第20章

“Ilikelitterofthatsort；andifIdidn’t，Ishouldgiveyouthedrawers，becauseIhavearegardforchildren’slittletreasures，andI

thinktheyshouldbetreatedrespectfully。Now，Iamgoingtomakeabargainwithyou，Dan，andIhopeyouwillkeepithonorably。Herearetwelvegood-sizeddrawers，oneforeachmonthoftheyear，andtheyshallbeyoursasfastasyouearnthem，bydoingthelittledutiesthatbelongtoyou。Ibelieveinrewardsofacertainkind，especiallyforyoungfolks；theyhelpusalong，andthoughwemaybeginbybeinggoodforthesakeofthereward，ifitisrightlyused，weshallsoonlearntolovegoodnessforitself。“

“Doyouhave’em？“askedDan，lookingasifthiswasnewtalkforhim。

“Yes，indeed!Ihaven’tlearnttogetonwithoutthemyet。Myrewardsarenotdrawers，orpresents，orholidays，buttheyarethingswhichI

likeasmuchasyoudotheothers。ThegoodbehaviorandsuccessofmyboysisoneoftherewardsIlovebest，andIworkforitasIwantyoutoworkforyourcabinet。Dowhatyoudislike，anddoitwell，andyougettworewards，­；one，theprizeyouseeandhold；theother，thesatisfactionofadutycheerfullyperformed。Doyouunderstandthat？“

“Yes，ma’am。“

“Weallneedtheselittlehelps；soyoushalltrytodoyourlessonsandyourwork，playkindlywithalltheboys，anduseyourholidayswell；

andifyoubringmeagoodreport，orifIseeandknowitwithoutwords­；forI’mquicktospyoutthegoodlittleeffortsofmyboys­；youshallhaveacompartmentinthedrawerforyourtreasures。See，somearealreadydividedintofourparts，andIwillhavetheothersmadeinthesameway，aplaceforeachweek；andwhenthedrawerisfilledwithcuriousandprettythings，Ishallbeasproudofitasyouare；prouder，Ithink­；forinthepebbles，mosses，andgaybutterflies，Ishallseegoodresolutionscarriedout，conqueredfaults，andapromisewellkept。Shallwedothis，Dan？“

Theboysansweredwithoneofthelookswhichsaidmuch，foritshowedthathefeltandunderstoodherwishandwords，althoughhedidnotknowhowtoexpresshisinterestandgratitudeforsuchcareandkindness。Sheunderstoodthelook，andseeingbythecolorthatflusheduptohisforeheadthathewastouched，asshewishedhimtobe，shesaidnomoreaboutthatsideofthenewplan，butpulledouttheupperdrawer，dustedit，andsetitontwochairsbeforethesofa，sayingbriskly，­；

“Now，letusbeginatoncebyputtingthosenicebeetlesinasafeplace。

Thesecompartmentswillholdagooddeal，yousee。I’dpinthebutterfliesandbugsroundthesides；theywillbequitesafethere，andleaveroomfortheheavythingsbelow。I’llgiveyousomecottonwool，andcleanpaperandpins，andyoucangetreadyfortheweek’swork。“

“ButIcan’tgoouttofindanynewthings，“saidDan，lookingpiteouslyathisfoot。

“That’strue；nevermind，we’llletthesetreasuresdoforthisweek，andIdaresaytheboyswillbringyouloadsofthingsifyouaskthem。“

“Theydon’tknowtherightsort；besides，ifIlay，no，liehereallthetime，Ican’tworkandstudy，andearnmydrawers。“

“Thereareplentyoflessonsyoucanlearnlyingthere，andseverallittlejobsofworkyoucandoforme。“

“CanI？“andDanlookedbothsurprisedandpleased。

“Youcanlearntobepatientandcheerfulinspiteofpainandnoplay。

YoucanamuseTeddyforme，windcotton，readtomewhenIsew，anddomanythingswithouthurtingyourfoot，whichwillmakethedayspassquickly，andnotbewastedones。“

HereDemiraninwithagreatbutterflyinonehand，andaveryuglylittletoadintheother。

“See，Dan，Ifoundthem，andranbacktogivethemtoyou；aren’ttheybeautifulones？“pantedDemi，alloutofbreath。

Danlaughedatthetoad，andsaidhehadnoplacetoputhim，butthebutterflywasabeauty，andifMrs。Jowouldgivehimabigpin，hewouldstickitrightupinthedrawer。

“Idon’tliketoseethepoorthingstruggleonapin；ifitmustbekilled，letusputitoutofpainatoncewithadropofcamphor，“saidMrs。Jo，gettingoutthebottle。

