CHAPTER XII. HUCKLEBERRIES
There was a great clashing of tin pails, much running to and fro, andfrequent demands for something to eat, one August afternoon, for theboys were going huckleberrying, and made as much stir about it as ifthey were setting out to find the North West Passage.
"Now, my lads, get off as quietly as you can, for Rob is safely outof the way, and won't see you," said Mrs. Bhaer, as she tied Daisy'sbroad-brimmed hat, and settled the great blue pinafore in which she hadenveloped Nan.
But the plan did not succeed, for Rob had heard the bustle, decided togo, and prepared himself, without a thought of disappointment. The troopwas just getting under way when the little man came marching downstairswith his best hat on, a bright tin pail in his hand, and a face beamingwith satisfaction.
"Oh, dear! now we shall have a scene," sighed Mrs. Bhaer, who found hereldest son very hard to manage at times.
"I'm all ready," said Rob, and took his place in the ranks with suchperfect unconsciousness of his mistake, that it really was very hard toundeceive him.
"It's too far for you, my love; stay and take care of me, for I shall beall alone," began his mother.
"You've got Teddy. I'm a big boy, so I can go; you said I might when Iwas bigger, and I am now," persisted Rob, with a cloud beginning to dimthe brightness of his happy face.
"We are going up to the great pasture, and it's ever so far; we don'twant you tagging on," cried Jack, who did not admire the little boys.
"I won't tag, I'll run and keep up. O Mamma! let me go! I want to fillmy new pail, and I'll bring 'em all to you. Please, please, I willbe good!" prayed Robby, looking up at his mother, so grieved anddisappointed that her heart began to fail her.
"But, my deary, you'll get so tired and hot you won't have a good time.Wait till I go, and then we will stay all day, and pick as many berriesas you want."
"You never do go, you are so busy, and I'm tired of waiting. I'd rathergo and get the berries for you all myself. I love to pick 'em, and Iwant to fill my new pail dreffly," sobbed Rob.
The pathetic sight of great tears tinkling into the dear new pail, andthreatening to fill it with salt water instead of huckleberries, touchedall the ladies present. His mother patted the weeper on his back; Daisyoffered to stay home with him; and Nan said, in her decided way,
"Let him come; I'll take care of him."
"If Franz was going I wouldn't mind, for he is very careful; but he ishaying with the father, and I'm not sure about the rest of you," beganMrs. Bhaer.
"It's so far," put in Jack.
"I'd carry him if I was going wish I was," said Dan, with a sigh.
"Thank you, dear, but you must take care of your foot. I wish I couldgo. Stop a minute, I think I can manage it after all;" and Mrs. Bhaerran out to the steps, waving her apron wildly.
Silas was just driving away in the hay-cart, but turned back, and agreedat once, when Mrs. Jo proposed that he should take the whole party tothe pasture, and go for them at five o'clock.
"It will delay your work a little, but never mind; we will pay you inhuckleberry pies," said Mrs. Jo, knowing Silas's weak point.
His rough, brown face brightened up, and he said, with a cheery "Haw!haw!" "Wal now, Mis' Bhaer, if you go to bribin' of me, I shall give inright away."
"Now, boys, I have arranged it so that you can all go," said Mrs. Bhaer,running back again, much relieved, for she loved to make them happy, andalways felt miserable when she had disturbed the serenity of her littlesons; for she believed that the small hopes and plans and pleasuresof children should be tenderly respected by grown-up people, and neverrudely thwarted or ridiculed.
"Can I go?" said Dan, delighted.
"I thought especially of you. Be careful, and never mind the berries,but sit about and enjoy the lovely things which you know how to find allabout you," answered Mrs. Bhaer, who remembered his kind offer to herboy.
"Me too! me too!" sung Rob, dancing with joy, and clapping his preciouspail and cover like castanets.
"Yes, and Daisy and Nan must take good care of you. Be at the bars atfive o'clock, and Silas will come for you all."
Robby cast himself upon his mother in a burst of gratitude, promisingto bring her every berry he picked, and not eat one. Then they were allpacked into the hay-cart, and went rattling away, the brightest faceamong the dozen being that of Rob, as he sat between his two temporarylittle mothers, beaming upon the whole world, and waving his best hat;for his indulgent mamma had not the heart to bereave him of it, sincethis was a gala-day to him.
