CHAPTER I. NAT
CHAPTER II. THE BOYS
CHAPTER III. SUNDAY
CHAPTER IV. STEPPING-STONES
CHAPTER V. PATTYPANS
CHAPTER VI. A FIRE BRAND
CHAPTER VII. NAUGHTY NAN
CHAPTER VIII. PRANKS AND PLAYS
CHAPTER IX. DAISY'S BALL
CHAPTER X. HOME AGAIN
CHAPTER XI. UNCLE TEDDY
CHAPTER XII. HUCKLEBERRIES
CHAPTER XIII. GOLDILOCKS
CHAPTER XIV. DAMON AND PYTHIAS
CHAPTER XV. IN THE WILLOW
CHAPTER XVI. TAMING THE COLT
CHAPTER XVII. COMPOSITION DAY
CHAPTER XVIII. CROPS
CHAPTER XIX. JOHN BROOKE
CHAPTER XX. ROUND THE FIRE
CHAPTER XXI. THANKSGIVING
CHAPTER I. NAT
"Please,
sir, is this Plumfield?" asked a ragged boy of the man who
opened the great gate at which the omnibus left him."Yes.
Who sent you?""Mr.
Laurence. I have got a letter for the lady.""All
right; go up to the house, and give it to her; she'll see to you,
little chap."The
man spoke pleasantly, and the boy went on, feeling much cheered by
the words. Through the soft spring rain that fell on sprouting grass
and budding trees, Nat saw a large square house before him, a
hospitable-looking house, with an old-fashioned porch, wide steps,
and lights shining in many windows. Neither curtains nor shutters hid
the cheerful glimmer; and, pausing a moment before he rang, Nat saw
many little shadows dancing on the walls, heard the pleasant hum of
young voices, and felt that it was hardly possible that the light and
warmth and comfort within could be for a homeless "little chap"
like him."I
hope the lady will see to me," he thought, and gave a timid rap
with the great bronze knocker, which was a jovial griffin's head.A
rosy-faced servant-maid opened the door, and smiled as she took the
letter which he silently offered. She seemed used to receiving
strange boys, for she pointed to a seat in the hall, and said, with a
nod:"Sit
there and drip on the mat a bit, while I take this in to missis."Nat
found plenty to amuse him while he waited, and stared about him
curiously, enjoying the view, yet glad to do so unobserved in the
dusky recess by the door.The
house seemed swarming with boys, who were beguiling the rainy
twilight with all sorts of amusements. There were boys everywhere,
"up-stairs and down-stairs and in the lady's chamber,"
apparently, for various open doors showed pleasant groups of big
boys, little boys, and middle-sized boys in all stages of evening
relaxation, not to say effervescence. Two large rooms on the right
were evidently schoolrooms, for desks, maps, blackboards, and books
were scattered about. An open fire burned on the hearth, and several
indolent lads lay on their backs before it, discussing a new
cricket-ground, with such animation that their boots waved in the
air. A tall youth was practising on the flute in one corner, quite
undisturbed by the racket all about him. Two or three others were
jumping over the desks, pausing, now and then, to get their breath
and laugh at the droll sketches of a little wag who was caricaturing
the whole household on a blackboard.In
the room on the left a long supper-table was seen, set forth with
great pitchers of new milk, piles of brown and white bread, and
perfect stacks of the shiny gingerbread so dear to boyish souls. A
flavor of toast was in the air, also suggestions of baked apples,
very tantalizing to one hungry little nose and stomach.The
hall, however, presented the most inviting prospect of all, for a
brisk game of tag was going on in the upper entry. One landing was
devoted to marbles, the other to checkers, while the stairs were
occupied by a boy reading, a girl singing a lullaby to her doll, two
puppies, a kitten, and a constant succession of small boys sliding
down the banisters, to the great detriment of their clothes and
danger to their limbs.So
absorbed did Nat become in this exciting race, that he ventured
farther and farther out of his corner; and when one very lively boy
came down so swiftly that he could not stop himself, but fell off the
banisters, with a crash that would have broken any head but one
rendered nearly as hard as a cannon-ball by eleven years of constant
bumping, Nat forgot himself, and ran up to the fallen rider,
expecting to find him half-dead. The boy, however, only winked
rapidly for a second, then lay calmly looking up at the new face with
a surprised, "Hullo!""Hullo!"
