Mr. Laurie was much amused , and well pleased with Dan 's courage and skill , and let him have a hand in all future performances ; for he set about Charlie 's education at once , saying that he was not going to be outdone by a slip of a boy . Thanks to Dan , Charlie took kindly to the saddle and bridle when he had once reconciled himself to the indignity of the bit ; and after Mr. Laurie had trained him a little , Dan was permitted to ride him , to the great envy and admiration of the other boys . `` Is n't he handsome ? and do n't he mind me like a lamb ? '' said Dan one day as he dismounted and stood with his arm round Charlie 's neck . `` Yes , and is n't he a much more useful and agreeable animal than the wild colt who spent his days racing about the field , jumping fences , and running away now and then ? '' asked Mrs. Bhaer from the steps where she always appeared when Dan performed with Charlie . `` Of course he is . See he wo n't run away now , even if I do n't hold him , and he comes to me the minute I whistle ; I have tamed him well , have n't I ? '' and Dan looked both proud and pleased , as well he might , for , in spite of their struggles together , Charlie loved him better than his master . `` I am taming a colt too , and I think I shall succeed as well as you if I am as patient and persevering , '' said Mrs. Jo , smiling so significantly at him , that Dan understood and answered , laughing , yet in earnest , `` We wo n't jump over the fence and run away , but stay and let them make a handsome , useful span of us , hey , Charlie ? '' CHAPTER XVII . COMPOSITION DAY `` Hurry up , boys , it 's three o'clock , and Uncle Fritz likes us to be punctual , you know , '' said Franz one Wednesday afternoon as a bell rang , and a stream of literary-looking young gentlemen with books and paper in their hands were seen going toward the museum . Tommy was in the school-room , bending over his desk , much bedaubed with ink , flushed with the ardor of inspiration , and in a great hurry as usual , for easy-going Bangs never was ready till the very last minute . As Franz passed the door looking up laggards , Tommy gave one last blot and flourish , and departed out the window , waving his paper to dry as he went . Nan followed , looking very important , with a large roll in her hand , and Demi escorted Daisy , both evidently brimful of some delightful secret . The museum was all in order , and the sunshine among the hop-vines made pretty shadows on the floor as it peeped through the great window . On one side sat Mr. and Mrs. Bhaer , on the other was a little table on which the compositions were laid as soon as read , and in a large semicircle sat the children on camp-stools which occasionally shut up and let the sitter down , thus preventing any stiffness in the assembly . As it took too much time to have all read , they took turns , and on this Wednesday the younger pupils were the chief performers , while the elder ones listened with condescension and criticised freely . `` Ladies first ; so Nan may begin , '' said Mr. Bhaer , when the settling of stools and rustling of papers had subsided .
XXXXX took her place beside the little table , and , with a preliminary giggle , read the following interesting essay on , `` THE SPONGE `` The sponge , my friends , is a most useful and interesting plant .
Charlie Franz Jo Laurie Nan camp-stools first hop-vines laggards o'clock