It was so homey and refreshing that I sat down on the floor and read and looked and ate and laughed and cried , in my usual absurd way . The things were just what I wanted , and all the better for being made instead of bought . Beth 's new ` ink bib ' was capital , and Hannah 's box of hard gingerbread will be a treasure . I 'll be sure and wear the nice flannels you sent , Marmee , and read carefully the books Father has marked . Thank you all , heaps and heaps ! Speaking of books reminds me that I 'm getting rich in that line , for on New Year 's Day Mr. Bhaer gave me a fine Shakespeare . It is one he values much , and I 've often admired it , set up in the place of honor with his German Bible , Plato , Homer , and Milton , so you may imagine how I felt when he brought it down , without its cover , and showed me my own name in it , `` from my friend Friedrich Bhaer '' . `` You say often you wish a library . Here I gif you one , for between these lids -LRB- he meant covers -RRB- is many books in one . Read him well , and he will help you much , for the study of character in this book will help you to read it in the world and paint it with your pen . '' I thanked him as well as I could , and talk now about ` my library ' , as if I had a hundred books . I never knew how much there was in Shakespeare before , but then I never had a Bhaer to explain it to me . Now do n't laugh at his horrid name . It is n't pronounced either Bear or Beer , as people will say it , but something between the two , as only Germans can give it . I 'm glad you both like what I tell you about him , and hope you will know him some day . Mother would admire his warm heart , Father his wise head . I admire both , and feel rich in my new ` friend Friedrich Bhaer ' . Not having much money , or knowing what he 'd like , I got several little things , and put them about the room , where he would find them unexpectedly . They were useful , pretty , or funny , a new standish on his table , a little vase for his flower , he always has one , or a bit of green in a glass , to keep him fresh , he says , and a holder for his blower , so that he need n't burn up what Amy calls ` mouchoirs ' . I made it like those Beth invented , a big butterfly with a fat body , and black and yellow wings , worsted feelers , and bead eyes .
It took his fancy immensely , and he XXXXX it on his mantlepiece as an article of virtue , so it was rather a failure after all .
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