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+The Project Gutenberg eBook, Walter Harland, by Harriet S. Caswell
+
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+
+
+
+Title: Walter Harland
+       Or, Memories of the Past
+
+
+Author: Harriet S. Caswell
+
+Release Date: May 8, 2005  [eBook #15799]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII)
+
+
+***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WALTER HARLAND***
+
+
+E-text prepared by Robert Cicconetti, Mary Meehan, and the Project
+Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team from page images generously
+made available by Early Canadiana Online (http://www.canadiana.org/)
+
+
+
+Note: Images of the original pages are available through
+      Early Canadiana Online. See
+      http://www.canadiana.org/ECO/ItemRecord/00531?id=ae0fc49246f54b76
+
+
+
+
+WALTER HARLAND
+
+Or, Memories of the Past
+
+by
+
+H. S. CASWELL
+
+Author of Clara Boscom; Earnest Harwood, etc.
+
+1874
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER I.
+
+
+Left entirely alone on a quiet afternoon, the unbroken stillness which
+surrounded me, as well as the soft haze which floats upon the
+atmosphere, in that most delightful of all seasons, the glorious "Indian
+Summer" of Eastern Canada, caused my thoughts to wander far away into
+the dreamy regions of the past, and many scenes long past, and almost
+forgotten, passed in review before my mind's eye on that quiet
+afternoon. While thus musing the idea occurred to me that there are few
+individuals, however humble or obscure, whose life-history (if noted
+down) would prove wholly without interest to others, in the form of a
+book; and this thought caused me to form the idea of noting down some
+passages from my own life--as they were on that day recalled to my mind.
+Like the boy who dreamed a most remarkable dream and, when asked to
+relate it, "didn't know where to begin," so was I puzzled as to how I
+should make a beginning for my story. But the incidents of one
+particular day when I was about thirteen years old were so vividly
+brought back to my mind, that I have decided upon that day as a
+starting-point; and now to my story.
+
+"Where alive has that lazy, good-for-nothing boy taken, himself off to
+now, I wonder, and the weeds I left him to pull in the garden not half
+done yet; but it's just like him, as soon's my back's turned to skulk
+off in this way. I'll put a stop to this work one of these days, see if
+I don't. Its likely he's hiding in some out-of-the-way corner with a
+book in his hand as usual." These and many other angry words came
+harshly to my ears, on that June afternoon now so long ago. I was seated
+in the small room over the kitchen which was appropriated to my use in
+the dwelling of Farmer Judson, where I was employed as "chore boy," or,
+in other words, the boy of all work.
+
+"Walter, Walter Harland, come down here this minute, I say."
+
+I started up, trembling with fear, for the angry tones of the farmer
+made me aware that he had come home in one of his worst tempers, and his
+best were usually bad enough; and, more than this, I knew myself to be
+slightly in the fault. Before leaving home that morning Mr. Judson had
+ordered me to clear the weeds from a certain number of beds in the
+garden before his return. I worked steadily during the forenoon, and for
+a portion of the afternoon, when, feeling tired and heated, I stole up
+to my room, thinking to rest for a short time and then again resume my
+labors. I was very fond of study, and, as my Algebra lay before me upon
+the table, I could not resist the temptation to open it, and I soon
+became so deeply absorbed in the solution of a difficult problem that I
+heeded not the lapse of time till the harsh voice of my employer fell
+upon my ear. I had learned by past experience to fear the angry moods
+of Mr. Judson. In my hurry and confusion I forgot to lay aside my book,
+and went downstairs with it in my hand. I stood silent before the angry
+man, and listened to the storm of abuse which he continued to pour upon
+me, until sheer exhaustion compelled him to stop.
+
+"And now," said he (by way of conclusion) "be off to your work, and
+don't be seen in the house again till the last weed is pulled from them
+air beds." This was even better than I had dared to hope, for, on more
+than one former occasion, I had borne blows from Mr. Judson when his
+anger was excited. As I turned to leave the room the quick eye of the
+farmer fell upon the book which before had escaped his notice. Stepping
+hastily toward me he said:
+
+"I see how it is, your head is so filled with the crankums you get out
+o' them books, that you are good for nothing else, but I'll stop this
+work once for all;" and, ere I was aware of his intention, he
+snatched the book from my hand, and threw it upon the wood-fire which
+burned in the kitchen fire-place. I sprang forward to rescue my book
+from the flames, but, before I could reach it, it was burned to ashes.
+As I have before stated I was then about thirteen years old, tall and
+strong for my age. I was usually quiet and respectful, but for all this
+I possessed a high spirit. I could easily be controlled by kindness and
+mild persuasion, but never by harsh and unkind treatment, and this act
+of Mr. Judson's enraged me beyond all control, and in a moment all the
+smouldering anger occasioned by his past harshness shot up as it were in
+a sudden blaze. I have often heard it said, and I believe with truth,
+that there is something almost appalling in the roused anger of one of
+those usually quiet and submissive natures. I have often since thought
+that passion rendered me partially insane for the time being; trembling
+with anger, I confronted my employer fearlessly, as I said "How _dare_
+you burn my book? you bad, wicked man, you are just as mean as you can
+be."
+
+This sudden outbreak from me, who hitherto had borne his abuse in
+silence, took Mr. Judson quite by surprise. For a moment he looked at
+me in silence, then, with a voice hoarse from passion, he addressed me,
+saying, "such talk to _me_! you surely have lost any little sense you
+ever may have had." Then seizing me roughly by the shoulder he
+continued: "I'll teach you better manners than all this comes to, my
+fine fellow, for I'll give you such a flogging as you won't forget in
+a hurry, I'll be bound."
+
+Instantly my resolution was taken; he should never flog me again.
+Shaking off the rough grasp of his hand, I stepped backward, and drawing
+myself up to my full height (even then I was not very tall) I looked him
+unflinchingly in the face as I said,--"touch _me_ if you _dare_, I have
+borne blows enough from you, and for little cause, but you shall _never_
+strike me again. If you lay a hand upon me it will be worse for you."
+Wild with anger I knew not what I said. The strength of a lad of my age
+would, of course, have been as nothing against that of the sturdy
+farmer; but, had he attempted to flog me, I certainly should have
+resisted to the utmost of my ability. I know not how it was, but after
+regarding me for a few moments with angry astonishment, he turned away
+without any further attempt to fulfil his threat of flogging me. I
+turned and was leaving the house when he called after me, in a voice,
+which upon any previous occasion, would have frightened me into
+submission.
+
+"Come back, I say, this instant." I had now lost all fear and replied,
+in a voice which I hardly recognized as my own, "go back, _never_.
+Should I be compelled to beg my bread from door to door, I will never
+stay another day under your roof." With these words I ran from the
+house, and soon reached the little brown cottage in the village three
+miles distant where lived my mother and sister Flora.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II.
+
+
+I never knew a father's protecting care and watchful love; for he died
+when I was but little more than three years old; and my sister Flora a
+babe in our mother's arms. No prettier village could at that time have
+been found in Eastern Canada than Elmwood, and this village was our
+home. Its location was romantic and picturesque. Below the village on
+one side was a long stretch of level meadow-land through which flowed
+a clear and placid river--whose sparkling waters, when viewed from a
+distance, reminded one of a surface of polished silver. The margin of
+this river, on either side, was fringed with tall stately trees, called
+the Rock-Elm. According to the statement of the first settlers in the
+vicinity, the whole place was once covered with a forest of those noble
+trees and to this circumstance the village owed its name of Elmwood. The
+number of those trees which still shaded many of the streets added much
+to the beauty of the village. The village was small, but much regularity
+had been observed in laying out the streets. The buildings were mostly
+composed of wood; and nearly all were painted a pure white with green
+blinds, which gave a very tasteful appearance to the place. It had its
+two churches, and three stores, where all articles necessary to a
+country trade were sold, from a scythe down to cambric needles and pearl
+buttons. There was also an academy, a hotel, one and two public schools,
+and I believe I have now mentioned the most important of the public
+buildings of Elmwood, as it then was. The cool and inviting appearance
+of the village, as well as its facilities for fishing, boating and other
+healthful recreations, caused it, in course of time, to become a
+favorite summer resort for the dwellers in the large cities; and for
+a few weeks, once a year, Elmwood was crowded with visitors from many
+distant places, and, as may be readily supposed, these periodical visits
+of strangers was something which deeply interested the simple residents
+of our village. In looking back to-day through the long vista of years
+which separate the past from the present, the object on which memory is
+inclined to linger longer is a little brown house near one end of the
+village of Elmwood. Kind reader that was the home of my childhood. There
+was little in the external appearance of the house or its surroundings
+to win admiration from the passer-by, but it was my home, and to the
+young home is ever beautiful. Recalled by memory the old house looks
+very familiar to-day, with its sloping roof covered, here and there,
+with patches of green moss; and the large square chimney in the centre.
+Between the house and the street was a level green, in which were
+several fine shady trees, and one particular tree which stood near the
+centre was what I most loved of every thing connected with the
+surroundings of my early home--this tree was of the species known in
+Canada as the Silver Fir, and I am certain that every one familiar with
+this tree will testify, as to its beauty; they grow to a large size with
+very thick and wide-spreading branches, which extend downward upon the
+trunk in a circular form, each circle from the top growing larger, till
+the lower limbs overshadow a large space of ground beneath. This tree
+was my delight in the sunny days of childhood and early youth, and in
+summer most of my school-tasks were committed to memory beneath its
+friendly shade; and I loved it, in the dreary season of winter, for the
+deep green which it retained, amid the general desolation by which it
+was surrounded. When left a widow my mother was poor, so far as worldly
+riches is considered. My father had once been in moderately easy
+circumstances, but the illness which terminated in his death was long,
+and the means he had accumulated gradually slipped away, till, at the
+period of his death, all my mother could call her own was the little
+brown house which sheltered us, and very thankful was she to find, (when
+every debt was paid even to the last fraction) that she still possessed
+a home for herself and children. My mother possessed much energy of
+mind, as well as a cheerful, hopeful disposition, and, although she
+sorrowed deeply for her sad loss, she did not yield to despondency; but
+endeavored to discharge faithfully her duty to her children, and to this
+end she sought employment, and toiled early and late that she might
+provide for our wants, and so far did Providence smile upon her efforts
+that we were enabled to live in comfort and respectability. By close
+industry and economy she kept me at school from the age of six to
+thirteen, and would willingly have allowed me to remain longer, as she
+considered my education of the first importance, but during the last
+year I remained at school (although only a child of twelve years) I grew
+discontented and unhappy, by seeing my mother toiling daily that I might
+remain at school. And many a night did I lay awake for hours, revolving
+the question in my mind of how I could assist my mother, for I felt
+that, young as I was, it was time for me to do something for my own
+support. Had circumstances allowed, I would gladly have remained at
+school, for I was fond of study; but I believe I inherited a portion
+of my mother's energetic disposition, and I felt it my duty to leave
+school, and seek some employment whereby I might support myself, and
+possibly assist, in a small way, my mother and little sister. My mother
+was reluctant to yield her consent that I should leave school, but when
+she saw how much my mind was _set_ on it, and knowing the motives which
+influenced me, she finally gave her consent, and leaving school I began
+looking about me for employment. My mother's wish, as well as my own
+was that I should, if possible, obtain some situation in the village
+where I could still board at home, but, as is usually the case, no one
+needed a boy at that time. After spending several days in search of
+work, without success, I became disheartened. My mother advised me to
+return to my books, and think no more about it; but I was unwilling that
+my first attempt toward taking care of myself should prove an entire
+failure.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III.
+
+
+A few miles from the village of Elmwood lived Mr. Judson, a rich farmer,
+he might properly be termed rich in this world's goods, for, besides the
+broad acres which comprised the two farms in one where he resided, he
+was the owner of several houses in the village, which brought him a
+handsome annual income. The chief aim of his life appeared to be the
+acquisition of money, and, when once it came into his possession, it was
+guarded with miserly care. The very countenance and manner of the Farmer
+bespoke his nature. Aided by memory, I see him now as I saw him years
+ago:--he was of medium height, strong and muscular, but thin in flesh.
+His hair had once been black, but was then sprinkled thickly with gray;
+he had small piercing, restless black eyes that seemed to look several
+ways at once. His nose was of the form which I have often heard styled a
+hawk-bill; and, altogether, there was a sort of dry, hard look about the
+man which rendered his personal appearance repulsive and disagreeable.
+His constant care and anxiety was to get the largest possible amount of
+labor out of those in his employ; consequently, he was always in a hurry
+himself, and striving to hurry every one else. His farm-laborers used to
+say that he kept his eyes in such unceasing motion, to see that every
+thing went right on all sides, that a restless, roving expression of the
+eyes had become natural to him. Though living only a few miles distant,
+neither my mother nor myself knew any thing of the character of this
+man; and when he came to engage me to do "chores and light work" as he
+termed it, we gladly accepted his offer, as my mother had the idea that
+residing for a time upon a farm (if not overworked) would have a
+beneficial effect upon my health and constitution. Many wondered when
+it became known that I had gone to live with Farmer Judson; but each one
+kept their thoughts to themselves. When I took my place at the Farmer's
+I soon found that, if my work was light, there was likely to be plenty
+of it. I did not complain of this, for I expected to work; but what made
+my position almost unbearable was the constant habit of fault-finding in
+which my employer indulged. He was dreaded and feared by all under his
+roof. He was constantly on the watch for waste and expenditure
+within-doors, and without there could never be enough done to satisfy
+him; do your best, and he always thought you should have done more. As
+I have before said, I was very fond of books, and I had counted upon
+having my evenings at my own disposal that I might still do something in
+the way of self improvement; but I soon learned that books were quite
+out of the question in my new home. There was either corn to shell or
+errands to perform; in short, there was something to keep me busy till
+nearly bed-time every night. I used sometimes to think the farmer used
+to study up something to keep me busy on purpose to keep me from study.
+I believe my greatest fault in his eyes was my love of books. He was
+entirely without education himself, which, (in a great measure)
+accounted for his narrow and sordid mind; he looked upon any time
+devoted to books or mental culture as a dead loss.
+
+"What's the use of botherin' over books," he would often say; and would
+often add in a boasting manner, "I don't know _a_ from _b_, and if I do
+say it myself, where will you find a man who has got along better in the
+world than I have done." If getting along well with the world consists
+only in hoarding up dollars and cents till every feeling of tenderness
+and benevolence toward the rest of mankind becomes benumbed and
+deadened, then truly Mr. Judson _had_ got along remarkably well. His
+door was but a sorry place to ask charity, as every one could testify
+who ever tried the experiment. It was reported that a poor woman once
+called at the house and asked for food. The farmer chanced to be from
+home, and his wife, thinking he might not return for a time, ventured
+to prepare a comfortable meal for the poor traveller; but, as fate would
+have it, he returned before the weary traveller had partaken of the meal
+prepared for her. As soon as he saw how matters stood he gave his wife
+a stern rebuke for "encouraging beggars"; and, with many harsh words,
+ordered the woman to leave the house. The poor woman rose wearily to
+obey the command, and, as she was passing from the room, she turned, and
+fixing her eyes upon Mr. Judson, said in a stern voice, "I am poor and
+needy--it was hunger alone which compelled me to ask charity--but with
+all your riches I would not exchange places with you who have the heart
+to turn from your door one in need of food; surely, out of your
+abundance you might have at the least given food to one in want; but go
+on hoarding up your dollars, and see how much softer they will make your
+dying pillow." It was said that the farmer actually turned pale as the
+woman left the house. Perhaps his conscience was not quite dead, and it
+may be that a shadow from the events of future years, even then, fell
+across his mind. It would have been difficult to find two natures more
+unlike than were those of Mr. Judson and his wife. The former was
+stingy, even to miserly niggardliness, as well as ill-tempered, sullen
+and morose, while the latter was one of the most kind-hearted and
+motherly old ladies imaginable, that is, had her kindly nature been
+allowed to exhibit itself. As it was, not daring to act according to the
+dictates of her own kind heart, through fear of her stern companion, she
+had in the course of years, become a timid broken-spirited woman. In her
+youthful days she had been a regular attendant at church, she also was a
+valuable teacher in the sabbath-school; but, after marrying Lemuel
+Judson, she soon found that all religious privileges of a social nature
+were at an end. Poor man, money was the god he worshipped; and so
+entirely did the acquisition of wealth engross his mind that every other
+emotion was well-nigh extinguished. He seldom, if ever, entered a place
+of public worship, and did what he could to prevent his wife from doing
+so. She did at the first venture a feeble remonstrance when he refused
+on Sundays to drive to the village church, but, as this was her first
+attempt at any thing like opposition to his wishes, he determined it
+should be her last, for he assailed her with every term of abusive
+language at his command, and these were not a few, for his command of
+language of this sort was something marvelous too listen to, and, if his
+words and phrases were not always in strict accordance with the rules of
+grammar, they certainly were sharp and pointed enough to answer his
+purpose very well. From the sour expression of his countenance, as well
+as the biting words which often fell from his tongue, the village boys
+applied to him the name "vinegar face," sometimes varied by "old
+vinegar Judson." Like all village boys, they were inclined on holidays
+and Saturday afternoons to roam away to the neighbouring farms. Mr.
+Judson always drove them from his premises the moment they set foot
+hereon, and in a short time he learned that, as the saying is, there was
+no love lost between them. He one day gave one of these boys a smart
+blow with his horse-whip the boy had ventured into the hayfield among
+the laborers. The blow of course caused him to take to his heels, but
+from that time the whole band were in league against the farmer. If he
+left a horse tied in the village, he would sometimes find him shorn of
+his mane, and often a hopeless rent in his buffalo; and, as far as he
+could find out, the deed was done by "nobody at all." As he was driving
+leisurely homeward on a very dark night he suddenly came upon a number
+of boys near the end of the village street, and one of the boys called
+out loud enough for him to hear, "there goes old vinegar Judson;"
+another emboldened by his companion, next addressed him with the
+question; "What's the market price of vinegar, old man? you ought to
+know if any one does, for you must drink a lot of it or you wouldn't be
+so cross and ugly." It was a very dark night, and the farmer was unable
+to distinguish one from the other, and horse-whip in hand he made a rush
+among the whole crowd, who dispersed in all directions. He was not agile
+enough to overtake a fast retreating army in the dark, and was forced to
+abandon the pursuit. As he turned to pursue his journey homeward, a
+voice from out of the darkness, again addressed him, saying, "don't you
+only wish you could catch us, old vinegar man?" Knowing that further
+pursuit would be useless, he proceeded on his way, uttering threats of
+future vengeance. He did spend a portion of the following day in trying
+to find out the boys who had insulted him; but all his efforts to that
+end were without success. A gentleman to whom he complained ventured to
+remark: "I fear, Mr. Judson, that in a great measure you have yourself
+to blame for all this, for you ever treat the boys with unkindness; and,
+without reason and experience to guide them, can you wonder that they
+render evil for evil. If you exercised more of the spirit of kindness
+in your casual intercourse with the boys, I think it would be better for
+both you and them." This advice was very good, but it is to be feared
+that the farmer profited but little by it. Through fear of her stern
+husband Mrs. Judson finally ceased to mention attending church; but
+often on a Sunday afternoon, when he was either asleep or walking over
+his farm, she would seat herself in a quiet corner of the large
+kitchen and read her Bible, and perhaps sing a hymn to some of the
+old-fashioned plaintive airs, which formed a large portion of the Church
+Music in her youthful days. I remember when I lived at the Farmer's, I
+used often to think it no wonder that Mrs. Judson almost always sung her
+Sunday hymn to the air of "Complaint," and read more frequently in the
+book of Job and the Lamentations of Jeremiah than any other portion of
+the Bible. The poor lonely woman seemed to feel a mother's tenderness
+for me, which manifested itself in many little acts of kindness, when
+unobserved by her husband, who took good care that no undue indulgence
+should be shown to any one under his roof. I soon learned to regard the
+old lady with all the affection of which I was capable; and it was her
+kindness alone which rendered my position endurable. I sought in many
+ways to lighten her labors, for, even in the busiest seasons, no help
+was allowed her to perform all the household work; and I soon found many
+ways of making myself useful.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV.
+
+
+One rainy afternoon, while busied about the house, Mrs. Judson surprised
+me by saying suddenly: "I suppose you don't know what makes me take so
+to you, Walter; but I'll tell you, you remind me of my youngest boy,
+Reuben." I looked at the old lady with wonder, saying, "I did not know
+you had any children, Mrs. Judson." "True" said she, "I forgot you did
+not know; but no further than your mother lives from here she must
+remember that I once had two boys who were very dear to me, but perhaps
+she never told you about it. It ill becomes me to speak of _his_ faults,
+but I must say my poor boys had a hard life of it with their father. He
+had no patience with them when mere children, and matters grew worse as
+they became older. Do what they would, they could never please him, and
+he often beat them cruelly. But one way and another they got along till
+Charley was sixteen and Reuben fourteen years of age. Their father one
+day left them ploughing in the field while he went to the village; the
+ground was rough and stoney, and by some accident the ploughshare was
+broken. When their father came home and found what had happened, he
+seized the horse-whip and gave both the boys a terrible flogging.
+Neither of the boys had ever before given their father a word; but, when
+he stopped beating them, Charley stood up and said: 'You have beaten us,
+father, a great many times and for very little cause; but this is the
+last time.' That was all he said. His father told him to shut up his
+mouth and go about his work. After dinner he went back to the village,
+and some business detained him till late in the evening. I remember as
+if it were but yesterday how my two boys looked that night when they
+came home to supper. After supper they rose from the table, and Charley
+said: 'Mother, we are very sorry to leave you, but we must go. I don't
+know what we have done that father should treat us so; he seems almost
+to hate the sight of us, and it is better that we should go before his
+harshness provokes us to some act of rebellion. I am older than Reuben,
+and will do my best to care for him, and we will never forget you,
+mother; but I believe it to be for the best that we should leave home.'
+I had long feared this; and I begged of them to stay and try and bear
+it, at any rate till they should be older; but talking was of no use,
+the boys had made up their minds, and go they would. They each took a
+change of clothing in a small bundle, and prepared to leave the home
+which had sheltered them from their infancy. When I saw they _would_ go,
+I divided the little money I had of my own between them that they might
+not go forth into the world entirely destitute. I could not really blame
+the boys, for their father's harsh words, day by day, was like the
+continual dropping which wears the stone, and the poor boys were fairly
+tired and worn out with being continually censured and blamed. With a
+heart heavy with a sorrow which only a mother can know, I walked with
+the boys to the turn of the road where they were to wait for the stage.
+I felt sorrowful enough but I kept back my tears till the hour sounded
+which announced the arrival of the stage. They both shook hands with me
+and kissed me, and poor Reuben, the youngest, cried as if his heart
+would break.
+
+"The sight of my youngest boy's tears affected me beyond the power of
+control, and the tears were very bitter which we all shed together, but
+the stage was fast approaching, and we must control our grief, 'Good
+bye, mother,' said the boys at last as they left me to take their places
+in the stage coach, 'Don't fret about us; we will try to do right and
+remember all you have said to us, and let us hope there are happier days
+to come, for us all.'
+
+"These were their last words to me, and they were swiftly borne from my
+sight by the fleet horses of the stage-coach. This was five years ago
+last October." "But did they never come back," said I, looking in the
+old woman's face with a feeling of deep pity. "Bless you child, no,"
+said she, "their father won't allow even their names to be spoken
+in his hearing. When the boys left home, they went to the State of
+Massachusetts, where they both learned a trade, and are doing well; they
+often write to me and send me money to buy any little thing I may want.
+About two years ago in one of their letters they asked me to talk to
+their father, and try to persuade him to forgive them; they also wished
+to gain his consent that they might return home for a visit, 'for,' said
+they, 'since we have grown up to manhood it has caused us much sorrow
+that we must live estranged from our father. Mother, we have long since
+cast aside the boyish resentment we may once have cherished, and would
+be glad to return and inform our father by word that we still feel for
+him the affection due from children to parents; we would gladly forget
+the past and be at peace for the future.' I feared to speak of this
+letter to my husband, but the strong desire to see my dear boys again
+gave me courage, and one day when he seemed in a better humour than
+usual I mustered up courage, and told him what the boys had written,
+but my sakes' alive, Walter, if you'd a seen the storm it raised in our
+house; it fairly took my breath away, and I didn't know for a while,
+Walter, if my head was off or on; you may think you have seen Mr. Judson
+angry, but you never saw him any thing like what he was that day. I must
+not repeat all he said, to you, but he concluded by saying: 'The boys
+went away without my consent; you connived to get them off, and if ever
+you mention their names to me again you'll wish you hadn't, that's all;'
+and from that day to this their names have never been mentioned between
+us. They still write often to me and some day I'll show you their
+letters. I suppose it was wrong for me to speak so freely to you (who
+are only a little boy) of my husband's failings, but somehow I couldn't
+help it, and it does me good to talk about my boys. I don't know as Mr.
+Judson can help his harsh, stern way, for it seems to come natural to
+him; but I can't help thinking he might govern his temper, if he would
+only try; as it is I try to do my duty by him, and make the best of what
+I cannot help; and every day for years I have prayed that a better mind
+may be given him by Him who governs all things, and that is all I can
+do."
+
+After the above conversation, I more then ever regarded the old lady
+with pity, and sought by every means to lighten her cheerless lot. But
+the kindness which his wife evinced toward me only served to render Mr.
+Judson more harsh and unfeeling in his treatment. I remember one day
+hearing him say to his wife in a tone of much displeasure, "You spoiled
+your own boys, and set them agin me, and now you are beginning to fuss
+over this lazy chap in the same way; but I'll let you know who's master
+_here_." Hard as was my lot at this time, my anxiety to lighten the
+cares of my mother caused me to bear it with a degree of patience which
+I have often since wondered at. I was fearful if I left this place I
+could not readily obtain another, and I toiled on, never informing my
+mother of the trials to which I was daily subjected. For a whole year I
+endured the caprice and severity of Farmer Judson. I had long felt that
+I could not much longer endure a life, which (to me) had become almost
+intolerable; and on the day of the incident noticed in the opening
+chapter of my story, my naturally high temper rose above control, and
+I left Farmer Judson's and returned to my home.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V.
+
+
+When I thus returned unexpectedly to my home my mother was at once
+aware, from my downcast appearance, that something was wrong, and when
+she questioned me I related the difficulty with Mr. Judson exactly as it
+took place. My mother listened attentively till I had finished, and then
+only said, "you are too much excited to talk of the matter at present;
+after a night's rest you will be better able to talk with more calmness,
+so we will defer any further conversation upon the subject until
+to-morrow morning."
