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+Produced by David Reed
+
+
+
+
+
+LITTLE MEN: LIFE AT PLUMFIELD WITH JO'S BOYS
+
+By Louisa May Alcott
+
+
+     TO
+     FREDDY AND JOHNNY,
+     THE LITTLE MEN
+     TO WHOM SHE OWES SOME OF THE BEST AND HAPPIEST
+     HOURS OF HER LIFE,
+     THIS BOOK IS GRATEFULLY DEDICATED
+     BY THEIR LOVING
+     "AUNT WEEDY"
+
+
+
+Contents
+
+     CHAPTER I. NAT
+     CHAPTER II. THE BOYS
+     CHAPTER III. SUNDAY
+     CHAPTER IV. STEPPING-STONES
+     CHAPTER V. PATTY PANS
+     CHAPTER VI. A FIRE BRAND
+     CHAPTER VII. NAUGHTY NAN
+     CHAPTER VIII. PRANKS AND PLAYS
+     CHAPTER IX. DAISY'S BALL
+     CHAPTER X. HOME AGAIN
+     CHAPTER XI. UNCLE TEDDY
+     CHAPTER XII. HUCKLEBERRIES
+     CHAPTER XIII. GOLDILOCKS
+     CHAPTER XIV. DAMON AND PYTHIAS
+     CHAPTER XV. IN THE WILLOW
+     CHAPTER XVI. TAMING THE COLT
+     CHAPTER XVII. COMPOSITION DAY
+     CHAPTER XVIII. CROPS
+     CHAPTER XIX. JOHN BROOKE
+     CHAPTER XX. ROUND THE FIRE
+     CHAPTER XXI. THANKSGIVING
+
+
+
+
+LITTLE MEN
+
+LIFE AT PLUMFIELD WITH JO'S BOYS
+
+
+
+CHAPTER I. NAT
+
+"Please, sir, is this Plumfield?" asked a ragged boy of the man who
+opened the great gate at which the omnibus left him.
+
+"Yes. Who sent you?"
+
+"Mr. Laurence. I have got a letter for the lady."
+
+"All right; go up to the house, and give it to her; she'll see to you,
+little chap."
+
+The man spoke pleasantly, and the boy went on, feeling much cheered by
+the words. Through the soft spring rain that fell on sprouting grass
+and budding trees, Nat saw a large square house before him, a
+hospitable-looking house, with an old-fashioned porch, wide steps, and
+lights shining in many windows. Neither curtains nor shutters hid the
+cheerful glimmer; and, pausing a moment before he rang, Nat saw many
+little shadows dancing on the walls, heard the pleasant hum of young
+voices, and felt that it was hardly possible that the light and warmth
+and comfort within could be for a homeless "little chap" like him.
+
+"I hope the lady will see to me," he thought, and gave a timid rap with
+the great bronze knocker, which was a jovial griffin's head.
+
+A rosy-faced servant-maid opened the door, and smiled as she took the
+letter which he silently offered. She seemed used to receiving strange
+boys, for she pointed to a seat in the hall, and said, with a nod:
+
+"Sit there and drip on the mat a bit, while I take this in to missis."
+
+Nat found plenty to amuse him while he waited, and stared about him
+curiously, enjoying the view, yet glad to do so unobserved in the dusky
+recess by the door.
+
+The house seemed swarming with boys, who were beguiling the rainy
+twilight with all sorts of amusements. There were boys everywhere,
+"up-stairs and down-stairs and in the lady's chamber," apparently, for
+various open doors showed pleasant groups of big boys, little boys,
+and middle-sized boys in all stages of evening relaxation, not to say
+effervescence. Two large rooms on the right were evidently schoolrooms,
+for desks, maps, blackboards, and books were scattered about. An open
+fire burned on the hearth, and several indolent lads lay on their backs
+before it, discussing a new cricket-ground, with such animation that
+their boots waved in the air. A tall youth was practising on the flute
+in one corner, quite undisturbed by the racket all about him. Two or
+three others were jumping over the desks, pausing, now and then, to get
+their breath and laugh at the droll sketches of a little wag who was
+caricaturing the whole household on a blackboard.
+
+In the room on the left a long supper-table was seen, set forth with
+great pitchers of new milk, piles of brown and white bread, and perfect
+stacks of the shiny gingerbread so dear to boyish souls. A flavor of
+toast was in the air, also suggestions of baked apples, very tantalizing
+to one hungry little nose and stomach.
+
+The hall, however, presented the most inviting prospect of all, for
+a brisk game of tag was going on in the upper entry. One landing
+was devoted to marbles, the other to checkers, while the stairs were
+occupied by a boy reading, a girl singing a lullaby to her doll, two
+puppies, a kitten, and a constant succession of small boys sliding down
+the banisters, to the great detriment of their clothes and danger to
+their limbs.
+
+So absorbed did Nat become in this exciting race, that he ventured
+farther and farther out of his corner; and when one very lively boy
+came down so swiftly that he could not stop himself, but fell off the
+banisters, with a crash that would have broken any head but one rendered
+nearly as hard as a cannon-ball by eleven years of constant bumping, Nat
+forgot himself, and ran up to the fallen rider, expecting to find him
+half-dead. The boy, however, only winked rapidly for a second, then lay
+calmly looking up at the new face with a surprised, "Hullo!"
+
+"Hullo!" returned Nat, not knowing what else to say, and thinking that
+form of reply both brief and easy.
+
+"Are you a new boy?" asked the recumbent youth, without stirring.
+
+"Don't know yet."
+
+"What's your name?"
+
+"Nat Blake."
+
+"Mine's Tommy Bangs. Come up and have a go, will you?" and Tommy got
+upon his legs like one suddenly remembering the duties of hospitality.
+
+"Guess I won't, till I see whether I'm going to stay or not," returned
+Nat, feeling the desire to stay increase every moment.
+
+"I say, Demi, here's a new one. Come and see to him;" and the lively
+Thomas returned to his sport with unabated relish.
+
+At his call, the boy reading on the stairs looked up with a pair of big
+brown eyes, and after an instant's pause, as if a little shy, he put the
+book under his arm, and came soberly down to greet the new-comer, who
+found something very attractive in the pleasant face of this slender,
+mild-eyed boy.
+
+"Have you seen Aunt Jo?" he asked, as if that was some sort of important
+ceremony.
+
+"I haven't seen anybody yet but you boys; I'm waiting," answered Nat.
+
+"Did Uncle Laurie send you?" proceeded Demi, politely, but gravely.
+
+"Mr. Laurence did."
+
+"He is Uncle Laurie; and he always sends nice boys."
+
+Nat looked gratified at the remark, and smiled, in a way that made his
+thin face very pleasant. He did not know what to say next, so the two
+stood staring at one another in friendly silence, till the little girl
+came up with her doll in her arms. She was very like Demi, only not so
+tall, and had a rounder, rosier face, and blue eyes.
+
+"This is my sister, Daisy," announced Demi, as if presenting a rare and
+precious creature.
+
+The children nodded to one another; and the little girl's face dimpled
+with pleasure, as she said affably:
+
+"I hope you'll stay. We have such good times here; don't we, Demi?"
+
+"Of course, we do: that's what Aunt Jo has Plumfield for."
+
+"It seems a very nice place indeed," observed Nat, feeling that he must
+respond to these amiable young persons.
+
+"It's the nicest place in the world, isn't it, Demi?" said Daisy, who
+evidently regarded her brother as authority on all subjects.
+
+"No, I think Greenland, where the icebergs and seals are, is more
+interesting. But I'm fond of Plumfield, and it is a very nice place
+to be in," returned Demi, who was interested just now in a book on
+Greenland. He was about to offer to show Nat the pictures and
+explain them, when the servant returned, saying with a nod toward the
+parlor-door:
+
+"All right; you are to stop."
+
+"I'm glad; now come to Aunt Jo." And Daisy took him by the hand with a
+pretty protecting air, which made Nat feel at home at once.
+
+Demi returned to his beloved book, while his sister led the new-comer
+into a back room, where a stout gentleman was frolicking with two little
+boys on the sofa, and a thin lady was just finishing the letter which
+she seemed to have been re-reading.
+
+"Here he is, aunty!" cried Daisy.
+
+"So this is my new boy? I am glad to see you, my dear, and hope you'll
+be happy here," said the lady, drawing him to her, and stroking back the
+hair from his forehead with a kind hand and a motherly look, which made
+Nat's lonely little heart yearn toward her.
+
+She was not at all handsome, but she had a merry sort of face that never
+seemed to have forgotten certain childish ways and looks, any more than
+her voice and manner had; and these things, hard to describe but very
+plain to see and feel, made her a genial, comfortable kind of person,
+easy to get on with, and generally "jolly," as boys would say. She saw
+the little tremble of Nat's lips as she smoothed his hair, and her keen
+eyes grew softer, but she only drew the shabby figure nearer and said,
+laughing:
+
+"I am Mother Bhaer, that gentleman is Father Bhaer, and these are the
+two little Bhaers. Come here, boys, and see Nat."
+
+The three wrestlers obeyed at once; and the stout man, with a chubby
+child on each shoulder, came up to welcome the new boy. Rob and Teddy
+merely grinned at him, but Mr. Bhaer shook hands, and pointing to a low
+chair near the fire, said, in a cordial voice:
+
+"There is a place all ready for thee, my son; sit down and dry thy wet
+feet at once."
+
+"Wet? So they are! My dear, off with your shoes this minute, and I'll
+have some dry things ready for you in a jiffy," cried Mrs. Bhaer,
+bustling about so energetically that Nat found himself in the cosy
+little chair, with dry socks and warm slippers on his feet, before he
+would have had time to say Jack Robinson, if he had wanted to try. He
+said "Thank you, ma'am," instead; and said it so gratefully that Mrs.
+Bhaer's eyes grew soft again, and she said something merry, because she
+felt so tender, which was a way she had.
+
+"There are Tommy Bangs' slippers; but he never will remember to put them
+on in the house; so he shall not have them. They are too big; but that's
+all the better; you can't run away from us so fast as if they fitted."
+
+"I don't want to run away, ma'am." And Nat spread his grimy little hands
+before the comfortable blaze, with a long sigh of satisfaction.
+
+"That's good! Now I am going to toast you well, and try to get rid of
+that ugly cough. How long have you had it, dear?" asked Mrs. Bhaer, as
+she rummaged in her big basket for a strip of flannel.
+
+"All winter. I got cold, and it wouldn't get better, somehow."
+
+"No wonder, living in that damp cellar with hardly a rag to his poor
+dear back!" said Mrs. Bhaer, in a low tone to her husband, who was
+looking at the boy with a skillful pair of eyes that marked the thin
+temples and feverish lips, as well as the hoarse voice and frequent fits
+of coughing that shook the bent shoulders under the patched jacket.
+
+"Robin, my man, trot up to Nursey, and tell her to give thee the
+cough-bottle and the liniment," said Mr. Bhaer, after his eyes had
+exchanged telegrams with his wife's.
+
+Nat looked a little anxious at the preparations, but forgot his fears in
+a hearty laugh, when Mrs. Bhaer whispered to him, with a droll look:
+
+"Hear my rogue Teddy try to cough. The syrup I'm going to give you has
+honey in it; and he wants some."
+
+Little Ted was red in the face with his exertions by the time the bottle
+came, and was allowed to suck the spoon after Nat had manfully taken a
+dose and had the bit of flannel put about his throat.
+
+These first steps toward a cure were hardly completed when a great bell
+rang, and a loud tramping through the hall announced supper. Bashful Nat
+quaked at the thought of meeting many strange boys, but Mrs. Bhaer held
+out her hand to him, and Rob said, patronizingly, "Don't be 'fraid; I'll
+take care of you."
+
+Twelve boys, six on a side, stood behind their chairs, prancing with
+impatience to begin, while the tall flute-playing youth was trying to
+curb their ardor. But no one sat down till Mrs. Bhaer was in her place
+behind the teapot, with Teddy on her left, and Nat on her right.
+
+"This is our new boy, Nat Blake. After supper you can say how do you do?
+Gently, boys, gently."
+
+As she spoke every one stared at Nat, and then whisked into their seats,
+trying to be orderly and failing utterly. The Bhaers did their best to
+have the lads behave well at meal times, and generally succeeded pretty
+well, for their rules were few and sensible, and the boys, knowing that
+they tried to make things easy and happy, did their best to obey.
+But there are times when hungry boys cannot be repressed without real
+cruelty, and Saturday evening, after a half-holiday, was one of those
+times.
+
+"Dear little souls, do let them have one day in which they can howl and
+racket and frolic to their hearts' content. A holiday isn't a holiday
+without plenty of freedom and fun; and they shall have full swing once
+a week," Mrs. Bhaer used to say, when prim people wondered why
+banister-sliding, pillow-fights, and all manner of jovial games were
+allowed under the once decorous roof of Plumfield.
+
+It did seem at times as if the aforesaid roof was in danger of flying
+off, but it never did, for a word from Father Bhaer could at any time
+produce a lull, and the lads had learned that liberty must not be
+abused. So, in spite of many dark predictions, the school flourished,
+and manners and morals were insinuated, without the pupils exactly
+knowing how it was done.
+
+Nat found himself very well off behind the tall pitchers, with Tommy
+Bangs just around the corner, and Mrs. Bhaer close by to fill up plate
+and mug as fast as he could empty them.
+
+"Who is that boy next the girl down at the other end?" whispered Nat to
+his young neighbor under cover of a general laugh.
+
+"That's Demi Brooke. Mr. Bhaer is his uncle."
+
+"What a queer name!"
+
+"His real name is John, but they call him Demi-John, because his
+father is John too. That's a joke, don't you see?" said Tommy, kindly
+explaining. Nat did not see, but politely smiled, and asked, with
+interest:
+
+"Isn't he a very nice boy?"
+
+"I bet you he is; knows lots and reads like any thing."
+
+"Who is the fat one next him?"
+
+"Oh, that's Stuffy Cole. His name is George, but we call him Stuffy
+'cause he eats so much. The little fellow next Father Bhaer is his boy
+Rob, and then there's big Franz his nephew; he teaches some, and kind of
+sees to us."
+
+"He plays the flute, doesn't he?" asked Nat as Tommy rendered himself
+speechless by putting a whole baked apple into his mouth at one blow.
+
+Tommy nodded, and said, sooner than one would have imagined possible
+under the circumstances, "Oh, don't he, though? And we dance sometimes,
+and do gymnastics to music. I like a drum myself, and mean to learn as
+soon as ever I can."
+
+"I like a fiddle best; I can play one too," said Nat, getting
+confidential on this attractive subject.
+
+"Can you?" and Tommy stared over the rim of his mug with round eyes,
+full of interest. "Mr. Bhaer's got an old fiddle, and he'll let you play
+on it if you want to."
+
+"Could I? Oh, I would like it ever so much. You see, I used to go round
+fiddling with my father, and another man, till he died."
+
+"Wasn't that fun?" cried Tommy, much impressed.
+
+"No, it was horrid; so cold in winter, and hot in summer. And I got
+tired; and they were cross sometimes; and I didn't get enough to eat."
+Nat paused to take a generous bite of gingerbread, as if to assure
+himself that the hard times were over; and then he added regretfully:
+"But I did love my little fiddle, and I miss it. Nicolo took it away
+when father died, and wouldn't have me any longer, 'cause I was sick."
+
+"You'll belong to the band if you play good. See if you don't."
+
+"Do you have a band here?" Nat's eyes sparkled.
+
+"Guess we do; a jolly band, all boys; and they have concerts and things.
+You just see what happens to-morrow night."
+
+After this pleasantly exciting remark, Tommy returned to his supper, and
+Nat sank into a blissful reverie over his full plate.
+
+Mrs. Bhaer had heard all they said, while apparently absorbed in filling
+mugs, and overseeing little Ted, who was so sleepy that he put his spoon
+in his eye, nodded like a rosy poppy, and finally fell fast asleep, with
+his cheek pillowed on a soft bun. Mrs. Bhaer had put Nat next to Tommy,
+because that roly-poly boy had a frank and social way with him, very
+attractive to shy persons. Nat felt this, and had made several small
+confidences during supper, which gave Mrs. Bhaer the key to the new
+boy's character, better than if she had talked to him herself.
+
+In the letter which Mr. Laurence had sent with Nat, he had said:
+
+"DEAR JO: Here is a case after your own heart. This poor lad is an
+orphan now, sick and friendless. He has been a street-musician; and
+I found him in a cellar, mourning for his dead father, and his lost
+violin. I think there is something in him, and have a fancy that between
+us we may give this little man a lift. You cure his overtasked body,
+Fritz help his neglected mind, and when he is ready I'll see if he is
+a genius or only a boy with a talent which may earn his bread for him.
+Give him a trial, for the sake of your own boy,
+
+"TEDDY."
+
+"Of course we will!" cried Mrs. Bhaer, as she read the letter; and when
+she saw Nat she felt at once that, whether he was a genius or not, here
+was a lonely, sick boy who needed just what she loved to give, a home
+and motherly care. Both she and Mr. Bhaer observed him quietly; and in
+spite of ragged clothes, awkward manners, and a dirty face, they saw
+much about Nat that pleased them. He was a thin, pale boy, of twelve,
+with blue eyes, and a good forehead under the rough, neglected hair; an
+anxious, scared face, at times, as if he expected hard words, or blows;
+and a sensitive mouth that trembled when a kind glance fell on him;
+while a gentle speech called up a look of gratitude, very sweet to see.
+"Bless the poor dear, he shall fiddle all day long if he likes," said
+Mrs. Bhaer to herself, as she saw the eager, happy expression on his
+face when Tommy talked of the band.
+
+So, after supper, when the lads flocked into the schoolroom for more
+"high jinks," Mrs. Jo appeared with a violin in her hand, and after a
+word with her husband, went to Nat, who sat in a corner watching the
+scene with intense interest.
+
+"Now, my lad, give us a little tune. We want a violin in our band, and I
+think you will do it nicely."
+
+She expected that he would hesitate; but he seized the old fiddle at
+once, and handled it with such loving care, it was plain to see that
+music was his passion.
+
+"I'll do the best I can, ma'am," was all he said; and then drew the bow
+across the strings, as if eager to hear the dear notes again.
+
+There was a great clatter in the room, but as if deaf to any sounds but
+those he made, Nat played softly to himself, forgetting every thing in
+his delight. It was only a simple <DW64> melody, such as street-musicians
+play, but it caught the ears of the boys at once, and silenced them,
+till they stood listening with surprise and pleasure. Gradually they got
+nearer and nearer, and Mr. Bhaer came up to watch the boy; for, as if he
+was in his element now, Nat played away and never minded any one, while
+his eyes shone, his cheeks reddened, and his thin fingers flew, as he
+hugged the old fiddle and made it speak to all their hearts the language
+that he loved.
+
+A hearty round of applause rewarded him better than a shower of pennies,
+when he stopped and glanced about him, as if to say:
+
+"I've done my best; please like it."
+
+"I say, you do that first rate," cried Tommy, who considered Nat his
+protege.
+
+"You shall be the first fiddle in my band," added Franz, with an
+approving smile.
+
+Mrs. Bhaer whispered to her husband:
+
+"Teddy is right: there's something in the child." And Mr. Bhaer nodded
+his head emphatically, as he clapped Nat on the shoulder, saying,
+heartily:
+
+"You play well, my son. Come now and play something which we can sing."
+
+It was the proudest, happiest minute of the poor boy's life when he was
+led to the place of honor by the piano, and the lads gathered round,
+never heeding his poor clothes, but eying him respectfully and waiting
+eagerly to hear him play again.
+
+They chose a song he knew; and after one or two false starts they got
+going, and violin, flute, and piano led a chorus of boyish voices that
+made the old roof ring again. It was too much for Nat, more feeble than
+he knew; and as the final shout died away, his face began to work, he
+dropped the fiddle, and turning to the wall sobbed like a little child.
+
+"My dear, what is it?" asked Mrs. Bhaer, who had been singing with all
+her might, and trying to keep little Rob from beating time with his
+boots.
+
+"You are all so kind and it's so beautiful I can't help it," sobbed Nat,
+coughing till he was breathless.
+
+"Come with me, dear; you must go to bed and rest; you are worn out, and
+this is too noisy a place for you," whispered Mrs. Bhaer; and took him
+away to her own parlor, where she let him cry himself quiet.
+
+Then she won him to tell her all his troubles, and listened to the
+little story with tears in her own eyes, though it was not a new one to
+her.
+
+"My child, you have got a father and a mother now, and this is home.
+Don't think of those sad times any more, but get well and happy; and be
+sure you shall never suffer again, if we can help it. This place is made
+for all sorts of boys to have a good time in, and to learn how to help
+themselves and be useful men, I hope. You shall have as much music as
+you want, only you must get strong first. Now come up to Nursey and have
+a bath, and then go to bed, and to-morrow we will lay some nice little
+plans together."
+
+Nat held her hand fast in his, but had not a word to say, and let his
+grateful eyes speak for him, as Mrs. Bhaer led him up to a big room,
+where they found a stout German woman with a face so round and cheery
+that it looked like a sort of sun, with the wide frill of her cap for
+rays.
+
+"This is Nursey Hummel, and she will give you a nice bath, and cut your
+hair, and make you all 'comfy,' as Rob says. That's the bath-room 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
+into a long bath-tub in the little room opening into the nursery.
+
+There were two tubs, besides foot-baths, basins, douche-pipes, and all
+manner of contrivances for cleanliness. Nat was soon luxuriating in the
+other bath; and while simmering there, he watched the performances of
+the two women, who scrubbed, clean night-gowned, and bundled into bed
+four or five small boys, who, of course, cut up all sorts of capers
+during the operation, and kept every one in a 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, a new detachment of boys arrived and were shut into
+the bath-room, where they made as much splashing and 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 a good draught of flax-seed tea," said
+Mrs. Bhaer, who was flying about like a distracted hen with a large
+brood of lively ducklings.
+
+Nursey approved the plan, finished Nat off with a flannel night-gown, a
+drink of something warm and sweet, and then tucked him into one of the
+three little beds standing in the room, where he lay looking like a
+contented mummy and feeling that nothing more in the way of luxury
+could be offered him. Cleanliness in itself was a new and delightful
+sensation; flannel gowns were unknown comforts in his world; sips of
+"good stuff" soothed his cough as pleasantly as kind words did his
+lonely heart; and the feeling that somebody cared for him made that
+plain room seem a sort of heaven to the homeless child. It was like a
+cosy dream; and he often shut his eyes to see if it would not vanish
+when he opened them again. It was too pleasant to let him sleep, and he
+could not have done so if he had tried, for in a few minutes one of the
+peculiar institutions of Plumfield was revealed to his astonished but
+appreciative eyes.
+
+A momentary lull in the aquatic exercises was followed by the sudden
+appearance of pillows flying in all directions, hurled by white goblins,
+who came rioting out of their beds. The battle raged in several rooms,
+all down the upper hall, and even surged at intervals into the nursery,
+when some hard-pressed warrior took refuge there. No one seemed to
+mind this explosion in the least; no one forbade it, or even looked
+surprised. Nursey went on hanging up towels, and Mrs. Bhaer laid out
+clean clothes, as calmly as if the most perfect order reigned. Nay,
+she even chased one daring boy out of the room, and fired after him the
+pillow he had slyly thrown 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 changed to-morrow; and it gets up a glow after the boys' baths; so
+I rather like it myself," said Mrs. Bhaer, busy again among her dozen
+pairs of socks.
+
+"What a very nice school this is!" observed Nat, in a burst of
+admiration.
+
+"It's an odd one," laughed Mrs. Bhaer, "but you see we don't believe
+in making children miserable by too many rules, and too much study. I
+forbade night-gown parties at first; but, bless you, it was of no use.
+I could no more keep those boys in their beds than so many jacks in the
+box. So I made an agreement with them: I was to allow a fifteen-minute
+pillow-fight every Saturday night; and they promised to go properly to
+bed every other night. I tried it, and it worked well. If they don't
+keep their word, no frolic; if they do, I just turn the glasses round,
+put the lamps in safe places, and let them rampage as much as they
+like."
+
+"It's a beautiful plan," said Nat, feeling that he should like to join
+in the fray, but not venturing 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
+a dogged courage fine to see, collecting pillows behind him as fast as
+they were thrown, till the besiegers were out of ammunition, when they
+would charge upon him in a body, and recover their arms. A few slight
+accidents occurred, but nobody minded, and gave and took sounding
+thwacks with perfect good humor, while pillows flew like big snowflakes,
+till Mrs. Bhaer looked at her watch, and called out:
+
+"Time is up, boys. Into bed, every man jack, or pay the forfeit!"
+
+"What is the forfeit?" asked Nat, sitting up in his eagerness to know
+what happened to those wretches who disobeyed this most peculiar, but
+public-spirited school-ma'am.
+
+"Lose their fun next time," answered Mrs. Bhaer. "I give them five
+minutes to settle down, then put out the lights, and expect order. 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, a final cheer, as Demi fired the seventh pillow at the
+retiring foe, a few challenges for next time, then order prevailed. And
+nothing but an occasional giggle or a suppressed whisper broke the quiet
+which followed the Saturday-night frolic, as Mother Bhaer kissed her new
+boy and left him to happy dreams of life at Plumfield.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II. THE BOYS
+
+While Nat takes a good long sleep, I will tell my little readers
+something about the boys, among whom he found himself when he woke up.
+
+To begin with our old friends. Franz was a tall lad, of sixteen now, a
+regular German, big, blond, and bookish, also very domestic, amiable,
+and musical. His uncle was fitting him for college, and his aunt for a
+happy home of his own hereafter, because she carefully fostered in him
+gentle manners, love of children, respect for women, old and young,
+and helpful ways about the house. He was her right-hand man on all
+occasions, steady, kind, and patient; and he loved his merry aunt like a
+mother, for such she had tried to be to him.
+
+Emil was quite different, being quick-tempered, restless, and
+enterprising, bent on going to sea, for the blood of the old vikings
+stirred in his veins, and could not be tamed. His uncle promised that he
+should go when he was sixteen, and set him to studying navigation, gave
+him stories of good and famous admirals and heroes to read, and let him
+lead the life of a frog in river, pond, and brook, when lessons were
+done. His room looked like the cabin of a man-of-war, for every thing
+was nautical, military, and shipshape. Captain Kyd was his delight, and
+his favorite amusement was to rig up like that piratical gentleman, and
+roar out sanguinary sea-songs at the top of his voice. He would dance
+nothing but sailors' hornpipes, rolled in his gait, and was as
+nautical in conversation to his uncle would permit. The boys called him
+"Commodore," and took great pride in his fleet, which whitened the
+pond and suffered disasters that would have daunted any commander but a
+sea-struck boy.
+
+Demi was one of the children who show plainly the effect of intelligent
+love and care, for soul and body worked harmoniously together. The
+natural refinement which nothing but home influence can teach, gave
+him sweet and simple manners: his mother had cherished an innocent and
+loving heart in him; his father had watched over the physical growth of
+his boy, and kept the little body straight and strong on wholesome food
+and exercise and sleep, while Grandpa March cultivated the little mind
+with the tender wisdom of a modern Pythagoras, not tasking it with long,
+hard lessons, parrot-learned, but helping it to unfold as naturally and
+beautifully as sun and dew help roses bloom. He was not a perfect child,
+by any means, but his faults were of the better sort; and being early
+taught the secret of self-control, he was not left at the mercy of
+appetites and passions, as some poor little mortals are, and then
+punished for yielding to the temptations against which they have
+no armor. A quiet, quaint boy was Demi, serious, yet cheery, quite
+unconscious that he was unusually bright and beautiful, yet quick to see
+and love intelligence or beauty in other children. Very fond of books,
+and full of lively fancies, born of a strong imagination and a spiritual
+nature, these traits made his parents anxious to balance them with
+useful knowledge and healthful society, lest they should make him one of
+those pale precocious children who amaze and delight a family sometimes,
+and fade away like hot-house flowers, because the young soul blooms too
+soon, and has not a hearty body to root it firmly in the wholesome soil
+of this world.
+
+So Demi was transplanted to Plumfield, and took so kindly to the life
+there, that Meg and John and Grandpa felt satisfied that they had done
+well. Mixing with other boys brought out the practical side of him,
+roused his spirit, and brushed away the pretty cobwebs he was so fond of
+spinning in that little brain of his. To be sure, he rather shocked
+his mother when he came home, by banging doors, saying "by George"
+emphatically, and demanding tall thick boots "that clumped like papa's."
+But John rejoiced over him, laughed at his explosive remarks, got the
+boots, and said contentedly,
+
+"He is doing well; so let him clump. I want my son to be a manly boy,
+and this temporary roughness won't hurt him. We can polish him up by
+and by; and as for learning, he will pick that up as pigeons do peas. So
+don't hurry him."
+
+Daisy was as sunshiny and charming as ever, with all sorts of
+womanlinesses budding in her, for she was like her gentle mother,
+and delighted in domestic things. She had a family of dolls, whom she
+brought up in the most exemplary manner; she could not get on without
+her little work-basket and bits of sewing, which she did so nicely, that
+Demi frequently pulled out his handkerchief to display her neat stitches,
+and Baby Josy had a flannel petticoat beautifully made by Sister Daisy.
+She like to quiddle about the china-closet, prepare the salt-cellars,
+put the spoons straight on the table; and every day went round the
+parlor with her brush, dusting chairs and tables. Demi called her a
+"Betty," but was very glad to have her keep his things in order, lend
+him her nimble fingers in all sorts of work, and help him with his
+lessons, for they kept abreast there, and had no thought of rivalry.
+
+The love between them was as strong as ever; and no one could laugh
+Demi out of his affectionate ways with Daisy. He fought her battles
+valiantly, and never could understand why boys should be ashamed to
+say "right out," that they loved their sisters. Daisy adored her twin,
+thought "my brother" the most remarkable boy in the world, and every
+morning, in her little wrapper, trotted to tap at his door with a
+motherly "Get up, my dear, it's 'most breakfast time; and here's your
+clean collar."
+
+Rob was an energetic morsel of a boy, who seemed to have discovered the
+secret of perpetual motion, for he never was still. Fortunately, he was
+not mischievous, nor very brave; so he kept out of trouble pretty well,
+and vibrated between father and mother like an affectionate little
+pendulum with a lively tick, for Rob was a chatterbox.
+
+Teddy was too young to play a very important part in the affairs of
+Plumfield, yet he had his little sphere, and filled it beautifully.
+Every one felt the need of a pet at times, and Baby was always ready to
+accommodate, for kissing and cuddling suited him excellently. Mrs.
+Jo seldom stirred without him; so he had his little finger in all the
+domestic pies, and every one found them all the better for it, for they
+believed in babies at Plumfield.
+
+Dick Brown, and Adolphus or Dolly Pettingill, were two eight year-olds.
+Dolly stuttered badly, but was gradually getting over it, for no one was
+allowed to mock him and Mr. Bhaer tried to cure it, by making him talk
+slowly. Dolly was a good little lad, quite uninteresting and ordinary,
+but he flourished here, and went through his daily duties and pleasures
+with placid content and propriety.
+
+Dick Brown's affliction was a crooked back, yet he bore his burden so
+cheerfully, that Demi once asked in his queer way, "Do humps make people
+good-natured? I'd like one if they do." Dick was always merry, and did
+his best to be like other boys, for a plucky spirit lived in the
+feeble little body. When he first came, he was very sensitive about his
+misfortune, but soon learned to forget it, for no one dared remind him
+of it, after Mr. Bhaer had punished one boy for laughing at him.
+
+"God don't care; for my soul is straight if my back isn't," sobbed Dick
+to his tormentor on that occasion; and, by cherishing this idea, the
+Bhaers soon led him to believe that people also loved his soul, and did
+not mind his body, except to pity and help him to bear it.
+
+Playing menagerie once with the others, some one said,
+
+"What animal will you be, Dick?"
+
+"Oh, I'm the dromedary; don't you see the hump on my back?" was the
+laughing answer.
+
+"So you are, my nice little one that don't carry loads, but marches by
+the elephant first in the procession," said Demi, who was arranging the
+spectacle.
+
+"I hope others will be as kind to the poor dear as my boys have learned
+to be," said Mrs. Jo, quite satisfied with the success of her teaching,
+as Dick ambled past her, looking like a very happy, but a very feeble
+little dromedary, beside stout Stuffy, who did the elephant with
+ponderous propriety.
+
+Jack Ford was a sharp, rather a sly lad, who was sent to this school,
+because it was cheap. Many men would have thought him a smart boy, but
+Mr. Bhaer did not like his way of illustrating that Yankee word, and
+thought his unboyish keenness and money-loving as much of an affliction
+as Dolly's stutter, or Dick's hump.
+
+Ned Barker was like a thousand other boys of fourteen, all legs,
+blunder, and bluster. Indeed the family called him the "Blunderbuss,"
+and always expected to see him tumble over the chairs, bump against the
+tables, and knock down any small articles near him. He bragged a good
+deal about what he could do, but seldom did any thing to prove it, was
+not brave, and a little given to tale-telling. He was apt to bully the
+small boys, and flatter the big ones, and without being at all bad, was
+just the sort of fellow who could very easily be led astray.
+
+George Cole had been spoilt by an over-indulgent mother, who stuffed him
+with sweetmeats till he was sick, and then thought him too delicate
+to study, so that at twelve years old, he was a pale, puffy boy, dull,
+fretful, and lazy. A friend persuaded her to send him to Plumfield, and
+there he soon got waked up, for sweet things were seldom allowed, much
+exercise required, and study made so pleasant, that Stuffy was gently
+lured along, till he quite amazed his anxious mamma by his improvement,
+and convinced her that there was really something remarkable in
+Plumfield air.
+
+Billy Ward was what the Scotch tenderly call an "innocent," for though
+thirteen years old, he was like a child of six. He had been an unusually
+intelligent boy, and his father had hurried him on too fast, giving him
+all sorts of hard lessons, keeping at his books six hours a day, and
+expecting him to absorb knowledge as a Strasburg goose does the food
+crammed down its throat. He thought he was doing his duty, but he nearly
+killed the boy, for a fever gave the poor child a sad holiday, and when
+he recovered, the overtasked brain gave out, and Billy's mind was like a
+slate over which a sponge has passed, leaving it blank.
+
+It was a terrible lesson to his ambitious father; he could not bear the
+sight of his promising child, changed to a feeble idiot, and he sent
+him away to Plumfield, scarcely hoping that he could be helped, but sure
+that he would be kindly treated. Quite docile and harmless was Billy,
+and it was pitiful to see how hard he tried to learn, as if groping
+dimly after the lost knowledge which had cost him so much.
+
+Day after day, he pored over the alphabet, proudly said A and B, and
+thought that he knew them, but on the morrow they were gone, and all
+the work was to be done over again. Mr. Bhaer had infinite patience with
+him, and kept on in spite of the apparent hopelessness of the task, not
+caring for book lessons, but trying gently to clear away the mists from
+the darkened mind, and give it back intelligence enough to make the boy
+less a burden and an affliction.
+
+Mrs. Bhaer strengthened his health by every aid she could invent, and
+the boys all pitied and were kind to him. He did not like their active
+plays, but would sit for hours watching the doves, would dig holes for
+Teddy till even that ardent grubber was satisfied, or follow Silas, the
+man, from place to place seeing him work, for honest Si was very good to
+him, and though he forgot his letters Billy remembered friendly faces.
+
+Tommy Bangs was the scapegrace of the school, and the most trying
+scapegrace that ever lived. As full of mischief as a monkey, yet
+so good-hearted that one could not help forgiving his tricks; so
+scatter-brained that words went by him like the wind, yet so penitent
+for every misdeed, that it was impossible to keep sober when he
+vowed tremendous vows of reformation, or proposed all sorts of queer
+punishments to be inflicted upon himself. Mr. and Mrs. Bhaer lived in
+a state of preparation for any mishap, from the breaking of Tommy's own
+neck, to the blowing up of the entire family with gunpowder; and Nursey
+had a particular drawer in which she kept bandages, plasters, and salves
+for his especial use, for Tommy was always being brought in half dead;
+but nothing ever killed him, and he arose from every downfall with
+redoubled vigor.
+
+The first day he came, he chopped the top off one finger in the
+hay-cutter, and during the week, fell from the shed roof, was chased by
+an angry hen who tried to pick his out because he examined her chickens,
+got run away with, and had his ears boxed violent by Asia, who caught
+him luxuriously skimming a pan of cream with half a stolen pie.
+Undaunted, however, by any failures or rebuffs, this indomitable youth
+went on amusing himself with all sorts of tricks till no one felt safe.
+If he did not know his lessons, he always had some droll excuse to
+offer, and as he was usually clever at his books, and as bright as a
+button in composing answers when he did not know them, he go on pretty
+well at school. But out of school, Ye gods and little fishes! how Tommy
+did carouse!
+
+He wound fat Asia up in her own clothes line against the post, and left
+here there to fume and scold for half an hour one busy Monday morning.
+He dropped a hot cent down Mary Ann's back as that pretty maid was
+waiting at table one day when there were gentlemen to dinner, whereat
+the poor girl upset the soup and rushed out of the room in dismay,
+leaving the family to think that she had gone mad. He fixed a pail of
+water up in a tree, with a bit of ribbon fastened to the handle, and
+when Daisy, attracted by the gay streamer, tried to pull it down, she
+got a douche bath that spoiled her clean frock and hurt her little
+feelings very much. He put rough white pebbles in the sugar-bowl when
+his grandmother came to tea, and the poor old lady wondered why they
+didn't melt in her cup, but was too polite to say anything. He passed
+around snuff in church so that five of the boys sneezed with such
+violence they had to go out. He dug paths in winter time, and then
+privately watered them so that people should tumble down. He drove poor
+Silas nearly wild by hanging his big boots in conspicuous places,
+for his feet were enormous, and he was very much ashamed of them. He
+persuaded confiding little Dolly to tie a thread to one of his loose
+teeth, and leave the string hanging from his mouth when he went to
+sleep, so that Tommy could pull it out without his feeling the dreaded
+operation. But the tooth wouldn't come at the first tweak, and poor
+Dolly woke up in great anguish of spirit, and lost all faith in Tommy
+from that day forth.
+
+The last prank had been to give the hens bread soaked in rum, which made
+them tipsy and scandalized all the other fowls, for the respectable old
+biddies went staggering about, pecking and clucking in the most maudlin
+manner, while the family were convulsed with laughter at their antics,
+till Daisy took pity on them and shut them up in the hen-house to sleep
+off their intoxication.
+
+These were the boys and they lived together as happy as twelve lads
+could, studying and playing, working and squabbling, fighting faults and
+cultivating virtues in the good old-fashioned way. Boys at other schools
+probably learned more from books, but less of that better wisdom which
+makes good men. Latin, Greek, and mathematics were all very well, but in
+Professor Bhaer's opinion, self knowledge, self-help, and self-control
+were more important, and he tried to teach them carefully. People shook
+their heads sometimes at his ideas, even while they owned that the boys
+improved wonderfully in manners and morals. But then, as Mrs. Jo said to
+Nat, "it was an odd school."
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III. SUNDAY
+
+The moment the bell rang next morning Nat flew out of bed, and dressed
+himself with great satisfaction in the suit of clothes he found on
+the chair. They were not new, being half-worn garments of one of the
+well-to-do boys; but Mrs. Bhaer kept all such cast-off feathers for the
+picked robins who strayed into her nest. They were hardly on when Tommy
+appeared in a high state of clean collar, and escorted Nat down to
+breakfast.
+
+The sun was shining into the dining-room on the well-spread table, and
+the flock of hungry, hearty lads who gathered round it. Nat observed
+that they were much more orderly than they had been the night before,
+and every one stood silently behind his chair while little Rob, standing
+beside his father at the head of the table, folded his hands, reverently
+bent his curly head, and softly repeated a short grace in the devout
+German fashion, which Mr. Bhaer loved and taught his little son to
+honor. Then they all sat down to enjoy the Sunday-morning breakfast of
+coffee, steak, and baked potatoes, instead of the bread and milk fare
+with which they usually satisfied their young appetites. There was much
+pleasant talk while the knives and forks rattled briskly, for certain
+Sunday lessons were to be learned, the Sunday walk settled, and plans
+for the week discussed. As he listened, Nat thought it seemed as if this
+day must be a very pleasant one, for he loved quiet, and there was
+a cheerful sort of hush over every thing that pleased him very much;
+because, in spite of his rough life, the boy possessed the sensitive
+nerves which belong to a music-loving nature.
+
+"Now, my lads, get your morning jobs done, and let me find you ready
+for church when the 'bus comes round," said Father Bhaer, and set the
+example by going into the school-room to get books ready for the morrow.
+
+Every one scattered to his or her task, for each had some little daily
+duty, and was expected to perform it faithfully. Some brought wood and
+water, brushed the steps, or ran errands for Mrs. Bhaer. Others fed the
+pet animals, and did chores about the barn with Franz. Daisy washed the
+cups, and Demi wiped them, for the twins liked to work together, and
+Demi had been taught to make himself useful in the little house at home.
+Even Baby Teddy had his small job to do, and trotted to and fro, putting
+napkins away, and pushing chairs into their places. For half and hour
+the lads buzzed about like a hive of bees, then the 'bus drove round,
+Father Bhaer and Franz with the eight older boys piled in, and away they
+went for a three-mile drive to church in town.
+
+Because of the troublesome cough Nat prefered to stay at home with
+the four small boys, and spent a happy morning in Mrs. Bhaer's room,
+listening to the stories she read them, learning the hymns she taught
+them, and then quietly employing himself pasting pictures into an old
+ledger.
+
+"This is my Sunday closet," she said, showing him shelves filled with
+picture-books, paint-boxes, architectural blocks, little diaries, and
+materials for letter-writing. "I want my boys to love Sunday, to find it
+a peaceful, pleasant day, when they can rest from common study and
+play, yet enjoy quiet pleasures, and learn, in simple ways, lessons more
+important than any taught in school. Do you understand me?" she asked,
+watching Nat's attentive face.
+
+"You mean to be good?" he said, after hesitating a minute.
+
+"Yes; to be good, and to love to be good. It is hard work sometimes, I
+know very well; but we all help one another, and so we get on. This is
+one of the ways in which I try to help my boys," and she took down a
+thick book, which seemed half-full of writing, and opened at a page on
+which there was one word at the top.
+
+"Why, that's my name!" cried Nat, looking both surprised and interested.
+
+"Yes; I have a page for each boy. I keep a little account of how he gets
+on through the week, and Sunday night I show him the record. If it is
+bad I am sorry and disappointed, if it is good I am glad and proud; but,
+whichever it is, the boys know I want to help them, and they try to do
+their best for love of me and Father Bhaer."
+
+"I should think they would," said Nat, catching a glimpse of Tommy's
+name opposite his own, and wondering what was written under it.
+
+Mrs. Bhaer saw his eye on the words, and shook her head, saying, as she
+turned a leaf,
+
+"No, I don't show my records to any but the one to whom each belongs. I
+call this my conscience book; and only you and I will ever know what is
+to be written on the page below your name. Whether you will be pleased
+or ashamed to read it next Sunday depends on yourself. I think it will
+be a good report; at any rate, I shall try to make things easy for you
+in this new place, and shall be quite contented if you keep our few
+rules, live happily with the boys, and learn something."
+
+"I'll try ma'am;" and Nat's thin face flushed up with the earnestness
+of his desire to make Mrs. Bhaer "glad and proud," not "sorry and
+disappointed." "It must be a great deal of trouble to write about so
+many," he added, as she shut her book with an encouraging pat on the
+shoulder.
+
+"Not to me, for I really don't know which I like best, writing or boys,"
+she said, laughing to see Nat stare with astonishment at the last item.
+"Yes, I know many people think boys are a nuisance, but that is because
+they don't understand them. I do; and I never saw the boy yet whom I
+could not get on capitally with after I had once found the soft spot in
+his heart. Bless me, I couldn't get on at all without my flock of dear,
+noisy, naughty, harum-scarum little lads, could I, my Teddy?" and Mrs.
+Bhaer hugged the young rogue, just in time to save the big inkstand from
+going into his pocket.
+
+Nat, who had never heard anything like this before, really did not know
+whether Mother Bhaer was a trifle crazy, or the most delightful woman he
+had ever met. He rather inclined to the latter opinion, in spite of her
+peculiar tastes, for she had a way of filling up a fellow's plate before
+he asked, of laughing at his jokes, gently tweaking him by the ear, or
+clapping him on the shoulder, that Nat found very engaging.
+
+"Now, I think you would like to go into the school-room and practise
+some of the hymns we are to sing to-night," she said, rightly guessing
+the thing of all others that he wanted to do.
+
+Alone with the beloved violin and the music-book propped up before him
+in the sunny window, while Spring beauty filled the world outside, and
+Sabbath silence reigned within, Nat enjoyed an hour or two of genuine
+happiness, learning the sweet old tunes, and forgetting the hard past in
+the cheerful present.
+
+When the church-goers came back and dinner was over, every one read,
+wrote letters home, said their Sunday lessons, or talked quietly to one
+another, sitting here and there about the house. At three o'clock the
+entire family turned out to walk, for all the active young bodies must
+have exercise; and in these walks the active young minds were taught
+to see and love the providence of God in the beautiful miracles which
+Nature was working before their eyes. Mr. Bhaer always went with them,
+and in his simple, fatherly way, found for his flock, "Sermons in
+stones, books in the running brooks, and good in everything."
+
+Mrs. Bhaer with Daisy and her own two boys drove into town, to pay the
+weekly visit to Grandma, which was busy Mother Bhaer's one holiday and
+greatest pleasure. Nat was not strong enough for the long walk, and
+asked to stay at home with Tommy, who kindly offered to do the honors
+of Plumfield. "You've seen the house, so come out and have a look at
+the garden, and the barn, and the menagerie," said Tommy, when they were
+left alone with Asia, to see that they didn't get into mischief;
+for, though Tommy was one of the best-meaning boys who ever adorned
+knickerbockers, accidents of the most direful nature were always
+happening to him, no one could exactly tell how.
+
+"What is your menagerie?" asked Nat, as they trotted along the drive
+that encircled the house.
+
+"We all have pets, you see, and we keep 'em in the corn-barn, and call
+it the menagerie. Here you are. Isn't my guinea-pig a beauty?" and Tommy
+proudly presented one of the ugliest specimens of that pleasing animal
+that Nat ever saw.
+
+"I know a boy with a dozen of 'em, and he said he'd give me one, only I
+hadn't any place to keep it, so I couldn't have it. It was white, with
+black spots, a regular rouser, and maybe I could get it for you if you'd
+like it," said Nat, feeling it would be a delicate return for Tommy's
+attentions.
+
+"I'd like it ever so much, and I'll give you this one, and they can live
+together if they don't fight. Those white mice are Rob's, Franz gave
+'em to him. The rabbits are Ned's, and the bantams outside are Stuffy's.
+That box thing is Demi's turtle-tank, only he hasn't begun to get 'em
+yet. Last year he had sixty-two, whackers some of 'em. He stamped one of
+'em with his name and the year, and let it go; and he says maybe he will
+find it ever so long after and know it. He read about a turtle being
+found that had a mark on it that showed it must be hundreds of years
+old. Demi's such a funny chap."
+
+"What is in this box?" asked Nat, stopping before a large deep one,
+half-full of earth.
+
+"Oh, that's Jack Ford's worm-shop. He digs heaps of 'em and keeps 'em
+here, and when we want any to go afishing with, we buy some of him. It
+saves lots of trouble, only he charged too much for 'em. Why, last time
+we traded I had to pay two cents a dozen, and then got little ones.
+Jack's mean sometimes, and I told him I'd dig for myself if he didn't
+lower his prices. Now, I own two hens, those gray ones with top knots,
+first-rate ones they are too, and I sell Mrs. Bhaer the eggs, but I
+never ask her more than twenty-five cents a dozen, never! I'd be ashamed
+to do it," cried Tommy, with a glance of scorn at the worm-shop.
+
+"Who owns the dogs?" asked Nat, much interested in these commercial
+transactions, and feeling that T. Bangs was a man whom it would be a
+privilege and a pleasure to patronize.
+
+"The big dog is Emil's. His name is Christopher Columbus. Mrs. Bhaer
+named him because she likes to say Christopher Columbus, and no one
+minds it if she means the dog," answered Tommy, in the tone of a
+show-man displaying his menagerie. "The white pup is Rob's, and the
+yellow one is Teddy's. A man was going to drown them in our pond, and
+Pa Bhaer wouldn't let him. They do well enough for the little chaps, I
+don't think much of 'em myself. Their names are Castor and Pollux."
+
+"I'd like Toby the donkey best, if I could have anything, it's so nice
+to ride, and he's so little and good," said Nat, remembering the weary
+tramps he had taken on his own tired feet.
+
+"Mr. Laurie sent him out to Mrs. Bhaer, so she shouldn't carry Teddy
+on her back when we go to walk. We're all fond of Toby, and he's a
+first-rate donkey, sir. Those pigeons belong to the whole lot of us, we
+each have our pet one, and go shares in all the little ones as they come
+along. Squabs are great fun; there ain't any now, but you can go up and
+take a look at the old fellows, while I see if Cockletop and Granny have
+laid any eggs."
+
+Nat climbed up a ladder, put his head through a trap door and took a
+long look at the pretty doves billing and cooing in their spacious loft.
+Some on their nests, some bustling in and out, and some sitting at
+their doors, while many went flying from the sunny housetop to the
+straw-strewn farmyard, where six sleek cows were placidly ruminating.
+
+"Everybody has got something but me. I wish I had a dove, or a hen, or
+even a turtle, all my own," thought Nat, feeling very poor as he saw the
+interesting treasures of the other boys. "How do you get these things?"
+he asked, when he joined Tommy in the barn.
+
+"We find 'em or buy 'em, or folks give 'em to us. My father sends me
+mine; but as soon as I get egg money enough, I'm going to buy a pair of
+ducks. There's a nice little pond for 'em behind the barn, and people
+pay well for duck-eggs, and the little duckies are pretty, and it's fun
+to see 'em swim," said Tommy, with the air of a millionaire.
+
+Nat sighed, for he had neither father nor money, nothing in the wide
+world but an old empty pocketbook, and the skill that lay in his ten
+finger tips. Tommy seemed to understand the question and the sigh which
+followed his answer, for after a moment of deep thought, he suddenly
+broke out,
+
+"Look here, I'll tell you what I'll do. If you will hunt eggs for me, I
+hate it, I'll give you one egg out of every dozen. You keep account, and
+when you've had twelve, Mother Bhaer will give you twenty-five cents for
+'em, and then you can buy what you like, don't you see?"
+
+"I'll do it! What a kind feller you are, Tommy!" cried Nat, quite
+dazzled by this brilliant offer.
+
+"Pooh! that is not anything. You begin now and rummage the barn, and
+I'll wait here for you. Granny is cackling, so you're sure to find one
+somewhere," and Tommy threw himself down on the hay with a luxurious
+sense of having made a good bargain, and done a friendly thing.
+
+Nat joyfully began his search, and went rustling from loft to loft till
+he found two fine eggs, one hidden under a beam, and the other in an old
+peck measure, which Mrs. Cockletop had appropriated.
+
+"You may have one and I'll have the other, that will just make up my
+last dozen, and to-morrow we'll start fresh. Here, you chalk your
+accounts up near mine, and then we'll be all straight," said Tommy,
+showing a row of mysterious figures on the side of an old winnowing
+machine.
+
+With a delightful sense of importance, the proud possessor of one egg
+opened his account with his friend, who laughingly wrote above the
+figures these imposing words,
+
+"T. Bangs & Co."
+
+Poor Nat found them so fascinating that he was with difficulty persuaded
+to go and deposit his first piece of portable property in Asia's
+store-room. Then they went on again, and having made the acquaintance
+of the two horses, six cows, three pigs, and one Alderney "Bossy,"
+as calves are called in New England, Tommy took Nat to a certain old
+willow-tree that overhung a noisy little brook. From the fence it was
+an easy scramble into a wide niche between the three big branches, which
+had been cut off to send out from year to year a crowd of slender twigs,
+till a green canopy rustled overhead. Here little seats had been fixed,
+and a hollow place a closet made big enough to hold a book or two, a
+dismantled boat, and several half-finished whistles.
+
+"This is Demi's and my private place; we made it, and nobody can come up
+unless we let 'em, except Daisy, we don't mind her," said Tommy, as Nat
+looked with delight from the babbling brown water below to the green
+arch above, where bees were making a musical murmur as they feasted on
+the long yellow blossoms that filled the air with sweetness.
+
+"Oh, it's just beautiful!" cried Nat. "I do hope you'll let me up
+sometimes. I never saw such a nice place in all my life. I'd like to be
+a bird, and live here always."
+
+"It is pretty nice. You can come if Demi don't mind, and I guess he
+won't, because he said last night that he liked you."
+
+"Did he?" and Nat smiled with pleasure, for Demi's regard seemed to be
+valued by all the boys, partly because he was Father Bhaer's nephew, and
+partly because he was such a sober, conscientious little fellow.
+
+"Yes; Demi likes quiet chaps, and I guess he and you will get on if you
+care about reading as he does."
+
+Poor Nat's flush of pleasure deepened to a painful scarlet at those last
+words, and he stammered out,
+
+"I can't read very well; I never had any time; I was always fiddling
+round, you know."
+
+"I don't love it myself, but I can do it well enough when I want to,"
+said Tommy, after a surprised look, which said as plainly as words, "A
+boy twelve years old and can't read!"
+
+"I can read music, anyway," added Nat, rather ruffled at having to
+confess his ignorance.
+
+"I can't;" and Tommy spoke in a respectful tone, which emboldened Nat to
+say firmly,
+
+"I mean to study real hard and learn every thing I can, for I never had
+a chance before. Does Mr. Bhaer give hard lessons?"
+
+"No; he isn't a bit cross; he sort of explains and gives you a boost
+over the hard places. Some folks don't; my other master didn't. If we
+missed a word, didn't we get raps on the head!" and Tommy rubbed his own
+pate as if it tingled yet with the liberal supply of raps, the memory
+of which was the only thing he brought away after a year with his "other
+master."
+
+"I think I could read this," said Nat, who had been examining the books.
+
+"Read a bit, then; I'll help you," resumed Tommy, with a patronizing
+air.
+
+So Nat did his best, and floundered through a page with may friendly
+"boosts" from Tommy, who told him he would soon "go it" as well as
+anybody. Then they sat and talked boy-fashion about all sorts of things,
+among others, gardening; for Nat, looking down from his perch, asked
+what was planted in the many little patches lying below them on the
+other side of the brook.
+
+"These are our farms," said Tommy. "We each have our own patch, and
+raise what we like in it, only have to choose different things, and
+can't change till the crop is in, and we must keep it in order all
+summer."
+
+"What are you going to raise this year?"
+
+"Wal, I cattleated to hev beans, as they are about the easiest crop
+a-goin'."
+
+Nat could not help laughing, for Tommy had pushed back his hat, put his
+hands in his pockets, and drawled out his words in unconscious imitation
+of Silas, the man who managed the place for Mr. Bhaer.
+
+"Come, you needn't laugh; beans are ever so much easier than corn or
+potatoes. I tried melons last year, but the bugs were a bother, and the
+old things wouldn't get ripe before the frost, so I didn't have but one
+good water and two little 'mush mellions,'" said Tommy, relapsing into a
+"Silasism" with the last word.
+
+"Corn looks pretty growing," said Nat, politely, to atone for his laugh.
+
+"Yes, but you have to hoe it over and over again. Now, six weeks' beans
+only have to be done once or so, and they get ripe soon. I'm going to
+try 'em, for I spoke first. Stuffy wanted 'em, but he's got to take
+peas; they only have to be picked, and he ought to do it, he eats such a
+lot."
+
+"I wonder if I shall have a garden?" said Nat, thinking that even
+corn-hoeing must be pleasant work.
+
+"Of course you will," said a voice from below, and there was Mr. Bhaer
+returned from his walk, and come to find them, for he managed to have
+a little talk with every one of the lads some time during the day, and
+found that these chats gave them a good start for the coming week.
+
+Sympathy is a sweet thing, and it worked wonders here, for each boy knew
+that Father Bhaer was interested in him, and some were readier to open
+their hearts to him than to a woman, especially the older ones, who
+liked to talk over their hopes and plans, man to man. When sick or in
+trouble they instinctively turned to Mrs. Jo, while the little ones made
+her their mother-confessor on all occasions.
+
+In descending from their nest, Tommy fell into the brook; being used to
+it, he calmly picked himself out and retired to the house to be dried.
+This left Nat to Mr. Bhaer, which was just what he wished, and, during
+the stroll they took among the garden plots, he won the lad's heart by
+giving him a little "farm," and discussing crops with him as gravely as
+if the food for the family depended on the harvest. From this pleasant
+topic they went to others, and Nat had many new and helpful thoughts put
+into a mind that received them as gratefully as the thirsty earth had
+received the warm spring rain. All supper time he brooded over them,
+often fixing his eyes on Mr. Bhaer with an inquiring look, that seemed
+to say, "I like that, do it again, sir." I don't know whether the man
+understood the child's mute language or not, but when the boys were all
+gathered together in Mrs. Bhaer's parlor for the Sunday evening talk,
+he chose a subject which might have been suggested by the walk in the
+garden.
+
+As he looked about him Nat thought it seemed more like a great family
+than a school, for the lads were sitting in a wide half-circle round the
+fire, some on chairs, some on the rug, Daisy and Demi on the knees of
+Uncle Fritz, and Rob snugly stowed away in the back of his mother's
+easy-chair, where he could nod unseen if the talk got beyond his depth.
+
+Every one looked quite comfortable, and listened attentively, for the
+long walk made rest agreeable, and as every boy there knew that he would
+be called upon for his views, he kept his wits awake to be ready with an
+answer.
+
+"Once upon a time," began Mr. Bhaer, in the dear old-fashioned way,
+"there was a great and wise gardener who had the largest garden ever
+seen. A wonderful and lovely place it was, and he watched over it with
+the greatest skill and care, and raised all manner of excellent and
+useful things. But weeds would grow even in this fine garden; often the
+ground was bad and the good seeds sown in it would not spring up. He
+had many under gardeners to help him. Some did their duty and earned the
+rich wages he gave them; but others neglected their parts and let them
+run to waste, which displeased him very much. But he was very patient,
+and for thousands and thousands of years he worked and waited for his
+great harvest."
+
+"He must have been pretty old," said Demi, who was looking straight into
+Uncle Fritz's face, as if to catch every word.
+
+"Hush, Demi, it's a fairy story," whispered Daisy.
+
+"No, I think it's an arrygory," said Demi.
+
+"What is a arrygory?" called out Tommy, who was of an inquiring turn.
+
+"Tell him, Demi, if you can, and don't use words unless you are quite
+sure you know what they mean," said Mr. Bhaer.
+
+"I do know, Grandpa told me! A fable is a arrygory; it's a story that
+means something. My 'Story without an end' is one, because the child in
+it means a soul; don't it, Aunty?" cried Demi, eager to prove himself
+right.
+
+"That's it, dear; and Uncle's story is an allegory, I am quite sure; so
+listen and see what it means," returned Mrs. Jo, who always took part in
+whatever was going on, and enjoyed it as much as any boy among them.
+
+Demi composed himself, and Mr. Bhaer went on in his best English, for he
+had improved much in the last five years, and said the boys did it.
+
+"This great gardener gave a dozen or so of little plots to one of his
+servants, and told him to do his best and see what he could raise. Now
+this servant was not rich, nor wise, nor very good, but he wanted to
+help because the gardener had been very kind to him in many ways. So he
+gladly took the little plots and fell to work. They were all sorts of
+shapes and sizes, and some were very good soil, some rather stony, and
+all of them needed much care, for in the rich soil the weeds grew fast,
+and in the poor soil there were many stones."
+
+"What was growing in them besides the weeds, and stones?" asked Nat; so
+interested, he forgot his shyness and spoke before them all.
+
+"Flowers," said Mr. Bhaer, with a kind look. "Even the roughest, most
+neglected little bed had a bit of heart's-ease or a sprig of mignonette
+in it. One had roses, sweet peas, and daisies in it," here he pinched
+the plump cheek of the little girl leaning on his arm. "Another had all
+sorts of curious plants in it, bright pebbles, a vine that went climbing
+up like Jack's beanstalk, and many good seeds just beginning to sprout;
+for, you see, this bed had been taken fine care of by a wise old man,
+who had worked in gardens of this sort all his life."
+
+At this part of the "arrygory," Demi put his head on one side like an
+inquisitive bird, and fixed his bright eye on his uncle's face, as if he
+suspected something and was on the watch. But Mr. Bhaer looked perfectly
+innocent, and went on glancing from one young face to another, with a
+grave, wistful look, that said much to his wife, who knew how earnestly
+he desired to do his duty in these little garden plots.
+
+"As I tell you, some of these beds were easy to cultivate, that means
+to take care of Daisy, and others were very hard. There was one
+particularly sunshiny little bed that might have been full of fruits and
+vegetables as well as flowers, only it wouldn't take any pains, and when
+the man sowed, well, we'll say melons in this bed, they came to nothing,
+because the little bed neglected them. The man was sorry, and kept on
+trying, though every time the crop failed, all the bed said, was, 'I
+forgot.'"
+
+Here a general laugh broke out, and every one looked at Tommy, who had
+pricked up his ears at the word "melons," and hung down his head at the
+sound of his favorite excuse.
+
+"I knew he meant us!" cried Demi, clapping his hands. "You are the man,
+and we are the little gardens; aren't we, Uncle Fritz?"
+
+"You have guessed it. Now each of you tell me what crop I shall try to
+sow in you this spring, so that next autumn I may get a good harvest out
+of my twelve, no, thirteen, plots," said Mr. Bhaer, nodding at Nat as he
+corrected himself.
+
+"You can't sow corn and beans and peas in us. Unless you mean we are to
+eat a great many and get fat," said Stuffy, with a sudden brightening of
+his round, dull face as the pleasing idea occurred to him.
+
+"He don't mean that kind of seeds. He means things to make us good; and
+the weeds are faults," cried Demi, who usually took the lead in these
+talks, because he was used to this sort of thing, and liked it very
+much.
+
+"Yes, each of you think what you need most, and tell me, and I will help
+you to grow it; only you must do your best, or you will turn out like
+Tommy's melons, all leaves and no fruit. I will begin with the oldest,
+and ask the mother what she will have in her plot, for we are all parts
+of the beautiful garden, and may have rich harvests for our Master if we
+love Him enough," said Father Bhaer.
+
+"I shall devote the whole of my plot to the largest crop of patience I
+can get, for that is what I need most," said Mrs. Jo, so soberly that
+the lads fell to thinking in good earnest what they should say when
+their turns came, and some among them felt a twinge of remorse, that
+they had helped to use up Mother Bhaer's stock of patience so fast.
+
+Franz wanted perseverance, Tommy steadiness, Ned went in for good
+temper, Daisy for industry, Demi for "as much wiseness as Grandpa," and
+Nat timidly said he wanted so many things he would let Mr. Bhaer choose
+for him. The others chose much the same things, and patience, good
+temper, and generosity seemed the favorite crops. One boy wished to like
+to get up early, but did not know what name to give that sort of seed;
+and poor Stuffy sighed out,
+
+"I wish I loved my lessons as much as I do my dinner, but I can't."
+
+"We will plant self-denial, and hoe it and water it, and make it grow so
+well that next Christmas no one will get ill by eating too much dinner.
+If you exercise your mind, George, it will get hungry just as your body
+does, and you will love books almost as much as my philosopher here,"
+said Mr. Bhaer; adding, as he stroked the hair off Demi's fine forehead,
+"You are greedy also, my son, and you like to stuff your little mind
+full of fairy tales and fancies, as well as George likes to fill his
+little stomach with cake and candy. Both are bad, and I want you to
+try something better. Arithmetic is not half so pleasant as 'Arabian
+Nights,' I know, but it is a very useful thing, and now is the time to
+learn it, else you will be ashamed and sorry by and by."
+
+"But, 'Harry and Lucy,' and 'Frank,' are not fairy books, and they
+are all full of barometers, and bricks, and shoeing horses, and useful
+things, and I'm fond of them; ain't I, Daisy?" said Demi, anxious to
+defend himself.
