TotheschoolmatesofELLSWORTHDEVENS,Whoselovelycharacterwillnotsoonbeforgotten,ThisVillageStoryisaffectionatelyinscribedbytheirfriend,L。M。A。
1880
ContentsChapter1TheCatastropheChapter2TwoPenitentsChapter3WardNo。I
Chapter4WardNo。2
Chapter5SecretsChapter6SurprisesChapter7Jill\'sMissionChapter8MerryandMollyChapter9TheDebatingClubChapter10TheDramaticClubChapter11\"DownBrakes\"
Chapter12TheTwenty—secondofFebruaryChapter13JackHasaMysteryChapter14AndJillFindsitoutChapter15SaintLucyChapter16UpatMerry\'sChapter17DownatMolly\'sChapter18MayBasketsChapter19GoodTemplarsChapter20ASweetMemoryChapter21PebblyBeachChapter22AHappyDayChapter23CattleShowChapter24DowntheRiverJackandJillJackandJillwentupthehillTocoastwithfunandlaughter;
Jackfelldownandbrokehiscrown,AndJillcametumblingafter。
Chapter1TheCatastrophe\"Clearthelulla！\"wasthegeneralcryonabrightDecemberafternoon,whenalltheboysandgirlsofHarmonyVillagewereoutenjoyingthefirstgoodsnowoftheseason。Upanddownthreelongcoaststheywentasfastaslegsandsledscouldcarrythem。
Onesmoothpathledintothemeadow,andherethelittlefolkcongregated;onesweptacrossthepond,whereskatersweredartingaboutlikewater—bugs;andthethird,fromtheverytopofthesteephill,endedabruptlyatarailfenceonthehighbankabovetheroad。Therewasagroupofladsandlassessittingorleaningonthisfencetorestafteranexcitingrace,and,astheyreposed,theyamusedthemselveswithcriticisingtheirmates,stillabsorbedinthismostdelightfulofout—doorsports。
\"HerecomesFrankMinot,lookingassolemnasajudge,\"criedone,asatallfellowofsixteenspunby,withasetlookaboutthemouthandakeensparkleoftheeyes,fixedonthedistantgoalwithado—or—dieexpression。
\"Here\'sMollyLooAndlittleBoo？
sangoutanother;anddowncameagirlwithflyinghair,carryingasmallboybehindher,sofatthathisshortlegsstuckoutfromthesides,andhisroundfacelookedoverhershoulderlikeafullmoon。
\"There\'sGusBurton;doesn\'thegoit？\"andsuchaverylongboywhizzedby,thatitlookedalmostasifhisheelswereatthetopofthehillwhenhisheadwasatthebottom！
\"HurrahforEdDevlin！\"andageneralshoutgreetedasweet—facedlad,withalaughonhislips,afinecoloronhisbrowncheek,andagaywordforeverygirlhepassed。
\"LauraandLottykeeptothesafecoastintothemeadow,andMollyLooistheonlygirlthatdarestotrythislongonetothepond。Iwouldn\'tfortheworld;theicecan\'tbestrongyet,thoughitiscoldenoughtofreezeone\'snoseoff,\"saidatimiddamsel,whosathuggingapostandscreamingwheneveramischievousladshookthefence。
\"No,sheisn\'there\'sJackandJillgoinglikefury。\"
\"ClearthetrackForjollyJack！\"
sangtheboys,whohadrhymesandnicknamesfornearlyeveryone。
Downcameagayredsled,bearingaboywhoseemedallsmileandsunshine,sowhitewerehisteeth,sogoldenwashishair,sobrightandhappyhiswholeair。Behindhimclungalittlegypsyofagirl,withblackeyesandhair,cheeksasredasherhood,andafacefulloffunandsparkle,asshewavedJack\'sbluetippetlikeabannerwithonehand,andheldonwiththeother。
\"JillgoeswhereverJackdoes,andheletsher。He\'ssuchagood—naturedchap,hecan\'tsayNo。\"
