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diff --git a/old/67950-0.txt b/old/67950-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index f792627..0000000 --- a/old/67950-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,8025 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg eBook of Marcus, by Walter Aimwell - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and -most other parts of the world 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. If you are not located in the United States, you -will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before -using this eBook. - -Title: Marcus - or, The Boy-Tamer - -Author: Walter Aimwell - -Release Date: April 29, 2022 [eBook #67950] - -Language: English - -Produced by: Richard Hulse, Barry Abrahamsen, and the Online Distributed - Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was - produced from images generously made available by The - Internet Archive/American Libraries.) - -*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MARCUS *** - - - - New and Popular Series for Boys and Girls. - - ──────────────────── - - THE AIMWELL STORIES; - - A SERIES OF VOLUMES, ILLUSTRATIVE OF YOUTHFUL CHARACTER, - AND COMBINING INSTRUCTION WITH AMUSEMENT. - - BY WALTER AIMWELL, - - - Author of “The Boy’s Own Guide,” “Boy’s Book of Morals and Manners,” &c. - - WITH NUMEROUS ILLUSTRATIONS. - - ─────────────── - -The volumes contain about 300 pages, 16mo, each, bound in cloth, with -gilt backs. Price 63 cents. - -☞ Each volume is complete and independent of itself, but the series will -be connected together by a partial identity of characters, localities, -&c. - -The first five volumes of this series are now ready. They are entitled: - - OSCAR; or, the Boy who had his own Way. - CLINTON; or, Boy-Life in the Country. - ELLA; or, Turning over a New Leaf. - WHISTLER; or, the Manly Boy. - MARCUS; or, the Boy-Tamer. (Now Ready.) - JESSIE; or, Trying to be Somebody. (Shortly) - - - NOTICES OF THE PRESS. - -In the department of juvenile literature, the ‘Aimwell Stories’ have -fairly come to rival the ‘Rolla Books’ in the affections of the young -people. The author when he conceived the plan of the series, struck a -vein which he has since been working with rich and constantly increasing -success.—[Boston Transcript. - -One of the best series for the young ever written. Every family of -children ought to have them.—[Chicago Congregational Herald. - -They are written with great skill for the tastes and necessities -of children, and they are written conscientiously, with a moral -and Christian effort unobtrusively operative upon every -page.—[Congregationalist. - -A better series of books for children were never written. The author has -studied deeply and accurately the feelings, hopes, and thoughts of -youth.—[Boston Mail. - -The author of the ‘Aimwell Stories’ has a happy knack at combining -amusement and instruction. Under the guise of a story, he not only -teaches a moral lesson, which is or ought to be a leading object of -every tale for children, but he gives his readers instruction in -philosophy, geography, and various other sciences. So happily are these -introduced, however, that the youthful reader must learn in spite of -himself.—[Boston Journal. - -It is the best series of juvenile books with which we are -acquainted.—[Northampton Gazette. - -We have spoken repeatedly, and with unqualified commendation, of this -series of juvenile volumes. It would be difficult to exaggerate their -merits as a source of amusement and instruction to children.—[American -Patriot. - - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - NATIONAL SERIES OF AMERICAN HISTORIES. - - =By Rev. Joseph Banvard.= - - ──────────────────── - -PLYMOUTH AND THE PILGRIMS; or, Incidents of Adventures in the History of - the First Settlers. With Illustrations. 16mo, cloth, 60 cts. - -When once taken up it will not be laid down without regret until -finished.—_Courier._ - -An exceedingly interesting volume.—_Am. Traveller._ - -Popular reading, particularly adapted to entertain and instruct -youth.—_Mercantile Journal._ - -Every New Englander, wherever he resides, should own this -book.—_Scientific Am._ - -An extremely interesting volume, written in a plain but vigorous style, -adapted to the young, but will be read with interest by the older -ones.—_Ch. Freeman._ - -Highly attractive in style and instructive in matter.—_N. Y. Com. Adv._ - - -NOVELTIES OF THE NEW WORLD; an Account of the Adventures and Discoveries -of the First Explorers of North America. With numerous Illustrations. -16mo, cloth, 60 cts. - -A series of books which will serve as valuable introductions and -enticements to more extended historical reading.—_Am. Traveller._ - -It has all the interest of a romance.—_Portland Transcript._ - -We have seen the boys bend over these pages, unwilling to leave them, -either for play or sleep; and when finished, inquiring anxiously _when -the next_ would come.—_Watchman and Reflector._ - -Neither too childish for adults, nor yet too difficult of comprehension -for children. They will delight as well as instruct.—_Mercantile -Journal._ - -Interesting scenes and events in the New World are here brought together -and invested with a charm that is irresistible by old as well as -young.—_Ch. Intelligencer._ - - -ROMANCE OF AMERICAN HISTORY; or, an Account of the Settlement of North -Carolina and Virginia, embracing the tragic Incidents connected with the -Spanish Settlements, French Colonies, English Plantation at Jamestown, -Captivity of Captain Smith, the Adventures of Pocahontas, etc. With -Illustrations. 60 cents. - -All the interest of romance, and the addition of veritable -history.—_Puritan Rec._ - -It is a most pleasing and instructive book.—_Home Journal._ - -Interesting as a novel, and a thousand times more profitable -reading.—_Lit. Mes._ - -Every library should be furnished with this Series of American -Histories.—_N. E. Farmer._ - -Admirably fitted for family reading, and calculated to interest the -young.—_Trav._ - -Attractive series of books founded on the early history of our country; -it will make a most valuable addition to all family libraries.—_Arthur’s -Gazette._ - -No more interesting and instructive reading can be put into the hands of -youth.—_Portland Transcript._ - -The series will embrace the most interesting and important events which -have occurred in the United States since the settlement of the country. -Each volume to be complete in itself and yet, when all are published, -they will together form a regular SERIES OF AMERICAN HISTORIES. - - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - -[Illustration: - - CHRISTMAS TREE. - (See p. 268.) -] - - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - -[Illustration: - - The Aimwell Stories - By - Walter Aimwell - Gould & Lincoln -] - - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - +The Aimwell Stories.+ - - ──────────────────── - - - - - +MARCUS+; - - - OR, - - - +THE BOY-TAMER+. - - - - - BY - - - WALTER AIMWELL, - - AUTHOR OF “WHISTLER,” “ELLA,” “CLINTON,” “OSCAR,” ETC. - - - - - WITH ILLUSTRATIONS. - - - - - +BOSTON+: - +GOULD AND LINCOLN+, - 59 WASHINGTON STREET. - NEW YORK: SHELDON, BLAKEMAN & CO. - CINCINNATI: GEORGE S. BLANCHARD. - 1858. - - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - - - Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1857, by - - +GOULD AND LINCOLN,+ - - In the Clerk’s Office of the District Court of the District of - Massachusetts. - - - - - - - ELECTROTYPED BY - W. F. DRAPER, ANDOVER, MASS. - - PRINTED BY - GEO. C. RAND & AVERY BOSTON - - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - PREFACE. - - -------------- - - -A LEADING aim of this little volume is to point out to elder brothers -and sisters some of the ways in which they may exert a happy influence -upon the younger members of the family. It also attempts, incidentally, -to set forth the idea, that the best system of government for a child is -that which trains him to govern himself. But while the author hopes his -pages will not be wholly unsuggestive to such parents and “children of a -larger growth” as may honor them with a perusal, he trusts there will -remain enough both of story and moral for his younger readers, for whom, -after all, MARCUS and the other volumes of this series are especially -intended. - - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - ADVERTISEMENT. - - -------------- - - “PRECEPTS MAY LEAD, BUT EXAMPLES DRAW.” - - -------------- - - -“THE AIMWELL STORIES” are designed to portray some of the leading phases -of juvenile character, and to point out their tendencies to future good -and evil. This they undertake to do by describing the quiet, natural -scenes and incidents of every-day life, in city and country, at home and -abroad, at school and upon the play-ground, rather than by resorting to -romantic adventures and startling effects. While their main object is to -persuade the young to try well the foundations of their characters, to -win them to the ways of virtue, and to incite them to good deeds and -noble aims, the attempt is also made to mingle amusing, curious, and -useful information with the moral lessons conveyed. It is hoped that the -volumes will thus be made attractive and agreeable, as well as -instructive, to the youthful reader. - -Each volume of the “Aimwell Stories” will be complete and independent of -itself, although a connecting thread will run through the whole series. -The order of the volumes, so far as completed, is as follows:— - - - I. OSCAR; OR, THE BOY WHO HAD HIS OWN WAY. - II. CLINTON; OR, BOY-LIFE IN THE COUNTRY. - III. ELLA; ON, TURNING OVER A NEW LEAF. - IV. WHISTLER; OR, THE MANLY BOY. - V. MARCUS; OR, THE BOY-TAMER. - VI. JESSIE; OR, TRYING TO BE SOMEBODY. (_In preparation._) - - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - CONTENTS. - - - ──────── - - - CHAPTER I. - - THE PAGES. - - PAGE. - - The stage coming—A sharp pair of eyes—Rover’s 19 - greeting—The two passengers—Warm - greetings—Oscar—Ronald’s opinion of him—His judgment - corrected—The farm—Capt. Page’s last voyage—How the - farm was managed—The boarders—Ronald—His early - orphanage—A temporary home—Marcus’s proposal—Its - success—The little savage tamed—Oscar’s bearing—His - good purposes—Difficulties—The secret—A lesson to - learn—Oscar’s career, - - - CHAPTER II. - - THE NEW-COMER. - - The lion of the day—Oscar’s plans—A few days’ 32 - leisure—The flock of sheep—Other attractions—Willing - idleness—The agreement in relation to Oscar—An - inducement to industry—Oscar’s work laid out—Fair - play enjoined—Lord of the woodshed—Volunteers—Keeping - the pile good—Cutting hay and roots—Feeding the - stock—Special pets—Taking care of the horses—Milking - the cows—Sundry jobs—Studies—Play-time—Daily lessons, - - - CHAPTER III. - - A BOY’S INFLUENCE. - - Kate and the boys—Indian ink prickings—Ear 43 - boring—Smartings—Exhibiting the marks—Doing as other - boys do—The beauty of Indian ink art—A relic of - heathenism—Why the ancients marked themselves—No - moral guilt incurred by the boys—Soap and water of no - avail—What Oscar said—A doubtful star—Unsuspected - listeners—Sam Hapley—His family—The mortgage—A sad - change—Influence of large boys—Power of example—An - illustration—A good purpose, - - - CHAPTER IV. - - UP THE MOUNTAIN. - - An abandoned project—A party for Prescott’s 55 - Peak—Anecdotes of Rover—Other knowing dogs—Ronald’s - story—Was it a lie?—A cast-off snake’s skin—Black - snakes—The pond—Mysterious operations—Setting the - water afire—The experiment - explained—Fire-damps—Steamboats engulfed in - flames—The Mountain—Old Gooden—His adventure with a - steel trap—How he lived—His family—The cabin—The - spruce gum trade—A foolish habit—The top of the - mountain—The view—A monument proposed—The stones—The - pole—The descent—Something left behind—A generous and - a mean spirit—Ronald’s return—Wearing veils—The - reproof—The veil restored—Difficulties of the - descent—The lost cap—“Tit for tat”—The cap - reclaimed—Arrival home, - - - CHAPTER V. - - THE BLOTTED WRITING-BOOK. - - A welcome announcement—Marcus as teacher—Favors 75 - solicited—Demonstrations of joy—A sudden - change—Ronald’s explanation—The blotted - writing-book—Punishment—Resistance and escape—An - omitted particular—Assault and battery—How Marcus - proposed to settle the matter—Mrs. Page’s - misgivings—The case discussed—Nature of school - government—An interview with the teacher—Her version - of the affair—Ronald’s impudence—The writing-book - examined—A discovery—The disgrace of expulsion—The - teacher’s terms of settlement—Ronald rejects - them—Motives urged—Unhappiness—The last resort—A - motive that cannot be resisted—Going to - school—Outside annoyances—The confession—The - teacher’s response—Her confession—The unknown - offender—Ronald subdued, - - - CHAPTER VI. - - LETTER-WRITING. - - How Oscar discharged his duties—His lessons—Unanswered 92 - letters—A bad way—The day devoted to - letter-writing—“Yes” and “No”—Why Marcus spoke of the - subject—Wandering thoughts—A strange bird—A day - dream—The proud conquest—A perilous descent—The prize - secured—The dream ended—The - newspaper—Scribbling—Apologies—The eagle becomes a - hawk—Marcus astonished—Oscar’s excuses—A ride - lost—Finds himself a prisoner—A light dinner—The task - finished—A plan to encourage letter-writing—Kate’s - achievements in that line—A domestic post office—The - plan unfolded—A vote taken—Choosing a name—Rules - adopted, - - - CHAPTER VII. - - THE RAIN POWER. - - The letter-box—The first mail—The invitation—A storm 110 - predicted—The water boils away—The prediction - fulfilled—Sorry mishaps—Fretfulness—Selfishness—The - rain not needless—Quantity not excessive—A few - calculations—Wonderful results—Annual fall of - rain—Rainy regions—Little and often better than much - and seldom—Object of the tropical rains—How the water - forms clouds—Evaporation—Effects of heat—Why vapor - rises—Visible vapors—Office of the winds—Why the rain - falls—Snow and hail—Snow crystals—The Sahara—South - American deserts—Poetry—Bryant’s “Rain Dream,” - - - CHAPTER VIII. - - INSUBORDINATION. - - Marcus’s theory of government—How it worked with 131 - Oscar—Apprehended failure—A consultation—A forbidden - intimacy—Tobacco—The letter—Ten arguments against - tobacco, and one for it—An ineffectual - remonstrance—Mrs. Page’s decision—Oscar plainly dealt - with—His demeanor—The circus bill—The excitement - suddenly allayed—Objections to the circus—Oscar’s - opinion—A caution—Arrival of the circus—Oscar visits - the grounds—Who he met there—The donkey race—Otis—A - recognition—An unfortunate exposure—Alfred Walton—An - offer—Oscar declines—Solicitations and motives—He is - pressed into the tent—Late return home—Is called to - account—Punishment—A prisoner on parole—Inviolability - of the parole—The Turkish soldiers—Oscar’s - promise—Repentings, - - - CHAPTER IX. - - CORRESPONDENCE. - - The “Letter-writing Society”—A letter from Oscar to 151 - Marcus—An explanation—A secret trouble—A good - purpose—Marcus to Oscar—The explanation examined—The - blame not wholly removed—The - secret—Self-government—The several steps—An - illustration—How Mr. Ease is snubbed—The - victory—Self-denial the law of life—Power of habit—A - proposal from Otis—A criticism by Kate—The critic - criticised—Advantage of not taking things upon - trust—Kate convicted—An apology—Something about “the - old maid”—One of her letters—The four dogs, - - - CHAPTER X. - - A WOUNDED CONSCIENCE. - - Ellen Blake—A place wanted—A suggestion—Mrs. Page 163 - decides to take Ellen—The school prizes—Another - blotted writing-book—Lewis Daniels—His singular - conduct—The teacher’s suspicions—What she said to - Lewis—His reply—Guilt betrayed—His confession—A - singular reason for blotting his book—Another sin - confessed—A mystery cleared up—Stings of - conscience—Seeking peace by new sins—The teacher’s - forgiveness—A duty to Ronald—A duty to - God—Prayer—Lewis confesses his fault to Ronald—Anger - checked—The penitent forgiven—The examination—Ronald - takes two prizes, - - - CHAPTER XI. - - INDOOR AMUSEMENTS. - - A disappointment—Amusements—The new 174 - play—“Conglomeration”—A queer medley of words—The - sentences read—Rare sport—The “Hay-Mow Debating - Society”—Questions discussed—A riddle—A puzzle—Turk - and Christian puzzle—A prolific word of seven - letters—Angles—Oscar’s puzzle—Half of nine—The Arabs - and their dinner—The carpenter’s dispute—Story of - Audley, the miser—A hard bargain—Results of - arithmetical progression—The figure 9—Its wonderful - properties—Multiplying by 5—Magic Squares—Other - diversions, - - - CHAPTER XII. - - THE NEWSPAPER. - - How the newspaper originated—Its name—How it was 193 - managed—The first number—Disappointed - correspondents—A surprise number—How it was got up—A - transcript of the third number—Lines to Ronald—An - exercise for scholars—Nothing insignificant—I - can’t—To correspondents—News items—Small - beginnings—Vanity, a fable—Rover’s communication—The - snow—A cunning fellow—Gleanings, - - - CHAPTER XIII. - - MASTER PAGE. - - The new satchel—Otis homesick—Ronald’s impatience—The 201 - academy commences—Incidents of the first day—Oscar a - monitor—Why Otis and Ronald were not seated - together—Lewis Daniels—The boy who didn’t care for - Marcus—Ronald’s nickname—Jessie Hapley—Why she went - to the academy—“Trying to be somebody”—Abby - Leonard—Eating chalk and drinking vinegar—Mr. Upton’s - sickness—Marcus principal _pro tem._—An alarming - proposal—He accedes to it—His experience as - principal—The troublesome boys—Marcus re-seats - them—The snow image—Charlie Wilder—A statue in - snow—What is required to make a statue—Drawing—A - specimen by Charlie—His wish gratified—An anonymous - note—Interdicted keys—Oscar at fault—The - rebuke—Ronald’s mischievousness—Snapping nut - shells—His punishment—His seat changed—An increase of - lessons proposed—Required for his mental discipline, - and to keep him out of mischief—Otis in school—A hard - sum—What Marcus told Georgiana—Why the same direction - would not answer for Otis—The difference in - scholars—The stimulus of shame successfully applied - - - CHAPTER XIV. - - THE TROUBLESOME SCHOLAR. - - Harrison Clark—A threat—His career—Assault upon his 222 - teacher—Trial and sentence—One good trait—Harrison’s - mother—His conduct towards Marcus—Kindness - repelled—Coughing—Objections to it—Can be - controlled—Harrison’s impertinence—Bears in - town—Preparations for a hunt—Warlike - appearances—Going off at recess—Requests - denied—Harrison’s flight—Ineffectual attempt to bring - him back—The hunting party—Turkey Hill—Forming a - ring—Testing the connection—The advance—Closing up - the circle—Reports of muskets—The two bears—Dragging - the trophies home—How they were disposed of—Harrison - at school again—His coolness—Detained after - school—How he enjoyed the hunt—Frankness—Marcus - mildly points out Harrison’s misconduct—Two ways of - meeting the evil—Severity and kindness—Failure of - both—Candid admissions—Expulsion—Its evils—A talk - about Harrison’s mother—A frank warning—The - question—Subdued bearing—Harrison’s - decision—Confession of his fault—His sincerity - severely tested—The offence forgiven—The boy saved, - - - CHAPTER XV. - - SAM HAPLEY. - - A neglected farm—Out of fuel—Going to the woods—The 242 - pipe and jug—Parting admonitions—A scene in the - woods—Going home—Effects of the cider—Green wood and - the rheumatism—The cows and their dinner—Benny - absent—Sam’s assault upon him—His father’s - anger—Origin of the trouble—A scuffle between Sam and - his father—Sam bound and flogged—The - outcry—Interference—Marcus intercedes—A rude - repulse—Sam released—Marcus expostulates—He is - silenced—Sam’s disappearance—Absent for a week—His - return—His arrest—Searching for stolen property—It is - found—A sad shock to Jessie—Her self-control—Growing - recklessness of Mr. Hapley—A visit to Sam—His - confession—His flight—Adventures on the road—Mack, - the thief—Housebreaking—The alarm—Sam’s escape—Mack - caught—How Sam was tracked—Preparations for the - trial—What the judge thought of the case—The - sentence, - - - CHAPTER XVI. - - MERRY DAYS AND SAD ONES. - - A merry Christmas—Who got the start?—Presents for 263 - Oscar—Letters—Loss of the brig “Susan”—Jerry - missing—The Christmas festival—Declamations and - dialogues—Tableaux and music—The Christmas tree—Its - fruit—Santa Claus—His speech—Gathering the - fruit—Refreshments—New Year’s morning—Sad news from - Benny Hapley—Marcus his Sabbath school teacher—His - interest in Benny—His sadness—A pleasant surprise—A - present from Harrison—His gratitude—A visit to - Benny—His prediction—Anticipations of heaven—Mr. - Hapley’s agony—His promise to Benny—Benny’s - coldness—Growing dark—A mysterious light—Parting - kisses—One for Sam—The spirit takes its - flight—Effects of the scene upon Marcus—His new - purposes, - - - CHAPTER XVII. - - ADVERSITY. - - Mr. Hapley signs the pledge—Empties his liquors—A 280 - desperate struggle—Opinions of the neighbors—Mr. - Todd’s prediction—How it was treated—What Mr. Todd - was supposed to be after—Uncharitableness—Difficulty - of acquiring self-government in mature life—Mazeppa - and the wild horse—Mr. Hapley’s relapse—Loss of - self-confidence and self-respect—A visit to the - rum-shop—His prolonged absence—A terrible snow - storm—Henry despatched for Marcus—Marcus goes in - search of Mr. Hapley—The search abandoned—Morning—The - frozen horse and rider—The snow - grave—Poverty—Jessie’s trials—The administrator’s - advice—Jessie’s plans—Her self-sacrificing - spirit—Words of comfort—Henry’s brave words—He finds - a new home—Jessie provided for—Mrs. Hapley returns to - her father’s, - - - CHAPTER XVIII. - - THE DIALOGUE. - - Rivalry among the academy students—The motto on the 294 - blackboard—Praiseworthy motives—The student’s true - motive—Ronald’s request—The plan for a dialogue—How - Marcus proposed to help Ronald—The work - completed—Dialogue of “Head and Foot”—Speech of John - Head—A severe examination—How the boys were put - through their paces—One pace not exhibited—An - explosion—What is Congressional usage—The - prizes—Their unequal distribution—How the boys - proposed to equalize matters—John’s prize - volume—Master Foot called up—The complimentary - address—The presentation—Dinner-pot - suggestions—Curious resemblances—Foot doubts his - claim to the testimonial—A bet—Head smells a rat, but - concludes not to back out—The cabbage fastened upon - him—The wager won—Master Foot’s generosity—Master - Head’s magnanimous response—The treat—View of the - testimonial, - - - CHAPTER XIX. - - CLOSE OF THE TERM. - - Oscar’s disappointment—No letter from home—An agreeable 308 - surprise—A successful examination—The exhibition—The - prizes—The surprise party—Presentation to Mr. - Upton—The “Academy Offering”—Its history—Mr. Upton’s - acceptance of the gift—Another surprise—The - writing-desk—Harrison’s address to Marcus—The reply—A - secret well kept—Gratitude of Oscar’s parents—The - inscription in Oscar’s prize volume, - - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - Illustrations. - - - ──────── - - - THE CHRISTMAS TREE, FRONTISPIECE. - VIGNETTE, TITLE PAGE. - THE SHEEP, 34 - AN ORNAMENTED FACE, 47 - THE BLACK SNAKE, 59 - THE MOUNTAIN CABIN, 65 - THE EAGLE’S NEST, 98 - SNOW CRYSTALS, 125 - DONKEY RACE, 141 - MAKING FOUR DOGS OUT OF TWO, 162 - ANGLES, 182 - THE GARDEN PUZZLE (two Figures), 183 - RONALD’S SATCHEL, 201 - THE STAG AND DOG, 214 - MR. HAPLEY AND HIS FRIEND, 244 - THE BURGLARS, 258 - MAZEPPA ON THE WILD HORSE, 283 - THE TESTIMONIAL, 307 - - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - =+MARCUS+.= - - - - - --------------------- - - - - - CHAPTER I. - - THE PAGES. - - -“THERE’S the stage, mother! It’s coming round the Bend,—don’t you hear -it? Hark! how near it sounds! I shall see it in a minute. There it is, -now! And there’s somebody on the top with Mr. Peters;—yes, there are two -or three persons. I’ll bet Marcus and Oscar are there; don’t you believe -they are? I’d ride outside, if I were they; wouldn’t you, mother?” - -“You had better not be too jubilant, Ronald,” calmly replied the lady -addressed. “Have you forgotten how disappointed you were last night?” - -“O, well, it isn’t likely they will disappoint us again,” replied the -boy. “I _know_ they will come, this time, just as well as I want to. -See! that’s Marcus himself—I know him by his straw hat, and his brown -linen sack that he wore to keep the dust off his clothes. And that boy -by the side of him is Cousin Oscar, isn’t it? Look! isn’t that Oscar, -Aunt Fanny?” - -Aunt Fanny looked towards the stage-coach, still nearly a quarter of a -mile distant; but her eyes were not sharp enough to distinguish the -countenance of any one upon it, and she could not relieve the impatient -boy from his suspense. - -“I wonder what he looks like, any way,” resumed Ronald. “I can tell, -just as soon as I see him, whether I shall like him or not. Why, I -should think he was as big as Sam Hapley. He looks a little like him, -too, from here, doesn’t he, mother?” - -“I can’t tell; he is hardly within the range of my vision, yet,” replied -Mrs. Page. - -“Now Marcus is pointing this way,” continued Ronald. “I’ll bet he sees -me, and is telling Oscar who I am. Why, mother, can’t you see them now? -I can almost hear them talk.” - -“Yes, that is Marcus, and there is Oscar, too,” said Aunt Fanny, after -gazing a few moments at the approaching coach. - -“Didn’t I tell you so!” exclaimed Ronald, rubbing his hands with glee, -and dancing on the green sward around the door. “Speak to them, Rover!” -he added, calling to a handsome spaniel that lay in the middle of the -road, beneath the shade of a tree. - -The dog sprang to meet the stage-coach, which was now within a few rods -of the house; and, recognizing his master, he frisked around the horses, -and manifested his satisfaction by a variety of significant signs. - -Mr. Peters, the driver, reined up his horses at the farm house, and a -young man, about eighteen years of age, jumped off, followed by a lad -some three years younger. The first of these was Marcus Page, and this -was his home, from which he had been absent about ten days, on a visit -to Boston, and other places in Massachusetts. The other passenger was -his cousin, Oscar Prestor, whose parents resided in Boston, but who had -come to live with the family for a season. He appeared a little -embarrassed, as he extended his hand to his two aunts, Mrs. Page, and -her maiden sister, Miss Lee; but the cordial welcome which they extended -to him, instantly put him at his ease. Meanwhile, little Ronald was -gazing earnestly at the new-comer, evidently settling in his mind the -important question which was to be decided at first sight, when Marcus -said— - -“Here, Oscar, let me make you acquainted with Master Ronald, my -_protégé_. Ronald, this is Cousin Oscar. You will soon be good friends, -if I am not greatly mistaken.” - -The boys shook hands, and then Ronald, proffering his services, helped -Oscar to carry his trunk into the house. By the time the travellers had -removed the dust from their persons and clothing, supper was ready, and -the family sat down to the table. Much of the conversation, during the -meal, was addressed to Oscar, and many inquiries were made concerning -his parents, sisters, and brothers. He sustained his part with the ease -and freedom of one who is accustomed to society, his first shyness -having quite disappeared. Ronald watched him with much interest, and -seemed still in doubt whether to like him or not. After tea, when Oscar -had gone out with Marcus to the barn, Miss Lee, remembering Ronald’s -remark, inquired— - -“Well, Ronald, what do you think of Oscar?” - -“I think he feels pretty smart; and I never saw a city chap but what -did,” replied Ronald. - -“Why, what makes you think so?” inquired Miss Lee. - -“I don’t know—I can’t tell,” said the boy, hesitatingly. - -“But if you do really think so, you ought to be able to give a reason -for it,” added Miss Lee. - -“Well,” continued Ronald, “I suppose it’s because he speaks up so smart, -and eats so genteelly, and wears such nice clothes, and—and is so -good-looking,” he added, laughing at the idea. - -“I think you are mistaken in him,” replied Miss Lee. “His dress is such -as boys in the city, of his age and class, usually wear; and his manners -are those of a boy who is familiar with good society. Perhaps he is a -trifle too forward, for one of his age,—I think a little bashfulness -becomes a boy, sometimes; but I never saw anything like pride in him. He -has been about the world a good deal, for one so young, and that, I -suppose, has worn off his bashfulness.” - -“Then I guess I shall like him, if he isn’t proud,” said Ronald, and -away he ran, to join Marcus and Oscar, who were taking a general survey -of the farm. - -Mrs. Page’s farm is situated in one of the pleasant mountain towns in -Vermont, which, if it does not bear the name of Highburg on the map, -will not, we trust, resent the act, if we venture to give it that -designation, in this volume. It is located at the foot and on the sides -of the Green Mountains, and within sight of one of their highest peaks, -the Camel’s Hump. Mr. Page was a sea captain, who, thinking it more -pleasant to plough the land than the wave, purchased this farm in his -native State, intending to make it his residence. When the new house and -barns were completed, and the farm stocked with herds and flocks, and -everything ready for occupancy, Capt. Page found that his money was all -spent. Not having confidence enough in his agricultural skill to enter -upon his new sphere of life without something in hand for an emergency, -he determined to make one more voyage before he abandoned the sea. So he -engaged a man to manage the farm during his absence, and, removing Mrs. -Page and Marcus to their new home, he sailed on a whaling cruise, -expecting to be gone about three years. It proved his last voyage in a -sadder sense than he intended, for he never returned from it. Three, -five, ten years passed away, but the missing ship was never heard from, -and the owner of the farm never came back to enjoy the pleasant home he -had prepared for himself. Mr. Burr, whom Capt. Page employed to oversee -the farm, had managed its out-door affairs during all this period, -although Marcus, within a few years, had taken a good share of the -burden upon himself. During the winter months, indeed, Marcus now -undertook the whole management of the farm. At this time the stock -consisted of two horses, six or eight head of cattle, about seventy-five -sheep, and a quantity of poultry. - -When Oscar returned to the house, he found a boy and girl seated at the -supper table, who were introduced to them as Katharine and Otis -Sedgwick. They were brother and sister, and were pupils of the village -academy, a mile or more distant. Katharine was about fourteen years old, -and Otis some two years younger. They boarded at Mrs. Page’s, and, with -the persons already named, constituted the entire family. - -Ronald, who called Mrs. Page mother, was a boy about twelve years old, -whom she had undertaken to bring up. His parents were French Canadians, -who had emigrated to the vicinity of Highburg, where they both died -within a short time, leaving the poor child without friends or money. He -was then about eight years old. Some of the kind people of the town -wished to prevent his becoming a pauper, and tried to find a home for -him; but, although he was a bright and interesting child, he could not -speak English very plain, and was, moreover, very strange and wild in -his manners and appearance, so that no one was willing to take him. -Pitying his friendless lot, Mrs. Page at length offered to keep him a -few weeks, till other arrangements could be made in his behalf. A month -sped by, and no door opened for the little orphan but that of the -poor-house. Wild, ignorant, unused to restraints, full of mischief, -incapable of speaking or understanding the language of the family, and, -in fact, almost as uncivilized as an Indian child, Mrs. Page found the -new care a burden too great, and concluded that she must give up her -charge to the town authorities. - -When Marcus heard of this decision, he felt very badly. There was -something about the little stranger, and his pitiable condition, that -won upon his heart. So he put in a plea with his mother and Aunt Fanny -in his behalf, and by way of further inducement, volunteered his own -assistance in educating and training the child! Such an offer, from a -boy who had but just passed his fourteenth birth-day, might provoke a -smile from some people, and very properly, too. But neither Mrs. Page -nor her sister thought of laughing at the suggestion. Marcus was not -only a good scholar and a good boy, but he was more manly and mature, -both in mind and body, than many youth of his age. As Ronald was more -than six years his junior, it seemed plausible that Marcus might assist -very much in making a man of him, and thus relieve his mother of a -portion of the care. It was decided to try the experiment, and the -result was so successful, that Mr. Upton, the principal of the academy, -gave Marcus the title of “The Boy-Tamer.” The boys soon became greatly -attached to each other, and Marcus, by his example, influence and -teachings, assisted very much in reclaiming the little savage. After a -year or two, he was able to take upon himself almost the entire -management of Ronald, directing his studies, imposing upon him his daily -tasks about the farm, and generally exercising over him the authority -and discipline of a father. Ronald, indeed, used sometimes to speak of -him sportively as his “adopted father,” and no doubt he seemed somewhat -like a parent to the fatherless boy. His name, originally, was Ronald -Doucette; but his new friends had given him their own name of Page, -retaining Doucette as a middle name. - -“How do you think Oscar appears, mother?” inquired Marcus, as soon as -the withdrawal of the young folks to their bed-rooms left him alone with -his mother and aunt. - -“Very well,” replied Mrs. Page. “He is a boy that can make a good -appearance, if he chooses to. How does he seem pleased with his new -home?” - -“He doesn’t say much about it,” replied Marcus. “But he said, before we -left Boston, that he was determined to be contented, whether or no. He -is glad enough to come here, and I think he means to behave well. I told -him this was probably his last chance, and that if he did not do well -here, he would have to go back to the Reform School, and serve his full -sentence out. But I don’t think we shall have much trouble with him. He -has behaved well in the institution, and he says he is determined to -reform.” - -“And yet I am afraid he will find more difficulties in the way than he -imagines,” interposed Mrs. Page. - -“But the difficulties here are nothing to what they would be in the -city,” added Marcus. “Nobody need know anything about his past life, -here, and besides, he will be out of the way of his old associates and -temptations.” - -“I think we ought to be very careful,” said Aunt Fanny, “never to say -anything about his past bad conduct, even to him. Nothing would -discourage him so much as to have it known here that he had been a bad -boy.” - -“I told him,” replied Marcus, “that nobody here but we three knew -anything about that,—not even Ronald; and I promised that it should be -kept a secret, so long as he behaved well. He seemed very glad to hear -it.” - -“He certainly has a favorable opportunity to make a new start in life, -and I hope he will improve it,” said Mrs. Page. - -“We shall have to take a little time to study his character, before we -can tell exactly how to manage him,” continued Marcus. “I found out -everything I could about him from his mother, and I think I begin to -understand his disposition. The great lesson he has got to learn, is, to -govern himself. Now that he has found, by experience, that if he does -not put himself under restraint, others will do it for him, I think he -is in a good state to learn this lesson.” - -The subject of these remarks was at this time between fifteen and -sixteen years of age. He had been a headstrong, wayward boy, and had -given his parents much pain. At one time, they sent him to live with an -uncle in the village of Brookdale, in Maine, for the purpose of getting -him away from his evil associates; but while there, he set fire to a -large quantity of cut wood, which was destroyed, and was in consequence -sent to jail, from which he was released only on his father’s promise to -remove him from the State. He was then sent on a short voyage to sea, -but came back worse than before. His next downward step was to join a -band of juvenile thieves; but his course was shortly afterward checked -by his arrest, trial, and sentence to the Reform School during his -minority,—that is, until he should be twenty-one years old. After he had -remained in this institution about four months, his conduct having been -good, and Mrs. Page, at the solicitation of Marcus, having offered to -receive him into her family and endeavor to reform him, he was released -by the officers, and given over to the care of his aunt and cousin; and -his appearance in Highburg, at this time, was in accordance with this -arrangement.[1] - -Footnote 1: - - The character and career of Oscar are more fully set forth in the - first two volumes of this series, namely, “Oscar,” and “Clinton.” - - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - CHAPTER II. - - THE NEW-COMER. - - -THE new-comer, Oscar, was very naturally the recipient of much -attention, for a few days after his arrival. The advent of such a big -boy in the family was an event of no trifling importance, in the eyes of -the younger members of the household. Was he not a real Boston boy, and -had he not seen so much of city life that, in his own language, he was -sick of it? Had he not also resided for months together in two or three -other towns, far away from his home? And, most strange of all, had he -not actually made a voyage to the West Indies, in the capacity of -sailor-boy? So, at least, it was currently reported, and so they all -believed; and surely a boy who had seen so much of the world must be -something of a hero, they reasoned. Meanwhile, the older members of the -family were quietly watching their new charge, studying his disposition, -gaining insight into the secret springs of his character, and taking the -measure of his mental acquirements and capacities. - -Oscar was expecting to attend the academy, during the coming winter; but -as it was now well advanced in the autumn term, he was to study at home -until the new term commenced, about two months from this time, it being -now the latter part of September. Marcus had graduated at this academy, -a year previous, and had been invited to serve as assistant teacher, the -coming winter. - -“What shall _I_ do?” inquired Oscar, the morning after his arrival, as -he perceived that all the family were busily at work. - -“You need not do anything, just yet,” replied his aunt. “You can look on -and see us work, through the rest of this week, or amuse yourself in any -way you please. By next Monday we will find something for you to do, and -you can commence your studies, too, at the same time.” - -[Illustration] - -The few days of leisure thus granted to Oscar did not hang very heavily -upon his hands. He found many things to interest and amuse him, about -the farm. The greatest novelty to him, however, were the sheep, for he -had never before lived where these pretty creatures formed a part of the -farm stock. The pasture where they were kept became at once an -attractive place, and it must be confessed that the groups of sheep and -lambs, quietly nibbling the grass, or reclining at their ease in the -beams of the morning sun, formed as beautiful a scene as could be found -upon the farm. The cattle, horses, pigs and poultry, the capacious -barns, with the deep and lofty hay-mows, the dairy, granary, tool-house -and wood-house,—these, also, though more familiar objects to Oscar, were -not without their attractions for him; while he found a still further -source of amusement in accompanying Marcus and Ronald, as they went -about their daily duties on the farm. - -Marcus was a little sorry to notice that Oscar did not appear to find -idleness very irksome, nor to feel much anxiety about making himself -useful. He seemed to think he had received a full discharge from labor -for the rest of the week, and gave himself no more concern about it than -though he was merely a boarder, like Katie and Otis, with whom he spent -a good portion of his time. There were many little things in which his -assistance, cheerfully offered, would have been accepted with pleasure; -but we are sorry to say that these evidences of a “willing mind” were -entirely wanting. - -And yet Oscar went to Highburg with the determination of breaking up his -old habits of idleness, and the terms upon which he was received into -the family, had been arranged with this end in view. He was to remain -here not less than two years. His father insisted upon paying for his -board, clothing and schooling, during his residence here; but as one -great object of the plan was to teach him to be industrious and useful, -it was stipulated that he should do his share of the work on the farm, -at all seasons of the year. It was further agreed that a fair sum should -be allowed him for his services, to be paid to his father at the end of -each year. If Oscar’s conduct was satisfactory, this amount was to be -paid over to him, when he reached the age of twenty-one. He thus had a -real inducement to labor, in addition to the earnest entreaties of his -parents; and lest both of these motives should prove insufficient, -Marcus and his mother were authorized, as a last resort, to _enforce_ -the fulfilment of Oscar’s part of the contract, by any means they saw -fit to employ. His parents well knew that he could not be effectually -reformed, until he had acquired habits of industry. - -Nothing more was said to Oscar about work, until Saturday afternoon, -when Marcus, finding the boys engaged in pitching jack-knives on the -barn floor, accosted his cousin as follows: - -“I suppose, Oscar, that you begin to feel as though you would like -something to do?” - -“Why, yes, I am almost tired of doing nothing,” replied Oscar, shutting -up his knife, and putting it in his pocket. - -“Well, I can tell you something about your work and studies, now, if you -wish,” continued Marcus. “A good deal of your work, for awhile, will -consist of odd jobs, which I cannot tell you about until they come -along. For the present you must be ready for anything, in an emergency; -we will be able, by and by, to systematize the work a little better, so -that you needn’t rob Ronald or me of our shares.” - -“No danger of that, I guess!” said Oscar, with a laugh. - -“I don’t know about that,” continued Marcus. “We don’t have a very great -amount of out-door work in the fall and winter, and with three pairs of -hands to divide it amongst, I’m afraid we may not all get our share, if -we don’t have an understanding about it. There’s one department, -however, that you shall have the sole charge of. Come this way.” - -He led the way to the wood-house, followed by the boys, and added:— - -“There, Oscar, you shall be lord of the woodshed; and if any body -meddles with the saw, axe, chips, or wood-pile, without your leave, just -let me know it. Only you must understand that if I should want to chop a -stick occasionally, by way of exercise, I shall have the liberty to do -it.” - -“Oh yes, I’ll agree to that,” replied Oscar. - -“And I too—I like to split wood once in a while,” interposed Otis. - -“And so do I,” added Ronald. - -“No, no, boys, you are not to touch anything here without Oscar’s -leave,” said Marcus. “He is to be captain here, so you had better stand -round. You see, Oscar, there is a large pile ready for use, now. My rule -is, to saw and split a little more every week than we use, so as to have -a good supply ahead, when cold weather sets in. I think you had better -keep on in the same way, and make it a business, every day, or at least -every other day, to add a little to the pile. It will also be a part of -your work to see that a supply of wood is carried into the house every -day.” - -“I’ll help carry the wood in,” said Ronald. - -“But I told you not to interfere with his business,” replied Marcus. - -“Well, if he doesn’t like it, then I wont do it,” rejoined Ronald, -laughing. - -“As to the other work,” resumed Marcus, “I shall want you to help cut up -the hay, for one thing.” - -“I know how to do that,” said Oscar. - -“There will be a good deal of hay to cut, by and by, when the horses, -cattle and sheep are all put up in the barn. And roots, too—we shall -soon begin to feed them out, and they will have to be cut.” - -“I know how to do that, too,” added Oscar. - -“You can help about feeding the animals, too. I think I shall let you -have the whole care of the pigs, to begin with, after a day or two. You -will find them very interesting pets—especially the old sow!” he added, -with a laugh. - -“I might feed the horses,” suggested Oscar, whose fancy for hogs was not -very largely developed. - -“So you can, and I want you to learn to bed them, and clean them out, -and rub them down, too.” - -“I know how to do all that—I used to do it down to Brookdale, very -often,” replied Oscar. - -“And I should like to have you help about milking; do you understand -that?” inquired Marcus. - -“I know a little about it, but I never liked it very well,” replied -Oscar, with some hesitation. - -“O, well, I dare say you will like it better after you get used to it,” -said Marcus. “But if you shouldn’t, it wont make much difference. We all -have to do some jobs that are not so pleasant as others.” - -“I _like_ to milk—only it tires my wrists,” said Ronald. “I can milk one -cow, all alone, but Marcus wont let me, very often.” - -“Next week,” continued Marcus, “we must gather our apples, and you can -help us about that. Then there will be the carrots, beets, turnips and -cabbages to get in, the seed-corn to harvest, corn to husk, snow to -shovel, wood to haul, and various other jobs to do, through the winter. -Do you think you can do your share of all this?” - -“I’ll try to,” replied Oscar. - -“Then there are your studies to be attended to,” resumed Marcus. “I -shall make out a list of them, for each day in the week, while you study -at home. And you must have some time for play, in addition to all the -rest, for ‘all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.’ The first thing, -every day, will be to attend to your regular morning’s work. Then, if -there are any errands or extra jobs to be done, they will come next in -order. After that, you will get your lessons, and then will come the -play-time.” - -“How much time will he have for play?” inquired Otis. - -“That will depend very much upon his diligence in doing his work and -getting his lessons,” replied Marcus. - -“I shan’t want much play-time,” said Oscar, with a significant glance -towards the couple of twelve-year-old urchins, who were evidently -counting upon his companionship in their sports. - -“So much the better,” replied Marcus with perfect indifference, -although, in his mind, he had some doubts about the last assertion. - -Marcus had previously examined Oscar in his studies, and, in the course -of the afternoon, he gave him lessons for the coming Monday, and also -handed him a written list of studies for each day in the week. The list -is as follows:— - - - ORDER OF STUDIES FOR OSCAR PRESTON. - - ON MONDAY. - - Writing, - Grammar, - Arithmetic. - - - ON TUESDAY. - - Grammar, - Geography, - Arithmetic. - - - ON WEDNESDAY. - - Writing, - Grammar. - - - ON THURSDAY. - - Writing, - Geography, - Grammar. - - - ON FRIDAY. - - Geography, - Arithmetic, - Writing. - - - ON SATURDAY. - - Arithmetic, - Composition. - - Reading, Spelling and Defining, daily. - - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - CHAPTER III. - - A BOY’S INFLUENCE. - - -“YOU silly boys! what are you doing?” exclaimed Kate, one afternoon, as -she found her brother and Ronald seated on a log behind the barn, busily -engaged in pricking Indian ink into their hands, with needles. - -“You go away; we don’t want you here,” replied Otis, with rudeness, -still pricking away with his needle, while the red and blue—the blood -and ink—mingled and covered the spot upon which he was at work. - -“There! it hurts, I know it does,” said Kate, as her brother contracted -his brows, and drew in his breath. “What ninnies you are to torture -yourselves in that way, just for the sake of having some nasty ink -pricked into your skin, where you never can get it out again!” - -“I don’t believe it hurts any more than having your ears bored; do you, -Otis?” observed Ronald, remembering that Kate had lately submitted to -the last-named operation. - -“No; and ’tisn’t any more foolish, either,” replied Otis. - -“Why, how absurd!” exclaimed Kate. “Ladies have to get their ears bored, -to wear ear-rings, and besides, it doesn’t hurt hardly any to bore them. -I’m sure there’s no comparison between the two things.” - -She did not stop to hear what answer might be made to this remark, and -perhaps it was well that she did not. - -“It _does_ hurt, though!” exclaimed Otis, as soon as his sister was out -of hearing. “O, doesn’t it smart! Come, let’s stop, now, and finish it -some other time.” - -“No, I’ve got mine almost done, and I’m going to finish it now,” replied -Ronald, who was possessed of more endurance than his comrade. - -Ronald persevered, and in a few minutes, wiping off the blood and ink, a -rude resemblance to a star appeared in the red, inflamed flesh, between -his thumb and forefinger. He seemed quite proud of the achievement, and -going into the house, and extending his hand to Miss Lee, he accosted -her with— - -“See there, Aunt Fanny!” - -“And see that, too!” said Otis, exhibiting his mark. “Mine isn’t done -yet, you see. It was so sore I had to stop, but I’m going to finish it -some other time.” - -“What put it into your heads to do that?” inquired Miss Lee. - -“O, nothing,—only the other boys do it,” replied Ronald. - -“Didn’t you ever see Oscar’s anchor?” inquired Otis. - -“No, I didn’t know he had an anchor,” replied Miss Lee. - -“He _has_ got a real handsome anchor on his arm, pricked in with Indian -ink,” continued Otis. - -“He made it when he was at sea,—and he has got a star like mine on his -hand,” said Ronald. - -“I have noticed the star,” said Miss Lee; “but what is the use of your -marking yourselves in that way? What do you do it for?” - -“Why, it looks handsome,” replied Ronald, with some hesitation. - -“I don’t think so—those black marks look ugly, to me,” replied Miss Lee; -“besides, you never can wash them out.” - -“Why, that’s the beauty of it, Aunt Fanny,” replied Ronald, with one of -his roguish looks. “There wouldn’t be any fun in it if it washed out.” - -“Perhaps you will think differently, some time or other,” said Miss Lee. - -“But what hurt does it do?” inquired Otis. - -“I don’t know that it does any harm,” replied Miss Lee; “but it always -seemed to me like a heathenish practice. Did you know that the old -pagans used to mark themselves in that way, in honor of their idols?” - -“What, did they prick Indian ink into their hands, as we do?” inquired -Ronald. - -“Sometimes they pricked the marks in,” replied Miss Lee, “and sometimes -they burnt and cut them into the flesh. If a man devoted himself to -Jupiter, he marked himself with a thunderbolt, on the palm of his hand, -or his wrist, or neck, or upon some other part of his body. If he chose -Mars for his god, then the mark was a helmet or spear. Soldiers and -slaves used sometimes to be marked in the same way, to show to what -commander, or to what master, they belonged. Some tribes of savages, at -the present day, are very fond of such ornaments, and tattoo their faces -all over, by pricking dyes into their skins. There are several allusions -to this custom in the Bible, and the Jews were forbidden to practise -it.” - -[Illustration] - -“It’s wicked, then, to make such marks, isn’t it?” inquired Otis. - -“No,” replied Miss Lee, “so long as you do not make them in honor of any -false god, nor with any bad motive, there is no sin in the act. The -worst that can be said about it is, that it is a foolish custom, and a -relic of paganism and superstition.” - -“I’m going to see if I can’t wash mine out, before it dries in,” said -Ronald, and he hurried off to the pump, followed by Otis. - -For a few minutes the boys worked as hard to rub out their new ornaments -as they had labored, a little while before, to imprint them upon their -hands. But water, soap, and even sand, were all in vain. The stars shone -as brightly at the end as at the beginning of the effort. While thus -engaged, Oscar came along, and, on seeing what the boys were about, -indulged in a hearty laugh. - -“Why, you little fools!” he exclaimed, “what are you trying to wash the -ink out for?” - -“Because we don’t want it in,” replied Ronald. - -“What did you prick it in for, then?” continued Oscar. - -“Because we didn’t know any better, then,” said Ronald; “but Aunt Fanny -says the heathen prick ink into their hands, and I don’t want to be a -heathen.” - -“Well, if that isn’t a great idea!” exclaimed Oscar, relapsing into -another hearty laugh. “I suppose you think I’m a heathen, then, don’t -you?” he continued. “Well, if I’m a heathen, I guess there are a good -many others around full as bad. I never heard any body say there was any -harm in pricking a little Indian ink into your hand, and I don’t believe -there is, if Aunt Fanny does say so.” - -“She didn’t say there was any harm in it,” replied Ronald. “She said she -didn’t like it, because it was doing as the heathen did.” - -“So we ‘do as the heathen do’ when we eat, but I shan’t give up eating -on that account,” observed Oscar. - -“Nor I, either,” said Otis, who was very willing to be re-converted to -the tattooing process. “I mean to finish my star—what’s the use of -trying to wash it out?” - -“Star! do you call that thing a star?” inquired Oscar, with a look of -contempt. - -“But I haven’t finished it,” meekly interposed Otis. - -“No, I shouldn’t think you had,” added Oscar. “It looks more like a -spider than a star. If I couldn’t make a better star than that with my -eyes shut, I’d put my head under a bushel basket.” - -With this self-sufficient remark, Oscar walked off, and Ronald and Otis, -having come to the conclusion that their stars were beyond the reach of -soap and sand, also left the room. It happened that Mrs. Page and Miss -Lee were sitting in an adjoining room, and overheard the conversation -just related. - -One afternoon, some time after this occurrence, as Oscar was sitting -with his Aunt Fanny, in her chamber, studying his lessons, a boy of -about his age came along, with a gun on his shoulder, and seeing Oscar -at the open window, called him, in a low voice— - -“Come, Oscar; want to go over to Prescott’s?” - -“No, I can’t go; I’ve got my lessons to learn,” replied Oscar. - -“How long before you’ll be done?” inquired the boy, whose name was -Samuel Hapley, and who lived near by. - -“It will take me nearly all the afternoon, I suppose,” replied Oscar. - -“Then I’m off,” said the boy, resuming his course. - -Oscar watched him somewhat wishfully for a minute or two, as he directed -his course through the fields, and then turned to his books. Sam Hapley -was the only boy near his own age in that part of the town; and it also -happened that he was the only boy in Highburg he had been cautioned -against. His aunts and Marcus knew that he could not well avoid forming -an acquaintance with Sam, and they did not forbid this; but they -earnestly advised Oscar to associate with him as little as possible, and -to beware of his evil influence. Sam’s father was intemperate. His -mother was sickly, discouraged and disconsolate. The children, of whom -Sam was the oldest, were neglected, their father being cross and severe -with all of them except the youngest, and their mother always attempting -to shield them from his displeasure, even when they had done wrong. The -farm wore an air of thriftlessness, and, to crown their misfortunes, it -was covered with mortgages.[2] - -Footnote 2: - - A mortgage is a pledge of property by a debtor to a creditor to secure - a debt. For instance, a man who owns a farm wishes to borrow a - thousand dollars, and to secure the lender from loss, he pledges his - farm to him. The farm is then said to be mortgaged. The borrower - cannot dispose of it, and the lender is, in effect, its real owner, to - the amount of his claim, until that claim is paid. If it should not be - paid when due, the lender, or mortgagee, as he is called, may sell the - farm, after a certain time, and thus get his money back. When an - intemperate man mortgages his property, there is little hope that he - will ever redeem it. - -“You got rid of him pretty easily, that time,” said Miss Lee, as Sam -passed along. - -“I know it; but I shouldn’t have gone if I had got my lessons,” replied -Oscar. - -“It makes me real sad to see how that boy has changed, within ten -years,” continued Miss Lee. - -“He was once a pretty, modest, gentle boy, and used to be quite a -favorite of mine. Now, the coarse features of vice are settling upon his -face, and he is said to be a very bad boy.” - -“He swears like everything,” remarked Oscar. - -“So I have heard,” added Aunt Fanny. - -“Henry swears some, too,” continued Oscar, alluding to a brother of Sam, -about thirteen years old. - -“Ah, I am sorry to hear that,” said his aunt. “But it isn’t very -strange, after all, with such an example before him. A boy of Sam’s age -exerts a great influence on his young brothers and sisters. The little -children look up to the large ones with a sort of fear and respect, and -copy their ways, and imitate their example, right or wrong. Did you ever -think how much influence of this kind you may be exerting?” - -“I don’t know that I ever thought much about it,” replied Oscar. - -“Here are three children in the family,” continued his aunt, “younger -than you. The fact that you are older and have seen more of the world -than they, while you are still a boy, gives you quite an influence over -their minds. You can increase or diminish that influence, according to -the manner in which you treat them; but you can’t wholly divest yourself -of it. You must exert an influence over them, good or ill, in spite of -yourself, and when you are not thinking of it. I saw an illustration of -this, a few days ago. Otis and Ronald noticed that you had a star -pricked into your hand, and what did they do but prick stars into -theirs, as soon as they could get the materials!” - -“Oh yes, I noticed that,” said Oscar, laughing. - -“That was a trifling thing,” resumed Aunt Fanny, “but it illustrates a -great truth. It shows how you are watched, and copied, and it ought to -put you on your guard. You can use this influence so as to assist us in -training the children to good habits, or, if you choose, you can do just -the opposite. You see there is quite a responsibility resting upon you. -If they see that you are studious, industrious and faithful, they will -feel an influence drawing them in the same direction; but if you exhibit -any bad trait, it would not be strange if they should try to pattern -after it.” - -“I never thought much about that before, but I mean to look out for it -now,” said Oscar. - -Nothing was said to Oscar in relation to his unguarded remarks to the -boys about tattooing, and he never knew that he was overheard by his -aunt. That incident, however, gave the turn to the conversation on this -occasion. - - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - CHAPTER IV. - - UP THE MOUNTAIN. - - -OSCAR, from the day of his arrival in Highburg, had expressed a desire -to ascend some one of the lofty mountain peaks in the neighborhood; and -Marcus had made a sort of half promise to get up a party, some fine -autumn day, to visit the Camel’s Hump, the highest eminence in that part -of the State. On reflection, however, it was thought best to abandon -this undertaking, on account of the distance of the mountain from -Highburg, the difficulty of making the ascent, and the time that would -be required for the expedition. But to compensate Oscar and the other -young folks for the disappointment, it was determined, one Saturday -afternoon, to make an excursion to a notable eminence called “Prescott’s -Peak,” situated about two miles from Mrs. Page’s. - -The party consisted of Marcus, Oscar, Kate, Ronald, Otis, and Rover, the -dog. They struck an air-line towards the mountain, through fields, -meadows and woods, Rover strolling on ahead of the party, with an air of -entire satisfaction. - -“I’ll bet Rover knows where we are going—don’t you believe he does, -Marcus?” inquired Oscar. - -“I don’t know, I almost think sometimes that he knows what we say,” -replied Marcus. - -“He knows a good deal that we say, any way,” remarked Otis. “You give -him a bucket, and tell him to carry it out to the barn, and he’ll do it -just as well as anybody; and he’ll lie down, or give you his paw, or -speak, if you tell him to.” - -“One day, about a year ago,” said Marcus, “when Aunt Fanny was packing -her trunk, to go to Grandmother’s, she told Rover she had got to leave -him, and asked him if he didn’t want to go, too; and upon that he jumped -right into her trunk,—as much as to say, ‘Yes, I want to go,—pack me -in!’ When Aunt Fanny came back from her journey, it seemed as if he -would eat her up, he was so glad to see her. He never forgets anybody -that he has once known. Last summer, I took him over to Montpelier with -me, where he used to live; and although he hadn’t been there for over -two years, he remembered all his old friends, and went around and -scratched at all the doors of the houses he used to visit when he lived -there.” - -“And he’s the neatest dog that I ever heard of,—he wont come into the -house with dirty paws,” added Kate. - -“No,” continued Marcus, “and once when we had our floors newly painted, -and boards were laid to step upon, Rover understood the arrangement as -well as we did, and was careful to walk upon the boards until the paint -was dry.” - -“We had a strange dog come to our house last winter, that knew -something,” said Otis. “He _knocked_ at the door, just as well as a man -could have done it. Mother went to see who had come, and she found -nothing but a dog. As soon as he saw her, he began to cry like a baby, -he was so cold and hungry. So she gave him some dinner, and let him warm -himself, and then he went off, and we never saw him again. But he -knocked at the door,—tap, tap, tap,—so you couldn’t have told him from a -man.” - -“I could tell a story that would beat that,” said Oscar. “I knew a dog -in Boston that would open any door that was fastened by a latch, without -stopping to knock; and he’d shut it, too, if you told him to.” - -“I could tell a story that would beat all of yours,” said Ronald. “It’s -about a dog that _unlocks_ doors; and if he can’t find the key, he will -hunt up a piece of wire, and _pick the lock_!” - -“Why, Ronald Page! how dare you tell such a lie?” exclaimed Kate, after -the laugh that followed this sally had subsided. - -“It wasn’t a lie,” replied Ronald. “I didn’t say a dog ever did that—I -said I could tell a _story_ about a dog that did it, and so I can.” - -“It’s a lie, for all that; I’ll leave it to Marcus if it isn’t,” -rejoined Kate. - -“Not exactly a lie, although it looks something like it,” observed -Marcus. “Ronald could not have intended to deceive anybody, when he told -such a tough story as that, and therefore it was not a falsehood. But”— - -“A snake! a snake!” suddenly broke in Ronald, who was a little in -advance of the others. - -“O, kill it! do kill it!” cried Kate, running back a few steps from the -scene of danger. - -“No, I shan’t—you said I lied, and now you want me to commit murder, do -you?” retorted Ronald. - -“Pooh! it’s nothing but the cast-off skin of a snake,” said Otis, -lifting it upon a stick, and tossing it toward Kate, who dexterously -dodged the missile. - -“That was the skin of a black snake, wasn’t it?” inquired Oscar. - -“Yes,” replied Ronald, “and a pretty large one, too.” - -[Illustration] - -“I saw a black snake all of six feet long, that summer I was down to -Brookdale,” said Oscar. “Jerry and I were on a high rock, and saw the -snake in the field below us. He was coiled up, and was watching a -squirrel that was a little way off. We got some stones, and pelted him, -but I believe we didn’t hit him, for we couldn’t find anything of him.” - -“I killed a large black snake, all alone, down in our meadow, not more -than a month ago,” said Ronald. - -“Is that one of your yarns, or do you expect us to believe it?” inquired -Oscar. - -“It’s the truth, sir, I’ll leave it to Marcus, if it isn’t,” replied -Ronald. - -“Hold on a minute,” said Marcus, stopping by the side of a small, -shallow pond they were passing; and, taking a stick, he began to stir up -its muddy bottom. - -“What in the world is he dabbling in that dirty water for?” inquired -Kate. - -“I guess he is hunting for frogs’ eggs,” said Ronald; “or, perhaps he’s -going to make some pollywog soup.” - -“Do you see, he is going to set the pond afire!” cried Kate, as Marcus -drew some friction matches from his pocket. - -Marcus continued his operations, without noticing the comments of his -companions, and in a little while, he actually produced a faint yellow -flame upon the surface of the water, to the astonishment of the company. -He then explained to them that this was an experiment which he had -learned while studying chemistry at the academy. When vegetable matter -decays under water, a gas called light carburetted hydrogen is formed, -which may be burned. On stirring up the bottom, the gas escapes, and -rises to the top in bubbles, and may be collected in jars, or set on -fire upon the surface of the water. This gas, he said, was the terrible -“firedamp,” which caused such tremendous explosions in coal mines, -before Sir Humphrey Davy invented his safety lamp, to protect the miners -from these disasters. He told them, also, that he had seen it stated in -a newspaper that on one of our Western rivers, when the water was very -low, the steamboats had to shut down their furnace doors for several -miles, and allow no torches to be lighted at night, for fear of “setting -the river on fire!” Frequently boats that did not use these precautions -at this particular place, have found themselves engulfed in flames, -greatly to the alarm of the passengers, and sometimes setting the -steamers on fire. In some instances, the passengers have come very near -leaping overboard, before the officers could convince them that there -was no danger; an act that would be almost literally “jumping from the -frying-pan into the fire.” - -The party now resumed their course, and after skirting a swamp, and -threading their way thro’ a tangled growth of young birches and pines, -and breaking a path through the sharp, bristling stubble of a rye field, -they reached the foot of the mountain. The eminence was clothed with -that dress of unfading green from which this range takes its name,[3] -being covered with spruce, fir, hemlock, and other evergreens, to the -summit. They began the ascent by a narrow, steep and winding path, -which, however, had the appearance of being much used. - -Footnote 3: - - The range was named _Verd Mont_ by the early French settlers, which - means in English, Green Mountain. When the people declared themselves - a free and independent State, in 1777, they adopted the French name as - that of their Commonwealth, contracting it by the omission of the _d_. - -“I should think a good many people came up here, by the looks,” remarked -Oscar. - -“Not many, except Gooden’s folks,” replied Marcus. - -“Who is Gooden?” inquired Oscar. - -“He is a strange fellow who lives up on the mountain,” replied Marcus. -“We shall come to his cabin pretty soon, and perhaps you will have a -chance to see him.” - -“But what does he live up here for, away from everybody?—is he cracked?” -inquired Oscar. - -“He lives here because he prefers to keep out of the way of people, I -suppose,” replied Marcus. - -“They say he used to steal, and got caught in a trap, once,” said Kate. - -“A regular _steal_ trap, wasn’t it?” inquired Ronald. - -“That is the common report,” added Marcus, not noticing Ronald’s pun, -“and I suppose it is true. The story is, that where he used to live, his -neighbors found their grain going off faster than they thought it ought -to, and one of them set a large bear trap, with steel springs and sharp -teeth, to catch the thief. One morning soon after, he went out to the -barn, and found Gooden fast in the trap. It caught him around the ankle, -and they say he was laid up for several months with a sore leg. He is a -little lame, now, from the effects of it. As soon as he could get away, -he came and settled in this out-of-the-way place, and lives as much like -a hermit as he can, with his family.” - -“O, has he got a family?” inquired Oscar. - -“Yes, a wife and four children,” replied Marcus. - -“How does he support himself, now,—by stealing?” inquired Oscar. - -“No,” replied Marcus, “nobody suspects him of dishonesty, now—he is -probably cured of that. He owns a cow, and raises corn and potatoes -enough to support his family. He kills some game, which supplies him -with meat. They get a little money by making maple sugar, and collecting -spruce gum. But after all they are quite poor, and people often give -them clothing, and other necessary articles. The children are growing up -in ignorance, too,—they never go to school or church. They will stand a -rather poor chance in the world, brought up in that way.” - -[Illustration] - -After toiling up the zigzag path awhile longer, the party came to an -open, level space, and found themselves within a few rods of Gooden’s -cabin, a small, rude structure, built of rough logs, with a large -chimney at one end, on the outside. Several children were playing around -the house, and the father himself was just coming in from a hunting -excursion up the mountain, with his gun on his shoulder, and his dog by -his side. Seeing the party approaching, Mr. Gooden went into the house -and shut the door. Marcus had often visited the family, on errands of -kindness, but knowing the morose and suspicious disposition of the -father, and his antipathy to company, he concluded not to stop at the -cabin. Exchanging a few words with Jake and Sally, the two oldest -children, who stood staring at the strangers, Marcus passed on, with his -party, through a path still more intricate and difficult. - -“You said something about spruce gum—what do they do with it?” inquired -Oscar. - -“They sell it,” replied Marcus. “A man comes round here every summer, -who makes it his business to collect spruce gum. He buys all the gum -that is offered him, and he hires boys to gather it for him, paying them -so much a pound. This gum is cleaned, and sent to the cities, where it -brings a good price.” - -“Well, if everybody was like me, the spruce gum trade wouldn’t be worth -much,” said Kate. “I don’t see why anybody wants to chew the nasty -stuff, especially a young lady. How it looks, to see your jaws going the -whole time! There are some girls in the academy that always have their -mouths full of gum. I think it’s real disgusting.” - -“Chewing gum isn’t quite so bad as chewing tobacco, but it is a foolish -and disgusting habit, as you say,” observed Marcus. - -The party continued their ascent up the steep and slippery side of the -mountain, occasionally halting a few minutes to take breath. Some of -them began to question whether there was any top to it, as each turn of -the zigzag path, which promised to land them at the summit, only -revealed as they advanced a still higher point beyond. But at length the -top, the very “tip-top,” as the boys called it, was reached. Instead of -a sharp, sky-scraping ridge, they found the summit to be a broad and -nearly level plain, composed mostly of solid rock, and almost bare of -vegetation. But what a view did it present! A dozen villages scattered -among the valleys, with their nestling houses and white spires; the rich -meadows of the Winooski and its tributaries, with their thrifty farms; -the cattle and sheep “upon a thousand hills;” the dark and extensive -patches of forest, in which the woodman’s axe has never yet resounded; -the chain of mountain sentinels, drawn up in lines, conspicuous among -which were the Camel’s Hump, and the distant Mansfield Mountain, with -its “Nose,” “Lips” and “Chin;” the broad and peaceful expanse of Lake -Champlain, with a faint outline of the Adirondack Mountains looming up -beyond;—such is a very imperfect sketch of the scene that for a long -time engrossed the attention of the whole party. - -After the party had rested themselves, and gazed at the extensive -prospect as long as they wished, Oscar proposed to erect a monument on -the summit that would be visible from their house, and would commemorate -their ascent of the mountain. The proposal was readily agreed to by all, -and they immediately set about gathering the necessary materials. All -the movable stones on the summit were soon collected in a heap, but -Marcus expressed a doubt whether there were enough to form a pile that -would be visible below. - -“If we only had an axe,” said Oscar, “we could cut down a tree, and -strip off all the branches but a few at the top; and then we could set -the tree on the summit, and pile the stones about it to keep it in -place.” - -“Has anybody got any string about him?” inquired Otis. - -There was a general fumbling of pockets, and among a score of -miscellaneous articles produced was a piece of old fishing-line -belonging to Ronald. - -“That’s just the thing,” said Otis. “Now we will find a tree that has -blown down, and tie a lot of new branches to the top of it, and stick it -up, as Oscar said.” - -This proposal was adopted. A tall, straight sapling was soon found, that -had fallen before the furious winter blasts that play among the Peak. -Its branches, now partially decayed, were broken off, and the trunk made -as clean as possible, with the exception of the top. A quantity of -evergreen boughs were then procured, and lashed to the top of the -sapling by the fishing-line. The signal pole, with its heavy tuft, was -now raised to its place by the united strength of the party, and the -stones piled compactly around its bottom, until it seemed as firm as -though rooted in the earth. Three cheers were given for the monument, -and then, after a short resting-spell, the party began to descend. - -With merry shouts and laughter they were bounding, sliding and tumbling -down the steep side of the mountain, the boys sometimes far outstripping -Kate and Marcus, and then pausing awhile, to see how their more moderate -companions got along. In this way they had proceeded nearly a quarter of -a mile from the summit, when Kate suddenly brought them to a stand by -exclaiming— - -“I declare! if I haven’t left my veil on the top of the mountain! I took -it off when we were looking at the scenery, because it was in my way, -and I forgot to put it on again.” - -“That’s just like you,” said her brother; “you are always forgetting -something.” - -“Never mind, I’ll run back and get it—it wont take but a few minutes,” -said Oscar. - -“No, let me go—I’m more used to it than Oscar is,” exclaimed Ronald. - -“I’d let her go herself—it would make her more careful next time,” said -Otis, in a low tone, which he did not intend Marcus should hear. - -“Ronald is the nimblest, and he has been up the mountain before; so I -think he had better go and get the veil, and we will wait for him till -he gets back,” said Marcus. - -Ronald accordingly scrambled up the hill again, while the others seated -themselves on the dry leaves beneath a noble pine. - -“I don’t see what girls want to wear veils for,” said Otis, somewhat -petulantly, after they were seated. - -“It isn’t necessary for you to know why they wear them, Master Otis,” -replied Kate, quite coolly. - -“I have no objection to girls’ wearing veils, if they choose to, but I -don’t like to see boys wear such things,” said Marcus. - -“Why, did you ever see boys wear veils?” inquired Otis, with surprise. - -“I have seen boys that I thought acted as if they wore veils over their -eyes,” replied Marcus. - -“How did they act?” inquired Otis, after a moment’s pause. - -“They acted as if they could not see things that were as plain as a -pike-staff to other people,” replied Marcus. - -Otis seemed to be trying to interpret to himself this enigmatical -language, but did not appear inclined to ask any more questions. - -“For instance,” added Marcus, after a brief pause, “when you see a boy -rude or unkind towards his sister, when there is no provocation, you may -conclude that he has a veil or something else over his eyes; for if he -could see plainly how such conduct looks to other people’s eyes, he -would not indulge in it.” - -Otis apparently understood the point of the remark, and felt it, too; -but he made no reply. In a few minutes a merry shout announced the -approach of Ronald, and he soon appeared, with the lost veil fastened to -his straw hat. He claimed the privilege of wearing it home, which Kate -readily granted; but before the party came in sight of the log cabin, he -concluded to surrender it to its owner. - -Going down the mountain proved almost as difficult and exciting as -climbing up, and many a slip and tumble happened to one and another, on -the way. Sometimes a low branch across the path, bent from its place and -then let loose by one, would bring up the boy behind with a whack that -made him see stars. By one of these flying limbs Otis had his cap -suddenly removed from his head, and whirled over a precipice, lodging in -the top of a tall tree below. The disaster was followed by a prolonged -and hearty shout from those who witnessed it, and the others hastened to -the spot, to see what the matter was. - -“I’ll get it for you, Oty—I can climb that tree easy enough,” exclaimed -Ronald, as soon as he comprehended the extent of the mishap. - -“No,” said Marcus, with assumed gravity, “let him get his cap himself—it -will make him more careful next time.” - -“I don’t see what boys wear caps for; they are always losing them,” -remarked Kate, the fun in her eyes but half concealed. - -“It wasn’t my fault—I couldn’t help it,” replied Otis, with the utmost -seriousness. “Ronald let the branch fly right into my face, and it took -my cap off before I knew it was coming.” - -“Well, if Ronald is to blame, I think we shall have to send him after -the cap,” said Marcus. - -They made their way, with some difficulty, to the spot where the tree -stood. Ronald, being a more expert climber than any of the others, was -entrusted with the job, and ascended the tree almost with the agility of -a squirrel. He took with him a pole, and with its aid the cap was soon -dislodged, and sent to the ground below. - -No further incidents of importance befell the party, on their descent of -the mountain. Mr. Gooden did not manifest himself to them, as they -passed his cabin; and none of his family were visible. They reached -their home, tired and hungry, in season to get a view of the signal they -had raised, after the sun had sunk behind Prescott’s Peak; and there the -tall sapling stood, for a long time afterwards, reminding them of their -pleasant tramp “up the mountain.” - - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - CHAPTER V. - - THE BLOTTED WRITING-BOOK. - - -THERE were loud demonstrations of joy among the juvenile members of the -household, one morning, when Marcus handed a letter to Kate, for Mr. -Upton, the principal of the academy, and informed them that it contained -his acceptance of the office of assistant teacher in that institution, -for the winter term. The appointment had been offered him several weeks -previous, and had been the subject of much consideration on the part of -Marcus, and of no little interest, also, among the children, who were -all anxious to have Marcus for a teacher, notwithstanding he repeatedly -forewarned them, that if he should show them any particular favor as -their instructor, it would only be by looking more sharply after them -than he did after the other scholars. - -“Three cheers for Master Page!” shouted Ronald, and they were given, -with as much power as four noisy throats could command. - -“You know me, Marcus,—you’ll excuse me from writing compositions, wont -you?” inquired Kate, when the noise had subsided. - -“You know me, too, Marcus,—you wont make me speak pieces, will you?” -said Otis. - -“You know me, Master Page,—you wont make me do any thing, will you?” -added Ronald, capping the climax. - -“Yes, I know you, you young rogue, and if you don’t walk straight you’ll -catch it!” said Marcus, in reply to the last speaker. - -Ronald did not take the admonition much to heart; but concluded his -demonstrations of delight by throwing his cap over an apple tree, -turning two somersets, and crowing like a “rooster,” whose clarion notes -he could imitate with ludicrous fidelity. Then, leaping upon the back of -Otis, who with Kate was just starting for school, he disappeared; but -his voice was uppermost among the joyous shouts and laughter that came -across the fields long after their departure. - -Kate and Otis did not usually go home from school at noon, but carried -their dinners with them, the distance being too great to walk. Ronald, -however, generally dined at home, the district school, which he was now -attending, being less than a mile distant from Mrs. Page’s. In the -course of the forenoon, before the hour of school dismission, as Marcus -was at work throwing up muck from a meadow, he was surprised to see -Ronald approaching, on the road leading to the house. “He must be sick,” -thought Marcus, as he noticed how slowly he walked, and how silent and -dejected he appeared. What a change had come over the light-hearted boy, -within two hours! - -Ronald appeared to hesitate a moment, and then turned into the meadow, -towards Marcus. As soon as he was within speaking distance, the latter -inquired what the matter was. Ronald made no reply until he had reached -the place where Marcus stood, and then he exclaimed:— - -“I’m not going to _that_ school any more—I’ve been licked for nothing, -and I wont stand it!” - -“And how came you home at this time of day?” inquired Marcus. - -“I ran away from school,” replied Ronald. - -“Indeed!” said Marcus; “and will you please to explain why?” - -“Mrs. Benham set out to lick me——” - -“Begin at the beginning, and tell the whole story,” interrupted Marcus. -“What did she punish you for?” - -“Why, you see she was real cross this morning,” said Ronald; “I saw it -as soon as she got there, and thought there’d be a squall before night. -Well, I was studying my lesson, and she came along, and wanted to look -at my writing-book. So I handed it to her, and she opened it, and found -four or five great blots on the page I wrote yesterday afternoon. She -looked real mad, and asked me what it meant, and I told her I didn’t do -it, and didn’t know anything about it. Then she said I lied, and she’d -whip me for blotting the book, and for lying, too. So she made me go out -to the platform, and began to put on the ratan over my hands, just as -hard as she could. See that,” continued Ronald, showing to Marcus -several red stripes on the palm of his hand. “I couldn’t stand that, so -I got the stick away from her, and ran off as fast as I could. I didn’t -blot the book, nor tell a lie, and I wont be whipped for nothing by Mrs. -Benham, I know.” - -“Have you told me the truth, about this affair, and nothing but the -truth?” inquired Marcus, fixing a steady gaze upon Ronald. - -“Yes, sir, I’ve told the real truth, and nothing else,” replied Ronald. - -“Is it the whole truth?” inquired Marcus. “Have you not kept something -back?” - -“Why, I pulled the teacher over, when I got the stick away,—I believe I -didn’t tell you about that,” replied Ronald, in a lower tone. “I didn’t -mean to do it, though. She was on the edge of the platform, and I was -standing on the floor, and when I caught the ratan and jerked it away, -she fell upon the floor, somehow, and then I ran off.” - -“How do you know that she was not injured by the fall?” inquired Marcus. - -“O, it didn’t hurt her, for she chased me out to the door, and shook her -fist at me,—I turned around and saw her,” replied Ronald. - -“Well, you have got yourself into a pretty scrape,” said Marcus, “and -it’s my opinion you have not seen the worst of it yet. According to your -own story, you are liable to be arrested for assault and battery, and -what’s to be done, then?” - -“I didn’t assault her, nor batter her; she held on to the stick, and I -just pulled her over, that was all,” replied Ronald. - -“You resisted your teacher, and pulled her upon the floor; and that is -sufficient, I think, to constitute what the law terms assault and -battery,” said Marcus. “At any rate, I do not see but that you will have -to go back and apologize to her, before the school, and then let her -finish the flogging she intended to give you, if she chooses. I think -that would be the easiest way to settle the difficulty. You had better -go home and tell mother about it, and see what she says.” - -Ronald turned away with a sadder heart than ever. He revolted at the -thought of a public apology and submission, and secretly determined that -he would not yield to such a humiliation. He went home and told his -story to Mrs. Page, who seemed much grieved and troubled by his conduct. -She questioned him very closely about the blots on the writing-book, -from which all the trouble sprang; but he protested that he knew nothing -about them, with great apparent sincerity. Still, she remembered that -Ronald was much addicted to lying, when he came to live with her; and -though the habit had been broken up, by patient labor and often severe -discipline, there was a lurking fear that he might possibly have -relapsed, under a strong temptation. - -When Marcus came in to dinner, Ronald’s case was freely discussed, and -the conclusion appeared to be unanimous that they could not sustain him -in the course he had taken, even if he were innocent of the fault for -which he was punished. It was argued that a school government must, of -necessity, be a sort of absolute monarchy. The teacher, although -responsible to the community, and more immediately to the committee, if -it be a public school, is _not_ accountable to his pupils. Among _them_ -he is king, and resistance to his authority is treason. He may sometimes -seem unreasonable in his requirements, but his scholars are not the best -judges of this. He may even sometimes punish the innocent, by mistake; -but in such a case, it is better to submit to a little temporary pain -and mortification, trusting in a future redress or reparation, rather -than to defy or resist his authority in the presence of the school, -thereby shaking the foundation of his government. So reasoned Mrs. Page, -Aunt Fanny, and Marcus, and they thus reached the conclusion that Ronald -was guilty of a flagrant offence in school, and was liable to expulsion, -if not prosecution. - -In the afternoon, just before it was time to dismiss school, Marcus went -to see the teacher, taking Ronald with him, who, by the way, was quite -reluctant to go. Mrs. Benham received them politely, and after the -school closed, Marcus told her Ronald had informed him that he had had a -difficulty with her, and requested her to give him an account of the -affair. - -“Something more than a difficulty,” replied the teacher; “it was a -downright attack upon me, and I feel the effects of it yet. I never was -abused in that way by a boy before. The way it commenced was this: I -asked Ronald to let me look at his writing-book, and I found several -large blots on the last page he wrote. I felt doubly provoked, because -his was the neatest writing-book in the boys’ department, and I wished -it kept nice, for the committee to examine. When I called him to account -for the blots, he answered, as children are apt to do in such a case, -that he didn’t know anything about them, and never saw them before. That -was a very improbable story, and I felt almost sure, from his actions, -that he was telling me a lie. So I told him I should be obliged to -punish him if he attempted to deceive me. He answered, in an impudent -tone, that ‘he hadn’t done anything, and wasn’t going to be whipped for -nothing.’ I talked with him further about it, and tried to persuade him -to tell the truth, but he grew more obstinate and saucy, and threatened -that he would never come to school again if I punished him. I thought it -was time then to take him in hand, so I began to punish him with the -ratan; but before I had given him half a dozen blows, he caught hold of -the stick, and in jerking it away from me, some how threw me down upon -the floor. He then ran off and took my stick with him. I hurt my -shoulder, in falling, and it is quite sore, now.” - -“You didn’t tell me you were impudent, Ronald; why did you keep that -back?” inquired Marcus. - -“I didn’t know that I was impudent,” replied Ronald. - -“You said I shouldn’t punish you, and that you would never come to -school again if I did; shouldn’t you call that impudent, Marcus?” -inquired the teacher. - -“Yes, I call that impudent language, when addressed to a teacher,” -replied Marcus. “Still, I think he may not have _intended_ to be -saucy—that is a fault he is not much addicted to. What did you do with -Mrs. Benham’s stick, Ronald?” - -“I broke it, and threw it into the swamp,” replied Ronald. - -Marcus expressed a wish to see the blotted writing-book, and it was -handed to him. After a close examination, he discovered that the blots -were of a lighter color than the writing upon the page, indicating one -of two things: 1st, They were made with a different ink from that which -Ronald used; or, 2d, They had been recently made, and the ink had not -yet acquired its perfect color from contact with the air. This -discovery, however, gave no clew to the mystery, although it proved that -Ronald did not blot the book when he last used it. Ronald now renewed -his protestations of innocence, with such apparent sincerity, that -Marcus felt satisfied he was telling the truth, especially as he had not -known him to adhere stubbornly to a falsehood for several years. His -teacher also admitted the possibility of his innocence so far as that -offence was concerned, but thought he had done enough, independent of -that, to justify her in excluding him from the school. - -“We admit that he has done wrong,” said Marcus, “but we should be very -sorry to have him expelled from school. He expects to leave next month, -but he mustn’t go with such a stain as this upon his name. On what -conditions will you consent to his coming back to school?” - -Mrs. Benham thought a moment, and then replied:— - -“I do not wish to be harsh or unreasonable with Ronald. If he is sorry -for what he has done, and is willing to say so before the school, that -is enough. As the offence was committed before the whole school, I do -not think I ought to ask less than that.” - -“I think that is reasonable,” replied Marcus. “Are you willing to do it, -Ronald?” - -Ronald made no reply until the question had been repeated several times, -and then he merely shook his head negatively. - -“Well, perhaps he will change his mind before to-morrow morning,” said -Marcus, addressing the teacher; and bidding her good evening, he started -for home, followed by Ronald. - -Marcus said little to the boy, on their way home, preferring to leave -him to his own thoughts—not very pleasant company to be sure, but -perhaps the best for him, under the circumstances. Before Ronald went to -bed, however, Mrs. Page talked with him a little while about the affair. -There were three classes of motives by which she endeavored to persuade -him to comply with the teacher’s requirement. First she appealed to his -affection for her—a motive that seldom failed to take effect upon -Ronald. Then she appealed to reason, and tried to overcome him by -argument. Finally she resorted to a lower and more selfish class of -motives, and portrayed the disgrace of being expelled from school, and -the instantaneous relief of mind he would find in confessing his fault. -Still the proud spirit was unsubdued. - -After a troubled night, Ronald awoke in quite as unhappy a frame of mind -as ever. He went about his morning’s work, silently, and the other -children, not wishing to intermeddle in his trouble, kept so much aloof -that he fancied they shunned him. Oscar, however, remembering a lesson -that had recently been impressed upon his mind, cast his influence upon -the right side, and advised Ronald to yield. Still the stubborn will -revolted at the thought. - -It was a settled principle with Mrs. Page, that when a child refuses to -be governed by such motives as may be drawn from love, reason, the hope -of reward, and the fear of punishment, it is time for authority to -assume its stern sway. Having exhausted these motives upon Ronald, in -vain, there remained but one other—YOU MUST; and this she proceeded to -apply. - -“Ronald,” she said, a little while before school time, “it is time to be -fixing for school; and here is a note which I wish you to take to the -teacher.” - -“Have I got to go to school to-day?” inquired Ronald, in a tone of -surprise, as though such a possibility had not occurred to him. - -“Yes,” replied Mrs. Page, in a calm but firm manner, “you are going to -school this morning, and as soon as it opens you will make a public -apology for your conduct yesterday. I have written to your teacher that -you will do so. You must carry a stick, too, in place of the one you -threw away. Marcus will give it to you.” - -“But what must I say?” inquired Ronald, his eyes swimming with tears. - -“Tell her you are sorry for what you did yesterday, and ask her to -forgive you. That is all you need say.” - -With a sad countenance and a heavy heart, Ronald turned his steps -towards the school-house. Reluctant though he was to go, he hurried on -his way, hoping to reach the school-room before many of the scholars had -assembled. He began to realize his unpleasant situation as he noticed -that a group of little girls were eyeing him curiously, and evidently -making him the subject of remark. Soon a squad of boys noticed his -approach, and commenced a volley of rough salutations. - -“Halloo, Ron! going to take the rest of that licking to-day?” cried one. - -“Ha, old fellow! you’ll catch it—I bet you will,” said another. - -“You’ve got to be turned out of school—teacher said so,” cried out -another. - -Ronald passed on without replying to his young tormentors, and entering -the school-room, deposited the letter and the new ratan upon the -teacher’s desk. He then took his seat, and tremblingly awaited the -opening of the school. Mrs. Benham soon came in, and, after hastily -reading the letter, gave the signal for the school to assemble. As soon -as the opening exercises were over, Ronald arose, and in a low, -tremulous voice said:— - -“Mrs. Benham, I am very sorry for what I did yesterday, and I beg your -pardon.” - -Perfect stillness reigned throughout the room, broken only by the sobs -of Ronald, as he sat down and burst into tears. The painful silence was -quickly relieved by the teacher, who, grasping Ronald kindly by the -hand, said, with much feeling:— - -“I forgive you, with all my heart, Ronald, and I am glad you have -manliness enough to confess your fault, and ask forgiveness. You have -acted very honorably, in doing this, and I shall think all the better of -you for it, hereafter. We will bury the past and be good friends again,” -and she gave his hand a new shake. Then turning to the school she -continued, “I have a confession to make, too. I am now satisfied that -Ronald was not guilty of the offence for which I undertook to punish him -yesterday. He says he does not know how his writing-book was blotted, -and I believe him. I was too hasty, in punishing him, and am sorry for -it. I ask his forgiveness. And I hope the one that blotted the book will -come forward and own it, and relieve him from all suspicion of -falsehood.” - -The teacher paused, and looked around the room, but no one responded to -the call. She then continued:— - -“I am very sorry to think there is one here who can be so dishonorable, -and unjust, and mean, as to try to conceal his fault under these -circumstances. I am sure he cannot have a very quiet conscience.” - -The kind, forgiving spirit of the teacher, and her readiness to -acknowledge her own error, completely subdued the proud heart of Ronald. -He felt truly glad that he had confessed his fault. Indeed, with his -present feelings, he would have cheerfully done it, of his own free -will. Not only was a heavy burden removed from his mind, but he felt a -new and stronger affection for his teacher, realizing the truth of the -saying, that “whoever is forgiven much, will love much.” - - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - CHAPTER VI. - - LETTER-WRITING. - - -SEVERAL weeks had elapsed, since Oscar’s regular daily tasks were set, -and he continued to discharge his duties in a satisfactory manner. The -wood-pile grew a little, weekly, under his management, and the kitchen -was always kept well supplied with fuel. He had become quite expert in -cutting hay and feeding the cows and horses, and the latter he cleaned, -harnessed and drove, with the air of a veteran horseman. The hogs, of -whom he had the principal care, seemed quite contented under their new -master, and rewarded his attentions with many grunts of satisfaction, if -not gratitude. He had assisted cheerfully in gathering the late crops of -the farm, and had even acknowledged that milking the cows was not so -disagreeable work as he had imagined. His lessons, also, were for the -most part well learned. To be sure they were not very hard, being mostly -reviews of studies he had previously gone over. But his natural -abilities as a scholar were good, and he learned easily, when he set -about it in earnest. The only exercise that gave him serious trouble was -the dreaded Saturday’s “composition,” which, indeed, was more terrible -in anticipation than in reality. - -“Isn’t it almost time to answer some of your letters, Oscar?” inquired -Marcus one morning, as the former was about sitting down to his lessons. - -“I suppose it is,” replied Oscar. - -“Let me see,” continued Marcus, “you have had letters from your mother, -and from Alice, and from Clinton—these have all got to be answered. And -then you promised to write to Willie, or ‘Whistler,’ as you call him, -did you not?” - -“Yes,” replied Oscar. - -“I’m afraid you are a rather negligent correspondent,” added Marcus. “I -wouldn’t get into that habit, if I were you. While you are away from -home, you will want to hear from your friends occasionally; but if you -neglect them, they will be apt to neglect you.” - -“But I hate to write letters,” replied Oscar. - -“Do you consider that a sufficient reason for neglecting to answer the -letters of your friends?” inquired Marcus. - -“No,” replied Oscar. - -“Neither do I,” continued Marcus. “So I think you had better sit right -down and attend to your correspondence, to-day, instead of getting any -lessons. You will have time enough to write all four of the letters. You -had better go to your chamber, where you will be out of the way of -interruption. You have paper and ink, I believe?” - -“Yes,” responded Oscar. - -“That reminds me of something else, that I want to say to you,” added -Marcus. “I have noticed within a few days that you are getting in the -habit of saying ‘yes,’ ‘no,’ ‘what?’ etc., when speaking to your elders. -I noticed it yesterday, when you were talking with Mr. Burr, and I have -heard you speak to mother and Aunt Fanny in the same way. It is a little -thing, I know, but it always sounds unpleasantly to my ears. It is -disrespectful, and shows ill breeding. Somehow, I am very apt to form a -bad opinion of a boy or girl who speaks in that way. It is my opinion -that many a boy has missed a good situation, by just saying ‘yes,’ ‘no,’ -or ‘what?’ when he applied for a place, instead of ‘yes, sir,’ ‘no, -sir,’ or ‘what, sir?’ That is worth thinking of, if there were no other -motive; don’t you see it is?” - -“Yes—sir,” replied Oscar, nearly forgetting the very word they were -talking about. - -“So far as I am concerned, personally,” continued Marcus, “I have no -claim to be _sirred_ by you, as there is a difference of only a few -years in our ages. Still, as your example will have much influence over -Ronald, I thought I had better mention the subject to you. Besides, I -may become your teacher in a few weeks, and you know ‘Master Page’ will -have to stand upon his dignity a little, in the schoolroom, whether -‘Cousin Marcus’ chooses to or not. At any rate, I hope you will try to -speak respectfully to older people, if you do not to me. There, I wont -detain you any longer—you can go to work on your letters as soon as you -please.” - -Oscar went to his room, and, having arranged his paper, ink and pen, sat -down by the open window, for it was a mild Indian-summer day. He first -read over the letters he was to answer, and then began to think what he -should write in reply. But, failing to keep his mind upon the subject -before him, his thoughts gradually wandered off, until he quite forgot -the business in hand. As he sat in a dreamy mood, gazing upon the hills, -prominent among which was Prescott’s Peak, with its signal still erect, -he descried a large bird sailing majestically through the air, nearly -overhead. It was at a great height, but as it approached the hills it -descended, and disappeared in the woods near their base. A few minutes -afterward it again soared aloft, and, wheeling around the Peak, as if -taking an observation of the monument which the boys had erected, it -appeared to descend near the summit, where Oscar finally lost sight of -it. - -Oscar was satisfied that the strange bird was an eagle, and as he sat -patiently watching for its reappearance, he thought what a fine shot it -offered, and imagined himself on the mountain, gun in hand, stealthily -pursuing the noble game. Now it alights upon a tall tree, within -rifle-shot. Cautiously the boy-hunter takes aim; “crack!” goes the -fowling-piece; and down tumbles the monarch of the air, crashing through -the branches of the tree. His feathers are stained with blood; but his -fierce eye flashes defiance at his murderer, as he approaches, and with -his powerful wing he well-nigh breaks the arm that is stretched out to -secure him. After a desperate struggle, he is despatched by a blow from -the butt of the weapon, and is borne home in triumph—a heavy task—to the -wonder and admiration of the whole neighborhood. - -[Illustration] - -But Oscar’s kindling imagination is not satisfied with this feat. It -must try again. The bird eludes his gun, but he follows it, and -discovers its haunt, on a steep and rocky precipice, near one of the -mountain summits. Throwing aside his gun, and grasping such scanty and -stunted trees as are at hand, he boldly lowers himself down the -frightful chasm. One misstep, the giving way of a single slender twig, -would plunge him headlong to destruction; but what cares he for that? -There is a prize below, and he is determined to have it. Now he catches -a glimpse of the nest, on a narrow, shelving rock, and for the first -time discovers that there are two old birds, which, with outspread -wings, are guarding their young brood. Undaunted, he descends the steep -and slippery rocks, till he is almost within reach of the nest. Now the -eagles, roused to fury, fly at him, and with wing, beak and talon -commence the assault. Supporting himself by one hand, he uses the other -and one foot to ward off the assailants. Long the battle rages, and -again and again the adventurous hunter seems almost overcome; but when -about to sink down, faint and gasping, the birds, battered and -exhausted, give up the contest in despair. The boy seizes the prize, -scrambles up the fearful precipice, and hurries home, to raise a brood -of eagles. - -“But this isn’t writing my letters,” exclaimed Oscar to himself, -suddenly awaking from his day dream. “A whole hour gone, and not a line -written yet. Well, I’ll go about it, now. I think I’ll write to mother -first. Let me think—what day of the month is it? I am sure I can’t -tell—I must run down stairs and find out.” - -Oscar went down to the sitting-room, and, by referring to a newspaper, -ascertained the date. But, before he laid the paper aside, his eye was -attracted by the heading of a story, and, on reading a few lines, he -became so much interested in it, that he took the journal up to his -room, and thought of nothing else until he had finished reading the -piece. Then, remembering his neglected task, he hurriedly arranged his -paper, and wrote the date and complimentary address. But the ink did not -flow freely from his pen, and, taking a sheet of waste paper, he -commenced scribbling upon it, to see if he could remedy the trouble. How -long he continued this diversion, he was scarcely aware, but at length -it was interrupted by a step on the stairs, and a knock at his door. -Quickly concealing the well scribbled evidence of his idleness, he bade -the visitor walk in, and Marcus entered. - -“Well, how do you get along?” inquired Marcus. - -“Not very well,” replied Oscar. “I have been hindered by one thing and -another, ever since I began. To begin with, just after I came up here, I -saw an eagle flying over. Didn’t you see it?” - -“No—but are you sure it was an eagle?” inquired Marcus. - -“Why, yes, it must have been an eagle,” replied Oscar. “It was the -largest bird I ever saw, and I should think he was all of a mile high -when he flew over. He lit on the Peak, and that was the last I saw of -him.” - -“Yes, I remember, now,—I did see a hawk over in that neighborhood, and -that must have been your eagle,” quietly observed Marcus. - -Oscar did not relish such a summary disposal of his eagle story, and was -about to protest against it, when Marcus inquired how many letters he -had finished. - -“None,” replied Oscar. - -“Not one!” exclaimed Marcus; “and is that the beginning of the first -letter?” glancing at the sheet which contained the date and address. - -“Yes, sir,” said Oscar. - -“Ah, you have been reading the newspaper, as well as watching hawks,” -continued Marcus, as his eye fell upon the printed sheet. - -“I got that to see about the date,” replied Oscar, forgetting that -sometimes there is little difference between half of a truth and a lie. - -“What _have_ you been doing all the forenoon, then?” inquired Marcus. - -“The ink is so thick that I couldn’t write,” added Oscar. - -“Let me try it,” said Marcus; and he seated himself in Oscar’s chair, -and, looking for some waste paper, drew out the sheet which his cousin -had covered with all sorts of flourishes, figures, puzzles, etc. “I -think the ink must flow pretty freely, if it is thick,” he quietly -added. - -Having satisfied himself that the ink was not to blame, Marcus said he -was sorry the letters were not finished, as he was expecting to drive -over to an adjoining town, in the afternoon, and intended to let Oscar -accompany him, if his task was completed. Oscar said he thought he could -finish the letters after he got back; but his cousin was far from -agreeing with him in this opinion. - -“No,” said Marcus, “you will hardly get through this afternoon, -supposing you work diligently. I think you had better not stop even for -dinner, but I will bring you up something to eat, so that you need lose -no time. I want you to finish the four letters before you leave the -room, if possible.” - -Oscar hardly knew whether to consider himself a prisoner, or not, so -pleasantly had Marcus addressed him. He concluded, however, that it was -time to go to work, and was soon deeply engaged in the letter to his -mother. Now that his mind was aroused, and his attention fixed, he found -no difficulty in writing, and the letter was about completed, when -Marcus appeared, with a light repast, instead of the accustomed -substantial noonday meal. - -“I never feel like writing, after a hearty meal,—so I have brought you a -light dinner,” said Marcus, setting the tray upon the table. - -“What time shall you start?” inquired Oscar. - -“In about an hour,” was the reply. - -“I have got one letter about done,” said Oscar, “and I can finish -another before you go. Don’t you suppose I could finish the other two -after we get back?” - -“I am afraid not,” replied Marcus. “You will have but little time, then, -and besides, you wont feel like writing. I think you had better finish -your letters before you do anything else. Perhaps you can get them done -in season to mail them to-day.” - -Marcus now withdrew, and in the course of an hour drove off upon his -errand. When he returned, he found the family at tea, and Oscar with -them. - -“Well, Oscar, have you written all your letters?” inquired Marcus. - -“Yes, sir, and carried them to the post office, too,” replied Oscar. - -“Ah, you have been pretty smart—that is, if you didn’t make them too -short,” observed Marcus. - -“They are about as long as my letters generally are,” replied Oscar - -“You found no great difficulty in writing, when you bent your mind down -to it, did you?” inquired Marcus. - -“No, sir, not much.” - -“I supposed you wouldn’t,” continued Marcus. “Mother, I’ve been thinking -of a plan, this afternoon, for making letter-writing pleasant, and I -want your opinion of it.” - -“I think highly of letter-writing as an exercise,” said Mrs. Page, “and -if you can devise a way to make the children like it, I shall be very -glad.” - -“I can’t see what makes boys hate to write letters so—for my part I like -to do it,” said Kate. - -“Yes, I should think you liked it—you write half a dozen billets every -day, in school,” interposed Otis. - -“Why, Otis Sedgwick, what a story! I don’t believe I have averaged more -than one note a day, this whole term,” replied Kate. - -“Well, that speaks pretty well for your epistolary taste, if you have -done nothing more,” said Marcus. “But let me explain my plan. I propose -that we have a letter-box put up in some part of the house, and that -every one in the family engage to write one letter a week to some other -member, and drop it into the box, which we might call our post office. -The greatest liberty might be allowed, in the choice of subjects and -style, and the letters might be anonymous, or written in an assumed -character, if preferred. If any one wanted to ask a favor, or make a -complaint, or offer a suggestion, or correct an error, or drop a word of -caution or reproof, or indulge a fancy, or make sport, this would afford -a good opportunity to do it. What do you think of the plan, mother?” - -“I think it is a good idea, and I shall vote for giving it a fair -trial,” said Mrs. Page. - -“And how does it strike you, Aunt Fanny?” continued Marcus. - -“Very favorably,” replied Miss Lee. “If you can interest the young folks -in it, I have no doubt it will work well.” - -“O, I think it is a capital idea—I shall vote for it with both hands,” -exclaimed Kate. - -“And what say you, Oscar?” inquired Marcus. - -“I suppose I must come into the arrangement, if all the others do,” -replied Oscar, smiling. - -“Not much enthusiasm there,” observed Marcus; “but we’ll excuse him, as -he has been writing letters all day. Well, Otis, what do you say to the -plan?” - -“I hate to write letters,” replied Otis. - -“Very likely,” said Marcus; “and that is precisely the reason why you -ought to come into our arrangement, for we are going to try to make -letter-writing easy and pleasant.” - -“Well, I’ll agree to it,” said Otis. - -“Of course you wont hang back, Ronald?” added Marcus. - -“I don’t know about that,” replied Ronald. “Couldn’t I be mail-boy, or -post-master, or something of that sort, and so be excused from writing?” - -“We probably shall not need your services in that line—we can help -ourselves to our letters,” replied Marcus. - -“Well, I’ll join your society on one condition,” said Ronald, with an -air of grave importance. - -“What is that?” inquired Marcus. - -“That you shan’t make us write long letters,” was the reply. - -“Your letters may be as long or as short as you choose to make them,” -replied Marcus. “We have all agreed to the plan—now I think it would be -well to have a few written rules, to govern us. Perhaps we can arrange -that after we get through our work this evening.” - -The proposal was approved, and in the evening the subject was again -brought up. All were invited to offer such suggestions as occurred to -them. - -“Would it not be well enough for us to resolve ourselves into a society, -and adopt a name?” inquired Aunt Fanny. - -“I think it would,—what shall we call it?” inquired Marcus. - -“The Post Office Society,” suggested Otis. - -“The Literary Fraternity,” proposed Kate. - -“The Letter-writing Society,” said Mrs. Page. - -The latter name was finally adopted, as being more expressive than the -others. Aunt Fanny then suggested that the title needed the addition of -some qualifying word, to make it more definite and distinctive. - -“Call it the Highburg Letter-writing Society,” said Kate. - -“There are only seven of us, and I doubt whether it would be exactly -modest to appropriate the name of the town to our association,” remarked -Mrs. Page. - -“The Page Letter-writing Society,” suggested Ronald. - -“The Excelsior Letter-writing Society,” proposed Kate. - -“That is better,” said Marcus. “Does anybody object to it? No; so we -will call that point settled. Now please to suggest rules for our -government.” - -“Every member must write at least one letter weekly to some other -member,” said Mrs. Page. - -“And if any one fails to contribute his share to the stock of letters, -what shall be done to him?” inquired Miss Lee. - -“Turn him out,” said Otis. - -“Debar him from taking any letters from the office, until he has made -good all deficiencies,” suggested Mrs. Page. - -This latter proposal was adopted, and further suggestions called for. - -“All letters must be sealed,” suggested Kate. - -“And pre-paid,” added Ronald. - -“I hardly think it necessary to seal the letters,” said Marcus. “Perhaps -we had better leave that optional with the writer.” - -“But I think the one that receives the letter ought to have something to -say about that, as well as the writer,” said Kate. - -“Well, I have no objection to your rule, if no one else has,” said -Marcus. - -Several other rules were agreed to, and noted down by Marcus. When -completed, the list of regulations stood as follows: - - - “REGULATIONS OF THE EXCELSIOR LETTER-WRITING SOCIETY. - -“Each member shall write at least one letter per week to some other -member. - -“Any member who fails to comply with this rule, without a reasonable -excuse, shall forfeit his right to take letters from the post office -until his delinquency is made good. - -“Each member shall divide his epistolary favors as equally among the -others as possible. - -“The utmost freedom as to matter and style will be allowed, but nothing -must be written calculated to wound the feelings of another. - -“Fictitious signatures, and a disguised hand, are allowable, when -preferred. - -“All letters to be sealed. - -“The post office to be accessible to any member, at all times.” - - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - CHAPTER VII. - - THE RAIN POWER. - - -AFTER the children had gone to school, the next day, Marcus made a -letter-box, and fastened it against the wall, in the entry. While he was -at work upon it, a young lady from another part of the town called in to -invite the family to a husking party. On learning the design of the box, -she solicited the privilege of inaugurating it, which was readily -granted. So, begging a sheet or two of paper, she sat down and wrote -notes of invitation to Kate, Otis and Ronald, and dropped them into the -box. - -“Hurrah! here’s the post office box, and some letters in it!” exclaimed -Ronald, when he came home from school in the afternoon. - -“I’m going to have the first one, let me see if I’m not,” cried Kate, -rushing for the post office. - -“No, the first one is for me, but here’s one you may have,” replied -Ronald, handing Kate the note directed to her. - -“Well, there’s one rule broken, the very first thing—it isn’t sealed,” -said Kate; “and it is written with a lead pencil, too—I don’t think -that’s fair.” - -She opened the billet, and read:— - - “Miss Jenny Marsh requests the pleasure of Miss Katharine - Sedgwick’s company at a husking party on Friday evening. - - “Oct. 16th.” - -The notes addressed to Ronald and Otis were in the same form as Kate’s. -The invitation was quite gratifying to all of the children, and the -proposed party occupied a large share of their thoughts and tongues, for -the rest of the day. Their ardor was somewhat dampened, however, by Mrs. -Page, who told them she thought a storm was near, which might interfere -with their arrangements. - -“I don’t see any signs of a storm—I think it looks real pleasant,” said -Kate. - -“The water boiled away from the potatoes very fast, this noon, and that -is a pretty good sign of rain,” replied Mrs. Page. - -“I don’t see what that has to do with rain,” said Ronald. - -“I can’t explain it very clearly,” replied Mrs. Page, “but I know it is -so. I suppose there is something peculiar in the state of the -atmosphere, just before a storm, which makes boiling water evaporate, or -fly off into steam, more rapidly than at other times.” - -The sun rose clear, the next morning, and the children laughed at Mrs. -Page for her prediction of rain. But in an hour or two, clouds began to -gather, and early in the afternoon a heavy rain commenced. The children -came home from school, wet, disappointed, and cross. Every thing seemed -to go wrong with them, the rest of the day. Kate had wet her feet, and a -grumbling tooth-ache admonished her that she had taken cold. Otis had -left his new kite out doors, and found the paper upon it reduced to a -handful of pulp, when he came home. The cows chose the luckless day to -take a stroll into the neighbors’ enclosures, and led Ronald on a long -and provoking tramp through the wet grass and soft, spongy lowlands, in -search of them. Nor did Oscar escape his share of the ill-luck which -seemed to brood over the household; for while milking, one of the cows, -nettled perhaps by her long walk and the unpleasant state of the -weather, gave him a slap across his eyes with her wet tail that almost -took away his sight for a few minutes, at the same time leaving upon his -face an embrocation that was not exactly calculated to soothe his -ruffled feelings. - -“What is the matter? have you all got the blues?” inquired Marcus, at -the tea-table, as he observed how gloomy and silent the younger portion -of the family appeared. - -“O dear, I should think this horrid weather was enough to give any one -the blues,” exclaimed Kate. - -“It doesn’t affect me very unpleasantly,” replied Marcus. - -“Well, you don’t care anything about the husking party, I suppose,” said -Kate. - -“Oh, it’s the disappointment, and not the weather, that troubles you,” -observed Marcus. - -“Not altogether that, but I think it’s too bad we can’t go to-night,” -replied Kate. - -“It _is_ too bad that all the affairs of this world can’t be ordered to -suit your convenience,” added Marcus. - -“No, I don’t wish that; but when I make up my mind to go any where, I do -want to go,” said Kate. - -“Which is pretty much the same thing as wishing that Providence would -lay all his plans with special reference to your private interests, -without regard to the rest of the world.” - -Kate made no reply, but Ronald came to her rescue. - -“I don’t believe anybody wants it to rain, now,” he said; “the crops are -all in, and what good-will it do?” - -“I think the owners of mills on the rivers could give you a good reason -why it ought to rain now,” replied Marcus; “and perhaps we should find -another reason at the bottom of our wells, after we have used up all the -water, a few months hence.” - -“Well, then, I don’t think it need rain so much at a time,” said Ronald. -“Just hear how it’s pouring down now, and it has been raining so almost -all the afternoon.” - -“How much water do you suppose has fallen?” inquired Marcus. - -“About a foot, I guess,” replied Ronald. - -“A foot of rain!” exclaimed Marcus, with astonishment. - -“Well, half a foot, certainly,” said Ronald. - -“No; halve it again, and you will come nearer to the truth,” added -Marcus. - -“What, only three inches? it’s more than that, I know,” said Ronald. - -“I doubt whether you have any idea how much three inches of rain is,” -replied Marcus. “After tea we will go into a little calculation about -it.” - -When the tea table was cleared away, Marcus proposed that all the -children should provide themselves with paper or slates, and see if they -could ascertain how much water had fallen in Highburg that day. - -“We will assume,” he said, “that three inches of rain has fallen, on a -level, which I think may be very near the true quantity. The town -contains about thirty square miles. Now, the first question is, how many -hogsheads of water have fallen on this surface, to-day?” - -For a few moments nothing was heard but the clicking and scratching of -pencils, and the rustling of the leaves of the arithmetic, by those who -were not quite sure they knew the “tables.” Those who finished the work -first were requested to keep silent till the others had got through. -When all were ready, the answers were read off. The solutions of Marcus, -Oscar and Kate agreed, and were assumed to be correct; while those of -Ronald and Otis were different, and were voted incorrect. Marcus then -proposed several other questions in regard to the rain, which led to a -series of calculations. The children soon became quite interested in the -problems, and were not a little surprised at the facts brought out. -Marcus noted down the several answers, on a clean sheet of paper, and -the following is a copy of the record:— - - - “WHAT THE CLOUDS DID IN HALF A DAY. - - -“The water that has fallen this afternoon and evening, in this town -alone, would fill 24,826,775 hogsheads. - -“It would measure 209,088,000 cubic feet. - -“Its weight is 5,833,928 tons. - -“Were this water all in a pond, thirty feet deep, it would be sufficient -to float 3,484 vessels, allowing 2,000 square feet to each, or about -one-sixth of all the steam and sailing vessels of every class in the -United States. - -“It would take a man 13,792 years to distribute this water, with a -watering pot, supposing he distributed 6 hogsheads a day, and worked 300 -days in a year. - -“To distribute it in the same time as the clouds, half a day, would -require 8,275,590 men, or more than twice as many as voted at the -Presidential election of 1856, in the United States. - -“It would take $6,206,692 to pay these men for their services, at the -rate of $1.50 per day. - -“If this water had all fallen to the earth in one solid mass, from a -height of one mile, it would have struck the ground with a force of -3,389,512,500 tons.” - -“There,” said Marcus, after reading aloud the foregoing record, “who -would have imagined that the clouds were carrying on such an extensive -business as that? Isn’t it wonderful? And then just think that this -storm has extended over perhaps half of the United States. What a deluge -of water must have fallen! And this, you must remember, is an account of -only one storm—only three inches of rain, out of thirty or forty that we -have every year.” - -“Why! do we have as much rain as that in a year?” inquired Kate. - -“Yes,” replied Marcus, “our average in this part of Vermont is, I -believe, about thirty-two inches, including snow reduced to water. Along -the sea coast they have more—in Boston, for instance, about forty -inches. There are some parts of the world where they have almost as many -feet of rain as we have inches, and nearly all of it falls in about two -months of the year, too.”[4] - -Footnote 4: - - According to Prof. Guyot, rain falls at Paramaribo, in Dutch Guiana, - to the amount of 229 inches, or 19 feet, annually. There is a place in - Brazil where 276 inches, or 23 feet, have fallen in a year. But the - greatest quantity ever observed is at an elevated point in British - India, south of Bombay, where the enormous amount of 302 inches, or - over 25 feet, has fallen in a year. At Cayenne, 21 inches of rain have - been known to fall in a single day, or nearly as much as falls in a - whole year in the northern latitudes. The annual average fall in - tropical America, is 115 inches; in temperate America, 39 inches. The - average for the entire surface of the globe is about five feet. These - figures may afford the young arithmetician a basis for a variety of - curious calculations, some rainy day, when he is at a loss for - amusement, and is disposed to look a little more curiously into the - wonderful results of “the rain power.” - -“What do people do there? I should think they would be all washed away,” -said Kate. - -“No,” said Marcus, “it isn’t so bad as it seems. It is soon over with, -and they have more pleasant days in the year than we do. I suppose they -pity us because we have so many stormy days, and yet get so little rain -after all. Besides, they know about when their rainy days are coming, -and can be prepared for them.” - -“But, after all,” said Aunt Fanny, “I think our arrangement of the -weather is best, if it does sometimes interfere with our plans. We -generally have all the rain we want, and it is given to us a little at a -time, as we need it. This is better for us and for vegetation than to -have all our rain fall in two months of the year, and then to have three -or four times as much as we really need.” - -“Then why doesn’t God make it rain so every where, if that way is best?” -inquired Ronald. - -“For wise and good reasons, no doubt,” replied Aunt Fanny. “What is best -for the temperate zones may not be best for the tropics. People who go -from this latitude to tropical countries find the rainy season very -unhealthy, but it is different with those who were born there.” - -“I suppose one object of these heavy rains between the tropics is to -supply the great rivers of South America and Africa,” said Marcus. “We -all know how Egypt is fertilized by the overflowing of the Nile; but the -Nile would not overflow were it not for these immense rains in the -country where it rises. So with the great rivers of South America, which -overflow in the rainy season, and form inland seas, that serve as -reservoirs in the dry months.” - -“And it is so with all the rivers in the world—they are nothing but -drains to carry away the surplus rain-water,” said Mrs. Page. - -“Well,” said Marcus, glancing at the figures before him, “we have -ascertained that nearly six million tons of water have fallen in our -town to-day. Otis, can you explain how this immense body of water was -raised into the air?” - -“I can explain it,” said Kate, seeing that her brother hesitated. - -“Let Otis try first,” replied Marcus. - -“Was it drawn up from the ocean by the sun?” inquired Otis. - -“Yes, that is the correct explanation,” continued Marcus. “Now, Kate, -can you tell us any more about it?” - -“The heat of the sun,” said Kate, “causes a vapor to go up into the air -from the ocean, and lakes, and rivers, and from everything that contains -water. This is called evaporation. You can’t see this vapor, as it flies -away into the air, but when the atmosphere grows cold, it forms clouds, -and falls in rain.” - -“I should think the vapor would all dry up, and be lost, when the air is -so warm,” said Ronald. - -“What do you mean by drying up?” inquired Marcus. - -“Why, you know,—I mean drying up,—I can’t think of any other way to -explain it,” replied Ronald. - -“When the water in a puddle dries up,” said Marcus, “it flies into the -air, in the form of a vapor, and that is evaporation. That is all the -drying up there is about it. The air steals the water from the puddle, -and then keeps it a close prisoner till the cold releases it. The water -doesn’t dry up again in the air, but remains there. The warmer the air, -the more water it will hold. In the tropics, where they have such fierce -heats, the air is always full of moisture, and the plants draw it out by -means of their large leaves, and so they manage to flourish the year -round, although they have no rain or even clouds for months in -succession. It is so with us, on a very sultry day,—there is more water -than usual in the air, at such a time, although we cannot see it. Now, -Kate, can you explain why this vapor which heat produces, flies away to -the region of the clouds?” - -“Because it is lighter than the air,” replied Kate. - -“Right,” said Marcus. - -“You said you couldn’t see this moisture rise from the earth,” said Aunt -Fanny, “but that is not always the case. We see it in our breath, on a -cold day, when it looks like steam issuing from our mouths. I have seen -a river steaming as though there were a fire under it, in a very cold -day, before ice had formed over it. We see this process going on, too, -in the vapors or fogs which often collect over ponds, and rivers, and -the ocean. But commonly, as Kate says, we see nothing of these vapors -until they are condensed into clouds by the cold air above, although -they are continually flying off from our bodies, and from the ground, -and every thing that grows in it. When we hang out our clothes to dry, -after washing them, the water in them goes to help make clouds.” - -“There is one other agent in this business, that has not been -mentioned,” said Marcus. “The sun draws the water, the atmosphere holds -it as in a sponge, and the cold squeezes the sponge and returns the -water to the earth. But the rain is not needed where it is first -collected—it must be transported to distant parts of the earth; and how -is this done?” - -“By the winds,” replied Oscar. - -“Yes,” resumed Marcus, “the winds are the great water-carriers, that -distribute the rain over the earth. Here, then, we have the whole list -of forces employed in this wonderful rain power, viz.: - -“1. The sun, to draw the water by its heat. - -“2. The atmosphere, to hold it. - -“3. The winds, to transport it over the continents. - -“4. The cold, to discharge it from the clouds when it has reached its -destination.”