LITTLE WOMEN

by Louisa May Alcott




CHAPTER ONE

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.