An heir of dreams

UF00085611_00001.pdf

















St. John’s Library
FENTON

Rules and Regulations _

1—Members of the parish only may draw i
books from the library. ; fi

1
2—Persons keeping a book longer than i
four weeks will be subject to a fine of five
cents for each week thereafter.

3—If a book is lost or damaged the
librarian shall refer the matter to the pastor i
who will assess the damage to be paid by
the parties guilty.

wc LL



The Baldwin Library

| University
mB 3
Florida













“« Tn an honest man’s yard again, are you ?’ asked the
squire, harshly. ‘And how will you get out ?’’—See
page 129.



AN HEIR OF DREAMS.

BY

SALLIE MARGARET O’MALLEY.

@

NEW YORK, CINCINNATI, CHICAGO:
BENZIGER BROTHERS,
Printers to the Holy Apostolic See.



BENZIGER’S JUVENILE SERIES
EACH VOLUME, 45 CENTS, SENT POSTPAID

THE GREAT CAPTAIN. By Katharine T. Hinkson.
THE YOUNG COLOR GUARD. By Mary G. Bonesteel.
THE HALDEMAN CHILDREN. By Mary E. Mannix.
Two LITTLE GIRLS. By Lilian Mack.

DIMPLING’S SUCCESS. By Clara Mulholland.

NAN NOBODY. By Mary T. Waggaman.

AN ADVENTURE WITH THE APACHES. By G. Ferry.
BIsTouRI. By A. Melandri.

A HOSTAGE OF WAR. By Mary G. Bonesteel.

FRED’S LITTLE DAUGHTER. By Sara Trainer Smith.
THE SEA-GULLS’ ROCK, By J. Sandeau.
JACK-O’-LANTERN. By Mary T. Waggaman.

AN EVERY-DAY GIRL. By Mary T. Crowley.
PAULINE ARCHER. By Anna T. Sadlier.

PANCHO AND PANCHITA. By Mary E. Mannix.

THE ARMORER OF SOLINGEN. By W. Herchenbach.
WRONGFULLY ACCUSED. By W. Herchenbach.

THE INUNDATION. BY Canon Schmid.

THE CANARY BIRD. By Canon Schmid.

Mary TRACY’S FORTUNE. By Anna T. Sadlier. :
THE GOLDEN LILY. By Katharine Tynan Hinkson.
RECRUIT TOMMY COLLINS, By Mary T. Bonesteel.
BUNT AND BILL. By Clara Mulholland.

AS TRUE AS GOLD. By Mary E. Mannix.

THE BERKLEYS. By Emma Howard Wight.

Bos oO’ LINK. By Mary T. Waggaman.

THE MYSTERIOUS DOORWAY. By Anna T. Sadlier.
LITTLE Missy. By Mary T. Waggaman.

By BRANSCOME RIVER. By Marion Ames Taggart.
THE MapcaP SET AT ST. ANNE’S. By M. J. Brunowe,
A SUMMER AT WOODVILLE. oy Anna T. Sadlier.

AN HEIR OF DREAMS. By S. M. O’Malley.

OLD CHARLMONT’S SEED-BED. By Sara Trainer Smith,
THE QUEEN’S PAGE. By Katharine Tynan Hinkson.
Tom’S LUCK-POT. By Mary T. Wagenmen.

‘THE BLISSYLVANIA POST-OFFICE. By M. A. TAGGART.
THREE GIRLS AND ESPECIALLY ONE. By M. A. TAGGART.
THE CHILDREN OF CUPA. By Mary E. Mannix.

THE DOLLAR HunNT. By E. G. Martin.

FOR THE WHITE ROSE. By Katharine Tynan Hinkson.
“JACK.” By a Religious of the Society of the Holy Child.
TOORALLADDY. By Julia C. Walsh.

THE VIOLIN MAKER. By Sara Trainer Smith.

THE BELL FOUNDRY. Otto von Schaching.

Dappy DAN. By Mary T. Waggaman.

A PILGRIM FROM IRELAND. By Carnot.

Corvricnt, 1897, ny BENZIGER BROTHERS



CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

PAGE

*Lias HAS A DREAM, .. : ‘ : . ‘; ng
CHAPTER II.

"Lirias Farts To SEE JACK, . : : e ; . 24
CHAPTER III.

*L14s SPENDS ANOTHER Busy Day, . ; : . 44
CHAPTER IV.

*Lias Maxes a New ACQUAINTANCE, js ;: - 65
CHAPTER V.

*Lias Tries TO ExPLAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, : - 85
CHAPTER VI.

*Lias Finps Lire a Dreary Dream, 3 : - 106



4 Contents.

CHAPTER VII.
PAGE

THE Boys Faut mnto A TRapP, . 7 : . 123

CHAPTER VII.

’Lras Leaves Homs, ror SCHOOL, . . . - 146

CHAPTER IX.

*Lias Vistts Home Oncz Mong, . . . - 160



AN HEIR OF DREAMS.

CHAPTER I.
*LIAS HAS A DREAM.

’Lias the lazy, ’Lias the good-for-nothing,
and ’Lias the dreamer, was dozing over a
slice of bread. |

It was an effort for him to eat when the sun
shone as it did to-day, and thesky was full
of a languorous haze, and the air sweet as
the Chickasaw plum-tree blossoms could
make it.

Vaguely he thought of his mother saying,
‘¢*Lias, when you eat your bread and butter,
get into the garden and weed the onion bed.



6 ?Tias has a Dream.

When I was young like you, I had to do
all work like that, and me a girl, too! Or
if I shirked it, I got switched. That -ion
bed is a disgrace to us. Don’t leave 1. in-
finished, as you always do everything.”

But the old stone step was warm and
sunny ; the bees droning in the plum blos-
soms hummed a lullaby. The bread fell
from the swaying hand, his head slipped
over against the door-step, and ’Lias slept
the sleep of the just and lazy.

’Lias’ mother brushed her skirts across
his face as she went on her way after spring
salad in the young wheat.

She poised her knife, and said, ‘‘ Well,
det him sleep. He is surely the stupidest
child, but he hain’t.bad, and he és always
meaning to do well.’’

’Lias’ dog lay down at the boy’s feet, and
with an occasional snap at flies and gnats, or
an exploring bee, he, too, fell asleep.



’Tnas has a Dream. si

It was all in a little country town, with
curious streets up hill and down hill; with
steps that led up to steps that led down;
where nature and craft had hung together,
and wild plum-trees bloomed behind the
main grocery, and the witnesses at court
hitched their horses to scrub oaks in the
court-house square.

The town had been asleep for many a year.
When the school-bell on the gray-roofed
academy began to ring on the first Monday

_ in September every inhabitant in the town

Ee

paused to hear, saying, ‘‘ School’s begun.”’
’Lias hated school. He would leave home

“early and arrive at school late, having stop-

ped to see the caterpillars, a dusty grass-
hopper, or to listen to the blackbirds or crows.

Then his teacher gave him tasks he never
finished. One day he was made to stand up
and given a slate until he wrote a certain
task forty times.



8 *LIias has a Dream.

“Now write,” said the disciplinarian,
***T am lazy.’ ”

You are lazy, you are lazy,’? wrote
’Lias over and over, and when a severer
punishment followed, he never knew why.

He didn’t care to read either, but some-
times he liked to hear his sister read her
jingles out of Mother Goose, or maybe he
fell to pondering over the queer little pic-
tures that bobbed about so unlooked for.

His sister would point her finger at him
and say,

“** Come, let’s to bed,’ says Sleepy-head.
‘Tarry awhile,’ says Slow,’’
and so on through the ill-mannered refer-
ence to gluttony, for ’Lias liked good vic-
tuals ‘‘ overly well,’’ as his father had said.

’Lias slept on and on that April morning,
and the weeds shouted for him; he heard
them, and his mother was sailing over the
tree-tops with a bundle of switches.



’Inas has a Dream. 9

Suddenly he awakened to a sense of com-
pany. A long, lithe fellow, with a merry,
wrinkled countenance was very actively
jumping backward and forward over old
Turk.

‘Who are you?” asked ’Lias slowly—he
always was slow in every way.

The fellow jumped ahead breathlessly.
**[T'm ‘ Jack-be-Nimble, Jack-be-Quick, Jack-
Jump-over-the-Candlestick,’’’ he said be-
tween leaps.

‘* What makes you do that this warm day?’

‘* My candle burned out and I grew fat, so
I took to jumping everything I came across.”
And away he went again.

“‘Does it make you lean?’ asked ’ Lias,
who had a roll of fat around his waist and
didn’ ¢ like it.

“Don’t it?” replied Jack, holding up a
whipcord leg. ‘‘ How’s that for constitu-
tional treatment ?”



10 *Lias has a Dream.

‘Dear me!’ mused ’Lias. ‘‘ Were you
ever fat?”

‘‘Bat? Fat as your grandmother.”

Now ’Lias’. grandmother weighed over
two hundred pounds.

“Don’t you ever get tired ?”’

‘Dear me! no. It makes me tired to
rest.””

‘““That?s funny,’ pondered ’Lias, think-
ing he ached sometimes from being quiet
in school hours.

‘‘ Turk will wake up directly,’ remarked
*Lias, ‘“‘just to hear Jack-of-many-names
talk.”’

“When he stands up I'll show you how I
can jump,” answered the queer, active creat-
ure. ‘‘My gracious self!’’ cried Jack sud-
denly ; ‘‘I forgot my business.’”’ He stop-
ped jumping, and hopped about restlessly.
“ You’re avery smart hoy, ’Lias, but you’re
rusting here; the queen wants to know

Za



*Inas has a Dream. 1]

‘something about you. I’ve got a bit of
work here for you, too. Everybody whom
‘the queen wants must finish some piece of
work before she gives them a place in her
kingdom.”’

‘Who is your queen ?”’ asked ’ Lias.

‘Why, Mother Goose, of course,” an-
swered Jack, looking astonished.

**Oh !’ gasped ’Lias at this queer reply.

‘Now here’s something she thinks in
your line. Here are some plants from
Mary’s garden—‘ Mary, Mary, quite con-
trary,’ you know. She neglected her gar-
den, and if you succeed in making a neat
show, your fortune’s made.”

‘‘T’m sure,’? stammered ’Lias, ‘that I
should like to try, but I never did any
gardening.”

‘What!’ exclaimed Jack. ‘‘Then you’ll
never learn earlier. All our great men be-
gin in the soil. .‘ Dig and delve,’ that’s a



12 ’Lias has a Dream.

motto for you. I myself used to render
sheep’s fat ; that’s not nice as gardening.’’

29

‘TJ ain’t very well, anyhow,’’ murmured
*Lias. ‘‘ Mother was sayin’ yesterday that
I needed a tonic.”’

Jack looked at him critically. *‘ You need
air and exercise,” he pronounced. ‘“What’s
healthier than working among plants? Be-
sides the pleasure——’”’

‘But I’ve got to go to school soon as I
’ get well,” excused the perplexed boy.

“To think of it!” stormed his tormentor.
“Pray, while vou’re getting well increase
your muscle, bring out your chest, draw in
your chin, so; and a light hoe, a few herbs,
and there you are healthy.”’

“Tl think of it,’’ said ’Lias.

‘‘Tam afraid you won’t do.” Jack shook
his head and jumped over a bunch of
marigolds and back again before ’Lias.

‘Come, now,’’ he said, ‘‘look at these



*Tias has a Dream. 13

bulbs. Here’s a plant that grows salad—
cold salad, ready for the table.” (Lias was
very fond of salads.) ‘‘ And here’s a seed
of sweet pickles, and here’s a dozen or more
plants of strawberry jelly. Here’s sage, it’s
a wise plant. Don’t say no; and if you
make half of these grow the queen will give
you a secret that will open all doors of wis-
dom and wealth to you.”

Now ’Lias was very wise about some
things; he had always wanted money.
First, to buy candy; then to have some of
his own. Bill Jones, a schoolmate, had a
dollar. Sometimes when his mother, whom
he loved and who was poor, wished for a
new dress or a package of coffee, *Lias
would crawl into a drowsy corner and dream
about being a man with a mustache a foot
. long, and earning a thousand dollars a day.
Sometimes he went forth, in his dreams,
and dug up a box that was filled with dia-



14 *Inas has a Dream.

monds and old coins, worth fabulous sums ;
these he brought and dutifully laid at the
feet of his mother.

If his mother grew angry, and said, ‘‘ You
hain’t worth powder to blow you away!
Get up and help me out with this tub of
water, ’Lias, you good-for-nothing thing !’’
he would amble obediently by her side,
slopping the water up and out with his
awkward movements.

‘* See now, you lazy child.”

“Tl be good,’ he would answer hum-
bly, as he saw her eyes blazing.

So when Jack spoke of wealth he caught
_? Lias’ ear. |

“Could I have plenty of money ?”’

Jack jumped nimbly over the grass fora
-minute, and brought back several dimes and
quarters. ‘‘ See!’ he said, with an attitude.
_ “Where'd you get these?” ’Lias put his

hands out.



ee re ae

’Inas has a Dream. 15

‘‘Why, I delved, I planted, and reap-
ed.”

“In that time ?”’

‘* Of course you couldn’t be as expert as

—

-am all at once,” amended Jack.

*Lias got upon his feet. |

* You're fat /’? said Jack with emphasis.

*Lias blushed. ‘‘I’ve been thinkin’ of
dietin’ to get rid of it.”’

‘‘Let’s jump,’’ said Jack. ‘‘It will do
it. Three to one you can’t stand and clear
Turk. One, two, three !”’

‘*T can’t jump,’’ stammered the boy.

‘“‘Four letters to spell ‘can’t,’ and three
letters spell ‘can.’ I guess your pa let the
trees grow when he was a-bringin’ you
up.””

“‘T’ve been whipped once or twice,’’ ad-
mitted ’Lias.

Jack twirled about on one leg, and
snapped his fingers. ‘‘Once or twice! I



16 *Lias has a Dream.

was whipped for eating, for being quiet, for
being noisy, for talking, for not speaking
when spoken to. Discipline is the thing
you need. Say”—he made a sudden jump
and buttonholed ’Lias—‘‘ what have you
got to do to-day ?’

‘‘ Why, I’ve got to weed the onion bed !”’
‘exclaimed ’Lias, glad to be rid of such an
energetic friend at any cost. ‘‘ Here I’ve
been a-foolin’ my time, and mother said
she’d switch me if I didn’t finish it.’’

Jack laughed. ‘‘ Where’s your mother’s
switches ?’

‘* She just sailed over the trees with some
awhile ago.”

‘Dear me!’ Jack looked serious.
_ Your mother must be quite clever. She
hain’t like you, is she ?”’

“‘T’m going to that onion bed,’’ answered
*Lias, moving off with more energy than he
had ever used in moving about.



?Inas has a Dream. 1”

‘‘ Say,” called Jack after him, ‘I'll leave
these plants right here.”

“Tl try them,’ answered the boy, look-
ing back.

‘‘ And say,” insisted the hopping creat-
ure, ‘““T’ll see you again;Tll keep an eye
upon you.”

’Lias was just pulling up the first rag-
weed when slap came some stinging thing
across his shoulders.

‘¢ Ouch !’’ he screamed, and jumped off the
door-step upon poor Turk, who howled
dismally.

_ © Where’s that onion bed? where’s them
weeds?” screamed his angry mother.

*Lias rubbed his eyes. The morning was
well along, and the dust was on the weeds
where dew had been when he fell asleep.

‘‘Mother, don’t whip me! I’m going!
I fell asleep, and Jack was talking to me.”

‘*T wish Jack Hahn would stay at home !”’



18 ’Inas has a Dream.

exclaimed the good woman. ‘‘If he’d let
you be you might amount to somethin’.”’
She was glad to find even so small an excuse
as her neighbor’s son to hang some of the
faults of her hopeful upon.

’Lias went at the onion bed with a will,
stopping now and then to try a jump over
the tall green tops, feeling carefully about
his ribs after each jump.

“‘T ain’t sure but it is a-doin’ good,”
he reflected.

He had finished five rows when along
came five girls from the public school. One
was his sister, another was a freckled, lank
girl he detested, two were the teases of the
playground, and the fifth was the angel in
blue calico and carpet matting hat who
*Lias adored, in a blind, inexpressible
fashion all his own.

His sister put her face against the crack
in the fence. ‘‘ Mary, Mary, quite contrary,



’Lias has a Dream. 19

how does your garden grow, with silver
bells and cockle shells, and pretty maids in
a row ?’

’Lias started; so Jack-be-Nimble had
said.

“Get along!’ he said with brotherly af-
fection, throwing an uprooted weed at her.
His face was red, but he bent to his task
with quiet oblivion as far as the other girls
were concerned.

‘*Hain’t ’Lias gettin’ fat?’ said the lank
one.

‘*He don’t eat anything at all,’’ said his
sister ; ‘‘ he just gobbles.”

‘* Well, he shows it,’’ chimed in the
teases.

He waited to hear the fifth comment, but
none came, and ’Lias felt a glow about his
heart, and thought certain he was over-
working himself. He couldn’t resist look-
ing at the charmer. She had her head side-



20 ’Iias has a Dream.

ways, with her forefinger in her mouth;
there was a critical look in her eyes and a
smile of suppressed force upon her lips.

That was the straw on ’Lias’ camel’s
back. He gathered his hat full of clods,
and while there was a whisking blue frock
in sight he did his best in aiming and in
hitting where he aimed. He expected to
hear of it, and so went sullenly back to his
onion bed with thoughts at random and
mechanical hand.

‘Well, I'll be switched!” he cried. ‘‘I
have finished that.’’

He felt light, and jumping over the rake
and a-water-can, he made for the house, with
Turk after him.

‘* Mother, I’m through !” he cried.

**No, you hain’t ; you never finished any-
thing in your life, onless it was your din-
ner.”

‘Come and see,’’ he insisted.



’Iias has a Dream. Qt

After a little grumbling she started, secret-
ly hoping he had finished it all right.

’Lias showed her the bed, with a dramatic
flourish.

His mother looked at it, a smile slowly
spreading over her face.

She fumbled in her pocket and put on her
spectacles ; she looked critically along the
rows.

‘‘ Nary a weed!’’ she cried cheerfully,
‘‘nor an onion tramped on. Here’’—she
gave him a worn-looking nickel—‘‘ now you
do all I tell you to do that way, and we
won’t have any more ‘ ouchs’ 1

*Lias stretched himself beside her as they
walked down the path between the tomato
plants. He remembered Jack’s advice ; he
drew in his chin and threw out his chest.

‘*T b’lieve them. beans are needin’ work,”’
he remarked airily.

‘*So they are, so they are!’’ cried his



22 °Itas has a Dream.

mother. ‘‘ You can do that this afternoon,
an’ after the sun gets cooler you can carry
the butter to the grocery.”

*Lias sank together, and his chin fell.

‘* What's wrong ?’’ inquired his mother.

‘That old feelin’ in my breast. I b’lieve
my heart’s out of fix. I felt all burnin’
around it while I was over them onions.”’

‘‘'That’s strange, your bein’ so onheal-
thy,” mused the fond mother. ‘‘T’ll give
you a dose of rhubarb to-night.”’

She lowered her voice. ‘‘ Maybe you’d
better say nothin’ about that bit o’ money.
Marilly would be a-tearin’ up the whole
garden in no time.’”?’ The good woman
laughed silently.

’Lias put his hand over the money.

‘Jack was right,” he thought. ‘“‘‘ Dig
and delve’ will make you money. Idon’t
mind if I do see him again.”’

Just before he went in he tried a leap



’Inias has a Dream. 23

over Turk’s back. He caught his toes and
rolled into his mother’s washtubs with a
great clatter.

‘“*What’s in that boy?’’ thought she;
‘throwin’ mud at the girls and hurtin’
Turk. I declare he must go to school.”’



24 *Lias Fails to See Jack.

CHAPTER II.
*TIAS FAILS TO SEE JAOK.

How ’Lias lived to clean the bean rows
- and to carry the butter to the grocery was
a wonder to him. Sometimes his throat
seemed closed, and wild visions of having
fits came to him.

‘* This heat is awful!’’? He rested on the
hoe and looked down the long street that led
to the depot. He saw the children playing
hop-scotch, and felt how much pleasanter it
was to play in the shade of the old elm
growing in the school-ground than hoeing
beans in the hot sun.

Some one tapped against the window.

‘Hurry up, ’Lias,” called his mother ;
‘Tm packing the butter.”’



*Lias Fails to See Jack. 25

He began again. His shoulders ached
and his hands were blistered.

“Tf I get through this I'll go to school
next week,” he resolved.

His mother came out presently with the
tin bucket neatly wrapped in a spotless
white napkin.

‘Don’t tarry on the road. The butter
is firm now, an’ I’m anxious for it to reach
Mr. Mills right away.’’

*Lias stepped away in his usual slouching
gait. His mother looked worried ; she saw
Father White, the village rector, coming
down the street.

‘‘Walk faster, dear,’? she said softly,
‘‘and Pll bake you a little pie for supper.”

Now these ‘‘little pies’? were ’Lias’ es-
pecial fancy. They were about the size of a
coffee saucer, and it was his custom to de-
vour them quickly, before his sister asked
' for any. He was a very selfish boy.



26 ’Lias Fails to See Jack.

If he had looked behind him he would
have travelled faster, for pies or money or
candy could not have the power to move
him that Father White had.

But he did not see him. The priest’s
light step did not reach his ears. He
was thinking over his conversation with
Jack-be-Nimble. The conversation seemed
real, and he felt inclined to look after
the bulbs that Jack had bestowed upon
him.

“T guess I'll get a chance yet to see
what the queen wants,” he murmured.

A light. touch fell upon his shoulder.
He looked about, his face flushed, but he
pulled off his hat and said huskily :
~ €€Good-evenin’, Father.”’

‘*Good-afternoon, my boy. Why are you
out of school ?”

**T hain’t been well,’ said ’Lias.

Father White smiled. The plump figure



°Tnas Fails to See Jack. 24

and rosy countenance seemed poor certifi-
cates of bad kealth.

‘*1’m well now, but mother needs me.”’
’Lias understood the Father’s smile.

‘*T suppose you’re a great help to your
mother ?”’ continued the priest.

*Lias thought over this. ‘‘I weeded the
onion bed and hoed the bean rows to-day ;
but—I feel awful sick when I work in the
sun. I’ve got some trouble in my chest.’’
He put his hand upon his shirt front very
pathetically. |

“But you ought to get along in your
studies. You’re growing to be a great boy,
and I dare say now you couldn’t tell me
what form of government we live under,
could you ?”

‘* Qh, yes, Father,’’ said the boy.

** Well, and what is it ?”

‘‘Chaos, Father,’’ was the firm answer.

‘* What?’ cried the astonished priest.



28 ’Iias Fails to See Jack.

‘‘Here it is, right here, Father,” and
’Lias tore off a corner of the paper that pro-
truded from under the napkin. It was a
part of an editorial in the Weekly View.
The boy put his finger on a line, and the
perplexed priest read, ‘‘ The Government in
its present form ts chaos.”’

‘See, Father,” said ’Lias persuasive-
ly.

Father White studied the boy earnestly ;
he tilted the round head back and said,
*“My son, you’re a very stupid boy, or a
very naughty one.”’

*Lias rubbed his eyes and commenced to
whimper.

““That’s the way for babies!’ cried the
priest impatiently. ‘‘ Tell me, why are you
never up for instructions 2?”

The boy looked about vaguely. He tilted
on one foot, and then tried the other.

“Why ?” insisted Father White.



’Lias Fails to See Jack. 29

‘Well, it’s first one thing and then an-
other, Father.”

‘‘Now promise me one thing, that you
will be at the chapel Sunday at half-past
eight. There’s a class up for instruction,
and you must come.”’

““T will, Father,’ said ’Lias earnestly.

The priest turned to go. A look on the
face turned upon him was pathetic. There
were dirty rings about the eyes and a sus-
picious redness of the lids.

Father White took a begrimed hand in his
own.

‘‘Tell me,’’ he said—‘‘tell a lonely old
priest that’s just worrying over you what
you’ve been crying about.”’

*Lias broke forth afresh, and as the
priest had one hand and the butter the |
other, the clear tears dripped and flowed
across his ruddy cheeks and fell to the
grass along the street.



30 *Lias Fails to See Jack.

“Pm stupid, I’m lazy. Everybody says
so. I don’t like to work when it’s so hot.
I don’t know fractions, and I can’t remem-
ber nothin’. I’m always bad, and how can
IT come to church ?”

‘“Now, now,’’ consoled Father White.
“‘See what a lovely spring day, and now
you’re almost done your tasks you’ll have
time to think of something I’m going to
tell you. What will you do when you are
grown up like— like Mayor Mann ?”

‘“‘That’s a long time away, Father,’’ mur-
mured the boy.

““No. How old are you? Thirteen ; then
five years more will find you eithera good
young man or a bad and wicked one. Who
will support you then? Surely not your old
mother, whom you could help even now. If
you are idle, then you will drift about a vaga-
bond, a tramp, a heartbreak to your mother,
a disgrace to me, and a prey for the evil one.”



*Lias Fails to See Jack. 31

_ “Oh, Father !” cried ’Lias.

‘* Learn now to do all your little duties
carefully. Look at your mother’s work, see
if you cannot help carry a bucket of water
or rub a few clothes. The sin of sloth will
soon disappear. Now here is my street.”’

’Lias raised his cap, and the priest turned
away.

“‘Say,”’ he called after the boy, ‘ would
you like to earn a dime every day ?”’

The child’s eyes glistened. Father White
needed no other answer.

‘*Come up at seven o’clock in the morn-
ing, and I will show you how to feed and
water my horse.’’ =

*Lias walked off nimbly. He had a sense
of responsibility.

“T owe that Jack something,’’ he thought ;
“he’s brought me luck.’

He reached the grocery safely, and after
the grocerman attended to his needs he gave



82 *Iias Fatls to See. Jack.

’Lias three or four bits of candy—something
very unusual. .

The boy’s eyes shone, but with character-
istic slowness he went out without thanking
- the man.

Mr. Mills put up his candy jar, thinking
on the lack of politeness some young Ameri-
cans evidenced, when the door flew open
and ’Lias stuck in his head.

“Say, Mr. Mills, thank you for that~
candy,” and he was off again.

Mr. Mills laughed. ‘That boy is a
stupid, sure,” he said.

’Lias came home by way of the school, and, ©
as he hoped, who should be coming out but the
blue frock of the girl he especially admired.

‘* Say, Jennie,”’ he called softly.

She turned her'blue eyes on him and said
reproachfully, ‘‘ Hain’t you ashamed to
speak to me, ’Lias? See how you made me
tear my apron.”’



*LIias Fails to See Jack. 33

*Lias hung his head and passed on. His
feet grew heavy and his chin fell.

‘‘There’s no use in a fellow tryin’ to be
good here,’’ he thought.

Jennie pattered on béhind him.

“*T got excused at half-past three,’’ she re-
marked. ‘‘T’ve got to mind baby while
mother bakes.”

’Lias grunted an unintelligible answer.

“I’ve got so many books to carry, they
just tire me,’ hinted Jennie; but it was
lost on her hearer. He walked on clumsily.

‘* Lias,”’ called Jennie softly, ‘‘do carry
my books.”’

He turned, his face glowing.

“Certainly! Was that what you meant?’

The little girl nodded.

“Say, I didn’t hurt you to-day, did I?
1 didn’t aim at you.”

““No; but you hit Rosy Winn in the ear,
and she says she can’t hear good.”’



34 ’Iias Fatls to See Jack.

“‘T don’t care !’’ said ’Lias ungallantly.

‘But you ought. Teacher says a gentle-
manly boy wouldn’t be guilty of such
deeds, and I want you to be a gentleman;
sides you tore my apron.”’

“* How ?” asked the bewildered boy.

“Tran because I was afraid you'd hit me,
and I caught the apron on a nail in the
paling. I guess mother’ll scold me.”’

“‘T’ll tell her I done it,’ answered ’Lias
tenderly. ‘‘I don’t mind gettin’ whipped.’’

Jennie laughed. ‘‘ Mother don’t whip
me ; she lectures.” .

‘*Not even if you shirk work and les-
sons ?”’ asked ’ Lias in amazement.

“‘T don’t shirk work,’”’ said Jennie. ‘It’s
wrong, and I like my lessons.”

‘‘ Where’s my class now ?”

‘‘They’re on the one hundredth page in
arithmetic—that analysis page about car-
pets and rooms.”’



?Iias Fails to See Jack, 35

*Lias groaned.

“*T can’t keep up with them,” he said.

“Then if you are turned back you'll
have to go with Sammy Whitehead and all
the little boys. Teacher said yesterday she
wasn’t going to make any new classes.”’

‘Jennie, I’m going to come, but I ain’t
going to study figgers.”’

‘Your class in grammar is over in com-
position. They had a beautiful lesson to-
day, and the teacher let the primary class
give words for the higher class tc make
sentences out of.”’

“‘T never was much on that,’’ confided

>Lias.
*T turn off here. Good-by, ’Lias.”’
** Good-by, Jennie.’’ ’Lias walked on un-

til he reached a fence-post.

‘* Say, Jennie, here’s something belongs to
you,”’ called the boy.

Jennie paused. ‘‘ What is it ?’ she asked.



36 *Iias Fails to See Jack.

‘Come and see ; it’s on the post.’’

