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“看到你们这么快活我真高兴，我的女儿们。"门口传来一串愉快的声音，这些演员和观众转过身来，迎接一位高高个儿、充满母性的女士。她神情可亲、令人愉快。她的衣着虽不华丽，但仪态高贵。在姐妹们心目中，这位身披灰色外套，头戴一顶过时无边小圆软帽的女士是普天下最出色的母亲。 'Well, dearies, how have you got on today? There was so much to do, getting the boxes ready to go tomorrow, that I didn't come home to dinner. Has anyone called, Beth? How is your cold, Meg? Jo, you look tired to death. Come and kiss me, baby.' While making these maternal inquiries, Mrs. March got her wet things off, her warm slippers on, and sitting down in the easy-chair, drew Amy to her lap, preparing to enjoy the happiest hour of her busy day. The girls flew about, trying to make things comfortable, each in her own way. Meg arranged the tea-table; Jo brought wood and set chairs, dropping, overturning, and clattering everything she touched; Beth trotted to and fro between parlour and kitchen, quiet and busy; while Amy gave directions to everyone, as she sat with her hands folded. " 小宝贝们，今天过得怎么样？我事情太多，要准备好明天就得发出的箱子，没能回家吃饭。有人来过吗，贝思？你感冒好点没有，梅格？乔，你看上去累极了，来吻我吧，宝贝。"马奇太太慈爱地一一询问，一面换去湿衣物，穿上暖和的拖鞋，坐在安乐椅中，把艾美拉到膝边，准备享受繁忙的一天中最幸福的时光。姑娘们纷纷行动起来，各显身手，尽量把一切都布置得舒适怡人。梅格摆茶桌，乔搬木柴并放椅子，却把柴丢落一地，把椅子也打翻，弄得咔嗒直响，贝思在客厅和厨房之间匆匆来回穿梭，忙碌而安静，而艾美则袖手旁观，发号施令。 As they gathered about the table, Mrs. March said, with a particularly happy face, 'I've got a treat for you after supper.' 大家都聚到桌边的时候，马奇太太说："用饭后，我有好东西给你们。"她的脸上有一种异乎寻常的快乐。 A quick, bright smile went round like a streak of sunshine. Beth clapped her ds, regardless of the biscuit she held, and Jo tossed up her napkin, crying, 'A letter! a letter! Three cheers for father!' 姐妹们脸上立即现出如阳光般灿烂的笑容。贝思顾不得手里拿着饼干，拍起了手掌，乔把餐巾一抛，嚷道："信！信！爸爸万岁！" 'Yes, a nice long letter. He is well, and thinks he shall get through the cold season better than we feared. He sends all sorts of loving wishes for Christmas, and an especial message to you girls,' said Mrs. March, patting her pocket as if she had got a treasure there. “是的，一封令人愉快的长信。他一切都好，冬季也不会熬得很苦，我们不必担忧。他祝我们圣诞快乐，事事如意，并特别问候你们这些姑娘们，"马奇太太边说边用手摸着衣袋，似乎里头装着珍宝。 
快点吃饭！别停下来弯起你的小手指边吃边傻笑，艾美，"乔嚷道，她因为急不可耐地要听信，被茶噎了一口，涂了奶油的面包也掉落到地毯上。贝思不再吃了，她悄悄走到幽暗的屋角坐下，默默想着那即将到来的欢乐，直到大家吃完。 'I think it was so splendid of father to go as chaplain when he was too old to be drafted, and not strong enough for a soldier,' said Meg, warmly. " 爸爸已超过征兵年龄，身体也不适宜当兵，我认为他去当随军牧师真是太好了，"梅格热切地说。 'Don't I wish I could go as a drummer, a vivan - what's its name? or a nurse, so I could be near him and help him,' exclaimed Jo, with a groan. " 我真想当个鼓手，或者当个--什么来着？或者去当个护士，这样我就可以在他身边帮忙，"乔大声说道，一边哼了一声。 'It must be very disagreeable to sleep in a tent, and eat all sorts of bad-tasting things, and drink out of a tin mug,' sighed Amy. " 睡帐篷，吃不堪入口的食物，用大锡杯喝水，这一定十分难受，"艾美叹道。 'When will he come home, Marmee?' asked Beth, with a little quiver in her voice. " 他什么时候回家，妈妈？"贝思声音微颤地问道。 
不出几个月，亲爱的，除非他病倒。他在部队一天就会尽忠职守一天。我们也不会要求他提早一分钟回来。现在来读信吧！ They all drew to the fire, mother in the big chair, with Beth at her feet, Meg and Amy perched on either arm of the chair, and Jo leaning on the back, where no one would see any sign of emotion if the letter should happen to be touching. Very few letters were written in those hard times that were not touching, especially those which fathers sent home. In this one little was said of the hardships endured, the dangers faced, or the home-sickness conquered; it was a cheerful, hopeful letter, full of lively descriptions of camp life, marches, and military news; and only at the end did the writer's heart overflow with fatherly love and longing for the little girls at home." 她们都围近火边，妈妈坐在大椅子上，贝思坐在她脚边，梅格和艾美一边一个靠在椅子扶手上，乔故意倚在背后，这样读到信中感人的地方时别人也不会觉察到她表情的变化。 在那种艰难的日子里，信，尤其是父亲们写回家的信，往往都催人泪下。但这封信却极少谈及受到的艰难险阻和压抑的乡愁，描述的都是些生动的军营生活、行军情况和部队新闻，读了令人心情振奋，只是在信尾才展露出一颗深沉的慈父爱心以及渴望回家和妻女们团聚的愿望。 