Read the excerpt from Little Women. Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy are discussing Christmas gifts for their mother and a play they are preparing for Christmas night."Let Marmee think we are getting things for ourselves, and then surprise her. We must go shopping tomorrow afternoon, Meg. There is so much to do about the play for Christmas night,” said Jo, marching up and down, with her hands behind her back, and her nose in the air."I don’t mean to act any more after this time. I’m getting too old for such things,” observed Meg, who was as much a child as ever about "dressing-up” frolics."You won’t stop, I know, as long as you can trail round in a white gown with your hair down, and wear gold-paper jewelry. You are the best actress we’ve got, and there’ll be an end of everything if you quit the boards,” said Jo. "We ought to rehearse tonight. Come here, Amy, and do the fainting scene, for you are as stiff as a poker in that.”