As Christmas approached, the usual mysteries began to haunt the house, and Jo frequently convulsed the family by proposing utterly3 impossible or magnificently absurd ceremonies, in honor of this unusually merry Christmas. Laurie was equally impracticable, and 270 would have had bonfires, sky-rockets, and triumphal arches, if he had had his own way. After many skirmishes and snubbings, the ambitious pair were considered effectually quenched4, and went about with forlorn faces, which were rather belied5 by explosions of laughter when the two got together.
Several days of unusually mild weather fitly ushered6 in a splendid Christmas Day. Hannah "felt in her bones" that it was going to be an unusually fine day, and she proved herself a true prophetess, for everybody and everything seemed bound to produce a grand success. To begin with, Mr. March wrote that he should soon be with them; then Beth felt uncommonly7 well that morning, and, being dressed in her mother's gift,—a soft crimson8 merino wrapper,—was borne in triumph to the window to behold9 the offering of Jo and Laurie. The Unquenchables had done their best to be worthy10 of the name, for, like elves, they had worked by night, and conjured11 up a comical surprise. Out in the garden stood a stately snow-maiden, crowned with holly12, bearing a basket of fruit and flowers in one hand, a great roll of new music in the other, a perfect rainbow of an Afghan round her chilly13 shoulders, and a Christmas carol issuing from her lips, on a pink paper streamer:—
The Jungfrau
"THE JUNGFRAU TO BETH.
"God bless you, dear Queen Bess!
May nothing you dismay,
But health and peace and happiness
Be yours, this Christmas Day.
"Here's fruit to feed our busy bee,
And flowers for her nose;
Here's music for her pianee,
An Afghan for her toes.
"A portrait of Joanna, see,
By Raphael No. 2,
To make it fair and true.
271 "Accept a ribbon red, I beg,
For Madam Purrer's tail;
And ice-cream made by lovely Peg,—
A Mont Blanc in a pail.
Within my breast of snow:
From Laurie and from Jo."
How Beth laughed when she saw it, how Laurie ran up and down to bring in the gifts, and what ridiculous speeches Jo made as she presented them!
"I'm so full of happiness, that, if father was only here, I couldn't hold one drop more," said Beth, quite sighing with contentment as Jo carried her off to the study to rest after the excitement, and to refresh herself with some of the delicious grapes the "Jungfrau" had sent her.
"I'm sure I am," echoed Amy, poring over the engraved20 copy of the Madonna and Child, which her mother had given her, in a pretty frame.
"Of course I am!" cried Meg, smoothing the silvery folds of her first silk dress; for Mr. Laurence had insisted on giving it.
"How can I be otherwise?" said Mrs. March gratefully, as her eyes went from her husband's letter to Beth's smiling face, and her hand caressed22 the brooch made of gray and golden, chestnut23 and dark brown hair, which the girls had just fastened on her breast.
Now and then, in this work-a-day world, things do happen in the delightful24 story-book fashion, and what a comfort that is. Half an hour after every one had said they were so happy they could only hold one drop more, the drop came. Laurie opened the parlor25 door, and popped his head in very quietly. He might just as well have turned a somersault and uttered an Indian war-whoop; for his face was so full of suppressed excitement and his voice so treacherously26 joyful27, that every one jumped up, though he only said, in a queer, breathless voice, "Here's another Christmas present for the March family."
Before the words were well out of his mouth, he was whisked away somehow, and in his place appeared a tall man, muffled28 up to the eyes, leaning on the arm of another tall man, who tried to say something and couldn't. Of course there was a general stampede; and for several minutes everybody seemed to lose their wits, for the strangest things were done, and no one said a word. Mr. March became invisible in the embrace of four pairs of loving arms; Jo disgraced herself by nearly fainting away, and had to be doctored by Laurie in the china-closet; Mr. Brooke kissed Meg entirely29 by mistake, as he somewhat incoherently explained; and Amy, the dignified30, tumbled over a stool, and, never stopping to get up, hugged and cried over her father's boots in the most touching31 manner. Mrs. March was the first to recover herself, and held up her hand with a warning, "Hush32! remember Beth!"
But it was too late; the study door flew open, the little red wrapper 273 appeared on the threshold,—joy put strength into the feeble limbs,—and Beth ran straight into her father's arms. Never mind what happened just after that; for the full hearts overflowed33, washing away the bitterness of the past, and leaving only the sweetness of the present.
