THE LIBRARY 
 
 OF 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY 
 OF CALIFORNIA 
 
 LOS ANGELES
 
 JOHNNY MILLER.
 
 JOHNNV MILLERS FIRST INTERVIEW WITH MRS. HOWLET. Page 19.
 
 JOHNNY MILLER; 
 
 OR, 
 
 TRUTH AND PERSEVERANCE. 
 
 BY 
 
 FELIX WEISS, 
 
 AUTHOR OF 'THE CROSSING SWEEPER,' ETC. 
 
 ^Frontispiece bg & 
 
 GRIFFITH AND FARRAN, 
 
 SUCCESSORS TO NEWBERY AND HARRIS, 
 
 WEST CORNER OF ST. PAUL'S CHURCHYARD, LONDON. 
 E. P. BUTTON & CO., NEW YORK.
 
 PZ 7 
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 I. DYING INJUNCTION SEARCH FOR EMPLOY- 
 MENT RESULT, i 
 
 II. THE 'SILVER LAMB' THE TRAP, . . 27 
 
 III. THE INWARD RESOLVE, ' . . . . 48 
 
 IV. A POWERFUL TEMPTATION, ... 62 
 V. CAUGHT IN THE NET, So 
 
 VI. EVIL BEGINNINGS HAVE BAD ENDINGS, . 94 
 
 VII. TOWLER'S VENGEANCE, . . . . in 
 
 VIII. CONCLUSION, ... . . . .127 
 
 LIBRARY
 
 JOHNNY MILLER; 
 
 OR, 
 
 TRUTH AND PERSEVERANCE. 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 DYING INJUNCTION SEARCH FOR EMPLOYMENT 
 RESULT. 
 
 \T7HATEVER standing the locality 
 * * called Gresse Street, Rathbone 
 Place, W., may have held in the past, it is 
 difficult now, from outward appearance at 
 least, to conjecture. The houses, it is true, 
 are large, and the doorways surmounted by 
 heavy porticos, which may at one time have 
 been considered elegant, but the ravages of 
 time arid the want of repair have now 
 brought them into so dilapidated a condi- 
 tion, that they will hardly hold together, and 
 1
 
 2 Johnny Miller. 
 
 they can no longer be considered in any 
 way ornamental. Nor is the street redeemed 
 by its approach. A narrow turning out 
 of Rathbone Place brings the wayfarer 
 abruptly upon it. The stones are overgrown 
 with grass, and the one end, through which 
 there is no thoroughfare, is evidently inno- 
 cent of any heavier traffic than an occasional 
 costermonger's barrow. And yet, looking 
 up at the four storeys into which the houses 
 are divided, the beholder cannot help con- 
 jecturing that at some past period the street 
 must have led somewhere, and the houses 
 been inhabited by well-to-do tenants; now, 
 alas! they wear on their faces an acknow- 
 ledgment that each floor is let out to a 
 separate lodger the row of bells on the 
 front indicates as much and the open door- 
 ways show that the staircase is common to 
 all. Patches of paper on the window-panes, 
 evidently intended to keep out the draught, 
 and little boards hanging in the area or 
 from the window sills, with ' Mangling done
 
 Pinching Poverty. 3 
 
 here' inscribed upon them, pretty clearly 
 show the position of the inhabitants. Pinch- 
 ing poverty exhibits itself on all sides. 
 
 There is no occasion to knock at the door 
 of No. 17, for it is open, and three flights 
 of rickety stairs lead to a landing, with doors 
 on two sides of it. A female, dressed in 
 shabby black, is very quietly entering the 
 front room ; and as she opens the door, an 
 anxious look is cast to the other end of the 
 apartment. Her face is very pale and very 
 thin, and looks pinched and careworn. At 
 one time it must have been good-looking, 
 and even now, were it not for the death-like 
 paleness and a nervous twitching about the 
 mouth, it would still be handsome. 
 
 Mrs. Miller had had her share of troubles, 
 and but for the little fellow who now lay 
 asleep at the other end of the room, she 
 might have been tempted many a time to 
 end them. She married very young, and 
 had one child, a boy. Her husband was a 
 hard-working mechanic, who managed during
 
 4 Johnny Miller. 
 
 his lifetime not only to give her a com- 
 fortable home, but also to make it a happy 
 one. The story of her troubles is simple 
 enough, and common enough too. Her 
 husband died ; and, saving the furniture in 
 their little home, and a trifle put away, she 
 was left penniless. Her boy was then about 
 ten years old ; but young as he was, the 
 remembrance of his father's last illness was 
 destined never to be erased from his memory. 
 He cannot forget, the day before that parent 
 breathed his last, standing by the bedside 
 in the darkened room. 
 
 'Johnny, my boy, listen to me. I shall 
 not be with you long; I am fast drifting 
 to another world, and you will be left 
 with your mother alone. Never forget, my 
 darling, you will be all she will have to look 
 to for comfort on this side the grave. I 
 know you understand me.' 
 
 The boy crept nearer to the bedside, and 
 took his father's cold hand in his. 
 
 1 Listen to her, and try, like a brave little
 
 A Father's Dying Injunction. 5 
 
 fellow, to be her protector when I am no 
 longer with her. Remember, darling, and 
 obey her in everything; for I know how 
 true she is to you and has been to me, and 
 how good the lessons are she will endeavour 
 to teach you.' 
 
 With the tears running from his eyes, the 
 boy promised all his father asked. His in- 
 junction was never forgotten, but rested in 
 his heart, so that if at any time an angry 
 word rose to his lips, he fancied he heard 
 the soft, weak voice's reproval, and the eyes 
 of his dying father looking on him. He 
 knew he was his mother's only comfort, and 
 he felt, in a certain sense, that he was her 
 protector also. 
 
 'I wish I were old enough to work for 
 her,' he said to himself. 'She sits up half 
 the night, and her needle appears never to 
 be out of her hand. I know she gives me 
 a great deal more to eat than she takes 
 herself ; but soon, very soon, I must try and 
 work for her.'
 
 6 Johnny Miller, 
 
 The boy's conjectures were right. Mrs. 
 Miller was very poor, and had the greatest 
 difficulty to earn sufficient to enable them 
 to live at all ; and yet, out of this scanty 
 pittance, she managed to set aside a trifle 
 towards her son's schooling, so that he was 
 able to read and write a little, and stored 
 in his mind the lessons his mother took 
 every opportunity, with simple earnestness, 
 to impress upon him. 
 
 Mr. Miller had been dead about two years, 
 when one evening the mother and son sat in 
 their dismal room, she trying to finish some 
 work upon the completion of which the fol- 
 lowing day's dinner would depend, and he 
 endeavouring to master some exercises he 
 had set himself to do. She did not notice 
 that the boy's eyes were fixed upon her, 
 and that he saw how anxiously she pro- 
 ceeded with her task. 
 
 'Mother, I have something I want par- 
 ticularly to say to you,' he suddenly com- 
 menced.
 
 Johnny's Resolution, 7 
 
 Mrs. Miller took her eyes from her work, 
 and then, for the first time, perceived how 
 intently her son was looking at her. 
 
 'We can't go on as we are doing now, 
 mother ; the work is never out of your 
 hands. Don't you think I can do some- 
 thing to help you ? ' 
 
 Mrs. Miller smiled. 'Yes, dear, you can 
 thread my needle when I require it. You 
 don't imagine that you can stitch, do you ? ' 
 
 The smile the poor woman gave was a 
 very sickly one, and was not lost upon the 
 sensitive child. 
 
 'You don't understand me, mother. I 
 mean, can I not make some money?' 
 
 This time the widow allowed the work 
 she was engaged upon to drop from her 
 hands, and a tear started to her eye. 
 
 'I have been thinking of this a long 
 time,' the son continued, 'and I want you 
 to consent for me to go and seek my 
 fortune.' 
 
 ' No, no, dear,' Mrs. Miller cried in alarm,
 
 8 Johnny Miller. 
 
 ' you would not leave me ? I should die 
 without you." 
 
 'I don't for a moment think of leaving 
 you,' the boy returned. 'Listen, dear mo- 
 ther,' and he crept to her side. 'I have 
 been to school for some time, and can now 
 read and write pretty well. Don't check 
 me I have set my heart upon going into 
 the world and trying to find something 
 to do. You know I have a school-fellow 
 named Johnny Sanders, and he appears to 
 be very fond of me, and has given me very 
 good advice. I will tell you all when I am 
 successful, and successful I know I shall be. 
 You know you can trust me, for I can find 
 my way about town everywhere/ 
 
 What could the poor mother say? She 
 knew that he was right, although she had 
 wished to have been able to keep him at 
 school at least for another year. 
 
 'My good boy, do you think that money 
 is to be had by merely asking for it ? Who 
 would employ one so young as you ? '
 
 His Disappointment 9 
 
 But it was vain for her to try and op- 
 pose him ; his resolution was taken, and the 
 longer he looked at his mother's pale face, 
 the more that resolution became fixed. He 
 made her promise that he might leave home 
 for a few hours in the morning, and when 
 the morning came his heart was more san- 
 guine than ever ; and as his mother watched 
 him running down the street until he was 
 out of sight, she felt how much he needed a 
 light heart to face the cold world seeking 
 his fortune, as he called it at twelve years 
 of age. 
 
 It was nearly four o'clock in the afternoon , 
 when Johnny Miller returned. His mother 
 was anxiously looking out for him, and met 
 him at the street door. The moment she 
 looked in his face she felt convinced that 
 he had not been successful, but she kissed 
 him fondly, and made him sit down to 
 dinner. 
 
 When he had finished his meal, his dis- 
 appointment seemed gradually to pass away.
 
 i o Johnny Miller. 
 
 He acknowledged that he had been a long 
 distance, and was very tired ; yet he was 
 still undaunted, and begged to be allowed 
 to continue his search on the following 
 day. 
 
 ' You know, mother, you have always told 
 me not to expect to be successful without 
 perseverance. I must not give in, for young 
 Sanders said to me that generally when 
 we begin to lose heart something good is 
 in store for us. I will tell you all my ad- 
 ventures when I obtain what I want ; and I 
 have resolved not to give up until I am 
 successful.' 
 
 Poor Mrs. Miller, although her heart was 
 very full, could only kiss her son and let 
 him have his own way. So the following 
 day he was out again, as full of hope as 
 ever; but he returned in the evening tired 
 and sad. And so he did for five days follow- 
 ing, until at length his mother endeavoured 
 to dissuade him from continuing what she 
 feared would only prove a fruitless search ;
 
 His Mother's Anxiety. 1 1 
 
 but he still cried, ' Once more, once more ; 
 don't let me prove a coward. Something 
 tells me I must not lose heart.' 
 
 As the morning sun shone on his bright 
 young face, its sanguine expression com- 
 municated some of its hopeful influence even 
 to the poor widow. Again she watched him 
 until out of sight, and as she sat over her 
 work something seemed to cheer her, she 
 knew not what ; but the bright upturned 
 face she had kissed this morning seemed to 
 remain ever beside her. 
 
 Four o'clock passed, and five, and six ; 
 still the boy did not return. In vain Mrs. 
 Miller tried to calm her agitation. From 
 the window she could see so short a distance, 
 that at length, her fears increasing, she put 
 on her bonnet and shawl, and stood at the 
 door. There were few passers-by at the 
 time, but the widow's expression must have 
 been an anxious one, for every one seemed 
 to stare at her so, that at last she determined 
 to go and try if she could meet him. Greatly
 
 12 Johnny Miller. 
 
 to her delight, she had not gone many yards 
 from her door before she espied him running 
 towards home, his hair flying back, and his 
 face bathed in perspiration. The few words 
 he had breath to utter were joyous ones, but 
 his mother was only too glad to get him 
 beside her again to pay much attention to 
 what he had to say. It was not until he 
 had refreshed himself, that, resting his head 
 on his hand, and looking up into his mother's 
 face, his gentle voice all tremulous with 
 emotion, he asked to be allowed to relate 
 his adventures. 
 
 'I told you, mother dear, that it was 
 Johnny Sanders who first encouraged me to 
 go and seek my fortune. I had long noticed 
 how hard you had to work, and it distressed 
 me much; so one day I said to him, "Do 
 you think, Johnny, I could earn a shilling 
 or two in any way?" 
 
 'He answered me that in London boys 
 are always wanted in a hundred trades ; and 
 although he thought me too young to do
 
 L_ 
 
 JOHNNY SEEKING A SITUATION. 
 13
 
 His Adventures. 15 
 
 much hard work, yet I might get a situation 
 to begin with as an errand-boy, and earn a 
 shilling or two a week. I was so overjoyed 
 at hearing this that I could not sleep at 
 night, and the more I thought of it the 
 more I watched you, and determined to 
 try what I could do. At last, you know, 
 you gave your consent, and I started, hardly 
 knowing which way to turn. Well, the first 
 day, I called at a great many shops and 
 offices. I felt very shy, but gradually got 
 more courage as I proceeded. Some told 
 me to go about my business ; others laughed 
 at me ; and one old gentleman, in a very 
 gruff voice, as he dangled his watch seals, 
 said I was too young for a shop-boy or an 
 errand-boy, or indeed, for a matter of that, 
 any boy at all but a school-boy, and that I 
 ought to be ashamed of myself. But I did 
 not feel ashamed of myself, mother, as I 
 thought of you, and the hard trials you have. 
 I tried to keep up my heart, and on the 
 second day called at over thirty places of
 
 1 6 Johnny Miller. 
 
 business, for I kept a note each day of the 
 streets I had passed through ; ' and the boy 
 brought out of his pocket a little book, in 
 which he had noted his proceedings. 
 
 ' My second day was not more fortunate 
 than the first, and I must say I felt very 
 sad, but I still resolved not to give in. I 
 was very tired, so I sat myself down on a 
 stone nearly in front of a beer-shop, and 
 the tears began to fill my eyes, although I 
 tried to keep up I did, mother. I must 
 have been sitting on the stone some time 
 before I noticed, standing in the doorway 
 of the beer-shop, a stout, goodnatured- 
 looking man. He was smoking a long pipe, 
 and, as I fancied, watching me ; but his face 
 looked so pleasant that I got up and spoke 
 to him, telling him what I wanted, and who 
 I was. 
 
 ' " Some place as an errand-boy ! " he 
 said, and his words and the smoke came 
 all out of his mouth together. " Why ! you 
 are but a child."
 
 The Good-natured Beer seller, 17 
 
 '"But I don't want much,'! I said. For 
 I thought, mother, however trifling the sum 
 I could earn at first, I might get more after- 
 wards. "If you would take me, sir, I am 
 sure I would do all I can to serve you." 
 
 ' " Take you, my child ? " he said, and I 
 fancied he gave a shiver. " No, no ; God 
 forbid that I should take you in here, but 
 I will talk to you. Come in ; I may be 
 able to give you some advice." 
 
 ' I followed him into the beer-shop, and 
 he sat me upon a form, and seated himself 
 at the side of me. He did look a very big 
 man, and I seemed a very little boy by his 
 side; but he was very gentle, so I plucked 
 up courage, and told him all about you. I 
 fancied that he appeared interested in what 
 I had to say ; and after a pause, he, patting 
 me on the head, exclaimed, " Why, my boy, 
 if you were to come and live with me for 
 one month, it would be your ruin. Mine 
 is a common beer- shop, and the men and 
 women you would see here, and the words
 
 1 8 Johnny Miller. 
 
 you would hear, would soon frighten you 
 away." 
 
 ' I was astonished at all this, but said 
 nothing ; and after he had told me a great 
 deal more, he went behind the bar, and 
 brought some bread and cheese, which he 
 put before me. I did not know whether I 
 was to eat it or not, for he took no further 
 notice of me, but went to the shop door, 
 and commenced smoking again. 
 
 'At length he returned, and finding I 
 had not touched the bread and cheese, he 
 patted me on the head, saying, " Eat, my 
 boy, eat ; I am sure you are welcome. Your 
 innocent face reminds me of one I have 
 parted with for ever." And I fancied, 
 mother, he had a tear in his eye ; at least 
 his voice trembled, and his hand too. He 
 went away again for a moment, and returned 
 with a glass full of beer ; but checking him- 
 self as he was about to place it on the table 
 before me, said : " No, my boy, no ; don't 
 touch it. I thought I was attending to a
 
 Good Advice. 19 
 
 customer. The less you take of that, as a 
 poor boy, the better ; it might be your ruin 
 it has ruined others," and he brought me 
 a glass of water. I finished my bread and 
 cheese, and as it was getting late, I begged 
 to be allowed to leave. He said he should 
 like to see me again, and to let him know 
 if I were successful, and he put a shilling 
 into my hand. Why, mother, was he so 
 kind to me, and why should he give me a 
 shilling? He did not seem very rich, and 
 I feel sorry that I did not thank him more ; 
 but he took me so by surprise, I had nothing 
 to say. 
 
