Pebbly Beach"Now, Mr. Jack, it is a moral impossibility to get all those thingsinto one trunk, and you mustn't ask it of me," said Mrs. Pecq, in atone of despair, as she surveyed the heap of treasures she wasexpected to pack for the boys.
"Never mind the clothes, we only want a boating-suit apiece.
Mamma can put a few collars in her trunk for us; but thesenecessary things must go," answered Jack, adding his target andair-pistol to the pile of bats, fishing-tackle, games, and a choicecollection of shabby balls.
"Those are the necessaries and clothes the luxuries, are they? Whydon't you add a velocipede, wheelbarrow, and printing-press, mydear?" asked Mrs. Pecq, while Jill turned up her nose at "boys'
rubbish.""Wish I could. Dare say we shall want them. Women don't knowwhat fellows need, and always must put in a lot of stiff shirts andclean handkerchiefs and clothes-brushes and pots of cold cream.
We are going to rough it, and don't want any fuss and feathers,"said Jack, beginning to pack the precious balls in his rubber boots,and strap them up with the umbrellas, rods, and bats, seeing thatthere was no hope of a place in the trunk.
Here Frank came in with two big books, saying calmly, "Just slipthese in somewhere, we shall need them.""But you are not to study at all, so you won't want those greatdictionaries," cried Jill, busily packing her new travelling-basketwith all sorts of little rolls, bags, and boxes.
"They are not dics, but my Encyclopedia. We shall want to knowheaps of things, and this tells about everything. With those books,and a microscope and a telescope, you could travel round theworld, and learn all you wanted to. Can't possibly get on withoutthem," said Frank, fondly patting his favorite work.
"My patience! What queer cattle boys are!" exclaimed Mrs. Pecq,while they all laughed. "It can't be done, Mr. Frank; all the boxesare brim full, and you'll have to leave those fat books behind, forthere's no place anywhere.""Then I'll carry them myself"; and Frank tucked one under eacharm, with a determined air, which settled the matter.
"I suppose you'll study cockleology instead of boating, and read upon polywogs while we play tennis, or go poking round with yourold spy-glass instead of having a jolly good time," said Jack,hauling away on the strap till all was taut and ship-shape with thebundle.
"Tadpoles don't live in salt water, my son, and if you meanconchology, you'd better say so. I shall play as much as I wish, andwhen I want to know about any new or curious thing, I shallconsult my Cyclo, instead of bothering other people withquestions, or giving it up like a dunce"; with which crushing replyFrank departed, leaving Jill to pack and unpack her treasures adozen times, and Jack to dance jigs on the lids of the trunks tillthey would shut.
A very happy party set off the next day, leaving Mrs. Pecq wavingher apron on the steps. Mrs. Minot carried the lunch, Jack hisprecious bundle with trifles dropping out by the way, and Jill feltvery elegant bearing her new basket with red worsted cherriesbobbing on the outside. Frank actually did take the Encyclopedia,done up in the roll of shawls, and whenever the others wonderedabout anything--tides, lighthouses, towns, or natural productions--he brought forth one of the books and triumphantly read therefrom,to the great merriment, if not edification, of his party.
A very short trip by rail and the rest of the journey by boat, to Jill'sgreat contentment, for she hated to be shut up; and while the ladsroved here and there she sat under the awning, too happy to talk.
But Mrs. Minot watched with real satisfaction how the fresh windblew the color back into the pale cheeks, how the eyes shone andthe heart filled with delight at seeing the lovely world again, andbeing able to take a share in its active pleasures.
The Willows was a long, low house close to the beach, and as fullas a beehive of pleasant people, all intent on having a good time. Agreat many children were swarming about, and Jill found itimpossible to sleep after her journey, there was such a livelyclatter of tongues on the piazzas, and so many feet going to and froin the halls, She lay down obediently while Mrs. Minot settledmatters in the two airy rooms and gave her some dinner, but shekept popping up her head to look out of the window to see whatshe could see. Just opposite stood an artist's cottage and studio,with all manner of charming galleries, towers, steps, and even asort of drawbridge to pull up when the painter wished to be left inpeace. He was absent now, and the visitors took possession of thisfine play-place. Children were racing up and down the galleries,ladies sitting in the tower, boys disporting themselves on the roof,and young gentlemen preparing for theatricals in the large studio.
