Thegirlshadfitsoflaughteroverthequeercostumesofyearsgoneby,andputupasplendidprocessionofladiesinfullskirts,toweringhats,pointedslippers,powderedhair,simperingfaces,andimpossiblewaists。
\"Idothinkthisbrideisperfectlysplendid,thelongtrainandvailaresosweet,\"saidJill,revellinginfineclothesassheturnedfromoneplatetoanother。
\"Iliketheelephantsbest,andI\'dgiveanythingtogoonahuntlikethat！\"criedMollyLoo,whorodecows,droveanyhorseshecouldget,hadninecats,andwasnotafraidofthebiggestdogthateverbarked。
\"Ifancy\'TheDancingLesson;itissosortofsplendid,withthegreatwindows,goldchairs,andfinefolks。Oh,Iwouldliketoliveinacastlewithafatherandmotherlikethat,\"saidMerry,whowasromantic,andfoundtheoldfarmhouseonthebillasadtrialtoherhigh—flownideasofelegance。
\"Now,thatship,settingoutforsomefar—awayplace,ismoretomymind。Iwearyforhomenowandthen,andmeantoseeitagainsomeday\";andMrs。PecqlookedlonginglyattheEnglishship,thoughitwasevidentlyoutwardbound。Then,asifreproachingherselffordiscontent,sheadded:\"ItlookslikethoseIusedtoseegoingofftoIndiawithaloadofmissionaries。Icameneargoingmyselfonce,withaladyboundforSiam;butIwenttoCanadawithhersister,andhereIam。\"
\"I\'dliketobeamissionaryandgowherefolksthrowtheirbabiestothecrocodiles。I\'dwatchandfishthemout,andhaveaschool,andbringthemup,andconvertallthepeopletilltheyknewbetter,\"saidwarm—heartedMollyLoo,whobefriendedeveryabusedanimalandforlornchildshemet。
\"Weneedn\'tgotoAfricatobemissionaries;theyhave\'emnearerhomeandneed\'em,too。Inallthebigcitiesthereareamany,andtheyhavetheirhandsfullwiththepoor,thewicked,andthehelpless。Onecanfindthatsortofworkanywhere,ifonehasamind,\"saidMrs。Pecq。
\"Iwishwehadsometodohere。I\'dsoliketogoroundwithbasketsofteaandrice,andgiveouttractsandtalktopeople。
Wouldn\'tyou,girls？\"askedMolly,muchtakenwiththenewidea。
\"Itwouldberathernicetohaveasocietyalltoourselves,andhavemeetingsandresolutionsandthings,\"answeredMerry,whowasfondoflittleceremonies,andalwayswenttothesewingcirclewithhermother。
\"Wewouldn\'tlettheboyscomein。Wedhaveitasecretsociety,asthey\'dotheirtemperancelodge,andwedhavebadgesandpass—wordsandgrips。Itwouldbefunifwecanonlygetsomeheathentoworkat！\"criedJill,readyforfreshenterprisesofeverysort。
\"Icantellyousomeonetobeginonrightaway,\"saidhermother,noddingather。\"AswildalittlesavageasI\'dwishtosee。Takeherinhand,andmakeapretty—manneredladyofher。Beginathome,mylass,andyou\'llfindmissionaryworkenoughforawhile。\"
\"Now,Mammy,youmeanme！Well,Iwillbegin;andI\'llbesogood,folkswon\'tknowme。Beingsickmakesnaughtychildrenbehaveinstory—books,I\'llseeifliveonescant\";andJillputonsuchasanctifiedfacethatthegirlslaughedandaskedfortheirmissionsalso,thinkingtheywouldbethesame。
\"You,Merry,mightdoadealathomehelpingmother,andsettingthebigbrothersagoodexample。Onelittlegirlinahousecandoprettymuchasshewill,especiallyifshehasamindtomakeplainthingsniceandcomfortable,andnotlongforcastlesbeforesheknowshowtodoherowntaskswell,\"wasthefirstunexpectedreply。
Merrycolored,buttookthereproofsweetly,resolvingtodowhatshecould,andsurprisedtofindhowmanywaysseemedopentoherafterafewminutesthought。
