Little Men (Little Women 2)

CHAPTER VII. NAUGHTY NAN

"Fritz, I've got a new idea," cried Mrs. Bhaer, as she met her husbandone day after school.

"Well, my dear, what is it?" and he waited willingly to hear the newplan, for some of Mrs. Jo's ideas were so droll, it was impossible tohelp laughing at them, though usually they were quite sensible, and hewas glad to carry them out.

"Daisy needs a companion, and the boys would be all the better foranother girl among them; you know we believe in bringing up little menand women together, and it is high time we acted up to our belief. Theypet and tyrannize over Daisy by turns, and she is getting spoilt. Thenthey must learn gentle ways, and improve their manners, and having girlsabout will do it better than any thing else."

"You are right, as usual. Now, who shall we have?" asked Mr. Bhaer,seeing by the look in her eye that Mrs. Jo had some one all ready topropose.

"Little Annie Harding."

"What! Naughty Nan, as the lads call her?" cried Mr. Bhaer, looking verymuch amused.

"Yes, she is running wild at home since her mother died, and is toobright a child to be spoilt by servants. I have had my eye on her forsome time, and when I met her father in town the other day I asked himwhy he did not send her to school. He said he would gladly if he couldfind as good a school for girls as ours was for boys. I know he wouldrejoice to have her come; so suppose we drive over this afternoon andsee about it."

"Have not you cares enough now, my Jo, without this little gypsy totorment you?" asked Mr. Bhaer, patting the hand that lay on his arm.

"Oh dear, no," said Mother Bhaer, briskly. "I like it, and never washappier than since I had my wilderness of boys. You see, Fritz, I feel agreat sympathy for Nan, because I was such a naughty child myself thatI know all about it. She is full of spirits, and only needs to be taughtwhat to do with them to be as nice a little girl as Daisy. Those quickwits of hers would enjoy lessons if they were rightly directed, and whatis now a tricksy midget would soon become a busy, happy child. I knowhow to manage her, for I remember how my blessed mother managed me,and--"

"And if you succeed half as well as she did, you will have done amagnificent work," interrupted Mr. Bhaer, who labored under the delusionthat Mrs. B. was the best and most charming woman alive.

"Now, if you make fun of my plan I'll give you bad coffee for a week,and then where are you, sir?" cried Mrs. Jo, tweaking him by the earjust as if he was one of the boys.

"Won't Daisy's hair stand erect with horror at Nan's wild ways?" askedMr. Bhaer, presently, when Teddy had swarmed up his waistcoat, and Robup his back, for they always flew at their father the minute school wasdone.

"At first, perhaps, but it will do Posy good. She is getting prim andBettyish, and needs stirring up a bit. She always has a good time whenNan comes over to play, and the two will help each other without knowingit. Dear me, half the science of teaching is knowing how much childrendo for one another, and when to mix them."

"I only hope she won't turn out another firebrand."

"My poor Dan! I never can quite forgive myself for letting him go,"sighed Mrs. Bhaer.

At the sound of the name, little Teddy, who had never forgotten hisfriend, struggled down from his father's arms, and trotted to the door,looked out over the sunny lawn with a wistful face, and then trottedback again, saying, as he always did when disappointed of the longed-forsight,

"My Danny's tummin' soon."

"I really think we ought to have kept him, if only for Teddy's sake, hewas so fond of him, and perhaps baby's love would have done for him whatwe failed to do."

"I've sometimes felt that myself; but after keeping the boys in aferment, and nearly burning up the whole family, I thought it safer toremove the firebrand, for a time at least," said Mr. Bhaer.

"Dinner's ready, let me ring the bell," and Rob began a solo upon thatinstrument which made it impossible to hear one's self speak.

"Then I may have Nan, may I?" asked Mrs. Jo.

"A dozen Nans if you want them, my dear," answered Mr. Bhaer, who hadroom in his fatherly heart for all the naughty neglected children in theworld.

When Mrs. Bhaer returned from her drive that afternoon, before she couldunpack the load of little boys, without whom she seldom moved, a smallgirl of ten skipped out at the back of the carry-all and ran into thehouse, shouting,

"Hi, Daisy! where are you?"

Daisy came, and looked pleased to see her guest, but also a triflealarmed, when Nan said, still prancing, as if it was impossible to keepstill,

"I'm going to stay here always, papa says I may, and my box is comingtomorrow, all my things had to be washed and mended, and your aunt cameand carried me off. Isn't it great fun?"

"Why, yes. Did you bring your big doll?" asked Daisy, hoping she had,for on the last visit Nan had ravaged the baby house, and insisted onwashing Blanche Matilda's plaster face, which spoilt the poor dear'scomplexion for ever.

"Yes, she's somewhere round," returned Nan, with most unmaternalcarelessness. "I made you a ring coming along, and pulled the hairs outof Dobbin's tail. Don't you want it?" and Nan presented a horse-hairring in token of friendship, as they had both vowed they would neverspeak to one another again when they last parted.

Won by the beauty of the offering, Daisy grew more cordial, and proposedretiring to the nursery, but Nan said, "No, I want to see the boys, andthe barn," and ran off, swinging her hat by one string till it broke,when she left it to its fate on the grass.

"Hullo! Nan!" cried the boys as she bounced in among them with theannouncement,

"I'm going to stay."

"Hooray!" bawled Tommy from the wall on which he was perched, for Nanwas a kindred spirit, and he foresaw "larks" in the future.

"I can bat; let me play," said Nan, who could turn her hand to anything, and did not mind hard knocks.

"We ain't playing now, and our side beat without you."

"I can beat you in running, any way," returned Nan, falling back on herstrong point.

"Can she?" asked Nat of Jack.

"She runs very well for a girl," answered Jack, who looked down upon Nanwith condescending approval.

"Will you try?" said Nan, longing to display her powers.

"It's too hot," and Tommy languished against the wall as if quiteexhausted.

"What's the matter with Stuffy?" asked Nan, whose quick eyes were rovingfrom face to face.

"Ball hurt his hand; he howls at every thing," answered Jack scornfully.

"I don't, I never cry, no matter how I'm hurt; it's babyish," said Nan,loftily.

"Pooh! I could make you cry in two minutes," returned Stuffy, rousingup.

"See if you can."

"Go and pick that bunch of nettles, then," and Stuffy pointed to asturdy specimen of that prickly plant growing by the wall.

Nan instantly "grasped the nettle," pulled it up, and held it with adefiant gesture, in spite of the almost unbearable sting.

"Good for you," cried the boys, quick to acknowledge courage even in oneof the weaker sex.

More nettled than she was, Stuffy determined to get a cry out of hersomehow, and he said tauntingly, "You are used to poking your hands intoevery thing, so that isn't fair. Now go and bump your head real hardagainst the barn, and see if you don't howl then."

"Don't do it," said Nat, who hated cruelty.

But Nan was off, and running straight at the barn, she gave her head ablow that knocked her flat, and sounded like a battering-ram. Dizzy, butundaunted, she staggered up, saying stoutly, though her face was drawnwith pain,

"That hurt, but I don't cry."

"Do it again," said Stuffy angrily; and Nan would have done it, but Natheld her; and Tommy, forgetting the heat, flew at Stuffy like a littlegame-cock, roaring out,

"Stop it, or I'll throw you over the barn!" and so shook and hustledpoor Stuffy that for a minute he did not know whether he was on his heador his heels.