thinkDan’solddistrustforthesegoodpeoplevanishedforever，thesoftspotinhisheartwastouched，andhefeltanimpetuousdesiretoprovehimselfworthyoftheloveandpitythatwassopatientandforgiving。Hesaidnothing，heonlywishedthewishwithallhismight，resolvedtotryinhisblindboyishway，andsealedhisresolutionwiththetearswhichneitherpain，fatigue，norlonelinesscouldwringfromhim。
　　“Comeandseehisfoot。Iamafraiditisbadlyhurt，forhehaskeptonthreedaysthroughheatanddust，withnothingbutwaterandanoldjackettobinditupwith。Itellyou，Fritz，thatboyisabravelad，andwillmakeafinemanyet。“
　　“Ihopeso，foryoursake，enthusiasticwoman，yourfaithdeservessuccess。
　　Now，IwillgoandseeyourlittleSpartan。Whereishe？“
　　“Inmyroom；but，dear，you’llbeverykindtohim，nomatterhowgruffheseems。Iamsurethatisthewaytoconquerhim。Hewon’tbearsternnessnormuchrestraint，butasoftwordandinfinitepatiencewillleadhimasitusedtoleadme。“
　　“Asifyoueverlikethislittlerascal!“criedMr。Bhaer，laughing，yethalfangryattheidea。
　　“Iwasinspirit，thoughIshoweditinadifferentway。Iseemtoknowbyinstincthowhefeels，tounderstandwhatwillwinandtouchhim，andtosympathizewithhistemptationsandfaults。IamgladIdo，foritwillhelpmetohelphim；andifIcanmakeagoodmanofthiswildboy，itwillbethebestworkofmylife。“
　　“Godblessthework，andhelptheworker!“
　　Mr。Bhaerspokenowasearnestlyasshehaddone，andbothcameintogethertofindDan’sheaddownuponhisarm，asifhewasquiteovercomebysleep。
　　Buthelookedupquickly，andtriedtoriseasMr。Bhaersaidpleasantly，­；
　　“SoyoulikePlumfieldbetterthanPage’sfarm。Well，letusseeifwecangetonmorecomfortablythistimethanwedidbefore。“
　　“Thanky，sir，“saidDan，tryingnottobegruff，andfindingiteasierthanheexpected。
　　“Now，thefoot!Ach!­；thisisnotwell。WemusthaveDr。Firthto-morrow。
　　Warmwater，Jo，andoldlinen。“
　　Mr。Bhaerbathedandboundupthewoundedfoot，whileMrs。Jopreparedtheonlyemptybedinthehouse。Itwasinthelittleguest-chamberleadingfromtheparlor，andoftenusedwhentheladswerepoorly，foritsavedMrs。Jofromrunningupanddown，andtheinvalidscouldseewhatwasgoingon。Whenitwasready，Mr。Bhaertooktheboyinhisarms，andcarriedhimin，helpedhimundress，laidhimonthelittlewhitebed，andlefthimwithanotherhand-shake，andafatherly“Good-night，myson。“
　　Dandroppedasleepatonce，andsleptheavilyforseveralhours；thenhisfootbegantothrobandache，andheawoketotossaboutuneasily，tryingnottogroanlestanyoneshouldhearhim，forhewasabravelad，anddidbearpainlike“alittleSpartan，“asMr。Bhaercalledhim。
　　Mrs。Johadawayofflittingaboutthehouseatnight，toshutthewindowsifthewindgrewchilly，todrawmosquitocurtainsoverTeddy，orlookafterTommy，whooccasionallywalkedinhissleep。Theleastnoisewakedher，andassheoftenheardimaginaryrobbers，cats，andconflagrations，thedoorsstoodopenallabout，soherquickearcaughtthesoundofDan’slittlemoans，andshewasupinaminute。Hewasjustgivinghishotpillowadespairingthumpwhenalightcameglimmeringthroughthehall，andMrs。
　　Jocreptin，lookinglikeadrollghost，withherhairinagreatknobonthetopofherhead，andalonggraydressing-gowntrailingbehindher。
　　“Areyouinpain，Dan？“
　　“It’sprettybad；butIdidn’tmeantowakeyou。“
　　“I’masortofowl，alwaysflyingaboutatnight。Yes，yourfootislikefire；thebandagesmustbewetagain，“andawayflappedthematernalowlformorecoolingstuff，andagreatmugoficewater。
　　“Oh，that’ssonice!“sighedDan，thewetbandageswentonagain，andalongdraughtofwatercooledhisthirstythroat。
　　“There，now，sleepyourbest，anddon’tbefrightenedifyouseemeagain，forI’llslipdownbyandby，andgiveyouanothersprinkle。“
