“ méi yòu lǐ wù shèng dàn jié zěn me guò？” qiáo tǎng zài xiǎo dì tǎn shàng gū nóng。
　　“ pín qióng zhēn kě pà！” méi gé fā chū yī shēng tàn xī， dī tóu wàng zhe shēn shàng de jiù yī fú。
　　“ yòu xiē nǚ hái zǐ yōng yòu róng huá fù guì， yòu xiē què yī wú suǒ yòu， wǒ rèn wéi zhè bù gōng píng。” ài měi bí zǐ qīng qīng yī hēng， sān fēn chū yú qīng miè， qī fēn chū yú jí dù。
　　“ dàn wǒ men yòu fù mǔ jiě mèi，” zuò zài yī jiǎo de bèi sī tí chū。
　　 zhè jù lìng rén yú kuài de huà shǐ lú huǒ yìng zhào xià de sì zhāng nián qīng de liǎn páng míng liàng qǐ lái。” wǒ men méi yòu fù qīn， hěn cháng yī duàn shí jiān dū jiāng méi yòu，” qiáo shāng xīn dì shuō。 tīng dào zhè jù huà， dà jiā de liǎn yòu 'àn dàn xià qù。 tā suī méi shuō " kě néng yǒng yuǎn méi yòu "， dàn měi gè rén xīn lǐ dū bǎ zhè jù huà qiāoqiāo shuō liǎo yī biàn， tóng shí xiǎng qǐ yuǎn zài zhàn chǎng de fù qīn。
　　 dà jiā yī shí wú yán。 yī huì méi gé huàn liǎo gè shēng diào shuō：“ nǐ men zhī dào mā mā wèishénme jiàn yì jīn nián shèng dàn jié bù pài lǐ wù má？ yīn wéi hán lěng de dōng tiān jiù yào lái liǎo， ér wǒ men de nán rén zài jūn yíng lǐ shòu kǔ shòu nán， wǒ men bù yìng gāi huā qián xún lè。
　　 suī rán wǒ men néng lì yòu xiàn， dàn kě yǐ zài zhè fāng miàn zuò chū yī diǎn xiǎo xiǎo de xī shēng， ér qiě yīnggāi zuòde gāo gāo xīng xīng。 bù guò wǒ kě bìng bù gāo xīng。” méi gé yáo yáo nǎo dài。
　　 xiǎng dào nà xiē mèng mèi yǐ qiú de piào liàng lǐ wù， tā gǎn dào yí hàn bù yǐ。
　　“ wǒ kàn wǒ men nà dīng diǎn 'ér qián yě bāng bù shàng shénme máng。 wǒ men měi rén zhǐ dé yī yuán qián， xiàn gěi bù duì yě méi duō dà yòng chù。 wǒ men bù yào qī dài mā mā gěi wǒ men shénme lǐ wù， bù guò wǒ zhēn de hěn xiǎng mǎi yī běn《 shuǐ zhōng nǚ shén》， nà běn shū wǒ zǎo jiù xiǎng mǎi liǎo，” qiáo shuō。 tā shì gè zhù shū chóng。
　　“ wǒ běn lái dǎ suàn mǎi xiē xīn lè pǔ，” bèi sī qīng qīng tàn liǎo kǒu qì shuō， shēng yīn qīng dé shuí yě tīng bù dào。
　　“ wǒ yào mǎi yī hé jīng zhì de fèi bó shì huà bǐ。 wǒ zhēn de hěn xū yào，” ài měi gān cuì dì shuō。
　　“ mā mā méi shuō guò zhè qián gāi zěn me huā， yào shì kàn zhe wǒ men liǎng shǒu kōng kōng， tā yě bù huì gāo xīng de。 wǒ men dǎo bù rú gè zì mǎi diǎn zì jǐ xǐ huān de dōng xī gāo xīng gāo xīng。 wéi zhèng zhè xiē qián， wǒ men huā liǎo wǒ duō shǎo xīn xuè！“ qiáo dà shēng shuō dào， mán yòu shēn shì fēng duódì shěn shì zhe zì jǐ de xié gēn。
　　“ kě bù shì má - chàbù duō yī tiān dào wǎn dū dé jiào nà xiē tǎo yàn de hái zǐ， xiàn zài duō xiǎng huí jiā qīng sōng yī xià 'ā！” méi gé yòu kāi shǐ bào yuàn liǎo。
　　“ nǐ hé cháng gǎn dé shàng wǒ xīn kǔ ní？” qiáo shuō，” xiǎng xiǎng hǎo jǐ gè xiǎo shí hé yī gè chuī máo qiú cī、 shén jīng zhì de lǎo tài tài guān zài yī qǐ， bèi tā shǐ huàn dé tuántuánzhuàn， tā què yǒng yuǎn bù huì gǎn dào mǎn yì， bǎ nǐ zhēténg dé zhēn xiǎng cóng zhè gè shì jiè shàng xiāo shī huò zhě gān cuì dà kū yīcháng， nǐ huì gǎn jué zěn yàng？”“ yuàn tiān yóu rén bìng bù hǎo， dàn wǒ zhēn de jué dé xǐ wǎn dǎ sǎo fáng zǐ shì quán shì jiè zuì tòng kǔ de shì qíng。 zhè ràng wǒ pí qì bào zào bù suàn， shuāng shǒu yě biàn dé jiāng yìng， lián qín yě dàn bù liǎo。” bèi sī wàng zhe zì jǐ cū cāo de shuāng shǒu tàn yī kǒu qì， zhè huí měi gè réndōu tīng dào liǎo。
　　“ wǒ bù xiāng xìn yòu shuí bǐ wǒ gèng tòng kǔ，” ài měi rǎng dào，” yīn wéi nǐ mendōu bù yòng qù shàng xué。 nà xiē nǚ hái zǐ cū sú wú lǐ， rú guǒ nǐ bù dǒng gōng kè， tā men jiù ràng nǐ xià bù liǎo tái， tā men xiào huà nǐ de yī zhe， bà bà méi yòu qián yào bèi tā men biāo jià， bí zǐ cháng dé bù piào liàng yě yào bèi tā men wǔ rǔ。”“ nǐ shì shuō ' jī bàng ' bā？ bié niàn chéng ' biāo jià '， hǎo xiàng bà bà shì gè yān cài píng zǐ shìde，” qiáo biān xiào biān jiū zhèng。
　　“ wǒ zhī dào wǒ zài shuō shí me nǐ duì cǐ bù bì ' lěng cháo rì（ rè） fěng '， yòng hǎo de zì yǎn méi shí me bù duì， zhè yòu zhù yú zēng jiā ' zì（ cí） huì '，” ài měi yì zhèng cí yán dì fǎn jī。
　　“ bié dǒu zuǐ liǎo， gū niàn men。 qiáo， nán dào nǐ bù xī wàng wǒ men yōng yòu bà bà zài wǒ men xiǎo shí hòu shī qù de qián má？ ò， rú guǒ wǒ men méi yòu fán nǎo， nà gāi duō xìng fú 'ā！” méi gé shuō。 tā hái jì dé guò qù de hǎo shí guāng。
　　“ dàn qián jǐ tiān nǐ shuō wǒ men bǐ qǐ wáng sūn gōng zǐ lái yào xìng fú duō liǎo， yīn wéi tā men suī rán yòu qián， què yī tiān dào wǎn míng zhēng 'àn dǒu， fán nǎo bù xiū。”“ wǒ shì zhè me shuō guò， bèi sī， ǹg， xiàn zài yě hái shì zhè me xiǎng， yīn wéi， suī rán wǒ men bù dé bù gànhuó， dàn wǒ men kě yǐ hù xiāng xī xì， ér qiě， rú qiáo suǒ shuō， shì mán kuài huó de yī huǒ。”“ qiáo jiù shì 'ài yòng zhè xiē cū sú de zì yǎn！” ài měi pēng jī dào， yòng yī zhǒng qiǎn zé de yǎn guāng wàng zhe tǎng zài dì tǎn shàng de cháng shēn qū。 qiáo lì jí zuò qǐ lái， shuāng shǒu chā jìn yī dài， chuī qǐ liǎo kǒu shào。
　　“ bié zhè yàng， qiáo， zhǐ yòu nán hái zǐ cái zhè yàng zuò。”
　　“ suǒ yǐ wǒ cái chuī。”
