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〃Foolish fun； as you see； dear。 Another time； stand firm and help
Jill to control her headstrong will。 When you learn to yield less and
she more； there will be no scrapes like this to try us all。〃
〃I'll remember； mother。 I hate not to be obliging； but I guess it
would have saved us lots of trouble if I'd said No in the
beginning。 I tried to； but she would go。 Poor Jill！ I'll take better
care of her next time。 Is she very ill； Mamma？〃
〃I can tell you better to…morrow。 She does not suffer much； and we
hope there is no great harm done。〃
〃I wish she had a nice place like this to be sick in。 It must be very
poky in those little rooms；〃 said Jack； as his eye roved round the
large chamber where he lay so cosey； warm； and pleasant； with the
gay chintz curtains draping doors and windows； the rosy carpet；
comfortable chairs； and a fire glowing in the grate。
〃I shall see that she suffers for nothing； so don't trouble your kind
heart about her to…night； but try to sleep； that's what you need；〃
answered his mother； wetting the bandage on his forehead； and
putting a cool hand on the flushed cheeks。
Jack obediently closed his eyes and listened while the boys sang
〃The Sweet By and By；〃 softening their rough young voices for his
sake till the music was as soft as a lullaby。 He lay so still his
mother thought he was off； but presently a tear slipped out and
rolled down the red cheek； wetting her hand as it passed。
〃My blessed boy； what is it？〃 she whispered； with a touch and a
tone that only mothers have。
The blue eyes opened wide； and Jack's own sunshiny smile broke
through the tears that filled them as he said with a sniff；
〃Everybody is so good to me I can't help making a noodle of
myself。
〃You are not a noodle！〃 cried Mamma； resenting the epithet。 〃One
of the sweet things about pain and sorrow is that they show us how
well we are loved； how much kindness there is in the world； and
how easily we can make others happy in the same way when they
need help and sympathy。 Don't forget that； little son；〃
〃Don't see how I can； with you to show me how nice it is。 Kiss me
good…night； and then 'I'll be good； as Jill says。〃
Nestling his head upon his mother's arm； Jack lay quiet till； lulled
by the music of his mates； he drowsed away into the dreamless
sleep which is Nurse Nature's healthiest soothing sirup for weary
souls and bodies。
Chapter 3 Ward No。 I
For some days； nothing was seen and little was heard of the 〃dear
sufferers；〃 as the old ladies called them。 But they were not
forgotten； the first words uttered when any of the young people
met were： 〃How is Jack？〃 〃Seen Jill yet？〃 and all waited with
impatience for the moment when they could be admitted to their
favorite mates； more than ever objects of interest now。
Meantime； the captives spent the first few days in sleep； pain； and
trying to accept the hard fact that school and play were done with
for months perhaps。 But young spirits are wonderfully elastic and
soon cheer up； and healthy young bodies heal fast； or easily adapt
themselves to new conditions。 So our invalids began to mend on
the fourth day； and to drive their nurses distracted with efforts to
amuse them； before the first week was over。
The most successful attempt originated in Ward No。 I； as Mrs。
Minot called Jack's apartment； and we will give our sympathizing
readers some idea of this place； which became the stage whereon
were enacted many varied and remarkable scenes。
Each of the Minot boys had his own room； and there collected his
own treasures and trophies； arranged to suit his convenience and
taste。 Frank's was full of books； maps； machinery； chemical
messes； and geometrical drawings； which adorned the walls like
intricate cobwebs。 A big chair； where he read and studied with his
heels higher than his head； a basket of apples for refreshment at all
hours of the day or night； and an immense inkstand； in which
several pens were always apparently bathing their feet； were the
principal ornaments of his scholastic retreat。
Jack's hobby was athletic sports； for he was bent on having a
strong and active body for his happy little soul to live and enjoy
itself in。 So a severe simplicity reigned in his apartment； in
summer； especially； for then his floor was bare； his windows were
uncurtained； and the chairs uncushioned； the bed being as narrow
and hard as Napoleon's。 The only ornaments were dumbbells；
whips； bats； rods； skates； boxing…gloves； a big bath…pan and a small
library； consisting chiefly of books on games； horses； health；
hunting； and travels。 In winter his mother made things more
comfortable by introducing rugs； curtains； and a fire。 Jack； also；
relented slightly in the severity of his training； occasionally
indulging in the national buckwheat cake； instead of the prescribed
oatmeal porridge； for breakfast； omitting his cold bath when the
thermometer was below zero； and dancing at night； instead of
running a given distance by day。
Now； however； he was a helpless captive； given over to all sorts of
coddling； laziness； and luxury； and there was a droll mixture of
mirth and melancholy in his face； as he lay trussed up in bed；
watching the comforts which had suddenly robbed his room of its
Spartan simplicity。 A delicious couch was there； with Frank
reposing in its depths； half hidden under several folios which he
was consulting for a history of the steam…engine； the subject of his
next composition。
A white…covered table stood near； with all manner of dainties set
forth in a way to tempt the sternest principles。 Vases of flowers
bloomed on the chimney…piece gifts from anxious young ladies；
left with their love。 Frivolous story…books and picture…papers
strewed the bed； now shrouded in effeminate chintz curtains；
beneath which Jack lay like a wounded warrior in his tent。 But the
saddest sight for our crippled athlete was a glimpse； through a
half…opened door； at the beloved dumb…bells； bats； balls；
boxing…gloves； and snow…shoes； all piled ignominiously away in
the bath…pan； mournfully recalling the fact that their day was over；
now； at least for some time。
He was about to groan dismally； when his eye fell on a sight which
made him swallow the groan； and cough instead； as if it choked
him a little。 The sight was his mother's face； as she sat in a low
chair rolling bandages； with a basket beside her in which were
piles of old linen； lint； plaster； and other matters； needed for the
dressing of wounds。 As he looked； Jack remembered how steadily
and tenderly she had stood by him all through the har4 times just
past； and how carefully she had bathed and dressed his wound each
day in spite of the effort it cost her to give him pain or even see
him suffer。
〃That's a better sort of strength than swinging twenty…pound
dumb…bells or running races； I guess I'll try for that kind； too； and
not howl or let her see me squirm w