\"WhereshallIbegin？I\'mnotafraidofadozencrocodilesafterMissBat\";andMollyLoolookedaboutherwithafierceair,havinghadpracticeinbattleswiththeoldladywhokeptherfather\'shouse。
\"Well,dear,youhaven\'tfartolookforasnicealittleheathenasyoudwish\";andMrs。PecqglancedatBoo,whosatonthefloorstaringhardatthem,attractedbythedreadword\"crocodile。\"Hehadacoldandnohandkerchief,hislittlehandswereredwithchilblains,hisclothesshabby,hehaduntidydarnsinthekneesofhisstockings,andaheadoftightcurlsthatevidentlyhadnotbeencombedforsometime。
\"Yes,Iknowheis,andItrytokeephimdecent,butIforget,andhehatestobefixed,andMissBatdoesn\'tcare,andfatherlaughswhenItalkaboutit。\"
PoorMollyLoolookedmuchashamedasshemadeexcuses,tryingatthesametimetomendmattersbyseizingBooanddustinghimalloverwithherhandkerchief,givingapullathishairasifringingbells,andthendumpinghimdownagainwiththedespairingexclamation:\"Yes,wereapairofheathens,andthere\'snoonetosaveusifIdon\'t。\"
Thatwastrueenough;forMolly\'sfatherwasabusyman,carelessofeverythingbuthismills,MissBatwasoldandlazy,andfeltasifshemighttakelifeeasyafterservingthemotherlesschildrenformanyyearsaswellassheknewhow。Mollywasbeginningtoseehowmuchamissthingswereathome,andoldenoughtofeelmortified,though,asyet,shehaddonenothingtomendthematterexceptbekindtothelittleboy。
\"Youwill,mydear,\"answeredMrs。Pecq,encouragingly,forsheknewallaboutit。\"Nowyouveeachgotamission,letusseehowwellyouwillgeton。Keepitsecret,ifyoulike,andreportonceaweek。I\'llbeamember,andwe\'lldogreatthingsyet。\"
\"Wewon\'tbegintillafterChristmas;thereissomuchtodo,wenevershallhavetimeforanymore。Don\'ttell,andwe\'llstartfairatNewYears,ifnotbefore,\"saidJill,takingtheleadasusual。
Thentheywentonwiththegayladies,whocertainlywereheathenenoughindresstobeinsadneedofconversiontocommon—senseatleast。
\"IfeelasifIwasataparty,\"saidJill,afterapauseoccupiedinsurveyinghergallerywithgreatsatisfaction,fordresswasherdelight,andhereshehadeveryconceivablestyleandcolor。
\"Talkingofparties,isn\'tittoobadthatwemustgiveupourChristmasfun？Can\'tgetonwithoutyouandJack,sowearenotgoingtodoathing,butjusthaveourpresents,\"saidMerry,sadly,astheybegantofitdifferentheadsandbodiestogether,totrydrolleffects。
\"Ishallbeallwellinafortnight,Iknow;butJackwont,foritwilltakemorethanamonthtomendhispoorleg。Maybe,theywillhaveadanceintheboysbigroom,andhecanlookon,\"suggestedJill,withaglanceatthedancingdamselonthewall,forshedearlylovedit,andneverguessedhowlongitwouldbebeforeherlightfeetwouldkeeptimetomusicagain。
\"YoudbettergiveJackahintabouttheparty。Sendoversomesmartladies,andsaytheyhavecometohisChristmasball,\"
proposedaudaciousMollyLoo,alwaysreadyforfun。
Sotheyputapreposterousgreenbonnet,top—heavywithplumes,onalittleladyinyellow,whosatinacarriage;theladybesideher,inwintercostumeofvelvetpelisseandermineboa,wasfittedtoabride\'sheadwithitsorangeflowersandveil,andtheseworksofartweresentovertoJack,labelled\"MissLauraandLottyBurtongoingtotheMinots\'ChristmasbalI\"apieceofnaughtinessonJill\'spart,forsheknewJacklikedtheprettysisters,whosegentlemannersmadeherownwildwaysseemallthemoreblamable。
