She delighted the boys by making a fire-ship out of a shingle with two large sails wet with turpentine , which she lighted , and then sent the little vessel floating down the brook at dusk . She harnessed the old turkey-cock to a straw wagon , and made him trot round the house at a tremendous pace . She gave her coral necklace for four unhappy kittens , which had been tormented by some heartless lads , and tended them for days as gently as a mother , dressing their wounds with cold cream , feeding them with a doll 's spoon , and mourning over them when they died , till she was consoled by one of Demi 's best turtles . She made Silas tattoo an anchor on her arm like his , and begged hard to have a blue star on each cheek , but he dared not do it , though she coaxed and scolded till the soft-hearted fellow longed to give in . She rode every animal on the place , from the big horse Andy to the cross pig , from whom she was rescued with difficulty . Whatever the boys dared her to do she instantly attempted , no matter how dangerous it might be , and they were never tired of testing her courage . Mr. Bhaer suggested that they should see who would study best , and Nan found as much pleasure in using her quick wits and fine memory as her active feet and merry tongue , while the lads had to do their best to keep their places , for Nan showed them that girls could do most things as well as boys , and some things better . There were no rewards in school , but Mr. Bhaer 's `` Well done ! '' and Mrs. Bhaer 's good report on the conscience book , taught them to love duty for its own sake , and try to do it faithfully , sure sooner or later the recompense would come . Little Nan was quick to feel the new atmosphere , to enjoy it , to show that it was what she needed ; for this little garden was full of sweet flowers , half hidden by the weeds ; and when kind hands gently began to cultivate it , all sorts of green shoots sprung up , promising to blossom beautifully in the warmth of love and care , the best climate for young hearts and souls all the world over . CHAPTER VIII . PRANKS AND PLAYS As there is no particular plan to this story , except to describe a few scenes in the life at Plumfield for the amusement of certain little persons , we will gently ramble along in this chapter and tell some of the pastimes of Mrs. Jo 's boys . I beg leave to assure my honored readers that most of the incidents are taken from real life , and that the oddest are the truest ; for no person , no matter how vivid an imagination he may have , can invent anything half so droll as the freaks and fancies that originate in the lively brains of little people . Daisy and Demi were full of these whims , and lived in a world of their own , peopled with lovely or grotesque creatures , to whom they gave the queerest names , and with whom they played the queerest games . One of these nursery inventions was an invisible sprite called `` The Naughty Kitty-mouse , '' whom the children had believed in , feared , and served for a long time . They seldom spoke of it to any one else , kept their rites as private as possible ; and , as they never tried to describe it even to themselves , this being had a vague mysterious charm very agreeable to Demi , who delighted in elves and goblins . A most whimsical and tyrannical imp was the Naughty Kitty-mouse , and Daisy found a fearful pleasure in its service , blindly obeying its most absurd demands , which were usually proclaimed from the lips of Demi , whose powers of invention were great . Rob and Teddy sometimes joined in these ceremonies , and considered them excellent fun , although they did not understand half that went on . One day after school Demi whispered to his sister , with an ominous wag of the head , `` The Kitty-mouse wants us this afternoon . '' `` What for ? ''
asked XXXXX , anxiously .
Bhaer Daisy Kitty-mouse Plumfield Teddy days fire-ship shingle turkey-cock wag