`` N.B. Father is going to give me a watch on my birthday . I am glad as at present I have no means of telling time , and am often late at school . `` P.S. ? I hope to see you soon . Do n't you wish to send for me ? `` T. B. B. '' As each postscript was received with a fresh laugh from the boys , by the time he came to the sixth and last , Tommy was so exhausted that he was glad to sit down and wipe his ruddy face . `` I hope the dear old lady will live through it , '' said Mr. Bhaer , under cover of the noise . `` We wo n't take any notice of the broad hint given in that last P.S. . The letter will be quite as much as she can bear without a visit from Tommy , '' answered Mrs. Jo , remembering that the old lady usually took to her bed after a visitation from her irrepressible grandson . `` Now , me , '' said Teddy , who had learned a bit of poetry , and was so eager to say it that he had been bobbing up and down during the reading , and could no longer be restrained . `` I 'm afraid he will forget it if he waits ; and I have had a deal of trouble teaching him , '' said his mother . Teddy trotted to the rostrum , dropped a curtsey and nodded his head at the same time , as if anxious to suit every one ; then , in his baby voice , and putting the emphasis on the wrong words , he said his verse all in one breath : `` Little drops of water , Little drains of sand , Mate a might okum -LRB- ocean -RRB- , And a peasant land . `` Little words of kindness , Pokin evvy day , Make a home a hebbin , And hep us on a way . '' Clapping his hands at the end , he made another double salutation , and then ran to hide his head in his mother 's lap , quite overcome by the success of his `` piece , '' for the applause was tremendous . Dick and Dolly did not write , but were encouraged to observe the habits of animals and insects , and report what they saw . Dick liked this , and always had a great deal to say ; so , when his name was called , he marched up , and , looking at the audience with his bright confiding eyes , told his little story so earnestly that no one smiled at his crooked body , because the `` straight soul '' shone through it beautifully . `` I 've been watching dragonflies , and I read about them in Dan 's book , and I 'll try and tell you what I remember . There 's lots of them flying round on the pond , all blue , with big eyes , and sort of lace wings , very pretty . I caught one , and looked at him , and I think he was the handsomest insect I ever saw . They catch littler creatures than they are to eat , and have a queer kind of hook thing that folds up when they ai n't hunting .
It likes the sunshine , and dances round all XXXXX .
Bhaer Dick Father Teddy Tommy curtsey day dragonflies hebbin hep