ake in the gray dawn

the fireplace, and

as she did long ago

was crammed so full

r's promise and, sli

a little crimson-cove

that beautiful old sto

at it was a true guid

ourney. She woke

e her see what was

appeared, with the

ten by their mother,

us in their eyes. P

find their little

ue, and all sat looki

st grew rosy with

l vanities, Margaret

nsciously influenc

loved her very tend

dvice was so

iously, looking from

le night-capped one

read and love and

ce. We used to be f

y and all this war tr

things. You can do

n the table here and

wake, for I know it

rough the

new book and began

eaning cheek to chee

seldom seen on her

e, Amy, let's do as t

, and they'' explai

ered Beth, very mu

nd her sisters

e,' said Amy. and the

were softly turned,

he bright heads and

s greeti

sked Meg, as she and

ifts, half an h

. some poor creeter

t off to see what wa

givin' away vittles a

ah, who had lived wit

nsidered by them all

vant.

on, I think, so fry

aid Meg, looking ove

asket and kept under

per time. 'why, whe

as the little flask

inute ago, and went

such notion,' replie

t stiffness off the n

rchiefs look, don't

me, and I marked t

y at the somewhat un

such la

's gone and put 'Moth

unny!' cried Jo,

thought it was better

.M., and I don't wan

id Beth;, looki

and a very pretty idea,

ake now. It will ple

a frown for Jo and a

e the basket, quick!

eps sounded in

, and looked rather

all waiting

n, and what are you

to see, by her hood

en out so

Jo! I didn't mean an

meant to change the

y money to get it, an

fish any

howed the handsome

ooked so earnest and

herself that Meg

ounced her 'a trump',

her finest rose to

le.

ed of my present, aft

s morning, so I ran

I was up, and I'm so

est now

treet door sent the b

the table, eager

armee! Many of them

and mean to every d

mas, little daughters

will keep on. But I

Not far away from he

baby. Six children a

, for they have no fi

the oldest boy came

cold. My girls, wil

a Christmas p

lly hungry, having w

one spoke, only a mi

o glad you came bef

rry the things to the

th eager

am and the muffings,'

article she mo

ring the buckwheats,

big pla

,' said Mrs. March, sm

d help me, and when

lk for breakfast,

rtime

and the procession s

went through back st

one laughed at th

ble room it was, wit

thes, a sick mother

ry children cuddled

o keep w

red and the blue lip

in.

is good angels come

ying for

ds and mittens,' sai

hing

ally did seem as if ki

who had carried wo

n panes with old hat

mother tea and gru

lp, while she dress

d been her own. The

ildren round the fire

aughing, talking, an

broken Eng

gel-kinder!' cried the

rple hands at the c

called angel children

pecially Jo, who h

e she was born. Th

y didn't get any of i

behind, I think ther

ople than the hungry

ts and contented th

Christmas

ghbor better than ours

et out their presen

ollecting clothes for

show, but there was

tle bundles, and the t

, and trailing vines

e an elegant air

ke up, Beth! Open t

cried Jo, prancing a

r to the seat

est march, amy thre

with great dignity.

ed, and smiled with

ents and read the

The slippers wen

ipped into her pock

rose was fastened i

e pronounced a

l of laughing and ki

g fashion which make

ime, so sweet to rem

ll fell to

es and ceremonies t

as devoted to prepara

ll too young to go oft

afford any great ou

rls put their wits t

invention, made wh

of their productions

f old-fashioned butt

s robes of old cotton

kle factory, and ar

shaped bits left inn

e cut out. The big c

nnocent r

dmitted, so Jo play

took immense satis

given her by a friend

boots, an old foil,

tist for some pict

ed on all occasions.

ssary for the two pr

, and they certainly

ey did in learning t

whisk

ous costumes, and

llent drill for thei

loyed many hours w

ly, or spent in less