Jack and Jill by Louisa May Alcott

hostler and which gardener, for I don’t intend to hire labor on the

place any more. Our estate is not a large one, and it will be

excellent work for you, my men.”

“All right! I’ll see to Jane. I love horses,” said Jack, well pleased

with the prospect.

“My horse won’t need much care. I prefer a bicycle to a beast, so

I’ll get in the squashes, pick the apples, and cover the strawberry

bed when it is time,” added Frank, who had enjoyed the free life at

Pebbly Beach so much that he was willing to prolong it.

“You may put me in a hen-coop, and keep me there a year, if you

like. I won’t fret, for I’m sure you know what is best for me,” said

Jill, gayly, as she looked up at the good friend who had done so

much for her.

“I’m not sure that I won’t put you in a pretty cage and send you to

Cattle Show, as a sample of what we can do in the way of taming a

wild bird till it is nearly as meek as a dove,” answered Mrs. Minot,

much gratified at the amiability of her flock.

“I don’t see why there should not be an exhibition of children, and

prizes for the good and pretty ones, as well as for fat pigs, fine

horses, or handsome fruit and flowers–I don’t mean a baby show,

but boys and girls, so people can see what the prospect is of a good

crop for the next generation,” said Frank, glancing toward the

tower of the building where the yearly Agricultural Fair was soon

to be held.

“Years ago, there was a pretty custom here of collecting all the

schools together in the spring, and having a festival at the Town

Hall. Each school showed its best pupils, and the parents looked

on at the blooming flower show. It was a pity it was ever given up,

for the schools have never been so good as then, nor the interest in

them so great”; and Mrs. Minot wondered, as many people do, why

farmers seem to care more for their cattle and crops than for their

children, willingly spending large sums on big barns and costly

experiments, while the school-houses are shabby and inconvenient,

and the cheapest teachers preferred.

“Ralph is going to send my bust. He asked if he might, and mother

said Yes. Mr. German thinks it very good, and I hope other people

will,” said Jill, nodding toward the little plaster head that smiled

down from its bracket with her own merry look.

“I could send my model; it is nearly done. Ralph told me it was a

clever piece of work, and he knows,” added Frank, quite taken

with the idea of exhibiting his skill in mechanics.

“And I could send my star bedquilt! They always have things of

that kind at Cattle Show”; and Jill began to rummage in the closet

for the pride of her heart, burning to display it to an admiring

world.

“I haven’t got anything. Can’t sew rags together; or make baby

engines, and I have no live-stock–yes, I have too! There’s old Bun.

I’ll send him, for the fun of it; he really is a curiosity, for he is the

biggest one I ever saw, and hopping into the lime has made his fur

such a queer color, he looks like a new sort of rabbit. I’ll catch and

shut him up before he gets wild again”; and off rushed Jack to lure

unsus Fectins old Bun, who had grown tame during their absence,

into the cage which he detested.

They all laughed at his ardor, but the fancy pleased them; and as

Mamma saw no reason why their little works of art should not be

sent, Frank fell to work on his model, and Jill resolved to finish

her quilt at once, while Mrs. Minot went off to see Mr. Acton

about the hours and studies for the boys.

In a week or two, the young people were almost resigned to the

loss of school, for they found themselves delightfully fresh for the

few lessons they did have, and not weary of play, since it took

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