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

"That's loving our neighbor better than ourselves, and I like it," said Meg, as they set out their presents while their mother was upstairs collecting clothes for the poor Hummels.

“这就是所谓爱别人胜于爱自己，我喜欢这样，”梅格说。 她们趁母亲上楼为贫穷的赫梅尔一家收集衣物时把礼物摆了出来。

Not a very splendid show, but there was a great deal of love done up in the few little bundles, and the tall vase of red roses, white chrysanthemums, and trailing vines, which stood in the middle, gave quite an elegant air to the table.

这些小礼物并不贵重，但都经过精心的包装，从中可见一片深情。一只高高的花瓶立在桌子中间，里头插着红色的玫瑰和白色的菊花，衬着几缕垂蔓，平添一份雅致。

"She's coming! Strike up, Beth! Open the door, Amy! Three cheers for Marmee!" cried Jo, prancing about while Meg went to conduct Mother to the seat of honor.

“她来了！开始演奏，贝思！开门，艾美！为妈妈欢呼三声！”乔欢跃着大声喊叫，梅格则上前去把妈妈接到贵宾席位。

Beth played her gayest march, Amy threw open the door, and Meg enacted escort with great dignity. Mrs. March was both surprised and touched, and smiled with her eyes full as she examined her presents and read the little notes which accompanied them. The slippers went on at once, a new handkerchief was slipped into her pocket, well scented with Amy's cologne, the rose was fastened in her bosom, and the nice gloves were pronounced a perfect fit.

贝思弹起欢快的进行曲，艾美拉开门，梅格俨然是一个护花使者。马奇太太既惊讶又感动，她含笑端详着她的礼物，读着附在上面的小字条，不由眼中噙满泪水地笑了。她当即穿上便鞋，又把一条散发着古龙水香味的手帕放入衣袋，然后她把那朵玫瑰花别在胸前，又称赞别致的手套"绝对合适"。

There was a good deal of laughing and kissing and explaining, in the simple, loving fashion which makes these home festivals so pleasant at the time, so sweet to remember long afterward, and then all fell to work.

大家笑着、吻着、解释着，这种简单而又充满爱意的方式增添了家里的节日气氛，其温馨让人永久难忘。然后，大家又投入了工作。

The morning charities and ceremonies took so much time that the rest of the day was devoted to preparations for the evening festivities. Being still too young to go often to the theater, and not rich enough to afford any great outlay for private performances, the girls put their wits to work, and necessity being the mother of invention, made whatever they needed. Very clever were some of their productions, pasteboard guitars, antique lamps made of old-fashioned butter boats covered with silver paper, gorgeous robes of old cotton, glittering with tin spangles from a pickle factory, and armor covered with the same useful diamond shaped bits left in sheets when the lids of preserve pots were cut out. The big chamber was the scene of many innocent revels.
　
早上的慈善活动和庆典花了不少时间，余下的时间便用来准备晚上的欢庆活动。由于年龄太小，不宜经常上戏院，又因为经济拮据，支付不起业余表演的大笔费用，姑娘们于是充分发挥才智--需要是发明之母--需要什么，她们便做什么。她们的创造品有些还挺见心机--用纸板做的吉它，用旧式牛油瓶裹上锡纸做成的古灯，用旧棉布做的鲜艳夺目的长袍，面上亮晶晶地镶着从一家腌菜厂拿来的小锡片，还有镶有同样的钻石形小锡片的盔甲，这些被派上用场的小锡片是腌菜厂做罐头剩下的边角料。屋子里的家具常常被弄得乱七八糟，大房间就是舞台，姑娘们在台上天真无邪地尽兴表演。
　　
词汇释义

1.bundle n. 捆,束,一批,一大笔钱 vt. 捆,匆匆送走,附赠 vi. 匆忙

He sold a bundle of old magazines to the second hand bookstore.
他把一捆就杂志卖给了旧书店。

2.chrysanthemum n. 菊, 菊花

It was a special tea which tasted of chrysanthemum.
它是一种有菊花味的特别茶叶。

3.enact [i'nækt] vt. 制定法律,扮演

Several bills were enacted at the end of this session of Parliament.
这届国会结束时, 好几个议案制定成为法律。

4.vine [vain] n. 攀爬植物, 藤, 蔓

He cut some grapes for me from the vine.
他为我从藤上剪下了一些葡萄。

5.bosom n. 胸部

She clasped the baby to her bosom.
她把孩子紧紧抱在怀里。

6.pasteboard n. 厚纸, 纸板, 纸牌

He flipped over the thin piece of pasteboard and read the address scribbled on the back.
他把这张薄薄的名片翻过来，看了看反面书写潦草的地址。

7.gorgeous adj. 华丽的, 灿烂的, 好极了

His paintings are a kaleidoscope of gorgeous colours.
他的油画色彩斑斓, 变化万千.

8.spangle n. 镶金属小片 v. (使)闪烁发光

Tiny shells spangle the profile of a young Roman woman of the second century A.D.
小小的贝壳装饰着一位公元二世纪的罗马妇女的侧面。