“Iknowhowtodoit­；Mr。Hydealwayskilled’emthatway­；butIdidn’thaveanycamphor，soIuseapin，“andDangentlypouredadropontheinsect’shead，whenthepalegreenwingsflutteredaninstant，andthengrewstill。

ThisdaintylittleexecutionwashardlyoverwhenTeddyshoutedfromthebedroom，“Oh，thelittletrabsareout，andthebigone’seaten’emallup。“Demiandhisauntrantotherescue，andfoundTeddydancingexcitedlyinachair，whiletwolittlecrabswerescuttlingaboutthefloor，havinggotthroughthewiresofthecage。Athirdwasclingingtothetopofthecage，evidentlyinterrorofhislife，forbelowappearedasadyetfunnysight。ThebigcrabhadwedgedhimselfintothelittlerecesswherePolly’scupusedtostand，andtherehesateatingoneofhisrelationsinthecoolestway。Alltheclawsofthepoorvictimwerepulledoff，andhewasturnedupsidedown，hisuppershellheldinoneclawcloseunderthemouthofthebigcrablikeadish，whileheleisurelyateoutofitwiththeotherclaw，pausingnowandthentoturnhisqueerbulgingeyesfromsidetoside，andtoputoutaslendertongueandlicktheminawaythatmadethechildrenscreamwithlaughter。Mrs。JocarriedthecageinforDantoseethesight，whileDemicaughtandconfinedthewanderersunderaninvertedwash-bowl。

“I’llhavetoletthesefellersgo，forIcan’tkeep’eminthehouse，“

saidDan，withevidentregret。

“I’lltakecareofthemforyou，ifyouwilltellmehow，andtheycanliveinmyturtle-tankjustaswellasnot，“saidDemi，whofoundthemmoreinterestingeventhathisbelovedslowturtles。SoDangavehimdirectionsaboutthewantsandhabitsofthecrabs，andDemiborethemawaytointroducethemtotheirnewhomeandneighbors。“Whatagoodboyheis!“saidDan，carefullysettlingthefirstbutterfly，andrememberingthatDemihadgivenuphiswalktobringittohim。

“Heoughttobe，foragreatdealhasbeendonetomakehimso。“

“He’shadfolkstotellhimthings，andtohelphim；Ihaven’t，“saidDan，withasigh，thinkingofhisneglectedchildhood，athingheseldomdid，andfeelingasifhehadnothadfairplaysomehow。

“Iknowit，dear，andforthatreasonIdon’texpectasmuchfromyouasfromDemi，thoughheisyounger；youshallhaveallthehelpthatwecangiveyounow，andIhopetoteachyouhowtohelpyourselfinthebestway。HaveyouforgottenwhatFatherBhaertoldyouwhenyouwereherebefore，aboutwantingtobegood，andaskingGodtohelpyou？“

“No，ma’am，“verylow。

“Doyoutrythatwaystill？“

“No，ma’am，“lowerstill。

“Willyoudoiteverynighttopleaseme？“

“Yes，ma’am，“verysoberly。

“Ishalldependonit，andIthinkIshallknowifyouarefaithfultoyourpromise，forthesethingsalwaysshowtopeoplewhobelieveinthem，thoughnotawordissaid。Nowhereisapleasantstoryaboutaboywhohurthisfootworsethanyoudidyours；readit，andseehowbravelyheborehistroubles。“

Sheputthatcharminglittlebook，“TheCroftonBoys，“intohishands，andlefthimforanhour，passinginandoutfromtimetotimethathemightnotfeellonely。Dandidnotlovetoread，butsoongotsointerestedthathewassurprisedwhentheboyscamehome。Daisybroughthimanosegayofwildflowers，andNaninsistedonhelpingbringhimhissupper，ashelayonthesofawiththedooropenintothedining-room，sothathecouldseetheladsattable，andtheycouldnodsociallytohimovertheirbreadandbutter。

Mr。Bhaercarriedhimawaytohisbedearly，andTeddycameinhisnight-gowntosaygood-night，forhewenttohislittlenestwiththebirds。

“IwanttosaymyprayerstoDanny；mayI？“heasked；andwhenhismothersaid，“Yes，“thelittlefellowkneltdownbyDan’sbed，andfoldinghischubbyhands，saidsoftly，­；

