Cleanliness in itself was a new and delightful sensation ; flannel gowns were unknown comforts in his world ; sips of `` good stuff '' soothed his cough as pleasantly as kind words did his lonely heart ; and the feeling that somebody cared for him made that plain room seem a sort of heaven to the homeless child . It was like a cosy dream ; and he often shut his eyes to see if it would not vanish when he opened them again . It was too pleasant to let him sleep , and he could not have done so if he had tried , for in a few minutes one of the peculiar institutions of Plumfield was revealed to his astonished but appreciative eyes . A momentary lull in the aquatic exercises was followed by the sudden appearance of pillows flying in all directions , hurled by white goblins , who came rioting out of their beds . The battle raged in several rooms , all down the upper hall , and even surged at intervals into the nursery , when some hard-pressed warrior took refuge there . No one seemed to mind this explosion in the least ; no one forbade it , or even looked surprised . Nursey went on hanging up towels , and Mrs. Bhaer laid out clean clothes , as calmly as if the most perfect order reigned . Nay , she even chased one daring boy out of the room , and fired after him the pillow he had slyly thrown at her . `` Wo n't they hurt 'em ? '' asked Nat , who lay laughing with all his might . `` Oh dear , no ! We always allow one pillow-fight Saturday night . The cases are changed to-morrow ; and it gets up a glow after the boys ' baths ; so I rather like it myself , '' said Mrs. Bhaer , busy again among her dozen pairs of socks . `` What a very nice school this is ! '' observed Nat , in a burst of admiration . `` It 's an odd one , '' laughed Mrs. Bhaer , `` but you see we do n't believe in making children miserable by too many rules , and too much study . I forbade night-gown parties at first ; but , bless you , it was of no use . I could no more keep those boys in their beds than so many jacks in the box . So I made an agreement with them : I was to allow a fifteen-minute pillow-fight every Saturday night ; and they promised to go properly to bed every other night . I tried it , and it worked well .
If they do n't XXXXX their word , no frolic ; if they do , I just turn the glasses round , put the lamps in safe places , and let them rampage as much as they like . ''
bless cared followed hurled keep laughed opened see seem shut