“Laythemonthegrasstobleach，“saidDaisy，withanairofexperience。
“SoIwill，andwecansitupinthenestandwatchthattheydon’tblowaway。“
TheQueenofBabylon’swardrobewasspreadforthuponthebank，and，turninguptheirtubstodry，thelittlewasherwomenclimbedintothenest，andfelltotalking，asladiesareapttodointhepausesofdomesticlabor。
“I’mgoingtohaveafeather-bedtogowithmynewpillow，“saidMrs。
Giddy-gaddy，asshetransferredthethistledownfromherpockettoherhandkerchief，losingabouthalfintheprocess。
“Iwouldn’t；AuntJosaysfeather-bedsaren’thealthy。Ineverletmychildrensleeponanythingbutamattress，“returnedMrs。ShakespeareSmith，decidedly。
“Idon’tcare；mychildrenaresostrongtheyoftensleeponthefloor，anddon’tmindit，“whichwasquitetrue。“Ican’taffordninemattresses，andIliketomakebedsmyself。“
“Won’tTommychargeforthefeathers？“
“Maybehewill，butIshan’tpayhim，andhewon’tcare，“returnedMrs。G。，takingabaseadvantageofthewell-knowngoodnatureofT。Bangs。
“Ithinkthepinkwillfadeoutofthatdresssoonerthanthegreenmarkwill，“observedMrs。S。，lookingdownfromherperch，andchangingthesubject，forsheandhergossipdifferedonmanypoints，andMrs。Smithwasadiscreetlady。
“Nevermind；I’mtiredofdolls，andIguessIshallputthemallawayandattendtomyfarm；Ilikeitratherbetterthanplayinghouse，“saidMrs。G。，unconsciouslyexpressingthedesireofmanyolderladies，whocannotdisposeoftheirfamiliessoeasilyhowever。
“Butyoumustn’tleavethem；theywilldiewithouttheirmother，“criedthetenderMrs。Smith。
“Let’emdiethen；I’mtiredoffussingoverbabies，andI’mgoingtoplaywiththeboys；theyneedmetoseeto’em，“returnedthestrong-mindedlady。
Daisyknewnothingaboutwomen’srights；shequietlytookallshewanted，andnoonedeniedherclaim，becauseshedidnotundertakewhatshecouldnotcarryout，butunconsciouslyusedtheall-powerfulrightofherowninfluencetowinfromothersanyprivilegeforwhichshehadprovedherfitness。Nanattemptedallsortsofthings，undauntedbydirefulfailures，andclamoredfiercelytobeallowedtodoeverythingthattheboysdid。
Theylaughedather，hustledheroutoftheway，andprotestedagainsthermeddlingwiththeiraffairs。Butshewouldnotbequenchedandshewouldbeheard，forherwillwasstrong，andshehadthespiritofarampantreformer。Mrs。Bhaersympathizedwithher，buttiredtocurbherfranticdesireforentireliberty，showingherthatshemustwaitalittle，learnself-control，andbereadytouseherfreedombeforesheaskedforit。
Nanhadmeekmomentswhensheagreedtothis，andtheinfluencesatworkuponherweregraduallytakingeffect。Shenolongerdeclaredthatshewouldbeengine-driverorablacksmith，butturnedhermindtofarming，andfoundinitaventfortheenergybottledupinheractivelittlebody。
Itdidnotquitesatisfyher，however；forhersageandsweetmarjoramweredumbthings，andcouldnotthankherforhercare。Shewantedsomethinghumantolove，workfor，andprotect，andwasneverhappierthanwhenthelittleboysbroughttheircutfingers，bumpedheads，orbruisedjointsforherto“mend-up。“Seeingthis，Mrs。Joproposedthatsheshouldlearnhowtodoitnicely，andNurseyhadanaptpupilinbandaging，plastering，andfomenting。Theboysbegantocallher“Dr。Giddy-gaddy，“andshelikeditsowellthatMrs。JoonedaysaidtotheProfessor­；
“Fritz，Iseewhatwecandoforthatchild。Shewantssomethingtoliveforevennow，andwillbeoneofthesharp，strong，discontentedwomenifshedoesnothaveit。Don’tletussnubherrestlesslittlenature，butdoourbesttogivehertheworkshelikes，andbyandbypersuadeherfathertoletherstudymedicine。Shewillmakeacapitaldoctor，forshehascourage，strongnerves，atenderheart，andanintenseloveandpityfortheweakandsuffering。“
Mr。Bhaersmiledatfirst，butagreedtotry，andgaveNananherb-garden，teachingherthevarioushealingpropertiesoftheplantsshetended，andlettinghertrytheirvirtuesonthechildreninthelittleillnessestheyhadfromtimetotime。Shelearnedfast，rememberedwell，andshowedasenseandinterestmostencouragingtoherProfessor，whodidnotshuthisdoorinherfacebecauseshewasalittlewoman。
