6 Another New Boy!

CHAPTER 6 Another New Boy! Jo was sitting in her parlor with a book when Nat came to see her one afternoon. His was the fifth head to pop in that afternoon, but Jo didn't mind the interruptions. The boy stepped inside, shut the door behind him, and said, "Dan has come." Jo set her book down and asked, "Who is

Dan?" "He's a boy I used to know when I fiddled on the streets," Nat answered. "He sold papers and was kind to me, and I saw him the other day in town. I told him how nice it is here, and he's come." Jo looked startled for a moment. "But, dear me, it's a very sudden way to pay a visit." "Oh, he hasn't come for a visit," Nat answered. "He's come to stay." Jo explained that he couldn't possibly stay, as they had no room for even one more boy. But when she came to the end of her speech, Nat looked so upset with himself for making a mistake that Jo sat him down on the stool beside her chair. "Now tell me about this Dan," she said. "All I know is that he doesn't have any folks, and he's poor, and he was good to me when we were on the streets, so I'd like to be good to him if I can."

Jo said, "Excellent reasons, every one. But really, we have so many boys at Plumfield that I wouldn't even know where to put him." "He could stay in my bed, and I'll sleep in the barn," Nat offered. "It's not that cold, and I used to sleep anywhere with Father." Something in his face made Jo put her hand on his shoulder and say kindly, "Bring in your friend, Nat. I think we must find room for him, but you will not be sleeping in the barn." Nat raced off to find the lad. When they came back in, Jo knew instantly that she did not trust him. "Nat says that you would like to come and stay with us," she said. A rough-looking Dan mumbled, "Yes." "Have you no friends to take care of you?" "No," he said in a gruff voice. "How old are you?" Jo asked. "Fourteen." Nat whispered, "You should say 'ma'am.'" "Shan't neither," Dan hissed back.

Jo pretended not to hear them. "Has Nat told you that in order to stay here, you'll need to work and study hard? Are you willing?" "I don't mind trying," Dan said. "Well, I suppose you can stay for a few days, and we'll see how it goes." Nat smiled. "Take him outside and introduce him to all the boys until Father Bhaer comes home, and then we'll settle the matter," Jo said. "Come on, Nat," said a scowling Dan as they left the room. "Thank you, ma'am," Nat said. When they were outside, he added, "We're setting up a circus in the barn, if you want to come and see." Dan shrugged his shoulders and mumbled, "Sure." When they arrived, the circus was almost complete. The boys had set up a large circle of hay in the middle of the floor. Nat introduced Dan to everyone, and the pair sat down to watch the show.

Tommy pranced around the inside of the circle atop poor old Toby, who neighed the entire time. Demi was the circus master and carried a large whip, while two of the other boys wrestled in the center. To end the performance, Tommy did a somersault, which he had practiced until he was black and blue. "Harrumph," Dan said. "That ain't anything." Tommy stood before him and shouted, "Say that again, will you?" Dan held up his fists. "Do you want to fight about it?" "No, I don't," Tommy said and stepped away. One of the other boys shouted, "Fighting isn't allowed, so stop that now!" "You're a bunch of silly boys," Dan replied. Nat stepped forward and put a hand on his friend's shoulder. "Come on. If you don't behave, Mother Jo won't let you stay." "I'd just like to see him do the somersault better than I can, that's all," Tommy insisted.

Dan sneered. "Fine." Before Tommy could say another word, Dan turned three somersaults in a row and then walked on his hands. When he stood back up, an impressed Tommy asked, "Will you teach me to do that?" "What will you give me?" Dan replied. Tommy told Dan that he had a good pocketknife, which he handed over. "Ha! When you learn, I'll give it back." Outraged, the boys protested so much at Dan's bad behavior that he ended up handing Tommy's knife back to him before Nat pulled him outside. No one ever knew what passed between the two of them, but when they returned, Dan was nicer to all the boys. Still, he was rough in his manners and almost impossible to control. Tommy pushed hard, and the two became close over the issue of somersaults. But the rest of the boys simply did not like Dan. Of everyone, it was because little