JackandJilllaysilentlywatching,withasweetsortofsobernessintheiryoungfaces,andforamomenttheroomwasverystillasalleyeslookedupattheBlessedChild。Thesunshineseemedtogrowmoregoldenasitflickeredonthelittlehead,theflamesglancedabouttheglitteringtreeasiftryingtoclimbandkissthebabyfeet,and,without,achimeofbellsrangsweetly,callingpeopletohearagainthelovelystoryofthelifebegunonChristinusDay。
Onlyaminute,butitdidthemgood,andpresently,whenthepleasantworkwasover,andtheworkersgone,theboystochurch,andMammatoseeaboutlunchfortheinvalids,Jacksaid,gravcly,toJill,\"Ithinkweoughttobeextragood,everyoneissokindtous,andwearegettingwell,andgoingtohavesuchcapitaltimes。Don\'tseehowwecandoanythingelsetoshowwearegrateful。\"
\"Itisn\'teasytobegoodwhenoneissick,\"saidJill,thoughtfully。\"I
fretdreadfully,Igetsotiredofbeingstill。Iwanttoscreamsometimes,butIdon\'t,becauseitwouldscareMammy,soIcry。
Doyoucry,Jack？\"
\"Menneverdo。Iwanttotramproundwhenthingsbotherme;butI
cant,soIkickandsay,\'Hangit！andwhenIgetverybadIpitchintoFrank,aridheletsme。Itellyou,Jill,he\'sagoodbrother！\"andJackprivatelyresolvedthenandtheretoinviteFranktotakeitoutofhiminanyformhepleasedassoonashealthwouldpermit。
\"Iratherthinkweshallgrowgoodinthisprettyplace,forIdon\'tseehowwecanbebadifwewantto,itisallsoniceandsortofpioushere,\"saidJill,withhereyesontheangeloverthetree。
\"Afellowcanbeawfullyhungry,Iknowthat。Ididn\'thalfeatbreakfast,Iwasinsuchahurrytoseeyou,andknowallaboutthesecrets。FrankkeptsayingIcouldn\'tguess,thatyouhadcome,JackandJilllaysilentlywatching,withasweetsortofsobernessintheiryoungfaces,andforamomenttheroomwasverystillasalleyeslookedupattheBlessedChild。Thesunshineseemedtogrowmoregoldenasitflickeredonthelittlehead,theflamesglancedabouttheglitteringtreeasiftryingtoclimbandkissthebabyfeet,and,without,achimeofbellsrangsweetly,callingpeopletohearagainthelovelystoryofthelifebegunonChristmasDay。
Onlyaminute,butitdidthemgood,andpresently,whenthepleasantworkwasover,andtheworkersgone,theboystochurch,andMammatoseeaboutlunchfortheinvalids,Jacksaid,gravely,toJill。
\"Ithinkweoughttobeextragood,everyoneissokindtous,andwearegettingwell,andgoingtohavesuchcapitaltimes。Don\'tseehowwecandoanythingelsetoshowwearegrateful。\"
\"Itisn\'teasytobegoodwhenoneissick,\"saidJill,thoughtfully。\"I
fretdreadfully,Igetsotiredofbeingstill。Iwanttoscreamsometimes,butIdon\'t,becauseitwouldscareMammy,soIcry。
Doyoucry,Jack？\"
\"Menneverdo。Iwanttotramproundwhenthingsbotherme;butI
cant,soIkickandsay,\'Hangit！andwhenIgetverybadIpitchintoFrank,andheletsme。Itellyou,Jill,he\'sagoodbrother！\"andJackprivatelyresolvedthenandtheretoinviteFranktotakeitoutofhiminanyformhepleasedassoonashealthwouldpermit。
\"Iratherthinkweshallgrowgoodinthisprettyplace,forIdon\'tseehowwecanbebadifwewantto,itisallsoniceandsortofpioushere,\"saidJill,withhereyesontheangeloverthetree。
