“Doyouhaveabandhere？“Nat’seyessparkled。
　　“Guesswedo；ajollyband，allboys；andtheyhaveconcertsandthings。
　　Youjustseewhathappensto-morrownight。“
　　Afterthispleasantlyexcitingremark，Tommyreturnedtohissupper，andNatsankintoablissfulreverieoverhisfullplate。
　　Mrs。Bhaerhadheardalltheysaid，whileapparentlyabsorbedinfillingmugs，andoverseeinglittleTed，whowassosleepythatheputhisspooninhiseye，noddedlikearosypoppy，andfinallyfellfastasleep，withhischeekpillowedonasoftbun。Mrs。BhaerhadputNatnexttoTommy，becausethatroly-polyboyhadafrankandsocialwaywithhim，veryattractivetoshypersons。Natfeltthis，andhadmadeseveralsmallconfidencesduringsupper，whichgaveMrs。Bhaerthekeytothenewboy’scharacter，betterthanifshehadtalkedtohimherself。
　　IntheletterwhichMr。LaurencehadsentwithNat，hehadsaid：
　　“DEARJO：Hereisacaseafteryourownheart。Thispoorladisanorphannow，sickandfriendless。Hehasbeenastreet-musician；andIfoundhiminacellar，mourningforhisdeadfather，andhislostviolin。Ithinkthereissomethinginhim，andhaveafancythatbetweenuswemaygivethislittlemanalift。Youcurehisovertaskedbody，Fritzhelphisneglectedmind，andwhenheisreadyI’llseeifheisageniusoronlyaboywithatalentwhichmayearnhisbreadforhim。Givehimatrial，forthesakeofyourownboy，TEDDY。“
　　“Ofcoursewewill!“criedMrs。Bhaer，asshereadtheletter；andwhenshesawNatshefeltatoncethat，whetherhewasageniusornot，herewasalonely，sickboywhoneededjustwhatshelovedtogive，ahomeandmotherlycare。BothsheandMr。Bhaerobservedhimquietly；andinspiteofraggedclothes，awkwardmanners，andadirtyface，theysawmuchaboutNatthatpleasedthem。Hewasathin，paleboy，oftwelve，withblueeyes，andagoodforeheadundertherough，neglectedhair；ananxious，scaredface，attimes，asifheexpectedhardwords，orblows；andasensitivemouththattrembledwhenakindglancefellonhim；whileagentlespeechcalledupalookofgratitude，verysweettosee。“Blessthepoordear，heshallfiddlealldaylongifhelikes，“saidMrs。Bhaertoherself，asshesawtheeager，happyexpressiononhisfacewhenTommytalkedoftheband。
　　So，aftersupper，whentheladsflockedintotheschoolroomformore“highjinks，“Mrs。Joappearedwithaviolininherhand，andafterawordwithherhusband，wenttoNat，whosatinacornerwatchingthescenewithintenseinterest。
　　“Now，mylad，giveusalittletune。Wewantaviolininourband，andIthinkyouwilldoitnicely。“
　　Sheexpectedthathewouldhesitate；butheseizedtheoldfiddleatonce，andhandleditwithsuchlovingcare，itwasplaintoseethatmusicwashispassion。
　　“I’lldothebestIcan，ma’am，“wasallhesaid；andthendrewthebowacrossthestrings，asifeagertohearthedearnotesagain。
　　Therewasagreatclatterintheroom，butasifdeaftoanysoundsbutthosehemade，Natplayedsoftlytohimself，forgettingeverythinginhisdelight。ItwasonlyasimpleNegromelody，suchasstreet-musiciansplay，butitcaughttheearsoftheboysatonce，andsilencedthem，tilltheystoodlisteningwithsurpriseandpleasure。Graduallytheygotnearerandnearer，andMr。Bhaercameuptowatchtheboy；for，asifhewasinhiselementnow，Natplayedawayandnevermindedanyone，whilehiseyesshone，hischeeksreddened，andhisthinfingersflew，ashehuggedtheoldfiddleandmadeitspeaktoalltheirheartsthelanguagethatheloved。
　　Aheartyroundofapplauserewardedhimbetterthanashowerofpennies，whenhestoppedandglancedabouthim，asiftosay：
　　“I’vedonemybest；pleaselikeit。“
　　“Isay，youdothatfirstrate，“criedTommy，whoconsideredNathisproté；gé；。
　　“Youshallbethefirstfiddleinmyband，“addedFranz，withanapprovingsmile。
　　Mrs。Bhaerwhisperedtoherhusband：
　　“Teddyisright：there’ssomethinginthechild。“AndMr。Bhaernoddedhisheademphatically，asheclappedNatontheshoulder，saying，heartily：
　　“Youplaywell，myson。Comenowandplaysomethingwhichwecansing。“
