onwhichoccasionsNatfelthimselftranslatedintotheseventhheavenofbliss，forhewenttoMr。Laurence’sgreathouse，sawhisprettywifeandlittlefairyofadaughter，hadagooddinner，andwasmadesocomfortable，thathetalkedanddreamedofitfordaysandnightsafterward。
Ittakessolittletomakeachildhappythatitisapity，inaworldsofullofsunshineandpleasantthings，thatthereshouldbeanywistfulfaces，emptyhands，orlonelylittlehearts。Feelingthis，theBhaersgatheredupallthecrumbstheycouldfindtofeedtheirflockofhungrysparrows，fortheywerenotrich，exceptincharity。ManyofMrs。Jo’sfriendswhohadnurseriessenthertheytoysofwhichtheirchildrensosoontired，andinmendingtheseNatfoundanemploymentthatjustsuitedhim。Hewasveryneatandskillfulwiththoseslenderfingersofhis，andpassedmanyarainyafternoonwithhisgum-bottle，paint-box，andknife，repairingfurniture，animals，andgames，whileDaisywasdressmakertothedilapidateddolls。Asfastasthetoysweremended，theywereputcarefullyawayinacertaindrawerwhichwastofurnishforthaChristmas-treeforallthepoorchildrenoftheneighborhood，thatbeingthewaythePlumfieldboyscelebratedthebirthdayofHimwholovedthepoorandblessedthelittleones。
Demiwasnevertiredofreadingandexplaininghisfavoritebooks，andmanyapleasanthourdidtheyspendintheoldwillow，revellingover“RobinsonCrusoe，““ArabianNights，““Edgeworth’sTales，“andtheotherdearimmortalstoriesthatwilldelightchildrenforcenturiestocome。ThisopenedanewworldtoNat，andhiseagernesstoseewhatcamenextinthestoryhelpedhimontillhecouldreadaswellasanybody，andfeltsorichandproudwithhisnewaccomplishment，thattherewasdangerofhisbeingasmuchofabookwormasDemi。
Anotherhelpfulthinghappenedinamostunexpectedandagreeablemanner。
Severaloftheboyswere“inbusiness，“astheycalledit，formostofthemwerepoor，andknowingthattheywouldhavetheirownwaytomakebyandby，theBhaersencouragedanyeffortsatindependence。Tommysoldhiseggs；Jackspeculatedinlivestock；Franzhelpedintheteaching，andwaspaidforit；Nedhadatasteforcarpentry，andaturning-lathewassetupforhiminwhichheturnedallsortsofusefulorprettythings，andsoldthem；whileDemiconstructedwater-mills，whirligigs，andunknownmachinesofanintricateanduselessnature，anddisposedofthemtotheboys。
“Lethimbeamechanicifhelikes，“saidMr。Bhaer。“Giveaboyatrade，andheisindependent。Workiswholesome，andwhatevertalenttheseladspossess，beitforpoetryorploughing，itshallbecultivatedandmadeusefultothemifpossible。“
So，whenNatcamerunningtohimonedaytoaskwithanexcitedface：
“CanIgoandfiddleforsomepeoplewhoaretohaveapicnicinourwoods？Theywillpayme，andI’dliketoearnsomemoneyastheotherboysdo，andfiddlingistheonlywayIknowhowtodoit­；“
Mr。Bhaeransweredreadily：
“Go，andwelcome。Itisaneasyandapleasantwaytowork，andIamgladitisofferedyou。“
Natwent，anddidsowellthatwhenhecamehomehehadtwodollarsinhispocket，whichhedisplayedwithintensesatisfaction，ashetoldhowmuchhehadenjoyedtheafternoon，howkindtheyoungpeoplewere，andhowtheyhadpraisedhisdancemusic，andpromisedtohavehimagain。
“Itissomuchnicerthanfiddlinginthestreet，forthenIgotnoneofthemoney，andnowIhaveitall，andagoodtimebesides。I’minbusinessnowaswellasTommyandJack，andIlikeiteversomuch，“saidNat，proudlypattingtheoldpocketbook，andfeelinglikeamillionairealready。
Hewasinbusinesstruly，forpicnicswereplentyassummeropened，andNat’sskillwasingreatdemand。Hewasalwaysatlibertytogoiflessonswerenotneglected，andifthepicnickerswererespectableyoungpeople。ForMr。Bhaerexplainedtohimthatagoodplaineducationisnecessaryforeveryone，andthatnoamountofmoneyshouldhirehimtogowherehemightbetemptedtodowrong。Natquiteagreedtothis，anditwasapleasantsighttoseetheinnocent-heartedladgodrivingawayinthegaywagonsthatstoppedatthegateforhim，ortohearhimcomefiddlinghometiredbuthappy，withhiswell-earnedmoneyinonepocket，andsome“goodies“
