Chapter 6 Another New Boy Jo, was sitting in her parlor with a book when Nat came to see her one afternoon.
His was the fifth head to pop in that afternoon, but Jo didn't mind the interruptions.
The boy stepped inside, shut the door behind him, and said, Dan has come.
Jo set her book down and asked, Who's Dan?
He's a boy I used to know when I fiddled on the streets, Nat answered.
He sold papers and was kind to me, and I saw him the other day in town.
I told him how nice it is here, and he's come.
Joe looked startled for a moment.
But dear me, it's a very sudden way to pay a visit.
Oh, he hasn't come for a visit, Nat answered.
He's come to stay.
Joe explained that he couldn't possibly stay, as they had no room for even one more boy.
But when she came to the end of her speech, Nat looked so upset with himself for making a mistake that Joe sat him down on the stool beside her chair.
Now, tell me about this Dan, she said.
All I know is that he doesn't have any folks and he's poor, and he was good to me when we were on the streets, so I'd like to be good to him if I can.
Joe said, excellent reasons, every one.
But really, we have so many boys at Plumfield that I wouldn't even know where to put him.
He could stay in my bed, and I'll sleep in the barn, Nat offered.
It's not that cold, and I used to sleep anywhere with Father.
Something in his face made Joe put her hand on his shoulder and say kindly, bring in your friend Nat.
I think we must find room for him, but you will not be sleeping in the barn.
Nat raced off to find the lad.
When they came back in, Jo knew instantly that she did not trust him.
Nat says that you would like to come and stay with us, she said.
A rough-looking Dan mumbled.
Yes.
Have you no friends to take care of you?
No, he said in a gruff voice.
How old are you?
Jo asked.
Fourteen.
Nat whispered.
You should say ma'am.
Shant neither, Dan hissed back.
Joe pretended not to hear them.
Has Nat told you that in order to stay here, you'll need to work and study hard?
Are you willing?
Don't mind trying, Dan said.
Well, I suppose you can stay for a few days and we'll see how it goes.
Nat smiled.
Take him outside and introduce him to all the boys until Father Bear comes home, and then we'll settle the matter, Joe said.
Come on, Nat, said a scowling Dan as they left the room.
Thank you, ma'am, Nat said.
When they were outside, he added, we're setting up a circus in the barn if you want to come and see.
Dan shrugged his shoulders and mumbled, sure.
When they arrived, the circus was almost complete.
The boys had set up a large circle of hay in the middle of the floor.
Nat introduced Dan to everyone, and the pair sat down to watch the show.
Tommy pranced around the inside of the circle atop poor old Toby, who neighed the entire time.
Demi was the circus master and carried a large whip, while two of the other boys wrestled in the center.
To end the performance, Tommy did a somersault, which he had practiced until he was black and blue.
Dan said, that ain't anything.
Tommy stood before him and shouted, say that again, will ya?
Dan held up his fists.
Do you want to fight about it?
No, I don't, Tommy said, and stepped away.
One of the other boys shouted, fighting isn't allowed, so stop that now.
You're a bunch of silly boys, Dan replied.
Nat stepped forward and put a hand on his friend's shoulder.
Come on, if you don't behave, Mother Jo won't let you stay.
I'd just like to see him do the somersault better than I can, that's all, Tommy insisted.
Dan sneered.
Fine.
Before Tommy could say another word, Dan turned three somersaults in a row and then walked on his hands.
When he stood back up and impressed Tommy, asked, you teach me to do that?
What will you give me?
Dan replied.
Tommy told Dan that he had a good pocket knife, which he handed over.
Ha, when you learn, I'll give it back.
Outraged, the boys protested so much at Dan's bad behavior that he ended up handing Tommy's knife back to him before Nat pulled him outside.
No one ever knew what passed between the two of them, but when they returned, Dan was nicer to all the boys.
Still, he was rough in his manners and almost impossible to control.
Tommy pushed hard and the two became close over the issue of somersaults, but the rest of the boys simply did not like Dan.
Of everyone.
It was because little Teddy took such a liking to Dan that Jo became determined to find the good in the boy.
Even though she lost her patience with him day after day, Jo never gave up.
She saw Dan with Teddy and knew he had a softer side.
Dan thought the rule about fighting was silly and as the weeks went on he often teased the boys about it.
One day he gathered everyone behind the barn and began to teach them how to box.
Dan was fighting with one of the older boys when Father Bear found them.
He plucked them apart with a strong hand and said, I can't allow this, boys.
Stop it at once and never let me see it again.
We keep a school for boys, not for animals.
Let me at him.
I'll knock him down again, Dan shouted as Father Bear held tight to his collar.
They're playing gladi-somethings, Uncle Bear, Demi said.
