“Theyarecoming；IhearEmilroaring’Landlubberslyingdownbelow，’
　　sowemustrunanddress，“criedNan，andup-stairstheyscamperedinagreathurry。
　　Theboyscametroopinghomewithappetitesthatwouldhavemadethebigturkeytremble，ifithadnotbeenpastallfear。Theyalsoretiredtodress；andforhalf-an-hourtherewasawashing，brushing，andprinkingthatwouldhavedoneanytidywoman’sheartgoodtosee。Whenthebellrang，atroopoffresh-facedladswithshinyhair，cleancollars，andSundayjacketson，filedintothedining-room，whereMrs。Jo，inheroneblacksilk，withaknotofherfavoritewhitechrysanthemumsinherbosom，satattheheadofthetable，“lookingsplendid，“astheboyssaid，whenevershegotherselfup。DaisyandNanwereasgayasaposybedintheirnewwinterdresses，withbrightsashesandhairribbons。Teddywasgorgeoustobeholdinacrimsonmerinoblouse，andhisbestbuttonboots，whichabsorbedanddistractedhimasmuchasMr。Toot’swristbandsdidononeoccasion。
　　AsMr。andMrs。Bhaerglancedateachotherdownthelongtable，withthoserowsofhappyfacesoneitherside，theyhadalittlethanksgivingalltothemselves，andwithoutaword，foroneheartsaidtotheother，­；
　　“Ourworkhasprospered，letusbegratefulandgoon。“
　　Theclatterofknivesandforkspreventedmuchconversationforafewminutes，andMaryAnnwithanamazingpinkbowinherhair“flewround“
　　briskly，handingplatesandladlingoutgravy。Nearlyeveryonehadcontributedtothefeast，sothedinnerwasapeculiarlyinterestingonestotheeatersofit，whobeguiledthepausesbyremarksontheirownproductions。
　　“IfthesearenotgoodpotatoesIneversawany，“observedJack，ashereceivedhisfourthbigmealyone。
　　“Someofmyherbsareinthestuffingoftheturkey，that’swhyit’ssonice，“saidNan，takingamouthfulwithintensesatisfaction。
　　“Myducksareprimeanyway；Asiasaidshenevercookedsuchfatones，“
　　addedTommy。
　　“Well，ourcarrotsarebeautiful，ain’tthey，andourparsnipswillbeeversogoodwhenwedigthem，“putinDick，andDollymurmuredhisassentfrombehindthebonehewaspicking。
　　“Ihelpedmakethepieswithmypumpkin，“calledoutRobby，withalaughwhichhestoppedbyretiringintohismug。
　　“Ipickedsomeoftheapplesthattheciderismadeof，“saidDemi。
　　“Irakedthecranberriesforthesauce，“criedNat。
　　“Igotthenuts，“addedDan，andsoitwentonallroundthetable。
　　“WhomadeupThanksgiving？“askedRob，forbeinglatelypromotedtojacketandtrousershefeltanewandmanlyinterestintheinstitutionsofhiscountry。
　　“Seewhocananswerthatquestion，“andMr。Bhaernoddedtooneortwoofhisbesthistoryboys。
　　“Iknow，“saidDemi，“thePilgrimsmadeit。“
　　“Whatfor？“askedRob，withoutwaitingtolearnwhothePilgrimswere。
　　“Iforget，“andDemisubsided。
　　“Ibelieveitwasbecausetheywerestarvedonce，andsowhentheyhadagoodharvest，theysaid，’WewillthankGodforit，’andtheyhadadayandcalleditThanksgiving，“saidDan，wholikedthestoryofthebravemenwhosufferedsonoblyfortheirfaith。
　　“Good!Ididn’tthinkyouwouldrememberanythingbutnaturalhistory，“
　　andMr。Bhaertappedgentlyonthetableasapplauseforhispupil。
　　Danlookedpleased；andMrs。Josaidtoherson，“Nowdoyouunderstandaboutit，Robby？“
　　“No，Idon’t。Ithoughtpil-grinswereasortofbigbirdthatlivedonrocks，andIsawpicturesoftheminDemi’sbook。“
　　“Hemeanspenguins。Oh，isn’thealittlegoosey!“andDemilaidbackinhischairandlaughedaloud。
　　“Don’tlaughathim，buttellhimallaboutitifyoucan，“saidMrs。
　　Bhaer，consolingRobwithmorecranberrysauceforthegeneralsmilethatwentroundthetableathismistake。
　　“Well，Iwill；“and，afterapausetocollecthisideas，DemideliveredthefollowingsketchofthePilgrimFathers，whichwouldhavemadeeventhosegravegentlemensmileiftheycouldhaveheardit。
