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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d7b82bc --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,4 @@ +*.txt text eol=lf +*.htm text eol=lf +*.html text eol=lf +*.md text eol=lf diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6a3e9fe --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #52900 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/52900) diff --git a/old/52900-0.txt b/old/52900-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 7202c50..0000000 --- a/old/52900-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,12270 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of Little Men, by Louisa M. Alcott - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - - - -Title: Little Men - Life at Plumfield with Jo's Boys - -Author: Louisa M. Alcott - -Illustrator: Reginald Birch - -Release Date: August 26, 2016 [EBook #52900] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK LITTLE MEN *** - - - - -Produced by Suzanne Shell and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was -produced from images generously made available by The -Internet Archive/American Libraries.) - - - - - -[Illustration: _The good Professor and his wife were taken prisoner by -many arms. See page 354. Frontispiece._] - - - - - ORCHARD HOUSE EDITION - - LITTLE MEN - - Life at Plumfield with Jo’s Boys - _A Sequel to “Little Women”_ - - By - Louisa M. Alcott - - _With Illustrations in Color by_ - Reginald Birch - - [Illustration] - - LITTLE, BROWN, AND COMPANY - BOSTON 1934 - - Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1871, by - LOUISA M. ALCOTT, - In the Office of the Librarian of Congress at Washington. - - _Copyright, 1899, 1913,_ - BY JOHN S. P. ALCOTT. - - _Copyright, 1901,_ - BY LITTLE, BROWN, AND COMPANY. - - _All rights reserved_ - - PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA - - - - - 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 PAGE - - I. NAT 1 - - II. THE BOYS 18 - - III. SUNDAY 28 - - IV. STEPPING-STONES 49 - - V. PATTY PANS 62 - - VI. A FIRE BRAND 84 - - VII. NAUGHTY NAN 106 - - VIII. PRANKS AND PLAYS 118 - - IX. DAISY’S BALL 131 - - X. HOME AGAIN 145 - - XI. UNCLE TEDDY 164 - - XII. HUCKLEBERRIES 180 - - XIII. GOLDILOCKS 206 - - XIV. DAMON AND PYTHIAS 216 - - XV. IN THE WILLOW 239 - - XVI. TAMING THE COLT 259 - - XVII. COMPOSITION DAY 271 - - XVIII. CROPS 286 - - XIX. JOHN BROOKE 297 - - XX. ROUND THE FIRE 312 - - XXI. THANKSGIVING 336 - - - - -Illustrations - - - The good Professor and his wife were taken prisoner - by many arms _Frontispiece_ - - Miss Smith accompanied herself with a vigor which - made the old desk rattle 136 - - All were glad to gather round the hearth, as the - evenings grew longer 312 - - - - -_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 -school-rooms, 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 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. - -“These 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 skilful 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 round 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 have 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?” And 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 over-tasked 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 school-room 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 negro 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 -_protégé_. - -“You shall be 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 -cozy 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 looked 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 schoolma’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 ship shape. 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 as 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 little -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 liked 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 him 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 over-tasked 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 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 -little scapegrace that ever lived. As full of mischief as a monkey, -yet so good-hearted that one could not help forgiving his tricks; so -scatterbrained 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 rose 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 eyes out because he examined her -chickens, got run away with, and had his ears boxed violently 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 got 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 -her 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 round 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 happily 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 -an 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 preferred 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 hymn 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 for 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 shoulders, 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 every thing.” - -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 a fishing 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 -showman 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 pocket-book, 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 -account up near mine, and then we’ll be all straight,” said Tommy, -showing a row of mysterious figures on the smooth 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 in 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 many 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 we 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 _cattle_ated 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 sometime 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 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 a 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 bean-stalk, 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 -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 as -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 taking 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, who 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 like 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 friend, 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 copy-book. 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 any thing,” 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 any thing 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 every one 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 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 the 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 skilful 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 pocket-book, 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 picnics were respectable young -people. For Mr. Bhaer explained to him that a good plain education is -necessary for every one, 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 watched 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 real 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 -than 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 sat 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, bübchen, 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 that 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 on to 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 every one -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, every -thing 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 any thing, 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 up-stairs 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 every one 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 - -PATTY PANS - - -“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 round?” 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. - -“O 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 to-day?” - -“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 up-stairs 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 sorts 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 every one 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 -work-basket under the other, Aunt Jo promptly led the way up-stairs. - -“I don’t see any thing,” said Daisy, staring about her as she got -inside the nursery door. - -“Do you hear any thing?” 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 dustpan, 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,-- - -“O 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 every thing -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 every thing?” 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 school-room 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 every thing 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 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 childlike 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 her 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 it 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’s 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 down-stairs, 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 store-room,” 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 work-basket 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. They 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 every thing 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 any one -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 any thing 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 any thing 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 the 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 -every thing, 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 cooked 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. - -Every one was very kind to Daisy that afternoon. Tommy promised her -the first fruits of his garden, though the only visible crop just then -was pig-weed; 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 down-stairs, 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, every thing 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’d 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 until -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 ought 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 Patty pans,” 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, but 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 any thing.” - -“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 perserverance, 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 was -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 given 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 social 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 any affection, and this was only manifested when he thought no -one else could 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 bull-dogs, 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. - -On 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; wouldn’t you?” said Tommy, shaking his lance. - -“Let’s have 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 backed 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 her -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 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 in 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 every thing 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 it 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 the dark lantern on purpose; it don’t give -much light, and we can shut it quick if we hear any one 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 roll up 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, 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 bed-cover caught, then the -sheets, and then the bed itself. The beer made Tommy sleep heavily, -and the smoke stupefied 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 to 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-by 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-by 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-by 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, in 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 midget 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 -to-morrow, 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 much 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 do 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 me 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 to 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 of 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 every -one hurry to the door. - -There was Miss Nan, to be sure, tugging along a large band-box tied up -in a 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, observing 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 any thing 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 “Giddy-gaddy,” 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 dug it up. Daisy was in despair, but Nan took it to the painter -who was 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 that 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 scrap-book, 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 go 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 entire 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 dear 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. One day when she was going away she said, ‘Now, my dears, -don’t let baby fall out of the 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 had 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 Zoölogical 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. Giddy-gaddy. - -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 the 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 as their long-suffering dolls. Once he was shut into a 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 school-room, 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 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 -to-day. - -“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 a 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. - -[Illustration: _Miss Smith accompanied herself with a vigor which made -the old desk rattle. Page 135._] - -“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 key-hole, 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 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; -and 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 will 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 every thing 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, that boy has come back.” - -“Who? Dan?” - -“Yes, Teddy saw him at the window, and we 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 were 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, as 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 round 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 that 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 of 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.” - -“Who was Mr. Hyde?” - -“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. He never hurt ’em, and they -seemed to know him. 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 -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 boy 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 than 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 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 _levée_. 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 any thing 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 the 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 then, 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 made 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, colored 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 his 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 windows, 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 -them. - -“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 monkey 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. Hats -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 now 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 be 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’d 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, and 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 the 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 made 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 to 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 -down-stairs 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 at 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 hornets’ 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 in -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, -fish-hooks, 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 go 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 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; even her courage gave out at 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 Mooly 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 midsummer 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 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 to 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-lightning 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 to 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-opened 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 the 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. Mr. 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 part 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,” exclaimed 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 as 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 the 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 up 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 over the matter 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’s 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!” - -Loud 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 -principals 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 -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 it 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 never could 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 moneys 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 a proof of the Princess’s power,” said Mr. 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, -eying 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 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 bookmark 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 to set yourselves right before us all. I can forgive -the yielding to a 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 every 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. - -“May be 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 marvellous 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 tenter-hooks 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 word 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, muttering huskily,-- - -“You won’t wait long,” 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 without a 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-by to something very 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 the 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 -(I 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 Mr. 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 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, looking 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 for 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 upon several of the -boys, who were amusing themselves by climbing up the trees and swinging -down again, as the 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 slope -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 rather a 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 colored 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 -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 woman’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 tried 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 dolls’ 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 -deserved 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 the 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. That 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 so 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 in 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 short-comings. - -“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 his 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 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 that 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 -isn’t just 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 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 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, and came -jogging home again in time for school, 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 performances, 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 any way! 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 stopping 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 a 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 the 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 of the window waving his paper to dry -it 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 -scrimmages. 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 to the other. - -Daisy colored 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 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 in 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 mighty okum (ocean), - _And_ a peasant land. - Little worts _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 a 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 -curious_est_ 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 observing -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 and 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 and 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 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 “Ducks,” 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 let 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 but 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 up 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 any thing 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 his 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 their 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 dor-bug 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 long 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 pansies, 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 pansy, and -show them how the stepmother-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 night-cap, 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 ten 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 had 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 -cantelope without tasting a mouthful himself. They were excellent -melons, for he had a warm slope 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 Stuffy, 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 that 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 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 -skin this addition to their 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 of a woodland -harvest which no one would dispute with him, and which was peculiarly -his own. Every Saturday he was away alone to 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 -fern, 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 the 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 thistledown 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 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 in 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 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 are 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 oversee 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 to-day, 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 a bride, ten years ago, only then it was early summer, and -roses 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 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 helpful 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 to 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 in 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, 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, genuine 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 not 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 barrow loads of chips were wheeled from -the wood to the shed, and another dollar earned. Then Demi helped cover -the school-books, 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. - -[Illustration: _All were glad to gather round the hearth, as the -evenings grew longer. Page 312._] - -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 off -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 horse-hair 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 clothes-pins, 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. The 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 as 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 jest there, and I found myself layin’ by a wall with -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 -the credit of it. A poor feller in gray laid not fur off, shot through -the lungs, and dying 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 sometimes;” 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 see him quite still, with -no more moanin’ and pain, I was glad, and yet--wal, I don’t know as I -need be 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 such 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 the -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 peculiar 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 _entrée_ 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 away 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 how 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 brush-wood 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 his 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, the 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-fact -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 his 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 and 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 Blind-man’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 sorry for 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 the 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,” and 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 -around” briskly, handing plates and ladling out gravy. Nearly every -one had contributed to the feast, so the dinner was a peculiarly -interesting one 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 not 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 my 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 buttonhole, 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 performances 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 big 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 -had 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 at 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 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 it -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 made 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 prove 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 most 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 your 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 the 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. - -THE END - -[Illustration: This is the ORCHARD HOUSE in Concord, Massachusetts, now -a museum visited every year by hundreds of people. Here lived the real -Little Women, Louisa May Alcott and her sisters, whose complete story -is told in the three books--LITTLE WOMEN, LITTLE MEN, and JO’S BOYS.] - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Little Men, by Louisa M. 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Alcott. - </title> - - <link rel="coverpage" href="images/cover.jpg" /> - -<style type="text/css"> - -a { - text-decoration: none; -} - -body { - margin-left: 10%; - margin-right: 10%; -} - -h1,h2 { - text-align: center; - clear: both; -} - -hr { - width: 65%; - margin-left: 17.5%; - margin-right: 17.5%; - margin-top: 2em; - margin-bottom: 2em; - clear: both; -} - -p { - margin-top: 0.5em; - text-align: justify; - margin-bottom: 0.5em; - text-indent: 1em; -} - -table { - margin: 1em auto 1em auto; - max-width: 40em; -} - -td { - padding-left: 2.25em; - padding-right: 0.25em; - vertical-align: top; -} - -.bbox { - border: thin solid black; -} - -.blockquote { - margin-left: 10%; - margin-right: 10%; -} - -.caption { - text-align: center; - margin-bottom: 1em; - font-size: 90%; - text-indent: 0em; -} - -.center { - text-align: center; - text-indent: 0em; -} - -.figcenter { - margin: auto; - text-align: center; -} - -.max40 { - margin: auto; - max-width: 40em; -} - -.larger { - font-size: 150%; -} - -.pagenum { - position: absolute; - right: 4%; - font-size: smaller; - text-align: right; - font-style: normal; -} - -.poetry-container { - text-align: center; - margin: 1em; -} - -.poetry { - display: inline-block; - text-align: left; -} - -.poetry .stanza { - margin: 1em 0em 1em 0em; -} - -.poetry .verse { - text-indent: -3em; - padding-left: 3em; -} - -.poetry .indent1 { - text-indent: -2em; -} - -.right { - text-align: right; -} - -.smaller { - font-size: 80%; -} - -.smcap { - font-variant: small-caps; - font-style: normal; -} - -.smcapuc { - font-variant: small-caps; - font-style: normal; - text-transform: lowercase; -} - -.tdr { - text-align: right; -} - -.titlepage { - text-align: center; - margin-top: 3em; - text-indent: 0em; -} - -@media handheld { - -img { - max-width: 100%; - width: auto; - height: auto; -} - -.poetry { - display: block; - margin-left: 1.5em; -} - -.blockquote { - margin-left: 5%; - margin-right: 5%; -} -} - </style> - </head> -<body> - - -<pre> - -The Project Gutenberg EBook of Little Men, by Louisa M. Alcott - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - - - -Title: Little Men - Life at Plumfield with Jo's Boys - -Author: Louisa M. Alcott - -Illustrator: Reginald Birch - -Release Date: August 26, 2016 [EBook #52900] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK LITTLE MEN *** - - - - -Produced by Suzanne Shell and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was -produced from images generously made available by The -Internet Archive/American Libraries.) - - - - - - -</pre> - - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 420px;" id="illus1"> -<img src="images/illus1.jpg" width="420" height="650" alt="" /> -<p class="caption"><i>The good Professor and his wife were taken prisoner -by many arms. <a href="#Page_354">See page 354.</a> Frontispiece.</i></p> -</div> - -<div class="bbox max40"> - -<p class="center">ORCHARD HOUSE EDITION</p> - -<p class="titlepage larger"><span class="smcap">Little Men</span></p> - -<p class="titlepage">Life at Plumfield with Jo’s Boys<br /> -<i>A Sequel to “Little Women”</i></p> - -<p class="titlepage">By<br /> -Louisa M. Alcott</p> - -<p class="titlepage"><i>With Illustrations in Color by</i><br /> -Reginald Birch</p> - -<div class="titlepage figcenter"> -<img src="images/titlepage.jpg" width="100" height="140" alt="Little, Brown & Company’s printers’ mark" /> -</div> - -<p class="titlepage">LITTLE, BROWN, AND COMPANY<br /> -BOSTON 1934</p> - -</div> - -<div class="max40"> - -<p class="center smaller">Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1871, by<br /> -<span class="smcap">Louisa M. Alcott</span>,<br /> -In the Office of the Librarian of Congress at Washington.</p> - -<p class="center smaller"><i>Copyright, 1899, 1913,</i><br /> -<span class="smcap">By John S. P. Alcott</span>.</p> - -<p class="center smaller"><i>Copyright, 1901,</i><br /> -<span class="smcap">By Little, Brown, and Company</span>.