THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES ^4 <=4^ / LITTLE MOSS. There was plenty to amuse Bessy with at home that evening. Tom was a capital mimic, and even Mrs. Bruce could not quite help smiling as she came upon her big son, cramping up his long legs and broad shoul- ders, and pinching in his round laughing face, to show what an " odd little chap " the new master was. " Master indeed ! " he said, laughing, " I'd like to see him trying to master me, Bess, wouldn't you ? Why, I could knock him down with a feather ! " " But, Tom," said the little girl more gravely, " isn't it wrong to laugh at him so ? he can't help being small." " He caw-help coming here, though, turn- ing out old Silver, who was the best master going. He sha'n't have one day's SCHOOL BEGINS. 35 peace in the school, unless he takes pretty good care what he does." Bruce was nearly right, for the next few weeks at school were by no means peaceful ones, though whether " Big Bruce " or o o " Little Moss " was the greater sufferer remains to be seen. It had been one of Mr. Silver's habits to leave the teaching of the lowest class in the school to one of the older boys during the morning, and so long as they got sufficient boxes on the ear to keep them from disturbing others, the monitor was supposed to have done his duty ; the little boys, indeed, were begin- ning to think that cuffs in class and hard words at home for being backward, were the natural beginnings of school life. So on Tuesday morning when piayera 36 BIG BRUCE AND LITTLE MOSS. were over, Bruce as usual rose and was marching down the school-room with rather a high head, as much as to say " Well, I'm master just now, any how," when Mr. Moss's voice came, as it always did, quietly and decidedly, " Bruce, sit down." No answer. " Bruce, sit down." Still no notice, and then the master spoke out clear, and sharp, and stern, " Bruce, come here directly," and4here was some- thing in his tone that made Tom turn, almost in spite of himself, and so for the first time Big Bruce and Little Moss stood face to face. It was a curious sight, the small, weak man leaning forward on the desk, with his pale face and piercing eyes, seeming to look the boy through; and Bruce drawn up to his full height, his eyes SCHOOL BEGINS. 37 flashing, as with head thrown back he seemed to look down in scorn on the new master. " Did you hear me speak to you? " " Yes," Bruce would have scorned to tell a lie, and he repeated again boldly, " yes, I did hear." " Then, why did you not do as I said ? " " Because it was my day to take the third class." " / am going to take the third class my- self to-day, and every day for the present, so that you can get on with your own work. Now go and sit down." Mr. Moss spoke quietly and gently, scarcely as though he were giving an order at all; but Tom's brow grew dark, and he stood clenching his fist with anger. 38 BIG BKUCE AND LITTLE MOSS. " "What are you waiting for Bruce ? " "Waiting for? Whyyl won't stand it, that's all ! Mr. Silver never ordered me about so. I always took the third class to- day, and I will do it as long as I am here, or I'll " " You will sit down, or leave the room at once ; and you will remain here after school is over, as I have something to say to you." Mr. Moss spoke in a low tone, and to Bruce alone. For a moment Tom hesitated ; the anger within him almost urged him tfo take the master's word and leave the school, but his better sense prevailed, and he sat down in his place, not, however, without an indignant glance round the class, as much as to say, " Wait a bit, and I will pay him off presently." SCHOOL BEGINS. 39 Mr. Moss's words after school were few, and firm, and kind. " I can understand," lie said, " quite well, that Mr. Silver was a great favorite with you all, but that does not alter the simple fact. Pie is your master no longer. I am here, and so long as you are in the school it is your one duty to obey my orders ; not only because of your position as regards myself, but also as regards your school- fellows. You are the head of the school, and much depends on your example. Tho younger ones have learned to look up to you, and side with you in almost all things, and it is a serious thought for you, that if they become rebellious and undutiful, the fault will lie greatly with you." CHAPTER V. TOM'S PICTURE. AYS and weeks passed on, and, at first sight, matters did not seem to improve at Burnside school. To those, indeed, who watched it close!}", a change for the better was taking place, especially in the lower half of the school. Quiet rule and order reigned, where before had been confusion and discontent ; each little boy found himself taught and cared for, the backward brought on, the shy en- couraged. A quiet word did what blows and hard names had never done, and Mr. (40) TOM'S PICTURE. 41 Fearon already began to hope that his bold experiment had not proved to be a failure. But it is with the first class that we have chiefly to do, and here the prospect was by no means encouraging. It was not exactly that the boys were unruly ; after the first, even they discovered that in " Little Moss " they had found a master. But there was a bad spirit abroad among them ; Bruce had set the example, and Mr. Moss knew that while it remained, nothing would go well. He could see it day by day in the sullen frowns when he gave an order, the listless inattention to his teaching, tlv suppressed laugh or ready sneer when the slightest pretext offered. I think even then, Bruce would sometimes have felt sorry, if he could have seen the sad, weary look that 42 BIG BKUCE AKD LITTLE MOSS. came into the master's pale face each day as he left the school, tired with the long day's work, and disheartened at the failure of his best efforts to win the boys' affection and friendship. But when these thoughts came, he would remember that the fault was not his own, and, as he said to himself, " all woukTbe well in God's good time." I don't know whether the boys really enjoyed this state of things very much, but you would have thought they found it capi- tal fun to hear the tales that were brought home every day of the doings at the school. " Oh, such a game ! Clarke stuck out his foot right in Moss's way, and didn't he nearly come dowu on his nose just ! and Clarke says, ' beg pardon, sir,' as grave as a judge, winking at Willis all the while TOM'S PICTURE. 43 behind his book ; " or " Such a lark ! to see him fumbling about after his keys, and John- son standing up, as good as gold, with his hand over them ; " or, " Oh, wouldn't you have laughed just about to see him setting the young chaps their sum to-day, with Baker just behind the blackboard taking him off first-rate, with his back all humped up as like as two peas ? " One day there was a great piece of excite- ment in the school, caused by a more than usually bold piece of impertinence. " Oh my ! an't it fun ! " " Oh, I say ! do let's have a look Bruce ; why, it's Little Moss himself? There's his humpback, and oh ! ha'n't he got a jolly ugly face ? " " Oh, let me see and me and me. 44 BIG BBTJCE AND LITTLE MOSS. Oh, I say, put it away quick ! he's a- coming ! " But it was too late. Mr. Moss was in the room before they knew it, and in another minute the piece of paper in question had been taken from the boy's hand, and the roughly-drawn sketch of a hideous little humpbacked figure was held up to the whole school. There was a faint tinge of red on the master's face as he took a long, curious look at the picture, but there was no tone of vexation in his voice as he asked, " Who drew this?" There was no answer, and Mr. Moss went on quietly, " I suppose the boy who drew it must be ashamed of it for some reason. It is not badly drawn ; I wonder what there is to feel ashamed of." TOM'S PICTURE. 45 Bruce had sat with his head bent down and his hands stuck deep into his pockets, but he raised his head now with the hot blood mounting to his forehead : " I'm not ashamed. / drew that pic- ture, and I don't care who knows it. There's no harm in drawing." " That's right, Bruce. Never do any thing you are ashamed of. Now tell me whom it is meant for." Once more Tom looked up, but he could not meet the steady gaze fixed on him, and his head drooped as he muttered some- thing about " not staying there to be bullied." " You may go if you wish, but I thought you said you were not ashamed of it." " No more 1 am." 46 BIG BKUCE AND LITTLE MOSS. " Very well, then, you will not mind it's being put where all can see how funny it is." " So you can ; I don't care." " If you would rather have it taken down you may do so ; we will put the name to the picture to make it complete." In another minute Tom's picture was fixed on the blackboard where all might see*it, and underneath was written in large letters, " C. Moss, Master of Burnside School, drawn by his head scholar, Tom Bruce," and then lessons went on quietly as usual. Very quietly to-day ; there was not a smile in the school for Tom's picture now, no one even liked to look at it ; and as for Tom, I don't think he ever forgot that TOM'S PICTURE. 