“Come along, then, and make sure of the girls,” said Merry,
catching up her roll of work, for the harvesting was done.
Molly put her sack on as the easiest way of carrying it, and,
extricating Boo, they went off, accompanied by the boys, “to make
sure of the fellows” also, leaving Jill to sit among the apples,
singing and sorting like a thrifty little housewife.
Next day eleven young people met at the appointed place, basket
in hand. Ralph could not come till later, for he was working now
as he never worked before. They were a merry flock, for the
mellow autumn day was even brighter and clearer than yesterday,
and the river looked its loveliest, winding away under the sombre
hemlocks, or through the fairyland the gay woods made on either
side. Two large boats and two small ones held them all, and away
they went, first up through the three bridges and round the bend,
then, turning, they floated down to the green island, where a grove
of oaks rustled their sere leaves and the squirrels were still
gathering acorns. Here they often met to keep their summer revels,
and here they now spread their feast on the flat rock which needed
no cloth beside its own gray lichens. The girls trimmed each dish
with bright leaves, and made the supper look like a banquet for the
elves, while the boys built a fire in the nook where ashes and
blackened stones told of many a rustic meal. The big tin coffee-pot
was not so romantic, but more successful than a kettle slung on
three sticks, gypsy fashion; so they did not risk a downfall, but set
the water boiling, and soon filled the air with the agreeable
perfume associated in their minds with picnics, as most of them
never tasted the fascinating stuff at any other time, being the worst
children can drink.
Frank was cook, Gus helped cut bread and cake, Jack and Grif
brought wood, while Bob Walker took Joe’s place and made
himself generally useful, as the other gentleman never did, and so
was quite out of favor lately.
All was ready at last, and they were just deciding to sit down
without Ralph, when a shout told them he was coming, and down
the river skimmed a wherry at such a rate the boys wondered
whom he had been racing with.
“Something has happened, and he is coming to tell us,” said Jill,
who sat where she could see his eager face.
“Nothing bad, or he wouldn’t smile so. He is glad of a good row
and a little fun after working so hard all the week”; and Merry
shook a red napkin as a welcoming signal.
Something certainly had happened, and a very happy something it
must be, they all thought, as Ralph came on with flashing oars, and
leaping out as the boat touched the shore, ran up the slope, waving
his hat, and calling in a glad voice, sure of sympathy in his delight,
“Good news! good news! Hurrah for Rome, next month!”
The young folks forgot their supper for a moment, to congratulate
him on his happy prospect, and hear all about it, while the leaves
rustled as if echoing the kind words, and the squirrels sat up aloft,
wondering what all the pleasant clamor was about.
Yes, I’m really going in November. German asked me to go with
him to-day, and if there is any little hitch in my getting off, he’ll
lend a hand, and I–I’ll black his boots, wet his clay, and run his
errands the rest of my life to pay for this!” cried Ralph, in a burst
of gratitude; for, independent as he was, the kindness of this
successful friend to a deserving comrade touched and won his
heart.
“I call that a handsome thing to do!” said Frank, warmly, for noble
actions always pleased him. “I heard my mother say that making
good or useful men was the best sort of sculpture, so I think David
German may be proud of this piece of work, whether the big statue
succeeds or not.”
“I’m very glad, old fellow, When I run over for my trip four years