\"Toagirl,\"slylyaddedoneoftheboys,whohadwishedtoborrowtheredsled,andhadbeenpolitelyrefusedbecauseJillwantedit。
\"He\'sthenicestboyintheworld,forhenevergetsmad,\"saidthetimidyounglady,recallingthemanytimesJackhadshieldedherfromtheterrorswhichbesetherpathtoschool,intheshapeofcows,dogs,andboyswhomadefacesandcalledher\"Fraidcat。\"
\"Hedoesn\'tdaretogetmadwithJill,forshe\'dtakehisheadoffintwominutesifhedid,\"growledJoeFlint,stillsmartingfromtherebukeJillhadgivenhimforrobbingthelittleonesoftheirsafecoastbecausehefanciedit。
\"Shewouldn\'t！she\'sadear！Youneedn\'tsniffatherbecausesheispoor。She\'seversomuchbrighterthanyouare,orshewouldn\'talwaysbeattheheadofyourclass,oldJoe,\"criedthegirls,standingbytheirfriendwithaunanimitywhichprovedwhatafavoriteshewas。
Joesubsidedwithasscornfulacurltohisnoseasitschillystatepermitted,andMerryGrantintroducedasubjectofgeneralinterestbyaskingabruptly,\"Whoisgoingtothecandy—scrapeto—night？\"
\"Allofus。Frankinvitedthewholeset,andweshallhaveatiptoptime。WealwaysdoattheMinots\',\"criedSue,thetimidtrembler。
\"Jacksaidtherewasabarrelofmolassesinthehouse,sotherewouldbeenoughforalltoeatandsometocarryaway。Theyknowhowtodothingshandsomely\";andthespeakerlickedhislips,asifalreadytastingthefeastinstoreforhim。
\"Mrs。Minotisamotherworthhaving,\"saidMollyLoo,comingupwithBooonthesled;andsheknewwhatitwastoneedamother,forshehadnone,andtriedtocareforthelittlebrotherwithmaternalloveandpatience。
\"Sheisjustassweetasshecanbe！\"declaredMerry,enthusiastically。
\"Especiallywhenshehasacandy—scrape,\"saidJoe,tryingtobeamiable,lestheshouldbeleftoutoftheparty。
Whereattheyalllaughed,andwentgaylyawayforafarewellfrolic,asthesunwassettingandthekeenwindnippedfingersandtoesaswellasnoses。
Downtheywent,oneafteranother,onthevariouscoastssolemnFrank,longGus,gallantEd,fly—awayMollyLoo,prettyLauraandLotty,grumpyJoe,sweet—facedMerrywithSueshriekingwildlybehindher,gayJackandgypsyJill,alwaystogetheroneandallbubblingoverwiththeinnocentjollitybornofhealthfulexercise。
Peoplepassingintheroadbelowlookedupandsmiledinvoluntarilyatthered—cheekedladsandlasses,fillingthefrostyairwithpealsoflaughterandcriesoftriumphastheyflewbyineveryconceivableattitude;forthefunwasatitsheightnow,andtheoldestandgravestobserversfeltaglowofpleasureastheylooked,rememberingtheirownyoungdays。
\"Jack,takemedownthatcoast。JoesaidIwouldn\'tdaretodoit,soImust,\"commandedJill,astheypausedforbreathafterthelongtrudgeuphill。Jill,ofcourse,wasnotherrealname,buthadbeengivenbecauseofherfriendshipwithJack,whosoadmiredJaneyPecq\'sspiritandfun。
\"IguessIwouldn\'t,Itisverybumpyandendsinabigdrift;nothalfsoniceasthisone。Hoponandwe\'llhaveagoodspinacrossthepond\";andJackbrought\"Thunderbolt\"roundwithaskilfulswingandanengagingairthatwouldhavewonobediencefromanybodybutwilfulJill。