“PeaseDodbesseverybody，andhepmetobedood。“

Thenhewentawaysmilingwithsleepysweetnessoverhismother’sshoulder。

Butaftertheeveningtalkwasdone，theeveningsongsung，andthehousegrewstillwithbeautifulSundaysilence，Danlayinhispleasantroomwideawake，thinkingnewthoughts，feelingnewhopesanddesiresstirringinhisboyishheart，fortwogoodangelshadenteredin：loveandgratitudebegantheworkwhichtimeandeffortweretofinish；andwithanearnestwishtokeephisfirstpromise，DanfoldedhishandstogetherintheDarkness，andsoftlywhisperedTeddy’slittleprayer，­；

“PleaseGodblesseveryone，andhelpmetobegood。“CHAPTERXIUNCLETEDDY

ForaweekDanonlymovedfrombedtosofa；alongweekandahardone，forthehurtfootwasverypainfulattimes，thequietdayswereverywearisometotheactivelad，longingtobeoutenjoyingthesummerweather，andespeciallydifficultwasittobepatient。ButDandidhisbest，andeveryonehelpedhimintheirvariousways；sothetimepassed，andhewasrewardedatlastbyhearingthedoctorsay，onSaturdaymorning，­；

“ThisfootisdoingbetterthanIexpected。Givetheladthecrutchthisafternoon，andlethimstumpaboutthehousealittle。“

“Hooray!“shoutedNat，andracedawaytotelltheotherboysthegoodnews。

Everybodywasveryglad，andafterdinnerthewholeflockassembledtobeholdDancrutchhimselfupanddownthehallafewtimesbeforehesettledintheporchtoholdasortoflevee。Hewasmuchpleasedattheinterestandgood-willshownhim，andbrightenedupmoreandmoreeveryminute；fortheboyscametopaytheirrespects，thelittlegirlsfussedabouthimwithstoolsandcushions，andTeddywatchedoverhimasifhewasafrailcreatureunabletodoanythingforhimself。Theywerestillsittingandstandingaboutthesteps，whenacarriagestoppedatthegate，ahatwaswavedfromit，andwithashoutof“UncleTeddy!UncleTeddy!“Robscampereddowntheavenueasfastashisshortlegswouldcarryhim。AllheboysbutDanranafterhimtoseewhoshouldbefirsttoopenthegate，andinamomentthecarriagedroveupwithboysswarmingalloverit，whileUncleTeddysatlaughinginthemidst，withhislittledaughteronhisknee。

“StopthetriumphalcarandletJupiterdescend，“hesaid，andjumpingoutranupthestepstomeetMrs。Bhaer，whostoodsmilingandclappingherhandslikeagirl。

“Howgoesit，Teddy？“

“Allright，Jo。“

Thentheyshookhands，andMr。LaurieputBessintoheraunt’sarms，saying，asthechildhuggedhertight，“GoldilockswantedtoseeyousomuchthatIranawaywithher，forIwasquitepiningforasightofyoumyself。Wewanttoplaywithyourboysforanhourorso，andtoseehow’theoldwomanwholivedinashoe，andhadsomanychildrenshedidnotknowwhattodo，’isgettingon。“

“I’msoglad!Playaway，anddon’tgetintomischief，“answeredMrs。

Jo，astheladscrowdedroundtheprettychild，admiringherlonggoldenhair，daintydress，andloftyways，forthelittle“Princess，“astheycalledher，allowednoonetokissher，butsatsmilingdownuponthem，andgraciouslypattingtheirheadswithherlittle，whitehands。Theyalladoredher，especiallyRob，whoconsideredherasortofdoll，anddarednottouchherlestsheshouldbreak，butworshippedheratarespectfuldistance，madehappybyanoccasionalmarkoffavorfromherlittlehighness。

AssheimmediatelydemandedtoseeDaisy’skitchen，shewasborneoffbyMrs。Jo，withatrainofsmallboysfollowing。Theothers，allbutNatandDemi，ranawaytothemenagerieandgardenstohaveallinorder；forMr。Lauriealwaystookageneralsurvey，andlookeddisappointedifthingswerenotflourishing。

Standingonthesteps，heturnedtoDan，sayinglikeanoldacquaintance，thoughhehadonlyseenhimonceortwicebefore，­；

“Howisthefoot？“

“Better，sir。“

“Rathertiredofthehouse，aren’tyou？“

“GuessIam!“andDan’seyesrovedawaytothegreenhillsandwoodswherehelongedtobe。

“Supposewetakealittleturnbeforetheotherscomeback？Thatbig，easycarriagewillbequitesafeandcomfortable，andabreathoffreshairwilldoyougood。Getacushionandashawl，Demi，andlet’scarryDanoff。“

Theboysthoughtitacapitaljoke，andDanlookeddelighted，butasked，withanunexpectedburstofvirtue，­；

“WillMrs。Bhaerlikeit？“

“Oh，yes；wesettledallthataminuteago。“