.

A FIRE BRAND.
"Please, ma'am, could I speak to you?
It is something very important," said Nat, popping his head in at the door of Mrs.Bhaer's room.
It was the fifth head which had popped in during the last half-hour; but Mrs.Jo was used to it, so she looked up, and said, briskly, "What is it, my lad ?" Nat came in, shut the door carefully behind him, and said in an eager, anxious tone, "Dan has come." "Who is Dan ?" "He's a boy I used to know when I fiddled round the streets.

He sold papers, and he was kind to me, and I saw him the other day in town, and told him how nice it was here, and he's come." "But, my dear boy, that is rather a sudden way to pay a visit." "Oh, it isn't a visit; he wants to stay if you will let him!" said Nat innocently.
"Well, I don't know about that," began Mrs.Bhaer, rather startled by the coolness of the proposition.
"Why, I thought you liked to have poor boys come and live with you, and be kind to 'em as you were to me," said Nat, looking surprised and alarmed.
"So I do, but I like to know something about them first.

I have to choose them, because there are so many.

I have not room for all.