\"Itisverynice,butIwon\'tbetoldIdon\'t\'darebyanyboyintheworld。Ifyouareafraid,I\'llgoalone。\"And,beforehecouldspeak,shehadsnatchedtheropefromhishand,thrownherselfuponthesled,andwasoff,helter—skelter,downthemostdangerouscoastonthehill—side。
Shedidnotgetfar,however;for,startinginahurry,shedidnotguidehersteedwithcare,andtheredchargerlandedherinthesnowhalf—waydown,whereshelaylaughingtillJackcametopickherup。
\"Ifyouwillgo,I\'lltakeyoudownallright。Imnotafraid,forIvedoneitadozentimeswiththeotherfellows;butwegaveitupbecauseitisshortandbad,\"hesaid,stillgood—natured,thoughofcows,dogs,andboyswhomadefacesandcalledher\"Fraidcat。
\"Hedoesn\'tdaretogetmadwithJill,forshe\'dtakehisheadoffintwominutesifhedid,\"growledJoeFlint,stillsmartinghorntherebukeJillhadgivenhimforrobbingthelittleonesoftheirsafecoastbecausehefanciedit。
\"Shewouldn\'t！she\'sadear！Youneedn\'tsniffatherbecausesheispoor。She\'seversomuchbrighterthanyouare,orshewouldn\'talwaysbeattheheadofyourclass,oldJoe,\"criedthegirls,standingbytheirfriendwithaunanimitywhichprovedwhatafavoriteshewas。
Joesubsidedwithasscornfulacurltohisnoseasitschillystatepermitted,andMerryGrantintroducedasubjectofgeneralinterestbyaskingabruptly,\"Whoisgoingtothecandy—scrapeto—night？\"
\"Allofus。Frankinvitedthewholeset,andweshallhaveatiptoptime。WealwaysdoattheMinors\',\"criedSue,thetimidtrembler。
\"Jacksaidtherewasabarrelofmolassesinthehouse,sotherewouldbeenoughforalltoeatandsometocarryaway。Theyknowhowtodothingshandsomely\";andthespeakerlickedhislips,asifalreadytastingthefeastinstoreforhim。
\"Mrs。Minotisamotherworthhaving,\"saidMollyLoo,comingupwithBooonthesled;andsheknewwhatitwastoneedamother,forshehadnone,andtriedtocareforthelittlebrotherwithmaternalloveandpatience。
\"Sheisjustassweetasshecanbe！\"declaredMerry,enthusiastically。
\"Especiallywhenshehasacandy—scrape,\"saidJoe,tryingtobeamiable,lestheshouldbeleftoutoftheparty。
Whereattheyalllaughed,andwentgaylyawayforafarewellfrolic,asthesunwassettingandthekeenwindnippedfingersandtoesaswellasnoses。
Alittlehurtatthechargeofcowardice;forJackwasasbraveasalittlelion,andwiththebestsortofbraverythecouragetodoright。
\"Soitis;butImustdoitafewtimes,orJoewillplaguemeandspoilmyfunto—night,\"answeredJill,shakingherskirtsandrubbingherbluehands,wetandcoldwiththesnow。
\"Here,puttheseon;Ineverusethem。Keepthemiftheyfit;Ionlycarrythemtopleasemother。\"AndJackpulledoutapairofredmittenswiththeairofaboyusedtogivingaway。
\"Theyarelovelywarm,andtheydofit。Mustbetoosmallforyourpaws,soI\'llknityouanewpairforChristmas,andmakeyouwearthem,too,\"saidJill,puttingonthemittenswithanodofthanks,andendingherspeechwithastampofherrubberbootstoenforceherthreat。
Jacklaughed,anduptheytrudgedtothespotwhencethethreecoastsdiverged。
\"Now,whichwillyouhave？\"heasked,withawarninglookinthehonestblueeyeswhichoftenunconsciouslycontrollednaughtyJillagainstherwill。
\"Thatone！\"andtheredmittenpointedfirmlytotheperilouspathjusttried。
\"Youwilldoit？\"
\"Comeon,then,andholdtight。\"
