For a week Dan only moved from bed to sofa; a long week and ahard one, for the hurt foot was very painful at times, the quiet dayswere very wearisome to the active lad, longing to be out enjoyingthe summer weather, and especially difficult was it to be patient.But Dan did his best, and every one helped him in their variousways; so the time passed, and he was rewarded at last by hearingthe doctor say, on Saturday morning,

"This foot is doing better than I expected. Give the lad the crutchthis afternoon, and let him stump about the house a little."

"Hooray!" shouted Nat, and raced away to tell the other boys thegood news.

Everybody was very glad, and after dinner the whole flockassembled to behold Dan crutch himself up and down the hall afew times before he settled in the porch to hold a sort of levee. Hewas much pleased at the interest and good-will shown him, andbrightened up more and more every minute; for the boys came topay their respects, the little girls fussed about him with stools andcushions, and Teddy watched over him as if he was a frail creatureunable to do anything for himself. They were still sitting andstanding about the steps, when a carriage stopped at the gate, a hatwas waved from it, and with a shout of "Uncle Teddy! UncleTeddy!" Rob scampered down the avenue as fast as his short legswould carry him. All he boys but Dan ran after him to see whoshould be first to open the gate, and in a moment the carriagedrove up with boys swarming all over it, while Uncle Teddy satlaughing in the midst, with his little daughter on his knee.

"Stop the triumphal car and let Jupiter descend," he said, andjumping out ran up the steps to meet Mrs. Bhaer, who stoodsmiling and clapping her hands like a girl.

"How goes it, Teddy?"

"All right, Jo."

Then they shook hands, and Mr. Laurie put Bess into her aunt'sarms, saying, as the child hugged her tight, "Goldilocks wanted tosee you so much that I ran away with her, for I was quite pining fora sight of you myself. We want to play with your boys for an houror so, and to see how 'the old woman who lived in a shoe, and hadso many children she did not know what to do,' is getting on."

"I'm so glad! Play away, and don't get into mischief," answeredMrs. Jo, as the lads crowded round the pretty child, admiring herlong golden hair, dainty dress, and lofty ways, for the little"Princess," as they called her, allowed no one to kiss her, but satsmiling down upon them, and graciously patting their heads withher little, white hands. They all adored her, especially Rob, whoconsidered her a sort of doll, and dared not touch her lest sheshould break, but worshipped her at a respectful distance, madehappy by an occasional mark of favor from her little highness. Asshe immediately demanded to see Daisy's kitchen, she was borneoff by Mrs. Jo, with a train of small boys following. The others, allbut Nat and Demi, ran away to the menagerie and gardens to haveall in order; for Mr. Laurie always took a general survey, andlooked disappointed if things were not flourishing.

Standing on the steps, he turned to Dan, saying like an oldacquaintance, though he had only seen him once or twice before,

"How is the foot?"

"Better, sir."

"Rather tired of the house, aren't you?"

"Guess I am!" and Dan's eyes roved away to the green hills andwoods where he longed to be.

"Suppose we take a little turn before the others come back? Thatbig, easy carriage will be quite safe and comfortable, and a breathof fresh air will do you good. Get a cushion and a shawl, Demi,and let's carry Dan off."

The boys thought it a capital joke, and Dan looked delighted, butasked, with an unexpected burst of virtue,

"Will Mrs. Bhaer like it?"

"Oh, yes; we settled all that a minute ago."

"You didn't say any thing about it, so I don't see how you could,"said Demi, inquisitively.

"We have a way of sending messages to one another, without anywords. It is a great improvement on the telegraph."

"I know it's eyes; I saw you lift your eyebrows, and nod toward thecarriage, and Mrs. Bhaer laughed and nodded back again," criedNat, who was quite at his ease with kind Mr. Laurie by this time.

"Right. Now them, come on," and in a minute Dan found himselfsettled in the carriage, his foot on a cushion on the seat opposite,nicely covered with a shawl, which fell down from the upperregions in a most mysterious manner, just when they wanted it.Demi climbed up to the box beside Peter, the black coachman. Natsat next Dan in the place of honor, while Uncle Teddy would sitopposite, to take care of the foot, he said, but really that he mightstudy the faces before him both so happy, yet so different, forDan's was square, and brown, and strong, while Nat's was long,and fair, and rather weak, but very amiable with its mild eyes andgood forehead.

