It stood open , and on the rack was the `` Jolly Brothers ' Galop , '' which he had been learning to play with Ed . Big boy as he was , the sudden thought that never again would they sit shoulder to shoulder , thundering the marches or singing the songs both liked so well , made his eyes fill as he laid away the music , and shut the instrument , feeling as if he never wanted to touch it again . Then he went and sat down beside Jack with an arm round his neck , trying to steady his voice by a natural question before he told the heavy news . `` What are you reading , Jacky ? '' The unusual caress , the very gentle tone , made Jack look up , and the minute he saw Frank 's face he knew the truth . `` Is Ed -- ? '' he could not say the hard word , and Frank could only answer by a nod as he winked fast , for the tears would come . Jack said no more , but as the book dropped from his knee he hid his face in the sofa-pillow and lay quite still , not crying , but trying to make it seem true that his dear Ed had gone away for ever . He could not do it , and presently turned his head a little to say , in a despairing tone , -- `` I do n't see what I shall do without him ! '' `` I know it 's hard for you . It is for all of us . '' `` You 've got Gus , but now I have n't anybody . Ed was always so good to me ! '' and with the name so many tender recollections came , that poor Jack broke down in spite of his manful attempts to smother the sobs in the red pillow . There was an unconscious reproach in the words , Frank thought ; for he was not as gentle as Ed , and he did not wonder that Jack loved and mourned for the lost friend like a brother . `` You 've got me . I 'll be good to you ; cry if you want to , I do n't mind . '' There was such a sympathetic choke in Frank 's voice that Jack felt comforted at once , and when he had had his cry out , which was very soon , he let Frank pull him up with a bear-like but affectionate hug , and sat leaning on him as they talked about their loss , both feeling that there might have been a greater one , and resolving to love one another very much hereafter . Mrs. Minot often called Frank the `` father-boy , '' because he was now the head of the house , and a sober , reliable fellow for his years . Usually he did not show much affection except to her , for , as he once said , `` I shall never be too old to kiss my mother , '' and she often wished that he had a little sister , to bring out the softer side of his character .
He domineered over XXXXX and laughed at his affectionate little ways , but now when trouble came , he was as kind and patient as a girl ; and when Mamma came in , having heard the news , she found her `` father-boy '' comforting his brother so well that she slipped away without a word , leaving them to learn one of the sweet lessons sorrow teaches -- to lean on one another , and let each trial bring them closer together .
Brothers Ed Frank Galop Gus Jack Jacky Minot sofa-pillow years