Ted clamoured for a lesson at once , and was soon at ease in the queer saddle , finding Octoo gentle as a lamb , as he trotted away to show off at college . Bess came hastening down the hill , having seen the race from afar ; and all collected on the piazza while Dan ` yanked ' the cover off the big box the express had ` dumped ' before the door -- to borrow his own words . Dan usually travelled in light marching order , and hated to have more luggage than he could carry in his well-worn valise . But now that he had a little money of his own , he had cumbered himself with a collection of trophies won by his bow and spear , and brought them home to bestow upon his friends . ` We shall be devoured with moths , ' thought Mrs Jo , as the shaggy head appeared , followed by a wolf-skin rug for her feet , a bear-skin ditto for the Professor 's study , and Indian garments bedecked with foxes ' tails for the boys . All nice and warm for a July day , but received with delight nevertheless . Ted and Josie immediately ` dressed up ' , learned the war-whoop , and proceeded to astonish their friends by a series of skirmishes about the house and grounds , with tomahawks and bows and arrows , till weariness produced a lull . Gay birds ' wings , plumy pampas grass , strings of wampum , and pretty work in beads , bark , and feathers , pleased the girls . Minerals , arrow-heads , and crude sketches interested the Professor ; and when the box was empty , Dan gave Mr Laurie , as his gift , several plaintive Indian songs written on birch-bark . ` We only want a tent over us to be quite perfect . I feel as if I ought to give you parched corn and dried meat for dinner , my braves . Nobody will want lamb and green peas after this splendid pow-wow , ' said Mrs Jo , surveying the picturesque confusion of the long hall , where people lay about on the rugs , all more or less bedecked with feathers , moccasins , or beads . ` Moose noses , buffalo tongues , bear steaks , and roasted marrow-bones would be the thing , but I do n't mind a change ; so bring on your baa-baa and green meat , ' answered Dan from the box , where he sat in state like a chief among his tribe , with the great hound at his feet . The girls began to clear up , but made little headway ; for everything they touched had a story , and all were thrilling , comical , or wild ; so they found it hard to settle to their work , till Dan was carried off by Mr Laurie . This was the beginning of the summer holiday , and it was curious to see what a pleasant little stir Dan 's and Emil 's coming made in the quiet life of the studious community ; for they seemed to bring a fresh breeze with them that enlivened everyone . Many of the collegians remained during vacation ; and Plumfield and Parnassus did their best to make these days pleasant for them , since most came from distant States , were poor , and had few opportunities but this for culture or amusement . Emil was hail-fellow-well-met with men and maids , and went rollicking about in true sailor fashion ; but Dan stood rather in awe of the ` fair girl-graduates ' , and was silent when among them , eyeing them as an eagle might a flock of doves . He got on better with the young men , and was their hero at once . Their admiration for his manly accomplishments did him good ; because he felt his educational defects keenly , and often wondered if he could find anything in books to satisfy him as thoroughly as did the lessons he was learning from Nature 's splendidly illustrated volume . In spite of his silence , the girls found out his good qualities , and regarded ` the Spaniard ' , as they named him , with great favour ; for his black eyes were more eloquent than his tongue , and the kind creatures tried to show their friendly interests in many charming ways .
He saw this , and endeavoured to be worthy of it -- curbing his free speech , toning down his rough manners , and watching the effect of all he said and did , anxious to XXXXX a good impression .
appeared bestow bring clamoured dried followed found make sat trotted