Jo's Boys

t had come and all felt the need of change. The Professor took Mrs Jo to the mountains. The Laurences were at the seashore

Ted's head, for he was unusually freakish, and led his gentle aunt and poor Rob a life of it with his pranks. Octoo was worn out with the wild rides he took, and Don openly rebelled when ordered to leap and show off his accomplishments; while the girls at college were both amused and worried by the ghosts who haunted the grounds at night, the unea

ant tramp and good luck with their fishing, the brothers were lounging

to him,' said Ted, looking at Don, who lay near his kennel resting a moment after one of the restless wanderings which kept him vibrating b

the poor fellow has been low in his mind ever since the boys went. Maybe something has happened to

Always makes me feel better. Hi, boy! wake up and be jolly'; and Ted snap

Dr Watkins and see what he says.' And Rob went on watching the swal

ence gave out; and seeing a convenient switch near by he could not resist the temptation to conquer the great hound by force, since gentleness failed to win obedience. He had the wisdom to chain Don up first; for a blow from any hand

de it! Leave the poor thing

y one; for as it fell, the dog sprang at Ted with a snarl, and Rob, rushing between the two, felt the sharp teeth pierce his leg. A word made Don let go and drop remorsefully at Rob's feet, for he loved him and was evidently so

ralized handkerchief. Rob usually made light of his own mishaps and was over ready to forgive if others were to blame; but now he sat quite still, looking at the purple ma

is mad I'd rather be the one to have it,

r, and, dropping sponge and handkerchief, stared at him

it! What shall we do

k piazza; get her out here as quick as you can. I'll wash it till she comes. Maybe it

o one, for his face would have betrayed him. Nan was swinging luxuriously in a hammock, amusing herself with a li

tten him, and we don't know what to do; it's al

without more words as they dodged round the house where unconscious Daisy chatted wi

whither he had wisely retired, to escape observation. The story was soon told, and after a look

at once. We can't wait to see if Don is-sick-or to go for a doctor. I can

spoke, and her keen eyes dimmed as she looked at the two

. But Ted better go away,' said Rob, with a firm set

ed Ted, with a desperate effort not to cry, so full of grief and fear

, knowing as she did all that might be in store for both poor boys. 'Keep quiet; I'll be back in a minu

ge, and wisdom; for there was no one else to call upon, and young as she was, she knew what was to be done if she only had the nerve to do it. Any other patient would have been calmly interesting, but dear, good Robin, his father's pride, his mother's com

yone when all is in doubt? I won't. I'll take Rob to Dr Morrison at once, and have the dog man see Don. Then, having

t back to the barn ready to do her best in this her most serious 'emergency case'. The boys sat like statues,

en we are safe. Stand by, Te

ding him, and his heart failed at the thought of all this pain because of his wilfulness. It was all over in a moment, with only one little groan; but when

patient number one before she turned to patient number two. Ted was much ashamed, and quite broken in spirit, when he found how he had failed at the critical moment, and begged

y, as poor Ted hiccoughed on Rob's shoulder, laughing and crying in the most tempestuous mann

se our spirits, and get our guilty faces out of sight for a while, I think we had better drive into town to my old friend Dr Morrison, and let him just take a look at my work, and give us some quieting little dose; for we are all rather shaken by this flur

nessed the horse. Rob lay tranquilly on the hay, looking up at the swallows again as he lived through some very memorable moments. Boy as he was, the thought of death coming suddenly to him, and in this way, might well make him sober; for it is a very solemn thing to be arrested in the midst o

recalled that other Father who is always near, always tender and helpful; and, folding his hands, Rob said the heartiest little prayer he ever prayed, there on the hay, to the soft twitter of the brooding birds. It did him good; and wis

e way till after tea. Then she hurried back and found her patients much better, the one for work, the other for rest. In the

ownstairs, he added in a whisper: 'Send the dog off for a while, and keep your eye on the boy. Don't let hi