"By the way, I've got a book somewhere here that you may like tosee," said the oldest boy of the party, diving under the seat andproducing a book which make Dan exclaim,

"Oh! by George, isn't that a stunner?" as he turned the leaves, andsaw fine plates of butterflies, and birds, and every sort ofinteresting insect, colored like life. He was so charmed that heforgot his thanks, but Mr. Laurie did not mind, and was quitesatisfied to see the boy's eager delight, and to hear thisexclamations over certain old friends as he came to them. Natleaned on his shoulder to look, and Demi turned his back to thehorses, and let his feet dangle inside the carriage, so that he mightjoin in the conversation.

When they got among the beetles, Mr. Laurie took a curious littleobject out of his vest-pocket, and laying it in the palm of his hand,said,

"There's a beetle that is thousands of years old;" and then, whilethe lads examined the queer stone-bug, that looked so old andgray, he told them how it came out of the wrappings of a mummy,after lying for ages in a famous tomb. Finding them interested, hewent on to tell about the Egyptians, and the strange and splendidruins they have left behind them the Nile, and how he sailed up themighty river, with the handsome dark men to work his boat; howhe shot alligators, saw wonderful beasts and birds; and afterwardscrossed the desert on a camel, who pitched him about like a ship ina storm.

"Uncle Teddy tells stories 'most as well as Grandpa," said Demi,approvingly, when the tale was done, and the boys' eyes asked formore.

"Thank you," said Mr. Laurie, quite soberly, for he consideredDemi's praise worth having, for children are good critics in suchcases, and to suit them is an accomplishment that any one may beproud of.

"Here's another trifle or two that I tucked into my pocket as I wasturning over my traps to see if I had any thing that would amuseDan," and Uncle Teddy produced a fine arrow-head and a string ofwampum.

"Oh! tell about the Indians," cried Demi, who was fond of playingwigwam.

"Dan knows lots about them," added Nat.

"More than I do, I dare say. Tell us something," and Mr. Laurielooked as interested as the other two.

"Mr. Hyde told me; he's been among 'em, and can talk their talk,and likes 'em," began Dan, flattered by their attention, but ratherembarrassed by having a grown-up listener.

"What is wampum for?" asked curious Demi, from his perch.

The others asked questions likewise, and, before he knew it, Danwas reeling off all Mr. Hyde had told him, as they sailed down theriver a few weeks before. Mr. Laurie listened well, but found theboy more interesting than the Indians, for Mrs. Jo had told himabout Dan, and he rather took a fancy to the wild lad, who ranaway as he himself had often longed to do, and who was slowlygetting tamed by pain and patience.

"I've been thinking that it would be a good plan for you fellows tohave a museum of your own; a place in which to collect all thecurious and interesting things that you find, and make, and havegiven you. Mrs. Jo is too kind to complain, but it is rather hard forher to have the house littered up with all sorts of rattletraps,half-a-pint of dor-bugs in one of her best vases, for instance, acouple of dead bats nailed up in the back entry, wasps neststumbling down on people's heads, and stones lying roundeverywhere, enough to pave the avenue. There are not manywomen who would stand that sort of thing, are there, now?"

As Mr. Laurie spoke with a merry look in his eyes, the boyslaughed and nudged one another, for it was evident that some onetold tales out of school, else how could he know of the existenceof these inconvenient treasures.

"Where can we put them, then?" said Demi, crossing his legs andleaning down to argue the question.

"In the old carriage-house."

"But it leaks, and there isn't any window, nor any place to putthings, and it's all dust and cobwebs," began Nat.

"Wait till Gibbs and I have touched it up a bit, and then see howyou like it. He is to come over on Monday to get it ready; then nextSaturday I shall come out, and we will fix it up, and make thebeginning, at least, of a fine little museum. Every one can bring histhings, and have a place for them; and Dan is to be the head man,because he knows most about such matters, and it will be quiet,pleasant work for him now that he can't knock about much."

"Won't that be jolly?" cried Nat, while Dan smiled all over his faceand had not a word to say, but hugged his book, and looked at Mr.Laurie as if he thought him one of the greatest public benefactorsthat ever blessed the world.

"Shall I go round again, sir?" asked Peter, as they came to the gate,after two slow turns about the half-mile triangle.

"No, we must be prudent, else we can't come again. I must go overthe premises, take a look at the carriage-house, and have a littletalk with Mrs. Jo before I go;" and, having deposited Dan on hissofa to rest and enjoy his book, Uncle Teddy went off to have afrolic with the lads who were raging about the place in search ofhim. Leaving the little girls to mess up-stairs, Mrs. Bhaer sat downby Dan, and listened to his eager account of the drive till the flockreturned, dusty, warm, and much excited about the new museum,which every one considered the most brilliant idea of the age.

