make you able to bear it,” said Jill, softly, her quick little mind all
alive with new thoughts and feelings.
“He believed it, and that’s why he liked that hymn so much. I’m
glad they sung it to-day,” said Frank, bringing his heavy dictionary
to lay on the book where the flowers were pressing.
“Oh, thank you! Could you play that tune for me? I’d idn’t hear it,
and I’d love to, if you are willing,” asked Jill.
“I’d idn’t think I ever should want to play again, but I’d o. Will you
sing it for her, mother? I’m afraid I shall break down if I try alone.
“We will all sing, music is good for us now,” said Mamma; and in
rather broken voices they did sing Ed’s favorite words:
“Not a sparrow falleth but its God cloth know,
Just as when his mandate lays a monarch low;
Not a leaflet moveth, but its God cloth see,
Think not, then, O mortal, God forgetteth thee.
Far more precious surely than the birds that fly
Is a Father’s image to a Father’s eye.
E’en thy hairs are numbered; trust Him full and free,
Cast thy cares before Him, He will comfort thee;
For the God that planted in thy breast a soul,
On his sacred tables dcth thy name enroll.
Cheer thine heart, then, niortal, never faithless be,
He that marks the sparrows will remember thee.”
Chapter 21 Pebbly Beach
“Now, Mr. Jack, it is a moral impossibility to get all those things
into one trunk, and you mustn’t ask it of me,” said Mrs. Pecq, in a
tone of despair, as she surveyed the heap of treasures she was
expected to pack for the boys.
“Never mind the clothes, we only want a boating-suit apiece.
Mamma can put a few collars in her trunk for us; but these
necessary things must go,” answered Jack, adding his target and
air-pistol to the pile of bats, fishing-tackle, games, and a choice
collection of shabby balls.
“Those are the necessaries and clothes the luxuries, are they? Why
don’t you add a velocipede, wheelbarrow, and printing-press, my
dear?” asked Mrs. Pecq, while Jill turned up her nose at “boys’
rubbish.”
“Wish I could. Dare say we shall want them. Women don’t know
what fellows need, and always must put in a lot of stiff shirts and
clean handkerchiefs and clothes-brushes and pots of cold cream.
We are going to rough it, and don’t want any fuss and feathers,”
said Jack, beginning to pack the precious balls in his rubber boots,
and strap them up with the umbrellas, rods, and bats, seeing that
there was no hope of a place in the trunk.
Here Frank came in with two big books, saying calmly, “Just slip
these in somewhere, we shall need them.”
“But you are not to study at all, so you won’t want those great
dictionaries,” cried Jill, busily packing her new travelling-basket
with all sorts of little rolls, bags, and boxes.
“They are not dics, but my Encyclopedia. We shall want to know
heaps of things, and this tells about everything. With those books,
and a microscope and a telescope, you could travel round the
world, and learn all you wanted to. Can’t possibly get on without
them,” said Frank, fondly patting his favorite work.
“My patience! What queer cattle boys are!” exclaimed Mrs. Pecq,
while they all laughed. “It can’t be done, Mr. Frank; all the boxes
are brim full, and you’ll have to leave those fat books behind, for
there’s no place anywhere.”
“Then I’ll carry them myself”; and Frank tucked one under each
arm, with a determined air, which settled the matter.
“I suppose you’ll study cockleology instead of boating, and read up
on polywogs while we play tennis, or go poking round with your
old spy-glass instead of having a jolly good time,” said Jack,
hauling away on the strap till all was taut and ship-shape with the
bundle.
“Tadpoles don’t live in salt water, my son, and if you mean
conchology, you’d better say so. I shall play as much as I wish, and
when I want to know about any new or curious thing, I shall
consult my Cyclo, instead of bothering other people with