Jack struck up a great friendship with the sturdy Bacon and the agreeable Cox : the latter , being about his own age , was his especial favorite ; and they soon were called Box and Cox by the other fellows , which did not annoy them a bit , as both had played parts in that immortal farce . They had capital times fishing , scrambling over the rocks , playing ball and tennis , and rainy days they took possession of the studio opposite , drew up the portcullis , and gallantly defended the castle , which some of the others besieged with old umbrellas for shields , bats for battering-rams , and bunches of burrs for cannon-balls . Great larks went on over there , while the girls applauded from the piazza or chamber-windows , and made a gay flag for the victors to display from the tower when the fight was over . But Jill had the best time of all , for each day brought increasing strength and spirits , and she improved so fast it was hard to believe that she was the same girl who lay so long almost helpless in the Bird Room at home . Such lively letters as she sent her mother , all about her new friends , her fine sails , drives , and little walks ; the good times she had in the evening , the lovely things people gave her , and she was learning to make with shells and sea-weed , and what splendid fun it was to keep house in a boat . This last amusement soon grew quite absorbing , and her `` cubby , '' as she called it , rapidly became a pretty grotto , where she lived like a little mermaid , daily loving more and more the beauty of the wonderful sea . Finding the boat too sunny at times , the boys cut long willow boughs and arched them over the seats , laying hemlock branches across till a green roof made it cool and shady inside . There Jill sat or lay among her cushions reading , trying to sketch , sorting shells , drying gay sea-weeds , or watching her crabs , jelly-fish , and anemones in the old boiler , now buried in sand and edged about with moss from the woods . Nobody disturbed her treasures , but kindly added to them , and often when she went to her nest she found fruit or flowers , books or bon-bons , laid ready for her . Every one pitied and liked the bright little girl who could not run and frisk with the rest , who was so patient and cheerful after her long confinement , ready to help others , and so grateful for any small favor . She found now that the weary months had not been wasted , and was very happy to discover in herself a new sort of strength and sweetness that was not only a comfort to her , but made those about her love and trust her . The songs she had learned attracted the babies , who would leave their play to peep at her and listen when she sung over her work . Passers-by paused to hear the blithe voice of the bird in the green cage , and other invalids , strolling on the beach , would take heart when they saw the child so happy in spite of her great trial . The boys kept all their marine curiosities for her , and were always ready to take her a row or a sail , as the bay was safe and that sort of travelling suited her better than driving . But the girls had capital times together , and it did Jill good to see another sort from those she knew at home . She had been so much petted of late , that she was getting rather vain of her small accomplishments , and being with strangers richer , better bred and educated than herself , made her more humble in some things , while it showed her the worth of such virtues as she could honestly claim . Mamie Cox took her to drive in the fine carriage of her mamma , and Jill was much impressed by the fact that Mamie was not a bit proud about it , and did not put on any airs , though she had a maid to take care of her . Gerty wore pretty costumes , and came down with pink and blue ribbons in her hair that Jill envied very much ; yet Gerty liked her curls , and longed to have some , while her mother , `` the lady from Philadelphia , '' as they called her , was so kind and gay that Jill quite adored her , and always felt as if sunshine had come into the room when she entered . Two little sisters were very interesting to her , and made her long for one of her own when she saw them going about together and heard them talk of their pleasant home , where the great silk factories were . But they invited her to come and see the wonderful cocoons , and taught her to knot pretty gray fringe on a cushion , which delighted her , being so new and easy .
There were several other nice little lasses , and they all gathered about XXXXX with the sweet sympathy children are so quick to show toward those in pain or misfortune .
Cox Jack Jill Mamie anemones cannon-balls chamber-windows daily days sea-weeds