Then Cousin Alice came to the rescue by suggesting that Marty should
tell Jennie the doll's name and show her wardrobe. The little girls were
soon chattering over the contents of the box, and Miss Alice learned
from Mrs. Scott that the doctor had been to see Jennie. He said he saw
no reason why with proper treatment she should not become well again,
though it was likely she would always be somewhat lame and perhaps never
very strong. He had sent her strengthening medicine and said she must
drink milk every day.
Then began better times for Jennie than she had ever had in her life
before. First, as she would have said herself, there was the doll to
love and cherish, to dress and undress, to talk to and to put to sleep.
Then there were the books and pictures, for between Marty and Edith, who
also came, her stock of them increased rapidly. Then there was the
decrease of pain and the increase of strength, for what with the
bathings and rubbings that the doctor ordered, and the nourishing food
that Mrs. Ashford and Miss Alice sent, she began to get greatly better.
When she arrived at the point of sitting propped up in bed for several
hours at a time, Miss Alice spoke of the crocheting and found her
exceedingly willing to learn. She took it up quite rapidly too, and very
much enjoyed working with the bright worsteds.
Miss Alice was greatly interested in her pupil and sometimes made quite
long visits, teaching her or reading to her, and her visits made the
little invalid so happy that she got better all the faster.
CHAPTER XI.
THE GOOD SHEPHERD.
Marty and Edith often accompanied Miss Alice when she visited Jennie.
Sometimes they each took a doll to visit Laura Amelia, also carrying
some of their dishes and having a dolls' tea-party. This always pleased
Jennie very much, though at first she scarcely knew how to play in this
quiet, lady-like fashion, as she had only been accustomed to playing in
the street with rough children before she was hurt. Of course she had
had no chance at all to play during the last year.
Sometimes the girls read little stories to her. This she viewed as a
surprising accomplishment, as she could only spell her way along, not
being able to read well enough to enjoy it. So in one way or another
they entertained her, making her forget her weakness.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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