 ' Well, for five days I went running about 
 from shop to shop, without, as you know, 
 finding any one who would engage me. 
 They all said I was too little, or too young, 
 some turning away angrily, others kindly 
 telling me that they did not think I should 
 find any one willing to engage such a mite 
 of an errand-boy. This morning, however, 
 I determined to try quite another quarter
 
 2O Johnny Miller. 
 
 of the town ; but the day had nearly passed, 
 and I was making my way towards home, 
 when, tired and footsore, I found myself 
 standing before a small draper's shop. I 
 was beginning to lose heart altogether, and 
 could hardly prevent the tears from coming 
 to my eyes. I must have been looking in 
 the shop window some time before I noticed 
 that an old lady, who sat at a high desk, 
 had been watching me. She was such a 
 funny-looking lady, I could not take my 
 eyes from her. She wore an old-fashioned 
 frilled cap, and had round spectacles. Alto- 
 gether, her face reminded me so strongly 
 of an owl, that I felt I could not take my 
 eyes from her. I noticed that her little 
 round eyes opened and closed behind her 
 spectacles, as if the light was too strong for 
 them ; and so greatly did her gaze seem to 
 fascinate me, so fixed was her resemblance 
 to the owl, I could only look in at the 
 window with a stupid, wondering expres- 
 sion.
 
 A Queer-looking Woman. 21 
 
 'At length she got down from her stool, 
 and coming to the door, said, in a quick, 
 shrill voice, " Now, young gentleman, I hope 
 I am not disturbing you, but I think when 
 we meet again you will be able to remember 
 me." 
 
 'Feeling, mother, that I was not a young 
 gentleman, I looked very shy, and said as 
 I came to the door, " I am only a poor boy, 
 ma'am, looking out for a situation." 
 
 ' " Looking out for a situation ! " she re- 
 plied, in a quicker and shriller voice than 
 ever; "and is that any reason why you 
 should try to gaze people out of all coun- 
 tenance? Go away with you, and don't 
 let me catch you looking out for a situation 
 at my window again !" 
 
 'Her look had become so maliciously 
 owlish, and her cap border stood up so stiff 
 all round her face, I became really frightened 
 of her, and said in a low, timid voice: "I 
 am very, very sorry, ma'am, but I do wish I 
 could get some one to give me a trial. No
 
 22 Johnny Miller, 
 
 one will, and I have walked all over London 
 for six days, and can get nothing to do. 
 Every one seems to look at me in doubt 
 no one will give me any encouragement, 
 because they say I am so young." 
 
 'I was turning away with tears in my 
 eyes, when the old lady suddenly seized me 
 by the collar, and dragging me into the 
 shop, pounced me upon a roll of flannel. 
 "Now," she said, in the softest and most 
 pleasant voice imaginable, "tell me who are 
 you, and what do you want ? " 
 
 ' I was so taken by surprise that I believe 
 I should have been too frightened to answer 
 her at all, were it not that her voice had so 
 suddenly changed, and the face she turned 
 upon me had a look of the tenderest en- 
 couragement. The old resemblance to the 
 owl was still there, but it was no longer 
 that of the malicious owl it had been a 
 few moments before. I at once, mother, 
 gave her an account of all our troubles, 
 and told her how eager I was to try and
 
 Mrs. H owlet. 23 
 
 relieve you by earning a trifle as an errand- 
 boy. 
 
 'Without answering me, she mounted her 
 high stool, and, perched there, ran her eye 
 down a long list hanging at the side of her 
 desk. 
 
 ' " Campbell might do," she said ; " but no, 
 he is not strong enough for that. At Tom- 
 lins' he would never have done, and Brewster 
 would send him home at midnight. No, 
 no ; " and with her two fingers she thrust 
 her round glasses more firmly into her eyes. 
 " I have it," at length she cried ; " H OWLET 
 will try him ; HOWLET will see what it can 
 do." She then bounced down from her high 
 stool, I seated on the roll of flannel all the 
 time, and standing before me with her face 
 turned down upon mine, and her head very 
 much on one side, she resembled more than 
 ever a large bird as she said, "How would 
 you like Howlet's, at two shillings a week? 
 Speak out, boy ! don't be afraid." 
 
 'Not feeling particularly confident what
 
 24 Johnny Miller. 
 
 Howlet's was, but understanding thoroughly 
 the two shillings a week, I cried out, jump- 
 ing from the roll of flannel, "Oh, yes; let 
 me have Howlet's at two shillings a week. 
 I am sure I would be very grateful, and 
 would try to be active and do everything 
 they wanted. Oh, do let me have it ! " 
 
 'I was so much in earnest that I boldly 
 took the old lady by the sleeve of her 
 gown ; but the moment after, ashamed at 
 my rashness, hung down my head. For 
 some minutes she stood with her small 
 round eyes fixed upon me ; at length, again 
 taking me by the collar of my jacket, she 
 led me to the other end of the shop, and 
 giving me a piece of paper and a pencil, 
 told me to write while she attended to some 
 customers who at that moment came in. I 
 am able, you know, mother, to write a little ; 
 and although my hand may be rather a large 
 one, yet it is very distinct. At first I did not 
 know what to write about, until, thinking of 
 the headings of the copy-slips we used at
 
 Johnny is Successful. 2$ 
 
 school, I began, " Depend more on your own 
 exertions than fortune ;" "A good word costs 
 nothing; " " Do a thing rather than wish it 
 done? 
 
 ' I was still writing, when, turning round, 
 I found the old lady looking over my 
 shoulder. She patted me on the head, and 
 said, " That will do. Can you tell me twelve 
 times six ? " I answered correctly. " Good. 
 Go through your pence table." I at once 
 complied. " Very good, very good ; Howlet 
 is satisfied, you shall have it at three shil- 
 lings a week." All this time she continued 
 to open and close her eyes, thrusting on her 
 spectacles with two fingers of one hand, until 
 I fully expected she would end by closing 
 them up altogether. 
 
 'I now timidly inquired whether Howlet's 
 was far off, and wished to know when I 
 should go "there. 
 
 ' " Lord bless the boy ! " she said, waving 
 her right hand majestically, and looking 
 down upon me with the owlish expression
 
 26 Johnny Miller. 
 
 stronger than ever ; " this is Howlet's 
 H owlet's since 1710, and I am its repre- 
 sentative." 
 
 'I now for the first time became aware that 
 the old lady was engaging me for her own 
 establishment, and felt deeply grateful for 
 the interest she appeared to take in me. So, 
 mother, ends the first part of my adventures, 
 and it will not be my fault if their continua- 
 tion is not equally as successful.' 
 
 The mother's joy at the satisfactory con- 
 clusion of her boy's search for employment 
 may be readily imagined ; indeed, during 
 his narrative, she had frequently interrupted 
 him with expressions of the deepest sym- 
 pathy and affection. They talked long and 
 earnestly together, and devised so many 
 plans for the future, that it was near mid- 
 night before they thought of going to rest.
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 THE 'SILVER LAMB' THE TRAP. 
 
 T T AD the morning that followed the 
 -* errand-boy's narrative of his adven- 
 tures in search of a situation been wet and 
 gloomy, both mother and son would have 
 felt its saddening influence. They were up 
 early, and the bright sun welcomed them. 
 It was the first thoroughly joyous meeting 
 they had had for some time, and Mrs. Miller 
 did not forget to pour into her son's ear, 
 as he finished dressing himself, all kinds of 
 moral precepts, and tender words of advice 
 as to his conduct in his new situation. 
 
 He resolved that Johnny he was to be 
 called no longer, but plain John. He was 
 
 to be regarded no more as a child ; but, 
 
 27
 
 28 Johnny Miller. 
 
 starting as he did into the world with the 
 bold resolve, as he expressed it, 'to conquer 
 or to die,' it would never do to allow a 
 trace of his childhood to remain. 
 
 ' I go,' he said, his cheek flushing up and 
 his hand trembling, ' with the full confidence 
 that I shall succeed. And only think, mother 
 three shillings a week to commence with ! 
 It's not bad, is it ? Three shillings to com- 
 mence upon, then it may be six, and perhaps 
 eight or ten perhaps at last even a pound 
 a week ! ' 
 
 'Johnny, Johnny,' cried his mother, 'do 
 not be too sanguine ; wait until at least a 
 year has passed ' 
 
 ' Don't call me Johnny, mother dear. Not 
 that I am proud, but in business, you know, 
 Johnny would never do.' At length being 
 thoroughly examined from top to toe, and 
 his clothes so carefully brushed that not a 
 speck of dirt was to be seen, although they 
 were nearly threadbare he started ; and as 
 it is a good quarter of an hour's walk from
 
 The ' Silver Lamb.' 29 
 
 his home to ' Howlet' s,' we will take the 
 liberty of arriving there before him. 
 
 When Claudius Howlet died, he left a 
 fortune of about twenty thousand pounds, 
 to be divided in equal parts between two 
 bachelor brothers and a maiden sister; the 
 whole of which sum, it was reported, had 
 been earned in his shop, named the ' Silver 
 Lamb.' Now the 'Silver Lamb' was as 
 tiny a little cabin as any small tradesman 
 might desire. It had a frontage measuring 
 hardly more than twelve fact, door included. 
 Leading from the front shop was a back 
 office, and from the back office a back par- 
 lour; and in the rear of the back parlour 
 was a small bedroom, approached by a nar- 
 row passage indeed, so narrow, that had 
 Claudius Howlet not been a very spare man, 
 his two sides would have polished the walls. 
 
 He kept a housekeeper, who had her own 
 apartments somewhere underneath, but how 
 approached, and how lighted, the oldest in- 
 habitant in the district could never decide;
 
 3o Johnny Miller. 
 
 it was a secret known only to herself and 
 her master. Certain it is, that the customer 
 who visited the shop, the trader who was 
 asked into the office, or the friend whom 
 Howlet entertained in the parlour, had none 
 of them seen either stairs, opening, or outlet ; 
 and Claudius always blinked the inquiry 
 by simply remarking, 'Mrs. Kelsey has her 
 own private apartments, and keeps herself 
 to herself, sir ; ' which remark being intended 
 as a closer, no one dared to broach the 
 subject further, except upon one dread occa- 
 sion, when Brooks, an audacious errand-boy, 
 was overheard to say to a customer that 
 it was as good as a play to see old Mother 
 Kelsey come up the trap ; which Howlet 
 overhearing, impaled him on the spot with 
 his umbrella, paid him his week's wages, 
 and declared, turning him from the door, 
 that if ever he saw him in the street again, 
 Binks, the private watchman, should take 
 him in charge. 
 
 Yet from business done at the 'Silver
 
 The ' Silver Lamb! 3 1 
 
 Lamb,' Claudius Howlet saved, and left to 
 his surviving brothers and his sister, nearly 
 twenty thousand pounds, besides a good 
 name and the respect of both rich and poor 
 in the neighbourhood. The brothers Howlet 
 were not contented to remain long at the 
 'Silver Lamb.' They took extensive pre- 
 mises in the city, would have closed the 
 little shop in Bloomsbury, and forgotten 
 their origin altogether, had it not been for 
 their sister. She revered the memory of 
 her brother, and having always led an active 
 life, determined upon managing the busi- 
 ness herself. There, enshrined in the little 
 shop, with back office, back parlour, and 
 bedroom, the name of Howlet became her 
 greatest boast ; and month by month fol- 
 lowing in her brother's footsteps, seated at 
 the desk that had been his, she more re- 
 sembled him every day, so that the neigh- 
 bours began to forget that Claudius was 
 dead, and called her simply 'Howlet,' as 
 they had called her brother. Indeed, wear-
 
 32. Johnny Miller. 
 
 ing the round spectacles that he had worn, 
 and keeping up the old expression, voice, 
 and manner, with the wonderful resemblance 
 to the owl, had caused a speculation whether 
 the name had created the expression, or 
 the expression the name. Thus ' Howlet ' 
 lived and prospered as in its early days. 
 
 St. Giles' had just chimed eight as young 
 Miller came up to the door, and the old 
 lady, pointing to the dial, received him with 
 a gracious smile, saying, ' Be always in time, 
 John, do everything at its proper time, 
 John, and you will save your time, John.' 
 The shutters were not taken down from the 
 shop windows, but this, Mrs. Howlet said, 
 was Towler's duty ; and as she was speak- 
 ing, a tall, large-boned young man made his 
 appearance, who, without saying a word to 
 any one, or seeming at all surprised at 
 seeing young Miller, flew at the bolts, drew 
 them out, then flew at the shutters, and 
 pulling them down, carried three at a time 
 through the shop, and indeed made all ready
 
 Towler. 33 
 
 for business before the new-comer had an 
 opportunity of offering his services. 
 
 Mrs. Howlet had a very high opinion of 
 Towler, partly because Towler's eldest 
 brother had been errand-boy in the establish- 
 ment years ago. But Towler, she remarked, 
 was in some things rather too fast; and as 
 young Miller watched him throwing one 
 thing here and another there, he could not 
 help thinking (boy though he was) that the 
 same might have been done without quite 
 so much noise or bustle. 
 
 The new errand-boy entered upon his 
 duties with even more ability than his mis- 
 tress had any reason to expect from his 
 tender years. He had not been six hours 
 in her employ before her ever-watchful eyes 
 discovered his perfect willingness to do all 
 he was told, and she also noticed the ex- 
 cellent home training he had received. At 
 first, Towler took but little notice of him, 
 continuing his everyday work without so 
 much as giving him a word. In vain the
 
 34 Johnny Miller. 
 
 new-comer endeavoured to be of use to his 
 companion ; but he never received one syllable 
 of thanks, until at length Mrs. Howlet, 
 perceiving his ill-disguised contempt for all 
 poor Miller's services, called him seriously 
 to account, telling him, in her own concise 
 manner, that with all his quickness and 
 experience the child knew much he had 
 yet to learn, and he might study from him 
 one thing, ever to be civil and obliging. 
 Towler's manner would then as suddenly 
 change he would even go so far as to see 
 Miller part of the way home, introducing 
 him by the. way to many of his associates, 
 -and upon more than one occasion trying to 
 induce him to enter a public-house, named 
 the ' Hand and Heart,' that he might partake 
 of spirit and water, purchased, as he said, 
 specially to entertain him. 
 
 But the errand-boy continued to make a 
 confidante of his mother, and they had long 
 conversations together of all that transpired 
 during the day. Thanks to her good advice,
 
 Good Advice. 35 
 
 his weeks passed on without a sorrow, and 
 his little money (for he now received five 
 shillings a week) added so considerably to 
 the mother's store, that they seemed to 
 possess all they could possibly desire. And 
 so passed tranquilly and uneventfully the 
 first six months of his employment at the 
 ' Silver Lamb.' 
 
 He did not forget to call upon the kind- 
 hearted man at the beer-shop who had given 
 him a shilling, and to tell him of his good 
 fortune ; indeed, he wanted to return the 
 money, but Dobley (for that was his name) 
 would not accept it. 
 
 'Persevere, my man,' he said to him at 
 parting, 'and avoid bad companions. You 
 had better tell your mother everything ; and 
 above all,' there his voice trembled, ' never 
 be prevailed upon to go out on the drink. I 
 had a son once but no matter; one of these 
 days I may tell you his history,' and he 
 turned away to hide his emotion. 
 
 Young Miller could not feel altogether
 
 36 Johnny Miller. 
 
 comfortable, now that his fellow-assistant 
 had changed so suddenly. He doubted, with 
 all his attentions and all his fine words, 
 whether he really was his friend. He ob- 
 served that by following Towler's advice he 
 generally got into more trouble than when 
 he used his own judgment. He fancied 
 though his experience was small, and he 
 was too kindly disposed to think ill of any 
 one without a cause that Towler appeared 
 anything but sorry when the mistakes he 
 made displeased Mrs. Howlet. He detected 
 him, upon more than one occasion, putting 
 the blame on to his shoulders for errors he 
 had had nothing to do with. But at length 
 an event occurred which not only convinced 
 him of Towler's duplicity, but changed the 
 whole course of his conduct towards him. 
 Up to this moment he had been a poor, 
 simple boy, distinguished only by his affec- 
 tion for his mother, his desire to get on in 
 life, and his love of truth. From this 
 moment he appeared suddenly to look upon
 
 The Trap. 37 
 
 everything in a changed light ; he seemed 
 alive to the fact that others might not be 
 as truthful as himself that he had enemies 
 to encounter, and possibly bad impressions 
 to live down. 
 
 A well - known customer of the ' Silver 
 Lamb ' called and gave an order, which was 
 to be executed on the following day ; and 
 as the goods were very light, it was sug- 
 gested that young Miller should take the 
 parcel home. Towler looked them up, Mrs. 
 Howlet ticked off the invoice, and the follow- 
 ing morning the errand-boy was despatched 
 with them to Mecklenburgh Square. He had 
 just passed through Lamb's, Conduit Street, 
 and was crossing opposite the Foundling 
 Hospital, when he was accosted by a boy 
 a few years older than himself. 
 
 'Now, then, Miller, don't hurry yourself 
 take your time; but they are waiting in 
 Mecklenburgh Square for the parcel, and 
 unless you mend your pace I would not be 
 in your shoes for a trifle.'
 