He commenced to trot, and Jennie found
six small pieces of candy on the fence. ’Lias
looked back; she was looking after him
with a happy face.

‘Thank you,’’ she called. He waved his
hand, and in a minute he was at home.

‘‘ What did you buy 2?” asked his mother,
after she had examined her purchases.

’Lias looked ashamed, ‘‘I forgot I had
it.”

‘* You'll have it the longer,” laughed his
mother.

‘How fast the day is going!” remarked
his sister, coming in from school. ‘‘ I was
kept in fifteen minutes about my arithme-
tic, mother.’’

*‘T wish I could help you some at home,
but I can’t,” sighed her mother.

‘*T have one example to study out, and
then I will be free.”’



’Iias Fatls to See Jack. 3%

“What will you do then?” asked ’Lias
with unusual interest.

‘‘Why ?”’ inquired his sister in return,
surprised that ’Lias the stupid should ask
questions at all.

*°Cause I want to tell you something.’’

‘‘T can hear it now,’’ said she eagerly.

‘“No; you get that example, and then
come out on the step.”’

He ambled away to his favorite seat, in-
tent on his own thoughts of the morning,
when his mother said :

‘*°’Lias, I’m so tired this evening that I
wish you’d bring me a bucket of water.’’

There was a quaver in his mother’s voice,
as if she was afraid he would refuse. He
sighed, but then the good Father’s words
came in his mind, and he turned, saying :

“Tf you'll just call me, mother, I’ll get all
the water.”’

“* Did you ever?” she cried to her daugh-



38 *TAas Fails to See Jack.

ter. ‘‘’Lias is that changed, just since this
morning.”’

To be sure he spilled some water on her
spotless floor, and stamped his feet on a
favorite cat, but his mother swallowed the
words that came, and said instead :

“You're a great help to-day, ’Lias.”’

He went on out to the step, and calling
Turk, they settled down again, dreaming in
the closing day.

To him the evening came with a sweet-
ness he had never known before.

How white the plum-tree was in the
gloom! What ahome sound the old wooden
pump had when he had brought the bucket
of water! And there was old Star ‘‘ mooing’’
at the draw-bars, her bell faintly tinkling.
Inside the house he smelled the tea as it
simmered for supper, and the odor of the
coffee-cake his mother took pride in bak-
ing mixed in with the plum scent and the



*Iias Fails to See Jack. 39

daffodils, with their buff hoods shining in the
grass.

‘‘ A great boy some day’’—Father White
had said so—and at work to support his
mother and sister.

He began to make plans at once, but his
slow way of arriving at conclusions did not
prompt him to take the pail and milk the
- cows when he saw his mother walking wear-
ily to the milking lot. Instead he put his
head into his hands and dreamed and
dreamed—impossible things. Thinking how
he wished Jack and the candlestick were real
things.

Presently his sister sat down by him. ‘I
solved my example, and I have put my dish-
es on the table, and supper is all on waiting
for mother to comein. Now you can tell me
that something.” .

*Lias turned about eagerly. ‘‘ ’'m a-going
to work to-morrow. I’m going to feed and



40 *Iias Fails to See Jack.

water Father White’s horse every morning
at seven, and I’ll get a dime every day.”

‘*Oh!’’ exclaimed his sister. ‘‘ But what
made him take you? I’d think——”’ She
stopped, as if a conclusion of the sentence
might make trouble.

“He did though!’ cried ’Lias proud-
ly.

‘* What will you do with your money ?””

“‘T don’t know,” answered the boy, “‘ just
yet. 1 guess I’ll give you a nickel now and
then.”’

“Vl be so glad. I need a bottle of ink
now, and I can’t ask mother, I know she’s
got to pay out so much.”’

’Lias put his hand over the nickel in his
pocket. He could hardly make up his mind
to give it to his sister, for he had resolved on
buying Jennie a little present.

“* Say,” he said hurriedly, ‘‘ don’t ask me
any questions, an’ I’ll give you a five-center.”’



*Iias Fails to See Jack. 41

‘Only one?’ answered his sister, with
raised hand. ‘‘ Did you steal it ?”

‘*No!” screamed ’Lias. ‘‘ Me steal !”’

‘“*Then Pll take it.”’ And as the money
touched her palm, ‘ Thank you.’’

‘“ Supper is ready,’’ called their mother.

‘“‘T'm so hungry, mother,’’ said ’Lias,
“I could chew anything.’’

““You’re always hungry,’’ laughed his
sister.

He noticed when the pies were passed in
some quaint little blue plates, with pictures
of Dublin upon them, that his sister and
mother had a pie apiece, while he had two.
His first thought was how nice they were,
and then a notion of his selfishness crept
into his thoughts. He cut the last pie in
three pieces, and rising, he put a piece in
each plate.

“That’s fair,” he said, smiling.

es Something has come over ’ Lias,’’? mur-



42 ’Inas Fails to See Fack.

mured his mother, but she took the little
squat cream jug and poured him an extra
allowance over his pie.

Then there came the cooling evening,
when the single lamp sent out a merry
twinkle from the white, drawn curtain ;
when the big jar of flowers under his fa-
ther’s portrait filled the room with per-
fume; when his mother sat in her cane-
seated rocker and darned the stockings.

Marilly, his sister, swung in her chair,
thumbing her book of Mother Goose:

“‘ See saw, Margery Daw,
Johnny shall have a new master ;

He shall have but a cent a day,
Because he can’t work any faster.’’

How the words hung in ’Lias’ ears! He
moved about collecting his books. His
- mother watched him placidly.

“Tt looks like somebody was going to
school,”’ she said.



*Inas Fails to See Jack. 43

‘*Tf you don’t care,” answered ’Lias
humbly, ‘I will be glad as ever I could be.

‘* Mother,’’ said ’Lias, as he opened the
door to his little room, ‘‘ will you wake me
. early? I want to go up to Father White’s.”

‘* Dear me,”’ cried the old lady in a flut-
ter, ‘‘ what is he going to do?”

Marilly told her, and her mother took off
her spectacles to dry them.

‘Tf ’Lias does grow up good I'll be a
happy woman.”



44 "Lias Spends Another Busy Day.

CHAPTER III.
*LIAS SPENDS ANOTHER BUSY DAY.

Tras did not need any one to wake him
the next morning. For the first time in his
life he saw the sun rise, and felt that he
could not stay longer in bed.

He had a notion of how he could sur-
prise his mother by having her fire ready.
He slipped out very quietly, dressed him-
self, and just had a roaring fire in the stove
when who should walk in but his mother
with her milk and cups.

Her skirts were wet with dew, and her
thin hands were blue with the chill air of
an early spring morning.

She was surprised to see the fire, and said
so as she hovered over the warmth.



> Inas Spends Another Busy Day. 45

‘“‘ How early do you get out of bed, moth-
er?’

“T try to get my milking over by half-
past five, but I’m out of bed by five.”

‘¢ And Marilly and me sleep until haltf-
past six, when you call us to breakfast.”’ -

‘‘Tt?s an old sayin’ that children need
more sleep than old people,” answered his
mother, smiling.

*Lias noted the chill fingers and the wet
shoes.

“Do you like getting up early, moth-
er ?”

“‘ Now you are askin’ close questions ; but
to tell.the truth, it needs all my work to
bring me out of bed early these mornings.
Some way I don’t sleep good in the fore part
of the night, my knees hurt so.”

‘Lias straightened up and caught sight of
himself in the looking-glass above the wash
sink. It gave him a pang. He did not look



46 ’Iias Spends Another Busy Day.

like the other boys. He was fat and lumpy.
His coat had all the dust and soil of yes-
terday upon it. One suspender was broken,
and his shirt-collar was inside next to his
neck. His hair was long enough to twist;
the boys had told him so often, but he had
never noticed it.

' He picked up the water-pail and went to
the pump.

‘* Here’s water, mother,’’ he called cheer-
fully.

‘““Why, this is a reg’lar treat,” she an-
swered.

He searched about for soap, and filling
the bowl, he scoured himself thoroughly.

‘* Mother, how can I get my hair cut ?”’

‘* Why, I used to ’tend to it. But I’ve so
much work to do now, that I don’t know .
when Ill get time.”’

‘Tf I hurry home from Father’s will you
show me how to help, so you can have time



*Lias Spends Another Busy Day. 4”

this evening? And, mother, please give me
my Sunday shirt.’’

“Child alive!’ exclaimed the startled
mother ; ‘‘I never heard you talk so much
in my life.’’

Presently breakfast was ready, and Marilly
was called. She came downsleepily, rubbing
her eyes to find ’Lias with coat and trousers
brushed, his shoes shining, a white shirt
on, and his hair plastered tightly behind his
ears with vigorous brushings.

‘“‘What’s the matter with *Lias?’’ she
asked in amazement.

*Lias pointed a fat forefinger at her and

chanted :
‘Zany, Zany, Zaddle Pate
Went to bed early,
And got up late.”’ .

‘Well, yow never could say that before,”’
growled Marilly.
‘Come, children, this morning is too pleas-



48 *Inas Spends Another Busy Day.

ant to me to have you quarrel. See what
lovely eggs old Buff gave us for breakfast ;
they’re white as snow, and we’ve two apiece
and a bit of toast. Then it will soon be
time for ’Lias to be at Father White’s.”’

‘I think everything has an extra taste
this morning, mother ; don’t you ?”’

‘“T’ve got a notion so; but I haven’t
made out the reason.”’

““‘T know why ’Lias finds everything
good,”’ said Marilly.

‘““ Why?’ asked her brother innocent-
ly.

‘* Because you washed your face,’’ an-
swered his sister sharply.

For a minute war was near, but by judi-
cious side talking Mrs. Leveve brought back
peace.

‘What do you suppose we have in the
hay-mow this mornin’ ?”’

The children could not guess, and she



"Inas Spends Another Busy Day. 49

said, ‘‘Old Domineck has five chicks, just
out of the shell.”

'Marilly dropped her fork, and away she ran
to see the newcomers. ’Lias came to his feet
slowly, intending to see them, too. His
mother held up a warning finger and looked
at the clock.

**T’ll be switched !” exclaimed ’Lias. ‘* A
quarter to seven.”’

He looked disconsolately at an egg and
the firm, yellow butter, but finally he was off
and walking at a fair pace.

** Look-a-here!’’ cried Jack Hahn to
Johnny Dillon ; ‘‘ see old puddin’-legs a-trav-
ellin’. Ill bet there’s somethin’ good to eat
at the other end o’ the track.’’

‘* Let’s foller him,” said John eagerly.

They scuttled down the street, imitating
’Lias as he hurried on in his waddling way.

‘* Hello !”? called Jack Hahn. ‘‘ Your legs

are runnin’ away with you.’’



50 *Lias Spends Another Busy Day.

’Lias did not answer, but his face flushed
when Dillon laughed.

‘‘ Take time, sonny,” said the latter pom-
pously.

*Lias turned off into the long grass-grown
street towards the Father’s house.

«“ Where are you a-goin’?”’ cried Jack
Hahn in surprise.

‘“T’m goin’ to Father White’s ; won’t you
go?’ But they were gone. Beside being a
little afraid of Father White, they were de-
cidedly quarrelsome about their views of re-
ligion, and called the Catholic school-children
‘‘ cat-lickers,’’ while the latter called them in
return ‘‘ pig-eaters” and “‘ fire-eaters.”’

“‘T see,’ said ’Lias to himself, ‘‘ that
I must keep close watch or I shall fail
somewhere in my promises to do bet-
ter.”

Father White was standing on his door-

“step, with one eye studying his plants and

“%



*Inas Spends Another Busy Day. 51

the other on the lookout for ’Lias, for he
said, as the boy turned the corner :

‘*Oh, here you are; and have you had
breakfast? Yes?’

He broke off a rosebud and handed it ‘to
> Lias.

“A few flowers make good companions,
and give one healthy employment beside.”’

The boy thought of wonderful Jack-be-
Nimble.

Suddenly he said to Father White, ‘“‘ Fa-
ther, do you have any faith in dreams ?”

“Oh, yes, my child; the same faith I
have when I’m awake, I’m sure.”’

‘**T don’t mean that, Father. Do you
think dreams ever come true ?”’

The good priest looked at him with a quiz-
zical smile.

‘* You’ve been eating too much for supper,
and have suffered the penalty. But—my
_ horse has not breakfasted.”’



52 ’Lias Spends Another Busy Day.

’Lias started ; he had allowed himself to
fall to pondering over nothing right under
Father White’s eyes.

‘“T’m ready, Father,’’ he said.

He was really afraid of the tall bay horse
that turned his head from side to side to
watch every movement the boy made.

The priest stood watching them a minute.

“T think you’ll do. Now be careful in
leading him to his water-trough and do not
frighten him, or he will break away from
you and give us trouble.”

>Lias went on correctly enough. He took
the halter and led the horse out of the
stable to the well. As he tried to pump the
animal thrust its nose impatiently against
his arm, and the restless feet beat fiercely
against the ground. ’Lias raised the halter’s
end and slapped the horse’s nose; he reared
up, jerking the strap from the boy’s hand,
and started on a plunging run about the



*Lias Spends Another Busy Day. 53

priest’s garden and yard. ‘The boy ran
frantically after him, but he saw the salad-bed,
the onions, and the young tomato plants
crushed down, and, to his horror, he saw
that the horse had jarred open the gate that
led to the Father’s flower-beds.

Away went the tearing hoofs, and as soon
as ’Lias could he ran around to head him
off. He almost screamed when he saw the
rare pink tea-rose uprooted and dangling
from the bay’s mouth.

‘““Hey, there!’ cried a stern voice, and
Father White ran out in great excitement.
“What does this mean?’ he asked ’Lias
severely.

“He jerked away from me,’’ answered he,
with bent head.

The priest spoke to the horse quietly, at
the same time approaching him. He caught
the halter with a firm hand, and, leading the
horse to the stable, fastened the door securely.



54 *Inas Spends Another Busy Day.

*Lias was still standing by the flower-
beds. All his dreams were gone. He had
been careless, had broken his promise, and
now Father White would never let him help
him again. He thought once of going away
and not even saying one word of apology,
then his eyes saw the poor torn rose-bush.
He took his knife, removed all the broken
branches, straightened out the roots, and
with careful hands replaced it firmly in its
former home.

He was not aware that the priest was
watching him, until a kind voice ex-
claimed :

‘* There, that has saved you. If you can.
do that so well and carefully, you can be of
use.”’ .

*Lias stood up and said tremblingly :

‘‘ Father, I hit the horse on the nose. I
forgot what you said.”

“Ah! ’Lias, these ‘ forgots;’ if we could



’Inas Spends Another Busy Day. 55

just put them out of our lives, how much
more perfect our lives would be !’

The boy looked up. Father White’s eyes
"were lifted to the deep blue of the western
sky, and were filled with a look of pathetic
earnestness.

‘‘We all forget many things,’ he con-
tinued, ‘‘and I shall not be too severe.”
He laughed. ‘I shall punish you by insist-
‘ing that you attend Mass.”

He went to the chapel, and ’Lias, after he
had arranged some other torn plants, went
reluctantly enough to Mass.

He was wanted again after that was over,
and his new friend pointed out to him some
plants he wanted removed to other beds.
*Lias listened attentively, and went about
his work slowly and carefully.

It was nearly ’Lias’ dinner-time when the
work was finished. He stood on the walk
a minute, hesitating about telling the Father



56 *Iias Spends Another Busy Day.

he had completed his task, but finally ven-
tured into his study, and said, ‘‘Is there
anything more, Father ?’

The priest looked at him kindly. ‘No,
not to-day ; but come to-morrow; a little
earlier, if possible, would suit my horse’s
appetite better. I’ve been looking at you
now and then as you bedded my plants, and
Iam pleased with you. To-day we will settle
with this, and do not spend it foolishly.”
He laid a new, shining silver quarter of a
dollar in ’ Lias’ hand.

“All this, Father?’ he cried joyous-
ly.

“That is little enough,’’ laughed the

priest ; ‘‘ but you see I’m not rich.”
_ ’Lias returned home speedier than he went
away in the morning, and, I am sorry to say,
almost made himself sick by eating an enor.
mous amount of victuals.

He felt stupid after, but it did not keep



"Inas Spends Another Busy Day. 5Y

him from asking his mother every five min-
utes :

** Ain’t you glad I’m making money ?”’

He called Turk after awhile, and together
they strolled through the clover lot to a
sunny place ina corner by the stables. ’Lias
made believe to be hunting rats as busily as
Turk, but it was not long before he was
sound asleep, with Turk snuffing and growl-
ing under the stable-sill.

It was no wonder, then, that Jack-be-
Nimble found him so easy, but he cried:
“Tm really tired trying to keep up with you.
Tm so tired I can’t jump. I’ve got news for
you. Our queen, who knows everything,
has great hopes of you. She thinks you’d
better turn your attention to finances alto-
gether. We need a new financier in the
kingdom.”’

’Lias stared and asked, ‘‘ What is a fine-~-
fine——?’



58 *Zias Spends Another Busy Day.

‘* Financier,’’ completed Jack. ‘It’s a
man to look after our money, a real clever,
thoroughly honest man. It’s quite a re-
sponsibility, I can tell you. I had control
of it once, but fell under the queen’s dis-
pleasure by misplacing a sixpence. The
books wouldn’t balance, and for awhile I
was in great distress, and they had just
sent for the chopper to chop off my head,
when along came the crooked man who
found the crooked sixpence, and it was
the missing one, so, of course, my honor
Was vindicated ; but really it’s a place for
a person of more than ordinary capacity
for thought.”’

’Lias felt proud, and said so.

‘Well, you may feel that way; but it’s
an unanswered question to me whether the
honor and profit pays one for so many weary
years. Dear me! I must have been chief
financier for fifty years.”



*Lias Spends Another Busy Day. 59

“Is the queen very rich?’ asked ’ Lias,
feeling after his quarter. :
‘“Dear me, yes,’’ cried Jack, beginning
to grow restless in the absence of his usual
exercise. ‘‘ There’s all the eggs of gold that
she recovered, and the rings the old woman
wore at Banbury Cross, the crown that King
Arthur wore when he made the famous pud-
ding, and—well, really, I think I’m telling
court secrets.”’ And he put his finger on
his lip.
‘** But I shall have to know anyhow if I
take care of it,’’ insisted the boy.
“That’s so,’ said Jack thoughtfully.
** But how do you like work? Isn’t it true
that you can pick up money by being care-
ful to keep your eyes open as you dig and
delve ?”
‘*T made a quarter to-day,’’ smiled ’ Lias.
“‘ Now that’s success. ‘Dig and delve,’
that’s a motto. There’s a fellow with us



60 =.’ Lia Spends Another Busy Day.

now who has a heap of money because he
picks up what other people drop. He even
saved the courtesy that the maiden dropped
on Primrose Hill. Oh, he zs saving!”

** I'm going to work for the Father to-mor-
row, too,”’ said ’ Lias.

“* See,” cried Jack, ‘if 1 hadn’t a-set you
to thinking about stirring around you
wouldn’t be off the door-step yet. But
stay !’—Jack struck another attitude—

_‘“you’re not so fat. You’re growing thin.”

‘*T do hope so,’’ answered the boy earnest-
ly.

‘‘But that head,’’ resumed Jack sadly,
“that hair! You must really journey over
our way. We've gota barber there, a kind
soul, who shaves pigs, and charges only a
pinch of snuff. I dare say he’d fix your
head in no time.”’ .

**Mother’s going to cut my hair,’ an-
swered ’ Lias.



’Iias Spends Another Busy Day. 61

‘“‘That’s prudent,’’ said the restless little
man, ‘‘and saving. You won’t have to pay

her anything.”

This sounded unpleasant to ’Lias, and he
thought to himself, ‘‘ I wish he’d go.”

* And so I will,’ snapped Jack instantly.
‘*T can hear what you think; but Ill see
you later.’’

The boy looked after him as he leaped
over weeds and rails and stones, until a great
leaf got in the way and he was lost sight of. —

He thought a long time, but all the time
somewhere near he heard low laughter and
suppressed giggles. There was something
awful crawling about his neck, but his
hands would not obey him. He tried to call
out, but no sound came. Nearer around to
his ear came the awful, crawling thing. He
made a great effort, and leaped back into
wakefulness and every-day life, and there
was Jack Hahn giggling on the fence.



62 *Znas Spends Another Busy Day.

*‘T’ve been a-ticklin’ your neck an’ nose
fur an hour,’’ he cried. ‘‘ You’re the queer-
est feller. Idon’t know when I’ve laughed
so.”’

’Lias felt for his quarter; it was gone.
His face grew white, and he felt sick of
disappointment.

** Jack Hahn,” he cried hoarsely, ‘‘ you’ ve
stole my money !”’

*‘T never !”? screamed Jack.

*Lias came closer. ‘‘Give it to me;
you’ve got it.”

‘You just dare,’’ said Jack, ‘‘ to comea
step nearer. Money? Where’d you get
money ?’ he sneered.

>Lias paused. He had been a coward
always at school, the boys said. He had
been cuffed and laughed at until he was
thoroughly cowed. He felt afraid Jack might
hit him.

The other boy saw the look on his face.



*Lias Spends Another Busy Day. 63

‘*‘ Coward!” he cried, and he picked up a
piece of earth and flung it in ’ Lias’ face.

Jack could never tell why nor how, nor
neither could ’Lias, but there were arms and
le sand heads tangled for awhile, and when
it was over two bloody noses and the pri-
vate opinion of each that the other was
whipped.
~ “Do you want more?” cried ’Lias.

‘* Ain’t you got enough ?’ yelled Jack.

But there was a diversion here. Turk
was trying to give ’Lias something he had in ~
his mouth, and when the excited and trem-
bling boy could hold out his hand, Turk
dropped the quarter into it.

It came to ’Lias slowly: the fact that he
was wrong, that he had accused a friend of
stealing his money, and that that friend
was innocent. Just as slowly the idea
followed that he must make amends.

“Say,’’ he blurted out, ‘I oughtn’t to



64: *Lias Spends Another Busy Day.

have said that. Ill give you some marbles
to-morrow if you won’t be mad.”’

Jack rubbed his nose and grinned.

‘* All right,’ he said; ‘“‘ but, gee! who'd
a-thought you’d fight ?”



*Lias Makes a New Acquaintance. 65

CHAPTER IV.
*LIAS MAKES A NEW ACQUAINTANCE.

*LIAs was not at all proud of his encoun-
ter with Jack Hahn ; instead he was heartily
ashamed of it.

When his sister asked him how his face
received so many scratches, and what made
his eyes so swollen, he did not answer at
all, and Marilly told Mrs. Leveve that ’ Lias
was sulking again. He felt degraded, and
wanted to clear himself mentally and morally
of some incubus that he could not name or
explain. He simply felt as if some awful
weight was upon him. He could not enjoy
his supper, although his mother had a dish
of the clearest honey, with slices of bread —
that were white and fine.



66 *Lias Makes a New Acquaintance,

‘“‘Have you worked too hard to-day,
*Lias ?’ anxiously asked Mrs. Leveve. ‘‘ It
seems to me you’re not hearty as usual.”

“Tm not sick. I just feel like I couldn’t
eat.”’

“You ain’t used to such hard work. It
was extremely hot to-day. I see your eyes
are puffed up.”’

‘*T don’t feel a bit sick,’’ insisted ’ Lias.

“It don’t do to try to do too much at once.”

‘‘Tve been asleep all afternoon, and then
Jack Hahn and——”’

He paused, wishing he did not have that
sentence commenced.

‘‘T wish you wouldn’t go with that boy,”’
complained Mrs. Leveve.

‘We had a fight this afternoon,”’ blurted
’ Lias.

‘A fight ’ gasped Mrs. Leveve.

“A fight!’ cried Marilly. ‘‘ Who whip-
ped ?’



*Iias Mates a New Acquaintance. 67

‘* JT did,’ answered the boy firmly.

‘““O ’Lias, you’ve always been a trial,
but I didn’t think you'd go to fighting,”
moaned his mother.

Then Marilly made him go over the pro-
ceedings of the afternoon, while she smiled
gleefully over the recital.

**T just had a notion you’d let a baby
whip you, ’Lias.’”’ She looked at him al-
most admiringly. ‘‘I wonder if you could
whip Pauly Venty ?’

‘* He’s bigger than I am,”’ the boy said.

‘* He’s not so heavy,’’ insisted Marilly.

‘‘ Fighting’s a disgrace,” quavered Mrs.
Leveve.

““A boy’s got to fight sometimes.”’

** And a sin,’’? resumed the mother.

““T don’t like to fight, mother; don’t
worry,” said ’ Lias consolingly. ;

Marilly looked disappointed. ‘‘I’d like
you to whip Pauly. He said to-day that I



68 *Iias Makes a New Acquaintance.

looked like a turkey egg, and said you was
not worth your salt; that you couldn’t even
feed Father White’s horse.”’

A flash came into ’ Lias’ pale-blue eyes.

‘“‘Marilly, hush up!’ exclaimed Mrs.
Leveve. ‘‘I never saw such a girl, a-trying
to make trouble between friends.”

Marilly subsided, but kept up a running.
conversation of signals with ’Lias.

’Lias tried to avoid any conversation
about the fight, and hunted around until he
found a catalogue of plants, over which he
spent an hour, asking his mother about roses,
and telling her about Father White’s plants.

‘*’ve got some tea-roses,’’ mused Mrs.
Leveve, ‘‘ but they need fixing up and prun-
ing. I didn’t know you cared for flowers,
’Lias.”’

‘*T do though.”’

When eight o’clock sounded from the old
brass clock he picked up his belongings



*"Inas Makes a New Acquaintance. 69

and put them away neatly. His mother
was dozing in her chair. .

‘‘ Mother,’ called ’Lias, ‘‘ wake me,
won’t you, to start the fire?’

You?’ said Marilly.

““We’re growing old enough to help
mother. Father White says if we'd just do
little things we’d soon learn how helpful
we could be.”’

Marilly looked thoughtful.

““T don’t believe mother would let me
help,’’ she said.

‘“Don’t believe that,’ returned ’Lias, as
he closed his room door.

A slow rain set in through the night,
the fore part of which had been so clear
and beautiful. The steady rhythmic down-
pour smoothed all care creases from ’ Lias’
forehead. Never before had he found the
bed so comfortable nor the clean comforts
and spreads so warm and inviting.



%0 "Inas Makes a New Acquaintance,

The great clock in his mother’s room
was striking. ’Lias raised his head. One,
two, three, four, he counted.

‘*T can sleep an hour,’ he thought.
‘* Mother wants to be up at five.’’

He peered out the window; no sign of
day, not even the faintest streak of dawn;
but the rain was pouring down with a patter
on walks, in barrels, and in the cistern.

‘**Ugh !”’ shivered ’Lias, burying himself
in the covers.

It was not four, as he thought, but five
o’clock, and already Mrs. Leveve was plac-
ing her kindling in the kitchen stove.

When she awakened at five, her first
thought was to call her son when she heard
' the rain pouring down. She felt weak and
stiff of joints, but old habits asserted them-
selves.

“Dear me! 1 right just as well go at it;
I couldn’t sleep,” she thought.



*Iias Makes a New Acquaintance. 71

*Lias did not awaken again until the
dishes rattling brought to him some mem-
ory of work to do. He sprang from bed
and rushed into the sitting-room to see the
clock.

‘*Half-past six!” he cried. ‘‘ Mother,
why did you let me sleep ?”’

**Tt’s such a bad morning, and you can
come right in and eat. You won’t be

late.”
‘*Where’s Marilly?” ’Lias was half
afraid she would be up.

“‘T haven’t called her. Il just wait on
you, and let you get off to Father White’s.”’

*Lias was too hurried to enjoy breakfast.
He jerked on his coat, and picking up his
hat, was off, leaving his mother calling
about an umbrella.

If he walked quickly the morning before,
he ran now, a steady, splashing gait that
brought him to the priest’s house ten



72 *Lias Makes a New Acquaintance.

minutes before seven. He took the key
from the housekeeper in a business-like
way, and she told him that Father White
would be busy for some time, but that he
(Lias) was to come to the house in the
afternoon.

’Lias was very careful this time. He ar-
ranged the hay as the priest had shown
him, and put the corn and oats in their
separate boxes. Then he took the bay out
to the trough, and gave him his supply of
water. Ashe led the prancing animal back
he was astonished to hear a voice say :

‘* Hello! how long have you been work-
ing here 2”

‘‘T commenced yesterday,’’ answered
’Lias, wondering who the questioner could
be.

‘“* Ain’t that horse a beauty ?’’ exclaimed
the man with fervor.

“Yes, he is,’’ affirmed the boy.



"lias Makes a New Acquaintance. 4

“Td think Father White would be afraid
to ride such an animal, he bein’ kind of
staid and old.’’

“He knows Father White,’’ thought
’ Lias.

He led the horse on towards his stable,
but for some reason, try as he might, he
could not unclasp the catch at the door.
The man was over the fence in an instant.

“Pll open it,’’ he cried. ‘‘That horse
a-prancin’ that way, of course you couldn’t
open it.”’

He went in the stable and stared about
with curious eyes.

“‘That’s his saddle, I reckon, and bridle,
an’ all hung right to hand, an’ neat as neat
can be. An’ whata saddle! Fine? I just
reckon.” He investigated further. ‘‘ Road
cart, top buggy. Lord! how some folks
can have the fat of the land while beggars
starve.’’ He shook his head and scowled.



