"Glad to find you so merry, my girls," said a cheery voice at the door, and actors and audience turned to
welcome a tall, motherly lady with a "Can I help you" look about her which was truly delightful. She was not
elegantly dressed, but a noble-looking woman, and the girls thought the gray cloak (斗篷) and unfashionable
bonnet (寬檐帽) covered the most splendid mother in the world.
"Well, dearies, how have you got on today? There was so much to do, getting the boxes ready to go
tomorrow, that I didn't come home to dinner. Has anyone called, Beth? How is your cold, Meg? Jo, you look
tired to death. Come and kiss me, baby."
While making these maternal (母性的) inquires, Mrs. March got her wet things off, her warm slippers on,
and sitting down in the easy chair, drew Amy to her lap, preparing to enjoy the happiest hour of her busy day.
The girls flew about, trying to make things comfortable, each in her own way. Meg arranged the tea table.
Jo brought wood and set chairs, dropping, over-turning, and clattering everything she touched. Beth trotted
(小跑) to and fro between parlor (客廳) and kitchen, quiet and busy, while Amy gave directions to everyone,
as she sat with her hands folded.
As they gathered about the table, Mrs. March said, with a particularly happy face,"I've got a treat for you
after supper."
A quick, bright smile went round like a streak of sunshine. Beth clapped her hands, regardless of the biscuit
she held, and Jo tossed up her napkin, crying, "A letter! A letter! Three cheers for Father!"
"Yes, a nice long letter. He is well, and thinks he shall get through the cold season better than we feared. He
sends all sorts of loving wishes for Christmas, and an especial message to you girls," said Mrs. March, patting
her pocket as if she had got a treasure there.
"Hurry and get done! Don't stop to quirk your little finger and simper (傻笑) over your plate, Amy," cried
Jo, choking on her tea and dropping her bread, butter side down, on the carpet in her haste to get at the treat.
Beth ate no more, but crept (躡手躡足地走) away to sit in her shadowy corner and brood (細(xì)想) over the
delight to come, till the others were ready.
"I think it was so splendid in Father to go as chaplain (牧師) when he was too old to be drafted (被征入
伍), and not strong enough for a soldier," said Meg warmly.
"Don't I wish I could go as a drummer? Or a nurse, so I could be near him and help him." exclaimed Jo,
with a groan.
"It must be very disagreeable to sleep in a tent, and eat all sorts of bad-tasting things, and drink out of a tin
mug," sighed Amy.
"When will he come home, Marmee?" asked Beth, with a little quiver in her voice.
"Not for many months, dear, unless he is sick. He will stay and do his work faithfully as long as he can,
and we won't ask for him back a minute sooner than he can be spared. Now come and hear the letter."
They all drew to the fire, Mother in the big chair with Beth at her feet, Meg and Amy perched on either arm
of the chair, and Jo leaning on the back, where no one would see any sign of emotion if the letter should
happen to be touching. Very few letters were written in those hard times that were not touching, especially
those which fathers sent home. In this one little was said of the hardships endured, the dangers faced, or the
homesickness conquered. It was a cheerful, hopeful letter, full of lively descriptions of camp life, marches,
and military news, and only at the end did the writer's heart overflow with fatherly love and longing for the
little girls at home.
1. What did the girls do after their mother arrived home?
A. They asked her to make dinner.
B. They told her about their day.
C. They got boxes ready to go for the next day.
D. They tried to make her comfortable.
2. The girls' father had not been drafted because he______.
A. was too old
B. had been injured
C. was a chaplain
D. had children
3. What was most likely keeping the girls' father away from home?
A. A storm.
B. A battle.
C. A sickness.
D. A job.
4. Why did Jo most likely sit with her back toward everyone while listening to the letter?
A. To show her sisters that she is angry
B. So that she can sit more comfortably
C. So that she has enough light to read
D. To hide her feelings from her sisters
5. The letter is compared to a treasure to show _______.
A. that mother was teasing the girls
B. the value of the letter to the girls
C. that mother had money in her pocket
D. the mother's love for the girls
6. In paragraph 3, the word "inquiries" means _______.
A. scolding
B. questions
C. lessons
D. arrivals
