who shook hands in a way that convinced
• 19:09
  Speaker 1: her he was indeed what Thorny called him regularly jolly
• 19:13
  Speaker 1: though he was a minister, that being exactly what she
• 19:17
  Speaker 1: came for. The good woman told her tidings as rapidly
• 19:21
  Speaker 1: as possible, and the newcomers were so glad to hear
• 19:24
  Speaker 1: of Ben's happiness. They made very light of Bab's bonfire,
• 19:28
  Speaker 1: though it had nearly burnt their house down.
• 19:31
  Speaker 8: We won't say a word about it, for every one
• 19:36
  Speaker 8: must be happy to.
• 19:37
  Speaker 1: Day, said mister George, so kindly that Missus Moss felt
• 19:41
  Speaker 1: a load taken off her heart at once.
• 19:44
  Speaker 4: Bab was always teasing me for fireworks, But I guess
• 19:48
  Speaker 4: she has had enough for the present.
• 19:50
  Speaker 1: Laughed Thorny, who was gallantly escorting Bab's mother up the avenue.
• 19:56
  Speaker 6: Every one is so kind. Teacher was out with a
• 20:00
  Speaker 6: children to chairs as we pass, And here you all
• 20:03
  Speaker 6: are making things pretty.
• 20:04
  Speaker 1: For me, said Missus Celia, smiling with tears in her eyes,
• 20:09
  Speaker 1: as they drew near the Great Gate, which certainly did
• 20:13
  Speaker 1: present an animated if not an imposing appearance. Randa and
• 20:18
  Speaker 1: Katy stood on one side, all in their best bobbing
• 20:21
  Speaker 1: delighted courtesies. Mister Brown, half hidden behind the gate on
• 20:26
  Speaker 1: the other side, was keeping Sancho erect so that he
• 20:30
  Speaker 1: might present arms promptly when the bride appeared. As flowers
• 20:34
  Speaker 1: were scarce. On either post stood a rosy little girl
• 20:38
  Speaker 1: clapping her hands while out from the thicket of red
• 20:42
  Speaker 1: and yellow boughs, which made a grand bouquet in the
• 20:45
  Speaker 1: lantern frame, came Ben's head and shoulders as he waved
• 20:49
  Speaker 1: his grandest flag with its gold paper. Welcome home on
• 20:54
  Speaker 1: a blue ground, hasn't it beautiful? Cried missus Celia, throwing
• 20:59
  Speaker 1: kisses to the children, shaking hands with her maids, and
• 21:03
  Speaker 1: glancing brightly at the stranger who was keeping sanch quiet.
• 21:07
  Speaker 8: Most people adorned their gate posts with stone balls, vases,
• 21:13
  Speaker 8: or griefings. Your living images are a great improvement love,
• 21:19
  Speaker 8: especially the happy boy in the.
• 21:21
  Speaker 1: Middle, said mister George, eyeing Ben with interest as he
• 21:26
  Speaker 1: nearly tumbled overboard, top heavy with his banner.
• 21:30
  Speaker 6: You must finish what I have only begun.
• 21:33
  Speaker 1: Answered Celia, adding gaily as Sancho broke loose and came
• 21:37
  Speaker 1: to offer both his paw and his congratulations.
• 21:41
  Speaker 6: Sanch introduce your master that I may thank him for
• 21:44
  Speaker 6: coming back in time to save my old house.
• 21:48
  Speaker 2: If he'd saved a dozen, it wouldn't have half paid
• 21:50
  Speaker 2: for all you've done for my bone.
• 21:52
  Speaker 1: Ma'am, answered mister Brown, bursting out from behind the gate,
• 21:56
  Speaker 1: quite red with gratitude and pleasure to do it.
• 22:01
  Speaker 6: So please remember that this is still his home till
• 22:04
  Speaker 6: you make one for him. Thank God, he's no longer fatherless, and.
• 22:09
  Speaker 1: Her sweet face said even more than her words, as
• 22:13
  Speaker 1: the white hand cordially shook the brown one with a
• 22:16
  Speaker 1: burn across the back.
• 22:18
  Speaker 4: Come on, sister, I see the tea table already, and
• 22:20
  Speaker 4: I'm awfully.
• 22:21
  Speaker 1: Hungry, interrupted Thorny, who had not a ray of sentiment
• 22:26
  Speaker 1: about him, though very glad Ben had got his father
• 22:29
  Speaker 1: back again.
• 22:31
  Speaker 6: Come over by and by, little friends, and let me
• 22:33
  Speaker 6: thank you for we are pretty welcome. It certainly is
• 22:37
  Speaker 6: a warm one.
• 22:38
  Speaker 1: And missus Celia glanced merrily from the three bright faces
• 22:42
  Speaker 1: above her to the old chimney, which still smoked sullenly.
• 22:48
  Speaker 1: Oh don't, cried bab hiding her face. He didn't mean to,
• 22:54
  Speaker 1: added Betty pleadingly three cheers for the bride, roared Ben,
• 23:00
  Speaker 1: dipping his flag. As leaning on her husband's arm, his
• 23:04
  Speaker 1: dear mistress passed under the gay arch, along the leaf
• 23:08
  Speaker 1: strewn walk, over the threshold of the house which was
• 23:12
  Speaker 1: to be her happy home for many years. The closed
• 23:16
  Speaker 1: gate where the lonely little wanderer once lay, was always
• 23:20
  Speaker 1: to stand open now, and the path where children played
• 23:24
  Speaker 1: before was free to all comers for a hospitable welcome.
• 23:28
  Speaker 1: Henceforth awaited rich and poor, young and old, sad and
• 23:33
  Speaker 1: gay Under the Lilacs end of Chapter twenty four. End
• 23:40
  Speaker 1: of Under the Lilacs by Louisa May Alcott