OF YELLOW / / MATT ROSE UNIT. Or CALIF. LIBRARY. LOS ANGELE& A Streak of Yellow B y MATT ROSE NEW YORK AND WASHINGTON THE NEALE PUBLISHING COMPANY 1904 COPYRIGHT, 1904 BY HENRY M. ROSE Respectfully Dedicated to the Preachers' Sons and Deacons' Daughters of America 2132316 CONTENTS Chapter Page I. Sam Boggs's Rebellion 9 II. Arabella's Soliloquy 19 III. The Sermon Hatchery 25 IV. An Exultant Pastor 32 V. Dinner in the Parsonage 37 VI. A Spinster's Lodgings 40 VII. Bill Taylor's False Report 47 VIII. The Home Missionary at Work 56 IX. When Dan Rice Came to Town 64 X. Roger Williams's Birthday ." 77 XI. The Visit to Red Jacket's Roost 84 XII. A Robber at Work 95 XIII. The Tell-tale Coin 101 XIV. Misleading Signs 104 XV. Preaching to a Preacher in XVI. Dinah's Baptism 117 XVII. The Heathen Get a Benefit 123 XVIII. The Robber Caught 129 XIX. A Full Confession 137 XX. The Young Men's Club 142 XXI. Arrival of a Lion 151 XXII. Punishment and Retaliation 159 XXIII. Christmas Holidays 170 XXIV. The Free Methodist Watch-Meeting 176 XXV. A Split in the Church.. 183 XXVI. The Church Fire 192 XXVII. Sammy Leaves Home 202 XXVIII. Unsatisfactory Tidings 218 XXIX. Following a Yellow Vein 229 XXX. On Board the " Scotia " 241 XXXI. A Sympathetic Captain 255 XXXII. Planting a Reminder 261 AUTHOR'S NOTE In justice to my parents now living a Baptist clergyman and his helpmate whose beautiful and consistent Christian lives have ever been an inspira- tion and sweet benediction to all their children, I desire to state this book is in no sense an auto- biography. If my parents erred at all in the train- ing and disciplining of their offspring they erred in the direction of leniency, tenderness and forbear- ance in the sparing of the rod rather than in its application. They need no written declaration to assure them of the sincere, profound and unvarying love and respect of their unworthy but well-meaning son, and to convince them he has had no desire to write lightly or critically of the faith in which they have lived these many vears. H. M. R. January 20, 1904 A STREAK OF YELLOW CHAPTER I SAM BOGGS' S REBELLION Anger is like champagne to a person who is nat'rally talk'tive. It keys up the mental machin'ry and loosens the tongue. Sam Boggs, Jr. "I'll give you my name if you want it so bad, an' I ain't afraid to do it nuther. I'm that 'wicked Boggs boy' Samuel Eliphalet Boggs. My father's the R-e-v-e-r-e-n-d Samuel Eliphalet Boggs, senior. You ought to know who I be if you live in this town. Decent folks call me 'Sammy/ some of the fellers call me 'Sam,' others toughs mostly call me 'Boggsy,' my Sunday-school teacher, my ma an' my pa call me 'S-a-m-u-e-l,' but that big fat lobster what just passed always calls me 'Elder.' That's why I'm mad. That's why I swore. Say, how'd you like to be called 'Elder' just 'cause your dad's a preacher? I live in that yellowish house right up the street yonder. You can't miss it. I was born there an' it ain't changed its color since, either. I'm eight coming February; was born on a February twenty-ninth, an' on a Friday. Ain't that luck for 10 A STREAK OF YELLOW you ? I've had just one birthday, three teeth pulled, one thumb-nail pounded off, two sisters an' six brothers older'n I be, an' besides a heap of trouble; had plenty of measles, chicken-pox, blisters, warts, mumps, lickin's, scarlatine, an' some things in my hair an' on my hands an' arms mostly that ma says it isn't nice to talk about. Say, have you ever had any of them things ? "Yes, you HEARD ME SWEAR! No nasty little sparrow had to tell you that. Of course I sweared. You'd swear, anybody'd swear, a saint would swear, my dad would swear if he had to stand what I while Jud is fourteen and past. You have not spared the rod in Sammy's case. No, Doctor Boggs, the trouble is somewhere else. I would like to ask you a few plain questions. You need not necessari- ly answer them now, you can think them over and answer me later. How much of your boy's confi- dence do you hold ? How much time do you devote to them and their happiness? How much do you enter into their pastimes, their joys, and sorrows? How often do you counsel with them that they may feel there exist mutual interests ? What do you pro- vide for their amusement? What for their mental enjoyment? Do you hold them at all, or are they steadily slipping away from you? Where are the absent boys ? What are they doing? Do you receive regularly loving messages from them? I believe a father should ever