Do n't think of those sad times any more , but get well and happy ; and be sure you shall never suffer again , if we can help it . This place is made for all sorts of boys to have a good time in , and to learn how to help themselves and be useful men , I hope . You shall have as much music as you want , only you must get strong first . Now come up to Nursey and have a bath , and then go to bed , and to-morrow we will lay some nice little plans together . '' Nat held her hand fast in his , but had not a word to say , and let his grateful eyes speak for him , as Mrs. Bhaer led him up to a big room , where they found a stout German woman with a face so round and cheery that it looked like a sort of sun , with the wide frill of her cap for rays . `` This is Nursey Hummel , and she will give you a nice bath , and cut your hair , and make you all ` comfy , ' as Rob says . That 's the bath-room in there ; and on Saturday nights we scrub all the little lads first , and pack them away in bed before the big ones get through singing . Now then , Rob , in with you . '' As she talked , Mrs. Bhaer had whipped off Rob 's clothes and popped him into a long bath-tub in the little room opening into the nursery . There were two tubs , besides foot-baths , basins , douche-pipes , and all manner of contrivances for cleanliness . Nat was soon luxuriating in the other bath ; and while simmering there , he watched the performances of the two women , who scrubbed , clean night-gowned , and bundled into bed four or five small boys , who , of course , cut up all sorts of capers during the operation , and kept every one in a gale of merriment till they were extinguished in their beds . By the time Nat was washed and done up in a blanket by the fire , while Nursey cut his hair , a new detachment of boys arrived and were shut into the bath-room , where they made as much splashing and noise as a school of young whales at play . `` Nat had better sleep here , so that if his cough troubles him in the night you can see that he takes a good draught of flax-seed tea , '' said Mrs. Bhaer , who was flying about like a distracted hen with a large brood of lively ducklings . Nursey approved the plan , finished Nat off with a flannel night-gown , a drink of something warm and sweet , and then tucked him into one of the three little beds standing in the room , where he lay looking like a contented mummy and feeling that nothing more in the way of luxury could be offered him . Cleanliness in itself was a new and delightful sensation ; flannel gowns were unknown comforts in his world ; sips of `` good stuff '' soothed his cough as pleasantly as kind words did his lonely heart ; and the feeling that somebody cared for him made that plain room seem a sort of heaven to the homeless child . It was like a cosy dream ; and he often shut his eyes to see if it would not vanish when he opened them again . It was too pleasant to let him sleep , and he could not have done so if he had tried , for in a few minutes one of the peculiar institutions of Plumfield was revealed to his astonished but appreciative eyes . A momentary lull in the aquatic exercises was followed by the sudden appearance of pillows flying in all directions , hurled by white goblins , who came rioting out of their beds . The battle raged in several rooms , all down the upper hall , and even surged at intervals into the nursery , when some hard-pressed warrior took refuge there . No one seemed to mind this explosion in the least ; no one forbade it , or even looked surprised .
XXXXX went on hanging up towels , and Mrs. Bhaer laid out clean clothes , as calmly as if the most perfect order reigned .
Bhaer German Hummel Nursey Plumfield bath-room bath-tub mummy night whales