Such a happy afternoon as they had, in spite of the mishaps whichusually occur on such expeditions! Of course Tommy came to grief,tumbled upon a hornet's nest and got stung; but being used to woe, hebore the smart manfully, till Dan suggested the application of dampearth, which much assuaged the pain. Daisy saw a snake, and flying fromit lost half her berries; but Demi helped her to fill up again, anddiscussed reptiles most learnedly the while. Ned fell out of a tree, andsplit his jacket down the back, but suffered no other fracture. Emil andJack established rival claims to a certain thick patch, and while theywere squabbling about it, Stuffy quickly and quietly stripped the bushesand fled to the protection of Dan, who was enjoying himself immensely.The crutch was no longer necessary, and he was delighted to see howstrong his foot felt as he roamed about the great pasture, full ofinteresting rocks and stumps, with familiar little creatures in thegrass, and well-known insects dancing in the air.
But of all the adventures that happened on this afternoon that whichbefell Nan and Rob was the most exciting, and it long remained one ofthe favorite histories of the household. Having explored the countrypretty generally, torn three rents in her frock, and scratched her facein a barberry-bush, Nan began to pick the berries that shone like big,black beads on the low, green bushes. Her nimble fingers flew, butstill her basket did not fill up as rapidly as she desired, so she keptwandering here and there to search for better places, instead of pickingcontentedly and steadily as Daisy did. Rob followed Nan, for her energysuited him better than his cousin's patience, and he too was anxious tohave the biggest and best berries for Marmar.
"I keep putting 'em in, but it don't fill up, and I'm so tired," saidRob, pausing a moment to rest his short legs, and beginning to thinkhuckleberrying was not all his fancy painted it; for the sun blazed, Nanskipped hither and thither like a grasshopper, and the berries fell outof his pail almost as fast as he put them in, because, in his struggleswith the bushes, it was often upside-down.
"Last time we came they were ever so much thicker over that wall greatbouncers; and there is a cave there where the boys made a fire. Let's goand fill our things quick, and then hide in the cave and let the othersfind us," proposed Nan, thirsting for adventures.
Rob consented, and away they went, scrambling over the wall and runningdown the sloping fields on the other side, till they were hidden amongthe rocks and underbrush. The berries were thick, and at last the pailswere actually full. It was shady and cool down there, and a littlespring gave the thirsty children a refreshing drink out of its mossycup.
"Now we will go and rest in the cave, and eat our lunch," said Nan, wellsatisfied with her success so far.
"Do you know the way?" asked Rob.
"'Course I do; I've been once, and I always remember. Didn't I go andget my box all right?"
That convinced Rob, and he followed blindly as Nan led him over stockand stone, and brought him, after much meandering, to a small recess inthe rock, where the blackened stones showed that fires had been made.
"Now, isn't it nice?" asked Nan, as she took out a bit ofbread-and-butter, rather damaged by being mixed up with nails,fishhooks, stones and other foreign substances, in the young lady'spocket.
"Yes; do you think they will find us soon?" asked Rob, who found theshadowy glen rather dull, and began to long for more society.
"No, I don't; because if I hear them, I shall hide, and have fun makingthem find me."
"P'raps they won't come."
br /> "Don't care; I can get home myself."
"Is it a great way?" asked Rob, looking at his little stubby boots,scratched and wet with his long wandering.
"It's six miles, I guess." Nan's ideas of distance were vague, and herfaith in her own powers great.
"I think we better go now," suggested Rob, presently.
"I shan't till I have picked over my berries;" and Nan began what seemedto Rob an endless task.
"Oh, dear! you said you'd take good care of me," he sighed, as the sunseemed to drop behind the hill all of a sudden.
"Well I am taking good care of you as hard as I can. Don't be cross,child; I'll go in a minute," said Nan, who considered five-year-oldRobby a mere infant compared to herself.
So little Rob sat looking anxiously about him, and waiting patiently,for, spite of some misgivings, he felt great confidence in Nan.
"I guess it's going to be night pretty soon," he observed, as if tohimself, as a mosquito bit him, and the frogs in a neighboring marshbegan to pipe up for the evening concert.
"My goodness me! so it is. Come right away this minute, or they will begone," cried Nan, looking up from her work, and suddenly perceiving thatthe sun was down.
"I heard a horn about an hour ago; may be they were blowing for us,"said Rob, trudging after his guide as she scrambled up the steep hill.
"Where was it?" asked Nan, stopping short.
"Over that way;" he pointed with a dirty little finger in an entirelywrong direction.
"Let's go that way and meet them;" and Nan wheeled about, and began totrot through the bushes, feeling a trifle anxious, for there were somany cow-paths all about she could not remember which way they came.
On they went over stock and stone again, pausing now and then to listenfor the horn, which did not blow any more, for it was only the moo of acow on her way home.
"I don't remember seeing that pile of stones do you?" asked Nan, as shesat on a wall to rest a moment and take an observation.
