AllSaturdaymorningtheboyswereplanninghowitshouldbefurnishedwiththeirspoils，andwhenMr。Lauriearrived，bringinganaquariumwhichMrs。Amysaidshewastiredof，theirrapturewasgreat。
Theafternoonwasspentinarrangingthings，andwhentherunningandluggingandhammeringwasover，theladieswereinvitedtobeholdtheinstitution。
Itcertainlywasapleasantplace，airy，clean，andbright。Ahop-vineshookitsgreenbellsroundtheopenwindow，theprettyaquariumstoodinthemiddleoftheroom，withsomedelicatewaterplantsrisingabovethewater，andgold-fishshowingtheirbrightnessastheyfloatedtoandfrobelow。Oneithersideofthewindowwererowsofshelvesreadytoreceivethecuriositiesyettobefound。Dan’stallcabinetstoodbeforethegreatdoorwhichwasfastenedup，whilethesmalldoorwastobeused。OnthecabinetstoodaqueerIndianidol，veryugly，butveryinteresting；oldMr。Laurencesentit，aswellasafineChinesejunkinfullsail，whichhadaconspicuousplaceonthelongtableinthemiddleoftheroom。Above，swinginginaloop，andlookingasifshewasalive，hungPolly，whodiedatanadvancedage，hadbeencarefullystuffed，andwasnopresentedbyMrs。Jo。Thewallsweredecoratedwithallsortsofthings。Asnake’sskin，abigwasp’snest，abirch-barkcanoe，astringofbirds’eggs，wreathsofgraymossfromtheSouth，andabunchofcotton-pods。Thedeadbatshadaplace，alsoalargeturtle-shell，andanostrich-eggproudlypresentedbyDemi，whovolunteeredtoexplaintheserarecuriositiestoguestswhenevertheyliked。Thereweresomanystonesthatitwasimpossibletoacceptthemall，soonlyafewofthebestwerearrangedamongtheshellsontheshelves，therestwerepiledupincorners，tobeexaminedbyDanathisleisure。
Everyonewaseagertogivesomething，evenSilas，whosenthomeforastuffedwild-catkilledinhisyouth。Itwasrathermoth-eatenandshabby，butonahighbracketandbestsideforemosttheeffectwasfine，fortheyellowglasseyesglared，andthemouthsnarledsonaturally，thatTeddyshookinhislittleshoesatsightofit，whenhecamebringinghismostcherishedtreasure，onecocoon，tolayupontheshrineofscience。
“Isn’titbeautiful？I’dnoideawehadsomanycuriousthings。Igavethat；don’titlookwell？Wemightmakealotbychargingsomethingforlettingfolksseeit。“
Jackaddedthatlastsuggestiontothegeneralchatterthatwentonasthefamilyviewedtheroom。
“ThisisafreemuseumandifthereisanyspeculatingonitI’llpaintoutthenameoverthedoor，“saidMr。Laurie，turningsoquicklythatJackwishedhehadheldhistongue。
“Hear!hear!“criedMr。Bhaer。
“Speech!speech!“addedMrs。Jo。
“Can’t，I’mtoobashful。Yougivethemalectureyourself­；youareusedtoit，“Mr。Laurieanswered，retreatingtowardsthewindow，meaningtoescape。Butsheheldhimfast，andsaid，laughingasshelookedatthedozenpairsofdirtyhandsabouther，­；
“IfIdidlecture，itwouldonthechemicalandcleansingpropertiesofsoap。Comenow，asthefounderoftheinstitution，youreallyoughttogiveusafewmoralremarks，andwewillapplaudtremendously。“
Seeingthattherewasnowayofescaping，Mr。LaurielookedupatPollyhangingoverhead，seemedtofindinspirationinthebrilliantoldbird，andsittingdownuponthetable，said，inhispleasantway，­；
“ThereisonethingI’dliketosuggest，boys，andthatis，Iwantyoutogetsomegoodaswellasmuchpleasureoutofthis。Justputtingcuriousorprettythingsherewon’tdoit；sosupposeyoureadupaboutthem，sothatwhenanybodyasksquestionsyoucananswerthem，andunderstandthematter。Iusedtolikethesethingsmyself，andshouldenjoyhearingaboutthemnow，forI’veforgottenallIonceknew。Itwasn’tmuch，wasit，Jo？
