Chapter 1 14on her hands. 'I was studying my part in the willow, and Ted came slyly up and poked the book out of myhands with his rod. It fell in the <strong>br</strong>ook, and before I could scrabble down he was off. You wretch, give it backthis moment or I'll box your ears,' cried Josie, laughing and scolding in the same <strong>br</strong>eath.Escaping from Tom, Ted struck a sentimental attitude, and with tender glances at the wet, torn young personbefore him, delivered Claude Melnotte's famous speech in a lackadaisical way that was irresistibly funny,ending with 'Dost like the picture, love?' as he made an object of himself by tying his long legs in a knot anddistorting his face horribly.The sound of applause from the piazza put a stop to these antics, and the young folks went up the avenuetogether very much in the old style when Tom drove four in hand and Nan was the best horse in the team.Rosy, <strong>br</strong>eathless, and merry, they greeted the ladies and sat down on the steps to rest, Aunt Meg sewing up herdaughter's rags while Mrs Jo smoothed the Lion's mane, and rescued the book. Daisy appeared in a moment togreet her friend, and all began to talk.'Muffins for tea; better stay and eat 'em; Daisy's never fail,' said Ted hospitably.'He's a judge; he ate nine last time. That's why he's so fat,' added Josie, with a withering glance at her cousin,who was as thin as a lath.'I must go and see Lucy Dove. She has a whitlow, and it's time to lance it. I'll tea at college,' answered Nan,feeling in her pocket to be sure she had not forgotten her case of instruments.'Thanks, I'm going there also. Tom Merryweather has granulated lids, and I promised to touch them up forhim. Save a doctor's fee and be good practice for me. I'm clumsy with my thumbs,' said Tom, bound to benear his idol while he could.'Hush! Daisy doesn't like to hear you saw-bones talk of your work. Muffins suit us better'; and Ted grinnedsweetly, with a view to future favours in the eating line.'Any news of the Commodore?' asked Tom.'He is on his way home, and Dan hopes to come soon. I long to see my boys together, and have begged thewanderers to come to Thanksgiving, if not before,' answered Mrs Jo, beaming at the thought.'They'll come, every man of them, if they can. Even Jack will risk losing a dollar for the sake of one of ourjolly old dinners,' laughed Tom.'There's the turkey fattening for the feast. I never chase him now, but feed him well; and he's "swellin'wisibly", bless his drumsticks!' said Ted, pointing out the doomed fowl proudly parading in a neighbouringfield.'If Nat goes the last of the month we shall want a farewell frolic for him. I suppose the dear old Chirper willcome home a second Ole Bull,' said Nan to her friend.A pretty colour came into Daisy's cheek, and the folds of muslin on her <strong>br</strong>east rose and fell with a quick<strong>br</strong>eath; but she answered placidly: 'Uncle Laurie says he has real talent, and after the training he will geta<strong>br</strong>oad he can command a good living here, though he may never be famous.''Young people seldom turn out as one predicts, so it is of little use to expect anything,' said Mrs Meg with asigh. 'If our children are good and useful men and women, we should be satisfied; yet it's very natural to wishthem to be <strong>br</strong>illiant and successful.'
