'Please tell it at once. I can't bear to wait, Fritz,' cried Mrs Jo,dropping her work and standing up as if to take the shot bravely.

 

　　'But we must wait and hope, heart's-dearest. Come and let us bear ittogether. Emil's ship is lost, and as yet no news of him.'

 

　　It was well Mr Bhaer had taken his wife into his strong arms, for shelooked ready to drop, but bore up after a moment, and sitting by hergood man, heard all that there was to tell. Tidings had been sent tothe shipowners at Hamburg by some of the survivors, and telegraphedat once by Franz to his uncle. As one boat-load was safe, there washope that others might also escape, though the gale had sent two tothe bottom. A swift-sailing steamer had brought these scanty news,and happier ones might come at any hour; but kind Franz had not addedthat the sailors reported the captain's boat as undoubtedly wreckedby the falling mast, since the smoke hid its escape, and the galesoon drove all far asunder. But this sad rumour reached Plumfield intime; and deep was the mourning for the happyhearted Commodore, neverto come singing home again. Mrs Jo refused to believe it, stoutlyinsisting that Emil would outlive any storm and yet turn up safe andgay. It was well she clung to this hopeful view, for poor Mr Bhaerwas much afflicted by the loss of his boy, because his sister's sonshad been his so long he scarcely knew a different love for his veryown. Now was a chance for Mrs Juno to keep her word; and she did,speaking cheerily of Emil, even when hope waxed faint and her heartwas heavy. If anything could comfort the Bhaers for the loss of oneboy, it would have been the affection and sorrow shown by all therest. Franz kept the cable busy with his varying messages, Nat sentloving letters from Leipzig, and Tom harassed the shipping agents fornews. Even busy Jack wrote them with unusual warmth; Dolly and Georgecame often, bearing the loveliest flowers and the daintiest bon-bonsto cheer Mrs Bhaer and sweeten Josie's grief; while good-hearted Nedtravelled all the way from Chicago to press their hands and say, witha tear in his eye: 'I was so anxious to hear all about the dear oldboy, I couldn't keep away.'

 

　　'That's right comfortable, and shows me that if I didn't teach myboys anything else, I did give them the brotherly love that will makethem stand by one another all their lives,' said Mrs Jo, when he hadgone.

 

　　Rob answered reams of sympathizing letters, which showed how manyfriends they had; and the kindly praises of the lost man would havemade Emil a hero and a saint, had they all been true. The eldersbore it quietly, having learned submission in life's hard school; butthe younger people rebelled; some hoped against hope and kept up,others despaired at once, and little Josie, Emil's pet cousin andplaymate, was so broken-hearted nothing could comfort her. Nan dosedin vain, Daisy's cheerful words went by like the wind, and Bess'sdevices to amuse her all failed utterly. To cry in mother's arms andtalk about the wreck, which haunted her even in her sleep, was allshe cared to do; and Mrs Meg was getting anxious when Miss Cameronsent Josie a kind note bidding her learn bravely her first lesson inreal tragedy, and be like the self-sacrificing heroines she loved toact. That did the little girl good, and she made an effort in whichTeddy and Octoo helped her much; for the boy was deeply impressed bythis sudden eclipse of the firefly whose light and life all missedwhen they were gone, and lured her out every day for long drivesbehind the black mare, who shook her silvery bells till they madesuch merry music Josie could not help listening to it, and whiskedher over the snowy roads at a pace which set the blood dancing in herveins and sent her home strengthened and comforted by sunshine, freshair, and congenial society--three aids young sufferers seldom canresist.

 

　　As Emil was helping nurse Captain Hardy, safe and well, aboard theship, all this sorrow would seem wasted; but it was not, for it drewmany hearts more closely together by a common grief, taught somepatience, some sympathy, some regret for faults that lie heavy on theconscience when the one sinned against is gone, and all of them thesolemn lesson to be ready when the summons comes. A hush lay overPlumfield for weeks, and the studious faces on the hill reflected thesadness of those in the valley. Sacred music sounded from Parnassusto comfort all who heard; the brown cottage was beseiged with giftsfor the little mourner, and Emil's flag hung at half-mast on the roofwhere he last sat with Mrs Jo.

 

　　So the weeks went heavily by till suddenly, like a thunderbolt out ofa clear sky, came the news, 'All safe, letters on the way.' Then upwent the flag, out rang the college bells, bang went Teddy'slong-unused cannon, and a chorus of happy voices cried 'Thank God',as people went about, laughing, crying, and embracing one another ina rapture of delight. By and by the longed-for letters came, and allthe story of the wreck was told; briefly by Emil, eloquently by MrsHardy, gratefully by the captain, while Mary added a few tender wordsthat went straight to their hearts and seemed the sweetest of all.

 

　　Never were letters so read, passed round, admired, and cried over asthese; for Mrs Jo carried them in her pocket when Mr Bhaer did nothave them in his, and both took a look at them when they said theirprayers at night. Now the Professor was heard humming like a big beeagain as he went to his classes, and the lines smoothed out of MotherBhaer's forehead, while she wrote this real story to anxious friendsand let her romances wait. Now messages of congratulation flowed in,and beaming faces showed everywhere. Rob amazed his parents byproducing a poem which was remarkably good for one of his years, andDemi set it to music that it might be sung when the sailor boyreturned. Teddy stood on his head literally, and tore about theneighbourhood on Octoo, like a second Paul Revere--only his tidingswere good. But best of all, little Josie lifted up her head as thesnowdrops did, and began to bloom again, growing tall and quiet, withthe shadow of past sorrow to tone down her former vivacity and showthat she had learned a lesson in trying to act well her part on thereal stage, where all have to take their share in the great drama oflife.

 

　　Now another sort of waiting began; for the travellers were on theirway to Hamburg, and would stay there awhile before coming home, asUncle Hermann owned the Brenda, and the captain must report to him.

 

　　Emil must remain to Franz's wedding, deferred till now because of theseason of mourning, so happily ended. These plans were doubly welcomeand pleasant after the troublous times which went before, and nospring ever seemed so beautiful as this one; for, as Teddy put it:

 

　　'Now is the winter of our discontentMade glorious by these sons of Bhaer!'

 

　　Franz and Emil being regarded i............