"What can we do for him?" cried Joel, very much excited, and jumping up from the carpet.
"Joel, do sit down," said Polly, quite ashamed, and pulling him by the jacket.
Joel very unwillingly slid back to his place on the carpet, and fastened his black eyes on Mrs. Sterling's face.
"Well, there are so many things to do for a boy who won't be very sick, but must be shut up in the house," said Mrs. Sterling, "that really it takes time even to think of them all."
"What are some of them?" burst out Joel, pulling the sofa-blanket in his eagerness.
"Joel—Joel," said Polly.
"Here are some of them," said Mrs. Sterling, "that I told the boys this morning when they were in here. You might cut out the funny things in the magazines and newspapers, the pictures and the stories, and send him. It's so nice to have little reminders to pass away the time."
"What else?"
"Well, I didn't tell them that, but there are letters you might write him."
"Ugh!" Joel made a wry face. "I don't like to write letters," he said bluntly.