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 Nat stare with astonishment at the last item . `` Yes , I know many people think boys are a nuisance , but that is because they do n't understand them . I do ; and I never saw the boy yet whom I could not get on capitally with after I had once found the soft spot in his heart . Bless me , I could n't get on at all without my flock of dear , noisy , naughty , harum-scarum little lads , could I , my Teddy ? '' and Mrs. Bhaer hugged the young rogue , just in time to save the big inkstand from going into his pocket . Nat , who had never heard anything like this before , really did not know whether Mother Bhaer was a trifle crazy , or the most delightful woman he had ever met . He rather inclined to the latter opinion , in spite of her peculiar tastes , for she had a way of filling up a fellow 's plate before he asked , of laughing at his jokes , gently tweaking him by the ear , or clapping him on the shoulder , that Nat found very engaging . `` Now , I think you would like to go into the school-room and practise some of the hymns we are to sing to-night , '' she said , rightly guessing the thing of all others that he wanted to do . Alone with the beloved violin and the music-book propped up before him in the sunny window , while Spring beauty filled the world outside , and Sabbath silence reigned within , Nat enjoyed an hour or two of genuine happiness , learning the sweet old tunes , and forgetting the hard past in the cheerful present . When the church-goers came back and dinner was over , every one read , wrote letters home , said their Sunday lessons , or talked quietly to one another , sitting here and there about the house . At three o'clock the entire family turned out to walk , for all the active young bodies must have exercise ; and in these walks the active young minds were taught to see and love the providence of God in the beautiful miracles which Nature was working before their eyes . Mr. Bhaer always went with them , and in his simple , fatherly way , found for his flock , `` Sermons in stones , books in the running brooks , and good in everything . ''
Mrs. XXXXX with Daisy and her own two boys drove into town , to pay the weekly visit to Grandma , which was busy Mother Bhaer 's one holiday and greatest pleasure .
Bhaer Nat Tommy church-goers hour inkstand o'clock school-room to-night tweaking