Michael Bedford’s Reviews > Little Women > Status Update

Marnie went on strike for the week. The girls attempted to host a dinner party and failed (Jo burned the dinner and salted the fruit), and Beth's bird died because no one cared for it. The girls went on a camping trip and picnic with Laurie and his friends. Jo showed restraint when dealing with Laurie's rich friends. All assembled played a story game, and are now playing a truth-telling game.

Laurie, hidden in the closet, is nominated to become a member of the Pickwick Club. He suggests they use the old martin-house as a post office for the club and takes on the identity of "Sam Weller." The post office is a hit, even with Laurie's grandfather who frequently sends packages to the Marches through it.

The girls have a secret society named the Pickwick Club, after Dickens's The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club. They each assume a different identity and publish newsletters about their lives, such as a lament to a kidnapped local cat and the history of a squash eaten by the March family.

-Meg visits the Moffats & gets tarted up
-Laurie dances with Meg but doesn't like her dress or behaviour (drinking champagne & whooping it up).
-Meg "fesses" to Mrs. March about her behaviour & overhearing people discussing Mrs. March's plans for her & Laurie
-Mrs. March tells Meg she wants her daughters to be wise & happy, not unhappy & early married
-Jo & Meg resolve to be old spinsters rather than unhappy wives

Amy destroys Jo's notebook in a fit of rage. Jo can't forgive her & one day when she, Amy, and Laurie are out skating Jo purposely neglects to tell Amy about the weak ice in the middle of the river. Amy falls through and Jo feels terrible for endangering her sister. Jo laments her awful temper to Mrs. March who sympathizes & then loads a bunch of religious guilt on. This was the preachiest chapter of the book so far.

Amy brings pickled limes to school but refuses to share with Jenny Snow. Jenny rats on Amy to Mr. Davis. Davis orders Amy to throw her limes out the window, providing a snack to the hated Irish children, gives Amy the strap, & makes her stand on a platform for the rest of the day. Marmy, upset at the severity of Amy's punishment, takes her out of school for a bit but suggests she learned a great lesson in humility.

Beth, finally convinced to go over to the Laurences' house to play the piano, decides to knit the "old gentleman" a pair of slippers. He is very touched by the gift, and in return sends her a letter and a cabinet piano that once belonged to his late granddaughter. Beth is VERY touched by his gift, and musters up the courage to thank him in person by way of a tender hug. Awww.

Laurie was sick so Jo visited and cheered him up. Laurie's granddad is a bit of a curmudgeon about Laurie's playing music, because Laurie's mother who his granddad never liked was a musician, but otherwise he's a kind old guy who seems to like children but not understand them.