+
+It was a mild evening in June, and slipping out of the house, I went to
+my favorite tree in the yard, and, as I lay at full length beneath its
+wide-spreading boughs, which were bright with the rays of the full round
+moon, my mind was busy with many anxious thoughts. My anger had by this
+time cooled down, and when left thus alone I began to question if I had
+acted right in returning to my home; hard as Mr. Judson was to please,
+he always paid me my wages punctually, and I feared I had done wrong in
+thus depriving my kind mother of the assistance which my earnings (small
+as they were) afforded her. But when I called to mind the Farmer's harsh
+and unkind treatment, I felt that to remain longer with him was out of
+the question; for during the whole year I remained with him, I could not
+remember one word of encouragement or kindness, and, to a boy of
+thirteen, a kind and encouraging word is worth much. Surely thought I,
+every one is not like Farmer Judson, and can I not find some place
+where, if I do my best to please, I shall not be continually scolded and
+blamed; and, after retiring to rest, I lay awake, revolving all these
+thing's in my boyish mind till I mentally decided that, come what would,
+I _could not_ return to the Farmer. It was far into the hours of night
+before I slept, and then my sleep was harassed by frightful dreams, in
+all of which Farmer Judson acted a prominent part. From my earliest
+recollection, the counsels and pious example of my mother had exercised
+a powerful influence upon my mind and character. She was naturally
+cheerful and hopeful, and her heart had long been under the influence of
+a deep and devoted piety, which exhibited itself in her every-day life.
+She never allowed herself to be too much cast down by the petty
+annoyances of life. I am an old man now, and the silver threads are
+beginning to mingle in my hair, but I can yet see my mother as I saw her
+the next morning when I went down stairs, and in a pleasant cheerful
+voice she enquired if I had slept well. I gave an evasive reply, for I
+did not like to tell her what a restless, miserable night I had passed.
+When the breakfast things were cleared away, my mother seated herself by
+my side, and said: "Upon reflection, my son, I have decided that you had
+best not return to Mr. Judson." These were joyful words to me, for I had
+feared my mother would decide otherwise, and I had never disobeyed her,
+but it would have been hard, _very_ hard for me to obey had she wished
+me to return to my employer. Little Flora was, if possible, more pleased
+than myself at the decision; with a low cry of joy, she threw her arms
+around my neck, saying "Oh! Walter, I am _so_ glad that Mamma will not
+send you back to that old man." Poor child, she had never before been
+separated from her brother, and she had sadly missed her playmate during
+the past year. "Although," continued my mother "you may not have been
+free from blame, I think Mr. Judson acted very wrong. If, as I trust, is
+the case, you have told me the truth, I consider you blameable in two
+points only, first, in neglecting your work in the absence of your
+employer, and, secondly, in allowing yourself to use disrespectful
+language to him." While my mother was yet speaking, the door opened and
+Farmer Judson entered the room, without the ceremony of knocking, and
+began talking (as was his custom when angry) in a very loud and stormy
+voice, "Pray be seated, Mr. Judson," said my mother, "and when you
+become a little more composed I shall be pleased to listen to anything
+you may wish to say." He did not take the proffered seat, but muttered
+something about "people putting on airs," and turning sharply upon me,
+he said, "I hain't got no more time to waste talkin, so get your hat and
+come back to your work and no more about it." I did not move, but waited
+for my mother to speak,--with a voice of much composure, she replied to
+him, saying: "I have decided, Mr. Judson, that Walter had best not
+return to you. Till last evening I have never from him heard the first
+word of complaint;" in a straight forward manner she then repeated what
+I had said upon my return home. "My son informs me," added my mother,
+"that in more than one instance he has endured blows from you, and for
+very little cause; had I before been aware of this he should have left
+you at once; for my boy is not a slave to be driven with the lash. I
+have no doubt that his conduct may in many instances have been
+blameable. I am sorry that he allowed himself at the last to speak
+disrespectfully to you, but you must be aware that his provocation
+was great, and we must not look for perfection in a boy of thirteen.
+Considering all things, I think he had best remain no longer in your
+employ; for to subject him longer to a temper so capricious as yours,
+would be, I fear, to injure his disposition."
+
+Mr. Judson was unable to gainsay one word my mother had said, and to
+conceal his mortification got into a towering passion, and used some
+very severe language which deeply wounded my mother's feelings. As he
+strode angrily from the room he said, "You need not expect anything else
+but to come to beggary if you keep a great fellow like that lazin' round
+in idleness, and I, for one, shall not pity you, depend on't." With
+these words he left the house, closing the door after him with a loud
+bang. It was indeed a welcome relief when he left us alone. My little
+sister had crept close to me the moment the angry Farmer entered the
+room, where she remained: trembling with fear till he was fairly out of
+hearing, when she exclaimed, "I hope that ugly old man will never come
+here again. Wasn't you afraid, Mamma?"
+
+"No, dear," replied my mother, with a smile; "and let us hope if ever he
+does visit us again he will be in a better temper."
+
+I wished at once to set about looking for another situation; but my
+mother advised me to remain at home and rest for a time. Little Flora
+was delighted when she found that I was to remain at home, for a time
+at least.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI.
+
+
+Not far from our humble dwelling stood the residence of Dr. Gray, the
+village physician. His only child was a son of nearly the same age as
+myself, and we had been firm friends from the days of early childhood.
+When of sufficient age we were sent to the same school, where we
+occupied the same desk, and often conned our daily lessons from the same
+book. The uncommon friendship existing between us had often been
+remarked by the villagers. This intimacy was somewhat singular, as
+our natures were very dissimilar, it may be this very dissimilarity
+attracted us the more strongly to each other. From infancy the
+disposition of Charley Gray was marked by peculiarities which will
+appear in the course of my story. When at school he made but few friends
+among his companions; and the few friendships he did form were marred by
+his exclusive and jealous nature. He possessed very strong feelings, and
+for a chosen friend his affection was deep and abiding. My own nature
+was exactly the opposite. I was frank and joyous, and inclined to make
+friends with all. For all that Charley and I were so intimate, even as
+boys, his peculiar temperament was often a source of unhappiness to
+both. Charley was the child of wealthy parents, while I, being poor, was
+often obliged to attend school dressed in clothing which looked almost
+shabby beside my well-dressed companions, but with all this I was ever
+Charley Gray's chosen companion, in fact he seemed to care little for
+any other companionship, and his parents, who had known both my father
+and mother long and intimately, were much pleased with his preference
+for my society, and took much pains to encourage the friendship existing
+between us. Charley was as much delighted as my sister when I returned
+home; he had two or three times ventured to visit me at Mr. Judson's,
+but his visits always made the Farmer angry, and he chanced one day to
+come into the field when we were unusually busy, and, as a matter of
+course the Farmer was cross in proportion, and he finally ordered
+Charley to "clear out," "its bad enough," said he "to get along with one
+boy, but two is out of the question, and the sooner you make tracks for
+home the better." Charley was thoroughly frightened, and he followed the
+Farmer's advice at once by "making tracks" out of the field, and he
+never attempted to repeat his visit. I returned home in the month of
+June. Dr. Gray intended sending Charley to a distant school, the coming
+autumn; and we both keenly felt the coming separation. He was to be
+absent a year before visiting his home, and that time seemed an age
+to our boyish minds. The long midsummer vacation soon arrived, and now,
+memory often turns fondly to that happy period. My companion and I
+certainly made the most of the time allowed before the coming separation.
+
+Together we visited all our favorite haunts, we angled for fish, we
+roamed over the fields and through the woods in the vicinity of Elmwood,
+and no day seemed long enough for our varied amusements. I often wished
+to invite other of our companions to join our sports, but somehow or
+other, if this was the case, Charley's enjoyment at once fled. When (as
+was often the case) I would mention some of our schoolmates, with a
+view to inviting them to accompany us on some excursion of pleasure, a
+cloud would instantly come over Charley's countenance, and he would say
+in a petulant tone: "What do you want with them, we can surely enjoy
+ourselves without their company," and this reply would at once remind me
+of his exclusive and peculiar temperament, (which for the moment I had
+forgotten) and to please him I would say no more about it. But for this
+one fault of my companion's, and a fault it certainly was, I believe had
+I had a brother, I could have loved him no better than I loved Charley
+Gray. Previous to my mother's marriage her home had been in Western
+Canada; her father died while she was quite a young girl, but her
+mother, now far advanced in years, still lived in the old home, some
+fifty miles from the city of Hamilton. The affairs of the farm and
+household were managed by a son and daughter who had never married, and
+still resided in their paternal home. My mother was the youngest in the
+family, and had been the pet of the household during her childhood and
+early youth; she was many years younger than either her brother or
+sister, and they had exercised a watchful and loving care over their pet
+sister till the period of her marriage and removal to Eastern Canada.
+Her brother and sister seldom left their own home, owing to their care
+of their aged mother, and for some years past my mother's circumstances
+had not allowed her to visit her early home; and, amid the cares of
+life, letters passed less and less frequently between them, till they
+came to be like "Angels' visits," few and far between. My mother was
+equally pleased and surprised, a few weeks after I returned home, by
+receiving a kind letter from her brother Nathan. Like all his letters
+it contained but few words, but they were dictated by a kind heart. The
+most important words (to me) which the letter contained were these:
+"Your boy Walter needs more schooling before he goes out into the world,
+send him to me and he shall have it. If his disposition is anything like
+his mother's at his age I know we shall get along famously together. I
+will board and clothe him for two years; he shall attend the best
+schools in the place, I promise nothing further, only then, when the boy
+leaves me, he shall have all he deserves, if it should be only a cuff on
+the ear. In case you should find any difficulty in defraying his
+expenses, I enclose money sufficient for that purpose. I know not the
+reason, but I feel a strong desire to see your boy, and find out what he
+is made of."
+
+My mother was alone when she received this letter; she read it again and
+again, and with each perusal her heart warmed toward the brother whom
+she had not seen for so many years. "But," thought she, "whatever my own
+wishes may be in the matter, Walter must decide for himself. I should
+consult his feelings (as far as possible) upon a matter which concerns
+him so deeply." When I came home that evening my mother gave me Uncle
+Nathan's letter, and with silent amusement watched my face grow sober
+as I read it. She really knew this kind-hearted brother--I did not,
+and that made all the difference in the world. I suppose my grave
+countenance, as I perused the letter, informed my mother that a second
+Farmer Judson was rising before my mental vision. When I had finished,
+I looked up, and, with an anxious voice, said:
+
+"Tell me, mother, is Uncle Nathan as gruff and crusty as his letter?"
+
+"My son," replied she, "your uncle's manner may seem somewhat short and
+crusty to one not acquainted with him; but beneath this rough exterior,
+he has a very kind heart. I am well aware that he makes this offer with
+sincerity, and that he has your interest at heart. You certainly need
+more education to fit you for the duties of life, and now a way is open
+for you to obtain it. I can hardly bear the thought of your going so far
+from home, and yet I need not expect you always to remain under my own
+roof. It is my duty to submit to a temporary separation, if that
+separation is for your own interest. I will not advise you too strongly,
+for I consider you have a right to a voice in the matter as well as
+myself. Should you decide to go, where my advice and influence cannot
+reach you, I trust you will retain the good principles I have
+endeavoured to inculcate; you are my only son and should you allow
+yourself to be led into evil ways, it would be the heaviest trial I have
+ever known, and my sorrows have been neither few nor light." I had such
+full confidence in the opinions of my mother, that I allowed her to
+write to uncle Nathan accepting, for me, his generous offer. Charley
+Gray was entirely cast down when he learned that I was to go so far
+away. "It's too bad," said he, "that they must send you away to an old
+Uncle, who very likely is cross as a bear, and that before the holidays
+are over; and then in the fall I'm to be sent off to school, nobody
+knows where, so I suppose we may as well call our good times ended." As
+Charley said this his lip quivered and the un-shed tear glistened in his
+fine dark eyes. I was the only companion with whom he was intimate, and
+the swiftly coming separation grieved him deeply. I tried to cheer him
+up, but when any thing chanced to cross the wishes of Charley he was
+prone to look upon the dark side of every thing, and I fear there are
+many older and wiser than Charley Gray who yield to the same failing.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII.
+
+
+After I had consented to go to Uncle Nathan, and a letter had been
+written informing him of my decision, I began to feel many misgivings.
+From the style of his letter I got the idea that I should find him like
+Farmer Judson; and the very thought caused me to shudder with a vague
+feeling of terror. My mother told me again and again how kind my
+relative would be to me, and I tried hard to believe her; but with all
+this my mind was haunted with many fears regarding the future. My mother
+strove to send me from home well supplied with clothing, that I might
+prove no immediate expense to my uncle, and the little money she had
+laid by, with which to replenish her own and little Flora's wardrobe,
+was applied cheerfully to meet my more immediate wants. Young as I was
+this circumstance fretted and annoyed me. I remember saying one day to
+my mother, in a vexed impatient tone, "it seems too bad that we should
+be so poor. Some of my companions who have rich parents, spend more
+money every year upon toys and candy than would buy me a whole new suit
+of clothes, and now to obtain a few new articles of clothing for me you
+and my little sister must do without what you really need; if the
+dispensing of money were left in my hands, I would make every one rich
+alike, and then no one should be ashamed of their poverty as I have
+often been, when among the rich boys of the village." "Be ashamed of
+nothing but doing wrong," replied my mother, "and you had best leave the
+dispensation of wealth or poverty to the One whose right it is, for, be
+assured, He knows best what is for our good; I had much rather see you
+grow up a good man than a rich one. If your life is spared, and you
+prove to be a useful and honorable man, people will never inquire
+whether your boyhood was passed amid wealth or poverty." I was then in
+too discontented a mood to profit by my mother's words, but many times
+in after years were they recalled forcibly to my mind. Time passed on
+till the last night arrived, which I was to spend at home for an
+indefinite period. Charley Gray obtained permission to spend this last
+night with me, and we lay awake for hours talking over our numerous
+plans for the future in true school-boy fashion. Many an air-castle did
+we rear that night which the lapse of years have laid in the dust. In
+our boyish plans of future greatness, I was not exactly sure what I was
+to be, only I was to be a wonderfully great man of some kind, while
+Charley was, of course, to become a very eminent physician, such as
+should not be found upon any past record; and we talked, too, of the
+wonder we should excite among our old friends when we might chance to
+revisit the scenes of our early home. We even spoke of driving past the
+farm of Mr. Judson in a fine carriage drawn by a pair of beautiful bay
+horses; but with all our lively talk poor Charley was sadly out of
+spirits. His old bosom foe was at work; he feared that among new
+companions I might meet with some one who would supplant him in my
+affections. To one of my nature, this jealous exclusive disposition was
+something incomprehensible; later in life I learned to pity him for a
+defect of character, which in his case was hereditary, and which he
+could no more help than the drawing of his life-breath. I was to leave
+Elmwood by the early morning train so we were up betimes; but, early as
+it was, we found my mother already up and breakfast awaiting us. The
+railway station was a little beyond the village, and more than a mile
+from our dwelling. Dr. Gray sent over the horse and carriage very early,
+and Charley, with my mother and Flora, was to accompany me to the
+depot. The morning air was fresh and invigorating, and under other
+circumstances we should highly have enjoyed the drive, as it was that
+morning, we were rather a sad and silent party. When we arrived at the
+station I moved rapidly about and looked after my luggage with far more
+care than was necessary, in order to conceal the sorrow I felt at
+leaving home; and I was heartily glad to hear the whistle which
+announced the approaching train, that the parting might be the sooner
+over. During the few moments we stood upon the platform awaiting the
+arrival of the train Charley stood by with the most solemn face
+imaginable. His countenance was always remarkably expressive of either
+joy or sorrow, and at this time his expression was certainly not one of
+joy. Many a time since, have I smiled as memory suddenly recalled the
+woe-begone face of Charley Gray, as I left him that morning. In order
+to make him laugh I enquired if he could not imagine the look of
+astonishment with which Farmer Judson would regard us when we should
+drive past his farm in our fine carriage, which (in imagination) we had
+possessed the night before. Any one acquainted with Mr. Judson could not
+have helped laughing at the idea; Charley did laugh but there were tears
+in his eyes. As the train rapidly neared the station he suddenly
+extended his hand to me for a last good-bye, and hurried swiftly from
+the spot, he could not bear to witness my parting with my mother and
+sister which was yet to come. My mother had borne up until now, but when
+the time came that I must indeed go, her tears could no longer be kept
+back. I kissed Flora good-bye, and last of all turned to my mother. She
+imprinted a parting kiss upon my brow, and as she held my hand with a
+long, lingering pressure, said in a choking voice, "Remember my
+counsels, respect yourself, and others will respect you, and may God
+bless and preserve you from evil!"
+
+I was deeply moved, but to spare my mother's feelings I kept back my
+tears. The conductor's loud voice was heard calling "All aboard." I
+hastily entered the car, and taking my seat, the tears I had so long
+repressed now flowed freely, till some of my fellow-passengers began to
+question me, when I became ashamed of my weakness. To the many pitying
+enquiries I replied that I was going a long distance from home and was
+grieved at parting with my friends.
+
+"Chare up, me man," said a good-natured Irishman who happened to be
+seated near me. "I was jist yer size (only that I was bigger) when I
+lift me father and mother in ould Ireland, an' come over to Ameriky."
+
+This remark drew a burst of laughter from several of the passengers,
+and, though the tears were not yet dry upon my cheek, I could not help
+joining in the laugh. The man was not in the least disturbed by the
+merriment of the others, but again turning to me continued:
+
+"As I was a tellin' ye, an older brother an' mesilf crossed the sea to
+Ameriky, an' the first year we arned money enough to fetch over the ould
+folks, and we are now livin' altogether agin, in the city uv Montreal,
+where we have a nate little home uv our own as your two eyes could
+light upon." The friendly talk of the Irishman both amused and cheered
+me. How true it is that kind and sympathizing words never fail to cheer
+the desponding heart.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII.
+
+
+We had written to Uncle Nathan, informing him of the day on which he
+might expect my arrival; and at the time appointed he drove over to
+Fulton, the small village two miles from his farm, where was the
+railway-station. As I stepped from the car I eagerly scanned each face
+among the crowd to see if I could find any one whose appearance answered
+to my ideas of Uncle Nathan, but for some time I could see no one whom I
+could suppose to be my unknown relative. I at length spied a middle-aged
+gentleman walking backward and forward in a leisurely manner, upon the
+platform, whom I thought might possibly be my uncle, and, as the crowd
+had mostly dispersed, I mustered up courage, and in a low voice accosted
+him with the question. "Please Sir are you my uncle Nathan?" "Your uncle
+who?" said the old man, as he elevated his eyebrows and regarded me with
+a broad stare of astonishment. "No I'm not your Uncle, nor nobody's else
+that I know of," said he, in a sharp crusty voice, then, giving a second
+look at my downcast face, he seemed suddenly to recollect himself, and
+said in a much softer tone: "If its Nathan Adams you mean he's just
+driven round to the other door. Be you a friend of his'n." "Yes Sir,"
+answered I, as I hurried away to the "other door" pointed out by the
+stranger. From the ideas I had formed of my uncle I was unprepared to
+meet the kind, hearty looking man whose sunburned face beamed with a
+smile of welcome, when his eye rested upon me, as I walked with a
+timid, hesitating manner toward him. He at once held out his hand,
+saying, "I don't need to ask if you are my nephew Walter, for if I'd
+a met you most anywhere I should have known you were Ellen Adams' son;
+just the same dark eyes and happy smile which made your mother such a
+beauty at your age, for your mother was handsome if she was my sister;
+but I suppose, like all the rest of us she's beginnin' to grow old and
+careworn by this time, 'tis the way of the world, you know, boy, we
+can't always keep young, do our best. Its amazin' how time does fly, it
+only seems like yesterday since your mother trudged to school over this
+very road, with her books and dinner-basket on her arm; and now here's
+you, her son, a great stout boy that will soon be as tall as your old
+Uncle Nathan. It really does beat all; but I forget that, while I am
+moralizin' like on the flight of time, you must be famishin' with
+hunger, to say nothin' of your bein' tired most to death with your long
+ride in the cars; give me a seat in my wagon behind old Dobbin, with a
+good whip in my hand, and those who like the cars better may have them
+for all me. Come right along with me, my boy, and point out your luggage
+and we'll be off to my farm in no time." Before I reached my new home I
+had quite got rid of my fears of finding a second Farmer Judson in the
+person of my Uncle Nathan. As we drove through the village of Fulton, my
+Uncle directed my attention to a large and tasteful building standing in
+an open green, on a slightly elevated portion of ground. I said the
+building stood in an open space, but omitted to mention the thick shade
+trees which stood in regular rows between the building, and the long
+street which ran the entire length of the village.
+
+"That," said my Uncle, with no little pride in his voice, "is Fulton
+Academy, where I mean to send you to school; and I hope when you leave
+it, you will be a wiser boy than you are now." The homeward drive after
+leaving the village lay past finely cultivated farms, with their waving
+fields of ripe grain and beautiful orchards loaded with ripe fruit,
+which delighted the eye of the passer-by; but the most important object
+(to me) was the Academy, where I hoped to acquire the knowledge
+necessary to fit me for the duties of life. During the year I lived with
+Mr. Judson I many a time thought how I should enjoy my books did my
+circumstances allow me to do so, and now all this was within my reach.
+As these thoughts passed rapidly through my mind, I looked up in the
+kind face of my relative and impelled by a sudden impulse, I seized his
+hand and, pressing it to my lips, said, "if I am a good boy and do my
+best to please, you will love me a little, won't you, Uncle Nathan?"
+"Bless your heart, child," replied my Uncle, "who on earth could help
+loving you? Yes, Walter, you may be sure I shall love the son of my
+favorite sister, Ellen; and, were it not so, I think I should soon love
+you for yourself alone, for, if I am any judge of faces, you are better
+than the general run of boys of your age."
+
+Can this, thought I, be the man who wrote that short, crusty letter. I
+must confess, that (at first sight) I was not favorably impressed by the
+external appearance of the home I was approaching. I had expected to see
+a handsome tasty building, painted white perhaps; with green blinds,
+like those we had passed on the way from the village; and when Uncle
+Nathan said "here we are, Walter, most at home," and I raised my eyes to
+gain a view of the homestead, the faded dingy appearance of the house
+and its surroundings struck me as unpleasant. It was a large
+old-fashioned square farm-house, which had once boasted a coat of red
+paint, but the winds and rains of many years had sadly marred its
+beauty, so much so that, but for the patches of dull red still visible
+beneath the eaves and round the windows, one would have been loth to
+believe the old house had all been of a deep red. The high road lay
+between the house and the long stretch of meadow-land which separated it
+from the river. The picket fence in front of the dwelling was in rather
+a dilapidated condition, and the gate, being minus a hinge, hung awry.
+Many tall sunflowers stood in the narrow strip of ground between the
+front fence and the house, and they were about all I could see in the
+way of ornament. But with this rather shabby look there was after all
+something inviting and attractive about the place, something that
+suggested the idea of quiet and repose and cozy comfort. Reader, have
+you never seen a home like Uncle Nathan's? I have seen many of them.
+Little did I then think how, in course of time, I should learn to love
+that old house and its inmates. A little before we reached home Uncle
+Nathan addressed me in a confidential voice, saying:
+
+"Aunt Lucinder (as every body calls her) is my sister, who keeps house
+for me. She's kinder partickler and fussy, and you must not mind if she
+does snap you up kinder short sometimes, 'tis her way you know; but
+never you fear, for with all her sharp speeches she has a kind heart,
+and her bark is a deal worse than her bite; and if you once gain her
+over for a friend, you'll have a firm one, depend upon that. Then
+there's mother, she lives with us, too, she's an old, old woman Walter,
+and we have all try to please her in everything, and of course you'll
+always be quiet and respectful-like to her. I have often before spoke
+of hiring a boy to do chores about the house, but Lucinder always said,
+'all boys were good for was to make a noise and litter up the house,'
+but I guess you'll get along famously with her; she's an old maid you
+know, that is she never was married, and folks say that old maids are
+always kinder cross and crusty." Seeing my sober face as we drew nigh
+the house my uncle laughed, as he said in an encouraging tone, "Don't
+you be a grain scared, Walter, neither of them old wimmen will hurt you.
+I shouldn't a said a word, only I thought if I gave you a hint of Aunt
+Lucinder's queer ways you'd know better how to get along with her." I
+had always thought all women like my own mild-speaking mother and kind
+old Mrs. Judson, but by this time I began to think Aunt Lucinda must
+differ very widely from them; and when I followed Uncle Nathan into the
+clean wide kitchen where a bountiful supper awaited our arrival, I felt
+somehow as though I was stepping upon dangerous ground, and I almost
+feared to set my foot down lest it might chance to be in the wrong
+place. Aunt Lucinda, however, gave me a much more kindly welcome than I
+had feared, which I regarded as a favourable omen. She also introduced
+me to the notice of my aged grandmother who was seated in her deep
+arm-chair in the corner. She has seen more than eighty years of life, but
+as she sits there, day by day, in her quiet decrepitude, she still
+pretends to a superintendence of the labors of Aunt Lucinda in a way
+that might sometimes provoke a smile. She seems not to realize that my
+uncle and aunt are themselves middle aged gray-haired people, and still
+calls them her boy and girl. When made aware who I was my grandmother
+seemed delighted to see me, and talked long and affectionately of my
+mother whom she had not seen for many years. Aunt Lucinda was busily
+employed at the ironing-board, but looked often to see that her mother's
+wants were all supplied; nothing could exceed the affection and care she
+seemed to bestow upon her aged parent, indulging every whim, so that the
+old lady hardly can realize that she is old and almost helpless. We were
+soon seated at the supper table, and they all must have had the idea
+that I had brought with me from Elmwood a most unheard-of appetite, if
+I could judge by the quantities of food they insisted upon piling on
+my plate. Aunt Lucinda treated me with a good degree of kindness, but
+evidently kept a sharp eye to all my movements, doubtless expecting that
+in a short time I would break out in some flagrant misdemeanor, when she
+would be called to open hostilities. Poor Aunt Lucinda, you had little
+to fear from the homesick boy who sat in the purple twilight, leaning
+his elbows upon the window-sill, thinking of his now far-distant mother
+and sister, and his loved companion, Charley Gray. As I sat there a line
+of light in the eastern sky gradually became brighter, till the full
+round moon rose to view, bathing the whole scene in a flood of silver
+light. Seated thus, gazing over the moonlit landscape I began (with a
+mind beyond my years) to look far away into the future, and I made many
+resolves for my course of action in time to come. I wished to assist my
+uncle in doing up the "chores" for the night, but he would not hear of
+it. "You'll get work enough here," said he, "but you shall rest after
+your journey and you shall not lift a hand to-night." When work was over
+and the house quiet, Aunt Lucinda placed the large family Bible upon
+the table, preparatory to their evening worship. "Now won't it be nice,
+Lucinda," said Uncle Nathan, "we've got some one in the house that has
+good eyes, to read the chapter for us every night, it bothers me to read
+by lamplight, and I have often heard you call a word wrong if the light
+was the least mite dim." "My sight isn't so bad as it might be," replied
+my aunt who evidently did not relish this hint that she was not as young
+as she had been, but she readily consented that for the future I should
+read the Chapter from the Bible each evening. After reading we all
+kneeled and Uncle Nathan offered a simple but heartfelt prayer, in which
+he failed not to remember the poor boy, who kneeled by his side, as well
+as his distant friends. After prayers I was shown at once to the room
+which was to be mine during my stay, and very different it was from the
+one I occupied at Farmer Judson's. It was an airy, cheerful, looking
+apartment, furnished plainly, but with everything necessary to my
+comfort. When left alone my first act was to remove from my trunk the
+small Bible which was my mother's parting gift, with the request that I
+would allow no day to pass without reading at least one Chapter, alone.