\"Afellowcanbeawfullyhungry,Iknowthat。I\'didn\'thalfeatbreakfast,Iwasinsuchahurrytoseeyou,andknowallaboutthesecrets。FrankkeptsayingIcouldn\'tguess,thatyouhadcome,andIneverwouldbeready,tillfinallyIgotmadandfiredaneggathim,andmadenoendofamess。\"
JackandJillwentoffintoagaleoflaughterattheideaofdignifiedFrankdodgingtheeggthatsmashedonthewall,leavinganindeliblemarkofJack\'sbesettingsin,impatience。
JustthenMrs。Minotcamein,wellpleasedtohearsuchpleasantsounds,andtoseetwomerryfaces,whereusuallyonelistlessonemetheranxiouseyes。
\"Thenewmedicineworkswell,neighbor,\"shesaidtoMrs。Pecq,whofollowedwiththelunchtray。
\"Indeeditdoes,mem。IfeelasifI\'dtakenasupmyself,I\'mthateasyinmymind。\"
Andshelookedso,too,forsheseemedtohaveleftallhercaresinthelittlehousewhenshelockedthedoorbehindher,andnowstoodsmilingwithacleanapronon,sofreshandcheerful,thatJillhardlyknewherownmother。
\"Thingstastebetterwhenyouhavesomeonetoeatwithyou,\"
observedJack,asthey\'devouredsandwiches,anddrankmilkoutoflittlemugswithrosebudsonthem。
\"Don\'teattoomuch,oryouwon\'tbereadyforthenextsurprise,\"
saidhismother,whentheplateswereempty,andthelastdropgonedownthroatsdrywithmuchchatter。
\"Moresurprises！Oh,whatfun！\"criedJill。Andalltherestofthemorning,intheintervalsoftalkandplay,theytriedtoguesswhatitcouldbe。
Attwooclocktheyfoundout,fordinnerwasservedintheBirdRoom,andthechildrenrevelledinthesimplefeastpreparedforthem。Thetwomotherskeptthelittlebed—tableswellsupplied,andfedtheirnurslingslikematernalbirds,whileFrankpresidedoverthefeastwithgreatdignity,andateadinnerwhichwouldhaveastonishedMamma,ifshehadnotbeentoobusytoobservehowfastthemincepievanished。
\"ThegirlssaidChristmaswasspoiledbecauseofus;butIdon\'tthinkso,andtheywon\'teither,whentheyseethissplendidplaceandknowallaboutourniceplans,\"saidJill,luxuriouslyeatingthenut—meatsJackpickedoutforher,astheylayinEasternstyleatthefestiveboard。
\"Icallthisbrokenbonesmadeeasy。IneverhadabetterChristmas。
Havearaisin？Here\'sagoodfatone。\"AndJackmadealongarmtoJill\'smouth,whichbegantosing\"LittleJackHomer\"asanappropriatereturn。
\"Itwouldhavebeenalonesomeonetoallofus,I\'mthinking,butforyourmother,boys。Mydutyandheartythankstoyou,mem,\"
putingratefulMrs。Pecq,bowingoverhercoffee—cupasshehadseenladiesbowovertheirwine—glassesatdinnerpartiesinOldEngland。
\"Irisetoproposeahealth,OurMothers。\"AndFrankstoodupwithagobletofwater,fornotevenatChristmastimewaswineseenonthattable。
\"Hip,hip,hurrah！\"calledJack,baptizinghimselfwithagoodsprinkle,ashewavedhisglassanddrankthetoastwithalookthatmadehismother\'seyesfillwithhappytears。
Jillthrewhermotherakiss,feelingverygrownupandeleganttobediningoutinsuchstyle。Thenthey\'drankeveryone\'shealthwithmuchmerriment,tillFrankdeclaredthatJackwouldfloatoffonthedelugeofwaterhesplashedaboutinhisenthusiasm,andMammaproposedarestafterthemerry—making。
\"Nowthebestfuniscoming,andwehavenotlongtowait,\"saidtheboy,whennapsandridesabouttheroomhadwhiledawaythebriefintervalbetweendinneranddusk,fortheeveningentertainmentwastobeanearlyone,tosuittheinvalidsbedtime。
