“Let him come; I’ll take care of him.”
“If Franz was going I wouldn’t mind, for he is very careful; but he is haying with the father, and I’m not sure about the rest of you,” began Mrs. Bhaer.
“It’s so far,” put in Jack.
“I’d carry him if I was going—wish I was,” said Dan, with a sigh.
“Thank you, dear, but you must take care of your foot. I wish I could go. Stop a minute, I think I can manage it after all;” and Mrs. Bhaer ran out to the steps, waving her apron wildly.
Silas was just driving away in the hay-cart, but turned back, and agreed at once, when Mrs. Jo proposed that he should take the whole party to the pasture, and go for them at five o’clock.
“It will delay your work a little, but never mind; we will pay you in huckleberry pies,” said Mrs. Jo, knowing Silas’s weak point.
His rough, brown face brightened up, and he said, with a cheery “Haw! haw!”—“Wal now, Mis’ Bhaer, if you go to bribin’ of me, I shall give in right away.”
“Now, boys, I have arranged it so that you can all go,” said Mrs. Bhaer, running back again, much relieved, for she loved to make them happy, and always felt miserable when she had disturbed the serenity of her little sons; for she believed that the small hopes and plans and pleasures of children should be tenderly respected by grown-up people, and never rudely thwarted or ridiculed.
“Can I go?” said Dan, delighted.