The old tree saw and heard a good many little scenes andconfidences that summer, because it became the favorite retreat ofall the children, and the willow seemed to enjoy it, for a pleasantwelcome always met them, and the quiet hours spent in its armsdid them all good. It had a great deal of company one Saturdayafternoon, and some little bird reported what went on there.

First came Nan and Daisy with their small tubs and bits of soap,for now and then they were seized with a tidy fit, and washed upall their dolls' clothes in the brook. Asia would not have them"slopping round" in her kitchen, and the bath-room was forbiddensince Nan forgot to turn off the water till it overflowed and camegently dripping down through the ceiling. Daisy wentsystematically to work, washing first the white and then thecolored things, rinsing them nicely, and hanging them to dry on acord fastened from one barberry-bush to another, and pinning themup with a set of tiny clothes-pins Ned had turned for her. But Nanput all her little things to soak in the same tub, and then forgotthem while she collected thistledown to stuff a pillow forSemiramis, Queen of Babylon, as one doll was named. This tooksome time, and when Mrs. Giddy-gaddy came to take out herclothes, deep green stains appeared on every thing, for she hadforgotten the green silk lining of a certain cape, and its color hadsoaked nicely into the pink and blue gowns, the little chemises,and even the best ruffled petticoat.

"Oh me! what a mess!" sighed Nan.

"Lay them on the grass to bleach," said Daisy, with an air ofexperience.

"So I will, and we can sit up in the nest and watch that they don'tblow away."

The Queen of Babylon's wardrobe was spread forth upon the bank,and, turning up their tubs to dry, the little washerwomen climbedinto the nest, and fell to talking, as ladies are apt to do in thepauses of domestic labor.

"I'm going to have a feather-bed to go with my new pillow," saidMrs. Giddy-gaddy, as she transferred the thistledown from herpocket to her handkerchief, losing about half in the process.

"I wouldn't; Aunt Jo says feather-beds aren't healthy. I never let mychildren sleep on any thing but a mattress," returned Mrs.Shakespeare Smith, decidedly.

"I don't care; my children are so strong they often sleep on thefloor, and don't mind it," (which was quite true). "I can't affordnine mattresses, and I like to make beds myself."

"Won't Tommy charge for the feathers?"

"May be he will, but I shan't pay him, and he won't care," returnedMrs. G., taking a base advantage of the well-known good nature ofT. Bangs.

"I think the pink will fade out of that dress sooner than the greenmark will," observed Mrs. S., looking down from her perch, andchanging the subject, for she and her gossip differed on manypoints, and Mrs. Smith was a discreet lady.

"Never mind; I'm tired of dolls, and I guess I shall put them allaway and attend to my farm; I like it rather better than playinghouse," said Mrs. G., unconsciously expressing the desire of manyolder ladies, who cannot dispose of their families so easilyhowever.

"But you mustn't leave them; they will die without their mother,"cried the tender Mrs. Smith.

"Let 'em die then; I'm tired of fussing over babies, and I'm going toplay with the boys; they need me to see to 'em," returned thestrong-minded lady.

Daisy knew nothing about women's rights; she quietly took all shewanted, and no one denied her claim, because she did notundertake what she could not carry out, but unconsciously used theall-powerful right of her own influence to win from others anyprivilege for which she had proved her fitness. Nan attempted allsorts of things, undaunted by direful failures, and clamoredfiercely to be allowed to do every thing that the boys did. Theylaughed at her, hustled her out of the way, and protested againsther meddling with their affairs. But she would not be quenchedand she would be heard, for her will was strong, and she had thespirit of a rampant reformer. Mrs. Bhaer sympathized with her, buttired to curb her frantic desire for entire liberty, showing her thatshe must wait a little, learn self-control, and be ready to use herfreedom before she asked for it. Nan had meek moments when sheagreed to this, and the influences at work upon her were graduallytaking effect. She no longer declared that she would beengine-driver or a blacksmith, but turned her mind to farming, andfound in it a vent for the energy bottled up in her active little body.It did not quite satisfy her, however; for her sage and sweetmarjoram were dumb things, and could not thank her for her care.She wanted something human to love, work for, and protect, andwas never happier than when the little boys brought their cutfingers, bumped heads, or bruised joints for her to "mend-up."Seeing this, Mrs. Jo proposed that she should learn how to do itnicely, and Nursey had an apt pupil in bandaging, plastering, andfomenting. The boys began to call her "Dr. Giddy-gaddy," and sheliked it so well that Mrs. Jo one day said to the Professor