be a companion for his boys PREACHING TO A PREACHER 115 their chum, their next best friend; next to their mother, their very best friend on earth. He should be their shelter in every storm, their comforter in every sorrow, their confidential and silent partner in every enterprise. When a father spends a consider- able portion of his time at home there seems little excuse for his boys getting- away from him. He can enter into their daily lives and by the exercise of kindly sympathies and tender affections bind them close to him with golden chains of love. A bright boy dreads a father's displeasure, his frown, much worse than he dreads a rod. You cannot burn good- ness into a boy and you can't whip it into him. You cannot drive witches out with switches, even though some of our good Baptist ancestors believed it ; and neither can you pound badness out of a boy. There are other certain and better ways of doing it. I say these things with due respect to you and your call- ing." "I have always tried to correct my boys, and show them their faults as a father should." "Oh, yes, I admit it, and I am sorry to say your method of doing it by corporal punishment seems to have the sanction of the Bible. Is it not possible that you are frequently too hasty in your judgments, too vigorous in your punishments, and too apt to lose all patience? I fear you punish many times without being sure of the facts, as in the Taylor case. You have admitted your error in the Taylor case, and have practically admitted the pulling of the door-bell was but a mere child's prank." Il6 A STREAK OF YELLOW "Yes, I admit that now," said the Doctor ; "but I can never agree with you that all corporal punish- ments are unnecessary." They reached the parsonage much too soon for Arabella, but none too soon for the Doctor. Dur- ing the dinner hour Doctor Boggs appeared thought- ful and at times absent-minded. CHAPTER XVI DINAH'S BAPTISM Advice is cheap, but it isn't safe to follow all that you're bound to get from a bunch of excited women when a house 's on fire or some one's drownin'. Sam Boggs, Jr. The kindergarten opened the first Monday in Sep- tember, just two weeks earlier that the public school, and twenty-three pupils were enrolled. The first to be offered and to be accepted was the youngest member of the school charming, petite, and bewitching Rose Wilson, only child of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Wilson, who lived in a neat cottage next to the Baptist Church. Mrs. Wilson was the only child of Hiram Hooker, and naturally the granddaughter was the very apple of the merchant's eye. She was his idol and the prospective heir to a considerable portion of his growing fortune. She was barely five years of age, but had been so trained and cared for by doting par- ents that Arabella felt she was advanced far beyond the majority of children of like age, and so decided to take her. Rose was a general favorite with the children, who vied with each other in showering at- tentions upon her. With silken hair falling in ring- lets to her shapely shoulders, her beautifully-mould- ed form, large blue eyes, deep dimples and natural Il8 A STREAK OF YELLOW gracefulness, no one could help loving her, and it was difficult for any one to keep hands off her. The little cherub threw the town into great excite- ment at the close of her first school week. Arabella was at the class-room, attending to many things, when Mrs. Wilson came to the division fence and inquired how long she was to remain, and if she would be willing to look after Rose while she and a lady friend made some calls. Arabella was delighted to accept the responsibility, and went to the fence to receive the little one from her mother's arms. Rose never looked sweeter to her. She had on her 'fav-o-wite dwess' of yellow dimity, and car- ried her black doll, Dinah, in one hand. After sev- eral hugs and kisses the pupil was left to amuse her- self with geometrical blocks, colored balls, and other things that were near at hand, while the teacher con- tinued some writing at the desk. "I'se goin' to 'tize Dinah," said Rose, bringing the rag baby up to the desk and looking into Ara- bella's eyes as though seeking her approval. "You are going to do what, dearie?" "Goin' to 'tize Dinah in the watah," was the re- ply. Arabella clearly understood this time, but little dreamed her caller seriously intended to immerse her dolly. She knew Simmons, the sexton, was about the church, doing the customary