Merry was not making the old farmhouse pretty , but living in Italy , with a young sculptor for her husband , and beauty such as she never dreamed of all about her . Molly was not travelling round the world , but contentedly keeping house for her father and still watching over Boo , who was becoming her pride and joy as well as care . Neither was Jill a famous woman , but a very happy and useful one , with the two mothers leaning on her as they grew old , the young men better for her influence over them , many friends to love and honor her , and a charming home , where she was queen by right of her cheery spirit , grateful heart , and unfailing devotion to those who had made her what she was . If any curious reader , not content with this peep into futurity , asks , `` Did Molly and Jill ever marry ? '' we must reply , for the sake of peace -- Molly remained a merry spinster all her days , one of the independent , brave , and busy creatures of whom there is such need in the world to help take care of other peoples ' wives and children , and do the many useful jobs that the married folk have no time for . Jill certainly did wear a white veil on the day she was twenty-five and called her husband Jack . Further than that we can not go , except to say that this leap did not end in a catastrophe , like the first one they took together . That day , however , they never dreamed of what was in store for them , but chattered away as they cleared up the room , and then ran off ready for play , feeling that they had earned it by work well done . They found the lads just finishing , with Boo to help by picking up the windfalls for the cider-heap , after he had amused himself by putting about a bushel down the various holes old Bun had left behind him . Jack was risking his neck climbing in the most dangerous places , while Frank , with a long-handled apple-picker , nipped off the finest fruit with care , both enjoying the pleasant task and feeling proud of the handsome red and yellow piles all about the little orchard . Merry and Molly caught up baskets and fell to work with all their might , leaving Jill to sit upon a stool and sort the early apples ready to use at once , looking up now and then to nod and smile at her mother who watched her from the window , rejoicing to see her lass so well and happy . It was such a lovely day , they all felt its cheerful influence ; for the sun shone bright and warm , the air was full of an invigorating freshness which soon made the girls ' faces look like rosy apples , and their spirits as gay as if they had been stealing sips of new cider through a straw . Jack whistled like a blackbird as he swung and bumped about , Frank orated and joked , Merry and Molly ran races to see who would fill and empty fastest , and Jill sung to Boo , who reposed in a barrel , exhausted with his labors . `` These are the last of the pleasant days , and we ought to make the most of them . Let 's have one more picnic before the frost spoils the leaves , '' said Merry , resting a minute at the gate to look down the street , which was a glorified sort of avenue , with brilliant maples lining the way and carpeting the ground with crimson and gold . `` Oh , yes ! Go down the river once more and have supper on the Island . I could n't go to some of your picnics , and I do long for a last good time before winter shuts me up again , '' cried Jill , eager to harvest all the sunshine she could , for she was not yet quite her old self again . `` I 'm your man , if the other fellows agree . We ca n't barrel these up for a while , so to-morrow will be a holiday for us .
Better make sure of the day while you can , this weather ca n't last long ; '' and XXXXX shook his head like one on intimate terms with Old Prob .
Frank Italy Jill Merry blackbird first left minute right spinster