"Fritz, I see what we can do for that child. She wants something tolive for even now, and will be one of the sharp, strong,discontented women if she does not have it. Don't let us snub herrestless little nature, but do our best to give her the work she likes,and by and by persuade her father to let her study medicine. Shewill make a capital doctor, for she has courage, strong nerves, atender heart, and an intense love and pity for the weak andsuffering."

Mr. Bhaer smiled at first, but agreed to try, and gave Nan anherb-garden, teaching her the various healing properties of theplants she tended, and letting her try their virtues on the children inthe little illnesses they had from time to time. She learned fast,remembered well, and showed a sense and interest mostencouraging to her Professor, who did not shut his door in her facebecause she was a little woman.

She was thinking of this, as she sat in the willow that day, andwhen Daisy said in her gentle way

"I love to keep house, and mean to have a nice one for Demi whenwe grow up and live together."

Nan replied with decision

"Well, I haven't got any brother, and I don't want any house to fussover. I shall have an office, with lots of bottles and drawers andpestle things in it, and I shall drive round in a horse and chaise andcure sick people. That will be such fun."

"Ugh! how can you bear the bad-smelling stuff and the nasty littlepowders and castor-oil and senna and hive syrup?" cried Daisy,with a shudder.

"I shan't have to take any, so I don't care. Besides, they makepeople well, and I like to cure folks. Didn't my sage-tea makeMother Bhaer's headache go away, and my hops stop Ned'stoothache in five hours? So now!"

"Shall you put leeches on people, and cut off legs and pull outteeth?" asked Daisy, quaking at the thought.

"Yes, I shall do every thing; I don't care if the people are allsmashed up, I shall mend them. My grandpa was a doctor, and Isaw him sew a great cut in a man's cheek, and I held the sponge,and wasn't frightened a bit, and Grandpa said I was a brave girl."

"How could you? I'm sorry for sick people, and I like to nursethem, but it makes my legs shake so I have to run away. I'm not abrave girl," sighed Daisy.

"Well, you can be my nurse, and cuddle my patients when I havegiven them the physic and cut off their legs," said Nan, whosepractice was evidently to be of the heroic kind.

"Ship ahoy! Where are you, Nan?" called a voice from below.

"Here we are."

"Ay, ay!" said the voice, and Emil appeared holding one hand inthe other, with his face puckered up as if in pain.

"Oh, what's the matter?" cried Daisy, anxiously.

"A confounded splinter in my thumb. Can't get it out. Take a pickat it, will you, Nanny?"

"It's in very deep, and I haven't any needle," said Nan, examining atarry thumb with interest.

"Take a pin," said Emil, in a hurry.

"No, it's too big and hasn't got a sharp point."

Here Daisy, who had dived into her pocket, presented a neat littlehousewife with four needles in it.

"You are the Posy who always has what we want," said Emil; andNan resolved to have a needle-book in her own pocket henceforth,for just such cases as this were always occurring in her practice.

Daisy covered her eyes, but Nan probed and picked with a steadyhand, while Emil gave directions not down in any medical work orrecord.

"Starboard now! Steady, boys, steady! Try another tack. Heave ho!there she is!"

"Suck it," ordered the Doctor, surveying the splinter with anexperienced eye.

"Too dirty," responded the patient, shaking his bleeding hand.

"Wait; I'll tie it up if you have got a handkerchief."

"Haven't; take one of those rags down there."

"Gracious! no, indeed; they are doll's clothes," cried Daisy,indignantly.

"Take one of mine; I'd like to have you," said Nan; and swinginghimself down, Emil caught up the first "rag" he saw. It happenedto be the frilled skirt; but Nan tore it up without a murmur; andwhen the royal petticoat was turned into a neat little bandage, shedismissed her patient with the command

"Keep it wet, and let it alone; then it will heal right up, and not besore."

