Louisa May Alcott was born at Germantown, Pa., in 1833, and, among other
works, wrote many beautiful stories for children. During the Civil War she
was a hospital nurse at Washington. The following selection is adapted
from "Little Men." She died in 1888.
1. One would have said that modest John Brooke, in his busy, quiet, humble
life, had had little time to make friends; but now they seemed to start up
everywhere,--old and young, rich and poor, high and low; for all
unconsciously his influence had made itself widely felt, his virtues were
remembered, and his hidden charities rose up to bless him.
2. The group about his coffin was a far more eloquent eulogy than any that
man could utter. There were the rich men whom he had served faithfully for
years; the poor old women whom he cherished with his little store, in
memory of his mother; the wife to whom he had given such happiness that
death could not mar it utterly; the brothers and sisters in whose hearts
he had made a place forever; the little son and daughter who already felt
the loss of his strong arm and tender voice; the young children, sobbing
for their kindest playmate, and the tall lads, watching with softened
faces a scene which they never could forget.
3. That evening, as the Plumfield boys sat on the steps, as usual, in the
mild September moonlight, they naturally fell to talking of the event of
the day.
Emil began by breaking out in his impetuous way, "Uncle Fritz is the
wisest, and Uncle Laurie the jolliest, but Uncle John was the best; and
I'd rather be like him than any man I ever saw."
4. "So would I. Did you hear what those gentlemen said to Grandpa to-day?
I would like to have that said of me when I was dead;" and Franz felt with
regret that he had not appreciated Uncle John enough.
"What did they say?" asked Jack, who had been much impressed by the scenes
of the day.
5. "Why, one of the partners of Mr. Laurence, where Uncle John has been
ever so long, was saying that he was conscientious almost to a fault as a
business man, and above reproach in all things. Another gentleman said no
money could repay the fidelity and honesty with which Uncle John had
served him, and then Grandpa told them the best of all.
6. "Uncle John once had a place in the office of a man who cheated, and
when this man wanted uncle to help him do it, uncle wouldn't, though he
was offered a big salary. The man was angry, and said, 'You will never get
on in business with such strict principles;' and uncle answered back, 'I
never will try to get on without them,' and left the place for a much
harder and poorer one."
7. "Good !" cried several of the boys warmly, for they were in the mood to
understand and value the little story as never before.
"He wasn't rich, was he?" asked Jack.
"No."
"He never did anything to make a stir in the world, did he?"
"No."
"He was only good?"
"That's all;" and Franz found himself wishing that Uncle John had done
something to boast of, for it was evident that Jack was disappointed by
his replies.
8. "Only good. That is all and everything," said Uncle Fritz, who had
overheard the last few words, and guessed what was going on in the minds
of the lads.
"Let me tell you a little about John Brooke, and you will see why men
honor him, and why he was satisfied to be good rather than rich or famous.
He simply did his duty in all things, and did it so cheerfully, so
faithfully, that it kept him patient, brave, and happy, through poverty
and loneliness and years of hard work.
9. "He was a good son, and gave up his own plans to stay and live with his
mother while she needed him. He was a good friend, and taught your Uncle
Laurie much beside his Greek and Latin, did it unconsciously, perhaps, by
showing him an example of an upright man.
10. "He was a faithful servant, and made himself so valuable to those who
employed him that they will find it hard to fill his place. He was a good
husband and father, so tender, wise, and thoughtful, that Laurie and I
learned much of him, and only knew how well he loved his family when we
discovered all he had done for them, unsuspected and unassisted."
11. Uncle Fritz stopped a minute, and the boys sat like statues in the
moonlight until he went on again, in a subdued and earnest voice: "As he
lay dying, I said to him, 'Have no care for your wife and the little ones;
I will see that they never want.' Then he smiled and pressed my hand, and
answered, in his cheerful way, 'No need of that; I have cared for them.'
12. "And so he had, for when we looked among his papers, all was in
order,--not a debt remained; and safely put away was enough to keep his
wife comfortable and independent. Then we knew why he had lived so
plainly, denied himself so many pleasures, except that of charity, and
worked so hard that I fear he shortened his good life.
13. "He never asked help for himself, though often for others, but bore
his own burden and worked out his own task bravely and quietly. No one can
say a word of complaint against him, so just and generous and kind was he;
and now, when he is gone, all find so much to love and praise and honor,
that I am proud to have been his friend, and would rather leave my
children the legacy he leaves his than the largest fortune ever made.
14. "Yes! simple, genuine goodness is the best capital to found the
business of this life upon. It lasts when fame and money fail, and is the
only riches we can take out of this world with us. Remember that, my boys;
and, if you want to earn respect and confidence and love, follow in the
footsteps of John Brooke."
DEFINITIONS.--2. Eu'lo-gy, a speech or writing in praise of the character
of a person. Cher'ished, supported, nurtured with care. 4. Ap-pre'ci-at-ed
(pro. ap-pre'shi-at-ed), valued justly. 5. Con--sci-en'tious (pro.
kon-shi-en'shus), governed by a strict regard to the rules of right and
wrong. 7. Mood, state of mind, disposition. 11. Sub-dued', reduced to
tenderness, softened. 12. In-de-pend'ent, not relying on others. 13.
Leg'a-cy, a gift by will, a bequest. 14. Cap'i-tal stock employed in any
business.