The place was a small town in Massachusetts, North America. It was a cold evening in December 1862. Snow was falling softly.

In the living room of a small house, four sisters were sitting by the fire. Their names were Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy March. Meg was sixteen years old. Joe was fifteen. Beth was thirteen years old and Amy was twelve.

Their mother, Mrs March, was not in the house. She was visiting a poor, sick family. Their father, Mr March was far away from home. It was wartime. Mr March was working in a hospital for soldiers.

The four sisters were knitting with wool. They were knitting socks for the soldiers. They worked and they talked.

‘We are poor,’ said Meg, the eldest girl. ‘It is terrible.’ Meg was very pretty. She had large eyes and soft brown hair.

‘Other girls have lots of pretty things,’ said Amy, the youngest girl. Amy had golden hair and blue eyes.

‘I hate girls’ work and girls’ things,’ said Jo. She was tall and thin. She had beautiful, long, red hair. ‘I don’t want to stay at home,’ she said. ‘I want to fight in the war.’

Then Beth spoke. ‘Yes, we are poor,’ she said. ‘But we are lucky too. We have Father and Mother and we have each other.’

Beth was very shy. She was afraid of strangers but she loved her family very much.

‘Yes, we have each other,’ said Jo. And the girls were happy again.

‘It’s six o’clock!’ said Meg. ‘Be quick, everybody! Mother is coming! We must get supper ready.’

Jo brought more wood for the fire. Meg lit the lamps. Beth and Amy put the food on the table.

The door opened and Mrs March came into the room. Mrs March was not beautiful but she was very kind and good. Her daughters had a special name for her. They called her ‘Marmee’.

‘How are you, my dears?’ said Mrs March. ‘Did you have a good day?’

‘Yes, thank you, Marmee,’ replied the four sisters.

‘Come. Sit down by the fire, Marmee,’ said Meg. ‘Supper is ready.’

After supper, Mrs March said, ‘Girls, I have a wonderful surprise.’

Everybody was excited.

‘Is it a letter from Father?’ asked Jo.

‘Yes,’ replied Mrs March. ‘Father has a Christmas message for all of you.’

The girls read their father’s letter.

To my four little women.

My dears,

I will not see you again for a long time. I think of you all every day. Take care of your mother. Be good and work hard.

Happy Christmas from your loving father.