"What do you charge?" asked the Commodore, laughing.

"Nothing; I keep a 'spensary; that is a place where poor people aredoctored free gratis for nothing," explained Nan, with an air.

"Thank you, Doctor Giddy-gaddy. I'll always call you in when Icome to grief;" and Emil departed, but looked back to say for onegood turn deserves another "Your duds are blowing away, Doctor."

Forgiving the disrespectful word, "duds," the ladies hastilydescended, and, gathering up their wash, retired to the house to fireup the little stove, and go to ironing.

A passing breath of air shook the old willow, as if it laughed softlyat the childish chatter which went on in the nest, and it had hardlycomposed itself when another pair of birds alighted for aconfidential twitter.

"Now, I'll tell you the secret," began Tommy, who was "swellin'wisibly" with the importance of his news.

"Tell away," answered Nat, wishing he had brought his fiddle, itwas so shady and quiet here.

"Well, we fellows were talking over the late interesting case ofcircumstantial evidence," said Tommy, quoting at random from aspeech Franz had made at the club, "and I proposed giving Dansomething to make up for our suspecting him, to show our respect,and so on, you know something handsome and useful, that hecould keep always and be proud of. What do you think we chose?"

"A butterfly-net; he wants one ever so much," said Nat, looking alittle disappointed, for he meant to get it himself.

"No, sir; it's to be a microscope, a real swell one, that we seewhat-do-you-call-'ems in water with, and stars, and ant-eggs, andall sorts of games, you know. Won't it be a jolly good present?"said Tommy, rather confusing microscopes and telescopes in hisremarks.

"Tip-top! I'm so glad! Won't it cost a heap, though?" cried Nat,feeling that his friend was beginning to be appreciated.

"Of course it will; but we are all going to give something. I headedthe paper with my five dollars; for if it is done at all, it must bedone handsome."

"What! all of it? I never did see such a generous chap as you are;"and Nat beamed upon him with sincere admiration.

"Well, you see, I've been so bothered with my property, that I'mtired of it, and don't mean to save up any more, but give it away asI go along, and then nobody will envy me, or want to steal it, and Ishan't be suspecting folks and worrying about my old cash,"replied Tommy, on whom the cares and anxieties of a millionaireweighed heavily.

"Will Mr. Bhaer let you do it?"

"He thought it was a first-rate plan, and said that some of the bestmen he knew preferred to do good with their money instead oflaying it up to be squabbled over when they died."

"Your father is rich; does he do that way?"

"I'm not sure; he gives me all I want; I know that much. I'm goingto talk to him about it when I go home. Anyhow, I shall set him agood example;" and Tommy was so serious, that Nat did not dareto laugh, but said, respectfully

"You will be able to do ever so much with your money, won'tyou?"

"So Mr. Bhaer said, and he promised to advise me about usefulways of spending it. I'm going to begin with Dan; and next time Iget a dollar or so, I shall do something for Dick, he's such a goodlittle chap, and only has a cent a week for pocket-money. He can'tearn much, you know; so I'm going to kind of see to him;" andgood-hearted Tommy quite longed to begin.

"I think that's a beautiful plan, and I'm not going to try to buy afiddle any more; I'm going to get Dan his net all myself, and ifthere is any money left, I'll do something to please poor Billy. He'sfond of me, and though he isn't poor, he'd like some little thingfrom me, because I can make out what he wants better than therest of you." And Nat fell to wondering how much happiness couldbe got out of his precious three dollars.

"So I would. Now come and ask Mr. Bhaer if you can't go in townwith me on Monday afternoon, so you can get the net, while I getthe microscope. Franz and Emil are going too, and we'll have ajolly time larking round among the shops."

The lads walked away arm-in-arm, discussing the new plans withdroll importance, yet beginning already to feel the sweetsatisfaction which comes to those who try, no matter how humbly,to be earthly providences to the poor and helpless, and gild theirmite with the gold of charity before it is laid up where thievescannot break through and steal.