\"Ihopethegirlswillliketheirthings。Ihelpedtochoosethem,andeachhasanicepresent。Idon\'tknowmine,though,andI\'minatwittertoseeit,\"saidJill,astheylaywaitingforthefuntobegin。
\"Ido;Ichoseit,soIknowyouwilllikeoneofthem,anyway。\"
\"HaveIgotmorethanone？\"
\"Iguessyou\'llthinksowhentheyarehandeddown。Thebellwasgoingalldayyesterday,andthegirlskeptbringinginbundlesforyou;Iseesevennow,\"andJackrolledhiseyesfromonemysteriousparceltoanotherhangingontheladenboughs。
\"Iknowsomething,too。Thatsquarebundleiswhatyouwanteversomuch。ItoldFrank,andhegotitforhispresent。Itisallredandgoldoutside,andeverysortofcolorinside;you\'llhurrahwhenyouseeit。Thatroundishoneisyourstoo;Imadethem,\"criedJill,pointingtoaflatpackagetiedtothestemofthetree,andaneatlittlerollinwhichwerethebluemittensthatshehadknitforhim。
\"Icanwait\";buttheboy\'seyesshonewitheagerness,andhecouldnotresistfiringtwoorthreepop—cornsatittoseewhetheritwashardorsoft。
\"ThatbarkingdogisforBoo,andthelittleyellowsled,soMollycandraghimtoschool,healwaystumblesdownsowhenitisslippery,\"continuedJill,proudofhersuperiorknowledge,assheshowedasmallspottedanimalhangingbyitstail,witharedtonguedisplayedasifabouttotastethesweetiesinthehornbelow。
\"Don\'ttalkaboutsleds,formercy\'ssake！Ineverwanttoseeanother,andyouwouldn\'t,either,ifyouhadtoliewithaflat—irontiedtoyourankle,asIdo,\"saidJack,withakickofthewelllegandanirefulglanceattheweightattachedtotheotherthatitmightnotcontractwhilehealing。
\"Well,Ithinkplasters,andliniment,andrubbing,asbadasflat—ironsanyday。Idon\'tbelieveyouhaveachedhalfsomuchasI
have,thoughitsoundsworsetobreaklegsthantosprainyourback,\"protestedJill,eagertoproveherselfthegreatersufferer,asinvalidsareapttobe。
\"Iguessyouwouldn\'tthinksoifyoudbeenpulledroundasI
waswhentheysetmyleg。Caesar,howitdidhurt！\"andJacksquirmedattherecollectionofit。
\"Youdidn\'tfaintawayasI\'didwhenthedoctorwasfindingoutifmyvertebrumswerehurt,sonow！\"criedJill,boundtocarryherpoint,thoughnotatallclearwhatvertebraewere。
\"Pooh！Girlsalwaysfaint。Menarebraver,andIdidn\'tfaintabitinspiteofallthathorridagony。\"
\"Youhowled;Franktoldmeso。DoctorsaidIwasabravegirl,soyouneedn\'tbrag,foryou\'llhavetogoonacrutchforawhile。I
knowthat。\"
\"Youmayhavetousetwoofthemforyears,maybe。Iheardthedoctortellmymotherso。Ishallbeupandaboutlongbeforeyouwill。Nowthen！\"
Bothchildrenweregettingexcited,forthevariouspleasuresofthedayhadbeenrathertoomuchforthem,andthereisnoknowingbuttheywouldhaveaddedthesadsurpriseofaquarreltothepleasantonesoftheday,ifacheerfulwhistlehadnotbeenheard,asRalphcameintolightthecandlesandgivethelastartistictouchestotheroom。
\"Well,youngfolks,howgoesit？Hadamerrytimesofar？\"heasked,ashefixedthestepsandranupwithalightedmatchinhishand。
\"Verynice,thankyou,\"answeredaprimlittlevoicefromtheduskbelow,foronlytheglowofthefirefilledtheroomjustthen。
Jacksaidnothing,andtworedsulkyfaceswerehiddeninthedark,watchingcandleaftercandlesputter,brighten,andtwinkle,tillthetremblingshadowsbegantoflitawaylikeimpsafraidofthelight。