 38 Johnny Miller. 
 
 ' How do you know my name is Miller ? ' 
 the errand-boy asked ; ' and how do. you 
 know I am going to Mecklenburgh Square ? ' 
 
 ' How do I know it ? ' the boy replied ; 
 'because I was sent to Mrs. Howlet's shop 
 by my master, and they told me filler had 
 been sent with the parcel, and that I should 
 overtake him if I walked fast.' 
 
 'Who told you at Mrs. Howlet's?' he 
 asked. 
 
 ' Mr. Towler, the shopman, did. So hand 
 it over, you stupid, or I shall get myself into 
 disgrace wasting my time talking to you/ 
 and without further parley he took hold of 
 the parcel. 
 
 The errand-boy could have no suspicion 
 but that the messenger had been sent after 
 him ; still he asked one more question before 
 giving up the goods. 
 
 ' I have never seen you before ; how did 
 you know me ? ' 
 
 ' Oh, they took good care to describe you, 
 and said you were carrying a large parcel
 
 Miller's Anxiety. 39 
 
 done up in brown paper, and addressed to 
 50 Mecklenburgh Square.' 
 
 This answer removed the slightest sus- 
 picion that might have lingered in young 
 Miller's mind, and he gave up the parcel at 
 once. He, however, waited for a moment, 
 and saw the boy who had accosted him pass 
 into Mecklenburgh Square. He then hurried 
 back to the 'Silver Lamb.' When he got 
 there, Towler was at dinner and Mrs. Howlet 
 attending to a customer ; so the matter passed 
 from his mind, and it was not until they 
 closed shop in the evening he had an oppor- 
 tunity of mentioning the subject to his fellow- 
 assistant. Towler, however, seemed to avoid 
 him, and took but little notice of Miller's 
 questioning. 
 
 The errand-boy went home that even- 
 ing, for the first time, full of thought and 
 anxiety. He, however, had one good friend 
 and counsellor, his mother, and to her 
 related what had transpired on his morn- 
 ing's errand.
 
 4O Johnny Miller. 
 
 'You see, mother,' he said in conclusion, 
 'he called me by my name, knew where 
 I was going, and went so far as to say 
 that Towler sent him ; but when I asked 
 Towler this evening, he declared he knew 
 nothing about it.' 
 
 A cloud seemed to spread itself before 
 the mother's mind. Her son's fellow-assist- 
 ant had always appeared to her a careless, 
 selfish town-boy, whose life had been passed 
 more in the streets than anywhere else ; 
 still she had no reason to believe that he 
 would do anything dishonest, or join in 
 any conspiracy to injure her son. She felt, 
 from the little she had heard of Master 
 Towler, that he was already jealous of the 
 favour his mistress showed towards her son, 
 and that he would, had he the opportunity, 
 try and prejudice Mrs. Howlet against him ; 
 but she dismissed from her mind the idea 
 that his self-interest would lead him to do 
 more than utter an occasional ill-natured 
 word. It was, however, agreed between the
 
 JOHNNY TROUBLED. 
 I)
 
 Something Wrong. 43 
 
 mother and son, that on the following morn- 
 ing Mrs. Howlet should be made acquainted 
 with all that had transpired. They went 
 to bed, endeavouring to dismiss from their 
 minds the unpleasant thoughts their con- 
 versation had occasioned ; and when young 
 Miller arose on the following morning, he 
 was himself again, although he felt a little 
 nervous, having over-slept himself, and being 
 some minutes later than usual. When he 
 arrived at the ' Silver Lamb,' he found the 
 shutters were down, the shop open, Towler 
 in his place, and Mrs. Howlet perched on 
 her high stool, with the owl expression 
 strongly stamped on her countenance. All 
 this rather surprised him, for he generally 
 got to business before Towler, and his mis- 
 tress rarely made her appearance until an 
 hour afterwards ; but he bounded in with 
 a light step, and saying 'good morning' to 
 his fellow-assistant, commenced to put away 
 some goods which had been taken down. 
 Mrs. Howlet followed him with her sharp
 
 44 Johnny Miller. 
 
 dark eyes, but said not a word ; and young 
 Miller, remembering his promise to his 
 mother, was about to tell her what had oc- 
 curred, when, turning half round on her stool, 
 and thrusting her spectacles more firmly into 
 her eyes, she cried, ' Miller, come this way.' 
 
 The youth addressed at once obeyed her 
 summons, although his face flushed up and 
 he felt uneasy, and a nervous presentiment 
 came over him that something was wrong. 
 
 ' I have had a letter this morning,' the 
 old lady began, ' complaining that the goods 
 I ordered you to deliver yesterday in 
 Mecklenburgh Square have not been received. 
 How is this, Miller ? ' and she fixed her 
 small, penetrating eyes full on the boy. 
 
 'Indeed, ma'am, I am not to blame,' he 
 answered ; but before he could say more, she 
 broke in 
 
 ' Not to blame ? Was not the parcel given 
 you to deliver at Mecklenburgh Square ? 
 Did you not take it as I directed ? ' 
 
 ' I went with it as far as the Foundling,
 
 Miller's Examination. 45 
 
 when I was stopped by a boy, who told me 
 you had sent him after me, having been here 
 for the parcel. He called me by my name, 
 and said Towler had described me. How 
 could he know my name, and tell where I 
 was going, unless he had been told ? ' 
 
 The old lady's eyes never moved from the 
 boy's face, and her gaze was one not readily 
 met. There was something in it which 
 seemed to say, ' I will not be put off with any 
 made-up excuses ; out with the truth, and 
 perhaps I may forgive you, but no falsehood 
 will go down with Howlet.' 
 
 Her eye, though busily engaged with 
 Miller, did not lose sight of Towler, and she 
 noticed how eagerly he tried to hear every 
 word she uttered, and how he gradually drew 
 nearer to her desk. ' Towler, keep away ; 
 I will investigate this matter without your 
 assistance. Wait ; your examination shall 
 come next.' The assistant started, and 
 blurting out some excuse, made for the other 
 end of the shop.
 
 46 Johnny Miller. 
 
 'You see, Miller, this is a very unlikely 
 story. You leave here with a parcel you are 
 directed to take to a particular house, and 
 in less than ten minutes you are met by a 
 boy who you say addressed you by name, 
 knew where you came from, where you were 
 going to, and declared Towler sent him.' 
 This was said in a kindly tone; but suddenly 
 changing, and putting on her severest frown, 
 she cried, coming down from her stool and 
 taking Miller by the collar of his coat, 
 * What proof can you give me that you are 
 speaking the truth ? Towler says but come 
 here, Towler, and speak for yourself.' This 
 she said in a loud, commanding tone. 
 
 Towler came forward, looking anything 
 but comfortable under that searching gaze. 
 He knew it of old, and felt how difficult it 
 was to ' come over the gov'nor.' 
 
 ' Did any one call here after Miller left ? ' 
 she interrogated ; ' I mean, to ask about the 
 parcel being sent home.' 
 
 ' No one, ma'am ; at least I saw no one.'
 
 Towler's Examination. 47 
 
 'You did not send any one after Miller, 
 giving him your name, and directing him to 
 deliver up the parcel ? ' 
 
 ' I did not, ma'am,' Towler answered. 
 
 ' Believe me, mistress, believe me, whether 
 Towler sent the boy or not, he mentioned 
 your name, and said he was sent by him. I 
 would not speak false I would not. 'Twas 
 not until the shop was closed Towler told me 
 he knew nothing about it, and I went home 
 to my mother and told her every word, and 
 had resolved to repeat the same to you the 
 moment I came in the morning.' 
 
 There was in the boy's face an expression 
 of truth it was difficult for any one to dis- 
 believe ; and as the old lady looked in his 
 earnest countenance, and from him to her 
 other assistant, she appeared troubled, and 
 with a puzzled expression said, 'You both 
 remain here. Don't attempt to leave until I 
 give you permission,' and without further 
 explanation, put on her cloak and bonnet, 
 and marched out of the shop.
 
 CHAPTER TIL 
 
 THE INWARD RESOLVE. 
 
 TV /TRS. H OWLET was away for more 
 -*>-! than an hour, and during her absence 
 young Miller felt strongly tempted to appeal 
 to Towler, but for a suspicion that he was 
 not to be trusted, and that he knew more 
 about the missing parcel than he was willing 
 to acknowledge. 
 
 The errand-boy sat at the foot of the 
 desk his mistress had just vacated, and 
 buried his face in his hands. 
 
 'You've got yourself into a nice mess,' 
 Towler said after a pause. 'How could 
 you be such a fool as to give up the parcel 
 to the first knave you met ? that is, if you 
 did give it up.' 
 
 48
 
 Towler's Secret. 49 
 
 Miller started to his feet as if he had been 
 shot. 
 
 'What is that you say ? ' he cried out. ' If 
 I did give it up ? Do you think for one 
 moment that I stole it ? Do you think I 
 would throw away my good name, and be- 
 come a thief ? ' 
 
 ' Well, how should 7 know ? Many a one 
 has tried the same game on before you. 
 The parcel was valuable ; and I am sure the 
 story you tell is neither such a likely one 
 or so new a one to be believed.' 
 
 Miller looked into his fellow - assistant's 
 countenance with a fierce, defiant gaze, his 
 lips quivering, and his whole frame trembling 
 with suppressed rage. But he did not gaze 
 for long ; the expression of Towler's face 
 at that moment seemed to reveal the secret 
 of his mind. Miller looked at him defiantly, 
 with a clear, penetrating look, but in a 
 moment a smile curled his lips, and he 
 walked to the other end of the shop with a 
 firm step. In that moment he had made a
 
 5o Johnny Miller. 
 
 discovery, and with it a resolve an inward 
 resolve, for, young as he was, his resolution 
 was strong. Could Towler as readily have 
 read his companion's countenance, it had 
 been better for him had he quitted the 
 'Silver Lamb' for ever. He, however, 
 merely congratulated himself upon having 
 silenced the shop-boy, and walked to the 
 door whistling complacently, perfectly satis- 
 fied that he had done a good thing, and was 
 not likely to be troubled by young Miller 
 any more. 
 
 Mrs. Howlet returned. She walked into 
 the shop as she had walked out, hung up 
 her bonnet and shawl, mounted her desk, 
 and proceeded to cash up some invoices 
 without making a remark. 
 
 In vain both her assistants looked into 
 her face ; they could read nothing there. 
 Howlet had made a mental memorandum, 
 but she did not advertise it, either by word 
 or a single twinkle in her expressive eyes. 
 The day wore on as usual, the time for
 
 Mrs. Howlet pays a Visit. 5 1 
 
 closing arrived, and Miller left the 'Silver 
 Lamb' for the second time anxious and 
 thoughtful. Still his conviction was strong 
 that truth would yet prevail. 
 
 His mother, the moment they met, read 
 at a glance that his mind was ill at ease 
 but she took his hand with a merry laugh, 
 saying, 
 
 ' I can see, my dear, that you are bothered ; 
 but don't mind. Who do you think has 
 been here?' 
 
 The errand-boy looked up, and listlessly 
 answered that he did not know. 
 
 'Mrs. Howlet!' 
 
 ' Mrs. Howlet ? ' Miller cried in astonish- 
 ment. ' When did she come ? ' 
 
 'Early this morning indeed, very soon 
 after you left for business ; and I told her 
 every word you related to me last night.' 
 
 'Did she ask you?' 
 
 'Not exactly. She started in quite un- 
 expectedly, and taking a chair, quietly 
 dusted it, then sat down, and first looked
 
 52 Johnny Miller. 
 
 at me, then round the room, then at me 
 again. I was so startled that I could not 
 utter a word, but stood with a basin in my 
 hand, as if spell-bound. 
 
 ' " Is your name Miller ? " she commenced, 
 taking off her spectacles, and, having wiped 
 them, putting them slowly on again. 
 
 *I could only answer, "Yes." 
 
 ' " Don't be afraid," she said ; " you did not 
 expect a visit from me, Mrs. Miller? My 
 name is Howlet. I suppose you know me 
 now?" 
 
 'I answered that I did, and that I felt 
 greatly indebted to her for all her kindness 
 to you.' 
 
 ' What did she say then ? ' the errand-boy 
 asked, deeply interested. 
 
 ' She inquired whether you had told me 
 that you had got yourself into some trouble. 
 " Speak out, woman," she continued, in a 
 voice so commanding and with a look so 
 searching that I really felt afraid of her. 
 However, I simply related every word of
 
 MRS. MILLER'S VISITOR. 
 
 53
 
 Mrs. Millers Visitor. 55 
 
 what you told me last night, adding, that I 
 was convinced that you were innocent. 
 
 * " To be sure you think him innocent ; it 
 is only natural, as his mother, that you 
 should." 
 
 '" But, ma'am, you do not think him guilty?" 
 I cried, deeply agitated. 
 
 '"Sit down, little woman, sit down," she 
 answered ; " I believe every word you have 
 said but listen to me. Has he any^ com- 
 panions who know where he is employed 
 any one to whom he may have communi- 
 cated my name or Towler's?" 
 
 ' I said I was sure you had none, then 
 added that I distrusted Towler; whereupon 
 she started to her feet, saying angrily, 
 "Why distrust Towler? He has been with 
 me many years ; / do not distrust Towler, 
 and you have no right to distrust him." 
 
 ' She neither said good-bye, nor led me to 
 believe that she was about to depart, but, 
 starting to her feet, had opened the door 
 and was half-way down the stairs before
 
 56 Johnny Miller, 
 
 I recovered from my surprise. Johnny, 
 my boy, she is a very funny old lady 
 
 ' But a dear good one ; and I would sooner 
 chop off my right hand than deceive her 
 in a word/ 
 
 And so the matter seemed ended. 
 
 Not so with Miller. From that moment 
 he attended even more assiduously to busi- 
 ness than ever; indeed, he was never away. 
 Whatever he was asked to do he did 
 willingly, but thoughtfully. To his mistress' 
 commands he paid the most scrupulous at- 
 tention, but seldom answered her, except- 
 ing when absolutely necessary. To Towler 
 he was frank, nay, even kind and friendly ; 
 but his eyes appeared to be everywhere. 
 No bale of goods entered the shop but he 
 took note of what it contained ; no parcel 
 went out but he knew every item that was 
 in it. He was there the first in the morning ; 
 he left the last at night. He had thrown off 
 the boy, and with the inward resolve strong 
 upon him, said to himself, 'Towler has
 
 Mrs. Hoivlet Puzzled. 57 
 
 doubted my honesty ; I will try to believe 
 in his, but I can feel no mercy for him if he 
 should prove the rogue.' 
 
 'Why, Miller, you never take a holiday,' 
 his companion said ; ' you know Mrs. Howlet 
 would give you one if you like to ask her. 1 
 
 ' My greatest pleasure is in my business/ 
 he would reply. ' I have a holiday once a 
 week, and it is a very good one too, the 
 Sunday.' 
 
 Towler looked annoyed, and began to 
 reflect whether he was indeed a match for 
 the junior assistant. 
 
 And was all this hidden from Mrs. Howlet? 
 No indeed ; her quick, sagacious, business 
 eye took it all in, and yet she was greatly 
 puzzled. There was something about Miller 
 she could not understand. That he was 
 attentive to business, and never gave her 
 the slightest cause to find fault, she allowed. 
 He appeared like a man in manner, although 
 but a boy in years ; yet there was a strange, 
 doubtful demeanour with him, although he
 
 58 Johnny Miller. 
 
 was always respectful. She tried to show 
 him that she trusted him, and that his con- 
 duct was appreciated ; still she felt greatly 
 perplexed. And Towler did not forget, when 
 an opportunity occurred, to throw in a word 
 disparagingly, and tried to insinuate his 
 attention to business might arise from the 
 fear of something being discovered in his 
 absence. But Mrs. Howlet never could dis- 
 cover the merest trifle wrong in anything 
 young Miller had to attend to ; and although 
 a good sum of money passed through his 
 hands, he was always correct in his accounts 
 to a farthing. 
 
 Four years have passed away ; to Miller, 
 years of hard work, valued experience, and 
 steady progress. What he had an oppor- 
 tunity of learning during the day he took 
 good care to study in his leisure at home. 
 He was now able to write with comparative 
 freedom, could calculate the ordinary bills 
 of parcels, and was well acquainted with
 
 Miller's Suspicion. 59 
 
 the stock, keeping a close watch upon what 
 came in and what went out. His fellow- 
 assistant, Towler, frequently jested him upon 
 his careful scrutiny and watchfulness ; but 
 Miller always met him with a smile, and 
 merely answered that it was his duty to 
 know what goods they possessed, or how 
 could he ever be qualified to serve in the 
 shop, or be able to answer a customer's 
 inquiry ? To all this Towler could say 
 nothing. He was first hand there, and Miller 
 never for one moment disputed his authority 
 to do what he thought right. But the four 
 years had not passed without some important 
 changes. Miller's wages had been increased 
 to ten shillings a week, and Mrs. Howlet 
 had found profitable employment for his 
 mother, making up various articles sold in 
 the business, so that altogether their posi- 
 tion was much improved. 
 
