When the church-goers came back and dinner was over, every one read, wrote letters home, or talked quietly to one another, sitting here and there about the house. At three oclock the entire family went to walk. Nat was not strong enough for the long walk, and asked to stay at home with Tommy, who kindly offered to show him Plumfield.
Youve seen the house, so come out and have a look at the garden, and the barn, and the menagerie, said Tommy.
What is your menagerie? asked Nat, as they trotted along the road that encircled the house.
We all have pets, you see, and we keep them in the corn-barn, and call it the menagerie. Here you are. Isnt my guinea-pig[7] a beauty? and Tommy proudly presented one of the ugliest animal that Nat ever saw.
Those white mice are Robs, Franz gave them to him. The rabbits are Neds, and the bantams outside are Stuffys. That box is Demis turtle-tank.
What is in this box? asked Nat, stopping before a large deep one, half-full of earth.
Oh, thats Jack Fords worm-shop[8]. He digs heaps of them and keeps them here, and when we want to go fishing with, we buy some of him. It saves lots of trouble, only he charged too much for them. Now, I own two hens, those gray ones with top knots, and I sell Mrs. Bhaer the eggs, but I never ask her more than twenty-five cents a dozen, never! cried Tommy.
Who owns the dogs? asked Nat.
The big dog is Emils. His name is Christopher Columbus, answered Tommy. The white pup is Robs, and the yellow one is Teddys. A man was going to drown them in our pond, and Papa Bhaer didnt let him. Their names are Castor and Pollux.
Nat climbed up a ladder, put his head through a trap door and looked at the pretty doves.
How do you get these animals? he asked, when he joined Tommy in the barn.
We find them or buy them, or folks give them to us. My father sends me mine, said Tommy, with the air of a millionaire.
Nat sighed, for he had neither father nor money, nothing in the wide world but an old empty pocketbook. Tommy understood the sigh which followed his answer,
Look here, Ill tell you what Ill do. If you hunt eggs for me I hate it Ill give you one egg out of every dozen. When you have twelve, Mother Bhaer will give you twenty-five cents for them, and then you can buy what you like.
Ill do it! What a kind fellow you are, Tommy! cried Nat, quite dazzled by this brilliant offer.
Pooh! You begin now and rummage the barn, and Ill wait here for you. Granny is cackling, so youre find one somewhere, and Tommy threw himself down on the hay.
Nat joyfully began his search, and he found two fine eggs.
You may have one and Ill have the other, and tomorrow well start again. Here, you chalk your accounts up near mine, said Tommy.
Then Tommy took Nat to an old willow-tree. From the fence it was an easy scramble into a wide niche between the three big branches. Here little seats had been fixed,
This is Demis and my private place; we made it, and nobody can come up unless we let them, except Daisy, said Tommy.
Oh, its just beautiful! cried Nat. I hope youll let me up sometimes. I never saw such a nice place in all my life. Id like to be a bird, and live here always.
It is pretty nice. You can come if Demi doesnt mind, and I guess he wont, because he said last night that he liked you.
Did he? and Nat smiled with pleasure.
Yes; Demi likes quiet boys. And you can read books together.
I cant read very well; I never had any time, you know.
Punishment
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. Father Bhaer took pleasure in fostering poor Nats 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.
One fault of Nats gave the Bhaers much anxiety. Nat sometimes told lies[9]. A lie is a lie, it is not right, and everybody knows it.
Watch your tongue, and eyes, and hands, for it is easy to tell, and look, and act untruth, said Mr. Bhaer to Nat one day.
I know it. I used to tell lies because I was afraid of father and Nicolo, and now I do sometimes because the boys laugh at me. I know its bad, but I forget, Nat looked much depressed by his sins.
When I was a little lad I used to tell lies! Ach! But my old grandmother cured me of it. How? My parents cried, and punished, but still did I forget as you. Then said the dear old grandmother, I shall help you to remember. 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, for I feared the big scissors.
I never had any grandmothers, but if you think it will cure me, Ill let you snip my tongue, said Nat, heroically, for he dreaded pain.
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 will punish me.
How? asked Nat.
You will 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 cant! cried Nat.
Then watch your tongue. I have no wish to be hurt, but I will gladly bear much pain to cure this fault.
This suggestion made such an impression on Nat, that for a long time he watched upon his lips, and was desperately accurate. But alas! One sad day, when 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 didnt, and then was ashamed to own up that he did do it, when Jack was chasing him the night before.
He thought no one saw it, 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 Mr. Bhaer took Nat by the hand and led him into the school and shut the door.
You remember what I told you last time? said Mr. Bhaer, sorrowfully, not angrily.
Yes; but please dont make me beat you, cried Nat, with both hands behind him, and a face full of distress.
I shall keep my word, and you must remember to tell the truth. Obey me, Nat, take this and give me six good strokes.
Nat took the rule, for when Mr. Bhaer spoke in that tone everyone obeyed him. The boy 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.
Nat drew his sleeve across his eyes and gave two more quick hard strokes that reddened the hand, yet hurt the giver more.
Isnt that enough? he asked.
Two more, was all the answer, and he gave them, then threw the rule all across the room, and hugging the kind hand in both his own, laid his face down:
I will remember! Oh! I will!
Then Mr. Bhaer put an arm about him[10], and said in a compassionate tone:
I think you will. Ask the dear God to help you.