+And I have no doubt the obeying my mother's parting injunction, made the
+slumber all the sweeter, which weighed down my eyelids almost as soon as
+my head pressed my pillow.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IX.
+
+
+Before a week had passed away I made up my mind that I might have found
+a worse home than the old farm-house at Uncle Nathan's. Aunt Lucinda was
+not positively unkind to me, but I could not help a feeling of fear when
+in her presence, for she evidently regarded my every movement with a
+watchful eye, and looked upon my presence in the family as an infliction
+that must be borne; but with all this she was very careful for my
+comfort, and treated me in every respect as one of the family. Few
+would, at first sight, receive a favourable impression of my aunt.
+During the first few days of my residence in the family I used often to
+wonder to myself how two sisters could be so dissimilar in every way as
+were my mother and Aunt Lucinda. My mother's manner was very gentle, and
+her speech was mild and pleasant, while my Aunt had a sharp, quick
+manner of speech, and took the liberty upon all occasions of speaking
+her mind plainly. She was however a very clever house-keeper, always
+busy, and a large amount of work went every day through her hands. From
+the first moment I saw her I felt strongly attached to my venerable
+grandmother, who treated me with the greatest kindness and seemed never
+so happy as when, seated by her side, I read aloud to her from the large
+Bible which lay constantly within her reach. The personal appearance of
+Uncle Nathan was very pleasing; there was a mild good-humoured
+expression upon his countenance which at once told you he was not one
+at all inclined to fret or borrow trouble. This disposition to take the
+world easy often irritated my aunt, and she sometimes went so far as to
+say, "if she didn't stir up Nathan now and then, every thing would go to
+wreck and ruin about the place." Mindful of Uncle Nathan's advice I did
+my best to please my aunt, and endeavoured to win her affection by many
+little offices of kindness, as often as I had opportunity, but for some
+time my attempts to gain her goodwill produced but little effect. When
+I had been a few days an inmate with the family, I became an unwilling
+listener to a conversation which troubled me much at the time, although
+I have often since smiled at the recollection of it. I happened one day
+to be employed in the back kitchen, or what they termed the sink-room,
+and I soon became aware that I was the subject of conversation by the
+family in the room adjoining. "Now if that boy ain't the most splendid
+reader I ever did hear," said my kind old grandmother, "and I think,
+takin' all things into consideration it's a good thing Nathan sent for
+him; what do you say Lucinda?" "What I say is this," replied my aunt,
+"it don't do to judge folks, specially boys, by first appearances, and I
+shouldn't wonder a mite, for all his smooth ways and fine readin' if the
+fellow turns out a regular limb for mischief before he's been here a
+fortnight. I think Nathan Adams must have been out of his senses (if he
+ever had any to get out of) when he went and fetched a boy here to tear
+about and make a complete bedlam of the house. I had to work hard enough
+before, but with a boy of that age round the house to cut up capers and
+raise Cain generally, I don't know how we're to live at all." "Well,
+Lucinda," replied Grandma, "Nathan's been a good dutiful boy to me,"
+(Uncle Nathan was past forty) "and if he took a notion to bring Ellen's
+boy here, I don't see as you ought to say a word against it. What if
+you'd a married Joshua Blake as you expected to, and he'd a died and
+left you with a boy to bring up and school, I guess you'd a been glad if
+Nathan or somebody else had offered to take him off your hands for a
+while." This reply from her mother, at once silenced Aunt Lucinda, and
+there was no more said upon the subject.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER X.
+
+
+Weeks and days succeeded each other in rapid succession, till mellow
+autumn with its many glories was upon the earth. It had been a very busy
+season, and long since Uncle Nathan's capacious barns had been filled to
+overflowing with their treasures of fragrant hay and golden grain. The
+corn-house was filled with its yellow harvest, and the potatoes were
+heaped high in the cellar. Each different sort had its separate bin, and
+my memory is not sufficiently retentive to mention the numerous kinds of
+potatoes by their proper name which I that autumn assisted in stowing
+away in the old cellar; and potatoes were not the only good things to be
+found there when the harvest was completed. The apples were of almost as
+many different sorts as the potatoes, and their flavor was very tempting
+to the fruit-loving appetite, and their red cheeks were just discernible
+by the dim light, which came faintly through the narrow cellar-windows.
+Large quantities of almost every species of garden vegetable were stowed
+away, each in their respective place. The cattle and sheep had been
+driven from the far-off pastures to enjoy for a season the "fall-feed,"
+of the meadows. The bright-hued autumn leaves were cast to the ground by
+every breeze which floated by; the migratory birds were beginning their
+flight southward, while on every hand were visible indications of the
+approach of winter. I had done my best during the busy season to render
+myself useful, and by this time had become quite an important member of
+the household, so much so that I one day heard uncle Nathan wonder "how
+he ever got along without me." He had often hired boys before, but a
+hired boy who merely works for wages is often very different from one
+whose services are prompted by affection and gratitude. Aunt Lucinda
+still seemed rather to distrust me and, although she said nothing,
+I was too sharp-sighted to be ignorant of the scrutinizing watch she
+maintained over my conduct. I did not, as many boys of my age would have
+done, allow myself to cherish any resentment toward my aunt, on the
+contrary I did every thing in my power to gain her goodwill; I never
+allowed the water-pails to become empty; I split the kindlings for the
+morning fire; and, by the time I had been a few weeks in the family, my
+busy aunt found herself freed from many household tasks to which she had
+been accustomed for years, and, more than this, I invariably treated her
+with the utmost kindness and respect. It happened one evening that my
+aunt was suffering from one of the severe headaches to which she was
+often subject. After supper she was almost incapable of any exertion
+whatever. When it was nearly dark she suddenly remembered that the large
+weekly wash had not been brought in from the clothes' yard, and there
+was every appearance of approaching rain. "I don't know," said she in a
+desponding voice; "what will become of the clothes, but if they are all
+spoiled I can't bring them in, for my head aches as though it would
+split." It was with fear and trembling that I came forward, and offered
+to get the clothes-basket and bring in the clothes. She looked at me
+with astonishment, saying, "a pretty sight the clothes will be by the
+time you bring them in, and then the lines will be broken into fifty
+pieces; no, no, let them hang and take their chance in the rain; I can't
+any more than have to wash them all over again." "Please let me go,
+aunty," said I, "I will handle the clothes very carefully, and I
+certainly will not break the lines." Touched in spite of herself by my
+desire to assist her she gave me the basket, saying, "now do pray be
+careful and not destroy every thing you put your hands on," and again
+seated herself with a troubled countenance to await my return. She was
+often inclined to think that nothing could be done properly about the
+house which was not performed by her own hands. Her face did brighten a
+little when I appeared after a short time at the kitchen door, bearing
+the well-filled basket with its snow-white contents in a most wonderful
+state of preservation. It was not her habit to praise any one to their
+face, but, when I had left the room, she turned to Uncle Nathan and said
+"I do believe after all there is some good in that boy. I am afraid I
+have been a little too hard with him, but I've made up my mind if he
+behaves as well as he's done so far, that he shall have a friend in his
+Aunt Lucinda; he's the first boy that's ever been about the house that I
+could endure at all, and I do believe he means well, and does his best
+to please us, and that's more than can be said of most boys."
+
+The busy season was over at last, and the harvest all gathered in; on
+the following Monday I was to enter as a pupil at Fulton Academy. I had
+long anxiously looked forward to this day, and now that it was so near,
+I grew restless with expectation. I spent the Saturday afternoon roaming
+among the old woods which skirted the farm on one side, and seated by
+turns at the roots of some of the fine old trees, whose covering of
+many-hued leaves had long since fallen to the ground, my thoughts wove
+themselves into many bright forms, and many a purpose for good was
+matured in my mind. I dreamed of a time when, by the unaided exertions
+of manhood I would purchase ease and relaxation for my patient mother
+and loving sister, and next to those of my own household I breathed a
+wish for the happiness of the loved companion of my childhood Charley
+Gray.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XI.
+
+
+The important day arrived when I was to begin school-life at the Village
+Academy, the day I had so long looked forward to with pleasant
+anticipations. The teacher who had taught the Fulton Academy for several
+years was a gentleman of high culture, and of sound judgment. Teaching
+with him was a loved life-work. He had been left an orphan at an early
+age, and had, by his own exertions, obtained the education which enabled
+him to occupy a position of influence and respectability, consequently,
+he was all the better able to sympathize and assist studious pupils who
+laboured against many discouragements to obtain an education. Instead of
+regarding the pupils under his charge as only objects for correction and
+reproof, he treated them as reasonable beings, and laboured diligently
+to develop their better natures, as well as their intellectual powers.
+When I entered the school-room, and Mr. Oswald made some enquiries
+regarding my studies, and other matters, I looked in his clear honest,
+but withal searching eyes, and felt certain I had found a friend in my
+teacher. My ideas at the time, of my new home as well as my school, will
+I presume be best expressed by transcribing the copy of a letter,
+written to Charley Gray about this time. I lately found it among, some
+old papers. It reads thus:
+
+
+Fulton, Oct. 25th, 18--
+
+Dear Charley,
+
+As I cannot possibly see you, I will do the next best by writing to you
+in answer to your kind and very welcome letter, which came to hand two
+days since. I have so much to tell you that I hardly know where to
+begin; but if I intend to finish I must make a beginning in some way.
+I will first endeavour to tell you something about my home. You know I
+feared Uncle Nathan might be like Farmer Judson; but never were two more
+unlike; he never scolds or frets, and, although he is not a great
+talker, somehow or other when he does talk I always like to listen to
+what he says. I am sure you would like Uncle Nathan, and if you could
+pay a visit to his farm he would not drive you off as Mr. Judson did. My
+grandma and aunt live with my uncle. Grandma is a very old woman, but
+she looks happy and contented as she sits day after day in her large
+arm-chair, dividing her time between her knitting work and reading in
+the large-print Bible which always lies close to her hand; sometimes she
+says it tries her eyes to read, and then I wish you could see how pleased
+she seems when I offer to read to her.
+
+You remember the day Charley, when we were at school at dear old
+Elmwood, when we were out at recess and that poor old beggar-man who
+was nearly blind passed the play-ground, and dropped his cane into the
+ditch. Some of the thoughtless boys set up a laugh, but you left your
+play and ran and picked up the cane and placed it in his hand; and the
+old man patted your head and said "I know you will make a good man, my
+lad, if you live to grow up, for there is always good in the boy who
+pays respect to the aged and helpless." The master who saw it all from
+the open window did not forget to reprove the boys who laughed at the
+poor old man, while at the same time he warmly commended your kind act,
+"Take my word for it boys," said he "an act of kindness, or any mark of
+respect to the old and feeble, will always leave a feeling of happiness
+in your own hearts;" and I know now that our teacher told the truth.
+Sometimes grandmother calls me to read to her when I am busy with study
+or play, and at first I do not feel inclined to go, but I always do, and
+I feel more than paid when I finish reading and she says, "thank you,
+Walter, you are a good boy to remember poor old grandma and I hope if
+you live to be old, and your eyes grow dim like mine, some one will be
+as kind to you as you are to me." I don't know how it is, Charley, but
+some how I always feel happier after reading to grandma Adams. Aunt
+Lucinda is Uncle Nathan's sister, you know; she keeps house; she is a
+real go-a-head sort of woman, and a great worker; she is older than
+Uncle Nathan, but, between you and I, I don't think she cares to hear
+that spoken of, but it's no harm for me to tell you. She is so different
+in her ways from your mother and mine that at first I hardly knew what
+to make of her. She has a queer way of snapping people up short if she
+isn't just suited. For a long time I was afraid Aunt Lucinda would never
+like me, she seemed to have such a horror of boys--may be that's the
+reason she never got married. I have begun to think lately that I am
+gaining in her good opinion and I am very glad of it. After all she is
+kind-hearted, for all her queer ways; I could get along better if she
+wasn't so distressingly neat and particular about the house. I tell you
+if you lived with my Aunt, you'd have to remember always to wipe your
+feet on the door-mat before coming into the house; if you did happen to
+forget Aunt Lucinda would sharpen up your memory, depend upon it. When
+I first came here I really believe she thought I should burn either the
+house or barn, perhaps both, or commit some other enormity; but as no
+such occurrence has as yet taken place, she begins to think, I believe,
+that I am not so bad as I might be. In fact I heard her tell Uncle
+Nathan the other day, that she "would be real sorry if I was to go away,
+I was such a help about the house, and so careful to keep the chores all
+done up," that was a great deal for Aunt Lucinda to say in my favor; and
+I was so pleased when I heard her that I wished there was more chores to
+do than there are although I sometimes think there are quite enough
+already. But it is time I was telling you something about my school. I
+attend the Academy over at Fulton, the small village which is about two
+miles from Uncle Nathan's farm. The Academy is the only thing here which
+reminds me of Elmwood. It is a large building, two stories in height,
+painted white, and the grounds around it are thickly set with many
+different kinds of shade-trees. The upper story of the building is used
+as a Public Hall while the lower one is appropriated to the school.
+There is about an equal number of boys and girls attending this term.
+By-the-bye, Charley, when I first entered the school I was very much
+afraid that my own attainments would seem very little compared with
+those of my then unknown companions, but I have got rid of that fear
+now, I am in the class next the highest and am eagerly looking forward
+to the day, which I hope is not far distant, when I shall stand in the
+first ranks in Fulton Academy. There are two teachers. Mr. Oswald, the
+head master, and Mr. Lawrence, who is quite a young man, is the
+assistant teacher. This same assistant is very pompous in his manner,
+and when Mr. Oswald is not present, he is disposed to act something
+of the tyrant. He has red hair, which I believe is a matter of much
+annoyance to him, for he is uncommonly vain regarding his personal
+appearance. Knowing this, some of the boys delight in playing off jokes
+upon him. One day last week, Mr. Lawrence was leaning over a desk,
+working out a difficult example in Arithmetic, directly behind him was
+Ned Stanton, the most mirthful and fun-loving boy in the whole school.
+Ned took a match from his pocket and, first giving me a sly nudge to
+look, held it close to Mr. Lawrence's head, making believe to light it
+by his red curling locks. The act was so sudden and withal so comic that
+I burst out laughing before I thought where I was. Mr. Oswald raised his
+eyes just in time to see Ned holding the match, I expected the fellow
+was in for a punishment for sure; but will you believe me when I tell
+you that Mr. Oswald actually laughed himself. He tried hard to put on
+a stern look, and said "I think Edward you had best attend to your
+ciphering." The assistant was so busily occupied that he saw nor heard
+nothing of it all, till he raised his head, and seeing many of the
+scholars trying to conceal their laughter, and even observing an
+expression of quiet mirth on Mr. Oswald's face, he looked from one to
+another with such a ludicrous manner of enquiry and astonishment it made
+the matter still worse. But, whatever Mr. Lawrence may lack in any way,
+is more than made up to us in Mr. Oswald. He is past thirty years of
+age, he is married, and has a little boy and girl who attend school.
+The little boy is very nice, and if I wasn't afraid you would laugh at
+me I would say that I think Rose Oswald the handsomest girl I ever saw,
+and I have said it after all, laugh or no laugh. Mr. Oswald is very
+highly learned, but when we meet with him, somehow or other, the space
+between us and that tall, learned, and somewhat grave looking man, seems
+annihilated. I believe it is his kindness which does this. Like all
+schools there are both good and bad scholars here; some of them practice
+much deceit with the teachers, and will sometimes even conceal their
+books when in the class, and recite from them, to save study; I _never_
+do this, Charley, for I know it is wrong, and I know you wouldn't do it
+either. But the small space left warns me that I must bring my long
+letter to a close. Write soon, and tell me how you are getting along,
+and all about your school, and every thing else that you think may
+interest me. I have made some companions here but you needn't fear my
+forgetting you, for I have met with no one who, to me, can quite fill
+the place of Charley Gray. With much affection I remain,
+
+
+Your sincere Friend,
+
+WALTER HARLAND.
+
+P.S. Write soon, and don't forget to write a long letter.
+
+W.H.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XII.
+
+
+In uncle Nathan's household a "bee" for the paring of apples had been
+the annual custom from time immemorial; and in rural districts, the
+merry-makings of any kind are a very different affair from the social
+gatherings in a large city; in the country a social gathering has about
+it a genuine heartiness of enjoyment, unknown in the city drawing-rooms
+of wealth and fashion. In the country you come nearer to nature, as it
+were, untrammelled by the customs and usages of fashionable society.
+Uncle Nathan was just the one to get up a social gathering of this kind,
+and enjoy it too; if his hair was growing white, the flowers of social
+feeling still bloomed in his heart; and the yearly apple-paring bee was
+never omitted in the household. He used to say "the apple pies would not
+taste half so good in winter if the apples were not pared by the hands
+of the merry company who assembled upon the occasion."
+
+The sun rose bright and clear on the sixth of October; this was an
+important day at the old homestead, for on the next evening was to be
+held this annual social gathering. They did not often invite company,
+and, upon the rare occasions when they did so, Aunt Lucinda made
+extensive preparations for their entertainment. Some of her neighbours
+took the liberty of saying she did this partly to show off her
+unequalled cookery and housekeeping, but most likely these sayings were
+only maliciously called forth by her superior attainments in this way.
+Be this as it might, she was certainly very busy on this particular day.
+The capacious brick oven was heated no less than four times during the
+day, and the savory odor from the numerous dishes taken therefrom
+bespoke a plentiful repast for the apple-parers. I was kept from school
+that day to take part in the grand preparations going forward. Aunt made
+me quite happy that morning by saying "I was a right smart handy boy,
+and could help along amazingly" if I would stay from school. I would
+have done much more than this for the few words of commendation bestowed
+upon me by my aunt, who was usually so hard to please. Neat as was her
+daily household arrangements, on this day every corner of the old house
+passed under a most searching review; and dust before unnoticed was
+brought to light in a most alarming manner, and as my aunt passed
+through the house on her tour of investigation, the very walls, with
+their closets and three-cornered cupboards, seemed to shrink back with
+apprehension, not knowing where she might make the next discovery of
+hidden dust or litter. I was so much elated by her encouraging words in
+the morning that I set to work with a right good will; but before the
+preparations were all completed I found that an apple-paring bee at
+Uncle Nathan's was no trivial matter, and involved a large amount of
+labour. The brass knobs on all the doors, as well as the large brass
+andirons in the parlor, had to be polished till they shone like
+burnished gold and this with other countless tasks all fell on me; but
+the longest and most laborious day comes to a close, and so did this
+sixth of October, and tired enough were we all long before night came.
+Poor old grandma really entertained the idea that she was of much
+assistance, and remained up for an hour or so beyond her usual time of
+retiring, "to help things along," as she said. With all my aunts sharp,
+crusty ways, one could not but respect her, when they noticed with what
+forbearance she treated every whim and fancy of her aged mother, and
+upon this occasion when she advised the old lady to retire to rest, and
+she replied, "that she must sit up to hurry things along," she did not
+press the matter but allowed her to take her own way. The important
+evening arrived, and with it a merry company of both old and young who
+filled the large kitchen and dining-room to overflowing. All were in the
+best of spirits, and working and talking progressed about equally. Each
+one was furnished with a knife sharpened for the purpose, and a basket
+of apples allotted to every two or three. Without in the least
+interrupting the flow of laughter and lively conversation the baskets
+grew empty surprisingly fast, but were immediately replenished from the
+well-stored cellar, till some of the younger portion of the company with
+an eye to the supper, and fun in the prospective, began to wonder if the
+work would never be done. Aunt Lucinda, assisted by some of the company,
+was laying out the supper in the wide hall ready to be brought into the
+dining-room, directly work was over. Grandma had her arm-chair removed
+into the circle of the workers, and actually pared a dozen apples in the
+course of the evening.
+
+It pleased her to be there and enjoy the scene of innocent mirth,
+and that was enough. As for Uncle Nathan he was here and there and
+everywhere else, it seemed almost at one time, replenishing the baskets,
+sharpening the edge of a knife, and diffusing mirth and good humour
+through the whole company. Mr. Oswald, the teacher, was invited,
+bringing with him his wife and Rose. When I first mentioned giving the
+Oswalds an invitation Uncle Nathan advised me to give the Assistant one
+also; I was not too well pleased at this, for Mr. Lawrence was far from
+being a favorite with me, and, like most boys, I did not always pause to
+consider what was right; but Aunt Lucinda, who was anxious that every
+thing should be conducted after the most approved style, declared if
+the Oswalds were invited Mr. Lawrence should be favoured also with an
+invitation, saying, if any of the youths should make fun of his red
+hair, or cut up any capers with him she'd make them sorry for their fun.
+"I know," said Uncle Nathan, with a sly look, "what makes Lucinda kinda'
+stand up for Mr. Lawrence, and be so watchful over his red head; every
+one who knew Joshua Blake will remember that he had red hair. I thought
+Lucinda had forgotten the fellow by this time, but it seems I was
+mistaken after all." "Who was Joshua Blake?" I ventured to enquire. "If
+you don't be off to your work this minnit," said Aunt Lucinda, "I'll let
+you know who Joshua Blake was, in a way that you won't ask again, I'll
+be bound." I thought it unwise to push my inquiries further, in fact I
+was glad to beat a hasty retreat from the kitchen; years after I heard
+the story of Joshua Blake from Aunt Lucinda's own lips.
+
+While we have been indulging in this digression, work has progressed
+steadily at Uncle Nathan's, till the last basket of apples was pared,
+and deposited in the back-kitchen. Then the rooms were hastily cleared
+up and the long supper-table set out. I will not attempt a description
+of that supper, and will only say that it met all my ideas of nicety,
+added to profusion and plenty. The girls lent a willing hand in
+assisting to clear away the tables after the supper was over; and then
+the fun begun in right good earnest. Soon there was a call among the
+younger part of the company for "Blind Mans' Buff." Grandma, who from
+her quiet corner watched the scene of mirth with as much enjoyment
+as the youngest present, was disposed to dispute the name, saying that
+in her young days the game was known by the name of "Blind Harry," and
+when the point was finally settled the game began, and was for some time
+continued with unabated enjoyment. Aunt Lucinda even allowed herself to
+be blinded and a very efficient blind woman did she prove, as many of
+the youngsters could testify who endeavoured to escape from her vigorous
+grasp. When the company became tired of this lively, but somewhat
+laborious amusement it was quickly succeeded by others of an equally
+lively character, which was continued for some two or three hours, and
+it was not till the tall clock in the corner of the kitchen tolled the
+hour of one that a move was made for the company to break up; and after
+a somewhat lengthy search in the hall for countless shawls, veils,
+gloves, and wrappers, each one was at last fortunate enough to find up
+their own, and the merry company took their respective ways home beneath
+the silver light of the full moon; and, half an hour later, sleep had
+settled over the inmates of the old farm-house. Afterwards in giving a
+description of the apple-paring bee to my mother, I allowed that it
+surpassed in enjoyment any thing in which I had ever before participated.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIII.
+
+
+The winter glided quietly, and withal pleasantly, away at Uncle
+Nathan's. To me it was a very busy season, being anxious to render
+myself helpful to my kind relatives, who were doing so much for me. It
+was some time before I could entirely overcome the feeling of distrust
+and suspicion with which Aunt Lucinda was inclined to regard me; her
+daily care for my comfort, and many real acts of kindness drew my
+naturally affectionate heart toward her, and it grieved me much to fear
+that she felt for me no affection; but Aunt Lucinda was not at all
+demonstrative, and seldom gave expression to her real feelings, besides
+this she had told Uncle Nathan at the first, she was sure I would
+turn out a bad boy, and, like all positive people, she disliked to
+acknowledge herself in the wrong. The reader is not to suppose that I
+consider myself as having been any thing like perfect at the time of
+which I am speaking; on the contrary, I had my full share of the failing
+and short-comings common to my age, and often my own temper would rise
+when Aunt Lucinda found fault with me, or in some other way manifested
+a feeling of dislike, and the bitter retort would rise to my lips; but
+I believe I can say with truth that I never gave utterance to a
+disrespectful word. My mother's counsel to me before leaving home,
+recurring to my mind, often prevented the impatient and irritable
+thought from finding expression in words; and before the winter was
+over, I found, what every one has found who tried the experiment, that
+there is scarcely a nature so cold and unfeeling as to withstand the
+charm of continued kindness. The last remaining feeling of animosity on
+the part of my aunt died out when my mother sent me a letter containing
+a small sum of pocket-money, and, without saying a word of my intention
+to any one, I expended this money in the purchase of a brooch, as a
+present to my aunt. The article was neither large nor showy, but was
+uncommonly neat and tasteful. It was an emerald in a setting of fine
+gold, and of considerable value; in fact, to buy it I was obliged to
+empty my purse of the last cent it contained. When, with a diffident
+manner, I presented the gift, asking my aunt to accept it for a
+keepsake, as well as a token of my gratitude for her kindness, a truly
+happy expression came over her usually rather stern countenance. "It was
+not," she said, "the value of the gift alone which pleased her, but it
+made her happy to know that I had sacrificed so much to make her a
+present; but" said she "I'll take good care that you will be no loser
+by remembering your Aunt Lucinda."
+
+I felt more than paid for the sacrifice I had made to give pleasure to
+another; I was trying to learn the useful lesson of setting aside self
+that I might add to the happiness of others, especially of the kind
+friend, beneath whose roof I dwelt. It was my invariable custom on my
+way to school to call each morning for Willie and Rose Oswald. We became
+great friends, and many evenings did I carry over my books, that we
+might together study the lesson for the morning's recitation; and when
+(as was often the case) Uncle Nathan rallied me upon the subject, I
+replied, with much dignity, (as I thought) that I preferred studying
+with Willie and Rose, on account of Mr. Oswald being at hand to assist
+us. "It's all right, Walter" he would reply, "you and little Rose will
+make a handsome couple ten years from now, and I only hope I may live
+to see the day, for it won't do to have too many old bachelors in the
+family", and, with a roguish look at Aunt Lucinda, "to say nothing of old
+maids." My Aunt would snappishly tell him to "let the boy alone, and not
+be always teasing him," adding that at his time of life it ill became
+him to talk such nonsense; and, if Uncle Nathan wished to make her
+particularly angry he would reply, "if I am old, you are certainly two
+years older," and my aunt, who made it a point always to have the last
+word would say, as a closing argument, she hoped her years had taught
+her a little wisdom at any rate, but as for him he seemed to grow more
+foolish and light-minded with each year that was added to his age. I
+presume if any one else had dared to make this remark of Uncle Nathan
+they would have learned that he had an able defender in the person of
+his sister.
+
+The winter passed away, till March came in with its piercing winds; and
+to me, if it had been a busy winter, it had also been a very happy one.
+With my studies, and companions at my labours at home, time passed
+swiftly, and I received frequent letters from my mother and sister, and
+also from Charley Gray. But this pleasant state of things was destined
+to continue but a short time, a dark cloud was even then hovering over
+me, which was soon to burst in terror over my head. Before the winter
+was over many of the boys at school began among themselves to accuse our
+teacher of an unjust partiality toward me, whether with or without cause
+I am unable to say. Mr. Oswald was a very estimable man, but he had very
+strong feelings, and was inclined to form his opinion of one at first
+sight; if that opinion chanced to be favourable, you were all right; if
+the reverse, he sometimes failed to give one credit for whatever of good
+there might be in them. I charge it to no superior merit in myself, but
+I believe from the very first I was a favourite with our teacher. I
+studied hard, and endeavoured to give no trouble by misconduct, though
+I doubtless had my faults as well as others. It may be that Mr. Oswald
+sometimes allowed his feelings to exhibit themselves more than was
+exactly wise. I have often heard him say that strong likes and equally
+strong dislikes were natural defects in his own character, against which
+he was obliged to exercise a continual watchfulness.
