Little Women - 912 Freedom Library

Little Womenslammed the door, ‘I hate estimable young men withbrown eyes!’There never was such a Christmas dinner as they hadthat day. The fat turkey was a sight to behold, whenHannah sent him up, stuffed, browned, and decorated. Sowas the plum pudding, which melted in one’s mouth,likewise the jellies, in which Amy reveled like a fly in ahoneypot. Everything turned out well, which was amercy, Hannah said, ‘For my mind was that flustered,Mum, that it’s a merrycle I didn’t roast the pudding, andstuff the turkey with raisins, let alone bilin’ of it in acloth.’Mr. Laurence and his grandson dined with them, alsoMr. Brooke, at whom Jo glowered darkly, to Laurie’sinfinite amusement. Two easy chairs stood side by side atthe head of the table, in which sat Beth and her father,feasting modestly on chicken and a little fruit. They drankhealths, told stories, sang songs, ‘reminisced’, as the oldfolks say, and had a thoroughly good time. A sleigh ridehad been planned, but the girls would not leave theirfather, so the guests departed early, and as twilightgathered, the happy family sat together round the fire.‘Just a year ago we were groaning over the dismalChristmas we expected to have. Do you remember?’ asked388 of 861