These are old and Marmee needs a new pair Jo said Beth said Why don’t each of us get Marmee something for Christmas and nothing for ourselves Everyone agreed They decided to surprise her They would shop the next afternoon I shall get her a nice pair of gloves Meg said The best shoes cried Jo Some handkerchiefs said Beth And a little bottle of cologne added Amy While they waited they spent time practicing their annual Christmas play When they were done Beth said I don’t see how you can write such wonderful things Jo As they laughed together a cheery voice said Glad to fi nd you so happy my girls The girls welcomed their mother who they thought was the most splendid mother in the world As she asked about each of them they hurried around her to make her comfortable 7
Mrs March said I have a treat for you after supper Beth clapped her hands and Jo tossed up her napkin shouting A letter from Father They hurried through their dinner Then their mother read the letter At the end Father gave his love and a kiss to each I think of them every day and pray for them at night I know they will remember everything I said to them and they will be loving children to you work hard and be good girls so that when I come back I may be prouder than ever of my little women They each cried and promised to not be so selfi sh Then they sat and sewed without complaining at all At nine they stopped and sang as usual before going to bed Beth knew how to softly touch the yellow keys of the old piano and make it sound good They never grew too old for their singing time every night 8
2 A Merry Christmas Jo woke up Christmas morning and was disappointed at fi rst that there were no stockings full of goodies Then she remembered her mother’s promise Under her pillow was a little red-covered book Pilgrim’s Progress Each girl woke up with the book with a different color cover under her pillow When they ran downstairs to thank their mother they found Hannah who had lived there since Meg was born Some poor person came begging and your ma went to help Hannah said Everyone put their gifts for their mother into a basket They heard the front door open and close They hid the basket and hurried to the breakfast table 9