</p> - -<p class="center smaller"><i>All rights reserved</i></p> - -<p class="titlepage smaller">PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA</p> - -<hr /> - -<p class="center">TO<br /> -FREDDY AND JOHNNY<br /> -The Little Men<br /> -TO WHOM SHE OWES SOME OF THE BEST AND HAPPIEST<br /> -HOURS OF HER LIFE,<br /> -THIS BOOK IS GRATEFULLY DEDICATED<br /> -BY THEIR LOVING</p> - -<p class="right">“AUNT WEEDY.”</p> - -</div> - -<hr /> - -<h2>Contents</h2> - -<table summary="Contents"> - <tr> - <td class="tdr smaller">CHAPTER</td><td></td><td class="tdr smaller">PAGE</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_I">I.</a></td><td><span class="smcap">Nat</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_1">1</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_II">II.</a></td><td><span class="smcap">The Boys</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_18">18</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_III">III.</a></td><td><span class="smcap">Sunday</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_28">28</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_IV">IV.</a></td><td><span class="smcap">Stepping-Stones</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_49">49</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_V">V.</a></td><td><span class="smcap">Patty Pans</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_62">62</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_VI">VI.</a></td><td><span class="smcap">A Fire Brand</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_84">84</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_VII">VII.</a></td><td><span class="smcap">Naughty Nan</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_106">106</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_VIII">VIII.</a></td><td><span class="smcap">Pranks and Plays</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_118">118</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_IX">IX.</a></td><td><span class="smcap">Daisy’s Ball</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_131">131</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_X">X.</a></td><td><span class="smcap">Home Again</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_145">145</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XI">XI.</a></td><td><span class="smcap">Uncle Teddy</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_164">164</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XII">XII.</a></td><td><span class="smcap">Huckleberries</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_180">180</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIII">XIII.</a></td><td><span class="smcap">Goldilocks</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_206">206</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIV">XIV.</a></td><td><span class="smcap">Damon and Pythias</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_216">216</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XV">XV.</a></td><td><span class="smcap">In the Willow</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_239">239</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVI">XVI.</a></td><td><span class="smcap">Taming the Colt</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_259">259</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVII">XVII.</a></td><td><span class="smcap">Composition Day</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_271">271</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVIII">XVIII.</a></td><td><span class="smcap">Crops</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_286">286</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIX">XIX.</a></td><td><span class="smcap">John Brooke</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_297">297</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XX">XX.</a></td><td><span class="smcap">Round the Fire</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_312">312</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXI">XXI.</a></td><td><span class="smcap">Thanksgiving</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_336">336</a></td> - </tr> -</table> - -<hr /> - -<h2>Illustrations</h2> - -<table summary="Illustrations"> - <tr> - <td>The good Professor and his wife were taken prisoner by many arms</td><td><a href="#illus1"><i>Frontispiece</i></a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td>Miss Smith accompanied herself with a vigor which made the old desk rattle</td><td><a href="#illus2">136</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td>All were glad to gather round the hearth, as the evenings grew longer</td><td><a href="#illus3">312</a></td> - </tr> -</table> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1">[1]</a></span></p> - -<h1><i>Little Men</i><br /> -<span class="smaller"><i>Life at Plumfield with Jo’s Boys</i></span></h1> - -<h2 id="CHAPTER_I">CHAPTER I<br /> -<span class="smaller">NAT</span></h2> - -<p>“Please, sir, is this Plumfield?” asked a ragged -boy of the man who opened the great -gate at which the omnibus left him.</p> - -<p>“Yes; who sent you?”</p> - -<p>“Mr. Laurence. I have got a letter for the lady.”</p> - -<p>“All right; go up to the house, and give it to her; -she’ll see to you, little chap.”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“I hope the lady <em>will</em> see to me,” he thought; -and gave a timid rap with the great bronze knocker, -which was a jovial griffin’s head.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2">[2]</a></span></p> - -<p>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,—</p> - -<p>“Sit there and drip on the mat a bit, while I take -this in to missis.”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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 school-rooms, -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.</p> - -<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[3]</a></span> -of toast was in the air, also suggestions of baked -apples, very tantalizing to one hungry little nose -and stomach.</p> - -<p>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 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.</p> - -<p>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!”</p> - -<p>“Hullo!” returned Nat, not knowing what else to -say, and thinking that form of reply both brief and -easy.</p> - -<p>“Are you a new boy?” asked the recumbent youth, -without stirring.</p> - -<p>“Don’t know yet.”</p> - -<p>“What’s your name?”</p> - -<p>“Nat Blake.”</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[4]</a></span></p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“I say, Demi, here’s a new one. Come and see to -him;” and the lively Thomas returned to his sport -with unabated relish.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“Have you seen Aunt Jo?” he asked, as if that -was some sort of important ceremony.</p> - -<p>“I haven’t seen anybody yet but you boys; I’m -waiting,” answered Nat.</p> - -<p>“Did Uncle Laurie send you?” proceeded Demi, politely, -but gravely.</p> - -<p>“Mr. Laurence did.”</p> - -<p>“He is Uncle Laurie; and he always sends nice -boys.”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“This is my sister Daisy,” announced Demi, as if -presenting a rare and precious creature.</p> - -<p>The children nodded to one another; and the little -girl’s face dimpled with pleasure, as she said, affably,—</p> - -<p>“I hope you’ll stay. We have such good times -here; don’t we, Demi?”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[5]</a></span></p> - -<p>“Of course, we do; that’s what Aunt Jo has -Plumfield for.”</p> - -<p>“It seems a very nice place indeed,” observed Nat, -feeling that he must respond to these amiable young -persons.</p> - -<p>“It’s the nicest place in the world; isn’t it, Demi?” -said Daisy, who evidently regarded her brother as -authority on all subjects.</p> - -<p>“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,—</p> - -<p>“All right; you are to stop.”</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“Here he is, Aunty!” cried Daisy.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[6]</a></span> -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,—</p> - -<p>“I am Mother Bhaer, that gentleman is Father -Bhaer, and these are the two little Bhaers.—Come -here, boys, and see Nat.”</p> - -<p>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,—</p> - -<p>“There is a place all ready for thee, my son; sit -down and dry thy wet feet at once.”</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“These 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.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[7]</a></span></p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“All winter. I got cold, and it wouldn’t get better, -somehow.”</p> - -<p>“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 skilful 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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>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,—</p> - -<p>“Hear my rogue Teddy try to cough. The syrup -I’m going to give you has honey in it; and he wants -some.”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[8]</a></span> -said, patronizingly, “Don’t be ’fraid; I’ll take care -of you.”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“This is our new boy, Nat Blake. After supper you -can say, How do you do? Gently, boys, gently.”</p> - -<p>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 <em>are</em> times when hungry boys cannot be repressed -without real cruelty, and Saturday evening, after a -half-holiday, was one of those times.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[9]</a></span></p> - -<p>Nat found himself very well off behind the tall -pitchers, with Tommy Bangs just round the corner, -and Mrs. Bhaer close by, to fill up plate and mug as -fast as he could empty them.</p> - -<p>“Who is that boy next the girl down at the other -end?” whispered Nat to his young neighbor under -cover of a general laugh.</p> - -<p>“That’s Demi Brooke. Mr. Bhaer is his uncle.”</p> - -<p>“What a queer name!”</p> - -<p>“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,—</p> - -<p>“Isn’t he a very nice boy?”</p> - -<p>“I bet you he is; knows lots and reads like any -thing.”</p> - -<p>“Who is the fat one next him?”</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>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.”</p> - -<p>“I like a fiddle best; I can play one too,” said Nat, -getting confidential on this attractive subject.</p> - -<p>“Can you?” and Tommy stared over the rim of his -mug with round eyes, full of interest. “Mr. Bhaer’s<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[10]</a></span> -got an old fiddle, and he’ll let you play on it if you -want to.”</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“Wasn’t that fun?” cried Tommy, much impressed.</p> - -<p>“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 have 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.”</p> - -<p>“You’ll belong to the band if you play good. See -if you don’t.”</p> - -<p>“Do you have a band here?” And Nat’s eyes -sparkled.</p> - -<p>“Guess we do; a jolly band, all boys; and they -have concerts and things. You just see what happens -to-morrow night.”</p> - -<p>After this pleasantly exciting remark, Tommy returned -to his supper, and Nat sank into a blissful -reverie over his full plate.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[11]</a></span></p> - -<p>In the letter which Mr. Laurence had sent with Nat, -he had said—</p> - -<div class="blockquote"> - -<p>“<span class="smcap">Dear Jo</span>,—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 over-tasked -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,</p> - -<p class="right">“<span class="smcap">Teddy</span>.”</p> - -</div> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>So, after supper, when the lads flocked into the -school-room 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.</p> - -<p>“Now, my lad, give us a little tune. We want a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[12]</a></span> -violin in our band, and I think you will do it nicely.”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>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 negro 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.</p> - -<p>A hearty round of applause rewarded him better -than a shower of pennies, when he stopped and glanced -about him, as if to say—</p> - -<p>“I’ve done my best; please like it.”</p> - -<p>“I say, you do that first rate,” cried Tommy, who -considered Nat his <i lang="fr">protégé</i>.</p> - -<p>“You shall be first fiddle in my band,” added Franz, -with an approving smile.</p> - -<p>Mrs. Bhaer whispered to her husband—</p> - -<p>“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—</p> - -<p>“You play well, my son. Come now and play something -which we can sing.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[13]</a></span></p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“You are all so kind—and it’s so beautiful—I -can’t help it,” sobbed Nat, coughing till he was breathless.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“My child, you <em>have</em> 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.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[14]</a></span></p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>Nursey approved the plan, finished Nat off with a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[15]</a></span> -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 cozy -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.</p> - -<p>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 looked 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.</p> - -<p>“Won’t they hurt ’em?” asked Nat, who lay laughing -with all his might.</p> - -<p>“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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[16]</a></span> -like it myself,” said Mrs. Bhaer, busy again among her -dozen pairs of socks.</p> - -<p>“What a very nice school this is!” observed Nat, -in a burst of admiration.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>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—</p> - -<p>“Time is up, boys. Into bed, every man Jack, or -pay the forfeit!”</p> - -<p>“What is the forfeit?” asked Nat, sitting up in his -eagerness to know what happened to those wretches<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[17]</a></span> -who disobeyed this most peculiar, but public-spirited -schoolma’am.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[18]</a></span></p> - -<h2 id="CHAPTER_II">CHAPTER II<br /> -<span class="smaller">THE BOYS</span></h2> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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 ship shape. -Captain Kyd was his delight, and his favorite amusement -was to rig up like that piratical gentleman, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[19]</a></span> -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 as 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.</p> - -<p>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,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[20]</a></span> -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.</p> - -<p>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.”</p> - -<p>Daisy was as sunshiny and charming as ever, with -all sorts of little 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 liked 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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[21]</a></span> -in all sorts of work, and help him with his lessons, -for they kept abreast there, and had no thought of -rivalry.</p> - -<p>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.”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[22]</a></span> -went through his daily duties and pleasures with -placid content and propriety.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>Playing menagerie once with the others, some one -said, “What animal will you be, Dick?”</p> - -<p>“Oh, I’m the dromedary; don’t you see the hump -on my back?” was the laughing answer.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[23]</a></span> -as much of an affliction as Dolly’s stutter, or Dick’s -hump.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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 him 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 over-tasked<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[24]</a></span> -brain gave out, and Billy’s mind was like a -slate over which a sponge has passed, leaving it -blank.</p> - -<p>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 -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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>Tommy Bangs was the scapegrace of the school, -and the most trying little scapegrace that ever lived. -As full of mischief as a monkey, yet so good-hearted -that one could not help forgiving his tricks; so scatterbrained -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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[25]</a></span> -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 rose from every downfall with redoubled -vigor.</p> - -<p>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 eyes out because he examined her chickens, -got run away with, and had his ears boxed violently -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 got -on pretty well at school. But out of school,—Ye -gods and little fishes! how Tommy did carouse!</p> - -<p>He wound fat Asia up in her own clothes line against -the post, and left her 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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[26]</a></span> -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 round -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.</p> - -<p>These were the boys, and they lived together as -happily 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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[27]</a></span> -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.”</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[28]</a></span></p> - -<h2 id="CHAPTER_III">CHAPTER III<br /> -<span class="smaller">SUNDAY</span></h2> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[29]</a></span> -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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>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 an 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.</p> - -<p>Because of the troublesome cough Nat preferred -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 hymn she -taught them, and then quietly employing himself pasting -pictures into an old ledger.</p> - -<p>“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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[30]</a></span> -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.</p> - -<p>“You mean to be good?” he said, after hesitating -a minute.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“Why, that’s my name!” cried Nat, looking both -surprised and interested.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“I should think they would,” said Nat, catching a -glimpse of Tommy’s name opposite his own, and wondering -what was written under it.</p> - -<p>Mrs. Bhaer saw his eye on the words, and shook her -head, saying, as she turned a leaf—</p> - -<p>“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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[31]</a></span> -keep our few rules, live happily with the boys, and -learn something.”</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“Not for 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.</p> - -<p>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 shoulders, that Nat found very engaging.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[32]</a></span> -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.</p> - -<p>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 every thing.”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“What is your menagerie?” asked Nat, as they -trotted along the drive that encircled the house.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[33]</a></span></p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“What is in this box?” asked Nat, stopping before -a large deep one, half-full of earth.</p> - -<p>“Oh, that’s Jack Ford’s worm-shop. He digs heaps -of ’em and keeps ’em here, and when we want any to -go a fishing 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.</p> - -<p>“Who owns the dogs?” asked Nat, much interested -in these commercial transactions, and feeling that T.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[34]</a></span> -Bangs was a man whom it would be a privilege and a -pleasure to patronize.</p> - -<p>“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 showman 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.”</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[35]</a></span> -treasures of the other boys. “How do you get -these things?” he asked, when he joined Tommy in -the barn.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>Nat sighed for he had neither father nor money, -nothing in the wide world but an old empty pocket-book, -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,—</p> - -<p>“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?”</p> - -<p>“I’ll do it! What a kind feller you are, Tommy!” -cried Nat, quite dazzled by this brilliant offer.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“You may have one and I’ll have the other, that will<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[36]</a></span> -just make up my last dozen, and to-morrow we’ll start -fresh. Here, you chalk your account up near mine, -and then we’ll be all straight,” said Tommy, showing -a row of mysterious figures on the smooth side of an -old winnowing machine.</p> - -<p>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,</p> - -<div class="blockquote"> - -<p class="center">“T. Bangs & Co.”</p> - -</div> - -<p>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 in a hollow place a closet made big enough -to hold a book or two, a dismantled boat, and several -half-finished whistles.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“Oh, it’s just beautiful!” cried Nat. “I do hope -you’ll let me up sometimes. I never saw such a nice<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[37]</a></span> -place in all my life. I’d like to be a bird, and live here -always.”</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“Yes; Demi likes quiet chaps, and I guess he and you -will get on if you care about reading as he does.”</p> - -<p>Poor Nat’s flush of pleasure deepened to a painful -scarlet at those last words, and he stammered out,—</p> - -<p>“I can’t read very well; I never had any time; I was -always fiddling round, you know.”</p> - -<p>“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!”</p> - -<p>“I can read music, anyway,” added Nat, rather -ruffled at having to confess his ignorance.</p> - -<p>“I can’t;” and Tommy spoke in a respectful tone, -which emboldened Nat to say firmly,—</p> - -<p>“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?”</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“I think I could read this,” said Nat, who had been -examining the books.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[38]</a></span></p> - -<p>“Read a bit, then; I’ll help you,” resumed Tommy, -with a patronizing air.</p> - -<p>So Nat did his best, and floundered through a page -with many 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.</p> - -<p>“These are our farms,” said Tommy. “We each -have our own patch, and raise what we like in it, only -we have to choose different things, and can’t change -till the crop is in, and we must keep it in order all -summer.”</p> - -<p>“What are you going to raise this year?”</p> - -<p>“Wal, I <em>cattle</em>ated to hev beans, as they are about -the easiest crop a-goin’.”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“Come, you needn’t laugh; beans <em>are</em> 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.</p> - -<p>“Corn looks pretty growing,” said Nat, politely, to -atone for his laugh.</p> - -<p>“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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[39]</a></span> -peas; they only have to be picked, and he ought to do it, -he eats such a lot.”</p> - -<p>“I wonder if I shall have a garden?” said Nat, -thinking that even corn-hoeing must be pleasant work.</p> - -<p>“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 sometime during the day, and -found that these chats gave them a good start for the -coming week.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[40]</a></span> -Sunday evening talk, he chose a subject which might -have been suggested by the walk in the garden.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“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 much. But he was very patient, -and for thousands and thousands of years he worked -and waited for his great harvest.”</p> - -<p>“He must have been pretty old,” said Demi, who -was looking straight into Uncle Fritz’s face, as if to -catch every word.</p> - -<p>“Hush, Demi, it’s a fairy story,” whispered Daisy.</p> - -<p>“No, I think it’s a arrygory,” said Demi.</p> - -<p>“What is a arrygory?” called out Tommy, who was -of an inquiring turn.</p> - -<p>“Tell him, Demi, if you can, and don’t use words<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[41]</a></span> -unless you are quite sure you know what they mean,” -said Mr. Bhaer.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“What was growing in them besides the weeds, -and stones?” asked Nat; so interested, he forgot his -shyness and spoke before them all.</p> - -<p>“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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[42]</a></span> -pebbles, a vine that went climbing up like Jack’s bean-stalk, -and many good seeds just beginning to sprout; -for, you see, <em>this</em> bed had been taken fine care of by a -wise old man, who had worked in gardens of this sort -all his life.”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“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.’”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“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?”</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[43]</a></span></p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“I shall devote the whole of <em>my</em> 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.</p> - -<p>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,—</p> - -<p>“I wish I loved my lessons as much as I do my -dinner, but I can’t.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[44]</a></span></p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“But, ‘Harry and Lucy,’ and ‘Frank,’ are not fairy -books, and they are 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.</p> - -<p>“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 as 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.</p> - -<p>“But we don’t like cricket,” said Demi.</p> - -<p>“Perhaps not <em>now</em>, 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.”</p> - -<p>This was taking them both on the right side, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[45]</a></span> -they agreed to the bargain, to the great satisfaction of -the rest.</p> - -<p>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, who kept -the tip of her nose for his own particular kisses, and -then they trooped up to bed.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“What is he doing to the children?” asked Nat.</p> - -<p>“That is Christ, the Good Man, and He is blessing -the children. Don’t you know about Him?” said -Demi, wondering.</p> - -<p>“Not much, but I’d like to, He looks so kind,” answered<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[46]</a></span> -Nat, whose chief knowledge of the Good Man -consisted in hearing His name taken in vain.</p> - -<p>“I know all about it, and I like it very much, because -it is true,” said Demi.</p> - -<p>“Who told you?”</p> - -<p>“My Grandpa, he knows <em>every thing</em>, 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.</p> - -<p>“How old are you now?” asked Nat, respectfully.</p> - -<p>“’Most ten.”</p> - -<p>“You know a lot of things, don’t you?”</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>Nat laughed, and then said soberly,—</p> - -<p>“Tell on, please.”</p> - -<p>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 like 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.”</p> - -<p>“What makes Him bless the children?” asked Nat, -who found something very attractive in the chief figure -of the group.</p> - -<p>“Because He loved them.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[47]</a></span></p> - -<p>“Were they poor children?” asked Nat, wistfully.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“Was He rich?”</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>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,—</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>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 friend, while -Demi told the sweet and solemn story as it had been<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[48]</a></span> -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,—</p> - -<p>“Demi is unconsciously helping the poor boy better -than I can; I will not spoil it by a single word.”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[49]</a></span></p> - -<h2 id="CHAPTER_IV">CHAPTER IV<br /> -<span class="smaller">STEPPING-STONES</span></h2> - -<p>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 copy-book. 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,—</p> - -<p>“Don’t work so hard, my boy; you will tire yourself -out, and there is time enough.”</p> - -<p>“But I <em>must</em> work hard, or I can’t catch up with the -others. They know heaps, and I don’t know any -thing,” 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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“Do I?” and Nat looked utterly incredulous.</p> - -<p>“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.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[50]</a></span> -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.”</p> - -<p>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 any thing -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,—</p> - -<p>“I <em>do</em> want to learn, and I <em>will</em> 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.”</p> - -<p>“They shan’t laugh at you; if they do, I’ll—I’ll—tell -them not to,” cried Demi, quite forgetting where -he was.</p> - -<p>The class stopped in the middle of 7 times 9, and -every one looked up to see what was going on.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[51]</a></span></p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>It takes so little to make a child happy, that it is<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[52]</a></span> -a pity in a world 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 the 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 -skilful 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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[53]</a></span> -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.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>So when Nat came running to him one day to ask -with an excited face,—</p> - -<p>“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,”—</p> - -<p>Mr. Bhaer answered readily,—</p> - -<p>“Go, and welcome. It is an easy and a pleasant way -to work, and I am glad it is offered you.”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“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 pocket-book, and feeling -like a millionaire already.