“‘Yes, I have a little sum here for some poor orphans. I wish it was
my own, I would so gladly give you some of it. I am not rich, but I
know many of the trials of the poor; this five dollars is mine, and I
want to give it to you for your children.’
“The hard, hungry look in the man’s eyes changed to a grateful one
as he took the small sum, freely given, and left the orphans’ money
untouched. He rode on with Grandfather till they approached the
town, then he asked to be set down. Grandpa shook hands with
him, and was about to drive on, when the man said, as if
something made him, ‘I was desperate when we met, and I meant
to rob you, but you were so kind I couldn’t do it. God bless you, sir,
for keeping me from it!’ ”
“Did Grandpa ever see him again?” asked Daisy, eagerly.
“No; but I believe the man found work, and did not try robbery any
more.”
“That was a curious way to treat him; I’d have knocked him down,”
said Dan.
“Kindness is always better than force. Try it and see,” answered
Mr. Bhaer, rising.
“Tell another, please,” cried Daisy.
“You must, Aunt Jo did,” added Demi.
“Then I certainly won’t, but keep my others for next time. Too
many tales are as bad as too many bonbons. I have paid my forfeit
and I go,” and Mr. Bhaer ran for his life, with the whole flock in
full pursuit. He had the start, however, and escaped safely into his
study, leaving the boys to go rioting back again.
They were so stirred up by the race that they could not settle to
their former quiet, and a lively game of Blindman’s Buff followed,
in which Tommy showed that he had taken the moral of the last
story to heart, for, when he caught Nan, he whispered in her ear,
“I’m sorry I called you a cross-patch.”
Nan was not to be outdone in kindness, so, when they played
“Button, button, who’s got the button?” and it was her turn to go
round, she said, “Hold fast all I give you,” with such a friendly
smile at Tommy, that he was not surprised to find the horse-hair
ring in his hand instead of the button. He only smiled back at her
then, but when they were going to bed, he offered Nan the best bite
of his last apple; she saw the ring on his stumpy little finger,
accepted the bite, and peace was declared. Both were ashamed of
the temporary coldness, neither was ashamed to say, “I was wrong,
forgive me,” so the childish friendship remained unbroken, and the
home in the willow lasted long, a pleasant little castle in the air.
CHAPTER XXI THANKSGIVING
This yearly festival was always kept at Plumfield in the good
old-fashioned way, and nothing was allowed to interfere with it.
For days beforehand, the little girls helped Asia and Mrs. Jo in
store-room and kitchen, making pies and puddings, sorting fruit,
dusting dishes, and being very busy and immensely important. The
boys hovered on the outskirts of the forbidden ground, sniffing the
savory odors, peeping in at the mysterious performances, and
occasionally being permitted to taste some delicacy in the process
of preparation.
Something more than usual seemed to be on foot this year, for the
girls were as busy up-stairs as down, so were the boys in
school-room and barn, and a general air of bustle pervaded the
house. There was a great hunting up of old ribbons and finery,
much cutting and pasting of gold paper, and the most remarkable
quantity of straw, gray cotton, flannel, and big black beads, used
by Franz and Mrs. Jo. Ned hammered at strange machines in the
workshop, Demi and Tommy went about murmuring to themselves
as if learning something. A fearful racket was heard in Emil’s room
at intervals, and peals of laughter from the nursery when Rob and
Teddy were sent for and hidden from sight whole hours at a time.
But the thing that puzzled Mr. Bhaer the most was what became of
Rob’s big pumpkin. It had been borne in triumph to the kitchen,