　　“ wǒ zēng hèn cū lǔ、 méi yòu shū nǚ fēng dù de nǚ hái！”“ wǒ tǎo yàn xū jiǎ、 jiáo róu zào zuò de máo tóu mèi！“ ' xiǎo cháo lǐ de niǎo 'ér yī zhì tóng yì， '" hé píng shǐ zhě bèi sī chàng qǐ gē 'ér， liǎn shàng de biǎo qíng huá jī yòu qù。 jiān zhe sǎng mén de liǎng rén huà wéi yī xiào，” dǒu zuǐ " jiù cǐ jié shù。
　　“ wǒ shuō gū niàn men， nǐ men liǎng gèdōu bù duì，” méi gé kāi shǐ yǐ jiě jiě de shēn fèn shuō jiào，” yuē sè fēn， nǐ yǐ jīng zhǎngdà liǎo， bù yìng zài wán nán hái zǐ de bǎ xì， yīnggāi jiǎn diǎn yī xiē。 nǐ hái shì xiǎo gū niàn shí zhè dǎo méi yòu shénme， dàn nǐ xiàn zài yǐ cháng dé zhè me gāo， ér qiě wǎng qǐ liǎo tóu fā， jiù dé jì zhù zì jǐ shì gè nián qīng nǚ shì。“ wǒ bù shì！ rú guǒ wǎng qǐ tóu fā jiù bǎ wǒ dāng nǚ shì de huà， wǒ jiù shū liǎng tiáo biàn zǐ， zhí dào 'èr shí suì，” qiáo dà shēng jiào qǐ lái。 tā lā diào fā wǎng， pī luò yī tóu lì sè de hòu fā。” wǒ hèn wǒ dé zhǎngdà， dé zuò mǎ qí xiǎo jiě。 wǒ hèn chuān cháng lǐ fú， hèn gù zuò zhèng jīng de piào liàng xiǎo jiě。 wǒ xǐ huān nán hái zǐ de yóu xì， nán hái zǐ de huó 'ér yǐ jí nán hái zǐ fēng dù， què piān piān shì gè nǚ hái zǐ， zhēn shì dǎo méi tòu liǎo。 zuò bù chéng nán hái zhēn ràng wǒ zhǐ bù zhù shī wàng， kě xiàn zài bǐ yǐ wǎng rèn hé shí hòu dōuyào zāo， yīn wéi wǒ shì nà me xiǎng gēn bà bà yī qǐ cān jiā zhàn dǒu， què zhǐ néng dāi zuò zài jiā zhōng zuò nǚ gōng， xiàng gè sǐ qì chén chén de lǎo tài tài！” qiáo dǒu dòng lán sè de jūn wà， bǎ lǐ tóu de zhēn nòng dé zhèng zhèng zuò xiǎng， xiàn tuán yě gǔn luò dào yī biān。
　　“ kě lián de qiáo！ zhēn shì bù xìng， dàn yòu shénme bàn fǎ ní？ nǐ zhǐ hǎo bǎ zì jǐ de míng zì gǎi dé nán zǐ qì yī xiē， bàn yǎn wǒ men jiě mèi de gē gē， zhǎo diǎn 'ān wèi。” bèi sī yī miàn shuō， yī miàn yòng róu ruǎn de shuāng shǒu qīng qīng fǔ mō zhe kào zài tā xī shàng de tóu fā péng luàn de nǎo dài。
　　“ zhì yú nǐ， ài měi，” méi gé jiē zhe shuō，” nǐ guò yú jiǎng jiū， guò yú yī běn zhèng jīng。 nǐ de shén tài xiàn zài kàn shàng qù tǐng yòu qù， dàn yào shì yī bù xiǎo xīn， zhǎngdà jiù huì biàn chéng gè zhuāng mó zuò yàng de xiǎo shǎ guā。 rú guǒ bù kè yì zuò tài， nǐ de yán tán jǔ zhǐ dǎo shì shí fēn yōu yǎ de， bù guò nǐ nà xiē huāng miù de yán yǔ hé qiáo de shǎ huà què shì bàn jīn duì bā liǎng。”“ rú guǒ qiáo shì gè jiǎ xiǎo zǐ， ài měi shì gè xiǎo shǎ guā， qǐng wèn， wǒ shì shénme？” bèi sī wèn dào。
　　“ nǐ shì gè guāi bǎo bèi， zài méi bié de，” méi gé qīn rè dì dá dào。 cǐ huà wú rén fǎn bó， yīn wéi zhè wèi” xiǎo dǎn shǔ " shì quán jiā rén de chǒng 'ér。
　　 yóu yú nián qīng de dú zhě men xǐ huān zhī dào“ rén wù yàng mào "， wǒ men chèn cǐ jī huì bǎ zuò zài huáng hūn de yú huī xià zuò zhēn xiàn huó 'ér de sì jiě mèi gài lüè miáo shù yī xià。 cǐ shí wū wài de dōng xuě zhèng qīng qīng piāo luò， wū nèi lú huǒ pī pā huān xiǎng。 suī rán zhè jiān jiù fáng zǐ pū zhe tuì liǎo sè de dì tǎn， bǎi shè yě xiāng dāng jiǎn dān， dàn què xiǎn dé shí fēn shū shì： qiáng shàng guà zhe yī liǎng fú yǎ zhì de tú huà， bì 'āo nèi duī mǎn liǎo shū běn， chuāng tái shàng shì zhàn fàng de jú huā hé shèng dàn huā， wū lǐ yáng yì zhe yī piàn níng jìng、 wēn xīn de qì fēn。
　　 dà jiě mǎ gé lì tè， shí liù suì， chū luò dé shí fēn biāo zhì。 tā tǐ tài fēng yíng， jī fū jié bái， dà dà de yǎn jīng， tián tián de xiào róng， yī tóu zōng sè xiù fā yòu nóng yòu hòu， shuāng shǒu bái xī， zhè lìng tā pō wéi zì dé。 shí wǔ suì de qiáo shēn cái xiū cháng， pí fū yǒu hēi， jiàn liǎo shǐ rén xiǎng dào yī pǐ xiǎo gōng mǎ， yīn wéi tā xiū cháng de sì zhī xiāng dāng 'ài shì， tā fǎng fó zǒng shì bù zhī dào gāi rú hé chǔzhì tā men。 tā zuǐ bā gāng yì， bí zǐ jùn qiào， huī sè de yǎn jīng yì cháng mǐn ruì， sì hū néng kàn chuān yī qiē， yǎn shén shí 'ér chì liè， shí 'ér fēng qù， shí 'ér yòu xiàng zài chén sī。 nóng mì de cháng fā shǐ tā xiǎn dé tè bié měi lì， dàn wèile fāng biàn cháng fā tōng cháng bèi tā shù rù fā wǎng。 tā shuāng jiān yuán rùn， dà shǒu dà jiǎo， chuānzhuó yòu kuān yòu dà de yī fú。 zhèng xùn sù zhǎngchéng yī gè chéng shú de nǚ xìng， xīn lǐ què jí bù yuàn， yīn cǐ cháng cháng liú lù chū zhè gè jiē duàn de nǚ hái suǒ tè yòu de gān gà shén qíng。 yī lì suō bái， rén chēng bèi sī， shí sān suì， fū sè hóng rùn， xiù fā rùn zé， mù rú qiū bō。 tā jǔ zhǐ miǎn tiǎn， shēng yīn xiū qiè， shén qíng níng jìng 'ér shēn yuǎn， bèi fù qīn chēng wéi " xiǎo níng jìng "， cǐ míng fēi tā mò shǔ， yīn wéi tā sì hū dú gè shēng huó zài zì jǐ de yī diàn yuán zhōng， zhǐ gǎn chū lái huì huì jǐ gè zuì qīn zuì xìn rèn de rén。 ài měi suī rán zuì xiǎo， què shì gè shí fēn zhòng yào de rén wù。 zhì shǎo tā zì wǒ gǎn jué rú cǐ。 tā shēng dé xiān xì duān zhuāng， jī gǔ jīng yíng， yī shuāng lán yǎn jīng， jīn huáng sè de tóu fā juǎnqū pī luò jiān tóu， yán tán jǔ zhǐ shí zú yī gè jiǎng jiū fēng dù de nián qīng nǚ zǐ。 sì jiě mèi de xìng gé rú hé， wǒ men hòu miàn fēn jiě。
　　 shí zhōng qiāo xiǎng liù xià， bèi sī yǐ jīng sǎo gān jìng bì lú dì miàn， bǎ yī shuāng biàn xié fàng dào shàng miàn hōng gān。 kàn dào zhè shuāng jiù xié zǐ， gū niàn men xiǎng qǐ mā mā jiù yào huí jiā liǎo， xīn qíng míng lǎng qǐ lái， zhǔn bèi yíng jiē mā mā。 méi gé tíng zhǐ liǎo xùn dǎo， diǎn shàng liǎo dēng。 ài měi bù yòng rén shuō， jiù lí kāi liǎo 'ān lè yǐ。 qiáo zé zuò qǐ lái bǎ xié zǐ nuó jìn huǒ biān， yī shí wàng què liǎo pí juàn。
