It was too much for Nat , more feeble than he knew ; and as the final shout died away , his face began to work , he dropped the fiddle , and turning to the wall sobbed like a little child . `` My dear , what is it ? '' asked Mrs. Bhaer , who had been singing with all her might , and trying to keep little Rob from beating time with his boots . `` You are all so kind and it 's so beautiful I ca n't help it , '' sobbed Nat , coughing till he was breathless . `` Come with me , dear ; you must go to bed and rest ; you are worn out , and this is too noisy a place for you , '' whispered Mrs. Bhaer ; and took him away to her own parlor , where she let him cry himself quiet . Then she won him to tell her all his troubles , and listened to the little story with tears in her own eyes , though it was not a new one to her . `` My child , you have got a father and a mother now , and this is home . 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 .
XXXXX 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 .
German Nursey Rob bath-room bath-tub cleanliness ducklings frill night nights