ch was kept open for her all summer, did them good, and by the time they got home in the cool of the evening no sign of the panic remained but Ted's heavy eyes, and a slight limp when Rob walked. A

t no more mad than the grey kitten that purred

im home all right,' said Dr Watkins, as Don laid his great head in his hand, and kept his intelligent

many hours in his little study, so he could lie on the sofa with a book in his hand as long as he liked, without exciting any remark. Being of a quiet temperament, he did not worry himsel

heavy heart got the better of him, and kept him awake, or set him walking in his sleep. Nan had her eye on him, and more than once administered a little dose to give him a rest, read to him, scolded him, and when she caught him haunting the house in the watches of the night, threatened to lock him up if he did not stay in his bed. This wore off after a while; but a change came over the freakish boy, and everyone observed it, even before his mother returned to ask what they had done to quench the Lion's spirits. He was gay, but not so heed

int, I'm afraid we are going to lose him. Is it Meg's sweet influence, or Daisy's fine cooking, or the pellets I catch Nan giving him on th

He is more manly and serious than ever, and is seldom far from me, as if his love for the old papa was growing with his growth.

arcels of dirt by express to 'Prof. R. M. Bhaer'. Lately, he had treated Rob's hobbies respectfully, and had begun to appreciate the good qualities of this quiet brother whom he had always loved but rather undervalued, till his courage under fire won Ted's admiration, and made it impossible to forget a fault, the consequences of which might have been so terrible. The leg

asant changes when we come back?' said Mrs Jo, patting the sofa on either side, while the Professor forgot his piles of letters to admire the pleasing prospect of his wife in

stir him up a bit, and he steadies me a great deal. You and father do the same, yo

d. I'm flattered at being like father in any way. I try t

see you helping one another. It's the right way, and we can't begin too soon to try to understand the needs, virtues, and failings of those nearest us. Love should not make

find. It is good for everyone; long may it last!' and Professor Bhaer nodded at the boy

too much; but Ted burst out, finding

thought him rather soft, because he liked books better than larks, and was always fussing about his conscience. But I begin to see that it isn't the fellows who ta

round turn; he stopped short, grew red, a

her sons. 'Boys,' she went on solemnly, 'I suspect that the change we talk about is not altogether the effect of growing up, as we say. It strikes me that Ted has been i

r a moment's hesitation he looked u

for a while at least. I did feel guilty to keep anything from you, but now you know so much I

ck her, and she saw what it was that made him seem older, graver, yet more lovable than ever. It was the look pain of mind, as well as body, brings, and the patience of a sweet su

at once; I will not have any secrets now. Boys sometimes suffer all their l

stand before them, saying in a tone that

ot hold it back to spare us. Ted knows we forgive

le Rob in a few words told the little story, truthfully, but as gently as he could, hastening to add the

ef, and gratitude, that Ted pulled an extra pillow over his head to smother the sound. They were all right in a minute; but such news is always a shock, even i

ttle, and you bear it well; but I cannot spare

so plainly expressed despair that his mother relented towards him, and burrowing till she found a tousled yellow

word; only if harm had come to Rob you would have made me more miserable than yoursel

if it hasn't, I am afraid I ain't worth saving,' answered Ted, p

u. Come to me, Teddy, when the evil one gets hold of you, and together we'll rout him. Ah, me! I've had many a tuss

stood with his father's arm round him so happy that all was told and forgiven, though never to

t up and going to his fath

ease do it; but first say y

e you give me. The punishment has come; I can give no greater. Let it not be in vain.

not ashamed to express by gesture or by word the fatherly emotions an Ameri

ely all that was in their hearts, and finding much comfort in the confidence which comes when love casts out fear. It wa

No panics and shrieks and faintings and fuss, but calm sense and energetic skill. De

ested Ted, almost himself again, though a pensive

stayed, and packed him off with Demi. I like old Tom, but he is a regular noodle ab

weariness she may give in, and then it's all over. Wiser women have done so and regretted it all their lives. Nan shall

and when youth, beauty, accident, and photography are added, success is su