“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；