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. Then she remembered her mother's promise and, slipping her hand under her pillow, drew out a little crimson-covered book. 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.
乔觉得这正是一切踏上漫长征途的朝圣者所需要的指导书。她一声"圣诞快乐“把梅格叫醒,叫她看看枕头下面有什么。梅格掏出一本绿色封面、带有相同插图的书,妈妈在上面题了词,使这件礼物倍添珍贵。不一会,贝思和艾美也醒来了,翻寻到各自的小书--一本乳白色,另一本蓝色--四姐妹于是坐着边看边讨论,不觉东方已泛起红霞,新的一天又告开始。
She woke Meg with a "Merry Christmas," and bade her see what was under her pillow. 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. 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.
圣诞节一早,天刚蒙蒙亮,乔便第一个醒来。她看到壁炉边没有挂着袜子,一时深感失望。多年前,她的小袜子因为糖果塞得太满而掉落地上,她也曾这样失望过。稍后她想起母亲的诺言,便悄悄把手伸到枕头下面,果然摸出一本菲红色封面的书。她十分熟悉这本书,因为它记载的是历史上最优秀的人物的经典故事。