Chapter II. Two Penitents

'llremember,mother.Ihatenottobeobliging,butIguessitwouldhavesaveduslotsoftroubleifI'dsaidNointhebeginning.Itriedto,butshewouldgo.PoorJill!I'lltakebettercareofhernexttime.Issheveryill,Mamma?” “Icantellyoubetterto-morrow.Shedoesnotsuffermuch,andwehopethereisnogreatharmdone.” “Iwishshehadaniceplacelikethistobesickin.Itmustbeverypokyinthoselittlerooms,”saidJack,ashiseyerovedroundthelargechamberwherehelaysocosey,warm,andpleasant,withthegaychintzcurtainsdrapingdoorsandwindows,therosycarpet,comfortablechairs,andafireglowinginthegrate. “Ishallseethatshesuffersfornothing,sodon'ttroubleyourkindheartaboutherto-night,buttrytosleepthat'swhatyouneed,”answeredhismother,wettingthebandageonhisforehead,andputtingacoolhandontheflushedcheeks. Jackobedientlyclosedhiseyesandlistenedwhiletheboyssang“TheSweetByandBy,”softeningtheirroughyoungvoicesforhissaketillthemusicwasassoftasalullaby.Helaysostillhismotherthoughthewasoff,butpresentlyatearslippedoutandrolleddowntheredcheek,wettingherhandasitpassed. “Myblessedboy,whatisit?”shewhispered,withatouchandatonethatonlymothershave. Theblueeyesopenedwide,andJack'sownsunshinysmilebrokethroughthetearsthatfilledthemashesaidwithasniff,— “EverybodyissogoodtomeIcan'thelpmakinganoodleofmyself. “Youarenotanoodle!”criedMamma,resentingtheepithet.“Oneofthesweetthingsaboutpainandsorrowisthattheyshowushowwellweareloved,howmuchkindnessthereisintheworld,andhoweasilywecanmakeothershappyinthesamewaywhentheyneedhelpandsympathy.Don'tforgetthat,littleson.” “Don'tseehowIcan,withyoutoshowmehowniceitis.Kissmegood-night,andthen'I'llbegood,'asJillsays.” Nestlinghisheaduponhismother'sarm,Jacklayquiettill,lulledbythemusicofhismates,hedrowsedawayintothedreamlesssleepwhichisNurseNature'shealthiestsoothingsirupforwearysoulsandbodies.