Chapter III. Ward No. 1

dthejelly,andFranksuggested“spoonsallround”fortheItaliancream.Afewtriflesinthewayofcustard,fruit,andwaferbiscuitswerenotworthmentioningbuteverydishwassoonemptied,andJacksaid,ashesurveyedthesceneofdevastationwithgreatsatisfaction,— “Callagainto-morrow,gentlemen,andwewillhaveanotherbout.Freelunchesat5P.M.tillfurthernotice.Nowtellmeallthenews.” Forhalfanhour,fivetongueswentlikemillclappers,andthereisnoknowingwhentheywouldhavestoppedifthelittlebellhadnotsuddenlyrungwithaviolencethatmadethemjump. “That'sJillseewhatshewants,Frank”andwhilehisbrothersentoffthebasket,Jacktoldaboutthenewinvention,andinvitedhismatestoexamineandadmire. Theydidso,andshoutedwithmerrimentwhenthenextdespatchfromJillarrived.Apasteboardjumping-jack,withonelegdoneupincotton-wooltopreservethelikeness,andagreatlumpofmolassescandyinabrownpaper,withaccompanyingnote:— “DearSir,—Isawtheboysgoin,andknowyouarehavinganicetime,soIsendoverthecandyMollyLooandMerrybroughtme.MammysaysIcan'teatit,anditwillallmeltawayifIkeepit.AlsoapictureofJackMinot,whowilldanceononelegandwaggletheother,andmakeyoulaugh.IwishIcouldcome,too.Don'tyouhategrewel?Ido.—Inhaste, “J.P.” “Let'sallsendheraletter,”proposedJack,andoutcamepens,ink,paper,andthelamp,andeveryonefelltoscribbling.Adrollcollectionwastheresult,forFrankdrewapictureofthefatalfallwithbrokenrailsflyingineverydirection,Jackwithhisheadswollentothesizeofaballoon,andJillintwopieces,whilethevariousboysandgirlswerehitoffwithaslyskillthatgaveGuslegslikeastork,MollyLoohairseveralyardslong,andBooaseriesofvisiblehowlscomingoutofanimmensemouthintheshapeofo's.Theoxenwereparticularlygood,fortheirhornsbranchedlikethoseofthemoose,andMr.Granthadapatriarchalbeardwhichwavedinthebreezeasheborethewoundedgirltoasledverylikeafuneralpyre,thestakesbeingcrownedwithbigmittensliketorches. “Yououghttobeanartist.Ineversawsuchadabsterasyouare.That'stheverymoralofJoe,allinabunchonthefence,withablottoshowhowpurplehisnosewas,”saidGus,holdingupthesketchforgeneralcriticismandadmiration. “I'dratherhavearednosethanlegslikeagrasshoppersoyouneedn'ttwit,Daddy,”growledJoe,quiteunconsciousthatablotactuallydidadornhisnose,ashelaboredoverabriefdespatch. Theboysenjoyedthejoke,andoneaftertheotherreadouthismessagetothecaptivelady:— “DearJill,—Sorryyouain'there.Greatfun.Jackprettylively.LauraandLotwouldsendloveiftheyknewofthechance.Flyroundandgetwell. “Gus” “DearGilliflower,—Hopeyouareprettycomfortableinyour'dungeoncell.'Wouldyoulikeaserenadewhenthemooncomes?Hopeyouwillsoonbeupagain,forwemissyouverymuch.ShallbeveryhappytohelpinanywayIcan.Lovetoyourmother.Yourtruefriend, “E.D.” “MissPecq. “DearMadam,—Iamhappytotellyouthatweareallwell,andhopeyouarethesame.IgaveJemCoxalickingbecausehewenttoyourdesk.Youhadbettersendforyourbooks.Youwon'thavetopayforthesledorthefence.Jacksayshewillseetoit.Wehavebeenhavingaspreadoverhere.First-ratethings.Iwouldn'tmindbreakingaleg,ifIhadsuchgoodgrubandnochorestodo.Nomorenow,fromyours,withesteem, “JosephP.Flint” Joethoughtthatanelegantepistle,havingcopiedportionsofitfromthe“LetterWriter,”andproudlyreaditofftotheboys,whoassuredhimthatJillwouldbemuchimpressed. “Now,Jack,hurryupandletussendthelotoff,forwemustgo,”saidGus,asFrankputthelettersinthebasket,andtheclatteroftea-thingswasheardbelow. “I'mnotgoingtoshowmine.It'sprivateandyoumustn'tlook,”answeredJack,pattingdownanenvelopewithsuchcarethatnoonehadachancetopeep. ButJoehadseenthelittlenotecopied,andwhiletheotherswereatthewindowworkingthetelegraphhecaughtuptheorigi