Saturday's cleaning; that the doors and windows were open to give the audience-room an airing; but it never oc- curred to her the cover to the baptistry had been DINAHS BAPTISM 119 raised for any purpose, and that Rose had discov- ered the fact. "You shall 'tize Dinah," said she, as she took an empty box from the closet and set it by the desk. "This will be your little baptistry, and you can 'tize Dinah in it." It was not easy to convince the child that a bap- tistry without water would answer her purpose, but after much coaxing she knelt down by the box, held Dinah upright within it, and said with great sol- emnity : "I 'tize 'oo, Dinah Wilson; name of fadah, son, in-the-hole-you-go, Amen !" As she said this she buried Dinah beneath the imaginary water of the improvised baptismal font. Arabella was so surprised and pleased with this bit of originality that she could not keep from re- vealing it, and, try as best she could, Rose could not be induced to repeat the performance for her. The teacher went back to the desk and took out a book she had designed for the bright sayings and doings of her little ones, and wrote a brief account of Di- nah's baptism. She had barely noted down the "in-a-hole-you- go" when she heard a short scream and a splash. She rushed into the audience-room, up the pulpit steps, and saw that Rose had fallen headlong into the real baptistry, now well filled with water. Wild, excited, bewildered, frantic, she screamed and cried for help, ran down the aisle and out the front door. Simmons was nowhere to be seen. Sammy was coming down the street, evidently to meet her, 120 A STREAK OF YELLOW and heard the cries. He ran to her, and with difficulty gained information as to the cause of her frenzy. He caught the words "Rose" and "baptistry," and was not long in reaching the platform. He was down the baptistry steps and up to his chin in the water in another instant; grasped Rose's skirts, drew her up to him, and, taking her limp form in his arms, staggered with her up the steps. Arabella was now sufficiently composed to be of some assist- ance, and she took hold of his arm and steadied him. Rose was unconscious and was holding fast to Dinah. "Oh, if Jud were only here !" cried Sammy. "He knows what to do when a feller's drowned. He saved a boy once." Scarcely had the words been spoken, when Jud drove up with Simmons and his kerosene can. Ar- abella and Sam called to them and particularly to Jud, telling him to wait for nothing. Jud left Sim- mons in care of the horse and ran to the platform. He took in the situation at once, and directed every- thing with the coolness of a hospital surgeon. He told Sammy to get down on all fours, and he placed the limp form of the child across his back, stomach down, that the water might drain from her. Then he placed the little one upon her back, and, while Arabella and Sam followed his directions in rub- bing her limbs and body vigorously, he worked her arms up over her head and back again to her sides many times, compressing and relaxing her chest as he did so. They were working this way when several of the DINAH S BAPTISM 121 nearer neighbors rushed in to make exclamations, wring their hands, stare their eyes out, and then to make all kinds of suggestions and name a thousand nostrums that would surely prove effective. Jud paid no attention whatever to these, but worked away like a skilled operator, perspiring and fatigued. Doctors Boise and Johnson, the medical talent of the village, were not long in arriving upon the scene. Simmons had gone for them with the de- livery wagon. Doctor Boise was the first to dis- cover a pulse and other signs of returning life. He declared that just the right things had been done and that the little one would recover. Restoratives were administered and soon Rose opened her eyes and asked for Dinah. It was Jud who carried Rose from the church to the arms of her mother, who nearly fainted as she ran toward him. The physicians then devoted their time to Mrs. Wilson, while Jud again took up the precious little burden and carried her into the house, where he and Arabella undressed her, dried her skin with soft flannels, put on her nightgown and tucked her in her own bed, where she slept peace- fully. "When I went for kerosene I didn't know there was to be a baptism," said "Persimmons Bill," the sexton. "That water had been standin' in the tank to keep it from leakin', a good bit, and it had wig- glers in it and didn't smell good, so