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wall of their own building； while the others rested after their
exertions； and laid plans for coming to the Willows another year；
as people usually did who had once tasted the wholesome delights
and cordial hospitality of this charming place。
Chapter 23 Cattle Show
The children were not the oniy ones who had learned something at
Pebbly Beach。 Mrs。 Minot bad talked a good deal with some very
superior persons； and received light upon various subjects which
had much interested or perplexed her。 While the ladies worked or
walked together； they naturally spoke oftenest and most earnestly
about their children； and each contributed her experience。 Mrs。
Hammond； who had been a physician for many years； was wise in
the care of healthy little bodies； and the cure of sick ones。 Mrs。
Channing； who had read； travelled； and observed much in the
cause of education； had many useful hints about the training of
young minds and hearts。 Several teachers reported their trials； and
all the mothers were eager to know how to bring up their boys and
girls to be healthy； happy； useful men and women。
As young people do not care for such discussions； we will not
describe them； but as the impression they made upon one of the
mammas affected our hero and heroine； we must mention the
changes which took place in their life when they all got home
again。
〃School begins to…morrow。 Oh； dear！〃 sighed Jack； as he looked up
his books in the Bird Room； a day or two after their return。
〃Don't you want to go？ I long to； but don't believe I shall。 I saw our
mothers talking to the doctor last night； but I haven't dared to ask
what they'd ecided；〃 said Jill； affectionately eying the long…unused
books in her little library。
〃I've had such a jolly good time； that I hate to be shut up all day
worse than ever； Don't you； Frank？〃 asked Jack； with a vengeful
slap at the arithmetic which was the torment of his life。
〃Well； I confess I don't hanker for school as much as I expected。
I'd rather take a spin on the old bicycle。 Our roads are so good； it is
a great temptation to hire a machine； and astonish the natives。
That's what comes of idleness。 So brace up； my boy； and go to
work； for vacation is over；〃 answered Frank； gravely regarding the
tall pile of books before him； as if trying to welcome his old
friends； or tyrants； rather； for they ruled him with a rod of iron
when he once gave himself up to them。
〃Ah； but vacation is not over； my dears；〃 said Mrs。 Minot； hearing
the last words as she came in prepared to surprise her family。
〃Glad of it。 How much longer is it to be？〃 asked Jack； hoping for a
week at least。
〃Two or three years for some of you。〃
〃What？〃 cried all three； in utter astonishment； as they stared at
Mamma； who could not help smiling； though she was very much in
earnest。
〃For the next two or three years I intend to cultivate my boys'
bodies； and let their minds rest a good deal； from books at least。
There is plenty to learn outside of school…houses； and I don't mean
to shut you up just when you most need all the air and exercise you
can get。 Good health； good principles； and a good education are
the three blessings I ask for you； and I am going to make sure of
the first； as a firm foundation for the other two。〃
〃But； mother； what becomes of college？〃 asked Frank； rather
disturbed at this change of base。
〃Put it off for a year； and see if you are not better fitted for it then
than now。〃
〃But I am already fitted： I've worked like a tiger all this year； and
I'm sure I shall pass。〃
〃Ready in one way； but not in another。 That hard work is no
preparation for four years of still harder study。 It has cost you these
round shoulders； many a headache； and consumed hours when you
had far better have been on the river or in the fields。 I cannot have
you break down； as so many boys do； or pull through at the cost of
ill…health afterward。 Eighteen is young enough to begin the steady
grind； if you have a strong constitution to keep pace with the eager
mind。 Sixteen is too young to send even my good boy out into the
world； just when he most needs his mother's care to help him be
the man she hopes to see him。〃
Mrs。 Minot laid her hand on his shoulder as she spoke； looking so
fond and proud that it was impossible to rebel； though some of his
most cherished plans were spoilt。
〃Other fellows go at my age； and I was rather pleased to be ready
at sixteen；〃 he began。 But she added； quickly；
〃They go； but how do they come out？ Many lose health of body；
and many what is more precious still； moral strength； because too
young and ignorant to withstand temptations of all sorts。 The best
part of education does not come from books； and the good
principles I value more than either of the other things are to be
carefully watched over till firmly fixed； then you may face the
world； and come to no real harm。 Trust me； dear； I do it for your
sake； so bear the disappointment bravely； and in the end I think
you will say I'm right。〃
〃I'll do my best； but I don't see what is to become of us if we don't
go to school。 You will get tired of it first；〃 said Frank； trying to set
a good example to the others； who were looking much impressed
and interested。
〃No danger of that； for I never sent my children to school to get rid
of them； and now that they are old enough to be companions； I
want them at home more than ever。 There are to be some lessons；
however； for busy minds must be fed； but not crammed； so you
boys will go and recite at certain hours such things as seem most
important。 But there is to be no studying at night； no shutting up all
the best hours of the day； no hurry and fret of getting on fast； or
skimming over the surface of many studies without learning any
thoroughly。〃
〃So I say！〃 cried Jack； pleased with the new idea； for he never did
love books。 〃I do hate to be driven so I don't half understand；
because there is no time to have things explained。 School is good
fun as far as play goes； but I don't see the sense of making a fellow
learn eighty questions in geography one day； and forget them the
next。
〃What is to become of me； please？〃 asked Jill； meekly。
〃You and Molly are to have lessons here。 I was a teacher when I
was young； you know； and liked it； so I shall be school…ma'am； and
leave my house…keeping in better hands than mine。 I always
thought that mothers should teach their girls during these years；
and vary their studies to suit the growing creatures as only mothers
can。
〃That will be splendid！ Will Molly's father let her come？〃 cried
Jill； feeling quite reconciled to staying at home； if her friend was
to be with her。
〃He likes the plan very much； for Molly is growing fast； and needs
a sort of care that Miss Dawes cannot give her。 I am not a hard
mistress； and I hope you will find my school a pleasant one。〃
〃I know I shall； and I'm n