</p> - -<p>He <em>was</em> in business truly, for picnics were plenty as<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[54]</a></span> -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 picnics were respectable young -people. For Mr. Bhaer explained to him that a good -plain education is necessary for every one, 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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>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 <em>he could</em> master -the lessons, what was the use of saying “I can’t”?</p> - -<p>Daisy had a great love of music, and a great reverence -for any one who could make it, and she was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[55]</a></span> -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,—</p> - -<p>“So like my Beth,” and go softly by, lest even her -familiar presence mar the child’s sweet satisfaction.</p> - -<p>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 watched 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 real 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.</p> - -<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[56]</a></span> -all tell many polite untruths in this queer world of -ours, it is not right, and everybody knows it.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>Mr. Bhaer smiled, but shook his head.</p> - -<p>“I have a better way than that, I tried it once before<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[57]</a></span> -and it worked well. See now, when you tell a lie I -will not punish you, but you shall punish me.”</p> - -<p>“How?” asked Nat, startled at the idea.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“Strike you? Oh, I couldn’t!” cried Nat.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>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 -than 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.</p> - -<p>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 sat -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, bübchen, I will come soon,” and taking Nat -by the hand led him into the school, and shut the -door.</p> - -<p>The boys looked at one another in silence for a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[58]</a></span> -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 that -long rule that hung over his desk, so seldom used -that it was covered with dust.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“You remember what I told you last time?” said -Mr. Bhaer, sorrowfully, not angrily.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“Why don’t he up and take it like a man? I -would,” thought Tommy, though his heart beat fast -at the sight.</p> - -<p>“I shall keep my word, and you must remember to -tell the truth. Obey me, Nat, take this and give me -six good strokes.”</p> - -<p>Tommy was so staggered by this last speech that -he nearly tumbled down the bank, but saved himself, -and hung on to the window ledge, staring in with eyes -as round as the stuffed owl’s on the chimney-piece.</p> - -<p>Nat took the rule, for when Mr. Bhaer spoke in -that tone every one 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,—</p> - -<p>“Go on, and strike harder.”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[59]</a></span></p> - -<p>“Isn’t that enough?” he asked in a breathless sort -of tone.</p> - -<p>“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,—</p> - -<p>“I will remember! Oh! I will!”</p> - -<p>Then Mr. Bhaer put an arm about him, and said in -a tone as compassionate as it had just now been -firm,—</p> - -<p>“I think you will. Ask the dear God to help you, -and try to spare us both another scene like this.”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“He made me do the same thing once,” said Emil, -as if confessing a crime of the deepest dye.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“How could you?” said Demi, appalled at the idea.</p> - -<p>“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, every thing he -had ever done for me came into my head all at once<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[60]</a></span> -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.</p> - -<p>“Nat’s crying like any thing, and feels no end -sorry, so don’t let’s say a word about it; will we?” -said tender-hearted Tommy.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“Suppose we all clear out, so Nat can cut up-stairs -if he wants to,” proposed Franz, and led the -way to the barn, their refuge in troublous times.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“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 every one must look upon him as a wretch.</p> - -<p>“Oh, yes!” and Daisy ran for her hat, proud -to be chosen as a companion by one of the big -boys.</p> - -<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[61]</a></span> -disgrace, gentle little Daisy was their most congenial -friend.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[62]</a></span></p> - -<h2 id="CHAPTER_V">CHAPTER V<br /> -<span class="smaller">PATTY PANS</span></h2> - -<p>“What’s the matter, Daisy?”</p> - -<p>“The boys won’t let me play with them.”</p> - -<p>“Why not?”</p> - -<p>“They say girls can’t play football.”</p> - -<p>“They can, for I’ve done it!” and Mrs. Bhaer -laughed at the remembrance of certain youthful -frolics.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“I’m tired of playing alone!” and Daisy’s tone -was very mournful.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[63]</a></span></p> - -<p>“’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.</p> - -<p>“Now, what will you do with your little self while -I fly round?” asked Mrs. Bhaer, who was whisking -piles of linen into a wardrobe with great rapidity.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“O 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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>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!”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[64]</a></span></p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“What’s that?” asked Daisy, pricking up her ears.</p> - -<p>“The new play,” answered Mrs. Jo, solemnly.</p> - -<p>“What is it made of?” cried Daisy.</p> - -<p>“Iron, tin, wood, brass, sugar, salt, coal, and a hundred -other things.”</p> - -<p>“How strange! what color is it?”</p> - -<p>“All sorts of colors.”</p> - -<p>“Is it large?”</p> - -<p>“Part of it is, and a part isn’t.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[65]</a></span></p> - -<p>“Did I ever see one?”</p> - -<p>“Ever so many, but never one so nice as this.”</p> - -<p>“Oh! what can it be? I can’t wait. When <em>shall</em> -I see it?” and Daisy bounced up and down with -impatience.</p> - -<p>“To-morrow morning, after lessons.”</p> - -<p>“Is it for the boys too?”</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“I’ll let Demi, if he wants to.”</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“Let me feel just once,” prayed Daisy.</p> - -<p>“Not a feel; you’d guess in a minute and spoil -the fun.”</p> - -<p>Daisy groaned and then smiled all over her face, -for through a little hole in the paper she caught a -glimpse of something bright.</p> - -<p>“How <em>can</em> I wait so long? Couldn’t I see it to-day?”</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“If Uncle knows about it then it <em>must</em> 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.</p> - -<p>“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.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[66]</a></span> -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.</p> - -<p>When they got home she eyed every bundle that -was taken out, and one large heavy one, which Franz -took straight up-stairs 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 -sorts 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.</p> - -<p>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,—</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[67]</a></span> -was dismissed at eleven o’clock, for every one knew -that <em>now</em> she was going to have the new and mysterious -play.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“It’s all ready, come on;” and tucking Ted under -one arm, and her work-basket under the other, Aunt -Jo promptly led the way up-stairs.</p> - -<p>“I don’t see any thing,” said Daisy, staring about -her as she got inside the nursery door.</p> - -<p>“Do you hear any thing?” asked Aunt Jo, catching -Ted back by his little frock as he was making -straight for one side of the room.</p> - -<p>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?</p> - -<p>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.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[68]</a></span> -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 dustpan, -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.</p> - -<p>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,—</p> - -<p>“O 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 -<em>so</em> much! What made you think of it?”</p> - -<p>“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 every -thing 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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[69]</a></span> -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.”</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“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 -every thing?” cried Daisy, dancing round the room -with a new saucepan in one hand and the tiny poker -in the other.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“That will be <em>so</em> 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.</p> - -<p>“First of all, put on this clean cap and apron. I -am rather old-fashioned, and I like my cook to be -very tidy.”</p> - -<p>Sally tucked her curly hair into the round cap, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[70]</a></span> -put on the apron without a murmur, though usually -she rebelled against bibs.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>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.”</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“Where is the market?” asked Daisy, thinking -that the new play got more and more interesting -every minute.</p> - -<p>“Asia is the market.”</p> - -<p>Away went Sally, causing another stir in the school-room -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!”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“Mrs. Aunt Jo wants these things, and I must -have them right away,” said Daisy, importantly.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[71]</a></span></p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“Who is he?” and Daisy hoped it would be Demi.</p> - -<p>“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,—</p> - -<div class="poetry-container"> -<div class="poetry"> -<div class="verse">“Away went little Mabel,</div> -<div class="verse indent1">With the wheaten cake so fine,</div> -<div class="verse">The new-made pot of butter,</div> -<div class="verse indent1">And the little flask of wine.”</div> -</div> -</div> - -<p>“Put every thing but the apple into the store-closet -for the present,” said Mrs. Jo, when the cook -got home.</p> - -<p>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 immediately. -But Aunt Jo said,—</p> - -<p>“Not yet; you will want the cream to eat on your -apple-pie at dinner, and must not disturb it till then.”</p> - -<p>“Am I going to have pie?” cried Daisy, hardly -believing that such bliss could be in store for her.</p> - -<p>“Yes; if your oven does well we will have two -pies,—one apple and one strawberry,” said Mrs. Jo,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[72]</a></span> -who was nearly as much interested in the new play -as Daisy herself.</p> - -<p>“Oh, what next?” asked Sally, all impatience to -begin.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>Daisy got things together with as little noise and -spilling as could be expected, from so young a cook.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[73]</a></span> -the apple was sliced in, sugar and cinnamon lavishly -sprinkled over it, and then the top crust put on with -breathless care.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“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 childlike disregard of the dust it -had gathered in its fall.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“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 her pie with quirls and -flourishes that would have driven a real pastry cook -wild. “<em>Now</em> 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.</p> - -<p>“Clear up your things; a good cook never lets -her utensils collect. Then pare your squash and -potatoes.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[74]</a></span></p> - -<p>“There is only one potato,” giggled Sally.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“Do I soak the squash too?”</p> - -<p>“No, indeed! just pare it and cut it up, and put it -into the steamer over the pot. It is drier so, though -it takes longer to cook.”</p> - -<p>Here a scratching at the door caused Sally to run -and open it, when Kit appeared with a covered -basket in his mouth.</p> - -<p>“Here’s the butcher’s 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 down-stairs, to ease his wounded feelings.</p> - -<p>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.”</p> - -<p>“I don’t want any of her old pears and things; my -cooking <em>will</em> turn out well, and I’ll have a splendid -dinner; see if I don’t!” cried Daisy, indignantly.</p> - -<p>“We may like them if company should come. It -is always well to have something in the store-room,” -said Aunt Jo, who had been taught this valuable fact -by a series of domestic panics.</p> - -<p>“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 work-basket to rummage, hoping -to keep him quiet till dinner was ready, and -returned to her housekeeping.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[75]</a></span></p> - -<p>“Put on your vegetables, set the table, and then -have some coals kindling ready for the steak.”</p> - -<p>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. They 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.</p> - -<p>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!</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[76]</a></span></p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>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 every -thing 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 <em>not</em> often see -elsewhere.</p> - -<p>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 any one 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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“You can cook things every day after lessons, but<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[77]</a></span> -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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“But if you give Demi goodies, all the others will -expect some also, and then you will have your hands -full.”</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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 any thing -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.</p> - -<p>“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,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[78]</a></span> -as he tossed Teddy, who became quite apoplectic -in his endeavors to describe the feast he had just -enjoyed.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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 any thing 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.</p> - -<p>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 the forfeiture of all -right to partake of the delicacies promised to the -virtuous.</p> - -<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[79]</a></span> -would like to have cooked for him as fast as he earned -them. Daisy, whose faith in her stove was unlimited, -promised every thing, 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.</p> - -<p>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 cooked 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.</p> - -<p>Every one was very kind to Daisy that afternoon. -Tommy promised her the first fruits of his garden, -though the only visible crop just then was pig-weed; -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.</p> - -<p>“Ask Asia for a cup of sour cream, then your cakes<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[80]</a></span> -will be light without much soda, which I don’t like,” -was the first order.</p> - -<p>Demi tore down-stairs, 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,—</p> - -<p>“Yes, I see, soda turns sour things sweet, and the -fizzling up makes them light. Let’s see you do it, -Daisy.”</p> - -<p>“Fill that bowl nearly full of flour and add a little -salt to it,” continued Mrs. Jo.</p> - -<p>“Oh dear, every thing has to have salt in it, seems -to me,” said Sally, who was tired of opening the pill-box -in which it was kept.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“Very much, try it and see,” and the amiable -Father Bhaer went singing and tapping about the -house like a mammoth woodpecker.</p> - -<p>“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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[81]</a></span> -it well, and then fry away till I come back,” and Aunt -Jo vanished also.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“I think I’d 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.</p> - -<p>“Then go and ask Asia for some,” answered Daisy, -going into the bath-room to wash her hands.</p> - -<p>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 until his ears flapped -wildly, then bundled him down-stairs to the shed, -where he spent a lonely evening in the coal-bin.</p> - -<p>Cheered by the sympathy which Demi gave her, -Daisy made another bowlful of batter, and fried a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[82]</a></span> -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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“Well, dearies, have you had a good time?” asked -Mrs. Jo, coming up with Teddy on her shoulder.</p> - -<p>“A <em>very</em> good time. I shall come again <em>soon</em>,” -answered Demi, with emphasis.</p> - -<p>“I’m afraid you have eaten too much, by the look -of that table.”</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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,—</p> - -<p>“Well, on the whole, the new game is a success, -then?”</p> - -<p>“<em>I</em> like it,” said Demi, as if his approval was all -that was necessary.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[83]</a></span></p> - -<p>“This play ought to have a name,” said Demi, -gravely removing the syrup from his countenance -with his tongue.</p> - -<p>“It has.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, what?” asked both children, eagerly.</p> - -<p>“Well, I think we will call it Patty pans,” and -Aunt Jo retired, satisfied with the success of her last -trap to catch a sunbeam.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[84]</a></span></p> - -<h2 id="CHAPTER_VI">CHAPTER VI<br /> -<span class="smaller">A FIRE BRAND</span></h2> - -<p>“Please, ma’am, could I speak to you? It -is something <em>very</em> important,” said Nat, popping -his head in at the door of Mrs. Bhaer’s room.</p> - -<p>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,—</p> - -<p>“What is it, my lad?”</p> - -<p>Nat came in, shut the door carefully behind him, -and said in an eager, anxious tone,—</p> - -<p>“Dan has come.”</p> - -<p>“Who is Dan?”</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“But, my dear boy, that is rather a sudden way to -pay a visit.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, it isn’t a visit; he wants to stay if you will let -him!” said Nat, innocently.</p> - -<p>“Well, but I don’t know about that,” began -Mrs. Bhaer, rather startled by the coolness of the -proposition.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[85]</a></span></p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>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,—</p> - -<p>“Tell me about this Dan.”</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>Something in his speech and face made Mrs. Jo put -her hand on his shoulder, and say in her kindest tone:</p> - -<p>“Bring in your friend, Nat; I think we must find -room for him without giving him your place.”</p> - -<p>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,—</p> - -<p>“A bad specimen, I am afraid.”</p> - -<p>“This is Dan,” said Nat, presenting him as if sure -of his welcome.</p> - -<p>“Nat tells me you would like to come and stay with -us,” began Mrs. Jo, in a friendly tone.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[86]</a></span></p> - -<p>“Yes,” was the gruff reply.</p> - -<p>“Have you no friends to take care of you?”</p> - -<p>“No.”</p> - -<p>“Say, ‘No, ma’am,’” whispered Nat.</p> - -<p>“Shan’t neither,” muttered Dan.</p> - -<p>“How old are you?”</p> - -<p>“About fourteen.”</p> - -<p>“You look older. What can you do?”</p> - -<p>“’Most any thing.”</p> - -<p>“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?”</p> - -<p>“Don’t mind trying.”</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“Come on, Nat,” he said, and slouched out again.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“Are they big fellows?” said Dan.</p> - -<p>“No; the big ones are gone fishing.”</p> - -<p>“Fire away, then,” said Dan.</p> - -<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[87]</a></span> -Demi with a long whip, while Tommy, mounted on -the much-enduring Toby, pranced about the circle -playing being a monkey.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>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 -perserverance, 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,—</p> - -<p>“Ho! that ain’t any thing!”</p> - -<p>“Say that again, will you?” and Tommy bristled -up like an angry turkey-cock.</p> - -<p>“Do you want to fight?” said Dan, promptly descending -from the barrel and doubling up his fists -in a business-like manner.</p> - -<p>“No, I don’t;” and the candid Thomas retired a -step, rather taken aback by the proposition.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[88]</a></span></p> - -<p>“Fighting isn’t allowed!” cried the others, much -excited.</p> - -<p>“You’re a nice lot,” sneered Dan.</p> - -<p>“Come, if you don’t behave, you shan’t stay,” said -Nat, firing up at that insult to his friends.</p> - -<p>“I’d like to see him do better than I did, that’s -all,” observed Tommy, with a swagger.</p> - -<p>“Clear the way, then,” and without the slightest -preparation Dan turned three somersaults one after -the other and came up on his feet.</p> - -<p>“You can’t beat that, Tom; you always hit your -head and tumble flat,” said Nat, pleased at his friend’s -success.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“What will you give me if I’ll teach you?” said -Dan.</p> - -<p>“My new jack-knife; it’s got five blades, and only -one is broken.”</p> - -<p>“Give it here, then.”</p> - -<p>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,—</p> - -<p>“Keep it up till you learn, that’s all.”</p> - -<p>A howl of wrath from Tommy was followed by a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[89]</a></span> -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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>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?</p> - -<p>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 was too kind-hearted -to desert him.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>Mr. Bhaer, when he heard the story and saw Dan, -shook his head, but only said quietly,—</p> - -<p>“The experiment may cost us something, but we -will try it.”</p> - -<p>If Dan felt any gratitude for his protection, he did -not show it, and took without thanks all that was -given him. He was ignorant, but very quick to learn -when he chose; had sharp eyes to watch what went<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[90]</a></span> -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 social -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 <em>hope</em> the experiment will turn out well, -but I am a little afraid it may cost too much.”</p> - -<p>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 -any affection, and this was only manifested when he -thought no one else could 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 <em>was</em> a soft spot in rough Dan, and bided -her time to touch and win him.</p> - -<p>But an unexpected and decidedly alarming event -upset all their plans, and banished Dan from Plumfield.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[91]</a></span></p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.”</p> - -<p>“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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[92]</a></span> -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.</p> - -<p>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 bull-dogs, 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,—</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“You let me go, and I’ll knock him down again,” -shouted Dan, sparring away in spite of the grip on -his collar.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“Dan,” answered several voices.</p> - -<p>“Don’t you know that it is forbidden?”</p> - -<p>“Yes,” growled Dan, sullenly.</p> - -<p>“Then why break the rule?”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[93]</a></span></p> - -<p>“They’ll all be molly-coddles, if they don’t know -how to fight.”</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>But the lawless lad had no thought of obeying, and -soon transgressed again.</p> - -<p>On Saturday afternoon as a party of the boys went -out to play, Tommy said,—</p> - -<p>“Let’s go down to the river, and cut a lot of new -fish-poles.”</p> - -<p>“Take Toby to drag them back, and one of us can -ride him down,” proposed Stuffy, who hated to walk.</p> - -<p>“That means <em>you</em>, I suppose; well, hurry up, lazy-bones,” -said Dan.</p> - -<p>Away they went, and having got the poles were -about to go home, when Demi unluckily said to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[94]</a></span> -Tommy, who was on Toby with a long rod in his -hand,—</p> - -<p>“You look like the picture of the man in the bull-fight, -only you haven’t got a red cloth, or pretty -clothes on.”</p> - -<p>“I’d like to see one; wouldn’t you?” said Tommy, -shaking his lance.</p> - -<p>“Let’s have one; there’s old Buttercup in the big -meadow, ride at her, Tom, and see her run,” proposed -Dan, bent on mischief.</p> - -<p>“No, you mustn’t,” began Demi, who was learning -to distrust Dan’s propositions.</p> - -<p>“Why not, little fuss-button?” demanded Dan.</p> - -<p>“I don’t think Uncle Fritz would like it.”</p> - -<p>“Did he ever say we must not have a bull-fight?”</p> - -<p>“No, I don’t think he ever did,” admitted Demi.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[95]</a></span> -backed with a bray of remonstrance, and Buttercup -lowered her horns angrily.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>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 her 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.</p> - -<p>“Catch her, stop her, head her off! run, boys, run!” -shouted Dan, tearing after 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 in jumping, so<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[96]</a></span> -that she limped, her eyes looked wild, and her glossy -coat was wet and muddy.</p> - -<p>“You’ll catch it this time, Dan,” said Tommy, as -he led the wheezing donkey beside the maltreated cow.</p> - -<p>“So will you, for you helped.”</p> - -<p>“We all did, but Demi,” added Jack.</p> - -<p>“He put it into our heads,” said Ned.</p> - -<p>“I told you not to do it,” cried Demi, who was -most broken-hearted at poor Buttercup’s state.</p> - -<p>“Old Bhaer will send me off, I guess. Don’t care -if he does,” muttered Dan, looking worried in spite -of his words.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[97]</a></span> -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,—</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>Dan flushed up to his forehead at this unexpected -reprieve, but he only said in his gruff way,—</p> - -<p>“I didn’t know there was any rule about bull-fighting.”</p> - -<p>“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 every thing 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?”</p> - -<p>Dan’s eyes had been on the floor, and his hands -nervously picking at the bit of wood he had been<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[98]</a></span> -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,—</p> - -<p>“Yes, please.”</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“I will.”</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“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 it 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.”</p> - -<p>“The folks won’t like it,” began Nat.</p> - -<p>“They won’t know. Daddy Bhaer is away, and -Mrs. Bhaer’s busy with Ted; he’s got croup or<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[99]</a></span> -something, and she can’t leave him. We shan’t sit -up late or make any noise, so where’s the harm?”</p> - -<p>“Asia will know if we burn the lamp long, she always -does.”</p> - -<p>“No, she won’t, I’ve got the dark lantern on purpose; -it don’t give much light, and we can shut it -quick if we hear any one coming,” said Dan.</p> - -<p>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,—</p> - -<p>“You want Demi, too, don’t you?”</p> - -<p>“No, I don’t; the Deacon will roll up eyes and -preach if you tell him. He will be asleep, so just tip -the wink to Tom and cut back again.”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[100]</a></span> -should hear him. “You mustn’t; it’s wicked to say -‘Damn’!” cried Tommy, who had followed his leader -so far.</p> - -<p>“Oh, hang! don’t you preach, but play away; it’s -part of the fun to swear.”</p> - -<p>“I’d rather say ‘thunder-turtles,’” said Tommy, -who had composed this interesting exclamation and -was very proud of it.</p> - -<p>“And I’ll say ‘The Devil;’ that sounds well,” added -Nat, much impressed by Dan’s manly ways.</p> - -<p>Dan scoffed at their “nonsense,” and swore stoutly -as he tried to teach them the new game.</p> - -<p>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, 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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>It was nearly out, and he was about to extinguish<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[101]</a></span> -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.</p> - -<p>Nursey came in with Demi, who looked much amazed -to see the red face of Tommy reposing peacefully upon -his pillow.</p> - -<p>“He wasn’t there just now, because I woke up and -could not find him anywhere,” said Demi, pouncing -on him.</p> - -<p>“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,—</p> - -<p>“I only ran into Nat’s room to see him about something. -Go away, and let me alone; I’m awful sleepy.”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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 bed-cover caught, then the sheets, and then -the bed itself. The beer made Tommy sleep heavily, -and the smoke stupefied Demi, so they slept on till -the fire began to scorch them, and they were in danger -of being burned to death.</p> - -<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[102]</a></span> -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.</p> - -<p>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 to -the bed, over the carpet, and up against the curtains, -now burning finely, and threatening to kindle the walls.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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 -<em>knew</em> Tommy would set the house on fire, and now he -has done it!”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[103]</a></span></p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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,—</p> - -<p>“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-by to them all, and tell Nursey to -put up your things in my little black bag.