It was not at all romantic, but a hearty34 laugh set everybody straight again, for Hannah was discovered behind the door, sobbing35 over the fat turkey, which she had forgotten to put down when she rushed up from the kitchen. As the laugh subsided36, Mrs. March began to thank Mr. Brooke for his faithful care of her husband, at which Mr. Brooke suddenly remembered that Mr. March needed rest, and, seizing Laurie, he precipitately37 retired38. Then the two invalids were ordered to repose18, which they did, by both sitting in one big chair, and talking hard.
Mr. March told how he had longed to surprise them, and how, when the fine weather came, he had been allowed by his doctor to take advantage of it; how devoted39 Brooke had been, and how he was altogether a most estimable and upright young man. Why Mr. March paused a minute just there, and, after a glance at Meg, who was violently poking40 the fire, looked at his wife with an inquiring lift of the eyebrows41, I leave you to imagine; also why Mrs. March gently nodded her head, and asked, rather abruptly42, if he wouldn't have something to eat. Jo saw and understood the look; and she stalked grimly away to get wine and beef-tea, muttering to herself, as she slammed the door, "I hate estimable young men with brown eyes!"
There never was such a Christmas dinner as they had that day. The fat turkey was a sight to behold, when Hannah sent him up, stuffed, browned, and decorated; so was the plum-pudding, which quite melted in one's mouth; likewise the jellies, in which Amy revelled43 like a fly in a honey-pot. Everything turned out well, which was a mercy, Hannah said, "For my mind was that flustered44, mum, that it's a merrycle I didn't roast the pudding, and stuff the turkey with raisins45, let alone bilin' of it in a cloth."
Mr. Laurence and his grandson dined with them, also Mr. Brooke,—at whom Jo glowered46 darkly, to Laurie's infinite amusement. Two easy-chairs stood side by side at the head of the table, 274 in which sat Beth and her father, feasting modestly on chicken and a little fruit. They drank healths, told stories, sung songs, "reminisced," as the old folks say, and had a thoroughly47 good time. A sleigh-ride had been planned, but the girls would not leave their father; so the guests departed early, and, as twilight48 gathered, the happy family sat together round the fire.
"Just a year ago we were groaning49 over the dismal50 Christmas we expected to have. Do you remember?" asked Jo, breaking a short pause which had followed a long conversation about many things.
"Rather a pleasant year on the whole!" said Meg, smiling at the fire, and congratulating herself on having treated Mr. Brooke with dignity.
"I think it's been a pretty hard one," observed Amy, watching the light shine on her ring, with thoughtful eyes.
"I'm glad it's over, because we've got you back," whispered Beth, who sat on her father's knee.
"Rather a rough road for you to travel, my little pilgrims, especially the latter part of it. But you have got on bravely; and I think the burdens are in a fair way to tumble off very soon," said Mr. March, looking with fatherly satisfaction at the four young faces gathered round him.
"How do you know? Did mother tell you?" asked Jo.
"Not much; straws show which way the wind blows, and I've made several discoveries to-day."
"Oh, tell us what they are!" cried Meg, who sat beside him.
"Here is one;" and taking up the hand which lay on the arm of his chair, he pointed51 to the roughened forefinger52, a burn on the back, and two or three little hard spots on the palm. "I remember a time when this hand was white and smooth, and your first care was to keep it so. It was very pretty then, but to me it is much prettier now,—for in these seeming blemishes53 I read a little history. A burnt-offering has been made of vanity; this hardened palm has earned something better than blisters54; and I'm sure the sewing done by these pricked55 fingers will last a long time, so much good-will went into the stitches. Meg, my dear, I value the womanly skill which keeps home happy more than white hands or fashionable accomplishments56. 275 I'm proud to shake this good, industrious57 little hand, and hope I shall not soon be asked to give it away."
If Meg had wanted a reward for hours of patient labor14, she received it in the hearty pressure of her father's hand and the approving smile he gave her.
"What about Jo? Please say something nice; for she has tried so hard, and been so very, very good to me," said Beth, in her father's ear.
He laughed, and looked across at the tall girl who sat opposite, with an unusually mild expression in her brown face.
