Christmas won't be Christmas without any presents," grumbled 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. "We've got Father and Mother, and each other," said Beth contentedly from her corner.

...and best of all, the wilderness of books, in which she could wander, where she liked, made the library a region of bliss to her.

I can get on with wild beasts first-rate; but men rile me awfully.

I think this power of living in our children is one of the sweetest things in the world.

For the wise old man was universally beloved, and ministered so beautifully to his flock that many of them thanked him all their lives for the help given to both hearts and souls.

Persuasive influences are better than any amount of moralizing.

"Stay" is a charming word in a friend's vocabulary.