Маленькие мужчины / Little men. Уровень 4

Nat tried his very best, and found much help from the earnest little prayers he prayed to his Friend in heaven.

A Trouble-Maker

“Please, ma’am, could I speak to you? It is something very important,” said Nat one day, popping his head in at the door of Mrs. Bhaer’s room.

Mrs. Jo looked up and said, briskly,

“What is it, my lad?”

Nat came in, shut the door carefully behind him, and said in an eager, anxious tone,

“Dan has come.”

“Who is Dan?”

“He’s a boy I used to know when I fiddled round the streets.

He sold papers, and he was kind to me, and I saw him the other day in town, and told him how nice it was here, and he’s come.”

“But, my dear boy, that is rather a sudden visit.”

“Oh, it isn’t a visit; he wants to stay if you let him!” said Nat innocently.

“Well, I don’t know about that,” began Mrs. Bhaer, rather startled by the coolness of the proposition.

“Why, I thought you liked to have poor boys come and live with you, and be kind to them as you were to me,” said Nat, looking surprised and alarmed.

“So I do, but I like to know something about them first. I choose them, because there are so many. I have not room for all.”

“I told him to come because I thought you’d like it. But if there isn’t room he can go away again,” said Nat, sorrowfully.

The boy’s confidence in her hospitality touched Mrs. Bhaer, so she said,

“Tell me about this Dan.”

“I don’t know anything, only he hasn’t got any folks, and he’s poor, and he was good to me, so I’d like to be good to him.

”

“But really, Nat, the house is full,” said Mrs. Bhaer.

“He may have my bed, and I can sleep in the barn. It isn’t cold now, and I don’t mind, I used to sleep anywhere with father,” said Nat, eagerly.

Something in his speech and face made Mrs. Jo put her hand on his shoulder, and say in her kindest tone:

“Bring in your friend[11 - Bring in your friend. – Приводи своего друга.

], Nat. I think we will find room for him without giving him your place.”

Nat joyfully ran off, and soon returned followed by a boy, who slouched in and stood looking about him, with a half bold, half sullen look.

“This is Dan,” said Nat.

“Nat tells me you will like to come and stay with us,” began Mrs. Jo, in a friendly tone.

“Yes,” was the gruff reply.

“Have you any friends to take care of you?”

“No.