\"Nowhewillseemyface,andIknowitiscross,\"thoughtJill,asRalphwentroundthelastcircle,leavinganotherlineofsparksamongthehemlockboughs。
Jackthoughtthesame,andhadjustgotthefrownsmoothedoutofhisforehead,whenFrankbroughtafreshlog,andagloriousblazesprungup,fillingeverycorneroftheroom,anddancingoverthefiguresinthelongchairstilltheyhadtobrightenwhethertheylikeditornot。Presentlythebellbegantoringandgayvoicestosoundbelow:thenJillsmiledinspiteofherselfasMollyLoo\'susualcryof\"Oh,dear,whereisthatchild？\"reachedher,andJackcouldnothelpkeepingtimetothemarchEdplayed,whileFrankandGusmarshalledtheprocession。
\"Ready！\"criedMrs。Minot,atlast,andupcamethetroopofeagerladsandlasses,braveinholidaysuits,withfacestomatch。A
unanimous\"0,o,o！\"burstfromtwentytongues,asthefullsplendorofthetree,theroom,anditsinmates,dawneduponthem;
fornotonlydidtheprettyChrist—childhoverabove,butSantaClaushimselfstoodbelow,fur—clad,white—bearded,andpowderedwithsnowfromthedredging—box。
Ralphwasagoodactor,and,whenthefirstraptureswereoverhedistributedthepresentswithsuchdrollspeeches,jokes,andgambols,thattheroomrangwithmerriment,andpassers—bypausedtolisten,surethathere,atleast,Christmaswasmerry。Itwouldbeimpossibletotellaboutallthegiftsorthejoyofthereceivers,buteveryonewassatisfied,andthekingandqueenoftherevelssooverwhelmedwithlittletokensofgood—will,thattheirbedslookedlikeboothsatafair。Jackbeamedoverthehandsomepostage—stampbookwhichhadlongbeenthedesireofhisheart,andJillfeltlikeamillionaire,withasilverfruit—knife,aprettywork—basket,andoh！coalsoffireonherheadaringfromJack。
Asimplelittlethingenough,withonetinyturquoiseforget—me—
not,butsomethinglikeadew—dropfellonitwhennoonewaslooking,andshelongedtosay,\"I\'msorryIwascross;forgiveme,Jack。\"Butitcouldnotbedonethen,sosheturnedtoadmireMerry\'sbed—shoes,thepotsofpansies,hyacinths,andgeraniumwhichGusandhissisterssentforherwindowgarden,Molly\'squeerChristmaspie,andthezitherEdpromisedtoteachherhowtoplayupon。
Thetreewassoonstripped,andpop—cornsstrewedthefloorasthechildrenstoodaboutpickingthemofftheredthreadswhencandygaveout,withanoccasionalcranberrybywayofrelish。Booinsistedontryingthenewsledatonce,andenlivenedthetripbythesqueakingofthespotteddog,thetootofatintrumpet,andshoutsofjoyatthesplendoroftheturn—out。
Thegirlsallputontheirnecklaces,anddancedaboutlikefineladiesataball。Theboysfelltocomparingskates,balls,andcuff—buttonsonthespot,whilethelittleonesdevotedalltheirenergiestoeatingeverythingeatabletheycouldlaytheirhandson。
Gameswereplayedtillnineoclock,andthenthepartybrokeup,aftertheyhadtakenhandsroundthetreeandsungasongwrittenbyonewhomyouallknowsofaithfullyandbeautifullydoessheloveandlaborforchildrentheworldover。
THEBLESSEDDAY
\"WhatshalllittlechildrenbringOnChristmasDay,onChristmasDay？
WhatshalllittlechildrenbringOnChristmasDayinthemorning？
ThisshalllittlechildrenbringOnChristmasDay,onChristmasDay;
