Little Men (Little Women 2)

CHAPTER X. HOME AGAIN

July had come, and haying begun; the little gardens were doing finelyand the long summer days were full of pleasant hours. The house stoodopen from morning till night, and the lads lived out of doors, except atschool time. The lessons were short, and there were many holidays, forthe Bhaers believed in cultivating healthy bodies by much exercise,and our short summers are best used in out-of-door work. Such a rosy,sunburnt, hearty set as the boys became; such appetites as they had;such sturdy arms and legs, as outgrew jackets and trousers; suchlaughing and racing all over the place; such antics in house and barn;such adventures in the tramps over hill and dale; and such satisfactionin the hearts of the worthy Bhaers, as they saw their flock prosperingin mind and body, I cannot begin to describe. Only one thing was neededto make them quite happy, and it came when they least expected it.

One balmy night when the little lads were in bed, the elder ones bathingdown at the brook, and Mrs. Bhaer undressing Teddy in her parlor, hesuddenly cried out, "Oh, my Danny!" and pointed to the window, where themoon shone brightly.

"No, lovey, he is not there, it was the pretty moon," said his mother.

"No, no, Danny at a window; Teddy saw him," persisted baby, muchexcited.

"It might have been," and Mrs. Bhaer hurried to the window, hoping itwould prove true. But the face was gone, and nowhere appeared any signsof a mortal boy; she called his name, ran to the front door with Teddyin his little shirt, and made him call too, thinking the baby voicemight have more effect than her own. No one answered, nothing appeared,and they went back much disappointed. Teddy would not be satisfied withthe moon, and after he was in his crib kept popping up his head to askif Danny was not "tummin' soon."

By and by he fell asleep, the lads trooped up to bed, the house grewstill, and nothing but the chirp of the crickets broke the soft silenceof the summer night. Mrs. Bhaer sat sewing, for the big basket wasalways piled with socks, full of portentous holes, and thinking of thelost boy. She had decided that baby had been mistaken, and did not evendisturb Mr. Bhaer by telling him of the child's fancy, for the poorman got little time to himself till the boys were abed, and he was busywriting letters. It was past ten when she rose to shut up the house. Asshe paused a minute to enjoy the lovely scene from the steps, somethingwhite caught her eye on one of the hay-cocks scattered over the lawn.The children had been playing there all the afternoon, and, fancyingthat Nan had left her hat as usual, Mrs. Bhaer went out to get it. Butas she approached, she saw that it was neither hat nor handkerchief, buta shirt sleeve with a brown hand sticking out of it. She hurried roundthe hay-cock, and there lay Dan, fast asleep.

Ragged, dirty, thin, and worn-out he looked; one foot was bare, theother tied up in the old gingham jacket which he had taken from his ownback to use as a clumsy bandage for some hurt. He seemed to have hiddenhimself behind the hay-cock, but in his sleep had thrown out the armthat had betrayed him. He sighed and muttered as if his dreams disturbedhim, and once when he moved, he groaned as if in pain, but still slepton quite spent with weariness.

"He must not lie here," said Mrs. Bhaer, and stooping over him shegently called his name. He opened his eyes and looked at her, as if shewas a part of his dream, for he smiled and said drowsily, "Mother Bhaer,I've come home."

The look, the words, touched her very much, and she put her hand underhis head to lift him up, saying in her cordial way,

"I thought you would, and I'm so glad to see you, Dan." He seemed towake thoroughly then, and started up looking about him as if he suddenlyremembered where he was, and doubted even that kind welcome. His facechanged, and he said in his old rough way,

"I was going off in the morning. I only stopped to peek in, as I wentby."

"But why not come in, Dan? Didn't you hear us call you? Teddy saw, andcried for you."

"Didn't suppose you'd let me in," he said, fumbling with a little bundlewhich he had taken up as if going immediately.

"Try and see," was all Mrs. Bhaer answered, holding out her hand andpointing to the door, where the light shone hospitably.

With a long breath, as if a load was off his mind, Dan took up a stoutstick, and began to limp towards the house, but stopped suddenly, to sayinquiringly,

"Mr. Bhaer won't like it. I ran away from Page."

"He knows it, and was sorry, but it will make no difference. Are youlame?" asked Mrs. Jo, as he limped on again.

"Getting over a wall a stone fell on my foot and smashed it. I don'tmind," and he did his best to hide the pain each step cost him.

