The boy 's face was very placid , and as she looked at it she felt that if a single day of care and kindness had done so much , a year of patient cultivation would surely bring a grateful harvest from this neglected garden , which was already sown with the best of all seed by the little missionary in the night-gown . CHAPTER IV . STEPPING-STONES When Nat went into school on Monday morning , he quaked inwardly , for now he thought he should have to display his ignorance before them all . But Mr. Bhaer gave him a seat in the deep window , where he could turn his back on the others , and Franz heard him say his lessons there , so no one could hear his blunders or see how he blotted his copybook . He was truly grateful for this , and toiled away so diligently that Mr. Bhaer said , smiling , when he saw his hot face and inky fingers : `` Do n't work so hard , my boy ; you will tire yourself out , and there is time enough . '' `` But I must work hard , or I ca n't catch up with the others . They know heaps , and I do n't know anything , '' said Nat , who had been reduced to a state of despair by hearing the boys recite their grammar , history , and geography with what he thought amazing ease and accuracy . `` You know a good many things which they do n't , '' said Mr. Bhaer , sitting down beside him , while Franz led a class of small students through the intricacies of the multiplication table . `` Do I ? '' and Nat looked utterly incredulous . `` Yes ; for one thing , you can keep your temper , and Jack , who is quick at numbers , can not ; that is an excellent lesson , and I think you have learned it well . Then , you can play the violin , and not one of the lads can , though they want to do it very much . But , best of all , Nat , you really care to learn something , and that is half the battle . It seems hard at first , and you will feel discouraged , but plod away , and things will get easier and easier as you go on . '' Nat 's face had brightened more and more as he listened , for , small as the list of his learning was , it cheered him immensely to feel that he had anything to fall back upon . `` Yes , I can keep my temper father 's beating taught me that ; and I can fiddle , though I do n't know where the Bay of Biscay is , '' he thought , with a sense of comfort impossible to express . Then he said aloud , and so earnestly that Demi heard him : `` I do want to learn , and I will try . I never went to school , but I could n't help it ; and if the fellows do n't laugh at me , I guess I 'll get on first rate you and the lady are so good to me . '' `` They sha n't laugh at you ; if they do , I 'll I 'll tell them not to , '' cried Demi , quite forgetting where he was . The class stopped in the middle of 7 times 9 , and everyone looked up to see what was going on .
Thinking that a lesson in learning to help one another was better than arithmetic just then , Mr. Bhaer told them about XXXXX , making such an interesting and touching little story out of it that the good-hearted lads all promised to lend him a hand , and felt quite honored to be called upon to impart their stores of wisdom to the chap who fiddled so capitally .
Bhaer Biscay Demi Franz Jack Nat STEPPING-STONES copybook day first