I get snubbed ; but you wait till I grow up , and then see ' ; and Ted looked so like his own long-legged pet that everyone laughed at his modest prediction . ' I want to see Dan settled somewhere . `` A rolling stone gathers no moss '' , and at twenty-five he is still roaming about the world without a tie to hold him , except this ' ; and Mrs Meg nodded towards her sister . ` Dan will find his place at last , and experience is his best teacher . He is rough still , but each time he comes home I see a change for the better , and never lose my faith in him . He may never do anything great , or get rich ; but if the wild boy makes an honest man , I 'm satisfied , ' said Mrs Jo , who always defended the black sheep of her flock . ` That 's right , mother , stand by Dan ! He 's worth a dozen Jacks and Neds bragging about money and trying to be swells . You see if he does n't do something to be proud of and take the wind out of their sails , ' added Ted , whose love for his ` Danny ' was now strengthened by a boy 's admiration for the bold , adventurous man . ` Hope so , I 'm sure . He 's just the fellow to do rash things and come to glory -- climbing the Matterhorn , taking a `` header '' into Niagara , or finding a big nugget . That 's his way of sowing wild oats , and perhaps it 's better than ours , ' said Tom thoughtfully ; for he had gained a good deal of experience in that sort of agriculture since he became a medical student . ` Much better ! ' said Mrs Jo emphatically . ` I 'd rather send my boys off to see the world in that way than leave them alone in a city full of temptations , with nothing to do but waste time , money , and health , as so many are left . Dan has to work his way , and that teaches him courage , patience , and self-reliance . I do n't worry about him as much as I do about George and Dolly at college , no more fit than two babies to take care of themselves . ' ` How about John ? He 's knocking round town as a newspaper man , reporting all sorts of things , from sermons to prize-fights , ' asked Tom , who thought that sort of life would be much more to his own taste than medical lectures and hospital wards . ` Demi has three safeguards -- good principles , refined tastes , and a wise mother .
He wo n't come to harm , and these experiences will be useful to him when he begins to write , as I 'm sure he will in XXXXX , ' began Mrs Jo in her prophetic tone ; for she was anxious to have some of her geese turn out swans .
Hope boys college everyone faith fit health principles swells time