Chapter 7 Here Comes Naughty Nan.
One day, when Dan had been gone for almost a month, Joe met Father Bear after school and said I have an idea.
Father Bear smiled.
Well, my dear, what is it?
Daisy needs a friend to play with.
You know that as well as I do, and I think the boys have been quite sad with Dan gone.
We need to find a new student.
The boys might be on better behavior if we have another girl around, so I think we should ask Nan Harding to stay.
Father Bear laughed and said, Naughty Nan?
Yes, Joe insisted.
She's been running wild since her mother passed away.
It would do the boys a world of good.
I know her father would like her to come to Plumfield.
I asked him the other day while I was in town.
Father Bear bent his head and considered his wife.
Joe continued.
I think it will be good for Daisy as well.
She's getting too prim and proper here by herself, and she'll help Nan not be so wild.
That does make sense, Father Bear agreed.
My only worry is that Nan will turn into another firecracker like Dan.
So, shall I tell Nan to come and stay?
Joe asked.
Of course, dear, of course.
The next day, Jo returned to Plumfield with more than her usual packages from town.
A small ten-year-old girl jumped down from the wagon and burst into the house shouting Hello Daisy.
Where are you?
Daisy came out to greet her guest.
I'm here to stay, Nan shouted.
Papa says I must, and your aunt came to carry me away and my box comes tomorrow.
And isn't it great fun.
Daisy nodded slowly and watched as Nan danced around her.
Daisy asked quietly, Did you bring your big doll?
Yes, she's around somewhere, and I even brought you this bracelet that I wove, just because I know we didn't part on the best of terms when I was here last.
But all that's going to change now that I'm here full time.
It's going to be grand.
Daisy thanked Nan for the friendship bracelet and Nan shouted Let's go see the boys out in the barn.
With that, Nan skipped off, swinging her hat with such might that it broke off from its strings and was left behind, where it landed in the grass.
Daisy followed reluctantly behind her.
"'Hello, boys!'
Nan shouted.
"'I'm gonna stay!'
The boys cheered as she came up to stand beside Tommy, who was sitting on the fence, trying very hard not to cry.
A ball and bat were on the grass beneath his feet.
Nan shoved him a little on the shoulder.
"'Come on, I'll play.
I can hit the ball pretty far, and it's a nice day for it.
What's wrong with you?'
"'We're not playing anymore.
The ball hurt my hand,' Tommy sniffed.
"'I don't cry about anything.
It's babyish,' Nan said.
Tommy sniffed again and said, "'Go and pick a bunch of nettles, then, if you're so strong.'
I will, Nan said as she stomped over to a nettle plant, grabbed it and held on for dear life, regardless of the sting.
Poo, you're just used to it, Tommy said.
Now, go and run your head into the barn, then you'll cry.
Nan did just that, and her head hit the barn with such a crack that Tommy thought for sure she would cry.
But when Nan stood back up, her face was dry.
The boys just stood and stared.
They didn't know whether to be shocked or impressed, for who runs their head into a barn?
I don't mind much because I ain't a little girl, and it didn't hurt much.
Nan pressed her hand to her forehead where a terrible bruise had already started to form.
Just then the dinner bell rang, and all the children trooped back to the house.
When Father Bear asked for Nan's hand so he could say grace, she told him that it hurt too much.
Before long, the whole story of the nettles in the barn came out.
Father Bear looked to his wife with a smile in his eyes and said Perhaps this is one for you to handle.
Joe smiled at the boys and said, Do you know why I asked Nan to come to school here?
To torture me, Tommy said.
No, to help make little gentlemen out of you.
I think you've shown that you do need it after all.
Tommy bent his head down over his plate as Demi shouted.
How can she help us?
She's such a tomboy.
Joe answered, that's just it.
She needs as much help as you do.
Will she become a gentleman too?
Joe's son Rob asked.
Tommy laughed and said, you'd like that, wouldn't you, Nan?
Nan's hand and head hurt, and for a moment she thought she should have shown her courage in other ways.
No, I wouldn't.
I hate boys.
Joe laughed.
Well, I'm sorry if you do hate them, but they are usually well-mannered and most agreeable and treat everyone kindly.
She looked right at Nan and continued.
They've all learned the lesson that you treat other people the way you wish to be treated yourself.
For the rest of dinner, the boys took Joe's hint and were on their best behavior.
Nan kept to herself, even though she desperately wanted to tickle Demi for teasing her.
The next morning, Nan could not sit still.
She wanted to know when her box was going to arrive.
Jo said that it should get there at some point during the day, but that wasn't enough for Nan.
She paced back and forth, fretting and fuming until after lunch, when she disappeared.
I'll bet she's run off home, Jo said.
She was going on about her luggage all day, Franz replied.
Maybe she's gone to the station.
Jo shook her head.
Oh, the foolish girl.
The box would be far too heavy for her to carry, and she doesn't even know the way.
The entire house was about to set off in search of Nan when Franz shouted, Here she comes.
And indeed there was Nan tugging her giant box behind her and kicking up all kinds of dust along the way.
Father Bear helped her with the last few steps and placed the box on the porch by the front door.
Nan sat down, folded her arms, and said, I couldn't wait any longer, so I went to get it.
But you didn't know the way, Tommy said.
Oh, I found it, Nan replied.
I never get lost.
She wiped her dusty forehead with her sleeve and sat there looking at everyone.
How could you go so far by yourself?
Tommy asked, amazed.
And all the way back carrying that box.
I did think my arms would break.
I don't see how the station master let you have it, Franz insisted.
I didn't say anything to him, Nan said.
I just took it off the platform.
He didn't see me because he was in the ticket booth.
Father Bear asked Franz to run down to the station and tell the old station master what had happened before he thought the box was stolen.
Joe wiped Nan's dusty face and told her never to run away again.
To this, Nan replied, I can't promise.
My papa has always told me not to put off doing things, and so I don't.
The boys had great fun at dinner, listening to the story of Nan's adventure.
On the way back to Plumfield.
A big dog had barked at her, a man had laughed at her, a woman had given her a donut and her hat had fallen into a brook when she had stopped for a drink.
Once all the children had settled into bed for the night, Father Bear said to Jo, It seems like you might have your hands full with Tommy and Nan.
Jo laughed.
I know it will take some time for her to learn new ways, but she has such a good heart.
The next day, Nan only proved Jo right as she opened up her box and shared her belongings with all the children.
Soon it was as if Plumfield had never existed without her, nor been so lively.
