Little Men. Life at Plumfield with Jo's Boys

There was a great clashing of tin pails, much running to and fro, and frequent demands for something to eat, one August afternoon, for the boys were going huckleberrying, and made as much stir about it as if they were setting out to find the North-West Passage. “Now, my lads, get off as quietly as you can, for Rob is safely out of the way, and won’t see you,” said Mrs. Bhaer, as she tied Daisy’s broad-brimmed hat, and settled the great blue pinafore in which she had enveloped Nan. But the plan did not succeed, for Rob had heard the bustle, decided to go, and prepared himself, without a thought of disappointment. The troop was just getting under way when the little man came marching down-stairs with his best hat on, a bright tin pail in his hand, and a face beaming with satisfaction. “Oh, dear! now we shall have a scene,” sighed Mrs. Bhaer, who found her eldest son very hard to manage at times. “I’m all ready,” said Rob, and took his place in the ranks with such perfect unconsciousness of his mistake, that it really was very hard to undeceive him. “It’s too far for you, my love; stay and take care of me, for I shall be all alone,” began his mother. “You’ve got Teddy. I’m a big boy, so I can go; you said I might when I was bigger, and I am now,” persisted Rob, with a cloud beginning to dim the brightness of his happy face.