Jack and Jill by Louisa May Alcott

“No danger of that, for I never sent my children to school to get rid

of them, and now that they are old enough to be companions, I

want them at home more than ever. There are to be some lessons,

however, for busy minds must be fed, but not crammed; so you

boys will go and recite at certain hours such things as seem most

important. But there is to be no studying at night, no shutting up all

the best hours of the day, no hurry and fret of getting on fast, or

skimming over the surface of many studies without learning any

thoroughly.”

“So I say!” cried Jack, pleased with the new idea, for he never did

love books. “I do hate to be driven so I don’t half understand,

because there is no time to have things explained. School is good

fun as far as play goes; but I don’t see the sense of making a fellow

learn eighty questions in geography one day, and forget them the

next.

“What is to become of me, please?” asked Jill, meekly.

“You and Molly are to have lessons here. I was a teacher when I

was young, you know, and liked it, so I shall be school-ma’am, and

leave my house-keeping in better hands than mine. I always

thought that mothers should teach their girls during these years,

and vary their studies to suit the growing creatures as only mothers

can.

“That will be splendid! Will Molly’s father let her come?” cried

Jill, feeling quite reconciled to staying at home, if her friend was

to be with her.

“He likes the plan very much, for Molly is growing fast, and needs

a sort of care that Miss Dawes cannot give her. I am not a hard

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

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