登陆注册
5590700000013

第13章 Secrets(1)

There were a great many clubs in Harmony Village,but as we intend to interest ourselves with the affairs of the young folks only,we need not dwell upon the intellectual amusements of the elders.

In summer,the boys devoted themselves to baseball,the girls to boating,and all got rosy,stout,and strong,in these healthful exercises.In winter,the lads had their debating club,the lasses a dramatic ditto.At the former,astonishing bursts of oratory were heard;at the latter,everything was boldly attempted,from Romeo and Juliet to Mother Goose's immortal melodies.The two clubs frequently met and mingled their attractions in a really entertaining manner,for the speakers made good actors,and the young actresses were most appreciative listeners to the eloquence of each budding Demosthenes.

Great plans had been afoot for Christmas or New Year,but when the grand catastrophe put an end to the career of one of the best "spouters,"and caused the retirement of the favorite "singing chambermaid,"the affair was postponed till February,when Washington's birthday was always celebrated by the patriotic town,where the father of his country once put on his nightcap,or took off his boots,as that ubiquitous hero appears to have done in every part of the United States.

Meantime the boys were studying Revolutionary characters,and the girls rehearsing such dramatic scenes as they thought most appropriate and effective for the 22d.In both of these attempts they were much helped by the sense and spirit of Ralph Evans,a youth of nineteen,who was a great favorite with the young folks,not only because he was a good,industrious fellow,who supported his grandmother,but also full of talent,fun,and ingenuity.It was no wonder everyone who really knew him liked him,for he could turn his hand to anything,and loved to do it.If the girls were in despair about a fire-place when acting "The Cricket on the Hearth,"he painted one,and put a gas-log in it that made the kettle really boil,to their great delight.If the boys found the interest of their club flagging,Ralph would convulse them by imitations of the "Member from Cranberry Centre,"or fire them with speeches of famous statesmen.Charity fairs could not get on without him,and in the store where he worked he did many an ingenious job,which made him valued for his mechanical skill,as well as for his energy and integrity.

Mrs.Minot liked to have him with her sons,because they also were to paddle their own canoes by and by,and she believed that,rich or poor,boys make better men for learning to use the talents they possess,not merely as ornaments,but tools with which to carve their own fortunes;and the best help toward this end is an example of faithful work,high aims,and honest living.So Ralph came often,and in times of trouble was a real rainy-day friend.

Jack grew very fond of him during his imprisonment,for the good youth ran in every evening to get commissions,amuse the boy with droll accounts of the day's adventures,or invent lifts,bed-tables,and foot-rests for the impatient invalid.Frank found him a sure guide through the mechanical mysteries which he loved,and spent many a useful half-hour discussing cylinders,pistons,valves,and balance-wheels.Jill also came in for her share of care and comfort;the poor little back lay all the easier for the air-cushion Ralph got her,and the weary headaches found relief from the spray atomizer,which softly distilled its scented dew on the hot forehead till she fell asleep.

Round the beds of Jack and Jill met and mingled the schoolmates of whom our story treats.Never,probably,did invalids have gayer times than our two,after a week of solitary confinement;for school gossip crept in,games could not be prevented,and Christmas secrets were concocted in those rooms till they were regular conspirators dens,when they were not little Bedlams.

After the horn and bead labors were over,the stringing of pop-corn on red,and cranberries on white,threads,came next,and Jack and Jill often looked like a new kind of spider in the pretty webs hung about them,till reeled off to bide their time in the Christmas closet.Paper flowers followed,and gay garlands and bouquets blossomed,regardless of the snow and frost without.Then there was a great scribbling of names,verses,and notes to accompany the steadily increasing store of odd parcels which were collected at the Minots',for gifts from everyone were to ornament the tree,and contributions poured in as the day drew near.

同类推荐
  • 知空蕴禅师语录

    知空蕴禅师语录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 新世鸿勋

    新世鸿勋

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 灵台经

    灵台经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 圆觉经佚文

    圆觉经佚文

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 寂调音所问经

    寂调音所问经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 重生全新生活

    重生全新生活

    一觉醒来,尹玉安发现了自己回到了自己中学时代。回到了初中时期,考上重点中学,目标重点大学。让家人过上幸福的日子,让自己更加的完美。琴棋书画,样样学习,打造完美知性女人,有外在更有内在,武功也不能错过,好好练习天天向上。我爱美男,美男爱我,生活就是这样美好
  • 豪门婚情告急:婚有暗香来

    豪门婚情告急:婚有暗香来

    我甩了男友许至,求陆彦回娶我。他带着恨意跟我结婚,这一场婚姻,覆盖着抹不去的血债。再见许至,他娶了比自己大十七岁的女人。看似风平浪静的富贵豪门里,阴谋和算计欲盖弥彰。就在我以为可以触碰到幸福的时候,残忍的真相慢慢浮现。许至对我说,何桑,你想知道你哥是被谁害成这样的吗?让我来告诉你。我对陆彦回说,有个瞎子给我算过,说我命不好,从前我不信,现在我信了。他抱着我哭了,他说桑桑对不起我错了,我真的错了,求你别离开我。后来我常听到一首歌,有句歌词总让我湿了眼眶。我们曾相爱,想到就心酸。
  • 五灵天

