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of everything but his mills； Miss Bat was old and lazy； and felt as
if she might take life easy after serving the motherless children for
many years as well as she knew how。 Molly was beginning to see
how much amiss things were at home； and old enough to feel
mortified； though； as yet； she had done nothing to mend the matter
except be kind to the little boy。
〃You will； my dear；〃 answered Mrs。 Pecq； encouragingly； for she
knew all about it。 〃Now you ve each got a mission； let us see how
well you will get on。 Keep it secret； if you like； and report once a
week。 I'll be a member； and we'll do great things yet。〃
〃We won't begin till after Christmas； there is so much to do； we
never shall have time for any more。 Don't tell； and we'll start fair
at New Year s； if not before；〃 said Jill； taking the lead as usual。
Then they went on with the gay ladies； who certainly were heathen
enough in dress to be in sad need of conversion to common…sense
at least。
〃I feel as if I was at a party；〃 said Jill； after a pause occupied in
surveying her gallery with great satisfaction； for dress was her
delight； and here she had every conceivable style and color。
〃Talking of parties； isn't it too bad that we must give up our
Christmas fun？ Can't get on without you and Jack； so we are not
going to do a thing； but just have our presents；〃 said Merry； sadly；
as they began to fit different heads and bodies together； to try droll
effects。
〃I shall be all well in a fortnight； I know； but Jack won t； for it will
take more than a month to mend his poor leg。 Maybe； they will
have a dance in the boys big room； and he can look on；〃 suggested
Jill； with a glance at the dancing damsel on the wall； for she dearly
loved it； and never guessed how long it would be before her light
feet would keep time to music again。
〃You d better give Jack a hint about the party。 Send over some
smart ladies； and say they have come to his Christmas ball；〃
proposed audacious Molly Loo； always ready for fun。
So they put a preposterous green bonnet； top…heavy with plumes；
on a little lady in yellow； who sat in a carriage； the lady beside her；
in winter costume of velvet pelisse and ermine boa； was fitted to a
bride's head with its orange flowers and veil； and these works of
art were sent over to Jack； labelled 〃Miss Laura and Lotty Burton
going to the Minots' Christmas balI〃 a piece of naughtiness on
Jill's part； for she knew Jack liked the pretty sisters； whose gentle
manners made her own wild ways seem all the more blamable。
No answer came for a long time； and the girls had almost forgotten
their joke in a game of Letters； when 〃Tingle； tangle！〃 went the
bell； and the basket came in heavily laden。 A roll of colored papers
was tied outside； and within was a box that rattled； a green and
silver horn； a roll of narrow ribbons； a spool of strong thread； some
large needles； and a note from Mrs。 Minot：
〃Dear Jill…I think of having a Christmas tree so that our invalids
can enjoy it； and all your elegant friends are cordially invited。
Knowing that you would like to help； I send some paper for
sugar…plum horns and some beads for necklaces。 They will
brighten the tree and please the girls for themselves or their dolls。
Jack sends you a horn for a pattern； and will you make a
ladder…necklace to show him how？ Let me know if you need
anything。
Yours in haste；
Anna Minot〃
〃She knew what the child would like； bless her kind heart；〃 said
Mrs。 Pecq to herself； and something brighter than the most silvery
bead shone on Jack's shirt…sleeve； as she saw the rapture of Jill
over the new work and the promised pleasure。
Joyful cries greeted the opening of the box； for bunches of
splendid large bugles appeared in all colors； and a lively discussion
went on as to the best contrasts。 Jill could not refuse to let her
friends share the pretty work； and soon three necklaces glittered on
three necks； as each admired her own choice。
〃I'd be willing to hurt my back dreadfully； if I could lie and do
such lovely things all day；〃 said Merry； as she reluctantly put down
her needle at last； for home duties waited to be done； and looked
more than ever distasteful after this new pleasure。
〃So would I！ Oh； do you think Mrs。 Minot will let you fill the
horns when they are done？ I'd love to help you then。 Be sure you
send for me！〃 cried Molly Loo； arching her neck like a proud
pigeon to watch the glitter of her purple and gold necklace on her
brown gown。
〃I'm afraid you couldn't be trusted； you love sweeties so； and I m
sure Boo couldn't。 But I'll see about it；〃 replied Jill； with a
responsible air。
The mention of the boy recalled him to their minds； and looking
round they found him peacefully absorbed in polishing up the floor
with Molly's pocket…handkerchief and oil from the little
machine…can。 Being torn from this congenial labor； he was carried
off shining with grease and roaring lustily。
But Jill did not mind her loneliness now； and sang like a happy
canary while she threaded her sparkling beads； or hung the gay
horns to dry； ready f or their cargoes of sweets。 So Mrs。 Minot's
recipe for sunshine proved successful； and mother…wit made the
wintry day a bright and happy one for both the little prisoners。
Chapter 5 Secrets
There were a great many clubs in Harmony Village； but as we
intend to interest ourselves with the affairs of the young folks only；
we need not dwell upon the intellectual amusements of the elders。
In summer； the boys devoted themselves to baseball； the girls to
boating； and all got rosy； stout； and strong； in these healthful
exercises。 In winter； the lads had their debating club； the lasses a
dramatic ditto。 At the former； astonishing bursts of oratory were
heard； at the latter； everything was boldly attempted； from Romeo
and Juliet to Mother Goose's immortal melodies。 The two clubs
frequently met and mingled their attractions in a really entertaining
manner； for the speakers made good actors； and the young
actresses were most appreciative listeners to the eloquence of each
budding Demosthenes。
Great plans had been afoot for Christmas or New Year； but when
the grand catastrophe put an end to the career of one of the best
〃spouters；〃 and caused the retirement of the favorite 〃singing
chambermaid；〃 the affair was postponed till February； when
Washington's birthday was always celebrated by the patriotic town；
where the father of his country once put on his nightcap； or took
off his boots； as that ubiquitous hero appears to have done in every
part of the United States。
Meantime the boys were studying Revolutionary characters； and
the girls rehearsing such dramatic scenes as they thought most
appropriate and effective for the 22d。 In both of these attempts
they were much helped by the sense and spirit of Ralph Evans； a
youth of nineteen； who was a great favorite with the young folks；