she whispered , with a touch and a tone that only mothers have . The blue eyes opened wide , and Jack 's own sunshiny smile broke through the tears that filled them as he said with a sniff , -- `` Everybody is so good to me I ca n't help making a noodle of myself . `` You are not a noodle ! '' cried Mamma , resenting the epithet . `` One of the sweet things about pain and sorrow is that they show us how well we are loved , how much kindness there is in the world , and how easily we can make others happy in the same way when they need help and sympathy . Do n't forget that , little son . '' `` Do n't see how I can , with you to show me how nice it is . Kiss me good-night , and then ` I 'll be good , ' as Jill says . '' Nestling his head upon his mother 's arm , Jack lay quiet till , lulled by the music of his mates , he drowsed away into the dreamless sleep which is Nurse Nature 's healthiest soothing sirup for weary souls and bodies . Chapter III . Ward No. 1 For some days , nothing was seen and little was heard of the `` dear sufferers , '' as the old ladies called them . But they were not forgotten ; the first words uttered when any of the young people met were : `` How is Jack ? '' `` Seen Jill yet ? '' and all waited with impatience for the moment when they could be admitted to their favorite mates , more than ever objects of interest now . Meantime , the captives spent the first few days in sleep , pain , and trying to accept the hard fact that school and play were done with for months perhaps . But young spirits are wonderfully elastic and soon cheer up , and healthy young bodies heal fast , or easily adapt themselves to new conditions . So our invalids began to mend on the fourth day , and to drive their nurses distracted with efforts to amuse them , before the first week was over . The most successful attempt originated in Ward No. 1 , as Mrs. Minot called Jack 's apartment , and we will give our sympathizing readers some idea of this place , which became the stage whereon were enacted many varied and remarkable scenes . Each of the Minot boys had his own room , and there collected his own treasures and trophies , arranged to suit his convenience and taste . Frank 's was full of books , maps , machinery , chemical messes , and geometrical drawings , which adorned the walls like intricate cobwebs .
A big chair , where he read and studied with his heels higher than his XXXXX , a basket of apples for refreshment at all hours of the day or night , and an immense inkstand , in which several pens were always apparently bathing their feet , were the principal ornaments of his scholastic retreat .
cobwebs day drawings epithet good-night head invalids music son taste