Oh, then perhaps I WILL eat it to-day, sighed the boy, dropping the doughnut back into the box with an air of relief.
Pollyanna, on whom the significance of this action was quite lost, thrust her fingers into her own bag, and the banquet was on.
It was a wonderful hour. To Pollyanna it was, in a way, the most wonderful hour she had ever spent, for she had found some one who could talk faster and longer than she could. This strange youth seemed to have an inexhaustible fund of marvelous stories of brave knights and fair ladies, of tournaments and battles. Moreover, so vividly did he draw his pictures that Pollyanna saw with her own eyes the deeds of valor, the knights in armor, and the fair ladies with their jeweled gowns and tresses, even though she was really looking at a flock of fluttering doves and sparrows and a group of frisking squirrels on a wide sweep of sunlit grass.
The Ladies Aiders were forgotten. Even the glad game was not thought of. Pollyanna, with flushed cheeks and sparkling eyes was trailing down the golden ages led by a romance-fed boy who though she did not know it was trying to crowd into this one short hour of congenial companionship countless dreary days of loneliness and longing.
Not until the noon bells sent Pollyanna hurrying homeward did she remember that she did not even yet know the boys name.
I only know it isnt Sir James, she sighed to herself, frowning with vexation. But never mind. I can ask him to-morrow.
Chapter VIII
Jamie
Pollyanna did not see the boy to-morrow. It rained, and she could not go to the Garden at all. It rained the next day, too. Even on the third day she did not see him, for, though the sun came out bright and warm, and though she went very early in the afternoon to the Garden and waited long, he did not come at all. But on the fourth day he was there in his old place, and Pollyanna hastened forward with a joyous greeting.
Oh, Im so glad, GLAD to see you! But whereve you been? You werent here yesterday at all.
I couldnt. The pain wouldnt let me come yesterday, explained the lad, who was looking very white.
The PAIN! Oh, does it ache? stammered Pollyanna, all sympathy at once.
Oh, yes, always, nodded the boy, with a cheerfully matter-of-fact air. Most generally I can stand it and come here just the same, except when it gets TOO bad, same as twas yesterday. Then I cant.
But how can you stand it to have it ache always? gasped Pollyanna.
Why, I have to, answered the boy, opening his eyes a little wider. Things that are so are SO, and they cant be any other way. So whats the use thinking how they might be? Besides, the harder it aches one day, the nicer tis to have it let-up the next.
Oh, yes, always, nodded the boy, with a cheerfully matter-of-fact air. Most generally I can stand it and come here just the same, except when it gets TOO bad, same as twas yesterday. Then I cant.
But how can you stand it to have it ache always? gasped Pollyanna.
Why, I have to, answered the boy, opening his eyes a little wider. Things that are so are SO, and they cant be any other way. So whats the use thinking how they might be? Besides, the harder it aches one day, the nicer tis to have it let-up the next.
I know! Thats like the ga began Pollyanna; but the boy interrupted her.
Did you bring a lot this time? he asked anxiously. Oh, I hope you did! You see I couldnt bring them any to-day. Jerry couldnt spare even a penny for peanuts this morning and there wasnt really enough stuff in the box for me this noon.
Pollyanna looked shocked.
You mean that you didnt have enough to eat yourself? for YOUR luncheon?
Sure! smiled the boy. But dont worry. tisnt the first time and twont be the last. Im used to it. Hi, there! here comes Sir Lancelot.
Pollyanna, however, was not thinking of squirrels.
And wasnt there any more at home?
Oh, no, theres NEVER any left at home, laughed the boy. You see, mumsey works out stairs and washings so she gets some of her feed in them places, and Jerry picks his up where he can, except nights and mornings; he gets it with us then if weve got any.
Pollyanna looked still more shocked.
But what do you do when you dont have anything to eat?
Go hungry, of course.
But I never HEARD of anybody who didnt have ANYTHING to eat, gasped Pollyanna. Of course father and I were poor, and we had to eat beans and fish balls when we wanted turkey. But we had SOMETHING. Why dont you tell folks all these folks everywhere, that live in these houses?
Whats the use?
Why, theyd give you something, of course!
The boy laughed once more, this time a little queerly.
Guess again, kid. Youve got another one coming. Nobody I know is dishin out roast beef and frosted cakes for the askin[51]. Besides, if you didnt go hungry once in a while, you wouldnt know how good taters and milk can taste; and you wouldnt have so much to put in your Jolly Book.
Your WHAT?
The boy gave an embarrassed laugh and grew suddenly red.
Forget it! I didnt think, for a minute, but you was mumsey or Jerry.
But what IS your Jolly Book? pleaded Pollyanna. Please tell me. Are there knights and lords and ladies in that?
