And if turning up my hair makes me one , I 'll wear it in two tails till I 'm twenty , '' cried Jo , pulling off her net , and shaking down a chestnut mane . `` I hate to think I 've got to grow up , and be Miss March , and wear long gowns , and look as prim as a China Aster ! It 's bad enough to be a girl , anyway , when I like boy 's games and work and manners ! I ca n't get over my disappointment in not being a boy . And it 's worse than ever now , for I 'm dying to go and fight with Papa . And I can only stay home and knit , like a poky old woman ! '' And Jo shook the blue army sock till the needles rattled like castanets , and her ball bounded across the room . `` Poor Jo ! It 's too bad , but it ca n't be helped . So you must try to be contented with making your name boyish , and playing brother to us girls , '' said Beth , stroking the rough head with a hand that all the dish washing and dusting in the world could not make ungentle in its touch . `` As for you , Amy , '' continued Meg , `` you are altogether too particular and prim . Your airs are funny now , but you 'll grow up an affected little goose , if you do n't take care . I like your nice manners and refined ways of speaking , when you do n't try to be elegant . But your absurd words are as bad as Jo 's slang . '' `` If Jo is a tomboy and Amy a goose , what am I , please ? '' asked Beth , ready to share the lecture . `` You 're a dear , and nothing else , '' answered Meg warmly , and no one contradicted her , for the ` Mouse ' was the pet of the family . As young readers like to know ` how people look ' , we will take this moment to give them a little sketch of the four sisters , who sat knitting away in the twilight , while the December snow fell quietly without , and the fire crackled cheerfully within . It was a comfortable room , though the carpet was faded and the furniture very plain , for a good picture or two hung on the walls , books filled the recesses , chrysanthemums and Christmas roses bloomed in the windows , and a pleasant atmosphere of home peace pervaded it . Margaret , the eldest of the four , was sixteen , and very pretty , being plump and fair , with large eyes , plenty of soft brown hair , a sweet mouth , and white hands , of which she was rather vain .
Fifteen-year-old XXXXX was very tall , thin , and brown , and reminded one of a colt , for she never seemed to know what to do with her long limbs , which were very much in her way .
Amy Aster Beth Jo Margaret fire mane recesses tomboy twilight