returned Nat, not knowing what else to say, and thinking that form of
reply both brief and easy."Are
you a new boy?" asked the recumbent youth, without stirring."Don't
know yet.""What's
your name?""Nat
Blake.""Mine's
Tommy Bangs. Come up and have a go, will you?" and Tommy got
upon his legs like one suddenly remembering the duties of
hospitality."Guess
I won't, till I see whether I'm going to stay or not," returned
Nat, feeling the desire to stay increase every moment."I
say, Demi, here's a new one. Come and see to him;" and the
lively Thomas returned to his sport with unabated relish.At
his call, the boy reading on the stairs looked up with a pair of big
brown eyes, and after an instant's pause, as if a little shy, he put
the book under his arm, and came soberly down to greet the new-comer,
who found something very attractive in the pleasant face of this
slender, mild-eyed boy."Have
you seen Aunt Jo?" he asked, as if that was some sort of
important ceremony."I
haven't seen anybody yet but you boys; I'm waiting," answered
Nat."Did
Uncle Laurie send you?" proceeded Demi, politely, but gravely."Mr.
Laurence did.""He
is Uncle Laurie; and he always sends nice boys."Nat
looked gratified at the remark, and smiled, in a way that made his
thin face very pleasant. He did not know what to say next, so the two
stood staring at one another in friendly silence, till the little
girl came up with her doll in her arms. She was very like Demi, only
not so tall, and had a rounder, rosier face, and blue eyes."This
is my sister, Daisy," announced Demi, as if presenting a rare
and precious creature.The
children nodded to one another; and the little girl's face dimpled
with pleasure, as she said affably:"I
hope you'll stay. We have such good times here; don't we, Demi?""Of
course, we do: that's what Aunt Jo has Plumfield for.""It
seems a very nice place indeed," observed Nat, feeling that he
must respond to these amiable young persons."It's
the nicest place in the world, isn't it, Demi?" said Daisy, who
evidently regarded her brother as authority on all subjects."No,
I think Greenland, where the icebergs and seals are, is more
interesting. But I'm fond of Plumfield, and it is a very nice place
to be in," returned Demi, who was interested just now in a book
on Greenland. He was about to offer to show Nat the pictures and
explain them, when the servant returned, saying with a nod toward the
parlor-door:"All
right; you are to stop.""I'm
glad; now come to Aunt Jo." And Daisy took him by the hand with
a pretty protecting air, which made Nat feel at home at once.Demi
returned to his beloved book, while his sister led the new-comer into
a back room, where a stout gentleman was frolicking with two little
boys on the sofa, and a thin lady was just finishing the letter which
she seemed to have been re-reading."Here
he is, aunty!" cried Daisy."So
this is my new boy? I am glad to see you, my dear, and hope you'll be
happy here," said the lady, drawing him to her, and stroking
back the hair from his forehead with a kind hand and a motherly look,
which made Nat's lonely little heart yearn toward her.She
was not at all handsome, but she had a merry sort of face that never
seemed to have forgotten certain childish ways and looks, any more
than her voice and manner had; and these things, hard to describe but
very plain to see and feel, made her a genial, comfortable kind of
person, easy to get on with, and generally "jolly," as boys
would say. She saw the little tremble of Nat's lips as she smoothed
his hair, and her keen eyes grew softer, but she only drew the shabby
figure nearer and said, laughing:"I
am Mother Bhaer, that gentleman is Father Bhaer, and these are the
two little Bhaers. Come here, boys, and see Nat."The
three wrestlers obeyed at once; and the stout man, with a chubby
child on each shoulder, came up to welcome the new boy. Rob and Teddy
merely grinned at him, but Mr. Bhaer shook hands, and pointing to a
low chair near the fire, said, in a cordial voice:"There
is a place all ready for thee, my son; sit down and dry thy wet feet
at once.""Wet?
