The girl sits up, puts her hands nonchalantly in her pockets, and begins to whistle. "Oh, don't, Jo," says Amy. "It's so boyish!" "Well, that's why I do it," says Jo. "I detest rude, unladylike girls!" "And I hate affected, niminy-piminy chits!" Even though the March girls Jo, Amy, Beth and Meg disagree about plenty of matters, on plenty of occasions, the four make up the core of a cheerful, happy household . . . at least as happy as can be expected, given the fact that father is far away from home, fighting in the war -- perhaps never to return! -- while mother is saying they should not have the pleasure of Christmas presents . . . not this year, when so many are suffering and so many are in danger of losing their lives!