`` We will plant self-denial , and hoe it and water it , and make it grow so well that next Christmas no one will get ill by eating too much dinner . If you exercise your mind , George , it will get hungry just as your body does , and you will love books almost as much as my philosopher here , '' said Mr. Bhaer ; adding , as he stroked the hair off Demi 's fine forehead , `` You are greedy also , my son , and you like to stuff your little mind full of fairy tales and fancies , as well as George likes to fill his little stomach with cake and candy . Both are bad , and I want you to try something better . Arithmetic is not half so pleasant as ` Arabian Nights , ' I know , but it is a very useful thing , and now is the time to learn it , else you will be ashamed and sorry by and by . '' `` But , ` Harry and Lucy , ' and ` Frank , ' are not fairy books , and they are all full of barometers , and bricks , and shoeing horses , and useful things , and I 'm fond of them ; ai n't I , Daisy ? '' said Demi , anxious to defend himself . `` So they are ; but I find you reading ` Roland and Maybird , ' a great deal oftener than ` Harry and Lucy , ' and I think you are not half so fond of ` Frank ' as you are of ` Sinbad . ' Come , I shall make a little bargain with you both , George shall eat but three times a day , and you shall read but one story-book a week , and I will give you the new cricket-ground ; only , you must promise to play in it , '' said Uncle Fritz , in his persuasive way , for Stuffy hated to run about , and Demi was always reading in play hours . `` But we do n't like cricket , '' said Demi . `` Perhaps not now , but you will when you know it . Besides , you do like to be generous , and the other boys want to play , and you can give them the new ground if you choose . '' This was taken them both on the right side , and they agreed to the bargain , to the great satisfaction of the rest . There was a little more talk about the gardens , and then they all sang together . The band delighted Nat , for Mrs. Bhaer played the piano , Franz the flute , Mr. Bhaer a bass viol , and he himself the violin . A very simple little concert , but all seemed to enjoy it , and old Asia , sitting in the corner , joined at times with the sweetest voice of any , for in this family , master and servant , old and young , black and white , shared in the Sunday song , which went up to the Father of them all . After this they each shook hands with Father Bhaer ; Mother Bhaer kissed them every one from sixteen-year-old Franz to little Rob , how kept the tip of her nose for his own particular kisses , and then they trooped up to bed . The light of the shaded lamp that burned in the nursery shone softly on a picture hanging at the foot of Nat 's bed . There were several others on the walls , but the boy thought there must be something peculiar about this one , for it had a graceful frame of moss and cones about it , and on a little bracket underneath stood a vase of wild flowers freshly gathered from the spring woods . It was the most beautiful picture of them all , and Nat lay looking at it , dimly feeling what it meant , and wishing he knew all about it . `` That 's my picture , '' said a little voice in the room .
Nat popped up his head , and there was Demi in his night-gown pausing on his XXXXX back from Aunt Jo 's chamber , whither he had gone to get a cot for a cut finger .
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