He made them well , and helped them , and told rich people they must not be cross to them , and they loved Him dearly , dearly , '' cried Demi , with enthusiasm . `` Was He rich ? '' `` Oh no ! He was born in a barn , and was so poor He had n't any house to live in when He grew up , and nothing to eat sometimes , but what people gave Him , and He went round preaching to everybody , and trying to make them good , till the bad men killed Him . '' `` What for ? '' and Nat sat up in his bed to look and listen , so interested was he in this man who cared for the poor so much . `` I 'll tell you all about it ; Aunt Jo wo n't mind ; '' and Demi settled himself on the opposite bed , glad to tell his favorite story to so good a listener . Nursey peeped in to see if Nat was asleep , but when she saw what was going on , she slipped away again , and went to Mrs. Bhaer , saying with her kind face full of motherly emotion , `` Will the dear lady come and see a pretty sight ? It 's Nat listening with all his heart to Demi telling the story of the Christ-child , like a little white angel as he is . '' Mrs. Bhaer had meant to go and talk with Nat a moment before he slept , for she had found that a serious word spoken at this time often did much good . But when she stole to the nursery door , and saw Nat eagerly drinking in the words of his little friends , while Demi told the sweet and solemn story as it had been taught him , speaking softly as he sat with his beautiful eyes fixed on the tender face above them , her own filled with tears , and she went silently away , thinking to herself , `` Demi is unconsciously helping the poor boy better than I can ; I will not spoil it by a single word . '' The murmur of the childish voice went on for a long time , as one innocent heart preached that great sermon to another , and no one hushed it . When it ceased at last , and Mrs. Bhaer went to take away the lamp , Demi was gone and Nat fast asleep , lying with his face toward the picture , as if he had already learned to love the Good Man who loved little children , and was a faithful friend to the poor . The boy 's face was very placid , and as she looked at it she felt that if a single day of care and kindness had done so much , a year of patient cultivation would surely bring a grateful harvest from this neglected garden , which was already sown with the best of all seed by the little missionary in the night-gown . CHAPTER IV . STEPPING-STONES When Nat went into school on Monday morning , he quaked inwardly , for now he thought he should have to display his ignorance before them all . But Mr. Bhaer gave him a seat in the deep window , where he could turn his back on the others , and Franz heard him say his lessons there , so no one could hear his blunders or see how he blotted his copybook . He was truly grateful for this , and toiled away so diligently that Mr. Bhaer said , smiling , when he saw his hot face and inky fingers : `` Do n't work so hard , my boy ; you will tire yourself out , and there is time enough . '' `` But I must work hard , or I ca n't catch up with the others . They know heaps , and I do n't know anything , '' said Nat , who had been reduced to a state of despair by hearing the boys recite their grammar , history , and geography with what he thought amazing ease and accuracy .
`` You know a good many things which they do n't , '' said Mr. Bhaer , sitting down beside him , while XXXXX led a class of small students through the intricacies of the multiplication table .
Bhaer Christ-child Demi Franz Jo Man Nat STEPPING-STONES morning year