按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
shrewdness。
〃I don't see how I could attend to many more patients till this one
is off my hands；〃 answered Mamma； with a queer smile； adding
quickly； as if she too was afraid of letting the cat out of the bag：
〃That reminds me of a Christmas I once spent among the hospitals
and poor…houses of a great city with a good lady who； for thirty
years； had made it her mission to see that these poor little souls
had one merry day。 We gave away two hundred dolls； several great
boxes of candy and toys； besides gay pictures； and new clothes to
orphan children； sick babies； and half…grown innocents。 Ah； my
boy； that was a day to remember all my life； to make me doubly
grateful for my blessings； and very glad to serve the helpless and
afflicted； as that dear woman did。〃
The look and tone with which the last words were uttered
effectually turned Jack's thoughts from the great secret； and started
another small one； for he fell to planning what he would buy with
his pocket…money to surprise the little Pats and Biddies who were
to have no Christmas tree。
Chapter 6 Surprises
〃Is it pleasant？〃 was the question Jill asked before she was fairly
awake on Christmas morning。
〃Yes； dear； as bright as heart could wish。 Now eat a bit； and then
I'll make you nice for the day's pleasure。 I only hope it won't be too
much for you；〃 answered Mrs。 Pecq； bustling about； happy； yet
anxious； for Jill was to be carried over to Mrs。 Minot s； and it was
her first attempt at going out since the accident。
It seemed as if nine o clock would never come； and Jill； with
wraps all ready； lay waiting in a fever of impatience for the
doctor's visit； as he wished to superintend the moving。 At last he
came； found all promising； and having bundled up his small
patient； carried her； with Frank's help； in her chair…bed to the
ox…sled； which was drawn to the next door； and Miss Jill landed in
the Boys Den before she had time to get either cold or tired。 Mrs。
Minot took her things off with a cordial welcome； but Jill never
said a word； for； after one exclamation； she lay staring about her；
dumb with surprise and delight at what she saw。
The great room was entirely changed； for now it looked like a
garden； or one of the fairy scenes children love； where in…doors
and out…of…doors are pleasantly combined。 The ceiling was pale
blue； like the sky； the walls were covered with a paper like a rustic
trellis； up which climbed morning…glories so naturally that the
many…colored bells seemed dancing in the wind。 Birds and
butterflies flew among them； and here and there； through arches in
the trellis； one seemed to look into a sunny summer world；
contrasting curiously with the wintry landscape lying beyond the
real windows； festooned with evergreen garlands； and curtained
only by stands of living flowers。 A green drugget covered the floor
like grass； rustic chairs from the garden stood about； and in the
middle of the room a handsome hemlock waited for its pretty
burden。 A Yule…log blazed on the wide hearth； and over the
chimney…piece； framed in holly； shone the words that set all hearts
to dancing； 〃Merry Christmas！〃
〃Do you like it； dear？ This is our surprise for you and Jack； and
here we mean to have good times together；〃 said Mrs。 Minot； who
had stood quietly enjoying the effect of her work。
〃Oh； it is so lovely I don't know what to say！〃 and Jill put up both
arms； as words failed her； and grateful kisses were all she had to
offer。
〃Can you suggest anything more to add to the pleasantness？〃 asked
the gentle lady； holding the small hands in her own； and feeling
well repaid by the child's delight。
〃Only Jack〃； and Jill's laugh was good to hear； as she glanced up
with merry； yet wistful eyes。
〃You are right。 We'll have him in at once； or he will come hopping
on one leg〃； and away hurried his mother； laughing； too； for
whistles； shouts； thumps； and violent demonstrations of all kinds
had been heard from the room where Jack was raging with
impatience； while he waited for his share of the surprise。
Jill could hardly lie still when she heard the roll of another
chair…bed coming down the hail； its passage enlivened with cries of
〃Starboard！ Port！ Easy now！ Pull away！〃 from Ralph and Frank； as
they steered the recumbent Columbus on his first voyage of
discovery。
〃Well； I call that handsome！〃 was Jack's exclamation； when the
full beauty of the scene burst upon his view。 Then he forgot all
about it and gave a whoop of pleasure； for there beside the fire was
an eager face； two hands beckoning； and Jill's voice crying；
joyfully。
〃I'm here！ I'm here！ Oh； do come； quick！〃 Down the long room
rattled the chair； Jack cheering all the way； and brought up beside
the other one； as the long…parted friends exclaimed； with one
accord；
〃Isn't this jolly！〃
It certainly did look so； for Ralph and Frank danced a wild sort of
fandango round the tree； Dr。 Whiting stood and laughed； while the
two mothers beamed from the door…way； and the children； not
knowing whether to laugh or to cry； compromised the matter by
clapping their hands and shouting； 〃Merry Christmas to
everybody！〃 like a pair of little maniacs。
Then they all sobered down； and the busy ones went off to the
various duties of the day； leaving the young invalids to repose and
enjoy themselves together。
〃How nice you look；〃 said Jill； when they had duly admired the
pretty room。
〃So do you；〃 gallantly returned Jack； as he surveyed her with
unusual interest。
They did look very nice； though happiness was the principal
beautifier。 Jill wore a red wrapper； with the most brilliant of all the
necklaces sparkling at her throat； over a nicely crimped frill her
mother had made in honor of the day。 All the curly black hair was
gathered into a red net； and a pair of smart little moccasins
covered the feet that had not stepped for many a weary day。 Jack
was not so gay； but had made himself as fine as circumstances
would permit。 A gray dressing…gown； with blue cuffs and collar；
was very becoming to the blonde youth； an immaculate shirt； best
studs； sleeve…buttons； blue tie； and handkerchief wet with cologne
sticking out of the breast…pocket； gave an air of elegance in spite of
the afghan spread over the lower portions of his manly form。 The
yellow hair was brushed till it shone； and being parted in the
middle； to hide the black patch； made two engaging little 〃quiris〃
on his forehead。 The summer tan had faded from his cheeks； but
his eyes were as blue as the wintry sky； and nearly every white
tooth was visible as he smiled on his partner in misfortune； saying
cheerily。
〃I'm ever so glad to see you again； guess we are over the worst of
it now； and can have good times。 Won't it be fun to stay here all
the while； and amuse one another？〃
〃Yes； indeed； but one day is so short！ It will be stupider than ever
when I go home to…night；〃 answered Ji