Noanswercameforalongtime,andthegirlshadalmostforgottentheirjokeinagameofLetters,when\"Tingle,tangle！\"wentthebell,andthebasketcameinheavilyladen。Arollofcoloredpaperswastiedoutside,andwithinwasaboxthatrattled,agreenandsilverhorn,arollofnarrowribbons,aspoolofstrongthread,somelargeneedles,andanotefromMrs。Minot:
\"DearJill—IthinkofhavingaChristmastreesothatourinvalidscanenjoyit,andallyourelegantfriendsarecordiallyinvited。
Knowingthatyouwouldliketohelp,Isendsomepaperforsugar—plumhornsandsomebeadsfornecklaces。Theywillbrightenthetreeandpleasethegirlsforthemselvesortheirdolls。
Jacksendsyouahornforapattern,andwillyoumakealadder—necklacetoshowhimhow？Letmeknowifyouneedanything。
Yoursinhaste,AnnaMinot\"
\"Sheknewwhatthechildwouldlike,blessherkindheart,\"saidMrs。Pecqtoherself,andsomethingbrighterthanthemostsilverybeadshoneonJack\'sshirt—sleeve,asshesawtheraptureofJilloverthenewworkandthepromisedpleasure。
Joyfulcriesgreetedtheopeningofthebox,forbunchesofsplendidlargebuglesappearedinallcolors,andalivelydiscussionwentonastothebestcontrasts。Jillcouldnotrefusetoletherfriendssharetheprettywork,andsoonthreenecklacesglitteredonthreenecks,aseachadmiredherownchoice。
\"I\'dbewillingtohurtmybackdreadfully,ifIcouldlieanddosuchlovelythingsallday,\"saidMerry,asshereluctantlyputdownherneedleatlast,forhomedutieswaitedtobedone,andlookedmorethaneverdistastefulafterthisnewpleasure。
\"SowouldI！Oh,doyouthinkMrs。Minotwillletyoufillthehornswhentheyaredone？I\'dlovetohelpyouthen。Besureyousendforme！\"criedMollyLoo,archinghernecklikeaproudpigeontowatchtheglitterofherpurpleandgoldnecklaceonherbrowngown。
\"I\'mafraidyoucouldn\'tbetrusted,youlovesweetiesso,andImsureBoocouldn\'t。ButI\'llseeaboutit,\"repliedJill,witharesponsibleair。
Thementionoftheboyrecalledhimtotheirminds,andlookingroundtheyfoundhimpeacefullyabsorbedinpolishingupthefloorwithMolly\'spocket—handkerchiefandoilfromthelittlemachine—can。Beingtornfromthiscongeniallabor,hewascarriedoffshiningwithgreaseandroaringlustily。
ButJilldidnotmindherlonelinessnow,andsanglikeahappycanarywhileshethreadedhersparklingbeads,orhungthegayhornstodry,readyfortheircargoesofsweets。SoMrs。Minot\'srecipeforsunshineprovedsuccessful,andmother—witmadethewintrydayabrightandhappyoneforboththelittleprisoners。
Chapter5SecretsTherewereagreatmanyclubsinHarmonyVillage,butasweintendtointerestourselveswiththeaffairsoftheyoungfolksonly,weneednotdwellupontheintellectualamusementsoftheelders。
Insummer,theboysdevotedthemselvestobaseball,thegirlstoboating,andallgotrosy,stout,andstrong,inthesehealthfulexercises。Inwinter,theladshadtheirdebatingclub,thelassesadramaticditto。Attheformer,astonishingburstsoforatorywereheard;atthelatter,everythingwasboldlyattempted,fromRomeoandJuliettoMotherGoose\'simmortalmelodies。Thetwoclubsfrequentlymetandmingledtheirattractionsinareallyentertainingmanner,forthespeakersmadegoodactors,andtheyoungactressesweremostappreciativelistenerstotheeloquenceofeachbuddingDemosthenes。
GreatplanshadbeenafootforChristmasorNewYear,butwhenthegrandcatastropheputanendtothecareerofoneofthebest\"spouters,\"andcausedtheretirementofthefavorite\"singingchambermaid,\"theaffairwaspostponedtillFebruary,whenWashington\'sbirthdaywasalwayscelebratedbythepatriotictown,wherethefatherofhiscountryonceputonhisnightcap,ortookoffhisboots,asthatubiquitousheroappearstohavedoneineverypartoftheUnitedStates。
