第3章

piraticalgentleman，androaroutsanguinarysea-songsatthetopofhisvoice。Hewoulddancenothingbutsailors’hornpipes，rolledinhisgait，andwasasnauticalinconversationtohisunclewouldpermit。Theboyscalledhim“Commodore，“andtookgreatprideinhisfleet，whichwhitenedthepondandsuffereddisastersthatwouldhavedauntedanycommanderbutasea-struckboy。

Demiwasoneofthechildrenwhoshowplainlytheeffectofintelligentloveandcare，forsoulandbodyworkedharmoniouslytogether。Thenaturalrefinementwhichnothingbuthomeinfluencecanteach，gavehimsweetandsimplemanners：hismotherhadcherishedaninnocentandlovingheartinhim；hisfatherhadwatchedoverthephysicalgrowthofhisboy，andkeptthelittlebodystraightandstrongonwholesomefoodandexerciseandsleep，whileGrandpaMarchcultivatedthelittlemindwiththetenderwisdomofamodernPythagoras，­；nottaskingitwithlong，hardlessons，parrot-learned，buthelpingittounfoldasnaturallyandbeautifullyassunanddewhelprosesbloom。Hewasnotaperfectchild，byanymeans，buthisfaultswereofthebettersort；andbeingearlytaughtthesecretofself-control，hewasnotleftatthemercyofappetitesandpassions，assomepoorlittlemortalsare，andthenpunishedforyieldingtothetemptationsagainstwhichtheyhavenoarmor。Aquiet，quaintboywasDemi，serious，yetcheery，quiteunconsciousthathewasunusuallybrightandbeautiful，yetquicktoseeandloveintelligenceorbeautyinotherchildren。Veryfondofbooks，andfulloflivelyfancies，bornofastrongimaginationandaspiritualnature，thesetraitsmadehisparentsanxioustobalancethemwithusefulknowledgeandhealthfulsociety，lesttheyshouldmakehimoneofthosepaleprecociouschildrenwhoamazeanddelightafamilysometimes，andfadeawaylikehot-houseflowers，becausetheyoungsoulbloomstoosoon，andhasnotaheartybodytorootitfirmlyinthewholesomesoilofthisworld。

SoDemiwastransplantedtoPlumfield，andtooksokindlytothelifethere，thatMegandJohnandGrandpafeltsatisfiedthattheyhaddonewell。Mixingwithotherboysbroughtoutthepracticalsideofhim，rousedhisspirit，andbrushedawaytheprettycobwebshewassofondofspinninginthatlittlebrainofhis。Tobesure，herathershockedhismotherwhenhecamehome，bybangingdoors，saying“byGeorge“emphatically，anddemandingtallthickboots“thatclumpedlikepapa’s。“ButJohnrejoicedoverhim，laughedathisexplosiveremarks，gottheboots，andsaidcontentedly，“Heisdoingwell；solethimclump。Iwantmysontobeamanlyboy，andthistemporaryroughnesswon’thurthim。Wecanpolishhimupbyandby；andasforlearning，hewillpickthatupaspigeonsdopeas。Sodon’thurryhim。“

Daisywasassunshinyandcharmingasever，withallsortsofwomanlinessesbuddinginher，forshewaslikehergentlemother，anddelightedindomesticthings。Shehadafamilyofdolls，whomshebroughtupinthemostexemplarymanner；shecouldnotgetonwithoutherlittlework-basketandbitsofsewing，whichshedidsonicely，thatDemifrequentlypulledouthishandkerchiefdisplayherneatstitches，andBabyJosyhadaflannelpetticoatbeautifullymadebySisterDaisy。Sheliketoquiddleaboutthechina-closet，preparethesalt-cellars，putthespoonsstraightonthetable；andeverydaywentroundtheparlorwithherbrush，dustingchairsandtables。Demicalledhera“Betty，“butwasverygladtohaveherkeephisthingsinorder，lendhimhernimblefingersinallsortsofwork，andhelphimwithhislessons，fortheykeptabreastthere，andhadnothoughtofrivalry。

Thelovebetweenthemwasasstrongasever；andnoonecouldlaughDemioutofhisaffectionatewayswithDaisy。Hefoughtherbattlesvaliantly，andnevercouldunderstandwhyboysshouldbeashamedtosay“rightout，“

thattheylovedtheirsisters。Daisyadoredhertwin，thought“mybrother“

themostremarkableboyintheworld，andeverymorning，inherlittlewrapper，trottedtotapathisdoorwithamotherly­；“Getup，mydear，it’s’mostbreakfasttime；andhere’syourcleancollar。“

Robwasanenergeticmorselofaboy，whoseemedtohavediscoveredthesecretofperpetualmotion，forheneverwasstill。Fortunately，hewasnotmischievous，norverybrave；sohekeptoutoftroubleprettywell，andvibratedbetweenfatherandmotherlikeanaffectionatelittlependulumwithalivelytick，forRobwasachatterbox。