Jack\'ssmilewasgonenow,andhewaitedwithoutawordwhileJilltuckedherselfup,thentookhisplaceinfront,andofftheywentonthebrief,breathlesstripstraightintothedriftbythefencebelow。
\"Idon\'tseeanythingveryawfulinthat。Comeupandhaveanother。
Joeiswatchingus,andIdliketoshowhimthatwearen\'tafraidofanything,\"saidJill,withadefiantglanceatadistantboy,whohadpausedtowatchthedescent。
\"Itisaregular\'go—bang,ifthatiswhatyoulike,\"answeredJack,astheyplowedtheirwayupagain。
\"Itis。Youboysthinkgirlslikelittlemeancoastswithoutanyfunordangerinthem,asifwecouldn\'tbebraveandstrongaswellasyou。Givemethreego—bangsandthenwe\'llstop。Mytumbledoesn\'tcount,sogivemetwomoreandthenI\'llbegood。\"
Jilltookherseatasshespoke,andlookedupwithsucharosy,pleadingfacethatJackgaveinatonce,anddowntheywentagain,raisingacloudofglitteringsnow—dustastheyreinedupinfinestylewiththeirfeetonthefence。
\"It\'sjustsplendid！Now,onemore！\"criedJill,excitedbythecheersofasleighingpartypassingbelow。
Proudofhisskill,Jackmarchedback,resolvedtomakethethird\"go\"thecrowningachievementoftheafternoon,whileJillprancedafterhimaslightlyasifthebigbootswerethefamousseven—leaguedones,andchatteringaboutthecandy—scrapeandwhethertherewouldbenutsornot。
Sofullweretheyofthisimportantquestion,thattheypiledonhap—hazard,andstartedoffstilltalkingsobusilythatJillforgottoholdtightandJacktosteercarefully。Alas,forthecandy—scrapethatneverwastobe！Alas,forpoor\"Thunderbolt\"blindlysettingforthonthelasttripheevermade！Andoh,alas,forJackandJill,whowilfullychosethewrongroadandendedtheirfunforthewinter！Nooneknewhowithappened,butinsteadoflandinginthedrift,oratthefence,therewasagreatcrashagainstthebars,adreadfulplungeoffthesteepbank,asuddenscatteringofgirl,boy,sled,fence,earth,andsnow,allabouttheroad,twocries,andthensilence。
\"Iknewthey\'ddoit！\"and,standingonthepostwherehehadperched,Joewavedhisarmsandshouted:\"Smash—up！Smash—up！
Run！Run！\"likearavencroakingoverabattlefieldwhenthefightwasdone。
Downrushedboysandgirlsreadytolaughorcry,asthecasemightbe,foraccidentswillhappenonthebest—regulatedcoasting—grounds。TheyfoundJacksittinguplookingabouthimwithaqueer,dazedexpression,whileanuglycutontheforeheadwasbleedinginawaywhichsoberedtheboysandfrightenedthegirlshalfoutoftheirwits。
\"He\'skilled！He\'skilled！\"wailedSue,hidingherfaceandbeginningtocry。
\"No,Imnot。I\'llbeallrightwhenIgetmybreath。Where\'sJill？\"
askedJack,stoutly,thoughstilltoogiddytoseestraight。
Thegroupabouthimopened,andhiscomradeinmisfortunewasdiscoveredlyingquietlyinthesnowwithalltheprettycolorshockedoutofherfacebythefall,andwinkingrapidly,asifhalfstunned。Butnowoundsappeared,andwhenaskedifshewasdead,sheansweredinavaguesortofway,\"Iguessnot。isJackhurt？\"
\"Brokenhishead,\"croakedJoe,steppingaside,thatshemightbeholdthefallenherovainlytryingtolookcalmandcheerfulwithreddropsrunningdownhischeekandalumponhisforehead。