+
+The idea once formed, that Mr. Oswald favoured me above others, gained
+ground amazingly fast. Each boy was on the watch, and the smallest
+action was noticed and repeated from one to another in an exaggerated
+form, till I became an object of bitter dislike to more than half the
+school. Many underhand attempts were made by some of my companions to
+hurt me in the good opinion of my teacher; but he possessed too much
+penetration and discernment to be easily misled, and for some time all
+attempts to injure me came back on themselves; but the feeling of enmity
+among the boys gained strength with each passing day. One day, about
+the middle of the forenoon, a gentleman who was owing Mr. Oswald money,
+called and gave him a ten-dollar bill. Mr. Oswald stepped to the door,
+where he received the money, and when he returned to the school-room,
+being busily engaged with a class, instead of placing the bill in his
+pocket-book lifted the cover of his desk and deposited it there;
+thinking to remove it before leaving the room, at noon. He forgot to do
+so, and went home to dinner leaving the money in his desk, without even
+locking it. The circumstance recurred to his mind soon after the school
+was called to order in the afternoon; and, going at once to his desk,
+could hardly credit his own eyesight when he perceived that the bill was
+gone; he examined all the papers in the desk, as well as every crevice
+and corner, but no bill could be found; and he became convinced that it
+was indeed gone, and he was equally certain that it had not been removed
+without hands. It was a most surprising circumstance, he had taught in
+that Academy five years, and this was the first instance of dishonesty
+among his pupils. Some boys, it was true, had given him trouble in
+various ways, but never any thing of this kind. He remained in deep
+thought for a few moments, but all this did not bring back the missing
+bill; and he decided that his duty was, if possible, to find out who had
+stolen the money, for stolen it had been beyond a doubt. He was sure if
+any boy had been tempted to purloin the money after returning to the
+school-room at the noon hour, he must have it about him still, having
+had no opportunity of disposing of it; he knew it must have been taken
+after the return of some of the boys for he was the last one himself who
+left the room at noon; and he therefore determined to take prompt
+measures to find out who was the guilty one. He had no suspicion of any
+one, for there was not a pupil in the school who for a moment he would
+have believed capable of such an act. He ordered perfect silence in the
+room and in as few words as possible explained what had happened;
+desiring if any one present possessed the least knowledge of the matter
+they would at once make it known to him; saying at the same time, if any
+boy had been tempted to take the money, if he would then come forward,
+and own the theft, and give up the bill, he would forgive him and the
+matter should go no further. Mr. Oswald granted us fifteen minutes, in
+which to reveal any thing we might know concerning the affair. A pin
+might have been heard to fall in the room during those fifteen minutes,
+and seeing that nothing was to be learned in that way Mr. Oswald rose
+and stepping from his desk said, "a duty is before me and it must be
+performed, no matter how unpleasant it may be, but this matter must not
+rest as it is. If you are all innocent you need not fear, but I shall
+certainly take the liberty of searching the pockets of every boy in this
+room, for, if any boy took that money, he has it now." Assisted by Mr.
+Lawrence he proceeded to search the pockets of each boy, keeping a sharp
+watch that no one had a chance to make way with the money if he had it
+in his possession. The boys were very willing their pockets should be
+searched, and none more so than I, who was anxious that even a shadow of
+suspicion should be removed from me.
+
+It happened to be Mr. Oswald himself who examined my pockets, and,
+uttering an exclamation of surprise, almost of horror, he turned deadly
+pale, for with his own hand he drew from my vest pocket the missing
+bill. Had a bomb-shell burst in the school room the shock would not
+have been more unexpected than was occasioned by this discovery. My
+countenance must have expressed unbounded astonishment and dismay, but
+certainly not guilt. With a face of deep sorrow, and a voice tremulous
+with emotion, Mr. Oswald exclaimed: "Can it be possible! Walter Harland,
+that this is true? That you whom I would have trusted with uncounted
+gold have been led to commit this act. Would that the case admitted
+even of a doubt, but with my own hand I have taken from your pocket what
+I know is the money I placed in my desk this morning for, as is my
+custom, I noticed the number of the bill when I received it."
+
+What could I do, what could I say, against such proof positive, and yet
+till my teacher drew the bill from my pocket, I had not the slightest
+knowledge of it's being there. I felt that to declare my ignorance of
+the matter would be almost useless, and yet, conscious of my own
+innocence, I could not keep silent. Looking Mr. Oswald boldly in the
+face I said, "whether you believe me or not I speak the truth when I
+tell you I never saw that bill till you took it from my pocket; how it
+came there I know not, but again I tell you I never took the money from
+your desk." I could say no more, and burst into tears. Mr. Oswald
+remained silent for a time, trying, I presume, to decide in his own mind
+as to his wisest course of action. Requesting the attention of all, he
+addressed us, saying. "You are all aware that I lost this money, and you
+all know where I found it. I am sensible that, with most persons, a
+doubt of Walter's guilt would not exist for a moment, but I say to you
+all, that, strong as appearances are against him, I am not entirely
+convinced that Walter Harland stole that money. He declares himself
+innocent; he has been a pupil in this school for some months past, and
+during this time I have never known him to deviate from the truth in the
+slightest degree. I shall wait for a time before proceeding further, and
+see what light may be thrown upon this most painful affair. If Walter
+did not place that bill in his pocket himself some one else did," and as
+Mr. Oswald spoke, he cast a searching glance from one desk to the other;
+but not a shadow of guilt could be detected upon the countenance of any
+present. "I would say in conclusion," said Mr. Oswald, "any scholar who
+taunts Walter with stealing, or ridicules him in any way, will be
+immediately expelled from school. For the present at least, let no
+allusion be made to the matter, unless it be in a way to throw light
+upon it, in that case let the communication be made to me alone. You
+all hear my commands, and I advise you to respect them." This was a
+dreadful afternoon to me; it seemed that a weight had suddenly fallen
+upon me which was crushing me to the earth. Although no one dared
+violate the commands of our teacher, I could not fail to notice the
+changed manner of nearly all my companions when school was dismissed.
+Some hurried away without taking any notice of me whatever; others
+seemed disposed to patronize me by their notice, which was more humbling
+still to one of my sensitive nature. The first ray of light which
+penetrated the darkness which had settled over my spirit was when Willie
+and Rose Oswald overtook me after a rapid walk, I having hurried away
+from every one. "What made you run away Walter," said Rose, panting for
+breath, "a nice race you have given us to overtake you. You needn't feel
+so bad," she continued, "I know you never took Papa's money, and I am
+certain he thinks just as I do, only he durst not speak too positively
+in the school-room; it is the work of some wicked bad boys, and you see
+if Papa don't find out the truth before he's done with it." I thought it
+unmanly to cry but it required a strong effort to keep back my tears, as
+I replied, "I am glad you believe me Rose, for I tell you again I _did
+not_ take that money, never saw it till it was taken from my pocket. I
+cannot tell whether I shall ever be proved innocent or not, if not what
+will become of me; it would break my mother's heart to know I was even
+suspected of such a crime." "Never fear, Walter, trust Papa to find it
+out," said the hopeful Rose. They departed with a kind "good night" and
+I proceeded sorrowfully to my home.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIV.
+
+
+It was with a heavy-heart that I performed my usual tasks that evening;
+and, before I could summon courage to relate my trouble to uncle Nathan,
+Mr. Oswald called, and himself acquainted him with the matter. Free from
+the presence of the other scholars, he said he had not the slightest
+belief in my guilt, but looked upon it as a mischievous plot formed
+among some other members of the school. "I know not," said he, "whether
+or no the mystery will over be cleared up; but I shall spare no pains to
+that end, for I must in someway or other have Walter cleared from blame;
+but how it is to be brought about the future alone most tell." Uncle
+Nathan, and even Aunt Lucinda, did not for a moment believe me guilty,
+and felt for me a deep sympathy as I sat by, in a dejected attitude,
+with my arms resting on the table and my face buried in my hands. Aunt
+Lucinda defended me in her usual sharp positive manner, and was for
+proceeding at once to some severe measures; but Mr. Oswald reminded her
+that, if such were the case, the truth would in all probability never
+come to light.
+
+Good old Grandma Adams rose from her seat and, walking with uncertain
+steps to the table were I sat, placed her hands upon my bowed head, and
+repeated the following words from the Psalmist: "Commit thy way unto the
+Lord, trust also in him and he shall bring it to pass." "And he shall
+bring forth thy righteousness as the light and thy judgment as the
+noonday." "Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for him, fret not thyself
+because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who
+bringeth wicked devices to pass." "Though he fall, he shall not be
+utterly cast down, for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand." These
+verses from Scripture, repeated as they were by my aged grandmother had
+the effect to soothe my mind. It was so like what my own mother would
+have done under the same circumstances; and, raising my head I tried
+to be hopeful, and trust to time to prove my innocence. With all my
+resolves to be patient I found it very hard to bear up as day after day
+glided by and nothing took place to throw any light upon the matter. I
+could never have borne it, but for Mr. Oswald's assertion that he
+believed me innocent. He exercised the utmost vigilance to obtain some
+clue to the mystery, but two weeks (which to me seemed two years) glided
+by and nothing was gained.
+
+There were two boys among the pupil, named Reuben Mayfield and Thomas
+Pierce, they were both older than I and for a long time had evinced
+toward me a strong feeling of dislike. From the first Mr. Oswald had
+suspected these two boys of having a hand in the affair, but said
+nothing to any one of his suspicions; but he never for a moment gave up
+the idea that, sooner or later, the truth would come to light. It was
+nearly three weeks from the time the affair happened that these two boys
+entered the school-room a full half-hour before the usual time for
+school to open. No other pupil was present, and they felt free to
+indulge in a confidential conversation, which I copy for the benefit of
+the reader. "I wonder," began Thomas Pierce, "what Mr. Oswald expects
+to gain by waiting. I know his eyes are pretty sharp, but hardly sharp
+enough to see to the bottom of this affair. It takes you to plan Reuben.
+I was as willing as you to do any thing to bring Harland down a peg or
+two, for he has carried his head rather high this winter, and walked
+into Mr. Oswald's good graces in a way that was wonderful to behold. You
+were always good at planning, and it was you who did the most difficult
+part of the business, which was getting the money into his pocket. It
+was very easy to get the money out of the desk. The way I hurried
+through my dinner that day wasn't slow I can tell you. I ran every step
+of the way that I might reach the school-room before the other boys; and
+it took but a moment for me to secure the bill, and I am sure no one saw
+me slip it into your hand, and you know when the other boys came we were
+busy skating, so of course no one could suspect that we knew any thing
+about it."
+
+"Ha, ha," laughed Reuben, "Walter thought I was very kind, and even
+thanked me with that high-bred manner of his when I spent so much time
+helping him to fix on his skates, and when you directed his attention to
+a team passing on the street, he little thought that while you were both
+admiring the fine horses, I generously slipped a ten-dollar bill into
+his vest pocket, for his future wants. Wasn't it fun though. But we'll
+see now who'll be invited to tea at Mr. Oswald's so often, and spend
+the evenings, studying with Rose and Willie." "But I can tell you one
+thing," replied Thomas, "we've got to be on our guard, Mr. Oswald is
+very sharp-sighted, and a word, or even a look, would put him on our
+track, and then it makes me tremble to think of it. The afternoon he
+talked to us and sent those searching glances round the room I could
+hardly draw my breath for terror lest he should detect us in some way.
+You know I always feared those searching glances from Mr. Oswald." "I
+have no fears" replied Reuben. "We can surely keep our own secret, and,
+as no one else knows any thing about it, we are safe enough." Poor
+misguided youths, they did not pause to think that their guilt was
+already known to Him without whose notice not even a sparrow falls to
+the ground, much less did they think how near they were to detection
+and exposure. The plot by which they hoped so deeply to injure another
+was made instrumental in exposing the baseness of their own characters.
+The two boys had a listener to their conversation whom they little
+suspected. Mr. Oswald, having some exercises to correct, went to the
+school-room very early and shut himself in his private room, which
+opened out of the large class-room, that he might be free from
+interruption, and by this means lost not a word of the conversation
+which took place between the two guilty boys. The color receded from
+their faces, and as quickly came again, when Mr. Oswald at nine o'clock
+coolly walked out of his room and called the school to order. They at
+once knew by his grave and stern countenance that he had heard all that
+had passed between them; and they knew him too well to doubt that their
+guilt would be brought to light in a most humbling manner. Had they
+paused before committing the act to consider the possibility of
+detection it is probable they would never have done the deed; but it
+was too late now, and they must meet the consequences of their own
+wrong-doing. After offering the morning prayer, by which our school
+invariably opened, Mr. Oswald addressed us, saying: "I happened this
+morning to overhear a conversation between two of my pupils, which (as
+nearly as I can recollect it) I wish to repeat in presence of you all."
+Mr. Oswald then repeated, word for word the above-related conversation,
+without giving the names of the boys, till he said by way of conclusion,
+"If I have made a wrong statement, or varied in the slightest degree
+from the truth, Reuben Mayfield and Thomas Pierce will please come
+forward and point out my error, for it was between them the conversation
+took place." It would take a more able pen than mine to describe the
+countenances of those boys as Mr. Oswald ceased speaking. Reuben did
+attempt to stammer out a denial, but Mr. Oswald silenced him at once. "I
+will not allow you, in my presence, to add to your sin, by repeating a
+denial. So base an action never before came under my notice. You must
+surely have forgotten the overruling Providence which allows no sin to
+go unpunished. Had your plot succeeded according to your wishes you
+would have ruined as fine a boy as ever entered this school, both in my
+eyes, and his fellow pupils, as well as the community at large. But,
+from the first, something seemed to whisper to me that he was innocent
+of the crime of which, to all appearance, he was proved guilty. When I
+listened to your conversation this morning I fully decided in my own
+mind to expel you both from school in disgrace; but I have since
+reflected that even justice should be tempered with mercy; and, if you
+are willing both to come forward in presence of all the school and ask
+my pardon, as well as that of your deeply-injured school-mate, and
+promise good conduct for the future, we will allow the matter to rest,
+and you can remain my pupils. I would, if possible, spare your parents,
+as well as yourselves, the disgrace which would follow your being
+expelled from school under such circumstances, and I would also grant
+you the opportunity to prove the sincerity of your promises of good
+conduct for the future."
+
+There was a severe struggle in the breast of the two boys; they were
+aware of the justice of their teacher's decision, but pride pled for
+them to brave the matter out in bold defiance. But their hearts were not
+entirely wicked and the good in them finally triumphed. Coming forward
+they craved Mr. Oswald's forgiveness in a truly humble and penitent
+manner. Then, turning to me, who felt truly happy that my innocence
+was thus proved beyond a doubt, Reuben addressed me, saying: "Can you
+forgive us, Walter. It was envy which first caused us to dislike you and
+we cherished the feeling till it led us to commit this wicked action;
+but that feeling has all passed away. You never injured us, and I know
+not what spirit of evil tempted us to injure you as we have done. We
+feel thankful to our teacher for the lenity he has shown us, and I hope
+our future conduct will bear witness that we appreciate his kindness,
+and, if you can forgive us and be friends again, I hope you will find
+that we are not altogether bad."
+
+I had no inclination to withhold the forgiveness so humbly sought. I
+shook hands warmly, with both the boys, saying, "I forgive you with all
+my heart, let us be friends. I am proved innocent, and am too happy to
+cherish anger towards any one." When order was again restored Mr. Oswald
+made some instructive and useful remarks upon the folly and sin of
+harboring a feeling of envy and ill-will toward others. "I advise you,"
+said he, "when you detect a feeling of envy and malice rising in your
+heart, to remember the sin and wrong, to which the indulgence of this
+feeling led these two boys, and pray to your Heavenly Father to
+preserve you from a bitter and envious spirit. We will talk no more of
+the unhappy affair at present; it is my wish that each one of you treat
+Reuben and Thomas the same in every respect as though this circumstance
+had never taken place. I intend retaining them still as my pupils, and
+they must be treated as such by you all. I trust this lesson will not be
+lost upon any, for it speaks loudly of the necessity of guarding our own
+hearts from evil, and it also teaches us how to exercise a spirit of
+forbearance and forgiveness, and now we must proceed to the work of the
+day."
+
+It is, somewhat singular that evil designs against one, either old
+or young, often, instead of working harm, prove the means of their
+advancement and promotion. It was so in this case. I did not forgive
+these two boys without a struggle with my own temper and pride, but I
+_did_ do it, and it came from my heart, and this forgiveness accorded by
+me, as well as the thought of what I had suffered, caused me to stand
+higher than ever in the good opinion of my teachers, and the kindness
+extended to me on all sides more than repaid my past suffering, when
+moving under a cloud of suspicion and disgrace. Had I allowed a feeling
+of revenge to find a place in my heart it might have been gratified by
+the mortification of Reuben and Thomas, but I tried to rise superior to
+this feeling, and endeavoured, by repeated acts of kindness, to convince
+them that my forgiveness was genuine. When I returned home that day at
+noon Grandma Adams said she knew by the joyous bound with which I
+entered the house I was the bearer of good news; and when I had told my
+story, they were all happy to know that the dark shadow which had rested
+over me was lifted, and my sky was again bright. Grandma listened
+attentively while I told of the guilty ones being detected, and my own
+innocence made clear as the light of day. When I had finished she called
+me to her side and said, "I hope, my boy, you remember the verses I
+repeated to you the other evening from the thirty-seventh Psalm. That
+whole Psalm has been a favourite one with me all my life-long; when
+weighed down by trouble and anxiety during my long and eventful life,
+I have often derived consolation and encouragement from that beautiful
+portion of the Bible; and I have often thought if there is one portion
+of that Book more blessed and cheering than another it must be the
+thirty-seventh Psalm. If you live to my age, Walter, you have yet a long
+journey before you, and when the troubles of life disturb your mind--as
+doubtless they often will--when trials beset you and the way looks dark,
+remember that old Grandma Adams told you to turn to this Psalm; read it
+carefully, and you will be sure to find something which will cheer and
+support you." I looked with a feeling of deep veneration upon my aged
+relative, indeed I could not have helped it, as she sat in her arm-chair,
+with her mild and pleasant countenance, her hair of silvery whiteness
+smoothly parted beneath the widow's cap, and as I listened to the words
+of pious hope and trust which fell from her lips, I felt that I had
+never before sufficiently valued her counsels and advice, and I resolved
+that for the future I would endeavour to be doubly attentive and
+respectful to this aged and feeble relative, who was evidently drawing
+near the close of her life-journey.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XV.
+
+
+Time, with his noiseless step, glided on, till but a few weeks remained
+before the school would break up for the midsummer vacation. Happy as I
+was at Uncle Nathan's, I looked eagerly forward to the holidays, for I
+was then to pay a visit of several weeks to my home at Elmwood, having
+been absent nearly a year, and, as this time drew nigh, every day seemed
+like a week till I could set out on the journey. Added to the joy of
+again meeting my mother and sister, I would also meet Charley Gray, who
+was also to spend his vacation at home. We had kept up a regular
+correspondence during the past year. I could always judge of Charley's
+mood by the tone of his letters. Sometimes he would write a long and
+interesting letter, in such a glowing, playful style, that I would read
+it over half-a-dozen times at the least, and perhaps his very next
+letter would be just the reverse, short, cold and desponding. Any one
+who knew Charley as I did could easily tell the state of mind he was in
+when he wrote, but so well did I know the unhappy moods to which he was
+subject, that a desponding letter now and then gave me no surprise. In
+fact, had the style of his letters been uniformly gay and lively, I
+should have been more surprised, so well did I understand his variable
+temper. But we both looked forward to our anticipated meeting with all
+the eagerness and impatience of youthful expectation. For, as I said
+near the opening of my story, I loved Charley as a brother, and so
+agreeable and pleasant was his disposition when he was pleased, you
+quite forgot for the time being the unhappy tempers to which he was
+subject.
+
+There is ever a feeling of sadness connected with the closing of school.
+Owing to the excellence of the institution, there were pupils attending
+Fulton Academy from many distant places. But with the coming of the
+holidays this youthful band, who had daily assembled at the pleasant old
+Academy would be scattered far and wide. Probably never all to meet
+again on earth. Many of the youths who had studied a sufficient time to
+obtain a business education were the coming autumn to go forth to make
+their own way in the world. The only intimate friend I had made among
+these was a youth whose home was two hundred miles distant from Fulton;
+his name was Robert Dalton, and he had studied at Fulton Academy for the
+past three years, and, having obtained an education which fitted him for
+the business he intended to follow, he expected to return to Fulton no
+more. His father was a merchant in one of the cities of the Upper
+Province, and in the fall Robert was to enter the store, in order to
+obtain a practical knowledge of business, as his tastes also led him
+to mercantile pursuits. When I entered the school, a stranger to all,
+Robert Dalton was the first youth who bestowed kind attentions upon me,
+and we soon became firm friends; together we studied and mutually
+assisted each other, and always shared in the same sports and
+recreations. I could not help sometimes thinking it was well that
+Charley Gray was attending another institution, for I felt certain (were
+he there) that the friendship existing between myself and Robert would
+irritate his fiery and jealous nature beyond measure. Poor Charley, it
+was a pity that he possessed that unhappy temper; for there was much
+suffering in store for himself and others arising from this source. Much
+had he yet to endure before that jealous, exclusive spirit would be
+brought under subjection. During the summer evenings a ramble to
+"Beechwood" had been a favourite recreation with Robert and I, and
+thither we took our way the last evening we expected to spend together
+at Fulton. We lingered long there that evening, and, seated upon a mossy
+rock beneath the shade of those old trees, we talked of our coming
+separation, as well us of our individual plans for the future, till the
+gathering darkness hastened our departure. The next morning we parted,
+each to meet the friends who were looking for us with the anxious eyes
+of love.
+
+I knew not how much I had learned to love my kind relatives till the
+time drew nigh when I was to bid them adieu for a season. The day
+before I was to start for home, Aunt Lucinda made a most unexpected
+announcement, which was no less than she had made up her mind to
+accompany me to Elmwood. She had never before visited my mother since
+her marriage, and she thought she might not again have so good an
+opportunity of visiting the sister whom she had not seen for so many
+years. My aunt and I were by this time the best of friends, and I was
+pleased when she declared her intention to accompany me to my home. It
+did not matter to me that my aunt was odd and old-fashioned in her
+dress, and still more odd and eccentric in her manner and conversation,
+to me she was the kind aunt who had cared for my wants, and treated me
+as kindly as a mother could have done, and to one of my nature this was
+sufficient to claim my affection and respect. This journey was quite an
+event in the usually quiet and stay-at-home life of my aunt, but she
+allowed that having made up her mind she had but one life to live, she
+might as well enjoy herself sometimes as other folks. Grandma Adams
+fairly wept when I bade her good-bye, saying: "who will read to me while
+you are gone, Walter? and it may be when you come back you will find the
+old arm-chair empty. No one is certain of a day of life but remember the
+saying 'the young may die, but the old _must_ die.' I hope to see you
+again, but should I not, strive to become a good and useful man, and
+remember my counsels." Uncle Nathan shook me warmly by the hand, and
+hoped to see me return soon, telling me also, with a comical look, to
+take good care of Aunt Lucinda on the journey, as she was _young_ and
+inexperienced, and not accustomed to travelling. "Nathan Adams," replied
+my aunt, "if you must talk, do try sometimes and talk with a little
+sense."
+
+I was fearful of missing the train, so long was my aunt in giving
+directions to the Widow Green, who had come to keep house during her
+absence. Grandma allowed that though the widow might not understand all
+the ways of the house, with _her_ help they could get along tolerably
+well for a few weeks. "Never fear, mother," said Uncle Nathan. "There'll
+be no one to scold while Lucinda's away, and we'll get along famously.
+Only I suppose we will be called to a startling account when the
+rightful mistress of the house returns." We soon took our places in the
+carriage which awaited us, and, taking his place on the front seat,
+Uncle Nathan started the impatient horse into a swift trot toward
+Fulton, where we were to meet the train which was to bear us to Elmwood.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVI.
+
+
+It must be confessed that my aunt's quaint style of dress contrasted
+somewhat strongly with many of the fashionably attired lady passengers
+in the same car. I presume this gave her little uneasiness, for she
+cared little for the opinion of others in matters pertaining to dress;
+and she regarded the slightly quizzical glances of some of the
+passengers with cool indifference. Her apparel was of quite rich
+material, but the style dated backward for many years, and the bonnet
+she wore was quite too large to be considered fashionable. Directly in
+front of us were seated two young ladies, dressed in the extreme of
+fashion, who seemed to consider it their privilege to amuse themselves
+by observing and passing remarks to each other, in an undertone, upon
+the dress and appearance generally of the other passengers. When we took
+the vacant seat behind them, we were subject to a prolonged stare from
+the two young misses, and we distinctly heard one of them address the
+other, saying with a sneer, "I wonder how much that old lady's bonnet
+cost, when new, I would ask her only it must have been so long ago, I am
+sure she has forgotten by this time." Aunt Lucinda was not one to let
+this pass unnoticed. Touching the young lady lightly on the shoulder, to
+attract her attention, she said in a voice loud enough to be heard by
+several of the other passengers near us, "I believe, miss, you are
+anxious to learn the price of my bonnet when new, I have forgotten the
+exact sum, but you may be sure of one thing, I paid more for it than
+your good sense and good manner are worth both together." These two
+ladies had made themselves so disagreeable by their silly and vain
+manners that this "cut up" from my aunt was greeted by a burst of
+laughter from all near enough to hear it, and the laugh was evidently
+not against my aunt. The two girls blushed crimson, but made no reply,
+and as soon as possible changed their seat to a distant part of the car,
+possibly they might, for the remainder of their journey, be more mindful
+of the courtesy and respect due to a fellow traveller.
+
+As the dear old village of Elmwood rose to my view in the distance, I
+could hardly contain my joy. I had written to my mother, informing her
+of the day she might look for my arrival, but at the time I knew not
+that Aunt Lucinda would accompany me, and her visit was certainly a
+joyful surprise. Quite a number of my young companions had accompanied
+my mother and sister to the depot. Charley Gray, of course, was there,
+having returned to Elmwood two days earlier than I. It is needless for
+me to say that, to all, the meeting was a happy one. My mother was
+almost overjoyed at thus unexpectedly meeting with the sister she had
+not seen for so long a time, and the sight of her elder sister recalled
+to her mind many almost forgotten incidents of her childhood's days.
+"You see Ellen," said Aunt Lucinda, addressing my mother, "I have
+brought your boy home to you safe and sound, and I believe half a head
+taller than when he left you. I don't know as I should have come only I
+couldn't trust him away from me so long." "I should say by Walter's
+appearance, that he has not missed a mother's care very much, and thanks
+from me would poorly express my gratitude." Charley Gray had remained
+with me the last night I spent at home, and he also gained permission to
+remain this first night of my return. It was a happy, and I might add a
+merry party which surrounded my mother's tea-table that evening, which,
+to please me, was spread under my favourite tree in the garden. So happy
+was I to be once more at home that I almost felt afraid to go to sleep
+that night lest I should awake in the morning and find it all a dream.