74 *Iias Makes a New Acquaintance.

‘‘T reckon Father White locks all this up
mighty securely.’

‘¢ Of course,’’ answered ’ Lias.

The man walked over and inspected the
door fastening. He laughed loudly.

“Just what I expected—worse than no
lock at all. I bet he uses one of those old
flat keys.”” He looked at ’Lias interroga-
tively.

‘‘Here’s the key,’’ answered the boy.
“‘T must lock up now.”’

‘*Temme see; I’ll lock the door,’’ said
the stranger. He laughed again. ‘‘ Yes,
easy to open as falling off a log.”

He put his hand in his pocket and started
towards the fence.

“Give me the key !’’ cried ’Lias.

“The key?’ The man looked aston-
ished. ‘‘ Why, did I put that key in my
pocket? How careless!’’ He pulled outa
handful of keys and looked over them care-



’Lias Makes a New Acquaintance. 15

fully. ‘‘ There you are,” he said at last.
‘Ts nearly like some of my keys. I had
to look sharp. Well, good-by—good-by.
Maybe I’ll see you again.’’ He went away
laughing.

*Lias knocked at the housekeeper’s door
and gave her the key.

‘Will Father White need me for any-
thing else this morning ?’ asked ’Lias.

‘““No; but be sure to come about two
o’clock this afternoon.”

‘¢T will,’’ answered the boy.

He saw the stranger far down the street
as he came out of the priest’s gate, and
when he turned into the one running home-
ward he saw the man going in at his moth-
er’s gate.

He came out directly and walked rapidly
towards the hollow that was given over to
negro cabins and dense groves of swamp wil-
low.



76 *Iias Makes a New Acquaintance.

‘‘Who was that man?’ he asked his
mother. |

‘“‘ Just a tramp,’’ answered she placidly.

“‘ That’s queer,” thought ’Lias.

He felt there was something to think out,
but he could not manage it, and finally for-
got all about it.

Up at the priest’s house the forenoon was
drawing to a close when there came a sick
call some miles out in the country.

Father White hastened to the stable after
hehad secured hiskey. Turnas he mightand
shake and rattle the clasp would not unlock.

‘This is not my key to the stable,’ he
called to the housekeeper.

‘“It is the one the little boy gave me, Fa-
ther,” answered the woman.

‘‘T'll get the one I keep in my desk,”’
said the priest. ‘‘It?slucky I did that. [m
always afraid of losing the other or having
it misplaced.”



’Inas Makes a New Acquaintance. 272

He was soon ready, and said: ‘‘ Tell my
boy to wait for me if ’'m not here before he
comes. ”’

’Lias came in early, and as the priest was
absent he cut up some few weeds about the
garden and tied up some vines lying on the
ground.

He.was busy quite awhile before he saw
the priest coming up the street. He hasten-
ed to open the stable-door, that he might
earn some word of praise.

“How did you happen to change keys
this morning?’ asked Father White. “A
nice time you gave me to get Bay Joe out of
the stable.”’

‘‘T didn’t change keys, Father,’’ answer-
ed ’ Lias.

The priest looked at him curiously.

‘‘T know,”’ muttered ’Lias ; ‘‘ it was that
man.”’

‘What man?’



78 *Lias Makes a New Acquaintance.

Slowly and by hard work, as he after-
wards said, Father White drew out the story
of the man who was so curious about the
horse and his belongings.

‘‘He kept my key, then, and gave you
one of his own,’’ mused Father White.

‘* He said the key was so like some of his
own, he couldn’t tell them apart, Father.”

The priest smiled. ‘‘TI dare say,’’ was his
comment. He studied awhile, then said:
**Lias, run ask your. mother if you can
stay all night with me. I may need
you, and you will, no doubt, see that man
again.”

Although he did not understand in the
least, he went dutifully. His mother was
quite excited over such an event as ’Lias.
being invited out for the night, and kept
him a good half hour to change his clothes
and to caution him how he should behave.

The priest had a bit of work laid out for



*Lias Makes a New Acquaintance, 79

*Lias. The rain had made the garden ready
for the cabbage plants and young tomatoes.
’?Lias went about the work slowly, but Father
White saw he was working conscientiously,
and so left him to look after the business
alone. The priest nailed up the outer door
of the stable that opened into the alley,
and ’Lias could not understand why Father
White should send him to lead Bay Joe to
a neighbor’s stable for the night.

*Lias was astonished when he sat down
to tea with the priest. Some dim percep-
tion of the epigram, ‘‘ We eat to live, not
live to eat,” filtered into his brain. He,
wondered if the Father was very poor. ’Lias
climbed up to the little room assigned him,
and the housekeeper showed him that one
of its doors opened into her room, if he felt
afraid. ,

‘*['m not afraid,’’ answered ’Lias ; “‘ but I
feel chilly.”



80 ’Iias Makes a New Acquaintance.

He missed the cheery fire his mother al-
ways kindled on cool evenings or in damp
weather.

He lay awake for a long time, and it
seemed to him he had not slept at all when
Father White stood over him.

‘‘ Come with me,” he whispered.

’Lias drowsily obeyed, not realizing where
he was.

‘“‘Shake yourself awake,” said the priest
as they went down-stairs, ‘‘and make as
little noise as possible.”

He blew: the light out and opened the door
cautiously. They kept in the shadow of
fruit-trees, and as ’Lias gathered his scat-
tered ideas he saw two men walking silent
as cats behind them. It gave him a start,
but Father White pressed his hand warn-
ingly.

They skirted the fence, and the two men
placed themselves to the left of the door.

~



*Lias Makes a New Acquaintance. 81

To his surprise ’Lias saw that the door was
slightly opened.

The priest and the men seemed to be lis-
tening intently, and ’ Lias listened also. He
heard something moving in the stable, and
presently a bump, followed by some words
growled out in a savage undertone.

There was a long silence, then a match
was scratched, and a faint glare of light came
through the door. There was an exclama-
tion of surprise.

Rapid footsteps sounded now, and a
man dashed out. His arms were caught
by the two men who were stationed at the
door.

“Ts this your man, Father White?” one
of them asked, as he opened a lantern slide
and turned the light upon the prisoner’s
face.

‘Ts this the man you saw this morning ?’
asked the priest of ’ Lias.



82 *Lias Makes a New Acquaintance.

‘** Yes, Father,’’ answered the boy.

The man looked at him spitefully. ‘‘ You
hain’t such a fool as ‘you looks to be,’’ he
said, grinning.

‘* We'll not keep you up, Father,” said
one of the men laconically. ‘‘ Good-night.””

The other paused. ‘‘ We will need you in
the morning awhile. We may get some
light on the many robberies going on for the
year past,’’ he added in a low tone.

Father White nodded. “I thought of
that,’’ he said.

If the priest slept that night ’Lias did
not, and in the morning he felt sick and
giddy.

Then he was up to give in his evidence,
which he did clearly, though he was half
*rightened to death. As he walked home he
found himself an object of much attention.

‘““That?s him a-comin’,”’ cried one boy,
who. had been used to fling mud and bad



’Lias Makes a New Acquaintance. 83

words at him. ‘‘See how swollen his eyes
are. Ill bet he had a hard time catchin’
that robber.’’

‘¢ That’s ’Lias Leveve,”’ explained another
boy to a youngster who was unknown to
?Lias. ‘‘ He’s been takin’ care of things for
the priest. Las’ night he heard a noise at
the stable, and there was a man leadin’ out
the priest’s horse. ’Lias grabbed him and
yelled, and the man tried to shoot him, but
’Lias caught his pistol hand, and some fel-
lers heard and run in just in time to save
him. I tell you he’s game.”’

Veley, the cobbler, came out of his shop
~ door wiping his hands on his leather apron.
He was a wiry, nervous old man.

“Shake hands!’ he cried’to ’Lias, peer-
ing over his spectacles. .‘‘ I kind a-thought
you daft in time past, but I see you have got
sand. You're brave, an’ have done us a pub-
lic good. I’m proud youb’ long to Millville.”



84 ’Lias Makes a New Acquaintance.

‘*T hain’t done nothin’,’? mumbled ’ Lias.

“True sign of greatness. A great man
never blows about it. Go home; I hear your
mother’s almost insane.”’

-Earlier Mrs. Hahn had turned her blue-
checked apron over her head and run
breathlessly over to Mrs. Leveve.

** Dear me!’’ she cried, ‘“‘I don’t believe
in leavin’ people unprepared for bad news.
Brace up, you poor woman! ’Lias has been.
hurt bad, but he hain’t dead.”

When ’Lias reached home the air resound-
ed with wailings, and he wondered why his
mother hugged him so frantically.

“And you're alive?’ asked Mrs. Hahn
disappointedly.

“T hain’t no idea of dyin’,” declared
Lias.



*Lias Tries to Huplain Circumstances, 85

CHAPTER V.
*LIAS TRIES TO EXPLAIN CIROUMSTANOES.

‘‘ WHERE did he hit you, dear?’ sobbed
Mrs. Leveve.

‘““ Who hit me? I haven’t been hit.’’

“You poor boy! and the only boy Ive
got, too,’? she wailed, not hearing ’Lias at
all.

“Mother, I tell you I haven’t been hurt,
nor hurt anybody, nor there hain’t nothing
wrong, ‘cept Pm hungry enough to starve.
I know I couldn’t be a priest; my health
would go in no time.”’

“‘ Mrs. Hahn said you was killed,” sobbed
Mrs. Leveve, looking at him cautiously.

‘*No,’’ corrected Mrs. Hahn; ‘‘I said he
was hurt, but not dead.”



86 ’Lias Tries to Hxplain Circumstances.

“Well, I hain’t hurt nor dead,” returned
Lias.

Mrs. Leveve recovered rapidly.

‘“*T know youre hungry. Come right
into the kitchen.’’

She looked at Mrs. Hahn somewhat con-
temptuously.

“Stay awhile, Marthy, [ll be in di-
rectly.”’

** No, I can’t; [left my breakfast dishes,”’
returned her neighbor, with a crimson face.
“Tm glad you are not hurt, ’Lias, ’m
sure,’’ she said.

‘**So am I, but I believe everybody’s gone
crazy.”

*Lias ate until he felt he could not safely
eat any more.

‘* Now I want to hear all about this talk,’’
said Mrs. Leveve. .

’Lias went carefully over the events of the
night and the previous morning



*Inas Tries to Hxplain Circumstances. 87

‘* Now you see, mother, I did not do any
great deed nor get hurt.”’

‘‘ What scandalizers some people can be!’
ruminated Mrs. Leveve. ‘‘ To think I gave
that villain one of my nicest coffee-cakes,’’

“*Té won’t hurt him, mother.’’

**T guess you'll be going to school Mon-
day, and not work for Father White ?’

*‘Tam going to school and work, too. I
wouldn’t give either one up. I’ve got one
sin, mother, I must get rid of or I can’t
accomplish anything, and Father White
keeps me stirred up. Hesays I can’t talk
properly, and that as long as Iam too lazy
to study I will be called stupid. If my
hands are soiled he makes me wash them,
or if Iam not neat any way, I know that I
must make myself presentable before I can
talk to him.”’

“But yowve always been so unhealthy.
There’s your heart always a-troublin’ you.”



88 ’Lias Tries to Explain Circumstances.

‘*T feel ever so much better than I ever
felt before.’ ’Lias laughed a little and add-
ed, ‘‘I think I was lazier than unhealthy,
‘ mother ; I never failed to eat.”

‘‘ That’s not alwaysa sign of health, hearty
appetites. Your grandmother took her six
cups of coffee and four or five eggs, not to
say anything about the biscuit and cake
she’d eat each meal, yet she never had a
well day.”’

*“No wonder,’’ laughed her son, as he
thought of his grandmother’s width and
weight.

‘*To-morrow I’m going into the class pre-
paring for First Communion,’’ said ’ Lias.

Mrs. Leveve sighed. ‘‘ It’s best, I guess.
I haven’t been in the chapel here for years,
but I reckon if you get to stirrin’ round so
as to help, that Pll try to get back in my
church again. Marilly’s set on taking les-
sons on the piano if the priest can have the



’Iias Tries to Huplain Circumstances. 89

Sisters here, so I reckon itll come out all
right.”’

‘‘ What's the good of Marilly taking mu-
sic lessons ?’ grumbled ’ Lias.

““Oh, they’re all sayin’ how well she
sings an’ all, and Miss Blethins thinks her
a real wonder ; says she’s so bright for her
age; says she’s equal to any of her age in
the cities. Miss Blethins knows, for she’s
lived in the city always. [ve seen her name
on programmes, too, in the church societies.
She sings mighty well.’’

‘“Music’s good enough in its place,’ said —
?Lias with an air; “‘ but what we need is
an actual living these times, and how to get
it is the question.”

“That's true,’’ murmured his mother.

“‘T heard Father White talking to a
farmer the other day, asking how he was do-
ing, and if he was putting in any crop. The
man said he intended planting nearly all his



90 ’Lias Tries to Hzplain Circumstances.

little bit of land in onions and Irish pota-
toes ; that onions always sold well, and that
there had been such poor potatoes raised for
two years, that a good price might be ex-
pected this year, if one could raise good
ones.”’

‘'Yes,’? murmured his mother as ’Lias
paused ; ‘‘ but what of that ?”’

‘¢ Tt’s that clover lot of an acre and a half,”
smiled ’Lias; ‘‘I want to put potatoes in it.”’

Mrs. Leveve held up her hands.

“What would I do with Star?’

-There’s the grass in the pasture along

the creek.”

‘¢ Tt’s so far to go to milk.”

“Tl bring her to you nights, and take
her out in the mornings.”’

She shook her head doubtingly.

‘Just think, mother”—’Lias talked very
seriously—‘‘ April is nearly over, and I had
best get them out in the dark of the moon;



*Lias Tries to Explain Circumstances. 91

that’s what that farmer said to do. School’s
out first of June, and [ll be idle and stupid
unless [have work todo. Father White says
he’s seen boys of my age support a small
family, and I’m not going to be.called a stu-
pid, lazy boy any longer. I can soon make
enough to pay for the ploughing of the
ground, and I know I can keep the weeds
out.”

‘We'll talk it over”’ Mrs. Leveve picked
up her cup towel. ‘‘I’ll have to see the
profit in it before I touch that clover field.”’

It was only a question of a few days until
she came to think as her son wished her to,
and if ’Lias had any desire to back out of

hard labor, he felt that he had literally
burned his bridges behind him. .

Jack Hahn’s father would break the field
up for the small price of a dollar a day,
and ’Lias thought it would cost him no
more than two dollars anyway. Just where



92 ?Lhas Tries to Explain Circumstances.

he was to find the seed was another ques-
tion. He did a large visiting among his older
acquaintances for two or three weeks, inter-
viewing about specialties in potatoes and
the planting of them.

Old men who had never thought of him
twice said that he was getting to be a likely
boy, and various odd jobs fell into his hands.

He had a dollar put by that he had earned
at Father’s White’s, but it was to pay for
the ploughing.

One day he was at the Mills grocery, with
the vexing problem in his mind of where was
he to get potatoes to plant.

“* See here, ’Lias,’’ said Mr. Mills, ‘‘ here’s
a man wants to trade off potatoes for
work ina truck patch. Maybe that’s your
chance.”

The man studied ’Lias. ‘‘I want a quick
and careful hand, to rise early and work
late.”’



*Lias Tries to Explain Circumstances. 93 —

“Tf Father White will let me off for two
days I will try to please you, sir.”’ ’Lias
spoke firmly.

** See about it quickly then; I want to be
leaving town in an hour.”

’Lias was forced to hurry as he had never
done before. The lazy ’Lias rebelled and
exclaimed, ‘‘What’s the use of all this
flurry? Mother’s not suffering. It’s just as
easy to live poor as to try to be always
pushing to make something.”’

Then the new ’Lias would argue: ‘‘ You
are growing up, and you’re ignorant and
poor. Yourchances are all passing. If you
don’t study you'll be a dunce; if you won’t
work you’ll never be anything but poor.”

Father White thought it a good plan,
and said some good words of encourage-
ment to the boy.

Il keep your place here for you,”’ he
called after ’Lias. .



94 ‘Lias Tries to Mxplain Circumstances.

As he sat in the farm wagon jolting along
the rough country roads, he felt very little
enthusiasm over his new venture. Mr.
Blaudet, his employer, was brusque and
overbearing. The weather was a little chill
for April, and as soon as the farm was
reached he was ordered to take out the
horses, water them, feed them, and report
for supper.

*Lias was unused to such work, and but
for a negro pottering about the stable would
_ have found it difficult to unharness the
team and be ready by the time the bell
clanged its call for supper.

The food was plentiful enough, but the
boy missed his dainty dishes that his mother
prepared so easily.

He could not eat much, and, rising, asked
to be excused.

“Can’t you eat our rations?’ asked
Blaudet roughly.



’Lias Tries to Haptavn Circumstances. 95

“Tm not hungry to-night,” answered
’Lias. .

‘‘Go into the kitchen and be cuttin’ po-
tatoes for to-morrow’s plantin’,” ordered
his employer.

*Lias shifted uneasily from foot to foot,
his face flushed, and he looked appealingly
at a Swede witha kind face who sat next
him at supper. He raised his eyebrows in
terrogatively, rising at the same time.

“‘ My appetite’s failed, too,”’ he said coolly.
‘One can’t eat much of such a rich repast.”’

Some of the men laughed, but the others
looked rigid; Blaudet frowned.

“Come on,’’ said Matthias to the bey ;
‘“‘there’s one time to do a thing here, and
that’s all the time.”’

In the kitchen were four barrels of pota-
toes.

‘This is our pleasant little recreation be-
fore bedtime. When we’re through we can



96 ’Inas Tries to Explain Circumstances.

sleep the sleep of the just. Don’t know
how? So I thought. Well, you’ve got a
mighty few minutes to learn in. Blaudet
will come out in no time. See,’’ and he
commenced with careful patience to show
the weary boy how to cut the potatoes to
please Blaudet.

‘He splits them 80,” he explained.
“That makes all the eyes on top in each
piece. You'll be expected to put them just
that way’’—he laid the cut upon the floor—
‘‘when you’re plantin’ to-morrow.’’

Lias gave it his best attention, and when
Blaudet came out directly he looked sharp-
ly at the work, but said nothing.

From time to time Matthias would put
his cuttings in ’Lias’ measure, with an en-
couraging word or smile.

Presently the Swede looked up at Blau-
det. *Lias was fast asleep, with’ his head
against his friend’s knee.















St. John’s Library
FENTON

Rules and Regulations _

1—Members of the parish only may draw i
books from the library. ; fi

1
2—Persons keeping a book longer than i
four weeks will be subject to a fine of five
cents for each week thereafter.

3—If a book is lost or damaged the
librarian shall refer the matter to the pastor i
who will assess the damage to be paid by
the parties guilty.

wc LL



The Baldwin Library

| University
mB 3
Florida







“« Tn an honest man’s yard again, are you ?’ asked the
squire, harshly. ‘And how will you get out ?’’—See
page 129.
AN HEIR OF DREAMS.

BY

SALLIE MARGARET O’MALLEY.

@

NEW YORK, CINCINNATI, CHICAGO:
BENZIGER BROTHERS,
Printers to the Holy Apostolic See.
BENZIGER’S JUVENILE SERIES
EACH VOLUME, 45 CENTS, SENT POSTPAID

THE GREAT CAPTAIN. By Katharine T. Hinkson.
THE YOUNG COLOR GUARD. By Mary G. Bonesteel.
THE HALDEMAN CHILDREN. By Mary E. Mannix.
Two LITTLE GIRLS. By Lilian Mack.

DIMPLING’S SUCCESS. By Clara Mulholland.

NAN NOBODY. By Mary T. Waggaman.

AN ADVENTURE WITH THE APACHES. By G. Ferry.
BIsTouRI. By A. Melandri.

A HOSTAGE OF WAR. By Mary G. Bonesteel.

FRED’S LITTLE DAUGHTER. By Sara Trainer Smith.
THE SEA-GULLS’ ROCK, By J. Sandeau.
JACK-O’-LANTERN. By Mary T. Waggaman.

AN EVERY-DAY GIRL. By Mary T. Crowley.
PAULINE ARCHER. By Anna T. Sadlier.

PANCHO AND PANCHITA. By Mary E. Mannix.

THE ARMORER OF SOLINGEN. By W. Herchenbach.
WRONGFULLY ACCUSED. By W. Herchenbach.

THE INUNDATION. BY Canon Schmid.

THE CANARY BIRD. By Canon Schmid.

Mary TRACY’S FORTUNE. By Anna T. Sadlier. :
THE GOLDEN LILY. By Katharine Tynan Hinkson.
RECRUIT TOMMY COLLINS, By Mary T. Bonesteel.
BUNT AND BILL. By Clara Mulholland.

AS TRUE AS GOLD. By Mary E. Mannix.

THE BERKLEYS. By Emma Howard Wight.

Bos oO’ LINK. By Mary T. Waggaman.

THE MYSTERIOUS DOORWAY. By Anna T. Sadlier.
LITTLE Missy. By Mary T. Waggaman.

By BRANSCOME RIVER. By Marion Ames Taggart.
THE MapcaP SET AT ST. ANNE’S. By M. J. Brunowe,
A SUMMER AT WOODVILLE. oy Anna T. Sadlier.

AN HEIR OF DREAMS. By S. M. O’Malley.

OLD CHARLMONT’S SEED-BED. By Sara Trainer Smith,
THE QUEEN’S PAGE. By Katharine Tynan Hinkson.
Tom’S LUCK-POT. By Mary T. Wagenmen.

‘THE BLISSYLVANIA POST-OFFICE. By M. A. TAGGART.
THREE GIRLS AND ESPECIALLY ONE. By M. A. TAGGART.
THE CHILDREN OF CUPA. By Mary E. Mannix.

THE DOLLAR HunNT. By E. G. Martin.

FOR THE WHITE ROSE. By Katharine Tynan Hinkson.
“JACK.” By a Religious of the Society of the Holy Child.
TOORALLADDY. By Julia C. Walsh.

THE VIOLIN MAKER. By Sara Trainer Smith.

THE BELL FOUNDRY. Otto von Schaching.

Dappy DAN. By Mary T. Waggaman.

A PILGRIM FROM IRELAND. By Carnot.

Corvricnt, 1897, ny BENZIGER BROTHERS
CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

PAGE

*Lias HAS A DREAM, .. : ‘ : . ‘; ng
CHAPTER II.

"Lirias Farts To SEE JACK, . : : e ; . 24
CHAPTER III.

*L14s SPENDS ANOTHER Busy Day, . ; : . 44
CHAPTER IV.

*Lias Maxes a New ACQUAINTANCE, js ;: - 65
CHAPTER V.

*Lias Tries TO ExPLAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, : - 85
CHAPTER VI.

*Lias Finps Lire a Dreary Dream, 3 : - 106
4 Contents.

CHAPTER VII.
PAGE

THE Boys Faut mnto A TRapP, . 7 : . 123

CHAPTER VII.

’Lras Leaves Homs, ror SCHOOL, . . . - 146

CHAPTER IX.

*Lias Vistts Home Oncz Mong, . . . - 160
AN HEIR OF DREAMS.

CHAPTER I.
*LIAS HAS A DREAM.

’Lias the lazy, ’Lias the good-for-nothing,
and ’Lias the dreamer, was dozing over a
slice of bread. |

It was an effort for him to eat when the sun
shone as it did to-day, and thesky was full
of a languorous haze, and the air sweet as
the Chickasaw plum-tree blossoms could
make it.

Vaguely he thought of his mother saying,
‘¢*Lias, when you eat your bread and butter,
get into the garden and weed the onion bed.
6 ?Tias has a Dream.

When I was young like you, I had to do
all work like that, and me a girl, too! Or
if I shirked it, I got switched. That -ion
bed is a disgrace to us. Don’t leave 1. in-
finished, as you always do everything.”

But the old stone step was warm and
sunny ; the bees droning in the plum blos-
soms hummed a lullaby. The bread fell
from the swaying hand, his head slipped
over against the door-step, and ’Lias slept
the sleep of the just and lazy.

’Lias’ mother brushed her skirts across
his face as she went on her way after spring
salad in the young wheat.

She poised her knife, and said, ‘‘ Well,
det him sleep. He is surely the stupidest
child, but he hain’t.bad, and he és always
meaning to do well.’’

’Lias’ dog lay down at the boy’s feet, and
with an occasional snap at flies and gnats, or
an exploring bee, he, too, fell asleep.
’Tnas has a Dream. si

It was all in a little country town, with
curious streets up hill and down hill; with
steps that led up to steps that led down;
where nature and craft had hung together,
and wild plum-trees bloomed behind the
main grocery, and the witnesses at court
hitched their horses to scrub oaks in the
court-house square.

The town had been asleep for many a year.
When the school-bell on the gray-roofed
academy began to ring on the first Monday

_ in September every inhabitant in the town

Ee

paused to hear, saying, ‘‘ School’s begun.”’
’Lias hated school. He would leave home

“early and arrive at school late, having stop-

ped to see the caterpillars, a dusty grass-
hopper, or to listen to the blackbirds or crows.

Then his teacher gave him tasks he never
finished. One day he was made to stand up
and given a slate until he wrote a certain
task forty times.
8 *LIias has a Dream.

“Now write,” said the disciplinarian,
***T am lazy.’ ”

You are lazy, you are lazy,’? wrote
’Lias over and over, and when a severer
punishment followed, he never knew why.

He didn’t care to read either, but some-
times he liked to hear his sister read her
jingles out of Mother Goose, or maybe he
fell to pondering over the queer little pic-
tures that bobbed about so unlooked for.

His sister would point her finger at him
and say,

“** Come, let’s to bed,’ says Sleepy-head.
‘Tarry awhile,’ says Slow,’’
and so on through the ill-mannered refer-
ence to gluttony, for ’Lias liked good vic-
tuals ‘‘ overly well,’’ as his father had said.

’Lias slept on and on that April morning,
and the weeds shouted for him; he heard
them, and his mother was sailing over the
tree-tops with a bundle of switches.
’Inas has a Dream. 9

Suddenly he awakened to a sense of com-
pany. A long, lithe fellow, with a merry,
wrinkled countenance was very actively
jumping backward and forward over old
Turk.

‘Who are you?” asked ’Lias slowly—he
always was slow in every way.

The fellow jumped ahead breathlessly.
**[T'm ‘ Jack-be-Nimble, Jack-be-Quick, Jack-
Jump-over-the-Candlestick,’’’ he said be-
tween leaps.

‘* What makes you do that this warm day?’

‘* My candle burned out and I grew fat, so
I took to jumping everything I came across.”
And away he went again.

“‘Does it make you lean?’ asked ’ Lias,
who had a roll of fat around his waist and
didn’ ¢ like it.

“Don’t it?” replied Jack, holding up a
whipcord leg. ‘‘ How’s that for constitu-
tional treatment ?”
10 *Lias has a Dream.

‘Dear me!’ mused ’Lias. ‘‘ Were you
ever fat?”

‘‘Bat? Fat as your grandmother.”

Now ’Lias’. grandmother weighed over
two hundred pounds.

“Don’t you ever get tired ?”’

‘Dear me! no. It makes me tired to
rest.””

‘““That?s funny,’ pondered ’Lias, think-
ing he ached sometimes from being quiet
in school hours.

‘‘ Turk will wake up directly,’ remarked
*Lias, ‘“‘just to hear Jack-of-many-names
talk.”’

“When he stands up I'll show you how I
can jump,” answered the queer, active creat-
ure. ‘‘My gracious self!’’ cried Jack sud-
denly ; ‘‘I forgot my business.’”’ He stop-
ped jumping, and hopped about restlessly.
“ You’re avery smart hoy, ’Lias, but you’re
rusting here; the queen wants to know

Za
*Inas has a Dream. 1]

‘something about you. I’ve got a bit of
work here for you, too. Everybody whom
‘the queen wants must finish some piece of
work before she gives them a place in her
kingdom.”’

‘Who is your queen ?”’ asked ’ Lias.

‘Why, Mother Goose, of course,” an-
swered Jack, looking astonished.

**Oh !’ gasped ’Lias at this queer reply.

‘Now here’s something she thinks in
your line. Here are some plants from
Mary’s garden—‘ Mary, Mary, quite con-
trary,’ you know. She neglected her gar-
den, and if you succeed in making a neat
show, your fortune’s made.”

‘‘T’m sure,’? stammered ’Lias, ‘that I
should like to try, but I never did any
gardening.”

‘What!’ exclaimed Jack. ‘‘Then you’ll
never learn earlier. All our great men be-
gin in the soil. .‘ Dig and delve,’ that’s a
12 ’Lias has a Dream.

motto for you. I myself used to render
sheep’s fat ; that’s not nice as gardening.’’

29

‘TJ ain’t very well, anyhow,’’ murmured
*Lias. ‘‘ Mother was sayin’ yesterday that
I needed a tonic.”’

Jack looked at him critically. *‘ You need
air and exercise,” he pronounced. ‘“What’s
healthier than working among plants? Be-
sides the pleasure——’”’

‘But I’ve got to go to school soon as I
’ get well,” excused the perplexed boy.

“To think of it!” stormed his tormentor.
“Pray, while vou’re getting well increase
your muscle, bring out your chest, draw in
your chin, so; and a light hoe, a few herbs,
and there you are healthy.”’