"Come up and rest while we sort the leaves; it's so cool andpleasant here," said Demi, as he and Dan came sauntering homefrom a long walk in the woods.

"All right!" answered Dan, who was a boy of few words, and upthey went.

"What makes birch leaves shake so much more than the others?"asked inquiring Demi, who was always sure of an answer fromDan.

"They are hung differently. Don't you see the stem where it joinsthe leaf is sort of pinched one way, and where it joins the twig, it ispinched another. This makes it waggle with the least bit of wind,but the elm leaves hang straight, and keep stiller."

"How curious! will this do so?" and Demi held up a sprig ofacacia, which he had broken from a little tree on the lawn, becauseit was so pretty.

"No; that belongs to the sort that shuts up when you touch it. Drawyour finger down the middle of the stem, and see if the leaves don'tcurl up," said Dan, who was examining a bit of mica.

Demi tried it, and presently the little leaves did fold together, tillthe spray showed a single instead of a double line of leaves.

"I like that; tell me about the others. What do these do?" askedDemi, taking up a new branch.

"Feed silk-worms; they live on mulberry leaves, till they begin tospin themselves up. I was in a silk-factory once, and there wererooms full of shelves all covered with leaves, and worms eatingthem so fast that it made a rustle. Sometimes they eat so muchthey die. Tell that to Stuffy," and Dan laughed, as he took upanother bit of rock with a lichen on it.

"I know one thing about this mullein leaf: the fairies use them forblankets," said Demi, who had not quite given up his faith in theexistence of the little folk in green.

"If I had a microscope, I'd show you something prettier thanfairies," said Dan, wondering if he should ever own that covetedtreasure. "I knew an old woman who used mullein leaves for anight-cap because she had face-ache. She sewed them together,and wore it all the time."

"How funny! was she your grandmother?"

"Never had any. She was a queer old woman, and lived alone in alittle tumble-down house with nineteen cats. Folks called her awitch, but she wasn't, though she looked like an old rag-bag. Shewas real kind to me when I lived in that place, and used to let meget warm at her fire when the folks at the poorhouse were hard onme."

"Did you live in a poorhouse?"

"A little while. Never mind that I didn't mean to speak of it;" andDan stopped short in his unusual fit of communicativeness.

"Tell about the cats, please," said Demi, feeling that he had askedan unpleasant question, and sorry for it.

"Nothing to tell; only she had a lot of 'em, and kept 'em in a barrelnights; and I used to go and tip over the barrel sometimes, and let'em out all over the house, and then she'd scold, and chase 'em andput 'em in again, spitting and yowling like fury."

"Was she good to them?" asked Demi, with a hearty child's laugh,pleasant to hear.

"Guess she was. Poor old soul! she took in all the lost and sick catsin the town; and when anybody wanted one they went to MarmWebber, and she let 'em pick any kind and color they wanted, andonly asked ninepence, she was glad to have her pussies get a goodhome."

"I should like to see Marm Webber. Could I, if I went to thatplace?"

"She's dead. All my folks are," said Dan, briefly.

"I'm sorry;" and Demi sat silent a minute, wondering what subjectwould be safe to try next. He felt delicate about speaking of thedeparted lady, but was very curious about the cats, and could notresist asking softly

"Did she cure the sick ones?"

"Sometimes. One had a broken leg, and she tied it up to a stick,and it got well; and another had fits, and she doctored it with yarbstill it was cured. But some of 'em died, and she buried 'em; andwhen they couldn't get well, she killed 'em easy."

"How?" asked Demi, feeling that there was a peculiar charm aboutthis old woman, and some sort of joke about the cats, because Danwas smiling to himself.

"A kind lady, who was fond of cats, told her how, and gave hersome stuff, and sent all her own pussies to be killed that way.Marm used to put a sponge wet with ether, in the bottom of an oldboot, then poke puss in head downwards. The ether put her tosleep in a jiffy, and she was drowned in warm water before shewoke up."

"I hope the cats didn't feel it. I shall tell Daisy about that. You haveknown a great many interesting things, haven't you?" asked Demi,and fell to meditating on the vast experience of a boy who had runaway more than once, and taken care of himself in a big city.

