Read Online Little Vampire Women by Lynn Messina - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Lynn Messina
Tags: United States, Fiction, General, Humorous stories, Historical, Fantasy, Classics, Family, Horror, Juvenile Fiction, Fantasy & Magic, Family Life, Young Adult Fiction, Vampires, Horror & Ghost Stories, 19th century, Families, Sisters, new england, Horror stories, March; Meg (Fictitious character), Family life - New England, Families - New England, March family (Fictitious characters), Alcott; Louisa May, New England - History - 19th century, Sisters - New England, March; Jo (Fictitious character)
Ads: Link
and enjoy it. I’m afraid I shall do something dreadful some day. Oh, Mother, help me, do help me!” she cried. Never before had she felt so keenly that she had a demon inside her.
“I will, my child, I will. Don’t cry so bitterly, but remember this day, and resolve with all your soul that you will never know another like it. Jo, dear, we allhave our temptations, some far greater than yours. Every day I wake up with an almost unbearable desire to feed on humans, to crush their soft, pulsing throat between my teeth, and to slake my hunger with their blood so that they would never look at me again with those poor, pathetic eyes so full of need, desperation, and fear. When I feel the hunger means to break out against my will, I just go away for a minute, and give myself a little shake for being so weak and wicked.”
“You, Mother? Why, you are never bloodthirsty!” And for the moment Jo forgot remorse in surprise.
“I’ve been trying to cure myself of it for almost a hundred and seventy-two years, and have only succeeded in controlling it. I am hungry nearly every day of my life, Jo, but I have learned not to show it, and I still hope to learn not to feel it, though it may take me another hundred and seventy-two years to do so.”
The patience and the humility of the face she loved so well was a better lesson to Jo than the wisest lecture, the sharpest reproof. She felt comforted at once by the sympathy and confidence given her. The knowledge that her mother had a fault, too, and tried to mend it, made her own easier to bear and strengthened her resolution to cure it.
“How did you learn to control your hunger?”
“Your father, Jo. He never loses patience, never doubts or complains, but always hopes, and works and waits so cheerfully that one is ashamed to do otherwise before him. He helped and comforted me, and showedme that I must try to practice all the virtues I would have my little girls possess, for I was their example. It was easier to try for your sakes than for my own.”
“Oh, Marmee. You are so wise. Help me be wise.”
“I will, child, for I will repeat this lesson and many others just like it over and over, for I exist only to instruct you.”
“Oh, Mother, if I’m ever half as good as you, I shall be satisfied,” cried Jo, much touched by her mother’s earnestness.
“I hope you will be a great deal better, dear, but you must keep watch over your ‘bosom enemy,’ as Father calls it, or it may sadden, if not spoil your life. You have had a warning. Remember it, and try with heart and soul to master this quick temper, before it brings you greater sorrow and regret than you have known today.”
Amy stirred and sighed in her sleep, and as if eager to begin at once to mend her fault, Jo looked up with an expression on her face which it had never worn before.
“I let the sun come up on my anger. I wouldn’t forgive her, and tonight, if it hadn’t been for Laurie, it might have been too late! How could I be so wicked?” said Jo, half aloud, as she leaned over her sister softly stroking the wet hair scattered on the pillow.
As if she heard, Amy opened her eyes, and held out her arms, with a smile that went straight to Jo’s heart. Neither said a word, but they hugged one another close, in spite of the blankets, and everything was forgiven and forgotten in one hearty kiss.
Chapter Eight
MEG GOES TO VANITY FAIR
I t was so nice of Annie Moffat not to forget her promise. A whole fortnight of fun will be regularly splendid,” said Jo, looking like a windmill as she folded skirts with her long arms to prepare Meg for her time away.
“And such lovely weather, I’m so glad of that,” added Beth, tidily sorting neck and hair ribbons in her best box, lent for the great occasion.
“I wish I was going to have a fine time and wear all these nice things,” said Amy with her mouth full of pins, as she artistically replenished her sister’s cushion.
“I wish you were all going, but as you
“I will, my child, I will. Don’t cry so bitterly, but remember this day, and resolve with all your soul that you will never know another like it. Jo, dear, we allhave our temptations, some far greater than yours. Every day I wake up with an almost unbearable desire to feed on humans, to crush their soft, pulsing throat between my teeth, and to slake my hunger with their blood so that they would never look at me again with those poor, pathetic eyes so full of need, desperation, and fear. When I feel the hunger means to break out against my will, I just go away for a minute, and give myself a little shake for being so weak and wicked.”
“You, Mother? Why, you are never bloodthirsty!” And for the moment Jo forgot remorse in surprise.
“I’ve been trying to cure myself of it for almost a hundred and seventy-two years, and have only succeeded in controlling it. I am hungry nearly every day of my life, Jo, but I have learned not to show it, and I still hope to learn not to feel it, though it may take me another hundred and seventy-two years to do so.”
The patience and the humility of the face she loved so well was a better lesson to Jo than the wisest lecture, the sharpest reproof. She felt comforted at once by the sympathy and confidence given her. The knowledge that her mother had a fault, too, and tried to mend it, made her own easier to bear and strengthened her resolution to cure it.
“How did you learn to control your hunger?”
“Your father, Jo. He never loses patience, never doubts or complains, but always hopes, and works and waits so cheerfully that one is ashamed to do otherwise before him. He helped and comforted me, and showedme that I must try to practice all the virtues I would have my little girls possess, for I was their example. It was easier to try for your sakes than for my own.”
“Oh, Marmee. You are so wise. Help me be wise.”
“I will, child, for I will repeat this lesson and many others just like it over and over, for I exist only to instruct you.”
“Oh, Mother, if I’m ever half as good as you, I shall be satisfied,” cried Jo, much touched by her mother’s earnestness.
“I hope you will be a great deal better, dear, but you must keep watch over your ‘bosom enemy,’ as Father calls it, or it may sadden, if not spoil your life. You have had a warning. Remember it, and try with heart and soul to master this quick temper, before it brings you greater sorrow and regret than you have known today.”
Amy stirred and sighed in her sleep, and as if eager to begin at once to mend her fault, Jo looked up with an expression on her face which it had never worn before.
“I let the sun come up on my anger. I wouldn’t forgive her, and tonight, if it hadn’t been for Laurie, it might have been too late! How could I be so wicked?” said Jo, half aloud, as she leaned over her sister softly stroking the wet hair scattered on the pillow.
As if she heard, Amy opened her eyes, and held out her arms, with a smile that went straight to Jo’s heart. Neither said a word, but they hugged one another close, in spite of the blankets, and everything was forgiven and forgotten in one hearty kiss.
Chapter Eight
MEG GOES TO VANITY FAIR
I t was so nice of Annie Moffat not to forget her promise. A whole fortnight of fun will be regularly splendid,” said Jo, looking like a windmill as she folded skirts with her long arms to prepare Meg for her time away.
“And such lovely weather, I’m so glad of that,” added Beth, tidily sorting neck and hair ribbons in her best box, lent for the great occasion.
“I wish I was going to have a fine time and wear all these nice things,” said Amy with her mouth full of pins, as she artistically replenished her sister’s cushion.
“I wish you were all going, but as you
Similar Books
