I like it very much , and he does n't seem tired of it yet , which is very good of him , is n't it ? I mean to give him something on Christmas , for I dare not offer money . Tell me something nice , Marmee . I 'm glad Laurie seems so happy and busy , that he has given up smoking and lets his hair grow . You see Beth manages him better than I did . I 'm not jealous , dear , do your best , only do n't make a saint of him . I 'm afraid I could n't like him without a spice of human naughtiness . Read him bits of my letters . I have n't time to write much , and that will do just as well . Thank Heaven Beth continues so comfortable . JANUARY A Happy New Year to you all , my dearest family , which of course includes Mr. L. and a young man by the name of Teddy . I ca n't tell you how much I enjoyed your Christmas bundle , for I did n't get it till night and had given up hoping . Your letter came in the morning , but you said nothing about a parcel , meaning it for a surprise , so I was disappointed , for I 'd had a ` kind of feeling ' that you would n't forget me . I felt a little low in my mind as I sat up in my room after tea , and when the big , muddy , battered-looking bundle was brought to me , I just hugged it and pranced . It was so homey and refreshing that I sat down on the floor and read and looked and ate and laughed and cried , in my usual absurd way . The things were just what I wanted , and all the better for being made instead of bought . Beth 's new ` ink bib ' was capital , and Hannah 's box of hard gingerbread will be a treasure . I 'll be sure and wear the nice flannels you sent , Marmee , and read carefully the books Father has marked . Thank you all , heaps and heaps ! Speaking of books reminds me that I 'm getting rich in that line , for on New Year 's Day Mr. Bhaer gave me a fine Shakespeare .
It is one he values much , and I 've often admired it , set up in the place of honor with his German Bible , Plato , Homer , and Milton , so you may imagine how I felt when he brought it down , without its cover , and showed me my own name in it , `` from my friend Friedrich XXXXX '' .
Beth Bhaer Father Hannah L. Laurie Shakespeare morning naughtiness night