So they are! My dear, off with your shoes this minute, and I'll have
some dry things ready for you in a jiffy," cried Mrs. Bhaer,
bustling about so energetically that Nat found himself in the cosy
little chair, with dry socks and warm slippers on his feet, before he
would have had time to say Jack Robinson, if he had wanted to try. He
said "Thank you, ma'am," instead; and said it so gratefully
that Mrs. Bhaer's eyes grew soft again, and she said something merry,
because she felt so tender, which was a way she had."There
are Tommy Bangs' slippers; but he never will remember to put them on
in the house; so he shall not have them. They are too big; but that's
all the better; you can't run away from us so fast as if they
fitted.""I
don't want to run away, ma'am." And Nat spread his grimy little
hands before the comfortable blaze, with a long sigh of satisfaction."That's
good! Now I am going to toast you well, and try to get rid of that
ugly cough. How long have you had it, dear?" asked Mrs. Bhaer,
as she rummaged in her big basket for a strip of flannel."All
winter. I got cold, and it wouldn't get better, somehow.""No
wonder, living in that damp cellar with hardly a rag to his poor dear
back!" said Mrs. Bhaer, in a low tone to her husband, who was
looking at the boy with a skillful pair of eyes that marked the thin
temples and feverish lips, as well as the hoarse voice and frequent
fits of coughing that shook the bent shoulders under the patched
jacket."Robin,
my man, trot up to Nursey, and tell her to give thee the cough-bottle
and the liniment," said Mr. Bhaer, after his eyes had exchanged
telegrams with his wife's.Nat
looked a little anxious at the preparations, but forgot his fears in
a hearty laugh, when Mrs. Bhaer whispered to him, with a droll look:"Hear
my rogue Teddy try to cough. The syrup I'm going to give you has
honey in it; and he wants some."Little
Ted was red in the face with his exertions by the time the bottle
came, and was allowed to suck the spoon after Nat had manfully taken
a dose and had the bit of flannel put about his throat.These
first steps toward a cure were hardly completed when a great bell
rang, and a loud tramping through the hall announced supper. Bashful
Nat quaked at the thought of meeting many strange boys, but Mrs.
Bhaer held out her hand to him, and Rob said, patronizingly, "Don't
be 'fraid; I'll take care of you."Twelve
boys, six on a side, stood behind their chairs, prancing with
impatience to begin, while the tall flute-playing youth was trying to
curb their ardor. But no one sat down till Mrs. Bhaer was in her
place behind the teapot, with Teddy on her left, and Nat on her
right."This
is our new boy, Nat Blake. After supper you can say how do you do?
