English
IcannotfeelthatIhavedonemydutyashumblehistorianoftheMarchfamily,withoutdevotingatleastonechaptertothetwomostpreciousandimportantmembersofit.
DaisyandDemihadnowarrivedatyearsofdiscretion,forinthisfastagebabiesofthreeorfourasserttheirrights,andgetthem,too,whichismorethanmanyoftheireldersdo.
Ifthereeverwereapairoftwinsindangerofbeingutterlyspoiledbyadoration,itwastheseprattlingBrookes.
Ofcoursetheywerethemostremarkablechildreneverborn,aswillbeshownwhenImentionthattheywalkedateightmonths,talkedfluentlyattwelvemonths,andattwoyearstheytooktheirplacesattable,andbehavedwithaproprietywhichcharmedallbeholders.
Atthree,Daisydemandeda'needler',andactuallymadeabagwithfourstitchesinit.
Shelikewisesetuphousekeepinginthesideboard,andmanagedamicroscopiccookingstovewithaskillthatbroughttearsofpridetoHannah'seyes,whileDemilearnedhisletterswithhisgrandfather,whoinventedanewmodeofteachingthealphabetbyformingletterswithhisarmsandlegs,thusunitinggymnasticsforheadandheels.
Theboyearlydevelopedamechanicalgeniuswhichdelightedhisfatheranddistractedhismother,forhetriedtoimitateeverymachinehesaw,andkeptthenurseryinachaoticcondition,withhis'sewinsheen',amysteriousstructureofstring,chairs,clothespins,andspools,forwheelstogo'woundandwound'.
Alsoabaskethungoverthebackofachair,inwhichhevainlytriedtohoisthistooconfidingsister,who,withfemininedevotion,allowedherlittleheadtobebumpedtillrescued,whentheyounginventorindignantlyremarked,"Why,Marmar,dat'smylellywaiter,andme'stryingtopullherup."
Thoughutterlyunlikeincharacter,thetwinsgotonremarkablywelltogether,andseldomquarreledmorethanthriceaday.
Ofcourse,DemityrannizedoverDaisy,andgallantlydefendedherfromeveryotheraggressor,whileDaisymadeagalleyslaveofherself,andadoredherbrotherastheoneperfectbeingintheworld.
Arosy,chubby,sunshinylittlesoulwasDaisy,whofoundherwaytoeverybody'sheart,andnestledthere.
Oneofthecaptivatingchildren,whoseemmadetobekissedandcuddled,adornedandadoredlikelittlegoddesses,andproducedforgeneralapprovalonallfestiveoccasions.
Hersmallvirtuesweresosweetthatshewouldhavebeenquiteangelicifafewsmallnaughtinesseshadnotkeptherdelightfullyhuman.
Itwasallfairweatherinherworld,andeverymorningshescrambleduptothewindowinherlittlenightgowntolookout,andsay,nomatterwhetheritrainedorshone,"Oh,pittyday,oh,pittyday!"
Everyonewasafriend,andsheofferedkissestoastrangersoconfidinglythatthemostinveteratebachelorrelented,andbaby–loversbecamefaithfulworshipers.
"Melovesevvybody,"sheoncesaid,openingherarms,withherspooninonehand,andhermugintheother,asifeagertoembraceandnourishthewholeworld.
Asshegrew,hermotherbegantofeelthattheDovecotewouldbeblessedbythepresenceofaninmateassereneandlovingasthatwhichhadhelpedtomaketheoldhousehome,andtopraythatshemightbesparedalosslikethatwhichhadlatelytaughtthemhowlongtheyhadentertainedanangelunawares.
Hergrandfatheroftencalledher'Beth',andhergrandmotherwatchedoverherwithuntiringdevotion,asiftryingtoatoneforsomepastmistake,whichnoeyebutherowncouldsee.
Demi,likeatrueYankee,wasofaninquiringturn,wantingtoknoweverything,andoftengettingmuchdisturbedbecausehecouldnotgetsatisfactoryanswerstohisperpetual"Whatfor?"
Healsopossessedaphilosophicbent,tothegreatdelightofhisgrandfather,whousedtoholdSocraticconversationswithhim,inwhichtheprecociouspupiloccasionallyposedhisteacher,totheundisguisedsatisfactionofthewomenfolk.
"Whatmakesmylegsgo,Dranpa?"askedtheyoungphilosopher,surveyingthoseactiveportionsofhisframewithameditativeair,whilerestingafterago–to–bedfroliconenight.
"It'syourlittlemind,Demi,"repliedthesage,strokingtheyellowheadrespectfully.
"Whatisalittlemine?"
