"That's Demi Brooke. Mr. Bhaer is his uncle."

"What a queer name!"

"His real name is John, but they call him Demi-John, because his
father is John too. That's a joke, don't you see?" said Tommy,
kindly explaining. Nat did not see, but politely smiled, and asked,
with interest :

"Isn't he a very nice boy?"

"I bet you he is; knows lots and reads like any thing."

"Who is the fat one next him?"

"Oh, that's Stuffy Cole. His name is George, but we call him Stuffy
'cause he eats so much. The little fellow next Father Bhaer is his
boy Rob, and then there's big Franz his nephew; he teaches some,
and kind of sees to us."

"He plays the flute, doesn't he?" asked Nat as Tommy rendered
himself speechless by putting a whole baked apple into his mouth
at one blow.

Tommy nodded, and said, sooner than one would have imagined
possible under the circumstances, "Oh, don't he, though? And we
dance sometimes, and do gymnastics to music. I like a drum
myself, and mean to learn as soon as ever I can."