"I always wanted to endow some sort of an institution, and I amgoing to begin with this," said Mr. Laurie, sitting down on a stoolat Mrs. Jo's feet.

"You have endowed one already. What do you call this?" and Mrs.Jo pointed to the happy-faced lads, who had camped upon the floorabout him.

"I call it a very promising Bhaer-garden, and I'm proud to be amember of it. Did you know I was the head boy in this school?" heasked, turning to Dan, and changing the subject skilfully, for hehated to be thanked for the generous things he did.

"I thought Franz was!" answered Dan, wondering what the manmeant.

"Oh, dear no! I'm the first boy Mrs. Jo ever had to take care of, andI was such a bad one that she isn't done with me yet, though shehas been working at me for years and years."

"How old she must be!" said Nat, innocently.

"She began early, you see. Poor thing! she was only fifteen whenshe took me, and I led her such a life, it's a wonder she isn'twrinkled and gray, and quite worn out," and Mr. Laurie looked upat her laughing.

"Don't Teddy; I won't have you abuse yourself so;" and Mrs. Jostroked the curly black head at her knee as affectionately as ever,for, in spite of every thing Teddy was her boy still.

"If it hadn't been for you, there never would have been a Plumfield.It was my success with you, sir, that gave me courage to try my petplan. So the boys may thank you for it, and name the newinstitution 'The Laurence Museum,' in honor of its founder, won'twe, boys?" she added, looking very like the lively Jo of old times.

"We will! we will!" shouted the boys, throwing up their hats, forthough they had taken them off on entering the house, according torule, they had been in too much of a hurry to hang them up.

"I'm as hungry as a bear, can't I have a cookie?" asked Mr. Laurie,when the shout subsided and he had expressed his thanks by asplendid bow.

"Trot out and ask Asia for the gingerbread-box, Demi. It isn't inorder to eat between meals, but, on this joyful occasion, we won'tmind, and have a cookie all round," said Mrs. Jo; and when thebox came she dealt them out with a liberal hand, every onemunching away in a social circle.

Suddenly, in the midst of a bite, Mr. Laurie cried out, "Bless myheart, I forgot grandma's bundle!" and running out to the carriage,returned with an interesting white parcel, which, being opened,disclosed a choice collection of beasts, birds, and pretty things cutout of crisp sugary cake, and baked a lovely brown.

"There's one for each, and a letter to tell which is whose. Grandmaand Hannah made them, and I tremble to think what would havehappened to me if I had forgotten to leave them."

Then, amid much laughing and fun, the cakes were distributed. Afish for Dan, a fiddle for Nat, a book for Demi, a money forTommy, a flower for Daisy, a hoop for Nan, who had driven twiceround the triangle without stopping, a star for Emil, who put onairs because he studied astronomy, and, best of all, an omnibus forFranz, whose great delight was to drive the family bus. Stuffy got afat pig, and the little folks had birds, and cats, and rabbits, withblack currant eyes.

"Now I must go. Where is my Goldilocks? Mamma will comeflying out to get her if I'm not back early," said Uncle Teddy, whenthe last crumb had vanished, which it speedily did, you may besure.

The young ladies had gone into the garden, and while they waitedtill Franz looked them up, Jo and Laurie stood at the door talkingtogether.

"How does little Giddy-gaddy come on?" he asked, for Nan'spranks amused him very much, and he was never tired of teasingJo about her.

"Nicely; she is getting quite mannerly, and begins to see the errorof her wild ways."

"Don't the boys encourage her in them?"

"Yes; but I keep talking, and lately she has improved much. Yousaw how prettily she shook hands with you, and how gentle shewas with Bess. Daisy's example has its effect upon her, and I'mquite sure that a few months will work wonders."

Here Mrs. Jo's remarks were cut short by the appearance of Nantearing round the corner at a break-neck pace, driving amettlesome team of four boys, and followed by Daisy trundlingBess in a wheelbarrow. Hat off, hair flying, whip cracking, andbarrow bumping, up they came in a cloud of dust, looking as wilda set of little hoydens as one would wish to see.

"So, these are the model children, are they? It's lucky I didn't bringMrs. Curtis out to see your school for the cultivation of morals andmanners; she would never have recovered from the shock of thisspectacle," said Mr. Laurie, laughing at Mrs. Jo's prematurerejoicing over Nan's improvement.