47 morning. At last he could bear it no longer. There was a step in the passage, and in another minute Mr. Fearon would be in the room. Any thing would be better than that he should see it, and Tom rose, his voice shaking with shame and vexation : " Please, sir, may I take that thing down ? I never meant you to see it." " No, I don't suppose you did. You may take it down at once, and I advise you to draw something more sensible next time." I need hardly say, that before he had done speaking, the paper was torn into a hundred pieces, and Bruce never repeated the experi- ment. One more anecdote I must tell you of those unhappy days, as it had greater results than any of the boys thought for, and espe- 48 BIG BRUCE AND LITTLE MOSS. cially to Tom Bruce, though in this case he himself was not the chief actor. I think it is best told in the words of little Mat Hill, as he stood talking to his friend Peter Barnet, the blacksmith, one cold afternoon early in October after school was over. " Well," he said, as Peter laid a great crowbar on the anvil all white hot from the furnace, " I know / like sparks, least- ways yours, master, these cold days." " So do most folks, I fancy, Mat." " Master don't, then." " Master don't ? Why, what's up now ? " " Why, Master Barnet, there's no end to it, so far as I can see." " What to the sparks ? " " No, to the bother down at the school. I do wish they'd let Mr. Moss alone, I do ! " TOM'S PICTURE. 49 " Well, what was it? " " Well, master, I call it a downright^ shame. It was all that great stupid Willis, who had a lot of matches in his pocket yesterday, and struck one of them alight just behind Mr. Moss's chair, and didn't he give a jump ! It almost made me laugh outright at first. I could not see his face then, only he spoke out so quick and sudden like, not a bit as he generally does, and told Willis so sharp to mind what he was after, and never bring matches to school again." " Well, I suppose it was just this that put it into Clarke's head, and to-da}^ he or some of them, I could not quite make out which, brought some of them cracker things, and put one, of them under the foot of master's chair. 50 BIG BKUCE AND LITTLE MO6S. So when he sits down, off it goes, and he'g up like a shot. And oh ! you never saw any ching like his face. Why, it was as white as a sheet, and his hands shaking, and he looks round in such a queer way, just as if he was wild, and his voice sounded so odd, all of a tremble, and so hoarse that we could scarcely hear. Some of them laughed, but I felt quite frightened, for I did not know what was coming next. But he only said, quiet-like, something about ' that must not be done again.' Not a word more ; and oh ! Peter, I do wish they'd not have done it ! " " Yes, it's a silly trick ; " and the black- smith thoughtfully struck a shower of sparks from the glowing iron with his ham- mer. " I wonder what it was gave him such a TOM'S PICTURE. 51 turn. I don't know that I ever heard of such a thing. But there, folks are different, and depend upon it those boys will repent it some day I " CHAPTER VI. THE CONSPIRACY. fifth of November was always a great day with the Burnside boys. The oldest man in the place could not recall a year when there had not been fine'doings to enliven the dull weather. In the old days, there had been a yearly sub- scription made, and a grand procession round the village with flags and music, ending in a great bonfire on the top of Cranly Hill, and a supper in Squire Ring- wood's barn. But times had changed. The old squire was dead, and the family had (52) THE CONSPIRACY. 53 been abroad for some years, and people seemed to lose interest in the day when the Tdnd old gentleman was gone. So of late years it had been left principal- ly to the school-boys, and a few squibs and a bonfire in the school-yard were all that remained of " the good old days." These, however, were kept up with unflagging spirit, and, indeed, to such an extent the last year, that Mr. Fearon had spoken seri- ously of having them put an- entire stop to for the future. There had been complaints from the farmers, of broken fences, faggots stolen, and hedges rifled of wood ; from parents, of boys kept out late at nights, in bad company, of clothes torn and burned, and stained with tar; and one little boy 54 BIG BRUCE AND LITTLE MOSS. had been seriously burned from handling a cracker carelessly. So as the autumn drew on, the boys be- gan to look very grave, and to fear that they would have no sport this year. " If Silver were here," said Clarke, " he'd stick up for us. Just see now if that nasty spiteful fellow, Moss, don't take this way to pay us off ! I do wish you'd not been such a muff, Willis, about those matches ! It wasn't so much fun, after all, though you did seem to think such a lot of it." " Well, I know some one else did, too ! And, what's more, I don't believe we'd have got the bonfire this year, matches or no matches ! " " Yes, we should ; we might have done it on the quiet, so as no one could have THE CONSPIRACY. 55 stopped it. We always have had the bon- fire, and I don't see why it should be stopped now because a silly old woman like him is afraid of a spark. W hy, he deserves to be made old Guy* himself, and to be burned for it." " And so he shall, as sure as my name's Bruce," exclaimed Tom, who had never quite forgotten the matter of his drawing ; " so he shall ; we'll have the bonfire some- where, for all he can do to stop it, and what's more, we!ll make a Guy with a humpback and a jolly ugly mask, and sha'n't he burn just ! Hurrah I Three cheers for old Guy Moss ! " * Guy Fawkes, the leader of the " Gunpowder plot," the anniversary of which is celebrated in England on the 6th of November. 56 BIG BKUCE AND LITTLE MOSS. So, grand determinations were made, and the boys thought themselves quite a set of heroes ; indeed, I don't think that Guy Fawkes himself plotting with his compan- ions to blow up King and Parliament could have felt much more excited than did our Burnside boys plotting, as they thought, to defeat the spite and malice of this dreadful schoolmaster. Some of the little ones, indeed, wondered if he really was such a cruel tyrant after all, when he was so kind to them and kept the big boys from bullying them, and told such nice stories at Sunday school ; and Mat Hill, who had a sensible little head of his own, had been even heard to say, that he didn't know what all this fuss was about, when Moss had not said a word yet one way or tha THE CONSPIRACY. 57 other about the bonfire, and what was more, if Moss did say any thing, he would most likely be right and he, Mat, should stick by him. Therefore, poor Mat got much per- secuted and tormented, but did not seem much the worse for it, after all. These dissenters from the general opinion, however, gained little attention, being the smaller and weaker half of the school, and every day some new and more daring plan was suggested, till the scheme, if carried out, would almost assume the form of a rebellion. Farmer Hartopp's hedges were to be ransacked for fuel, and Master Dun- stable's straw-yard; there was to be an expedition to Brickington for squibs and masks, and under Bruce's direction such an old Guy was preparing as had never been 58 BIG BEUCE AND LITTLE MOSS. equalled. Oh ! wasn't lie a fright ! with a tar barrel in his body to make him flare as he deserved, and a ragged coat stuck all over with bits of colored paper and ribbon, with a humpback and crooked legs and a bunch of dry moss stuck in his hat so that there could be no mistake, and a mask which made little Bessy Bruce hide her face in alarm when Tom put it on for her to see. "That's for old Guy Moss, Bessy," he said laughing. " Oh, don't say that ! " pleaded the little girl ; " he's not a bit ugly, when you come to look at him, and he talks so kind and gentle when he comes in here to see me, and tells such pretty stories sometimes. He was here for a whole hour yesterday while you were out, when I was feeling so sick and bad, THE CONSPIRACY. 59 and ho told me about a dear little sister lie had once, called Bessy like me, and he says I remind him of her, sometimes, and that's why he likes coming. And oh, Tom, he likes you, too, if you would only believe it. He told mother you were a fine, brave fellow, whom she might well be proud of; and he said you were quite right to like your old master, and he liked you for it; and he said " " I don't care what he said ! " broke in Tom shortly ; " he sha'n't get round me with his sneaking ways ! If he thinks it right to stick up for old Silver, why doesn't he get out of his place, and let the school go on as it used to do ? " and he marched off whist- ling, to adjust the mask finally on old Guy, who was now in two more days to astonish the village with his ugliness. CHAPTER VII. THE MASTER'S PROPOSAL. OTHING was yet known of Mr. Fearon's intentions but dark rumors were abroad. He had been seen in close talk with the schoolmaster, and words had been dropped which seemed full of foreboding to the anxious boys. Clarke had heard that Far- mer Hartopp had been up to the parsonage declaring that if any mischief was done this year, he'd have up the whole school before the magistrate and no mistake. Mrs. Rob- bins, the mother of the boy who had been hurt last year, said that if she heard of any (60) THE MASTER'S PKOPOSAL. 61 more nonsense, she'd have the constable clown on them, even if she had to walk to Brickington herself for him. Hill said that Master Barnet had told him that Mr. Fearon had said, when he came last to the forge, that he had had a deal of talk with Moss about the bonfire, and didn't know what to say about it. So, altogether, when the school assembled on the morning of the fourth, and Mr. Moss gave out that he had something to say to the boys before they began, there was a long silent dra wing-in of breath all through the room " Now something is coming," " Now we shall get it." " To-morrow is the fifth," began Mr. Moss, smiling a little at the solemn anxious faces round him ; " and you have had always 62 BIG BRUCE AND LITTLE MOSS. fine doings here, I understand. ' You see no reason why gunpowder treason should ever be forgot,' eh, boys ? Well, I've been hearing a good deal about it of late, and it seems you remembered it a little too well last year, so Mr. Fearon thinks there must be no bonfire to-morrow." Dead silence through the school, you might have heard a pin drop. Some of the boys breathed hard and twisted their buttons off, Brace's face flushed scarlet, and he bit his lips fiercely, and then, after a minute, his heart seemed to stop beating with a sort of dismayed surprise, as Mr. Moss went on quietly, still smiling, - "But Mr. Fearon and I have had some talks about it, as we didn't think quite the same at first, and now that we do, I want to THE MASTEE'S PROPOSAL. 