二手徵求有驚喜
「有沒有誰有事情可以說？今天過得很無趣，我可真想要有些娛樂。」這天晚上她們坐在房裡做著縫紉活兒時梅格說。
貝絲說了一個故事讓大家哈哈大笑，然後她們要母親也說個故事，母親思索了一會兒，正色說道：
「從前有四個女孩子，她們吃得飽，喝得足，穿得暖，有許多值得安慰和歡樂的事，有深愛她們的和善朋友和雙親，但是她們卻不滿足。」話說到這裡，聽者偷偷瞄著彼此，並且開始勤奮地縫著。「這些女孩子一心想求好，也經常說『要是我們有這個就好了』，或是『要是我們能做那件事就好了』，她們忘了她們已經擁有許多，也忘了她們其實可以做很多快樂的事情。於是她們問一個老婦人說，她們要用什麼符咒使她們快樂呢？老婦人就說：『當你們覺得不滿足的時候，想想你們的福分，並且心存感激。』」這時候喬很快抬眼看，彷彿要說話，但是發現這個故事還沒有說完，就改變主意了。
「因為她們都是明理的女孩，所以決定試著照老婦人的建議去做，她們很快就發現她們自己是多麼幸福。一個人發現金錢也不能使富有人家遠離羞恥和悲愁；另一個人發現自己雖然窮，但有青春、健康和愉快的心境，她要比某個脾氣暴躁、身體孱弱、無法享受舒適生活的老太太快樂許多。第三個女孩發現，雖然幫人準備午餐不是件開心的事，但是向人乞討午餐卻更困難；第四個女孩發現的是，即使紅玉戒指也沒有良好的行為珍貴。所以她們一致同意不要再抱怨，而要享受她們已經擁有的福分，並且努力讓自己不負這些福分，以免福分不增反減。我相信她們聽那個老婦人的勸告是絕對不會失望或是後悔的。」
「媽，您太厲害了，竟然用我們自己的故事來教訓我們，不告訴我們一個浪漫故事，反倒訓了我們一頓。」梅格叫道。
「我喜歡這樣的訓話，爸爸從前告訴我們的就是這種。」貝絲把毛線針直接放在喬的靠墊上，若有所思地說。
「我不像其他人那樣愛抱怨，從今以後我也會更加小心。」艾美道貌岸然地說。
「我們需要那個教訓，我們不會忘記的。如果我們忘了，您只管對我們說，就像老克羅在《黑奴籲天錄》裡面說的：『想想你的天賜恩惠，孩子們！想想你的天賜恩惠，孩子們！』」喬加上一句，她是怎麼也忍不住要從這小小的講道中找點樂趣的，雖然她也和其他人一樣，已經牢牢記住這個教訓了。
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“Has anybody got anything to tell? It's been such a dismal day I'm really dying for some amusement,” said Meg, as they sat sewing together that evening.
Beth told a story. Then they asked their mother for one, and after a moments thought, she said soberly, “Once upon a time, there were four girls, who had enough to eat and drink and wear, a good many comforts and pleasures, kind friends and parents who loved them dearly, and yet they were not contented.” (Here the listeners stole sly looks at one another, and began to sew diligently.) “These girls were anxious to be good and made many excellent resolutions, but they did not keep them very well, and were constantly saying, ‘If only we had this,’ or ‘If we could only do that,’ quite forgetting how much they already had, and how many things they actually could do. So they asked an old woman what spell they could use to make them happy, and she said, ‘When you feel discontented, think over your blessings, and be grateful.’” (Here Jo looked up quickly, as if about to speak, but changed her mind, seeing that the story was not done yet.)
“Being sensible girls, they decided to try her advice, and soon were surprised to see how well off they were. One discovered that money couldn't keep shame and sorrow out of rich people's houses, another that, though she was poor, she was a great deal happier, with her youth, health, and good spirits, than a certain fretful, feeble old lady who couldn't enjoy her comforts, a third that, disagreeable as it was to help get dinner, it was harder still to go begging for it and the fourth, that even carnelian rings were not so valuable as good behavior. So they agreed to stop complaining, to enjoy the blessings already possessed, and try to deserve them, lest they should be taken away entirely, instead of increased, and I believe they were never disappointed or sorry that they took the old woman's advice.”
“Now, Marmee, that is very cunning of you to turn our own stories against us, and give us a sermon instead of a romance!” cried Meg.
“I like that kind of sermon. It's the sort Father used to tell us,” said Beth thoughtfully, putting the needles straight on Jo's cushion.
“I don't complain near as much as the others do, and I shall be more careful than ever now, for I've had warning from Susie's downfall,” said Amy morally.
“We needed that lesson, and we won't forget it. If we do so, you just say to us, as old Chloe did in Uncle Tom, ‘Tink ob yer marcies, chillen!’ ‘Tink ob yer marcies!’” added Jo, who could not, for the life of her, help getting a morsel of fun out of the little sermon, though she took it to heart as much as any of them.
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