“IshalldevotethewholeofmyplottothelargestcropofpatienceIcanget，forthatiswhatIneedmost，“saidMrs。Jo，sosoberlythattheladsfelltothinkingingoodearnestwhattheyshouldsaywhentheirturnscame，andsomeamongthemfeltatwingeofremorse，thattheyhadhelpedtouseupMotherBhaer’sstockofpatiencesofast。
　　Franzwantedperseverance，Tommysteadiness，Nedwentinforgoodtemper，Daisyforindustry，Demifor“asmuchwisenessasGrandpa，“andNattimidlysaidhewantedsomanythingshewouldletMr。Bhaerchooseforhim。Theotherschosemuchthesamethings，andpatience，goodtemper，andgenerosityseemedthefavoritecrops。Oneboywishedtoliketogetupearly，butdidnotknowwhatnametogivethatsortofseed；andpoorStuffysighedout，­；
　　“IwishIlovedmylessonsasmuchasIdomydinner，butIcan’t。“
　　“Wewillplantself-denial，andhoeitandwaterit，andmakeitgrowsowellthatnextChristmasnoonewillgetillbyeatingtoomuchdinner。
　　Ifyouexerciseyourmind，George，itwillgethungryjustasyourbodydoes，andyouwilllovebooksalmostasmuchasmyphilosopherhere，“saidMr。Bhaer；adding，ashestrokedthehairoffDemi’sfineforehead，“Youaregreedyalso，myson，andyouliketostuffyourlittlemindfulloffairytalesandfancies，aswellasGeorgelikestofillhislittlestomachwithcakeandcandy。Botharebad，andIwantyoutotrysomethingbetter。
　　Arithmeticisnothalfsopleasantas’ArabianNights，’Iknow，butitisaveryusefulthing，andnowisthetimetolearnit，elseyouwillbeashamedandsorrybyandby。“
　　“But，’HarryandLucy，’and’Frank，’arenotfairybooks，andtheyareallfullofbarometers，andbricks，andshoeinghorses，andusefulthings，andI’mfondofthem；ain’tI，Daisy？“saidDemi，anxioustodefendhimself。
　　“Sotheyare；butIfindyoureading’RolandandMaybird，’agreatdealoftenerthan’HarryandLucy，’andIthinkyouarenothalfsofondof’Frank’asyouareof’Sinbad。’Come，Ishallmakealittlebargainwithyouboth，­；Georgeshalleatbutthreetimesaday，andyoushallreadbutonestory-bookaweek，andIwillgiveyouthenewcricket-ground；
　　only，youmustpromisetoplayinit，“saidUncleFritz，inhispersuasiveway，forStuffyhatedtorunabout，andDemiwasalwaysreadinginplayhours。
　　“Butwedon’tlikecricket，“saidDemi。
　　“Perhapsnotnow，butyouwillwhenyouknowit。Besides，youdoliketobegenerous，andtheotherboyswanttoplay，andyoucangivethemthenewgroundifyouchoose。“
　　Thiswastakenthembothontherightside，andtheyagreedtothebargain，tothegreatsatisfactionoftherest。
　　Therewasalittlemoretalkaboutthegardens，andthentheyallsangtogether。ThebanddelightedNat，forMrs。Bhaerplayedthepiano，Franztheflute，Mr。Bhaerabassviol，andhehimselftheviolin。Averysimplelittleconcert，butallseemedtoenjoyit，andoldAsia，sittinginthecorner，joinedattimeswiththesweetestvoiceofany，forinthisfamily，masterandservant，oldandyoung，blackandwhite，sharedintheSundaysong，whichwentuptotheFatherofthemall。AfterthistheyeachshookhandswithFatherBhaer；MotherBhaerkissedthemeveryonefromsixteen-year-oldFranztolittleRob，howkeptthetipofhernoseforhisownparticularkisses，andthentheytroopeduptobed。
　　ThelightoftheshadedlampthatburnedinthenurseryshonesoftlyonapicturehangingatthefootofNat’sbed。Therewereseveralothersonthewalls，buttheboythoughttheremustbesomethingpeculiaraboutthisone，forithadagracefulframeofmossandconesaboutit，andonalittlebracketunderneathstoodavaseofwildflowersfreshlygatheredfromthespringwoods。Itwasthemostbeautifulpictureofthemall，andNatlaylookingatit，dimlyfeelingwhatitmeant，andwishingheknewallaboutit。
　　“That’smypicture，“saidalittlevoiceintheroom。Natpoppeduphishead，andtherewasDemiinhisnight-gownpausingonhiswaybackfromAuntJo’schamber，whitherhehadgonetogetacotforacutfinger。
　　“Whatishedoingtothechildren？“askedNat。
　　“ThatisChrist，theGoodMan，andHeisblessingthechildren。Don’tyouknowaboutHim？“saidDemi，wondering。
