“AndI’msureIstudy，“addedDan，noddingwithagroantowardtheblackboardfullofneatfigures。
“SeewhatJamesdid。Hedidnotmeantobeselfish，buthismotherwasproudofhim，andlethimdoasheliked，workingbyherselfthathemighthavebooksandtimetoreadthem。OneautumnJameswantedtogotoschool，andwenttotheministertoseeifhewouldhelphim，aboutdecentclothesandbooks。NowtheministerhadheardthegossipaboutJames’sidleness，andwasnotinclinedtodomuchforhim，thinkingthataboywhoneglectedhismother，andletherslaveforhim，wasnotlikelytodoverywellevenatschool。ButthegoodmanfeltmoreinterestedwhenhefoundhowearnestJameswas，andbeingratheranoddman，hemadethisproposaltotheboy，totrynowsincerehewas。
“’Iwillgiveyouclothesandbooksononecondition，James。’
“’Whatisthat，sir？’andtheboybrightenedupatonce。
“’Youaretokeepyourmother’swood-boxfullallwinterlong，anddoityourself。Ifyoufail，schoolstops。’Jameslaughedatthequeerconditionandreadilyagreedtoit，thinkingitaveryeasyone。
“Hebeganschool，andforatimegotoncapitallywiththewood-box，foritwasautumn，andchipsandbrushwoodwereplentiful。Heranoutmorningandeveningandgotabasketfull，orchoppedupthecatsticksforthelittlecookingstove，andashismotherwascarefulandsaving，thetaskwasnothard。ButinNovemberthefrostcame，thedaysweredullandcold，andwoodwentfast。Hismotherboughtaloadwithherownearnings，butitseemedtomeltaway，andwasnearlygone，beforeJamesrememberedthathewastogetthenext。Mrs。Snowwasfeebleandlamewithrheumatism，andunabletoworkasshehaddone，soJameshadtoputdownthebooks，andseewhathecoulddo。
“Itwashard，forhewasgoingonwell，andsointerestedinhislessonsthathehatedtostopexceptforfoodandsleep。Butheknewtheministerwouldkeephisword，andmuchagainsthiswillJamessetaboutearningmoneyinhissparehours，lestthewood-boxshouldgetempty。Hedidallsortsofthings，ranerrands，tookcareofaneighbor’scow，helpedtheoldsextondustandwarmthechurchonSundays，andinthesewaysgotenoughtobuyfuelinsmallquantities。Butitwashardwork；thedayswereshort，thewinterwasbitterlycold，andprecioustimewentfast，andthedearbooksweresofascinating，thatitwassadtoleavethem，fordulldutiesthatneverseemeddone。
“Theministerwatchedhimquietly，andseeingthathewasinearnesthelpedhimwithouthisknowledge。Hemethimoftendrivingthewoodsledsfromtheforest，wherethemenwerechoppingandasJamesploddedbesidetheslowoxen，hereadorstudied，anxioustouseeveryminute。’Theboyisworthhelping，thislessonwilldohimgood，andwhenhehaslearnedit，Iwillgivehimaneasierone，’saidtheministertohimself，andonChristmaseveasplendidloadofwoodwasquietlydroppedatthedoorofthelittlehouse，withanewsawandabitofpaper，sayingonly­；
“’TheLordhelpsthosewhohelpthemselves。’
“PoorJamesexpectednothing，butwhenhewokeonthatcoldChristmasmorning，hefoundapairofwarmmittens，knitbyhismother，withherstiffpainfulfingers。Thisgiftpleasedhimverymuch，butherkissandtenderlookasshecalledhimher’goodson，’wasbetterstill。Intryingtokeepherwarm，hehadwarmedhisownheart，yousee，andinfillingthewood-boxhehadalsofilledthosemonthswithdutiesfaithfullydone。
Hebegantoseethis，tofeelthattherewassomethingbetterthanbooks，andtotrytolearnthelessonsGodsethim，aswellasthosehisschool-mastergave。
“Whenhesawthegreatpileofoakandpinelogsathisdoor，andreadthelittlepaper，heknewwhosentit，andunderstoodtheminister’splan；
thankedhimforit，andfelltoworkwithallhismight。Otherboysfrolickedthatday，butJamessawedwood，andIthinkofalltheladsinthetownthehappiestwastheoneinthenewmittens，whowhistledlikeablackbirdashefilledhismother’swood-box。“
“That’safirstrater!“criedDan，whoenjoyedasimplematter-of-facestorybetterthanthefinestfairytale；“Ilikethatfellowafterall。“
“Icouldsawwoodforyou，AuntJo!“saidDemi，feelingasifanewmeansofearningmoneyforhismotherwassuggestedbythestory。
“Tellaboutabadboy。Ilikethembest，“saidNan。
