`` I hate affected , niminy-piminy chits ! '' `` Birds in their little nests agree , '' sang Beth , the peacemaker , with such a funny face that both sharp voices softened to a laugh , and the `` pecking '' ended for that time . `` Really , girls , you are both to be blamed , '' said Meg , beginning to lecture in her elder-sisterly fashion . `` You are old enough to leave off boyish tricks , and to behave better , Josephine . It did n't matter so much when you were a little girl , but now you are so tall , and turn up your hair , you should remember that you are a young lady . '' `` I 'm not ! 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 XXXXX is a tomboy and Amy a goose , what am I , please ? ''
Amy Aster Beth Jo Josephine Meg chits mane peacemaker pecking