英文原著的阅读有助于帮助学生树立英语思维，除了积累词汇量及优美的语句外，还能帮助学生提升英语阅读理解及完形填空的问题。我们的小编在这里提醒大家，如果遇到很多没有学过的单词怎么办？冲过去，一直读下去，你会发现有些词汇即使你不懂也是不影响阅读的。今天我们分享的是《Little Women》。

　　简介

　　圣诞节之际，马奇家的四个女孩子都决心努力做个好女孩，不再滥发脾气，不再懒惰，不再自私。麦格是最年长的一个，她决心不再抱怨工作不好以及没有漂亮的衣服穿。琼决心不再与人争辩和生气，不再像个男孩一样四处乱跑。羞涩的白丝会努力变得勇敢些，小艾米会少顾及自己而多替他人着想。

　　当然，她们并不总是成功，有时她们会有争吵、小秘密以及愤怒的眼泪;但是，也有欢笑和有趣的事情。不久她们有了一个新朋友——邻居富有且孤独的男孩罗瑞。

　　即将到来的一年里有许多的麻烦和困难，而女孩子们在成长。无拘无束的琼憎恨成为彬彬有礼的年轻淑女，可麦格将满17岁，她就要恋爱了……

　　路易莎·梅·阿尔考特于1832年生于美国的宾夕法尼亚州，1888年去世。她家境贫寒，生活艰辛，直到后来她的著名作品《小妇人》成功问世。这本书源于她自己的家庭生活以及阿尔考特家四姐妹的经历。之后她又撰写了三部关于马奇家的作品，分别为《好妻子》、《小男人》和《琼的男友们》。

　　0 1

　　1 Four sisters

　　'Christmas won't be Christmas without any presents，'said Jo crossly.

　　'It's so awful to be poor!'agreed Meg，looking at her old dress.

　　'It's not right for some girls to have pretty things，and others to have nothing at all，'said little Amy.

　　'We've got Father and Mother，'and each other，'said Beth gently.

　　The four young faces round the fire cheered up as they thought of this， but then Jo said sadly，'We haven't got Father，and we won't have him for a long time.'She didn't say 'perhaps never，'but each silently thought it，remembering that he was away at the war in the South.

　　Then Meg said，'Mother says we shouldn't spend money on presents when our men are fighting a war.'

　　'We can't expect anything from Mother or each otehr，'said Jo，' but we only have a dollar each， and that won't help the army much. Let's each buy ourselves what we want， and have a little fun. We work hard to earn it.'

　　'I do， teaching those awful children，' said Meg.'What abut me?'said Jo.' I'm shut up all day working for a terrible old lady， who gives me different orders every five seconds!'

　　'I think washing cups and plates and keeping things tidy is the worst work in the world，'said Beth.'My hands get too tired to play my music.'

　　'I have to go to school with girls who laugh at my dresses and say cruel things because my father isn't rich，'said Amy.

　　'I wish we had the money Father lost when we were little，Jo，'said Meg.

　　'I wish I was a boy，' said Jo.'Then I could go and fight beside Father!'

　　Meg was sixteen and very pretty， with large eyes and soft brown hair，and white hands.Fifteen-year-old Jo was very tall and thin. Her long，dark-red hair was usually pushed up out of the way. Beth was thirteen，a very shy girl who seemed to live in a happy world of her own.Amy was the youngest， but thought herself to be the most important. She had blue eyes，and yellow hair which curled on to her shoulders.

　　At six o'clock，Beth put a pair of slippers by the fire to warm and Meg lit the lamp.Amy got out of the comfortable chair without bing asked， and Jo forgot how tired she was and held the slippers closer to the fire.

　　'These are old， she said.'Mother needs a new pair.'

　　'I'll get her some with my dollar，'said Beth.

　　'No，I shall!'cried Amy.

　　'I'm the oldest—'began Meg.

　　'I'm the man of the family now Father is away， and I shall buy tnem，'said Jo.

　　'Let's each get her something and not get anything for ourselves，'said beth.

　　'That's a kind idea!'said Jo.'What shall we get?'

　　Everyone thought for a moment，then Meg said，'I'll give her a nice pair of gloves.'

　　'The best army slippers，said Jo.

　　'Some handkerchiefs，'said Beth.

　　'A little bottle of perfume，'said Amy.'It won't cost much， so I'll have some money left to buy something for me.'

　　'We'll let Mother think we're getting things for ourselves，and then surprise her，'said Jo.

　　Mrs March arrived home soon after. She took off her wet things and put on her warm slippers. Meg made the tea， Jo brought wood for the fire，Beth was quiet and busy，and Amy gave orders.

　　I've got a letter from Father!'cried Mrs March.

　　It was a letter to cheer them up， and the special message for the girls came at the end： Give them all my love and a kiss.I think of them every day.I know they will be loving childrento you，and that when I come back，I will be prouder than ever of my little women.

