THE LIBRARY 
 
 OF 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY 
 OF CALIFORNIA 
 
 LOS ANGELES

 
 THE MAGNET STORIES. 
 
 DRIFTING AND STEERING. 
 
 BY 
 
 LYNDE PALMER. 
 
 AUTHOR OP 
 
 "JOHN- JACK;" "ONE DAY'S WEAVING;" 
 SHADOW," ETC. 
 
 TROY, K Y. 
 H. B. XIMS & CO. 
 
 1874.
 
 Entered according to Act of Congress, In the year 1867, by 
 MOORE t NIMS, 
 
 In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States, for th* 
 Northern District of New York. 
 
 B P.NTHtTTSKN &. SOWS, 
 
 Printers, Stereotypers and Binders, 
 
 407 Broadway, Albany, N. T.
 
 T>Z7 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 THE aim of the present volume is to present clearly 
 and forcibly the contrast between two lives, the one, 
 governed by principles of the strictest honor, the 
 other, vacillating with impulses of selfishness and dis- 
 honesty. 
 
 The story is not intended for the most youthful read- 
 ers ; but for those, who, standing on the border-land of 
 childhood, excited and bewildered by the broader vistas 
 opening before them, are daily deciding the grave and 
 important questions which are to stamp their future life. 
 If to such, this little volume may be a help in discerning 
 more clearly between right and wrong, may be, as it 
 were, a magnet, drawing them, even faintly, towards 
 what is noble, courageous, and true, the hopes of the 
 author will be fully realized. 
 
 It is designed to follow this volume with others of 
 
 similar aim, adapted to the same class of readers ; the 
 (iii)
 
 IV PREFACE. 
 
 series to be known under the name of the Magnet 
 Stories. 
 
 Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are 
 honest, whatsoever things are just, pure, lovely, and of 
 good report; let us think on these things.
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 AFLOAT 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 SHOALS 30 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 AGROUND .. 45 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 DOUBLING A POINT 69 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 LITTLE PICKET'S DISCOVERY 84 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 THE RACE 104 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 FALSE COLORS 142 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 HIGH TIDE 155 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 AN ILL WIND 182 
 
 (v)
 
 VI CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER X. Page . 
 
 STRAITS 197 
 
 CHAPTER XL 
 A HEATY SEA 207 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 HE THAT SAVETH HIS LlFE 238 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 SLACKENED SAILS 251 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 WALTER'S LOG-BOOK 272 
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 TURNING HOMEWARD 285 
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 "HONOR TO WHOM HONOR".. , 294
 
 THE MAGNET STORIES. 
 
 BY LYNDE PALMER. 
 
 1. DRIFTING AND STEERING. 
 
 2. ONE DAY'S WEAVING. 
 
 3. ARCHIE'S SHADOW. 
 
 4. JOHN-JACK. 
 
 (Yii)
 
 DRIFTING AND STEERING, 
 
 CHAPTER L 
 
 AFLOAT. 
 
 JHE short winter day was nearly past, 
 and night, bleak and stormy, was fast 
 settling down. But still the train 
 rushed on, and still two young faces, pale and 
 sad, pressed against the small car window, 
 gazing wearily as the blank, gray fields, the sol- 
 emn stretches of pine woods, and the weather- 
 stained farm-houses desolately drifted by. 
 
 It seemed such a sad, cold world to the two 
 young hearts that night; all warmth and color 
 gone. They should never be happy again ! at 
 
 least, so thought Walter Houghton, the slighter 
 (9)
 
 10 DRIFTING AND STEERING. 
 
 of the two, as lie shivered, and drew a long sigh. 
 Owen Grey, his companion, started anxiously from 
 his revery. 
 
 " You are cold, Walter ; why didn't you tell 
 me ? Here, put your feet on the seat, and let me 
 wrap my shawl around them." 
 
 " But what will you do then ? " 
 
 "Oh, never mind me, I'm strong, I shan't 
 miss it!" cried Owen, cheerfully, muffing up his 
 companion as carefully as a mother would her 
 baby. 
 
 " But how it will look ! " said Walter, uneasily. 
 " Everybody will think I'm so selfish." 
 
 "Everybody is just now thinking of himself, 
 as he usually is," laughed Owen. "I've noticed 
 all day that he didn't seem to have any proper 
 idea of our importance. Probably not half in the 
 car suspect that we are princes in disguise ! " 
 
 " Don't be so silly, Owen ! " cried Walter, 
 twisting his neck till he had taken in all the 
 heavy-eyed, nodding public. The survey was 
 satisfactory. He concluded to make no further
 
 AFLOAT. 11 
 
 demur, and adding "You take such a pleas- 
 ure in self-sacrifice, Owen, it would be a pity 
 to refuse you," he settled himself comfortably; 
 while Owen pulled up his collar, and tried to per- 
 suade himself that he didn't miss the heavy wool- 
 len folds. 
 
 " What's that ? " cried Walter, starting, as the 
 car suddenly became dark, and something white 
 and spectral flashed past the window. 
 
 " We are in a tunnel, I should think," said Owen, 
 calmly, " and the water dripping through the rocks 
 has made icicles. See, there's another! Don't 
 they look like long white fingers ! " 
 
 "Angel fingers!" said Walter, in an excited 
 whisper, believing he had stumbled upon a very 
 poetical idea. 
 
 " Not a bit of it," cried cheery, sensible Owen. 
 "Don't you see they're all pointing down, and 
 angel fingers ought to point up ! " 
 
 " Pshaw ! How you always spoil everything. 
 You haven't any more sentiment in you than a 
 buzz-saw ! "
 
 12 DRIFTING AND STEERING. 
 
 Owen only laughed at his companion's ill humor, 
 and another five minutes passed by. 
 
 " When shall we ever get there ! " broke out 
 Walter again, " though I'm sure I don't know 
 that I care either. A great strange city full of 
 strangers I'd just as lief, for my part, keep rush- 
 ing on through this dark winter night for- 
 ever ! " 
 
 " ' Never say die,' Walty ! " cried Owen, 
 cheerily, "who knows what is before us in the 
 great strange city! You know we have some- 
 thing to do. You know" his voice faltered 
 a little, " she said the one who loved her best, 
 would try the hardest to be a great and honorable 
 man." 
 
 "The one who loved her best!" cried 
 Walter, excitedly, " as if that had to be proved ! 
 Do you think any one who saw us this minute, 
 could doubt which was dear mamma's own son ? 
 Do / make jokes, and talk about being cheerful ? 
 No, I couldn't forget her so soon ; a nephew is 
 very different from a son ; and, besides, you never
 
 AFLOAT. 13 
 
 had very murfh feeling." Saying which, Walter 
 gave Owen's shawl another wind around his feet, 
 and drawing out his white handkerchief, dived 
 into it, disconsolately. 
 
 Owen's face glowed as if he had suddenly bent 
 over the open door of a furnace. 
 
 "That's mean, and ungenerous, Walter!" 
 said the hoy, vehemently. "You know very 
 well that I had no other mother than yours, 
 since I was a little unconscious baby. And she 
 she knew whether I loved her. She never 
 doubted me ! " said he, with a burst of feeling, 
 "and I mean that my whole life shall prove 
 whether I am unworthy of the trust she had in 
 me." 
 
 "There was a minute's pause, and then Owen 
 resumed more calmly, 
 
 " But I am not angry with you, Walter, I won't 
 be, no matter what reason you give me." 
 
 The boy was a little too magnificent, perhaps, 
 and Walter resented it. 
 
 " Very grand ! " he cried, " only, unfortunately,
 
 14 DRIFTING AND STEERING. 
 
 your face is more honest than your tongue. 
 You're in a towering passion, you know." 
 
 Owen walked hastily away to the other end of 
 the car. "Walter is right," he confessed to 
 himself, when he became a little cooler. " I am 
 angry, I didn't mean to be, but it conies on me 
 so suddenly, like a great wave. I've been very 
 angry again, and with Walter, too. Oh, why 
 can't I remember!" and resolutely he brought 
 before himself a sad, sad picture, on which the 
 dust of only a score of days had fallen. It was 
 not much to brush aside, and again Owen was 
 standing in a darkened room by the side of that 
 dear invalid he had always called " mother," 
 and whom he must still call so, in his heart, 
 even if Walter's jealously denied him the right. 
 That dear mother! she had seemed to know no 
 difference between them. How anxious she had 
 been for them both. " Poor babies," she had said, 
 " who must learn so early to be men. May God 
 protect you ! " But next to heaven, it was in 
 Owen's eyes she looked for comfort
 
 AFLOAT. 15 
 
 " You are a child in years, Owen," she had 
 said, "even a month younger than Walter, but 
 you are so much larger and stronger, it often 
 seems as if you were twice his age. How this 
 poor boy," she laid her hand on Walter's head, 
 "will struggle with the world, I cannot tell! 
 He is so sensitive, so easily discouraged, and not 
 at all strong. Promise me, Owen, that you will 
 watch over him; you will love him as if he were 
 your own brother, and will have patience with 
 him even if he tries you very much; you will 
 even sometimes sacrifice a little of your own 
 pleasure for his happiness, remembering the great 
 love he has lost! Can you promise me that, 
 Owen, my dear son 9 " 
 
 Owen seized the slender hands that had done so 
 many kindnesses for him, and promised with 
 streaming eyes. 
 
 What a look of love and confidence she gave 
 him! Even in his grief Owen had felt a thrill 
 of delight. She trusted him a boy of only four- 
 teen years ! why, such a look from dying eyes would
 
 16 DRIFTING AND STEERING. 
 
 be precious to a grown man ; and in his swelling, 
 boy's heart, he vowed to keep his promise with a 
 man's strength. 
 
 All this he now remembered with self-condem- 
 nation. His anger vanished. How could he 
 have been so foolish, so thin-skinned! Could 
 he never get used to Walter's quick tongue ? 
 He would go back now, and try to cheer him 
 up, though he scarcely knew what to say. His 
 heart was almost as heavy as "Walter's, at 
 thought of the new, strange life. Still, there 
 were some pleasant things to think of. How 
 many boys would be beside themselves with joy 
 at prospect of such great advantages as they were 
 to have in the city ; and then, they were to go 
 together; they need not be separated; for 
 Owen's guardian, who had carefully nursed his 
 scanty funds, had announced that there was 
 enough to pay for a course of study, and supply 
 the boy's simple wants, till he was fitted to 
 struggle for himself. In Walter's case, there 
 had been no need of such careful calculation, for
 
 AFLOAT. 17 
 
 ?u's fortune, in an uncle's hands, was amply 
 sufficient to supply every reasonable want 
 " So we shall have a splendid education ! " 
 thought Owen to himself, "and then it is very 
 pleasant to think we are to board with kind Mrs. 
 "Whately, mother's old school-friend, she will 
 not seem like a stranger I must talk to Walty 
 about that." 
 
 He started, and again stopped. It came so 
 vividly before him that last day, when that 
 dear mother had told them so tenderly of these 
 arrangements she had labored till the last minute 
 to make. How yearningly she had looked upon 
 them; poor children so mysteriously left alone, 
 without father or mother; and how she had made 
 them repeat again and again 
 
 " When my father and my mother forsake me, 
 then the Lord will take me up." 
 
 Then she had seemed to grow calmer, and tried 
 to talk about their future, and how they must lead 
 useful, and honorable lives. 
 
 But Walter had interrupted her passionately. 
 2
 
 18 DRIFTING AND STEERING. 
 
 "I don't care what I do! I don't care what 
 becomes of me! I want to die and go with 
 you." 
 
 "Not yet, 0, no, not yet! Walty, my dear 
 son, she had cried. " Life is such a grand gift, 
 do not despise it! Eejoice that it is still per- 
 mitted you to be about your Father's business ; 
 that there is such noble work for you to do, if 
 you will, to the glory of His holy name! It 
 will only be a very little while, and your sum- 
 mons too will come. Then, if this work is done, 
 
 if the sum of sin and suffering is less for your 
 having lived, how sweet it will be for you to go, 
 
 carrying with you the blessings of earth, to 
 meet the blessing of heaven ! ' Come, ye blessed!' 
 That will be your name so your dear Lord will 
 call you ' Come, ye blessed ! ' * 
 
 She paused a minute, panting, but they could 
 not speak for weeping. She looked at them, 
 pityingly, and smiled as only a mother can 
 smile. 
 
 "Listen," said she, "I shall give you some--
 
 AFLOAT. 19 
 
 thing to do for me ! The one who loves me best 
 will make his life fullest of noble deeds ! Which 
 shall it be?" 
 
 Still the sobbiug children could not answer, 
 though the heart of one was burning within 
 him. ...... 
 
 Owen was so wrapt in his thoughts, he had for- 
 gotten where he was, when a hand was laid impa- 
 tiently on his shoulder. 
 
 " Well, I didn't suppose you were going to 
 make such a noodle of yourself, for a few hasty 
 words ! " 
 
 Owen stared at Walter vacantly, quite uncon- 
 scious that the tears were streaming down his 
 cheeks. 
 
 " Come now, can't you make it up, or must I 
 go down on my knees, and ask pardon ?" 
 
 "For what?" cried Owen, with his bright win- 
 ning smile. 
 
 " 0, for nothing, if you can't remember," said 
 Walter, greatly piqued. "I don't suppose any- 
 thing I say is of any consequence. But you had
 
 20 DRIFTING AND STEERING. 
 
 better wipe your eyes, before you pretend to quite 
 so much indifference!" 
 
 A light broke upon Owen. " Why, Walter, you 
 caii't think I'm crying like a baby, because I've 
 been pelted with a few hard words ! " 
 
 " 0, of course not ! " said Walter, greatly 
 injured, "it must be the smoke from the 
 engine ! " 
 
 "To be sure!" said Owen, with his pleasant 
 laugh. "What a clear head you have, Walty! 
 Come let's forget all this nonsense. You and I 
 are afloat together, you know, and now we are fast 
 coming to the open sea ! We must help each other 
 all we can, for we don't know what rocks there 
 will be in the strange waters." 
 
 "Rocks!" cried Walter, brightening, "I 
 hope there will be a few, anything but sailing 
 on a duck-pond! A little danger now and then 
 will make it so much more exciting and delight- 
 ful!" 
 
 "If you're only sure to steer clear," said 
 Owen, looking admiringly at Walter's glowing
 
 AFLOAT. 21 
 
 cheeks, and dark eyes full of fire ; " but I'm not 
 so confident of my skill ! I'm afraid I shall grate 
 on the shoals a good many times, and maybe spring 
 a leak, before I'm fairly under way." 
 
 Walter laughed, with a little air of superiority. 
 " I'm glad I'm not quite so timid as you ; and I 
 don't mean to wear myself oat with steering 
 either. The fact is, you won't be angry, Owen, 
 but I think you are just born to sail in a 
 wash-tub, and, even then, be a little anxious 
 about the soap-suds! You don't seem to have 
 any ambition, or noble enthusiasm, or vim, or" 
 
 " 0, don't cut one off without a single vir- 
 tue!" cried Owen, with unfailing good humor, 
 "you must teach me to be brave; for though 
 the wash-tub would be so much more appro- 
 priate for me, you see I am forced into the 
 breakers! Look!" cried he, as the train flew 
 aronnd a sudden turn in the road, " there is the 
 phosphorescence on the waves now, I suppose," 
 and he pointed to the myriad twinkling lights of 
 the city, just sweeping into view.
 
 22 DRIFTING AND STEERING. 
 
 Walter was greatly excited. "And that's to 
 be oar home now, Owen," he cried, clapping 
 him on the back. " A little different from old 
 Greenfield, eh ? " 
 
 " Very different," said Owen more thought- 
 fully. 
 
 "Come, old fellow! no more pining for the 
 wash-tub. We're fairly afloat now. Hurrah for 
 the open sea ! " cried impulsive Walter, who half 
 an hour before had been in the depths of despon- 
 dency at this same prospect. 
 
 Owen could not resist the temptation to remind 
 him of it. " Putting yourself through a course 
 of head gymnastics again, Walty ? Well, I hope 
 it makes your mind more vigorous, but I'm never 
 surprised to see an opinion of yours standing on 
 its head." 
 
 The rushing of the train into the depot, gave 
 Walter a very good excuse for not noticing this 
 over true speech, and soon the two tired boys were 
 only thinking how they should get clear of the 
 crowd of porters, drivers, and newsboys.
 
 AFLOAT. 23 
 
 " Halloo, there ! " cried a welcome voice, as 
 they were on the point of utter bewilderment, 
 and Walter's Uncle Knowlson, who had gone 
 down a few days before to complete arrangements 
 for their reception, came to the rescue, laugh- 
 ing heartily ; and hurrying them into a carriage, 
 the two boys were soon rapidly driving over the 
 paved streets to Mrs. Whately's. 
 
 " Yon will have a very pleasant home, buys," 
 said Uncle Kuowlson, " and an excellent chance 
 to make yourselves useful. Mr. Whately, you 
 know, is in the navy, and, not long since, sailed 
 on a three years cruise. I hope yoit will do every- 
 thing you can to relieve Mrs. Whately of her 
 cares, and never give her any reason to repent of 
 her generosity. " 
 
 Walter drew himself up proudly. 
 
 You forget, uncle, that we are gentlemen ! " 
 
 " Really, said Uncle Knowlson, dryly, " I ought 
 to have remembered such an important fact, 
 though I'm not quite sure but this is the first time 
 it was ever presented to me."
 
 24 DRIFTING AND STEERING. 
 
 Owen's ringing laugh sounded clear above the 
 rattling wheels, but Walter sat stifly in offended 
 dignity. 
 
 "My boy," said Uncle Knowlson, more 
 kindly, "I did not mean to hurt your feelings; 
 but do not be satisfied with a mere pleasing ex- 
 terior, and graceful manners. True gentleman- 
 liness begins in the heart ; that must be brave, 
 and honest, and full of love, and the rest will fol- 
 low. Do not be contented with anything but the 
 highest type ; be a Christian gentleman." 
 
 The carriage came to an abrupt stop. They 
 were at their new home, and "Walter and Owen 
 descended with beating hearts. The door hos- 
 pitably flew open the minute they had reached 
 it, and the two boys were conscious of a delight- 
 ful sense of warmth and comfort, as they passed 
 from the storm and sleet into the pleasant car- 
 peted hall, and caught a glimpse through an 
 open door of pictures and curtains reflecting the 
 red glow of an open grate fire, while over a 
 large table, covered with books and mag-
 
 AFLOAT. 25 
 
 azines, a soft shaded drop-light hung like a 
 floating mood. How sweet and home-like it 
 looked! And when a pleasant-faced, motherly 
 woman came forward, with an exclamation of 
 pleasure, and actually gave each of them a kiss, 
 Owen was completely overcome, and could 
 hardly command his voice to answer her kindly 
 questions. 
 
 Walter, on the contrary, was in his element 
 Always anxious for admiration, he now thought 
 only of the impression he was about to make ; and 
 graceful, and self-possessed, his well-bred manners 
 won golden opinions from all. 
 
 "This is my daughter, Honor," said Mrs. 
 Whately, bringing forward a sweet-faced young 
 girl about their own age. " And this is her 
 cousin, Miss Phernie Carroll," said she laughing, 
 and trying to introduce a restless figure in the 
 back-ground, who, bobbing here and there with 
 a bright scarlet ribbon in her hair, looked like a 
 will o' the wisp. 
 
 Walter was greatly pleased with himself. He
 
 26 DRIFTING AND STEERING. 
 
 considered his bow quite unexceptionable, for he 
 had practised it before the mirror, and his cheek 
 glowed as he caught the shy admiration and 
 wonder of Honor, and cousin Phemie. It was 
 very gratifying to think that everybody must 
 see his vast superiority to Owen, who had grown 
 too fast, and could not help being awkward. 
 Nevertheless it was annoying when Uucle 
 Knowlson bade them good-night, to have him 
 whisper 
 
 "Very gracefully done, my boy, but keep a 
 watch on that heart ! " 
 
 The boys were exceedingly tired, and after a 
 nice supper, kind Mr,s. TVhately ordered them to 
 bed. 
 
 "You will find my government an absolute 
 monarchy," she said smiling. "I expect every 
 one to mind me unconditionally!" and Walter, 
 the courtier, with another of his profound 
 bows, was fluent in assuring her that "there 
 could be no happiness comparable to that of being 
 her humblest slave !"
 
 AFLOAT. 27 
 
 Mrs. Whately seemed much amused, aud cer- 
 tainly not displeased, while poor speechless Owen 
 bowed himself out, with a slight cloud upon his 
 honest face. 
 
 The boys were to share the same room, but it 
 was spacious and airy, and each had his own bed 
 and separate chest of drawers. 
 
 "I say, Owen, aren't we lucky dogs?" cried 
 Walter, in the highest spirits. "I hadn't the 
 least idea everything would be so pleasant I I 
 feel entirely at home already, don't you ? Why 
 don't you speak, old fellow? Jealous because 
 you think I made the best impression, I'll bet a 
 dollar!" 
 
 " Not very," said Owen, smiling quietly to him- 
 self. 
 
 "What pleases you so much?" cried Walter, 
 testily. "You were glum enough down stairs, 
 but as soon as we get alone, you always put on 
 your grand, mysterious airs, and actually try to 
 patronize me, I sometimes think. Now there 
 can't be much doubt that I am your equel, at
 
 28 DRIFTING AND STEERING. 
 
 least, and I think the people down stairs would 
 perhaps claim a little more, if their opinion was 
 asked." 
 
 "Not a doubt of it," said Owen, good 
 humoredly. " I was awkward and embarrassed, 
 I confess ; and you must have appeared like Sir 
 Philip Sidney beside me, will that do ? I am 
 not good at making speeches, but I mean to make 
 every day speak for me, and tell Mrs. Whately I 
 am as true a subject as you." 
 
 In the meantime, an equally lively discussion 
 was going on in Honor's room. 
 
 " Isn't he splendid, Honor ! " cried Phemie ; 
 "such great dark eyes, and curly hair, and then 
 what manners ! Why he bows, I should think, 
 as much again lower than Mr. Trippe, the danc- 
 ing-master ! " 
 
 " I don't believe he'd thank you for the com- 
 parison," said Honor, with a merry laugh. 
 
 "No matter," said Phemie. "I shall love 
 Walter, I'm sure, but as for that other awkward 
 boy"
 
 AFLOAT. 29 
 
 "He wasn't so bad!" interrupted Honor. 
 " Didn' you see what great blue eyes he had, and 
 what a white forehead ! and, when he smiled, I 
 liked him almost as well as Walter." 
 
 " How could you ! " cried Phemie, holding up 
 both hands. 
 
 "Well, of course, not quite," returned 
 Honor ; " Walter is very different from any one 
 I ever saw before. He must be a very superior 
 boy." 
 
 " 0, very superior ! " said wise Phemie. 
 
 "But we must be just as polite and kind to one 
 as to the other," said Honor, in whom the princi- 
 ple of strict justice was largely developed. "I 
 suppose Owen cannot help being so different from 
 his cousin." 
 
 " No," assented Phemie, with a sigh of pro- 
 found pity ; and she changed the subject for one 
 of still deeper importance and interest, whether 
 she should fill up her pincushion with scarlet or 
 blue!
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 SHOALS. 
 
 WEN was up with the dawn the next 
 morning, taking observations from 
 every window in the room. They were 
 in a very pleasant part of the city, where 
 there was even room for a nice little court before 
 the street door. It was covered now with the 
 purest snow that had fallen in the night, and 
 two sturdy, cheerful evergreens stood sentry 
 each side of the gate. To add to the bright 
 scene, a curious litle figure in scarlet comforter, 
 fur cap and leggings, was marching up and 
 down the short path, with an air of military 
 dignity, a stick, taller than himself, balanced 
 across his shoulder for a gun, and a lively little 
 
 terrier following close at his heels. As Owen 
 (30)
 
 SHOALS. 31 
 
 stood watching, again and again the stout little 
 legs turned traitors, and, suddenly deserting, 
 left their sovereign rolling in the snow; but the 
 nice, rosy face always came up as shining and 
 good-natured as ever. "Bravo!" cried Owen, 
 at the ninth upset, borne with unshaken phi- 
 losophy, " that will be a boy after my own 
 heart." 
 
 "Pshaw!" cried Walter, coming up behind 
 him, " I hope you don't mean that wretch in the 
 red comforter ? small boys are such a bore, a per- 
 fect thorn in the flesh. I hope that one isn't in- 
 digenous to the soil ! " 
 
 Nevertheless when they all met at the breakfast 
 table, what could be more frank and engaging than 
 "Walter's manner, when Bob, alias " Little Picket," 
 was formally introduced. 
 
 What an interest he took in the child, and 
 how amusing he found it, when Honor explained 
 to him that her little brother, who had heard 
 stories about the war, thought it was the grand- 
 est, bravest thing in the world to be a picket,
 
 32 DRIFTING AND STEERING. 
 
 and how he was always mounting guard some- 
 where, and marching up and down in front of 
 the house, till he had earned his name, which he 
 thought the greatest honor. 
 
 "Dear, ahsurd little fellow," she said, "he has 
 stood an hour at the front gate without moving, 
 * on duty/ he says, and he would do it every day, 
 if mamma hadn't forbidden him." 
 
 So Walter, with his brightest smile, held out 
 his hand, telling the delighted child, "he con- 
 sidered it a greater honor to shake hands with 
 such a distinguished picket, than to be general 
 Grant's most intimate friend!" A faint smile 
 passed over Owen's face. 
 
 "You haven't seen Mimi, either, have you?'* 
 said " Little Picket," charmed with his own recep- 
 tion. 
 
 "Walter inwardly groaned, while still he smil- 
 ingly professed that " an introduction and inti- 
 mate acquaintance with Mimi, was the one thing 
 lacking to complete his perfect happiness." 
 
 So reluctant baby Mimi with a head of
 
 SHOALS. 33 
 
 fiuch fair flaxen curls, it looked at a distance 
 like a dandelion top gone to seed was 
 dragged forward, and had her fat little hand 
 kissed in a mock chivalrous style, that won 
 "Little Picket's" enthusiastic admiration, and 
 brought down merry applause from Honor and 
 Phemie. 
 
 " I'm afraid you have used up all your capi- 
 tal, Walter," whispered Owen, mischievously; 
 " "What are you going to do about the twins, under 
 the sideboard ? " 
 
 Walter started, but saw the joke in a minute. 
 "Just like you, Owen," he said, laughing in spite 
 of himself. " I suppose you are aching to let them 
 know what a humbug I am ! " 
 
 " I'll keep the secret if you can," said Owen. 
 
 Uncle Knowlson made his appearance before 
 the late breakfast was quite over The old 
 man was anxious to have everything settled, 
 and get back to his quiet home; so in a few 
 minutes the two boys were walking rapidly 
 through the busy street to Mr. Hewlett's School. 
 3
 
 34 DRIFTING AND STEERING. 
 
 How grand the world seemed to them that 
 clear winter morning. The life, the stir of the 
 city street was exciting; the young blood 
 coursed quicker through their veins their 
 heads were full of projects of noble achieve- 
 ment. 
 
 "I wonder how soon I can be ready for 
 college," said Owen, breaking the silence. 
 "I have wasted my time these last few years, 
 but now I am ready for work, the harder the 
 better!" 
 
 "You'll find enough of it, probably," said 
 Uncle Knowlson. "Mr. Howlett, the prin- 
 cipal, is a fine scholar, and hasn't much pa- 
 tience with laziness or stupidity. You will have 
 to work pretty steadily if you come up to his 
 mark." 
 
 " Just what I like," cried Walter, his handsome 
 face all aglow. " I'm all ready to be up and doing, 
 with a heart for any fate!" 
 
 "Just this minute you are," said Uncle 
 Knowlson, dryly, "fresh from your night's rest,
 
 8HOALS. 35 
 
 and drinking in this morning air, an elixir 
 that almost makes me young again, myself, 
 but how will it be after a few hours fight with 
 logarithms or the Greek inflections? I love 
 these fresh young impulses, but don't trust too 
 much to them. Nothing valuable was ever gained 
 yet without persistent I might even say, pain- 
 ful effort." 
 
 " And that you don't think I'm capable of," said 
 Walter, a cloud upon his face. 
 
 "I didn't say that, but I want to warn you 
 against trusting to 'spasms of energy,' to do 
 your work. You must be willing to go through 
 a great deal of daily, monotonous drill, if you 
 expect great results. But if you force your- 
 selves to this, my boys," said Uncle Kuowlson, 
 smiling, "there is nothing I shall not expect 
 from you, the geniuses, even, will have to look 
 to their laurels. Let me tell you an idea of one 
 of our deepest thinkers. ' The galvanic stream, 
 slow but continuous, is equal in power to the 
 electric spark, and is, in our arts, a better agent.' "
 
 36 DRIFTING AND STEERING. 
 
 "What an insufferable old bore!" whispered 
 Walter to his cousin ; but Owen's clear eyes were 
 full of new light 
 
 "I know I haven't any genius; there's no 
 ' electric spark' about me, sir," he cried, " but 
 I think I'll do something with that galvanic 
 stream ! " 
 
 " I'm quite sure you will," said Uncle Knowl- 
 son, looking admiringly in the face so full of 
 noble determination. 
 
 "Well, how do you like the school?" said 
 Honor, as the two boys came in at twilight, look- 
 ing like genuine students, with their new books 
 slung in a strap across their shoulders. 
 
 " Capitally well ! " cried the ever ready Wal- 
 ter. "There are some of the best fellows there 
 that I ever met. There's Scott, and Sprague, 
 and Fanshawe" 
 
 " I believe he is the intimate friend of every 
 boy in school, already," said Owen, laughing. 
 
 "Everybody is his friend, I know," whis- 
 pered Honor to Pheniie ; while " Little Picket "
 
 SHOALS. 87 
 
 loudly bewailed the cruel fate that had made 
 him a small boy, not only cutting him off 
 from all school companionship with that most 
 delightful "Walter, but sweeping him off to 
 oblivion and a trundle-bed, just when his hero 
 arrived, and life began to be so fascinating under 
 the gas light. 
 
 His regrets, however, were not at all shared 
 by Walter, who gladly saw the last of him, 
 after being bored for half an hour by the little 
 terrier "Spy," whom his confiding master pre- 
 sented with the information that he considered 
 them Walter and Spy " his two best friends, 
 and hoped they would love each other." 
 
 " Little Picket" being at last disposed of, Wal- 
 ter was all eagerness to begin his studies. 
 
 " I suppose you will be a very great scholar," 
 said Honor. 
 
 " I shall not rest till I stand the very highest 
 in the school ! " said Walter, loftily. 
 
 Honor and Phemie exchanged glances of 
 admiration. "He will work himself to death,"
 
 38 DRIFTING AND STEERING. 
 
 said Phemie, solemnly, but there was a merry 
 twinkle in Owen's eyes. 
 
 In an incredibly short space of time Walter's 
 books were thrown down the " spasm of energy" 
 had passed. 
 
 " You don't know your lessons already ! " ex- 
 claimed Owen, in astonishment. 
 
 "Why yes, well enough," said the boy, care- 
 lessly. " I never did have to drudge as some do, 
 you know." 
 
 " And written your translation, too ? " 
 
 " Yes, most of it. I shall polish it a little in 
 the morning. 
 
 Owen still looked incredulous. 
 
 " Why, I am not half through yet ! It cannot 
 be that I am so much your inferior, Walter." 
 
 " Let the facts speak for themselves," said Wal- 
 ter, coldly. " Come Honor, Phemie, don't you 
 want to play ' Authors' ? " 
 
 They delightedly ran to find the game. 
 
 " Isn't he a bear ? " whispered Phemie, " so jeal- 
 ous of his cousin."
 
 SHOALS. 39 
 
 " Yes," said Honor, " if one is a snail, he needn't 
 expect everybody else to be forever crawling an 
 inch ! " 
 
 Owen overheard it, and winced a little. He 
 didn't care for that fluttering little bunch of rib- 
 bons, Phemie, but it was hard to bear this injus- 
 tice from sensible, kind-hearted Honor. 
 
 Walter was now in high spirits, and again 
 and again, as Owen heard the merry laughter 
 of the party, he was tempted to join them, but 
 the lessons were very difficult to one who had 
 long been out of the habit of study, and he 
 feared there would not be time to make up any 
 deficiencies in the morning. So he toiled pa- 
 tiently all the evening. Only once, as his head 
 began to ache with the unwonted application, he 
 appealed to his cousin. 
 
 " How did you translate this last line, "Walter ? 
 I can't make any sense of it." 
 
 Walter colored slightly. "I don't like to 
 refuse you, Owen, but you know Mr. Hewlett 
 specially requested that no boy should help
 
 40 DRIFTING AND STEEKING. 
 
 another. I don't feel that I could do it in 
 honor." 
 
 Owen's face was crimson, but he answered 
 steadily, "You are quite right, Walter. Thank 
 you for the lesson. I shall never ask you 
 again." 
 
 " I couldn't bear to refuse him," said "Walter, in 
 a low tone, looking at Honor, uneasily; "but 
 what ought I to have done ? " 
 
 " I suppose it was right," said Honor, hesita- 
 ting. "But do you think Mr. Hewlett meant to 
 be quite so strict? Seems to me I would help 
 him a little," she drew him out in the hall. 
 "Just think how hard he has to work at some- 
 thing you could do in five minutes ! " 
 
 "Well, I'll tell you," said Walter eagerly, " I'll 
 help him after we get to our room. He is too 
 proud to let me do it here." 
 
 Honor nodded. "Yes, that's the best way. 
 How tired he looks, poor fellow ! " 
 
 But when the two boys were at last alone to- 
 gether, Walter carefully avoided any allusion to
 
 SHOALS. 41 
 
 the difficulty of the evening, while Owen, 
 whose nature was too noble and sweet to treasure 
 up any little passing resentment, said, pleas- 
 antly, as he bade him "good night," 
 
 " I ought to thank you again, Walter, for not 
 helping me. It is such an immense satisfaction 
 to conquer your lions yourself; it makes one 
 stronger, I think. Now I have got hold of that 
 crooked meaning at last, and I believe I am hap- 
 pier than if it came as easy as it did to you. 
 Good night;" and in a very few minutes the 
 tired boy was deep in his first, sound sleep. 
 
 "When his long, even breathing left no doubt 
 of his unconsciousness, there was a stir in Wal- 
 ter's bed. Very carefully he put out one foot and 
 then another, but all was still, and with noiseless 
 steps he reached the gas light and carefully turned 
 it on. 
 
 Owen's face was towards the wall, and the 
 sudden light did not trouble him. Everything 
 was fortunate; and hastily throwing on his 
 dressing-gown, Walter took up his books with a
 
 42 DRIFTING AND STEERING. 
 
 long sigh. When, in the evening, he had found 
 his lessons so unexpectedly difficult, and the 
 struggle to conquer them so very uncongenial to 
 his pleasure-loving heart, it had occurred to him 
 that he could ask Owen, always so ready to 
 oblige, to help him. His own foolishness, and 
 desire to astonish Honor and Phemie, had made 
 this course impossible, and now he must pay for 
 his vanity and deceit by hours of study while all 
 the household were asleep. But, hard as his task 
 had been before, it was doubly so now. It had 
 been a busy day, and the boy was sadly tired. 
 His head became confused, and the words kept 
 running into each other in the most absurd 
 jumble. 
 