LoveandjoytoChristtheirking,OnChristmasDayinthemorning！
\"WhatshalllittlechildrensingOnChristmasDay,onChristmasDay？
WhatshalllittlechildrensingOnChristmasDayinthemorning？
ThegrandoldcarolsshalltheysingOnChristmasDay,onChristmasDay;
Withalltheirhearts,theirofferingsbringOnChristmasDayinthemorning。\"
Jackwascarriedofftobedinsuchhastethathehadonlytimetocallout,\"Good—night！\"beforehewasrolledaway,gapingashewent。Jillsoonfoundherselftuckedupinthegreatwhitebedshewastosharewithhermother,andlaylookingaboutthepleasantchamber,whileMrs。Pecqranhomeforaminutetoseethatallwassafethereforthenight。
Afterthemerrydinthehouseseemedverystill,withonlyalightstepnowandthen,themurmurofvoicesnotfaraway,orthejingleofsleigh—bellsfromwithout,andthelittlegirlrestedeasilyamongthepillows,thinkingoverthepleasuresoftheday,toowide—awakeforsleep。Therewasnolampinthechamber,butshecouldlookintotheprettyBirdRoom,wherethefire—lightstillshoneonflowerywalls,desertedtree,andChrist—childfloatingabovethegreen。Jill\'seyeswanderedthereandlingeredtilltheywerefullofregretfultears,becausethesightofthelittleangelrecalledthewordsspokenwhenitwashungup,thegoodresolutionshehadtakenthen,andhowsoonitwasbroken。
\"IsaidIcouldn\'tbebadinthatlovelyplace,andIwasacross,ungratefulgirlafteralltheyvedoneforMammyandme。PoorJackwashurttheworst,andhewasbrave,thoughhedidscream。
IwishIcouldgoandtellhimso,andhearhimsay,\'Allright。Oh,me,I\'vespoiledtheday！\"
Agreatsobchokedmorewords,andJillwasabouttohaveacomfortablecry,whensomeoneenteredtheotherroom,andshesawFrankdoingsomethingwithalongcordandathingthatlookedlikeatinydrum。Quietasabright—eyedmouse,Jillpeepedoutwonderingwhatitwas,andsuspectingmischief,fortheboywaslaughingtohimselfashestretchedthecord,andnowandthenbentoverthelittleobjectinhishand,touchingitwithgreatcare。
\"Maybeit\'satorpedotoblowupandscareme;Jacklikestoplaytricks。Well,I\'llscreamloudwhenitgoesoff,sohewillbesatisfiedthatI\'mdreadfullyfrightened,\"thoughtJill,littledreamingwhatthelastsurpriseofthedaywastobe。
Presentlyavoicewhispered,Areyouawake？\"
\"Yes。\"
\"Anyonetherebutyou？\"
\"Catchthis,then。Holdittoyourearandseewhatyou\'llget。\"
Thelittledrumcameflyingin,and,catchingit,Jill,withsomehesitation,obeyedFrank\'sorder。Judgeofheramazementwhenshecaughtinbrokenwhispersthesetouchingwords:
\"SorryIwascross。Forgiveandforget。Startfairto—morrow。Allright。Jack。\"
Jillwassodelightedwiththishandsomeapology,thatshecouldnotreplyforamoment,thensteadiedhervoice,andansweredbackinhersweetesttone,\"I\'msorry,too。Never,never,willagain。Feelmuchbetternow。
Good—night,youdearoldthing。\"
Satisfiedwiththesuccessofhistelephone,Franktwitchedbackthedrumandvanished,leavingJilltolayhercheekuponthehandthatworethelittleringandfallasleep,sayingtoherself,withafarewellglanceatthechildren\'ssaint,dimlyseeninthesoftgloom,\"Iwillnotforget。Iwillbegood！\"