"Wish I hadn't sometimes."

"Why? Don't remembering them feel good?"

"No."

"It's very singular how hard it is to manage your mind," said Demi,clasping his hands round his knees, and looking up at the sky as iffor information upon his favorite topic.

"Devilish hard no, I don't mean that;" and Dan bit his lips, for theforbidden word slipped out in spite of him, and he wanted to bemore careful with Demi than with any of the other boys.

"I'll play I didn't hear it," said Demi; "and you won't do it again, I'msure."

"Not if I can help it. That's one of the things I don't want toremember. I keep pegging away, but it don't seem to do muchgood;" and Dan looked discouraged.

"Yes, it does. You don't say half so many bad words as you usedto; and Aunt Jo is pleased, because she said it was a hard habit tobreak up."

"Did she?" and Dan cheered up a bit.

"You must put swearing away in your fault-drawer, and lock it up;that's the way I do with my badness."

"What do you mean?" asked Dan, looking as if he found Demialmost as amusing as a new sort of cockchafer or beetle.

"Well, it's one of my private plays, and I'll tell you, but I thinkyou'll laugh at it," began Demi, glad to hold forth on this congenialsubject. "I play that my mind is a round room, and my soul is alittle sort of creature with wings that lives in it. The walls are fullof shelves and drawers, and in them I keep my thoughts, and mygoodness and badness, and all sorts of things. The goods I keepwhere I can see them, and the bads I lock up tight, but they get out,and I have to keep putting them in and squeezing them down, theyare so strong. The thoughts I play with when I am alone or in bed,and I make up and do what I like with them. Every Sunday I putmy room in order, and talk with the little spirit that lives there, andtell him what to do. He is very bad sometimes, and won't mind me,and I have to scold him, and take him to Grandpa. He alwaysmakes him behave, and be sorry for his faults, because Grandpalikes this play, and gives me nice things to put in the drawers, andtells me how to shut up the naughties. Hadn't you better try thatway? It's a very good one;" and Demi looked so earnest and full offaith, that Dan did not laugh at his quaint fancy, but said, soberly,

"I don't think there is a lock strong enough to keep my badnessshut up. Any way my room is in such a clutter I don't know how toclear it up."

"You keep your drawers in the cabinet all spandy nice; why can'tyou do the others?"

"I ain't used to it. Will you show me how?" and Dan looked as ifinclined to try Demi's childish way of keeping a soul in order.

"I'd love to, but I don't know how, except to talk as Grandpa does. Ican't do it good like him, but I'll try."

"Don't tell any one; only now and then we'll come here and talkthings over, and I'll pay you for it by telling all I know about mysort of things. Will that do?" and Dan held out his big, rough hand.

Demi gave his smooth, little hand readily, and the league wasmade; for in the happy, peaceful world where the younger boylived, lions and lambs played together, and little childreninnocently taught their elders.

"Hush!" said Dan, pointing toward the house, as Demi was aboutto indulge in another discourse on the best way of getting badnessdown, and keeping it down; and peeping from their perch, theysaw Mrs. Jo strolling slowly along, reading as she went, whileTeddy trotted behind her, dragging a little cart upside down.

"Wait till they see us," whispered Demi, and both sat still as thepair came nearer, Mrs. Jo so absorbed in her book that she wouldhave walked into the brook if Teddy had not stopped her by saying

"Marmar, I wanter fis."

Mrs. Jo put down the charming book which she had been trying toread for a week, and looked about her for a fishing-pole, beingused to making toys out of nothing. Before she had broken onefrom the hedge, a slender willow bough fell at her feet; and,looking up, she saw the boys laughing in the nest.

"Up! up!" cried Teddy, stretching his arms and flapping his skirtsas if about to fly.

"I'll come down and you come up. I must go to Daisy now;" andDemi departed to rehearse the tale of the nineteen cats, with theexciting boot-and-barrel episodes.

Teddy was speedily whisked up; and then Dan said, laughing,"Come, too; there's plenty of room. I'll lend you a hand."