　　A tear dropped off the end of Jo's nose.

　　Amy hid her face on her momer's shoulder .'I'm selfish，'she cried，'but I'll try to be better.'

　　'We all will!' cried Meg.'I think too much about the way I look， and hate to work， but I won't any more.'

　　'And I'll try to be a“little woman”，'said Jo，'and not be rough and wild.'

　　Beth said nothing， but she began to work hard at a blue army glove she was making.

　　So the four girls decided that they would all try very hard to be good.They would never be cross，or lazy，or selfish-and they would all help each other.They talked over their plan that evening，while they made sheets for Aunt March.Then at nine o'clock they stopped to sing a song.Beth played the old piano， and Meg and her mother led the singing.Jo always sang in the wrong place， but the girls never got too old to sing together.

　　■ 1 四姐妹

　　“如果没有礼物，圣诞节就徒有其名，”琼生气地说。

　　“贫穷真是糟糕透了!”麦格边看着她的旧衣裙边表示赞同。

　　“有些女孩子有漂亮的东西，而其他人却什么都没有，这太不应该了，”小艾米说。

　　“我们有父亲和母亲，还拥有彼此，”白丝温文尔雅地说道。

　　想起这些，围在火炉边的四张年轻的面孔变得快乐起来，可然后琼悲伤地说：“我们没有父亲，我们要有很长时间都不会有他。”她并没有说出“也许永远也不会有了”这句话，但想起父亲去南方打仗了，每个人都默默地想到了它。

　　然后麦格说道：“妈妈说过，当我们的男人在打仗的时候我们不应该把钱花在买礼物上。”

　　“我们不能期待会从母亲或彼此那里得到任何礼物，”琼说，“可我们每个人都有一块钱，这帮不了军队什么忙。咱们每人给自己买些想要的东西高兴高兴吧。这是咱们努力工作挣来的。”

　　“是我挣的，我教那些糟糕的孩子，”麦格道。

　　“我又怎么样?”琼说，“我一整天一句话都不说，给一个可怕的老太婆干活，她每五分钟就给我下一道不同的命令!”

　　“我觉得洗杯子盘子和整理东西是世界上最坏的工作，”白丝说，“我的双手累得都弹不了琴了。”

　　“我不得不跟那些笑话我穿戴的女孩子一起去上学，她们常说些难听的话，因为我的父亲不是有钱人。”艾米说。

　　“真希望我们能有在我们小时候爸爸失掉的那些钱呀，琼，”麦格道。

　　“我希望我是个男孩，”琼说，“那样我就可以去和爸爸并肩作战了。”

　　麦格16岁了，长得很漂亮，大眼睛，拥有柔软的棕色头发，以及白皙的双手。15岁的琼又高又瘦。她常把深红色的长发梳得老高。白丝13岁，她是个很怕羞的女孩，看起来像是生活在她自己的快乐世界里。艾米最小，可她认为自己最重要。她有一双蓝色的眼睛，还有卷到肩头的黄色头发。

　　6点钟，白丝把一双拖鞋放到火边烘烤，麦格点亮了灯。并没有人说什么，艾米就从那张舒服的椅子上爬起来，琼已忘记了她的疲惫。她将拖鞋放到离火近的地方。

　　“这太旧了，”她说，“妈妈需要一双新拖鞋”。

　　“我要用我的钱给她买，”白丝道。

　　“不，我来买!”艾米大喊。

　　“我最大——”麦格开口了。

　　“现在爸爸不在，我就是家里的男人，我来买拖鞋，”琼说。

　　“咱们每人都给她买些东西吧，什么都不要给自己买了，”白丝建议道。

　　“那是个好主意!”琼说，“那我们买什么呢?”

　　每个人都思索了片刻，然后麦格说：“我要给她买一副很好的手套。”

　　“我要买最好的军用拖鞋，”琼说。

　　“我想买一些手帕，”白丝说。

　　“我会买一小瓶香水，”艾米道，“那不会很贵，所以我还会剩点钱给自己买些东西。”

　　“咱们让妈妈觉得咱们在给自己买东西，然后让她大吃一惊，”琼说。

　　马奇太太不久就回家了。她把湿衣服脱掉，换上暖和的拖鞋。麦格泡了茶，琼给火炉拿来了木柴，白丝一声不响地忙碌着，艾米在发号施令。

　　“我拿到了爸爸的来信!”马奇太太喊道。

　　那是一封叫大家高兴起来的信，信尾是特别写给女孩子们的：“替我向她们转达我的爱和吻。我每天都在想念她们，我知道她们会成为你的好孩子。我知道等我回家时，我会比以往任何时候都更为我的小妇人们感到骄傲。”

　　艾米将脸藏在母亲的臂弯里。“我很自私自利，”她哭泣着说，“可我会努力变得好些。”