“You’dbettertellaboutanaughtycross-patchofagirl，“saidTommy，whoseeveninghadbeenspoiltbyNan’sunkindness。Itmadehisappletastebitter，hispop-cornwasinsipid，hisnutswerehardtocrack，andthesightofNedandNanononebenchmadehimfeelhislifeaburden。
ButtherewerenomorestoriesfromMrs。Jo，foronlookingdownatRobhewasdiscoveredtobefastasleepwithhislastcornfirmlyclaspedinhischubbyhand。Bundlinghimupinhiscoverlet，hismothercarriedhimawayandtuckedhimupwithnofearofhispoppingoutagain。
“Nowlet’sseewhowillcomenext，“saidEmil，settingthedoortemptinglyajar。
MaryAnnpassedfirst，andhecalledouttoher，butSilashadwarnedher，andsheonlylaughedandhurriedoninspiteoftheirenticements。
Presentlyadooropened，andastrongvoicewasheardhumminginthehall­；“IchweissnichtwassollesbedeutenDassichsotraurigbin。““It’sUncleFritz；alllaughloudandhewillbesuretocomein，“saidEmil。
Awildburstoflaughterfollowed，andincameUncleFritz，asking，“Whatisthejoke，mylads？“
“Caught!caught!youcan’tgoouttillyou’vetoldastory，“criedtheboys，slammingthedoor。
“So!thatisthejokethen？Well，Ihavenowishtogo，itissopleasanthere，andIpaymyforfeitatonce，“whichhedidbysittingdownandbeginninginstantly­；
“AlongtimeagoyourGrandfather，Demi，wenttolectureinagreattown，hopingtogetsomemoneyforahomeforlittleorphansthatsomegoodpeopleweregettingup。Hislecturedidwell，andheputaconsiderablesumofmoneyinhispocket，feelingveryhappyaboutit。Ashewasdrivinginachaisetoanothertown，hecametoalonelybitofroad，lateintheafternoon，andwasjustthinkingwhatagoodplaceitwasforrobberswhenhesawabad-lookingmancomeoutofthewoodsinfrontofhimandgoslowlyalongasifwaitingtillhecameup。ThethoughtofthemoneymadeGrandfatherratheranxious，andatfirsthehadamindtoturnroundanddriveaway。
Butthehorsewastired，andthenhedidnotliketosuspecttheman，sohekepton，andwhenhegotnearerandsawhowpoorandsickandraggedthestrangerlooked，hisheartreproachedhim，andstopping，hesaidinakindvoice­；
“’Myfriend，youlooktired；letmegiveyoualift。’Themanseemedsurprised，hesitatedaminute，andthengotin。Hedidnotseeminclinedtotalk，butGrandfatherkeptoninhiswise，cheerfulway，speakingofwhatahardyearithadbeen，howmuchthepoorhadsuffered，andhowdifficultitwastogetonsometimes。Themanslowlysoftenedalittle，andwonbythekindchat，toldhisstory。Howhehadbeensick，couldgetnowork，hadafamilyofchildren，andwasalmostindespair。Grandfatherwassofullofpitythatheforgothisfear，and，askingthemanhisname，saidhewouldtrytogethimworkinthenexttown，ashehadfriendsthere。
Wishingtogetatpencilandpapertowritedowntheaddress，Grandfathertookouthisplumppocket-book，andtheminutehedidso，theman’seyewasonit。ThenGrandfatherrememberedwhatwasinitandtrembledforhismoney，butsaidquietly­；
“’Yes，Ihavealittlesumhereforsomepoororphans。Iwishitwasmyown，Iwouldsogladlygiveyousomeofit。Iamnotrich，butIknowmanyofthetrialsofthepoor；thisfivedollarsismine，andIwanttogiveittoyouforyourchildren。’
“Thehard，hungrylookintheman’seyeschangedtoagratefuloneashetookthesmallsum，freelygiven，andlefttheorphans’moneyuntouched。
HerodeonwithGrandfathertilltheyapproachedthetown，thenheaskedtobesetdown。Grandpashookhandswithhim，andwasabouttodriveon，whenthemansaid，asifsomethingmadehim，’Iwasdesperatewhenwemet，andImeanttorobyou，butyouweresokindIcouldn’tdoit。Godblessyou，sir，forkeepingmefromit!’“
“DidGrandpaeverseehimagain？“askedDaisy，eagerly。
“No；butIbelievethemanfoundwork，anddidnottryrobberyanymore。“
“Thatwasacuriouswaytotreathim；I’dhaveknockedhimdown，“saidDan。
“Kindnessisalwaysbetterthanforce。Tryitandsee，“answeredMr。
Bhaer，rising。
“Tellanother，please，“criedDaisy。
“Youmust，AuntJodid，“addedDemi。
“ThenIcertainlywon’t，butkeepmyothersfornexttime。Toomanytalesareasbadastoomanybonbons。IhavepaidmyforfeitandIgo，“
