Chapter XX. A Sweet Memory

othlikedsowell,madehiseyesfillashelaidawaythemusic,andshuttheinstrument,feelingasifheneverwantedtotouchitagain.ThenhewentandsatdownbesideJackwithanarmroundhisneck,tryingtosteadyhisvoicebyanaturalquestionbeforehetoldtheheavynews. “Whatareyoureading,Jacky?” Theunusualcaress,theverygentletone,madeJacklookup,andtheminutehesawFrank'sfaceheknewthetruth. “IsEd——?”hecouldnotsaythehardword,andFrankcouldonlyanswerbyanodashewinkedfast,forthetearswouldcome.Jacksaidnomore,butasthebookdroppedfromhiskneehehidhisfaceinthesofa-pillowandlayquitestill,notcrying,buttryingtomakeitseemtruethathisdearEdhadgoneawayforever.Hecouldnotdoit,andpresentlyturnedhisheadalittletosay,inadespairingtone,— “Idon'tseewhatIshalldowithouthim!” “Iknowit'shardforyou.Itisforallofus.” “You'vegotGus,butnowIhaven'tanybody.Edwasalwayssogoodtome!”andwiththenamesomanytenderrecollectionscame,thatpoorJackbrokedowninspiteofhismanfulattemptstosmotherthesobsintheredpillow. Therewasanunconsciousreproachinthewords,FrankthoughtforhewasnotasgentleasEd,andhedidnotwonderthatJacklovedandmournedforthelostfriendlikeabrother. “You'vegotme.I'llbegoodtoyoucryifyouwantto,Idon'tmind.” TherewassuchasympatheticchokeinFrank'svoicethatJackfeltcomfortedatonce,andwhenhehadhadhiscryout,whichwasverysoon,heletFrankpullhimupwithabear-likebutaffectionatehug,andsatleaningonhimastheytalkedabouttheirloss,bothfeelingthattheremighthavebeenagreaterone,andresolvingtoloveoneanotherverymuchhereafter. Mrs.MinotoftencalledFrankthe“father-boy,”becausehewasnowtheheadofthehouse,andasober,reliablefellowforhisyears.Usuallyhedidnotshowmuchaffectionexcepttoher,for,asheoncesaid,“Ishallneverbetoooldtokissmymother,”andsheoftenwishedthathehadalittlesister,tobringoutthesoftersideofhischaracter.HedomineeredoverJackandlaughedathisaffectionatelittleways,butnowwhentroublecame,hewasaskindandpatientasagirlandwhenMammacamein,havingheardthenews,shefoundher“father-boy”comfortinghisbrothersowellthatsheslippedawaywithoutaword,leavingthemtolearnoneofthesweetlessonssorrowteaches—toleanononeanother,andleteachtrialbringthemclosertogether. Itisoftensaidthatthereshouldbenodeathorgriefinchildren'sstories.Itisnotwisetodwellonthedarkandsadsideofthesethingsbuttheyhavealsoabrightandlovelyside,andsinceeventheyoungest,dearest,andmostguardedchildcannotescapesomeknowledgeofthegreatmystery,isitnotwelltoteachtheminsimple,cheerfulwaysthataffectionsweetenssorrow,andalovelylifecanmakedeathbeautiful?Ithinkso,thereforetrytotellthelastsceneinthehistoryofaboywhoreallylivedandreallyleftbehindhimamemorysopreciousthatitwillnotbesoonforgottenbythosewhoknewandlovedhim.Fortheinfluenceofthisshortlifewasfeltbymany,andeventhisbriefrecordofitmaydoforotherchildrenwhattherealitydidforthosewhostilllayflowersonhisgrave,andtrytobe“asgoodasEddy.” Fewwouldhavethoughtthatthedeathofaquietladofseventeenwouldhavebeensowidelyfelt,sosincerelymournedbutvirtue,likesunshine,worksitsownsweetmiracles,andwhenitwasknownthatneveragainwouldthebrightfacebeseeninthevillagestreets,thecheeryvoiceheard,thelovingheartfeltinanyofthelittleactswhichsoendearedEdDevlintothoseabouthim,itseemedasifyoungandoldgrievedalikeforsomuchpromisecutoffinitsspring-time.Thiswasprovedatthefuneral,for,thoughittookplaceatthebus