　　“Notmuch，butI’dliketo，Helookssokind，“answeredNat，whosechiefknowledgeoftheGoodManconsistedinhearingHisnametakeninvain。
　　“Iknowallaboutit，andIlikeitverymuch，becauseitistrue，“
　　saidDemi。
　　“Whotoldyou？“
　　“MyGrandpa，heknowseverything，andtellsthebeststoriesintheworld。Iusedtoplaywithhisbigbooks，andmakebridges，andrailroads，andhouses，whenIwasalittleboy，“beganDemi。
　　“Howoldareyounow？“askedNat，respectfully。
　　“’Mostten。“
　　“Youknowalotofthings，don’tyou？“
　　“Yes；youseemyheadisprettybig，andGrandpasaysitwilltakeagooddealtofillit，soIkeepputtingpiecesofwisdomintoitasfastasIcan，“returnedDemi，inhisquaintway。
　　Natlaughed，andthensaidsoberly，­；
　　“Tellon，please。“
　　AndDemigladlytoldonwithoutpauseorpunctuation。“Ifoundaveryprettybookonedayandwantedtoplaywithit，butGrandpasaidImustn’t，andshowedmethepictures，andtoldmeaboutthem，andIlikedthestoriesverymuch，allaboutJosephandhisbadbrothers，andthefrogsthatcameupoutofthesea，anddearlittleMosesinthewater，andeversomanymorelovelyones，butIlikedabouttheGoodManbestofall，andGrandpatoldittomesomanytimesthatIlearneditbyheart，andhegavemethispicturesoIshouldn’tforget，anditwasputuphereoncewhenI
　　wassick，andIleftitforothersickboystosee。“’
　　“WhatmakesHimblessthechildren？“askedNat，whofoundsomethingveryattractiveinthechieffigureofthegroup。
　　“BecauseHelovedthem。“
　　“Weretheypoorchildren？“askedNat，wistfully。
　　“Yes，Ithinkso；youseesomehaven’tgothardlyanyclotheson，andthemothersdon’tlooklikerichladies。Helikedpoorpeople，andwasverygoodtothem。Hemadethemwell，andhelpedthem，andtoldrichpeopletheymustnotbecrosstothem，andtheylovedHimdearly，dearly，“criedDemi，withenthusiasm。
　　“WasHerich？“
　　“Ohno!Hewasborninabarn，andwassopoorHehadn’tanyhousetoliveinwhenHegrewup，andnothingtoeatsometimes，butwhatpeoplegaveHim，andHewentroundpreachingtoeverybody，andtryingtomakethemgood，tillthebadmenkilledHim。“
　　“Whatfor？“andNatsatupinhisbedtolookandlisten，sointerestedwasheinthismanwhocaredforthepoorsomuch。
　　“I’lltellyouallaboutit；AuntJowon’tmind；“andDemisettledhimselfontheoppositebed，gladtotellhisfavoritestorytosogoodalistener。
　　NurseypeepedintoseeifNatwasasleep，butwhenshesawwhatwasgoingon，sheslippedawayagain，andwenttoMrs。Bhaer，sayingwithherkindfacefullofmotherlyemotion，­；
　　“Willthedearladycomeandseeaprettysight？It’sNatlisteningwithallhishearttoDemitellingthestoryoftheChrist-child，likealittlewhiteangelasheis。“
　　Mrs。BhaerhadmeanttogoandtalkwithNatamomentbeforeheslept，forshehadfoundthataseriouswordspokenatthistimeoftendidmuchgood。Butwhenshestoletothenurserydoor，andsawNateagerlydrinkinginthewordsofhislittlefriends，whileDemitoldthesweetandsolemnstoryasithadbeentaughthim，speakingsoftlyashesatwithhisbeautifuleyesfixedonthetenderfaceabovethem，herownfilledwithtears，andshewentsilentlyaway，thinkingtoherself，­；
　　“DemiisunconsciouslyhelpingthepoorboybetterthanIcan；Iwillnotspoilitbyasingleword。“
　　Themurmurofthechildishvoicewentonforalongtime，asoneinnocentheartpreachedthatgreatsermontoanother，andnoonehushedit。Whenitceasedatlast，andMrs。Bhaerwenttotakeawaythelamp，DemiwasgoneandNatfastasleep，lyingwithhisfacetowardthepicture，asifhehadalreadylearnedtolovetheGoodManwholovedlittlechildren，andwasafaithfulfriendtothepoor。Theboy’sfacewasveryplacid，andasshelookedatitshefeltthatifasingledayofcareandkindnesshaddonesomuch，ayearofpatientcultivationwouldsurelybringagratefulharvestfromthisneglectedgarden，whichwasalreadysownwiththebestofallseedbythelittlemissionaryinthenight-gown。CHAPTERIVSTEPPING-STONES
