came in her way, being anxious to educate her little girl. Now, as
she sat beside the bed in the small, poor room, that hope almost
died within her, for here was the child laid up for months,
probably, and the one ambition and pleasure of the solitary
woman’s life was to see Janey Pecq’s name over all the high marks
in the school-reports she proudly brought home.
“She’ll win through, please Heaven, and I’ll see my lass a
gentlewoman yet, thanks to the good friend in yonder, who will
never let her want for care,” thought the poor soul, looking out into
the gloom where a long ray of light streamed from the great house
warm and comfortable upon the cottage, like the spirit of kindness
which made the inmates friends and neighbors.
Meantime, that other mother sat by her boy’s bed as anxious but
with better hope, for Mrs. Minot made trouble sweet and helpful
by the way in which she bore it; and her boys were learning of her
how to find silver linings to the clouds that must come into the
bluest skies.
Jack lay wide awake, with hot cheeks, and throbbing head, and all
sorts of queer sensations in the broken leg. The soothing potion he
had taken did not affect him yet, and he tried to beguile the weary
time by wondering who came and went below. Gentle rings at the
front door, and mysterious tappings at the back, had been going on
all the evening; for the report of the accident had grown
astonishingly in its travels, and at eight o clock the general belief
was that Jack had broken both legs, fractured his skull, and lay at
the point of death, while Jill had dislocated one shoulder, and was
bruised black and blue from top to toe. Such being the case, it is
no wonder that anxious playmates and neighbors haunted the
doorsteps of the two houses, and that offers of help poured in.
Frank, having tied up the bell and put a notice in the lighted
side-window, saying, “Go to the back door,” sat in the parlor,
supported by his chum, Gus, while Ed played softly on the piano,
hoping to lull Jack to sleep. It did soothe him, for a very sweet
friendship existed between the tall youth and the lad of thirteen.
Ed went with the big fellows, but always had a kind word for the
smaller boys; and affectionate Jack, never ashamed to show his
love, was often seen with his arm round Ed’s shoulder, as they sat
together in the pleasant red parlors, where all the young people
were welcome and Frank was king.
“Is the pain any easier, my darling?” asked Mrs. Minot, leaning
over the pillow, where the golden head lay quiet for a moment.
“Not much. I forget it listening to the music. Dear old Ed is
playing all my favorite tunes, and it is very nice. I guess he feels
pretty sorry about me.”
“They all do. Frank could not talk of it. Gus wouldn’t go home to
tea, he was so anxious to do something for us. Joe brought back
the bits of your poor sled, because he didn’t like to leave them
lying round for anyone to carry off, he said, and you might like
them to remember your fall by.”
Jack tried to laugh, but it was rather a failure, though be managed
to say, cheerfully,
“That was good of old Joe. I wouldn’t lend him ‘Thunderbolt for
fear he d hurt it. Couldn’t have smashed it up better than I did,
could he? Don’t think I want any pieces to remind me of that fall. I
just wish you d seen us, mother! It must have been a splendid spill
to look at, anyway.”
“No, thank you; I d rather not even try to imagine my precious boy
going heels over head down that dreadful hill. No more pranks of
that sort for some time, Jacky”; and Mrs. Minot looked rather
pleased on the whole to have her venturesome bird safe under her
maternal wing.
“No coasting till some time in January. What a fool I was to do it!