AsMeglistened，shefeltthatshehaddonewell；fornotonlydidthemomentcomfortherwiththeassurancethatJohn’slastlullabywassungbytheyoungvoiceshelovedsowell，butinthefacesoftheboysshesawthattheyhadcaughtaglimpseofthebeautyofvirtueinitsmostimpressiveform，andthatthememoryofthegoodmanlyingdeadbeforethemwouldlivelongandhelpfullyintheirremembrance。Daisy’sheadlayinherlap，andDemiheldherhand，lookingoftenather，witheyessolikehisfather’s，andalittlegesturethatseemedtosay，“Don’tbetroubled，mother；Iamhere；“andallaboutherwerefriendstoleanuponandlove；
　　sopatient，piousMegputbyherheavygrief，feelingthatherbesthelpwouldbetoliveforothers，asherJohnhaddone。
　　Thatevening，asthePlumfieldboyssatonthesteps，asusual，inthemildSeptembermoonlight，theynaturallyfelltotalkingoftheeventoftheday。
　　Emilbeganbybreakingout，inhisimpetuousway，“UncleFritzisthewisest，andUncleLauriethejolliest，butUncleJohnwasthebest；andI’dratherbelikehimthananymanIeversaw。“
　　“SowouldI。DidyouhearwhatthosegentlemensaidtoGrandpato-day？
　　IwouldliketohavethatsaidofmewhenIwasdead；“andFranzfeltwithregretthathehadnotappreciatedUncleJohnenough。
　　“Whatdidtheysay？“askedJack，whohadbeenmuchimpressedbythescenesoftheday。
　　“Why，oneofthepartnersofMr。Laurence，whereUncleJohnhasbeeneversolong，wassayingthathewasconscientiousalmosttoafaultasabusinessman，andabovereproachinallthings。AnothergentlemansaidnomoneycouldrepaythefidelityandhonestywithwhichUncleJohnhadservedhim，andthenGrandpatoldthemthebestofall。UncleJohnoncehadaplaceintheofficeofamanwhocheated，andwhenthismanwanteduncletohelphimdoit，unclewouldn’t，thoughhewasofferedabigsalary。
　　Themanwasangryandsaid，’Youwillnevergetoninbusinesswithsuchstrictprinciples；’anduncleansweredback，’Ineverwilltrytogetonwithoutthem，’andlefttheplaceforamuchharderandpoorerone。“
　　“Good!“criedseveraloftheboyswarmly，fortheywereinthemoodtounderstandandvaluethelittlestoryasneverbefore。
　　“Hewasn’trich，washe？“askedJack。
　　“No。“
　　“Heneverdidanythingtomakeastirintheworld，didhe？“
　　“No。“
　　“Hewasonlygood？“
　　“That’sall；“andFranzfoundhimselfwishingthatUncleJohnhaddonesomethingtoboastof，foritwasevidentthatJackwasdisappointedbyhisreplies。
　　“Onlygood。Thatisallandeverything，“saidMr。Bhaer，whohadoverheardthelastfewwords，andguessedwhatwasgoingonthemindsofthelads。
　　“LetmetellyoualittleaboutJohnBrooke，andyouwillseewhymenhonorhim，andwhyhewassatisfiedtobegoodratherthanrichorfamous。
　　Hesimplydidhisdutyinallthings，anddiditsocheerfully，sofaithfully，thatitkepthimpatientandbrave，andhappythroughpovertyandlonelinessandyearsofhardwork。Hewasagoodson，andgaveuphisownplanstostayandlivewithhismotherwhilesheneededhim。Hewasagoodfriend，andtaughtLauriemuchbesidehisGreekandLatin，diditunconsciously，perhaps，byshowinghimanexampleofanuprightman。Hewasafaithfulservant，andmadehimselfsovaluabletothosewhoemployedhimthattheywillfindithardtofillhisplace。Hewasagoodhusbandandfather，sotender，wise，andthoughtful，thatLaurieandIlearnedmuchofhim，andonlyknewhowwellhelovedhisfamily，whenwediscoveredallhehaddoneforthem，unsuspectedandunassisted。“
　　Mr。Bhaerstoppedaminute，andtheboyssatlikestatuesinthemoonlightuntilhewentonagain，inasubdued，butearnestvoice：“Ashelaydying，Isaidtohim，’HavenocareforMegandthelittleones；Iwillseethattheyneverwant。’Thenhesmiledandpressedmyhand，andanswered，inhischeerfulway，’Noneedofthat；Ihavecaredforthem。’Andsohehad，forwhenwelookedamonghispapers，allwasinorder，notadebtremained；
　　andsafelyputawaywasenoughtokeepMegcomfortableandindependent。