　　“Yousee，Rob，someofthepeopleinEnglanddidn’tliketheking，orsomething，sotheygotintoshipsandsailedawaytothiscountry。ItwasallfullofIndians，andbears，andwildcreatures，andtheylivedinforts，andhadadreadfultime。“
　　“Thebears？“askedRobby，withinterest。
　　“No；thePilgrims，becausetheIndianstroubledthem。Theyhadn’tenoughtoeat，andtheywenttochurchwithguns，andeversomanydied，andtheygotoutoftheshipsonarock，andit’scalledPlymouthRock，andAuntJosawitandtouchedit。ThePilgrimskilledalltheIndians，andgotrich；andhungthewitches，andwereverygood；andsomeofthegreatestgreat-grandpascameintheships。OnewastheMayflower；andtheymadeThanksgiving，andwehaveitalways，andIlikeit。Somemoreturkey，please。“
　　“IthinkDemiwillbeanhistorian，thereissuchorderandclearnessinhisaccountofevents；“andUncleFritz’seyeslaughedatAuntJo，ashehelpedthedescendantofthePilgrimstohisthirdbitofturkey。
　　“IthoughtyoumusteatasmuchaseveryoucouldonThanksgiving。ButFranzsaysyoumustn’teventhen；“andStuffylookedasifhehadreceivedbadnews。
　　“Franzisright，somindyourknifeandfork，andbemoderate，orelseyouwon’tbeabletohelpinthesurprisebyandby，“saidMrs。Jo。
　　“I’llbecareful；buteverybodydoeseatlots，andIlikeitbetterthanbeingmoderate，“saidStuffy，wholeanedtothepopularbeliefthatThanksgivingmustbekeptbycomingasnearapoplexyaspossible，andescapingwithmerelyafitofindigestionoraheadache。
　　“Now，my’pilgrims’amuseyourselvesquietlytilltea-time，foryouwillhaveenoughexcitementthisevening，“saidMrs。Jo，astheyrosefromthetableafteraprotractedsitting，finishedbydrinkingeveryone’shealthincider。
　　“IthinkIwilltakethewholeflockforadrive，itissopleasant；
　　thenyoucanrest，mydear，oryouwillbewornoutthisevening，“addedMr。Bhaer；andassoonascoatsandhatscouldbeputon，thegreatomnibuswaspackedfull，andawaytheywentforalonggaydrive，leavingMrs。
　　Jotorestandfinishsundrysmallaffairsinpeace。
　　Anearlyandlightteawasfollowedbymorebrushingofhairandwashingofhands；thentheflockwaitedimpatientlyforthecompanytocome。Onlythefamilywasexpected；forthesesmallrevelswerestrictlydomestic，andsuchbeingthecase，sorrowwasnotallowedtosaddenthepresentfestival。
　　Allcame；Mr。andMrs。March，withAuntMeg，sosweetandlovely，inspiteofherblackdressandthelittlewidow’scapthatencircledhertranquilface。UncleTeddyandAuntAmy，withthePrincesslookingmorefairy-likethanever，inasky-bluegown，andagreatbouquetofhot-houseflowers，whichshedividedamongtheboys，stickingoneineachbutton-hole，makingthemfeelpeculiarlyelegantandfestive。Onestrangefaceappeared，andUncleTeddyledtheunknowngentlemanuptotheBhaers，saying­；
　　“ThisisMr。Hyde；hehasbeeninquiringaboutDan，andIventuredtobringhimto-night，thathemightseehowmuchtheboyhasimproved。“
　　TheBhaersreceivedhimcordially，forDan’ssake，pleasedthattheladhadbeenremembered。But，afterafewminutes’chat，theyweregladtoknowMr。Hydeforhisownsake，sogenial，simple，andinterestingwashe。Itwaspleasanttoseetheboy’sfacelightupwhenhecaughtsightofhisfriend；pleasanterstilltoseeMr。Hyde’ssurpriseandsatisfactioninDan’simprovedmannersandappearance，andpleasantestofalltowatchthetwosittalkinginacorner，forgettingthedifferencesofage，culture，andposition，intheonesubjectwhichinterestedboth，asmanandboycomparednotes，andtoldthestoryoftheirsummerlife。
　　“Theperformancemustbeginsoon，ortheactorswillgotosleep，“saidMrs。Jo，whenthefirstgreetingswereover。
　　Soeveryonewentintotheschool-room，andtookseatsbeforeacurtainmadeoftwobed-covers。Thechildrenhadalreadyvanished；butstifledlaughter，andfunnylittleexclamationsfrombehindthecurtain，betrayedtheirwhereabouts。Theentertainmentbeganwithaspiritedexhibitionofgymnastics，ledbyFranz。Thesixelderlads，inbluetrousersandredshirts，madeafinedisplayofmusclewithdumb-bells，clubs，andweights，keepingtimetothemusicofthepiano，playedbyMrs。Jobehindthescenes。
