Chapter 19 - Brother Bones

by Louisa May Alcott

　　Rose accepted her uncle's offer, as Aunt Myra discovered two or three dayslater. Coming in for an early call, and hearing voices in the study, sheopened the door, gave a cry and shut it quickly, looking a good dealstartled. The Doctor appeared in a moment, and begged to know what thematter was."How can you ask when that long box looks so like a coffin I thought it wasone, and that dreadful thing stared me in the face as I opened the door,"answered Mrs. Myra, pointing to the skeleton that hung from the chandeliercheerfully grinning at all beholders."This is a medical college where women are freely admitted, so walk in,madam, and join the class if you'll do me the honour," said the Doctor,waving her forward with his politest bow."Do, auntie, it's perfectly splendid," cried Rose's voice, and Rose'sblooming face was seen behind the ribs of the skeleton, smiling and noddingin the gayest possible manner."What are you doing, child?" demanded Aunt Myra, dropping into a chair andstaring about her."Oh, I'm learning bones to-day, and I like it so much. There are twelveribs, you know, and the two lower ones are called floating ribs, becausethey are not fastened to the breastbone. That's why they go in so easily ifyou lace tight and squeeze the lungs and heart in the let me see, what wasthat big word oh, I know thoracic cavity," and Rose beamed with pride asshe aired her little bit of knowledge."Do you think that is a good sort of thing for her to be poking over? Sheis a nervous child, and I'm afraid it will be bad for her," said Aunt Myra,watching Rose as she counted vertebr, and waggled a hip-joint in itssocket with an inquiring expression."An excellent study, for she enjoys it, and I mean to teach her how tomanage her nerves so that they won't be a curse to her, as many a woman'sbecome through ignorance or want of thought. To make a mystery or terror ofthese things is a mistake, and I mean Rose shall understand and respect herbody so well that she won't dare to trifle with it as most women do.""And she really likes it?""Very much, auntie! It's all so wonderful, and so nicely planned, you canhardly believe what you see. Just think, there are 600,000,000 air cells inone pair of lungs, and 2,000 pores to a square inch of surface; so you seewhat quantities of air we must have, and what care we should take of ourskin so all the little doors will open and shut right. And brains, auntie,you've no idea how curious they are; I haven't got to them yet, but I longto, and uncle is going to show me a manikin that you can take to pieces.Just think how nice it will be to see all the organs in their places; Ionly wish they could be made to work as ours do."It was funny to see Aunt Myra's face as Rose stood before her talkingrapidly with one hand laid in the friendliest manner on the skeleton'sshoulder. Every word both the Doctor and Rose uttered hit the good lady inher weakest spot, and as she looked and listened a long array of bottlesand pill-boxes rose up before her, reproaching her with the "ignorance andwant of thought" that made her what she was, a nervous, dyspeptic, unhappyold woman."Well, I don't know but you may be right, Alec, only I wouldn't carry ittoo far. Women don't need much of this sort of knowledge, and are not fitfor it. I couldn't bear to touch that ugly thing, and it gives me thecreeps to hear about 'organs,' " said Aunt Myra, with a sigh and her handon her side."Wouldn't it be a comfort to know that your liver was on the right side,auntie, and not on the left!" asked Rose with a naughty laugh in her eyes,for she had lately learnt that Aunt Myra's liver complaint was not in theproper place."It's a dying world, child, and it don't much matter where the pain is, forsooner or later we all drop off and are seen no more," was Aunt Myra'scheerful reply."Well, I intend to know what kills me if I can, and meantime, I'm going toenjoy myself in spite of a dying world. I wish you'd do so too, and comeand study with uncle, it would do you good, I'm sure," and Rose went backto counting vertebr with such a happy face, that Aunt Myra had not theheart to say a word to dampen her ardour."Perhaps it's as well to let her do what she likes the little while she iswith us. But pray be careful of her, Alec, and not allow her to overwork,"she whispered as she went out."That's exactly what I'm trying to do, ma'am, and rather a hard job I findit," he added, as he shut the door, for the dear aunts were dreadfully inhis way sometimes.Half an hour later came another interruption in the shape of Mac, whoannounced his arrival by the brief but elegant remark"Hullo! what new game is this?"Rose explained, Mac gave a long whistle of surprise, and then took apromenade round