“You know we have been wondering what we should do for badges when the leaves were gone.  Just see what the president has sent!” and she displayed to their delighted gaze five small, enamelled oak leaves.

If Dr. Hollingsworth was sensitive to compliments, his ears must have burned badly about this time.  Belle summed them up by remarking, “I just believe he is almost the nicest man I ever knew.”

They stood together under the oak tree, and Rosalind pinned on the new badges.  “Let’s promise to be friends, whatever happens,” she said, “because we know the Forest secret and have had such good times this summer.”

The sun shone out brightly for a moment as the wind swept over the hilltop, rattling the vines on Patricia’s Arbor; under the autumn sky the winding river sparkled as gayly as when its banks were green; on the far-away stretch of yellow road the wintry sunshine lay; and under the red oak they clasped hands and promised to be friends always.