Chapter 1 15'They are like my chickens, mighty uncertain. Now, that fine-looking cockerel of mine is the stupidest one ofthe lot, and the ugly, long-legged chap is the king of the yard, he's so smart; crows loud enough to wake theSeven Sleepers; but the handsome one croaks, and is no end of a coward. I get snubbed; but you wait till Igrow up, and then see'; and Ted looked so like his own long-legged pet that everyone laughed at his modestprediction.'I want to see Dan settled somewhere. "A rolling stone gathers no moss", and at twenty-five he is still roamingabout the world without a tie to hold him, except this'; and Mrs Meg nodded towards her sister.'Dan will find his place at last, and experience is his best teacher. He is rough still, but each time he comeshome I see a change for the better, and never lose my faith in him. He may never do anything great, or getrich; but if the wild boy makes an honest man, I'm satisfied,' said Mrs Jo, who always defended the blacksheep of her flock.'That's right, mother, stand by Dan! He's worth a dozen Jacks and Neds <strong>br</strong>agging about money and trying tobe swells. You see if he doesn't do something to be proud of and take the wind out of their sails,' added Ted,whose love for his 'Danny' was now strengthened by a boy's admiration for the bold, adventurous man.'Hope so, I'm sure. He's just the fellow to do rash things and come to glory--climbing the Matterhorn, taking a"header" into Niagara, or finding a big nugget. That's his way of sowing wild oats, and perhaps it's better thanours,' said Tom thoughtfully; for he had gained a good deal of experience in that sort of agriculture since hebecame a medical student.'Much better!' said Mrs Jo emphatically. 'I'd rather send my boys off to see the world in that way than leavethem alone in a city full of temptations, with nothing to do but waste time, money, and health, as so many areleft. Dan has to work his way, and that teaches him courage, patience, and self-reliance. I don't worry abouthim as much as I do about George and Dolly at college, no more fit than two babies to take care ofthemselves.''How about John? He's knocking round town as a newspaper man, reporting all sorts of things, from sermonsto prize-fights,' asked Tom, who thought that sort of life would be much more to his own taste than medicallectures and hospital wards.'Demi has three safeguards--good principles, refined tastes, and a wise mother. He won't come to harm, andthese experiences will be useful to him when he begins to write, as I'm sure he will in time,' began Mrs Jo inher prophetic tone; for she was anxious to have some of her geese turn out swans.'Speak of Jenkins, and you'll hear the rustling of his paper,' cried Tom, as a fresh-faced, <strong>br</strong>own-eyed youngman came up the avenue, waving a newspaper over his head.'Here's your Evening Tattler! Latest Edition! Awful murder! Bank clerk absconded! Powder-mill explosion,and great strike of the Latin School boys!' roared Ted, going to meet his cousin with the graceful gait of ayoung giraffe.'The Commodore is in, and will cut his cable and run before the wind as soon as he can get off,' called Demi,with 'a nice derangement of nautical epitaphs', as he came up smiling over his good news.Everyone talked together for a moment, and the paper passed from hand to hand that each eye might rest onthe pleasant fact that the Brenda, from Hamburg, was safe in port.'He'll come lurching out by tomorrow with his usual collection of marine monsters and lively yarns. I sawhim, jolly and tarry and <strong>br</strong>own as a coffee-berry. Had a good run, and hopes to be second mate, as the other
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Chapter 7 64everyone when all is in
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Chapter 7 66'He is growing up, hear
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Chapter 8 68answered Ted, pulling h
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Chapter 8 70excitedly:'There she is
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Chapter 8 72'Run over the beach and
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Chapter 8 74'Oh, I don't think I'm
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Chapter 9 76Josie wrote reams to he
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Chapter 9 78finding it nice and coo
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Chapter 9 80'A common-sense view of
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Chapter 9 82burns warm and clear fo
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Chapter 10 84'Mother dear, I think
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Chapter 10 86Mrs Meg actually blush
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Chapter 11 88'That's nothing; it's
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Chapter 11 90not last long, and hel
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Chapter 12 92Chapter 12DAN'S CHRIST
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Chapter 12 94or those still later a
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Chapter 13 96brewing, and fear that
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Chapter 13 98The sum placed at his
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Chapter 13 100impulse was to seek h
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Chapter 14 102would prove that trut
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Chapter 14 104And in slouched a deg
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Chapter 14 106wounded hero, with bl
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Chapter 15 108One can easily imagin
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Chapter 15 110Franz and Emil being
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Chapter 16 112Josie was about to si
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Chapter 16 114which he answered, wi
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Chapter 16 116'I'm going to talk to
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Chapter 17 118satisfied, and said,
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Chapter 17 120'Cultivate cheerfulne
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Chapter 17 122splendid to know that
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Chapter 18 124of the poor, better t
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Chapter 18 126mates, who welcomed h
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Chapter 18 128'And it was, my dear,
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Chapter 19 130'You are very kind, c
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Chapter 19 132Alice did not hear wh
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Chapter 19 134my head spin with Kan
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Chapter 20 136Josie had a month wit
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Chapter 20 138and Ted, finding his
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Chapter 20 140other big bug in the
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Chapter 21 142the poor fellow often
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Chapter 21 144Froda, and the fair d
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Chapter 21 146crazy fancy of mine,
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Chapter 22 148'Forgive him, Bess. H
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Chapter 22 150'I knew I should get
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Chapter 22 152'I thought the seed h