　　“ xié zǐ tài pò jiù liǎo， mā mǐ dé huàn shuāng xīn de。”
　　“ wǒ xiǎng yòng zì jǐ de qián gěi tā mǎi yī shuāng，” bèi sī shuō。
　　“ bù， wǒ lái mǎi！” ài měi rǎng dào。
　　“ wǒ zuì dà，” méi gé gāng kāi kǒu， jiù bèi qiáo jiān jué dì dǎ duàn liǎo -“ bà bà bù zài jiā， wǒ jiù shì jiā lǐ de nán zǐ hàn liǎo， xié zǐ wǒ lái mǎi。 yīn wéi bà bà gēn wǒ shuō guò， tā bù zài jiā de shí hòu yào wǒ hǎohǎo zhào gù mā mā。”“ yǐ wǒ shuō yīnggāi zhèmezhāo，” bèi sī shuō，” wǒ men gè zìjǐ mā mā sòng jiàn shèng dàn lǐ wù， wǒ men zì jǐ shénme dū bié yào liǎo。”“ nà cái xiàng nǐ！ hǎo mèi mèi， sòng shénme hǎo ní？” qiáo rǎng dào。
　　 dà jiādōu rèn zhēn xiǎng liǎo yī huì， méi gé sì hū cóng zì jǐ piào liàng de shuāng shǒu dé dào qǐ fā， xuān bù dào：“ wǒ yào gěi mā mā sòng yī shuāng jīng zhì de shǒu tào。”“ zuì hǎo sòng shuāng jūn xié，” qiáo gāo shēng shuō dào。
　　“ wǒ yào sòng xiē xiāng biān xiǎo shǒu pà，” bèi sī shuō。
　　“ wǒ huì sòng yī xiǎo píng gǔ lóng xiāng shuǐ。 yīn wéi mā mā xǐ huān， ér qiě bù yòng tài huā qián， wǒ hái kě yǐ shěng diǎn qián gěi zì jǐ mǎi qiān bǐ，” ài měi jiē zhe shuō。
　　“ wǒ men zěn me gè sòng fǎ ní？” méi gé wèn。
　　“ bǎ lǐ wù fàng zài zhuō shàng， bǎ mā mā dài jìn lái， ràng tā zài wǒ men miàn qián qīn zì chāi kāi lǐ wù。 nǐ wàng jì wǒ men shì zěn yàng guò shēng rì de má？” qiáo huí dá。
　　“ měi dāng wǒ zuò zài nà zhāng dà yǐ zǐ shàng， tóu dài huā guān， kàn zhe nǐ men yī gè gè shàng qián sòng shàng lǐ wù， wěn wǒ yī xià shí， xīn lǐ zhēn shì huāng dé hěn。 wǒ xǐ huān nǐ men de lǐ wù hé qīn wěn， dàn yào zài zhòng mù kuí kuí zhī xià bǎ lǐ wù chāi kāi， wǒ jiù xià dé xīn lǐ zhí dǎ gǔ 'ér，” bèi sī shuō， biān hōng chá diǎn， biān qǔ nuǎn。
　　“ xiān bié gào sù mā mǐ， ràng tā yǐ wéi wǒ men shì wéi zì jǐ zhǔn bèi de， gěi tā yī gè jīng xǐ。 wǒ men míng tiān xià wǔ jiù dé qù bàn huò， méi gé， shèng dàn yè de huà jù hái yòu xǔ duō shì qíng yào zhǔn bèi nà。” qiáo shuō huà de shí hòu dàobèi zhuóshǒu， yǎng zhe tóu， lái huí duó bù。
　　“ yǎn wán zhè huí， yǐ hòu wǒ jiù bù yǎn liǎo。 wǒ nián suì dà， gāi tuì chū liǎo，” duì " huà zhuāng yóu xì " yī zhí tóng xīn wèi mǐn de méi gé shuō。
　　“ nǐ bù huì tíng zhǐ de， wǒ zhī dào， zhǐ yào nǐ néng gòu pī xià tóu fā， dài shàng jīn zhǐ zuò de zhū bǎo， shēn pī bái cháng qún yáo yè 'ér xíng， nǐ jiù bù huì de。 yīn wéi nǐ shì wǒ men de zuì jiā yǎn yuán， rú guǒ nǐ tuì chū， nà me yī qiēdōu wán liǎo，” qiáo shuō，” wǒ men jīn wǎn yīnggāi pái liàn yī xià。 lái， ài měi， shì yǎn yī xià yūnjué nà yīcháng， nǐ yǎn zhè mù shí shēng yìng dé xiàng gēn bō huǒ gùn。”“ yòu shénme bàn fǎ！ wǒ cóng lái méi jiàn guò rén yūndǎo， wǒ yě bù xiǎng xiàng nǐ yī yàng zhí tǐng tǐng dì shuāi dǎo， nòng dé zì jǐ qīng yī kuài zǐ yī kuài de。 rú guǒ wǒ kě yǐ qīng qīng dì dǎo zài dì shàng， wǒ jiù dǎo xià， fǒu zé， hái bù rú tǐ miàn dì dǎo zài yǐ zǐ shàng。 jí shǐ yǔ guǒ zhēn de yòng qiāng zhǐ zhe wǒ yě shì zhè jù huà，” ài měi huí dá。 tā de biǎo yǎn tiān fù bìng bù gāo， bèi xuǎn pài zhè yī juésè shì yīn wéi tā nián jì xiǎo， pèng shàng dǎi tú de jiān jiào shēng yóu tā fā chū gèng kě xìn。
　　“ zhè yàng lái： liǎng shǒu zhè yàng wò zhe， yáo yáo huàng huàng dì zǒu guò fáng jiān， fā kuáng bān dì jiào hǎn： ' luó dé lì gē！ jiù jiù wǒ！ jiù jiù wǒ！ '" qiáo zuò shì fàn， kuā zhāng dì jiān jiào yī shēng， lìng rén máo gǔ sǒng rán。
　　 ài měi gēn zhe mó fǎng， dàn tā shēn chū de shuāng shǒu jiāng yìng wú bǐ， fā chū de jiān jiào shēng yǔ qíng jǐng xiāngchà wàn lǐ。 tā nà yī shēng " ā！” bù xiàng shì gǎn dào kǒng jù hé jí dù tòng kǔ， dǎo xiàng shì bèi zhēn chuō liǎo yī xià。 qiáo shī wàng dì tàn liǎo yī shēng， méi gé què fàng shēng dà xiào， bèi sī kàn dé yòu qù， bǎ miàn bāo yě kǎo hú liǎo。
　　“ bù kě jiù yào！ yǎn chū shí jìn lì 'ér wéi bā， rú guǒ guān zhòng xiào nǐ， bié guài wǒ。
　　 lái bā， méi gé。”
　　 jiē xià lái jiù shùn lì duō liǎo。 táng · pèi dé luó yī kǒu qì dú xià liǎng yè tiǎo zhàn shì jiè de xuān yán； nǚ wū hēi gé bǎ mǎn mǎn yī guō chán chú fàng zài huǒ lǐ dùn， yāo lǐ yāo qì dì gěi tā men niàn yī dào kě pà de zhòu yǔ； luó dé lì gē lì bá shān hé dì chě duàn suǒ liàn， yǔ guǒ kuáng jiào zhe " hā！ hā！” zài huǐ hèn hé pī shuāng de zhé mó xià sǐ qù。
　　“ zhè shì zuòde zuì hǎo de yī cì，” dāng " sǐ qù " de fǎn jiǎo zuò qǐ lái róu cā zhǒu bù shí， méi gé shuō。
　　“ qiáo， nǐ néng xiě chū zhè me hǎo de jù běn， ér qiě yǎn dé zhè me chū sè， jiǎn zhí bù kě sī yì！ nǐ zhēn shì suō shì bǐ yà zài shì！” bèi sī hǎn dào。 tā jiān xìn jiě mèi men cái huá héng yì， wú suǒ bù néng。
　　“ guò jiǎng liǎo，” qiáo qiān xùn dì huí dá，”《 nǚ wū de zhòu yǔ， yī gè gē jù shì de bēi jù》 shì tǐng bù cuò de， bù guò wǒ xiǎng yǎn《 mài kè pèi sī》， rú guǒ wǒ men néng gěi bān kē yī shàn huó dì bǎn mén de huà。 wǒ yī zhí xiǎng yǎn cì kè zhè yī juésè。 ' wǒ yǎn qián kàn dào de shì yī bǎ dāo má？ '" qiáo qīng shēng lǎng sòng， xiàng tā suǒ jiàn guò de yī wèi zhù míng bēi jù yǎn yuán yī yàng， zhuàndòng zhuóyǎn zhū， liǎng shǒu zhuā xiàng kōng zhōng。
