2 A Merry Christmas

CHAPTER 2 A Merry Christmas On Christmas morning, each of the four girls woke up to find a copy of Pilgrim's Progress under her pillow. Meg told her sisters that she was going to read a little each morning, both to keep her spirits up and to help her be good. Then Jo spoke up. "Look how good Meg is. Come on, girls, let's do the same." Soon, all four sisters were seated at the

圣诞节的早晨，四个女孩醒来后都发现枕头下有一本《天路历程》。 梅格告诉她的姐妹们，她打算每天早上读一点书，既能让她振作精神，也能让她做个好孩子。 然后琼开口了。“看看梅格有多好。 来吧，姑娘们，让我们也这样做。” 很快，四姐妹都坐在餐桌旁

little tables in their bedrooms reading their books. After a half hour, they went downstairs to wish their mother "Merry Christmas," only to find that she wasn't there. Meg asked where she had gone, and Hannah replied, "Someone came a callin' and your ma went straightaway to see if she could help." The girls got everything ready to surprise their mother. Jo softened the new slippers by dancing around the room as Meg readied the gift basket. Beth showed off the handkerchiefs, which she had lovingly embroidered with the word "Mother." "Where's Amy's perfume?" Meg asked. Jo replied, "She went to find a piece of ribbon to tie around the bottle." A door slammed and the girls heard steps in the hallway.

他们卧室里的小桌子在看书。 半小时后，他们下楼祝妈妈圣诞快乐，却发现妈妈不在。 梅格问她去哪儿了，汉娜回答说：“有人打电话来，你妈妈马上就去看她能不能帮忙。” 女孩们准备好了一切，准备给妈妈一个惊喜。 麦格准备礼物篮时，琼在房间里跳着舞，把新拖鞋弄软了。 贝思展示着她精心绣着“母亲”两个字的手帕。 “艾米的香水呢？”梅格问道。 琼回答说：“她去找一条丝带把瓶子绑起来。” 一扇门砰地关上了，女孩们听到走廊里传来脚步声。

"Quick," said Jo, "there's Mother. Hide the basket!" It was only Amy, who looked liked she was up to something. Meg asked, "What's that behind your back?" "Now don't laugh at me," Amy said, "but I've exchanged my little bottle for a big one, and I've used up all my money." She took the new beautiful bottle out of the bag to show her sisters, who hugged her. "I was ashamed of my present after reading about being good and kind this morning, so I went to get Marmee something better." The door banged a second time. Meg shoved the basket under the sofa, and the girls went to the table, eager for their Christmas breakfast. When their mother came into the room, they all cried out, "Thank you for the presents, Marmee. We've

“快，”琼说，“妈妈在那儿。 把篮子藏起来！”只有艾米，她看起来像是在做什么。 梅格问：“你背后是什么？”“别笑我，”艾米说，“我已经把我的小瓶子换成了大瓶子，我的钱也花光了。” 她从袋子里拿出漂亮的新瓶子给姐姐们看，她们拥抱了她。 “今天早上我读了关于善良善良的文章后，对我的礼物感到羞愧，所以我去给妈妈买了更好的礼物。” 门又砰的一声关上了。 梅格把篮子推到沙发底下，姑娘们走到桌旁，迫不及待地想吃圣诞早餐。 当他们的妈妈走进房间时，他们都喊道：“谢谢你的礼物，妈妈。 我们已经

already read some, and will read more each day!" "Merry Christmas, little daughters! I'm glad you're enjoying the books. Now, I want to say something. A very poor family lives nearby. They have no fire and are very hungry. Will you girls give them your breakfast as a Christmas present?" The girls were desperately hungry after waiting an hour for Marmee, so at first no one said anything. Then, Jo piped up: "I'm so glad we hadn't started yet!" Beth said she would love to help carry the food to the poor family. And Amy said she would take the cream and the muffins—the food she loved most. Meg was already covering the pancakes and putting the bread on a big plate. Mrs. March smiled at her daughters. "When we get back, we'll have bread and

已经读了一些，并且每天都会读更多！”“圣诞快乐，女儿们！”我很高兴你喜欢这些书。 现在，我想说点什么。 附近住着一个非常贫穷的家庭。 他们没有火，而且很饿。 你们愿意把你们的早餐作为圣诞礼物送给他们吗？”姑娘们等妈妈等了一个小时，肚子饿得要命，所以一开始谁也没说话。 然后，乔尖声说：“我真高兴我们还没有开始！”贝丝说她很乐意帮忙把食物送到那个贫穷的家庭。 艾米说她要奶油和松饼——她最喜欢的食物。 梅格已经盖好了薄煎饼，把面包放在一个大盘子里。 马奇太太对女儿们笑了笑。 “当我们回来的时候，我们会有面包和

milk for breakfast. Then, we'll have a wonderful dinner to make up for everything." They were soon ready and left in the cold to help the family in need. When they arrived, they were shocked to see the bare, unheated, miserable room. A sick mother held her crying baby. Six other children huddled under one blanket, but they managed a smile as the March family came inside. "Angels have come to help us!" Mrs. Hummel, the mother, cried. Jo grinned. "Funny angels in hoods and mittens." Everyone laughed. In a few minutes, the room completely changed. Hannah made a fire with wood she had carried. Mrs. March gave Mrs. Hummel tea and oatmeal. Tenderly, she wrapped the new born. The four Marchsistersfed the children near the fire. They were very happy

早餐喝牛奶。然后，我们可以吃一顿丰盛的晚餐来弥补这一切。” 他们很快就准备好了，被冷落去帮助那个需要帮助的家庭。 当他们到达时，看到空荡荡的、没有暖气的、惨不忍睹的房间，他们感到震惊。 一位生病的母亲抱着哭泣的婴儿。 另外六个孩子挤在一张毯子下，但当马奇一家进来时，他们勉强挤出了笑容。 “天使来帮助我们了！”母亲哈梅尔太太哭了。 乔咧嘴一笑。“戴着兜帽和连指手套的滑稽天使。” 每个人都笑了。几分钟后，房间完全变了样。 汉娜用她带来的木头生起了火。 马奇太太给了哈梅尔太太茶和燕麦粥。 她轻轻地把新生儿包起来。 四个马奇姐妹在火炉旁喂孩子们。 他们非常高兴

to see their joyful faces. Once back at home, the girls set out their presents while their mother was out collecting clothes for the poor Hummels. Jo screamed with glee, "She's coming! Beth, play a tune. Amy, get the door. Three cheers for Marmee!" Jo marched around on her long legs.

看到他们快乐的脸。 一回到家，女孩们就摆好了礼物，而母亲则出去为可怜的胡梅尔一家收集衣服。 琼高兴地尖叫起来：“她来了！贝丝，弹个曲子。 艾米，去开门。为妈咪欢呼三声！”琼用她的长腿走来走去。