+
+"So they are; but I find you reading 'Roland and Maybird,' a great deal
+oftener than 'Harry and Lucy,' and I think you are not half so fond of
+'Frank' as you are of 'Sinbad.' Come, I shall make a little bargain with
+you both, George shall eat but three times a day, and you shall read but
+one story-book a week, and I will give you the new cricket-ground; only,
+you must promise to play in it," said Uncle Fritz, in his persuasive
+way, for Stuffy hated to run about, and Demi was always reading in play
+hours.
+
+"But we don't like cricket," said Demi.
+
+"Perhaps not now, but you will when you know it. Besides, you do like to
+be generous, and the other boys want to play, and you can give them the
+new ground if you choose."
+
+This was taken them both on the right side, and they agreed to the
+bargain, to the great satisfaction of the rest.
+
+There was a little more talk about the gardens, and then they all sang
+together. The band delighted Nat, for Mrs. Bhaer played the piano, Franz
+the flute, Mr. Bhaer a bass viol, and he himself the violin. A very
+simple little concert, but all seemed to enjoy it, and old Asia, sitting
+in the corner, joined at times with the sweetest voice of any, for in
+this family, master and servant, old and young, black and white, shared
+in the Sunday song, which went up to the Father of them all. After this
+they each shook hands with Father Bhaer; Mother Bhaer kissed them every
+one from sixteen-year-old Franz to little Rob, how kept the tip of her
+nose for his own particular kisses, and then they trooped up to bed.
+
+The light of the shaded lamp that burned in the nursery shone softly on
+a picture hanging at the foot of Nat's bed. There were several others
+on the walls, but the boy thought there must be something peculiar about
+this one, for it had a graceful frame of moss and cones about it, and
+on a little bracket underneath stood a vase of wild flowers freshly
+gathered from the spring woods. It was the most beautiful picture of
+them all, and Nat lay looking at it, dimly feeling what it meant, and
+wishing he knew all about it.
+
+"That's my picture," said a little voice in the room. Nat popped up his
+head, and there was Demi in his night-gown pausing on his way back from
+Aunt Jo's chamber, whither he had gone to get a cot for a cut finger.
+
+"What is he doing to the children?" asked Nat.
+
+"That is Christ, the Good Man, and He is blessing the children. Don't
+you know about Him?" said Demi, wondering.
+
+"Not much, but I'd like to, He looks so kind," answered Nat, whose chief
+knowledge of the Good Man consisted in hearing His name taken in vain.
+
+"I know all about it, and I like it very much, because it is true," said
+Demi.
+
+"Who told you?"
+
+"My Grandpa, he knows every thing, and tells the best stories in
+the world. I used to play with his big books, and make bridges, and
+railroads, and houses, when I was a little boy," began Demi.
+
+"How old are you now?" asked Nat, respectfully.
+
+"'Most ten."
+
+"You know a lot of things, don't you?"
+
+"Yes; you see my head is pretty big, and Grandpa says it will take a
+good deal to fill it, so I keep putting pieces of wisdom into it as fast
+as I can," returned Demi, in his quaint way.
+
+Nat laughed, and then said soberly,
+
+"Tell on, please."
+
+And Demi gladly told on without pause or punctuation. "I found a very
+pretty book one day and wanted to play with it, but Grandpa said I
+mustn't, and showed me the pictures, and told me about them, and I liked
+the stories very much, all about Joseph and his bad brothers, and the
+frogs that came up out of the sea, and dear little Moses in the water,
+and ever so many more lovely ones, but I liked about the Good Man best
+of all, and Grandpa told it to me so many times that I learned it by
+heart, and he gave me this picture so I shouldn't forget, and it was
+put up here once when I was sick, and I left it for other sick boys to
+see."'
+
+"What makes Him bless the children?" asked Nat, who found something very
+attractive in the chief figure of the group.
+
+"Because He loved them."
+
+"Were they poor children?" asked Nat, wistfully.
+
+"Yes, I think so; you see some haven't got hardly any clothes on, and
+the mothers don't look like rich ladies. He liked poor people, and was
+very good to them. He made them well, and helped them, and told rich
+people they must not be cross to them, and they loved Him dearly,
+dearly," cried Demi, with enthusiasm.
+
+"Was He rich?"
+
+"Oh no! He was born in a barn, and was so poor He hadn't any house to
+live in when He grew up, and nothing to eat sometimes, but what people
+gave Him, and He went round preaching to everybody, and trying to make
+them good, till the bad men killed Him."
+
+"What for?" and Nat sat up in his bed to look and listen, so interested
+was he in this man who cared for the poor so much.
+
+"I'll tell you all about it; Aunt Jo won't mind;" and Demi settled
+himself on the opposite bed, glad to tell his favorite story to so good
+a listener.
+
+Nursey peeped in to see if Nat was asleep, but when she saw what was
+going on, she slipped away again, and went to Mrs. Bhaer, saying with
+her kind face full of motherly emotion,
+
+"Will the dear lady come and see a pretty sight? It's Nat listening
+with all his heart to Demi telling the story of the Christ-child, like a
+little white angel as he is."
+
+Mrs. Bhaer had meant to go and talk with Nat a moment before he slept,
+for she had found that a serious word spoken at this time often did
+much good. But when she stole to the nursery door, and saw Nat eagerly
+drinking in the words of his little friends, while Demi told the sweet
+and solemn story as it had been taught him, speaking softly as he sat
+with his beautiful eyes fixed on the tender face above them, her own
+filled with tears, and she went silently away, thinking to herself,
+
+"Demi is unconsciously helping the poor boy better than I can; I will
+not spoil it by a single word."
+
+The murmur of the childish voice went on for a long time, as one
+innocent heart preached that great sermon to another, and no one hushed
+it. When it ceased at last, and Mrs. Bhaer went to take away the lamp,
+Demi was gone and Nat fast asleep, lying with his face toward the
+picture, as if he had already learned to love the Good Man who loved
+little children, and was a faithful friend to the poor. The boy's face
+was very placid, and as she looked at it she felt that if a single day
+of care and kindness had done so much, a year of patient cultivation
+would surely bring a grateful harvest from this neglected garden, which
+was already sown with the best of all seed by the little missionary in
+the night-gown.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV. STEPPING-STONES
+
+When Nat went into school on Monday morning, he quaked inwardly, for now
+he thought he should have to display his ignorance before them all. But
+Mr. Bhaer gave him a seat in the deep window, where he could turn his
+back on the others, and Franz heard him say his lessons there, so no one
+could hear his blunders or see how he blotted his copybook. He was truly
+grateful for this, and toiled away so diligently that Mr. Bhaer said,
+smiling, when he saw his hot face and inky fingers:
+
+"Don't work so hard, my boy; you will tire yourself out, and there is
+time enough."
+
+"But I must work hard, or I can't catch up with the others. They know
+heaps, and I don't know anything," said Nat, who had been reduced to a
+state of despair by hearing the boys recite their grammar, history, and
+geography with what he thought amazing ease and accuracy.
+
+"You know a good many things which they don't," said Mr. Bhaer, sitting
+down beside him, while Franz led a class of small students through the
+intricacies of the multiplication table.
+
+"Do I?" and Nat looked utterly incredulous.
+
+"Yes; for one thing, you can keep your temper, and Jack, who is quick
+at numbers, cannot; that is an excellent lesson, and I think you have
+learned it well. Then, you can play the violin, and not one of the lads
+can, though they want to do it very much. But, best of all, Nat, you
+really care to learn something, and that is half the battle. It seems
+hard at first, and you will feel discouraged, but plod away, and things
+will get easier and easier as you go on."
+
+Nat's face had brightened more and more as he listened, for, small as
+the list of his learning was, it cheered him immensely to feel that
+he had anything to fall back upon. "Yes, I can keep my temper father's
+beating taught me that; and I can fiddle, though I don't know where the
+Bay of Biscay is," he thought, with a sense of comfort impossible to
+express. Then he said aloud, and so earnestly that Demi heard him:
+
+"I do want to learn, and I will try. I never went to school, but I
+couldn't help it; and if the fellows don't laugh at me, I guess I'll get
+on first rate you and the lady are so good to me."
+
+"They shan't laugh at you; if they do, I'll I'll tell them not to,"
+cried Demi, quite forgetting where he was.
+
+The class stopped in the middle of 7 times 9, and everyone looked up to
+see what was going on.
+
+Thinking that a lesson in learning to help one another was better than
+arithmetic just then, Mr. Bhaer told them about Nat, making such an
+interesting and touching little story out of it that the good-hearted
+lads all promised to lend him a hand, and felt quite honored to be
+called upon to impart their stores of wisdom to the chap who fiddled so
+capitally. This appeal established the right feeling among them, and Nat
+had few hindrances to struggle against, for every one was glad to give
+him a "boost" up the ladder of learning.
+
+Till he was stronger, much study was not good for him, however, and Mrs.
+Jo found various amusements in the house for him while others were at
+their books. But his garden was his best medicine, and he worked away
+like a beaver, preparing his little farm, sowing his beans, watching
+eagerly to see them grow, and rejoicing over each green leaf and slender
+stock that shot up and flourished in the warm spring weather. Never
+was a garden more faithfully hoed; Mr. Bhaer really feared that nothing
+would find time to grow, Nat kept up such a stirring of the soil; so he
+gave him easy jobs in the flower garden or among the strawberries, where
+he worked and hummed as busily as the bees booming all about him.
+
+"This is the crop I like best," Mrs. Bhaer used to say, as she pinched
+the once thin cheeks, now getting plump and ruddy, or stroked the bent
+shoulders that were slowly straightening up with healthful work, good
+food, and the absence of that heavy burden, poverty.
+
+Demi was his little friend, Tommy his patron, and Daisy the comforter of
+all his woes; for, though the children were younger than he, his timid
+spirit found a pleasure in their innocent society, and rather shrunk
+from the rough sports of the elder lads. Mr. Laurence did not forget
+him, but sent clothes and books, music and kind messages, and now and
+then came out to see how his boy was getting on, or took him into town
+to a concert; on which occasions Nat felt himself translated into the
+seventh heaven of bliss, for he went to Mr. Laurence's great house, saw
+his pretty wife and little fairy of a daughter, had a good dinner, and
+was made so comfortable, that he talked and dreamed of it for days and
+nights afterward.
+
+It takes so little to make a child happy that it is a pity, in a world
+so full of sunshine and pleasant things, that there should be any
+wistful faces, empty hands, or lonely little hearts. Feeling this, the
+Bhaers gathered up all the crumbs they could find to feed their flock of
+hungry sparrows, for they were not rich, except in charity. Many of
+Mrs. Jo's friends who had nurseries sent her they toys of which their
+children so soon tired, and in mending these Nat found an employment
+that just suited him. He was very neat and skillful with those slender
+fingers of his, and passed many a rainy afternoon with his gum-bottle,
+paint-box, and knife, repairing furniture, animals, and games, while
+Daisy was dressmaker to the dilapidated dolls. As fast as the toys were
+mended, they were put carefully away in a certain drawer which was
+to furnish forth a Christmas-tree for all the poor children of the
+neighborhood, that being the way the Plumfield boys celebrated the
+birthday of Him who loved the poor and blessed the little ones.
+
+Demi was never tired of reading and explaining his favorite books, and
+many a pleasant hour did they spend in the old willow, revelling over
+"Robinson Crusoe," "Arabian Nights," "Edgeworth's Tales," and the other
+dear immortal stories that will delight children for centuries to come.
+This opened a new world to Nat, and his eagerness to see what came next
+in the story helped him on till he could read as well as anybody, and
+felt so rich and proud with his new accomplishment, that there was
+danger of his being as much of a bookworm as Demi.
+
+Another helpful thing happened in a most unexpected and agreeable
+manner. Several of the boys were "in business," as they called it, for
+most of them were poor, and knowing that they would have their own way
+to make by and by, the Bhaers encouraged any efforts at independence.
+Tommy sold his eggs; Jack speculated in live stock; Franz helped in
+the teaching, and was paid for it; Ned had a taste for carpentry, and a
+turning-lathe was set up for him in which he turned all sorts of useful
+or pretty things, and sold them; while Demi constructed water-mills,
+whirligigs, and unknown machines of an intricate and useless nature, and
+disposed of them to the boys.
+
+"Let him be a mechanic if he likes," said Mr. Bhaer. "Give a boy a
+trade, and he is independent. Work is wholesome, and whatever talent
+these lads possess, be it for poetry or ploughing, it shall be
+cultivated and made useful to them if possible."
+
+So, when Nat came running to him one day to ask with an excited face:
+
+"Can I go and fiddle for some people who are to have a picnic in our
+woods? They will pay me, and I'd like to earn some money as the other
+boys do, and fiddling is the only way I know how to do it."
+
+Mr. Bhaer answered readily:
+
+"Go, and welcome. It is an easy and a pleasant way to work, and I am
+glad it is offered you."
+
+Nat went, and did so well that when he came home he had two dollars in
+his pocket, which he displayed with intense satisfaction, as he told how
+much he had enjoyed the afternoon, how kind the young people were, and
+how they had praised his dance music, and promised to have him again.
+
+"It is so much nicer than fiddling in the street, for then I got none
+of the money, and now I have it all, and a good time besides. I'm in
+business now as well as Tommy and Jack, and I like it ever so much,"
+said Nat, proudly patting the old pocketbook, and feeling like a
+millionaire already.
+
+He was in business truly, for picnics were plenty as summer opened,
+and Nat's skill was in great demand. He was always at liberty to go if
+lessons were not neglected, and if the picnickers were respectable young
+people. For Mr. Bhaer explained to him that a good plain education is
+necessary for everyone, and that no amount of money should hire him to
+go where he might be tempted to do wrong. Nat quite agreed to this, and
+it was a pleasant sight to see the innocent-hearted lad go driving away
+in the gay wagons that stopped at the gate for him, or to hear him come
+fiddling home tired but happy, with his well-earned money in one pocket,
+and some "goodies" from the feast for Daisy or little Ted, whom he never
+forgot.
+
+"I'm going to save up till I get enough to buy a violin for myself, and
+then I can earn my own living, can't I?" he used to say, as he brought
+his dollars to Mr. Bhaer to keep.
+
+"I hope so, Nat; but we must get you strong and hearty first, and put a
+little more knowledge into this musical head of yours. Then Mr. Laurie
+will find you a place somewhere, and in a few years we will all come to
+hear you play in public."
+
+With much congenial work, encouragement, and hope, Nat found life
+getting easier and happier every day, and made such progress in his
+music lessons that his teacher forgave his slowness in some other
+things, knowing very well that where the heart is the mind works best.
+The only punishment the boy ever needed for neglect of more important
+lessons was to hang up the fiddle and the bow for a day. The fear of
+losing his bosom friend entirely made him go at his books with a will;
+and having proved that he could master the lessons, what was the use of
+saying "I can't?"
+
+Daisy had a great love of music, and a great reverence for any one who
+could make it, and she was often found sitting on the stairs outside
+Nat's door while he was practising. This pleased him very much, and he
+played his best for that one quiet little listener; for she never would
+come in, but preferred to sit sewing her gay patchwork, or tending one
+of her many dolls, with an expression of dreamy pleasure on her face
+that made Aunt Jo say, with tears in her eyes: "So like my Beth," and
+go softly by, lest even her familiar presence mar the child's sweet
+satisfaction.
+
+Nat was very fond of Mrs. Bhaer, but found something even more
+attractive in the good professor, who took fatherly care of the shy
+feeble boy, who had barely escaped with his life from the rough sea on
+which his little boat had been tossing rudderless for twelve years. Some
+good angel must have been watching over him, for, though his body had
+suffered, his soul seemed to have taken little harm, and came ashore as
+innocent as a shipwrecked baby. Perhaps his love of music kept it sweet
+in spite of the discord all about him; Mr. Laurie said so, and he ought
+to know. However that might be, Father Bhaer took pleasure in fostering
+poor Nat's virtues, and in curing his faults, finding his new pupil as
+docile and affectionate as a girl. He often called Nat his "daughter"
+when speaking of him to Mrs. Jo, and she used to laugh at his fancy, for
+Madame liked manly boys, and thought Nat amiable but weak, though you
+never would have guessed it, for she petted him as she did Daisy, and he
+thought her a very delightful woman.
+
+One fault of Nat's gave the Bhaers much anxiety, although they saw how
+it had been strengthened by fear and ignorance. I regret to say that
+Nat sometimes told lies. Not very black ones, seldom getting deeper than
+gray, and often the mildest of white fibs; but that did not matter, a
+lie is a lie, and though we all tell many polite untruths in this queer
+world of ours, it is not right, and everybody knows it.
+
+"You cannot be too careful; watch your tongue, and eyes, and hands, for
+it is easy to tell, and look, and act untruth," said Mr. Bhaer, in one
+of the talks he had with Nat about his chief temptation.
+
+"I know it, and I don't mean to, but it's so much easier to get along
+if you ain't very fussy about being exactly true. I used to tell 'em
+because I was afraid of father and Nicolo, and now I do sometimes
+because the boys laugh at me. I know it's bad, but I forget," and Nat
+looked much depressed by his sins.
+
+"When I was a little lad I used to tell lies! Ach! what fibs they were,
+and my old grandmother cured me of it how, do you think? My parents had
+talked, and cried, and punished, but still did I forget as you. Then
+said the dear old grandmother, 'I shall help you to remember, and put a
+check on this unruly part,' with that she drew out my tongue and snipped
+the end with her scissors till the blood ran. That was terrible, you
+may believe, but it did me much good, because it was sore for days, and
+every word I said came so slowly that I had time to think. After that I
+was more careful, and got on better, for I feared the big scissors. Yet
+the dear grandmother was most kind to me in all things, and when she lay
+dying far away in Nuremberg, she prayed that little Fritz might love God
+and tell the truth."
+
+"I never had any grandmothers, but if you think it will cure me, I'll
+let you snip my tongue," said Nat, heroically, for he dreaded pain, yet
+did wish to stop fibbing.
+
+Mr. Bhaer smiled, but shook his head.
+
+"I have a better way than that, I tried it once before and it worked
+well. See now, when you tell a lie I will not punish you, but you shall
+punish me."
+
+"How?" asked Nat, startled at the idea.
+
+"You shall ferule me in the good old-fashioned way; I seldom do it
+myself, but it may make you remember better to give me pain than to feel
+it yourself."
+
+"Strike you? Oh, I couldn't!" cried Nat.
+
+"Then mind that tripping tongue of thine. I have no wish to be hurt, but
+I would gladly bear much pain to cure this fault."
+
+This suggestion made such an impression on Nat, that for a long time he
+set a watch upon his lips, and was desperately accurate, for Mr. Bhaer
+judged rightly, that love of him would be more powerful with Nat that
+fear for himself. But alas! one sad day Nat was off his guard, and when
+peppery Emil threatened to thrash him, if it was he who had run over his
+garden and broken down his best hills of corn, Nat declared he didn't,
+and then was ashamed to own up that he did do it, when Jack was chasing
+him the night before.
+
+He thought no one would find it out, but Tommy happened to see him, and
+when Emil spoke of it a day or two later, Tommy gave his evidence, and
+Mr. Bhaer heard it. School was over, and they were all standing about in
+the hall, and Mr. Bhaer had just set down on the straw settee to enjoy
+his frolic with Teddy; but when he heard Tommy and saw Nat turn scarlet,
+and look at him with a frightened face, he put the little boy down,
+saying, "Go to thy mother, bubchen, I will come soon," and taking Nat by
+the hand led him into the school and shut the door.
+
+The boys looked at one another in silence for a minute, then Tommy
+slipped out and peeping in at the half-closed blinds, beheld a sight
+that quite bewildered him. Mr. Bhaer had just taken down the long rule
+that hung over his desk, so seldom used that it was covered with dust.
+
+"My eye! He's going to come down heavy on Nat this time. Wish I hadn't
+told," thought good-natured Tommy, for to be feruled was the deepest
+disgrace at this school.
+
+"You remember what I told you last time?" said Mr. Bhaer, sorrowfully,
+not angrily.
+
+"Yes; but please don't make me, I can't bear it," cried Nat, backing
+up against the door with both hands behind him, and a face full of
+distress.
+
+"Why don't he up and take it like a man? I would," thought Tommy, though
+his heart beat fast at the sight.
+
+"I shall keep my word, and you must remember to tell the truth. Obey me,
+Nat, take this and give me six good strokes."
+
+Tommy was so staggered by this last speech that he nearly tumbled down
+the bank, but saved himself, and hung onto the window ledge, staring in
+with eyes as round as the stuffed owl's on the chimney-piece.
+
+Nat took the rule, for when Mr. Bhaer spoke in that tone everyone obeyed
+him, and, looking as scared and guilty as if about to stab his master,
+he gave two feeble blows on the broad hand held out to him. Then
+he stopped and looked up half-blind with tears, but Mr. Bhaer said
+steadily:
+
+"Go on, and strike harder."
+
+As if seeing that it must be done, and eager to have the hard task soon
+over, Nat drew his sleeve across his eyes and gave two more quick hard
+strokes that reddened the hand, yet hurt the giver more.
+
+"Isn't that enough?" he asked in a breathless sort of tone.
+
+"Two more," was all the answer, and he gave them, hardly seeing where
+they fell, then threw the rule all across the room, and hugging the kind
+hand in both his own, laid his face down on it sobbing out in a passion
+of love, and shame, and penitence:
+
+"I will remember! Oh! I will!"
+
+Then Mr. Bhaer put an arm about him, and said in a tone as compassionate
+as it had just now been firm:
+
+"I think you will. Ask the dear God to help you, and try to spare us
+both another scene like this."
+
+Tommy saw no more, for he crept back to the hall, looking so excited and
+sober that the boys crowded round him to ask what was being done to Nat.
+
+In a most impressive whisper Tommy told them, and they looked as if the
+sky was about to fall, for this reversing the order of things almost
+took their breath away.
+
+"He made me do the same thing once," said Emil, as if confessing a crime
+of the deepest dye.
+
+"And you hit him? dear old Father Bhaer? By thunder, I'd just like
+to see you do it now!" said Ned, collaring Emil in a fit of righteous
+wrath.
+
+"It was ever so long ago. I'd rather have my head cut off than do it
+now," and Emil mildly laid Ned on his back instead of cuffing him, as he
+would have felt it his duty to do on any less solemn occasion.
+
+"How could you?" said Demi, appalled at the idea.
+
+"I was hopping mad at the time, and thought I shouldn't mind a
+bit, rather like it perhaps. But when I'd hit uncle one good crack,
+everything he had ever done for me came into my head all at once
+somehow, and I couldn't go on. No sir! If he'd laid me down and walked
+on me, I wouldn't have minded, I felt so mean," and Emil gave himself a
+good thump in the chest to express his sense of remorse for the past.
+
+"Nat's crying like anything, and feels no end sorry, so don't let's say
+a word about it; will we?" said tender-hearted Tommy.
+
+"Of course we won't, but it's awful to tell lies," and Demi looked as if
+he found the awfulness much increased when the punishment fell not upon
+the sinner, but his best Uncle Fritz.
+
+"Suppose we all clear out, so Nat can cut upstairs if he wants to,"
+proposed Franz, and led the way to the barn, their refuge in troublous
+times.
+
+Nat did not come to dinner, but Mrs. Jo took some up to him, and said a
+tender word, which did him good, though he could not look at her. By and
+by the lads playing outside heard the violin, and said among themselves:
+"He's all right now." He was all right, but felt shy about going down,
+till opening his door to slip away into the woods, he found Daisy
+sitting on the stairs with neither work nor doll, only her little
+handkerchief in her hand, as if she had been mourning for her captive
+friend.
+
+"I'm going to walk; want to come?" asked Nat, trying to look as if
+nothing was the matter, yet feeling very grateful for her silent
+sympathy, because he fancied everyone must look upon him as a wretch.
+
+"Oh yes!" and Daisy ran for her hat, proud to be chosen as a companion
+by one of the big boys.
+
+The others saw them go, but no one followed, for boys have a great deal
+more delicacy than they get credit for, and the lads instinctively felt
+that, when in disgrace, gentle little Daisy was their most congenial
+friend.
+
+The walk did Nat good, and he came home quieter than usual, but looking
+cheerful again, and hung all over with daisy-chains made by his little
+playmate while he lay on the grass and told her stories.
+
+No one said a word about the scene of the morning, but its effect was
+all the more lasting for that reason, perhaps. Nat tried his very best,
+and found much help, not only from the earnest little prayers he prayed
+to his Friend in heaven, but also in the patient care of the earthly
+friend whose kind hand he never touched without remembering that it had
+willingly borne pain for his sake.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V. PATTYPANS
+
+"What's the matter, Daisy?"
+
+"The boys won't let me play with them."
+
+"Why not?"
+
+"They say girls can't play football."
+
+"They can, for I've done it!" and Mrs. Bhaer laughed at the remembrance
+of certain youthful frolics.
+
+"I know I can play; Demi and I used to, and have nice times, but he
+won't let me now because the other boys laugh at him," and Daisy looked
+deeply grieved at her brother's hardness of heart.
+
+"On the whole, I think he is right, deary. It's all very well when you
+two are alone, but it is too rough a game for you with a dozen boys; so
+I'd find some nice little play for myself."
+
+"I'm tired of playing alone!" and Daisy's tone was very mournful.
+
+"I'll play with you by and by, but just now I must fly about and get
+things ready for a trip into town. You shall go with me and see mamma,
+and if you like you can stay with her."
+
+"I should like to go and see her and Baby Josy, but I'd rather come
+back, please. Demi would miss me, and I love to be here, Aunty."
+
+"You can't get on without your Demi, can you?" and Aunt Jo looked as if
+she quite understood the love of the little girl for her only brother.
+
+"'Course I can't; we're twins, and so we love each other more than other
+people," answered Daisy, with a brightening face, for she considered
+being a twin one of the highest honors she could ever receive.
+
+"Now, what will you do with your little self while I fly around?" asked
+Mrs. Bhaer, who was whisking piles of linen into a wardrobe with great
+rapidity.
+
+"I don't know, I'm tired of dolls and things; I wish you'd make up a new
+play for me, Aunty Jo," said Daisy, swinging listlessly on the door.
+
+"I shall have to think of a brand new one, and it will take me some
+time; so suppose you go down and see what Asia has got for your lunch,"
+suggested Mrs. Bhaer, thinking that would be a good way in which to
+dispose of the little hindrance for a time.
+
+"Yes, I think I'd like that, if she isn't cross," and Daisy slowly
+departed to the kitchen, where Asia, the black cook, reigned
+undisturbed.
+
+In five minutes, Daisy was back again, with a wide-awake face, a bit of
+dough in her hand and a dab of flour on her little nose.
+
+"Oh aunty! Please could I go and make gingersnaps and things? Asia isn't
+cross, and she says I may, and it would be such fun, please do," cried
+Daisy, all in one breath.
+
+"Just the thing, go and welcome, make what you like, and stay as long as
+you please," answered Mrs. Bhaer, much relieved, for sometimes the one
+little girl was harder to amuse than the dozen boys.
+
+Daisy ran off, and while she worked, Aunt Jo racked her brain for a
+new play. All of a sudden she seemed to have an idea, for she smiled
+to herself, slammed the doors of the wardrobe, and walked briskly away,
+saying, "I'll do it, if it's a possible thing!"
+
+What it was no one found out that day, but Aunt Jo's eyes twinkled so
+when she told Daisy she had thought of a new play, and was going to buy
+it, that Daisy was much excited and asked questions all the way into
+town, without getting answers that told her anything. She was left at
+home to play with the new baby, and delight her mother's eyes, while
+Aunt Jo went off shopping. When she came back with all sorts of queer
+parcels in corners of the carry-all, Daisy was so full of curiosity that
+she wanted to go back to Plumfield at once. But her aunt would not be
+hurried, and made a long call in mamma's room, sitting on the floor with
+baby in her lap, making Mrs. Brooke laugh at the pranks of the boys, and
+all sorts of droll nonsense.
+
+How her aunt told the secret Daisy could not imagine, but her mother
+evidently knew it, for she said, as she tied on the little bonnet and
+kissed the rosy little face inside, "Be a good child, my Daisy, and
+learn the nice new play aunty has got for you. It's a most useful and
+interesting one, and it is very kind of her to play it with you, because
+she does not like it very well herself."
+
+This last speech made the two ladies laugh heartily, and increased
+Daisy's bewilderment. As they drove away something rattled in the back
+of the carriage.
+
+"What's that?" asked Daisy, pricking up her ears.
+
+"The new play," answered Mrs. Jo, solemnly.
+
+"What is it made of?" cried Daisy.
+
+"Iron, tin, wood, brass, sugar, salt, coal, and a hundred other things."
+
+"How strange! What color is it?"
+
+"All sorts of colors."
+
+"Is it large?"
+
+"Part of it is, and a part isn't."
+
+"Did I ever see one?"
+
+"Ever so many, but never one so nice as this."
+
+"Oh! what can it be? I can't wait. When shall I see it?" and Daisy
+bounced up and down with impatience.
+
+"To-morrow morning, after lessons."
+
+"Is it for the boys, too?"
+
+"No, all for you and Bess. The boys will like to see it, and want to
+play one part of it. But you can do as you like about letting them."
+
+"I'll let Demi, if he wants to."
+
+"No fear that they won't all want to, especially Stuffy," and Mrs.
+Bhaer's eyes twinkled more than ever as she patted a queer knobby bundle
+in her lap.
+
+"Let me feel just once," prayed Daisy.
+
+"Not a feel; you'd guess in a minute and spoil the fun."
+
+Daisy groaned and then smiled all over her face, for through a little
+hole in the paper she caught a glimpse of something bright.
+
+"How can I wait so long? Couldn't I see it today?"
+
+"Oh dear, no! It has got to be arranged, and ever so many parts fixed in
+their places. I promised Uncle Teddy that you shouldn't see it till it
+was all in apple-pie order."
+
+"If uncle knows about it then it must be splendid!" cried Daisy,
+clapping her hands; for this kind, rich, jolly uncle of hers was as
+good as a fairy godmother to the children, and was always planning merry
+surprises, pretty gifts, and droll amusements for them.
+
+"Yes; Teddy went and bought it with me, and we had such fun in the shop
+choosing the different parts. He would have everything fine and large,
+and my little plan got regularly splendid when he took hold. You must
+give him your very best kiss when he comes, for he is the kindest uncle
+that ever went and bought a charming little coo Bless me! I nearly told
+you what it was!" and Mrs. Bhaer cut that most interesting word short
+off in the middle, and began to look over her bills, as if afraid she
+would let the cat out of the bag if she talked any more. Daisy folded
+her hands with an air of resignation, and sat quite still trying to
+think what play had a "coo" in it.
+
+When they got home she eyed every bundle that was taken out, and one
+large heavy one, which Franz took straight upstairs and hid in the
+nursery, filled her with amazement and curiosity. Something very
+mysterious went on up there that afternoon, for Franz was hammering,
+and Asia trotting up and down, and Aunt Jo flying around like a
+will-o'-the-wisp, with all sort of things under her apron, while little
+Ted, who was the only child admitted, because he couldn't talk plain,
+babbled and laughed, and tried to tell what the "sumpin pitty" was.
+
+All this made Daisy half-wild, and her excitement spread among the boys,
+who quite overwhelmed Mother Bhaer with offers of assistance, which she
+declined by quoting their own words to Daisy:
+
+"Girls can't play with boys. This is for Daisy, and Bess, and me, so
+we don't want you." Whereupon the young gentlemen meekly retired, and
+invited Daisy to a game of marbles, horse, football, anything she liked,
+with a sudden warmth and politeness which astonished her innocent little
+soul.
+
+Thanks to these attentions, she got through the afternoon, went early
+to bed, and next morning did her lessons with an energy which made Uncle
+Fritz wish that a new game could be invented every day. Quite a thrill
+pervaded the school-room when Daisy was dismissed at eleven o'clock,
+for everyone knew that now she was going to have the new and mysterious
+play.
+
+Many eyes followed her as she ran away, and Demi's mind was so
+distracted by this event that when Franz asked him where the desert
+of Sahara was, he mournfully replied, "In the nursery," and the whole
+school laughed at him.
+
+"Aunt Jo, I've done all my lessons, and I can't wait one single minute
+more!" cried Daisy, flying into Mrs. Bhaer's room.
+
+"It's all ready, come on;" and tucking Ted under one arm, and her
+workbasket under the other, Aunt Jo promptly led the way upstairs.
+
+"I don't see anything," said Daisy, staring about her as she got inside
+the nursery door.
+
+"Do you hear anything?" asked Aunt Jo, catching Ted back by his little
+frock as he was making straight for one side of the room.
+
+Daisy did hear an odd crackling, and then a purry little sound as of a
+kettle singing. These noises came from behind a curtain drawn before a
+deep bay window. Daisy snatched it back, gave one joyful, "Oh!" and then
+stood gazing with delight at what do you think?
+
+A wide seat ran round the three sides of the window; on one side hung
+and stood all sorts of little pots and pans, gridirons and skillets;
+on the other side a small dinner and tea set; and on the middle part a
+cooking-stove. Not a tin one, that was of no use, but a real iron stove,
+big enough to cook for a large family of very hungry dolls. But the best
+of it was that a real fire burned in it, real steam came out of the
+nose of the little tea-kettle, and the lid of the little boiler actually
+danced a jig, the water inside bubbled so hard. A pane of glass had
+been taken out and replaced by a sheet of tin, with a hole for the small
+funnel, and real smoke went sailing away outside so naturally, that it
+did one's heart good to see it. The box of wood with a hod of charcoal
+stood near by; just above hung dust-pan, brush and broom; a little
+market basket was on the low table at which Daisy used to play, and over
+the back of her little chair hung a white apron with a bib, and a droll
+mob cap. The sun shone in as if he enjoyed the fun, the little stove
+roared beautifully, the kettle steamed, the new tins sparkled on the
+walls, the pretty china stood in tempting rows, and it was altogether as
+cheery and complete a kitchen as any child could desire.
+
+Daisy stood quite still after the first glad "Oh!" but her eyes went
+quickly from one charming object to another, brightening as they looked,
+till they came to Aunt Jo's merry face; there they stopped as the happy
+little girl hugged her, saying gratefully:
+
+"Oh aunty, it's a splendid new play! Can I really cook at the dear
+stove, and have parties and mess, and sweep, and make fires that truly
+burn? I like it so much! What made you think of it?"
+
+"Your liking to make gingersnaps with Asia made me think of it," said
+Mrs. Bhaer, holding Daisy, who frisked as if she would fly. "I knew Asia
+wouldn't let you mess in her kitchen very often, and it wouldn't be
+safe at this fire up here, so I thought I'd see if I could find a little
+stove for you, and teach you to cook; that would be fun, and useful too.
+So I travelled round among the toy shops, but everything large cost too
+much and I was thinking I should have to give it up, when I met Uncle
+Teddy. As soon as he knew what I was about, he said he wanted to help,
+and insisted on buying the biggest toy stove we could find. I scolded,
+but he only laughed, and teased me about my cooking when we were young,
+and said I must teach Bess as well as you, and went on buying all sorts
+of nice little things for my 'cooking class' as he called it."
+
+"I'm so glad you met him!" said Daisy, as Mrs. Jo stopped to laugh at
+the memory of the funny time she had with Uncle Teddy.
+
+"You must study hard and learn to make all kinds of things, for he says
+he shall come out to tea very often, and expects something uncommonly
+nice."
+
+"It's the sweetest, dearest kitchen in the world, and I'd rather
+study with it than do anything else. Can't I learn pies, and cake, and
+macaroni, and everything?" cried Daisy, dancing round the room with a
+new saucepan in one hand and the tiny poker in the other.
+
+"All in good time. This is to be a useful play, I am to help you, and
+you are to be my cook, so I shall tell you what to do, and show you how.
+Then we shall have things fit to eat, and you will be really learning
+how to cook on a small scale. I'll call you Sally, and say you are a new
+girl just come," added Mrs. Jo, settling down to work, while Teddy sat
+on the floor sucking his thumb, and staring at the stove as if it was a
+live thing, whose appearance deeply interested him.
+
+"That will be so lovely! What shall I do first?" asked Sally, with such
+a happy face and willing air that Aunt Jo wished all new cooks were half
+as pretty and pleasant.
+
+"First of all, put on this clean cap and apron. I am rather
+old-fashioned, and I like my cook to be very tidy."
+
+Sally tucked her curly hair into the round cap, and put on the apron
+without a murmur, though usually she rebelled against bibs.
+
+"Now, you can put things in order, and wash up the new china. The old
+set needs washing also, for my last girl was apt to leave it in a sad
+state after a party."
+
+Aunt Jo spoke quite soberly, but Sally laughed, for she knew who the
+untidy girl was who had left the cups sticky. Then she turned up her
+cuffs, and with a sigh of satisfaction began to stir about her kitchen,
+having little raptures now and then over the "sweet rolling pin," the
+"darling dish-tub," or the "cunning pepper-pot."
+
+"Now, Sally, take your basket and go to market; here is the list of
+things I want for dinner," said Mrs. Jo, giving her a bit of paper when
+the dishes were all in order.
+
+"Where is the market?" asked Daisy, thinking that the new play got more
+and more interesting every minute.
+
+"Asia is the market."
+
+Away went Sally, causing another stir in the schoolroom as she passed
+the door in her new costume, and whispered to Demi, with a face full of
+delight, "It's a perfectly splendid play!"
+
+Old Asia enjoyed the joke as much as Daisy, and laughed jollily as the
+little girl came flying into the room with her cap all on one side, the
+lids of her basket rattling like castanets and looking like a very crazy
+little cook.
+
+"Mrs. Aunt Jo wants these things, and I must have them right away," said
+Daisy, importantly.
+
+"Let's see, honey; here's two pounds of steak, potatoes, squash, apples,
+bread, and butter. The meat ain't come yet; when it does I'll send it
+up. The other things are all handy."
+
+Then Asia packed one potato, one apple, a bit of squash, a little pat
+of butter, and a roll, into the basket, telling Sally to be on the watch
+for the butcher's boy, because he sometimes played tricks.
+
+"Who is he?" and Daisy hoped it would be Demi.
+
+"You'll see," was all Asia would say; and Sally went off in great
+spirits, singing a verse from dear Mary Howitt's sweet story in rhyme:
+
+     "Away went little Mabel,
+     With the wheaten cake so fine,
+     The new-made pot of butter,
+     And the little flask of wine."
+
+"Put everything but the apple into the store-closet for the present,"
+said Mrs. Jo, when the cook got home.
+
+There was a cupboard under the middle shelf, and on opening the door
+fresh delights appeared. One half was evidently the cellar, for wood,
+coal, and kindlings were piled there. The other half was full of little
+jars, boxes, and all sorts of droll contrivances for holding small
+quantities of flour, meal, sugar, salt, and other household stores. A
+pot of jam was there, a little tin box of gingerbread, a cologne bottle
+full of currant wine, and a tiny canister of tea. But the crowning charm
+was two doll's pans of new milk, with cream actually rising on it, and
+a wee skimmer all ready to skim it with. Daisy clasped her hands at
+this delicious spectacle, and wanted to skim it immediately. But Aunt Jo
+said:
+
+"Not yet; you will want the cream to eat on your apple pie at dinner,
+and must not disturb it till then."
+
+"Am I going to have pie?" cried Daisy, hardly believing that such bliss
+could be in store for her.
+
+"Yes; if your oven does well we will have two pies, one apple and one
+strawberry," said Mrs. Jo, who was nearly as much interested in the new
+play as Daisy herself.
+
+"Oh, what next?" asked Sally, all impatience to begin.
+
+"Shut the lower draught of the stove, so that the oven may heat.
+Then wash your hands and get out the flour, sugar, salt, butter, and
+cinnamon. See if the pie-board is clean, and pare your apple ready to
+put in."
+
+Daisy got things together with as little noise and spilling as could be
+expected, from so young a cook.
+
+"I really don't know how to measure for such tiny pies; I must guess
+at it, and if these don't succeed, we must try again," said Mrs. Jo,
+looking rather perplexed, and very much amused with the small concern
+before her. "Take that little pan full of flour, put in a pinch of salt,
+and then rub in as much butter as will go on that plate. Always remember
+to put your dry things together first, and then the wet. It mixes better
+so."
+
+"I know how; I saw Asia do it. Don't I butter the pie plates too? She
+did, the first thing," said Daisy, whisking the flour about at a great
+rate.
+
+"Quite right! I do believe you have a gift for cooking, you take to it
+so cleverly," said Aunt Jo, approvingly. "Now a dash of cold water,
+just enough to wet it; then scatter some flour on the board, work in
+a little, and roll the paste out; yes, that's the way. Now put dabs of
+butter all over it, and roll it out again. We won't have our pastry very
+rich, or the dolls will get dyspeptic."
+
+Daisy laughed at the idea, and scattered the dabs with a liberal hand.
+Then she rolled and rolled with her delightful little pin, and having
+got her paste ready proceeded to cover the plates with it. Next the
+apple was sliced in, sugar and cinnamon lavishly sprinkled over it, and
+then the top crust put on with breathless care.
+
+"I always wanted to cut them round, and Asia never would let me. How
+nice it is to do it all my ownty donty self!" said Daisy, as the little
+knife went clipping round the doll's plate poised on her hand.
+
+All cooks, even the best, meet with mishaps sometimes, and Sally's first
+one occurred then, for the knife went so fast that the plate slipped,
+turned a somersault in the air, and landed the dear little pie upside
+down on the floor. Sally screamed, Mrs. Jo laughed, Teddy scrambled to
+get it, and for a moment confusion reigned in the new kitchen.
+
+"It didn't spill or break, because I pinched the edges together so hard;
+it isn't hurt a bit, so I'll prick holes in it, and then it will be
+ready," said Sally, picking up the capsized treasure and putting it into
+shape with a child-like disregard of the dust it had gathered in its
+fall.
+
+"My new cook has a good temper, I see, and that is such a comfort," said
+Mrs. Jo. "Now open the jar of strawberry jam, fill the uncovered pie,
+and put some strips of paste over the top as Asia does."
+
+"I'll make a D in the middle, and have zigzags all round, that will be
+so interesting when I come to eat it," said Sally, loading the pie with
+quirls and flourishes that would have driven a real pastry cook wild.
+"Now I put them in!" she exclaimed; when the last grimy knob had been
+carefully planted in the red field of jam, and with an air of triumph
+she shut them into the little oven.
+
+"Clear up your things; a good cook never lets her utensils collect. Then
+pare your squash and potatoes."
+
+"There is only one potato," giggled Sally.
+
+"Cut it in four pieces, so it will go into the little kettle, and put
+the bits into cold water till it is time to cook them."
+
+"Do I soak the squash too?"
+
+"No, indeed! Just pare it and cut it up, and put in into the steamer
+over the pot. It is drier so, though it takes longer to cook."
+
+Here a scratching at the door caused Sally to run and open it, when Kit
+appeared with a covered basket in his mouth.
+
+"Here's the butcher boy!" cried Daisy, much tickled at the idea, as she
+relieved him of his load, whereat he licked his lips and began to beg,
+evidently thinking that it was his own dinner, for he often carried it
+to his master in that way. Being undeceived, he departed in great wrath
+and barked all the way downstairs, to ease his wounded feelings.
+
+In the basket were two bits of steak (doll's pounds), a baked pear, a
+small cake, and paper with them on which Asia had scrawled, "For Missy's
+lunch, if her cookin' don't turn out well."
+
+"I don't want any of her old pears and things; my cooking will turn out
+well, and I'll have a splendid dinner; see if I don't!" cried Daisy,
+indignantly.
+
+"We may like them if company should come. It is always well to have
+something in the storeroom," said Aunt Jo, who had been taught this
+valuable fact by a series of domestic panics.
+
+"Me is hundry," announced Teddy, who began to think what with so much
+cooking going on it was about time for somebody to eat something. His
+mother gave him her workbasket to rummage, hoping to keep him quiet till
+dinner was ready, and returned to her housekeeping.
+
+"Put on your vegetables, set the table, and then have some coals
+kindling ready for the steak."
+
+What a thing it was to see the potatoes bobbing about in the little pot;
+to peep at the squash getting soft so fast in the tiny steamer; to whisk
+open the oven door every five minutes to see how the pies got on, and
+at last when the coals were red and glowing, to put two real steaks on
+a finger-long gridiron and proudly turn them with a fork. The potatoes
+were done first, and no wonder, for they had boiled frantically all the
+while. The were pounded up with a little pestle, had much butter and no
+salt put in (cook forgot it in the excitement of the moment), then it
+was made into a mound in a gay red dish, smoothed over with a knife
+dipped in milk, and put in the oven to brown.
+
+So absorbed in these last performances had Sally been, that she forgot
+her pastry till she opened the door to put in the potato, then a wail
+arose, for alas! alas! the little pies were burnt black!
+
+"Oh, my pies! My darling pies! They are all spoilt!" cried poor Sally,
+wringing her dirty little hands as she surveyed the ruin of her work.
+The tart was especially pathetic, for the quirls and zigzags stuck up in
+all directions from the blackened jelly, like the walls and chimney of a
+house after a fire.
+
+"Dear, dear, I forgot to remind you to take them out; it's just my
+luck," said Aunt Jo, remorsefully. "Don't cry, darling, it was my fault;
+we'll try again after dinner," she added, as a great tear dropped from
+Sally's eyes and sizzled on the hot ruins of the tart.
+
+More would have followed, if the steak had not blazed up just then,
+and so occupied the attention of cook, that she quickly forgot the lost
+pastry.
+
+"Put the meat-dish and your own plates down to warm, while you mash the
+squash with butter, salt, and a little pepper on the top," said Mrs. Jo,
+devoutly hoping that the dinner would meet with no further disasters.
+
+The "cunning pepper-pot" soothed Sally's feelings, and she dished up her
+squash in fine style. The dinner was safely put upon the table; the six
+dolls were seated three on a side; Teddy took the bottom, and Sally the
+top. When all were settled, it was a most imposing spectacle, for one
+doll was in full ball costume, another in her night-gown; Jerry, the
+worsted boy, wore his red winter suit, while Annabella, the noseless
+darling, was airily attired in nothing but her own kid skin. Teddy, as
+father of the family, behaved with great propriety, for he smilingly
+devoured everything offered him, and did not find a single fault. Daisy
+beamed upon her company like the weary, warm, but hospitable hostess so
+often to be seen at larger tables than this, and did the honors with an
+air of innocent satisfaction, which we do not often see elsewhere.
+
+The steak was so tough that the little carving-knife would not cut it;
+the potato did not go round, and the squash was very lumpy; but the
+guests appeared politely unconscious of these trifles; and the master
+and mistress of the house cleared the table with appetites that anyone
+might envy them. The joy of skimming a jug-full of cream mitigated the
+anguish felt for the loss of the pies, and Asia's despised cake proved a
+treasure in the way of dessert.
+
+"That is the nicest lunch I ever had; can't I do it every day?" asked
+Daisy as she scraped up and ate the leavings all round.
+
+"You can cook things every day after lessons, but I prefer that you
+should eat your dishes at your regular meals, and only have a bit of
+gingerbread for lunch. To-day, being the first time, I don't mind, but
+we must keep our rules. This afternoon you can make something for tea
+if you like," said Mrs. Jo, who had enjoyed the dinner-party very much,
+though no one had invited her to partake.
+
+"Do let me make flapjacks for Demi, he loves them so, and it's such fun
+to turn them and put sugar in between," cried Daisy, tenderly wiping a
+yellow stain off Annabella's broken nose, for Bella had refused to eat
+squash when it was pressed upon her as good for "lumatism," a complaint
+which it is no wonder she suffered from, considering the lightness of
+her attire.
+
+"But if you give Demi goodies, all the others will expect some also, and
+then you will have your hands full."
+
+"Couldn't I have Demi come up to tea alone just this one time? And after
+that I could cook things for the others if they were good," proposed
+Daisy, with a sudden inspiration.
+
+"That is a capital idea, Posy! We will make your little messes rewards
+for the good boys, and I don't know one among them who would not like
+something nice to eat more than almost anything else. If little men are
+like big ones, good cooking will touch their hearts and soothe their
+tempers delightfully," added Aunt Jo, with a merry nod toward the
+door, where stood Papa Bhaer, surveying the scene with a face full of
+amusement.
+
+"That last hit was for me, sharp woman. I accept it, for it is true; but
+if I had married thee for thy cooking, heart's dearest, I should have
+fared badly all these years," answered the professor, laughing as he
+tossed Teddy, who became quite apoplectic in his endeavors to describe
+the feast he had just enjoyed.
+
+Daisy proudly showed her kitchen, and rashly promised Uncle Fritz as
+many flapjacks as he could eat. She was just telling about the new
+rewards when the boys, headed by Demi, burst into the room snuffing the
+air like a pack of hungry hounds, for school was out, dinner was not
+ready, and the fragrance of Daisy's steak led them straight to the spot.
+
+A prouder little damsel was never seen than Sally as she displayed her
+treasures and told the lads what was in store for them. Several rather
+scoffed at the idea of her cooking anything fit to eat, but Stuffy's
+heart was won at once. Nat and Demi had firm faith in her skill, and the
+others said they would wait and see. All admired the kitchen, however,
+and examined the stove with deep interest. Demi offered to buy
+the boiler on the spot, to be used in a steam-engine which he was
+constructing; and Ned declared that the best and biggest saucepan was
+just the thing to melt his lead in when he ran bullets, hatchets, and
+such trifles.
+
+Daisy looked so alarmed at these proposals, that Mrs. Jo then and
+there made and proclaimed a law that no boy should touch, use, or
+even approach the sacred stove without a special permit from the
+owner thereof. This increased its value immensely in the eyes of the
+gentlemen, especially as any infringement of the law would be punished
+by forfeiture of all right to partake of the delicacies promised to the
+virtuous.
+
+At this point the bell rang, and the entire population went down to
+dinner, which meal was enlivened by each of the boys giving Daisy a
+list of things he would like to have cooked for him as fast as he
+earned them. Daisy, whose faith in her stove was unlimited, promised
+everything, if Aunt Jo would tell her how to make them. This suggestion
+rather alarmed Mrs. Jo, for some of the dishes were quite beyond her
+skill wedding-cake, for instance, bull's-eye candy; and cabbage soup
+with herrings and cherries in it, which Mr. Bhaer proposed as his
+favorite, and immediately reduced his wife to despair, for German
+cookery was beyond her.
+
+Daisy wanted to begin again the minute dinner was done, but she was only
+allowed to clear up, fill the kettle ready for tea, and wash out her
+apron, which looked as if she had a Christmas feast. She was then sent
+out to play till five o'clock, for Uncle Fritz said that too much study,
+even at cooking stoves, was bad for little minds and bodies, and Aunt Jo
+knew by long experience how soon new toys lose their charm if they are
+not prudently used.
+
+Everyone was very kind to Daisy that afternoon. Tommy promised her the
+first fruits of his garden, though the only visible crop just then was
+pigweed; Nat offered to supply her with wood, free of charge; Stuffy
+quite worshipped her; Ned immediately fell to work on a little
+refrigerator for her kitchen; and Demi, with a punctuality beautiful
+to see in one so young, escorted her to the nursery just as the clock
+struck five. It was not time for the party to begin, but he begged so
+hard to come in and help that he was allowed privileges few visitors
+enjoy, for he kindled the fire, ran errands, and watched the progress
+of his supper with intense interest. Mrs. Jo directed the affair as she
+came and went, being very busy putting up clean curtains all over the
+house.
+
+"Ask Asia for a cup of sour cream, then your cakes will be light without
+much soda, which I don't like," was the first order.
+
+Demi tore downstairs, and returned with the cream, also a puckered-up
+face, for he had tasted it on his way, and found it so sour that he
+predicted the cakes would be uneatable. Mrs. Jo took this occasion to
+deliver a short lecture from the step-ladder on the chemical properties
+of soda, to which Daisy did not listen, but Demi did, and understood it,
+as he proved by the brief but comprehensive reply:
+
+"Yes, I see, soda turns sour things sweet, and the fizzling up makes
+them light. Let's see you do it, Daisy."
+
+"Fill that bowl nearly full of flour and add a little salt to it,"
+continued Mrs. Jo.
+
+"Oh dear, everything has to have salt in it, seems to me," said Sally,
+who was tired of opening the pill-box in which it was kept.
+
+"Salt is like good-humor, and nearly every thing is better for a pinch
+of it, Posy," and Uncle Fritz stopped as he passed, hammer in hand, to
+drive up two or three nails for Sally's little pans to hang on.
+
+"You are not invited to tea, but I'll give you some cakes, and I won't
+be cross," said Daisy, putting up her floury little face to thank him
+with a kiss.
+
+"Fritz, you must not interrupt my cooking class, or I'll come in and
+moralize when you are teaching Latin. How would you like that?" said
+Mrs. Jo, throwing a great chintz curtain down on his head.
+
+"Very much, try it and see," and the amiable Father Bhaer went singing
+and tapping about the house like a mammoth woodpecker.
+
+"Put the soda into the cream, and when it 'fizzles,' as Demi says, stir
+it into the flour, and beat it up as hard as ever you can. Have your
+griddle hot, butter it well, and then fry away till I come back," and
+Aunt Jo vanished also.
+
+Such a clatter as the little spoon made, and such a beating as the
+batter got, it quite foamed, I assure you; and when Daisy poured some
+on to the griddle, it rose like magic into a puffy flapjack that made
+Demi's mouth water. To be sure, the first one stuck and scorched,
+because she forgot the butter, but after that first failure all went
+well, and six capital little cakes were safely landed in a dish.
+
+"I think I like maple-syrup better than sugar," said Demi, from his
+arm-chair where he had settled himself after setting the table in a new
+and peculiar manner.
+
+"Then go and ask Asia for some," answered Daisy, going into the
+bath-room to wash her hands.
+
+While the nursery was empty something dreadful happened. You see, Kit
+had been feeling hurt all day because he had carried meat safely and yet
+got none to pay him. He was not a bad dog, but he had his little faults
+like the rest of us, and could not always resist temptation. Happening
+to stroll into the nursery at that moment, he smelt the cakes, saw them
+unguarded on the low table, and never stopping to think of consequences,
+swallowed all six at one mouthful. I am glad to say that they were very
+hot, and burned him so badly that he could not repress a surprised yelp.
+Daisy heard it, ran in, saw the empty dish, also the end of a yellow
+tail disappearing under the bed. Without a word she seized that tail,
+pulled out the thief, and shook him till his ears flapped wildly, then
+bundled him down-stairs to the shed, where he spent a lonely evening in
+the coal-bin.
+
+Cheered by the sympathy which Demi gave her, Daisy made another bowlful
+of batter, and fried a dozen cakes, which were even better than the
+others. Indeed, Uncle Fritz after eating two sent up word that he had
+never tasted any so nice, and every boy at the table below envied Demi
+at the flapjack party above.
+
+It was a truly delightful supper, for the little teapot lid only fell
+off three times and the milk jug upset but once; the cakes floated in
+syrup, and the toast had a delicious beef-steak flavor, owing to cook's
+using the gridiron to make it on. Demi forgot philosophy, and stuffed
+like any carnal boy, while Daisy planned sumptuous banquets, and the
+dolls looked on smiling affably.
+
+"Well, dearies, have you had a good time?" asked Mrs. Jo, coming up with
+Teddy on her shoulder.
+
+"A very good time. I shall come again soon," answered Demi, with
+emphasis.
+
+"I'm afraid you have eaten too much, by the look of that table."
+
+"No, I haven't; I only ate fifteen cakes, and they were very little
+ones," protested Demi, who had kept his sister busy supplying his plate.
+
+"They won't hurt him, they are so nice," said Daisy, with such a funny
+mixture of maternal fondness and housewifely pride that Aunt Jo could
+only smile and say:
+
+"Well, on the whole, the new game is a success then?"
+
+"I like it," said Demi, as if his approval was all that was necessary.
+
+"It is the dearest play ever made!" cried Daisy, hugging her little
+dish-tub as she proposed to wash up the cups. "I just wish everybody
+had a sweet cooking stove like mine," she added, regarding it with
+affection.
+
+"This play out to have a name," said Demi, gravely removing the syrup
+from his countenance with his tongue.
+
+"It has."
+
+"Oh, what?" asked both children eagerly.
+
+"Well, I think we will call it Pattypans," and Aunt Jo retired,
+satisfied with the success of her last trap to catch a sunbeam.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI. A FIRE BRAND
+
+"Please, ma'am, could I speak to you? It is something very important,"
+said Nat, popping his head in at the door of Mrs. Bhaer's room.
+
+It was the fifth head which had popped in during the last half-hour; but
+Mrs. Jo was used to it, so she looked up, and said, briskly,
+
+"What is it, my lad?"
+
+Nat came in, shut the door carefully behind him, and said in an eager,
+anxious tone,
+
+"Dan has come."
+
+"Who is Dan?"
+
+"He's a boy I used to know when I fiddled round the streets. He sold
+papers, and he was kind to me, and I saw him the other day in town, and
+told him how nice it was here, and he's come."
+
+"But, my dear boy, that is rather a sudden way to pay a visit."
+
+"Oh, it isn't a visit; he wants to stay if you will let him!" said Nat
+innocently.
+
+"Well, I don't know about that," began Mrs. Bhaer, rather startled by
+the coolness of the proposition.
+
+"Why, I thought you liked to have poor boys come and live with you,
+and be kind to 'em as you were to me," said Nat, looking surprised and
+alarmed.
+
+"So I do, but I like to know something about them first. I have to
+choose them, because there are so many. I have not room for all. I wish
+I had."
+
+"I told him to come because I thought you'd like it, but if there isn't
+room he can go away again," said Nat, sorrowfully.
+
+The boy's confidence in her hospitality touched Mrs. Bhaer, and she
+could not find the heart to disappoint his hope, and spoil his kind
+little plan, so she said,
+
+"Tell me about this Dan."
+
+"I don't know any thing, only he hasn't got any folks, and he's poor,
+and he was good to me, so I'd like to be good to him if I could."
+
+"Excellent reasons every one; but really, Nat, the house is full, and
+I don't know where I could put him," said Mrs. Bhaer, more and more
+inclined to prove herself the haven of refuge he seemed to think her.
+
+"He could have my bed, and I could sleep in the barn. It isn't cold
+now, and I don't mind, I used to sleep anywhere with father," said Nat,
+eagerly.
+
+Something in his speech and face made Mrs. Jo put her hand on his
+shoulder, and say in her kindest tone:
+
+"Bring in your friend, Nat; I think we must find room for him without
+giving him your place."
+
+Nat joyfully ran off, and soon returned followed by a most
+unprepossessing boy, who slouched in and stood looking about him, with a
+half bold, half sullen look, which made Mrs. Bhaer say to herself, after
+one glance,
+
+"A bad specimen, I am afraid."
+
+"This is Dan," said Nat, presenting him as if sure of his welcome.
+
+"Nat tells me you would like to come and stay with us," began Mrs. Jo,
+in a friendly tone.
+
+"Yes," was the gruff reply.
+
+"Have you no friends to take care of you?"
+
+"No."
+
+"Say, 'No, ma'am,'" whispered Nat.
+
+"Shan't neither," muttered Dan.
+
+"How old are you?"
+
+"About fourteen."
+
+"You look older. What can you do?"
+
+"'Most anything."
+
+"If you stay here we shall want you to do as the others do, work and
+study as well as play. Are you willing to agree to that?"
+
+"Don't mind trying."
+
+"Well, you can stay a few days, and we will see how we get on together.
+Take him out, Nat, and amuse him till Mr. Bhaer comes home, when we will
+settle about the matter," said Mrs. Jo, finding it rather difficult to
+get on with this cool young person, who fixed his big black eyes on her
+with a hard, suspicious expression, sorrowfully unboyish.
+
+"Come on, Nat," he said, and slouched out again.
+
+"Thank you, ma'am," added Nat, as he followed him, feeling without quite
+understanding the difference in the welcome given to him and to his
+ungracious friend.
+
+"The fellows are having a circus out in the barn; don't you want to come
+and see it?" he asked, as they came down the wide steps on to the lawn.
+
+"Are they big fellows?" said Dan.
+
+"No; the big ones are gone fishing."
+
+"Fire away, then," said Dan.
+
+Nat led him to the great barn and introduced him to his set, who were
+disporting themselves among the half-empty lofts. A large circle was
+marked out with hay on the wide floor, and in the middle stood Demi with
+a long whip, while Tommy, mounted on the much-enduring Toby, pranced
+about the circle playing being a monkey.
+
+"You must pay a pin apiece, or you can't see the show," said Stuffy,
+who stood by the wheelbarrow in which sat the band, consisting of a
+pocket-comb blown upon by Ned, and a toy drum beaten spasmodically by
+Rob.
+
+"He's company, so I'll pay for both," said Nat, handsomely, as he stuck
+two crooked pins in the dried mushroom which served as money-box.
+
+With a nod to the company they seated themselves on a couple of boards,
+and the performance went on. After the monkey act, Ned gave them a fine
+specimen of his agility by jumping over an old chair, and running up
+and down ladders, sailor fashion. Then Demi danced a jig with a gravity
+beautiful to behold. Nat was called upon to wrestle with Stuffy, and
+speedily laid that stout youth upon the ground. After this, Tommy
+proudly advanced to turn a somersault, an accomplishment which he had
+acquired by painful perseverance, practising in private till every joint
+of his little frame was black and blue. His feats were received with
+great applause, and he was about to retire, flushed with pride and a
+rush of blood to the head, when a scornful voice in the audience was
+heard to say,
+
+"Ho! that ain't any thing!"
+
+"Say that again, will you?" and Tommy bristled up like an angry
+turkey-cock.
+
+"Do you want to fight?" said Dan, promptly descending from the barrel
+and doubling up his fists in a business-like manner.
+
+"No, I don't;" and the candid Thomas retired a step, rather taken aback
+by the proposition.
+
+"Fighting isn't allowed!" cried the others, much excited.
+
+"You're a nice lot," sneered Dan.
+
+"Come, if you don't behave, you shan't stay," said Nat, firing up at
+that insult to his friends.
+
+"I'd like to see him do better than I did, that's all," observed Tommy,
+with a swagger.
+
+"Clear the way, then," and without the slightest preparation Dan turned
+three somersaults one after the other and came up on his feet.
+
+"You can't beat that, Tom; you always hit your head and tumble flat,"
+said Nat, pleased at his friend's success.
+
+Before he could say any more the audience were electrified by three more
+somersaults backwards, and a short promenade on the hands, head down,
+feet up. This brought down the house, and Tommy joined in the admiring
+cries which greeted the accomplished gymnast as he righted himself, and
+looked at them with an air of calm superiority.
+
+"Do you think I could learn to do it without its hurting me very much?"
+Tom meekly asked, as he rubbed the elbows which still smarted after the
+last attempt.
+
+"What will you give me if I'll teach you?" said Dan.
+
+"My new jack-knife; it's got five blades, and only one is broken."
+
+"Give it here, then."
+
+Tommy handed it over with an affectionate look at its smooth handle.
+Dan examined it carefully, then putting it into his pocket, walked off,
+saying with a wink,
+
+"Keep it up till you learn, that's all."
+
+A howl of wrath from Tommy was followed by a general uproar, which did
+not subside till Dan, finding himself in a minority, proposed that they
+should play stick-knife, and whichever won should have the treasure.
+Tommy agreed, and the game was played in a circle of excited faces,
+which all wore an expression of satisfaction, when Tommy won and secured
+the knife in the depth of his safest pocket.
+
+"You come off with me, and I'll show you round," said Nat, feeling that
+he must have a little serious conversation with his friend in private.
+
+What passed between them no one knew, but when they appeared again, Dan
+was more respectful to every one, though still gruff in his speech, and
+rough in his manner; and what else could be expected of the poor lad
+who had been knocking about the world all his short life with no one to
+teach him any better?
+
+The boys had decided that they did not like him, and so they left him
+to Nat, who soon felt rather oppressed by the responsibility, but too
+kind-hearted to desert him.
+
+Tommy, however, felt that in spite of the jack-knife transaction,
+there was a bond of sympathy between them, and longed to return to the
+interesting subject of somersaults. He soon found an opportunity, for
+Dan, seeing how much he admired him, grew more amiable, and by the end
+of the first week was quite intimate with the lively Tom.
+
+Mr. Bhaer, when he heard the story and saw Dan, shook his head, but only
+said quietly,
+
+"The experiment may cost us something, but we will try it."