 One trouble alone oppressed the errand- 
 boy, his suspicion of Towler's honesty. He 
 could not detect him in any theft, still he
 
 6o Johnny Miller. 
 
 was convinced that many articles that had 
 been in stock disappeared without being 
 sold. He particularly marked one roll con- 
 taining sixty-four yards of flannel, from which 
 Towler sold, according to his check-book, 
 eight yards, and yet upon measuring it only 
 fifty remained. Two days after, Towler 
 accounted for the sale of ten yards more ; 
 but when the roll was examined by Miller 
 the same evening, only thirty-six remained. 
 These and similar defalcations sadly puzzled 
 and distressed him, for he was convinced 
 Towler took no parcel away. He would not 
 have stooped to play the spy had he not 
 been doubted ; and his resolve was fixed. 
 But he said nothing, his measurement of 
 the goods being always conducted when his 
 fellow-assistant was out of the way ; and he 
 never breathed a word to any one except 
 his mother that such defalcations existed, 
 she believing, however, that her son's over- 
 anxiety frequently led him into error. Mrs. 
 Howlet's book-keeping was anything but
 
 Miller's Suspicion. 61 
 
 perfect of that Mrs. Miller had proof and 
 she fancied that many sales were made by 
 the old lady without any account being kept 
 of them, for her confidence in both her assist- 
 ants was firm, and not easily shaken. Young 
 Miller could not agree with his mother; he 
 noted every yard of stuff that left the shop, 
 and all that came into it. Although he was 
 sometimes away, he managed to find out 
 what business had been done in his absence, 
 and the accounts did not agree. The more 
 he watched and calculated, the more puzzled 
 he became, and the more convinced that 
 something was wrong. 
 
 Although Mrs. Howlet said but little about 
 it, she could not fail to notice his anxiety, 
 and it gratified her to put confidence in him. 
 The loss of the parcel was forgotten ; and 
 while she still retained Towler in his post as 
 principal assistant, she, at the same time, let 
 Miller plainly see that she entrusted to him 
 many transactions requiring judgment and 
 the strictest integrity.
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 A POWERFUL TEMPTATION. 
 
 IT was a fine, clear morning in April. 
 A large order had come into the ' Silver 
 Lamb,' and Towler was very busy making 
 it up. Mrs. Howlet, not wishing to interrupt 
 him, said to Miller, 
 
 ' Take this cheque to the bank, and mind 
 you be careful. It is for ten pounds. Bring 
 me five pounds in gold and five in silver.' 
 
 Although Miller had upon two or three 
 occasions been to the bank to pay in money, 
 he had never before been entrusted with a 
 cheque to cash. After asking a few ques- 
 tions, he started off in high glee, his sus- 
 ceptible nature alive to the confidence being 
 reposed in him. 
 
 62
 
 At the Bank. 63 
 
 The branch bank was a rambling series 
 of offices, which had been added from time 
 to time as the increase of business required 
 greater accommodation. It had double doors 
 and double windows, to keep out all sounds 
 and draughts. The atmosphere was warm, 
 and the kamptulicon soft to walk upon. The 
 long row of desks, the large clock, the ex- 
 tensive counter, the sound of money indeed, 
 the very air that circulated about the place, 
 seemed calculated to impress a boy who 
 had never been there before with awe; nor 
 was the impression lessened by the appear- 
 ance of the cashiers and clerks who stood 
 around. How coolly they handled cheques 
 for fabulous sums ! how contemptuously they 
 shovelled the gold across the counter ! It is 
 true they did sometimes pause to curl their 
 moustache with one hand while examining 
 a note or draft, and at the same time glanced 
 languidly at the presenter. The impression 
 made upon Miller was that all the clerks, and 
 more particularly the cashiers, were thoroughly
 
 64 Johnny Miller. 
 
 'used up.' Their looks, their movements, 
 indeed their very tone of voice was languid. 
 There did not appear to be one bustling man 
 of business among the lot of them, and the 
 errand-boy came to the conclusion it must 
 be their avocation handling so much cash 
 that produced this subdued, worn-out tone. 
 
 He presented his cheque timidly, after 
 waiting a long time, and looking at one of 
 the clerks, who, although apparently doing 
 nothing, could not sufficiently rouse himself 
 to be aware of poor young Miller's presence. 
 Three times he stretched his hand across the 
 counter. At length, ' How will you have it ? ' 
 the languid voice inquired ; but the ' How 
 will you have it ? ' was but one word, and 
 very difficult to understand, although re- 
 peated. 
 
 'Five pounds in silver and the rest in 
 gold, if you please ; ' and the money was 
 paid over. 
 
 Miller put it into a small leather bag 
 given to him by Mrs. Howlet for that pur-
 
 Miller's Honesty. 65 
 
 pose, and was about to leave the office when 
 he saw something shining in one corner, and 
 upon stooping down to examine, perceived 
 that it was half-a-sovereign. It was some 
 distance from the counter, near the hinge of 
 the door, and when the door was partly 
 open quite hidden. Miller's first feeling was 
 one of delight at the discovery. He had 
 found it it was his ; but in a moment he 
 remembered where he was. This half- 
 sovereign was not in the street ; it was in 
 the bank, and therefore must belong to the 
 bank. 'I must not take it; I have no 
 right to it,' he said to himself ; so he at once 
 picked it up, and returning to the counter, 
 said, ' Please, sir, I found this half-sovereign 
 near the door.' 
 
 Now at that moment it so happened the 
 languid clerk was counting over rather a 
 large parcel of silver, and in no mood to 
 be interrupted ; so he merely waved his hand, 
 and young Miller stood for some moments, 
 undecided what to do. At length, however,
 
 66 Johnny Miller. 
 
 the cashier having completed his money 
 counting, Miller again handed him the half- 
 sovereign. But this time he was not even 
 noticed, the clerk walking to the other end 
 of the counter. 
 
 It was a trying moment. The errand-boy 
 was excited by his discovery, and felt greatly 
 annoyed that his honesty did not receive 
 more attention. He had found the money 
 he had not stolen it ; and when he wished 
 to return it he was not even noticed, there- 
 fore he might certainly call it his. All this 
 passed through his mind in a moment. Still 
 a small voice whispered, 'Do not take it, 
 do not take it ; it will do you no good ; ' 
 and, throwing his head back, he looked once 
 more to see if there was any one he could 
 address any one he could give the money 
 to. 
 
 At that moment there passed at the back 
 of the counter an old gentleman at least 
 his hair was quite white, and his back slightly 
 bent ; but his eyebrows were black, and his
 
 The Bank Manager. 67 
 
 eyes brilliant, and the face was younger 
 when looked into than it appeared at a first 
 glance. Miller at once appealed to him. 
 
 ' Oh ! please, sir, I've found this half- 
 sovereign.' 
 
 Now the words were simple enough, and 
 the manner in which they were said quiet 
 and respectful, but the boy's face showed 
 that he was excited ; so the gentleman ad- 
 dressed stood still, and looked at him with 
 a penetrating but kindly gaze. 'You have 
 found half-a-sovereign ? ' at length he said 
 'Where?' 
 
 Miller showed the spot, and handed him 
 the money. He stood for a moment with- 
 out making any remark, although his eyes 
 were busy all the time. 
 
 ' Walk this way, my boy,' he said. ' Walk 
 in here,' and he conducted him into a snug 
 little office, with 'Private' written on the 
 door. 
 
 ' Now, my boy/ he continued, seating 
 himself in an easy chair before a formidable
 
 68 Johnny Miller. 
 
 desk, with an inkstand on it so large, Miller 
 conjectured that the writing done there must 
 be something enormous. 
 
 'Now answer me, without fear, the ques- 
 tions I am going to put to you. Where do 
 you come from ? ' 
 
 ' From Mrs. Howlet's, - - Street, Blooms- 
 bury.' 
 
 'Did you come to pay in money?' 
 
 ' No, sir ; I came to cash a cheque.' 
 
 ' To cash a cheque ? For what amount ? ' 
 
 ' Ten pounds ; and I was ' 
 
 ' Stop, stop ! ' the manager interrupted 
 for it was the branch manager himself who 
 interrogated him ' not so fast. You brought 
 a cheque for ten pounds, and it was paid to 
 you? How was it paid? in gold?' 
 
 'Five pounds in silver, and the rest in 
 gold.' 
 
 ' Show me of course you have the money 
 with you ? ' 
 
 'Yes, sir. I was just leaving the bank, 
 and rather in a hurry, for I was told not to
 
 The Bank Manager. 69 
 
 waste any time,' Miller replied, pulling out 
 his leather bag and emptying the contents 
 at the side of the desk. 
 
 The manager looked the money over. 
 'You have five sovereigns here, and five 
 pounds in silver. Have you no other money 
 about you ? ' 
 
 'None, sir.' 
 
 ' You had no half-sovereign ? ' 
 
 'No, sir.' 
 
 ' Good, my boy ; you have done well to 
 return this. You are an honest little fellow. 
 Now tell me, what is your name?' 
 
 Miller told his name, his mother's also, 
 where he lived, and how long he had been 
 at Mrs. H owlet's ; and his answers were put 
 down in a book, which he was asked to sign. 
 The manager then took a slip of paper and 
 wrote on it, 'Ask for Mr. George Savell, 
 
 Bank, and call on Wednesday, April 
 
 25th.' This he handed to Miller, directing 
 him to be at the bank on the morning of 
 the day written on the paper ; and in less
 
 7O Johnny Miller. 
 
 than five minutes the errand-boy was back 
 at the 'Silver Lamb/ explaining to Mrs. 
 Howlet why he had been delayed so long, 
 at the same time handing to her the paper 
 given to him. 
 
 The good old lady watched for Miller's 
 return with anything but a pleased expres- 
 sion on her face, but as the boy, with glow- 
 ing cheeks and sparkling eye, proceeded to 
 detail his adventure, her mouth curled up 
 and her eyes sparkled also. Thrusting her 
 spectacles more firmly on her nose, she 
 looked in his face and the look was one 
 he valued more than twenty half-sovereigns 
 and said, in a voice slightly tremulous, 
 and with just the smallest glisten of a tear 
 in her eye, ' Miller, you have done well. Be 
 always honest, be always truthful. Savell 
 can be a good friend to you. Go on the 
 day he has appointed, and we shall see you 
 yet something better than an errand-boy, 
 or I am much mistaken.' 
 
 Miller had few words to answer as the old
 
 Towler's Self -Satisfaction. J\ 
 
 lady took his hand in hers, but he was 
 rewarded. The touch of that old withered 
 hand seemed to vibrate to his heart ' I will, 
 I will,' was all he could articulate ; and before 
 he had time to say more, even had he been 
 able to do so, Mrs. Howlet was back at her 
 desk again, with the same old owlish look 
 upon her face, and whatever impression the 
 interview had made upon her was known but 
 to herself. 
 
 During the morning, Towler had been so 
 much engaged with the work set for him to 
 do, he had not much time to take notice of 
 Miller, or Mrs. Howlet's kindness would have 
 rankled in his breast. Indeed, the self-satis- 
 fied assistant was more than usually pleased 
 with himself at this period. Mrs. Howlet 
 seemed to trust him more than ever, and had 
 given him a very large stock of goods to tick 
 off, putting down in a book their quantity, 
 quality, and price, and fixing on them small 
 tickets, as a guide to the seller. 
 
 It was the evening of the same day Miller
 
 72 Johnny Miller. 
 
 found the half-sovereign, and the fact of 
 his returning it to the bank had impressed 
 Towler as being 'jolly green;' and he did 
 not forget to tell him so, with sundry jokes 
 about his simplicity, all of which Miller had 
 taken in good part. The shutters were up, 
 and they were getting ready to depart, when 
 Mrs. Howlet suddenly remembered that a 
 parcel had to be delivered at Islington. So, 
 telling Towler to take it at once, she directed 
 Miller to see that all the goods were put in 
 their places again, so that his fellow-assistant 
 might leave without any delay. The shop 
 was in more confusion than usual ; but 
 Towler, always eager to get away, and 
 more particularly when he had any distance 
 to go, for which he was paid omnibus fare, 
 started off, gaily crying to Miller, ' I wish 
 you joy of your clearance, old fellow,' and 
 the errand-boy was left alone. It did not 
 take him long to set the place to rights, and 
 last of all he came to the goods Towler had 
 been ticketing. The first thing he took was
 
 Towler's Dishonesty. 73 
 
 a roll of flannel, and as the ticket was hang- 
 ing in front, he saw that it was marked 
 twenty-six yards. 
 
 'This can hardly be right,' he said to 
 himself, for his practised eye at once told 
 him the roll contained more than twenty-six 
 yards, and he proceeded to measure it. The 
 quantity proved to be fully thirty-six yards. 
 He examined other portions of the stock, 
 and in nearly every instance the quantity 
 was larger than the ticket affixed repre- 
 sented it to be. 
 
 Miller (with his old suspicions of Towler's 
 dishonesty aroused, and with the resolve he 
 had made to himself strong upon him) felt 
 that he could not keep his good mistress 
 longer in the dark ; but how much better 
 pleased had he been could she have dis- 
 covered these frauds herself! The rolls of 
 calico, flannel, and linen lay on all sides 
 around him ; and as he stood reflecting 
 what course he should pursue, a gentle 
 hand was placed upon his shoulder, and the
 
 74 - Johnny Miller. 
 
 familiar voice of his mistress sounded in his 
 ear. 
 
 'Miller, what are you about?' she said; 
 'you start, and seem to fear me. You are 
 trying to hide something from me ; I can 
 see it in your face.' 
 
 The truth is, Mrs. Howlet had for some 
 moments been watching her assistant, and 
 could hardly understand why, at this late 
 hour, he should be engaged in measuring 
 goods. 
 
 ' I thought/ she added, ' Towler had looked 
 to all these flannels, and ticketed them 
 too ? ' 
 
 ' He has.' 
 
 'And are they not right?' 
 
 Miller looked into the old face, but did 
 not answer. 
 
 'If you know anything of interest to me 
 or my business, you are bound to answer ; 
 I command you to do so.' The owl expres- 
 sion was strongly marked on the face this 
 time the old expression that had frightened
 
 Towler Unmasked. 75 
 
 him when he looked in at the window four 
 years ago. 
 
 He felt how much he had to thank his 
 mistress for in the past, and in the pre- 
 sent also, and yet he hesitated. His sus- 
 picion of Towler's dishonesty appeared to 
 be confirmed ; and yet how gladly would 
 he have left to others the task he had set 
 himself, to unmask the man who had sus- 
 pected him, and in the outset of his career 
 endeavoured to prejudice him in his mis- 
 tress' eyes. He took up one of the tickets, 
 and said, ' This roll of flannel contains more 
 than twenty-six yards.' 
 
 ' Well, I suppose Towler has made a mis- 
 take. Why should he ticket it less than it 
 contains ? ' she answered sharply. 
 
 'This piece of calico is marked twenty 
 yards under the quantity.' 
 
 ' Well, well, Towler is very careless, and he 
 must be spoken to.' 
 
 'Good, kind mistress,' Miller continued 
 with emotion, 'don't think for one moment
 
 76 Johnny Miller. 
 
 that I would accuse Towler hastily ; but this 
 is not the first time I have found the goods 
 wrongly marked. I have waited, in the hope 
 that I might have been mistaken ; but I am 
 convinced I am convinced Towler is 
 robbing you.' 
 
 The old lady dropped into a chair beside 
 which she was standing, and her face for 
 a moment turned very pale. Towler, whom 
 she had trusted, whose brother had been 
 in her employ years ago, robbing her ? im- 
 possible ! She had befriended the whole 
 family, and set his brother up in business. 
 Towler robbing her ? It could not be, for if 
 he had robbed her, perhaps they all had 
 robbed her. No ; she could not be so 
 deceived she would not believe it it was 
 only her errand-boy's mistake. 
 
 'Miller,' at length she said, in a calm, 
 decided tone, 'I know that you are grateful, 
 I know that you are doing all you can to 
 prove yourself a faithful servant, but you 
 are prejudiced against Towler, and you would
 
 Mrs. Howie? s Agitation. 77 
 
 set down as dishonesty that which is only 
 carelessness.' 
 
 'I hope, mistress, it may be so,' Miller 
 replied ; ' but allow those numbers to remain 
 on the tickets for a few days. If I am wrong 
 in my suspicions, time will prove ; if I am 
 right, you should know that you are de- 
 ceived.' 
 
 ' Let it be so, Miller ; but I would sooner 
 give one-half of my stock than learn that 
 I have befriended and fostered a thief.' 
 
 Miller said no more. After bidding his 
 mistress ' Good night/ he went home, thought- 
 ful and sad, for his was not the disposition 
 to glory in the downfall of any one, however 
 wrongly they may have acted. 
 
