It could not be stopped without great parental sternness and the
danger of deceit, for co-education will go on outside of school
if not inside, and the safest way is to let sentiment and study go
hand in hand, with teachers and parents to direct and explain the
great lesson all are the better for learning soon or late. So the
elders had to give in, acknowledging that this sudden readiness to
go to school was a comfort, that the new sort of gentle emulation
worked wonders in lazy girls and boys, and that watching these
“primrose friendships” bud, blossom, and die painless deaths, gave
a little touch of romance to their own work-a-day lives.
“On the whole I’d rather have my sons walking, playing, and
studying with bright, well-mannered girls, than always knocking
about with rough boys,” said Mrs. Minot at one of the Mothers’
Meetings, where the good ladies met to talk over their children,
and help one another to do their duty by them.
“I find that Gus is more gentle with his sisters since Juliet took him
in hand, for he wants to stand well with her, and they report him if
he troubles them. I really see no harm in the little friendship,
though I never had any such when I was a girl,” said Mrs. Burton,
who adored her one boy and was his confidante.
“My Merry seems to be contented with her brothers so far, but I
shouldn’t wonder if I had my hands full by and by,” added Mrs.
Grant, who already foresaw that her sweet little daughter would be
sought after as soon as she should lengthen her skirts and turn up
her bonny brown hair.
Molly Loo had no mother to say a word for her, but she settled
matters for herself by holding fast to Merry, and declaring that she
would have no escort but faithful Boo.
It is necessary to dwell a moment upon this new amusement,
because it was not peculiar to Harmony Village, but appears
everywhere as naturally as the game parties and croquet which
have taken the place of the husking frolics and apple-bees of olden
times, and it is impossible to dodge the subject if one attempts to
write of boys and girls as they really are nowadays.
“Here, my hero, see how you like this. If it suits, you will be ready
to march as soon as the doctor gives the word,” said Ralph, coming
into the Bird Room that evening with a neat little crutch under his
arm.
“Ha, ha, that looks fine! I’d like to try it right off, but I won’t till I
get leave. Did you make it yourself, Ral?” asked Jack, handling it
with delight, as he sat bolt upright, with his leg on a rest, for he
was getting on capitally now.
“Mostly. Rather a neat job, I flatter myself.”
“I should say so. What a clever fellow you are! Any new inventions
lately?” asked Frank, coming up to examine and admire.
Only an anti-snoring machine and an elbow-pad, answered Ralph,
with a twinkle in his eye, as if reminded of something funny.
“Go on, and tell about them. I never heard of an anti-snorer. Jack
better have one,” said Frank, interested at once.
“Well, a rich old lady kept her family awake with that lively music,
so she sent to Shirtman and Codleff for something to stop it. They
thought it was a good joke, and told me to see what I could do. I
thought it over, and got up the nicest little affair you ever saw. It
went over the mouth, and had a tube to fit the ear, so when the
lady snored she woke herself up and stopped it. It suited exactly. I
think of taking out a patent,” concluded Ralph, joining in the boys’
laugh at the droll idea.
“What was the pad?” asked Frank, returning to the small model of
an engine he was making.
“Oh, that was a mere trifle for a man who had a tender elbow-joint
and wanted something to protect it. I made a little pad to fit on,
and his crazy-bone was safe.”
“I planned to have you make me a new leg if this one was spoilt,”