`` I want my boys to love Sunday , to find it a peaceful , pleasant day , when they can rest from common study and play , yet enjoy quiet pleasures , and learn , in simple ways , lessons more important than any taught in school . Do you understand me ? '' she asked , watching Nat 's attentive face . `` You mean to be good ? '' he said , after hesitating a minute . `` Yes ; to be good , and to love to be good . It is hard work sometimes , I know very well ; but we all help one another , and so we get on . This is one of the ways in which I try to help my boys , '' and she took down a thick book , which seemed half-full of writing , and opened at a page on which there was one word at the top . `` Why , that 's my name ! '' cried Nat , looking both surprised and interested . `` Yes ; I have a page for each boy . I keep a little account of how he gets on through the week , and Sunday night I show him the record . If it is bad I am sorry and disappointed , if it is good I am glad and proud ; but , whichever it is , the boys know I want to help them , and they try to do their best for love of me and Father Bhaer . '' `` I should think they would , '' said Nat , catching a glimpse of Tommy 's name opposite his own , and wondering what was written under it . Mrs. Bhaer saw his eye on the words , and shook her head , saying , as she turned a leaf , `` No , I do n't show my records to any but the one to whom each belongs . I call this my conscience book ; and only you and I will ever know what is to be written on the page below your name . Whether you will be pleased or ashamed to read it next Sunday depends on yourself . I think it will be a good report ; at any rate , I shall try to make things easy for you in this new place , and shall be quite contented if you keep our few rules , live happily with the boys , and learn something . '' `` I 'll try ma'am ; '' and Nat 's thin face flushed up with the earnestness of his desire to make Mrs. Bhaer `` glad and proud , '' not `` sorry and disappointed . '' `` It must be a great deal of trouble to write about so many , '' he added , as she shut her book with an encouraging pat on the shoulder .
`` Not to me , for I really do n't know which I like best , writing or boys , '' she said , laughing to see XXXXX stare with astonishment at the last item .
Bhaer Nat Sunday Tommy day half-full minute night things ways