　　Thenweknewwhyhehadlivedsoplainly，deniedhimselfsomanypleasures，exceptthatofcharity，andworkedsohardthatIfearheshortenedhisgoodlife。Heneveraskedhelpforhimself，thoughoftenforothers，butborehisownburdenandworkedouthisowntaskbravelyandquietly。Noonecansayawordofcomplaintagainsthim，sojustandgenerousandkindwashe；andnow，whenheisgone，allfindsomuchtoloveandpraiseandhonor，thatIamproudtohavebeenhisfriend，andwouldratherleavemychildrenthelegacyheleaveshisthanthelargestfortuneevermade。
　　Yes!Simple，generousgoodnessisthebestcapitaltofoundthebusinessofthislifeupon。Itlastswhenfameandmoneyfail，andistheonlyricheswecantakeoutofthisworldwithus。Rememberthat，myboys；andifyouwanttoearnrespectandconfidenceandlovefollowinthefootstepsofJohnBrooke。“
　　WhenDemireturnedtoschool，aftersomeweeksathome，heseemedtohaverecoveredfromhislosswiththeblessedelasticityofchildhood，andsohehadinameasure；buthedidnotforget，forhiswasanatureintowhichthingssankdeeply，tobeponderedover，andabsorbedintothesoilwherethesmallvirtuesweregrowingfast。Heplayedandstudied，workedandsang，justasbefore，andfewsuspectedanychange；buttherewasone­；andAuntJosawit­；forshewatchedovertheboywithherwholeheart，tryingtofillJohn’splaceinherpoorway。Heseldomspokeofhisloss，butAuntJooftenheardastifledsobbinginthelittlebedatnight；andwhenshewenttocomforthim，allhiscrywas，“Iwantmyfather!oh，Iwantmyfather!“­；forthetiebetweenthetwohadbeenaverytenderone，andthechild’sheartbledwhenitwasbroken。Buttimewaskindtohim，andslowlyhecametofeelthatfatherwasnotlost，onlyinvisibleforawhile，andsuretobefoundagain，wellandstrongandfondasever，eventhoughhislittlesonshouldseethepurpleastersblossomonhisgravemany，manytimesbeforetheymet。TothisbeliefDemiheldfast，andinitfoundbothhelpandcomfort，becauseitledhimunconsciouslythroughatenderlongingforthefatherwhomhehadseentoachildliketrustintheFatherwhomhehadnotseen。Bothwereinheaven，andheprayedtoboth，tryingtobegoodforloveofthem。
　　Theoutwardchangecorrespondedtotheinward，forinthosefewweeksDemiseemedtohavegrowntall，andbegantodrophischildishplays，notasifashamedofthem，assomeboysdo，butasifhehadoutgrownthem，andwantedsomethingmanlier。Hetooktothehatedarithmetic，andheldonsosteadilythathisunclewascharmed，thoughhecouldnotunderstandthewhim，untilDemisaid，­；
　　“IamgoingtobeabookkeeperwhenIgrowup，likepapa，andImustknowaboutfiguresandthings，elseIcan’thavenice，neatledgerslikehis。“
　　Atanothertimehecametohisauntwithaveryseriousface，andsaid­；
　　“Whatcanasmallboydotoearnmoney？“
　　“Whydoyouask，mydeary？“
　　“Myfathertoldmetotakecareofmotherandthelittlegirls，andIwantto，butIdon’tknowhowtobegin。“
　　“Hedidnotmeannow，Demi，butbyandby，whenyouarelarge。“
　　“ButIwishtobeginnow，ifIcan，becauseIthinkIoughttomakesomemoneytobuythingsforthefamily。Iamten，andotherboysnobiggerthanIearnpenniessometimes。“
　　“Well，then，supposeyourakeupallthedeadleavesandcoverthestrawberrybed。I’llpayyouadollarforthejob，“saidAuntJo。
　　“Isn’tthatagreatdeal？Icoulddoitinoneday。Youmustbefair，andnopaytoomuch，becauseIwanttotrulyearnit。“
　　“MylittleJohn，Iwillbefair，andnotpayapennytoomuch。Don’tworktoohard；andwhenthatisdoneIwillhavesomethingelseforyoutodo，“saidMrs。Jo，muchtouchedbyhisdesiretohelp，andhissenseofjustice，solikehisscrupulousfather。
　　Whentheleavesweredone，manybarrowloadsofchipswerewheeledfromthewoodtotheshed，andanotherdollarearned。ThenDemihelpedcovertheschoolbooks，workingintheeveningsunderFranz’sdirection，tuggingpatientlyawayateachbook，lettingnoonehelp，andreceivinghiswageswithsuchsatisfactionthatthedingybillsbecamequiteglorifiedinhissight。
　　“Now，Ihaveadollarforeachofthem，andIshouldliketotakemymoneytomotherallmyself，soshecanseethatIhavemindedmyfather。“