+"If you were as tired of the cars as I am," said Aunt Lucinda "you would
+think this journey no dream, but an awful reality, for my head is all in
+a whirl yet, and I shall feel no better till I got a good night's sleep."
+
+So swiftly had the time passed away, that, till Aunt Lucinda made this
+remark, my mother had failed to notice the lateness of the hour, and,
+obeying the hint, she at once offered to conduct her to her room with
+an apology for having failed to remember that she must be very much
+fatigued. My aunt was very willing to retire, saying she would be bright
+enough in the morning, but for to-night she did feel about done out. As
+for Charley and I, we had so much to say that sleep was out of the
+question, and, after retiring to our room, we sat for a long time at
+the open window, enjoying the beautiful moonlight which fell upon the
+familiar scenes of Elmwood, and talking of all that had befallen us
+during the past year, till Aunt Lucinda called at our door saying, in a
+tone which Charley thought decidedly cross, "Do you shut that window
+this minnit, boys, and go to bed; here it is nearly midnight, and not a
+wink of sleep has there been in this house. How do you expect we shall
+all feel to-morrow morning I should like to know? and besides you will
+take the awfulest cold that ever was heard of, if you sit there by the
+open window, in this night air." To please my aunt I closed the window,
+and Charley and I retired, and if we talked longer our conversation was
+carried on in a whisper, so fearful were we of again disturbing Aunt
+Lucinda. I doubt very much if there was that night a happier family in
+Elmwood than the one which rested beneath the roof of our little brown
+cottage.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVII.
+
+
+Happy days pass swiftly. The meeting of the friends at Elmwood was
+indeed a joyful reunion and each one seemed anxious to do their utmost
+to contribute to the enjoyment of the other. My mother suspended all
+regular employment (for the time being) and gave her undivided attention
+to the entertainment of Aunt Lucinda, and she fully appreciated the kind
+attentions of my mother and little sister Flora; for, notwithstanding
+her seemingly cold and crusty exterior, she had really a kindly heart,
+and real affection from others ever met with a hearty response: although
+one to whom she it was not well-known would have set her down as a hard,
+unfeeling disposition; and I am inclined to think my Aunt Lucinda not
+the only one who is regarded by the generality of people as cold and
+unfriendly, for the simple reason that they do not take the trouble
+of looking beyond their often rough exterior, and discover the kindly
+feelings which remain hidden till called forth by the voice of sympathy
+and friendship. Although in very moderate circumstances my mother often
+assisted those who were less favoured, especially when the sick and
+suffering required care and attention. Aunt Lucinda often accompanied
+her in these ministrations, and seemed to take pleasure in rendering
+her assistance in the chambers of sickness which my mother visited. My
+mother seldom visited in a social way but to add to the enjoyment of
+her sister she at this time accepted numerous invitations to visit
+friends, accompanied by my aunt. Scarcely a day passed that failed
+to bring something in the way of recreation and amusement. There were
+picnic excursions, drives and walks, in which both old and young
+participated--even Aunt Lucinda often making one of the company, and
+enjoying it too--although she was sometimes heard to wonder, what Deacon
+Martin's wife over at Fulton would say if she saw an old woman like her
+take such an active part in the pastimes of the young. It would seem that
+Deacon Martin's wife felt it her duty to be the first to point out any
+delinquency among those in her immediate sphere. Aunt Lucinda fearful the
+good Deacon himself would be inclined to think she was evincing a spirit
+of too much conformity to the world, by joining so frequently in the
+amusements of the young, and gay. "I think" said my mother, "your best
+way is to consult your own conscience, instead of the opinion of either
+Deacon Martin or his wife; and I am sure your conscience can accuse you
+of no wrong in joining the young people in their innocent amusements."
+Advised by my mother my aunt purchased a new bonnet of quite modern style
+and a shawl to match, both to be worn to a picnic which was to be held
+in a beautiful grove near our village. When she brought home her
+purchases I laughingly told her if any young lady we might meet on our
+homeward journey should enquire their price she could easily satisfy her
+curiosity, as the purchase was of such recent date. "I am sure of one
+thing," replied my aunt, "if we meet the same young lady we met on our
+way here, she won't ask me the price of my bonnet. I don't know after all
+but her remark did me good, for it set me thinking how long I have had
+this old bonnet, and I believe it was time for me to buy a new one."
+
+The holidays were nearly over and we must soon return to our respective
+duties. Charley Gray and I had fully enjoyed the time we passed
+together. I fancied that contact with the world had blunted the keen
+edge of Charley's nature; for, during all the time we passed together, I
+saw nothing of the peculiar disposition which had so often been a source
+of trouble, even when we were mere children. I suppose it must have been
+that nothing called it forth, for his old enemy still remained in his
+heart, but so genial and pleasant was he that I really indulged the hope
+when we parted that his nature was undergoing a change.
+
+During my visit at Elmwood I once met with Farmer Judson. Any resentment
+I might once have cherished toward him had long since died out, and,
+having lost all fear of the crusty farmer, I accosted him pleasantly,
+and offered him my hand. The man felt ashamed to refuse taking the hand
+so freely offered; but his grasp was certainly not very cordial; and,
+with a few words, which, if they had meaning, were uttered in too low
+a voice to be intelligible, he passed on his way. As I gazed after his
+retreating form I could not fail to mark the change which a year had
+wrought in his appearance. His step was far less brisk than formerly,
+his hair was fast turning gray, and I fancied that his countenance wore
+even a more unhappy and discontented look than usual. I was then too
+young to understand what I have since known that his dissatisfied
+expression was caused by his having failed to find happiness in the
+possession of worldly wealth, and as yet he had not learned to seek
+happiness from any other source.
+
+The time soon came when we must bid a reluctant adieu to our friends
+at Elmwood. It was decided that I was to spend another year at Fulton.
+Charley Gray was to return to his studies for an indefinite time, and
+sad enough we all felt when the morning of our separation came. The
+steam-cars soon bore us from the pleasant village of Elmwood where we
+had spent six happy weeks. Aunt Lucinda allowed that she felt herself
+ten years younger than before she left home and declared her intention
+of accompanying me on my next visit to my mother.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVIII.
+
+
+Very welcome was the first view we gained of the old red farm-house upon
+our return, and still more welcome was the cheerful and mild countenance
+of Grandma Adams who, as soon as Uncle Nathan set out to meet the train,
+had taken her place at the front door to watch for our arrival. It was
+many years since she had been so long separated from her daughter, and
+the six weeks which had passed seemed to her more like six years. For so
+long had my aunt toiled on at the old homestead, "year in and year out"
+without scarcely bestowing a thought upon the world beyond, that the
+kindly spirit of sociality had nearly died out within her; but this
+visit with its many scenes of enjoyment, as well as the kind attentions
+of her friends, had again called into action that spirit of friendly
+intercourse with others without the exercise of which the warmest heart
+is prone to become cold and selfish. She seemed hardly like the same one
+who left home six weeks ago, as she presided at the supper table with
+such a cheerful, even lively, manner on this first evening of our
+return. The Widow Green insisted that my aunt should take no part in the
+household cares that evening, but advising her to sit idle when there
+was work to do, was throwing words away, and she was soon busy clearing
+away the supper table, and, as she said, "setting" things to rights
+generally. The lamps were soon lighted, and, though it was only the
+middle of September, a wood fire blazed in the fire place, and shed a
+ruddy glow upon the brown ceiling and whitewashed walls of the large
+clean kitchen which when there was no company, answered the purpose of
+sitting room as well. Uncle Nathan said he thought they should treat
+Aunt Lucinda as company for that one evening and occupy the parlor, to
+which kind offer she replied by begging of him "to try and be sensible
+for one evening at any rate." "Well" said Uncle Nathan, "remember when
+I go off and visit about for six weeks, as you have done, I shall expect
+you to have the parlor warmed and lighted on the first evening of my
+return, for I am sure I could not settle down to every day life all at
+once." "Well," said Aunt Lucinda, as she seated herself by the lamp, and
+took up the knitting-work which was ever at hand, to fill up the "odd
+spells" which she called a few minutes of leisure, "I have made up my
+mind that in the future I will sometimes enjoy myself a little, and
+visit my friends, instead of staying at home till I forget there is any
+other place in the world but this farm, with its dingy old red house and
+weather beaten barn." "I am very happy to find," replied my uncle, "that
+you have finally come to the conclusion that we have but one life to
+live, for by the way you have worked and drove ahead for the last
+fifteen or twenty years, one would think you had half a dozen ordinary
+life-times before you and if you have come to the conclusion that you
+have but one, and a good share of that gone already, perhaps there will
+be some peace in the house for the time to come." My aunt always
+complained that her brother had one very serious fault, he was prodigal
+of time, and took too little thought for the future, and on this ground
+she replied in rather a snappish voice: "Well, at any rate, if every
+one was as slack and careless as you, they would hardly survive for one
+life time; and I can tell you one thing Nathan Adams, this old house has
+got to be painted, and that right away, for it is a disgrace to be seen.
+I didn't think so much about it till since I saw how other folks live.
+You needn't begin, as I know you will, to talk about the expense. You
+may just as well spend a little money for this as for any thing else;
+and if as you say 'we have but one life to live,' we will try and spend
+the remainder of it in a respectable looking house." "What color would
+you prefer Lucinda," replied my uncle, "I suppose it will have to be of
+the most fashionable tint. Ah me, this is what comes of women folks
+going to visit, and seeing the world; I wonder," continued he, with a
+roguish look at me "if Aunt Lucinda isn't expecting some gentleman from
+Elmwood to visit her shortly, whom she would dislike should find her in
+this rusty-looking old house. There's no telling what may grow out of
+this visit yet." "There's no use in expecting you to talk sensibly,"
+replied my aunt, "but the house will have to be painted, and that's all
+about it." "Any thing to keep peace," replied Uncle Nathan; "and if you
+are really in earnest we will see what can be done about it next week,
+if this fine weather continues, for the old house does need brushing up
+a little, no mistake." And this was the way matters usually ended. To
+confess the truth, Uncle Nathan was inclined to be rather careless in
+matters requiring extra exertion and confusion; but when my aunt once
+took a decided stand, the matter was soon accomplished, for much as my
+Uncle enjoyed teasing her, he entertained a high regard for her opinion,
+and was often willing to trust matters to her judgment as being superior
+to his own. As they were all busy in various ways, Grandma motioned me
+to take a seat by her side, and read to her, saying in an undertone,
+she had had no good reading while I was away, for Nathan reads too fast,
+and the Widow Green speaks through her nose, "and you don't know how
+much I have missed your clear voice and plain pronunciation." "What
+shall I read Grandma," said I, as I turned the leaves of the large
+Bible. "Oh, first read my favourite psalm which you know is the
+thirty-seventh, and then read from St. John's Gospel." For an hour she
+seemed filled with quiet enjoyment while I read, till, becoming tired,
+she said "that will do for this time, Walter, for you must be tired
+after your journey." The few days which remained of the week after our
+return were busy ones; school was to open on the following Monday and
+there were many matters requiring attention. The painting of the house
+was begun in due time, and Uncle Nathan thought "Lucinda was going a
+little too far" when she first proposed adorning the house which,
+instead of a dingy red, was now a pure white, with green blinds, but she
+soon (as she said) talked him over to her side, and the first time
+Deacon Martin's wife passed the homestead after the improvements were
+completed, she remarked to a friend, that she almost felt it her duty,
+to call and ask Uncle Nathan if he were not evincing too much love of
+display, by expending so much money on mere outward adornings. Somehow
+or other it came to Aunt Lucinda's ears that the good Deacon's wife
+thought they had better give their money to the cause of, "Foreign
+Missions" than spend it in so needless a manner. My uncle's family did
+give liberally when called upon, in this way, and, more than this, they
+were not inclined to make remarks upon the short-comings of others; but,
+upon this occasion my aunt replied with much warmth: "If the Deacon's
+wife has any thing to say to me upon the subject let her come and say
+it, the sooner the better, and I'll ask her if she remembers the year
+I was appointed as one of the collectors for the Foreign Missionary
+Society, and when I called upon her, after she had complained for some
+time of hard times and the numerous calls for money, put down her name
+for twenty-five cents, and did not even pay that down, and I had to go
+a second time for it; if she knows what's for the best she won't give
+herself any further trouble as to how we spend our money." On the whole
+I presume it was all the better that the Deacon's wife never called to
+censure Aunt Lucinda for extravagance in spending money.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIX.
+
+
+The second year which I spent at Uncle Nathan's was one which I often
+since called to mind as the happiest of my life. The days glided by in
+the busy routine of school duties, and my evenings were spent in study
+varied by social enjoyment. I was never too busy to respond to grandma's
+request that I should leave my lessons or play for an hour and read to
+her. I had learned to regard this aged relative with much affection;
+even as a child I believe I was of a reflective cast of mind, and
+Grandma Adams was the first very old person with whom I had been
+intimately associated. And often as I sat by her side and watched the
+firelight as it shone upon her silvery hair, and lighted up her
+venerable and serene countenance, would I wonder mentally if I would
+ever grow as old and feeble and my hair become as white as her's. I
+remember one evening when I was indulging in these thoughts the old lady
+asked me what I was thinking about that caused me to look so serious? "I
+was wondering," replied I, "if I shall live to see as many years, and if
+my eyes will become as dim and my air grow white as yours." "My dear
+boy," she replied, "I suppose I seem to you like one who has travelled a
+long journey. At your age, ten or twenty years seemed to me almost an
+endless period of time, but now that I have seen more than eighty years
+of life the whole journey seems very short, when taking a backward view
+of the path over which I have travelled. It seems but as yesterday
+since I was a little mischief-loving school girl, when my only anxiety
+was how I could obtain the most play, and get along with the least
+study. I used then often to think how glad I would be when my
+school-days should be over; but how little did I then realize that I was
+then enjoying my happiest days; for, with many others, I now believe,
+our school days to be the happiest period of life. Time passed on, till
+I grew up, and married. I left my native place which was Salem, in the
+State of New Hampshire, and removed to Western Canada. When you look
+around, my boy, over this prosperous and growing country, with its
+well-cultivated farms, and numerous towns and villages, you can form no
+idea of what the place was like when I arrived here, fifty-six years ago
+last February. Your grandfather was born, and passed the days of his
+childhood and early youth, in Scotland, but when he was nearly grown to
+manhood his parents emigrated to the United States, where he resided for
+some years; but as he grew older he became prejudiced against the
+'Yankee Rule,' as he styled the Republican Government of the United
+State, and, soon after our marriage, he resolved to remove to Canada. 'I
+desire,' said he, 'to seek a home where I hope to spend my life, be it
+long or short, and that home must be in a country subject to the British
+Government under which, I am proud to say, I was born, and under which I
+wish to die.' I was willing to make any sacrifice to please my husband,
+for whom I had a deep affection," and, as grandma said these words,
+youthful memories moistened her eyes and caused her voice to tremble,
+but she soon regained her composure, and continued: "I was then young
+and full of hope, and the trials which I knew would fall to my lot gave
+me no anxiety. The weather was bitter cold, during all that weary
+journey to our forest home in Canada. We had been married less than a
+year when we left our friends in New Hampshire to seek a home in this
+new country. The summer before my husband visited the place to purchase
+a lot of wild land, and build the log cabin which was to be our first
+shelter in the Canadian wilderness. Much as he had told me, I had formed
+but a very imperfect idea of the appearance of the place, till after a
+ten days' journey (by slow teams) through the deep snows which often
+impeded our way, we reached, near nightfall, the small log-hut which was
+to be our home. I had ever thought I possessed a good share of fortitude
+and resolution, but at that time it was put to a severe test. 'There
+Martha, is our home,' said my husband, pointing to the rude pile of
+logs, which stood in a cleared space, barely large enough to secure its
+safety from falling trees, and beyond all was a dense forest of tall
+trees and thick underbrush and a fast falling shower of snow (at the
+time) added to the gloominess of the scene. I gazed around me with
+sadness, almost with dismay and terror. At length I found voice to say
+'_can_ we live _here_.' 'I have no doubt that we can live here, and be
+happy too,' replied your grandfather in a hopeful voice, 'if it pleases
+God to grant us health and strength to meet and, I trust, overcome, the
+difficulties and hardships which are the inevitable lot of the early
+settlers in a new country.' A man whom Mr. Adams had hired had gone
+before us that we might not find a fireless hearth upon our arrival; and
+the next day, after having become somewhat rested from the fatigues of
+our toilsome journey, and having arranged our small quantity of
+furniture with some attempt at order, I began to feel something akin to
+interest in our new home; but, to a person brought up as I had been, it
+was certainly a gloomy-looking spot; and I must own that I shed some
+tears for the home I had left. We were three miles from any neighbour,
+and in the absence of my husband I felt a childish fear of being left
+alone in that strange wild looking place. Time would fail me to tell you
+of all the hardships and privations we endured during the first years of
+our residence in this our new home. Lucinda there was our first child. I
+buried a little boy younger than Nathan. A few kind settlers gathered
+together and laid him in his grave without a minister to perform the
+rites of burial. I buried another son and daughter, and all that's left
+to me now are Lucinda and Nathan, and your mother, who was my youngest
+child; as my children grew older I learned the value of the tolerable
+education I had myself received. For many years such a thing as a school
+was out of the question, and all the leisure time I could command I
+spent in teaching my children. Nathan was slow at learning, but it did
+beat all, how smart Lucinda was at her book. I could never tell how she
+learned her letters; I may say she picked them up herself, and with a
+very little assistance was soon able to read. Other settlers came among
+us from time to time, and bye-and-bye we had both a school and a
+meeting-house. I tell you, Walter, when I now sit at the door, and look
+around me over the beautiful farms, with their orchards and smooth
+meadow-lands, and further away the gleaming spire of the village church,
+and hear the sharp shriek of the locomotive (I believe they call it) and
+call to mind the log-hut in the depth of the forest, which was, my first
+home on this farm, I am lost in wonder at the changes which have taken
+place, and I cannot help repeating the words, 'old things have passed
+away, behold all things have become new.' Your grandfather lived to a
+good old age, and, when infirmities obliged him to resign the care of
+the farm to our boy Nathan he enjoyed the fruits of his former industry
+in the comforts of a home of plenty, and the care and attention of our
+dutiful children. As for me I do not now look forward to a single day.
+I have already outlived the period of natural life and feel willing to
+depart whenever an all-wise Providence sees fit to remove me; but I
+would not be impatient and would say from my very heart: 'All the days
+of my appointed time will I wait till my change comes.' And now, Walter,
+read to me, for it is past my usual time of retiring to rest." As I
+closed the book (after reading for half an hour) Grandma said, "I have
+read myself, and heard others read the Bible these many years, yet each
+time I listen to a chapter, I discover in it some new beauty which I had
+never noticed before. Truly the Bible is a wonderful book; it teaches us
+both how to live and how to die."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XX.
+
+
+"I wish you would go over to the post office, Nathan," said my aunt one
+evening in the latter part of winter; "none of us have been over to
+Fulton this week, and who knows but there may be letters," "Who knows
+indeed!" replied Uncle Nathan, "I am as you say a careless mortal, and
+never inquired for letters the last time I was over, so I'll just
+harness up and drive over this clear moonlight evening." He returned in
+an hour's time and soon after entering the house, handed a letter to my
+aunt saying, "read that and see what you think of it." Seating herself
+and adjusting her glasses, she unfolded the letter, and perused it
+carefully; but any one acquainted with her would at once have been
+aware, by the expression of her countenance, as she read, that the
+communication, whatever it was, was not of an agreeable nature. The
+letter was from a cousin residing in the State of Massachusetts whom
+they had not seen for many years, but who used in his youthful days to
+be a frequent visitor. Indeed it would seem, by all accounts, that he
+was fonder of visiting than of any regular employment. This cousin,
+Silas Stinson, had grown up to manhood with no fixed purpose in life. As
+a boy he was quick at learning, and obtained a fair education, which, as
+he grew older, he was at much pains to display by using very high-flown
+language, which often bordered upon the flowery and sublime. I believe
+in their younger days Aunt Lucinda used to allow "it fairly turned her
+stomach to hear the fellow talk." He was a dashing, showy follow when
+young, and was soon married to a delicate and lady-like girl, just the
+reverse of what his wife should have been. A woman like Aunt Lucinda
+would have given him an idea of the sober realities of life, but the
+disposition of the wife he chose was something like his own, dreamy and
+imaginative, with none of the energy necessary to face the trials and
+difficulties which lie in the life-path of all, in a greater or less
+degree. He had tried various kinds of business but grew weary of each
+in its turn. At the time of his marriage his father set him up in a
+dry-goods store, and, had he given proper attention to his business,
+would probably have become a rich man. For a time things went on
+swimmingly, but the novelty of the thing wore off, and he soon felt like
+the clerk who told his employer "he only liked one part of the business
+of store-keeping, and that was shutting the blinds at night." After
+trying various kinds of business, with about equal success, he got
+the idea, and a most absurd one it was, that farming "was his proper
+vocation." His indulgent father again assisted him, by purchasing for
+him a small farm, thinking he would now apply himself and make a living.
+His father maintained a kind of oversight of matters during his
+life-time, but in process of time he died, and Silas was left to his
+own resources. His father's property was divided among the surviving
+children, and it was found that Silas had already received nearly double
+his share of the patrimony, so, of course, nothing remained for him at
+the time of his father's death. Necessity at length drove him to
+mortgage his home, and he never paid even the interest on the claim, and
+when the above mentioned letter was written, the term of the mortgage
+was nearly expired, and he must soon seek another home for his family.
+Such was the idle whimsical being who now wrote to these relatives to
+know what they thought of his removal to Canada, and only waited, as he
+said, to see what encouragement they could give him adding that he was
+willing to work and only asked them to assist him in getting his family
+settled till he could look about him a little and see what was to be
+done, signing himself their attached but unfortunate cousin. But the
+professed attachment of her Cousin Silas failed to call up a very
+pleased expression of countenance as my aunt refolded the letter,
+saying, "Well if this isn't a stroke of business, then I'm mistaken.
+What are you going to do about it Nathan Adams?" "I can't answer that
+question just yet," said my uncle, reflectively. "I think we'd better all
+have a night's sleep before we say any more about it." They felt in duty
+bound to reply to the letter, but what reply to make was an unsettled
+question for several days. They were aware that, for all their cousin's
+professed willingness to work, the care of his family would in all
+probability devolve upon them, for some time at any rate. But Grandma
+Adams had tenderly loved her brother, Silas' father, and at length by
+her advice a favourable reply was written. "I can tell, you one thing,"
+said Aunt Lucinda, after the letter was sent away, "I cannot, and will
+not have Silas Stinson's family move in here, for if he has no more
+method in governing his children than in other things we might as well
+have as many young Indians right out of the Penobscot Tribe brought into
+the house. I am willing to help them as far as I can, but bringing them
+into the house is out of the question." "I'll tell you what you can do,
+Nathan," said grandma, "you know there's an old house on that piece of
+land you bought of Squire Taylor last fall, and you just fix it up as
+well as you can, and let them live in it this summer, and by the time
+another winter comes you can see further about it; perhaps by keeping
+round with Silas you may get some work out of him on the farm this
+summer, and his family must have a home of some kind. Providence has
+been very kind to us, and we must lend them a helping hand." "I dare
+say," replied my aunt, in her usual sharp manner, "that Providence has
+done as much for Cousin Silas as for us, only while we have toiled early
+and late, he has been whiffling about from one thing to another, trying
+to find some way to live without work; but I guess he'll learn before
+he's done that he'll have to work for a living like other people. But I
+suppose, Nathan as they've got to come you'd better see about fixing up
+that old house right away. If there was only himself and wife, I'd try
+and put up with them here for a while, but with their five wild tearing
+children--it makes me shudder to think of it!"
+
+When the matter of Cousin Silas' removal to Canada became a settled
+thing it appeared less terrible than upon first consideration. April
+arrived, bringing it's busy season of sugar-making, and it's mixture
+of sunshine and showers. Amid the hurry of work Uncle Nathan found time
+to give some attention to the matter of repairing the house, for the
+reception of the expected new-comers. Aunt Lucinda said she supposed her
+mother was right, and it was their duty to extend a helping hand to
+Cousin Silas, but at the same time it appeared to her that the path of
+duty really did have a great many difficult places, and she supposed as
+we could not go round about them we must keep straight forward and get
+over the hard places as well as we could. Preparations went on apace,
+and before the last of April the repairs on the house were completed. I
+was still studying hard, expecting this to be my last year at school. Of
+all the family I had become most attached to my aged grandma, whose life
+was evidently drawing near the close. She liked to have me near her,
+and, to her, no other reading was like mine; and the best which any one
+else could do, fell far below my services in waiting upon her; and my
+uncle and aunt often wondered what mother would do when the time came
+that I must leave them. Considerate ones, spare yourselves these
+forebodings, for, before I shall have left your family-circle, your aged
+mother will have been called to enjoy that rest which remaineth to all
+who live the life she has lived. It was thought by many to be somewhat
+singular that a youth of my age should have been so happy and contented
+in the quiet dwelling of my uncle, whose youngest occupants were
+middle-aged, and they could not be supposed to have much sympathy with
+the thoughts and feelings of youth. I had gone there in the first place
+merely to obey the wishes of my mother, which had ever been as a law
+unto me. I loved my uncle from the first, and, instead of feeling anger
+at the distrust with which my aunt was inclined to regard me, I felt a
+sort of pity for the lonely woman, and resolved, if possible, to teach
+her by my conduct that I was not altogether so bad as she supposed; and
+my kindness to her soon softened a heart which had become somewhat
+unfeeling, from having so few natural ties, as well as for want of
+intercourse with the world at large; and I learned that my attempts to
+please her, especially when they involved self-sacrifice, made me all
+the happier, so true it is that "it is more blessed to give than to
+receive."
+
+And in time I learned to love my home at the old farm house, with an
+affection so deep that the thought of leaving it was very unpleasant to
+me. I had also become much attached to my kind teacher and his family,
+and thought with pain of a separation from them. But the time was now
+drawing nigh when, like every youth who must depend upon his own
+exertions for success, I must go forth to make my own way in the world.
+By diligent study I had acquired an education which would enable me to
+fill a position of trust and responsibility, when I should have gained
+a practical knowledge of business. My mind turned toward mercantile
+pursuits, and it was my intention (after leaving school) to seek a
+situation where I could obtain experience in business.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXI.
+
+
+Winter had gradually melted away before the genial sun and warm rains of
+spring, till the snow had entirely disappeared, and the fields began to
+wear a tinge of green, with many other indications that summer was about
+to revisit the earth. There is something very cheering in the return of
+spring after enduring for a lengthened period the rigors of winter. The
+waters are loosed from their icy fetters, and sparkle with seemingly
+renewed brightness in the glad beams of the sun, and all nature seems
+to partake of the buoyant spirit called forth by this happy season. The
+song of birds fill the air, and they seem in their own way to offer
+their tributes of praise to the kind and benevolent Father, by whose
+direction the seasons succeed each other in their appointed order. All
+were busy at the farm. Uncle Nathan was beginning to look up his "help"
+for the labors of the summer, and my aunt was equally busy within doors.
