sofa to rest and enjoy his book, Uncle Teddy went off to have a
frolic with the lads who were raging about the place in search of
him. Leaving the little girls to mess up-stairs, Mrs. Bhaer sat down
by Dan, and listened to his eager account of the drive till the flock
returned, 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 am
going to begin with this,” said Mr. Laurie, sitting down on a stool
at 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 floor
about him.
“I call it a very promising Bhaer-garden, and I’m proud to be a
member of it. Did you know I was the head boy in this school?” he
asked, turning to Dan, and changing the subject skilfully, for he
hated to be thanked for the generous things he did.
“I thought Franz was!” answered Dan, wondering what the man
meant.
“Oh, dear no! I’m the first boy Mrs. Jo ever had to take care of, and
I was such a bad one that she isn’t done with me yet, though she
has 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 when
she took me, and I led her such a life, it’s a wonder she isn’t
wrinkled and gray, and quite worn out,” and Mr. Laurie looked up
at her laughing.
“Don’t Teddy; I won’t have you abuse yourself so;” and Mrs. Jo
stroked 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 pet
plan. So the boys may thank you for it, and name the new
institution ‘The Laurence Museum,’ in honor of its founder, won’t
we, boys?” she added, looking very like the lively Jo of old times.
“We will! we will!” shouted the boys, throwing up their hats, for
though they had taken them off on entering the house, according to
rule, 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 a
splendid bow.
“Trot out and ask Asia for the gingerbread-box, Demi. It isn’t in
order to eat between meals, but, on this joyful occasion, we won’t
mind, and have a cookie all round,” said Mrs. Jo; and when the
box came she dealt them out with a liberal hand, every one
munching away in a social circle.
Suddenly, in the midst of a bite, Mr. Laurie cried out, “Bless my
heart, 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 cut
out of crisp sugary cake, and baked a lovely brown.
“There’s one for each, and a letter to tell which is whose. Grandma
and Hannah made them, and I tremble to think what would have
happened to me if I had forgotten to leave them.”
Then, amid much laughing and fun, the cakes were distributed. A
fish for Dan, a fiddle for Nat, a book for Demi, a money for
Tommy, a flower for Daisy, a hoop for Nan, who had driven twice
round the triangle without stopping, a star for Emil, who put on
airs because he studied astronomy, and, best of all, an omnibus for
Franz, whose great delight was to drive the family bus. Stuffy got a
fat pig, and the little folks had birds, and cats, and rabbits, with
black currant eyes.
“Now I must go. Where is my Goldilocks? Mamma will come
flying out to get her if I’m not back early,” said Uncle Teddy, when