[5] - -Footnote 5: - - Strictly speaking, these agents may be reduced to two; for the wind is - only air in motion, and cold is not a substance, but merely the - absence of heat, as darkness is the absence of light. - -“How does the cold make the rain fall?” inquired Ronald. - -“It contracts the air,” replied Marcus, “and the vapor is consequently -condensed, or crowded together, so that its particles unite and form -drops of rain, which are heavier than the air, and fall to the earth. As -I said before, the atmosphere may be compared to a sponge, which holds a -certain quantity of water, in minute particles. When the air sponge is -contracted, these particles mingle together and run out, and then it -rains.” - -“What a squeezing the sponge must have had to-day!” exclaimed Ronald. - -“When the vapor freezes before it falls to the earth,” said Kate, “it -becomes snow; and when very cold and very hot and moist air come -together, they make hail, or ice.” - -“I know a riddle about that,” said Ronald, repeating:— - - “My father is the Northern Wind, - My mother’s name was Water: - Old Parson Winter married them, - And I’m their hopeful daughter.” - -“Did you know that snow-flakes are usually crystals of regular and -beautiful forms?” inquired Marcus. - -[Illustration] - -Kate and Oscar had read of this, but it was new to the other children. -Marcus took down a volume from the library, and showed to them some -drawings of these snow crystals, as seen under a microscope, a few of -which are here given. There is an endless variety of these crystals, the -most beautiful of which are found in the polar regions; but sometimes -the flakes present no traces of crystallization. - -“My geography says it never rains in the Great Desert of Sahara; what is -the reason of that?” inquired Ronald. - -“The Sahara,” replied Marcus, “is a vast ocean of sand, in the torrid -zone. The air which arises from it is so scorching hot, that it burns -up, as it were, the clouds of rain that blow towards it from the -Mediterranean, as soon as they come within its reach. There are several -other deserts in Africa, and in North and South America. Some of these -are cut off from their supply of rain by mountains. When the clouds come -in contact with a chain of high mountains, they are driven up their -sides, into a colder region, and the vapor is pretty thoroughly wrung -out of them. By the time the current of wind reaches the other side of -the mountains, the clouds have all disappeared, and there is nothing -left but a cold, dry air. That explains why it is that there is a desert -region on the western coast of South America, on the very borders of the -Pacific Ocean. The eastern sides of the Andes rob the clouds of all the -rain brought from the Atlantic by the trade wind, and as the dry wind -keeps on its course, the vapors of the Pacific are driven back to the -ocean, before they can discharge themselves. Thus there is a paradise on -one side of the mountains, and a desert on the other.” - -“Five minutes of nine,” said Mrs. Page, warningly. - -“Is it so late?” inquired Marcus. “Well, we will have a bit of poetry to -wind up with, and I will appoint Kate to read it aloud, as it is a -beautiful piece, and I’m afraid none of the rest of us would do it -justice.” - -“O, you flatterer!” exclaimed Kate. - -“No, it isn’t flattery,—it _is_ a capital poem, if I’m any judge,” added -Marcus, turning over the leaves of a book in search of the piece. “It’s -by Bryant—ah, here it is. Now, Miss Kate, let us hear what the poet says -about rain, so that we may have something pleasant to dream about, when -we go to bed.” - -Kate took the book, and read in an admirable manner the following -lines:— - - - A RAIN DREAM. - - BY WILLIAM CULLEN BRYANT. - - THESE strifes, these tumults of the noisy world, - Where Fraud, the coward, tracks his prey by stealth, - And Strength, the ruffian, glories in his guilt, - Oppress the heart with sadness. Oh, my friend, - In what serener mood we look upon - The gloomiest aspects of the elements - Among the woods and fields! Let us awhile, - As the slow wind is rolling up the storm, - In fancy leave this maze of dusty streets, - For ever shaken by the importunate jar - Of commerce, and upon the darkening air - Look from the shelter of our rural home. - - Who is not awed that listens to the Rain - Sending his voice before him? Mighty Rain! - The upland steeps are shrouded by their mists; - The vales are gloomy with thy shade; the pools - No longer glimmer, and the silvery streams - Darken to veins of lead at thy approach. - Oh, mighty Rain! already thou art here; - And every roof is beaten by thy streams, - And as thou passest, every glassy spring - Grows rough, and every leaf in all the woods - Is struck and quivers. All the hilltops slake - Their thirst from thee; a thousand languishing fields, - A thousand fainting gardens are refreshed; - A thousand idle rivulets start to speed, - And with the graver murmur of the storm - Blend their light voices, as they hurry on. - - Thou fill’st the circle of the atmosphere - Alone; there is no living thing abroad, - No bird to wing the air, nor beast to walk - The field; the squirrel in the forest seeks - His hollow tree; the marmot of the field - Has scampered to his den; the butterfly - Hides under her broad leaf; the insect crowds - That made the sunshine populous, lie close - In their mysterious shelters, whence the sun - Will summon them again. The mighty Rain - Holds the vast empire of the sky alone. - - I shut my eyes, and see, as in a dream, - The friendly clouds drop down spring violets - And summer columbines, and all the flowers - That tuft the woodland floor, or overarch - The streamlet:—spiky grass for genial June, - Brown harvests for the waiting husbandman, - And for the woods a deluge of fresh leaves. - - I see these myriad drops that slake the dust, - Gathered in glorious streams, or rolling blue - In billows on the lake or on the deep, - And bearing navies. I behold them change - To threads of crystal as they sink in earth, - And leave its stains behind, to rise again - In pleasant nooks of verdure, where the child, - Thirsty with play, in both his little hands - Shall take the cool clear water, raising it - To wet his pretty lips. To-morrow noon - How proudly will the water-lily ride - The brimming pool, o’erlooking, like a queen, - Her circle of broad leaves. In lonely wastes, - When next the sunshine makes them beautiful, - Gay troops of butterflies shall light to drink - At the replenished hollows of the rock. - - Now slowly falls the dull blank night, and still, - All through the starless hours, the mighty Rain - Smites with perpetual sound the forest leaves, - And beats the matted grass, and still the earth - Drinks the unstinted bounty of the clouds, - Drinks for her cottage wells, her woodland brooks, - Drinks for the springing trout, the toiling bee - And brooding bird, drinks for her tender flowers, - Tall oaks, and all the herbage of her hills. - - A melancholy sound is in the air, - A deep sigh in the distance, a shrill wail - Around my dwelling. ’Tis the wind of night; - A lonely wanderer between earth and cloud, - In the black shadow and the chilly mist, - Along the streaming mountain side, and through - The dripping woods, and o’er the plashy fields, - Roaming and sorrowing still, like one who makes - The journey of life alone, and nowhere meets - A welcome or a friend, and still goes on - In darkness. Yet awhile, a little while, - And he shall toss the glittering leaves in play, - And dally with the flowers, and gaily lift - The slender herbs, pressed low by weight of rain, - And drive, in joyous triumph, through the sky, - White clouds, the laggard remnants of the storm. - - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - CHAPTER VIII. - - INSUBORDINATION. - - -IT was a cherished opinion with Marcus, that the best government for a -child is that which teaches him to govern himself. He had derived this -notion from his mother and aunt, both of whom, in all their intercourse -with the young, had endeavored to keep it in mind. Marcus had put this -theory in practice, to some extent, in the management of Ronald, and not -without success. He anticipated a still greater triumph of this -principle, however, with Oscar, whose age, and peculiar circumstances, -seemed favorable to the experiment. Accordingly, instead of fixing metes -and bounds for Oscar, and hampering him with set rules and commands, -Marcus usually made known his wishes in the form of suggestions, advice, -etc., taking it for granted that his will, plainly declared, would be -regarded as law by his cousin. And so it was, for a few weeks. But -gradually a change came over Oscar. He still attended faithfully to his -work and studies, but began to manifest some impatience of control in -other matters, and to take advantage of the liberty accorded to him. It -was evident that he was falling into the notion that, aside from his -stated work and his lessons, he could do pretty much as he pleased. - -Marcus noticed this change with no little anxiety and regret. He began -to fear that he should be obliged to abandon the self-government theory, -at least with Oscar. He kept his uneasiness to himself for a time, but -as the evil manifestly increased, he at length broke the subject to his -mother. It was at the close of a mild October afternoon. Supper was -finished, the cows were milked, and as dusk approached, Oscar was seen -to go over towards Mr. Hapley’s, and soon after re-appeared, with Sam, -with whom he walked rapidly towards the village. - -“Mother, how do you think Oscar is getting on? Does he do as well as you -expected?” inquired Marcus, as he entered the house, after observing his -cousin’s movements. - -“Why, yes, I do not see but that he is doing pretty well,” replied Mrs. -Page. “He works better than I supposed he would, and he gets his lessons -well, too.” - -“But don’t you think he is a little too much inclined to have his own -way?” inquired Marcus. - -“I have suspected it was so,” replied his mother; “but as you have had -the principal management of him, you can judge best about that.” - -“For instance,” resumed Marcus, “I gave him to understand, when he first -came here, that we didn’t want him to have anything to do with Sam -Hapley.” - -“So did I,” interrupted Mrs. Page. - -“I never actually forbade him to associate with Sam,” continued Marcus, -“but Oscar knows what he is, and he knows better than to go with him. -And yet they are getting quite intimate. They were off together nearly -all the afternoon, yesterday, hunting squirrels, as Oscar says; and this -evening he has gone off with him again, notwithstanding I have told him -two or three times that we all made it a rule not to be away from home -after dark, except by special arrangement.” - -“I told him the same thing, the last evening he was out,” added Mrs. -Page. - -“He has gone contrary to my wishes in several other matters,” resumed -Marcus. “There’s tobacco, for one thing. I am satisfied that he is -beginning to use it again; you know he formed the habit in Boston.” - -“Yes, but I hope he isn’t sliding into it again,” said Mrs. Page. - -“I think he is,” replied Marcus; “in fact, I am very certain he is, for -I have smelt tobacco in his breath, several times. I have talked to him -about the bad effects of tobacco, but didn’t let him know that I -suspected he used it. Last Saturday I wrote something on the subject, -and addressed it to him, and dropped it into our letter-box. I have got -a copy of it—here it is.” - -Marcus took from his pocket a note, and read it aloud. As it may -possibly interest some young reader who is trying to cultivate an -acquaintance with tobacco, it is here given entire. - - - “WHY I DON’T LIKE TOBACCO. - - “It does a man no good. - - “It is a powerful poison. - - “It is injurious to the health, and sometimes fatal to the life, - especially of the young. - - “It weakens and injures the mind. - - “It begets an unnatural and burning thirst, which water will not - quench, and thus prepares the way for the intoxicating cup. - - “It makes a man a slave to its use, so it is almost impossible - for him to abandon it, after a few years. - - “It is offensive to all who do not use it. - - “It is a letter of introduction to bad associates. - - “The use of it is a filthy habit. - - “It is an expensive habit. - - “The only real advantage arising from the use of tobacco that I - ever heard of happened to one of a party of sailors who were - wrecked upon the Feejee islands. The savages killed and cooked - them all, anticipating a delightful feast; but one of the tars - tasted so strongly of tobacco, that they couldn’t eat him, and - so he escaped a burial in their stomachs. As I intend to keep - clear of cannibals, I don’t think this solitary fact offers me - any inducement to steep and pickle myself in tobacco; therefore - I intend to remain an - - =ANTI-PUFFER-AND-CHEWER.”= - -“I’m afraid it didn’t do much good,” resumed Marcus, somewhat sadly. “I -smelt tobacco in his breath again to-day.” - -“Well,” said Mrs. Page, after a pause, “it will never do to let him go -on in this way. I think it will be necessary to tell him very plainly -and decidedly, that if he will not restrain himself, we must do it for -him. One or the other he _must_ submit to, or go back to the Reform -School, and the sooner he understands this, the better it will be for us -all.” - -The entrance of the other children put a stop to the conversation; but -Mrs. Page’s last remark confirmed the conclusion to which Marcus had -already reluctantly arrived, and left him no longer in doubt as to the -proper course to pursue. - -The lamps had been lit nearly an hour when Oscar came in, that evening. -Nothing was said to him about his absence at the time; but the next day, -taking him alone, Marcus talked long and earnestly to him about the -course he was pursuing, and told him very decidedly that he could go on -in this way no longer. “If we will not put ourselves under restraint,” -he said, “others must do it for us. It is so in society, in the school, -in the family, and everywhere else. The best form of government is -self-government, and there is little need of any other, where that is; -but if a man wont practise that, then the strong arm of the law must -take him in hand, and compel him to do what he could have done much more -pleasantly of his own free will.” - -Oscar attempted no justification of himself, neither did he acknowledge -that he had done wrong. He listened in silence to Marcus, with an -expression upon his countenance that at once puzzled and disappointed -the latter. It were difficult to say whether shame, sadness or -sullenness mingled most largely in the feelings mirrored in his face. - -There was a marked change in Oscar’s demeanor for several days after -this event, though not precisely such a change as Marcus desired to see. -He was silent, and carried a moody and sullen look upon his face, which -did not escape the notice even of the children, although they knew -nothing of its cause. Marcus treated him as kindly as ever; but how he -longed to look into that troubled heart, and read the thoughts and -feelings that were stirring its depths! - -About this time a new wonder suddenly appeared in town. The children -came home from school with glowing accounts of a mammoth poster or -show-bill exhibited outside of the post office, and covering a good -portion of one side of the building. It was printed in all kinds of gay -colors, and besprinkled from top to bottom with pictures, representing -men, women and horses performing all manner of wonderful feats. They -also brought home some small bills that had been scattered among the -children. It was very seldom that a circus found its way into the small -and secluded village of Highburg, but it was pretty evident that one was -coming now, “for one day only,” and that the children were well-nigh -bewitched with the highly-colored descriptions of the entertainment -given by the great poster. - -There was a decided drawing down of faces, when Mrs. Page informed the -excited group that she did not consider the circus a suitable place for -them to visit, and could not consent to their going. Some of them were -even disposed to question her position. - -“Why,” said Otis, “mother would let us go, if she were here.” - -“I do not know about that,” replied Mrs. Page; “and therefore I must act -according to my own judgment.” - -“I don’t see what harm there could be in our going just once,” remarked -Kate. - -“We ought not to go to an improper place even ‘just once,’” replied Mrs. -Page. “Circus performers are generally a low class of men and women; -their entertainments are low and degrading; and the dregs of the -community usually gather around them. Those are the reasons why I do not -wish you to go to such a place.” - -“You’ve been to the circus, haven’t you, Oscar?” inquired Ronald. - -“Yes, I have been a good many times,” replied Oscar. - -“And you agree with me, in your opinion of it, don’t you?” inquired Mrs. -Page. - -“I don’t know—I always liked to go pretty well,” replied Oscar. - -This remark gave Mrs. Page much uneasiness, and she took the first -opportunity, when Oscar was alone, to caution him against saying -anything in the presence of the children that would excite their desires -to go to the circus; a request which he promised to comply with. - -The circus paraded through the town on the appointed morning, with its -wagon-load of noisy horn-blowers and drum-beaters, and its procession of -fancy carriages and fine horses. The great tent was pitched, in the -presence of all the idlers of the village, and in due time the door was -opened to the public, and the performance commenced. - -Oscar finished his work and lessons as early as possible, in the -afternoon, and then quietly slipped away from home, without the -knowledge of any one. He turned his steps towards the village, where the -circus was encamped. He wished merely to see what was going on, and did -not intend to venture within the tent, since his aunt was so strongly -opposed to such places of amusement. On reaching the circus grounds, he -found a motley crowd assembled, composed chiefly of young men and -half-grown boys, with a sprinkling of women and young children. There -were few representatives of the better class of the population to be -seen; but that marvel of laziness, old ’Siah Stebbins, was there, -leaning against a fence, with his hands in his pockets; and so was -Gavett, the man who once served three months in the county jail for -stealing wood; and so were poor Silly John, the pauper, and Tim Hallard, -the drunkard, and Dick Adams, the loafer _par excellence_, and little -Bob Gooden, swaggering about with a cigar in his mouth, and Sam Hapley, -swearing faster than ever, and his brother Henry, eagerly taking lessons -in vice. All these were on the field, and others of like character. Some -of the boys were mimicking performances they had witnessed inside the -tent—turning somersets, standing on their hands, leaping, twisting their -bodies into unaccountable shapes, etc. - -[Illustration] - -Two donkeys belonging to the circus, mounted by boys, were driven around -the field at a furious pace. A donkey being a novel sight to most of the -people, the race attracted much attention from the outsiders, and served -admirably to tole them into the enclosure—the object intended. - -As Oscar was sauntering about, he came unexpectedly upon Otis, who, with -several others of the academy boys, hastened over to the circus, as soon -as dismissed, “to see what was going on.” - -“What, are you here? I thought aunt told you to go right home when -school was dismissed,” said Oscar. - -“I’m going right home,” replied Otis, adding, to himself, “I rather -think I’ve just as good a right here as you have.” - -A moment after, as Otis was still standing by the side of Oscar, there -came along a boy about the age of the latter, foppishly dressed, and -with a bold face and a careless, swaggering air. His eyes met Oscar’s, -and there was an instant recognition. - -“What, is that you, Alf!” exclaimed Oscar. - -“Halloo, Oscar, is that you!” cried the other. - -“How came _you_ here—do you belong to the circus?” inquired Oscar. - -“Yes,” replied the other; “but how came _you_ here? I thought you were -in the house of correction, or some such place. How did you get out of -that last scrape, say? O, I remember, they sent you to the Reform -School, didn’t they?” - -Oscar, confused and distressed by this unexpected exposure, made signs -to the other to desist, and attempted to turn off the affair as a joke. -The strange remark of the strange boy, however, attracted the attention -of Otis and several others of Oscar’s acquaintances who were standing -by, and set them to wondering. - -The real name of Oscar’s new-found acquaintance was Alfred Walton, but -he figured on the circus bills as “Master Paulding.” For years the two -boys lived near each other, in Boston, and had been very intimate, their -tastes and habits being much alike. The hotel and stables kept by -Alfred’s step-father had been one of Oscar’s favorite resorts, and there -he learned many of the bad lessons which he was now trying to forget. He -had heard nothing from Alfred for a long time, but now learned from him -that he quarrelled with his step-father and ran away from home five or -six months previous, and being familiar with horses, had since followed -the career of a circus rider. - -“And look here,” added Alfred, taking Oscar aside, “if you want a -chance, I’ll speak a good word for you to the old man. I shouldn’t -wonder if he would take you on trial—I bet I can put him up to it. We’ve -got a good company—they are a high old set of fellows, I tell you.” - -“O no, I can’t join you—I’ve engaged to stay here two or three years,” -replied Oscar. - -“Pooh, never mind that—you can slip off easily enough, just as I did,” -said Alfred, who seemed to have no idea that any thing but force could -hold a person to an engagement with which he was dissatisfied. - -“But I don’t want to slip off—I like here, well enough,” added Oscar. - -“Then you must have altered amazingly, if you can content yourself in -such a horribly dull hole as this,” rejoined Alfred. “Why, I’d hang -myself before I’d stay here three weeks. Come, you like to see the world -as well as the rest of us do. Say you’ll go, and I’ll speak to the old -man. He’ll give you twelve or fifteen dollars a month, as soon as you -get broke in a little. That’s better than you can do here, I know. What -do you get now, any how?” - -“I don’t have wages—father pays my board, and I’m going to school this -winter,” replied Oscar. - -“Well, I should think you’d rather be your own man, and have a chance to -see the world, than be cooped up in the woods here, two or three years,” -added Alfred. “But come in, or you wont get a seat—performances begin in -five minutes,” he added, drawing out a watch, to which was attached a -flashy chain. - -“No, I didn’t intend to go in—the folks wont know where I am,” replied -Oscar. - -“Yes, you are going in, too—it wont cost you anything—I’ll put you -through,” said Alfred, pushing Oscar towards the door. - -Oscar was unable to withstand the pressing invitation of his old -comrade, and suffered himself to be led into the enclosure, where he -remained through the entire performance, which did not close until -nearly dark. His prolonged absence was noticed at home, and led to -unpleasant suspicions; but as Otis remained silent, for fear of exposing -himself, nothing definite was known of his whereabouts. - -Oscar hurried home with many misgivings, after the exhibition had -concluded, and was agreeably surprised to find the supper table still -standing for him, and was yet more gratified that no questions were -asked in relation to his absence. When he went up to bed, however, -Marcus accompanied him to his chamber, and the following conversation -took place:— - -“Oscar, where have you been this afternoon?” - -“Over to the circus.” - -“Did you go in, or only remain outside?” - -“I went in.” - -“I am very sorry to hear it, and surprised too. You knew it was much -against our wishes, did you not?” - -Oscar made no reply. - -“You knew neither mother nor I would have consented to your going to -such a place, did you not?” continued Marcus. - -“I supposed you wouldn’t.” - -“Then why did you go? Do you intend to pay any regard to our wishes, or -do you mean to have your own way in everything?” - -Oscar remained silent. - -“Do you remember what I said to you a few days ago, about your -behavior?” - -“Yes, sir.” - -“Well, I suppose all it is necessary for me to say now, is, that I -intend to abide strictly by what I said at that time. Your going to the -circus was to all intents an act of wilful disobedience, and as a -punishment, I shall have to declare you a prisoner for the rest of the -week.” - -Oscar did not appear much pleased with this announcement, and something -like an expression of anger flitted across his countenance, but he made -no reply. - -“I do not intend to make you a _close_ prisoner,” continued Marcus. “I -shall let you go on parole, if you agree to that arrangement. I suppose -you know what that means.” - -“It means that I can go at large, if I’ll agree not to go off,” said -Oscar. - -“Yes,” replied Marcus, “you have the idea. When a prisoner of war is -released on parole, he gives his word of honor that he will not go -beyond certain fixed limits, and that he will not take part in any -hostile act. As we are not at war, we can dispense with the latter part -of the bargain. All I shall require is, that you will give me your word -of honor not to go beyond certain limits I shall name, without special -leave from me, during the rest of this week. You can have your choice -between this, and being kept a close prisoner in the house. Which do you -choose?” - -“To go on parole.” - -“And do you give your word of honor?” - -“Yes, sir.” - -“Well, you may consider yourself on parole, from this time,” added -Marcus, and he mentioned the limits beyond which he was not to pass. - -“Supposing I should go beyond the limits—what then?” inquired Oscar, who -was beginning to regard the deprivation with curiosity rather than -displeasure. - -“I can suppose no such thing,” replied Marcus. “The parole system takes -it for granted that when a man deliberately gives his word of honor that -he will do a certain thing, he will regard his promise as sacred and -inviolable, come what may. If it were not so, there would be an end to -the parole, very quick. I believe it seldom happens that a man is found -base enough to abuse the parole. I read an account a few days ago, -however, in the Life of Napoleon, of some soldiers who broke their -parole, but they were Turks. During one of Napoleon’s campaigns in -Syria, he captured ten or twelve hundred Turkish troops, and released -them on parole. Soon after, they were again taken prisoners, while -defending a city. A council of war was held, and after considering the -matter three days, it was unanimously decided that the prisoners must -die. Accordingly they were led out in small groups and shot; and it is -said that the pyramid of their bones remains in the desert to this day. -But this is a very rare case, and I shall take it for granted that you -will keep your promise. In fact, I have so little doubt of it, that I -shall not watch you in the least, nor take any pains to find out where -you go. If you go outside of the limits, I probably shall not know it, -unless I discover it accidentally.” - -“Well, you may depend on my keeping within the bounds, unless I should -forget myself,” replied Oscar. - -Oscar faithfully kept his parole, through the two remaining days of the -week. Under the kind and forbearing yet firm treatment he had received -from Marcus, his feelings now began to relent, somewhat, and, despite -the mitigating circumstances in the case, which he had not explained to -any one, he felt some reproaches of conscience for the course he had -pursued. On Saturday afternoon, he half resolved to acknowledge his -fault to Marcus, freely and frankly, and ask forgiveness; but when the -opportunity came to do so, a false pride overcame the better promptings -of his heart, and stifled the words that were trembling on his lips. The -quick eye of Marcus, however, perceived that a change had been wrought -in the feelings of his pupil, and greatly did he rejoice at it. - - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - CHAPTER IX. - - CORRESPONDENCE. - - -THE “Excelsior Letter-writing Society” had now been in operation several -weeks, and had thus far proved a popular and useful institution. The -letter-box was regularly patronized by all its members, but one of them -having brought upon himself the dire penalty of exclusion from it, and -he for only a single day. I do not intend to expose the delinquent, but -justice requires me to say it was neither Oscar nor Ronald. The letters -which passed through the domestic post office were as various as the -writers and their moods. Some were long, and some brief; some serious, -and others funny. There were letters advisory, admonitory, commendatory, -critical, mysterious, romantic, and quizzical; but none that were -disrespectful or unkind, care having been taken to guard against these -faults. - -A few days after the events narrated in the preceding chapter, Marcus -received a letter which afforded him peculiar gratification. It was from -Oscar, and was as follows: - - “Nov. 6th, 185—. - - “DEAR MARCUS,—I think you would not have blamed me so much as - you did for going to the circus, last Thursday, if you had known - all the circumstances. I did not intend to go inside, when I - went over to the village; but I met a boy there named Alfred - Walton, that I used to be very intimate with in Boston. He - belongs to the company, and tried to persuade me to join them, - but I told him I did not wish to. Then he insisted upon my going - in, and would not take no for an answer. He got me inside the - tent, before I could get away from him. He told the doorkeeper I - was his friend, and he let me in without paying. I am very sorry - I went near the circus at all; but I could not very well help - going in, after I saw Alfred. - - “I must tell you about another thing that has troubled me a good - deal. Alfred was mean or thoughtless enough to plague me about - being sentenced to the Reform School, right before Otis and - several other boys that know me. I turned it off as well as I - could, but Otis has spoken to me about it since, and I am afraid - he thinks there is something in it. I had to tell him what I - suppose some people would call ‘a white lie,’ to get rid of him. - I don’t see how I can keep the thing from coming out, unless I - lie right up and down about it. - - “I have thought much lately of what you said about - self-government. I like your ideas, and I mean to try to put - them in practice. If you could give me any hints that would help - me in making the experiment, I should be very thankful. - - “Yours truly, OSCAR.” - -To this letter, Marcus replied as follows, at his earliest convenience: - - “HIGHBURG, Nov. 7, 185—. - - “DEAR COUSIN OSCAR,—I have not received a more welcome letter - for many a day, than yours of yesterday. The extenuating - circumstances you mention, in regard to your visit to the - circus, change my opinion of that act very much, as you may well - suppose; for I thought you went deliberately, and of your own - choice. You ought to have explained this before, and I wonder - that you did not. Still, I do not think this plea wholly excuses - you, unless you were actually _forced_ in, which I suppose you - do not pretend; and even in that case, you need not have - remained in, after Alfred left you. So I must still believe that - you were to some extent blameworthy, first, for putting yourself - in the way of temptation by going to the circus grounds; and - secondly, for yielding to the coaxings of your old friend. I am - glad you see your error, and are sorry for it. - - “As to keeping certain parts of your history secret, I do not - think it a matter of so much importance as you probably do. If - you behave well now, and for the future, these errors will soon - be forgotten; but if they cannot be concealed without falsehood, - I would not attempt to hide them. I would rather acknowledge the - facts to Otis, and appeal to his honor and generosity to keep - them secret. I think he would not betray you. - - “I am rejoiced to learn that you mean to govern yourself. I wish - I could help you in this noble work. You must imagine yourself a - governor, appointed over a province. Your subjects are the - various powers of your mind, the qualities of your heart, your - habits, tastes, affections, etc. It is taken for granted that - you know something of the law you are to administer. The Bible - and your conscience will give you all the instruction you need - on this point. The next thing to be done, is to make yourself - thoroughly acquainted with the people of your little province. - Who are they? What is their character? Are they a hard set to - govern, or the contrary? How can you best manage them? This is - _self-examination_, and without it, we can neither know - ourselves, nor govern ourselves. Well, after we understand - pretty well what kind of subjects we have got to deal with, the - next thing is to apply the law to them, firmly, vigorously, with - unwearied watchfulness, and with a determination to conquer - them. We must persevere in this until we accomplish our purpose, - and our rule in our own little household is securely - established. - - “Let me give you a familiar illustration. In looking over the - little inner kingdom I am called to rule, we will suppose that I - find one subject that has proved quite troublesome. His real - name is Laziness, but we will call him by his polite name, Mr. - Ease. I can see very plainly, as I examine the past, that I owe - to him a great many wasted hours and opportunities, and a great - many good things _not_ done. Well, one cold winter morning, I - astonish Mr. Ease very much by informing him, before my eyes are - fairly open, that I intend to rise instanter. This is something - very strange, and he begins to expostulate, and to plead for a - few moments more in the warm bed; but before he can finish his - plea, I am up, and half dressed. ‘You are not going to make the - fire—your mother can do that,’ says Ease, as I go into the - kitchen; ‘But I _am_ going to make it,’ I reply, and at it I go, - at once. Then I go out to the barn, and see to the stock; but - before the morning work is half done, Mr. Ease says, in his - blandest voice, ‘Come, go into the house, and warm yourself, and - get ready for breakfast. This is cold work—let the boys finish - it.’ I pay no attention to his advice, but keep about my work - until it is done, and have all the better appetite for my - breakfast, for doing so. After that meal, Mr. Ease kindly - reminds me that I have not read the magazine that came - yesterday, and suggests that I might spend an hour very - comfortably with it in the chimney corner, on such a cold - morning. But I tell him it is a clear, bright day, and there is - plenty of work to do, and at it I go, without further parley. - After dinner, Mr. Ease again intrudes himself, in his blandest - way. ‘Come,’ he says, ‘you’ve worked hard all the forenoon, now - put the horse into the sleigh and have a ride; the afternoon is - fine, and the sleighing excellent.’ ‘Ah, yes, the sleighing _is_ - good,’ I reply; ‘I think I’ll improve it by hauling a load or - two of wood, and take the ride some other time.’ - - “So I keep ‘snubbing’ this Mr. Ease, as coolly as you please, - day after day. Finding he is losing his power over me, he grows - shy and glum, and slinks away, and at length I hear but very - little from him. He is conquered. And if I find any other - upstarts or usurpers in my dominions, I serve them in the same - way. If I can’t snub them into submission, as I did Mr. Ease, I - just seize them firmly by the throat, and choke them down. That - is the way I served Mr. Anger. - - “To do all this, you must rely upon principle, not impulse. You - must form a fixed purpose to govern yourself, and adhere to it, - through thick and thin. You must also be willing to submit to - some self-denial and sacrifice. Don’t be frightened at those - words. They look like bugbears, but after all, they are at the - root of all our happiness. Almost our first and last experience - of life is that of desires denied. From infancy to old age, we - are daily and almost hourly called to sacrifice a lesser for a - greater good; and until we yield cheerfully to this great law, - we have not learned to live, nor have we known true happiness. - Self-indulgence and ease make puny, vicious and unhappy men. - Self-control and self-denial make strong and noble souls—the - master spirits that rule the world. - - “I will add but one thought more. However painful the effort at - self-government may be, at first, the power of habit will - gradually render the work easy, until at length it will actually - become a pleasure. - - “Wishing you much success in your good purpose, I remain - - “Your affectionate cousin, - “MARCUS.” - -It was not often that so long and formal a letter as this found its way -into the family post office. Most of the missives exchanged between the -members of the society, were brief notes, a few specimens of which are -given: - - “MARCUS PAGE, ESQ.—Dear Sir,—I propose that we take the - hay-cart, Saturday afternoon, and all hands go off after nuts. - What say you to the plan? - - “Yours truly, OTIS. - “Oct. 25th.” - - “O, fie, Ronald! how could you say, ‘I intended to have wrote!’ - It is perfectly barbarous. ‘I intended to have written,’ is what - you should have said. ‘I got my lessons’ is bad, too; you mean - you _learned_ your lessons. Please put two t’s in regretted, - next time, and write Friday with a capital F. But I wont play - the critic any more, just now, for fear you might banish from - your list of correspondents - - “Your faithful friend, KATE. - “Nov. 2.” - -To this note Kate received the following reply, the next day: - - “O, fie, Kate! how could you say, ‘I intended to have written!’ - It is perfectly barbarous. ‘I intended to _write_’ is what you - should have said. If you don’t believe me, I can show you the - rule in the grammar. Don’t be afraid to ‘play the critic’—I - _like_ to have you do it! - - “Yours in fun, RON. - “Nov. 3.” - -Ronald was not accustomed to take things upon trust, especially from one -near his own age, when he could conveniently verify their truth for -himself. This habit led him to investigate the blunders pointed out by -Kate, and the result was, that he was able to convict his critic of a -serious grammatical error—a “turning of the tables” which he enjoyed -with a roguish zest. Kate did not need to consult the grammar, to -satisfy herself in regard to the error; for she at once recalled to mind -the rule she had learned: “All verbs expressive of hope, desire, -intention, or command, must invariably be followed by the present, and -not the perfect of the infinitive.” - -The post office sometimes served as a medium through which an uneasy -conscience sought relief, as in the following:— - - “HIGHBURG, Oct. 26th. - - “DEAR MISS LEE,—I don’t know what you think of me, for speaking - to you so rudely, last evening. I was only in fun, of course, - but I suppose I carried it too far. I was sorry for it a minute - after. I hope you will excuse me, this time, and I will be more - careful in future. - - “Ever yours, - - KATE.” - -Kate, in a merry mood, had rallied Miss Lee upon her state of -singleness, applying to her the epithet, “old maid,” and using other -expressions that were not quite proper, considering the differences -between their ages; hence this apology. Miss Lee, it should be added, -was loved and esteemed none the less by those who knew her, because of -the peculiarity of which Kate made sport. She was an especial favorite -with the children of the family, and her pleasant words and looks, her -obliging disposition, her sound advice, her clear explanations of school -lesson and other mysteries, her inexhaustible fund of anecdote and -story, and not least, the beautiful productions of her pencil and brush, -constituted an attraction which all felt and acknowledged. She had spent -many years in teaching, but had now relinquished the profession. Her -services as an artist were highly appreciated by the children, who -coaxed many a pretty drawing or painting from her portfolio. Her letters -were eagerly sought for, as they sometimes contained the fruits of her -pencil, as well as of her pen. Here is one of them:— - - “Nov. 4. - - “DEAR OTIS,—Enclosed I send the drawing of the four dogs, which - you wished me to make for your little brother. When you forward - it to him, you had better call his attention to the dotted - lines, otherwise he might not understand the design of the - picture. If he should get a piece of tracing paper, he might - easily make for himself a separate copy of each of the four - dogs. I have not had a letter from you yet. Won’t my turn come - soon? - - “Your friend sincere, - - “FANNY.” - -Here is a copy of the picture enclosed in this letter: - -[Illustration] - -Thus did the domestic post office serve alike to entertain the younger -members of the family, and to educate their minds and hearts. Its -novelty had not yet begun to wear off, and it was regarded by all as one -of the established institutions of the family. - - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - CHAPTER X. - - A WOUNDED CONSCIENCE. - - -MRS. PAGE and Marcus were riding in the outskirts of the town, one -afternoon, when they stopped a few moments at the door of an -acquaintance—a lady named Blake. She was a widow, and had a large family -of children. One of them, a girl named Ellen, was standing near the -horse, when her mother remarked— - -“I wish I could find a place for Ellen, this winter. If she couldn’t -earn anything more than her board, it would be better than nothing.” - -“How old are you, Ellen?” inquired Marcus. - -“Thirteen last spring,” replied the girl. - -“Do you want to go away to live?” asked Mrs. Page. - -“I don’t know,” replied Ellen, with considerable hesitation. - -“No, she would rather stay at home,” interposed her mother; “but I think -she is getting old enough to do something for herself. She could make -herself quite useful to any one, if she tried.” - -“So I should suppose,” said Mrs. Page. “Perhaps I can think of some one -who would like to take her this winter—I will let you know, if I do.” - -“Mother,” said Marcus, on their way home, “wouldn’t it be a good plan -for you to take Ellen to help you, this winter? Our family is so large, -now, that I think you and Aunt Fanny ought to have some help. Ellen -could make the beds, and set the table, and wash the dishes, and do a -good deal of other work. Mrs. Lane says she is quite handy about -housework. She had the whole management of the family affairs nearly a -fortnight, last summer, when her mother was sick.” - -Mrs. Page did not then make any very definite reply to this proposition, -although the same idea had occurred to herself, when Mrs. Blake spoke of -Ellen. After thinking and talking the matter over for a few days, and -making the necessary inquiries about Ellen, it was decided that she -might come to live with them for the winter, if she chose. Marcus was -accordingly despatched to inform Mrs. Blake of the opening they had made -for her daughter. The offer was gratefully accepted, especially as -Marcus assured her that Ellen would probably have time and facilities -for continuing her studies, the same as if she were attending school. It -was agreed that she should be in readiness for her new home, the next -week. - -The district school which Ronald attended was now near the end of the -fall term. It was to close with a public examination and exhibition, for -which considerable preparation had been made. Several prizes were to be -awarded, for good behavior and scholarship. Among others, a favorite -book was to be given to the boy who showed the neatest kept and best -executed writing-book at the close of the term. A similar prize was -offered to the girls, and another to the scholar whose book showed the -greatest improvement, during the term. For the first-named prize Ronald -had been a candidate, until the unfortunate blotting of his book, which -threw him out of the contest. On the day before the exhibition, as the -teacher was making a final examination of the writing-books, she was -surprised and vexed to observe several fresh blots upon the book which -she supposed would take the prize. It belonged to Lewis Daniels, a boy -who sat by the side of Ronald. He denied all knowledge of the matter, -however, and could hardly believe that it was his book that was -disfigured, until he had seen it for himself. When told that these blots -had probably lost him the prize, he did not manifest much emotion; and, -indeed, he seemed to take the affair so coolly, from first to last, that -Mrs. Benham, the teacher, did not know what to think of it. She at -length determined to have some further