　　“我们都会的，”麦格流着泪道。“我太注重自己的外表，憎恨工作，但我以后不会了。”

　　“我会尽力做个'小妇人'，”琼说，“不再粗野无礼了。”

　　白丝什么也没说，但她开始卖力地做一双蓝色的军用手套。

　　于是四个女孩都决心要尽力地做个好女孩，不再滥发脾气，不再懒隋，不再自私，她们将互相帮助。那天晚上，她们在给马奇姨妈做被单时仔细讨论了她们的计划。9点钟的时候，她们停下来一起唱一支歌。白丝弹着那架老钢琴，麦格和母亲一道领唱。琼总是唱得不对，可女孩子永远不会因为太大了而不能一起唱歌。

　　0 2

　　2 A Happy Christmas

　　Jo was the first to wake up on Christmas morning，but soon they were all awake and they went downstairs.

　　'Where's Mother?'asked Meg.

　　'I don't know，'said old Hannah.She had lived with the family since Meg was born，and was more like a friend than a servant.'Some poor woman came to the door and your mother went off to see what was needed.'

　　'She'll be back soon，'said Meg. She 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 came in quickly.

　　'Where have you been，and what's that behind you?'asked Meg.

　　'I ran to the shop and changed the little bottle of perfume for a big one，'said Amy.'I spent all my money to get it，and I'm not going to be selfish any more!'

　　Meg smiled proudly and put her arms around her sister.Then there was another bang from the outside door， and the basket was pushed 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，as they have no wood for a fire.There is nothing to eat and 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 we began to eat!'And 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 and Hannah to a cold ， miserable little room in an old building， where they found a sick mother， a crying baby，and a group of children with white，frightened 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.Hannah，who had brought wood，made 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.

　　It was a very happy meal， although the girls ate none of it.But no one was happier than those hungry young ladies who gave away their breakfast on Christmas morning.

　　Mrs March was surprised and pleased when she saw her presents later.There was a lot of laughing and kissing and explaining.Then，for the rest of the day，the girls were busy.Jo liked to write plays，and the four of them were going to act one that evening.They had learned their words， and had worked hard to make strange and wonderful clothes for all the different characters in the play.

　　On Christmas night， some other girls came to watch. At first，there was a lot of whispering and laughing from the four sisters behind the curtains.Then the curtains were opened and the play began.

　　It was an exciting story about Hugo(acted by Jo wearing a black beard!)， beautiful Zara and brave Roderigo.There were also two ghosts，a cruel king，and a tall castle made of paper and wool-which unfortunately fell down just as Roderigo and Zara were escaping from it.There were screams of laughter from everyone， but the actors picked the mselves up and carried on through more dangers and mysteries until the happy ending was reached.

　　All the visitors loved the play，and after the excitement and fun came a surprise for everyone.

　　'would the young ladles like to stay for supper?'asked Hannah.

　　And when the girls saw the supper table，they could not believe their eyes!There was ice-cream， cake，fruit，and French chocolate! And in the middle of the table were flowers for each of the four actors.

　　'Where did it all come from?'asked Amy.

　　'From Father Christmas， perhaps?'said Beth.

　　'Mother did it，'said Meg.

　　Aunt March sent it，'said Jo.

　　'You're all wrong，'laughed Mrs March.'Old Mr Laurence sent it!'

　　'The Laurence boy's grandfather?'said Meg.'But we don't know him.'

　　'Hannah told his servant about your breakfast party， and that pleased him，'said Mrs March.'He knew my faher many years ago，and he sent me a note this afternoon，asking if he could send my cbildren a few small Christmas presents.'

　　'The idea came from that boy，I know it did!'said Jo.'I'm sure he wants to know us，but he's shy，and Meg won't let me speak to him when we pass him in the street.She says that it's not at all polite for young ladies to introduce themselves to strangers.

　　'You mean the people who live in the big house next door，don't you?'said one of the other girls.'My mother knows old Mr Laurence. She says he keeps his grandson in the house when the boy isn't riding or walking with his tutor， and makes him study very hard.We invited the boy to our party but he didn't come.'

　　'That boy needs to have some fun，'said Jo.

　　■ 2 快乐的圣诞节

　　圣诞节清晨，琼是第一个醒来的，可随后她们就都醒了，然后下了楼。

　　“妈妈在哪儿?”麦格问。

　　“我不知道，”老海娜答道。她从麦格一出世就和全家住在一起，就像是一个朋友，而不像仆人。“有个可怜的女人来到门口，你们的母亲随她去了，好看看她需要什么。”

　　“她很快就会回来的，”麦格说。她看了看那些给母亲的礼物，它们被装在一个篮子里，放在椅子下面，时刻准备拿出来。“艾米的那瓶香水呢?”

