But a time came when her patience gave out ; and wearying of being a lion , she became a bear in nature as in name , and returning to her den , growled awfully when ordered out . Her family enjoyed the fun , and had small sympathy with her trials , but Jo came to consider it the worse scrape of her life ; for liberty had always been her dearest possession , and it seemed to be fast going from her . Living in a lantern soon loses its charm , and she was too old , too tired , and too busy to like it . She felt that she had done all that could reasonably be required of her when autographs , photographs , and autobiographical sketches had been sown broadcast over the land ; when artists had taken her home in all its aspects , and reporters had taken her in the grim one she always assumed on these trying occasions ; when a series of enthusiastic boarding-schools had ravaged her grounds for trophies , and a steady stream of amiable pilgrims had worn her doorsteps with their respectful feet ; when servants left after a week 's trial of the bell that rang all day ; when her husband was forced to guard her at meals , and the boys to cover her retreat out of back windows on certain occasions when enterprising guests walked in unannounced at unfortunate moments . A sketch of one day may perhaps explain the state of things , offer some excuse for the unhappy woman , and give a hint to the autograph-fiend now rampant in the land ; for it is a true tale . ` There ought to be a law to protect unfortunate authors , ' said Mrs Jo one morning soon after Emil 's arrival , when the mail brought her an unusually large and varied assortment of letters . ` To me it is a more vital subject than international copyright ; for time is money , peace is health , and I lose both with no return but less respect for my fellow creatures and a wild desire to fly into the wilderness , since I can not shut my doors even in free America . ' ` Lion-hunters are awful when in search of their prey . If they could change places for a while it would do them good ; and they 'd see what bores they were when they `` do themselves the honour of calling to express their admiration of our charming work '' , ' quoted Ted , with a bow to his parent , now frowning over twelve requests for autographs . ' I have made up my mind on one point , ' said Mrs Jo with great firmness . ' I will not answer this kind of letter . I 've sent at least six to this boy , and he probably sells them . This girl writes from a seminary , and if I send her one all the other girls will at once write for more . All begin by saying they know they intrude , and that I am of course annoyed by these requests ; but they venture to ask because I like boys , or they like the books , or it is only one . Emerson and Whittier put these things in the wastepaper-basket ; and though only a literary nursery-maid who provides moral pap for the young , I will follow their illustrious example ; for I shall have no time to eat or sleep if I try to satisfy these dear unreasonable children ' ; and Mrs Jo swept away the entire batch with a sigh of relief . ` I 'll open the others and let you eat your breakfast in peace , liebe Mutter , ' said Rob , who often acted as her secretary . ` Here 's one from the South ' ; and breaking an imposing seal , he read : ` MADAM , As it has pleased Heaven to bless your efforts with a large fortune , I feel no hesitation in asking you to supply funds to purchase a new communion-service for our church . To whatever denomination you belong , you will of course respond with liberality to such a request , ` Respectfully yours , ` MRS X.Y. ZAVIER ' ` Send a civil refusal , dear . All I have to give must go to feed and clothe the poor at my gates . That is my thank-offering for success .
Go on , ' answered his mother , with a grateful glance about her happy XXXXX . '
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