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 typhoid–that’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