Shewasthinkingofthis，asshesatinthewillowthatday，andwhenDaisysaidinhergentleway­；
“Ilovetokeephouse，andmeantohaveaniceoneforDemiwhenwegrowupandlivetogether。“
Nanrepliedwithdecision­；
“Well，Ihaven’tgotanybrother，andIdon’twantanyhousetofussover。Ishallhaveanoffice，withlotsofbottlesanddrawersandpestlethingsinit，andIshalldriveroundinahorseandchaiseandcuresickpeople。Thatwillbesuchfun。“
“Ugh!howcanyoubearthebad-smellingstuffandthenastylittlepowdersandcastor-oilandsennaandhivesyrup？“criedDaisy，withashudder。
“Ishan’thavetotakeany，soIdon’tcare。Besides，theymakepeoplewell，andIliketocurefolks。Didn’tmysage-teamakeMotherBhaer’sheadachegoaway，andmyhopsstopNed’stoothacheinfivehours？Sonow!“
“Shallyouputleechesonpeople，andcutofflegsandpulloutteeth？“
askedDaisy，quakingatthethought。
“Yes，Ishalldoeverything；Idon’tcareifthepeopleareallsmashedup，Ishallmendthem。Mygrandpawasadoctor，andIsawhimsewagreatcutinaman’scheek，andIheldthesponge，andwasn’tfrightenedabit，andGrandpasaidIwasabravegirl。“
“Howcouldyou？I’msorryforsickpeople，andIliketonursethem，butitmakesmylegsshakesoIhavetorunaway。I’mnotabravegirl，“
sighedDaisy。
“Well，youcanbemynurse，andcuddlemypatientswhenIhavegiventhemthephysicandcutofftheirlegs，“saidNan，whosepracticewasevidentlytobeoftheheroickind。
“Shipahoy!Whereareyou，Nan？“calledavoicefrombelow。
“Hereweare。“
“Ay，ay!“saidthevoice，andEmilappearedholdingonehandintheother，withhisfacepuckeredupasifinpain。
“Oh，what’sthematter？“criedDaisy，anxiously。
“Aconfoundedsplinterinmythumb。Can’tgetitout。Takeapickatit，willyou，Nanny？“
“It’sinverydeep，andIhaven’tanyneedle，“saidNan，examiningatarrythumbwithinterest。
“Takeapin，“saidEmil，inahurry。
“No，it’stoobigandhasn’tgotasharppoint。“
HereDaisy，whohaddivedintoherpocket，presentedaneatlittlehousewifewithfourneedlesinit。
“YouarethePosywhoalwayshaswhatwewant，“saidEmil；andNanresolvedtohaveaneedle-bookinherownpockethenceforth，forjustsuchcasesasthiswerealwaysoccurringinherpractice。
Daisycoveredhereyes，butNanprobedandpickedwithasteadyhand，whileEmilgavedirectionsnotdowninanymedicalworkorrecord。
“Starboardnow!Steady，boys，steady!Tryanothertack。Heaveho!theresheis!“
“Suckit，“orderedtheDoctor，surveyingthesplinterwithanexperiencedeye。
“Toodirty，“respondedthepatient，shakinghisbleedinghand。
“Wait；I’lltieitupifyouhavegotahandkerchief。“
“Haven’t；takeoneofthoseragsdownthere。“
“Gracious!no，indeed；theyaredoll’sclothes，“criedDaisy，indignantly。
“Takeoneofmine；I’dliketohaveyou，“saidNan；andswinginghimselfdown，Emilcaughtupthefirst“rag“hesaw。Ithappenedtobethefrilledskirt；butNantoreitupwithoutamurmur；andwhentheroyalpetticoatwasturnedintoaneatlittlebandage，shedismissedherpatientwiththecommand­；
“Keepitwet，andletitalone；thenitwillhealrightup，andnotbesore。“
“Whatdoyoucharge？“askedtheCommodore，laughing。
“Nothing；Ikeepa’spensary；thatisaplacewherepoorpeoplearedoctoredfreegratisfornothing，“explainedNan，withanair。
“Thankyou，DoctorGiddy-gaddy。I’llalwayscallyouinwhenIcometogrief；“andEmildeparted，butlookedbacktosay­；foronegoodturndeservesanother­；“Yourdudsareblowingaway，Doctor。“
Forgivingthedisrespectfulword，“duds，“theladieshastilydescended，and，gatheringuptheirwash，retiredtothehousetofireupthelittlestove，andgotoironing。
Apassingbreathofairshooktheoldwillow，asifitlaughedsoftlyatthechildishchatterwhichwentoninthenest，andithadhardlycomposeditselfwhenanotherpairofbirdsalightedforaconfidentialtwitter。
“Now，I’lltellyouthesecret，“beganTommy，whowas“swellin’wisibly“
withtheimportanceofhisnews。
“Tellaway，“answeredNat，wishinghehadbroughthisfiddle，itwassoshadyandquiethere。
