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thinkDan’solddistrustforthesegoodpeoplevanishedforever，thesoftspotinhisheartwastouched，andhefeltanimpetuousdesiretoprovehimselfworthyoftheloveandpitythatwassopatientandforgiving。Hesaidnothing，heonlywishedthewishwithallhismight，resolvedtotryinhisblindboyishway，andsealedhisresolutionwiththetearswhichneitherpain，fatigue，norlonelinesscouldwringfromhim。
“Comeandseehisfoot。Iamafraiditisbadlyhurt，forhehaskeptonthreedaysthroughheatanddust，withnothingbutwaterandanoldjackettobinditupwith。Itellyou，Fritz，thatboyisabravelad，andwillmakeafinemanyet。“
“Ihopeso，foryoursake，enthusiasticwoman，yourfaithdeservessuccess。
Now，IwillgoandseeyourlittleSpartan。Whereishe？“
“Inmyroom；but，dear，you’llbeverykindtohim，nomatterhowgruffheseems。Iamsurethatisthewaytoconquerhim。Hewon’tbearsternnessnormuchrestraint，butasoftwordandinfinitepatiencewillleadhimasitusedtoleadme。“
“Asifyoueverlikethislittlerascal!“criedMr。Bhaer，laughing，yethalfangryattheidea。
“Iwasinspirit，thoughIshoweditinadifferentway。Iseemtoknowbyinstincthowhefeels，tounderstandwhatwillwinandtouchhim，andtosympathizewithhistemptationsandfaults。IamgladIdo，foritwillhelpmetohelphim；andifIcanmakeagoodmanofthiswildboy，itwillbethebestworkofmylife。“
“Godblessthework，andhelptheworker!“
Mr。Bhaerspokenowasearnestlyasshehaddone，andbothcameintogethertofindDan’sheaddownuponhisarm，asifhewasquiteovercomebysleep。
Buthelookedupquickly，andtriedtoriseasMr。Bhaersaidpleasantly，；
“SoyoulikePlumfieldbetterthanPage’sfarm。Well，letusseeifwecangetonmorecomfortablythistimethanwedidbefore。“
“Thanky，sir，“saidDan，tryingnottobegruff，andfindingiteasierthanheexpected。
“Now，thefoot!Ach!；thisisnotwell。WemusthaveDr。Firthto-morrow。
Warmwater，Jo，andoldlinen。“
Mr。Bhaerbathedandboundupthewoundedfoot，whileMrs。Jopreparedtheonlyemptybedinthehouse。Itwasinthelittleguest-chamberleadingfromtheparlor，andoftenusedwhentheladswerepoorly，foritsavedMrs。Jofromrunningupanddown，andtheinvalidscouldseewhatwasgoingon。Whenitwasready，Mr。Bhaertooktheboyinhisarms，andcarriedhimin，helpedhimundress，laidhimonthelittlewhitebed，andlefthimwithanotherhand-shake，andafatherly“Good-night，myson。“
Dandroppedasleepatonce，andsleptheavilyforseveralhours；thenhisfootbegantothrobandache，andheawoketotossaboutuneasily，tryingnottogroanlestanyoneshouldhearhim，forhewasabravelad，anddidbearpainlike“alittleSpartan，“asMr。Bhaercalledhim。
Mrs。Johadawayofflittingaboutthehouseatnight，toshutthewindowsifthewindgrewchilly，todrawmosquitocurtainsoverTeddy，orlookafterTommy，whooccasionallywalkedinhissleep。Theleastnoisewakedher，andassheoftenheardimaginaryrobbers，cats，andconflagrations，thedoorsstoodopenallabout，soherquickearcaughtthesoundofDan’slittlemoans，andshewasupinaminute。Hewasjustgivinghishotpillowadespairingthumpwhenalightcameglimmeringthroughthehall，andMrs。
Jocreptin，lookinglikeadrollghost，withherhairinagreatknobonthetopofherhead，andalonggraydressing-gowntrailingbehindher。
“Areyouinpain，Dan？“
“It’sprettybad；butIdidn’tmeantowakeyou。“
“I’masortofowl，alwaysflyingaboutatnight。Yes，yourfootislikefire；thebandagesmustbewetagain，“andawayflappedthematernalowlformorecoolingstuff，andagreatmugoficewater。
“Oh，that’ssonice!“sighedDan，thewetbandageswentonagain，andalongdraughtofwatercooledhisthirstythroat。
“There，now，sleepyourbest，anddon’tbefrightenedifyouseemeagain，forI’llslipdownbyandby，andgiveyouanothersprinkle。“
