第7章

onwhichoccasionsNatfelthimselftranslatedintotheseventhheavenofbliss，forhewenttoMr。Laurence’sgreathouse，sawhisprettywifeandlittlefairyofadaughter，hadagooddinner，andwasmadesocomfortable，thathetalkedanddreamedofitfordaysandnightsafterward。

Ittakessolittletomakeachildhappythatitisapity，inaworldsofullofsunshineandpleasantthings，thatthereshouldbeanywistfulfaces，emptyhands，orlonelylittlehearts。Feelingthis，theBhaersgatheredupallthecrumbstheycouldfindtofeedtheirflockofhungrysparrows，fortheywerenotrich，exceptincharity。ManyofMrs。Jo’sfriendswhohadnurseriessenthertheytoysofwhichtheirchildrensosoontired，andinmendingtheseNatfoundanemploymentthatjustsuitedhim。Hewasveryneatandskillfulwiththoseslenderfingersofhis，andpassedmanyarainyafternoonwithhisgum-bottle，paint-box，andknife，repairingfurniture，animals，andgames，whileDaisywasdressmakertothedilapidateddolls。Asfastasthetoysweremended，theywereputcarefullyawayinacertaindrawerwhichwastofurnishforthaChristmas-treeforallthepoorchildrenoftheneighborhood，thatbeingthewaythePlumfieldboyscelebratedthebirthdayofHimwholovedthepoorandblessedthelittleones。

Demiwasnevertiredofreadingandexplaininghisfavoritebooks，andmanyapleasanthourdidtheyspendintheoldwillow，revellingover“RobinsonCrusoe，““ArabianNights，““Edgeworth’sTales，“andtheotherdearimmortalstoriesthatwilldelightchildrenforcenturiestocome。ThisopenedanewworldtoNat，andhiseagernesstoseewhatcamenextinthestoryhelpedhimontillhecouldreadaswellasanybody，andfeltsorichandproudwithhisnewaccomplishment，thattherewasdangerofhisbeingasmuchofabookwormasDemi。

Anotherhelpfulthinghappenedinamostunexpectedandagreeablemanner。

Severaloftheboyswere“inbusiness，“astheycalledit，formostofthemwerepoor，andknowingthattheywouldhavetheirownwaytomakebyandby，theBhaersencouragedanyeffortsatindependence。Tommysoldhiseggs；Jackspeculatedinlivestock；Franzhelpedintheteaching，andwaspaidforit；Nedhadatasteforcarpentry，andaturning-lathewassetupforhiminwhichheturnedallsortsofusefulorprettythings，andsoldthem；whileDemiconstructedwater-mills，whirligigs，andunknownmachinesofanintricateanduselessnature，anddisposedofthemtotheboys。

“Lethimbeamechanicifhelikes，“saidMr。Bhaer。“Giveaboyatrade，andheisindependent。Workiswholesome，andwhatevertalenttheseladspossess，beitforpoetryorploughing，itshallbecultivatedandmadeusefultothemifpossible。“

So，whenNatcamerunningtohimonedaytoaskwithanexcitedface：

“CanIgoandfiddleforsomepeoplewhoaretohaveapicnicinourwoods？Theywillpayme，andI’dliketoearnsomemoneyastheotherboysdo，andfiddlingistheonlywayIknowhowtodoit­；“

Mr。Bhaeransweredreadily：

“Go，andwelcome。Itisaneasyandapleasantwaytowork，andIamgladitisofferedyou。“

Natwent，anddidsowellthatwhenhecamehomehehadtwodollarsinhispocket，whichhedisplayedwithintensesatisfaction，ashetoldhowmuchhehadenjoyedtheafternoon，howkindtheyoungpeoplewere，andhowtheyhadpraisedhisdancemusic，andpromisedtohavehimagain。

“Itissomuchnicerthanfiddlinginthestreet，forthenIgotnoneofthemoney，andnowIhaveitall，andagoodtimebesides。I’minbusinessnowaswellasTommyandJack，andIlikeiteversomuch，“saidNat，proudlypattingtheoldpocketbook，andfeelinglikeamillionairealready。

Hewasinbusinesstruly，forpicnicswereplentyassummeropened，andNat’sskillwasingreatdemand。Hewasalwaysatlibertytogoiflessonswerenotneglected，andifthepicnickerswererespectableyoungpeople。ForMr。Bhaerexplainedtohimthatagoodplaineducationisnecessaryforeveryone，andthatnoamountofmoneyshouldhirehimtogowherehemightbetemptedtodowrong。Natquiteagreedtothis，anditwasapleasantsighttoseetheinnocent-heartedladgodrivingawayinthegaywagonsthatstoppedatthegateforhim，ortohearhimcomefiddlinghometiredbuthappy，withhiswell-earnedmoneyinonepocket，andsome“goodies“

fromthefeastforDaisyorlittleTed，whomheneverforgot。

“I’mgoingtosaveuptillIgetenoughtobuyaviolinformyself，andthenIcanearnmyownliving，can’tI？“heusedtosay，ashebroughthisdollarstoMr。Bhaertokeep。

