They are honorable lads , and they keep their word . '' That was evident , for the battle ended as abruptly as it began a parting shot or two , a final cheer , as Demi fired the seventh pillow at the retiring foe , a few challenges for next time , then order prevailed . And nothing but an occasional giggle or a suppressed whisper broke the quiet which followed the Saturday-night frolic , as Mother Bhaer kissed her new boy and left him to happy dreams of life at Plumfield . CHAPTER II . THE BOYS While Nat takes a good long sleep , I will tell my little readers something about the boys , among whom he found himself when he woke up . To begin with our old friends . Franz was a tall lad , of sixteen now , a regular German , big , blond , and bookish , also very domestic , amiable , and musical . His uncle was fitting him for college , and his aunt for a happy home of his own hereafter , because she carefully fostered in him gentle manners , love of children , respect for women , old and young , and helpful ways about the house . He was her right-hand man on all occasions , steady , kind , and patient ; and he loved his merry aunt like a mother , for such she had tried to be to him . Emil was quite different , being quick-tempered , restless , and enterprising , bent on going to sea , for the blood of the old vikings stirred in his veins , and could not be tamed . His uncle promised that he should go when he was sixteen , and set him to studying navigation , gave him stories of good and famous admirals and heroes to read , and let him lead the life of a frog in river , pond , and brook , when lessons were done . His room looked like the cabin of a man-of-war , for every thing was nautical , military , and shipshape . Captain Kyd was his delight , and his favorite amusement was to rig up like that piratical gentleman , and roar out sanguinary sea-songs at the top of his voice . He would dance nothing but sailors ' hornpipes , rolled in his gait , and was as nautical in conversation to his uncle would permit . The boys called him `` Commodore , '' and took great pride in his fleet , which whitened the pond and suffered disasters that would have daunted any commander but a sea-struck boy . 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 XXXXX felt satisfied that they had done well .
Emil Grandpa Kyd Nat Plumfield Pythagoras Saturday-night left man-of-war seventh