 When he had left, Mrs. Howlet walked 
 up and down the shop, more agitated than 
 she allowed her assistant to discover. Under 
 that apparently harsh and at times angry 
 demeanour, there lurked a kindly, befriend- 
 ing spirit. For her own comfort she might 
 have given up the ' Silver Lamb ' long ago ;
 
 78 Johnny Miller. 
 
 but apart from her pride in continuing a 
 business associated with the family for so 
 many years, apart from her love for an 
 active life, she had a long list of useless 
 pensioners, whom she tried to make believe 
 that their lives were most useful ones. She 
 had three old superannuated porters, who 
 regularly called every morning and evening, 
 to ask their mistress' commands, but who 
 had long since ceased to do more than re- 
 ceive their wages. 
 
 The private watchman had not seen the 
 outside of the 'Silver Lamb,' excepting in 
 the bright sunshine, for at least ten years. 
 Yet all the three porters and the watchman 
 felt convinced the establishment would be 
 closed in a week were it not for their watch- 
 fulness and protecting care. 
 
 She took Towler into her employ, not 
 that she particularly liked him, but simply 
 because his brother had served an apprentice- 
 ship with the house ; and so much did she 
 respect the memory of the elder Howlet,
 
 Mrs, Howlefs Agitation. 79 
 
 her brother, that even his very weaknesses 
 were copied and applauded by her. 
 
 ' If Towler has been robbing me ! ' con- 
 tinued to vibrate through her whole system, 
 until, weary and heart-sick, she went to 
 rest.
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 CAUGHT IN THE NET. 
 
 T ONG before Miller or his fellow-assist- 
 -* ' ant made their appearance the next 
 morning, Mrs. Howlet was up and about. 
 She had carefully examined that portion 
 of the stock which Towler had been measur- 
 ing and re-marking the night before, and 
 she found, as Miller had stated, in nearly 
 every instance there was a larger quantity 
 than credit was given for on the ticket. The 
 old lady had determined the course she 
 would take ; but she had full command over 
 her features, and nothing, either in her 
 manner or what she said, betrayed her 
 determination. 
 
 The morning was a cold and gloomy one, 
 80
 
 Toivlers Self-Conceit. 81 
 
 and the more Miller endeavoured to resist 
 its influence, the more depressed he felt. 
 Mrs. Howlet was also anxious and watchful, 
 and had a presentiment that an important 
 era in her life would be determined before 
 the termination of the day. Mrs. Howlet's 
 life was the life of the ' Silver Lamb.' With 
 Miller it was very different. Although his 
 whole mind was in his business, his great 
 desire now was to prove his trustworthiness, 
 and to wipe out the early suspicion cast 
 upon his character. The resolve he had 
 made was still as fixed as ever, and nothing 
 in his fellow-assistant's manner had led him 
 to waver in his resolution. 
 
 It is strange that Towler should have no 
 presentiment of evil, no foreboding of the 
 sure reckoning in store for him. He was as 
 careless and apparently as happy as usual. 
 The truth is, he had a great opinion of his 
 own cleverness, and that cleverness had 
 hitherto been wonderfully successful. He 
 was too vain and headstrong to see that
 
 82 Johnny Miller. 
 
 that success had been owing more to the 
 indulgence of his mistress than from any 
 ability of his own. Miller's entry into the 
 business had at first sadly thwarted his 
 plans ; but the poor little errand-boy was 
 too great a 'milksop,' in his opinion, ever 
 to interfere with 'his little game.' 
 
 Towler had some time ago enrolled him- 
 self as a member of a mysterious society 
 called 'Sons of Freedom,' who met at a little 
 out-of-the-way public-house in a very dirty 
 neighbourhood. To this society or club 
 he had contributed regularly; and he was 
 received there with very great favour, being 
 regarded as one of its chief supporters. He 
 flattered himself that, by drinking large 
 quantities of beer, and consuming much 
 tobacco, he had made himself a valuable 
 member and a favourite that his associates 
 listened to his oratory with pleasure, and 
 would be only too glad to render him a 
 service had they the power to do so. He 
 knew that each member had made himself
 
 The 'Sons of Freedom' 83 
 
 well acquainted with his neighbour's busi- 
 ness, and he believed they were bound to 
 protect one another if at any time called 
 upon. The fact of their being men who had 
 either lost their characters, or who never had 
 a character to lose, did not seem to weigh 
 much with him. He believed that they were 
 all-powerful, and he believed also that he 
 was a great chief among them. 
 
 But to return. The morning wore on, and 
 Miller was not long in discovering that his 
 mistress was more than usually watchful ; 
 but he would not have noticed that had it 
 not been for their conversation of the night 
 before. 
 
 St. Giles' clock chimed twelve. 'Now, 
 then, Miller, are you not going to dinner?' 
 Towler asked. 
 
 'No,' the errand-boy replied; 'I am going 
 to ask to leave a little earlier, and therefore 
 won't take my dinner-hour.' 
 
 ' Why, you are a stupid,' Towler said. ' I 
 am sure you don't have so many holidays
 
 84 Johnny Miller. 
 
 that you need deprive yourself of your 
 dinner-time. I'll answer for it, the gov'nor 
 won't refuse you.' 
 
 There was something in Towler's manner 
 that made Miller fancy he wanted him out 
 of the way, so his determination was fixed 
 that he would not leave. 
 
 ' No, thank you, Towler,' he said ; 'I have 
 set myself a task at the other end of the 
 shop, and if you can manage to attend to 
 any customers who may come in, I would 
 sooner finish my work.' 
 
 'Very well, just as you like. I suppose 
 you are going to the play, and like to keep 
 your appetite for a blow-out of oranges and 
 ginger-beer when you get there ? ' 
 
 This conversation was not heard by Mrs. 
 Howlet, but as Miller passed to the other 
 end of the shop, she said, ' Are you not going 
 to dinner ? ' 
 
 ' No, thank you, ma'am, I would rather not' 
 , ' Very well, very well,' she answered, giving 
 him a look he fully understood.
 
 Towler' s Customer; 85 
 
 Towler, after gazing through the window 
 for some minutes, returned to the back of 
 the counter, and at that moment a woman 
 entered. 
 
 She was an ordinary - looking woman 
 enough, and wore a dark dress and shawl ; 
 but her face was well known to Miller he 
 had frequently seen her before. Towler had 
 served her; and although he answered as 
 a perfect stranger, she was well known to 
 him Miller was convinced of that. 
 
 She came for flannel, and Towler took 
 down the roll he had marked the day before. 
 She wanted calico; the piece of calico was 
 handed for her to examine. 
 
 Miller was all watchfulness, but did not 
 move from his place. He felt the drops of 
 perspiration stand on his forehead, but did 
 not say a word. He took a strip of paper, 
 and wrote on it, 'Look well at the woman 
 now being served ; ' then, walking up to his 
 mistress' desk, said in a voice loud enough 
 to be heard by Towler, ' Would you lend me
 
 86 Johnny Miller. 
 
 a knife to point my pencil ? I have not got 
 mine with me.' 
 
 Mrs. Howlet, without looking at him, 
 passed over the knife, and as he took it he 
 pressed her hand, leaving in it the lines he 
 had written. The pressure of the errand- 
 boy's hand on hers at first startled and sur- 
 prised her ; but seeing the paper, she was 
 herself again in a moment, and putting it on 
 the book she was examining, read : ' Look 
 well at the woman now being served.' She 
 glided the paper again into the palm of her 
 hand, and went on with her work as if no- 
 thing had occurred. Presently, leaving her 
 desk, she walked quietly through the shop 
 to the front door, and looked out for some 
 moments. At length, the customer being 
 about to leave, she turned round and met 
 her face to face, at the same time thanking 
 her in the most agreeable voice imaginable, 
 then quietly went to her desk again. 
 
 Towler now came bustling up, and gave 
 in his book.
 
 Towler is Detected. 87 
 
 ' I'm now going to dinner, ma'am,' he said, 
 'unless you want me.' 
 
 ' No, Towler, no ; you can go.' 
 
 His departure was the signal for Miller 
 to leave his place at the back of the shop, 
 and Mrs. Howlet to quit her desk. 
 
 ' Why did you ask me to look well at that 
 woman?' she said. 
 
 ' Because she has been here often before.' 
 
 ' And what of that, if she is a customer ? ' 
 Mrs. Howlet replied. 
 
 ' I have noticed that after her visits many 
 things have been missing, and have fancied 
 that Towler has entered in his book a less 
 quantity than he has served her with. You 
 saw the goods she asked for. What number 
 of yards has Towler put down in his book ? ' 
 
 ' Four of flannel and six of calico ; also 
 six yards of shirt flannel.' 
 
 ' The quantity he gave out was more than 
 double that ; I have watched him closely,' 
 Miller said. / May I measure the rolls ? ' 
 
 Mrs. Howlet returned no immediate answer,
 
 88 Johnny Miller. 
 
 but walked to the end of the counter, deep 
 in thought. 
 
 ' Measure the flannel, and the calico also,' 
 at length she said. 
 
 The flannel was measured, and the roll 
 contained only twenty-two yards, showing 
 that fourteen had been cut off instead of 
 four, as marked in the check-book. The 
 calico was also deficient eight yards, four- 
 teen having been taken and only six allowed 
 for. The shirt flannel had also been reduced 
 ten yards instead of six. 
 
 ' Miller, Miller, you are right. Towler has 
 been robbing me ; and this is the return for 
 all the good I have tried to do him. It is 
 not the value of the goods he has stolen I 
 care for ; it is not the money, but his in- 
 gratitude, that cuts me up. Who can I trust 
 now, when the child I may say born for 
 my service robs me, and I never find it out ? 
 Do not speak to me, Miller ; go away. I will 
 trust no one any more. I am old and blind, 
 and unfit for business. Leave me leave me.'
 
 How Mrs. Howlet took it. 89 
 
 Miller stood looking at the old lady in 
 wonder, for although he felt how deeply 
 she had been wronged, he regarded with 
 some astonishment her grief, for he could 
 not understand her taking so much to heart 
 the petty thefts of a shop-boy. He could 
 not yet understand, that what the old lady 
 prided herself most upon was her insight 
 into character, her perfect knowledge of 
 her business, and the impossibility for any 
 one to deceive her. Towler's frauds would 
 have been discovered long ago, if she had 
 only relied less upon her knowledge of cha- 
 racter and more upon her quiet observation. 
 She had been served from first to -last- by 
 about twenty servants, and congratulated 
 herself upon never having been robbed by 
 any of them. Towler's dishonesty lowered 
 her in her own estimation. She felt that she 
 had been duped, and for the moment she 
 was no longer herself. She went to her old 
 seat at the desk, but even her step had lost 
 its firm tread ; and muttering, ' I've been
 
 90 Johnny Miller. 
 
 deceived, I've been deceived/ over and over 
 again, remained deep in thought. 
 
 Towler returned as usual, bringing with 
 him a smell of stale beer and strong tobacco. 
 Mrs. Howlet for the first time seemed to 
 notice it; however, she made no remark, 
 but calling Miller to her, said in a quiet 
 tone, ' Put on your cap and go to the bank, 
 and wait until I join you there.' 
 
 Miller did as he was told. 
 
 'Towler,' Mrs. Howlet said, 'I have had 
 to send Miller out, and have also some busi- 
 ness to transact myself. Keep you in the 
 shop ; I shall return in about an hour.' 
 
 Had Towler been a closer observer, and 
 not so full of his own cleverness, he would 
 have noticed that his mistress was agitated, 
 and might have remarked that Miller was 
 unusually silent ; but his reasoning seldom 
 took him beyond himself, and was confined 
 to a few plain directions : 
 
 ' Never forget No. I. To provide for No. I 
 is the grand object in life. All businesses
 
 Towler's Morality. 91 
 
 have perquisites, some in 'gifts to keep your 
 eyes open, and some in gifts to keep your 
 eyes shut. "Palm oil" (as he named these 
 gifts) was used in every trade. Contractors 
 knew that ; shippers knew that ; the lawyer 
 and the council looked out for it. Without 
 " palm oil " how could his great friend Stand- 
 fast have got together the business he now 
 possesses? Never/ Then he would follow 
 up his reasoning logically thus : ' What 
 chance of "palm oil" have I whilst I am 
 here ? None ; therefore I must quietly 
 "work the oracle," or how could I provide 
 for No. i ? ' 
 
 In short, petty pilfering was all right as 
 long as you are not found out ,' and to be 
 found out you must be a fool, which he did 
 not consider himself. Thus left to his own 
 pleasant meditations, he availed himself of 
 Mrs. Howlet's absence, and made himself 
 fully acquainted with the contents of her 
 desk, which in her excitement she had 
 left open, read her letters, and in many
 
 92 Johnny Miller. 
 
 other ways conducted himself as a clever 
 shopman should. However, the misfortune 
 was, he read a little too much. He read, 
 among other things, a line scrawled in pencil 
 on a crumpled scrap of paper, 'Look well 
 at the woman now being served ; ' and this 
 line bothered him exceedingly. ' What does 
 it mean ? ' he cried. ' It is in Miller's hand- 
 writing. Who can it haVe been addressed 
 to? Not to me at least I never received 
 it. It must have been intended for Mrs. 
 Howlet. And why should she look well at 
 the woman now being served ? ' He con- 
 tinued deep in thought for some minutes, 
 then continued : ' I think I know the woman 
 he means. That woman was served by me ; 
 that woman was but no, the poor milksop 
 cannot have discovered anything. However, 
 it is strange, and I don't like it. If he has 
 played me false, I will ' The last word 
 hissed through his teeth, and was lost in 
 delivery. 
 
 So, left for an hour of calm reflection, his
 
 In the Net. 93 
 
 thoughts were not pleasant ones. One 
 moment he was haunted by t*he fear that 
 he might perhaps be detected, but the next 
 moment consoled himself with the belief 
 that no one at the ' Silver Lamb ' was a 
 match for him. Was he not a member of 
 the clever ' Sons of Freedom ' ? and was he 
 not the cleverest among the lot ? ' What 
 chance, I should like to know, would poor 
 Miller have against our chairman, or a 
 bright youth like his friend Gablet ? ' Still 
 the net was gradually being drawn around 
 him ; he had felt the pressure of the first 
 mesh.
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 EVIL BEGINNINGS HAVE BAD ENDINGS. 
 
 A STREET without an outlet is not 
 generally a desirable one to live in, 
 although it may be, and usually is, a lively 
 one. Freed from the fear of passing vehicles, 
 indulgent parents are only too glad to trust 
 their offspring within its boundaries, and 
 bipeds take unchecked possession of that 
 portion more generally allotted to quadru- 
 peds. 
 
 Palmer's Row was rich in all the at- 
 tractions of a 'blind alley.' The houses 
 were narrow but tall, and the front door 
 approached by a long flight of steps, as if 
 the builder, with a view to dividing it be- 
 tween two families, had tried to stick the 
 
 door in the centre. 
 
 94
 
 Palmer's Row. 95 
 
 The parlour windows were great in vege- 
 tation. Anything that could be made to 
 grow was persuaded to try and live there ; 
 and in order that the delusion might be 
 more fully carried out, miniature park rail- 
 ings, with white gates, surrounded the 
 bottom of the windows. Birds had also a 
 home in Palmer's Row. Each house ap- 
 peared not only to vie with its neighbour 
 in the number of cages it could hang upon 
 its face, but also upon the amount of noise 
 that each occupant of the cages could 
 make. 
 
 The song of birds, the voices of children, 
 to say nothing of the cries of vendors of 
 fruit, watercress, and milk, made up a most 
 harmonious whole; and as Mrs. Howlet, 
 with young Miller, alighted from her cab 
 at the corner, their welcome appeared more 
 than usually hilarious. 
 
 ' The house I am going to,' the old lady 
 said, ' is number six, and it appears to me 
 to be the dirtiest in the row. Keep it in
 
 96 Johnny Miller. 
 
 view, Miller, as I may require your services ; ' 
 and without further directions, she left the 
 errand-boy standing at the corner of the 
 street, and ascended the steps of the sixth 
 house, knocking loudly at the door. 
 
 No visit could have been made, as it 
 appeared, at a more inappropriate season. 
 Mrs. Towler (for it was her dwelling) had 
 that morning spoken her mind pretty freely 
 to her good friend, companion, and fellow- 
 lodger, Mrs. Cablet ; and Mrs. Gablet had 
 retaliated with a few home - thrusts, that 
 had so discomposed Mrs. Towler's nerves, 
 she had been compelled to have recourse 
 to her usual remedy, a little drop of spirits, 
 and with the usual effect making her more 
 agitated and snappish than ever. 
 
