PREVIOUSLY: The girls set out their Christmas presents for Marmee. Beth had stitched some handkerchiefs for her that were labeled “Mother” instead of “M. March” and Jo was mean about it.
“It’s all right, dear, and a very pretty idea; quite sensible, too, for no one can ever mistake now. It will please her very much, I know,” said Meg, with a frown for Jo, and a smile for Beth.
“There’s mother; hide the basket, quick!” cried Jo, as a door slammed, and steps sounded in the hall.
Amy came in hastily, and looked rather abashed when she saw her sisters all waiting for her.
“Where have you been, and what are you hiding behind you?” asked Meg, surprised to see, by her hood and cloak, that lazy Amy1 had been out so early.
“Don’t laugh at me, Jo, I didn’t mean any one should know till the time came. I only meant to change the little bottle for a big one, and I gave all my money to get it, and I’m truly trying not to be selfish any more.”
As she spoke, Amy showed the handsome flask which replaced the cheap one; and looked so earnest and humble in her little effort to forget herself, that Meg hugged her on the spot, and Jo pronounced her “a trump,” 2 while Beth ran to the window, and picked her finest rose to ornament the stately bottle.
“You see I felt ashamed of my present, after reading and talking about being good this morning, so I ran round the corner and changed it the minute I was up; and I’m so glad, for mine is the handsomest now.”
Not far away from here lies a poor woman with a little newborn baby. Six children are huddled into one bed to keep from freezing, for they have no fire.
Another bang of the street-door sent the basket under the sofa, and the girls to the table eager for breakfast.
“Merry Christmas, Marmee! Lots of them! Thank you for our books; we read some, and mean to every day,” they cried, in chorus. 3
As Marmee entered, the girls gasped - for Marmee looked ages older than she had the night before. It was still her, of course. Of course! Of course.
“Merry Christmas, little daughters! I’m glad you began at once, and hope you will keep on. But I want to say one word before we sit down. Not far away from here lies a poor woman with a little newborn baby. Six children are huddled into one bed to keep from freezing, for they have no fire. There is nothing to eat over there; and the oldest boy came to tell me they were suffering hunger and cold. My girls, will you give them your breakfast as a Christmas present?” 4
1 I have a working theory that Jo is who Alcott wants the reader to be, and Amy is who she thinks the readers actually are. I don’t think Alcott identifies as an Amy though. Alcott thinks she’s a Jo, wants to be Meg, hates Beth, and IS a Miranda.
2 ”Trump” - jolly or good natured person. Jo using Boy Slang™ here.
3 In chorus I’m sure means “chattering over each other” but very funny to think of the four yelling this in perfect unison at their still-in-her-coat mother.
4 “I’m sure the six children will enjoy your…muffins? Scones? Honestly not sure what’s going on in this cake-shaped space on the table over here. In any case, it’s going to that cold baby.”
Sorry for the delay, dear readers! Perhaps you didn’t even notice. I hope you didn’t!
A brief entry today, but I hope to have a longer update for you all on Friday. In the meantime thank you for your eyeballs, patience, and affection, always. xoxoxo
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Operation Orphaning continues apace