fromthefeastforDaisyorlittleTed，whomheneverforgot。
“I’mgoingtosaveuptillIgetenoughtobuyaviolinformyself，andthenIcanearnmyownliving，can’tI？“heusedtosay，ashebroughthisdollarstoMr。Bhaertokeep。
“Ihopeso，Nat；butwemustgetyoustrongandheartyfirst，andputalittlemoreknowledgeintothismusicalheadofyours。ThenMr。Lauriewillfindyouaplacesomewhere，andinafewyearswewillallcometohearyouplayinpublic。“
Withmuchcongenialwork，encouragement，andhope，Natfoundlifegettingeasierandhappiereveryday，andmadesuchprogressinhismusiclessonsthathisteacherforgavehisslownessinsomeotherthings，knowingverywellthatwheretheheartisthemindworksbest。Theonlypunishmenttheboyeverneededforneglectofmoreimportantlessonswastohangupthefiddleandthebowforaday。Thefearoflosinghisbosomfriendentirelymadehimgoathisbookswithawill；andhavingprovedthathecouldmasterthelessons，whatwastheuseofsaying“Ican’t？“
Daisyhadagreatloveofmusic，andagreatreverenceforanyonewhocouldmakeit，andshewasoftenfoundsittingonthestairsoutsideNat’sdoorwhilehewaspractising。Thispleasedhimverymuch，andheplayedhisbestforthatonequietlittlelistener；forsheneverwouldcomein，butpreferredtositsewinghergaypatchwork，ortendingoneofhermanydolls，withanexpressionofdreamypleasureonherfacethatmadeAuntJosay，withtearsinhereyes：“SolikemyBeth，“andgosoftlyby，lestevenherfamiliarpresencemarthechild’ssweetsatisfaction。
NatwasveryfondofMrs。Bhaer，butfoundsomethingevenmoreattractiveinthegoodprofessor，whotookfatherlycareoftheshyfeebleboy，whohadbarelyescapedwithhislifefromtheroughseaonwhichhislittleboathadbeentossingrudderlessfortwelveyears。Somegoodangelmusthavebeenwatchingoverhim，for，thoughhisbodyhadsuffered，hissoulseemedtohavetakenlittleharm，andcameashoreasinnocentasashipwreckedbaby。Perhapshisloveofmusickeptitsweetinspiteofthediscordallabouthim；Mr。Lauriesaidso，andheoughttoknow。Howeverthatmightbe，FatherBhaertookpleasureinfosteringpoorNat’svirtues，andincuringhisfaults，findinghisnewpupilasdocileandaffectionateasagirl。HeoftencalledNathis“daughter“whenspeakingofhimtoMrs。
Jo，andsheusedtolaughathisfancy，forMadamelikedmanlyboys，andthoughtNatamiablebutweak，thoughyouneverwouldhaveguessedit，forshepettedhimasshedidDaisy，andhethoughtheraverydelightfulwoman。
OnefaultofNat’sgavetheBhaersmuchanxiety，althoughtheysawhowithadbeenstrengthenedbyfearandignorance。IregrettosaythatNatsometimestoldlies。Notveryblackones，seldomgettingdeeperthangray，andoftenthemildestofwhitefibs；butthatdidnotmatter，alieisalie，andthoughwealltellmanypoliteuntruthsinthisqueerworldofours，itisnotright，andeverybodyknowsit。
“Youcannotbetoocareful；watchyourtongue，andeyes，andhands，foritiseasytotell，andlook，andactuntruth，“saidMr。Bhaer，inoneofthetalkshehadwithNatabouthischieftemptation。
“Iknowit，andIdon’tmeanto，butit’ssomucheasiertogetalongifyouain’tveryfussyaboutbeingexactlytrue。Iusedtotell’embecauseIwasafraidoffatherandNicolo，andnowIdosometimesbecausetheboyslaughatme。Iknowit’sbad，butIforget，“andNatlookedmuchdepressedbyhissins。
“WhenIwasalittleladIusedtotelllies!Ach!whatfibstheywere，andmyoldgrandmothercuredmeofit­；how，doyouthink？Myparentshadtalked，andcried，andpunished，butstilldidIforgetasyou。Thensaidthedearoldgrandmother，’Ishallhelpyoutoremember，andputacheckonthisunrulypart，’withthatshedrewoutmytongueandsnippedtheendwithherscissorstillthebloodran。Thatwasterrible，youmaybelieve，butitdidmemuchgood，becauseitwassorefordays，andeverywordIsaidcamesoslowlythatIhadtimetothink。AfterthatIwasmorecareful，andgotonbetter，forIfearedthebigscissors。Yetthedeargrandmotherwasmostkindtomeinallthings，andwhenshelaydyingfarawayinNuremberg，sheprayedthatlittleFritzmightloveGodandtellthetruth。“
