Accept a ribbon red , I beg , For Madam Purrer 's tail , And ice cream made by lovely Peg , A Mont Blanc in a pail . Their dearest love my makers laid Within my breast of snow . Accept it , and the Alpine maid , From Laurie and from Jo . How Beth laughed when she saw it , how Laurie ran up and down to bring in the gifts , and what ridiculous speeches Jo made as she presented them . `` I 'm so full of happiness , that if Father was only here , I could n't hold one drop more , '' said Beth , quite sighing with contentment as Jo carried her off to the study to rest after the excitement , and to refresh herself with some of the delicious grapes the ` Jungfrau ' had sent her . `` So am I , '' added Jo , slapping the pocket wherein reposed the long-desired Undine and Sintram . `` I 'm sure I am , '' echoed Amy , poring over the engraved copy of the Madonna and Child , which her mother had given her in a pretty frame . `` Of course I am ! '' cried Meg , smoothing the silvery folds of her first silk dress , for Mr. Laurence had insisted on giving it . `` How can I be otherwise ? '' said Mrs. March gratefully , as her eyes went from her husband 's letter to Beth 's smiling face , and her hand carressed the brooch made of gray and golden , chestnut and dark brown hair , which the girls had just fastened on her breast . Now and then , in this workaday world , things do happen in the delightful storybook fashion , and what a comfort it is . Half an hour after everyone had said they were so happy they could only hold one drop more , the drop came . Laurie opened the parlor door and popped his head in very quietly . He might just as well have turned a somersault and uttered an Indian war whoop , for his face was so full of suppressed excitement and his voice so treacherously joyful that everyone jumped up , though he only said , in a queer , breathless voice , `` Here 's another Christmas present for the March family . '' Before the words were well out of his mouth , he was whisked away somehow , and in his place appeared a tall man , muffled up to the eyes , leaning on the arm of another tall man , who tried to say something and could n't . Of course there was a general stampede , and for several minutes everybody seemed to lose their wits , for the strangest things were done , and no one said a word . Mr. March became invisible in the embrace of four pairs of loving arms . Jo disgraced herself by nearly fainting away , and had to be doctored by Laurie in the china closet . Mr. Brooke kissed Meg entirely by mistake , as he somewhat incoherently explained .
And XXXXX , the dignified , tumbled over a stool , and never stopping to get up , hugged and cried over her father 's boots in the most touching manner .
Alpine Amy Beth Father Jungfrau Purrer Sintram Undine hour war