Jillshuthereyesandwavedthegirlsaway,saying,faintly,\"Nevermindme。Goandseetohim。\"
\"Don\'t！Imallright,\"andJacktriedtogetupinordertoprovethatheadersoffabankweremeretriflestohim;butatthefirstmovementoftheleftlegheutteredasharpcryofpain,andwouldhavefallenifGushadnotcaughtandgentlylaidhimdown。
\"Whatisit,oldchap？\"askedFrank,kneelingbesidehim,reallyalarmednow,thehurtsseemingworsethanmerebumps,whichwerecommonaffairsamongbaseballplayers,andnotworthmuchnotice。
\"Ilitonmyhead,butIguessI\'vebrokenmyleg。Don\'tfrightenmother,\"andJackheldfasttoFrank\'sarmashelookedintotheanxiousfacebentoverhim;for,thoughtheeldertyrannizedovertheyounger,thebrotherslovedoneanotherdearly。
\"Lifthishead,Frank,whileItiemyhandkerchiefroundtostopthebleeding,\"saidaquietvoice,asEdDevlinlaidahandfulofsoftsnowonthewound;andJack\'sfacebrightenedasheturnedtothanktheonebigboywhoneverwasroughwiththesmallones。
\"Bettergethimrighthome,\"advisedGus,whostoodbylookingon,withhislittlesistersLauraandLottyclingingtohim。
\"TakeJill,too,forit\'smyopinionshehasbrokenherback。Shecan\'tstironebit,\"announcedMollyLoo,withadrollairoftriumph,asifratherpleasedthanotherwisetohaveherpatienthurttheworse;forJack\'swoundwasveryeffective,andMollyhadatasteforthetragic。
ThischeerfulstatementwasgreetedwithawailfromSusanandhowlsfromBoo,whohadearnedthatnamefromtheeasewithwhich,onalloccasions,hecouldburstintoadismalroarwithoutsheddingatear,andstopassuddenlyashebegan。
\"Oh,Iamsosorry！Itwasmyfault;Ishouldn\'thaveletherdoit,\"
saidJack,distressfully。
\"Itwasallmyfault;Imadehim。IfIdbrokeneveryboneI\'vegot,itwouldservemeright。Don\'thelpme,anybody;Imawickedthing,andIdeservetoliehereandfreezeandstarveanddie！\"
criedJill,pilinguppunishmentsinherremorsefulanguishofmindandbody。
\"Butwewanttohelpyou,andwecansettleaboutblamebyandby,\"whisperedMerrywithakiss;forsheadoreddashingJill,andneverwouldownthatshedidwrong。
\"Herecomethewood—sledsjustintime。I\'llcutawayandtelloneofthemtohurryup。\"And,freeinghimselffromhissisters,Guswentoffatagreatpace,provingthatthelonglegscarriedasensibleheadaswellasakindheart。
Asthefirstsledapproached,anairofreliefpervadedtheagitatedparty,foritwasdrivenbyMr。Grant,abig,benevolent—lookingfarmer,whosurveyedthescenewiththesympatheticinterestofamanandafather。
\"Hadalittleaccident,haveyou？Well,that\'saprettylikelyplaceforaspill。Trieditoncemyselfandbrokethebridgeofmynose,\"
hesaid,tappingthatmassivefeaturewithalaughwhichshowedthatfiftyyearsoffarminghadnottakenalltheboyoutofhim。
\"Nowthen,let\'sseeaboutthislittlechore,andlively,too,forit\'slate,andthesepartiesoughttobehoused,\"headded,throwingdownhiswhip,pushingbackhiscap,andnoddingatthewoundedwithareassuringsmile。
\"Jillfirst,please,sir,\"saidEd,thegentlesquireofdames,spreadinghisovercoatonthesledaseagerlyaseverRaleighlaiddownhisvelvetcloakforaqueentowalkupon。
\"Allright。Justlayeasy,mydear,andIwon\'thurtyouamiteifI
canhelpit。\"