conversation with him on the -subject, and with this purpose detained him after school was dismissed. - -“Lewis,” she said, when they were alone, “to-morrow is probably the last -day that I shall ever be your teacher. I want to part pleasantly with -all my scholars, and to carry away agreeable recollections of them. But -I feel a little troubled about you. I am afraid you have not told me the -truth about your writing-book, and I can’t bear to think you are going -to bid me good-by with a falsehood in your mouth. Now if you have tried -to deceive me, I want you to confess it all, and be forgiven, for I -shall not punish you, as we are about to separate.” - -Lewis colored deeply, and replied in a husky voice— - -“I told you all I knew about it.” - -“But you told me nothing about it,” replied Mrs. Benham, whose -suspicions were further excited by this reply. - -“I know nothing about it,” added Lewis. - -“Lewis Daniels,” continued the teacher, mildly, after a slight pause, -“can you look me calmly in the eye, and say that? No, I knew you could -not. You cannot act out such a black falsehood. Your manner betrays you. -Now will you acknowledge the whole truth?” - -“I blotted the book myself” said Lewis, bursting into tears. - -“How did it happen?” inquired Mrs. Benham. - -“I did it on purpose, because I didn’t want to take the prize,” sobbed -the boy. - -“That is a very singular reason—I hope you will not tell me any more -untruths about the matter,” replied the teacher, mildly, a shade of -anxiety flitting across her face. - -“It is nothing but the truth, as true as I’m alive,” continued Lewis; “I -didn’t want to get the prize away from Ronald—that’s why I did it.” - -“That was very generous in you, if you are telling the truth,” replied -the teacher; “but was it just to yourself? If you fairly earned the -prize, why should you give it up to another?” - -“I didn’t earn it fairly,” replied Lewis, amid fresh tears and sobs. “I -thought he would get the prize, and so I blotted his book one morning, -before he got to school. You punished him for it—don’t you remember?” - -Mrs. Benham did remember, and it would be hard to say whether she or her -conscience-stricken pupil suffered most at the recollection of the -trying scenes thus recalled, the mystery of which was now unfolded to -her. It was not strange that her own tears mingled with those of the -sobbing boy, for she felt that she too had erred, though she hoped -innocently. - -“My poor boy, you have been most severely punished for your fault,” at -length resumed Mrs. Benham. “Conscience is a stern judge. ‘A wounded -spirit who can bear?’” - -“Yes, ma’am, when you punished Ronald, and when he got up before the -school and asked your pardon”—but the penitent boy’s emotions were too -deep to allow him to finish the sentence. - -“And I suppose you have been suffering more or less from this concealed -sin, every day since, now about six weeks,” said Mrs. Benham. - -“Yes, ma’am,” replied Lewis. “I felt so mean that I used to keep out of -Ronald’s way as much as I could. I hated to see him. Then I tried to -treat him as well as I could, but that didn’t help me much. So I made up -my mind at last that I would serve my writing-book the same way that I -served his.” - -“And did you expect to gain peace of mind in this way—by committing -another fault, and covering it over with a falsehood?” inquired the -teacher. “Your last error was almost as bad as the first. I hope this -will be a lesson to you, as long as you live. By delaying this -confession so many weeks, you have caused yourself a great deal of -suffering, and got further into trouble than you were at first. But as I -promised, I cheerfully forgive all, so far as it concerns me. Do you -think there is any one else whose forgiveness you ought to seek?” - -“I suppose I ought to tell Ronald about it, and ask him to forgive me,” -replied Lewis. - -“I should do so, most certainly,” said the teacher; “and you had better -see him to-night, if possible, as you may not have an opportunity to -speak with him to-morrow. Is there any one else whose forgiveness you -propose to seek?” - -“I don’t know,” replied Lewis, in doubt. - -“Don’t you think your Heavenly Father will expect you to confess this -matter to him, and ask his forgiveness?” inquired the teacher. “You have -sinned against him quite as much as against Ronald or me. Are you in the -habit of praying to him?” - -“No, ma’am—only I say a hymn sometimes, when I go to bed,” replied -Lewis. - -“I am sorry you do not pray to him,” resumed the teacher. “He made you, -and he gives you every good thing you receive, and when you do wrong, he -is grieved. I should think you would thank him every day for the -blessings he gives, and ask him for those things you need; and when you -displease him, I wonder how you can help asking him to forgive you, and -to keep you from falling into sin again. Will you join with me, now, in -seeking his forgiveness?” - -Lewis bowed assent, and knelt down with his teacher, who offered a brief -and fervent prayer in his behalf, that his sins might be truly repented -of and forgiven, and that he might be kept from transgression hereafter. -She then urged him to seek the divine forgiveness, in secret prayer at -home, and with a kindly good-night, they separated. - -Lewis went directly to Mrs. Page’s, where he found Ronald, in company -with the other children. After a little while, he managed to draw him -aside, saying— - -“Come out this way, Ronald—I’ve got something to tell you.” - -“Well, tell away,” replied Ronald. - -“You know the teacher found some blots on my writing-book, this -afternoon?” - -“Yes—how came they there?” - -“I blotted it myself.” - -“You did? Then you told a whopper.” - -“I did it purposely, too.” - -“Then you was a fool. Why, you might have taken the prize, if you hadn’t -done it.” - -“But I did something worse than that.” - -“What was it?” - -“I blotted your book the other day, so I might make sure of the prize.” - -“You mean——” but the hasty reply was instantly checked by a glance at -the sorrowful face before him, and Ronald stood silent and ashamed. - -“I’m sorry for it, and I hope you will forgive me,” added Lewis, the -tears gathering in his eyes. “I told the teacher all about it, and she -has forgiven me.” - -“O yes, I’ll forgive you, too, seeing you have owned up of your own -accord.” - -“I’ve suffered enough for it to be forgiven, at any rate.” - -“You blotted your book so as to be even with me? Well, that was doing -the handsome thing, any way. You might have kept dark, and got the -prize, just as easy as not. I never supposed any one blotted my book on -purpose; I thought it was an accident.” - -Lewis repeated his expressions of sorrow for his offence, and received -renewed assurances of forgiveness. He then returned home with a lighter -heart than he had known for many a day. - -The examination of the school, the next day, passed off very -successfully. A goodly company of visitors was present, the order and -general behavior of the scholars were excellent, the classes appeared -well, and the singing and declamations were attractive. Ronald, -unexpectedly to himself, bore off two of the honors—one for general -progress in his studies, and the other for the neatest writing-book. -Both prizes were books adapted to his age. As the writing prize was -handed to him, the committee-man who distributed the gifts, remarked -that his book was somewhat blotted; but as it had been ascertained that -it was through no fault of his, and as, saving this fault, his book -stood the highest, they had decided to award him the prize. So ended -Ronald’s last day at the district school. He was now to enter the -academy. - - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - CHAPTER XI. - - IN-DOOR AMUSEMENTS. - - -THE fall term of the academy closed a few days after the district -school, and Oscar, also, was released from his lessons, so that all the -young folks were now having a short vacation. Kate and Otis, however, -were greatly disappointed, on receiving a letter from their father, a -few days before the term closed, stating that they were to remain in -Highburg through the vacation, instead of visiting their home. The -serious illness of their little sister was the reason given for this new -arrangement, and as a partial offset to the disappointment, their -parents promised to make them a brief visit at the earliest possible -day. - -The weather was now cold, and often dull or stormy, rendering out-door -amusements unpleasant, and much of the time impracticable. Marcus, -though busily engaged in finishing up his work for the winter, was -untiring in his efforts to relieve the disappointment of Kate and Otis, -by finding amusements for them and the other children. When the weather -would not admit of a ride in the wagon, an excursion in the woods, or a -frolic in the fields and on the hill-sides, he was always ready with -some game or amusement that could be played in the house or barn. The -long evenings, too, were beguiled with innocent and often instructive -diversions, and when the wind raved loudest without, there were no -gloomy hearts within. - -“I’m going to propose a new play,” said Marcus, one evening, as the -little party gathered around the table; “it is called _Conglomeration_.” - -“Conglomeration! I hope the play is as funny as the name,” said Kate. - -“We shall see,” observed Marcus, as he distributed some slips of paper -among the children. “Now I want each of you to write five words on -separate pieces of paper, and throw them all in a heap on the middle of -the table. You can select any words you choose.” - -When all had written, Marcus mixed together the bits of paper, and then -directed each one to take five words from the heap, as they happened to -come, and to write one or more sentences containing those words in the -order in which they were drawn from the pile. - -There was a good deal of merriment among the party, as they glanced at -the slips, and perceived what a droll “conglomeration” they had got to -weave together. Here are some specimens of them:— - - KATE’S. ROLAND’S. OSCAR’S. OTIS’S. - Poetry, Spider, Shoot, Funny, - Physic, Book, Gravy, Toothache, - Should, Sober, Girl, Jewsharp, - Ronald, Cannot, Onions, Going, - Broomstick Turkey. Sublime. Jericho. - -No one thought of saying “I can’t,” however, and in a few minutes, after -some rubbing of foreheads and scratching of heads, the last of the -sentences was completed. - -“Now each one may read his own sentence aloud, emphasizing the words -that were given. Otis, we will begin with you.” - -Otis read:— - - “It would be _funny_ if the _toothache_ could be cured with a - _jewsharp_, but I am not _going_ to _Jericho_ to find out about - it.” - -“No, I should not,” said Marcus; “now, Ronald, what have you written?” - -Ronald then read:— - - “The _spider_ may not care anything about a _book_, but a - _sober_ boy like me _cannot_ help loving roast _turkey_.” - -“A _sober_ boy, I should think!” said Kate. - -“Don’t interrupt us,” said Marcus; “now, what’s yours, Oscar?” - -“I couldn’t make much out of my list,” remarked Oscar, and after a -moment’s hesitation, he read:— - - “If I could _shoot_ a rabbit, I would make _gravy_ of him; and - then the _girl_ should serve him up with _onions_, in the most - _sublime_ style.” - -“Why, I bet I could do better than that,” exclaimed Ronald. - -“Stop, stop, Ronald!” cried Marcus; “where are your manners?” - -“Something came into my head, just then, and I spoke before I thought,” -replied the impulsive boy, somewhat abashed. - -“Let him try my list—I don’t care if he does beat me,” said Oscar, good -naturedly. - -“No,” replied Marcus, “I think he had better not—you have done well -enough yourself. Now, Kate, we will hear yours.” - -Kate then read:— - - “I don’t care much about _poetry_, and I hate _physic_, but I - _should_ like to hit _Ronald_ with a _broomstick_.” - -“You’d better try it!” cried Ronald, jumping into an attitude of -self-defence, as the merry laugh rang over the house. - -Sentences were also read by Marcus and Ellen Blake, who had now become -an inmate of the house. Another round was then proposed with a larger -list of words; and now that the character of the play was better -understood, they found it even more amusing than at first. - -The “Hay-Mow Debating Society,” so named from the place in which it -usually held its meetings, was established at the commencement of the -vacation, and met once or twice a week until the new term commenced. All -the children belonged to it, and all were required to take part in the -discussions. Subjects were assigned beforehand, and disputants appointed -for each side, so that all were prepared to say something. The questions -discussed were not perhaps so important as those which sometimes agitate -senates and parliaments, but they were such as the young debaters could -grasp, and feel an interest in. Marcus gave out for the first discussion -the proposition, “Education is of more value to a man than wealth.” The -manner in which this grave theme was handled, induced him to throw away -his list of propositions for discussion, and to make a new set, of a -very different order. Some of these were as follows: “Which is -preferable, summer or winter?” “Which is pleasanter, a residence on a -hill, or in a valley?” “Which is most desirable, a half holiday, -Wednesday and Saturday afternoons, or a whole holiday, every Saturday?” -“Who enjoy themselves most, boys or girls?” Though these may look like -trivial questions, they served to wake up the ideas of the young people, -and sometimes the debates became quite exciting, occasionally taking a -very amusing turn. - -One evening, as riddles, puzzles, etc., were in the ascendant, Ellen -read the following from a scrap of paper:— - - “There was a man of Adam’s race, - Who had a certain dwelling place; - He had a house well covered o’er, - Where no man dwelt since nor before. - It was not built by human art, - Nor brick nor lime in any part, - Nor wood, nor rock, nor nails, nor kiln, - But curiously was wrought within. - ’T was not in heaven, nor yet in hell, - Nor on the earth where mortals dwell. - Now if you know this man of fame, - Tell where he lived and what’s his name.” - -“Jonah in the whale’s belly!” promptly cried Ronald. - -“Did you ever see this puzzle?” inquired Otis. “A man has a wolf, a goat -and a cabbage to carry across a river. It wont do to leave the wolf and -goat together, nor the goat and the cabbage, and he can carry only one -at a time, the boat is so small. Now what shall he do?” - -After a moment’s thought, Kate gave the solution, as follows:— - -“First he carried over the goat; then returned and got the cabbage; then -he took back the goat, and left it, and carried over the wolf; then last -of all he went and got the goat.” - -“Let’s see who can find this one out,” said Ronald. “A sea captain on a -voyage had thirty passengers—fifteen Christians and fifteen Turks. A -great tempest arose, and he had to throw half of them overboard. They -agreed to let him place them in a circle, and throw every ninth man -overboard, till only fifteen were left. He did so, and when he got -through, every Christian was saved, and every Turk drowned. How did he -do it?” - -“That is easy enough,” said Kate; and writing down the figures from one -to thirty, she counted off every ninth one, and found that the -Christians and Turks were arranged as follows:— - - - CCCC, TTTTT, CC, T, CCC, T, C, TT, CC, TTT, C, TT, CC, T. - -“Let me propose the next puzzle,” said Aunt Fanny. “What English word of -seven letters can be so transposed as to make over fifty different -words?” - -No one could solve this question, and when the word “weather” was named, -as the answer, the children could hardly credit the fact that it was so -prolific, until they had each made out a list of words. Throwing out -quite a number that were obtained by using a single letter more than -once, the following long list remained, which perhaps does not exhaust -the subject:— - - We, Where, Ewe, Tea, Her, Here, - Wet, Wreath, Ere, Tear, He, Hare, - War, Wrath, At, Tree, Ha, Heat, - Wart, Water, Ah, Thaw Hat, Haw, - Were, Ear, Ate, Tare, Hate, Hew, - Wear, Eat, Art, Tar, Hater, Rat, - What, Eater, Awe, There, Hart, Rate, - Whet, Earth, Are, Three, Heart, Raw, - Wheat. Ether. The. Taw. Hear. Re-wet. - - -[Illustration] - - -“There, I have made forty angles with only five straight lines,” said -Kate, holding up a slip of paper; “can any body beat that?” - -“Let me try,” said Marcus; and in a few minutes he pushed towards Kate -the accompanying figure, remarking, “There, I’ve made only six lines, -and if I’ve counted right, there are sixty angles.” - -[Illustration] - -While the others were amusing themselves with angles, Oscar made the -annexed sketch, and now passed it to the others, giving out with it the -following problem: - -“A man had a piece of land exactly square, and having four trees -scattered over it, as you see in the picture. The house took up one -quarter of the land, and was occupied by four tenants. The owner -promised them the use of the land, rent free, if they could divide it -into four parts of the same size and shape, and each to have one tree. -The question is, how did they do it?” - -[Illustration] - -After some little puzzling of wits, the lot was divided as in the -annexed illustration, and the tenants were congratulated on the good -bargain they had made. - -“Otis,” said Ronald, “I’ll bet you can’t tell what the half of nine is.” - -“It’s four and a half—any fool might know that,” replied Otis. - -“No it isn’t,” continued Ronald, “it’s either four or six, just as you -please, and I can prove it;” and writing IX, he folded the paper across -the middle and made his promise good. - -“Speaking of arithmetical puzzles,” said Aunt Fanny, “I remember one -that I worked over for a long time, before I could see into it. It was -something like this: Two Arabs sat down to dinner, one having five -loaves, and the other three. A stranger came along and asked permission -to eat with them, which they granted. After the stranger had dined, he -laid down eight pieces of money and departed. The owner of the five -loaves took five pieces, and left three for the other, who thought he -had not received his share. So they went to a magistrate, and he ordered -that the owner of the five loaves should have _seven_ pieces of the -money, and the other only one. Was this just?” - -“Why, no, it’s plain enough that it wasn’t,” said Otis. “Each man ought -to have as many pieces of money as he had loaves.” - -“Yes, it was just,” continued Aunt Fanny; “otherwise you would pay the -man of three loaves for the bread he ate himself. To prove this, divide -each loaf into three equal parts, making in all twenty-four parts, and -take it for granted that each person ate an equal or one-third part of -the whole. You will find that the stranger had seven parts of the person -who contributed five loaves or fifteen parts, and only one of him who -contributed three loaves, or nine parts.” - -“O yes, I see into it, now,” said Otis. - -“That reminds me,” said Marcus, “of an anecdote that I read in a -newspaper the other day. I treasured it up, intending to relate it in -school some day, to illustrate the importance of understanding -arithmetic. It seems two carpenters took a job for one hundred and fifty -dollars. One of them, whom we will call A, worked one day more than the -other, B. The wages of a carpenter were two dollars per day. When the -work was finished, they divided the money, each taking seventy-five -dollars. Then A wished B to give him two dollars more for the extra day, -but B refused, as he saw that if he did so, A would have four dollars -more than he, which was evidently unjust. A insisted, and B insisted, -and finally they quarrelled. Some of the bystanders took the part of A, -and some of B; and yet the paper adds that all the parties were -Americans, and had attended the common schools six or eight years, where -I suppose they studied arithmetic, just as I suppose a good many other -children do, without troubling themselves to understand it.” - -“How should you have settled that dispute, Otis?” inquired Mrs. Page. - -“I should have told them to give A two dollars for his extra day, and -divide the rest equally,” replied Otis. - -“Or if B had given A one dollar, it would have amounted to the same -thing,” said Mrs. Page. - -“Your story,” said Aunt Fanny, “reminds me of an anecdote of a very rich -miser who lived in England, in the time of Cromwell. His name was -Audley. He had a wonderful knack of getting and keeping money, and was -not at all particular how he obtained it, if he did not make himself -liable to the law. He once heard of a poor tradesman who had been sued -by a merchant for two hundred pounds. The debtor could not meet the -demand, and was declared insolvent. Audley then went to the merchant, -and offered him forty pounds for the debt, which was gladly accepted. He -next went to the tradesman, and offered to release him from the debt for -fifty pounds, on condition that he would enter into a bond to pay for -the accommodation. The debtor was delighted with the offer, especially -as the terms of the bond were so easy. He was only required to pay to -Audley, sometime within twenty years of that time, one penny -progressively doubled, on the first day of twenty consecutive months; -and in case he failed to fulfil these easy terms, he was to forfeit five -hundred pounds. Thus relieved of his debt, he again commenced business, -and flourished more than ever. Two or three years after, Audley walked -into his shop one morning, and demanded his first payment. The tradesman -paid him his penny, and thanked him for the favor he had done him. On -the first day of the next month, Audley again called, and received his -two pence; a month later, he received four pence; and so on for several -months, doubling the sum each time. But at last the tradesman’s -suspicions were aroused, and he entered into a calculation of his -subsequent payments. I do not remember the sum which it amounted to—” - -“Wait a minute—let me figure it up,” interrupted Kate, and she at once -set her pencil in motion. The calculation employed her and the others -several minutes. It was ascertained that the tradesman’s last payment -would have amounted to two thousand one hundred and eighty-six pounds, -and that the total sum of all the payments would have been four thousand -three hundred and sixty-nine pounds, omitting odd shillings and pence! - -“I suppose the man paid the forfeit, when he found that out,” said -Ellen. - -“Yes, he paid the miser five hundred pounds for his kindness,” replied -Aunt Fanny. - -“I don’t see how any one can dislike arithmetic—I think it is a very -interesting study,” remarked Kate. - -“How curious it is about the figure 9,” said Oscar; “you may multiply -any number you please by 9, and the figures in the product, added -together, will make 9, or a series of 9’s. As— - - 9 - 7 - — - 63—6 + 3 = 9 - - 9 - 3 - — - 27—2 + 7 = 9 - - 9 - 12 - —— - 108—1 + 8 = 9 - -and so on with any number, no matter how large.” - -“You can do the same with any of the multiples of 9,” said Aunt Fanny, -“as 18, 27, 36, 45, 54, etc. If you multiply these by any number -whatever, you will have a series of 9’s in the product. Try it.” - -Several experiments were made, with such results as the following: - - 46 - 18 - —— - 828—8 + 2 + 8 = 18—1 + 8 = 9 - - 117 - 27 - —— - 3159—3 + 1 + 5 + 9 = 18—1 + 8 = 9 - -“There is another thing about the figure 9 very curious,” said Marcus. -“If you take any number composed of two figures, reverse it, and -subtract the smaller from the larger, the sum of the figures in the -answer will always be 9.” - -This was found to be true, as in the following examples: - - 96 - 69 - — - 27—2 + 7 = 9 - - 54 - 45 - — - 9 - - 84 - 48 - — - 36—3 + 6 = 9 - - 98 - 89 - — - 9 - -Marcus then explained that numbers composed of three or more figures, -transposed and subtracted in the same way, would always give a series of -9’s in the product. The children tried the experiment, and the following -are some of their examples: - - 723 - 237 - —- - 486—4 + 8 + 6 = 18 - - 8962 - 2698 - —— - 6264—6 + 2 + 6 + 4 = 18 - - 32189 - 28913 - ——- - 3276—3 + 2 + 7 + 6 = 18 - - 863577 - 736578 - ——— - 126999 = four 9’s - - 9216358 - 1982536 - ———- - 7233822 = three 9’s - -“That _is_ curious; but why is it so—does anybody know?” inquired -Ronald. - -“It will take a wiser head than mine to tell why it is so,” replied -Marcus. - -“I found out something the other day about figures that I didn’t know -before,” remarked Ronald; “and that is, that if you wish to multiply a -number by five, you can get the same result by dividing by 2, and adding -a 0 if there is no remainder, or 5 if there is a remainder. Thus, 5 -times 12 are 60. Divide 12 by 2, and add a 0, and you get 60. Or 5 times -83 are 415; divide 83 by 2, and add 5, because there is a remainder, and -you have the same number, 415.” - -“That is quite a convenient process, sometimes,” said Miss Lee, “but -there is no mystery about it, like the properties of the figure 9. It is -in fact the same thing as multiplying by 10 and dividing by 2.” - -“So it is,” replied Ronald. “Well, it’s queer that I didn’t find that -out myself—I thought that I had discovered something new.” - -“Do you know how to make the magic square, Marcus?” inquired Otis. - -“I used to know how to make _a_ magic square, for there are several -hundreds of them,” replied Marcus. “Let me see if I can do it, now—I -suppose I have forgotten all about it.” - -“What is a magic square?” inquired Ellen. - -“It is a table of figures that can be added together in a great many -different ways with the same result,” replied Miss Lee. - -Marcus in a few minutes produced the simplest form of the magic square; -and turning to a book in the library, he found another one, both of -which are here given: - - - ┌───┬───┬───┐ - │ 4 │ 9 │ 2 │ - ├───┼───┼───┤ - │ 3 │ 5 │ 7 │ - ├───┼───┼───┤ - │ 8 │ 1 │ 6 │ - └───┴───┴───┘ - - - ┌───┬───┬───┬───┐ - │ 1│ 16│ 11│ 6│ - ├───┼───┼───┼───┤ - │ 13│ 4│ 7│ 10│ - ├───┼───┼───┼───┤ - │ 8│ 9│ 14│ 3│ - ├───┼───┼───┼───┤ - │ 12│ 5│ 2│ 15│ - └───┴───┴───┴───┘ - - -The several columns in these tables may be added up in the usual way, or -crosswise, or diagonally (from one angle to its opposite) and the result -will always be the same—15 in the first, and 34 in the second square. - -Such were some of the methods by which the children were amused, at Mrs. -Page’s, during the long evenings and stormy days of their vacation. They -also had singing, reading aloud, story telling, and newspaper -publishing, by way of change. Of this last I must tell you more. - - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - CHAPTER XII. - - THE NEWSPAPER. - - -AND what about the newspaper? Well, it was a famous thing, for a time, -and made a great stir in the family. The idea originated with Kate, who -thought it would be rare sport to edit and publish a newspaper among -themselves; and as the others readily fell in with her plan, the -enterprise was soon under way. Aunt Fanny, who had frequently written -for the press, consented to act as editor, and Marcus and the children -all agreed to contribute their portion towards sustaining the paper. The -preliminaries were soon settled. The paper was to be called “THE HOME -WREATH.” It was to be issued weekly, and composed of one or more sheets -of letter paper, according to the quantity of matter furnished. Its -contents were to consist of short selections, cut from other papers, and -original articles. The latter were to be written on one side of narrow -slips of paper, of a uniform size, so that, with the selections, they -could be readily pasted into their places, in columns. Of course, but -one copy of each paper could be prepared, which was to circulate as -common property. The editor was authorized to reject, correct or -condense whatever was sent for publication. Communications were to be -sent to her through the letter-box; and it was further agreed that those -who contributed an article or letter to the “Wreath” every week, should -be exempted from further duties as members of the “Letter-writing -Society,” if they did not choose to keep up their private -correspondence. - -The appearance of the first number of the “Home Wreath” was quite an -event in the household. The editor maintained a dignified reserve in -regard to its contents, until the day of publication, when it was -quietly ushered before its little public, six or seven pairs of eyes -being intently fastened upon it, before it had been two minutes from -“the office.” As one and another, who had “a finger in the pie,” -recognized their bantlings in the crowded columns, they looked pleased -and surprised, while others, who searched in vain for their -contributions, seemed still more surprised, and not quite so well -pleased. But here are the “Notices to Correspondents,” which doubtless -explain it all. Ah, yes, the editor is already bothered with articles -too long for her little paper, or too carelessly written to appear in -its columns. Well, perhaps this will be a salutary warning to the -offenders; and meanwhile, they can avenge themselves by criticising the -articles which have been more successful than their own. But we hear no -captious criticism, and perceive no signs of ill nature. The “Wreath” is -read, laughed over, discussed and admired by all, and at once takes its -place as an “established fact.” - -The second number of the new paper promptly appeared, the next week, and -was generally regarded as an improvement on the first. The third was -indeed a surprise number, and produced a great sensation in the family. -It was issued on Ronald’s birth-day, who went early to the letter-box, -thinking himself entitled to the remembrance of his correspondents, on -such an occasion. He found a lot of small packages in the box, addressed -to different persons, on one of which he found his own name. Tearing off -the envelope, there appeared before him the “Home Wreath,” neatly -printed from real type, on printing paper! He could scarcely credit his -eyes, at first, but the evidence of its genuineness was too plain to be -disputed, for there was one of his own articles in real print! The -discovery was quickly known all over the house, and each of the inmates -found a copy of the paper in the post office, bearing his or her -address. Marcus and the editor both feigned surprise, when questioned -about the affair; but after a while the facts leaked out. An old -playmate and intimate friend of Marcus was employed in the printing -office of the neighboring village. Marcus frequently visited him, and, -with a view of getting up a birth-day present for Ronald, arranged with -his friend to print the “Wreath” for that occasion. The plan was -successfully carried out, as we have seen. - -A transcript of this little sheet is given on the next two leaves, -somewhat reduced in its dimensions and the size of its type, to suit our -pages, but containing all the matter of the original. - - - THE HOME WREATH. - ══════════════════════════════════════════ - VOL. I. HIGHBURG, DECEMBER 4. NO. 3. - ══════════════════════════════════════════ - THE HOME WREATH: - - A Weekly Journal for Home Improvement. - - PAGE & CO., PUBLISHERS. - - Terms—Gratis. - - --------------------------------------------------------- - - For the Home Wreath, - - LINES, - - INSCRIBED TO RONALD D. PAGE. - - I’m twelve! I’m twelve to-day! - Hurrah, boys! let us shout! - Come, leave your work and play, - And kick old care away; - Ye gloomy thoughts, get out! - We’ll have no mopes about— - I’m twelve! I’m twelve to-day! - - I’m twelve! I’m twelve to-day! - A dozen years have fled - Since first the morning ray, - All sober, cold and gray, - Stole in upon my head; - How fast old Time hath sped! - I’m twelve! I’m twelve to-day! - - I’m twelve! I’m twelve to-day! - Then help me to be glad! - Come all, and let’s be gay— - There’s nothing more to pay - For being bright than sad; - Cheer up, then, lass and lad! - I’m twelve! I’m twelve to-day! - - * * * * * - - An Exercise for Scholars. - - IN England, young candidates for appointment in the civil service are - subjected to rigid examinations, designed to test their abilities and - acquirements. The following extract, which we have somewhat abridged, - shows one of the methods adopted for securing this end. It is said to - be a literal copy of a document which a young applicant for a - government clerkship was required to correct while undergoing his - examination. We wonder how many of our young readers could put it into - proper shape without consulting the dictionary.—ED. - - “CHARACTER OF WASHINGTON.—At the braking out of the revolushonery war - in Amerrica, Washinton joined the caus of indipendance. To detale his - conduct in the yeares which followed would be butt to relaite the - hystery of the American War. It may be said generaly that wethin a - verry short peeriod after the declarashion of indipendance the affairs - of Amerrica were in a condishun so desparate, that perhapps nothing but - the piculear caractar of Washinton’s genious could have retreaved them. - It required the consumate prudance, the calm whisdom, the inflexable - firmness, the modarate and well-balenced temper of Washinton to imbrace - such a plann of pollicy and to pursivere in it: to resist the - tempations of entreprize to fix the confidance of his solders without - the attraction of victery: to support the spirrit of the armey and the - peopel ammidst those sloe and caushious planns of difensive warfare - wich are more despereting than defeate itself: to restrain his owne - hambition and the empettuosity of his troupes: to indure temparary - hobscurety for the sallvation of his contry and for the attanement of - solled and imortal glory: and to suffer even temparary reproach and - oblaquy, supported by the haprobation of his own consience, and the - applaus of that small number of wise men whose praise is an earnest of - the hadmeration and grattitoode of possterity. Corage is enspired by - succes, and it may be stimulated to dasperate exirtion even by - callamity, but is generally pallseyed by inactivity. A sestem of - caushous defence is the severest tryal of human fortitoode and by this - teste the firmness of Washington was tryde.” - - * * * * * - - HATE.—Hannah More said: “If I wanted to punish an enemy, it should be - by fastening on him the trouble of constantly hating somebody.” - - - The Home Wreath. - ────────── - SATURDAY, DECEMBER 4. - ───────────────────── - - Nothing Insignificant. - - OUR humble sheet is a very small affair; but if any stern critic is - disposed to despise it on that account, let us remind him that there is - nothing so small as to be wholly insignificant, when viewed in all its - relations. We everywhere find little things linked with greater, and - thousands of minute and hidden causes are constantly interlocking and - working together, to bring about those events which impress us with - their vastness and importance. A spark of fire may set in train a - conflagration which will lay waste thousands of acres. Large and - populous islands in the Pacific Ocean owe their origin to very small - insects. The great globe itself is made up of little particles—the - universe is but an aggregate of atoms. The astronomer finds it - necessary to note the minutest fractions of time in observing the - transit of a star whose age is perhaps measured by thousands of - centuries, and whose revolutions extend through infinite space. Thus - are moments linked with ages in the economy of nature, and thus are we - reminded that nothing is so minute as to be insignificant. - - -------------- - - I Can’t. - - This phrase is always in the mouth of some children when requested to - do anything. We once knew a boy who was greatly addicted to its use. He - wanted to learn to skate, but after one unsuccessful attempt, he gave - it up, saying, “I can’t.” The next summer several of his playmates - learned to swim, and he also wanted to learn; but after getting his - mouth and ears full of water, one day, he cried, “I can’t,” and that - was the end of his swimming experiments. If his class had a difficult - lesson, he never learned it, and his excuse was always the same—“I - can’t.” We once set him a copy in his writing-book, and told him that - if he could not imitate it perfectly, he must write as well as he - could. “I can’t,” was the ready reply. “What!” we exclaimed, “_can’t_ - you write as well as you can?” He looked ashamed, but made no reply. - - That boy is now a young man, but he is an ignorant, idle, and shiftless - fellow, and, we fear, will never be of much use either to himself or to - the world. - - Commend us to the boy or girl who never says “I can’t,” except when - enticed to do wrong. “I can” does all things; “I can’t,” nothing. - - -------------- - - To Correspondents. - - Several articles intended for this number are crowded out. We shall - probably have to issue a double number next week, to accommodate our - friends. - - We observe that some of our correspondents occasionally apply the - pronoun _thou_, and the pronominal adjectives _thy_ and _thine_, to - plural nouns. This is wrong. _You_ and _yours_ may be used either in - the singular or plural number; but _thou_, _thy_ and _thine_ are always - singular. You cannot say to a father and mother, as a poem which we - lately saw in a newspaper, (_not_ the “Wreath,”) said,— - - “_Thy_ darling is in heaven.” - - -------------- - - News Items. - - ☞ The Winter Term of the Highburg Academy commences on Monday next, and - will continue eleven weeks. Robert Upton, A. M., Preceptor; Mr. Marcus - Page, Assistant Teacher; and Miss Martha D. Tillotson, Teacher of - Drawing and Music. - - * * * * * - - ☞ It is reported that traces of bears have been recently seen near - Turkey Hill, in the eastern part of Highburg. Several bears have been - killed this winter in the upper part of the county, and we should not - be surprised if some of the “varmints” made us a visit ere long. - - * * * * * - - ☞ A lynx was shot last week in Burlington. The paper from which we - glean this item says: “The animal is a rare one in Vermont. It is of a - grayish color, with ears ending in tufts of black hair, standing [not - the ‘ears,’ nor the ‘hair,’ we presume, but the lynx] a little more - than a foot high, and measuring three feet in length. It subsists on - hares, rabbits, and such small animals, occasionally attacking a sheep, - or even a deer, by dropping on them [it] from a branch of a tree.” - - * * * * * - - ☞ Two boys who had been skating in New York, a week or two since, were - attacked with violent cramps and inflammation, and one of them died - from the effects. It is conjectured that they laid down upon the ice, - while heated from their exercise. This should be a warning to skaters. - - * * * * * - - ☞ The snow which fell Wednesday, though light, is sufficient to make - pretty good sleighing, and every body seems to be improving it. The - proprietors, contributors and subscribers of the “Wreath” took their - first sleigh-ride, this season, on Thursday. They were all comfortably - stowed away in a sleigh and a pung! - - ═════════════════════ - Correspondence. - ───────────────────── - - For the Wreath. - - Small Beginnings. - - A gentleman was once examining a very large and fine library in Boston, - when the lady who had introduced him, asked him if he would like to see - the “nucleus” of the collection. (If you do not know what “nucleus” - means, you will have to turn to the dictionary, as I can think of no - simpler word to substitute for it.) “Yes, I should like to see it,” - replied the visitor. She then exhibited to him a Latin dictionary, - which she said was purchased by the owner when a boy, with money - obtained by the sale of blueberries. The owner was a farmer’s boy, and - that is the way he began his fine library. He is now a learned man, and - is well known in this country and in Europe. - - * * * * * - - For the Wreath. - - Vanity—A Fable. - - Two birds, whose plumage was very brilliant, and whose song was - beautiful, were sitting on a tree, singing, when they discovered a man - looking at them very intently. “There is an admirer—see how we have - entranced him!” cried one of the birds, and she put on her proudest - air, and warbled her sweetest song. “I do not like to be gazed at so - earnestly by a stranger,” modestly replied the other bird; “come, let - us go and hide ourselves from the intruder.” The modest bird flew into - a thicket and concealed herself; but the other, flying to the top-most - bough, began to show off all her airs, when suddenly the sharp crack of - a gun was heard, and the silly bird fell dead. - - MORAL.—“Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a - fall.” - - KETA. - - * * * * * - - For the Wreath. - - MISS EDITOR:—I feel slighted. You are all writing for the “Wreath,” but - not a soul of you has asked me to contribute to your interesting paper. - Why is this? Have I not heard some of you say that I know as much as - many human bipeds of the same age? Don’t I understand almost everything - that you say to me? And if I only _could_ talk, wouldn’t I rattle away - as fast as any of you? I bet I would. If I don’t talk, it isn’t because - I’ve got no ideas, depend on that. But you see I can write, although - perhaps you did not know it. But fearing I am an intruder, I will stop. - - ROVER. - - * * * * * - - For the Wreath. - - The Snow. - - Hurrah! The snow has come!—Now wont we have fine times! I like to see - it come thick and fast, and bury everything up. How curious it is, to - see the woods, and fences, and stones, and roofs, and fields, and - hills, covered over with the pure white snow! What fun it is to roll - and tumble in it! I like to have the roads all blocked up, so that we - can’t get anywhere, not even to school. Then what fun it is to break - out the ways! We have a large sled, with a plough lashed to the off - side. Then we hitch on six or eight yoke of oxen, and are ready for a - start. The boys load up the sled, and a lot of men go ahead to shovel - through the deep drifts, and so we go all over town till the roads are - broken out. - - RON. - - * * * * * - - For the Wreath. - - A Cunning Fellow. - - The summer that I lived in Brookdale, I was one day in the woods, with - my cousin Jerry, and another boy, named Clinton, when we found a fox’s - hole. We began to dig her out; but when we got to the end of the hole, - we found nothing. Clinton said he had known a fox to bank herself up in - a separate cell, when her hole was invaded; and we determined to see if - our fox had not served us so. We dug, and soon found eight little ones, - all stowed away in a cell by themselves. We then tried to find the old - one, but could not. So we took the little ones and started off; but on - looking back we saw the old fox dart out of the hole and disappear. We - went back to examine the hole again, and found that she had a separate - cell for herself, which escaped our search. So she saved her own life, - but she lost her little ones. - - OSCAR. - - ═════════════════════ - Gleanings. - ───────────────────── - - Digest what you read. It is not what you eat but what you digest that - gives nourishment to the body; so with the mind. Young people sometimes - run through a book, and are not able to tell afterwards what they have - been reading. - - “John,” said the schoolmaster, “you will soon be a man, and will have - to do business. What do you suppose you will do when you have to write - letters, unless you learn to spell, better?” “O, sir, I shall put easy - words in them.” - - “Dick, I say, why don’t you turn the buffalo robe t’other side - out?