"In spite of the curly crop, I don't see the 'son Jo' whom I left a year ago," said Mr. March. "I see a young lady who pins her collar straight, laces her boots neatly58, and neither whistles, talks slang, nor lies on the rug as she used to do. Her face is rather thin and pale, just now, with watching and anxiety; but I like to look at it, for it has grown gentler, and her voice is lower; she doesn't bounce, but moves quietly, and takes care of a certain little person in a motherly way which delights me. I rather miss my wild girl; but if I get a strong, helpful, tender-hearted woman in her place, I shall feel quite satisfied. I don't know whether the shearing59 sobered our black sheep, but I do know that in all Washington I couldn't find anything beautiful enough to be bought with the five-and-twenty dollars which my good girl sent me."
Jo's keen eyes were rather dim for a minute, and her thin face grew rosy60 in the firelight, as she received her father's praise, feeling that she did deserve a portion of it.
"There's so little of her, I'm afraid to say much, for fear she will slip away altogether, though she is not so shy as she used to be," began their father cheerfully; but recollecting62 how nearly he had lost her, he held her close, saying tenderly, with her cheek against his own, "I've got you safe, my Beth, and I'll keep you so, please God."
After a minute's silence, he looked down at Amy, who sat on the cricket at his feet, and said, with a caress21 of the shining hair,—
"I observed that Amy took drumsticks at dinner, ran errands for her mother all the afternoon, gave Meg her place to-night, and has 276 waited on every one with patience and good-humor. I also observe that she does not fret63 much nor look in the glass, and has not even mentioned a very pretty ring which she wears; so I conclude that she has learned to think of other people more and of herself less, and has decided64 to try and mould her character as carefully as she moulds her little clay figures. I am glad of this; for though I should be very proud of a graceful65 statue made by her, I shall be infinitely66 prouder of a lovable daughter, with a talent for making life beautiful to herself and others."
"What are you thinking of, Beth?" asked Jo, when Amy had thanked her father and told about her ring.
"I read in 'Pilgrim's Progress' to-day, how, after many troubles, Christian67 and Hopeful came to a pleasant green meadow, where lilies bloomed all the year round, and there they rested happily, as we do now, before they went on to their journey's end," answered Beth; adding, as she slipped out of her father's arms, and went slowly to the instrument, "It's singing time now, and I want to be in my old place. I'll try to sing the song of the shepherd-boy which the Pilgrims heard. I made the music for father, because he likes the verses."
So, sitting at the dear little piano, Beth softly touched the keys, and, in the sweet voice they had never thought to hear again, sung to her own accompaniment the quaint68 hymn69, which was a singularly fitting song for her:—
"He that is down need fear no fall,
He that is low no pride;
Have God to be his guide.
"I am content with what I have,
Little be it or much;
Because Thou savest such.
"Fulness to them a burden is,
That go on pilgrimage;
Is best from age to age!"
He sat in the big chair
"He sat in the big chair by Beth's sofa with the other three close by."—Page 277.