"I don't remember any thing, but I want to go home," and Rob's voice hada little tremble in it that made Nan put her arms round him and lift himgently down, saying, in her most capable way,
"I'm going just as fast as I can, dear. Don't cry, and when we come tothe road, I'll carry you."
"Where is the road?" and Robby wiped his eyes to look for it.
"Over by that big tree. Don't you know that's the one Ned tumbled outof?"
"So it is. May be they waited for us; I'd like to ride home wouldn'tyou?" and Robby brightened up as he plodded along toward the end of thegreat pasture.
"No, I'd rather walk," answered Nan, feeling quite sure that she wouldbe obliged to do so, and preparing her mind for it.
Another long trudge through the fast-deepening twilight and anotherdisappointment, for when they reached the tree, they found to theirdismay that it was not the one Ned climbed, and no road anywhereappeared.
"Are we lost?" quavered Rob, clasping his pail in despair.
"Not much. I don't just see which way to go, and I guess we'd bettercall."
So they both shouted till they were hoarse, yet nothing answered but thefrogs in full chorus.
"There is another tall tree over there, perhaps that's the one," saidNan, whose heart sunk within her, though she still spoke bravely.
"I don't think I can go any more; my boots are so heavy I can't pull'em;" and Robby sat down on a stone quite worn out.
"Then we must stay here all night. I don't care much, if snakes don'tcome."
"I'm frightened of snakes. I can't stay all night. Oh, dear! I don'tlike to be lost," and Rob puckered up his face to cry, when suddenly athought occurred to him, and he said, in a tone of perfect confidence,
"Marmar will come and find me she always does; I ain't afraid now."
"She won't know where we are."
"She didn't know I was shut up in the ice-house, but she found me.I know she'll come," returned Robby, so trustfully, that Nan feltrelieved, and sat down by him, saying, with a remorseful sigh,
"I wish we hadn't run away."
"You made me; but I don't mind much Marmar will love me just the same,"answered Rob, clinging to his sheet-anchor when all other hope was gone.
"I'm so hungry. Let's eat our berries," proposed Nan, after a pause,during which Rob began to nod.
"So am I, but I can't eat mine, 'cause I told Marmar I'd keep them allfor her."
"You'll have to eat them if no one comes for us," said Nan, who feltlike contradicting every thing just then. "If we stay here a great manydays, we shall eat up all the berries in the field, and then we shallstarve," she added grimly.
"I shall eat sassafras. I know a big tree of it, and Dan told me howsquirrels dig up the roots and eat them, and I love to dig," returnedRob, undaunted by the prospect of starvation.
"Yes; and we can catch frogs, and cook them. My father ate some once,and he said they were nice," put in Nan, beginning to find a spice ofromance even in being lost in a huckleberry pasture.
"How could we cook frogs? we haven't got any fire."
"I don't know; next time I'll have matches in my pocket," said Nan,rather depressed by this obstacle to the experiment in frog-cookery.
"Couldn't we light a fire with a fire-fly?" asked Rob, hopefully, as hewatched them flitting to and fro like winged sparks.
"Let's try;" and several minutes were pleasantly spent in catching theflies, and trying to make them kindle a green twig or two. "It's a lieto call them fire-flies when there isn't a fire in them," Nan said,throwing one unhappy insect away with scorn, though it shone its best,and obligingly walked up and down the twigs to please the innocentlittle experimenters.
"Marmar's a good while coming," said Rob, after another pause, duringwhich they watched the stars overhead, smelt the sweet fern crushedunder foot, and listened to the crickets' serenade.
"I don't see why God made any night; day is so much pleasanter," saidNan, thoughtfully.
"It's to sleep in," answered Rob, with a yawn.
"Then do go to sleep," said Nan, pettishly.
"I want my own bed. Oh, I wish I could see Teddy!" cried Rob, painfullyreminded of home by the soft chirp of birds safe in their little nests.
"I don't believe your mother will ever find us," said Nan, who wasbecoming desperate, for she hated patient waiting of any sort. "It's sodark she won't see us."
"It was all black in the ice-house, and I was so scared I didn't callher, but she saw me; and she will see me now, no matter how dark it is,"returned confiding Rob, standing up to peer into the gloom for the helpwhich never failed him.
"I see her! I see her!" he cried, and ran as fast as his tired legswould take him toward a dark figure slowly approaching. Suddenly hestopped, then turned about, and came stumbling back, screaming in agreat panic,
"No, it's a bear, a big black one!" and hid his face in Nan's skirts.
For a moment Nan quailed; ever her courage gave out at the thought of areal bear, and she was about to turn and flee in great disorder, when amild "Moo!" changed her fear to merriment, as she said, laughing,
"It's a cow, Robby! the nice, black cow we saw this afternoon."