　　Danwassoenergeticinthisexercise，thattherewassomedangerofhisknockingdownhisneighbors，likesomanynine-pins，orsendinghisbean-bagswhizzingamongtheaudience；forhewasexcitedbyMr。Hyde’spresence，andaburningdesiretodohonortohisteachers。
　　“Afine，stronglad。IfIgoonmytriptoSouthAmerica，inayearortwo，Ishallbetemptedtoaskyoutolendhimtome，Mr。Bhaer，“saidMr。Hyde，whoseinterestinDanwasmuchincreasedbythereporthehadjustheardofhim。
　　“Youshallhavehim，andwelcome，thoughweshallmissouryoungHerculesverymuch。Itwoulddohimaworldofgood，andIamsurehewouldservehisfriendfaithfully。“
　　Danheardbothquestionandanswer，andhisheartleapedwithjoyatthethoughtoftravellinginanewcountrywithMr。Hyde，andswelledwithgratitudeforthekindlycommendationwhichrewardedhiseffortstobeallthesefriendsdesiredtoseehim。
　　Afterthegymnastics，DemiandTommyspoketheoldschooldialogue，“Moneymakesthemarego。“Demididverywell，butTommywascapitalastheoldfarmer；forheimitatedSilasinawaythatconvulsedtheaudience，andcausedSilashimselftolaughsohardthatAsiahadtoslaphimontheback，astheystoodinthehallenjoyingthefunimmensely。
　　ThenEmil，whohadgothisbreathbythistime，gavethemasea-songincostume，withagreatdealabout“stormywinds，““leeshores，“andarousingchorusof“Luff，boys，luff，“whichmadetheroomring；afterwhichNedperformedafunnyChinesedance，andhoppedaboutlikealargefroginapagodahat。AsthiswastheonlypublicexhibitioneverheldatPlumfield，afewexercisesinlightning-arithmetic，spelling，andreadingweregiven。
　　Jackquiteamazedthepublicbyhisrapidcalculationsontheblackboard。
　　Tommywoninthespellingmatch，andDemireadalittleFrenchfablesowellthatUncleTeddywascharmed。
　　“Wherearetheotherchildren？“askedeveryoneasthecurtainfell，andnoneofthelittleonesappeared。
　　“Oh，thatisthesurprise。It’ssolovely，Ipityyoubecauseyoudon’tknowit，“saidDemi，whohadgonetogethismother’skiss，andstayedbyhertoexplainthemysterywhenitshouldberevealed。
　　GoldilockshadbeencarriedoffbyAuntJo，tothegreatamazementofherpapa，whoquiteoutdidMr。Bhaerinactingwonder，suspense，andwildimpatiencetoknow“whatwasgoingtohappen。“
　　Atlast，aftermuchrustling，hammering，andveryaudibledirectionsfromthestagemanager，thecurtainrosetosoftmusic，andBesswasdiscoveredsittingonastoolbesideabrownpaperfire-place。AdearerlittleCinderellawasneverseen；forthegraygownwasveryragged，thetinyshoesallworn，thefacesoprettyunderthebrighthair，andtheattitudesodejected，itbroughttears，aswellassmiles，tothefondeyeslookingatthebabyactress。Shesatquitestill，tillavoicewhispered，“Now!“­；thenshesighedafunnylittlesigh，andsaid，“OhIwishItoodgototheball!“
　　sonaturally，thatherfatherclappedfrantically，andhermothercalledout，“Littledarling!“ThesehighlyimproperexpressionsoffeelingcausedCinderellatoforgetherself，andshakeherheadatthem，saying，reprovingly，“Youmustn’t’peaktome。“
　　Silenceinstantlyprevailed，andthreetapswereheardonthewall。
　　Cinderellalookedalarmed，butbeforeshecouldremembertosay，“Whatisdat？“thebackofthebrownpaperfire-placeopenedlikeadoor，and，withsomedifficulty，thefairygodmothergotherselfandherpointedhatthrough。ItwasNan，inaredcloak，acap，andawand，whichshewavedasshesaiddecidedly，­；
　　“Youshallgototheball，mydear。“
　　“Nowyoumustpullandshowmyprettydress，“returnedCinderella，tuggingatherbrowngown。
　　“No，no；youmustsay，’HowcanIgoinmyrags？’“saidthegodmotherinherownvoice。
　　“Ohyes，soImus’；“andthePrincesssaidit，quiteundisturbedbyherforgetfulness。