Chapter7Jill\'sMissionThegoodtimesbeganimmediately,andverylittlestudyingwasdonethatweekinspiteofthevirtuousresolutionsmadebycertainyoungpersonsonChristmasDay。But,dearme,howwasitpossibletosettledowntolessonsinthedelightfulBirdRoom,withnotonlyitsowncharmstodistractone,butallthenewgiftstoenjoy,andadozencallsadaytooccupyone\'stime？
\"Iguesswe\'dbetterwaittilltheothersareatschool,andjustgoinforfunthisweek,\"saidJack,whowasingreatspiritsattheprospectofgettingup,forthesplintswereoff,andhehopedtobepromotedtocrutchesverysoon。
\"IshallkeepmySpellerbymeandtakealookatiteveryday,forthatiswhatI\'mmostbackwardin。ButIintendtodevotemyselftoyou,Jack,andberealkindanduseful。I\'vemadeaplantodoit,andImeantocarryitout,anyway,\"answeredJill,whohadbeguntobeamissionary,andfeltthatthiswasafieldoflaborwhereshecoulddistinguishherself。
\"Here\'sahomemissionallreadyforyou,andyoucanbepayingyourdebtsbesidedoingyourselfgood,\"Mrs。Pecqsaidtoherinprivate,havingfoundplentytodoherself。
NowJillmadeonegreatmistakeattheoutset——sheforgotthatshewastheonetobeconvertedtogoodmannersandgentleness,anddevotedhereffortstolookingafterJack,findingitmucheasiertocureotherpeople\'sfaultsthanherown。Jackwasamostengagingheathen,andneededverylittleinstruction;thereforeJillthoughthertaskwouldbeaneasyone。Butthreeorfourweeksofpettingandplayhadratherdemoralizedbothchildren,soJill\'sSpeller,thoughtuckedunderthesofapilloweveryday,wasseldomlookedat,andJackshirkedhisLatinshamefully。Bothreadallthestory—bookstheycouldget,helddailyleveesintheBirdRoom,andalltheirspareminuteswerespentinteachingSnowdrop,thegreatAngoracat,tobringtheballwhentheydroppeditintheirgame。
SoSaturdaycame,andbothwererathertheworseforsomuchidleness,sincedailydutiesandstudiesarethewholesomebreadwhichfeedsthemindbetterthanthedyspepticplum—cakeofsensationalreading,ortheunsubstantialbon—bonsoffrivolousamusement。
Itwasastormyday,sotheyhadfewcallers,anddevotedthemselvestoarrangingthealbum;forthesebookswerealltheragejustthen,andboysmettocompare,discuss,buy,sell,and\"swap\"stampswithasmuchinterestasmenon\'Changegambleinstocks。Jackhadanicelittlecollection,andhadbeensavinguppocket—moneytobuyabookinwhichtopreservehistreasures。
Now,thankstoJill\'stimelysuggestion,Frankhadgivenhimafineone,andseveralfriendshadcontributedanumberofrarestampstogracethelarge,invitingpages。Jillwieldedthegum—brushandfittedonthelittleflaps,asherfingerswereskilfulatthisnicework,andJackputeachstampinitsproperplacewithgreatrustlingofleavesandcomparingofmarks。Returning,afterabriefabsence,Mrs。Minotbeheldthecountenancesoftheworkersadornedwithgaystamps,givingthemaverycuriousappearance。
\"Mydears！whatnewplayhaveyougotnow？AreyouwildIndians？orlettersthathavegoneroundtheworldbeforefindingtherightaddress？\"sheasked,laughingattheridiculoussight,forbothwereassoberasjudgesanddeeplyabsorbedinsomedoubtfulspecimen。
