`` If Mr. Bhaer does not object you shall have it all your own way . I suppose Emil will growl , but he can not be trusted with horses , and you can . By the way , to-morrow is market-day , and I must make out my list . You had better see that the wagon is in order , and tell Silas to have the fruit and vegetables ready for mother . You will have to be up early and get back in time for school , can you do that ? '' `` I 'm always an early bird , so I do n't mind , '' and Dan slung on his jacket with despatch . `` The early bird got the worm this time , I 'm sure , '' said Mrs. Jo , merrily . `` And a jolly good worm it is , '' answered Dan , as he went laughing away to put a new lash to the whip , wash the wagon , and order Silas about with all the importance of a young express-man . `` Before he is tired of this I will find something else and have it ready when the next restless fit comes on , '' said Mrs. Jo to herself , as she wrote her list with a deep sense of gratitude that all her boys were not Dans . Mr. Bhaer did not entirely approve of the new plan , but agreed to give it a trial , which put Dan on his mettle , and caused him to give up certain wild plans of his own , in which the new lash and the long hill were to have borne a part . He was up and away very early the next morning , heroically resisting the temptation to race with the milkmen going into town . Once there , he did his errands carefully , to Mr. Bhaer 's surprise and Mrs. Jo 's great satisfaction . The Commodore did growl at Dan 's promotion , but was pacified by a superior padlock to his new boat-house , and the thought that seamen were meant for higher honors than driving market-wagons and doing family errands . So Dan filled his new office well and contentedly for weeks , and said no more about bolting . But one day Mr. Bhaer found him pummelling Jack , who was roaring for mercy under his knee . `` Why , Dan , I thought you had given up fighting , '' he said , as he went to the rescue . `` We ai n't fighting , we are only wrestling , '' answered Dan , leaving off reluctantly . `` It looks very much like it , and feels like it , hey , Jack ? '' said Mr. Bhaer , as the defeated gentleman got upon his legs with difficulty . `` Catch me wrestling with him again .
He 's most knocked my head off , '' snarled XXXXX , holding on to that portion of his frame as if it really was loose upon his shoulders .
Bhaer Dans Jack Jo boat-house errands express-man market-wagons milkmen weeks