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[104]</a></span></p> - -<p>“Oh! sir, where is he going?” cried Nat.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“Will he ever come back?” asked Demi.</p> - -<p>“That will depend on himself; I hope so.”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“I wonder if you’ll like it,” began Jack.</p> - -<p>“Shan’t stay if I don’t,” said Dan, coolly.</p> - -<p>“Where will you go?” asked Nat.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“Oh, don’t! stay with Mr. Page awhile and then -come back here; do, Dan,” pleaded Nat, much affected -at the whole affair.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>That was the only good-by 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,—</p> - -<p>“May I say good-by to Teddy?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, dear; go in and kiss him, he will miss his -Danny very much.”</p> - -<p>No one saw the look in Dan’s eyes as he stooped -over the crib, and saw the little face light up at first<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[105]</a></span> -sight of him, but he heard Mrs. Bhaer say pleadingly,—</p> - -<p>“Can’t we give the poor lad <em>one</em> more trial, Fritz?” -and Mr. Bhaer answer in his steady way,—</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“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, in spite of his faults.”</p> - -<p>Dan heard Mrs. Bhaer sigh, and he wanted to ask -for <em>one more</em> 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.</p> - -<p>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,—</p> - -<p>“Perhaps I ought to have given him another chance.”</p> - -<p>Mrs. Bhaer, however, nodded wisely and answered, -“Don’t be troubled, Fritz; the boy will come back to -us, I’m sure of it.”</p> - -<p>But time went on and no Dan came.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[106]</a></span></p> - -<h2 id="CHAPTER_VII">CHAPTER VII<br /> -<span class="smaller">NAUGHTY NAN</span></h2> - -<p>“Fritz, I’ve got a new idea,” cried Mrs. Bhaer, -as she met her husband one day after -school.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“Little Annie Harding.”</p> - -<p>“What! Naughty Nan, as the lads call her?” cried -Mr. Bhaer, looking very much amused.</p> - -<p>“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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[107]</a></span> -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.”</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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 midget would soon become a -busy, happy child. I know how to manage her, for I -remember how my blessed mother managed me, -and—”</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[108]</a></span> -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.”</p> - -<p>“I only hope she won’t turn out another firebrand.”</p> - -<p>“My poor Dan! I never can quite forgive myself -for letting him go,” sighed Mrs. Bhaer.</p> - -<p>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,—</p> - -<p>“My Danny’s tummin’ soon.”</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“Then I may have Nan, may I?” asked Mrs. Jo.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>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,—</p> - -<p>“Hi, Daisy! where are you?”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[109]</a></span></p> - -<p>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,—</p> - -<p>“I’m going to stay here always, papa says I may, -and my box is coming to-morrow, all my things had -to be washed and mended, and your aunt came and -carried me off. Isn’t it great fun?”</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“Hullo! Nan!” cried the boys as she bounced in -among them with the announcement,—</p> - -<p>“I’m going to stay.”</p> - -<p>“Hooray!” bawled Tommy from the wall on which -he was perched, for Nan was a kindred spirit, and he -foresaw “larks” in the future.</p> - -<p>“I can bat; let me play,” said Nan, who could turn -her hand to any thing, and did not mind hard -knocks.</p> - -<p>“We ain’t playing now, and our side beat without -you.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[110]</a></span></p> - -<p>“I can beat you in running, any way,” returned -Nan, falling back on her strong point.</p> - -<p>“Can she?” asked Nat of Jack.</p> - -<p>“She runs very well for a girl,” answered Jack, -who looked down upon Nan with condescending approval.</p> - -<p>“Will you try?” said Nan, longing to display her -powers.</p> - -<p>“It’s too hot,” and Tommy languished against the -wall as if quite exhausted.</p> - -<p>“What’s the matter with Stuffy?” asked Nan, whose -quick eyes were roving from face to face.</p> - -<p>“Ball hurt his hand; he howls at every thing,” -answered Jack, scornfully.</p> - -<p>“I don’t, I never cry, no matter how much I’m -hurt; it’s babyish,” said Nan, loftily.</p> - -<p>“Pooh! I could make you cry in two minutes,” -returned Stuffy, rousing up.</p> - -<p>“See if you can.”</p> - -<p>“Go and pick that bunch of nettles, then,” and Stuffy -pointed to a sturdy specimen of that prickly plant -growing by the wall.</p> - -<p>Nan instantly “grasped the nettle,” pulled it up, -and held it with a defiant gesture, in spite of the almost -unbearable sting.</p> - -<p>“Good for you,” cried the boys, quick to acknowledge -courage even in one of the weaker sex.</p> - -<p>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.”</p> - -<p>“Don’t do it,” said Nat, who hated cruelty.</p> - -<p>But Nan was off, and running straight at the barn, -she gave her head a blow that knocked her flat, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[111]</a></span> -sounded like a battering-ram. Dizzy, but undaunted, -she staggered up, saying stoutly, though her face was -drawn with pain,—</p> - -<p>“That hurt, but I don’t cry.”</p> - -<p>“Do it again,” said Stuffy, angrily; and Nan <em>would</em> -have done it, but Nat held her; and Tommy, forgetting -the heat, flew at Stuffy like a little game-cock, roaring -out,—</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“She told me to,” was all he could say, when Tommy -let him alone.</p> - -<p>“Never mind if she did; it is awfully mean to hurt -a little girl,” said Demi, reproachfully.</p> - -<p>“Ho! I don’t mind; I ain’t a little girl, I’m older -than you and Daisy; so now,” cried Nan, ungratefully.</p> - -<p>“Don’t preach, Deacon, you bully Posy every day -of your life,” called out the Commodore, who just -then hove in sight.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“You are the best boy in the world,” promptly -answered Daisy; adding, as truth compelled her to -do, “You do hurt me sometimes, but you don’t mean -to.”</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“How do you do, Madge Wildfire?” said Mr. Bhaer, -as Nan came in with the rest to supper. “Give the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[112]</a></span> -right hand, little daughter, and mind thy manners,” -he added, as Nan offered him her left.</p> - -<p>“The other hurts me.”</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>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,—</p> - -<p>“This rather belongs to your side of the house, so -I won’t meddle with it, my dear.”</p> - -<p>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,—</p> - -<p>“Do you know why I asked Nan to come here?”</p> - -<p>“To plague me,” muttered Stuffy, with his mouth -full.</p> - -<p>“To help me make little gentlemen of you, and I -think you have shown that some of you need it.”</p> - -<p>Here Stuffy retired into his bowl again, and did not -emerge till Demi made them all laugh by saying, in his -slow wondering way,—</p> - -<p>“How can she, when she’s such a tomboy!”</p> - -<p>“That’s just it, she needs help as much as you, and -I expect you to set her an example of good manners.”</p> - -<p>“Is she going to be a little gentleman too?” asked -Rob.</p> - -<p>“She’d like it; wouldn’t you, Nan?” added Tommy.</p> - -<p>“No, I shouldn’t; I hate boys!” said Nan, fiercely, -for her hand still smarted, and she began to think<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[113]</a></span> -that she might have shown her courage in some wiser -way.</p> - -<p>“I am sorry you hate my boys, because they <em>can</em> -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.”</p> - -<p>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 of his candy-ball -during the game, which evidently sweetened her temper, -for the last thing she said on going to bed was,—</p> - -<p>“When my battledore and shuttle-cock comes, I’ll -let you all play with ’em.”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“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?”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[114]</a></span></p> - -<p>“She has run home, little gypsy!” cried Mrs. Bhaer, -looking anxious.</p> - -<p>“Perhaps she has gone to the station to look after -her luggage,” suggested Franz.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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 every one hurry -to the door.</p> - -<p>There was Miss Nan, to be sure, tugging along a -large band-box tied up in a 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, observing as she crossed her tired arms,—</p> - -<p>“I couldn’t wait any longer, so I went and got it.”</p> - -<p>“But you did not know the way,” said Tommy, -while the rest stood round enjoying the joke.</p> - -<p>“Oh, I found it, I never get lost.”</p> - -<p>“It’s a mile, how could you go so far?”</p> - -<p>“Well, it was pretty far, but I rested a good deal.”</p> - -<p>“Wasn’t that thing very heavy?”</p> - -<p>“It’s so round, I couldn’t get hold of it good, and -I thought my arms would break right off.”</p> - -<p>“I don’t see how the station-master let you have -it,” said Tommy.</p> - -<p>“I didn’t say any thing to him. He was in the -little ticket place, and didn’t see me, so I just took it -off the platform.”</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[115]</a></span></p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“Well, I won’t, only papa tells me not to put off -doing things, so I don’t.”</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>It was those good traits that soon made little “Giddy-gaddy,” -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 dug it up. -Daisy was in despair, but Nan took it to the painter<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[116]</a></span> -who was 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.</p> - -<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[117]</a></span> -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 -that 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.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[118]</a></span></p> - -<h2 id="CHAPTER_VIII">CHAPTER VIII<br /> -<span class="smaller">PRANKS AND PLAYS</span></h2> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[119]</a></span> -joined in these ceremonies, and considered them -excellent fun, although they did not understand half -that went on.</p> - -<p>One day after school Demi whispered to his sister, -with an ominous wag of the head,—</p> - -<p>“The Kitty-mouse wants us this afternoon.”</p> - -<p>“What for?” asked Daisy, anxiously.</p> - -<p>“A <em>sackerryfice</em>,” 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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“Every one. I shall burn my boat, my best scrap-book, -and <em>all</em> my soldiers,” said Demi, firmly.</p> - -<p>“Well, I will; but it’s too bad of Kitty-mouse to -want our very nicest things,” sighed Daisy.</p> - -<p>“A <em>sackerryfice</em> means to give up what you are fond -of, so we <em>must</em>,” 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.</p> - -<p>“Is Rob coming too?” asked Daisy.</p> - -<p>“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?”</p> - -<p>This brilliant prospect consoled Daisy, and she ate -her dinner with a row of paper dolls before her, as a -sort of farewell banquet.</p> - -<p>At the appointed hour the sacrificial train set forth, -each child bearing the treasures demanded by the insatiable<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[120]</a></span> -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.</p> - -<p>“Where are you going, my chickens?” asked Mrs. -Jo, as the flock passed her door.</p> - -<p>“To play by the big rock; can’t we?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, only don’t go near the pond, and take good -care of baby.”</p> - -<p>“I always do,” said Daisy, leading forth her charge -with a capable air.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“I shall begin, and as fast as my things are burnt, -you must bring yours.”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“Now, Daisy!” called the high priest of Kitty-mouse, -when his rich offerings had been consumed, -to the great satisfaction of the children.</p> - -<p>“My dear dollies, how <em>can</em> I let them go?” moaned -Daisy, hugging the entire dozen with a face full of -maternal woe.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[121]</a></span></p> - -<p>“You must,” commanded Demi; and with a farewell -kiss to each, Daisy laid her blooming dolls upon -the coals.</p> - -<p>“Let me keep one, the dear blue thing, she is so -sweet,” besought the poor little mamma, clutching her -last in despair.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>In went the precious blue belle, flounces, rosy hat, -and all, and nothing but a few black flakes remained -of that bright band.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>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 -entire 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.</p> - -<p>The superb success of this last offering excited -Teddy to such a degree, that he first threw his lamb<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[122]</a></span> -into the conflagration, and before it had time even to -roast, he planted poor dear 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 <em>squirmed</em>. -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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“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,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[123]</a></span> -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,—</p> - -<div class="poetry-container"> -<div class="poetry"> -<div class="verse">‘The children of Holland take pleasure in making,</div> -<div class="verse">What the children of Boston take pleasure in breaking.’</div> -</div> -</div> - -<p>Only I shall put Plumfield instead of Boston.”</p> - -<p>“We never will again, truly, truly!” cried the repentant -little sinners, much abashed at this reproof.</p> - -<p>“Demi told us to,” said Rob.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“Dear me, that is something like the bean story,” -said Aunt Jo, laughing again.</p> - -<p>“Tell about it,” suggested Daisy, to change the subject.</p> - -<p>“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. One day when she was going away she said, -‘Now, my dears, don’t let baby fall out of the 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.”</p> - -<p>“Did it hurt?” asked Rob, with such intense interest -that his mother hastily added a warning sequel,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[124]</a></span> -lest a new edition of the bean story should appear in -her own family.</p> - -<p>“Very much, as I know, for when <em>my</em> 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 had 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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“Brops,” was the name of a new and absorbing -play, invented by Bangs. As this interesting animal -is not to be found in any Zoölogical 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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[125]</a></span> -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.</p> - -<p>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,—</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>Nat’s favorite amusements were working in his garden, -and sitting in the willow-tree with his violin, for<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[126]</a></span> -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.</p> - -<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[127]</a></span> -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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[128]</a></span> -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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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. Giddy-gaddy.</p> - -<p>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 the 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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[129]</a></span> -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 as their long-suffering -dolls. Once he was shut into a 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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>Rainy evenings the members met in the school-room, -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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[130]</a></span> -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.</p> - -<p>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 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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[131]</a></span></p> - -<h2 id="CHAPTER_IX">CHAPTER IX<br /> -<span class="smaller">DAISY’S BALL</span></h2> - -<p>“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 to-day.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>This elegant invitation would, I fear, have been -declined, but for the hint given in the last line of the -postscript.</p> - -<p>“They <em>have</em> been cooking lots of goodies, I smelt -’em. Let’s go,” said Tommy.</p> - -<p>“We needn’t stay after the feast, you know,” added -Demi.</p> - -<p>“I never went to a ball. What do you have to do?” -asked Nat.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“I think I could do that,” said Nat, after considering -Tommy’s description for a minute.</p> - -<p>“I’ll write and say we’ll come;” and Demi despatched -the following gentlemanly reply,—</p> - -<p>“We will all come. Please have lots to eat.—J. B. -Esquire.”</p> - -<p>Great was the anxiety of the ladies about their first<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[132]</a></span> -ball, because if every thing went well they intended to -give a dinner-party to the chosen few.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“Then I shall send him right home,” said Daisy, -with decision.</p> - -<p>“People don’t do so at parties, it isn’t proper.”</p> - -<p>“I shall never ask him any more.”</p> - -<p>“That would do. He’d be sorry not to come to -the dinner-ball, wouldn’t he?”</p> - -<p>“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 <em>tureen</em>] and a little bird for turkey, -and gravy, and all kinds of nice vegytubbles.” Daisy -never <em>could</em> say vegetables properly, and had given up -trying.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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 a large pocket handkerchief -completed her toilette, making a plump, rosy little -matron of her.</p> - -<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[133]</a></span> -touch of elegance, a smelling-bottle without any smell -in it.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>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.”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“Good day, mum,” said Demi, in a deep voice, which -was so hard to keep up that his remarks had to be extremely -brief.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“Oh, don’t!” cried Mrs. Smith, much distressed.</p> - -<p>“You can’t ever come again if you act so,” added -Miss Smith, rapping Mr. Bangs with her bottle because -he laughed loudest.</p> - -<p>“I can’t help it, you look so like fury,” gasped Mr. -Bangs, with most uncourteous candor.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“I think we had better dance now. Did you bring -your fiddle, sir?” asked Mrs. Smith, trying to preserve -her polite composure.</p> - -<p>“It is outside the door,” and Nat went to get it.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[134]</a></span></p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“No, we never have supper first; and if you don’t -dance well you won’t have any supper at all, <em>not one -bit, sir</em>,” said Mrs. Smith, so sternly that her wild -guests saw she was not to be trifled with, and grew -overwhelmingly civil all at once.</p> - -<p>“<em>I</em> 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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“Give us a song, mum,” said the obedient guest, -secretly wondering where the piano was.</p> - -<p>Miss Smith sailed up to an old secretary which -stood in the room, threw back the lid of the writing-desk,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[135]</a></span> -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—</p> - -<div class="poetry-container"> -<div class="poetry"> -<div class="verse">“Gaily the troubadour</div> -<div class="verse indent1">Touched his guitar,</div> -<div class="verse">As he was hastening</div> -<div class="verse indent1">Home from the war.”</div> -</div> -</div> - -<p>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,—</p> - -<p>“<em>Now</em> we will have tea. Sit down carefully, and -don’t grab.”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[136]</a></span> -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?</p> - -<p>“You hid them, Tommy; I know you did!” cried -the outraged hostess, threatening her suspected guest -with the milk-pot.</p> - -<p>“I didn’t!”</p> - -<p>“You did!”</p> - -<p>“It isn’t proper to contradict,” said Nan, who was -hastily eating up the jelly during the fray.</p> - -<p>“Give them back, Demi,” said Tommy.</p> - -<p>“That’s a fib, you’ve got them in your own pocket,” -bawled Demi, roused by the false accusation.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 420px;" id="illus2"> -<img src="images/illus2.jpg" width="420" height="650" alt="" /> -<p class="caption"><i>Miss Smith accompanied herself with a vigor which -made the old desk rattle. <a href="#Page_135">Page 135.</a></i></p> -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[137]</a></span></p> - -<p>“I guess we had better go,” said Demi, suddenly, -as Aunt Jo’s voice was heard on the stairs.</p> - -<p>“P’r’aps we had,” and Nat hastily dropped a stray -jumble that he had just picked up.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“We were only in fun,” began Demi.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“Boys always tease their sisters; Tom says so,” -muttered Demi.</p> - -<p>“I don’t intend that <em>my</em> boys shall, and I must send -Daisy home if you cannot play happily together,” said -Aunt Jo, soberly.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“I am sorry,” said Nat, much ashamed.</p> - -<p>“I ain’t!” bawled Tommy through the key-hole, -where he was listening, with all his might.</p> - -<p>Mrs. Jo wanted very much to laugh, but kept her<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[138]</a></span> -countenance, and said impressively, as she pointed to -the door,—</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>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.”</p> - -<p>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 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.</p> - -<p>This unnatural state of things actually lasted for<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[139]</a></span> -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.</p> - -<p>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:—</p> - -<p>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,—</p> - -<p>“Please, Aunt Jo, would you and the girls come out -to a surprise party we have made for you? Do, it’s -a <em>very</em> nice one.”</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“We’d like to have him. The little wagon is all -ready for the girls; and you won’t mind walking just -up to Pennyroyal Hill, will you, Aunty?”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[140]</a></span></p> - -<p>“I should like it exceedingly; but are you quite -sure I shall not be in the way?”</p> - -<p>“Oh, no, indeed! we want you very much; and -the party will be spoilt if you don’t come,” cried -Demi, with great earnestness.</p> - -<p>“Thank you kindly, sir;” and Aunt Jo made him -a grand curtsey, for she liked frolics as well as any -of them.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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,—</p> - -<p>“Now, you all get out and stand still, and the surprise -party will come in;” with which remark he retired<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[141]</a></span> -behind a rock, over which heads had been bobbing -at intervals for the last half-hour.</p> - -<p>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.”</p> - -<p>“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 <em>was</em> a surprise to Mrs. Jo.</p> - -<p>She clapped her hands, and joined in the laugh, -looking thoroughly tickled at the joke.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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?”</p> - -<p>“That’s why we made them for you,” cried Tommy, -standing on his head as the most appropriate way of -expressing his emotions.</p> - -<p>“Let us fly them,” said energetic Nan.</p> - -<p>“I don’t know how,” began Daisy.</p> - -<p>“We’ll show you, we want to!” cried all the boys -in a burst of devotion, as Demi took Daisy’s, Tommy<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[142]</a></span> -Nan’s, and Nat, with difficulty, persuaded Bess to let -go her little blue one.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“Did you ever have such a good time as this<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[143]</a></span> -before?” asked Nat, as they lay about on the grass, -nibbling pennyroyal like a flock of sheep.</p> - -<p>“Not since I last flew a kite, years ago, when I -was a girl,” answered Mrs. Jo.</p> - -<p>“I’d like to have known you when you were a girl, -you must have been so jolly,” said Nat.</p> - -<p>“I was a naughty little girl, I am sorry to say.”</p> - -<p>“I like naughty little girls,” observed Tommy, -looking at Nan, who made a frightful grimace at him -in return for the compliment.</p> - -<p>“Why don’t I remember you then, Aunty? Was -I too young?” asked Demi.</p> - -<p>“Rather, dear.”</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“Now, little Socrates, you had better keep that -question for grandpa, it is beyond me,” said Aunt Jo, -putting on the extinguisher.</p> - -<p>“Well, I will, <em>he</em> knows about those things, and <em>you -don’t</em>,” returned Demi, feeling that on the whole kites -were better adapted to the comprehension of the present -company.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[144]</a></span> -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.</p> - -<p>“‘What shall I do?’ I whispered to Teddy, as the -voices drew nearer and nearer.</p> - -<p>“‘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.”</p> - -<p>“Were the kites lost, Aunty?” asked Daisy.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“Must we go now?”</p> - -<p>“I must, or you won’t have any supper; and that -sort of surprise party would not suit you, I think, my -chickens.”</p> - -<p>“Hasn’t our party been a nice one?” asked Tommy, -complacently.</p> - -<p>“Splendid!” answered every one.</p> - -<p>“Do you know why? It is because <em>your</em> guests -have behaved themselves, and tried to make every -thing go well. You understand what I mean, don’t -you?”</p> - -<p>“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 <em>not</em> behaved themselves, -and things had gone badly on account of it.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[145]</a></span></p> - -<h2 id="CHAPTER_X">CHAPTER X<br /> -<span class="smaller">HOME AGAIN</span></h2> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“No, lovey, he is not there, it was the pretty moon,” -said his mother.</p> - -<p>“No, no, Danny at a window; Teddy saw him,” -persisted baby, much excited.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[146]</a></span></p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[147]</a></span> -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.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>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,—</p> - -<p>“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,—</p> - -<p>“I was going off in the morning. I only stopped -to peek in, as I went by.”</p> - -<p>“But why not come in, Dan? Didn’t you hear us -call you? Teddy saw, and cried for you.”</p> - -<p>“Didn’t suppose you’d let me in,” he said, fumbling -with a little bundle which he had taken up as -if going immediately.</p> - -<p>“Try and see,” was all Mrs. Bhaer answered, holding -out her hand and pointing to the door, where the -light shone hospitably.</p> - -<p>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,—</p> - -<p>“Mr. Bhaer won’t like it. I ran away from Page.”</p> - -<p>“He knows it, and was sorry, but it will make no<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[148]</a></span> -difference. Are you lame?” asked Mrs. Jo, as he -limped on again.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“My poor Dan! drink this, and then eat a little; -you are at home now, and Mother Bhaer will take -good care of you.”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“Where have you been, Dan?” she asked, beginning -to get out some bandages.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“All the way?”</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“How did you live? It was a long, long tramp -for a boy like you.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, I got on well enough, till I hurt my foot.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[149]</a></span> -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.”</p> - -<p>“But if you did not mean to come in and stay with -us, what were you going to do?”</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>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—”</p> - -<p>He did not finish, for Mrs. Bhaer interrupted him -by an exclamation of pity, as she saw his foot, for it -was seriously hurt.</p> - -<p>“When did you do it?”</p> - -<p>“Three days ago.”</p> - -<p>“And you have walked on it in this state?”</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“Fritz, that boy has come back.”</p> - -<p>“Who? Dan?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, Teddy saw him at the window, and we 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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[150]</a></span> -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.”</p> - -<p>“Did he say so?”</p> - -<p>“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?”</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[151]</a></span></p> - -<p>“I hope so, for your sake, enthusiastic woman, -your faith deserves success. Now, I will go and see -your little Spartan. Where is he?”</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“As if you ever were like this little rascal!” cried -Mr. Bhaer, laughing, yet half angry at the idea.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“God bless the work, and help the worker!”</p> - -<p>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,—</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“Thanky, sir,” said Dan, trying not to be gruff, -and finding it easier than he expected.</p> - -<p>“Now, the foot! Ach!—this is not well. We -must have Dr. Firth to-morrow. Warm water, Jo, -and old linen.”</p> - -<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[152]</a></span> -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.”