Chapter XXIV. Down the River

theydidn'tcometoanything.” “Perhapstheydidwhocantell?Doyourbestwhileyoulive,andIdon'tbelieveanythinggoodislost,whetherwehaveitalongorashorttime,”saidRalph,whoknewwhatahelpandcomforthighhopeswere,andhowtheyledtobetterthings,ifworthilycherished. “Agreatmanyacornsarewasted,Isupposebutsomeofthemsproutandgrow,andmakesplendidtrees,”addedMerry,feelingmorethansheknewhowtoexpress,asshelookedupattheoaksoverhead. Onlysevenofthepartyweresittingontheknollnow,fortheresthadgonetowashthedishesandpackthebasketsdownbytheboats.JackandJill,withthethreeelderboys,wereinalittlegroup,andasMerryspoke,GussaidtoFrank,— “Didyouplantyours?” “Yes,onthelawn,andImeanitshallcomeupifIcanmakeit,”answeredFrank,gravely. “IputminewhereIcanseeitfromthewindow,andnotforgettowaterandtakecareofit,”addedJack,stillturningtheprettybrownacorntoandfroasifhelovedit. “Whatdotheymean?”whisperedMerrytoJill,whowasleaningagainstherkneetorest. “TheboyswerewalkingintheCemeterylastSunday,astheyoftendo,andwhentheycametoEd'sgrave,theplacewasallcoveredwithlittleacornsfromthetreethatgrowsonthebank.Theyeachtookupsomeastheystoodtalking,andJacksaidheshouldplanthis,forhelovedEdverymuch,youknow.Theotherssaidtheywould,tooandIhopethetreeswillgrow,thoughwedon'tneedanythingtorememberhimby,”answeredJill,inalowtone,thinkingofthepressedflowersthegirlskeptforhissake. Theboysheardher,butnoonespokeforamomentastheysatlookingacrosstherivertowardthehillwherethepineswhisperedtheirlullabiesandpointedheavenward,steadfastandgreen,alltheyearround.NoneofthemcouldexpressthethoughtthatwasintheirmindsasJilltoldthelittlestorybuttheactandthefeelingthatprompteditwereperhapsasbeautifulanassuranceascouldhavebeengiventhatthedeardeadboy'sexamplehadnotbeenwasted,fortheplantingoftheacornswasasymbolofthedesirebuddinginthoseyoungheartstobewhathemighthavebeen,andtomaketheirlivesnoblerfortheknowledgeandtheloveofhim. “Itseemsasifagreatdealhadhappenedthisyear,”saidMerry,inapensivetone,forthisquiettalkjustsuitedhermood. “SoIsay,forthere'sbeenaDeclarationofIndependenceandaRevolutioninourhouse,andI'mcommander-in-chiefnowanddon'tIlikeit!”criedMolly,complacentlysurveyingtheneatnewuniformsheworeofherownchoosing. “IfeelasifIneverlearnedsomuchinmylifeasIhavesincelastDecember,andyetIneverdidsolittle,”addedJill,wonderingwhythemonthsofwearinessandpaindidnotseemmoredreadfultoher. “Well,pitchingonmyheadseemstohavegivenmeagoodshakingup,somehow,andImeantodogreatthingsnextyearinbetterwaysthanbreakingmybonescoasting,”saidJack,withamanlyair. “IfeellikeaSiamesetwinwithouthismatenowyouaregone,butI'munderordersforawhile,andmeantodomybest.Guessitwon'tbelosttime”andFranknoddedatGus,whonoddedbackwiththeslightlysuperiorexpressionallFreshmenwear. “Hopeyouwon'tfinditso.Myworkisallcutoutforme,andIintendtogoinandwin,thoughitismoreofagrindthanyoufellowsknow.” “I'msureIhaveeverythingtobegratefulfor.Itwon'tbeplainsailing—Idon'texpectitbut,ifIlive,I'lldosomethingtobeproudof,”saidRalph,squaringhisshouldersasiftomeetandconquerallobstaclesashelookedintotheglowingwest,whichwasnotfairerthanhisambitiousdreams. Herewewillsaygood-bytothesegirlsandboysofoursastheysittogetherinthesunshinetalkingoverayearthatwastobeforevermemorabletothem,notbecauseofanyveryremarkableevents,butbecausetheywerejustbeginningtolookaboutthemastheysteppedoutofchildhoodintoyouth,andsomeoftheexperiencesofthepastmonthshadsetthemtothinking,taughtthemtoseetheuseandbeautyofthesmallduties,joys,andsorrowswhichmakeupourlives,andinspiredthemtoresolvethatthecomingyearshouldbebraverandbrighterthanthelast. Therearemanysuchboysandgirls,fullofhighhopes,lovelypossibilities,andearnestplans,pausingamomentbeforetheypushtheirlittleboatsfromthesafeshore.Letthosewholaunchthemseetoitthattheyhavegoodhealthtomantheoars,goodeducationforballast,andgoodprinciplesaspilotstoguidethemastheyvoyagedownanever-wideningrivertothesea.