Chapter XXIV. Down the River

e,withthetwomothersleaningonherastheygrewold,theyoungmenbetterforherinfluenceoverthem,manyfriendstoloveandhonorher,andacharminghome,whereshewasqueenbyrightofhercheeryspirit,gratefulheart,andunfailingdevotiontothosewhohadmadeherwhatshewas. Ifanycuriousreader,notcontentwiththispeepintofuturity,asks,“DidMollyandJillevermarry?”wemustreply,forthesakeofpeace—Mollyremainedamerryspinsterallherdays,oneoftheindependent,brave,andbusycreaturesofwhomthereissuchneedintheworldtohelptakecareofotherpeoples'wivesandchildren,anddothemanyusefuljobsthatthemarriedfolkhavenotimefor.Jillcertainlydidwearawhiteveilonthedayshewastwenty-fiveandcalledherhusbandJack.Furtherthanthatwecannotgo,excepttosaythatthisleapdidnotendinacatastrophe,likethefirstonetheytooktogether. Thatday,however,theyneverdreamedofwhatwasinstoreforthem,butchatteredawayastheycleareduptheroom,andthenranoffreadyforplay,feelingthattheyhadearneditbyworkwelldone.Theyfoundtheladsjustfinishing,withBootohelpbypickingupthewindfallsforthecider-heap,afterhehadamusedhimselfbyputtingaboutabusheldownthevariousholesoldBunhadleftbehindhim.Jackwasriskinghisneckclimbinginthemostdangerousplaces,whileFrank,withalong-handledapple-picker,nippedoffthefinestfruitwithcare,bothenjoyingthepleasanttaskandfeelingproudofthehandsomeredandyellowpilesallaboutthelittleorchard.MerryandMollycaughtupbasketsandfelltoworkwithalltheirmight,leavingJilltosituponastoolandsorttheearlyapplesreadytouseatonce,lookingupnowandthentonodandsmileathermotherwhowatchedherfromthewindow,rejoicingtoseeherlasssowellandhappy. Itwassuchalovelyday,theyallfeltitscheerfulinfluenceforthesunshonebrightandwarm,theairwasfullofaninvigoratingfreshnesswhichsoonmadethegirls'faceslooklikerosyapples,andtheirspiritsasgayasiftheyhadbeenstealingsipsofnewciderthroughastraw.Jackwhistledlikeablackbirdasheswungandbumpedabout,Frankoratedandjoked,MerryandMollyranracestoseewhowouldfillandemptyfastest,andJillsungtoBoo,whoreposedinabarrel,exhaustedwithhislabors. “Thesearethelastofthepleasantdays,andweoughttomakethemostofthem.Let'shaveonemorepicnicbeforethefrostspoilstheleaves,”saidMerry,restingaminuteatthegatetolookdownthestreet,whichwasaglorifiedsortofavenue,withbrilliantmaplesliningthewayandcarpetingthegroundwithcrimsonandgold. “Oh,yes!GodowntheriveroncemoreandhavesupperontheIsland.Icouldn'tgotosomeofyourpicnics,andIdolongforalastgoodtimebeforewintershutsmeupagain,”criedJill,eagertoharvestallthesunshineshecould,forshewasnotyetquiteheroldselfagain. “I'myourman,iftheotherfellowsagree.Wecan'tbarreltheseupforawhile,soto-morrowwillbeaholidayforus.Bettermakesureofthedaywhileyoucan,thisweathercan'tlastlong”andFrankshookhisheadlikeoneonintimatetermswithOldProb. “Don'tworryaboutthosehighones,Jack.Giveashakeandcomedownandplanabouttheparty,”calledMolly,throwingupabigBaldwinwithwhatseemedaremarkablygoodaim,forashowerofapplesfollowed,andaboycametumblingearthwardtocatchonthelowestboughandswingdownlikeacaterpillar,exclaiming,ashelanded,— “I'mgladthatjobisdone!I'veraspedeveryknuckleI'vegotandwornoutthekneesofmypants.Nicelittlecropthough,isn'tit?” “Itwillbenicerifthisyoungmandoesnotbiteeveryapplehetouches.Hithere!Stopit,Boo,”commandedFrank,ashecaughthisyoungassistantputtinghissmallteethintothebestones,toseeiftheyweresweetorsour. Mollysetthebarreluponend,andthattooktheboyoutofthereachofmischief,soheretiredfromviewandpeepedthroughacrackasheatehisfifthpearmain,regardlessofconsequences. “Guswillbeathometo-morrow.HealwayscomesupearlyonSaturday,youknow.Wecan'tgetonwithouthim,”saidFrank,whomissedhismateverymuch,forGushadenteredcollege,andsofardidnotlikeitasmuchashehadexpected. “OrRalphheisverybusyeveryspareminuteonthelittleboy'sbust,whichisgettingonnicely,hesaysbuthewillbeabletocomehomeintimeforsupper,Ithink,”addedMerry,rememberingtheabsent,asusual. “I'llaskthegirlsonmywayhome,andallmeetattwoo'clockforagoodrowwh