+
+If Dan felt any gratitude for his protection, he did not show it, and
+took without thanks all that was give him. He was ignorant, but very
+quick to learn when he chose; had sharp eyes to watch what went on about
+him; a saucy tongue, rough manners, and a temper that was fierce and
+sullen by turns. He played with all his might, and played well at almost
+all the games. He was silent and gruff before grown people, and only
+now and then was thoroughly sociable among the lads. Few of them really
+liked him, but few could help admiring his courage and strength, for
+nothing daunted him, and he knocked tall Franz flat on one occasion with
+an ease that caused all the others to keep at a respectful distance from
+his fists. Mr. Bhaer watched him silently, and did his best to tame the
+"Wild Boy," as they called him, but in private the worthy man shook his
+head, and said soberly, "I hope the experiment will turn out well, but I
+am a little afraid it may cost too much."
+
+Mrs. Bhaer lost her patience with him half a dozen times a day, yet
+never gave him up, and always insisted that there was something good
+in the lad, after all; for he was kinder to animals than to people, he
+liked to rove about in the woods, and, best of all, little Ted was fond
+of him. What the secret was no one could discover, but Baby took to him
+at once gabbled and crowed whenever he saw him preferred his strong back
+to ride on to any of the others and called him "My Danny" out of his
+own little head. Teddy was the only creature to whom Dan showed an
+affection, and this was only manifested when he thought no one
+else would see it; but mothers' eyes are quick, and motherly hearts
+instinctively divine who love their babies. So Mrs. Jo soon saw and felt
+that there was a soft spot in rough Dan, and bided her time to touch and
+win him.
+
+But an unexpected and decidedly alarming event upset all their plans,
+and banished Dan from Plumfield.
+
+Tommy, Nat, and Demi began by patronizing Dan, because the other
+lads rather slighted him; but soon they each felt there was a certain
+fascination about the bad boy, and from looking down upon him they came
+to looking up, each for a different reason. Tommy admired his skill and
+courage; Nat was grateful for past kindness; and Demi regarded him as
+a sort of animated story book, for when he chose Dan could tell his
+adventures in a most interesting way. It pleased Dan to have the three
+favorites like him, and he exerted himself to be agreeable, which was
+the secret of his success.
+
+The Bhaers were surprised, but hoped the lads would have a good
+influence over Dan, and waited with some anxiety, trusting that no harm
+would come of it.
+
+Dan felt they did not quite trust him, and never showed them his best
+side, but took a wilful pleasure in trying their patience and thwarting
+their hopes as far as he dared.
+
+Mr. Bhaer did not approve of fighting, and did not think it a proof of
+either manliness or courage for two lads to pommel one another for
+the amusement of the rest. All sorts of hardy games and exercises were
+encouraged, and the boys were expected to take hard knocks and tumbles
+without whining; but black eyes and bloody noses given for the fun of it
+were forbidden as a foolish and a brutal play.
+
+Dan laughed at this rule, and told such exciting tales of his own valor,
+and the many frays that he had been in, that some of the lads were fired
+with a desire to have a regular good "mill."
+
+"Don't tell, and I'll show you how," said Dan; and, getting half a dozen
+of the lads together behind the barn, he gave them a lesson in boxing,
+which quite satisfied the ardor of most of them. Emil, however, could
+not submit to be beaten by a fellow younger than himself, for Emil was
+past fourteen and a plucky fellow, so he challenged Dan to a fight. Dan
+accepted at once, and the others looked on with intense interest.
+
+What little bird carried the news to head-quarters no one ever knew,
+but, in the very hottest of the fray, when Dan and Emil were fighting
+like a pair of young bulldogs, and the others with fierce, excited
+faces were cheering them on, Mr. Bhaer walked into the ring, plucked the
+combatants apart with a strong hand, and said, in the voice they seldom
+heard,
+
+"I can't allow this, boys! Stop it at once; and never let me see it
+again. I keep a school for boys, not for wild beasts. Look at each other
+and be ashamed of yourselves."
+
+"You let me go, and I'll knock him down again," shouted Dan, sparring
+away in spite of the grip on his collar.
+
+"Come on, come on, I ain't thrashed yet!" cried Emil, who had been down
+five times, but did not know when he was beaten.
+
+"They are playing be gladdy what-you-call-'ems, like the Romans, Uncle
+Fritz," called out Demi, whose eyes were bigger than ever with the
+excitement of this new pastime.
+
+"They were a fine set of brutes; but we have learned something since
+then, I hope, and I cannot have you make my barn a Colosseum. Who
+proposed this?" asked Mr. Bhaer.
+
+"Dan," answered several voices.
+
+"Don't you know that it is forbidden?"
+
+"Yes," growled Dan, sullenly.
+
+"Then why break the rule?"
+
+"They'll all be molly-coddles, if they don't know how to fight."
+
+"Have you found Emil a molly-coddle? He doesn't look much like one,"
+and Mr. Bhaer brought the two face to face. Dan had a black eye, and his
+jacket was torn to rags, but Emil's face was covered with blood from a
+cut lip and a bruised nose, while a bump on his forehead was already as
+purple as a plum. In spite of his wounds however, he still glared upon
+his foe, and evidently panted to renew the fight.
+
+"He'd make a first-rater if he was taught," said Dan, unable to withhold
+the praise from the boy who made it necessary for him to do his best.
+
+"He'll be taught to fence and box by and by, and till then I think
+he will do very well without any lessons in mauling. Go and wash your
+faces; and remember, Dan, if you break any more of the rules again, you
+will be sent away. That was the bargain; do your part and we will do
+ours."
+
+The lads went off, and after a few more words to the spectators, Mr.
+Bhaer followed to bind up the wounds of the young gladiators. Emil went
+to bed sick, and Dan was an unpleasant spectacle for a week.
+
+But the lawless lad had no thought of obeying, and soon transgressed
+again.
+
+One Saturday afternoon as a party of the boys went out to play, Tommy
+said,
+
+"Let's go down to the river, and cut a lot of new fish-poles."
+
+"Take Toby to drag them back, and one of us can ride him down," proposed
+Stuffy, who hated to walk.
+
+"That means you, I suppose; well, hurry up, lazy-bones," said Dan.
+
+Away they went, and having got the poles were about to go home, when
+Demi unluckily said to Tommy, who was on Toby with a long rod in his
+hand,
+
+"You look like the picture of the man in the bull-fight, only you
+haven't got a red cloth, or pretty clothes on."
+
+"I'd like to see one; there's old Buttercup in the big meadow, ride at
+her, Tom, and see her run," proposed Dan, bent on mischief.
+
+"No, you mustn't," began Demi, who was learning to distrust Dan's
+propositions.
+
+"Why not, little fuss-button?" demanded Dan.
+
+"I don't think Uncle Fritz would like it."
+
+"Did he ever say we must not have a bull-fight?"
+
+"No, I don't think he ever did," admitted Demi.
+
+"Then hold your tongue. Drive on, Tom, and here's a red rag to flap at
+the old thing. I'll help you to stir her up," and over the wall went
+Dan, full of the new game, and the rest followed like a flock of sheep;
+even Demi, who sat upon the bars, and watched the fun with interest.
+
+Poor Buttercup was not in a very good mood, for she had been lately
+bereft of her calf, and mourned for the little thing most dismally. Just
+now she regarded all mankind as her enemies (and I do not blame her),
+so when the matadore came prancing towards her with the red handkerchief
+flying at the end of his long lance, she threw up her head, and gave
+a most appropriate "Moo!" Tommy rode gallantly at her, and Toby
+recognizing an old friend, was quite willing to approach; but when the
+lance came down on her back with a loud whack, both cow and donkey were
+surprised and disgusted. Toby back with a bray of remonstrance, and
+Buttercup lowered her horns angrily.
+
+"At her again, Tom; she's jolly cross, and will do it capitally!" called
+Dan, coming up behind with another rod, while Jack and Ned followed his
+example.
+
+Seeing herself thus beset, and treated with such disrespect, Buttercup
+trotted round the field, getting more and more bewildered and excited
+every moment, for whichever way she turned, there was a dreadful boy,
+yelling and brandishing a new and very disagreeable sort of whip. It was
+great fun for them, but real misery for her, till she lost patience and
+turned the tables in the most unexpected manner. All at once she wheeled
+short round, and charged full at her old friend Toby, whose conduct cut
+her to the heart. Poor slow Toby backed so precipitately that he tripped
+over a stone, and down went horse, matadore, and all, in one ignominious
+heap, while distracted Buttercup took a surprising leap over the wall,
+and galloped wildly out of sight down the road.
+
+"Catch her, stop her, head her off! run, boys, run!" shouted Dan,
+tearing after her at his best pace, for she was Mr. Bhaer's pet
+Alderney, and if anything happened to her, Dan feared it would be all
+over with him. Such a running and racing and bawling and puffing as
+there was before she was caught! The fish-poles were left behind; Toby
+was trotted nearly off his legs in the chase; and every boy was red,
+breathless, and scared. They found poor Buttercup at last in a flower
+garden, where she had taken refuge, worn out with the long run.
+Borrowing a rope for a halter, Dan led her home, followed by a party
+of very sober young gentlemen, for the cow was in a sad state, having
+strained her shoulder jumping, so that she limped, her eyes looked wild,
+and her glossy coat was wet and muddy.
+
+"You'll catch it this time, Dan," said Tommy, as he led the wheezing
+donkey beside the maltreated cow.
+
+"So will you, for you helped."
+
+"We all did, but Demi," added Jack.
+
+"He put it into our heads," said Ned.
+
+"I told you not to do it," cried Demi, who was most broken-hearted at
+poor Buttercup's state.
+
+"Old Bhaer will send me off, I guess. Don't care if he does," muttered
+Dan, looking worried in spite of his words.
+
+"We'll ask him not to, all of us," said Demi, and the others assented
+with the exception of Stuffy, who cherished the hope that all the
+punishment might fall on one guilty head. Dan only said, "Don't bother
+about me;" but he never forgot it, even though he led the lads astray
+again, as soon as the temptation came.
+
+When Mr. Bhaer saw the animal, and heard the story, he said very little,
+evidently fearing that he should say too much in the first moments of
+impatience. Buttercup was made comfortable in her stall, and the boys
+sent to their rooms till supper-time. This brief respite gave them time
+to think the matter over, to wonder what the penalty would be, and to
+try to imagine where Dan would be sent. He whistled briskly in his room,
+so that no one should think he cared a bit; but while he waited to know
+his fate, the longing to stay grew stronger and stronger, the more he
+recalled the comfort and kindness he had known here, the hardship and
+neglect he had felt elsewhere. He knew they tried to help him, and at
+the bottom of his heart he was grateful, but his rough life had made
+him hard and careless, suspicious and wilful. He hated restraint of any
+sort, and fought against it like an untamed creature, even while he knew
+it was kindly meant, and dimly felt that he would be the better for it.
+He made up his mind to be turned adrift again, to knock about the city
+as he had done nearly all his life; a prospect that made him knit
+his black brows, and look about the cosy little room with a wistful
+expression that would have touched a much harder heart than Mr. Bhaer's
+if he had seen it. It vanished instantly, however, when the good man
+came in, and said in his accustomed grave way,
+
+"I have heard all about it, Dan, and though you have broken the rules
+again, I am going to give you one more trial, to please Mother Bhaer."
+
+Dan flushed up to his forehead at this unexpected reprieve, but he only
+said in his gruff way,
+
+"I didn't know there was any rule about bull-fighting."
+
+"As I never expected to have any at Plumfield, I never did make such
+a rule," answered Mr. Bhaer, smiling in spite of himself at the boy's
+excuse. Then he added gravely, "But one of the first and most important
+of our few laws is the law of kindness to every dumb creature on the
+place. I want everybody and everything to be happy here, to love
+and trust, and serve us, as we try to love and trust and serve them
+faithfully and willingly. I have often said that you were kinder to the
+animals than any of the other boys, and Mrs. Bhaer liked that trait in
+you very much, because she thought it showed a good heart. But you have
+disappointed us in that, and we are sorry, for we hoped to make you
+quite one of us. Shall we try again?"
+
+Dan's eyes had been on the floor, and his hands nervously picking at
+the bit of wood he had been whittling as Mr. Bhaer came in, but when he
+heard the kind voice ask that question, he looked up quickly, and said
+in a more respectful tone than he had ever used before,
+
+"Yes, please."
+
+"Very well, then, we will say no more, only you will stay at home from
+the walk to-morrow, as the other boys will and all of you must wait on
+poor Buttercup till she is well again."
+
+"I will."
+
+"Now, go down to supper, and do your best, my boy, more for your own
+sake than for ours." Then Mr. Bhaer shook hands with him, and Dan went
+down more tamed by kindness than he would have been by the good whipping
+which Asia had strongly recommended.
+
+Dan did try for a day or two, but not being used to it, he soon tired
+and relapsed into his old wilful ways. Mr. Bhaer was called from home
+on business one day, and the boys had no lessons. They liked this, and
+played hard till bedtime, when most of them turned in and slept like
+dormice. Dan, however, had a plan in his head, and when he and Nat were
+alone, he unfolded it.
+
+"Look here!" he said, taking from under his bed a bottle, a cigar, and a
+pack of cards, "I'm going to have some fun, and do as I used to with
+the fellows in town. Here's some beer, I got if of the old man at the
+station, and this cigar; you can pay for 'em or Tommy will, he's got
+heaps of money and I haven't a cent. I'm going to ask him in; no, you
+go, they won't mind you."
+
+"The folks won't like it," began Nat.
+
+"They won't know. Daddy Bhaer is away, and Mrs. Bhaer's busy with Ted;
+he's got croup or something, and she can't leave him. We shan't sit up
+late or make any noise, so where's the harm?"
+
+"Asia will know if we burn the lamp long, she always does."
+
+"No, she won't, I've got a dark lantern on purpose; it don't give much
+light, and we can shut it quick if we hear anyone coming," said Dan.
+
+This idea struck Nat as a fine one, and lent an air of romance to the
+thing. He started off to tell Tommy, but put his head in again to say,
+
+"You want Demi, too, don't you?"
+
+"No, I don't; the Deacon will rollup eyes and preach if you tell him. He
+will be asleep, so just tip the wink to Tom and cut back again."
+
+Nat obeyed, and returned in a minute with Tommy half dressed, rather
+tousled about the head and very sleepy, but quite ready for fun as
+usual.
+
+"Now, keep quiet, and I'll show you how to play a first-rate game called
+'Poker,'" said Dan, as the three revellers gathered round the table, on
+which were set forth the bottle, the cigar, and the cards. "First we'll
+all have a drink, then we'll take a go at the 'weed,' and then we'll
+play. That's the way men do, and it's jolly fun."
+
+The beer circulated in a mug, and all three smacked their lips over it,
+though Nat and Tommy did not like the bitter stuff. The cigar was worse
+still, but they dared not say so, and each puffed away till he was dizzy
+or choked, when he passed the "weed" on to his neighbor. Dan liked
+it, for it seemed like old times when he now and then had a chance
+to imitate the low men who surrounded him. He drank, and smoked, and
+swaggered as much like them as he could, and, getting into the spirit
+of the part he assumed, he soon began to swear under his breath for
+fear some one should hear him. "You mustn't; it's wicked to say 'Damn!'"
+cried Tommy, who had followed his leader so far.
+
+"Oh, hang! don't you preach, but play away; it's part of the fun to
+swear."
+
+"I'd rather say 'thunder turtles,'" said Tommy, who had composed this
+interesting exclamation and was very proud of it.
+
+"And I'll say 'The Devil;' that sounds well," added Nat, much impressed
+by Dan's manly ways.
+
+Dan scoffed at their "nonsense," and swore stoutly as he tried to teach
+them the new game.
+
+But Tommy was very sleepy, and Nat's head began to ache with the beer
+and the smoke, so neither of them was very quick to learn, and the game
+dragged. The room was nearly dark, for the lantern burned badly; they
+could not laugh loud nor move about much, for Silas slept next door in
+the shed-chamber, and altogether the party was dull. In the middle of a
+deal Dan stopped suddenly, and called out, "Who's that?" in a startled
+tone, and at the same moment drew the slide over the light. A voice in
+the darkness said tremulously, "I can't find Tommy," and then there was
+the quick patter of bare feet running away down the entry that led from
+the wing to the main house.
+
+"It's Demi! he's gone to call some one; cut into bed, Tom, and don't
+tell!" cried Dan, whisking all signs of the revel out of sight, and
+beginning to tear off his clothes, while Nat did the same.
+
+Tommy flew to his room and dived into bed, where he lay, laughing
+till something burned his hand, when he discovered that he was still
+clutching the stump of the festive cigar, which he happened to be
+smoking when the revel broke up.
+
+It was nearly out, and he was about to extinguish it carefully when
+Nursey's voice was heard, and fearing it would betray him if he hid it
+in the bed, he threw it underneath, after a final pinch which he thought
+finished it.
+
+Nursey came in with Demi, who looked much amazed to see the red face of
+Tommy reposing peacefully upon his pillow.
+
+"He wasn't there just now, because I woke up and could not find him
+anywhere," said Demi, pouncing on him.
+
+"What mischief are you at now, bad child?" asked Nursey, with a
+good-natured shake, which made the sleeper open his eyes to say meekly,
+
+"I only ran into Nat's room to see him about something. Go away, and let
+me alone; I'm awful sleepy."
+
+Nursey tucked Demi in, and went off to reconnoitre, but only found two
+boys slumbering peacefully in Dan's room. "Some little frolic," she
+thought, and as there was no harm done she said nothing to Mrs. Bhaer,
+who was busy and worried over little Teddy.
+
+Tommy was sleepy, and telling Demi to mind his own business and not ask
+questions, he was snoring in ten minutes, little dreaming what was going
+on under his bed. The cigar did not go out, but smouldered away on the
+straw carpet till it was nicely on fire, and a hungry little flame went
+creeping along till the dimity bedcover caught, then the sheets, and
+then the bed itself. The beer made Tommy sleep heavily, and the smoke
+stupified Demi, so they slept on till the fire began to scorch them, and
+they were in danger of being burned to death.
+
+Franz was sitting up to study, and as he left the school-room he smelt
+the smoke, dashed up-stairs and saw it coming in a cloud from the left
+wing of the house. Without stopping to call any one, he ran into the
+room, dragged the boys from the blazing bed, and splashed all the water
+he could find at hand on to the flames. It checked but did not quench
+the fire, and the children wakened on being tumbled topsy-turvy into
+a cold hall, began to roar at the top of their voices. Mrs. Bhaer
+instantly appeared, and a minute after Silas burst out of his room
+shouting, "Fire!" in a tone that raised the whole house. A flock of
+white goblins with scared faces crowded into the hall, and for a minute
+every one was panic-stricken.
+
+Then Mrs. Bhaer found her wits, bade Nursey see to the burnt boys, and
+sent Franz and Silas down-stairs for some tubs of wet clothes which
+she flung on the bed, over the carpet, and up against the curtains, now
+burning finely, and threatening to kindle the walls.
+
+Most of the boys stood dumbly looking on, but Dan and Emil worked
+bravely, running to and fro with water from the bath-room, and helping
+to pull down the dangerous curtains.
+
+The peril was soon over, and ordering the boys all back to bed, and
+leaving Silas to watch lest the fire broke out again, Mrs. Bhaer and
+Franz went to see how the poor boys got on. Demi had escaped with one
+burn and a grand scare, but Tommy had not only most of his hair scorched
+off his head, but a great burn on his arm, that made him half crazy with
+the pain. Demi was soon made cosy, and Franz took him away to his own
+bed, where the kind lad soothed his fright and hummed him to sleep as
+cosily as a woman. Nursey watched over poor Tommy all night, trying to
+ease his misery, and Mrs. Bhaer vibrated between him and little Teddy
+with oil and cotton, paregoric and squills, saying to herself from time
+to time, as if she found great amusement in the thought, "I always knew
+Tommy would set the house on fire, and now he has done it!"
+
+When Mr. Bhaer got home next morning he found a nice state of things.
+Tommy in bed, Teddy wheezing like a little grampus, Mrs. Jo quite used
+up, and the whole flock of boys so excited that they all talked at once,
+and almost dragged him by main force to view the ruins. Under his quiet
+management things soon fell into order, for every one felt that he was
+equal to a dozen conflagrations, and worked with a will at whatever task
+he gave them.
+
+There was no school that morning, but by afternoon the damaged room was
+put to rights, the invalids were better, and there was time to hear and
+judge the little culprits quietly. Nat and Tommy told their parts in the
+mischief, and were honestly sorry for the danger they had brought to the
+dear old house and all in it. But Dan put on his devil-may-care look,
+and would not own that there was much harm done.
+
+Now, of all things, Mr. Bhaer hated drinking, gambling, and swearing;
+smoking he had given up that the lads might not be tempted to try it,
+and it grieved and angered him deeply to find that the boy, with whom he
+had tried to be most forbearing, should take advantage of his absence to
+introduce these forbidden vices, and teach his innocent little lads
+to think it manly and pleasant to indulge in them. He talked long and
+earnestly to the assembled boys, and ended by saying, with an air of
+mingled firmness and regret,
+
+"I think Tommy is punished enough, and that scar on his arm will remind
+him for a long time to let these things alone. Nat's fright will do for
+him, for he is really sorry, and does try to obey me. But you, Dan, have
+been many times forgiven, and yet it does no good. I cannot have my boys
+hurt by your bad example, nor my time wasted in talking to deaf ears, so
+you can say good-bye to them all, and tell Nursey to put up your things
+in my little black bag."
+
+"Oh! sir, where is he going?" cried Nat.
+
+"To a pleasant place up in the country, where I sometimes send boys when
+they don't do well here. Mr. Page is a kind man, and Dan will be happy
+there if he chooses to do his best."
+
+"Will he ever come back?" asked Demi.
+
+"That will depend on himself; I hope so."
+
+As he spoke, Mr. Bhaer left the room to write his letter to Mr. Page,
+and the boys crowded round Dan very much as people do about a man who is
+going on a long and perilous journey to unknown regions.
+
+"I wonder if you'll like it," began Jack.
+
+"Shan't stay if I don't," said Dan coolly.
+
+"Where will you go?" asked Nat.
+
+"I may go to sea, or out west, or take a look at California," answered
+Dan, with a reckless air that quite took away the breath of the little
+boys.
+
+"Oh, don't! stay with Mr. Page awhile and then come back here; do, Dan,"
+pleaded Nat, much affected at the whole affair.
+
+"I don't care where I go, or how long I stay, and I'll be hanged if I
+ever come back here," with which wrathful speech Dan went away to put up
+his things, every one of which Mr. Bhaer had given him.
+
+That was the only good-bye he gave the boys, for they were all talking
+the matter over in the barn when he came down, and he told Nat not to
+call them. The wagon stood at the door, and Mrs. Bhaer came out to speak
+to Dan, looking so sad that his heart smote him, and he said in a low
+tone,
+
+"May I say good-bye to Teddy?"
+
+"Yes, dear; go in and kiss him, he will miss his Danny very much."
+
+No one saw the look in Dan's eyes as he stooped over the crib, and saw
+the little face light up at first sight of him, but he heard Mrs. Bhaer
+say pleadingly,
+
+"Can't we give the poor lad one more trial, Fritz?" and Mr. Bhaer answer
+in his steady way,
+
+"My dear, it is not best, so let him go where he can do no harm to
+others, while they do good to him, and by and by he shall come back, I
+promise you."
+
+"He's the only boy we ever failed with, and I am so grieved, for I
+thought there was the making of a fine man in him, spite of his faults."
+
+Dan heard Mrs. Bhaer sigh, and he wanted to ask for one more trial
+himself, but his pride would not let him, and he came out with the hard
+look on his face, shook hands without a word, and drove away with Mr.
+Bhaer, leaving Nat and Mrs. Jo to look after him with tears in their
+eyes.
+
+A few days afterwards they received a letter from Mr. Page, saying that
+Dan was doing well, whereat they all rejoiced. But three weeks later
+came another letter, saying that Dan had run away, and nothing had been
+heard of him, whereat they all looked sober, and Mr. Bhaer said,
+
+"Perhaps I ought to have given him another chance."
+
+Mrs. Bhaer, however, nodded wisely and answered, "Don't be troubled,
+Fritz; the boy will come back to us, I'm sure of it."
+
+But time went on and no Dan came.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII. NAUGHTY NAN
+
+"Fritz, I've got a new idea," cried Mrs. Bhaer, as she met her husband
+one day after school.
+
+"Well, my dear, what is it?" and he waited willingly to hear the new
+plan, for some of Mrs. Jo's ideas were so droll, it was impossible to
+help laughing at them, though usually they were quite sensible, and he
+was glad to carry them out.
+
+"Daisy needs a companion, and the boys would be all the better for
+another girl among them; you know we believe in bringing up little men
+and women together, and it is high time we acted up to our belief. They
+pet and tyrannize over Daisy by turns, and she is getting spoilt. Then
+they must learn gentle ways, and improve their manners, and having girls
+about will do it better than any thing else."
+
+"You are right, as usual. Now, who shall we have?" asked Mr. Bhaer,
+seeing by the look in her eye that Mrs. Jo had some one all ready to
+propose.
+
+"Little Annie Harding."
+
+"What! Naughty Nan, as the lads call her?" cried Mr. Bhaer, looking very
+much amused.
+
+"Yes, she is running wild at home since her mother died, and is too
+bright a child to be spoilt by servants. I have had my eye on her for
+some time, and when I met her father in town the other day I asked him
+why he did not send her to school. He said he would gladly if he could
+find as good a school for girls as ours was for boys. I know he would
+rejoice to have her come; so suppose we drive over this afternoon and
+see about it."
+
+"Have not you cares enough now, my Jo, without this little gypsy to
+torment you?" asked Mr. Bhaer, patting the hand that lay on his arm.
+
+"Oh dear, no," said Mother Bhaer, briskly. "I like it, and never was
+happier than since I had my wilderness of boys. You see, Fritz, I feel a
+great sympathy for Nan, because I was such a naughty child myself that
+I know all about it. She is full of spirits, and only needs to be taught
+what to do with them to be as nice a little girl as Daisy. Those quick
+wits of hers would enjoy lessons if they were rightly directed, and what
+is now a tricksy <DW40> would soon become a busy, happy child. I know
+how to manage her, for I remember how my blessed mother managed me,
+and--"
+
+"And if you succeed half as well as she did, you will have done a
+magnificent work," interrupted Mr. Bhaer, who labored under the delusion
+that Mrs. B. was the best and most charming woman alive.
+
+"Now, if you make fun of my plan I'll give you bad coffee for a week,
+and then where are you, sir?" cried Mrs. Jo, tweaking him by the ear
+just as if he was one of the boys.
+
+"Won't Daisy's hair stand erect with horror at Nan's wild ways?" asked
+Mr. Bhaer, presently, when Teddy had swarmed up his waistcoat, and Rob
+up his back, for they always flew at their father the minute school was
+done.
+
+"At first, perhaps, but it will do Posy good. She is getting prim and
+Bettyish, and needs stirring up a bit. She always has a good time when
+Nan comes over to play, and the two will help each other without knowing
+it. Dear me, half the science of teaching is knowing how much children
+do for one another, and when to mix them."
+
+"I only hope she won't turn out another firebrand."
+
+"My poor Dan! I never can quite forgive myself for letting him go,"
+sighed Mrs. Bhaer.
+
+At the sound of the name, little Teddy, who had never forgotten his
+friend, struggled down from his father's arms, and trotted to the door,
+looked out over the sunny lawn with a wistful face, and then trotted
+back again, saying, as he always did when disappointed of the longed-for
+sight,
+
+"My Danny's tummin' soon."
+
+"I really think we ought to have kept him, if only for Teddy's sake, he
+was so fond of him, and perhaps baby's love would have done for him what
+we failed to do."
+
+"I've sometimes felt that myself; but after keeping the boys in a
+ferment, and nearly burning up the whole family, I thought it safer to
+remove the firebrand, for a time at least," said Mr. Bhaer.
+
+"Dinner's ready, let me ring the bell," and Rob began a solo upon that
+instrument which made it impossible to hear one's self speak.
+
+"Then I may have Nan, may I?" asked Mrs. Jo.
+
+"A dozen Nans if you want them, my dear," answered Mr. Bhaer, who had
+room in his fatherly heart for all the naughty neglected children in the
+world.
+
+When Mrs. Bhaer returned from her drive that afternoon, before she could
+unpack the load of little boys, without whom she seldom moved, a small
+girl of ten skipped out at the back of the carry-all and ran into the
+house, shouting,
+
+"Hi, Daisy! where are you?"
+
+Daisy came, and looked pleased to see her guest, but also a trifle
+alarmed, when Nan said, still prancing, as if it was impossible to keep
+still,
+
+"I'm going to stay here always, papa says I may, and my box is coming
+tomorrow, all my things had to be washed and mended, and your aunt came
+and carried me off. Isn't it great fun?"
+
+"Why, yes. Did you bring your big doll?" asked Daisy, hoping she had,
+for on the last visit Nan had ravaged the baby house, and insisted on
+washing Blanche Matilda's plaster face, which spoilt the poor dear's
+complexion for ever.
+
+"Yes, she's somewhere round," returned Nan, with most unmaternal
+carelessness. "I made you a ring coming along, and pulled the hairs out
+of Dobbin's tail. Don't you want it?" and Nan presented a horse-hair
+ring in token of friendship, as they had both vowed they would never
+speak to one another again when they last parted.
+
+Won by the beauty of the offering, Daisy grew more cordial, and proposed
+retiring to the nursery, but Nan said, "No, I want to see the boys, and
+the barn," and ran off, swinging her hat by one string till it broke,
+when she left it to its fate on the grass.
+
+"Hullo! Nan!" cried the boys as she bounced in among them with the
+announcement,
+
+"I'm going to stay."
+
+"Hooray!" bawled Tommy from the wall on which he was perched, for Nan
+was a kindred spirit, and he foresaw "larks" in the future.
+
+"I can bat; let me play," said Nan, who could turn her hand to any
+thing, and did not mind hard knocks.
+
+"We ain't playing now, and our side beat without you."
+
+"I can beat you in running, any way," returned Nan, falling back on her
+strong point.
+
+"Can she?" asked Nat of Jack.
+
+"She runs very well for a girl," answered Jack, who looked down upon Nan
+with condescending approval.
+
+"Will you try?" said Nan, longing to display her powers.
+
+"It's too hot," and Tommy languished against the wall as if quite
+exhausted.
+
+"What's the matter with Stuffy?" asked Nan, whose quick eyes were roving
+from face to face.
+
+"Ball hurt his hand; he howls at every thing," answered Jack scornfully.
+
+"I don't, I never cry, no matter how I'm hurt; it's babyish," said Nan,
+loftily.
+
+"Pooh! I could make you cry in two minutes," returned Stuffy, rousing
+up.
+
+"See if you can."
+
+"Go and pick that bunch of nettles, then," and Stuffy pointed to a
+sturdy specimen of that prickly plant growing by the wall.
+
+Nan instantly "grasped the nettle," pulled it up, and held it with a
+defiant gesture, in spite of the almost unbearable sting.
+
+"Good for you," cried the boys, quick to acknowledge courage even in one
+of the weaker sex.
+
+More nettled than she was, Stuffy determined to get a cry out of her
+somehow, and he said tauntingly, "You are used to poking your hands into
+every thing, so that isn't fair. Now go and bump your head real hard
+against the barn, and see if you don't howl then."
+
+"Don't do it," said Nat, who hated cruelty.
+
+But Nan was off, and running straight at the barn, she gave her head a
+blow that knocked her flat, and sounded like a battering-ram. Dizzy, but
+undaunted, she staggered up, saying stoutly, though her face was drawn
+with pain,
+
+"That hurt, but I don't cry."
+
+"Do it again," said Stuffy angrily; and Nan would have done it, but Nat
+held her; and Tommy, forgetting the heat, flew at Stuffy like a little
+game-cock, roaring out,
+
+"Stop it, or I'll throw you over the barn!" and so shook and hustled
+poor Stuffy that for a minute he did not know whether he was on his head
+or his heels.
+
+"She told me to," was all he could say, when Tommy let him alone.
+
+"Never mind if she did; it is awfully mean to hurt a little girl," said
+Demi, reproachfully.
+
+"Ho! I don't mind; I ain't a little girl, I'm older than you and Daisy;
+so now," cried Nan, ungratefully.
+
+"Don't preach, Deacon, you bully Posy every day of your life," called
+out the Commodore, who just then hove in sight.
+
+"I don't hurt her; do I, Daisy?" and Demi turned to his sister, who was
+"pooring" Nan's tingling hands, and recommending water for the purple
+lump rapidly developing itself on her forehead.
+
+"You are the best boy in the world," promptly answered Daisy; adding,
+as truth compelled her to do, "You hurt me sometimes, but you don't mean
+to."
+
+"Put away the bats and things, and mind what you are about, my hearties.
+No fighting allowed aboard this ship," said Emil, who rather lorded it
+over the others.
+
+"How do you do, Madge Wildfire?" said Mr. Bhaer, as Nan came in with
+the rest to supper. "Give the right hand, little daughter, and mind thy
+manners," he added, as Nan offered him her left.
+
+"The other hurts me."
+
+"The poor little hand! what has it been doing to get those blisters?" he
+asked, drawing it from behind her back, where she had put it with a look
+which made him think she had been in mischief.
+
+Before Nan could think of any excuse, Daisy burst out with the whole
+story, during which Stuffy tried to hide his face in a bowl of bread and
+milk. When the tale was finished, Mr. Bhaer looked down the long table
+towards his wife, and said with a laugh in his eyes,
+
+"This rather belongs to your side of the house, so I won't meddle with
+it, my dear."
+
+Mrs. Jo knew what he meant, but she liked her little black sheep all the
+better for her pluck, though she only said in her soberest way,
+
+"Do you know why I asked Nan to come here?"
+
+"To plague me," muttered Stuffy, with his mouth full.
+
+"To help make little gentlemen of you, and I think you have shown that
+some of you need it."
+
+Here Stuffy retired into his bowl again, and did not emerge till Demi
+made them all laugh by saying, in his slow wondering way,
+
+"How can she, when she's such a tomboy?"
+
+"That's just it, she needs help as much as you, and I expect you set her
+an example of good manners."
+
+"Is she going to be a little gentleman too?" asked Rob.
+
+"She'd like it; wouldn't you, Nan?" added Tommy.
+
+"No, I shouldn't; I hate boys!" said Nan fiercely, for her hand still
+smarted, and she began to think that she might have shown her courage in
+some wiser way.
+
+"I am sorry you hate my boys, because they can be well-mannered, and
+most agreeable when they choose. Kindness in looks and words and ways is
+true politeness, and any one can have it if they only try to treat other
+people as they like to be treated themselves."
+
+Mrs. Bhaer had addressed herself to Nan, but the boys nudged one
+another, and appeared to take the hint, for that time at least, and
+passed the butter; said "please," and "thank you," "yes, sir," and "no,
+ma'am," with unusual elegance and respect. Nan said nothing, but kept
+herself quiet and refrained from tickling Demi, though strongly tempted
+to do so, because of the dignified airs he put on. She also appeared
+to have forgotten her hatred of boys, and played "I spy" with them till
+dark. Stuffy was observed to offer her frequent sucks on his candy-ball
+during the game, which evidently sweetened her temper, for the last
+thing she said on going to bed was,
+
+"When my battledore and shuttle-cock comes, I'll let you all play with
+'em."
+
+Her first remark in the morning was "Has my box come?" and when told
+that it would arrive sometime during the day, she fretted and fumed, and
+whipped her doll, till Daisy was shocked. She managed to exist, however,
+till five o'clock, when she disappeared, and was not missed till
+supper-time, because those at home thought she had gone to the hill with
+Tommy and Demi.
+
+"I saw her going down the avenue alone as hard as she could pelt,"
+said Mary Ann, coming in with the hasty-pudding, and finding every one
+asking, "Where is Nan?"
+
+"She has run home, little gypsy!" cried Mrs. Bhaer, looking anxious.
+
+"Perhaps she has gone to the station to look after her luggage,"
+suggested Franz.
+
+"That is impossible, she does not know the way, and if she found it, she
+could never carry the box a mile," said Mrs. Bhaer, beginning to think
+that her new idea might be rather a hard one to carry out.
+
+"It would be like her," and Mr. Bhaer caught up his hat to go and find
+the child, when a shout from Jack, who was at the window, made everyone
+hurry to the door.
+
+There was Miss Nan, to be sure, tugging along a very large band-box tied
+up in linen bag. Very hot and dusty and tired did she look, but marched
+stoutly along, and came puffing up to the steps, where she dropped
+her load with a sigh of relief, and sat down upon it, observed as she
+crossed her tired arms,
+
+"I couldn't wait any longer, so I went and got it."
+
+"But you did not know the way," said Tommy, while the rest stood round
+enjoying the joke.
+
+"Oh, I found it, I never get lost."
+
+"It's a mile, how could you go so far?"
+
+"Well, it was pretty far, but I rested a good deal."
+
+"Wasn't that thing very heavy?"
+
+"It's so round, I couldn't get hold of it good, and I thought my arms
+would break right off."
+
+"I don't see how the station-master let you have it," said Tommy.
+
+"I didn't say anything to him. He was in the little ticket place, and
+didn't see me, so I just took it off the platform."
+
+"Run down and tell him it is all right, Franz, or old Dodd will think
+it is stolen," said Mr. Bhaer, joining in the shout of laughter at Nan's
+coolness.
+
+"I told you we would send for it if it did not come. Another time you
+must wait, for you will get into trouble if you run away. Promise me
+this, or I shall not dare to trust you out of my sight," said Mrs.
+Bhaer, wiping the dust off Nan's little hot face.
+
+"Well, I won't, only papa tells me not to put off doing things, so I
+don't."
+
+"That is rather a poser; I think you had better give her some supper
+now, and a private lecture by and by," said Mr. Bhaer, too much amused
+to be angry at the young lady's exploit.
+
+The boys thought it "great fun," and Nan entertained them all
+supper-time with an account of her adventures; for a big dog had barked
+at her, a man had laughed at her, a woman had given her a doughnut, and
+her hat had fallen into the brook when she stopped to drink, exhausted
+with her exertion.
+
+"I fancy you will have your hands full now, my dear; Tommy and Nan are
+quite enough for one woman," said Mr. Bhaer, half an hour later.
+
+"I know it will take some time to tame the child, but she is such a
+generous, warm-hearted little thing, I should love her even if she were
+twice as naughty," answered Mrs. Jo, pointing to the merry group, in
+the middle of which stood Nan, giving away her things right and left, as
+lavishly as if the big band-box had no bottom.
+
+It was those good traits that soon made little "Giddygaddy," as they
+called her, a favorite with every one. Daisy never complained of being
+dull again, for Nan invented the most delightful plays, and her pranks
+rivalled Tommy's, to the amusement of the whole school. She buried her
+big doll and forgot it for a week, and found it well mildewed when she
+dragged it up. Daisy was in despair, but Nan took it to the painter who
+as at work about the house, got him to paint it brick red, with staring
+black eyes, then she dressed it up with feathers, and scarlet flannel,
+and one of Ned's leaden hatchets; and in the character of an Indian
+chief, the late Poppydilla tomahawked all the other dolls, and caused
+the nursery to run red with imaginary gore. She gave away her new shoes
+to a beggar child, hoping to be allowed to go barefoot, but found it
+impossible to combine charity and comfort, and was ordered to ask leave
+before disposing of her clothes. She delighted the boys by making a
+fire-ship out of a shingle with two large sails wet with turpentine,
+which she lighted, and then sent the little vessel floating down the
+brook at dusk. She harnessed the old turkey-cock to a straw wagon, and
+made him trot round the house at a tremendous pace. She gave her coral
+necklace for four unhappy kittens, which had been tormented by some
+heartless lads, and tended them for days as gently as a mother, dressing
+their wounds with cold cream, feeding them with a doll's spoon, and
+mourning over them when they died, till she was consoled by one of
+Demi's best turtles. She made Silas tattoo an anchor on her arm like
+his, and begged hard to have a blue star on each cheek, but he dared not
+do it, though she coaxed and scolded till the soft-hearted fellow longed
+to give in. She rode every animal on the place, from the big horse Andy
+to the cross pig, from whom she was rescued with difficulty. Whatever
+the boys dared her to do she instantly attempted, no matter how
+dangerous it might be, and they were never tired of testing her courage.
+
+Mr. Bhaer suggested that they should see who would study best, and Nan
+found as much pleasure in using her quick wits and fine memory as her
+active feet and merry tongue, while the lads had to do their best to
+keep their places, for Nan showed them that girls could do most things
+as well as boys, and some things better. There were no rewards in
+school, but Mr. Bhaer's "Well done!" and Mrs. Bhaer's good report on the
+conscience book, taught them to love duty for its own sake, and try to
+do it faithfully, sure sooner or later the recompense would come. Little
+Nan was quick to feel the new atmosphere, to enjoy it, to show that it
+was what she needed; for this little garden was full of sweet flowers,
+half hidden by the weeds; and when kind hands gently began to
+cultivate it, all sorts of green shoots sprung up, promising to blossom
+beautifully in the warmth of love and care, the best climate for young
+hearts and souls all the world over.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII. PRANKS AND PLAYS
+
+As there is no particular plan to this story, except to describe a few
+scenes in the life at Plumfield for the amusement of certain little
+persons, we will gently ramble along in this chapter and tell some of
+the pastimes of Mrs. Jo's boys. I beg leave to assure my honored readers
+that most of the incidents are taken from real life, and that the oddest
+are the truest; for no person, no matter how vivid an imagination he may
+have, can invent anything half so droll as the freaks and fancies that
+originate in the lively brains of little people.
+
+Daisy and Demi were full of these whims, and lived in a world of their
+own, peopled with lovely or grotesque creatures, to whom they gave the
+queerest names, and with whom they played the queerest games. One of
+these nursery inventions was an invisible sprite called "The Naughty
+Kitty-mouse," whom the children had believed in, feared, and served for
+a long time. They seldom spoke of it to any one else, kept their rites
+as private as possible; and, as they never tried to describe it even to
+themselves, this being had a vague mysterious charm very agreeable
+to Demi, who delighted in elves and goblins. A most whimsical and
+tyrannical imp was the Naughty Kitty-mouse, and Daisy found a fearful
+pleasure in its service, blindly obeying its most absurd demands, which
+were usually proclaimed from the lips of Demi, whose powers of invention
+were great. Rob and Teddy sometimes joined in these ceremonies, and
+considered them excellent fun, although they did not understand half
+that went on.
+
+One day after school Demi whispered to his sister, with an ominous wag
+of the head,
+
+"The Kitty-mouse wants us this afternoon."
+
+"What for?" asked Daisy, anxiously.
+
+"A sackerryfice," answered Demi, solemnly. "There must be a fire behind
+the big rock at two o'clock, and we must all bring the things we like
+best, and burn them!" he added, with an awful emphasis on the last
+words.
+
+"Oh, dear! I love the new paper dollies Aunt Amy painted for me best
+of any thing; must I burn them up?" cried Daisy, who never thought of
+denying the unseen tyrant any thing it demanded.
+
+"Every one. I shall burn my boat, my best scrapbook, and all my
+soldiers," said Demi firmly.
+
+"Well, I will; but it's too bad of Kitty-mouse to want our very nicest
+things," sighed Daisy.
+
+"A sackerryfice means to give up what you are fond of, so we must,"
+explained Demi, to whom the new idea had been suggested by hearing
+Uncle Fritz describe the customs of the Greeks to the big boys who were
+reading about them in school.
+
+"Is Rob coming too," asked Daisy.
+
+"Yes, and he is going to bring his toy village; it is all made of wood,
+you know, and will burn nicely. We'll have a grand bonfire, and see them
+blaze up, won't we?"
+
+This brilliant prospect consoled Daisy, and she ate her dinner with a
+row of paper dolls before her, as a sort of farewell banquet.
+
+At the appointed hour the sacrificial train set forth, each child
+bearing the treasures demanded by the insatiable Kitty-mouse. Teddy
+insisted on going also, and seeing that all the others had toys, he
+tucked a squeaking lamb under one arm, and old Annabella under the
+other, little dreaming what anguish the latter idol was to give him.
+
+"Where are you going, my chickens?" asked Mrs. Jo, as the flock passed
+her door.
+
+"To play by the big rock; can't we?"
+
+"Yes, only don't do near the pond, and take good care of baby."
+
+"I always do," said Daisy, leading forth her charge with a capable air.
+
+"Now, you must all sit round, and not move till I tell you. This flat
+stone is an altar, and I am going to make a fire on it."
+
+Demi then proceeded to kindle up a small blaze, as he had seen the boys
+do at picnics. When the flame burned well, he ordered the company to
+march round it three times and then stand in a circle.
+
+"I shall begin, and as fast as my things are burnt, you must bring
+yours."
+
+With that he solemnly laid on a little paper book full of pictures,
+pasted in by himself; this was followed by a dilapidated boat, and
+then one by one the unhappy leaden soldiers marched to death. Not one
+faltered or hung back, from the splendid red and yellow captain to the
+small drummer who had lost his legs; all vanished in the flames and
+mingled in one common pool of melted lead.
+
+"Now, Daisy!" called the high priest of Kitty-mouse, when his rich
+offerings had been consumed, to the great satisfaction of the children.
+
+"My dear dollies, how can I let them go?" moaned Daisy, hugging the
+entire dozen with a face full of maternal woe.
+
+"You must," commanded Demi; and with a farewell kiss to each, Daisy laid
+her blooming dolls upon the coals.
+
+"Let me keep one, the dear blue thing, she is so sweet," besought the
+poor little mamma, clutching her last in despair.
+
+"More! more!" growled an awful voice, and Demi cried, "that's the
+Kitty-mouse! she must have every one, quick, or she will scratch us."
+
+In went the precious blue belle, flounces, rosy hat, and all, and
+nothing but a few black flakes remained of that bright band.
+
+"Stand the houses and trees round, and let them catch themselves; it
+will be like a real fire then," said Demi, who liked variety even in his
+"sackerryfices."
+
+Charmed by this suggestion, the children arranged the doomed village,
+laid a line of coals along the main street, and then sat down to watch
+the conflagration. It was somewhat slow to kindle owing to the paint,
+but at last one ambitious little cottage blazed up, fired a tree of the
+palm species, which fell on to the roof of a large family mansion,
+and in a few minutes the whole town was burning merrily. The wooden
+population stood and stared at the destruction like blockheads, as they
+were, till they also caught and blazed away without a cry. It took
+some time to reduce the town to ashes, and the lookers-on enjoyed the
+spectacle immensely, cheering as each house fell, dancing like wild
+Indians when the steeple flamed aloft, and actually casting one wretched
+little churn-shaped lady, who had escaped to the suburbs, into the very
+heart of the fire.
+
+The superb success of this last offering excited Teddy to such a degree,
+that he first threw his lamb into the conflagration, and before it had
+time even to roast, he planted poor Annabella on the funeral pyre. Of
+course she did not like it, and expressed her anguish and resentment in
+a way that terrified her infant destroyer. Being covered with kid,
+she did not blaze, but did what was worse, she squirmed. First one leg
+curled up, then the other, in a very awful and lifelike manner; next
+she flung her arms over her head as if in great agony; her head itself
+turned on her shoulders, her glass eyes fell out, and with one final
+writhe of her whole body, she sank down a blackened mass on the ruins
+of the town. This unexpected demonstration startled every one and
+frightened Teddy half out of his little wits. He looked, then screamed
+and fled toward the house, roaring "Marmar" at the top of his voice.
+
+Mrs. Bhaer heard the outcry and ran to the rescue, but Teddy could only
+cling to her and pour out in his broken way something about "poor Bella
+hurted," "a dreat fire," and "all the dollies dorn." Fearing some dire
+mishap, his mother caught him up and hurried to the scene of action,
+where she found the blind worshippers of Kitty-mouse mourning over the
+charred remains of the lost darling.
+
+"What have you been at? Tell me all about it," said Mrs. Jo, composing
+herself to listen patiently, for the culprits looked so penitent, she
+forgave them beforehand.
+
+With some reluctance Demi explained their play, and Aunt Jo laughed till
+the tears ran down her cheeks, the children were so solemn, and the play
+was so absurd.
+
+"I thought you were too sensible to play such a silly game as this. If
+I had any Kitty-mouse I'd have a good one who liked you to play in safe
+pleasant ways, and not destroy and frighten. Just see what a ruin you
+have made; all Daisy's pretty dolls, Demi's soldiers, and Rob's new
+village beside poor Teddy's pet lamb, and dear old Annabella. I shall
+have to write up in the nursery the verse that used to come in the boxes
+of toys,
+
+     "The children of Holland take pleasure in making,
+     What the children of Boston take pleasure in breaking."
+
+"Only I shall put Plumfield instead of Boston."
+
+"We never will again, truly, truly!" cried the repentant little sinners,
+much abashed at this reproof.
+
+"Demi told us to," said Rob.
+
+"Well, I heard Uncle tell about the Greece people, who had altars
+and things, and so I wanted to be like them, only I hadn't any live
+creatures to sackerryfice, so we burnt up our toys."
+
+"Dear me, that is something like the bean story," said Aunt Jo, laughing
+again.
+
+"Tell about it," suggested Daisy, to change the subject.
+
+"Once there was a poor woman who had three or four little children, and
+she used to lock them up in her room when she went out to work, to keep
+them safe. On day when she was going away she said, 'Now, my dears,
+don't let baby fall out of window, don't play with the matches, and
+don't put beans up your noses.' Now the children had never dreamed of
+doing that last thing, but she put it into their heads, and the minute
+she was gone, they ran and stuffed their naughty little noses full of
+beans, just to see how it felt, and she found them all crying when she
+came home."
+
+"Did it hurt?" asked Rob, with such intense interest that his mother
+hastily added a warning sequel, lest a new edition of the bean story
+should appear in her own family.
+
+"Very much, as I know, for when my mother told me this story, I was so
+silly that I went and tried it myself. I had no beans, so I took some
+little pebbles, and poked several into my nose. I did not like it at
+all, and wanted to take them out again very soon, but one would not
+come, and I was so ashamed to tell what a goose I been that I went for
+hours with the stone hurting me very much. At last the pain got so bad
+I had to tell, and when my mother could not get it out the doctor came.
+Then I was put in a chair and held tight, Rob, while he used his ugly
+little pincers till the stone hopped out. Dear me! how my wretched
+little nose did ache, and how people laughed at me!" and Mrs. Jo shook
+her head in a dismal way, as if the memory of her sufferings was too
+much for her.
+
+Rob looked deeply impressed and I am glad to say took the warning to
+heart. Demi proposed that they should bury poor Annabella, and in the
+interest of the funeral Teddy forgot his fright. Daisy was soon consoled
+by another batch of dolls from Aunt Amy, and the Naughty Kitty-mouse
+seemed to be appeased by the last offerings, for she tormented them no
+more.
+
+"Brops" was the name of a new and absorbing play, invented by Bangs.
+As this interesting animal is not to be found in any Zoological Garden,
+unless Du Chaillu has recently brought one from the wilds of Africa, I
+will mention a few of its peculiar habits and traits, for the benefit of
+inquiring minds. The Brop is a winged quadruped, with a human face of
+a youthful and merry aspect. When it walks the earth it grunts, when it
+soars it gives a shrill hoot, occasionally it goes erect, and talks good
+English. Its body is usually covered with a substance much resembling a
+shawl, sometimes red, sometimes blue, often plaid, and, strange to say,
+they frequently change skins with one another. On their heads they have
+a horn very like a stiff brown paper lamp-lighter. Wings of the same
+substance flap upon their shoulders when they fly; this is never very
+far from the ground, as they usually fall with violence if they attempt
+any lofty flights. They browse over the earth, but can sit up and eat
+like the squirrel. Their favorite nourishment is the seed-cake; apples
+also are freely taken, and sometimes raw carrots are nibbled when food
+is scarce. They live in dens, where they have a sort of nest, much like
+a clothes-basket, in which the little Brops play till their wings are
+grown. These singular animals quarrel at times, and it is on these
+occasions that they burst into human speech, call each other names, cry,
+scold, and sometimes tear off horns and skin, declaring fiercely that
+they "won't play." The few privileged persons who have studied them are
+inclined to think them a remarkable mixture of the monkey, the sphinx,
+the roc, and the queer creatures seen by the famous Peter Wilkins.
+
+This game was a great favorite, and the younger children beguiled many
+a rainy afternoon flapping or creeping about the nursery, acting like
+little bedlamites and being as merry as little grigs. To be sure, it was
+rather hard upon clothes, particularly trouser-knees, and jacket-elbows;
+but Mrs. Bhaer only said, as she patched and darned,
+
+"We do things just as foolish, and not half so harmless. If I could
+get as much happiness out of it as the little dears do, I'd be a Brop
+myself."
+
+Nat's favorite amusements were working in his garden, and sitting in the
+willow-tree with his violin, for that green nest was a fairy world to
+him, and there he loved to perch, making music like a happy bird. The
+lads called him "Old Chirper," because he was always humming, whistling,
+or fiddling, and they often stopped a minute in their work or play to
+listen to the soft tones of the violin, which seemed to lead a little
+orchestra of summer sounds. The birds appeared to regard him as one of
+themselves, and fearlessly sat on the fence or lit among the boughs to
+watch him with their quick bright eyes. The robins in the apple-tree
+near by evidently considered him a friend, for the father bird hunted
+insects close beside him, and the little mother brooded as confidingly
+over her blue eggs as if the boy was only a new sort of blackbird who
+cheered her patient watch with his song. The brown brook babbled and
+sparkled below him, the bees haunted the clover fields on either side,
+friendly faces peeped at him as they passed, the old house stretched its
+wide wings hospitably toward him, and with a blessed sense of rest and
+love and happiness, Nat dreamed for hours in this nook, unconscious what
+healthful miracles were being wrought upon him.
+
+One listener he had who never tired, and to whom he was more than a
+mere schoolmate. Poor Billy's chief delight was to lie beside the brook,
+watching leaves and bits of foam dance by, listening dreamily to the
+music in the willow-tree. He seemed to think Nat a sort of angel who sat
+aloft and sang, for a few baby memories still lingered in his mind and
+seemed to grow brighter at these times. Seeing the interest he took in
+Nat, Mr. Bhaer begged him to help them lift the cloud from the feeble
+brain by this gentle spell. Glad to do any thing to show his gratitude,
+Nat always smiled on Billy when he followed him about, and let him
+listen undisturbed to the music which seemed to speak a language he
+could understand. "Help one another," was a favorite Plumfield motto,
+and Nat learned how much sweetness is added to life by trying to live up
+to it.
+
+Jack Ford's peculiar pastime was buying and selling; and he bid fair
+to follow in the footsteps of his uncle, a country merchant, who sold
+a little of every thing and made money fast. Jack had seen the sugar
+sanded, the molasses watered, the butter mixed with lard, and things of
+that kind, and labored under the delusion that it was all a proper part
+of the business. His stock in trade was of a different sort, but he made
+as much as he could out of every worm he sold, and always got the
+best of the bargain when he traded with the boys for string, knives,
+fish-hooks, or whatever the article might be. The boys who all had
+nicknames, called him "Skinflint," but Jack did not care as long as the
+old tobacco-pouch in which he kept his money grew heavier and heavier.
+
+He established a sort of auction-room, and now and then sold off all the
+odds and ends he had collected, or helped the lads exchange things with
+one another. He got bats, balls, hockey-sticks, etc., cheap, from one
+set of mates, furbished them up, and let them for a few cents a time to
+another set, often extending his business beyond the gates of Plumfield
+in spite of the rules. Mr. Bhaer put a stop to some of his speculations,
+and tried to give him a better idea of business talent than mere
+sharpness in overreaching his neighbors. Now and then Jack made a bad
+bargain, and felt worse about it than about any failure in lessons or
+conduct, and took his revenge on the next innocent customer who came
+along. His account-book was a curiosity; and his quickness at figures
+quite remarkable. Mr. Bhaer praised him for this, and tried to make his
+sense of honesty and honor as quick; and, by and by, when Jack found
+that he could not get on without these virtues, he owned that his
+teacher was right.
+
+Cricket and football the boys had of course; but, after the stirring
+accounts of these games in the immortal "Tom Brown at Rugby," no feeble
+female pen may venture to do more than respectfully allude to them.
+
+Emil spent his holidays on the river or the pond, and drilled the elder
+lads for a race with certain town boys, who now and then invaded
+their territory. The race duly came off, but as it ended in a general
+shipwreck, it was not mentioned in public; and the Commodore had serious
+thoughts of retiring to a desert island, so disgusted was he with his
+kind for a time. No desert island being convenient, he was forced
+to remain among his friends, and found consolation in building a
+boat-house.
+
+The little girls indulged in the usual plays of their age, improving
+upon them somewhat as their lively fancies suggested. The chief and
+most absorbing play was called "Mrs. Shakespeare Smith;" the name
+was provided by Aunt Jo, but the trials of the poor lady were quite
+original. Daisy was Mrs. S. S., and Nan by turns her daughter or a
+neighbor, Mrs. Giddygaddy.
+
+No pen can describe the adventures of these ladies, for in one short
+afternoon their family was the scene of births, marriages, deaths,
+floods, earthquakes, tea-parties, and balloon ascensions. Millions of
+miles did these energetic women travel, dressed in hats and habits never
+seen before by mortal eye, perched on the bed, driving the posts like
+mettlesome steeds, and bouncing up and down till their heads spun. Fits
+and fires were the pet afflictions, with a general massacre now and then
+by way of change. Nan was never tired of inventing fresh combinations,
+and Daisy followed her leader with blind admiration. Poor Teddy was a
+frequent victim, and was often rescued from real danger, for the excited
+ladies were apt to forget that he was not of the same stuff their
+longsuffering dolls. Once he was shut into the closet for a dungeon, and
+forgotten by the girls, who ran off to some out-of-door game. Another
+time he was half drowned in the bath-tub, playing be a "cunning little
+whale." And, worst of all, he was cut down just in time after being hung
+up for a robber.
+
+But the institution most patronized by all was the Club. It had no other
+name, and it needed none, being the only one in the neighborhood. The
+elder lads got it up, and the younger were occasionally admitted if
+they behaved well. Tommy and Demi were honorary members, but were always
+obliged to retire unpleasantly early, owing to circumstances over
+which they had no control. The proceedings of this club were somewhat
+peculiar, for it met at all sorts of places and hours, had all manner
+of queer ceremonies and amusements, and now and then was broken up
+tempestuously, only to be re-established, however, on a firmer basis.
+
+Rainy evenings the members met in the schoolroom, and passed the time in
+games: chess, morris, backgammon, fencing matches, recitations, debates,
+or dramatic performances of a darkly tragical nature. In summer the barn
+was the rendezvous, and what went on there no uninitiated mortal
+knows. On sultry evenings the Club adjourned to the brook for aquatic
+exercises, and the members sat about in airy attire, frog-like and cool.
+On such occasions the speeches were unusually eloquent, quite flowing,
+as one might say; and if any orator's remarks displeased the audience,
+cold water was thrown upon him till his ardor was effectually quenched.
+Franz was president, and maintained order admirably, considering the
+unruly nature of the members. Mr. Bhaer never interfered with their
+affairs, and was rewarded for this wise forbearance by being invited now
+and then to behold the mysteries unveiled, which he appeared to enjoy
+much.
+
+When Nan came she wished to join the Club, and caused great excitement
+and division among the gentlemen by presenting endless petitions, both
+written and spoken, disturbing their solemnities by insulting them
+through the key-hole, performing vigorous solos on the door, and
+writing up derisive remarks on walls and fences, for she belonged to
+the "Irrepressibles." Finding these appeals in vain, the girls, by the
+advice of Mrs. Jo, got up an institution of their own, which they called
+the Cosy Club. To this they magnanimously invited the gentlemen whose
+youth excluded them from the other one, and entertained these favored
+beings so well with little suppers, new games devised by Nan, and other
+pleasing festivities, that, one by one, the elder boys confessed a
+desire to partake of these more elegant enjoyments, and, after much
+consultation, finally decided to propose an interchange of civilities.
+
+The members of the Cosy Club were invited to adorn the rival
+establishment on certain evenings, and to the surprise of the gentlemen
+their presence was not found to be a restraint upon the conversation
+or amusement of the regular frequenters; which could not be said of all
+Clubs, I fancy. The ladies responded handsomely and hospitably to these
+overtures of peace, and both institutions flourished long and happily.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IX. DAISY'S BALL
+
+"Mrs. Shakespeare Smith would like to have Mr. John Brooke, Mr. Thomas
+Bangs, and Mr. Nathaniel Blake to come to her ball at three o'clock
+today.
+
+"P.S. Nat must bring his fiddle, so we can dance, and all the boys must
+be good, or they cannot have any of the nice things we have cooked."
+
+This elegant invitation would, I fear, have been declined, but for the
+hint given in the last line of the postscript.
+
+"They have been cooking lots of goodies, I smelt 'em. Let's go," said
+Tommy.
+
+"We needn't stay after the feast, you know," added Demi.
+
+"I never went to a ball. What do you have to do?" asked Nat.
+
+"Oh, we just play be men, and sit round stiff and stupid like grown-up
+folks, and dance to please the girls. Then we eat up everything, and
+come away as soon as we can."
+
+"I think I could do that," said Nat, after considering Tommy's
+description for a minute.
+
+"I'll write and say we'll come;" and Demi despatched the following
+gentlemanly reply,
+
+"We will all come. Please have lots to eat. J. B. Esquire."
+
+Great was the anxiety of the ladies about their first ball, because if
+every thing went well they intended to give a dinner-party to the chosen
+few.
+
+"Aunt Jo likes to have the boys play with us, if they are not rough;
+so we must make them like our balls, then they will do them good," said
+Daisy, with her maternal air, as she set the table and surveyed the
+store of refreshments with an anxious eye.
+
+"Demi and Nat will be good, but Tommy will do something bad, I know he
+will," replied Nan, shaking her head over the little cake-basket which
+she was arranging.
+
+"Then I shall send him right home," said Daisy, with decision.
+
+"People don't do so at parties, it isn't proper."
+
+"I shall never ask him any more."
+
+"That would do. He'd be sorry not to come to the dinner-ball, wouldn't
+he?"
+
+"I guess he would! we'll have the splendidest things ever seen, won't
+we? Real soup with a ladle and a tureem [she meant tureen] and a little
+bird for turkey, and gravy, and all kinds of nice vegytubbles." Daisy
+never could say vegetables properly, and had given up trying.
+
+"It is 'most three, and we ought to dress," said Nan, who had arranged a
+fine costume for the occasion, and was anxious to wear it.
+
+"I am the mother, so I shan't dress up much," said Daisy, putting on a
+night-cap ornamented with a red bow, one of her aunt's long skirts, and
+a shawl; a pair of spectacles and large pocket handkerchief completed
+her toilette, making a plump, rosy little matron of her.
+
+Nan had a wreath of artificial flowers, a pair of old pink slippers, a
+yellow scarf, a green muslin skirt, and a fan made of feathers from the
+duster; also, as a last touch of elegance, a smelling-bottle without any
+smell in it.
+
+"I am the daughter, so I rig up a good deal, and I must sing and dance,
+and talk more than you do. The mothers only get the tea and be proper,
+you know."
+
+A sudden very loud knock caused Miss Smith to fly into a chair, and fan
+herself violently, while her mamma sat bolt upright on the sofa, and
+tried to look quite calm and "proper." Little Bess, who was on a visit,
+acted the part of maid, and opened the door, saying with a smile, "Wart
+in, gemplemun; it's all weady."
+
+In honor of the occasion, the boys wore high paper collars, tall
+black hats, and gloves of every color and material, for they were an
+afterthought, and not a boy among them had a perfect pair.
+
+"Good day, mum," said Demi, in a deep voice, which was so hard to keep
+up that his remarks had to be extremely brief.
+
+Every one shook hands and then sat down, looking so funny, yet so sober,
+that the gentlemen forgot their manners, and rolled in their chairs with
+laughter.
+
+"Oh, don't!" cried Mrs. Smith, much distressed.
+
+"You can't ever come again if you act so," added Miss Smith, rapping Mr.
+Bangs with her bottle because he laughed loudest.
+
+"I can't help it, you look so like fury," gasped Mr. Bangs, with most
+uncourteous candor.
+
+"So do you, but I shouldn't be so rude as to say so. He shan't come to
+the dinner-ball, shall he, Daisy?" cried Nan, indignantly.