Mrs. Bhaer helped him into her own room, and, once there, he droppedinto a chair, and laid his head back, white and faint with weariness andsuffering.

"My poor Dan! drink this, and then eat a little; you are at home now,and Mother Bhaer will take good care of you."

He only looked up at her with eyes full of gratitude, as he drank thewine she held to his lips, and then began slowly to eat the food shebrought him. Each mouthful seemed to put heart into him, and presentlyhe began to talk as if anxious to have her know all about him.

"Where have you been, Dan?" she asked, beginning to get out somebandages.

"I ran off more'n a month ago. Page was good enough, but too strict. Ididn't like it, so I cut away down the river with a man who was going inhis boat. That's why they couldn't tell where I'd gone. When I left theman, I worked for a couple of weeks with a farmer, but I thrashed hisboy, and then the old man thrashed me, and I ran off again and walkedhere."

"All the way?"

"Yes, the man didn't pay me, and I wouldn't ask for it. Took it out inbeating the boy," and Dan laughed, yet looked ashamed, as he glanced athis ragged clothes and dirty hands.

"How did you live? It was a long, long tramp for a boy like you."

"Oh, I got on well enough, till I hurt my foot. Folks gave me things toeat, and I slept in barns and tramped by day. I got lost trying to makea short cut, or I'd have been here sooner."

"But if you did not mean to come in and stay with us, what were yougoing to do?"

"I thought I'd like to see Teddy again, and you; and then I was goingback to my old work in the city, only I was so tired I went to sleep onthe hay. I'd have been gone in the morning, if you hadn't found me."

"Are you sorry I did?" and Mrs. Jo looked at him with a half merry, halfreproachful look, as she knelt down to look at his wounded foot.

The color came up into Dan's face, and he kept his eyes fixed on hisplate, as he said very low, "No, ma'am, I'm glad, I wanted to stay, butI was afraid you--"

He did not finish, for Mrs. Bhaer interrupted him by an exclamation ofpity, as she saw his foot, for it was seriously hurt.

"When did you do it?"

"Three days ago."

"And you have walked on it in this state?"

"I had a stick, and I washed it at every brook I came to, and one womangave me a rag to put on it."

"Mr. Bhaer must see and dress it at once," and Mrs. Jo hastened into thenext room, leaving the door ajar behind her, so that Dan heard all thatpassed.

"Fritz, the boy has come back."

"Who? Dan?"

"Yes, Teddy saw him at the window, and he called to him, but he wentaway and hid behind the hay-cocks on the lawn. I found him there justnow fast asleep, and half dead with weariness and pain. He ran awayfrom Page a month ago, and has been making his way to us ever since. Hepretends that he did not mean to let us see him, but go on to the city,and his old work, after a look at us. It is evident, however, that thehope of being taken in has led him here through every thing, and therehe is waiting to know if you will forgive and take him back."

"Did he say so?"

"His eyes did, and when I waked him, he said, like a lost child, 'MotherBhaer, I've come home.' I hadn't the heart to scold him, and just tookhim in like a poor little black sheep come back to the fold. I may keephim, Fritz?"

"Of course you may! This proves to me that we have a hold on the boy'sheart, and I would no more send him away now than I would my

own Rob."

Dan heard a soft little sound, as if Mrs. Jo thanked her husband withoutwords, and, in the instant's silence that followed, two great tears thathad slowly gathered in the boy's eyes brimmed over and rolled down hisdusty cheeks. No one saw them, for he brushed them hastily away; butin that little pause I think Dan's old distrust for these good peoplevanished for ever, the soft spot in his heart was touched, and he feltan impetuous desire to prove himself worthy of the love and pity thatwas so patient and forgiving. He said nothing, he only wished the wishwith all his might, resolved to try in his blind boyish way, andsealed his resolution with the tears which neither pain, fatigue, norloneliness could wring from him.

"Come and see his foot. I am afraid it is badly hurt, for he has kepton three days through heat and dust, with nothing but water and an oldjacket to bind it up with. I tell you, Fritz, that boy is a brave lad,and will make a fine man yet."

"I hope so, for your sake, enthusiastic woman, your faith deservessuccess. Now, I will go and see your little Spartan. Where is he?"

"In my room; but, dear, you'll be very kind to him, no matter howgruff he seems. I am sure that is the way to conquer him. He won't bearsternness nor much restraint, but a soft word and infinite patience willlead him as it used to lead me."