TeddywastooyoungtoplayaveryimportantpartintheaffairsofPlumfield，yethehadhislittlesphere，andfilleditbeautifully。Everyonefelttheneedofapetattimes，andBabywasalwaysreadytoaccommodate，forkissingandcuddlingsuitedhimexcellently。Mrs。Joseldomstirredwithouthim；sohehadhislittlefingerinallthedomesticpies，andeveryonefoundthemallthebetterforit，fortheybelievedinbabiesatPlumfield。

DickBrown，andAdolphusorDollyPettingill，weretwoeightyear-olds。

Dollystutteredbadly，butwasgraduallygettingoverit，fornoonewasallowedtomockhimandMr。Bhaertriedtocureit，bymakinghimtalkslowly。Dollywasagoodlittlelad，quiteuninterestingandordinary，butheflourishedhere，andwentthroughhisdailydutiesandpleasureswithplacidcontentandpropriety。

DickBrown’safflictionwasacrookedback，yetheborehisburdensocheerfully，thatDemionceaskedinhisqueerway，“Dohumpsmakepeoplegood-natured？I’dlikeoneiftheydo。“Dickwasalwaysmerry，anddidhisbesttobelikeotherboys，forapluckyspiritlivedinthefeeblelittlebody。Whenhefirstcame，hewasverysensitiveabouthismisfortune，butsoonlearnedtoforgetit，fornoonedaredremindhimofit，afterMr。Bhaerhadpunishedoneboyforlaughingathim。

“Goddon’tcare；formysoulisstraightifmybackisn’t，“sobbedDicktohistormentoronthatoccasion；and，bycherishingthisidea，theBhaerssoonledhimtobelievethatpeoplealsolovedhissoul，anddidnotmindhisbody，excepttopityandhelphimtobearit。

Playingmenagerieoncewiththeothers，someonesaid，“Whatanimalwillyoube，Dick？“

“Oh，I’mthedromedary；don’tyouseethehumponmyback？“wasthelaughinganswer。

“Soyouare，mynicelittleonethatdon’tcarryloads，butmarchesbytheelephantfirstintheprocession，“saidDemi，whowasarrangingthespectacle。

“Ihopeotherswillbeaskindtothepoordearasmyboyshavelearnedtobe，“saidMrs。Jo，quitesatisfiedwiththesuccessofherteaching，asDickambledpasther，lookinglikeaveryhappy，butaveryfeeblelittledromedary，besidestoutStuffy，whodidtheelephantwithponderouspropriety。

JackFordwasasharp，ratheraslylad，whowassenttothisschool，becauseitwascheap。Manymenwouldhavethoughthimasmartboy，butMr。BhaerdidnotlikehiswayofillustratingthatYankeeword，andthoughthisunboyishkeennessandmoney-lovingasmuchofanafflictionasDolly’sstutter，orDick’shump。

NedBarkerwaslikeathousandotherboysoffourteen，alllegs，blunder，andbluster。Indeedthefamilycalledhimthe“Blunderbuss，“andalwaysexpectedtoseehimtumbleoverthechairs，bumpagainstthetables，andknockdownanysmallarticlesnearhim。Hebraggedagooddealaboutwhathecoulddo，butseldomdidanythingtoproveit，wasnotbrave，andalittlegiventotale-telling。Hewasapttobullythesmallboys，andflatterthebigones，andwithoutbeingatallbad，wasjustthesortoffellowwhocouldveryeasilybeledastray。

GeorgeColehadbeenspoiltbyanover-indulgentmother，whostuffedhimwithsweetmeatstillhewassick，andthenthoughthimtoodelicatetostudy，sothatattwelveyearsold，hewasapale，puffyboy，dull，fretful，andlazy。AfriendpersuadedhertosendhimtoPlumfield，andtherehesoongotwakedup，forsweetthingswereseldomallowed，muchexerciserequired，andstudymadesopleasant，thatStuffywasgentlyluredalong，tillhequiteamazedhisanxiousmammabyhisimprovement，andconvincedherthattherewasreallysomethingremarkableinPlumfieldair。

BillyWardwaswhattheScotchtenderlycallan“innocent，“forthoughthirteenyearsold，hewaslikeachildofsix。Hehadbeenanunusuallyintelligentboy，andhisfatherhadhurriedhimontoofast，givinghimallsortsofhardlessons，keepingathisbookssixhoursaday，andexpectinghimtoabsorbknowledgeasaStrasburggoosedoesthefoodcrammeddownitsthroat。Hethoughthewasdoinghisduty，buthenearlykilledtheboy，forafevergavethepoorchildasadholiday，andwhenherecovered，theovertaskedbraingaveout，andBilly’smindwaslikeaslateoverwhichaspongehaspassed，leavingitblank。

Itwasaterriblelessontohisambitiousfather；hecouldnotbearthesightofhispromisingchild，changedtoafeebleidiot，andhesenthimawaytoPlumfield，scarcelyhopingthathecouldbehelped，butsurethathewouldbekindlytreated。QuitedocileandharmlesswasBilly，anditwaspitifultoseehowhardhetriedtolearn，asifgropingdimlyafterthelostknowledgewhichhadcosthimsomuch。