　　SoDemimadeaduteouspilgrimagetohismother，whoreceivedhislittleearningsasatreasureofgreatworth，andwouldhavekeptituntouched，ifDemihadnotbeggedhertobuysomeusefulthingforherselfandthewomen-children，whomhefeltwerelefttohiscare。
　　Thismadehimveryhappy，and，thoughheoftenforgothisresponsibilitiesforatime，thedesiretohelpwasstillthere，strengtheningwithhisyears。Healwaysutteredthewords“myfather“withanairofgentlepride，andoftensaid，asifheclaimedatitlefullofhonor，“Don’tcallmeDemianymore。IamJohnBrookenow。“So，strengthenedbyapurposeandahope，thelittleladoftenbravelybegantheworld，andenteredintohisinheritance，­；thememoryofawiseandtenderfather，thelegacyofanhonestname。CHAPTERXXROUNDTHEFIRE
　　WiththeOctoberfrostscamethecheeryfiresinthegreatfireplaces；
　　andDemi’sdrypine-chipshelpedDan’soak-knotstoblazeroyally，andgoroaringupthechimneywithajollysound。Allweregladtogatherroundthehearth，astheeveningsgrewlonger，toplaygames，read，orlayplansforthewinter。Butthefavoriteamusementwasstory-telling，andMr。andMrs。Bhaerwereexpectedtohaveastoreoflivelytalesalwaysonhand。
　　Theirsupplyoccasionallygaveout，andthentheboyswerethrownupontheirownresources，whichwerenotalwayssuccessful。Ghost-partiesweretherageatonetime；forthefunofthethingconsistedinputtingoutthelights，lettingthefirediedown，andthensittinginthedark，andtellingthemostawfultalestheycouldinvent。Asthisresultedinscaresofallsortsamongtheboys，Tommy’swalkinginhissleepontheshedroof，andageneralstateofnervousnessinthelittleones，itwasforbidden，andtheyfellbackonmoreharmlessamusements。
　　Oneevening，whenthesmallboysweresnuglytuckedinbed，andtheolderladswereloungingabouttheschool-roomfire，tryingtodecidewhattheyshoulddo，Demisuggestedanewwayofsettlingthequestion。
　　Seizingthehearth-brush，hemarchedupanddowntheroom，saying，“Row，row，row；“andwhentheboys，laughingandpushing，hadgotintoline，hesaid，“Now，I’llgiveyoutwominutestothinkofaplay。“Franzwaswriting，andEmilreadingtheLifeofLordNelson，andneitherjoinedtheparty，buttheothersthoughthard，andwhenthetimewasupwerereadytoreply。
　　“Now，Tom!“andthepokersoftlyrappedhimonthehead。
　　“Blind-man’sBuff。“
　　“Jack!“
　　“Commerce；agoodroundgame，andhavecentsforthepool。“
　　“Uncleforbidsourplayingformoney。Dan，whatdoyouwant？“
　　“Let’shaveabattlebetweentheGreeksandRomans。“
　　“Stuffy？“
　　“Roastapples，popcorn，andcracknuts。“
　　“Good!good!“criedseveral；andwhenthevotewastaken，Stuffy’sproposalcarriedtheday。
　　Somewenttothecellarforapples，sometothegarretfornuts，andotherslookedupthepopperandthecorn。
　　“Wehadbetteraskthegirlstocomein，hadn’twe？“saidDemi，inasuddenfitofpoliteness。
　　“Daisyprickschestnutsbeautifully，“putinNat，whowantedhislittlefriendtosharethefun。
　　“Nanpopscorntip-top，wemusthaveher，“addedTommy。
　　“Bringinyoursweetheartsthen，wedon’tmind，“saidJack，wholaughedattheinnocentregardthelittlepeoplehadforoneanother。
　　“Youshan’tcallmysisterasweetheart；itissosilly!“criedDemi，inawaythatmadeJacklaugh。
　　“SheisNat’sdarling，isn’tshe，oldchirper？“
　　“Yes，ifDemidon’tmind。Ican’thelpbeingfondofher，sheissogoodtome，“answeredNat，withbashfulearnestness，forJack’sroughwaysdisturbedhim。
　　“Nanismysweetheart，andIshallmarryherinaboutayear，sodon’tyougetintheway，anyofyou，“saidTommy，stoutly；forheandNanhadsettledtheirfuture，child-fashion，andweretoliveinthewillow，lowerdownabasketforfood，anddoothercharminglyimpossiblethings。
　　DemiwasquenchedbythedecisionofBangs，whotookhimbythearmandwalkedhimofftogettheladies。NanandDaisyweresewingwithAuntJooncertainsmallgarments，forMrs。Carney’snewestbaby。
　　“Please，ma’am，couldyoulendusthegirlsforalittlewhile？We’llbeverycarefulofthem，“saidTommy，winkingoneeyetoexpressapples，snappinghisfingerstosignifypop-corn，andgnashinghisteethtoconveytheideaofnut-cracking。