+Grandma is still there, always contented and always happy, for the
+old-fashioned leather-covered Bible, which lies in its accustomed place
+by her side, has been her guide through the period of youth and
+middle-age, and now, in extreme old age, its promises prove, "as an
+anchor to her soul, both sure and steadfast." The Widow Green is at
+present an inmate of the dwelling, as she often is in busy seasons. A
+letter has lately been received from Cousin Silas, saying he hoped it
+would afford them no serious disappointment if he postponed the
+proposed journey to Canada for a time, and added, by way of explanation,
+that his wife was anxious to revisit the scenes of her childhood in the
+State of Maine, before removing to Canada, and, as he considered it
+the duty of every man to make the happiness of his wife his first
+consideration, he was for this reason obliged to defer the proposed
+removal for the present. Had he seen the look of relief which passed
+over my aunt's countenance as she read the letter, he certainly would
+have felt no fears of her suffering from disappointment by their failing
+to arrive at the time expected. "I only hope," said she, "that his wife
+may find the ties which bind her to the scenes of her childhood strong
+enough to keep her there, and I am certain I shall not seek to sever
+them." "I am afraid Lucinda," said her mother, "that your heart is not
+quite right." "Perhaps not mother," she replied, "I try to do right, but
+I can't help dreading the arrival of that lazy Silas Stinson and his
+family; he was always too idle to work and when they are once here we
+cannot see them suffer, so I see nothing for us but to support them."
+"Let us hope for the best" said the old lady, "he may do better than you
+think, and it's no use to meet troubles half way."
+
+The preceding winter had been one of unusual severity, and, as is
+often the case in the climate of Canada where one extreme follows
+another, an early spring had given place to an intensely hot summer.
+The school had closed, but I was to remain with Uncle Nathan till autumn,
+when I was to return to my home at Elmwood for a short time before
+seeking a situation. It was the tenth of August, a day which will be long
+remembered by the dwellers in and around Fulton. For many weeks not a
+drop of rain had fallen upon the dry and parched ground, and the heat
+from the scorching rays of the sun was most oppressive. Day and night
+succeeded each other with the same constant enervating heat. Sometimes
+the sun was partially obscured by a sort of murky haze, which seemed to
+render the air still more oppressive and stifling, and all nature seemed
+to partake of the universal languor; not a breath of air stirred the
+foliage of the trees, and the waters of the river assumed a dull
+motionless look, in keeping with the other elements. "This day does beat
+all," said the Widow Green as she came in, flushed and heated from the
+dairy room. "I thought," replied my aunt, "I could bear either heat or
+cold as well as most people, but this day is too much for me. I cannot
+work, and I would advise you to give over too." "I remember a summer
+like this thirty years ago," said Grandma, "the same heat continued for
+nine weeks, and then we had a most terrible storm, and after that we had
+no more to say very warm weather the rest of the season; and I am pretty
+sure there is a tempest brooding in the air to-day, by the dull heavy
+feeling about my head, which I always experience before a thunder-storm."
+
+The heat had become so intense by noon that Uncle Nathan and his hired
+men did not attempt to go back to the fields after dinner, but sat
+listlessly in the coolest part of the house; they made some attempt to
+interest each other in conversation, but even talking was an exertion,
+and they finally relapsed into silence, and, leaning back in his chair,
+Uncle Nathan's loud breathing soon indicated that in his case the heat
+as well as all other troubles were for the present forgotten in sleep.
+A change came over the heavens with the approach of evening, a breeze
+sprung up, scattering the misty haze which had filled the air during
+the day, and disclosing a pile of dark clouds in the western sky, which
+seemed to gather blackness as they rose. "It's my opinion," said
+Grandma, who had carefully observed the weather during the day, "that
+the storm will burst about sunset," and true enough it did burst with
+a violence before unknown in that vicinity. I had gone to the far-off
+pasture to drive home the cows at the usual time for milking. The huge
+pile of clouds, which for hours had lain motionless in the west, now
+rose rapidly toward the zenith, and hung like a funeral pall directly
+over our heads. The tempest burst in all its fury before I reached home,
+clouds of dust filled the air, which almost blinded me, and almost each
+moment was to be heard the crash of falling trees in the distant forest.
+The thunder, which at first murmured faintly, increased as the clouds
+advanced upward, till by the time I reached home it was indeed terrific.
+They were all truly glad when I burst suddenly into the house drenched
+with rain, and completely exhausted. The cows remained unmilked for that
+night, a thing which Aunt Lucinda said had never happened before since
+her recollection. Flash after flash of vivid lightning filled the
+otherwise darkened air, succeeded by the deep heavy roll of the thunder.
+It was noticed by those who witnessed this storm, that the lightning had
+that peculiar bluish light which is sometimes, but not often, observed
+during a violent summer tempest. The inmates of our dwelling became
+terrified. The Widow Green crept to the darkest corner of the room and
+remained with her face bowed upon her hands. "I am no safer," said she,
+"in this corner than in any other place, but I do not like to sit near
+a window while the lightning is so bright and close at hand." Even my
+aunt, self-possessed as she usually was, showed visible signs of alarm,
+and truly the scene would have inspired almost any one with a feeling of
+terror, mixed with awe, at the sublime but awful war of the elements.
+The wind blew a perfect hurricane, and the rain fell in torrents, and,
+quickly succeeding the flashes of forked lightning, peal after peal of
+thunder shook the house to its foundation. Grandma Adams was the only
+one who seemed to feel no fear; but there was deep reverence in her
+voice as she said, "Be not afraid my children; for the same Voice which
+calmed the boisterous waves on the Sea of Galilee governs this tempest,
+and protected by Him we need not fear." The storm lasted for hours and
+increased in violence till Grandma said, "the storm of thirty years ago
+was far less severe than this." The rushing of the wind and rain, the
+deep darkness, except when lighted by the glare of the vivid lightning,
+with the awful roll of the thunder, altogether formed a scene which
+tended to inspire a feelings of deep awe mingled with terror. There had
+been a momentary lull in the tempest, when the air was filled with a
+sudden blaze of blinding light, succeeded by a crash of thunder which
+shook the very ground beneath our feet. "That lightning surely struck
+close at hand," said Uncle Nathan, as he opened the door and looked out
+into the darkness, and a few moments after the cry of "fire" added to
+the terrors of the storm. A barn belonging to a neighbor who lived a
+mile distant from us, had been struck by that flash, and was soon
+wrapped in flames. It was a large building, with timbers and boards like
+tinder, and was filled with hay, and it was well-nigh consumed before
+assistance could reach the spot, and it was with much difficulty that
+the flames could be kept from the other buildings on the premises,
+indeed several of the neighbours were obliged to remain on the spot
+most of the night. The storm continued with unabated fury till after
+midnight and then gradually died away, and from many a home a prayer of
+thanksgiving ascended to Heaven, for protection amid the perils of that
+long-to-be-remembered storm.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXII.
+
+
+I believe there is a power and solemnity in the near approach of death
+which often makes itself felt even before it invades a household; and
+something of this kind was experienced by the change which came over
+Grandma Adams about this time. It would have been difficult for her
+dearest friends to have explained in what the change consisted; but a
+change there certainly was which impressed all who saw her. She still
+sat in her arm-chair, she suffered no pain, and her countenance was
+cheerful and happy, and her intellect seemed unusually strong and clear;
+but to the eye of experience it was evident that this aged pilgrim, who
+for more than eighty years had trod the uneven and often toilsome
+journey of life, would soon be forever at rest. The Widow Green remarked
+to my aunt one day in a mysterious whisper, "that she was sure grandma
+was drawing near the brink of the dark river, and the bright expression
+of her countenance was but a reflection of the happiness in store for
+her on the other side." Strong and self-reliant as was my aunt, the
+death of her mother was something of which she could not bear to speak,
+and the widow was one who so often talked of dreams and mysterious
+warnings, that my aunt usually paid little heed to her remarks in this
+respect. But she could not reason away the change in her mother's
+appearance. Her mother had been so long spared to her that she had
+almost forgotten that it could not always be thus, and the All-wise
+Father, who sees the end from the beginning, willed it that the sudden
+death of her aged and pious mother should in a great measure be the
+means of preventing her from placing her affections too much on the
+perishable things of earth. One evening, when I closed the Bible after
+spending the usual time in reading to grandma, she said: "If you are not
+tired, Walter, read for me once more my favorite psalm." I read the
+psalm from the beginning in a clear distinct voice as I knew pleased her
+best, and when I had finished she said: "You have often, dear Walter,
+during the two past years forsaken your books or your play to read to
+me, and you have been to me a great blessing, and you will be rewarded
+for it, for respect and veneration from youth toward age and
+helplessness is a noble virtue, and the youth who pays respect to the
+aged will be prospered in his ways." There was something in the look and
+manner of my aged relative which affected me strangely. Her countenance
+looked unusually bright and happy, and her words had an earnestness of
+expression which I had never noticed before. At the time I knew but
+little of the different ways in which death approaches, and was not
+aware that with the very aged the lamp of life often burns with renewed
+brightness just before it goes out forever. After a short silence,
+grandma spoke again, saying, "Have you ever read Bunyan's Pilgrim's
+Progress, Walter?" I replied that I had, and she continued: "You may
+remember that when an order was sent for one of the pilgrims to make
+ready to cross the 'dark river', the messenger gave him this token that
+he brought a true message, 'I have broken thy golden bowl and loosed thy
+silver cord.' I think I have the same token, Walter. I feel that the
+golden bowl is well-nigh shattered, and the silver cord of my life is
+loosening, and soon the last strand will be severed, and to me it is
+rather a matter of joy than of sorrow. I know in whom I have believed,
+and all is peace. Continue, my child, as you have begun in life, and
+should you be spared to old age you will never regret following my
+advice. And now I must go to rest, for I am weary, and would sleep." Her
+words awed me deeply; but surely, thought I, grandma cannot die while
+she seems so well and so like herself. The words she had spoken so
+agitated my mind that it was long after I retired to rest, before I
+slept, and when at length slumber stole over my senses, I dreamed that
+a being beautiful and bright stood at my bedside, who was like Grandma
+Adams, only decrepitude and age had all disappeared, and a beauty and
+brightness, such as I am unable to describe, had taken their place. A
+smile rested upon her countenance, as she seemed in my dream, for a
+moment, to raise her hands above my head in blessing, when she
+disappeared from my view, and I awoke. But even while I dreamed, the
+angel of death came with noiseless step, and severed the last strand in
+the cord of grandma's life, and who shall say that her spirit was not
+permitted to hover for a moment, in blessing, over the youth so dear
+to her, before taking its final leave of earth.
+
+Upon going to her mother's room the next morning, my aunt found that
+she had passed from the sleep of repose to the deeper sleep of death.
+Thinking that possibly life still lingered, they immediately summoned
+the physician, but after one glance at the still features, he addressed
+my aunt, saying, "Your mother has been a long time spared to you, but
+she has gone to her rest." Even death dealt gently with the aged one
+whom every one loved. There was no sign of suffering visible, for as she
+sank to sleep, even so she died without a struggle, and a smile still
+seemed to linger upon her aged but serene countenance. I believe there
+are few who have not at some period of their life been called to notice
+the change which a few short hours will bring over a household. A family
+may have lived on for years with no break in the home circle, and every
+thing connected with them have moved on with the regularity of clockwork,
+when some sudden and unlooked-for event will all at once change the very
+atmosphere of their home. Owing to her advanced age, Grandma Adams' death
+could hardly be supposed to have been unlooked for, yet so it was.
+
+For so many years had she occupied her accustomed place in the family
+circle with health seemingly unimpaired, that her children had almost
+forgotten to realize that a day _must_ come when she would be removed
+from their midst, and the place which then knew her would know her no
+more forever. Very silent and gloomy was the old farm-house, during the
+days Grandma Adams lay shrouded for the grave. A hush seemed to have
+fallen over the darkened rooms, and the soft footsteps of friends and
+neighbors as they quietly passed in and out, all told the story of death
+and bereavement. Funeral preparations were something for which the Widow
+Green seemed peculiarly adapted, and her presence was ever sought in the
+house of mourning. She was a very worthy woman, and much respected by
+the people of Fulton, among whom she had resided for many years; but
+along with many estimable qualities she had also her failings and weak
+points; she had an undue zest for whatever partook of the marvellous or
+mysterious, her education was extremely limited, and her method of
+reasoning was not always most clear and logical. She was a firm believer
+in signs and omens, as warnings of death and other misfortunes, and very
+few events of this kind took place in the vicinity of which the Widow
+Green, according to her own statement, was not favored with a warning.
+But some of the neighbors were often heard to assert that many of her
+warnings were never spoken of till after the event happened. But setting
+aside this weakness, and the Widow Green was a kind and useful woman in
+the vicinity where she resided.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIII.
+
+
+A conversation to which I listened between the Widow Green and Mrs.
+Waters, another neighbor who assisted in the preparations for the
+funeral, filled me with astonishment, it being the first time I had ever
+listened to any thing of the kind. It was the night before the burial
+and the two women were busily employed in making up mourning for the
+family; I was seated quietly in a corner of the room, and if they were
+aware of my presence they did not allow it to interfere with the
+conversation which they carried on in that low tone which people mostly
+use in the house of death. "Do you believe in warnings?" said the Widow
+Green, addressing Mrs. Waters. "Most sartinly I do, and with good
+reason," was the reply. "For many and many a time I have been warned of
+sickness and death in the neighborhood." The stillness and lateness of
+the hour, together with the employment of the women, surrounded as they
+were with crape and black cloths of different kinds, struck me with a
+feeling of superstitious awe; and I listened to their conversation as
+children listen to a story which fills them with terror, while yet they
+are unwilling to lose a word. "It was only last winter," continued Mrs.
+Waters, "just before old Mr. Harris died--you remember him, he lived,
+you know, over on the east road toward the pond--as I was saying, one
+night about nine o'clock, there came two quick raps at our front door,
+as loud almost as if you had struck with a hammer; Waters was just
+lighting his pipe at the kitchen fire, and he gave such a spring when
+the sudden thumps came on the door that he upset a pitcher of yeast I
+had left by the fire to rise, of course that was of no consequence, and
+I only mention it as a circumstance connected with the warning, and to
+let you know that he was frightened, for you know for a general thing he
+kind o' makes light o' these things and says 'all old women, who drink
+green tea, have dreams and wonderful warnings.' As I was sayin', he ran
+to unbolt the door, without stoppin' to pick up the broken jar, and of
+course no one was there. 'Now,' said I, 'perhaps you will believe in
+warnings, for if ever there was a warning that was one.' 'I believe',
+said he, 'that some of the boys that know how foolish you are, are trying
+to frighten you.' 'I wonder which was most frightened', said I, 'for I
+didn't upset the yeast jar at any rate,' and the next day when we got
+word that old Mr. Harris died at nine o'clock the night before, he
+looked kind o' sober, and said, 'well it _is_ singular, that is
+certain,' and I could never get another word out of him about it, but
+you may know he thought it was a serious matter, for the very next time
+he went over to the village he brought me home a much nicer jar than the
+old one, without me as much as reminding him of it, and most always I
+have to tell him half a dozen times before I can get him to remember any
+little thing of that kind." They went on with their work for a few
+moments in silence, when the Widow Green, sinking her voice almost to a
+whisper, said: "I will tell you, Mrs. Waters, but you mustn't mention
+it for the world, we had two warnings over at our house of Grandma Adams'
+death. It's better than a month ago, I dreamed of bein' over here,
+helping to make up all kinds of finery for a weddin', and you know to
+dream of a weddin' is a sure sign of a funeral; and the next mornin' I
+said to my daughter Matilda Ann, there will certainly be a death over at
+Nathan Adams' before long. I didn't say nothin' to any one else, but kept
+kind o' ponderin' it in my mind, and then one night, about sunset, last
+week, our dog Rover went over on the hill and sat with his face toward
+here and give the mournfulest howls I ever did hear. I sent my boy
+Archibald to call him in, for I couldn't bear to hear it. The dog
+wouldn't stir, and the boy dragged him into the house by main strength,
+and I shut him up in the back-kitchen, but the first time the door was
+opened he sprung out, in less than a minnit he was over on the hill
+again, and set up them awful howls a second time, and if that wasn't a
+warnin' I don't know what would be one." The widow had a very
+appreciative listener in the person of Mrs. Waters, and I know not how
+many experiences of a similar kind might have been related, had not the
+entrance of my aunt put a sudden check upon their conversation; for they
+both knew her sufficiently well, to be aware that a conversation of this
+kind would not for a moment be tolerated in her hearing. It was something
+entirely new to me, and it kept me awake for a long time after I retired
+to rest. Can it be, thought I, that an All-wise Providence makes known by
+such means, events which are not revealed to the wisest and best of
+mankind: and young as I was, I banished the idea, as an absurdity, and
+to quiet my mind, I began repeating to myself what had been grandma's
+favorite psalm, and before I reached the close fell quietly asleep. In
+after years, the conversation between these two women often recurred to
+my mind, and more than once I have smiled at the recollection of the
+broken yeast-jar.
+
+But they verily believed their own statements, having listened to
+stories of a similar kind since their own childhood; a belief in them
+almost formed a part of their education, and having never set reason at
+work upon the subject, they were sincere in their belief that events are
+often foreshadowed by those superstitious signs which formed the topic
+of their conversation.
+
+The funeral was over with its mourning weeds and solemn burial service,
+and all that was earthly of Grandma Adams rested in the grave; but what
+shall we say of those she has left in their now lonely home? My uncle
+and aunt were still as deeply attached to their mother as in the days of
+their childhood and youth, and her age and utter dependence upon them
+for years past had all the more endeared her to their hearts, and when
+she was thus suddenly removed a blank was left in their home which they
+felt could never again be filled. But the affairs of life do not stand
+still, and we are often obliged to take up again the realities of life,
+with the tears of bereavement and anguish still upon our cheeks, and
+even this may be wisely ordered to prevent us from indulging our grief,
+even to a morbid melancholy. But lonely enough seemed the house when the
+kind friends and neighbors had all again departed to their homes, and we
+were left alone. There was grandma's arm-chair with the little stand for
+her large Bible, her glasses lay upon its worn cover, even as she had
+laid them aside on the last night of her life. Many had offered to
+remove them, but my aunt would not allow them to be disturbed, and it
+was several days after the funeral that I quietly removed them to
+another room while my aunt was busied elsewhere, and she never
+questioned me as to why I had done so. From the day of her mother's
+death my aunt was a changed woman, her disposition seemed softened and
+subdued, and if, from long habit, she sometimes spoke in sharp quick
+tones, she was gentle and far more forbearing with the failings of
+others than formerly. Uncle Nathan said but little, but it was easy to
+see that the loss of his aged mother was much in his mind; and often was
+he seen to brush away a tear when his eye rested upon the vacant corner.
+It was not long after this that they received a letter from cousin
+Silas, informing them that he expected to arrive with his family in
+a few days. Aunt Lucinda never uttered an impatient word, but began
+quietly to make preparations for their reception. Very likely she
+remembered what her mother had said sometime before. It is very often
+the case that advice which we give little heed to while the giver is in
+life and health becomes a sacred obligation after their death. Almost
+every day she went over to the house which was to be their home, and
+spent several hours in putting it in order, and when they arrived, a
+comfortable home awaited them. Cousin Silas was, as may be supposed, a
+much talking, do-nothing kind of a man, his language was plentifully
+adorned with flowery words, to which he often added scripture
+quotations, although seemingly he took little pains to inculcate in his
+own family the principles taught in that sacred volume. When, soon after
+his arrival, he was informed of their late bereavement, he made a long,
+and I suppose very appropriate speech, but I am inclined to think, it
+failed to carry much consolation to his listeners. It would be difficult
+for one to imagine a more disorderly family than was that of Cousin
+Silas, and yet strange to say he seemed to regard his wild unmanageable
+children as models of perfection. His own imagination was very fertile,
+and he really indulged the illusion that they were all he would have
+liked them to be. His wife, her spirits broken down by poverty and care,
+had long since ceased to make the best of the little left in her hands,
+and her family government was also extremely nominal in its nature, so
+that their arrival at Uncle Nathan's, to say the least of it, was not
+a desirable affair. There were five children altogether. I believe it
+would have been hard to find a worse boy than their eldest son Ephraim,
+aged about fourteen. The next in age was George Washington, but I am
+certain, had he lived in the days of that illustrious man, he would have
+looked upon his namesake with any other feeling rather than pride.
+Ephraim had one way, and George Washington had another. The eldest was
+noisy and boisterous and delighted in malicious fun, and was continually,
+as the neighbors said, "up to some kind of mischief;" while the other was
+too indolent even to do mischief; he had one of those disagreeable sulky
+natures which we sometimes meet with always grumbling and out of humor
+with himself and every one else. Then there were three little girls, and
+all that caused them to be less troublesome than the boys, was, that they
+were younger; the youngest was little more than a babe and gave the least
+trouble of either of the five. They remained at Uncle Nathan's for two or
+three days before removing to the home prepared for them; and they
+certainly were not an agreeable addition to our quiet household. I could
+not have believed it possible that my aunt could have borne the annoyance
+with so much patience. She went about quietly and made the best of the
+matter, altogether unlike my Aunt Lucinda of two years ago, and I believe
+she had a feeling of pity for the weary-looking mother of this disorderly
+family; she did remark to the Widow Green, on the day of their removal,
+that "she believed if they had staid much longer, her head would have
+been turned with their noise and confusion." But they were gone at last,
+and assisted by the Widow Green my aunt went from room to room, and
+endeavored again to bring order out of the mass of litter and confusion;
+remarking that the house looked as though it had been turned upside down,
+and it did really seem pleasant when, after two days' labor, the rooms
+were again put to rights, and the dwelling brought back to its usual
+state of cleanliness and order. My aunt said, "it seemed a waste of labor
+to fit up a home for a family who didn't know how to take care of it; but
+then," added she, "if we do our duty, it wont be our fault if they fail
+to do theirs." In a few days she went over to see how they were getting
+along, and allowed upon her return that she had serious fears the
+children would pull her in pieces. In spite of their mother's feeble
+attempts at authority, the little girls pulled at the ribbons on her cap,
+picked at her cuff-buttons, and one of them made a sudden snatch at her
+brooch, my cherished gift; the mother ran to the rescue, but not till the
+pin attached to the brooch was first bent, then broken. "What shall I do
+with these children," said the mother. Provoked by the injury to her much
+valued brooch, my aunt replied, hastily: "I know what I would do, I
+would whip them till they'd learn to keep their hands off what they've
+no business with." But when she saw how grieved the woman seemed to be,
+she felt sorry she had spoken so hastily. My aunt said it seemed as
+though night would never come, when I was to drive over to take her
+home, for there was not, she said, a minute's peace in the house during
+the whole afternoon, and glad enough was she to return at night to her
+own quiet home. It was a severe trial to one of my aunt's orderly
+habits, to be daily subjected to the visits of the noisy mischievous
+children of her cousin, and although she bore it with more patience than
+might have been expected, it was a serious annoyance. More than all, she
+dreaded the eldest son Ephraim. From the first there had existed a kind
+of feud between them. The boy was quick to notice the love of order so
+observable in my aunt, and took a malicious pleasure in studying up ways
+and means to annoy her in this respect. Articles of daily use were
+misplaced, and many an accident occurred in the household which could be
+traced in an indirect way to Ephraim; but the fellow was shrewd as well
+as mischievous, and took good care that not a scrap of direct evidence
+could be brought against him.
+
+His father was for a time to assist Uncle Nathan upon the farm; and
+under pretence of performing some of the lighter work Ephraim usually
+came to the farm with him, but it was very little work which his father
+or any one else got out of him; but it seemed an understood thing that
+Cousin Silas and his family were to be borne with, and they endeavored
+to bear the infliction with as good a grace as possible. My aunt was put
+out of all patience, by finding one day, upon going to the clothes' yard
+to hang out her weekly washing, the clothes-lines cut in pieces and
+scattered about the yard. She knew at once that this was some of
+Ephraim's handiwork, and when the men came home to dinner she taxed him
+with the crime in no very gentle tones. As usual he declared himself
+innocent, even saying that he did not know there was a line in the yard.
+Then, as if a sudden thought had struck his mind, he said with the most
+innocent manner imaginable, "I just now remember that when we went out
+from breakfast this morning, I saw Tom Green coming out of the yard with
+a jack-knife in his hand, and it must have been him who cut up the
+lines." This was rather too glaring a lie, and Ephraim must have
+forgotten for the moment that Tom Green had been absent from home for
+several days; and cunning as he was, for once he had, as the saying is,
+"overshot his mark." "Silas Stinson," said my aunt, "will you allow
+that boy to sit there and tell such lies in your hearing?" His father
+saw that there was no help for it, he must at any rate make a show
+of authority; and looking at his hopeful son with a very solemn
+countenance, he addressed him in the language of Scripture, saying "O!
+Ephraim what shall I do unto thee?" "It wouldn't take me long to find
+out what to do, if he was mine," said Aunt Lucinda. "I'd take a good
+birch rod, and give him such a tanning, that he wouldn't cut up another
+clothes-line in a hurry, I'll promise you." "Upon the whole I think your
+counsel is wise, Cousin Lucinda," replied his father, "for the wisest
+man of whom we have any account says, 'Foolishness is bound up in the
+heart of a child, but the rod of correction shall drive it far from
+him,' and the same wise man adds in another place: 'He that spares the
+rod spoils the child.'" I know not whether he acted from a sense of duty,
+or to appease the anger of my aunt; but, for the first time in his life,
+I believe he did use the rod upon his son Ephraim. He provided himself
+with a switch, the size of which satisfied even Aunt Lucinda, and,
+taking him to the back-kitchen, if we could judge by the screams which
+issued from thence, the whipping he bestowed upon Ephraim was no
+trifling affair.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIV.
+
+
+Autumn again came, with its many-hued glories, and I must bid adieu to
+the uncle and aunt who had been so kind to me for the two past years.