 " I cannot do it," he said, dropping his throb- 
 bing head into his hands; "and I shall be dis- 
 graced to-morrow, the first day ! " 
 
 He thought of Honor and Phemie, and a 
 very vivid picture of their surprise, and per- 
 haps, yes, very probably, contempt rose before 
 him. And they had so admired him, how could
 
 SHOALS. 43 
 
 he give it up! Even that wretched " Little 
 Picket," who adored him, would be sure to find 
 it out in 8ome way, and maybe babble about it 
 for days. Walter raised his head in desperation, 
 when right before him he saw Owen's Virgil, 
 lying within tempting reach. With burning 
 cheeks he took it up and opened it. There was 
 the translation neatly folded within, written 
 clearly in the boy's upright hand ! 
 
 Walter's heart beat fast. He had not meant 
 to do anything so dishonorable, but what a temp- 
 tation ! Fifteen minutes of rapid writing and all 
 would be right. He hesitated, pushed the book 
 feebly from him, and then reasoned with con- 
 science. 
 
 " Only this once," he said, and I shall take 
 good care never to get in such a tight place 
 again." 
 
 Owen turned uneasily in bed. " Pshaw ! " cried 
 Walter, what a fool I am ! " Owen will wake 
 before long, and then it will be too late ! " 
 
 He seized his paper, and with a nervous, tremb-
 
 44 DRIFTING AND STEERING. 
 
 ling hand rapidly copied the lines, and then laid 
 Owen's book carefully just where he found it. 
 
 But he did not feel as much relieved as he 
 hoped. A sudden crack in the floor, made the 
 drops stand out on his forhead. He hardly dared 
 turn his head least he should meet Owen's won- 
 dering eyes. But his fears were groundless, the in- 
 nocent sleeper had not stirred, and despising him- 
 self thoroughly, Walter crept shivering to bed. 
 
 " I wonder if these are the ' shoals' Owen talked 
 about," he thought, as he drew up the cover. 
 " Well, no one must know that my boat grated a 
 little. This is the first, and it shall be the last 
 time the last time," he repeated to himself, as 
 he sank into troubled sleep.
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 AGROUND. 
 
 HE first object that met Walter's gaze 
 the next morning, was his cousin, 
 again bending over his book in the 
 faint winter dawn. 
 
 " How you do grind, Owen ! he cried irritably. 
 " It wears one out to see you." 
 
 " Why I must grind if I mean to bag any 
 meal," cried Owen cheerily. "I'm not bril- 
 liant like you, but then I've get such pride 
 enough to go around the biggest kind of a royal 
 family, Queen Vic's, for example, German 
 princes and all! So I don't mean to disgrace 
 you to-day. You shan't be ashamed of me, 
 Walty!" 
 
 Walter, with reddening face, looked at his 
 (45)
 
 46 DRIFTING AND STEERING. 
 
 cousin keenly, but no sarcasm had been intended. 
 Owen's humility was real. 
 
 "Listen to this a minute," continued Owen, 
 " Last night I thought I had this line all right, 
 but this morning I see it plainer, this last con- 
 struction makes the most sense, you see," and 
 Owen read his two translations. 
 
 "Read them again, slower," said "Walter, 
 anxiously, " Yes, of course, the first is nonsense," 
 he added, as Owen complied. 
 
 " I know you think I'm a wretched blockhead," 
 laughed Owen, " but I shall do better by and by," 
 
 Walter said not a word, but lingered over 
 his toilet till Owen left the room, and then with 
 hasty hand erased the erring line, and substi- 
 tuted the one his good memory supplied. "It 
 is a mean piece of work ! " he confessed to him- 
 self, and again quieting conscience with the 
 promise " it shall be the last time," he slowly 
 followed Owen. 
 
 Mr. Hewlett was greatly pleased with his 
 two new pupils that day, and felt that such
 
 AGROUXD. 47 
 
 scholarship would add to the reputation of his 
 school. At his words of commendation, it would 
 be hard to tell whose cheeks were the hottest, 
 but Owen's clear eyes were lifted proudly to the 
 muster's face, and Walter's were cast upon the 
 floor. 
 
 " We have made a splendid beginning, eh, 
 "Walty ?" said Owen, as they walked briskly home 
 from school, "but I shall have to work like a 
 gaily-slave to keep up. Do you know the way in 
 which you learn your lessons seems a little short 
 of a miracle to such a ' slow coach,' as I am. I 
 could hardly believe you last night, but you've 
 proved it to-day ! " 
 
 But his generous praise, very unaccountably, 
 seemed disagreeable to Walter, and he let the sub- 
 ject drop. 
 
 When evening again came, Walter sat down 
 determinedly to his books. Mrs. Whately was 
 entertaining friends in the parlor; Honor was 
 busy with her French; Phemie sighed softly 
 over the intricacies of her fancy-work, and you
 
 48 DRIFTING AND STEERING. 
 
 might have heard a pin drop for an hour. 
 There was nothing to disturb Walter, but he 
 was tired with his struggles all day to keep up 
 in the studies he could not copy from Owen! 
 and now his task seemed harder than ever, 
 while an occasional pleased expression from his 
 cousin, as some abstruse meaning dawned 
 upon him, irritated him almost beyond endur- 
 ance. Still harder was it when Phemie, at length, 
 with an undisguised yawn, cried out. 
 
 "Aren't you most ready to play something, 
 Walter ? Let's try croquet to-night." 
 
 "Not quite ready," said Walter, with an 
 effort. 
 
 "But you've been twice as long as you were 
 last night," persisted Phemie. 
 
 " I have a bad headache," said Walter, strug- 
 gling to preserve the politeness upon which he 
 prided himself. 
 
 Owen looked up with quick sympathy, 
 
 "Don't try to study then, Walty. You can 
 get up early in the morning, or I can help you a
 
 AGROUND. 49 
 
 little. I'm sure it wouldn't be dishonorable 
 under the circumstances." 
 
 But Walter declined proudly. He could not 
 admit before Honor and Phemie, that he, the 
 brilliant Walter, was ever reduced to dependence 
 upon another. 
 
 "I understand him," said large-hearted 
 Owen, judging him by himself. "He wants 
 to earn his laurels fairly, and be sure he has a 
 right to them up to the last twig! You ought 
 to have heard Mr. Hewlett praise him to-day. 
 I don't wonder that he is a little proud, and 
 doesn't want any bungler to interfere with his 
 work." 
 
 " And you," said Honor, raising her sweet face, 
 u what did he say to you 9 " 
 
 Owen waited a moment half hoping, nay ex- 
 pecting, that Walter would speak for him, but 
 there was not a word. 
 
 "I?" said the boy at last^with an ingenuous 
 blush. " Well, I did not disgrace my cousin, and 
 
 that is praise enough, eh, Walty ? " 
 4
 
 5Cf DRIFTING AND STEERING. 
 
 But Walter rose suddenly, and pushed his book 
 aside. 
 
 "There is no use," said he, petulantly. 
 " Come, we will play ; and soon in the grace-- 
 ful, active game, studies and headache seemed all 
 forgotten. 
 
 It was only when they were again alone in, 
 their room, the cloud came back. 
 
 " I don't care if you do help me a little," said 
 Walter, flinging himself into the easiest chair 
 in the room; and Owen was at his side in a 
 minute with Lexicon and Grammar. Very 
 ungraciously did he receive the proffered help. 
 It was so hard for "Walter to acknowledge in- 
 feriority, and so galling to have Owen criticising 
 the few lines he had already rendered, and reduc- 
 ing them to more sensible, orderly English. At 
 last he could stand it no longer. 
 
 "I declare Owen," cried he, flinging the 
 book across the ro^>m, " I can't endure such 
 patronizing. You are insufferable when you get
 
 AGROUND. 51 
 
 on your stilts, and I'd rather fail than be indebted 
 to you!" 
 
 Walter saw that he had gone too far, aud 
 was sorry the next minute, but couldn't bring 
 himself to acknowledge it So the silence was 
 unbroken till Owen's cold good-night, to which 
 he did not respond. 
 
 Tired, and miserable, the boy struggled on 
 with his task another half hour, but he was not 
 at all satisfied with his success. There would 
 be no praise for him to-morrow. The greatest 
 blockhead in the class would laugh at his awk- 
 ward constructions. Was there no way of escape ? 
 Yes, Owen's careful work was within arm's reach; 
 the temptation just as strong, and the will to 
 resist it so much weaker! Again Walter fal- 
 tered, fell; but this time the sense of his mean- 
 ness was not so keen. He could even congratu- 
 late himself upon having accomplished the theft 
 so safely once more, and rather enjoyed the 
 thought of Owen's surprise the next day. Still 
 he did not feel quite easy, and he had to promise
 
 52 DRIFTING AND STEERING. 
 
 himself again and again that the offence should 
 not be repeated. 
 
 A few weeks passed by. Now and then 
 Walter had accomplished his task unaided, but 
 the effort was a great weariness; and whenever 
 he wished to spend an evening in music or 
 games with Honor and Phemie, there was always 
 such an easy way of making up his deficiencies. 
 What great harm was there in availing himself 
 of it now and then, and playing such a good game 
 on that prig of an Owen ? So, unconsciously, 
 the habit grew upon him, and after a few more 
 weak struggles, the nightly thefts became quite a 
 matter of course, which no longer troubled his 
 conscience. 
 
 To be sure he had one quite serious fright 
 when Mr. Howlett remarked one day that the 
 translations seemed singularly alike. He had 
 always been wise enough not to copy them too 
 literally, but now he was still more careful, 
 substituting different forma of expression with 
 great skill, and sometimes even allowing one or
 
 AGROUND. 53 
 
 two extra mistakes, rather thau run the risk of 
 discovery. 
 
 As for his other studies, "Walter had fair 
 abilities and a good memory. A little applica- 
 tion would carry him very far, but he could not 
 always trust to that. There were more ways 
 than one of getting over the work, as he had 
 learned from Scott and Fanshawe, capital 
 fellows, who had helped him out of many a 
 scrape ! They taught him the secrets of writing 
 out formulas and dates upon his wristbands, and 
 of carrying a little roll of thin paper in the palm 
 of his hand, upon which a whole lesson could be 
 inscribed in miscroscopic characters. All this, in 
 a fit of extreme good humor, Walter confided to 
 his cousin, one day, as they walked to school. 
 Owen had been unable to study the evening 
 before, on account of headache, and he had 
 been busy all the morning in some service of Mrs. 
 Whately. 
 
 " I shall fail to-day, Walter, for the first time," 
 he said gloomily.
 
 54 DRIFTING AND STEERING. 
 
 " No earthly need of that," said "Walter, smil- 
 ing slyly, and pushing up his sleeve that his as- 
 tonished cousin might see the faint tracery on his 
 wristband ; he offered his fine-pointed pencil, tell- 
 ing him there would yet be time to jot down the 
 most important heads of the lesson. 
 
 Owen drew himself up, his blue eyes flashed 
 fire, while he spoke one brief word " Impos- 
 sible!" 
 
 " "What a fool I have been ! " cried "Walter, 
 feeling bitterly his own imprudence. " Now the 
 next thing, I suppose, with your exquisite sense 
 of honor, will be to expose us all to old Hewlett ! " 
 
 "You haven't any right to suppose anything 
 of the kind," cried Owen ; " but oh, Walter, how 
 you have the face to receive Mr. Hewlett's praise, 
 when" 
 
 " I suppose it isn't quite right," said "Walter 
 uneasily. 
 
 " Quite right ! It is mean and contemptible ! " 
 
 " Those are hard words, Owen," said Waltei, 
 coloring.
 
 AGROUXD. 55 
 
 " None too hard," cried Owen, excitedly. 
 " Don't you know, Walter, that every deceit we 
 admit into our hearts, makes the entrance larger, 
 till at last there is room for the greatest treachery 
 to pass in ! " 
 
 " Thank you for your flattering opinion," said 
 Walter, trying to break away from his cousin's 
 detaining arm. " I am no company for you, let 
 me go." 
 
 "You shan't leave me so, Walter," cned 
 Owen, clinging to his hand. " What a 
 wretched bungler I am ! When I am excited, I 
 hardly know what I am saying. But you must 
 forgive me, and believe that I only spoke so be- 
 cause I love you so dearly. Are we not brothers? " 
 said he, in his winning way. " Come, give the 
 cold shoulder to Scott and Fanshawe. There 
 are some noble, warmhearted fellows in the 
 school, who are above all this sort of thing. Let 
 us join them, Walty, and all set our faces together 
 against these dishonorable tricks ! "
 
 56 DRIFTING AND STEERING. 
 
 " I will think of it," said Walter, evasively, as 
 they entered the school-room, and separated to 
 their seats. 
 
 But at the very next recitation, Owen, whose 
 eyes were now opened, caught the rustling of 
 the disgraceful papers in many a hand, and well 
 understood why Walter's eyes were so persistently 
 bent upon his coat-sleeve. 
 
 There was a brilliant recitation; Owen Grey 
 and Charley Morgan, the best students in the 
 class, were the only ones that missed. 
 
 " Mind against wristbands," whispered Charley 
 to Walter, as they filed to their seats. Which will 
 win in the long run ? " 
 
 Walter's face flushed with an angry retort, but 
 just then Scott gave an exclamation of dismay, 
 and going back a few steps, tried to pick up a 
 fluttering paper, which some of the mischievous, 
 smaller boys, making fans of their handkerchiefs, 
 were urging still farther on. 
 
 "What is that paper?" asked Mr. Hewlett, 
 struck with Scott's evident anxiety.
 
 AGROUND. 57 
 
 " My translation, sir," said the unblushing 
 Scott, hastily picking it up. 
 
 " Let me see it," said Mr. Howlett, curtly. 
 
 The whole school was looking now, and Wal- 
 ter's breath came hard and fust. 
 
 "Your translation, sir!" exclaimed good 
 Mr. Howlett, grieved and indignant, as he dis- 
 covered the trick that had been played upon 
 him. 
 
 Scott boldly protested his innocence. " If it is 
 not my translation, I have made a mistake in the 
 paper!" he looked over Mr. Hewlett's shoulder. 
 " No, sir, that is not mine ! You can see it is not 
 my handwriting," 
 
 Walter felt in his pocket in a tremor. Whose 
 was it then ? A slight hiss attracted his atten- 
 tion to Fanshawe, whose % eyes were flashing 
 fire, and it was all clear to his mind in a minute. 
 Scott hadn't had time to copy his lesson, and 
 Fanshawe had obligingly slipped his paper 
 along. But what horrid meanness in Scott!
 
 58 DRIFTING AXD STEERING. 
 
 Alas, to what depth of meanness will not deceit 
 lead us. 
 
 Mr. Hewlett had adj u sted his spectacles. " This 
 is not Scott's writing, it is true," said he, slowly. 
 " Is there any boy honest enough to acknowledge 
 it?" 
 
 " Yes, sir, it is mine ! " said Fanshawe, rising, 
 with a withering glance at Scott. 
 
 " There is something good in the boy after all," 
 whispered Owen to Charley. 
 
 " He has made a virtue of necessity, I guess,'* 
 responded Charley. " He knew the writing could 
 be easily traced." 
 
 Mr. Hewlett looked at Fanshawe with a glance 
 full of sorrowful indignation. " Do you know of 
 any more boys who are engaged in such a con- 
 temptible piece of deception ? " 
 
 Fanshawe looked full in the master's eyes. 
 
 No sir." 
 
 A murmur of applause ran through the school- 
 room, while a load fell from a dozen guilty hearts. 
 Mr. Howlett rapped loudly for silence.
 
 AGROUND. 59 
 
 "You must confess, sir," said he, addressing 
 himself to Faushawe, "you have given me very 
 little reason to trust in your word, but I shall try 
 to believe you. It is very painful to think that 
 these boys, of whose scholarship I have been so 
 proud, have only been deceiving me. Must I call 
 them to my desk after this, and search them like 
 a band of young pickpockets, before I can trust a 
 recitation ? " 
 
 Every cheek was burning now. " No," said 
 Mr Howlett, softening a little, as he caught sight 
 of Owen's face, flushed, but eloquent with con- 
 scious innocence. " I will not believe this mean- 
 ness is universal, and I will not run the risk of 
 being unjust to the innocent. Fanshawe alone 
 shall suffer this time, but his punishment must 
 be something that he, and every guilty boy in the 
 school, must remember." He looked at him 
 sternly " Eben Fanshawe may consider himself 
 cut off from all competition for the prizes." 
 
 This is a most severe blow for the boy. He 
 was very ambitious, though sometimes, like Wai-
 
 60 DRIFTING AND STEERING. 
 
 ter, through indolence or love'of pleasure, he neg- 
 lected his studies, and then lowered himself to 
 maintain his standing hy deception. But he had 
 meant to turn over a new leaf towards the end of 
 the term, and work like a dray-horse. Now, all 
 was over ! and with a heart full of bitterness and 
 mortification, he took his seat. 
 
 It was an excited crowd of boys that poured 
 forth at the close of school, and gathered around 
 Fan sh awe. 
 
 " Let me shake hands with you, old fellow ! " 
 cried "Walter, enthusiastically. "You are true 
 game ! There's nothing cowardly about you I " 
 
 This sentiment was echoed on every side, and 
 Faushawe, smiling faintly, began to think him- 
 self a hero. 
 
 Only three boys did not join in the general 
 adulation. Scott, who tried in vain to slink away 
 unnoticed, but was pursued "with snowballs, and 
 yells of execration ; and Owen and Charley, who 
 lingered irresolutely in the porch. 
 
 Fanshawe gave them many an uneasy glance.
 
 AGROUND. 61 
 
 "Don't mind the stupid owls!" cried Walter, 
 contemptuously. "If they can only flap away 
 into a tree of knowledge somewhere, and wink 
 and blink all day over their own wisdom ; that's 
 their idea of happiness. Let them go; we are 
 freer and nobler birds ; eagles that can fly straight 
 into the sun." 
 
 The smaller boys clapped their hands at this 
 brilliant speech; but Duncan Brown, looking 
 wistfully at his grimed wristbands, said slowly, 
 
 " If we were only sure of being eagles, Walty, 
 and not perhaps chimney-swallows, with lots of 
 soot on our wings." 
 
 " A traitor ! a traitor ! " cried Walter, not lik- 
 ing such a turn. " Hop out of our nest quick ! I 
 think I see owl pin-feathers sprouting this min- 
 ute ! and there's such a look of supernatural wis- 
 dom in your eyes, my dear Dunky, Donkey ! " 
 
 Everybody laughed, for Duncan was prover- 
 bially stupid. But Fanshawe's gloom soon re- 
 turned.
 
 62 DRIFTING AND STEERING. 
 
 "I declare," said Walter, "old Hewlett was 
 shamefully severe, just for one little oifence." 
 
 " I hate him ! " said Fanshawe, through his 
 teeth. 
 
 " Isn't there anything we could do to show the 
 old hunks what the school thinks of such 
 tyranny ? " 
 
 "I'd like to shy one good hard snowball at 
 him ! " said one of the smaller boys, valiantly. 
 
 "I'll tell you what," said Fanshawe, an idea 
 striking him. " You know he always stays por- 
 ing over some old book till dark. Why couldn't 
 a few of us get in that vacant lot by Orange 
 Street, and give him one volley as he comes past. 
 I'll promise to aim for his eyes and blind him 
 first, then all the rest can fire together, and cut 
 sticks ; he is too clumsy to follow." 
 
 " I'll stand by you ! " cried Walter. " You saved 
 us to-day." 
 
 " But aren't we rather old for that kind of 
 thing?" said Duncan, uneasily. 
 
 " Too old to be caught at it," laughed Walter ;
 
 AGROUND. 63 
 
 "but we won't be. He might suspect a little who 
 it was, and I hope he will ; but he couldn't swear 
 to one of us. And then to-morrow morning we 
 can all sit there as innocent as possible, looking 
 like so many doves. It will be great fun!" The 
 little boys clapped their hands delightedly. " Hush, 
 here come the owls ! " said Walter, as Owen and 
 Charley came slowly down the steps. 
 
 " I sha'n't come home just now," suid Walter, 
 as Owen seemed waiting for him. " I shall spend 
 the evening with Fanshawe." 
 
 Owen drew him one side. "I wish you wouldn't, 
 Walty." 
 
 "Why?" said Walter, irritably. "You cer- 
 tainly cannot object to Fanshawe now. Did you 
 ever know a braver boy ? " 
 
 " It was noble in him to wish to suffer alone, 
 certainly, but I wish he hadn't spoiled it all by 
 telling a lie." 
 
 " 0, you would have had him betray us all ! " 
 said Walter, contemptuously. 
 
 "Not at all," said Owen. "But if he had said
 
 64 DRIFTING AND STEERING. 
 
 that, in schoolboy honor, he could only speak for 
 himself, I am sure Mr. Hewlett would have ex- 
 cused him. There is a great deal that is facina- 
 ting about Fanshawe, I can see, but that only 
 makes him a more dangerous companion, Walty. 
 He hasn't any principle; nothing is wrong to 
 him as long as it can be made to appear right ; 
 and disgrace, in his dictionary, seems to mean 
 simply being found out ! " 
 
 "How ungenerous and narrow-minded you 
 are ! " cried "Walter. " You are incapable of appre- 
 ciating such a fellow as Fanshawe!" and he flung 
 angrily away to take the arm of his favorite, and 
 walk off in an opposite direction. 
 
 That night, as poor Mr. Howlett was walking 
 slowly home, with bent head, deeply engaged in 
 some abstruse train of reasoning, a hard snowball, 
 well-aimed, struck him high on his cheek, shat- 
 tering his spectacles. Before he could rally, 
 another struck him on the temples. Another and 
 another came with bewildering rapidity, before, 
 smarting and blinded, he recovered himself suffi-
 
 AGROUND. 65 
 
 ciently to turn upon his tormentors. Then there 
 was a sound of hurrying feet, and in the dim light 
 one or two dusky figures could be seen leaping the 
 rear fence. It was useless to think of following 
 them, or trying to identify them. The plan was 
 well laid, and the young scamps had all escaped. 
 But as Mr. Hewlett, with aching head, leaned 
 against the fence, he descried something white 
 fluttering to and fro in the night wind. He 
 climbed over and picked it up. It was a handker- 
 chief, and near by lay a pencil-case, both of which 
 he put carefully in his pocket. 
 
 Walter was greatly excited when he came in 
 that night. 
 
 "Did you have a pleasant evening?" said 
 Owen, looking up; "I went down to Fanshawe's 
 hoping to find you after tea, but you were not in." 
 
 " Playing spy, eh ? " he whispered, angrily. 
 Then mindful of Mrs. Whately and Honor, he 
 added, more courteously, " We were at Mr. Pom- 
 fret's lecture," which was indeed true ; Fanshawe
 
 66 DRIFTING AND STEERING. 
 
 and he having strolled into the Lyceum, after the 
 snowballing. 
 
 "I am so glad!" said Owen, involuntarily; 
 "for I met Duncan Brown on my way home, and 
 he told me Mr. Hewlett had been assaulted, snow- 
 balled by a parcel of rascally boys, and really in- 
 jured quite seriously." 
 
 " What a shame ! " cried Mrs. Whately. 
 
 Walter's cheeks were flaming, as he said with a 
 confusion which Honor and Phemie took for hon- 
 est and very natural indignation, " And my 
 cousin does me the honor to suspect that I was 
 one of the party ! " 
 
 " Oh, no," cried Mrs. Whately. " Of course he 
 did not think you would have anything to do 
 with such a cowardly, school-boy trick." 
 
 " I should think not ! " said Honor, with a look 
 of sympathy at Walter's flushed face, while Phemie 
 darted a look of reproach at the unfortunate Owen. 
 
 The boy hung his head in genuine humility. 
 " I did think so," said he, simply, scorning an. 
 evasion, even though he knew what the truth
 
 AGROUND. 67 
 
 would cost him ; " but I ask "Walter's forgiveness, 
 from the bottom of my heart." 
 
 The pardon was coldly accorded, and very dis- 
 pirited and uncomfortable poor Owen felt. 
 
 " I believe I have been a prig lately," he thought 
 to himself. " I have set myself too much above 
 Walty, and now I have been ungenerous and un- 
 just No wonder they all dislike me! " 
 
 "When the two boys reached their room, his 
 apologies were eagerly reiterated, but Walter made 
 scarcely any reply ; and Owen could only sorrow- 
 fully pray for help to steer more skilfully and 
 carefully in future. 
 
 But "Walter was in far greater trouble. 
 
 " So Duncan has begun to tell, has he, and he 
 knows the name of every boy in the party. I sus- 
 pected the obstinate mule, when he refused to join 
 us," thought Walter, " and now what is to hinder 
 his exposing us all to Mr. Hewlett to-morrow ? 
 It will be a bad piece of business," and he tossed 
 restlessly on his bed. "So hard too," he mur- 
 mured, "just as I really meant to get off those
 
 68 DRIFTING AND STEERING. 
 
 ' shoals,' to find I have only drifted farther on, 
 got fairly aground now, I should say; but I must 
 push off this time ; even if I have to take a false- 
 hood for a pole. And then after this" he 
 comforted himself, " I shall watch more carefully 
 where I am going."
 
 CHAPTER TV. 
 
 DOUBLING A POINT. 
 
 an anxious glance was inter- 
 changed the next morning, as Mr. 
 Hewlett, with bruised and swollen 
 face, and shade over one eye, entered the school- 
 room. Many a boy wished most sincerely that 
 he had had nothing to do with the cowardly 
 business ; but regrets were too late. They must 
 now stand by each other look as innocent as 
 their beating hearts would allow, and hope that 
 their secret was yet sate. Very uneasy they felt, 
 however, when the bell was rung, and Mr. Ben- 
 son the under teacher, was ordered to bring in 
 all the boys of the second department. 
 
 " It is an affair of state, this time," whispered 
 
 Charley. " I thought I was innocent, but I de- 
 (CO)
 
 70 DRIFTING AND STEERING. 
 
 clare I'd crawl into my boots in a minute, if they 
 were a size larger." 
 
 Fanshawe was also exchanging quick whispers 
 with Walter. 
 
 " Those small boys will ruin us," said he. 
 That white-faced baby, Ed Potter, is full to the 
 brim now. One hard word from old Hewlett, 
 and the secret will run over." 
 
 " Let's try counter-irritation," said Walter ; and 
 he gave such a fierce scowl at the tender-hearted 
 child, that he tumbled into his seat almost in a 
 state of idiocy. 
 
 But the danger did not lie in that direction. 
 When all was still, Mr. Hewlett briefly detailed 
 the facts of the case, told them how unwill- 
 ing he had been to believe that he had been 
 attacked by the boys of his own school; but 
 unhappily he had been forced to the most mor- 
 tifying conclusions. In their hasty flight, his 
 brave assailants had not carried off all their prop- 
 erty with them ; he had picked up a pencil case, 
 and a handkerchief!
 
 DOUBLING A POINT. 71 
 
 There was a noise in the room, as if the wind 
 had suddenly blown through a forest in full- 
 leaved June, then all was painfully still. 
 
 "Upon the pencil-case," continued Mr. How- 
 lett, " there is engraved the name of Eben Fun- 
 shawe, and upon the corner of the handkerchief 
 I find most regretfully I say it Owen Grey! 
 Will those two boys stand out before the whole 
 school ? " 
 
 Owen's distress was quite grievous to see 
 Charley pressed his hand. 
 
 " There's some horrid mistake about this, my 
 dear boy. Why, Mr. Hewlett will know better 
 himself, when he thinks a minute." 
 
 But there was no help for it. The command 
 was sternly repeated, and Owen, with burning 
 cheeks the focus for every eye in the school, 
 walked out, and took his place by Fanshawe. 
 Such a look as Mr. Howlett gave him ! it almost 
 broke his heart. 
 
 "There were at least a dozen boys more, I 
 should think, although I cannot call their
 
 72 DRIFTING AND STEERING. 
 
 names. Must I treat the whole school with sus- 
 picion, or will those boys have the common 
 honesty to take their places where they belong, 
 by Grey and Fanshawe ? " 
 
 There was many a stealthy glance at Walter, 
 who sat with folded arms, and wonderfully un- 
 moved countenance. The conspirators gained 
 courage. Not a bpy stirred except the " baby," 
 Ed Potter, who, with a loud sob, started precipi- 
 tately from his seat, and rushing by Fanshawe, 
 clung desperately to Owen's hand. 
 
 " I was one of 'em, sir," sobbed he. " I made 
 as big a ball as I could, and tried to plump it 
 right at you." 
 
 Mr. Howlett smiled in spite of himself at 
 this fordmidable assailant. " Very well, we shall 
 attend to your case afterwards. But" he re- 
 sumed his sternness, " what have you to say for 
 yourselves, young gentlemen ; you, who have not 
 the excuse of extreme youth who must have 
 been the leaders ? " 
 
 "Only the truth, sir," said Owen, lifting his
 
 DOUBLING A POINT. 73 
 
 fearless blue eyes. " I was not there, and 
 knew nothing of the matter till it was all 
 over ! " 
 
 Mr. Howlett looked at him keenly. "I 
 should like to believe you, Grey, but it is hard 
 to tell whom to trust in the school now. The 
 standard is very low, disgracefully low. 
 How do you account for this handkerchief, 
 sir?" 
 
 " I cannot explain that at all," said Owen, 
 anxiously. 
 
 Mr. Howlett sighed, and turned to Fanshawe. 
 " And you, sir ? " 
 
 "I was not there," said Fanshawe, promptly. 
 " I can prove an alibi. I was at Mr. Pomfret's 
 lecture with "Walter Houghton." 
 
 Is that true, Hough ton ?" 
 
 Walter instantly rose. " Yes, sir." 
 
 The little boys were gazing with open-mouthed 
 admiration at the audacity and bravery of their 
 dangerous hero. 
 
 " Give me the subject of the lecture, and
 
 74 DRIFTING AND STEERING. 
 
 some of its heads," said Mr. Hewlett, incredu- 
 lously. 
 
 "Russia, and its relations to the United 
 States," said Walter, promptly, while Fanshawe, 
 with growing confidence, supplied some of the 
 main arguments and illustrations. 
 
 " That is very true, sir," said Mr. Benson. " I 
 was there myself." 
 
 " And the pencil-case ? " 
 
 " I don't understand that, sir," said Fanshawe ; 
 " but one boy or another has it all the time. I 
 often don't see it for weeks together." 
 
 "I have wronged you then," said Mr How- 
 lett, sarcastically. "Little Potter was my only 
 assailant, and the handkerchief and pencil-case 
 were only out taking an evening stroll by them- 
 selves. Pardon me, young gentlemen, you may 
 take your seats for the present. No, stop a min- 
 ute. Did Owen Grey prove an alibi also ?" 
 
 " No sir, but I think I could." 
 
 "Where were you about half-past seven 
 o'clock ? "
 
 DOUBLING A POINT. 75 
 
 "At home, sir; no, let me think," said he, color- 
 ing, as he caught Duncan's anxious eye. 
 
 "I went out after that, I don't exactly know 
 what time it was. Perhaps Duncan can tell, I 
 met him." 
 
 " It was twenty-five minutes of eight," said 
 Duncan. "I was waiting at Dr. Skilton's for 
 a prescription, and had just looked at my 
 watch." 
 
 " And Dr. Skilton's office is, let me see, cor- 
 ner of" 
 
 " Orange and Washington," said Duncan, un- 
 willingly. 
 
 " Did he seem in a hurry ? " 
 
 "He always walks fast," said Duncan, eva- 
 sively. 
 
 "Twenty-five minutes of eight," said Mr. How- 
 lett, slowly. " I reached home just five minutes 
 later. 
 
 Every one knew what inferences the master 
 was drawing. The circumstances were very 
 suspicious.
 
 76 DRIFTING AND STEERING. 
 
 " You still deny any knowledge of the matter, 
 Grey," said Mr. Hewlett, stiffly. 
 
 "I still deny it, sir," said Owen, striving to 
 keep back the rushing tears. 
 
 Mr. Hewlett waived them sternly to their 
 seats. "I shall punish no one upon mere sus- 
 picion," said he. "Let the guilty take what 
 satisfaction they can in their escape. I should 
 not have been severe with you, if you had con- 
 fessed," continued good Mr. Hewlett, sorrow- 
 fully. " The sin of to-day is far more grievious 
 to me than the cowardice of yesterday. I am 
 afraid your honor and manliness has received a 
 fatal wound ! " 
 
 " Ask Eddy if I was there, sir ? " said Owen, 
 desperately. 
 
 " Oh, I don't know," sobbed the wretched child. 
 " Maybe you was, and maybe you wasn't. I don't 
 want to tell a lie ! Oh, I don't know, truly." He 
 was trembling from head to foot 
 
 " Never mind," said Mr. Hewlett, calling the
 
 DOUBLING A POINT. 77 
 
 little culprit to him almost tenderly. You need 
 not answer for any one but yourself." 
 
 Never had there been a day of such constraint 
 and discomfort, as followed this unhappy begin- 
 ning. The lessons were difficult, and no leniency 
 was shown for any deficiencies. 
 
 " Mr. Howlett despises and distrusts us all to- 
 gether," said Charley, mournfully. "I have had 
 more black marks to-day, than in all of the rest 
 of the term put together." 
 
 When the long day was at last over, the mis- 
 erable Owen once more sought the desk. 
 
 " I'd rather you'd give me the worst punishment 
 in the world than think I would tell a lie," he 
 said vehemently. "Wont you believe me, sir?" 
 
 " I have believed too much already, said Mr. 
 Howlett, whose head was aching. " I shall not 
 give you another opportunity to laugh at my 
 credulity." 
 
 'But sir," said Owen, beside himseif with ex- 
 citement. "You are unjust, cruel! You must, 
 you shall believe me ! w
 
 78 DRIFTING AND STEERING. 
 
 " Grey/' said Mr. Hewlett coldly. " You will 
 write out a hundred extra lines, as punishment 
 for you impertinence ! " 
 
 The passionate boy rushed from the room, 
 avoiding even the sympathy of Charley, and took 
 a long walk through the city, before he could 
 trust himself to go home. 
 
 As he entered at last, weary and dispirited, he 
 heard an eager discussion in the sitting-room. 
 
 " And couldn't he explain about the handker- 
 chief?" asked Honor, in such a regretful tone. 
 
 " No," said Walter, " but really I don't think 
 he was there." 
 
 " I suppose you can't understand how he could 
 be," said admiring Phemie, "you are always such 
 a gentleman yourself." 
 
 " And Owen is too, I am sure, said Honor, with 
 generous warmth. " I am sorry he can't explain, 
 but I shall try to believe him. 
 
 Try to believe him ! How it hurt the proud 
 boy. 
 
 " You always stand up for the weaker side,
 
 DOUBLING A POINT. 79 
 
 Honor," said Pheraie, "but you must acknow- 
 ledge it looks a little strange that he went out 
 after tea. You know he never goes out, and then 
 I didn't like his trying to throw the blame on 
 Walter" 
 
 She came to a sudden stop, as Owen, himself, 
 walked proudly in. 
 
 "The circumstances are very much against 
 me, I confess," said he, in a quick, nervous way, 
 "but I had hoped you would do me justice here 
 at home. If you cannot believe me without try- 
 ing" he looked at Honor, " you need not believe 
 me at all. And "Walter," he turned to his embar- 
 rassed cousin, "if our positions had been re- 
 versed, I don't think I should have come home 
 in such hot haste to tell of your disgrace ! " And 
 without waiting for a word, the excited boy 
 sprang up the stairs, three steps at a time, and 
 they heard the turning of the key in his door. 
 