+
+"I think we had better dance now. Did you bring your fiddle, sir?" asked
+Mrs. Smith, trying to preserve her polite composure.
+
+"It is outside the door," and Nat went to get it.
+
+"Better have tea first," proposed the unabashed Tommy, winking openly
+at Demi to remind him that the sooner the refreshments were secured, the
+sooner they could escape.
+
+"No, we never have supper first; and if you don't dance well you won't
+have any supper at all, not one bit, sir," said Mrs. Smith, so sternly
+that her wild guests saw she was not to be trifled with, and grew
+overwhelmingly civil all at once.
+
+"I will take Mr. Bangs and teach him the polka, for he does not know it
+fit to be seen," added the hostess, with a reproachful look that sobered
+Tommy at once.
+
+Nat struck up, and the ball opened with two couples, who went
+conscientiously through a somewhat varied dance. The ladies did well,
+because they liked it, but the gentlemen exerted themselves from more
+selfish motives, for each felt that he must earn his supper, and labored
+manfully toward that end. When every one was out of breath they were
+allowed to rest; and, indeed, poor Mrs. Smith needed it, for her long
+dress had tripped her up many times. The little maid passed round
+molasses and water in such small cups that one guest actually emptied
+nine. I refrain from mentioning his name, because this mild beverage
+affected him so much that he put cup and all into his mouth at the ninth
+round, and choked himself publicly.
+
+"You must ask Nan to play and sing now," said Daisy to her brother, who
+sat looking very much like an owl, as he gravely regarded the festive
+scene between his high collars.
+
+"Give us a song, mum," said the obedient guest, secretly wondering where
+the piano was.
+
+Miss Smith sailed up to an old secretary which stood in the room,
+threw back the lid of the writing-desk, and sitting down before it,
+accompanied herself with a vigor which made the old desk rattle as she
+sang that new and lovely song, beginning
+
+     "Gaily the troubadour
+     Touched his guitar,
+     As he was hastening
+     Home from the war."
+
+The gentlemen applauded so enthusiastically that she gave them "Bounding
+Billows," "Little Bo-Peep," and other gems of song, till they were
+obliged to hint that they had had enough. Grateful for the praises
+bestowed upon her daughter, Mrs. Smith graciously announced,
+
+"Now we will have tea. Sit down carefully, and don't grab."
+
+It was beautiful to see the air of pride with which the good lady did
+the honors of her table, and the calmness with which she bore the little
+mishaps that occurred. The best pie flew wildly on the floor when she
+tried to cut it with a very dull knife; the bread and butter vanished
+with a rapidity calculated to dismay a housekeeper's soul; and, worst of
+all, the custards were so soft that they had to be drunk up, instead of
+being eaten elegantly with the new tin spoons.
+
+I grieve to state that Miss Smith squabbled with the maid for the best
+jumble, which caused Bess to toss the whole dish into the air, and burst
+out crying amid a rain of falling cakes. She was comforted by a seat at
+the table, and the sugar-bowl to empty; but during this flurry a large
+plate of patties was mysteriously lost, and could not be found. They
+were the chief ornament of the feast, and Mrs. Smith was indignant at
+the loss, for she had made them herself, and they were beautiful to
+behold. I put it to any lady if it was not hard to have one dozen
+delicious patties (made of flour, salt, and water, with a large raisin
+in the middle of each, and much sugar over the whole) swept away at one
+fell swoop?
+
+"You hid them, Tommy; I know you did!" cried the outraged hostess,
+threatening her suspected guest with the milk-pot.
+
+"I didn't!"
+
+"You did!"
+
+"It isn't proper to contradict," said Nan, who was hastily eating up the
+jelly during the fray.
+
+"Give them back, Demi," said Tommy.
+
+"That's a fib, you've got them in your own pocket," bawled Demi, roused
+by the false accusation.
+
+"Let's take 'em away from him. It's too bad to make Daisy cry,"
+suggested Nat, who found his first ball more exciting than he expected.
+
+Daisy was already weeping, Bess like a devoted servant mingled her tears
+with those of her mistress, and Nan denounced the entire race of boys as
+"plaguey things." Meanwhile the battle raged among the gentlemen, for,
+when the two defenders of innocence fell upon the foe, that hardened
+youth intrenched himself behind a table and pelted them with the stolen
+tarts, which were very effective missiles, being nearly as hard as
+bullets. While his ammunition held out the besieged prospered, but the
+moment the last patty flew over the parapet, the villain was seized,
+dragged howling from the room, and cast upon the hall floor in an
+ignominious heap. The conquerors then returned flushed with victory, and
+while Demi consoled poor Mrs. Smith, Nat and Nan collected the scattered
+tarts, replaced each raisin in its proper bed, and rearranged the dish
+so that it really looked almost as well as ever. But their glory had
+departed, for the sugar was gone, and no one cared to eat them after the
+insult offered to them.
+
+"I guess we had better go," said Demi, suddenly, as Aunt Jo's voice was
+heard on the stairs.
+
+"P'r'aps we had," and Nat hastily dropped a stray jumble that he had
+just picked up.
+
+But Mrs. Jo was among them before the retreat was accomplished, and into
+her sympathetic ear the young ladies poured the story of their woes.
+
+"No more balls for these boys till they have atoned for this bad
+behavior by doing something kind to you," said Mrs. Jo, shaking her head
+at the three culprits.
+
+"We were only in fun," began Demi.
+
+"I don't like fun that makes other people unhappy. I am disappointed in
+you, Demi, for I hoped you would never learn to tease Daisy. Such a kind
+little sister as she is to you."
+
+"Boys always tease their sisters; Tom says so," muttered Demi.
+
+"I don't intend that my boys shall, and I must send Daisy home if you
+cannot play happily together," said Aunt Jo, soberly.
+
+At this awful threat, Demi sidled up to his sister, and Daisy hastily
+dried her tears, for to be separated was the worst misfortune that could
+happen to the twins.
+
+"Nat was bad, too, and Tommy was baddest of all," observed Nan, fearing
+that two of the sinners would not get their fair share of punishment.
+
+"I am sorry," said Nat, much ashamed.
+
+"I ain't!" bawled Tommy through the keyhole, where he was listening with
+all his might.
+
+Mrs. Jo wanted very much to laugh, but kept her countenance, and said
+impressively, as she pointed to the door,
+
+"You can go, boys, but remember, you are not to speak to or play with
+the little girls till I give you leave. You don't deserve the pleasure,
+so I forbid it."
+
+The ill-mannered young gentlemen hastily retired, to be received
+outside with derision and scorn by the unrepentant Bangs, who would
+not associate with them for at least fifteen minutes. Daisy was soon
+consoled for the failure of her ball, but lamented the edict that parted
+her from her brother, and mourned over his short-comings in her tender
+little heart. Nan rather enjoyed the trouble, and went about turning up
+her pug nose at the three, especially Tommy, who pretended not to care,
+and loudly proclaimed his satisfaction at being rid of those "stupid
+girls." But in his secret soul he soon repented of the rash act that
+caused this banishment from the society he loved, and every hour of
+separation taught him the value of the "stupid girls."
+
+The others gave in very soon, and longed to be friends, for now there
+was no Daisy to pet and cook for them; no Nan to amuse and doctor them;
+and, worst of all, no Mrs. Jo to make home life pleasant and life easy
+for them. To their great affliction, Mrs. Jo seemed to consider herself
+one of the offended girls, for she hardly spoke to the outcasts, looked
+as if she did not see them when she passed, and was always too busy now
+to attend to their requests. This sudden and entire exile from favor
+cast a gloom over their souls, for when Mother Bhaer deserted them,
+their sun had set at noon-day, as it were, and they had no refuge left.
+
+This unnatural state of things actually lasted for three days, then
+they could bear it no longer, and fearing that the eclipse might become
+total, went to Mr. Bhaer for help and counsel.
+
+It is my private opinion that he had received instructions how to behave
+if the case should be laid before him. But no one suspected it, and he
+gave the afflicted boys some advice, which they gratefully accepted and
+carried out in the following manner:
+
+Secluding themselves in the garret, they devoted several play-hours to
+the manufacture of some mysterious machine, which took so much paste
+that Asia grumbled, and the little girls wondered mightily. Nan nearly
+got her inquisitive nose pinched in the door, trying to see what was
+going on, and Daisy sat about, openly lamenting that they could not
+all play nicely together, and not have any dreadful secrets. Wednesday
+afternoon was fine, and after a good deal of consultation about wind and
+weather, Nat and Tommy went off, bearing an immense flat parcel hidden
+under many newspapers. Nan nearly died with suppressed curiosity, Daisy
+nearly cried with vexation, and both quite trembled with interest when
+Demi marched into Mrs. Bhaer's room, hat in hand, and said, in the
+politest tone possible to a mortal boy of his years,
+
+"Please, Aunt Jo, would you and the girls come out to a surprise party
+we have made for you? Do it's a very nice one."
+
+"Thank you, we will come with pleasure; only, I must take Teddy with
+me," replied Mrs. Bhaer, with a smile that cheered Demi like sunshine
+after rain.
+
+"We'd like to have him. The little wagon is all ready for the girls; you
+won't mind walking just up to Pennyroyal Hill, will you Aunty?"
+
+"I should like it exceedingly; but are you quite sure I shall not be in
+the way?"
+
+"Oh, no, indeed! we want you very much; and the party will be spoilt if
+you don't come," cried Demi, with great earnestness.
+
+"Thank you kindly, sir;" and Aunt Jo made him a grand curtsey, for she
+liked frolics as well as any of them.
+
+"Now, young ladies, we must not keep them waiting; on with the hats, and
+let us be off at once. I'm all impatience to know what the surprise is."
+
+As Mrs. Bhaer spoke every one bustled about, and in five minutes the
+three little girls and Teddy were packed into the "clothes-basket," as
+they called the wicker wagon which Toby drew. Demi walked at the head of
+the procession, and Mrs. Jo brought up the rear, escorted by Kit. It was
+a most imposing party, I assure you, for Toby had a red feather-duster
+in his head, two remarkable flags waved over the carriage, Kit had a
+blue bow on his neck, which nearly drove him wild, Demi wore a nosegay
+of dandelions in his buttonhole, and Mrs. Jo carried the queer Japanese
+umbrella in honor of the occasion.
+
+The girls had little flutters of excitement all the way; and Teddy was
+so charmed with the drive that he kept dropping his hat overboard, and
+when it was taken from him he prepared to tumble out himself, evidently
+feeling that it behooved him to do something for the amusement of the
+party.
+
+When they came to the hill "nothing was to be seen but the grass
+blowing in the wind," as the fairy books say, and the children looked
+disappointed. But Demi said, in his most impressive manner,
+
+"Now, you all get out and stand still, and the surprise party with come
+in;" with which remark he retired behind a rock, over which heads had
+been bobbing at intervals for the last half-hour.
+
+A short pause of intense suspense, and then Nat, Demi, and Tommy marched
+forth, each bearing a new kite, which they presented to the three young
+ladies. Shrieks of delight arose, but were silenced by the boys, who
+said, with faces brimful of merriment, "That isn't all the surprise;"
+and, running behind the rock, again emerged bearing a fourth kite of
+superb size, on which was printed, in bright yellow letters, "For Mother
+Bhaer."
+
+"We thought you'd like one, too, because you were angry with us, and
+took the girls' part," cried all three, shaking with laughter, for this
+part of the affair evidently was a surprise to Mrs. Jo.
+
+She clapped her hands, and joined in the laugh, looking thoroughly
+tickled at the joke.
+
+"Now, boys, that is regularly splendid! Who did think of it?" she asked,
+receiving the monster kite with as much pleasure as the little girls did
+theirs.
+
+"Uncle Fritz proposed it when we planned to make the others; he said
+you'd like it, so we made a bouncer," answered Demi, beaming with
+satisfaction at the success of the plot.
+
+"Uncle Fritz knows what I like. Yes, these are magnificent kites, and
+we were wishing we had some the other day when you were flying yours,
+weren't we, girls?"
+
+"That's why we made them for you," cried Tommy, standing on his head as
+the most appropriate way of expressing his emotions.
+
+"Let us fly them," said energetic Nan.
+
+"I don't know how," began Daisy.
+
+"We'll show you, we want to!" cried all the boys in a burst of devotion,
+as Demi took Daisy's, Tommy Nan's, and Nat, with difficulty, persuaded
+Bess to let go her little blue one.
+
+"Aunty, if you will wait a minute, we'll pitch yours for you," said
+Demi, feeling that Mrs. Bhaer's favor must not be lost again by any
+neglect of theirs.
+
+"Bless your buttons, dear, I know all about it; and here is a boy who
+will toss up for me," added Mrs. Jo, as the professor peeped over the
+rock with a face full of fun.
+
+He came out at once, tossed up the big kite, and Mrs. Jo ran off with it
+in fine style, while the children stood and enjoyed the spectacle. One
+by one all the kites went up, and floated far overhead like gay birds,
+balancing themselves on the fresh breeze that blew steadily over the
+hill. Such a merry time as they had! running and shouting, sending up
+the kites or pulling them down, watching their antics in the air, and
+feeling them tug at the string like live creatures trying to escape.
+Nan was quite wild with the fun, Daisy thought the new play nearly as
+interesting as dolls, and little Bess was so fond of her "boo tite,"
+that she would only let it go on very short flights, preferring to
+hold it in her lap and look at the remarkable pictures painted on it by
+Tommy's dashing brush. Mrs. Jo enjoyed hers immensely, and it acted as
+if it knew who owned it, for it came tumbling down head first when least
+expected, caught on trees, nearly pitched into the river, and finally
+darted away to such a height that it looked a mere speck among the
+clouds.
+
+By and by every one got tired, and fastening the kite-strings to trees
+and fences, all sat down to rest, except Mr. Bhaer, who went off to look
+at the cows, with Teddy on his shoulder.
+
+"Did you ever have such a good time as this before?" asked Nat, as they
+lay about on the grass, nibbling pennyroyal like a flock of sheep.
+
+"Not since I last flew a kite, years ago, when I was a girl," answered
+Mrs. Jo.
+
+"I'd like to have known you when you were a girl, you must have been so
+jolly," said Nat.
+
+"I was a naughty little girl, I am sorry to say."
+
+"I like naughty little girls," observed Tommy, looking at Nan, who made
+a frightful grimace at him in return for the compliment.
+
+"Why don't I remember you then, Aunty? Was I too young?" asked Demi.
+
+"Rather, dear."
+
+"I suppose my memory hadn't come then. Grandpa says that different parts
+of the mind unfold as we grow up, and the memory part of my mind hadn't
+unfolded when you were little, so I can't remember how you looked,"
+explained Demi.
+
+"Now, little Socrates, you had better keep that question for grandpa, it
+is beyond me," said Aunt Jo, putting on the extinguisher.
+
+"Well, I will, he knows about those things, and you don't," returned
+Demi, feeling that on the whole kites were better adapted to the
+comprehension of the present company.
+
+"Tell about the last time you flew a kite," said Nat, for Mrs. Jo had
+laughed as she spoke of it, and he thought it might be interesting.
+
+"Oh, it was only rather funny, for I was a great girl of fifteen, and
+was ashamed to be seen at such a play. So Uncle Teddy and I privately
+made our kites, and stole away to fly them. We had a capital time, and
+were resting as we are now, when suddenly we heard voices, and saw a
+party of young ladies and gentlemen coming back from a picnic. Teddy did
+not mind, though he was rather a large boy to be playing with a kite,
+but I was in a great flurry, for I knew I should be sadly laughed at,
+and never hear the last of it, because my wild ways amused the neighbors
+as much as Nan's do us.
+
+"'What shall I do?' I whispered to Teddy, as the voices drew nearer and
+nearer.
+
+"'I'll show you,' he said, and whipping out his knife he cut the
+strings. Away flew the kites, and when the people came up we were
+picking flowers as properly as you please. They never suspected us, and
+we had a grand laugh over our narrow escape."
+
+"Were the kites lost, Aunty?" asked Daisy.
+
+"Quite lost, but I did not care, for I made up my mind that it would be
+best to wait till I was an old lady before I played with kites again;
+and you see I have waited," said Mrs. Jo, beginning to pull in the big
+kite, for it was getting late.
+
+"Must we go now?"
+
+"I must, or you won't have any supper; and that sort of surprise party
+would not suit you, I think, my chickens."
+
+"Hasn't our party been a nice one?" asked Tommy, complacently.
+
+"Splendid!" answered every one.
+
+"Do you know why? It is because your guests have behaved themselves,
+and tried to make everything go well. You understand what I mean, don't
+you?"
+
+"Yes'm," was all the boys said, but they stole a shamefaced look at one
+another, as they meekly shouldered their kites and walked home, thinking
+of another party where the guests had not behaved themselves, and things
+had gone badly on account of it.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER X. HOME AGAIN
+
+July had come, and haying begun; the little gardens were doing finely
+and the long summer days were full of pleasant hours. The house stood
+open from morning till night, and the lads lived out of doors, except at
+school time. The lessons were short, and there were many holidays, for
+the Bhaers believed in cultivating healthy bodies by much exercise,
+and our short summers are best used in out-of-door work. Such a rosy,
+sunburnt, hearty set as the boys became; such appetites as they had;
+such sturdy arms and legs, as outgrew jackets and trousers; such
+laughing and racing all over the place; such antics in house and barn;
+such adventures in the tramps over hill and dale; and such satisfaction
+in the hearts of the worthy Bhaers, as they saw their flock prospering
+in mind and body, I cannot begin to describe. Only one thing was needed
+to make them quite happy, and it came when they least expected it.
+
+One balmy night when the little lads were in bed, the elder ones bathing
+down at the brook, and Mrs. Bhaer undressing Teddy in her parlor, he
+suddenly cried out, "Oh, my Danny!" and pointed to the window, where the
+moon shone brightly.
+
+"No, lovey, he is not there, it was the pretty moon," said his mother.
+
+"No, no, Danny at a window; Teddy saw him," persisted baby, much
+excited.
+
+"It might have been," and Mrs. Bhaer hurried to the window, hoping it
+would prove true. But the face was gone, and nowhere appeared any signs
+of a mortal boy; she called his name, ran to the front door with Teddy
+in his little shirt, and made him call too, thinking the baby voice
+might have more effect than her own. No one answered, nothing appeared,
+and they went back much disappointed. Teddy would not be satisfied with
+the moon, and after he was in his crib kept popping up his head to ask
+if Danny was not "tummin' soon."
+
+By and by he fell asleep, the lads trooped up to bed, the house grew
+still, and nothing but the chirp of the crickets broke the soft silence
+of the summer night. Mrs. Bhaer sat sewing, for the big basket was
+always piled with socks, full of portentous holes, and thinking of the
+lost boy. She had decided that baby had been mistaken, and did not even
+disturb Mr. Bhaer by telling him of the child's fancy, for the poor
+man got little time to himself till the boys were abed, and he was busy
+writing letters. It was past ten when she rose to shut up the house. As
+she paused a minute to enjoy the lovely scene from the steps, something
+white caught her eye on one of the hay-cocks scattered over the lawn.
+The children had been playing there all the afternoon, and, fancying
+that Nan had left her hat as usual, Mrs. Bhaer went out to get it. But
+as she approached, she saw that it was neither hat nor handkerchief, but
+a shirt sleeve with a brown hand sticking out of it. She hurried round
+the hay-cock, and there lay Dan, fast asleep.
+
+Ragged, dirty, thin, and worn-out he looked; one foot was bare, the
+other tied up in the old gingham jacket which he had taken from his own
+back to use as a clumsy bandage for some hurt. He seemed to have hidden
+himself behind the hay-cock, but in his sleep had thrown out the arm
+that had betrayed him. He sighed and muttered as if his dreams disturbed
+him, and once when he moved, he groaned as if in pain, but still slept
+on quite spent with weariness.
+
+"He must not lie here," said Mrs. Bhaer, and stooping over him she
+gently called his name. He opened his eyes and looked at her, as if she
+was a part of his dream, for he smiled and said drowsily, "Mother Bhaer,
+I've come home."
+
+The look, the words, touched her very much, and she put her hand under
+his head to lift him up, saying in her cordial way,
+
+"I thought you would, and I'm so glad to see you, Dan." He seemed to
+wake thoroughly then, and started up looking about him as if he suddenly
+remembered where he was, and doubted even that kind welcome. His face
+changed, and he said in his old rough way,
+
+"I was going off in the morning. I only stopped to peek in, as I went
+by."
+
+"But why not come in, Dan? Didn't you hear us call you? Teddy saw, and
+cried for you."
+
+"Didn't suppose you'd let me in," he said, fumbling with a little bundle
+which he had taken up as if going immediately.
+
+"Try and see," was all Mrs. Bhaer answered, holding out her hand and
+pointing to the door, where the light shone hospitably.
+
+With a long breath, as if a load was off his mind, Dan took up a stout
+stick, and began to limp towards the house, but stopped suddenly, to say
+inquiringly,
+
+"Mr. Bhaer won't like it. I ran away from Page."
+
+"He knows it, and was sorry, but it will make no difference. Are you
+lame?" asked Mrs. Jo, as he limped on again.
+
+"Getting over a wall a stone fell on my foot and smashed it. I don't
+mind," and he did his best to hide the pain each step cost him.
+
+Mrs. Bhaer helped him into her own room, and, once there, he dropped
+into a chair, and laid his head back, white and faint with weariness and
+suffering.
+
+"My poor Dan! drink this, and then eat a little; you are at home now,
+and Mother Bhaer will take good care of you."
+
+He only looked up at her with eyes full of gratitude, as he drank the
+wine she held to his lips, and then began slowly to eat the food she
+brought him. Each mouthful seemed to put heart into him, and presently
+he began to talk as if anxious to have her know all about him.
+
+"Where have you been, Dan?" she asked, beginning to get out some
+bandages.
+
+"I ran off more'n a month ago. Page was good enough, but too strict. I
+didn't like it, so I cut away down the river with a man who was going in
+his boat. That's why they couldn't tell where I'd gone. When I left the
+man, I worked for a couple of weeks with a farmer, but I thrashed his
+boy, and then the old man thrashed me, and I ran off again and walked
+here."
+
+"All the way?"
+
+"Yes, the man didn't pay me, and I wouldn't ask for it. Took it out in
+beating the boy," and Dan laughed, yet looked ashamed, as he glanced at
+his ragged clothes and dirty hands.
+
+"How did you live? It was a long, long tramp for a boy like you."
+
+"Oh, I got on well enough, till I hurt my foot. Folks gave me things to
+eat, and I slept in barns and tramped by day. I got lost trying to make
+a short cut, or I'd have been here sooner."
+
+"But if you did not mean to come in and stay with us, what were you
+going to do?"
+
+"I thought I'd like to see Teddy again, and you; and then I was going
+back to my old work in the city, only I was so tired I went to sleep on
+the hay. I'd have been gone in the morning, if you hadn't found me."
+
+"Are you sorry I did?" and Mrs. Jo looked at him with a half merry, half
+reproachful look, as she knelt down to look at his wounded foot.
+
+The color came up into Dan's face, and he kept his eyes fixed on his
+plate, as he said very low, "No, ma'am, I'm glad, I wanted to stay, but
+I was afraid you--"
+
+He did not finish, for Mrs. Bhaer interrupted him by an exclamation of
+pity, as she saw his foot, for it was seriously hurt.
+
+"When did you do it?"
+
+"Three days ago."
+
+"And you have walked on it in this state?"
+
+"I had a stick, and I washed it at every brook I came to, and one woman
+gave me a rag to put on it."
+
+"Mr. Bhaer must see and dress it at once," and Mrs. Jo hastened into the
+next room, leaving the door ajar behind her, so that Dan heard all that
+passed.
+
+"Fritz, the boy has come back."
+
+"Who? Dan?"
+
+"Yes, Teddy saw him at the window, and he called to him, but he went
+away and hid behind the hay-cocks on the lawn. I found him there just
+now fast asleep, and half dead with weariness and pain. He ran away
+from Page a month ago, and has been making his way to us ever since. He
+pretends that he did not mean to let us see him, but go on to the city,
+and his old work, after a look at us. It is evident, however, that the
+hope of being taken in has led him here through every thing, and there
+he is waiting to know if you will forgive and take him back."
+
+"Did he say so?"
+
+"His eyes did, and when I waked him, he said, like a lost child, 'Mother
+Bhaer, I've come home.' I hadn't the heart to scold him, and just took
+him in like a poor little black sheep come back to the fold. I may keep
+him, Fritz?"
+
+"Of course you may! This proves to me that we have a hold on the boy's
+heart, and I would no more send him away now than I would my own Rob."
+
+Dan heard a soft little sound, as if Mrs. Jo thanked her husband without
+words, and, in the instant's silence that followed, two great tears that
+had slowly gathered in the boy's eyes brimmed over and rolled down his
+dusty cheeks. No one saw them, for he brushed them hastily away; but
+in that little pause I think Dan's old distrust for these good people
+vanished for ever, the soft spot in his heart was touched, and he felt
+an impetuous desire to prove himself worthy of the love and pity that
+was so patient and forgiving. He said nothing, he only wished the wish
+with all his might, resolved to try in his blind boyish way, and
+sealed his resolution with the tears which neither pain, fatigue, nor
+loneliness could wring from him.
+
+"Come and see his foot. I am afraid it is badly hurt, for he has kept
+on three days through heat and dust, with nothing but water and an old
+jacket to bind it up with. I tell you, Fritz, that boy is a brave lad,
+and will make a fine man yet."
+
+"I hope so, for your sake, enthusiastic woman, your faith deserves
+success. Now, I will go and see your little Spartan. Where is he?"
+
+"In my room; but, dear, you'll be very kind to him, no matter how
+gruff he seems. I am sure that is the way to conquer him. He won't bear
+sternness nor much restraint, but a soft word and infinite patience will
+lead him as it used to lead me."
+
+"As if you ever like this little rascal!" cried Mr. Bhaer, laughing, yet
+half angry at the idea.
+
+"I was in spirit, though I showed it in a different way. I seem to know
+by instinct how he feels, to understand what will win and touch him, and
+to sympathize with his temptations and faults. I am glad I do, for it
+will help me to help him; and if I can make a good man of this wild boy,
+it will be the best work of my life."
+
+"God bless the work, and help the worker!"
+
+Mr. Bhaer spoke now as earnestly as she had done, and both came in
+together to find Dan's head down upon his arm, as if he was quite
+overcome by sleep. But he looked up quickly, and tried to rise as Mr.
+Bhaer said pleasantly,
+
+"So you like Plumfield better than Page's farm. Well, let us see if we
+can get on more comfortably this time than we did before."
+
+"Thanky, sir," said Dan, trying not to be gruff, and finding it easier
+than he expected.
+
+"Now, the foot! Ach! this is not well. We must have Dr. Firth to-morrow.
+Warm water, Jo, and old linen."
+
+Mr. Bhaer bathed and bound up the wounded foot, while Mrs. Jo prepared
+the only empty bed in the house. It was in the little guest-chamber
+leading from the parlor, and often used when the lads were poorly, for
+it saved Mrs. Jo from running up and down, and the invalids could see
+what was going on. When it was ready, Mr. Bhaer took the boy in his
+arms, and carried him in, helped him undress, laid him on the little
+white bed, and left him with another hand-shake, and a fatherly
+"Good-night, my son."
+
+Dan dropped asleep at once, and slept heavily for several hours; then
+his foot began to throb and ache, and he awoke to toss about uneasily,
+trying not to groan lest any one should hear him, for he was a brave
+lad, and did bear pain like "a little Spartan," as Mr. Bhaer called him.
+
+Mrs. Jo had a way of flitting about the house at night, to shut the
+windows if the wind grew chilly, to draw mosquito curtains over Teddy,
+or look after Tommy, who occasionally walked in his sleep. The least
+noise waked her, and as she often heard imaginary robbers, cats, and
+conflagrations, the doors stood open all about, so her quick ear caught
+the sound of Dan's little moans, and she was up in a minute. He was just
+giving his hot pillow a despairing thump when a light came glimmering
+through the hall, and Mrs. Jo crept in, looking like a droll ghost,
+with her hair in a great knob on the top of her head, and a long gray
+dressing-gown trailing behind her.
+
+"Are you in pain, Dan?"
+
+"It's pretty bad; but I didn't mean to wake you."
+
+"I'm a sort of owl, always flying about at night. Yes, your foot is like
+fire; the bandages must be wet again," and away flapped the maternal owl
+for more cooling stuff, and a great mug of ice water.
+
+"Oh, that's so nice!" sighed Dan, the wet bandages went on again, and a
+long draught of water cooled his thirsty throat.
+
+"There, now, sleep your best, and don't be frightened if you see me
+again, for I'll slip down by and by, and give you another sprinkle."
+
+As she spoke, Mrs. Jo stooped to turn the pillow and smooth the
+bed-clothes, when, to her great surprise, Dan put his arm around her
+neck, drew her face down to his, and kissed her, with a broken "Thank
+you, ma'am," which said more than the most eloquent speech could have
+done; for the hasty kiss, the muttered words, meant, "I'm sorry, I will
+try." She understood it, accepted the unspoken confession, and did not
+spoil it by any token of surprise. She only remembered that he had no
+mother, kissed the brown cheek half hidden on the pillow, as if ashamed
+of the little touch of tenderness, and left him, saying, what he long
+remembered, "You are my boy now, and if you choose you can make me proud
+and glad to say so."
+
+Once again, just at dawn, she stole down to find him so fast asleep
+that he did not wake, and showed no sign of consciousness as she wet his
+foot, except that the lines of pain smoothed themselves away, and left
+his face quite peaceful.
+
+The day was Sunday, and the house so still that he never waked till near
+noon, and, looking round him, saw an eager little face peering in at
+the door. He held out his arms, and Teddy tore across the room to cast
+himself bodily upon the bed, shouting, "My Danny's tum!" as he hugged
+and wriggled with delight. Mrs. Bhaer appeared next, bringing breakfast,
+and never seeming to see how shamefaced Dan looked at the memory of the
+little scene last night. Teddy insisted on giving him his "betfus," and
+fed him like a baby, which, as he was not very hungry, Dan enjoyed very
+much.
+
+Then came the doctor, and the poor Spartan had a bad time of it, for
+some of the little bones in his foot were injured, and putting them to
+rights was such a painful job, that Dan's lips were white, and great
+drops stood on his forehead, though he never cried out, and only held
+Mrs. Jo's hand so tight that it was red long afterwards.
+
+"You must keep this boy quiet, for a week at least, and not let him put
+his foot to the ground. By that time, I shall know whether he may hop a
+little with a crutch, or stick to his bed for a while longer," said Dr.
+Firth, putting up the shining instruments that Dan did not like to see.
+
+"It will get well sometime, won't it?" he asked, looking alarmed at the
+word "crutches."
+
+"I hope so;" and with that the doctor departed, leaving Dan much
+depressed; for the loss of a foot is a dreadful calamity to an active
+boy.
+
+"Don't be troubled, I am a famous nurse, and we will have you tramping
+about as well as ever in a month," said Mrs. Jo, taking a hopeful view
+of the case.
+
+But the fear of being lame haunted Dan, and even Teddy's caresses did
+not cheer him; so Mrs. Jo proposed that one or two of the boys should
+come in and pay him a little visit, and asked whom he would like to see.
+
+"Nat and Demi; I'd like my hat too, there's something in it I guess
+they'd like to see. I suppose you threw away my bundle of plunder?" said
+Dan, looking rather anxious as he put the question.
+
+"No, I kept it, for I thought they must be treasures of some kind, you
+took such care of them;" and Mrs. Jo brought him his old straw hat
+stuck full of butterflies and beetles, and a handkerchief containing a
+collection of odd things picked up on his way: birds' eggs, carefully
+done up in moss, curious shells and stones, bits of fungus, and several
+little crabs, in a state of great indignation at their imprisonment.
+
+"Could I have something to put these fellers in? Mr. Hyde and I found
+'em, and they are first-rate ones, so I'd like to keep and watch 'em;
+can I?" asked Dan, forgetting his foot, and laughing to see the crabs go
+sidling and backing over the bed.
+
+"Of course you can; Polly's old cage will be just the thing. Don't let
+them nip Teddy's toes while I get it;" and away went Mrs. Jo, leaving
+Dan overjoyed to find that his treasures were not considered rubbish,
+and thrown away.
+
+Nat, Demi, and the cage arrived together, and the crabs were settled
+in their new house, to the great delight of the boys, who, in the
+excitement of the performance, forgot any awkwardness they might
+otherwise have felt in greeting the runaway. To these admiring listeners
+Dan related his adventures much more fully than he had done to the
+Bhaers. Then he displayed his "plunder," and described each article so
+well, that Mrs. Jo, who had retired to the next room to leave them
+free, was surprised and interested, as well as amused, at their boyish
+chatter.
+
+"How much the lad knows of these things! how absorbed he is in them! and
+what a mercy it is just now, for he cares so little for books, it would
+be hard to amuse him while he is laid up; but the boys can supply him
+with beetles and stones to any extent, and I am glad to find out this
+taste of his; it is a good one, and may perhaps prove the making of him.
+If he should turn out a great naturalist, and Nat a musician, I should
+have cause to be proud of this year's work;" and Mrs. Jo sat smiling
+over her book as she built castles in the air, just as she used to do
+when a girl, only then they were for herself, and now they were for
+other people, which is the reason perhaps that some of them came to
+pass in reality for charity is an excellent foundation to build anything
+upon.
+
+Nat was most interested in the adventures, but Demi enjoyed the beetles
+and butterflies immensely, drinking in the history of their changeful
+little lives as if it were a new and lovely sort of fairy tale for, even
+in his plain way, Dan told it well, and found great satisfaction in the
+thought that here at least the small philosopher could learn of him. So
+interested were they in the account of catching a musk rat, whose skin
+was among the treasures, that Mr. Bhaer had to come himself to tell Nat
+and Demi it was time for the walk. Dan looked so wistfully after them as
+they ran off that Father Bhaer proposed carrying him to the sofa in the
+parlor for a little change of air and scene.
+
+When he was established, and the house quiet, Mrs. Jo, who sat near
+by showing Teddy pictures, said, in an interested tone, as she nodded
+towards the treasures still in Dan's hands,
+
+"Where did you learn so much about these things?"
+
+"I always liked 'em, but didn't know much till Mr. Hyde told me."
+
+"Oh, he was a man who lived round in the woods studying these things I
+don't know what you call him and wrote about frogs, and fishes, and so
+on. He stayed at Page's, and used to want me to go and help him, and it
+was great fun, 'cause he told me ever so much, and was uncommon jolly
+and wise. Hope I'll see him again sometime."
+
+"I hope you will," said Mrs. Jo, for Dan's face had brightened up, and
+he was so interested in the matter that he forgot his usual taciturnity.
+
+"Why, he could make birds come to him, and rabbits and squirrels didn't
+mind him any more than if he was a tree. Did you ever tickle a lizard
+with a straw?" asked Dan, eagerly.
+
+"No, but I should like to try it."
+
+"Well, I've done it, and it's so funny to see 'em turn over and stretch
+out, they like it so much. Mr. Hyde used to do it; and he'd make snakes
+listen to him while he whistled, and he knew just when certain flowers
+would blow, and bees wouldn't sting him, and he'd tell the wonderfullest
+things about fish and flies, and the Indians and the rocks."
+
+"I think you were so fond of going with Mr. Hyde, you rather neglected
+Mr. Page," said Mrs. Jo, slyly.
+
+"Yes, I did; I hated to have to weed and hoe when I might be tramping
+round with Mr. Hyde. Page thought such things silly, and called Mr. Hyde
+crazy because he'd lay hours watching a trout or a bird."
+
+"Suppose you say lie instead of lay, it is better grammar," said Mrs.
+Jo, very gently; and then added, "Yes, Page is a thorough farmer, and
+would not understand that a naturalist's work was just as interesting,
+and perhaps just as important as his own. Now, Dan, if you really love
+these things, as I think you do, and I am glad to see it, you shall have
+time to study them and books to help you; but I want you to do something
+besides, and to do it faithfully, else you will be sorry by and by, and
+find that you have got to begin again."
+
+"Yes, ma'am," said Dan, meekly, and looked a little scared by the
+serious tone of the last remarks, for he hated books, yet had evidently
+made up his mind to study anything she proposed.
+
+"Do you see that cabinet with twelve drawers in it?" was the next very
+unexpected question.
+
+Dan did see two tall old-fashioned ones standing on either side of the
+piano; he knew them well, and had often seen nice bits of string, nails,
+brown paper, and such useful matters come out of the various drawers. He
+nodded and smiled. Mrs. Jo went on,
+
+"Well, don't you think those drawers would be good places to put your
+eggs, and stones, and shells, and lichens?"
+
+"Oh, splendid, but you wouldn't like my things 'clutterin' round,' as
+Mr. Page used to say, would you?" cried Dan, sitting up to survey the
+old piece of furniture with sparkling eyes.
+
+"I like litter of that sort; and if I didn't, I should give you the
+drawers, because I have a regard for children's little treasures, and
+I think they should be treated respectfully. Now, I am going to make a
+bargain with you, Dan, and I hope you will keep it honorably. Here are
+twelve good-sized drawers, one for each month of the year, and they
+shall be yours as fast as you earn them, by doing the little duties that
+belong to you. I believe in rewards of a certain kind, especially for
+young folks; they help us along, and though we may begin by being good
+for the sake of the reward, if it is rightly used, we shall soon learn
+to love goodness for itself."
+
+"Do you have 'em?" asked Dan, looking as if this was new talk for him.
+
+"Yes, indeed! I haven't learnt to get on without them yet. My rewards
+are not drawers, or presents, or holidays, but they are things which I
+like as much as you do the others. The good behavior and success of my
+boys is one of the rewards I love best, and I work for it as I want you
+to work for your cabinet. Do what you dislike, and do it well, and
+you get two rewards, one, the prize you see and hold; the other, the
+satisfaction of a duty cheerfully performed. Do you understand that?"
+
+"Yes, ma'am."
+
+"We all need these little helps; so you shall try to do your lessons and
+your work, play kindly with all the boys, and use your holidays well;
+and if you bring me a good report, or if I see and know it without words
+for I'm quick to spy out the good little efforts of my boys you shall
+have a compartment in the drawer for your treasures. See, some are
+already divided into four parts, and I will have the others made in
+the same way, a place for each week; and when the drawer is filled
+with curious and pretty things, I shall be as proud of it as you are;
+prouder, I think for in the pebbles, mosses, and gay butterflies, I
+shall see good resolutions carried out, conquered faults, and a promise
+well kept. Shall we do this, Dan?"
+
+The boys answered with one of the looks which said much, for it showed
+that he felt and understood her wish and words, although he did not know
+how to express his interest and gratitude for such care and kindness.
+She understood the look, and seeing by the color that flushed up to his
+forehead that he was touched, as she wished him to be, she said no more
+about that side of the new plan, but pulled out the upper drawer, dusted
+it, and set it on two chairs before the sofa, saying briskly,
+
+"Now, let us begin at once by putting those nice beetles in a safe
+place. These compartments will hold a good deal, you see. I'd pin the
+butterflies and bugs round the sides; they will be quite safe there, and
+leave room for the heavy things below. I'll give you some cotton wool,
+and clean paper and pins, and you can get ready for the week's work."
+
+"But I can't go out to find any new things," said Dan, looking piteously
+at his foot.
+
+"That's true; never mind, we'll let these treasures do for this week,
+and I dare say the boys will bring you loads of things if you ask them."
+
+"They don't know the right sort; besides, if I lay, no, lie here all the
+time, I can't work and study, and earn my drawers."
+
+"There are plenty of lessons you can learn lying there, and several
+little jobs of work you can do for me."
+
+"Can I?" and Dan looked both surprised and pleased.
+
+"You can learn to be patient and cheerful in spite of pain and no play.
+You can amuse Teddy for me, wind cotton, read to me when I sew, and do
+many things without hurting your foot, which will make the days pass
+quickly, and not be wasted ones."
+
+Here Demi ran in with a great butterfly in one hand, and a very ugly
+little toad in the other.
+
+"See, Dan, I found them, and ran back to give them to you; aren't they
+beautiful ones?" panted Demi, all out of breath.
+
+Dan laughed at the toad, and said he had no place to put him, but the
+butterfly was a beauty, and if Mrs. Jo would give him a big pin, he
+would stick it right up in the drawer.
+
+"I don't like to see the poor thing struggle on a pin; if it must be
+killed, let us put it out of pain at once with a drop of camphor," said
+Mrs. Jo, getting out the bottle.
+
+"I know how to do it Mr. Hyde always killed 'em that way but I didn't
+have any camphor, so I use a pin," and Dan gently poured a drop on the
+insect's head, when the pale green wings fluttered an instant, and then
+grew still.
+
+This dainty little execution was hardly over when Teddy shouted from the
+bedroom, "Oh, the little trabs are out, and the big one's eaten 'em
+all up." Demi and his aunt ran to the rescue, and found Teddy dancing
+excitedly in a chair, while two little crabs were scuttling about the
+floor, having got through the wires of the cage. A third was clinging to
+the top of the cage, evidently in terror of his life, for below appeared
+a sad yet funny sight. The big crab had wedged himself into the little
+recess where Polly's cup used to stand, and there he sat eating one of
+his relations in the coolest way. All the claws of the poor victim were
+pulled off, and he was turned upside down, his upper shell held in
+one claw close under the mouth of the big crab like a dish, while he
+leisurely ate out of it with the other claw, pausing now and then to
+turn his queer bulging eyes from side to side, and to put out a slender
+tongue and lick them in a way that made the children scream with
+laughter. Mrs. Jo carried the cage in for Dan to see the sight, while
+Demi caught and confined the wanderers under an inverted wash-bowl.
+
+"I'll have to let these fellers go, for I can't keep 'em in the house,"
+said Dan, with evident regret.
+
+"I'll take care of them for you, if you will tell me how, and they can
+live in my turtle-tank just as well as not," said Demi, who found them
+more interesting even that his beloved slow turtles. So Dan gave him
+directions about the wants and habits of the crabs, and Demi bore them
+away to introduce them to their new home and neighbors. "What a good
+boy he is!" said Dan, carefully settling the first butterfly, and
+remembering that Demi had given up his walk to bring it to him.
+
+"He ought to be, for a great deal has been done to make him so."
+
+"He's had folks to tell him things, and to help him; I haven't," said
+Dan, with a sigh, thinking of his neglected childhood, a thing he seldom
+did, and feeling as if he had not had fair play somehow.
+
+"I know it, dear, and for that reason I don't expect as much from you as
+from Demi, though he is younger; you shall have all the help that we can
+give you now, and I hope to teach you how to help yourself in the best
+way. Have you forgotten what Father Bhaer told you when you were here
+before, about wanting to be good, and asking God to help you?"
+
+"No, ma'am," very low.
+
+"Do you try that way still?"
+
+"No, ma'am," lower still.
+
+"Will you do it every night to please me?"
+
+"Yes, ma'am," very soberly.
+
+"I shall depend on it, and I think I shall know if you are faithful
+to your promise, for these things always show to people who believe in
+them, though not a word is said. Now here is a pleasant story about a
+boy who hurt his foot worse than you did yours; read it, and see how
+bravely he bore his troubles."
+
+She put that charming little book, "The Crofton Boys," into his hands,
+and left him for an hour, passing in and out from time to time that
+he might not feel lonely. Dan did not love to read, but soon got so
+interested that he was surprised when the boys came home. Daisy brought
+him a nosegay of wild flowers, and Nan insisted on helping bring him his
+supper, as he lay on the sofa with the door open into the dining-room,
+so that he could see the lads at table, and they could nod socially to
+him over their bread and butter.
+
+Mr. Bhaer carried him away to his bed early, and Teddy came in his
+night-gown to say good-night, for he went to his little nest with the
+birds.
+
+"I want to say my prayers to Danny; may I?" he asked; and when his
+mother said, "Yes," the little fellow knelt down by Dan's bed, and
+folding his chubby hands, said softly,
+
+"Pease Dod bess everybody, and hep me to be dood."
+
+Then he went away smiling with sleepy sweetness over his mother's
+shoulder.
+
+But after the evening talk was done, the evening song sung, and the
+house grew still with beautiful Sunday silence, Dan lay in his pleasant
+room wide awake, thinking new thoughts, feeling new hopes and desires
+stirring in his boyish heart, for two good angels had entered in: love
+and gratitude began the work which time and effort were to finish; and
+with an earnest wish to keep his first promise, Dan folded his hands
+together in the Darkness, and softly whispered Teddy's little prayer,
+
+"Please God bless every one, and help me to be good."
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XI. UNCLE TEDDY
+
+For a week Dan only moved from bed to sofa; a long week and a hard one,
+for the hurt foot was very painful at times, the quiet days were very
+wearisome to the active lad, longing to be out enjoying the summer
+weather, and especially difficult was it to be patient. But Dan did
+his best, and every one helped him in their various ways; so the time
+passed, and he was rewarded at last by hearing the doctor say, on
+Saturday morning,
+
+"This foot is doing better than I expected. Give the lad the crutch this
+afternoon, and let him stump about the house a little."
+
+"Hooray!" shouted Nat, and raced away to tell the other boys the good
+news.
+
+Everybody was very glad, and after dinner the whole flock assembled to
+behold Dan crutch himself up and down the hall a few times before he
+settled in the porch to hold a sort of levee. He was much pleased at the
+interest and good-will shown him, and brightened up more and more every
+minute; for the boys came to pay their respects, the little girls fussed
+about him with stools and cushions, and Teddy watched over him as if he
+was a frail creature unable to do anything for himself. They were still
+sitting and standing about the steps, when a carriage stopped at the
+gate, a hat was waved from it, and with a shout of "Uncle Teddy! Uncle
+Teddy!" Rob scampered down the avenue as fast as his short legs would
+carry him. All he boys but Dan ran after him to see who should be
+first to open the gate, and in a moment the carriage drove up with boys
+swarming all over it, while Uncle Teddy sat laughing in the midst, with
+his little daughter on his knee.
+
+"Stop the triumphal car and let Jupiter descend," he said, and jumping
+out ran up the steps to meet Mrs. Bhaer, who stood smiling and clapping
+her hands like a girl.
+
+"How goes it, Teddy?"
+
+"All right, Jo."
+
+Then they shook hands, and Mr. Laurie put Bess into her aunt's arms,
+saying, as the child hugged her tight, "Goldilocks wanted to see you so
+much that I ran away with her, for I was quite pining for a sight of you
+myself. We want to play with your boys for an hour or so, and to see how
+'the old woman who lived in a shoe, and had so many children she did not
+know what to do,' is getting on."
+
+"I'm so glad! Play away, and don't get into mischief," answered Mrs.
+Jo, as the lads crowded round the pretty child, admiring her long golden
+hair, dainty dress, and lofty ways, for the little "Princess," as they
+called her, allowed no one to kiss her, but sat smiling down upon them,
+and graciously patting their heads with her little, white hands. They
+all adored her, especially Rob, who considered her a sort of doll,
+and dared not touch her lest she should break, but worshipped her at a
+respectful distance, made happy by an occasional mark of favor from her
+little highness. As she immediately demanded to see Daisy's kitchen,
+she was borne off by Mrs. Jo, with a train of small boys following. The
+others, all but Nat and Demi, ran away to the menagerie and gardens
+to have all in order; for Mr. Laurie always took a general survey, and
+looked disappointed if things were not flourishing.
+
+Standing on the steps, he turned to Dan, saying like an old
+acquaintance, though he had only seen him once or twice before,
+
+"How is the foot?"
+
+"Better, sir."
+
+"Rather tired of the house, aren't you?"
+
+"Guess I am!" and Dan's eyes roved away to the green hills and woods
+where he longed to be.
+
+"Suppose we take a little turn before the others come back? That big,
+easy carriage will be quite safe and comfortable, and a breath of fresh
+air will do you good. Get a cushion and a shawl, Demi, and let's carry
+Dan off."
+
+The boys thought it a capital joke, and Dan looked delighted, but asked,
+with an unexpected burst of virtue,
+
+"Will Mrs. Bhaer like it?"
+
+"Oh, yes; we settled all that a minute ago."
+
+"You didn't say any thing about it, so I don't see how you could," said
+Demi, inquisitively.
+
+"We have a way of sending messages to one another, without any words. It
+is a great improvement on the telegraph."
+
+"I know it's eyes; I saw you lift your eyebrows, and nod toward the
+carriage, and Mrs. Bhaer laughed and nodded back again," cried Nat, who
+was quite at his ease with kind Mr. Laurie by this time.
+
+"Right. Now them, come on," and in a minute Dan found himself settled in
+the carriage, his foot on a cushion on the seat opposite, nicely
+covered with a shawl, which fell down from the upper regions in a most
+mysterious manner, just when they wanted it. Demi climbed up to the
+box beside Peter, the black coachman. Nat sat next Dan in the place of
+honor, while Uncle Teddy would sit opposite, to take care of the foot,
+he said, but really that he might study the faces before him both so
+happy, yet so different, for Dan's was square, and brown, and strong,
+while Nat's was long, and fair, and rather weak, but very amiable with
+its mild eyes and good forehead.
+
+"By the way, I've got a book somewhere here that you may like to see,"
+said the oldest boy of the party, diving under the seat and producing a
+book which make Dan exclaim,
+
+"Oh! by George, isn't that a stunner?" as he turned the leaves, and saw
+fine plates of butterflies, and birds, and every sort of interesting
+insect,  like life. He was so charmed that he forgot his thanks,
+but Mr. Laurie did not mind, and was quite satisfied to see the boy's
+eager delight, and to hear this exclamations over certain old friends as
+he came to them. Nat leaned on his shoulder to look, and Demi turned his
+back to the horses, and let his feet dangle inside the carriage, so that
+he might join in the conversation.
+
+When they got among the beetles, Mr. Laurie took a curious little object
+out of his vest-pocket, and laying it in the palm of his hand, said,
+
+"There's a beetle that is thousands of years old;" and then, while the
+lads examined the queer stone-bug, that looked so old and gray, he told
+them how it came out of the wrappings of a mummy, after lying for ages
+in a famous tomb. Finding them interested, he went on to tell about the
+Egyptians, and the strange and splendid ruins they have left behind them
+the Nile, and how he sailed up the mighty river, with the handsome dark
+men to work his boat; how he shot alligators, saw wonderful beasts and
+birds; and afterwards crossed the desert on a camel, who pitched him
+about like a ship in a storm.
+
+"Uncle Teddy tells stories 'most as well as Grandpa," said Demi,
+approvingly, when the tale was done, and the boys' eyes asked for more.
+
+"Thank you," said Mr. Laurie, quite soberly, for he considered Demi's
+praise worth having, for children are good critics in such cases, and to
+suit them is an accomplishment that any one may be proud of.
+
+"Here's another trifle or two that I tucked into my pocket as I was
+turning over my traps to see if I had any thing that would amuse Dan,"
+and Uncle Teddy produced a fine arrow-head and a string of wampum.
+
+"Oh! tell about the Indians," cried Demi, who was fond of playing
+wigwam.
+
+"Dan knows lots about them," added Nat.
+
+"More than I do, I dare say. Tell us something," and Mr. Laurie looked
+as interested as the other two.
+
+"Mr. Hyde told me; he's been among 'em, and can talk their talk,
+and likes 'em," began Dan, flattered by their attention, but rather
+embarrassed by having a grown-up listener.
+
+"What is wampum for?" asked curious Demi, from his perch.
+
+The others asked questions likewise, and, before he knew it, Dan was
+reeling off all Mr. Hyde had told him, as they sailed down the river
+a few weeks before. Mr. Laurie listened well, but found the boy more
+interesting than the Indians, for Mrs. Jo had told him about Dan, and
+he rather took a fancy to the wild lad, who ran away as he himself
+had often longed to do, and who was slowly getting tamed by pain and
+patience.
+
+"I've been thinking that it would be a good plan for you fellows to have
+a museum of your own; a place in which to collect all the curious and
+interesting things that you find, and make, and have given you. Mrs. Jo
+is too kind to complain, but it is rather hard for her to have the house
+littered up with all sorts of rattletraps, half-a-pint of dor-bugs in
+one of her best vases, for instance, a couple of dead bats nailed up in
+the back entry, wasps nests tumbling down on people's heads, and stones
+lying round everywhere, enough to pave the avenue. There are not many
+women who would stand that sort of thing, are there, now?"
+
+As Mr. Laurie spoke with a merry look in his eyes, the boys laughed and
+nudged one another, for it was evident that some one told tales out of
+school, else how could he know of the existence of these inconvenient
+treasures.
+
+"Where can we put them, then?" said Demi, crossing his legs and leaning
+down to argue the question.
+
+"In the old carriage-house."
+
+"But it leaks, and there isn't any window, nor any place to put things,
+and it's all dust and cobwebs," began Nat.
+
+"Wait till Gibbs and I have touched it up a bit, and then see how
+you like it. He is to come over on Monday to get it ready; then
+next Saturday I shall come out, and we will fix it up, and make the
+beginning, at least, of a fine little museum. Every one can bring
+his things, and have a place for them; and Dan is to be the head man,
+because he knows most about such matters, and it will be quiet, pleasant
+work for him now that he can't knock about much."
+
+"Won't that be jolly?" cried Nat, while Dan smiled all over his face and
+had not a word to say, but hugged his book, and looked at Mr. Laurie
+as if he thought him one of the greatest public benefactors that ever
+blessed the world.
+
+"Shall I go round again, sir?" asked Peter, as they came to the gate,
+after two slow turns about the half-mile triangle.
+
+"No, we must be prudent, else we can't come again. I must go over the
+premises, take a look at the carriage-house, and have a little talk with
+Mrs. Jo before I go;" and, having deposited Dan on his sofa to rest and
+enjoy his book, Uncle Teddy went off to have a frolic with the lads who
+were raging about the place in search of him. Leaving the little girls
+to mess up-stairs, Mrs. Bhaer sat down by Dan, and listened to his eager
+account of the drive till the flock returned, dusty, warm, and much
+excited about the new museum, which every one considered the most
+brilliant idea of the age.
+
+"I always wanted to endow some sort of an institution, and I am going to
+begin with this," said Mr. Laurie, sitting down on a stool at Mrs. Jo's
+feet.
+
+"You have endowed one already. What do you call this?" and Mrs. Jo
+pointed to the happy-faced lads, who had camped upon the floor about
+him.
+
+"I call it a very promising Bhaer-garden, and I'm proud to be a member
+of it. Did you know I was the head boy in this school?" he asked,
+turning to Dan, and changing the subject skilfully, for he hated to be
+thanked for the generous things he did.
+
+"I thought Franz was!" answered Dan, wondering what the man meant.
+
+"Oh, dear no! I'm the first boy Mrs. Jo ever had to take care of, and I
+was such a bad one that she isn't done with me yet, though she has been
+working at me for years and years."
+
+"How old she must be!" said Nat, innocently.
+
+"She began early, you see. Poor thing! she was only fifteen when she
+took me, and I led her such a life, it's a wonder she isn't wrinkled and
+gray, and quite worn out," and Mr. Laurie looked up at her laughing.
+
+"Don't Teddy; I won't have you abuse yourself so;" and Mrs. Jo stroked
+the curly black head at her knee as affectionately as ever, for, in
+spite of every thing Teddy was her boy still.
+
+"If it hadn't been for you, there never would have been a Plumfield. It
+was my success with you, sir, that gave me courage to try my pet plan.
+So the boys may thank you for it, and name the new institution 'The
+Laurence Museum,' in honor of its founder, won't we, boys?" she added,
+looking very like the lively Jo of old times.
+
+"We will! we will!" shouted the boys, throwing up their hats, for though
+they had taken them off on entering the house, according to rule, they
+had been in too much of a hurry to hang them up.
+
+"I'm as hungry as a bear, can't I have a cookie?" asked Mr. Laurie, when
+the shout subsided and he had expressed his thanks by a splendid bow.
+
+"Trot out and ask Asia for the gingerbread-box, Demi. It isn't in order
+to eat between meals, but, on this joyful occasion, we won't mind, and
+have a cookie all round," said Mrs. Jo; and when the box came she
+dealt them out with a liberal hand, every one munching away in a social
+circle.
+
+Suddenly, in the midst of a bite, Mr. Laurie cried out, "Bless my heart,
+I forgot grandma's bundle!" and running out to the carriage, returned
+with an interesting white parcel, which, being opened, disclosed a
+choice collection of beasts, birds, and pretty things cut out of crisp
+sugary cake, and baked a lovely brown.
+
+"There's one for each, and a letter to tell which is whose. Grandma and
+Hannah made them, and I tremble to think what would have happened to me
+if I had forgotten to leave them."
+
+Then, amid much laughing and fun, the cakes were distributed. A fish for
+Dan, a fiddle for Nat, a book for Demi, a money for Tommy, a flower for
+Daisy, a hoop for Nan, who had driven twice round the triangle without
+stopping, a star for Emil, who put on airs because he studied astronomy,
+and, best of all, an omnibus for Franz, whose great delight was to drive
+the family bus. Stuffy got a fat pig, and the little folks had birds,
+and cats, and rabbits, with black currant eyes.
+
+"Now I must go. Where is my Goldilocks? Mamma will come flying out to
+get her if I'm not back early," said Uncle Teddy, when the last crumb
+had vanished, which it speedily did, you may be sure.
+
+The young ladies had gone into the garden, and while they waited till
+Franz looked them up, Jo and Laurie stood at the door talking together.
+
+"How does little Giddy-gaddy come on?" he asked, for Nan's pranks amused
+him very much, and he was never tired of teasing Jo about her.
+
+"Nicely; she is getting quite mannerly, and begins to see the error of
+her wild ways."
+
+"Don't the boys encourage her in them?"
+
+"Yes; but I keep talking, and lately she has improved much. You saw how
+prettily she shook hands with you, and how gentle she was with Bess.
+Daisy's example has its effect upon her, and I'm quite sure that a few
+months will work wonders."
+
+Here Mrs. Jo's remarks were cut short by the appearance of Nan tearing
+round the corner at a break-neck pace, driving a mettlesome team of four
+boys, and followed by Daisy trundling Bess in a wheelbarrow. Hat off,
+hair flying, whip cracking, and barrow bumping, up they came in a cloud
+of dust, looking as wild a set of little hoydens as one would wish to
+see.
+
+"So, these are the model children, are they? It's lucky I didn't bring
+Mrs. Curtis out to see your school for the cultivation of morals
+and manners; she would never have recovered from the shock of this
+spectacle," said Mr. Laurie, laughing at Mrs. Jo's premature rejoicing
+over Nan's improvement.
+
+"Laugh away; I'll succeed yet. As you used to say at College, quoting
+some professor, 'Though the experiment has failed, the principle remains
+the same,'" said Mrs. Bhaer, joining in the merriment.
+
+"I'm afraid Nan's example is taking effect upon Daisy, instead of the
+other way. Look at my little princess! she has utterly forgotten her
+dignity, and is screaming like the rest. Young ladies, what does
+this mean?" and Mr. Laurie rescued his small daughter from impending
+destruction, for the four horses were champing their bits and curvetting
+madly all about her, as she sat brandishing a great whip in both hands.
+
+"We're having a race, and I beat," shouted Nan.
+
+"I could have run faster, only I was afraid of spilling Bess," screamed
+Daisy.
+
+"Hi! go long!" cried the princess, giving such a flourish with her whip
+that the horses ran away, and were seen no more.
+
+"My precious child! come away from this ill-mannered crew before you are
+quite spoilt. Good-by, Jo! Next time I come, I shall expect to find the
+boys making patchwork."
+
+"It wouldn't hurt them a bit. I don't give in, mind you; for my
+experiments always fail a few times before they succeed. Love to Amy and
+my blessed Marmee," called Mrs. Jo, as the carriage drove away; and the
+last Mr. Laurie saw of her, she was consoling Daisy for her failure by a
+ride in the wheelbarrow, and looking as if she liked it.
+
+Great was the excitement all the week about the repairs in the
+carriage-house, which went briskly on in spite of the incessant
+questions, advice, and meddling of the boys. Old Gibbs was nearly driven
+wild with it all, but managed to do his work nevertheless; and by
+Friday night the place was all in order roof mended, shelves up, walls
+whitewashed, a great window cut at the back, which let in a flood of
+sunshine, and gave them a fine view of the brook, the meadows, and the
+distant hills; and over the great door, painted in red letters, was "The
+Laurence Museum."
+
+All Saturday morning the boys were planning how it should be furnished
+with their spoils, and when Mr. Laurie arrived, bringing an aquarium
+which Mrs. Amy said she was tired of, their rapture was great.
+
+The afternoon was spent in arranging things, and when the running and
+lugging and hammering was over, the ladies were invited to behold the
+institution.
+
+It certainly was a pleasant place, airy, clean, and bright. A hop-vine
+shook its green bells round the open window, the pretty aquarium stood
+in the middle of the room, with some delicate water plants rising above
+the water, and gold-fish showing their brightness as they floated to and
+fro below. On either side of the window were rows of shelves ready to
+receive the curiosities yet to be found. Dan's tall cabinet stood before
+the great door which was fastened up, while the small door was to be
+used. On the cabinet stood a queer Indian idol, very ugly, but very
+interesting; old Mr. Laurence sent it, as well as a fine Chinese junk in
+full sail, which had a conspicuous place on the long table in the middle
+of the room. Above, swinging in a loop, and looking as if she was alive,
+hung Polly, who died at an advanced age, had been carefully stuffed, and
+was no presented by Mrs. Jo. The walls were decorated with all sorts of
+things. A snake's skin, a big wasp's nest, a birch-bark canoe, a string
+of birds' eggs, wreaths of gray moss from the South, and a bunch of
+cotton-pods. The dead bats had a place, also a large turtle-shell, and
+an ostrich-egg proudly presented by Demi, who volunteered to explain
+these rare curiosities to guests whenever they liked. There were so many
+stones that it was impossible to accept them all, so only a few of the
+best were arranged among the shells on the shelves, the rest were piled
+up in corners, to be examined by Dan at his leisure.
+
+Every one was eager to give something, even Silas, who sent home for
+a stuffed wild-cat killed in his youth. It was rather moth-eaten and
+shabby, but on a high bracket and best side foremost the effect was
+fine, for the yellow glass eyes glared, and the mouth snarled so
+naturally, that Teddy shook in his little shoes at sight of it, when he
+came bringing his most cherished treasure, one cocoon, to lay upon the
+shrine of science.
+
+"Isn't it beautiful? I'd no idea we had so many curious things. I gave
+that; don't it look well? We might make a lot by charging something for
+letting folks see it."
+
+Jack added that last suggestion to the general chatter that went on as
+the family viewed the room.
+
+"This is a free museum and if there is any speculating on it I'll paint
+out the name over the door," said Mr. Laurie, turning so quickly that
+Jack wished he had held his tongue.
+
+"Hear! hear!" cried Mr. Bhaer.
+
+"Speech! speech!" added Mrs. Jo.
+
+"Can't, I'm too bashful. You give them a lecture yourself you are used
+to it," Mr. Laurie answered, retreating towards the window, meaning to
+escape. But she held him fast, and said, laughing as she looked at the
+dozen pairs of dirty hands about her,
+
+"If I did lecture, it would on the chemical and cleansing properties of
+soap. Come now, as the founder of the institution, you really ought to
+give us a few moral remarks, and we will applaud tremendously."
+
+Seeing that there was no way of escaping, Mr. Laurie looked up at Polly
+hanging overhead, seemed to find inspiration in the brilliant old bird,
+and sitting down upon the table, said, in his pleasant way,
+
+"There is one thing I'd like to suggest, boys, and that is, I want you
+to get some good as well as much pleasure out of this. Just putting
+curious or pretty things here won't do it; so suppose you read up about
+them, so that when anybody asks questions you can answer them, and
+understand the matter. I used to like these things myself, and should
+enjoy hearing about them now, for I've forgotten all I once knew. It
+wasn't much, was it, Jo? Here's Dan now, full of stories about birds,
+and bugs, and so on; let him take care of the museum, and once a week
+the rest of you take turns to read a composition, or tell about some
+animal, mineral, or vegetable. We should all like that, and I think it
+would put considerable useful knowledge into our heads. What do you say,
+Professor?"
+
+"I like it much, and will give the lads all the help I can. But they
+will need books to read up these new subjects, and we have not many,
+I fear," began Mr. Bhaer, looking much pleased, planning many fine
+lectures on geology, which he liked. "We should have a library for the
+special purpose."