'Give them all my dear love and a kiss. Tell them I think of them by day, pray for them by night, and find my best comfort in their affection at all times. A year seems very long to wait before I see them, but remind them that while we wait we may all work, so that these hard days need not be wasted. I know they will remember all I said to them, that they will be loving children to you, will do their duty faithfully, fight their bosom enemies bravely and conquer themselves so beautifully, that when I come back to them I may be fonder and prouder than ever of my little women.' “给她们献上我所有的爱和吻。告诉她们我天天想念她们，夜夜为她们祈祷，每时每刻都从她们的爱中得到最大的安慰。要见到她们还要等上漫长的一年，但请提醒她们我可以在等待中工作，不虚度这段难忘的日子。我知道她们会牢记我的话，做好孩子，忠实地做她们该做的事，勇敢地生活、战斗，善于自我控制。等我重返家园的时候，我的四个小妇人一定变得更可爱，更令我感到骄傲。" Everybody sniffed when they came to that part; Jo wasn't ashamed of the great tear that dropped off the end of her nose, and Amy never minded the rumpling of her curls as she hid her face on her mother's shoulder and sobbed out, 'I am a selfish girl! but I'll truly try to be better, so he mayn't be disappointed in me by and by.' 读到这段，每个人都抽泣鼻子，乔任由大滴大滴的泪珠从鼻尖滚落下来，艾美顾不得一头鬈发会被弄乱，把脸埋在妈妈的肩头上，呜呜咽咽地说："我是个自私的女孩！但我一定努力进取，不让爸爸失望。" 'We all will!' cried Meg. 'I think too much of my looks, and hate to work, but won't any more, if I can help it.' “我们都会努力！"梅格哭着说，"我太注重衣着打扮，而且讨厌工作，以后一定尽量改正。" 
“我会试着做个'小妇人'，就像爸爸总爱这么叫我的那样，改掉粗野的脾气，做好自己的分内事，不再胡思乱想，"乔说，心里明白在家管好自己的脾气比在南方对付两个敌人还要艰难。 Beth said nothing, but wiped away her tears with the blue army sock, and began to knit with all her might, losing no time in doing the duty that lay nearest her, while she resolved in her quiet little soul to be all that father hoped to find her when the year brought round the happy coming home. 贝思没有言语，只是用深蓝色的军袜抹掉眼泪，拼命埋头编织。她不浪费点滴时间，而是从身边的工作做起，并暗下决心，一定让爸爸回来欢聚的时候如愿以偿。 Mrs. March broke the silence that followed Jo's words, by saying in her cheery voice, 'Do you remember how you used to play Pilgrim's Progress when you were little things? Nothing delighted you more than to have me tie my piece-bags on your backs for burdens, give you hats and sticks and rolls of paper, and let you travel through the house from the cellar, which was the City of Destruction, up, up, to the housetop, where you had all the lovely things you could collect to make a Celestial City.' 马奇太太用她愉悦的声音打破了乔说话之后的一阵沉默："你们还记得演《天路历程》的情形吗？那时候你们还都是些小东西。你们最喜欢我把布袋绑到你们背上做担子，再给你们帽、棍子和纸卷，让你们从屋里走到地窖，也就是'毁灭城'，又再往上一直走到屋顶，在那里你们可以得到许多好东西，这就是'天国'了。"“那多好玩啊，特别是走过狮子群，大战'地狱魔王'，路过'妖怪谷'时候！"乔说。 'What fun it was, especially going by the lions, fighting Apollyon, and passing through the Valley where the hobgoblins were!' said Jo. " 我喜欢包袱掉下来滚落楼梯这个情节，"梅格说。 'I liked the place where the bundles fell off and tumbled downstairs,' said Meg. 'My favourite part was when we came out on the flat roof where our flowers and arbours and pretty things were, and all stood and sang for joy up there in the sunshine,' said Beth, smiling, as if that pleasant moment had come back to her. " 我最喜欢的是我们走出来，上到平坦的屋顶，屋顶满是鲜花、乔木和美丽的东西，我们站在那里，在阳光照耀下，放声欢歌，"贝思微微笑着说，好像又重新回到了那美好的时刻。 
我不大记得了，只记得我挺害怕那个地窖和黑漆漆的入口，还有就是挺喜欢吃屋顶上的蛋糕和牛奶。如果不是年龄太大，我倒挺想再演一回。"年仅十二但已显得成熟的艾美开始谈论告别童真了。 'We never are too old for this, my clear, because it is a play we are playing all the time in one way or another. Our burdens are here, our road is before us, and the longing for goodness and happiness is the guide that leads us through many troubles and mistakes to the peace which is a true Celestial City. Now, my little pilgrims, suppose you begin again, not in play, but in earnest, and see how far on you can get before Father comes home.' " 演这出戏永远没有年龄之分，亲爱的，事实上我们一直都在扮演，只是方式不同而已。我们重担在肩，道路就在眼前，追求善美、追求幸福的愿望引导我们跨越无数艰难险阻，最后踏入圣宁之地--真正的'天国'。来吧，往天国进发的小旅客们，再来一次吧。不是做戏，而是真心真意地去做，看看爸爸回来时你们走了多远的路。" 'Really, Mother? Where are our bundles?' asked Amy, who was a very literal young lady. “真的吗，妈妈？我们的重担在哪里？"缺乏想像力的年轻女士艾美问道。 'Each of you told what your burden was just now, except Beth; I rather think she hasn't got any,' said her mother. " 刚才你们各人都把自己的担子说了出来，只有贝思除外。恐怕她没有哩，"母亲答道。
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