CarefulasMr。Grantwas,Jillcouldhavescreamedwithpainasheliftedher;butshesetherlipsandboreitwiththecourageofalittleIndian;foralltheladswerelookingon,andJillwasproudtoshowthatagirlcouldbearasmuchasaboy。Shehidherfaceinthecoatassoonasshewassettled,tohidethetearsthatwouldcome,andbythetimeJackwasplacedbesideher,shehadquitealittlecisternofsaltwaterstoredupinEd\'scoat—pocket。
Thenthemournfulprocessionsetforth,Mr。Grantdrivingtheoxen,thegirlsclusteringabouttheinterestinginvalidsonthesled,whiletheboyscamebehindlikeaguardofhonor,leavingthehilldesertedbyallbutJoe,whohadreturnedtohoveraboutthefatalfence,andpoor\"Thunderbolt,\"splitasunder,lyingonthebanktomarkthespotwherethegreatcatastropheoccurred。
Chapter2TwoPenitentsJackandJillnevercaredtosaymuchaboutthenightwhichfollowedthefirstcoastingpartyoftheseason,foritwasthesaddestandthehardesttheirshortliveshadeverknown。Jacksufferedmostinbody;forthesettingofthebrokenlegwassuchapainfuljob,thatitwrungseveralsharpcriesfromhim,andmadeFrank,whohelped,quiteweakandwhitewithsympathy,whenitwasover。Thewoundedheadacheddreadfully,andthepoorboyfeltasifbruisedallover,forhehadtheworstofthefall。Dr。
Whitingspokecheerfullyofthecase,andmadesolightofbrokenlegs,thatJackinnocentlyaskedifheshouldnotbeupinaweekorso。
\"Well,no;itusuallytakestwenty—onedaysforbonestoknit,andyoungonesmakequickworkofit,\"answeredthedoctor,withalastscientifictucktothevariousbandages,whichmadeJackfeellikeahaplesschickentrussedforthespit。
\"Twenty—onedays！Threewholeweeksinbed！Ishouldn\'tcallthatquickwork,\"groanedthedismayedpatient,whoseexperienceofillnesshadbeenlimited。
\"Itisafortydaysjob,youngman,andyoumustmakeupyourmindtobearitlikeahero。Wewilldoourbest;butnexttime,lookbeforeyouleap,andsaveyourbones。Good—night;you\'llfeelbetterinthemorning。Nojigs,remember\";andoffwentthebusydoctorforanotherlookatJill,whohadbeenorderedtobedandlefttoresttilltheothercasewasattendedto。
AnyonewouldhavethoughtJack\'splightmuchtheworse,butthedoctorlookedmoresoberoverJill\'shurtbackthantheboy\'scompoundfractures;andthepoorlittlegirlhadaverybadquarterofanhourwhilehewastryingtodiscovertheextent0ftheinjury,\"Keepherquiet,andtimewillshowhowmuchdamageisdone,\"
wasallhesaidinherhearing;butifshehadknownthathetoldMrs。Pecqhefearedseriousconsequences,shewouldnothavewonderedwhyhermothercriedassherubbedthenumblimbsandpacedthepillowssotenderly。
Jillsufferedmostinhermind;foronlyasharpstabofpainnowandthenremindedherofherbody;butherremorsefullittlesoulgavehernopeaceforthinkingofJack,whosebruisesandbreakagesherlivelyfancypaintedinthedarkestcolors。
\"Oh,don\'tbegoodtome,Mammy;Imadehimgo,andnowhe\'shurtdreadfully,andmaydie;anditisallmyfault,andeverybodyoughttohateme,\"sobbedpoorJill,asaneighborlefttheroomafterreportinginaminutemannerhowJackscreamedwhenhislegwasset,andhowFrankwasfoundwhiteasasheet,withhisheadunderthepump,whileGusrestoredthetoneofhisfriend\'snerves,bypumpingasifthehousewasonfire。