+Looking forward two years seem a long period; but, as memory recalled
+the evening of my first arrival at Uncle Nathan's, I could hardly
+believe that two years had since then glided away. I had bid my kind
+teacher and his family good-bye, and in the morning was to set out
+on my homeward journey. I accompanied my uncle and aunt to grandma's
+grave--a handsome head-stone of white marble had been erected, and I
+enjoyed a melancholy pleasure in reading over and over again the
+sculptured letters, stating her name and age, with the date of her
+death. Eighty-five years, thought I, as my eye rested upon the figures
+indicating her age, what a long, long life! and yet she often said that,
+in looking back over her long life, it only seemed like a short troubled
+dream; but it is all past now, and she rests in peace. We sat long at
+the grave and talked of the loved one, now sleeping beneath that grassy
+mound; till the deepening twilight hastened our departure. I could not
+check the tears which coursed freely down my cheeks when I turned away
+from the grave. Seated around the fireside that evening we talked of the
+coming morrow when I was to leave them for an indefinite time, and they
+both spoke of how doubly lonely the house would seem when I should be
+gone. It hardly seemed to me that the aunt I was leaving was the same I
+had found there, so softened and kind had she become. "It's not my way,"
+said she, "to make many words; you have been a good, obedient boy Walter,
+and I am sorry, that you must leave us, but we could not expect to keep
+you always. Always do as you have done here, and you will get along, go
+where you will; always look upon this house as a home, and if you ever
+stand in need of a friend remember you have an Aunt Lucinda, who, if she
+does fret and scold sometimes, has learned to love you very dearly, and
+that is all I am going to say about it." It was well that she had no
+wish to say more, for her voice grew tremulous before she had finished;
+and these few words more than repaid me for the endeavours I had made to
+please her during my stay with them. "My boy," said Uncle Nathan, "you
+are now leaving us. I am not going to spoil you, by giving you money,
+for if you wish to ruin a boy there is no surer way than by giving him
+plenty of money; and I want to make a man of you, and have you learn to
+depend on yourself and save your money: so at present I only intend
+giving you enough money to bear the expenses of your journey home, and
+buy any clothing you may require before going to a situation; but I have
+deposited a sum of money, to remain on interest for six years; if your
+life is spared, you will then be twenty-one years of age, and if you
+make good use of your time, may save something yourself. I will not say
+how large a sum I have deposited, but at any rate it will help you along
+a little, if you should wish to go into business for yourself at that
+time; and now you had best go to bed and sleep soundly, for you must be
+up bright and early in the morning."
+
+The good-byes were all said, and I was seated in the train which was
+to convey me from Fulton. As the train passed out of the village I
+rose from my seat to obtain a last look at the Academy whose white walls
+shone through the trees which surrounded it. I suppose if the Widow
+Green had been there she would at once have said I would never see the
+Academy again, it being a saying of hers, "that to watch a place out of
+sight was a sure sign we would never behold it again." I certainly tested
+her saying upon this occasion, for I gazed upon the dear old Academy
+till it faded in the distance from my sight, and since then I have both
+seen and entered it. When my mother met me at the depot at Elmwood, I
+could hardly believe the tall girl who accompanied her was my sister,
+Flora, so much had she grown during the past year. I did not expect to
+meet Charley Gray, as the holidays were all over long ago, but the good
+Doctor and his wife were kind and friendly, indeed they had ever been so
+to me. "Charley went away in the sulks because you failed to come home
+during the holidays," said the Doctor with a good-humoured laugh, "but a
+fit of the sulks is no very uncommon thing for him;" and then he added,
+while a grave expression rested for a moment upon his face, "poor
+Charley I hope he will get rid of that unhappy temper of his as he grows
+older, if not it will destroy his happiness for life." "I am sure,"
+replied I, "that Charley could not have been more anxious about it than
+I was myself, but I could not leave Uncle Nathan till the fall." "So I
+told him," said the Doctor, "but would you believe it, the fellow for a
+while persisted in saying, you knew he was at home, and so stayed away
+purposely, till he finally became ashamed of himself and owned that he
+did not really think so, and only said it because he was provoked by
+your not coming home; you see he is the same unreasonable Charley that
+he ever was, but it is to be hoped he will in time, become wiser."
+
+I was glad to find myself again at home; much as I might love another
+place, Elmwood was my home. My favorite tree in the garden looked doubly
+beautiful, clothed as it was with deep green, while the foliage had long
+since been stripped from those surrounding it by the frosts and winds of
+November.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXV.
+
+
+About two weeks after my return home, Dr. Gray called one evening, and
+informed my mother that he had that day received a letter from an old
+friend of his, who was a merchant doing an extensive business in the
+city of Montreal, requesting him, if possible, to find him a good trusty
+boy, whom he wished to give a situation in his store. "Mr. Baynard
+prefers a boy from the country," said the Doctor, "as he has had some
+rather unpleasant experiences with city boys; and it occurred to me that
+you might be willing your son should give the place a trial. I wish not
+to influence you too much: but I know Mr. Baynard well; and if I wished
+a situation for my own son I know of no place which would please me
+better." "Did my circumstances allow of it," said my mother, "I would
+gladly keep my boy at home, but, as it is necessary for him to seek
+employment, perhaps no better situation will offer, and as you, in whose
+opinion I have much confidence, speak so highly of Mr. Baynard, if
+Walter is willing we will at once accept of the offer, and you may write
+to your friend, accepting the situation for my son." Of course I had no
+objection to offer, and the Doctor wrote, informing Mr. Baynard that I
+would be there in two weeks time.
+
+The time passed quickly away, and I again left home. The Doctor had
+written to my employer informing him on what day he might expect my
+arrival. The train reached the city about two o'clock in the afternoon,
+and, stepping from the car I became one among the crowd upon the
+platform. During the journey I had many times wondered to myself whether
+Mr. Baynard would meet me himself or send some one else. I supposed he
+would send one of his clerks. Dr. Gray had arranged that I was to board
+in Mr. Baynard's family, as my mother objected to my going to a public
+boarding-house, and in this, as in all cases the good Doctor was our
+friend; old as I am now I cannot recall Dr. Gray's many acts of kindness
+to me when a boy without a feeling of the deepest gratitude.
+
+To a boy of fifteen, whose life has mostly been passed in a quiet
+country village, the first sight of the city of Montreal is somewhat
+imposing. Presently I noticed a gentleman who appeared to be looking for
+some one, and I felt sure it was Mr. Baynard. He appeared to be about
+forty years of age and during the whole course of my life I have never
+seen a more agreeable countenance than he possessed. I felt attracted
+toward him at once. I stood still watching his movements, as with some
+difficulty he made his way through the crowd, and soon his quick eye
+rested upon me; approaching and laying his hand on my shoulder, he said
+"Is your name Walter Harland, my boy? My name is Mr. Baynard, and I
+drove round by the depot to meet a boy I was expecting to arrive on this
+train." "My name is Walter Harland," I replied, "and I am the boy of whom
+Dr. Gray wrote to you." He shook hands with me, speaking a few kind and
+encouraging words at the same time. After giving orders concerning my
+trunk, he told me to follow him, and we soon reached his carriage, and
+telling me to jump in he drove to a beautiful residence, sufficiently
+distant from the business centre of the city to render it pleasant and
+agreeable. Mr. Baynard's family consisted of his wife, two daughters
+and one little boy. They all treated me with much kindness, and seemed
+anxious that I should feel at home with them. I arrived at Montreal on
+Thursday, and Mr. Baynard said I had best not begin my regular duties in
+the store till the following Monday. I shall long remember the first
+Sabbath I spent in the city, for on that day I suffered severely from
+an attack of home-sickness. Mr. Baynard's eldest daughter, Carrie was
+twelve years old, her sister Maria was ten, and their little brother
+Augustus was only seven years old. In the morning I attended church with
+the family, and a very lonely feeling came over, as I looked around over
+the large congregation and among them all could not discover one
+familiar countenance. The most lonely portion of the day was the
+afternoon; we did not attend church, and feeling myself as a stranger in
+the family I spent most of the time in my own room, and naturally enough
+my thoughts turned to my far distant friends, and I must confess that,
+although a boy of fifteen, I shed some very bitter tears that lonely
+Sabbath afternoon. In the evening I again attended church, and after our
+return spent the remainder of the evening in reading, and so passed my
+first Sabbath in the city of Montreal. I rose the next morning
+determined to be hopeful and look upon the bright side.
+
+Before I took my place in the store, Mr. Baynard requested me to
+accompany him to the library, where he passed much of his leisure time,
+and he talked to me kindly and earnestly, informing me what would be
+expected of me, and giving me instructions regarding the duties of my
+position. "Many years ago," said he, "I came to this city a poor boy
+like yourself, as assistant clerk in a large store, I was even younger
+than you, and less fortunate in one respect, for my employer did not
+give me a home in his family, and I was obliged to take my chance in a
+large boarding-house which was not the best place in the world for a
+young and inexperienced boy; but thanks to the good principles taught me
+by my parents, I was preserved pure and upright amid many temptations to
+evil. My friend informs me that you have been well taught by your mother
+and the knowledge that you are left fatherless interests me in your
+favour; and, more than this, I am much pleased with your appearance, and
+I trust you will never forfeit the good opinion I have formed of you at
+first sight. I wish not to multiply advices to a needless extent, and
+will only add, be diligent in your business, be honest and upright in
+all things, and, above all things, shun evil companions, and you will
+surely be prospered in all your undertakings." This advice was given in
+the kindest manner possible, and from my heart I thanked Mr. Baynard for
+the interest he manifested in me. When I entered upon my regular duties
+in the store, I found them light, but I was kept very busy. My first
+task in the morning was to sweep, dust and open the store; through the
+day I assisted the older clerks in waiting upon customers, carried
+parcels, in fact, made myself generally useful. When released from the
+store the remaining portion of my evenings were pleasantly passed in the
+family of my employer; he was very unwilling I should acquire the habit
+of spending my evenings abroad, and was at much pains that the evenings
+in his own family should be pleasant. The little boy seemed to regard
+me, when out of the store, as his own property. I was fond of the child,
+and devised many plans for his childish amusement; his lively prattle
+often drove away the lonely feelings which at times stole over me, when
+I remembered my distant friends. The little girls both played the
+piano, which was a source of much enjoyment to me; we had access to the
+library where there were books suited to all ages. Mrs. Baynard allowed
+us occasionally to indulge in a noisy game, when our numbers were
+increased by some of their schoolmates. I well remember the feeling of
+wounded pride and anger when I one evening chanced to hear a purse-proud
+gentleman say to Mr. Baynard, "I am much surprised that you should allow
+your children to associate with one of your clerks; I could not for a
+moment think of allowing mine to do such a thing." "I do not ask you to
+allow your children to associate with him," replied Mr. Baynard, with a
+heightened colour, "but as long as Walter remains the honest, upright
+youth he has so far proved himself, I consider him a very desirable
+companion for _my_ children. I have learned his character and
+connections from my old and esteemed friend Dr. Gray, and his testimony
+is sufficient for me." This reply silenced, if it failed to convince the
+proud gentleman.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVI.
+
+
+As time passed on, I became accustomed to the duties of my position,
+and performed them much more easily than at the first. The feeling of
+diffidence with which I entered Mr. Baynard's family soon wore-away, by
+the kindness extended toward me by every member of the family. I spent
+no money needlessly, being anxious to lay by as much as possible. I
+wrote often to my friends at Elmwood as well as to Charley Gray, and
+received long letters in return which afforded me much pleasure. My
+mother's letters often enclosed one also from my sister, which gave me
+many choice scraps of news concerning my old school-companions, and many
+trifling matters which doubtless possessed more interest for me than
+they would have done for any one else. I presume Charley felt our
+separation more keenly than I, our natures were so unlike.
+
+Hurrying along Great St. James Street one afternoon with a heavy package
+of goods under my arm, I struck against a youth, who was walking in the
+opposite direction, with such seeming rudeness that I paused to
+apologize, and when I raised my eyes found myself standing with my old
+friend and companion at Fulton Academy, Robert Dalton. Our meeting was
+not more unexpected than joyful: he had been in Montreal for the past
+six months, but had failed to inform me, indeed Robert was not a good
+correspondent, it was no lack of friendship but for some reason or
+other, writing letters was always a task to him. Meeting unexpectedly as
+we did our former intimacy was soon renewed. He was employed in a large
+druggist's shop in Notre Dame Street, and boarded with another clerk
+whose home was in the city, and we were much together when released from
+the business of the day. Learning from Robert's employer that he was a
+young man of good principles, Mr. Baynard did not object to our intimacy,
+indeed he looked upon him as a kind of safe-guard to me, owing to his
+being three years my senior and possessing more experience and knowledge
+of the world; and from what he had learned of the young man, he was
+aware if he exercised any influence over me it would be for good; and
+many pleasant evenings we passed together in Mr. Baynard's family;
+Robert was fond of music, and was considered a good singer and often his
+rich voice mingled with the notes of the piano in Mr. Baynard's parlor.
+Since then, in looking back to that time, I have often thought if
+business men, who often have young men in their employ whose homes are
+far distant, would be at a little pains to afford them social pleasures
+of an elevating nature, it might have a decided effect for good upon
+their characters, in after life.
+
+It is unnecessary and would prove tedious to the reader as well as to
+myself, were I to give a detailed account of the two first years of my
+residence in the city of Montreal. It had been understood that I was to
+remain two years, before visiting my friends at Elmwood, and although I
+became happy and contented, I looked forward with impatience to the time
+when I could visit my mother and sister. The two years was nearly past,
+and I began to count the weeks and days as the time drew nigh for the
+expected visit. I had become as one of the family in the house of my
+employer, and had enjoyed much pleasure in the society of my friend
+Robert Dalton; the more I saw of him the more I valued his companionship,
+indeed he had become to me as an elder brother. He often amused me by
+relating incidents of his childhood, and in my turn I talked freely to
+him of my distant home and friends.
+
+If Charley Gray left home two years ago in a fit of the sulks, it did
+not interfere with our correspondence which had been sustained regularly
+on both sides. It was now nearly three years since we had met, and I
+looked forward eagerly to our expected meeting, for he was to spend the
+holidays at home. When I reached my native village, Charley was the first
+to welcome me, having begged the privilege of driving to the depot to
+meet me. He had changed much during the two past years. He had grown
+tall and manly looking, and a glance at his broad full brow at once told
+one that he possessed a powerful intellect; but he was pale and thin
+from close application to study, for from a mere boy Charley was a hard
+student. As we rode homeward we had much to tell of what had taken place
+since our last meeting. I received a joyous welcome from my mother and
+sister, and with a feeling of pride I placed in my mother's hand a
+considerable sum of money which I had saved carefully for her use,
+hoping it might enable her to live without the unceasing toil which had
+been her lot for several years. The month I was to spend at home sped
+swiftly away, and we all made the most of each passing day. Charley Gray
+seemed so cheerful and happy that I began to hope he had outgrown that
+jealous and unhappy temper which had formerly been so characteristic
+of him; but in this I was mistaken as I soon had abundant cause to
+realize. That serpent in his bosom was not dead, but only slumbered
+till aroused by some slight provocation. We were one evening engaged in
+a long and familiar conversation, he related many incidents connected
+with his school-life, and I also spoke of many things concerning my home
+in Montreal; among others I mentioned Robert Dalton, and spoke of the
+friendship between us which began at Fulton Academy and which was so
+pleasingly renewed in the city of Montreal. I had for the moment
+forgotten Charley's peculiar and exclusive nature, and dwelt at
+considerable length on the good qualities of my absent friend, till
+checked by the dark frown which suddenly gathered upon Charley's
+countenance, and the angry flash which shot from his eyes. Rising to his
+feet, he said in a voice of deep displeasure: "Since you are so fond of
+a new friend, I suppose you no longer consider an old one worth
+retaining, so I will trouble you no longer." I attempted to reason with
+him, saying I could not see why a new friendship should alienate us who
+had been friends from our childhood; but by this time he had worked
+himself into a fearful passion and made use of very violent language. I
+had learned long ago that when his anger was excited, he was not master
+of either his words or actions. I stepped forward, and laying my hand
+upon his shoulder tried to recall him to himself, but he threw off my
+hand as if my touch had been contamination, and without another word
+walked from the room. As I looked after his retreating form as he walked
+hastily down the street I could not help a feeling of pity for him, that
+he should suffer himself to be governed by such an unhappy temper, for I
+knew that when his anger became cooled he would bitterly repent of his
+conduct. To the reader who has never met with one possessing the
+unhappy disposition of Charley Gray, his character in these pages will
+seem absurd and overdrawn; but those who have come in close contact with
+a like nature will only see in this sketch a correct delineation of one
+of the most unhappy dispositions which affect mankind. Charley was
+endowed with rare gifts of mind and intellect, and was manly and
+sensible, and setting aside this one fault it was hard to find a more
+agreeable and pleasant companion. His absurd conduct was often a matter
+of after-wonder to himself, and he made frequent resolutions of
+amendment, which only held good till some cause roused his old enemy. I
+suppose no more proper name could be found for this unhappy disposition
+than exclusiveness, for what ever or whoever he liked, he wanted all to
+himself. He was respectful and courteous to all, but intimate only with
+a very few, and for those few his affection went beyond the bounds of
+reason, inasmuch as it was a source of unhappiness to himself and all
+connected with him.
+
+I cherished no resentment toward Charley, knowing him as I did, but I
+knew the folly of trying to reason with him in the state of mind in
+which he left me. It must have been a hard struggle with his pride, for
+Charley was very proud, but his good sense prevailed, and he came to
+seek me. "You are freely and fully forgiven," said I, in reply to his
+humble acknowledgment of wrong-doing; "but _do_ Charley for your own
+sake as well as that of others try and subdue a disposition which if not
+conquered, will render you unhappy for life. If I am your friend does it
+follow that I must have no other, and the making of other friends will
+never diminish my regard for you, the earliest and best friend I have
+ever known." "I am sensible," replied he, "of all and more than you can
+tell me of the unreasonableness and absurdity of my own conduct, and
+again and again have I resolved to gain the mastery, and often, when I
+begin to have confidence in my own powers of control, this exclusive
+jealous disposition will suddenly rise and put to naught all my
+resolutions of amendment. If you could know what I endure from it you
+would pity instead of blame me. But let us part friends, and I will try
+to exercise more reason for the future." We talked long together, for
+the morrow would again separate us, and it might be long before we would
+meet again. I had spent a happy month in the cool shady village of
+Elmwood, and returned to my labors with body and mind both strengthened
+and refreshed.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVII.
+
+
+About the middle of October, Robert Dalton was taken ill. His disease
+seemed a kind of low fever, and in a short time he was completely
+prostrated. All the leisure I could possibly command I spent at his
+bedside, and many hours did I forego sleep that I might minister to his
+wants. The family with whom he boarded were very attentive, but I knew
+he was pleased with my attention, and exerted myself to spend as much
+time with him as possible. Several days passed away with little apparent
+change in his symptoms, but he grew extremely weak. His physician was
+of the opinion that he was tired out from long and close application
+to his business; but thought he would soon recover under the necessary
+treatment. One evening, when he had been about two weeks ill, I went as
+I had often done to sit by him for a portion of the night; after the
+family had all retired, I administered a quieting cordial left by the
+doctor, and shading the lamp that the light might not disturb him, I
+opened a book, thinking he would sleep. He lay very quiet, and I
+supposed him to be asleep, and was becoming interested in the volume
+before me when he softly called my name. I stepped quickly to his
+bedside, he took my hand saying, "sit down close to me Walter, I have
+something to say to you." I took a seat near him, and after a few
+moments' silence he said: "You may perhaps think I am nervous and
+fanciful, when I tell you I feel certain I shall never recover from this
+illness; the physician tells me I will soon be up again, but such will
+not be the case." Observing that I was much startled, he said, "Do not
+be alarmed Walter, but compose yourself and listen to me. My parents and
+one sister live at a distance of four hundred miles from here. I have
+deferred informing them of my illness, as my employer, who has much
+confidence in the skill of my physician, thought it unwise to alarm them
+needlessly, and I now fear that I have put it off too long, for I think
+I shall not live to see them. I intend in the morning requesting my
+employer to send a message for my father to hasten to me at once, but
+I fear it is too late." Much alarmed, I enquired if he felt himself
+growing worse, or if he wished me to summon his physician. He replied,
+"I feel no worse, but from the first I have had the impression that I
+should never recover; and should I not live to see any of my friends. I
+have one or two requests to make of you, knowing that you will attend to
+my wishes when I shall be no more." I became so much alarmed that I was
+on the point of calling some of the family; but he arrested me saying:
+"I am quite free from pain, and when I have finished my conversation
+with you shall probably sleep." He continued, "I know my father will
+hasten at once to me when apprised of my illness, but should I not live
+till he arrives, tell him I have endeavored to follow the counsels he
+gave me when I left home; for I know it will comfort him when I am gone
+to know that I respected his wishes. Tell him, also, he will find what
+money I have been able to save from my salary deposited in the Savings
+Bank. Tell him to remember me to my mother and sister Mary, and could I
+have been permitted to see them again it would have afforded me much
+happiness, but that I died trusting in the merits of my Redeemer, and
+hope to meet them all in Heaven, where parting will be no more." His
+writing-desk, which was a very beautiful and expensive article, he
+requested me to accept of as a token of affection from him. I promised
+faithfully to obey all his wishes should his sad forebodings prove
+true, yet I could not believe he was to die. At the close of our
+conversation he seemed fatigued, I arranged his pillows and gave him a
+cooling drink, and I was soon aware by his regular breathing that he
+slept soundly. As he lay there wrapped in repose my memory ran backward
+over all the happy time I had spent with him; he was the only one
+outside of Mr. Baynard's family with whom I was at all intimate, and the
+bitter tears which I could not repress, as I gazed upon his changed
+features, made me sensible how dear he had become to me. A hasty letter
+was written next morning to Mr. Dalton, informing him of his son's
+illness, and of his urgent request that he should hasten to him as soon
+as possible; but poor Robert lived not to see his father again. The next
+day after the letter was written a sudden change for the worse took
+place in his disease, and it soon became evident that he could live but
+a few hours. He expressed a wish that I should remain with him to the
+last, and before another morning dawned Robert Dalton had passed from
+among the living. A short time before his death, his eyes sought my
+face, and his lips moved as though he wished to speak to me; I bowed my
+ear to catch his words, as he said in a voice which was audible to me
+only: "When my father arrives remember all I said to you, and tell him I
+died happy, feeling that all will be well with me." After this he spoke
+no more, and an hour later he died with my hand clasped in his own.
+When, two days after, his father arrived, and found that he was indeed
+dead, his grief was heart-rending to witness. Never before did I see such
+an agony of grief as was depicted upon his countenance as he bowed
+himself over the lifeless body of his only son. As soon as circumstances
+permitted, I repeated to Mr. Dalton the conversation Robert had held
+with me a short time before his death. Among other things I gave him
+his watch which he had entrusted to my care. He pressed me to keep the
+watch, saying, "From the frequent mention my son made of you in his
+letters, I almost feel that I know you well, and knowing the strong
+friendship he entertained for you, I beg of you to accept of his watch
+for his sake as well as mine, and should we never meet again, bear in
+mind that I shall ever remember you with gratitude and affection." It
+was a small but elegant gold watch which to Robert had been a birthday
+gift from an uncle who was very fond of him, and to this day it is to me
+a valued keepsake.
+
+When Mr. Dalton left the city, bearing with him the lifeless remains of
+his son, for interment in the family burial-place, a deep gloom settled
+over my mind, and for a long time, I could hardly rouse myself to give
+the necessary attention to my daily duties. Since that period I have
+made other friends and passed through many changing scenes, both of joy
+and sorrow; but I have never forgotten Robert Dalton, and his image
+often rises to my mental vision, as memory recalls the scenes and
+friends of my youthful days.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVIII.
+
+
+With the reader's permission I now pass over a period of six years. I am
+still residing in the city of Montreal, as Mr. Baynard, when I reached
+the age of twenty-one, saw fit to offer me a partnership in his
+business, which the fruits of my former industry, added to a generous
+gift from my Uncle Nathan, enabled me to accept. Many changes have taken
+place in my early home in the village of Elmwood. Many old friends and
+neighbors have been laid to rest in the quiet churchyard, and many with
+whom I attended the village school have gone forth from their paternal
+home to seek their fortune in the wide world. The cottage home of my
+mother has undergone many improvements since we last looked upon it. It
+has been enlarged and modernized in various ways, and its walls are no
+longer a dingy brown, but of a pure white, and its windows are adorned
+with tasteful green blinds. From a boy it had been my earnest wish to
+see my mother placed in a home of ease and comfort, and that wish is now
+gratified. Time has not dealt severely with my mother, for she looks
+scarcely a day older than when we last saw her six years ago. My sister
+Flora is finishing her education at a distant boarding school, where I
+am happy to say my brotherly affection and generosity placed her. Good
+Doctor Gray and his kind wife are still alive; but they are really
+beginning to grow old. But what of Charley, for surely the reader has
+not forgotten Charley Gray; he graduated from College with the highest
+honors, and is now studying medicine in the city of New York, as,
+agreeable to the ideas of his boyhood, he has decided upon becoming a
+physician. I have met with him only twice during the past six years.
+Does his old unhappy disposition cling to him still? we shall learn that
+bye and bye.
+
+During all the years of my residence in Montreal, Mr. Baynard had
+enjoyed uninterrupted health, but he was now seized with a sudden and
+alarming illness; his disease was brain fever in its most violent form.
+His physician found it impossible to break up the fever, and with his
+afflicted family I anxiously awaited the result. A deep gloom
+overshadowed the dwelling, the family and servants moved with noiseless
+steps and hushed voices through the silent apartments. He was delirious
+most of the time. The doctor often tried to prevail upon Mrs. Baynard to
+leave him to the care of some other member of the family and seek rest,
+but she could not think of leaving his bedside even for a short time,
+and only did so when rest was an absolute necessity. The two daughters
+had been absent at school for two years, and just at this time they
+returned to their home, having finished their term of study, and they
+were almost heart-broken thus to find their father stretched upon a bed
+of sickness, and could not but entertain fears as to the result. All my
+attention during the day was required at the store, as the whole
+oversight of the extensive establishment devolved upon me.
+
+The days that Mr. Baynard lay prostrated by suffering passed wearily by:
+the frequent visits of the physician, the perpetual silence, and the air
+of gloom which prevailed through the dwelling, told but too plainly that
+there was sorrow and suffering within its walls. His wife would often
+bend over the suffering form of her husband, and her tears would fall
+fast while he still lay unconscious of her presence or watchful care;
+and she feared he might in this state pass away and leave no token of
+recognition or remembrance. At length the time allotted for the disease
+to run its course arrived. This time had been anxiously waited for by
+the physician, and with much greater anxiety, by his sorrowing family.
+On the night of the crisis of the disorder, Mr. Baynard was so extremely
+weak that the question of life and death was evenly balanced, and it was
+hard to separate probabilities of the one from the other. Mrs. Baynard
+requested that I would not return to the place of business after tea,
+but remain with them. The physician never left the room during all that
+night; and O! what a long and dreary night it was: the house was silent
+as a tomb, even the ticking of the watch which lay upon the stand seemed
+too loud. Finally the breathing of the sick man seemed entirely to
+cease. The doctor stepped hastily forward, felt his pulse and placed his
+hand over his heart. "Is he dead?" said Mrs. Baynard, in a calm voice,
+but her face was pale as marble. The doctor made no reply but raised his
+hand as if to enjoin silence, and he quickly applied powerful draughts
+to the soles of his feet: if these took effect they might have hope. In
+a short time the patient made a slight movement as if from pain, and the
+physician hastily called for wine, saying, "Life is still there, and if
+it can for a short time be sustained by stimulants, he may rally." Ere
+the morning sun rose, the doctor expressed a hope that the crisis was
+past, and that he would recover. For several days, he lay weak and
+helpless as an infant; but the doctor assured us that he was slowly but
+surely recovering. Soon after he was so far recovered as to spend a
+portion of each day at our place of business.