The boy shook his head. His eyes lost their laughter and grew dark and fathomless.
No; I wisht there was, he sighed wistfully. But when you you cant even WALK, you cant fight battles and win trophies, and have fair ladies hand you your sword, and bestow upon you the golden guerdon. A sudden fire came to the boys eyes. His chin lifted itself as if in response to a bugle call. Then, as suddenly, the fire died, and the boy fell back into his old listlessness.
You just cant do nothin, he resumed wearily, after a moments silence. You just have to sit and think; and times like that your THINK gets to be something awful. Mine did, anyhow. I wanted to go to school and learn things more things than just mumsey can teach me; and I thought of that. I wanted to run and play ball with the other boys; and I thought of that. I wanted to go out and sell papers with Jerry; and I thought of that. I didnt want to be taken care of all my life; and I thought of that.
I know, oh, I know, breathed Pollyanna, with shining eyes. Didnt I lose MY legs for a while?
Did you? Then you do know, some.[52] But youve got yours again. I haint, you know, sighed the boy, the shadow in his eyes deepening.
But you havent told me yet about the Jolly Book, prompted Pollyanna, after a minute.
The boy stirred and laughed shamefacedly.
Well, you see, it aint much, after all, except to me. YOU wouldnt see much in it. I started it a year ago. I was feelin specially bad that day. Nothin was right. For a while I grumped it out, just thinkin; and then I picked up one of fathers books and tried to read. And the first thing I see was this: I learned it afterwards, so I can say it now.
Pleasures lie thickest where no pleasures seem;
Theres not a leaf that falls upon the ground But holds some joy, of silence or of sound.[53]
Well, I was mad. I wished I could put the guy that wrote that in my place, and see what kind of joy hed find in my leaves. I was so mad I made up my mind Id prove he didnt know what he was talkin about, so I begun to hunt for em the joys in my leaves, you know. I took a little old empty notebook that Jerry had given me, and I said to myself that Id write em down. Everythin that had anythin about it that I liked Id put down in the book. Then Id just show how many joys I had.
Yes, yes! cried Pollyanna, absorbedly, as the boy paused for breath.
Well, I didnt expect to get many, but do you know? I got a lot. There was somethin about most everythin that I liked a LITTLE, so in it had to go. The very first one was the book itself that Id got it, you know, to write in. Then somebody give me a flower in a pot, and Jerry found a dandy book in the subway. After that it was really fun to hunt em out Id find em in such queer places, sometimes. Then one day Jerry got hold of the little notebook, and found out what twas. Then he give it its name the Jolly Book. And and thats all.
All ALL! cried Pollyanna, delight and amazement struggling for the mastery on her glowing little face. Why, thats the game! Youre playing the glad game, and dont know it only youre playing it ever and ever so much better than I ever could! Why, I I couldnt play it at all, Im afraid, if I I didnt have enough to eat, and couldnt ever walk, or anything, she choked.
The game? What game? I dont know anything about any game, frowned the boy.
Pollyanna clapped her hands.
I know you dont I know you dont, and thats why its so perfectly lovely, and so so wonderful! But listen. Ill tell you what the game is.
And she told him.
Gee! breathed the boy appreciatively, when she had finished. Now what do you think of that!
And here you are, playing MY game better than anybody I ever saw, and I dont even know your name yet, nor anything! exclaimed Pollyanna, in almost awestruck tones. But I want to; I want to know everything.
Pooh! theres nothing to know, rejoined the boy, with a shrug. Besides, see, heres poor Sir Lancelot and all the rest, waiting for their dinner, he finished.
Dear me, so they are, sighed Pollyanna, glancing impatiently at the fluttering and chattering creatures all about them. Recklessly she turned her bag upside down and scattered her supplies to the four winds. There, now, thats done, and we can talk again, she rejoiced. And theres such a lot I want to know. First, please, what IS your name? I only know it isnt Sir James.
The boy smiled.
No, it isnt; but thats what Jerry most always calls me. Mumsey and the rest call me Jamie.
JAMIE! Pollyanna caught her breath and held it suspended. A wild hope had come to her eyes. It was followed almost instantly, however, by fearful doubt.
Does mumsey mean mother?
Sure!
Pollyanna relaxed visibly. Her face fell. If this Jamie had a mother, he could not, of course, be Mrs. Carews Jamie, whose mother had died long ago. Still, even as he was, he was wonderfully interesting.
But where do you live? she catechized eagerly. Is there anybody else in your family but your mother and and Jerry? Do you always come here every day? Where is your Jolly Book? Maynt I see it? Dont the doctors say you can ever walk again? And where was it you said you got it? this wheel-chair, I mean.