第15章

Mr。Bhaersuggestedthattheyshouldseewhowouldstudybest，andNanfoundasmuchpleasureinusingherquickwitsandfinememoryasheractivefeetandmerrytongue，whiletheladshadtodotheirbesttokeeptheirplaces，forNanshowedthemthatgirlscoulddomostthingsaswellasboys，andsomethingsbetter。Therewerenorewardsinschool，butMr。

Bhaer’s“Welldone!“andMrs。Bhaer’sgoodreportontheconsciencebook，taughtthemtolovedutyforitsownsake，andtrytodoitfaithfully，suresoonerorlatertherecompensewouldcome。LittleNanwasquicktofeelthenewatmosphere，toenjoyit，toshowthatitwaswhatsheneeded；

forthislittlegardenwasfullofsweetflowers，halfhiddenbytheweeds；

andwhenkindhandsgentlybegantocultivateit，allsortsofgreenshootssprungup，promisingtoblossombeautifullyinthewarmthofloveandcare，thebestclimateforyoungheartsandsoulsalltheworldover。

Asthereisnoparticularplantothisstory，excepttodescribeafewscenesinthelifeatPlumfieldfortheamusementofcertainlittlepersons，wewillgentlyramblealonginthischapterandtellsomeofthepastimesofMrs。Jo’sboys。Ibegleavetoassuremyhonoredreadersthatmostoftheincidentsaretakenfromreallife，andthattheoddestarethetruest；

fornoperson，nomatterhowvividanimaginationhemayhave，caninventanythinghalfsodrollasthefreaksandfanciesthatoriginateinthelivelybrainsoflittlepeople。

DaisyandDemiwerefullofthesewhims，andlivedinaworldoftheirown，peopledwithlovelyorgrotesquecreatures，towhomtheygavethequeerestnames，andwithwhomtheyplayedthequeerestgames。Oneofthesenurseryinventionswasaninvisiblespritecalled“TheNaughtyKitty-mouse，“

whomthechildrenhadbelievedin，feared，andservedforalongtime。

Theyseldomspokeofittoanyoneelse，kepttheirritesasprivateaspossible；and，astheynevertriedtodescribeiteventothemselves，thisbeinghadavaguemysteriouscharmveryagreeabletoDemi，whodelightedinelvesandgoblins。AmostwhimsicalandtyrannicalimpwastheNaughtyKitty-mouse，andDaisyfoundafearfulpleasureinitsservice，blindlyobeyingitsmostabsurddemands，whichwereusuallyproclaimedfromthelipsofDemi，whosepowersofinventionweregreat。RobandTeddysometimesjoinedintheseceremonies，andconsideredthemexcellentfun，althoughtheydidnotunderstandhalfthatwenton。

OnedayafterschoolDemiwhisperedtohissister，withanominouswagofthehead，­；

“TheKitty-mousewantsusthisafternoon。“

“Whatfor？“askedDaisy，anxiously。

“Asackerryfice，“answeredDemi，solemnly。“Theremustbeafirebehindthebigrockattwoo’clock，andwemustallbringthethingswelikebest，andburnthem!“headded，withanawfulemphasisonthelastwords。

“Oh，dear!IlovethenewpaperdolliesAuntAmypaintedformebestofanything；mustIburnthemup？“criedDaisy，whoneverthoughtofdenyingtheunseentyrantanythingitdemanded。

“Everyone。Ishallburnmyboat，mybestscrapbook，andallmysoldiers，“saidDemifirmly。

“Well，Iwill；butit’stoobadofKitty-mousetowantourverynicestthings，“sighedDaisy。

“Asackerryficemeanstogiveupwhatyouarefondof，sowemust，“explainedDemi，towhomthenewideahadbeensuggestedbyhearingUncleFritzdescribethecustomsoftheGreekstothebigboyswhowerereadingabouttheminschool。

“IsRobcomingtoo，“askedDaisy。

“Yes，andheisgoingtobringhistoyvillage；itisallmadeofwood，youknow，andwillburnnicely。We’llhaveagrandbonfire，andseethemblazeup，won’twe？“

