Music Welcome to Snewscast, the podcast designed to help you fall asleep. Find us at snewscast.com. And if you enjoy our show, please share us with a friend. This episode is brought to you by Yankee Ingenuity. Tonight, we'll read the second chapter to Good Wives written by Luisa May Alcott. This is also known as the second half of the Little Women novel. Originally, Alcott had it published as a second book, but in later publishing, the two were combined. If you haven't listened to the first part to the book, you can search in your podcast player for, snooze cast presents Little Women. you will find a standalone series available so that you can refresh your memory or start from the very beginning if you'd like. Our last episode opens after three years have passed since the conclusion of Little Women. Meg is about to get married. The war has ended, and Mr. March and Mr. Brooke have returned home. In the meantime, Meg has learned more about keeping house and Amy has taken over Joe's job caring for Aunt March.

Joe has continued to write stories for the newspaper,

while Laurie has passed the years at college.

Let's get cozy.

Close your eyes.

Relax your body into the softness of your bed.

Now, take a few deep breaths. The first wedding. The June roses over the porch were awake bright and early on that morning, rejoicing with all their hearts in the cloudless sunshine, like friendly little neighbors, as they were, quite flushed with excitement where their ruddy faces, as they swung in the wind, whispering to one another what they had seen. For some peeped in at the dining-room windows, where the feast was spread, some climbed up to nod and smile at the sisters as they dressed the bride. Others waved a welcome to those who came and went on various errands in Garden, Porch, and Hall, and all 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. Meg looked very like a rose herself, for all that was best and sweetest in heart and soul seemed to bloom into her face that day, making it fair and tender, with a charm more beautiful than beauty. Neither silk, lace, nor orange flowers would she have. I don't want to look strange or fixed up today," she said. I don't want a fashionable wedding, but only those about me whom I love. And to them I wish to look and be my familiar self. So she made her wedding gown herself, sewing into it the tender hopes and innocent romances of a girlish heart. Her sisters braided up her pretty hair, and the only ornaments she wore were the lilies of the valley, which her jaw liked best of all the flowers that grew. You do look just like our own deer mag, only so very sweet and lovely that I should hug you if it wouldn't crumple your dress. Cryed Amy, surveying her with delight when all was done. I am satisfied. But please hug and kiss me, everyone, and don't mind my dress. I want to grate many crumbles of this sort put into it today. And Meg opened her arms to her sisters, who clung about her with April faces for a minute, feeling that the new love had not changed the old. Now I'm going to tie John's crevap 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.

As the younger girls stand together,

giving the last touches to their simple toilet,

it may be a good time to tell of a few changes

which three years have wrought in their appearance.

For all are looking their best just now.

Joe's angles are much softened.

She has learned to carry herself with ease, if not grace.

The curly crop has lengthened into a thick coil,

more becoming to the small head, a top of the tall figure. There is a fresh color in her brown cheeks, a soft shine in her eyes, and only gentle words fall from her sharp tongue today. Death has grown slender, pale, and more quiet than ever. The beautiful, kind eyes are larger, and in them lies an expression that saddens one, although it is not sad itself. It is the shadow of pain which touches the young face with such pathetic patience. But Beth seldom complains and always speaks hopefully of being better soon. Amy is with truth considered the flower of the family. For at sixteen she has the air and bearing of a full grown woman. Not beautiful, but possessed of that indescribable charm called grace. One side in the lines of her figure, the make and motion of her hands, the flow of her dress, the droop of her hair, unconscious yet harmonious, and as attractive to many as beauty itself. Amy's nose still afflicted her, for it never would grow greation, so did her mouth, being too wide, and having a decided chin. These offending features gave character to her whole face, but she never could see it, and consoled herself with her wonderfully fair complexion, keen blue eyes and curls, more golden and abundant than ever. All three wore suits of thin gray silver, their best gowns for the summer, with blush roses in hair and bosom, and all three looked just what they were.

Fresh-faced, happy-hearted girls,

pausing a moment in their busy lives

to read with wistful eyes the sweetest chapter

in the romance of womanhood.

...