　　“ cuò liǎo， zhè shì shāo kǎo chā， nǐ fàng shàng qù de bù shì miàn bāo， ér shì mā mā de xié。 bèi sī kàn rù mí liǎo！“ méi gé jiào qǐ lái。 zhòng jiě mèi dà xiào bù yǐ， pái liàn yě suí zhī jié shù。
　　“ kàn dào nǐ men zhè me kuài huó wǒ zhēn gāo xīng， wǒ de nǚ 'ér men。” mén kǒu chuán lái yī chuàn yú kuài de shēng yīn， zhè xiē yǎn yuán hé guān zhòng zhuǎn guò shēn lái， yíng jiē yī wèi gāo gāo gè 'ér、 chōng mǎn mǔ xìng de nǚ shì。 tā shén qíng kě qīn、 lìng rén yú kuài。 tā de yī zhe suī bù huá lì， dàn yí tài gāo guì。 zài jiě mèi men xīn mù zhōng， zhè wèi shēn pī huī sè wài tào， tóu dài yī dǐng guò shí wú biān xiǎo yuán ruǎn mào de nǚ shì shì pǔ tiān xià zuì chū sè de mǔ qīn。
　　“ xiǎo bǎo bèi men， jīn tiān guò dé zěn me yàng？ wǒ shì qíng tài duō， yào zhǔn bèi hǎo míng tiān jiù dé fā chū de xiāng zǐ， méi néng huí jiā chī fàn。 yòu rén lái guò má， bèi sī？ nǐ gǎn mào hǎo diǎn méi yòu， méi gé？ qiáo， nǐ kàn shàng qù lěi jí liǎo， lái wěn wǒ bā， bǎo bèi。” mǎ qí tài tài cí 'ài dì yī yī xún wèn， yī miàn huàn qù shī yī wù， chuān shàng nuǎnhuo de tuō xié， zuò zài 'ān lè yǐ zhōng， bǎ 'ài měi lā dào xī biān， zhǔn bèi xiǎng shòu fán máng de yī tiān zhōng zuì xìng fú de shí guāng。 gū niàn men fēn fēn xíng dòng qǐ lái， gè xiǎn shēn shǒu， jìn liàng bǎ yī qiēdōu bù zhì dé shū shì yí rén。 méi gé bǎi chá zhuō， qiáo bān mù chái bìng fàng yǐ zǐ， què bǎ chái diū luò yī dì， bǎ yǐ zǐ yě dǎ fān， nòng dé kǎ dā zhí xiǎng， bèi sī zài kè tīng hé chú fáng zhī jiān cōng cōng lái huí chuān suō， máng lù 'ér 'ān jìng， ér 'ài měi zé xiù shǒu bàng guān， fā hào shī lìng。
　　 dà jiādōu jù dào zhuō biān de shí hòu， mǎ qí tài tài shuō：“ yòng fàn hòu， wǒ yòu hǎo dōng xī gěi nǐ men。” tā de liǎn shàng yòu yī zhǒng yì hū xún cháng de kuài lè。
　　 jiě mèi men liǎn shàng lì jí xiàn chū rú yáng guāng bān càn làn de xiào róng。 bèi sī gù bù dé shǒu lǐ ná zhe bǐng gān， pāi qǐ liǎo shǒu zhǎng， qiáo bǎ cān jīn yī pāo， rǎng dào：“ xìn！ xìn！
　　 bà bà wàn suì！”
　　“ shì de， yī fēng lìng rén yú kuài de cháng xìn。 tā yī qiēdōu hǎo， dōng jì yě bù huì 'áo dé hěn kǔ， wǒ men bù bì dān yōu。 tā zhù wǒ men shèng dàn kuài lè， shì shì rú yì， bìng tè bié wèn hòu nǐ men zhè xiē gū niàn men，” mǎ qí tài tài biān shuō biān yòng shǒu mō zhe yī dài， sì hū lǐ tóu zhuāng zhe zhēn bǎo。
　　“ kuài diǎn chī fàn！ bié tíng xià lái wān qǐ nǐ de xiǎo shǒu zhǐ biān chī biān shǎ xiào， ài měi，” qiáo rǎng dào， tā yīn wéi jí bù kě nài dì yào tīng xìn， bèi chá shā liǎo yī kǒu， tú liǎo nǎi yóu de miàn bāo yě diào luò dào dì tǎn shàng。
　　 bèi sī bù zài chī liǎo， tā qiāoqiāo zǒu dào yōu 'àn de wū jiǎo zuò xià， mò mò xiǎng zhe nà jí jiāng dào lái de huān lè， zhí dào dà jiā chī wán。
　　“ bà bà yǐ chāo guò zhēng bīng nián líng， shēn tǐ yě bù shì yí dāng bīng， wǒ rèn wéi tā qù dāng suí jūn mù shī zhēn shì tài hǎo liǎo，” méi gé rèqiè dì shuō。
　　“ wǒ zhēn xiǎng dāng gè gǔ shǒu， huò zhě dāng gè -- shénme lái zhe？ huò zhě qù dāng gè hù shì， zhè yàng wǒ jiù kě yǐ zài tā shēn biān bāng máng，” qiáo dà shēng shuō dào， yī biān hēng liǎo yī shēng。
　　“ shuì zhàng péng， chī bù kān rù kǒu de shí wù， yòng dà xī bēi hē shuǐ， zhè yī dìng shí fēn nán shòu，” ài měi tàn dào。
　　“ tā shénme shí hòu huí jiā， mā mā？” bèi sī shēng yīn wēi chàn dì wèn dào。
　　“ bù chū jǐ gè yuè， qīn 'ài de， chú fēi tā bìng dǎo。 tā zài bù duì yī tiān jiù huì jìn zhōng zhí shǒu yī tiān。 wǒ men yě bù huì yào qiú tā tí zǎo yī fēn zhōng huí lái。 xiàn zài lái dú xìn bā！” tā mendōu wéi jìn huǒ biān， mā mā zuò zài dà yǐ zǐ shàng， bèi sī zuò zài tā jiǎo biān， méi gé hé 'ài měi yī biān yī gè kào zài yǐ zǐ fú shǒu shàng， qiáo gù yì yǐ zài bèi hòu， zhè yàng dú dào xìn zhōng gǎn rén de dì fāng shí bié rén yě bù huì jué chá dào tā biǎo qíng de biàn huà。
　　 zài nà zhǒng jiān nán de rì zǐ lǐ， xìn， yóu qí shì fù qīn men xiě huí jiā de xìn， wǎng wǎng dū cuī rén lèi xià。 dàn zhè fēng xìn què jí shǎo tán jí shòu dào de jiān nán xiǎn zǔ hé yā yì de xiāng chóu， miáo shù dedōu shì xiē shēng dòng de jūn yíng shēng huó、 xíng jūn qíng kuàng hé bù duì xīn wén， dú liǎo lìng rén xīn qíng zhèn fèn， zhǐ shì zài xìn wěi cái zhǎn lù chū yī kē shēn chén de cí fù 'ài xīn yǐ jí kě wàng huí jiā hé qī nǚ men tuán jù de yuàn wàng。
