In both of these attempts they were much helped by the sense and spirit of Ralph Evans , a youth of nineteen , who was a great favorite with the young folks , not only because he was a good , industrious fellow , who supported his grandmother , but also full of talent , fun , and ingenuity . It was no wonder every one who really knew him liked him , for he could turn his hand to anything , and loved to do it . If the girls were in despair about a fire-place when acting `` The Cricket on the Hearth , '' he painted one , and put a gas-log in it that made the kettle really boil , to their great delight . If the boys found the interest of their club flagging , Ralph would convulse them by imitations of the `` Member from Cranberry Centre , '' or fire them with speeches of famous statesmen . Charity fairs could not get on without him , and in the store where he worked he did many an ingenious job , which made him valued for his mechanical skill , as well as for his energy and integrity . Mrs. Minot liked to have him with her sons , because they also were to paddle their own canoes by and by , and she believed that , rich or poor , boys make better men for learning to use the talents they possess , not merely as ornaments , but tools with which to carve their own fortunes ; and the best help toward this end is an example of faithful work , high aims , and honest living . So Ralph came often , and in times of trouble was a real rainy-day friend . Jack grew very fond of him during his imprisonment , for the good youth ran in every evening to get commissions , amuse the boy with droll accounts of the day 's adventures , or invent lifts , bed-tables , and foot-rests for the impatient invalid . Frank found him a sure guide through the mechanical mysteries which he loved , and spent many a useful half-hour discussing cylinders , pistons , valves , and balance-wheels . Jill also came in for her share of care and comfort ; the poor little back lay all the easier for the air-cushion Ralph got her , and the weary headaches found relief from the spray atomizer , which softly distilled its scented dew on the hot forehead till she fell asleep . Round the beds of Jack and Jill met and mingled the schoolmates of whom our story treats . Never , probably , did invalids have gayer times than our two , after a week of solitary confinement ; for school gossip crept in , games could not be prevented , and Christmas secrets were concocted in those rooms till they were regular conspirators ' dens , when they were not little Bedlams . After the horn and bead labors were over , the stringing of pop-corn on red , and cranberries on white , threads , came next , and Jack and Jill often looked like a new kind of spider in the pretty webs hung about them , till reeled off to bide their time in the Christmas closet . Paper flowers followed , and gay garlands and bouquets blossomed , regardless of the snow and frost without . Then there was a great scribbling of names , verses , and notes to accompany the steadily increasing store of odd parcels which were collected at the Minots ' , for gifts from every one were to ornament the tree , and contributions poured in as the day drew near . But the secret which most excited the young people was the deep mystery of certain proceedings at the Minot house . No one but Frank , Ralph , and Mamma knew what it was , and the two boys nearly drove the others distracted by the tantalizing way in which they hinted at joys to come , talked strangely about birds , went measuring round with foot-rules , and shut themselves up in the Boys ' Den , as a certain large room was called . This seemed to be the centre of operations , but beyond the fact of the promised tree no ray of light was permitted to pass the jealously guarded doors . Strange men with paste-pots and ladders went in , furniture was dragged about , and all sorts of boyish lumber was sent up garret and down cellar . Mrs. Minot was seen pondering over heaps of green stuff , hammering was heard , singular bundles were smuggled upstairs , flowering plants betrayed their presence by whiffs of fragrance when the door was opened , and Mrs. Pecq was caught smiling all by herself in a back bedroom , which usually was shut up in winter .
`` They are going to have a play , after all , and that green stuff was the curtain , '' said Molly Loo , as the girls talked it over one day , when they sat with their backs turned to one another , putting last stitches in certain bits of work which had to be concealed from all eyes , though it was XXXXX convenient to ask one another 's taste as to the color , materials , and sizes of these mysterious articles .
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