Jack and Jill by Louisa May Alcott

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.

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