—hair is the warmest.” - - “Bah, Tom, you get out. Do you suppose the animal himself didn’t know - how to wear his hide?” - - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - CHAPTER XIII. - - MASTER PAGE. - - -[Illustration] - - SO impatient was Ronald to enter upon his academic career, that he had - his school books and his slate all ready for a start, Saturday - afternoon. On going up to his chamber, later in the day, he was - pleasantly surprised to find a nice new satchel upon his table, which - his mother had made for him, as a birth-day present. He packed his - books into it, and swung it over his shoulder, and walked back and - forth, to see how it would seem. While he was thus indulging in - pleasant anticipations, his room-mate, Otis, was undergoing a very - different experience. Entering the chamber, without noticing Ronald, he - threw himself upon the bed, and burst into tears. Ronald did not need - to inquire what ailed him. His parents had that afternoon made their - promised visit to Kate and Otis, and had just started for home, and the - poor boy was consequently suffering from that most distressing malady - of the mind—home-sickness. Ronald’s efforts to enliven him proved - unavailing, and he was reluctantly compelled to leave him to his grief, - which did not wholly subside until sleep came to his relief. - - On Monday morning, more than half an hour before the first stroke of - the academy bell was heard, Ronald was busily engaged in hurrying up - his academical associates, whose moderation in getting themselves ready - for the day’s business seemed to him almost too bad to be patiently - endured. However, contrary to his predictions, all arrived at the - academy in good season, though they went in straggling parties—for it - was the preference of all to walk, rather than ride, when the weather - and the roads permitted. Of course, they carried their dinners. - - At five minutes before nine o’clock the bell sounded, and the scholars - and teachers assembled in the school-room. The forenoon was spent in - taking the names of the pupils, assigning seats, forming classes, - giving out lessons, and in general remarks to the students on the - purpose for which they had assembled, and the duties which they were - expected to perform. Most of the preliminary matters were settled, in - the forenoon, and the regular studies commenced with the afternoon - session. - - The incidents of the day afforded plenty of topics for conversation to - Marcus and the students from his family, as they proceeded home, at - night. General satisfaction was expressed that one of the monitors’ - desks, overlooking a division of the smaller boys, had been assigned to - Oscar. This arrangement seemed peculiarly gratifying to Ronald and - Otis, who thus came under his oversight, and who smiled incredulously, - when he declared that he should keep a particularly sharp eye upon - them. Oscar expressed himself as much pleased with the preceptor, Mr. - Upton. Kate, who had been promoted to the highest class, and was in - excellent spirits, said she always admired Mr. Upton, and thought she - should rather like his new assistant, Mr. Page. Otis and Ronald, on the - other hand, were a little disappointed because Marcus had disregarded - their joint request, that they might sit together, and had placed them - so far apart that any intercourse during school hours, except by means - of winks, signs and paper “spit balls,” would be out of the question. - The reason Marcus gave for this refusal,—the fear that they would have - too good a time together,—was not very consoling to the boys. Instead - of Otis, Ronald had for his nearest comrade the boy who blotted his - writing-book at the district school, Lewis Daniels. Both Marcus and - Ronald, however, treated Lewis with kindness, and tried to make him - forget the injury he had inflicted upon the latter. - - The ardor with which Ronald set out for school in the morning was a - little dampened by one or two other incidents that occurred during the - day. At noon, as he approached a group of large boys, he heard one of - them say— - - “I don’t care for Marcus Page—he’s nothing but a boy, himself. He was a - scholar, here, for a year or more after I joined the academy.” - - On turning round, and seeing Ronald near, the large boy added— - - “Here, you youngster, you needn’t go and tell Page everything you hear, - because you happen to live with him; because if you do, you’ll be sorry - for it.” - - Ronald had no heart to report this conversation to Marcus, though he - cared nothing for the threat. His ears tingled, however, to hear Marcus - spoken of in this way, and from that moment he felt a strong dislike - towards the boy in question, who, to do him justice, was not so bad as - he seemed, but only had an unhappy habit of saying more than he felt, - and threatening more than he was willing to perform. - - Another large boy,—a mischievous but not ill-meaning fellow,—annoyed - Ronald a good deal by applying to him the nickname _Frenchy_, and - telling him he had got to wear it as his “academical name.” Ronald - reported this to Marcus; but the latter advised him to take no notice - of the affair, telling him that the inventor of the nickname would - probably soon forget all about it, if he saw that it did not trouble - Ronald. - - “Who would have thought of seeing Jessie Hapley in the academy!” - exclaimed Kate, as they were walking home. “I declare, I never was more - surprised in my life—they are so poor, you know.” - - “But Jessie is a very fine girl, if she is poor,” said Marcus. - - “O, yes, I like her very much,” promptly responded Kate; “and I’m glad - she is going to school with us; but I didn’t suppose her father could - afford to send her.” - - “She earned the money herself, to pay for her tuition,” added Marcus. - “She sees she has got to support herself, if not the rest of the - family, and she is anxious to qualify herself for teaching. She thinks - she is better adapted to that business than to any other, and I think - so, too. She is an excellent scholar, and you will have to look out for - your laurels, Kate, now that she is in school.” - - “Well, she is older than I am,” said Kate, quite unconcerned. - - “Only a few months,” added Marcus; “besides, her school privileges have - been very limited, compared with yours.” - - “No matter, I don’t think I shall be jealous of her,” replied Kate. “I - always did like Jessie, and if any girl is going to excel me, I’d - rather it should be her than any one else. But Abby Leonard declares - that she wont associate with her. She says she hates to see a poor girl - all the time ‘trying to be somebody.’” - - “I am afraid Abby is not so wise as she might be, if she _has_ enjoyed - the advantages of city society,” observed Marcus. - - “Do you know what she does to make herself look pale and slender?” - inquired Kate. “She eats chalk, and slate pencils, and drinks lots of - vinegar. She advised me to try it, because I’m so plump. She thinks it - doesn’t look interesting and genteel, to be fat.” - - “I hope you wont follow her advice, unless you wish to ruin your - health,” replied Marcus. “I shall have to speak to her about this - subject—she has fallen into a very dangerous practice, as well as a - foolish theory. In fact, if she consumes those articles to any extent, - she is committing suicide, whether she knows it or not.” - - The current of events continued to flow on smoothly day after day, at - the academy, until one morning, when the principal failed to appear. - Marcus opened the session, at the usual hour, and soon after received a - note from Mr. Upton, stating that he was ill, and unable to be present. - Marcus conducted the school through the day, with very good success, - and before returning home, called upon his associate, whom he found - prostrated with an illness which would probably detain him from his - labors for several weeks. - - “I do not see but that you will have to take my place, for a week or - two, Marcus,” said Mr. Upton. “We have got well under way, and - everything is going on smoothly, so that I think you and Miss Tillotson - can manage matters very well, for a little while.” - - Marcus shook his head, and looked somewhat alarmed, at this - proposition. Nor was he slow in making known his objections. He had had - little experience in teaching, even the simpler branches, and as to the - higher studies, he was appalled by what he considered his lack of - qualifications. Then how could he, an inexperienced youth, maintain the - discipline of such a school, composed in part of pupils as old as - himself, some of whom had been his school-mates a year previous? Mr. - Upton, however, did not give much heed to these objections. He did not - doubt Marcus’s qualifications to teach any of the branches, and as to - the discipline, if he experienced any trouble, the trustees would give - him all necessary aid. As it would be impracticable to make any other - arrangement, at least for a week or two, Marcus at length consented to - assume this new responsibility. - - The next morning, Marcus informed the scholars of the new duties that - had devolved upon him, and expressed his determination to do his best - to make good their preceptor’s place, at the same time soliciting their - aid and co-operation in the work. With now and then a trifling - exception, the school was as orderly and quiet as usual, and Marcus was - soon satisfied that the public sentiment of his charge was on his side, - and would sustain him in his position. This was especially true of the - older scholars, of whom he had most stood in doubt. Appreciating the - value of their privileges, even the least sedate of them had no - inclination to come in collision with their young teacher, for whom, - indeed, they all felt some degree of esteem, as a personal friend. - Neither did the younger pupils manifest any disposition to question his - authority. Two days’ experience satisfied Marcus that the only pupils - from whom he had reason to anticipate trouble were three or four boys, - some thirteen or fourteen years old; and he had no doubt that he should - be able to bring these turbulent spirits into subjection, in a few - days. - - These troublesome boys happened to be seated together, near the back - part of the room, and at times they created some little disturbance in - that quarter. Before dismissing school at night, Marcus pleasantly - informed them, separately, that he proposed to re-seat some of the - boys, and then proceeded to arrange such an exchange of desks as - brought them nearer to his platform, and at the same time scattered - them apart. One or two of the worst of them, by this change, were - brought under the monitorial eye of Oscar. - - Marcus now made it a special object to secure the confidence and - good-will of the more unruly part of his charge. One noon, he saw - several of his most troublesome boys at work upon a snow figure, in the - grove back of the academy. He approached them, and, commending their - skilful workmanship, soon drew them into a pleasant conversation. As he - watched the growing statue, he observed that the credit belonged mainly - to one of the lads, named Charles Wilder, who directed the labor of the - others. Marcus had noticed that this boy exercised a good deal of - influence over his comrades; but in the school-room he was rather - inattentive to his lessons, and inclined to mischief. - - “Charlie’s the boy for this kind of work,” said one of the lads, - addressing Marcus. - - “Yes, I see he understands it,” replied Marcus. “You have quite an - artist’s eye, Charlie. Where did you learn so much about modelling?” - - “O, I don’t know much about it—all I do know came natural to me,” - replied the boy. - - “I remember seeing an account of a young man in this State,” said - Marcus, “who made a statue of snow and ice that was so beautiful, that - a rich gentleman ordered a copy of it in marble. Perhaps you will be as - fortunate as he, one of these days.” - - “I mean to be a sculptor, some time or other,” replied Charles, his - face lighting up with an expressive smile. - - “I suppose it’s hard work to make a statue, isn’t it?” inquired one of - the boys. - - “No, I don’t know as it is exactly what you would call hard work, but - it requires a good deal of skill, and taste, and genius, to make a fine - statue,” replied Marcus. - - “O, I suppose they have plenty of tools, and pound it out,” observed - another boy. - - “Pound out your grandma’am with tools, just as much!” exclaimed - Charles, with a glance of mingled pity and indignation at the boy who - held this degraded view of the beautiful art to which his soul was thus - early wedded. - - “You must be somewhat proficient in drawing, Charlie, to design such a - statue as this,” resumed Marcus. - - “I’m very fond of drawing, but I don’t know much about it,” replied - Charles. - - “You are not taking lessons in drawing, I believe?” inquired Marcus. - - “No, sir; I wanted to, but father said it was of no use,” replied - Charles. - - “I think it _would_ be of use,” said Marcus; “that is, if you have as - much taste for it as I think you have. I wish you would let me see one - of your drawings,—perhaps I could persuade your father to let you take - lessons, if I think it worth while.” - - “I’ve got one in my desk—I’ll run and get it,” said Charles; and he - darted off, soon returning with a very neatly executed drawing of a dog - hunting a stag, which he had copied with much skill from an engraving. - - “That is very creditable to you—very much so,” said Marcus, as he - examined the picture. “You certainly have a taste for drawing, and your - father must let you take lessons of Miss Tillotson. I will speak to him - about it, this week.” - - The young artist looked pleased and grateful, and Marcus left him, not - only feeling a new interest in the boy, but with a firm persuasion that - he should have no further trouble with him. - -[Illustration] - - The above is a representation of Charles’s drawing. Marcus took the - trouble to call upon Mr. Wilder, that afternoon, and after a little - persuasion obtained permission for Charles to take drawing lessons. - - A day or two after this, Marcus found on his desk, one morning, an - anonymous note, which read as follows:— - - “TO MASTER PAGE:—I think it is too bad that some of the - scholars should be allowed to have keys to their arithmetics, - when it is against the rules. Fair play is a jewel. This is - from - - ONE WHO KNOWS.” - - Marcus was for a time in doubt what to do in relation to this - complaint. The anonymous character of the note deprived it of all claim - upon his attention; and its apparently implied censure upon him for - something of which he had no knowledge, rendered it still more - objectionable. After reflection, however, he determined to investigate - the matter at once, leaving to a future occasion some remarks to the - school on the impropriety and meanness of writing anonymous letters of - complaint. He accordingly remarked to the school:— - - “I have been informed that some of the scholars have keys to their - arithmetics. I wish all such would rise.” - - Much to his surprise, Oscar promptly arose, and said:— - - “I have a key, but I have made no improper use of it. I do all my sums - before I look at the answers.” - - “Did you not know that it is contrary to the rules for any scholar to - have a key?” said Marcus. - - “Yes, sir,” replied Oscar. - - “That is sufficient,” said Marcus. “You have violated one of our rules, - whatever use you may have made of the key. If you have it here, you may - deliver it up.” - - Oscar obeyed the order, his appearance indicating that he felt the mild - rebuke rather keenly. It is due to him to say, that with this - exception, his conduct in school had thus far been quite exemplary, and - his progress in his studies commendable. - - After Ronald had become somewhat familiar with the school, he found it - rather difficult to wholly repress the promptings to fun within him. - During the first week of the principal’s absence, Marcus had occasion - to reprove him several times, privately, for offences of this kind, and - on one occasion, detained him after school, as a punishment. One - afternoon, as Marcus was hearing a class recite, he was startled by one - of his most quiet boys crying out:— - - “You quit that!” - - “What is the matter, Edmund?” inquired Marcus. - - The boy, coloring deeply replied:— - - “Ronald has been snapping nut-shells at me for half an hour, and he - just hit me in the eye with one. I was very busy ciphering, and I spoke - before I thought. I forgot I was in school.” - - Ronald was called out, a handful of nuts was transferred from his - pocket to the teacher’s desk, and he was then directed to stand upon - the platform facing the school, until he had committed to memory a page - from a geography used by another class. In all this Marcus was as calm - and mild as usual; but nevertheless, Ronald did not feel very - pleasantly, as he took his position and commenced his task, though the - punishment was not what he feared it would be, when called out. His - mortification was not a little increased, when, after reciting the - task, Marcus assigned him a new seat, directly under his own eye. - Ronald avoided all company, on his way home, that afternoon, and seemed - especially anxious to keep out of the reach of Marcus, through the rest - of the day. Marcus, however, had something to say to Ronald, and after - tea he found an opportunity to say it. - - “Ronald,” he said, “I have been thinking that I had better increase - your lessons a little. I am afraid you are getting along too easily at - school.” - - “Why, I think our lessons are pretty hard,” replied Ronald, somewhat - surprised. - - “They are hard enough for most of your class, but you learn so readily - that I shall have to give you some extra tasks,” added Marcus. - - “I don’t think that is fair,” replied Ronald. “If I get all the lessons - that the others do, I should think that is enough.” - - “If your lessons are so easy that you learn them without much effort,” - continued Marcus, “you are missing the real end of going to school. It - is not the chief aim of education to give a child a smattering of - knowledge, but the object should be to discipline his mind, and that - cannot be done without real tasks—lessons that will make him study - hard, and think closely. He needs something to rouse him to exertion, - and then he will begin to find out what his powers are. I think I shall - let you study book-keeping and algebra, with the third class, in - addition to your other lessons.” - - “Well, if you think best, I will try it,” said Ronald. - - “I have another reason for this,” added Marcus. “You have too many idle - moments, now. Your lessons are not hard enough to keep you out of - mischief. I shall have to increase them until you have no time for - idleness or mischief during study hours.” - - Marcus imposed the additional studies upon Ronald, the next day. The - salutary effects of this, and of the incidents of the previous - afternoon, were soon apparent. He was careful, however, not to overtask - the boy’s powers, which would have been a greater evil than the - opposite error. - - With Otis, Marcus found a different course of management necessary. He - was more quiet and orderly in school than Ronald, but less perfect in - his lessons. Indeed, he was not remarkably fond of study, and needed a - little spurring, now and then, to prevent his falling below the average - of his class. One afternoon, as he was walking home with Marcus, he - said:— - - “I can’t get that sixth sum right, any way. I’ve tried it half a dozen - times, and I get it exactly the same every time. The answer in the book - must be wrong, for I know I did it right. I did the other sums in just - the same way, and they came right.” - - “You are wrong,” replied Marcus, “for I happen to know that the answer - in the book is right. Georgianna Ellis came to me this afternoon with - the same story. She thought the answer in the book was a mistake. But I - did the sum, and found it right.” - - “How did you do it?” inquired Otis. - - “That is for you to find out yourself, if you can,” replied Marcus, - with a significant accent upon the last clause of the sentence. - - “Didn’t you show Georgianna how to do it?” inquired Otis. - - “No,” replied Marcus; “I told her to read over the question carefully, - and then to keep trying upon it until she got the right solution.” - - “Did she get it?” inquired Otis. - - “I do not know,” replied Marcus; “but if she has not found out her - error, I have no doubt she will.” - - “Then I suppose you think I can do the sum, if I keep trying,” said - Otis. - - “I have some doubts about that,” replied Marcus. “I suppose I ought to - give you the same direction that I gave Georgianna; but I have little - faith that you would be successful, after all.” - - “Why couldn’t I find out the answer, if she can?” inquired Otis. - - “There is a great difference in scholars,” replied Marcus. “Some are - careful, and examine everything very closely, when they meet a - difficulty, while others blunder about without much thought. Some have - great perseverance, and others are quickly discouraged. And then some - do not seem to have much sense, or if they have, they don’t exercise - it.” - - Otis did not push his inquiries any further, and the subject was - dropped. The stimulus of shame, judiciously applied, is sometimes - effective when other means fail, and so it proved in this case. Otis - was not discouraged by what Marcus said, but was incited by it to a new - and more earnest effort. He solved the problem, unaided, and so derived - more real benefit from this one puzzling question than from all the - others in the day’s lesson, which he performed without difficulty. - - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - CHAPTER XIV. - - THE TROUBLESOME SCHOLAR. - - - THERE was one boy in the academy who still caused Marcus no little - anxiety. His name was Harrison Clark, and he was about fourteen years - old, and large for his age. This was his first term at the academy. He - was from an adjoining town, and but little was known of him, except - what he himself chose to divulge. The achievement of his short life - upon which he seemed to pride himself most, was a fight he had with his - former teacher, a month or two before this, in which, according to his - representation, he came off victor; and he had been heard to threaten a - similar infliction upon Marcus, should that personage attempt to - chastise him. One or two of the elder pupils were anxious that the - insolence of this pert young gentleman should be checked by a sound - thrashing, and they even intimated to the teacher that aid would not be - wanting, in case the boy should offer serious resistance. But Marcus - thought there was a more excellent way to subdue him, and determined to - try it, before resorting to harsh measures. - - Marcus happened one day to fall in with a townsman of Harrison, from - whom he gathered all the information he could in regard to the career - and character of the boy. It appeared that he had been governed with - severity, both at home and at school, so far as he had been governed at - all. He had steadily grown worse, however, under this discipline, and - his parents, finding they could do nothing with him, had sent him away - to school, as the easiest way to rid themselves of a constant trouble. - They were finally led to this course, by his altercation with his - teacher. Several boys, it seemed, got into a wild frolic in the - school-room, one day, before the opening of the session, in the course - of which Harrison threw an inkstand at another lad, by which his face - and clothes were stained, and the walls, floor, and seats soiled. The - teacher, after investigating the matter, ordered Harrison to hold out - his hand for punishment, which he refused to do, in an insolent manner. - The teacher then attempted to seize his hand, but failing in this, he - tripped the boy upon the floor, and a regular scuffle ensued. Another - boy, still larger than Harrison, now rushed to the assistance of the - latter, and before the disgraceful affray ended, they inflicted two or - three serious blows upon the teacher, and then fled. They were both - arrested for assault, and after a trial before a justice, were fined, - Harrison ten dollars and the other boy five, besides the cost of the - trial, which was divided between them. While it must be confessed that - their punishment was just, I think few will deny that the teacher also - was to be blamed for the part he acted in the affray. - - “Now can’t you tell me something good about Harrison?” inquired Marcus, - after listening to the foregoing recital. “I believe there is always - some good trait in every person, however bad.” - - “Well,” replied the other, “I’m thinking it would be rather hard to - find anything very good about that chap. I don’t think he’s very - hardened yet, but there’s precious little goodness about him, I can - tell you. He thinks a good deal of his mother, and that’s the best - thing I ever saw about him. And he ought to like her, for she’s a right - down good woman—only she’s one of your easy, gentle sort, that oughtn’t - to have anything to do with such a young scapegrace as he is.” - - Although Harrison had made himself sufficiently troublesome in the - school-room, he had thus far avoided all flagrant offences. He - manifested his disposition by an air of quiet insolence and defiance, - and by petty acts of annoyance, too trivial for serious notice, even - could they be proved against him, which was seldom the case. It was - evident, however, that he was becoming emboldened by the absence of - restraints and punishments with which he had been familiar in school, - and Marcus looked forward with some solicitude to the certainty of an - open collision with him, which day by day seemed more imminent. - Meanwhile, the attempts of Marcus to win him over by kindness were not - very well rewarded. If he spoke kindly to the boy on the play-ground or - at his desk, he got no pleasant word or grateful look, in return. If he - tried to draw him into conversation, the responses came grudgingly in - monosyllables. On Saturday, he invited Harrison to come over to pass - the afternoon with him and the children; but the boy did not come; - worse yet, he did not say whether he would or not; and still worse, he - expressed no thanks for the invitation. - - One cold morning, soon after the school opened, Marcus was somewhat - annoyed by the coughing of the scholars—not a very unusual occurrence - at that season. Having reduced the school to perfect silence, so that - the falling of a pin might have been heard, he proceeded to say:— - - “I notice that many of the scholars have rather troublesome coughs. I - have a cold myself, and I suppose I could cough as hard as any of you, - if I chose to. But I am not going to do it. There are two objections to - coughing. One is, it is injurious. The effort required in coughing is - apt to tear the delicate fibres of the lungs. Sometimes people burst - blood-vessels, while coughing, and die in consequence. The other - objection is, it is unpleasant to those around us, especially in a - school-room, church, or other public assembly. Sometimes, I admit, it - is necessary to cough; but I think most of our coughing is unnecessary. - By a little attention, and a little effort of the will, we can prevent - it. Now I propose that those who have colds try the experiment with me, - and we will see who will hold out longest without coughing.” - - Marcus had no sooner closed, than Harrison fell into a violent fit of - coughing, which it was evident to all was feigned. Some of the younger - scholars smiled at this ill-mannered freak, but others looked daggers - at its perpetrator. Marcus uttered no rebuke, but the eyes of the rogue - fell before his steady, quiet, searching look. - - A day or two after this, there was great excitement in the village, - occasioned by the discovery that several sheep had been killed by - bears, the tracks of which were found in the neighborhood of “Turkey - Hill.” The presence of these animals in the town had been suspected for - several weeks, but this was their first attack upon the sheep-folds of - the farmers. Arrangements were at once made for a grand bear hunt, the - next afternoon, and all the male population, above fifteen years of - age, were invited to take part in it. - - Marcus found, the next morning, that most of his boys had come to - school prepared to join in the hunt, either as participants or - spectators. All who could, had procured guns, and as the lads and young - men lounged around the academy, in groups, examining and comparing - their arms, a stranger might have suspected the existence of a “school - rebellion” of a really startling description. But when the bell struck, - the guns were peaceably deposited in the ante-room, and the school-room - assumed its usual quiet aspect. At recess several of the boys were - dismissed, having brought notes from home, requesting Marcus to excuse - them at that hour. Two or three others petitioned for a similar favor, - but, having no authority from their parents for making the request, - Marcus felt obliged to deny them. He did this the more easily, because - he thought the request a needless one. The hunting party was not to - rendezvous until half past twelve o’clock—half an hour after the - session closed for the day, for it was Saturday. Nevertheless, Harrison - Clark, who was one of the disappointed applicants, appeared to think - differently; for when the boys were called in from recess, he was - missing. On looking from a window, Marcus saw him standing, gun in - hand, near the post office, where a crowd of men appeared to be - discussing the arrangements of the day. One of the large scholars was - despatched to bring the runaway back; but Harrison saw the young man - approaching, and mistrusting his errand, took to his heels, and made - good his escape. - - At twelve o’clock the session closed, the contents of sundry little - baskets and tin pails were hurriedly disposed of for the benefit of the - inner man, and most of the boys, accompanied by their teacher, then - proceeded to the place of rendezvous. After waiting awhile for tardy - stragglers, the hunting party was found to muster over a hundred men - and boys, all armed. An experienced hunter was chosen captain, a few - directions were given to the men, and the line of march was then taken - up for Turkey Hill, some two miles distant. - - On reaching the hunting ground, the guns were loaded, and the party - then proceeded to form a ring around the hill, which was a low - eminence, densely wooded, and abounding with ledges. Two files of men - started in opposite directions, and encircled the hill until they met, - scattering themselves apart as they proceeded. Then, to test the - connection of the ring in all its parts, the captain cried to his left - hand man, “_Are you there?_” and he taking up the call, according to a - previously arranged plan, shouted it to the man on his left, and thus - it passed around, until it came back in a few moments to the leader. He - then gave the order, “_Forward!_” in a similar manner; and as it ran - round the line, the party began its slow march up the hill. They - continued to ascend, gradually closing up the circle, until it embraced - only about an acre of woods. The circle was now quite impervious to any - animal, the hunters being within a few yards of each other. Only a - small portion of the ring, however, was visible at any one point, owing - to the trees and brush, and the inequality of the surface. Every gun - was now cocked, and every eye was straining itself, to detect some sign - of the presence of Bruin. Suddenly, the sharp crack of a gun was heard, - followed by another, and another; and almost immediately, a large bear - bounded out, towards the part of the circle where Marcus and Oscar were - stationed. But ere the poor beast could reach the line, a score of - bullets were buried in his body, and he fell dead. Loud and long was - the shout of triumph that went up from every side; and still louder did - it grow, when it was found that this was not the only trophy, but that - another though much smaller bear had been shot on the opposite side of - the ring, when the reports of firearms were first heard. - - The two carcasses were placed on sleds, and dragged to the village by - the boys. The largest bear was found to weigh about four hundred and - fifty pounds, but the weight of the other was a little short of two - hundred pounds. Before the people separated for their homes, the two - carcasses were put up at auction, and sold for about fifteen dollars. - It was voted to give the money to the owner of the sheep killed by the - bears—an aged man, in needy circumstances, who looked the gratitude he - could not speak, when the generous proposal was ratified by a hearty - “Aye!” - - On Monday morning, when Marcus read to the school the names of - absentees at the previous session, and called for excuses, he came to - the following entry: “Harrison Clark—left at recess.” He paused a - moment, and as no excuse was offered, added— - - “Harrison, when school is dismissed in the afternoon, you may come to - my desk.” - - “This _after_noon or _fore_noon?” inquired Harrison, not at all - abashed. - - “I said this _after_noon,” replied Marcus, who postponed the matter - until that hour, because of the limited intermission from studies at - noon. - - As Marcus anticipated, Harrison was going off without paying any regard - to this command, in the afternoon; but when called he went back, saying - by way of apology that he forgot all about the matter. When they were - alone, Marcus inquired, very pleasantly— - - “Well, Harrison, how did you enjoy yourself, Saturday afternoon?” - - “First-rate—didn’t you?” coolly replied the boy. - - “Do you think you enjoyed the hunt as much as you would if you hadn’t - gone off at recess, contrary to my express orders?” inquired Marcus. - - “Well, yes, I don’t see as that made any difference,” replied Harrison, - looking as calm and unconcerned as though he were discussing the point - with some comrade. - - “I see you are inclined to be frank,” continued Marcus. “I am glad of - that—I like frank, open dealing in everybody, boys as well as men. - Don’t you?” - - “Why, yes, I do,” replied the boy. - - “And are you willing to be perfectly frank with me, if I will be so - with you, in talking over matters now?” inquired Marcus. - - “Well, I can’t stop long—I agreed to go somewhere, after school,” - replied Harrison. - - “But we must attend to this business first,” replied Marcus, in a - decided tone. “Now if you say you will deal frankly with me, I will - proceed at once.” - - “Well, I will,” said Harrison. - - “Then I will be equally frank with you, and so we shall have a fair - understanding of each other,” replied Marcus. “I have noticed for - several weeks, especially since Mr. Upton has been sick, that you were - inclined to be disrespectful towards me, and to annoy me and the school - by certain little improprieties that it was difficult to prove wilful, - though they certainly seemed to be so. As I know of no reason why you - should wish to trouble me—for I believe I have always treated you - kindly—I have taken as charitable a view of this as I could. I have - tried to think that you did not mean any harm, but were only a little - odd in your ways. But when you set my authority at defiance so coolly, - last Saturday, I saw that something more serious than oddity was the - matter. And that something has got to be met, promptly and decidedly. - Now there are two ways of meeting such a spirit in a scholar. One way - is, to inflict a severe and disgraceful punishment, which will serve as - a warning to the other pupils, if it does not reform the guilty one. - The other way is, to win him from his error by mild and kind means. - - “Now, Harrison, you know very well which of these systems of government - we have adopted here. You have seen no rod or ruler, since you came - here, and I hope you will not, if you stay through the term. But that - is by no means certain. Sometimes, when mild measures fail, Mr. Upton - adopts stern ones; but he always tries kindness first. There is only - one other resort, in desperate cases, and that is, to expel the - offender. Now, if I have been rightly informed, the harsh system had - been pretty faithfully tried upon you before you came here, had it - not?” - - “I should think it had—but it didn’t do any good,” replied Harrison. - - “And now kindness has been tried, and _that_ has done no good,” added - Marcus, with a serious look. “What more can be done? Do you think that - you ought to be privileged to do as you please, while all the other - scholars are required to be obedient, and orderly, and respectful? You - said you would be frank with me; now will you answer me that question, - honestly?” - - “I suppose not,” replied Harrison, rather reluctantly. - - “Very well, now I wish you to answer another question, as frankly as - you did that,” continued Marcus. “Do you think I ought to be expected - to sacrifice my feelings, and strength, and time, in trying harsh - measures upon a boy, when the experiment has already been made by - others, and, as he admits, without any good result?” - - “No, sir,” replied the boy, in a more respectful tone than usual. - - “Neither do I,” said Marcus. “Then if kind measures fail, as they have - in your case, so far, expulsion is the only remedy left; and that, of - itself, is a very harsh, and painful, and disgraceful punishment. I - can’t bear to think of it. It is casting the boy out from influences - that might save him, into a world of new temptations and dangers. If he - were the only one involved, I would put up with a great many - provocations, before I would sentence a boy to such a fate as that. But - the interests of the school sometimes require that a scholar should be - expelled, and then the teacher must do his duty, however painful it may - be. In such a case, the teacher and the boy are not the only sufferers. - The parents and friends of the offender often suffer even worse than he - does. I hear, Harrison, that you have an excellent mother. Is it so?” - - “Yes, sir,” replied the boy. - - “I have been told,” continued Marcus, “that she is a very kind, gentle, - and sensitive woman. I hear, also, that you appear to think a great - deal of her, and I hope the report is true, for a _good_ mother is a - blessing for which we can never be too grateful.” - - The expression of the boy’s face, at this mention of his mother, - indicated that the report was not without foundation. - - “Now,” continued Marcus, “how would your mother feel, if you should go - home, and tell her that you had been expelled from the academy, for - misconduct? Would it not almost break her heart? For her sake, as well - as yours, I hope we shall not have to fall back upon that last resort. - But as I promised to be frank with you, I must tell you, in all - sincerity, that the course you have been pursuing will certainly lead - to expulsion, if not abandoned. I do not say this to frighten you, but - I am honestly pointing out to you a _real_ danger, and one that you - will assuredly encounter very soon, if you do not take warning. You - have been quite frank with me, so far, now I want to know if you will - give me a plain and honest answer to one more question?” - - “I will,” replied Harrison. - - “I am going to ask the question now,” continued Marcus, “but you need - not answer it to-night. I would rather that you should take time to - think it over, and let me know your decision to-morrow. The question is - this—whether you intend to keep on in your old habits, as though - nothing had happened, or will you try to correct the faults I have - mentioned? You will please to take notice that the question refers only - to your _intentions_. I do not ask you to promise never to disobey or - be disrespectful again; but if you have any intention, or even the - slightest wish, to reform these habits, I want you to say so, and I - will help you all I can to accomplish the work. On the other hand, if - you really prefer to do as you have been doing, I want you to tell me - that, just as candidly. Remember you promised to be frank. You can go, - now, and to-morrow you may tell me your decision.” - - Harrison’s bearing was somewhat more subdued and respectful than usual, - when he left Marcus. The same peculiarity was apparent in his conduct - the next day, in school. When school was dismissed at noon, Harrison - went of his own accord to the teacher’s desk, and said:— - - “Mr. Page, I’ve thought over that matter that we talked about - yesterday, and I’ve made up my mind to try to do better, hereafter.” - - “I am very glad to hear you say so, Harrison,” replied Marcus, grasping - the boy kindly by the hand. “If that is your intention, I have no doubt - we shall get along pleasantly enough after this.” - - “I’m sorry I went off, Saturday, and I wont do such a thing again,” - added Harrison. - - “That was quite a serious act of disobedience,” replied Marcus, - “although I have refrained from saying much about it directly, thus - far. If I should conclude that the offence required some kind of - punishment, notwithstanding this confession, do you feel as though you - could submit to it cheerfully?” - - “Yes, sir, I think I could,” replied Harrison, rather hesitatingly. - - “I suppose the fact that you ran away is known to all the scholars,” - observed Marcus. “Now should you be willing to make the apology as - publicly as the offence?” - - This was a pretty severe test for Harrison. Remembering the braggadocio - with which he had alluded to his offence, only the day before, in the - presence of many of his school-mates, it was hard to say he was willing - to stand up before them all, and humbly acknowledge his fault. - - “Give me a frank answer, that is all I ask,” added Marcus, as he - perceived the conflict in his pupil’s mind. - - “Well, I suppose I ought to confess in public, and I must do it, if you - say so, but it will come dreadful hard,” replied the boy, who seemed - anxious and perplexed. - - “Yes, I suppose it would be a very disagreeable duty,” said Marcus; - “and on the whole, I think I will not ask it of you. The scholars know - that I have taken private notice of the offence, and perhaps that will - answer every purpose. If you will show to them a better example - hereafter, that is all I will require, this time. The past shall all be - forgiven and forgotten.” - - The boy looked pleased and grateful, and before retiring, repeated his - promise of amendment. This promise he kept. His feelings towards Marcus - seemed to have undergone an entire change. True, every fault in his - character and conduct was not corrected at once; but as there seemed to - be a prevailing disposition in him to conform to the rules of the - school, united with a sincere respect for his teacher, Marcus looked - upon his errors as leniently as possible, and endeavored to encourage - him in his good work by every proper method. - - The next Monday, Mr. Upton resumed his post, and complimented Marcus - very highly on finding the academy in so prosperous a state. - - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - CHAPTER XV. - - ABOUT SAM HAPLEY. - - - MR. HAPLEY, the father of Jessie and Sam, and the near neighbor of the - Pages, seemed to be growing more slack than ever, this winter. Fields - of corn-stalks were still standing on his farm, although it was well - advanced in December, he having neglected to cut them in the fall, for - his cattle. It was even reported that a good part of his potatoes were - frozen into the ground, as he had delayed digging them until it was too - late. His family and stock were not so well provided for that they - could afford thus to throw away the produce of the farm. Plenty by no - means reigned in the house, and as to the barn, its inmates bore - unmistakable testimony that poor hay, with few roots and less grain, - would not keep cattle in good condition. - - One morning, after the last stick of cut wood had been consumed, and a - rod or more of the fence, also, had been used to “keep the pot - boiling,” Mr. Hapley mustered sufficient resolution to go up to the - wood-lot, with his team, after another load. He got a neighbor to go - with him, for although one might have supposed Sam was large enough to - chop wood, Mr. Hapley always said he was “good for nothing to work,” - and Sam was very careful never to give him occasion to alter his - opinion. - - In all such expeditions as this, there were two things that always - accompanied Mr. Hapley. These were, a pipe and a jug. With something to - smoke, and something to drink, he considered himself amply fortified - against all the demands of appetite, for half a day at least. The young - man who accompanied him on this occasion, was not at all averse to an - occasional mug of cider, or whiskey, or, indeed to any other beverage - that could claim kindred to these. So an extra-sized jug, nearly full - of old cider of the hardest and sourest kind, was put on the sled, and - tied to one of the stakes, to keep it in place. - - “Now, you children,” said Mr. Hapley, as he was about starting, “you - behave yourselves, all on you. You Sam, I want you to fodder them cows - this noon, if I don’t get home. And mother,” he added, addressing his - wife, “don’t let Benny play out in the wet, he’s got such a cold.” - -[Illustration] - - With these admonitions, the father departed. Unfortunately, there was - no one to admonish him to behave himself, though perhaps he needed such - a caution as much as his children. Arrived at the wood-lot, he and his - assistant took a full “swig” from the jug, and then commenced work. By - the time Mr. Hapley had felled one tree, he felt the need of another - draught of cider; and seating himself on the prostrate trunk, he again - tipped the jug, and then lighting his pipe, resigned himself to quiet - contemplation. The sturdy strokes of his more industrious companion, if - they reproached him, did not arouse him from his lazy lethargy for half - an hour, and then he returned to his work only for a short time, soon - seeking refreshment again from the jug and pipe. It was past noon when - the sled was loaded up with green wood, and by this time, Mr. Hapley - was in no amiable mood, the soothing influence of the pipe not having - been equal to the exciting effects of the cider, which always made him - as sour as itself. His companion, too, was not quite so cheery as when - he came into the woods. He thought it rather hard fare, to do more than - three-fourths of the work, and drink less than one-fourth of the cider. - So they mounted the load, and drove home, scarcely speaking to each - other on the way. - - “My patience!” exclaimed Mrs. Hapley, as the team entered the yard; - “have you brought me a load of green stuff, at this time of year, and - not a stick of dry wood about the premises? What _shall_ I do!” - - “Do? why, you can stick it up in the chimney corner, and dry it,” - replied Mr. Hapley, quite unconcerned. - - “Well,” added his wife, with a sigh, “if I had only known you had no - wood seasoning up in the lot, I’d have gone and cut some myself, sooner - than try to burn that stuff.” - - “You’re always a telling what _you’d_ do,” replied Mr. Hapley; “now I - wish you’d go and do it, just once, and say nothin’ about it. Plague on - ’t! how is a feller going to chop wood, when he’s got the rheumatis’ so - he can’t stand up? It seems as though women hadn’t no consideration - about some things.” - - Mrs. Hapley always refrained from bandying words with her husband, when - he was in an irritable mood, and she made no further reply. He took the - horses from the team, (for, according to his slack system, it was time - enough to unload the wood, when the sled was needed again,) and led - them into the barn. In a few moments he returned, and inquired, in a - stern tone:— - - “Who fed them cows, this noon?” - - “I did,” replied Mrs. Hapley. “Sam wasn’t here, at noon, and so I took - care of them.” - - “Just the way with that plaguy Sam,” added Mr. Hapley. “He’s never - about when anything’s to be done. Here, Sam! Sam!” he called at the top - of his voice; but Sam did not respond, and Mr. Hapley continued, “What - did you give ’em such a mess of hay for? They’ve wasted more’n half of - it, and got it all over the barn. I don’t see what you was thinking of. - We can’t afford to litter the critters with hay, when it’s as skerce as - ’tis now.” - - “I don’t think I gave them too much,” replied Mrs. Hapley. “The fact - is, they don’t like the hay, and they wont eat it up clean.” - - “Where’s Benny?” inquired Mr. Hapley, suddenly noticing that his - youngest boy was absent. - - “He’s gone out to play,” replied his wife. - - “I told you not to let him go out in the slosh—he’ll be sick ag’in, you - see if he aint,” said Mr. Hapley. - - “He’s dressed warmly, and got his thick boots on,” replied Mrs. Hapley. - “It is so pleasant that I thought it would do him good to be out a - little while in the air.” - - Mr. Hapley withdrew to the barn, and was feeding his horses, when a - loud scream from Benny startled him. Running to a window in the back of - the barn, he saw the cause of the outcry. Sam had thrown Benny down in - the snow, and was pushing him about in it, and rubbing it into his face - and neck. They were by the roadside, a few rods from the barn. Mr. - Hapley flew to the door, and called to Sam, but Benny’s outcry drowned - his voice. He then ran towards them, but Sam had finished the assault, - concluding with a few vigorous kicks, before he saw his father - approaching. Mr. Hapley was so enraged at what he had witnessed, that - he could hardly listen to a word of explanation. Benjamin, a lad of - nine years, was his youngest child, and was supposed by the rest of the - family to be the father’s favorite. He was not at this time in robust - health, which added to Mr. Hapley’s excitement, on seeing him abused by - Sam. The origin of the assault, which Mr. H. did not stop to - investigate fully, was this. Benny, seeing his brother coming up the - road, hid himself behind a stone wall, until he had passed, and then - playfully threw a soft snow-ball at him, which chanced to hit him on - the head, though not with much force. Sam instantly started for his - little brother, who fled; but overtaking him, the unfeeling boy pitched - him into a snow bank, and rolled him in it, then “washed his face in - snow,” sprinkled several handfuls of the fleecy element down his neck - and back, and finally kicked him, as has been stated. - - Mr. Hapley led the boys as far as the barn, and after telling Benny to - go into the house, and ask his mother to take care of him, he pushed - Sam into the barn, assuring him that _he_ would attend to him. Having - closed the doors, he ordered Sam to take off his coat, but the - refractory boy refused. Enraged at this, the father seized him, and a - desperate struggle ensued, the boy resisting even to blows, and the - anger of the other waxing fiercer every moment. But Mr. Hapley was a - powerful man, and the result of the contest was not long in doubt. The - coat was stripped from the boy’s back, and despite his efforts to - escape, he soon found himself bound hand and foot to a post, utterly - helpless. As it was useless to struggle, he now betook himself to - yelling, which he did with such effect that all the family were soon - drawn to the spot. But Mr. Hapley sternly ordered them all away, and - then taking a heavy cart whip, commenced beating the boy with great - severity. Soon the cries of the sufferer again brought the mother and - the younger children to the spot, and despite the father’s commands, - Mrs. Hapley and Jessie entered the barn, and with tears pleaded for - Sam. But the father, whose natural feelings were now blunted and - benumbed by liquor, and whose wrath was stirred almost to its lowest - depths by the resistance Sam had offered, took no notice of the - sympathizing intruders, but kept on with the cruel punishment. - - Marcus, who had heard the first outcry, and suspected the nature of the - trouble, ran at once over to Mr. Hapley’s, and entered the barn just at - this juncture. The mother and daughter both besought him to interpose - in behalf of the unfortunate boy, whose shirt was already slightly - stained with blood. On his entrance, however, Mr. Hapley stayed his - hand, and, looking somewhat abashed, as Marcus thought, inquired— - - “What do you want here, sir?” - - “Don’t you think you have punished Sam about enough?” inquired Marcus, - mildly. - - “I guess I can flog my children without any advice from you—you’d - better go home and mind your business,” was the reply. - - “I didn’t mean any offence, Mr. Hapley,” continued Marcus, in the same - calm tone. “I heard Sam screaming, and I thought I would run over and - see what the matter was, for I didn’t know but somebody was abusing - him. You would have done the same thing, if you had been in my place, - Mr. Hapley.” - - “I wouldn’t punish him any more, now, father,” said Mrs. Hapley; “I - think it’s time to stop when the blood runs.” - - “Are you sorry for what you did?” inquired the father, addressing Sam. - - “Yes,” replied the boy, in a surly tone. - - “Well, then, I’ll let you off, with this,” said Mr. Hapley. “But mind - you, you wont get off so easy another time, if you don’t behave - yourself, so look out. I’ve let you alone till you’re almost sp’ilt, - but I’m going to turn over a new leaf with you, now. You’ve got to toe - the mark, or else I’ll put the marks onto your back—one of the two.” - - Mr. Hapley, as he said this, unbound the boy, who, on being released, - went into the house, followed by his mother and the children. Marcus, - finding himself alone with the misguided father, thought it his duty to - address a word of remonstrance to him against such punishments. - - “Mr. Hapley,” he said, “do you think this is the best way to discipline - a boy? Isn’t it a rather harsh remedy?” - - “I wont have nothing to say to you or anybody else about that,” - responded Mr. Hapley. “It’s nobody’s business if I choose to whip my - boy, and I wish folks would mind their own affairs, and let me alone. I - guess I’m old enough to know what I’m about, and if I aint, I don’t - want your advice.” - - “I am aware no one has a right to interfere,” replied Marcus, “unless - you _abuse_ your child. In that case I suppose you know the law will - protect him. If you didn’t abuse Sam, just now, I think you came very - near it.” - - “What’s that?” exclaimed Mr. Hapley. “Do you come over here to sarce - me, in my own premises, you young upstart?” - - “I see it is of no use to talk with you now, Mr. Hapley,” Marcus calmly - replied, and then withdrew. - - The next morning, Jessie, with tears in her eyes, informed Marcus that - her brother was missing. He had evidently gone off in the night, - intending to seek his fortune elsewhere, for he had taken a change of - clothing. Before starting for the academy, Marcus called on the Hapleys - to see if he could be of any service to them, in their new trouble. - - “No,” said Mr. Hapley, gruffly, “we aint a going to send after that - boy, nor no such thing. If he’s a mind to run away, let him run, that’s - all. I’ll warrant he’ll get enough of it, and be glad to get home - ag’in, before a month’s out.” - - Mrs. Hapley looked anxious, and the children sad, though the father - seemed quite unconcerned. No steps were taken to bring back the - fugitive, or even to ascertain in what direction he had gone, and - nothing was heard from him, until about a week after, when he suddenly - made his appearance one evening. He was in a sorry plight, his feet - being somewhat frosted, his clothes having suffered from rough usage, - and he being very tired and hungry. His parents received him with - unexpected kindness, and even Mr. Hapley himself was more pleased at - his return than he was willing to confess. Sam, however, did not seem - inclined to say much about his adventures, during his week’s absence, - and the curiosity of the family, on that point, was far from satisfied. - - Two or three days after Sam’s return, a couple of strangers drove up to - the door, and having found Sam, told him he was their prisoner, at the - same time showing him a writ authorizing his arrest. They also informed - Mr. Hapley that they were empowered to search the house for stolen - property; adding that a robbery had been committed in a town about ten - miles distant, and there was reason to suspect his son had some - connection with it. The shock of this intelligence so affected Mrs. - Hapley, that she fainted. While her husband was using means for her - recovery, the officers put a pair of hand-cuffs upon Sam’s wrists, to - prevent his escape, and then took him up into his chamber, where they - commenced the search. There was an old bureau in the room, which they - examined very thoroughly. They also scrutinized the boy’s clothing, - peered into the fire-place and up the chimney, looked for loose boards - in the flooring, and examined holes in the plastering, but all to no - purpose. They then overhauled the bed, and soon drew out from among the - feathers a package which was found to contain a breast-pin, several - silver spoons, and a watch. With this they announced themselves as - satisfied, and soon started off with their prisoner. - - The news of Sam’s arrest spread through the village like wild-fire. - Marcus heard of it as soon as he was out of school, in the afternoon. - On the way home, he overtook Jessie and Kate, who, full of spirits, - wondered that Marcus should be so sober. The sad news was not broken to - Jessie until she entered her home, where she found her father upon the - floor, drunk, and her mother sick in her bed, while Benny was silently - weeping, as though his heart were breaking. Henry alone was able to - explain to her what had happened. The poor girl could hardly help - sinking to the floor, as Henry related his story; but feeling that this - was no time to give way to her emotions, she controlled her nerves with - admirable coolness, and soon partly forgot her own sorrow, in her - efforts to relieve the others. She prepared some medicine for her - mother; put a pillow under her father’s head, having tried in vain to - assist him to a chair; spread an old coat over him, to prevent his - taking cold; spoke a few words of comfort to Benny; and then proceeded - to get supper. - - It was soon whispered about town that Mr. Hapley, since the arrest of - his son, had abandoned himself to his cups worse than ever. Several of - his neighbors kindly remonstrated with him against the course he was - pursuing, and urged him to take some steps in aid of his misguided boy; - but their efforts were all in vain. Although Sam’s trial was to come on - in a few days, none of his friends had been near him, to offer him - advice or assistance. In this extremity, Mrs. Hapley appealed to Marcus - for assistance, who readily consented to do all he could in behalf of - the boy. The next day he drove over to the town where Sam was awaiting - his trial, accompanied by Mrs. Hapley. They found the boy alone in a - cell, looking very dejected. He burst into tears, on seeing his mother, - and for several minutes neither of them could speak. Marcus, in a kind - tone, told him they had come to see if they could do anything for him, - and urged him to tell them frankly all about the stolen property found - in his room, that they might the better know how to proceed. Sam at - once expressed his willingness to do so, and then related his - adventures, from the time he left home until his return. His story, in - substance, was as follows. - - He left home on a pleasant moonlight night, as soon as he was satisfied - all the family were asleep. He walked seven or eight miles, and then - forced an entrance into a barn, where he slept the rest of the night. - The family gave him a breakfast, the next morning, and he then resumed - his journey. In the course of the forenoon he reached a large town, - where he concluded to stop and see what he could do; for he had but - half a dollar in his pocket, and began to feel a little uneasy. There - was a large tavern in the village, which was much frequented by - sleighing parties, and for a day or two Sam managed to pick up a little - change, by holding horses, and performing other small chores for the - company. He was allowed to sleep in the barn, and got his meals at a - low “saloon” near by. The associates among whom he was thus thrown, - were not of the best kind, and one of them, a young man several years - older than himself, was an offender against the law, having served out - two or three sentences in jails. His name was Mack. There was something - in the face, the conversation, or the peculiar circumstances of Sam, - that led him to propose to the boy a sort of partnership in crime; and - as he set forth the gains to be derived from such a course in the - brightest colors, the boy’s easy virtue made but slight resistance, and - without much persuasion, he agreed to the proposition. - -[Illustration] - - The next night after the matter had been settled, Sam made his first - attempt as a burglar, in connection with Mack. They chose for the scene - of operations a large and substantial house, occupied by a widow of - reputed wealth, and her family of young children. The moon shone - bright, but as the house was in a retired neighborhood, they thought - they could elude detection. Mack entered the dwelling first, by a - second story window, standing upon Sam’s broad shoulders to reach the - sash, which proved not to be fastened down. He then descended to the - basement, and opened the doors, that they might easily escape in case - of alarm. Sam now entered, and the two ransacked the lower part of the - house, helping themselves to a quantity of silver ware, some jewelry, - two watches, and a good supper. After securing a few articles of value, - Sam was in haste to escape, but his companion seemed in no hurry, and - went about the house as leisurely as though he were at home. This free - and easy bearing doubtless seemed quite professional to Mack, but he - happened to carry it a little too far for his own safety. Sam, - impatient of his dilatory movements, was awaiting him outside, when he - heard a movement in the house which led him to take flight. It seemed - the widow had been awakened by the burglars, and, arousing her oldest - son, a brave boy of fourteen, they descended as noiselessly as - possible. Mack had just before lighted a lamp, and gone down into the - cellar, to see if he could find a bottle of wine, leaving his plunder - on the kitchen table. Suddenly the cellar door was closed and locked - upon him, and he heard strange voices, one of which, the voice of a - boy, assured him that he had a loaded rifle, and would put a bullet - through him “in less than no time,” if he attempted to get away. The - burglar tried to escape by a window, but the rifle was quickly pointed - at him, outside, and he gave up the attempt. In a few moments help - arrived, and he was secured. As all the stolen property was not found, - it was suspected that he had an accomplice, though he refused to give - any information on that point. - - Sam left the village as speedily as possible, directing his steps - towards a town where he had never been before. After wandering about - two days, and suffering much from fatigue, cold, hunger, and anxiety, - he at length reached home, as we have seen. The sudden and unexplained - disappearance of Sam, from the village tavern, together with the fact - that he had been seen with Mack several times on the evening of the - burglary, directed suspicion towards him, and finally led to his - arrest. - - After hearing Sam’s story, Marcus expressed the opinion that he had - better plead guilty, and frankly own up his offence to the officers of - justice. This advice was accepted by Sam and his mother. Marcus and - Mrs. Hapley then secured a lawyer to appear on behalf of the boy at the - trial; and they also had an interview with the officer who conducted - the prosecution, explaining to him the circumstances of the case, and - soliciting his influence in favor of the prisoner, on the ground that - this was his first offence, and that he had been led astray by a - hardened offender. - - Sam was brought before the court a day or two after, and pleaded guilty - to the charge of burglary. His counsel urged several reasons for a - light sentence, and the prosecuting attorney said that, under the - circumstances, he should not oppose the request. The judge, however, - thought it was not exactly a case for mercy. The prisoner, he said, was - a runaway from home. He had voluntarily made himself a vagrant, and had - shown his willingness to resort to crime, to get a living. No attempt - had been made to prove a good character for him, and he doubted whether - such an attempt could succeed. He concluded by sentencing the boy to - the county jail for four months. - - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - CHAPTER XVI. - - MERRY DAYS AND SAD ONES. - - - “I DON’T care, I got the start of all of you,” said Ronald, as the - family were discussing over the breakfast table, Christmas morning, the - question who was the first to wish the others “a merry Christmas.” “I - heard the clock strike four, and I jumped right out of bed, and ran - into the entry, and wished you all a merry Christmas.” - - “Well, that wasn’t fair—I was asleep, and didn’t hear you,” said Kate. - - “So was I asleep,” “And I,” “And I,” added one and another. - - “That makes no difference, so long as _I_ was awake,” replied Ronald. - - “Ronald,” said Marcus, “reminds me of a fellow I have either heard or - dreamed about, who bragged that he got up and wished all the kingdoms - of the earth a happy new year at one lick. For my part, if any body has - got any good wishes for me, I should prefer to be informed of it when I - am awake. And I don’t care much about being lumped in with all the - kingdoms of the earth, either.” - - “Well, sir, I wish you a merry Christmas, _all to yourself_,—I believe - you are awake now,” said Ronald, with a sly chuckle. - - “There, I may as well give in—I wont try to say anything more,” added - Marcus, as the laugh went round the table at his expense. - - After breakfast no little curiosity was excited by a package which - Marcus handed to Oscar. It was received by Marcus the day before, by - express, with a note requesting him to deliver it to Oscar, Christmas - morning. After removing sundry cords and wrappers, the contents stood - disclosed. There was a fine pair of skates, from his father; a gold - pen, from his mother; a pair of wrought slippers, from Alice, his - oldest sister; a beautiful book-mark from Ella, another sister; a book - from his brother Ralph; and a package of confectionery from George, his - youngest brother. Brief notes accompanied several of the presents. - There were also two letters in the package, the handwriting of one of - which, Oscar did not recognize. It proved to be from a young - acquaintance in Boston named William Davenport, who went by the - familiar name of “Whistler” among his comrades. It was written in - fulfilment of a promise he had made, before Oscar left Boston. The - other letter was from his mother, and, like all similar favors from - that source, was full, margin and all, of kind words, good advice, and - family news. It contained an item of intelligence, however, that cast - something of a damper over the spirits of Oscar. It was as follows:— - - “The brig Susan has been heard from at last. You know we have - been looking for her ever since October. She foundered in a - gale in September, off the South American coast, and the men - took to the boats. One of the boats was picked up, after - floating about for several days, and the men in it were saved, - after enduring great hardships, and have arrived here. Nothing - has been heard of the other boat, on board which was poor - Jerry. His parents are much distressed about him; but your - father thinks he may be safe yet, as the boat may have reached - the shore, or may have fallen in with some outward-bound - vessel. Let us hope for the best, as long as we can.” - - The “poor Jerry” referred to, was a cousin to Oscar. The two boys had - once been very intimate, somewhat to the damage of Jerry’s character; - and it was in a great measure owing to this intimacy that Jerry - absconded from his home, in Brookdale, about a year previous to this - time, and shipped for a voyage around Cape Horn. - - There was to be a children’s Christmas party at the town hall, in the - evening, and the presents designed for the other members of the family - were reserved to grace the “tree” that was to be one of the chief - attractions of the occasion. Marcus and the children constituted a part - of the committee of arrangements for the festival, and were occupied - with their duties through a good part of the day. At an early hour in - the evening, the whole family proceeded to the town hall, where they - found the chief portion of the town’s population assembled, especially - the younger part. The hall, with its evergreen decorations, its - numerous lights, and its sea of happy faces, presented an enlivening - spectacle. At the hour appointed for opening the exercises, the - clergyman of the village ascended the platform, and after a few - remarks, invoked a blessing upon those assembled. Then came an - introductory declamation, by one of the academy boys, followed by the - recitation of an appropriate poem by a fair-haired little girl of six - summers. Next appeared upon the platform our two young friends Ronald - and Otis, who confronted each other in blank silence a minute or two, - and then retreated to the ante-room, without exchanging a word. Some of - the audience were in painful suspense, during this scene, supposing it - to be a failure; while others began to whisper that it was a tableau, - and not a dialogue, though they were puzzled to tell what it - represented, or why the figures should walk to and from the stage, in - sight of the audience. - - A curtain before the platform now fell, and after a few minutes was - again raised, disclosing to the audience a charming tableau of - Minnehaha, the Indian maid. The two boys who had acted in the mute - scene, just before, now re-appeared, and went through very creditably - with a dialogue, Ronald, the leading speaker, having suddenly forgotten - his part, on his first appearance. Then followed several songs, - declamations and tableaux, after which the main attraction of the - evening was introduced, by the raising of the curtain which concealed - the Christmas tree from view. A loud and merry shout arose from the - young folks, which was prolonged for a minute or two, and followed by - general expressions of admiration from all present. There stood the - tree, a tall, straight and symmetrical evergreen, illuminated with - candles, arrayed among its branches, and adorned with artificial - icicles and snow flakes. The fruits, however, with which every bough - and twig seemed bending, were the most interesting objects of - contemplation to the hundred pairs of youthful eyes fixed earnestly - upon the tree. Many of these fruits, it is true, were hidden from - sight, by a rind of paper, cloth or wood; but imagination readily - supplied all deficiencies of this kind, and the little eyes gazed, and - sparkled, and longed, just as though they pierced through all the outer - coverings that concealed the tempting clusters which hung upon the - boughs. - - After a few moments, Santa Claus suddenly appeared, and walking across - the platform, took his station by the side of the tree, amid rapturous - applause from the company. He appeared to be a venerable personage, - with a flowing gray beard, and was completely encased in furs, from top - to toe—fur boots, fur leggings, fur tunic, fur mittens, and a fur cap - which enveloped all of his head except the face. After silence had been - secured, he spoke, in tones which seemed very soft and gentle to - proceed from so rough and ancient a personage, and which not a few of - the audience declared “sounded just like the voice of Marcus Page.” He - said he had brought “heaps” of presents, and had almost broken his back - with the effort. He hoped he had brought something for everybody; but - if he had not, he trusted they would not blame him, for he had done the - best he could. He requested the children not to crowd around the tree, - and invited the recipients to walk up one by one as their names were - called. He then commenced gathering the fruit, to each of which was - attached the name of the person it was intended for. And now the sport - began in earnest. What a queer assortment of articles to gather from - one tree! There were gold rings, breastpins, lockets, pencils, and - pens; silver spoons and thimbles; work-boxes, wooden dogs, and stuffed - rabbits; books, fancy boxes, and popped corn; sleds, skates, and - mittens; pin-cushions, needle-books, and bags of candy; dolls, pocket - knives and cologne bottles. But time and patience would fail to mention - half the things that good Santa Claus handed down to the company. It - was an hour before the distribution was finished. The company then - adjourned to the room below, where they found an abundance of simple - country refreshments provided. A speech or two followed, and with three - cheers for Christmas day, and three more for Santa Claus, the - entertainment ended. - - There was the usual exchange of good wishes and little keep-sakes, on - New Year’s morning, but the day was not otherwise distinguished as a - festival, and the schools kept, and business went on, as on other days. - As the family were seated at the breakfast table, a light rap upon the - door was heard, and on answering the call, Jessie Hapley, pale and - agitated, was found upon the steps. - - “Mrs. Page,” she said, as soon as that lady appeared, “mother wants to - know if you will come right over—she is afraid Benny is dying;” and the - poor girl burst into tears as she delivered the message. - - “Benny dying!” exclaimed Mrs. Page, “why, I had no idea he was so sick - as that—how long has he been so?” - - “He grew worse very fast last night,” replied Jessie. “Henry has gone - for the doctor, and mother thought perhaps you could tell what to do, - till he comes.” - - “Yes, I will go over immediately,” replied Mrs. Page, and she went for - her bonnet and shawl, and a minute after started by the shortest cut - across the fields for the house of sorrow. - - Marcus would gladly have accompanied his mother, but for fear that his - presence at such a time might be regarded an intrusion. Benny was one - of a class of little boys which Marcus had instructed in the Sabbath - school for some two years. Partly from the gentle, winning disposition - of the child, and partly on account of the unfavorable influences to - which he was exposed at home, Marcus felt an especial interest in him, - and had watched his decline with no little solicitude. For several - months past, Benny had been able to attend the Sabbath school only - occasionally; but every Sunday his young teacher carried or sent to him - an attractive book from the library, and in other ways manifested his - continued interest in the sick scholar. It was with a heavy heart, - therefore, that Marcus heard his mother summoned to Benny’s death-bed, - on this pleasant New Year’s morning. An hour later, on his way to the - academy, he stopped at Mr. Hapley’s door, to inquire after the patient, - and was told that the doctor was still with him, and that the result of - his efforts in behalf of the boy was yet uncertain. - - In spite of the pleasant associations of the day, and the kindly - greetings with which his scholars met him, a cloud hung over the - spirits of Marcus, which he was unable to dispel. One incident - occurred, however, which was peculiarly grateful to his feelings. On - entering the school-room, he was followed by Harrison Clark, who, - taking from behind a blackboard a handsomely finished cane, handed it - to Marcus, and, with some embarrassment in his manner, said:— - - “Mr. Page, will you accept of this as a New Year’s present? It isn’t of - much value, but I made it myself on purpose for you.” - - “Ah, is this your work?” inquired Marcus, carefully examining the - article, which was really well made, in every part. “Did you do it all - yourself—head, ferule, rings and all?” - - “Yes, sir—Mr. Tucker let me use his tools, and I did the whole of the - work myself,” replied Harrison. - - “It is certainly very creditable to you,” continued Marcus. “I don’t - see how it could be improved. Yes, I will accept it with great - pleasure, and thank you for it, too. Coming as a present from you, I - shall value it ten times what it would cost to get such a cane - made—yes, a hundred times. I shall remember your kindness with - gratitude, perhaps after you have forgotten both me and the cane.” - - “I don’t think I shall forget you very soon—you have been so good to - me,” replied the boy, with a look which testified to the sincerity of - the remark. - - “And you have proved yourself worthy of my kindness, so I need not take - much credit for that,” rejoined Marcus. - - The boy, who but lately was so bold and defiant in his bearing, blushed - at this not unmeaning compliment, and withdrew. - - When Marcus returned home, in the afternoon, he again stopped to - inquire after the sick boy, and was requested to go in, as Benny had - expressed a desire to see him. He found the sufferer in a little bed - which had been made up for him in the front room, near the fire, for he - complained much of the cold. A faint smile lit up his face as Marcus - entered. - - “How is he, Mrs. Hapley?” inquired Marcus, as he seated himself by the - bedside, and took Benny’s cold hand into his own. - - “I think he is a little more comfortable than he was this morning,” - replied Mrs. Hapley. “He has been very much distressed for breath, most - of the day, but he seems to be better, now.” - - “I am glad to hear that, and I hope he will continue to improve,” said - Marcus. - - Benny, whose mild, lustrous eyes had been fastened upon Marcus from the - moment he entered the door, was too weak to speak aloud; but as he - seemed to have something to say, Marcus bent his ear down to the boy’s - mouth, and was addressed in a whisper as follows:— - - “I’m not going to get well, and I don’t want to. I’m going to heaven - pretty soon. I have been longing to go, ever since I was taken sick, - and now I know I’m almost there. I love God, and Jesus, and the angels, - and all good folks. Do you remember what you told me about heaven, the - other day—how many millions of good little children are there, and how - Jesus calls them his lambs, and wipes away their tears, and takes them - in his arms? There wont he anything to make us sorry in heaven, will - there?” - - “No,” replied Marcus, his mind recurring to that passage of Scripture, - “There shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither - shall there be any more pain.” - - There was a brief interval of silence, broken only by an occasional - half-suppressed sigh that escaped from Jessie, who was seated in a - remote corner of the room, and by the slow and regular tread of Mr. - Hapley, who was pacing the floor of the chamber overhead, in an agony - of grief and remorse. Marcus afterwards learned that a few hours before - this, when Benny was thought to be dying, he had entreated his father - in a most affectionate and touching manner to abandon the besetting sin - which was bringing himself and his family to ruin and disgrace. The - strong man, after a brief but desperate struggle, promised the dying - boy that he would abandon his cups from that hour, and would try to - live in such a way that he might meet his little son in heaven. - - Mrs. Hapley, who had been engaged in the kitchen, now came in, with a - bottle of hot water, to be applied to Benny’s feet; but he whispered to - her:— - - “O, mother, I am _so_ cold! Wont you take me up in your arms, and hold - me before the fire?” - - “Yes, dear,” replied his mother, and she took the boy gently into her - arms, wrapped a blanket around him, and sat down before the blazing - fire. - - This movement seemed to be too much for the boy, for he gasped for - breath, and sank exhausted into his mother’s arms. After a few minutes - he recovered sufficiently to speak. - - “Why, mother,” he said, “how fast it grows dark! I can’t hardly see - anything.” - - “Jessie, ask your father to come down,” said Mrs. Hapley, trying to - speak calmly. - - “It is dark here, but it is light _there_—O, how light!” whispered the - dying boy. - - “Where?” inquired the mother, scarcely knowing what she asked. - - “I don’t know where it is,” replied the boy. “I saw it coming, way off, - just now, like a bright cloud, and now it’s all around me. Why, mother, - don’t you see it? The room is all full of it!” - - Mr. Hapley now entered the room, but, seemingly unable to endure the - scene, silently bowed his head against the wall. Jessie and Henry also - came in with their father. - - “I want to kiss you all,” whispered Benny to his mother, after the - family had assembled. - - His wish was complied with, and his mother, father, Jessie, Henry and - Marcus successively received and returned a parting kiss. - - “Now one more for Sammy—you’ll give it to him when he comes back, wont - you, mother?” added Benny. - - The promise was made, and the kiss given. But the poor boy did not know - that his absent brother was at that moment serving a sentence in jail - as a convicted felon. The result of Sam’s trial had been wisely - concealed from Benny, on account of his illness. - - The circle had sat in silence for several minutes, when Mrs. Hapley - arose, and tenderly laying her precious charge upon the bed, kissed the - pale brow, and said, in a low, calm tone, which almost startled - herself:— - - “It is all over—the bitterness of death is past!” - - The spirit of the child had departed so peacefully, that she could not - tell when he drew the last breath. But the true and loving heart had - ceased to beat, and the mild eyes were set in death, and the last enemy - had accomplished his work surely, though noiselessly. - - Marcus soon withdrew from the sorrowing circle, his own heart bowed in - grief as sincere if not as deep as that of the near relatives of the - deceased. It was the first time he had ever come into the immediate - presence of death, and had seen, as it were, the fatal arrow wing its - way into the living mark. It was, indeed, the first time that the grave - had claimed one in whom he felt so deep an interest, and towards whom - he held so near a relation; for he never could realize the death of his - father, followed as it was by years of anxious suspense and hope - deferred, and shrouded in impenetrable mystery up to this hour. - - Mrs. Page and her sister went over to comfort and assist the stricken - family, while Marcus retired to his chamber, to commune with his own - thoughts. Though far from unfaithful to his trust as a religious - teacher, he now lamented that he had done so little for the spiritual - improvement of the dear boy whom death had just removed from the reach - of his influence. Never before did he realize so vividly the - uncertainty of life, the insignificance of worldly ambition, and the - inestimable value of those treasures which make us “rich toward God.” - And now, at the beginning of the new year, did he kneel down and ask - for divine aid, as he pledged himself to strive, with more fidelity - than ever before, to kindle in the young minds around him desires after - a higher and purer life. - - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - CHAPTER XVII. - - ADVERSITY. - - - THE first act of Mr. Hapley, after Benny was laid in the frozen ground, - was one that gave new hope to the sorrowing household. At his request, - the clergyman of the village had previously written a pledge of total - abstinence from all intoxicating liquor, which the afflicted father - signed upon the coffin of his boy. On returning from the funeral, he - collected together all the alcoholic liquors in the house, consisting - of cider, whiskey and brandy, and taking them into the yard, poured - them out upon the snow. As Mrs. Hapley and the children gazed upon this - novel scene, they almost forgot their bereavement, in the new hopes and - joys which seemed now about to be bestowed upon them. And well might - they take courage. Mr. Hapley had thus far sacredly kept his promise to - Benny. He was very sad, and his limbs were weak and trembling, and - there was a terrible craving and gnawing within, that neither food nor - ordinary drink could satisfy; still he struggled manfully against the - tempter, and friends not a few stood by, with words of encouragement - and cheer. Indeed, with his sober and subdued air, his clean-shaven - face, and the general tidiness of his personal appearance, he already - seemed like a different man. - - The reformation of Mr. Hapley was much talked of among his neighbors - and acquaintances, and very different opinions were expressed as to its - permanence. It was generally thought that he would persevere, but there - were some who had little faith in his good purposes. Old Mr. Todd, who - held a mortgage on his farm, and who was regarded as quite an oracle, - shook his head in a knowing manner, when the matter was mentioned at - the post office, one morning. - - “I’ve known Charles Hapley,” said he, “ever since he was a boy, and I - knew his father before him. The old man had the best farm in town, but - the family has been gradually running down these twenty years, and it’s - my opinion that Hapley will die a drunkard, as his father did.” - - “Now, Squire,” said an elderly and benevolent looking man, who was - seated on the counter, “it appears to me you are a little too hard on - Hapley. They say he’s stuck it out for more’n a week, and not touched a - drop of anything, and that’s doing pretty well, for him. I hold that we - all ought to encourage the poor fellow along, and not go around - predicting that he’ll die a drunkard.” - - “So do I hold to encouraging him along,” replied Mr. Todd; “but at the - same time I don’t believe it will do any good. He never did have any - control over himself, from a boy, and I don’t believe he’s going to - keep the bridle on a great while, now. You see if he does, that’s all.” - - “Guess the old man means to step in there,” said some one, as Mr. Todd - went his way. - - “Yes, it’s plain enough what he’s after,” said another. - -[Illustration] - - The speakers alluded to Mr. Todd’s taking possession of the Hapley - farm, on account of the non-payment of his mortgage. Their conclusion - was not a very charitable one, to be sure. Nor was it exactly kind in - Mr. Todd to predict with so much assurance the relapse of Mr. Hapley. - Still, it must be admitted that he had pretty strong ground for his - opinion, though he need not have been so free to express it. The lesson - of self-government is a hard one to learn in mature life, especially to - a man who has for many years been tyrannized over by depraved appetites - and passions. The position of such a man is something like that of - Mazeppa, the young page of a Polish king, who for some offence was - lashed, naked, to the back of a wild horse, which was then set free, - and plunged with frightful speed through forest and plain into his - native country, bearing his helpless and well-nigh lifeless rider with - him. But when the appetites and passions are the ruled, and not the - rulers, they may be compared to the same steed, tamed and docile, - bridled and saddled, and ready to do your bidding. Mazeppa, it is true, - had the good fortune to survive the painful ordeal, and lived to become - a prince; but we think few would be willing to run such a race, even - for such a prize, except upon the wild horses of their own ungovernable - passions. - - But Mr. Todd proved a true prophet, in this instance. In less than a - fortnight