Happy the boys and girls who tell all things freely to father or mother , sure of pity , help , and pardon ; and thrice happy the parents who , out of their own experience , and by their own virtues , can teach and uplift the souls for which they are responsible . This longing stirred in the hearts of Rose and Mac , and by a natural impulse both turned to Dr. Alec , for in this queer world of ours , fatherly and motherly hearts often beat warm and wise in the breasts of bachelor uncles and maiden aunts ; and it is my private opinion that these worthy creatures are a beautiful provision of nature for the cherishing of other people 's children . They certainly get great comfort out of it , and receive much innocent affection that otherwise would be lost . Dr. Alec was one of these , and his big heart had room for every one of the eight cousins , especially orphaned Rose and afflicted Mac ; so , when the boy uttered that unconscious reproach to his parents , and Rose added with a sigh , `` It must be beautiful to have a mother ! '' the good Doctor yearned over them , and , shutting his book with a decided slam , said in that cordial voice of his , `` Now , look here , children , you just come and tell me all your worries , and with God 's help , I 'll settle them for you . That is what I 'm here for , I believe , and it will be a great happiness to me if you can trust me . '' `` We can , uncle , and we will ! '' both answered , with a heartiness that gratified him much . `` Good ! now school is dismissed , and I advise you to go and refresh your 600,000,000 air cells by a brisk run in the garden . Come again whenever you like , Mac , and we 'll teach you all we can about your ` works , ' as you call them , so you can keep them running smoothly . '' `` We 'll come , sir , much obliged , '' and the class in physiology went out to walk . Mac did come again , glad to find something he could study in spite of his weak eyes , and learned much that was of more value than anything his school had ever taught him . Of course , the other lads made great fun of the whole thing , and plagued Dr. Alec 's students half out of their lives . But they kept on persistently , and one day something happened which made the other fellows behave themselves for ever after . It was a holiday , and Rose up in her room thought she heard the voices of her cousins , so she ran down to welcome them , but found no one there . `` Never mind , they will be here soon , and then we 'll have a frolic , '' she said to herself , and thinking she had been mistaken she went into the study to wait . She was lounging over the table looking at a map when an odd noise caught her ear . A gentle tapping somewhere , and following the sound it seemed to come from the inside of the long case in which the skeleton lived when not professionally engaged . This case stood upright in a niche between two book-cases at the back of the room , a darkish corner , where Brother Bones , as the boys would call him , was out of the way .
As XXXXX stood looking in that direction , and wondering if a rat had got shut in , the door of the case swung slowly open , and with a great start she saw a bony arm lifted , and a bony finger beckon to her .
Alec Brother Doctor Rose book-cases day girls heartiness help lads