Jo grumbled about Christmas

"Christmas won''t be Christmas without any presents," grumbled Jo, lying on the rug.

Meg laments being poor

"It''s so dreadful to be poor!" sighed Meg, looking down at her old dress.

Amy's feelings about fairness

"I don''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.

Beth's contentment

"We''ve got Father and Mother, and each other," said Beth contentedly from her corner.

The children's thoughts on Father

The four young faces on which the firelight shone brightened at the cheerful words, but darkened again as Jo said sadly, "We haven''t got Father, and shall not have him for a long time." She didn''t say "perhaps never," but each silently added it, thinking of Father far away, where the fighting was.