"Itissomethingwhichmakesyourbodymove,asthespringmadethewheelsgoinmywatchwhenIshowedittoyou."
"Openme.Iwanttoseeitgowound."
"Ican'tdothatanymorethanyoucouldopenthewatch.Godwindsyouup,andyougotillHestopsyou."
"DoesI?"andDemi'sbrowneyesgrewbigandbrightashetookinthenewthought."IsIwoundeduplikethewatch?"
"Yes,butIcan'tshowyouhow,foritisdonewhenwedon'tsee."
Demifelthisback,asifexpectingtofinditlikethatofthewatch,andthengravelyremarked,"IdessDoddoesitwhenI'sasleep."
Acarefulexplanationfollowed,towhichhelistenedsoattentivelythathisanxiousgrandmothersaid,"Mydear,doyouthinkitwisetotalkaboutsuchthingstothatbaby?
He'sgettinggreatbumpsoverhiseyes,andlearningtoaskthemostunanswerablequestions."
"Ifheisoldenoughtoaskthequestionheisoldenoughtoreceivetrueanswers.
Iamnotputtingthethoughtsintohishead,buthelpinghimunfoldthosealreadythere.
Thesechildrenarewiserthanweare,andIhavenodoubttheboyunderstandseverywordIhavesaidtohim.
Now,Demi,tellmewhereyoukeepyourmind."
IftheboyhadrepliedlikeAlcibiades,"Bythegods,Socrates,Icannottell,"hisgrandfatherwouldnothavebeensurprised,butwhen,afterstandingamomentononeleg,likeameditativeyoungstork,heanswered,inatoneofcalmconviction,"Inmylittlebelly,"theoldgentlemancouldonlyjoininGrandma'slaugh,anddismisstheclassinmetaphysics.
Theremighthavebeencauseformaternalanxiety,ifDemihadnotgivenconvincingproofsthathewasatrueboy,aswellasabuddingphilosopher,foroften,afteradiscussionwhichcausedHannahtoprophesy,withominousnods,"Thatchildain'tlongforthisworld,"hewouldturnaboutandsetherfearsatrestbysomeoftheprankswithwhichdear,dirty,naughtylittlerascalsdistractanddelighttheirparent'ssouls.
Megmademanymoralrules,andtriedtokeepthem,butwhatmotherwaseverproofagainstthewinningwiles,theingeniousevasions,orthetranquilaudacityoftheminiaturemenandwomenwhosoearlyshowthemselvesaccomplishedArtfulDodgers?
"Nomoreraisins,Demi.They'llmakeyousick,"saysMammatotheyoungpersonwhooffershisservicesinthekitchenwithunfailingregularityonplum–puddingday.
"Melikestobesick."
"Idon'twanttohaveyou,sorunawayandhelpDaisymakepattycakes."
Hereluctantlydeparts,buthiswrongsweighuponhisspirit,andby–and–bywhenanopportunitycomestoredressthem,heoutwitsMammabyashrewdbargain.
"Nowyouhavebeengoodchildren,andI'llplayanythingyoulike,"saysMeg,assheleadsherassistantcooksupstairs,whenthepuddingissafelybouncinginthepot.
"Truly,Marmar?"asksDemi,withabrilliantideainhiswell–powderedhead.
"Yes,truly.Anythingyousay,"repliestheshortsightedparent,preparingherselftosing,"TheThreeLittleKittens"halfadozentimesover,ortotakeherfamilyto"Buyapennybun,"regardlessofwindorlimb.
ButDemicornersherbythecoolreply...
"Thenwe'llgoandeatupalltheraisins."
AuntDodowaschiefplaymateandconfidanteofbothchildren,andthetrioturnedthelittlehousetopsy–turvy.
AuntAmywasasyetonlyanametothem,AuntBethsoonfadedintoapleasantlyvaguememory,butAuntDodowasalivingreality,andtheymadethemostofher,forwhichcomplimentshewasdeeplygrateful.
ButwhenMr.Bhaercame,Joneglectedherplayfellows,anddismayanddesolationfellupontheirlittlesouls.
Daisy,whowasfondofgoingaboutpeddlingkisses,lostherbestcustomerandbecamebankrupt.
Demi,withinfantilepenetration,soondiscoveredthatDodoliketoplaywith'thebear–man'betterthanshedidhim,butthoughhurt,heconcealedhisanguish,forhehadn'tthehearttoinsultarivalwhokeptamineofchocolatedropsinhiswaistcoatpocket,andawatchthatcouldbetakenoutofitscaseandfreelyshakenbyardentadmirers.