\"Oh,wejuststuckthemtheretokeepthemsafe;theygetlostifweleavethemlyinground。It\'sveryhandy,forIcanseeinaminutewhatIwantonJill\'sfaceandsheonmine,andputourfingersontherightchapatonce,\"answeredJack,adding,withananxiousgazeathisfriend\'svariegatedcountenance,\"WherethedickensismyNewGranada？It\'srare,andIwouldn\'tloseitforadollar。\"
\'Why,thereitisonyourownnose。Don\'tyourememberyouputittherebecauseyousaidminewasnotbigenoughtoholdit？\"
laughedJill,tweakingalargeorangesquareofftheroundnoseofherneighbor,causingittowrinkleupinadrollway,asthegummadetheoperationslightlypainful。
\"SoI\'did,andgaveyouLittleBolivaronyours。NowI\'llhaveAlsaceandLorraine,1870。Therearesevenofthem,soholdstillandseehowyoulikeit,\"returnedJack,pickingthelarge,palestampsonebyonefromJill\'sforehead,whichtheycrossedlikeaband。
Sheboreitwithoutflinching,sayingtoherselfwithasecretsmile,assheglancedatthehotfire,whichscorchedherifshekeptnearenoughtoJacktohelphim,\"Thisreallyisbeinglikeamissionary,withatattooedsavagetolookafter。Ihavetosufferalittle,asthegoodfolksdidwhogotspearedandroastedsometimes;butIwon\'tcomplainabit,thoughmyforeheadsmarts,myarmsaretired,andonecheekisasredasfire。\"
\"TheRomanStatesmakeahandsomepage,don\'tthey？\"askedJack,littledreamingoftheparthewasplayinginJill\'smind。\"Oh,Isay,isn\'tCoreaabeauty？I\'meversoproudofthat\";andhegazedfondlyonabigbluestamp,thesoleornamentofonepage。
\"Idon\'tseewhytheCapeofGoodHopehaspyramids。TheyoughttogoinEgypt。TheSandwichIslandsareallright,withheadsoftheblackkingsandqueensonthem,\"saidJill,feelingthattheywereveryappropriatetoherprivateplay。
\"Turkeyhascrescents,Australiaswans,andSpainwomen\'sheads,withblackbarsacrossthem。Franksaysitisbecausetheykeepwomenshutupso;butthatwasonlyhisfun。I\'dratherhaveagood,honestgreenUnitedStates,withWashingtononit,orablueone—centerwitholdFranklin,thanalltheireaglesandlionsandkingsandqueensputtogether,\"addedthedemocraticboy,withadisrespectfulslaponacrownedheadashesettledHeligolandinitsplace。
\"WhydoesAustriahaveMercuryonthestamp,Iwonder？Dotheywearhelmetslikethat？\"askedJill,withthebrush—handleinhermouthasshecutafreshbatchofflaps。
\"Maybehewaspostmantothegods,soheisputonstampsnow。
ThePrussianswearhelmets,buttheyhavespikesliketheoldRomanfellows。IlikePrussianseversomuch;theyfightsplendidly,andalwaysbeat。Austrianshaveahandsomeuniform,though。\"
\"TalkingofRomansremindsmethatIhavenotheardyourLatinfortwodays。Come,lazybones,braceup,andletushaveitnow。
I\'vedonemycompo,andshallhavejusttimebeforeIgooutforatrampwithGus,\"saidFrank,puttingbyaneatpagetodry,forhestudiedeverydaylikeaconscientiousladashewas。
\"Don\'tknowit。Notgoingtotrytillnextweek。GrindawayoveryouroldGreekasmuchasyoulike,butdon\'tbotherme,\"
answeredJack,frowningatthemerethoughtofthedetestedlesson。
ButFrankadoredhisXenophon,andwouldnotseehisoldfriend,Caesar,neglectedwithoutanefforttodefendhim;soheconfiscatedthegum—pot,andeffectuallystoppedthestampbusinessbywhiskingawayatonefellswoopallthatlayonJill\'stable。
\"Nowthen,youngman,youwillquitthissortofnonsenseanddoyourlesson,oryouwon\'tseethesefellowsagaininahurry。Youaskedmetohearyou,andI\'mgoingtodoit;here\'sthebook。\"