“Tl think of it,’’ said ’Lias.

‘‘Tam afraid you won’t do.” Jack shook
his head and jumped over a bunch of
marigolds and back again before ’Lias.

‘Come, now,’’ he said, ‘‘look at these
*Tias has a Dream. 13

bulbs. Here’s a plant that grows salad—
cold salad, ready for the table.” (Lias was
very fond of salads.) ‘‘ And here’s a seed
of sweet pickles, and here’s a dozen or more
plants of strawberry jelly. Here’s sage, it’s
a wise plant. Don’t say no; and if you
make half of these grow the queen will give
you a secret that will open all doors of wis-
dom and wealth to you.”

Now ’Lias was very wise about some
things; he had always wanted money.
First, to buy candy; then to have some of
his own. Bill Jones, a schoolmate, had a
dollar. Sometimes when his mother, whom
he loved and who was poor, wished for a
new dress or a package of coffee, *Lias
would crawl into a drowsy corner and dream
about being a man with a mustache a foot
. long, and earning a thousand dollars a day.
Sometimes he went forth, in his dreams,
and dug up a box that was filled with dia-
14 *Inas has a Dream.

monds and old coins, worth fabulous sums ;
these he brought and dutifully laid at the
feet of his mother.

If his mother grew angry, and said, ‘‘ You
hain’t worth powder to blow you away!
Get up and help me out with this tub of
water, ’Lias, you good-for-nothing thing !’’
he would amble obediently by her side,
slopping the water up and out with his
awkward movements.

‘* See now, you lazy child.”

“Tl be good,’ he would answer hum-
bly, as he saw her eyes blazing.

So when Jack spoke of wealth he caught
_? Lias’ ear. |

“Could I have plenty of money ?”’

Jack jumped nimbly over the grass fora
-minute, and brought back several dimes and
quarters. ‘‘ See!’ he said, with an attitude.
_ “Where'd you get these?” ’Lias put his

hands out.
ee re ae

’Inas has a Dream. 15

‘‘Why, I delved, I planted, and reap-
ed.”

“In that time ?”’

‘* Of course you couldn’t be as expert as

—

-am all at once,” amended Jack.

*Lias got upon his feet. |

* You're fat /’? said Jack with emphasis.

*Lias blushed. ‘‘I’ve been thinkin’ of
dietin’ to get rid of it.”’

‘‘Let’s jump,’’ said Jack. ‘‘It will do
it. Three to one you can’t stand and clear
Turk. One, two, three !”’

‘*T can’t jump,’’ stammered the boy.

‘“‘Four letters to spell ‘can’t,’ and three
letters spell ‘can.’ I guess your pa let the
trees grow when he was a-bringin’ you
up.””

“‘T’ve been whipped once or twice,’’ ad-
mitted ’Lias.

Jack twirled about on one leg, and
snapped his fingers. ‘‘Once or twice! I
16 *Lias has a Dream.

was whipped for eating, for being quiet, for
being noisy, for talking, for not speaking
when spoken to. Discipline is the thing
you need. Say”—he made a sudden jump
and buttonholed ’Lias—‘‘ what have you
got to do to-day ?’

‘‘ Why, I’ve got to weed the onion bed !”’
‘exclaimed ’Lias, glad to be rid of such an
energetic friend at any cost. ‘‘ Here I’ve
been a-foolin’ my time, and mother said
she’d switch me if I didn’t finish it.’’

Jack laughed. ‘‘ Where’s your mother’s
switches ?’

‘* She just sailed over the trees with some
awhile ago.”

‘Dear me!’ Jack looked serious.
_ Your mother must be quite clever. She
hain’t like you, is she ?”’

“‘T’m going to that onion bed,’’ answered
*Lias, moving off with more energy than he
had ever used in moving about.
?Inas has a Dream. 1”

‘‘ Say,” called Jack after him, ‘I'll leave
these plants right here.”

“Tl try them,’ answered the boy, look-
ing back.

‘‘ And say,” insisted the hopping creat-
ure, ‘““T’ll see you again;Tll keep an eye
upon you.”

’Lias was just pulling up the first rag-
weed when slap came some stinging thing
across his shoulders.

‘¢ Ouch !’’ he screamed, and jumped off the
door-step upon poor Turk, who howled
dismally.

_ © Where’s that onion bed? where’s them
weeds?” screamed his angry mother.

*Lias rubbed his eyes. The morning was
well along, and the dust was on the weeds
where dew had been when he fell asleep.

‘‘Mother, don’t whip me! I’m going!
I fell asleep, and Jack was talking to me.”

‘*T wish Jack Hahn would stay at home !”’
18 ’Inas has a Dream.

exclaimed the good woman. ‘‘If he’d let
you be you might amount to somethin’.”’
She was glad to find even so small an excuse
as her neighbor’s son to hang some of the
faults of her hopeful upon.

’Lias went at the onion bed with a will,
stopping now and then to try a jump over
the tall green tops, feeling carefully about
his ribs after each jump.

“‘T ain’t sure but it is a-doin’ good,”
he reflected.

He had finished five rows when along
came five girls from the public school. One
was his sister, another was a freckled, lank
girl he detested, two were the teases of the
playground, and the fifth was the angel in
blue calico and carpet matting hat who
*Lias adored, in a blind, inexpressible
fashion all his own.

His sister put her face against the crack
in the fence. ‘‘ Mary, Mary, quite contrary,
’Lias has a Dream. 19

how does your garden grow, with silver
bells and cockle shells, and pretty maids in
a row ?’

’Lias started; so Jack-be-Nimble had
said.

“Get along!’ he said with brotherly af-
fection, throwing an uprooted weed at her.
His face was red, but he bent to his task
with quiet oblivion as far as the other girls
were concerned.

‘*Hain’t ’Lias gettin’ fat?’ said the lank
one.

‘*He don’t eat anything at all,’’ said his
sister ; ‘‘ he just gobbles.”

‘* Well, he shows it,’’ chimed in the
teases.

He waited to hear the fifth comment, but
none came, and ’Lias felt a glow about his
heart, and thought certain he was over-
working himself. He couldn’t resist look-
ing at the charmer. She had her head side-
20 ’Iias has a Dream.

ways, with her forefinger in her mouth;
there was a critical look in her eyes and a
smile of suppressed force upon her lips.

That was the straw on ’Lias’ camel’s
back. He gathered his hat full of clods,
and while there was a whisking blue frock
in sight he did his best in aiming and in
hitting where he aimed. He expected to
hear of it, and so went sullenly back to his
onion bed with thoughts at random and
mechanical hand.

‘Well, I'll be switched!” he cried. ‘‘I
have finished that.’’

He felt light, and jumping over the rake
and a-water-can, he made for the house, with
Turk after him.

‘* Mother, I’m through !” he cried.

**No, you hain’t ; you never finished any-
thing in your life, onless it was your din-
ner.”

‘Come and see,’’ he insisted.
’Iias has a Dream. Qt

After a little grumbling she started, secret-
ly hoping he had finished it all right.

’Lias showed her the bed, with a dramatic
flourish.

His mother looked at it, a smile slowly
spreading over her face.

She fumbled in her pocket and put on her
spectacles ; she looked critically along the
rows.

‘‘ Nary a weed!’’ she cried cheerfully,
‘‘nor an onion tramped on. Here’’—she
gave him a worn-looking nickel—‘‘ now you
do all I tell you to do that way, and we
won’t have any more ‘ ouchs’ 1

*Lias stretched himself beside her as they
walked down the path between the tomato
plants. He remembered Jack’s advice ; he
drew in his chin and threw out his chest.

‘*T b’lieve them. beans are needin’ work,”’
he remarked airily.

‘*So they are, so they are!’’ cried his
22 °Itas has a Dream.

mother. ‘‘ You can do that this afternoon,
an’ after the sun gets cooler you can carry
the butter to the grocery.”

*Lias sank together, and his chin fell.

‘* What's wrong ?’’ inquired his mother.

‘That old feelin’ in my breast. I b’lieve
my heart’s out of fix. I felt all burnin’
around it while I was over them onions.”’

‘‘'That’s strange, your bein’ so onheal-
thy,” mused the fond mother. ‘‘T’ll give
you a dose of rhubarb to-night.”’

She lowered her voice. ‘‘ Maybe you’d
better say nothin’ about that bit o’ money.
Marilly would be a-tearin’ up the whole
garden in no time.’”?’ The good woman
laughed silently.

’Lias put his hand over the money.

‘Jack was right,” he thought. ‘“‘‘ Dig
and delve’ will make you money. Idon’t
mind if I do see him again.”’

Just before he went in he tried a leap
’Inias has a Dream. 23

over Turk’s back. He caught his toes and
rolled into his mother’s washtubs with a
great clatter.

‘“*What’s in that boy?’’ thought she;
‘throwin’ mud at the girls and hurtin’
Turk. I declare he must go to school.”’
24 *Lias Fails to See Jack.

CHAPTER II.
*TIAS FAILS TO SEE JAOK.

How ’Lias lived to clean the bean rows
- and to carry the butter to the grocery was
a wonder to him. Sometimes his throat
seemed closed, and wild visions of having
fits came to him.

‘* This heat is awful!’’? He rested on the
hoe and looked down the long street that led
to the depot. He saw the children playing
hop-scotch, and felt how much pleasanter it
was to play in the shade of the old elm
growing in the school-ground than hoeing
beans in the hot sun.

Some one tapped against the window.

‘Hurry up, ’Lias,” called his mother ;
‘Tm packing the butter.”’
*Lias Fails to See Jack. 25

He began again. His shoulders ached
and his hands were blistered.

“Tf I get through this I'll go to school
next week,” he resolved.

His mother came out presently with the
tin bucket neatly wrapped in a spotless
white napkin.

‘Don’t tarry on the road. The butter
is firm now, an’ I’m anxious for it to reach
Mr. Mills right away.’’

*Lias stepped away in his usual slouching
gait. His mother looked worried ; she saw
Father White, the village rector, coming
down the street.

‘‘Walk faster, dear,’? she said softly,
‘‘and Pll bake you a little pie for supper.”

Now these ‘‘little pies’? were ’Lias’ es-
pecial fancy. They were about the size of a
coffee saucer, and it was his custom to de-
vour them quickly, before his sister asked
' for any. He was a very selfish boy.
26 ’Lias Fails to See Jack.

If he had looked behind him he would
have travelled faster, for pies or money or
candy could not have the power to move
him that Father White had.

But he did not see him. The priest’s
light step did not reach his ears. He
was thinking over his conversation with
Jack-be-Nimble. The conversation seemed
real, and he felt inclined to look after
the bulbs that Jack had bestowed upon
him.

“T guess I'll get a chance yet to see
what the queen wants,” he murmured.

A light. touch fell upon his shoulder.
He looked about, his face flushed, but he
pulled off his hat and said huskily :
~ €€Good-evenin’, Father.”’

‘*Good-afternoon, my boy. Why are you
out of school ?”

**T hain’t been well,’ said ’Lias.

Father White smiled. The plump figure
°Tnas Fails to See Jack. 24

and rosy countenance seemed poor certifi-
cates of bad kealth.

‘*1’m well now, but mother needs me.”’
’Lias understood the Father’s smile.

‘*T suppose you’re a great help to your
mother ?”’ continued the priest.

*Lias thought over this. ‘‘I weeded the
onion bed and hoed the bean rows to-day ;
but—I feel awful sick when I work in the
sun. I’ve got some trouble in my chest.’’
He put his hand upon his shirt front very
pathetically. |

“But you ought to get along in your
studies. You’re growing to be a great boy,
and I dare say now you couldn’t tell me
what form of government we live under,
could you ?”

‘* Qh, yes, Father,’’ said the boy.

** Well, and what is it ?”

‘‘Chaos, Father,’’ was the firm answer.

‘* What?’ cried the astonished priest.
28 ’Iias Fails to See Jack.

‘‘Here it is, right here, Father,” and
’Lias tore off a corner of the paper that pro-
truded from under the napkin. It was a
part of an editorial in the Weekly View.
The boy put his finger on a line, and the
perplexed priest read, ‘‘ The Government in
its present form ts chaos.”’

‘See, Father,” said ’Lias persuasive-
ly.

Father White studied the boy earnestly ;
he tilted the round head back and said,
*“My son, you’re a very stupid boy, or a
very naughty one.”’

*Lias rubbed his eyes and commenced to
whimper.

““That’s the way for babies!’ cried the
priest impatiently. ‘‘ Tell me, why are you
never up for instructions 2?”

The boy looked about vaguely. He tilted
on one foot, and then tried the other.

“Why ?” insisted Father White.
’Lias Fails to See Jack. 29

‘Well, it’s first one thing and then an-
other, Father.”

‘‘Now promise me one thing, that you
will be at the chapel Sunday at half-past
eight. There’s a class up for instruction,
and you must come.”’

““T will, Father,’ said ’Lias earnestly.

The priest turned to go. A look on the
face turned upon him was pathetic. There
were dirty rings about the eyes and a sus-
picious redness of the lids.

Father White took a begrimed hand in his
own.

‘‘Tell me,’’ he said—‘‘tell a lonely old
priest that’s just worrying over you what
you’ve been crying about.”’

*Lias broke forth afresh, and as the
priest had one hand and the butter the |
other, the clear tears dripped and flowed
across his ruddy cheeks and fell to the
grass along the street.
30 *Lias Fails to See Jack.

“Pm stupid, I’m lazy. Everybody says
so. I don’t like to work when it’s so hot.
I don’t know fractions, and I can’t remem-
ber nothin’. I’m always bad, and how can
IT come to church ?”

‘“Now, now,’’ consoled Father White.
“‘See what a lovely spring day, and now
you’re almost done your tasks you’ll have
time to think of something I’m going to
tell you. What will you do when you are
grown up like— like Mayor Mann ?”

‘“‘That’s a long time away, Father,’’ mur-
mured the boy.

““No. How old are you? Thirteen ; then
five years more will find you eithera good
young man or a bad and wicked one. Who
will support you then? Surely not your old
mother, whom you could help even now. If
you are idle, then you will drift about a vaga-
bond, a tramp, a heartbreak to your mother,
a disgrace to me, and a prey for the evil one.”
*Lias Fails to See Jack. 31

_ “Oh, Father !” cried ’Lias.

‘* Learn now to do all your little duties
carefully. Look at your mother’s work, see
if you cannot help carry a bucket of water
or rub a few clothes. The sin of sloth will
soon disappear. Now here is my street.”’

’Lias raised his cap, and the priest turned
away.

“‘Say,”’ he called after the boy, ‘ would
you like to earn a dime every day ?”’

The child’s eyes glistened. Father White
needed no other answer.

‘*Come up at seven o’clock in the morn-
ing, and I will show you how to feed and
water my horse.’’ =

*Lias walked off nimbly. He had a sense
of responsibility.

“T owe that Jack something,’’ he thought ;
“he’s brought me luck.’

He reached the grocery safely, and after
the grocerman attended to his needs he gave
82 *Iias Fatls to See. Jack.

’Lias three or four bits of candy—something
very unusual. .

The boy’s eyes shone, but with character-
istic slowness he went out without thanking
- the man.

Mr. Mills put up his candy jar, thinking
on the lack of politeness some young Ameri-
cans evidenced, when the door flew open
and ’Lias stuck in his head.

“Say, Mr. Mills, thank you for that~
candy,” and he was off again.

Mr. Mills laughed. ‘That boy is a
stupid, sure,” he said.

’Lias came home by way of the school, and, ©
as he hoped, who should be coming out but the
blue frock of the girl he especially admired.

‘* Say, Jennie,”’ he called softly.

She turned her'blue eyes on him and said
reproachfully, ‘‘ Hain’t you ashamed to
speak to me, ’Lias? See how you made me
tear my apron.”’
*LIias Fails to See Jack. 33

*Lias hung his head and passed on. His
feet grew heavy and his chin fell.

‘‘There’s no use in a fellow tryin’ to be
good here,’’ he thought.

Jennie pattered on béhind him.

“*T got excused at half-past three,’’ she re-
marked. ‘‘T’ve got to mind baby while
mother bakes.”

’Lias grunted an unintelligible answer.

“I’ve got so many books to carry, they
just tire me,’ hinted Jennie; but it was
lost on her hearer. He walked on clumsily.

‘* Lias,”’ called Jennie softly, ‘‘do carry
my books.”’

He turned, his face glowing.

“Certainly! Was that what you meant?’

The little girl nodded.

“Say, I didn’t hurt you to-day, did I?
1 didn’t aim at you.”

““No; but you hit Rosy Winn in the ear,
and she says she can’t hear good.”’
34 ’Iias Fatls to See Jack.

“‘T don’t care !’’ said ’Lias ungallantly.

‘But you ought. Teacher says a gentle-
manly boy wouldn’t be guilty of such
deeds, and I want you to be a gentleman;
sides you tore my apron.”’

“* How ?” asked the bewildered boy.

“Tran because I was afraid you'd hit me,
and I caught the apron on a nail in the
paling. I guess mother’ll scold me.”’

“‘T’ll tell her I done it,’ answered ’Lias
tenderly. ‘‘I don’t mind gettin’ whipped.’’

Jennie laughed. ‘‘ Mother don’t whip
me ; she lectures.” .

‘*Not even if you shirk work and les-
sons ?”’ asked ’ Lias in amazement.

“‘T don’t shirk work,’”’ said Jennie. ‘It’s
wrong, and I like my lessons.”

‘‘ Where’s my class now ?”

‘‘They’re on the one hundredth page in
arithmetic—that analysis page about car-
pets and rooms.”’
?Iias Fails to See Jack, 35

*Lias groaned.

“*T can’t keep up with them,” he said.

“Then if you are turned back you'll
have to go with Sammy Whitehead and all
the little boys. Teacher said yesterday she
wasn’t going to make any new classes.”’

‘Jennie, I’m going to come, but I ain’t
going to study figgers.”’

‘Your class in grammar is over in com-
position. They had a beautiful lesson to-
day, and the teacher let the primary class
give words for the higher class tc make
sentences out of.”’

“‘T never was much on that,’’ confided

>Lias.
*T turn off here. Good-by, ’Lias.”’
** Good-by, Jennie.’’ ’Lias walked on un-

til he reached a fence-post.

‘* Say, Jennie, here’s something belongs to
you,”’ called the boy.

Jennie paused. ‘‘ What is it ?’ she asked.
36 *Iias Fails to See Jack.

‘Come and see ; it’s on the post.’’

He commenced to trot, and Jennie found
six small pieces of candy on the fence. ’Lias
looked back; she was looking after him
with a happy face.

‘Thank you,’’ she called. He waved his
hand, and in a minute he was at home.

‘‘ What did you buy 2?” asked his mother,
after she had examined her purchases.

’Lias looked ashamed, ‘‘I forgot I had
it.”

‘* You'll have it the longer,” laughed his
mother.

‘How fast the day is going!” remarked
his sister, coming in from school. ‘‘ I was
kept in fifteen minutes about my arithme-
tic, mother.’’

*‘T wish I could help you some at home,
but I can’t,” sighed her mother.

‘*T have one example to study out, and
then I will be free.”’
’Iias Fatls to See Jack. 3%

“What will you do then?” asked ’Lias
with unusual interest.

‘‘Why ?”’ inquired his sister in return,
surprised that ’Lias the stupid should ask
questions at all.

*°Cause I want to tell you something.’’

‘‘T can hear it now,’’ said she eagerly.

‘“No; you get that example, and then
come out on the step.”’

He ambled away to his favorite seat, in-
tent on his own thoughts of the morning,
when his mother said :

‘*°’Lias, I’m so tired this evening that I
wish you’d bring me a bucket of water.’’

There was a quaver in his mother’s voice,
as if she was afraid he would refuse. He
sighed, but then the good Father’s words
came in his mind, and he turned, saying :

“Tf you'll just call me, mother, I’ll get all
the water.”’

“* Did you ever?” she cried to her daugh-
38 *TAas Fails to See Jack.

ter. ‘‘’Lias is that changed, just since this
morning.”’

To be sure he spilled some water on her
spotless floor, and stamped his feet on a
favorite cat, but his mother swallowed the
words that came, and said instead :

“You're a great help to-day, ’Lias.”’

He went on out to the step, and calling
Turk, they settled down again, dreaming in
the closing day.

To him the evening came with a sweet-
ness he had never known before.

How white the plum-tree was in the
gloom! What ahome sound the old wooden
pump had when he had brought the bucket
of water! And there was old Star ‘‘ mooing’’
at the draw-bars, her bell faintly tinkling.
Inside the house he smelled the tea as it
simmered for supper, and the odor of the
coffee-cake his mother took pride in bak-
ing mixed in with the plum scent and the
*Iias Fails to See Jack. 39

daffodils, with their buff hoods shining in the
grass.

‘‘ A great boy some day’’—Father White
had said so—and at work to support his
mother and sister.

He began to make plans at once, but his
slow way of arriving at conclusions did not
prompt him to take the pail and milk the
- cows when he saw his mother walking wear-
ily to the milking lot. Instead he put his
head into his hands and dreamed and
dreamed—impossible things. Thinking how
he wished Jack and the candlestick were real
things.

Presently his sister sat down by him. ‘I
solved my example, and I have put my dish-
es on the table, and supper is all on waiting
for mother to comein. Now you can tell me
that something.” .

*Lias turned about eagerly. ‘‘ ’'m a-going
to work to-morrow. I’m going to feed and
40 *Iias Fails to See Jack.

water Father White’s horse every morning
at seven, and I’ll get a dime every day.”

‘*Oh!’’ exclaimed his sister. ‘‘ But what
made him take you? I’d think——”’ She
stopped, as if a conclusion of the sentence
might make trouble.

“He did though!’ cried ’Lias proud-
ly.

‘* What will you do with your money ?””

“‘T don’t know,” answered the boy, “‘ just
yet. 1 guess I’ll give you a nickel now and
then.”’

“Vl be so glad. I need a bottle of ink
now, and I can’t ask mother, I know she’s
got to pay out so much.”’

’Lias put his hand over the nickel in his
pocket. He could hardly make up his mind
to give it to his sister, for he had resolved on
buying Jennie a little present.

“* Say,” he said hurriedly, ‘‘ don’t ask me
any questions, an’ I’ll give you a five-center.”’
*Iias Fails to See Jack. 41

‘Only one?’ answered his sister, with
raised hand. ‘‘ Did you steal it ?”

‘*No!” screamed ’Lias. ‘‘ Me steal !”’

‘“*Then Pll take it.”’ And as the money
touched her palm, ‘ Thank you.’’

‘“ Supper is ready,’’ called their mother.

‘“‘T'm so hungry, mother,’’ said ’Lias,
“I could chew anything.’’

““You’re always hungry,’’ laughed his
sister.

He noticed when the pies were passed in
some quaint little blue plates, with pictures
of Dublin upon them, that his sister and
mother had a pie apiece, while he had two.
His first thought was how nice they were,
and then a notion of his selfishness crept
into his thoughts. He cut the last pie in
three pieces, and rising, he put a piece in
each plate.

“That’s fair,” he said, smiling.

es Something has come over ’ Lias,’’? mur-
42 ’Inas Fails to See Fack.

mured his mother, but she took the little
squat cream jug and poured him an extra
allowance over his pie.

Then there came the cooling evening,
when the single lamp sent out a merry
twinkle from the white, drawn curtain ;
when the big jar of flowers under his fa-
ther’s portrait filled the room with per-
fume; when his mother sat in her cane-
seated rocker and darned the stockings.

Marilly, his sister, swung in her chair,
thumbing her book of Mother Goose:

“‘ See saw, Margery Daw,
Johnny shall have a new master ;

He shall have but a cent a day,
Because he can’t work any faster.’’

How the words hung in ’Lias’ ears! He
moved about collecting his books. His
- mother watched him placidly.

“Tt looks like somebody was going to
school,”’ she said.
*Inas Fails to See Jack. 43

‘*Tf you don’t care,” answered ’Lias
humbly, ‘I will be glad as ever I could be.

‘* Mother,’’ said ’Lias, as he opened the
door to his little room, ‘‘ will you wake me
. early? I want to go up to Father White’s.”

‘* Dear me,”’ cried the old lady in a flut-
ter, ‘‘ what is he going to do?”

Marilly told her, and her mother took off
her spectacles to dry them.

‘Tf ’Lias does grow up good I'll be a
happy woman.”
44 "Lias Spends Another Busy Day.

CHAPTER III.
*LIAS SPENDS ANOTHER BUSY DAY.

Tras did not need any one to wake him
the next morning. For the first time in his
life he saw the sun rise, and felt that he
could not stay longer in bed.

He had a notion of how he could sur-
prise his mother by having her fire ready.
He slipped out very quietly, dressed him-
self, and just had a roaring fire in the stove
when who should walk in but his mother
with her milk and cups.

Her skirts were wet with dew, and her
thin hands were blue with the chill air of
an early spring morning.

She was surprised to see the fire, and said
so as she hovered over the warmth.
> Inas Spends Another Busy Day. 45

‘“‘ How early do you get out of bed, moth-
er?’

“T try to get my milking over by half-
past five, but I’m out of bed by five.”

‘¢ And Marilly and me sleep until haltf-
past six, when you call us to breakfast.”’ -

‘‘Tt?s an old sayin’ that children need
more sleep than old people,” answered his
mother, smiling.

*Lias noted the chill fingers and the wet
shoes.

“Do you like getting up early, moth-
er ?”

“‘ Now you are askin’ close questions ; but
to tell.the truth, it needs all my work to
bring me out of bed early these mornings.
Some way I don’t sleep good in the fore part
of the night, my knees hurt so.”

‘Lias straightened up and caught sight of
himself in the looking-glass above the wash
sink. It gave him a pang. He did not look
46 ’Iias Spends Another Busy Day.

like the other boys. He was fat and lumpy.
His coat had all the dust and soil of yes-
terday upon it. One suspender was broken,
and his shirt-collar was inside next to his
neck. His hair was long enough to twist;
the boys had told him so often, but he had
never noticed it.

' He picked up the water-pail and went to
the pump.

‘* Here’s water, mother,’’ he called cheer-
fully.

‘““Why, this is a reg’lar treat,” she an-
swered.

He searched about for soap, and filling
the bowl, he scoured himself thoroughly.

‘* Mother, how can I get my hair cut ?”’

‘* Why, I used to ’tend to it. But I’ve so
much work to do now, that I don’t know .
when Ill get time.”’

‘Tf I hurry home from Father’s will you
show me how to help, so you can have time
*Lias Spends Another Busy Day. 4”

this evening? And, mother, please give me
my Sunday shirt.’’

“Child alive!’ exclaimed the startled
mother ; ‘‘I never heard you talk so much
in my life.’’

Presently breakfast was ready, and Marilly
was called. She came downsleepily, rubbing
her eyes to find ’Lias with coat and trousers
brushed, his shoes shining, a white shirt
on, and his hair plastered tightly behind his
ears with vigorous brushings.

‘“‘What’s the matter with *Lias?’’ she
asked in amazement.

*Lias pointed a fat forefinger at her and

chanted :
‘Zany, Zany, Zaddle Pate
Went to bed early,
And got up late.”’ .

‘Well, yow never could say that before,”’
growled Marilly.
‘Come, children, this morning is too pleas-
48 *Inas Spends Another Busy Day.

ant to me to have you quarrel. See what
lovely eggs old Buff gave us for breakfast ;
they’re white as snow, and we’ve two apiece
and a bit of toast. Then it will soon be
time for ’Lias to be at Father White’s.”’

‘I think everything has an extra taste
this morning, mother ; don’t you ?”’

‘“T’ve got a notion so; but I haven’t
made out the reason.”’

““‘T know why ’Lias finds everything
good,”’ said Marilly.

‘““ Why?’ asked her brother innocent-
ly.

‘* Because you washed your face,’’ an-
swered his sister sharply.

For a minute war was near, but by judi-
cious side talking Mrs. Leveve brought back
peace.

‘What do you suppose we have in the
hay-mow this mornin’ ?”’

The children could not guess, and she
"Inas Spends Another Busy Day. 49

said, ‘‘Old Domineck has five chicks, just
out of the shell.”

'Marilly dropped her fork, and away she ran
to see the newcomers. ’Lias came to his feet
slowly, intending to see them, too. His
mother held up a warning finger and looked
at the clock.

**T’ll be switched !” exclaimed ’Lias. ‘* A
quarter to seven.”’

He looked disconsolately at an egg and
the firm, yellow butter, but finally he was off
and walking at a fair pace.

** Look-a-here!’’ cried Jack Hahn to
Johnny Dillon ; ‘‘ see old puddin’-legs a-trav-
ellin’. Ill bet there’s somethin’ good to eat
at the other end o’ the track.’’

‘* Let’s foller him,” said John eagerly.

They scuttled down the street, imitating
’Lias as he hurried on in his waddling way.

‘* Hello !”? called Jack Hahn. ‘‘ Your legs

are runnin’ away with you.’’
50 *Lias Spends Another Busy Day.

’Lias did not answer, but his face flushed
when Dillon laughed.

‘‘ Take time, sonny,” said the latter pom-
pously.

*Lias turned off into the long grass-grown
street towards the Father’s house.

«“ Where are you a-goin’?”’ cried Jack
Hahn in surprise.

‘“T’m goin’ to Father White’s ; won’t you
go?’ But they were gone. Beside being a
little afraid of Father White, they were de-
cidedly quarrelsome about their views of re-
ligion, and called the Catholic school-children
‘‘ cat-lickers,’’ while the latter called them in
return ‘‘ pig-eaters” and “‘ fire-eaters.”’

