Jo's Boys - Charter 3

The March family had enjoyed a great many surprises in the course of their varied ¹ career, but the greatest of all was when the Ugly Duckling turned out to be, not a swan, but a golden goose, whose literary eggs found such an unexpected market that in ten years Jo's wildest and most cherished dream actually came true. How or why it happened she never clearly understood, but all of a sudden she found herself famous in a small way, and, better still, with a snug ⁴ little fortune in her pocket to clear away the obstacles of the present and assure the future of her boys., ,It began during a bad year when everything went wrong at Plumfield; times were hard, the school dwindled ⁵, Jo overworked herself and had a long illness; Laurie and Amy were abroad, and the Bhaers too proud to ask help even of those as near and dear as this generous pair. Confined to her room, Jo got desperate over the state of affairs, till she fell back upon the long-disused pen as the only thing she could do to help fill up the gaps in the income. A book for girls being wanted by a certain publisher, she hastily scribbled ⁶ a little story describing a few scenes and adventures in the lives of herself and sisters, though boys were more in her line, and with very slight hopes of success sent it out to seek its fortune., ,Things always went by contraries with Jo. Her first book, laboured over for years, and launched full of the high hopes and ambitious dreams of youth, foundered ⁷ on its voyage, though the wreck ⁸ continued to float long afterward ⁹, to the profit of the publisher at least. The hastily written story, sent away with no thought beyond the few dollars it might bring, sailed with a fair wind and a wise pilot at the helm into public favour, and came home heavily laden ¹⁰ with an unexpected cargo ¹¹ of gold and glory., , ,The fame she never did quite accept; for it takes very little fire to make a great deal of smoke nowadays, and notoriety is not real glory. The fortune she could not doubt, and gratefully received; though it was not half so large a one as a generous world reported it to be. The tide having turned continued to rise, and floated the family comfortably into a snug harbour where the older members could rest secure from storms, and whence the younger ones could launch their boats for the voyage of life., ,All manner of happiness, peace, and plenty came in those years to bless the patient waiters, hopeful workers, and devout ¹⁴ believers in the wisdom and justice of Him who sends disappointment, poverty, and sorrow to try the love of human hearts and make success the sweeter when it comes. The world saw the prosperity, and kind souls rejoiced over the improved fortunes of the family; but the success Jo valued most, the happiness that nothing could change or take away, few knew much about., ,The hotel has a varied programme of nightly entertainment.宾馆有各种晚间娱乐活动 。,There is a big fox den on the back hill.后山有一个很大的狐狸窝。