"Laugh away; I'll succeed yet. As you used to say at College,quoting some professor, 'Though the experiment has failed, theprinciple remains the same,' " said Mrs. Bhaer, joining in themerriment.

"I'm afraid Nan's example is taking effect upon Daisy, instead ofthe other way. Look at my little princess! she has utterly forgottenher dignity, and is screaming like the rest. Young ladies, what doesthis mean?" and Mr. Laurie rescued his small daughter fromimpending destruction, for the four horses were champing theirbits and curvetting madly all about her, as she sat brandishing agreat whip in both hands.

"We're having a race, and I beat," shouted Nan.

"I could have run faster, only I was afraid of spilling Bess,"screamed Daisy.

"Hi! go long!" cried the princess, giving such a flourish with herwhip that the horses ran away, and were seen no more.

"My precious child! come away from this ill-mannered crewbefore you are quite spoilt. Good-by, Jo! Next time I come, I shallexpect to find the boys making patchwork."

"It wouldn't hurt them a bit. I don't give in, mind you; for myexperiments always fail a few times before they succeed. Love toAmy and my blessed Marmee," called Mrs. Jo, as the carriagedrove away; and the last Mr. Laurie saw of her, she was consolingDaisy for her failure by a ride in the wheelbarrow, and looking asif she liked it.

Great was the excitement all the week about the repairs in thecarriage-house, which went briskly on in spite of the incessantquestions, advice, and meddling of the boys. Old Gibbs was nearlydriven wild with it all, but managed to do his work nevertheless;and by Friday night the place was all in order roof mended, shelvesup, walls whitewashed, a great window cut at the back, which letin a flood of sunshine, and gave them a fine view of the brook, themeadows, and the distant hills; and over the great door, painted inred letters, was "The Laurence Museum."

All Saturday morning the boys were planning how it should befurnished with their spoils, and when Mr. Laurie arrived, bringingan aquarium which Mrs. Amy said she was tired of, their rapturewas great.

The afternoon was spent in arranging things, and when the runningand lugging and hammering was over, the ladies were invited tobehold the institution.

It certainly was a pleasant place, airy, clean, and bright. Ahop-vine shook its green bells round the open window, the prettyaquarium stood in the middle of the room, with some delicatewater plants rising above the water, and gold-fish showing theirbrightness as they floated to and fro below. On either side of thewindow were rows of shelves ready to receive the curiosities yet tobe found. Dan's tall cabinet stood before the great door which wasfastened up, while the small door was to be used. On the cabinetstood a queer Indian idol, very ugly, but very interesting; old Mr.Laurence sent it, as well as a fine Chinese junk in full sail, whichhad a conspicuous place on the long table in the middle of theroom. Above, swinging in a loop, and looking as if she was alive,hung Polly, who died at an advanced age, had been carefullystuffed, and was no presented by Mrs. Jo. The walls weredecorated with all sorts of things. A snake's skin, a big wasp's nest,a birch-bark canoe, a string of birds' eggs, wreaths of gray mossfrom the South, and a bunch of cotton-pods. The dead bats had aplace, also a large turtle-shell, and an ostrich-egg proudlypresented by Demi, who volunteered to explain these rarecuriosities to guests whenever they liked. There were so manystones that it was impossible to accept them all, so only a few ofthe best were arranged among the shells on the shelves, the restwere piled up in corners, to be examined by Dan at his leisure.

Every one was eager to give something, even Silas, who sent homefor a stuffed wild-cat killed in his youth. It was rather moth-eatenand shabby, but on a high bracket and best side foremost the effectwas fine, for the yellow glass eyes glared, and the mouth snarledso naturally, that Teddy shook in his little shoes at sight of it, whenhe came bringing his most cherished treasure, one cocoon, to layupon the shrine of science.

"Isn't it beautiful? I'd no idea we had so many curious things. Igave that; don't it look well? We might make a lot by chargingsomething for letting folks see it."

Jack added that last suggestion to the general chatter that went onas the family viewed the room.

"This is a free museum and if there is any speculating on it I'llpaint out the name over the door," said Mr. Laurie, turning soquickly that Jack wished he had held his tongue.

"Hear! hear!" cried Mr. Bhaer.

"Speech! speech!" added Mrs. Jo.

"Can't, I'm too bashful. You give them a lecture yourself you areused to it," Mr. Laurie answered, retreating towards the window,meaning to escape. But she held him fast, and said, laughing as shelooked at the dozen pairs of dirty hands about her,

"If I did lecture, it would on the chemical and cleansing propertiesof soap. Come now, as the founder of the institution, you reallyought to give us a few moral remarks, and we will applaudtremendously."

