By Louisa May Alcott Retold by Katie Dale Illustrated by Elena Selivanova
216506_Pearl_Little_Women_p001_080.indd 1
23/09/2015 16:04
Chapter 1 “Christmas just won’t be Christmas without any presents,” grumbled 15-year-old Jo, flopping on to the rug by the fire. “I know,” wailed her youngest sister, Amy, brushing her golden curls. “I hate being poor! I’m desperate for a box of drawing pencils.” “Well, we have our Christmas money from Aunt March,” said their oldest sister, Meg. “We could buy ourselves presents!” “Great idea!” cried Jo, jumping up. “I’ll buy a book – and you could get some new piano music, Beth.”
2
216506_Pearl_Little_Women_p001_080.indd 2
23/09/2015 16:04
“I don’t need a present,” said 13-year-old Beth, looking up from mending a sock, “not when so many people are suffering. I’d give up a hundred presents to end this war and have Father home again.” “Hear, hear,” said Hannah, their servant, though she’d lived with them so long she was more like family. All four sisters sighed heavily, light flickering over their pale faces as the fire crackled in the little parlour. Christmas definitely wouldn’t be Christmas without Father. “I wish I’d gone with him,” said Jo, gazing outside at the falling snow. “I don’t!” squealed Amy. “How horrible – sleeping in tents and marching through mud!” “And fighting,” whispered Beth. “Besides, you couldn’t go, Jo. You’re a girl.” “Well, I wish I was a boy!” Jo cried. Her chestnut curls bounced as she paced around the room. “I want to fight, not sit here wearing silly dresses and ribbons!” Amy gasped. They were her favourite things in the world!
3
216506_Pearl_Little_Women_p001_080.indd 3
23/09/2015 16:04
“Cheer up, Jo,” Beth smiled. “You can be the man of the house until Father comes home.” Meg glanced at the clock. “Speaking of coming home, Marmee will be back soon. Let’s warm her slippers by the fire.” “Careful!” Hannah said, passing them to her. “They’re falling apart.” “Poor Marmee,” Beth sighed, “perhaps we could use our money to buy her new slippers, instead?” “Oh yes!” everyone cried. “We’ll go shopping tomorrow,” Jo grinned. “Tonight we’re rehearsing my play!” “Not again!” wailed Amy. “I’m still bruised from last time!”
4
216506_Pearl_Little_Women_p001_080.indd 4
23/09/2015 16:04
“That’s because you’re not fainting properly!” cried Jo. “Clasp your heart, stagger across the room, then faint, like this – Roderigo, save me! ” Jo screamed, falling to the floor. Beth and Meg clapped, but Amy just rolled her eyes. “Roderigo, save me,” she sighed, lying down carefully on the sofa. Jo groaned as the others laughed. “Hello, my happy girls!” cried a familiar voice at the door. “Marmee!” The sisters rushed to hug their mother. She was a tall, cheerful-looking woman, despite her shabby shawl and tired eyes. She always had a smile and kind word for everyone.
5
216506_Pearl_Little_Women_p001_080.indd 5
23/09/2015 16:04
“Look what’s arrived!” Marmee pulled an envelope from her pocket. “A letter from Father!” Jo cried. “Hurray!” They all squeezed on to the sofa as Marmee read the letter aloud. After some lively tales of camp life, there was a special message for the girls: “Tell them I think of them by day, pray for them every evening, then spend my nights dreaming of returning to my own, dearest, little women.” The sisters smiled, their eyes damp, their hearts full. For once, Jo didn’t mind being a girl one little bit.
6
216506_Pearl_Little_Women_p001_080.indd 6
23/09/2015 16:04
Chapter 2 On Christmas morning, Jo felt a flicker of disappointment at not getting any presents. Then she remembered the surprise gift for Marmee and grinned. She couldn’t wait to see her face! She shook her sisters awake and they raced downstairs. But Marmee wasn’t there. “She went to help a poor boy who called round earlier,” Hannah explained. “She’ll be back for breakfast.” And what a breakfast! The girls hadn’t seen such treats for months. Butter and coffee and muffins – Amy’s favourite! She grabbed one excitedly. “Wait for Marmee,” Meg scolded. Amy’s tummy rumbled. Waiting was so hard!
7
216506_Pearl_Little_Women_p001_080.indd 7
23/09/2015 16:04
Finally, Marmee returned. “Merry Christmas!” they all cried, hugging her. “Where were you?” asked Amy. “With the Hummels,” Marmee sighed. “Oh darlings, they’re all huddled into one bed, with no fire or food. I wondered if we might give them our breakfast as a Christmas present?” The sisters hesitated. No presents and now no breakfast either? “Of course,” Beth smiled. “It is Christmas,” added Jo, hiding Marmee’s present for later. “I’ll carry the muffins,” sighed Amy as Meg gathered everything into baskets. “I’m so proud of you all,” Marmee smiled.
8
216506_Pearl_Little_Women_p001_080.indd 8
23/09/2015 16:04
The Hummel’s home was even poorer than they’d imagined. They entered a cold, damp, dingy room with a broken window and found a sick mother, a wailing baby and a huddle of pale, wide-eyed children inside. Meg quickly made a fire, Jo blocked up the draft with her scarf, then they all cuddled and fed the children. “Thank you, girls!” cried Mrs Hummel as they left. “Merry Christmas!” The sisters smiled, feeling warm despite the icy wind. They’d never had a happier breakfast, though they didn’t eat any of it, nor a merrier Christmas morning, though they hadn’t received any presents.
9
216506_Pearl_Little_Women_p001_080.indd 9
23/09/2015 16:04
But there was still one gift to give. “Oh girls, thank you!” Marmee cried as she unwrapped the slippers. “What a lovely surprise!” It was a day of surprises, for the Christmas play went well! Jo stormed around playing both the hero, Roderigo, and the villain, Hugo, and Amy was a wonderful damsel in distress. Meg played everyone else, constantly changing costumes, while Beth played dramatic music on their old out-of-tune piano. “Bravo!” Marmee cried, as they bowed. “Now, come into the dining room. There’s a big surprise waiting for you!”
10
216506_Pearl_Little_Women_p001_080.indd 10
23/09/2015 16:04