“AndI’msureIstudy，“addedDan，noddingwithagroantowardtheblackboardfullofneatfigures。
　　“SeewhatJamesdid。Hedidnotmeantobeselfish，buthismotherwasproudofhim，andlethimdoasheliked，workingbyherselfthathemighthavebooksandtimetoreadthem。OneautumnJameswantedtogotoschool，andwenttotheministertoseeifhewouldhelphim，aboutdecentclothesandbooks。NowtheministerhadheardthegossipaboutJames’sidleness，andwasnotinclinedtodomuchforhim，thinkingthataboywhoneglectedhismother，andletherslaveforhim，wasnotlikelytodoverywellevenatschool。ButthegoodmanfeltmoreinterestedwhenhefoundhowearnestJameswas，andbeingratheranoddman，hemadethisproposaltotheboy，totrynowsincerehewas。
　　“’Iwillgiveyouclothesandbooksononecondition，James。’
　　“’Whatisthat，sir？’andtheboybrightenedupatonce。
　　“’Youaretokeepyourmother’swood-boxfullallwinterlong，anddoityourself。Ifyoufail，schoolstops。’Jameslaughedatthequeerconditionandreadilyagreedtoit，thinkingitaveryeasyone。
　　“Hebeganschool，andforatimegotoncapitallywiththewood-box，foritwasautumn，andchipsandbrushwoodwereplentiful。Heranoutmorningandeveningandgotabasketfull，orchoppedupthecatsticksforthelittlecookingstove，andashismotherwascarefulandsaving，thetaskwasnothard。ButinNovemberthefrostcame，thedaysweredullandcold，andwoodwentfast。Hismotherboughtaloadwithherownearnings，butitseemedtomeltaway，andwasnearlygone，beforeJamesrememberedthathewastogetthenext。Mrs。Snowwasfeebleandlamewithrheumatism，andunabletoworkasshehaddone，soJameshadtoputdownthebooks，andseewhathecoulddo。
　　“Itwashard，forhewasgoingonwell，andsointerestedinhislessonsthathehatedtostopexceptforfoodandsleep。Butheknewtheministerwouldkeephisword，andmuchagainsthiswillJamessetaboutearningmoneyinhissparehours，lestthewood-boxshouldgetempty。Hedidallsortsofthings，ranerrands，tookcareofaneighbor’scow，helpedtheoldsextondustandwarmthechurchonSundays，andinthesewaysgotenoughtobuyfuelinsmallquantities。Butitwashardwork；thedayswereshort，thewinterwasbitterlycold，andprecioustimewentfast，andthedearbooksweresofascinating，thatitwassadtoleavethem，fordulldutiesthatneverseemeddone。
　　“Theministerwatchedhimquietly，andseeingthathewasinearnesthelpedhimwithouthisknowledge。Hemethimoftendrivingthewoodsledsfromtheforest，wherethemenwerechoppingandasJamesploddedbesidetheslowoxen，hereadorstudied，anxioustouseeveryminute。’Theboyisworthhelping，thislessonwilldohimgood，andwhenhehaslearnedit，Iwillgivehimaneasierone，’saidtheministertohimself，andonChristmaseveasplendidloadofwoodwasquietlydroppedatthedoorofthelittlehouse，withanewsawandabitofpaper，sayingonly­；
　　“’TheLordhelpsthosewhohelpthemselves。’
　　“PoorJamesexpectednothing，butwhenhewokeonthatcoldChristmasmorning，hefoundapairofwarmmittens，knitbyhismother，withherstiffpainfulfingers。Thisgiftpleasedhimverymuch，butherkissandtenderlookasshecalledhimher’goodson，’wasbetterstill。Intryingtokeepherwarm，hehadwarmedhisownheart，yousee，andinfillingthewood-boxhehadalsofilledthosemonthswithdutiesfaithfullydone。
　　Hebegantoseethis，tofeelthattherewassomethingbetterthanbooks，andtotrytolearnthelessonsGodsethim，aswellasthosehisschool-mastergave。
　　“Whenhesawthegreatpileofoakandpinelogsathisdoor，andreadthelittlepaper，heknewwhosentit，andunderstoodtheminister’splan；
　　thankedhimforit，andfelltoworkwithallhismight。Otherboysfrolickedthatday，butJamessawedwood，andIthinkofalltheladsinthetownthehappiestwastheoneinthenewmittens，whowhistledlikeablackbirdashefilledhismother’swood-box。“
　　“That’safirstrater!“criedDan，whoenjoyedasimplematter-of-facestorybetterthanthefinestfairytale；“Ilikethatfellowafterall。“
　　“Icouldsawwoodforyou，AuntJo!“saidDemi，feelingasifanewmeansofearningmoneyforhismotherwassuggestedbythestory。
　　“Tellaboutabadboy。Ilikethembest，“saidNan。
