LITTLE WOMEN

Christmas without an

g on the

be poor!' sighed Me

ress.

air for some girls to

s nothing at all,' add

d snif

and Mother, and ea

from her c

on which the fireligh

but darkened again a

nd shall not have him

ver,' but each silentl

, where the fig

inute; then Meg said

Mother proposed not

ecause it is going t

thinks we ought no

en are suffering so

ake our little sacrif

ly. But

And Meg shook her

l the pretty thin

e little we should sp

lar, and the army wo

I agree not to expec

nt to buy UNDINE AN

ong,' said Jo, who

ine in new music,' sa

d but the hearth brush

ox of Faber's drawing

d Amy deci

anything about our

erything. Let's each

sure we work hard eno

s of her shoes in a ge

g those tiresome chi

enjoy myself at home

ng tone a

such a hard time as

shut up for hours wit

s you trotting

s you till you you're

or cr

, but I do think wash

orst work in the wor

iff, I can't practice

hands with a sigh th

time.

of you suffer as I do

school with impertin

w your lessons, and

if he isn't rich, an

n't nic

'd say so, and not ta

bottle,' advised

and you needn't be st

words, and improv

my, with d

other, children. Don'

n we were little, J

we had no worries!'

better ti

day you thought we

, for they were fighti

te of their

, I think we are. For

ourselves, and are a

say.

ang words!' observed

figure stretche

p, put her hands in

istle

so boyish!' 'Th

ude, unlady

ed, niminy-pim

e nests agree,' sang

ace that both sharp

pecking' ended f

e both to be blamed,'

isterly fashion.'You a

nd to behave better,

you were a little gi

r hair, you should re

lady

ing up my hair makes

nty,' cried Jo, pullin

ut mane. 'I hate to t

iss March, a

as prim as a China

y, when I like boy'

t over my disappoin

han ever now, for I'm

only stay home and

n!'

e army sock till the

r ball bounded ac

, but it can't be help

making your name b

said Beth, stroking

sh washing and dusti

its touch. 'As for

are alto

m. Your airs are funn

goose, if you don't ta

ined ways of speakin

r absurd words are as

nd Amy a goose, what

to share the

nothing else,' answe

or the 'Mouse' was the

e to know 'how peopl

hem a little sketch o

the twilight, while t

he fire crackled cheer

though the carpe

for a good picture or

esses, chrysanthemum

ows, and a pleasant

ervaded

of the four, was sixt

with large eyes, ple

hite hands, of which

Jo was very tall,

lt, for she never se

bs, which were very

, a comical nose, a

ee everything, and

. Her long, thick ha

undled into a net, t

, big hands and feet,

e uncomfortable app

up into a woman and

s everyone called her

irl of thirteen, with

ul expression which

r 'Little Miss Tranq

, for she seemed to li

ing out to meet the

ugh the youngest, w

inion at least. A reg

w hair curling on he

arrying herself like

e characters of the

to be fou

and, having swept up

wn to warm. Somehow

ect upon the girls,

htened to welcome

ed the lamp, Amy got

, and Jo forgot how

e slippers nearer

rn out. Marmee mus

er some with my doll

ll!' cried

an Meg, but Jo cut in

now Papa is away, an

me to take special c

one.'

we'll do,' said Beth

s, land not get anythi

r! What will we get?'

a minute, then Meg

sted by the si

shall give her a nice

to be had,'

efs, all hemmed,

le of cologne. She like

me left to buy my pen

ve the things?'

le, and bring her in

u remember how we

?' answer

ghtened when it was

on, and see you all

sents, with a k

isses, but it was dr

I opened the bundles

d the bread for tea

are getting things fo

st go shopping tomo

o about the play for

down, with her hands

in the

any more after this

' observed Meg, who

dressing-up'

w, as long as you can

down, and wear gol

s we've got, and th

uit the boards,' sa

me here, Amy, and do

stiff as a poke

ever saw anyone faint

nd blue, tumbling flat

op. If I can't, I shall

re if Hugo does come

my, who wa

c power, but was ch

orne out shrieking b

ce.

sp your hands so, an

cally, 'Roderigo Sa

a melodramatic sc

ling.

e poked her hands ou

long as if she went

stive of pins being

Jo gave a despai

ile Beth let her bre

. 'It's no use! Do th

he audience laughs,

Meg.

othly, for Don Pedro

without a single bre

antation over her ke

ect. Roderigo rent hi

died in agonies of

ld, 'Ha!

ad yet,' said Meg, as

d his elb

can write and act suc

akespeare!' exclaim

ers were gifted with w

gs.

d Jo modestly. 'I d

gedy is rather a nice

nly had a trapdoor

ng part. 'Is that a da

ling her eyes and clu

a famous trag

fork, with Mother's s

truck!' cried Meg, an

burst of la

merry, my girls,' sai

nd audience turned

'can I help you' lo

e was not elegantly

he girls thought the

covered the most sp

ld.

have you got on toda

oxes ready to go tom

inner. Has any

ld, Meg? Jo, you loo

me, bab

aternal inquiries Mr

slippers on, and si

r lap, preparing to e

girls flew about, t

her own way. Meg ar

set chairs, droppi

ng she touched. Bet

chen, quiet and bu

ne, as she sat with

out the table, Mrs.

, 'I've got a treat for

went round like a st

egardless of the bis

crying, 'A letter! A l

er!'

r. He is well, and thin

er than we feared. H

hristmas, and an es

ch, patting her pocke

re the

Don't stop to quirk y

te, Amy,' cried Jo,

utter side down, on t

t the tr

t crept away to sit

ight to come, till the

lendid in Father to g

fted, and not strong

g warml

ld go as a drummer,

so I could be near

Jo, with a

reeable to sleep in a

and drink out of a ti

home, Marmee? asked

n her vo

dear, unless he is s

ly as long as he can

sooner than he can

the let

ire, Mother in the big

my perched on e

aning on the back, w

f the letter should h

written in those har

those which fathers s

e hardships endured,

quered. It was a che

ptions of camp life,

end did the writer's

nging for the little

dear love and a kiss.

r them by night, and

all times. A year se

ut remind them that

ese hard days need n

l I said to them, tha

do their duty faithf

conquer themselves so

them I may be fond

men.' Everybody snif

ashamed of the great

and Amy never minde

d her face on h

t, 'I am a selfish gir

't be disappointed in

g. 'I think too much o

any more, if I c

he loves to call me, '

ut do my duty here i

said Jo, thinking th

harder task than fa

South

ut wiped away her te

it with all her migh

lay nearest her, whi

e all that Father hope

und the happy c

silence that followed

, 'Do you remember

you were little things?

e me tie my piece ba

s and sticks and roll

use from the cellar,

uctio

op, where you had all

o make a Celest

cially going by the li

the valley where the

id