Now here is a pleasant story about a boy who hurt his foot worse than you did yours ; read it , and see how bravely he bore his troubles . '' She put that charming little book , `` The Crofton Boys , '' into his hands , and left him for an hour , passing in and out from time to time that he might not feel lonely . Dan did not love to read , but soon got so interested that he was surprised when the boys came home . Daisy brought him a nosegay of wild flowers , and Nan insisted on helping bring him his supper , as he lay on the sofa with the door open into the dining-room , so that he could see the lads at table , and they could nod socially to him over their bread and butter . Mr. Bhaer carried him away to his bed early , and Teddy came in his night-gown to say good-night , for he went to his little nest with the birds . `` I want to say my prayers to Danny ; may I ? '' he asked ; and when his mother said , `` Yes , '' the little fellow knelt down by Dan 's bed , and folding his chubby hands , said softly , `` Pease Dod bess everybody , and hep me to be dood . '' Then he went away smiling with sleepy sweetness over his mother 's shoulder . But after the evening talk was done , the evening song sung , and the house grew still with beautiful Sunday silence , Dan lay in his pleasant room wide awake , thinking new thoughts , feeling new hopes and desires stirring in his boyish heart , for two good angels had entered in : love and gratitude began the work which time and effort were to finish ; and with an earnest wish to keep his first promise , Dan folded his hands together in the Darkness , and softly whispered Teddy 's little prayer , `` Please God bless every one , and help me to be good . '' CHAPTER XI . UNCLE TEDDY For a week Dan only moved from bed to sofa ; a long week and a hard one , for the hurt foot was very painful at times , the quiet days were very wearisome to the active lad , longing to be out enjoying the summer weather , and especially difficult was it to be patient . But Dan did his best , and every one helped him in their various ways ; so the time passed , and he was rewarded at last by hearing the doctor say , on Saturday morning , `` This foot is doing better than I expected . Give the lad the crutch this afternoon , and let him stump about the house a little . '' `` Hooray ! '' shouted Nat , and raced away to tell the other boys the good news . Everybody was very glad , and after dinner the whole flock assembled to behold Dan crutch himself up and down the hall a few times before he settled in the porch to hold a sort of levee . He was much pleased at the interest and good-will shown him , and brightened up more and more every minute ; for the boys came to pay their respects , the little girls fussed about him with stools and cushions , and Teddy watched over him as if he was a frail creature unable to do anything for himself . They were still sitting and standing about the steps , when a carriage stopped at the gate , a hat was waved from it , and with a shout of `` Uncle Teddy ! Uncle Teddy ! '' Rob scampered down the avenue as fast as his short legs would carry him .
All he boys but Dan ran after him to see who should be first to open the gate , and in a moment the carriage drove up with boys swarming all over it , while Uncle XXXXX sat laughing in the midst , with his little daughter on his knee .
Crofton Nat Teddy days hep left morning nosegay stools week