Little Women - Chapter 1

"Christmas won't be Christmas without any presents," grumbled ¹ Jo, lying on the rug., ,"It's so dreadful to be poor!" sighed Meg, looking down at her old dress., ,"I don't think it's fair for some girls to have plenty of pretty things, and other girls nothing at all," added little Amy, with an injured sniff ²., , ,The four young faces on which the firelight shone brightened at the cheerful words, but darkened again as Jo said sadly, "We haven't got Father, and shall not have him for a long time." She didn't say "perhaps never," but each silently added it, thinking of Father far away, where the fighting was., ,Nobody spoke ⁵ for a minute; then Meg said in an altered tone, "You know the reason Mother proposed not having any presents this Christmas was because it is going to be a hard winter for everyone; and she thinks we ought not to spend money for pleasure, when our men are suffering so in the army. We can't do much, but we can make our little sacrifices, and ought to do it gladly. But I am afraid I don't," and Meg shook her head, as she thought regretfully of all the pretty things she wanted., ,The heat was sweltering, and the men grumbled fiercely over their work. 天热得让人发昏，水手们边干活边发着牢骚。,The police used dogs to sniff out the criminals in their hiding - place.警察使用警犬查出了罪犯的藏身地点 。