 Mrs. Gablet was thoroughly out of temper 
 also, so that Mrs. Howlet's loud knocking 
 caused her to rush to the front door, with the 
 intention of discharging some of her pent-up 
 indignation upon the unfortunate intruder ; 
 but the sight of that lady, with whose face
 
 Mrs. Towler. 97 
 
 she was perfectly familiar, calmed her sud- 
 denly. Mrs. Cablet's first impulse was to 
 run away ; but, endeavouring to conceal her- 
 self by standing behind the door, she replied 
 to Mrs. Howlet's inquiry that Mrs. Towler 
 was within, and suddenly opening the parlour 
 door in order to take attention from herself, 
 disclosed the good lady in question in the 
 act of once more endeavouring to calm her 
 nerves by the use of her favourite remedy. 
 The knock, the opening of the door, and the 
 introduction were all accomplished so sud- 
 denly, the mother of the youthful Towler had 
 no time to do more than gasp out some 
 apologies, in which the word spasm was 
 repeated very frequently. 
 
 ' I have often promised to -see you, Mrs. 
 Towler,' in measured tones Mrs. Howlet 
 commenced, ' but my business so monopolizes 
 my spare time, I have but few moments to 
 myself.' 
 
 ' It is very kind of you,' Mrs. Towler 
 replied, endeavouring to rise from her seat ;
 
 98 Johnny Miller. 
 
 ' and sorry I am, that what with spasms and 
 anxiety for my family, / have but little 
 leisure to do more than run into the road ' 
 
 ' I hope your family do not cause you any 
 unusual anxiety ? ' Mrs. Howlet broke in 
 suddenly. ' Your son, the youth who is 
 with me, I mean, I trust he is a comfort, 
 and not an anxiety to you ? ' 
 
 'Well, to be candid with you,' returned 
 Mrs. Towler, sitting uneasily in her chair, 
 for she noticed that Mrs. Howlet's eyes were 
 taking a survey of the room, and particularly 
 intent upon the table, on which lay several 
 unfinished pieces of work, ' I do feel anxious 
 about my son Giles. His whole life seems 
 fixed on pleasing you, but night after night, 
 when he comes home, " Mother," he says, 
 " Mrs. Howlet is set against me no matter 
 what I do, I can't please her now ; " and this 
 does surprise me, for I know how kind a 
 mistress you have been to him to us all, I 
 might say.' 
 
 ' Oh ! he says I am set against him, does
 
 Mrs. Towler. 99 
 
 he? and by whom?' inquired the old lady, 
 elevating her voice, the malignant owl ex- 
 pression gathering over her countenance. 
 
 ' It's not for me to interper terper prate,' 
 the word was difficult to pronounce, and 
 she stuttered over it ; 'I say it is difficult for 
 me to know what he means, but I could 
 guess, if so disposed/ Mrs. Towler replied, 
 feeling less at her ease every moment, and 
 more and more affected by what she had 
 taken to drink. 
 
 ' Speak out, woman ; I can vouch for it, 
 your son has no enemy in my house.' 
 
 'Well, ma'am, his name's Miller.' 
 
 Mrs. Howlet started to her feet. 
 
 'Mrs. Towler, I will not hear a word 
 against any of my assistants, and I only 
 trust your son can prove himself as trust- 
 worthy ; ' then turning toward the table, she 
 took up the piece of work lying upon it. 
 ' Where did you get this shirt flannel ? ' 
 
 ' The flannel ? why, I can hardly say.' 
 
 ' Can you not give me some idea from
 
 ioo Johnny Miller. 
 
 whom you purchased it ? ' and Mrs. Howlet 
 fixed her penetrating gaze upon the woman. 
 
 ' Let me see ; I bought it from a friend 
 of mine a friend as I have known from my 
 childhood ; and she, I believe, bought it at 
 the mills in Manchester at least she told 
 me so.' 
 
 ' It is a peculiar pattern, and one out of 
 make now. Can you produce this friend ? 
 I am much interested in knowing where it 
 was purchased.' 
 
 ' Perhaps I can, and perhaps I can't,' Mrs. 
 Towler replied sharply, for she was beginning 
 to gain courage, and thought that perhaps a 
 little show of spirit would benefit her. ' But, 
 dear ma'am, has anything gone wrong? 
 You have not had any more parcels taken 
 from your errand-boy, have you ? I am 
 sure my son is as watchful as a youth can 
 be ; but then, how can he do his duty when 
 he is suspected and driven at ? ' 
 
 ' Silence, woman, I will hear no more ; 
 your own words betray you. Who ever
 
 Mrs. Towler Overcome. 101 
 
 suspected your son ? I have trusted him 
 I have trusted the whole family, and this is 
 my reward;' she turned towards the window 
 as she spoke, and beckoned to Miller, who 
 stood watching outside. 
 
 The errand-boy had watched to some pur- 
 pose. He had seen a woman hanging about 
 the doorway ; that woman he recognised at 
 a glance as Towler's accomplice. 
 
 The door being open, Miller entered the 
 house and the room at his mistress' com- 
 mand ; but before she had time to speak to 
 him, he said in a low tone, 'The woman 
 standing in the doorway, call her in. Do 
 you not recognise her?' In a moment 
 Mrs. Howlet recalled the face of the female 
 Towler had that day served. 
 
 'Perhaps your friend who purchased the 
 shirt flannel at the mills in Manchester had 
 better join us,' Mrs. Howlet said in a sar- 
 castic tone ; but Mrs. Towler was so over- 
 powered by the appearance of Miller and 
 the action of her medicine, she could only
 
 IO2 Johnny Miller. 
 
 sit in her chair and glare upon the whole 
 party. 'Walk in, Mrs. I have not the 
 pleasure of knowing your name.' 
 
 And as the woman addressed was by no 
 means of a retiring or timid nature, she did 
 walk in, saying rudely, ' Gablet is my name ; 
 and now what do you want with me?' 
 
 ' Gently, Mrs. Gablet, gently,' the old lady 
 replied loftily; 'you will perhaps first of 
 all be kind enough to inform me where 
 you purchased this flannel, for I suppose 
 you are the friend Mrs. Towler has alluded 
 to?' 
 
 ' You know, dear Mrs. Gablet, you bought 
 it at the mills in Manchester,' Mrs. Towler 
 broke in, her tone suddenly becoming a 
 guttural whine. 
 
 Mrs. Howlet paid no attention to the 
 remark, but turning to Miller, said, ' You will 
 be kind enough to tell me whether this 
 flannel is the same as that we have in stock.' 
 
 ' It is, ma'am.' 
 
 ' And you have seen this party before ? '
 
 Mrs. Cablet. 103 
 
 she continued, waving her hand towards 
 the lodger. 
 
 ' Don't call me a party, ma'am, or per- 
 haps I may find those who will take up 
 my cause, widow though I am, to my 
 sorrow.' 
 
 'Mrs. Gablet,' Miller replied, paying no 
 attention to the interruption, 'has frequently 
 been to our shop, and the last time she came 
 (this morning, indeed) had a piece of flannel 
 similar to that on the table.' 
 
 ' You know, dear Mrs. Gablet, you bought 
 it at the mills in Manchester,' Mrs. Towler 
 again broke in. 
 
 'Whether I bought it at the mills or at 
 the "Silver Lamb" is of very little conse- 
 quence ; I suppose I paid for it, and I 
 suppose my money is as good as anybody 
 else's. What do you mean, Mrs. Howlet, 
 by coming here, and bringing your young 
 bullies with you ? I'm not afraid of you ; 
 and although Mrs. Towler seems so chicken- 
 hearted, I can speak rny mind, and let you
 
 IO4 Johnny Miller. 
 
 know what I think of you and your insinua- 
 tions.' 
 
 ' Silence, woman ! You had better not 
 rouse me.' Then turning to the creature 
 she had so long befriended, and whose in- 
 gratitude she now felt most acutely, Mrs. 
 Howlet said : ' And is it thus, Mrs. Towler, 
 you return me evil for good ? Is it thus 
 you repay the benefits I have heaped upon 
 you and yours for years ? Recall the past ; 
 remember your husband lay dead, and you 
 had six children, and were powerless to help 
 them. We took your eldest boy into our 
 firm, and to the " Silver Lamb " he owes all 
 he has in the world. Your youngest boy 
 was then taken charge of ; how has he re- 
 paid that confidence ? Aided by his mother 
 and her criminal companions I say it, Mrs. 
 Gablet, and all your frowns will not make 
 me recall my words robs the friend that 
 has guided him, robs the house from which 
 he receives his daily bread. He throws 
 away his good name, throws away his ad-
 
 Mrs. Howlefs Rebuke. 105 
 
 vancement, and casts himself upon the world 
 a callous, shameless, detected rogue. He 
 falls from the grade of an honest, honoured 
 tradesman, to be a thief. Yes, I say it, Mrs. 
 Towler, a thief; and although he is not 
 yet convicted and branded, he is hurrying 
 on the road that leads to that distinction. 
 It is this you have tried to excuse this 
 you have aided and fostered, but the punish- 
 ment will rest on your head when I am dead ; 
 it will pass to your children will draw them 
 down, until, from the depth of their misery, 
 they call a curse instead of a blessing upon 
 the parents who might have taught them a 
 better lesson.' 
 
 There was something in the old lady's 
 manner, even more than her words, that 
 seemed to impress them all. They knew 
 how good a friend she had been, but never 
 for a moment imagined their little pjlferings 
 would be detected, nor thought that she was 
 capable of administering so severe a rebuke. 
 
 They saw the tears standing in her angry 
 H
 
 io6 Johnny Miller. 
 
 eyes, but somehow had not a word to say 
 in excuse. When she had finished speaking, 
 she turned to- leave, and would have hurried 
 from the house for ever, in spite of all their 
 interceding (for they were humble enough 
 now, and had found their voices, seeing that 
 she was about to depart), but a youth stood 
 in the doorway, who cried out as he came 
 into the room, 'What is all this row about, 
 mother ? shall I turn the old woman out ? ' 
 
 He addressed Mrs. Cablet, and looked 
 round the room with a bold, defiant air, 
 until his eye rested on Miller, who had 
 stood a meek and sorrowful witness of the 
 scene. He was then about to sneak away, 
 but the errand-boy arrested his retreat. 
 
 ' At last, at last we meet ! ' Miller cried, 
 seizing the new-comer by the collar ; ' oh, 
 you may try to avoid me, you may pretend 
 not to know me, but I know you. This, 
 this, ma'am, is the boy who stole the parcel 
 from me ! Down, down on your knees, you 
 rogue you coward ! ' he cried, hurling him
 
 Mrs. Howie? s Agitation, 107 
 
 to the ground as he spoke ; ' acknowledge 
 that you took the parcel acknowledge that 
 you robbed me, or, by Heaven, I ' 
 
 A firm hand on his shoulder arrested his 
 speech. ' We have seen and heard enough ; 
 I command you, Miller, let him go. The air 
 of this place seems to suffocate me ; lead me 
 out,' and the old lady, leaning on the arm 
 of her errand-boy, drew him towards the 
 door. 
 
 They hurried out of the house, out of 
 the street, away from the neighbourhood, 
 without a word being spoken by either. A 
 cab drew up at the roadside ; ' I will go home 
 alone,' Mrs. Howlet said. ' Do not speak 
 to me. Come to business as usual to- 
 morrow. God bless you, my boy, God bless 
 you.' 
 
 The cab quickly passed away, and the 
 face of the kind mistress, whose eyes were 
 wet with tears, was.no longer seen; but the 
 words she had last spoken rested in the 
 boy's heart. ' May I never forget that bless-
 
 io8 Johnny Miller. 
 
 ing,' he said to himself, 'and may I ever 
 remember the giver of it.' He stood by 
 the roadside looking wistfully after the cab, 
 and appeared stunned by the suddenness 
 of the late discoveries. That Towler had 
 encompassed his ruin and disgrace he felt 
 convinced, but he had long since given up 
 all hope of ever discovering the taker of 
 the parcel. The events of the day seemed 
 to pass before him like a troubled dream, 
 and he hardly knew how long he stood by 
 the roadside musing. He found himself at 
 home at last, relating to his mother what 
 had taken place ; yet it all appeared very 
 .like a dream. There was one thing, how- 
 ever, he never forgot in the midst of all 
 his musings, the blessing ; and though it 
 was delivered in a broken voice, a voice 
 no longer young or musical, it had the 
 pleasantest sound he had listened to for 
 many a day, and came back to him, like a 
 happy memory, over and over again.
 
 Towler Dismissed. 109 
 
 Mrs. Howlet dismissed Towler, but how 
 she did it, and what she said to him, Miller 
 never knew. She never mentioned his name, 
 nor the name of any member of the family, 
 again. Her confidence in her errand-boy 
 was now fully established, and he knew that 
 she trusted him, and he valued the trust she 
 reposed in him as something to be proud of.
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 TOWLER'S VENGEANCE. 
 
 r I ^HE 'Hand and Heart' public-house was 
 -* situated in a locality so begrimed 
 with dirt, and so poor, that at first sight it 
 puzzled the beholder to discover how it 
 managed to exist at all. Although it had 
 been established many years, its proprietor 
 was never known to have had a hand in 
 anything that was good, nor had he either 
 the heart to dictate a generous action ; so 
 the title of the house was evidently a mis- 
 nomer, unless the fact of its changing hands 
 so frequently, and their all leaving the place 
 disheartened, ironically suggested the name. 
 Be this as it may, the ' Hand and Heart ' was 
 
 a favourite resort of young Towler, and here 
 ill
 
 112 Johnny Miller. 
 
 he repaired after his late dismissal by Mrs. 
 Howlet He was, as we have said, a dis- 
 tinguished member of the club called the 
 'Sons of Freedom,' and was now engaged 
 upon a little conspiracy, which had for its 
 object so he believed the total overthrow of 
 ' Howlet's ' and the signal disgrace of Master 
 Miller. He did not exactly see how that 
 was to be accomplished ; but when he was 
 in luck, and gave liberally to the club, they 
 assured him that it could be done, and he 
 now determined to take them at their word. 
 ' He had been working at this little scheme 
 ever since his dismissal, and to-night was to 
 witness the realization of his fondest wishes, 
 and a meeting of the ' Sons of Freedom ' had 
 been called to ratify his resolutions. 
 
 The evening was a close one ; and as the 
 ventilation of the ' Hand and Heart ' was 
 anything but perfect, and the street in which 
 it was situated narrow, the meeting ' hall ' of 
 the ' Sons ' had a stuffy, stale smell about it. 
 The landlord was standing in the doorway,
 
 Towler and G ablet. 113 
 
 and as the members one by one entered, 
 he seemed to scan them with anything but 
 a favourable expression. At length the 
 great Towler made his appearance ; and 
 with him was young Gablet, the interesting 
 youth we have before met, and who was also 
 a ' Son of Freedom.' They both of them 
 smoked short clay pipes, and appeared to 
 excel in the art of expectorating with preci- 
 sion in any given direction. The landlord 
 eyed Towler with special interest, and seemed 
 better satisfied when he had got him into the 
 house ; but he only said 'good evening' in a 
 voice possibly owing to the break in his 
 nose that seemed to come from the back of 
 his neck. 
 
 ' This will be a grand evening/ Towler said 
 to his companion, 'and I think we shall be 
 able to show the Howlets that they can't ride 
 rough-shod over us yet.' 
 
 ' Ah,' Gablet answered ; and it may be 
 remarked that in conversation this youth did 
 not trouble himself to take his pipe out of
 
 1 14 Johnny Miller. 
 
 his mouth, but held it there, which he be- 
 lieved gave him a manly, or as he termed it, 
 a 'gamey,' appearance. 
 
 'Gouse is coming, and the two Steppes,' 
 Towler continued ; but his companion cut 
 him short by asking 
 
 ' Have you any money with you ? ' 
 
 ' Certainly ; why do you ask ? ' 
 
 'Because you will have to stand all ex- 
 penses as your resolution is coming on.' 
 
 ' Oh, I have money enough for that.' 
 
 The two worthy members were now joined 
 by several other ' Sons/ all of whom appeared 
 to be of the same stamp, and varied very 
 little in their general appearance, excepting 
 that some were dressed better than others ; 
 but they all had the same villanous expres- 
 sion of face, and smoked continuously. 
 
 Suddenly a small bell rang in an ad- 
 joining room, and the members at once 
 began to arrange themselves around the 
 table, and for a moment took their pipes 
 out of their mouths. The small bell rang
 
 The ' Sons of Freedom. ' 115 
 
 a second time ; then one, who appeared to 
 be the senior member present, answered by 
 blowing on a whistle three times. The door 
 was thereupon opened, and a voice cried 
 from without : ' Make room for your chair- 
 man.' The ' Sons of Freedom ' theo stood 
 up, and the chairman (who was the landlord 
 of the house) entered, and having taken his 
 seat on a raised chair at the head of the 
 table, said, ' Gentlemen, be seated ; Sons, 
 resume your pleasures.' 
 
 In a few moments he stood up again, and 
 each member answered to his name. The 
 chairman then cried, 'Are any strangers 
 present ? ' 
 
 'None,' the members answered. 
 
 ' All are friends ? ' 
 
 'All,' was the reply. 
 
 Again the chairman sat down, and the 
 Sons, taking advantage of the privilege, 
 worked away at their pipes with so much 
 good-will that the room was very shortly 
 filled with smoke.
 
 n6 Johnny Miller. 
 