+
+"Is that a useful sort of book, Dan?" asked Mr. Laurie, pointing to the
+volume that lay open by the cabinet.
+
+"Oh, yes! it tells all I want to know about insects. I had it here to
+see how to fix the butterflies right. I covered it, so it is not hurt;"
+and Dan caught it up, fearing the lender might think him careless.
+
+"Give it here a minute;" and, pulling out his pencil, Mr. Laurie wrote
+Dan's name in it, saying, as he set the book up on one of the corner
+shelves, where nothing stood but a stuffed bird without a tail, "There,
+that is the beginning of the museum library. I'll hunt up some more
+books, and Demi shall keep them in order. Where are those jolly little
+books we used to read, Jo? 'Insect Architecture' or some such name, all
+about ants having battles, and bees having queens, and crickets eating
+holes in our clothes and stealing milk, and larks of that sort."
+
+"In the garret at home. I'll have them sent out, and we will plunge into
+Natural History with a will," said Mrs. Jo, ready for any thing.
+
+"Won't it be hard to write about such things?" asked Nat, who hated
+compositions.
+
+"At first, perhaps; but you will soon like it. If you think that hard,
+how would you like to have this subject given to you, as it was to a
+girl of thirteen: A conversation between Themistocles, Aristides, and
+Pericles on the proposed appropriation of funds of the confederacy of
+Delos for the ornamentation of Athens?" said Mrs. Jo.
+
+The boys groaned at the mere sound of the long names, and the gentlemen
+laughed at the absurdity of the lesson.
+
+"Did she write it?" asked Demi, in an awe-stricken tone.
+
+"Yes, but you can imagine what a piece of work she make of it, though
+she was rather a bright child."
+
+"I'd like to have seen it," said Mr. Bhaer.
+
+"Perhaps I can find it for you; I went to school with her," and Mrs. Jo
+looked so wicked that every one knew who the little girl was.
+
+Hearing of this fearful subject for a composition quite reconciled
+the boys to the thought of writing about familiar things. Wednesday
+afternoon was appointed for the lectures, as they preferred to call
+them, for some chose to talk instead of write. Mr. Bhaer promised a
+portfolio in which the written productions should be kept, and Mrs.
+Bhaer said she would attend the course with great pleasure.
+
+Then the dirty-handed society went off the wash, followed by the
+Professor, trying to calm the anxiety of Rob, who had been told by Tommy
+that all water was full of invisible pollywogs.
+
+"I like your plan very much, only don't be too generous, Teddy," said
+Mrs. Bhaer, when they were left alone. "You know most of the boys have
+got to paddle their own canoes when they leave us, and too much sitting
+in the lap of luxury will unfit them for it."
+
+"I'll be moderate, but do let me amuse myself. I get desperately tired
+of business sometimes, and nothing freshens me up like a good frolic
+with your boys. I like that Dan very much, Jo. He isn't demonstrative;
+but he has the eye of a hawk, and when you have tamed him a little he
+will do you credit."
+
+"I'm so glad you think so. Thank you very much for your kindness to him,
+especially for this museum affair; it will keep him happy while he is
+lame, give me a chance to soften and smooth this poor, rough lad, and
+make him love us. What did inspire you with such a beautiful, helpful
+idea, Teddy?" asked Mrs. Bhaer, glancing back at the pleasant room, as
+she turned to leave it.
+
+Laurie took both her hands in his, and answered, with a look that made
+her eyes fill with happy tears,
+
+"Dear Jo! I have known what it is to be a motherless boy, and I never
+can forget how much you and yours have done for me all these years."
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XII. HUCKLEBERRIES
+
+There was a great clashing of tin pails, much running to and fro, and
+frequent demands for something to eat, one August afternoon, for the
+boys were going huckleberrying, and made as much stir about it as if
+they were setting out to find the North West Passage.
+
+"Now, my lads, get off as quietly as you can, for Rob is safely out
+of the way, and won't see you," said Mrs. Bhaer, as she tied Daisy's
+broad-brimmed hat, and settled the great blue pinafore in which she had
+enveloped Nan.
+
+But the plan did not succeed, for Rob had heard the bustle, decided to
+go, and prepared himself, without a thought of disappointment. The troop
+was just getting under way when the little man came marching downstairs
+with his best hat on, a bright tin pail in his hand, and a face beaming
+with satisfaction.
+
+"Oh, dear! now we shall have a scene," sighed Mrs. Bhaer, who found her
+eldest son very hard to manage at times.
+
+"I'm all ready," said Rob, and took his place in the ranks with such
+perfect unconsciousness of his mistake, that it really was very hard to
+undeceive him.
+
+"It's too far for you, my love; stay and take care of me, for I shall be
+all alone," began his mother.
+
+"You've got Teddy. I'm a big boy, so I can go; you said I might when I
+was bigger, and I am now," persisted Rob, with a cloud beginning to dim
+the brightness of his happy face.
+
+"We are going up to the great pasture, and it's ever so far; we don't
+want you tagging on," cried Jack, who did not admire the little boys.
+
+"I won't tag, I'll run and keep up. O Mamma! let me go! I want to fill
+my new pail, and I'll bring 'em all to you. Please, please, I will
+be good!" prayed Robby, looking up at his mother, so grieved and
+disappointed that her heart began to fail her.
+
+"But, my deary, you'll get so tired and hot you won't have a good time.
+Wait till I go, and then we will stay all day, and pick as many berries
+as you want."
+
+"You never do go, you are so busy, and I'm tired of waiting. I'd rather
+go and get the berries for you all myself. I love to pick 'em, and I
+want to fill my new pail dreffly," sobbed Rob.
+
+The pathetic sight of great tears tinkling into the dear new pail, and
+threatening to fill it with salt water instead of huckleberries, touched
+all the ladies present. His mother patted the weeper on his back; Daisy
+offered to stay home with him; and Nan said, in her decided way,
+
+"Let him come; I'll take care of him."
+
+"If Franz was going I wouldn't mind, for he is very careful; but he is
+haying with the father, and I'm not sure about the rest of you," began
+Mrs. Bhaer.
+
+"It's so far," put in Jack.
+
+"I'd carry him if I was going wish I was," said Dan, with a sigh.
+
+"Thank you, dear, but you must take care of your foot. I wish I could
+go. Stop a minute, I think I can manage it after all;" and Mrs. Bhaer
+ran out to the steps, waving her apron wildly.
+
+Silas was just driving away in the hay-cart, but turned back, and agreed
+at once, when Mrs. Jo proposed that he should take the whole party to
+the pasture, and go for them at five o'clock.
+
+"It will delay your work a little, but never mind; we will pay you in
+huckleberry pies," said Mrs. Jo, knowing Silas's weak point.
+
+His rough, brown face brightened up, and he said, with a cheery "Haw!
+haw!" "Wal now, Mis' Bhaer, if you go to bribin' of me, I shall give in
+right away."
+
+"Now, boys, I have arranged it so that you can all go," said Mrs. Bhaer,
+running back again, much relieved, for she loved to make them happy, and
+always felt miserable when she had disturbed the serenity of her little
+sons; for she believed that the small hopes and plans and pleasures
+of children should be tenderly respected by grown-up people, and never
+rudely thwarted or ridiculed.
+
+"Can I go?" said Dan, delighted.
+
+"I thought especially of you. Be careful, and never mind the berries,
+but sit about and enjoy the lovely things which you know how to find all
+about you," answered Mrs. Bhaer, who remembered his kind offer to her
+boy.
+
+"Me too! me too!" sung Rob, dancing with joy, and clapping his precious
+pail and cover like castanets.
+
+"Yes, and Daisy and Nan must take good care of you. Be at the bars at
+five o'clock, and Silas will come for you all."
+
+Robby cast himself upon his mother in a burst of gratitude, promising
+to bring her every berry he picked, and not eat one. Then they were all
+packed into the hay-cart, and went rattling away, the brightest face
+among the dozen being that of Rob, as he sat between his two temporary
+little mothers, beaming upon the whole world, and waving his best hat;
+for his indulgent mamma had not the heart to bereave him of it, since
+this was a gala-day to him.
+
+Such a happy afternoon as they had, in spite of the mishaps which
+usually occur on such expeditions! Of course Tommy came to grief,
+tumbled upon a hornet's nest and got stung; but being used to woe, he
+bore the smart manfully, till Dan suggested the application of damp
+earth, which much assuaged the pain. Daisy saw a snake, and flying from
+it lost half her berries; but Demi helped her to fill up again, and
+discussed reptiles most learnedly the while. Ned fell out of a tree, and
+split his jacket down the back, but suffered no other fracture. Emil and
+Jack established rival claims to a certain thick patch, and while they
+were squabbling about it, Stuffy quickly and quietly stripped the bushes
+and fled to the protection of Dan, who was enjoying himself immensely.
+The crutch was no longer necessary, and he was delighted to see how
+strong his foot felt as he roamed about the great pasture, full of
+interesting rocks and stumps, with familiar little creatures in the
+grass, and well-known insects dancing in the air.
+
+But of all the adventures that happened on this afternoon that which
+befell Nan and Rob was the most exciting, and it long remained one of
+the favorite histories of the household. Having explored the country
+pretty generally, torn three rents in her frock, and scratched her face
+in a barberry-bush, Nan began to pick the berries that shone like big,
+black beads on the low, green bushes. Her nimble fingers flew, but
+still her basket did not fill up as rapidly as she desired, so she kept
+wandering here and there to search for better places, instead of picking
+contentedly and steadily as Daisy did. Rob followed Nan, for her energy
+suited him better than his cousin's patience, and he too was anxious to
+have the biggest and best berries for Marmar.
+
+"I keep putting 'em in, but it don't fill up, and I'm so tired," said
+Rob, pausing a moment to rest his short legs, and beginning to think
+huckleberrying was not all his fancy painted it; for the sun blazed, Nan
+skipped hither and thither like a grasshopper, and the berries fell out
+of his pail almost as fast as he put them in, because, in his struggles
+with the bushes, it was often upside-down.
+
+"Last time we came they were ever so much thicker over that wall great
+bouncers; and there is a cave there where the boys made a fire. Let's go
+and fill our things quick, and then hide in the cave and let the others
+find us," proposed Nan, thirsting for adventures.
+
+Rob consented, and away they went, scrambling over the wall and running
+down the sloping fields on the other side, till they were hidden among
+the rocks and underbrush. The berries were thick, and at last the pails
+were actually full. It was shady and cool down there, and a little
+spring gave the thirsty children a refreshing drink out of its mossy
+cup.
+
+"Now we will go and rest in the cave, and eat our lunch," said Nan, well
+satisfied with her success so far.
+
+"Do you know the way?" asked Rob.
+
+"'Course I do; I've been once, and I always remember. Didn't I go and
+get my box all right?"
+
+That convinced Rob, and he followed blindly as Nan led him over stock
+and stone, and brought him, after much meandering, to a small recess in
+the rock, where the blackened stones showed that fires had been made.
+
+"Now, isn't it nice?" asked Nan, as she took out a bit of
+bread-and-butter, rather damaged by being mixed up with nails,
+fishhooks, stones and other foreign substances, in the young lady's
+pocket.
+
+"Yes; do you think they will find us soon?" asked Rob, who found the
+shadowy glen rather dull, and began to long for more society.
+
+"No, I don't; because if I hear them, I shall hide, and have fun making
+them find me."
+
+"P'raps they won't come."
+
+"Don't care; I can get home myself."
+
+"Is it a great way?" asked Rob, looking at his little stubby boots,
+scratched and wet with his long wandering.
+
+"It's six miles, I guess." Nan's ideas of distance were vague, and her
+faith in her own powers great.
+
+"I think we better go now," suggested Rob, presently.
+
+"I shan't till I have picked over my berries;" and Nan began what seemed
+to Rob an endless task.
+
+"Oh, dear! you said you'd take good care of me," he sighed, as the sun
+seemed to drop behind the hill all of a sudden.
+
+"Well I am taking good care of you as hard as I can. Don't be cross,
+child; I'll go in a minute," said Nan, who considered five-year-old
+Robby a mere infant compared to herself.
+
+So little Rob sat looking anxiously about him, and waiting patiently,
+for, spite of some misgivings, he felt great confidence in Nan.
+
+"I guess it's going to be night pretty soon," he observed, as if to
+himself, as a mosquito bit him, and the frogs in a neighboring marsh
+began to pipe up for the evening concert.
+
+"My goodness me! so it is. Come right away this minute, or they will be
+gone," cried Nan, looking up from her work, and suddenly perceiving that
+the sun was down.
+
+"I heard a horn about an hour ago; may be they were blowing for us,"
+said Rob, trudging after his guide as she scrambled up the steep hill.
+
+"Where was it?" asked Nan, stopping short.
+
+"Over that way;" he pointed with a dirty little finger in an entirely
+wrong direction.
+
+"Let's go that way and meet them;" and Nan wheeled about, and began to
+trot through the bushes, feeling a trifle anxious, for there were so
+many cow-paths all about she could not remember which way they came.
+
+On they went over stock and stone again, pausing now and then to listen
+for the horn, which did not blow any more, for it was only the moo of a
+cow on her way home.
+
+"I don't remember seeing that pile of stones do you?" asked Nan, as she
+sat on a wall to rest a moment and take an observation.
+
+"I don't remember any thing, but I want to go home," and Rob's voice had
+a little tremble in it that made Nan put her arms round him and lift him
+gently down, saying, in her most capable way,
+
+"I'm going just as fast as I can, dear. Don't cry, and when we come to
+the road, I'll carry you."
+
+"Where is the road?" and Robby wiped his eyes to look for it.
+
+"Over by that big tree. Don't you know that's the one Ned tumbled out
+of?"
+
+"So it is. May be they waited for us; I'd like to ride home wouldn't
+you?" and Robby brightened up as he plodded along toward the end of the
+great pasture.
+
+"No, I'd rather walk," answered Nan, feeling quite sure that she would
+be obliged to do so, and preparing her mind for it.
+
+Another long trudge through the fast-deepening twilight and another
+disappointment, for when they reached the tree, they found to their
+dismay that it was not the one Ned climbed, and no road anywhere
+appeared.
+
+"Are we lost?" quavered Rob, clasping his pail in despair.
+
+"Not much. I don't just see which way to go, and I guess we'd better
+call."
+
+So they both shouted till they were hoarse, yet nothing answered but the
+frogs in full chorus.
+
+"There is another tall tree over there, perhaps that's the one," said
+Nan, whose heart sunk within her, though she still spoke bravely.
+
+"I don't think I can go any more; my boots are so heavy I can't pull
+'em;" and Robby sat down on a stone quite worn out.
+
+"Then we must stay here all night. I don't care much, if snakes don't
+come."
+
+"I'm frightened of snakes. I can't stay all night. Oh, dear! I don't
+like to be lost," and Rob puckered up his face to cry, when suddenly a
+thought occurred to him, and he said, in a tone of perfect confidence,
+
+"Marmar will come and find me she always does; I ain't afraid now."
+
+"She won't know where we are."
+
+"She didn't know I was shut up in the ice-house, but she found me.
+I know she'll come," returned Robby, so trustfully, that Nan felt
+relieved, and sat down by him, saying, with a remorseful sigh,
+
+"I wish we hadn't run away."
+
+"You made me; but I don't mind much Marmar will love me just the same,"
+answered Rob, clinging to his sheet-anchor when all other hope was gone.
+
+"I'm so hungry. Let's eat our berries," proposed Nan, after a pause,
+during which Rob began to nod.
+
+"So am I, but I can't eat mine, 'cause I told Marmar I'd keep them all
+for her."
+
+"You'll have to eat them if no one comes for us," said Nan, who felt
+like contradicting every thing just then. "If we stay here a great many
+days, we shall eat up all the berries in the field, and then we shall
+starve," she added grimly.
+
+"I shall eat sassafras. I know a big tree of it, and Dan told me how
+squirrels dig up the roots and eat them, and I love to dig," returned
+Rob, undaunted by the prospect of starvation.
+
+"Yes; and we can catch frogs, and cook them. My father ate some once,
+and he said they were nice," put in Nan, beginning to find a spice of
+romance even in being lost in a huckleberry pasture.
+
+"How could we cook frogs? we haven't got any fire."
+
+"I don't know; next time I'll have matches in my pocket," said Nan,
+rather depressed by this obstacle to the experiment in frog-cookery.
+
+"Couldn't we light a fire with a fire-fly?" asked Rob, hopefully, as he
+watched them flitting to and fro like winged sparks.
+
+"Let's try;" and several minutes were pleasantly spent in catching the
+flies, and trying to make them kindle a green twig or two. "It's a lie
+to call them fire-flies when there isn't a fire in them," Nan said,
+throwing one unhappy insect away with scorn, though it shone its best,
+and obligingly walked up and down the twigs to please the innocent
+little experimenters.
+
+"Marmar's a good while coming," said Rob, after another pause, during
+which they watched the stars overhead, smelt the sweet fern crushed
+under foot, and listened to the crickets' serenade.
+
+"I don't see why God made any night; day is so much pleasanter," said
+Nan, thoughtfully.
+
+"It's to sleep in," answered Rob, with a yawn.
+
+"Then do go to sleep," said Nan, pettishly.
+
+"I want my own bed. Oh, I wish I could see Teddy!" cried Rob, painfully
+reminded of home by the soft chirp of birds safe in their little nests.
+
+"I don't believe your mother will ever find us," said Nan, who was
+becoming desperate, for she hated patient waiting of any sort. "It's so
+dark she won't see us."
+
+"It was all black in the ice-house, and I was so scared I didn't call
+her, but she saw me; and she will see me now, no matter how dark it is,"
+returned confiding Rob, standing up to peer into the gloom for the help
+which never failed him.
+
+"I see her! I see her!" he cried, and ran as fast as his tired legs
+would take him toward a dark figure slowly approaching. Suddenly he
+stopped, then turned about, and came stumbling back, screaming in a
+great panic,
+
+"No, it's a bear, a big black one!" and hid his face in Nan's skirts.
+
+For a moment Nan quailed; ever her courage gave out at the thought of a
+real bear, and she was about to turn and flee in great disorder, when a
+mild "Moo!" changed her fear to merriment, as she said, laughing,
+
+"It's a cow, Robby! the nice, black cow we saw this afternoon."
+
+The cow seemed to feel that it was not just the thing to meet two
+little people in her pasture after dark, and the amiable beast paused to
+inquire into the case. She let them stroke her, and stood regarding them
+with her soft eyes so mildly, that Nan, who feared no animal but a bear,
+was fired with a desire to milk her.
+
+"Silas taught me how; and berries and milk would be so nice," she said,
+emptying the contents of her pail into her hat, and boldly beginning her
+new task, while Rob stood by and repeated, at her command, the poem from
+Mother Goose:
+
+     "Cushy cow, bonny, let down your milk,
+     Let down your milk to me,
+     And I will give you a gown of silk,
+     A gown of silk and a silver tee."
+
+But the immortal rhyme had little effect, for the benevolent cow had
+already been milked, and had only half a gill to give the thirsty
+children.
+
+"Shoo! get away! you are an old cross patch," cried Nan, ungratefully,
+as she gave up the attempt in despair; and poor Molly walked on with a
+gentle gurgle of surprise and reproof.
+
+"Each can have a sip, and then we must take a walk. We shall go to sleep
+if we don't; and lost people mustn't sleep. Don't you know how Hannah
+Lee in the pretty story slept under the snow and died?"
+
+"But there isn't any snow now, and it's nice and warm," said Rob, who
+was not blessed with as lively a fancy as Nan.
+
+"No matter, we will poke about a little, and call some more; and then,
+if nobody comes, we will hide under the bushes, like Hop-'o-my-thumb and
+his brothers."
+
+It was a very short walk, however, for Rob was so sleepy he could not
+get on, and tumbled down so often that Nan entirely lost patience, being
+half distracted by the responsibility she had taken upon herself.
+
+"If you tumble down again, I'll shake you," she said, lifting the poor
+little man up very kindly as she spoke, for Nan's bark was much worse
+than her bite.
+
+"Please don't. It's my boots they keep slipping so;" and Rob manfully
+checked the sob just ready to break out, adding, with a plaintive
+patience that touched Nan's heart, "If the skeeters didn't bite me so, I
+could go to sleep till Marmar comes."
+
+"Put your head on my lap, and I'll cover you up with my apron; I'm not
+afraid of the night," said Nan, sitting down and trying to persuade
+herself that she did not mind the shadow nor the mysterious rustlings
+all about her.
+
+"Wake me up when she comes," said rob, and was fast asleep in five
+minutes with his head in Nan's lap under the pinafore.
+
+The little girl sat for some fifteen minutes, staring about her with
+anxious eyes, and feeling as if each second was an hour. Then a pale
+light began to glimmer over the hill-top and she said to herself,
+
+"I guess the night is over and morning is coming. I'd like to see the
+sun rise, so I'll watch, and when it comes up we can find our way right
+home."
+
+But before the moon's round face peeped above the hill to destroy her
+hope, Nan had fallen asleep, leaning back in a little bower of tall
+ferns, and was deep in a mid-summer night's dream of fire-flies and blue
+aprons, mountains of huckleberries, and Robby wiping away the tears of a
+black cow, who sobbed, "I want to go home! I want to go home!"
+
+While the children were sleeping, peacefully lulled by the drowsy hum of
+many neighborly mosquitoes, the family at home were in a great state of
+agitation. The hay-cart came at five, and all but Jack, Emil, Nan, and
+Rob were at the bars ready for it. Franz drove instead of Silas, and
+when the boys told him that the others were going home through the wood,
+he said, looking ill-pleased, "They ought to have left Rob to ride, he
+will be tired out by the long walk."
+
+"It's shorter that way, and they will carry him," said Stuffy, who was
+in a hurry for his supper.
+
+"You are sure Nan and Rob went with them?"
+
+"Of course they did; I saw them getting over the wall, and sung out that
+it was most five, and Jack called back that they were going the other
+way," explained Tommy.
+
+"Very well, pile in then," and away rattled the hay-cart with the tired
+children and the full pails.
+
+Mrs. Jo looked sober when she heard of the division of the party, and
+sent Franz back with Toby to find and bring the little ones home. Supper
+was over, and the family sitting about in the cool hall as usual, when
+Franz came trotting back, hot, dusty, and anxious.
+
+"Have they come?" he called out when half-way up the avenue.
+
+"No!" and Mrs. Jo flew out of her chair looking so alarmed that every
+one jumped up and gathered round Franz.
+
+"I can't find them anywhere," he began; but the words were hardly spoken
+when a loud "Hullo!" startled them all, and the next minute Jack and
+Emil came round the house.
+
+"Where are Nan and Rob?" cried Mrs. Jo, clutching Emil in a way that
+caused him to think his aunt had suddenly lost her wits.
+
+"I don't know. They came home with the others, didn't they?" he
+answered, quickly.
+
+"No; George and Tommy said they went with you."
+
+"Well, they didn't. Haven't seen them. We took a swim in the pond, and
+came by the wood," said Jack, looking alarmed, as well he might.
+
+"Call Mr. Bhaer, get the lanterns, and tell Silas I want him."
+
+That was all Mrs. Jo said, but they knew what she meant, and flew to
+obey her orders. In ten minutes, Mr. Bhaer and Silas were off to the
+wood, and Franz tearing down the road on old Andy to search the great
+pasture. Mrs. Jo caught up some food from the table, a little bottle of
+brandy from the medicine-closet, took a lantern, and bidding Jack and
+Emil come with her, and the rest not stir, she trotted away on Toby,
+never stopping for hat or shawl. She heard some one running after her,
+but said not a word till, as she paused to call and listen, the light of
+her lantern shone on Dan's face.
+
+"You here! I told Jack to come," she said, half-inclined to send him
+back, much as she needed help.
+
+"I wouldn't let him; he and Emil hadn't had any supper, and I wanted
+to come more than they did," he said, taking the lantern from her and
+smiling up in her face with the steady look in his eyes that made her
+feel as if, boy though he was, she had some one to depend on.
+
+Off she jumped, and ordered him on to Toby, in spite of his pleading to
+walk; then they went on again along the dusty, solitary road, stopping
+every now and then to call and hearken breathlessly for little voices to
+reply.
+
+When they came to the great pasture, other lights were already flitting
+to and fro like will-o'-the-wisps, and Mr. Bhaer's voice was heard
+shouting, "Nan! Rob! Rob! Nan!" in every part of the field. Silas
+whistled and roared, Dan plunged here and there on Toby, who seemed
+to understand the case, and went over the roughest places with unusual
+docility. Often Mrs. Jo hushed them all, saying, with a sob in her
+throat, "The noise may frighten them, let me call; Robby will know my
+voice;" and then she would cry out the beloved little name in every tone
+of tenderness, till the very echoes whispered it softly, and the winds
+seemed to waft it willingly; but still no answer came.
+
+The sky was overcast now, and only brief glimpses of the moon were seen,
+heat-lightening darted out of the dark clouds now and then, and a faint
+far-off rumble as of thunder told that a summer-storm was brewing.
+
+"O my Robby! my Robby!" mourned poor Mrs. Jo, wandering up and down like
+a pale ghost, while Dan kept beside her like a faithful fire-fly. "What
+shall I say to Nan's father if she comes to harm? Why did I ever trust
+my darling so far away? Fritz, do you hear any thing?" and when a
+mournful, "No" came back, she wrung her hands so despairingly that Dan
+sprung down from Toby's back, tied the bridle to the bars, and said, in
+his decided way,
+
+"They may have gone down the spring I'm going to look."
+
+He was over the wall and away so fast that she could hardly follow him;
+but when she reached the spot, he lowered the lantern and showed her
+with joy the marks of little feet in the soft ground about the spring.
+She fell down on her knees to examine the tracks, and then sprung up,
+saying eagerly,
+
+"Yes; that is the mark of my Robby's little boots! Come this way, they
+must have gone on."
+
+Such a weary search! But now some inexplicable instinct seemed to lead
+the anxious mother, for presently Dan uttered a cry, and caught up a
+little shining object lying in the path. It was the cover of the new
+tin pail, dropped in the first alarm of being lost. Mrs. Jo hugged and
+kissed it as if it were a living thing; and when Dan was about to utter
+a glad shout to bring the others to the spot, she stopped him, saying,
+as she hurried on, "No, let me find them; I let Rob go, and I want to
+give him back to his father all myself."
+
+A little farther on Nan's hat appeared, and after passing the place
+more than once, they came at last upon the babes in the wood, both sound
+asleep. Dan never forgot the little picture on which the light of his
+lantern shone that night. He thought Mrs. Jo would cry out, but she
+only whispered, "Hush!" as she softly lifted away the apron, and saw the
+little ruddy face below. The berry-stained lips were half-open as the
+breath came and went, the yellow hair lay damp on the hot forehead, and
+both the chubby hands held fast the little pail still full.
+
+The sight of the childish harvest, treasured through all the troubles of
+that night for her, seemed to touch Mrs. Jo to the heart, for suddenly
+she gathered up her boy, and began to cry over him, so tenderly, yet
+so heartily, that he woke up, and at first seemed bewildered. Then he
+remembered, and hugged her close, saying with a laugh of triumph,
+
+"I knew you'd come! O Marmar! I did want you so!" For a moment they
+kissed and clung to one another, quite forgetting all the world; for no
+matter how lost and soiled and worn-out wandering sons may be, mothers
+can forgive and forget every thing as they fold them in their fostering
+arms. Happy the son whose faith in his mother remains unchanged, and
+who, through all his wanderings, has kept some filial token to repay her
+brave and tender love.
+
+Dan meantime picked Nan out of her bush, and, with a gentleness none but
+Teddy ever saw in him before, he soothed her first alarm at the sudden
+waking, and wiped away her tears; for Nan also began to cry for joy,
+it was so good to see a kind face and feel a strong arm round her after
+what seemed to her ages of loneliness and fear.
+
+"My poor little girl, don't cry! You are all safe now, and no one
+shall say a word of blame to-night," said Mrs. Jo, taking Nan into her
+capacious embrace, and cuddling both children as a hen might gather her
+lost chickens under her motherly wings.
+
+"It was my fault; but I am sorry. I tried to take care of him, and I
+covered him up and let him sleep, and didn't touch his berries, though I
+was so hungry; and I never will do it again truly, never, never," sobbed
+Nan, quite lost in a sea of penitence and thankfulness.
+
+"Call them now, and let us get home," said Mrs. Jo; and Dan, getting
+upon the wall, sent a joyful word "Found!" ringing over the field.
+
+How the wandering lights came dancing from all sides, and gathered
+round the little group among the sweet fern bushes! Such a hugging,
+and kissing, and talking, and crying, as went on must have amazed the
+glowworms, and evidently delighted the mosquitoes, for they hummed
+frantically, while the little moths came in flocks to the party, and
+the frogs croaked as if they could not express their satisfaction loudly
+enough.
+
+Then they set out for home, a queer party, for Franz rode on to tell
+the news; Dan and Toby led the way; then came Nan in the strong arms of
+Silas, who considered her "the smartest little baggage he ever saw," and
+teased her all the way home about her pranks. Mrs. Bhaer would let no
+one carry Rob but himself, and the little fellow, refreshed by sleep,
+sat up, and chattered gayly, feeling himself a hero, while his mother
+went beside him holding on to any pat of his precious little body that
+came handy, and never tired of hearing him say, "I knew Marmar would
+come," or seeing him lean down to kiss her, and put a plump berry into
+her mouth, "'Cause he picked 'em all for her."
+
+The moon shone out just as they reached the avenue, and all the boys
+came shouting to meet them, so the lost lambs were borne in triumph
+and safety, and landed in the dining-room, where the unromantic little
+things demanded supper instead of preferring kisses and caresses. They
+were set down to bread and milk, while the entire household stood round
+to gaze upon them. Nan soon recovered her spirits, and recounted her
+perils with a relish now that they were all over. Rob seemed absorbed in
+his food, but put down his spoon all of a sudden, and set up a doleful
+roar.
+
+"My precious, why do you cry?" asked his mother, who still hung over
+him.
+
+"I'm crying 'cause I was lost," bawled Rob, trying to squeeze out a
+tear, and failing entirely.
+
+"But you are found now. Nan says you didn't cry out in the field, and I
+was glad you were such a brave boy."
+
+"I was so busy being frightened I didn't have any time then. But I want
+to cry now, 'cause I don't like to be lost," explained Rob, struggling
+with sleep, emotion, and a mouthful of bread and milk.
+
+The boys set up such a laugh at this funny way of making up for lost
+time, that Rob stopped to look at them, and the merriment was so
+infectious, that after a surprised stare he burst out into a merry,
+"Ha, ha!" and beat his spoon upon the table as if he enjoyed the joke
+immensely.
+
+"It is ten o'clock; into bed, every man of you," said Mr. Bhaer, looking
+at his watch.
+
+"And, thank Heaven! there will be no empty ones to-night," added Mrs.
+Bhaer, watching, with full eyes, Robby going up in his father's
+arms, and Nan escorted by Daisy and Demi, who considered her the most
+interesting heroine of their collection.
+
+"Poor Aunt Jo is so tired she ought to be carried up herself," said
+gentle Franz, putting his arm round her as she paused at the stair-foot,
+looking quite exhausted by her fright and long walk.
+
+"Let's make an arm-chair," proposed Tommy.
+
+"No, thank you, my lads; but somebody may lend me a shoulder to lean
+on," answered Mrs. Jo.
+
+"Me! me!" and half-a-dozen jostled one another, all eager to be chosen,
+for there was something in the pale motherly face that touched the warm
+hearts under the round jackets.
+
+Seeing that they considered it an honor, Mrs. Jo gave it to the one who
+had earned it, and nobody grumbled when she put her arm on Dan's broad
+shoulder, saying, with a look that made him color up with pride and
+pleasure,
+
+"He found the children; so I think he must help me up."
+
+Dan felt richly rewarded for his evening's work, not only that he was
+chosen from all the rest to go proudly up bearing the lamp, but because
+Mrs. Jo said heartily, "Good-night, my boy! God bless you!" as he left
+her at her door.
+
+"I wish I was your boy," said Dan, who felt as if danger and trouble had
+somehow brought him nearer than ever to her.
+
+"You shall be my oldest son," and she sealed her promise with a kiss
+that made Dan hers entirely.
+
+Little Rob was all right next day, but Nan had a headache, and lay on
+Mother Bhaer's sofa with cold-cream upon her scratched face. Her remorse
+was quite gone, and she evidently thought being lost rather a fine
+amusement. Mrs. Jo was not pleased with this state of things, and had no
+desire to have her children led from the paths of virtue, or her pupils
+lying round loose in huckleberry fields. So she talked soberly to Nan,
+and tried to impress upon her mind the difference between liberty and
+license, telling several tales to enforce her lecture. She had not
+decided how to punish Nan, but one of these stories suggested a way, and
+as Mrs. Jo liked odd penalties, she tried it.
+
+"All children run away," pleaded Nan, as if it was as natural and
+necessary a thing as measles or hooping cough.
+
+"Not all, and some who do run away don't get found again," answered Mrs.
+Jo.
+
+"Didn't you do it yourself?" asked Nan, whose keen little eyes saw some
+traces of a kindred spirit in the serious lady who was sewing so morally
+before her.
+
+Mrs. Jo laughed, and owned that she did.
+
+"Tell about it," demanded Nan, feeling that she was getting the upper
+hand in the discussion.
+
+Mrs. Jo saw that, and sobered down at once, saying, with a remorseful
+shake of the head,
+
+"I did it a good many times, and led my poor mother rather a hard life
+with my pranks, till she cured me."
+
+"How?" and Nan sat up with a face full of interest.
+
+"I had a new pair of shoes once, and wanted to show them; so, though I
+was told not to leave the garden, I ran away and was wandering about all
+day. It was in the city, and why I wasn't killed I don't know. Such a
+time as I had. I frolicked in the park with dogs, sailed boats in the
+Back Bay with strange boys, dined with a little Irish beggar-girl on
+salt fish and potatoes, and was found at last fast asleep on a door-step
+with my arms round a great dog. It was late in the evening, and I was a
+dirty as a little pig, and the new shoes were worn out I had travelled
+so far."
+
+"How nice!" cried Nan, looking all ready to go and do it herself.
+
+"It was not nice next day;" and Mrs. Jo tried to keep her eyes from
+betraying how much she enjoyed the memory of her early capers.
+
+"Did your mother whip you?" asked Nan, curiously.
+
+"She never whipped me but once, and then she begged my pardon, or I
+don't think I ever should have forgiven her, it hurt my feelings so
+much."
+
+"Why did she beg your pardon? my father don't."
+
+"Because, when she had done it, I turned round and said, 'Well, you are
+mad yourself, and ought to be whipped as much as me.' She looked at me
+a minute, then her anger all died out, and she said, as if ashamed, 'You
+are right, Jo, I am angry; and why should I punish you for being in a
+passion when I set you such a bad example? Forgive me, dear, and let us
+try to help one another in a better way.' I never forgot it, and it did
+me more good than a dozen rods."
+
+Nan sat thoughtfully turning the little cold-cream jar for a minute, and
+Mrs. Jo said nothing, but let that idea get well into the busy little
+mind that was so quick to see and feel what went on about her.
+
+"I like that," said Nan, presently, and her face looked less elfish,
+with its sharp eyes, inquisitive nose, and mischievous mouth. "What did
+your mother do to you when you ran away that time?"
+
+"She tied me to the bed-post with a long string, so that I could not
+go out of the room, and there I stayed all day with the little worn-out
+shoes hanging up before me to remind me of my fault."
+
+"I should think that would cure anybody," cried Nan, who loved her
+liberty above all things.
+
+"It did cure me, and I think it will you, so I am going to try it," said
+Mrs. Jo, suddenly taking a ball of strong twine out of a drawer in her
+work-table.
+
+Nan looked as if she was decidedly getting the worst of the argument
+now, and sat feeling much crestfallen while Mrs. Jo tied one end round
+her waist and the other to the arm of the sofa, saying, as she finished,
+
+"I don't like to tie you up like a naughty little dog, but if you don't
+remember any better than a dog, I must treat you like one."
+
+"I'd just as lief be tied up as not I like to play dog;" and Nan put on
+a don't-care face, and began to growl and grovel on the floor.
+
+Mrs. Jo took no notice, but leaving a book or two and a handkerchief to
+hem, she went away, and left Miss Nan to her own devices. This was not
+agreeable, and after sitting a moment she tried to untie the cord. But
+it was fastened in the belt of her apron behind, so she began on the
+knot at the other end. It soon came loose, and, gathering it up, Nan was
+about to get out of the window, when she heard Mrs. Jo say to somebody
+as she passed through the hall,
+
+"No, I don't think she will run away now; she is an honorable little
+girl, and knows that I do it to help her."
+
+In a minute, Nan whisked back, tied herself up, and began to sew
+violently. Rob came in a moment after, and was so charmed with the new
+punishment, that he got a jump-rope and tethered himself to the other
+arm of the sofa in the most social manner.
+
+"I got lost too, so I ought to be tied up as much as Nan," he explained
+to his mother when she saw the new captive.
+
+"I'm not sure that you don't deserve a little punishment, for you knew
+it was wrong to go far away from the rest."
+
+"Nan took me," began Rob, willing to enjoy the novel penalty, but not
+willing to take the blame.
+
+"You needn't have gone. You have got a conscience, though you are a
+little boy, and you must learn to mind it."
+
+"Well, my conscience didn't prick me a bit when she said 'Let's get over
+the wall,'" answered Rob, quoting one of Demi's expressions.
+
+"Did you stop to see if it did?"
+
+"No."
+
+"Then you cannot tell."
+
+"I guess it's such a little conscience that it don't prick hard enough
+for me to feel it," added Rob, after thinking the matter over for a
+minute.
+
+"We must sharpen it up. It's bad to have a dull conscience; so you may
+stay here till dinner-time, and talk about it with Nan. I trust you both
+not to untie yourselves till I say the word."
+
+"No, we won't," said both, feeling a certain sense of virtue in helping
+to punish themselves.
+
+For an hour they were very good, then they grew tired of one room,
+and longed to get out. Never had the hall seemed so inviting; even the
+little bedroom acquired a sudden interest, and they would gladly have
+gone in and played tent with the curtains of the best bed. The open
+windows drove them wild because they could not reach them; and the outer
+world seemed so beautiful, they wondered how they ever found the
+heart to say it was dull. Nan pined for a race round the lawn, and Rob
+remembered with dismay that he had not fed his dog that morning, and
+wondered what poor Pollux would do. They watched the clock, and Nan did
+some nice calculations in minutes and seconds, while Rob learned to tell
+all the hours between eight and one so well that he never forgot them.
+It was maddening to smell the dinner, to know that there was to be
+succotash and huckleberry pudding, and to feel that they would not be
+on the spot to secure good helps of both. When Mary Ann began to set the
+table, they nearly cut themselves in two trying to see what meat there
+was to be; and Nan offered to help her make the beds, if she would only
+see that she had "lots of sauce on her pudding."
+
+When the boys came bursting out of school, they found the children
+tugging at their halters like a pair of restive little colts, and
+were much edified, as well as amused, by the sequel to the exciting
+adventures of the night.
+
+"Untie me now, Marmar; my conscience will prick like a pin next time, I
+know it will," said Rob, as the bell rang, and Teddy came to look at him
+with sorrowful surprise.
+
+"We shall see," answered his mother, setting him free. He took a good
+run down the hall, back through the dining-room, and brought up beside
+Nan, quite beaming with virtuous satisfaction.
+
+"I'll bring her dinner to her, may I?" he asked, pitying his
+fellow-captive.
+
+"That's my kind little son! Yes, pull out the table, and get a chair;"
+and Mrs. Jo hurried away to quell the ardor of the others, who were
+always in a raging state of hunger at noon.
+
+Nan ate alone, and spent a long afternoon attached to the sofa. Mrs.
+Bhaer lengthened her bonds so that she could look out of the window;
+and there she stood watching the boys play, and all the little summer
+creatures enjoying their liberty. Daisy had a picnic for the dolls on
+the lawn, so that Nan might see the fun if she could not join in it.
+Tommy turned his best somersaults to console her; Demi sat on the steps
+reading aloud to himself, which amused Nan a good deal; and Dan brought
+a little tree-toad to show her as the most delicate attention in his
+power.
+
+But nothing atoned for the loss of freedom; and a few hours of
+confinement taught Nan how precious it was. A good many thoughts went
+through the little head that lay on the window-sill during the last
+quiet hour when all the children went to the brook to see Emil's new
+ship launched. She was to have christened it, and had depended on
+smashing a tiny bottle of currant-wine over the prow as it was named
+Josephine in honor of Mrs. Bhaer. Now she had lost her chance, and Daisy
+wouldn't do it half so well. Tears rose to her eyes as she remembered
+that it was all her own fault; and she said aloud, addressing a fat
+bee who was rolling about in the yellow heart of a rose just under the
+window,
+
+"If you have run away, you'd better go right home, and tell your mother
+you are sorry, and never do so any more."
+
+"I am glad to hear you give him such good advice, and I think he has
+taken it," said Mrs. Jo, smiling, as the bee spread his dusty wings and
+flew away.
+
+Nan brushed off a bright drop or two that shone on the window-sill, and
+nestled against her friend as she took her on her knee, adding kindly
+for she had seen the little drops, and knew what they meant,
+
+"Do you think my mother's cure for running away a good one?"
+
+"Yes, ma'am," answered Nan, quite subdued by her quiet day.
+
+"I hope I shall not have to try it again."
+
+"I guess not;" and Nan looked up with such an earnest little face that
+Mrs. Jo felt satisfied, and said no more, for she liked to have her
+penalties do their own work, and did not spoil the effect by too much
+moralizing.
+
+Here Rob appeared, bearing with infinite care what Asia called a "sarcer
+pie," meaning one baked in a saucer.
+
+"It's made out of some of my berries, and I'm going to give you half at
+supper-time," he announced with a flourish.
+
+"What makes you, when I'm so naughty?" asked Nan, meekly.
+
+"Because we got lost together. You ain't going to be naughty again, are
+you?"
+
+"Never," said Nan, with great decision.
+
+"Oh, goody! now let's go and get Mary Ann to cut this for us all ready
+to eat; it's 'most tea time;" and Rob beckoned with the delicious little
+pie.
+
+Nan started to follow, then stopped, and said,
+
+"I forgot, I can't go."
+
+"Try and see," said Mrs. Bhaer, who had quietly untied the cord sash
+while she had been talking.
+
+Nan saw that she was free, and with one tempestuous kiss to Mrs. Jo, she
+was off like a humming-bird, followed by Robby, dribbling huckleberry
+juice as he ran.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIII. GOLDILOCKS
+
+After the last excitement peace descended upon Plumfield and reigned
+unbroken for several weeks, for the elder boys felt that the loss of Nan
+and Rob lay at their door, and all became so paternal in their care
+that they were rather wearying; while the little ones listened to Nan's
+recital of her perils so many times, that they regarded being lost as
+the greatest ill humanity was heir to, and hardly dared to put their
+little noses outside the great gate lest night should suddenly descend
+upon them, and ghostly black cows come looming through the dusk.
+
+"It is too good to last," said Mrs. Jo; for years of boy-culture had
+taught her that such lulls were usually followed by outbreaks of some
+sort, and when less wise women would have thought that the boys had
+become confirmed saints, she prepared herself for a sudden eruption of
+the domestic volcano.
+
+One cause of this welcome calm was a visit from little Bess, whose
+parents lent her for a week while they were away with Grandpa Laurence,
+who was poorly. The boys regarded Goldilocks as a mixture of child,
+angel, and fairy, for she was a lovely little creature, and the golden
+hair which she inherited from her blonde mamma enveloped her like
+a shining veil, behind which she smiled upon her worshippers when
+gracious, and hid herself when offended. Her father would not have it
+cut and it hung below her waist, so soft and fine and bright, that Demi
+insisted that it was silk spun from a cocoon. Every one praised the
+little Princess, but it did not seem to do her harm, only to teach her
+that her presence brought sunshine, her smiles made answering smiles
+on other faces, and her baby griefs filled every heart with tenderest
+sympathy.
+
+Unconsciously, she did her young subjects more good than many a real
+sovereign, for her rule was very gentle and her power was felt rather
+than seen. Her natural refinement made her dainty in all things, and
+had a good effect upon the careless lads about her. She would let no one
+touch her roughly or with unclean hands, and more soap was used during
+her visits than at any other time, because the boys considered it the
+highest honor to be allowed to carry her highness, and the deepest
+disgrace to be repulsed with the disdainful command, "Do away, dirty
+boy!"
+
+Lour voices displeased her and quarrelling frightened her; so gentler
+tones came into the boyish voices as they addressed her, and squabbles
+were promptly suppressed in her presence by lookers-on if the principles
+could not restrain themselves. She liked to be waited on, and the
+biggest boys did her little errands without a murmur, while the small
+lads were her devoted slaves in all things. They begged to be allowed to
+draw her carriage, bear her berry-basket, or pass her plate at table.
+No service was too humble, and Tommy and Ned came to blows before they
+could decide which should have the honor of blacking her little boots.
+
+Nan was especially benefited by a week in the society of a well-bred
+lady, though such a very small one; for Bess would look at her with
+a mixture of wonder and alarm in her great blue eyes when the hoyden
+screamed and romped; and she shrunk from her as if she thought her a
+sort of wild animal. Warm-hearted Nan felt this very much. She said at
+first, "Pooh! I don't care!" But she did care, and was so hurt when Bess
+said, "I love my tuzzin best, tause she is twiet," that she shook poor
+Daisy till her teeth chattered in her head, and then fled to the barn
+to cry dismally. In that general refuge for perturbed spirits she found
+comfort and good counsel from some source or other. Perhaps the swallows
+from their mud-built nests overhead twittered her a little lecture on
+the beauty of gentleness. However that might have been, she came out
+quite subdued, and carefully searched the orchard for a certain kind
+of early apple that Bess liked because it was sweet and small and rosy.
+Armed with this peace-offering, she approached the little Princess, and
+humbly presented it. To her great joy it was graciously accepted, and
+when Daisy gave Nan a forgiving kiss, Bess did likewise, as if she felt
+that she had been too severe, and desired to apologize. After this they
+played pleasantly together, and Nan enjoyed the royal favor for days.
+To be sure she felt a little like a wild bird in a pretty cage at first,
+and occasionally had to slip out to stretch her wings in a long flight,
+or to sing at the top of her voice, where neither would disturb the
+plump turtle-dove Daisy, nor the dainty golden canary Bess. But it did
+her good; for, seeing how every one loved the little Princess for her
+small graces and virtues, she began to imitate her, because Nan wanted
+much love, and tried hard to win it.
+
+Not a boy in the house but felt the pretty child's influence, and was
+improved by it without exactly knowing how or why, for babies can
+work miracles in the hearts that love them. Poor Billy found infinite
+satisfaction in staring at her, and though she did not like it she
+permitted without a frown, after she had been made to understand that he
+was not quite like the others, and on that account must be more kindly
+treated. Dick and Dolly overwhelmed her with willow whistles, the only
+thing they knew how to make, and she accepted but never used them. Rob
+served her like a little lover, and Teddy followed her like a pet dog.
+Jack she did not like, because he was afflicted with warts and had a
+harsh voice. Stuffy displeased her because he did not eat tidily, and
+George tried hard not to gobble, that he might not disgust the dainty
+little lady opposite. Ned was banished from court in utter disgrace when
+he was discovered tormenting some unhappy field-mice. Goldilocks could
+never forget the sad spectacle, and retired behind her veil when he
+approached, waving him away with an imperious little hand, and crying,
+in a tone of mingled grief and anger,
+
+"No, I tarn't love him; he tut the poor mouses' little tails off, and
+they queeked!"
+
+Daisy promptly abdicated when Bess came, and took the humble post of
+chief cook, while Nan was first maid of honor; Emil was chancellor
+of the exchequer, and spent the public monies lavishly in getting up
+spectacles that cost whole ninepences. Franz was prime minister, and
+directed her affairs of state, planned royal progresses through the
+kingdom, and kept foreign powers in order. Demi was her philosopher, and
+fared much better than such gentlemen usually do among crowned heads.
+Dan was her standing army, and defended her territories gallantly; Tommy
+was court fool, and Nat a tuneful Rizzio to this innocent little Mary.
+
+Uncle Fritz and Aunt Jo enjoyed this peaceful episode, and looked on
+at the pretty play in which the young folk unconsciously imitated their
+elders, without adding the tragedy that is so apt to spoil the dramas
+acted on the larger stage.
+
+"They teach us quite as much as we teach them," said Mr. Bhaer.
+
+"Bless the dears! they never guess how many hints they give us as to the
+best way of managing them," answered Mrs. Jo.
+
+"I think you were right about the good effect of having girls among the
+boys. Nan has stirred up Daisy, and Bess is teaching the little bears
+how to behave better than we can. If this reformation goes on as it
+has begun, I shall soon feel like Dr. Blimber with his model young
+gentlemen," said Professor, laughing, as he saw Tommy not only remove
+his own hat, but knock off Ned's also, as they entered the hall where
+the Princess was taking a ride on the rocking-horse, attended by Rob
+and Teddy astride of chairs, and playing gallant knights to the best of
+their ability.
+
+"You will never be a Blimber, Fritz, you couldn't do it if you tried;
+and our boys will never submit to the forcing process of that famous
+hot-bed. No fear that they will be too elegant: American boys like
+liberty too well. But good manners they cannot fail to have, if we give
+them the kindly spirit that shines through the simplest demeanor, making
+it courteous and cordial, like yours, my dear old boy."
+
+"Tut! tut! we will not compliment; for if I begin you will run away, and
+I have a wish to enjoy this happy half hour to the end;" yet Mr. Bhaer
+looked pleased with the compliment, for it was true, and Mrs. Jo felt
+that she had received the best her husband could give her, by saying
+that he found his truest rest and happiness in her society.
+
+"To return to the children: I have just had another proof of Goldilocks'
+good influence," said Mrs. Jo, drawing her chair nearer the sofa,
+where the Professor lay resting after a long day's work in his various
+gardens. "Nan hates sewing, but for love of Bess has been toiling half
+the afternoon over a remarkable bag in which to present a dozen of our
+love-apples to her idol when she goes. I praised her for it, and she
+said, in her quick way, 'I like to sew for other people; it is stupid
+sewing for myself.' I took the hint, and shall give her some little
+shirts and aprons for Mrs. Carney's children. She is so generous, she
+will sew her fingers sore for them, and I shall not have to make a task
+of it."
+
+"But needlework is not a fashionable accomplishment, my dear."
+
+"Sorry for it. My girls shall learn all I can teach them about it,
+even if they give up the Latin, Algebra, and half-a-dozen ologies it
+is considered necessary for girls to muddle their poor brains over
+now-a-days. Amy means to make Bess an accomplished woman, but the dear's
+mite of a forefinger has little pricks on it already, and her mother has
+several specimens of needlework which she values more than the clay bird
+without a bill, that filled Laurie with such pride when Bess made it."
+
+"I also have proof of the Princess's power," said Mrs. Bhaer, after he
+had watched Mrs. Jo sew on a button with an air of scorn for the whole
+system of fashionable education. "Jack is so unwilling to be classed
+with Stuffy and Ned, as distasteful to Bess, that he came to me a little
+while ago, and asked me to touch his warts with caustic. I have often
+proposed it, and he never would consent; but now he bore the smart
+manfully, and consoles his present discomfort by hopes of future favor,
+when he can show her fastidious ladyship a smooth hand."
+
+Mrs. Bhaer laughed at the story, and just then Stuffy came in to ask if
+he might give Goldilocks some of the bonbons his mother had sent him.
+
+"She is not allowed to eat sweeties; but if you like to give her the
+pretty box with the pink sugar-rose in it, she would like it very much,"
+said Mrs. Jo, unwilling to spoil this unusual piece of self-denial, for
+the "fat boy" seldom offered to share his sugar-plums.
+
+"Won't she eat it? I shouldn't like to make her sick," said Stuffy,
+eyeing the delicate sweetmeat lovingly, yet putting it into the box.
+
+"Oh, no, she won't touch it, if I tell her it is to look at, not to eat.
+She will keep it for weeks, and never think of tasting it. Can you do as
+much?"
+
+"I should hope so! I'm ever so much older than she is," cried Stuffy,
+indignantly.
+
+"Well, suppose we try. Here, put your bonbons in this bag, and see how
+long you can keep them. Let me count two hearts, four red fishes, three
+barley-sugar horses, nine almonds, and a dozen chocolate drops. Do you
+agree to that?" asked sly Mrs. Jo, popping the sweeties into her little
+spool-bag.
+
+"Yes," said Stuffy, with a sigh; and pocketing the forbidden fruit,
+he went away to give Bess the present, that won a smile from her, and
+permission to escort her round the garden.
+
+"Poor Stuffy's heart has really got the better of his stomach at last,
+and his efforts will be much encouraged by the rewards Bess gives him,"
+said Mrs. Jo.
+
+"Happy is the man who can put temptation in his pocket and learn
+self-denial from so sweet a little teacher!" added Mr. Bhaer, as
+the children passed the window, Stuffy's fat face full of placid
+satisfaction, and Goldilocks surveying her sugar-rose with polite
+interest, though she would have preferred a real flower with a "pitty
+smell."
+
+When her father came to take her home, a universal wail arose, and the
+parting gifts showered upon her increased her luggage to such an extent
+that Mr. Laurie proposed having out the big wagon to take it into town.
+Every one had given her something; and it was found difficult to pack
+white mice, cake, a parcel of shells, apples, a rabbit kicking violently
+in a bag, a large cabbage for his refreshment, a bottle of minnows, and
+a mammoth bouquet. The farewell scene was moving, for the Princess sat
+upon the hall-table, surrounded by her subjects. She kissed her cousins,
+and held out her hand to the other boys, who shook it gently with
+various soft speeches, for they were taught not to be ashamed of showing
+their emotions.
+
+"Come again soon, little dear," whispered Dan, fastening his best
+green-and-gold beetle in her hat.
+
+"Don't forget me, Princess, whatever you do," said the engaging Tommy,
+taking a last stroke of the pretty hair.
+
+"I am coming to your house next week, and then I shall see you, Bess,"
+added Nat, as if he found consolation in the thought.
+
+"Do shake hands now," cried Jack, offering a smooth paw.
+
+"Here are two nice new ones to remember us by," said Dick and Dolly,
+presenting fresh whistles, quite unconscious that seven old ones had
+been privately deposited in the kitchen-stove.
+
+"My little precious! I shall work you a book-mark right away, and you
+must keep it always," said Nan, with a warm embrace.
+
+But of all the farewells, poor Billy's was the most pathetic, for the
+thought that she was really going became so unbearable that he cast
+himself down before her, hugging her little blue boots and blubbering
+despairingly, "Don't go away! oh, don't!" Goldilocks was so touched by
+this burst of feeling, that she leaned over and lifting the poor lad's
+head, said, in her soft, little voice,
+
+"Don't cry, poor Billy! I will tiss you and tum adain soon."
+
+This promise consoled Billy, and he fell back beaming with pride at the
+unusual honor conferred upon him.
+
+"Me too! me too!" clamored Dick and Dolly, feeling that their devotion
+deserved some return. The others looked as if they would like to join
+in the cry; and something in the kind, merry faces about her moved the
+Princess to stretch out her arms and say, with reckless condescension,
+
+"I will tiss evvybody!"
+
+Like a swarm of bees about a very sweet flower, the affectionate lads
+surrounded their pretty playmate, and kissed her till she looked like a
+little rose, not roughly, but so enthusiastically that nothing but the
+crown of her hat was visible for a moment. Then her father rescued her,
+and she drove away still smiling and waving her hands, while the boys
+sat on the fence screaming like a flock of guinea-fowls, "Come back!
+come back!" till she was out of sight.
+
+They all missed her, and each dimly felt that he was better for having
+known a creature so lovely, delicate, and sweet; for little Bess
+appealed to the chivalrous instinct in them as something to love,
+admire, and protect with a tender sort of reverence. Many a man
+remembers some pretty child who has made a place in his heart and kept
+her memory alive by the simple magic of her innocence; these little men
+were just learning to feel this power, and to love it for its gentle
+influence, not ashamed to let the small hand lead them, nor to own their
+loyalty to womankind, even in the bud.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIV. DAMON AND PYTHIAS
+
+Mrs. Bhaer was right; peace was only a temporary lull, a storm was
+brewing, and two days after Bess left, a moral earthquake shook
+Plumfield to its centre.
+
+Tommy's hens were at the bottom of the trouble, for if they had not
+persisted in laying so many eggs, he could not have sold them and made
+such sums. Money is the root of all evil, and yet it is such a useful
+root that we cannot get on without it any more than we can without
+potatoes. Tommy certainly could not, for he spent his income so
+recklessly, that Mr. Bhaer was obliged to insist on a savings-bank, and
+presented him with a private one an imposing tin edifice, with the name
+over the door, and a tall chimney, down which the pennies were to
+go, there to rattle temptingly till leave was given to open a sort of
+trap-door in the floor.
+
+The house increased in weight so rapidly, that Tommy soon became
+satisfied with his investment, and planned to buy unheard-of treasures
+with his capital. He kept account of the sums deposited, and was
+promised that he might break the bank as soon as he had five dollars,
+on condition that he spent the money wisely. Only one dollar was needed,
+and the day Mrs. Jo paid him for four dozen eggs, he was so delighted,
+that he raced off to the barn to display the bright quarters to Nat, who
+was also laying by money for the long-desired violin.
+
+"I wish I had 'em to put with my three dollars, then I'd soon get enough
+to buy my fiddle," he said, looking wistfully at the money.
+
+"P'raps I'll lend you some. I haven't decided yet what I'll do with
+mine," said Tommy, tossing up his quarters and catching them as they
+fell.
+
+"Hi! boys! come down to the brook and see what a jolly great snake Dan's
+got!" called a voice from behind the barn.
+
+"Come on," said Tommy; and, laying his money inside the old winnowing
+machine, away he ran, followed by Nat.
+
+The snake was very interesting, and then a long chase after a lame
+crow, and its capture, so absorbed Tommy's mind and time, that he never
+thought of his money till he was safely in bed that night.
+
+"Never mind, no one but Nat knows where it is," said the easy-going lad,
+and fell asleep untroubled by any anxiety about his property.
+
+Next morning, just as the boys assembled for school, Tommy rushed into
+the room breathlessly, demanding,
+
+"I say, who has got my dollar?"
+
+"What are you talking about?" asked Franz.
+
+Tommy explained, and Nat corroborated his statement.
+
+Every one else declared they knew nothing about it, and began to look
+suspiciously at Nat, who got more and more alarmed and confused with
+each denial.
+
+"Somebody must have taken it," said Franz, as Tommy shook his fist at
+the whole party, and wrathfully declared that,
+
+"By thunder turtles! if I get hold of the thief, I'll give him what he
+won't forget in a hurry."
+
+"Keep cool, Tom; we shall find him out; thieves always come to grief,"
+said Dan, as one who knew something of the matter.
+
+"May be some tramp slept in the barn and took it," suggested Ned.
+
+"No, Silas don't allow that; besides, a tramp wouldn't go looking in
+that old machine for money," said Emil, with scorn.
+
+"Wasn't it Silas himself?" said Jack.
+
+"Well, I like that! Old Si is as honest as daylight. You wouldn't catch
+him touching a penny of ours," said Tommy, handsomely defending his
+chief admirer from suspicion.
+
+"Whoever it was had better tell, and not wait to be found out," said
+Demi, looking as if an awful misfortune had befallen the family.
+
+"I know you think it's me," broke out Nat, red and excited.
+
+"You are the only one who knew where it was," said Franz.
+
+"I can't help it I didn't take it. I tell you I didn't I didn't!" cried
+Nat, in a desperate sort of way.
+
+"Gently, gently, my son! What is all this noise about?" and Mr. Bhaer
+walked in among them.
+
+Tommy repeated the story of his loss, and, as he listened, Mr. Bhaer's
+face grew graver and graver; for, with all their faults and follies, the
+lads till now had been honest.
+
+"Take your seats," he said; and, when all were in their places, he added
+slowly, as his eye went from face to face with a grieved look, that was
+harder to bear than a storm of words,
+
+"Now, boys, I shall ask each one of you a single question, and I want an
+honest answer. I am not going to try to frighten, bribe, or surprise the
+truth out of you, for every one of you have got a conscience, and know
+what it is for. Now is the time to undo the wrong done to Tommy, and
+set yourselves right before us all. I can forgive the yielding to sudden
+temptation much easier than I can deceit. Don't add a lie to the theft,
+but confess frankly, and we will all try to help you make us forget and
+forgive."
+
+He paused a moment, and one might have heard a pin drop, the room was
+so still; then slowly and impressively he put the question to each one,
+receiving the same answer in varying tones from all. Every face was
+flushed and excited, so that Mr. Bhaer could not take color as a
+witness, and some of the little boys were so frightened that they
+stammered over the two short words as if guilty, though it was evident
+that they could not be. When he came to Nat, his voice softened, for the
+poor lad looked so wretched, Mr. Bhaer felt for him. He believed him to
+be the culprit, and hoped to save the boy from another lie, by winning
+him to tell the truth without fear.
+
+"Now, my son, give me an honest answer. Did you take the money?"
+
+"No, sir!" and Nat looked up at him imploringly.
+
+As the words fell from his trembling lips, somebody hissed.
+
+"Stop that!" cried Mr. Bhaer, with a sharp rap on his desk, as he looked
+sternly toward the corner whence the sound came.
+
+Ned, Jack, and Emil sat there, and the first two looked ashamed of
+themselves, but Emil called out,
+
+"It wasn't me, uncle! I'd be ashamed to hit a fellow when he is down."
+
+"Good for you!" cried Tommy, who was in a sad state of affliction at the
+trouble his unlucky dollar had made.
+
+"Silence!" commanded Mr. Bhaer; and when it came, he said soberly,
+
+"I am very sorry, Nat, but evidences are against you, and your old fault
+makes us more ready to doubt you than we should be if we could trust you
+as we do some of the boys, who never fib. But mind, my child, I do not
+charge you with this theft; I shall not punish you for it till I am
+perfectly sure, nor ask any thing more about it. I shall leave it for
+you to settle with your own conscience. If you are guilty, come to me at
+any hour of the day or night and confess it, and I will forgive and
+help you to amend. If you are innocent, the truth will appear sooner or
+later, and the instant it does, I will be the first to beg your pardon
+for doubting you, and will so gladly do my best to clear your character
+before us all."
+
+"I didn't! I didn't!" sobbed Nat, with his head down upon his arms, for
+he could not bear the look of distrust and dislike which he read in the
+many eyes fixed on him.
+
+"I hope not." Mr. Bhaer paused a minute, as if to give the culprit,
+whoever he might be, one more chance. Nobody spoke, however, and only
+sniffs of sympathy from some of the little fellows broke the silence.
+Mr. Bhaer shook his head, and added, regretfully,
+
+"There is nothing more to be done, then, and I have but one thing to
+say: I shall not speak of this again, and I wish you all to follow my
+example. I cannot expect you to feel as kindly toward any one whom you
+suspect as before this happened, but I do expect and desire that you
+will not torment the suspected person in any way, he will have a hard
+enough time without that. Now go to your lessons."
+
+"Father Bhaer let Nat off too easy," muttered Ned to Emil, as they got
+out their books.
+
+"Hold your tongue," growled Emil, who felt that this event was a blot
+upon the family honor.
+
+Many of the boys agreed with Ned, but Mr. Bhaer was right, nevertheless;
+and Nat would have been wiser to confess on the spot and have the
+trouble over, for even the hardest whipping he ever received from his
+father was far easier to bear than the cold looks, the avoidance, and
+general suspicion that met him on all sides. If ever a boy was sent to
+Coventry and kept there, it was poor Nat; and he suffered a week of slow
+torture, though not a hand was raised against him, and hardly a word
+said.
+
+That was the worst of it; if they would only have talked it out, or
+even have thrashed him all round, he could have stood it better than
+the silent distrust that made very face so terrible to meet. Even Mrs.
+Bhaer's showed traces of it, though her manner was nearly as kind as
+ever; but the sorrowful anxious look in Father Bhaer's eyes cut Nat
+to the heart, for he loved his teacher dearly, and knew that he had
+disappointed all his hopes by this double sin.