Mrs. Jo glanced over her shoulder, but no one was in sight; andrather liking the joke of the thing, she laughed back, saying, "Well,if you won't mention it, I think I will;" and with two nimble stepswas in the willow.

"I haven't climbed a tree since I was married. I used to be veryfond of it when I was a girl," she said, looking well-pleased withher shady perch.

"Now, you read if you want to, and I'll take care of Teddy,"proposed Dan, beginning to make a fishing-rod for impatient Baby.

"I don't think I care about it now. What were you and Demi at uphere?" asked Mrs. Jo, thinking, from the sober look on Dan's face,that he had something on his mind.

"Oh! we were talking. I'd been telling him about leaves and things,and he was telling me some of his queer plays. Now, then, Major,fish away;" and Dan finished off his work by putting a big blue flyon the bent pin which hung at the end of the cord he had tied to thewillow-rod.

Teddy leaned down from the tree, and was soon wrapt up inwatching for the fish which he felt sure would come. Dan held himby his little petticoats, lest he should take a "header" into thebrook, and Mrs. Jo soon won him to talk by doing so herself.

"I am so glad you told Demi about 'leaves and things;' it is justwhat he needs; and I wish you would teach him, and take him towalk with you."

"I'd like to, he is so bright; but "

"But what?"

"I didn't think you'd trust me."

"Why not?"

"Well, Demi is so kind of precious, and so good, and I'm such abad lot, I thought you'd keep him away from me."

"But you are not a 'bad lot,' as you say; and I do trust you, Dan,entirely, because you honestly try to improve, and do better andbetter every week."

"Really?" and Dan looked up at her with the cloud of despondencylifting from his face.

"Yes; don't you feel it?"

"I hoped so, but I didn't know."

"I have been waiting and watching quietly, for I thought I'd giveyou a good trial first; and if you stood it, I would give you the bestreward I had. You have stood it well; and now I'm going to trustnot only Demi, but my own boy, to you, because you can teachthem some things better than any of us."

"Can I?" and Dan looked amazed at the idea.

"Demi has lived among older people so much that he needs justwhat you have knowledge of common things, strength, andcourage. He thinks you are the bravest boy he ever saw, andadmires your strong way of doing things. Then you know a greatdeal about natural objects, and can tell him more wonderful talesof birds, and bees, and leaves, and animals, than his story-booksgive him; and, being true, these stories will teach and do him good.Don't you see now how much you can help him, and why I like tohave him with you?"

"But I swear sometimes, and might tell him something wrong. Iwouldn't mean to, but it might slip out, just as 'devil' did a fewminutes ago," said Dan, anxious to do his duty, and let her knowhis shortcomings.

"I know you try not to say or do any thing to harm the little fellow,and here is where I think Demi will help you, because he is soinnocent and wise in his small way, and has what I am trying togive you, dear, good principles. It is never too early to try and plantthem in a child, and never too late to cultivate them in the mostneglected person. You are only boys yet; you can teach oneanother. Demi will unconsciously strengthen your moral sense, youwill strengthen his common sense, and I shall feel as if I hadhelped you both."

Words could not express how pleased and touched Dan was by thisconfidence and praise. No one had ever trusted him before, no onehad cared to find out and foster the good in him, and no one hadsuspected how much there was hidden away in the breast of theneglected boy, going fast to ruin, yet quick to feel and valuesympathy and help. No honor that he might earn hereafter wouldever be half so precious as the right to teach his few virtues andsmall store of learning to the child whom he most respected; andno more powerful restraint could have been imposed upon himthan the innocent companion confided to his care. He foundcourage now to tell Mrs. Jo of the plan already made with Demi,and she was glad that the first step had been so naturally taken.Every thing seemed to be working well for Dan, and she rejoicedover him, because it had seemed a hard task, yet, working on witha firm belief in the possibility of reformation in far older andworse subjects than he, there had come this quick and hopefulchange to encourage her. He felt that he had friends now and aplace in the world, something to live and work for, and, though hesaid little, all that was best and bravest in a character made old bya hard experience responded to the love and faith bestowed onhim, and Dan's salvation was assured.