Seeing that there was no way of escaping, Mr. Laurie looked up atPolly hanging overhead, seemed to find inspiration in the brilliantold bird, and sitting down upon the table, said, in his pleasant way,

"There is one thing I'd like to suggest, boys, and that is, I want youto get some good as well as much pleasure out of this. Just puttingcurious or pretty things here won't do it; so suppose you read upabout them, so that when anybody asks questions you can answerthem, and understand the matter. I used to like these things myself,and should enjoy hearing about them now, for I've forgotten all Ionce knew. It wasn't much, was it, Jo? Here's Dan now, full ofstories about birds, and bugs, and so on; let him take care of themuseum, and once a week the rest of you take turns to read acomposition, or tell about some animal, mineral, or vegetable. Weshould all like that, and I think it would put considerable usefulknowledge into our heads. What do you say, Professor?"

"I like it much, and will give the lads all the help I can. But theywill need books to read up these new subjects, and we have notmany, I fear," began Mr. Bhaer, looking much pleased, planningmany fine lectures on geology, which he liked. "We should have alibrary for the special purpose."

"Is that a useful sort of book, Dan?" asked Mr. Laurie, pointing tothe volume that lay open by the cabinet.

"Oh, yes! it tells all I want to know about insects. I had it here tosee how to fix the butterflies right. I covered it, so it is not hurt;"and Dan caught it up, fearing the lender might think him careless.

"Give it here a minute;" and, pulling out his pencil, Mr. Lauriewrote Dan's name in it, saying, as he set the book up on one of thecorner shelves, where nothing stood but a stuffed bird without atail, "There, that is the beginning of the museum library. I'll huntup some more books, and Demi shall keep them in order. Whereare those jolly little books we used to read, Jo? 'Insect Architecture'or some such name, all about ants having battles, and bees havingqueens, and crickets eating holes in our clothes and stealing milk,and larks of that sort."

"In the garret at home. I'll have them sent out, and we will plungeinto Natural History with a will," said Mrs. Jo, ready for any thing.

"Won't it be hard to write about such things?" asked Nat, whohated compositions.

"At first, perhaps; but you will soon like it. If you think that hard,how would you like to have this subject given to you, as it was to agirl of thirteen: A conversation between Themistocles, Aristides,and Pericles on the proposed appropriation of funds of theconfederacy of Delos for the ornamentation of Athens?" said Mrs.Jo.

The boys groaned at the mere sound of the long names, and thegentlemen laughed at the absurdity of the lesson.

"Did she write it?" asked Demi, in an awe-stricken tone.

"Yes, but you can imagine what a piece of work she make of it,though she was rather a bright child."

"I'd like to have seen it," said Mr. Bhaer.

"Perhaps I can find it for you; I went to school with her," and Mrs.Jo looked so wicked that every one knew who the little girl was.

Hearing of this fearful subject for a composition quite reconciledthe boys to the thought of writing about familiar things.Wednesday afternoon was appointed for the lectures, as theypreferred to call them, for some chose to talk instead of write. Mr.Bhaer promised a portfolio in which the written productionsshould be kept, and Mrs. Bhaer said she would attend the coursewith great pleasure.

Then the dirty-handed society went off the wash, followed by theProfessor, trying to calm the anxiety of Rob, who had been told byTommy that all water was full of invisible pollywogs.

"I like your plan very much, only don't be too generous, Teddy,"said Mrs. Bhaer, when they were left alone. "You know most ofthe boys have got to paddle their own canoes when they leave us,and too much sitting in the lap of luxury will unfit them for it."

"I'll be moderate, but do let me amuse myself. I get desperatelytired of business sometimes, and nothing freshens me up like agood frolic with your boys. I like that Dan very much, Jo. He isn'tdemonstrative; but he has the eye of a hawk, and when you havetamed him a little he will do you credit."

"I'm so glad you think so. Thank you very much for your kindnessto him, especially for this museum affair; it will keep him happywhile he is lame, give me a chance to soften and smooth this poor,rough lad, and make him love us. What did inspire you with such abeautiful, helpful idea, Teddy?" asked Mrs. Bhaer, glancing backat the pleasant room, as she turned to leave it.

Laurie took both her hands in his, and answered, with a look thatmade her eyes fill with happy tears,

"Dear Jo! I have known what it is to be a motherless boy, and Inever can forget how much you and yours have done for me allthese years."