after Benny’s death, Mr. Hapley came home from the village - one afternoon sadly intoxicated. How he happened to fall, was never - explained to the family. He had been to the store where liquors were - sold, on business, and probably the wretched sensation in his stomach, - aided by the sight and smell of the tempter, the associations of the - place, and perhaps the coaxings of the drunkard-maker, suddenly swept - away the breastwork of good purposes he had erected. He tasted—he fell; - and what a death-blow was that act to the hopes and peace of his poor - wife and children! To Mrs. Hapley and Jessie, especially, it seemed as - if the last hope had been swept away. - - The next day, when Mr. Hapley realized his situation, he was overcome - with grief and shame. He was, moreover, discouraged. He had lost both - his self-respect and his self-reliance. He had no longer any confidence - in his ability to keep the pledge. Meanwhile his thirst for the deadly - liquid was growing more insupportable for the fresh stimulus it had - received. In this pitiable state of mind and body, he went again in the - afternoon to the rum-shop, and attempted to drown his sorrow in a still - deeper potation. Towards night, a severe snow-storm set in, but he did - not return. Hour after hour did his wife sit at the fire, after the - children had retired, listening for his return; but the wild shriek of - the wind, as the storm waxed more furious, and the sharp rattle of the - snow against the window panes, were the only sounds she heard. At - length, when it was almost midnight, unable longer to bear the terrible - suspense, she aroused Henry from his sleep, and told him to go over to - Mrs. Page’s, and ask Marcus if he would not take a horse and go in - search of the missing man. The boy dressed himself, and plunged into - the huge snow-drifts. He had not proceeded far, however, before he - began to doubt whether he should be able either to go on or to return. - Blinded by the driving storm, transfixed by cutting blasts, the - divisions between roads and fields quite obliterated, and floundering - in snow up to his arm-pits, he sank exhausted, more than once, into the - hole he had made; but with the energy of despair, he again aroused - himself, and at length reached Mrs. Page’s door-steps. - - After considerable effort, some of the family were aroused, and Marcus, - on learning Henry’s errand, at once prepared to go out in search of his - father. He concluded he could get along best on horseback; and putting - a bridle on Charley, the toughest of the two horses, he mounted him, - and taking Henry behind him, carried him home. He then set out for the - village, by the route Mr. Hapley had probably taken, which led him - directly into the teeth of the storm. But he found it impossible to - keep in the road, and his horse soon began to sink into old drifts - newly buried, and to flounder among invisible stones, stumps, fences - and pitfalls, until, at last, the exhausted creature seemed unable to - proceed further. Marcus was accordingly obliged to give up the search, - of which fact he informed Mrs. Hapley, before returning home. - - The storm moderated in the morning, but owing to the state of the - roads, several hours elapsed before arrangements could be made to - search for the missing man. In the course of the forenoon, he was - found, about a quarter of a mile from the road, sitting in his sleigh, - with the reins in his hands; but the rider and his horse were both - frozen stiff. The horse had apparently been thrown down by a log, and - was unable to rise without assistance, which the unfortunate rider was - too insensible or too benumbed to render. So they perished there alone, - and were well-nigh buried from sight before they were discovered. A jug - of rum, found in the sleigh, furnished a sad clue to the catastrophe, - had any been needed. - - The next day, a new grave was opened in the frozen earth, by the side - of Benny’s, and the father was laid close by the son he had so lately - promised to meet in heaven, and to whom he had pledged himself to a - reformed life. O, how sad is _such_ a funeral, when hope, and honor, - and happiness, are consigned to the tomb with the remains of the lost! - Truly, in such a case “’tis the survivor dies.” - - It is often said that misfortunes never come singly. So, indeed, did it - prove in the case of this family. The property left by Mr. Hapley was - barely sufficient to pay his debts; and as most of it was mortgaged, - very little remained for the family. Notwithstanding these reverses, - Jessie continued to attend the academy, and was still “trying to be - somebody,” as Abby Leonard contemptuously expressed it, though that - young lady, it should be added, now manifested something like pity for - the heart-stricken girl. And in spite of the drawbacks to which she had - been subjected, Jessie maintained a high rank in her class, winning the - respect alike of teachers and scholars, as she also did their sympathy - and good-will. But there were few among her gay-hearted school-mates - who could half realize the sorrows, and disappointments, and - discouragements, that were mingled in her cup. - - On returning from school one afternoon, she found traces of weeping on - the face of her mother, which the latter for a time declined to - explain. The reason, however, came out after a while. On the death of - Mr. Hapley, as he left no will, an administrator was appointed, - according to law, to settle up his estate; that is, to take charge of - the property, ascertain and pay the debts, and deliver the balance, if - any, to the lawful heirs. This administrator was a kind-hearted man - named Allen, who had always shown himself very friendly to Mrs. Hapley. - It seemed Mr. Allen had called upon her, that afternoon, to talk about - her husband’s affairs. There was, he said, but little more than - sufficient property to pay off the mortgages. He advised her, - therefore, to give up the farm, to sell all the personal property they - could dispense with, and to find homes for herself and children - elsewhere. The children, he said, were all old enough to support - themselves, and she need have no one but herself to look out for. - - “Well, mother, that’s only what I expected,” said Jessie, when the - matter was explained; “we couldn’t carry on the farm, if we should stay - here, and we may as well go somewhere else. Grandpa said he would give - you a home; Henry can get a chance to live with some farmer, and work - for his board and clothes; Sam can earn his living, if he chooses to; - and as for me, I will go to some factory town and work in a mill, and - in a little time I shall be able to support you, as well as myself.” - - “And give up your hope of becoming a teacher?” inquired her mother. - - “Perhaps not,” replied Jessie. “I may be able to fit myself for - teaching, even in a mill. Girls _have_ done such things, and why not - I?” - - “But I never can let you go off alone into a factory,” said Mrs. - Hapley. “If you go, I must go, too.” - - “Well, mother,” added Jessie, after a pause, “we’ll manage to get along - some how, only don’t let us get discouraged. We know it is all for the - best, and every thing will come out right in the end. When I feel sad, - I repeat to myself that beautiful hymn Mr. Merrill read at Benny’s - funeral—do you remember it, mother?” and Jessie recited the following - verses:— - - “O Father, good or evil send, - As seemeth best to thee, - And teach my stubborn soul to bend - In love to thy decree. - - “Whatever come, if thou wilt bless - The brightness and the gloom, - And temper joy, and soothe distress, - I fear no earthly doom. - - “Life cannot give a cureless sting, - Death can but crown my bliss, - And waft me far, on angel’s wing, - To perfect happiness.” - - Jessie’s uncomplaining spirit, her readiness to sacrifice her most - cherished hopes, and her beautiful, child-like faith in God, shed a - sweet and soothing influence upon the fainting and murmuring heart of - the mother. A little while after, Henry came in from school, and for a - moment looked rather sad, when he was told that the family had got to - remove and be broken up, very soon; but he quickly recovered his good - spirits, saying:— - - “Well, mother, I don’t care much, after all. Let Mr. Todd have the old - farm if he wants it—it’s all run out, and we couldn’t do anything if we - staid here. I know I can earn my living, if anybody will give me a - chance, and one of these days I’ll have a good deal better farm than - this—you see if I don’t! Then you and Jessie shall come and live with - me, and we’ll all be together again.” - - Henry soon found a chance to earn his living, for Mr. Allen agreed to - take him into his family at once, and maintain him in return for his - services. As to Jessie, everybody said it was too bad to send her off - to a mill, and after some little consultation, Mrs. Page proposed a - plan by which this might be avoided. Ellen Blake, who had lived with - the Page family for some time, was about to return home, on account of - the sickness of her mother. It was proposed to let Jessie occupy her - place in the family, working for her board, until she should finish - preparing herself for a teacher. She was to attend the academy two or - three terms more, and when not engaged in her studies, was to render - all the assistance to Mrs. Page she could. Her mother was to clothe - her, during this period, and it was thought that after the present term - she could render some assistance in the lower department, and thus - secure her own tuition free. When this plan was proposed to Jessie, she - seemed very grateful for the kindness which prompted so liberal an - offer, but was unwilling to accept of it, fearing she could make no - adequate return for her board. It was only after considerable - persuasion that she consented to the arrangement. When the matter was - finally settled, Mrs. Hapley concluded to accept an invitation to go to - her father’s, in a neighboring town, and make that her home until she - could do something for her own support. - - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - CHAPTER XVIII. - - THE DIALOGUE. - - - THE winter term of the academy was now drawing towards an end, and - preparations were already commenced for the closing examination and - exhibition. Thus far the term had been a very harmonious and prosperous - one, and the students, with but few exceptions, had made good progress. - There seemed, indeed, to be an unusual ambition and rivalry in some of - the classes. One morning, the following line from Dr. Young was found, - written in a large hand on the most conspicuous blackboard in the - room:— - - “PRAISE NO MAN E’ER DESERVED, WHO SOUGHT NO MORE.” - - After the usual opening exercises, Mr. Upton called attention to it, - saying it contained a truth which every scholar would do well to - ponder. “If we aim at excellence as students,” he added, “merely to - secure praise, and to gain a prize, or for the love of excelling, we - are giving ourselves up to a very mean and unworthy motive. Whatever we - may accomplish or win, under the influence of such a base impulse, we - shall really deserve neither praise nor reward. Can any of you explain - what is the true and proper motive for the student?” - - There was a pause. Finding no one was likely to respond, Jessie Hapley - arose, and said:— - - “I suppose we ought to seek knowledge because it is good, in itself, - and because it will increase our usefulness, hereafter.” - - “That is a very good answer,” replied Mr. Upton. “There may be other - lawful motives for studying hard, such as a wish to please our parents - and friends, or to better our condition in the world, or to gratify our - own tastes; but the noblest and purest motive is that which Miss Hapley - has given—knowledge is a good thing in itself, and is a mighty power - for good, in the hands of one who aims to serve God and bless the - world. Compared with such a motive as this, how contemptible is the - ambition which seeks only to shine on examination day, or to outdo a - rival, or take the highest prize! That we may bear this in mind, we - will let this motto remain before us until the blackboard is needed for - other purposes.” - - Ronald was a very good declaimer, as were several others of the boys in - his class. Marcus had given him some encouragement that he would - prepare an original dialogue for Ronald and a few of his classmates to - bring out at the exhibition. This half-promise he was now reminded of, - almost daily, until at length he agreed that if Ronald would find a - suitable plot or subject for a dialogue, he would assist him in putting - it upon paper. This, he said, was all he could promise to do, at - present. Ronald was at first a little discouraged by this proposal; but - setting his wits to work, in a day or two he suggested to Marcus a plan - of a dialogue. - - “I should think we might make something out of that,” said Marcus, - after Ronald had explained the plan. “Now you sit down, and write out a - rough outline of it, and then let me see it.” - - “But you said you would help me write it out,” said Ronald. - - “So I will,” replied Marcus; “but I want you to do what you can, first, - without my help. After you have made your first draft, we will go over - it together, and see what improvements we can make in it.” - - “But I can’t do it—I don’t know where to begin,” pleaded Ronald. - - “O, yes, you can,” replied Marcus. “Write it out just as you explained - it to me, and that will he a good beginning.” - - Ronald at length mustered courage enough to make the attempt. His - dialogue was of course quite imperfect, but it served as a good basis - for Marcus to work upon. Two or three evenings were spent over it, by - the joint authors, before it was pronounced satisfactory. When - completed, the ideas and incidents of the piece were for the most part - Ronald’s, while they were indebted to Marcus for much of the language - in which they were clothed, and for the general arrangement they - assumed. - - The following is a copy of the dialogue, as it read when completed. The - part which Ronald decided to take was that of “_Joseph Foot_,” as his - powers of mimicry enabled him to imitate the backwoods dialect very - successfully: - - - HEAD AND FOOT. - - SCENE—_A school-room, with a class of ten or twelve boys, - seated on a bench._ PRINCIPAL CHARACTERS—JOHN HEAD, _who is at - the head of the class, and_ JOSEPH FOOT, _a wonderfully - good-natured backwoods lad, who is at the other extremity_. - - HEAD [_rising, and holding in his hand something concealed in a - cloth_.]—Friends and classmates! We have passed through the - dread ordeal of another examination. Our grave and reverend - seigniors have set in solemn inquisition over us, to their - hearts’ content. They have weighed us, and gauged us, and - tested us, and dissected and analyzed us, till we feel as if - they had found out about all we know, besides some things that - we don’t know. Our learned and venerable teacher, of whom we - would ever speak with affection and esteem, has shown us in all - our paces—trotting through our declamations and reading - lessons, at a lively rate—tripping lightly among the big words - in the dictionary—limping over verbs, and participles, and - relatives, and copulatives—stumbling among cubes and roots, and - the vulgarest of fractions—and floundering in a sea of - forgotten geographical names and latitudes. - - BOY.—I say, Johnny, there’s one of your paces he didn’t put you - through to-day—that’s the pace you exhibited when he flogged - you round the school-room and out of the window, the other day. - - SEVERAL BOYS.—Order! order! order! - - HEAD.—I will only say to my tow-headed colleague from Misery - Swamp, that if his insulting personalities were not entirely - out of place on such an occasion as this, I would stop and - settle with him on the spot [_shaking his fist_.] - - SEVERAL BOYS.—Order! order! order! - - ANOTHER BOY.—That’s right, Johnny—stand up for your honor! Form - a ring, boys, and let ’em fight it out! - - BOYS.—Order! Shame! (_with hisses_.) - - HEAD.—Some of you called me to order—I should like to know why. - - A BOY.—It isn’t parliamentary to shake your fist at a fellow. - - HEAD.—I don’t care for that. We’ve nothing to do with - parliamentary rules, here—we are governed by Congressional - usage; and it’s Congressional to shake your fists, and use - them, too, if you choose. Does anybody deny that? - - A BOY.—Enough said—go on with your speech, Johnny. - - HEAD.—Well, as I was saying, we have passed through the fiery - trial of another examination, and the magnificent series of - prizes—the total cost of which to our beloved teacher, as I - learn from good authority, could not have been less than one - dollar and twenty-five cents—have all been awarded. As is apt - to be the case, I believe, on such occasions, some three or - four scholars who are supposed to be brighter than their - fellows, have carried away all the prizes, leaving absolutely - nothing for the great body of the school. Now it has seemed to - some of the more philanthropic members of the class that this - is hardly fair; and to equalize in some degree this unjust - scale of awards, it was suggested that we all unite and - purchase an appropriate offering for the _poorest_ scholar in - the class. Though it was my fortune, or misfortune, whichever - you choose to regard it, to take the highest prize offered to - this class, consisting of a touching account of a dear little - girl who never was naughty, and died young— - - A BOY.—O my! Lend it to me, Johnny, wont you? - - SEVERAL BOYS.—And me, too! And me, too And me too! - - A BOY.—There, John Head! It’s too bad to make fun of your - prize. - - HEAD.—I beg your pardon, I’m not making fun of it. But I wish - folks wouldn’t interrupt me. You put me out so, that I don’t - know as I can get through with my speech. As I was saying, - although I took the prize myself, I go in for doing justice to - all, and am happy to comply with the request, to present this - testimonial of respect and affection to our esteemed friend who - heads the other end of the class, as an Irishman might say. - Brother Joseph Foot, will you please to rise? [_Foot rises, - with a broad grin on his face._] - - A BOY.—Brother Foot is on his feet. - - HEAD.—My dear sir, you have been selected as the honorable - recipient of a testimonial from your classmates, out of respect - to the position you occupy, as the lowest round of our literary - ladder. Your quick native intelligence probably will not demand - that I should attempt to prove that there must be one round in - the ladder lower than all the others; and I suppose it is - equally evident to your enlightened mind, that if you - constitute this round, yourself, the rest of us can be spared - for other and higher posts of duty. We should, therefore, and I - trust do, feel truly grateful to you for settling down so - permanently and contentedly into this important and truly - fundamental office, thus relieving us from all anxiety in - regard to it. Your position may seem an humble one, but I may - say for myself, that I have considerable respect for it. I like - to see a person decidedly one thing or another. Let those eat - luke-warm porridge who love it—I prefer mine either hot or - cold. Moreover, the brighter scholars of the class are indebted - to you not a little for their brilliancy, like the stars at - night, which owe much of their beauty to the dark background. - But the chief comfort and satisfaction of your life must be the - thought that many of the greatest men the world has produced - have been very dull and stupid boys. It is said that the bright - boys of the school and the college are seldom heard from, when - they become men. According to this rule, we may confidently - hope to hear a tremendous report from yourself, one of these - days. - - Accept, then, classmate, this slight token of good-will and - esteem, from your friends. It is a heart tribute, whose - expressiveness and significance will doubtless be appreciated - by you. Accept it—and while you indulge the fond consciousness - that you have attained to this distinction without resorting to - selfish and unworthy means, you may also comfort yourself with - the grateful assurance that you have escaped the sting of - envy—that inevitable bane of the prize scholar. - - [_He uncovers the testimonial, which proves to be a cabbage, - and stepping up to_ FOOT, _who stands grinning, proffers it to - him_.] - - BOY.—Why don’t you take it, Jo?—it’s a big rose. - - ANOTHER BOY.—Yes, Jo, take it—he wont charge you anything for - it. - - FOOT [_taking the cabbage_.] Wall, I guess it’s good to b’ile, - any heow. - - HEAD.—But, my good friend, you do not propose to consign this - token of esteem from your classmates to the dinner-pot, as - though it were nothing but a common vegetable! - - FOOT [_surveying first the cabbage, and then_ JOHN’S _head_.] - Wall, ’tis ’most too bad to b’ile it—sich a good likeness o’ - your top-piece. They say all flesh is grass, but I guess some - folks’ heads don’t want much of bein’ cabbages, neow that’s a - fact. [HEAD _walks back to his seat_.] Jest look, neow! it’s - the very image of his head, behind, isn’t it, you? - - SEVERAL BOYS.—Good! Good! Ha, ha, ha! - - FOOT [_examining the cabbage_.] Wall, this ’ere’s a pooty good - sort of a cabbage, any heow, and a feller hadn’t oughter make - fun of it. But if’t belongs to the biggest fool in the class, I - shall feel as if I was cheatin’ you, Johnny, if I keep it. - - HEAD.—O, no, Jo, don’t be too modest—there’s no doubt you have - the best claim—the whole class voted it to you. - - FOOT.—Wall, s’posin’ I ken prove that you’re the feller that - oughter had it? - - HEAD.—You can’t do that little thing, Johnny—if you can, I’ll - eat the cabbage raw. - - FOOT.—I don’t take no stumps, but if yer want to bet, jest say - so. I’ll bet this ’ere ‘token,’ as yer call it, ag’inst a - quarter dollar, that you oughter have it. - - HEAD.—Agreed. [_Fumbles in his pockets for money._] Here’s the - quarter. - - FOOT.—So ’tis! Wall, here’s the cabbage. Bill, you hold the - stakes, will you? [_Bill takes them._] - - A BOY.—You’re sold, Johnny, as sure as a gun! He’s got it on to - you! - - HEAD [_scratching his head a moment_.] Why, Jo is going to put - down a quarter, too, isn’t he? - - FOOT.—No, he isn’t going to put down a quarter tew, nuther. I - said I’d bet this ’ere cabbage ag’inst a quarter—didn’t I, - boys? - - A BOY.—Yes, that is just what he said. - - HEAD.—O, I didn’t understand it so. - - FOOT.—O, wall, you ken back deown if you wanter—I knowed it - would be jest so. - - HEAD.—But I shan’t back down, so go ahead and win the bet, if - you can. - - FOOT.—Wont you, though? Seems to me I would, if I’s in such a - fix. - - HEAD.—O yes, you want to back out yourself, don’t you? - - FOOT.—Wall, no, I’ve gone so far I wont back eout; but I’ll - tell ye what, Johnny, I don’t want to git away your money, so - I’ll give in han’somely. _The cabbage is yourn!_ - - [_General laughter and clapping of hands in the class, with - cries of_ Good! Capital! You’ve got to eat it raw, Johnny! &c.] - - FOOT.—There, now, I’ll leave it to all hands if Johnny hadn’t - oughter have that ’ere cabbage? - - ALL.—Yes! yes! To be sure he had! All right! &c. - - FOOT.—Then I’ll take that ’ere quarter, Bill—I b’lieve I’ve won - my bet! - - [_Renewed demonstrations of merriment through the class._] - - HEAD.—But stop, I thought you just backed out from the bet. - - FOOT.—Back eout? No such thing—I said I wouldn’t back out, any - way. I only kinder made you think I’d give in beat, but I won - the wager fairly, arter all, didn’t I, boys? - - SEVERAL BOYS.—Yes! yes! So he did. It’s all fair. - - FOOT.—Wall, Johnny, if I’ve won, I expect that ’ere cabbage - b’longs to me, tew. But I don’t want to be hard on yer; - besides, ’twixt you and I and the teown pump, I don’t ’prove of - bettin’, for dad says it’s jest about as bad as gamblin’; so - s’posin’ we jest swap even—I’ll keep the quarter, and you may - have the cabbage, and eat it raw or b’iled, jest as you please. - It’s a pooty good price for it, I expect, but what’s the use of - a feller’s tradin’, if he can’t make something? - - HEAD.—Well, Jo, you shan’t say I’m such a fool that I don’t - know when I’m fairly cornered. I’ll own up handsomely, that I - went to gather wool, and came home shorn; so you may keep the - quarter, and I’ll take the cabbage. Here, Bill, pass over the - property. [_Bill obeys._] Boys, I’ll just say to you, that the - next time you want to make a present to the foot of the class, - you will have to get somebody else to be your orator. And to - you, Jo, I will frankly confess that you have taught me a - lesson I shall never forget. I have learned that a boy is not - necessarily a fool, because he is at the foot of his class, and - that excellent as book learning is, common sense and mother wit - are sometimes more than a match for it. - - FOOT.—Thank ye, Johnny; you done that han’somely, that’s a - fact. Neow, Jake, you jest run over to the bake-shop, and git - as much gingerbread as this ’ere quarter will buy, and we’ll - have a gineral treat all reound. [_Hands him the money._] - - - [_Exit_ JAKE. _Curtain falls._] - - - -[Illustration] - - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - CHAPTER XIX. - - CLOSE OF THE TERM. - - - “WHAT is the matter, Oscar? you look quite sober,” said Mrs. Page, one - afternoon, as Oscar came into the kitchen, on his return from school, - and began to take off his boots. - - “I should like to know,” replied Oscar, “why I don’t get a letter from - home. I’ve been to the post office every day for a fortnight, expecting - one, and it hasn’t come yet.” - - “Why, it doesn’t seem a great while since you had a letter from your - mother; how long is it?” inquired his aunt. - - “Let me see,” replied Oscar, reckoning the time in his head; “why, it - was just six weeks last Saturday.” - - “That isn’t a very long time to wait for a letter, for a boy of your - age, who has been away from home as much as you have,” replied Mrs. - Page. - - “I know it,” replied Oscar; “but they agreed to write, some of them, - every month; and besides, I believe I think more of letters from home - than I used to.” - - “That is a good sign, if you do,” replied Mrs. Page; “only you must be - sure and do your share of the correspondence.” - - “I have done my share,” continued Oscar. “I have written regularly - every month, almost from the time I came here.” - - “Then I think you will hear from home soon,” replied Mrs. Page. - - “Sooner than he expects, perhaps,” said a voice from the sitting-room, - the door of which, opening from the kitchen, stood ajar. - - “Why, mother! is that you?” cried Oscar, springing to the door; “and - you, too, father! Why, who would have thought you were in here, hearing - me scold about you!” - - It was even so. Oscar’s parents had arrived late in the afternoon, - quite unexpectedly, to make a short visit, and his aunt, as he entered - the room, conceived the idea of withholding the news from him for a few - moments, to render his surprise the more complete. The warm greeting - need not be described; but it may be well to add, that both his father - and mother protested that they were not in the slightest degree - displeased with the “scolding” they had overheard, and promised there - should be no further occasion for it, if they could help it. - - The examination and exhibition of the academy took place, in a few - days, and a part of the exercises were attended by Oscar’s parents. Two - days were devoted to this business, and, as usual, they were arduous - and anxious days to both teachers and students. The committee who - conducted the examination, like the similar body mentioned in the - dialogue, seemed bound to find out all that the students knew, and a - good deal more. The scholars, however, stood their ground well, and - when the examination was concluded, Mr. Merrill, the village clergyman, - pronounced it one of the most satisfactory he had ever attended in that - place. Then came the closing entertainment, or exhibition, in which - speaking, reading compositions, singing, etc., were the order of the - day. This, too, passed off quite successfully. The whole concluded with - the award of prizes. Among the successful competitors were Jessie - Hapley, who took one of the highest premiums, for superior scholarship - and good conduct; Oscar, who received a handsome volume, for faithful - endeavors; Harrison Clark, who was awarded a prize for general - improvement; and Charles Wilder, who received a gift for several fine - drawings exhibited by him. - - In the evening after the exhibition, all of the students and teachers - of the academy assembled at the house of Mr. Upton, the preceptor, to - make him a surprise visit. The affair was so well managed, that he knew - nothing of the intentions of his pupils until they began to pour into - his house. But cheerful fires were soon blazing on the hearths of the - principal rooms, fresh lamps were lit, and a dozen or two of chairs - were brought in from a neighbor’s, which were all the preparations - deemed necessary for the occasion. The hours were enlivened with social - intercourse, and games, and music, and mirth, in which all participated - with the utmost freedom and good-will. No refreshments except apples - were offered, one of the elder pupils having considerately informed Mr. - Upton at the outset that “they had eaten their suppers once, and - considered that sufficient, whether at home or abroad.” - - In the course of the evening, by some manœuvre which he did not clearly - understand, Mr. Upton found himself suddenly surrounded by the whole - body of his pupils, and immediately one of their number, a young lady, - commenced addressing him in a set speech. She held in her hand an - elegantly bound book, which, after a neat address, she handed to the - preceptor. This book was entitled, “_The Highburg Academy Offering to - their Beloved Friend and Preceptor, Robert Upton, A. M._” It contained - the autograph signature of every scholar connected with the - institution, to each of which was prefixed a verse or two of - appropriate poetry, or a few prose sentences, original or selected, - transcribed by the several writers. The volume also contained quite a - number of drawings, water-color paintings, maps, etc., executed by the - scholars. - - The origin of this unique volume was as follows: At the close of - several of the previous terms, Mr. Upton had received gifts from his - scholars, which were of considerable value in themselves. Fearing the - practice of making such presents might entail too heavy a tax on some - of the poorer scholars, or subject them to the unpleasant duty of - declining to contribute their portion to the fund, he determined to - discourage the custom in future. Accordingly a few weeks before the - present term closed, he confidentially intimated his feelings to - several of the older and more influential pupils, and requested them, - in case a presentation should be proposed, to nip the enterprise in the - bud. When, therefore, one and another began to speak of presenting a - testimonial to the preceptor, they were apprized that such a proceeding - would be contrary to his wishes. But this only set their wits to work, - and in a little time a project was on foot, which, it was thought, - would at once give suitable expression to the feelings of the scholars, - and yet avoid the objection he had named to such gifts. A quantity of - paper, of uniform size and quality, was distributed among the pupils, - and each was requested to write something upon a sheet, and sign his - name to it. Drawings and paintings on paper were also solicited, from - all who received instructions in those branches, and such as were - deemed worthy, were accepted for the collection. These materials were - then collected and arranged, and sent to a book-binder in another town, - who bound them together into a handsome volume, with gilt cover and - edges. Thus, at a trifling expense, a novel, beautiful, and, to the - teacher, a really valuable keepsake was procured. - - Mr. Upton was quite taken by surprise by the gift, and in his reply to - the presentation address, said it was peculiarly acceptable and - pleasing to him, because its cost to the donors had been chiefly an - expenditure of time, care, ingenuity, and taste, rather than money. A - gift procured at such a price, he said, was far more appropriate as an - expression of esteem and affection, under the circumstances, than one - purchased simply by money, no matter how costly. It was far more - precious to him, too, as it contained something which would cause him - to remember every one of them, as long as he lived. - - As soon as these ceremonies were concluded, one of the boys brought and - laid upon the table a portable rosewood writing-desk, of plain but neat - and substantial workmanship. - - “Mr. Page, will you please to step this way?” said Harrison Clark, who - stood near the table. - - Marcus came forward, whereupon Harrison proceeded at once to address - him, as follows:— - - “DEAR TEACHER:—It is my pleasing task to present to you this - writing-desk, in behalf of the pupils of Highburg Academy, and - to ask your acceptance of the same. The same considerations - which governed us in the selection of a testimonial for our - worthy preceptor, restrained us from procuring a more expensive - one for yourself. It is a plain and simple article of utility - that we offer you; but though its intrinsic worth be small, we - trust it will possess some slight value in your eyes, as a - memento of the affection, esteem and gratitude which we all - entertain towards you. The ability and success with which you - discharged the arduous duties of the preceptor for several - weeks, during his illness, the fidelity with which you have - labored through the term in your own sphere, the gentle and - patient spirit with which you have borne the many short-comings - and provocations of those of us who have been more immediately - under your charge, and the firm yet always kind manner in which - you have led us on in our studies, and restrained us in our - errors, have made an impression on our hearts which time will - not efface. Many of us hope for a continuance of this pleasant - intercourse, in months to come; but those of our number who now - meet you for the last time as your scholars, could not let this - opportunity pass without a public expression of our gratitude - and esteem. Accept, then, dear sir, this slight token of our - affection and good will, and may the good Father of all grant - you a long, a useful and a happy life!” - - To this Marcus responded: - - “MY YOUNG FRIENDS:—I came here to help you surprise your worthy - preceptor, and had no idea that any such trick as this was in - the programme. You have taken me by surprise, most completely. - I rather feel as if you had got the advantage of me, too. You - knew you couldn’t do this to the general, with impunity, and so - you thought you would try it on his aid-de-camp. I shall look - out for you, another time, you sly rogues! But I wont scold you - very hard, this time. No, I will rather frankly confess that - this is the proudest moment of my life. Young and inexperienced - as I am, such a gift from my first scholars, accompanied by - such kind and flattering words, may well make me proud. I - accept it with gratitude, only wishing that my poor efforts - were more worthy of such a reward. I am sure that no honors or - gifts that may fall to my lot hereafter, can ever displace from - my heart the memory of this token of esteem from the first - pupils I have had the honor and pleasure to instruct. May - Heaven reward you for your kindness, and bless you in all your - ways!” - - The desk presented to Marcus was supplied with a variety of stationery, - and was really a beautiful and appropriate gift. He learned, afterward, - that Harrison, the once mischievous and troublesome scholar, had been - foremost in procuring the testimonial. Marcus always wondered, however, - how the matter could have been kept from him so completely, inasmuch as - every one in the family but himself was let into the secret. - - Oscar’s parents were much pleased with the part he sustained in the - examination and exhibition, and with the general improvement visible in - his conduct, habits and character. They left for home, the next day, - but not until they had expressed their warmest thanks for the interest - manifested by Marcus and his mother and aunt in Oscar, and their - gratification on beholding the improvement he had made under their - care. After their departure, Oscar discovered an addition to the - inscription in his prize book, written in the delicate hand of his - mother. The inscription now read as follows, the first three lines - being from the pen of Mr. Upton, and the other three by Mrs. Preston: - - - - Highburgh Academy, Feb. 18, 185-. - ──────── - +AWARDED TO OSCAR PRESTON+, - - For Faithful Endeavors: - - +THE FOUNDATION OF ALL EXCELLENCE+, - - +AND THE PLEDGE OF+ - - +FUTURE HONOR AND USEFULNESS.+ - - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - VALUABLE WORKS FOR THE YOUNG. - - ---------------------------- - -YOUNG AMERICANS ABROAD; or, Vacation in Europe: the Results of a Tour - through Great Britain, France, Holland, Belgium, Germany, and - Switzerland. By JOHN OVERTON CHOULES, D. D., and his PUPILS. With - Elegant Illustrations. 16mo, cloth, 75 cts. - - A highly entertaining work, embracing more real information, such as - every one wishes to know about Europe, than any other book of travels - ever published. - - Three intelligent lads, who knew how to use their eyes, accompanied - their tutor on a European tour; and, from a carefully-kept journal, - they wrote out, in a series of letters to a favorite companion in - study, at home, their impressions of the most remarkable places _en - route_. The pencillings are genuine and unaffected, and in all - respects form an interesting and instructive record of - travel.—_Sartain’s Magazine._ - - One of the most instructive and delightful books of the age.—_Southern - Lit. Gaz._ - - Boys, here is a book that will suit you exactly. It is a series of - letters from certain boys travelling in Europe to their classmates in - this country. It will improve your knowledge and amuse you during long - winter nights.—_Methodist Prot._ - - It is worth much more than many a larger and more pretentious volume - for giving a daguerreotype of things abroad.—_Congregationalist._ - - A beautiful book for young people, unlike any thing we have ever - seen.—_Ch. Ob._ - - Most interesting book that can be put into the hands of the - young.—_Olive Branch._ - - The best book of foreign travel for youth to be found in the whole - range of American literature.—_Buffalo Morning Express._ - - -THE ISLAND HOME; or, the Young Castaways. By CHRISTOPHER ROMAUNT, ESQ. - With Elegant Illustrations. 75 cts. - - The best and prettiest book for boys that we have lately seen.—_Boston - Post._ - - A stirring and unique work. It will interest the _juvenile men_ - vastly.—_Olive Br._ - - Delightful narrative of the adventures of six boys who put to sea in - an open boat, and were drifted to a desert island, where they lived in - the manner of Robinson Crusoe.—_N. Y. Com._ - - A book of great interest, and one which will be a treat to any boy. - _Harte Circle._ - - The young will pore over its pages with almost enchanted - interest.—_Transcript._ - - A modern Robinson Crusoe story, without the dreary solitude of that - famous hero. It will amuse and instruct the young in no ordinary - degree.—_Southern Lit. Gazette._ - - A story that bids fair to rival the far-famed Robinson Crusoe. We - become as much interested in the fate of Max, Johnny, Arthur, and - the rest of the goodly company, as in the Swiss Family - Robinson.—_Sartain’s Magazine._ - - -THE AMERICAN STATESMAN; or, Illustrations of the Life and Character of - DANIEL WEBSTER, for the Entertainment and Instruction of American - Youth. By the REV. JOSEPH BANVARD, author of “Plymouth and the - Pilgrims,” “Novelties of the New World,” “Romance of American - History,” etc. With elegant Illustrations. 75c. - - ☞ A work of great interest, presenting a sketch of the most striking - and important events which occurred in the history of the - distinguished statesman, Daniel Webster, avoiding entirely all points - of a _political_ character; holding up to view, for the admiration and - emulation of American youth, only his commendable traits of character. - It is just such a work as every American patriot would wish his - children to read and reflect upon. - - VALUABLE WORKS FOR THE YOUNG. - - BY REV. HARVEY NEWCOMB. - -HOW TO BE A MAN; a Book for Boys, containing Useful Hints on the - Formation of Character. Cloth, gilt, 50 cts. - -“My design in writing has been to contribute something towards forming -the character of those who are to be our future electors, legislators, -governors, judges, ministers, lawyers, and physicians,—after the best -model. It is intended for boys—or, if you please, for _young_ gentlemen, -in early youth.”—_Preface._ - -“How to be a Man” is an inimitable little volume. We desire that it be -widely circulated. It should be put into the hands of every youth in the -land.—_Tenn. Bap._ - - -HOW TO BE A LADY; a Book for Girls, containing Useful Hints on the -Formation of Character. Cloth, gilt, 50 cts. - -“Having daughters of his own, and having been many years employed in -writing for the young, he hopes to offer some good advice, in an -entertaining way, for girls or misses, between the ages of eight and -fifteen. His object is, to assist them in forming their characters upon -the best model; that they may become well-bred, intelligent, refined, -and good; and then they will be real _ladies_, in the highest -sense.”—_Preface._ - -Parents will consult the interests of their daughters, for time and -eternity, in making them acquainted with this attractive and most useful -volume.—_N. Y. Evangelist._ - - _The following Notices apply to both the above Volumes._ - -It would be better for the next generation if every youth would “read, -learn, and inwardly digest” the contents of these volumes.—_N. Y. -Commercial._ - -These volumes contain much matter which is truly valuable.—_Mer. -Journal._ - -They contain wise and important counsels and cautions, adapted to the -young, and made entertaining by the interesting style and illustrations -of the author. They are fine mirrors, in which are reflected the -prominent lineaments of the _Christian young gentleman and young lady_. -Elegant presents for the young.—_American Pulpit._ - -Newcomb’s books are excellent. We are pleased to commend them.—_N. Y. -Obs._ - -They are books well calculated to do good.—_Phil. Ch. Chronicle._ - -Common-sense, practical hints on the formation of character and habits, -and are adapted to the improvement of youth.—_Mothers’ Journal._ - - -ANECDOTES FOR BOYS; Entertaining Anecdotes and Narratives, illustrative - of Principles and Character. 18mo, gilt, 42 cts. - -ANECDOTES FOR GIRLS; Entertaining Anecdotes and Narratives, illustrative - of Principles and Character. 18mo, gilt, 42 cts. - -Interesting and Instructive, without being fictitious. The anecdotes are -many, short, and spirited, with a moral drawn from each, adapted to -every age, condition, and duty of life. We commend them to families and -schools.—_Albany Spectator._ - -Works of great value, for a truth or principle is sooner instilled into -the youthful heart by an anecdote, than in any other way. They are well -selected.—_Ev’g Gaz._ - -Nothing has a greater interest for a youthful mind than a well-told -story, and no medium of conveying moral instructions so attractive or so -successful. The influence is far more powerful when the child is assured -that they are _true_. 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