The cow seemed to feel that it was not just the thing to meet twolittle people in her pasture after dark, and the amiable beast paused toinquire into the case. She let them stroke her, and stood regarding themwith her soft eyes so mildly, that Nan, who feared no animal but a bear,was fired with a desire to milk her.
"Silas taught me how; and berries and milk would be so nice," she said,emptying the contents of her pail into her hat, and boldly beginning hernew task, while Rob stood by and repeated, at her command, the poem fromMother Goose:
"Cushy cow, bonny, let down your milk, Let down your milk to me, And I will give you a gown of silk, A gown of silk and a silver tee."
But the immortal rhyme had little effect, for the benevolent cow hadalready been milked, and had only half a gill to give the thirstychildren.
"Shoo! get away! you are an
old cross patch," cried Nan, ungratefully,as she gave up the attempt in despair; and poor Molly walked on with agentle gurgle of surprise and reproof.
"Each can have a sip, and then we must take a walk. We shall go to sleepif we don't; and lost people mustn't sleep. Don't you know how HannahLee in the pretty story slept under the snow and died?"
"But there isn't any snow now, and it's nice and warm," said Rob, whowas not blessed with as lively a fancy as Nan.
"No matter, we will poke about a little, and call some more; and then,if nobody comes, we will hide under the bushes, like Hop-'o-my-thumb andhis brothers."
It was a very short walk, however, for Rob was so sleepy he could notget on, and tumbled down so often that Nan entirely lost patience, beinghalf distracted by the responsibility she had taken upon herself.
"If you tumble down again, I'll shake you," she said, lifting the poorlittle man up very kindly as she spoke, for Nan's bark was much worsethan her bite.
"Please don't. It's my boots they keep slipping so;" and Rob manfullychecked the sob just ready to break out, adding, with a plaintivepatience that touched Nan's heart, "If the skeeters didn't bite me so, Icould go to sleep till Marmar comes."
"Put your head on my lap, and I'll cover you up with my apron; I'm notafraid of the night," said Nan, sitting down and trying to persuadeherself that she did not mind the shadow nor the mysterious rustlingsall about her.
"Wake me up when she comes," said rob, and was fast asleep in fiveminutes with his head in Nan's lap under the pinafore.
The little girl sat for some fifteen minutes, staring about her withanxious eyes, and feeling as if each second was an hour. Then a palelight began to glimmer over the hill-top and she said to herself,
"I guess the night is over and morning is coming. I'd like to see thesun rise, so I'll watch, and when it comes up we can find our way righthome."
But before the moon's round face peeped above the hill to destroy herhope, Nan had fallen asleep, leaning back in a little bower of tallferns, and was deep in a mid-summer night's dream of fire-flies and blueaprons, mountains of huckleberries, and Robby wiping away the tears of ablack cow, who sobbed, "I want to go home! I want to go home!"
While the children were sleeping, peacefully lulled by the drowsy hum ofmany neighborly mosquitoes, the family at home were in a great state ofagitation. The hay-cart came at five, and all but Jack, Emil, Nan, andRob were at the bars ready for it. Franz drove instead of Silas, andwhen the boys told him that the others were going home through the wood,he said, looking ill-pleased, "They ought to have left Rob to ride, hewill be tired out by the long walk."
"It's shorter that way, and they will carry him," said Stuffy, who wasin a hurry for his supper.
"You are sure Nan and Rob went with them?"
"Of course they did; I saw them getting over the wall, and sung out thatit was most five, and Jack called back that they were going the otherway," explained Tommy.
"Very well, pile in then," and away rattled the hay-cart with the tiredchildren and the full pails.
Mrs. Jo looked sober when she heard of the division of the party, andsent Franz back with Toby to find and bring the little ones home. Supperwas over, and the family sitting about in the cool hall as usual, whenFranz came trotting back, hot, dusty, and anxious.
"Have they come?" he called out when half-way up the avenue.
"No!" and Mrs. Jo flew out of her chair looking so alarmed that everyone jumped up and gathered round Franz.
"I can't find them anywhere," he began; but the words were hardly spokenwhen a loud "Hullo!" startled them all, and the next minute Jack andEmil came round the house.
"Where are Nan and Rob?" cried Mrs. Jo, clutching Emil in a way thatcaused him to think his aunt had suddenly lost her wits.
"I don't know. They came home with the others, didn't they?" heanswered, quickly.
"No; George and Tommy said they went with you."
"Well, they didn't. Haven't seen them. We took a swim in the pond, andcame by the wood," said Jack, looking alarmed, as well he might.
"Call Mr. Bhaer, get the lanterns, and tell Silas I want him."