MeantimetheboyswerestudyingRevolutionarycharacters,andthegirlsrehearsingsuchdramaticscenesastheythoughtmostappropriateandeffectiveforthe22d。InbothoftheseattemptstheyweremuchhelpedbythesenseandspiritofRalphEvans,ayouthofnineteen,whowasagreatfavoritewiththeyoungfolks,notonlybecausehewasagood,industriousfellow,whosupportedhisgrandmother,butalsofulloftalent,fun,andingenuity。Itwasnowondereveryonewhoreallyknewhimlikedhim,forhecouldturnhishandtoanything,andlovedtodoit。Ifthegirlswereindespairaboutafire—placewhenacting\"TheCricketontheHearth,\"hepaintedone,andputagas—loginitthatmadethekettlereallyboil,totheirgreatdelight。Iftheboysfoundtheinterestoftheirclubflagging,Ralphwouldconvulsethembyimitationsofthe\"MemberfromCranberryCentre,\"orfirethemwithspeechesoffamousstatesmen。Charityfairscouldnotgetonwithouthim,andinthestorewhereheworkedhedidmanyaningeniousjob,whichmadehimvaluedforhismechanicalskill,aswellasforhisenergyandintegrity。
Mrs。Minotlikedtohavehimwithhersons,becausetheyalsoweretopaddletheirowncanoesbyandby,andshebelievedthat,richorpoor,boysmakebettermenforlearningtousethetalentstheypossess,notmerelyasornaments,buttoolswithwhichtocarvetheirownfortunes;andthebesthelptowardthisendisanexampleoffaithfulwork,highaims,andhonestliving。SoRalphcameoften,andintimesoftroublewasarealrainy—dayfriend。
Jackgrewveryfondofhimduringhisimprisonment,forthegoodyouthranineveryeveningtogetcommissions,amusetheboywithdrollaccountsoftheday\'sadventures,orinventlifts,bed—tables,andfoot—restsfortheimpatientinvalid。Frankfoundhimasureguidethroughthemechanicalmysterieswhichheloved,andspentmanyausefulhalf—hourdiscussingcylinders,pistons,valves,andbalance—wheels。Jillalsocameinforhershareofcareandcomfort;
thepoorlittlebacklayalltheeasierfortheair—cushionRalphgother,andthewearyheadachesfoundrelieffromthesprayatomizer,whichsoftlydistilleditsscenteddewonthehotforeheadtillshefellasleep。
RoundthebedsofJackandJillmetandmingledtheschoolmatesofwhomourstorytreats。Never,probably,didinvalidshavegayertimesthanourtwo,afteraweekofsolitaryconfinement;forschoolgossipcreptin,gamescouldnotbeprevented,andChristmassecretswereconcoctedinthoseroomstilltheywereregularconspiratorsdens,whentheywerenotlittleBedlams。
Afterthehornandbeadlaborswereover,thestringingofpop—cornonred,andcranberriesonwhite,threads,camenext,andJackandJilloftenlookedlikeanewkindofspiderintheprettywebshungaboutthem,tillreeledofftobidetheirtimeintheChristmascloset。Paperflowersfollowed,andgaygarlandsandbouquetsblossomed,regardlessofthesnowandfrostwithout。Thentherewasagreatscribblingofnames,verses,andnotestoaccompanythesteadilyincreasingstoreofoddparcelswhichwerecollectedattheMinots\',forgiftsfromeveryoneweretoornamentthetree,andcontributionspouredinasthedaydrewnear。