　　“ gěi tā men xiàn shàng wǒ suǒ yòu de 'ài hé wěn。 gào sù tā men wǒ tiān tiān xiǎng niàn tā men， yè yè wéi tā men qí dǎo， měi shí měi kè dū cóng tā men de 'ài zhōng dé dào zuì dà de 'ān wèi。 yào jiàn dào tā men hái yào děng shàng màn cháng de yī nián， dàn qǐng tí xǐng tā men wǒ kě yǐ zài děng dài zhōng gōng zuò， bù xū dù zhè duàn nán wàng de rì zǐ。 wǒ zhī dào tā men huì láo jì wǒ de huà， zuò hǎo hái zǐ， zhōng shí dì zuò tā men gāi zuò de shì， yǒng gǎn dì shēng huó、 zhàn dǒu， shàn yú zì wǒ kòng zhì。 děng wǒ chóngfǎn jiā yuán de shí hòu， wǒ de sì gè xiǎo fù rén yī dìng biàn dé gèng kě 'ài， gèng lìng wǒ gǎn dào jiāo 'ào。” dú dào zhè duàn， měi gè réndōu chōu qì bí zǐ， qiáo rèn yóu dà dī dà dī de lèi zhū cóng bí jiān gǔn luò xià lái， ài měi gù bù dé yī tóu quán fā huì bèi nòng luàn， bǎ liǎn mái zài mā mā de jiān tóu shàng， wū wūyè yān dì shuō：“ wǒ shì gè zì sī de nǚ hái！ dàn wǒ yī dìng nǔ lì jìn qǔ， bù ràng bà bà shī wàng。”“ wǒ men dū huì nǔ lì！” méi gé kū zhe shuō，” wǒ tài zhù zhòng yī zhe dǎ bàn， ér qiě tǎo yàn gōng zuò， yǐ hòu yī dìng jìn liàng gǎi zhèng。”“ wǒ huì shì zhe zuò gè ' xiǎo fù rén '， jiù xiàng bà bà zǒng 'ài zhè me jiào wǒ de nà yàng， gǎi diào cū yě de pí qì， zuò hǎo zì jǐ de fènnèi shì， bù zài hú sī luàn xiǎng，“ qiáo shuō， xīn lǐ míng bái zài jiā guǎn hǎo zì jǐ de pí qì bǐ zài nán fāng duì fù liǎng gè dí rén hái yào jiān nán。
　　 bèi sī méi yòu yán yǔ， zhǐ shì yòng shēn lán sè de jūn wà mǒ diào yǎn lèi， pīn mìng mái tóu biān zhì。 tā bù làng fèi diǎn dī shí jiān， ér shì cóng shēn biān de gōng zuò zuò qǐ， bìng 'àn xià jué xīn， yī dìng ràng bà bà huí lái huān jù de shí hòu rú yuàn yǐ cháng。
　　 mǎ qí tài tài yòng tā yú yuè de shēng yīn dǎ pò liǎo qiáo shuō huà zhī hòu de yī zhèn chén mò：“ nǐ men hái jì dé yǎn《 tiān lù lì chéng》 de qíng xíng má？ nà shí hòu nǐ men hái dū shì xiē xiǎo dōng xī。 nǐ men zuì xǐ huān wǒ bǎ bù dài bǎng dào nǐ men bèi shàng zuò dān zǐ， zài gěi nǐ men mào、 gùn zǐ hé zhǐ juàn， ràng nǐ men cóng wū lǐ zǒu dào dì jiào， yě jiù shì ' huǐ miè chéng '， yòu zài wǎng shàng yī zhí zǒu dào wū dǐng， zài nà lǐ nǐ men kě yǐ dé dào xǔ duō hǎo dōng xī， zhè jiù shì ' tiān guó ' liǎo。“ nà duō hǎo wán 'ā， tè bié shì zǒu guò shī zǐ qún， dà zhàn ' dì yù mó wáng '， lù guò ' yāo guài gǔ ' shí hòu！” qiáo shuō。
　　“ wǒ xǐ huān bāo fú diào xià lái gǔn luò lóu tī zhè gè qíng jié，” méi gé shuō。
　　“ wǒ zuì xǐ huān de shì wǒ men zǒu chū lái， shàng dào píng tǎn de wū dǐng， wū dǐng mǎn shì xiān huā、 qiáo mù hé měi lì de dōng xī， wǒ men zhàn zài nà lǐ， zài yáng guāng zhào yào xià， fàng shēng huān gē，” bèi sī wēi wēi xiào zhe shuō， hǎo xiàng yòu chóngxīn huí dào liǎo nà měi hǎo de shí kè。
　　“ wǒ bù dà jì dé liǎo， zhǐ jì dé wǒ tǐng hài pà nà gè dì jiào hé hēi qī qī de rù kǒu， hái yòu jiù shì tǐng xǐ huān chī wū dǐng shàng de dàn gāo hé niú nǎi。 rú guǒ bù shì nián líng tài dà， wǒ dǎo tǐng xiǎng zài yǎn yī huí。” nián jǐn shí 'èr dàn yǐ xiǎn dé chéng shú de 'ài měi kāi shǐ tán lùn gào bié tóng zhēn liǎo。
　　“ yǎn zhè chū xì yǒng yuǎn méi yòu nián líng zhī fēn， qīn 'ài de， shì shí shàng wǒ men yī zhí dōuzài bàn yǎn， zhǐ shì fāng shì bù tóng 'ér yǐ。 wǒ men zhòng dān zài jiān， dào lù jiù zài yǎn qián， zhuī qiú shàn měi、 zhuī qiú xìng fú de yuàn wàng yǐn dǎo wǒ men kuà yuè wú shù jiān nán xiǎn zǔ， zuì hòu tà rù shèng níng zhī dì -- zhēn zhèng de ' tiān guó '。 lái bā， wǎng tiān guó jìn fā de xiǎo lǚ kè men， zài lái yī cì bā。 bù shì zuò xì， ér shì zhēn xīn zhēn yì dì qù zuò， kàn kàn bà bà huí lái shí nǐ men zǒu liǎo duō yuǎn de lù。”“ zhēn de má， mā mā？ wǒ men de zhòng dān zài nǎ lǐ？” quē fá xiǎng xiàng lì de nián qīng nǚ shì 'ài měi wèn dào。
　　“ gāng cái nǐ men gè rén dū bǎ zì jǐ de dān zǐ shuō liǎo chū lái， zhǐ yòu bèi sī chú wài。 kǒng pà tā méi yòu li，” mǔ qīn dá dào。
　　“ yòu hē， wǒ yě yòu。 guō、 wǎn、 píng、 pén， sǎo zhǒu mǒ bù， jí dù yòu piào liàng gāng qín de nǚ hái， hài pà shēng rén， zhè xiē dōushì wǒ de dān zǐ。” bèi sī de bāo fú rú cǐ yòu qù， dà jiā zhí xiǎng xiào， bù guò dōuméi yòu xiào chū lái， yīn wéi zhè yàng huì dà dà shāng hài tā de zì zūn xīn。
　　“ gān zhè xiē yòu shénme bù hǎo ní？” méi gé chén sī zhe shuō，” zhè qí shí jiù shì zhuī qiú shàn měi， zhǐ shì shuō fǎ bù tóng 'ér yǐ， ér zhè gè gù shì kě yǐ qǐ fā wǒ men， yīn wéi jìn guǎn wǒ mendōu yòu zhuī qiú shàn měi zhī xīn， dàn yīn wéi zuò qǐ lái kùn nán， wǒ men biàn yòu wàng diào liǎo， bù qù jìn lì 'ér wéi。”“ wǒ men jīn wǎn běn lái chǔyú ' jué wàng de shēn yuān '， mā mā xiàng shū zhōng de ' bāng zhù ' yī yàng lái bǎ wǒ men lā liǎo chū qù， wǒ men yīnggāi xiàng jiào tú yī yàng yòu jǐ běn zhǐ dǎo shǒu cè。 zhè shì zěn me bàn hǎo ní？” qiáo wèn， wéi zì jǐ de xiǎng xiàng lì gěi chén mèn de rèn wù tiān jiā liǎo jǐ fēn làng màn sè cǎi 'ér zì míng dé yì。
　　“ shèng dàn jié yī zǎo kàn kàn nǐ men de zhěn xià， jiù huì zhǎo dào zhǐ dǎo shǒu cè liǎo，” mǎ qí tài tài shuō。
　　 hǎn nà mó mó shōu shí zhuō zǐ shí， dà jiā kāi shǐ tǎo lùn xīn jìhuà， rán hòu qǔ chū sì gè zhuāng huó jì de xiǎo lán zǐ， jiě mèi men kāi shǐ fēi zhēn zǒu xiàn， wéi mǎ qí tài tài féng zhì bèi dān。 zhēn xiàn huó shì gè chén mèn de huó 'ér， bù guò jīn tiān wǎn shàng shuí yě méi yòu bào yuàn。 tā men cǎi nà qiáo de jiàn yì， bǎ cháng cháng de fèngkǒu fēn wéi sì duàn， fēn bié chēng wéi 'ōu zhōu、 yà zhōu、 fēi zhōu hé měi zhōu。 zhè yàng guǒ rán féng dé kuài duō liǎo。 tā men yī biān féng yī biān tán lùn zhēn xiàn chuān yuè de bù tóng guó jiā， gèng jué jìn zhǎn shén sù。