Frank\'stonewasthedictatorialone,whichJackhatedandalwaysfoundhardtoobey,especiallywhenheknewheoughttodoit。
Usually,whenhispatiencewastried,hestrodeabouttheroom,orranoffforaraceroundthegarden,comingbackbreathless,butgood—tempered。Nowboththeseventsforirritationweredeniedhim,andhehadfallenintothewayofthrowingthingsaboutinapet。HelongedtosendCaesartoperpetualbanishmentinthefireblazingcloseby,butresistedthetemptation,andansweredhonestly,thoughgruffly:\"IknowI\'did,butIdon\'tseeanyuseinpouncingonafellowwhenheisn\'tready。Ihaven\'tgotmylesson,anddon\'tmeantoworryaboutit;soyoumayjustgivemebackmythingsandgoaboutyourbusiness。\"
\"I\'llgiveyoubackastampforeveryperfectlessonyouget,andyouwon\'tseethemonanyotherterms\";and,thrustingthetreasuresintohispocket,Frankcaughtuphisrubberboots,andwentoffswingingthemlikeapairofclubs,feelingthathewouldgiveatrifletobeabletousethemonhislazybrother。
Atthishigh—handedproceeding,andthethreatwhichaccompaniedit,Jack\'spatiencegaveout,andcatchingupCaesar,ashethought,senthimflyingaftertheretreatingtyrantwiththedefiantdeclaration,\"Keepthem,then,andyouroldbook,too！Iwon\'tlookatittillyougiveallmystampsbackandsayyouaresorry。Sonow！\"
ItwasalloverbeforeMammacouldinterfere,orJilldomorethanclutchandclingtothegum—brush。Frankvanishedunharmed,butthepoorbookdashedagainstthewalltofallhalfopenonthefloor,itsgaycoverloosened,anditssmoothleavescrushedbytheblow。
\"It\'sthealbum！OJack,howcouldyou？\"criedJill,dismayedatsightofthepreciousbooksomaltreatedbytheowner。
\"Thoughtitwastheother。Guessitisn\'thurtmuch。Didn\'tmeantohithim,anyway。Hedoesprovokemeso,\"mutteredJack,veryredandshamefacedashismotherpickedupthebookandlaiditsilentlyonthetablebeforehim。Hedidnotknowwhattodowithhimself,andwasthankfulforthestampsstilllefthim,findinggreatreliefinmakingfacesashepluckedthemonebyonefromhismortifiedcountenance。Jilllookedon,halfglad,halfsorrythathersavageshowedsuchsignsofunconvertedferocity,andMrs。
Minotwentonwritingletters,wearingthegravelookhersonsfoundhardertobearthananotherperson\'sscolding。Noonespokeforamoment,andthesilencewasbecomingawkwardwhenGusappearedinarubbersuit,bringingabooktoJackfromLauraandanotetoJillfromLotty。
\"Lookhere,youjusttrundlemeintomyden,please,I\'mgoingtohaveanap,it\'ssodullto—dayIdon\'tfeellikedoingmuch,\"saidJack,whenGushaddonehiserrands,tryingtolookasifheknewnothingaboutthefracas。
Jackfoldedhisarmsanddepartedlikeawarriorbornefromthebattle—field,tobechaffedunmercifullyfora\"pepper—pot,\"whileGusmadehimcomfortableinhisownroom。
\"Iheardonceofaboywhothrewaforkathisbrotherandputhiseyeout。Buthedidn\'tmeanto,andthebrotherforgavehim,andheneverdidsoanymore,\"observedJill,inapensivetone,wishingtoshowthatshefeltallthedangersofimpatience,butwassorryfortheculprit。
\"Didtheboyeverforgivehimself？\"askedMrs。Minot。
\"No,\'m;Isupposenot。ButJackdidn\'thitFrank,andfeelsrealsorry,Iknow。\"