The outward change corresponded to the inward , for in those few weeks Demi seemed to have grown tall , and began to drop his childish plays , not as if ashamed of them , as some boys do , but as if he had outgrown them , and wanted something manlier . He took to the hated arithmetic , and held on so steadily that his uncle was charmed , though he could not understand the whim , until Demi said , `` I am going to be a bookkeeper when I grow up , like papa , and I must know about figures and things , else I ca n't have nice , neat ledgers like his . '' At another time he came to his aunt with a very serious face , and said `` What can a small boy do to earn money ? '' `` Why do you ask , my deary ? '' `` My father told me to take care of mother and the little girls , and I want to , but I do n't know how to begin . '' `` He did not mean now , Demi , but by and by , when you are large . '' `` But I wish to begin now , if I can , because I think I ought to make some money to buy things for the family . I am ten , and other boys no bigger than I earn pennies sometimes . '' `` Well , then , suppose you rake up all the dead leaves and cover the strawberry bed . I 'll pay you a dollar for the job , '' said Aunt Jo . `` Is n't that a great deal ? I could do it in one day . You must be fair , and no pay too much , because I want to truly earn it . '' `` My little John , I will be fair , and not pay a penny too much . Do n't work too hard ; and when that is done I will have something else for you to do , '' said Mrs. Jo , much touched by his desire to help , and his sense of justice , so like his scrupulous father . When the leaves were done , many barrowloads of chips were wheeled from the wood to the shed , and another dollar earned . Then Demi helped cover the schoolbooks , working in the evenings under Franz 's direction , tugging patiently away at each book , letting no one help , and receiving his wages with such satisfaction that the dingy bills became quite glorified in his sight . `` Now , I have a dollar for each of them , and I should like to take my money to mother all myself , so she can see that I have minded my father . '' So Demi made a duteous pilgrimage to his mother , who received his little earnings as a treasure of great worth , and would have kept it untouched , if Demi had not begged her to buy some useful thing for herself and the women-children , whom he felt were left to his care . This made him very happy , and , though he often forgot his responsibilities for a time , the desire to help was still there , strengthening with his years .
He always uttered the words `` my father '' with an air of gentle pride , and often said , as if he claimed a title full of honor , `` Do n't call me XXXXX any more .
Demi Franz Jo John day deary left strawberry women-children years