I shall keep my Speller by me and take a look at it every day , for that is what I 'm most backward in . But I intend to devote myself to you , Jack , and be real kind and useful . I 've made a plan to do it , and I mean to carry it out , any way , '' answered Jill , who had begun to be a missionary , and felt that this was a field of labor where she could distinguish herself . `` Here 's a home mission all ready for you , and you can be paying your debts beside doing yourself good , '' Mrs. Pecq said to her in private , having found plenty to do herself . Now Jill made one great mistake at the outset -- she forgot that she was the one to be converted to good manners and gentleness , and devoted her efforts to looking after Jack , finding it much easier to cure other people 's faults than her own . Jack was a most engaging heathen , and needed very little instruction ; therefore Jill thought her task would be an easy one . But three or four weeks of petting and play had rather demoralized both children , so Jill 's Speller , though tucked under the sofa pillow every day , was seldom looked at , and Jack shirked his Latin shamefully . Both read all the story-books they could get , held daily levees in the Bird Room , and all their spare minutes were spent in teaching Snowdrop , the great Angora cat , to bring the ball when they dropped it in their game . So Saturday came , and both were rather the worse for so much idleness , since daily duties and studies are the wholesome bread which feeds the mind better than the dyspeptic plum-cake of sensational reading , or the unsubstantial bon-bons of frivolous amusement . It was a stormy day , so they had few callers , and devoted themselves to arranging the album ; for these books were all the rage just then , and boys met to compare , discuss , buy , sell , and `` swap '' stamps with as much interest as men on ` Change gamble in stocks . Jack had a nice little collection , and had been saving up pocket-money to buy a book in which to preserve his treasures . Now , thanks to Jill 's timely suggestion , Frank had given him a fine one , and several friends had contributed a number of rare stamps to grace the large , inviting pages . Jill wielded the gum-brush and fitted on the little flaps , as her fingers were skilful at this nice work , and Jack put each stamp in its proper place with great rustling of leaves and comparing of marks . Returning , after a brief absence , Mrs. Minot beheld the countenances of the workers adorned with gay stamps , giving them a very curious appearance . `` My dears ! what new play have you got now ? Are you wild Indians ? or letters that have gone round the world before finding the right address ? '' she asked , laughing at the ridiculous sight , for both were as sober as judges and deeply absorbed in some doubtful specimen . `` Oh , we just stuck them there to keep them safe ; they get lost if we leave them lying round .
It 's very handy , for I can see in a minute what I want on Jill 's face and she on mine , and put our fingers on the right chap at once , '' answered XXXXX , adding , with an anxious gaze at his friend 's variegated countenance , `` Where the dickens is my New Granada ?
Frank Indians Jack Jill Pecq Snowdrop bon-bons countenances minutes pocket-money