That was all Mrs. Jo said, but they knew what she meant, and flew toobey her orders. In ten minutes, Mr. Bhaer and Silas were off to thewood, and Franz tearing down the road on old Andy to search the greatpasture. Mrs. Jo caught up some food from the table, a little bottle ofbrandy from the medicine-closet, took a lantern, and bidding Jack andEmil come with her, and the rest not stir, she trotted away on Toby,never stopping for hat or shawl. She heard some one running after her,but said not a word till, as she paused to call and listen, the light ofher lantern shone on Dan's face.
"You here! I told Jack to come," she said, half-inclined to send himback, much as she needed help.
"I wouldn't let him; he and Emil hadn't had any supper, and I wantedto come more than they did," he said, taking the lantern from her andsmiling up in her face with the steady look in his eyes that made herfeel as if, boy though he was, she had some one to depend on.
Off she jumped, and ordered him on to Toby, in spite of his pleading towalk; then they went on again along the dusty, solitary road, stoppingevery now and then to call and hearken breathlessly for little voices toreply.
When they came to the great pasture, other lights were already flittingto and fro like will-o'-the-wisps, and Mr. Bhaer's voice was heardshouting, "Nan! Rob! Rob! Nan!" in every part of the field. Silaswhistled and roared, Dan plunged here and there on Toby, who seemedto understand the case, and went over the roughest places with unusualdocility. Often Mrs. Jo hushed them all, saying, with a sob in herthroat, "The noise may frighten them, let me call; Robby will know myvoice;" and then she would cry out the beloved little name in every toneof tenderness, till the very echoes whispered it softly, and the windsseemed to waft it willingly; but still no answer came.
The sky was overcast now, and only brief glimpses of the moon were seen,heat-lightening darted out of the dark clouds now and then, and a faintfar-off rumble as of thunder told that a summer-storm was brewing.
"O my Robby! my Robby!" mourned poor Mrs. Jo, wandering up and down likea pale ghost, while Dan kept beside her like a faithful fire-fly. "Whatshall I say to Nan's father if she comes to harm? Why did I ever trustmy darling so far away? Fritz, do you hear any thing?" and when amournful, "No" came back, she wrung her hands so despairingly that Dansprung down from Toby's back, tied the bridle to the bars, and said, inhis decided way,
"They may have gone down the spring I'm going to look."
He was over the wall and away so fast that she could hardly follow him;but when she reached the spot, he lowered the lantern and showed herwith joy the marks of little feet in the soft ground about the spring.She fell down on her knees to examine the tracks, and then sprung up,saying eagerly,
"Yes; that is the mark of my Robby's little boots! Come this way, theymust have gone on."
Such a weary search! But now some inexplicable instinct seemed to leadthe anxious mother, for presently Dan uttered a cry, and caught up alittle shining object lying in the path. It was the cover of the newtin pail, dropped in the first alarm of being lost. Mrs. Jo hugged andkissed it as if it were a living thing; and when Dan was about to uttera glad shout to bring the others to the spot, she stopped him, saying,as she hurried on, "No, let me find them; I let Rob go, and I want togive him back to his father all myself."
A little farther on Nan's hat appeared, and after passing the placemore than once, they came at last upon the babes in the wood, both soundasleep. Dan never forgot the little picture on which the light of hislantern shone that night. He thought Mrs. Jo would cry out, but sheonly whispered, "Hush!" as she softly lifted away the apron, and saw thelittle ruddy face below. The berry-stained lips were half-open as thebreath came and went, the yellow hair lay damp on the hot forehead, andboth the chubby hands held fast the little pail still full.
The sight of the childish harvest, treasured through all the troubles ofthat night for her, see
med to touch Mrs. Jo to the heart, for suddenlyshe gathered up her boy, and began to cry over him, so tenderly, yetso heartily, that he woke up, and at first seemed bewildered. Then heremembered, and hugged her close, saying with a laugh of triumph,
"I knew you'd come! O Marmar! I did want you so!" For a moment theykissed and clung to one another, quite forgetting all the world; for nomatter how lost and soiled and worn-out wandering sons may be, motherscan forgive and forget every thing as they fold them in their fosteringarms. Happy the son whose faith in his mother remains unchanged, andwho, through all his wanderings, has kept some filial token to repay herbrave and tender love.
Dan meantime picked Nan out of her bush, and, with a gentleness none butTeddy ever saw in him before, he soothed her first alarm at the suddenwaking, and wiped away her tears; for Nan also began to cry for joy,it was so good to see a kind face and feel a strong arm round her afterwhat seemed to her ages of loneliness and fear.
"My poor little girl, don't cry! You are all safe now, and no oneshall say a word of blame to-night," said Mrs. Jo, taking Nan into hercapacious embrace, and cuddling both children as a hen might gather herlost chickens under her motherly wings.