　　 jiǔ diǎn zhōng de shí hòu dà jiā tíng xià huó 'ér， xiàng píng shí nà yàng xiān chàng gē zài qù shuì jué。 jiā lǐ yòu jià lǎo diào yá de gāng qín， chú liǎo bèi sī， dà jiādōu bù dà huì dàn。 tā qīng qīng chù dòng fàn huáng de qín jiàn， dà jiā suí zhe yōu yáng de qín shēng chàng liǎo qǐ lái。 méi gé de sǎng yīn xiàng lú dí yī yàng dòng tīng， tā hé mǔ qīn dān rèn zhè zhī xiǎo yǎn chàng duì de lǐng chàng。
　　 ài měi gē shēng qīng cuì， rú xī shuài de míng jiào， qiáo zé rèn yóu gē shēng zài kōng zhōng piāo dàng， zǒng shì zài bù shì yí de shí hòu mào chū gè chàn yīn huò guài jiào shēng lái， bǎ zuì shēn chén de qǔdiào gěi zāo tà diào。 dǎ cóng yá yá xué yǔ de shí hòu kāi shǐ， tā men jiù yī zhí zhè yàng chàng： xiǎo xīng xīng， liàng jīng jīng， rú jīn zhè yǐ chéng liǎo jiā lǐ de guàn lì， yīn wéi tā men de mǔ qīn jiù shì gè tiān shēng de gē chàng jiā。 zǎo shàng tīng dào de dì yī gè shēng yīn jiù shì tā zài wū zǐ lǐ zǒu dòng shí chàng chū de yún què bān wǎn zhuǎn de gē shēng， wǎn shàng， tā nà qīng kuài de gē shēng yòu chéng liǎo yī tiān de wěi shēng。 zhè zhī shú shí de yáo lán qū gū niàn men bǎi tīng bù yàn。

　　PLAYING PILGRIMS
　　 "Christmas won't be Christmas without any presents," grumbled Jo, lying on the rug.
　　 "It's so dreadful to be poor!" sighed Meg, looking down at her old dress.
　　 "I don't think it's fair for some girls to have plenty of pretty things, and other girls nothing at all," added little Amy, with an injured sniff.
　　 "We've got Father and Mother, and each other," said Beth contentedly from her corner.
　　 The four young faces on which the firelight shone brightened at the cheerful words, but darkened again as Jo said sadly, "We haven't got Father, and shall not have him for a long time." She didn't say "perhaps never," but each silently added it, thinking of Father far away, where the fighting was.
　　 Nobody spoke for a minute; then Meg said in an altered tone, "You know the reason Mother proposed not having any presents this Christmas was because it is going to be a hard winter for everyone; and she thinks we ought not to spend money for pleasure, when our men are suffering so in the army. We can't do much, but we can make our little sacrifices, and ought to do it gladly. But I am afraid I don't," and Meg shook her head, as she thought regretfully of all the pretty things she wanted.
　　 "But I don't think the little we should spend would do any good. We've each got a dollar, and the army wouldn't be much helped by our giving that. I agree not to expect anything from Mother or you, but I do want to buy _Undine and Sintran_ for myself. I've wanted it so long," said Jo, who was a bookworm.
　　 "I planned to spend mine in new music," said Beth, with a little sigh, which no one heard but the hearth brush and kettle-holder.
　　 "I shall get a nice box of Faber's drawing pencils; I really need them," said Amy decidedly.
　　 "Mother didn't say anything about our money, and she won't wish us to give up everything. Let's each buy what we want, and have a little fun; I'm sure we work hard enough to earn it," cried Jo, examining the heels of her shoes in a gentlemanly manner.
　　 "I know I do--teaching those tiresome children nearly all day, when I'm longing to enjoy myself at home," began Meg, in the complaining tone again.
　　 "You don't have half such a hard time as I do," said Jo. "How would you like to be shut up for hours with a nervous, fussy old lady, who keeps you trotting, is never satisfied, and worries you till you're ready to fly out the window or cry?"
　　 "It's naughty to fret, but I do think washing dishes and keeping things tidy is the worst work in the world. It makes me cross, and my hands get so stiff, I can't practice well at all." And Beth looked at her rough hands with a sigh that any one could hear that time.
　　 "I don't believe any of you suffer as I do," cried Amy, "for you don't have to go to school with impertinent girls, who plague you if you don't know your lessons, and laugh at your dresses, and label your father if he isn't rich, and insult you when your nose isn't nice."
　　 "If you mean libel, I'd say so, and not talk about labels, as if Papa was a pickle bottle," advised Jo, laughing.
　　 "I know what I mean, and you needn't be statirical about it. It's proper to use good words, and improve your vocabilary," returned Amy, with dignity.
　　 "Don't peck at one another, children. Don't you wish we had the money Papa lost when we were little, Jo? Dear me! How happy and good we'd be, if we had no worries!" said Meg, who could remember better times.
　　 "You said the other day you thought we were a deal happier than the King children, for they were fighting and fretting all the time, in spite of their money."
　　 "So I did, Beth. Well, I think we are. For though we do have to work, we make fun of ourselves, and are a pretty jolly set, as Jo would say."
　　 "Jo does use such slang words!" observed Amy, with a reproving look at the long figure stretched on the rug.