"As if you ever like this little rascal!" cried Mr. Bhaer, laughing, yethalf angry at the idea.

"I was in spirit, though I showed it in a different way. I seem to knowby instinct how he feels, to understand what will win and touch him, andto sympathize with his temptations and faults. I am glad I do, for itwill help me to help him; and if I can make a good man of this wild boy,it will be the best work of my life."

"God bless the work, and help the worker!"

Mr. Bhaer spoke now as earnestly as she had done, and both came intogether to find Dan's head down upon his arm, as if he was quiteovercome by sleep. But he looked up quickly, and tried to rise as Mr.Bhaer said pleasantly,

"So you like Plumfield better than Page's farm. Well, let us see if wecan get on more comfortably this time than we did before."

"Thanky, sir," said Dan, trying not to be gruff, and finding it easierthan he expected.

"Now, the foot! Ach! this is not well. We must have Dr. Firth to-morrow.Warm water, Jo, and old linen."

Mr. Bhaer bathed and bound up the wounded foot, while Mrs. Jo preparedthe only empty bed in the house. It was in the little guest-chamberleading from the parlor, and often used when the lads were poorly, forit saved Mrs. Jo from running up and down, and the invalids could seewhat was going on. When it was ready, Mr. Bhaer took the boy in hisarms, and carried him in, helped him undress, laid him on the littlewhite bed, and left him with another hand-shake, and a fatherly"Good-night, my son."

Dan dropped asleep at once, and slept heavily for several hours; thenhis foot began to throb and ache, and he awoke to toss about uneasily,trying not to groan lest any one should hear him, for he was a bravelad, and did bear pain like "a little Spartan," as Mr. Bhaer called him.

Mrs. Jo had a way of flitting about the house at night, to shut thewindows if the wind grew chilly, to draw mosquito curtains over Teddy,or look after Tommy, who occasionally walked in his sleep. The leastnoise waked her, and as she often heard imaginary robbers, cats, andconflagrations, the doors stood open all about, so her quick ear caughtthe sound of Dan's little moans, and she was up in a minute. He was justgiving his hot pillow a despairing thump when a light came glimmeringthrough the hall, and Mrs. Jo crept in, looking like a droll ghost,with her hair in a great knob on the top of her head, and a long graydressing-gown trailing behind her.

"Are you in pain, Dan?"

"It's pretty bad; but I didn't mean to wake you."

"I'm a sort of owl, always flying about at night. Yes, your foot is likefire; the bandages must be wet again," and away flapped the maternal owlfor more cooling stuff, and a great mug of ice water.

"Oh, that's so nice!" sighed Dan, the wet bandages went on again, and along draught of water cooled his thirsty throat.

"There, now, sleep your best, and don't be frightened if you see meagain, for I'll slip down by and by, and give you another sprinkle."

As she spoke, Mrs. Jo stooped to turn the pillow and smooth thebed-clothes, when, to her great surprise, Dan put his arm around herneck, drew her face down to his, and kissed her, with a broken "Thankyou, ma'am," which said more than the most eloquent speech could havedone; for the hasty kiss, the muttered words, meant, "I'm sorry, I willtry." She understood it, accepted the unspoken confession, and did notspoil it by any token of surprise. She only remembered that he had nomother, kissed the brown cheek half hidden on the pillow, as if ashamedof the little touch of tenderness, and left him, saying, what he longremembered, "You are my boy now, and if you choose you can make me proudand glad to say so."

Once again, just at dawn, she stole down to find him so fast asleepthat he did not wake, and showed no sign of consciousness as she wet hisfoot, except that the lines of pain smoothed themselves away, and lefthis face quite peaceful.

The day was Sunday, and the house so still that he never waked till nearnoon, and, looking round him, saw an eager little face peering in atthe door. He held out his arms, and Teddy tore across the room to casthimself bodily upon the bed, shouting, "My Danny's tum!" as he huggedand wriggled with delight. Mrs. Bhaer appeared next, bringing breakfast,and never seeming to see how shamefaced Dan looked at the memory of thelittle scene last night. Teddy insisted on giving him his "betfus," andfed him like a baby, which, as he was not very hungry, Dan enjoyed verymuch.

Then came the doctor, and the poor Spartan had a bad time of it, forsome of the little bones in his foot were injured, and putting them torights was such a painful job, that Dan's lips were white, and greatdrops stood on his forehead, though he never cried out, and only heldMrs. Jo's hand so tight that it was red long afterwards.