ThisbrilliantprospectconsoledDaisy，andsheateherdinnerwitharowofpaperdollsbeforeher，asasortoffarewellbanquet。

Attheappointedhourthesacrificialtrainsetforth，eachchildbearingthetreasuresdemandedbytheinsatiableKitty-mouse。Teddyinsistedongoingalso，andseeingthatalltheothershadtoys，hetuckedasqueakinglambunderonearm，andoldAnnabellaundertheother，littledreamingwhatanguishthelatteridolwastogivehim。

“Whereareyougoing，mychickens？“askedMrs。Jo，astheflockpassedherdoor。

“Toplaybythebigrock；can’twe？“

“Yes，onlydon’tdonearthepond，andtakegoodcareofbaby。“

“Ialwaysdo，“saidDaisy，leadingforthherchargewithacapableair。

“Now，youmustallsitround，andnotmovetillItellyou。Thisflatstoneisanaltar，andIamgoingtomakeafireonit。“

Demithenproceededtokindleupasmallblaze，ashehadseentheboysdoatpicnics。Whentheflameburnedwell，heorderedthecompanytomarchrounditthreetimesandthenstandinacircle。

“Ishallbegin，andasfastasmythingsareburnt，youmustbringyours。“

Withthathesolemnlylaidonalittlepaperbookfullofpictures，pastedinbyhimself；thiswasfollowedbyadilapidatedboat，andthenonebyonetheunhappyleadensoldiersmarchedtodeath。Notonefalteredorhungback，fromthesplendidredandyellowcaptaintothesmalldrummerwhohadlosthislegs；allvanishedintheflamesandmingledinonecommonpoolofmeltedlead。

“Now，Daisy!“calledthehighpriestofKitty-mouse，whenhisrichofferingshadbeenconsumed，tothegreatsatisfactionofthechildren。

“Mydeardollies，howcanIletthemgo？“moanedDaisy，huggingtheentiredozenwithafacefullofmaternalwoe。

“Youmust，“commandedDemi；andwithafarewellkisstoeach，Daisylaidherbloomingdollsuponthecoals。

“Letmekeepone，thedearbluething，sheissosweet，“besoughtthepoorlittlemamma，clutchingherlastindespair。

“More!more!“growledanawfulvoice，andDemicried，“that’stheKitty-mouse!

shemusthaveeveryone，quick，orshewillscratchus。“

Inwentthepreciousbluebelle，flounces，rosyhat，andall，andnothingbutafewblackflakesremainedofthatbrightband。

“Standthehousesandtreesround，andletthemcatchthemselves；itwillbelikearealfirethen，“saidDemi，wholikedvarietyeveninhis“sackerryfices。“

Charmedbythissuggestion，thechildrenarrangedthedoomedvillage，laidalineofcoalsalongthemainstreet，andthensatdowntowatchtheconflagration。Itwassomewhatslowtokindleowingtothepaint，butatlastoneambitiouslittlecottageblazedup，firedatreeofthepalmspecies，whichfellontotheroofofalargefamilymansion，andinafewminutesthewholetownwasburningmerrily。Thewoodenpopulationstoodandstaredatthedestructionlikeblockheads，astheywere，tilltheyalsocaughtandblazedawaywithoutacry。Ittooksometimetoreducethetowntoashes，andthelookers-onenjoyedthespectacleimmensely，cheeringaseachhousefell，dancinglikewildIndianswhenthesteepleflamedaloft，andactuallycastingonewretchedlittlechurn-shapedlady，whohadescapedtothesuburbs，intotheveryheartofthefire。

ThesuperbsuccessofthislastofferingexcitedTeddytosuchadegree，thathefirstthrewhislambintotheconflagration，andbeforeithadtimeeventoroast，heplantedpoorAnnabellaonthefuneralpyre。Ofcourseshedidnotlikeit，andexpressedheranguishandresentmentinawaythatterrifiedherinfantdestroyer。Beingcoveredwithkid，shedidnotblaze，butdidwhatwasworse，shesquirmed。Firstonelegcurledup，thentheother，inaveryawfulandlifelikemanner；nextsheflungherarmsoverherheadasifingreatagony；herheaditselfturnedonhershoulders，herglasseyesfellout，andwithonefinalwritheofherwholebody，shesankdownablackenedmassontheruinsofthetown。ThisunexpecteddemonstrationstartledeveryoneandfrightenedTeddyhalfoutofhislittlewits。Helooked，thenscreamedandfledtowardthehouse，roaring“Marmar“atthetopofhisvoice。

