Part 1: Chapter 19 Summary

The action of the story rises as the March family prepares to celebrate Christmas. The family is so grateful for the recoveries of Beth and Mr. March that the holiday is void of the self-pity of the previous Christmas. The girls happily plan ways to surprise each other on Christmas Day.

The girls receive many of the gifts they have longed for. Jo receives the book she had thought to buy herself a year ago, Meg gets her first silk dress and Amy receives a picture like the one she had in her prayer closet at Aunt March's. The best gift of all is the surprise arrival of their father.

Mr. Brooke and Mr. March enter to such excitement that John "accidentally" kisses Meg in the confusion. After a wonderful Christmas dinner, Mr. March details the progress he sees in each...