 "Very high and mighty," said Phemie, who 
 was the first to recover, " he couldn't have been
 
 80 DRIFTING AND STEERING. 
 
 grander if he was the king with a hundred 
 crowns. "What a passion he was in ! " 
 
 "He had some reason for it," said upright 
 Honor, regretfully, " but if he had only listened 
 a moment, he would have found that Walty, at 
 least, was only saying good of him." 
 
 Poor Owen could not join the party at tea, that 
 night. Proud and comfortless he sat alone all 
 the weary evening, working with aching head at 
 his almost interminable task. Once only he was 
 interrupted by a faint tap, and, opening the door, 
 there stood " Little Picket" in his night-dress, 
 accompanied by shaggy little Spy. 
 
 f * I've come to tell you, Owen," said the quaint 
 little figure, "that I can believe you without 
 trying." 
 
 Owen caught him up with such a passionate 
 hug, that " Little Picket" had serious fears of 
 finding himself in two pieces. ' 
 
 " Does God know you told the truth ? " said 
 the child, when he could speak.
 
 DOUBLING A POINT. 81 
 
 "Yes, he does know it, Bobby," cried Owen. 
 
 " Why then there's two of us," said " Little 
 Picket," with immense satisfaction. " God and 
 me!" 
 
 Owen was a little shocked, bnt the innocent 
 Picket meant no irreverence. 
 
 " I love you, Owen," continued the child, pleased 
 with his reception, "ever so much almost as 
 well as Walter ! " 
 
 The straining arms relaxed very suddenly, and 
 Little Picket found himself upon the floor. 
 
 " You don't want me to love you then ? " said 
 he, greatly discomfited. 
 
 " Yes indeed ! " said Owen, kissing him, quite 
 ashamed of his momentary feeling, "but you 
 must run away now, for I am very busy. You 
 have been a great comfort. There good night !" 
 and the Picket pattered away with Spy at his 
 heels. 
 
 Owen went back to his task, but it was very 
 hard to sit there with aching heart and head, 
 working, while they were so happy below. Honor
 
 82 DRIFTING AND STEERING. 
 
 had begun to sing, she had the sweetest voice 
 in all the world, he thought, and he knew Wal- 
 ter was turning the leaves of her music, and 
 making himself so gentlemanly and agreeable. 
 How he should enjoy singing with them ! but no 
 one thought of him, or if they did, it was only to 
 say, "What a pity he isn't more like his cousin !" 
 
 The work progressed but slowly with these bit- 
 ter thoughts for a drag, and when it was at lust 
 finished, Owen had no wish but for rest. Still 
 he was not altogether unhappy; Little Picket's 
 simple question, "does God know?" came to him 
 pleasantly again and again, as he prepared for 
 bed ; and the thought that everything was known 
 to that tenderest, most pitying Friend, com- 
 forted him greatly. 
 
 When Walter came up a little later, he found 
 him in the most peaceful sleep, a half smile on 
 his lips, though his eye-lashes were still wet. 
 
 " He is far nobler than I am," he could not 
 help acknowledging, as he looked at him remorse- 
 fully, "and happier too, for that matter. I
 
 DOUBLING A POINT. 83 
 
 haven't enjoyed to day overmuch, that's certain! 
 In the first place, I hoped I was afloat, and all 
 right, when Dunk promised not to betray us this 
 morning. Then out comes that handkerchief, 
 which I must have taken by mistake, and had the 
 bad luck to drop ! That was awkward enough, 
 and came near swamping us. But Fanshawe is a 
 clever dog ! " he laughed to himself, " we doubled 
 that point neatly. A little tough for Owen, per- 
 haps," he gave an uneasy glance, " but what could 
 we do ! If we had owned up, I haven't a doubt 
 that peppery old Hewlett would have expelled us ! 
 He half suspects me now, I think," and troubled 
 and anxious, Walter crept to his restless pillow.
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 LITTLE PICKET'S DISCOVERT. 
 
 [INTER had passed ; the grass was 
 brightening and the trees not yet 
 burst into leaf seemed wrapped in a 
 cloud of tender emerald mist. But Walter and 
 Owen had scant time to enjoy the spring's un- 
 foldings. Already busy preparation for the sum- 
 mer examination had begun, with the usual rival- 
 ries. At the school, it was universally conceded, 
 that, leaving out Fanshawe, who was cut off from 
 competition, the prize for highest scholarship 
 would fall to one of the cousins. Good Mr. Hew- 
 lett, whose large heart, never treasured up an in- 
 jury, seemed to have entirely forgotten the snow- 
 ball episode, and nothing could be more genial 
 
 than the almost fatherly interest and pride he 
 (84)
 
 LITTLE PICKET'S DISCO VER r. 85 
 
 took in the young students. Towards Owen, 
 especially, his manner was most gentle, as if mak- 
 ing tacit acknowledgment that he had been too 
 hasty in his former judgment. 
 
 Honor, also, in many quiet ways, had tried to 
 show that her respect and confidence were un- 
 shaken, till the boy's heart seemed ready to burst 
 with pride and happines. All this he confided to 
 Walter, one day, in his frank, boyish way. 
 
 " And they shall respect me still more Walty," 
 added he, excitedly. " I shall try for the highest 
 prizes in the school, and I'm sure I shall win ! I 
 feel it in me ! " 
 
 Walter said nothing, but from that time his 
 heart was tormented within him. He knew 
 how Joseph's brethren must have felt, when 
 they heard his dream ; " Shalt thou indeed reign 
 over us ?" His face was pale with determination. 
 How could he ever look Honor in the face, if he 
 took up with a second place, after all his boast- 
 ings ? " No, by fair means or foul, he must main- 
 tain his ascendancy! But it would be a terri-
 
 86 DRIFTING AND STEERING. 
 
 ble struggle; Owen was such an indefatigable 
 scholar, early and late the beloved books were 
 in his hand. 
 
 It was one Saturday morning in early May, 
 that Owen, with an effort, rose to leave the merry 
 party lingering at the breakfast table. 
 
 "Why will you be such an everlasting owl, 
 Owen ? " said Walter, in a tone whose fretfulness 
 was scarcely veiled by his good-breeding. 
 
 " I'm slow, you know, Walty," said Owen, " the 
 * galvanic stream' you remember, and if it isn't 
 'continuous, it can't accomplish much, Mr. 
 Knowlson, said." 
 
 " Then I must go too," said Walter, rising, with 
 a long sigh. 
 
 "I don't see why," said Honor, "I thought 
 you would have time to take a walk with us this 
 lovely spring morning. You learn your lessons 
 so quickly, you can easily catch up when you 
 come back." 
 
 Owen winced a little, Honor looked so fair and 
 sweet that morning, with her neat collar, and
 
 LITTLE PICKET'S DISCOVERY. 87 
 
 floating blue ribbons, he wished she did not think 
 him quite so stupid. 
 
 " I'm before all the boys in school, Honor, ex- 
 cept Walter," said he eagerly, " and maybe I shall 
 astonish you yet! What would you say if the 
 ' snail' came home with the prizes ? " 
 
 " He should never be called snail again," said 
 Honor, blushing and laughing. 
 
 " Thank you," and the light-hearted boy was 
 gone in a twinkling, while Walter, irresolute 
 and unhappy, prepared for the walk he dared 
 not refuse. If he could only have mustered cour- 
 age to confess his true position that he would 
 have to strain every nerve if he honorably kept 
 pace with Owen's eager, active mind! But his 
 false pride would not allow that, and shouldering 
 his burden of deceit, he went on his way heavy- 
 hearted. 
 
 Two hours later found him just ready to be- 
 gin the work Owen had half finished. The calm 
 satisfaction in his cousin's face fretted him 
 greatly, and taking his books he ran across to
 
 88 DRIFTING AND STEERING. 
 
 Little Picket's room. Hardly was he comfortably 
 settled, and absorbed in a most perplexing pro- 
 position, when Bobby himself was heard laboring 
 np the stairs, followed by Mimi and Spy. A min- 
 ute more, and there was an invasion, and Little 
 Picket was uproarious with delight at finding his 
 favorite Walter. 
 
 " We was looking for you, Wally," said Mimi. 
 
 "Yes," said Bobby. "I've got something for 
 you, the first one I've found this year ! " 
 
 " Go away, that's a good boy," said Walter, with 
 a frown. 
 
 But little Picket was too much engaged to 
 notice that his idol's face was not towards him as 
 it had been heretofore, 
 
 " It is the prettiest one I ever saw," continued 
 Bobby, " spotted so regular, aud draws his little 
 legs up just as cunning ! " 
 
 " Do go away," said Walter, still more testily. 
 
 " I wouldn't give it to any one but you," added 
 the unconscious Picket, "but I love you, Wally, 
 now hold your hand, and shut your eyes."
 
 LITTLE PICKET'S DISCOVERT. 89 
 
 " Will you go then ? " asked Walter, longing to 
 kick them all down stairs. 
 
 " Yes, right away.'' 
 
 Walter held out his hand resignedly, and Lit- 
 tle Picket, his face glowing with anticipation 
 of Walters delight deposited therein a little 
 cold, slimy toad ! 
 
 "Disgusting, dirty child!" cried Walter, fling- 
 ing the unfortunate toad out of the window with 
 one hand, while with the other he gave Little 
 Picket a sound box on the ear. 
 
 If the ground had opened at the child's feet 
 he could not have been more transfixed with 
 grief and amazement ! He rubbed his eyes, 
 and felt his little tingling ear. Such a diiferent 
 reception he had imagined, and such a dreadful 
 surprise it was that Walter, always so polite 
 and smiling who had so flattered his little in- 
 nocent vanities, could have offered him such 
 an indignity! He was too astonished to cry. 
 
 " Come, Mimi," he said briefly, and with burst- 
 ing heart, but not without dignity, the outraged
 
 90 DRIFTING AND STEERING. 
 
 Little Picket left the room, followed closely by 
 Spy, with his tail between his legs. 
 
 On the landing the Picket sat himself down 
 to meditate upon the hollowness of the world, 
 and there Owen going for a dictionary found 
 the downcast group, half an hour afterwards. 
 His kind heart was quite touched with this un- 
 usual depth of baby wretchedness, although he 
 could not learn the cause, and he suggested that 
 they should all come up to his room and look at 
 some pictures. 
 
 Distrustful Little Picket, " sadder and wiser," 
 had begun a cold refusal, but something he saw 
 in the honest blue eyes leaning over him, caused 
 him to change his mind, and accept the invitation. 
 Owen made great exertions to entertain his little 
 friends, but his efforts met with little success with 
 pre-occupied Bobby. 
 
 " Can't you tell me what troubles you ? " said 
 Owen, coaxingly. 
 
 Mimi put her hand on the one scarlet cheek. 
 " He clapped Bobby's ear," she explained.
 
 LITTLE PICKET'S DISCOVERY. 91 
 
 "Who did?" 
 
 "Walter!" cried Little Picket, his full heart 
 running over, as he told the story of his wrongs, 
 finishing up by saying that he should " never, 
 never believe anybody again," and he thought it 
 was a " very sad world ! " 
 
 Owen tried not to smile. " This is an eclipse, 
 certainly, Little Picket," said he, "but I don't 
 think the sun is put out," and putting his own 
 work entirely aside, with patient, cheerful efforts 
 he gradually won the child to a happier state of 
 mind. 
 
 Half an hour passed by, but he had not the 
 heart to send them away, and he took up his book 
 again, while they amused themselves about the 
 room. 
 
 " Come here, Mimi," said Little Picket, look- 
 ing out of the window, " here's such a great, long 
 funeral ! " 
 
 Mimi looked, and sighed heavily. "I don't 
 want a funal to come after me, Bobby," said the 
 rosy baby.
 
 92 DRIFTING AND STEERING. 
 
 " 0, how wicked ! " said Little Picket, in a 
 shocked tone. " You don't want to go to heaven, 
 eh?" 
 
 " But funals don't go to heaven/' persisted 
 Mimi, "I know where funals live up in the 
 Beventery." 
 
 " You are a queer little creature," said the wise 
 Picket, pityingly; and he proceeded to explain 
 the matter, adding some of his theological views, 
 of such doubtful and mixed orthodoxy, that Owen 
 could stand it no longer, but burst into a clear 
 ringing laugh. 
 
 " Seems to be a very funny book ? " said little 
 Picket, suspiciously. 
 
 " It is," said Owen, trying to recover his gravity. 
 " But I was quite unaware you had given so much 
 attention to theology. Shall you study for the 
 ministry ? " 
 
 " Perhaps," said the child complacently. " I've 
 learned a great many things reading the Bible 
 with Honor, though once in a while there's some- 
 thing I don't quite understand." 

 
 LITTLE PICKET'S DISCOVERY. 93 
 
 "Is it possible!" said Owen, in pretended 
 amazement. 
 
 " Yes, really ! " Little Picket drew near with a 
 confidential air. " And there was one thing this 
 morning I didn't exactly see into, but I forgot to 
 ask Honor about it." 
 
 " Perhaps I can help you," said Owen. 
 
 " You won't laugh, Honor never does." 
 
 Owen became a model of gravity. 
 
 ' Well, you've read about John the Baptist, 
 and how poor he was, bad to eat grasshoppers 
 or something, now, why didn't he sell his 
 camel's hair shawl, and get himself something 
 decent ? " 
 
 "John the Baptist's camel's hair shawl!" ex- 
 claimed Owen. 
 
 " Yes," said little Picket, in disgust at his stu- 
 pidity. "Wait, I'll get Honor's Bible, we've 
 got a mark in it." 
 
 Little Picket was back in a minute, reading 
 triumpbantly. "'And the same John had his 
 raiment of camel's hair ' There now ! and you
 
 94 DRIFTING AND STEERING. 
 
 know, they say, Mrs. Enfield's cost more than a 
 thousand dollars ! " 
 
 Owen choked suddenly, and had quite a pain- 
 ful fit of coughing behind his handkerchief, be- 
 fore he could explain that the articles worn by 
 Mrs. Enfield, and John the Baptist, differed in 
 several important particulars. 
 
 Little Picket was much pleased with Owen's 
 clearness in instructions. 
 
 " Perhaps you could explain something else," 
 said he, " that bothers Honor just as much as it 
 does me." 
 
 " I don't know about it, if it bothers Honor," 
 said Owen, doubtfully. 
 
 "Well, now, just tell me do you think we 
 shall eat up in heaven ? " 
 
 " I never did think so," said Owen, trying to 
 conduct the conversation with proper gravity. 
 
 "I'm sorry about that," said the child, "for 
 I'm very fond of eating." 
 
 " But you know we'll be changed when we die,
 
 LITTLE PICKET'S DISCOVERY. 95 
 
 Bobby, and then I suppose we won't care any- 
 thing about eating." 
 
 " Won't we be changed like Jesus ? " said little 
 Picket. 
 
 " Yes, I hope so." 
 
 " Then that's just what bothers us, for Honor 
 says that Jesus, after he rose, could eat fishes and 
 honey, and then he went up to heaven just as he 
 was." 
 
 " That's more of a question than I supposed, 
 Bobby," said Owen, frankly. " But perhaps he 
 wasn't changed till he went up to his Father." 
 
 "No," said the child, persistently "he was 
 changed already Honor says, after he was 
 alive again, he could go through doors without 
 opening them, and he could vanish away all in a 
 minute." 
 
 " That is very true," said Owen, thoughtfully, 
 " but maybe he wasn't entirely changed till he 
 went up to heaven. I never thought about it 
 before." 
 
 " But angels that come right straight down
 
 96 DRIFTING AND STEERING. 
 
 from heaven can eat, Honor says. Don't you 
 remember the ones that came to tell about 
 Sodom ? " 
 
 0\ven turned over the Bible 
 
 " Didn't Abraham give them something to 
 eat. and then didn't they go over, and have some 
 bread in Lot's house?" said little Picket, tri- 
 umphantly. 
 
 " Yes," laughed Owen. " You're a deep ' Little 
 Picket,' but don't you think we had better not 
 talk any more about it ? " he grew graver. " We 
 shall all find out when it is time for us to 
 know." 
 
 "That's what mamma says; but I can't stop 
 thinking about it. Now Phemie says she knows 
 we can eat up there if we want to, but we don't 
 think much of what Phemie says. She's such a 
 rattle-head! Don't you think she's a rattle- 
 head ? " 
 
 " What terrible questions you ask, this morn- 
 ing," -said Owen, laughing. "I can't begin to 
 answer them."
 
 LITTLE PICKET'S DISCOVERY. 97 
 
 " You don't know a great deal, do you ? " said 
 little Picket, pityingly. 
 
 "Very little, but I hope you won't tell." 
 
 "Dear me!" said honest Picket, "everybody 
 knows it now! Phemie says, most every day, 
 that you'll never be never be well, I can't 
 just remember, but I believe it was Solomon's 
 grandfather ! " 
 
 " Does she, indeed ? " said Owen, coloring a 
 little, " well, I'm very much obiiged." 
 
 Little Picket was struck with sudden conster- 
 nation. " I've told a story ! " cried he, " I promised 
 Honor 1 wouldn't tell that." 
 
 " Never mind," said Owen, kindly, as the child's 
 eyes grew misty. "You didn't mean to, and 
 there's no harm done. You'll be more careful 
 next time." 
 
 " Do you ever do mean things, Owen ?" 
 
 "Often!" 
 
 " And then you're afraid ' our Father ' will be 
 angry." 
 
 "Yes," said Owen, growing very grave. 
 
 7
 
 98 DRIFTING AND STEERING. 
 
 ^ So am I, just as 'fraid; but Honor knows 
 what to do then. Look ; she wrote it in both our 
 Bibles ; a very holy man said it once. Eead it," 
 and he held up the book. 
 
 Owen took it, and read 
 
 " If you are afraid of God, fly to His arms ! " 
 
 The tears rushed to Owen's eyes. "That is 
 beautiful!" said he. "May I write it in mine ? w 
 Little Picket gave delighted assent. 
 
 As he handed back Honor's Bible, the child 
 said, hesitating 
 
 " Wouldn't you like to kiss it ? " 
 
 " What for ? " said Owen, coloring. 
 
 "Why, we kiss it almost every day me and 
 Honor; ever since one time, when I told her I 
 should like to kiss Jesus when I got to heaven, 
 .and she thought he'd be so great and glorious 
 there, she didn't know whether she would dare 
 :ask him. Then I said I should kiss something 
 that belonged to him there, anyway; and she 
 ;asked me if I wouldn't like to kiss the book that
 
 LITTLE PICKET'S DISCOVERY. 99 
 
 had his own words in it now ? So we do, every 
 day. Wouldn't you like to ? " 
 
 Owen kissed it reverently, with moist eyes. 
 
 "I think I shall like you very much," said 
 Littie Picket, looking on approvingly. " And I 
 hope you'll get the prize." 
 
 "Thank you," laughed Owen, "hut that re- 
 minds me I have an hour or two more to study yet 
 Don't you think you had better see to Spy and 
 Mimi ? They've been gone more than fifteen min- 
 utes, and they'll certainly be in mischief if they 
 ion't have some steady, responsible person with 
 them." 
 
 "That's true!" said Little Picket, bustling 
 round for his cap. 
 
 "Good morning, sir," said Owen, smilingly, 
 lolding the door open. " I have had a most 
 interesting interview with you, sir, and I hope 
 see a great deal more of you, sirl" the 
 sincerity of which remark was immediately put 
 the test, as, in half a minute, the door re- 
 opened, and the shining face was again thrust in.
 
 100 DRIFTING AND STEERING. 
 
 " I say, Owen, I hope you're going to get some 
 new clothes before the exhibition ! " 
 
 "Why?" 
 
 " 'Cause Phemie says she don't believe you've 
 had a new coat since you were five years old, 
 your arms stick out so far ; and Honor says if 
 you only dressed as nice as Walter, she thinks you'd 
 look just as much like a gentleman as he does." 
 
 Owen's face was crimson again. " Walter has 
 a great deal more money to spend than I have, 
 Bobby. I would look nicer if I could, and I do 
 mean to have something for examination. That's 
 the reason I've been going so shabby all winter." 
 
 " Hurrah ! " said Little Picket, " won't Phemie 
 stare ! Her school is out a week earlier, but she 
 says she shall stay to see the fun. Hi! there 
 comes Eddy Potter with his new kite ! " and the 
 Picket beat a hasty and final retreat. 
 
 It was in vain that Walter, with bribe of a 
 brand new top, tried to win back his former 
 vassal to the old allegiance. Little Picket de- 
 clined the gift loftily; rubbed his ear which
 
 LITTLE PICKET'S DISCOVERT. 101 
 
 seemed to be burning yet, and said he " didn't 
 care for tops." A most ineffaceable impression 
 had indeed been made upon honest, upright Little 
 Picket, and that night, there was an earnest dis- 
 cussion in the nursery, from adjacent cribs. 
 
 " I'll tell you what, Mimi, I've made a great dis- 
 covery to-day. Walter isn't (he borroVed one 
 of Phemie's favorite phrases,) ' isn't what fancy 
 painted him ! ' " 
 
 " Ith he painted /" lisped Mimi, in great surprise. 
 
 Little Picket was disgusted. " Dear me, no ! 
 But listen now, Mimi, after this, you and Spy and 
 I, must love Owen the best ! In fact, now I think 
 of it, Spy always did ; he's such a knowing fellow ! " 
 
 " Yeth," said Mimi. sleepily. 
 
 " Now let me see if you understand which do 
 you love best Walter or Owen ? " 
 
 " I love Owen and Walter ! " slower and 
 fainter it came ; the mite had dropped off to sleep. 
 
 " She's no company for me, at all," said the 
 profound Little Picket, as, with a heavy sigh, he 
 followed her example.
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 THE BACE. 
 
 WEN," said Walter, a few days after- 
 wards, joining him as they came home 
 from school, a thing he had seldom 
 done lately, " Owen, I have a great favor to ask 
 of you." 
 
 " What is it ? " said Owen, looking up pleas- 
 antly, ready and eager to oblige. 
 
 " We haven't been very good friends lately," 
 began Walter, in some embarrassment. 
 
 " Haven't we ? / haven't changed, Walty." 
 " Well, then, I have wronged you ; the mean- 
 ness has all been on my side," said Walter, with 
 a short laugh. "Anyway, I haven't time to dis- 
 cuss it. Could you do me a very great favor, do 
 you think?" 
 
 (102)
 
 THE RACE. 103 
 
 "Try me!" said Owen, brightly. 
 
 "I suppose you'll think I've been very ex- 
 travagant," said Walter, hastily, "but the fact is, 
 I'm dreadfully iii debt. I've just paid for my 
 new spring suit, because Mr. Boardman won't 
 trust us school-boys, you know ; and here's old 
 Larry has just sent me a horrid bill, and says he 
 must have fifty dollars this very night, or he'll 
 sue me ! " 
 
 "You don't mean Larry Pitt, the man 
 that keeps the dirty oyster cellar in Orange 
 Street ! " 
 
 Why don't I ! " said Walter, irritably. 
 
 " I didn't think you would be seen in such a 
 low place." 
 
 " I haven't been there but a few times. You 
 see, once or twice, Faushawe and I wanted to 
 give the boys a treat ; or sometimes we wanted 
 a glass of beer, or bite of something ourselves, 
 and Larry was always so obliging, and ready to 
 trust us ! Who'd have thought he'd come down 
 in such a rascally way ! we don't owe half that
 
 104 DRIFTING AND STEERING. 
 
 amount, but then, you see, we can't prove it, and 
 we've got to fork over, or be jail-birds ! " he tried 
 to laugh carelessly. " It's doubly tough coming 
 just now, when I'm overwhelmed cramming for 
 the prizes. Help me just this once, Owny, and I 
 promise you I'll cut Larry dead, and be a model ! 
 See, if I don't!" 
 
 " How much did you say it was ? " 
 
 * Fifty dollars," said Walter, eagerly. 
 
 That's about all I have, Walty," said Owen, 
 sorrowfully, " and I've been saving it so long to 
 buy myself a decent suit. See, this is the best 
 I have," he held up a shrunken sleeve, " and the 
 boys are all laughing at me. I suppose I oughtn't 
 to care, but I can't get above it some way. I'm 
 sure I never can get up before a crowded room, 
 and have them all whispering and poking each 
 other." 
 
 " You wouldn't like to wear my second-best ? " 
 asked Walter. 
 
 "They're a great deal nicer than any I can 
 afford to buy ; but you know I'm broader and
 
 THE RACE. 105 
 
 taller than you. I almost take a man's size. It 
 wouldn't improve matters any." 
 
 " I'll tell you what," said "Walter, brightening, 
 " I shall be sure to have my remittance in three 
 weeks at farthest. That will be time enough to 
 get your suit, won't it ? " 
 
 " I don't know," said Owen, desperately. " Oh ! 
 Walty, "Walty, why did you have anything to do 
 with such a low, contemptible fellow ! " 
 
 "I might have known I should only get a 
 sermon for my pains," said Walter, bitterly, 
 "but I had no one else to go to. Fanshawe is 
 a noble fellow, but he's as bad off as I am, and 
 there's nothing left for us but to go to the Lock- 
 up ! It wouldn't break your heart though, I'm 
 thinking. You'd be sure of the prizes then, and 
 at home " 
 
 "Walter gave an involuntary scream of pain, 
 Owen had grasped him so tightly by the arm ! 
 
 " I can bear a great deal from you, "Walter," 
 said he, " but when you say a thing like that, I 
 want to knock you down ! "
 
 106 DRIFTING AND STEERING. 
 
 Walter began a defiant return, but a glance at 
 Owen's face, strangely pale, deterred him. 
 
 " I ask your pardon," said he, with some slight 
 sense of shame, " but I've found out so much 
 about the meanness of the world lately, you 
 oughtn't to blame me, if I haven't a very strong 
 belief in any one's generosity. I don't meet with 
 anything but deceit, and envy, and selfishness" 
 
 " If we meet no gods, it is because we harbor 
 none," said Owen. The words leaped out involun- 
 tarily. 
 
 " I shall have to swallow the insult, as I'm not 
 strong enough to knock you down," said Walter, 
 with flashing eyes. "I am sorry to have given 
 you so much trouble," and turning, he walked 
 rapidly in a contrary direction. 
 
 Owen gazed after him in wretched indecision. 
 
 " And even sacrifice a little of your own happi- 
 ness for him ; can you promise me that, my dear 
 son ? " How vividly the words came before him, 
 and was this the way he kept his promise ! In 
 another moment he was flying after Walter.
 
 THE RACE. 107 
 
 " You shall have it Walty ! " said he, coming 
 up, breathlessly. " Come home with me ; I'll 
 give it to you now." 
 
 At first, Walter proudly refused, but he soon 
 suffered himself to be persuaded. 
 
 " You see," said he, as they reached home, 
 and Owen, from his shabby purse, slowly counted 
 out the painful savings, " I would have written 
 direct to Uncle Knowlson ; but I've had to make 
 two or three extra appeals to him lately, and he's 
 getting to be a terrible curmudgeon ! " 
 
 " Then there can't be much coming to you this 
 quarter ?" said Owen, with a sinking heart. 
 
 " Plenty to pay you ; never fear, old fellow ! " 
 said Walter, gayly, tucking the bills in his 
 pocket. " Xow here's to pay Larry, and be free 
 once more! You certainly are my good angel, 
 Owen! Now don't fret; you shall have it all 
 back in time to make yourself a perfect Adonis 
 for the grand occasion ! " and Walter was off, 
 whistling a lively air. 
 
 The three weeks passed rapidly by, even to
 
 108 DRIFTING AND STEERING. 
 
 Owen, who counted the days; but nothing was 
 heard from Uncle Knowlson. Little Picket 
 made daily inquiries for the lagging garments. 
 " You look shabbier than ever these pleasant sum- 
 mer days," said the outspoken child ; and Owen, 
 more and more conscious of his protruding wrists, 
 and Phemie's saucy eyes, shut himself more 
 than ever in his room, trying to forget his morti- 
 fications in incessant study, and careful prepara- 
 tion of his essay. 
 
 Walter, well-dressed, and in fine spirits, was 
 as much a favorite as ever, and was always ready 
 to enter into any of Honor's or Phemie's merry 
 plans, although he announced that he intended 
 to compete for every prize. 
 
 Only Little Picket stood aloof, and viewed him 
 with a suspicious eye. 
 
 " I don't believe you've written your compo- 
 sition," said he, one morning at the breakfast 
 table. "I'll bet you won't beat my Owen on 
 that!" 
 
 "What a fierce little partisan you are!" said
 
 THE RACE. 109 
 
 Walter, laughing, with pretended good nature. 
 " I'll bet I have written it now ; or, at least, it's 
 more than half done ! " 
 
 Owen looked up in surprise. " Why, when did 
 you* do it ? ' 
 
 "Oh, at odd times," said Walter, carelessly. 
 " It isn't copied yet, and I shall spend one or two 
 mornings, polishing it up." 
 
 The red ribbons across the table, fluttered. 
 Phemie had a rush of admiration. 
 
 "1 declare, Walter, you remind me more of 
 Shakspeare, than any one I ever knew!" 
 
 "In what respect, Phemie?" said Owen, with 
 a mischievous twinkle in his eye, while Honor's 
 face dimpled with merriment. 
 
 But Phemie, with an offended toss of the head, 
 declined to throw any light on the subject; and 
 Owen excused himself to go to his books. 
 
 "I'm sorry you have to work so hard," said 
 Honor, kindly. 
 
 " I'm sorry too," added Phemie, with the slight- 
 est shade of contempt.
 
 110 DRIFTING AND STEERING. 
 
 "You needn't pity me at all," cried Owen, "I 
 enjoy it. It is so delightful to feel one's self 
 growing ! I saw something, the other day, that 
 just expressed what I have often felt. May 
 I tell you Honor ? " he was looking in the only 
 eyes in which he saw any sympathy. " A great 
 and noble man said it, Honor ; he felt that all 
 effort after something higher, ennobled us, and 
 was better for us in our present state; and he 
 said something like this 'If God should hold 
 in his right hand all truth, and in his left hand 
 only the ever active impulse after truth, I would 
 with humility turn to his left hand, and say, 
 Father give me this I'" 
 
 "And the more fool he!" said Walter. 
 
 "That's true," cried echo Phemie. "Come, 
 let's have a ' sing ; ' such stupid talk makes my 
 head ache ! " 
 
 But Honor's sweet face was very thoughtful 
 "I don't know whether I could have chosen 
 that, Owen ; but those are brave, noble words. 
 Go and study ; it is grand to be like such a man ! " 

 
 THE RACE. Ill 
 
 So Owen went off with a springing step, en- 
 tirely oblivious of threadbare garments, or Phe- 
 mie's ostentatious pity. 
 
 But day after day passed on, and his enthu- 
 siasm had somewhat cooled. The dreaded ex- 
 amination was close at hand, and though Walter 
 had written again and again, Uncle Knowl- 
 son's long delayed letter had not yet arrived. 
 Owen had selected a plain coat which had been 
 laid aside for him : if the money came at the last 
 minute, it should still be his, but alas ! it did not 
 come, and it was now the eleventh hour, the last 
 evening before the eventful day ! 
 
 Owen, too distracted to study, was trying to 
 read aloud to Honor and Phemie ; but the color 
 came and went in his transparent face, and the 
 two girls often looked up in surprise at the emo- 
 tion in his voice, at some of the most common- 
 place passages. At last there were hasty steps ; 
 the door flew open. Owen threw down his book, 
 nervously, and went a step or two towards Wal- 
 ter, who had not been seen since dinner. The
 
 112 DRIFTING AND STEERING. 
 
 boy, with handsome, glowing face, stood, holding 
 a boquet of expensive flowers, in each hand, while 
 little brown packages protruded from his vest- 
 pockets. 
 
 "Here, Honor, Phemie, I have brought you 
 some flowers to carry to-morrow ; and I saw such 
 pretty kid gloves, laced on the back, I brought 
 you each a pair ! " 
 
 " How generous ! " cried both the delighted 
 girls, with voluminous thanks. 
 
 Owen's face cleared. "The money has come; 
 he has plenty," he thought; and he pressed to his 
 side, with an eager whisper 
 
 " Give me the money quick, if you can, Walty ; 
 I have just time to get down to Mr. Boardman's 
 before he shuts up." 
 
 "Walter flushed and hesitated. 
 
 " My dear fellow, it's a cruel disappointment: 
 but that meanest of old codgers only sent me 
 well, I'll tell you all about it when I can ; " he 
 walked to the table. " Look at this, Owen," said 
 he, aloud. " I bought this for you" and he un-
 
 THE RACE. 11? 
 
 folded a flaming neck-tie, " not your taste exactly, 
 but they're all the fashion ! " 
 
 " Isn't it sweet ! " cried Phemie, ecstatically. 
 
 Owen took it mechanically, looked at it va- 
 cantly a moment " It is of no possible use to me, 
 Walter," he said coldly, and laying it down, left 
 the room. 
 
 Walter was greatly embarrassed. 
 
 "What a disgraceful way of receiving a pre- 
 sent!" cried Phemie, warmly. "Now Honor, 
 don't you think he might, at least, have pretended 
 to like it ? " 
 
 Honor gave reluctant assent; she had begun 
 to like Owen so much better, lately; but this was 
 quite inexcusable. " It was hard for Walty, cer- 
 tainly," said she, " when he was hoping to give 
 so much pleasure." 
 
 Walter recovered himself in a moment. 
 
 " Please excuse me," said he, " I do not believe 
 Owen feels well." 
 
 He easily caught up to his cousin's slow step 
 on the stairs. " I want to tell you, Owen," said
 
 114 DRIFTING AND STEERING. 
 
 he, hurriedly. "Uncle Knowlson was mean 
 enough to say there wasn't a cent coming to me 
 this quarter; but he sent me ten dollars, and as 
 that wouldn't begin to pay you, I just bought 
 these little trifles, and one or two things I needed 
 desperately myself. I haven't had a decent pair 
 of gloves for a month ! " 
 
 " I couldn't have treated you so, "Walty," said 
 Owen, simply. 
 
 "How?" cried Walter, in an injured tone, 
 "I'm sure I've worried about it day and night, 
 and I felt worse than you, when I only got that 
 mean ten dollars; that was nothing, you 
 know!" 
 
 " It would have been a great deal to me, 
 I had about five dollars left, and fifteen would 
 have bought me a very decent coat; one that 
 would have covered me, at least," he said bit- 
 terly. 
 
 " Well, how was I to know that ? I did what 
 I supposed was right, and I won't be so badgered 
 about it ! How I wish I had never borrowed a
 
 THE RACE. 115 
 
 cent of you! A Jew couldn't be harder with 
 me! You don't seem to think anything of my 
 disappointment; there's endless things I shall 
 have to deny myself." 
 
 Owen only looked at him sorrowfully, and 
 then without a word left him to his unenviable 
 thoughts. 
 
 Very long the boy sat in the summer twilight 
 trying to decide whether he should give up the 
 honors for which he had striven so long; or 
 whether he could bring himself to face the ridi- 
 cule of the school, to say nothing of Phemie's 
 constant fire ? And then Honor, too, would be 
 BO surprised. He had told her he was saving 
 his fine feathers to astonish them all at the last 
 minute ; for he could not believe it possible that 
 he should not have them. Well, he could tell 
 her he was disappointed ; she was a sensible girl ; 
 she would not laugh at him, but he hoped she 
 wouldn't pity him either; that would be even 
 harder to bear ! And he thought he must try to 
 go through with it all ; for if he stayed away,
 
 116 DRIFTING AND STEERING. 
 
 they would only think he dared not stand the 
 test ; and he had made such great preparation ! 
 Perhaps if he brought home a prize or two, no 
 one would think about the old coat ! 
 
