“Now the day is done,Now the shepherd sunDrives his white flocks from the sky;Now the flowers restOn their mother's breast,Hushed by her low lullaby.Now the glowworms glance,Now the fireflies dance,Under fern-boughs green and high;And the western breezeTo the forest treesChants a tuneful lullaby.Now 'mid shadows deepFalls blessed sleep,Like dew from the summer sky;And the whole earth dreams,In the moon's soft beams,While night breathes a lullaby.Now, birdlings, rest,In your wind-rocked nest,Unscared by the owl's shrill cry;For with folded wingsLittle Brier swings,And singeth your lullaby.”

“Now I am beginning to live a little and feel less like a sick oyster at low tide.”

“hither,hither, from thy home,airy sprite, i bid thee come! born of roses, fed on dew, charms and potions canst thow brew? bring me here, with elfin speed,the fragment philter witch i need; make it sweet and swift and stong, spirite amserw now my songhither i come, from my airy home, afar silver moon. take magic spell, and use it well. or its powers will vanish soon!”

“Ah! Thou gifest me such hope and courage, and I haf nothing to gif back but a full heart and these empty hands," cried the Professor, quite overcome.Jo never, never would learn to be proper, for when he said that as they stood upon the steps, she just put both hands into his, whispering tenderly, "Not empty now," and, stooping down, kissed her Friedrich under the umbrella.”

“[Jo to her mother] I knew there was mischief brewing. I felt it and now it's worse than I imagined. I just wish I could marry Meg myself, and keep her safe in the family.”

“No, dear, but speaking of Father reminded me how much I miss him, how much I owe him, and how faithfully I should watch and work to keep his little daughters safe and good for him.Yet you told him to go, Mother, and didn’t cry when he went, and never complain now, or seem as if you needed any help, said Jo, wondering.I gave my best to the country I love, and kept my tears till he was gone. Why should I complain, when we both have merely done our duty and will surely be the happier for it in the end? If I don’t seem to need help, it is because I have a better friend, even than Father, to comfort and sustain me. My child, the troubles and temptations of your life are beginning and may be many, but you can overcome and outlive them all if you learn to feel the strength and tenderness of your Heavenly Father as you do that of your earthly one. The more you love and trust Him, and the less you will depend on human power and wisdom. His love and care never tire or change, can never be taken from you, but my become the source of lifelong peace, happiness, and strength. Believe this heartily, and go to God with all your little cares, and hopes, and sins, and sorrows, as freely and confidingly as you come to your mother.”

“Queen of my tub, I merrily sing,While the white foam rises high,And sturdily wash, and rinse, and wring,And fasten the clothes to dry; Then out in the free fresh air they swing,Under the sunny sky.I wish we could wash from our hearts and our soulsThe stains of the week away,And let water and air by their magic makeOurselves as pure as they; Then on the earth there would be indeedA glorious washing-day!Along the path of a useful lifeWill heart's-ease ever bloom; The busy mind has no time to thinkOf sorrow, or care, or gloom; And anxious thoughts may be swept awayAs we busily wield a broom.I am glad a task to me is givenTo labor at day by day;For it brings me health, and strength, and hope,And I cheerfully learn to say-"Head, you may think; Heart, you may feel;But Hand, you shall work always!”