Little Men

The narrator gives some background to each of the students who live at Plumfield School. Franz, Mrs. Jo’s nephew, is a German 16-year-old raised to be kind and respectful. Emil, whom the boys call Commodore, is a wild and adventurous boy who is preparing to become a sailor. Demi John, the Bhaers’ nephew, is good-looking and intelligent but remains humble about his appearance and talents. Demi was sent to Plumfield so the society of other children could toughen him up and foster practicality to counter his strong imagination. He is protective and loving to his female twin, Daisy. She’s gentle and sweet and likes to play with dolls and do domestic tasks.

Rob, Mrs. Jo’s son, is a restless and chatty boy who manages to stay out of trouble despite his high energy. Teddy is the youngest, an affectionate child who stays close to Mrs. Jo. Adolphus, or Dolly, is a dutiful boy who has a stutter. Dick is a cheerful boy with a humpback and a good sense of humor. Jack is clever but greedy; Ned is naive and clumsy; George is sallow and lazy. Billy is an intelligent boy who has suffered a nervous breakdown from his father’s rigorous academic program, and now has learning challenges, so Mr. Bhaer asks the boys treat Billy with kindness. Tommy is a sweet but mischievous boy who causes trouble by playing pranks around the school and often injures himself in the process.

The relationships between the boys are essential to their learning. Mr. Bhaer emphasizes that the practical curriculum includes “self-knowledge, self-help, and self-control” (24), which they are taught to practice with each other.

Nat wakes up and has a hearty breakfast with the other boys. He learns that on Sundays, each boy performs a particular set of chores in the morning according to their age and ability. Then the older boys attend church in town. Nat, because of his illness, stays at Plumfield with the younger children. Aunt Jo shows Nat her “Sunday closet” in which she keeps a “conscience book” (27) in which she records each boy’s actions during the week. She explains that whether their actions are good or bad, she will help each boy improve his behavior and willingness to do good. She loves all the boys and hopes to nurture care and softness in them. Nat is touched and wishes to please her.

In the afternoon, all the children go on a walk outside for exercise and to appreciate the beauty of the natural world, which they are taught God has created. Too weak for a long walk, Nat stays home with Tommy, who shows him the boys' collection of animals in the barn, which they call their menagerie. There, Nat discovers farm animals, rodents, amphibians, and birds. Jack even has a worm farm for fish bait that he sells to the other boys. Crestfallen that he can’t afford an animal, Nat strikes a deal to work as an egg hunter for Tommy to save up to get his own pets.

That evening, Mr. Bhaer tells the boys an allegorical tale about gardening from which they must learn a lesson. They are each asked to choose a personal quality they want to nurture within themselves like a crop in a garden. Before bed, Demi tells Nat the story of Jesus Christ, whom Nat has never heard of before. Mrs. Jo reflects that Nat is already improving after one day of kindness and nurturing.

Nat is ashamed that he is uneducated and illiterate, and behind the other boys academically. Mr. Bhaer comforts him by reminding Nat that his difficult childhood has given him qualities the other boys lack, such as his even temperament and a desire to learn. The other boys promise to help Nat with his studies, and they all admire his skill on the violin. Demi reads to him, and Nat eventually becomes an avid reader. Because his illness precludes him from studying full time, Nat spends much of his time working in the garden. He also has a talent for carpentry and is given a lathe to make small wooden pieces to sell. In the summer, he plays his violin for picnickers to earn money to help improve his circumstances. Mr. Bhaer supports his endeavors but warns him to only accept work in places that are morally upright, so as not to be tempted to sin.

Nat’s worst character default is that he tells lies to protect himself, which he learned to do out of fear of his father’s temper. Mr. Bhaer decides that if Nat is caught lying, Nat will be forced to cane Mr. Bhaer for his sins, rather than receive the punishment himself. When Nat lies again, Mr. Bhaer demands that Nat strike him six times on the hand. Afterward, Nat holds Mr. Bhaer’s hand and cries, determined not to lie again, and remembers this lesson every time he holds Mr. Bhaer’s hand.

Daisy complains that she is not allowed to play football with the boys—she is tired of sewing and playing with dolls. She asks Mrs. Jo to make ginger snaps in the kitchen with Asia, the cook. Mrs. Jo promises to get Daisy a new toy to play with, but when they go to town, she secretly procures the pieces to build Daisy her own small cooking stove and mini kitchen to cook real food for her dolls and the other students.

When the surprise is revealed, Daisy is overjoyed. She wants to play immediately, so Mrs. Jo helps her cook her first meal for her dolls and Tommy. Daisy is sent to the kitchen to get ingredients from Asia, and the dog Kit acts as the butcher boy, delivering small steaks for Daisy to cook. Daisy wants to invite her twin brother Demi to her tea party to cook for him and offers to cook for the other boys as well. Mrs. Jo decides that Daisy’s cooking will be a good behavior treat for the boys. When the boys discover Daisy’s new “Patty Pans” playset, they want to use the stove to melt things or as a steam engine. Mrs. Jo declares that the boys cannot use Daisy’s cooking set without her express permission.