63 know if you all think the same as well. That was a bad job last year, but I don't see why, because one makes a goose of one- self once, one must do it over again, so Mr. Fearon says we may try the old custom one more year. You'd all miss it, I know, and especially as I fear in some ways this has been a dull summer for you, a change in many ways from last year ; perhaps some of you think a change for the worse, and now I don't think any of us want any more changes than need be. So I hope you'll have a famous bonfire to-morrow just as usual, and we'll put every thing amiss in along with the faggots and burn it." "Thank you, sir thank you," came from the lower end of the school, where the faces 64 BIG BRUCE AND LITTLE MOSS. were beginning to glow and the eyes to brighten with pleasure. " And now about the fuel. I don't see why we can't get enough and more than enough without picking and stealing like sneaks. I've talked to Hartopp, and Dun- stable, and Keeper Jones, and they say, if some of you big boys choose to go round all fair and honest, and ask what you may take, they'll be glad to help for the sake of old times." There was a curious murmur through the school ; some of the big boys fidgeted and looked at each other, and presently Willis broke out " Thank you, sir, for speaking for us ; and we'll have a jolly bonfire, thanks to you, sir." And the words were echoed by all but two or three. Then Mr. THE MASTER'S PROPOSAL. 65 Moss continued rather more gravely, and with a queer shake in his voice, " I wish I could enjoy the fun with you, as I know most masters would do, but it's not much in my way, and I fear I should only spoil your sport. You must not be too ready to laugh at me, for there's a reason which some of you may perhaps know some day, and then you will understand why I don't tell it out now. We must believe in each other, boys, or we shall never get on together. 1 believe you will be steady, and give me your word that all shall go right and keep it ; and you must believe that I like you to have pleasure, and would share it if I could. I shall be away most of the evening, at any rate till eight o'clock, so if I come back I shall only see the end of it. 66 BIG BRUCE AND LITTLE MOSS. And now" he went on, making such a queer, solemn face, that the small boys tit- tered, and the big ones wondered what was coming, as he laid his hand on a big brown paper parcel that lay on the desk beside him, " what is to be done with this ? " " Please, sir, what is it ? " came from sev- eral eager voices. " All in good time. I was going to tell you that I was in Brickington yesterday, where they seem as mad about poor old Guy Fawkes as you are ; and of course I could not have Brickington beat Burnside, so I was foolish enough to load myself with this bundle of rubbish which is only fit to be burned ; and now I want to know which of you will see that it is burned without doing any mischief." THE MASTER'S PROPOSAL. 07 " Fireworks ! oh, how jolly ! oh, I'll let 'em off, sir ! and I and I " The murmur was rising fast into noise, but it needed only a sign from the master to restore silence. " Well, it seems there are plenty to burn them ; but what I want to find are some who can let them off to the best advantage, and tb see that no tricks are played with them, as these fireworks want careful hand- ling, or they will not even burn properly. Who knows most about Catherine-wheels and Roman candles ? " "I, sir I do I've seen many of 'em let off, leastways little ones ! " " Well, I shall give them into the keeping of the first class, on condition that they give me their word that no mischief is done. 68 BIG BEUCE AND LITTLE MOSS. None but the elder boys are to handle them, and there is to be no throwing of squibs or crackers outside the school-gate. Will you all give me your word for this ? " " Yes, sir yes, sir we'll do all as you wish, sir, and thank you kindly ! " " That's all right, then ! Now keep your word like men, and a good bonfire and a merry evening to you all ! " y. CHAPTER VIII. TOM'S GUY. MONG all the boys of Burnside school, there was but one who went home that evening with a heavy heart, and that was Tom Bruce. Outwardly, you would have said he had had his own way, yet in his heart he felt that he was beaten and disappointed. Little Moss had won the victory, after all, and won it, too, with his own weapons. It had not been the bonfire he so much cared for, not even his love for his old master making him jealously anxious to support what he had done ; but it was (69) 70 BIG BKTJCE AND LITTLE MOSS. his own evil temper to which he had given way at first, and which had got the mastery over him. There was no concealing it now, and Tom felt very miserable as he turned from the other boys, and walked home slow- ly and sadly by himself. He could not stay and talk with the rest as usual ; they were singing the master's praises all the more loudly, for having been silent so long ; many, who had been ashamed to say so before, de- claring that they had long " thought there must be something in him," and that he was a " plucky little chap," after all. " Three cheers for Moss ! And oh ! an't he a regular brick just, about those fire- works ! Do let's have a look at the box, Clarke ! Oh my ! an't they just a stunning TOM'S GUY. 71 lot ! Won't we have a jolly flare up ! Why, Brickington will be nothing to it ! " What could poor unhappy Tom do but wander home slowly and sadly, and take his place at the tea-table silently, wishing for the first time that little Bessy would not be so talkative, and full of to-morrow's doings ? " Oh Tom ! you like Mr. Moss now, don't you ? I'm sure I do ; and oh ! I'd like to see the fireworks so ! Priestly came in just now, and he says they will be so grand and there's one great Catherine-wheel ever so big ; and he says it's just like those they had when Miss Ringwood was married, and it all shoots out red, and blue, and green, just like a great starfish, changing colors every minute, and all kinds of beautiful- things in the middle. Oh, Tom ! I should like to see 72 BIG BEUCE AND LITTLE MOSS. it ! and I've been asking mother, and she says " " It's of no use, Bess, you can't see any thing from here, and it's a deal too cold for you to be out at night now. I'll tell you all about it if I go, and I've half a mind not to, for it's all so stupid now, and we can't even burn old Guy, after all the trouble." " Not burn old Guy ! Oh, Tom, why not ? . That's just what I've been wanting to talk to you about. I'd been thinking about it myself, when I heard how kind Mr. Moss had been, thinking how ungrateful it would seem to burn him, and how ugly you'd made him, for mother had left the back door open, and I could see him quite plain stuck up in the wood-house, when in came Mr. Moss himself and saw him, and didn't he laugh, TOM'S GUY. 73 and says ' why, you've got a Guy, have you, Bessy ? Why, what an ugly old fellow, to be sure ! ' And then he looked closer at it ; and oh, Tom ! I felt my face getting hotter and hotter, and then he says, 'A humpback, too ! I never saw one like that before ; what put it into Tom's head, I wonder ? ' and then he gave such an odd look at me, and then I think he saw the moss in the hat and I felt quite cold all over and just fit to choke, and he looked so grave just for a min- ute, not exactly cross, Tom, only sorry, and I could not help crying out, ' Oh don't be an- gry please, sir, I'm sure Tom didn't mean any harm ! ' And then he came and sat down by my side, and he didn't look a bit sorry now, and he began to laugh, and said, ' Why, Bessy, what a little goose to be sure 1 74 BIG BIITJCE AND LITTLE MOSS. So Tom's been making a Guy of me, has he ? I must be a very ugly old man indeed ? Well, I'm only glad it's not myself he is go- ing to burn, that's all. I'm afraid I should not be so merry over it as old Guy there, And then he talked about other things, and did not seem to mind a bit about Guy, and when he went out he said, ' Tell Tom I hope his Guy will burn to his heart's content, and that I'd come and see him myself if I could.' And oh, Tom ! I do wish you hadn't done it." And the little girl began to cry. Tom made no answer ; indeed, he had none to make except a muttered exclama- tion of " Don't be a goose, Bess ! What is there to cry about ? " So the little girl hard- ly knew what to make of it, and nothing more passed that evening. TOM'S GUY. 75 Tom was off early the next day without another word on the subject, and the only apparent result of Bessy's tale was old Guy lying dismantled on the floor of the wood- house, the mask and coat torn, the tar-barrel broken, and the hat kicked into a corner. Bessy was not at all happy all day ; she feared she had made Tom angry and spoiled his evening's enjoyment, and she longed to see him again, so as to set things straight if she could. But he did not come in to dinner, and toward the end of the afternoon Mrs. Bruce said, " Tom must be mightily busy with his bonfire to have forgotten you, Bess ! I never knew him so before, he might at least have been in to see if you were coming." " He