 Once more the landlord was on his legs, 
 and this time commanded silence, the mem- 
 bers putting down their pipes in an instant. 
 ' Has any Son a grievance to redress ? If so, 
 let him stand up and state it now,' he said. 
 There was a short pause, and the members 
 looked the one to the other. This was 
 Towler's opportunity. He rose from his 
 seat, and, in a voice tremulous from emotion, 
 said, ' Gentlemen, I am pleased at being 
 allowed to address you, for I have a wrong, 
 a great wrong ' 
 
 ' One moment, if you please, my son,' the 
 chairman said. ' Before you state what that 
 wrong is, you must ensure attention in the 
 usual way.' He then rang a bell which 
 stood at his right hand, and the waiter of 
 the house appeared, to whom Towler ad- 
 dressed some directions, at the same time 
 putting money into his hand. Until the 
 waiter returned, the members talked one 
 with the other, and Towler was left to medi- 
 tate upon his speech. He was not, however,
 
 TowleSs Plan. 1 1 7 
 
 kept long in suspense; the attendant soon 
 returned, bringing with him a tray laden 
 with pewter tankards, one of which he placed 
 before each of the members, and a double- 
 sized one in front of the chairman. 
 
 'Now, my son, you can state your griev- 
 ance; and you, gentlemen, can once more 
 resume your pleasures.' 
 
 The members ' resumed their pleasures ' 
 very lustily, throwing a cloud around each 
 other; but no one attempted to speak a 
 word. 
 
 Again the youthful conspirator stood up, 
 but somehow he did not feel quite so much 
 confidence this time. He, however, stated 
 what he wanted of the members. It was 
 that they should all, conjointly and severally, 
 promise to injure, by the circulation of 
 fabricated reports, John Miller, shopman to 
 Mrs. Howlet. That they would set the 
 machinery of the club thoroughly to work, 
 in order to take away his character and 
 destroy his credit. 'I have here a list of
 
 1 1 8 Johnny Miller. 
 
 Howlet's customers,' he said, ' and also some 
 of the houses with which Mrs. Howlet does 
 business. Anonymous letters must be writ- 
 ten, putting them on their guard against 
 Miller ; and I promise to give any member 
 of the club who may desire it such informa- 
 tion, that if he likes to work it out, he may 
 benefit himself in other ways, and do some 
 good to the Society also.' These words he 
 said in a peculiarly significant manner, 
 readily understood by those present. His 
 speech was a long one, but all to the same 
 purpose ; and when he sat down, he was 
 rather surprised it was received with so little 
 favour. He was accustomed to be greeted 
 with tumultuous cheers, and did not like 
 the ominous silence. 
 
 At the further end of the Hall, at the back 
 of Towler, there was a small window, through 
 which beer and other refreshments were some- 
 times taken into the room. While this fa- 
 voured 'Son of Freedom' was talking, the 
 window was gently opened, and a face ap-
 
 Its Reception. 119 
 
 peared there for a moment. It was not an 
 ordinary-looking face, but one of a peculiarly 
 striking character. The features were sharp, ' 
 and the hair and whiskers cut short, and the 
 eyes dark and ferret-like. The chairman 
 noticed the face indeed, he had been look- 
 ing out for it, and a glance passed between 
 them. 
 
 Irritated at the way in which his modest 
 proposals were received, Towler waxed wroth, 
 and standing up again, said : ' You know I 
 have been a true and liberal member, and 
 look for some return. You have promised 
 to bind yourselves to the resolution I have 
 read out. Now is your time to prove your 
 boasted power, and I say again I look for it.' 
 
 'We are not to be dictated to, Master 
 Towler, but you shall have all the benefits 
 the Society can confer upon your answering 
 the usual inquiry. It is necessary that a 
 member who makes a request should be a 
 free man. We have a mark against your 
 name, which must be first cleared away.'
 
 I2O Johnny Miller. 
 
 ' What do you mean ? ' Towler asked, 
 moving in his chair uncomfortably. 
 
 ' You shall hear,' the chairman replied, in 
 a voice that was distinctly heard throughout 
 the building. 'Some weeks ago, a young 
 man entered a house of business in the city, 
 to inquire whether they wanted an assistant. 
 He was noticed to walk through the shop, 
 and to stand for a moment at a desk at the 
 further end. After he had left, a pocket-book, 
 supposed to have been lying on the desk, 
 was missed, and that pocket-book contained 
 several Bank of England notes.' 
 
 'What has that to do with me?' Towler 
 cried out, getting more uneasy every mo- 
 ment. 
 
 'You shall hear/ the chairman calmly 
 answered. ' The numbers of the notes were 
 known, and one of them has been changed 
 and traced to you.' 
 
 During this speech the face again appeared 
 at the window, and another recognition passed 
 between the chairman and the looker-on.
 
 The Biter Bit. 121 
 
 The observer then left his place and quietly 
 walked into the room. 
 
 ' I am not going to sit here and be in- 
 sulted,' Towler said, starting to his feet. 
 ' Who dares to accuse me ? ' 
 
 ' I do,' a voice cried ; ' you got me to change 
 the note, but I took the precaution of taking 
 down the number.' 
 
 Towler turned to where the voice came 
 from, and with a sickly glance saw it was his 
 friend, his bosom friend, Gablet. He knew 
 that all was over with him now, and leaned 
 on the chair he had just vacated for support. 
 He tried to leave the hall, but was stopped 
 the detective stood by his side. 
 
 'I have been deceived I have been 
 trapped I have been robbed,' he muttered 
 through his teeth. He remembered now that 
 it was Gablet who had introduced him to the 
 Club. It was Gablet who had poured into 
 his ear the long accounts of the Society's 
 power. Gablet had spent his money, lived 
 on his plunder, and ever professed to be his
 
 122 Johnny Miller. 
 
 devoted friend. He saw it now ; on all sides 
 he had been cheated. He, a clever cheater 
 himself, had been outwitted, had been en- 
 trapped, and made a scape-goat for the 
 whole Club. 
 
 It was a bitter moment for the misguided 
 young man. He remembered Miller now, 
 and envied him the comfortable place he 
 had got at Howlet's. He remembered that 
 he had taught Gablet to be a thief, that he 
 had instructed him how to steal the parcel 
 from Miller years ago ; and now he reaped 
 the reward. 
 
 The detective put a pair of handcuffs on 
 his prisoner, and led him away, passing the 
 ' Sons of Freedom ' one by one ; but none 
 had a kindly word of sympathy to offer. 
 They looked on with perfect indifference, and 
 Towler felt that he had not a friend in the 
 world. 
 
 The landlord of the 'Hand and Heart' 
 congratulated himself upon having done a 
 smart thing. His house was in ill repute,
 
 Towler Sacrificed. 123 
 
 and required 'sweetening.' The sacrifice of 
 Towler (who had now become useless as a 
 customer) just occurred in time to save his 
 reputation. He communicated with the 
 police, stating that 'he was at all times 
 desirous of forwarding the ends of justice, 
 and that the man who had transgressed the 
 laws of his country could never remain a 
 member of the Society of which he was the 
 unworthy chairman.' The police took his 
 communication for what it was worth, but 
 they did not neglect to take their prisoner 
 also. Gablet, as he knew where to put his 
 hand on the pocket-book with the other 
 bank-notes in it, was rewarded. He gave 
 the evidence through which his former friend 
 was convicted with the most perfect equani- 
 mity, remarking that Towler was never a 
 favourite of his, and he thought he had done 
 well to get rid of a troublesome companion.
 
 TOWLER IN PRISON.
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 CONCLUSION. 
 
 \T 7HILE the dishonest shopman was 
 undergoing, in penal servitude, the 
 just punishment for his many transgressions, 
 Miller was raising himself step by step 
 in the estimation of his neighbours, and 
 establishing himself more firmly in the con- 
 fidence of his kind mistress. The bank 
 manager, also, was as good as his word ; he 
 gave Miller a letter, relating in a few sen- 
 tences the incident of his finding the half- 
 sovereign, and the honesty he had displayed 
 in returning it. He also presented him with 
 five pounds, and made a point of calling 
 upon Mrs. Howlet, telling her that if she 
 
 was willing to part with her shop-boy, he 
 
 127
 
 1 2 8 Johnny Miller. 
 
 would take him into the bank. This the 
 good lady, with much pleasure, related to 
 Miller, but was not displeased to find that 
 he elected to remain with her. 
 
 More and more Mrs. H owlet, as years 
 passed on, continued to repose confidence in 
 her former errand-boy, now her shopman 
 and general superintendent ; and so peace- 
 ably did the days pass, that the good old 
 lady could hardly believe, as one year suc- 
 ceeded another, the rapid advance of time, 
 and that five years had flown since that 
 eventful one when she dismissed Towler. 
 Sitting at her high desk, with the old look, 
 the round spectacles, and the frilled cap, 
 her resemblance to the owl became more 
 marked each day ; but Miller could not fail 
 to notice that her hand was getting more 
 tremulous, and the eye becoming dimmed. 
 In vain he tried to persuade her to attend 
 less to the business and more to her own 
 comforts. The active spirit, that for nearly 
 sixty years had made her life a contented
 
 Mrs. Hoivlefs Death. 129 
 
 one, could not rest in idleness, and all that 
 her faithful shopman could do was to antici- 
 pate her wants and follow out her wishes. 
 Mrs. Miller was also frequently in attendance 
 upon her ; and the old lady knew that they 
 both loved her, that they were grateful for 
 the bounties she had heaped upon them, 
 and that they made her home the only one 
 she would ever acknowledge a happy one. 
 
 But happy days cannot last for ever ; and 
 a sad one came, when straw was laid down 
 before the little shop in Bloomsbury, and 
 whispers passed from one neighbour to an- 
 other, 'Mrs. Howlet is ill very ill.' 
 
 The straw got trodden upon by many 
 feet, and blown about by the wind, but the 
 silence it gave could not ease the sufferer. 
 It remained for many days, but at last was 
 taken up, and the street made clean again. 
 When the street was made clean, the shutters 
 of the 'Silver Lamb* were closed, and the 
 neighbours now whispered one to the other, 
 1 Mrs. Howlet is dead dead ! '
 
 130 Johnny Miller. 
 
 The whole street seemed to look gloomy 
 while the straw was down, and the inside 
 of the shop more so than any other part ; 
 but when the straw was taken up the gloom 
 was not dissipated, nor was the 'Silver 
 Lamb' any brighter than before. 
 
 ' Poor Mrs. Howlet/ was on every lip ; and 
 without her the old desk looked in Miller's 
 eyes more desolate than all. 
 
 These were the good lady's last words : 
 'You have been faithful to me, Miller, you 
 have been faithful, and I have not forgotten 
 you ; ' but her words had long died away 
 before the prostrate figure that kneeled by 
 her bedside knew that she was now silent 
 for ever. 
 
 ' Good, kind, happy mistress ; these are 
 your last words you have not forgotten me. 
 Oh ! may they be mine ! I have not forgotten 
 you, I have not forgotten you.' 
 
 So the 'Silver Lamb' was painted up 
 anew after the days of mourning were past, 
 and made to look, both inside and out, as
 
 The New Proprietor. 1 3 1 
 
 bright as new paint could make it. Miller 
 was proprietor now ; but he too was called 
 Howlet, and Howlet's name still remained 
 over the door. Hard work so contributed 
 to success that Miller became a rich man, 
 and on one particular day the neighbours 
 were surprised to find that the shutters of 
 the 'Silver Lamb' had never been taken 
 down. Their curiosity being piqued, they 
 managed to get a look within, when their 
 astonishment was increased upon discovering 
 that friends were assembled ; but there was 
 not one gloomy face among them all no, 
 not one. 
 
 The sun did shine this day; indeed, it 
 shone so brightly, that not a blind in the 
 house seemed thick enough to keep it out. 
 
 A fine, honest-faced young man was stand- 
 ing in the back parlour before a picture. It 
 was the picture of an old lady, with round 
 spectacles and a cap border as stiff as it 
 could be made to look. 
 
 'Can you believe, dear/ the young man
 
 132 Johnny Miller. 
 
 said, * that I was once afraid of that face, 
 and fancied that it looked like an angry 
 owl ? I could not see then the smile that 
 lurks about that mouth, and the bright, 
 happy twinkle in the old eye. ' The young 
 man stood before the portrait, but not alone. 
 A little, dimple-faced, red-and-white-cheeked 
 girl rested on his arm, one of her hands in 
 his, and her face turned to look not so much 
 at the portrait as at him. ' This is the best 
 wedding present I have got to give you, 
 darling the likeness of my kind bene- 
 factress, my dear mistress. Her last words 
 to me were, " I have not forgotten you." 
 Oh, may the remembrance of those words 
 bring with them a blessing on us both, under 
 this roof to-day, and for ever ! ' 
 
 MORRISON AND OIBB, EDINBTOOH, 
 PRINTERS TO HER MAJESTY'S STATIONERY OFFICE.
 
 A SELECTION 
 
 FROM 
 
 E. P. DUTTON AND COMPANY'S 
 
 CATALOGUE OF 
 
 Ufa & 
 
 
 FOR 
 
 THE HOME 
 
 AND 
 
 THE SUNDAY SCHOOL. 
 
 E. P. DUTTON & CO., 
 
 39, WEST TWENTY-THIRD STREET. 
 
 LONDON : GRIFFITH AND FARRAN, ST. PAUL'S CHURCHYARD.
 
 NOTE. 
 
 ^f "*HE majority of these books have been read and 
 approved by competent judges. The type of 
 each book is clear and distinct, and they are printed 
 upon the best paper. Blight and attractive illustrations 
 adorn each volume. Strongly- bound cloth covers render 
 the books very serviceable for Sunday School Libraries, 
 and the bright gold and silver stamping on the covers 
 make them the most suitable juvenile books ever offered 
 for prizes at Christmas and other festivals. 
 
 If you are unable to obtain these Books from 
 your Bookseller, the Publishers -will forward any Book 
 on this List, postage prepaid, on receipt of Ketail 
 Price, or where the Books are ordered in Lots of Ten 
 Dollars' worth and upwards FOR SUNDAY SCHOOLS, 
 we will give a Discount of Twenty-five per cent, from 
 our Retail Prices. 
 
 E. P. DUTTON & COMPANY, 
 
 ^ublisfjets, Booksellers, & Jhnportns, 
 
 39, WEST TWENTY-THIRD ST., 
 
 NEW YORK.
 
 Books at Forty Cents each. 
 
 z6mo., Cletk, Gold and Silver Stamped Covers, Fulh 
 
 Illustrated, 160 pages of Closely-printed Reading 
 
 Matter. 
 
 Adrift on the Sea ; 
 
 By E. MARRYAT NORRIS. 
 
 Alice and Beatrice. 
 
 By GRANDMAMMA. 
 
 Among the Brigands. 
 
 By C. E. BOWEN. 
 
 Cat and Dog ; or, Puss and the Captain. 
 
 By the Author of " Gerty and May." 
 
 Children's Picnic. 
 
 By E. MARRYAT NORRIS. 
 
 Children of the Parsonage. 
 
 By the Author of " Th Doll and her Friends." 
 
 Christian Elliott ; or, Mrs. Danver's Prize. 
 
 By L. N. COMYN. 
 
 Claudine ; or, Humility the Basis of all the 
 Virtues. 
 
 By the Author of " William Tell," &c. 
 
 The Discontented Children. 
 
 By M. & E. KIRBY. 
 
 Fickle Flora and her Seaside Friends. 
 
 By EMMA DAVENPORT. 
 
 Grandmamma's Relics. 
 
 By C. E. BOWEN. 
 
 Harry at School. A Story for Boys. 
 
 By E. MARRYAT NORRIS. 
 
 NOTE. Upwards of 250,000 Volumes of this 
 Series have been sold.
 
 NEW AND APPROVED BOOKS 
 
 Books at Forty Cents each. 
 
 i6mo., Cloth, Gold and Silver Stamped Covers, Fully 
 
 Illustrated, 160 pages of Closely-printed Reading 
 
 Matter. 
 
 Hero of Brittany ; or, The Story of Bertrand 
 
 du Guesclin. 
 Hofer, the Tyrolese. 
 
 By the Author of " William Tell.' 
 
 Holiday Tales. 
 
 By FLORENCE WILFORD. 
 
 Holidays among the Mountains. 
 
 By M. BETIIAM EDWARDS. 
 
 Johnny Miller. 
 
 By FELIX WEISS. 
 
 Jiilia Maitland. 
 
 By M. & E. KIRBY. 
 
 Our White Violet. 
 
 By the Author of " Gerty and May." 
 
 Paul Howard's Captivity. 
 
 By E. MARRYAT NORRIS. 
 
 Stolen Cherries ; or, Tell the Truth at Once. 
 Sunny Days. 
 
 By the Author of " Gerty and May." 
 
 William Tell, the Patriot of Switzerland. 
 
 By FLORIAN. 
 
 Wrecked, not Lost. 
 