\"Whist,mylass,andgotosleep。TakeasupofthegoodwineMrs。
Minotsent,foryouareascoldasaclod,anditbreaksmyhearttoseemyJaneyso。\"
\"Ican\'tgotosleep;Idon\'tseehowJack\'smothercouldsendmyanythingwhenI\'vehalfkilledhim。Iwanttobecoldandacheandhavehorridthingsdonetome。Oh,ifIevergetoutofthisbedI\'llbethebestgirlintheworld,topayforthis。SeeifIaint！\"andJillgavesuchadecidednodthathertearsflewallaboutthepillowlikeashower。
\"Youdbetterbeginatonce,foryouwon\'tgetoutofthatbedforalongwhile,Imafraid,mylamb,\"sighedhermother,unabletoconcealtheanxietythatlaysoheavyonherheart。
\"AmIhurtbadly,Mammy？\"
\"Ifearit,lass。\"
\"I\'mgladofit;IoughttobeworsethanJack,andIhopeIam。I\'llbearitwell,andbegoodrightaway。Sing,Mammy,andI\'lltrytogotosleeptopleaseyou。\"
Jillshuthereyeswithsuddenandunusualmeekness,andbeforehermotherhadcroonedhalfadozenversesofanoldballad,thelittleblackheadlaystilluponthepillow,andrepentantJillwasfastasleepwitharedmitteninherhand。
Mrs。PecqwasanEnglishwomanwhohadleftMontrealatthedeathofherhusband,aFrenchCanadian,andhadcometoliveinthetinycottagewhichstoodnearMrs。Minot\'sbighouse,separatedonlybyanarbor—vitaehedge。Asad,silentperson,whohadseenbetterdays,butsaidnothingaboutthem,andearnedherbreadbysewing,nursing,workinthefactory,oranythingthatcameinherway,beinganxioustoeducateherlittlegirl。Now,asshesatbesidethebedinthesmall,poorroom,thathopealmostdiedwithinher,forherewasthechildlaidupformonths,probably,andtheoneambitionandpleasureofthesolitarywoman\'slifewastoseeJaneyPecq\'snameoverallthehighmarksintheschool—reportssheproudlybroughthome。
\"She\'llwinthrough,pleaseHeaven,andI\'llseemylassagentlewomanyet,thankstothegoodfriendinyonder,whowillneverletherwantforcare,\"thoughtthepoorsoul,lookingoutintothegloomwherealongrayoflightstreamedfromthegreathousewarmandcomfortableuponthecottage,likethespiritofkindnesswhichmadetheinmatesfriendsandneighbors。
Meantime,thatothermothersatbyherboy\'sbedasanxiousbutwithbetterhope,forMrs。Minotmadetroublesweetandhelpfulbythewayinwhichsheboreit;andherboyswerelearningofherhowtofindsilverliningstothecloudsthatmustcomeintothebluestskies。
Jacklaywideawake,withhotcheeks,andthrobbinghead,andallsortsofqueersensationsinthebrokenleg。Thesoothingpotionhehadtakendidnotaffecthimyet,andhetriedtobeguilethewearytimebywonderingwhocameandwentbelow。Gentleringsatthefrontdoor,andmysterioustappingsattheback,hadbeengoingonalltheevening;forthereportoftheaccidenthadgrownastonishinglyinitstravels,andateightoclockthegeneralbeliefwasthatJackhadbrokenbothlegs,fracturedhisskull,andlayatthepointofdeath,whileJillhaddislocatedoneshoulder,andwasbruisedblackandbluefromtoptotoe。Suchbeingthecase,itisnowonderthatanxiousplaymatesandneighborshauntedthedoorstepsofthetwohouses,andthatoffersofhelppouredin。
Frank,havingtiedupthebellandputanoticeinthelightedside—window,saying,\"Gotothebackdoor,\"satintheparlor,supportedbyhischum,Gus,whileEdplayedsoftlyonthepiano,hopingtolullJacktosleep。Itdidsoothehim,foraverysweetfriendshipexistedbetweenthetallyouthandtheladofthirteen。
