onwhichoccasionsNatfelthimselftranslatedintotheseventhheavenofbliss，forhewenttoMr。Laurence’sgreathouse，sawhisprettywifeandlittlefairyofadaughter，hadagooddinner，andwasmadesocomfortable，thathetalkedanddreamedofitfordaysandnightsafterward。
Ittakessolittletomakeachildhappythatitisapity，inaworldsofullofsunshineandpleasantthings，thatthereshouldbeanywistfulfaces，emptyhands，orlonelylittlehearts。Feelingthis，theBhaersgatheredupallthecrumbstheycouldfindtofeedtheirflockofhungrysparrows，fortheywerenotrich，exceptincharity。ManyofMrs。Jo’sfriendswhohadnurseriessenthertheytoysofwhichtheirchildrensosoontired，andinmendingtheseNatfoundanemploymentthatjustsuitedhim。Hewasveryneatandskillfulwiththoseslenderfingersofhis，andpassedmanyarainyafternoonwithhisgum-bottle，paint-box，andknife，repairingfurniture，animals，andgames，whileDaisywasdressmakertothedilapidateddolls。Asfastasthetoysweremended，theywereputcarefullyawayinacertaindrawerwhichwastofurnishforthaChristmas-treeforallthepoorchildrenoftheneighborhood，thatbeingthewaythePlumfieldboyscelebratedthebirthdayofHimwholovedthepoorandblessedthelittleones。
Demiwasnevertiredofreadingandexplaininghisfavoritebooks，andmanyapleasanthourdidtheyspendintheoldwillow，revellingover“RobinsonCrusoe，““ArabianNights，““Edgeworth’sTales，“andtheotherdearimmortalstoriesthatwilldelightchildrenforcenturiestocome。ThisopenedanewworldtoNat，andhiseagernesstoseewhatcamenextinthestoryhelpedhimontillhecouldreadaswellasanybody，andfeltsorichandproudwithhisnewaccomplishment，thattherewasdangerofhisbeingasmuchofabookwormasDemi。
Anotherhelpfulthinghappenedinamostunexpectedandagreeablemanner。
Severaloftheboyswere“inbusiness，“astheycalledit，formostofthemwerepoor，andknowingthattheywouldhavetheirownwaytomakebyandby，theBhaersencouragedanyeffortsatindependence。Tommysoldhiseggs；Jackspeculatedinlivestock；Franzhelpedintheteaching，andwaspaidforit；Nedhadatasteforcarpentry，andaturning-lathewassetupforhiminwhichheturnedallsortsofusefulorprettythings，andsoldthem；whileDemiconstructedwater-mills，whirligigs，andunknownmachinesofanintricateanduselessnature，anddisposedofthemtotheboys。