Chapter XXIV. Down the River

ileit'swarm.WhatshallIbring?”askedMolly,wonderingifMissBat'samiabilitywouldextendtomakinggoodiesinthemidstofherusualSaturday'sbaking. “Youbringcoffeeandthebigpotandsomebutteredcrackers.I'llseetothepieandcake,andtheothergirlscanhaveanythingelsetheylike,”answeredMerry,gladandproudthatshecouldprovidethepartywithherowninvitinghandiwork. “I'lltakemyzither,sowecanhavemusicaswesail,andGrifwillbringhisviolin,andRalphcanimitateabanjosothatyou'dbesurehehadone.Idohopeitwillbefine,itissosplendidtogoroundlikeotherfolksandenjoymyself,”criedJill,withalittlebounceofsatisfactionattheprospectofarowandramble. “Comealong,then,andmakesureofthegirls,”saidMerry,catchingupherrollofwork,fortheharvestingwasdone. Mollyputhersackonastheeasiestwayofcarryingit,and,extricatingBoo,theywentoff,accompaniedbytheboys,“tomakesureofthefellows”also,leavingJilltositamongtheapples,singingandsortinglikeathriftylittlehousewife. Nextdayelevenyoungpeoplemetattheappointedplace,basketinhand.Ralphcouldnotcometilllater,forhewasworkingnowasheneverworkedbefore.Theywereamerryflock,forthemellowautumndaywasevenbrighterandclearerthanyesterday,andtheriverlookeditsloveliest,windingawayunderthesombrehemlocks,orthroughthefairylandthegaywoodsmadeoneitherside.Twolargeboatsandtwosmallonesheldthemall,andawaytheywent,firstupthroughthethreebridgesandroundthebend,then,turning,theyfloateddowntothegreenisland,whereagroveofoaksrustledtheirsereleavesandthesquirrelswerestillgatheringacorns.Heretheyoftenmettokeeptheirsummerrevels,andheretheynowspreadtheirfeastontheflatrockwhichneedednoclothbesideitsowngraylichens.Thegirlstrimmedeachdishwithbrightleaves,andmadethesupperlooklikeabanquetfortheelves,whiletheboysbuiltafireinthenookwhereashesandblackenedstonestoldofmanyarusticmeal.Thebigtincoffee-potwasnotsoromantic,butmoresuccessfulthanakettleslungonthreesticks,gypsyfashionsotheydidnotriskadownfall,butsetthewaterboiling,andsoonfilledtheairwiththeagreeableperfumeassociatedintheirmindswithpicnics,asmostofthemnevertastedthefascinatingstuffatanyothertime,beingtheworstchildrencandrink. Frankwascook,Gushelpedcutbreadandcake,JackandGrifbroughtwood,whileBobWalkertookJoe'splaceandmadehimselfgenerallyuseful,astheothergentlemanneverdid,andsowasquiteoutoffavorlately. Allwasreadyatlast,andtheywerejustdecidingtositdownwithoutRalph,whenashouttoldthemhewascoming,anddowntheriverskimmedawherryatsucharatetheboyswonderedwhomhehadbeenracingwith. “Somethinghashappened,andheiscomingtotellus,”saidJill,whosatwhereshecouldseehiseagerface. “Nothingbad,orhewouldn'tsmileso.Heisgladofagoodrowandalittlefunafterworkingsohardalltheweek”andMerryshookarednapkinasawelcomingsignal. Somethingcertainlyhadhappened,andaveryhappysomethingitmustbe,theyallthought,asRalphcameonwithflashingoars,andleapingoutastheboattouchedtheshore,ranuptheslope,wavinghishat,andcallinginagladvoice,sureofsympathyinhisdelight,— “Goodnews!goodnews!HurrahforRome,nextmonth!” Theyoungfolksforgottheirsupperforamoment,tocongratulatehimonhishappyprospect,andhearallaboutit,whiletheleavesrustledasifechoingthekindwords,andthesquirrelssatupaloft,wonderingwhatallthepleasantclamorwasabout. “Yes,I'mreallygoinginNovember.Germanaskedmetogowithhimto-day,andifthereisanylittlehitchinmygettingoff,he'lllendahand,andI—I'llblackhisboots,wethisclay,andrunhiserrandstherestofmylifetopayforthis!”criedRalph,inaburstofgratitudefor,independentashewas,thekindnessofthissuccessfulfriendtoadeservingcomradetouchedandwonhisheart. “Icallthatahandsomethingtodo!”saidFrank,warmly,fornobleactionsalwayspleasedhim.“Iheardmymothersaythatmakinggoodorusefulmenwasthebestsortofsculpture,soIthinkDavidGermanmaybeproudofthispieceofwork,whetherthebigstatuesucceedsornot.” “I'mveryglad,oldfellow.WhenIrunoverformytripfouryearsfromnow,I'lllookyouup,andseehowyouaregettingon,”saidGus,withaheartyshakeofthehandandtheyoungerladsgrinnedcheerfu