Both were ashamed of the temporary coldness , neither was ashamed to say , `` I was wrong , forgive me , '' so the childish friendship remained unbroken , and the home in the willow lasted long , a pleasant little castle in the air . CHAPTER XXI . THANKSGIVING This yearly festival was always kept at Plumfield in the good old-fashioned way , and nothing was allowed to interfere with it . For days beforehand , the little girls helped Asia and Mrs. Jo in store-room and kitchen , making pies and puddings , sorting fruit , dusting dishes , and being very busy and immensely important . The boys hovered on the outskirts of the forbidden ground , sniffing the savory odors , peeping in at the mysterious performances , and occasionally being permitted to taste some delicacy in the process of preparation . Something more than usual seemed to be on foot this year , for the girls were as busy up-stairs as down , so were the boys in school-room and barn , and a general air of bustle pervaded the house . There was a great hunting up of old ribbons and finery , much cutting and pasting of gold paper , and the most remarkable quantity of straw , gray cotton , flannel , and big black beads , used by Franz and Mrs. Jo . Ned hammered at strange machines in the workshop , Demi and Tommy went about murmuring to themselves as if learning something . A fearful racket was heard in Emil 's room at intervals , and peals of laughter from the nursery when Rob and Teddy were sent for and hidden from sight whole hours at a time . But the thing that puzzled Mr. Bhaer the most was what became of Rob 's big pumpkin . It had been borne in triumph to the kitchen , where a dozen golden-tinted pies soon after appeared . It would not have taken more than a quarter of the mammoth vegetable to make them , yet where was the rest ? It disappeared , and Rob never seemed to care , only chuckled when it was mentioned , and told his father , `` To wait and see , '' for the fun of the whole thing was to surprise Father Bhaer at the end , and not let him know a bit about what was to happen . He obediently shut eyes , ears , and mouth , and went about trying not to see what was in plain sight , not to hear the tell-tale sounds that filled the air , not to understand any of the perfectly transparent mysteries going on all about him . Being a German , he loved these simple domestic festivals , and encouraged them with all his heart , for they made home so pleasant that the boys did not care to go elsewhere for fun . When at last the day came , the boys went off for a long walk , that they might have good appetites for dinner ; as if they ever needed them ! The girls remained at home to help set the table , and give last touches to various affairs which filled their busy little souls with anxiety . The school-room had been shut up since the night before , and Mr. Bhaer was forbidden to enter it on pain of a beating from Teddy , who guarded the door like a small dragon , though he was dying to tell about it , and nothing but his father 's heroic self-denial in not listening , kept him from betraying a grand secret . `` It 's all done , and it 's perfectly splendid , '' cried Nan , coming out at last with an air of triumph . `` The you know goes beautifully , and Silas knows just what to do now , '' added Daisy , skipping with delight at some unspeakable success .
`` I 'm blest if it ai n't the ` cutest thing I ever see , them critters in particular , '' said XXXXX , who had been let into the secret , went off laughing like a great boy .
Daisy Demi Franz Plumfield Rob Silas XXI finery school-room up-stairs