“Ineverhadanygrandmothers，butifyouthinkitwillcureme，I’llletyousnipmytongue，“saidNat，heroically，forhedreadedpain，yetdidwishtostopfibbing。
Mr。Bhaersmiled，butshookhishead。
“Ihaveabetterwaythanthat，Itrieditoncebeforeanditworkedwell。Seenow，whenyoutellalieIwillnotpunishyou，butyoushallpunishme。“
“How？“askedNat，startledattheidea。
“Youshallferulemeinthegoodold-fashionedway；Iseldomdoitmyself，butitmaymakeyourememberbettertogivemepainthantofeelityourself。“
“Strikeyou？Oh，Icouldn’t!“criedNat。
“Thenmindthattrippingtongueofthine。Ihavenowishtobehurt，butIwouldgladlybearmuchpaintocurethisfault。“
ThissuggestionmadesuchanimpressiononNat，thatforalongtimehesetawatchuponhislips，andwasdesperatelyaccurate，forMr。Bhaerjudgedrightly，thatloveofhimwouldbemorepowerfulwithNatthatfearforhimself。Butalas!onesaddayNatwasoffhisguard，andwhenpepperyEmilthreatenedtothrashhim，ifitwashewhohadrunoverhisgardenandbrokendownhisbesthillsofcorn，Natdeclaredhedidn’t，andthenwasashamedtoownupthathediddoit，whenJackwaschasinghimthenightbefore。
Hethoughtnoonewouldfinditout，butTommyhappenedtoseehim，andwhenEmilspokeofitadayortwolater，Tommygavehisevidence，andMr。Bhaerheardit。Schoolwasover，andtheywereallstandingaboutinthehall，andMr。BhaerhadjustsetdownonthestrawsetteetoenjoyhisfrolicwithTeddy；butwhenheheardTommyandsawNatturnscarlet，andlookathimwithafrightenedface，heputthelittleboydown，saying，“Gotothymother，bü；bchen，Iwillcomesoon，“andtakingNatbythehandledhimintotheschoolandshutthedoor。
Theboyslookedatoneanotherinsilenceforaminute，thenTommyslippedoutandpeepinginatthehalf-closedblinds，beheldasightthatquitebewilderedhim。Mr。Bhaerhadjusttakendownthelongrulethathungoverhisdesk，soseldomusedthatitwascoveredwithdust。
“Myeye!He’sgoingtocomedownheavyonNatthistime。WishIhadn’ttold，“thoughtgood-naturedTommy，fortobeferuledwasthedeepestdisgraceatthisschool。
“YourememberwhatItoldyoulasttime？“saidMr。Bhaer，sorrowfully，notangrily。
“Yes；butpleasedon’tmakeme，Ican’tbearit，“criedNat，backingupagainstthedoorwithbothhandsbehindhim，andafacefullofdistress。
“Whydon’theupandtakeitlikeaman？Iwould，“thoughtTommy，thoughhisheartbeatfastatthesight。
“Ishallkeepmyword，andyoumustremembertotellthetruth。Obeyme，Nat，takethisandgivemesixgoodstrokes。“
Tommywassostaggeredbythislastspeechthathenearlytumbleddownthebank，butsavedhimself，andhungontothewindowledge，staringinwitheyesasroundasthestuffedowl’sonthechimney-piece。
Nattooktherule，forwhenMr。Bhaerspokeinthattoneeveryoneobeyedhim，and，lookingasscaredandguiltyasifabouttostabhismaster，hegavetwofeebleblowsonthebroadhandheldouttohim。Thenhestoppedandlookeduphalf-blindwithtears，butMr。Bhaersaidsteadily：
“Goon，andstrikeharder。“
Asifseeingthatitmustbedone，andeagertohavethehardtasksoonover，Natdrewhissleeveacrosshiseyesandgavetwomorequickhardstrokesthatreddenedthehand，yethurtthegivermore。
“Isn’tthatenough？“heaskedinabreathlesssortoftone。
“Twomore，“wasalltheanswer，andhegavethem，hardlyseeingwheretheyfell，thenthrewtheruleallacrosstheroom，andhuggingthekindhandinbothhisown，laidhisfacedownonitsobbingoutinapassionoflove，andshame，andpenitence：
“Iwillremember!Oh!Iwill!“
ThenMr。Bhaerputanarmabouthim，andsaidinatoneascompassionateasithadjustnowbeenfirm：
“Ithinkyouwill。AskthedearGodtohelpyou，andtrytospareusbothanotherscenelikethis。“
Tommysawnomore，forhecreptbacktothehall，lookingsoexcitedandsoberthattheboyscrowdedroundhimtoaskwhatwasbeingdonetoNat。
InamostimpressivewhisperTommytoldthem，andtheylookedasiftheskywasabouttofall，forthisreversingtheorderofthingsalmosttooktheirbreathaway。