 Just then something cold touched the listless 
 hand hanging by his side. He started; it was 
 Spy, and by his side, in night-dress, stood Little 
 Picket, his face so eloquent with sorrowful sym- 
 pathy, that Owen's overcharged heart could bear 
 no more. Before he knew it, he was sobbing, 
 while little Picket, in great alarm, cried aloud, 
 and spared not, and Spy set up a long mournful 
 whine. The utter despair of the third perform- 
 er, however, affected Owen so ludicrously, that, 
 with a sudden revulsion, he was soon laughing 
 with equal heartiness ; a proceeding which brought 
 immediate comfort to the minds of his two com- 
 panions. 
 
 " Have your new clothes come, Owny ? " 
 asked little Picket, anxiously, when order was 
 restored. 
 
 Owen shook his head, sorrowfully.
 
 THE RACE. 117 
 
 " What are you going to do then ? " said the 
 Picket, severely. 
 
 "Wear these!" 
 
 The child gave a tragic start. " Oh, Owen, you 
 can't mean you are going to wear those ! " 
 
 " Oh, Bobby, you can't mean that I ought to go 
 in my shirt and boots ! " cried Owen, imitating 
 the tone and manner. 
 
 Hysterics seemed imminent again. 
 
 "Well then, if you must wear them," said 
 Little Picket, with a profound sigh, "I've come 
 to tell you that one of your sleeves is ripping 
 out." 
 
 " So it is," cried Owen, feeling of the rent, with 
 a blank face. 
 
 "And mamma is sick," said the perplexed 
 Little Picket, "but maybe Honor could mend 
 it" 
 
 "Oh, no!" said Owen, decidedly. "I'm quite 
 a tailor, myself, and have a little needle-book, 
 thread, and wax, and all. Come, now, go to bed ; 
 and I'll be all right in the morning."
 
 118 DRIFTING AND STEERING. 
 
 He kissed the child tenderly, patted Spy, and 
 set them outside the door. 
 
 It was not a pleasant sight for Walter, when 
 he came up an hour afterwards, to see the pa- 
 tient boy, toiling over the unfortunate rent; 
 the big needle so awkwardly plied, while great 
 drops stood upon the white forehead. But no 
 words were interchanged, and Walter, hastily 
 undressing, threw himself upon the bed ; not to 
 sleep, however. His wakeful eyes saw every 
 painful stitch, and long after the completed 
 garment, with many a sigh, had been carefully 
 brushed, folded, and laid on a chair by the bed, 
 Walter's conscience kept him restless and tossing. 
 In spite of all his attempts to prove black white, 
 he could not help thoroughly despising himself; 
 and he could only compose himself, at last, by 
 imagining various impracticable ways by which he 
 should try to earn money, and pay Owen double 
 for all he had lent him. 
 
 "Here come the two champions!" cried 
 Honor, the next morning, as the boys made
 
 THE RACE. 119 
 
 their appearance at an earlier breakfast than 
 usual. A murmur of applause greeted Walter, 
 whose graceful figure showed to great advantage 
 in his well-fitting suit of light gray. Owen fol- 
 lowed him, very pale, except the two little hectic 
 spots that betrayed his great excitement, and effort 
 at self-control. 
 
 " Are you dressed to go?" exclaimed Phemie^ 
 in unconcealed surprise. 
 
 Honor gave her a warning look, and the Pick- 
 et, looking hard in his plate, racked his little 
 brains for some stinging sarcasm to throw at the 
 "rattle-head." 
 
 It was a constrained meal, for some reason, 
 and they were all glad when it was over, and 
 they were preparing to start for the scene of 
 action. 
 
 " Mother is so sorry she isn't well enough to 
 go," said Honor, " but Phemie and I will be 
 there in the afternoon, and we shall tell her all 
 about it." 
 
 " Good luck to you, Walty," cried Phemie, as
 
 120 DRIFTING AND STEERING. 
 
 the boys stood cap in hand. " You look like the 
 Prince of Wales ! " 
 
 Little Picket plucked serrowfnlly at Owen's' 
 sleeve. " Seems to me your arms grew an inch 
 longer last night." 
 
 "Seems just so to me!" said Owen, with a 
 laugh, merry for all. 
 
 And so the two rivals were sped to their race. 
 
 The exciting day passed rapidly, and Owen and 
 Walter, with glowing cheeks, kept just abreast, 
 having distanced all other competitors. The two 
 cousins had scarcely spoken, to each other, except 
 once, as they were filing to the last recitation, 
 Owen pointed to a shred of paper, just visible in 
 Walter's clinched hand. 
 
 " You have no right to' think that is anything 
 dishonorable ! " said Walter, angrily. 
 
 " What made you think I did ? " said Owen, 
 quietly; while Walter flushed with conscious 
 guilt. 
 
 The recitation went on brilliantly ; the honor- 
 able committee nodded approbation. Walter's
 
 THE RACE. 121 
 
 evil genius, Fanshawe, not in the struggle him- 
 self, was straining every nerve that his friend 
 might win, and, sitting by his side, prompted 
 him continually with whispers, and cabalistic 
 signs. Charley, equally anxious for his friend, 
 watched in silence, for Owen would permit no 
 prompting. 
 
 The race became very exciting at last, for 
 gradually the committee had dropped the other 
 boys, and centered all their fire upon the 
 cousins. The ordeal was nearly passed when 
 at a sudden, unexpected question, Owen hesi- 
 tated faltered a reply; the committee shook 
 their heads. Not right ? his face was crimson. 
 Charley thrust something in his hand, which 
 had been passed forward by a sympathizing 
 friend. 
 
 " Look at it, for heaven's sake ! my dear 
 fellow ! just this once," ejaculated Charley, 
 behind his handkerchief, as he blew his nose 
 vigorously. 
 
 There was a dreadful pause. Owen could
 
 122 DRIFTING AND STEERING. 
 
 hear plainly the ticking of the great clock in the 
 corner, could see the bent heads of the waiting 
 committee, knew that every eye in the large 
 school-room was fixed upon him, that Honor 
 was leaning forward a little, with parted lips, 
 and he had only to look modestly down, and hon- 
 or and victory lay in his hand ! No ! rather say 
 dishonor, and shameful defeat ! Owen weighed it 
 all in the short, sharp struggle, and raising his 
 pale face, said briefly, 
 
 " I cannot answer it, sir ! " 
 
 Charley sank back with a groan ; and there 
 was a rustle of disappointment throughout the 
 room. But there was not a boy there, whose 
 quick eye witnessed the transaction, who did not 
 feel the moral grandeur of Owen's act, and whose 
 heart did not thrill for a moment with loftier 
 resolve. 
 
 The question was passed to Walter, who an- 
 swered it with a modesty and embarrassment most 
 natural and creditable, under the circumstances,
 
 THE RACE. 123 
 
 the reluctance of a foe too generous to rejoice in 
 his rival's defeat. 
 
 Owen made no attempt to rally after this mis- 
 fortune. There were a few more questions, all 
 of which Walter answered ; and then after a short 
 consultation, the committee made the announce- 
 ment, already anticipated, "Walter Houghton, 
 the prize for scholarship ; " although they men- 
 tioned Owen Grey in the warmest terms of com- 
 mendation, and were kind enough to say, that the 
 claims were so evenly balanced, it had been a most 
 difficult question to decide. 
 
 There was great excitement among the boys, 
 and eager knots were gathering, before the audi- 
 ence had fairly left the room. Little Picket clung 
 to Owen's hand, his great brown eyes fixed wist- 
 fully upon his face. 
 
 " Go home with the girls, Bobby," said Owen 
 kindly. " I shall stay, and help trim the room 
 for this evening." 
 
 " And you will get the prize then, wont you,
 
 124 DRIFTING AND STEERING. 
 
 Owen ? Mamma says I may come ; and it will 
 just break my heart if," 
 
 Little Picket stopped suddenly, to drink in, 
 with eager ears, an angry discussion at his side. 
 Charley Morgan had begun it, saying carelessly, 
 as he leaned against the wall, 
 
 " Truth is always on the scaffold, and wrong, 
 upon the throne!" 
 
 "What do you mean by that?" cried Fran- 
 shawe, quickly. 
 
 "Is there any objection to my repeating a 
 little quotation, that happened to be running in 
 my head ? " asked Charley, with an air of innocent 
 surprise. 
 
 "Walter scowled. 
 
 " I wonder how it happened to be running in 
 your head, Charley?" said another boy mischiev- 
 ously. 
 
 "There's no accounting for these things;" 
 said Charley, in mock perplexity, " but all the 
 afternoon, I've been thinking of something that 
 happened when I was a little boy at school, in
 
 THE RACE. 125 
 
 Bangor. A fellow there, won the first prize by 
 cheating, and after he had been complimented and 
 patted on the back, by the jolly green teacher and 
 trustees, almost every boy in school came up, 
 and presented his congratulations in the shape of 
 a hearty kick." 
 
 There was a burst of applause at this, joined 
 in by many a boy, who had not been at all above 
 suspicion. 
 
 Walter and Fanshawe stood apart with lowering 
 faces. 
 
 "What do you suppose put all that in my head ? n 
 said Charley, demurely. 
 
 " Well, I'll help you get something else in your 
 head, you insulting puppy!" cried Fanshawe, 
 throwing off his coat. 
 
 "With all my heart*" said Charley, following 
 his example. 
 
 " Young gentlemen ! " cried the warning voice 
 of Mr. Benson, the under teacher ; and coming up, 
 he sternly ordered all to go home, except the few 
 who were to undertake the decorations of the hall.
 
 126 DRIFTING AND STEERING. 
 
 Evening came ; the air was fragrant with the 
 aroma of pine and arbor vitae. The stage was 
 tastefully draped, and brilliant with colored lamps ; 
 and the hall was rapidly filling with gayly dressed 
 people. 
 
 " There come the prettiest girls in the city," 
 said Charley to Owen, as they peeped through a 
 slit in the curtain. 
 
 It was Honor and Phemie, in their cool white 
 dresses, with the pretty fluttering ribbons. 
 
 " Which do you think is the nicest, Owen ? " 
 
 " Which do you ? " returned Owen, evasively. 
 
 " ' Sir Launcelot mused a little space, 
 He said she hath a lovely face ! " 
 
 meaning Miss Honor, of course," laughed Char- 
 ley. 
 
 But Owen was too excited to laugh ; the speak- 
 ing had begun, and it was as much as he could do 
 to control his nervous agitation. Dialogue and 
 speech followed each other in rapid succession, and 
 at last came the announcement : 
 
 " Walter Houghton, Original Declamation."
 
 THE RACE. 127 
 
 The boy, graceful and self-possessed, sprang 
 lightly upon the stage, bowing to right and left. 
 
 "What brass he has!" muttered Charley, 
 discontentedly. But his ill-humor gradually 
 changed into surprise, and then positive admira- 
 tion. The speech was brilliant and well written ; 
 subject : " The Seven Senses," quite wittily han- 
 dled, and ending with an easy flow of words, as 
 follows : 
 
 "Man is probably yet very far from physical 
 perfection. "We cannot tell how many more 
 senses may be possible. As, for instance, the 
 sense of sight corresponds to light, so there can, 
 and certainly will be special senses correspond- 
 ing to electrical or magnetic matter, by means 
 of which we shall be able to perceive imme- 
 diately the electrical or magnetic state of bodies, 
 which we can discover, at present, only through 
 experiments ; and there will be suddenly opened 
 to us a new world full of most splendid phe- 
 nomena, of which we can now form as little con- 
 ception as a blind man can of light and colors."
 
 128 DRIFTING AND STEERING. 
 
 Then with some slight allusion to clairvoy- 
 ance, and the possibility of, at some future date, 
 being able to read the mind of a friend with as 
 much ease as a page from our favorite author, he 
 closed, amid a burst of applause and a shower of 
 boquets. 
 
 "Too bad! too bad!" cried Charley, "Miss 
 Honor and Miss Phemie have thrown both of 
 theirs ; there is none left for you ! " 
 
 " That didn't sound quite like Walter's 
 style," said poor Owen, unconsciously thinking 
 aloud. 
 
 " No more it didn't ! " cried Charley. " I'd give 
 five dollars to have that last sense he spoke about, 
 just half a minute ! Wouldn't I do a little read- 
 ing of somebody's heart ? " 
 
 " Owen Grey ; " announced Mr. Hewlett's metal- 
 lic voice. 
 
 Owen started nervously. How should he get 
 courage to carry that coat on the stage ! 
 
 The thoughtless smaller boys, incited by Fan- 
 shawe, were full of rude jokes, that evening.
 
 THE RACE. 129 
 
 They called him "Paul Pry," and "Brother 
 Jonathan," and now at this last dreadful moment, 
 distressed and confused him cruelly, by trying to 
 thrust an old blue cotton umbrella under his 
 arm. Charley nearly shook the small wits out of 
 a couple of them, and Owen, breaking away, went 
 desperately upon the stage. 
 
 "Doesn't his head look splendid!" whispered 
 the anxious Picket to Phemie, hoping to divert 
 her from the coat ; and very winning indeed was 
 the pale face, with its earnest eyes, and firm, sweet 
 mouth. 
 
 The speech too, was manly, showing a great 
 deal of earnest thought and careful prepara- 
 tion. The audience became interested, and he, 
 warmed with the subject, was fast forgetting 
 everything but his theme. His gestures became 
 more free; his right arm was just stretched forth 
 in graceful sweep, when a voice issued from be- 
 hind the scenes, 
 
 \ 
 
 " Mister, your coat is splitting . " 
 
 The miserable Owen was paralyzed ; the hand 
 9
 
 130 DRIFTING AND STEERING. 
 
 dropped at his side, while waves of vivid color 
 rushed to his hair. A few more incoherent words, 
 which nobody understood, and with an abrupt 
 bow he rushed from the stage. 
 
 Only one bouquet greeted him; a huge mass 
 of tiger lilies and peonies, launched by the faith- 
 ful Picket, with a broken heart and streaming 
 eyes. 
 
 Owen leaned speechless against the wall, 
 while a tide of angry words ebbed and flowed 
 around him. 
 
 "How cruel! how base!" said Charley, actually 
 crying with indignation. "Mr. Howlett shall 
 know this ! " 
 
 "Oh, don't, don't!" sobbed the culprit, Eddy 
 Potter. " They told me to ! " 
 
 " Of course they did ! " cried Charley with un- 
 disguised contempt at Fanshawe, whose malice 
 had gone farther than he intended. 
 
 The remaining exercises were soon concluded, 
 i 
 and Walter was called in to receive applause and 
 
 commendation, and have the prize medal hung
 
 THE RACE. 131 
 
 about his neck, while he felt himself the meanest 
 cur that ever walked the earth. 
 
 Fanshawe and Walter were very careful not to 
 linger after the audience was dismissed ; but Owen, 
 overwhelmed with his misfortunes, his excitement 
 all gone, threw himself upon the platform steps, 
 from which it seemed as if he would never have 
 the heart to stir. 
 
 There, Mr. Benson going around to put out 
 the lights found him, with Charley and two or 
 three other sympathizing friends. 
 
 " My dear boy," said he, " I'm glad you have 
 not gone. I wanted to tell you if / had been 
 one of that honorable, but extremely short- 
 sighted committee, to-day, the prizes would have 
 gone very diiferently. I suspected some rascally 
 cheating in high places, but it was skilfully done, 
 and I couldn't find the right moment to disclose 
 it. But don't be down-hearted, my dear boy! 
 Next term the true scholar shall have justice, 
 if it is in my power to secure it, and I think it 
 is!"
 
 132 DRIFTING AND STEERING. 
 
 " Hurrah for Owen ! " shouted the warm-hearted 
 boys ; while Charley added, 
 
 " You shall have a crown of laurels yet, heavy 
 enough to make your head ache!" and Owen, 
 greatly consoled by this appreciation and generous 
 sympathy, was strengthened to take up the burden 
 of life. 
 
 Very pleasant and bright looked the little 
 sitting-room, when Owen at last reached it. Mrs. 
 Whately had risen from her bed, for the first time 
 in a week, that she might congratulate her two 
 boys ; and the table, whereon a tempting little 
 supper had been spread, was twinkling cheerful- 
 ness and comfort from its holiday array of shining 
 silver and glass. 
 
 "We were just waiting for you, my dear," 
 said Mrs. Whately, holding out her hand. 
 " I am very proud of my boys to-day ; both 
 of them ! " she said with kindly emphasis. Ow- 
 en's lip trembled, as he bent to kiss her hand. 
 "One, of course, must be first, a mere trifle 
 the first," she added anxiously, looking into his
 
 THE RACE. 133 
 
 face, so strangely pallid. " Can you not yield 
 to your cousin, gracefully, my dear? From 
 what I knew of you, I thought you would be 
 the first to congratulate him ? Can't you do it, 
 Owen ? " 
 
 He stood with downcast eyes. "I cannot, 
 madam ! " he said simply. 
 
 "What envy!" exclaimed Phemie, in one of 
 her perfectly audible whispers. 
 
 " You are mistaken ! " cried Owen. 
 
 Walter hastily interposed. " Please don't say 
 anything more, Mrs. Whately. We have had a 
 misunderstanding; it will be all right after an 
 explanation," and Owen made no attempt at con- 
 tradiction. 
 
 " We will have supper then," said Mrs. Whately, 
 but her face was sad and pained ; and the unhap- 
 py Owen could not eat a morsel. 
 
 Little Picket too, who had been allowed to sit 
 up upon the grand occasion, contributed his share 
 to the growing discomfort. 
 
 "Why, Walter, what makes your wristbands
 
 134 DRIFTING AND STEERING. 
 
 so black ? " he suddenly broke out, in an inter- 
 val of silence. " Have you been in the coal- 
 bin?" 
 
 Walter hastily drew down his coat-sleeve. 
 
 " What makes your face so red ? " persisted 
 Bobby, curiously. 
 
 " How should I know ? " said Walter, with an 
 uneasy laugh. 
 
 " Well, I know what Honor said to me once. 
 She said when the blood was ashamed of a bad 
 heart, it always flew up to the head ! " 
 
 " Oh, Bobby, how can you!" cried Honor, col- 
 oring ; while little Picket, after making a humble 
 apology, was immediately dismissed to bed by his 
 mamma. 
 
 " I wish you'd let me tell a nice story, Charley 
 Morgan told," said the child, lingering in the 
 door. 
 
 Owen shook his head. " I wouldn't tell that, 
 Bobby!" 
 
 "Well, if you wouldn't, then I won't," said 
 Bobby. " Never till you tell me."
 
 THE RACE. 135 
 
 Owen soon after excused himself on the plea 
 of headache. He thought Honor bade him 
 good-night coldly, and he was not mistaken. 
 She had meant to say a great many pleasant 
 and complimentary things to the disappointed 
 boy, but after his rudeness and want of generosity 
 to Walter, she felt that he no longer deserved 
 them. 
 
 "He isn't a bit like the heroes in books, is 
 he, Honor?" said Phemie, when he was gone. 
 " Now they always shake hands with their rivals, 
 and wish them joy, in a grand, proud way 
 to be sure, but they do it, and I think it's 
 splendid ! " 
 
 " Yes," said Honor, the tears in her eyes, " it is 
 nobler." 
 
 Alone in his room, Owen sadly reviewed the 
 scenes of the day, clinging to the memory of 
 Mr. Benson's and Charley's sympathy, the only 
 oasis in his desert. He was strangely wide 
 awake; it seemed as if he should never sleep 
 again. Perhaps, reading awhile would compose
 
 136 DRIFTING AND STEERING. 
 
 him, and he raised his eyes listlessly to the 
 hanging shelves that held their small library. 
 A volume, he had never noticed before, was 
 lying there : a strange old book, he remembered 
 having seen in the bookcase down stairs. He 
 took it up, turning the pages wearily, but sud- 
 denly gave a start as if he had been stung! 
 Walter's essay was staring at him from the yel- 
 low page, almost word for word, with the ex- 
 ception of the concluding paragraphs, which he 
 must have stolen from somewhere else ! Stolen ! 
 Yes, that was the word. A thief of thoughts 
 is as unsound and dishonest at heart, as if he stole 
 your watch or purse! Owen was too absorbed in 
 his discovery to hear steps entering the room. 
 
 "What are you doing?" said a husky voice. 
 
 "Looking over your essay!" said Owen, " there 
 were one or two points I had forgotten." 
 
 ' Do not look at me so," cried Walter, quailing 
 beneath the stern, sorrowful blue eyes ; and cover- 
 ing his face with his hands, he burst into passion- 
 ate tears.
 
 THE RACE. 137 
 
 "I have never had such an utterly wretched 
 day in my life," he sobbed. "I hate my 
 prizes;" he took off his medal, and flung it 
 across the room. "I hate everything. Oh 
 Owen, if you knew how I had suffered, you 
 could not look so coldly at me ; you would pity 
 me." 
 
 " I do pity you," said the boy, solemnly. " It 
 has been anything but a happy day for me, but I 
 wouldn't exchange with you for worlds." 
 
 "Oh, Owen, don't set yourself so high and 
 grand, so far above me ; " said Walter, bitterly, 
 " I have been base and contemptible ; see, I ac- 
 knowledge it, wont that satisfy you ? I've had 
 great temptations, dreadful temptations, and I've 
 gone on little by little, I don't know how I 
 never meant to drift so far." 
 
 "Drift, that is just the word," said Owen, 
 thoughtfully. " You seem to me just like a 
 ship without any rudder, at the mercy of every 
 wind and tide. And Oh, "Walty, forgive me, 
 but I must speak plain, you are drifting farther
 
 138 DRIFTING AND STEERING. 
 
 and farther away from everything that is true 
 and" 
 
 " Don't lecture me, Owny," interposed Walter, 
 coaxiugly ; " I will try to do better, indeed I will. 
 Only help and encourage me a little, and perhaps 
 some day I shall steer as patiently as you. What 
 would be a good rudder now, if you don't think 
 I've got any ? " 
 
 " Honesty ! " said Owen, briefly. 
 
 Walter colored, and looked to see that the 
 door was closed. "Well, I'll try to fit it on the 
 ship, if that will satisfy you, Owen. And you 
 will forgive me for to-day, won't you ? and not 
 expose me; it wouldn't do any good now, you 
 know/' 
 
 " Your new rudder ought to carry you straight 
 to Mr. Hewlett, to tell the whole story," said 
 Owen, with his usual candor. 
 
 Walter looked at him in dismay. " Why, Owen, 
 you can't mean that you'd like to see me in such 
 disgrace ! Haven't you any pity ? You promised 
 once to treat me like a brother ! "
 
 THE RACE. 139 
 
 " At the same time you promised to make your 
 life full of noble deeds. Oh, Walty 1 " 
 
 " There is time yet," cried Walter, eagerly. 
 " You shall see ! Only promise to keep my secret. 
 Don't you think it is a little selfish to want to 
 have it known ? " 
 
 "Perhaps I was thinking of myself," said 
 honest Owen, "though I did not know it. I 
 only thought it would be better and happier for 
 you to begin right. Oh, "Walty, the truth is so 
 beautiful ! Did you never think that when we 
 love it, we are loving Jesus ? for he said ' I am 
 the truth!'" 
 
 "But will you tell 9" asked Walter, anx- 
 iously. 
 
 Owen gave him a sorrowful glance. " The con- 
 fession must be yours, Walter. It shall never be 
 known through me." 
 
 Walter embraced him passion ately. " You have 
 saved me, Owen," he cried. "This is the hap- 
 piest moment of the day ! You shall see what 
 my future will be ! " and immediately the impul-
 
 140 DRIFTING AND STEERING. 
 
 sive boy was pouring into Owen's patient ears, a 
 dozen grand and generous plans. 
 
 Midnight sounded, and still Walter sat, with 
 his head on his hand, lost in pleasant imaginings. 
 It is so easy and delightful to be a hero in 
 dreams ! 
 
 " Come," cried Owen, at last, from his pil- 
 low. " As long as you can't begin any of those 
 plans to-night, suppose you go to sleep, and get 
 strength for them to-morrow. You'll find carry- 
 ing them out in earnest, ever so much tougher 
 than just thinking them over. I know by my- 
 self. ' Easier far is pious reverie, than noble 
 action!'" 
 
 " What a horrid wet blanket you are, Owen ! " 
 said Walter, still good-naturedly; for he felt 
 how much he owed to the forbearance of his 
 cousin. 
 
 Owen looked at him anxiously. Walter had 
 passed so lightly over the treachery, which seemed 
 a grievous sin to him ; and now wasn't this won- 
 derful palace of good resolutions built upon the
 
 THE RACE. 141 
 
 sand ? But he spoke kindly. " If we wish truly 
 to be good and great, Walty, we must beware of 
 our dreams ; they are such cheats and flatterers, 
 and almost persuade us we have been very praise- 
 worthy, when we haven't taken the first step for- 
 ward. Emerson says, ' If a man has failed, you 
 will find he has dreamed instead of working,' and 
 I believe it is true."
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 FALSE COLORS. 
 
 j)WEN had not slept more than an 
 hour, when he awoke with a feeling of 
 oppression and alarm. At first he 
 thought he was only suffering from nightmare, 
 after his day of anxiety ; for as he opened his 
 eyes, everything was quiet, except that the gentle 
 summer wind was just faintly stirring the cur- 
 tains. He turned, to sleep again, but a strange 
 restlessness had taken possession of him, and at 
 last grew to such uneasiness, that he sprang from 
 his bed, and opened the door into the hall. There, 
 to his great alarm, he plainly distinguished the 
 odor of smoke, and his quickened ears heard a 
 faint crackling and snapping in the direction of 
 the servants' rooms. He hastily threw on his 
 (142)
 
 FALSE COLORS. 143 
 
 clothes, and, giving Walter a vigorous shake, 
 had just reached the head of the stairs, when 
 there was a thundering rap at the door, and 
 a simultaneous cry of "Fire! Fire!" from with- 
 out, taken up, and repeated by a score of hoarse 
 voices. Owen opened the door. 
 
 " The hack of your house is in flames ! " said a 
 policeman. " Kouse the family ; there will not be 
 time to save much but your lives ! " 
 
 But the family were all up now ; the servants, 
 waking from their heavy sleep, stifled with 
 smoke, and wild with terror, Phemie screaming 
 and wringing her hands, Honor, dressing Minii 
 with trembling fingers, and assisting her mother, 
 who, feeble from illness, was almost fainting by 
 the side of the bed. 
 
 " Owen," cried Honor, with streaming eyes, 
 " will you try to save the piano, and the pictures, 
 and the silver'* 
 
 " And carry down my trunk, do dear Owen, 
 with all my best things my pretty, pretty 
 dresses ! " sobbed Phemie, with chattering teeth.
 
 144 DRIFTING AND STEERING. 
 
 "Everything I can!" cried Owen, rushing 
 to his cousin's room. " 0, Walter, I am going 
 to help with the furniture; will you see that 
 Bobby is dressed and safe? He was so tired, 
 poor little fellow! I don't believe he's 'awake 
 yet." 
 
 " Yes, I'll see to him ; go on," cried Walter. 
 
 How the cruel, remorseless fire rushed and 
 roared, and exulted over its prey. Only one 
 engine had arrived, and that seemed almost 
 powerless. It would soon be over, though 
 Owen tried in vain to realize it, as he gave one 
 quick, farewell glance at the pretty sitting 
 room, quiet and orderly yet, but so soon to be 
 a blackened, smoking ruin! There was no 
 time, however, for tender thoughts. With al- 
 most superhuman efforts, he tried to fulfil all 
 Honor's requests. Kind neighbors helped, but 
 everything had to be done in such an inch of 
 time ! 
 
 Owen only caught sight of Walter once ; he 
 was carrying a bundle with his best suit, his
 
 FALSE COLORS. 145 
 
 embroidered shirt fronts, his new patent leather 
 boots, his handkerchiefs, pomade and perfu- 
 mery. 
 
 At last came the order for every one to leave 
 the house ; and forth into the crowd and confu- 
 sion filed, the trembling, weeping family, leav- 
 ing the dear home forever. Owen carried Mimi 
 in his arms. 
 
 "But where is Bobby?" asked Mrs. "Whately, 
 looking anxiously around the little flock. 
 
 " He must be at some of the neighbors," said 
 Owen, beckoning to "Walter, whom he saw at a 
 distance. 
 
 But just then there was a sudden movement 
 in the crowd, Mrs. Whately gave a thrilling 
 scream, and following the direction of every 
 eye, Owen saw a sight that made his heart 
 stand still. Little Picket, dear, unconscious 
 Little Picket, was leaning out of one of the 
 upper windows, coughing and choking with the 
 smoke, but waving his handkerchief merrily to 
 
 the crowd below, while with the other hand he 
 10
 
 146 DRIFTING AND STEERING. 
 
 Carelessly caught, here and there, at the shower 
 of burning cinders. Two shaggy paws were 
 also visible in the red light upon the window- 
 seat, and a long, piercing howl proved that Spy 
 appreciated the danger, if his little master did 
 not. 
 
 " Bring a ladder ! " cried one. 
 
 " A feather bed ! " said another ; " and let the 
 little one jump ! " 
 
 But Owen could not wait for anything, and 
 rushed towards the house. 
 
 " You are mad ! " cried a stout fireman, trying 
 in vain to detain him. " You will never come 
 out alive ! " 
 
 Walter also rushed up with white lips. Owen 
 gave him a look of unutterable reproach, as they 
 pressed forward together. 
 
 " Don't say one word ! " cried Walter. " I 
 thought there was plenty of time. I'll save him 
 yet ! " and the boys vanished in the smoke. 
 
 " Three lives lost instead of one ! " exclaimed 
 the fireman, as he ordered a stream of water to b ;
 
 FALSE COLORS. 147 
 
 thrown in the window, from which Little Picket 
 had now disappeared. 
 
 The boys reached the stairs, enveloped in 
 horrible smoke ; the flames were breaking through, 
 and already light, graceful wreaths of fire ran up 
 the baluster. 
 
 " It is certain death ! " groaned Walter. " We 
 are too late. Oh, my God ! " and he reeled to- 
 wards the door. 
 
 But Owen, with an excitement that left no 
 room for fear, sprang up the rotten steps, and 
 reached the stifling room. The heat was in- 
 tense; if it had not been for the friendly stream 
 which drenched him, he could not have borne it 
 a minute. But where was Little Picket ? The 
 child had left the window, and, in the thick 
 black smoke which blinded him, Owen searched 
 in vain. His heart sickened, while his reeling 
 brain warned him to fly if he meant to save his 
 own life. Yet how could he give up Little 
 Picket, honest, faithful little friend ! He groped 
 desperately, sharp pains darting through his
 
 148 DRIFTING AND STEERING. 
 
 head like knives, when suddenly a bright tongue 
 of flame burst through the floor, and the child 
 lay close at his feet, with poor Spy tightly clasped 
 in his arms. 
 
 The sight gave him new life. He seized a 
 blanket, drenched it with water, wrapped it 
 around the senseless child, Spy and all, and 
 made a headlong rush for the stairs. But now 
 a fearful sight awaited him ; the landing had 
 become a gulf of flame, and, although he was 
 a practised gymnast, what could he do so 
 heavily burdened? The only chance for life, 
 however, was in making the trial ; and Owen 
 held his breath, shut his eyes, and jumped! 
 The treacherous steps gave way * the hot tongues 
 of fire leaped to his hair, with a last, desperate 
 instinct, he tried to roll himself down the stairs, 
 and then he knew no more! 
 
 But Walter, crouching and trembling at the 
 door, gave a shout of exultation, and snatching 
 the bundle from Owen's arms, rushed into the
 
 FALSE COLORS. 149 
 
 street, while the air was rent with shouts and 
 hurrahs from the excited crowd ! 
 
 Owen, in the meantime, was dragged out by 
 the firemen, and showered from the engine, for 
 his clothes and hair were burning. 
 
 "Noble, heroic boy!" cried Mrs. Whately, with 
 white, trembling lips, as "Walter laid Little Picket 
 in her arms. "May God reward you! I can 
 never thank you enough ! " 
 
 "I shall never forget it," said sobbing Honor, 
 putting both her little hands in his. 
 
 Walter hesitated; he had not meant to de- 
 ceive, but these praises and blessings were so 
 sweet, must he forego them all? Besides, 
 hadn't he some right to them? "Wouldn't 
 they both have died if I hadn't been there ? " 
 he thought. "Didn't I really save Bobby at 
 last, and tell Jim Doyle that Owen lay behind 
 the door ? But I must not take all the credit," 
 and with great magnanimity, Walter said aloud, 
 
 " Owen had just as much to do with it as I 
 did. We went in together."
 
 150 DRIFTING AND STEERING. 
 
 Alas ! what had become of the new rudder ? 
 
 " How generous he always is ! " cried Phemie, 
 who, finding her trunk and herself safe, was 
 now able to give some thought to others. " And 
 after Owen acting so unhandsomely last night, 
 too!" 
 
 But just then the boy came up, to receive 
 with blushing cheeks, his share of the praises 
 and thanks. It was very sweet, and yet, per- 
 haps it was only imagination, but it seemed as 
 if the voices took a tenderer, more grateful 
 tone, when they spoke to Walter. Perhaps it 
 was because "Walter had had the great happiness 
 to lay Bobby in his mother's arms ; and for an 
 instant it seemed hard to Owen that he had lost 
 this exquisite moment, so hardly earned. But 
 of course, Walter had told ! and then the honest 
 cheek burned, as he thought of his selfishness in 
 wishing to have all his services so fully known 
 and acknowledged. 
 
 Perhaps Walter guessed what was passing in 
 his mind, for he whispered,
 
 FALSE COLORS. 151 
 
 " You were lying helpless and senseless behind 
 the door, Owen, and I pulled you out ; so they 
 think it's a great thing, that's all ! " 
 
 "Oh, thank you, Walty!" cried Owen, grasp- 
 ing his hand. " I didn't remember anything 
 after that terrible jump, and I didn't know who 
 I was indebted to. Thank you a thousand 
 times ! " 
 
 But all these thanks were like lead on Walter's 
 heart, which grew heavier every minute. 
 
 " They've made up at last, haven't they, 
 Honor?" whispered Phemie; "but how could 
 Owen hold out any longer against such gener- 
 osity ! If I ever write a novel, Walter shall be 
 my hero ! Don't he make you think of the 
 Scottish Chiefs, Honor?" 
 
 The next few days, in spite of the kindness 
 of friends, were very sad for the homeless little 
 family. 
 
 " If father were only here ! " sighed Honor ; 
 " but he won't even hear of our troubles, for 
 weeks, and perhaps months ! "
 
 152 DRIFTING AND STEERING 
 
 Day after day was spent in house-hunting; 
 but it was a bad time of the year, and nothing 
 could be found that was not either wretchedly 
 small and uncomfortable, or else far beyond their 
 means. At last, in their perplexity and inde- 
 cision, Phemie's mother wrote of a pleasant cot- 
 tage, ready furnished, that might be rented for a 
 couple of months, in their quiet little sea-side 
 town. This could only be a temporary arrange- 
 ment, but it would make a pleasant change for 
 all ; the children noisily urged it, and after short 
 deliberation, it was decided they should go. 
 