　　Asshespoke，Mrs。Jostoopedtoturnthepillowandsmooththebed-clothes，when，tohergreatsurprise，Danputhisarmaroundherneck，drewherfacedowntohis，andkissedher，withabroken“Thankyou，ma’am，“whichsaidmorethanthemosteloquentspeechcouldhavedone；forthehastykiss，themutteredwords，meant，“I’msorry，Iwilltry。“Sheunderstoodit，acceptedtheunspokenconfession，anddidnotspoilitbyanytokenofsurprise。Sheonlyrememberedthathehadnomother，kissedthebrowncheekhalfhiddenonthepillow，asifashamedofthelittletouchoftenderness，andlefthim，saying，whathelongremembered，“Youaremyboynow，andifyouchooseyoucanmakemeproudandgladtosayso。“
　　Onceagain，justatdawn，shestoledowntofindhimsofastasleepthathedidnotwake，andshowednosignofconsciousnessasshewethisfoot，exceptthatthelinesofpainsmoothedthemselvesaway，andlefthisfacequitepeaceful。
　　ThedaywasSunday，andthehousesostillthatheneverwakedtillnearnoon，and，lookingroundhim，sawaneagerlittlefacepeeringinatthedoor。Heheldouthisarms，andTeddytoreacrosstheroomtocasthimselfbodilyuponthebed，shouting，“MyDanny’stum!“ashehuggedandwriggledwithdelight。Mrs。Bhaerappearednext，bringingbreakfast，andneverseemingtoseehowshamefacedDanlookedatthememoryofthelittlescenelastnight。Teddyinsistedongivinghimhis“betfus，“andfedhimlikeababy，which，ashewasnotveryhungry，Danenjoyedverymuch。
　　Thencamethedoctor，andthepoorSpartanhadabadtimeofit，forsomeofthelittlebonesinhisfootwereinjured，andputtingthemtorightswassuchapainfuljob，thatDan’slipswerewhite，andgreatdropsstoodonhisforehead，thoughhenevercriedout，andonlyheldMrs。Jo’shandsotightthatitwasredlongafterwards。
　　“Youmustkeepthisboyquiet，foraweekatleast，andnotlethimputhisfoottotheground。Bythattime，Ishallknowwhetherhemayhopalittlewithacrutch，orsticktohisbedforawhilelonger，“saidDr。
　　Firth，puttinguptheshininginstrumentsthatDandidnotliketosee。
　　“Itwillgetwellsometime，won’tit？“heasked，lookingalarmedattheword“crutches。“
　　“Ihopeso；“andwiththatthedoctordeparted，leavingDanmuchdepressed；
　　forthelossofafootisadreadfulcalamitytoanactiveboy。
　　“Don’tbetroubled，Iamafamousnurse，andwewillhaveyoutrampingaboutaswellaseverinamonth，“saidMrs。Jo，takingahopefulviewofthecase。
　　ButthefearofbeinglamehauntedDan，andevenTeddy’scaressesdidnotcheerhim；soMrs。Joproposedthatoneortwooftheboysshouldcomeinandpayhimalittlevisit，andaskedwhomhewouldliketosee。
　　“NatandDemi；I’dlikemyhattoo，there’ssomethinginitIguessthey’dliketosee。Isupposeyouthrewawaymybundleofplunder？“saidDan，lookingratheranxiousasheputthequestion。
　　“No，Ikeptit，forIthoughttheymustbetreasuresofsomekind，youtooksuchcareofthem；“andMrs。Jobroughthimhisoldstrawhatstuckfullofbutterfliesandbeetles，andahandkerchiefcontainingacollectionofoddthingspickeduponhisway：birds’eggs，carefullydoneupinmoss，curiousshellsandstones，bitsoffungus，andseverallittlecrabs，inastateofgreatindignationattheirimprisonment。
　　“CouldIhavesomethingtoputthesefellersin？Mr。HydeandIfound’em，andtheyarefirst-rateones，soI’dliketokeepandwatch’em；canI？“askedDan，forgettinghisfoot，andlaughingtoseethecrabsgosidlingandbackingoverthebed。
　　“Ofcourseyoucan；Polly’soldcagewillbejustthething。Don’tletthemnipTeddy’stoeswhileIgetit；“andawaywentMrs。Jo，leavingDanoverjoyedtofindthathistreasureswerenotconsideredrubbish，andthrownaway。
　　Nat，Demi，andthecagearrivedtogether，andthecrabsweresettledintheirnewhouse，tothegreatdelightoftheboys，who，intheexcitementoftheperformance，forgotanyawkwardnesstheymightotherwisehavefeltingreetingtherunaway。TotheseadmiringlistenersDanrelatedhisadventuresmuchmorefullythanhehaddonetotheBhaers。Thenhedisplayedhis“plunder，“
　　anddescribedeacharticlesowell，thatMrs。Jo，whohadretiredtothenextroomtoleavethemfree，wassurprisedandinterested，aswellasamused，attheirboyishchatter。
　　“Howmuchtheladknowsofthesethings!howabsorbedheisinthem!