andMr。Bhaerranforhislife，withthewholeflockinfullpursuit。Hehadthestart，however，andescapedsafelyintohisstudy，leavingtheboystogoriotingbackagain。
Theyweresostirredupbytheracethattheycouldnotsettletotheirformerquiet，andalivelygameofBlindman’sBufffollowed，inwhichTommyshowedthathehadtakenthemoralofthelaststorytoheart，for，whenhecaughtNan，hewhisperedinherear，“I’msorryIcalledyouacross-patch。“
Nanwasnottobeoutdoneinkindness，so，whentheyplayed“Button，button，who’sgotthebutton？“anditwasherturntogoround，shesaid，“HoldfastallIgiveyou，“withsuchafriendlysmileatTommy，thathewasnotsurprisedtofindthehorse-hairringinhishandinsteadofthebutton。Heonlysmiledbackatherthen，butwhentheyweregoingtobed，heofferedNanthebestbiteofhislastapple；shesawtheringonhisstumpylittlefinger，acceptedthebite，andpeacewasdeclared。Bothwereashamedofthetemporarycoldness，neitherwasashamedtosay，“Iwaswrong，forgiveme，“sothechildishfriendshipremainedunbroken，andthehomeinthewillowlastedlong，apleasantlittlecastleintheair。CHAPTERXXITHANKSGIVING
ThisyearlyfestivalwasalwayskeptatPlumfieldinthegoodold-fashionedway，andnothingwasallowedtointerferewithit。Fordaysbeforehand，thelittlegirlshelpedAsiaandMrs。Joinstore-roomandkitchen，makingpiesandpuddings，sortingfruit，dustingdishes，andbeingverybusyandimmenselyimportant。Theboyshoveredontheoutskirtsoftheforbiddenground，sniffingthesavoryodors，peepinginatthemysteriousperformances，andoccasionallybeingpermittedtotastesomedelicacyintheprocessofpreparation。
Somethingmorethanusualseemedtobeonfootthisyear，forthegirlswereasbusyup-stairsasdown，soweretheboysinschool-roomandbarn，andageneralairofbustlepervadedthehouse。Therewasagreathuntingupofoldribbonsandfinery，muchcuttingandpastingofgoldpaper，andthemostremarkablequantityofstraw，graycotton，flannel，andbigblackbeads，usedbyFranzandMrs。Jo。Nedhammeredatstrangemachinesintheworkshop，DemiandTommywentaboutmurmuringtothemselvesasiflearningsomething。AfearfulracketwasheardinEmil’sroomatintervals，andpealsoflaughterfromthenurserywhenRobandTeddyweresentforandhiddenfromsightwholehoursatatime。ButthethingthatpuzzledMr。
BhaerthemostwaswhatbecameofRob’sbigpumpkin。Ithadbeenborneintriumphtothekitchen，whereadozengolden-tintedpiessoonafterappeared。Itwouldnothavetakenmorethanaquarterofthemammothvegetabletomakethem，yetwherewastherest？Itdisappeared，andRobneverseemedtocare，onlychuckledwhenitwasmentioned，andtoldhisfather，“Towaitandsee，“forthefunofthewholethingwastosurpriseFatherBhaerattheend，andnotlethimknowabitaboutwhatwastohappen。
Heobedientlyshuteyes，ears，andmouth，andwentabouttryingnottoseewhatwasinplainsight，nottohearthetell-talesoundsthatfilledtheair，nottounderstandanyoftheperfectlytransparentmysteriesgoingonallabouthim。BeingaGerman，helovedthesesimpledomesticfestivals，andencouragedthemwithallhisheart，fortheymadehomesopleasantthattheboysdidnotcaretogoelsewhereforfun。
Whenatlastthedaycame，theboyswentoffforalongwalk，thattheymighthavegoodappetitesfordinner；asiftheyeverneededthem!Thegirlsremainedathometohelpsetthetable，andgivelasttouchestovariousaffairswhichfilledtheirbusylittlesoulswithanxiety。Theschool-roomhadbeenshutupsincethenightbefore，andMr。BhaerwasforbiddentoenteritonpainofabeatingfromTeddy，whoguardedthedoorlikeasmalldragon，thoughhewasdyingtotellaboutit，andnothingbuthisfather’sheroicself-denialinnotlistening，kepthimfrombetrayingagrandsecret。
“It’salldone，andit’sperfectlysplendid，“criedNan，comingoutatlastwithanairoftriumph。
“The­；youknow­；goesbeautifully，andSilasknowsjustwhattodonow，“addedDaisy，skippingwithdelightatsomeunspeakablesuccess。
“I’mblestifitain’tthe’cutestthingIeversee，themcrittersinparticular，“saidSilas，whohadbeenletintothesecret，wentofflaughinglikeagreatboy。