Demi was one of the children who show plainly the effect of intelligent love and care , for soul and body worked harmoniously together . The natural refinement which nothing but home influence can teach , gave him sweet and simple manners : his mother had cherished an innocent and loving heart in him ; his father had watched over the physical growth of his boy , and kept the little body straight and strong on wholesome food and exercise and sleep , while Grandpa March cultivated the little mind with the tender wisdom of a modern Pythagoras , not tasking it with long , hard lessons , parrot-learned , but helping it to unfold as naturally and beautifully as sun and dew help roses bloom . He was not a perfect child , by any means , but his faults were of the better sort ; and being early taught the secret of self-control , he was not left at the mercy of appetites and passions , as some poor little mortals are , and then punished for yielding to the temptations against which they have no armor . A quiet , quaint boy was Demi , serious , yet cheery , quite unconscious that he was unusually bright and beautiful , yet quick to see and love intelligence or beauty in other children . Very fond of books , and full of lively fancies , born of a strong imagination and a spiritual nature , these traits made his parents anxious to balance them with useful knowledge and healthful society , lest they should make him one of those pale precocious children who amaze and delight a family sometimes , and fade away like hot-house flowers , because the young soul blooms too soon , and has not a hearty body to root it firmly in the wholesome soil of this world . So Demi was transplanted to Plumfield , and took so kindly to the life there , that Meg and John and Grandpa felt satisfied that they had done well . Mixing with other boys brought out the practical side of him , roused his spirit , and brushed away the pretty cobwebs he was so fond of spinning in that little brain of his . To be sure , he rather shocked his mother when he came home , by banging doors , saying `` by George '' emphatically , and demanding tall thick boots `` that clumped like papa 's . '' But John rejoiced over him , laughed at his explosive remarks , got the boots , and said contentedly , `` He is doing well ; so let him clump . I want my son to be a manly boy , and this temporary roughness wo n't hurt him . We can polish him up by and by ; and as for learning , he will pick that up as pigeons do peas . So do n't hurry him . '' Daisy was as sunshiny and charming as ever , with all sorts of womanlinesses budding in her , for she was like her gentle mother , and delighted in domestic things . She had a family of dolls , whom she brought up in the most exemplary manner ; she could not get on without her little work-basket and bits of sewing , which she did so nicely , that Demi frequently pulled out his handkerchief display her neat stitches , and Baby Josy had a flannel petticoat beautifully made by Sister Daisy . She like to quiddle about the china-closet , prepare the salt-cellars , put the spoons straight on the table ; and every day went round the parlor with her brush , dusting chairs and tables . Demi called her a `` Betty , '' but was very glad to have her keep his things in order , lend him her nimble fingers in all sorts of work , and help him with his lessons , for they kept abreast there , and had no thought of rivalry . The love between them was as strong as ever ; and no one could laugh Demi out of his affectionate ways with Daisy . He fought her battles valiantly , and never could understand why boys should be ashamed to say `` right out , '' that they loved their sisters . Daisy adored her twin , thought `` my brother '' the most remarkable boy in the world , and every morning , in her little wrapper , trotted to tap at his door with a motherly `` Get up , my dear , it 's ` most breakfast time ; and here 's your clean collar . '' Rob was an energetic morsel of a boy , who seemed to have discovered the secret of perpetual motion , for he never was still .
Fortunately , he was not mischievous , nor very brave ; so he kept out of trouble pretty well , and vibrated between father and mother like an affectionate little pendulum with a lively tick , for XXXXX was a chatterbox .
Daisy Demi George Josy Meg Rob left morning petticoat womanlinesses