　　WhenNatwentintoschoolonMondaymorning，hequakedinwardly，fornowhethoughtheshouldhavetodisplayhisignorancebeforethemall。
　　ButMr。Bhaergavehimaseatinthedeepwindow，wherehecouldturnhisbackontheothers，andFranzheardhimsayhislessonsthere，sonoonecouldhearhisblundersorseehowheblottedhiscopybook。Hewastrulygratefulforthis，andtoiledawaysodiligentlythatMr。Bhaersaid，smiling，whenhesawhishotfaceandinkyfingers：
　　“Don’tworksohard，myboy；youwilltireyourselfout，andthereistimeenough。“
　　“ButImustworkhard，orIcan’tcatchupwiththeothers。Theyknowheaps，andIdon’tknowanything，“saidNat，whohadbeenreducedtoastateofdespairbyhearingtheboysrecitetheirgrammar，history，andgeographywithwhathethoughtamazingeaseandaccuracy。
　　“Youknowagoodmanythingswhichtheydon’t，“saidMr。Bhaer，sittingdownbesidehim，whileFranzledaclassofsmallstudentsthroughtheintricaciesofthemultiplicationtable。
　　“DoI？“andNatlookedutterlyincredulous。
　　“Yes；foronething，youcankeepyourtemper，andJack，whoisquickatnumbers，cannot；thatisanexcellentlesson，andIthinkyouhavelearneditwell。Then，youcanplaytheviolin，andnotoneoftheladscan，thoughtheywanttodoitverymuch。But，bestofall，Nat，youreallycaretolearnsomething，andthatishalfthebattle。Itseemshardatfirst，andyouwillfeeldiscouraged，butplodaway，andthingswillgeteasierandeasierasyougoon。“
　　Nat’sfacehadbrightenedmoreandmoreashelistened，for，smallasthelistofhislearningwas，itcheeredhimimmenselytofeelthathehadanythingtofallbackupon。“Yes，Icankeepmytemper­；father’sbeatingtaughtmethat；andIcanfiddle，thoughIdon’tknowwheretheBayofBiscayis，“hethought，withasenseofcomfortimpossibletoexpress。
　　Thenhesaidaloud，andsoearnestlythatDemiheardhim：
　　“Idowanttolearn，andIwilltry。Ineverwenttoschool，butIcouldn’thelpit；andifthefellowsdon’tlaughatme，IguessI’llgetonfirstrate­；youandtheladyaresogoodtome。“
　　“Theyshan’tlaughatyou；iftheydo，I’ll­；I’ll­；tellthemnotto，“criedDemi，quiteforgettingwherehewas。
　　Theclassstoppedinthemiddleof7times9，andeveryonelookeduptoseewhatwasgoingon。
　　Thinkingthatalessoninlearningtohelponeanotherwasbetterthanarithmeticjustthen，Mr。BhaertoldthemaboutNat，makingsuchaninterestingandtouchinglittlestoryoutofitthatthegood-heartedladsallpromisedtolendhimahand，andfeltquitehonoredtobecalledupontoimparttheirstoresofwisdomtothechapwhofiddledsocapitally。Thisappealestablishedtherightfeelingamongthem，andNathadfewhindrancestostruggleagainst，foreveryonewasgladtogivehima“boost“uptheladderoflearning。
　　Tillhewasstronger，muchstudywasnotgoodforhim，however，andMrs。Jofoundvariousamusementsinthehouseforhimwhileotherswereattheirbooks。Buthisgardenwashisbestmedicine，andheworkedawaylikeabeaver，preparinghislittlefarm，sowinghisbeans，watchingeagerlytoseethemgrow，andrejoicingovereachgreenleafandslenderstockthatshotupandflourishedinthewarmspringweather。Neverwasagardenmorefaithfullyhoed；Mr。Bhaerreallyfearedthatnothingwouldfindtimetogrow，Natkeptupsuchastirringofthesoil；sohegavehimeasyjobsintheflowergardenoramongthestrawberries，whereheworkedandhummedasbusilyasthebeesboomingallabouthim。
　　“ThisisthecropIlikebest，“Mrs。Bhaerusedtosay，asshepinchedtheoncethincheeks，nowgettingplumpandruddy，orstrokedthebentshouldersthatwereslowlystraighteningupwithhealthfulwork，goodfood，andtheabsenceofthatheavyburden，poverty。
　　Demiwashislittlefriend，Tommyhispatron，andDaisythecomforterofallhiswoes；for，thoughthechildrenwereyoungerthanhe，histimidspiritfoundapleasureintheirinnocentsociety，andrathershrunkfromtheroughsportsoftheelderlads。Mr。Laurencedidnotforgethim，butsentclothesandbooks，musicandkindmessages，andnowandthencameouttoseehowhisboywasgettingon，ortookhimintotowntoaconcert；