 By the Hon. Mrs. DUNDAS. 
 
 NOTE. Upwards of 250,000 Volumes of this 
 Series have been sold.
 
 PUBLISHED BY E. P. BUTTON AND CO. 
 
 Books at Fifty Cents each. 
 
 i6mo., Cloth, Covers printed in Gold and Two 
 
 Colours, fully illustrated, each Book containing 192 
 
 pages of Closely-printed Reading Matter. 
 
 Adventures In Fanti-land. 
 
 By Mrs. R. LEE. 
 
 Always Happy ; or, Anecdotes of Felix and 
 
 his Sister. 
 A Child's Influence. 
 
 By LISA LOCKYER. 
 
 Battle and Victory ; or The Painter's Career. 
 
 By C. E. BOWEN. 
 
 Constance and Nellie. 
 
 By EMMA DAVENPORT. 
 
 Corner Cottage, and its Inmates. 
 
 By FRANCES OSBORNE. 
 
 Distant Homes ; or, The Graham Family in 
 New Zealand. 
 
 By Mrs. J. E. AYLMER. 
 
 Father Time's Story Book. 
 
 By KATHLEEN KNOX. 
 
 From Peasant to Prince. 
 
 By Mrs. PIETZKER. 
 
 Good in Everything ; or, The Early Days of 
 Gilbert Harland. 
 
 By MRS. BARWELL. 
 
 NOTE. Upwards of 200,000 Volumes of this 
 Series have been sold.
 
 NEW AND APPROVED BOOKS 
 
 Books at Fifty Cents each. 
 
 l6'/no., Clotk, Covers printed in Gold and Two 
 
 Colours, fully illustrated, each Book containing 192 
 
 pages of Closely-printed Reading Matter. 
 
 Granny's Wonderful Chair. 
 
 By B. F. BROWNE. 
 
 Happy Holidays. 
 
 By EMMA DAVENPORT. 
 
 Happy Home. 
 
 By LADY LUSHINGTON. 
 
 Helen in Switzerland. 
 
 By LADY LUSHINGTON. 
 Heroic Wife. 
 
 By W. H. G. KINGSTON. 
 
 Holidays Abroad ; or, Right at Last. 
 
 By EMMA DAVENPORT. 
 
 Lost in the Jungle. 
 
 By AUGUSTA MARRYAT. 
 
 Louisa Broadhurst. 
 
 By A. MILNER. 
 
 Lucy's Campaign. 
 
 By M. & C. LEE. 
 
 My Grandmother's Budget. 
 
 By Mrs. BRODERIP. 
 
 Our Birthdays, and how to Improve them. 
 
 By EMMA DAVENPORT. 
 
 Our Home in the Marshland. 
 
 By E. L. F. 
 
 Pictures of Girl Life. 
 
 By C. A. HOWELL. 
 
 School Days in Paris. 
 
 By M. S. LE JEUNE. 
 
 NOTE. Upwards of 200,000 Volumes of this 
 Series have been sold.
 
 PUBLISHED BY E. P. BUTTON AND CO. 
 
 At One Dollar a Volume. 
 
 1 2 mo. Size, Cloth, Elegant, Fully Illustrated. 
 
 African Pets : or, Chats about our Animal 
 Friends in Natal. 
 
 By F. CLINTON PARRY. 
 
 Bunchy : or, The Children of Scarsbrook 
 Farm. 
 
 By Miss E. C, PHILLIPS, Author of "The Orphans," &c. 
 
 Bryan and Katie. 
 
 By ANNETTE LYSTER. Illustrated by HARRY FURNISS. 
 
 A Daring Voyage across the Atlantic, by 
 the Brothers Andrews, in the " Nautilus." 
 
 By Captain WILLIAM A. ANDREWS. Introduction and 
 Notes by Dr. MACAULAY, Ed. of the Boy's Own Paper. 
 
 A Gem of an Aunt. By MRS. GELLIE (M.E.B.) 
 
 Hilda and Her Doll. 
 
 By E. C. PHILLIPS, Author of "Bunchy," &c. 
 
 The House on the Bridge, and other Tales. 
 
 By C. E. BOWEN, Author of " Among the Brigands," &c. 
 
 Kitty and Bo: or, The Story of a Very Little 
 
 Girl and Boy. By A. T. With Frontispiece. 
 
 On the Leads : or, What the Planets Saw, 
 
 By Mrs. A. A. STRANGE BUTSON. 
 
 Two Rose Trees : The Adventures of Twin 
 
 bisters. By Mrs. MINNIE DOUGLAS. 
 
 Ways and Tricks of Animals, with Stories 
 
 about Aunt Mary's PetS. By MARY HOOPER. 
 
 We Four. By Mrs. R. M. BRAY.
 
 NEW AND APPROVED BOOKS 
 
 One Dollar and Fifty Cents a Volume. 
 
 Large I2ino. t Cloth Elegant, Fully Illustrated. 
 
 Who did it? or, Holmwood Priory: a School- 
 boy's Tale. 
 
 By the Rev. H. C. ADAMS, Author of " Hair Breadth Es- 
 capes," "College Days at Oxford," &c., Crown 8vo., 
 with Eight Illustrations by A. W. COOPER. 
 
 " Is fully equal to anything of tke kind which has been published since ' Tom 
 Bro-Mn at Rugby.' . . . ." NEW YORK CHURCHMAN. 
 
 " We recommend ihe volume as a healthy, interesting, extremely well- 
 written, and indeed artistic novel. . . . ." FIGARO. 
 
 In Times of Peril : a Story of India. 
 
 By G. A. HENTY, Author of " The Young Franc Tireurs," 
 "The Young Buglers," "Out on the Pampas," &c. 
 Crown 8vo., with Sixteen full-page Illustrations. 
 " The book is one of the best of its kind, and will be a most acceptable present 
 
 to toys " CONGREGATIONAUST. 
 
 Hair Breadth Escapes. By Rev. H. c. ADAMS. 
 
 " No matter -what kind of tale Mr. Adams has to relate, he is sure to tell it 
 t\'tll, and he may be congratulated on his successful attempt to win honours. 
 " PALL MALL GAZETTE. 
 
 Chums : A Story for Youngsters of School- 
 boy Life and Adventure. 
 
 By HARLEIGH SEVERNE. 
 
 " Deals in a very pleasant fashion with the doings of schoolboys " 
 
 PICTORIAL WORLD. 
 
 The Gentleman Cadet. By Lieut.-Coi. DRAYSON. 
 
 " Boys big and little will read Colonel Drayson's book "with deej> interest" 
 TIMES. 
 
 John Deane, of Nottingham, his Adventures 
 
 and Exploits. By W. H. G. KINGSTON. 
 
 " The volume is one which neither toy or girl will be easily torn from, 
 " JOHN BULL. 
 
 Workman and Soldier, a Tale of Paris Life 
 under the Commune. By JAMES F. COBB. 
 
 "It is well written and well put together. . . . ." TIMES. 
 
 The Rival Crusoes. By w . H . G . KINGSTON. 
 
 " A well conceived and well told tale " SCHOOL GUARDIAN.
 
 PUBLISHED BY E. P. BUTTON AND CO. 
 
 One Dollar and Twenty-five Cents a Volume. 
 
 THE 
 
 BOYS' OWN FAVOURITE SERIES. 
 
 Under this Title we issue, in one uniform series, 
 a number of the best known and most popular books 
 for boys, written by their favourite authors, such as 
 W. H. G. Kingston, G. A. Henty, Rev. H. C. Adams, 
 Jules Verne, E. Marryat Norris, and others. 
 
 The books are well printed in i2mo. size on good 
 paper, and strongly and elegantly bound, and will be 
 found the cheapest and best library for boys' reading. 
 Each volume contains from 350 to 500 pages of solid 
 reading, and they are all well illustrated. 
 
 College Days at Oxford. By the Rev. H. C. ADAMS. 
 Mark Seaworth. By W. H. G. KINGSTON. Just out. 
 
 Hurricane Hurry. By w. H. G. KINGSTON. j*stout. 
 
 Salt Water. By W. H. G. KINGSTON. Just out. 
 
 Out on the Pampas. By G. A. HENTY. Just out. 
 
 Peter the Whaler. By w. H. G. KINGSTON. 
 
 Early Start in Life. By E. MARRYAT NORRIS. 
 
 Fred Markham in Russia. By w. H. G. KINGSTON. 
 The Three Midshipmen. By w. H. G. KINGSTON. 
 The Three Commanders. By w. H. G. KINGSTON. 
 The Three Lieutenants. By w. H. G. KINGSTON. 
 The Young Francs-Tireurs. By G. A. HENTY.
 
 NEW AND APPROVED BOOKS 
 
 One Dollar and Twenty-five Cents a Volume. 
 
 THE 
 
 GIRLS' OWN FAVOURITE SERIES. 
 
 ( Uniform with the Boys' Own Favourite Series.) 
 Michaelmas Daisy. A New Story. 
 
 By SARAH DOUDNEY. 
 
 The New Girl ; or, The Rivals. A Tale of 
 
 School Life. By MRS. GELLIE. 
 
 The Oak Staircase. The Stories of Lord 
 and Lady Desmond. By M. & c. LEE. 
 
 For a Dream's Sake. Cy Mrs. A. n. MARTIN. 
 
 Gladys, the Reaper. 
 
 By ANNE BEALE, Author of " Simplicity Fascination." 
 
 Stephen the Schoolmaster. A Story without 
 
 PiOt. By Mrs. GELLIE (M.E.B.) 
 
 My Sisters Keeper. By LAURA M . LANE> 
 
 " Bonnie Lesley." By Mrs- HERBERT MARTIN. 
 
 Left Alone ; or, The Fortunes of Phillis 
 Maitland. 
 
 By FRANCIS CARR, Author of "Tried by Fire,"&c. 
 
 Very Genteel. 
 
 By the Author of " Mrs. Jerninsham's Journal." 
 
 My Mother's Diamonds. 
 
 BY MARIA J. GREER. With'a Frontispiece by A. LUDOVICI. 
 
 Kind Hearts. 
 
 By Mrs. J. F. B. FIRTIT, Author of " Sylvia's New Home," 
 &c. With Frontispiece.
 
 PUBLISHED BY E. P. DUTTON AND CO. 
 
 A New and Cheaper Edition. 
 
 HOLLY BERRIES. 
 
 BY 
 
 AMY E. BLANCHARD. 
 
 WITH ORIGINAL ILLUSTRATIONS BY 
 
 IDA WAUGH. 
 
 In handsome quarto, with illuminated cover 
 
 - 1.00 
 
 The elegant Christmas gift-look for 
 children -will be the colour book of the 
 season. Every page -will be printed in 
 colours from wood-blocks, and the book 
 ivill be one of the handsomest and 
 cheapest of the kind that has been 
 offered to the public, while it is as 
 artistic in character as anything that 
 has yet appeared; it is as full of 
 natural incidents of child-life as the 
 renowned Stntwwelpeter, and its 
 attractive character, without and 
 within, will render it the most popular 
 look that -will be offered this year. It 
 portrays child-life in all its phases ; 
 its pleasures, its trials, its humour, 
 and absurdities. They are full of life 
 and spirit, and as studies of child- 
 life are as true to life as they are 
 pretty. The rhymes by Miss Amy 
 E. Blanchard are quite as taking as 
 the pictures. 
 
 " Exceedingly pretty. . . . ." 
 ROCK. 
 
 "A charming took. . . ." 
 
 SCHOOLMASTER. 
 
 " Bright, and sure to find favour 
 in most nurseries. . . ," BAZAAR. 
 
 . " Brilliant pictures and lively 
 
 verses, -with a good lilt " 
 
 PALL MALL GAZETTE. 
 
 " We can fairly say that this is one 
 of the best and most suitable books for 
 very young ones that we have seen 
 
 this season " CHURCH 
 
 REVIEW. 
 
 " The volume forms a handsome 
 gift book for the season, and will be 
 heartily welcomed by every little girl 
 wlio may 6e fortunate enough to 
 receive it. . . . ," EDUCATIONAL 
 NEWS. 
 
 " The book will win favour in the 
 nursery, and ivill be a. very popular 
 book. . . ." BRITISH QUARTERLY 
 REVIEW. 
 
 " The contents are a series of 
 original nursery rhymes, written just 
 to suit the little readers for whom it 
 is intended. . . . It would nit be 
 easy to imagine a more beautiful book 
 for young children. ... ." EDIN- 
 BURGH COURANT. 
 
 " The stories in rhyme are cleverly 
 told, and will amuse the youngsters 
 
 mightily " NOTTINGHAM 
 
 DAILY GUARDIAN.
 
 NEW AND APPROVED BOOKS 
 
 Two New Colour Books for Christmas, 1882. 
 
 WEE BABIES, 
 
 WITH ORIGINAL DESIGNS IN COLOUR BY 
 
 MISS IDA WAUGH, 
 
 AND VERSES BY 
 
 MISS AMY BLANCHARD. 
 
 A beautiful quarto volume. The illustrations portray " child-life *' 
 from the cradle up, and the descriptive verses by Miss Blanchard 
 are written in her happiest style. The cover is a masterpiece of 
 decoration, and no mother can see it without longing to become 
 the possessor of so lovely a picture group of children's faces ... 2.00 
 
 FLY AWAY FAIRIES 
 
 BABY BLOSSOMS. 
 
 This elegant quarto volume by Miss CLARKSON, author of "Indian 
 Summer," "Gathering of the Lilies," etc., is exquisitely printed in 
 colours. The drawings of Fairies and Flowers are fully in keeping 
 with this great artist's reputation ... ... ... 2.00
 
 PUBLISHED BY E P. DUTl'OX AND CO. 13 
 
 BOOKS FOR THE NURSERY. 
 
 HUSH-A-BYE BABY; 
 
 OR, 
 
 MOTHER GOOSE RHYMES, JINGLES, AND 
 DITTIES FOR THE NURSERY. 
 
 A new collection of all the old favourite Nursery Rhymes, fully and 
 funnily illustrated, in handsome illuminated cover. 
 
 50 cts. 
 
 FAIRY GIFTS; 
 
 OR, 
 
 A WALLET OF WONDERS. 
 
 By KATHLEEN KNOX, author of "Father Time's Story Book." 
 
 Illustrations by KATE GREENAWAY. 
 Boards... ... ... ... ... 5Q cts. 
 
 FAIRY LAND; 
 
 OR, 
 
 RECREATION FOR THE RISING GENERATION. 
 
 By the late THOMAS and JANE WOOD, their Son and Daughter, &c. 
 
 With illustrations by T. HOOD, Junior. 
 Boards... ... ... ... ... 50 Cts. 
 
 SHORT STORIES FOR CHIL- 
 DREN ABOUT ANIMALS. 
 
 FOR LITTLE CHILDREN. IN WORDS OF ONE 
 SYLLABLE. 
 
 Illustrated by HARRISON WEIR. Handsomely bound in illuminated 
 cover, and full of pictures. 50 Ct*.
 
 14 NEW AND APPROVED BOOKS 
 
 BOOKS FOR THE FAMILY 
 
 AND THE 
 
 .,' HOME CIRCLE. 
 
 MAMMA'S BIBLE STORIES 
 
 FOR HER LITTLE BOYS AND GIRLS. 
 
 A series of reading lessons taken from the Bible, and adapted to the 
 capacities of very young children. With twelve engravings. 
 
 75cts. 
 
 SHORT & SIMPLE PRAYERS, 
 
 WITH 
 
 HYMNS FOR THE USE OF CHILDREN. 
 
 By the Author of "Mamma's Bible Stories," "Fanny and her 
 Mamma," " Scripture Histories for Children," &c. Seventeenth 
 thousand ... ... ... ... ... 50 cts 
 
 HINTS ON CURRENT IMPROPRIETIES OF EX- 
 PRESSION IN WRITING AND SPEAKING. 
 
 By PARRY GWYNNE. Seventeenth thousand. ... 25 cts.
 
 PUBLISHED BY E. P. BUTTON AND CO. 15 
 
 THE "COSY CORNER" LIBRARY. 
 
 Square \6rno., Cloth, fancy stamping, fully illustrated, 
 6 vols. at 75 cents per volume, or 6 vols. in neat box. 
 
 4.50 
 
 Sunny Days. 
 
 By the Author of " Gerty and May." 
 
 Children of the Parsonage. 
 
 By the Author of " Gerty and May." 
 
 Adrift on the Sea. 
 
 By EMILIA MARRYAT NORRIS. 
 
 What became of Tommy. 
 
 By EMILIA MARRYAT NORRIS. 
 
 Week by Themselves. 
 
 By EMILIA MARRYAT NORRIS. 
 
 Snowed Up. 
 
 By EMILIA MARRYAT NORRIS,

 
 This book is DUE on the last 
 date stamped below 
 
 5m-6,'41(3644) 
 
 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA 
 LOS ANGELES
 
 PZ7 
 
 W/,3j Weiss - 
 
 I FACILITY 
 
 Johnny Miller. 
 
 P27 
 W4S j