Mrs。Bhaerheardtheoutcryandrantotherescue，butTeddycouldonlyclingtoherandpouroutinhisbrokenwaysomethingabout“poorBellahurted，““adreatfire，“and“allthedolliesdorn。“Fearingsomediremishap，hismothercaughthimupandhurriedtothesceneofaction，whereshefoundtheblindworshippersofKitty-mousemourningoverthecharredremainsofthelostdarling。

“Whathaveyoubeenat？Tellmeallaboutit，“saidMrs。Jo，composingherselftolistenpatiently，fortheculpritslookedsopenitent，sheforgavethembeforehand。

WithsomereluctanceDemiexplainedtheirplay，andAuntJolaughedtillthetearsrandownhercheeks，thechildrenweresosolemn，andtheplaywassoabsurd。

“Ithoughtyouweretoosensibletoplaysuchasillygameasthis。

IfIhadanyKitty-mouseI’dhaveagoodonewholikedyoutoplayinsafepleasantways，andnotdestroyandfrighten。Justseewhataruinyouhavemade；allDaisy’sprettydolls，Demi’ssoldiers，andRob’snewvillagebesidepoorTeddy’spetlamb，anddearoldAnnabella。Ishallhavetowriteupinthenurserytheversethatusedtocomeintheboxesoftoys，­；“ThechildrenofHollandtakepleasureinmaking，WhatthechildrenofBostontakepleasureinbreaking。“OnlyIshallputPlumfieldinsteadofBoston。“

“Weneverwillagain，truly，truly!“criedtherepentantlittlesinners，muchabashedatthisreproof。

“Demitoldusto，“saidRob。

“Well，IheardUncletellabouttheGreecepeople，whohadaltarsandthings，andsoIwantedtobelikethem，onlyIhadn’tanylivecreaturestosackerryfice，soweburntupourtoys。“

“Dearme，thatissomethinglikethebeanstory，“saidAuntJo，laughingagain。

“Tellaboutit，“suggestedDaisy，tochangethesubject。

“Oncetherewasapoorwomanwhohadthreeorfourlittlechildren，andsheusedtolockthemupinherroomwhenshewentouttowork，tokeepthemsafe。Ondaywhenshewasgoingawayshesaid，’Now，mydears，don’tletbabyfalloutofwindow，don’tplaywiththematches，anddon’tputbeansupyournoses。’Nowthechildrenhadneverdreamedofdoingthatlastthing，butsheputitintotheirheads，andtheminuteshewasgone，theyranandstuffedtheirnaughtylittlenosesfullofbeans，justtoseehowitfelt，andshefoundthemallcryingwhenshecamehome。“

“Didithurt？“askedRob，withsuchintenseinterestthathismotherhastilyaddedawarningsequel，lestaneweditionofthebeanstoryshouldappearinherownfamily。

“Verymuch，asIknow，forwhenmymothertoldmethisstory，IwassosillythatIwentandtrieditmyself。Ihadnobeans，soItooksomelittlepebbles，andpokedseveralintomynose。Ididnotlikeitatall，andwantedtotakethemoutagainverysoon，butonewouldnotcome，andIwassoashamedtotellwhatagooseIbeenthatIwentforhourswiththestonehurtingmeverymuch。AtlastthepaingotsobadIhadtotell，andwhenmymothercouldnotgetitoutthedoctorcame。

ThenIwasputinachairandheldtight，Rob，whileheusedhisuglylittlepincerstillthestonehoppedout。Dearme!howmywretchedlittlenosedidache，andhowpeoplelaughedatme!“andMrs。Joshookherheadinadismalway，asifthememoryofhersufferingswastoomuchforher。

