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vanished rapidly； accompanied by the usual mishaps which make
picnic meals such fun。 Ralph's health was drunk with all sorts of
good wishes； and such splendid prophecies were made； that he
would have far surpassed Michael Angelo； if they could have come
true。 Grif gave him an order on the spot for a full…length statue of
himself； and stood up to show the imposing attitude in which he
wished to be taken； but unfortunately slipped and fell forward with
one hand in the custard pie； the other clutching wildly at the
coffee…pot； which inhospitably burnt his fingers。
〃I think I grasp the idea； and will be sure to remember not to make
your hair blow one way and the tails of your coat another； as a
certain sculptor made those of a famous man；〃 laughed Ralph； as
the fallen hero scrambled up； amidst general merriment。
〃Will the little bust be done before you go？〃 asked Jill； anxiously；
feeling a personal interest in the success of that order。
〃Yes： I've been hard at it every spare minute I could get； and have a
fortnight more。 It suits Mrs。 Lennox； and she will pay well for it；
so I shall have something to start with； though I haven't been able
to save much。 I'm to thank you for that； and I shall send you the
first pretty thing I get hold of；〃 answered Ralph； looking gratefully
at the bright face； which grew still brighter as Jill exclaimed；
〃I do feel so proud to know a real artist； and have my bust done by
him。 I only wish I could pay for it as Mrs。 Lennox does； but I
haven't any money； and you don't need the sort of things I can
make；〃 she added； shaking her head； as she thought over knit
slippers； wall…pockets； and crochet in all its forms； as offerings to
her departing friend。
〃You can write often； and tell me all about everybody； for I shall
want to know； and people will soon forget me when I'm gone；〃
said Ralph； lookir~g at Merry； who was making a garland of
yellow leaves for Juliet's black hair。
Jill promised； and kept her word； but the longest letters went from
the farm…house on the hill； though no one knew the fact till long
afterward。 Merry said nothing now； but she smiled； with a pretty
color in her cheeks； and was very much absorbed in her work；
while the talk went on。
〃I wish I was twenty； and going to seek my fortune； as you are；
〃said Jack； and the other boys agreed with him； for something in
Ralph's new plans and purposes roused the manly spirit in all of
them； reminding them that playtime would soon be over； and the
great world before them； where to choose。
〃It is easy enough to say what you'd like； but the trouble is； you
have to take what you can get； and make the best of it；〃 said Gus；
whose own views were rather vague as yet。
〃No you don't； always； you can make things go as you want them；
if you only try hard enough； and walk right over whatever stands in
the way。 I don't mean to give up my plans for any man； but； if I
live； I'll carry them outyou see if I don't〃； and Frank gave the
rock where he lay a blow with his fist； that sent the acorns flying
all about。
One of them hit Jack； and he said； sorrowfully； as he held it in his
hand so carefully it was evident he had some association with it；
〃Ed used to say that； and he had some splendid plans； but they
didn't come to anything。〃
〃Perhaps they did； who can tell？ Do your best while you live； and I
don't believe anything good is lost； whether we have it a long or a
short time；〃 said Ralph； who knew what a help and comfort high
hopes were； and how they led to better things； if worthily
cherished。
〃A great many acorns are wasted； I suppose； but some of them
sprout and grow； and make splendid trees；〃 added Merry； feeling
more than she knew how to express； as she looked up at the oaks
overhead。
Only seven of the party were sitting on the knoll now； for the rest
had gone to wash the dishes and pack the baskets down by the
boats。 Jack and Jill； with the three elder boys； were in a little
group； and as Merry spoke； Gus said to Frank；
〃Did you plant yours？〃
〃Yes； on the lawn； and I mean it shall come up if I can make it；〃
answered Frank； gravely。
〃I put mine where I can see it from the window； and not forget to
water and take care of it；〃 added Jack； still turning the pretty
brown acorn to and fro as if he loved it。
〃What do they mean？〃 whispered Merry to Jill； who was leaning
against her knee Lo rest。
〃The boys were walking in the Cemetery last Sunday； as they often
do； and when they came to Ed's grave； the place was all covered
with little acorns from the tree that grows on the bank。 They each
took up some as they stood talking； and Jack said he should plant
his； for he loved Ed very much； you know。 The others said they
would； too； and I hope the trees will grow； though we don't need
anything to remember him by；〃 answered Jill； in a low tone；
thinking of the pressed flowers the girls kept for his sake。
The boys heard her； but no one spoke for a moment as they sat
looking across the river toward the hill where the pines whispered
their lullabies and pointed heavenward； steadfast and green； all the
year round。 None of them could express the thought that was in
their minds as Jill told the little story； but the act and the feeling
that prompted it were perhaps as beautiful an assurance as could
have been given that the dear dead boy's example had not been
wasted； for the planting of the acorns was a symbol of the desire
budding in those young hearts to be what he might have been； and
to make their lives nobler for the knowledge and the love of him。
〃It seems as if a great deal had happened this year；〃 said Merry； in
a pensive tone； for this quiet talk just suited her mood。
〃So I say； for there's been a Declaration of Independence and a
Revolution in our house； and I'm commander…in…chief now； and
don't I like it！〃 cried Molly； complacently surveying the neat new
uniform she wore of her own choosing。
〃I feel as if I never learned so much in my life as I have since last
December； and yet I never did so little；〃 added Jill； wondering why
the months of weariness and pain did not seem more dreadful to
her。
'Well； pitching on my head seems to have given me a good shaking
up； somehow； and I mean to do great things next year in better
ways than breaking my bones coasting；〃 said Jack； with a manly
air。
〃I feel like a Siamese twin without his mate now you are gone； but
I'm under orders for a while； and mean to do my best。 Guess it
won't be lost time〃； and Frank nodded at Gus； who nodded back
with the slightly superior expression all Freshmen wear。
〃Hope you won't find it so。 My work is all cut out for me； and I
intend to go in and win； though it is more of a grind than you
fellows know。〃
〃I'm sure I have everything to be grateful for。 It won't be plain
sailingI don't expect it； but； if I live； I'll do something to be proud
of；〃 said Ralph；