 " I am almost glad the fire happened, aren't 
 you, Honor?" said the jubilant Little Picket, 
 the night before their departure. Honor's eyes 
 filled. " Oh, I forgot ! you lost so many things, 
 papa's letters, and your pretty ring, and Dicky in 
 his cage, and 0, so many nice things. Do you 
 think God will ever forgive Margot for carrying 
 that candle into the store-room ? " 
 
 "I hope so," said Honor, smiling. "Poor 
 Margot feels worse than any of us. But we
 
 FALSE COLORS. 153 
 
 mustn't fret about it now; we have so many 
 things to make us happy. Just think if you " 
 she could go no farther, but caught him in her 
 arms, and almost smothered him with kisses. 
 
 Little Picket freed himself as soon as possible. 
 " Don't you think I am 'most too old to be kissed 
 that way, Honor ? It does very well for Mimi, 
 but" 
 
 Honor laughed merrily. " Well, I will try to 
 remember what a dignified old gentleman it is ; 
 but there's something I want you to promise me, 
 and that is, that you will try to be a little kinder 
 and more grateful to Walter, who saved your life, 
 you know. Why, a little grizzly bear could teach 
 you manners ! " 
 
 " I know it, Honor," said the Picket, sorrow- 
 fully, " but it always seems as if it was Owen that 
 came and caught me out of the horrible fire. 
 Maybe I dreamed it ; but 0, I'd so much rather 
 have it Owen, you can't think ! " Bobby was 
 almost crying. " And so would Spy, wouldn't 
 you, old fellow ? " Spy barked, and wagged his
 
 154 DRIFTING AND STEERING. 
 
 tail. " How I wish he could speak," sighed Little 
 Picket; "and then perhaps I could find out. 
 Owen won't talk about it at all. Now don't be 
 angry, Honor," he said, as she turned down the 
 light, and prepared to leave the room. '' We'll 
 try to do what you want us to." 
 
 " We ? " said Honor. 
 
 " Why, me and Spy, you know. If being grate- 
 ful means carrying his bag, or his shawl, or run- 
 ning errands for him, we'll try to do it." 
 
 " Very well," said Honor, patting his round 
 cheeks, while she assured him she hadn't a doubt 
 that "me and Spy" would do everything that 
 was fair and honorable.
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 HIGH TIDE. 
 
 |HE two months at the seaside passed 
 most swiftly and delightfully. Mrs. 
 Whately rapidly gained strength, and 
 the younger faces, round and sunburnt, looked, 
 Walter said, like a row of thriving pumpkins. 
 
 Every minute had been enjoyed. They had 
 bathed and played games in the surf till they 
 were as much at home as the dolphins, or mer- 
 maids. They had constructed wonderful aqua- 
 riums; and each had a book of crimson and 
 green sea-mosses, lying on the white pages, more 
 delicate and perfect than the most exquisite 
 painting. 
 
 Yery unwelcome news it was, then, that met 
 them one morning at the breakfast table. Mr. 
 (155)
 
 156 DRIFTING AND STEERING. 
 
 Enfield had found them a house in the city, and 
 they could take immediate possession. Besides, 
 the family, of whom they had rented the little 
 cottage, was now anxious to return, and there 
 seemed to be no reasonable excuse for their linger- 
 ing. 
 
 " Too bad ! " said Walter, the last morning of 
 their stay, as he leaned from the window, and 
 watched the distant waves rolling in, bathed in 
 sunlight, a sea of molten gold. "I am not at 
 all reconciled to going. How can I leave my 
 ' kingdom by the sea ! ' ' 
 
 " Our brain kingdom will need a little attention 
 in a few days ; I have had a circular to that effect 
 from our Prime Minister," said Owen, dolefully, 
 holding out a letter from Mr. Hewlett. 
 
 " Pshaw ! " cried Walter, turning away his 
 head. " I won't look at it ! Let's forget for one 
 more long, splendid day, that there's such a thing 
 as work or study in the world ! Let's take our 
 dinners, and our pails for mosses, and spend the 
 whole day on the sands."
 
 BIGH TIDE. 157 
 
 "Let's!" said Phemie, jumping, and clapping 
 her hands. 
 
 " Agreed ! " cried all the rest. 
 
 Short space was spent in preparation, and soon 
 the chattering group was ready; but now arose a 
 dilemma! Little Mimi, in shaker hat, carrying 
 her own minute pail, was found to have added 
 herself to the party. In vain they coaxed her to 
 return ; such speechless grief quivered at the baby 
 mouth, that Honor's heart was touched. She 
 looked around inquiringly. " She is very tough," 
 said she, " she can walk almost as far as any of us, 
 and she will be so inexpressibly happy ! " 
 
 " She will be a dreadful bother ! " said Phemie, 
 and Walter looked disapprobation. 
 
 The eloquence of the child's pitiful glance from 
 friend to foe, was irresistible. 
 
 " I'll take care of her myself," cried Owen. 
 "Run, Picket, and tell mamma!" and so the 
 whole party set forth, with Mimi in a state of 
 beatitude. 
 
 It was too lovely a day for any one to cherish
 
 158 DRIFTING AND STEERING. 
 
 feelings of vexation or ill-humor, long, and 
 Phemie, so far from being annoyed at Mimi's 
 presence, was actually entertained by her funny 
 baby prattle, till in a moment of enthusiasm, she 
 cried, 
 
 " Oh, you dear, flaxen-haired little sun- 
 beam ! " 
 
 Owen turned quickly with his most quizzical 
 look. " There's a fact worth remembering," said 
 he, gravely. " I've seen a great many sunbeams, 
 but I never heard before that they had flaxen 
 hair!" 
 
 Phemie blushed and pouted. 
 
 " You mustn't expect Owen to have patience 
 with anything poetical or imaginative, Phemie/' 
 said Walter, " he can't understand it." 
 
 Owen demurely acknowledged his deficiencies. 
 " But I should like very much to acquire a little 
 imagination," said he. " Our Bridget is a red- 
 haired comet ! how's that now ? " 
 
 The light-hearted party shouted with laughter, 
 especially Little Picket, who had but the vaguest
 
 HIGH TIDE. 159 
 
 idea of the joke. But Phemie, too wise to show 
 any pique, nevertheless put down another black 
 mark in the account she kept against Owen, and 
 when the time of reckoning came, the idle words 
 were balanced with very heavy consequences. 
 
 For it so happened that when the long, merry 
 day was almost over, the last crumb vanished from 
 the dinner baskets, and the little pails almost 
 filled, Owen unfortunately spoke of going home, 
 and Phemie felt she must sustain her dignity by 
 violently opposing the measure. 
 
 "There is such a splendid place for mosses, 
 just a little farther on," said she. "Just around 
 the corner of that rock, Walter, I wonder I didn't 
 think of it before ; we used to go there often last 
 
 year 
 
 \ 
 
 " But Mimi is tired, and it must be almost tea 
 time," objected Owen. 
 
 But the more he opposed, the more vehemently 
 Phemie insisted, and Walter and Honor at last 
 joined in, saying, 
 
 " It is our last walk, you know."
 
 160 DRTFTIXG AND STEERING. 
 
 So Phemie, with a triumphant glance at Owen, 
 in helpless minority, led the way; and he 
 followed, carrying Mimi in his strong arms. 
 
 Phemie had told the truth; the mosses did 
 seem to be brighter and rarer, and throwing 
 away their old specimens, they became so inter- 
 ested in their new search, that an hour passed as 
 if it had been five mimites. A little cry from 
 Mimi, aroused Owen. 
 
 "The water is chasing me!" said she, run- 
 ning to him with outstretched arms. " My foots 
 is wet!" 
 
 " The water will be chasing us all pretty 
 soon," said Owen, "the tide is coming in; we 
 must go farther back ; " but turning, he noticed 
 for the first time, that the shore was of a very 
 different character from that where they had 
 usually been. Instead of gradually sloping in- 
 land, so that they could easily retreat at any 
 time, there was a line of precipitous rocks rising 
 behind them ; and Owen saw, with some alarm, 
 that the strip between them and the sea was
 
 HIGH TIDE. 161 
 
 already very narrow, and would probably soon be 
 covered. 
 
 "Walter! Honor!" he cried, lifting Mimi, 
 "we haven't a minute to lose; the tide is coming 
 in, and we can't back out here ! We must run for 
 the rock we came around a little while ago ! n 
 
 The children laughed merrily. They weren't a 
 bit tired, and it was a capital idea to end up with 
 a race! 
 
 " You cannot be too quick ! " said Owen, grow- 
 ing more anxious, as he seized the lagging Little 
 Picket by the hand. 
 
 On they sped, surprised that they had wan- 
 dered so far. One more point to turn, and the 
 goal would be in sight Suddenly the eager 
 party in front stopped, with a cry of dismay; the 
 water had already reached the jutting rock, in- 
 deed, was breaking angrily upon it, in waves 
 almost as high as their head. 
 
 " What is to be done ? " cried Phemie, deeply 
 regretting her obstinacy. 
 
 " Eun the other way, as fast as we cap. ! " cried 
 11
 
 162 DRIFTING AND STEERING. 
 
 Walter. " Perhaps there is some outlet the other 
 end," and back flew the panting, tired children ; 
 Owen's arms aching with stout little Mimi, and 
 his progress greatly hindered by dragging foot- 
 sore Picket. 
 
 But they did not go far. Walter, who was in 
 advance, turned, white to the very lips. 
 
 " It is worse this way than the other ! Phemie, 
 you have brought us into a trap ! " 
 
 Phemie wrung her hands, and looked wildly 
 around. 
 
 " Could you swim around the point, do you 
 think, Owen?" asked Walter, anxiously. "/ 
 should be dashed against the rock, I'm afraid ; 
 but you are stronger. If you only could, and 
 could get some one to come with a surf-boat ! " 
 
 "I don't think I could, Wai ty," said he, sor- 
 rowfully. Just see how it is dashing in ! And 
 even if it were possible, you would all be beyond 
 help long before I could reach you again ; " he 
 pointed to the few feet of sand left for standing- 
 room.
 
 HIGH TIDE. 163 
 
 " Not drowned, Oweii ! " shrieked Phemie, " you 
 can't mean that we are going to be drowned ! " 
 
 Owen did not answer; his keen, eager eye was 
 searching the face of the cliffs. 
 
 " My Owen will not let you drown, Phemie," 
 said Little Picket, with the calmest confidence ; 
 while Walter, even at this anxious moment, felt a 
 jealous thrill lest Owen should take too much the 
 precedence. 
 
 " I will save you, if it is a possible thing," he 
 said, grandly, to Phemie and Honor; and hastily 
 joined Owen. 
 
 "Do you see that depression up there, about 
 six or seven feet, almost a little cave ? " said 
 Owen. " If we could only get there, I don't 
 know how high the tide will come, but there's 
 a chance we might be saved ! " 
 
 A gleam of hope lighted Walter's eye; and he 
 turned quickly to the weeping group. " Fol- 
 low me," he said magnificently, leading them to 
 the foot of the rock, while Owen followed with a 
 faint smile.
 
 164 DRIFTING AND STEERING. 
 
 " Give me all your handkerchiefs ! " was the 
 next command, which they eagerly obeyed, and 
 "Walter knotted them together, sighing over 
 Phemie's and Honor's that they were so small and 
 thin ; but the rope wasn't half long enough, and 
 couldn't bear the weight of Spy. 
 
 "Quick, give me your stockings," he cried, 
 but Owen had already taken off his coat, cut it 
 in strips, tied it in sailor knots, and would have 
 clambered up the rock with it, if Walter had not 
 snatched it from his hand, and catching at a root 
 here, and a twig there, lightly swung himself 
 upon the ledge. 
 
 "Well done," cried the unselfish Owen, "now 
 lower your rope, quick !" 
 
 It was indeed time, for the waves were already 
 dashing over their feet. 
 
 " Who will walk the perpendicular first ? " 
 asked Owen, cheerily. 
 
 " Let me," sobbed Phemie, " I'm so short." 
 
 "Yes," cried Honor; while Little Picket, his 
 eyes fixed on Owen's face, neither spoke nor stirred.
 
 HIGH TIDE. 165 
 
 It was quite a difficult feat for Phemie, even with 
 the help of the rope, for the cliff was smooth, and 
 straight as a wall, and she fell back two or three 
 times with screams of despair, before she was at 
 last safely landed. 
 
 " We must work faster than this," said Owen, 
 anxiously; but Walter was leaning panting and 
 breathless against the rock. 
 
 "I must go up myself," said Owen, "but 
 what shall I do with Mimi ? I must have both 
 hands to climb. Oh, if we had only left her at 
 home ! " 
 
 He thought for a moment desperately, and then 
 put the baby pick-a-back. 
 
 " Cling tight around my neck, now, Mimi, 
 tight, or you'll fall into the dreadful water!" 
 The child clung with desperation. 
 
 For the first time Little Picket's heart quailed. 
 
 "Are you going to leave me, Owny?" The 
 water dashed almost to his waist. 
 
 "Yes," said Owen, sharply. "Let go my 
 hand, quick!" and the clinging fingers relaxed
 
 166 DRIFTING AND STEERING. 
 
 obediently, though ill that moment Little Picket 
 felt the bitterness of death. 
 
 " They are safe ! " cried Honor, after a breath- 
 less interval, and her lips moved in silent 
 prayer. 
 
 " Now, Little Picket," cried Owen, looking over 
 encouragingly, and the delighted child sprang, 
 nimble as a monkey, and was pulled in, with the 
 wretched Spy strapped to his back with the dis- 
 carded handkerchiefs. 
 
 " A long pull, and a strong pull, and a pull all 
 together!" cried Owen, laughing, and Honor, 
 blushing and panting, stood beside them, and 
 they were all embracing, and laughing, and crying 
 together. 
 
 " I thought it couldn't be that we should have 
 to die in such a dreadful way," sobbed Phemie, 
 " and all the world so beautiful, and green fields 
 and flowers such a little way off, and mamma 
 just seeing about tea, and, maybe, going to have 
 warm gingerbread ! " 
 
 There was a shout of laughter at this climax,
 
 HIGH TIDE. 167 
 
 "but Phemie was in no state to take exceptions to 
 anything now. 
 
 " What a grand thing it is to be strong. 
 How much we owe to you!" said Honor, looking 
 admiringly at Owen's broad shoulders. 
 
 "I told you my Owen would save us," cried 
 Little Picket, with an adorning glance. 
 
 Utter wretchedness gnawed at "Walter's heart. 
 
 "And we are equally indebted to you, Walty, 
 perhaps more," whispered Honor, quickly. " What 
 would have become of us if your sharp eyes hadn't 
 discovered this shelf! " 
 
 Perhaps Walter was intending to set her right, 
 but Little Picket's shrill voice broke in. 
 
 "Oughtn't somebody to thank 'Our Father' 
 for making this nice little place for us, so we 
 needn't be drowned ? " 
 
 Walter immediately was busily engaged with 
 some object far out at sea. The fact was, he 
 had been trying very hard lately, to forget there 
 was a God ; and now, when in their peril, they 
 had almost stood face to face with Him, and it
 
 168 DRIFTIXG AXD STEERIXG. 
 
 seemed as if his voice was calling them so impres- 
 sively in the cool of the day, Walter only wanted 
 to hide. 
 
 " Why don't somebody ? " urged Bobby, and 
 Owen, coloring a little, knelt and offered a simple, 
 fervent thanksgiving. 
 
 Every eye was wet, as they arose. 
 
 " We might sing, * Blessing and honor,' too, 
 Bobby," said his sister. 
 
 " Oh, will you ! " said the child, eagerly, " will 
 you all sing ? " 
 
 They nodded assent, and the tremulous voices, 
 gradually growing stronger, chanted solemnly, 
 
 " Blessing, and honor, and glory, and power be 
 unto Him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto 
 the Lamb." 
 
 "Isn't it great," cried Little Picket. We 
 sing it almost every day, me and Honor, be- 
 cause it's so nice to know something they sing up 
 in heaven. Honor thinks maybe we haven't got 
 the same tune, but we'll learn the new one in two
 
 HIGH TIDE. 169 
 
 minutes when we get there ; we learn tunes just 
 as easy." 
 
 " Let us sing it again ? " said Owen, with a 
 bright smile ; and again the beautiful chant of 
 praise arose, mingled with the solemn under- 
 tone of the sea. The last sweet echoes died 
 away, and no one seemed inclined to break the 
 silence. 
 
 Owen sat down, taking little tired Him! upon 
 his lap, where she soon fell asleep from utter 
 weariness. Little Picket, clinging to one firm 
 hand, crouched by his side, and the rest dis- 
 posed themselves with what comfort they could. 
 The short twilight of late summer was rapidly 
 deepening into night, and hunger, weariness, and 
 wet garments produced a growing sense of dis- 
 comfort which gradually triumphed over their late 
 joyful mood. Two or three hours passed. 
 
 " How long shall we have to stay here, Owen ? " 
 said Phemie, wearily. 
 
 " I'm afraid, till the tide goes out." 
 
 " And what will become of our poor mothers ? "
 
 170 DRIFTING AND STEERING. 
 
 said Honor, bursting into tears. "They will 
 think we are all lost." 
 
 " That's the worst of it," said Walter. 
 
 But Owen did not know whether that was 
 the " worst of it ; " he had lately been seized 
 with a new fear, as he watched the " cruel 
 crawling foam." He remembered, too, that 
 it was the night after the full moon, when 
 sailors told him, the tide was always higher, but 
 he tried bravely to keep his anxieties to himself, 
 and not alarm the weary group unnecessarily. 
 But he could not spare them long. His restless 
 eye saw a wave afar off, towering crested above its 
 fellows. 
 
 " On your feet, quick ! " he cried to the loung- 
 ing group; and the order was scarcely obeyed, 
 when the wave came dashing over their ankles. 
 
 Blank terror looked from every face. 
 
 " Then we are to die, after all," gasped Honor. 
 
 " Must we, my Owen ? " said Little Picket, 
 straining his eyes to see his face. 
 
 "I cannot tell. We must pray, pray every
 
 HIGH TIDE. 171 
 
 minute, Bobby. Perhaps that is the highest we 
 shall have," said he, as six or seven now broke 
 without touching them. 
 
 But no ; there was another coming like a black 
 mountain, high and threatening ; Owen tightened 
 his hold on Little Picket's hand. 
 
 " That was higher," said Walter, in a strange, 
 unnatural voice, as the wave broke, and receded. 
 "It is gaining on us." 
 
 A little wail arose from Phemie. 
 
 The waves came on steadily, gradually higher 
 and higher. Little Picket was drenched with 
 spray. 
 
 "Couldn't you hold him np a little, when a 
 wave comes, Walty ? " 
 
 "I can ? t but just hold myself, Owen," said 
 Walter, bitterly. " We should only go together ! " 
 
 " Help me to fasten this rope then," said Owen, 
 and in an interval of quieter waves, they stretched 
 the rope across the group, fastening it to the 
 tough twig on one side, and forcing it into some 
 fissures in the rock, on the other.
 
 172 DRIFTING AND STEERING. 
 
 " There," cried Owen, cheerily. " Let every 
 one take hold, but don't pull on it, unless you 
 feel that you are carried off your feet. Now 
 Walter, the next heavy one, brace yourself 
 firmly, and lift poor Bobby, I know you can 
 weather it" 
 
 Walter looked around uneasily. Phemie, whose 
 small wits had long since deserted her, was cling- 
 ing with a last instinct to Honor, who with up- 
 lifted face seemed absorbed in prayer. They, 
 neither of them, were noticing anything. 
 
 " Lift him," repeated Owen, sharply. 
 
 " He must drop that dog, then." 
 
 "I won't/' cried Bobby, indignantly, clinging 
 tighter to poor Spy, who pitifully licked his little 
 master's face. " You needn't help me." . 
 
 " Will you lose both of our lives for the sake of 
 a dog ? " cried Walter, angrily, trying to unloose 
 his fingers. 
 
 Bobby stooped to escape him, and in that mo- 
 ment, a heavy wave came dashing in. A piercing 
 scream made every heart stand still.
 
 HIGH TIDE. 173 
 
 " Speak quick," cried agonized Owen, blinded 
 with spray, " Bobby, where's Bobby ? " 
 
 " Gone," cried Walter, in a hoarse voice, " I 
 couldn't hold him." 
 
 But before he began to speak, Owen had felt 
 the rope tighten. God was good. 
 
 Little Picket had caught it desperately, and 
 now came struggling back, choking and strang- 
 ling. 
 
 Honor passionately grasped one little icy 
 hand. " Oh thank God ; thank God ; " she cried. 
 
 "But Spy," sobbed Bobby, as soon as he 
 could speak, pointing to a dim speck, floating 
 out to sea. " Oh, I let him go right out of my 
 arms, Owen ; do you see how I could ; Oh, my 
 dear, dear Spy ; he didn't think I could let him 
 go, and I didn't mean to ! Oh, Owen, don't you 
 suppose he knows I didn't mean to ? " said Little 
 Picket, in an agony. 
 
 The tears were in Owen's eyes. " I'm sure he 
 knew it," said he, soothingly. "You couldn't 
 catch the rope, and hold him too."
 
 174 DRIFTING AND STEERING. 
 
 " But you are safe," cried Honor, kissing him 
 again, with a clinging embrace. 
 
 " Safe for fifteen minutes longer, perhaps," said 
 Owen, solemnly; and only convulsive sobs an- 
 swered him. 
 
 "Can't you lift me, my Owen?" said Little 
 Picket, in a miserably shaky voice, as another 
 threatening wave appeared. " It is so much worse 
 to drown than I thought; but I'll stand right 
 here, if you say so." 
 
 " I'll try," said Owen, and with a great effort 
 he raised him to his shoulder. "Cling to my 
 neck, Bobby, my arm is so stiff and tired, I can't 
 trust it." 
 
 Walter pressed up close to his cousin. " I 
 cannot die, Owen ! Oh, I cannot ! cannot ! What 
 shall I do ? " and he moaned and prayed incohe- 
 rently; all his pride, and care for appearances, 
 lost in this encounter with the last, dreadful foe. 
 
 For the rest, all was silent; for happy Mimi 
 still slept. Phemie had grown almost idiotic 
 with fright, and Honor was thinking, shudder-
 
 HIGH TIDE. 175 
 
 ingly, of the morning, when perhaps five limp, 
 helpless forms, with sea-weed in their hair, would 
 be drifting in upon the beach, as they did after 
 the wreck Phemie had told her about 
 
 But the worst was now over, although the 
 drenched, stupefied children did not perceive it 
 for a long time. The waves were subsiding, but 
 not until the harmless ripples were stealing only 
 to their feet, did Owen at last, realize it. 
 
 " Hurrah ! " shouted he deliriously, " We are 
 safe ! we are safe ! " 
 
 The electrified party roused as if from a fear- 
 ful dream, and Honor, in the great revulsion 
 of feeling, caught his hand, and eagerly kissed 
 it. 
 
 Walter's jealousies revived with returning 
 life. " She shall not like him the best," he said, 
 determinedly, to himself, and immediately re- 
 lieved from the oppression of his terrible fear, 
 he was very officious in plans for their comfort 
 He took off his coat, wrung it, and folded it 
 up. Honor must sit on that for a cushion, and
 
 176 DRIFTING AND STEERING. 
 
 he would hold Phemie, himself, they must not sit 
 on the hard rock. 
 
 Owen, in the meantime, had sunk down, with a 
 groan of weariness he could not repress, laying 
 Mimi across his knees. Even his great strength 
 had deserted him at last. He thanked God it had 
 lasted just long enough. 
 
 The first burst of thankfulness and relief 
 being over, Walter, anxious to recover the 
 laurels he feared he had lost, made a great effort 
 to be lively and entertaining. He proposed 
 story-telling, as they couldn't sleep, but after 
 contributing a brace of lively anecdotes, which 
 were received with faint appreciation, he was 
 greatly mortified to find no one inclined to follow. 
 
 " What makes you so stupid, Owen ? " he cried, 
 angrily. 
 
 " We are not all made alike, Walty," said Owen, 
 quietly. " Every tree has not the same bark, you 
 know." 
 
 " But you can tell us something to pass away 
 the time," urged Walter.
 
 HIGH TIDE. 177 
 
 "Not just yet," said Owen, in a low tone, "I 
 have been too near the other world, "Walter, to 
 take such a jump back into this, all in a minute. 
 I cannot talk now." 
 
 " I did not think you were so easily un- 
 nerved ! " said Walter, angry at the tacit 
 reproach ; but, even in the dim light, he 
 colored beneath his cousin's honest, sorrowful 
 gaze. 
 
 " I'm sure I was terribly frightened myself," 
 said kindly Honor, " and I thought Owen was the 
 bravest of us all." 
 
 " And Walter was the biggest cry-baby!" said 
 Little Picket, fiercely. 
 
 "Hush! Hush! "cried Owen, quickly. "It 
 was a fearful time, and no one need be ashamed 
 to own that he was frightened. I believe I was 
 more afraid than any of you, but we had different 
 ways of showing it Don't let us ever speak of 
 that again." 
 
 Little Picket shut his mouth like an oyster, 
 
 putting his hand timidly again into Owen's, and 
 12
 
 178 DRIFTING AND STEERING. 
 
 feeling greatly reassured when he received a 
 gentle pressure. 
 
 In the meantime the whole town had been 
 out, searching along the beach for the missing 
 children. Little pails, filled with sea-mosses, 
 had drifted in, and been recognized with cries of 
 dismay ; but, as yet, no one dared to tell the 
 frantic mothers. 
 
 "Would it be possible," said one good 
 woman to her husband, " that they could have 
 gone around the rock? Get the surf-boat, 
 quick ! " 
 
 He shook his head dolefully. " If they went 
 there they are lost, for that narrow bit of sand 
 was covered an hour ago." 
 
 The woman covered her face with her apron. 
 There was no sleep in the town that night. Every 
 father was engaged in the search, and every 
 mother's heart was aching. 
 
 As soon as the tide had sufficiently receded, 
 in the earliest gray of morning, a sad party 
 rounded the point, searching for traces of the
 
 HIGH TIDE. 179 
 
 poor drowned children. As they wandered 
 mournfully along, picking up now a battered 
 hat, and now a stray glove, saddest proofs of the 
 fearful fate of their owners, they were shocked 
 and startled at a sudden sound of chattering and 
 laughing in the rocks above their heads. They 
 looked up in bewilderment, and there were the 
 happy children, grouped safely together like so 
 many birds in their strange nest. 
 
 Such hurrahs, as rent the air! They were 
 heard beyond the point, and men, women, and 
 children came pouring around, shouting and 
 crying for joy. The heroes and heroines were 
 helped from their perch, and too stiff and 
 tired to walk were borne home in triumph 
 on the crossed hands of the warm-hearted vil- 
 lagers. Then a dozen old nurses, and skilful 
 dames, took possession of them. There was 
 no use to resist ; even Owen go proud of his 
 strength was hustled into bed like a baby, 
 and plied with warm herb-tea, till he begged for 
 quarter.
 
 180 DRIFTING AND STEERING. 
 
 Mrs. Whately, who had lain in happy uncon- 
 sciousness for hours, was yet too weak to come 
 to embrace them; but Phemie's mother had 
 kissed and wept over each one a dozen times, and 
 was beginning on the thirteenth round, when 
 Walter announced that he believed he " could eat 
 a roast baby." 
 
 " Perhaps this would do as well," said a smiling 
 old nurse, bringing in a steaming tray, dispensing 
 most appetizing odors. 
 
 " Was there ever anything so delicious ? " ex- 
 claimed Walter. " This is never Bridget's cook- 
 ing." 
 
 " Never," cried Owen, ecstatically. " Professor 
 Blot must have come all the way from New York, 
 on purpose to get it up for us." 
 
 Honor laughed merrily from her cot in the 
 next room. "Did you never hear," said she, 
 " that Hunger is the best cook in the world ? 
 Professor Blot would give a fortune for the recipe 
 of one of her sauces." 
 
 So they rattled on. Certainly the happiest
 
 HIGH TIDE. 181 
 
 people in all the world, that lovely sunshiny 
 morning, were in that little sea-side cottage. 
 Owen, looking through his window at the laugh- 
 ing, blue sea, could hardly recognize his relentless 
 foe of a few hours ago. It already began to seem 
 to them all like a dreadful dream, although their 
 aching limbs asserted their reality, and they were 
 very glad to lie in their beds all that day, and the 
 next. Owen, indeed, the strongest of all, suffered 
 the most, and was threatened with brain fever, for 
 several days. So that it was quite a fortnight, 
 before they were all sufficiently restored to bear 
 the fatigues of moving back to the city.
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 AN ILL WIND. 
 
 HEY had been settled a week in their 
 new home, which, though smaller than 
 the one they had lost, and rather too 
 far in the suburbs of the city, was still very cosey 
 and comfortable. 
 
 School was to open in a few days, and Owen 
 was full of eager anticipations for the coming 
 year. He should be more unsparing of himself 
 than ever, and nothing should prevent his sweep- 
 ing everything before him. 
 
 He had been taking a brisk walk with Charley 
 Morgan, one afternoon, and they had been 
 exchanging young, enthusiastic views of life. 
 They were so full of hope and energy; they 
 meant that the world should be better for their 
 082)
 
 AN ILL WIND. 183 
 
 having lived. They were not afraid of work ; and 
 they shook hands impulsively as one declared he 
 would rather " wear out, than run out," and the 
 other hoped he would " die in the harness." 
 
 " It is so much to be thankful for, Charley, 
 that we can have a liberal education,'' said 
 Owen. " It's rather a tough pull for me, to be 
 sure, but I shall manage it, I guess, by looking 
 as if I were the heir of an ' old clo's ' peddler," he 
 laughed. " But I shan't mind that, if I get the 
 education. Success in everything seems so much 
 surer when you have such a splendid foundation 
 to stand upon." 
 
 "That's true," said Charley. "Education is 
 certainly a spring-board (as I think somebody else 
 has said before me), that helps one take a great 
 deal higher jumps in the world ! " 
 
 They were coming near home now, and, Little 
 Picket, running out to meet them, caught 
 the last words. 
 
 "Who's going to make such a big jump?" 
 said the child.
 
 184 DRIFTING AND STEERING. 
 
 "Owen," said Charley; "he thinks he can 
 do anything. Wouldn't it be dreadful," he 
 added, gravely, " if he grew too ambitious, like 
 the old cow who jumped over the moon, and 
 had to leave both her horns behind her, as you 
 can see this very night ; " he pointed to the 
 silver tips of the young moon, just visible in the 
 violet sky. 
 
 Little Picket looked greatly mystified. "I'm 
 not a bit frightened," said Owen, laughing. " All 
 I can say, is, that such a disposition of her horns 
 must have been eminently satisfactory to a cow 
 of such high aspirations." 
 
 " There is no use in trying to warn him," said 
 Charley, in comical despair. " He will not spare 
 himself." 
 
 "No," said Owen, more gravely, " I should not 
 be satisfied unless I were doing my very utmost. 
 Let me tell you something I saw the other day, 
 I liked it so much, I knew it, after reading it 
 once.
 
 AN ILL WIND. 185 
 
 " Good, to be wafted down the stream, 
 In a gilded bark with silken sails, 
 Under the shadows of stately trees, 
 Fanned by the breath of scented gales. 
 
 Better, to breast the angry waves, 
 
 Up to the lips in their icy roll ! 
 Sinewy strength at its utmost strain, 
 
 Eager eyes on the distant goal ! " 
 
 They were standing by the stoop, as Owen 
 repeated the words, with glowing cheeks. As 
 he finished, "Walter's head appeared at an open 
 window. 
 
 "'Better' belongs to the first verse, Owen," 
 said he. " That's just the difference between 
 us." 
 
 " Yes," repeated Charley, in a low tone. " That's 
 just the difference between you." 
 
 As the two boys were going to bed that night, 
 "Walter drew a letter from his pocket. 
 
 " I declare if I haven't carried Uncle Knowl- 
 son's precious epistle all day, and forgot to open 
 it ! I hope the old gentleman has grown a little 
 more reasonable, and sent me something hand-
 
 186 DRIFTING AND STEERING. 
 
 some, this time. I shall try to pay you something 
 on that fifty dollars, and" 
 
 Walter ceased suddenly, and sat like one stupe- 
 fied, with such an expression of utter wretched- 
 ness, that Owen was alarmed. 
 
 "What is it, Walty?" said he, affectionately. 
 Walter mechanically held out the letter. 
 
 It was from Uncle Knowlson, a broken- 
 hearted, incoherent jumble of words. He humbly 
 asked forgiveness of his dear boy ; he had thought 
 he was doing the best thing, and had put his 
 money in an investment, which promised so 
 much ; he had anticipated giving Walter such a 
 delightful surprise, the property was to have been 
 doubled, at least; but rogues, sharpers whom 
 may the Lord forgive had robbed him of every- 
 thing ; all his own and Walter's too. They were 
 wretched paupers. He could bear it for himself, 
 but the thought of his poor ruined boy was kill- 
 ing him. He was now lying helpless upon a sick 
 bed, but if the merciful Lord would hear the 
 prayer he sent up night and day, and give him
 
 AN ILL WIND. 187 
 
 strength once more, he should work like a dog 
 till his dear boy had his own, once more. Would 
 Walter try to believe he had meant it all for the 
 best, and write just one word to say he forgave 
 him? 
 
 This letter, written in a strange hand, was 
 signed in trembling hieroglyphics 
 
 "Your most afflicted Uncle Knowlson ;" and 
 the stranger had added : 
 
 " This misfortune has broken his heart. The 
 physicians say he can live but a few days longer." 
 
 Owen's eyes filled with tears. "Poor, poor, 
 Uncle Knowlson," said he, tenderly. 
 
 " Poor Uncle Kuowlson," cried Walter, bitterly. 
 "You haven't a thought for me! What does 
 it matter to him ? He has had enough all his 
 long life, and now he'll die before he knows what 
 want means. But I, with everything just open- 
 ing before me, to be so crushed down, ground 
 into the dust! Horrid old man; credulous, 
 idiotic old fool," said he, passionately. " Forgive 
 him ? I never will ! " he sobbed aloud.
 
 188 DRIFTING AND STEERING. 
 
 Owen stood aghast It was indeed a ter- 
 rible misfortune. No one knew better than he, 
 how almost unendurable it would be to Walter. 
 What would he do without his fine broadcloths, 
 cut in the latest fashion, his gloves, which he 
 bought by the box-full, his scented soaps and 
 pomades ? for he had grown more fastidious than 
 ever, lately. And then, oh, worst of all, would he 
 have to give up his education? Was there no 
 one to help ? 
 
 Owen's mind ran rapidly over their short list 
 of relatives, but there was not one, who could 
 more than keep his own head above water. 
 Uncle Knowlson had been the only one of prop- 
 erty, and now everything was swept away. 
 His own scanty fund occurred to him. It might 
 board them both, and get them the simplest, 
 garments ; but then he, too, must give up his 
 dearest dreams, and what would life be, swept 
 bare of all hope and ambition ! Owen trembled 
 like a leaf, and sat down. Ought he to make such 
 a sacrifice ?
 
 AN ILL WIND. 189 
 
 "I am not fit to work," moaned Walter, 
 looking at his white hands, piteously. " There 
 is nothing left for me in life ; I wish I was 
 dead ! " 
 
 "Oh, hush," cried Owen; "you don't wish 
 anything of the kind ! " 
 
 " Oh, you've found your voice at last, when 
 there was a chance to preach. I thought you 
 were never going to speak again. Tell me, what 
 shall I do ? " 
 
 Owen opened his dry lips, but he couldn't 
 speak yet. A terrible struggle was going on in 
 his breast. 
 
