点击下载App，搜索"Little Men",免费读到尾

　　“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，whoconsideredNathisprot&eacute；g&eacute；。

　　“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&shy；andit’ssobeautiful&shy；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&shy；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