Christmas Reunion and New Beginnings — Little Women

Like sunshine after a storm, peaceful weeks follow Beth's illness. Invalids improve, Beth rests on the study sofa with her cats, and Mr. March writes that he may return early in the new year. Christmas preparations return as pleasure, not duty, and Jo and Laurie plot impossible ceremonies until the family quenches the Unquenchables and waits for the day itself.

On a mild Christmas morning Beth is carried to the window to see Jo and Laurie's snow maiden, the Jungfrau, crowned with holly and streaming a carol on pink paper. Laughter still hangs in the air when Laurie opens the parlor door and announces another present. Before anyone understands, Mr. March stands in the room, lean and travel-worn, leaning on John Brooke. Joy erupts in tears, embraces, and Jo nearly faints in the china closet while Brooke kisses Meg by mistake and Beth runs from the study into her father's arms.

The feast that follows is chaotic and perfect. Mr. March studies Meg's fire-poking and Marmee reads the history written on his roughened hands: work, burns, and service have replaced the smooth palms she once admired. Jo mutters that she hates estimable young men with brown eyes, yet the day closes with the family round the fire, grateful that the hardest year ended with the one drop of happiness they had prayed for.

Hannah weeps over the forgotten turkey, Brooke is thanked for nursing Mr. March, and Jo stalks away muttering about estimable brown-eyed men while Meg pokes the fire. Mr. Laurence and Laurie join the feast, and the family reminisce about last year's dismal Christmas before counting this one a miracle. Beth, on her father's knee, is simply glad the year is over because he has come back.