　　“我想她是想拿去包上些漂亮的纸，”琼答道。

　　突然，她们听到外面的门被关上了。

　　“妈妈来了，把篮子藏起来，快!”琼说。

　　但那是艾米。她匆匆走进屋。

　　“你到哪儿去了，藏在你身后的是什么?”麦格问。

　　“我跑到商店去了，把那瓶香水换成了一大瓶，”艾米说，“我花掉了所有的钱，我再也不自私了!”

　　麦格骄傲地笑了，伸出双臂拥抱她的妹妹。然后外面的门又有响动了，篮子被推到了椅子下面。女孩子们跑到桌边坐定，准备吃早餐。

　　“圣诞快乐，妈妈!”她们喊道。

　　“圣诞快乐，小女儿们!”马奇太太应道。

　　随后笑容从她脸上消失了。“孩子们，听着，不远处有个穷妇人，哈梅尔太太，她有个刚降生的婴儿。她的六个孩子挤在一张床上取暖，因为他们没有木柴生火。他们没有吃的，又饿又冷。你们把你们的早餐送给他们做圣诞礼物怎么样?”

　　有一阵子没人说话。然后琼说：“妈妈，我很高兴你在我们开始吃饭之前回来!”孩子们开始很快地将她们的早餐放到一个篮子里。

　　“我知道你们会这样做的，”马奇太太微笑着说。

　　她把孩子们和海娜带到位于一座旧楼里的一间又冷又破的小屋里。在那里她们见到了一位生病的母亲，一个正在啼哭的婴儿，和一帮面容苍白、满脸恐惧的孩子。那些孩子挤在床上的一张毛毯里，试图以此取暖。

　　那妇人见到女孩子们后高兴得几乎哭出来。海娜带来了木柴，燃起了炉火。马奇太太把茶和热气腾腾的食物交给了那位母亲，并轻柔地给婴儿穿衣服。女孩子们则把其他孩子抱到炉火旁边，然后像喂小鸟一样喂给他们东西吃。

　　那顿饭吃得很高兴，虽然女孩子们并没有吃到东西。可没有任何人能比这些在圣诞节早晨将早餐送给别人的饿肚子的女孩子更高兴了。

　　马奇太太随后看到她的礼物时又惊又喜。此后是一阵大笑、亲吻和解释。然后，那天剩下的时光里女孩子们都忙忙碌碌的。琼喜欢写剧本，那天晚上她们四个就要演其中一个剧。她们已经记住了台词，还费力地为剧中的不同人物做了怪异和精彩的服装。

　　圣诞节晚上，其他一些女孩子都来看表演。一开始，幕后传出了四姐妹的许多低语和笑声，然后，幕帘开启，演出开始。

　　那是一个关于雨果、美丽的赞拉和勇敢的罗德里歌的激动人心的故事(雨果由琼扮演，她戴着一撮黑胡子!)。还有两个鬼魂、一个残暴的国王以及一个由纸和木头做成的城堡。不幸的是，当罗德里歌和赞拉从城堡中出逃时，城堡塌了下来。所有观众都尖声大笑，可演员们将城堡扶起，又历经许多的风险和神秘，最终获得了幸福的结局。

　　每个来访者都十分喜欢那出剧。这件令人激动、妙趣横生的事件过后，发生了一件令每个人都吃惊的事。

　　“你们这些年轻小姐都留下来吃晚饭好吗?”海娜问道。

　　当女孩子们看见餐桌的时候，她们简直不敢相信自己的眼睛!冰淇淋、蛋糕、水果和法国巧克力!在桌子正中还摆着给四位演员每人一束鲜花!

　　“哪来的?”艾米问。

　　“可能是圣诞老人送来的，”白丝说。

　　“妈妈做的，”麦格说。

　　“马奇姑妈送来的，”琼说。

　　“你们都错了，”马奇太太笑着说，“是老劳伦斯先生送来的!”

　　“是那个劳伦斯家的小男孩的祖父?”麦格问，“可我们不认识他呀。”

　　“海娜给他的仆人讲了你们的早餐聚会，那让他感到很高兴，”马奇太太说，“很多年前他就认识我父亲。今天下午他送来张纸条，问他可否给我的孩子送些圣诞礼物。”

　　“这一定是那个男孩的主意，我知道，”琼说，“他一定是想认识我们，可他很怕羞。我们在街上碰到他时麦格不让我跟他讲话。她说女孩子主动跟陌生人搭讪太没礼貌。”

　　“你是说住在隔壁大房子里的人吗?”其他女孩子中的一个问。“我妈妈认识劳伦斯先生。她说除了骑马和跟家庭教师散步，他总让孙子呆在屋里，让他用功学习。我们曾邀请那男孩参加我们的聚会，可他没来。”

　　“那个男孩需要些乐趣，”琼说。

　　说明

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