    五灵天

    这是一个五行属性极端恐怖的世界。金、木、水、火、土,相互依赖又相互克制。大陆上的每个人都只有一种属性。且看五行灵体的主角如何在这个复杂世界闯出自己的一片天
  • 少年终究不是年少

    少年终究不是年少

    也许我们都不曾留意,逝去的日子里有多少曾经在意!我只是少年,但已脱离童年的我们,终究不再年少!下一个花季,我们又在哪里?
  • 做鬼生涯

    做鬼生涯

    做鬼即爽也虐,爽到酣畅淋漓,也虐到肝肠寸断。
  • 总裁的过期情人

    总裁的过期情人

    夏季多雨,天空风吹过,飘荡着雨,雨下得很大,啪啪的落着,打在房顶,击在地面上,砰砰的直响。天空很阴沉,沉沉的一团团的乌云遮在头上,笼罩下来,随着风,一直不散,趋走了热意,刮得人浸凉,让热意带来的烦躁消褪,尤其是带着冰凉的空气和雨滴袭来,整个人透凉,很是舒服,轻松。不再那么烦闷。S市最繁华的商业大道上,来来去去的车辆在雨幕中飞驰着,两边街边的行人行色匆匆避着雨,最……
  • 世界奇异故事

    世界奇异故事

    仲夏日雨夜,少年误入荒野中的木屋,三个神秘女人在房中举行着诡异阴森的古老仪式。神秘女人到底在干什么?少年能否逃过一劫?苏格兰城堡的古老传说后面,有着怎样惊人的秘密?莫名发生的起火事件,是亡灵索命,还是机缘巧合?奇异现象、墓下秘境、古老传说、孤岛秘闻……它们是惊悚悬疑小说中的成功之作,单本畅销千万册,并被翻译成多国语言,每一部都让人毛骨悚然!梅里美、江户川乱步、埃德加·爱伦·坡……世界文学大师演绎经典奇异故事,破解不为人知的诡秘奇案!
  • 我喜欢你是在第一眼

    我喜欢你是在第一眼

    少女时期,青春萌动,却总觉得喜欢一个人很麻烦。后来孤身一人寻寻觅觅,才发现有个人也在某个地方等了你多年。(故事与本人无关)
  • 偷龙转凤:碧落烟华

    偷龙转凤:碧落烟华

    一次救人得到的金针,一次交易遭遇的杀手,一次无意的相识引发的杀身之祸,一切皆因金针背后的组织。到底他们想要做什么?为何几个毫无关联的人被人刺杀,都与他们有关。到底他们的身上有什么不为人知的共同点。一个只想好好挣钱,有点贪财的小女妖,却总是遇上莫名其妙的人,这到底是巧合,还是刻意的安排。而那些与她邂逅的人中,会不会有人成为她的真命天子?欲知详情,请看《偷龙转凤结奇缘:碧落烟华》
  • 娘子,为夫馋了妾室谋略

    娘子,为夫馋了妾室谋略

    这是一篇家斗的文文,女主是个穿越人,嫁到一个繁复的大家庭中,作为一个卑微的小妾,她步步如行薄冰,以她冷静聪慧的睿智,慢慢的在这个家庭里逐渐的脱颖而出。但是她绝对坚持一夫一妻制。柳太君的话,在永平公府那就是圣旨半年之内她要是怀不上孩子那么便将她扫地出门多少双眼睛等着看她的笑话可是越是这样她就越是不如她们的意红尘百年豪门前一岁一荣盼夫临。只是她不是那种任人捏圆又搓扁的小女人。家斗+种田+女强【片段一】让我跟她圆房,想都别想!“可恶,奶奶你竟然给我下药!”柳太君大袖一挥,“送四爷去陆姨娘的房里!”为了二房有个男丁,她这也是迫不得已。【片段二】御狂澜兴奋是拉着那个和他长得一模一样的三岁小男孩,激动地告诉小男孩:“我是你爹啊!”小男孩从身上摸出一块小镜子,看了看自己粉嫩嫩的脸,思考了一下,郑重道:“兄弟,别开玩笑了,我怎么有你丑呢?”七七的窝:12720639,敲门砖女主名哦~推荐同类种田完结《不良贤妻》母亲刚逝,她迫不得已被叔叔们披上嫁衣。新房里,新郎是一个年老成疾的百岁老翁。三日之后,她成了寡妇。风华正茂的媳妇们,整日里的争权夺势,不将她这个出生低贱的婆婆放在眼里。貌美如花的孙媳妇们更是对她这奶奶无敬无畏。严禁规矩的管家们却事事与她禀告,待她定夺。其实,当寡妇也挺好的。只是,出门在外的嫡长孙回来了。第一句话便是,“不错,我娶她,下月大婚!”她这才知道,朱邪家的嫡长孙在继承家业的时候,如果愿意也可以顺便继承上一辈的老婆。特别是她这种新婚死了相公的,在嫁给孙子,可以作为主母。其路漫漫之远兮,吾将上下而求索,兵来将挡水来土掩,姑娘的宗旨就是把对相公垂涎的女人一网打尽。外表柔弱,不代表这就是软弱。相公面前可以笑得温婉可人,相公后面绝对要笑得邪魅煞人。公主?名门贵女?江湖女侠?装淑女,扮大度,示贤惠!告诉你们秀外慧中形容的就是姑娘我这种人。新文:【正室谋略】完结免费文:【相公久等了】