A Merry Christmas and Other Christmas Stories Quotes

“You see, when people once begin to do kindnesses, it is so easy and pleasant, they find it hard to leave off; and sometimes it beautifies them so that they find they love one another very much—as Mr. Chrome and Miss Kent discovered that wondrous day.”
― Louisa May Alcott, A Merry Christmas: And Other Christmas Stories

“With that brave, cheery reply, the four blue eyes turned toward the chest under the window, and the kind moon did her best to light up the tiny tree standing there. A very pitiful little tree it was—only a branch of hemlock in an old flowerpot propped up with bits of coal and hung with a few penny toys earned by the patient fingers of the elder sisters that the younger ones should not be disappointed. But in spite of the magical moonlight, the broken branch, with its scanty supply of fruit, looked pathetically poor, and one pair of eyes filled slowly with tears, while the other pair lost their happy look as if a cloud had covered the moonbeams. “Are you crying, Dolly?” “Not much, Grace.” “What makes you sad, dear?” “I didn’t know how poor we were till I saw the tree, and then I couldn’t help it,” sobbed the elder sister, for at twelve she already knew something of the cares of poverty and missed the happiness that seemed to vanish out of all their lives when Father died.”
― Louisa May Alcott, A Merry Christmas: And Other Christmas Stories

“It was good to see Mrs. Podgers welcome them all in a way that gave the shyest courage, made the poorest forget patched jackets or ragged gowns, and caused them all to feel that this indeed was a merry Christmas. It was better still to see Mrs. Podgers preside over the table, dealing out turkey and pudding with such a bounteous hand that the small feasters often paused, in sheer astonishment, at the abundance before them, and then fell to eating again with renewed energy, as if they feared to wake up presently and find the whole meal a dream.”
― Louisa May Alcott, A Merry Christmas: And Other Christmas Stories

“At the sound of his voice, down went the arm, and Mrs. Podgers saw a boy of nine or ten, arrayed in a flannel garment that evidently belonged to Mr. ’Rusalem; for though none too long, it was immensely broad, and the voluminous sleeves were pinned up, showing a pair of wasted arms, chapped with cold and mottled with bruises. A large blue sock still covered one foot. The other was bound up as if hurt. A tall cotton nightcap, garnished with a red tassel, looked like a big extinguisher on a small candle; and from under it, a pair of dark, hollow eyes glanced sharply with a shrewd, suspicious look that made the little face more pathetic than the marks of suffering, neglect, and abuse, which told the child’s story without words. As if quite reassured by ’Rusalem’s presence, the boy shuffled out of his corner, saying coolly, as he prepared to climb into his nest again:”
― Louisa May Alcott, A Merry Christmas: And Other Christmas Stories

“She doesn’t want to sell me and only told you to do so because you didn’t want to care for me while she is gone. Dear Miss Belinda, please keep me! I’ll eat as little as I can. I won’t ask for a new blanket, though this old army one is thin and shabby. I’ll trot for you all winter and try not to show it if I am lame. I’ll do anything a horse can, no matter how humble, in order to earn my living. Don’t, I beg you, send me away among strangers who have neither interest nor pity for me!”
― Louisa May Alcott, A Merry Christmas: And Other Christmas Stories

“As I sat there, the town clock struck twelve, and the sound reminded me of the legend, which affirms that all dumb animals are endowed with speech for one hour after midnight on Christmas Eve, in memory of the animals who lingered near the manger when the blessed Christ Child was born.”
― Louisa May Alcott, A Merry Christmas: And Other Christmas Stories

“It was all over by nine o’clock and with good night kisses for everyone, the little girls climbed up to bed laden with treasures and too happy for many words. But as they tied their round caps Dolly said, thoughtfully: “On the whole, I think it’s rather nice to be poor when people are kind to you.”
― Louisa May Alcott, A Merry Christmas: And Other Christmas Stories

“I should give Mother a new bonnet first of all, for I heard Miss Kent say no lady would wear such a shabby one. Mrs. Smith said fine bonnets didn’t make real ladies, though.”
― Louisa May Alcott, A Merry Christmas: And Other Christmas Stories