　　“You’dbettertellaboutanaughtycross-patchofagirl，“saidTommy，whoseeveninghadbeenspoiltbyNan’sunkindness。Itmadehisappletastebitter，hispop-cornwasinsipid，hisnutswerehardtocrack，andthesightofNedandNanononebenchmadehimfeelhislifeaburden。
　　ButtherewerenomorestoriesfromMrs。Jo，foronlookingdownatRobhewasdiscoveredtobefastasleepwithhislastcornfirmlyclaspedinhischubbyhand。Bundlinghimupinhiscoverlet，hismothercarriedhimawayandtuckedhimupwithnofearofhispoppingoutagain。
　　“Nowlet’sseewhowillcomenext，“saidEmil，settingthedoortemptinglyajar。
　　MaryAnnpassedfirst，andhecalledouttoher，butSilashadwarnedher，andsheonlylaughedandhurriedoninspiteoftheirenticements。
　　Presentlyadooropened，andastrongvoicewasheardhumminginthehall­；“IchweissnichtwassollesbedeutenDassichsotraurigbin。““It’sUncleFritz；alllaughloudandhewillbesuretocomein，“saidEmil。
　　Awildburstoflaughterfollowed，andincameUncleFritz，asking，“Whatisthejoke，mylads？“
　　“Caught!caught!youcan’tgoouttillyou’vetoldastory，“criedtheboys，slammingthedoor。
　　“So!thatisthejokethen？Well，Ihavenowishtogo，itissopleasanthere，andIpaymyforfeitatonce，“whichhedidbysittingdownandbeginninginstantly­；
　　“AlongtimeagoyourGrandfather，Demi，wenttolectureinagreattown，hopingtogetsomemoneyforahomeforlittleorphansthatsomegoodpeopleweregettingup。Hislecturedidwell，andheputaconsiderablesumofmoneyinhispocket，feelingveryhappyaboutit。Ashewasdrivinginachaisetoanothertown，hecametoalonelybitofroad，lateintheafternoon，andwasjustthinkingwhatagoodplaceitwasforrobberswhenhesawabad-lookingmancomeoutofthewoodsinfrontofhimandgoslowlyalongasifwaitingtillhecameup。ThethoughtofthemoneymadeGrandfatherratheranxious，andatfirsthehadamindtoturnroundanddriveaway。
　　Butthehorsewastired，andthenhedidnotliketosuspecttheman，sohekepton，andwhenhegotnearerandsawhowpoorandsickandraggedthestrangerlooked，hisheartreproachedhim，andstopping，hesaidinakindvoice­；
　　“’Myfriend，youlooktired；letmegiveyoualift。’Themanseemedsurprised，hesitatedaminute，andthengotin。Hedidnotseeminclinedtotalk，butGrandfatherkeptoninhiswise，cheerfulway，speakingofwhatahardyearithadbeen，howmuchthepoorhadsuffered，andhowdifficultitwastogetonsometimes。Themanslowlysoftenedalittle，andwonbythekindchat，toldhisstory。Howhehadbeensick，couldgetnowork，hadafamilyofchildren，andwasalmostindespair。Grandfatherwassofullofpitythatheforgothisfear，and，askingthemanhisname，saidhewouldtrytogethimworkinthenexttown，ashehadfriendsthere。
　　Wishingtogetatpencilandpapertowritedowntheaddress，Grandfathertookouthisplumppocket-book，andtheminutehedidso，theman’seyewasonit。ThenGrandfatherrememberedwhatwasinitandtrembledforhismoney，butsaidquietly­；
　　“’Yes，Ihavealittlesumhereforsomepoororphans。Iwishitwasmyown，Iwouldsogladlygiveyousomeofit。Iamnotrich，butIknowmanyofthetrialsofthepoor；thisfivedollarsismine，andIwanttogiveittoyouforyourchildren。’
　　“Thehard，hungrylookintheman’seyeschangedtoagratefuloneashetookthesmallsum，freelygiven，andlefttheorphans’moneyuntouched。
　　HerodeonwithGrandfathertilltheyapproachedthetown，thenheaskedtobesetdown。Grandpashookhandswithhim，andwasabouttodriveon，whenthemansaid，asifsomethingmadehim，’Iwasdesperatewhenwemet，andImeanttorobyou，butyouweresokindIcouldn’tdoit。Godblessyou，sir，forkeepingmefromit!’“
　　“DidGrandpaeverseehimagain？“askedDaisy，eagerly。
　　“No；butIbelievethemanfoundwork，anddidnottryrobberyanymore。“
　　“Thatwasacuriouswaytotreathim；I’dhaveknockedhimdown，“saidDan。
　　“Kindnessisalwaysbetterthanforce。Tryitandsee，“answeredMr。
　　Bhaer，rising。
　　“Tellanother，please，“criedDaisy。
　　“Youmust，AuntJodid，“addedDemi。
　　“ThenIcertainlywon’t，butkeepmyothersfornexttime。Toomanytalesareasbadastoomanybonbons。IhavepaidmyforfeitandIgo，“
