Jack and Jill

question Jill asked before she wa

sure. I only hope it won't be toomuch for you," answered Mrs. Pecq, bustling about, happy, yetanxious, fo

shed to superintend the moving. At last hecame, found all promising, and having bundled up his smallpatient, carried her, with Frank's help, in her

neversaid a word, for, after one exclamation, she lay stari

flies flew among them, and here and there, through arches inthe trellis, one seemed to look into a sunny summer world,contrasting curiously with the wintry landscape lying beyond thereal windows, festooned with evergreen garlands, and curtainedonly by stands of living flowers. A green drugget covered the floorlike grass, rustic chairs from the garden stood about, and in themiddle

!" and Jill put up botharms, as words failed he

ness?" askedthe gentle lady, holding the small hands in

was good to hear, as she glanced

mother, laughing, too, forwhistles, shouts, thumps, and violent demonstrations of all kindshad been he

he hail, its passage enlivened with cries of"Starboard! Port! Easy now! Pull away!" fro

burst upon his view. Then he forgot allabout it and gave a whoop of pleasure, for there

neaccord,"Isn't this jolly!"It certainly did look so, for Ralph and Frank danced a wild sort offandango round the tree, Dr. Whiting stood and laughed, while thetwo mothers beamed from the

off to thevarious duties of the day, leaving the yo

id Jill, when they had du

eturned Jack, as he survey

ny a weary day. Jackwas not so gay, but had made himself as fine as circumstanceswould permit. A gray dressing-gown, with blue cuffs and collar,was very becoming to the blonde youth; an immaculate shirt, beststuds, sleeve-buttons, blue tie, and handkerchief wet with colognesticking out of the breast-pocket, gave an air of elegance in spite ofthe afghan spread over t

n't it be fun to stay here allthe while, and amuse one another?""Yes, indeed; but one day is so short!

g home to-night; you ar

? Where will I sleep? Whatwill Mammy do without me?" and Ji

coming, too,and we are all going to have larks together till we areThe splendor of this arrangement took Jill's breath away, andbefore she got it again, in came Frank and Ralph with two

arches andsticking on birds and butterflies just where they looked best. I putthose canaries over there, they looked so well against the blue

et-tanager for you to begin with, didn't we, Jack?" and Ralphthrew a ho

ill we can both fly off together. I say, Jill, where shall we bein our

Molly brought home my books, and Merry says she will come inevery day and tell me where the lessons are. I don't mean to fallbehind

a thing. Let's go at it and start fair for New Year,"proposed Jack, who did not

k next week, while the rest have a holiday. Oh,dear, I do miss school dreadfully"

up the gay horns,the gilded nuts, red and yellow apples and oranges, and festooninglong strings of pop-corn and sca

though we were ill. Is it all done now?" asked Jill, when the lastp

rappings the waxen figure of a little child. The rosylimbs were very life-like, so was the smiling face under the locksof shining hair. Both plum

had never seen that famouspersonage, and

could find, for I like the idea better than old Santa Claus;though we may have

ed the rosy foot with thetip of his finger, a

ne little St. John looked like this, only he had a lambinstead of wings," said

, and imitate, for he neverforgot them, but bl

thoughts, and humble prayers, aswell as play and gifts and feasting."While she spoke, Mrs. Minot, touching the little figure as tenderlyas if it were alive, had tied

t the Blessed Child. The sunshine seemed togrow more golden as it flickered on the little head, the flamesglanced about the glittering tree as if trying t

Jill,"I think we ought to be extra good, everyone is so kind to us, andwe are getting well, and going to have such capital times. Don't seehow we can do anything else to show we are grateful.""I

t! and when I get very bad I pitchinto Frank, arid he lets me. I tell you, Jill, he's a good brother!" andJack private

n'tsee how we can be bad if we want to, it is all so nice and sort

tly watching, with a sweet sort of sobernessin their young faces, and for a moment the room was very still asall eyes looked up at the Blessed Child. The sunshine seemed togrow more golden as it flickered on the little

ant work was over, and the workers gone, the boys to church,and Mam

n't seehow we can do anything else to show we are grateful.""It isn't easy to be good when one is sick," said Jill, thoughtfully.