 " Oh, well, I'll spare you the trouble of giving 
 unpleasant advice; I suppose you think I can 
 work on the wharves somewhere, in a red flannel 
 shirt; and maybe you, and Honor, and Phemie, 
 will come down once in a while, and throw me 
 a bit of money, or leave me a tract on con fun t- 
 ment ! " 
 
 " Poor "Walty," cried Owen, kneeling by 
 him alfectionately. "You don't know what
 
 190 DRIFTING AND STEERING. 
 
 you are saying. I am not going to leave you 
 to struggle alone ; half that I have is yours ; " 
 for the generous heart could see no other pos- 
 sible course. " We will bear this trouble to- 
 gether." 
 
 " And all you have, would hardly keep 
 Bobby in peanuts and marbles ! " said Walter, un- 
 graciously. 
 
 Owen colored at such a reception of the offer- 
 ing so costly for him ; but after a minute, he 
 spoke quietly again. 
 
 " We could board on that, certainly, Wal- 
 ter, and then I shall try to get a place as clerk 
 somewhere." 
 
 A dim sense of Owen's nobility penetrated even 
 that selfish heart. 
 
 " And give up your education ? " said he, doubt- 
 fully. 
 
 " No, I couldn't do that, put it off a year 
 or two, perhaps. I shall be the greatest miser, 
 and save everything I can, till I have enough to 
 go on again. And why can't you do the same ? "
 
 AN ILL WIND. 191 
 
 said he, eagerly. " Come, we will not be con- 
 quered. We will be perfect encyclopedias of 
 learning yet ! " 
 
 Walter's gloomy face brightened a little. 
 
 " It is a bargain then," said generous Owen. 
 
 Walter hesitated. " But I shall never hear the 
 end of your great sacrifice," said he, fretfully. 
 " Evexy one will be praising you, and thinking I'm 
 so mean to accept so much from you. No, I can't 
 bear it, I'd rather die ! " 
 
 " But you can't die, just now," said Owen, a 
 little impatiently. " Suppose we keep the 
 arrangement to ourselves; it is nobody's busi- 
 ness but our own. Will that suit you any bet- 
 ter?" 
 
 " What will we say to people then ? " said Wal- 
 ter, reviving a little. 
 
 " We can tell them we have had a pecuniary 
 misfortune. We can certainly say * we,' for I 
 share it equally with you ; and we have made up 
 our minds to put off our studies a little while, 
 till our affairs look a little more promising."
 
 192 DRIFTING AND STEERING. 
 
 "That will do," cried Walter. "You are a 
 good fellow, Owen. Thank you." 
 
 "The bargain isn't quite completed," said 
 Owen. " I won't sign the articles, till you 
 write Uncle Knowlson that you have forgiven 
 him." 
 
 " I never will ! " cried Walter, all his bitterness 
 returning. 
 
 " Then you must find some other plan for get- 
 ting over your difficulties," said Owen, dryly, 
 turning away. 
 
 " I'll write it," cried Walter, desperately. 
 " I am in your power. I see I am to be your 
 slave after this, ready to fall on my face when 
 you nod." 
 
 Owen paid no attention to this ill-humor, but 
 placed the paper before him, and Walter dashed 
 off a few curt, cold words. 
 
 " That will not do," said Owen, tearing it up. 
 "It would be the poor old gentleman's death 
 wound. Try again." 
 
 Walter fretted and chafed, but in the end, he
 
 AN ILL WIND. 193 
 
 wrote another, the inexorable Owen dictating 
 every word. 
 
 Poor, unfortunate Uncle Knowlson; his last 
 hours were made almost happy by that simple, 
 tender expression of sympathy and full forgiveness. 
 
 " Now shall we draw up our papers ? " asked 
 Owen. 
 
 "No, I'll take your word," cried Walter, 
 hastily. " Papers are the greatest old gossips in 
 the world, and are sure to tell their secrets sooner 
 or later." 
 
 "I believe you're right," said Owen, smiling 
 faintly. 
 
 The next morning Walter made his appear- 
 ance, after an elaborate toilet, as faultless and 
 self-possessed as ever. His light laugh again 
 and again jarred painfully upon Owen's excited 
 nerves, while he wondered if his cousin had the 
 slightest appreciation of his grievous sacrifice. 
 Not that he regretted it, or wished to alter his 
 decision, but he was conscious of an involun- 
 tary sinking of heart, when he remembered 
 13
 
 194 DRIFTING AND STEERING. 
 
 Charley Morgan, and the vacant desk there 
 would be at school. It would be hard to tell 
 Charley. Why wouldn't it be better and easier 
 to have it over at once ? And then hp might 
 stop and ask Mr. Hewlett's advice, and perhaps, 
 with his large acquaintance, he might know of 
 some good situation, that very day. 
 
 Owen rose hastily; Honor looked up with a 
 shade of regret. 
 
 " We were going to read in that new history 
 this morning, Owen." 
 
 It was so pleasant to have her remember him. 
 She had been kinder to him ever since that night 
 on the rocks, he thought ; but he shook his head, 
 reluctantly. 
 
 " ' I see a hand you cannot see,' " he said, trying 
 to laugh ; ' " That beckons me away.' " 
 
 Walter followed him anxiously into the hall. 
 
 " You are not going to blaze everything this 
 morning, are you ? It would be so much better 
 to look around quietly a few days, and find the 
 best opening."
 
 AN ILL WIXD. 195 
 
 " Or maybe lose it, by our delay," said 
 Owen. " The fact is, we ought to be earning 
 something as soon as possible. You are in debt 
 already." 
 
 " But there's no need of such desperate hurry. 
 Perhaps Uncle Knowlson will get well yet, and 
 pay me back. It's such a terrible come-down to* 
 go and be a clerk," he pleaded. 
 
 Owen gave him one of those looks that Walter 
 always dreaded. 
 
 " No come-down," said he, " unless you mean 
 to make a dishonest one." 
 
 "Walter colored, but he would not be put off. 
 "Sleep on it once more," he urged, "and let's 
 talk about it to-morrow, when we're calmer. 
 There's a dozen different courses we might take." 
 
 " I agree with you," said Owen, energetic- 
 ally. " There are twenty ways of going to a point, 
 and one is the shortest ; but set out at once on 
 one." 
 
 " How I hate all those old saws ! " said Wal- 
 ter. " They're just made for such a machine as
 
 196 DRIFTING AND STEERING. 
 
 you are. You always remind me of Herr Van 
 Flam's wooden leg, just a compound of clock- 
 work and steam. It puts me out of breath to 
 think of being fastened to you. I shall be a 
 skeleton in a year ! " 
 
 Owen laughed, in spite of his heavy heart. 
 " I'll unscrew you once in a while," said he, " and 
 let you rest."
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 STBAITS. 
 
 JREAT was Charley Morgan's conster- 
 nation, and Mr. Howlett's regret, when 
 Owen imparted his disastrous news. 
 " We must arrange it in some way," said Mr. 
 Hewlett. "I cannot willingly give up such a 
 good scholar. Our school is large, and we 
 need some help with the younger boys ; why not 
 teach a class or two, and take your tuition for 
 your salary ? " 
 
 Owen's heart gave a sudden leap. 
 " But Walter, would any such arrangement in- 
 clude him too ? " 
 
 Mr. Howlett shook his head. There was not 
 work enough for both. 
 
 "I'd better not think about it then, sir," 
 097)
 
 198 DRIFTING AND STEERING. 
 
 said Owen, trying to hide his disappointment. 
 " Thank you just the same, but it doesn't seem 
 quite right to desert Walty. "We must stand to- 
 gether." 
 
 " And he has been just as unfortunate as you ? " 
 sighed Charley. 
 
 'We share the trouble equally," said Owen, 
 hesitating. 
 
 "Have you formed any other plans?" asked 
 Mr. Hewlett 
 
 Owen confided his desire of obtaining a clerk- 
 ship, and his hope, in time, to save enough to go 
 on with his beloved studies. 
 
 "Well, well," said kind Mr. Hewlett, wip- 
 ing his eyes, "perhaps it is best. One must 
 go back sometimes in order to progress. You 
 will at least be learning energy and self-reliance, 
 which is not always taught in the schools. 
 Let me see," he said, musing ; " there is Mr. 
 Coolidge, who keeps the large fancy and toy 
 store, you know, needs a clerk; but perhaps 
 you wouldn't like such a place ? "
 
 STRAITS. 199 
 
 " 0, yes, yes ! " said Owen, hastily. 
 
 " Then I will write you a letter of introduc- 
 tion." He took his pen, "I suppose I shall 
 say you are honest and truthful?" he looked 
 searchingly at Owen. " I never had reason to 
 doubt you but once." 
 
 The blood seemed bursting through Owen's 
 cheeks. " Don't write it, sir, if you doubt me 
 still ! " he said, a little proudly. 
 
 " Oh, Mr. Hewlett," cried excitable Charley, 
 " you ought never to have doubted Owen." 
 
 " Perhaps not, perhaps not," said Mr. How- 
 lett, not at all displeased with the boy's vehe- 
 mence. 
 
 " There," said he, presently, finishing and 
 folding his letter. " Take this to him immedi- 
 ately. There will be a great many applicants, 
 but I think my recommendation will have some 
 weight. Success to you, my dear boy ; and may 
 your good conduct more than justify my words 
 of praise." 
 
 Owen lost no time in presenting his letter.
 
 200 DRIFTING AND STEERING. 
 
 It must have been something very complimentary 
 indeed ; for Mr. Coolidge, after a few simple ques- 
 tions, engaged him upon the spot, and wished 
 him to begin his duties the very next day. 
 
 There was only one faint shadow to dim the 
 brilliancy of this uulooked for success. As he 
 was leaving the store, he stumbled upon Fan- 
 shawe, in the door. 
 
 "What, are you here?" said Owen, in some 
 surprise. 
 
 "Yes," said Fanshawe, ungraciously. "I 
 never could go back to Mr. Hewlett, after 
 being treated with such injustice ; and, on the 
 whole, I thought I should prefer a mercantile 
 life to a profession. I shall certainly have a 
 better chance to get rich. Mr. Coolidge is my 
 uncle, and will take me into partnership some 
 day." And as Owen turned away, he added, with 
 a little attempt at courtesy, " Drop in and see 
 me, now and then." 
 
 Owen laughed. " I shall probably ' drop in/ 
 and see you every day, after this."
 
 STRAITS. 201 
 
 "My uncle hasn't engaged you for the other 
 clerk ? " cried Fanshawe, anything but an agree- 
 able expression sweeping over his face. 
 
 Owen nodded, and Fanshawe, without another 
 word, abruptly turned on his heel and left 
 him. 
 
 , That evening, Owen felt that he could no 
 longer delay disclosing to Mrs. "Whately and 
 Honor, the great change in their prospects and 
 plans. Walter feigned an errand from the room 
 till it was all over. 
 
 After the first burst of honest, motherly sym- 
 pathy, Mrs. "Whately said, 
 
 "But have you both lost? I thought your 
 property was in different hands." 
 
 Owen colored violently. To such a passion- 
 ate lover of truth, the least evasion was pain- 
 ful. 
 
 " One has suffered rather more than the other," 
 said he, hastily; "but we share the discomfort 
 equally." 
 
 Mrs. Whately saw there was something he
 
 202 DRIFTING AND STEERING. 
 
 wished to conceal, and respecting his secret, asked 
 nothing further. 
 
 But Honor was thinking busily. Why did 
 Owen color so painfully, and answer so differ- 
 ently from his usual frank manner? The one 
 who had suffered most, must have been himself, 
 as was almost proved, she thought, by the ener- 
 getic way in which he had bestirred himself. 
 This opinion was farther confirmed when Walter 
 returned, and she asked him softly, 
 
 " Do you give up school, too ? " 
 
 And he answered briefly, " If Owen can't go, I 
 can't." 
 
 True words, but with a false ring. 
 
 Unhappy Walter; he could not bear to have 
 Honor suspect he was penniless, a "pauper," as 
 he called himself bitterly. No, she must still 
 think him the rich, open-handed Walter, and 
 perhaps Uncle Knowlson would live yet, and 
 everything come right. 
 
 But Honor, after a glance of affectionate ad-
 
 STRAITS. 203 
 
 miration, which he received with unblushing 
 cheeks, turned away sadly. 
 
 " I am disappointed in Owen," she confessed to 
 herself; "I should like him better if he had re- 
 fused such a sacrifice." 
 
 Unconscious Owen, in the meantime, drew 
 Walter aside, to communicate the day's success. 
 
 " A pretty good entry to make in our log-book 
 to-day, Walty," he said cheerfully. "I thought 
 we were in pretty narrow straits last night, and I 
 hardly knew which way to steer. But Mr. How- 
 lett made a capital lighthouse, didn't he ? We're 
 off the reefs again, with his help." 
 
 " / haven't stirred," said Walter, gloomily. 
 
 "But you shall; I'll find you a place," said 
 Owen, taking all the care and responsibility as 
 a matter of course. " We must do our best to 
 make a successful trip this year, and fill our ship 
 with ' gold and ivory peacocks.' Won't it be de- 
 lightful when we are ready to exchange them for 
 more precious freight ? " 
 
 Nearly a month passed by, and despite Owen's
 
 204 DRIFTING AND STEERING. 
 
 efforts, no other place had been found. But "Wal- 
 ter took life very easily. He had received Uncle 
 Knowlson's watch, and a few other trifles, last 
 bequests of the poor old gentleman, and having 
 pawned them, he had a little ready money, and 
 managed to spend his days very pleasantly. 
 
 But one night Owen came in a little earlier 
 than usual. 
 
 " All right at last, Walty," he said, taking him 
 aside. " Mr. Coolidge's assistant bookkeeper is 
 going away, and Mr. Hewlett has been kind 
 enough to say that I am perfectly competent to 
 take the place. So Mr. Coolidge is going to try 
 me, at an advanced salary, you know, and he says 
 you may come in my place." 
 
 Contrary to Owen's expectations, "Walter's face 
 darkened ; he could not endure the thought of 
 occupying an inferior position to his cousin, play- 
 ing Haman, he thought, to Owen's Mordecai. 
 
 " "Why couldn't you have proposed me for the 
 new place ? " said he. " I am the oldest, and as 
 quick at figures as you are."
 
 STRAITS. 205 
 
 " I never once thought of it," confessed honest 
 Owen, flushing. " I can do it yet, but I'm afraid 
 it won't do any good," he hesitated. " You see I 
 know something about the business now; and 
 then I look so much older than I am. I know 
 Mr. Coolidge thinks I am eighteen, at least, but 
 you are slighter, more boyish looking" 
 
 " I am sufficiently well acquainted with my 
 personal appearance," said Walter, loftily. " I can 
 spare your very flattering description." 
 
 Owen walked hastily away, as was his wont, 
 when he. could not trust himself to speak. 
 
 Nothing more was said till late at night, when 
 Walter sullenly inquired, 
 
 " When does he want me ? " 
 
 " Monday," said Owen, briefly. 
 
 " But we're going a nutting, Monday. Sprague 
 and his sister, and Honor, and a great party. I 
 won't come then, anyway." 
 
 " Very well, then. Choose your bag of nuts, if 
 that seems best to you," said Owen, losing pa- 
 tience. "I shall not urge you. There are a
 
 206 DRIFTING AND STEERING. 
 
 dozen other boys, eager and ready to take the 
 place. But, Walter, I shall not try to help you 
 yery soon again, and if you find the straits too 
 narrow, remember you chose to stay there." 
 
 The next Monday Walter was punctually in hia 
 place; neat, trim, handsome, and graceful. Mr. 
 Coolidge was well pleased with his new clerk ; he 
 would learn very quick, and attract customers to 
 the store. Walter also was genuinely pleased with 
 his success, although he treated Owen with studied 
 coldness, being further incited thereto by his old 
 friend Fanshawe, who was greatly incensed at his 
 uncle's preferment of Owen, and lost no oppor- 
 tunity of showing his dislike and jealousy.
 
 CHAPTER XL 
 
 A HEAVY SEA. 
 
 [EARLY a year had passed away, and 
 Owen's bright face was becoming per- 
 ceptibly pale and anxious. They had 
 not made the prosperous cruise he hoped. 
 Walter had gradually become more and more 
 fascinated with Fanshawe, who led him into 
 all kinds of excesses, while Owen's remonstrances 
 only seemed to give a keener relish to the 
 forbidden pleasures. Lately, whole nights, even, 
 had been spent in dissipation, and yet Wal- 
 ter, though pale and haggard, had thus far 
 managed to be promptly at his post, and retain 
 the confidence of his employer. But how long 
 could it lust ? Owen asked himself with a sinking 
 heart, as he found all his entreaties worse than in 
 vain. 
 
 (207)
 
 208 DRIFTING AND STEERING. 
 
 The only interference Walter Avould allow, 
 was for Owen to pay his debts when they be- 
 came too pressing, and threatened disgrace or 
 exposure. At such times there had, at first, 
 been some flashes of gratitude, some sense of 
 shame, with many tearful promises of amend- 
 ment; but latterly Owen's sacrifices had be- 
 come a matter of course, no more to be 
 wondered at, or thought of, than the daily ris- 
 ing of the sun. Walter would not even lift his 
 finger to spare him one of the annoyances which 
 Fanshawe daily planned, to wreak his ill-humor 
 upon the boy, whose pure life was such a con- 
 stant, irritating rebuke. 
 
 Only one defence seemed left between the 
 headstrong Walter and ruin, and that was, his 
 ever strong desire to keep the respect and good 
 opinion of the home circle, especially of Honor, 
 sweet, womanly Honor. 
 
 Whatever were his excesses, he was careful 
 never to appear in. that charmed circle till the 
 evil spirit had left him, and he was clothed and
 
 A HEAVY SEA. 209 
 
 in his right mind. And Mrs. Whately, Honor, 
 and Phemie (who was again with them, going 
 to school) vied with each other in attentions to 
 the pale boy, who seemed to be ailing more and 
 more every day, while they were so very far from 
 suspecting the cause. 
 
 As for Owen, working far beyond his 
 strength, seeing his brightest dreams ever re- 
 ceding, he carried his burdens alone. No 
 one seemed to suspect that he needed any sym- 
 pathy, and he was too careful of Walter's 
 honor, to confide his heavy secrets even to his 
 dearest friend, Charley. But they were wear- 
 ing upon him ; the endless trials, great and small, 
 were almost more than the boy of sixteen could 
 nerve himself to meet, and he grew moody and 
 Unsocial. 
 
 It was a lovely moonlight evening in early 
 fall, when Owen walked wearily home, with a 
 tread very different from the elasticity of a year 
 ago. He feared Walter was off with Fanshawe 
 
 again, for they had left the store early together ; 
 14
 
 210 DRIFTING AND STEERING. 
 
 but he was agreeably surprised to find him in the 
 pleasant parlors, in voluble conversation with 
 Honor and Phemie. 
 
 " See," said Honor, holding up her hand ; 
 "what a beautiful basket of fruit Walter has 
 brought us. Peaches and grapes! Was there 
 ever more exquisite crimson and purple ? " 
 
 " And he has brought us each a new song ! " 
 cried Phemie. " He is too generous ! He would 
 give away his head if he could, I believe." She 
 looked pointedly at Owen as she spoke. 
 
 The boy understood her, and colored. He 
 knew what they were all thinking of. His sal- 
 ary was the largest, Walter never let them 
 forget that, but he never brought anything 
 home ! 
 
 Honor held out the peaches, with her never- 
 failing courtesy ; but he shook his head, thanking 
 her. 
 
 " I should think he'd be afraid they would 
 choke him," whispered Phemie; but Owen heard 
 every word.
 
 " See, said Honor, " what a beautiful basket of fruit Walter 
 has brought us !" PAGE 210.
 
 A HEAVY SEA. 211 
 
 There was a little silence, and then Phemie said 
 aloud 
 
 " I thought you were going to school again, 
 this Fall." 
 
 " If I could earn money enough," said Owen, 
 gravely, " but I couldn't." 
 
 " Couldn't ? " cried Phemie, in vast surprise , 
 "why, I thought you must be about as rich as 
 Mr. Peabody, by this time." 
 
 "There is some slight difference in our for- 
 tunes yet," said Owen, trying to smile. 
 
 "But you must have made something very 
 handsome," persisted sharp tongued Phemie. 
 " Double your salary, anyway, if it's true that a 
 * penny saved is a penny earned ! ' ' 
 
 " Oh, Phemie, how could you!" cried Honor, 
 coloring almost as painfully as Owen ; while 
 "Walter uneasily proposed that they should have 
 some music. 
 
 Honor rose eagerly ; glad of anything to change 
 the subject. 
 
 " Come, Owen," said she, kindly.
 
 212 DRIFTING AND STEERING. 
 
 But Owen could not have sung a note if his 
 life depended upon it. He would rather listen 
 he said, and, without urging him very much, 
 they walked away, leaving him sitting in the 
 shadow of the window curtains. He wasn't at 
 all necessary to their enjoyment ; he felt it 
 bitterly, as he listened to the voices chattering 
 gaily, in the intervals of trying the new songs. 
 Was it right, was it just, he asked himself 
 passionately, that "Walter should be so flattered 
 and honored, while he was always under some 
 mysterious cloud, which he felt, but knew not 
 how to sweep away ? What if they knew all the 
 truth ? if he should lay bare all his barren, strug- 
 gling life ? would that make any difference ? 
 Yes, they might pity him a little more ; nothing 
 farther! He remembered something Phemie 
 had once said She " was tired of all that old 
 humbug about the industrious ants ! Why they 
 should be praised, she couldn't see ! They, and 
 people like them, worked because it was all they 
 were fit for ; and she believed every ugly, black
 
 A HEAVY SEA. 213 
 
 morsel, lugging his selfish grain of sand, 
 was just dying of envy that he wasn't a golden- 
 winged butterfly, making the whole world brighter 
 and gayer ! " 
 
 " They will all side with the butterfly now," 
 thought patient Owen, " and it is only natural." 
 
 He sat in great humility, thinking how dull, 
 and unattractive he had grown ; but he wished 
 they might not despise him. Dislike, he could 
 bear, but not contempt; he had not deserved 
 that; and again came the passionate desire for 
 justice, only justice! What if he should walk 
 up to them now, and show them in plain figures, 
 how little he had spent upon himself the past 
 year ? how he could not retain his place if his 
 worn clothes became much shabbier; show 
 them his empty purse, drained that very week to 
 pay another of Larry Pitt's disgraceful bills, 
 upon Walter's solemn promise that it should be 
 the last. And yet Walter had deceived him; 
 he had plenty of money to pay the debt himself, 
 it seemed. Plenty to gratify any generous whim ;
 
 214 DRIFTING AND STEERING. 
 
 for, in a temporary absence of Phemie's, Owen de- 
 tected his cousin slipping a little glittering circlet 
 upon Honor's finger. 
 
 " To replace the one you lost in the fire," he 
 heard him say softly. "A pearl just like your- 
 self, Honor." 
 
 And the blushing, embarrassed girl did not 
 seem displeased. 
 
 Owen rose excitedly. He would ask Walter 
 to pay him back. They should know whose 
 money he was spending; they should know every- 
 thing ! 
 
 He took a step forward, and then sank back 
 with quick shame. Had he not given his word 
 that nothing should be known through him ? 
 Was trouble making him so base and treach- 
 erous ? Could he not keep his promises, 
 especially the one to that gentle, trusting 
 mother ? Ah ! but if she had known what she 
 was asking, would she not have hesitated ? He 
 knew she would pity him if she saw him now. 
 And, no longer able to control himself, Owen
 
 A HEAVY SEA. 215 
 
 stole away to sob out all his troubles in the ear 
 of the great Friend, who knew all, and to find 
 peace and rest, at last, upon that yearning Heart 
 of love. 
 
 After this unhappy evening, Owen rarely 
 lingered long in the parlors. Affectionate 
 Little Picket, was almost always awaiting his 
 return ; but after a short game with him, and a 
 few pleasant words with Mrs. "Whately, he would 
 generally go to his room, and spend the evening 
 in reading and study. To be sure he sometimes 
 thought Honor looked after him regretfully, and 
 he would be almost ready to turn back, till he 
 remembered that her kind heart would grieve if 
 she thought a cat, or a dog were unhappy, 
 and then he would go quietly on. It was better 
 and safer for him to be alone, he thought. 
 Besides, study was an exhilaration, and the con- 
 sciousness of progress, almost happiness, to such 
 an eager spirit as Owen's. Altogether, he was 
 determined to take more hopeful views of life.
 
 216 DRIFTING AND STEERING. 
 
 Perhaps another year would be more successful ; 
 and he would not be much over seventeen, then. 
 
 Thus a fortnight passed by, when, one morn- 
 ing, as Owen reached the store, he was surprised 
 to find Mr. Coolidge (who generally kept late 
 hours) awaiting him at the door. 
 
 Still more disturbed was he, when, in place 
 of the usual cordial greeting, he was sternly re- 
 quested to follow his employer into the back 
 office. 
 
 Mr. Coolidge motioned him to a seat. " Do 
 you remember a check I gave you two or three 
 weeks ago, to enclose to Mr. Dunn ? " 
 
 "Perfectly, sir; a check for three hundred dol- 
 lars." 
 
 " Exactly ; and what did you do with it ? " 
 
 " You remember, sir, just as I was sealing the 
 letter, you countermanded the order. You had 
 discovered some mistake in the delivery of the 
 goods, and you would not send it till all was 
 right." 
 
 " What did you do with the check ? "
 
 A HE A VY SEA. 217 
 
 " As yon told me, sir ; carried it to Mr. Grimes, 
 to put in the safe till it was needed." 
 
 Mr. Coolidge looked at him keenly. " That 
 check, which unfortunately had been made pay- 
 able to bearer," he said slowly, "has been pre- 
 sented at the bank, and paid !" 
 
 Owen started in genuine astonishment. " How 
 can that be possible, sir ? " 
 
 "How, indeed!" responded Mr. Coolidge, 
 in an icy tone. "Mr. Grimes h^s been in my 
 employ twenty years, and I have never known 
 him to swerve a hairVbreadth from the strictest 
 honesty. He locks that safe always himself, 
 and keeps the secret of the combinations. I 
 could not open it myself, if I would. If that 
 paper was brought to him, as he does not now 
 remember, and put in the safe, it would be 
 there now ! " 
 
 Suddenly and overwhelmingly it dawned upon 
 Owen, where Mr. Coolidge's suspicions were 
 resting.
 
 218 DRIFTING AND STEERING. 
 
 " You will not say, sir, that the check was not 
 taken to Mr. Grimes ? " 
 
 He had risen from his seat, hat trembled so 
 violently from agitation, that he had to lean 
 against the desk to steady himself. 
 
 "What can I think?" said Mr. Coolidge, 
 avoiding the eager eyes. "They tell me at the 
 bank that it Avas presented by one of my young 
 clerks. The Teller did not think he could swear 
 to the face, so many are coming to him every 
 hour ; but his impression was that the boy was 
 tall, with blue eyes, and light brown hair ! " 
 
 Even at that painful moment, Owen was con- 
 scious of a slight relief. It was not Walter, then ! 
 It must have been Fanshawe, who answered the 
 description exactly, far better than he, whose hair 
 and eye-lashes were almost dark. Why couldn't 
 Mr. Coolidge see it ! 
 
 "I have another clerk, 'tall, and with blue 
 eyes,'" said Mr. Coolidge, a little sarcastically, 
 seeming to read his thoughts, "whom I am 
 willing to suspect, if you can suggest any way
 
 A HEAVY SEA. 
 
 for his getting into that safe ! Only the inventor 
 could open it; not knowing the combinations; 
 and the shortest way for a burglar would be to 
 blow up the lock. No, that supposition is im- 
 possible ! That paper never found its way to the 
 safe ! Perhaps you dropped it, or picked up some 
 other worthless bit by mistake ? " 
 
 Owen shook his head sorrowfully. "I have 
 always been very careful, sir, I know it was that 
 identical check I took to Mr. Grimes, who car- 
 ried it immediately with some other papers to the 
 safe ! " 
 
 " And you cannot give the slightest clue to its 
 disappearance ! " 
 
 "It is a perfect mystery to me, sir! " said poor 
 Owen, feeling as if the ground were slipping away 
 from under his feet. 
 
 "I should like to believe yon, Grey," said 
 Mr. Coolidge, hesitating, "but the circum- 
 stances are too much against you. I have also 
 been to see your old friend Mr. Hewlett, and 
 have drawn from him a reluctant acknowledg-
 
 220 DRIFTING AND STEERING. 
 
 ment that your truthfulness was at one time un- 
 der grave suspicion, and that it has never been 
 satisfactorily established! You have been a faith- 
 ful clerk to me, however, up to this time, and in 
 consideration of your past good conduct, I shall 
 not be severe with you. There shall be no 
 public exposure ; but I cannot run any more 
 risks ; you may consider yourself dismissed from 
 my service ! " 
 
 There were no passionate remonstrances, as 
 Mr. Coolidge half expected. In utter silence, 
 Owen groped for his hat ; but the white despair 
 of his expressive face was more eloquent than 
 words. 
 
 Mr. Coolidge turned away his head. "You 
 might have been sent to gaol for this, Grey. I 
 have been very lenient to you ! " 
 
 "Thank you, sir," said poor Owen, mechan- 
 ically ; and he staggered forth into the street. 
 
 It must have been two or three hours from 
 the time of leaving the store, before Owen 
 reached home, and the interval was always a
 
 A HE A VY SEA. 221 
 
 blank. To be sure, the kind heart hud helped a 
 tottering old woman across the street, had 
 given a penny to a little child sobbing over a 
 lost slate pencil, and had left his last quarter in 
 the hand of old blind Jacob, at the corner. But 
 he remembered nothing of this ; kind deeds to 
 the least of the Lord's little ones, had become as 
 natural to him, and as unconsciously performed, 
 as the act of drawing his breath. 
 
 But he was very glad to get home, and very 
 glad that Phemie and Honor were at school, and 
 Mrs. Whately and Mimi in the kitchen, so that 
 he could steal up to his room without being ob- 
 served ; steal in, and lock the door, and hide from 
 every eye ; till Walter came home, and the dread- 
 ful revelation must be made. 
 
 When his mind became a little calmer, he 
 forced himself to go over and over again, every 
 minute transaction of that fatal day, one short 
 fortnight ago. He remembered that Eben stood 
 near him, as Mr. Coolidge countermanded his 
 order; and as he had always distrusted the boy,
 
 222 DRIFTING AND STEERING. 
 
 he did not wait a minute to place the check safe 
 in Mr. Grimes' hands. That one circumstance 
 made him sure. It was certainly put in the safe ! 
 How then did it get out ? He did not suspect 
 for a moment, honest old Grimes, with one foot 
 in the grave. But Fanshawe his mind con- 
 tinually reverted to him had been wonderfully 
 flush lately ! There had been drives and suppers 
 without number, and he was sporting a new 
 chain ! But how did he open the safe ? he 
 hadn't the least mechanical genius ; Owen hofc- 
 estly doubted if he could have opened it, if he 
 had known the figures. 
 
 So the vexed subject ebbed to and fro in his 
 mind, and there seemed no possible solution to 
 the mystery. 
 
 At last, baffled and wearied, he turned from 
 it, and forced himself to think of his future. 
 What would Charley say? happy Charley, just 
 entering upon his college life. What a gulf 
 there seemed between them now. Was his 
 friendship strong enough to stand such a test,
 
 A SEA VY SEA. 223 
 
 and believe him, under such a weight of sus- 
 picion ? And Mrs. "Whately, Honor, even 
 Phemie, what would they all think of him? 
 And Bobby, quaint, high-minded Little Picket. 
 How it would hurt him if that honorable little 
 heart grew cold at the word thief. For they 
 must all know. Even if Mr. Coolidge kept the 
 secret, these friends should know everything. 
 And then if they couldn't trust him; if they 
 were not sure of his innocence, he had better 
 give them up at once. 
 
 Thus the sore, proud heart tormented itself, 
 and the lagging hours dragged on, till, at last, 
 with a start, he recognized Walter's step in the 
 hall, and knew that the time had come for the 
 ordeal from which he would not spare himself. 
 
 As he went to the mirror, to arrange his dis- 
 ordered dress, he was startled at his black circled 
 eyes, and wan face, which looked out at him like 
 some strange glimpse of himself, when he had 
 grown to be an old, old man. 
 
 But he felt that he had no time for self-pity ;
 
 224 DRIFTING AND STEERING. 
 
 he must nerve himself to meet the grieved sur- 
 prise of all those dear faces. And what if they 
 shouldn't trust him ! 
 
 God only knew what torture, even a suspicion 
 of dishonesty was to the proud boy. 
 
 Slowly he n eared the dining-room, and, hear- 
 ing the sound of eager voices, hesitated a mo- 
 ment before he could summon resolution to open 
 the door. 
 
 There was blank silence as he entered, and the 
 group around Walter separated hastily. 
 
 Owen's face grew a shade paler, if that were 
 possible. They were talking about him, it was 
 evident; and they believed he had done it, 
 the silence proved it. 
 
 The room swam around ; he turned, groping 
 for the door, with only one thought, to hide 
 himself forever from all those familiar yet pitiless 
 eyes. 
 
 It was only a moment, although it seemed 
 ages, and Mrs. Whately had caught him in her 
 outstretched arms.
 
 A HEAVY SEA. 225 
 
 " My poor boy ! " she cried, shocked at his 
 altered appearance; and drawing the white face 
 down between her kind, motherly hands, she 
 kissed him tenderly. 
 
 Owen then became conscious of Little Picket's 
 clinging hands, trying to lead him to the sofa, 
 while the child, trying not to break into sobs, 
 was inveighing loudly against Mr. Coolidge. 
 
 "I'll never spend another cent in his store," 
 cried the indignant Picket, "if I have to go 
 without tops and marbles all the rest of my 
 life!" 
 
 " He may as well put up his shutters then j 
 he'll fail before the year is out," said provoking 
 Phemie. 
 
 But Little Picket scorned to notice the satire. 
 He was too busy watching his beloved Owen. 
 
 " You must not take it so hard, Owen," said 
 Walter, who seemed as genuinely distressed as his 
 cousin. " We are all quite sure you never took 
 the check." 
 
 Owen looked up gratefully. 
 15
 
 226 DRIFTING AND STEERING. 
 
 " But how did you know about it, Walter ? " 
 said he, a sudden thought striking him, " Mr. 
 Coolidge promised to keep the whole matter a 
 secret." 
 
 " Oh, such things are sure to leak out, you 
 know ; we all knew you were gone, dismissed, 
 and then Eben remembered he had overheard his 
 uncle talking with Grimes about that check,, yes- 
 terday, and putting this and that together, we 
 found out easily enough that you were suspected 
 of" 
 
 "Never mind," said Mrs. "Whately, hastily, 
 noticing that Owen had bitten his lip till it was 
 bleeding. "We will consider this a forbidden 
 subject, unless some one has some new light to 
 throw upon the mystery. Come, how thought- 
 less we all are! The poor child has had no 
 dinner ; he looks ready to faint away ! " and she 
 bustled off for some little delicacy to tempt his 
 appetite. 
 
 Little Picket was watching with fond delight, 
 the gradual brightening of Owen's expressive
 
 A HEAVY SEA. 227 
 
 face. The poor boy found the world so much 
 better than he feared. This blow was not fatal 
 then ; he might still be trusted, might find 
 another position ; and the brave, elastic spirit of 
 youth began to revive. He could not always 
 be so unfortunate. He would look for a new 
 place the very next morning. 
 