Gently, boys, gently."As
she spoke every one stared at Nat, and then whisked into their seats,
trying to be orderly and failing utterly. The Bhaers did their best
to have the lads behave well at meal times, and generally succeeded
pretty well, for their rules were few and sensible, and the boys,
knowing that they tried to make things easy and happy, did their best
to obey. But there are times when hungry boys cannot be repressed
without real cruelty, and Saturday evening, after a half-holiday, was
one of those times."Dear
little souls, do let them have one day in which they can howl and
racket and frolic to their hearts' content. A holiday isn't a holiday
without plenty of freedom and fun; and they shall have full swing
once a week," Mrs. Bhaer used to say, when prim people wondered
why banister-sliding, pillow-fights, and all manner of jovial games
were allowed under the once decorous roof of Plumfield.It
did seem at times as if the aforesaid roof was in danger of flying
off, but it never did, for a word from Father Bhaer could at any time
produce a lull, and the lads had learned that liberty must not be
abused. So, in spite of many dark predictions, the school flourished,
and manners and morals were insinuated, without the pupils exactly
knowing how it was done.Nat
found himself very well off behind the tall pitchers, with Tommy
Bangs just around the corner, and Mrs. Bhaer close by to fill up
plate and mug as fast as he could empty them."Who
is that boy next the girl down at the other end?" whispered Nat
to his young neighbor under cover of a general laugh."That's
Demi Brooke. Mr. Bhaer is his uncle.""What
a queer name!""His
real name is John, but they call him Demi-John, because his father is
John too. That's a joke, don't you see?" said Tommy, kindly
explaining. Nat did not see, but politely smiled, and asked, with
interest:"Isn't
he a very nice boy?""I
bet you he is; knows lots and reads like any thing.""Who
is the fat one next him?""Oh,
that's Stuffy Cole. His name is George, but we call him Stuffy 'cause
he eats so much. The little fellow next Father Bhaer is his boy Rob,
and then there's big Franz his nephew; he teaches some, and kind of
sees to us.""He
plays the flute, doesn't he?" asked Nat as Tommy rendered
himself speechless by putting a whole baked apple into his mouth at
one blow.Tommy
nodded, and said, sooner than one would have imagined possible under
the circumstances, "Oh, don't he, though? And we dance
sometimes, and do gymnastics to music. I like a drum myself, and mean
to learn as soon as ever I can.""I
like a fiddle best; I can play one too," said Nat, getting
confidential on this attractive subject."Can
you?" and Tommy stared over the rim of his mug with round eyes,
full of interest. "Mr. Bhaer's got an old fiddle, and he'll let
you play on it if you want to.""Could
I? Oh, I would like it ever so much. You see, I used to go round
fiddling with my father, and another man, till he died.""Wasn't
that fun?" cried Tommy, much impressed."No,
it was horrid; so cold in winter, and hot in summer. And I got tired;
and they were cross sometimes; and I didn't get enough to eat."
Nat paused to take a generous bite of gingerbread, as if to assure
himself that the hard times were over; and then he added regretfully:
"But I did love my little fiddle, and I miss it. Nicolo took it
away when father died, and wouldn't have me any longer, 'cause I was
sick.""You'll
belong to the band if you play good. See if you don't.""Do
you have a band here?" Nat's eyes sparkled."Guess
we do; a jolly band, all boys; and they have concerts and things. You
just see what happens to-morrow night."After
this pleasantly exciting remark, Tommy returned to his supper, and
Nat sank into a blissful reverie over his full plate.Mrs.
Bhaer had heard all they said, while apparently absorbed in filling
mugs, and overseeing little Ted, who was so sleepy that he put his
spoon in his eye, nodded like a rosy poppy, and finally fell fast
asleep, with his cheek pillowed on a soft bun. Mrs. Bhaer had put Nat
next to Tommy, because that roly-poly boy had a frank and social way
with him, very attractive to shy persons. Nat felt this, and had made
several small confidences during supper, which gave Mrs. Bhaer the
key to the new boy's character, better than if she had talked to him
herself.In
the letter which Mr. Laurence had sent with Nat, he had said:"DEAR
JO: Here is a case after your own heart. This poor lad is an orphan
now, sick and friendless. He has been a street-musician; and I found
him in a cellar, mourning for his dead father, and his lost violin. I
think there is something in him, and have a fancy that between us we
may give this little man a lift. You cure his overtasked body, Fritz
help his neglected mind, and when he is ready I'll see if he is a
genius or only a boy with a talent which may earn his bread for him.