“‘T see,’ said ’Lias to himself, ‘‘ that
I must keep close watch or I shall fail
somewhere in my promises to do bet-
ter.”

Father White was standing on his door-

“step, with one eye studying his plants and

“%
*Inas Spends Another Busy Day. 51

the other on the lookout for ’Lias, for he
said, as the boy turned the corner :

‘*Oh, here you are; and have you had
breakfast? Yes?’

He broke off a rosebud and handed it ‘to
> Lias.

“A few flowers make good companions,
and give one healthy employment beside.”’

The boy thought of wonderful Jack-be-
Nimble.

Suddenly he said to Father White, ‘“‘ Fa-
ther, do you have any faith in dreams ?”

“Oh, yes, my child; the same faith I
have when I’m awake, I’m sure.”’

‘**T don’t mean that, Father. Do you
think dreams ever come true ?”’

The good priest looked at him with a quiz-
zical smile.

‘* You’ve been eating too much for supper,
and have suffered the penalty. But—my
_ horse has not breakfasted.”’
52 ’Lias Spends Another Busy Day.

’Lias started ; he had allowed himself to
fall to pondering over nothing right under
Father White’s eyes.

‘“T’m ready, Father,’’ he said.

He was really afraid of the tall bay horse
that turned his head from side to side to
watch every movement the boy made.

The priest stood watching them a minute.

“T think you’ll do. Now be careful in
leading him to his water-trough and do not
frighten him, or he will break away from
you and give us trouble.”

>Lias went on correctly enough. He took
the halter and led the horse out of the
stable to the well. As he tried to pump the
animal thrust its nose impatiently against
his arm, and the restless feet beat fiercely
against the ground. ’Lias raised the halter’s
end and slapped the horse’s nose; he reared
up, jerking the strap from the boy’s hand,
and started on a plunging run about the
*Lias Spends Another Busy Day. 53

priest’s garden and yard. ‘The boy ran
frantically after him, but he saw the salad-bed,
the onions, and the young tomato plants
crushed down, and, to his horror, he saw
that the horse had jarred open the gate that
led to the Father’s flower-beds.

Away went the tearing hoofs, and as soon
as ’Lias could he ran around to head him
off. He almost screamed when he saw the
rare pink tea-rose uprooted and dangling
from the bay’s mouth.

‘““Hey, there!’ cried a stern voice, and
Father White ran out in great excitement.
“What does this mean?’ he asked ’Lias
severely.

“He jerked away from me,’’ answered he,
with bent head.

The priest spoke to the horse quietly, at
the same time approaching him. He caught
the halter with a firm hand, and, leading the
horse to the stable, fastened the door securely.
54 *Inas Spends Another Busy Day.

*Lias was still standing by the flower-
beds. All his dreams were gone. He had
been careless, had broken his promise, and
now Father White would never let him help
him again. He thought once of going away
and not even saying one word of apology,
then his eyes saw the poor torn rose-bush.
He took his knife, removed all the broken
branches, straightened out the roots, and
with careful hands replaced it firmly in its
former home.

He was not aware that the priest was
watching him, until a kind voice ex-
claimed :

‘* There, that has saved you. If you can.
do that so well and carefully, you can be of
use.”’ .

*Lias stood up and said tremblingly :

‘‘ Father, I hit the horse on the nose. I
forgot what you said.”

“Ah! ’Lias, these ‘ forgots;’ if we could
’Inas Spends Another Busy Day. 55

just put them out of our lives, how much
more perfect our lives would be !’

The boy looked up. Father White’s eyes
"were lifted to the deep blue of the western
sky, and were filled with a look of pathetic
earnestness.

‘‘We all forget many things,’ he con-
tinued, ‘‘and I shall not be too severe.”
He laughed. ‘I shall punish you by insist-
‘ing that you attend Mass.”

He went to the chapel, and ’Lias, after he
had arranged some other torn plants, went
reluctantly enough to Mass.

He was wanted again after that was over,
and his new friend pointed out to him some
plants he wanted removed to other beds.
*Lias listened attentively, and went about
his work slowly and carefully.

It was nearly ’Lias’ dinner-time when the
work was finished. He stood on the walk
a minute, hesitating about telling the Father
56 *Iias Spends Another Busy Day.

he had completed his task, but finally ven-
tured into his study, and said, ‘‘Is there
anything more, Father ?’

The priest looked at him kindly. ‘No,
not to-day ; but come to-morrow; a little
earlier, if possible, would suit my horse’s
appetite better. I’ve been looking at you
now and then as you bedded my plants, and
Iam pleased with you. To-day we will settle
with this, and do not spend it foolishly.”
He laid a new, shining silver quarter of a
dollar in ’ Lias’ hand.

“All this, Father?’ he cried joyous-
ly.

“That is little enough,’’ laughed the

priest ; ‘‘ but you see I’m not rich.”
_ ’Lias returned home speedier than he went
away in the morning, and, I am sorry to say,
almost made himself sick by eating an enor.
mous amount of victuals.

He felt stupid after, but it did not keep
"Inas Spends Another Busy Day. 5Y

him from asking his mother every five min-
utes :

** Ain’t you glad I’m making money ?”’

He called Turk after awhile, and together
they strolled through the clover lot to a
sunny place ina corner by the stables. ’Lias
made believe to be hunting rats as busily as
Turk, but it was not long before he was
sound asleep, with Turk snuffing and growl-
ing under the stable-sill.

It was no wonder, then, that Jack-be-
Nimble found him so easy, but he cried:
“Tm really tired trying to keep up with you.
Tm so tired I can’t jump. I’ve got news for
you. Our queen, who knows everything,
has great hopes of you. She thinks you’d
better turn your attention to finances alto-
gether. We need a new financier in the
kingdom.”’

’Lias stared and asked, ‘‘ What is a fine-~-
fine——?’
58 *Zias Spends Another Busy Day.

‘* Financier,’’ completed Jack. ‘It’s a
man to look after our money, a real clever,
thoroughly honest man. It’s quite a re-
sponsibility, I can tell you. I had control
of it once, but fell under the queen’s dis-
pleasure by misplacing a sixpence. The
books wouldn’t balance, and for awhile I
was in great distress, and they had just
sent for the chopper to chop off my head,
when along came the crooked man who
found the crooked sixpence, and it was
the missing one, so, of course, my honor
Was vindicated ; but really it’s a place for
a person of more than ordinary capacity
for thought.”’

’Lias felt proud, and said so.

‘Well, you may feel that way; but it’s
an unanswered question to me whether the
honor and profit pays one for so many weary
years. Dear me! I must have been chief
financier for fifty years.”
*Lias Spends Another Busy Day. 59

“Is the queen very rich?’ asked ’ Lias,
feeling after his quarter. :
‘“Dear me, yes,’’ cried Jack, beginning
to grow restless in the absence of his usual
exercise. ‘‘ There’s all the eggs of gold that
she recovered, and the rings the old woman
wore at Banbury Cross, the crown that King
Arthur wore when he made the famous pud-
ding, and—well, really, I think I’m telling
court secrets.”’ And he put his finger on
his lip.
‘** But I shall have to know anyhow if I
take care of it,’’ insisted the boy.
“That’s so,’ said Jack thoughtfully.
** But how do you like work? Isn’t it true
that you can pick up money by being care-
ful to keep your eyes open as you dig and
delve ?”
‘*T made a quarter to-day,’’ smiled ’ Lias.
“‘ Now that’s success. ‘Dig and delve,’
that’s a motto. There’s a fellow with us
60 =.’ Lia Spends Another Busy Day.

now who has a heap of money because he
picks up what other people drop. He even
saved the courtesy that the maiden dropped
on Primrose Hill. Oh, he zs saving!”

** I'm going to work for the Father to-mor-
row, too,”’ said ’ Lias.

“* See,” cried Jack, ‘if 1 hadn’t a-set you
to thinking about stirring around you
wouldn’t be off the door-step yet. But
stay !’—Jack struck another attitude—

_‘“you’re not so fat. You’re growing thin.”

‘*T do hope so,’’ answered the boy earnest-
ly.

‘‘But that head,’’ resumed Jack sadly,
“that hair! You must really journey over
our way. We've gota barber there, a kind
soul, who shaves pigs, and charges only a
pinch of snuff. I dare say he’d fix your
head in no time.”’ .

**Mother’s going to cut my hair,’ an-
swered ’ Lias.
’Iias Spends Another Busy Day. 61

‘“‘That’s prudent,’’ said the restless little
man, ‘‘and saving. You won’t have to pay

her anything.”

This sounded unpleasant to ’Lias, and he
thought to himself, ‘‘ I wish he’d go.”

* And so I will,’ snapped Jack instantly.
‘*T can hear what you think; but Ill see
you later.’’

The boy looked after him as he leaped
over weeds and rails and stones, until a great
leaf got in the way and he was lost sight of. —

He thought a long time, but all the time
somewhere near he heard low laughter and
suppressed giggles. There was something
awful crawling about his neck, but his
hands would not obey him. He tried to call
out, but no sound came. Nearer around to
his ear came the awful, crawling thing. He
made a great effort, and leaped back into
wakefulness and every-day life, and there
was Jack Hahn giggling on the fence.
62 *Znas Spends Another Busy Day.

*‘T’ve been a-ticklin’ your neck an’ nose
fur an hour,’’ he cried. ‘‘ You’re the queer-
est feller. Idon’t know when I’ve laughed
so.”’

’Lias felt for his quarter; it was gone.
His face grew white, and he felt sick of
disappointment.

** Jack Hahn,” he cried hoarsely, ‘‘ you’ ve
stole my money !”’

*‘T never !”? screamed Jack.

*Lias came closer. ‘‘Give it to me;
you’ve got it.”

‘You just dare,’’ said Jack, ‘‘ to comea
step nearer. Money? Where’d you get
money ?’ he sneered.

>Lias paused. He had been a coward
always at school, the boys said. He had
been cuffed and laughed at until he was
thoroughly cowed. He felt afraid Jack might
hit him.

The other boy saw the look on his face.
*Lias Spends Another Busy Day. 63

‘*‘ Coward!” he cried, and he picked up a
piece of earth and flung it in ’ Lias’ face.

Jack could never tell why nor how, nor
neither could ’Lias, but there were arms and
le sand heads tangled for awhile, and when
it was over two bloody noses and the pri-
vate opinion of each that the other was
whipped.
~ “Do you want more?” cried ’Lias.

‘* Ain’t you got enough ?’ yelled Jack.

But there was a diversion here. Turk
was trying to give ’Lias something he had in ~
his mouth, and when the excited and trem-
bling boy could hold out his hand, Turk
dropped the quarter into it.

It came to ’Lias slowly: the fact that he
was wrong, that he had accused a friend of
stealing his money, and that that friend
was innocent. Just as slowly the idea
followed that he must make amends.

“Say,’’ he blurted out, ‘I oughtn’t to
64: *Lias Spends Another Busy Day.

have said that. Ill give you some marbles
to-morrow if you won’t be mad.”’

Jack rubbed his nose and grinned.

‘* All right,’ he said; ‘“‘ but, gee! who'd
a-thought you’d fight ?”
*Lias Makes a New Acquaintance. 65

CHAPTER IV.
*LIAS MAKES A NEW ACQUAINTANCE.

*LIAs was not at all proud of his encoun-
ter with Jack Hahn ; instead he was heartily
ashamed of it.

When his sister asked him how his face
received so many scratches, and what made
his eyes so swollen, he did not answer at
all, and Marilly told Mrs. Leveve that ’ Lias
was sulking again. He felt degraded, and
wanted to clear himself mentally and morally
of some incubus that he could not name or
explain. He simply felt as if some awful
weight was upon him. He could not enjoy
his supper, although his mother had a dish
of the clearest honey, with slices of bread —
that were white and fine.
66 *Lias Makes a New Acquaintance,

‘“‘Have you worked too hard to-day,
*Lias ?’ anxiously asked Mrs. Leveve. ‘‘ It
seems to me you’re not hearty as usual.”

“Tm not sick. I just feel like I couldn’t
eat.”’

“You ain’t used to such hard work. It
was extremely hot to-day. I see your eyes
are puffed up.”’

‘*T don’t feel a bit sick,’’ insisted ’ Lias.

“It don’t do to try to do too much at once.”

‘‘Tve been asleep all afternoon, and then
Jack Hahn and——”’

He paused, wishing he did not have that
sentence commenced.

‘‘T wish you wouldn’t go with that boy,”’
complained Mrs. Leveve.

‘We had a fight this afternoon,”’ blurted
’ Lias.

‘A fight ’ gasped Mrs. Leveve.

“A fight!’ cried Marilly. ‘‘ Who whip-
ped ?’
*Iias Mates a New Acquaintance. 67

‘* JT did,’ answered the boy firmly.

‘““O ’Lias, you’ve always been a trial,
but I didn’t think you'd go to fighting,”
moaned his mother.

Then Marilly made him go over the pro-
ceedings of the afternoon, while she smiled
gleefully over the recital.

**T just had a notion you’d let a baby
whip you, ’Lias.’”’ She looked at him al-
most admiringly. ‘‘I wonder if you could
whip Pauly Venty ?’

‘* He’s bigger than I am,”’ the boy said.

‘* He’s not so heavy,’’ insisted Marilly.

‘‘ Fighting’s a disgrace,” quavered Mrs.
Leveve.

““A boy’s got to fight sometimes.”’

** And a sin,’’? resumed the mother.

““T don’t like to fight, mother; don’t
worry,” said ’ Lias consolingly. ;

Marilly looked disappointed. ‘‘I’d like
you to whip Pauly. He said to-day that I
68 *Iias Makes a New Acquaintance.

looked like a turkey egg, and said you was
not worth your salt; that you couldn’t even
feed Father White’s horse.”’

A flash came into ’ Lias’ pale-blue eyes.

‘“‘Marilly, hush up!’ exclaimed Mrs.
Leveve. ‘‘I never saw such a girl, a-trying
to make trouble between friends.”

Marilly subsided, but kept up a running.
conversation of signals with ’Lias.

’Lias tried to avoid any conversation
about the fight, and hunted around until he
found a catalogue of plants, over which he
spent an hour, asking his mother about roses,
and telling her about Father White’s plants.

‘*’ve got some tea-roses,’’ mused Mrs.
Leveve, ‘‘ but they need fixing up and prun-
ing. I didn’t know you cared for flowers,
’Lias.”’

‘*T do though.”’

When eight o’clock sounded from the old
brass clock he picked up his belongings
*"Inas Makes a New Acquaintance. 69

and put them away neatly. His mother
was dozing in her chair. .

‘‘ Mother,’ called ’Lias, ‘‘ wake me,
won’t you, to start the fire?’

You?’ said Marilly.

““We’re growing old enough to help
mother. Father White says if we'd just do
little things we’d soon learn how helpful
we could be.”’

Marilly looked thoughtful.

““T don’t believe mother would let me
help,’’ she said.

‘“Don’t believe that,’ returned ’Lias, as
he closed his room door.

A slow rain set in through the night,
the fore part of which had been so clear
and beautiful. The steady rhythmic down-
pour smoothed all care creases from ’ Lias’
forehead. Never before had he found the
bed so comfortable nor the clean comforts
and spreads so warm and inviting.
%0 "Inas Makes a New Acquaintance,

The great clock in his mother’s room
was striking. ’Lias raised his head. One,
two, three, four, he counted.

‘*T can sleep an hour,’ he thought.
‘* Mother wants to be up at five.’’

He peered out the window; no sign of
day, not even the faintest streak of dawn;
but the rain was pouring down with a patter
on walks, in barrels, and in the cistern.

‘**Ugh !”’ shivered ’Lias, burying himself
in the covers.

It was not four, as he thought, but five
o’clock, and already Mrs. Leveve was plac-
ing her kindling in the kitchen stove.

When she awakened at five, her first
thought was to call her son when she heard
' the rain pouring down. She felt weak and
stiff of joints, but old habits asserted them-
selves.

“Dear me! 1 right just as well go at it;
I couldn’t sleep,” she thought.
*Iias Makes a New Acquaintance. 71

*Lias did not awaken again until the
dishes rattling brought to him some mem-
ory of work to do. He sprang from bed
and rushed into the sitting-room to see the
clock.

‘*Half-past six!” he cried. ‘‘ Mother,
why did you let me sleep ?”’

**Tt’s such a bad morning, and you can
come right in and eat. You won’t be

late.”
‘*Where’s Marilly?” ’Lias was half
afraid she would be up.

“‘T haven’t called her. Il just wait on
you, and let you get off to Father White’s.”’

*Lias was too hurried to enjoy breakfast.
He jerked on his coat, and picking up his
hat, was off, leaving his mother calling
about an umbrella.

If he walked quickly the morning before,
he ran now, a steady, splashing gait that
brought him to the priest’s house ten
72 *Lias Makes a New Acquaintance.

minutes before seven. He took the key
from the housekeeper in a business-like
way, and she told him that Father White
would be busy for some time, but that he
(Lias) was to come to the house in the
afternoon.

’Lias was very careful this time. He ar-
ranged the hay as the priest had shown
him, and put the corn and oats in their
separate boxes. Then he took the bay out
to the trough, and gave him his supply of
water. Ashe led the prancing animal back
he was astonished to hear a voice say :

‘* Hello! how long have you been work-
ing here 2”

‘‘T commenced yesterday,’’ answered
’Lias, wondering who the questioner could
be.

‘“* Ain’t that horse a beauty ?’’ exclaimed
the man with fervor.

“Yes, he is,’’ affirmed the boy.
"lias Makes a New Acquaintance. 4

“Td think Father White would be afraid
to ride such an animal, he bein’ kind of
staid and old.’’

“He knows Father White,’’ thought
’ Lias.

He led the horse on towards his stable,
but for some reason, try as he might, he
could not unclasp the catch at the door.
The man was over the fence in an instant.

“Pll open it,’’ he cried. ‘‘That horse
a-prancin’ that way, of course you couldn’t
open it.”’

He went in the stable and stared about
with curious eyes.

“‘That’s his saddle, I reckon, and bridle,
an’ all hung right to hand, an’ neat as neat
can be. An’ whata saddle! Fine? I just
reckon.” He investigated further. ‘‘ Road
cart, top buggy. Lord! how some folks
can have the fat of the land while beggars
starve.’’ He shook his head and scowled.
74 *Iias Makes a New Acquaintance.

‘‘T reckon Father White locks all this up
mighty securely.’

‘¢ Of course,’’ answered ’ Lias.

The man walked over and inspected the
door fastening. He laughed loudly.

“Just what I expected—worse than no
lock at all. I bet he uses one of those old
flat keys.”” He looked at ’Lias interroga-
tively.

‘‘Here’s the key,’’ answered the boy.
“‘T must lock up now.”’

‘*Temme see; I’ll lock the door,’’ said
the stranger. He laughed again. ‘‘ Yes,
easy to open as falling off a log.”

He put his hand in his pocket and started
towards the fence.

“Give me the key !’’ cried ’Lias.

“The key?’ The man looked aston-
ished. ‘‘ Why, did I put that key in my
pocket? How careless!’’ He pulled outa
handful of keys and looked over them care-
’Lias Makes a New Acquaintance. 15

fully. ‘‘ There you are,” he said at last.
‘Ts nearly like some of my keys. I had
to look sharp. Well, good-by—good-by.
Maybe I’ll see you again.’’ He went away
laughing.

*Lias knocked at the housekeeper’s door
and gave her the key.

‘Will Father White need me for any-
thing else this morning ?’ asked ’Lias.

‘““No; but be sure to come about two
o’clock this afternoon.”

‘¢T will,’’ answered the boy.

He saw the stranger far down the street
as he came out of the priest’s gate, and
when he turned into the one running home-
ward he saw the man going in at his moth-
er’s gate.

He came out directly and walked rapidly
towards the hollow that was given over to
negro cabins and dense groves of swamp wil-
low.
76 *Iias Makes a New Acquaintance.

‘‘Who was that man?’ he asked his
mother. |

‘“‘ Just a tramp,’’ answered she placidly.

“‘ That’s queer,” thought ’Lias.

He felt there was something to think out,
but he could not manage it, and finally for-
got all about it.

Up at the priest’s house the forenoon was
drawing to a close when there came a sick
call some miles out in the country.

Father White hastened to the stable after
hehad secured hiskey. Turnas he mightand
shake and rattle the clasp would not unlock.

‘This is not my key to the stable,’ he
called to the housekeeper.

‘“It is the one the little boy gave me, Fa-
ther,” answered the woman.

‘‘T'll get the one I keep in my desk,”’
said the priest. ‘‘It?slucky I did that. [m
always afraid of losing the other or having
it misplaced.”
’Inas Makes a New Acquaintance. 272

He was soon ready, and said: ‘‘ Tell my
boy to wait for me if ’'m not here before he
comes. ”’

’Lias came in early, and as the priest was
absent he cut up some few weeds about the
garden and tied up some vines lying on the
ground.

He.was busy quite awhile before he saw
the priest coming up the street. He hasten-
ed to open the stable-door, that he might
earn some word of praise.

“How did you happen to change keys
this morning?’ asked Father White. “A
nice time you gave me to get Bay Joe out of
the stable.”’

‘‘T didn’t change keys, Father,’’ answer-
ed ’ Lias.

The priest looked at him curiously.

‘‘T know,”’ muttered ’Lias ; ‘‘ it was that
man.”’

‘What man?’
78 *Lias Makes a New Acquaintance.

Slowly and by hard work, as he after-
wards said, Father White drew out the story
of the man who was so curious about the
horse and his belongings.

‘‘He kept my key, then, and gave you
one of his own,’’ mused Father White.

‘* He said the key was so like some of his
own, he couldn’t tell them apart, Father.”

The priest smiled. ‘‘TI dare say,’’ was his
comment. He studied awhile, then said:
**Lias, run ask your. mother if you can
stay all night with me. I may need
you, and you will, no doubt, see that man
again.”

Although he did not understand in the
least, he went dutifully. His mother was
quite excited over such an event as ’Lias.
being invited out for the night, and kept
him a good half hour to change his clothes
and to caution him how he should behave.

The priest had a bit of work laid out for
*Lias Makes a New Acquaintance, 79

*Lias. The rain had made the garden ready
for the cabbage plants and young tomatoes.
’?Lias went about the work slowly, but Father
White saw he was working conscientiously,
and so left him to look after the business
alone. The priest nailed up the outer door
of the stable that opened into the alley,
and ’Lias could not understand why Father
White should send him to lead Bay Joe to
a neighbor’s stable for the night.

*Lias was astonished when he sat down
to tea with the priest. Some dim percep-
tion of the epigram, ‘‘ We eat to live, not
live to eat,” filtered into his brain. He,
wondered if the Father was very poor. ’Lias
climbed up to the little room assigned him,
and the housekeeper showed him that one
of its doors opened into her room, if he felt
afraid. ,

‘*['m not afraid,’’ answered ’Lias ; “‘ but I
feel chilly.”
80 ’Iias Makes a New Acquaintance.

He missed the cheery fire his mother al-
ways kindled on cool evenings or in damp
weather.

He lay awake for a long time, and it
seemed to him he had not slept at all when
Father White stood over him.

‘‘ Come with me,” he whispered.

’Lias drowsily obeyed, not realizing where
he was.

‘“‘Shake yourself awake,” said the priest
as they went down-stairs, ‘‘and make as
little noise as possible.”

He blew: the light out and opened the door
cautiously. They kept in the shadow of
fruit-trees, and as ’Lias gathered his scat-
tered ideas he saw two men walking silent
as cats behind them. It gave him a start,
but Father White pressed his hand warn-
ingly.

They skirted the fence, and the two men
placed themselves to the left of the door.

~
*Lias Makes a New Acquaintance. 81

To his surprise ’Lias saw that the door was
slightly opened.

The priest and the men seemed to be lis-
tening intently, and ’ Lias listened also. He
heard something moving in the stable, and
presently a bump, followed by some words
growled out in a savage undertone.

There was a long silence, then a match
was scratched, and a faint glare of light came
through the door. There was an exclama-
tion of surprise.

Rapid footsteps sounded now, and a
man dashed out. His arms were caught
by the two men who were stationed at the
door.

“Ts this your man, Father White?” one
of them asked, as he opened a lantern slide
and turned the light upon the prisoner’s
face.

‘Ts this the man you saw this morning ?’
asked the priest of ’ Lias.
82 *Lias Makes a New Acquaintance.

‘** Yes, Father,’’ answered the boy.

The man looked at him spitefully. ‘‘ You
hain’t such a fool as ‘you looks to be,’’ he
said, grinning.

‘* We'll not keep you up, Father,” said
one of the men laconically. ‘‘ Good-night.””

The other paused. ‘‘ We will need you in
the morning awhile. We may get some
light on the many robberies going on for the
year past,’’ he added in a low tone.

Father White nodded. “I thought of
that,’’ he said.

If the priest slept that night ’Lias did
not, and in the morning he felt sick and
giddy.

Then he was up to give in his evidence,
which he did clearly, though he was half
*rightened to death. As he walked home he
found himself an object of much attention.

‘““That?s him a-comin’,”’ cried one boy,
who. had been used to fling mud and bad
’Lias Makes a New Acquaintance. 83

words at him. ‘‘See how swollen his eyes
are. Ill bet he had a hard time catchin’
that robber.’’

‘¢ That’s ’Lias Leveve,”’ explained another
boy to a youngster who was unknown to
?Lias. ‘‘ He’s been takin’ care of things for
the priest. Las’ night he heard a noise at
the stable, and there was a man leadin’ out
the priest’s horse. ’Lias grabbed him and
yelled, and the man tried to shoot him, but
’Lias caught his pistol hand, and some fel-
lers heard and run in just in time to save
him. I tell you he’s game.”’

Veley, the cobbler, came out of his shop
~ door wiping his hands on his leather apron.
He was a wiry, nervous old man.

“Shake hands!’ he cried’to ’Lias, peer-
ing over his spectacles. .‘‘ I kind a-thought
you daft in time past, but I see you have got
sand. You're brave, an’ have done us a pub-
lic good. I’m proud youb’ long to Millville.”
84 ’Lias Makes a New Acquaintance.

‘*T hain’t done nothin’,’? mumbled ’ Lias.

“True sign of greatness. A great man
never blows about it. Go home; I hear your
mother’s almost insane.”’

-Earlier Mrs. Hahn had turned her blue-
checked apron over her head and run
breathlessly over to Mrs. Leveve.

** Dear me!’’ she cried, ‘“‘I don’t believe
in leavin’ people unprepared for bad news.
Brace up, you poor woman! ’Lias has been.
hurt bad, but he hain’t dead.”

When ’Lias reached home the air resound-
ed with wailings, and he wondered why his
mother hugged him so frantically.

“And you're alive?’ asked Mrs. Hahn
disappointedly.

“T hain’t no idea of dyin’,” declared
Lias.
*Lias Tries to Huplain Circumstances, 85

CHAPTER V.
*LIAS TRIES TO EXPLAIN CIROUMSTANOES.

‘‘ WHERE did he hit you, dear?’ sobbed
Mrs. Leveve.

‘““ Who hit me? I haven’t been hit.’’

“You poor boy! and the only boy Ive
got, too,’? she wailed, not hearing ’Lias at
all.

“Mother, I tell you I haven’t been hurt,
nor hurt anybody, nor there hain’t nothing
wrong, ‘cept Pm hungry enough to starve.
I know I couldn’t be a priest; my health
would go in no time.”’

“‘ Mrs. Hahn said you was killed,” sobbed
Mrs. Leveve, looking at him cautiously.

‘*No,’’ corrected Mrs. Hahn; ‘‘I said he
was hurt, but not dead.”
86 ’Lias Tries to Hxplain Circumstances.

“Well, I hain’t hurt nor dead,” returned
Lias.

Mrs. Leveve recovered rapidly.

‘“*T know youre hungry. Come right
into the kitchen.’’

She looked at Mrs. Hahn somewhat con-
temptuously.

“Stay awhile, Marthy, [ll be in di-
rectly.”’

** No, I can’t; [left my breakfast dishes,”’
returned her neighbor, with a crimson face.
“Tm glad you are not hurt, ’Lias, ’m
sure,’’ she said.

‘**So am I, but I believe everybody’s gone
crazy.”

*Lias ate until he felt he could not safely
eat any more.

‘* Now I want to hear all about this talk,’’
said Mrs. Leveve. .

’Lias went carefully over the events of the
night and the previous morning
*Inas Tries to Hxplain Circumstances. 87

‘* Now you see, mother, I did not do any
great deed nor get hurt.”’

‘‘ What scandalizers some people can be!’
ruminated Mrs. Leveve. ‘‘ To think I gave
that villain one of my nicest coffee-cakes,’’

“*Té won’t hurt him, mother.’’

**T guess you'll be going to school Mon-
day, and not work for Father White ?’

*‘Tam going to school and work, too. I
wouldn’t give either one up. I’ve got one
sin, mother, I must get rid of or I can’t
accomplish anything, and Father White
keeps me stirred up. Hesays I can’t talk
properly, and that as long as Iam too lazy
to study I will be called stupid. If my
hands are soiled he makes me wash them,
or if Iam not neat any way, I know that I
must make myself presentable before I can
talk to him.”’