Their quiet talk was interrupted by a shout of delight from Teddy,who, to the surprise of every one, did actually catch a trout whereno trout had been seen for years. He was so enchanted with hissplendid success that he insisted on showing his prize to the familybefore Asia cooked it for supper; so the three descended and wenthappily away together, all satisfied with the work of that half hour.

Ned was the next visitor to the tree, but he only made a short stay,sitting there at his ease while Dick and Dolly caught a pailful ofgrasshoppers and crickets for him. He wanted to play a joke onTommy, and intended to tuck up a few dozen of the livelycreatures in his bed, so that when Bangs got in he would speedilytumble out again, and pass a portion of the night in chasing"hopper-grasses" round the room. The hunt was soon over, andhaving paid the hunters with a few peppermints apiece Ned retiredto make Tommy's bed.

For an hour the old willow sighed and sung to itself, talked withthe brook, and watched the lengthening shadows as the sun wentdown. The first rosy color was touching its graceful branches whena boy came stealing up the avenue, across the lawn, and, spyingBilly by the brook-side, went to him, saying, in a mysterious tone,

"Go and tell Mr. Bhaer I want to see him down here, please. Don'tlet any one hear."

Billy nodded and ran off, while the boy swung himself up into thetree, and sat there looking anxious, yet evidently feeling the charmof the place and hour. In five minutes, Mr. Bhaer appeared, and,stepping up on the fence, leaned into the nest, saying, kindly,

"I am glad to see you, Jack; but why not come in and meet us all atonce?"

"I wanted to see you first, please, sir. Uncle made me come back. Iknow I don't deserve any thing, but I hope the fellows won't behard upon me."

Poor Jack did not get on very well, but it was evident that he wassorry and ashamed, and wanted to be received as easily aspossible; for his Uncle had thrashed him well and scolded himsoundly for following the example he himself set. Jack had beggednot to be sent back, but the school was cheap, and Mr. Fordinsisted, so the boy returned as quietly as possible, and took refugebehind Mr. Bhaer.

"I hope not, but I can't answer for them, though I will see that theyare not unjust. I think, as Dan and Nat have suffered so much,being innocent, you should suffer something, being guilty. Don'tyou?" asked Mr. Bhaer, pitying Jack, yet feeling he deservedpunishment for a fault which had so little excuse.

"I suppose so, but I sent Tommy's money back, and I said I wassorry, isn't that enough?" said Jack, rather sullenly; for the boy whocould do so mean a thing was not brave enough to bear theconsequences well.

"No; I think you should ask pardon of all three boys, openly andhonestly. You cannot expect them to respect and trust you for atime, but you can live down this disgrace if you try, and I will helpyou. Stealing and lying are detestable sins, and I hope this will be alesson to you. I am glad you are ashamed, it is a good sign; bear itpatiently, and do your best to earn a better reputation."

"I'll have an auction, and sell off all my goods dirt cheap," saidJack, showing his repentance in the most characteristic way.

"I think it would be better to give them away, and begin on a newfoundation. Take 'Honesty is the best policy' for your motto, andlive up to it in act, and word, and thought, and though you don'tmake a cent of money this summer, you will be a rich boy in theautumn," said Mr. Bhaer, earnestly.

It was hard, but Jack consented, for he really felt that cheatingdidn't pay, and wanted to win back the friendship of the boys. Hisheart clung to his possessions, and he groaned inwardly at thethought of actually giving away certain precious things. Askingpardon publicly was easy compared to this; but then he began todiscover that certain other things, invisible, but most valuable,were better property than knives, fish-hooks, or even money itself.So he decided to buy up a little integrity, even at a high price, andsecure the respect of his playmates, though it was not a salablearticle.

"Well, I'll do it," he said, with a sudden air of resolution, whichpleased Mr. Bhaer.

"Good! and I'll stand by you. Now come and begin at once."

And Father Bhaer led the bankrupt boy back into the little world,which received him coldly at first, but slowly warmed to him,when he showed that he had profited by the lesson, and wassincerely anxious to go into a better business with a newstock-in-trade.