</p> - -<p>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 <em>was</em> a -brave lad, and did bear pain like “a little Spartan,” -as Mr. Bhaer called him.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“Are you in pain, Dan?”</p> - -<p>“It’s pretty bad; but I didn’t mean to wake -you.”</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“Oh, that’s <em>so</em> nice!” sighed Dan, as the wet bandages -went on again, and a long draught of water -cooled his thirsty throat.</p> - -<p>“There, now, sleep your best, and don’t be frightened<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[153]</a></span> -if you see me again, for I’ll slip down by and -by, and give you another sprinkle.”</p> - -<p>As she spoke, Mrs. Jo stooped to turn the pillow -and smooth the bed-clothes, when, to her great surprise, -Dan put his arm round 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 that 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.”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>Then came the doctor, and the poor Spartan had a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[154]</a></span> -bad time of it, for some of the little bones of 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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“It will get well sometime, won’t it?” he asked, -looking alarmed at the word “crutches.”</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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’<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[155]</a></span> -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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[156]</a></span> -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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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,—</p> - -<p>“Where did you learn so much about these -things?”</p> - -<p>“I always liked ’em, but didn’t know much till Mr. -Hyde told me.”</p> - -<p>“Who was Mr. Hyde?”</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[157]</a></span></p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“Why, he could make birds come to him, and rabbits -and squirrels didn’t mind him any more than if -he was a tree. He never hurt ’em, and they seemed -to know him. Did you ever tickle a lizard with a -straw?” asked Dan, eagerly.</p> - -<p>“No, but I should like to try it.”</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“I think you were so fond of going with Mr. Hyde, -you rather neglected Mr. Page,” said Mrs. Jo, slyly.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“Suppose you say <em>lie</em> instead of <em>lay</em>, 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.”</p> - -<p>“Yes, ma’am,” said Dan, meekly, and looked a -little scared by the serious tone of the last remarks,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[158]</a></span> -for he hated books, yet had evidently made up his -mind to study anything she proposed.</p> - -<p>“Do you see that cabinet with twelve drawers in -it?” was the next very unexpected question.</p> - -<p>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,—</p> - -<p>“Well, don’t you think those drawers would be -good places to put your eggs, and stones, and shells, -and lichens?”</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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 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.”</p> - -<p>“Do you have ’em?” asked Dan, looking as if this -was new talk for him.</p> - -<p>“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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[159]</a></span> -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?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, ma’am.”</p> - -<p>“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?”</p> - -<p>The boy 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,—</p> - -<p>“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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[160]</a></span> -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.”</p> - -<p>“But I can’t go out to find any new things,” said -Dan, looking piteously at his foot.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“They don’t know the right sort; besides, if I lay, -no, <em>lie</em> here all the time, I can’t work and study, and -earn my drawers.”</p> - -<p>“There are plenty of lessons you can learn lying -there, and several little jobs of work you can do for -me.”</p> - -<p>“Can I?” and Dan looked both surprised and -pleased.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>Here Demi ran in with a great butterfly in one -hand, and a very ugly little toad in the other.</p> - -<p>“See, Dan, I found them, and ran back to give -them to you; aren’t they beautiful ones?” panted -Demi, all out of breath.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[161]</a></span> -once with a drop of camphor,” said Mrs. Jo, getting -out the bottle.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“I’ll have to let these fellers go, for I can’t keep -’em in the house,” said Dan, with evident regret.</p> - -<p>“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 than his beloved slow turtles. So Dan gave<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[162]</a></span> -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.</p> - -<p>“He ought to be, for a great deal has been done -to make him so.”</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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?”</p> - -<p>“No, ma’am,” very low.</p> - -<p>“Do you try that way still?”</p> - -<p>“No, ma’am,” lower still.</p> - -<p>“Will you do it every night to please me?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, ma’am,” very soberly.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[163]</a></span> -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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“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,—</p> - -<p>“Pease Dod bess everybody, and hep me to be -dood.”</p> - -<p>Then he went away smiling with sleepy sweetness -over his mother’s shoulder.</p> - -<p>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,—</p> - -<p>“Please God bless every one, and help me to be -good.”</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[164]</a></span></p> - -<h2 id="CHAPTER_XI">CHAPTER XI<br /> -<span class="smaller">UNCLE TEDDY</span></h2> - -<p>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 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,—</p> - -<p>“This foot is doing better than I expected. Give -the lad the crutch this afternoon, and let him stump -about the house a little.”</p> - -<p>“Hooray!” shouted Nat, and raced away to tell -the other boys the good news.</p> - -<p>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 <i lang="fr">levée</i>. 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 any thing 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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[165]</a></span> -down the avenue as fast as his short legs would carry -him. All the 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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“How goes it, Teddy?”</p> - -<p>“All right, Jo.”</p> - -<p>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.”</p> - -<p>“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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[166]</a></span> -have all in order; for Mr. Laurie always took a -general survey, and looked disappointed if things were -not flourishing.</p> - -<p>Standing on the steps, he turned to Dan, saying -like an old acquaintance, though he had only seen -him once or twice before,—</p> - -<p>“How is the foot?”</p> - -<p>“Better, sir.”</p> - -<p>“Rather tired of the house, aren’t you?”</p> - -<p>“Guess I am!” and Dan’s eyes roved away to the -green hills and woods where he longed to be.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>The boys thought it a capital joke, and Dan looked -delighted, but asked, with an unexpected burst of -virtue,—</p> - -<p>“Will Mrs. Bhaer like it?”</p> - -<p>“Oh, yes; we settled all that a minute ago.”</p> - -<p>“You didn’t say any thing about it, so I don’t see -how you could,” said Demi, inquisitively.</p> - -<p>“We have a way of sending messages to one -another, without any words. It is a great improvement -on the telegraph.”</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“Right. Now then, 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.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[167]</a></span> -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.</p> - -<p>“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 -made Dan exclaim,—</p> - -<p>“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, colored -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 -his 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.</p> - -<p>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,—</p> - -<p>“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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[168]</a></span> -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.</p> - -<p>“Uncle Teddy tells stories ’most as well as Grandpa,” -said Demi, approvingly, when the tale was done, -and the boys’ eyes asked for more.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“Oh! tell about the Indians,” cried Demi, who -was fond of playing wigwam.</p> - -<p>“Dan knows lots about them,” added Nat.</p> - -<p>“More than I do, I dare say. Tell us something,” -and Mr. Laurie looked as interested as the other two.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“What is wampum for?” asked curious Demi, from -his perch.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[169]</a></span></p> - -<p>“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?”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“Where can we put them, then?” said Demi, crossing -his legs and leaning down to argue the question.</p> - -<p>“In the old carriage-house.”</p> - -<p>“But it leaks, and there isn’t any windows, nor any -place to put things, and it’s all dust and cobwebs,” -began Nat.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“Won’t that be jolly?” cried Nat, while Dan smiled -all over his face and had not a word to say, but hugged<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[170]</a></span> -his book, and looked at Mr. Laurie as if he thought -him one of the greatest public benefactors that ever -blessed the world.</p> - -<p>“Shall I go round again, sir?” asked Peter, as they -came to the gate, after two slow turns about the half-mile -triangle.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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 them.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“I thought Franz was!” answered Dan, wondering -what the man meant.</p> - -<p>“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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[171]</a></span> -isn’t done with me yet, though she has been working -at me for years and years.”</p> - -<p>“How old she must be!” said Nat, innocently.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>Suddenly, in the midst of a bite, Mr. Laurie cried -out, “Bless my heart, I forgot grandma’s bundle!”<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[172]</a></span> -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.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>Then, amid much laughing and fun, the cakes were -distributed. A fish for Dan, a fiddle for Nat, a book -for Demi, a monkey 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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“Nicely; she is getting quite mannerly, and begins -to see the error of her wild ways.”</p> - -<p>“Don’t the boys encourage her in them?”</p> - -<p>“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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[173]</a></span> -example has its effect upon her, and I’m quite sure -that a few months will work wonders.”</p> - -<p>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. -Hats 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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“We’re having a race, and I beat,” shouted Nan.</p> - -<p>“I could have run faster, only I was afraid of spilling -Bess,” screamed Daisy.</p> - -<p>“Hi! go long!” cried the princess, giving such a -flourish with her whip that the horses ran away, and -were seen no more.</p> - -<p>“My precious child! come away from this ill-mannered<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[174]</a></span> -crew before you are quite spoilt. Good-by, Jo! -Next time I come, I shall expect to find the boys making -patchwork.”</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>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.”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[175]</a></span> -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 now 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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[176]</a></span></p> - -<p>Jack added that last suggestion to the general chatter -that went on as the family viewed the room.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“Hear! hear!” cried Mr. Bhaer.</p> - -<p>“Speech! speech!” added Mrs. Jo.</p> - -<p>“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,—</p> - -<p>“If I did lecture, it would be 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.”</p> - -<p>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,—</p> - -<p>“There <em>is</em> 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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[177]</a></span> -should all like that, and I think it would put considerable -useful knowledge into our heads. What do -you say, Professor?”</p> - -<p>“I’d 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, and planning -many fine lectures on geology, which he liked. -“We should have a library for the special purpose.”</p> - -<p>“Is that a useful sort of book, Dan?” asked Mr. -Laurie, pointing to the volume that lay open by the -cabinet.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“Won’t it be hard to write about such things?” asked -Nat, who hated compositions.</p> - -<p>“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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[178]</a></span> -between Themistocles, Aristides, and Pericles -on the proposed appropriation of the funds of the confederacy -of Delos for the ornamentation of Athens?” -said Mrs. Jo.</p> - -<p>The boys groaned at the mere sound of the long -names, and the gentlemen laughed at the absurdity -of the lesson.</p> - -<p>“Did she write it?” asked Demi, in an awe-stricken -tone.</p> - -<p>“Yes, but you can imagine what a piece of work -she made of it, though she was rather a bright child.”</p> - -<p>“I’d like to have seen it,” said Mr. Bhaer.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>Then the dirty-handed society went off to 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.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“I’ll be moderate, but do let me amuse myself. I -get desperately tired of business sometimes, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[179]</a></span> -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.”</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>Laurie took both her hands in his, and answered, -with a look that made her eyes fill with happy tears,—</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[180]</a></span></p> - -<h2 id="CHAPTER_XII">CHAPTER XII<br /> -<span class="smaller">HUCKLEBERRIES</span></h2> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>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 -down-stairs with his best hat on, a bright tin pail in -his hand, and a face beaming with satisfaction.</p> - -<p>“Oh, dear! now we shall have a scene,” sighed -Mrs. Bhaer, who found her eldest son very hard to -manage at times.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“It’s too far for you, my love; stay and take care -of me, for I shall be all alone,” began his mother.</p> - -<p>“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,”<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[181]</a></span> -persisted Rob, with a cloud beginning to dim the brightness -of his happy face.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>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 at home with him; and Nan said, in -her decided way,—</p> - -<p>“Let him come; I’ll take care of him.”</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“It’s so far,” put in Jack.</p> - -<p>“I’d carry him if I was going—wish I was,” said -Dan, with a sigh.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>Silas was just driving away in the hay-cart, but<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[182]</a></span> -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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>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.”</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“Can I go?” said Dan, delighted.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“Me too! me too!” sung Rob, dancing with joy, -and clapping his precious pail and cover like castanets.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[183]</a></span> -indulgent mamma had not the heart to bereave him of -it, since this was a gala-day to him.</p> - -<p>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 hornets’ -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 in 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.</p> - -<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[184]</a></span> -anxious to have the biggest and best berries for -Marmar.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“Now we will go and rest in the cave, and eat our -lunch,” said Nan, well satisfied with her success so far.</p> - -<p>“Do you know the way?” asked Rob.</p> - -<p>“’Course I do; I’ve been once, and I always remember. -Didn’t I go and get my box all right?”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“Now, isn’t it nice?” asked Nan, as she took out<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[185]</a></span> -a bit of bread-and-butter, rather damaged by being -mixed up with nails, fish-hooks, stones and other foreign -substances, in the young lady’s pocket.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“No, I don’t; because if I hear them, I shall hide, -and have fun making them find me.”</p> - -<p>“P’raps they won’t come.”</p> - -<p>“Don’t care; I can get home myself.”</p> - -<p>“Is it a great way?” asked Rob, looking at his little, -stubby boots, scratched and wet with his long wandering.</p> - -<p>“It’s six miles, I guess.” Nan’s ideas of distance -were vague, and her faith in her own powers great.</p> - -<p>“I think we better go now,” suggested Rob, presently.</p> - -<p>“I shan’t go till I have picked over my berries;” -and Nan began what seemed to Rob an endless task.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“Well, I <em>am</em> taking 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.</p> - -<p>So little Rob sat looking anxiously about him, and -waiting patiently, for, spite of some misgivings, he -felt great confidence in Nan.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“My goodness me! so it is. Come right away this<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[186]</a></span> -minute, or they will be gone,” cried Nan, looking up -from her work, and suddenly perceiving that the sun -was down.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“Where was it?” asked Nan, stopping short.</p> - -<p>“Over that way;” he pointed with a dirty little -finger in an entirely wrong direction.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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,—</p> - -<p>“I’m going just as fast as I can, dear. Don’t cry, -and when we come to the road, I’ll carry you.”</p> - -<p>“Where is the road?” and Robby wiped his eyes to -look for it.</p> - -<p>“Over by that big tree. Don’t you know that’s -the one Ned tumbled out of?”</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[187]</a></span></p> - -<p>“No, I’d rather walk,” answered Nan, feeling quite -sure that she would be obliged to do so, and preparing -her mind for it.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“Are we lost?” quavered Rob, clasping his pail in -despair.</p> - -<p>“Not much. I don’t just see which way to go, and -I guess we’d better call.”</p> - -<p>So they both shouted till they were hoarse, yet -nothing answered but the frogs in full chorus.</p> - -<p>“There is another tall tree over there, perhaps that’s -the one,” said Nan, whose heart sunk within her, -though she still spoke bravely.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“Then we must stay here all night. <em>I</em> don’t care -much, if snakes don’t come.”</p> - -<p>“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,—</p> - -<p>“Marmar will come and find me—she always does; -I ain’t afraid now.”</p> - -<p>“She won’t know where we are.”</p> - -<p>“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,—</p> - -<p>“I wish we hadn’t run away.”</p> - -<p>“You made me; but I don’t mind much—Marmar<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[188]</a></span> -will love me just the same,” answered Rob, clinging -to his sheet-anchor when all other hope was gone.</p> - -<p>“I’m so hungry. Let’s eat our berries,” proposed -Nan after a pause, during which Rob began to nod.</p> - -<p>“So am I, but I can’t eat mine, ’cause I told Marmar -I’d keep them all for her.”</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“How could we cook frogs? we haven’t got any -fire.”</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“Couldn’t we light a fire with a fire-fly?” asked Rob, -hopefully, as he watched them flitting to and fro like -winged sparks.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“Marmar’s a good while coming,” said Rob, after<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[189]</a></span> -another pause, during which they watched the stars -overhead, smelt the sweet fern crushed under foot, -and listened to the crickets’ serenade.</p> - -<p>“I don’t see why God made any night; day is so -much pleasanter,” said Nan, thoughtfully.</p> - -<p>“It’s to sleep in,” answered Rob, with a yawn.</p> - -<p>“Then do go to sleep,” said Nan, pettishly.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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,—</p> - -<p>“No, it’s a bear, a big, black one!” and hid his face -in Nan’s skirts.</p> - -<p>For a moment Nan quailed; even her courage gave -out at 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,—</p> - -<p>“It’s a cow, Robby! the nice, black cow we saw -this afternoon.”</p> - -<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[190]</a></span> -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.</p> - -<p>“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:—</p> - -<div class="poetry-container"> -<div class="poetry"> -<div class="verse">“Cushy cow, bonny, let down your milk,</div> -<div class="verse indent1">Let down your milk to me,</div> -<div class="verse">And I will give you a gown of silk,</div> -<div class="verse indent1">A gown of silk and a silver tee.”</div> -</div> -</div> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“Shoo! get away! you are an old cross patch,” cried -Nan, ungratefully, as she gave up the attempt in -despair; and poor Mooly walked on with a gentle gurgle -of surprise and reproof.</p> - -<p>“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?”</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[191]</a></span></p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>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—</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>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 -midsummer 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!”</p> - -<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[192]</a></span> -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.”</p> - -<p>“It’s shorter that way, and they will carry him,” -said Stuffy, who was in a hurry for his supper.</p> - -<p>“You are sure Nan and Rob went with them?”</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“Very well, pile in then,” and away rattled the hay-cart -with the tired children and the full pails.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“Have they come?” he called out when half-way -up the avenue.</p> - -<p>“No!” and Mrs. Jo flew out of her chair looking -so alarmed that every one jumped up and gathered -round Franz.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“I don’t know. They came home with the others, -didn’t they?” he answered, quickly.</p> - -<p>“No; George and Tommy said they went with you.”</p> - -<p>“Well, they didn’t. Haven’t seen them. We took<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[193]</a></span> -a swim in the pond, and came by the wood,” said Jack, -looking alarmed, as well he might.</p> - -<p>“Call Mr. Bhaer, get the lanterns, and tell Silas I -want him.”</p> - -<p>That was all Mrs. Jo said, but they knew what she -meant, and flew to obey 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 to 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.</p> - -<p>“You here! I told Jack to come,” she said, half-inclined -to send him back, much as she needed help.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[194]</a></span> -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 <em>my</em> 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.</p> - -<p>The sky was overcast now, and only brief glimpses -of the moon were seen, heat-lightning 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.</p> - -<p>“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,—</p> - -<p>“They may have gone down to the spring—I’m -going to look.”</p> - -<p>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,—</p> - -<p>“Yes; that is the mark of my Robby’s little boots! -Come this way, they must have gone on.”</p> - -<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[195]</a></span> -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 <em>me</em> find them; I let Rob go, and -I want to give him back to his father all myself.”</p> - -<p>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-opened -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.</p> - -<p>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,—</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[196]</a></span> -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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“It was my fault; but I <em>am</em> 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 <em>so</em> hungry; and -I never will do it again—truly never, never,” sobbed -Nan, quite lost in a sea of penitence and thankfulness.</p> - -<p>“Call them now, and let us get home,” said Mrs. -Jo; and Dan, getting upon the wall, sent the joyful -word “Found!” ringing over the field.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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. Mr. 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 part<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[197]</a></span> -of his precious little body that came handy, and never -tired of hearing him say, “I <em>knew</em> 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.”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“My precious, why do you cry?” asked his mother, -who still hung over him.</p> - -<p>“I’m crying ’cause I was lost,” bawled Rob, trying -to squeeze out a tear, and failing entirely.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“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,” exclaimed Rob, struggling with sleep, emotion, -and a mouthful of bread and milk.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“It is ten o’clock; into bed, every man of you,” said -Mr. Bhaer, looking at his watch.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[198]</a></span></p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“Let’s make an arm-chair,” proposed Tommy.</p> - -<p>“No, thank you, my lads; but somebody may lend -me a shoulder to lean on,” answered Mrs. Jo.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>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,—</p> - -<p>“He found the children; so I think he must help -me up.”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“I wish I <em>was</em> your boy,” said Dan, who felt as if -danger and trouble had somehow brought him nearer -than ever to her.</p> - -<p>“You shall be my oldest son,” and she sealed her -promise with a kiss that made Dan hers entirely.</p> - -<p>Little Rob was all right next day, but Nan had a -headache, and lay on Mother Bhaer’s sofa with cold-cream<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[199]</a></span> -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.</p> - -<p>“All children run away,” pleaded Nan, as if it was -as natural and necessary a thing as measles or hooping -cough.</p> - -<p>“Not all, and some who do run away don’t get found -again,” answered Mrs. Jo.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>Mrs. Jo laughed, and owned that she did.</p> - -<p>“Tell about it,” demanded Nan, feeling that she -was getting the upper hand in the discussion.</p> - -<p>Mrs. Jo saw that, and sobered down at once, saying, -with a remorseful shake of the head,—</p> - -<p>“I did it a good many times, and led my poor mother -rather a hard life with my pranks, till she cured -me.”</p> - -<p>“How?” and Nan sat up with a face full of interest.</p> - -<p>“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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[200]</a></span> -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 as dirty as a little -pig, and the new shoes were worn out—I had travelled -so far.”</p> - -<p>“How nice!” cried Nan, looking all ready to go -and do it herself.</p> - -<p>“It was <em>not</em> nice the next day;” and Mrs. Jo tried to -keep her eyes from betraying how much she enjoyed -the memory of her early capers.</p> - -<p>“Did your mother whip you?” asked Nan, curiously.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“Why did she beg your pardon?—my father don’t.”</p> - -<p>“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, <em>I am</em> 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.”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“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?”</p> - -<p>“She tied me up to the bed-post with a long string, -so that I could not go out of the room, and there I<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[201]</a></span> -stayed all day with the little worn-out shoes hanging -up before me to remind me of my fault.”</p> - -<p>“I should think that <em>would</em> cure anybody,” cried -Nan, who loved her liberty above all things.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>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,—</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>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,—</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“I got lost too, so I ought to be tied up as much<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[202]</a></span> -as Nan,” he explained to his mother when she saw the -new captive.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“Nan took me,” began Rob, willing to enjoy the -novel penalty, but not willing to take the blame.</p> - -<p>“You needn’t have gone. You have got a conscience, -though you are a little boy, and you must learn -to mind it.”</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“Did you stop to see if it did?”</p> - -<p>“No.”</p> - -<p>“Then you cannot tell.”</p> - -<p>“I guess it’s such a little conscience that it don’t -prick hard enough for me to feel it,” added Rob, after -thinking over the matter for a minute.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“No, we won’t,” said both, feeling a certain sense of -virtue in helping to punish themselves.