said yesterday it would be too late 76 BIG BRUCE AND LITTLE MOSS. for me," said the little girl with a sigh ; " but I'd have liked to see it dearly, mother, and all the more now that horrid old Guy is done with." " Well, deary, your father and I have been thinking it over ; it's a nice mild even- ing, and you seem pretty well, and I don't see that it would harm you to be out for half an hour or so, if you were well wrapped up in my ftiick shawl, and the warm jacket underneath." " Oh, mother ! " and the pale little face brightened with pleasure ; " but, how could I ever get there ? and besides, they don't let any but the boys into the yard, and if they did, it would be no place for me." "Well, we've thought of that, too, dear, and Granny Goodwin says that you may sit TOM'S GUY. 77 up in her little back window that looks right over the school-yard, and you'd see it all beautiful. She an't at home herself, to- night, as her daughter's ill over at Lowmore and she's gone to be with her ; but she left the key with me, and says you can put the cushion out of her chair up in the window- seat, so you'll sit and see it all as comforta- ble as a queen. You will not mind being left a bit after you're settled, while I run down to take the shirts to Mrs. Stephens, for they must be home to-night, and I shouldn't be away more than ten minutes." Bessy was too delighted with the unex- pected treat to make any objections, and by the time seven o'clock came, all her troubles were forgotten, as she found herself perched 78 BIG BKFCE AND LITTLE MOSS. in Granny Goodwin's window, " able," as she said herself, " to look down on the test of them." CHAPTER IX. THE DISASTER. ELL, it was a bonfire, to be sure ! Every one knows what a good bon- iire is. First the great black heap of fag- gots and there was a great heap indeed, thanks to Farmer Hartopp's good-nature ; then the exciting moment, the tiny match flickering in the breeze ; the first little curl- ing wreath of smoke, the first small blue flame, the -crackling and sputtering ; then the straw catching with a great sudden flare, and the flames leaping bright and fierce in all directions. Hurrah ! heap it up ! See ( 79) 80 BIG BRUCE AND LITTLE MOSS. how the red gleam lights up the eager boys' faces all round and shines on every thing; the school-house, the gate with the people standing outside, even the dull sky glows like a furnace ; I should think they must see it half way to Brickington. And now when the fire is at its height, and every one is busy piling on fresh fuel, crack ! bang ! off goes the first rocket, and a squib bounces right across the yard. Then another rocket, another, and another, blue, red, green, gold, oh ! isn't it fine ? " Three cheers for Moss ! There's a Catherine-wheel ! Oh, isn't that grand ? Don't he spin ? faster faster, purple, gold, red, all the colors of the rainbow. Hip, hip, hurrah ! Three more for Moss, and three for Mr. Fearon ! " THE DISASTER. 81 " I say, Tom, give us a squib, there's a brick ! " The speaker was one of Farmer Dunstable's boys, who stood in the lane looking enviously at the lucky school-boys in the yard, and he addressed Torn Bruce, who, spite of his ill-temper, could not quite resist the bonfire, though, as he declared over and over again, " there was no fun in it now. " " I can't, " he replied shortly, as Bill Brent again pressed his request. "Can't! why, you've a couple in your hand now, and there's a lot more in the box ; what a selfish chap you are, to be sure ! " "You might have them all for what I care, only " " Only what ? " " Duly, " broke in Mat Hill's voice boldly, 82 BIG BKTJCE AND LITTLE MOSS. "Mr. Moss said none were to be thrown outside the gate, or you should have them in a minute." " Oh, I see ! Tied to Mammy Moss's apron-string ! Pretty little dears ! " " It's not that, " said Hill gravely ; " and it's a shame of you to say it, Bill. Moss gave us the fireworks, and we promised " " Good little dears ! " murmured Brent again. " Hold your stupid tongue, Hill ! " burst out Tom furiously. " We promised, indeed ! You did, you mean, /never promised any thing, nor will I, for he's no master of mine ; so there's for your promises ! " and in a mo- ment more Bruce had turned the contents of the' box into the lane. Another instant, and squibs and crackers were flying in all THE DISASTEB. 83 directions, amid shouts of laughter, mingled at times with exclamations of fear, as one flung by a careless hand lighted dangerously near a dress or cloak. Bruce did not wait to see the effect of his words. Without waiting to hear more, he had vaulted over the school-gate, and in a few minutes was lying on his bed at home sobbing out his anger and irritation. " I 'wish I had not gone ! What a fool that Hill is I What a fool I was to mix myself up with it at all ! I wish I'd staid at home instead along with Bess. " And then all of a sud- den there flashed into his mind for the first time since she had spoken them, the little girl's words, " Oh, Tom, I'd like to go so ! " He had scarcely heeded them at the time, and his mind had been so full of other 84 BIG BRUCE AND LITTLE MOSS. things, that he had actually forgotten her who was usually his first thought in all things. What a dull evening she must be having ! Mother was out, he knew, and, now he came to think of it, there was no light in the parlor window ; surely she had not been for- gotten ! He rose directly and went down stairs. The fire was alight still, and showed him that the room was empty. She must have gone then, after all, and now he re- membered that mother had called to him just as he went out in the morning, something about " helping with Bess, " but he had not heeded her. As he stood thinking, a sudden shout out of doors made him start and stand listening. " Fire ! " there it was again ! And as he THE DISASTER. 85 ran down the garden-path a fresh blaze leaped up into the sky where the bonfire- light was dying out. Some one passed him in the road, and he called out, "What is it? Why are they calling ' fire ? ' " " Why, it's Granny Goodwin's cottage, " answered the man, " that's blazing away there, worse luck ! and no help for it, as I can see, for they can't get water fast enough. Thank God ! the poor old woman was out." It took Tom a very short time to join the group of terrified spectators gathered round the burning house, and to hear how it had happened. A burning rocket-stick had been thrown in the height of the excite- ment, where it fell unnoticed on the dry thatch of Granny Goodwin's cottage. There 86 BIG BRCJCE AND LITTLE MOSS. it had smouldered awhile concealed by a chimney, and the mischief was only discov- ered when a sudden blaze of light and puff of smoke told that the fire had begun. This, then, was the sudden and terrible punishment of Tom's disobedience ; but the worst was yet to come, and the unhappy boy turned sick with fear and horror, as a rising murmur came through the crowd, "Some one is in the house ! " some one a girl at the upper window, round which the cruel flames were already playing, show- ing with terrible distinctness the white face of the helpless child clinging to the window- frame within. And then from among the crowd came a cry of bitter anguish, and Tom heard his mother's voice exclaim, " Oh, Bessy ! my darling ! Oh, save her ! O THE DISASTER. 87 Lord, have mercy on us ! " And the agonized mother's prayer was heard, for just then some one came pushing through the people, and there was a murmur, "It's the master ! It's Mr. Moss ! " And then just for a minute Tom heard the well-known voice speaking quietly to some one near him, " Some of you get as near as you can to the window to catch her when I say ' ready.' I^on't all come ; there is just time, if you look out." Then he had vanished through the door into the cottage, and in another minute the crooked figure appeared in the window, standing out black against the glare, quiet and steady as if he were in his place at school, while little Bessy was lifted dowo 88 BIG BEUCE AND LITTLE MOSS. safely and tenderly into the many eager arms outstretched to receive her. Oh, boys ! there are moments that come to us all, early or late, that seem to stand out clear and distinct to the very end of our lives, just as though a strong light were cast on them from above. And to poor Tom Bruce this moment was such a one, and to the end of his life he never forgot it, stand- ing out awfully clear in the cruel red fire- light. What followed those few terrible minutes he could scarcely recall afterwards. He dimly remembered his father carrying little Bessy tenderly home, and how she lay on the bed white and still, holding her mother's hand, and gazing from one to an- other with her great eyes full of a sort of terrified surprise that cut Tom to the heart. THE DISASTER. 89 Late in the evening there came a message to the cottage that there would be no school next clay, nor perhaps for several days, as Mr. Moss was ill, and the doctor said he must be kept very quiet. Those few quiet days were of great im- portance to Tom Bruce, for they gave him leisure to grieve over his fault, and left him humbler and better and full of earnest re- solves to live differently by God's help for the future. CHAPTER X. THE MASTER'S STOEY. AY I come in, sir ? " " To be sure you may." Once more Big Bruce and Little Moss came face to face ; but oh, in how different a spirit ! The master sat in the window of his little room, scarcely recovered enough yet from the shock of the fire to take his place in school, though he declared positively that this must be his last day of idleness, and work must begin to-morrow. Among the many who had come daily to inquire after (90) THE MASTER'S STORY. 