“Ihopeso，Nat；butwemustgetyoustrongandheartyfirst，andputalittlemoreknowledgeintothismusicalheadofyours。ThenMr。Lauriewillfindyouaplacesomewhere，andinafewyearswewillallcometohearyouplayinpublic。“

Withmuchcongenialwork，encouragement，andhope，Natfoundlifegettingeasierandhappiereveryday，andmadesuchprogressinhismusiclessonsthathisteacherforgavehisslownessinsomeotherthings，knowingverywellthatwheretheheartisthemindworksbest。Theonlypunishmenttheboyeverneededforneglectofmoreimportantlessonswastohangupthefiddleandthebowforaday。Thefearoflosinghisbosomfriendentirelymadehimgoathisbookswithawill；andhavingprovedthathecouldmasterthelessons，whatwastheuseofsaying“Ican’t？“

Daisyhadagreatloveofmusic，andagreatreverenceforanyonewhocouldmakeit，andshewasoftenfoundsittingonthestairsoutsideNat’sdoorwhilehewaspractising。Thispleasedhimverymuch，andheplayedhisbestforthatonequietlittlelistener；forsheneverwouldcomein，butpreferredtositsewinghergaypatchwork，ortendingoneofhermanydolls，withanexpressionofdreamypleasureonherfacethatmadeAuntJosay，withtearsinhereyes：“SolikemyBeth，“andgosoftlyby，lestevenherfamiliarpresencemarthechild’ssweetsatisfaction。

NatwasveryfondofMrs。Bhaer，butfoundsomethingevenmoreattractiveinthegoodprofessor，whotookfatherlycareoftheshyfeebleboy，whohadbarelyescapedwithhislifefromtheroughseaonwhichhislittleboathadbeentossingrudderlessfortwelveyears。Somegoodangelmusthavebeenwatchingoverhim，for，thoughhisbodyhadsuffered，hissoulseemedtohavetakenlittleharm，andcameashoreasinnocentasashipwreckedbaby。Perhapshisloveofmusickeptitsweetinspiteofthediscordallabouthim；Mr。Lauriesaidso，andheoughttoknow。Howeverthatmightbe，FatherBhaertookpleasureinfosteringpoorNat’svirtues，andincuringhisfaults，findinghisnewpupilasdocileandaffectionateasagirl。HeoftencalledNathis“daughter“whenspeakingofhimtoMrs。

Jo，andsheusedtolaughathisfancy，forMadamelikedmanlyboys，andthoughtNatamiablebutweak，thoughyouneverwouldhaveguessedit，forshepettedhimasshedidDaisy，andhethoughtheraverydelightfulwoman。

OnefaultofNat’sgavetheBhaersmuchanxiety，althoughtheysawhowithadbeenstrengthenedbyfearandignorance。IregrettosaythatNatsometimestoldlies。Notveryblackones，seldomgettingdeeperthangray，andoftenthemildestofwhitefibs；butthatdidnotmatter，alieisalie，andthoughwealltellmanypoliteuntruthsinthisqueerworldofours，itisnotright，andeverybodyknowsit。

“Youcannotbetoocareful；watchyourtongue，andeyes，andhands，foritiseasytotell，andlook，andactuntruth，“saidMr。Bhaer，inoneofthetalkshehadwithNatabouthischieftemptation。

“Iknowit，andIdon’tmeanto，butit’ssomucheasiertogetalongifyouain’tveryfussyaboutbeingexactlytrue。Iusedtotell’embecauseIwasafraidoffatherandNicolo，andnowIdosometimesbecausetheboyslaughatme。Iknowit’sbad，butIforget，“andNatlookedmuchdepressedbyhissins。

“WhenIwasalittleladIusedtotelllies!Ach!whatfibstheywere，andmyoldgrandmothercuredmeofit­；how，doyouthink？Myparentshadtalked，andcried，andpunished，butstilldidIforgetasyou。Thensaidthedearoldgrandmother，’Ishallhelpyoutoremember，andputacheckonthisunrulypart，’withthatshedrewoutmytongueandsnippedtheendwithherscissorstillthebloodran。Thatwasterrible，youmaybelieve，butitdidmemuchgood，becauseitwassorefordays，andeverywordIsaidcamesoslowlythatIhadtimetothink。AfterthatIwasmorecareful，andgotonbetter，forIfearedthebigscissors。Yetthedeargrandmotherwasmostkindtomeinallthings，andwhenshelaydyingfarawayinNuremberg，sheprayedthatlittleFritzmightloveGodandtellthetruth。“

