14 Happier days(4)

'I remember when this handwas white and smooth．It was pretty then， but to me it'smuch prettier now．I'm proud of thishard-working hand，Meg．'

　　'What about Jo？'whispered Beth．'She's tried sohard，and has been very， very good to me．'

　　He smiled and looked at Jositting opposite．'Her hair maybe short，but I see a younglady now． Her face is thin and whitefrom worrying， but it has grown gentler．Perhaps I'll missmy wild girl，but I'm sure I'll love thewarm-hearted woman who has taken her place．'

　　Jo's face was red in thefirelight as she listened．

　　'Now Beth，'said Amy．

　　'She's not as shy as sheused to be，'said her father lovingly，and he held Bethclose when he remembered how near they had come to losing her． Then he lookeddown at Amy by his feet．'I've noticed today that Amyhas helped everyone patiently and with a smile．She's learned tothink more about other people，and less about herself．'

　　Beth moved out of herfather's arms and went to the piano．She touched thekeys softly and began to sing．Soon， the othersjoined her in a happy Christmas song．

“我记得这手曾经又白又嫩。它那时很美，可对我来说它现在更美，我为这双劳动的手而感到骄傲，麦格。”
　　“琼怎么样？”贝斯轻声问道。“她那么努力，还对我非常非常好。”
　　他笑了笑，看着坐在对面的琼。“她的头发可能是短了些，可我现在看到了一位年轻的淑女。她的脸削瘦，因为焦虑而苍白，可它变得更温柔了。也许我会想念我那个爱疯跑的孩子，可我肯定会爱这个取而代之的热心的妇人。”
　　琼听着，脸色在火光中变红了。
　　“该说贝斯了，”艾米说。
　　“她不像从前那么害羞了，”她的父亲充满爱意地说，当他想起他们差点失去她时，他把贝斯搂得很紧。然后他看了看坐在他脚边的艾米。“我今天注意到艾米耐心地、面带微笑地帮助每个人。她已经学会了多为别人着想，少想些自己。”
　　贝斯从父亲怀里下来，来到钢琴旁边。她轻轻地触动了琴键，开始唱歌。不久，其他人就跟她一起唱起了一支圣诞歌。