At Christmas he yearned so for Plumfield that he devised a way to send a word of greeting to cheer their anxious hearts , and comfort his own . He wrote to Mary Mason , who lived in another State , asking her to mail the letter he enclosed . In it he merely said he was well and busy , had given up the farm , and had other plans which he would tell later ; would not be home before autumn probably , nor write often , but was all right , and sent love and merry Christmas to everyone . Then he took up his solitary life again , and tried to pay his forfeit manfully . Chapter 13 . NAT 'S NEW YEAR ' I do n't expect to hear from Emil yet , and Nat writes regularly , but where is Dan ? Only two or three postals since he went . Such an energetic fellow as he is could buy up all the farms in Kansas by this time , ' said Mrs Jo one morning when the mail came in and no card or envelope bore Dan 's dashing hand . ` He never writes often , you know , but does his work and then comes home . Months and years seem to mean little to him , and he is probably prospecting in the wilderness , forgetful of time , ' answered Mr Bhaer , deep in one of Nat 's long letters from Leipzig . ` But he promised he would let me know how he got on , and Dan keeps his word if he can . I 'm afraid something has happened to him ' ; and Mrs Jo comforted herself by patting Don 's head , as he came at the sound of his master 's name to look at her with eyes almost human in their wistful intelligence . ` Do n't worry , Mum dear , nothing ever happens to the old fellow . He 'll turn up all right , and come stalking in some day with a gold-mine in one pocket and a prairie in the other , as jolly as a grig , ' said Ted , who was in no haste to deliver Octoo to her rightful owner . ` Perhaps he has gone to Montana and given up the farm plan . He seemed to like Indians best , I thought ' ; and Rob went to help his mother with her pile of letters and his cheerful suggestions . ' I hope so , it would suit him best . But I am sure he would have told us his change of plan and sent for some money to work with . No , I feel in my prophetic bones that something is wrong , ' said Mrs Jo , looking as solemn as Fate in a breakfast-cap . ` Then we shall hear ; ill news always travels fast .
XXXXX n't borrow trouble , Jo , but hear how well Nat is getting on .
Do am asking given gone lived said worry write writes