ButthesecretwhichmostexcitedtheyoungpeoplewasthedeepmysteryofcertainproceedingsattheMinothouse。NoonebutFrank,Ralph,andMammaknewwhatitwas,andthetwoboysnearlydrovetheothersdistractedbythetantalizingwayinwhichtheyhintedatjoystocome,talkedstrangelyaboutbirds,wentmeasuringroundwithfoot—rules,andshutthemselvesupintheBoysDen,asacertainlargeroomwascalled。Thisseemedtobethecentreofoperations,butbeyondthefactofthepromisedtreenorayoflightwaspermittedtopassthejealouslyguardeddoors,Strangemenwithpaste—potsandladderswentin,furniturewasdraggedabout,andallsortsofboyishlumberwassentupgarretanddowncellar。Mrs。Minotwasseenponderingoverheapsofgreenstuff,hammeringwasheard,singularbundlesweresmuggledupstairs,floweringplantsbetrayedtheirpresencebywhiffsoffragrancewhenthedoorwasopened,andMrs。Pecqwascaughtsmilingallbyherselfinabackbedroom,whichusuallywasshutupinwinter。
\"Theyaregoingtohaveaplay,afterall,andthatgreenstuffwasthecurtain,\"saidMollyLoo,asthegirlstalkeditoveroneday,whentheysatwiththeirbacksturnedtooneanother,puttinglaststitchesincertainbitsofworkwhichhadtobeconcealedfromalleyes,thoughitwasfoundconvenienttoaskoneanother\'stasteastothecolor,materials,andsizesofthesemysteriousarticles。
\"Ithinkitisgoingtobeadance。IheardtheboysdoingtheirstepswhenIwentinlasteveningtofindoutwhetherJacklikedblueoryellowbest,soIcouldputthebowonhispen—wiper,\"declaredMerry,knittingbrisklyawayatthelastofthepairofprettywhitebed—socksshewasmakingforJillrightunderherinquisitivelittlenose。
\"Theywouldn\'thaveapartyofthatkindwithoutJackandme。Itisonlyanextranicetree,youseeifitisn\'t,\"answeredJillfrombehindthepillowswhichmadeatemporaryscreentohidethetoiletmatsshewaspreparingforallherfriends。
\"Everyoneofyouiswrong,andyoudbetterresteasy,foryouwon\'tfindoutthebestpartofit,tryasyoumay。\"AndMrs。Pecqactuallychuckledasshe,too,workedawayatsomebitsofmuslin,withherbackturnedtotheveryunsocial—lookinggroup。
\"Well,Idon\'tcare,wevegotasecretallourown,andwon\'tevertell,willwe？\"criedJill,fallingbackontheHomeMissionarySociety,thoughitwasnotyetbegun。
\"Never！\"answeredthegirls,andalltookgreatcomfortintheideathatonemysterywouldnotbeclearedup,evenatChristmas。
Jackgaveupguessing,indespair,afterhehadsuggestedanewdining—roomwherehecouldeatwiththefamily,aprivateschoolinwhichhislessonsmightgoonwithatutor,oratheatrefortheproductionofthefarcesinwhichhedelighted。
\"Itisgoingtobeusedtokeepsomethinginthatyouareveryfondof,\"saidMamma,takingpityonhimatlast。
\"Ducks？\"askedJack,withahalfpleased,halfpuzzledair,notquiteseeingwherethewaterwastocomefrom。
Frankexplodedattheidea,andaddedtothemystificationbysaying,\"Therewillbeonelittleduckandonegreatdonkeyinit。\"Then,fearinghehadtoldthesecret,heranoff,quackingandbrayingderisively。
\"ItistobeusedforcreaturesthatI,too,amfondof,andyouknowneitherdonkeysnorducksarefavoritiesofmine,\"saidMamma,withademureexpression,asshesatturningoveroldclothesforthebundlesthatalwayswenttopoorneighbors,withalittlestoreofgoodies,atthistimeoftheyear。
\"Iknow！Iknow！Itistobeanewwardformoresickfolks,isn\'tit,now？\"criedJack,withwhathethoughtagreatproofofshrewdness。
\"Idon\'tseehowIcouldattendtomanymorepatientstillthisoneisoffmyhands,\"answeredMamma,withaqueersmile,addingquickly,asifshetoowasafraidoflettingthecatoutofthebag:
\"ThatremindsmeofaChristmasIoncespentamongthehospitalsandpoor—housesofagreatcitywithagoodladywho,forthirtyyears,hadmadeithermissiontoseethatthesepoorlittlesoulshadonemerryday。Wegaveawaytwohundreddolls,severalgreatboxesofcandyandtoys,besidesgaypictures,andnewclothestoorphanchildren,sickbabies,andhalf—growninnocents。Ah,myboy,thatwasadaytorememberallmylife,tomakemedoublygratefulformyblessings,andverygladtoservethehelplessandafflicted,asthatdearwomandid。\"