　　andMr。Bhaerranforhislife，withthewholeflockinfullpursuit。Hehadthestart，however，andescapedsafelyintohisstudy，leavingtheboystogoriotingbackagain。
　　Theyweresostirredupbytheracethattheycouldnotsettletotheirformerquiet，andalivelygameofBlindman’sBufffollowed，inwhichTommyshowedthathehadtakenthemoralofthelaststorytoheart，for，whenhecaughtNan，hewhisperedinherear，“I’msorryIcalledyouacross-patch。“
　　Nanwasnottobeoutdoneinkindness，so，whentheyplayed“Button，button，who’sgotthebutton？“anditwasherturntogoround，shesaid，“HoldfastallIgiveyou，“withsuchafriendlysmileatTommy，thathewasnotsurprisedtofindthehorse-hairringinhishandinsteadofthebutton。Heonlysmiledbackatherthen，butwhentheyweregoingtobed，heofferedNanthebestbiteofhislastapple；shesawtheringonhisstumpylittlefinger，acceptedthebite，andpeacewasdeclared。Bothwereashamedofthetemporarycoldness，neitherwasashamedtosay，“Iwaswrong，forgiveme，“sothechildishfriendshipremainedunbroken，andthehomeinthewillowlastedlong，apleasantlittlecastleintheair。CHAPTERXXITHANKSGIVING
　　ThisyearlyfestivalwasalwayskeptatPlumfieldinthegoodold-fashionedway，andnothingwasallowedtointerferewithit。Fordaysbeforehand，thelittlegirlshelpedAsiaandMrs。Joinstore-roomandkitchen，makingpiesandpuddings，sortingfruit，dustingdishes，andbeingverybusyandimmenselyimportant。Theboyshoveredontheoutskirtsoftheforbiddenground，sniffingthesavoryodors，peepinginatthemysteriousperformances，andoccasionallybeingpermittedtotastesomedelicacyintheprocessofpreparation。
　　Somethingmorethanusualseemedtobeonfootthisyear，forthegirlswereasbusyup-stairsasdown，soweretheboysinschool-roomandbarn，andageneralairofbustlepervadedthehouse。Therewasagreathuntingupofoldribbonsandfinery，muchcuttingandpastingofgoldpaper，andthemostremarkablequantityofstraw，graycotton，flannel，andbigblackbeads，usedbyFranzandMrs。Jo。Nedhammeredatstrangemachinesintheworkshop，DemiandTommywentaboutmurmuringtothemselvesasiflearningsomething。AfearfulracketwasheardinEmil’sroomatintervals，andpealsoflaughterfromthenurserywhenRobandTeddyweresentforandhiddenfromsightwholehoursatatime。ButthethingthatpuzzledMr。
　　BhaerthemostwaswhatbecameofRob’sbigpumpkin。Ithadbeenborneintriumphtothekitchen，whereadozengolden-tintedpiessoonafterappeared。Itwouldnothavetakenmorethanaquarterofthemammothvegetabletomakethem，yetwherewastherest？Itdisappeared，andRobneverseemedtocare，onlychuckledwhenitwasmentioned，andtoldhisfather，“Towaitandsee，“forthefunofthewholethingwastosurpriseFatherBhaerattheend，andnotlethimknowabitaboutwhatwastohappen。
　　Heobedientlyshuteyes，ears，andmouth，andwentabouttryingnottoseewhatwasinplainsight，nottohearthetell-talesoundsthatfilledtheair，nottounderstandanyoftheperfectlytransparentmysteriesgoingonallabouthim。BeingaGerman，helovedthesesimpledomesticfestivals，andencouragedthemwithallhisheart，fortheymadehomesopleasantthattheboysdidnotcaretogoelsewhereforfun。
　　Whenatlastthedaycame，theboyswentoffforalongwalk，thattheymighthavegoodappetitesfordinner；asiftheyeverneededthem!Thegirlsremainedathometohelpsetthetable，andgivelasttouchestovariousaffairswhichfilledtheirbusylittlesoulswithanxiety。Theschool-roomhadbeenshutupsincethenightbefore，andMr。BhaerwasforbiddentoenteritonpainofabeatingfromTeddy，whoguardedthedoorlikeasmalldragon，thoughhewasdyingtotellaboutit，andnothingbuthisfather’sheroicself-denialinnotlistening，kepthimfrombetrayingagrandsecret。
　　“It’salldone，andit’sperfectlysplendid，“criedNan，comingoutatlastwithanairoftriumph。
　　“The­；youknow­；goesbeautifully，andSilasknowsjustwhattodonow，“addedDaisy，skippingwithdelightatsomeunspeakablesuccess。
　　“I’mblestifitain’tthe’cutestthingIeversee，themcrittersinparticular，“saidSilas，whohadbeenletintothesecret，wentofflaughinglikeagreatboy。