Jo was the first to wake in the gray dawn of Christmas morning. No stockings hung at the fireplace, and for a moment she felt as much disappointed as she did long ago, when her little sock fell down because it was crammed so full of goodies.
聖誕節早上天剛矇矇亮，喬第一個醒來了。壁爐上沒有掛著襪子，她感到一陣像以往一樣的失望。當時她的小襪子掉了下來，因為裡面塞滿了好吃的東西。
Then she remembered her mother's promise and, slipping her hand under her pillow，drew out a little crimson-covered book.
然後她想起了媽媽的許諾，然後她摸了摸枕頭下面，取出一本深紅色封面的書。
She knew it very well, for it was that beautiful old story of the best life ever lived, and Jo felt that it was a true guidebook for any pilgrim going on a long journey.
她十分熟悉這本書，因為它記載的是歷史上最優秀的人物的經典故事。喬覺得這正是一切踏上漫長征途的朝聖者所需要的指導書。
She woke Meg with a "Merry Christmas," and bade her see what was under her pillow
她一聲"聖誕快樂“把梅格叫醒，叫她看看枕頭下面有什麼。
A green- covered book appeared, with the same picture inside, and a few words written by their mother, which made their one present very precious in their eyes.
梅格掏出一本綠色封面、帶有相同插圖的書，媽媽在上面題了詞，使這件禮物倍添珍貴。
Presently Beth and Amy woke to rummage and find their little books also, one dove-colored, the other blue, and all sat looking at and talking about them，while the east grew rosy with the coming day.
不一會，貝思和艾美也醒來了，翻尋到各自的小書--一本乳白色，另一本藍色--四姐妹於是坐著邊看邊討論，不覺東方已泛起紅霞，新的一天又告開始。
- fireplace n. 壁爐
- sock [sɑk] n. 襪子
- cram [kræm] adj. 填鴨式學的 vt. 填滿
- crimson ['krimzən] n. 深紅色 adj. 深紅色的
- bade [bæd, beid] v. 命令（bid的一種過去式）
- rummage ['rʌmidʒ] vt. 檢查；搜出
In spite of her small vanities, Margaret had a sweet and pious nature, which unconsciously influenced her sisters, especially Jo, who loved her very tenderly, and obeyed her because her advice was so gently given.
瑪格麗特雖然有點愛慕虛榮，但她天性溫柔善良，頗得姐妹們敬重，特別是喬，更是深深地愛著自己的姐姐，並對她言聽計從，因為她無論說什麼都總是輕聲細語的。
"Girls," said Meg seriously, looking from the tumbled head beside her to the two little night-capped ones in the room beyond, "Mother wants us to read and love and mind these books, and we must begin at once.
“姑娘們，”梅格嚴肅地說，看看身邊頭髮蓬亂的一位，又看看房間另一頭戴著睡帽的兩個小腦袋，”媽媽希望我們愛惜這些書，讀好這些書，我們應該立即行動。
We used to be faithful about it, but since Father went away and all this war trouble unsettled us, we have neglected many things. You can do as you please, but I shall keep my book on the table here and read a little every morning as soon as I wake, for I know it will do me good and help me through the day."
雖然我們以前做得挺認真，但自從爸爸離家後，戰亂七繁，我們忽略了許多事。你們愛怎樣我不管，但我要把書放在這張桌上，每天早上一醒來就讀一點，因為我知道，這樣會有好處，它將伴我度過每一天。”
Then she opened her new book and began to read. Jo put her arm round her and, leaning cheek to cheek, read also, with the quiet expression so seldom seen on her restless face.
說完她打開新書讀了起來，喬用胳膊擁著她，與她並肩而讀，不安分的臉上露出少見的寧靜。
- in spite of 儘管
- vanities n. 虛榮心；浮華（vanity的複數）
- pious ['paɪəs] adj. 虔誠的
- neglected [ni'ɡlektid] adj. 被忽視的 v. 忽視；疏忽（neglect的過去分詞）
- restless ['restlis] adj. 焦躁不安的；不安寧的；得不到滿足的
"How good Meg is! Come, Amy, let's do as they do. I'll help you with the hard words, and they'll explainthings if we don't understand," whispered Beth, very much impressed by the pretty books and her sisters, example.
“梅格真好！來，艾美，我們也一起讀吧。我幫你解釋生詞，我們不懂的地方就由她們來講解好了，”貝思輕聲說。她被漂亮的小書和兩位姐姐全神貫注的模樣深深感動了。
"I'm glad mine is blue," said Amy. and then the rooms were very still while the pages were softly turned, and the winter sunshine crept in to touch the bright heads and serious faces with a Christmas greeting.
“真開心，我的封面是藍色的，”艾美說。接下來除了輕輕的翻書聲外，屋裡一片寧靜。這時，冬日的陽光悄悄潛入屋內，輕柔地撫摸著她們亮麗的頭髮和嚴肅的臉龐，向她們致以聖誕節的問候。
"Where is Mother?" asked Meg, as she and Jo ran down to thank her for their gifts, half an hour later.
“媽媽哪兒去了？”半個小時後，梅格和喬跑下樓，要找媽媽道謝。
"Goodness only knows. Some poor creeter came abeggin', and your ma went straight off to see what was needed.
“老天才知道。一些窮人來討東西，你媽馬上就去看他們需要什麼。
There never was such a woman for givin' away vittles and drink, clothesand firin'," replied Hannah, who had lived with the family since Meg was born, and was considered by them all more as a friend than a servant.
她是天底下最菩薩心腸的女人，”罕娜答道。老嬤嬤自打梅格出生以來就一直和她們一家生活在一起，儘管她是個傭人，大家都拿當朋友。
- impressed adj. 印象深刻的；外加的；受感動的；
- still [stil] adj. 靜止的，不動的；寂靜的
- crept [krept] v. 匍匐爬行（creep的過去式）
