piraticalgentleman，androaroutsanguinarysea-songsatthetopofhisvoice。Hewoulddancenothingbutsailors’hornpipes，rolledinhisgait，andwasasnauticalinconversationtohisunclewouldpermit。Theboyscalledhim“Commodore，“andtookgreatprideinhisfleet，whichwhitenedthepondandsuffereddisastersthatwouldhavedauntedanycommanderbutasea-struckboy。
Demiwasoneofthechildrenwhoshowplainlytheeffectofintelligentloveandcare，forsoulandbodyworkedharmoniouslytogether。Thenaturalrefinementwhichnothingbuthomeinfluencecanteach，gavehimsweetandsimplemanners：hismotherhadcherishedaninnocentandlovingheartinhim；hisfatherhadwatchedoverthephysicalgrowthofhisboy，andkeptthelittlebodystraightandstrongonwholesomefoodandexerciseandsleep，whileGrandpaMarchcultivatedthelittlemindwiththetenderwisdomofamodernPythagoras，­；nottaskingitwithlong，hardlessons，parrot-learned，buthelpingittounfoldasnaturallyandbeautifullyassunanddewhelprosesbloom。Hewasnotaperfectchild，byanymeans，buthisfaultswereofthebettersort；andbeingearlytaughtthesecretofself-control，hewasnotleftatthemercyofappetitesandpassions，assomepoorlittlemortalsare，andthenpunishedforyieldingtothetemptationsagainstwhichtheyhavenoarmor。Aquiet，quaintboywasDemi，serious，yetcheery，quiteunconsciousthathewasunusuallybrightandbeautiful，yetquicktoseeandloveintelligenceorbeautyinotherchildren。Veryfondofbooks，andfulloflivelyfancies，bornofastrongimaginationandaspiritualnature，thesetraitsmadehisparentsanxioustobalancethemwithusefulknowledgeandhealthfulsociety，lesttheyshouldmakehimoneofthosepaleprecociouschildrenwhoamazeanddelightafamilysometimes，andfadeawaylikehot-houseflowers，becausetheyoungsoulbloomstoosoon，andhasnotaheartybodytorootitfirmlyinthewholesomesoilofthisworld。
SoDemiwastransplantedtoPlumfield，andtooksokindlytothelifethere，thatMegandJohnandGrandpafeltsatisfiedthattheyhaddonewell。Mixingwithotherboysbroughtoutthepracticalsideofhim，rousedhisspirit，andbrushedawaytheprettycobwebshewassofondofspinninginthatlittlebrainofhis。Tobesure，herathershockedhismotherwhenhecamehome，bybangingdoors，saying“byGeorge“emphatically，anddemandingtallthickboots“thatclumpedlikepapa’s。“ButJohnrejoicedoverhim，laughedathisexplosiveremarks，gottheboots，andsaidcontentedly，“Heisdoingwell；solethimclump。Iwantmysontobeamanlyboy，andthistemporaryroughnesswon’thurthim。Wecanpolishhimupbyandby；andasforlearning，hewillpickthatupaspigeonsdopeas。Sodon’thurryhim。“
Daisywasassunshinyandcharmingasever，withallsortsofwomanlinessesbuddinginher，forshewaslikehergentlemother，anddelightedindomesticthings。Shehadafamilyofdolls，whomshebroughtupinthemostexemplarymanner；shecouldnotgetonwithoutherlittlework-basketandbitsofsewing，whichshedidsonicely，thatDemifrequentlypulledouthishandkerchiefdisplayherneatstitches，andBabyJosyhadaflannelpetticoatbeautifullymadebySisterDaisy。Sheliketoquiddleaboutthechina-closet，preparethesalt-cellars，putthespoonsstraightonthetable；andeverydaywentroundtheparlorwithherbrush，dustingchairsandtables。Demicalledhera“Betty，“butwasverygladtohaveherkeephisthingsinorder，lendhimhernimblefingersinallsortsofwork，andhelphimwithhislessons，fortheykeptabreastthere，andhadnothoughtofrivalry。
Thelovebetweenthemwasasstrongasever；andnoonecouldlaughDemioutofhisaffectionatewayswithDaisy。Hefoughtherbattlesvaliantly，andnevercouldunderstandwhyboysshouldbeashamedtosay“rightout，“