Here’sDannow，fullofstoriesaboutbirds，andbugs，andsoon；lethimtakecareofthemuseum，andonceaweektherestofyoutaketurnstoreadacomposition，ortellaboutsomeanimal，mineral，orvegetable。Weshouldalllikethat，andIthinkitwouldputconsiderableusefulknowledgeintoourheads。Whatdoyousay，Professor？“
“Ilikeitmuch，andwillgivetheladsallthehelpIcan。Buttheywillneedbookstoreadupthesenewsubjects，andwehavenotmany，I
fear，“beganMr。Bhaer，lookingmuchpleased，planningmanyfinelecturesongeology，whichheliked。“Weshouldhavealibraryforthespecialpurpose。“
“Isthatausefulsortofbook，Dan？“askedMr。Laurie，pointingtothevolumethatlayopenbythecabinet。
“Oh，yes!ittellsallIwanttoknowaboutinsects。Ihaditheretoseehowtofixthebutterfliesright。Icoveredit，soitisnothurt；“
andDancaughtitup，fearingthelendermightthinkhimcareless。
“Giveithereaminute；“and，pullingouthispencil，Mr。LauriewroteDan’snameinit，saying，ashesetthebookupononeofthecornershelves，wherenothingstoodbutastuffedbirdwithoutatail，“There，thatisthebeginningofthemuseumlibrary。I’llhuntupsomemorebooks，andDemishallkeeptheminorder。Wherearethosejollylittlebooksweusedtoread，Jo？’InsectArchitecture’orsomesuchname，­；allaboutantshavingbattles，andbeeshavingqueens，andcricketseatingholesinourclothesandstealingmilk，andlarksofthatsort。“
“Inthegarretathome。I’llhavethemsentout，andwewillplungeintoNaturalHistorywithawill，“saidMrs。Jo，readyforanything。
“Won’titbehardtowriteaboutsuchthings？“askedNat，whohatedcompositions。
“Atfirst，perhaps；butyouwillsoonlikeit。Ifyouthinkthathard，howwouldyouliketohavethissubjectgiventoyou，asitwastoagirlofthirteen：­；AconversationbetweenThemistocles，Aristides，andPericlesontheproposedappropriationoffundsoftheconfederacyofDelosfortheornamentationofAthens？“saidMrs。Jo。
Theboysgroanedatthemeresoundofthelongnames，andthegentlemenlaughedattheabsurdityofthelesson。
“Didshewriteit？“askedDemi，inanawe-strickentone。
“Yes，butyoucanimaginewhatapieceofworkshemakeofit，thoughshewasratherabrightchild。“
“I’dliketohaveseenit，“saidMr。Bhaer。
“PerhapsIcanfinditforyou；Iwenttoschoolwithher，“andMrs。
Jolookedsowickedthateveryoneknewwhothelittlegirlwas。
Hearingofthisfearfulsubjectforacompositionquitereconciledtheboystothethoughtofwritingaboutfamiliarthings。Wednesdayafternoonwasappointedforthelectures，astheypreferredtocallthem，forsomechosetotalkinsteadofwrite。Mr。Bhaerpromisedaportfolioinwhichthewrittenproductionsshouldbekept，andMrs。Bhaersaidshewouldattendthecoursewithgreatpleasure。
Thenthedirty-handedsocietywentoffthewash，followedbytheProfessor，tryingtocalmtheanxietyofRob，whohadbeentoldbyTommythatallwaterwasfullofinvisiblepollywogs。
“Ilikeyourplanverymuch，onlydon’tbetoogenerous，Teddy，“saidMrs。Bhaer，whentheywereleftalone。“Youknowmostoftheboyshavegottopaddletheirowncanoeswhentheyleaveus，andtoomuchsittinginthelapofluxurywillunfitthemforit。“
“I’llbemoderate，butdoletmeamusemyself。Igetdesperatelytiredofbusinesssometimes，andnothingfreshensmeuplikeagoodfrolicwithyourboys。IlikethatDanverymuch，Jo。Heisn’tdemonstrative；buthehastheeyeofahawk，andwhenyouhavetamedhimalittlehewilldoyoucredit。“
