It was a fine sight -- the three wild things at play , so full of vigour , grace , and freedom , that for the moment the smooth lawn seemed a prairie ; and the spectators felt as if this glimpse of another life made their own seem rather tame and colourless . ` This is better than a circus ! ' cried Mrs Jo , wishing she were a girl again , that she might take a gallop on this chained lightning of a horse . ' I foresee that Nan will have her hands full setting bones , for Ted will break every one of his trying to rival Dan . ' ' A few falls will not harm , and this new care and pleasure will be good for him in all ways . But I fear Dan will never follow a plough after riding a Pegasus like that , ' answered Mr Bhaer , as the black mare leaped the gate and came flying up the avenue , to stop at a word and stand quivering with excitement , while Dan swung himself off and looked up for applause . He received plenty of it , and seemed more pleased for his pet 's sake than for his own . Ted clamoured for a lesson at once , and was soon at ease in the queer saddle , finding Octoo gentle as a lamb , as he trotted away to show off at college . Bess came hastening down the hill , having seen the race from afar ; and all collected on the piazza while Dan ` yanked ' the cover off the big box the express had ` dumped ' before the door -- to borrow his own words . Dan usually travelled in light marching order , and hated to have more luggage than he could carry in his well-worn valise . But now that he had a little money of his own , he had cumbered himself with a collection of trophies won by his bow and spear , and brought them home to bestow upon his friends . ` We shall be devoured with moths , ' thought Mrs Jo , as the shaggy head appeared , followed by a wolf-skin rug for her feet , a bear-skin ditto for the Professor 's study , and Indian garments bedecked with foxes ' tails for the boys . All nice and warm for a July day , but received with delight nevertheless . Ted and Josie immediately ` dressed up ' , learned the war-whoop , and proceeded to astonish their friends by a series of skirmishes about the house and grounds , with tomahawks and bows and arrows , till weariness produced a lull . Gay birds ' wings , plumy pampas grass , strings of wampum , and pretty work in beads , bark , and feathers , pleased the girls . Minerals , arrow-heads , and crude sketches interested the Professor ; and when the box was empty , Dan gave Mr Laurie , as his gift , several plaintive Indian songs written on birch-bark . ` We only want a tent over us to be quite perfect . I feel as if I ought to give you parched corn and dried meat for dinner , my braves . Nobody will want lamb and green peas after this splendid pow-wow , ' said Mrs Jo , surveying the picturesque confusion of the long hall , where people lay about on the rugs , all more or less bedecked with feathers , moccasins , or beads . ` Moose noses , buffalo tongues , bear steaks , and roasted marrow-bones would be the thing , but I do n't mind a change ; so bring on your baa-baa and green meat , ' answered Dan from the box , where he sat in state like a chief among his tribe , with the great hound at his feet .
The girls began to clear up , but made little headway ; for everything they touched had a story , and all were thrilling , comical , or wild ; so they found it hard to settle to their work , till Dan was carried off by Mr XXXXX .
Bess Laurie Octoo Pegasus Professor arrow-heads birch-bark ditto wampum war-whoop