Edwentwiththebigfellows,butalwayshadakindwordforthesmallerboys;andaffectionateJack,neverashamedtoshowhislove,wasoftenseenwithhisarmroundEd\'sshoulder,astheysattogetherinthepleasantredparlors,wherealltheyoungpeoplewerewelcomeandFrankwasking。
\"Isthepainanyeasier,mydarling？\"askedMrs。Minot,leaningoverthepillow,wherethegoldenheadlayquietforamoment。
\"Notmuch。Iforgetitlisteningtothemusic。DearoldEdisplayingallmyfavoritetunes,anditisverynice。Iguesshefeelsprettysorryaboutme。\"
\"Theyalldo。Frankcouldnottalkofit。Guswouldn\'tgohometotea,hewassoanxioustodosomethingforus。Joebroughtbackthebitsofyourpoorsled,becausehedidn\'tliketoleavethemlyingroundforanyonetocarryoff,hesaid,andyoumightlikethemtorememberyourfallby。\"
Jacktriedtolaugh,butitwasratherafailure,thoughbemanagedtosay,cheerfully,\"ThatwasgoodofoldJoe。Iwouldn\'tlendhim\'Thunderboltforfearhedhurtit。Couldn\'thavesmasheditupbetterthanIdid,couldhe？Don\'tthinkIwantanypiecestoremindmeofthatfall。I
justwishyoudseenus,mother！Itmusthavebeenasplendidspilltolookat,anyway。\"
\"No,thankyou;Idrathernoteventrytoimaginemypreciousboygoingheelsoverheaddownthatdreadfulhill。Nomorepranksofthatsortforsometime,Jacky\";andMrs。Minotlookedratherpleasedonthewholetohaveherventuresomebirdsafeunderhermaternalwing。
\"NocoastingtillsometimeinJanuary。WhatafoolIwastodoit！
Go—bangsalwaysaredangerous,andthat\'sthefunofthething。Ohdear！\"
Jackthrewhisarmsaboutandfrowneddarkly,butneversaidawordofthewilfullittlebaggagewhohadledhimintomischief;hewastoomuchofagentlemantotellonagirl,thoughitcosthimanefforttoholdhistongue,becauseMamma\'sgoodopinionwasveryprecioustohim,andhelongedtoexplain。Sheknewallaboutit,however,forJillhadbeencarriedintothehouserevilingherselfforthemishap,andeveninthemidstofherownanxietyforherboy,Mrs。Minotunderstoodthestateofthecasewithoutmorewords。Soshenowsethismindatrestbysaying,quietly。
\"Foolishfun,asyousee,dear。Anothertime,standfirmandhelpJilltocontrolherheadstrongwill。Whenyoulearntoyieldlessandshemore,therewillbenoscrapeslikethistotryusall。\"
\"I\'llremember,mother。Ihatenottobeobliging,butIguessitwouldhavesaveduslotsoftroubleifI\'dsaidNointhebeginning。Itriedto,butshewouldgo。PoorJill！I\'lltakebettercareofhernexttime。Issheveryill,Mamma？\"
\"Icantellyoubetterto—morrow。Shedoesnotsuffermuch,andwehopethereisnogreatharmdone。\"
\"Iwishshehadaniceplacelikethistobesickin。Itmustbeverypokyinthoselittlerooms,\"saidJack,ashiseyerovedroundthelargechamberwherehelaysocosey,warm,andpleasant,withthegaychintzcurtainsdrapingdoorsandwindows,therosycarpet,comfortablechairs,andafireglowinginthegrate。
\"Ishallseethatshesuffersfornothing,sodon\'ttroubleyourkindheartaboutherto—night,buttrytosleep;that\'swhatyouneed,\"
answeredhismother,wettingthebandageonhisforehead,andputtingacoolhandontheflushedcheeks。