the skeleton, observing gravely"Brother Bones looks very jolly, but I can't say much for his beauty.""You mustn't make fun of him, for he's a good old fellow, and you'd be justas ugly if your flesh was off," said Rose, defending her new friend withwarmth."I dare say, so I'll keep my flesh on, thank you. You are so busy you can'tread to a fellow, I suppose?" asked Mac, whose eyes were better, but stilltoo weak for books."Don't you want to come and join my class? Uncle explains it all to us, andyou can take a look at the plates as they come along. We'll give up bonestoday and have eyes instead; that will be more interesting to you," addedRose, seeing no ardent thirst for physiological information in his face."Rose, we must not fly about from one thing to another in this way," beganDr. Alec, but she whispered quickly, with a nod towards Mac, whose goggleswere turned wistfully in the direction of the forbidden books"He's blue to-day, and we must amuse him; give a little lecture on eyes,and it will do him good. No matter about me, uncle.""Very well; the class will please be seated," and the Doctor gave asounding rap on the table."Come, sit by me, dear, then we can both see the pictures; and if your headgets tired you can lie down," said Rose, generously opening her littlecollege to a brother, and kindly providing for the weaknesses that allhumanity is subject to.Side by side they sat and listened to a very simple explanation of themechanism of the eye, finding it as wonderful as a fairy tale, for fineplates illustrated it, and a very willing teacher did his best to make thelesson pleasant."Jove! if I'd known what mischief I was doing to that mighty delicatemachine of mine, you wouldn't have caught me reading by firelight, orstudying with a glare of sunshine on my book," said Mac, peering solemnlyat a magnified eye-ball; then, pushing it away, he added indignantly, "Whyisn't a fellow taught all about his works, and how to manage 'em, and notleft to go blundering into all sorts of worries? Telling him after he'sdown isn't much use, for then he's found it out himself and won't thankyou.""Ah, Mac, that's just what I keep lecturing about, and people won't listen.You lads need that sort of knowledge so much, and fathers and mothers oughtto be able to give it to you. Few of them are able, and so we all goblundering, as you say. Less Greek and Latin and more knowledge of the lawsof health for my boys, if I had them. Mathematics are all very well, butmorals are better, and I wish, how I wish that I could help teachers andparents to feel it as they ought.""Some do; Aunt Jessie and her boys have capital talks, and I wish we could;but mother's so busy with her housekeeping, and father with his business,there never seems to be any time for that sort of thing; even if there was,it don't seem as if it would be easy to talk to them, because we've nevergot into the way of it, you know."Poor Mac was right there, and expressed a want that many a boy and girlfeels. Fathers and mothers are too absorbed in business and housekeeping tostudy their children, and cherish that sweet and natural confidence whichis a child's surest safeguard, and a parent's subtlest power. So the younghearts hide trouble or temptation till the harm is done, and mutual regretcomes too late. Happy the boys and girls who tell all things freely tofather or mother, sure of pity, help, and pardon; and thrice happy theparents who, out of their own experience, and by their own virtues, canteach and uplift the souls for which they are responsible.This longing stirred in the hearts of Rose and Mac, and by a naturalimpulse both turned to Dr. Alec, for in this queer world of ours, fatherlyand motherly hearts often beat warm and wise in the breasts of bacheloruncles and maiden aunts; and it is my private opinion that these worthycreatures are a beautiful provision of nature for the cherishing of otherpeople's children. They certainly get great comfort out of it, and receivemuch innocent affection that otherwise would be lost.Dr. Alec was one of these, and his big heart had room for every one of theeight cousins, especially orphaned Rose and afflicted Mac; so, when the boyuttered that unconscious reproach to his parents, and Rose added with asigh, "It must be beautiful to have a mother!" the good Doctor yearned overthem, and, shutting his book with a decided slam, said in that cordialvoice of his"Now, look here, children, you just come and tell me all your worries, andwith God's help, I'll settle them for you. That is what I'm here for, Ibelieve, and it will be a great happiness to me if you can trust me.""We can, uncle, and we will!" both answered, with a heartiness thatgratified him much."Good! now school is dismissed, and I advise you to go and refresh