timid young lady, recalling the many times Jack had shielded her
from the terrors which beset her path to school, in the shape of
cows, dogs, and boys who made faces and called her “Fraidcat.”
“He doesn’t dare to get mad with Jill, for she’d take his head off in
two minutes if he did,” growled Joe Flint, still smarting from the
rebuke Jill had given him for robbing the little ones of their safe
coast because he fancied it.
“She wouldn’t! she’s a dear! You needn’t sniff at her because she is
poor. She’s ever so much brighter than you are, or she wouldn’t
always be at the head of your class, old Joe,” cried the girls,
standing by their friend with a unanimity which proved what a
favorite she was.
Joe subsided with as scornful a curl to his nose as its chilly state
permitted, and Merry Grant introduced a subject of general interest
by asking abruptly,
“Who is going to the candy-scrape to-night?”
“All of us. Frank invited the whole set, and we shall have a tiptop
time. We always do at the Minots’,” cried Sue, the timid trembler.
“Jack said there was a barrel of molasses in the house, so there
would be enough for all to eat and some to carry away. They know
how to do things handsomely”; and the speaker licked his lips, as if
already tasting the feast in store for him.
“Mrs. Minot is a mother worth having,” said Molly Loo, coming up
with Boo on the sled; and she knew what it was to need a mother,
for she had none, and tried to care for the little brother with
maternal love and patience.
“She is just as sweet as she can be!” declared Merry,
enthusiastically.
“Especially when she has a candy-scrape,” said Joe, trying to be
amiable, lest he should be left out of the party.
Whereat they all laughed, and went gayly away for a farewell
frolic, as the sun was setting and the keen wind nipped fingers and
toes as well as noses.
Down they went, one after another, on the various coasts solemn
Frank, long Gus, gallant Ed, fly-away Molly Loo, pretty Laura and
Lotty, grumpy Joe, sweet-faced Merry with Sue shrieking wildly
behind her, gay Jack and gypsy Jill, always together one and all
bubbling over with the innocent jollity born of healthful exercise.
People passing in the road below looked up and smiled
involuntarily at the red-cheeked lads and lasses, filling the frosty
air with peals of laughter and cries of triumph as they flew by in
every conceivable attitude; for the fun was at its height now, and
the oldest and gravest observers felt a glow of pleasure as they
looked, remembering their own young days.
“Jack, take me down that coast. Joe said I wouldn’t dare to do it, so
I must,” commanded Jill, as they paused for breath after the long
trudge up hill. Jill, of course, was not her real name, but had been
given because of her friendship with Jack, who so admired Janey
Pecq’s spirit and fun.
“I guess I wouldn’t, It is very bumpy and ends in a big drift; not
half so nice as this one. Hop on and we’ll have a good spin across
the pond”; and Jack brought “Thunderbolt” round with a skilful
swing and an engaging air that would have won obedience from
anybody but wilful Jill.
“It is very nice, but I won’t be told I don’t ‘dare by any boy in the
world. If you are afraid, I’ll go alone.” And, before he could speak,
she had snatched the rope from his hand, thrown herself upon the
sled, and was off, helter-skelter, down the most dangerous coast on
the hill-side.
She did not get far, however; for, starting in a hurry, she did not
guide her steed with care, and the red charger landed her in the
snow half-way down, where she lay laughing till Jack came to pick
her up.
“If you will go, I’ll take you down all right. I m not afraid, for I ve
done it a dozen times with the other fellows; but we gave it up