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！
everywhere； and the need of courage； patience； hard work； and
much faith； that in time it might be overcome。 Strong and cheerful
words that all liked to hear and many heartily believed； especially
the young Templars； whose boyish fancies were won by the idea of
fighting as knights of old did in the famous crusades they read
about in their splendid new young folks' edition of Froissart。
〃We can't pitch into people as the Red Cross fellows did； but we
can smash rum…jugs when we get the chance； and stand by our flag
as our men did in the war；〃 said Frank； with sparkling eyes； as they
went home in the moonlight arm in arm； keeping step behind Mr。
Chauncey； who led the way with their mother on his arm； a martial
figure though a minister； and a good captain to follow； as the boys
felt after hearing his stirring words。
〃Let's try and get up a company of boys like those mother told us
about； and show people that we mean what we say。 I'll be
color…bearer； and you may drill us as much as you like。 A real Cold
Water Army； with flags flying； and drums； and all sorts of larks；〃
said Jack； much excited； and taking a dramatic view of the matter。
〃We'll see about it。 Something ought to be done； and perhaps we
shall be the men to do it when the time comes；〃 answered Frank；
feeling ready to shoulder a musket or be a minute…man in good
earnest。
Boyish talk and enthusiasm； but it was of the right sort； and when
time and training had fitted them to bear arms； these young knights
would be worthy to put on the red cross and ride away to help right
the wrongs and slay the dragons that afflict the world。
Chapter 20 A Sweet Memory
Now the lovely June days had come； everything began to look
really summer…like； school would soon be over； and the young
people were joyfully preparing for the long vacation。
〃We are all going up to Bethlehem。 We take the seashore one year
and the mountains the next。 Better come along；〃 said Gus； as the
boys lay on the grass after beating the Lincoins at one of the first
matches of the season。
〃Can't； we are off to Pebbly Beach the second week in July。 Our
invalids need sea air。 That one looks delicate； doesn't he？〃 asked
Frank； giving Jack a slight rap with his bat as that young
gentleman lay in his usual attitude admiring the blue hose and
russet shoes which adorned his sturdy limbs。
〃Stop that； Captain！ You needn't talk about invalids； when you
know mother says you are not to look at a book for a month
because you have studied yourself thin and headachy。 I'm all
right〃； and Jack gave himself a sounding slap on the chest； where
shone the white star of the H。 B。 B。 C。
〃Hear the little cockerel crow！ you just wait till you get into the
college class； and see if you don't have to study like fun；〃 said Gus；
with unruffled composure； for he was going to Harvard next year；
and felt himself already a Senior。
〃Never shall； I don't want any of your old colleges。 I'm going into
business as soon as I can。 Ed says I may be his book…keeper； if I
am ready when he starts for himself。 That is much jollier than
grinding away for four years； and then having to grind ever so
many more at a profession；〃 said Jack； examining with interest the
various knocks and bruises with which much ball…playing had
adorned his hands。
〃Much you know about it。 Just as well you don't mean to try； for it
would take a mighty long pull and strong pull to get you in。
Business would suit you better； and you and Ed would make a
capital partnership。 Devlin； Minot； & Co。 sounds well； hey； Gus？〃
〃Very； but they are such good…natured chaps； they'd never get rich。
By the way； Ed came home at noon today sick。 I met him； and he
looked regularly knocked up；〃 answered Gus； in a sober tone。
〃I told him he'd better not go down Monday； for he wasn't well
Saturday； and couldn't come to sing Sunday evening； you
remember。 I must go right round and see what the matter is〃； and
Jack jumped up； with an anxious face。
〃Let him alone till to…morrow。 He won't want anyone fussing over
him now。 We are going for a pull； come along and steer；〃 said
Frank； for the sunset promised to be fine； and the boys liked a
brisk row in their newly painted boat； the 〃Rhodora。〃
〃Go ahead and get ready； I'll just cut round and ask at the door； It
will seem kind； and I must know how Ed is。 Won't be long〃； and
Jack was off at his best pace。
The others were waiting impatiently when he came back with
slower steps and a more anxious face。
〃How is the old fellow？〃 called Frank from the boat； while Gus
stood leaning on an oar in a nautical attitude。
〃Pretty sick。 Had the doctor。 May have a fever。 I didn't go in； but
Ed Sent his love； and wanted to know who beat；〃 answered Jack；
stepping to his place； glad to rest and coo1 himself。
〃Guess he'll be all right in a day or two〃； and Gus pushed off；
leaving all care behind。
〃Hope he won't have typhoidthat's no joke； I tell you；〃 said Frank；
who knew all about it； and did not care to repeat the experience。
〃He's worked too hard。 He's so faithful he does more than his
share； and gets tired out。 Mother asked him to come down and see
us when he has his vacation； we are going to have high old times
fishing and boating。 Up or down？〃 asked Jack； as they glided out
into the river。
Gus looked both ways； and seeing another boat with a glimpse of
red in it just going round the bend； answered； with decision； 〃Up；
of course。 Don't we always pull to the bridge？〃
〃Not when the girls are going down；〃 laughed Jack； who had
recognized Juliet's scarlet boating…suit as he glanced over his
shoulder。
〃Mind what you are about； and don't gabble；〃 commanded Captain
Frank； as the crew bent to their oars and the slender boat cut
through the water leaving a long furrow trembling behind。
〃Oh； ah！ I see！ There is a blue jacket as well as a red one； so it's all
right。
〃Lady Queen Anne； she sits in the sun；
As white as a lily； as brown as a bun；〃
sung Jack； recovering his spirits； and wishing Jill was there too。
〃Do you want a ducking？〃 sternly demanded Gus； anxious to
preserve discipline。
〃Shouldn'tmind； its so warm。〃
But Jack said no more； and soon the 〃Rhodora〃 was alongside the
〃Water Witch；〃 exchanging greetings in the most amiable manner。
〃Pity this boat won't hold four。 We'd put Jack in yours； and take
you girls a nice spin up to the Hemlocks；〃 said Frank； whose idea
of bliss was floating down the river with Annette as coxswain。
〃You'd better come in here； this will hold four； and we are tired of
rowing；〃 returned the 〃Water Witch；〃 so invitingly that Gus could
not resist。
〃I don't think it is safe to put four in there。 You'd better change
places with Annette； Gus； and then we shall be ship…shape；〃 said
Frank； answering a telegram from the eyes that matched the blue
jacket。
〃Wouldn't it be more ship…shape s