"It was my fault; but I am sorry. I tried to take care of him, and Icovered him up and let him sleep, and didn't touch his berries, though Iwas so hungry; and I never will do it again truly, never, never," sobbedNan, quite lost in a sea of penitence and thankfulness.
"Call them now, and let us get home," said Mrs. Jo; and Dan, gettingupon the wall, sent a joyful word "Found!" ringing over the field.
How the wandering lights came dancing from all sides, and gatheredround the little group among the sweet fern bushes! Such a hugging,and kissing, and talking, and crying, as went on must have amazed theglowworms, and evidently delighted the mosquitoes, for they hummedfrantically, while the little moths came in flocks to the party, andthe frogs croaked as if they could not express their satisfaction loudlyenough.
Then they set out for home, a queer party, for Franz rode on to tellthe news; Dan and Toby led the way; then came Nan in the strong arms ofSilas, who considered her "the smartest little baggage he ever saw," andteased her all the way home about her pranks. Mrs. Bhaer would let noone carry Rob but himself, and the little fellow, refreshed by sleep,sat up, and chattered gayly, feeling himself a hero, while his motherwent beside him holding on to any pat of his precious little body thatcame handy, and never tired of hearing him say, "I knew Marmar wouldcome," or seeing him lean down to kiss her, and put a plump berry intoher mouth, "'Cause he picked 'em all for her."
The moon shone out just as they reached the avenue, and all the boyscame shouting to meet them, so the lost lambs were borne in triumphand safety, and landed in the dining-room, where the unromantic littlethings demanded supper instead of preferring kisses and caresses. Theywere set down to bread and milk, while the entire household stood roundto gaze upon them. Nan soon recovered her spirits, and recounted herperils with a relish now that they were all over. Rob seemed absorbed inhis food, but put down his spoon all of a sudden, and set up a dolefulroar.
"My precious, why do you cry?" asked his mother, who still hung overhim.
"I'm crying 'cause I was lost," bawled Rob, trying to squeeze out atear, and failing entirely.
"But you are found now. Nan says you didn't cry out in the field, and Iwas glad you were such a brave boy."
"I was so busy being frightened I didn't have any time then. But I wantto cry now, 'cause I don't like to be lost," explained Rob, strugglingwith sleep, emotion, and a mouthful of bread and milk.
The boys set up such a laugh at this funny way of making up for losttime, that Rob stopped to look at them, and the merriment was soinfectious, that after a surprised stare he burst out into a merry,"Ha, ha!" and beat his spoon upon the table as if he enjoyed the jokeimmensely.
"It is ten o'clock; into bed, every man of you," said Mr. Bhaer, lookingat his watch.
"And, thank Heaven! there will be no empty ones to-night," added Mrs.Bhaer, watching, with full eyes, Robby going up in his father'sarms, and Nan escorted by Daisy and Demi, who considered her the mostinteresting heroine of their collection.
"Poor Aunt Jo is so tired she ought to be carried up herself," saidgentle Franz, putting his arm round her as she paused at the stair-foot,looking quite exhausted by her fright and long walk.
"Let's make an arm-chair," proposed Tommy.
"No, thank you, my lads; but somebody may lend me a shoulder to leanon," answered Mrs. Jo.
"Me! me!" and half-a-dozen jostled one another, all eager to be chosen,for there was something in the pale motherly face that touched the warmhearts under the round jackets.
Seeing that they considered it an honor, Mrs. Jo gave it to the one whohad earned it, and nobody grumbled when she put her arm on Dan's broadshoulder, saying, with a look that made him color up with pride andpleasure,
"He found the children; so I think he must help me up."
Dan felt richly rewarded for his evening's work, not only that he waschosen from all the rest to go proudly up bearing the lamp, but becauseMrs. Jo said heartily, "Good-night, my boy! God bless you!" as he lefther at her door.
"I wish I was your boy," said Dan, who felt as if danger and trouble hadsomehow brought him nearer than ever to her.
"You shall be my oldest son," and she sealed her promise with a kissthat made Dan hers entirely.
Little Rob was all right next day, but Nan had a headache, and lay onMother Bhaer's sofa with cold-cream upon her scratched face. Her remorsewas quite gone, and she evidently thought being lost rather a fineamusement. Mrs. Jo was not pleased with this state of things, and had nodesire to have her children led from the paths of virtue, or her pupilslying round loose in huckleberry fields. So she talked soberly to Nan,and tried to impress upon her mind the difference between liberty andlicense, telling several tales to enforce her lecture. She had notdecided how to punish Nan, but one of these stories suggested a way, andas Mrs. Jo liked odd penalties, she tried it.