+
+I received a letter from Charley Gray informing me that he intended
+spending several weeks of the summer at Elmwood, and urgently requesting
+me to meet him there. I had intended visiting Elmwood before receiving
+his letter; I had only been once there during the three past years, and
+I felt the need of a respite from the cares of business. My sister also
+expected this summer to return home, having spent four years at school,
+and I looked forward with much pleasure to the time when we should meet
+again in the dear old home at Elmwood. Time had worked a great change in
+me since I left that home eight years before. Providence had smiled upon
+my efforts to assist my widowed mother and sister. Through my means my
+mother was now placed in a home of comfort and affluence, and my sister
+had received a thoroughly good education. I was still prospered, and of
+late was fast accumulating money. Never before, since leaving the
+paternal roof, had I felt so strong a desire to rest for a time beneath
+its shelter, and as the time drew nigh I could hardly control my
+impatience. At home again! I realized this happiness in its truest
+meaning, when I found myself again beneath the roof that had sheltered
+my childhood. Flora too was there, but so much changed that I could
+hardly recognize the little sister who had ever looked up to me for
+protection and love. The very evening after my arrival Dr. Gray called.
+His call surprised us a little as the hour was late. He came in with his
+old good-humored laugh, saying: "Do not be alarmed, for this is not a
+professional visit, and for once I have left my medicine-case at home;
+but when I went home quite late in the evening and learned that Walter
+had arrived I thought I should sleep all the more soundly for coming
+over to welcome you to Elmwood again. By the bye," continued he, "I
+hear Walter that you are fast becoming rich; well I am glad to hear it,
+and I am pretty sure you will make a good use of your money." I assured
+him I was far enough from being rich. "Modest as ever," replied he, "but
+no matter, better that than forward and boastful, no fear but you'll get
+along. I am expecting Charley to arrive every day," said he, "and then
+won't we have the good old-fashioned times again." I was very happy to
+meet my old friend again in such good spirits. The next day while,
+conversing with my mother, I suddenly remembered Farmer Judson, and
+I enquired if his temper was improved any of late. My mother looked
+serious as she replied, "I had forgotten to tell you, Mr. Judson has
+been ill for a long time. He first had lung-fever from which he
+partially recovered, but he now seems like one in a slow consumption; I
+have not as yet called to see him, as I hear he is very irritable and
+does not care to see people, and I feared he would take my visit as an
+intrusion. I very much pity his poor wife, who is almost worn out with
+attending upon him, and would gladly aid her were it in my power." As a
+boy I had cherished anger toward the farmer; but that had all passed
+away and I felt sorry to hear of his illness.
+
+Two days after my arrival, Charley Gray came. Our meeting could not be
+otherwise than happy. He was, I believe, the most changed of the two;
+and I thought at the time I had never before seen so perfect a type of
+manly beauty. "What a pity," thought I, "that one so highly gifted, and
+noble looking, and whose manner was at times so attractive and winning,
+should allow himself at other times to be so morose and disagreeable
+from a foolish and unreasonable temper." He had now completed his
+studies, and had come home for a short time before entering upon the
+practice of his profession. When I left the city, Mr. Baynard advised
+me to spend at the least two or three months at home, for so long and
+industriously had I applied myself to business, that he thought a season
+of rest and recreation would be very beneficial to me; and all our old
+friends at Elmwood seemed anxious to add to the enjoyment of Charley
+Gray and myself during our stay. My mother was one who seldom left her
+home, and she surprised me one day by saying, "If Charley and I would
+take a journey to Uncle Nathan's, she and Flora would accompany us," and
+that very evening I wrote to my uncle and aunt informing them of our
+proposed visit, and asking them if they would be willing to entertain
+so large a party; and an answer soon arrived informing me that nothing
+would afford them more pleasure than our visit, and "they were very sure
+they could find room for us all." I had only paid one hasty visit to
+Fulton since I left it, and I anticipated much pleasure from again
+meeting my uncle and aunt with many old friends of my school-days at
+Fulton.
+
+I did not intend writing a long story, and will not trouble my readers
+with the particulars of our journey, nor of the hearty welcome we
+received when we arrived at the old farm house of Uncle Nathan. Let it
+suffice that nothing was wanting to render our stay agreeable. My uncle
+and aunt looked scarcely a day older than when I left them eight years
+since. Upon my remarking how lightly time had set on them, my uncle
+replied with his old manner of fun and drollery, "Don't you know,
+Walter, that old bachelors and old maids never grow old, they get kind
+o' dried in just such a way and keep so for any length of time," and I
+could not help thinking there was some truth in his remark. I enquired
+with much curiosity for Cousin Silas and his family. "O!" replied Aunt
+Lucinda, "upon the whole they have done better than one could have
+expected when they first came here. Silas will never do much anyway,
+they still live on the Taylor place, and Nathan manages one way and
+another to get some work out of him. Nathan intends at some time to deed
+the place to the family in such a way that Silas can't squander it away;
+but he has never told them so yet. Somehow or other, after mother's
+death, I felt drawn toward the family, and did all I could to help them
+along. I kept the little girls with me by turns, and encouraged them to
+attend school, and took pains to learn them habits of order and
+industry, and I found after a time that my labor was not entirely thrown
+away, for as they grew older they carried the habits which I tried to
+teach them into their own home, and to say the least of it, they live
+much more like other people than they used to; and I begin to think that
+even an old maid can do a little good in the world, now and then, as
+well as any one else. Of course you remember the boys, and what an awful
+trial it used to be to have Ephraim about the place; well, he settled
+down after a while, he always said the whipping his father gave him for
+cutting up my clothes-lines and then lying about it was what made a man
+of him. He attended school for three years, and then not wishing to work
+on the farm, he struck out into the world for himself; he obtained a
+situation in a mercantile house in Toronto, and I hear bids fair to make
+a successful business man. George Washington has not entirely ceased to
+grumble and look sulky; but there has been a wonderful change in one
+respect, for there is now no harder working youth in the neighborhood;
+he likes farming, and early and late may be found at his work. I don't
+know but Nathan may have given him a hint that the old Taylor place may
+one day be his own. I don't know how it is, the neighbors say it was
+your Uncle Nathan and I who ever made any thing of those children.
+Nathan said: 'Silas would never do much any way, and we had better try
+and make something of the children,' and I certainly have done my best;
+but it was uphill work for a long time; and I am glad that they have
+profited by our efforts for their good."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIX.
+
+
+Dr. Oswald was still the teacher of Fulton Academy, and many happy hours
+were passed in the interchange of visits during our stay at Uncle
+Nathan's; and I suppose I must inform my readers of a sentimental scene
+which took place in Mr. Oswald's garden on a delightful evening in
+midsummer, when, at my earnest entreaty, lovely Rose Oswald renewed the
+promise made to me on that very spot just eight years ago; for my boyish
+fancy had ripened into the strong man's love, and I felt that Rose
+Oswald, as my wife, was all that was wanting to render me as happy as
+one can reasonably expect to be in this world of change and vicissitude.
+"If you are willing to resign yourself to my keeping," said I, "there is
+no need of a long engagement, and when I leave Fulton I must take you
+with me as my wife." "So soon, Walter." "Yes, Rose, _just so soon_. I
+have long looked forward to this day, and now I almost count the minutes
+till I can claim you as all my own," and so the matter was settled. When
+Aunt Lucinda was informed of this arrangement she opened her eyes wide
+in astonishment, and when she learned that the marriage was to take
+place within a few days, she was highly delighted, "for", said she, "the
+sun never shone on one like Rose Oswald before; in fact, she was far too
+good for any one but you Walter, so if you had not chanced to fall in
+love with her, she must have died an old maid."
+
+It was a bright morning, early in September, that a small wedding party
+was assembled at Mr. Oswald's residence; the few guests invited were all
+old friends. I sent an urgent message for good old Dr. Gray and his
+wife, and although they seldom left Elmwood, they responded to my call,
+and made what, to them, was quite a long journey, that they might be
+present at my marriage. That same evening we set out on our wedding
+tour, while my mother and Flora, with Charley Gray, returned to Elmwood;
+and, after travelling for several weeks, we found ourselves at my
+mother's home, where we were to spend a few weeks longer before
+returning to the city, which was to be our permanent home. Soon after my
+return to Elmwood, I received an urgent message to visit Mr. Judson, who
+was said to be fast failing. I felt a degree of reluctance to go, having
+never once entered his dwelling since the memorable day on which I left
+it years ago, but I felt it my duty to comply with his request. I found
+him much weaker than I had expected. He seemed much overcome, when I
+softly entered the room, and extending my hand, enquired how he found
+himself. "I am very weak," he replied, "and feel that I have but a short
+time to live. I have felt very anxious to see you, and I feared you
+would not arrive in time to see me alive. I hope you will forgive my
+unkindness and harshness to you when a boy. I did not then know that I
+was so unkind, but it has come back to me since. At that time my whole
+desire and aim was to accumulate riches, and it was that which caused me
+to be harsh and unfeeling. I _have_ become rich, but riches will avail
+me but little, as I stand upon the brink of eternity, and the way looks
+dark before me, but it will afford me some comfort to hear you say you
+forgive me, before I die." I took his hand within my own, as I said:
+"Any resentment I may once have cherished toward you, Mr. Judson, has
+long since passed away. I was but a boy when I resided with you, and
+very likely at times taxed your patience severely, and you have my
+entire forgiveness for any harshness I may ever have experienced at your
+hands. I am sorry to find you so ill, and hope you will soon be better."
+"No, Walter;" he replied, "that will never be, and I am now sensible
+that in my anxiety for the things of time, I have neglected the
+all-important matters of eternity. Since I have lain upon this sick-bed
+I have tried to repent, and I trust I do feel sorry for my sins; but,
+somehow, I do not find the comfort I seek. Would that you could tell me
+what to do Walter." Can this softened and subdued man, thought I, be
+the same of whom I once stood in so much fear. As well as I was able
+I directed him to the sinner's only hope, the merits of a merciful
+Saviour; while, at the same time, I referred him to many comforting
+Bible-promises; which, when I had read, he said: "Do you think, Walter,
+those promises can be meant for me, who have neglected my Bible and been
+careless and worldly all my life long?" For answer, I directed his
+attention to the promise which says: "He that cometh unto me I will in
+no wise cast out." He requested me to pray with him. I have never before
+prayed save in the retirement of my own room, and I felt a degree of
+diffidence at the thought of praying in the presence of others, but I
+overcame the feeling, and, kneeling down, I forgot the physician as well
+as others who listened to me, and lifted up my voice in solemn earnest
+prayer. I forgot everything but the God before whom I pleaded. I prayed
+that were it the will of Providence, he might be restored to health;
+but, if not, that he might, in believing on the Saviour, find a comfort
+which would enable him to triumph even over the terrors of death. When I
+rose from my knees, he seemed more composed, and, after remaining silent
+for a short time, he addressed me with much earnestness, saying: "It
+seems to me, Walter, that I _must_ see my two boys, before I die. Send
+for them at once. I drove them from me by my harshness, years ago. Send
+for them at once, and I hope my life maybe spared to see them once
+more." He held my hand long at parting, saying: "You have done me good,
+Walter, and I do begin to have a hope that my Heavenly Father will have
+mercy upon me and receive me, not for any merit of my own, but through
+the merits of that Saviour who died for the salvation of repentant and
+believing sinners." Learning the address from Mrs. Judson, I at once
+dispatched a telegraph message to the two sons, and four days later they
+arrived, to mingle their tears at the death-bed of their father, from
+whom they had so long been estranged. It was evident, from day to day,
+that Mr. Judson was failing fast; but, as his bodily strength wasted
+away, a most happy change came over his mind, during the last few days
+of his life.
+
+I was summoned from my pillow at midnight to stand by his death-bed.
+His death was calm and full of hope; but, to the last, it was to him
+a matter of regret, that he had neglected, through life, those things
+which afforded him any hope in death. Among his last words to me, he
+warned me against setting my heart upon riches, in a way that would
+prove a snare to any soul. "Riches," said he, "are a great blessing when
+rightly used, but ought not to be the chief aim and object of life."
+Before the morning dawned, his spirit passed away, and it was my hand
+that closed his eyes in the dreamless sleep of death. The next day I
+called, in company with my mother, and entered the darkened room where
+lay his lifeless remains, now habited for the grave. I gazed long and
+silently upon those features now stamped with the seal of death. Reader,
+if there lives one against whom you cherish angry and bitter feelings,
+pause a moment and consider what your feelings would be if called to
+stand by their coffin; for, be assured, your anger will then give place
+to sorrow that you ever indulged anger toward the poor fellow-mortal now
+extended before you in the slumber of death. I attended the funeral of
+Mr. Judson, and saw his body consigned to the grave. He sleeps in the
+village churchyard at Elmwood, and a marble slab marks his resting-place.
+When, after the funeral, his will was read, the large amount of the
+property left was a matter of wonder to many. In his will he gave largely
+to several benevolent and religious institutions, and to me he left the
+sum of one thousand dollars. I could see no reason why he should have
+done this, but as his will was drawn up in legal form and properly
+attested I thought it right I should accept of the generous gift; and,
+indeed, it was but a small sum out of the large property left by Mr.
+Judson. Besides his liberal gift to me, he also gave largely to different
+benevolent and religious causes. Half the remainder of his large property
+was to go to his surviving widow, and the remainder was to be equally
+divided between the two sons. Before his death it was settled that
+Reuben, the youngest son, was to remain on the home place to care for his
+mother in her old age, while the eldest was to return to their former
+business; and thus Mrs. Judson's declining years were rendered happy and
+contented through the care and love of her favorite son. And so Rose and
+I at length bade adieu to our friends, after a protracted visit, and
+returned to the city, where, by my direction, a pleasant and tasteful
+house already awaited us. Rose liked not to reside in the noisy city, so
+our home is in one of the most pleasant suburbs in Montreal. Should any
+of my readers be curious enough to enquire if Rose and I are happy, I
+would cordially invite them to pay us a visit, and judge for themselves,
+the first time they pass our way. The evening before we were to leave
+Elmwood, I was seated beneath my favorite tree in my mother's garden,
+and leaning backward against its grey trunk, with its thick and
+wide-spreading canopy of green branches above my head, I indulged in a
+long and deep reverie. Memory ran backward over the careless happy days
+of my childhood, the struggles of my youth, and the exertions of mature
+manhood; and although bereft, at a very early age, of my earthly father,
+I could not fail to observe the guiding hand of a Heavenly Father who had
+smiled upon my youthful efforts to assist my widowed mother, and had
+prospered my undertakings, and crowned my mature years, by giving me,
+as a life-partner, the one who had been my first and only choice, and
+almost unconsciously to myself, I repeated aloud the following verse from
+what was Grandma Adams' favorite psalm: "Commit thy way unto the Lord,
+trust also in Him; and He shall bring it to pass."
+
+So busily was my mind occupied that I failed to notice the approach of
+my sister Flora, till she seated herself close to my side, and leaning
+her head upon my shoulder said in a constrained hesitating voice: "There
+is one thing I must tell you, Walter, before you go away: Charley Gray
+has told me he loves me, and asks me to be his wife." This did not
+surprise me much for I had noticed with secret anxiety the growing
+intimacy between Charley and my sister. "What shall I tell him, Walter,"
+said my sister, "for I must not, dare not act without the counsel of my
+only brother?" I looked up in my sister's face with all the affection
+which welled up from my heart and said, "you love him then, Flora?" "How
+can I help loving him, who is so gifted, so noble," was her reply.
+"And," continued she, "on account of his reserved nature, I believe few
+give him credit for the real goodness of heart he possesses." As Flora
+had said, Charley possessed a kind heart, and was just and honorable in
+every respect, but I trembled for the woman who placed her happiness in
+his keeping; and how much more so, when that woman was my beloved and
+only sister. "You do not answer me," said Flora; "mamma would give me no
+reply till I had consulted you." "My dear sister," said I, "Charley is
+all that you say, just, honorable and good; but with all this he has
+qualities which, if not brought under subjection, will sadly mar his own
+happiness and that of all who love him. He is exclusive and jealous even
+of a friend, how will it be with a wife? Suspicion and jealousy is
+inherent in his very nature, for did not Doctor Gray tell me years ago
+that a suspicious, jealous nature was hereditary in the family of
+Charley's mother and he therefore begged me not to blame Charley too
+severely for a fault which he could not help saying 'he feared the cloud
+which hovered over Charley's cradle would follow him to his grave.' I
+doubt not Charley's affection for you, Flora; but the very depth of his
+affection will, I fear, prove a source of unhappiness to you both, for
+you are aware as well as I that Charley's affection, like his anger when
+roused, goes beyond the limits of sober reason. From your childhood,
+Flora, you have been petted and indulged, and a life of continual
+watchfulness and restraint will be something entirely new for you; for
+I never knew even a friend of Charley's who could act themselves when he
+was present, and unless there has been a wonderful change, as his wife,
+you will be forced to guard your every word and look lest you offend
+him; you must be pleased only with what pleases him, in short his will
+must be yours in all things." "You are my brother," said Flora, "and I
+need not blush to tell you I love Charley Gray better than I once
+thought it possible for one to love another, and I know from his own
+lips that he loves me equally in return, and as his wife the confidence
+between us will be so full and entire, there will be no room left for
+doubt and suspicion." "Well, little sister" said I, "knowing Charley
+as I do, I could not help uttering those warning words, but I shall not
+seek to hinder your marriage. I love and respect Charley more than any
+other friend I have, but I am very sensible of his faults. A heavy
+responsibility will devolve upon you as his wife, but love works
+wonders, and all may be well; but remember, Flora, you have a most
+peculiar nature to deal with, but it may be your privilege to exorcise
+the dark spirit from the breast of Charley Gray." That same evening the
+engagement ring glittered upon Flora's finger; and six months later,
+amid a small company of friends, they uttered their marriage vows in
+the old church at Elmwood; and by many they were called with truth a
+beautiful and noble looking couple; and immediately after their marriage
+they set out for their new home in one of the large cities of the
+Western Provinces, where Charley was to begin the practice of his
+profession. They left us under seeming summer sky, and I breathed a
+prayer, that no cloud might arise to mar its serenity.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXX.
+
+
+About a year after Flora's marriage I received a letter from Aunt
+Lucinda with a pressing invitation that we should go at once to Fulton;
+she wished me also to write, requesting my mother to join us at Montreal
+and accompany us. This letter surprised me not a little, but I was well
+aware that Aunt Lucinda must have some particular reason for this sudden
+and unexpected invitation; and I at once wrote to my mother, informing
+her of her request, and two days later she arrived at my home in
+Montreal. We enjoyed a pleasant journey, and again my eyes rested with
+delight upon the familiar scenes of the village of Fulton. Uncle Nathan
+met us at the railway station, looking as hale and hearty as ever. On
+our way to the farm I ventured to inquire what had caused our invitation
+to visit them at this particular time; he answered me only by repeating
+the old saying, "Ask me no questions and I'll tell you no lies," and so
+we made no further inquiries. When Aunt Lucinda came forward to welcome
+us, I at once noticed the remarkable change in her appearance; one would
+have supposed that at least ten years had been taken from her age since
+I last saw her, and her whole manner was so cheerful and sprightly that
+I was at a loss to understand what could have happened; but I never
+dreamed of the truth till after tea, when Aunt Lucinda rose and said: "I
+want to see you, Walter, alone in the parlor." I followed her, secretly
+wondering what wonderful revelation I was to listen to. When we were
+seated, she said with her old abrupt manner, "Well, Walter, you have
+heard Nathan talk about Joshua Blake, he has come back and we are going
+to be married to-morrow and I have sent for you to attend the wedding.
+You may well look astonished to hear an old woman like me talk about
+getting married; and the land knows what Deacon Martin's folks will say;
+but as long as they have liberty to say whatever they please, they
+needn't complain. You remember hearing Nathan laugh about Joshua Blake
+and his red hair years ago, perhaps you thought there was no such person
+in the world but there was. Joshua was an only child, his parents lived
+over at the village, and we went to school together. His hair was not a
+real blazin' red but only a dark auburn, for all of Nathan's nonsense
+about it. Well, we loved each other, when mere children. As we grew
+older I could see but one fault in Joshua, he was inclined to be
+unreasonably jealous, and that was the beginning of our trouble. I was
+young and giddy, and much as I loved him rather enjoyed teasing him, and
+doing trifling things which I knew would vex him, while at the same time
+I cared for no one else in the world; and I am now ashamed to say I
+often accepted of the attentions of others for the mischievous delight I
+took in making him angry and seeing him look cross, and it may be there
+was a lurking pride in knowing that I had the power to make him jealous.
+Truly, Walter, the human heart is a singular compound of good and evil.
+I shall ever remember the last evening we spent together, it was at a
+party. I know not what spirit of mischief possessed me, but I took
+particular pains to annoy Joshua by my giddy and frivolous conduct. When
+we were ready to return home he offered me his arm without speaking,
+this made me angry and I walked proudly by his side. We walked on in
+silence till we reached the gate at my own home. As he was turning away
+he said, 'I suppose, Miss Adams, it will cause you no sorrow if I tell
+you this is probably the last time we shall ever meet.' I know that even
+then, had I answered him differently the matter would not have ended as
+it did, but my spirit rose proud and defiant, and I said with a tone of
+mock levity, 'How long a journey do you purpose taking, Mr. Blake? is it
+to the grist-mill, or to the sawmill, which is a little farther away?'
+'You may make light of my words, if you choose,' replied he; 'but I am
+in no mood for jesting. The truth is, Miss Adams, that I can no longer
+endure this life of suspense and torture, and it is evident you care
+more for a giddy throng of admirers than for the love of one who has
+loved you from childhood. I leave here to-morrow morning, trusting to
+time and distance to assist me in forgetting you.' He looked earnestly
+in my face, in the bright moonlight, as he said these words, but could
+read there nothing but self-will and defiance. It is even now a matter
+of wonder to me what caused me to act as I did, against my own feelings.
+He held out his hand, saying: 'Let us at least part as friends, Miss
+Adams.' I gave him my hand, saying lightly: 'I hope, Mr. Blake, you
+won't be like the boy who ran away from home and came back to stay the
+first night.' I turned and walked toward my own door, and he went away
+without speaking another word. I watched him in the clear moonlight till
+a turn in the road hid him from my view. Had I entertained the slightest
+idea that he would fulfil his threat of going away, I know I should have
+acted differently; and it was not till I learned, the next day, that he
+had left Fulton and gone no one knew whither, that I realized what I had
+done. I knew not whether his parents had a suspicion of the cause of his
+sudden departure, if they had they never named it to me. I told my
+sorrow to no one but my mother, but Nathan always said he knew well
+enough without being told by any one. I can tell you, Walter, my sin did
+not go unpunished; for, inconsistent as my conduct has been, I loved
+Joshua Blake with a deep affection, and when my tortured mind pictured
+him as a wandering exile from his home, through my absurd and foolish
+conduct, you may be sure he did not suffer alone. And if I hadn't turned
+kind of cross and crusty, I am afraid I should have gone crazy, and it
+was certainly better to be cross than crazy. That is twenty-five years
+ago. As I was employed in the garden one morning a few weeks ago, an
+acquaintance from the village passing by said to me: 'Have you heard
+the news, Miss Adams, that has almost turned every one's head over at
+Fulton: Joshua Blake, whom every one had given up for dead years ago,
+has come home.' I grew cold as ice, and I never could tell how I reached
+the house. I could hardly believe it, and yet something told me it was
+true, and that very evening he came over here; but, instead of the youth
+who went away, I saw, a middle-aged man with gray-hair, which Nathan
+said was an improvement, allowing that some gray looked better than all
+red. It sounds foolish enough for young people to talk love, but for old
+people like Joshua Blake and I, it is unpardonable. He told me he had
+resolved never to return to his native land again, till, by the merest
+chance, he met a man in Australia who informed him of the death of his
+father, and that his father had said upon his death-bed, that all that
+gave him the least anxiety was his aged partner, who, at his death,
+would be left quite alone in the world. 'Then,' continued he, 'I thought
+of the sin I had committed in so long neglecting my parents, and I
+resolved to atone for my past neglect, by hastening home to care for my
+mother, should I find her still alive; and the happiness is yet left me
+of watching over the declining years of my aged mother.' For awhile I
+refused to listen to him when he spoke about marriage, and told him it
+was better we should remain only as friends; but he talked and talked,
+and kept saying that, as we loved each other in youth, we could yet
+spend the evening of our lives together; and I at last said yes, only to
+stop his talking, and if we should happen not to agree, we shall have
+less time to quarrel than if we had got married twenty-five years ago;
+but, I rather think we have both got sobered down, so we can get along
+peaceably. And now, Walter, you go right off to bed, for you must get up
+bright and early to-morrow morning, to assist in the preparations for
+the wedding." Aunt Lucinda looked very becoming in her bridal dress of
+gray silk with its rich lace trimming, and she looked younger and
+handsomer than I had ever seen her before, when Joshua Blake placed the
+marriage ring upon her finger; he was a fine-looking man, but I could
+not help thinking that the mixture of gray in his auburn locks was more
+of an improvement than otherwise. He had returned to Fulton a rich man,
+and on the same spot where stood his father's old house, he erected and
+furnished a beautiful residence, which every one allowed was an ornament
+to the village; and removed thither with his wife and aged mother a
+short time after his marriage. My aunt's marriage made quite a change
+in the home arrangements at Uncle Nathan's, but he finally persuaded my
+mother to sell her old house and Elmwood, to come and reside with him.
+It was some time before my mother could make up her mind to leave her
+old home, hallowed by so many associations of the past; but, judging the
+lonely situation of the brother, who had done so much for me, she at
+length consented; and my uncle's home is now presided over by my mother,
+who was always his favorite sister. Cousin Silas's eldest daughter, now
+an intelligent girl of eighteen, stays with my mother, as an assistant
+companion; and the summer gathering of friends from the dusty city is
+now held at Uncle Nathan's farm-house instead of my mother's old home at
+Elmwood.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXI.
+
+
+Some of my readers may inquire what kind of a husband my old school-mate
+Charley Gray made; some will be ready to suppose that his young and
+light-hearted wife at once worked a great and wonderful change in his
+disposition; others, that failing in her endeavors to do so, she became
+disappointed, sorrowing and unhappy. Neither of these conclusions is
+entirely correct. Flora did not all at once change her husband into a
+genial and social being; but her affectionate devotion inspired a
+confidence in her which gradually extended to others, and has now
+strength to say to the tumultuous waves of jealous passion "Thus far
+shalt thou come, and no further," and I am happy to say that my sister's
+cheerful and happy countenance does not indicate a sorrowful and
+disappointed heart. Yes, Charley Gray is a changed man, and there are
+deep lines of thought in his face, and a serene expression on his brow,
+and a clear happy light in his eye, which all speak of the battle fought
+and the victory won over the dark passions of his own heart. This summer
+we are all together at Uncle Nathan's, and our time is about equally
+divided between the old farm-house and the more elegant home of Aunt
+Lucinda. All the usual accompaniments of such a season of joy and
+festivity are here but the tremblings of emotion, the out-gushings of
+the heart, the thanksgivings and gratitude, as we blend the sometimes
+dark past with the bright present, and the rosy hue of the future, I am
+quite unable to describe. Years have come and gone with their scenes of
+sunshine and shadow since that glad reunion, we have each grown older
+and I trust wiser. Sorrow has been experienced and tears shed, but
+gentle hands have wiped away our tears and loving voices soothed our
+sorrows, and now, dear reader, I leave the actors who have appeared in
+the simple scenes of my story to pass onward, and perform their allotted
+parts in the great drama of life.
+
+
+
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