　　andwhatamercyitisjustnow，forhecaressolittleforbooks，itwouldbehardtoamusehimwhileheislaidup；buttheboyscansupplyhimwithbeetlesandstonestoanyextent，andIamgladtofindoutthistasteofhis；itisagoodone，andmayperhapsprovethemakingofhim。Ifheshouldturnoutagreatnaturalist，andNatamusician，Ishouldhavecausetobeproudofthisyear’swork；“andMrs。Josatsmilingoverherbookasshebuiltcastlesintheair，justassheusedtodowhenagirl，onlythentheywereforherself，andnowtheywereforotherpeople，whichisthereasonperhapsthatsomeofthemcametopassinreality­；forcharityisanexcellentfoundationtobuildanythingupon。
　　Natwasmostinterestedintheadventures，butDemienjoyedthebeetlesandbutterfliesimmensely，drinkinginthehistoryoftheirchangefullittlelivesasifitwereanewandlovelysortoffairytale­；for，eveninhisplainway，Dantolditwell，andfoundgreatsatisfactioninthethoughtthathereatleastthesmallphilosophercouldlearnofhim。Sointerestedweretheyintheaccountofcatchingamuskrat，whoseskinwasamongthetreasures，thatMr。BhaerhadtocomehimselftotellNatandDemiitwastimeforthewalk。DanlookedsowistfullyafterthemastheyranoffthatFatherBhaerproposedcarryinghimtothesofaintheparlorforalittlechangeofairandscene。
　　Whenhewasestablished，andthehousequiet，Mrs。Jo，whosatnearbyshowingTeddypictures，said，inaninterestedtone，asshenoddedtowardsthetreasuresstillinDan’shands，­；
　　“Wheredidyoulearnsomuchaboutthesethings？“
　　“Ialwaysliked’em，butdidn’tknowmuchtillMr。Hydetoldme。“
　　“Oh，hewasamanwholivedroundinthewoodsstudyingthesethings­；I
　　don’tknowwhatyoucallhim­；andwroteaboutfrogs，andfishes，andsoon。HestayedatPage’s，andusedtowantmetogoandhelphim，anditwasgreatfun，’causehetoldmeeversomuch，andwasuncommonjollyandwise。HopeI’llseehimagainsometime。“
　　“Ihopeyouwill，“saidMrs。Jo，forDan’sfacehadbrightenedup，andhewassointerestedinthematterthatheforgothisusualtaciturnity。
　　“Why，hecouldmakebirdscometohim，andrabbitsandsquirrelsdidn’tmindhimanymorethanifhewasatree。Didyoueverticklealizardwithastraw？“askedDan，eagerly。
　　“No，butIshouldliketotryit。“
　　“Well，I’vedoneit，andit’ssofunnytosee’emturnoverandstretchout，theylikeitsomuch。Mr。Hydeusedtodoit；andhe’dmakesnakeslistentohimwhilehewhistled，andheknewjustwhencertainflowerswouldblow，andbeeswouldn’tstinghim，andhe’dtellthewonderfullestthingsaboutfishandflies，andtheIndiansandtherocks。“
　　“IthinkyouweresofondofgoingwithMr。Hyde，youratherneglectedMr。Page，“saidMrs。Jo，slyly。
　　“Yes，Idid；IhatedtohavetoweedandhoewhenImightbetrampingroundwithMr。Hyde。Pagethoughtsuchthingssilly，andcalledMr。Hydecrazybecausehe’dlayhourswatchingatroutorabird。“
　　“Supposeyousaylieinsteadoflay，itisbettergrammar，“
　　saidMrs。Jo，verygently；andthenadded，“Yes，Pageisathoroughfarmer，andwouldnotunderstandthatanaturalist’sworkwasjustasinteresting，andperhapsjustasimportantashisown。Now，Dan，ifyoureallylovethesethings，asIthinkyoudo，andIamgladtoseeit，youshallhavetimetostudythemandbookstohelpyou；butIwantyoutodosomethingbesides，andtodoitfaithfully，elseyouwillbesorrybyandby，andfindthatyouhavegottobeginagain。“
　　“Yes，ma’am，“saidDan，meekly，andlookedalittlescaredbytheserioustoneofthelastremarks，forhehatedbooks，yethadevidentlymadeuphismindtostudyanythingsheproposed。
　　“Doyouseethatcabinetwithtwelvedrawersinit？“wasthenextveryunexpectedquestion。
　　Dandidseetwotallold-fashionedonesstandingoneithersideofthepiano；heknewthemwell，andhadoftenseennicebitsofstring，nails，brownpaper，andsuchusefulmatterscomeoutofthevariousdrawers。Henoddedandsmiled。Mrs。Jowenton，­；
　　“Well，don’tyouthinkthosedrawerswouldbegoodplacestoputyoureggs，andstones，andshells，andlichens？“
　　“Oh，splendid，butyouwouldn’tlikemythings’clutterin’round，’asMr。Pageusedtosay，wouldyou？“criedDan，sittinguptosurveytheoldpieceoffurniturewithsparklingeyes。