91 him, Tom Bruce had been the most constant, and it was a great pleasure to him when one day word was brought to Tom that Mr. Moss would like him to come and sit with him a bit the next evening. As you may imagine, however, his feelings, as he entered that quiet little room, were by no means of unmingled pleasure. Keen, indeed, was the pain of seeing yet another fresh proof of all the suffering nis folly had caused. Oh, how he hated himself, as he looked on the master's white face and bent figure ! What a poor cowardly fellow Big Bruce seemed now ! What a grand brave spirit was in little Moss ! " I'm so glad you've come, Bruce," said the master kindly, holding out his hand. " No, don't beg my pardon," he continued, 92 BIO BRUCE AND LITTLE MOSS. as -Tom choked out some broken words of sorrow ; " we comprehend all that, and I hope we shall understand each other really and truly. It has all been a miserable mis- take, and thank God for clearing it up, even though it has been in a terrible way. But now I want you to sit down while I tell you a story which I had never thought to tell any one again. But you and I, Tom, have been brought very near together in a wonderful way, and I think it is well you should feel it as I do. Come, stir the fire and sit down that side of the window, and don't mind if I stop sometimes, for there are some things in my tale which are hard to speak of." Bruce did as he was told, and then sat waiting patiently, till after a pause, Mr. Moss THE MASTER'S STOKY. 93 began speaking at first slowly, as if he did so with difficulty : " I had once a little sister called Bessy, like yours, Tom. I will not say that I loved her more than you do yours, though I some- times fancy that no one can love a sister as I loved her ; she was all that I had in the world. Our father died before her birth, and our mother just when she could run alone, and we were left to the care of an uncle. He was a kind man at heart, for we were well cared for, but he had never had children of his own, and had not the natural love for them which is after all more than any thing else to the young ones. His house- keeper, too, was a cross, fidgety old woman, always scolding and finding fault, so that Bessy learned to look up to and cling to me, 94 BIG BRUCE AND LITTLE MOSS. and I to care for her almost as if she were my own child,' though really there was but five years' difference between us. It was when she was just four, and I close upon nine, that I lost her, and it is of this I want to tell you if I can. I wish I could make you see her as she was then : like your Bessy she had blue eyes, but so different, always laughing and full of happiness ; and such a dear little bright face, all rosy and dimpled, so full of life and health, as if no pain nor sorrow could spoil its beauty. Ah ! God knows best ! " Here came a pause, and Bruce could see in the shadow of the window that the mas- ter had covered his face with his hands. Presently he continued : " The next day was Bessy's birthday, and THE MASTEE'S STORY. 95 before she went to bed we had been talking of what we would do to make it pleasant, and I had promised her a little doll, which she had long set her heart upon in a neigh- boring shop, and which I now found I had saved enough to buy for her. Uncle was away from home, and Mrs. Ford was spend- ing the evening with a friend, leaving me to get our tea and put Bessy to bed. " Ah ! how well I remember her, as she knelt by my side that night to say her prayers, with the little pink bare feet peep- ing out, and the dear little soft hands folded, and the bright eyes closed reverently as she repeated her simple words : ' In the kingdom of thy grace, Grant a little child a place.' 96 BIG BEUCB AND LITTLE MOSS. Ah, how soon was that last petition to be answered ! " I remember lifting her* into bed, and feeling her soft arms round my neck as she said, with her rosy mouth close to my ear, ' To-morrow, Charlie ! oh, won't we be happy to-morrow ! ' and then she nestled down her head and fell asleep, holding my hand. It was a very hot night, though we were half way through September, so I placed the window wide open, and as I did st> the thought came into my head^ how pleased she would be i-f I could get the doll in time for her to see when she woke in the morning. It would not take me five minutes to run down to the shop, and I should be back be- fore Mrs. Ford returned ; Bessy was, I knew, sound asleep, so she would not miss THE MASTER'S STORY. 97 me. I was only a child myself, you see, and no wiser than others, though in some ways having to mind Bessy had made me thoughtful. ' I'll leave the light here while I go,' I thought, 'in case she should wake,' and once more I stood looking at my dar- ling. Once more ! only once ! sleeping so sweetly with the round white arms tossed up on the pillow among the tumbled brown curls, and the soft little innocent face all flushed and dimpled, with a smile still part- ing the baby mouth. Oh, it was a fair flow- er to be plucked so rudely ! No no, I don't mean that ! God's hand is always kind very kind and gentle ! " Just as I stood looking at her the clock struck eight, and fearing to be late, I set the candle down on a little table near the 98 BIG BRUCE AITD LITTLE MOSS. bed, and ran down stairs leaving the door open in my haste. I remember feeling the fresh wind blow through my hair as I ran down the street, and thinking it had got up suddenly and might be for rain, which was much needed just then. " There were some other people in the toy- shop, so that I had to wait for some time, and thenthe man brought several things for me to choose from, and I let some time slip by while I was deciding which would really please Bessy most, and then I heard a sud- den cry in the street. I n eed not tell you, Tom, what I felt when at length I under- stood that the place where my darling lay asleep, was on fire. I could not speak of it, and you don't need that I should. I don't even now rightly understand how I came to THE MASTER'S STORY. 99 know about it, or whether I only guessed, thinking of it afterwards, how it all hap- pened. But it must have been so, the candle left flaring on the low table, the sud- den puff of wind among the dimity curtains of the bed, so that it must have been in flames before any one outside knew of it. I know not how it was I reached the room alive, still less how I left it ; no one could have seen me go, or I should never have been allowed to attempt it. I had no thought but of Bessy, as I struggled up the narrow stairs, and through the door-way choked with hot stifling smoke. I knew that I was scorched and suffocated, that my hair was burnt, my hands and feet blistered, my eyes blinded, my ears deafened by the rushing flames ; that I had staggered to the bedside, 100 BIG BKUCE AND LITTLE MOSS. that I had something ID my arms, and was struggling once more to find the stairs, and then came a crash, and a heavy fall, and I knew no more . . . Oh, Tom ! God is merciful ! I have to say it over many times when I think of that night, and I thank him that I can say it truly, or how terrible it would be to think ' Why did he send such sorrow ? Why did he take away my dar- ling ? or, taking her, why did he not Jet the smoke do its work before the cruel flame touched her ? Why did I not die with her, or at least remain in blessed unconscious- ness till all was over?' Oh, Tom ! how can I tell you of that awful waking, to find the. fairest flower in God's bright world so blast- ed, so disfigured, a thing that we who loved her could scarcely recognize as our sweet THE MASTER'S STORY. 101 darling, could do nothing for but watch silently her agony, and pray that it might soon be past? " There was a long silence, broken only by a strange quivering breath, as of some one in great pain. Torn Bruce sat with his face buried in his hands, his frame shaken with great sobs. " I need not say much more," went on Mr. Moss at last ; " I had a long and dan- gerous illness after that, and it left me what I am now. The fall injured my spine in some way, changing' a tall, promising boy, into a stunted cripple ; and, what was worse, the shock bade fair for a time to deprive me of my reason. Thank God, that is a long while ago, and my health and strength have been wonderfully given back to me ; yet even 102 BIG BETJCE AND LITTLE MOSS. now the memory of that night comes back to me, bringing with it such pain that God only can understand. I pray him to keep it from me. The very sudden sight or smell of fire fills me even now with a horror I can- not describe, and I believe it will be so all my life through." So the story was told, and Tom Bruce at last understood the whole bitter truth. How great the suffering that had been in- flicted by himself and his thoughtless com- panions ! How great the patient courage of the master he had called a coward ! How unselfish the act that had saved his sister's life! " Oh, sir, how could you have done it ! How could we have done it ! Can you evei forgive me ? " THE MASTEK'S STOKY. 