“But yowve always been so unhealthy.
There’s your heart always a-troublin’ you.”
88 ’Lias Tries to Explain Circumstances.

‘*T feel ever so much better than I ever
felt before.’ ’Lias laughed a little and add-
ed, ‘‘I think I was lazier than unhealthy,
‘ mother ; I never failed to eat.”

‘‘ That’s not alwaysa sign of health, hearty
appetites. Your grandmother took her six
cups of coffee and four or five eggs, not to
say anything about the biscuit and cake
she’d eat each meal, yet she never had a
well day.”’

*“No wonder,’’ laughed her son, as he
thought of his grandmother’s width and
weight.

‘*To-morrow I’m going into the class pre-
paring for First Communion,’’ said ’ Lias.

Mrs. Leveve sighed. ‘‘ It’s best, I guess.
I haven’t been in the chapel here for years,
but I reckon if you get to stirrin’ round so
as to help, that Pll try to get back in my
church again. Marilly’s set on taking les-
sons on the piano if the priest can have the
’Iias Tries to Huplain Circumstances. 89

Sisters here, so I reckon itll come out all
right.”’

‘‘ What's the good of Marilly taking mu-
sic lessons ?’ grumbled ’ Lias.

““Oh, they’re all sayin’ how well she
sings an’ all, and Miss Blethins thinks her
a real wonder ; says she’s so bright for her
age; says she’s equal to any of her age in
the cities. Miss Blethins knows, for she’s
lived in the city always. [ve seen her name
on programmes, too, in the church societies.
She sings mighty well.’’

‘“Music’s good enough in its place,’ said —
?Lias with an air; “‘ but what we need is
an actual living these times, and how to get
it is the question.”

“That's true,’’ murmured his mother.

“‘T heard Father White talking to a
farmer the other day, asking how he was do-
ing, and if he was putting in any crop. The
man said he intended planting nearly all his
90 ’Lias Tries to Hzplain Circumstances.

little bit of land in onions and Irish pota-
toes ; that onions always sold well, and that
there had been such poor potatoes raised for
two years, that a good price might be ex-
pected this year, if one could raise good
ones.”’

‘'Yes,’? murmured his mother as ’Lias
paused ; ‘‘ but what of that ?”’

‘¢ Tt’s that clover lot of an acre and a half,”
smiled ’Lias; ‘‘I want to put potatoes in it.”’

Mrs. Leveve held up her hands.

“What would I do with Star?’

-There’s the grass in the pasture along

the creek.”

‘¢ Tt’s so far to go to milk.”

“Tl bring her to you nights, and take
her out in the mornings.”’

She shook her head doubtingly.

‘Just think, mother”—’Lias talked very
seriously—‘‘ April is nearly over, and I had
best get them out in the dark of the moon;
*Lias Tries to Explain Circumstances. 91

that’s what that farmer said to do. School’s
out first of June, and [ll be idle and stupid
unless [have work todo. Father White says
he’s seen boys of my age support a small
family, and I’m not going to be.called a stu-
pid, lazy boy any longer. I can soon make
enough to pay for the ploughing of the
ground, and I know I can keep the weeds
out.”

‘We'll talk it over”’ Mrs. Leveve picked
up her cup towel. ‘‘I’ll have to see the
profit in it before I touch that clover field.”’

It was only a question of a few days until
she came to think as her son wished her to,
and if ’Lias had any desire to back out of

hard labor, he felt that he had literally
burned his bridges behind him. .

Jack Hahn’s father would break the field
up for the small price of a dollar a day,
and ’Lias thought it would cost him no
more than two dollars anyway. Just where
92 ?Lhas Tries to Explain Circumstances.

he was to find the seed was another ques-
tion. He did a large visiting among his older
acquaintances for two or three weeks, inter-
viewing about specialties in potatoes and
the planting of them.

Old men who had never thought of him
twice said that he was getting to be a likely
boy, and various odd jobs fell into his hands.

He had a dollar put by that he had earned
at Father’s White’s, but it was to pay for
the ploughing.

One day he was at the Mills grocery, with
the vexing problem in his mind of where was
he to get potatoes to plant.

“* See here, ’Lias,’’ said Mr. Mills, ‘‘ here’s
a man wants to trade off potatoes for
work ina truck patch. Maybe that’s your
chance.”

The man studied ’Lias. ‘‘I want a quick
and careful hand, to rise early and work
late.”’
*Lias Tries to Explain Circumstances. 93 —

“Tf Father White will let me off for two
days I will try to please you, sir.”’ ’Lias
spoke firmly.

** See about it quickly then; I want to be
leaving town in an hour.”

’Lias was forced to hurry as he had never
done before. The lazy ’Lias rebelled and
exclaimed, ‘‘What’s the use of all this
flurry? Mother’s not suffering. It’s just as
easy to live poor as to try to be always
pushing to make something.”’

Then the new ’Lias would argue: ‘‘ You
are growing up, and you’re ignorant and
poor. Yourchances are all passing. If you
don’t study you'll be a dunce; if you won’t
work you’ll never be anything but poor.”

Father White thought it a good plan,
and said some good words of encourage-
ment to the boy.

Il keep your place here for you,”’ he
called after ’Lias. .
94 ‘Lias Tries to Mxplain Circumstances.

As he sat in the farm wagon jolting along
the rough country roads, he felt very little
enthusiasm over his new venture. Mr.
Blaudet, his employer, was brusque and
overbearing. The weather was a little chill
for April, and as soon as the farm was
reached he was ordered to take out the
horses, water them, feed them, and report
for supper.

*Lias was unused to such work, and but
for a negro pottering about the stable would
_ have found it difficult to unharness the
team and be ready by the time the bell
clanged its call for supper.

The food was plentiful enough, but the
boy missed his dainty dishes that his mother
prepared so easily.

He could not eat much, and, rising, asked
to be excused.

“Can’t you eat our rations?’ asked
Blaudet roughly.
’Lias Tries to Haptavn Circumstances. 95

“Tm not hungry to-night,” answered
’Lias. .

‘‘Go into the kitchen and be cuttin’ po-
tatoes for to-morrow’s plantin’,” ordered
his employer.

*Lias shifted uneasily from foot to foot,
his face flushed, and he looked appealingly
at a Swede witha kind face who sat next
him at supper. He raised his eyebrows in
terrogatively, rising at the same time.

“‘ My appetite’s failed, too,”’ he said coolly.
‘One can’t eat much of such a rich repast.”’

Some of the men laughed, but the others
looked rigid; Blaudet frowned.

“Come on,’’ said Matthias to the bey ;
‘“‘there’s one time to do a thing here, and
that’s all the time.”’

In the kitchen were four barrels of pota-
toes.

‘This is our pleasant little recreation be-
fore bedtime. When we’re through we can
96 ’Inas Tries to Explain Circumstances.

sleep the sleep of the just. Don’t know
how? So I thought. Well, you’ve got a
mighty few minutes to learn in. Blaudet
will come out in no time. See,’’ and he
commenced with careful patience to show
the weary boy how to cut the potatoes to
please Blaudet.

‘He splits them 80,” he explained.
“That makes all the eyes on top in each
piece. You'll be expected to put them just
that way’’—he laid the cut upon the floor—
‘‘when you’re plantin’ to-morrow.’’

Lias gave it his best attention, and when
Blaudet came out directly he looked sharp-
ly at the work, but said nothing.

From time to time Matthias would put
his cuttings in ’Lias’ measure, with an en-
couraging word or smile.

Presently the Swede looked up at Blau-
det. *Lias was fast asleep, with’ his head
against his friend’s knee.
:

*Iias Tries to Explain Circumstances. 9%

Blaudet followed the look. He raised his
foot to give him a push or kick, whichever
his conscience called it, but the Swede inter-
posed angrily.

““No you don’t,” he cried. “I'll take
his measure through,”’ he said.

Blaudet shrugged his shoulders. ‘‘ The
more fool you.”’

The Swede lifted the boy, and with an
inquiry as to where he was to sleep, he
carried him off to his bed, removing his
shoes and coat. A lamp glimmered late
that night in the chilly kitchen; the
lonely Matthias bent over his double task
cheerfully.

*Lias was surprised to find himself already
dressed in the morning, and he looked with
horror at the dingy bedclothes and tumbled,
untidy room. .

“How can a body live this way?” he
thought.
98 ’Lias Tries to Huplain Circumstances.

A bell rang sharply, and heavy steps
sounded hurriedly up the creaking stairs.

‘Tumble out!’’ cried Matthias. ‘‘ You
won’t.‘have any time to wash your face.
Hurry! The old man’s just rearing. Some-
‘body left the cowlot gate open last night,
and the cattle’s eat up a lot of his early cab-
bage. I tell you there’s fun in the air to-
day.”’

When they reached the table Blaudet was
already eating savagely, as if the victuals
were personal enemies, and he enjoyed chew-
ing them up.

He glared from under his eyebrows at
’Lias, but said nothing.

Before ’Lias had time'to drink his black
coffee Blaudet pushed back his chair.

‘* Be in the fields by six-thirty,”’ he said
coldly.

It was already a quarter-past six o’clock.

“That means us,” said Matthias, indi-
’Inas Tries to Haplain Circumstances. 99

/

cating the few men at the table ; ‘‘ the teams
have been out an hour.’’

> Lias stumbled over the clods awkwardly,
taking up his row with a regretful thought
of his mother and Marilly over the pleasant
breakfast-table.

“Tl do it, though,” he muttered; ‘Tl
not turn back now.”

The work went on silently, the men look-
ing gloomy and sullen. There were no
snatches of song nor exchanges of jokes.

Sometimes ’Lias found a half or a third
of his row planted, and was puzzled until
he saw a cheery glance in Matthias’ eyes and
a knowing nod.

‘* Who is that boy yonder?” he whispered.
to the Swede as they passed each other.

‘‘ Blaudet’s boy.
*Lias had been watching the thin, stooped
boy whenever he could. His clothes were
ragged, and he was barefooted, although he
100 ’Lias Tries to Explain Circumstances,

was all of sixteen years of age. His large
eyes, dark and clear, were filled with a pa-
thetic look that made ’ Lias very sad.

He tried to speak a kind word to him
once, as they passed each other on the way
‘to the house for dinner.

The boy smiled a strange smile that showed
a clot of blood upon his lip.

“What done that?’ asked ’Lias of the
Swede.

“In the stables a bit ago his good father
struck him with a bridle because he let a
measure of oats fall.” Matthias growled
something under his breath. ‘‘ That boy’ll
die as his mother died last year, just drop
dead at work. He hain’t got strength now
to stand.”’

When ’Lias’ two days’ work was finished
he had learned more about the rough side
of life than he had ever expected to know.

He had learned; too, to have sympathy for
*Inas Tries to Explain Circumstances. 101

another’s trouble without thinking of him-
self. He had seen Blaudet’s son kicked un-
til even ’Lias clinched his hands to restrain
his fury. He had seen the boy driven from
the table before he had half finished his
meal.

** Why don’t you big fellows keep him off
that boy ?’ ’Lias asked one of the men.

*‘Our business is to earn our wages and
not lose our place.” The man frowned a —
little. ‘‘ Why don’t the boy cut and run?’

’Lias wondered about that, too. Surely
the world was wide enough to hide in.

He delayed Val at the pump one day and
said, “‘Why don’t you run away from
him ?”

The boy answered coldly, without looking
at him, ‘‘TI will not leave my sister alone.”’

His sister? ’Lias had never regarded
Marilly as a factor in his life, and he com-
menced a new train of reasoning. If Marilly
102 ’Lias Tries to Hxplain Circumstances.

was here in Val’s sister’s place, and he was
Val, would he think enough of her to stand
so much abuse? He could not answer it
satisfactorily, but it was the dawning ofa
new life for Marilly.

‘¢ My time’s up,”’’ he said to Blaudet the
evening after the second day. ‘‘I will see
my potatoes measured out, and then I will
start for home.”’

‘In the morning, young man—in the
morning ; meanwhile fall to work oiling this
harness to pay your night’s keep.”’

’Lias had intended to walk in that night,
but he made the best of it by having a word
or so to say to Val, who was having a heavy
chill.

‘*When you come in town come to see
me. I have lots of things I want you to
see.”’

‘“*T can’t,” shivered Val; ‘‘ father won’t

let me.”’
*Zias Tries to Explain Circumstances, 103

“Then I’ll walk out to see you.”

“ Well,’’ was the cheerless answer.

The next morning he tumbled out early
to find his potatoes sacked and waiting
dim.

Blaudet came around in an apparently
cheerful humor.

“Tm going into town to-day, and Ill
haul you and them in for fifty cents.”

’Lias hesitated ; the sense that was slowly
awakening told him to look at the potatoes.
He opened a sack slowly, and, just as he ex-
pected, it was filled with imperfect pota-
toes, over half rotten—in fact, the refuse of
Blaudet’s potato store.

‘Mr. Blaudet,” ’Lias’ voice shook, and
his face grew white, ‘“‘I can’t take these
potatoes for my work.”

‘*'Yes, but you will !”’ thundered. Blaudet.

-“T will not,” said ’Lias firmly. ‘‘ Come
here, Matthias.”
104 ’*Lias Tries to Hxplain Circumstances.

The Swede came up with an insolent look
at Blaudet.

““T want you to hear that I will not ac-
cept these for my work, and I want you to
see how rotten they are.”

_ He opened sack after sack, while Blaudet
fumed.

‘** You’ll take them,’’ he screamed at last,
“or you’ll get nothing !”’

The boy paused and said wearily, ‘‘I can’t
take these.”’

‘Fill these sacks with good potatoes,
Blaudet ; Pl help you.”

The Swede spoke with an air of com-
mand.

Blaudet turned on him furiously. ‘‘’Tend
to your business, or I’]]——”

‘**'You’ll lend me the roan to ride to Mill-
ville ; his master’s looking for him, and it
might——’’ He looked at Blaudet with
smiling assurance.
?Lias Tries to Explain Circumstances. 105

The man’s face turned ashy. He hesi-
tated and said, ‘‘ Do it yourself; I won’t,”’
and retreated.

The Swede shook his fist after him. ‘I
had to say it, eh ?”

‘Now, sonny,’’ he smiled consolingly at
*Lias, ‘‘ we will just hurry these out and
good ones in, and I will drive you to town.
I guess I'll take a rest anyhow. Blaudet
and me ain’t close friends.”’
106 ’Lias Finds Life a Dreary Dream.

CHAPTER VI.
"LIAS FINDS LIFE A DREARY DREAM.

MatTTHias and a man of Blaudet’s drove
into town together.

The Swede was very thoughtful all the
way.

“You can just drive the team home,”
he said to the man. ‘“‘ Blaudet and me
squared up yesterday, and if he let’s me
alone I'll let him alone.”

“All right. I heard you and him had
quarrelled this morning.”

‘* Nothing serious.”

Matthias looked over ’Lias’ lot with a
practical eye.

“‘T want to help you in with that,’’ he
"Iias Finds Life a Dreary Dream. 10%

said. ‘If you’ll let me stay here a week
I'll get it in without a bit of worry.”

*Lias consulted his mother.

ey guess as you've undertaken it, you
might as well hurry,’’ she said. ‘‘I don’t
see where he’s to sleep, though.”’

Matthias was consulted.

**T can sleep in the kitchen on the floor,
or, if you'll let me, I'll make me a cot.”’

Matthias went to work with great energy,
and ’Lias reported to Father White.

“*T can’t go to school this term, Father ;
it’s only six weeks longer anyway, and my
work is hurrying me.”’

‘* Now, ’Lias, it’s those ‘ figures’ that are
troubling you; own up, now,” cried the
priest, laughing.

’ Lias looked confused.

‘* Not exactly, Father. I do dread arith-
metic, but I have got so much work on
hand.’’
-108 ’Lias Finds Life a Dreary Dream.

‘Let me see,” murmured Father White ;
‘‘T have some spare time in the afternoons.
Suppose, now, you come up an hour or so
and study arithmetic under me.”

*Lias looked undecided.

_“Tt would be the best for you. Then
when school begins you could start in feel-
ing more confident.’’

“‘T will come, Father, but I must pay
for it some way.”

‘‘There’s my flowers to be cared for and _
my kitchen garden to see to. Don’t think
but I’ll make you pay for it,’’ laughed
Father White.

Going home, he met the school-children re-
turning home for dinner.

>Lias was in the rough, clay-soiled shoes
and clothes he had worn in the country.
He did not know it, but his face held a
new strength that had never been there be-
fore ; his eyes looked a deeper blue, his face
*Lias Finds Life a Dreary Dream. 109

was tanned, and much of the surplus fat he
hated had disappeared. He walked rapidly
and held himself erect. He looked very
different from lazy ’Lias, the joke of the
school.

He looked for the neat apron and straw

hat that were so familiar to him. Presently
he found them and Jennie walking demure-
ly by Pauly Venty.

Now Pauly was the pink of neatness.
His shoes were always polished to a glitter-
ing degree, his white duck suit immaculate-
ly clean, and his tie arranged to perfection.
He had an aunt in the city who sent him his
clothes, and Miss Blethins was a cousin.

How elegant he looks, thought ’Lias, his
heart growing cold. The new blue-gray
golf cap that Pauly wore set off his clear,
dark complexion and his handsome eyes.

‘*Lias had intended to say a word or so
to Jennie, but she raised her eyebrows just
110 ’Lias Finds Life a Dreary Dream.

the least bit when she looked at him, and
Venty’s eyes went over his attire with con-
temptuous coolness.

’Lias raised his hat and passed quickly.

Jennie said faintly, ‘‘ Howdy, ’Lias ?’’ and
Pauly said nothing at all.

That closed in the day for ’Lias. There
was no brightness anywhere. He hated the
idea of the potato-field, and the stubborn,
ever-present question of ‘‘ What is your duty
to-day ?”’

He wanted to creep away, to lie down
and sleep always.

He came home with heavy, dragging feet.
The Swede had much to tell him, but ’Lias
would not listen. He went in by the kitchen
stove and hung over its warmth as if he was
very cold.

‘You're havin’ an ague chill, I’ll vow,’’
exclaimed Mrs. Leveve. ‘‘ That comes of
that trip out in the country.”
*Lias Finds Life a Dreary Dream. 111

“‘T guess I’ll get around,’’ murmured
’Lias drearily.

‘“Tve got something you'll like for din-
ner. I’ve opened a jar of the sweet pickles,
the gherkins you always liked, you know.”’

*“*T don’t want any dinner,” ’Lias an-
swered.

He would not eat anything, but curled
up on the Swede’s cot, and finally fell into
an uneasy sleep, almost as languorous as
that produced by drugs. :

Here his old tormentor found him, and
came jumping over the milking-stool to the
side of the cot. True enough ’Lias had been
thinking of him just before sleep overtook
him, wishing there could be such things as
fairies and fairy queens. He would have
something then to outshine Pauly Venty.

Then Jack came and said: ‘‘ Now hain’t

‘that foolish, cryin’ about a mite of a girl
like her. Dear, dear! There’s tastes and
CY

112 ’Lias Finds Life a Dreary Dream.

tastes in this world. But Ill tell you some-
. thing that will cheer youup. Venty is un-
der suspicion in our realm. The queen sus-
pects him of drowning cats and other seri-
ous misdemeanors. Besides, he ridicules
‘** Mother Goose’s Melodies,” which is our
book of by-laws. There’s trouble ahead for
him, I have no doubt.’’
‘“‘T don’t like Venty,’’ confided ’Lias.
“Everybody knows it,’’? exclaimed Jack-
be-Nimble frankly. ‘ But you try to meet
him pleasantly ; a little more air about your-
self, can’t you? And can’t you rub these
shoes clean ?’
*Lias thought he could, and commenced at
once, and Jack tried jumping over the
squares in the kitchen carpet, singing :

‘* When I was a little boy
My mother kept me in;
Now I am a great boy,
And fit to serve the king,”’
’Lias Finds Life a Dreary Dream. 118 ¥

until ’Lias had finished his task, when Jack
asked suddenly :

“‘ You're digging up an old pleasure-ground
of ours, but I suppose you know why ””

“Tm taking your advice of ‘dig and
delve.’ ’’

‘You'll profit by it, too.”

‘“T don’t care whether I do or not,” grum-
bled ’Lias.

“Dear me!’ exclaimed Jack, jumping
backwards.

** Crosspatch,
Draw the latch,
Sit by the fire and spin.
Take a cup,
And drink it up,
And call the neighbors in.”

*Lias was about to jump up and throw
something at Jack’s head, when his mother
shook him, and said :

.* You've slept so long and heavy, ’m
afraid you’re going into a fever of some
“114 Lias Finds Life a Dreary Dream.

sort. Jennie’s been here and left you some-
thing, and she and Marilly’s huntin’ birds’
nests in the peach-trees.”’

’Lias sprang up joyously. ‘‘ Why, I must
have slept three hours. Did Jennie see me ?
Tm glad she didn’t. I felt so stupid and
lazy this afternoon. I guess it came from
losing so much sleep while was at Blau-
det’s.”’

He scrubbed his face briskly, and laughed
as he glossed his shoes, remembering Jack-
be-Nimble. Then he slipped on his Sunday |
clothes and ran out after the girls.

He could not see them anywhere, although
he went: laughing about, peering into the
blooming boughs and crying gayly, ‘‘ You
might as well give up, Pll find you.” But
there was no answer, and all the orchard —
seemed strangely silent, save for the hum of
the bees among the pink blossoms.

‘*T dare say she’s gone home,”’ he thought,
*Lias Finds Life a Dreary Dream. 115

feeling he had missed a rare afternoon, for
Jennie’s visits were events to Marilly and
’ Lias.

Then he heard a faint cry, so far away he
could not be sure, but it sounded like Maril-
ly’s voice. .

** Marilly ! Marilly !’ he shouted loudly,
and stopped to listen.

He heard another cry, and it came from
towards the creek. He ran through the lot
calling to Matthias, who was at work in the
ploughed ground : .

‘* Did the girls pass here ?’

‘They went down to the pussy willows,’’
answered the Swede carelessly.

“Come along!’ cried ’Lias. ‘‘ Some-
thing’s happened. Ill bet they’re at the
Deep Pond.”

Matthias became all action at once. His
great strides took him over the ground rap-
idly, and the boy heard his exclamation of
116 *Lias Finds Life a Dreary Dream.

horror just as he reached the fringe of wil.
lows. The next instant he saw Matthias lift-
ing Jennie out of the water, where she sobbed
_ and shook with fear.
~ “ Where’s Marilly?’ gasped ’Lias, his
‘face turning white.

The Swede was taking off his coat and
shoes. His face was calm and solemn.

‘Don’t!’ he said firmly, seeing the hor-
ror in’ Lias’ eyes ; ‘‘ I will find her.”’

’Lias looked at Jennie.

‘¢ Where did she fall in ?”’

** Out of the bent willow,’’ sobbed the girl.

Like a flash the boy slipped into the water,
but he was no match for Matthias, although
he could swim and dive.

The third dive Matthias made he came up
with the cold, seemingly lifeless little body.

“Life yet, life yet!’’ he called to’ Lias.
“* Run and nave the doctor at the house.”’

*Lias took one look at the freckled little
"Inas Finds Life a Dreary Dream. 11%

face he had found so aggravating many,
many a time, and kissed it solemnly, then
sped away.

“Come, and walk fast,’’ said the Swede
to Jennie as he carried Marilly to the house.

In the face of real danger Mrs. Leveve had
retained her presence of mind. Also she
had been called upon to bring back to life sev-
eral persons supposed to be drowned before
to-day. By the time the doctor came Marilly
was gazing unseeingly about, and Jennie
was dry and warm.

‘*Marilly! Marilly!’ said ’Lias coax-
ingly, putting his hot cheek against the cold
little hand.

But she did not seem to know him, and
the doctor shook his head.

‘¢ She’s had a severe shock,”’ he said.

*Lias would not leave her until she said,
after a long time, ‘‘ Mother, what makes
*Lias cry?’ Then he fell to laughing so
118 =’ Las Finds Life a Dreary Dream.

immoderately that his mother reproved
him.

He went to the safe and hunted out the
cup in which he hoarded his money, then he
slipped out the back door.

He came back breathlessly.

‘““Who is it likes chocolate drops?’ he
whispered, leaning over Marilly.

“* Me,”’ she said, ‘‘I think.” ’Lias poured
the rich, brown lumps into her lap.

‘* Now I’ve got something for Jennie.’’

He looked gravely at Jennie as he handed
her a parcel and said :

“Tm not Pauly, but you will take this,
won't you?”

“Oh, ’ Lias,’? murmured Jennie, ‘‘ I came
over to tell you something about Pauly.
They’ re going to play a trick on you. When
you plant your potatoes they’ re going to open
Squire Black’s pen and let the hogs out in
your lot. You know it opens on your field.’’
*Lias Finds Life a Dreary Dream. 119

“They ?’ asked ’Lias. ‘‘ Who else beside
Pauly ?”

Jennie’s face flushed.

‘* A lot of the boys,’’ she answered ; and
then slowly, ‘‘ Dupe is in it. Don’t you
tell, ’Lias—don’t you tell that I said so.”’

“*'You may be sure I’ll not tell, Jennie;
but thanks to you, I can guard the lot now.”’

The news spread rapidly about Jennie and
Marilly, and Mrs. Leveve was busy almost
all the evening answering questions and
going over details—now enlarged or now
contracted, as the good woman’s powers of
fancy and speech dictated.

But all agreed that Matthias was a hero

and a direct dispensation of Providence.
_ The next day Matthias and ’Lias planted
potatoes untilnoon. Then the Swede worked
alone in the afternoon, and ’Lias kept his
appointment with Father White.

When he left an hour later he had gained
120.’ Lnas Finds Life a Dreary Dream.

the first clear understanding he had ever
known of fractions, a division of mathematics
he considered especially useless and super-
fluous. Then he had seen Father White's
herbarium. A wonderful thing to ’ Lias.
The priest went over it carefully, telling
the history of a leaf he plucked near the
grave of Robert Burns, or a bit of Eidelweiss
and a little picture of the Alps pasted above.
The boy felt how grand the priest’s soul
must be to give up the world to live in such
a dreary place as Millville.

Father White read something of the won-
» der in the boy’s face.
' “Here are my ferns—ferns from every-
where, but I can tell you I’ve found some of
my finest ferns right here around Millville.
See that, and that, and this.”’

*Lias said he had never seen them, and
the priest smiled.

‘Because you have never observed, but
*Inas Finds Infe a Dreary Dream. 121

you are beginning to see; then you will
know what a storehouse Nature is, how lav-
ish and yet how prudent of her behests.
No churl can gather her treasures.’

*Lias went home with several new ideas,
and he sat down by Marilly to talk about
them.

‘* We will make us a book, Marilly, and
see how many specimens we can find. Won’t
you like it ?”

‘*T know where some of the loveliest ferns
are!” exclaimed his sister.

It struck ’Lias unpleasantly again that
Marilly seemed to have read and noticed so
much more than he had.

'“T wish I had not idled so much of my
time away,’’ he said.

** You’re making up for lost time now,”’
laughed Marilly.

* And I’ll never fall into sloth again.”

‘* Jennie says all the folks are saying that
122 ’Lnas Finds Life a Dreary Dream.

you’re a real business boy. Mother is as
proud as anything could be.”’

*Lias remembered something he must tell
Matthias, and went out into the kitchen.

‘“ We will have to watch that lot to-night ;
some of my school friends are going to turn
in hogs upon it.’’

‘* Eh?’ exclaimed the Swede.

‘“We will watch for them until ten or
twelve o’clock ; they won’t come after that
time,”’ said ’Lias.

“Well,” nodded the Swede, ‘I will sur-
prise them.”’
The Boys Fall into a Trap. 123

CHAPTER VII.
THE BOYS FALL INTO A TRAP.

Squire BLACK was a very taciturn, proud
old man, who knew little of his neighbors
and cared less for them. He refused to see
visitors, and pottered about his house and
work alone and silent. His wife had been
dead for years, and a daughter had run away
with a farm-hand some forty years ago, leav-
ing the house as silent as the squire was.
He had his whole mind and soul given to the
girl, and those who remembered her said she
was a perfect beauty, and that the money the
old man gave her to dress with was some-
thing to be talked of.

But he was too careful to keep her from
the associations of the village, and a hand-
124 _ The Boys Fall into a Trap.

some young farm-hand won her heart easily.
The old man refused to have them about him,
and the young fellow took up the cares of
life with a stout heart, saying he had health,
and he didn’t want Squire Black’s money.
Then the wonderful Black Hills and their
marvels of gold reached the remote village,
and the young couple enthusiastically took
up their household goods and trundled over
the wild trail to the West.

Faint and uncertain news came of them
now and then; that there was a little girl
born, then that the husband was dead, but
no one knew for sure.

This was the man, Squire Black, whom all
the town boys hated and feared, that owned
the hogs in the pen back of ’Lias’ lot.

“Pm going over to see Squire Black a
minute,’’ said the Swede.

‘* He won’t see you,’’ answered ’ Lias.

Matthias knocked at the door, and then
The Boys Fall into a Trap. | 125

discovering a rusty bell-knob, he rang it vig-
orously.

The door opened a little, and a tall, lean
old woman said :

‘* What’s your business ?’’

“*T want to see Squire Black.”’

‘*He’s busy,’’ she answered, closing the
door.

The Swede put his foot against the door.

