You can do as you please , but I shall keep my book on the table here and read a little every morning as soon as I wake , for I know it will do me good and help me through the day . '' Then she opened her new book and began to read . Jo put her arm round her and , leaning cheek to cheek , read also , with the quiet expression so seldom seen on her restless face . `` How good Meg is ! Come , Amy , let 's do as they do . I 'll help you with the hard words , and they 'll explain things if we do n't understand , '' whispered Beth , very much impressed by the pretty books and her sisters ' example . `` I 'm glad mine is blue , '' said Amy . and then the rooms were very still while the pages were softly turned , and the winter sunshine crept in to touch the bright heads and serious faces with a Christmas greeting . `` Where is Mother ? '' asked Meg , as she and Jo ran down to thank her for their gifts , half an hour later . `` Goodness only knows . Some poor creeter came a-beggin ' , and your ma went straight off to see what was needed . There never was such a woman for givin ' away vittles and drink , clothes and firin ' , '' replied Hannah , who had lived with the family since Meg was born , and was considered by them all more as a friend than a servant . `` She will be back soon , I think , so fry your cakes , and have everything ready , '' said Meg , looking over the presents which were collected in a basket and kept under the sofa , ready to be produced at the proper time . `` Why , where is Amy 's bottle of cologne ? '' she added , as the little flask did not appear . `` She took it out a minute ago , and went off with it to put a ribbon on it , or some such notion , '' replied Jo , dancing about the room to take the first stiffness off the new army slippers . `` How nice my handkerchiefs look , do n't they ? Hannah washed and ironed them for me , and I marked them all myself , '' said Beth , looking proudly at the somewhat uneven letters which had cost her such labor . `` Bless the child !
She 's gone and put ` XXXXX ' on them instead of 'M .
Amy Beth Hannah Meg Mother a-beggin firin first labor vittles