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。