*“Tt’s about his hogs—it’s real business.
Tve got to see him. Tell him so.”

The old woman went down the hall grum-
bling, and Matthias stepped inside.

He was astonished to see how richly the
hall was furnished, although everything was
faded and dusty.

‘* Step in here,’’ said the old woman, com-
ing back through the hall and shaking a
door opposite him.

Finally it opened on whining hinges, and
then the curtains were parted, the windows
ie

126 Lhe Boys Fall into a Trap.

raised and shutters opened, the woman grum-
bling all the time about the trouble.

Matthias looked about him, and he seemed
much surprised over two portraits on the
wall. One was of a young man, the other
of a girl about ten years old. They were
much alike.

‘* They look like these pictures, I'l] swear,
save these eyes are blue.”

Just then Squire Black came in much wor-
ried. .

‘* Why can’t you people let me alone, espe-
cially this late?’ he asked fretfully.

‘It’s your hogs, sir,” said Matthias re-
spectfully. ‘‘ A little boy across here is try-
ing to get in some potatoes for sale in the
fall. His schoolmates have made a jest of
it, and are going to turn your hogs into his
patch to-night by opening a place in the
back of the pen.” The squire’s eyes
blazed.
The Boys Fall into a Trap. 12?

“They're always meddling — always.
Can’t let me alone, although I don’t even
buy my clothes here.’’

‘* What awful eyes!’ thought Matthias.

‘* Boys are useless things—devices of the
Evil One, anyway.”

**’Lias is not,’? said the Swede stoutly.
‘* The boy I’m helping, he works early and
late, and troubles no one.’’

“IT have noticed him now and then,’’
amended the old man.

‘“T want you to help me about those
boys,”’ continued Matthias. ‘‘They’re all
afraid of you, and maybe you could think
up a plan.’’

‘‘Tain’t used to staying up late,” objected
the squire.

‘“‘They are your hogs,’ answered Mat-
thias firmly.

A slow, cruel smile lit up the old man’s
face.
128 The Boys Fall into a Trap.

‘‘There’s my dog, the worst one in the
State,’’ he said.

The old man was eager now to see the boys
caught, and leading out the dog, he had the
Swede to make friends with him.

-“T have no strength to hold him in leash,
and you can do that. He’d kill them else.”

They concealed themselves in some shrubs
near the pen, the squire wrapped in a huge
coat and grumbling.

They did not wait long until several shad-
owy forms came, sometimes erect, sometimes
stooping over the ploughed ground. A
long, low whistle told that ’Lias was on
hand, back of the field.

The Swede was about to loose the dog’s
rope, but the old man put his hand out warn-
ingly. A slender form dropped over the
fence, and the squire put his hand on the
bristling dog to keep him quiet.

** Come back, Pauly,’’ whispered a voice.
The Boys Fall into a Trap. 129

“‘T want to look around here a bit before
we let the hogs out. Come on,” answered
the boy almost aloud.

One by one six boys came silently over the
fence to his side.

‘“There’s a strawberry patch here some-
where ; I’m going to find it.’’

Just then there came an ominous growl,
and the dog leaped out. The Swede fol-
lowed, and the squire called harshly :

‘Tn an honest man’s yard again, are you ?
But how will you get out?’

Behind them were the dog, Matthias, and
the squire. To the right and left were the
thick, overgrown shrubberies, impossible to
penetrate ; in front the brick wall and its
locked gate.

Two or three of the boys were crying now,
and Pauly Venty was shaking with fear.

‘‘We didn’t mean to do any harm,”’ he
muttered.
130 The Boys Fall into a Trap.

“Not to me,” said Squire Black ; ‘‘ but
how about that potato field ?’

**T told you we’d be found out, Pauly,”
sobbed one of the smallest boys.

‘Shut your mouth, Dupe!’ exclaimed
Pauly.

‘* Just remember, boys, whenever you want
to visit me, that Watch here will be glad to
see you. Now move on this way,’’ and he
led them towards the house.

The boys did not want to enter the house,
but the dog was behind them, and they saw
no other chance. They were marched sol-
emnly through the hall, out of the front
door, and so to the street.

“Now, good-night, boys ; call earlier next
time. Ill take my dog now, sir, and can I
see you in the morning 2”

Matthias was glad to be invited, and said
80.
“Tt?s about that boy. There must be
The Boys Fall into a Trap. 131

something in him if all his neighbors are
against him.”

*Lias was out in the ploughed ground as
the Swede came back.

‘““T heard the dog,” he said. ‘‘I was
afraid some one would be hurt.”’

‘* No; just half scared to death,” laughed
Matthias.

‘* Did you see Squire Black ?”

** Certainly.”” Matthias went on enthusi-
astically to describe his visit and its results.

*Lias laughed loudly at the boys being
caught so neatly, and said:

‘*They won’t try that any more.”

“That Pauly, as you call him, is a pretty
cool fellow. I guess he’s used to being in
trouble.”’

“‘He is a fighter,” answered ’Lias. “I
don’t know much else about him.”

‘Well, our case is safe; that’s enough
for us.”’
132 The Boys Fall into a Trap.

The next morning ’ Lias went over the fieid,
glad to know the planting was over, and
hoping there would be a good crop.

‘* You’re out early,”’ said a gruff voice.

*Lias looked around hastily. He had
never had a good look at Squire Black, but
he was certain that this man could be no
other.

“Yes, sir,’’ he stammered.

**Do you like to work ?’

“* No, sir,” blundered ’Lias.

Squire Black laughed derisively.

‘* You speak the truth about that, I dare
say.”

He went his way muttering, and ’Lias was
left with his ears burning to think how silly
he had talked.

Sometimes he felt so weary of striving to
do right, when it was so much easier to do
wrong. How he would like to try to whip
Pauly Venty! But, then, what would Father
The Boys Fall into a Trap. 133

White say and his mother? They had told
him how to suffer and be patient.

Then there were these potatoes. How he
wished he could say, ‘‘I am not going to
touch them.’’ The work seemed never-
ending.

Matthias was talking now of having to
crush the clods, and later on of hoeing three
times and ploughing twice. Tiresome work !

And mother and Marilly, why did they
depend so much upon him? There was Star
to bring from the pasture, the wood to carry,
and the yard to keep clean, besides his other
work at Father White’s.

“*T don’t want to be good,”’ he cried at
last, ‘‘ it’s too much trouble.”’

Then these thoughts would give place to
reflections of a better nature, and presently
he would be whistling cheerily.

One night in June ’Lias sat on the old
door-step, where he had dreamed so many
134 The Boys Fall into a Trap,

days away; his thoughts were dreamy
now, but of work to do and lessons to con-
quer.

Matthias, who had stayed on until he
seemed a fixture, came and put his hand
upon his arm.

‘*T want to talk to you a minute,” he said.

They walked down the street until out of
hearing, and the Swede asked :

‘Do you remember that boy and girl at
Blaudet’s ?”’

‘*T remember the boy; I never more than
glanced at his sister,’’ returned ’ Lias.

‘* They’ve run away.”’

‘““T’m glad of it,’’ answered the boy fer-
vently.

’Lias looked about at the Swede, and com-
menced to tell him of the kicking he saw the
boy get from Blaudet.

The Swede interrupted him excitedly :

‘But they’re here. I hid them in the
The Boys Fall into a Trap. 135

barn. They’re afraid, too, that old Blaudet
is after them.”

** He won’t think of coming here.”’

** Yes, but he will ; he noticed you speak-
ing to that boy, and that you pitied him.”’

‘* How can we manage?’ cried ’ Lias.

‘You know what I think? This I believe,
that these children are akin to Squire Black.
They look as like as peas, those pictures in
the hall and those children. One day when
we were out at Blaudet’s the boy was clean-
ing up his trunk, and he showed me an old
portrait. ‘That’s my grandmother,’ he
said. ‘She was rich, but her father didn’t
like the way she married, and she went away
and never came back. She is dead, and my
grandfather, too.’ ”’

Matthias went on to tell what he had
learned from the boy.

‘“* Blaudet is not his father. He died, and
they were homeless, when, for the sake of
136 Lhe Boys Fall into a Trap.

her children, the mother married Blaudet.
He abused her until she died in about a year
after.”’

‘Does he know where these relatives
lived 2” asked ’ Lias.

“*Tasked him that, but he did not know ;
said his mother had some letters, but they
were in Blaudet’s desk, and he could never
getatthem. He remembers, though, to have
heard her speak of her mother as being
often in St. Louis.”

’Lias started. ‘I suppose she would be
if she was Squire Black’s daughter.”

‘‘T am going to dare the old man’s dis-
pleasure, and go there now to tell him all I
suspect, and call on him in the name of
charity to protect them. He wanted to help
you, and you were too proud ; he can extend
his charity to them. Don’t you go to sleep
until I come back.”

‘‘T’m too excited,’’ answered the boy.
The Boys Fall into a Trap. 134%

- The Swede stayed so long that ’Lias almost
despaired of him ever coming out, but finally
he came quickly down the loose-planked-old
sidewalk.

** Be quick !”’ he cried to ’Lias. ‘‘ Bring
them before he changes his mind.’’

They ran together to the little barn and
called the frightened refugees.

*“How I wish you had the letters belong-
ing to your mother and grandmother !”’ ex-
claimed the Swede regretfully.

‘‘Thave them,’’ answered the girl. ‘‘ They
were ours, but I had to steal them.”’

Matthias was overjoyed, and said if he was
not fearfully mistaken these letters would
establish their claims, or the claims he had
made for them.

‘* That night I was there and saw the pic-
tures, I said that old man was akin to you;
and when I heard all about him I knew it
was the truth, only the legal proof was ab-
138 The Boys Fall into a Trap.

sent. Now we will let him see these letters
and papers for himself.”’

When they reached the squire’s home the
old gentleman was standing under a lamp in
the hall, frowning and unbending, but ’ Lias
could tell that he was much agitated.

The boy went in first, slender and erect,
the dark eyes still pathetic and harassed ;
his face haggard and white, while his clothes
were ragged and soiled.

His eyes met the old man’s unflinchingly.
He had no idea why the Swede had brought
him there, beyond the question of shelter
and protection.

The squire started, and his hand shook.

‘What do you call yourself?’ he asked
the boy harshly.

“* Valentine Oliver,” answered the boy
firmly. .

The old mar =ttered an exclamatios. Th-
girl, who had stayed back near the Swede,
The Boys Fall into a Trap. 139

came forward slowly into the light. Her
dark eyes were so like her brother’s, and the
curls falling over her thin white cheeks were
only a little more girlish than his.

The squire seemed as if he was about to
move towards her, then he said :

‘** And who are you ?”

“YT was named for my grandmother,
sir, Olivia Black, and my last name is
Oliver.”’

‘You know it all, and you have left me
doubting !” cried the squire, turning towards
Matthias.

‘*T never even knew their names in full,”
said he solemnly, raising his hands.

Matthias spoke to the girl, and she gave
him a small bundle of papers from out the
folds of her dress. :

*Lias stood inside the door, awkwardly
shifting his hat from hand to hand.

Val looked at him. ‘It was ’Lias that
140 The Boys Fall into a Trap.

gave me courage to run away and take my
sister with me. He is younger than I am,
but he was not afraid of Blaudet, and he was
working for himself. When he asked me
why I did not run away, the question stayed
with me until I made up my mind to come
here to his mother’s and bring my sister.
It was for her that I was afraid. Blaudet
whipped her yesterday with the buggy
whip.”

The boy’s eyes were blazing with horror
and anger, but the girl had put her hands
over her eyes, and the tears were dropping
between the slender fingers.

The squire drew himself up, and his eyes
were like the boy’s, dark and angry.

““T will show him no mercy; ’lI——”
He stopped quickly, as if he were afraid to
say more.

The Swede gave him the letters.

“* Here are letters belonging to their mother
The Boys Fall into a Trap. 141

and grandmother. I hope they will prove
just what I expect them to be.”

The old man took them into a large old.
fashioned room. The aged woman whom
Matthias had seen before was in a high-
backed chair near the window. She looked
about fretfully as the group entered, but
when her gaze fell on Olivia she came stiffly
to her feet and cried :

‘‘ Who is that, Mr. Val ?”’

Something like a smile came across the old
squire’s face. ‘‘ We will know presently ;
we will see.”

He unfolded letter after letter, sometimes
frowning, but showing no sign that could
give ’Lias or the Swede hope.

Val and his sister had sunk down in the
soft seats provided for them by the old man,
and they sighed contentedly as they looked
about the room.

Suddenly the old squire came to his feet,
142 The Boys Fall into a Trap.

with his right hand clutching a yellowed
letter. He shook it against the old woman’s
face.

‘* This letter was written by my daughter,
d’ye hear ?—my daughter Olivia.”

The woman looked startled, but she said :
** You’re a long-lived race.’?

He took Val in his left arm and
said :

‘Pm no hypocrite ; but my blood is my
blood. Let him interfere who dares.” He
kissed the children solemnly. ‘‘ You are
my daughter’s daughter’s children, I am son-
vinced, and this is your home.”’

They could not understand at all, they
were so astonished and perplexed ; but their
great-grandfather insisted on taking a light —
and having them go into the room where the
pictures were.

Val and Olivia stood under the pictures
with curious eyes.
’ The Boys Fall into a Trap. 143.

‘‘That little girl looks like you, Ollie,”
Val said to his sister.

‘And her name was Olivia Black,”’’ said
the squire in a low voice—‘‘ your grand-
mother.”’

** And that man looks like you will after
awhile,’ said the Swede to Val as they
looked at the portrait beside the little girl.

‘“‘“And that represents me, Valentine
Black,’’ went on the squire in the same low
voice. ‘‘I’m neareighty to-night, but I have
never felt more that I had something to live
for. What can I do for you?’ He looked
at ’Lias and the Swede. ‘‘ You are too
proud. Ihave tried this boy with money”
—he put his hand kindly on ’Lias’ head—
‘but I know something he needs that shall
be his to-morrow. I will have a talk with
you,”’ he said to Matthias. _

The two withdrew, leaving the squire to
explain to the puzzled children, who did not
144 | The Boys Fall into a Trap.

understand in the least what all the talk re-
ferred to, and could not believe that they
were safe in a home of their own.

““Tve been galloping around all over the
world,” said Matthias meditatively, ‘‘ but
this is ahead of any romance I ever took
part in. I feel like I was dreaming.”

“‘T have been dreaming of impossible hap-
penings all my life,’ laughed ’Lias ; ‘‘ but
here is a wilder dream right at my door. I
wonder if I won’t wake up in the morning
and find myself the governor of the State.”

“‘In good time, if you try, and like the
- business,’’ cried Matthias joyfully. ‘‘ Who
could sleep to-night?’ he said. ‘‘ My
blood is all a tingle.”

He and the boy sat down on the door-step
at home looking at the beautiful moon that
was creeping up the eastern sky.

The Swede put his head against the door
and sang some old songs he had learned at
The Boys Fall into a Trap.. 145

home. His voice was a clear tenor, and the
songs were very pathetic.

’Lias sighed audibly. Matthias stopped
and touched the boy’s shoulder.

‘* What is it?’ he asked.

*Lias put his head down on the kind arm.
‘**T wish I could be something,”’ he said, sob-
bing—‘‘ something besides a stupid clod.”’

Matthias drew him closer.

‘““T have dreamed that, too,’’ he said, his
face brilliant, ‘“‘ and prayed for it, and what
amI?
aged.”
146 ? Inas Leaves Home, for School.

CHAPTER VIII.

*LIAS LEAVES HOME, FOR SCHOOL.

THE Swede was sent for early next morn-
ing to come to Squire Black’s.

In a little while he was on the way back
to ’Lias with a present for him of two good
farm horses, fitted with neat new harness.

‘‘T don’t like to take them. I haven’t de-
served them, and how can I thank him, any-
way ?” said ’Lias.

Matthias frowned. ‘‘ He will be worse than
mad if I have to lead them home +o him.”’

Finally they were put in the stable, and
’Lias felt quite proud of his team.

Great was the excitement in the village
when the fact was made public that Squire
Black’s children were of his own blood.




’"Inas Leaves Home, for School. 147

Blaudet made a great to do, but when he
knew all, he was so amazed that he could
not think of any immediate way to outwit
the squire; and when he was shown the
statement of Valand Olivia concerning his
cruel treatment, he was much alarmed, and
wished to make a compromise of some sort.

As for Val and Olivia, they could not re-
alize how completely their lives were changed.
They came over in the evenings to visit ’ Lias
and Marilly, but they did not know how to
play any. games.

The squire liked ’Lias to come over to the
old house, and often asked him what he in-
tended to make of himself.

‘‘T don’t know, sir. I have dreamed of
being something beside a mere stupid creat-
ure like I have been, but I’m so slow to
learn anything.”’

‘“‘ Never dream,” exclaimed the squire; “de-
termine to do, and ways will open for you.”’

a

NPY
ae
148 *Lias Leaves Home, for, School.

This was another new idea for’ Lias, and
he acted upon it at once by asking Father
White if there was any chance for him in
arithmetic.

‘¢ Of course,’’ answered the priest. ‘* You
don’t know how much progress you have
made. You will be surprised when school
begins to find how much you understand.”

“‘T hope Pll be up with Pauly Venty,’’
said ’Lias, more to himself than to Father
White.

The priest smiled a little. ‘‘ That’sa very
natural wish, I know, but is it the incentive
for preparing for examination? I must not
be disappointed in my summer pupil. I’ve
been furbishing up my rusted mathematical
gifts all these days because of you.”

“Tt’s awfully good of you, Father,” an-
swered ’Lias gratefully.

‘* And whenever I see the nice lettuce and
other salads served upon my table. and know


*Lias Leaves Home, for School. 149

you’ ve cared for them, I think it’s ‘awfully
good of you,’ ” answered he, laughing.

The Swede Matthias now proposed to Mrs.
Leveve and ’Lias to plough up all the little
land that belonged to her, about five acres in
all, and plant clover to sell seed and hay from.

‘* Squire Black offers me ten acres to take
on shares next year. If you can let me stay
here, I can make enough at odd jobs to keep
up a share in the provisions, and I will help
here, too, while ’ Lias is at school.”’

Mrs. Leveve agreed to this plan with pleas-
ure. Matthias had made himself a necessity
in the little home.

When school opened ’Lias was on hand
early.

He was very much changed, and one or
two of the boys pretended not to know him.
He was taller and thinner ; his eyes had lost
their sleepy look.

He had used some of his money to buy
150 >Inas Leaves Home, for School.

a neat school suit. With a trim cadet
cap and polished shoes he looked even bet-
ter than Pauly Venty. Jennie was openly
proud of him, and Dupe, her brother, at-
tached himself to ’Lias with many expres-
sions of friendship.

‘** You're awful sure that ’Lias is some,”’
sneered Pauly toJennie. ‘‘ Just wait; any-
_ body can dig potatoes or feed a horse.”

Jennie felt anxious ; she remembered how
very dull ’Lias was.

When the bell rang and the children filed
in ’Lias came in and bowed respectfully to
Miss Blethins, the teacher.

She commenced an examination at once to
grade her classes.

When the class was :called in which Pauly
Venty had ruled as of superior intelligence,
*Lias walked up, inwardly nervous, but out-
wardly calm. a

‘You've made a mistake, Leveve,” said
’Lias Leaves Home, for School. 15]

Miss Blethins courteously. ‘‘ Yow’re in the
second class.’’ ,

“*T would like to try to pass the examina-
tion for this class, if you please.’ ’Lias
spoke firmly, but his face was very red.

Miss Blethins looked surprised, and Pauly
Venty, with several of his followers, pretend-
ed to see something very funny in ’Lias’ pro-
posal, giggling and mouthing immoderately.

Pauly Venty was called to the board first, <<

and then others were sent up. Inan under- ~ 3“~

tone the teacher commenced with ’ Lias.

His readiness in replying and his accuracy
pleased Miss Blethins. She gave him three
of the most difficult problems to solve.

He went to the board confidently ; his
place being next to Pauly Venty, that being
the only one vacant.

Pauly tried to trouble him every way.

‘* That’s wrong,4’ he whispered. ‘‘ You’re
copying off mine.”’
152 *Inas Leaves Home, for School.

*Lias faced about, trembling. ‘‘ Miss Bleth-
ins, may I change places with Dupe La-
velle ?’

The teacher looked sharply at Pauly, and
’Lias was allowed to go.

‘* Best two out of three, Leveve,” said Miss
Blethins pleasantly.

Pauly Venty made a flourish around his
examples, and came to the recitation bench.

His teacher looked over his work care-
fully. Pauly’s eyes flashed when he saw
the red chalk cross opposite each of the
three, signifying that they were wrong.

As the pupils took their seats the red chalk
was busy marking errors, until only six were
left to continue in the advanced class. One
of the six was ’Lias Leveve.

Miss Blethins expressed her surprise and
pleasure.

“You have surely been studying through
the vacation ?’ she said inquiringly.
?Lias Leaves Home, for School. 153

“Yes, Miss Blethins ; I have been studying
under Father White.”’

‘“‘T wish some of the other boys had fol-
lowed your example,” she said.

Several of the boys were very angry, and
said many aggravating and annoying things
in ’Lias’ hearing.

“*You’d better hush, he’ll fight,’’ cau-
tioned little Jack Hahn.

This was greeted with a loud laugh. The
idea of ’Lias in a fight was new to them.
The boy tried his best to keep up his studies
and make friends with all the boys.

Sometimes he would fail utterly, then
again he would be far ahead in all his classes.

The squire, whose contempt for the village
people would not let him associate with them
or allow Val and Olivia to do so, made an
exception of ’Lias and Marilly. This made
the gossips more talkative and the dissatis-
fied ones more surly.
154 *Lias Leaves Home, for School.

These ills and many more did ’Lias con-
fide to Father White—his only relief. Wisely
the priest counselled, and faithfully the boy
tried to keep his teachings.

The potatoes turned out so well under the
Swede’s careful management, that ’Lias
cleared thirty dollars, even paying Matthias
a reasonable wage fee.

After buying an overcoat and a pair of
gloves, he gave the money to his mother,
who proudly acknowledged how much help
he had been to her for several months.

After school closed the next year Father
White disturbed Mrs. Leveve’s serenity of
mind by saying that ’Lias must be put into
a more thorough school.

‘“‘There’s a fine school in Lebonne,’’ he
continued. ‘‘A cousin of mine is parish
priest there, and ’Lias could stay with him.
Tve already asked him about it.’’

“Tt isn’t worth while,” complained Mrs.
>Lias Leaves Home, for School. 155

Leveve; ‘‘’Lias never took to school-
in’.”’

‘“ Because he was overfed, untrained, and
never aroused until last spring,’ urged the
priest.

‘‘T will talk to him,” she said doubtfully.
“*T won’t consent just yet.”

Father White smiled ; he knew how easily
*Lias managed to argue away his mother’s
objection to any plan he liked.

When ’Lias was told of it, ‘‘I am four-
teen,’’ he mused. ‘‘ There is little time left
for me to prepare myself, so I will go. I
want to see Squire Black first, though.’’

One pleasant afternoon he told the squire
of the course marked out for him.

‘*A good idea !’’ exclaimed the old man.
‘*T will have Val go with you. He must be
in school. Will you like ¢hat ?

“Yes, sir /”’ cried the two boys.

‘* But it looks selfish in me to leave Marilly
156 "Inas Leaves Home, for School.

and mother all alone ; besides, my sister is
just crazy to take lessons in music.”’

‘*T will see they don’t. suffer,” the old
man saidearnestly. ‘‘ Your sister and Olivia
can study music together, for I have already
engaged a teacher from Clinton to take
charge of her. I shall be more than glad to
have your sister come here.’’

One day, the first of the following Septem-
ber, ’Lias kissed his mother and sister good-
by, and started for Lebonne.

Father White and Matthias went with him
to the nearest railroad station. The priest
was in the very best of spirits.

“Now be a good boy,’’ he admonished ;
“and remember, I expect you to make a
great man of yourself. Come back to your
native town and legislate a continuance of
this railway to Millville.’’

There was a general laugh, and ’Lias and

Val were off.
*Inas Leaves Home, for School. 15?

There was no doubt now of the boy’s ear-
nestness. -He studied and worked as he had
never done. ‘‘I never dream now,’’ he said
to Val one day. ‘‘I used to have the queer-
est dreams about old fairy characters ; you’d
not believe me if I’d tell you.”

Then there came a short and awful letter
from Father White. ’Lias’ mother was dead
of small-pox. It was supposed she con-
tracted the terrible malady from some women
who made the rounds of country towns with
cheap wares. One of these had died in an
old cabin near town, and the other was slowly
recovering.

** This is all I can send you now. No
communications will pass after to-morrow.
Your sister is with the Blacks and safe, as
their house is isolated. I was with your
mother at the last; she died happy, leav-
ing her love and blessing to her children.”

A few wise words of help and counsel, then
158 *Inas Leaves Home, jor School.

the letter closed ; and not many weeks after
the kind old priest cheerfully laid down his
cross, to enter on his eternal reward. .

For weeks ’Lias seemed lifeless. He crept
about seeing nothing, caring for nothing.
Father Clarke tried to lead him towards the
altar of the Mother of Sorrows, but there
was no relief anywhere for him.

The Lenten season was near its close, and
preparations were made fora grand Easter cele-
bration. It was something new to ’Lias, and
he liked to watch the decorators at their
work.

He was to have been one of the acolytes,
but Father Clarke felt his grief was too near
vital, and so it happened that ’Lias sat back
under the choir loft on Kaster Sunday. He
started abruptly when the great organ pealed
forth its sounds of exultation, and when the
choir sang the triumphant hymns of Christ
risen, he sobbed aloud.
’Lias Leaves Home, for School. 159

It relieved him, and when he met Father
Clarke in the parlor after Mass, he looked
more like himself.

‘* T’ve been very selfish, Father.”’

‘‘There, there,’? said the priest. ‘‘ See
how close suffering brings us to Our Lord!”

‘*T wanted so much to make something of
myself, so mother could know.”

‘And will she not? Think of her as
seeing and rejoicing.”

‘*T had not remembered that,’? murmured.
’Lias.

‘* Then there is your sister to care for and
watch over. Think how poor her life is
without you, and mourning for a mother,
too.”

‘*T’ve been worse than selfish, Father,’’
cried ’Lias.
160 *Iias Visits Home Once Mere.

CHAPTER IX.
"ELIAS VISITS HOME ONCE MORE.

WueEw school closed ’Lias visited home.
The house was closed, and everything looked
desolate. Matthias slept in the house, and
took his meals with the Blacks. The old
man seemed to rely upon him more and
more.

’Lias sat down upon the old stone step,
and Turk crept up to put his head upon his
young master’s knee.

‘* We're just a-dreaming, Turk. We will
wake up and find mother and all waiting
supper, just as they used to be.”

He broke down and cried bitterly, while
Turk tried in vain to make him notice his
game of fetch and carry.
’Iias Visits Home Once More. 161

‘*T feel so unreal,’ he said to Matthias ;
**T don’t feel at home.”

‘“‘Have you seen Marilly?’’ asked the
Swede.

‘“‘No; Iam going over now. I wanted to
see home alone, so as to be used to not seeing
mother here.’’ His eyes grew dim with tears.

‘*You’ll think Marilly changed,”’’ said Mat-
thias. ‘‘ She is two years older than you.”’

“So she is!” exclaimed ’Lias. ‘‘ She
must be seventeen.”’

He had left his sister a freckle-faced little
girl in short dresses, but when she Jeame
down the steps to meet her brother, she was

-in a mourning dress that touched her toes.

How tall and self-possessed she seemed !
Her fair face and blue eyes looked troubled,
but she would not speak of their loss often.

‘‘T can’t stay here always,” she said,.in
answer to ’Lias’ question of how they would
better manage. .‘‘ And the squire says I
162 ’Inas Visits Home Once More.

ought not to interfere with your career.
Matthias took care of mother while she
was sick. He had the small-pox once, and
she made him promise to take care of me.
In fact, we think—the squire thinks, we
might better marry and settle down in the
old house. I want to.” She drew a long
breath. ‘‘I never cared to leave it. With
my music and all the old flowers, and—and
Matthias, I can be happy again.’’

‘* And what am I to do, alone and home.
less ?”’ asked ’ Lias bitterly.

His sister put her arm around his neck.

‘* Never alone,’’ she said softly, ‘‘ while
Turk and I live.”

*Lias put his head against her shoulder
and sobbed out all his fears and troubles.

Marilly was practical and hopeful. She
never dreamed. Shecomforted ’Lias as only
one other could do, and that was his mother.

‘*The home will be yours and mine,” she
?Inas Visits Home Once More. 163

said. ‘‘I will keep your room always for
you.”’

’Lias talked it over the next day with the
squire, who told him that he had satisfied
himself that Matthias was an honorable and
worthy man.

Before ’Lias returned to school there was
a quiet wedding at Squire Black’s, and Mat-
thias and Marilly made their wedding journey
by walking over to the old house and taking
possession. They had a quiet supper, and:
Marilly and Olivia were quite merry, but
‘Lias felt sad and unreal, while Matthias
understood him too well to feel hurt.

The boy visited the house where Father
White had lived. There was a new priest he
knew, a kind, young-faced man, whom ’Lias
liked. The priest took him about over the
familiar garden and flower-beds.

‘* Father White left you a little gift; you
were to have it when you came.”’
264 > Tias Visits Home Once More.