"What fun I'll have over there," thought Jill, watching the merryscene with intense interest, and wondering if the little girls she sawwere as nice as Molly and Merry.
Then there were glimpses of the sea beyond the green bank wherea path wound along to the beach, whence came the cool dash ofwaves, and now and then the glimmer of a passing sail.
"Oh, when can I go out? It looks so lovely, I can't wait long," shesaid, looking as eager as a little gull shut up in a cage and piningfor its home on the wide ocean.
"As soon as it is a little cooler, dear, I'm getting ready for our trip,but we must be careful and not do too much at once. 'Slow andsure' is our motto," answered Mrs. Minot, busily collecting thecamp-stools, the shawls, the air-cushions, and the big parasols.
"I'll be good, only do let me have my sailor-hat to wear, and mynew suit. I'm not a bit tired, and I do want to be like other folksright off," said Jill, who had been improving rapidly of late, andfelt much elated at being able to drive out nearly every day, towalk a little, and sit up some hours without any pain or fatigue.
To gratify her, the blue flannel suit with its white trimming wasput on, and Mamma was just buttoning the stout boots when Jackthundered at the door, and burst in with all sorts of glorious news.
"Do come out, mother, it's perfectly splendid on the beach! I'vefound a nice place for Jill to sit, and it's only a step. Lots of capitalfellows here; one has a bicycle, and is going to teach us to ride. Noend of fun up at the hotel, and everyone seems glad to see us. Twoladies asked about Jill, and one of the girls has got some shells allready for her, Gerty Somebody, and her mother is so pretty andjolly, I like her ever so much. They sit at our table, and Wally isthe boy, younger than I am, but very pleasant. Bacon is the fellowin knickerbockers; just wish you could see what stout legs he's got!
Cox is the chap for me, though: we are going fishing to-morrow.
He's got a sweet-looking mother, and a sister for you, Jill. Now,then, do come on, I'll take the traps."Off they went, and Jill thought that very short walk to the shore themost delightful she ever took; for people smiled at the little invalidas she went slowly by leaning on Mrs. Minot's arm, while Jackpranced in front, doing the honors, as if he owned the wholeAtlantic. A new world opened to her eyes as they came out uponthe pebbly beach full of people enjoying their afternoonpromenade. Jill save one rapturous Oh. and then sat on her stool,forgetting everything but the beautiful blue ocean rolling away tomeet the sky, with nothing to break the wide expanse but a sailhere and there, a point of rocks on one hand, the little pier on theother, and white gulls skimming by on their wide wings.
While she sat enjoying herself, Jack showed his mother the placehe had found, and a very nice one it was. Just under the green banklay an old boat propped up with some big stones. A willowdrooped over it, the tide rippled up within a few yards of it, and afine view of the waves could be seen as they'd ashed over therocks at the point.
"Isn't it a good cubby-house? Ben Cox and I fixed it for Jill, andshe can have it for hers. Put her cushions and things there on thesand the children have thrown in--that will make it soft; then theseseats will do for tables; and up in the bow I'm going to have thatold rusty tin boiler full of salt-water, so she can put seaweed andcrabs and all sorts 0c chaps in h for an aquatium, you know,"explained Jack, greatly interested in establishing his familycomfortably before he left them.
"There couldn't be a nicer place, and it is very kind of you to get itready. Spread the shawls and settle Jill, then you needn't think ofus any more, but go and scramble with Frank. I see him over therewith his spy-glass and some pleasant-looking boys," said Mamma,bustling about in great spirits.
So the red cushions were placed, the plaids laid, and the littlework-basket set upon the seat, all ready for Jill, who was charmedwith her nest, and cuddled down under the big parasol, declaringshe would keep house there every day.
Even the old boiler pleased her, and Jack raced over the beach tobegin his search for inhabitants for the new aquarium, leaving Jillto make friends with some pretty babies digging in the sand, whileMamma sat on the camp-stool and talked with a friend fromHarmony Village.
It seemed as if there could not be anything more delightful than tolie there lulled by the sound of the sea, watching the sunset andlistening to the pleasant babble of little voices close by. But whenthcy went to tea in the great hall, with six tables full of merrypeople, and half a dozen maids flying about, Jill thought that waseven better, because it was so new to her. Gerty and Wally noddedto her, and their pretty mamma was so kind and so gay, rhat Jillcould not feel bashful after the first few minutes, and soon lookedabout her, sure of seeing friendly faces everywhere. Frank and Jackate as if the salt air bad already improved their appetites, aridtalked about Bacon and Cox as if they had been bosom friends foryears. Mamma was as happy as they for her friend, Mrs.