Asshespoke，Mrs。Jostoopedtoturnthepillowandsmooththebed-clothes，when，tohergreatsurprise，Danputhisarmaroundherneck，drewherfacedowntohis，andkissedher，withabroken“Thankyou，ma’am，“whichsaidmorethanthemosteloquentspeechcouldhavedone；forthehastykiss，themutteredwords，meant，“I’msorry，Iwilltry。“Sheunderstoodit，acceptedtheunspokenconfession，anddidnotspoilitbyanytokenofsurprise。Sheonlyrememberedthathehadnomother，kissedthebrowncheekhalfhiddenonthepillow，asifashamedofthelittletouchoftenderness，andlefthim，saying，whathelongremembered，“Youaremyboynow，andifyouchooseyoucanmakemeproudandgladtosayso。“
Onceagain，justatdawn，shestoledowntofindhimsofastasleepthathedidnotwake，andshowednosignofconsciousnessasshewethisfoot，exceptthatthelinesofpainsmoothedthemselvesaway，andlefthisfacequitepeaceful。
ThedaywasSunday，andthehousesostillthatheneverwakedtillnearnoon，and，lookingroundhim，sawaneagerlittlefacepeeringinatthedoor。Heheldouthisarms，andTeddytoreacrosstheroomtocasthimselfbodilyuponthebed，shouting，“MyDanny’stum!“ashehuggedandwriggledwithdelight。Mrs。Bhaerappearednext，bringingbreakfast，andneverseemingtoseehowshamefacedDanlookedatthememoryofthelittlescenelastnight。Teddyinsistedongivinghimhis“betfus，“andfedhimlikeababy，which，ashewasnotveryhungry，Danenjoyedverymuch。
Thencamethedoctor，andthepoorSpartanhadabadtimeofit，forsomeofthelittlebonesinhisfootwereinjured，andputtingthemtorightswassuchapainfuljob，thatDan’slipswerewhite，andgreatdropsstoodonhisforehead，thoughhenevercriedout，andonlyheldMrs。Jo’shandsotightthatitwasredlongafterwards。
“Youmustkeepthisboyquiet，foraweekatleast，andnotlethimputhisfoottotheground。Bythattime，Ishallknowwhetherhemayhopalittlewithacrutch，orsticktohisbedforawhilelonger，“saidDr。
Firth，puttinguptheshininginstrumentsthatDandidnotliketosee。
“Itwillgetwellsometime，won’tit？“heasked，lookingalarmedattheword“crutches。“
“Ihopeso；“andwiththatthedoctordeparted，leavingDanmuchdepressed；
forthelossofafootisadreadfulcalamitytoanactiveboy。
“Don’tbetroubled，Iamafamousnurse，andwewillhaveyoutrampingaboutaswellaseverinamonth，“saidMrs。Jo，takingahopefulviewofthecase。
ButthefearofbeinglamehauntedDan，andevenTeddy’scaressesdidnotcheerhim；soMrs。Joproposedthatoneortwooftheboysshouldcomeinandpayhimalittlevisit，andaskedwhomhewouldliketosee。
“NatandDemi；I’dlikemyhattoo，there’ssomethinginitIguessthey’dliketosee。Isupposeyouthrewawaymybundleofplunder？“saidDan，lookingratheranxiousasheputthequestion。
“No，Ikeptit，forIthoughttheymustbetreasuresofsomekind，youtooksuchcareofthem；“andMrs。Jobroughthimhisoldstrawhatstuckfullofbutterfliesandbeetles，andahandkerchiefcontainingacollectionofoddthingspickeduponhisway：birds’eggs，carefullydoneupinmoss，curiousshellsandstones，bitsoffungus，andseverallittlecrabs，inastateofgreatindignationattheirimprisonment。
“CouldIhavesomethingtoputthesefellersin？Mr。HydeandIfound’em，andtheyarefirst-rateones，soI’dliketokeepandwatch’em；canI？“askedDan，forgettinghisfoot，andlaughingtoseethecrabsgosidlingandbackingoverthebed。
“Ofcourseyoucan；Polly’soldcagewillbejustthething。Don’tletthemnipTeddy’stoeswhileIgetit；“andawaywentMrs。Jo，leavingDanoverjoyedtofindthathistreasureswerenotconsideredrubbish，andthrownaway。
Nat，Demi，andthecagearrivedtogether，andthecrabsweresettledintheirnewhouse，tothegreatdelightoftheboys，who，intheexcitementoftheperformance，forgotanyawkwardnesstheymightotherwisehavefeltingreetingtherunaway。TotheseadmiringlistenersDanrelatedhisadventuresmuchmorefullythanhehaddonetotheBhaers。Thenhedisplayedhis“plunder，“
anddescribedeacharticlesowell，thatMrs。Jo，whohadretiredtothenextroomtoleavethemfree，wassurprisedandinterested，aswellasamused，attheirboyishchatter。
“Howmuchtheladknowsofthesethings!howabsorbedheisinthem!