it! and when I get very bad I pitchinto Frank, and he lets me. I tell you, Jill, he's a good brother!" andJack privat

n'tsee how we can be bad if we want to, it is all so nice and sort

I couldn't guess, that you had come,and I never would be ready, till finally I got mad and fired an eggat him, and made no end of a mess."Jack and Jill went o

r such pleasantsounds, and to see two merry faces,

neighbor," she said to Mrs. Pecq

, too, for she seemed to have left all her cares inthe little house when she locked the door behind her

th you,"observed Jack, as they'd evoured sandwiches, a

t surprise,"said his mother, when the plates were empty,

all the rest of themorning, in the intervals of

e two mothers kept the little bed-tables well supplied, andfed their nurslings like maternal birds, while Frank presided overthe feast wit

er, when they see this splendid placeand know all about our nice plans," said Jill, luxuriously

ones made easy. I never

k made a long armto Jill's mouth, which began to

s. My duty and hearty thanks to you, mem,"put in grateful Mrs. Pecq, bowing over her cof

Frank stood up witha goblet of water, for not e

goodsprinkle, as he waved his glass and drank the toast wi

they'd rank everyone's healthwith much merriment, till Frank declared that Jack would float offon th

s and rides about the room had whiled away thebrief interval between dinner and dus

andeach has a nice present. I don't know mine, though, and I'm in atw

nk so when they are handed down. The bell wasgoing all day yesterday, and the girls kept bringing in bundles for

ndgold outside, and every sort of color inside; you'll hurrah whenyou see it. That roundish one is yours too; I made them," cried Jill,

rness, and he couldnot resist firing two or three

es down so when it isslippery," continued Jill, proud of her superior knowledge, as sheshowed a small spott

if you had to lie with a flat-irontied to your ankle, as I do," said Jack, with a kick of the well

eve you have ached half so much as Ihave, though it sounds worse to break legs than to sprain y

round as Iwas when they set my leg. Caesar, how it d

g out ifmy vertebrums were hurt, so now!" cried Jill, bound t

.""You may have to use two of them for years, maybe. I heard thedoctor tell my mother so. I shall be up and about long before youwill. Now then!"Both children were getting excited, for the various pleasures of theday had been rather too much fo

y time so far?" heasked, as he fixed the step

ittle voice from the duskbelow, for only th

,watching candle after candle sputter, brighten, and twinkle, till t

thought Jill, asRalph went round the last circle, l

ing over thefigures in the long chairs till they had to brighten whether theyliked it or not. Presently the bell began to ring and gay voices tosound below: then Jill smiled in spite of

us "0, o, o!" burst from twenty tongues, as the fullsplendor of the tree, the room, and its inmates, dawned upon them;for not only did the

mas was merry. Itwould be impossible to tell about all the gifts or the joy of thereceivers, but everyone was satisfied, and the king and queen ofthe revels so overwhelmed with little tokens of good-will, thattheir beds looked like boot

o say, "I'm sorry I was cross; forgive me,Jack." But it could not be done then, so she turned to admireMerry's bed-shoes, the pots of pansies, hyacinths

when candygave out, with an occasional cranberry by way of relish. Booinsisted on trying the new sled at once, and enliven

boys fell to comparing skates, balls, andcuff-buttons on the spot, while the little on

ad taken hands round the tree and sung a song writtenby one whom you all know s

little children bringOn Chr

ildren bringOn Christm

s Day, on Christmas Day;Love and joy to Chris

ildren singOn Christmas

hildren singOn Christ

off to bed in such haste that he had only time tocall out, "Good-night!" before he was rolled away, gaping as hewent. Jill soon found herself tucked up in the great

he pleasures of the day, too wide-awakefor sleep. There was no lamp in the chamber, but she could lookinto the pretty Bird Room, where the fire-light still shone onflowery walls, deserted tree, and Christ-child floating above thegre

oss,ungrateful girl after all they ve done for Mammy and me. Poo

meone entered the other room, and shesaw Frank doing something with a long cord and a thing thatlooked like a tiny drum. Quiet as a bright-eyed mouse, Jill peepedout wondering wha

I'll scream loud when it goes off, so he will besatisfied that I'm dreadfully fri

our ear and see what you'll get."The little drum came flying in, and, catching it, Jill, with somehesitat

ted with this handsome apology, that she couldnot reply for a moment, then steadied her voice, and

anished, leaving Jill to lay her cheek upon the handthat wore the little ring and fall asleep, saying to herself