your600,000,000 air cells by a brisk run in the garden. Come again whenever youlike, Mac, and we'll teach you all we can about your 'works,' as you callthem, so you can keep them running smoothly.""We'll come, sir, much obliged," and the class in physiology went out towalk.Mac did come again, glad to find something he could study in spite of hisweak eyes, and learned much that was of more value than anything his schoolhad ever taught thim.Of course, the other lads made great fun of the whole thing, and plaguedDr. Alec's students half out of their lives. But they kept on persistently,and one day something happened which made the other fellows behavethemselves for ever after.It was a holiday, and Rose up in her room thought she heard the voices ofher cousins, so she ran down to welcome them, but found no one there."Never mind, they will be here soon, and then we'll have a frolic," shesaid to herself, and thinking she had been mistaken she went into the studyto wait. She was lounging over the table looking at a map when an odd noisecaught her ear. A gentle tapping somewhere, and following the sound itseemed to come from the inside of the long case in which the skeleton livedwhen not professionally engaged. This case stood upright in a niche betweentwo book-cases at the back of the room, a darkish corner, where BrotherBones, as the boys would call him, was out of the way.As Rose stood looking in that direction, and wondering if a rat had gotshut in, the door of the case swung slowly open, and with a great start shesaw a bony arm lifted, and a bony finger beckon to her. For a minute shewas frightened, and ran to the study door with a fluttering heart, but justas she touched the handle a queer, stifled sort of giggle made her stopshort and turn red with anger. She paused an instant to collect herself,and then went softly toward the bony beckoner. A nearer look revealed blackthreads tied to the arm and fingers, the ends of threads disappearingthrough holes bored in the back of the case. Peeping into the dark recess,she also caught sight of the tip of an elbow covered with a rough graycloth which she knew very well.Quick as a flash she understood the joke, her fear vanished, and with awicked smile, she whipped out her scissors, cut the threads, and the bonyarm dropped with a rattle. Before she could say, "Come out, Charlie, andlet my skeleton alone," a sudden irruption of boys, all in a high state oftickle, proclaimed to the hidden rogue that his joke was a failure."I told him not to do it, because it might give you a start," explainedArchie, emerging from the closet."I had a smelling bottle all ready if she fainted away," added Steve,popping up from behind the great chair."It's too bad of you not to squawk and run; we depended on it, it's suchfun to howl after you," said Will and Geordie, rolling out from under thesofa in a promiscuous heap."You are getting altogether too strong-minded, Rose; most girls would havebeen in a jolly twitter to see this old fellow waggling his finger atthem," complained Charlie, squeezing out from his tight quarters, dusty anddisgusted."I'm used to your pranks now, so I'm always on the watch and prepared. ButI won't have Brother Bones made fun of. I know uncle wouldn't like it, soplease don't," began Rose just as Dr. Alec came in, and, seeing the stateof the case at a glance, he said quietly"Hear how I got that skeleton, and then I'm sure you will treat it withrespect."The boys settled down at once on any article of furniture that was nearestand listened dutifully."Years ago, when I was in the hospital, a poor fellow was brought therewith a rare and very painful disease. There was no hope for him, but we didour best, and he was so grateful that when he died he left us his body thatwe might discover the mysteries of his complaint, and so be able to helpothers afflicted in the same way. It did do good, and his brave patiencemade us remember him long after he was gone. He thought I had been kind tohim, and said to a fellow-student of mine, 'Tell the Doctor I lave him mebones, for I've nothing else in the wide world, and I'll nos be wanting 'emat all, at all, when the great pain hat kilt me entirely.' So that is howthey came to be mine, and why I've kept them carefully, for, though only apoor, ignorant fellow, Mike Nolan did what he could to help others, andprove his gratitude to those who tried to help him."As Dr. Alec paused, Archie closed the door of the case as respectfully asif the mummy of an Egyptian king was inside; Will and Geordie lookedsolemnly at one another, evidently much impressed, and Charlie pensivelyremarked from the coal-hod where he sat"I've often heard of a skeleton in the house, but I think few people haveone as useful and as interesting as ours."