Grandpa shook hands with him , and was about to drive on , when the man said , as if something made him , ' I was desperate when we met , and I meant to rob you , but you were so kind I could n't do it . God bless you , sir , for keeping me from it ! ' '' `` Did Grandpa ever see him again ? '' asked Daisy , eagerly . `` No ; but I believe the man found work , and did not try robbery any more . '' `` That was a curious way to treat him ; I 'd have knocked him down , '' said Dan . `` Kindness is always better than force . Try it and see , '' answered Mr. Bhaer , rising . `` Tell another , please , '' cried Daisy . `` You must , Aunt Jo did , '' added Demi . `` Then I certainly wo n't , but keep my others for next time . Too many tales are as bad as too many bonbons . I have paid my forfeit and I go , '' and Mr. Bhaer ran for his life , with the whole flock in full pursuit . He had the start , however , and escaped safely into his study , leaving the boys to go rioting back again . They were so stirred up by the race that they could not settle to their former quiet , and a lively game of Blindman 's Buff followed , in which Tommy showed that he had taken the moral of the last story to heart , for , when he caught Nan , he whispered in her ear , `` I 'm sorry I called you a cross-patch . '' Nan was not to be outdone in kindness , so , when they played `` Button , button , who 's got the button ? '' and it was her turn to go round , she said , `` Hold fast all I give you , '' with such a friendly smile at Tommy , that he was not surprised to find the horse-hair ring in his hand instead of the button . He only smiled back at her then , but when they were going to bed , he offered Nan the best bite of his last apple ; she saw the ring on his stumpy little finger , accepted the bite , and peace was declared . Both were ashamed of the temporary coldness , neither was ashamed to say , `` I was wrong , forgive me , '' so the childish friendship remained unbroken , and the home in the willow lasted long , a pleasant little castle in the air . CHAPTER XXI .
THANKSGIVING This yearly festival was always kept at Plumfield in the good old-fashioned XXXXX , and nothing was allowed to interfere with it .
Kindness Mr. button finger friendship game hands others ring way