ThelookandtonewithwhichthelastwordswereutteredeffectuallyturnedJack\'sthoughtsfromthegreatsecret,andstartedanothersmallone,forhefelltoplanningwhathewouldbuywithhispocket—moneytosurprisethelittlePatsandBiddieswhoweretohavenoChristmastree。
Chapter6Surprises\"Isitpleasant？\"wasthequestionJillaskedbeforeshewasfairlyawakeonChristmasmorning。
\"Yes,dear;asbrightasheartcouldwish。Noweatabit,andthenI\'llmakeyounicefortheday\'spleasure。Ionlyhopeitwon\'tbetoomuchforyou,\"answeredMrs。Pecq,bustlingabout,happy,yetanxious,forJillwastobecarriedovertoMrs。Minots,anditwasherfirstattemptatgoingoutsincetheaccident。
Itseemedasifnineoclockwouldnevercome,andJill,withwrapsallready,laywaitinginafeverofimpatienceforthedoctor\'svisit,ashewishedtosuperintendthemoving。Atlasthecame,foundallpromising,andhavingbundleduphissmallpatient,carriedher,withFrank\'shelp,inherchair—bedtotheox—sled,whichwasdrawntothenextdoor,andMissJilllandedintheBoysDenbeforeshehadtimetogeteithercoldortired。Mrs。
Minottookherthingsoffwithacordialwelcome,butJillneversaidaword,for,afteroneexclamation,shelaystaringabouther,dumbwithsurpriseanddelightatwhatshesaw。
Thegreatroomwasentirelychanged;fornowitlookedlikeagarden,oroneofthefairysceneschildrenlove,wherein—doorsandout—of—doorsarepleasantlycombined。Theceilingwaspaleblue,likethesky;thewallswerecoveredwithapaperlikearustictrellis,upwhichclimbedmorning—gloriessonaturallythatthemany—coloredbellsseemeddancinginthewind。Birdsandbutterfliesflewamongthem,andhereandthere,througharchesinthetrellis,oneseemedtolookintoasunnysummerworld,contrastingcuriouslywiththewintrylandscapelyingbeyondtherealwindows,festoonedwithevergreengarlands,andcurtainedonlybystandsoflivingflowers。Agreendruggetcoveredthefloorlikegrass,rusticchairsfromthegardenstoodabout,andinthemiddleoftheroomahandsomehemlockwaitedforitsprettyburden。AYule—logblazedonthewidehearth,andoverthechimney—piece,framedinholly,shonethewordsthatsetallheartstodancing,\"MerryChristmas！\"
\"Doyoulikeit,dear？ThisisoursurpriseforyouandJack,andherewemeantohavegoodtimestogether,\"saidMrs。Minot,whohadstoodquietlyenjoyingtheeffectofherwork。
\"Oh,itissolovelyIdon\'tknowwhattosay！\"andJillputupbotharms,aswordsfailedher,andgratefulkisseswereallshehadtooffer。
\"Canyousuggestanythingmoretoaddtothepleasantness？\"askedthegentlelady,holdingthesmallhandsinherown,andfeelingwellrepaidbythechild\'sdelight。
\"OnlyJack\";andJill\'slaughwasgoodtohear,assheglancedupwithmerry,yetwistfuleyes。
\"Youareright。We\'llhavehiminatonce,orhewillcomehoppingononeleg\";andawayhurriedhismother,laughing,too,forwhistles,shouts,thumps,andviolentdemonstrationsofallkindshadbeenheardfromtheroomwhereJackwasragingwithimpatience,whilehewaitedforhisshareofthesurprise。
Jillcouldhardlyliestillwhensheheardtherollofanotherchair—bedcomingdownthehail,itspassageenlivenedwithcriesof\"Starboard！Port！Easynow！Pullaway！\"fromRalphandFrank,astheysteeredtherecumbentColumbusonhisfirstvoyageofdiscovery。
