The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1871-05-20

i word to say, and let bis grateful eyes speak
for him, as Mrs. Bhaer led him up to a big
room, where they found stout German wo.
man with face SO round and CHEEKY, that it
looked like sort of sun, with the wide frill
OF her cap for rays
"This is Nursey Hummel, and she will give
you nice bath, and cut your hair, and
make you all comfy as Rob says. That's
the bathroom in there; and on Saturday
nights we scrub all the little lads first, and
pack them away in bed before the big ones
get through singing. Now then, Rob, in
with you"
As She talked, Mrs. Bhaer had whipped off |
Rob's clothes and popped him int long
bath.tub in the little room opening into the |
nursery.
There were two tubs, besides foot-baths, ba- |
sins douche- pipes, and all manner OF cOntriv- |
ances Tor cleanliness. Nat was soon luXuriat- |
ing in the other bath; and while simmering |
there, he watched the performances of the |
two women, who scrubbed, clean nIeht-gown- |
ed, aud bundled into bed four or five small |
boys, who, of course, cut up all sorts OF capers
during the opei alton, and kept every one in |
gale OF merriment till they were extinguished |
in their beds. |
BY the time Nat was washed and done up
| IN a blanket by the fire, while Nursey cut his |
hair, new detachment of boys arrived and
were shut into the bath room, where they
l1duc DIS SpldSuluS anu noise as a |
| school OF young whales at play.
NAT had better sleep here, so that if his
cough troubles him in the night you can see
that he takes good draught OF flax seed tea,
said Mrs. Bhaer, who was flying about like
| distracted hen with large brood OF lively
duckngs.
Nursey approved the plan, finished Nat oil
with flannel nsht-gown, a drink of some
thing warm and sweet, and then tucked him
into one of the three little beds standing in
the room, where he lay looking like content
ed mummy, and feeling that nothing more in
the way of luxury could be offered him.
Cleanliness in itself was new and delightful
sensation; flannel gowns were unknown COM
forts in his world; sips of "good stuff sooth-
ed his cough as pleasantly as kind words did
his lonely heart; and the feeling that some
body cared for him made that plain room
seem a sort of heaven to the homeless child.
1t was like a cosy dream; and be often shut
hisleyes 10 see il it would not vanish when he
opened them again. 1t was too pleasant to
let him sleep, and he could not have done SO
if he had tried, for in few minutes one of
the peculiar institutions of Plumfeld was re.
vealed to his astonished but apprecative ey es.
momentary lull in the aquatic exercises
was followed by the sudden appearance of pill
lows flying in all directions, hurried by white
COLLINS, who came rioting out of their beds.
The battle ragged in several rooms, all down
the upper hall, and even surged at intervals
into the nursery, when some hard-pIessed
warrior took refuge there. No one seemed to
mind this explosion in the least; no one for
babe it, or even looked surprised. Eursey
: went ON hanging up towels, and Mrs. Bhaer
, looked out clean clothes, as calmly as if the
most perfect order reisned. Nay, she even
chased one daring boy out of the room, and
fred after him the pillow he had slyly thrown
7 at her.
/ "Won't they hurt 'em?" asked Nat, who
lay laughing with all his might.
"Oh dear, no! we always allow one pillow
fight Saturday night. The cases are changes
tomorrow; and it gets up glow after the
boys baths; so [ rather like it myself" said
Mrs. Bhaer, busy again among her dozen pairs
OF socks.
"What very nice school this is !" observed
Nat, in burst of admiration.
"It's an odd one," laughed Mrs. Bhaer? T"
but you see Wa don't believe in making chill.
. dren miserable by too many rules, and too
much study. forbade nightgown parties at
first; but, bless you, it was of no use. could
3. no more keep those boys in their beds, than
! so many jacks in the box. So made an agree
ment with them: l was to allow fifteen
minute pillow fight, every Saturday night; and
they promised to 60 properly to bed, every
l other night. l tried it, and it worked we'll
If they don't keep their word, no frolic; if they
do, just turn the glasses round, put the
: lamps in safe places, and let them rampage as
much as they like"
"Its beautiful plan," said Nat, feeling that
he should like to join in the fray, but not ven
7 turing to propose it the first night. So he lay
enjoying the spectacle, which certainly was a
lively one
Tommy Bangs led the assailing party, and
Demi defended his own room with logged
courage, file to see, collecting pillows behind
him as fast as they were thrown, till the be-
! siegers were out of ammunition, when they
e would charge upon him in body, and re.
cover their arms. A few slight accidents oc-
+ cured, but nobody minded, and gave and took
0 sounding thwacks with perfect good humor
while pillows flew like big snow fakes, till
e Mrs. Bhaer looked at her watch, and called
: out
"Time is up, boys. Into bed, every man
Jack, or pay the forfeitr'
what is the forfeit ?" asked Nat, sitting up
in his eagerness to know what happened to
those wretches who disobeyed this most pc
= culiar, but public spirited schoolma'am.
Z "LOse their fun next time" answered Mrs.
Bhaer. Il give them five minutes to settle
| down, then put out the lights, and expect Or
1 der: They are honorable lads, and they keep
their word"
That was evident, for the battle ended as
abruptly as it began-a parting shot or two
n hnal cheer. as Demi fired the seventh pillow
K at the retiring foe, few challenges for next
time, then order prevailed and nothing but
+ an occasional giggle, or Suppressed whisper
< broke the q1iet which followed the Saturday
? night frolic, as Mother Bhaer kissed her new
q boy, and left him to happy creams of life at
z Plumfeld.