Dayafterday，heporedoverthealphabet，proudlysaidAandB，andthoughtthatheknewthem，butonthemorrowtheyweregone，andalltheworkwastobedoneoveragain。Mr。Bhaerhadinfinitepatiencewithhim，andkeptoninspiteoftheapparenthopelessnessofthetask，notcaringforbooklessons，buttryinggentlytoclearawaythemistsfromthedarkenedmind，andgiveitbackintelligenceenoughtomaketheboylessaburdenandanaffliction。

Mrs。Bhaerstrengthenedhishealthbyeveryaidshecouldinvent，andtheboysallpitiedandwerekindtohim。Hedidnotliketheiractiveplays，butwouldsitforhourswatchingthedoves，woulddigholesforTeddytilleventhatardentgrubberwassatisfied，orfollowSilas，theman，fromplacetoplaceseeinghimwork，forhonestSiwasverygoodtohim，andthoughheforgothislettersBillyrememberedfriendlyfaces。

TommyBangswasthescapegraceoftheschool，andthemosttryingscapegracethateverlived。Asfullofmischiefasamonkey，yetsogood-heartedthatonecouldnothelpforgivinghistricks；soscatter-brainedthatwordswentbyhimlikethewind，yetsopenitentforeverymisdeed，thatitwasimpossibletokeepsoberwhenhevowedtremendousvowsofreformation，orproposedallsortsofqueerpunishmentstobeinflicteduponhimself。

Mr。andMrs。Bhaerlivedinastateofpreparationforanymishap，fromthebreakingofTommy’sownneck，totheblowingupoftheentirefamilywithgunpowder；andNurseyhadaparticulardrawerinwhichshekeptbandages，plasters，andsalvesforhisespecialuse，forTommywasalwaysbeingbroughtinhalfdead；butnothingeverkilledhim，andhearosefromeverydownfallwithredoubledvigor。

Thefirstdayhecame，hechoppedthetopoffonefingerinthehay-cutter，andduringtheweek，fellfromtheshedroof，waschasedbyanangryhenwhotriedtopickhisoutbecauseheexaminedherchickens，gotrunawaywith，andhadhisearsboxedviolentbyAsia，whocaughthimluxuriouslyskimmingapanofcreamwithhalfastolenpie。Undaunted，however，byanyfailuresorrebuffs，thisindomitableyouthwentonamusinghimselfwithallsortsoftrickstillnoonefeltsafe。Ifhedidnotknowhislessons，healwayshadsomedrollexcusetooffer，andashewasusuallycleverathisbooks，andasbrightasabuttonincomposinganswerswhenhedidnotknowthem，hegoonprettywellatschool。Butoutofschool，­；Yegodsandlittlefishes!howTommydidcarouse!

HewoundfatAsiaupinherownclotheslineagainstthepost，andleftheretheretofumeandscoldforhalfanhouronebusyMondaymorning。

HedroppedahotcentdownMaryAnn’sbackasthatprettymaidwaswaitingattableonedaywhenthereweregentlementodinner，whereatthepoorgirlupsetthesoupandrushedoutoftheroomindismay，leavingthefamilytothinkthatshehadgonemad。Hefixedapailofwaterupinatree，withabitofribbonfastenedtothehandle，andwhenDaisy，attractedbythegaystreamer，triedtopullitdown，shegotadouchebaththatspoiledhercleanfrockandhurtherlittlefeelingsverymuch。Heputroughwhitepebblesinthesugar-bowlwhenhisgrandmothercametotea，andthepooroldladywonderedwhytheydidn’tmeltinhercup，butwastoopolitetosayanything。Hepassedaroundsnuffinchurchsothatfiveoftheboyssneezedwithsuchviolencetheyhadtogoout。Hedugpathsinwintertime，andthenprivatelywateredthemsothatpeopleshouldtumbledown。HedrovepoorSilasnearlywildbyhanginghisbigbootsinconspicuousplaces，forhisfeetwereenormous，andhewasverymuchashamedofthem。

HepersuadedconfidinglittleDollytotieathreadtooneofhislooseteeth，andleavethestringhangingfromhismouthwhenhewenttosleep，sothatTommycouldpullitoutwithouthisfeelingthedreadedoperation。

Butthetoothwouldn’tcomeatthefirsttweak，andpoorDollywokeupingreatanguishofspirit，andlostallfaithinTommyfromthatdayforth。

Thelastprankhadbeentogivethehensbreadsoakedinrum，whichmadethemtipsyandscandalizedalltheotherfowls，fortherespectableoldbiddieswentstaggeringabout，peckingandcluckinginthemostmaudlinmanner，whilethefamilywereconvulsedwithlaughterattheirantics，tillDaisytookpityonthemandshutthemupinthehen-housetosleepofftheirintoxication。