“Ilikelitterofthatsort；andifIdidn’t，Ishouldgiveyouthedrawers，becauseIhavearegardforchildren’slittletreasures，andI
　　thinktheyshouldbetreatedrespectfully。Now，Iamgoingtomakeabargainwithyou，Dan，andIhopeyouwillkeepithonorably。Herearetwelvegood-sizeddrawers，oneforeachmonthoftheyear，andtheyshallbeyoursasfastasyouearnthem，bydoingthelittledutiesthatbelongtoyou。Ibelieveinrewardsofacertainkind，especiallyforyoungfolks；theyhelpusalong，andthoughwemaybeginbybeinggoodforthesakeofthereward，ifitisrightlyused，weshallsoonlearntolovegoodnessforitself。“
　　“Doyouhave’em？“askedDan，lookingasifthiswasnewtalkforhim。
　　“Yes，indeed!Ihaven’tlearnttogetonwithoutthemyet。Myrewardsarenotdrawers，orpresents，orholidays，buttheyarethingswhichI
　　likeasmuchasyoudotheothers。ThegoodbehaviorandsuccessofmyboysisoneoftherewardsIlovebest，andIworkforitasIwantyoutoworkforyourcabinet。Dowhatyoudislike，anddoitwell，andyougettworewards，­；one，theprizeyouseeandhold；theother，thesatisfactionofadutycheerfullyperformed。Doyouunderstandthat？“
　　“Yes，ma’am。“
　　“Weallneedtheselittlehelps；soyoushalltrytodoyourlessonsandyourwork，playkindlywithalltheboys，anduseyourholidayswell；
　　andifyoubringmeagoodreport，orifIseeandknowitwithoutwords­；forI’mquicktospyoutthegoodlittleeffortsofmyboys­；youshallhaveacompartmentinthedrawerforyourtreasures。See，somearealreadydividedintofourparts，andIwillhavetheothersmadeinthesameway，aplaceforeachweek；andwhenthedrawerisfilledwithcuriousandprettythings，Ishallbeasproudofitasyouare；prouder，Ithink­；forinthepebbles，mosses，andgaybutterflies，Ishallseegoodresolutionscarriedout，conqueredfaults，andapromisewellkept。Shallwedothis，Dan？“
　　Theboysansweredwithoneofthelookswhichsaidmuch，foritshowedthathefeltandunderstoodherwishandwords，althoughhedidnotknowhowtoexpresshisinterestandgratitudeforsuchcareandkindness。Sheunderstoodthelook，andseeingbythecolorthatflusheduptohisforeheadthathewastouched，asshewishedhimtobe，shesaidnomoreaboutthatsideofthenewplan，butpulledouttheupperdrawer，dustedit，andsetitontwochairsbeforethesofa，sayingbriskly，­；
　　“Now，letusbeginatoncebyputtingthosenicebeetlesinasafeplace。
　　Thesecompartmentswillholdagooddeal，yousee。I’dpinthebutterfliesandbugsroundthesides；theywillbequitesafethere，andleaveroomfortheheavythingsbelow。I’llgiveyousomecottonwool，andcleanpaperandpins，andyoucangetreadyfortheweek’swork。“
　　“ButIcan’tgoouttofindanynewthings，“saidDan，lookingpiteouslyathisfoot。
　　“That’strue；nevermind，we’llletthesetreasuresdoforthisweek，andIdaresaytheboyswillbringyouloadsofthingsifyouaskthem。“
　　“Theydon’tknowtherightsort；besides，ifIlay，no，liehereallthetime，Ican’tworkandstudy，andearnmydrawers。“
　　“Thereareplentyoflessonsyoucanlearnlyingthere，andseverallittlejobsofworkyoucandoforme。“
　　“CanI？“andDanlookedbothsurprisedandpleased。
　　“Youcanlearntobepatientandcheerfulinspiteofpainandnoplay。
　　YoucanamuseTeddyforme，windcotton，readtomewhenIsew，anddomanythingswithouthurtingyourfoot，whichwillmakethedayspassquickly，andnotbewastedones。“
　　HereDemiraninwithagreatbutterflyinonehand，andaveryuglylittletoadintheother。
　　“See，Dan，Ifoundthem，andranbacktogivethemtoyou；aren’ttheybeautifulones？“pantedDemi，alloutofbreath。
　　Danlaughedatthetoad，andsaidhehadnoplacetoputhim，butthebutterflywasabeauty，andifMrs。Jowouldgivehimabigpin，hewouldstickitrightupinthedrawer。
　　“Idon’tliketoseethepoorthingstruggleonapin；ifitmustbekilled，letusputitoutofpainatoncewithadropofcamphor，“saidMrs。Jo，gettingoutthebottle。