　　Itwastheproudest，happiestminuteofthepoorboy’slifewhenhewasledtotheplaceofhonorbythepiano，andtheladsgatheredround，neverheedinghispoorclothes，buteyinghimrespectfullyandwaitingeagerlytohearhimplayagain。
　　Theychoseasongheknew；andafteroneortwofalsestartstheygotgoing，andviolin，flute，andpianoledachorusofboyishvoicesthatmadetheoldroofringagain。ItwastoomuchforNat，morefeeblethanheknew；andasthefinalshoutdiedaway，hisfacebegantowork，hedroppedthefiddle，andturningtothewallsobbedlikealittlechild。
　　“Mydear，whatisit？“askedMrs。Bhaer，whohadbeensingingwithallhermight，andtryingtokeeplittleRobfrombeatingtimewithhisboots。
　　“Youareallsokind­；andit’ssobeautiful­；Ican’thelpit，“
　　sobbedNat，coughingtillhewasbreathless。
　　“Comewithme，dear；youmustgotobedandrest；youarewornout，andthisistoonoisyaplaceforyou，“whisperedMrs。Bhaer；andtookhimawaytoherownparlor，whereshelethimcryhimselfquiet。
　　Thenshewonhimtotellherallhistroubles，andlistenedtothelittlestorywithtearsinherowneyes，thoughitwasnotanewonetoher。
　　“Mychild，youhavegotafatherandamothernow，andthisishome。Don’tthinkofthosesadtimesanymore，butgetwellandhappy；
　　andbesureyoushallneversufferagain，ifwecanhelpit。Thisplaceismadeforallsortsofboystohaveagoodtimein，andtolearnhowtohelpthemselvesandbeusefulmen，Ihope。Youshallhaveasmuchmusicasyouwant，onlyyoumustgetstrongfirst。NowcomeuptoNurseyandhaveabath，andthengotobed，andto-morrowwewilllaysomenicelittleplanstogether。“
　　Natheldherhandfastinhis，buthadnotawordtosay，andlethisgratefuleyesspeakforhim，asMrs。Bhaerledhimuptoabigroom，wheretheyfoundastoutGermanwomanwithafacesoroundandcheerythatitlookedlikeasortofsun，withthewidefrillofhercapforrays。
　　“ThisisNurseyHummel，andshewillgiveyouanicebath，andcutyourhair，andmakeyouall’comfy，’asRobsays。That’sthebath-roominthere；
　　andonSaturdaynightswescruballthelittleladsfirst，andpackthemawayinbedbeforethebigonesgetthroughsinging。Nowthen，Rob，inwithyou。“
　　Asshetalked，Mrs。BhaerhadwhippedoffRob’sclothesandpoppedhimintoalongbath-tubinthelittleroomopeningintothenursery。
　　Thereweretwotubs，besidesfoot-baths，basins，douche-pipes，andallmannerofcontrivancesforcleanliness。Natwassoonluxuriatingintheotherbath；andwhilesimmeringthere，hewatchedtheperformancesofthetwowomen，whoscrubbed，cleannight-gowned，andbundledintobedfourorfivesmallboys，who，ofcourse，cutupallsortsofcapersduringtheoperation，andkepteveryoneinagaleofmerrimenttilltheywereextinguishedintheirbeds。
　　BythetimeNatwaswashedanddoneupinablanketbythefire，whileNurseycuthishair，anewdetachmentofboysarrivedandwereshutintothebath-room，wheretheymadeasmuchsplashingandnoiseasaschoolofyoungwhalesatplay。
　　“Nathadbettersleephere，sothatifhiscoughtroubleshiminthenightyoucanseethathetakesagooddraughtofflax-seedtea，“saidMrs。Bhaer，whowasflyingaboutlikeadistractedhenwithalargebroodoflivelyducklings。
　　Nurseyapprovedtheplan，finishedNatoffwithaflannelnight-gown，adrinkofsomethingwarmandsweet，andthentuckedhimintooneofthethreelittlebedsstandingintheroom，wherehelaylookinglikeacontentedmummyandfeelingthatnothingmoreinthewayofluxurycouldbeofferedhim。Cleanlinessinitselfwasanewanddelightfulsensation；flannelgownswereunknowncomfortsinhisworld；sipsof“goodstuff“soothedhiscoughaspleasantlyaskindwordsdidhislonelyheart；andthefeelingthatsomebodycaredforhimmadethatplainroomseemasortofheaventothehomelesschild。Itwaslikeacosydream；andheoftenshuthiseyestoseeifitwouldnotvanishwhenheopenedthemagain。Itwastoopleasanttolethimsleep，andhecouldnothavedonesoifhehadtried，forinafewminutesoneofthepeculiarinstitutionsofPlumfieldwasrevealedtohisastonishedbutappreciativeeyes。