103 " Don't grieve over it so, my boy ! " and the master's kind hand was laid on Tom's shoulder. " I know what you are thinking of, but you must not reproach yourself too much. After all, you were ignorant of all this, or you would never have done it. Let us thank the good God for saving your dar- ling from death, as I thank him for taking mine out of reach of sorrow and sin. He gives and he takes away; blessed be his name which ever it is ! And now give me your hand, my boy, and let us leave these sad thoughts behind us once and for all, and start fresh from to-day." Tom squeezed the master's hand silently ; but his silence spoke more than words could do of the strong love and reverence that the fire had kindled, and that was never to be extinguished. CHAPTER XT. CONCLUSION. HAVE little more to say of Big Bruce and little Moss ; but you must not think that, because nothing is said of their after lives that nothing was done. That is a mistake we are all of us apt to make, boys and all ; for surely most work is done when the school is quiet, is it not so ? And I think it is the same in our lives. Burnside school was a very different place now. If " Old Silver" had been a favorite, " Little Moss" had beaten him entirely, and there was not a boy in the school who (104) CONCLUSION. 105 would not have done any thing in the world for his mastei . And, as in the bad spirit before, so now in the good spirit, Big Bruce still remained head and leader as long as he was at school. It may have been partly the old force of example that made the little boys follow the big ones ; it may have been the fireworks ; it may have been the fire that had wrought the change ; but more than all, I think it was the true master's heart, the strong, patient will, that from the very first had gradually been winning the boys' hearts long before they knew it. Tom Bruce left school at Christmas, and his going was regretted by all, but by none perhaps so keenly as by himself. "I'd have begun at the bottom again gladly," 106 BIG BKTJCE AND LITTLE MOSS. he said, " if it were only to show that I could do differently." But his father was as anxious now for him to leave as he himself had been two months back. " You can't be at school for- ever," he said, "and it's tune you were doing something for yourself now. I was at work before I was your age ; and, what's more, you've a chance now of a 'good place and it would be wrong to miss it." So the new year found Tom hard at work in a large shop at Brickington, while Bob Clarke was head of the school. It was a good place under a kind master, and gave promise of speedy promotion to a position any village boy might have envied. Tom did his duty manfully and was happy and hopeful in his work ; but he often looked CONCLUSION. 107 back wistfully on the old school-days, and wished they were to come over again. He liked his business ; but, nevertheless, the happiest days of his life were those when he got leave to come home and take up his old place by Bessy's side, where they were often joined by the friend to whom they said they owed more than to any one in the world. ****** And here, I think, we will say good-by to Big Bruce and Little Moss. And you and I boys must say good-by to each other till another day, when maybe we shall have another pleasant hour together. But, before I go, I have a word for you to carry away. Be brave, boys, and love and admire brave and great men, but don't go by outsides. 108 BIG BRUCE AND LITTLE MOSS. Remember the king of old, of whom we read that " there was not among the children of Israel a goodlier person than he ; from his shoulders and upward he was higher than any of the people," and yet his boasted strength failed, and he died a coward's death ; and then think of his greater name- sake, of whom they said, "his bodily pres- ence is weak, and his speech contemptible," and he lived a glorious brave life, and died a martyr's death. And oh, boys ! never forget your own true Master, who " was despised," and "we esteemed him not," and who is indeed and in truth the King of heroes. WHERE WE FOUND THE LACE. Page 109. II. WHERE WE FOUND THE LACE. mischief like other little boys of the present day ; but still I could not un- derstand why every thing that went wrong about the place should be laid to the charge of my brothers or myself. Of course, six boys will give trouble, and will have acci- dents at times ; and if we broke a dish car- rying a dog its dinner, or lamed the pony by riding it carelessly, I think we generally made what is called " a clean breast of it,' ' and either blurted it out to father when he ( 100 ) 110 "WHERE WE FOUND TELE LACE. appeared in the stable-yard, or confessed it to mother when we visited her dressing- room at dusk. So it did seem rather hard that once when our grandmother was on a visit at Bishop- mead (our house), her maid should come an- grily up to us and accuse Master Frederick (poor me ! ) specially, of taking away and hiding, to plague her, some of my grand- mother's very best point lace. I was in the paddock, she said, when she laid the lace on the ground to dry, and she had but turned her back for five minutes, just to fetch some fine linen to bleach, when the lace had vanished, and I must have tak- en it. I vowed I had never even seen the nasty rubbish. We boys didn't at all like Mrs. WHERE WE FOUND THE LACE. Ill Barbara, and I wanted to make her angry by speaking rudely of the beautiful lace she prized so much. Not very civil of me, but boys are not perfect, we all know ; and Mrs. Barbara often provoked us with her sharp tongue. The matter was serious, however ; the lace was gone, and it was valuable. I was examined by a court consisting of mother, grandmother, and two aunts, and pronounced Not Guilty. But where could the lace be ? Had the wind blown it away ? No, there was not a breath of air stirring. Could a tramp have stolen it ? No : the paddock was well guarded by Bang, a big watch-dog, who would certainly have re- ported very loudly the arrival of any stran- ger in his domain. 112 "WHERE WE FOUND THE LACE. It was very unsatisfactory, Barbara would mutter ; she was sure Master Frederick must have taken it ; but as other people did not think so, I did not care. Grandmother paid a long visit this time ; it must have been nearly a month later, and she was still with us when my brother Frank and I proposed climbing a high tree near the house to search a bird's nest we saw there. He said it was a thrush's nest, I said it was a sedge-cock's. It was a very high tree, and not easy to climb. I heard the maids screaming at me from the bed-room window as I mounted higher and higher; of course, as all bo$ T s know, this rather pleased me, and made me scramble up high- er still. WHERE WE FOUND THE LACE. 113 Frank I had left far behind. I got to the nest at last and peeped in ; it was empty, the birds had flown. I was just leaving it, when something odd in its lining attracted me. There was no harm in taking it from its place now to show Frank, so I wrenched it from its place and carefully slipped down with it. " What is it, Frank ? " I said. He only shook his head wisely. We carried it indoors, straight to grand- mother. She knew what it was in a min- ute ; her beautiful lace, quilted most care- fully into the side of the nest to make a soft home for the young birds. It was so cleverly done, that even grand- mother could not but admire it. Barbara, it is true, said, " Nasty, mischiev- 114 WHEKE WE FOUND THE LACE. cms things I " when she saw it ; but no one else was vexed with the curious, busy little mother who had so ingeniously worked up the soft lace which she had picked up in the paddock. And my character was cleared. III. THE LOST LETTER. ID you post my letter this morning Reginald ? " u "Oh yes, father, I did, not forget it." " Was it in time ?" " Yes, quite." There was something in Reginald's manner which led his father to say, " Are you sure ? " After a little inward struggle the boy answered, boldly, " Yes, father." "Well, that's enough, Reginald ; I only asked so particularly, because that letter is of much importance, and if you had mislaid (115) 116 THE LOST LETTER. or forgotten it, I should have had time to write another by the evening post." " Yes, father, it's all right," repeated Regi- nald, as he left the room ; and yet he did not feel entirely comfortable concerning this same letter, although he hoped, and tried to believe, that he had spoken the truth in saying it had been posted that morning. The fact was, he had been guilty of- the fault of committing to the care of another that with which he had been himself intrust- ed, and the way it occurred was this ; it was a school holiday, and Reginald had previously arranged with some of his com- panions to go a long way into the country to fish, when, just as he was leaving home for the purpoise of meeting them at the ap- pointed place, his father called out, THE LOST LETTER. 117 " Where are you going, Reginald ? " " With the boys to the river, father," he replied. " Well, take this letter to the post first, and mind to have it in time ; I have no one else I can send." " Yes, father," replied Reginald, in no very willing tone, for he considered it a hard case to be sent so far out of his way. How- ever, not being in the habit of disputing his father's words, he left the house with the letter in his hand, at the same time muttering to himself, " Rather too bad to be- made a post-boy of on a holiday." The fishing-party were all assembled at the appointed place. " Why, Reggie, how late you are ! " ex- claimed one of them ; " we've been waiting 118 THE LOST LETTER. for you this long time ; but never mind, come along now." " I can't go with you, boys," answered Reginald, in a melancholy tone : " don't wait any longer, I'll follow you after awhile." " Why, what's stopping you? " asked the former speaker. " If you can come soon, I'll wait" " No, no Dick ; I have to go to the town to post a letter for my father, and I wouldn't like to keep you so long ; I'll meet you at the river." So saying, he turned slowly and unwillingly in the opposite direction. " Stop, stop, Reggie ! " shouted one of the boys; "give the letter to Ned, he'll pass the post-office on his way home, for he's not coming with us." THE LOST LETTER. 