Give him a trial, for the sake of your own boy,"TEDDY.""Of
course we will!" cried Mrs. Bhaer, as she read the letter; and
when she saw Nat she felt at once that, whether he was a genius or
not, here was a lonely, sick boy who needed just what she loved to
give, a home and motherly care. Both she and Mr. Bhaer observed him
quietly; and in spite of ragged clothes, awkward manners, and a dirty
face, they saw much about Nat that pleased them. He was a thin, pale
boy, of twelve, with blue eyes, and a good forehead under the rough,
neglected hair; an anxious, scared face, at times, as if he expected
hard words, or blows; and a sensitive mouth that trembled when a kind
glance fell on him; while a gentle speech called up a look of
gratitude, very sweet to see. "Bless the poor dear, he shall
fiddle all day long if he likes," said Mrs. Bhaer to herself, as
she saw the eager, happy expression on his face when Tommy talked of
the band.So,
after supper, when the lads flocked into the schoolroom for more
"high jinks," Mrs. Jo appeared with a violin in her hand,
and after a word with her husband, went to Nat, who sat in a corner
watching the scene with intense interest."Now,
my lad, give us a little tune. We want a violin in our band, and I
think you will do it nicely."She
expected that he would hesitate; but he seized the old fiddle at
once, and handled it with such loving care, it was plain to see that
music was his passion."I'll
do the best I can, ma'am," was all he said; and then drew the
bow across the strings, as if eager to hear the dear notes again.There
was a great clatter in the room, but as if deaf to any sounds but
those he made, Nat played softly to himself, forgetting every thing
in his delight. It was only a simple 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 protege."You
shall be the first fiddle in my band," added Franz, with an
approving smile.Mrs.
Bhaer whispered to her husband:"Teddy
is right: there's something in the child." And Mr. Bhaer nodded
his head emphatically, as he clapped Nat on the shoulder, saying,
heartily:"You
play well, my son. Come now and play something which we can sing."It
was the proudest, happiest minute of the poor boy's life when he was
led to the place of honor by the piano, and the lads gathered round,
never heeding his poor clothes, but eying him respectfully and
waiting eagerly to hear him play again.They
chose a song he knew; and after one or two false starts they got
going, and violin, flute, and piano led a chorus of boyish voices
that made the old roof ring again. It was too much for Nat, more
feeble than he knew; and as the final shout died away, his face began
to work, he dropped the fiddle, and turning to the wall sobbed like a
little child."My
dear, what is it?" asked Mrs. Bhaer, who had been singing with
all her might, and trying to keep little Rob from beating time with
his boots."You
are all so kind and it's so beautiful I can't help it," sobbed
Nat, coughing till he was breathless."Come
with me, dear; you must go to bed and rest; you are worn out, and
this is too noisy a place for you," whispered Mrs. Bhaer; and
took him away to her own parlor, where she let him cry himself quiet.Then
she won him to tell her all his troubles, and listened to the little
story with tears in her own eyes, though it was not a new one to her."My
child, you have got a father and a mother now, and this is home.
Don't think of those sad times any more, but get well and happy; and
be sure you shall never suffer again, if we can help it. This place
is made for all sorts of boys to have a good time in, and to learn
how to help themselves and be useful men, I hope. You shall have as
much music as you want, only you must get strong first. Now come up
to Nursey and have a bath, and then go to bed, and to-morrow we will
lay some nice little plans together."Nat
held her hand fast in his, but had not a word to say, and let his
grateful eyes speak for him, as Mrs. Bhaer led him up to a big room,
where they found a stout German woman with a face so round and cheery
that it looked like a sort of sun, with the wide frill of her cap for
rays."This
is Nursey Hummel, and she will give you a nice bath, and cut your
hair, and make you all 'comfy,' as Rob says. That's the bath-room in
there; and on Saturday nights we scrub all the little lads first, and
pack them away in bed before the big ones get through singing. Now
then, Rob, in with you."As
she talked, Mrs. Bhaer had whipped off Rob's clothes and popped him
into a long bath-tub in the little room opening into the nursery.There
were two tubs, besides foot-baths, basins, douche-pipes, and all
manner of contrivances for cleanliness. Nat was soon luxuriating in
the other bath; and while simmering there, he watched the
