Jo was the first to wake up on Christmas morning, but soon they were all awake and they went downstairs.
Mrs March was out. Meg looked at the presents for her mother which were in a basket under a chair, ready to bring out at the right time. "Where is Amy's bottle of perfume*?"
"She went to put some pretty paper round it, I think." said Jo.
Suddenly, they heard the outside door close.
"Here's Mother! Hide the basket, quick!" said Jo.
But it was Amy. She ran to the shop and changed the little bottle of perfume for a big one.
"I spent all my money to get it, and I'm not going to be selfish*any more!" said Amy.
Meg smiled proudly and hugged her sister. Then there was another bang from the outside door, and they pushed the basket back under the chair. The girls ran to the table, ready for their breakfast.
"Happy Christmas, Mother!" they shouted.
"Happy Christmas, little daughters!" said Mrs March.
Then the smile disappeared from her face. "Girls, listen. Not far away is a poor woman, Mrs Hummel, with a new baby. Her six children are in one bed, trying to keep warm. Without wood for a fire and anything to eat, they are hungry and cold. Will you give them your breakfast as a Christmas present?"
For a minute no one spoke. Then Jo said, "Mother, I'm so glad you came back before breakfast!" The girls quickly began to put their breakfast in a basket.
"I knew you would do it." said Mrs March, smiling.
She took the girls to a cold, uncomfortable little room. There they found a sick mother, a crying baby, and a group of children with white, afraid faces. The children were on the bed under a blanket, trying to keep warm.
The woman almost cried with happiness when she saw the girls. With wood for a fire, Mrs March gave the mother tea and hot food, then she dressed the little baby gently. The girls put the children round the fire and fed them like hungry birds.
Although the girls ate none of the meal, no one was happier than those hungry young ladies who gave away their breakfast on Christmas morning.