“Ineverhadanygrandmothers，butifyouthinkitwillcureme，I’llletyousnipmytongue，“saidNat，heroically，forhedreadedpain，yetdidwishtostopfibbing。

Mr。Bhaersmiled，butshookhishead。

“Ihaveabetterwaythanthat，Itrieditoncebeforeanditworkedwell。Seenow，whenyoutellalieIwillnotpunishyou，butyoushallpunishme。“

“How？“askedNat，startledattheidea。

“Youshallferulemeinthegoodold-fashionedway；Iseldomdoitmyself，butitmaymakeyourememberbettertogivemepainthantofeelityourself。“

“Strikeyou？Oh，Icouldn’t!“criedNat。

“Thenmindthattrippingtongueofthine。Ihavenowishtobehurt，butIwouldgladlybearmuchpaintocurethisfault。“

ThissuggestionmadesuchanimpressiononNat，thatforalongtimehesetawatchuponhislips，andwasdesperatelyaccurate，forMr。Bhaerjudgedrightly，thatloveofhimwouldbemorepowerfulwithNatthatfearforhimself。Butalas!onesaddayNatwasoffhisguard，andwhenpepperyEmilthreatenedtothrashhim，ifitwashewhohadrunoverhisgardenandbrokendownhisbesthillsofcorn，Natdeclaredhedidn’t，andthenwasashamedtoownupthathediddoit，whenJackwaschasinghimthenightbefore。

Hethoughtnoonewouldfinditout，butTommyhappenedtoseehim，andwhenEmilspokeofitadayortwolater，Tommygavehisevidence，andMr。Bhaerheardit。Schoolwasover，andtheywereallstandingaboutinthehall，andMr。BhaerhadjustsetdownonthestrawsetteetoenjoyhisfrolicwithTeddy；butwhenheheardTommyandsawNatturnscarlet，andlookathimwithafrightenedface，heputthelittleboydown，saying，“Gotothymother，bü；bchen，Iwillcomesoon，“andtakingNatbythehandledhimintotheschoolandshutthedoor。

Theboyslookedatoneanotherinsilenceforaminute，thenTommyslippedoutandpeepinginatthehalf-closedblinds，beheldasightthatquitebewilderedhim。Mr。Bhaerhadjusttakendownthelongrulethathungoverhisdesk，soseldomusedthatitwascoveredwithdust。

“Myeye!He’sgoingtocomedownheavyonNatthistime。WishIhadn’ttold，“thoughtgood-naturedTommy，fortobeferuledwasthedeepestdisgraceatthisschool。

“YourememberwhatItoldyoulasttime？“saidMr。Bhaer，sorrowfully，notangrily。

“Yes；butpleasedon’tmakeme，Ican’tbearit，“criedNat，backingupagainstthedoorwithbothhandsbehindhim，andafacefullofdistress。

“Whydon’theupandtakeitlikeaman？Iwould，“thoughtTommy，thoughhisheartbeatfastatthesight。

“Ishallkeepmyword，andyoumustremembertotellthetruth。Obeyme，Nat，takethisandgivemesixgoodstrokes。“

Tommywassostaggeredbythislastspeechthathenearlytumbleddownthebank，butsavedhimself，andhungontothewindowledge，staringinwitheyesasroundasthestuffedowl’sonthechimney-piece。

Nattooktherule，forwhenMr。Bhaerspokeinthattoneeveryoneobeyedhim，and，lookingasscaredandguiltyasifabouttostabhismaster，hegavetwofeebleblowsonthebroadhandheldouttohim。Thenhestoppedandlookeduphalf-blindwithtears，butMr。Bhaersaidsteadily：

“Goon，andstrikeharder。“

Asifseeingthatitmustbedone，andeagertohavethehardtasksoonover，Natdrewhissleeveacrosshiseyesandgavetwomorequickhardstrokesthatreddenedthehand，yethurtthegivermore。

“Isn’tthatenough？“heaskedinabreathlesssortoftone。

“Twomore，“wasalltheanswer，andhegavethem，hardlyseeingwheretheyfell，thenthrewtheruleallacrosstheroom，andhuggingthekindhandinbothhisown，laidhisfacedownonitsobbingoutinapassionoflove，andshame，andpenitence：

“Iwillremember!Oh!Iwill!“

ThenMr。Bhaerputanarmabouthim，andsaidinatoneascompassionateasithadjustnowbeenfirm：

“Ithinkyouwill。AskthedearGodtohelpyou，andtrytospareusbothanotherscenelikethis。“

Tommysawnomore，forhecreptbacktothehall，lookingsoexcitedandsoberthattheboyscrowdedroundhimtoaskwhatwasbeingdonetoNat。

InamostimpressivewhisperTommytoldthem，andtheylookedasiftheskywasabouttofall，forthisreversingtheorderofthingsalmosttooktheirbreathaway。