Skating Accident & Growth

Skating Accident & Growth

Jo and Laurie were already skating when Amy arrived. Jo saw Amy but pretended to talk with others on purpose. Laurie was carefully skating along the edge (边缘) of the ice and didn’t see the young girl.

“Keep near the edge. The ice is thin and dangerous in the middle.” Laurie called to Jo, then he disappeared round the first bend (拐弯处) in the river. Jo realized that Amy probably hadn’t heard, but she said nothing and skated after Laurie. “Let Amy depend on herself!” Jo thought.

Amy skated out towards the smoother ice in the middle of the river. When Jo reached the bend, a strange feeling came into her heart. She stood still for a moment. Something made her turn round—just in time to see Amy throw her hands up and fall through the ice into the cold water! She tried to call Laurie, but her voice was gone.

Suddenly, Laurie skated past her and shouted, “Bring a piece of wood from the side of the river, quickly!” Full with fear, Jo fetched some wood and pulled it across the ice, while Laurie held Amy’s head above the water. Together, they got her out.

She was more frightened than hurt. Jo and Laurie took her home and tried to calm her down. After a little while she fell asleep in front of the warm fire. Later, when everything was quiet, Jo asked her mother, “Are you sure she’s safe?”

“Quite safe, dear. It was wise to get her home as quickly as you could.”

“Laurie did it all.” said Jo, “Mother, if Amy should die, it will be my fault . I get angry so easily. Oh, why can’t I be more like you?”

“I get angry nearly every day of my life, Jo,” said Mrs March, “but I’ve learned how to control myself. I’ve learned to prevent myself saying the angry words, and you must try to do the same, my dear.”

Then Amy opened her eyes and held out her arms, with a smile that went straight to Jo’s heart. Neither of them said a word, but they held each other close, and everything was forgiven and forgotten.