+
+Only one person in the house entirely believed in him, and stood up for
+him stoutly against all the rest. This was Daisy. She could not explain
+why she trusted him against all appearances, she only felt that she
+could not doubt him, and her warm sympathy made her strong to take his
+part. She would not hear a word against him from any one, and actually
+slapped her beloved Demi when he tried to convince her that it must have
+been Nat, because no one else knew where the money was.
+
+"Maybe the hens ate it; they are greedy old things," she said; and when
+Demi laughed, she lost her temper, slapped the amazed boy, and then
+burst out crying and ran away, still declaring, "He didn't! he didn't!
+he didn't!"
+
+Neither aunt nor uncle tried to shake the child's faith in her friend,
+but only hoped her innocent instinct might prove sure, and loved her all
+the better for it. Nat often said, after it was over, that he couldn't
+have stood it, if it had not been for Daisy. When the others shunned
+him, she clung to him closer than ever, and turned her back on the rest.
+She did not sit on the stairs now when he solaced himself with the old
+fiddle, but went in and sat beside him, listening with a face so full of
+confidence and affection, that Nat forgot disgrace for a time, and
+was happy. She asked him to help her with her lessons, she cooked him
+marvelous messes in her kitchen, which he ate manfully, no matter what
+they were, for gratitude gave a sweet flavor to the most distasteful.
+She proposed impossible games of cricket and ball, when she found that
+he shrank from joining the other boys. She put little nosegays from her
+garden on his desk, and tried in every way to show that she was not a
+fair-weather friend, but faithful through evil as well as good repute.
+Nan soon followed her example, in kindness at least; curbed her sharp
+tongue, and kept her scornful little nose from any demonstration of
+doubt or dislike, which was good of Madame Giddy-gaddy, for she firmly
+believed that Nat took the money.
+
+Most of the boys let him severely alone, but Dan, though he said he
+despised him for being a coward, watched over him with a grim sort of
+protection, and promptly cuffed any lad who dared to molest his mate or
+make him afraid. His idea of friendship was as high as Daisy's, and, in
+his own rough way, he lived up to it as loyally.
+
+Sitting by the brook one afternoon, absorbed in the study of the
+domestic habits of water-spiders, he overheard a bit of conversation on
+the other side of the wall. Ned, who was intensely inquisitive, had been
+on tenterhooks to know certainly who was the culprit; for of late one
+or two of the boys had begun to think that they were wrong, Nat was so
+steadfast in his denials, and so meek in his endurance of their neglect.
+This doubt had teased Ned past bearing, and he had several times
+privately beset Nat with questions, regardless of Mr. Bhaer's express
+command. Finding Nat reading alone on the shady side of the wall, Ned
+could not resist stopping for a nibble at the forbidden subject. He had
+worried Nat for some ten minutes before Dan arrived, and the first words
+the spider-student heard were these, in Nat's patient, pleading voice,
+
+"Don't, Ned! oh, don't! I can't tell you because I don't know, and it's
+mean of you to keep nagging at me on the sly, when Father Bhaer told you
+not to plague me. You wouldn't dare to if Dan was round."
+
+"I ain't afraid of Dan; he's nothing but an old bully. Don't believe but
+what he took Tom's money, and you know it, and won't tell. Come, now!"
+
+"He didn't, but, if he did, I would stand up for him, he has always been
+so good to me," said Nat, so earnestly that Dan forgot his spiders, and
+rose quickly to thank him, but Ned's next words arrested him.
+
+"I know Dan did it, and gave the money to you. Shouldn't wonder if he
+got his living picking pockets before he came here, for nobody knows
+any thing about him but you," said Ned, not believing his own words, but
+hoping to get the truth out of Nat by making him angry.
+
+He succeeded in a part of his ungenerous wish, for Nat cried out,
+fiercely,
+
+"If you say that again I'll go and tell Mr. Bhaer all about it. I don't
+want to tell tales, but, by George! I will, if you don't let Dan alone."
+
+"Then you'll be a sneak, as well as a liar and a thief," began Ned, with
+a jeer, for Nat had borne insult to himself so meekly, the other did not
+believe he would dare to face the master just to stand up for Dan.
+
+What he might have added I cannot tell, for the words were hardly out
+of his mouth when a long arm from behind took him by the collar, and,
+jerking him over the wall in a most promiscuous way, landed him with a
+splash in the middle of the brook.
+
+"Say that again and I'll duck you till you can't see!" cried Dan,
+looking like a modern Colossus of Rhodes as he stood, with a foot on
+either side of the narrow stream, glaring down at the discomfited youth
+in the water.
+
+"I was only in fun," said Ned.
+
+"You are a sneak yourself to badger Nat round the corner. Let me catch
+you at it again, and I'll souse you in the river next time. Get up, and
+clear out!" thundered Dan, in a rage.
+
+Ned fled, dripping, and his impromptu sitz-bath evidently did him good,
+for he was very respectful to both the boys after that, and seemed to
+have left his curiosity in the brook. As he vanished Dan jumped over the
+wall, and found Nat lying, as if quite worn out and bowed down with his
+troubles.
+
+"He won't pester you again, I guess. If he does, just tell me, and I'll
+see to him," said Dan, trying to cool down.
+
+"I don't mind what he says about me so much, I've got used to it,"
+answered Nat sadly; "but I hate to have him pitch into you."
+
+"How do you know he isn't right?" asked Dan, turning his face away.
+
+"What, about the money?" cried Nat, looking up with a startled air.
+
+"Yes."
+
+"But I don't believe it! You don't care for money; all you want is your
+old bugs and things," and Nat laughed, incredulously.
+
+"I want a butterfly net as much as you want a fiddle; why shouldn't I
+steal the money for it as much as you?" said Dan, still turning away,
+and busily punching holes in the turf with his stick.
+
+"I don't think you would. You like to fight and knock folks round
+sometimes, but you don't lie, and I don't believe you'd steal," and Nat
+shook his head decidedly.
+
+"I've done both. I used to fib like fury; it's too much trouble now; and
+I stole things to eat out of gardens when I ran away from Page, so you
+see I am a bad lot," said Dan, speaking in the rough, reckless way which
+he had been learning to drop lately.
+
+"O Dan! don't say it's you! I'd rather have it any of the other boys,"
+cried Nat, in such a distressed tone that Dan looked pleased, and showed
+that he did, by turning round with a queer expression in his face,
+though he only answered,
+
+"I won't say any thing about it. But don't you fret, and we'll pull
+through somehow, see if we don't."
+
+Something in his face and manner gave Nat a new idea; and he said,
+pressing his hands together, in the eagerness of his appeal,
+
+"I think you know who did it. If you do, beg him to tell, Dan. It's so
+hard to have 'em all hate me for nothing. I don't think I can bear it
+much longer. If I had any place to go to, I'd run away, though I love
+Plumfield dearly; but I'm not brave and big like you, so I must stay and
+wait till some one shows them that I haven't lied."
+
+As he spoke, Nat looked so broken and despairing, that Dan could not
+bear it, and, muttered huskily,
+
+"You won't wait long," and he walked rapidly away, and was seen no more
+for hours.
+
+"What is the matter with Dan?" asked the boys of one another several
+times during the Sunday that followed a week which seemed as if it would
+never end. Dan was often moody, but that day he was so sober and silent
+that no one could get any thing out of him. When they walked he strayed
+away from the rest, and came home late. He took no part in the evening
+conversation, but sat in the shadow, so busy with his own thoughts that
+he scarcely seemed to hear what was going on. When Mrs. Jo showed him an
+unusually good report in the Conscience Book, he looked at it without a
+smile, and said, wistfully,
+
+"You think I am getting on, don't you?"
+
+"Excellently, Dan! and I am so pleased, because I always thought you
+only needed a little help to make you a boy to be proud of."
+
+He looked up at her with a strange expression in his black eyes an
+expression of mingled pride and love and sorrow which she could not
+understand then but remembered afterward.
+
+"I'm afraid you'll be disappointed, but I do try," he said, shutting the
+book with no sign of pleasure in the page that he usually liked so much
+to read over and talk about.
+
+"Are you sick, dear?" asked Mrs. Jo, with her hand on his shoulder.
+
+"My foot aches a little; I guess I'll go to bed. Good-night, mother,"
+he added, and held the hand against his cheek a minute, then went away
+looking as if he had said good-bye to something dear.
+
+"Poor Dan! he takes Nat's disgrace to heart sadly. He is a strange boy;
+I wonder if I ever shall understand him thoroughly?" said Mrs. Jo
+to herself, as she thought over Dan's late improvement with real
+satisfaction, yet felt that there was more in the lad than she had at
+first suspected.
+
+One of things which cut Nat most deeply was an act of Tommy's, for after
+his loss Tommy had said to him, kindly, but firmly,
+
+"I don't wish to hurt you, Nat, but you see I can't afford to lose my
+money, so I guess we won't be partners any longer;" and with that Tommy
+rubbed out the sign, "T. Bangs & Co."
+
+Nat had been very proud of the "Co.," and had hunted eggs industriously,
+kept his accounts all straight, and had added a good sum to his income
+from the sale of his share of stock in trade.
+
+"O Tom! must you?" he said, feeling that his good name was gone for ever
+in the business world if this was done.
+
+"I must," returned Tommy, firmly. "Emil says that when one man 'bezzles
+(believe that's the word it means to take money and cut away with it)
+the property of a firm, the other one sues him, or pitches into him
+somehow, and won't have any thing more to do with him. Now you have
+'bezzled my property; I shan't sue you, and I shan't pitch into you, but
+I must dissolve the partnership, because I can't trust you, and I don't
+wish to fail."
+
+"I can't make you believe me, and you won't take my money, though I'd be
+thankful to give all my dollars if you'd only say you don't think I took
+your money. Do let me hunt for you, I won't ask any wages, but do it for
+nothing. I know all the places, and I like it," pleaded Nat.
+
+But Tommy shook his head, and his jolly round face looked suspicious and
+hard as he said, shortly, "Can't do it; wish you didn't know the places.
+Mind you don't go hunting on the sly, and speculate in my eggs."
+
+Poor Nat was so hurt that he could not get over it. He felt that he had
+lost not only his partner and patron, but that he was bankrupt in honor,
+and an outlaw from the business community. No one trusted his word,
+written or spoken, in spite of his efforts to redeem the past falsehood;
+the sign was down, the firm broken up, and he a ruined man. The barn,
+which was the boys' Wall Street, knew him no more. Cockletop and
+her sisters cackled for him in vain, and really seemed to take his
+misfortune to heart, for eggs were fewer, and some of the biddies
+retired in disgust to new nests, which Tommy could not find.
+
+"They trust me," said Nat, when he heard of it; and though the boys
+shouted at the idea, Nat found comfort in it, for when one is down in
+the world, the confidence of even a speckled hen is most consoling.
+
+Tommy took no new partner, however, for distrust had entered in, and
+poisoned the peace of his once confiding soul. Ned offered to join him,
+but he declined, saying, with a sense of justice that did him honor,
+
+"It might turn out that Nat didn't take my money, and then we could
+be partners again. I don't think it will happen, but I will give him a
+chance, and keep the place open a little longer."
+
+Billy was the only person whom Bangs felt he could trust in his shop,
+and Billy was trained to hunt eggs, and hand them over unbroken, being
+quite satisfied with an apple or a sugar-plum for wages. The morning
+after Dan's gloomy Sunday, Billy said to his employer, as he displayed
+the results of a long hunt,
+
+"Only two."
+
+"It gets worse and worse; I never saw such provoking old hens," growled
+Tommy, thinking of the days when he often had six to rejoice over.
+"Well, put 'em in my hat and give me a new bit of chalk; I must mark 'em
+up, any way."
+
+Billy mounted a peck-measure, and looked into the top of the machine,
+where Tommy kept his writing materials.
+
+"There's lots of money in here," said Billy.
+
+"No, there isn't. Catch me leaving my cash round again," returned Tommy.
+
+"I see 'em one, four, eight, two dollars," persisted Billy, who had not
+yet mastered the figures correctly.
+
+"What a jack you are!" and Tommy hopped up to get the chalk for himself,
+but nearly tumbled down again, for there actually were four bright
+quarters in a row, with a bit of paper on them directed to "Tom Bangs,"
+that there might be no mistake.
+
+"Thunder turtles!" cried Tommy, and seizing them he dashed into the
+house, bawling wildly, "It's all right! Got my money! Where's Nat?"
+
+He was soon found, and his surprise and pleasure were so genuine that
+few doubted his word when he now denied all knowledge of the money.
+
+"How could I put it back when I didn't take it? Do believe me now, and
+be good to me again," he said, so imploringly, that Emil slapped him on
+the back, and declared he would for one.
+
+"So will I, and I'm jolly glad it's not you. But who the dickens is it?"
+said Tommy, after shaking hands heartily with Nat.
+
+"Never mind, as long as it's found," said Dan with his eyes fixed on
+Nat's happy face.
+
+"Well, I like that! I'm not going to have my things hooked, and then
+brought back like the juggling man's tricks," cried Tommy, looking at
+his money as if he suspected witchcraft.
+
+"We'll find him out somehow, though he was sly enough to print this so
+his writing wouldn't be known," said Franz, examining the paper.
+
+"Demi prints tip-top," put in Rob, who had not a very clear idea what
+the fuss was all about.
+
+"You can't make me believe it's him, not if you talk till you are blue,"
+said Tommy, and the others hooted at the mere idea; for the little
+deacon, as they called him, was above suspicion.
+
+Nat felt the difference in the way they spoke of Demi and himself, and
+would have given all he had or ever hoped to have to be so trusted;
+for he had learned how easy it is to lose the confidence of others, how
+very, very hard to win it back, and truth became to him a precious thing
+since he had suffered from neglecting it.
+
+Mr. Bhaer was very glad one step had been taken in the right direction,
+and waited hopefully for yet further revelations. They came sooner than
+he expected, and in a way that surprised and grieved him very much. As
+they sat at supper that night, a square parcel was handed to Mrs. Bhaer
+from Mrs. Bates, a neighbor. A note accompanied the parcel, and, while
+Mr. Bhaer read it, Demi pulled off the wrapper, exclaiming, as he saw
+its contents,
+
+"Why, it's the book Uncle Teddy gave Dan!"
+
+"The devil!" broke from Dan, for he had not yet quite cured himself of
+swearing, though he tried very hard.
+
+Mr. Bhaer looked up quickly at the sound. Dan tried to meet his eyes,
+but could not; his own fell, and he sat biting his lips, getting redder
+and redder till he was the picture of shame.
+
+"What is it?" asked Mrs. Bhaer, anxiously.
+
+"I should have preferred to talk about this in private, but Demi has
+spoilt that plan, so I may as well have it out now," said Mr. Bhaer,
+looking a little stern, as he always did when any meanness or deceit
+came up for judgment.
+
+"The note is from Mrs. Bates, and she says that her boy Jimmy told her
+he bought this book of Dan last Saturday. She saw that it was worth much
+more than a dollar, and thinking there was some mistake, has sent it to
+me. Did you sell it, Dan?"
+
+"Yes, sir," was the slow answer.
+
+"Why?"
+
+"Wanted money."
+
+"For what?"
+
+"To pay somebody."
+
+"To whom did you owe it?"
+
+"Tommy."
+
+"Never borrowed a cent of me in his life," cried Tommy, looked scared,
+for he guessed what was coming now, and felt that on the whole he would
+have preferred witchcraft, for he admired Dan immensely.
+
+"Perhaps he took it," cried Ned, who owed Dan a grudge for the ducking,
+and, being a mortal boy, liked to pay it off.
+
+"O Dan!" cried Nat, clasping his hands, regardless of the bread and
+butter in them.
+
+"It is a hard thing to do, but I must have this settled, for I cannot
+have you watching each other like detectives, and the whole school
+disturbed in this way, did you put that dollar in the barn this
+morning?" asked Mr. Bhaer.
+
+Dan looked him straight in the face, and answered steadily, "Yes, I
+did."
+
+A murmur went round the table, Tommy dropped his mug with a crash; Daisy
+cried out, "I knew it wasn't Nat;" Nan began to cry, and Mrs. Jo left
+the room, looking so disappointed, sorry, and ashamed that Dan could not
+bear it. He hid his face in his hands a moment, then threw up his head,
+squared his shoulders as if settling some load upon them, and said, with
+the dogged look, and half-resolute, half-reckless tone he had used when
+he first came,
+
+"I did it; now you may do what you like to me, but I won't say another
+word about it."
+
+"Not even that you are sorry?" asked Mr. Bhaer, troubled by the change
+in him.
+
+"I ain't sorry."
+
+"I'll forgive him without asking," said Tommy, feeling that it was
+harder somehow to see brave Dan disgraced than timid Nat.
+
+"Don't want to be forgiven," returned Dan, gruffly.
+
+"Perhaps you will when you have thought about it quietly by yourself, I
+won't tell you now how surprised and disappointed I am, but by and by I
+will come up and talk to you in your room."
+
+"Won't make any difference," said Dan, trying to speak defiantly, but
+failing as he looked at Mr. Bhaer's sorrowful face; and, taking his
+words for a dismissal, Dan left the room as if he found it impossible to
+stay.
+
+It would have done him good if he had stayed; for the boys talked the
+matter over with such sincere regret, and pity, and wonder, it might
+have touched and won him to ask pardon. No one was glad to find that it
+was he, not even Nat; for, spite of all his faults, and they were many,
+every one liked Dan now, because under his rough exterior lay some of
+the manly virtues which we most admire and love. Mrs. Jo had been the
+chief prop, as well as cultivator, of Dan; and she took it sadly to
+heart that her last and most interesting boy had turned out so ill. The
+theft was bad, but the lying about it, and allowing another to suffer
+so much from an unjust suspicion was worse; and most discouraging of all
+was the attempt to restore the money in an underhand way, for it showed
+not only a want of courage, but a power of deceit that boded ill for the
+future. Still more trying was his steady refusal to talk of the matter,
+to ask pardon, or express any remorse. Days passed; and he went about
+his lessons and his work, silent, grim, and unrepentant. As if taking
+warning by their treatment of Nat, he asked no sympathy of any one,
+rejected the advances of the boys, and spent his leisure hours roaming
+about the fields and woods, trying to find playmates in the birds and
+beasts, and succeeding better than most boys would have done, because he
+knew and loved them so well.
+
+"If this goes on much longer, I'm afraid he will run away again, for he
+is too young to stand a life like this," said Mr. Bhaer, quite dejected
+at the failure of all his efforts.
+
+"A little while ago I should have been quite sure that nothing would
+tempt him away, but now I am ready of any thing, he is so changed,"
+answered poor Mrs. Jo, who mourned over her boy and could not be
+comforted, because he shunned her more than any one else, and only
+looked at her with the half-fierce, half-imploring eyes of a wild animal
+caught in a trap, when she tried to talk to him alone.
+
+Nat followed him about like a shadow, and Dan did not repulse him as
+rudely as he did others, but said, in his blunt way, "You are all right;
+don't worry about me. I can stand it better than you did."
+
+"But I don't like to have you all alone," Nat would say, sorrowfully.
+
+"I like it;" and Dan would tramp away, stifling a sigh sometimes, for he
+was lonely.
+
+Passing through the birch grove one day, he came up on several of the
+boys, who were amusing themselves by climbing up the trees and swinging
+down again, as they slender elastic stems bent till their tops touched
+the ground. Dan paused a minute to watch the fun, without offering
+to join in it, and as he stood there Jack took his turn. He had
+unfortunately chosen too large a tree; for when he swung off, it only
+bent a little way, and left him hanging at a dangerous height.
+
+"Go back; you can't do it!" called Ned from below.
+
+Jack tried, but the twigs slipped from his hands, and he could not get
+his legs round the trunk. He kicked, and squirmed, and clutched in vain,
+then gave it up, and hung breathless, saying helplessly,
+
+"Catch me! help me! I must drop!"
+
+"You'll be killed if you do," cried Ned, frightened out of his wits.
+
+"Hold on!" shouted Dan; and up the tree he went, crashing his way along
+till he nearly reached Jack, whose face looked up at him, full of fear
+and hope.
+
+"You'll both come down," said Ned, dancing with excitement on the <DW72>
+underneath, while Nat held out his arms, in the wild hope of breaking
+the fall.
+
+"That's what I want; stand from under," answered Dan, coolly; and, as he
+spoke, his added weight bent the tree many feet nearer the earth.
+
+Jack dropped safely; but the birch, lightened of half its load, flew up
+again so suddenly, that Dan, in the act of swinging round to drop feet
+foremost, lost his hold and fell heavily.
+
+"I'm not hurt, all right in a minute," he said, sitting up, a little
+pale and dizzy, as the boys gathered round him, full of admiration and
+alarm.
+
+"You're a trump, Dan, and I'm ever so much obliged to you," cried Jack,
+gratefully.
+
+"It wasn't any thing," muttered Dan, rising slowly.
+
+"I say it was, and I'll shake hands with you, though you are," Ned
+checked the unlucky word on his tongue, and held out his hand, feeling
+that it was a handsome thing on his part.
+
+"But I won't shake hands with a sneak;" and Dan turned his back with a
+look of scorn, that caused Ned to remember the brook, and retire with
+undignified haste.
+
+"Come home, old chap; I'll give you a lift;" and Nat walked away with
+him leaving the others to talk over the feat together, to wonder when
+Dan would "come round," and to wish one and all that Tommy's "confounded
+money had been in Jericho before it made such a fuss."
+
+When Mr. Bhaer came into school next morning, he looked so happy, that
+the boys wondered what had happened to him, and really thought he had
+lost his mind when they saw him go straight to Dan, and, taking him by
+both hands, say all in one breath, as he shook them heartily,
+
+"I know all about it, and I beg your pardon. It was like you to do it,
+and I love you for it, though it's never right to tell lies, even for a
+friend."
+
+"What is it?" cried Nat, for Dan said not a word, only lifted up his
+head, as if a weight of some sort had fallen off his back.
+
+"Dan did not take Tommy's money;" and Mr. Bhaer quite shouted it, he was
+so glad.
+
+"Who did?" cried the boys in a chorus.
+
+Mr. Bhaer pointed to one empty seat, and every eye followed his finger,
+yet no one spoke for a minute, they were so surprised.
+
+"Jack went home early this morning, but he left this behind him;" and
+in the silence Mr. Bhaer read the note which he had found tied to his
+door-handle when he rose.
+
+"I took Tommy's dollar. I was peeking in through a crack and saw him put
+it there. I was afraid to tell before, though I wanted to. I didn't care
+so much about Nat, but Dan is a trump, and I can't stand it any longer.
+I never spent the money; it's under the carpet in my room, right behind
+the washstand. I'm awful sorry. I am going home, and don't think I shall
+ever come back, so Dan may have my things.
+
+"JACK"
+
+It was not an elegant confession, being badly written, much blotted,
+and very short; but it was a precious paper to Dan; and, when Mr. Bhaer
+paused, the boy went to him, saying, in a rather broken voice, but with
+clear eyes, and the frank, respectful manner they had tried to teach
+him,
+
+"I'll say I'm sorry now, and ask you to forgive me, sir."
+
+"It was a kind lie, Dan, and I can't help forgiving it; but you see it
+did no good," said Mr. Bhaer, with a hand on either shoulder, and a face
+full of relief and affection.
+
+"It kept the boys from plaguing Nat. That's what I did it for. It made
+him right down miserable. I didn't care so much," explained Dan, as if
+glad to speak out after his hard silence.
+
+"How could you do it? You are always so kind to me," faltered Nat,
+feeling a strong desire to hug his friend and cry. Two girlish
+performances, which would have scandalized Dan to the last degree.
+
+"It's all right now, old fellow, so don't be a fool," he said,
+swallowing the lump in his throat, and laughing out as he had not done
+for weeks. "Does Mrs. Bhaer know?" he asked, eagerly.
+
+"Yes; and she is so happy I don't know what she will do to you," began
+Mr. Bhaer, but got no farther, for here the boys came crowding about Dan
+in a tumult of pleasure and curiosity; but before he had answered more
+than a dozen questions, a voice cried out,
+
+"Three cheers for Dan!" and there was Mrs. Jo in the doorway waving her
+dish-towel, and looking as if she wanted to dance a jig for joy, as she
+used to do when a girl.
+
+"Now then," cried Mr. Bhaer, and led off a rousing hurrah, which
+startled Asia in the kitchen, and made old Mr. Roberts shake his head as
+he drove by, saying,
+
+"Schools are not what they were when I was young!"
+
+Dan stood it pretty well for a minute, but the sight of Mrs. Jo's
+delight upset him, and he suddenly bolted across the hall into the
+parlor, whither she instantly followed, and neither were seen for half
+an hour.
+
+Mr. Bhaer found it very difficult to calm his excited flock; and, seeing
+that lessons were an impossibility for a time, he caught their attention
+by telling them the fine old story of the friends whose fidelity to one
+another has made their names immortal. The lads listened and remembered,
+for just then their hearts were touched by the loyalty of a humbler pair
+of friends. The lie was wrong, but the love that prompted it and the
+courage that bore in silence the disgrace which belonged to another,
+made Dan a hero in their eyes. Honesty and honor had a new meaning now;
+a good name was more precious than gold; for once lost money could not
+buy it back; and faith in one another made life smooth and happy as
+nothing else could do.
+
+Tommy proudly restored the name of the firm; Nat was devoted to Dan; and
+all the boys tried to atone to both for former suspicion and neglect.
+Mrs. Jo rejoiced over her flock, and Mr. Bhaer was never tired of
+telling the story of his young Damon and Pythias.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XV. IN THE WILLOW
+
+The old tree saw and heard a good many little scenes and confidences
+that summer, because it became the favorite retreat of all the children,
+and the willow seemed to enjoy it, for a pleasant welcome always met
+them, and the quiet hours spent in its arms did them all good. It had
+a great deal of company one Saturday afternoon, and some little bird
+reported what went on there.
+
+First came Nan and Daisy with their small tubs and bits of soap, for
+now and then they were seized with a tidy fit, and washed up all their
+dolls' clothes in the brook. Asia would not have them "slopping round"
+in her kitchen, and the bath-room was forbidden since Nan forgot to turn
+off the water till it overflowed and came gently dripping down through
+the ceiling. Daisy went systematically to work, washing first the white
+and then the  things, rinsing them nicely, and hanging them to
+dry on a cord fastened from one barberry-bush to another, and pinning
+them up with a set of tiny clothes-pins Ned had turned for her. But Nan
+put all her little things to soak in the same tub, and then forgot them
+while she collected thistledown to stuff a pillow for Semiramis, Queen
+of Babylon, as one doll was named. This took some time, and when Mrs.
+Giddy-gaddy came to take out her clothes, deep green stains appeared on
+every thing, for she had forgotten the green silk lining of a certain
+cape, and its color had soaked nicely into the pink and blue gowns, the
+little chemises, and even the best ruffled petticoat.
+
+"Oh me! what a mess!" sighed Nan.
+
+"Lay them on the grass to bleach," said Daisy, with an air of
+experience.
+
+"So I will, and we can sit up in the nest and watch that they don't blow
+away."
+
+The Queen of Babylon's wardrobe was spread forth upon the bank, and,
+turning up their tubs to dry, the little washerwomen climbed into the
+nest, and fell to talking, as ladies are apt to do in the pauses of
+domestic labor.
+
+"I'm going to have a feather-bed to go with my new pillow," said Mrs.
+Giddy-gaddy, as she transferred the thistledown from her pocket to her
+handkerchief, losing about half in the process.
+
+"I wouldn't; Aunt Jo says feather-beds aren't healthy. I never let my
+children sleep on any thing but a mattress," returned Mrs. Shakespeare
+Smith, decidedly.
+
+"I don't care; my children are so strong they often sleep on the
+floor, and don't mind it," (which was quite true). "I can't afford nine
+mattresses, and I like to make beds myself."
+
+"Won't Tommy charge for the feathers?"
+
+"May be he will, but I shan't pay him, and he won't care," returned Mrs.
+G., taking a base advantage of the well-known good nature of T. Bangs.
+
+"I think the pink will fade out of that dress sooner than the green mark
+will," observed Mrs. S., looking down from her perch, and changing the
+subject, for she and her gossip differed on many points, and Mrs. Smith
+was a discreet lady.
+
+"Never mind; I'm tired of dolls, and I guess I shall put them all away
+and attend to my farm; I like it rather better than playing house," said
+Mrs. G., unconsciously expressing the desire of many older ladies, who
+cannot dispose of their families so easily however.
+
+"But you mustn't leave them; they will die without their mother," cried
+the tender Mrs. Smith.
+
+"Let 'em die then; I'm tired of fussing over babies, and I'm going
+to play with the boys; they need me to see to 'em," returned the
+strong-minded lady.
+
+Daisy knew nothing about women's rights; she quietly took all she
+wanted, and no one denied her claim, because she did not undertake what
+she could not carry out, but unconsciously used the all-powerful right
+of her own influence to win from others any privilege for which she
+had proved her fitness. Nan attempted all sorts of things, undaunted by
+direful failures, and clamored fiercely to be allowed to do every thing
+that the boys did. They laughed at her, hustled her out of the way, and
+protested against her meddling with their affairs. But she would not be
+quenched and she would be heard, for her will was strong, and she had
+the spirit of a rampant reformer. Mrs. Bhaer sympathized with her, but
+tired to curb her frantic desire for entire liberty, showing her that
+she must wait a little, learn self-control, and be ready to use her
+freedom before she asked for it. Nan had meek moments when she agreed to
+this, and the influences at work upon her were gradually taking effect.
+She no longer declared that she would be engine-driver or a blacksmith,
+but turned her mind to farming, and found in it a vent for the energy
+bottled up in her active little body. It did not quite satisfy her,
+however; for her sage and sweet marjoram were dumb things, and could not
+thank her for her care. She wanted something human to love, work for,
+and protect, and was never happier than when the little boys brought
+their cut fingers, bumped heads, or bruised joints for her to "mend-up."
+Seeing this, Mrs. Jo proposed that she should learn how to do it nicely,
+and Nursey had an apt pupil in bandaging, plastering, and fomenting. The
+boys began to call her "Dr. Giddy-gaddy," and she liked it so well that
+Mrs. Jo one day said to the Professor,
+
+"Fritz, I see what we can do for that child. She wants something to live
+for even now, and will be one of the sharp, strong, discontented women
+if she does not have it. Don't let us snub her restless little nature,
+but do our best to give her the work she likes, and by and by persuade
+her father to let her study medicine. She will make a capital doctor,
+for she has courage, strong nerves, a tender heart, and an intense love
+and pity for the weak and suffering."
+
+Mr. Bhaer smiled at first, but agreed to try, and gave Nan an
+herb-garden, teaching her the various healing properties of the plants
+she tended, and letting her try their virtues on the children in
+the little illnesses they had from time to time. She learned fast,
+remembered well, and showed a sense and interest most encouraging to
+her Professor, who did not shut his door in her face because she was a
+little woman.
+
+She was thinking of this, as she sat in the willow that day, and when
+Daisy said in her gentle way,
+
+"I love to keep house, and mean to have a nice one for Demi when we grow
+up and live together."
+
+Nan replied with decision
+
+"Well, I haven't got any brother, and I don't want any house to fuss
+over. I shall have an office, with lots of bottles and drawers and
+pestle things in it, and I shall drive round in a horse and chaise and
+cure sick people. That will be such fun."
+
+"Ugh! how can you bear the bad-smelling stuff and the nasty little
+powders and castor-oil and senna and hive syrup?" cried Daisy, with a
+shudder.
+
+"I shan't have to take any, so I don't care. Besides, they make people
+well, and I like to cure folks. Didn't my sage-tea make Mother Bhaer's
+headache go away, and my hops stop Ned's toothache in five hours? So
+now!"
+
+"Shall you put leeches on people, and cut off legs and pull out teeth?"
+asked Daisy, quaking at the thought.
+
+"Yes, I shall do every thing; I don't care if the people are all smashed
+up, I shall mend them. My grandpa was a doctor, and I saw him sew a
+great cut in a man's cheek, and I held the sponge, and wasn't frightened
+a bit, and Grandpa said I was a brave girl."
+
+"How could you? I'm sorry for sick people, and I like to nurse them,
+but it makes my legs shake so I have to run away. I'm not a brave girl,"
+sighed Daisy.
+
+"Well, you can be my nurse, and cuddle my patients when I have given
+them the physic and cut off their legs," said Nan, whose practice was
+evidently to be of the heroic kind.
+
+"Ship ahoy! Where are you, Nan?" called a voice from below.
+
+"Here we are."
+
+"Ay, ay!" said the voice, and Emil appeared holding one hand in the
+other, with his face puckered up as if in pain.
+
+"Oh, what's the matter?" cried Daisy, anxiously.
+
+"A confounded splinter in my thumb. Can't get it out. Take a pick at it,
+will you, Nanny?"
+
+"It's in very deep, and I haven't any needle," said Nan, examining a
+tarry thumb with interest.
+
+"Take a pin," said Emil, in a hurry.
+
+"No, it's too big and hasn't got a sharp point."
+
+Here Daisy, who had dived into her pocket, presented a neat little
+housewife with four needles in it.
+
+"You are the Posy who always has what we want," said Emil; and Nan
+resolved to have a needle-book in her own pocket henceforth, for just
+such cases as this were always occurring in her practice.
+
+Daisy covered her eyes, but Nan probed and picked with a steady hand,
+while Emil gave directions not down in any medical work or record.
+
+"Starboard now! Steady, boys, steady! Try another tack. Heave ho! there
+she is!"
+
+"Suck it," ordered the Doctor, surveying the splinter with an
+experienced eye.
+
+"Too dirty," responded the patient, shaking his bleeding hand.
+
+"Wait; I'll tie it up if you have got a handkerchief."
+
+"Haven't; take one of those rags down there."
+
+"Gracious! no, indeed; they are doll's clothes," cried Daisy,
+indignantly.
+
+"Take one of mine; I'd like to have you," said Nan; and swinging himself
+down, Emil caught up the first "rag" he saw. It happened to be the
+frilled skirt; but Nan tore it up without a murmur; and when the royal
+petticoat was turned into a neat little bandage, she dismissed her
+patient with the command,
+
+"Keep it wet, and let it alone; then it will heal right up, and not be
+sore."
+
+"What do you charge?" asked the Commodore, laughing.
+
+"Nothing; I keep a 'spensary; that is a place where poor people are
+doctored free gratis for nothing," explained Nan, with an air.
+
+"Thank you, Doctor Giddy-gaddy. I'll always call you in when I come
+to grief;" and Emil departed, but looked back to say for one good turn
+deserves another "Your duds are blowing away, Doctor."
+
+Forgiving the disrespectful word, "duds," the ladies hastily descended,
+and, gathering up their wash, retired to the house to fire up the little
+stove, and go to ironing.
+
+A passing breath of air shook the old willow, as if it laughed softly
+at the childish chatter which went on in the nest, and it had hardly
+composed itself when another pair of birds alighted for a confidential
+twitter.
+
+"Now, I'll tell you the secret," began Tommy, who was "swellin' wisibly"
+with the importance of his news.
+
+"Tell away," answered Nat, wishing he had brought his fiddle, it was so
+shady and quiet here.
+
+"Well, we fellows were talking over the late interesting case of
+circumstantial evidence," said Tommy, quoting at random from a speech
+Franz had made at the club, "and I proposed giving Dan something to
+make up for our suspecting him, to show our respect, and so on, you know
+something handsome and useful, that he could keep always and be proud
+of. What do you think we chose?"
+
+"A butterfly-net; he wants one ever so much," said Nat, looking a little
+disappointed, for he meant to get it himself.
+
+"No, sir; it's to be a microscope, a real swell one, that we see
+what-do-you-call-'ems in water with, and stars, and ant-eggs, and all
+sorts of games, you know. Won't it be a jolly good present?" said Tommy,
+rather confusing microscopes and telescopes in his remarks.
+
+"Tip-top! I'm so glad! Won't it cost a heap, though?" cried Nat, feeling
+that his friend was beginning to be appreciated.
+
+"Of course it will; but we are all going to give something. I headed the
+paper with my five dollars; for if it is done at all, it must be done
+handsome."
+
+"What! all of it? I never did see such a generous chap as you are;" and
+Nat beamed upon him with sincere admiration.
+
+"Well, you see, I've been so bothered with my property, that I'm tired
+of it, and don't mean to save up any more, but give it away as I go
+along, and then nobody will envy me, or want to steal it, and I shan't
+be suspecting folks and worrying about my old cash," replied Tommy, on
+whom the cares and anxieties of a millionaire weighed heavily.
+
+"Will Mr. Bhaer let you do it?"
+
+"He thought it was a first-rate plan, and said that some of the best men
+he knew preferred to do good with their money instead of laying it up to
+be squabbled over when they died."
+
+"Your father is rich; does he do that way?"
+
+"I'm not sure; he gives me all I want; I know that much. I'm going to
+talk to him about it when I go home. Anyhow, I shall set him a good
+example;" and Tommy was so serious, that Nat did not dare to laugh, but
+said, respectfully,
+
+"You will be able to do ever so much with your money, won't you?"
+
+"So Mr. Bhaer said, and he promised to advise me about useful ways of
+spending it. I'm going to begin with Dan; and next time I get a dollar
+or so, I shall do something for Dick, he's such a good little chap, and
+only has a cent a week for pocket-money. He can't earn much, you know;
+so I'm going to kind of see to him;" and good-hearted Tommy quite longed
+to begin.
+
+"I think that's a beautiful plan, and I'm not going to try to buy a
+fiddle any more; I'm going to get Dan his net all myself, and if there
+is any money left, I'll do something to please poor Billy. He's fond
+of me, and though he isn't poor, he'd like some little thing from me,
+because I can make out what he wants better than the rest of you."
+And Nat fell to wondering how much happiness could be got out of his
+precious three dollars.
+
+"So I would. Now come and ask Mr. Bhaer if you can't go in town with me
+on Monday afternoon, so you can get the net, while I get the microscope.
+Franz and Emil are going too, and we'll have a jolly time larking round
+among the shops."
+
+The lads walked away arm-in-arm, discussing the new plans with droll
+importance, yet beginning already to feel the sweet satisfaction which
+comes to those who try, no matter how humbly, to be earthly providences
+to the poor and helpless, and gild their mite with the gold of charity
+before it is laid up where thieves cannot break through and steal.
+
+"Come up and rest while we sort the leaves; it's so cool and pleasant
+here," said Demi, as he and Dan came sauntering home from a long walk in
+the woods.
+
+"All right!" answered Dan, who was a boy of few words, and up they went.
+
+"What makes birch leaves shake so much more than the others?" asked
+inquiring Demi, who was always sure of an answer from Dan.
+
+"They are hung differently. Don't you see the stem where it joins the
+leaf is sort of pinched one way, and where it joins the twig, it is
+pinched another. This makes it waggle with the least bit of wind, but
+the elm leaves hang straight, and keep stiller."
+
+"How curious! will this do so?" and Demi held up a sprig of acacia,
+which he had broken from a little tree on the lawn, because it was so
+pretty.
+
+"No; that belongs to the sort that shuts up when you touch it. Draw your
+finger down the middle of the stem, and see if the leaves don't curl
+up," said Dan, who was examining a bit of mica.
+
+Demi tried it, and presently the little leaves did fold together, till
+the spray showed a single instead of a double line of leaves.
+
+"I like that; tell me about the others. What do these do?" asked Demi,
+taking up a new branch.
+
+"Feed silk-worms; they live on mulberry leaves, till they begin to spin
+themselves up. I was in a silk-factory once, and there were rooms full
+of shelves all covered with leaves, and worms eating them so fast that
+it made a rustle. Sometimes they eat so much they die. Tell that to
+Stuffy," and Dan laughed, as he took up another bit of rock with a
+lichen on it.
+
+"I know one thing about this mullein leaf: the fairies use them for
+blankets," said Demi, who had not quite given up his faith in the
+existence of the little folk in green.
+
+"If I had a microscope, I'd show you something prettier than fairies,"
+said Dan, wondering if he should ever own that coveted treasure. "I knew
+an old woman who used mullein leaves for a night-cap because she had
+face-ache. She sewed them together, and wore it all the time."
+
+"How funny! was she your grandmother?"
+
+"Never had any. She was a queer old woman, and lived alone in a little
+tumble-down house with nineteen cats. Folks called her a witch, but she
+wasn't, though she looked like an old rag-bag. She was real kind to me
+when I lived in that place, and used to let me get warm at her fire when
+the folks at the poorhouse were hard on me."
+
+"Did you live in a poorhouse?"
+
+"A little while. Never mind that I didn't mean to speak of it;" and Dan
+stopped short in his unusual fit of communicativeness.
+
+"Tell about the cats, please," said Demi, feeling that he had asked an
+unpleasant question, and sorry for it.
+
+"Nothing to tell; only she had a lot of 'em, and kept 'em in a barrel
+nights; and I used to go and tip over the barrel sometimes, and let 'em
+out all over the house, and then she'd scold, and chase 'em and put 'em
+in again, spitting and yowling like fury."
+
+"Was she good to them?" asked Demi, with a hearty child's laugh,
+pleasant to hear.
+
+"Guess she was. Poor old soul! she took in all the lost and sick cats in
+the town; and when anybody wanted one they went to Marm Webber, and she
+let 'em pick any kind and color they wanted, and only asked ninepence,
+she was glad to have her pussies get a good home."
+
+"I should like to see Marm Webber. Could I, if I went to that place?"
+
+"She's dead. All my folks are," said Dan, briefly.
+
+"I'm sorry;" and Demi sat silent a minute, wondering what subject would
+be safe to try next. He felt delicate about speaking of the departed
+lady, but was very curious about the cats, and could not resist asking
+softly,
+
+"Did she cure the sick ones?"
+
+"Sometimes. One had a broken leg, and she tied it up to a stick, and it
+got well; and another had fits, and she doctored it with yarbs till
+it was cured. But some of 'em died, and she buried 'em; and when they
+couldn't get well, she killed 'em easy."
+
+"How?" asked Demi, feeling that there was a peculiar charm about this
+old woman, and some sort of joke about the cats, because Dan was smiling
+to himself.
+
+"A kind lady, who was fond of cats, told her how, and gave her some
+stuff, and sent all her own pussies to be killed that way. Marm used
+to put a sponge wet with ether, in the bottom of an old boot, then poke
+puss in head downwards. The ether put her to sleep in a jiffy, and she
+was drowned in warm water before she woke up."
+
+"I hope the cats didn't feel it. I shall tell Daisy about that. You have
+known a great many interesting things, haven't you?" asked Demi, and
+fell to meditating on the vast experience of a boy who had run away more
+than once, and taken care of himself in a big city.
+
+"Wish I hadn't sometimes."
+
+"Why? Don't remembering them feel good?"
+
+"No."
+
+"It's very singular how hard it is to manage your mind," said Demi,
+clasping his hands round his knees, and looking up at the sky as if for
+information upon his favorite topic.
+
+"Devilish hard no, I don't mean that;" and Dan bit his lips, for the
+forbidden word slipped out in spite of him, and he wanted to be more
+careful with Demi than with any of the other boys.
+
+"I'll play I didn't hear it," said Demi; "and you won't do it again, I'm
+sure."
+
+"Not if I can help it. That's one of the things I don't want to
+remember. I keep pegging away, but it don't seem to do much good;" and
+Dan looked discouraged.
+
+"Yes, it does. You don't say half so many bad words as you used to; and
+Aunt Jo is pleased, because she said it was a hard habit to break up."
+
+"Did she?" and Dan cheered up a bit.
+
+"You must put swearing away in your fault-drawer, and lock it up; that's
+the way I do with my badness."
+
+"What do you mean?" asked Dan, looking as if he found Demi almost as
+amusing as a new sort of cockchafer or beetle.
+
+"Well, it's one of my private plays, and I'll tell you, but I think
+you'll laugh at it," began Demi, glad to hold forth on this congenial
+subject. "I play that my mind is a round room, and my soul is a little
+sort of creature with wings that lives in it. The walls are full of
+shelves and drawers, and in them I keep my thoughts, and my goodness and
+badness, and all sorts of things. The goods I keep where I can see
+them, and the bads I lock up tight, but they get out, and I have to
+keep putting them in and squeezing them down, they are so strong. The
+thoughts I play with when I am alone or in bed, and I make up and do
+what I like with them. Every Sunday I put my room in order, and talk
+with the little spirit that lives there, and tell him what to do. He is
+very bad sometimes, and won't mind me, and I have to scold him, and take
+him to Grandpa. He always makes him behave, and be sorry for his faults,
+because Grandpa likes this play, and gives me nice things to put in the
+drawers, and tells me how to shut up the naughties. Hadn't you better
+try that way? It's a very good one;" and Demi looked so earnest and full
+of faith, that Dan did not laugh at his quaint fancy, but said, soberly,
+
+"I don't think there is a lock strong enough to keep my badness shut up.
+Any way my room is in such a clutter I don't know how to clear it up."
+
+"You keep your drawers in the cabinet all spandy nice; why can't you do
+the others?"
+
+"I ain't used to it. Will you show me how?" and Dan looked as if
+inclined to try Demi's childish way of keeping a soul in order.
+
+"I'd love to, but I don't know how, except to talk as Grandpa does. I
+can't do it good like him, but I'll try."
+
+"Don't tell any one; only now and then we'll come here and talk things
+over, and I'll pay you for it by telling all I know about my sort of
+things. Will that do?" and Dan held out his big, rough hand.
+
+Demi gave his smooth, little hand readily, and the league was made;
+for in the happy, peaceful world where the younger boy lived, lions
+and lambs played together, and little children innocently taught their
+elders.
+
+"Hush!" said Dan, pointing toward the house, as Demi was about to
+indulge in another discourse on the best way of getting badness down,
+and keeping it down; and peeping from their perch, they saw Mrs. Jo
+strolling slowly along, reading as she went, while Teddy trotted behind
+her, dragging a little cart upside down.
+
+"Wait till they see us," whispered Demi, and both sat still as the pair
+came nearer, Mrs. Jo so absorbed in her book that she would have walked
+into the brook if Teddy had not stopped her by saying,
+
+"Marmar, I wanter fis."
+
+Mrs. Jo put down the charming book which she had been trying to read for
+a week, and looked about her for a fishing-pole, being used to making
+toys out of nothing. Before she had broken one from the hedge, a
+slender willow bough fell at her feet; and, looking up, she saw the boys
+laughing in the nest.
+
+"Up! up!" cried Teddy, stretching his arms and flapping his skirts as if
+about to fly.
+
+"I'll come down and you come up. I must go to Daisy now;" and Demi
+departed to rehearse the tale of the nineteen cats, with the exciting
+boot-and-barrel episodes.
+
+Teddy was speedily whisked up; and then Dan said, laughing, "Come, too;
+there's plenty of room. I'll lend you a hand."
+
+Mrs. Jo glanced over her shoulder, but no one was in sight; and rather
+liking the joke of the thing, she laughed back, saying, "Well, if you
+won't mention it, I think I will;" and with two nimble steps was in the
+willow.
+
+"I haven't climbed a tree since I was married. I used to be very fond
+of it when I was a girl," she said, looking well-pleased with her shady
+perch.
+
+"Now, you read if you want to, and I'll take care of Teddy," proposed
+Dan, beginning to make a fishing-rod for impatient Baby.
+
+"I don't think I care about it now. What were you and Demi at up here?"
+asked Mrs. Jo, thinking, from the sober look on Dan's face, that he had
+something on his mind.
+
+"Oh! we were talking. I'd been telling him about leaves and things, and
+he was telling me some of his queer plays. Now, then, Major, fish away;"
+and Dan finished off his work by putting a big blue fly on the bent pin
+which hung at the end of the cord he had tied to the willow-rod.
+
+Teddy leaned down from the tree, and was soon wrapt up in watching
+for the fish which he felt sure would come. Dan held him by his little
+petticoats, lest he should take a "header" into the brook, and Mrs. Jo
+soon won him to talk by doing so herself.
+
+"I am so glad you told Demi about 'leaves and things;' it is just what
+he needs; and I wish you would teach him, and take him to walk with
+you."
+
+"I'd like to, he is so bright; but--"
+
+"But what?"
+
+"I didn't think you'd trust me."
+
+"Why not?"
+
+"Well, Demi is so kind of precious, and so good, and I'm such a bad lot,
+I thought you'd keep him away from me."
+
+"But you are not a 'bad lot,' as you say; and I do trust you, Dan,
+entirely, because you honestly try to improve, and do better and better
+every week."
+
+"Really?" and Dan looked up at her with the cloud of despondency lifting
+from his face.
+
+"Yes; don't you feel it?"
+
+"I hoped so, but I didn't know."
+
+"I have been waiting and watching quietly, for I thought I'd give you a
+good trial first; and if you stood it, I would give you the best reward
+I had. You have stood it well; and now I'm going to trust not only Demi,
+but my own boy, to you, because you can teach them some things better
+than any of us."
+
+"Can I?" and Dan looked amazed at the idea.
+
+"Demi has lived among older people so much that he needs just what you
+have knowledge of common things, strength, and courage. He thinks you
+are the bravest boy he ever saw, and admires your strong way of doing
+things. Then you know a great deal about natural objects, and can tell
+him more wonderful tales of birds, and bees, and leaves, and animals,
+than his story-books give him; and, being true, these stories will teach
+and do him good. Don't you see now how much you can help him, and why I
+like to have him with you?"
+
+"But I swear sometimes, and might tell him something wrong. I wouldn't
+mean to, but it might slip out, just as 'devil' did a few minutes ago,"
+said Dan, anxious to do his duty, and let her know his shortcomings.
+
+"I know you try not to say or do any thing to harm the little fellow,
+and here is where I think Demi will help you, because he is so innocent
+and wise in his small way, and has what I am trying to give you, dear,
+good principles. It is never too early to try and plant them in a child,
+and never too late to cultivate them in the most neglected person. You
+are only boys yet; you can teach one another. Demi will unconsciously
+strengthen your moral sense, you will strengthen his common sense, and I
+shall feel as if I had helped you both."
+
+Words could not express how pleased and touched Dan was by this
+confidence and praise. No one had ever trusted him before, no one had
+cared to find out and foster the good in him, and no one had suspected
+how much there was hidden away in the breast of the neglected boy, going
+fast to ruin, yet quick to feel and value sympathy and help. No honor
+that he might earn hereafter would ever be half so precious as the right
+to teach his few virtues and small store of learning to the child
+whom he most respected; and no more powerful restraint could have been
+imposed upon him than the innocent companion confided to his care. He
+found courage now to tell Mrs. Jo of the plan already made with Demi,
+and she was glad that the first step had been so naturally taken. Every
+thing seemed to be working well for Dan, and she rejoiced over him,
+because it had seemed a hard task, yet, working on with a firm belief in
+the possibility of reformation in far older and worse subjects than he,
+there had come this quick and hopeful change to encourage her. He felt
+that he had friends now and a place in the world, something to live and
+work for, and, though he said little, all that was best and bravest in a
+character made old by a hard experience responded to the love and faith
+bestowed on him, and Dan's salvation was assured.
+
+Their quiet talk was interrupted by a shout of delight from Teddy, who,
+to the surprise of every one, did actually catch a trout where no trout
+had been seen for years. He was so enchanted with his splendid success
+that he insisted on showing his prize to the family before Asia cooked
+it for supper; so the three descended and went happily away together,
+all satisfied with the work of that half hour.
+
+Ned was the next visitor to the tree, but he only made a short stay,
+sitting there at his ease while Dick and Dolly caught a pailful of
+grasshoppers and crickets for him. He wanted to play a joke on Tommy,
+and intended to tuck up a few dozen of the lively creatures in his bed,
+so that when Bangs got in he would speedily tumble out again, and pass
+a portion of the night in chasing "hopper-grasses" round the room. The
+hunt was soon over, and having paid the hunters with a few peppermints
+apiece Ned retired to make Tommy's bed.
+
+For an hour the old willow sighed and sung to itself, talked with the
+brook, and watched the lengthening shadows as the sun went down. The
+first rosy color was touching its graceful branches when a boy came
+stealing up the avenue, across the lawn, and, spying Billy by the
+brook-side, went to him, saying, in a mysterious tone,
+
+"Go and tell Mr. Bhaer I want to see him down here, please. Don't let
+any one hear."
+
+Billy nodded and ran off, while the boy swung himself up into the tree,
+and sat there looking anxious, yet evidently feeling the charm of the
+place and hour. In five minutes, Mr. Bhaer appeared, and, stepping up on
+the fence, leaned into the nest, saying, kindly,
+
+"I am glad to see you, Jack; but why not come in and meet us all at
+once?"
+
+"I wanted to see you first, please, sir. Uncle made me come back. I know
+I don't deserve any thing, but I hope the fellows won't be hard upon
+me."
+
+Poor Jack did not get on very well, but it was evident that he was sorry
+and ashamed, and wanted to be received as easily as possible; for his
+Uncle had thrashed him well and scolded him soundly for following the
+example he himself set. Jack had begged not to be sent back, but the
+school was cheap, and Mr. Ford insisted, so the boy returned as quietly
+as possible, and took refuge behind Mr. Bhaer.
+
+"I hope not, but I can't answer for them, though I will see that they
+are not unjust. I think, as Dan and Nat have suffered so much, being
+innocent, you should suffer something, being guilty. Don't you?" asked
+Mr. Bhaer, pitying Jack, yet feeling he deserved punishment for a fault
+which had so little excuse.
+
+"I suppose so, but I sent Tommy's money back, and I said I was sorry,
+isn't that enough?" said Jack, rather sullenly; for the boy who could do
+so mean a thing was not brave enough to bear the consequences well.
+
+"No; I think you should ask pardon of all three boys, openly and
+honestly. You cannot expect them to respect and trust you for a time,
+but you can live down this disgrace if you try, and I will help you.
+Stealing and lying are detestable sins, and I hope this will be a lesson
+to you. I am glad you are ashamed, it is a good sign; bear it patiently,
+and do your best to earn a better reputation."
+
+"I'll have an auction, and sell off all my goods dirt cheap," said Jack,
+showing his repentance in the most characteristic way.
+
+"I think it would be better to give them away, and begin on a new
+foundation. Take 'Honesty is the best policy' for your motto, and live
+up to it in act, and word, and thought, and though you don't make a cent
+of money this summer, you will be a rich boy in the autumn," said Mr.
+Bhaer, earnestly.
+
+It was hard, but Jack consented, for he really felt that cheating didn't
+pay, and wanted to win back the friendship of the boys. His heart clung
+to his possessions, and he groaned inwardly at the thought of actually
+giving away certain precious things. Asking pardon publicly was easy
+compared to this; but then he began to discover that certain other
+things, invisible, but most valuable, were better property than knives,
+fish-hooks, or even money itself. So he decided to buy up a little
+integrity, even at a high price, and secure the respect of his
+playmates, though it was not a salable article.
+
+"Well, I'll do it," he said, with a sudden air of resolution, which
+pleased Mr. Bhaer.
+
+"Good! and I'll stand by you. Now come and begin at once."
+
+And Father Bhaer led the bankrupt boy back into the little world, which
+received him coldly at first, but slowly warmed to him, when he showed
+that he had profited by the lesson, and was sincerely anxious to go into
+a better business with a new stock-in-trade.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVI. TAMING THE COLT
+
+"What in the world is that boy doing?" said Mrs. Jo to herself, as she
+watched Dan running round the half-mile triangle as if for a wager.
+He was all alone, and seemed possessed by some strange desire to run
+himself into a fever, or break his neck; for, after several rounds, he
+tried leaping walls, and turning somersaults up the avenue, and finally
+dropped down on the grass before the door as if exhausted.
+
+"Are you training for a race, Dan?" asked Mrs. Jo, from the window where
+she sat.
+
+He looked up quickly, and stopped panting to answer, with a laugh,
+
+"No; I'm only working off my steam."
+
+"Can't you find a cooler way of doing it? You will be ill if you tear
+about so in such warm weather," said Mrs. Jo, laughing also, as she
+threw him out a great palm-leaf fan.
+
+"Can't help it. I must run somewhere," answered Dan, with such an odd
+expression in his restless eyes, that Mrs. Jo was troubled, and asked,
+quickly,
+
+"Is Plumfield getting too narrow for you?"
+
+"I wouldn't mind if it was a little bigger. I like it though; only the
+fact is the devil gets into me sometimes, and then I do want to bolt."
+
+The words seemed to come against his will, for he looked sorry the
+minute they were spoken, and seemed to think he deserved a reproof for
+his ingratitude. But Mrs. Jo understood the feeling, and though sorry to
+see it, she could not blame the boy for confessing it. She looked at him
+anxiously, seeing how tall and strong he had grown, how full of energy
+his face was, with its eager eyes and resolute mouth; and remembering
+the utter freedom he had known for years before, she felt how even the
+gentle restraint of this home would weigh upon him at times when the old
+lawless spirit stirred in him. "Yes," she said to herself, "my wild hawk
+needs a larger cage; and yet, if I let him go, I am afraid he will be
+lost. I must try and find some lure strong enough to keep him safe."
+
+"I know all about it," she added, aloud. "It is not 'the devil,' as you
+call it, but the very natural desire of all young people for liberty. I
+used to feel just so, and once, I really did think for a minute that I
+would bolt."
+
+"Why didn't you?" said Dan, coming to lean on the low window-ledge, with
+an evident desire to continue the subject.
+
+"I knew it was foolish, and love for my mother kept me at home."
+
+"I haven't got any mother," began Dan.
+
+"I thought you had now," said Mrs. Jo, gently stroking the rough hair
+off his hot forehead.
+
+"You are no end good to me, and I can't ever thank you enough, but it
+just isn't the same, is it?" and Dan looked up at her with a wistful,
+hungry look that went to her heart.
+
+"No, dear, it is not the same, and never can be. I think an own mother
+would have been a great deal to you. But as that cannot be, you must
+try to let me fill her place. I fear I have not done all I ought, or you
+would not want to leave me," she added, sorrowfully.
+
+"Yes, you have!" cried Dan, eagerly. "I don't want to go, and I won't
+go, if I can help it; but every now and then I feel as if I must burst
+out somehow. I want to run straight ahead somewhere, to smash something,
+or pitch into somebody. Don't know why, but I do, and that's all about
+it."
+
+Dan laughed as he spoke, but he meant what he said, for he knit his
+black brows, and brought down his fist on the ledge with such force,
+that Mrs. Jo's thimble flew off into the grass. He brought it back, and
+as she took it she held the big, brown hand a minute, saying, with a
+look that showed the words cost her something,
+
+"Well, Dan, run if you must, but don't run very far; and come back to me
+soon, for I want you very much."
+
+He was rather taken aback by this unexpected permission to play truant,
+and somehow it seemed to lessen his desire to go. He did not understand
+why, but Mrs. Jo did, and, knowing the natural perversity of the human
+mind, counted on it to help her now. She felt instinctively that the
+more the boy was restrained the more he would fret against it; but leave
+him free, and the mere sense of liberty would content him, joined to the
+knowledge that his presence was dear to those whom he loved best. It was
+a little experiment, but it succeeded, for Dan stood silent a moment,
+unconsciously picking the fan to pieces and turning the matter over
+in his mind. He felt that she appealed to his heart and his honor,
+and owned that he understood it by saying presently, with a mixture of
+regret and resolution in his face,
+
+"I won't go yet awhile, and I'll give you fair warning before I bolt.
+That's fair, isn't it?"
+
+"Yes, we will let it stand so. Now, I want to see if I can't find some
+way for you to work off your steam better than running about the place
+like a mad dog, spoiling my fans, or fighting with the boys. What can we
+invent?" and while Dan tried to repair the mischief he had done, Mrs.
+Jo racked her brain for some new device to keep her truant safe until he
+had learned to love his lessons better.
+
+"How would you like to be my express-man?" she said, as a sudden thought
+popped into her head.
+
+"Go into town, and do the errands?" asked Dan, looking interested at
+once.
+
+"Yes; Franz is tired of it, Silas cannot be spared just now, and Mr.
+Bhaer has no time. Old Andy is a safe horse, you are a good driver, and
+know your way about the city as well as a postman. Suppose you try it,
+and see if it won't do most as well to drive away two or three times a
+week as to run away once a month."
+
+"I'd like it ever so much, only I must go alone and do it all myself. I
+don't want any of the other fellows bothering round," said Dan, taking
+to the new idea so kindly that he began to put on business airs already.
+
+"If Mr. Bhaer does not object you shall have it all your own way. I
+suppose Emil will growl, but he cannot be trusted with horses, and you
+can. By the way, to-morrow is market-day, and I must make out my list.
+You had better see that the wagon is in order, and tell Silas to have
+the fruit and vegetables ready for mother. You will have to be up early
+and get back in time for school, can you do that?"
+
+"I'm always an early bird, so I don't mind," and Dan slung on his jacket
+with despatch.
+
+"The early bird got the worm this time, I'm sure," said Mrs. Jo,
+merrily.
+
+"And a jolly good worm it is," answered Dan, as he went laughing away to
+put a new lash to the whip, wash the wagon, and order Silas about with
+all the importance of a young express-man.
+
+"Before he is tired of this I will find something else and have it ready
+when the next restless fit comes on," said Mrs. Jo to herself, as she
+wrote her list with a deep sense of gratitude that all her boys were not
+Dans.
+
+Mr. Bhaer did not entirely approve of the new plan, but agreed to give
+it a trial, which put Dan on his mettle, and caused him to give up
+certain wild plans of his own, in which the new lash and the long
+hill were to have borne a part. He was up and away very early the next
+morning, heroically resisting the temptation to race with the milkmen
+going into town. Once there, he did his errands carefully, to Mr.
+Bhaer's surprise and Mrs. Jo's great satisfaction. The Commodore did
+growl at Dan's promotion, but was pacified by a superior padlock to his
+new boat-house, and the thought that seamen were meant for higher honors
+than driving market-wagons and doing family errands. So Dan filled
+his new office well and contentedly for weeks, and said no more about
+bolting. But one day Mr. Bhaer found him pummelling Jack, who was
+roaring for mercy under his knee.
+
+"Why, Dan, I thought you had given up fighting," he said, as he went to
+the rescue.
+
+"We ain't fighting, we are only wrestling," answered Dan, leaving off
+reluctantly.
+
+"It looks very much like it, and feels like it, hey, Jack?" said Mr.
+Bhaer, as the defeated gentleman got upon his legs with difficulty.
+
+"Catch me wrestling with him again. He's most knocked my head off,"
+snarled Jack, holding on to that portion of his frame as if it really
+was loose upon his shoulders.
+
+"The fact is, we began in fun, but when I got him down I couldn't help
+pounding him. Sorry I hurt you, old fellow," explained Dan, looking
+rather ashamed of himself.
+
+"I understand. The longing to pitch into somebody was so strong you
+couldn't resist. You are a sort of Berserker, Dan, and something to
+tussle with is as necessary to you as music is to Nat," said Mr. Bhaer,
+who knew all about the conversation between the boy and Mrs. Jo.
+
+"Can't help it. So if you don't want to be pounded you'd better keep out
+of the way," answered Dan, with a warning look in his black eyes that
+made Jack sheer off in haste.
+
+"If you want something to wrestle with, I will give you a tougher
+specimen than Jack," said Mr. Bhaer; and, leading the way to the
+wood-yard, he pointed out certain roots of trees that had been grubbed
+up in the spring, and had been lying there waiting to be split.
+
+"There, when you feel inclined to maltreat the boys, just come and work
+off your energies here, and I'll thank you for it."
+
+"So I will;" and, seizing the axe that lay near Dan hauled out a tough
+root, and went at it so vigorously, that the chips flew far and wide,
+and Mr. Bhaer fled for his life.
+
+To his great amusement, Dan took him at his word, and was often seen
+wrestling with the ungainly knots, hat and jacket off, red face, and
+wrathful eyes; for he got into royal rages over some of his adversaries,
+and swore at them under his breath till he had conquered them, when he
+exulted, and marched off to the shed with an armful of gnarled oak-wood
+in triumph. He blistered his hands, tired his back, and dulled the axe,
+but it did him good, and he got more comfort out of the ugly roots than
+any one dreamed, for with each blow he worked off some of the pent-up
+power that would otherwise have been expended in some less harmless way.
+
+"When this is gone I really don't know what I shall do," said Mrs. Jo
+to herself, for no inspiration came, and she was at the end of her
+resources.