"All children run away," pleaded Nan, as if it was as natural andnecessary a thing as measles or hooping cough.
"Not all, and some who do run away don't get found again," answered Mrs.Jo.
"Didn't you do it yourself?" asked Nan, whose keen little eyes saw sometraces of a kindred spirit in the serious lady who was sewing so morallybefore her.
Mrs. Jo laughed, and owned that she did.
"Tell about it," demanded Nan, feeling that she was getting the upperhand in the discussion.
Mrs. Jo saw that, and sobered down at once, saying, with a remorsefulshake of the head,
"I did it a good many times, and led my poor mother rather a hard lifewith my pranks, till she cured me."
"How?" and Nan sat up with a face full of interest.
"I had a new pair of shoes once, and wanted to show them; so, though Iwas told not to leave the garden, I ran away and was wandering about allday. It was in the city, and why I wasn't killed I don't know. Such atime as I had. I frolicked in the park with dogs, sailed boats in theBack Bay with strange boys, dined with a little Irish beggar-girl onsalt fish and potatoes, and was found at last fast asleep on a door-stepwith my arms round a great dog. It was late in the evening, and I was adirty as a little pig, and the new shoes were worn out I had travelledso far."
"How nice!" cried Nan, looking all ready to go and do it herself.
"It was not nice next day;" and Mrs. Jo tried to keep her eyes frombetraying how much she enjoyed the memory of her early capers.
"Did your mother whip you?" asked Nan, curiously.
"She never whipped me but once, and then she begged my pardon, or Idon't think I ever should have forgiven her, it hurt my feelings somuch."
"Why did she beg your pardon? my father don't."
"Because, when she had done it, I turned round and said, 'Well, you aremad yourself, and ought to be whipped as much as me.' She looked at mea minute, then her anger all died out, and she said, as if ashamed, 'Youare right,
Jo, I am angry; and why should I punish you for being in apassion when I set you such a bad example? Forgive me, dear, and let ustry to help one another in a better way.' I never forgot it, and it didme more good than a dozen rods."
Nan sat thoughtfully turning the little cold-cream jar for a minute, andMrs. Jo said nothing, but let that idea get well into the busy littlemind that was so quick to see and feel what went on about her.
"I like that," said Nan, presently, and her face looked less elfish,with its sharp eyes, inquisitive nose, and mischievous mouth. "What didyour mother do to you when you ran away that time?"
"She tied me to the bed-post with a long string, so that I could notgo out of the room, and there I stayed all day with the little worn-outshoes hanging up before me to remind me of my fault."
"I should think that would cure anybody," cried Nan, who loved herliberty above all things.
"It did cure me, and I think it will you, so I am going to try it," saidMrs. Jo, suddenly taking a ball of strong twine out of a drawer in herwork-table.
Nan looked as if she was decidedly getting the worst of the argumentnow, and sat feeling much crestfallen while Mrs. Jo tied one end roundher waist and the other to the arm of the sofa, saying, as she finished,
"I don't like to tie you up like a naughty little dog, but if you don'tremember any better than a dog, I must treat you like one."
"I'd just as lief be tied up as not I like to play dog;" and Nan put ona don't-care face, and began to growl and grovel on the floor.
Mrs. Jo took no notice, but leaving a book or two and a handkerchief tohem, she went away, and left Miss Nan to her own devices. This was notagreeable, and after sitting a moment she tried to untie the cord. Butit was fastened in the belt of her apron behind, so she began on theknot at the other end. It soon came loose, and, gathering it up, Nan wasabout to get out of the window, when she heard Mrs. Jo say to somebodyas she passed through the hall,
"No, I don't think she will run away now; she is an honorable littlegirl, and knows that I do it to help her."
In a minute, Nan whisked back, tied herself up, and began to sewviolently. Rob came in a moment after, and was so charmed with the newpunishment, that he got a jump-rope and tethered himself to the otherarm of the sofa in the most social manner.
"I got lost too, so I ought to be tied up as much as Nan," he explainedto his mother when she saw the new captive.
"I'm not sure that you don't deserve a little punishment, for you knewit was wrong to go far away from the rest."
"Nan took me," began Rob, willing to enjoy the novel penalty, but notwilling to take the blame.
"You needn't have gone. You have got a conscience, though you are alittle boy, and you must learn to mind it."
"Well, my conscience didn't prick me a bit when she said 'Let's get overthe wall,'" answered Rob, quoting one of Demi's expressions.
"Did you stop to see if it did?"
"No."
"Then you cannot tell."
"I guess it's such a little conscience that it don't prick hard enoughfor me to feel it," added Rob, after thinking the matter over for aminute.