“Well，wefellowsweretalkingoverthelateinterestingcaseofcircumstantialevidence，“saidTommy，quotingatrandomfromaspeechFranzhadmadeattheclub，“andIproposedgivingDansomethingtomakeupforoursuspectinghim，toshowourrespect，andsoon，youknow­；somethinghandsomeanduseful，thathecouldkeepalwaysandbeproudof。Whatdoyouthinkwechose？“
“Abutterfly-net；hewantsoneeversomuch，“saidNat，lookingalittledisappointed，forhemeanttogetithimself。
“No，sir；it’stobeamicroscope，arealswellone，thatweseewhat-do-you-call-’emsinwaterwith，andstars，andant-eggs，andallsortsofgames，youknow。
Won’titbeajollygoodpresent？“saidTommy，ratherconfusingmicroscopesandtelescopesinhisremarks。
“Tip-top!I’msoglad!Won’titcostaheap，though？“criedNat，feelingthathisfriendwasbeginningtobeappreciated。
“Ofcourseitwill；butweareallgoingtogivesomething。Iheadedthepaperwithmyfivedollars；forifitisdoneatall，itmustbedonehandsome。“
“What!allofit？Ineverdidseesuchagenerouschapasyouare；“
andNatbeameduponhimwithsincereadmiration。
“Well，yousee，I’vebeensobotheredwithmyproperty，thatI’mtiredofit，anddon’tmeantosaveupanymore，butgiveitawayasIgoalong，andthennobodywillenvyme，orwanttostealit，andIshan’tbesuspectingfolksandworryingaboutmyoldcash，“repliedTommy，onwhomthecaresandanxietiesofamillionaireweighedheavily。
“WillMr。Bhaerletyoudoit？“
“Hethoughtitwasafirst-rateplan，andsaidthatsomeofthebestmenheknewpreferredtodogoodwiththeirmoneyinsteadoflayingituptobesquabbledoverwhentheydied。“
“Yourfatherisrich；doeshedothatway？“
“I’mnotsure；hegivesmeallIwant；Iknowthatmuch。I’mgoingtotalktohimaboutitwhenIgohome。Anyhow，Ishallsethimagoodexample；“
andTommywassoserious，thatNatdidnotdaretolaugh，butsaid，respectfully­；
“Youwillbeabletodoeversomuchwithyourmoney，won’tyou？“
“SoMr。Bhaersaid，andhepromisedtoadvisemeaboutusefulwaysofspendingit。I’mgoingtobeginwithDan；andnexttimeIgetadollarorso，IshalldosomethingforDick，he’ssuchagoodlittlechap，andonlyhasacentaweekforpocket-money。Hecan’tearnmuch，youknow；
soI’mgoingtokindofseetohim；“andgood-heartedTommyquitelongedtobegin。
“Ithinkthat’sabeautifulplan，andI’mnotgoingtotrytobuyafiddleanymore；I’mgoingtogetDanhisnetallmyself，andifthereisanymoneyleft，I’lldosomethingtopleasepoorBilly。He’sfondofme，andthoughheisn’tpoor，he’dlikesomelittlethingfromme，becauseIcanmakeoutwhathewantsbetterthantherestofyou。“AndNatfelltowonderinghowmuchhappinesscouldbegotoutofhispreciousthreedollars。
“SoIwould。NowcomeandaskMr。Bhaerifyoucan’tgointownwithmeonMondayafternoon，soyoucangetthenet，whileIgetthemicroscope。
FranzandEmilaregoingtoo，andwe’llhaveajollytimelarkingroundamongtheshops。“
Theladswalkedawayarm-in-arm，discussingthenewplanswithdrollimportance，yetbeginningalreadytofeelthesweetsatisfactionwhichcomestothosewhotry，nomatterhowhumbly，tobeearthlyprovidencestothepoorandhelpless，andgildtheirmitewiththegoldofcharitybeforeitislaidupwherethievescannotbreakthroughandsteal。
“Comeupandrestwhilewesorttheleaves；it’ssocoolandpleasanthere，“saidDemi，asheandDancamesaunteringhomefromalongwalkinthewoods。
“Allright!“answeredDan，whowasaboyoffewwords，anduptheywent。
“Whatmakesbirchleavesshakesomuchmorethantheothers？“askedinquiringDemi，whowasalwayssureofananswerfromDan。
“Theyarehungdifferently。Don’tyouseethestemwhereitjoinstheleafissortofpinchedoneway，andwhereitjoinsthetwig，itispinchedanother。Thismakesitwagglewiththeleastbitofwind，buttheelmleaveshangstraight，andkeepstiller。“
“Howcurious!willthisdoso？“andDemiheldupasprigofacacia，whichhehadbrokenfromalittletreeonthelawn，becauseitwassopretty。
“No；thatbelongstothesortthatshutsupwhenyoutouchit。Drawyourfingerdownthemiddleofthestem，andseeiftheleavesdon’tcurlup，“saidDan，whowasexaminingabitofmica。
Demitriedit，andpresentlythelittleleavesdidfoldtogether，tillthesprayshowedasingleinsteadofadoublelineofleaves。