I was afraid I 'd lose the place if he did , for the Capt. is awful strict . If Jack do n't tell now , I will . I ai n't mean . Glad you wrote . `` R.O.W. '' `` Hurrah ! '' cried Jill , waving the letter over her head in great triumph . `` Call everybody and read it out , '' she added , as Frank snatched it , and ran for his mother , seeing at a glance that the news was good . Jill was so afraid she should tell before the others came that she burst out singing `` Pretty Bobby Shafto '' at the top of her voice , to Jack 's great disgust , for he considered the song very personal , as he was rather fond of `` combing down his yellow hair , '' and Jill often plagued him by singing it when he came in with the golden quirls very smooth and nice to hide the scar on his forehead . In about five minutes the door flew open and in came Mamma , making straight for bewildered Jack , who thought the family had gone crazy when his parent caught him in her arms , saying tenderly , -- `` My good , generous boy ! I knew he was right all the time ! '' while Frank worked his hand up and down like a pump-handle , exclaiming heartily , -- `` You 're a trump , sir , and I 'm proud of you ! '' Jill meantime calling out , in wild delight , -- `` I told you so ! I told you so ! I did find out ; ha , ha , I did ! '' `` Come , I say ! What 's the matter ? I 'm all right . Do n't squeeze the breath out of me , please , '' expostulated Jack , looking so startled and innocent , as he struggled feebly , that they all laughed , and this plaintive protest caused him to be released . But the next proceeding did not enlighten him much , for Frank kept waving a very inky paper before him and ordering him to read it , while Mamma made a charge at Jill , as if it was absolutely necessary to hug somebody . `` Hullo ! ''
said XXXXX , when he got the letter into his own hand and read it .
Frank Hullo Jack Jill R.O.W. Shafto minutes pump-handle quirls right