</p> - -<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[203]</a></span> -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.”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“I’ll bring her dinner to her, may I?” he asked, -pitying his fellow-captive.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[204]</a></span> -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.</p> - -<p>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 <i>Josephine</i> -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,—</p> - -<p>“If you have run away, you’d better go right home, -and tell your mother you are sorry, and never do so any -more.”</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>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—</p> - -<p>“Do you think my mother’s cure for running away -a good one?”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[205]</a></span></p> - -<p>“Yes, ma’am,” answered Nan, quite subdued by -her quiet day.</p> - -<p>“I hope I shall not have to try it again.”</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>Here Rob appeared, bearing with infinite care what -Asia called a “sarcer pie,” meaning one baked in a -saucer.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“What makes you, when I’m so naughty?” asked -Nan, meekly.</p> - -<p>“Because we got lost together. You ain’t going to -be naughty again, are you?”</p> - -<p>“Never,” said Nan, with great decision.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>Nan started to follow, then stopped, and said,—</p> - -<p>“I forgot, I can’t go.”</p> - -<p>“Try and see,” said Mrs. Bhaer, who had quietly -untied the cord sash while she had been talking.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[206]</a></span></p> - -<h2 id="CHAPTER_XIII">CHAPTER XIII<br /> -<span class="smaller">GOLDILOCKS</span></h2> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“It’s 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.</p> - -<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[207]</a></span> -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.</p> - -<p>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!”</p> - -<p>Loud 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 principals -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.</p> - -<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[208]</a></span> -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 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.</p> - -<p>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 it without a frown, after she had been<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[209]</a></span> -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 never -could 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,—</p> - -<p>“No, I tarn’t love him; he tut the poor mouses’ -little tails off, and they queeked!”</p> - -<p>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 moneys 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.</p> - -<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[210]</a></span> -adding the tragedy that is so apt to spoil the -dramas acted on the larger stage.</p> - -<p>“They teach us quite as much as we teach them,” -said Mr. Bhaer.</p> - -<p>“Bless the dears! they never guess how many hints -they give us as to the best way of managing them,” -answered Mrs. Jo.</p> - -<p>“I think you were right about the good effect of -having girls among the boys. Nan <em>has</em> 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.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“To return to the children: I have just had another -proof of Goldilocks’ good influence,” said Mrs. Jo,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[211]</a></span> -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.”</p> - -<p>“But needlework is not a fashionable accomplishment, -my dear.”</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“I also have a proof of the Princess’s power,” said -Mr. 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.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[212]</a></span></p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“Won’t she eat it? I shouldn’t like to make her -sick,” said Stuffy, eying the delicate sweetmeat lovingly, -yet putting it into the box.</p> - -<p>“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?”</p> - -<p>“I should hope so! I’m ever so much older than -she is,” cried Stuffy, indignantly.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“Happy 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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[213]</a></span> -interest, though she would have preferred a real -flower with a “pitty smell.”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“Come again soon, little dear,” whispered Dan, -fastening his best green-and-gold beetle in her hat.</p> - -<p>“Don’t forget me, Princess, whatever you do,” said -the engaging Tommy, taking a last stroke of the -pretty hair.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“Do shake hands now,” cried Jack, offering a smooth -paw.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“My little precious! I shall work you a bookmark -right away, and you must keep it always,” said -Nan, with a warm embrace.</p> - -<p>But of all the farewells, poor Billy’s was the most<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">[214]</a></span> -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,—</p> - -<p>“Don’t cry, poor Billy! I will tiss you and tum -adain soon.”</p> - -<p>This promise consoled Billy, and he fell back beaming -with pride at the unusual honor conferred upon -him.</p> - -<p>“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,—</p> - -<p>“I will tiss evvybody!”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">[215]</a></span> -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.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">[216]</a></span></p> - -<h2 id="CHAPTER_XIV">CHAPTER XIV<br /> -<span class="smaller">DAMON AND PYTHIAS</span></h2> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">[217]</a></span></p> - -<p>“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> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“Hi! boys! come down to the brook and see what -a jolly great snake Dan’s got!” called a voice from -behind the barn.</p> - -<p>“Come on,” said Tommy; and, laying his money -inside the old winnowing machine, away he ran, followed -by Nat.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>Next morning, just as the boys assembled for school, -Tommy rushed into the room breathlessly, demanding,—</p> - -<p>“I say, who has got my dollar?”</p> - -<p>“What are you talking about?” asked Franz.</p> - -<p>Tommy explained, and Nat corroborated his statement.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“Somebody must have taken it,” said Franz, as -Tommy shook his fist at the whole party, and wrathfully -declared that—</p> - -<p>“By thunder turtles! if I get hold of the thief, I’ll -give him what he won’t forget in a hurry.”</p> - -<p>“Keep cool, Tom; we shall find him out; thieves<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">[218]</a></span> -always come to grief,” said Dan, as one who knew -something of the matter.</p> - -<p>“May be some tramp slept in the barn and took -it,” suggested Ned.</p> - -<p>“No, Silas don’t allow that; besides, a tramp -wouldn’t go looking in that old machine for money,” -said Emil, with scorn.</p> - -<p>“Wasn’t it Silas himself?” said Jack.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“I know you think it’s me,” broke out Nat, red -and excited.</p> - -<p>“You are the only one who knew where it was,” -said Franz.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“Gently, gently, my son! What is all this noise -about?” and Mr. Bhaer walked in among them.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“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,—</p> - -<p>“Now, boys, I shall ask each one of you a single -question, and I want an honest answer. I am not<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">[219]</a></span> -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 to set yourselves -right before us all. I can forgive the yielding -to a 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.”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“Now, my son, give me an honest answer. Did -you take the money?”</p> - -<p>“No, sir!” and Nat looked up at him imploringly.</p> - -<p>As the words fell from his trembling lips, somebody -hissed.</p> - -<p>“Stop that!” cried Mr. Bhaer, with a sharp rap -on his desk, as he looked sternly toward the corner -whence the sound came.</p> - -<p>Ned, Jack, and Emil sat there, and the first two -looked ashamed of themselves, but Emil called out,—</p> - -<p>“It wasn’t me, uncle! I’d be ashamed to hit a -fellow when he is down.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">[220]</a></span></p> - -<p>“Good for you!” cried Tommy, who was in a sad -state of affliction at the trouble his unlucky dollar had -made.</p> - -<p>“Silence!” commanded Mr. Bhaer; and when it -came, he said soberly,—</p> - -<p>“I am <em>very</em> 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 <em>perfectly</em> 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.”</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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,—</p> - -<p>“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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">[221]</a></span> -person in any way,—he will have a hard enough -time without that. Now go to your lessons.”</p> - -<p>“Father Bhaer let Nat off too easy,” muttered Ned -to Emil, as they got out their books.</p> - -<p>“Hold your tongue,” growled Emil, who felt that -this event was a blot upon the family honor.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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 every 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.</p> - -<p>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 <em>must</em> have been Nat, because no one else -knew where the money was.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">[222]</a></span></p> - -<p>“May be 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!”</p> - -<p>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 marvellous 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 <em>she</em> 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.</p> - -<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">[223]</a></span> -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.</p> - -<p>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 tenter-hooks to know <em>certainly</em> 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 -word the spider-student heard were these, in Nat’s -patient, pleading voice,—</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“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!”</p> - -<p>“He didn’t, but, if he did, I <em>would</em> 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.</p> - -<p>“I <em>know</em> Dan did it, and gave the money to you. -Shouldn’t wonder if he got his living picking pockets<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">[224]</a></span> -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.</p> - -<p>He succeeded in a part of his ungenerous wish, for -Nat cried out, fiercely,—</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“I was only in fun,” said Ned.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">[225]</a></span></p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“How do you know he isn’t right?” asked Dan, -turning his face away.</p> - -<p>“What, about the money?” cried Nat, looking up -with a startled air.</p> - -<p>“Yes.”</p> - -<p>“But I don’t believe it! <em>You</em> don’t care for money; -all you want is your old bugs and things,” and Nat -laughed, incredulously.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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 <em>am</em> -a bad lot,” said Dan, speaking in the rough, reckless -way which he had been learning to drop lately.</p> - -<p>“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,—</p> - -<p>“I won’t say any thing about it. But don’t you fret, -and we’ll pull through somehow, see if we don’t.”</p> - -<p>Something in his face and manner gave Nat a new<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">[226]</a></span> -idea; and he said, pressing his hands together, in the -eagerness of his appeal,—</p> - -<p>“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 <em>can</em> 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.”</p> - -<p>As he spoke, Nat looked so broken and despairing, -that Dan could not bear it, and, muttering huskily,—</p> - -<p>“You won’t wait long,” he walked rapidly away, -and was seen no more for hours.</p> - -<p>“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 <em>never</em> 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,—</p> - -<p>“You think I am getting on, don’t you?”</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“I’m afraid you’ll be disappointed, but I do try,” -he said, shutting the book without a sign of pleasure<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227">[227]</a></span> -in the page that he usually liked so much to read -over and talk about.</p> - -<p>“Are you sick, dear?” asked Mrs. Jo, with her hand -on his shoulder.</p> - -<p>“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-by to something very dear.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>One of the things which cut Nat most deeply was -an act of Tommy’s, for after his loss Tommy had said -to him, kindly but firmly,—</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“O Tom! must you?” he said, feeling that his good -name was gone for ever in the business world if this -was done.</p> - -<p>“I must,” returned Tommy, firmly. “Emil says -that when one man ’bezzles (I 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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">[228]</a></span> -you, but I <em>must</em> dissolve the partnership, because I -can’t trust you, and I don’t wish to fail.”</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>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.”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“<em>They</em> 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.</p> - -<p>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,—</p> - -<p>“It might turn out that Nat didn’t take my money,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">[229]</a></span> -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.”</p> - -<p>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,—</p> - -<p>“Only two.”</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>Billy mounted a peck-measure, and looked into the -top of the machine, where Tommy kept his writing -materials.</p> - -<p>“There’s lots of money in here,” said Billy.</p> - -<p>“No, there isn’t. Catch me leaving my cash round -again,” returned Tommy.</p> - -<p>“I see ’em—one, four, eight, two dollars,” persisted -Billy, who had not yet mastered the figures correctly.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“Thunder turtles!” cried Tommy, and seizing them -he dashed into the house, bawling wildly, “It’s all right! -Got my money! Where’s Nat?”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“How could I put it back when I didn’t take it?<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">[230]</a></span> -Do believe me now, and be good to me again,” he -said, so imploringly, that Emil slapped him on the -back, and declared <em>he</em> would for one.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“Never mind, as long as it’s found,” said Dan with -his eyes fixed on Nat’s happy face.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“Demi prints tip-top,” put in Rob, who had not a -very clear idea what the fuss was all about.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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 Mr. Bhaer from Mrs. -Bates, a neighbor. A note accompanied the parcel,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">[231]</a></span> -and, while Mr. Bhaer read it, Demi pulled off the -wrapper, exclaiming, as he saw its contents,—</p> - -<p>“Why, it’s the book Uncle Teddy gave Dan!”</p> - -<p>“The devil!” broke from Dan, for he had not yet -quite cured himself of swearing, though he tried -hard.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“What is it?” asked Mrs. Bhaer, anxiously.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, sir,” was the slow answer.</p> - -<p>“Why?”</p> - -<p>“Wanted money.”</p> - -<p>“For what?”</p> - -<p>“To pay somebody.”</p> - -<p>“To whom did you owe it?”</p> - -<p>“Tommy.”</p> - -<p>“Never borrowed a cent of me in his life,” cried -Tommy, looking scared, for he guessed what was coming -now, and felt that on the whole he would have -preferred witchcraft, for he admired Dan immensely.</p> - -<p>“Perhaps he took it,” cried Ned, who owed Dan a -grudge for the ducking, and, being a mortal boy, liked -to pay it off.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">[232]</a></span></p> - -<p>“O Dan!” cried Nat, clasping his hands, regardless -of the bread and butter in them.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>Dan looked him straight in the face, and answered -steadily, “Yes, I did.”</p> - -<p>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—</p> - -<p>“I did it; now you may do what you like to me, -but I won’t say another word about it.”</p> - -<p>“Not even that you are sorry?” asked Mr. Bhaer, -troubled by the change in him.</p> - -<p>“I ain’t sorry.”</p> - -<p>“I’ll forgive him without asking,” said Tommy, -feeling that it was harder somehow to see brave Dan -disgraced than timid Nat.</p> - -<p>“Don’t want to be forgiven,” returned Dan, gruffly.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233">[233]</a></span></p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“A little while ago I should have been quite sure -that nothing would tempt him away, but now I am -ready for any thing, he is so changed,” answered poor -Mrs. Jo, who mourned over her boy and could not be<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234">[234]</a></span> -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.</p> - -<p>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, “<em>You</em> are all right; don’t worry about -me. I can stand it better than you did.”</p> - -<p>“But I don’t like to have you all alone,” Nat would -say, sorrowfully.</p> - -<p>“I like it;” and Dan would tramp away, stifling -a sigh sometimes, for he <em>was</em> lonely.</p> - -<p>Passing through the birch grove one day, he came -upon several of the boys, who were amusing themselves -by climbing up the trees and swinging down -again, as the 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.</p> - -<p>“Go back; you can’t do it!” called Ned from below.</p> - -<p>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,—</p> - -<p>“Catch me! help me! I must drop!”</p> - -<p>“You’ll be killed if you do,” cried Ned, frightened -out of his wits.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“You’ll both come down,” said Ned, dancing with -excitement on the slope underneath, while Nat held<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235">[235]</a></span> -out his arms, in the wild hope of breaking the -fall.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“You’re a trump, Dan, and I’m ever so much -obliged to you,” cried Jack, gratefully.</p> - -<p>“It wasn’t any thing,” muttered Dan, rising slowly.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“But <em>I</em> 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.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>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,—</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236">[236]</a></span></p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“Dan did <em>not</em> take Tommy’s money;” and Mr. Bhaer -quite shouted it, he was so glad.</p> - -<p>“Who did?” cried the boys in a chorus.</p> - -<p>Mr. Bhaer pointed to one empty seat, and every -eye followed his finger, yet no one spoke for a minute, -they were so surprised.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<div class="blockquote"> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p class="right">“<span class="smcap">Jack.</span>”</p> - -</div> - -<p>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 rather a broken voice, -but with clear eyes, and the frank, respectful manner -they had tried to teach him,—</p> - -<p>“I’ll say I’m sorry now, and ask you to forgive -me, sir.”</p> - -<p>“It was a kind lie, Dan, and I can’t help forgiving -it; but you see it did no good,” said Mr. Bhaer, with<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237">[237]</a></span> -a hand on either shoulder, and a face full of relief and -affection.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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,—</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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,—</p> - -<p>“Schools are not what they were when I was young!”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>Mr. Bhaer found it very difficult to calm his excited -flock; and, seeing that lessons were an impossibility<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238">[238]</a></span> -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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239">[239]</a></span></p> - -<h2 id="CHAPTER_XV">CHAPTER XV<br /> -<span class="smaller">IN THE WILLOW</span></h2> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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 colored 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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_240" id="Page_240">[240]</a></span> -a certain cape, and its color had soaked nicely into -the pink and blue gowns, the little chemises, and even -the best ruffled petticoat.</p> - -<p>“Oh me! what a mess!” sighed Nan.</p> - -<p>“Lay them on the grass to bleach,” said Daisy, with -an air of experience.</p> - -<p>“So I will, and we can sit up in the nest and watch -that they don’t blow away.”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“I wouldn’t; Aunt Jo says feather-beds aren’t -healthy. I never let <em>my</em> children sleep on any thing -but a mattress,” returned Mrs. Shakespeare Smith, -decidedly.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“Won’t Tommy charge for the feathers?”</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“Never mind; I’m tired of dolls, and I guess I<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_241" id="Page_241">[241]</a></span> -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.</p> - -<p>“But you mustn’t leave them; they will die without -their mother,” cried tender Mrs. Smith.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>Daisy knew nothing about woman’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 tried 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.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_242" id="Page_242">[242]</a></span> -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—</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>She was thinking of this, as she sat in the willow -that day, and when Daisy said in her gentle way—</p> - -<p>“I love to keep house, and mean to have a nice -one for Demi when we grow up and live together.”</p> - -<p>Nan replied with decision—</p> - -<p>“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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_243" id="Page_243">[243]</a></span> -I shall drive round in a horse and chaise and cure sick -people. That will be such fun.”</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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!”</p> - -<p>“Shall you put leeches on people, and cut off legs -and pull out teeth?” asked Daisy, quaking at the -thought.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“Ship ahoy! Where are you, Nan?” called a voice -from below.</p> - -<p>“Here we are.”</p> - -<p>“Ay, ay!” said the voice, and Emil appeared holding -one hand in the other, with his face puckered up -as if in pain.</p> - -<p>“Oh, what’s the matter?” cried Daisy, anxiously.</p> - -<p>“A confounded splinter in my thumb. Can’t get -it out. Take a pick at it, will you, Nanny?”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_244" id="Page_244">[244]</a></span></p> - -<p>“It’s in very deep, and I haven’t any needle,” said -Nan, examining a tarry thumb with interest.</p> - -<p>“Take a pin,” said Emil, in a hurry.</p> - -<p>“No, it’s too big and hasn’t got a sharp point.”</p> - -<p>Here Daisy, who had dived into her pocket, presented -a neat little housewife with four needles in it.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“Starboard now! Steady, boys, steady! Try another -tack. Heave ho! there she is!”</p> - -<p>“Suck it,” ordered the Doctor, surveying the splinter -with an experienced eye.</p> - -<p>“Too dirty,” responded the patient, shaking his -bleeding hand.</p> - -<p>“Wait; I’ll tie it up if you have got a handkerchief.”</p> - -<p>“Haven’t; take one of those rags down there.”</p> - -<p>“Gracious! no, indeed; they are dolls’ clothes,” -cried Daisy, indignantly.</p> - -<p>“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—</p> - -<p>“Keep it wet, and let it alone; then it will heal -right up, and not be sore.”</p> - -<p>“What do you charge?” asked the Commodore, -laughing.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_245" id="Page_245">[245]</a></span></p> - -<p>“Nothing; I keep a ’spensary; that is a place where -poor people are doctored free gratis for nothing,” explained -Nan, with an air.</p> - -<p>“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 deserved -another—“Your duds are blowing away, Doctor.”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“Now, I’ll tell you the secret,” began Tommy, who -was “swellin’ wisibly” with the importance of his news.</p> - -<p>“Tell away,” answered Nat, wishing he had brought -his fiddle, it was so shady and quiet here.</p> - -<p>“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?”</p> - -<p>“A butterfly-net; he wants one ever so much,” said -Nat, looking a little disappointed, for he meant to get -it himself.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_246" id="Page_246">[246]</a></span></p> - -<p>“Tip-top! I’m so glad! Won’t it cost a heap, -though?” cried Nat, feeling that his friend was beginning -to be appreciated.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“What! all of it? I never did see such a generous -chap as you are;” and Nat beamed upon him with -sincere admiration.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“Will Mr. Bhaer let you do it?”</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“Your father is rich; does he do that way?”</p> - -<p>“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,—</p> - -<p>“You will be able to do ever so much with your -money, won’t you?”</p> - -<p>“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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_247" id="Page_247">[247]</a></span> -kind of see to him;” and good-hearted Tommy quite -longed to begin.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“All right!” answered Dan, who was a boy of few -words, and up they went.</p> - -<p>“What makes the birch leaves shake so much more -than the others?” asked inquiring Demi, who was -always sure of an answer from Dan.</p> - -<p>“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.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_248" id="Page_248">[248]</a></span> -That makes it waggle with the least bit of wind, but -the elm leaves hang straight, and keep stiller.”</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>Demi tried it, and presently the little leaves did -fold together, till the spray showed a single instead -of a double line of leaves.</p> - -<p>“I like that; tell me about the others. What do -these do?” asked Demi, taking up a new branch.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“How funny! was she your grandmother?”</p> - -<p>“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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_249" id="Page_249">[249]</a></span> -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.”</p> - -<p>“Did you live in a poorhouse?”</p> - -<p>“A little while. Never mind that—I didn’t mean -to speak of it;” and Dan stopped short in his unusual -fit of communicativeness.</p> - -<p>“Tell about the cats, please,” said Demi, feeling -that he had asked an unpleasant question, and sorry -for it.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“Was she good to them?” asked Demi, with a hearty -child’s laugh, pleasant to hear.</p> - -<p>“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 so glad to have her -pussies get a good home.”</p> - -<p>“I should like to see Marm Webber. Could I, if -I went to that place?”</p> - -<p>“She’s dead. All my folks are,” said Dan, briefly.</p> - -<p>“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—</p> - -<p>“Did she cure the sick ones?”</p> - -<p>“Sometimes. One had a broken leg, and she tied -it up to a stick, and it got well; and another had fits,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_250" id="Page_250">[250]</a></span> -and she doctored it with <em>yarbs</em> till it was cured. But -some of ’em died, and she buried ’em; and when they -couldn’t get well, she killed ’em easy.”</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“Wish I hadn’t sometimes.”</p> - -<p>“Why? Don’t remembering them feel good?”</p> - -<p>“No.”</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“I’ll play I didn’t hear it,” said Demi; “and you -won’t do it again, I’m sure.”</p> - -<p>“Not if I can help it. That’s one of the things I -don’t want to remember. I keep pegging away, but<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_251" id="Page_251">[251]</a></span> -it don’t seem to do much good;” and Dan looked discouraged.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“Did she?” and Dan cheered up a bit.</p> - -<p>“You must put swearing away in your fault-drawer, -and lock it up; that’s the way I do with my badness.”</p> - -<p>“What do you mean?” asked Dan, looking as if he -found Demi almost as amusing as a new sort of cockchafer -or beetle.</p> - -<p>“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,—</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_252" id="Page_252">[252]</a></span></p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“You keep your drawers in the cabinet all spandy -nice; why can’t you do the others?”</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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—</p> - -<p>“Marmar, I wanter fis.”</p> - -<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_253" id="Page_253">[253]</a></span> -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.</p> - -<p>“Up! up!” cried Teddy, stretching his arms and -flapping his skirts as if about to fly.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>Teddy was speedily whisked up; and then Dan -said, laughing, “Come, too; there’s plenty of room. -I’ll lend you a hand.”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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 in Dan’s face, that he had something -on his mind.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>Teddy leaned down from the tree, and was soon -wrapt up in watching for the fish which he felt sure<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_254" id="Page_254">[254]</a></span> -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.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“I’d like to, he is so bright; but—”</p> - -<p>“But what?”</p> - -<p>“I didn’t think you’d trust me.”</p> - -<p>“Why not?”</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“Really?” and Dan looked up at her with the cloud -of despondency lifting from his face.