JowasthefirsttowakeinthegraydawnofChristmasmorning。
Nostockingshungatthefireplace，andforamomentshefeltasmuchdisappointedasshedidlongago，whenherlittlesockfelldownbecauseitwascrammedsofullofgoodies。Thensherememberedhermother’spromiseand，slippingherhandunderherpillow，drewoutalittlecrimson-coveredbook。Sheknewitverywell，foritwasthatbeautifuloldstoryofthebestlifeeverlived，andJofeltthatitwasatrueguidebookforanypilgrimgoingonalongjourney。ShewokeMegwitha“MerryChristmas，“andbadeherseewhatwasunderherpillow。Agreen-
coveredbookappeared，withthesamepictureinside，andafewwordswrittenbytheirmother，whichmadetheironepresentverypreciousintheireyes。PresentlyBethandAmywoketorummageandfindtheirlittlebooksalso，onedove-colored，theotherblue，andallsatlookingatandtalkingaboutthem，whiletheeastgrewrosywiththecomingday。
Inspiteofhersmallvanities，Margarethadasweetandpiousnature，whichunconsciouslyinfluencedhersisters，especiallyJo，wholovedherverytenderly，andobeyedherbecauseheradvicewassogentlygiven。
“Girls，“saidMegseriously，lookingfromthetumbledheadbesidehertothetwolittlenight-cappedonesintheroombeyond，“Motherwantsustoreadandloveandmindthesebooks，andwemustbeginatonce。Weusedtobefaithfulaboutit，butsinceFatherwentawayandallthiswartroubleunsettledus，wehaveneglectedmanythings。Youcandoasyouplease，butIshallkeepmybookonthetablehereandreadalittleeverymorningassoonasIwake，forIknowitwilldomegoodandhelpmethroughtheday。“
Thensheopenedhernewbookandbegantoread。Joputherarmroundherand，leaningcheektocheek，readalso，withthequietexpressionsoseldomseenonherrestlessface。
“HowgoodMegis!Come，Amy，let’sdoastheydo。I’llhelpyouwiththehardwords，andthey’’explainthingsifwedon’tunderstand，“whisperedBeth，verymuchimpressedbytheprettybooksandhersisters，example。
“I’mgladmineisblue，“saidAmy。andthentheroomswereverystillwhilethepagesweresoftlyturned，andthewintersunshinecreptintotouchthebrightheadsandseriousfaceswithaChristmasgreeting。
“WhereisMother？“askedMeg，assheandJorandowntothankherfortheirgifts，halfanhourlater。
“Goodnessonlyknows。somepoorcreetercamea-beggin’，andyourmawentstraightofftoseewhatwasneeded。Thereneverwassuchawomanforgivin’awayvittlesanddrink，clothesandfirin’，“
repliedHannah，whohadlivedwiththefamilysinceMegwasborn，andwasconsideredbythemallmoreasafriendthanaservant。
“Shewillbebacksoon，Ithink，sofryyourcakes，andhaveeverythingready，“saidMeg，lookingoverthepresentswhichwerecollectedinabasketandkeptunderthesofa，readytobeproducedatthepropertime。“why，whereisAmy’sbottleofcologne？“
sheadded，asthelittleflaskdidnotappear。
“Shetookitoutaminuteago，andwentoffwithittoputaribbononit，orsomesuchnotion，“repliedJo，dancingabouttheroomtotakethefirststiffnessoffthenewarmyslippers。
“Hownicemyhandkerchiefslook，don’tthey？Hannahwashedandironedthemforme，andImarkedthemallmyself，“saidBeth，lookingproudlyatthesomewhatunevenletterswhichhadcosthersuchlabor。
“Blessthechild!She’sgoneandput`Mother’ontheminsteadof`M。March’。Howfunny!“criedJo，takingoneup。
“Isn’tthatright？Ithoughtitwasbettertodoitso，becauseMeg’sinitialsareM。M。，andIdon’twantanyonetousethesebutMarmee，“saidBeth；，lookingtroubled。
“It’sallright，dear，andaveryprettyidea，quitesensibletoo，fornoonecanevermistakenow。Itwillpleaseherverymuch，Iknow，“saidMeg，withafrownforJoandasmileforBeth。
“There’sMother。Hidethebasket，quick!“criedJo，asadoorslammedandstepssoundedinthehall。
Amycameinhastily，andlookedratherabashedwhenshesawhersistersallwaitingforher。
“Wherehaveyoubeen，andwhatareyouhidingbehindyou？“
askedMeg，surprisedtosee，byherhoodandcloak，thatlazyAmyhadbeenoutsoearly。
