`` Bless your buttons , dear , I know all about it ; and here is a boy who will toss up for me , '' added Mrs. Jo , as the professor peeped over the rock with a face full of fun . He came out at once , tossed up the big kite , and Mrs. Jo ran off with it in fine style , while the children stood and enjoyed the spectacle . One by one all the kites went up , and floated far overhead like gay birds , balancing themselves on the fresh breeze that blew steadily over the hill . Such a merry time as they had ! running and shouting , sending up the kites or pulling them down , watching their antics in the air , and feeling them tug at the string like live creatures trying to escape . Nan was quite wild with the fun , Daisy thought the new play nearly as interesting as dolls , and little Bess was so fond of her `` boo tite , '' that she would only let it go on very short flights , preferring to hold it in her lap and look at the remarkable pictures painted on it by Tommy 's dashing brush . Mrs. Jo enjoyed hers immensely , and it acted as if it knew who owned it , for it came tumbling down head first when least expected , caught on trees , nearly pitched into the river , and finally darted away to such a height that it looked a mere speck among the clouds . By and by every one got tired , and fastening the kite-strings to trees and fences , all sat down to rest , except Mr. Bhaer , who went off to look at the cows , with Teddy on his shoulder . `` Did you ever have such a good time as this before ? '' asked Nat , as they lay about on the grass , nibbling pennyroyal like a flock of sheep . `` Not since I last flew a kite , years ago , when I was a girl , '' answered Mrs. Jo . `` I 'd like to have known you when you were a girl , you must have been so jolly , '' said Nat . `` I was a naughty little girl , I am sorry to say . '' `` I like naughty little girls , '' observed Tommy , looking at Nan , who made a frightful grimace at him in return for the compliment . `` Why do n't I remember you then , Aunty ? Was I too young ? '' asked Demi . `` Rather , dear . '' `` I suppose my memory had n't come then . Grandpa says that different parts of the mind unfold as we grow up , and the memory part of my mind had n't unfolded when you were little , so I ca n't remember how you looked , '' explained Demi .
`` Now , little Socrates , you had better keep that question for grandpa , it is beyond me , '' said Aunt XXXXX , putting on the extinguisher .
Aunty Bess Daisy Grandpa Jo Nan escape first kites pennyroyal