这部小说以家庭生活为描写对象，以家庭成员的感情纠葛为线索，描写了马奇一家的天伦之爱。马奇家的四姐妹中，无论是为了爱情甘于贫困的海格，还是通过自己奋斗成为作家的乔，以及坦然面对死亡的贝思和以扶弱为己任的艾米，虽然她们的理想和命运都不尽相同，但是她们都具有自强自立的共同特点。描写了她们对家庭的眷恋；对爱的忠诚以及对亲情的渴望。

名著阅读

"I liked the place where the bundles fell off and tumbled downstairs," said Meg.

“我喜欢包袱掉下来滚落楼梯这个情节，”梅格说。

"I don't remember much about it, except that I was afraid of the cellar and the dark entry, and always liked the cake and milk we had up at the top. If I wasn't too old for such things, I'd rather like to play it over again," said Amy, who began to talk of renouncing childish things at the mature age of twelve.

“我最喜欢的是我们走出来，上到平坦的屋顶，屋顶满是鲜花、乔木和美丽的东西，我们站在那里，在阳光照耀下，放声欢歌，”贝思微微笑着说，好像又重新回到了那美好的时刻。“我不大记得了，只记得我挺害怕那个地窖和黑漆漆的入口，还有就是挺喜欢吃屋顶上的蛋糕和牛奶。如果不是年龄太大，我倒挺想再演一回。”年仅十二但已显得成熟的艾美开始谈论告别童真了。

"We never are too old for this, my dear, because it is a play we are playing all the time in one way or another. Our burdens are here, our road is before us, and the longing for goodness and happiness is the guide that leads us through many troubles and mistakes to the peace which is a true Celestial City. Now, my little pilgrims, suppose you begin again, not in play, but in earnest, and see how far on you can get before Father comes home."

“演这出戏永远没有年龄之分，亲爱的，事实上我们一直都在扮演，只是方式不同而已。我们重担在肩，道路就在眼前，追求善美、追求幸福的愿望引导我们跨越无数艰难险阻，最后踏入圣宁之地--真正的'天国'。来吧，往天国进发的小旅客们，再来一次吧。不是做戏，而是真心真意地去做，看看爸爸回来时你们走了多远的路。”

"Really, Mother? Where are our bundles?" asked Amy, who was a very literal young lady.

“真的吗，妈妈？我们的重担在哪里？”缺乏想像力的年轻女士艾美问道。

"Each of you told what your burden was just now, except Beth. I rather think she hasn't got any," said her mother.

“刚才你们各人都把自己的担子说了出来，只有贝思除外。恐怕她没有哩，”母亲答道。

"Yes, I have. Mine is dishes and dusters, and envying girls with nice pianos, and being afraid of people."

“有呵，我也有。锅、碗、瓶、盆，扫帚抹布，嫉妒有漂亮钢琴的女孩，害怕生人，这些都是我的担子。”

Beth's bundle was such a funny one that everybody wanted to laugh, but nobody did, for it would have hurt her feelings very much.

贝思的包袱如此有趣，大家直想笑，不过都没有笑出来，因为这样会大大伤害她的自尊心。

"Let us do it," said Meg thoughtfully. "It is only another name for trying to be good, and the story may help us, for though we do want to be good, it's hard work and we forget, and don't do our best."

“干这些有什么不好呢？”梅格沉思着说，”这其实就是追求善美，只是说法不同而已，而这个故事可以启发我们，因为尽管我们都有追求善美之心，但因为做起来困难，我们便又忘掉了，不去尽力而为。”

词汇释义

1.tumble v. 摔倒, 混乱, 翻滚

I threw off my clothes and tumbled into bed.
我脱掉衣服倒在床上便睡了。

2.mature adj. 成熟的, 到期的, 充分发育的, 考虑周到的

His character has greatly matured in the years.
这些年他的性格已大大成熟。

3.literal adj. 照字面的；原义的；逐字的；缺乏想像力的

Don't be so literal-minded you know what I meant!
别那麽死心眼嘛－－你知道我是什麽意思。

4.thoughtfully adv. 考虑周到的，思索的

She regarded him thoughtfully.
她若有所思地看着他。