performances of the two women, who scrubbed, clean night-gowned, and
bundled into bed four or five small boys, who, of course, cut up all
sorts of capers during the operation, and kept every one in a gale of
merriment till they were extinguished in their beds.By
the time Nat was washed and done up in a blanket by the fire, while
Nursey cut his hair, a new detachment of boys arrived and were shut
into the bath-room, where they made as much splashing and noise as a
school of young whales at play."Nat
had better sleep here, so that if his cough troubles him in the night
you can see that he takes a good draught of flax-seed tea," said
Mrs. Bhaer, who was flying about like a distracted hen with a large
brood of lively ducklings.Nursey
approved the plan, finished Nat off with a flannel night-gown, a
drink of something warm and sweet, and then tucked him into one of
the three little beds standing in the room, where he lay looking like
a contented mummy and feeling that nothing more in the way of luxury
could be offered him. Cleanliness in itself was a new and delightful
sensation; flannel gowns were unknown comforts in his world; sips of
"good stuff" soothed his cough as pleasantly as kind words
did his lonely heart; and the feeling that somebody cared for him
made that plain room seem a sort of heaven to the homeless child. It
was like a cosy dream; and he often shut his eyes to see if it would
not vanish when he opened them again. It was too pleasant to let him
sleep, and he could not have done so if he had tried, for in a few
minutes one of the peculiar institutions of Plumfield was revealed to
his astonished but appreciative eyes.A
momentary lull in the aquatic exercises was followed by the sudden
appearance of pillows flying in all directions, hurled by white
goblins, who came rioting out of their beds. The battle raged in
several rooms, all down the upper hall, and even surged at intervals
into the nursery, when some hard-pressed warrior took refuge there.
No one seemed to mind this explosion in the least; no one forbade it,
or even looked surprised. Nursey went on hanging up towels, and Mrs.
Bhaer laid out clean clothes, as calmly as if the most perfect order
reigned. Nay, she even chased one daring boy out of the room, and
fired after him the pillow he had slyly thrown at her."Won't
they hurt 'em?" asked Nat, who lay laughing with all his might."Oh
dear, no! We always allow one pillow-fight Saturday night. The cases
are changed to-morrow; and it gets up a glow after the boys' baths;
so I rather like it myself," said Mrs. Bhaer, busy again among
her dozen pairs of socks."What
a very nice school this is!" observed Nat, in a burst of
admiration."It's
an odd one," laughed Mrs. Bhaer, "but you see we don't
believe in making children miserable by too many rules, and too much
study. I forbade night-gown parties at first; but, bless you, it was
of no use. I could no more keep those boys in their beds than so many
jacks in the box. So I made an agreement with them: I was to allow a
fifteen-minute pillow-fight every Saturday night; and they promised
to go properly to bed every other night. I tried it, and it worked
well. If they don't keep their word, no frolic; if they do, I just
turn the glasses round, put the lamps in safe places, and let them
rampage as much as they like.""It's
a beautiful plan," said Nat, feeling that he should like to join
in the fray, but not venturing to propose it the first night. So he
lay enjoying the spectacle, which certainly was a lively one.Tommy
Bangs led the assailing party, and Demi defended his own room with a
dogged courage fine to see, collecting pillows behind him as fast as
they were thrown, till the besiegers were out of ammunition, when
they would charge upon him in a body, and recover their arms. A few
slight accidents occurred, but nobody minded, and gave and took
sounding thwacks with perfect good humor, while pillows flew like big
snowflakes, till Mrs. Bhaer looked at her watch, and called out:"Time
is up, boys. Into bed, every man jack, or pay the forfeit!""What
is the forfeit?" asked Nat, sitting up in his eagerness to know
what happened to those wretches who disobeyed this most peculiar, but
public-spirited school-ma'am."Lose
their fun next time," answered Mrs. Bhaer. "I give them
five minutes to settle down, then put out the lights, and expect
order. They are honorable lads, and they keep their word."That
was evident, for the battle ended as abruptly as it began, a parting
shot or two, a final cheer, as Demi fired the seventh pillow at the
retiring foe, a few challenges for next time, then order prevailed.
And nothing but an occasional giggle or a suppressed whisper broke
the quiet which followed the Saturday-night frolic, as Mother Bhaer
kissed her new boy and left him to happy dreams of life at Plumfield.