Theseweretheboysandtheylivedtogetherashappyastwelveladscould，studyingandplaying，workingandsquabbling，fightingfaultsandcultivatingvirtuesinthegoodold-fashionedway。Boysatotherschoolsprobablylearnedmorefrombooks，butlessofthatbetterwisdomwhichmakesgoodmen。Latin，Greek，andmathematicswereallverywell，butinProfessorBhaer’sopinion，selfknowledge，self-help，andself-controlweremoreimportant，andhetriedtoteachthemcarefully。Peopleshooktheirheadssometimesathisideas，evenwhiletheyownedthattheboysimprovedwonderfullyinmannersandmorals。Butthen，asMrs。JosaidtoNat，“itwasanoddschool。“CHAPTERIIISUNDAY
ThemomentthebellrangnextmorningNatflewoutofbed，anddressedhimselfwithgreatsatisfactioninthesuitofclotheshefoundonthechair。Theywerenotnew，beinghalf-worngarmentsofoneofthewell-to-doboys；butMrs。Bhaerkeptallsuchcast-offfeathersforthepickedrobinswhostrayedintohernest。TheywerehardlyonwhenTommyappearedinahighstateofcleancollar，andescortedNatdowntobreakfast。
Thesunwasshiningintothedining-roomonthewell-spreadtable，andtheflockofhungry，heartyladswhogatheredroundit。Natobservedthattheyweremuchmoreorderlythantheyhadbeenthenightbefore，andeveryonestoodsilentlybehindhischairwhilelittleRob，standingbesidehisfatherattheheadofthetable，foldedhishands，reverentlybenthiscurlyhead，andsoftlyrepeatedashortgraceinthedevoutGermanfashion，whichMr。Bhaerlovedandtaughthislittlesontohonor。ThentheyallsatdowntoenjoytheSunday-morningbreakfastofcoffee，steak，andbakedpotatoes，insteadofthebreadandmilkfarewithwhichtheyusuallysatisfiedtheiryoungappetites。Therewasmuchpleasanttalkwhiletheknivesandforksrattledbriskly，forcertainSundaylessonsweretobelearned，theSundaywalksettled，andplansfortheweekdiscussed。Ashelistened，Natthoughtitseemedasifthisdaymustbeaverypleasantone，forhelovedquiet，andtherewasacheerfulsortofhushovereverythingthatpleasedhimverymuch；because，inspiteofhisroughlife，theboypossessedthesensitivenerveswhichbelongtoamusic-lovingnature。
“Now，mylads，getyourmorningjobsdone，andletmefindyoureadyforchurchwhenthe’buscomesround，“saidFatherBhaer，andsettheexamplebygoingintotheschool-roomtogetbooksreadyforthemorrow。
Everyonescatteredtohisorhertask，foreachhadsomelittledailyduty，andwasexpectedtoperformitfaithfully。Somebroughtwoodandwater，brushedthesteps，orranerrandsforMrs。Bhaer。Othersfedthepetanimals，anddidchoresaboutthebarnwithFranz。Daisywashedthecups，andDemiwipedthem，forthetwinslikedtoworktogether，andDemihadbeentaughttomakehimselfusefulinthelittlehouseathome。EvenBabyTeddyhadhissmalljobtodo，andtrottedtoandfro，puttingnapkinsaway，andpushingchairsintotheirplaces。Forhalfandhourtheladsbuzzedaboutlikeahiveofbees，thenthe’busdroveround，FatherBhaerandFranzwiththeeightolderboyspiledin，andawaytheywentforathree-miledrivetochurchintown。