　　“Iknowhowtodoit­；Mr。Hydealwayskilled’emthatway­；butIdidn’thaveanycamphor，soIuseapin，“andDangentlypouredadropontheinsect’shead，whenthepalegreenwingsflutteredaninstant，andthengrewstill。
　　ThisdaintylittleexecutionwashardlyoverwhenTeddyshoutedfromthebedroom，“Oh，thelittletrabsareout，andthebigone’seaten’emallup。“Demiandhisauntrantotherescue，andfoundTeddydancingexcitedlyinachair，whiletwolittlecrabswerescuttlingaboutthefloor，havinggotthroughthewiresofthecage。Athirdwasclingingtothetopofthecage，evidentlyinterrorofhislife，forbelowappearedasadyetfunnysight。ThebigcrabhadwedgedhimselfintothelittlerecesswherePolly’scupusedtostand，andtherehesateatingoneofhisrelationsinthecoolestway。Alltheclawsofthepoorvictimwerepulledoff，andhewasturnedupsidedown，hisuppershellheldinoneclawcloseunderthemouthofthebigcrablikeadish，whileheleisurelyateoutofitwiththeotherclaw，pausingnowandthentoturnhisqueerbulgingeyesfromsidetoside，andtoputoutaslendertongueandlicktheminawaythatmadethechildrenscreamwithlaughter。Mrs。JocarriedthecageinforDantoseethesight，whileDemicaughtandconfinedthewanderersunderaninvertedwash-bowl。
　　“I’llhavetoletthesefellersgo，forIcan’tkeep’eminthehouse，“
　　saidDan，withevidentregret。
　　“I’lltakecareofthemforyou，ifyouwilltellmehow，andtheycanliveinmyturtle-tankjustaswellasnot，“saidDemi，whofoundthemmoreinterestingeventhathisbelovedslowturtles。SoDangavehimdirectionsaboutthewantsandhabitsofthecrabs，andDemiborethemawaytointroducethemtotheirnewhomeandneighbors。“Whatagoodboyheis!“saidDan，carefullysettlingthefirstbutterfly，andrememberingthatDemihadgivenuphiswalktobringittohim。
　　“Heoughttobe，foragreatdealhasbeendonetomakehimso。“
　　“He’shadfolkstotellhimthings，andtohelphim；Ihaven’t，“saidDan，withasigh，thinkingofhisneglectedchildhood，athingheseldomdid，andfeelingasifhehadnothadfairplaysomehow。
　　“Iknowit，dear，andforthatreasonIdon’texpectasmuchfromyouasfromDemi，thoughheisyounger；youshallhaveallthehelpthatwecangiveyounow，andIhopetoteachyouhowtohelpyourselfinthebestway。HaveyouforgottenwhatFatherBhaertoldyouwhenyouwereherebefore，aboutwantingtobegood，andaskingGodtohelpyou？“
　　“No，ma’am，“verylow。
　　“Doyoutrythatwaystill？“
　　“No，ma’am，“lowerstill。
　　“Willyoudoiteverynighttopleaseme？“
　　“Yes，ma’am，“verysoberly。
　　“Ishalldependonit，andIthinkIshallknowifyouarefaithfultoyourpromise，forthesethingsalwaysshowtopeoplewhobelieveinthem，thoughnotawordissaid。Nowhereisapleasantstoryaboutaboywhohurthisfootworsethanyoudidyours；readit，andseehowbravelyheborehistroubles。“
　　Sheputthatcharminglittlebook，“TheCroftonBoys，“intohishands，andlefthimforanhour，passinginandoutfromtimetotimethathemightnotfeellonely。Dandidnotlovetoread，butsoongotsointerestedthathewassurprisedwhentheboyscamehome。Daisybroughthimanosegayofwildflowers，andNaninsistedonhelpingbringhimhissupper，ashelayonthesofawiththedooropenintothedining-room，sothathecouldseetheladsattable，andtheycouldnodsociallytohimovertheirbreadandbutter。
　　Mr。Bhaercarriedhimawaytohisbedearly，andTeddycameinhisnight-gowntosaygood-night，forhewenttohislittlenestwiththebirds。
　　“IwanttosaymyprayerstoDanny；mayI？“heasked；andwhenhismothersaid，“Yes，“thelittlefellowkneltdownbyDan’sbed，andfoldinghischubbyhands，saidsoftly，­；
　　“PeaseDodbesseverybody，andhepmetobedood。“
　　Thenhewentawaysmilingwithsleepysweetnessoverhismother’sshoulder。
