e 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