\"Well,Icallthathandsome！\"wasJack\'sexclamation,whenthefullbeautyofthesceneburstuponhisview。Thenheforgotallaboutitandgaveawhoopofpleasure,fortherebesidethefirewasaneagerface,twohandsbeckoning,andJill\'svoicecrying,joyfully。
\"I\'mhere！I\'mhere！Oh,docome,quick！\"Downthelongroomrattledthechair,Jackcheeringalltheway,andbroughtupbesidetheotherone,asthelong—partedfriendsexclaimed,withoneaccord,\"Isn\'tthisjolly！\"
Itcertainlydidlookso,forRalphandFrankdancedawildsortoffandangoroundthetree,Dr。Whitingstoodandlaughed,whilethetwomothersbeamedfromthedoor—way,andthechildren,notknowingwhethertolaughortocry,compromisedthematterbyclappingtheirhandsandshouting,\"MerryChristmastoeverybody！\"likeapairoflittlemaniacs。
Thentheyallsobereddown,andthebusyoneswentofftothevariousdutiesoftheday,leavingtheyounginvalidstoreposeandenjoythemselvestogether。
\"Howniceyoulook,\"saidJill,whentheyhaddulyadmiredtheprettyroom。
\"Sodoyou,\"gallantlyreturnedJack,ashesurveyedherwithunusualinterest。
Theydidlookverynice,thoughhappinesswastheprincipalbeautifier。Jillworearedwrapper,withthemostbrilliantofallthenecklacessparklingatherthroat,overanicelycrimpedfrillhermotherhadmadeinhonoroftheday。Allthecurlyblackhairwasgatheredintoarednet,andapairofsmartlittlemoccasinscoveredthefeetthathadnotsteppedformanyawearyday。Jackwasnotsogay,buthadmadehimselfasfineascircumstanceswouldpermit。Agraydressing—gown,withbluecuffsandcollar,wasverybecomingtotheblondeyouth;animmaculateshirt,beststuds,sleeve—buttons,bluetie,andhandkerchiefwetwithcolognestickingoutofthebreast—pocket,gaveanairofeleganceinspiteoftheafghanspreadoverthelowerportionsofhismanlyform。Theyellowhairwasbrushedtillitshone,andbeingpartedinthemiddle,tohidetheblackpatch,madetwoengaginglittle\"quiris\"
onhisforehead。Thesummertanhadfadedfromhischeeks,buthiseyeswereasblueasthewintrysky,andnearlyeverywhitetoothwasvisibleashesmiledonhispartnerinmisfortune,sayingcheerily。
\"I\'meversogladtoseeyouagain;guessweareovertheworstofitnow,andcanhavegoodtimes。Won\'titbefuntostayhereallthewhile,andamuseoneanother？\"
\"Yes,indeed;butonedayissoshort！ItwillbestupiderthaneverwhenIgohometo—night,\"answeredJill,lookingaboutherwithlongingeyes。
\"Butyouarenotgoinghometo—night;youaretostayeversolong。
Didn\'tMammatellyou？\"
\"No。Oh,howsplendid！AmIreally？WherewillIsleep？WhatwillMammydowithoutme？\"andJillalmostsatup,shewassodelightedwiththenewsurprise。
\"Thatroominthereisallfixedforyou。ImadeFranktellmesomuch。MammasaidImighttellyou,butI\'didn\'tthinkshewouldbeabletoholdinifshesawyoufirst。Yourmotheriscoming,too,andweareallgoingtohavelarkstogethertillweareThesplendorofthisarrangementtookJill\'sbreathaway,andbeforeshegotitagain,incameFrankandRalphwithtwoclothes—basketsoftreasurestobehunguponthetree。Whiletheywiredonthecandlesthechildrenaskedquestions,andfoundoutalltheywantedtoknowaboutthenewplansandpleasures。
\'Whofixedallthis？\"
\"Mammathoughtofit,andRalphandI\'didit。He\'sthemanforthissortofthing,youknow。Heproposedcuttingoutthearchesandstickingonbirdsandbutterfliesjustwheretheylookedbest。Iputthosecanariesoverthere,theylookedsowellagainsttheblue\";