RoblookeddeeplyimpressedandIamgladtosaytookthewarningtoheart。DemiproposedthattheyshouldburypoorAnnabella，andintheinterestofthefuneralTeddyforgothisfright。DaisywassoonconsoledbyanotherbatchofdollsfromAuntAmy，andtheNaughtyKitty-mouseseemedtobeappeasedbythelastofferings，forshetormentedthemnomore。

“Brops“wasthenameofanewandabsorbingplay，inventedbyBangs。

AsthisinterestinganimalisnottobefoundinanyZoologicalGarden，unlessDuChailluhasrecentlybroughtonefromthewildsofAfrica，I

willmentionafewofitspeculiarhabitsandtraits，forthebenefitofinquiringminds。TheBropisawingedquadruped，withahumanfaceofayouthfulandmerryaspect。Whenitwalkstheearthitgrunts，whenitsoarsitgivesashrillhoot，occasionallyitgoeserect，andtalksgoodEnglish。

Itsbodyisusuallycoveredwithasubstancemuchresemblingashawl，sometimesred，sometimesblue，oftenplaid，and，strangetosay，theyfrequentlychangeskinswithoneanother。Ontheirheadstheyhaveahornverylikeastiffbrownpaperlamp-lighter。Wingsofthesamesubstanceflapupontheirshoulderswhentheyfly；thisisneververyfarfromtheground，astheyusuallyfallwithviolenceiftheyattemptanyloftyflights。Theybrowseovertheearth，butcansitupandeatlikethesquirrel。Theirfavoritenourishmentistheseed-cake；applesalsoarefreelytaken，andsometimesrawcarrotsarenibbledwhenfoodisscarce。Theyliveindens，wheretheyhaveasortofnest，muchlikeaclothes-basket，inwhichthelittleBropsplaytilltheirwingsaregrown。Thesesingularanimalsquarrelattimes，anditisontheseoccasionsthattheyburstintohumanspeech，calleachothernames，cry，scold，andsometimestearoffhornsandskin，declaringfiercelythatthey“won’tplay。“Thefewprivilegedpersonswhohavestudiedthemareinclinedtothinkthemaremarkablemixtureofthemonkey，thesphinx，theroc，andthequeercreaturesseenbythefamousPeterWilkins。

Thisgamewasagreatfavorite，andtheyoungerchildrenbeguiledmanyarainyafternoonflappingorcreepingaboutthenursery，actinglikelittlebedlamitesandbeingasmerryaslittlegrigs。Tobesure，itwasratherharduponclothes，particularlytrouser-knees，andjacket-elbows；butMrs。

Bhaeronlysaid，asshepatchedanddarned，­；

“Wedothingsjustasfoolish，andnothalfsoharmless。IfIcouldgetasmuchhappinessoutofitasthelittledearsdo，I’dbeaBropmyself。“

Nat’sfavoriteamusementswereworkinginhisgarden，andsittinginthewillow-treewithhisviolin，forthatgreennestwasafairyworldtohim，andtherehelovedtoperch，makingmusiclikeahappybird。Theladscalledhim“OldChirper，“becausehewasalwayshumming，whistling，orfiddling，andtheyoftenstoppedaminuteintheirworkorplaytolistentothesofttonesoftheviolin，whichseemedtoleadalittleorchestraofsummersounds。Thebirdsappearedtoregardhimasoneofthemselves，andfearlesslysatonthefenceorlitamongtheboughstowatchhimwiththeirquickbrighteyes。Therobinsintheapple-treenearbyevidentlyconsideredhimafriend，forthefatherbirdhuntedinsectsclosebesidehim，andthelittlemotherbroodedasconfidinglyoverherblueeggsasiftheboywasonlyanewsortofblackbirdwhocheeredherpatientwatchwithhissong。Thebrownbrookbabbledandsparkledbelowhim，thebeeshauntedthecloverfieldsoneitherside，friendlyfacespeepedathimastheypassed，theoldhousestretcheditswidewingshospitablytowardhim，andwithablessedsenseofrestandloveandhappiness，Natdreamedforhoursinthisnook，unconsciouswhathealthfulmiracleswerebeingwroughtuponhim。