“I’msogladyouthinkso。Thankyouverymuchforyourkindnesstohim，especiallyforthismuseumaffair；itwillkeephimhappywhileheislame，givemeachancetosoftenandsmooththispoor，roughlad，andmakehimloveus。Whatdidinspireyouwithsuchabeautiful，helpfulidea，Teddy？“askedMrs。Bhaer，glancingbackatthepleasantroom，assheturnedtoleaveit。
Laurietookbothherhandsinhis，andanswered，withalookthatmadehereyesfillwithhappytears，­；
“DearJo!Ihaveknownwhatitistobeamotherlessboy，andInevercanforgethowmuchyouandyourshavedoneformealltheseyears。“
Therewasagreatclashingoftinpails，muchrunningtoandfro，andfrequentdemandsforsomethingtoeat，oneAugustafternoon，fortheboysweregoinghuckleberrying，andmadeasmuchstiraboutitasiftheyweresettingouttofindtheNorthWestPassage。
“Now，mylads，getoffasquietlyasyoucan，forRobissafelyoutoftheway，andwon’tseeyou，“saidMrs。Bhaer，asshetiedDaisy’sbroad-brimmedhat，andsettledthegreatbluepinaforeinwhichshehadenvelopedNan。
Buttheplandidnotsucceed，forRobhadheardthebustle，decidedtogo，andpreparedhimself，withoutathoughtofdisappointment。Thetroopwasjustgettingunderwaywhenthelittlemancamemarchingdownstairswithhisbesthaton，abrighttinpailinhishand，andafacebeamingwithsatisfaction。
“Oh，dear!nowweshallhaveascene，“sighedMrs。Bhaer，whofoundhereldestsonveryhardtomanageattimes。
“I’mallready，“saidRob，andtookhisplaceintherankswithsuchperfectunconsciousnessofhismistake，thatitreallywasveryhardtoundeceivehim。
“It’stoofarforyou，mylove；stayandtakecareofme，forIshallbeallalone，“beganhismother。
“You’vegotTeddy。I’mabigboy，soIcango；yousaidImightwhenIwasbigger，andIamnow，“persistedRob，withacloudbeginningtodimthebrightnessofhishappyface。
“Wearegoinguptothegreatpasture，andit’seversofar；wedon’twantyoutaggingon，“criedJack，whodidnotadmirethelittleboys。
“Iwon’ttag，I’llrunandkeepup。OMamma!letmego!Iwanttofillmynewpail，andI’llbring’emalltoyou。Please，please，Iwillbegood!“
prayedRobby，lookingupathismother，sogrievedanddisappointedthatherheartbegantofailher。
“But，mydeary，you’llgetsotiredandhotyouwon’thaveagoodtime。
WaittillIgo，andthenwewillstayallday，andpickasmanyberriesasyouwant。“
“Youneverdogo，youaresobusy，andI’mtiredofwaiting。I’drathergoandgettheberriesforyouallmyself。Ilovetopick’em，andIwanttofillmynewpaildreffly，“sobbedRob。
Thepatheticsightofgreattearstinklingintothedearnewpail，andthreateningtofillitwithsaltwaterinsteadofhuckleberries，touchedalltheladiespresent。Hismotherpattedtheweeperonhisback；Daisyofferedtostayhomewithhim；andNansaid，inherdecidedway，­；
“Lethimcome；I’lltakecareofhim。“
“IfFranzwasgoingIwouldn’tmind，forheisverycareful；butheishayingwiththefather，andI’mnotsureabouttherestofyou，“beganMrs。Bhaer。
“It’ssofar，“putinJack。
“I’dcarryhimifIwasgoing­；wishIwas，“saidDan，withasigh。
“Thankyou，dear，butyoumusttakecareofyourfoot。IwishIcouldgo。Stopaminute，IthinkIcanmanageitafterall；“andMrs。Bhaerranouttothesteps，wavingherapronwildly。
Silaswasjustdrivingawayinthehay-cart，butturnedback，andagreedatonce，whenMrs。Joproposedthatheshouldtakethewholepartytothepasture，andgoforthematfiveo’clock。
“Itwilldelayyourworkalittle，butnevermind；wewillpayyouinhuckleberrypies，“saidMrs。Jo，knowingSilas’sweakpoint。
Hisrough，brownfacebrightenedup，andhesaid，withacheery“Haw!
