Jack and Jill

notforgotten; the first words uttered when any of the young peoplemet were: "How is Jack?" "Seen Jill yet?" and all waited

perhaps. But young spirits are wonderfully elastic andsoon cheer up, and healthy young bodies heal fast, or easily adaptthemselves to new conditio

attempt originated i

athizingreaders some idea of this place, which became the

icalmesses, and geometrical drawings, which adorned the walls likeintricate cobwebs. A big chair, where he read and studied with hisheels higher than his head, a basket of apples for re

eing as narrowand hard as Napoleon's. The only ornaments were dumbbells,whips, bats, rods, skates, boxing-gloves, a big bath-pan and a smalllibrary, consisting chiefly of books on games, horses, health,hunting, and travels. In winter his mother made things morecomfortable by introducing rugs, curtains, an

n his face, as he lay trussed up in bed,watching the comforts which had suddenly robbed his room of itsSpartan simplicity. A delicious couch was there, wit

olous story-books and picture-papersstrewed the bed, now shrouded in effeminate chintz curtains,beneath which Jack lay like a wounded warrior in his tent. But thesaddest sight for our crippled athlete was a glimpse, thr

air rolling bandages, with a basket beside her in which werepiles of old linen, lint, plaster, and other matters, needed for thedressing of wounds. As he looked, Jack remembered how steadilyand tend

at kind, too, andnot howl or let her see me squirm when the doctor hurts," thoughtthe boy, as he saw that gentle f

k can see to me if I want anything. Do, now," he added, with apersuasive

, leaving Jack in the care of Frank, begging him to be asquiet as pos

ks into athree hours nap, and as the "dear boy" scorn

eart good. Have abit, will you?" asked the new nurse, flapping the leaves invitinglyfor Frank bad a passion for suc

ding, and want something regularly jolly," answeredJack, who had been chasing white

bliginglydisinterred himself from under the folios, feeli

tor said I might see them now.""They'll be along by and by, and I'll hail them

legraph or a telephone,

r!""I'll make either you say"; and Frank looked as i

rst, then you can send things over if youlike," sai

re's one trouble, though; I shall have to leave you alone for afew minutes while I rig up the

fix you a better way than that"; and, full ofinventive genius, our young Edison spliced the pok

oking the clothoff the table in attempting to get his handkerchief, catching Frankby the hair when fishing for a book, and breaking a pane of glass intrying to draw down

for the telegraph wireor rope to go through. Keep still, and I'll have the thing running inten minutes"; and,

or a boy's kite?" exclaimed old Miss Hopkins, peering out ofher window

tly, a small covered basket, slung on this rope,was seen hitching along, drawn either way by a set of strings; then,as if satisfied with his job, Frank retired, whistling "HailColumbia.""It's those children at the

elegraph," she would have laughed till herspectacles flew off her Roman nose. A

ixed us a telegraph, so we can write and sendthings. Won't it be jolly! I can't look out to see him do it; but, whenyou pull your string, my little be

fteen minutes it came back fromthe cot

d Jack, as Frank brought th

l made of a peanut, with round eyesdrawn at the end where the stem formed a funny beak. Two bits

dead. Let's seewhat she says"; and Jack read the litt

he quickest way. Molly Loo says it is dreadful lonesome atschool without us. Yours truly,Jill"Jack immediately despatched the book and a sample of guavajelly, which unfortunately upset on the way, to the great detrimentof "The Wild Beasts of Asia and Africa." Jill prompt

asked Frank, gazingdown with calm superiority u

kitten overboard,scorning to be seen by any m

d, as Frank threw wide the door, three largebeings paused on the threshold to deliver t

heinvalid, with such energetic demonstrations of the arms that he

th these characteristic greetings, the gentlemen cast away theirhats and sat down, all grinning cheerfully, and

the doughnuts and the tarts and the shaky stuff in the entry closet,Frank, and let's have a lark."No sooner said than done. Gus took the tarts, Joe the doughnuts,Ed the jelly, and Frank suggested "spoons all round" for the Italiancream. A few trifle

ur, five tongues went like mill clappers, and there isno knowing when they would have

his brother sentoff the basket, Jack told about the ne

A pasteboard jumping-jack, with one leg done upin cotton-wool to preserve the lik

you are having a nicetime, so I send over

at it, and it will all

dance on one leg andwaggle the other, and

irection, Jack with his headswollen to the size of a balloon, and Jill in two pieces, while thevarious boys and girls were hit off with a sly skill that gave Guslegs like a stork, Molly Loo hair several yards long, and Boo aseries of visible howls coming out of an immense mouth i

artist. I never saw su

e, with ablot to show how purple his nose was," said Gus,

uneedn't twit, Daddy," growled Joe, quite unconscious that a blot

d one after the other read out

ck pretty lively. Lauraand Lot would send love i

ty comfortable in your'dungeon cell. Woul

ry much. Shallbe very happy to help in anyway I can.

led or the fence. Jack says he will see to it. We havebeen having a spread over here. First-rate things. I wouldn't mindbreaking a leg, if I had such good grub and no chores to do. Nomore now, from yours,

r we must go,"said Gus, as Frank put the letters in th

mustn't look,"answered Jack, patting down an envel

indow working the telegraph he caught up the original,carelessly thrust by J

l try and be patientas I am going to, for it was our fault, and we must not make a fussnow. Ain't mothers swe

e a regular mollycoddle, isn't he?" jeered Joe, as the boyslaughed, and then grew sobe

rs to escape from Frank, who would havefollowed, if his mother had not said quickly, "Stay, and tell mewhat is the matter.""Only teasing Jack a bit. Do

ought not to have left him," said Mamma, as shevainly endeavored to find and caress

s getting it now! I thought Gus and Ed would do thatlittle job for me," added Fr

uggestive of an unpleasant mixture of snow in the mouthand thumps on the back, he burst out laughing, and said,good-naturedly, "Go and stop them, Frank; I won't mind, only tellhim it was a mean trick. Hurry! Gus is so strong he

, andtries to be good, and likes me, and I won't be ashamed of myfri

le girl than with rough boys till you are big enoughto hold your own," answered Mamma,

e's muscle for you!" and up went a sleeve, tothe great danger of overturning the tray, as the boy proudlydisplayed his biceps and expanded his chest, both of

tion, but the bell rang,and she had to go and

red flannel night-cap, which she had been makingfor some proposed Christmas plays, and

es night,We pu

urn down and snuff;But neat fo

wish Joe was here to see it. I want to send once more,something good for tea; she hates gruel so"; and the last despatc