“Don’tlaughatme，Jo!Ididn’tmeananyoneshouldknowtillthetimecame。Ionlymeanttochangethelittlebottleforabigone，andIgaveallmymoneytogetit，andI’mtrulytryingnottobeselfishanymore。“
Asshespoke，Amyshowedthehandsomeflaskwhichreplacedthecheapone，andlookedsoearnestandhumbleinherlittleefforttoforgetherselfthatMeghuggedheronthespot，andJopronouncedher`atrump’，whileBethrantothewindow，andpickedherfinestrosetoornamentthestatelybottle。
“YouseeIfeltashamedofmypresent，afterreadingandtalkingaboutbeinggoodthismorning，soIranroundthecornerandchangedittheminuteIwasup，andI’msoglad，formineisthehandsomestnow。“
Anotherbangofthestreetdoorsentthebasketunderthesofa，andthegirlstothetable，eagerforbreakfast。
“MerryChristmas，Marmee!Manyofthem!Thankyouforourbooks。Wereadsome，andmeantoeveryday，“theyallcriedinchorus。
“MerryChristmas，littledaughters!I’mgladyoubeganatonce，andhopeyouwillkeepon。ButIwanttosayonewordbeforewesitdown。Notfarawayfromhereliesapoorwomanwithalittlenewbornbaby。Sixchildrenarehuddledintoonebedtokeepfromfreezing，fortheyhavenofire。Thereisnothingtoeatoverthere，andtheoldestboycametotellmetheyweresufferinghungerandcold。Mygirls，willyougivethemyourbreakfastasaChristmaspresent？“
Theywereallunusuallyhungry，havingwaitednearlyanhour，andforaminutenoonespoke，onlyaminute，forJoexclaimedimpetuously，“I’msogladyoucamebeforewebegan!“
“MayIgoandhelpcarrythethingstothepoorlittlechildren？“
askedBetheagerly。
“Ishalltakethecreamandthemuffings，“addedAmy，heroicallygivingupthearticleshemostliked。
Megwasalreadycoveringthebuckwheats，andpilingthebreadintoonebigplate。
“Ithoughtyou’ddoit，“saidMrs。March，smilingasifsatisfied。
“Youshallallgoandhelpme，andwhenwecomebackwewillhavebreadandmilkforbreakfast，andmakeitupatdinnertime。“
Theyweresoonready，andtheprocessionsetout。Fortunatelyitwasearly，andtheywentthroughbackstreets，sofewpeoplesawthem，andnoonelaughedatthequeerparty。
Apoor，bare，miserableroomitwas，withbrokenwindows，nofire，raggedbedclothes，asickmother，wailingbaby，andagroupofpale，hungrychildrencuddledunderoneoldquilt，tryingtokeepwarm。
Howthebigeyesstaredandthebluelipssmiledasthegirlswentin。
“Ach，meinGott!Itisgoodangelscometous!“saidthepoorwoman，cryingforjoy。
“Funnyangelsinhoodsandmittens，“saidJo，andsetthemtolaughing。
Inafewminutesitreallydidseemasifkindspiritshadbeenatworkthere。Hannah，whohadcarriedwood，madeafire，andstoppedupthebrokenpaneswitholdhatsandherowncloak。Mrs。
Marchgavethemotherteaandgruel，andcomfortedherwithpromisesofhelp，whileshedressedthelittlebabyastenderlyasifithadbeenherown。Thegirlsmeantimespreadthetable，setthechildrenroundthefire，andfedthemlikesomanyhungrybirds，laughing，talking，andtryingtounderstandthefunnybrokenEnglish。
“Dasistgut!““DieEngel-kinder!“criedthepoorthingsastheyateandwarmedtheirpurplehandsatthecomfortableblaze。
Thegirlshadneverbeencalledangelchildrenbefore，andthoughtitveryagreeable，especiallyJo，whohadbeenconsidereda`Sancho’eversinceshewasborn。Thatwasaveryhappybreakfast，thoughtheydidn’tgetanyofit。Andwhentheywentaway，leavingcomfortbehind，IthinktherewerenotinallthecityfourmerrierpeoplethanthehungrylittlegirlswhogaveawaytheirbreakfastsandcontentedthemselveswithbreadandmilkonChristmasmorning。
“That’slovingourneighborbetterthanourselves，andI
likeit，“saidMeg，astheysetouttheirpresentswhiletheirmotherwasupstairscollectingclothesforthepoorHummels。
Notaverysplendidshow，buttherewasagreatdealoflovedoneupinthefewlittlebundles，andthetallvaseofredroses，whitechrysanthemums，andtrailingvines，whichstoodinthemiddle，gavequiteanelegantairtothetable。
“She’scoming!Strikeup，Beth!Openthedoor，Amy!