andFrankproudlypointedoutsomequeerorange—coloredfowls,lookingasiftheywerehavingfitsintheair,butveryeffective,nevertheless。
\"YourmothersaidyoumightcallthistheBirdRoom。Wecaughtascarlet—tanagerforyoutobeginwith,didn\'twe,Jack？\"andRalphthrewahon—honatJill,wholookedverylikeabrightlittlebirdinawarmnest。
\"Goodforyou！Yes,andwearegoingtokeepherinthisprettycagetillwecanbothflyofftogether。Isay,Jill,whereshallwebeinourclasseswhenwedogetback？\"andJack\'smerryfacefellatthethought。
\"Atthefoot,ifwedon\'tstudyandkeepup。DoctorsaidImightstudysometimes,ifI\'dliestillaslongashethoughtbest,andMollybroughthomemybooks,andMerrysaysshewillcomeineverydayandtellmewherethelessonsare。Idon\'tmeantofallbehind,ifmybackboneiscracked,\"saidJill,withadecidednodthatmadeseveralblackringsflyoutofthenettodanceonherforehead。
\"FranksaidhedpullmealonginmyLatin,butI\'vebeenlazyandhaven\'tdoneathing。Let\'sgoatitandstartfairforNewYear,\"
proposedJack,whodidnotlovestudyasthebrightgirldid,butwasashamedtofallbehindherinanything。
\"Allright。Theyvebeenreviewing,sowecankeepupwhentheybegin,ifweworknextweek,whiletheresthaveaholiday。Oh,dear,Idomissschooldreadfully\";andJillsighedfortheolddesk,everyblotandnotchofwhichwasdeartoher。
\"Therecomeourthings,andprettynicetheylook,too,\"saidJack;
andhismotherbegantodressthetree,hangingupthegayhorns,thegildednuts,redandyellowapplesandoranges,andfestooninglongstringsofpop—cornandscarletcranberriesfromboughtobough,withtheglitteringnecklaceshungwherethelightwouldshowtheircolorsbest。
\"Ineversawsuchasplendidtreebefore。I\'mgladwecouldhelp,thoughwewereill。Isitalldonenow？\"askedJill,whenthelastparcelwastiedonandeverybodystoodbacktoadmiretheprettysight。
\"Onethingmore。Handmethatbox,Frank,andbeverycarefulthatyoufastenthisupfirmly,Ralph,\"answeredMrs。Minot,asshetookfromitswrappingsthewaxenfigureofalittlechild。Therosylimbswereverylife—like,sowasthesmilingfaceunderthelocksofshininghair。Bothplumparmswereoutspreadasiftoscatterblessingsoverall,anddownywingsseemedtoflutterfromthedimpledshoulders,makinganangelofthebaby。
\"IsitSt。Nicholas？\"askedJill,whohadneverseenthatfamouspersonage,andknewbutlittleofChristmasfestivities。
\"ItistheChrist—child,whosebirthdaywearecelebrating。IgotthebestIcouldfind,forIliketheideabetterthanoldSantaClaus;
thoughwemayhavehim,too,\"saidMamma,holdingthelittleimagesothatbothcouldseeitwell。
\"Itlookslikearealbaby\";andJacktouchedtherosyfootwiththetipofhisfinger,asifexpectingacrowfromthehalf—openlips。
\"ItremindsmeofthesaintsinthechapeloftheSacredHeartinMontreal。OnelittleSt。Johnlookedlikethis,onlyhehadalambinsteadofwings,\"saidJill,strokingtheflaxenhair,andwishingshedaredaskforittoplaywith。
\"Heisthechildren\'ssainttoprayto,love,andimitate,forheneverforgotthem,butblessedandhealedandtaughtthemallhislife。
Thisisonlyapoorimageoftheholiestbabyeverborn,butIhopeitwillkeephismemoryinyourmindsallday,becausethisisthedayforgoodresolutions,happythoughts,andhumbleprayers,aswellasplayandgiftsandfeasting。\"
Whileshespoke,Mrs。Minot,touchingthelittlefigureastenderlyasifitwerealive,hadtiedabroadwhiteribbonroundit,and,handingittoRalph,badehimfastenittothehookabovethetree—top,whereitseemedtofloatasifthedownywingssupportedit。