119 " Father said the letter was very particu- lar," replied Reginald, hesitating. " Well," answered Ned, indignantly, " do you think I never posted a particular let- ter ? Why, I suppose my father's letters are of as much consequence as yours, and he always trusts them to me. I only wish I had the chance to go along with you, and you'd see how few objections I'd make." Reginald was easily tempted to comply with their wish, and set off with his com- panions, persuading himself that he had sent his father's letter to the post, and thus done all that was required. The weather was favorable, the fishing successful, and Reginald returned home, af- ter having passed a pleasant day ; and it was not until questioned by his father that 120 THE LOST LETTER. his thoughts reverted to the subject of the letter ; then, indeed,, he felt a little anxious during the remainder of the evening. " How absurd," he argued with himself, " to fret about it, when I'm sure it's all right ; still I wish I had acknowledged to my father that I gave it to Ned to post. It's too late to tell him now, however, and I'll set my mind at ease to-morrow by asking Ned if it's all right I " Accordingly at school next day 'Reginald questioned his friend concerning the letter. " Are you quite sure you posted it ? " he said, " for my father has been asking me." "And I suppose you declared that you put it in with your own hand? " " No, Ned," replied Reginald. " I did not Bay so, and it's a shame for you to accuse THE LOST LETTER. 121 me of an untruth ; " and as he spoke his face became crimson, for conscience told him that, although he had not spoken these words, yet he had equally deceived his father. " I don't see why you should be so angry, and take a fellow up so sharp about it," said Ned, " and to punish you, I won't tell what became of the precious letter, so you may go fish for all the information you'll get out of me." Reginald walked off, too proud to ask any further questions, and feeling more and more uneasy. The truth was that Ned was glad of any excuse for not confessing that he, like Reg- inald himself, had resigned his charge to another. Shortly after the fishing-party had start- ed, as he was on his way to the town, he met 122 THE LOST LETTER. a group of boys and girls just assembled for the purpose of going on a blackberrying ex- pedition, who asked him to join in the amusement. " I should like it very much," he replied, " but for this letter ; I wish I had never un- dertaken it." " Where are you going with it ? " " To the post." " Oh ! if that's all," said one of the boys, " give it to me, and I'll have it sent." " Are you sure it will be safe ? " asked Ned. "Yes, of course I am," replied the boy, and seizing the letter, he ran toward the public road. Looking up and down he soon spied a ragged child going in the direction of the town. " Come here ! " he cried. THE LOST LETTER. 123 The little fellow approached. " Where are you going ? " " I don't know, sir." " Well, perhaps you know the way to town, and where the post-office is ?" " Yes, sir." " Then take this letter, and be sure you put it in safely ; stay, here's a penny for your trouble." " Thank you, sir," said the boy, as he ran off with the letter and penny. " Now I've done all I could for you, Ned," said his friend ; " I've sent your letter to the post, and paid a fellow for taking it, so make your mind easy, and let us enjoy ourselves.' Accordingly the party set off, and spent a very happy day ; they clambered through hedges and briery brakes, in order to reach 124 THE LOST LETTEK. the rich clusters of ripe fruit, laughing and talking gayly all the time. Ned thoroughly enjoyed himself, without bestowing another thought on the letter, of which he had un- dertaken the charge. Meantime the little boy to whom it had last been intrusted, still holding it in his hand, ran quickly to town, but so impatient was he to spend the penny which he had been given, that before going to the post- office, he turned into a tempting cake-shop, and purchased a nice bun. It was not until it was eaten that he recollected the letter, which was then nowhere to be found. Supposing it must have fallen from his hand at the shop-door where he had bought the bun, he went back to search ; but it was hopelessly gone, and not feeling very anx- THE LOST LETTER. 125 ious concerning its fate, he returned home, and thought no more on the subject*. But the changes and chances of the unfortunate letter were nearly at a close, for a little beggar-girl happening to pass at the mo- ment, saw it fall to the ground, and cun- ningly waiting till the boy had turned away, she picked it up quickly, and ran off to her mother, who greeted her with a blow. " Is that all you've brought, child, after being out so long ? What's the good of a let- ter to us ? only for the stamp, certainly it's worth a penny." " Is it, mother ? I'll take it off, then. But what's to be done with the rest? " " It might get us into trouble," replied the woman, " so we.'d better destroy it ; but show me first, for there might be something 126 THE LOST LETTER. inside." Finding there was no inclosure she tossed it into the fire, and so Mr. Wes- ton's important letter was consigned to the flames. Days passed on, during which Mr. TVes- ton vainly expected an answer, but every post only brought fresh disappointment. His face began to assume an anxious and care-worn expression, his manner became quick and impatient, and it was evident his mind was ill at ease. In vain did Mrs. Weston try to discover the cause of his anxiety; the reply which she always re- ceived was, " Don't fret, dear, it will be all right to-morrow, when I hear from Ed- wards." But many to-morrows came with- out bringing the expected letter, and he grew more and more unhappy. One day THE LOST LETTEE. 127 Reginald heard him reply to his wife's oft- repeated inquiries, " It is entirely a business difficulty, and it is the delay which makes me uneasy ; if I had heard from Edwards a day or two ago it would have been all right." " How is that? " she asked. " He has a large sum of money of mine, which he is ready to pay at a moment's no- tice, and there was an arrangement between us that I should demand it whenever requir- ed. I have done so, and received no an- swer. This money, could I have obtained it in time, would have tided me over all my difficulties ; but I fear it will be too late af- ter to-morrow, and I shall have lost credit." " Have you written again ? " " Yes, twice, but without success." It may well be imagined what Reginald's 128 THE LOST LETTEE. feelings were during the conversation, and how earnestly he wished that he had obey- ed his father's directions and posted the lost letter himself, but regrets were now too late. He passed a miserable night, and setting off early the next morning to the post, re- turned in high spirits, carrying a letter di- rected to his father in the well-known hand- writing of Mr. Edwards. " I have given my- self this fright about nothing," he thought, " for of course Ned posted it all right ; but I wonder why this letter has so many foreign marks on the cover." So thinking, he reach- ed the breakfast-room, and presented it to his father, whose face lighted up with hope. " At last," he murmured ; " it is just in time, but at the very latest moment." Reginald's mother and sisters gazed THE LOST LETTEK. 129 inquiringly at Mr. Weston as he read, and a weight of anxiety was lifted from their hearts ; but their joy was indeed short-lived, for while they looked a gradual change over- spread his countenance as he deliberately folded up the paper, and returned it to its cover. After a few moments of painful sus- pense he spoke : " It is of no use ; we are ruined. Ed- wards has gone abroad without having re- ceived any of my letters ; he merely writes to let me know his present address, in case I should wish to apply for the money ; but it is too late. We must make up our minds for the worst." " Could you not write at once to his new address ? " asked Mrs. Weston. "No use," he replied; "the rush will 130 THE LOST LETTEK. come immediately, and I must acknowledge that I am unable to meet it." Then after a pause, he added, " But why did he not re- ceive my first letter ? it must have been writ- ten several days before he started. Let me see," taking out the letter again " yes, I wrote on the 4th, and he did not leave till the 9th. Had he received that letter all would have been right. Reginald, I now remember I gave it to you to post." It was too much for the poor boy. He had listened thus far in a state of mind im- possible to describe ; and novr, bursting in- to tears, he confessed that he had intrusted the letter to one of his school-fellows, in order that he might have an additional half- hour's fishing ; therefore he could not be sure that it had been posted at all. Alas ! THE LOST LETTER. 