Tommy saw it through the window. He said no more, for he crept back to the hall, looking so excited that the boys crowded round him to ask him about Nat. In a most impressive whisper Tommy told them.
He made me do the same thing once, said Emil.
And you hit him? dear old Father Bhaer?
It was so long ago.
Nat did not come to dinner, but Mrs. Jo took some up to him, and said a tender word, though he could not look at her. He opened door to slip away into the woods. The walk did Nat good, and he came home quieter than usual.
No one said a word about the scene of the morning, but its effect was lasting. Nat tried his very best, and found much help from the earnest little prayers he prayed to his Friend in heaven.
A Trouble-Maker
Please, maam, could I speak to you? It is something very important, said Nat one day, popping his head in at the door of Mrs. Bhaers room.
Mrs. Jo 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?
Hes 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 hes come.
But, my dear boy, that is rather a sudden visit.
Oh, it isnt a visit; he wants to stay if you let him! said Nat innocently.
Well, I dont 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 them as you were to me, said Nat, looking surprised and alarmed.
So I do, but I like to know something about them first. I choose them, because there are so many. I have not room for all.
I told him to come because I thought youd like it. But if there isnt room he can go away again, said Nat, sorrowfully.
The boys confidence in her hospitality touched Mrs. Bhaer, so she said,
Tell me about this Dan.
I dont know anything, only he hasnt got any folks, and hes poor, and he was good to me, so Id like to be good to him.
But really, Nat, the house is full, said Mrs. Bhaer.
He may have my bed, and I can sleep in the barn. It isnt cold now, and I dont 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[11], Nat. I think we will find room for him without giving him your place.
Nat joyfully ran off, and soon returned followed by a boy, who slouched in and stood looking about him, with a half bold, half sullen look.
This is Dan, said Nat.
Nat tells me you will like to come and stay with us, began Mrs. Jo, in a friendly tone.
Yes, was the gruff reply.
Have you any friends to take care of you?
No.
Say, No, maam, whispered Nat.
How old are you?
About fourteen.
You look older. What can you do?
Almost anything.
If you stay here we shall want you to do as the others do, work and study as well as play. Are you willing to agree to that?
I can try.
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, said Mrs. Jo.
She did not know how 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, Dan said.
Thank you, maam, added Nat, as he followed him.
The fellows are having a circus[12] out in the barn; dont 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.
Lets go, then, said Dan.
Nat led him to the great barn and introduced him to the boys. 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 Toby, was a monkey.
You must pay a pin, or you cant see the show, said Stuffy, who stood by the wheelbarrow.
Ill 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. Ned was jumping over an old chair, and running up and down ladders. Then Demi danced a jig. Nat wrestled with Stuffy. After this, Tommy proudly advanced to turn a somersault. His somersault was received with great applause, and he was about to retire, flushed with pride, when he heard a scornful voice,
Ho! That is nothing!
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.
No, I dont; and the candid Thomas retired.
Fighting isnt allowed! cried the others, much excited.
I see, sneered Dan.
If you dont behave, you wont stay, said Nat.
Id like to see what he can do, thats 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.
The audience were shocked by three more somersaults backwards, and a short promenade on the hands, head down, feet up. Even Tommy joined in the admiring cries which greeted the gymnast. Dan looked at them with an air of calm superiority.
What will you give me if Ill teach you? said Dan.
My new jack-knife[13]; its got five blades, and only one is broken.
Give it here, then.
Tommy handed it over. Dan examined it carefully, then putting it into his pocket, walked off,
saying with a wink,
Just learn, thats all.
A howl of wrath from Tommy was followed by a general uproar. Dan, finding himself in a minority, proposed to play stick-knife[14]. Whichever wins will have the treasure. Tommy agreed, and the game was played in a circle of excited faces. Tommy won and secured the knife in the depth of his safest pocket.
Lets have a walk, and Ill 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 the boys, though still gruff in his speech, and rough in his manner. The boys had decided that they did not like him, and so they left him to Nat.
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. He was ignorant, but very quick to learn. He had sharp eyes to watch what went on about him; a saucy tongue, rough manners, and a temper that was fierce and sullen. He played with all his might, and played well at almost all the games. He was silent and gruff. Few really liked him, but they admired his courage and strength, for nothing daunted him. He knocked tall Franz 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 always insisted that there was something good in the lad, after all. He was kinder to animals than to people, he liked to rove about in the woods, and, best of all, little Ted liked him. Ted called him My Danny. Teddy was the only creature to whom Dan showed an affection.
But an unexpected and decidedly alarming event upset all their plans, and banished Dan from Plumfield.
Tommy, Nat, and Demi liked the bad boy. Tommy admired his skill and courage; Nat was grateful for past kindness; and Demi regarded him as a sort of animated story book. Dan could tell his adventures in a most interesting way. It pleased Dan to have the three favorites, and he exerted himself to be agreeable, which was the secret of his success. The Bhaers were surprised.
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; but black eyes and bloody noses were forbidden as a foolish and a brutal play. Dan laughed at this rule, and some of the lads desired to know more about fights.
Dont tell, and Ill show you how, said Dan.
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. Emil was past fourteen and he challenged Dan to a fight. Dan accepted at once, and the others looked on with intense interest.