Mr。Bhaersuggestedthattheyshouldseewhowouldstudybest，andNanfoundasmuchpleasureinusingherquickwitsandfinememoryasheractivefeetandmerrytongue，whiletheladshadtodotheirbesttokeeptheirplaces，forNanshowedthemthatgirlscoulddomostthingsaswellasboys，andsomethingsbetter。Therewerenorewardsinschool，butMr。
Bhaer’s“Welldone!“andMrs。Bhaer’sgoodreportontheconsciencebook，taughtthemtolovedutyforitsownsake，andtrytodoitfaithfully，suresoonerorlatertherecompensewouldcome。LittleNanwasquicktofeelthenewatmosphere，toenjoyit，toshowthatitwaswhatsheneeded；
forthislittlegardenwasfullofsweetflowers，halfhiddenbytheweeds；
andwhenkindhandsgentlybegantocultivateit，allsortsofgreenshootssprungup，promisingtoblossombeautifullyinthewarmthofloveandcare，thebestclimateforyoungheartsandsoulsalltheworldover。
Asthereisnoparticularplantothisstory，excepttodescribeafewscenesinthelifeatPlumfieldfortheamusementofcertainlittlepersons，wewillgentlyramblealonginthischapterandtellsomeofthepastimesofMrs。Jo’sboys。Ibegleavetoassuremyhonoredreadersthatmostoftheincidentsaretakenfromreallife，andthattheoddestarethetruest；