andwhatamercyitisjustnow，forhecaressolittleforbooks，itwouldbehardtoamusehimwhileheislaidup；buttheboyscansupplyhimwithbeetlesandstonestoanyextent，andIamgladtofindoutthistasteofhis；itisagoodone，andmayperhapsprovethemakingofhim。Ifheshouldturnoutagreatnaturalist，andNatamusician，Ishouldhavecausetobeproudofthisyear’swork；“andMrs。Josatsmilingoverherbookasshebuiltcastlesintheair，justassheusedtodowhenagirl，onlythentheywereforherself，andnowtheywereforotherpeople，whichisthereasonperhapsthatsomeofthemcametopassinreality；forcharityisanexcellentfoundationtobuildanythingupon。
Natwasmostinterestedintheadventures，butDemienjoyedthebeetlesandbutterfliesimmensely，drinkinginthehistoryoftheirchangefullittlelivesasifitwereanewandlovelysortoffairytale；for，eveninhisplainway，Dantolditwell，andfoundgreatsatisfactioninthethoughtthathereatleastthesmallphilosophercouldlearnofhim。Sointerestedweretheyintheaccountofcatchingamuskrat，whoseskinwasamongthetreasures，thatMr。BhaerhadtocomehimselftotellNatandDemiitwastimeforthewalk。DanlookedsowistfullyafterthemastheyranoffthatFatherBhaerproposedcarryinghimtothesofaintheparlorforalittlechangeofairandscene。
Whenhewasestablished，andthehousequiet，Mrs。Jo，whosatnearbyshowingTeddypictures，said，inaninterestedtone，asshenoddedtowardsthetreasuresstillinDan’shands，；
“Wheredidyoulearnsomuchaboutthesethings？“
“Ialwaysliked’em，butdidn’tknowmuchtillMr。Hydetoldme。“
“Oh，hewasamanwholivedroundinthewoodsstudyingthesethings；I
don’tknowwhatyoucallhim；andwroteaboutfrogs，andfishes，andsoon。HestayedatPage’s，andusedtowantmetogoandhelphim，anditwasgreatfun，’causehetoldmeeversomuch，andwasuncommonjollyandwise。HopeI’llseehimagainsometime。“
“Ihopeyouwill，“saidMrs。Jo，forDan’sfacehadbrightenedup，andhewassointerestedinthematterthatheforgothisusualtaciturnity。
“Why，hecouldmakebirdscometohim，andrabbitsandsquirrelsdidn’tmindhimanymorethanifhewasatree。Didyoueverticklealizardwithastraw？“askedDan，eagerly。
“No，butIshouldliketotryit。“
“Well，I’vedoneit，andit’ssofunnytosee’emturnoverandstretchout，theylikeitsomuch。Mr。Hydeusedtodoit；andhe’dmakesnakeslistentohimwhilehewhistled，andheknewjustwhencertainflowerswouldblow，andbeeswouldn’tstinghim，andhe’dtellthewonderfullestthingsaboutfishandflies，andtheIndiansandtherocks。“
“IthinkyouweresofondofgoingwithMr。Hyde，youratherneglectedMr。Page，“saidMrs。Jo，slyly。
“Yes，Idid；IhatedtohavetoweedandhoewhenImightbetrampingroundwithMr。Hyde。Pagethoughtsuchthingssilly，andcalledMr。Hydecrazybecausehe’dlayhourswatchingatroutorabird。“
“Supposeyousaylieinsteadoflay，itisbettergrammar，“
saidMrs。Jo，verygently；andthenadded，“Yes，Pageisathoroughfarmer，andwouldnotunderstandthatanaturalist’sworkwasjustasinteresting，andperhapsjustasimportantashisown。Now，Dan，ifyoureallylovethesethings，asIthinkyoudo，andIamgladtoseeit，youshallhavetimetostudythemandbookstohelpyou；butIwantyoutodosomethingbesides，andtodoitfaithfully，elseyouwillbesorrybyandby，andfindthatyouhavegottobeginagain。“
“Yes，ma’am，“saidDan，meekly，andlookedalittlescaredbytheserioustoneofthelastremarks，forhehatedbooks，yethadevidentlymadeuphismindtostudyanythingsheproposed。
“Doyouseethatcabinetwithtwelvedrawersinit？“wasthenextveryunexpectedquestion。
Dandidseetwotallold-fashionedonesstandingoneithersideofthepiano；heknewthemwell，andhadoftenseennicebitsofstring，nails，brownpaper，andsuchusefulmatterscomeoutofthevariousdrawers。Henoddedandsmiled。Mrs。Jowenton，；
“Well，don’tyouthinkthosedrawerswouldbegoodplacestoputyoureggs，andstones，andshells，andlichens？“
“Oh，splendid，butyouwouldn’tlikemythings’clutterin’round，’asMr。Pageusedtosay，wouldyou？“criedDan，sittinguptosurveytheoldpieceoffurniturewithsparklingeyes。
