conscious that, in spite of the smiles on the motherly face, there was a secret sorrow hid in the motherly heart at the flight of the first bird from the nest.Aware; knowing something is so.
Little Women
Chapter 25
Louisa May Alcott · Trailblazers 4th–6th
Copywork
“Now I’m going to tie John’s cravat for him, and then to stay a few minutes with father quietly in the study;” and Meg ran down to perform these little ceremonies, and then to follow her mother wherever she went, conscious that, in spite of the smiles on the motherly face, there was a secret sorrow hid in the motherly heart at the flight of the first bird from the nest.
Read your copy aloud. Find the two things Meg says she is going to do, and the person she then follows wherever she goes. Then read the end of the sentence slowly and find the two things it says about the motherly face and the motherly heart.
Discussion
Narration Tell back Meg's wedding day, from the roses at the porch to the walk to her new home.
- Meg wants to "look and be my familiar self," and asks her sisters for "a great many crumples." What is she after, and why today? Theme
- Marmee smiles over "a secret sorrow," and Meg follows her "wherever she went." Why might Marmee hide the sorrow, and what might Meg's staying close mean? Inference
- Meg's smile says, "No one can refuse me anything today," and Laurie cannot. Was it fair of her to use that power to get his promise? Moral reasoning
- Aunt March is scandalized, gets "a sudden dew" in her eyes, dances, and says "you’ll be sorry for it." What do you make of her? Character
- The chapter ends with Meg walking away "with her hands full of flowers" and then "so Meg’s married life began." Why might the author stop there? Author's choice
Make a Connection Tell about a party or celebration you remember that was simple but special.
Vocabulary
- conscious
- ceremonies
“Now I’m going to tie John’s cravat for him, and then to stay a few minutes with father quietly in the study;” and Meg ran down to perform these little ceremonies,
Formal acts done to mark an occasion.- tribute
from the rosiest full-blown flower to the palest baby-bud, offered their tribute of beauty and fragrance to the gentle mistress who had loved and tended them so long.
A gift offered in honor of someone.- scandalized
so when Aunt March arrived, she was scandalized to see the bride come running to welcome and lead her in,
Shocked by something improper.- loath
Mother and sisters gathered close, as if loath to give Meg up; the fatherly voice broke more than once, which only seemed to make the service more beautiful and solemn;
Unwilling; reluctant.- impetuous
Meg spoke seriously, and expected to see Laurie frown or laugh; but he did neither, for after a quick look at her, he said, in his impetuous way,
Acting on sudden feeling.- ridicule
A demand so sudden and so serious made the young man hesitate a moment, for ridicule is often harder to bear than self-denial.
Mockery that makes one look foolish.- hesitation
Mr. and Mrs. March, Aunt and Uncle Carrol, began it; others rapidly joined in; even Sallie Moffat, after a moment’s hesitation, threw her train over her arm,
A pause before deciding.- pervaded
she just tucked her cane under her arm, and hopped briskly away to join hands with the rest, and dance about the bridal pair, while the young folks pervaded the garden,
Spread through every part of.- impromptu
Want of breath brought the impromptu ball to a close, and then people began to go.
Done without planning.
Critical thinking
- Jo, Beth and Amy each take the vows differently. Using two pieces of evidence, explain what one sister's way of watching shows about her.
- Mrs. Moffat says it was the prettiest wedding in an age, yet "there wasn’t a bit of style about it." Using two pieces of evidence, explain why it might have been so pretty.
- The chapter opens with the June roses. Using two pieces of evidence, explain what the roses tell us about Meg before she appears.