"We must sharpen it up. It's bad to have a dull conscience; so you maystay here till dinner-time, and talk about it with Nan. I trust you bothnot to untie yourselves till I say the word."
"No, we won't," said both, feeling a certain sense of virtue in helpingto punish themselves.
For an hour they were very good, then they grew tired of one room,and longed to get out. Never had the hall seemed so inviting; even thelittle bedroom acquired a sudden interest, and they would gladly havegone in and played tent with the curtains of the best bed. The openwindows drove them wild because they could not reach them; and the outerworld seemed so beautiful, they wondered how they ever found theheart to say it was dull. Nan pined for a race round the lawn, and Robremembered with dismay that he had not fed his dog that morning, andwondered what poor Pollux would do. They watched the clock, and Nan didsome nice calculations in minutes and seconds, while Rob learned to tellall the hours between eight and one so well that he never forgot them.It was maddening to smell the dinner, to know that there was to besuccotash and huckleberry pudding, and to feel that they would not beon the spot to secure good helps of both. When Mary Ann began to set thetable, they nearly cut themselves in two trying to see what meat therewas to be; and Nan offered to help her make the beds, if she would onlysee that she had "lots of sauce on her pudding."
When the boys came bursting out of school, they found the childrentugging at their halters like a pair of restive little colts, andwere much edified, as well as amused, by the sequel to the excitingadventures of the night.
"Untie me now, Marmar; my conscience will prick like a pin next time, Iknow it will," said Rob, as the bell rang, and Teddy came to look at himwith sorrowful surprise.
"We shall see," answered his mother, setting him free. He took a goodrun down the hall, back through the dining-room, and brought up besideNan, quite beaming with virtuous satisfaction.
"I'll bring her dinner to her, may I?" he asked, pitying hisfellow-captive.
"That's my kind little son! Yes, pull out the table, and get a chair;"and Mrs. Jo hurried away to quell the ardor of the others, who werealways in a raging state of hunger at noon.
Nan ate alone, and spent a long afternoon attached to the sofa. Mrs.Bhaer lengthened her bonds so that she could look out of the window;and there she stood watching the boys play, and all the little summercreatures enjoying their liberty. Daisy had a picnic for the dolls onthe lawn, so that Nan might see the fun if she could not join in it.Tommy turned his best somersaults to console her; Demi sat on the stepsreading aloud to himself, which amused Nan a good deal; and Dan broughta little tree-toad to show her as the most delicate attention in hispower.
But nothing atoned for the loss of freedom; and a few hours ofconfinement taught Nan how precious it was. A good many thoughts wentthrough the little head that lay on the window-sill during the lastquiet hour when all the children went to the brook to see Emil's newship launched. She was to have christened it, and had depended onsmashing a tiny bottle of currant-wine over the prow as it was namedJosephine in honor of Mrs. Bhaer. Now she had lost her chance, and Daisywouldn't do it half so well. Tears rose to her eyes as she rememberedthat it was all her own fault; and she said aloud, addressing a fatbee who was rolling about in the yellow heart of a rose just under thewindow,
"If you have run away, you'd better go right home, and tell your motheryou are sorry, and never do so any more."
"I am glad to hear you give him such good advice, and I think he hastaken it," said Mrs. Jo, smiling, as the bee spread his dusty wings andflew away.
Nan brushed off a bright drop or two that shone on the window-sill, andnestled against her friend as she took her on her knee, adding kindlyfor she had seen the little drops, and knew what they meant,
"Do you think my mother's cure for running away a good one?"
"Yes, ma'am," answered Nan, quite subdued by her quiet day.
"I hope I shall not have to try it again."
"I guess not;" and Nan looked up with such an earnest little face thatMrs. Jo felt satisfied, and said no more, for she liked to have herpenalties do their own work, and did not spoil the effect by too muchmoralizing.
Here Rob appeared, bearing with infinite care what Asia called a "sarcerpie," meaning one baked in a saucer.
"It's made out of some of my berries, and I'm going to give you half atsupper-time," he announced with a flourish.
"What makes you, when I'm so naughty?" asked Nan, meekly.
"Because we got lost together. You ain't going to be naughty again, areyou?"
"Never," said Nan, with great decision.
"Oh, goody! now let's go and get Mary Ann to cut this for us all readyto eat; it's 'most tea time;" and Rob beckoned with the delicious littlepie.
Nan started to follow, then stopped, and said,
"I forgot, I can't go."
"Try and see," sai
d Mrs. Bhaer, who had quietly untied the cord sashwhile she had been talking.
Nan saw that she was free, and with one tempestuous kiss to Mrs. Jo, shewas off like a humming-bird, followed by Robby, dribbling huckleberryjuice as he ran.