</p> - -<p>“Yes; don’t you feel it?”</p> - -<p>“I hoped so, but I didn’t know.”</p> - -<p>“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 <em>have</em> 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.”</p> - -<p>“Can I?” and Dan looked amazed at the idea.</p> - -<p>“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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_255" id="Page_255">[255]</a></span> -now how much you can help him, and why I like to -have him with you?”</p> - -<p>“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 short-comings.</p> - -<p>“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 <em>you</em>, 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.”</p> - -<p>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 his 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 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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_256" id="Page_256">[256]</a></span> -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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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,—</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_257" id="Page_257">[257]</a></span></p> - -<p>“Go and tell Mr. Bhaer I want to see him down -here, please. Don’t let any one hear.”</p> - -<p>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,—</p> - -<p>“I am glad to see you, Jack; but why not come in -and meet us all at once?”</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“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 that he -deserved punishment for a fault which had so little -excuse.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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 <em>can</em> live<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_258" id="Page_258">[258]</a></span> -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.”</p> - -<p>“I’ll have an auction, and sell off all my goods -dirt cheap,” said Jack, showing his repentance in the -most characteristic way.</p> - -<p>“I think it would be better to <em>give</em> 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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“Well, I’ll do it,” he said, with a sudden air of -resolution, which pleased Mr. Bhaer.</p> - -<p>“Good! and I’ll stand by you. Now come and begin -at once.”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_259" id="Page_259">[259]</a></span></p> - -<h2 id="CHAPTER_XVI">CHAPTER XVI<br /> -<span class="smaller">TAMING THE COLT</span></h2> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“Are you training for a race, Dan?” asked Mrs. -Jo, from the window where she sat.</p> - -<p>He looked up quickly, and stopped panting to answer, -with a laugh,—</p> - -<p>“No; I’m only working off my steam.”</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“Can’t help it. I <em>must</em> run somewhere,” answered -Dan, with such an odd expression in his restless eyes, -that Mrs. Jo was troubled, and asked, quickly,—</p> - -<p>“Is Plumfield getting too narrow for you?”</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>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.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_260" id="Page_260">[260]</a></span> -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.”</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“Why didn’t you?” said Dan, coming to lean on -the low window-ledge, with an evident desire to continue -the subject.</p> - -<p>“I knew it was foolish, and love for my mother -kept me at home.”</p> - -<p>“I haven’t got any mother,” began Dan.</p> - -<p>“I thought you had <em>now</em>,” said Mrs. Jo, gently -stroking the rough hair off his hot forehead.</p> - -<p>“You are no end good to me, and I can’t ever thank -you enough, but it isn’t just the same, is it?” and Dan -looked up at her with a wistful, hungry look that went -to her heart.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_261" id="Page_261">[261]</a></span></p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>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—</p> - -<p>“Well, Dan, run if you must, but don’t run far; -and come back to me soon, for I want you very -much.”</p> - -<p>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,—</p> - -<p>“I won’t go yet awhile, and I’ll give you warning -before I bolt. That’s fair, isn’t it?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, we will let it stand so. Now, I want to see<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_262" id="Page_262">[262]</a></span> -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.</p> - -<p>“How would you like to be my express-man?” she -said, as a sudden thought popped into her head.</p> - -<p>“Go into town, and do the errands?” asked Dan, -looking interested at once.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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?”</p> - -<p>“I’m always an early bird, so I don’t mind,” and -Dan slung on his jacket with despatch.</p> - -<p>“The early bird got the worm this time, I’m sure,” -said Mrs. Jo, merrily.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_263" id="Page_263">[263]</a></span></p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>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, and came -jogging home again in time for school, 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.</p> - -<p>“Why, Dan, I thought you had given up fighting,” -he said, as he went to the rescue.</p> - -<p>“We ain’t fighting, we are only wrestling,” answered -Dan, leaving off reluctantly.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“Catch me wrestling with him again. He’s ’most<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_264" id="Page_264">[264]</a></span> -knocked my head off,” snarled Jack, holding on to -that portion of his frame as if it really was loose upon -his shoulders.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“There, when you feel inclined to maltreat the -boys, just come and work off your energies here, -and I’ll thank you for it.”</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_265" id="Page_265">[265]</a></span> -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.</p> - -<p>“When this is gone I really don’t know what I -<em>shall</em> do,” said Mrs. Jo to herself, for no inspiration -came, and she was at the end of her resources.</p> - -<p>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, <em>he</em> 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.</p> - -<p>“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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_266" id="Page_266">[266]</a></span> -he told no one how well the friendship prospered, and -never asked anybody but Teddy to accompany him on -these daily visits.</p> - -<p>Mr. Laurie came now and then to see how Charlie -got on, and spoke of having him broken to harness -in the autumn.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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 performances, -I think he won’t be frightened, and his antics -will do no harm.”</p> - -<p>“I wonder what he <em>would</em> 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.</p> - -<p>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,—</p> - -<p>“I did it any way! Come here, you rascal, and I’ll -try it again.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_267" id="Page_267">[267]</a></span></p> - -<p>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,—</p> - -<p>“You think you have beaten, but you are mistaken, -old boy; and I’ll ride you yet—see if I don’t.”</p> - -<p>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 -stopping short to look round, as if he said, half patiently,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_268" id="Page_268">[268]</a></span> -half reproachfully, “I don’t understand it, but -I suppose you mean no harm, so I permit the liberty.”</p> - -<p>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 a 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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“Which boy?” said Mr. Bhaer, with an air of resignation, -expecting some sad revelation.</p> - -<p>“Dan, he’s ben a breaking the colt, sir, and I wish -I may die if he ain’t done it,” answered Silas, -chuckling.</p> - -<p>“How do you know?”</p> - -<p>“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 <em>suthing</em> 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 the boy did beat all, -and he ’peared to like it, and kep on as ef bound to -beat.”</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_269" id="Page_269">[269]</a></span> -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.”</p> - -<p>“We shall see;” and off went Mr. Bhaer to inquire -into the matter.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“Of course he is. See he won’t run away now, -even if I don’t hold him, and he comes to me the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_270" id="Page_270">[270]</a></span> -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.</p> - -<p>“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,—</p> - -<p>“We won’t jump over the fence and run away, but -stay and let them make a handsome, useful span of -us, hey, Charlie?”</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_271" id="Page_271">[271]</a></span></p> - -<h2 id="CHAPTER_XVII">CHAPTER XVII<br /> -<span class="smaller">COMPOSITION DAY</span></h2> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>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 of the -window waving his paper to dry it 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.</p> - -<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_272" id="Page_272">[272]</a></span> -ones listened with condescension and criticised freely.</p> - -<p>“Ladies first; so Nan may begin,” said Mr. Bhaer, -when the settling of stools and rustling of papers had -subsided.</p> - -<p>Nan took her place beside the little table, and, with -a preliminary giggle, read the following interesting -essay on</p> - -<p class="center">“<span class="smcap">The Sponge.</span></p> - -<p>“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 <em>don’t</em>, 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 <em>boys</em> par-<em>tic</em>-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,—</p> - -<p>“Seems to me you are wandering from the subject.”</p> - -<p>“No, I ain’t; we are to write about vegetables or<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_273" id="Page_273">[273]</a></span> -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,—</p> - -<p>“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. <em>I</em> 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.”</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“I will <em>not</em> be interruckted,” said Nan, frowning -upon the unseemly scrimmages. Order was instantly -restored, and the young lady closed her remarks as -follows:—</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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 to the other.</p> - -<p>Daisy colored prettily as she took her place, and -said, in her modest little voice,—</p> - -<p>“I’m afraid you won’t like mine; it isn’t nice and -funny like Nan’s. But I couldn’t do any better.”</p> - -<p>“We always like yours, Posy,” said Uncle Fritz, -and a gentle murmur from the boys seemed to confirm<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_274" id="Page_274">[274]</a></span> -the remark. Thus encouraged, Daisy read her little -paper, which was listened to with respectful attention.</p> - -<p class="center">“<span class="smcap">The Cat.</span></p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“So do I!” cried Teddy, jumping up eager to tell -about his trout.</p> - -<p>“Hush!” said his mother, setting him down again -as quickly as possible, for orderly Daisy hated to be -“interruckted,” as Nan expressed it.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“That’s a first-rater,” called out Nat, and Daisy -retired, pleased with the praise of her friend.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“Mine is a poem!” he announced in a tone of triumph, -and read his first effort in a loud and solemn -voice:—</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_275" id="Page_275">[275]</a></span></p> - -<div class="poetry-container"> -<div class="poetry"> -<div class="stanza"> -<div class="verse">“I write about the butterfly,</div> -<div class="verse indent1">It is a pretty thing;</div> -<div class="verse">And flies about like the birds,</div> -<div class="verse indent1">But it does not sing.</div> -</div> -<div class="stanza"> -<div class="verse">“First it is a little grub,</div> -<div class="verse indent1">And then it is a nice yellow cocoon,</div> -<div class="verse">And then the butterfly</div> -<div class="verse indent1">Eats its way out soon.</div> -</div> -<div class="stanza"> -<div class="verse">“They live on dew and honey,</div> -<div class="verse indent1">They do not have any hive,</div> -<div class="verse">They do not sting like wasps, and bees, and hornets,</div> -<div class="verse indent1">And to be as good as they are we should strive.</div> -</div> -<div class="stanza"> -<div class="verse">“I should like to be a beautiful butterfly,</div> -<div class="verse indent1">All yellow, and blue, and green, and red;</div> -<div class="verse">But I should not like</div> -<div class="verse indent1">To have Dan put camphor on my poor little head.”</div> -</div> -</div> -</div> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“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,—</p> - -<div class="poetry-container"> -<div class="poetry"> -<div class="verse">“I wish I had a quiet tomb,</div> -<div class="verse indent1">Beside a little rill;</div> -<div class="verse">Where birds, and bees, and butterflies,</div> -<div class="verse indent1">Would sing upon the hill.”</div> -</div> -</div> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“It isn’t a composition, it’s a letter. You see, I -forgot all about its being my turn till after school,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_276" id="Page_276">[276]</a></span> -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 something about birds in it, so I thought it would -do.”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<div class="blockquote"> - -<p>“<span class="smcap">My dear Grandma</span>,—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,</p> - -<p class="right">“<span class="smcap">Thomas Buckminster Bangs</span>.</p> - -<p>“<i>P.S.</i>—If you come across any postage-stamps, remember -me.</p> - -<p>“<i>N.B.</i>—Love to all, and a great deal to Aunt Almira. -Does she make any nice plum-cakes now?</p> - -<p>“<i>P.S.</i>—Mrs. Bhaer sends her respects.</p> - -<p>“<i>P.S.</i>—And so would Mr. B. if he knew I was in act -to write.</p> - -<p>“<i>N.B.</i>—Father is going to give me a watch on my<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_277" id="Page_277">[277]</a></span> -birthday. I am glad, as at present I have no means of -telling time, and am often late at school.</p> - -<p>“<i>P.S.</i>—I hope to see you soon. Don’t you wish to -send for me?</p> - -<p class="right">“T. B. B.”</p> - -</div> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“I hope the dear old lady will live through it,” -said Mr. Bhaer, under cover of the noise.</p> - -<p>“We won’t take any notice of the broad hint given -in that last <i>P. S.</i> 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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“I’m afraid he will forget it if he waits; and I -have had a deal of trouble in teaching him,” said his -mother.</p> - -<p>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:—</p> - -<div class="poetry-container"> -<div class="poetry"> -<div class="verse">“Little drops <em>of</em> water,</div> -<div class="verse indent1">Little drains of sand,</div> -<div class="verse">Mate a mighty okum (ocean),</div> -<div class="verse indent1"><em>And</em> a peasant land.</div> -<div class="verse">Little worts <em>of</em> kindness,</div> -<div class="verse indent1">Pokin evvy day,</div> -<div class="verse">Make <em>a</em> home a hebbin,</div> -<div class="verse indent1">And hep us <em>on</em> a way.”</div> -</div> -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_278" id="Page_278">[278]</a></span></p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“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 a 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 <em>this</em> is the curious<em>est</em> 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.”</p> - -<p>“Come, I don’t believe that,” said Tommy, who<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_279" id="Page_279">[279]</a></span> -was not an observing boy, and really thought Dick -was “making up.”</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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 and see him do it, for I think it’s splendid -to turn into a beautiful dragonfly, don’t you?”</p> - -<p>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 and lovely shape in a fairer world than this. -Mrs. Jo drew him to her side, and said, with a kiss -on his thin cheek,—</p> - -<p>“That is a sweet little story, dear, and you remembered -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 “Ducks,” 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.</p> - -<p>“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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_280" id="Page_280">[280]</a></span> -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 let them -spoil, and—”</p> - -<p>“Mine don’t!” cried Tommy.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“I have something to say about owls,” began Nat, -who had carefully prepared a paper upon this subject -with some help from Dan.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“My gracious! how funny!” Nan was heard to -observe.</p> - -<p>“They cannot see by day; and if they get but 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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_281" id="Page_281">[281]</a></span> -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.”</p> - -<p>With that Nat suddenly produced from inside his -jacket a little downy bird, who blinked and ruffled -up his feathers, looking very plump and sleepy and -scared.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“Have you any thing for us, George?” asked Mr. -Bhaer, when the room was still again.</p> - -<p>“Well, I read and learned ever so much about -moles, but I declare I’ve forgotten every bit of it,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_282" id="Page_282">[282]</a></span> -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.</p> - -<p>“Then we are done for to-day,” began Mr. Bhaer, -but Tommy called out in a great hurry,—</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>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,—</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_283" id="Page_283">[283]</a></span> -desired treasure, saying, so enthusiastically that every -one was satisfied, though his language was anything -but polished,—</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“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,—</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>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 their pleasure for them as he leaned -from his father’s arm to hug the boy, and say, in his -baby way,—</p> - -<p>“My dood Danny! everybody loves him now.”</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“So I will, take a squint at that and see what you<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_284" id="Page_284">[284]</a></span> -think of it,” said Dan, glad to show off his precious -microscope.</p> - -<p>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,—</p> - -<p>“My eye! what nippers the old thing has got! I -see now why it hurts so confoundedly when you grab -a dor-bug and he grabs back again.”</p> - -<p>“He winked at me,” cried Nan, who had poked -her head under Jack’s elbow and got the second -peep.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“It’s like the fairy spectacles in my story-book, -only more curious,” said Demi, enchanted with the -wonders he saw.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“No, dear; it’s not powerful enough for that, and -never can be made so. You must wait a long while<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_285" id="Page_285">[285]</a></span> -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 <em>not</em> see,” answered Uncle -Fritz, with his hand on the boy’s head.</p> - -<p>“Well, Daisy and I both think that if there <em>are</em> any -angels, their wings look like that butterfly’s as we -see it through the glass, only more soft and gold.”</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“No, I won’t,” and Demi kept his word.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_286" id="Page_286">[286]</a></span></p> - -<h2 id="CHAPTER_XVIII">CHAPTER XVIII<br /> -<span class="smaller">CROPS</span></h2> - -<p>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 long 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.”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_287" id="Page_287">[287]</a></span> -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!</p> - -<p>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—</p> - -<div class="poetry-container"> -<div class="poetry"> -<div class="verse">“Lucullus, whom frugality could charm,</div> -<div class="verse">Ate roasted turnips at the Sabine farm.”</div> -</div> -</div> - -<p>Therefore these vegetable offerings to the dear domestic -god and goddess were affectionate, appropriate, and -classical.</p> - -<p>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 pansies, sweet-peas, and mignonette, -as faithfully and tenderly as she did over her dolls or -her friends. Little nosegays were sent into town on<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_288" id="Page_288">[288]</a></span> -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 pansy, and show them how the stepmother-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 night-cap, 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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>Dick, Dolly, and Rob each grubbed away on his -small farm, and made more stir about it than all the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_289" id="Page_289">[289]</a></span> -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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>Poor Billy had planted cucumbers, but unfortunately -hoed them up and left the pig-weed. This mistake -grieved him very much for ten 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.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_290" id="Page_290">[290]</a></span> -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 had 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.</p> - -<p>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 cantelope without tasting a mouthful himself. -They were excellent melons, for he had a warm slope -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 “<span class="smcapuc">PIG</span>” 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,—</p> - -<p>“If you want to turn the laugh, I’ll tell you how, -but you must give up the melons.”</p> - -<p>“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 Stuffy, still in a fume.</p> - -<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_291" id="Page_291">[291]</a></span> -whispers, this experienced woman knew that 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 much.</p> - -<p>At dinner-time they discovered why; for then -Stuffy’s vengeance fell upon them, and the laugh <em>was</em> -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 -skin this addition to their work, “With the compliments -of the <span class="smcapuc">PIG</span>.” 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.</p> - -<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_292" id="Page_292">[292]</a></span> -smooth paths and nicely shaven turf before her door.</p> - -<p>When the others got in their crops, he looked sorry -that he had so little to show; but as autumn went on, he -bethought of a woodland harvest which no one would -dispute with him, and which was peculiarly his own. -Every Saturday he was away alone to 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.</p> - -<p>“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 -fern, hemlock sprays full of delicate cones, and -hardy autumn flowers; for Dan’s crop suited her well.</p> - -<p>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 the 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 thistledown 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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_293" id="Page_293">[293]</a></span> -the floor was covered with 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.</p> - -<p>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 in the crotches of the boughs, to be removed -at their leisure. Their funny little ways amused the -boys, till one day Silas said,—</p> - -<p>“Hev you sold them nuts to the squirrels?”</p> - -<p>“No,” answered Rob, wondering what Silas meant.</p> - -<p>“Wal, then, you’d better fly round, or them spry -little fellers won’t leave you none.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, we can beat them when we begin. There -are such lots of nuts we shall have a plenty.”</p> - -<p>“There ain’t many more to come down, and they -have cleared the ground pretty well, see if they hain’t.”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_294" id="Page_294">[294]</a></span></p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>That night a high wind blew down hundreds of -nuts, and when Mrs. Jo came to wake her little sons, -she said, briskly,—</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“No, they won’t,” and Robby tumbled up in a great -hurry, gobbled his breakfast, and rushed out to save -his property.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_295" id="Page_295">[295]</a></span> -as if bent on making sure of the precious hour -promised him.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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—</p> - -<p>“I saw Frisky on the roof of the corn-barn, may be -he took them.”</p> - -<p>“I know he did! I’ll have a trap, and kill him<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_296" id="Page_296">[296]</a></span> -dead,” cried Rob, disgusted with Frisky’s grasping -nature.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>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 found a heap of the stolen property hidden -away to be carried off to the holes by and by.</p> - -<p>“Oh, you little villains! I’ll cheat <em>you</em> 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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_297" id="Page_297">[297]</a></span></p> - -<h2 id="CHAPTER_XIX">CHAPTER XIX<br /> -<span class="smaller">JOHN BROOKE</span></h2> - -<p>“Wake up, Demi, dear! I want you.”</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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,—</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_298" id="Page_298">[298]</a></span> -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.</p> - -<p>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,—</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“But who will hear us say them?” asked Jack.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“I will, for one,” and Emil went to his seat, remembering -that obedience to his superior officer is a -seaman’s first duty.</p> - -<p>The others followed; Franz took his uncle’s seat,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_299" id="Page_299">[299]</a></span> -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,—</p> - -<p>“What made you go and leave me in the night, -papa?”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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,—</p> - -<p>“Don’t cry, mein Vater! we are all so good, we -did our lessons without you, and Franz was the master.”</p> - -<p>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.”</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_300" id="Page_300">[300]</a></span></p> - -<p>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,—</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“We’ll stay;” “We’d rather;” “Franz can see to -us;” cried several, delighted with the confidence shown -in them.</p> - -<p>“Isn’t Marmar coming home?” asked Rob, wistfully; -for home without “Marmar” was the world -without the sun to him.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“Where is my little man?” asked Mr. Bhaer.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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 oversee matters. -So good-by till to-night.”</p> - -<p>“Just tell me a word about Uncle John,” said Emil, -detaining Mr. Bhaer, as he was about hurrying away -again.</p> - -<p>“He was only ill a few hours, and died as he has<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_301" id="Page_301">[301]</a></span> -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.</p> - -<p>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?”</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>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.”</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_302" id="Page_302">[302]</a></span></p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>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—</p> - -<p>“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,—</p> - -<p>“Let me put him to bed, you’re so tired, Mother.”</p> - -<p>“Will you go with him, lovey?” asked Mrs. Jo of -her small lord and master, who lay on her arm among -the sofa-pillows.</p> - -<p>“Torse I will;” and he was proudly carried off by -his faithful bearer.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_303" id="Page_303">[303]</a></span></p> - -<p>“I wish <em>I</em> could do something,” said Nat, with a -sigh, as Franz leaned over the sofa, and softly stroked -Aunt Jo’s hot forehead.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“I want to read you something, boys,” he said; -and as they stood round him he read this:—</p> - -<div class="blockquote"> - -<p>“<span class="smcap">Dear Brother Fritz</span>,—I hear that you do not mean -to bring your flock to-day, 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.</p> - -<p class="right">“<span class="smcap">Meg.</span>”</p> - -</div> - -<p>“Will you go?” and Mr. Bhaer looked at the lads, -who were greatly touched by Mrs. Brooke’s kind -words and wishes.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_304" id="Page_304">[304]</a></span></p> - -<p>The little house looked as quiet, sunny, and home-like -as when Meg entered it a bride, ten years ago, -only then it was early summer, and roses 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.</p> - -<p>“O Meg! how <em>can</em> 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.</p> - -<p>“Dear Jo, the love that has blest 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.</p> - -<p>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,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_305" id="Page_305">[305]</a></span> -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.</p> - -<p>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 helpful 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.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_306" id="Page_306">[306]</a></span></p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>Emil began by breaking out, in his impetuous way, -“Uncle Fritz is the wisest, and Uncle Laurie the jolliest, -but Uncle John was the <em>best</em>; and I’d rather -be like him than any man I ever saw.”</p> - -<p>“So would I. Did you hear what those gentlemen -said to Grandpa to-day? I would like to have that -said to me when I was dead;” and Franz felt with -regret that he had not appreciated Uncle John enough.