 So the dreaded evening passed away almost 
 happily. Every one had been kind, Walter, 
 even anxiously attentive; and as they early sep- 
 arated to their rooms, Owen's grateful heart was 
 conscious of but one drawback to its entire satis- 
 faction. He was disappointed that Honor had 
 not said, even in the fewest simplest words, 
 that she trusted him ! Phemie, too, had been 
 silent; and though he, heretofore, had cared 
 very little for the opinion of the " rattle-head," 
 it would have given him comfort now, to know 
 that a conviction of his honesty had taken root, 
 even in that shallow little heart. He hoped and 
 tried to persuade himself that this silence was ac- 
 cidental ; but he would have understood it better
 
 228 DRIFTING AND STEERING. 
 
 if he had heard Phemie's constant whispers, 
 a little more guarded than usual. The girl had 
 many little childish causes of resentment laid up 
 against Owen, and could not afford to be gener- 
 ous now. 
 
 " Isn't it very strange, Honor," she had said, 
 "that a tall boy, with blue eyes, carried that 
 check to the bank? " 
 
 "But it was not Owen," said Honor, de- 
 cidedly. 
 
 "But Owen admits that Fanshawe could not 
 have got it out of the safe, if it was once put 
 there; if, if" repeated Phemie, significantly. 
 
 " I will not listen to you," said Honor, indig- 
 nantly. " I know Owen could never stoop to such 
 a thing. It is impossible ! " 
 
 "Well, I'm sure I hope it's all right, but it 
 certainly has a queer look. And Honor," she 
 lowered her voice, " you know this isn't the first 
 time he has been suspected of something he 
 couldn't explain. Do you remember when Mr. 
 Howlett found his handkerchief?
 
 A HEAVY SEA. 229 
 
 Honor assented, with a troubled face. 
 
 "It's very queer," persisted Phemie, "that 
 a boy should be so unfortunate twice; isn't it 
 now ? " 
 
 "It will all be explained yet," said Honor; 
 but she did not speak with as firm conviction as 
 she could have wished. The truth was, that 
 though Phemie's opinions were generally of very 
 little weight, yet at times, her sharp words, like 
 the sting of a gnat, left an irritating poison behind 
 them. 
 
 And this Honor felt, as she stole into her 
 mother's room, late at night, to tearfully lay be- 
 fore her all these suspicions. 
 
 "It is certainly very mysterious," assented 
 Mrs. Whately, thoughtfully; "but how can 
 we doubt that open, honest face. We must be- 
 lieve the poor boy ; though I confess it will be a 
 great load off my mind when the matter is cleared 
 up." 
 
 In the meantime, Walter, with a great deal 
 of stammering, and a very red face, was trying
 
 230 DRIFTING AND STEERING. 
 
 to communicate a piece of news to Owen ; but 
 he could not confe straight to the point. After 
 a great deal of circumlocution, Owen caught his 
 meaning. 
 
 " Oh, you wish to say that Mr. Coolidge has 
 offered you my place, and you are afraid I won't 
 like it? Why, my dear fellow, I thought you 
 knew me better ! " he took his hand, and shook it 
 heartily. " If / must lose it, there is no one I 
 would rather see fill it than you." 
 
 Walter submitted to the pressure uneasily, and 
 seemed relieved when it was over. 
 
 The next morning, with the first streak of 
 light, Owen was up, studying the advertise- 
 ments of "boys wanted." He deemed one day 
 sufficient to have been given to regrets ; and as 
 soon as breakfast was over, the energetic boy 
 started to make application at the various 
 places. 
 
 It was well he had not known the day of 
 mortifications that lay before him. In the first 
 place the news of his misfortunes seemed to be
 
 A HEAVY SEA. 231 
 
 "widely spread, and ill many places, the simple 
 announcement that he had been "Mr. Cool- 
 idge's clerk," closed the conference suddenly 
 and decisively. At other and more remote 
 places of business, his application was no more 
 successful. Two dreadful questions were sure to 
 be asked. 
 
 " In whose employ have you been ? and why did 
 you leave ? " 
 
 Questions to which the honest boy could an- 
 swer nothing but the simplest truth ; though 
 each time a knife seemed to go through his 
 heart. 
 
 Then there were smiles and looks of aston- 
 ishment upon the part of some, a faint glim- 
 mer of pity and sympathy from others ; but in 
 one thing they were all agreed, they "should 
 not need his services." 
 
 As Owen turned, almost broken-hearted from 
 the last place upon his list, he suddenly stumbled 
 upon Fanshawe. 
 
 " How are you getting on ? " said the boy, inso-
 
 232 DRIFTING AND STEERING. 
 
 lently, staring into his dispirited face. "Can't 
 you make people believe that you were honorably 
 discharged ? " 
 
 "Perhaps so, if I tried," said Owen, quietly 
 "But you wouldn't try, eh? You wouldn't 
 tell a lie, now, if you could get the biggest salary 
 in town ? " 
 
 " You are right," said Owen, " I wouldn't." 
 " There's some mistake about you, Owen," 
 drawled Fanshawe. "I'm sure Providence 
 designed you for a nursery-maid^! With your 
 irreproachable character, and talent for preach- 
 ing, you would do a grand work among the 
 infants, and raise up a race of little Samuels to 
 make the nineteenth century go out in a blaze of 
 glory." 
 
 Fanshawe was disappointed in the effect of his 
 words. Owen looked at him with an air of calm 
 superiority, very much as he would at a little 
 puppy barking at his heels. 
 
 " I should like to knock you over ! " said Fan- 
 shawe, angrily.
 
 A HE A VY SEA. 233 
 
 "Very well," said the unmoved Owen, 
 "only I warn you that I generally fall on 
 top." 
 
 Fanshawe looked at the broad shoulders, and 
 wisely turned a convenient corner. 
 
 Nearly home, Owen met Walter going to his 
 tea. 
 
 " What success ? " said Walter, with a stealthy 
 glance at his cousin's face. 
 
 "None," said Owen, faltering a little. "lam 
 only sixteen, Walty, and I am afraid I am ruined 
 for life. No one will trust me ! " 
 
 Walter started nervously. " Oh, don't say so ! 
 It will be forgotten in a little while." 
 
 " I'm afraid not, but," he smiled faintly, " it 
 isn't half so bad, as if I were really guilty. I must 
 remember to thank God for that, Walty." 
 
 Walter dropped a book he was carrying, and 
 stooped to pick it up. 
 
 " What will you do ? " asked he, in a con- 
 strained voice, when they were walking on 
 again.
 
 234 DRIFTING AND STEERING. 
 
 "For the three months before my interest is 
 again due, I must find something to support 
 myself. I can be a common porter if nothing 
 better offers. No honest work is degrading. 
 Of course you will not expect me to do any- 
 thing more for you. I paid our board last week, 
 and now you have a good salary, plenty to sup- 
 port yourself, and lay up something besides, if 
 you choose." 
 
 "And when you get your interest?" asked 
 Walter. 
 
 " Then I shall try to enter college. I think 
 I can pass, I have studied very hard this last 
 year; and I do not feel that I can ever go back to 
 Mr. Hewlett." 
 
 "And you will be a gentleman and 
 scholar!" cried Walter, in great excitement; 
 "and leave me a common shop-boy. You 
 promised to stay by me till we could go to- 
 gether." 
 
 " So I did," said Owen, slowly ; " but I thought
 
 A HEAVY SEA. 235 
 
 perhaps you would excuse me, when you saw how 
 painful it was for me to stay." 
 
 Walter said not a word. 
 
 " Of course I shall keep my promise, if you 
 wish it. I might wait another year, if you will 
 promise to save all you can. It is just possible 
 we might both be able to begin next fall, and 
 struggle through, by teaching and working be- 
 tween times." 
 
 " Oh, thank you ; I should like that so much 
 better!" cried Walter, eagerly; for he had 
 been racking his brains to think how he should 
 account plausibly for Owen's being able to go to 
 college, while he, the rich Walter, stayed behind 
 as a clerk. 
 
 " Very well, then," said Owen, with a sigh ; " I 
 will wait." 
 
 The next morning, Owen began his wander- 
 ings again. He would not force upon himself 
 the misery of another such day as he had just 
 passed. Even Ms courage failed before the 
 trial of repeating his humiliating confession to
 
 236 DRIFTING AND STEERING. 
 
 stranger after stranger, and invariably reading 
 surprise and distrust in every cold face. But he 
 was as good as his word; he found some employ- 
 ment, though he did not say what, and no one 
 pressed the subject 
 
 " It is a good, honest business," he said, with 
 something of his old cheerfulness ; " and I run no 
 danger of being spoiled, by becoming rich too 
 suddenly." 
 
 So daily he went to his toil, and nightly 
 came back with a bronze face, and roughened 
 hands. They knew the work must be hard, and 
 far from congenial ; but no one ever heard a word 
 of complaint. 
 
 " Owen," said Phemie, one day, half won to 
 admiration, half out of patience with his cheer- 
 ful, even temper, " there is not the least fun in 
 attacking you. If I fire a cross word at you, 
 hoping to clip a little piece off your provoking 
 good-nature, the ball just slips off someway. It 
 seems as if you were all round, and hadn't any 
 angles to hit"
 
 A HEAVY SEA. 237 
 
 "You will be in despair when you find how 
 you have flattered me, Pheinie," said Owen, laugh- 
 ing. "Have you never heard that of all the 
 famous buildings of antiquity, none have been 
 left standing except the round ones ? The square, 
 angled ones have gone to ruin long ago. I shall 
 outlive you a thousand years.
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 HE THAT SAVETH HIS LIFE. 
 
 FEW weeks slipped by, and Mr. 
 Coolidge seemed fated to be unfortu- 
 nate with his clerks. The faithful 
 Grimes was taken suddenly ill, and Mr. Coolidge, 
 himself, was forced to supply his important place 
 at the desk. 
 
 " Walter," said he, a few evenings after this 
 arrangement, "I wish you would take this 
 package to Grimes, see him yourself, get the 
 answer to these questions I have written down, 
 and see if there is any prospect of his being 
 better soon. I hoped to have time to go my- 
 self, but these accounts will keep me till a late 
 hour." 
 
 (238)
 
 HE THAT SAVETH HIS LIFE. 239 
 
 The two boys closed the store, and went out 
 together. 
 
 " It is so far ! " grumbled Walter ; " and it will 
 make our ride so late." 
 
 " I'm very glad you are honored with the com- 
 mission," said Fanshawe, significantly. 
 
 "Why?" asked Walter, with some uneasi- 
 ness. 
 
 Fanshawe laughed ; he had not been an agree- 
 able companion lately. 
 
 " I heard that Grimes had this new kind of 
 spotted fever," said he; "terribly contagious; 
 and sometimes a man only lives a few hours after 
 he is taken." 
 
 Walter turned white. The idea of thus run- 
 ning into the very jaws of death, was horrible. 
 
 " I'll go back and tell Mr. Coolidge I can't run 
 such a risk! " said he, excitedly. 
 
 "And a great deal of good it will do you," 
 said Fanshawe. " I know Uncle Coolidge ; 
 he won't believe a word of it, and he'll end up 
 by flying in a passion, and telling you, you can
 
 240 DRIFTING AND STEERING. 
 
 either go, or throw up your place, just as you 
 choose." 
 
 "I'll tell you," said the perplexed Walter, "I'll 
 just ask to see the nurse, and send in the plagued 
 questions. .Then you can come around with the 
 carriage and meet me there." 
 
 " Not I ! " said Fanshawe, " I'm not going to 
 ride with a fever patient to-night. Why, the 
 whole air of that house will be like poison. Good 
 night ; I can get Sprague, I guess." 
 
 Walter was left angry and irresolute. As he 
 still lingered, looking after Fanshawe, a quick 
 step came up behind him. 
 
 "What's happened to you, Walty ? Are you 
 moonstruck ? " 
 
 It was Owen's voice, and Walter saw a way out 
 of his troubles. 
 
 " I'm just thinking what to do," said he. " Mr. 
 Coolidge has given me a message for Grimes, and 
 it's so late, and I'm so tired." 
 
 " Let me go for you," said Owen, kindly. 
 
 Walter was so sure he would offer.
 
 HE THAT SAVETH HIS LIFE. 241 
 
 " I know just how tired you feel after such close 
 work all day," he continued, affectionately. 
 
 Very uncomfortable Walter felt, playing his 
 mean part, but he made no effort to rise above it 
 So he thanked him, hastily explained the ques- 
 tions, saw Owen start cheerfully on his long walk, 
 and then he turned to find Fanshawe. 
 
 He was just driving out of the livery stable ; 
 and "Walter, explaining matters in a few words, 
 climbed up by his side. 
 
 " I don't know but I ought to have told him 
 about the fever," said Walter, a little uneasily, as 
 he finished. 
 
 "No, my tender heart," laughed Fanshawe; 
 " you oughtn't. They say it is only those who 
 are afraid of a disease, who are sure to take it. 
 You and I, now, exposed to such dangers, would 
 be sending for our confessors before morning." 
 Walter shuddered. " But Owen's ignorance will 
 be the saving of him. You did perfectly right, 
 my boy/*' 
 
 So Walter, quieting what little conscience he 
 1G
 
 242 DRIFTING AND STEERING. 
 
 had left, was soon joking as loudly as his com- 
 panion. 
 
 Owen, in the meantime, had found Grimes 
 delirious, and very near his end. The lonely 
 old man had no friends, and the attentions of the 
 hired nurse were so scanty and cold, that Owen 
 stayed till a late hour, bathing his hot hands and 
 head, giving him cooling drinks, doing every- 
 thing in his power to soothe the few remaining 
 hours of life. When at last he sank into a heavy 
 sleep Owen came sadly home. 
 
 As he came up the steps, the door seemed to 
 open of itself, and Honor stood there, her eyes full 
 of tears, and her finger on her lips. 
 
 " Walter has been thrown from a wagon," she 
 said, in broken words. 
 
 Owen waited for no more, but sprang up the 
 stairs, where his cousin lay pale and groaning ; 
 a broken leg just set; while Dr. Morgan an- 
 nounced that he also feared some internal injuries, 
 though he could not yet judge how serious they 
 might prove.
 
 HE THAT SAVETH If IS LIFE. 243 
 
 The next few weeks were full of anxiety for 
 the warm-hearted household. The struggle was 
 more than doubtful, and it was many days before 
 the fever burned less fiercely, and youth seemed 
 gaining the ascendancy. Even then, the con- 
 valescence was very slow; the injured leg knit 
 painfully together, and "Walter was still a close 
 prisoner to his bed, long after he had hoped to 
 find himself well. 
 
 These weary days were scarcely less of a trial 
 to Owen than to his cousin. The poor boy, 
 working far beyond his strength, that his scanty 
 earnings might meet the added expenses of Wal- 
 ter's illness, came home at night, to have the 
 ill-humor, which Walter had painfully controlled 
 during the day, in presence of Honor and Phemie, 
 poured on his defenceless head. 
 
 His lot almost seemed to him the hardest, at 
 times; and one evening, when he came in a 
 little earlier than usual, he stood a long time in 
 the door, looking almost with envy upon his 
 cousin.
 
 244 DRIFTING AND STEERING. 
 
 Walter was bolstered up in bed, with, a little 
 tray of delicacies before him, and Honor and 
 Pheinie were flitting around him with a thousand 
 little attentions. 
 
 " There; you look like Prince Charming," said 
 Pheinie, gayily, as she arranged one of the dark 
 rings of hair on his white forehead. 
 
 " Yes, you were never half so fascinating when 
 you were well," laughed Honor, holding up a 
 spoonful of quivering, crimson jelly. 
 
 "You are a perfect Sultan, "Walter," said 
 Owen, smothering a sigh. It seemed so de- 
 lightful to the weary boy, to be lying there so 
 idly, waited upon so luxuriously. "And 
 you have the most charming slaves in the 
 world." 
 
 Walter smiled pleasantly, and made one of 
 those courtly little speeches, that always filled 
 Phemie with such ecstatic admiration. 
 
 But the supper was no sooner over, and the 
 laughing girls gone, when Walter's face changed 
 wonderfully.
 
 HE THAT SAVETH HIS LIFE. 245 
 
 " No sunshine to be wasted on me, "Walty," said 
 Owen. 
 
 " No nonsense ! " cried Walter, irritably. " Do 
 you suppose it is very pleasant for me to lie here 
 day after day, with nothing to think of, but how 
 my doctor's bills are to be paid ? " 
 
 "How sorry I am you have worried about 
 that ! I meant to have told you I had arranged 
 everything, and you needn't give it another 
 thought. My income will pay our board, and 
 what I earn must satisfy the doctor." 
 
 "My income! My earnings!" repeated "Wal- 
 ter. "How grand and patronizing you are. 
 Oh, how much pleasanter it is to give than to 
 receive." 
 
 Owen colored. "It is pleasanter," he said, 
 frankly ; " but my manner must have been very 
 unfortunate, if I made you feel it so strongly. 
 Forgive me, Walty, I only wanted to tell you that 
 half of mine is yours; but I am always so 
 awkward." 
 
 There was silence for a minute; then Owen
 
 246 DRIFTING AND STEERING. 
 
 asked, "Haven't you a little coming from Mr. 
 Coolidge ? " 
 
 " Very little. I had taken up all my old salary, 
 and I had only been in my new place a week or 
 two. 
 
 " That's true," said Owen, slowly. 
 
 " But Fve been thinking of something I 
 might do, that would pass away the time, and 
 be earning money too," said Walter, raising 
 himself a little. "You saw that Bible verse, 
 Phemie brought in to show me, all painted in 
 red and blue and gold ? "Well, they're all the 
 fashion now, and some of them, Phemie says, sell 
 from fifteen to twenty dollars! What do you 
 think of that ? Now, I want you to get me the 
 paints and brushes, and I'll begin making them 
 right away." 
 
 " You shall have them to-morrow," said poor 
 Owen, trying to think how many days he must 
 go without his lunch (for he could not come home 
 to dinner) to meet this new expense. 
 
 Walter's face was radiant again. " Then after I
 
 HE THAT SAVETH HIS LIFE. 247 
 
 'paint them, you must take them, to the stores and 
 sell them for me. I shall make quite a little for- 
 tune, I know." 
 
 Owen knew that Walter had no skill or taste 
 in drawing, but he could not disturb these bright 
 anticipations; and Walter gave free rein to his 
 fancy, and decided upon several luxuries, in which 
 he should immediately indulge himself. 
 
 At last, however, he talked himself out, and 
 called impatiently to the silent Owen. 
 
 " You seem to have taken a vow of perpetual 
 silence, but if you are not equally unable to stir, 
 I wish you would bring me a clean handkerchief, 
 the top drawer, you know." 
 
 But Owen, in a fit of absence of mind, opened 
 the wrong one, and was turning over the articles 
 in vain search, when Walter suddenly almost 
 sprang out of bed. 
 
 " Not that one, you idiot," he screamed. " Shut 
 it up, this minute." 
 
 Owen, greatly startled at this uncalled for 
 vehemence, started to his feet, holding an old
 
 248 DRIFTING AND STEERING. 
 
 stocking in his hand, from which something fell 
 upon the floor. He picked it up, and, in still 
 greater astonishment, found it to be a roll of bills, 
 marked on the outside, " $100." 
 
 "Oh, ho!" cried Owen, not noticing that 
 Walter had fallen back white, and speechless, 
 "so you've been cheating me, sir; you had 
 money laid up all the time; but perhaps you 
 meant to give me a pleasant surprise, some 
 day!" 
 
 He turned laughingly, but his smile quickly 
 gave place to a look of alarm. 
 
 " Oh, what is it, Walty ? " You are worse ! " 
 and he hastily brought a glass of water. 
 
 " It is nothing ! " gasped Walter, in a minute. 
 " But that money," he tried to speak carelessly, 
 "put it back, Owen. It isn't mine; it belongs 
 to Fanshawe that is," his face was burning 
 now, " that is, well, I'll tell you some other time. 
 Don't I act like Little Picket when he's been 
 caught with his fingers in the jelly ? " and Walter 
 laughed noisily.
 
 HE THAT SAVETH HIS LIFE. 249 
 
 He had altogether overdone the matter, aud 
 Owen's keen eyes were searching him through and 
 through. A terrible suspicion seized him. He 
 took the bills to the gas-light; they were all upon 
 the Phrenix Bank, where that check had been pre- 
 sented ! 
 
 He turned back, his face pale with excitement, 
 forgetting everything except that at last, he had 
 some clue to that strangest mystery. 
 
 " Oh, Walter, you know something about that 
 check ! You do ! You do ! You must speak 
 and clear me." 
 
 " You have no right to say so," cried Walter, 
 passionately. " You are cruel ; you are killing 
 me. Let go of my hands ; " for Owen, in his ex- 
 citement, had caught them in his. " You hurt 
 me. You have iron hands, and an iron heart." 
 
 Great tears rolled down Owen's colorless face. 
 The suspicion had grown into certainty, as he 
 watched his struggling cousin, who could not 
 once lift his eyes. Walter was guilty, how ter- 
 rible ! and proof of his own innocence could only
 
 250 DRIFTING AND STEERING. 
 
 be purchased at cost of his cousin's good name. 
 He had not thought of that, at first ; and now, 
 bitter as was the disappointment, he resolutely 
 put from him the darling wish. He could not ask 
 such a sacrifice ; he would spare the wretched boy. 
 
 But he could not restrain a look of sorrowful 
 indignation, almost contempt, as he coldly re- 
 leased the hands, and turned silently away. 
 
 " I wish you would call Honor or Phemie, 
 some one who cares for me," said Walter, bitterly. 
 " I am very faint." 
 
 Instantly every feeling was merged in pity, and 
 Owen was at his side. The " iron hands " were 
 velvet as they shook up his pillows, laid him 
 gently back, and tenderly ministered to every 
 want. 
 
 And the next day the " iron heart " did not for- 
 get to bring the pretty paint-box, the gold-leaf, 
 and the brushes.
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 SLACKENED SAILS. 
 
 (ALTER worked away diligently at his 
 new employment, and some of his 
 efforts were sufficiently successful to 
 bring him in a small return ; not what he had 
 hoped, however, and he daily reproached Owen 
 for not making better bargains. 
 
 The cousins avoided, by mutual consent, the 
 subject of the last conversation. Walter indeed, 
 became so easily agitated at anything in the 
 least unpleasant, that unfortunate Owen scarcely 
 dared venture beyond the simplest everyday in- 
 tercourse. 
 
 Once, however, he forgot himself, as he took 
 up one of the beautiful sentences, upon which 
 Walter worked, with no more apparent con- 
 (251)
 
 252 DRIFTING AND STEERING. 
 
 
 
 sciousness of its meaning, than if it had been 
 written in Sanscrit. 
 
 " I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life," 
 read Owen. " How perfect ! everything in Him ! 
 The way we must go ; the truth we must love, 
 and the life, Walty, the only one which can ever 
 satisfy us" 
 
 "Please consider your sermon finished with 
 * firstly ' ! " said Walter, irritably. " One would 
 think my life was hard enough without your do- 
 ing your best to make it more gloomy ! We are 
 young yet, with no end of pleasure before us. 
 Why can't you talk about that, once in a while ? 
 though I sometimes think this vain world has 
 lost all its attractions for my most elevated cousin. 
 Tell me now, is there any one thing in this life 
 that is precious to you?" 
 
 "Yes, Walty," said Owen, fixing his earnest 
 eyes upon his cousin, " there is one thing very 
 precious in this life ! " 
 
 "And what is that?" said Walter, mock- 
 ingly-
 
 SLACKENED SAILS. 253 
 
 " Honor ! " said the boy, starting to his feet, and 
 drawing himself up to his full height. 
 
 Walter's heart thrilled with admiration, in spite 
 of himself; but he pretended to misunderstand. 
 " Honor! " repeated he, with a light laugh. " Of 
 course you care for Honor, any child could see 
 that, the trouble is, she doesn't care her little 
 finger for you ! " 
 
 Great waves of vivid color swept over Owen's 
 face. 
 
 " You know very well what I meant, Walter," 
 said he, speaking slowly, to control his voice. 
 "This honor, of which I spoke, is my posses- 
 sion now, in the sight of God, whatever man may 
 think!" 
 
 He spoke, with humility, but noble self-con- 
 sciousness. 
 
 Walter moved uneasily. Everything seemed 
 to lead to that dreadful subject. 
 
 " You seem to have great confidence that 
 God is on your side, Owen," said he. " But 
 if people right around you, in the house who
 
 254 DRIFTING AND STEERING. 
 
 see you every day, cannot love you much, 
 how can you expect that God will, when he is 
 so much holier, and can see your wickedness so 
 much plainer ? " 
 
 Owen's face was full of pain at this unex- 
 pected thrust; but he raised his head after a 
 minute. 
 
 "I think we have forgotten that He is infinitely 
 above us in everything. His love must be in pro- 
 portion to his holiness ; the holier he is, the more 
 reason I have to hope. I do not think I can 
 trust too much." 
 
 "Walter tossed restlessly upon his pillow, 
 thinking of the lost faith of his childhood, and 
 looking with envy upon his happy, peaceful 
 cousin. 
 
 " Let me ask you a question, Owen," said he, at 
 last, " Suppose suppose some one had done 
 wrong, committed some crime, not a very 
 great one, you know, but something not quite 
 right, wouldn't he be forgiven, and accepted, if 
 he confessed it to God alone ? "
 
 SLACKENED SAILS. 255 
 
 "I don't know whether I am telling you 
 right," said Owen, hesitating, " but I should 
 think it would depend upon whether the sin 
 concerned himself alone. If his silence was 
 causing unhappiness and loss of reputation to 
 anojher, he ought to speak, and let the whole 
 world hear ! " 
 
 Owen had spoken warmly ; strangely enough 
 forgetting that he was passing judgment upon his 
 cousin. 
 
 Walter's agitated face recalled him to a sense of 
 what he had done. 
 
 " Oh, Walty, I didn't mean " - 
 
 " You did, you did ! " cried "Walter, passion- 
 ately. " You were always hard and pitiless. 
 You ought to have lived in the Old Testament 
 times. You would have enjoyed stoning a man 
 to death, for picking up sticks on the Sabbath ; " 
 he paused for breath. " "Well, don't spare me ; 
 call them all in, Mrs. Whately, and Phemie, 
 and Honor ; how you will love to call Honor to 
 hear such a story. Yes, I am ready to tell
 
 256 DRIFTING AND STEERING. 
 
 them, if you say so. It isn't a bit selfish in 
 you. 0, no, perfectly right and honorable;" 
 he burst into tears. " Speak, Owen, must I ? 
 must I?" 
 
 " Ko," said Owen, in a voice choked with emo- 
 tion, as he walked away to the window. 
 
 If one of them must be disgraced, he made up 
 his mind to bear the burden. It would ruin 
 "Walter ; proud and so fond of approbation, he 
 would never lift his head again. He must try to 
 save him ; and yet, would God bless a life so 
 founded upon dishonesty ? 
 
 The door opened, and Dr. Morgan entering, in- 
 terrupted these perplexing thoughts. 
 
 Walter was full of impatient questionings. 
 "When should he be well again ? when should he 
 sit up, or ride out ? He was growing so weak, he 
 thought, lying there in bed. 
 
 The doctor answered evasively, and looked 
 more anxious than usual, Owen thought, and 
 when the visit was over, he followed him from the 
 room.
 
 SLACKENED SAILS. 257 
 
 " You do not think he is worse, sir ? " 
 
 " Not very much ; he fails slowly." 
 
 Owen started, a sharp pain thrilling through 
 his heart. 
 
 " Fails slowly ! " he exclaimed. " You do not 
 mean that he will not get well ? " 
 
 The kind physician paused a minute. "If 
 you remember," said he, " I have not spoken 
 encouragingly from the first. The iuternal in- 
 juries were very severe. I did not know what 
 youth might do for him ; but lately his symptoms 
 are taking a decidedly unfavorable turn. He 
 may linger till spring, he may live but a few 
 weeks, I cannot tell !" 
 
 Owen could not trust himself to go back in the 
 room till a late hour. Honor passed him at the 
 door, with her finger raised. 
 
 " He is sleeping," she said. 
 
 But she had scarcely turned away, when Wal- 
 ter called Owen to his side. 
 
 " I have had such a dreadful dream," he said, 
 
 looking at his cousin, eagerly. "I thought I 
 17
 
 258 DRIFTING AND STEERING. 
 
 was not going to get well. Absurd ! wasn't 
 it ? But you don't know how horrible it seemed 
 to think that next summer, even Mr. Enfield's 
 dog, and Phemie's old cat might be sitting in 
 the blessed sunshine, and / pushed away under- 
 ground. Pshaw. I don't know why I have 
 told you all this nonsense. I have read some- 
 where that no one need die as long as he has a 
 determined will as long as he wills strongly 
 to live. Now I shall get well. I have made 
 up my mind to it. Don't allude to the subject 
 again." 
 
 So day after day, the determined boy made 
 efforts far beyond his strength. He was always 
 "better," he said, and had ready some good 
 excuse for failing appetite or trembling hand. 
 He still painted industriously upon the illumin- 
 ated sentences, but poor Owen could no longer 
 find a market for the crooked, irregular letters. 
 Walter, however, had unabated confidence in 
 their value ; for though Owen had once reported 
 that the booksellers had refused them, his
 
 SLACKENED SAILS. 259 
 
 kind heart could not brave again the disappoint- 
 ment in his cousin's eager face. He started 
 again with the rejected bundle, took them to " a 
 new place," he said; and after that, the money 
 came in steadily, and Walter was happy. 
 
 But no one seemed to notice that Owen went 
 to his hard labor a little earlier, and stayed a 
 little later. Neither did any one stumble upon 
 the pile of worthless card-board slowly accumu- 
 lating in his little closet. 
 
 It was strange, too, that no one noticed that 
 his face was nearly as worn and haggard as his 
 cousin's; but the anxiety and sympathy for 
 Walter had increased greatly of late, and Owen 
 never complained. 
 
 Only Charley Morgan, the bright, well- 
 dressed, young collegian had noticed the change, 
 when he came home for his short vacation in the 
 holidays. 
 
 " My dear fellow, you are killing yourself," he 
 exclaimed in his affectionate, impulsive way. "I 
 hardly knew you."
 
 260 DRIFTING AND STEERING. 
 
 And he actually shed tears at finding him, 
 working so patiently among the rough porters on 
 the wharves. 
 
 "Not that you are lowering yourself, dear 
 boy/' said he. "You are grand anywhere; but 
 this is too hard for you, and you are fitted for so 
 much better things ; " and he persuaded Owen, 
 much against his will, to make one more effort for 
 a clerkship. 
 
 Together they went ; but only to renew former 
 mortifications. The story seemed wider spread 
 than ever, and no one was ready to run the risk 
 of taking a boy under such suspicion. 
 
 "It is all over, you see," said Owen, trying 
 to smile. " Sometimes I think I shall never 
 hold up my head again. Here, at least, I am 
 ruined. Perhaps, after poor Walty is gone, I can 
 go to some new, strange country, thousands of 
 miles away, and begin again. It's my only chance, 
 I think." 
 
 His eyes filled with tears, and Charley, pressing 
 his hand, could not find words to comfort him.
 
 SLACKENED SAILS. 261 
 
 They parted at the door, and Owen went slowly 
 up to Walter's room. 
 
 Loving hands had made it the most attractive 
 place in the house. White curtains drooped at 
 the windows, a bright fire blazed and crackled 
 upon the hearth, and a vase of delicate hot-house 
 flowers was upon the little stand by the bed. 
 Everything looked more sweet and peaceful, in 
 contrast with the wintry storm which was just 
 beginning to rage without. 
 
 Phemie was sitting at the bed's foot with some 
 pretty, bright worsteds, and Honor was on the 
 other side, reading aloud. 
 
 Owen started, as his ear caught the familiar 
 words ; she was reading from the Bible. Walter 
 had not permitted it before ; but then Honor 
 could always do anything she pleased. 
 
 It might be, too, that Walter's strong will was 
 failing him a little ; for he had been very quiet 
 and thoughtful all that day, and now he was 
 looking with such a strange, wistful expression at
 
 262 DRIFTING AND STEERING. 
 
 his almost transparent hands, lying feebly upon 
 the white coverlid. 
 
 Owen came and leaned upon the foot of the 
 bed, with tears in his eyes. 
 
 Tenderly Honor read in her sweet, sympathetic 
 voice : 
 
 " Let not your hearts be troubled ; ye believe 
 in God, believe also in me." 
 
 " In my Father's house are many mansions; if 
 it were not so, I would have told you, I go to pre- 
 pare a place for you." 
 
 Walter looked up with an eager, inquiring 
 glance, which Honor understood. 
 
 " For you, Walty," she said, tenderly. 
 
 Walter turned quickly to his cousin. 
 
 " For me, Owen," he said, half asserting, half 
 inquiring. 
 
 It was a terrible question. Owen's breath 
 came thick and fast. He thought not of him- 
 self; but was it possible for Walter, with this 
 burden of unconfessed sin, to inherit these 
 heavenly mansions? Could he ever forgive
 
 SLACKENED SAILS. 263 
 
 'himself if he now deceived the dying boy with 
 mistaken kindness ? And yet how could he say 
 it. His silence was already becoming strange; 
 Phemie had dropped her work, and Honor was 
 looking at him in reproachful surprise. Great 
 drops stood upon his forehead. 
 
 "For me, Owen!" Walter asserted again, Avith 
 nervous impatience. 
 
 " No, Walty," said he, firmly. 
 
 " Cruel," cried Honor, with an indignant 
 start. 
 
 "Infamous!" exclaimed the more vehement 
 Phemie. 
 
 The words fell like blows upon Owen's heart, 
 but he only looked at his cousin, bending over 
 him, while a cry of grief and tenderness burst 
 from his lips. 
 
 " Could I let you ' hang eternity on a spider's 
 thread'? Oh, Walty." 
 
 And the unhappy boy rushed from the room 
 without venturing another look at the cold, 
 averted faces.
 
 264 DRIFTING AND STEERING. 
 
 He did not know that Honor was looking after 
 him, perplexed and wishful; that she half re- 
 pented of her hasty judgment, and longed to call 
 him back to ask the explanation she felt sure he 
 could make, if he pleased. 
 
 But Mrs. Whately was much displeased when 
 she heard of the matter. 
 
 " I did not think you could be so severe with 
 your dying cousin," said she, as she came upon 
 Owen, sitting moodily in the dark, deserted 
 sitting-room. " What if he is coming at the 
 eleventh hour; our Saviour has not forbidden 
 such to hope ! " 
 
 "Oh, Mrs. Whately, it isn't that! You 
 must not think of me so hardly. It is it is be- 
 cause, but I can't explain ! You must judge 
 me as you will ! " 
 
 He covered his face with his hands. 
 
 " My dear, darling Owny !" piped a little voice, 
 and a small hand patted his cheek. 
 
 " What, are you here, Bobby ? I thought you 
 had gone to bed."
 
 SLACKENED SAILS. 265 
 
 "No, mamma, I've been sitting by my Owen ; 
 but he felt so bad, he didn't know it." 
 
 How long the faithful little figure had been 
 watching by his side, Owen didn't know, but he 
 was greatly touched, as he pressed the small hand 
 of his one true friend. 
 
 " Well, my dear boy," said Mrs. Whately, " I 
 will try not to judge you at all ; there is some- 
 thing in all this I cannot understand, but I hope 
 
 some time" 
 
 
 
 Honor came eagerly into the room. 
 
