Chapter III. Ward No. 1

dhiswoundeachdayinspiteoftheeffortitcosthertogivehimpainorevenseehimsuffer. “That'sabettersortofstrengththanswingingtwenty-pounddumb-bellsorrunningracesIguessI'lltryforthatkind,too,andnothowlorletherseemesquirmwhenthedoctorhurts,”thoughttheboy,ashesawthatgentlefacesopaleandtiredwithmuchwatchingandanxiety,yetsopatient,serene,andcheerful,thatitwaslikesunshine. “Liedownandtakeagoodnap,motherdear,Ifeelfirst-rate,andFrankcanseetomeifIwantanything.Do,now,”headded,withapersuasivenodtowardthecouch,andaboyishrelishinstirringuphislazybrother. Aftersomeurging,Mammaconsentedtogotoherroomforfortywinks,leavingJackinthecareofFrank,begginghimtobeasquietaspossibleifthedearboywishedtosleep,andtoamusehimifhedidnot. Beingwornout,Mrs.Minotlengthenedherfortywinksintoathreehours'nap,andasthe“dearboy”scornedrepose,Mr.Frankhadhishandsfullwhileonguard. “I'llreadtoyou.Here'sWatt,Arkwright,Fulton,andalotofcapitalfellows,withpicturesthatwilldoyourheartgood.Haveabit,willyou?”askedthenewnurse,flappingtheleavesinvitingly.—forFrankhadapassionforsuchthings,anddrewsteam-enginesalloverhisslate,asTommyTraddlesdrewhostsofskeletonswhenlowinhisspirits. “Idon'twantanyofyouroldboilersandstokersandwhirligigs.I'mtiredofreading,andwantsomethingregularlyjolly,”answeredJack,whohadbeenchasingwhitebuffaloeswith“TheHuntersoftheWest,”tillhewasatrifletiredandfractious. “Playcribbage,euchre,anythingyoulike”andFrankobliginglydisinterredhimselffromunderthefolios,feelingthatitwashardforafellowtolieflatawholeweek. “Nofunjusttwoofus.Wishschoolwasover,sotheboyswouldcomeindoctorsaidImightseethemnow.” “They'llbealongbyandby,andI'llhailthem.Tillthen,whatshallwedo?I'myourmanforanything,onlyputanametoit.” “JustwishIhadatelegraphoratelephone,soIcouldtalktoJill.Wouldn'titbefuntopipeacrossandgetananswer!” “I'llmakeeitheryousay”andFranklookedasiftriflesofthatsortweretobehadfortheasking. “Couldyou,really?” “We'llstartthetelegraphfirst,thenyoucansendthingsoverifyoulike,”saidFrank,prudentlyproposingthesurestexperiment. “Goahead,then.I'dlikethat,andsowouldJill,forIknowshewantstohearfromme.” “There'sonetrouble,thoughIshallhavetoleaveyoualoneforafewminuteswhileIriguptheropes”andFranklookedsober,forhewasafaithfulboy,anddidnotwanttodeserthispost. “Oh,nevermindIwon'twantanything.IfIdo,IcanpoundforAnn.” “Andwakemother.I'llfixyouabetterwaythanthat”and,fullofinventivegenius,ouryoungEdisonsplicedthepokertopartofafishing-rodinajiffy,makingalong-handledhookwhichreachedacrosstheroom. “There'sanarmforyounowhookaway,andlet'sseehowitworks,”hesaid,handingovertheinstrumenttoJack,whoproceededtoshowitsunexpectedcapabilitiesbyhookingtheclothoffthetableinattemptingtogethishandkerchief,catchingFrankbythehairwhenfishingforabook,andbreakingapaneofglassintryingtodrawdownthecurtain. “It'ssoeverlastinglong,Ican'tmanageit,”laughedJack,asitfinallycaughtinhisbed-hangings,andnearlypulledthem,ringandall,downuponhishead. “Letitalone,unlessyouneedsomethingverymuch,anddon'tbotherabouttheglass.It'sjustwhatwewantforthetelegraphwireorropetogothrough.Keepstill,andI'llhavethethingrunningintenminutes”and,delightedwiththejob,Frankhurriedaway,leavingJacktocomposeamessagetosendassoonasitwaspossible. “WhatintheworldisthatflyingacrosstheMinots'yard,—abrownhenoraboy'skite?”exclaimedoldMissHopkins,peeringoutofherwindowatthesingularperformancesgoingoninheroppositeneighbor'sgarden. First,Frankappearedwithahatchetandchoppedaclearspaceinthehedgebetweenhisownhouseandthecottagenext,aclotheslinewaspasse