Gladiators.
They were a fine set of brutes that had no choice but to fight, Father Bear said.
And you'll not turn my barn into the Roman Colosseum where they fought.
Whose idea was it to do battle?
Several voices answered.
Dan's?
Father Bear turned to the boy and asked.
Why did you break the rules?
They'll all be ninnies if they don't learn how to fight, Dan replied.
Father Bear pulled the two boys in close so that they could see exactly what they had done to one another.
Dan had a black eye and his jacket had been torn to rags.
The other boy's face was covered in blood from a cut lip and he had a bruised nose and a big bump on his forehead that was already as purple as a plum.
You both look like fine ninnies right now, Father Bear said, and then he sent all the boys up to their room so they could think about what they had done.
Before he let Dan go, he spoke to him at length about why it was important to obey the rules.
When they came back inside, Father Bear believed the boy had finally learned his lesson.
But less than a week later, Dan found himself in trouble again.
This time he had encouraged the boys to play bullfights.
They teased the old cow Buttercup by riding Toby around and around her.
When she became tired and angry with their teasing Buttercup, broke the fence and charged away to hide in the flower beds.
Even though they got her back in the pen and no real damage was done to old, poor Toby, Father Bear grew angry when he learned of the incident.
The longer Dan sat on his bed awaiting his punishment, the more he thought about how much he wanted to stay at Plumfield.
Being grateful had never been easy for him, and now he felt he had made one mistake too many.
Finally, Father Bear came in and said I have heard all about it Dan, and even though you have broken the rules again, we are going to give you one more chance.
I didn't know there was any rule about pretend bullfighting, Dan said.
Father Bear answered patiently.
I shouldn't have thought that I would have to make a rule.
You are always so kind to animals.
You should have known that using them for play would turn out this way.
You have disappointed us by treating those creatures so poorly, but shall we try one more time to be good.
Dan looked at the floor and said quietly, Yes, please.
Good.
Tomorrow you will stay back from the walk with the other boys and take care of Buttercup until she is well again.
Dan did his best to be good for the next few days, but he just couldn't help himself.
One day Father Bear was called into town for business, and their lessons were canceled.
The boys were excited about a day spent outside playing, and they were wound up until well after lunch.
Mother Jo was tied up with Teddy, who had a bad cough, so the boys were on their own.
Dan decided to teach them how to play cards.
There was so much excitement around the game that when a small fight broke out, no one noticed the old lantern fall to the floor and set the curtains on fire.
The blaze spread so quickly that they barely had time to call fire, fire.
Franz smelled the smoke and burst into the room, pulling the boys out as quickly as possible.
Asia tended to the burns while the uninjured boys worked hard to stop the flames from spreading.
By the end of it all, Demi had a small burn on his back and Tommy had lost most of his hair and burned his arm terribly.
The pain made him miserable, and Joe looked after him for most of the night.
There were no lessons again the next day, and the boys spent much of the morning putting the house back together.
Burned curtains were replaced, and new beds were made.
When Father Bear finally set the boys down to find out what had happened, he found that all but Dan were willing to apologize.
Father Bear could not believe the boys were up to so much mischief.
I think Tommy has learned his lesson, and Nat's been scared enough.
But you, Dan, we've forgiven you time and time again.
Asia will pack your things into my old black bag and will take you away to Mr Page's school far out in the country.
Will he ever come back, Uncle Bear?
Demi asked.
That will depend on him.
I hope so.
If he improves and Mr. Page decides he can return to Plumfield, Father Bear answered.
With that, he left the room to write a letter to the other school.
The boys crowded around poor Dan.
I wonder if you'll like it, Nat said.
Can't stay if I don't, Dan answered.
Oh, don't be that way, Nat pleaded.
Where would you go?
Anywhere, really.
California, maybe, or to the sea.
I don't care where I go or how long I stay because I'm never coming back here.
That's something I know for sure.
Dan left the room then to pack up the rest of his things, all of which had been given to him by the boys Father Bear and Mother Jo.
Dan's outburst was the only goodbye he gave the boys, for when they came downstairs he was already gone.
Joe had allowed Dan one last moment to say goodbye to his precious teddy, and that was it.
His pride would not let him ask for one last chance, even though his heart called out for it.
And Dan left Plumfield with a hard look on his face.
The boys rejoiced when a letter arrived from Mr Page a few days later saying that the boy was doing well.
But then, with the next letter, they learned that he had run away.
After lights out, Father Bear said to Joe quietly, Perhaps we should have given him one last chance.
Don't fret, dear.
The boy will come back to us.
I'm sure of it.
But Joe's heart was heavy as she fell asleep that night, wishing that Dan would come back to them sooner rather than later.
Plumfield just wasn't the same without him.