ThreecheersforMarmee!“criedJo，prancingaboutwhileMegwenttoconductMothertotheseatofhonor。
Bethplayedhergayestmarch，amythrewopenthedoor，andMegenactedescortwithgreatdignity。Mrs。Marchwasbothsurprisedandtouched，andsmiledwithhereyesfullassheexaminedherpresentsandreadthelittlenoteswhichaccompaniedthem。Theslipperswentonatonce，anewhandkerchiefwasslippedintoherpocket，wellscentedwithAmy’scologne，therosewasfastenedinherbosom，andthenicegloveswerepronouncedaperfectfit。
Therewasagooddealoflaughingandkissingandexplaining，inthesimple，lovingfashionwhichmakesthesehomefestivalssopleasantatthetime，sosweettorememberlongafterward，andthenallfelltowork。
Themorningcharitiesandceremoniestooksomuchtimethattherestofthedaywasdevotedtopreparationsfortheeveningfestivities。Beingstilltooyoungtogooftentothetheater，andnotrichenoughtoaffordanygreatoutlayforprivateperformances，thegirlsputtheirwitstowork，andnecessitybeingthemotherofinvention，madewhatevertheyneeded。Verycleverweresomeoftheirproductions，pasteboardguitars，antiquelampsmadeofold-fashionedbutterboatscoveredwithsilverpaper，gorgeousrobesofoldcotton，glitteringwithtinspanglesfromapicklefactory，andarmorcoveredwiththesameusefuldiamondshapedbitsleftinnsheetswhenthelidsofpreservepotswerecutout。Thebigchamberwasthesceneofmanyinnocentrevels。
Nogentlemanwereadmitted，soJoplayedmalepartstoherheart’scontentandtookimmensesatisfactioninapairofrussetleatherbootsgivenherbyafriend，whoknewaladywhoknewanactor。Theseboots，anoldfoil，andaslasheddoubletonceusedbyanartistforsomepicture，wereJo’schieftreasuresandappearedonalloccasions。Thesmallnessofthecompanymadeitnecessaryforthetwoprincipalactorstotakeseveralpartsapiece，andtheycertainlydeservedsomecreditforthehardworktheydidinlearningthreeorfourdifferentparts，whiskinginandoutofvariouscostumes，andmanagingthestagebesides。Itwasexcellentdrillfortheirmemories，aharmlessamusement，andemployedmanyhourswhichotherwisewouldhavebeenidle，lonely，orspentinlessprofitablesociety。
Onchristmasnight，adozengirlspiledontothebedwhichwasthedresscircle，andsatbeforetheblueandyellowchintzcurtainsinamostflatteringstateofexpectancy。Therewasagooddealofrustlingandwhisperingbehindthecurtain，atrifleoflampsmoke，andanoccasionalgigglefromAmy，whowasapttogethystericalintheexcitementofthemoment。Presentlyabellsounded，thecurtainsflewapart，andtheOPERATICTRAGEDYbegan。