He handed the boy the herbarium and a
few other books that Father White had
prized. The boy took them silently, the
tears dropping down upon the books.

‘* Father Downs, I’m so worried about my
sister. She was married yesterday, but not
by a priest. She and Matthias are both
Catholics at heart; they’re just careless.
Yesterday I felt I ought not to say any-
thing, but to-day I feel uneasy about it.”

Father Downs nodded his head cheerfully.

‘‘ Father White said you were a very con-
scientious boy. Rest about your sister; I
will visit her and her husband. Tell me of
yourself. ”’

**T will finish my school course, then I
will try to get into some business in Lebonne.
Llike the place. Valis to enter a bank there,
and I will either teach or enter with him.”’

‘‘But you had an ambition?’ queried the
priest. .
"Inas Visits Home Once More. 165

“T have yet—to do well anything I find to
do,’’ answered ’Lias. ‘‘ But I do want to do
something else ; I can’t talk of it yet.’’

The next summer ’Lias did not visit Maril-
ly. He worked in a store and studied at
night, attending chapel regularly on Sundays.

Time passed rapidly, and one day ’Lias
was made aware of its flight when he thought,
‘*T am twenty-one years old to-day.”’

He had worked steadily during vacations,
while Matthias had insisted on giving him a
third of whatever was realized on the little
farm.

He had quite a sum to his credit in bank,
and to-day had brought him a letter bidding
him to be present at the reading of Squire
Black’s will.

’Lias knew his old friend was dead, and
that Matthias had been appointed as guard-
ian of Val and Olivia. They were of age .

now, and the will was to be read.
166 ’Iias Visits Home Once More.

Various bequests were made. Olivia was
to be sent to New York to school. Val was
already in business in Lebonne. His sister
was recommended to his care; and finally
*Lias heard his name mentioned.

The squire had given him the hall and the
valuable farm back of it.

He could hardly realize it.

- “ Tt’s true,’ said Val smilingly. ‘‘ Olivia
and I could not own it together very well,
and grandfather thought you’d come back
here some day to live, maybe represent the
county, or be governor or something.” Val
laughed pleasantly.

Then there came a busy life. He was in-
terested in a bank in Lebonne, his farm
claimed much time, and the years passed
like dreams. He had been interested in poli-:
tics of late, and had thought of Matthias as

za sturdy man of the people.

He still had a room at the priest’s house—-
*ZTias Visits Home Once More. 167

it seemed more home-like. °Lias came sing-
ing into his room one day, when Father
Clarke called across the hall :

‘‘ What have you been doing to be talked
of in the papers ?”’

*Lias looked surprised. The priest handed
him the daily paper.

He saw dimly in large type the nameâ„¢
“ Elias Leveve,’ then a request that he.
should allow the people to place his name
on the ticket for representative. There was
a long list of names, and ’Lias saw that Paul
Venty’s name was in the list, as well as
Dupré Lavelle.

“‘T must go down there,” he murmured,
his heart warming towards all the old friends,
and he forgave at once many a slight in the
past—‘‘I must: go home and shake hands
with all of them.”’

So he journeyed down to Millville to see
his constituents. The news of his coming’
168 *Lias Visits Home Once More.

had travelled on before him, and the village
band with a large crowd was at the station
to meet him.

He was cheered and cheered. He madea
speech that no one heard, and a trim little
woman in white swiss and a picture hat
handed him a bouquet of roses. How home-
like they were—all old-time garden roses!
He lifted his hat and looked at the giver.

‘* Why,” he stammered, ‘it’s Jennie.”

Then there was another cheer when ’ Lias
elbowed his way through the crowd to shake
hands with Father Downs.

‘‘How do you like this, ’Lias?’ asked
Marilly, as she stood in the door at home
bidding ’Lias good-night. ‘‘ Doesn’t this
equal your wildest dream of the future ?”’

“Ts a dream itself,’’ declared ’Lias.
‘* Tm just an heir of dreams.”’

PRINTED BY Benziazn BrotHenrs, New YoRE.
Benziger Brothers’ New Plan for Disseminating Catholic Literature
A NEW PLAN FOR SECURING

e
Catholic Books on Easy Payments
Small Monthly Payments. Books Delivered Immediately. All
New Copyright Works by the Foremost Writers
Printed from New Plates,on Good Paper, Substantially Bound in Cloth

A MOST LIBERAL OFFER!

The following pages contain a list of the books in our Cath-
olic Circulating Library which can be had from us on the easy-
payment plan.

hough the books are sold on easy payments, the prices are
lower than the regular advertised prices.

Any library advertised in these pages will be sent to you
immediately on receipt of $1.00.

CATHOLIC CIRCULATING LIBRARY

The Plan forForming Reading Circles
Dues only 10 Cents a Month.

A New Book Every Month Total Cost for
$2 Worth of BookstoReadj a Year, $1.20
THIS EXPLAINS THE PLAN

You form a Reading Club, say of
twelve members, and order one of the
Libraries from us,

Each member pays you ten cents a
month, and you remit us $1.00 a month,
thus paying us for the books.

On receipt of the first dollar we
will send you a complete library.
You give each member a book. After
a month all the members return their

books to you and you give them another one.

THE OTHER
PLAN
Or if, instead of form-
ing a Reading Circle,
ou wish to get a
ibrary for yourself

or your family, all

you need do is to re.

mit a dollar bill and

any aipeney. will be
O

forwarded to you at
once. Then you pay:
One Dollar a month,



The books are

exchanged in this way every month till the members have read

the twelve volumes in the Library.

After the twelfth month

the books. may be divided among the members (each getting one
book to keep) or the books may be given to your Pastor for a

parish library.

Then you can order from us a second Library on the same

terms as above.

In this way you can

keep up your Reading

Circle from year to year at a trifling cost.
On the following pages will be found a list of the books in

the different Libraries.

hey are the best that can be had,

Mail a dollar bill to-day and any Library will be forwarded

at once.

BENZIGER BROTHERS

CINCINNATI:
343 Main St.

1

New_York:
36-38 Barclay St.

Cxrcaco:
211-213 Madison St.
CATHOLIC CIRCULATING LIBRARY

Dues, 10 cents a Month 2 New Books Every Month

JUVENILE BOOKS

20 Copyrighted Stories for the Young, by the Best Authors
Special Net Price, $10.00
You get the books at once, and have the use of them, while
making easy payments. Read explanation on first page.

JUVENILE LIBRARY A

TOM_PLAYFAIR; OR, MAKING A START. By Rev. F. J.
INN, S.J. “Best boy’s book that ever came from the press.”

THE CAVE BY THE BEECH FORK. By Rev. H. S. Spaup-
1InG, S.J. “This is a story full of go and adventure.”

HARRY RUSSELL, A_ROCKLAND COLLEGE BOY. By
Rev. J. E. Copus, S.J. ‘Father Copus takes the college
hero where Father Finn has left him, through the years
to graduation.”

CHARLIE CHITTYWICK. By Rev. Davip Bezarneg, S.J.
Father Bearne shows a wonderful knowledge and fine ap-
preciation of boy character.

NAN NOBODY. By Mary T. Waccaman. “Keeps one fas-
cinated till the last Baye is reached.”

LOYAL BLUE AND ROYAL SCARLET. By Marton A.
Taceart. “Will help keep awake the strain of hero worship.”

THE GOLDEN LILY. By Karuarine T. Hinxson. ‘Another
proof of the author’s wonderful genius.’”’

THE MYSTERIOUS DOORWAY. By Anna T. Sapiier. “A
bright, sparkling book.’”’

OLD CHARLMONT’S SEED-BED. By Sara T. SmitH. “A
delightful story of Southern school life.”

THE MADCAP SET AT ST. ANNE’S. By Marion J.
Brunowe. “Plenty of fun, with high moral principle.”
BUNT AND BILL. By Crara Mutuortanp. “There are
passages of true pathos and humor in this pretty tale.’’
THE FLOWER OF THE FLOCK. By Mavrice F. Ecan.
“They are by no means faultless young people and their

hearts lie in the right places.”

PICKLE AND PEPPER. By Extra L. Dorsey. “This story
is clever _and witty—there is not a dull page.”

A HOSTAGE OF WAR. By Mary G. BonesteEL. “A wide-
awake story, brimful of incident and easy humor.”

AN EVERY DAY GIRL. By Mary T. Crowrey. “One of the
few tales that will Sppeal to the heart of every, girl.””

AS TRUE AS GOLD. By Mary E. Mannix. “This book will
make a name for itself.”

AN HEIR OF DREAMS. By S. M. O’Mattey. ‘The book is
destined to become a true friend of our boys.”

THE MYSTERY OF HORNBY HALL. By Anna T. Saniier.
Sure to stir the blood of every real boy and to delight with
its finer touches the heart of every true girl.

TWO LITTLE GIRLS. By Littran Macx. A real child’s tale.

RIDINGDALE FLOWER SHOW. | By Rev. Davip Bearng, S.J.
“His sympathy with boyhood is so evident and his under-
standing so perfect.”

2
20 COPYRIGHTED STORIES FOR THE YOUNG
BY THE BEST CATHOLIC WRITERS
Special Net Price, $10.00
$1.00 down, $1.00 a month
Read explanation of our Circulating Library plan on first page

JUVENILE LIBRARY B

HIS_FIRST AND LAST APPEARANCE. By Rev. F. J.
Finn, S.J. Profusely illustrated. “A delightful story by
Father Finn, which will be popular with the girls as’ weil
as with the boys.”

THE SHERIFF OF THE BEECH FORK. By Rev. H. s.
Spatpinc, S.J. “From the outset the reader’s attention is
captivated and never lags.”

SAINT CUTHBERT’S. By Rev. J. E. Corus, S.J. “A truly
inspiring tale, full of excitement.”

THE TAMING OF POLLY. By Exta Loraine Dorsey. “Polly
nat her cool head, her pure heart and stern Western sense
of justice.”

STRONG-ARM OF AVALON. By Mary TT. Waccaman.
fe akes hold of the interest and of. the heart and never
ets go.”

JACK HILDRETH ON THE NILE. By C. May. “Courage,
truth, honest dealing with friend and foe.”

A KLONDIKE PICNIC. By Exeanor C. Donnetty. “Alive
with the charm that belongs to childhood.”

A COLLEGE BOY. By AntHony Yorke. “Healthy, full of
life, full of incident.”

THE GREAT CAPTAIN. By Karnartne T. Huinxson.
“Makes the most interesting and_delightful reading.”
THE YOUNG COLOR GUARD. By Mary G. BonestTEEL.
“The attractiveness of the tale is enhanced by the realness

that pervades it.”

THE HALDEMAN CHILDREN. By Mary E. Mannix. “Full
of people entertaining, refined, and witty.”

PAULINE ARCHER. By Anna T. Saptier. “Sure to cap-
tivate the hearts of all juvenile readers.”

THE ARMORER OF SOLINGEN. By W. HeERcHENBACH.
“Cannot fail to inspire honest ambition.”

THE INUNDATION. By Canon Scumip. “Sure to please
the young readers for whom it is intended.”

THE BLISSYLVANIA POST-OFFICE. By Marton A. Tac-
GART. ie Sone, and captivating to young people.”

DIMPLING’S SUCCESS. By Ciara MuLHottanp. “Vivacious
and natural and cannot fail to be a favorite.”

BISTOURI. By A. Meranpri. ‘How Bistouri traces out the
vee and foils them_makes interesting reading.”

FRED’S LITTLE DAUGHTER. By Sara T. Smiru. “The
heroine wins her way into the heart of every one.”

THE SEA-GULL’S ROCK. By J. Sanpgeav. “The intrepidity
of the little hero will eppest to every boy.”

JUVENILE ROUND TABLE. First Serres. A collection of
twenty stories by the foremost writers, with illustrations.

3
20 COPYRIGHTED STORIES FOR THE YOUNG
BY THE BEST CATHOLIC WRITERS

Special Net FPrice, $10.00
$1.00 down, $1.00 a month
Read explanation of our Circulating Library plan on first page.

JUVENILE LIBRARY C

PERCE WYNN; OR, MAKING A BOY OF HIM. By Rev.
l. ein SJ. “The most successful Catholic juvenile

ont! RACE: FOR COPPER ISLAND. By Rev. H. S. Spap-
ING, St “Father Spalding’s descriptions equal those of

SHADOWS LIFTED, By Rev. J. E..Corus, S.J, “We know
of no books more delightful and "interesting.

HOW THEY WORKED THEIR WAY, AND OTHER
STORIES. By Maurice F. Ecan. “A Choice collection of
stories by one of the Binst: popular writers.”

WINNETOU, THE APACHE IGHT. By C. May. ‘“Chap-
ters of breathless interest.”

MALLY AVELING.~ By Sara TRAINER SMITH, “The best

y Sara Trainer Smith has ever written.
THE “TRANSPLANTING OF TESSIE, By Mary T. Wacca-
“An excellent girl’s story.”

THE. ‘PLAYWATER PLOT. By Mary T. Waccaman. ‘How
the plotters are Sagtaced and the boy rescued makes a very
interesting story.

AN ADVENTURE WITH THE APACHES. By GasrrEeL

PANCHO “AND PANCHITA. By Mary E. Mannix. “Full of

olor and warmth of life in old Mexico.”

RECRUIT TOMMY COLLINS. By Mary G._ BonzstzeE.
“Many a boyish heart will beat in envious admiration of
little Tommy.

BY BRANSCOME RIVER. By Marion A. Taccart. “A
creditable book in every way.”

THE, UEEN’S PAGE. By YR ATHARINE Tynan HINKSON.

ill arouse the young to interest in historical matters
and is a good story well told.”

MARY TRACY’S FORTUNE. By, Anna T. Savtizr.

pene interesting and well written.”

BOB-O’LINK By Mary T. Waccaman. “Every boy and girl
will be delighted with Bob-o’Link.”

HERS GIRLS AND ESPECIALLY ONE. By Marton A.

Taccart. ‘“‘There is an ceguasits charm in the telling, 7

WRONGFULLY ACCUSED. By W. Hercuenzacn. “A simple
tale, entertainingly told.”

aHEE, CANARY BIRD. By Canon Scumip. “The, story is a

ne one and will be enjoyed byt bors and girls.”

FIVE O’CLOCK STORIES. By S.H.C. J. “Phe children who
are blessed with such stories have much to be thankful for.”

JUVENILE ROUND TABLE. Szconp Serizs. A collection
of twenty stories by the foremeet writers, illustrated.

4
20 COPYRIGHTED STORIES FOR THE YOUNG
BY THE BEST CATHOLIC WRITERS
Special Net Price, $10.00
$1.00 down, $1.00 a month
Read explanation of our Circulating Library plan on first page.

JUVENILE LIBRARY D

THE WITCH OF RIDINGDALE. By Rev, Davin Bearng, S.J.

mae is a story for bo s that bids fair to equal any of
‘ather Finn’s successes.”

THE MYSTERY OF CLEVERLY. By Georce Barton. There
is a peculiar charm about this novel that the discriminating
reader will ascribe to the author’s own personality.

HARMONY FLATS. By C. S. Wauitmore. The characters
are all drawn true to life, and the incidents are exciting.

WAYWARD WINIFRED. By Anna T. Sapiizr. girls. Its youthful readers will enjoy the vivid description,
lively pon eareo and the many striking incidents.

TOM_LOSELY: BOY. By Rev. J. E. Corpus, S.J. Illustrated.

The writer knows boys boy nature, and small-boy
nature too.
MORE FIVE O’CLOCK STORIES. By S. H. C. J. “The

ee wee, are blessed with such stories have much to be

nkful

jack *OSLANTERN. as Mary T. Waccaman. This book is
alive with anterest. t is full_of life and incident.

THE BERKLE Emma Howarp Wicut. A truly in-
Spiene rat Pi oe excitement. There is not a dull page.

LITTLE MISSY. By Mary T. Waccaman. A charming story
for children which will be enjoyed by older folks as well.

TOM’S LUCK-POT. By Mary T. Waccaman. Full of fun
and charming incidents—a book that every boy should read.

CHILDREN OF CUPA. By Mary E. Mannix. One of the
most thoroughly unique and charming books that has found
its way to the reviewing desk in many a day.

FOR THE WHITE ROSE. By Kartuarine T. Hinxson. This
book is more than a story, and it is well written.

THE DOLLAR HUNT. From the French by E. G. Martin.
Those who wish to get a fascinating tale should read this.

THE VIOLIN MAKER. From the original of Otro v. ScHacH-
inc, by Sara TRAINER SmitH, There is much truth in this
simple utile ay

“JACK.” By S. C.J. As loving | and lovable a little fellow
as there is in he world is “Jack.”

A SUMMER AT WOODVILLE. By Anna T. Saptier. This .
is a beautiful book, in full sympathy with and delicately
a Beha of the author’s creations.

DAD DA By ee T. Waccaman, A fine boys’ story.
THE BELL FOUNDR Y. By Orro v. ScHacuinc. So interest-
ing that the reader will find it hard to tear himself away.
TOORALLADDY. By Jurta C. WatsH. An exciting story of

Ee. varied fortunes of an orphan boy from abject poverty
a_dismal cellar to success.
JUVENILE ROUND TABLE, Turrp Series. twenty stories by he foremost writers.

5
CATHOLIC CIRCULATING LIBRARY

Dues, 10 Cents a Month A New Book Every Month

NOVELS

12 Copyrighted Novels by the Best Authors
Special Price, $12.00

You get the books at once, and have the use of them while
making easy payments

Read explanation of our Circulating Library plan on first page.

LIBRARY OF NOVELS No. I

THE RULER OF THE KINGDOM. By Grace Keon. “Will
charm any reader.”

KIND HEARTS AND CORONETS. By J. Harrison. “A
real, true life history, the kind one could live through and
never read it for romance... .”

IN THE DAYS OF KING HAL. By Marion A. Taccarrt.
Illustrated. ‘“‘A tale of the time of Henry V. of England,
full of adventure and excitement.”

HEARTS OF GOLD. By I. Epuor. “It is a tale that will
leave its reader the better for knowing its heroine, her
tenderness and her heart of gold.”

THE HEIRESS OF CRONENSTEIN. By Countess Haun-
Haun. ‘An exquisite story of life and love, told in touch-
ingly simple words.”

THE PILKINGTON HEIR. By Anna T. Saptier. “Skill and
strength are shown in this story. The plot is well con-
structed and the characters vividly differentiated.”

THE OTHER MISS LISLE. A Catholic novel of South
African life. By M. C. Martin. A powerful story by a
writer of distinct ability.

IDOLS; OR, THE SECRET OF THE RUE CHAUSSEE D’AN-
TIN. By Raout pve Navery. “The story is a remarkably
clever one; it is well constructed and evinces a master hand.”

THE SOGGARTH AROON. By Rev. JoserH Gurnan, C.C.
A capital Irish story. ;

THE VOCATION OF EDWARD CONWAY. By Maurice F.
Ecan. “This is a novel of modern American life. The
scene is laid in a pleasant colony of cultivated people on
the banks of the Hudson, not far from West Point.”

A WOMAN OF FORTUNE. By Currstran Rep. ‘That great
American Catholic novel for which so much inquiry is made,
a story true in its picture of Americans at home and abroad.”

PASSING SHADOWS. By AntHony Yorke. “A_ thoroughly
charming story. It sparkles from first to last with interest-
ing situations and dialogues that are full of sentiment.
There is not a slow page.”

6 ‘
12 Copyrighted Novels by the Best Authors
Special Net Price, $12.00
$1.00 down, $1.00 a month

Read explanation of our Circulating Library plan on first page.

LIBRARY OF NOVELS No. II

THE SENIOR LIEUTENANT’S WAGER, and Other Stories.
30 stories by 30 of the foremost Catholic writers.

A DAUGHTER OF KINGS. By Katnuarine Tynan Hinxson.
“The book is most enjoyable.”

THE WAY THAT LED BEYOND. By J. Harrison. “The
story does not drag, the plot is well worked out, and the
interest endures to the very last page.”

CORINNE’S VOW. By Mary T. Waccaman. With 16 full-
page illustrations. ‘‘There is genuine artistic merit in its
plot and life-story. It is full of vitality and action.”

THE FATAL BEACON. By F. v. Bracxer. “The story is
told well and clearly, and has a certain charm that will be
found interesting. The principle characters are simple,
good-hearted people, and the heroine’s high sense of courage
impresses itself upon the reader as the tale proceeds.”

THE MONK’S PARDON: An Historical Romance of the Time
of Philip IV. of Spain. By Raovut pve Navery. “A story
full of stirring incidents and written in a lively, attrac-
tive style.”

PERE MONNIER’S WARD. By Watrter Lecxy. “The char-
acters are life-like and there is a pathos in the checkered
life of the heroine. Pere Monnier is a memory that will
linger.”

TRUE STORY OF MASTER GERARD. .By Anna T. SapLier.
“One of the most thoroughly original and delightful ro-
mances ever evolved from the pen of a Catholic writer.”

THE UNRAVELING OF A TANGLE. By Marton A. Tac-
GART, With four full-page illustrations. “This story tells of
the adventures of a young American girl, who, in order to
get possession of a fortune left her by an uncle whom she
had never seen, goes to France.”

THAT MAN’S DAUGHTER. By Henry M. Ross. “A well-
told story of American life, the scene laid in Boston, New
York and California. It is very interesting.”

FABIOLA’S SISTER. (A companion volume to Cardinal
Wiseman’s “Fabiola.”) Adapted by A.C. Crarxe. ‘A book
to read—a worthy sequel to that masterpiece, ‘Fabiola.’ ”

THE OUTLAW OF CAMARGUE: A Novel. By A. ve La-
MOTHE, “A capital novel with plenty of go in it.”

7
12 Copyrighted Novels by the Best Authors
Special Net Price, $12.00
$1.00 down, $1.00 a month

Read explanation of our Circulating Library plan on first page.

LIBRARY OF NOVELS No. III

“NOT A JUDGMENT.” By Grace Keon. “Beyond doubt the
best Catholic novel of the year.”

THE RED INN OF ST. LYPHAR. By Anna T. Saprizer. “A
story of stirring times in France, when the sturdy Vendeans
rose in defence of country and religion.”

HER FATHER’S DAUGHTER. By Kartuartne Tynan Hinx-
son. “So dramatic and so intensely interesting that the
reader will find it difficult to tear himself away from the
story.”

OUT OF BONDAGE, By M. Hott. “Once his book becomes
known it will be read by a great many.”

MARCELLA GRACE. By Rosa MvutuHortanp. Mr. Gladstone
called this novel a masterpiece.

THE CIRCUS-RIDER’S DAUGHTER. By F. v. Bracket.
This work has achieved a remarkable success for a Catholic
novel, for in less than a year three editions were printed.

CARROLL DARE. By Mary T. WaccaMan. Illustrated. “A
thrilling story, with the dash of horses and the clash of
swords on every side.”

DION AND THE SIBYLS. By Mites Keon. “Dion is as
brilliantly, as accurately and as elegantly classical, as
scholarly in style and diction, as fascinating in plot and as
vivid in action as Ben Hur.”

HER BLIND FOLLY. By H. M. Ross. A clever story with
an interesting and well-managed plot and many striking
situations.

MISS ERIN. By M. E. Francis. “A captivating tale of Irish
life, redolent of genuine Celtic wit, love and pathos.”

MR. BILLY BUTTONS. By Watrter Lecxy. “The figures
who move in rugged grandeur through these pages are as
fresh and unspoiled in their way as the good folk of
Drumtochty.”

CONNOR D’ARCY’S STRUGGLES. By Mrs. W. M. Benrr-
Hotps. “A story of which the spirit is so fine and the
Catholic characters so nobly conceived.”

8
Continuation Library



YOU SUBSCRIBE FOR FOUR NEW

NOVELS A YEAR, TO BE MAILED

TO YOU AS PUBLISHED, AND

RECEIVE BENZIGER’S MAGAZINE
FREE.

Each year we publish four new novels by the
best Catholic authors. These novels are interest-
ing beyond the ordinary—not religious, but Cath-
olic in tone and feeling. They are issued in the
best modern style.

We ask you to give us a standing order for
these novels. The price is $1.25, which will be
charged as each volume is issued, and the volume
sent postage paid.

As a special inducement for giving us a stand-
ing order for the novels, we shall include free a
subscription to Benziger’s Magazine. Benziger’s
Magazine is recognized as the best and hand-
somest Catholic periodical published, and we are
sure will be welcomed in every library. The
regular price of the Magazine is $2.00 a year.

Thus for $5.00 a year—paid $1.25 at a time
—you will get four good books and. receive in
addition a year’s subscription to Benziger’s
Magazine. The Magazine will be continued
from year to year, as long as the standing order
for the novels is in force, which will be till
countermanded.

9
THE FAMOUS

ROUND TABLE SERIES

4 VOLUMES, $6.00
6O Cents Down; 60 Cents a Month
On payment of 50 cents you get the books and a free sub-
scription to Benziger’s Magazine
The Greatest Stories by the Foremost Catholic Writers in the World
With Portraits of the Authors, Sketches of their Lives, and
a List of their Works. Four exquisite volumes, containing the
masterpieces of 36 of the foremost writers of AMERIcA, ENc-
LAND, IRELAND, GERMANY, AND France. Each story complete.
Open any volume at random and you will find a great story to
entertain you.
: @SPECIAL OFFERW
In order to place this fine collection of stories in every
home, we make the following special offer: Send us 50 cents
and the four fine volumes will be sent to you immediately.
Then you pay 50 cents each month until $6.00 has been paid.

LIBRARY OF SHORT STORIES

BY A BRILLIANT ARRAY OF CATHOLIC AUTHORS
ORIGINAL STORIES BY 33 WRITERS
Four handsome volumes and Benziger’s Magazine for a year
at the Special Price of $5.00
60 Cents Down; 60 Cents a Month

You get the books at once, and have the use of them while
making easy payments. Send us only 50 cents, and we will
forward the books at once; 50 cents entitles you to immediate
possession. No further payment need be made for a month;
afterwards you pay 50 cents a month.

STORIES BY
Anna T. Sadlier Madge Mannix
Mary E. Mannix Leigh Gordon Giltner
Mary T. Waggaman Eleanor C. Donnelly
Jerome Harte Teresa Stanton
Mary G. Bonesteel H. J. Carroll
- Magdalen Rock Rev. T. J. Livingstone, S.J.
Eugenie Uhlrich Marion Ames Taggart
Alice Richardson Maurice Francis Egan
Katharine Jenkins, Mary F. Nixon-Roulet
Mary Boyle O’Reilly Mrs. Francis Chadwick
Clara Mulholland Catherine L. Meagher
Grace Keon Anna Blanche McGill
Louisa Emily Dobrée Mary Catherine Crowley
Theo. Gift Katharine Tynan Hinkson
Margaret E. Jordan Sallie Margaret O’Malley
Agnes M. Rowe Emma Howard Wight

Julia C. Walsh
~ 10
goo PAGES 500 ILLUSTRATIONS
A GREAT OFFER!

THE LIFE OF OUR LORD

AND

SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST
And of His Virgin Mother Mary

FROM THE ORIGINAL OF
LC BUSINGEHR, LL.D.
BY
Rev. RICHARD BRENNAN, LL.D.

Quarto, half morocco, full gilt side, gilt edges,
goo pages, 500 illustrations in the text
and 32 full-page illustrations by

M. FEUERSTEIN

PRICE .... . NET $10.00
Easy PAYMENT Puan,
$1.00 DOWN, $1.00 A MONTH

Mail $1.00 to-day and the book will be shipped
to you immediately. Then you pay $1.00
a month till $10.00 is paid.

This is not only a Life of Christ and of His
Blessed Mother, but also a carefully condensed
history of God’s Church from Adam to the end
of the world in type, prophecy, and fulfilment, it
contains a popular dogmatic theology and a real
catechism of perseverance, filled with spiritual
food for the soul.

1t
The Best Stories and Articles, Over 1000 Illustrations a Year.

BENZIGER’S MAGAZINE

The Popular Catholic Family Monthly

Recommended by 70 Archbishops and Bishops of the
United States

SUBSCRIPTION, $2.00 A YEAR

What Benziger’s Magazine gives its Readers:

Fifty complete stories by the best writers—equal to a book of
800 pages selling at $1.25.

Three complete novels of absorbing interest—equal to three
books selling at $1.25 each.

Over 1000 beautiful illustrations.
Twenty-five large reproductions of celebrated paintings.

Twenty articles—equal to a book of 150 pages—on travel and
adventure; on the manners, customs and home-life of
peoples; on the haunts and habits of animal life, etc.

Twenty articles—equal to a book of 150 pages—on our country:
historic events, times, places, important industries.

Twenty articles—equal to a book of 150 pages—on the fine arts:
celebrated artists and their paintings, sculpture, music, etc.,
and nature studies.

Twelve pages of games and amusements for in and out of doors.

Fifty pages of fashions, fads and fancies, gathered at home
and abroad, helpful hints for home workers, household
column, cooking receipts, etc.

“Current Events,” the important happenings over the whole
world, described with pen and pictures.

Twelve prize competitions, in which valuable prizes are offered.
This is what is given in a single year of
. Benziger’s Magazine.

Send $2.00 now and become a subscriber to the best and hand-
somest Catholic Magazine published.

BENZIGER BROTHERS

New York: CINCINNATI: CuHIcaco:
86-88 Barclay St. 3438 Main St. 211-218 Madison St.