下载辰思小说免费APP
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。Hene