</p> - -<p>“What did they say?” asked Jack, who had been -much impressed by the scenes of the day.</p> - -<p>“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 <em>never</em> will try to get on <em>without</em> -them,’ and left the place for a much harder and poorer -one.”</p> - -<p>“Good!” cried several of the boys warmly, for -they were in the mood to understand and value the -little story as never before.</p> - -<p>“He wasn’t rich, was he?” asked Jack.</p> - -<p>“No.”</p> - -<p>“He never did any thing to make a stir in the world, -did he?”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_307" id="Page_307">[307]</a></span></p> - -<p>“No.”</p> - -<p>“He was only good?”</p> - -<p>“That’s all;” and Franz found himself wishing -that Uncle John <em>had</em> done something to boast of, for -it was evident that Jack was disappointed by his replies.</p> - -<p>“Only good. That is <em>all</em> and every thing,” said -Mr. Bhaer, who had overheard the last few words, -and guessed what was going on in the minds of the -lads.</p> - -<p>“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, 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.”</p> - -<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_308" id="Page_308">[308]</a></span> -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, genuine 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.”</p> - -<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_309" id="Page_309">[309]</a></span> -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.</p> - -<p>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—</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>At another time he came to his aunt with a very -serious face, and said—</p> - -<p>“What can a small boy do to earn money?”</p> - -<p>“Why do you ask, my deary?”</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“He did not mean now, Demi, but by and by, when -you are large.”</p> - -<p>“But I wish to begin <em>now</em>, if I can, because I think<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_310" id="Page_310">[310]</a></span> -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.”</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“Isn’t that a great deal? I could do it in one -day. You must be fair, and not pay too much, because -I want to truly earn it.”</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>When the leaves were done, many barrow loads of -chips were wheeled from the wood to the shed, and -another dollar earned. Then Demi helped cover the -school-books, 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.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>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 <em>useful</em> thing for herself -and the women-children, whom he felt were left -to his care.</p> - -<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_311" id="Page_311">[311]</a></span> -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.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_312" id="Page_312">[312]</a></span></p> - -<h2 id="CHAPTER_XX">CHAPTER XX<br /> -<span class="smaller">ROUND THE FIRE</span></h2> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 420px;" id="illus3"> -<img src="images/illus3.jpg" width="420" height="650" alt="" /> -<p class="caption"><i>All were glad to gather round the hearth, as the -evenings grew longer. <a href="#Page_312">Page 312.</a></i></p> -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_313" id="Page_313">[313]</a></span></p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“Now, Tom!” and the poker softly rapped him on -the head.</p> - -<p>“Blind-man’s Buff.”</p> - -<p>“Jack!”</p> - -<p>“Commerce; a good round game, and have cents -for the pool.”</p> - -<p>“Uncle forbids our playing for money. Dan, what -do you want?”</p> - -<p>“Let’s have a battle between the Greeks and -Romans.”</p> - -<p>“Stuffy?”</p> - -<p>“Roast apples, pop corn, and crack nuts.”</p> - -<p>“Good! good!” cried several; and when the vote -was taken, Stuffy’s proposal carried the day.</p> - -<p>Some went to the cellar for apples, some to the -garret for nuts, and others looked up the popper and -the corn.</p> - -<p>“We had better ask the girls to come in, hadn’t -we?” said Demi, in a sudden fit of politeness.</p> - -<p>“Daisy pricks chestnuts beautifully,” put in Nat, -who wanted his little friend to share the fun.</p> - -<p>“Nan pops corn tip-top, we must have her,” added -Tommy.</p> - -<p>“Bring in your sweethearts then, we don’t mind,” -said Jack, who laughed at the innocent regard the -little people had for one another.</p> - -<p>“You shan’t call my sister a sweetheart; it is so -silly!” cried Demi, in a way that made Jack laugh.</p> - -<p>“She <em>is</em> Nat’s darling, isn’t she, old chirper?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, if Demi don’t mind. I can’t help being fond<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_314" id="Page_314">[314]</a></span> -of her, she is so good to me,” answered Nat, with -bashful earnestness, for Jack’s rough ways disturbed -him.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>The girls understood this pantomime at once, and -began to pull off 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.</p> - -<p>“Don’t you speak to Jack,” whispered Tommy, as -he and Nan promenaded down the hall to get a fork -to prick the apples.</p> - -<p>“Why not?”</p> - -<p>“He laughs at me, so I don’t wish you to have any -thing to do with him.”</p> - -<p>“Shall, if I like,” said Nan, promptly resenting this -premature assumption of authority on the part of her -lord.</p> - -<p>“Then I won’t have you for my sweetheart.”</p> - -<p>“I don’t care.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_315" id="Page_315">[315]</a></span></p> - -<p>“Why, Nan, I thought you were fond of me!” and -Tommy’s voice was full of tender reproach.</p> - -<p>“If you mind Jack’s laughing I don’t care for you -one bit.”</p> - -<p>“Then you may take back your old ring; I won’t -wear it any longer;” and Tommy plucked off a horse-hair -pledge of affection which Nan had given him in -return for one made of a lobster’s feeler.</p> - -<p>“I shall give it to Ned,” was her cruel reply; for -Ned liked Mrs. Giddy-gaddy, and had turned her -clothes-pins, boxes, and spools enough to set up housekeeping -with.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“Why is Billy like this nut?” asked Emil, who was -frequently inspired with bad conundrums.</p> - -<p>“Because he is cracked,” answered Ned.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“To what family of insects does Blake belong?” -asked peacemaker Franz, seeing that Emil looked -ashamed and Dan lowering.</p> - -<p>“Gnats,” answered Jack.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_316" id="Page_316">[316]</a></span></p> - -<p>“Why is Daisy like a bee?” cried Nat, who had -been wrapt in thought for several minutes.</p> - -<p>“Because she is queen of the hive,” said Dan.</p> - -<p>“No.”</p> - -<p>“Because she is sweet.”</p> - -<p>“Bees are not sweet.”</p> - -<p>“Give it up.”</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“Why is Nan like a hornet?” demanded Tommy, -glowering at her, and adding, without giving any -one time to answer, “Because she <em>isn’t</em> sweet, makes -a great buzzing about nothing, and stings like fury.”</p> - -<p>“Tommy’s mad, and I’m glad,” cried Ned, as Nan -tossed her head and answered quickly—</p> - -<p>“What thing in the china-closet is Tom like?”</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>Seeing that ill-humor was getting the better of the -small supply of wit in the company, Franz cast himself -into the breach again.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“Sho! I can’t tell a story,” he said, putting down<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_317" id="Page_317">[317]</a></span> -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.</p> - -<p>“I don’t know but jest one story, and that’s about -a horse,” he said, much flattered by the reception he -received.</p> - -<p>“Tell it! tell it!” cried the boys.</p> - -<p>“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. The 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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_318" id="Page_318">[318]</a></span> -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!”</p> - -<p>“Good for him!” cried Dan excitedly, while the -other boys forgot apples and nuts in their interest.</p> - -<p>“I wish I may die ef I warn’t ashamed of myself,” -continued Silas, warming up at the recollection of -that day. “I was as 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 jest there, and I found myself layin’ by a -wall with 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.”</p> - -<p>“O Silas! what did you do?” cried Nan, pressing -close to him with a face full of eager sympathy and -interest.</p> - -<p>“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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_319" id="Page_319">[319]</a></span> -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 the credit of it. A poor feller in gray laid -not fur off, shot through the lungs, and dying 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 sometimes;” 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.</p> - -<p>“Tell about Major,” cried the boys, impatient for -the catastrophe.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“What did you do?” asked Emil, as Silas stopped -abruptly with a loud “hem,” and a look in his rough<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_320" id="Page_320">[320]</a></span> -face that made Daisy go and stand by him with her -little hand on his knee.</p> - -<p>“I shot him.”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“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 see him -quite still, with no more moanin’ and pain, I was glad, -and yet—wal, I don’t know as I need be 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 -such a fool;” and Silas drew his sleeve across his -eyes, as much touched by Daisy’s sob, as by the memory -of faithful Major.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“I’d like a horse like that,” said Dan, half-aloud.</p> - -<p>“Did the rebel man die too?” asked Nan, anxiously.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“How glad you must have been that you were -kind to him!” said Demi, who was deeply impressed -by this story.</p> - -<p>“Wal, I did take comfort thinkin’ of it, as I laid<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_321" id="Page_321">[321]</a></span> -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?”</p> - -<p>“Oh, yes, please,” answered Daisy, wiping away her -tears to look.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>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 the 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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>They told her about Silas and his contribution,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_322" id="Page_322">[322]</a></span> -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.</p> - -<p>“What <em>shall</em> I tell about?” she said.</p> - -<p>“Boys,” was the general answer.</p> - -<p>“Have a party in it,” said Daisy.</p> - -<p>“And something good to eat,” added Stuffy.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“What is it called?” asked Demi.</p> - -<p>“‘The Suspected Boy.’”</p> - -<p>Nat looked up from the nuts he was picking, and -Mrs. Jo smiled at him, guessing what was in his -mind.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“Hush,” said Nat, tucking a plump pop-corn into -her mouth to silence her, for he felt a peculiar interest -in this tale, and thought it opened well.</p> - -<p>“When the tarts were done, Miss Crane put them -away in the best parlor closet, and said not a word<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_323" id="Page_323">[323]</a></span> -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?”</p> - -<p>“Somebody had hooked them!” cried Ned.</p> - -<p>“No, there they were, but some one <em>had</em> 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.”</p> - -<p>“What a mean trick!” and Nan looked at Tommy, -as if to imply that he would do the same.</p> - -<p>“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 <em>must</em> 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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_324" id="Page_324">[324]</a></span> -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.”</p> - -<p>“Served him right,” said Emil.</p> - -<p>“Badness always gets found out,” added Demi, -morally.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“Is that all?” asked Dan.</p> - -<p>“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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_325" id="Page_325">[325]</a></span> -scene Miss Crane paid for it, and the man went grumbling -away.”</p> - -<p>“Did Lewis have it?” cried Nat, much excited.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“I know that,” said Dan.</p> - -<p>“So do I,” added Nat, softly.</p> - -<p>Jack said nothing, but he quite agreed; for he knew -that the elder boys despised him, and let him alone -for that very reason.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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—</p> - -<p>“‘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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_326" id="Page_326">[326]</a></span> -paid for it, and maybe would like it, so here it is.’</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“Perhaps your conscience affects your stomach,” -said Mrs. Jo, smiling at his speech.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“Suppose you tell another story, that was such an -interesting one,” said Nat, as the laughter subsided.</p> - -<p>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,—</p> - -<p>“I heard a great noise, and I thought sumfin dreffle -might have happened, so I came to see.”</p> - -<p>“Did you think I would forget you, naughty boy?” -asked his mother, trying to look stern.</p> - -<p>“No; but I thought you’d feel better to see me<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_327" id="Page_327">[327]</a></span> -right here,” responded the insinuating little party.</p> - -<p>“I had much rather see you in bed, so march straight -up again, Robin.”</p> - -<p>“Everybody that comes in here has to tell a story, -and you can’t, so you’d better cut and run,” said -Emil.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“Tell one now, then, right away,” said Dan, preparing -to shoulder and bear him off.</p> - -<p>“Well, I will; let me fink a minute,” and Rob -climbed into his mother’s lap, where he was cuddled, -with the remark—</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“I’ve finked now,” observed Rob, quite at his -ease, and eager to win the <i lang="fr">entrée</i> into this delightful -circle.</p> - -<p>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:—</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“Is that all?” asked Franz, as Rob paused out of -breath with this startling beginning.</p> - -<p>“No, there is another piece of it,” and Rob knit<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_328" id="Page_328">[328]</a></span> -his downy eyebrows in the effort to evolve another -inspiration.</p> - -<p>“What did the lady do when he fell into the pump?” -asked his mother, to help him on.</p> - -<p>“Oh, she pumped him up, and wrapped him in a -newspaper, and put him on a shelf to dry for seed.”</p> - -<p>A general explosion of laughter greeted this surprising -conclusion, and Mrs. Jo patted the curly head, -as she said, solemnly,—</p> - -<p>“My son, you inherit your mother’s gift of story-telling. -Go where glory waits thee.”</p> - -<p>“Now I can stay, can’t I? Wasn’t it a good story?” -cried Rob, in high feather at his superb success.</p> - -<p>“You can stay till you have eaten these twelve -pop-corns,” said his mother, expecting to see them -vanish at one mouthful.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“Hadn’t you better tell the other story, while you -wait for him?” said Demi, anxious that no time should -be lost.</p> - -<p>“I really have nothing but a little tale about a wood-box,” -said Mrs. Jo, seeing that Rob had still seven -corns to eat.</p> - -<p>“Is there a boy in it?”</p> - -<p>“It is all boy.”</p> - -<p>“Is it true?” asked Demi.</p> - -<p>“Every bit of it.”</p> - -<p>“Goody! tell on, please.”</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_329" id="Page_329">[329]</a></span></p> - -<p>“How could he! I hate books, and like work,” -said Dan, objecting to James at the very outset.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“I’m sure I do work,” and Demi showed three small -hard spots in his little palm, with pride.</p> - -<p>“And I’m sure I study,” added Dan, nodding with -a groan toward the blackboard full of neat figures.</p> - -<p>“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 away 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 how sincere he was.</p> - -<p>“‘I will give you clothes and books on one condition, -James.’</p> - -<p>“‘What is that, sir?’ and the boy brightened up -at once.</p> - -<p>“‘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.</p> - -<p>“He began school, and for a time got on capitally<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_330" id="Page_330">[330]</a></span> -with the wood-box, for it was autumn, and chips and -brush-wood 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 <em>he</em> -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 his books, and see what he -could do.</p> - -<p>“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, the 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.</p> - -<p>“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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_331" id="Page_331">[331]</a></span> -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—</p> - -<p>“‘The Lord helps those who help themselves.’</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“That’s a first rater!” cried Dan, who enjoyed a -simple matter-of-fact story better than the finest fairy -tale; “I like that fellow after all.”</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“Tell about a bad boy. I like them best,” said Nan.</p> - -<p>“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,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_332" id="Page_332">[332]</a></span> -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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“Now let’s see who will come next,” said Emil, -setting the door temptingly ajar.</p> - -<p>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—</p> - -<div class="poetry-container"> -<div class="poetry"> -<div class="verse">“Ich weiss nicht was soll es bedeuten</div> -<div class="verse">Dass ich so traurig bin.”</div> -</div> -</div> - -<p>“It’s Uncle Fritz; all laugh loud and he will be sure -to come in,” said Emil.</p> - -<p>A wild burst of laughter followed, and in came -Uncle Fritz, asking, “What is the joke, my lads?”</p> - -<p>“Caught! caught! you can’t go out till you’ve told -a story,” cried the boys, slamming the door.</p> - -<p>“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—</p> - -<p>“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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_333" id="Page_333">[333]</a></span> -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 his kind voice—</p> - -<p>“‘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 and 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—</p> - -<p>“‘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.’</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_334" id="Page_334">[334]</a></span></p> - -<p>“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!’”</p> - -<p>“Did Grandpa ever see him again?” asked Daisy, -eagerly.</p> - -<p>“No; but I believe the man found work, and did -not try robbery any more.”</p> - -<p>“That was a curious way to treat him; I’d have -knocked him down,” said Dan.</p> - -<p>“Kindness is always better than force. Try it and -see,” answered Mr. Bhaer, rising.</p> - -<p>“Tell another, please,” cried Daisy.</p> - -<p>“You must, Aunt Jo did,” added Demi.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>They were so stirred up by the race that they could -not settle to their former quiet, and a lively game -of Blind-man’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.”</p> - -<p>Nan was not to be outdone in kindness, so, when -they played “Button, button, who’s got the button?”<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_335" id="Page_335">[335]</a></span> -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 sorry for -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.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_336" id="Page_336">[336]</a></span></p> - -<h2 id="CHAPTER_XXI">CHAPTER XXI<br /> -<span class="smaller">THANKSGIVING</span></h2> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_337" id="Page_337">[337]</a></span> -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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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 -the grand secret.</p> - -<p>“It’s all done, and it’s perfectly splendid,” cried -Nan, coming out at last with an air of triumph.</p> - -<p>“The——you know—goes beautifully, and Silas -knows just what to do now,” added Daisy, skipping -with delight at some unspeakable success.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_338" id="Page_338">[338]</a></span></p> - -<p>“I’m blest if it ain’t the ’cutest thing I ever see, -them critters in particular,” and Silas, who had been -let into the secret, went off laughing like a great -boy.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.”</p> - -<p>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 around” briskly,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_339" id="Page_339">[339]</a></span> -handing plates and ladling out gravy. Nearly every -one had contributed to the feast, so the dinner was a -peculiarly interesting one to the eaters of it, who -beguiled the pauses by remarks on their own productions.</p> - -<p>“If these are not good potatoes I never saw any,” -observed Jack, as he received his fourth big mealy -one.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“My ducks are prime any way; Asia said she never -cooked such fat ones,” added Tommy.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“I helped make the pies with my pumpkin,” called -out Robby, with a laugh which he stopped by retiring -into his mug.</p> - -<p>“I picked some of the apples that the cider is made -of,” said Demi.</p> - -<p>“I raked the cranberries for the sauce,” cried Nat.</p> - -<p>“I got the nuts,” added Dan, and so it went on all -round the table.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“See who can answer that question,” and Mr. Bhaer -nodded to one or two of his best history boys.</p> - -<p>“I know,” said Demi, “the Pilgrims made it.”</p> - -<p>“What for?” asked Rob, without waiting to learn -who the Pilgrims were.</p> - -<p>“I forget,” and Demi subsided.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_340" id="Page_340">[340]</a></span></p> - -<p>“I believe it was because they were not 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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>Dan looked pleased; and Mrs. Jo said to her son, -“Now do you understand about it, Robby?”</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“He means penguins. Oh, isn’t he a little goosey!” -and Demi laid back in his chair and laughed aloud.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“The bears?” asked Robby, with interest.</p> - -<p>“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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_341" id="Page_341">[341]</a></span> -witches, and were very good; and some of my 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.”</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_342" id="Page_342">[342]</a></span> -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 buttonhole, -making them feel peculiarly elegant and festive. One -strange face appeared, and Uncle Teddy led the unknown -gentleman up to the Bhaers, saying—</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“The performances must begin soon, or the actors -will go to sleep,” said Mrs. Jo, when the first greetings -were over.</p> - -<p>So every one went into the school-room, and took -seats before a curtain made of two big bed-covers. -The children had already vanished; but stifled laughter,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_343" id="Page_343">[343]</a></span> -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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>Then Emil, who had got his breath by this time,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_344" id="Page_344">[344]</a></span> -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 had -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.</p> - -<p>“Where are the other children?” asked every one -as the curtain fell, and none of the little ones appeared.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>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.”</p> - -<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_345" id="Page_345">[345]</a></span> -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.”</p> - -<p>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,—</p> - -<p>“You <em>shall</em> go to the ball, my dear.”</p> - -<p>“Now you must pull and show my pretty dress,” -returned Cinderella, tugging at her brown gown.</p> - -<p>“No, no; you must say, ‘How can I go in my rags?’” -said the godmother in her own voice.</p> - -<p>“Oh yes, so I mus;” and the Princess said it, quite -undisturbed at her forgetfulness.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>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?”</p> - -<p>She was so charmed with them, that she was with -difficulty recalled to her part, and made to say—</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_346" id="Page_346">[346]</a></span></p> - -<p>“But I have no toach, Dodmother.”</p> - -<p>“Behold it!” and Nan waved her wand with such a -flourish, that she nearly knocked off the crown of the -Princess.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_347" id="Page_347">[347]</a></span> -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,—</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“Drop your shoe,” whispered Mrs. Jo’s voice as -the lady was about to sit down.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>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 -to be “welly keerful.” Cinderella then was called, -and came in with the pinafore half on, slipped her foot<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_348" id="Page_348">[348]</a></span> -into the slipper, and announced, with satisfaction,—</p> - -<p>“I am the Pinsiss.”</p> - -<p>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 it well?” while the Prince and herald -had a fencing-match with the tin horn and wooden -sword.</p> - -<p>“It was beautiful!” said every one; and, when the -raptures had a little subsided, Nat came out with his -violin in his hand.</p> - -<p>“Hush! hush!” cried all the children, and silence -followed, for something in the boy’s bashful manner -and appealing eyes made every one listen kindly.</p> - -<p>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,—</p> - -<p>“You composed that.”</p> - -<p>“I wanted your boy to do you honor, and thank -you in his own way,” answered Laurie, leaning down -to answer her.</p> - -<p>When Nat made his bow and was about to go, he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_349" id="Page_349">[349]</a></span> -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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“What are you thinking of, all by yourself, with -such a happy face, sister Jo?” asked Laurie, sitting -down beside her on the sofa.</p> - -<p>“My summer’s work, Teddy, and amusing myself<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_350" id="Page_350">[350]</a></span> -by imagining the future of my boys,” she answered, -smiling, as she made room for him.</p> - -<p>“They are all to be poets, painters, and statesmen, famous -soldiers, or at least merchant princes, I suppose.”</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“What magic did you use, Jo?”</p> - -<p>“I only loved them, and let them see it. Fritz did -the rest.”</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“I’m a faded old woman, but I’m a very happy<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_351" id="Page_351">[351]</a></span> -one; so don’t pity me, Teddy;” and she glanced about -the room with eyes full of a sincere content.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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 prove 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.</p> - -<p>“I give in, and when my Goldilocks is old enough -I’ll send her to you. Can I say more than that?”</p> - -<p>“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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_352" id="Page_352">[352]</a></span> -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.”</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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 most 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,—</p> - -<p>“All three did much for him, and I can understand -how well these little girls will help your lads.”</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“You are doing your best to help on the good<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_353" id="Page_353">[353]</a></span> -time, my dear. Continue to believe in it, to work for -it, and to prove its possibility by the success of your -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.</p> - -<p>“I am not so ambitious as that, father. I only -want to give these children a home in which they can -be taught the 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.”</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>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—</p> - -<div class="poetry-container"> -<div class="poetry"> -<div class="stanza"> -<div class="verse">“Summer days are over,</div> -<div class="verse indent1">Summer work is done;</div> -<div class="verse">Harvests have been gathered</div> -<div class="verse indent1">Gayly one by one.</div> -<div class="verse">Now the feast is eaten,</div> -<div class="verse indent1">Finished is the play;</div> -<div class="verse">But one rite remains for</div> -<div class="verse indent1">Our Thanksgiving-day.</div><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_354" id="Page_354">[354]</a></span> -</div> -<div class="stanza"> -<div class="verse">“Best of all the harvest</div> -<div class="verse indent1">In the dear God’s sight,</div> -<div class="verse">Are the happy children</div> -<div class="verse indent1">In the home to-night;</div> -<div class="verse">And we come to offer</div> -<div class="verse indent1">Thanks where thanks are due,</div> -<div class="verse">With grateful hearts and voices,</div> -<div class="verse indent1">Father, mother, unto you.”</div> -</div></div> -</div> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p class="titlepage">THE END</p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 650px;"> -<img src="images/endpiece.jpg" width="650" height="500" alt="" /> -<p class="caption">This is the <span class="smcap">Orchard House</span> in Concord, Massachusetts, -now a museum visited every year by hundreds of people. -Here lived the real Little Women, Louisa May Alcott and -her sisters, whose complete story is told in the three books—LITTLE -WOMEN, LITTLE MEN, and JO’S BOYS.</p> -</div> - - - - - - - - -<pre> - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Little Men, by Louisa M. 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