only an extra nice tree, you see if it isn’t,” answered Jill from
behind the pillows which made a temporary screen to hide the
toilet mats she was preparing for all her friends.
“Everyone of you is wrong, and you d better rest easy, for you
won’t find out the best part of it, try as you may.” And Mrs. Pecq
actually chuckled as she, too, worked away at some bits of muslin,
with her back turned to the very unsocial-looking group.
“Well, I don’t care, we ve got a secret all our own, and won’t ever
tell, will we?” cried Jill, falling back on the Home Missionary
Society, though it was not yet begun.
“Never!” answered the girls, and all took great comfort in the idea
that one mystery would not be cleared up, even at Christmas.
Jack gave up guessing, in despair, after he had suggested a new
dining-room where he could eat with the family, a private school
in which his lessons might go on with a tutor, or a theatre for the
production of the farces in which he delighted.
“It is going to be used to keep something in that you are very fond
of,” said Mamma, taking pity on him at last.
“Ducks?” asked Jack, with a half pleased, half puzzled air, not
quite seeing where the water was to come from.
Frank exploded at the idea, and added to the mystification by
saying,
“There will be one little duck and one great donkey in it.” Then,
fearing he had told the secret, he ran off, quacking and braying
derisively.
“It is to be used for creatures that I, too, am fond of, and you know
neither donkeys nor ducks are favorities of mine,” said Mamma,
with a demure expression, as she sat turning over old clothes for
the bundles that always went to poor neighbors, with a little store
of goodies, at this time of the year.
“I know! I know! It is to be a new ward for more sick folks, isn’t it,
now?” cried Jack, with what he thought a great proof of
shrewdness.
“I don’t see how I could attend to many more patients till this one
is off my hands,” answered Mamma, with a queer smile, adding
quickly, as if she too was afraid of letting the cat out of the bag:
“That reminds me of a Christmas I once spent among the hospitals
and poor-houses of a great city with a good lady who, for thirty
years, had made it her mission to see that these poor little souls
had one merry day. We gave away two hundred dolls, several great
boxes of candy and toys, besides gay pictures, and new clothes to
orphan children, sick babies, and half-grown innocents. Ah, my
boy, that was a day to remember all my life, to make me doubly
grateful for my blessings, and very glad to serve the helpless and
afflicted, as that dear woman did.”
The look and tone with which the last words were uttered
effectually turned Jack’s thoughts from the great secret, and started
another small one, for he fell to planning what he would buy with
his pocket-money to surprise the little Pats and Biddies who were
to have no Christmas tree.
Chapter 6 Surprises
“Is it pleasant?” was the question Jill asked before she was fairly
awake on Christmas morning.
“Yes, dear; as bright as heart could wish. Now eat a bit, and then
I’ll make you nice for the day’s pleasure. I only hope it won’t be too
much for you,” answered Mrs. Pecq, bustling about, happy, yet
anxious, for Jill was to be carried over to Mrs. Minot s, and it was
her first attempt at going out since the accident.
It seemed as if nine o clock would never come, and Jill, with
wraps all ready, lay waiting in a fever of impatience for the
doctor’s visit, as he wished to superintend the moving. At last he
came, found all promising, and having bundled up his small
patient, carried her, with Frank’s help, in her chair-bed to the
ox-sled, which was drawn to the next door, and Miss Jill landed in
the Boys Den before she had time to get either cold or tired. Mrs.