I felt so ungrateful and mean and crushed when I thought you all considered me a sneak who had no business to love such a precious girl as Daisy . No one said anything , but I knew how you felt , and that Mr Laurie sent me off partly to get me out of the way . Oh dear , life is pretty tough sometimes , is n't it ? ' And Nat took his head in both hands as if it ached with the confusion of hopes and fears , passions and plans that proved boyhood was past and manhood had begun . ` Very tough , but it is that very struggle with obstacles which does us good . Things have been made easy for you in many ways , but no one can do everything . You must paddle your own canoe now , and learn to avoid the rapids and steer straight to the port you want to reach . I do n't know just what your temptations will be for you have no bad habits and seem to love music so well , nothing can lure you from it . I only hope you wo n't work too hard . ' ' I feel as if I could work like a horse , I 'm so eager to get on ; but I 'll take care . Ca n't waste time being sick , and you 've given me doses enough to keep me all right , I guess . ' Nat laughed as he remembered the book of directions Mrs Jo had written for him to consult on all occasions . She immediately added some verbal ones on the subject of foreign messes , and having mounted one of her pet hobbies , was in full gallop when Emil was seen strolling about on the roof of the old house , that being his favourite promenade ; for there he could fancy himself walking the deck , with only blue sky and fresh air about him . ' I want a word with the Commodore , and up there we shall be nice and quiet . Go and play to Daisy : it will put her to sleep and do you both good . Sit in the porch , so I can keep an eye on you as I promised ' ; and with a motherly pat on the shoulder Mrs Jo left Nat to his delightful task and briskly ascended to the house-top , not up the trellis as of old but by means of the stairs inside . Emerging on the platform she found Emil cutting his initials afresh in the wood-work and singing ` Pull for the Shore ' , like the tuneful mariner he was . ` Come aboard and make yourself at home , Aunty , ' he said , with a playful salute . ` I 'm just leaving a P.P.C. in the old place , so when you fly up here for refuge you 'll remember me . ' ` Ah , my dear , I 'm not likely to forget you .
It does n't need E. B. H. cut on all the trees and railings to remind me of my sailor boy ' ; and Mrs XXXXX took the seat nearest the blue figure astride the balustrade , not quite sure how to begin the little sermon she wanted to preach .
Aunty Ca Daisy Jo Laurie Nat P.P.C. rapids trellis wood-work