Jo was the first to wake up on Christmas morning. When her sisters were awake too, they all went own to the kitchen. Their mother wasn't there but Hannah, their servant, was.
"Your mother went out early, "she said. "A poor boy came to the door asking for food. She was sorry for him and she wanted to help him. She went to see his family. "
While they were waiting for their mother to come back, the girls put their presents for her in a basket. Soon they heard the sound of a key in the front door.
"Mother's here!" cried Jo.
"Hide the basket behind the sofa! Quick!"
Then they all rushed into the hall to greet their mother.
"Merry Christmas, Mother!" they cried.
"Merry Christmas, little daughters!" Mrs March said in her happy voice. She hugged them all and kissed them. Then she suddenly became very serious.
"Come and sit down, girls. I want to say something before we start breakfast. "
They all sat down at the breakfast table and Mrs March continued.
"I went to see a poor woman this morning. Her name is Mrs Hummel. She lives near here in one room with her seven children. One of them is only a baby. They are cold and hungry because they don't have a fire or any food. The oldest boy Jack came to ask me for help. Girls, can we give them our breakfast as a Christmas present?"
The sisters looked at the good food on the table. They were all hungry. For a minute nobody spoke.
Then Jo said, "I'm so glad you came back before we started eating, Mother!"
—From the Little Woman
