Chapter 44 · Little Women

Copywork

People have been very kind to me; and whenever I see girls struggling along, as we used to do, I want to put out my hand and help them, as I was helped.” “And so you shall, like an angel as you are!” cried Laurie, resolving, with a glow of philanthropic zeal, to found and endow an institution for the express benefit of young women with artistic tendencies.

Read your copy aloud. Find what Amy wants to do when she sees girls struggling along. Then read Laurie's answer and the narrator's account of what he resolves, and say whether the narrator is describing a plan or a glow.

Discussion

Narration Tell back the day after the surprise: Laurie borrowing his wife, what the two of them say in the drawing-room, and the bargain they make.

Amy starts to say, “Women never should marry for money,” and stops herself. What do you think just went through her mind? Inference
Laurie likes to help “a decayed gentleman” better than “a blarneying beggar” and says, “I suppose it’s wrong.” Do you think it is? Moral reasoning
Amy says she once belonged to those “who can’t ask, and who suffer in silence.” How does that memory shape what she wants to do now? Theme
Laurie plans to “get round” Jo through her belief in “honest debts.” What does that plan show about how he sees her? Character
Laurie and Amy cast themselves as “Dorcas” and “St. Martin.” Why might Alcott have them take those names for this plan? Author's choice

Make a Connection Tell about a time you helped someone, or were helped, in a way that let you keep your pride.

Vocabulary

zeal: resolving, with a glow of philanthropic zeal, Eager, burning enthusiasm.
philanthropic: like an angel as you are!” cried Laurie, resolving, with a glow of philanthropic zeal, Devoted to helping others, especially with money.
endow: to found and endow an institution for the express benefit of young women with artistic tendencies. To give money that supports something permanently.
salubrious: don’t know anything about the north, but am altogether salubrious and balmy, hey, my lady?” Healthful and pleasant.
covetousness: as if asking pardon for her maternal covetousness. Greedy wanting of what is another's.
fastidious: “Now, Laurie, don’t be too fastidious and worldly-minded. Hard to please; overly particular.
blarneying: I must say, I like to serve a decayed gentleman better than a blarneying beggar; Using flattering, wheedling talk.
accumulate: or let their money accumulate for others to waste. To pile up over time.
legacies: It’s not half so sensible to leave legacies when one dies as it is to use the money wisely while alive, Gifts of money or property left in a will.
dawdling: I’m tired of dawdling, and mean to work like a man.” Wasting time; idling.

Critical thinking

Laurie says he will go into business and “work like a man.” Using two pieces of evidence, explain why he wants to work.
Laurie says, “That man intends to marry our Jo!” Using two pieces of evidence, explain what he thinks of the Professor.
Laurie says rich people have “no right to sit down and enjoy themselves.” Using two pieces of evidence, explain what he thinks money is for.