+
+But Dan found a new occupation for himself, and enjoyed it some time
+before any one discovered the cause of his contentment. A fine young
+horse of Mr. Laurie's was kept at Plumfield that summer, running loose
+in a large pasture across the brook. The boys were all interested in the
+handsome, spirited creature, and for a time were fond of watching him
+gallop and frisk with his plumey tail flying, and his handsome head
+in the air. But they soon got tired of it, and left Prince Charlie to
+himself. All but Dan, he never tired of looking at the horse, and seldom
+failed to visit him each day with a lump of sugar, a bit of bread, or
+an apple to make him welcome. Charlie was grateful, accepted his
+friendship, and the two loved one another as if they felt some tie
+between them, inexplicable but strong. In whatever part of the wide
+field he might be, Charlie always came at full speed when Dan whistled
+at the bars, and the boy was never happier than when the beautiful,
+fleet creature put its head on his shoulder, looking up at him with fine
+eyes full of intelligent affection.
+
+"We understand one another without any palaver, don't we, old fellow?"
+Dan would say, proud of the horse's confidence, and, so jealous of his
+regard, that he told no one how well the friendship prospered, and never
+asked anybody but Teddy to accompany him on these daily visits.
+
+Mr. Laurie came now and then to see how Charlie got on, and spoke of
+having him broken to harness in the autumn.
+
+"He won't need much taming, he is such a gentle, fine-tempered brute. I
+shall come out and try him with a saddle myself some day," he said, on
+one of these visits.
+
+"He lets me put a halter on him, but I don't believe he will bear a
+saddle even if you put it on," answered Dan, who never failed to be
+present when Charlie and his master met.
+
+"I shall coax him to bear it, and not mind a few tumbles at first. He
+has never been harshly treated, so, though he will be surprised at the
+new performance, I think he won't be frightened, and his antics will do
+no harm."
+
+"I wonder what he would do," said Dan to himself, as Mr. Laurie went
+away with the Professor, and Charlie returned to the bars, from which he
+had retired when the gentlemen came up.
+
+A daring fancy to try the experiment took possession of the boy as he
+sat on the topmost rail with the glossy back temptingly near him.
+Never thinking of danger, he obeyed the impulse, and while Charlie
+unsuspectingly nibbled at the apple he held, Dan quickly and quietly
+took his seat. He did not keep it long, however, for with an astonished
+snort, Charlie reared straight up, and deposited Dan on the ground. The
+fall did not hurt him, for the turf was soft, and he jumped up, saying,
+with a laugh,
+
+"I did it anyway! Come here, you rascal, and I'll try it again."
+
+But Charlie declined to approach, and Dan left him resolving to succeed
+in the end; for a struggle like this suited him exactly. Next time he
+took a halter, and having got it on, he played with the horse for a
+while, leading him to and fro, and putting him through various antics
+till he was a little tired; then Dan sat on the wall and gave him bread,
+but watched his chance, and getting a good grip of the halter, slipped
+on to his back. Charlie tried the old trick, but Dan held on, having had
+practice with Toby, who occasionally had an obstinate fit, and tried to
+shake off his rider. Charlie was both amazed and indignant; and after
+prancing for a minute, set off at a gallop, and away went Dan heels over
+head. If he had not belonged to the class of boys who go through all
+sorts of dangers unscathed, he would have broken his neck; as it was, he
+got a heavy fall, and lay still collecting his wits, while Charlie tore
+round the field tossing his head with every sign of satisfaction at
+the discomfiture of his rider. Presently it seemed to occur to him that
+something was wrong with Dan, and, being of a magnanimous nature, he
+went to see what the matter was. Dan let him sniff about and perplex
+himself for a few minutes; then he looked up at him, saying, as
+decidedly as if the horse could understand,
+
+"You think you have beaten, but you are mistaken, old boy; and I'll ride
+you yet see if I don't."
+
+He tried no more that day, but soon after attempted a new method of
+introducing Charlie to a burden. He strapped a folded blanket on his
+back, and then let him race, and rear, and roll, and fume as much as
+he liked. After a few fits of rebellion Charlie submitted, and in a few
+days permitted Dan to mount him, often stopped short to look round, as
+if he said, half patiently, half reproachfully, "I don't understand it,
+but I suppose you mean no harm, so I permit the liberty."
+
+Dan patted and praised him, and took a short turn every day, getting
+frequent falls, but persisting in spite of them, and longing to try a
+saddle and bridle, but not daring to confess what he had done. He had
+his wish, however, for there had been a witness of his pranks who said a
+good word for him.
+
+"Do you know what that chap has ben doin' lately?" asked Silas of his
+master, one evening, as he received his orders for the next day.
+
+"Which boy?" said Mr. Bhaer, with an air of resignation, expecting some
+sad revelation.
+
+"Dan, he's ben a breaking the colt, sir, and I wish I may die if he
+ain't done it," answered Silas, chuckling.
+
+"How do you know?"
+
+"Wal, I kinder keep an eye on the little fellers, and most gen'lly know
+what they're up to; so when Dan kep going off to the paster, and coming
+home black and blue, I mistrusted that suthing was goin' on. I didn't
+say nothin', but I crep up into the barn chamber, and from there I see
+him goin' through all manner of games with Charlie. Blest if he warn't
+throwed time and agin, and knocked round like a bag o' meal. But the
+pluck of that boy did beat all, and he 'peared to like it, and kep on as
+ef bound to beat."
+
+"But, Silas, you should have stopped it the boy might have been killed,"
+said Mr. Bhaer, wondering what freak his irrepressibles would take into
+their heads next.
+
+"S'pose I oughter; but there warn't no real danger, for Charlie ain't
+no tricks, and is as pretty a tempered horse as ever I see. Fact was, I
+couldn't bear to spile sport, for ef there's any thing I do admire it's
+grit, and Dan is chock full on 't. But now I know he's hankerin' after
+a saddle, and yet won't take even the old one on the sly; so I just
+thought I'd up and tell, and may be you'd let him try what he can do.
+Mr. Laurie won't mind, and Charlie's all the better for 't."
+
+"We shall see;" and off went Mr. Bhaer to inquire into the matter.
+
+Dan owned up at once, and proudly proved that Silas was right by showing
+off his power over Charlie; for by dint of much coaxing, many carrots,
+and infinite perseverance, he really had succeeded in riding the colt
+with a halter and blanket. Mr. Laurie was much amused, and well pleased
+with Dan's courage and skill, and let him have a hand in all future
+performances; for he set about Charlie's education at once, saying
+that he was not going to be outdone by a slip of a boy. Thanks to Dan,
+Charlie took kindly to the saddle and bridle when he had once reconciled
+himself to the indignity of the bit; and after Mr. Laurie had trained
+him a little, Dan was permitted to ride him, to the great envy and
+admiration of the other boys.
+
+"Isn't he handsome? and don't he mind me like a lamb?" said Dan one day
+as he dismounted and stood with his arm round Charlie's neck.
+
+"Yes, and isn't he a much more useful and agreeable animal than the
+wild colt who spent his days racing about the field, jumping fences, and
+running away now and then?" asked Mrs. Bhaer from the steps where she
+always appeared when Dan performed with Charlie.
+
+"Of course he is. See he won't run away now, even if I don't hold him,
+and he comes to me the minute I whistle; I have tamed him well, haven't
+I?" and Dan looked both proud and pleased, as well he might, for, in
+spite of their struggles together, Charlie loved him better than his
+master.
+
+"I am taming a colt too, and I think I shall succeed as well as you if
+I am as patient and persevering," said Mrs. Jo, smiling so significantly
+at him, that Dan understood and answered, laughing, yet in earnest,
+
+"We won't jump over the fence and run away, but stay and let them make a
+handsome, useful span of us, hey, Charlie?"
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVII. COMPOSITION DAY
+
+"Hurry up, boys, it's three o'clock, and Uncle Fritz likes us to be
+punctual, you know," said Franz one Wednesday afternoon as a bell rang,
+and a stream of literary-looking young gentlemen with books and paper in
+their hands were seen going toward the museum.
+
+Tommy was in the school-room, bending over his desk, much bedaubed with
+ink, flushed with the ardor of inspiration, and in a great hurry as
+usual, for easy-going Bangs never was ready till the very last minute.
+As Franz passed the door looking up laggards, Tommy gave one last blot
+and flourish, and departed out the window, waving his paper to dry as
+he went. Nan followed, looking very important, with a large roll in her
+hand, and Demi escorted Daisy, both evidently brimful of some delightful
+secret.
+
+The museum was all in order, and the sunshine among the hop-vines made
+pretty shadows on the floor as it peeped through the great window. On
+one side sat Mr. and Mrs. Bhaer, on the other was a little table
+on which the compositions were laid as soon as read, and in a large
+semicircle sat the children on camp-stools which occasionally shut up
+and let the sitter down, thus preventing any stiffness in the assembly.
+As it took too much time to have all read, they took turns, and on this
+Wednesday the younger pupils were the chief performers, while the elder
+ones listened with condescension and criticised freely.
+
+"Ladies first; so Nan may begin," said Mr. Bhaer, when the settling of
+stools and rustling of papers had subsided.
+
+Nan took her place beside the little table, and, with a preliminary
+giggle, read the following interesting essay on,
+
+"THE SPONGE
+
+"The sponge, my friends, is a most useful and interesting plant. It
+grows on rocks under the water, and is a kind of sea-weed, I believe.
+People go and pick it and dry it and wash it, because little fish and
+insects live in the holes of the sponge; I found shells in my new one,
+and sand. Some are very fine and soft; babies are washed with them. The
+sponge has many uses. I will relate some of them, and I hope my friends
+will remember what I say. One use is to wash the face; I don't like it
+myself, but I do it because I wish to be clean. Some people don't, and
+they are dirty." Here the eye of the reader rested sternly upon Dick and
+Dolly, who quailed under it, and instantly resolved to scrub themselves
+virtuously on all occasions. "Another use is to wake people up; I allude
+to boys par-tic-u-lar-ly." Another pause after the long word to enjoy
+the smothered laugh that went round the room. "Some boys do not get
+up when called, and Mary Ann squeezes the water out of a wet sponge
+on their faces, and it makes them so mad they wake up." Here the laugh
+broke out, and Emil said, as if he had been hit,
+
+"Seems to me you are wandering from the subject."
+
+"No, I ain't; we are to write about vegetables or animals, and I'm doing
+both: for boys are animals, aren't they?" cried Nan; and, undaunted by
+the indignant "No!" shouted at her, she calmly proceeded,
+
+"One more interesting thing is done with sponges, and this is when
+doctors put ether on it, and hold it to people's noses when they have
+teeth out. I shall do this when I am bigger, and give ether to the sick,
+so they will go to sleep and not feel me cut off their legs and arms."
+
+"I know somebody who killed cats with it," called out Demi, but was
+promptly crushed by Dan, who upset his camp-stool and put a hat over his
+face.
+
+"I will not be interruckted," said Nan, frowning upon the unseemly
+scrimmagers. Order was instantly restored, and the young lady closed her
+remarks as follows:
+
+"My composition has three morals, my friends." Somebody groaned, but no
+notice was taken of the insult. "First, is keep your faces clean second,
+get up early third, when the ether sponge is put over your nose, breathe
+hard and don't kick, and your teeth will come out easy. I have no more
+to say." And Miss Nan sat down amid tumultuous applause.
+
+"That is a very remarkable composition; its tone is high, and there is
+a good deal of humor in it. Very well done, Nan. Now, Daisy," and Mr.
+Bhaer smiled at one young lady as he beckoned the other.
+
+Daisy  prettily as she took her place, and said, in her modest
+little voice,
+
+"I'm afraid you won't like mine; it isn't nice and funny like Nan's. But
+I couldn't do any better."
+
+"We always like yours, Posy," said Uncle Fritz, and a gentle murmur from
+the boys seemed to confirm the remark. Thus encouraged, Daisy read her
+little paper, which was listened to with respectful attention.
+
+"THE CAT
+
+"The cat is a sweet animal. I love them very much. They are clean and
+pretty, and catch rats and mice, and let you pet them, and are fond
+of you if you are kind. They are very wise, and can find their way
+anywhere. Little cats are called kittens, and are dear things. I have
+two, named Huz and Buz, and their mother is Topaz, because she has
+yellow eyes. Uncle told me a pretty story about a man named Ma-ho-met.
+He had a nice cat, and when she was asleep on his sleeve, and he wanted
+to go away, he cut off the sleeve so as not to wake her up. I think he
+was a kind man. Some cats catch fish."
+
+"So do I!" cried Teddy, jumping up eager to tell about his trout.
+
+"Hush!" said his mother, setting him down again as quickly as possible,
+for orderly Daisy hated to be "interruckted," as Nan expressed it.
+
+"I read about one who used to do it very slyly. I tried to make Topaz,
+but she did not like the water, and scratched me. She does like tea, and
+when I play in my kitchen she pats the teapot with her paw, till I give
+her some. She is a fine cat, she eats apple-pudding and molasses. Most
+cats do not."
+
+"That's a first-rater," called out Nat, and Daisy retired, pleased with
+the praise of her friend.
+
+"Demi looks so impatient we must have him up at once or he won't hold
+out," said Uncle Fritz, and Demi skipped up with alacrity.
+
+"Mine is a poem!" he announced in a tone of triumph, and read his first
+effort in a loud and solemn voice:
+
+     "I write about the butterfly,
+       It is a pretty thing;
+     And flies about like the birds,
+       But it does not sing.
+     "First it is a little grub,
+       And then it is a nice yellow cocoon,
+     And then the butterfly
+       Eats its way out soon.
+     "They live on dew and honey,
+       They do not have any hive,
+     They do not sting like wasps, and bees, and hornets,
+       And to be as good as they are we should strive.
+     "I should like to be a beautiful butterfly,
+       All yellow, and blue, and green, and red;
+     But I should not like
+       To have Dan put camphor on my poor little head."
+
+This unusual burst of genius brought down the house, and Demi was
+obliged to read it again, a somewhat difficult task, as there was no
+punctuation whatever, and the little poet's breath gave out before he
+got to the end of some of the long lines.
+
+"He will be a Shakespeare yet," said Aunt Jo, laughing as if she would
+die, for this poetic gem reminded her of one of her own, written at the
+age of ten, and beginning gloomily,
+
+     "I wish I had a quiet tomb,
+       Beside a little rill;
+     Where birds, and bees, and butterflies,
+       Would sing upon the hill."
+
+"Come on, Tommy. If there is as much ink inside your paper as there is
+outside, it will be a long composition," said Mr. Bhaer, when Demi had
+been induced to tear himself from his poem and sit down.
+
+"It isn't a composition, it's a letter. You see, I forgot all about its
+being my turn till after school, and then I didn't know what to have,
+and there wasn't time to read up; so I thought you wouldn't mind my
+taking a letter that I wrote to my Grandma. It's got something about
+birds in it, so I thought it would do."
+
+With this long excuse, Tommy plunged into a sea of ink and floundered
+through, pausing now and then to decipher one of his own flourishes.
+
+"MY DEAR GRANDMA, I hope you are well. Uncle James sent me a pocket
+rifle. It is a beautiful little instrument of killing, shaped like
+this [Here Tommy displayed a remarkable sketch of what looked like
+an intricate pump, or the inside of a small steam-engine] 44 are the
+sights; 6 is a false stock that fits in at A; 3 is the trigger, and 2
+is the cock. It loads at the breech, and fires with great force and
+straightness. I am going out shooting squirrels soon. I shot several
+fine birds for the museum. They had speckled breasts, and Dan liked
+them very much. He stuffed them tip-top, and they sit on the tree quite
+natural, only one looks a little tipsy. We had a Frenchman working here
+the other day, and Asia called his name so funnily that I will tell
+you about it. His name was Germain: first she called him Jerry, but we
+laughed at her, and she changed it to Jeremiah; but ridicule was
+the result, so it became Mr. Germany; but ridicule having been again
+resumed, it became Garrymon, which it has remained ever since. I do not
+write often, I am so busy; but I think of you often, and sympathize with
+you, and sincerely hope you get on as well as can be expected without
+me. Your affectionate grandson,
+
+"THOMAS BUCKMINSTER BANGS.
+
+"P.S.? If you come across any postage-stamps, remember me.
+
+"N.B. Love to all, and a great deal to Aunt Almira. Does she make any
+nice plum-cakes now?
+
+"P.S.? Mrs. Bhaer sends her respects.
+
+"P.S.? And so would Mr. B, if he knew I was in act to write.
+
+"N.B. Father is going to give me a watch on my birthday. I am glad as at
+present I have no means of telling time, and am often late at school.
+
+"P.S.? I hope to see you soon. Don't you wish to send for me?
+
+"T. B. B."
+
+
+As each postscript was received with a fresh laugh from the boys, by the
+time he came to the sixth and last, Tommy was so exhausted that he was
+glad to sit down and wipe his ruddy face.
+
+"I hope the dear old lady will live through it," said Mr. Bhaer, under
+cover of the noise.
+
+"We won't take any notice of the broad hint given in that last P.S.
+The letter will be quite as much as she can bear without a visit from
+Tommy," answered Mrs. Jo, remembering that the old lady usually took to
+her bed after a visitation from her irrepressible grandson.
+
+"Now, me," said Teddy, who had learned a bit of poetry, and was so eager
+to say it that he had been bobbing up and down during the reading, and
+could no longer be restrained.
+
+"I'm afraid he will forget it if he waits; and I have had a deal of
+trouble teaching him," said his mother.
+
+Teddy trotted to the rostrum, dropped a curtsey and nodded his head at
+the same time, as if anxious to suit every one; then, in his baby voice,
+and putting the emphasis on the wrong words, he said his verse all in
+one breath:
+
+     "Little drops of water,
+       Little drains of sand,
+     Mate a might okum (ocean),
+       And a peasant land.
+     "Little words of kindness,
+       Pokin evvy day,
+     Make a home a hebbin,
+       And hep us on a way."
+
+Clapping his hands at the end, he made another double salutation, and
+then ran to hide his head in his mother's lap, quite overcome by the
+success of his "piece," for the applause was tremendous.
+
+Dick and Dolly did not write, but were encouraged to observe the habits
+of animals and insects, and report what they saw. Dick liked this, and
+always had a great deal to say; so, when his name was called, he marched
+up, and, looking at the audience with his bright confiding eyes, told
+his little story so earnestly that no one smiled at his crooked body,
+because the "straight soul" shone through it beautifully.
+
+"I've been watching dragonflies, and I read about them in Dan's book,
+and I'll try and tell you what I remember. There's lots of them flying
+round on the pond, all blue, with big eyes, and sort of lace wings,
+very pretty. I caught one, and looked at him, and I think he was the
+handsomest insect I ever saw. They catch littler creatures than they
+are to eat, and have a queer kind of hook thing that folds up when they
+ain't hunting. It likes the sunshine, and dances round all day. Let me
+see! what else was there to tell about? Oh, I know! The eggs are laid in
+the water, and go down to the bottom, and are hatched in the mud. Little
+ugly things come out of 'em; I can't say the name, but they are brown,
+and keep having new skins, and getting bigger and bigger. Only think! it
+takes them two years to be a dragonfly! Now this is the curiousest part
+of it, so you listen tight, for I don't believe you know it. When it is
+ready it knows somehow, and the ugly, grubby thing climbs up out of the
+water on a flag or a bulrush, and bursts open its back."
+
+"Come, I don't believe that," said Tommy, who was not an observant boy,
+and really thought Dick was "making up."
+
+"It does burst open its back, don't it?" and Dick appealed to Mr. Bhaer,
+who nodded a very decided affirmative, to the little speaker's great
+satisfaction.
+
+"Well, out comes the dragonfly, all whole, and he sits in the sun sort
+of coming alive, you know; and he gets strong, and then he spreads his
+pretty wings, and flies away up in the air, and never is a grub any
+more. That's all I know; but I shall watch and try to see him do it, for
+I think it's splendid to turn into a beautiful dragonfly, don't you?"
+
+Dick had told his story well, and, when he described the flight of the
+new-born insect, had waved his hands, and looked up as if he saw, and
+wanted to follow it. Something in his face suggested to the minds of
+the elder listeners the thought that some day little Dick would have his
+wish, and after years of helplessness and pain would climb up into the
+sun some happy day, and, leaving his poor little body behind him, find
+a new lovely shape in a fairer world than this. Mrs. Jo drew him to her
+side, and said, with a kiss on his thin cheek,
+
+"That is a sweet little story, dear, and you remembered it wonderfully
+well. I shall write and tell your mother all about it;" and Dick sat
+on her knee, contentedly smiling at the praise, and resolving to watch
+well, and catch the dragonfly in the act of leaving its old body for
+the new, and see how he did it. Dolly had a few remarks to make upon
+the "Duck," and made them in a sing-song tone, for he had learned it by
+heart, and thought it a great plague to do it at all.
+
+"Wild ducks are hard to kill; men hide and shoot at them, and have tame
+ducks to quack and make the wild ones come where the men can fire at
+them. They have wooden ducks made too, and they sail round, and the
+wild ones come to see them; they are stupid, I think. Our ducks are very
+tame. They eat a great deal, and go poking round in the mud and water.
+They don't take good care of their eggs, but them spoil, and--"
+
+"Mine don't!" cried Tommy.
+
+"Well, some people's do; Silas said so. Hens take good care of little
+ducks, only they don't like to have them go in the water, and make a
+great fuss. But the little ones don't care a bit. I like to eat ducks
+with stuffing in them and lots of apple-sauce."
+
+"I have something to say about owls," began Nat, who had carefully
+prepared a paper upon this subject with some help from Dan.
+
+"Owls have big heads, round eyes, hooked bills, and strong claws. Some
+are gray, some white, some black and yellowish. Their feathers are very
+soft, and stick out a great deal. They fly very quietly, and hunt bats,
+mice, little birds, and such things. They build nests in barns, hollow
+trees, and some take the nests of other birds. The great horned owl has
+two eggs bigger than a hen's and reddish brown. The tawny owl has
+five eggs, white and smooth; and this is the kind that hoots at night.
+Another kind sounds like a child crying. They eat mice and bats whole,
+and the parts that they cannot digest they make into little balls and
+spit out."
+
+"My gracious! how funny!" Nan was heard to observe.
+
+"They cannot see by day; and if they get out into the light, they go
+flapping round half blind, and the other birds chase and peck at them,
+as if they were making fun. The horned owl is very big, 'most as big as
+the eagle. It eats rabbits, rats, snakes, and birds; and lives in rocks
+and old tumble-down houses. They have a good many cries, and scream like
+a person being choked, and say, 'Waugh O! waugh O!' and it scares people
+at night in the woods. The white owl lives by the sea, and in cold
+places, and looks something like a hawk. There is a kind of owl that
+makes holes to live in like moles. It is called the burrowing owl, and
+is very small. The barn-owl is the commonest kind; and I have watched
+one sitting in a hole in a tree, looking like a little gray cat, with
+one eye shut and the other open. He comes out at dusk, and sits round
+waiting for the bats. I caught one, and here he is."
+
+With that Nat suddenly produced from inside his jacket a little downy
+bird, who blinked and ruffled his feathers, looking very plump and
+sleepy and scared.
+
+"Don't touch him! He is going to show off," said Nat, displaying his new
+pet with great pride. First he put a cocked hat on the bird's head,
+and the boys laughed at the funny effect; then he added a pair of paper
+spectacles, and that gave the owl such a wise look that they shouted
+with merriment. The performance closed with making the bird angry, and
+seeing him cling to a handkerchief upside down, pecking and "clucking,"
+as Rob called it. He was allowed to fly after that, and settled himself
+on the bunch of pine-cones over the door, where he sat staring down at
+the company with an air of sleepy dignity that amused them very much.
+
+"Have you anything for us, George?" asked Mr. Bhaer, when the room was
+still again.
+
+"Well, I read and learned ever so much about moles, but I declare I've
+forgotten every bit of it, except that they dig holes to live in, that
+you catch them by pouring water down, and that they can't possibly live
+without eating very often;" and Stuffy sat down, wishing he had not been
+too lazy to write out his valuable observations, for a general smile
+went round when he mentioned the last of the three facts which lingered
+in his memory.
+
+"Then we are done for to-day," began Mr. Bhaer, but Tommy called out in
+a great hurry,
+
+"No we ain't. Don't you know? We must give the thing;" and he winked
+violently as he made an eye-glass of his fingers.
+
+"Bless my heart, I forgot! Now is your time, Tom;" and Mr. Bhaer dropped
+into his seat again, while all the boys but Dan looked mightily tickled
+at something.
+
+Nat, Tommy, and Demi left the room, and speedily returned with a little
+red morocco box set forth in state on Mrs. Jo's best silver salver.
+Tommy bore it, and, still escorted by Nat and Demi, marched up to
+unsuspecting Dan, who stared at them as if he thought they were going to
+make fun of him. Tommy had prepared an elegant and impressive speech for
+the occasion, but when the minute came, it all went out of his head, and
+he just said, straight from his kindly boyish heart,
+
+"Here, old fellow, we all wanted to give you something to kind of pay
+for what happened awhile ago, and to show how much we liked you for
+being such a trump. Please take it, and have a jolly good time with it."
+
+Dan was so surprised he could only get as red as the little box, and
+mutter, "Thanky, boys!" as he fumbled to open it. But when he saw
+what was inside, his face lighted up, and he seized the long desired
+treasure, saying so enthusiastically that every one was satisfied,
+though is language was anything but polished,
+
+"What a stunner! I say, you fellows are regular bricks to give me this;
+it's just what I wanted. Give us your paw, Tommy."
+
+Many paws were given, and heartily shaken, for the boys were charmed
+with Dan's pleasure, and crowded round him to shake hands and expatiate
+on the beauties of their gift. In the midst of this pleasant chatter,
+Dan's eye went to Mrs. Jo, who stood outside the group enjoying the
+scene with all her heart.
+
+"No, I had nothing to do with it. The boys got it up all themselves,"
+she said, answering the grateful look that seemed to thank her for
+that happy moment. Dan smiled, and said, in a tone that only she could
+understand,
+
+"It's you all the same;" and making his way through the boys, he held
+out his hand first to her and then to the good Professor, who was
+beaming benevolently on his flock.
+
+He thanked them both with the silent, hearty squeeze he gave the kind
+hands that had held him up, and led him into the safe refuge of a happy
+home. Not a word was spoken, but they felt all he would say, and little
+Teddy expressed his pleasure for them as he leaned from his father's arm
+to hug the boy, and say, in his baby way,
+
+"My dood Danny! everybody loves him now."
+
+"Come here, show off your spy-glass, Dan, and let us see some of your
+magnified pollywogs and annymalcumisms as you call 'em," said Jack, who
+felt so uncomfortable during this scene that he would have slipped away
+if Emil had not kept him.
+
+"So I will, take a squint at that and see what you think of it," said
+Dan, glad to show off his precious microscope.
+
+He held it over a beetle that happened to be lying on the table, and
+Jack bent down to take his squint, but looked up with an amazed face,
+saying,
+
+"My eye! what nippers the old thing has got! I see now why it hurts so
+confoundedly when you grab a dorbug and he grabs back again."
+
+"He winked at me," cried Nan, who had poked her head under Jack's elbow
+and got the second peep.
+
+Every one took a look, and then Dan showed them the lovely plumage on a
+moth's wing, the four feathery corners to a hair, the veins on a leaf,
+hardly visible to the naked eye, but like a thick net through the
+wonderful little glass; the skin on their own fingers, looking like
+queer hills and valleys; a cobweb like a bit of coarse sewing silk, and
+the sting of a bee.
+
+"It's like the fairy spectacles in my story-book, only more curious,"
+said Demi, enchanted with the wonders he saw.
+
+"Dan is a magician now, and he can show you many miracles going on all
+round you; for he has two things needful patience and a love of nature.
+We live in a beautiful and wonderful world, Demi, and the more you know
+about it the wiser and the better you will be. This little glass will
+give you a new set of teachers, and you may learn fine lessons from them
+if you will," said Mr. Bhaer, glad to see how interested the boys were
+in the matter.
+
+"Could I see anybody's soul with this microscope if I looked hard?"
+asked Demi, who was much impressed with the power of the bit of glass.
+
+"No, dear; it's not powerful enough for that, and never can be made so.
+You must wait a long while before your eyes are clear enough to see the
+most invisible of God's wonders. But looking at the lovely things you
+can see will help you to understand the lovelier things you can not
+see," answered Uncle Fritz, with his hand on the boy's head.
+
+"Well, Daisy and I both think that if there are any angels, their wings
+look like that butterfly's as we see it through the glass, only more
+soft and gold."
+
+"Believe it if you like, and keep your own little wings as bright and
+beautiful, only don't fly away for a long time yet."
+
+"No, I won't," and Demi kept his word.
+
+"Good-by, my boys; I must go now, but I leave you with our new Professor
+of Natural History;" and Mrs. Jo went away well pleased with that
+composition day.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVIII. CROPS
+
+The gardens did well that summer, and in September the little crops were
+gathered in with much rejoicing. Jack and Ned joined their farms and
+raised potatoes, those being a good salable article. They got twelve
+bushels, counting little ones and all, and sold them to Mr. Bhaer at a
+fair price, for potatoes went fast in that house. Emil and Franz devoted
+themselves to corn, and had a jolly little husking in the barn, after
+which they took their corn to the mill, and came proudly home with meal
+enough to supply the family with hasty-pudding and Johnny-cake for a
+lone time. They would not take money for their crop; because, as Franz
+said, "We never can pay Uncle for all he has done for us if we raised
+corn for the rest of our days."
+
+Nat had beans in such abundance that he despaired of ever shelling them,
+till Mrs. Jo proposed a new way, which succeeded admirably. The dry
+pods were spread upon the barn-floor, Nat fiddled, and the boys danced
+quadrilles on them, till they were thrashed out with much merriment and
+very little labor.
+
+Tommy's six weeks' beans were a failure; for a dry spell early in the
+season hurt them, because he gave them no water; and after that he was
+so sure that they could take care of themselves, he let the poor
+things struggle with bugs and weeds till they were exhausted and died
+a lingering death. So Tommy had to dig his farm over again, and plant
+peas. But they were late; the birds ate many; the bushes, not being
+firmly planted, blew down, and when the poor peas came at last, no one
+cared for them, as their day was over, and spring-lamb had grown
+into mutton. Tommy consoled himself with a charitable effort; for he
+transplanted all the thistles he could find, and tended them carefully
+for Toby, who was fond of the prickly delicacy, and had eaten all he
+could find on the place. The boys had great fun over Tom's thistle
+bed; but he insisted that it was better to care for poor Toby than for
+himself, and declared that he would devote his entire farm next year to
+thistles, worms, and snails, that Demi's turtles and Nat's pet owl might
+have the food they loved, as well as the donkey. So like shiftless,
+kind-hearted, happy-go-lucky Tommy!
+
+Demi had supplied his grandmother with lettuce all summer, and in the
+autumn sent his grandfather a basket of turnips, each one scrubbed up
+till it looked like a great white egg. His Grandma was fond of salad,
+and one of his Grandpa's favorite quotations was,
+
+     "Lucullus, whom frugality could charm,
+     Ate roasted turnips at the Sabine farm."
+
+Therefore these vegetable offerings to the dear domestic god and goddess
+were affectionate, appropriate, and classical.
+
+Daisy had nothing but flowers in her little plot, and it bloomed all
+summer long with a succession of gay or fragrant posies. She was very
+fond of her garden, and delved away in it at all hours, watching over
+her roses, and <DW29>s, sweet-peas, and mignonette, as faithfully and
+tenderly as she did over her dolls or her friends. Little nosegays were
+sent into town on all occasions, and certain vases about the house
+were her especial care. She had all sorts of pretty fancies about her
+flowers, and loved to tell the children the story of the <DW29>, and show
+them how the step-mother-leaf sat up in her green chair in purple and
+gold; how the two own children in gay yellow had each its little seat,
+while the step children, in dull colors, both sat on one small stool,
+and the poor little father in his red nightcap, was kept out of sight
+in the middle of the flower; that a monk's dark face looked out of the
+monk's-hood larkspur; that the flowers of the canary-vine were so like
+dainty birds fluttering their yellow wings, that one almost expected
+to see them fly away, and the snapdragons that went off like little
+pistol-shots when you cracked them. Splendid dollies did she make out of
+scarlet and white poppies, with ruffled robes tied round the waist with
+grass blade sashes, and astonishing hats of coreopsis on their
+green heads. Pea-pod boats, with rose-leaf sails, received these
+flower-people, and floated them about a placid pool in the most charming
+style; for finding that there were no elves, Daisy made her own,
+and loved the fanciful little friends who played their parts in her
+summer-life.
+
+Nan went in for herbs, and had a fine display of useful plants, which
+she tended with steadily increasing interest and care. Very busy was
+she in September cutting, drying, and tying up her sweet harvest, and
+writing down in a little book how the different herbs are to be used.
+She had tried several experiments, and made several mistakes; so she
+wished to be particular lest she should give little Huz another fit by
+administering wormwood instead of catnip.
+
+Dick, Dolly, and Rob each grubbed away on his small farm, and made more
+stir about it than all the rest put together. Parsnips and carrots were
+the crops of the two D.'s; and they longed for it to be late enough to
+pull up the precious vegetables. Dick did privately examine his carrots,
+and plant them again, feeling that Silas was right in saying it was too
+soon for them yet.
+
+Rob's crop was four small squashes and one immense pumpkin. It really
+was a "bouncer," as every one said; and I assure you that two small
+persons could sit on it side by side. It seemed to have absorbed all the
+goodness of the little garden, and all the sunshine that shone down on
+it, and lay there a great round, golden ball, full of rich suggestions
+of pumpkin-pies for weeks to come. Robby was so proud of his mammoth
+vegetable that he took every one to see it, and, when frosts began to
+nip, covered it up each night with an old bedquilt, tucking it round as
+if the pumpkin was a well-beloved baby. The day it was gathered he would
+let no one touch it but himself, and nearly broke his back tugging it
+to the barn in his little wheelbarrow, with Dick and Dolly harnessed
+in front to give a heave up the path. His mother promised him that the
+Thanksgiving-pies should be made from it, and hinted vaguely that she
+had a plan in her head which would cover the prize pumpkin and its owner
+with glory.
+
+Poor Billy had planted cucumbers, but unfortunately hoed them up and
+left the pig-weed. This mistake grieved him very much for tem minutes,
+then he forgot all about it, and sowed a handful of bright buttons which
+he had collected, evidently thinking in his feeble mind that they
+were money, and would come up and multiply, so that he might make many
+quarters, as Tommy did. No one disturbed him, and he did what he liked
+with his plot, which soon looked as if a series of small earthquakes
+had stirred it up. When the general harvest-day came, he would have
+had nothing but stones and weeds to show, if kind old Asia had not hung
+half-a-dozen oranges on the dead tree he stuck up in the middle. Billy
+was delighted with his crop; and no one spoiled his pleasure in the
+little miracle which pity wrought for him, by making withered branches
+bear strange fruit.
+
+Stuffy had various trials with his melons; for, being impatient to taste
+them, he had a solitary revel before they were ripe, and made himself so
+ill, that for a day or two it seemed doubtful if he would ever eat
+any more. But he pulled through it, and served up his first cantaloupe
+without tasting a mouthful himself. They were excellent melons, for he
+had a warm <DW72> for them, and they ripened fast. The last and best were
+lingering on the vines, and Stuffy had announced that he should sell
+them to a neighbor. This disappointed the boys, who had hoped to eat
+the melons themselves, and they expressed their displeasure in a new
+and striking manner. Going one morning to gaze upon the three fine
+watermelons which he had kept for the market, Stuffy was horrified to
+find the word "PIG" cut in white letters on the green rind, staring
+at him from every one. He was in a great rage, and flew to Mrs. Jo for
+redress. She listened, condoled with him, and then said,
+
+"If you want to turn the laugh, I'll tell you how, but you must give up
+the melons."
+
+"Well, I will; for I can't thrash all the boys, but I'd like to give
+them something to remember, the mean sneaks," growled Stuff, still in a
+fume.
+
+Now Mrs. Jo was pretty sure who had done the trick, for she had seen
+three heads suspiciously near to one another in the sofa-corner the
+evening before; and when these heads had nodded with chuckles and
+whispers, this experienced woman knew mischief was afoot. A moonlight
+night, a rustling in the old cherry-tree near Emil's window, a cut on
+Tommy's finger, all helped to confirm her suspicions; and having cooled
+Stuffy's wrath a little, she bade him bring his maltreated melons to her
+room, and say not a word to any one of what had happened. He did so,
+and the three wags were amazed to find their joke so quietly taken. It
+spoilt the fun, and the entire disappearance of the melons made them
+uneasy. So did Stuffy's good-nature, for he looked more placid and plump
+than ever, and surveyed them with an air of calm pity that perplexed
+them very much.
+
+At dinner-time they discovered why; for then Stuffy's vengeance fell
+upon them, and the laugh was turned against them. When the pudding was
+eaten, and the fruit was put on, Mary Ann re-appeared in a high state of
+giggle, bearing a large watermelon; Silas followed with another; and
+Dan brought up the rear with a third. One was placed before each of the
+three guilty lads; and they read on the smooth green skins this addition
+to their own work, "With the compliments of the PIG." Every one else
+read it also, and the whole table was in a roar, for the trick had been
+whispered about; so every one understood the sequel. Emil, Ned,
+and Tommy did not know where to look, and had not a word to say for
+themselves; so they wisely joined in the laugh, cut up the melons, and
+handed them round, saying, what all the rest agreed to, that Stuffy had
+taken a wise and merry way to return good for evil.
+
+Dan had no garden, for he was away or lame the greater part of the
+summer; so he had helped Silas wherever he could, chopped wood for Asia,
+and taken care of the lawn so well, that Mrs. Jo always had smooth paths
+and nicely shaven turf before her door.
+
+When the others got in their crops, he looked sorry that he had so
+little to show; but as autumn went on, he bethought himself of a
+woodland harvest which no one would dispute with him, and which was
+peculiarly his own. Every Saturday he was away alone to the forests,
+fields, and hills, and always came back loaded with spoils; for he
+seemed to know the meadows where the best flag-root grew, the thicket
+where the sassafras was spiciest, the haunts where the squirrels went
+for nuts, the white oak whose bark was most valuable, and the little
+gold-thread vine that Nursey liked to cure the canker with. All sorts of
+splendid red and yellow leaves did Dan bring home for Mrs. Jo to dress
+her parlor with, graceful-seeded grasses, clematis tassels, downy, soft,
+yellow wax-work berries, and mosses, red-brimmed, white, or emerald
+green.
+
+"I need not sigh for the woods now, because Dan brings the woods to me,"
+Mrs. Jo used to say, as she glorified the walls with yellow maple boughs
+and scarlet woodbine wreaths, or filled her vases with russet ferns,
+hemlock sprays full of delicate cones, and hardy autumn flowers; for
+Dan's crop suited her well.
+
+The great garret was full of the children's little stores and for a time
+was one of the sights of the house. Daisy's flower seeds in neat little
+paper bags, all labelled, lay in a drawer of a three-legged table.
+Nan's herbs hung in bunches against the wall, filling the air with their
+aromatic breath. Tommy had a basket of thistle-down with the tiny seeds
+attached, for he meant to plant them next year, if they did not all fly
+away before that time. Emil had bunches of pop-corn hanging there to
+dry, and Demi laid up acorns and different sorts of grain for the pets.
+But Dan's crop made the best show, for fully one half of the floor was
+covered with the nuts he brought. All kinds were there, for he ranged
+the woods for miles round, climbed the tallest trees, and forced his way
+into the thickest hedges for his plunder. Walnuts, chestnuts, hazelnuts,
+and beechnuts lay in separate compartments, getting brown, and dry, and
+sweet, ready for winter revels.
+
+There was one butternut-tree on the place, and Rob and Teddy called it
+theirs. It bore well this year, and the great dingy nuts came dropping
+down to hide among the dead leaves, where the busy squirrels found them
+better than the lazy Bhaers. Their father had told them (the boys, not
+the squirrels) they should have the nuts if they would pick them up, but
+no one was to help. It was easy work, and Teddy liked it, only he soon
+got tired, and left his little basket half full for another day. But the
+other day was slow to arrive, and, meantime, the sly squirrels were hard
+at work, scampering up and down the old elm-trees stowing the nuts away
+till their holes were full, then all about the crotches of the boughs,
+to be removed at their leisure. Their funny little ways amused the boys,
+till one day Silas said,
+
+"Hev you sold them nuts to the squirrels?"
+
+"No," answered Rob, wondering what Silas meant.
+
+"Wal, then, you'd better fly round, or them spry little fellers won't
+leave you none."
+
+"Oh, we can beat them when we begin. There are such lots of nuts we
+shall have a plenty."
+
+"There ain't many more to come down, and they have cleared the ground
+pretty well, see if they hain't."
+
+Robby ran to look, and was alarmed to find how few remained. He called
+Teddy, and they worked hard all one afternoon, while the squirrels sat
+on the fence and scolded.
+
+"Now, Ted, we must keep watch, and pick up just as fast as they fall, or
+we shan't have more than a bushel, and every one will laugh at us if we
+don't."
+
+"The naughty quillies tarn't have 'em. I'll pick fast and run and put
+'em in the barn twick," said Teddy, frowning at little Frisky, who
+chattered and whisked his tail indignantly.
+
+That night a high wind blew down hundreds of nuts, and when Mrs. Jo came
+to wake her little sons, she said, briskly,
+
+"Come, my laddies, the squirrels are hard at it, and you will have to
+work well to-day, or they will have every nut on the ground."
+
+"No, they won't," and Robby tumbled up in a great hurry, gobbled his
+breakfast, and rushed out to save his property.
+
+Teddy went too, and worked like a little beaver, trotting to and fro
+with full and empty baskets. Another bushel was soon put away in the
+corn-barn, and they were scrambling among the leaves for more nuts when
+the bell rang for school.
+
+"O father! let me stay out and pick. Those horrid squirrels will have
+my nuts if you don't. I'll do my lessons by and by," cried Rob, running
+into the school-room, flushed and tousled by the fresh cold wind and his
+eager work.
+
+"If you had been up early and done a little every morning there would be
+no hurry now. I told you that, Rob, and you never minded. I cannot have
+the lessons neglected as the work has been. The squirrels will get more
+than their share this year, and they deserve it, for they have worked
+best. You may go an hour earlier, but that is all," and Mr. Bhaer led
+Rob to his place where the little man dashed at his books as if bent on
+making sure of the precious hour promised him.
+
+It was almost maddening to sit still and see the wind shaking down the
+last nuts, and the lively thieves flying about, pausing now and then to
+eat one in his face, and flirt their tails, as if they said, saucily,
+"We'll have them in spite of you, lazy Rob." The only thing that
+sustained the poor child in this trying moment was the sight of
+Teddy working away all alone. It was really splendid the pluck and
+perseverance of the little lad. He picked and picked till his back
+ached; he trudged to and fro till his small legs were tired; and he
+defied wind, weariness, and wicked "quillies," till his mother left
+her work and did the carrying for him, full of admiration for the kind
+little fellow who tried to help his brother. When Rob was dismissed, he
+found Teddy reposing in the bushel-basket quite used up, but unwilling
+to quit the field; for he flapped his hat at the thieves with one grubby
+little hand, while he refreshed himself with the big apple held in the
+other.
+
+Rob fell to work and the ground was cleared before two o'clock, the nuts
+safely in the corn-barn loft, and the weary workers exulted in their
+success. But Frisky and his wife were not to be vanquished so easily;
+and when Rob went up to look at his nuts a few days later he was amazed
+to see how many had vanished. None of the boys could have stolen them,
+because the door had been locked; the doves could not have eaten them,
+and there were no rats about. There was great lamentation among the
+young Bhaers till Dick said,
+
+"I saw Frisky on the roof of the corn-barn, may be he took them."
+
+"I know he did! I'll have a trap, and kill him dead," cried Rob,
+disgusted with Frisky's grasping nature.
+
+"Perhaps if you watch, you can find out where he puts them, and I may
+be able to get them back for you," said Dan, who was much amused by the
+fight between the boys and squirrels.
+
+So Rob watched and saw Mr. and Mrs. Frisky drop from the drooping elm
+boughs on to the roof of the corn-barn, dodge in at one of the little
+doors, much to the disturbance of the doves, and come out with a nut in
+each mouth. So laden they could not get back the way they came, but
+ran down the low roof, along the wall, and leaping off at a corner they
+vanished a minute and re-appeared without their plunder. Rob ran to the
+place, and in a hollow under the leaves he found a heap of the stolen
+property hidden away to be carried off to the holes by and by.
+
+"Oh, you little villains! I'll cheat you now, and not leave one," said
+Rob. So he cleared the corner and the corn-barn, and put the contested
+nuts in the garret, making sure that no broken window-pane could
+anywhere let in the unprincipled squirrels. They seemed to feel that the
+contest was over, and retired to their hole, but now and then could not
+resist throwing down nut-shells on Rob's head, and scolding violently
+as if they could not forgive him nor forget that he had the best of the
+battle.
+
+Father and Mother Bhaer's crop was of a different sort, and not so
+easily described; but they were satisfied with it, felt that their
+summer work had prospered well, and by and by had a harvest that made
+them very happy.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIX. JOHN BROOKE
+
+"Wake up, Demi, dear! I want you."
+
+"Why, I've just gone to bed; it can't be morning yet;" and Demi blinked
+like a little owl as he waked from his first sound sleep.
+
+"It's only ten, but your father is ill, and we must go to him. O my
+little John! my poor little John!" and Aunt Jo laid her head down on
+the pillow with a sob that scared sleep from Demi's eyes and filled his
+heart with fear and wonder; for he dimly felt why Aunt Jo called him
+"John," and wept over him as if some loss had come that left him poor.
+He clung to her without a word, and in a minute she was quite steady
+again, and said, with a tender kiss as she saw his troubled face,
+
+"We are going to say good-by to him, my darling, and there is no time to
+lose; so dress quickly and come to me in my room. I must go to Daisy."
+
+"Yes, I will;" and when Aunt Jo was gone, little Demi got up quietly,
+dressed as if in a dream, and leaving Tommy fast asleep went away
+through the silent house, feeling that something new and sorrowful was
+going to happen something that set him apart from the other boys for
+a time, and made the world seem as dark and still and strange as those
+familiar rooms did in the night. A carriage sent by Mr. Laurie stood
+before the door. Daisy was soon ready, and the brother and sister held
+each other by the hand all the way into town, as they drove swiftly and
+silently with aunt and uncle through the shadowy roads to say good-by to
+father.
+
+None of the boys but Franz and Emil knew what had happened, and when
+they came down next morning, great was their wonderment and discomfort,
+for the house seemed forlorn without its master and mistress. Breakfast
+was a dismal meal with no cheery Mrs. Jo behind the teapots; and when
+school-time came, Father Bhaer's place was empty. They wandered about in
+a disconsolate kind of way for an hour, waiting for news and hoping it
+would be all right with Demi's father, for good John Brooke was much
+beloved by the boys. Ten o'clock came, and no one arrived to relieve
+their anxiety. They did not feel like playing, yet the time dragged
+heavily, and they sat about listless and sober. All at once, Franz got
+up, and said, in his persuasive way,
+
+"Look here, boys! let's go into school and do our lessons just as if
+Uncle was here. It will make the day go faster, and will please him, I
+know."
+
+"But who will hear us say them?" asked Jack.
+
+"I will; I don't know much more than you do, but I'm the oldest here,
+and I'll try to fill Uncle's place till he comes, if you don't mind."
+
+Something in the modest, serious way Franz said this impressed the boys,
+for, though the poor lad's eyes were red with quiet crying for Uncle
+John in that long sad night, there was a new manliness about him, as if
+he had already begun to feel the cares and troubles of life, and tried
+to take them bravely.
+
+"I will, for one," and Emil went to his seat, remembering that obedience
+to his superior officer is a seaman's first duty.
+
+The others followed; Franz took his uncle's seat, and for an hour
+order reigned. Lessons were learned and said, and Franz made a patient,
+pleasant teacher, wisely omitting such lessons as he was not equal to,
+and keeping order more by the unconscious dignity that sorrow gave him
+than by any words of his own. The little boys were reading when a step
+was heard in the hall, and every one looked up to read the news in Mr.
+Bhaer's face as he came in. The kind face told them instantly that Demi
+had no father now, for it was worn and pale, and full of tender grief,
+which left him no words with which to answer Rob, as he ran to him,
+saying, reproachfully,
+
+"What made you go and leave me in the night, papa?"
+
+The memory of the other father who had left his children in the night,
+never to return, made Mr. Bhaer hold his own boy close, and, for a
+minute, hide his face in Robby's curly hair. Emil laid his head down
+on his arms, Franz, went to put his hand on his uncle's shoulder, his
+boyish face pale with sympathy and sorrow, and the others sat so still
+that the soft rustle of the falling leaves outside was distinctly heard.
+
+Rob did not clearly understand what had happened, but he hated to see
+papa unhappy, so he lifted up the bent head, and said, in his chirpy
+little voice,
+
+"Don't cry, mein Vater! we were all so good, we did our lessons, without
+you, and Franz was the master."
+
+Mr. Bhaer looked up then, tried to smile, and said in a grateful tone
+that made the lads feel like saints, "I thank you very much, my boys.
+It was a beautiful way to help and comfort me. I shall not forget it, I
+assure you."
+
+"Franz proposed it, and was a first-rate master, too," said Nat; and the
+others gave a murmur of assent most gratifying to the young dominie.
+
+Mr. Bhaer put Rob down, and, standing up, put his arm round his tall
+nephew's shoulder, as he said, with a look of genuine pleasure,
+
+"This makes my hard day easier, and gives me confidence in you all. I
+am needed there in town, and must leave you for some hours. I thought
+to give you a holiday, or send some of you home, but if you like to stay
+and go on as you have begun, I shall be glad and proud of my good boys."
+
+"We'll stay;" "We'd rather;" "Franz can see to us;" cried several,
+delighted with the confidence shown in them.
+
+"Isn't Marmar coming home?" asked Rob, wistfully; for home without
+"Marmar" was the world without the sun to him.
+
+"We shall both come to-night; but dear Aunt Meg needs Mother more than
+you do now, and I know you like to lend her for a little while."
+
+"Well, I will; but Teddy's been crying for her, and he slapped Nursey,
+and was dreadful naughty," answered Rob, as if the news might bring
+mother home.
+
+"Where is my little man?" asked Mr. Bhaer.
+
+"Dan took him out, to keep him quiet. He's all right now," said Franz,
+pointing to the window, through which they could see Dan drawing baby in
+his little wagon, with the dogs frolicking about him.
+
+"I won't see him, it would only upset him again; but tell Dan I leave
+Teddy in his care. You older boys I trust to manage yourselves for a
+day. Franz will direct you, and Silas is here to over see matters. So
+good-by till to-night."
+
+"Just tell me a word about Uncle John," said Emil, detaining Mr. Bhaer,
+as he was about hurrying away again.
+
+"He was only ill a few hours, and died as he has lived, so cheerfully,
+so peacefully, that it seems a sin to mar the beauty of it with any
+violent or selfish grief. We were in time to say good-by: and Daisy and
+Demi were in his arms as he fell asleep on Aunt Meg's breast. No more
+now, I cannot bear it," and Mr. Bhaer went hastily away quite bowed with
+grief, for in John Brooke he had lost both friend and brother, and there
+was no one left to take his place.
+
+All that day the house was very still; the small boys played quietly in
+the nursery; the others, feeling as if Sunday had come in the middle
+of the week, spent it in walking, sitting in the willow, or among their
+pets, all talking much of "Uncle John," and feeling that something
+gentle, just, and strong, had gone out of their little world, leaving a
+sense of loss that deepened every hour. At dusk, Mr. and Mrs. Bhaer came
+home alone, for Demi and Daisy were their mother's best comfort now,
+and could not leave her. Poor Mrs. Jo seemed quite spent, and evidently
+needed the same sort of comfort, for her first words, as she came up the
+stairs, were, "Where is my baby?"
+
+"Here I is," answered a little voice, as Dan put Teddy into her arms,
+adding, as she hugged him close, "My Danny tooked tare of me all day,
+and I was dood."
+
+Mrs. Jo turned to thank the faithful nurse, but Dan was waving off the
+boys, who had gathered in the hall to meet her, and was saying, in a low
+voice, "Keep back; she don't want to be bothered with us now."
+
+"No, don't keep back. I want you all. Come in and see me, my boys. I've
+neglected you all day," and Mrs. Jo held out her hands to them as they
+gathered round and escorted her into her own room, saying little, but
+expressing much by affectionate looks and clumsy little efforts to show
+their sorrow and sympathy.
+
+"I am so tired, I will lie here and cuddle Teddy, and you shall bring me
+in some tea," she said, trying to speak cheerfully for their sakes.
+
+A general stampede into the dining-room followed, and the supper-table
+would have been ravaged if Mr. Bhaer had not interfered. It was agreed
+that one squad should carry in the mother's tea, and another bring it
+out. The four nearest and dearest claimed the first honor, so Franz bore
+the teapot, Emil the bread, Rob the milk, and Teddy insisted on carrying
+the sugar basin, which was lighter by several lumps when it arrived than
+when it started. Some women might have found it annoying at such a time
+to have boys creaking in and out, upsetting cups and rattling spoons in
+violent efforts to be quiet and helpful; but it suited Mrs. Jo, because
+just then her heart was very tender; and remembering that many of her
+boys were fatherless or motherless, she yearned over them, and found
+comfort in their blundering affection. It was the sort of food that did
+her more good than the very thick bread-and-butter that they gave her,
+and the rough Commodore's broken whisper,
+
+"Bear up, Aunty, it's a hard blow; but we'll weather it somehow;"
+cheered her more than the sloppy cup he brought her, full of tea as
+bitter as if some salt tear of his own had dropped into it on the way.
+When supper was over, a second deputation removed the tray; and Dan
+said, holding out his arms for sleepy little Teddy,
+
+"Let me put him to bed, you're so tired, Mother."
+
+"Will you go with him, lovey?" asked Mrs. Jo of her small lord and
+master, who lay on her arm among the sofa-pillows.
+
+"Torse I will;" and he was proudly carried off by his faithful bearer.
+
+"I wish I could do something," said Nat, with a sigh, as Franz leaned
+over the sofa, and softly stroked Aunt Jo's hot forehead.
+
+"You can, dear. Go and get your violin, and play me the sweet little
+airs Uncle Teddy sent you last. Music will comfort me better than any
+thing else to-night."
+
+Nat flew for his fiddle, and, sitting just outside her door, played as
+he had never done before, for now his heart was in it, and seemed
+to magnetize his fingers. The other lads sat quietly upon the steps,
+keeping watch that no new-comer should disturb the house; Franz lingered
+at his post; and so, soothed, served, and guarded by her boys, poor Mrs.
+Jo slept at last, and forgot her sorrow for an hour.
+
+Two quiet days, and on the third Mr. Bhaer came in just after school,
+with a note in his hand, looking both moved and pleased.
+
+"I want to read you something, boys," he said; and as they stood round
+him he read this:
+
+"DEAR BROTHER FRITZ, I hear that you do not mean to bring your flock
+today, thinking that I may not like it. Please do. The sight of his
+friends will help Demi through the hard hour, and I want the boys to
+hear what father says of my John. It will do them good, I know. If they
+would sing one of the sweet old hymns you have taught them so well,
+I should like it better than any other music, and feel that it was
+beautifully suited to the occasion. Please ask them, with my love.
+
+"MEG."
+
+"Will you go?" and Mr. Bhaer looked at the lads, who were greatly
+touched by Mrs. Brooke's kind words and wishes.
+
+"Yes," they answered, like one boy; and an hour later they went away
+with Franz to bear their part in John Brooke's simple funeral.
+
+The little house looked as quiet, sunny, and home-like as when Meg
+entered it as a bride, ten years ago, only then it was early summer,
+and rose blossomed everywhere; now it was early autumn, and dead leaves
+rustled softly down, leaving the branches bare. The bride was a widow
+now; but the same beautiful serenity shone in her face, and the sweet
+resignation of a truly pious soul made her presence a consolation to
+those who came to comfort her.
+
+"O Meg! how can you bear it so?" whispered Jo, as she met them at the
+door with a smile of welcome, and no change in her gentle manner, except
+more gentleness.
+
+"Dear Jo, the love that has blest me for ten happy years supports me
+still. It could not die, and John is more my own than ever," whispered
+Meg; and in her eyes the tender trust was so beautiful and bright, that
+Jo believed her, and thanked God for the immortality of love like hers.
+
+They were all there father and mother, Uncle Teddy, and Aunt Amy, old
+Mr. Laurence, white-haired and feeble now, Mr. and Mrs. Bhaer, with
+their flock, and many friends, come to do honor to the dead. One would
+have said that modest John Brooke, in his busy, quiet, humble life,
+had had little time to make friends; but now they seemed to start
+up everywhere, old and young, rich and poor, high and low; for all
+unconsciously his influence had made itself widely felt, his virtues
+were remembered, and his hidden charities rose up to bless him. The
+group about his coffin was a far more eloquent eulogy than any Mr. March
+could utter. There were the rich men whom he had served faithfully for
+years; the poor old women whom he cherished with his little store, in
+memory of his mother; the wife to whom he had given such happiness that
+death could not mar it utterly; the brothers and sisters in whose hearts
+he had made a place for ever; the little son and daughter, who already
+felt the loss of his strong arm and tender voice; the young children,
+sobbing for their kindest playmate, and the tall lads, watching with
+softened faces a scene which they never could forget. A very simple
+service, and very short; for the fatherly voice that had faltered in the
+marriage-sacrament now failed entirely as Mr. March endeavored to pay
+his tribute of reverence and love to the son whom he most honored.
+Nothing but the soft coo of Baby Josy's voice up-stairs broke the long
+hush that followed the last Amen, till, at a sign from Mr. Bhaer, the
+well-trained boyish voices broke out in a hymn, so full of lofty cheer,
+that one by one all joined in it, singing with full hearts, and finding
+their troubled spirits lifted into peace on the wings of that brave,
+sweet psalm.
+
+As Meg listened, she felt that she had done well; for not only did the
+moment comfort her with the assurance that John's last lullaby was sung
+by the young voices he loved so well, but in the faces of the boys she
+saw that they had caught a glimpse of the beauty of virtue in its most
+impressive form, and that the memory of the good man lying dead before
+them would live long and helpfully in their remembrance. Daisy's head
+lay in her lap, and Demi held her hand, looking often at her, with eyes
+so like his father's, and a little gesture that seemed to say, "Don't
+be troubled, mother; I am here;" and all about her were friends to lean
+upon and love; so patient, pious Meg put by her heavy grief, feeling
+that her best help would be to live for others, as her John had done.
+
+That evening, as the Plumfield boys sat on the steps, as usual, in the
+mild September moonlight, they naturally fell to talking of the event of
+the day.
+
+Emil began by breaking out, in his impetuous way, "Uncle Fritz is the
+wisest, and Uncle Laurie the jolliest, but Uncle John was the best; and
+I'd rather be like him than any man I ever saw."
+
+"So would I. Did you hear what those gentlemen said to Grandpa to-day? I
+would like to have that said of me when I was dead;" and Franz felt with
+regret that he had not appreciated Uncle John enough.
+
+"What did they say?" asked Jack, who had been much impressed by the
+scenes of the day.
+
+"Why, one of the partners of Mr. Laurence, where Uncle John has been
+ever so long, was saying that he was conscientious almost to a fault as
+a business man, and above reproach in all things. Another gentleman said
+no money could repay the fidelity and honesty with which Uncle John had
+served him, and then Grandpa told them the best of all. Uncle John once
+had a place in the office of a man who cheated, and when this man wanted
+uncle to help him do it, uncle wouldn't, though he was offered a big
+salary. The man was angry and said, 'You will never get on in business
+with such strict principles;' and uncle answered back, 'I never will try
+to get on without them,' and left the place for a much harder and poorer
+one."
+
+"Good!" cried several of the boys warmly, for they were in the mood to
+understand and value the little story as never before.
+
+"He wasn't rich, was he?" asked Jack.
+
+"No."
+
+"He never did any thing to make a stir in the world, did he?"
+
+"No."
+
+"He was only good?"
+
+"That's all;" and Franz found himself wishing that Uncle John had done
+something to boast of, for it was evident that Jack was disappointed by
+his replies.
+
+"Only good. That is all and every thing," said Mr. Bhaer, who had
+overheard the last few words, and guessed what was going on the minds of
+the lads.
+
+"Let me tell you a little about John Brooke, and you will see why men
+honor him, and why he was satisfied to be good rather than rich or
+famous. He simply did his duty in all things, and did it so cheerfully,
+so faithfully, that it kept him patient and brave, and happy through
+poverty and loneliness and years of hard work. He was a good son, and
+gave up his own plans to stay and live with his mother while she needed
+him. He was a good friend, and taught Laurie much beside his Greek and
+Latin, did it unconsciously, perhaps, by showing him an example of an
+upright man. He was a faithful servant, and made himself so valuable to
+those who employed him that they will find it hard to fill his place.
+He was a good husband and father, so tender, wise, and thoughtful, that
+Laurie and I learned much of him, and only knew how well he loved his
+family, when we discovered all he had done for them, unsuspected and
+unassisted."
+
+Mr. Bhaer stopped a minute, and the boys sat like statues in the
+moonlight until he went on again, in a subdued, but earnest voice: "As
+he lay dying, I said to him, 'Have no care for Meg and the little ones;
+I will see that they never want.' Then he smiled and pressed my hand,
+and answered, in his cheerful way, 'No need of that; I have cared for
+them.' And so he had, for when we looked among his papers, all was in
+order, not a debt remained; and safely put away was enough to keep Meg
+comfortable and independent. Then we knew why he had lived so plainly,
+denied himself so many pleasures, except that of charity, and worked
+so hard that I fear he shortened his good life. He never asked help for
+himself, though often for others, but bore his own burden and worked
+out his own task bravely and quietly. No one can say a word of complaint
+against him, so just and generous and kind was he; and now, when he is
+gone, all find so much to love and praise and honor, that I am proud to
+have been his friend, and would rather leave my children the legacy he
+leaves his than the largest fortune ever made. Yes! Simple, generous
+goodness is the best capital to found the business of this life upon. It
+lasts when fame and money fail, and is the only riches we can take out
+of this world with us. Remember that, my boys; and if you want to earn
+respect and confidence and love follow in the footsteps of John Brooke."
+
+When Demi returned to school, after some weeks at home, he seemed to
+have recovered from his loss with the blessed elasticity of childhood,
+and so he had in a measure; but he did not forget, for his was a nature
+into which things sank deeply, to be pondered over, and absorbed into
+the soil where the small virtues were growing fast. He played and
+studied, worked and sang, just as before, and few suspected any change;
+but there was one and Aunt Jo saw it for she watched over the boy with
+her whole heart, trying to fill John's place in her poor way. He seldom
+spoke of his loss, but Aunt Jo often heard a stifled sobbing in the
+little bed at night; and when she went to comfort him, all his cry was,
+"I want my father! oh, I want my father!" for the tie between the two
+had been a very tender one, and the child's heart bled when it was
+broken. But time was kind to him, and slowly he came to feel that father
+was not lost, only invisible for a while, and sure to be found again,
+well and strong and fond as ever, even though his little son should see
+the purple asters blossom on his grave many, many times before they met.
+To this belief Demi held fast, and in it found both help and comfort,
+because it led him unconsciously through a tender longing for the father
+whom he had seen to a childlike trust in the Father whom he had not
+seen. Both were in heaven, and he prayed to both, trying to be good for
+love of them.
+
+The outward change corresponded to the inward, for in those few weeks
+Demi seemed to have grown tall, and began to drop his childish plays,
+not as if ashamed of them, as some boys do, but as if he had outgrown
+them, and wanted something manlier. He took to the hated arithmetic,
+and held on so steadily that his uncle was charmed, though he could not
+understand the whim, until Demi said,
+
+"I am going to be a bookkeeper when I grow up, like papa, and I must
+know about figures and things, else I can't have nice, neat ledgers like
+his."
+
+At another time he came to his aunt with a very serious face, and said
+
+"What can a small boy do to earn money?"
+
+"Why do you ask, my deary?"
+
+"My father told me to take care of mother and the little girls, and I
+want to, but I don't know how to begin."
+
+"He did not mean now, Demi, but by and by, when you are large."
+
+"But I wish to begin now, if I can, because I think I ought to make some
+money to buy things for the family. I am ten, and other boys no bigger
+than I earn pennies sometimes."