　　Amomentarylullintheaquaticexerciseswasfollowedbythesuddenappearanceofpillowsflyinginalldirections，hurledbywhitegoblins，whocameriotingoutoftheirbeds。Thebattleragedinseveralrooms，alldowntheupperhall，andevensurgedatintervalsintothenursery，whensomehard-pressedwarriortookrefugethere。Nooneseemedtomindthisexplosionintheleast；nooneforbadeit，orevenlookedsurprised。
　　Nurseywentonhanginguptowels，andMrs。Bhaerlaidoutcleanclothes，ascalmlyasifthemostperfectorderreigned。Nay，sheevenchasedonedaringboyoutoftheroom，andfiredafterhimthepillowhehadslylythrownather。
　　“Won’ttheyhurt’em？“askedNat，wholaylaughingwithallhismight。
　　“Ohdear，no!Wealwaysallowonepillow-fightSaturdaynight。Thecasesarechangedto-morrow；anditgetsupaglowaftertheboys’baths；soIratherlikeitmyself，“saidMrs。Bhaer，busyagainamongherdozenpairsofsocks。
　　“Whataveryniceschoolthisis!“observedNat，inaburstofadmiration。
　　“It’sanoddone，“laughedMrs。Bhaer，“butyouseewedon’tbelieveinmakingchildrenmiserablebytoomanyrules，andtoomuchstudy。Iforbadenight-gownpartiesatfirst；but，blessyou，itwasofnouse。Icouldnomorekeepthoseboysintheirbedsthansomanyjacksinthebox。SoImadeanagreementwiththem：Iwastoallowafifteen-minutepillow-fighteverySaturdaynight；andtheypromisedtogoproperlytobedeveryothernight。Itriedit，anditworkedwell。Iftheydon’tkeeptheirword，nofrolic；iftheydo，Ijustturntheglassesround，putthelampsinsafeplaces，andletthemrampageasmuchastheylike。“
　　“It’sabeautifulplan，“saidNat，feelingthatheshouldliketojoininthefray，butnotventuringtoproposeitthefirstnight。Sohelayenjoyingthespectacle，whichcertainlywasalivelyone。
　　TommyBangsledtheassailingparty，andDemidefendedhisownroomwithadoggedcouragefinetosee，collectingpillowsbehindhimasfastastheywerethrown，tillthebesiegerswereoutofammunition，whentheywouldchargeuponhiminabody，andrecovertheirarms。Afewslightaccidentsoccurred，butnobodyminded，andgaveandtooksoundingthwackswithperfectgoodhumor，whilepillowsflewlikebigsnowflakes，tillMrs。Bhaerlookedatherwatch，andcalledout：
　　“Timeisup，boys。Intobed，everymanjack，orpaytheforfeit!“
　　“Whatistheforfeit？“askedNat，sittingupinhiseagernesstoknowwhathappenedtothosewretcheswhodisobeyedthismostpeculiar，butpublic-spiritedschool-ma’am。
　　“Losetheirfunnexttime，“answeredMrs。Bhaer。“Igivethemfiveminutestosettledown，thenputoutthelights，andexpectorder。Theyarehonorablelads，andtheykeeptheirword。“
　　Thatwasevident，forthebattleendedasabruptlyasitbegan­；apartingshotortwo，afinalcheer，asDemifiredtheseventhpillowattheretiringfoe，afewchallengesfornexttime，thenorderprevailed。
　　AndnothingbutanoccasionalgiggleorasuppressedwhisperbrokethequietwhichfollowedtheSaturday-nightfrolic，asMotherBhaerkissedhernewboyandlefthimtohappydreamsoflifeatPlumfield。CHAPTERIITHEBOYS
　　WhileNattakesagoodlongsleep，Iwilltellmylittlereaderssomethingabouttheboys，amongwhomhefoundhimselfwhenhewokeup。
　　Tobeginwithouroldfriends。Franzwasatalllad，ofsixteennow，aregularGerman，big，blond，andbookish，alsoverydomestic，amiable，andmusical。Hisunclewasfittinghimforcollege，andhisauntforahappyhomeofhisownhereafter，becauseshecarefullyfosteredinhimgentlemanners，loveofchildren，respectforwomen，oldandyoung，andhelpfulwaysaboutthehouse。Hewasherright-handmanonalloccasions，steady，kind，andpatient；andhelovedhismerryauntlikeamother，forsuchshehadtriedtobetohim。
　　Emilwasquitedifferent，beingquick-tempered，restless，andenterprising，bentongoingtosea，forthebloodoftheoldvikingsstirredinhisveins，andcouldnotbetamed。Hisunclepromisedthatheshouldgowhenhewassixteen，andsethimtostudyingnavigation，gavehimstoriesofgoodandfamousadmiralsandheroestoread，andlethimleadthelifeofafroginriver，pond，andbrook，whenlessonsweredone。Hisroomlookedlikethecabinofaman-of-war，foreverythingwasnautical，military，andshipshape。CaptainKydwashisdelight，andhisfavoriteamusementwastoriguplikethat