　　Butaftertheeveningtalkwasdone，theeveningsongsung，andthehousegrewstillwithbeautifulSundaysilence，Danlayinhispleasantroomwideawake，thinkingnewthoughts，feelingnewhopesanddesiresstirringinhisboyishheart，fortwogoodangelshadenteredin：loveandgratitudebegantheworkwhichtimeandeffortweretofinish；andwithanearnestwishtokeephisfirstpromise，DanfoldedhishandstogetherintheDarkness，andsoftlywhisperedTeddy’slittleprayer，­；
　　“PleaseGodblesseveryone，andhelpmetobegood。“CHAPTERXIUNCLETEDDY
　　ForaweekDanonlymovedfrombedtosofa；alongweekandahardone，forthehurtfootwasverypainfulattimes，thequietdayswereverywearisometotheactivelad，longingtobeoutenjoyingthesummerweather，andespeciallydifficultwasittobepatient。ButDandidhisbest，andeveryonehelpedhimintheirvariousways；sothetimepassed，andhewasrewardedatlastbyhearingthedoctorsay，onSaturdaymorning，­；
　　“ThisfootisdoingbetterthanIexpected。Givetheladthecrutchthisafternoon，andlethimstumpaboutthehousealittle。“
　　“Hooray!“shoutedNat，andracedawaytotelltheotherboysthegoodnews。
　　Everybodywasveryglad，andafterdinnerthewholeflockassembledtobeholdDancrutchhimselfupanddownthehallafewtimesbeforehesettledintheporchtoholdasortoflevee。Hewasmuchpleasedattheinterestandgood-willshownhim，andbrightenedupmoreandmoreeveryminute；fortheboyscametopaytheirrespects，thelittlegirlsfussedabouthimwithstoolsandcushions，andTeddywatchedoverhimasifhewasafrailcreatureunabletodoanythingforhimself。Theywerestillsittingandstandingaboutthesteps，whenacarriagestoppedatthegate，ahatwaswavedfromit，andwithashoutof“UncleTeddy!UncleTeddy!“Robscampereddowntheavenueasfastashisshortlegswouldcarryhim。AllheboysbutDanranafterhimtoseewhoshouldbefirsttoopenthegate，andinamomentthecarriagedroveupwithboysswarmingalloverit，whileUncleTeddysatlaughinginthemidst，withhislittledaughteronhisknee。
　　“StopthetriumphalcarandletJupiterdescend，“hesaid，andjumpingoutranupthestepstomeetMrs。Bhaer，whostoodsmilingandclappingherhandslikeagirl。
　　“Howgoesit，Teddy？“
　　“Allright，Jo。“
　　Thentheyshookhands，andMr。LaurieputBessintoheraunt’sarms，saying，asthechildhuggedhertight，“GoldilockswantedtoseeyousomuchthatIranawaywithher，forIwasquitepiningforasightofyoumyself。Wewanttoplaywithyourboysforanhourorso，andtoseehow’theoldwomanwholivedinashoe，andhadsomanychildrenshedidnotknowwhattodo，’isgettingon。“
　　“I’msoglad!Playaway，anddon’tgetintomischief，“answeredMrs。
　　Jo，astheladscrowdedroundtheprettychild，admiringherlonggoldenhair，daintydress，andloftyways，forthelittle“Princess，“astheycalledher，allowednoonetokissher，butsatsmilingdownuponthem，andgraciouslypattingtheirheadswithherlittle，whitehands。Theyalladoredher，especiallyRob，whoconsideredherasortofdoll，anddarednottouchherlestsheshouldbreak，butworshippedheratarespectfuldistance，madehappybyanoccasionalmarkoffavorfromherlittlehighness。
　　AssheimmediatelydemandedtoseeDaisy’skitchen，shewasborneoffbyMrs。Jo，withatrainofsmallboysfollowing。Theothers，allbutNatandDemi，ranawaytothemenagerieandgardenstohaveallinorder；forMr。Lauriealwaystookageneralsurvey，andlookeddisappointedifthingswerenotflourishing。
　　Standingonthesteps，heturnedtoDan，sayinglikeanoldacquaintance，thoughhehadonlyseenhimonceortwicebefore，­；
　　“Howisthefoot？“
　　“Better，sir。“
　　“Rathertiredofthehouse，aren’tyou？“
　　“GuessIam!“andDan’seyesrovedawaytothegreenhillsandwoodswherehelongedtobe。
　　“Supposewetakealittleturnbeforetheotherscomeback？Thatbig，easycarriagewillbequitesafeandcomfortable，andabreathoffreshairwilldoyougood。Getacushionandashawl，Demi，andlet’scarryDanoff。“
　　Theboysthoughtitacapitaljoke，andDanlookeddelighted，butasked，withanunexpectedburstofvirtue，­；
　　“WillMrs。Bhaerlikeit？“
　　“Oh，yes；wesettledallthataminuteago。“