Dan put on his devil-may-care look, and would not own that there
was much harm done.
Now, of all things, Mr. Bhaer hated drinking, gambling, and
swearing; smoking he had given up that the lads might not be
tempted to try it, and it grieved and angered him deeply to find that
the boy, with whom he had tried to be most forbearing, should take
advantage of his absence to introduce these forbidden vices, and
teach his innocent little lads to think it manly and pleasant to
indulge in them. He talked long and earnestly to the assembled
boys, and ended by saying, with an air of mingled firmness and
regret,
“I think Tommy is punished enough, and that scar on his arm will
remind him for a long time to let these things alone. Nat’s fright
will do for him, for he is really sorry, and does try to obey me. But
you, Dan, have been many times forgiven, and yet it does no good.
I cannot have my boys hurt by your bad example, nor my time
wasted in talking to deaf ears, so you can say good-bye to them all,
and tell Nursey to put up your things in my little black bag.”
“Oh! sir, where is he going?” cried Nat.
“To a pleasant place up in the country, where I sometimes send
boys when they don’t do well here. Mr. Page is a kind man, and
Dan will be happy there if he chooses to do his best.”
“Will he ever come back?” asked Demi.
“That will depend on himself; I hope so.”
As he spoke, Mr. Bhaer left the room to write his letter to Mr.
Page, and the boys crowded round Dan very much as people do
about a man who is going on a long and perilous journey to
unknown regions.
“I wonder if you’ll like it,” began Jack.
“Shan’t stay if I don’t,” said Dan coolly.
“Where will you go?” asked Nat.
“I may go to sea, or out west, or take a look at California,”
answered Dan, with a reckless air that quite took away the breath
of the little boys.
“Oh, don’t! stay with Mr. Page awhile and then come back here;
do, Dan,” pleaded Nat, much affected at the whole affair.
“I don’t care where I go, or how long I stay, and I’ll be hanged if I
ever come back here,” with which wrathful speech Dan went away
to put up his things, every one of which Mr. Bhaer had given him.
That was the only good-bye he gave the boys, for they were all
talking the matter over in the barn when he came down, and he
told Nat not to call them. The wagon stood at the door, and Mrs.
Bhaer came out to speak to Dan, looking so sad that his heart
smote him, and he said in a low tone,
“May I say good-bye to Teddy?”
“Yes, dear; go in and kiss him, he will miss his Danny very much.”
No one saw the look in Dan’s eyes as he stooped over the crib, and
saw the little face light up at first sight of him, but he heard Mrs.
Bhaer say pleadingly,
“Can’t we give the poor lad one more trial, Fritz?” and Mr. Bhaer
answer in his steady way,
“My dear, it is not best, so let him go where he can do no harm to
others, while they do good to him, and by and by he shall come
back, I promise you.”
“He’s the only boy we ever failed with, and I am so grieved, for I
thought there was the making of a fine man in him, spite of his
faults.”
Dan heard Mrs. Bhaer sigh, and he wanted to ask for one more
trial himself, but his pride would not let him, and he came out with
the hard look on his face, shook hands without a word, and drove
away with Mr. Bhaer, leaving Nat and Mrs. Jo to look after him
with tears in their eyes.
A few days afterwards they received a letter from Mr. Page, saying
that Dan was doing well, whereat they all rejoiced. But three