　　 Jo immediately sat up, put her hands in her pockets, and began to whistle.
　　 "Don't, Jo. It's so boyish!"
　　 "That's why I do it."
　　 "I detest rude, unladylike girls!"
　　 "I hate affected, niminy-piminy chits!"
　　 "Birds in their little nests agree," sang Beth, the peacemaker, with such a funny face that both sharp voices softened to a laugh, and the "pecking" ended for that time.
　　 "Really, girls, you are both to be blamed," said Meg, beginning to lecture in her elder-sisterly fashion. "You are old enough to leave off boyish tricks, and to behave better, Josephine. It didn't matter so much when you were a little girl, but now you are so tall, and turn up your hair, you should remember that you are a young lady."
　　 "I'm not! And if turning up my hair makes me one, I'll wear it in two tails till I'm twenty," cried Jo, pulling off her net, and shaking down a chestnut mane. "I hate to think I've got to grow up, and be Miss March, and wear long gowns, and look as prim as a China Aster! It's bad enough to be a girl, anyway, when I like boy's games and work and manners! I can't get over my disappointment in not being a boy. And it's worse than ever now, for I'm dying to go and fight with Papa. And I can only stay home and knit, like a poky old woman!"
　　 And Jo shook the blue army sock till the needles rattled like castanets, and her ball bounded across the room.
　　 "Poor Jo! It's too bad, but it can't be helped. So you must try to be contented with making your name boyish, and playing brother to us girls," said Beth, stroking the rough head with a hand that all the dish washing and dusting in the world could not make ungentle in its touch.
　　 "As for you, Amy," continued Meg, "you are altogether to particular and prim. Your airs are funny now, but you'll grow up an affected little goose, if you don't take care. I like your nice manners and refined ways of speaking, when you don't try to be elegant. But your absurd words are as bad as Jo's slang."
　　 "If Jo is a tomboy and Amy a goose, what am I, please?" asked Beth, ready to share the lecture.
　　 "You're a dear, and nothing else," answered Meg warmly, and no one contradicted her, for the 'Mouse' was the pet of the family.
　　 As young readers like to know 'how people look', we will take this moment to give them a little sketch of the four sisters, who sat knitting away in the twilight, while the December snow fell quietly without, and the fire crackled cheerfully within. It was a comfortable room, though the carpet was faded and the furniture very plain, for a good picture or two hung on the walls, books filled the recesses, chrysanthemums and Christmas roses bloomed in the windows, and a pleasant atmosphere of home peace pervaded it.
　　 Margaret, the eldest of the four, was sixteen, and very pretty, being plump and fair, with large eyes, plenty of soft brown hair, a sweet mouth, and white hands, of which she was rather vain. Fifteen- year-old Jo was very tall, thin, and brown, and reminded one of a colt, for she never seemed to know what to do with her long limbs, which were very much in her way. She had a decided mouth, a comical nose, and sharp, gray eyes, which appeared to see everything, and were by turns fierce, funny, or thoughtful. Her long, thick hair was her one beauty, but it was usually bundled into a net, to be out of her way. Round shoulders had Jo, big hands and feet, a flyaway look to her clothes, and the uncomfortable appearance of a girl who was rapidly shooting up into a woman and didn't like it. Elizabeth, or Beth, as everyone called her, was a rosy, smooth- haired, bright-eyed girl of thirteen, with a shy manner, a timid voice, and a peaceful expression which was seldom disturbed. Her father called her 'Little Miss Tranquility', and the name suited her excellently, for she seemed to live in a happy world of her own, only venturing out to meet the few whom she trusted and loved. Amy, though the youngest, was a most important person, in her own opinion at least. A regular snow maiden, with blue eyes, and yellow hair curling on her shoulders, pale and slender, and always carrying herself like a young lady mindful of her manners. What the characters of the four sisters were we will leave to be found out.
　　 The clock struck six and, having swept up the hearth, Beth put a pair of slippers down to warm. Somehow the sight of the old shoes had a good effect upon the girls, for Mother was coming, and everyone brightened to welcome her. Meg stopped lecturing, and lighted the lamp, Amy got out of the easy chair without being asked, and Jo forgot how tired she was as she sat up to hold the slippers nearer to the blaze.
　　 "They are quite worn out. Marmee must have a new pair."
　　 "I thought I'd get her some with my dollar," said Beth.
　　 "No, I shall!" cried Amy.
　　 "I'm the oldest," began Meg, but Jo cut in with a decided, "I'm the man of the family now Papa is away, and I shall provide the slippers, for he told me to take special care of Mother while he was gone."
　　 "I'll tell you what we'll do," said Beth, "let's each get her something for Christmas, and not get anything for ourselves."
　　 "That's like you, dear! What will we get?" exclaimed Jo.
　　 Everyone thought soberly for a minute, then Meg announced, as if the idea was suggested by the sight of her own pretty hands, "I shall give her a nice pair of gloves."
　　 "Army shoes, best to be had," cried Jo.
　　 "Some handkerchiefs, all hemmed," said Beth.
　　 "I'll get a little bottle of cologne. She likes it, and it won't cost much, so I'll have some left to buy my pencils," added Amy.
　　 "How will we give the things?" asked Meg.
　　 "Put them on the table, and bring her in and see her open the bundles. Don't you remember how we used to do on our birthdays?" answered Jo.
　　 "I used to be so frightened when it was my turn to sit in the chair with the crown on, and see you all come marching round to give the presents, with a kiss. I liked the things and the kisses, but it was dreadful to have you sit looking at me while I opened the bundles," said Beth, who was toasting her face and the bread for tea at the same time.
　　 "Let Marmee think we are getting things for ourselves, and then surprise her. We must go shopping tomorrow afternoon, Meg. There is so much to do about the play for Christmas night," said Jo, marching up and down, with her hands behind her back, and her nose in the air.
　　 "I don't mean to act any more after this time. I'm getting too old for such things," observed Meg, who was as much a child as ever about 'dressing-up' frolics.
　　 "You won't stop, I know, as long as you can trail round in a white gown with your hair down, and wear gold-paper jewelry. You are the best actress we've got, and there'll be an end of everything if you quit the boards," said Jo. "We ought to rehearse tonight. Come here, Amy, and do the fainting scene, for you are as stiff as a poker in that."
　　 "I can't help it. I never saw anyone faint, and I don't choose to make myself all black and blue, tumbling flat as you do. If I can go down easily, I'll drop. If I can't, I shall fall into a chair and be graceful. I don't care if Hugo does come at me with a pistol," returned Amy, who was not gifted with dramatic power, but was chosen because she was small enough to be borne out shrieking by the villain of the piece.
　　 "Do it this way. Clasp your hands so, and stagger across the room, crying frantically, 'Roderigo! Save me! Save me!'" and away went Jo, with a melodramatic scream which was truly thrilling.
　　 Amy followed, but she poked her hands out stiffly before her, and jerked herself along as if she went by machinery, and her "Ow!" was more suggestive of pins being run into her than of fear and anguish. Jo gave a despairing groan, and Meg laughed outright, while Beth let her bread burn as she watched the fun with interest. "It's no use! Do the best you can when the time comes, and if the audience laughs, don't blame me. Come on, Meg."
　　 Then things went smoothly, for Don Pedro defied the world in a speech of two pages without a single break. Hagar, the witch, chanted an awful incantation over her kettleful of simmering toads, with weird effect. Roderigo rent his chains asunder manfully, and Hugo died in agonies of remorse and arsenic, with a wild, "Ha! Ha!"
　　 "It's the best we've had yet," said Meg, as the dead villain sat up and rubbed his elbows.
　　 "I don't see how you can write and act such splendid things, Jo. You're a regular Shakespeare!" exclaimed Beth, who firmly believed that her sisters were gifted with wonderful genius in all things.
　　 "Not quite," replied Jo modestly. "I do think _The Witches Curse, an Operatic Tragedy_ is rather a nice thing, but I'd like to try _Macbeth_, if we only had a trapdoor for Banquo. I always wanted to do the killing part. 'Is that a dagger that I see before me?" muttered Jo, rolling her eyes and clutching at the air, as she had seen a famous tragedian do.
