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mistress； and I hope you will find my school a pleasant one。〃
〃I know I shall； and I'm not disappointed； because I was pretty sure
I couldn't go to the old school again； when I heard the doctor say I
must be very careful for a long time。 I thought he meant months；
but if it must he years； I can bear it； for I've been happy this last
one though I was sick；〃 said Jill； glad to show that it had not been
wasted time by being cheerful and patient now。
〃That's my good girl！〃 and Mrs。 Minot stroked the curly black head
as if it was her own little daughter's。 〃You have done so well； I
want you to go on improving； for care now will save you pain and
disappointment by and by。 You all have got a capital start during
these six weeks； so it is a good time to begin my experiment。 If it
does not work well； we will go back to school and college next
spring。〃
〃Hurrah for Mamma and the long vacation！〃 cried Jack； catching
up two big books and whirling them round like clubs； as if to get
his muscles in order at once。
〃Now I shall have time to go to the Gymnasium and straighten out
my back；〃 said Frank； who was growing so tall he needed more
breadth to make his height symmetrical。
〃And to ride horscback。 I am going to hire old Jane and get out the
little phaeton； so we can all enjoy the fine weather while it lasts。
Molly and I can drive Jill； and you can take turns in the saddle
when you are tired of ball and boating。 Exercise of all sorts is one
of the lessons we are to learn；〃 said Mrs。 Minot； suggesting all the
pleasant things she could to sweeten the pill for her pupils； two of
whom did love their books； not being old enough to know that
even an excellent thing may be overdone。
〃Won't that be gay？ I'll get down the saddle to…day； so we can
begin right off。 Lem rides； and we can go together。 Hope old Jane
will like it as well as I shall；〃 said Jack； who had found a new
friend in a pleasant lad lately come to town。
〃You must see that she does； for you boys are to take care of her。
We will put the barn in order； and you can decide which shall be
hostler and which gardener； for I don't intend to hire labor on the
place any more。 Our estate is not a large one； and it will be
excellent work for you； my men。〃
〃All right！ I'll see to Jane。 I love horses；〃 said Jack； well pleased
with the prospect。
〃My horse won't need much care。 I prefer a bicycle to a beast； so
I'll get in the squashes； pick the apples； and cover the strawberry
bed when it is time；〃 added Frank； who had enjoyed the free life at
Pebbly Beach so much that he was willing to prolong it。
〃You may put me in a hen…coop； and keep me there a year； if you
like。 I won't fret； for I'm sure you know what is best for me；〃 said
Jill； gayly； as she looked up at the good friend who had done so
much for her。
〃I'm not sure that I won't put you in a pretty cage and send you to
Cattle Show； as a sample of what we can do in the way of taming a
wild bird till it is nearly as meek as a dove；〃 answered Mrs。 Minot；
much gratified at the amiability of her flock。
〃I don't see why there should not be an exhibition of children； and
prizes for the good and pretty ones； as well as for fat pigs； fine
horses； or handsome fruit and flowersI don't mean a baby show；
but boys and girls； so people can see what the prospect is of a good
crop for the next generation；〃 said Frank； glancing toward the
tower of the building where the yearly Agricultural Fair was soon
to be held。
〃Years ago； there was a pretty custom here of collecting all the
schools together in the spring； and having a festival at the Town
Hall。 Each school showed its best pupils； and the parents looked
on at the blooming flower show。 It was a pity it was ever given up；
for the schools have never been so good as then； nor the interest in
them so great〃； and Mrs。 Minot wondered； as many people do； why
farmers seem to care more for their cattle and crops than for their
children； willingly spending large sums on big barns and costly
experiments； while the school…houses are shabby and inconvenient；
and the cheapest teachers preferred。
〃Ralph is going to send my bust。 He asked if he might； and mother
said Yes。 Mr。 German thinks it very good； and I hope other people
will；〃 said Jill； nodding toward the little plaster head that smiled
down from its bracket with her own merry look。
〃I could send my model； it is nearly done。 Ralph told me it was a
clever piece of work； and he knows；〃 added Frank； quite taken
with the idea of exhibiting his skill in mechanics。
〃And I could send my star bedquilt！ They always have things of
that kind at Cattle Show〃； and Jill began to rummage in the closet
for the pride of her heart； burning to display it to an admiring
world。
〃I haven't got anything。 Can't sew rags together； or make baby
engines； and I have no live…stockyes； I have too！ There's old Bun。
I'll send him； for the fun of it； he really is a curiosity； for he is the
biggest one I ever saw； and hopping into the lime has made his fur
such a queer color； he looks like a new sort of rabbit。 I'll catch and
shut him up before he gets wild again〃； and off rushed Jack to lure
unsus Fectins old Bun； who had grown tame during their absence；
into the cage which he detested。
They all laughed at his ardor； but the fancy pleased them； and as
Mamma saw no reason why their little works of art should not be
sent； Frank fell to work on his model； and Jill resolved to finish
her quilt at once； while Mrs。 Minot went off to see Mr。 Acton
about the hours and studies for the boys。
In a week or two； the young people were almost resigned to the
loss of school； for they found themselves delightfully fresh for the
few lessons they did have； and not weary of play； since it took
many useful forms。 Old Jane not only carried them all to ride； but
gave Jack plenty of work keeping her premises in nice order。 Frank
mourned privately over the delay of college； but found a solace in
his whirligig and the Gymnasium； where he set himself to
developing a chest to match the big head above； which head no
longer ached with eight or ten hours of study。 Harvesting beans
and raking up leaves seemed to have a soothing effect upon his
nerves； for now he fell asleep at once instead of thumping his
pillow with vexation because his brain would go on working at
difficult problems and passages when he wanted it to stop。
Jill and Molly drove away in the little phaeton every fair morning
over the sunny hills and through the changing woods； filling their
hands with asters and golden…rod； their lungs with the pure；
invigorating air； and their heads with all manner of sweet and
happy fancies and feelings born of the wholesome influences ahout
them； People 5hook their heads； and said it was wasting time； but
the rosy…faced girls were Content to trust those wiser than
themselves； and found their new school very pleasant。 They