 " Walter wants to see you, Owen," she said, " he 
 isn't in the least angry ; and he wants you to do 
 a favor for him. You will be so glad of the 
 chance, I know ; and we will all forget everything 
 that has passed ! " 
 
 Owen rose quickly, still holding Little Picket's 
 hand, and followed her to the room. 
 
 " I metmt to have told you, Owen, that my 
 best paints are all gone, and I think I must have 
 a new box, a nicer kind than the last," said 
 Walter. " Perhaps you had better get the blue
 
 206 DRIFTING AND STEERING. 
 
 and carmine in cakes by themselves, they come of 
 better quality you know ; and it worries me so if 
 the colors don't go on bright and smooth. Hand 
 him my last painting, Honor ; he can get the 
 money on that, and pay for it all." 
 
 " But Walter," cried Little Picket, " didn't you 
 know how it was snowing, and blowing, and drift- 
 ing ? and ic's so far down to the stores ! Why, it 
 almost knocks you over, just to open the door! 
 It's a dreadful night!" 
 
 " Then I can't paint at all, to-morrow ! " said 
 Walter, in a tone of keen disappointment. 
 
 " You don't mind a little snow-squall, do you ? " 
 whispered Honor, eagerly. 
 
 Owen, for answer, buttoned up his thin coat. 
 How much she thought of Walter ! 
 
 " That's right ! " cried Phemie, with a patroniz- 
 ing nod. 
 
 At the hall door he met Little Picket, who, 
 climbing in a chair, insisted upon winding his 
 own little red tippet around his neck. 
 
 "And here, Owen," said he, "put on these
 
 SLACKENED SAILS. 2C7 
 
 mittens. Honor knit 'em for Walter, but she 
 didn't give them to him yet. 
 
 Owen put them gently aside. 
 
 " I would rather not, Bobby." 
 
 And, kissing the child, he set bravely forth ; 
 while tearful Little Picket, hiding himself behind 
 the window curtains, flattened his nose against 
 the pane, to watch till Owen came back. 
 
 Owen found few passengers in the street 
 The wind had increased greatly within an hour, 
 and the sharp points of snow were driven against 
 his face like needles. It was the greatest storm 
 of the season ; and the street-cars of which he 
 would gladly have availed himself, had been 
 withdrawn from the clogged roads. Still he 
 kept on. There was very little more he could 
 do for "Walter; very short space left to keep 
 that promise which, at times, he now re- 
 proached himself, he had felt weighed upon 
 him too heavily. Another sacrifice was now 
 before him. He had not a cent of money, and 
 the trembling daub buttoned within his coat,
 
 268 DRIFTING AND STEERING. 
 
 was worthless. But he had still one article of 
 value, the watch, which had been his father's ; 
 a precious possession, but he could not withhold 
 it now. 
 
 With blushing cheeks, Owen entered a pawn- 
 broker's shop, for the first time ; made his hasty 
 bargain, and then quickening his steps, reached 
 the store, just as the last windoAV was being 
 closed. 
 
 The good-natured clerk waited on him, and 
 lingered a few minutes, that he might warm him- 
 self by the stove. 
 
 " The worst is over," said Owen to himself, as 
 he again passed into the whirling storm. 
 
 But his day of fatigue was at last beginning 
 to tell upon him. He went on bravely for a few 
 blocks, and then, suddenly, for the first time in 
 his life, his great strength seemed to have de- 
 serted him; blinded with drifting flukes, wading 
 through snow to his knees, he, at last, felt that 
 he must sit down and rest. Up again he strug- 
 gled, to make a few more onward steps, and

 
 OWEN'S DBEAM. PAGE -2WJ. 

 
 SLACKENED SAILS. 269 
 
 again sink down exhausted. This was repeated 
 several times, and, beginning to find himself 
 very much benumbed, he looked anxiously for a 
 store, where he might go in and warm himself; 
 but he had passed the business part of the city 
 now ; he was nearly to the suburbs, not so very 
 far from home. 
 
 But he was growing so very tired. He passed 
 the old church, with its little yard, the stones 
 showing dim and spectral through the storm. 
 " It must be rather sweet to be lying there," he 
 thought, and two little lines drifted pleasantly 
 through his mind 
 
 " With their limbs at rest on the quiet earth's breast, 
 And their souls at home with God ! " 
 
 Rest ! there was nothing so sweet, so delicious ! 
 Again he sank down, and, in a moment, caught 
 himself nodding. 
 
 " This is death ! " thought he, with a quick 
 thrill at his heart, as he remembered that sleep 
 was fatal at such a time. 
 
 "I must get up in one minute," he said,
 
 270 DRIFTING AXD STEERING. 
 
 leaning his weary head against a snow-drift, in 
 most exquisite repose; he had never felt any- 
 thing like it before ; it was heavenly ! The 
 snow too, was taking such strange, beautiful 
 forms; white wings were sweeping all around 
 him; and in a pause of the great wind-harp, 
 he thought that a voice, infinitely tender and 
 loving, was calling him. He had been hearing 
 it a long time, it seemed to his troubled brain, 
 but he could not quite make out the words. 
 Now they were plainer. 
 
 " Come ye blessed ! Come ye blessed ! " 
 now louder, now softer, there could be no mis- 
 take. 
 
 Owen strained his ears. Was it for him ? He 
 should like to come. Life had not been so very 
 dear to the poor boy, lately. 
 
 The white wings swept closer to his face. 
 
 " Naked, and ye clothed me : sick, and ye 
 visited me." 
 
 " When, Lord ? " sobbed the joyful Owen. 
 
 " Inasmuch as ye did it unto one of the
 
 SLACKENED SAILS. 271 
 
 least of these, ye did it unto me ! Come, ye 
 blessed ! " 
 
 And 0\ven forgot that Walter was waiting 
 for his paint-box, and that he ought to rise and 
 struggle on.
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 WALTER'S LOG-BOOK. 
 
 jGAIN and again, through that long 
 evening, did Mrs. Whately look up 
 anxiously, as the storm beat wildly 
 against the windows. Again and again did 
 Honor go to the door, although she was scarce 
 able to stand against the wind, and could not see 
 a foot beyond the steps. 
 
 The old clock in the hall struck ten, 
 eleven, it was almost midnight, and Owen had 
 not come. 
 
 There had not been such a storm in years. 
 Little Picket came sobbing from his .hiding- 
 place. 
 
 (272)
 
 WA L TER'S L o G-B o OK. 273 
 
 " Don't you think it was cruel to send my Owen 
 out to-night ? " 
 
 "I think it was," said she, greatly reproaching 
 herself. " But lie didn't say a word " 
 
 "Of course he didn't!" said Little Picket, in 
 great contempt " My Owen wouldn't say any- 
 thing if you pinched him all over with red-hot 
 pincers ! He's worth a dozen Walters ! " 
 
 " I think so too," said Honor, simply. 
 
 " You do ! " screamed Little Picket, in delighted 
 surprise. 
 
 " Yes," said Honor, " I think I have liked him 
 the best a great while, in spite of all the queer 
 things that have happened." 
 
 Little Picket was just bursting into a hearty 
 "hurrah," when his anxieties swept back upon 
 him. 
 
 " How I wish he would come !" he said. 
 
 Mrs. Whately called down the stairs, " Come, 
 Children, you must go to bed. I am quite sure 
 
 Owen must have gone to spend the night with 
 18
 
 274 DRIFTING AND STEERING. 
 
 Charley Morgan. He would not try to get home 
 in such a storm." 
 
 Just then there was a startling ring at the door. 
 
 " Here he is ! " cried Bobby, joyfully ; but he 
 was doomed to bitter disappointment. 
 
 Walter too, who had been greatly excited all 
 the evening, heard the ring, and raised himself in 
 bed. 
 
 " What is it, Phemie, has he come ? " 
 
 Phemie rushed out of the room, and through 
 the open door came up, fearfully distinct : 
 
 " Oh, my Owen is dead ! My Owen is dead ! " 
 
 Walter's heart stood still. Had they brought 
 him in frozen to death ? Was this then the end 
 of all his selfishness and treachery ? Had the 
 brave, uncomplaining soul escaped from his tor- 
 mentor at last ? 
 
 What would he not give to live over the last 
 few hours, to hear once more the voice of that 
 truest friend ? What would he not do for him ? 
 Oh, had repentance come too late ? No, it could 
 not, should not be.
 
 WALTER'S LOG-BOOK. 275 
 
 What an age it seemed before any one thought 
 of him, and his agony of suspense. 
 
 Honor, at last, appeared, pale, and with swollen 
 eyes. 
 
 " It is true, then," said he, huskily. 
 
 " I do not know," said Honor. " Mr. Enfield 
 found him, and had him taken to Dr. Morgan's. 
 He left them rubbing him, and doing everything 
 in their power ; but he wasn't conscious yet. He 
 had this paint-box tight in one hand," said 
 Honor, bursting into fresh tears, " and Mr. En- 
 field brought it." 
 
 " Put it away," cried Walter, covering his eyes. 
 " I never want to see it again." 
 
 Scarcely an eye was closed that night. To- 
 wards morning Dr. Morgan himself came, re- 
 porting that Owen had struggled back to life, 
 but that he was delirious, and far from out of 
 danger. 
 
 The reports during the day were scarcely more 
 favorable ; but Little Picket consoled himself in a 
 most ingenious manner.
 
 276 DRIFTING AND STEERING. 
 
 " Owen never could do anything mean or cruel, 
 could he, Honor ? " 
 
 " Never," said Honor, emphatically. 
 
 "Then he could never die and leave me!" 
 cried the Picket, triumphantly, " I'm sure he will 
 live." 
 
 Walter was greatly excited throughout the 
 whole day. The Doctor's composing powders 
 seemed to have little or no effect; hour after 
 hour he lay with burning cheeks, and staring, 
 sleepless eyes. 
 
 As evening drew on, he asked to be bolstered 
 up in bed. 
 
 " And I would like to have them all come in a 
 little while," he said to Phemie ; " Mrs. Whately, 
 and Honor, and Bobby." 
 
 She called them, and Mrs. "Whately sat down 
 by his side, Phemie and Honor leaned over the 
 foot of the bed, and Little Picket looked askance 
 from his cricket before the fire. 
 
 " I have something to tell you," said Walter,
 
 WALTER'S LOO-BOOK. 277 
 
 with an effort ; " but let me look in your pleasant 
 faces once more, before," 
 
 " Light the gas, Bobby," said his mother. 
 
 "No, DO," cried Walter, hastily; "the fire- 
 light is enough, more than enough ! I can see, 
 I only wanted to remember how you looked before 
 you knew." his voice broke. 
 
 " His mind is wandering," whispered Phemie, 
 in great alarm. 
 
 But Walter began again, more firmly. " There 
 was once a boy at our school/' said he, " who 
 stood very high for scholarship ; he even won 
 prizes the first prizes ; but how do you suppose 
 he got them ? He copied a friend's translations, 
 secretly, at night, studied a very little, and 
 managed to pass, by writing the rest of his 
 lessons in short hand, upon wrist-bands, and rolls 
 of thin paper. His prize theme he copied from 
 an old book. What should you think of such a 
 boy?" 
 
 "Perfectly dishonorable and degraded!" 
 responded the ever ready Phemie. " I should
 
 278 DRIFTING AND STEERING. 
 
 despise such a boy from the 'bottom of my 
 heart!" 
 
 " Rattle-head," muttered the wise Little 
 Picket, who had drawn near, with shining eyes. 
 " What a bat she is ! " 
 
 "Walter was deathly pale, as he resumed : 
 
 " This same boy joined in a cowardly attack 
 upon his teacher ; dropped his cousin's handker- 
 chief, and kept dishonorable silence when that 
 innocent cousin was suspected and accused." 
 
 " Oh, oh," cried Phemie, a light breaking in 
 upon her, and she burst into tears ; but the in- 
 credulous, pained surprise of Honor's sweet face 
 was harder to bear. 
 
 Hurriedly "Walter began again, distrusting 
 himself, his heart was failing him. The fire 
 burned low, flickered, almost died away. In 
 the faint glow, he could no longer see the faces 
 so distinctly, or his courage could not have 
 lasted. 
 
 Ah, what a sad, shameful, incoherent story 
 was poured forth. "With what grief and aston-
 
 WAJ TEH'S LOG-BOOK. 279 
 
 ishment was received the true, pathetic history 
 of that never to be forgotten examination. 
 How they had misunderstood Owen; how 
 Phemie sobbed from the depths of her really 
 good little heart, when she learned the secret of 
 the shabby garments at which she had so often 
 mocked, when she found that they were the 
 drapery of a hero, and not the patched meanness 
 of a miser. 
 
 And then came the revelation of the true de- 
 liverer of Little Picket from the fire ; at which 
 Mrs. Whately wept, embracing him anew ; but the 
 child could not restrain his ecstacy. " I always 
 told you so, Honor," he cried. 
 
 Still in the darkness, the trembling voice 
 went on, and they learned which had given up 
 his life to the service of the other, which had 
 been the generous benefactor, and had given 
 up his dearest dreams, without one complaining 
 word. 
 
 It was too much of a shock at first; they 
 could not realize it. This life of dishonesty and
 
 280 DRIFTING AND STEERING. 
 
 treachery in one they had loved so much, had 
 so long thought everything that was noble and 
 generous, how could it be believed! Surely, 
 Walters mind was wandering! 
 
 Just then the servant announced Mr. Coolidge, 
 
 " You cannot see him now, Walter/' said 
 Mrs. Whately, " You must lie down and rest." 
 
 Walter waved her away. 
 
 " I must see him, I have sent for him," he said. 
 " Give me my drops." 
 
 He swallowed them eagerly, as Mr. Coolidge 
 entered the door, and stumbled to a seat. 
 
 Mrs. Whately stirred up the fire, since Walter 
 had forbidden the gas. 
 
 "Mr. Coolidge," he commenced, abruptly, 
 " would you like to know who took that check ? 
 It was Fanshawe and I ! " 
 
 Phemie gave a tragic little shriek. Honor 
 leaned her head on her hands, sobbing. Little 
 Picket stood with frightened, round eyes. 
 
 " How can that be ? " said Mr. Coolidge. " You 
 could not have opened that safe ? "
 
 WALTER'S LOG-BOOK. 281 
 
 " But we did," said Walter. 
 
 "Without knowing the combination?" said 
 Mr. Coolidge, incredulously. 
 
 " No, we noticed Grimes ; he was getting 
 old ; his memory failed him ; and sometimes, 
 after he had locked the safe, we saw him slyly, 
 put down something on a paper, and we 
 thought it might be the figures he was afraid of 
 forgetting. We were all alone one night after 
 the store was shut up, and we agreed, half in 
 fun, to pick Grimes' desk, and see if we had 
 guessed right. So we did, and we found the 
 key of the safe in a little secret drawer, and 
 upon two or three different bits of paper, there 
 were three minute figures the same figures. 
 It was such a temptation, we couldn't resist 
 trying them ; and oh, they were right ! We 
 opened the safe ; we didn't mean to do anything 
 wrong at first; we only thought we would 
 leave it open, and frighten old Grimes to death. 
 But there lay that check, the evil one put it 
 in our heads, we took' it, and Fanshawe got
 
 282 DRIFTING AND STEERING. 
 
 the money on it. We divided it ; I spent fifty 
 dollars; the rest is in the drawer. Get it, 
 Phemie." 
 
 The boy lay back, struggling for breath. 
 
 " What will you do with me ? " he said, 
 faintly. 
 
 Mr. Coolidge leaned over him, deeply moved. 
 "I have no condemnation for you, Walter," 
 said he ; " your punishment is severe enough." 
 And he gently withdrew from the agitated 
 circle. 
 
 Minute after minute passed, and the silence be- 
 came terrible to Walter. 
 
 " You, at least, should have some sympathy for 
 me, Honor," he said, panting. " It was for you I 
 took that money." 
 
 " For me ? " cried Honor. 
 
 " Yes, to please you ; to win you back. Owen 
 was always nobler than I," he groaned, "and 
 your clear eyes began to see it. I couldn't bear 
 to be second, where I had so long been first. I 
 was determined you should think me most
 
 WALTER'S LOG-BOOK. 283 
 
 generous, at least, and I took the money to buy 
 you flowers, fruit," 
 
 Honor slowly took off the little pearl ring, and 
 laid it upon the bed. 
 
 "Walter's lip trembled. " Let every one go," he 
 said, faintly. " I am very tired." 
 
 Honor hesitated; but this deceit had been so 
 cruel, this dishonesty so deliberate, how could 
 she speak a comforting word ? She thought of 
 the innocent Owen, suffering so long unjustly, 
 dying now, perhaps, at Dr. Morgan's, and she 
 turned coldly away. 
 
 Little Picket and Phemie followed her, be- 
 wildered, and awed into silence. 
 
 Mrs. Whately remained behind to soothe him ; 
 she could not help being touched with such utter 
 wretchedness. 
 
 "You did perfectly right, my dear," she 
 said, bathing his fevered lips. " They will all 
 respect you for your courage, by and by, when 
 they think it over. You have repented bitterly, 
 and will lead a very different life; who knows
 
 284 DRIFTING AND STEERING. 
 
 but we shall love our new Walter better than the 
 old one." 
 
 Walter caught at this straw of comfort. 
 
 " Oh, I' shall be very different," he cried. " I 
 shall be brave and noble like Owen ! And I shall 
 get well now, now that horrible load is gone. 
 It was that that was killing me ; I shall get well ! " 
 he said, excitedly. 
 
 " Then you must try to rest," she said, pityingly, 
 almost forcing him back upon the pillows. 
 
 " But promise me first," said Walter, " that 
 some one shall go and tell Owen that everything 
 is right. I told it to save his life. I thought last 
 night that I was a murderer ! " the excited boy 
 shuddered; "but now he will live; he is sure to 
 live when he knows hoAV beautiful life is again. 
 Tell him I opened my log-book, and read every 
 leaf. He will understand." 
 
 And a messenger was instantly despatched.
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 TURNING HOMEWARD. 
 
 T was the morning of the third day, 
 and Charley Morgan sat by Owen's 
 bed, waiting till he should wake from 
 a most refreshing sleep. 
 
 Hour after hour passed on, bringing life and 
 color to the wan face; and at last the -eyelids 
 trembled, he faintly stirred, and the great eyes 
 opened blue and conscious. 
 
 " You know me, old fellow ! " cried the de- 
 lighted Charley. 
 
 Owen smiled, but looked around the strange 
 room inquiringly. 
 
 Charley hastily explained, and in a moment, 
 Owen had remembered everything, thinking 
 (285)
 
 286 DRIFTING AND STEERING. 
 
 wistfully of those sweet words that were only a 
 dream. 
 
 " I verily believe you are sorry to come back to 
 life/' said Charley, reproachfully. 
 
 " It doesn't look so very attractive," said Owen, 
 with a faint smile. "A few weeks longer in the 
 galleys, and then to go off forever to some strange, 
 foreign land." 
 
 " Then you still think you must go ? " said 
 Charley, with a queer twinkle in his eye. " Per- 
 haps you may change your mind." 
 
 " Oh, no," said Owen, decidedly. " It is my 
 only course. I shall certainly go." 
 
 " ( The lion shook his incredulous head, and 
 wagged his dubious tail!'" laughed Charley. 
 " You won't go ! my dear, dear boy." 
 
 And throwing his arms around the astonished 
 Owen, he poured into his ears the wonderful 
 revelations of the last few days. 
 
 Owen would not have been human, if he had 
 not felt one quick thrill of joy, that justice had 
 at last been done him, that his character once
 
 TURNING HOMEWARD. 287 
 
 more stood fair and spotless in the eyes of men. 
 But there was a quick revulsion of remorseful 
 sympathy, as he thought of his unhappy 
 cousin. 
 
 " Poor, poor Waky," he cried ; " what he 
 must have suffered. I must go to him, Char- 
 ley ! " 
 
 There was no denying him, so great was his 
 anxiety ; and Dr. Morgan had him carefully taken 
 home that very afternoon. 
 
 He was carried into the sitting-room first, and 
 laid upon the sofa, while they all crowded around 
 him with tears and congratulations. 
 
 " How blind we have been," said Mrs. Whately, 
 kissing his white forehead. "We have never 
 known you before." 
 
 " But / have," said the indignant, but ecstatic 
 Picket, clinging, as usual, to one hand. " He's a 
 bigger hero than there is in any of Phemie's 
 books, though she couldn't see it." 
 
 " Can you ever forgive us ? " whispered Honor. 
 
 Owen, in his genuine humility, was becoming
 
 288 DRIFTING AND STEERING. 
 
 greatly embarrassed and distressed with these 
 praises, when Phemie made a most fortunate 
 diversion. She had been standing rather shyly, 
 at a distance ; but encouraged by Owen's smile, 
 she drew nearer. 
 
 " It is strange we never noticed it, Honor," she 
 said, in one of her characteristic whispers ; " but 
 don't you think his mouth and chin is very like 
 Napoleon ? " 
 
 " What a goose you are, Phemie ! " cried Honor, 
 and they all joined in an irrepressible laugh, after 
 which everybody felt better. 
 
 " Now I must go up to Walty," said Owen. 
 And they carried him to the room, and laid him 
 upon the bed, which Walter had caused to be 
 drawn close to his own. 
 
 Then every one went away, and left the cousins 
 alone. 
 
 " How shall I ever thank you enough, 
 Walty!" said Owen, after the first burst of 
 feeling. 
 
 " What for ? for making your whole life
 
 TURNING HOMEWARD. 289 
 
 wretched thus far ? But I am going to live so 
 differently when I get well. I shall get well, 
 Owen ? " 
 
 He had always leaned upon his stronger cousin, 
 and now he asked it so imploringly, like a trem- 
 bling child, waiting for a verdict against which 
 there could be no appeal. 
 
 Owen, for reply, orily seized the transparent 
 hand, and covered it with tears and kisses. 
 
 Such a long silence followed, that at last, 
 Owen hoped that his exhausted cousin had 
 fallen asleep ; but no, the great dark eyes unclosed 
 again. 
 
 "Owen, do you think God can forgive me? 
 Whenever I think of Him I am afraid. Oh, so 
 afraid ! " he smothered a half sob. 
 
 Owen did not seem to have heard the question, 
 Walter thought, for he began talking of something 
 that happened years ago. 
 
 " Do you remember, Walty, when you were a 
 little fellow, about five or six years old, I think, 
 
 and mother was going to take us to Uncle 
 19
 
 290 DRIFTING AND STEERING. 
 
 Knowlson's to tea ? You were dressed in your 
 very best, you know, and left sitting on the front 
 steps till we were ready too." 
 
 "Yes, I remember," sighed Walter; "how 
 happy and innocent I was then." 
 
 "Not so very," said Owen, smiling a little. 
 "You ran away; you went down to the river 
 where you had been forbidden to go alone. 
 You fell down the steep bank, tore your little 
 embroidered coat, bruised and scratched your 
 face ; but that wasn't enough ; you got in a 
 little boat, also in direct disobedience to 
 orders, the rope parted, you remember, and 
 off you floated. You thought it great fun at 
 first, and drifted more than a mile below the 
 village; then, as you were leaning over, to see 
 the bottom of the river, you said, you lost 
 your balance, and fell in. I don't remember who 
 saw you or caught you, but you were nearly 
 drowned, and it was a whole hour before you 
 spoke a word." 
 
 " Yes, I remember," 8aid Walter.
 
 TURNING HOMEWARD. 291 
 
 "And your first words were so strange," said 
 Owen, musingly. 
 
 " Why no, they weren't ! " cried Walter, in 
 some surprise. " Didn't I ask them to take me to 
 mother?" 
 
 " Yes, that is what seems so queer. You had 
 disobeyed her so ; your pretty little suit was torn 
 and discolored, and you, yourself, were bruised 
 and helpless, you couldn't even walk alone. You 
 must have known she would be very angry, and 
 punish you terribly ! I should think you would 
 have wanted to run anywhere else ? " 
 
 "How strangely you talk, Owen," said 
 Walter, a little irritably. "Didn't I know 
 there was no one in the world who would be so 
 glad to see me? Don't you remember when 
 they put me inside the door, such a forlorn little 
 thing! She didn't see me; she was crying; 
 but I just said, * Mother ! ' and Oh, how she caught 
 me up ! and loved me, and loved me ! and was so 
 sorry for me ! " Walter wept " It was one of 
 the blessedest moments of my life ! "
 
 292 DRIFTING AND STEERING. 
 
 "You are right," said Owen, "I believe she 
 never loved you more than when you came to her 
 a pitiful, ragged, disobedient, but trusting little 
 child!" 
 
 Walter looked up eagerly, a light breaking upon 
 him. 
 
 " I see what you mean, Owen, but," his face 
 clouded again, " God is not like a mother." 
 
 "You are right again," said Owen, brightly. 
 "His love and pity is infinitely greater! A 
 mother may forget her child, ' Yet will not I for- 
 get thee ! ' * As one whom his mother comforteth, 
 so will I comfort you.' Try him, Walty ! take 
 him at his word ; you cannot please him better. 
 Is it not your Father whom you have offended ? 
 Go to him then, helpless, disobedient, utterly 
 worthless, say just that one word, 'Father!' and 
 see if he will not run to you, loving you, so 
 sorry for you ! Has not the Elder Brother, who 
 knows, said so ? Oh, Walty, trust him ! do not 
 wait, when you might be lying on his breast ! " 
 
 Owen stopped, sobbing with emotion.
 
 TURNING HOMEWARD. 293 
 
 " Thank you ! " said Walter, closing his eyes 
 with a pleasant smile. " I will think about it." 
 
 No more was said till late in the evening, 
 when, as Owen bent over to bid him "good night," 
 Walter drew his head down, and whispered 
 simply, 
 
 " I will arise and go to my Father ! "
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 "HONOR TO WHOM HONOR." 
 
 "WEEK passed away, during which 
 Walter, though happier, had many 
 seasons of depression. He could not 
 bear to have Owen out of his sight. 
 
 " How can I have the presumption to hope 
 for anything from Heaven ! " he cried one day, 
 " I have given God one short, worthless week of 
 my life ! " 
 
 "When the multitude had only followed Him 
 three days, Jesus could not send them away 
 fasting ; having great compassion," said Owen, 
 gently. 
 
 " You are like one of the angels of God to 
 t me, Owen," cried Walter, excitably. "If I 
 (294)
 
 "HONOR TO WHOM HONOR." 295 
 
 am ever so happy as to meet our mother in that 
 other world, I shall tell her how you have kept 
 your promise, my more than brother. The 
 drag will soon be gone ! " he added, trying to 
 smile. "I shall not keep you back much 
 longer. God has so blessed you. He will let 
 you stay and work for Him, live out your 
 grand life! But I have abused the gift, and it 
 is taken from me. Oh, Owny, I am very 
 grateful for the story of the dying thief! I am 
 so glad I may creep humbly after him; and yet, 
 and yet when I think of what you will be, 
 of what I might have been ! Ah. Owen, there 
 is such a great difference between the thief's cross 
 and Peter's cross." 
 
 Owen could not speak. The winter twilight 
 was drawing on ; he dropped the curtains, and 
 stirred the fire that there might be that soft, 
 cheerful glow that "Walter loved. 
 
 "Do you remember," said he, as Owen again 
 sat down by the bed, " that night when we 
 came into the city ? The great ocean lay before
 
 296 DRIFTING AND STEERING. 
 
 us, you said, and you were afraid of the rocks 
 and sunken reefs. How I laughed in my self- 
 confidence." 
 
 " Don't talk about it now, Walty," said Owen, 
 soothingly, alarmed at his cousin's quickened 
 breathing. 
 
 '' Yes, yes, " said Walter, waving his hand. 
 " So you steered safely, not being ashamed to 
 ask daily for help, and I drifted carelessly with 
 every wind and tide. Ah! if I had only fast- 
 ened on that rudder, when you told me, Owny. 
 And now, sometimes," his voice again took a 
 despairing tone, " you must have patience with 
 me, Owen, but sometimes, in spite of all you tell 
 me, it seems as if I had drifted too far out in the 
 dreadful sea. It is too late to steer now ; I shall 
 never reach the ' desired haven.' " 
 
 Owen took up his little Bible, and knelt by the 
 firelight. 
 
 "'And when even was now come,'" he read, 
 " ' his disciples went down unto the sea, and 
 entered into a ship, and went over the sea toward
 
 "HONOR TO WHOM HONOR." 297 
 
 Capernaum. And it was now dark, and Jesus 
 was not come to them.' " 
 
 "Yes, dark," repeated Walter, faintly. "And 
 Jesus was not come to them." 
 
 " But he could come," cried Owen. " He 
 did come, no matter how the sea rose by reason 
 of the great wind that blew. He could find 
 them anywhere, however far they had drifted. 
 'And he saith unto them,' he resumed his 
 reading, ' It is I, be not afraid. Then they 
 willingly received him into the ship ; and imme- 
 diately the ship was at the land whither they 
 went." 
 
 "How beautiful," cried Walter, closing his 
 eyes. " He can find me ; " and his lips moved 
 silently. 
 
 There was a knock at the door. " It is Char- 
 ley," said Owen, doubtfully. " You would not 
 like to see him ? " 
 
 " Yes, let him come in," said Walter, " and 
 call Honor and Phemie. I should like to see 
 them all a little while."
 
 298 DRIFTING AND STEKRIXG. 
 
 Owen gladly complied. Walter had seemed 
 to shrink from seeing Honor or Phemie, or even 
 Little Picket since the night of the confession. 
 
 They all came in. 
 
 " How well you look to-night," began the ever 
 voluble Phemie, to conceal a little embarrassment 
 .she felt in the presence of her fallen idol. 
 
 "Walter smiled patiently. 
 
 " Come now," said he, pleasantly, " tell me all 
 the news. Tell me something about Owen. He 
 never will speak of himself. Hasn't Mr. Coolidge 
 seen him yet ? " 
 
 "Oh, yes," said Charley, "hasn't he told 
 yon that? Mr. Coolidge has offered him 
 Grimes' place, and will hardly take no for an 
 answer." 
 
 " Not Grimes' place ! " cried Walter, " does he 
 think he can fill that ? " 
 
 "He seems to think he can do anything," 
 laughed Charley. " I shouldn't wonder if he'd 
 take him in for partner in a fortnight."
 
 "HONOR TO WHOM HONOR." 299 
 
 " Then he has accepted the offer ? " said Wal- 
 ter. 
 
 " Oh, no ; there is something better than that. 
 Show him Mr. Hewlett's letter, Owen," said Char- 
 ley, triumphantly. 
 
 Owen hesitated ; how could Charley be so 
 thoughtless ? It seemed cruel to parade these 
 triumphs before the pale boy whose life was a 
 wreck. 
 
 "Walter read his thoughts. " You think I am 
 the same old Walter, Owen," said he, a little re- 
 proachfully, "but, you must believe me, nothing 
 now gives me greater pleasure than to hear of 
 your honors. Give me the letter." 
 
 Owen could not refuse. 
 
 " Charley must read it to me," said Walter, 
 vainly trying to steady his trembling hand. 
 Owen made some slight demur, but Walter was 
 imperious, and Charley began : 
 
 " MY DEAR BOY : Among all the congratu- 
 lations you are now receiving, believe me, there 
 can be none more sincere than those of your old
 
 300 DRIFTING AND STEERING. 
 
 friend and teacher. I should have come to you 
 to-day, but am a prisoner with rheumatism, as I 
 have been, all the winter. It has pained me not 
 a little that you have not once visited me in my 
 old age and infirmity; but yesterday, I had a 
 hint from Mr. Coolidge, as to the cause of this 
 neglect, I fear that you have been thinking me 
 instrumental in your unfortunate dismissal ! I 
 regret very much that Mr. Coolidge did not tell 
 you that he heard the story of the handkerchief 
 from some other quarter, and came to me for con- 
 firmation. I could not deny that there was a 
 mystery in the matter, but I distinctly stated that 
 I believed you ! 
 
 I cannot tell you how deeply I have been 
 grieved to hear of your late struggles, but I hope 
 they are all past now. You must not refuse me 
 the pleasure of making your path smoother from 
 this time. 
 
 I have a proposition to make to you, my dear 
 boy, which is very near my heart. I have 
 thought of it a long time, and should have 
 told you weeks before, were it not for the foolish 
 pique of an old man, who deemed himself for- 
 gotten. 
 
 I have always been very proud of you, Owen,
 
 "HONOR TO WHOM HONOR." 301 
 
 will you give me the great happiness of calling 
 you my son ? 
 
 Think of it well before making your decision. 
 The lonely old man has accumulated quite a for- 
 tune, far more than sufficient to supply his few 
 remaining wants ; do not refuse to let him em- 
 ploy the surplus in furnishing armor for the 
 young hero just entering the lists. 
 
 No ordinary future lies before you, I am confi- 
 dent. Your talents are as unusual as your noble 
 courage and high principle" 
 
 Owen forcibly took the letter from Charley's 
 hand. 
 
 " No more," said he, with a face crimson and 
 pained. 
 
 Little Picket clapped his hands. " Hurrah ! 
 for my Owen ! " piped his shrill voice. 
 
 "Don't, Bobby," said Owen, gently; and the 
 child was a statue. 
 
 " And you will accept this," said Walter, " you 
 will go to college with Charley; you will have 
 every advantage."
 
 302 DRIFTING AND STEERING. 
 
 "I would rather help myself," said Owen, hesi- 
 tating. 
 
 "It would break the old gentleman's heart, 
 if you should refuse," said Charley. "At any 
 rate it will all be yours sooner or later, he told 
 me so." 
 
 " It is all as it should % be, best and truest of 
 friends," said "Walter. " Clap your hands Bobby ; 
 he is indeed the noblest, bravest fellow in all the 
 world. Try to be like him." 
 
 "Don't, Walty!" pleaded Owen, kneeling by 
 his side. 
 
 " Let me be noble enough to say it once," said 
 he, stretching out a feeble hand, "Honor to 
 whom honor." 
 
 He turned his head a little, and gave one long 
 wistful glance at the sweet face whose approbation 
 had been so dear to him. 
 
 Honor was looking at Owen, with a proud, glad 
 smile. 
 
 Walter's brow contracted slightly with sud- 
 den pain ; a vivid color leaped to his cheek, and
 
 "HONOR ro WHOM HONOR." 303 
 
 then the passing emotion was conquered ; the last 
 clinging hold upon life was relaxed. 
 
 Slowly he turned back to his cousin, with a 
 smile of wonderful sM'eetness. 
 
 " Arid Honor to whom Honor ! " he said gently, 
 closing his eyes wearily. 
 
 A silence fell upon them ; they had all heard 
 and understood. Did any one know what the 
 words had cost him ? 
 
 Walter was growing very pale, but they did 
 not notice it in the firelight. 
 
 " Owen," said he, faintly. 
 
 His cousin bent almost to .his lips. 
 
 "Then they willingly received Him, will- 
 ingly, willingly," repeated the boy. 
 
 "Yes," said Owen, " shall I finish the verse for 
 you?" 
 
 There was no response. 
 
 " He has fallen asleep from exhaustion," said 
 Honor, tenderly. 
 
 But Owen, bending nearer, smitten with a sud- 
 den fear, gave a cry of alarm I
 
 304 DRIFTING AND STEERING. 
 
 It was indeed over. The storm-tossed wreck, 
 parting noiselessly from them, had entered the 
 desired haven ! 
 
 Willingly the great Pilot had been received, 
 and immediately the ship was at the Land 
 whither it went.
 
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