Hammond, sat close by; and this rosy lady, who had been aphysician, cheered her up by predicting that Jill would soon berunning about as well as ever.
But the best of all was in the evening, when the elder peoplegathered in the parlors and played Twenty Questions, while thechildren looked on for an hour before going to bed, much amusedat the sight of grown people laughing, squabbling, dodging, andjoking as if they had all become young again; for, as everyoneknows, it is impossible to help lively skirmishes when that game isplayed. Jill lay in the sofa corner enjoying it all immensely; for shenever saw anything so droll, and found it capital fun to help guessthe thing, or try to puzzle the opposite side. Her quick wits andbright face attracted people, and in the pauses of the sport she heldquite a levee, for everybody was interested in the little invalid. Thegirls shyly made friends in their own way, the mammas toldthrilling tales of the accidents their darlings had survived, severalgentlemen kindly offered their boats, and the boys, with the bestintentions in life, suggested strolls of two or three miles to Rafe'sChasm and Norman's Woe, or invited her to tennis and archery, asif violent exercise was the cure for all human ills. She was verygrateful, and reluctantly went away to bed, declaring, when she gotupstairs, that these new friends were the dearest people she evermet, and the Willows the most delightful place in the whole world.
Next day a new life began for the young folks--a very healthy,happy life; and all threw themselves into it so heartily, that it wasimpossible to help getting great good from it, for these summerweeks, if well spent, work miracles in tired bodies and souls.
Frank took a fancy to the bicycle boy, and, being able to hire oneof the breakneck articles, soon learned to ride it; and the two mightbe seen wildly working their long legs on certain smooth stretchesof road, or getting up their muscle rowing about the bay till theywere almost as brown and nautical in appearance and language asthe fishermen who lived in nooks and corners along the shore.
Jack struck up a great friendship with the sturdy Bacon and theagreeable Cox: the latter, being about his own age, was hisespecial favorite; and they soon were called Box and Cox by theother fellows, which did not annoy them a bit, as both had playedparts in that immortal farce. They had capital times fishing,scrambling over the rocks, playing ball and tennis, and rainy daysthey took possession of the studio opposite, drew up the portcullis,and gallantly defended the castle, which some of the othersbesieged with old umbrellas for shields, bats for battering-rams,and bunches of burrs for cannon-balls. Great larks went on overthere, while the girls applauded from the piazza orchamber-windows, and made a gay flag for the victors to displayfrom the tower when the fight was over.
But Jill had the best time of all, for each day brought increasingstrength and spirits, and she improved so fast it was hard to believethat she was the same girl who lay so long almost helpless in theBird Room at home. Such lively letters as she sent her W1o~he~,all aboul her new friends, her fine sails, drives, and little walks;the good times she had in the evening, the lovely things peoplegave her, and she was learning to make with shells and sea-weed,and what splendid fun it was to keep house in a boat.
This last amusement soon grew quite absorbing, and her "cubby,"as she called it, rapidly became a pretty grotto, where she livedlike a little mermaid, daily loving more and more the beauty of thewonderful sea, Finding the boat too sunny at times, the boys cutlong willow boughs and arched them over the seats, layinghemlock branches across till a green roof made it cool and shadyinside. There Jill sat or lay among her cushions reading, trying tosketch, sorting shells, drying gay sea-weeds, or watching her crabs,jelly-fish, and anemones in the old boiler, now buried in sand andedged about with moss from the woods.
Nobody disturbed her treasures, but kindly added to them, andoften when she went to her nest she found fruit or flowers, booksor bon-bons, laid ready for her. Everyone pitied and liked thebright little girl who could not run and frisk with the rest, who wasso patient and cheerful after her long confinement, ready to helpothers, and so grateful for any small favor. She found now that theweary months had not been wasted, and was very happy todiscover in herself a new sort of strength and sweetness that wasnot only a comfort to her, but made those about her love and trusther. The songs she had learned attracted the babies, who wouldleave their play to peep at her and listen when she sung over herwork. Passers-by paused to hear the blithe voice of the bird in thegreen cage, and other invalids, strolling on the beach, would takeheart when they saw the child so happy in spite of her great trial.<............