Now the feast is eaten , Finished is the play ; But one rite remains for Our Thanksgiving-day . `` Best of all the harvest In the dear God 's sight , Are the happy children In the home to-night ; And we come to offer Thanks where thanks are due , With grateful hearts and voices , Father , mother , unto you . '' With the last words the circle narrowed till the good Professor and his wife were taken prisoner by many arms , and half hidden by the bouquet of laughing young faces which surrounded them , proving that one plant had taken root and blossomed beautifully in all the little gardens . CHAPTER ONE PLAYING PILGRIMS `` Christmas wo n't be Christmas without any presents , '' grumbled Jo , lying on the rug . `` It 's so dreadful to be poor ! '' sighed Meg , looking down at her old dress . `` I do n't think it 's fair for some girls to have plenty of pretty things , and other girls nothing at all , '' added little Amy , with an injured sniff . `` We 've got Father and Mother , and each other , '' said Beth contentedly from her corner . The four young faces on which the firelight shone brightened at the cheerful words , but darkened again as Jo said sadly , `` We have n't got Father , and shall not have him for a long time . '' She did n't say `` perhaps never , '' but each silently added it , thinking of Father far away , where the fighting was . Nobody spoke for a minute ; then Meg said in an altered tone , `` You know the reason Mother proposed not having any presents this Christmas was because it is going to be a hard winter for everyone ; and she thinks we ought not to spend money for pleasure , when our men are suffering so in the army . We ca n't do much , but we can make our little sacrifices , and ought to do it gladly . But I am afraid I do n't , '' and Meg shook her head , as she thought regretfully of all the pretty things she wanted . `` But I do n't think the little we should spend would do any good . We 've each got a dollar , and the army would n't be much helped by our giving that . I agree not to expect anything from Mother or you , but I do want to buy Undine and Sintran for myself . I 've wanted it so long , '' said Jo , who was a bookworm . `` I planned to spend mine in new music , '' said Beth , with a little sigh , which no one heard but the hearth brush and kettle-holder . `` I shall get a nice box of Faber 's drawing pencils ; I really need them , '' said Amy decidedly . `` Mother did n't say anything about our money , and she wo n't wish us to give up everything .
Let 's each buy what we want , and have a little fun ; I 'm sure we work hard enough to earn it , '' cried XXXXX , examining the heels of her shoes in a gentlemanly manner .
Faber Jo Meg Mother Sintran Thanksgiving-day Undine bookworm kettle-holder minute