“It was Tilly’s turn to speak, and she startled them with her words, “I’m very glad tomorrow is Christmas, even though I shan’t have any presents at all.” These sentiments were spoken as the three little girls trudged home from school, and Tilly’s words struck a cord of pity in the others. Kate and Bessy wondered how she could speak so cheerfully and be so happy when she was too poor to receive even the smallest of gifts on Christmas Day.”
― Louisa May Alcott, A Merry Christmas: And Other Christmas Stories

“During the first year Patty lived with the Murrays, they found her to be industrious, docile, and faithful—and yet she was not happy and had not found with them all she expected. They were kind to her, providing plenty of food and not too much work. They clothed her comfortably, let her go to church, and did not scold her very often. But no one showed that they loved her, no one praised her efforts, no one seemed to think that she had any hope or wish beyond her daily work; and no one saw in the shy, quiet little maiden a lonely, tenderhearted girl longing for a crumb of the love so freely given to the children of the home.”
― Louisa May Alcott, A Merry Christmas: And Other Christmas Stories

“No one guessed what a world of hopes and thoughts and feelings lay hidden beneath that blue pinafore, what dreams this solitary child enjoyed, or what a hungry, aspiring young soul lived in her crooked little body.”
― Louisa May Alcott, A Merry Christmas: And Other Christmas Stories

“Oh, if someone would only come and take me away! I’m so tired of living here, and I don’t think I can bear it much longer. Poor Patty might well wish for a change; she had been in the orphanage ever since she could remember. And though everyone was very kind to her, she was heartily tired of the place and longed to find a home.”
― Louisa May Alcott, A Merry Christmas: And Other Christmas Stories

“Grandma, down in her own cozy room, sat listening to the blithe noises with a smile on her face, for the past seemed to have come back again. It was as if her own boys and girls were once again frolicking in the rooms above her head, as they had done forty years before.”
― Louisa May Alcott, A Merry Christmas: And Other Christmas Stories

“Grandpa had been a farmer and lived contentedly on the old place until he died, but his four sons wanted to be something better, so they went away one after the other to make their way in the world. All worked hard, earned a good living, and forgot, as far as possible, the dull lives they had led in the old place from which they had come. They were all good sons in their own way and had each offered his mother a home with him if she cared to come. But Grandma clung to the old home, the simple ways, and the quiet life. She thanked them gratefully, but chose to remain in the big farmhouse, empty, lonely, and plain though it was compared to the fine homes in which her sons lived.”
― Louisa May Alcott, A Merry Christmas: And Other Christmas Stories

“Kate looked surprised, but said nothing and stood looking at the fire as if turning the matter over in her mind and trying to answer the question she was too polite to ask—how could they have a grandmother and know so little about her?”
― Louisa May Alcott, A Merry Christmas: And Other Christmas Stories

“Where have you been, and what are you hiding behind you?” asked Meg, surprised to see, by her hood and cloak, that lazy Amy had been out so early. “Don’t laugh at me, Jo; I didn’t mean anyone should know till the time came. I only meant to change the little bottle for a big one, and I gave all my money to get it, and I’m truly trying not to be selfish anymore.”
― Louisa May Alcott, A Merry Christmas: And Other Christmas Stories

“Girls,” said Meg, seriously, looking from the tumbled head beside her to the two little nightcapped ones in the room beyond, “Mother wants us to read and love and mind these books, and we must begin at once. We used to be faithful about it; but since father went away, and all this war trouble unsettled us, we have neglected many things. You can do as you please; but I shall keep my book on the table here, and read a little every morning as soon as I wake, for I know it will do me good, and help me through the day.”
― Louisa May Alcott, A Merry Christmas: And Other Christmas Stories

“Il migliore e il più caro tra gli angeli di Natale si chiama carità. [...]. Va in giro il giorno di Natale compiendo buone azioni come questa e non rimane mai per ricevere ringraziamenti.”
― Louisa May Alcott, Racconti di Natale

“Una cosa può dartela [...]. Può darti il piacere di fare del bene. Questa è una delle cose più dolci della vita, e possono goderne tanto il ricco quanto il povero.”
― Louisa May Alcott, Racconti di Natale

“È sbalorditivo come le persone diventino generose e accorte appena vengano indotte a rendersi conto di un dovere, un atto di carità, un errore.”
― Louisa May Alcott, Racconti di Natale

“And when women set their hearts on anything, it is a known fact that they seldom fail to accomplish it.”
― Louisa May Alcott, A Merry Christmas: And Other Christmas Stories