haw!“­；“Walnow，Mis’Bhaer，ifyougotobribin’ofme，Ishallgiveinrightaway。“
“Now，boys，Ihavearrangeditsothatyoucanallgo，“saidMrs。Bhaer，runningbackagain，muchrelieved，forshelovedtomakethemhappy，andalwaysfeltmiserablewhenshehaddisturbedtheserenityofherlittlesons；forshebelievedthatthesmallhopesandplansandpleasuresofchildrenshouldbetenderlyrespectedbygrown-uppeople，andneverrudelythwartedorridiculed。
“CanIgo？“saidDan，delighted。
“Ithoughtespeciallyofyou。Becareful，andnevermindtheberries，butsitaboutandenjoythelovelythingswhichyouknowhowtofindallaboutyou，“answeredMrs。Bhaer，whorememberedhiskindoffertoherboy。
“Metoo!metoo!“sungRob，dancingwithjoy，andclappinghispreciouspailandcoverlikecastanets。
“Yes，andDaisyandNanmusttakegoodcareofyou。Beatthebarsatfiveo’clock，andSilaswillcomeforyouall。“
Robbycasthimselfuponhismotherinaburstofgratitude，promisingtobringhereveryberryhepicked，andnoteatone。Thentheywereallpackedintothehay-cart，andwentrattlingaway，thebrightestfaceamongthedozenbeingthatofRob，ashesatbetweenhistwotemporarylittlemothers，beaminguponthewholeworld，andwavinghisbesthat；forhisindulgentmammahadnotthehearttobereavehimofit，sincethiswasagala-daytohim。
Suchahappyafternoonastheyhad，inspiteofthemishapswhichusuallyoccuronsuchexpeditions!OfcourseTommycametogrief，tumbleduponahornet’snestandgotstung；butbeingusedtowoe，heborethesmartmanfully，tillDansuggestedtheapplicationofdampearth，whichmuchassuagedthepain。Daisysawasnake，andflyingfromitlosthalfherberries；butDemihelpedhertofillupagain，anddiscussedreptilesmostlearnedlythewhile。Nedfelloutofatree，andsplithisjacketdowntheback，butsufferednootherfracture。EmilandJackestablishedrivalclaimstoacertainthickpatch，andwhiletheyweresquabblingaboutit，StuffyquicklyandquietlystrippedthebushesandfledtotheprotectionofDan，whowasenjoyinghimselfimmensely。Thecrutchwasnolongernecessary，andhewasdelightedtoseehowstronghisfootfeltasheroamedaboutthegreatpasture，fullofinterestingrocksandstumps，withfamiliarlittlecreaturesinthegrass，andwell-knowninsectsdancingintheair。
ButofalltheadventuresthathappenedonthisafternoonthatwhichbefellNanandRobwasthemostexciting，anditlongremainedoneofthefavoritehistoriesofthehousehold。Havingexploredthecountryprettygenerally，tornthreerentsinherfrock，andscratchedherfaceinabarberry-bush，Nanbegantopicktheberriesthatshonelikebig，blackbeadsonthelow，greenbushes。Hernimblefingersflew，butstillherbasketdidnotfillupasrapidlyasshedesired，soshekeptwanderinghereandtheretosearchforbetterplaces，insteadofpickingcontentedlyandsteadilyasDaisydid。RobfollowedNan，forherenergysuitedhimbetterthanhiscousin’spatience，andhetoowasanxioustohavethebiggestandbestberriesforMarmar。
“Ikeepputting’emin，butitdon’tfillup，andI’msotired，“saidRob，pausingamomenttoresthisshortlegs，andbeginningtothinkhuckleberryingwasnotallhisfancypaintedit；forthesunblazed，Nanskippedhitherandthitherlikeagrasshopper，andtheberriesfelloutofhispailalmostasfastasheputthemin，because，inhisstruggleswiththebushes，itwasoftenupside-down。