+
+"Well, then, suppose you rake up all the dead leaves and cover the
+strawberry bed. I'll pay you a dollar for the job," said Aunt Jo.
+
+"Isn't that a great deal? I could do it in one day. You must be fair,
+and no pay too much, because I want to truly earn it."
+
+"My little John, I will be fair, and not pay a penny too much. Don't
+work too hard; and when that is done I will have something else for you
+to do," said Mrs. Jo, much touched by his desire to help, and his sense
+of justice, so like his scrupulous father.
+
+When the leaves were done, many barrowloads of chips were wheeled from
+the wood to the shed, and another dollar earned. Then Demi helped
+cover the schoolbooks, working in the evenings under Franz's direction,
+tugging patiently away at each book, letting no one help, and receiving
+his wages with such satisfaction that the dingy bills became quite
+glorified in his sight.
+
+"Now, I have a dollar for each of them, and I should like to take
+my money to mother all myself, so she can see that I have minded my
+father."
+
+So Demi made a duteous pilgrimage to his mother, who received his little
+earnings as a treasure of great worth, and would have kept it untouched,
+if Demi had not begged her to buy some useful thing for herself and the
+women-children, whom he felt were left to his care.
+
+This made him very happy, and, though he often forgot his
+responsibilities for a time, the desire to help was still there,
+strengthening with his years. He always uttered the words "my father"
+with an air of gentle pride, and often said, as if he claimed a title
+full of honor, "Don't call me Demi any more. I am John Brooke now."
+So, strengthened by a purpose and a hope, the little lad of ten bravely
+began the world, and entered into his inheritance, the memory of a wise
+and tender father, the legacy of an honest name.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XX. ROUND THE FIRE
+
+With the October frosts came the cheery fires in the great fireplaces;
+and Demi's dry pine-chips helped Dan's oak-knots to blaze royally, and
+go roaring up the chimney with a jolly sound. All were glad to gather
+round the hearth, as the evenings grew longer, to play games, read, or
+lay plans for the winter. But the favorite amusement was story-telling,
+and Mr. and Mrs. Bhaer were expected to have a store of lively tales
+always on hand. Their supply occasionally gave out, and then the boys
+were thrown upon their own resources, which were not always successful.
+Ghost-parties were the rage at one time; for the fun of the thing
+consisted in putting out the lights, letting the fire die down, and then
+sitting in the dark, and telling the most awful tales they could invent.
+As this resulted in scares of all sorts among the boys, Tommy's walking
+in his sleep on the shed roof, and a general state of nervousness in
+the little ones, it was forbidden, and they fell back on more harmless
+amusements.
+
+One evening, when the small boys were snugly tucked in bed, and the
+older lads were lounging about the school-room fire, trying to decide
+what they should do, Demi suggested a new way of settling the question.
+
+Seizing the hearth-brush, he marched up and down the room, saying, "Row,
+row, row;" and when the boys, laughing and pushing, had got into line,
+he said, "Now, I'll give you two minutes to think of a play." Franz was
+writing, and Emil reading the Life of Lord Nelson, and neither joined
+the party, but the others thought hard, and when the time was up were
+ready to reply.
+
+"Now, Tom!" and the poker softly rapped him on the head.
+
+"Blind-man's Buff."
+
+"Jack!"
+
+"Commerce; a good round game, and have cents for the pool."
+
+"Uncle forbids our playing for money. Dan, what do you want?"
+
+"Let's have a battle between the Greeks and Romans."
+
+"Stuffy?"
+
+"Roast apples, pop corn, and crack nuts."
+
+"Good! good!" cried several; and when the vote was taken, Stuffy's
+proposal carried the day.
+
+Some went to the cellar for apples, some to the garret for nuts, and
+others looked up the popper and the corn.
+
+"We had better ask the girls to come in, hadn't we?" said Demi, in a
+sudden fit of politeness.
+
+"Daisy pricks chestnuts beautifully," put in Nat, who wanted his little
+friend to share the fun.
+
+"Nan pops corn tip-top, we must have her," added Tommy.
+
+"Bring in your sweethearts then, we don't mind," said Jack, who laughed
+at the innocent regard the little people had for one another.
+
+"You shan't call my sister a sweetheart; it is so silly!" cried Demi, in
+a way that made Jack laugh.
+
+"She is Nat's darling, isn't she, old chirper?"
+
+"Yes, if Demi don't mind. I can't help being fond of her, she is so good
+to me," answered Nat, with bashful earnestness, for Jack's rough ways
+disturbed him.
+
+"Nan is my sweetheart, and I shall marry her in about a year, so don't
+you get in the way, any of you," said Tommy, stoutly; for he and Nan
+had settled their future, child-fashion, and were to live in the willow,
+lower down a basket for food, and do other charmingly impossible things.
+
+Demi was quenched by the decision of Bangs, who took him by the arm and
+walked him off to get the ladies. Nan and Daisy were sewing with Aunt Jo
+on certain small garments, for Mrs. Carney's newest baby.
+
+"Please, ma'am, could you lend us the girls for a little while? We'll
+be very careful of them," said Tommy, winking one eye to express apples,
+snapping his fingers to signify pop-corn, and gnashing his teeth to
+convey the idea of nut-cracking.
+
+The girls understood this pantomime at once, and began to pull of
+their thimbles before Mrs. Jo could decide whether Tommy was going
+into convulsions or was brewing some unusual piece of mischief. Demi
+explained with elaboration, permission was readily granted, and the boys
+departed with their prize.
+
+"Don't you speak to Jack," whispered Tommy, as he and Nan promenaded
+down the hall to get a fork to prick the apples.
+
+"Why not?"
+
+"He laughs at me, so I don't wish you to have any thing to do with him."
+
+"Shall, if I like," said Nan, promptly resenting this premature
+assumption of authority on the part of her lord.
+
+"Then I won't have you for my sweetheart."
+
+"I don't care."
+
+"Why, Nan, I thought you were fond of me!" and Tommy's voice was full of
+tender reproach.
+
+"If you mind Jack's laughing I don't care for you one bit."
+
+"Then you may take back your old ring; I won't wear it any longer;" and
+Tommy plucked off a horsehair pledge of affection which Nan had given
+him in return for one made of a lobster's feeler.
+
+"I shall give it to Ned," was her cruel reply; for Ned liked Mrs.
+Giddy-gaddy, and had turned her clothespins, boxes, and spools enough to
+set up housekeeping with.
+
+Tommy said, "Thunder turtles!" as the only vent equal to the pent-up
+anguish of the moment, and, dropping Nan's arm, retired in high dudgeon,
+leaving her to follow with the fork, a neglect which naughty Nan
+punished by proceeding to prick his heart with jealousy as if it were
+another sort of apple.
+
+The hearth was swept, and the rosy Baldwins put down to roast. A shovel
+was heated, and the chestnuts danced merrily upon it, while the corn
+popped wildly in its wire prison. Dan cracked his best walnuts, and
+every one chattered and laughed, while the rain beat on the window-pane
+and the wind howled round the house.
+
+"Why is Billy like this nut?" asked Emil, who was frequently inspired
+with bad conundrums.
+
+"Because he is cracked," answered Ned.
+
+"That's not fair; you mustn't make fun of Billy, because he can't hit
+back again. It's mean," cried Dan, smashing a nut wrathfully.
+
+"To what family of insects does Blake belong?" asked peacemaker Franz,
+seeing that Emil looked ashamed and Dan lowering.
+
+"Gnats," answered Jack.
+
+"Why is Daisy like a bee?" cried Nat, who had been wrapt in thought for
+several minutes.
+
+"Because she is queen of the hive," said Dan.
+
+"No."
+
+"Because she is sweet."
+
+"Bees are not sweet."
+
+"Give it up."
+
+"Because she makes sweet things, is always busy, and likes flowers,"
+said Nat, piling up his boyish compliments till Daisy blushed like a
+rosy clover.
+
+"Why is Nan like a hornet?" demanded Tommy, glowering at her, and
+adding, without giving any one time to answer, "Because she isn't sweet,
+makes a great buzzing about nothing, and stings like fury."
+
+"Tommy's mad, and I'm glad," cried Ned, as Nan tossed her head and
+answered quickly,
+
+"What thing in the china-closet is Tom like?"
+
+"A pepper pot," answered Ned, giving Nan a nut meat with a tantalizing
+laugh that made Tommy feel as if he would like to bounce up like a hot
+chestnut and hit somebody.
+
+Seeing that ill-humor was getting the better of the small supply of wit
+in the company, Franz cast himself into the breach again.
+
+"Let's make a law that the first person who comes into the room shall
+tell us a story. No matter who it is, he must do it, and it will be fun
+to see who comes first."
+
+The others agreed, and did not have to wait long, for a heavy step soon
+came clumping through the hall, and Silas appeared, bearing an armful
+of wood. He was greeted by a general shout, and stood staring about him
+with a bewildered grin on his big red face, till Franz explained the
+joke.
+
+"Sho! I can't tell a story," he said, putting down his load and
+preparing to leave the room. But the boys fell upon him, forced him into
+a seat, and held him there, laughing, and clamoring for their story,
+till the good-natured giant was overpowered.
+
+"I don't know but jest one story, and that's about a horse," he said,
+much flattered by the reception he received.
+
+"Tell it! tell it!" cried the boys.
+
+"Wal," began Silas, tipping his chair back against the wall, and
+putting his thumbs in the arm-holes of his waistcoat, "I jined a cavalry
+regiment durin' the war, and see a consid'able amount of fightin'. My
+horse, Major, was a fust-rate animal, and I was as fond on him as
+ef he'd ben a human critter. He warn't harnsome, but he was the
+best-tempered, stiddyest, lovenest brute I ever see. I fust battle we
+went into, he gave me a lesson that I didn't forgit in a hurry, and
+I'll tell you how it was. It ain't no use tryin' to picter the noise and
+hurry, and general horridness of a battle to you young fellers, for I
+ain't no words to do it in; but I'm free to confess that I got so sort
+of confused and upset at the fust on it, that I didn't know what I was
+about. We was ordered to charge, and went ahead like good ones, never
+stoppin' to pick up them that went down in the scrimmage. I got a shot
+in the arm, and was pitched out of the saddle don't know how, but there
+I was left behind with two or three others, dead and wounded, for the
+rest went on, as I say. Wal, I picked myself up and looked round for
+Major, feeling as ef I'd had about enough for that spell. I didn't see
+him nowhere, and was kinder walking back to camp, when I heard a whinny
+that sounded nateral. I looked round, and there was Major stopping for
+me a long way off, and lookin' as ef he didn't understand why I was
+loiterin' behind. I whistled, and he trotted up to me as I'd trained him
+to do. I mounted as well as I could with my left arm bleedin' and was
+for going on to camp, for I declare I felt as sick and wimbly as a
+woman; folks often do in their fust battle. But, no sir! Major was the
+bravest of the two, and he wouldn't go, not a peg; he jest rared up, and
+danced, and snorted, and acted as ef the smell of powder and the noise
+had drove him half wild. I done my best, but he wouldn't give in, so
+I did; and what do you think that plucky brute done? He wheeled slap
+round, and galloped back like a hurricane, right into the thickest of
+the scrimmage!"
+
+"Good for him!" cried Dan excitedly, while the other boys forgot apples
+and nuts in their interest.
+
+"I wish I may die ef I warn't ashamed of myself," continued Silas,
+warming up at the recollection of that day. "I was mad as a hornet, and
+I forgot my waound, and jest pitched in, rampagin' raound like fury till
+there come a shell into the midst of us, and in bustin' knocked a lot
+of us flat. I didn't know nothin' for a spell, and when I come-to, the
+fight was over just there, and I found myself layin' by a wall of poor
+Major long-side wuss wounded than I was. My leg was broke, and I had a
+ball in my shoulder, but he, poor old feller! was all tore in the side
+with a piece of that blasted shell."
+
+"O Silas! what did you do?" cried Nan, pressing close to him with a face
+full of eager sympathy and interest.
+
+"I dragged myself nigher, and tried to stop the bleedin' with sech rags
+as I could tear off of me with one hand. But it warn't no use, and he
+lay moanin' with horrid pain, and lookin' at me with them lovin' eyes of
+his, till I thought I couldn't bear it. I give him all the help I could,
+and when the sun got hotter and hotter, and he began to lap out his
+tongue, I tried to get to a brook that was a good piece away, but I
+couldn't do it, being stiff and faint, so I give it up and fanned him
+with my hat. Now you listen to this, and when you hear folks comin' down
+on the rebs, you jest remember what one on 'em did, and give him credit
+of it. I poor feller in gray laid not fur off, shot through the lungs
+and dyin' fast. I'd offered him my handkerchief to keep the sun off his
+face, and he'd thanked me kindly, for in sech times as that men don't
+stop to think on which side they belong, but jest buckle-to and help one
+another. When he see me mournin' over Major and tryin' to ease his pain,
+he looked up with his face all damp and white with sufferin', and sez
+he, 'There's water in my canteen; take it, for it can't help me,' and he
+flung it to me. I couldn't have took it ef I hadn't had a little brandy
+in a pocket flask, and I made him drink it. It done him good, and I felt
+as much set up as if I'd drunk it myself. It's surprisin' the good sech
+little things do folks sometime;" and Silas paused as if he felt again
+the comfort of that moment when he and his enemy forgot their feud, and
+helped one another like brothers.
+
+"Tell about Major," cried the boys, impatient for the catastrophe.
+
+"I poured the water over his poor pantin' tongue, and ef ever a dumb
+critter looked grateful, he did then. But it warn't of much use, for
+the dreadful waound kep on tormentin' him, till I couldn't bear it any
+longer. It was hard, but I done it in mercy, and I know he forgive me."
+
+"What did you do?" asked Emil, as Silas stopped abruptly with a loud
+"hem," and a look in his rough face that made Daisy go and stand by him
+with her little hand on his knee.
+
+"I shot him."
+
+Quite a thrill went through the listeners as Silas said that, for
+Major seemed a hero in their eyes, and his tragic end roused all their
+sympathy.
+
+"Yes, I shot him, and put him out of his misery. I patted him fust, and
+said, 'Good-by;' then I laid his head easy on the grass, give a last
+look into his lovin' eyes, and sent a bullet through his head. He hardly
+stirred, I aimed so true, and when I seen him quite still, with no more
+moanin' and pain, I was glad, and yet wal, I don't know as I need by
+ashamed on't I jest put my arms raound his neck and boo-hooed like a
+great baby. Sho! I didn't know I was sech a fool;" and Silas drew his
+sleeve across his eyes, as much touched by Daisy's sob, as by the memory
+of faithful Major.
+
+No one spoke for a minute, because the boys were as quick to feel the
+pathos of the little story as tender-hearted Daisy, though they did not
+show it by crying.
+
+"I'd like a horse like that," said Dan, half-aloud.
+
+"Did the rebel man die, too?" asked Nan, anxiously.
+
+"Not then. We laid there all day, and at night some of our fellers came
+to look after the missing ones. They nat'rally wanted to take me fust,
+but I knew I could wait, and the rebel had but one chance, maybe, so I
+made them carry him off right away. He had jest strength enough to hold
+out his hand to me and say, 'Thanky, comrade!' and them was the last
+words he spoke, for he died an hour after he got to the hospital-tent."
+
+"How glad you must have been that you were kind to him!" said Demi, who
+was deeply impressed by this story.
+
+"Wal, I did take comfort thinkin' of it, as I laid there alone for a
+number of hours with my head on Major's neck, and see the moon come up.
+I'd like to have buried the poor beast decent, but it warn't possible;
+so I cut off a bit of his mane, and I've kep it ever sence. Want to see
+it, sissy?"
+
+"Oh, yes, please," answered Daisy, wiping away her tears to look.
+
+Silas took out an old "wallet" as he called his pocket-book, and
+produced from an inner fold a bit of brown paper, in which was a rough
+lock of white horse-hair. The children looked at it silently, as it lay
+in the broad palm, and no one found any thing to ridicule in the love
+Silas bore his good horse Major.
+
+"That is a sweet story, and I like it, though it did make me cry. Thank
+you very much, Si," and Daisy helped him fold and put away his little
+relic; while Nan stuffed a handful of pop-corn into his pocket, and the
+boys loudly expressed their flattering opinions of his story, feeling
+that there had been two heroes in it.
+
+He departed, quite overcome by his honors, and the little conspirators
+talked the tale over, while they waited for their next victim. It was
+Mrs. Jo, who came in to measure Nan for some new pinafores she was
+making for her. They let her get well in, and then pounced upon her,
+telling her the law, and demanding the story. Mrs. Jo was very much
+amused at the new trap, and consented at once, for the sound of happy
+voices had been coming across the hall so pleasantly that she quite
+longed to join them, and forget her own anxious thoughts of Sister Meg.
+
+"Am I the first mouse you have caught, you sly pussies-in-boots?"
+she asked, as she was conducted to the big chair, supplied with
+refreshments, and surrounded by a flock of merry-faced listeners.
+
+They told her about Silas and his contribution, and she slapped her
+forehead in despair, for she was quite at her wits' end, being called
+upon so unexpectedly for a bran new tale.
+
+"What shall I tell about?" she said.
+
+"Boys," was the general answer.
+
+"Have a party in it," said Daisy.
+
+"And something good to eat," added Stuffy.
+
+"That reminds me of a story, written years ago, by a dear old lady. I
+used to be very fond of it, and I fancy you will like it, for it has
+both boys, and 'something good to eat' in it."
+
+"What is it called?" asked Demi.
+
+"'The Suspected Boy.'"
+
+Nat looked up from the nuts he was picking, and Mrs. Jo smiled at him,
+guessing what was in his mind.
+
+"Miss Crane kept a school for boys in a quiet little town, and a very
+good school it was, of the old-fashioned sort. Six boys lived in her
+house, and four or five more came in from the town. Among those who
+lived with her was one named Lewis White. Lewis was not a bad boy, but
+rather timid, and now and then he told a lie. One day a neighbor sent
+Miss Crane a basket of gooseberries. There were not enough to go round,
+so kind Miss Crane, who liked to please her boys, went to work and made
+a dozen nice little gooseberry tarts."
+
+"I'd like to try gooseberry tarts. I wonder if she made them as I do
+my raspberry ones," said Daisy, whose interest in cooking had lately
+revived.
+
+"Hush," said Nat, tucking a plump pop-corn into her mouth to silence
+her, for he felt a particular interest in this tale, and thought it
+opened well.
+
+"When the tarts were done, Miss Crane put them away in the best parlor
+closet, and said not a word about them, for she wanted to surprise the
+boys at tea-time. When the minute came and all were seated at table, she
+went to get her tarts, but came back looking much troubled, for what do
+you think had happened?"
+
+"Somebody had hooked them!" cried Ned.
+
+"No, there they were, but some one had stolen all the fruit out of
+them by lifting up the upper crust and then putting it down after the
+gooseberry had been scraped out."
+
+"What a mean trick!" and Nan looked at Tommy, as if to imply that he
+would do the same.
+
+"When she told the boys her plan and showed them the poor little
+patties all robbed of their sweetness, the boys were much grieved and
+disappointed, and all declared that they knew nothing about the matter.
+'Perhaps the rats did it,' said Lewis, who was among the loudest to deny
+any knowledge of the tarts. 'No, rats would have nibbled crust and all,
+and never lifted it up and scooped out the fruit. Hands did that,' said
+Miss Crane, who was more troubled about the lie that some one must have
+told than about her lost patties. Well, they had supper and went to bed,
+but in the night Miss Crane heard some one groaning, and going to
+see who it was she found Lewis in great pain. He had evidently eaten
+something that disagreed with him, and was so sick that Miss Crane was
+alarmed, and was going to send for the doctor, when Lewis moaned out,
+'It's the gooseberries; I ate them, and I must tell before I die,' for
+the thought of a doctor frightened him. 'If that is all, I'll give you
+an emetic and you will soon get over it,' said Miss Crane. So Lewis had
+a good dose, and by morning was quite comfortable. 'Oh, don't tell the
+boys; they will laugh at me so,' begged the invalid. Kind Miss Crane
+promised not to, but Sally, the girl, told the story, and poor Lewis had
+no peace for a long time. His mates called him Old Gooseberry, and were
+never tired of asking him the price of tarts."
+
+"Served him right," said Emil.
+
+"Badness always gets found out," added Demi, morally.
+
+"No, it don't," muttered Jack, who was tending the apples with great
+devotion, so that he might keep his back to the rest and account for his
+red face.
+
+"Is that all?" asked Dan.
+
+"No, that is only the first part; the second part is more interesting.
+Some time after this a peddler came by one day and stopped to show his
+things to the boys, several of whom bought pocket-combs, jew's-harps,
+and various trifles of that sort. Among the knives was a little
+white-handled penknife that Lewis wanted very much, but he had spent all
+his pocket-money, and no one had any to lend him. He held the knife in
+his hand, admiring and longing for it, till the man packed up his goods
+to go, then he reluctantly laid it down, and the man went on his way.
+The next day, however, the peddler returned to say that he could not
+find that very knife, and thought he must have left it at Miss Crane's.
+It was a very nice one with a pearl handle, and he could not afford
+to lose it. Every one looked, and every one declared they knew nothing
+about it. 'This young gentleman had it last, and seemed to want it very
+much. Are you quite sure you put it back?' said the man to Lewis, who
+was much troubled at the loss, and vowed over and over again that he did
+return it. His denials seemed to do no good, however, for every one was
+sure he had taken it, and after a stormy scene Miss Crane paid for it,
+and the man went grumbling away."
+
+"Did Lewis have it?" cried Nat, much excited.
+
+"You will see. Now poor Lewis had another trial to bear, for the boys
+were constantly saying, 'Lend me your pearl-handled knife, Gooseberry,'
+and things of that sort, till Lewis was so unhappy he begged to be sent
+home. Miss Crane did her best to keep the boys quiet, but it was hard
+work, for they would tease, and she could not be with them all the
+time. That is one of the hardest things to teach boys; they won't 'hit
+a fellow when he is down,' as they say, but they will torment him in
+little ways till he would thank them to fight it out all round."
+
+"I know that," said Dan.
+
+"So do I," added Nat, softly.
+
+Jack said nothing, but he quite agreed; for he knew that the elder boys
+despised him, and let him alone for that very reason.
+
+"Do go on about poor Lewis, Aunt Jo. I don't believe he took the knife,
+but I want to be sure," said Daisy, in great anxiety.
+
+"Well, week after week went on and the matter was not cleared up.
+The boys avoided Lewis, and he, poor fellow, was almost sick with the
+trouble he had brought upon himself. He resolved never to tell another
+lie, and tried so hard that Miss Crane pitied and helped him, and really
+came at last to believe that he did not take the knife. Two months after
+the peddler's first visit, he came again, and the first thing he said
+was,
+
+"'Well, ma'am, I found that knife after all. It had slipped behind the
+lining of my valise, and fell out the other day when I was putting in a
+new stock of goods. I thought I'd call and let you know, as you paid for
+it, and maybe would like it, so here it is.'"
+
+"The boys had all gathered round, and at these words they felt much
+ashamed, and begged Lewis' pardon so heartily that he could not refuse
+to give it. Miss Crane presented the knife to him, and he kept it many
+years to remind him of the fault that had brought him so much trouble."
+
+"I wonder why it is that things you eat on the sly hurt you, and don't
+when you eat them at table," observed Stuffy, thoughtfully.
+
+"Perhaps your conscience affects your stomach," said Mrs. Jo, smiling at
+his speech.
+
+"He is thinking of the cucumbers," said Ned, and a gale of merriment
+followed the words, for Stuffy's last mishap had been a funny one.
+
+He ate two large cucumbers in private, felt very ill, and confided
+his anguish to Ned, imploring him to do something. Ned good-naturedly
+recommended a mustard plaster and a hot flat iron to the feet; only in
+applying these remedies he reversed the order of things, and put the
+plaster on the feet, the flat iron on the stomach, and poor Stuffy was
+found in the barn with blistered soles and a scorched jacket.
+
+"Suppose you tell another story, that was such an interesting one," said
+Nat, as the laughter subsided.
+
+Before Mrs. Jo could refuse these insatiable Oliver Twists, Rob walked
+into the room trailing his little bed-cover after him, and wearing
+an expression of great sweetness as he said, steering straight to his
+mother as a sure haven of refuge,
+
+"I heard a great noise, and I thought sumfin dreffle might have
+happened, so I came to see."
+
+"Did you think I would forget you, naughty boy?" asked his mother,
+trying to look stern.
+
+"No; but I thought you'd feel better to see me right here," responded
+the insinuating little party.
+
+"I had much rather see you in bed, so march straight up again, Robin."
+
+"Everybody that comes in here has to tell a story, and you can't so
+you'd better cut and run," said Emil.
+
+"Yes, I can! I tell Teddy lots of ones, all about bears and moons, and
+little flies that say things when they buzz," protested Rob, bound to
+stay at any price.
+
+"Tell one now, then, right away," said Dan, preparing to shoulder and
+bear him off.
+
+"Well, I will; let me fink a minute," and Rob climbed into his mother's
+lap, where he was cuddled, with the remark
+
+"It is a family failing, this getting out of bed at wrong times. Demi
+used to do it; and as for me, I was hopping in and out all night long.
+Meg used to think the house was on fire, and send me down to see, and I
+used to stay and enjoy myself, as you mean to, my bad son."
+
+"I've finked now," observed Rob, quite at his ease, and eager to win the
+entree into this delightful circle.
+
+Every one looked and listened with faces full of suppressed merriment as
+Rob, perched on his mother's knee and wrapped in the gay coverlet, told
+the following brief but tragic tale with an earnestness that made it
+very funny:
+
+"Once a lady had a million children, and one nice little boy. She went
+up-stairs and said, 'You mustn't go in the yard.' But he wented, and
+fell into the pump, and was drowned dead."
+
+"Is that all?" asked Franz, as Rob paused out of breath with this
+startling beginning.
+
+"No, there is another piece of it," and Rob knit his downy eyebrows in
+the effort to evolve another inspiration.
+
+"What did the lady do when he fell into the pump?" asked his mother, to
+help him on.
+
+"Oh, she pumped him up, and wrapped him in a newspaper, and put him on a
+shelf to dry for seed."
+
+A general explosion of laughter greeted this surprising conclusion, and
+Mrs. Jo patted the curly head, as she said, solemnly,
+
+"My son, you inherit your mother's gift of story-telling. Go where glory
+waits thee."
+
+"Now I can stay, can't I? Wasn't it a good story?" cried Rob, in high
+feather at his superb success.
+
+"You can stay till you have eaten these twelve pop-corns," said his
+mother, expecting to see them vanish at one mouthful.
+
+But Rob was a shrewd little man, and got the better of her by eating
+them one by one very slowly, and enjoying every minute with all his
+might.
+
+"Hadn't you better tell the other story, while you wait for him?" said
+Demi, anxious that no time should be lost.
+
+"I really have nothing but a little tale about a wood-box," said Mrs.
+Jo, seeing that Rob had still seven corns to eat.
+
+"Is there a boy in it?"
+
+"It is all boy."
+
+"Is it true?" asked Demi.
+
+"Every bit of it."
+
+"Goody! tell on, please."
+
+"James Snow and his mother lived in a little house, up in New Hampshire.
+They were poor, and James had to work to help his mother, but he loved
+books so well he hated work, and just wanted to sit and study all day
+long."
+
+"How could he! I hate books, and like work," said Dan, objecting to
+James at the very outset.
+
+"It takes all sorts of people to make a world; workers and students both
+are needed, and there is room for all. But I think the workers should
+study some, and the students should know how to work if necessary,"
+answered Mrs. Jo, looking from Dan to Demi with a significant
+expression.
+
+"I'm sure I do work," and Demi showed three small hard spots in his
+little palm, with pride.
+
+"And I'm sure I study," added Dan, nodding with a groan toward the
+blackboard full of neat figures.
+
+"See what James did. He did not mean to be selfish, but his mother was
+proud of him, and let him do as he liked, working by herself that he
+might have books and time to read them. One autumn James wanted to go
+to school, and went to the minister to see if he would help him, about
+decent clothes and books. Now the minister had heard the gossip about
+James's idleness, and was not inclined to do much for him, thinking
+that a boy who neglected his mother, and let her slave for him, was
+not likely to do very well even at school. But the good man felt more
+interested when he found how earnest James was, and being rather an odd
+man, he made this proposal to the boy, to try now sincere he was.
+
+"'I will give you clothes and books on one condition, James.'
+
+"'What is that, sir?' and the boy brightened up at once.
+
+"'You are to keep your mother's wood-box full all winter long, and do
+it yourself. If you fail, school stops.' James laughed at the queer
+condition and readily agreed to it, thinking it a very easy one.
+
+"He began school, and for a time got on capitally with the wood-box,
+for it was autumn, and chips and brushwood were plentiful. He ran out
+morning and evening and got a basket full, or chopped up the cat sticks
+for the little cooking stove, and as his mother was careful and saving,
+the task was not hard. But in November the frost came, the days were
+dull and cold, and wood went fast. His mother bought a load with her own
+earnings, but it seemed to melt away, and was nearly gone, before James
+remembered that he was to get the next. Mrs. Snow was feeble and lame
+with rheumatism, and unable to work as she had done, so James had to put
+down the books, and see what he could do.
+
+"It was hard, for he was going on well, and so interested in his
+lessons that he hated to stop except for food and sleep. But he knew the
+minister would keep his word, and much against his will James set about
+earning money in his spare hours, lest the wood-box should get empty.
+He did all sorts of things, ran errands, took care of a neighbor's cow,
+helped the old sexton dust and warm the church on Sundays, and in these
+ways got enough to buy fuel in small quantities. But it was hard work;
+the days were short, the winter was bitterly cold, and precious time
+went fast, and the dear books were so fascinating, that it was sad to
+leave them, for dull duties that never seemed done.
+
+"The minister watched him quietly, and seeing that he was in earnest
+helped him without his knowledge. He met him often driving the wood
+sleds from the forest, where the men were chopping and as James plodded
+beside the slow oxen, he read or studied, anxious to use every minute.
+'The boy is worth helping, this lesson will do him good, and when he
+has learned it, I will give him an easier one,' said the minister
+to himself, and on Christmas eve a splendid load of wood was quietly
+dropped at the door of the little house, with a new saw and a bit of
+paper, saying only,
+
+"'The Lord helps those who help themselves.'
+
+"Poor James expected nothing, but when he woke on that cold Christmas
+morning, he found a pair of warm mittens, knit by his mother, with her
+stiff painful fingers. This gift pleased him very much, but her kiss
+and tender look as she called him her 'good son,' was better still. In
+trying to keep her warm, he had warmed his own heart, you see, and
+in filling the wood-box he had also filled those months with duties
+faithfully done. He began to see this, to feel that there was something
+better than books, and to try to learn the lessons God set him, as well
+as those his school-master gave.
+
+"When he saw the great pile of oak and pine logs at his door, and read
+the little paper, he knew who sent it, and understood the minister's
+plan; thanked him for it, and fell to work with all his might. Other
+boys frolicked that day, but James sawed wood, and I think of all
+the lads in the town the happiest was the one in the new mittens, who
+whistled like a blackbird as he filled his mother's wood-box."
+
+"That's a first rater!" cried Dan, who enjoyed a simple matter-of-face
+story better than the finest fairy tale; "I like that fellow after all."
+
+"I could saw wood for you, Aunt Jo!" said Demi, feeling as if a new
+means of earning money for his mother was suggested by the story.
+
+"Tell about a bad boy. I like them best," said Nan.
+
+"You'd better tell about a naughty cross-patch of a girl," said Tommy,
+whose evening had been spoilt by Nan's unkindness. It made his apple
+taste bitter, his pop-corn was insipid, his nuts were hard to crack, and
+the sight of Ned and Nan on one bench made him feel his life a burden.
+
+But there were no more stories from Mrs. Jo, for on looking down at Rob
+he was discovered to be fast asleep with his last corn firmly clasped in
+his chubby hand. Bundling him up in his coverlet, his mother carried him
+away and tucked him up with no fear of his popping out again.
+
+"Now let's see who will come next," said Emil, setting the door
+temptingly ajar.
+
+Mary Ann passed first, and he called out to her, but Silas had warned
+her, and she only laughed and hurried on in spite of their enticements.
+Presently a door opened, and a strong voice was heard humming in the
+hall,
+
+     "Ich weiss nicht was soll es bedeuten
+     Dass ich so traurig bin."
+
+"It's Uncle Fritz; all laugh loud and he will be sure to come in," said
+Emil.
+
+A wild burst of laughter followed, and in came Uncle Fritz, asking,
+"What is the joke, my lads?"
+
+"Caught! caught! you can't go out till you've told a story," cried the
+boys, slamming the door.
+
+"So! that is the joke then? Well, I have no wish to go, it is so
+pleasant here, and I pay my forfeit at once," which he did by sitting
+down and beginning instantly,
+
+"A long time ago your Grandfather, Demi, went to lecture in a great
+town, hoping to get some money for a home for little orphans that
+some good people were getting up. His lecture did well, and he put a
+considerable sum of money in his pocket, feeling very happy about it. As
+he was driving in a chaise to another town, he came to a lonely bit of
+road, late in the afternoon, and was just thinking what a good place it
+was for robbers when he saw a bad-looking man come out of the woods
+in front of him and go slowly along as if waiting till he came up. The
+thought of the money made Grandfather rather anxious, and at first he
+had a mind to turn round and drive away. But the horse was tired, and
+then he did not like to suspect the man, so he kept on, and when he got
+nearer and saw how poor and sick and ragged the stranger looked, his
+heart reproached him, and stopping, he said in a kind voice,
+
+"'My friend, you look tired; let me give you a lift.' The man seemed
+surprised, hesitated a minute, and then got in. He did not seem inclined
+to talk, but Grandfather kept on in his wise, cheerful way, speaking of
+what a hard year it had been, how much the poor had suffered, and how
+difficult it was to get on sometimes. The man slowly softened a little,
+and won by the kind chat, told his story. How he had been sick, could
+get no work, had a family of children, and was almost in despair.
+Grandfather was so full of pity that he forgot his fear, and, asking the
+man his name, said he would try to get him work in the next town, as he
+had friends there. Wishing to get at pencil and paper to write down the
+address, Grandfather took out his plump pocket-book, and the minute he
+did so, the man's eye was on it. Then Grandfather remembered what was in
+it and trembled for his money, but said quietly,
+
+"'Yes, I have a little sum here for some poor orphans. I wish it was my
+own, I would so gladly give you some of it. I am not rich, but I know
+many of the trials of the poor; this five dollars is mine, and I want to
+give it to you for your children.'
+
+"The hard, hungry look in the man's eyes changed to a grateful one as he
+took the small sum, freely given, and left the orphans' money untouched.
+He rode on with Grandfather till they approached the town, then he asked
+to be set down. Grandpa shook hands with him, and was about to drive on,
+when the man said, as if something made him, 'I was desperate when we
+met, and I meant to rob you, but you were so kind I couldn't do it. God
+bless you, sir, for keeping me from it!'"
+
+"Did Grandpa ever see him again?" asked Daisy, eagerly.
+
+"No; but I believe the man found work, and did not try robbery any
+more."
+
+"That was a curious way to treat him; I'd have knocked him down," said
+Dan.
+
+"Kindness is always better than force. Try it and see," answered Mr.
+Bhaer, rising.
+
+"Tell another, please," cried Daisy.
+
+"You must, Aunt Jo did," added Demi.
+
+"Then I certainly won't, but keep my others for next time. Too many
+tales are as bad as too many bonbons. I have paid my forfeit and I go,"
+and Mr. Bhaer ran for his life, with the whole flock in full pursuit. He
+had the start, however, and escaped safely into his study, leaving the
+boys to go rioting back again.
+
+They were so stirred up by the race that they could not settle to their
+former quiet, and a lively game of Blindman's Buff followed, in which
+Tommy showed that he had taken the moral of the last story to heart,
+for, when he caught Nan, he whispered in her ear, "I'm sorry I called
+you a cross-patch."
+
+Nan was not to be outdone in kindness, so, when they played "Button,
+button, who's got the button?" and it was her turn to go round, she
+said, "Hold fast all I give you," with such a friendly smile at Tommy,
+that he was not surprised to find the horse-hair ring in his hand
+instead of the button. He only smiled back at her then, but when they
+were going to bed, he offered Nan the best bite of his last apple; she
+saw the ring on his stumpy little finger, accepted the bite, and peace
+was declared. Both were ashamed of the temporary coldness, neither was
+ashamed to say, "I was wrong, forgive me," so the childish friendship
+remained unbroken, and the home in the willow lasted long, a pleasant
+little castle in the air.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXI. THANKSGIVING
+
+This yearly festival was always kept at Plumfield in the good
+old-fashioned way, and nothing was allowed to interfere with it. For
+days beforehand, the little girls helped Asia and Mrs. Jo in store-room
+and kitchen, making pies and puddings, sorting fruit, dusting dishes,
+and being very busy and immensely important. The boys hovered on the
+outskirts of the forbidden ground, sniffing the savory odors, peeping
+in at the mysterious performances, and occasionally being permitted to
+taste some delicacy in the process of preparation.
+
+Something more than usual seemed to be on foot this year, for the girls
+were as busy up-stairs as down, so were the boys in school-room and
+barn, and a general air of bustle pervaded the house. There was a great
+hunting up of old ribbons and finery, much cutting and pasting of gold
+paper, and the most remarkable quantity of straw, gray cotton, flannel,
+and big black beads, used by Franz and Mrs. Jo. Ned hammered at strange
+machines in the workshop, Demi and Tommy went about murmuring to
+themselves as if learning something. A fearful racket was heard in
+Emil's room at intervals, and peals of laughter from the nursery when
+Rob and Teddy were sent for and hidden from sight whole hours at a time.
+But the thing that puzzled Mr. Bhaer the most was what became of Rob's
+big pumpkin. It had been borne in triumph to the kitchen, where a dozen
+golden-tinted pies soon after appeared. It would not have taken more
+than a quarter of the mammoth vegetable to make them, yet where was the
+rest? It disappeared, and Rob never seemed to care, only chuckled when
+it was mentioned, and told his father, "To wait and see," for the fun of
+the whole thing was to surprise Father Bhaer at the end, and not let him
+know a bit about what was to happen.
+
+He obediently shut eyes, ears, and mouth, and went about trying not
+to see what was in plain sight, not to hear the tell-tale sounds that
+filled the air, not to understand any of the perfectly transparent
+mysteries going on all about him. Being a German, he loved these simple
+domestic festivals, and encouraged them with all his heart, for they
+made home so pleasant that the boys did not care to go elsewhere for
+fun.
+
+When at last the day came, the boys went off for a long walk, that they
+might have good appetites for dinner; as if they ever needed them! The
+girls remained at home to help set the table, and give last touches to
+various affairs which filled their busy little souls with anxiety. The
+school-room had been shut up since the night before, and Mr. Bhaer was
+forbidden to enter it on pain of a beating from Teddy, who guarded the
+door like a small dragon, though he was dying to tell about it, and
+nothing but his father's heroic self-denial in not listening, kept him
+from betraying a grand secret.
+
+"It's all done, and it's perfectly splendid," cried Nan, coming out at
+last with an air of triumph.
+
+"The you know goes beautifully, and Silas knows just what to do now,"
+added Daisy, skipping with delight at some unspeakable success.
+
+"I'm blest if it ain't the 'cutest thing I ever see, them critters in
+particular," said Silas, who had been let into the secret, went off
+laughing like a great boy.
+
+"They are coming; I hear Emil roaring 'Land lubbers lying down below,'
+so we must run and dress," cried Nan, and up-stairs they scampered in a
+great hurry.
+
+The boys came trooping home with appetites that would have made the big
+turkey tremble, if it had not been past all fear. They also retired to
+dress; and for half-an-hour there was a washing, brushing, and prinking
+that would have done any tidy woman's heart good to see. When the bell
+rang, a troop of fresh-faced lads with shiny hair, clean collars, and
+Sunday jackets on, filed into the dining-room, where Mrs. Jo, in her
+one black silk, with a knot of her favorite white chrysanthemums in her
+bosom, sat at the head of the table, "looking splendid," as the boys
+said, whenever she got herself up. Daisy and Nan were as gay as a posy
+bed in their new winter dresses, with bright sashes and hair ribbons.
+Teddy was gorgeous to behold in a crimson merino blouse, and his best
+button boots, which absorbed and distracted him as much as Mr. Toot's
+wristbands did on one occasion.
+
+As Mr. and Mrs. Bhaer glanced at each other down the long table, with
+those rows of happy faces on either side, they had a little thanksgiving
+all to themselves, and without a word, for one heart said to the other,
+
+"Our work has prospered, let us be grateful and go on."
+
+The clatter of knives and forks prevented much conversation for a few
+minutes, and Mary Ann with an amazing pink bow in her hair "flew round"
+briskly, handing plates and ladling out gravy. Nearly every one had
+contributed to the feast, so the dinner was a peculiarly interesting
+ones to the eaters of it, who beguiled the pauses by remarks on their
+own productions.
+
+"If these are not good potatoes I never saw any," observed Jack, as he
+received his fourth big mealy one.
+
+"Some of my herbs are in the stuffing of the turkey, that's why it's so
+nice," said Nan, taking a mouthful with intense satisfaction.
+
+"My ducks are prime any way; Asia said she never cooked such fat ones,"
+added Tommy.
+
+"Well, our carrots are beautiful, ain't they, and our parsnips will
+be ever so good when we dig them," put in Dick, and Dolly murmured his
+assent from behind the bone he was picking.
+
+"I helped make the pies with my pumpkin," called out Robby, with a laugh
+which he stopped by retiring into his mug.
+
+"I picked some of the apples that the cider is made of," said Demi.
+
+"I raked the cranberries for the sauce," cried Nat.
+
+"I got the nuts," added Dan, and so it went on all round the table.
+
+"Who made up Thanksgiving?" asked Rob, for being lately promoted to
+jacket and trousers he felt a new and manly interest in the institutions
+of his country.
+
+"See who can answer that question," and Mr. Bhaer nodded to one or two
+of his best history boys.
+
+"I know," said Demi, "the Pilgrims made it."
+
+"What for?" asked Rob, without waiting to learn who the Pilgrims were.
+
+"I forget," and Demi subsided.
+
+"I believe it was because they were starved once, and so when they had a
+good harvest, they said, 'We will thank God for it,' and they had a day
+and called it Thanksgiving," said Dan, who liked the story of the brave
+men who suffered so nobly for their faith.
+
+"Good! I didn't think you would remember any thing but natural history,"
+and Mr. Bhaer tapped gently on the table as applause for his pupil.
+
+Dan looked pleased; and Mrs. Jo said to her son, "Now do you understand
+about it, Robby?"
+
+"No, I don't. I thought pil-grins were a sort of big bird that lived on
+rocks, and I saw pictures of them in Demi's book."
+
+"He means penguins. Oh, isn't he a little goosey!" and Demi laid back in
+his chair and laughed aloud.
+
+"Don't laugh at him, but tell him all about it if you can," said Mrs.
+Bhaer, consoling Rob with more cranberry sauce for the general smile
+that went round the table at his mistake.
+
+"Well, I will;" and, after a pause to collect his ideas, Demi delivered
+the following sketch of the Pilgrim Fathers, which would have made even
+those grave gentlemen smile if they could have heard it.
+
+"You see, Rob, some of the people in England didn't like the king, or
+something, so they got into ships and sailed away to this country. It
+was all full of Indians, and bears, and wild creatures, and they lived
+in forts, and had a dreadful time."
+
+"The bears?" asked Robby, with interest.
+
+"No; the Pilgrims, because the Indians troubled them. They hadn't enough
+to eat, and they went to church with guns, and ever so many died, and
+they got out of the ships on a rock, and it's called Plymouth Rock, and
+Aunt Jo saw it and touched it. The Pilgrims killed all the Indians,
+and got rich; and hung the witches, and were very good; and some of the
+greatest great-grandpas came in the ships. One was the Mayflower; and
+they made Thanksgiving, and we have it always, and I like it. Some more
+turkey, please."
+
+"I think Demi will be an historian, there is such order and clearness in
+his account of events;" and Uncle Fritz's eyes laughed at Aunt Jo, as he
+helped the descendant of the Pilgrims to his third bit of turkey.
+
+"I thought you must eat as much as ever you could on Thanksgiving.
+But Franz says you mustn't even then;" and Stuffy looked as if he had
+received bad news.
+
+"Franz is right, so mind your knife and fork, and be moderate, or else
+you won't be able to help in the surprise by and by," said Mrs. Jo.
+
+"I'll be careful; but everybody does eat lots, and I like it better
+than being moderate," said Stuffy, who leaned to the popular belief that
+Thanksgiving must be kept by coming as near apoplexy as possible, and
+escaping with merely a fit of indigestion or a headache.
+
+"Now, my 'pilgrims' amuse yourselves quietly till tea-time, for you will
+have enough excitement this evening," said Mrs. Jo, as they rose from
+the table after a protracted sitting, finished by drinking every one's
+health in cider.
+
+"I think I will take the whole flock for a drive, it is so pleasant;
+then you can rest, my dear, or you will be worn out this evening," added
+Mr. Bhaer; and as soon as coats and hats could be put on, the great
+omnibus was packed full, and away they went for a long gay drive,
+leaving Mrs. Jo to rest and finish sundry small affairs in peace.
+
+An early and light tea was followed by more brushing of hair and washing
+of hands; then the flock waited impatiently for the company to come.
+Only the family was expected; for these small revels were strictly
+domestic, and such being the case, sorrow was not allowed to sadden the
+present festival. All came; Mr. and Mrs. March, with Aunt Meg, so sweet
+and lovely, in spite of her black dress and the little widow's cap that
+encircled her tranquil face. Uncle Teddy and Aunt Amy, with the Princess
+looking more fairy-like than ever, in a sky-blue gown, and a great
+bouquet of hot-house flowers, which she divided among the boys, sticking
+one in each button-hole, making them feel peculiarly elegant and
+festive. One strange face appeared, and Uncle Teddy led the unknown
+gentleman up to the Bhaers, saying,
+
+"This is Mr. Hyde; he has been inquiring about Dan, and I ventured to
+bring him to-night, that he might see how much the boy has improved."
+
+The Bhaers received him cordially, for Dan's sake, pleased that the lad
+had been remembered. But, after a few minutes' chat, they were glad to
+know Mr. Hyde for his own sake, so genial, simple, and interesting was
+he. It was pleasant to see the boy's face light up when he caught
+sight of his friend; pleasanter still to see Mr. Hyde's surprise and
+satisfaction in Dan's improved manners and appearance, and pleasantest
+of all to watch the two sit talking in a corner, forgetting the
+differences of age, culture, and position, in the one subject which
+interested both, as man and boy compared notes, and told the story of
+their summer life.
+
+"The performance must begin soon, or the actors will go to sleep," said
+Mrs. Jo, when the first greetings were over.
+
+So every one went into the school-room, and took seats before a curtain
+made of two bed-covers. The children had already vanished; but stifled
+laughter, and funny little exclamations from behind the curtain,
+betrayed their whereabouts. The entertainment began with a spirited
+exhibition of gymnastics, led by Franz. The six elder lads, in blue
+trousers and red shirts, made a fine display of muscle with dumb-bells,
+clubs, and weights, keeping time to the music of the piano, played by
+Mrs. Jo behind the scenes. Dan was so energetic in this exercise, that
+there was some danger of his knocking down his neighbors, like so many
+nine-pins, or sending his bean-bags whizzing among the audience; for he
+was excited by Mr. Hyde's presence, and a burning desire to do honor to
+his teachers.
+
+"A fine, strong lad. If I go on my trip to South America, in a year or
+two, I shall be tempted to ask you to lend him to me, Mr. Bhaer," said
+Mr. Hyde, whose interest in Dan was much increased by the report he had
+just heard of him.
+
+"You shall have him, and welcome, though we shall miss our young
+Hercules very much. It would do him a world of good, and I am sure he
+would serve his friend faithfully."
+
+Dan heard both question and answer, and his heart leaped with joy at the
+thought of travelling in a new country with Mr. Hyde, and swelled with
+gratitude for the kindly commendation which rewarded his efforts to be
+all these friends desired to see him.
+
+After the gymnastics, Demi and Tommy spoke the old school dialogue,
+"Money makes the mare go." Demi did very well, but Tommy was capital
+as the old farmer; for he imitated Silas in a way that convulsed the
+audience, and caused Silas himself to laugh so hard that Asia had
+to slap him on the back, as they stood in the hall enjoying the fun
+immensely.
+
+Then Emil, who had got his breath by this time, gave them a sea-song
+in costume, with a great deal about "stormy winds," "lee shores," and
+a rousing chorus of "Luff, boys, luff," which made the room ring; after
+which Ned performed a funny Chinese dance, and hopped about like a large
+frog in a pagoda hat. As this was the only public exhibition ever held
+at Plumfield, a few exercises in lightning-arithmetic, spelling,
+and reading were given. Jack quite amazed the public by his rapid
+calculations on the blackboard. Tommy won in the spelling match, and
+Demi read a little French fable so well that Uncle Teddy was charmed.
+
+"Where are the other children?" asked every one as the curtain fell, and
+none of the little ones appeared.
+
+"Oh, that is the surprise. It's so lovely, I pity you because you don't
+know it," said Demi, who had gone to get his mother's kiss, and stayed
+by her to explain the mystery when it should be revealed.
+
+Goldilocks had been carried off by Aunt Jo, to the great amazement of
+her papa, who quite outdid Mr. Bhaer in acting wonder, suspense, and
+wild impatience to know "what was going to happen."
+
+At last, after much rustling, hammering, and very audible directions
+from the stage manager, the curtain rose to soft music, and Bess was
+discovered sitting on a stool beside a brown paper fire-place. A dearer
+little Cinderella was never seen; for the gray gown was very ragged, the
+tiny shoes all worn, the face so pretty under the bright hair, and the
+attitude so dejected, it brought tears, as well as smiles, to the fond
+eyes looking at the baby actress. She sat quite still, till a voice
+whispered, "Now!" then she sighed a funny little sigh, and said, "Oh
+I wish I tood go to the ball!" so naturally, that her father clapped
+frantically, and her mother called out, "Little darling!" These highly
+improper expressions of feeling caused Cinderella to forget herself, and
+shake her head at them, saying, reprovingly, "You mustn't 'peak to me."
+
+Silence instantly prevailed, and three taps were heard on the wall.
+Cinderella looked alarmed, but before she could remember to say, "What
+is dat?" the back of the brown paper fire-place opened like a door, and,
+with some difficulty, the fairy godmother got herself and her pointed
+hat through. It was Nan, in a red cloak, a cap, and a wand, which she
+waved as she said decidedly,
+
+"You shall go to the ball, my dear."
+
+"Now you must pull and show my pretty dress," returned Cinderella,
+tugging at her brown gown.
+
+"No, no; you must say, 'How can I go in my rags?'" said the godmother in
+her own voice.
+
+"Oh yes, so I mus';" and the Princess said it, quite undisturbed by her
+forgetfulness.
+
+"I change your rags into a splendid dress, because you are good," said
+the godmother in her stage tones; and deliberately unbuttoning the brown
+pinafore, she displayed a gorgeous sight.
+
+The little Princess really was pretty enough to turn the heads of any
+number of small princes, for her mamma had dressed her like a tiny court
+lady, in a rosy silk train with satin under-skirt, and bits of bouquets
+here and there, quite lovely to behold. The godmother put a crown, with
+pink and white feathers drooping from it, on her head, and gave her
+a pair of silver paper slippers, which she put on, and then stood up,
+lifting her skirts to show them to the audience, saying, with pride, "My
+dlass ones, ain't they pitty?"
+
+She was so charmed with them, that she was with difficulty recalled to
+her part, and made to say,
+
+"But I have no toach, Dodmother."
+
+"Behold it!" and Nan waved her wand with such a flourish, that she
+nearly knocked off the crown of the Princess.
+
+Then appeared the grand triumph of the piece. First, a rope was seen to
+flap on the floor, to tighten with a twitch as Emil's voice was heard
+to say, "Heave, ahoy!" and Silas's gruff one to reply, "Stiddy,
+now, stiddy!" A shout of laughter followed, for four large gray rats
+appeared, rather shaky as to their legs, and queer as to their tails,
+but quite fine about the head, where black beads shone in the most
+lifelike manner. They drew, or were intended to appear as if they did,
+a magnificent coach made of half the mammoth pumpkin, mounted on the
+wheels of Teddy's wagon, painted yellow to match the gay carriage.
+Perched on a seat in front sat a jolly little coachman in a white
+cotton-wool wig, cocked hat, scarlet breeches, and laced coat, who
+cracked a long whip and jerked the red reins so energetically, that the
+gray steeds reared finely. It was Teddy, and he beamed upon the company
+so affably that they gave him a round all to himself; and Uncle Laurie
+said, "If I could find as sober a coachman as that one, I would engage
+him on the spot." The coach stopped, the godmother lifted in the
+Princess, and she was trundled away in state, kissing her hand to the
+public, with her glass shoes sticking up in front, and her pink train
+sweeping the ground behind, for, elegant as the coach was, I regret to
+say that her Highness was rather a tight fit.
+
+The next scene was the ball, and here Nan and Daisy appeared as gay as
+peacocks in all sorts of finery. Nan was especially good as the proud
+sister, and crushed many imaginary ladies as she swept about the
+palace-hall. The Prince, in solitary state upon a somewhat unsteady
+throne, sat gazing about him from under an imposing crown, as he played
+with his sword and admired the rosettes in his shoes. When Cinderella
+came in he jumped up, and exclaimed, with more warmth than elegance,
+
+"My gracious! who is that?" and immediately led the lady out to dance,
+while the sisters scowled and turned up their noses in the corner.
+
+The stately jig executed by the little couple was very pretty, for the
+childish faces were so earnest, the costumes so gay, and the steps so
+peculiar, that they looked like the dainty quaint figures painted on
+a Watteau fan. The Princess's train was very much in her way, and
+the sword of Prince Rob nearly tripped him up several times. But they
+overcame these obstacles remarkably well, and finished the dance with
+much grace and spirit, considering that neither knew what the other was
+about.
+
+"Drop your shoe," whispered Mrs. Jo's voice as the lady was about to sit
+down.
+
+"Oh, I fordot!" and, taking off one of the silvery slippers, Cinderella
+planted it carefully in the middle of the stage, said to Rob, "Now you
+must try and tatch me," and ran away, while the Prince, picking up the
+shoe, obediently trotted after her.
+
+The third scene, as everybody knows, is where the herald comes to try
+on the shoe. Teddy, still in coachman's dress, came in blowing a tin
+fish-horn melodiously, and the proud sisters each tried to put on the
+slipper. Nan insisted on playing cut off her toe with a carving-knife,
+and performed that operation so well that the herald was alarmed, and
+begged her to be "welly keerful." Cinderella then was called, and came
+in with the pinafore half on, slipped her foot into the slipper, and
+announced, with satisfaction,
+
+"I am the Pinsiss."
+
+Daisy wept, and begged pardon; but Nan, who liked tragedy, improved upon
+the story, and fell in a fainting-fit upon the floor, where she remained
+comfortably enjoying the rest of the play. It was not long, for the
+Prince ran in, dropped upon his knees, and kissed the hand of Goldilocks
+with great ardor, while the herald blew a blast that nearly deafened the
+audience. The curtain had no chance to fall, for the Princess ran off
+the stage to her father, crying, "Didn't I do well?" while the Prince
+and herald had a fencing-match with the tin horn and wooden sword.
+
+"It was beautiful!" said every one; and, when the raptures had a little
+subsided, Nat came out with his violin in his hand.
+
+"Hush! hush!" cried all the children, and silence followed, for
+something in the boy's bashful manner and appealing eyes make every one
+listen kindly.
+
+The Bhaers thought he would play some of the old airs he knew so well,
+but, to their surprise, they heard a new and lovely melody, so softly,
+sweetly played, that they could hardly believe it could be Nat. It was
+one of those songs without words that touch the heart, and sing of all
+tender home-like hopes and joys, soothing and cheering those who listen
+to its simple music. Aunt Meg leaned her head on Demi's shoulder,
+Grandmother wiped her eyes, and Mrs. Jo looked up at Mr. Laurie, saying,
+in a choky whisper,
+
+"You composed that."
+
+"I wanted your boy to do you honor, and thank you in his own way,"
+answered Laurie, leaning down to answer her.
+
+When Nat made his bow and was about to go, he was called back by many
+hands, and had to play again. He did so with such a happy face, that
+it was good to see him, for he did his best, and gave them the gay old
+tunes that set the feet to dancing, and made quietude impossible.
+
+"Clear the floor!" cried Emil; and in a minute the chairs were pushed
+back, the older people put safely in corners and the children gathered
+on the stage.
+
+"Show your manners!" called Emil; and the boys pranced up to the ladies,
+old and young; with polite invitations to "tread the mazy," as dear Dick
+Swiveller has it. The small lads nearly came to blows for the Princess,
+but she chose Dick, like a kind, little gentlewoman as she was, and let
+him lead her proudly to her place. Mrs. Jo was not allowed to decline;
+and Aunt Amy filled Dan with unspeakable delight by refusing Franz and
+taking him. Of course Nan and Tommy, Nat and Daisy paired off, while
+Uncle Teddy went and got Asia, who was longing to "jig it," and felt
+much elated by the honor done her. Silas and Mary Ann had a private
+dance in the hall; and for half-an-hour Plumfield was at its merriest.
+
+The party wound up with a grand promenade of all the young folks, headed
+by the pumpkin-coach with the Princess and driver inside, and the rats
+in a wildly frisky state.
+
+While the children enjoyed this final frolic, the elders sat in the
+parlor looking on as they talked together of the little people with the
+interest of parents and friends.
+
+"What are you thinking of, all by yourself, with such a happy face,
+sister Jo?" asked Laurie, sitting down beside her on the sofa.
+
+"My summer's work, Teddy, and amusing myself by imagining the future of
+my boys," she answered, smiling as she made room for him.
+
+"They are all to be poets, painters, and statesmen, famous soldiers, or
+at least merchant princes, I suppose."
+
+"No, I am not as aspiring as I once was, and I shall be satisfied if
+they are honest men. But I will confess that I do expect a little glory
+and a career for some of them. Demi is not a common child, and I think
+he will blossom into something good and great in the best sense of the
+word. The others will do well, I hope, especially my last two boys, for,
+after hearing Nat play to-night, I really think he has genius."
+
+"Too soon to say; talent he certainly has, and there is no doubt that
+the boy can soon earn his bread by the work he loves. Build him up for
+another year or so, and then I will take him off your hands, and launch
+him properly."
+
+"That is such a pleasant prospect for poor Nat, who came to me six
+months ago so friendless and forlorn. Dan's future is already plain
+to me. Mr. Hyde will want him soon, and I mean to give him a brave and
+faithful little servant. Dan is one who can serve well if the wages are
+love and confidence, and he has the energy to carve out his own future
+in his own way. Yes, I am very happy over our success with these boys
+one so weak, and one so wild; both so much better now, and so full of
+promise."
+
+"What magic did you use, Jo?"
+
+"I only loved them, and let them see it. Fritz did the rest."
+
+"Dear soul! you look as if 'only loving' had been rather hard work
+sometimes," said Laurie, stroking her thin cheek with a look of more
+tender admiration than he had ever given her as a girl.
+
+"I'm a faded old woman, but I'm a very happy one; so don't pity me,
+Teddy;" and she glanced about the room with eyes full of a sincere
+content.
+
+"Yes, your plan seems to work better and better every year," he said,
+with an emphatic nod of approval toward the cheery scene before him.
+
+"How can it fail to work well when I have so much help from you all?"
+answered Mrs. Jo, looking gratefully at her most generous patron.
+
+"It is the best joke of the family, this school of yours and its
+success. So unlike the future we planned for you, and yet so suited to
+you after all. It was a regular inspiration, Jo," said Laurie, dodging
+her thanks as usual.
+
+"Ah! but you laughed at it in the beginning, and still make all manner
+of fun of me and my inspirations. Didn't you predict that having girls
+with the boys would be a dead failure? Now see how well it works;" and
+she pointed to the happy group of lads and lassies dancing, singing, and
+chattering together with every sign of kindly good fellowship.
+
+"I give in, and when my Goldilocks is old enough I'll send her to you.
+Can I say more than that?"
+
+"I shall be so proud to have your little treasure trusted to me. But
+really, Teddy, the effect of these girls has been excellent. I know you
+will laugh at me, but I don't mind, I'm used to it; so I'll tell you
+that one of my favorite fancies is to look at my family as a small
+world, to watch the progress of my little men, and, lately, to see how
+well the influence of my little women works upon them. Daisy is the
+domestic element, and they all feel the charm of her quiet, womanly
+ways. Nan is the restless, energetic, strong-minded one; they admire her
+courage, and give her a fair chance to work out her will, seeing that
+she has sympathy as well as strength, and the power to do much in their
+small world. Your Bess is the lady, full of natural refinement, grace,
+and beauty. She polishes them unconsciously, and fills her place as any
+lovely woman may, using her gentle influence to lift and hold them above
+the coarse, rough things of life, and keep them gentlemen in the best
+sense of the fine old word."
+
+"It is not always the ladies who do that best, Jo. It is sometimes the
+strong brave woman who stirs up the boy and makes a man of him;" and
+Laurie bowed to her with a significant laugh.
+
+"No; I think the graceful woman, whom the boy you allude to married, has
+done more for him than the wild Nan of his youth; or, better still, the
+wise, motherly woman who watched over him, as Daisy watches over Demi,
+did more to make him what he is;" and Jo turned toward her mother, who
+sat a little apart with Meg, looking so full of the sweet dignity and
+beauty of old age, that Laurie gave her a glance of filial respect and
+love as he replied, in serious earnest,
+
+"All three did much for him, and I can understand how well these little
+girls will help your lads."
+
+"Not more than the lads help them; it is mutual, I assure you. Nat does
+much for Daisy with his music; Dan can manage Nan better than any of
+us; and Demi teaches your Goldilocks so easily and well that Fritz calls
+them Roger Ascham and Lady Jane Grey. Dear me! if men and women would
+only trust, understand, and help one another as my children do, what a
+capital place the world would be!" and Mrs. Jo's eyes grew absent, as if
+she was looking at a new and charming state of society in which people
+lived as happily and innocently as her flock at Plumfield.
+
+"You are doing your best to help on the good time, my dear. Continue
+to believe in it, to work for it, and to prove its possibility by the
+success of her small experiment," said Mr. March, pausing as he passed
+to say an encouraging word, for the good man never lost his faith in
+humanity, and still hoped to see peace, good-will, and happiness reign
+upon the earth.
+
+"I am not so ambitious as that, father. I only want to give these
+children a home in which they can be taught a few simple things which
+will help to make life less hard to them when they go out to fight their
+battles in the world. Honesty, courage, industry, faith in God, their
+fellow-creatures, and themselves; that is all I try for."
+
+"That is every thing. Give them these helps, then let them go to work
+out their life as men and women; and whatever their success or failure
+is, I think they will remember and bless your efforts, my good son and
+daughter."
+
+The Professor had joined them, and as Mr. March spoke he gave a hand
+to each, and left them with a look that was a blessing. As Jo and her
+husband stood together for a moment talking quietly, and feeling that
+their summer work had been well done if father approved, Mr. Laurie
+slipped into the hall, said a word to the children, and all of a sudden
+the whole flock pranced into the room, joined hands and danced about
+Father and Mother Bhaer, singing blithely,
+
+     "Summer days are over,
+     Summer work is done;
+     Harvests have been gathered
+     Gayly one by one.
+     Now the feast is eaten,
+     Finished is the play;
+     But one rite remains for
+     Our Thanksgiving-day.
+     "Best of all the harvest
+     In the dear God's sight,
+     Are the happy children
+     In the home to-night;
+     And we come to offer
+     Thanks where thanks are due,
+     With grateful hearts and voices,
+     Father, mother, unto you."
+
+With the last words the circle narrowed till the good Professor and his
+wife were taken prisoner by many arms, and half hidden by the bouquet of
+laughing young faces which surrounded them, proving that one plant had
+taken root and blossomed beautifully in all the little gardens. For love
+is a flower that grows in any soil, works its sweet miracles undaunted
+by autumn frost or winter snow, blooming fair and fragrant all the year,
+and blessing those who give and those who receive.
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Little Men, by Louisa May Alcott
+
+*** 
\ No newline at end of file