　　 "No, it's the toasting fork, with Mother's shoe on it instead of the bread. Beth's stage-struck!" cried Meg, and the rehearsal ended in a general burst of laughter.
　　 "Glad to find you so merry, my girls," said a cheery voice at the door, and actors and audience turned to welcome a tall, motherly lady with a 'can I help you' look about her which was truly delightful. She was not elegantly dressed, but a noble-looking woman, and the girls thought the gray cloak and unfashionable bonnet covered the most splendid mother in the world.
　　 "Well, dearies, how have you got on today? There was so much to do, getting the boxes ready to go tomorrow, that I didn't come home to dinner. Has anyone called, Beth? How is your cold, Meg? Jo, you look tired to death. Come and kiss me, baby."
　　 While making these maternal inquiries Mrs. March got her wet things off, her warm slippers on, and sitting down in the easy chair, drew Amy to her lap, preparing to enjoy the happiest hour of her busy day. The girls flew about, trying to make things comfortable, each in her own way. Meg arranged the tea table, Jo brought wood and set chairs, dropping, over-turning, and clattering everything she touched. Beth trotted to and fro between parlor kitchen, quiet and busy, while Amy gave directions to everyone, as she sat with her hands folded.
　　 As they gathered about the table, Mrs. March said, with a particularly happy face, "I've got a treat for you after supper."
　　 A quick, bright smile went round like a streak of sunshine. Beth clapped her hands, regardless of the biscuit she held, and Jo tossed up her napkin, crying, "A letter! A letter! Three cheers for Father!"
　　 "Yes, a nice long letter. He is well, and thinks he shall get through the cold season better than we feared. He sends all sorts of loving wishes for Christmas, and an especial message to you girls," said Mrs. March, patting her pocket as if she had got a treasure there.
　　 "Hurry and get done! Don't stop to quirk your little finger and simper over your plate, Amy," cried Jo, choking on her tea and dropping her bread, butter side down, on the carpet in her haste to get at the treat.
　　 Beth ate no more, but crept away to sit in her shadowy corner and brood over the delight to come, till the others were ready.
　　 "I think it was so splendid in Father to go as chaplain when he was too old to be drafted, and not strong enough for a soldier," said Meg warmly.
　　 "Don't I wish I could go as a drummer, a vivan--what's its name? Or a nurse, so I could be near him and help him," exclaimed Jo, with a groan.
　　 "It must be very disagreeable to sleep in a tent, and eat all sorts of bad-tasting things, and drink out of a tin mug," sighed Amy.
　　 "When will he come home, Marmee?" asked Beth, with a little quiver in her voice.
　　 "Not for many months, dear, unless he is sick. He will stay and do his work faithfully as long as he can, and we won't ask for him back a minute sooner than he can be spared. Now come and hear the letter."
　　 They all drew to the fire, Mother in the big chair with Beth at her feet, Meg and Amy perched on either arm of the chair, and Jo leaning on the back, where no one would see any sign of emotion if the letter should happen to be touching. Very few letters were written in those hard times that were not touching, especially those which fathers sent home. In this one little was said of the hardships endured, the dangers faced, or the homesickness conquered. It was a cheerful, hopeful letter, full of lively descriptions of camp life, marches, and military news, and only at the end did the writer's heart over-flow with fatherly love and longing for the little girls at home.
　　 "Give them all of my dear love and a kiss. Tell them I think of them by day, pray for them by night, and find my best comfort in their affection at all times. A year seems very long to wait before I see them, but remind them that while we wait we may all work, so that these hard days need not be wasted. I know they will remember all I said to them, that they will be loving children to you, will do their duty faithfully, fight their bosom enemies bravely, and conquer themselves so beautifully that when I come back to them I may be fonder and prouder than ever of my little women." Everybody sniffed when they came to that part. Jo wasn't ashamed of the great tear that dropped off the end of her nose, and Amy never minded the rumpling of her curls as she hid her face on her mother's shoulder and sobbed out, "I am a selfish girl! But I'll truly try to be better, so he mayn't be disappointed in me by-and-by."
　　 "We all will," cried Meg. "I think too much of my looks and hate to work, but won't any more, if I can help it."
　　 "I'll try and be what he loves to call me, 'a little woman' and not be rough and wild, but do my duty here instead of wanting to be somewhere else," said Jo, thinking that keeping her temper at home was a much harder task than facing a rebel or two down South.
　　 Beth said nothing, but wiped away her tears with the blue army sock and began to knit with all her might, losing no time in doing the duty that lay nearest her, while she resolved in her quiet little soul to be all that Father hoped to find her when the year brought round the happy coming home.
　　 Mrs. March broke the silence that followed Jo's words, by saying in her cheery voice, "Do you remember how you used to play Pilgrims Progress when you were little things? Nothing delighted you more than to have me tie my piece bags on your backs for burdens, give you hats and sticks and rolls of paper, and let you travel through the house from the cellar, which was the City of Destruction, up, up, to the housetop, where you had all the lovely things you could collect to make a Celestial City."
　　 "What fun it was, especially going by the lions, fighting Apollyon, and passing through the valley where the hob-goblins were," said Jo.
　　 "I liked the place where the bundles fell off and tumbled downstairs," said Meg.
　　 "I don't remember much about it, except that I was afraid of the cellar and the dark entry, and always liked the cake and milk we had up at the top. If I wasn't too old for such things, I'd rather like to play it over again," said Amy, who began to talk of renouncing childish things at the mature age of twelve.
　　 "We never are too old for this, my dear, because it is a play we are playing all the time in one way or another. Our burdens are here, our road is before us, and the longing for goodness and happiness is the guide that leads us through many troubles and mistakes to the peace which is a true Celestial City. Now, my little pilgrims, suppose you begin again, not in play, but in earnest, and see how far on you can get before Father comes home."
　　 "Really, Mother? Where are our bundles?" asked Amy, who was a very literal young lady.
　　 "Each of you told what your burden was just now, except Beth. I rather think she hasn't got any," said her mother.
　　 "Yes, I have. Mine is dishes and dusters, and envying girls with nice pianos, and being afraid of people."
　　 Beth's bundle was such a funny one that everybody wanted to laugh, but nobody did, for it would have hurt her feelings very much.
　　 "Let us do it," said Meg thoughtfully. "It is only another name for trying to be good, and the story may help us, for though we do want to be good, it's hard work and we forget, and don't do our best."
　　 "We were in the Slough of Despond tonight, and Mother came and pulled us out as Help did in the book. We ought to have our roll of directions, like Christian. What shall we do about that?" asked Jo, delighted with the fancy which lent a little romance to the very dull task of doing her duty.
　　 "Look under your pillows Christmas morning, and you will find your guidebook," replied Mrs. March.
　　 They talked over the new plan while old Hannah cleared the table, then out came the four little work baskets, and the needles flew as the girls made sheets for Aunt March. It was uninteresting sewing, but tonight no one grumbled. They adopted Jo's plan of dividing the long seams into four parts, and calling the quarters Europe, Asia, Africa, and America, and in that way got on capitally, especially when they talked about the different countries as they stitched their way through them.
　　 At nine they stopped work, and sang, as usual, before they went to bed. No one but Beth could get much music out of the old piano, but she had a way of softly touching the yellow keys and making a pleasant accompaniment to the simple songs they sang. Meg had a voice like a flute, and she and her mother led the little choir. Amy chirped like a cricket, and Jo wandered through the airs at her own sweet will, always coming out at the wrong place with a croak or a quaver that spoiled the most pensive tune. They had always done this from the time they could lisp . . .
　　 Crinkle, crinkle, 'ittle 'tar,
　　 and it had become a household custom, for the mother was a born singer. The first sound in the morning was her voice as she went about the house singing like a lark, and the last sound at night was the same cheery sound, for the girls never grew too old for that familiar lullaby.