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1
invalids
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| 病人，残疾者( invalid的名词复数 ) | |
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celebrated
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| adj.有名的，声誉卓著的 | |
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utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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quenched
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| 解（渴）( quench的过去式和过去分词 )； 终止（某事物）； （用水）扑灭（火焰等）； 将（热物体）放入水中急速冷却 | |
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belied
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| v.掩饰( belie的过去式和过去分词 )；证明（或显示）…为虚假；辜负；就…扯谎 | |
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ushered
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| v.引，领，陪同( usher的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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uncommonly
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| adv. 稀罕(极，非常) | |
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crimson
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| n./adj.深(绯)红色(的)；vi.脸变绯红色 | |
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behold
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| v.看，注视，看到 | |
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worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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conjured
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| 用魔术变出( conjure的过去式和过去分词 )； 祈求，恳求； 变戏法； （变魔术般地） 使…出现 | |
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holly
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| n.[植]冬青属灌木 | |
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chilly
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| adj.凉快的，寒冷的 | |
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labor
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| n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦 | |
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labored
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| adj.吃力的，谨慎的v.努力争取(for)( labor的过去式和过去分词 )；苦干；详细分析；（指引擎）缓慢而困难地运转 | |
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makers
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| n.制造者，制造商（maker的复数形式） | |
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alpine
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| adj.高山的；n.高山植物 | |
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18
repose
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| v.(使)休息；n.安息 | |
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reposed
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| v.将（手臂等）靠在某人（某物）上( repose的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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engraved
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| v.在（硬物）上雕刻（字，画等）( engrave的过去式和过去分词 )；将某事物深深印在（记忆或头脑中） | |
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caress
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| vt./n.爱抚，抚摸 | |
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caressed
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| 爱抚或抚摸…( caress的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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chestnut
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| n.栗树，栗子 | |
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delightful
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| adj.令人高兴的，使人快乐的 | |
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parlor
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| n.店铺，营业室；会客室，客厅 | |
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treacherously
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| 背信弃义地； 背叛地； 靠不住地； 危险地 | |
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joyful
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| adj.欢乐的，令人欢欣的 | |
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muffled
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| adj.（声音）被隔的；听不太清的；（衣服）裹严的；蒙住的v.压抑，捂住( muffle的过去式和过去分词 )；用厚厚的衣帽包着（自己） | |
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entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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dignified
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| a.可敬的，高贵的 | |
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touching
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| adj.动人的，使人感伤的 | |
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hush
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| int.嘘，别出声；n.沉默，静寂；v.使安静 | |
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overflowed
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| 溢出的 | |
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hearty
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| adj.热情友好的；衷心的；尽情的，纵情的 | |
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sobbing
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| <主方>Ⅰ adj.湿透的 | |
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subsided
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| v.（土地）下陷（因在地下采矿）( subside的过去式和过去分词 )；减弱；下降至较低或正常水平；一下子坐在椅子等上 | |
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precipitately
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| adv.猛进地 | |
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retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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devoted
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| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
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poking
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| n. 刺，戳，袋 vt. 拨开，刺，戳 vi. 戳，刺，捅，搜索，伸出，行动散慢 | |
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41
eyebrows
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| 眉毛( eyebrow的名词复数 ) | |
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abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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43
revelled
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| v.作乐( revel的过去式和过去分词 )；狂欢；着迷；陶醉 | |
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44
flustered
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| adj.慌张的；激动不安的v.使慌乱，使不安( fluster的过去式和过去分词) | |
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45
raisins
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| n.葡萄干( raisin的名词复数 ) | |
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glowered
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| v.怒视( glower的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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48
twilight
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| n.暮光，黄昏；暮年，晚期，衰落时期 | |
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49
groaning
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| adj. 呜咽的, 呻吟的 动词groan的现在分词形式 | |
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50
dismal
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| adj.阴沉的，凄凉的，令人忧郁的，差劲的 | |
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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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52
forefinger
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| n.食指 | |
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53
blemishes
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| n.（身体的）瘢点( blemish的名词复数 )；伤疤；瑕疵；污点 | |
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blisters
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| n.水疱( blister的名词复数 )；水肿；气泡 | |
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pricked
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| 刺，扎，戳( prick的过去式和过去分词 )； 刺伤； 刺痛； 使剧痛 | |
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accomplishments
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| n.造诣；完成( accomplishment的名词复数 )；技能；成绩；成就 | |
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industrious
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| adj.勤劳的，刻苦的，奋发的 | |
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neatly
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| adv.整洁地，干净地，灵巧地，熟练地 | |
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shearing
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| n.剪羊毛，剪取的羊毛v.剪羊毛( shear的现在分词 )；切断；剪切 | |
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rosy
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| adj.美好的，乐观的，玫瑰色的 | |
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longing
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| n.（for）渴望 | |
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62
recollecting
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| v.记起，想起( recollect的现在分词 ) | |
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fret
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| v.(使)烦恼；(使)焦急；(使)腐蚀，(使)磨损 | |
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decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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graceful
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| adj.优美的，优雅的；得体的 | |
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infinitely
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| adv.无限地，无穷地 | |
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Christian
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| adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒 | |
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quaint
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| adj.古雅的，离奇有趣的，奇怪的 | |
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hymn
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| n.赞美诗，圣歌，颂歌 | |
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humble
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| adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低 | |
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crave
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| vt.渴望得到，迫切需要，恳求，请求 | |
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bliss
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| n.狂喜，福佑，天赐的福 | |
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