`` Born so , '' said Frank , rumbling away in the bass with a pair of hands that would have been the better for some of the above-mentioned soap , for he did not love to do much in the washing and brushing line . `` I suppose that 's it . Well , I like it , and I shall keep on trying , for being loved by every one is about the nicest thing in the world . Is n't it , Ed ? '' asked Jack , with a gentle tweak of the ear as he put a question which he knew would get no answer , for Ed was so modest he could not see wherein he differed from other boys , nor believe that the sunshine he saw in other faces was only the reflection from his own . Sunday evening Mrs. Minot sat by the fire , planning how she should tell some good news she had been saving up all day . Mrs. Pecq knew it , and seemed so delighted that she went about smiling as if she did not know what trouble meant , and could not do enough for the family . She was downstairs now , seeing that the clothes were properly prepared for the wash , so there was no one in the Bird Room but Mamma and the children . Frank was reading up all he could find about some Biblical hero mentioned in the day 's sermon ; Jill lay where she had lain for nearly four long months , and though her face was pale and thin with the confinement , there was an expression on it now sweeter even than health . Jack sat on the rug beside her , looking at a white carnation through the magnifying glass , while she was enjoying the perfume of a red one as she talked to him . `` If you look at the white petals you 'll see that they sparkle like marble , and go winding a long way down to the middle of the flower where it grows sort of rosy ; and in among the small , curly leaves , like fringed curtains , you can see the little green fairy sitting all alone . Your mother showed me that , and I think it is very pretty . I call it a ` fairy , ' but it is really where the seeds are hidden and the sweet smell comes from . '' Jill spoke softly lest she should disturb the others , and , as she turned to push up her pillow , she saw Mrs. Minot looking at her with a smile she did not understand . `` Did you speak , 'm ? '' she asked , smiling back again , without in the least knowing why . `` No , dear . I was listening and thinking what a pretty little story one could make out of your fairy living alone down there , and only known by her perfume . '' `` Tell it , Mamma . It is time for our story , and that would be a nice one , I guess , '' said Jack , who was as fond of stories as when he sat in his mother 's lap and chuckled over the hero of the beanstalk .
`` We do n't have fairy tales on Sunday , you know , '' began XXXXX regretfully .
Biblical Jack Jill Minot beanstalk carnation day fire months tweak