Somepersonsmighthaveconsideredthesepleasinglibertiesasbribes,butDemididn'tseeitinthatlight,andcontinuedtopatronizethe'thebear–man'withpensiveaffability,whileDaisybestowedhersmallaffectionsuponhimatthethirdcall,andconsideredhisshoulderherthrone,hisarmherrefuge,hisgiftstreasuressurpassingworth.
Gentlemenaresometimesseizedwithsuddenfitsofadmirationfortheyoungrelativesofladieswhomtheyhonorwiththeirregard,butthiscounterfeitphiloprogenitivenesssitsuneasilyuponthem,anddoesnotdeceiveanybodyaparticle.
Mr.Bhaer'sdevotionwassincere,howeverlikewiseeffective––forhonestyisthebestpolicyinloveasinlaw.
Hewasoneofthemenwhoareathomewithchildren,andlookedparticularlywellwhenlittlefacesmadeapleasantcontrastwithhismanlyone.
Hisbusiness,whateveritwas,detainedhimfromdaytoday,buteveningseldomfailedtobringhimouttosee––well,healwaysaskedforMr.March,soIsupposehewastheattraction.
Theexcellentpapalaboredunderthedelusionthathewas,andreveledinlongdiscussionswiththekindredspirit,tillachanceremarkofhismoreobservinggrandsonsuddenlyenlightenedhim.
Mr.Bhaercameinoneeveningtopauseonthethresholdofthestudy,astonishedbythespectaclethatmethiseye.
ProneuponthefloorlayMr.March,withhisrespectablelegsintheair,andbesidehim,likewiseprone,wasDemi,tryingtoimitatetheattitudewithhisownshort,scarlet–stockingedlegs,bothgrovelerssoseriouslyabsorbedthattheywereunconsciousofspectators,tillMr.Bhaerlaughedhissonorouslaugh,andJocriedout,withascandalizedface...
"Father,Father,here'stheProfessor!"
Downwenttheblacklegsandupcamethegrayhead,asthepreceptorsaid,withundisturbeddignity,"Goodevening,Mr.Bhaer.Excusemeforamoment.Wearejustfinishingourlesson.
Now,Demi,maketheletterandtellitsname."
"Iknowshim!"and,afterafewconvulsiveefforts,theredlegstooktheshapeofapairofcompasses,andtheintelligentpupiltriumphantlyshouted,"It'saWe,Dranpa,it'saWe!"
"He'sabornWeller,"laughedJo,asherparentgatheredhimselfup,andhernephewtriedtostandonhishead,astheonlymodeofexpressinghissatisfactionthatschoolwasover.
"Whathaveyoubeenattoday,bubchen?"askedMr.Bhaer,pickingupthegymnast.
"MewenttoseelittleMary."
"Andwhatdidyouthere?"
"Ikissedher,"beganDemi,withartlessfrankness.
"Prut!Thoubeginnestearly.WhatdidthelittleMarysaytothat?"askedMr.Bhaer,continuingtoconfesstheyoungsinner,whostoodupontheknee,exploringthewaistcoatpocket.
"Oh,shelikedit,andshekissedme,andIlikedit.Don'tlittleboyslikelittlegirls?"askedDemi,withhismouthfull,andanairofblandsatisfaction.
"Youprecociouschick!Whoputthatintoyourhead?"saidJo,enjoyingtheinnocentrevelationasmuchastheProfessor.
"'Tisn'tinminehead,it'sinminemouf,"answeredliteralDemi,puttingouthistongue,withachocolatedroponit,thinkingshealludedtoconfectionery,notideas.
"Thoushouldstsavesomeforthelittlefriend.
Sweetstothesweet,mannling,"andMr.BhaerofferedJosome,withalookthatmadeherwonderifchocolatewasnotthenectardrunkbythegods.
Demialsosawthesmile,wasimpressedbyit,andartlessyinquired...
"Dogreatboyslikegreatgirls,to,'Fessor?"
LikeyoungWashington,Mr.Bhaer'couldn'ttellalie',sohegavethesomewhatvaguereplythathebelievedtheydidsometimes,inatonethatmadeMr.Marchputdownhisclothesbrush,glanceatJo'sretiringface,andthensinkintohischair,lookingasifthe'precociouschick'hadputanideaintohisheadthatwasbothsweetandsour.
WhyDodo,whenshecaughthiminthechinaclosethalfanhourafterward,nearlysqueezedthebreathoutofhislittlebodywithatenderembrace,insteadofshakinghimforbeingthere,andwhyshefollowedupthisnovelperformancebytheunexpectedgiftofabigsliceofbreadandjelly,remainedoneoftheproblemsoverwhichDemipuzzledhissmallwits,andwasforcedtoleaveunsolvedforever.
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