131 that half-hour's fishing was dearly bought, at the expense of many years of toil and poverty, besides the bitter self-reproach which lasted during his entire life. It was, indeed, sad to see his parents in their latter days reduced to poverty, and obliged to en- dure sufferings and hardships to which they had never been accustomed ; and his sisters deprived, not only of luxuries and comforts, but also of the advantages of education ; and all through his one act of disobedience. The whole family were obliged to remove to a foreign land, where, although Reginald worked hard, and strove in every way to re- pair the mischief he had caused, yet they never recovered entirely their wealth or po- sition. Thus we see what serious conse- quences the slightest deviation from the path of duty may produce. IV. A VERY KNOWING BIRD. SUPPOSE every one has some story to tell of some parrot that he has either known or heard of ; but gen- erally these stories consist of some few dis- jointed sentences that Poll was in the habit of uttering, some of which happened to be very appropriate on particular occasions. For many years I was acquainted with a parrot, which was not only a first-rate talk- er, but displayed such intelligence in her re- marks, that I must pronounce her, on the whole, the most wonderful bird I ever heard (132) A VERY KNOWING LIKD. Page 132. A VERY KNOWING BIKD. 133 of. To make, however, her intelligence plain, and to show you the appropriateness of her remarks, I must inform you of her history, and of some particulars of her owner. Polly was born on the coast of Africa, in the year 1845, and soon after she was fledged she came into the possession of my 'friend, who was a surgeon in the navy, and an M. D. The doctor, who was a kind-hearted man, and fond of most animals, soon made a great pet of the bird, and was more gentle with her from the fact of her having so soon been taken from her mother. On board ship during cold or stormy weather she would be on his arm, and at night had her place in his bosom. Being fond of music, and having a particularly musical whistle, he 134 A VERY KNOWING BIKD. used very frequently to give the bird les- sons in the art, until she soon began to pick up the notes of some Scotch tunes, to which her owner was very partial. Amongst the first tunes acquired by Poll, was " Blue Bon- nets over the Border," which she turned to good account on one occasion. It was on the way home from the Coast, arid the bird was, for some reason, put into a cage with another parrot belonging to the ship's car- penter, and both were placed in a dark hole. The carpenter's bird soon asserted her su- periority, and seemed determined to keep the upper perch to herself, for on every at- tempt which our friend made to rise in the world she was bitten, and forced down to her more lowly position. This continued throughout the voyage, until the ship arriv- A VERY KNOWING BIRD. 135 ed at Slieerness, when the cage was transfer- red to a river steamer, as both the owners in- tended proceeding to London at once. The cage was placed on the deck, and both the birds seemed pleased to enjoy the bustle and light. On board the steamer was one of those small bands of musicians which per- form for the sake of what they can collect. One of their pieces was " Blue Bonnets over the Border, 1 ' which, as soon as our Polly -*. heard it, greatly ruffled her peaceful and subdued breast. She became very excited, flapped her wings,, and manifested great de- Ught ; but the music inspired her with other feelings than those of joy, for it nerved her to dispute the possession of the top perch with her old foe, who had proved too much for her. Her time had now come, for she 136 A VERY KNOWING BIED. got upon the perch and administered such a thrashing with beak and foot on her rival, that she was driven to the bottom of the cage, and there remained for the rest of the voyage. As soon as Poll was firmly estab- lished on the perch that was now hers, she whistled her hymn of victory by accompany- ing the band in " Blue Bonnets over the Border." Like others of her species; Polly's pow- ers of imitation were very amusing ; the " -noise of animals and the street cries were very well rendered. This mimicry was not always amusing, for she would frequently disappoint the cat, by calling her in the voice of her mistress. Once, when somewhat hidden, she indulged in this pastime, and called the cat so repeatedly, and then indul- A VEEY KNOWING BIRD. 137 ged in such loud laughter, that the poor an- imal was actually driven to distraction, and went mad. But Polly's imitations of the voices of her friends were the most amusing She would whistle, and talk, and laugh, and sneeze, and produce the sound of blowing her nose, exactly like the doctor ; and would even carry on a conversation with her mas- ter. Nay, more'; she and the doctor would whistle a tune between them, which would have its beginning somewhat in this form. Polly. " Now then, doctor." Tho doctor would then whistle half a bar and then leave off. Polly would then take up the music at the note where the doctor had left off, and continue it for a few notes, when she would leave off, saying, " Go on, 138 A VERY KNOWING BIRD. doctor." Perhaps he would say, " I shan't ; " when Polly would reply, " Oh ! won't you, Doctor ? " " No, I won't ; go on yourself," the doctor would remark ; and then Polly would take up the tune, whistle it to the end ; then, in a half chiding way, would say, " Oh, Oh, doctor ! " and as if to show she enjoyed the joke would add, " Come and kiss me, you rascal." The doctor and the bird would then blow a kiss to each other, and both would indulge in a hearty laugh. Polly's presence was once rather embar- rassing. A lady friend of the family had called soon after the sudden death of her sister, when the conversation naturally turn- ed on her recent loss. Polly was under the dress of one member of the household, and her presence was not suspected. Presently A VERY KNOWING BIRD. 139 the sorrowing lady was startled on hearing a voice (when she had broken off her narra- tive to indulge her grief) remark, very un- feelingly, " Hurrah ! go on then." It will thus be seen that Polly was allow- ed pretty much her liberty. She went where she liked, and she was so tame and gentle, that one of the ladies used to carry her about 011 her head. She was not alto- gether free from mischief, for she would un- wind reels of silk and cotton, and bite holes in the carpet. But before doing any thing which she knew was forbidden, she would throw you off your guard by calling out, " Would you, you dare ? naughty Polly ! " and after you had looked once or twice, and had only seen her holding her demure 140 A VERY KNOWING BIRD. head on one side, she would think the coast was clear, and begin her tricks. Polly cherished many of her naval asso- ciations, and would often revive them, much to the amusement of visitors. She would pipe the boatswain's whistle most cleverly, and then give various orders, such as are heard on board ship. The , officers' meals are announced by roll of drum, so when Polly saw the preparations for meals were nearly completed, she would say, " Call the drummer, you Rowly " (this was the name of the marine on board the doctor's last ship). Then, sfter a short interval, she would play the tattoo, " Rum, turn, titum." Polly looked forward to her meals, and would give very plain hints if they were A VEEY KNOWING BEBD. 141 late. " Bring the dinner," she would say, adding the name of the servant for the time being ; but when- tea-time drew near, she would merely say, " Grog O ! " She never confused the meals, and called for grog at dinner-time. Her trough at dinner was filled with fish, flesh, and fowl, in fact, with any thing or every thing that her master had ; but at tea-time she had merely her allowance of tea, which she called grog so many spoonsful, which she managed very cleverly to take from a spoon. If the doctor or his family happened to be out for the evening, Polly's tea was made on purpose. Surprise was often expressed by friends that so varied a diet was found to agree with the bird, but Polly enjoyed excellent health, and was usually in good spirits. 142 A VERY KNOWING BIED. It may be imagined that Polly's exuber- ance of spirits was not always desirable ; but she knew when her .conversation was not wanted. After breakfast it was the doctor's custom to read the newspaper aloud to his daughter, when Polly always had to preserve a dignified silence. When the news was unusually full or interesting, or Polly was unusually impatient, she would at length break out with " Good-by, doc- tor, good-by. Come and kiss me, you ras- cal," which was the daily good-by before the doctor went for his morning walk, which he generally did as soon as he had finished the paper. The farewell was a pretty broad hint that it was time for her master to-be off. Then when he was fairly away Polly's time began, and until his return she would A VERY KNOWING BIED. 143 go through all her performances, singing, whistling, talking, laughing, with all her might. When the weather was fine she would be placed near the open window, which greatly added to her enjoyment and to the amusement of passers-by. The street cries were given with a voice that costermongers might have envied, much to the delight of the children in" the street, who would collect in little groups, and try to imitate her. Sometimes these noisy and irreverent youngsters would seem to offend her, when she would exclaim, in tones of severe reproach, " Go away ; go away." I might tell you more stories, but I think I have said enough to justify my statement that Polly was a wonderful bird. In De- cember, 1865, we noticed that Polly was 144 A VERY KNOWING BIED. unwell, and grew morose, which was a most unusual trait in her character. She bit " the boy,'' who was now a little fellow high enough to stand by her cage and talk to her; and this circumstance attracted our attention. Her mistress said it was a bad sign, and attributed it not to malice, but to approaching death ; and she was not wrong, for a week" afterward we found Polly one morning lying dead at the bottom of the cage. Poor Polly ! We missed her very much, for she was always so affectionate, and cheerful, and interesting a brighter charac- ter, perhaps, than could be given to all of us. This book is DUE on the last date stamped below ttC'D LU-Ufil I & OCTl OCTI3 197S .s?s lOm-11,'50 (2555)470 UNIVERSirrOF CALIFORNIA f. OS ANGELES 000081994 6