Its Demi! Go to bed, Tom, and be silent! cried Dan, beginning to tear off his clothes, while Nat did the same.
Tommy flew to his room and dived into bed, where he lay, laughing till something burned his hand, when he discovered that he was still clutching the stump of the festive cigar, which he was
smoking.
Tommy was snoring in ten minutes. The cigar did not go out, but smouldered away, and a hungry little flame went along the bedcover. It caught the sheets, and then the bed itself. The beer made Tommy sleep heavily, and the smoke stupefied Demi, so they slept on till the fire began to scorch them.
Franz was studying that time, and as he left the school-room he smelt the smoke, dashed up-stairs and saw it coming in a cloud from the left wing of the house. He ran into the room, dragged the boys from the blazing bed, and splashed the water to the flames. It did not quench
the fire, and the children wakened and began to roar. Mrs. Bhaer instantly appeared, and a minute after Silas burst out of his room shouting, Fire! in a tone that raised the whole house. For a minute every one was panic-stricken.
Then Mrs. Bhaer sent Franz and Silas downstairs for some tubs of wet clothes which she flung on the bed, over the carpet, and up against the curtains. Most of the boys stood dumbly looking on, but Dan and Emil worked bravely, running to and fro with water from the bath-room, and helping to pull down the curtains.
The peril was soon over. Mrs. Bhaer and Franz went to see how the poor boys got on. Demi had escaped with one burn and a grand scare. Tommy had not only most of his hair scorched off his head, but a great burn on his arm, that made him half crazy with the pain. Franz took Demi away to his own bed, where the kind lad soothed his fright and hummed him to sleep as cosily as a woman. Nursey watched over poor Tommy all night, trying to ease his misery.
When Mr. Bhaer got home next morning he found a nice state of things. Tommy in bed, Teddy wheezing like a little grampus, Mrs. Jo exhausted, and the boys so excited that they all talked at once, and almost dragged him to view the ruins.
There was no school that morning, but by afternoon the invalids were better, and there was time to hear and judge the little culprits quietly. Nat and Tommy told their parts in the mischief, and were honestly sorry for the danger they had brought to the dear old house and all in it. But Dan put on his devil-may-care look[18].
Mr. Bhaer hated drinking, gambling, and swearing. It grieved and angered him deeply to find that the boy, with whom he had tried to be most forbearing, took advantage of his absence to introduce these forbidden vices, and teach his innocent little lads to think it manly and pleasant to indulge in them. He talked long and earnestly to the assembled boys,
I think Tommy is punished enough, and that scar on his arm will remind him for a long time to let these things alone. Nats fright will be enough for him, for he is really sorry, and does try to obey me. But you, Dan, have been many times forgiven, and yet it does no good. I cannot have my boys hurt by your bad example, nor my time wasted in talking to deaf ears. So you can say good-bye to them all, and tell Nursey to put up your things in my little black bag.
Oh! sir, where is he going? cried Nat.
To a pleasant place up in the country, where I sometimes send boys when they dont do well here. Mr. Page is a kind man, and Dan will be happy there, I hope.
Will he ever come back? asked Demi.
That will depend on himself; I hope so.
As he spoke, Mr. Bhaer left the room to write his letter to Mr. Page, and the boys crowded round Dan.
Will you like it? began Jack.
I shant stay if I dont, said Dan coolly.
Where will you go? asked Nat.
I may go to sea, or out west, or to California, answered Dan, with a reckless air.
Oh, dont! Stay with Mr. Page awhile and then come back here; do, Dan, pleaded Nat.
I dont care where I go, or how long I stay, And I wont come here again, with which wrathful speech Dan went away to put up his things, everyone of which Mr. Bhaer had given him.
The wagon stood at the door, and Mrs. Bhaer came out to speak to Dan, looking so sad that his heart smote him, and he said,
May I say good-bye to Teddy?
Yes, dear; go in and kiss him, he will miss his Danny very much.
He heard Mrs. Bhaer say pleadingly,
Cant we give the poor lad one more trial, Fritz? and Mr. Bhaer answer,
My dear, let him go where he can do no harm to others, while they do good to him, and by and by he will come back, I promise you.
Dan heard Mrs. Bhaer sigh, and he wanted to ask for one more trial himself, but his pride did not let him, and he came out with the hard look on his face, shook hands without a word, and drove away with Mr. Bhaer, leaving Nat and Mrs. Jo with tears in their eyes.
A few days afterwards they received a letter from Mr. Page, saying that Dan was doing well, and they all rejoiced. But three weeks later came another letter, saying that Dan had run away, and nothing had been heard of him. Mr. Bhaer said,
Perhaps I could give him another chance.
Mrs. Bhaer, however, nodded wisely and answered,
Dont be troubled, Fritz; the boy will come back to us, Im sure of it.
But time went on and no Dan came.
Naughty Nan
Fritz, Ive got a new idea, cried Mrs. Bhaer, as she met her husband one day after school.
Well, my dear, what is it? and he waited willingly to hear the new plan, for some of Mrs. Jos ideas were droll, though usually they were quite sensible.
Daisy needs a companion, and the boys will be the better with another girl among them. They pet and tyrannize Daisy, and she is getting spoilt. Then they must learn to be gentle, and improve their manners.
You are right, as usual. Now, who shall we have? asked Mr. Bhaer.
Little Annie Harding.
What! Naughty Nan, as the lads call her? cried Mr. Bhaer, looking very much amused.
Yes, she is wild at home since her mother died, and is a bright child indeed. When I met her father in town I asked him why he did not send her to school. He said he would gladly if he could find a good school for girls.
Do you really want to take this little gypsy to torment you? asked Mr. Bhaer, patting the hand that lay on his arm.
Oh dear, no, said Mother Bhaer, briskly. I like her. You see, Fritz, I feel a great sympathy for Nan, because I was such a naughty child myself that I know all about it. She is full of spirits. The tricksy midget will soon become a happy child. I know how to manage her, for I remember how my blessed mother managed me.
I only hope she wont be another trouble-maker.
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 his friend, trotted to the door, and then trotted back again,
My Danny will come soon.
Then I may have Nan, may I? asked Mrs. Jo.
A dozen Nans if you want them, my dear, answered Mr. Bhaer.
When Mrs. Bhaer returned from her drive that afternoon, a small girl into the house, shouting,
Hi, Daisy! Where are you?
Daisy came, and looked pleased to see her guest, but also a trifle alarmed, when Nan said,
Im going to stay here always, papa says I may, and my box is coming tomorrow, all my things had to be washed and mended, and your aunt came and carried me off. Isnt it great fun?
Why, yes. Did you bring your big doll? asked Daisy.
Yes, shes somewhere here, said Nan. I want to see the boys and the barn, and ran off.
Hello! Nan! cried the boys.
Im going to stay.
Hooray! bawled Tommy from the wall on which he was perched.
Whats the matter with Stuffy? asked Nan, whose quick eyes were roving from face to face.
The ball hurt his hand; thats why he is crying, answered Jack scornfully.
I dont, I never cry, no matter how Im hurt; its babyish, said Nan, loftily.
Pooh! I could make you cry in two minutes, returned Stuffy.