I raised the doors to air it." The Boggs boys were given full credit for the rescue. The doctors, Arabella, Simmons, and ev- 122 A STREAK OF YELLOW erybody in town, including Bill Taylor, were sound- ing their praises. No one seemed quite positive as to which deserved the most credit Sam, who took the little one from the water, or Jud, who appeared to know just what to do afterwards. It was a subject for considerable controversy for weeks. Sammy carried his honors gracefully and philosophically. His one reflection, that promised to outlive him, was, "You might have expected as much with her in that yellow dress." Arabella was the object of considerable censure following the incident. Some said she lost her head completely, some that a person so hysterical had no business teaching children, and others that she was a pretty poor Baptist, to be so afraid of water. She realized the life of the kindergarten was threatened and set herself and her wits to work to avert it. Monday morning she engaged a carpenter to con- struct a picket gate for the doorway leading to the audience-room, and provided a padlock and key for it. A lock was also placed upon the cover to the baptistry. When parents were made aware of these precautions they gradually committed their children to Arabella's care once more, and Henry Wilson and his wife were kind enough and charitable enough to send their sweet Rose back before the close of a week. CHAPTER XVII THE HEATHEN GET A BENEFIT An actor, nat'rally good, can spoil a whole show by mixin' in at the wrong time. It's as well to be sure of your time to do a thing as 'tis to know the thing you're goin' to do is worth the doin'. Sam Boggs, Jr. Hopkins & Boggs had announcements out for the forthcoming "Spectac'lar" Uncle Tom's Cabin, to be presented in Mrs. Hopkins' s parlors on the even- ing of the second Saturday in September; admis- sion, five cents ; proceeds for the benefit of the Wom- en's Baptist Foreign Missions' fund. It was the cul- mination of three weeks of incessant toil and plan- ning on the part of the enthusiastic showmen, and was their first performance to which the general pub- lic was invited. Their professional reputations were at stake and they realized it. Unfortunately for Arabella, her mother was not at all well and her father came to take her home for a brief visit. She expressed her keen regrets to the managers, left the price of one admission, and made all kinds of predictions for the financial and histri- onic success of the enterprise. When she reached the parsonage Sunday evening two sadly-dispirited boys were on hand to meet her. They looked sadder than a funeral procession in a 124 A STREAK OF YELLOW rain storm. Arabella readily saw things had gone against them, and was determined to cheer them up as best she could, and to lend all possible sympathy and comfort. "Come, boys," said she, "how was it? I'm fairly dying to hear about it. Tell me all, now ; please do, right from the beginning." "Ain't much to tell," said Ben ; " 'twas all a fiz- zle." " 'Twas rotten," said Sam. "Abs'lut'ly bum," said Ben. "Now, see here, boys, you're a little down on your luck. I know it wasn't as bad as all that; anyhow, it was your first experience and I'm sure you will improve upon it next time." "There'll be no next time," said Ben. "This is our last. We've ruin'd our reps, on it; it's all off, and tomorrow school begins." "As bad as it was, as bad as you think it was, you must tell me all about it," said Arabella, handing each a nice red apple. "We was goin' to have it in the barn first," said Sammy, "but I wouldn't go there 'cause that old yellow barn cat was around, an' I knowed it wouldn't bring us any good luck. Ben's ma said we could have it in the house if we'd do it for the heath'n. I told Ben if that cat ever got in the house it would go agin us. He said there was no danger; it never come farther'n the back door, where 'twas fed, and I needn't fret my gizz'rd pins over it; that I was allers sup'stitious 'bout so'thin'. He don't feel that THE HEATHEN GET A BENEFIT 125 way now, an' if I was him I'd kill the dum thing 'fore I slept." "Did the cat have anything to do with the per- formance?" asked Arabella. "Some, I should say so!" said Ben, whose dra- matic instincts were now fairly aroused. "You know we had our front parlor for the folks, an' the back parlor for the stage, an' the doors what slide for the curt'in. My girl sat with her ma in the right box an' our teacher sat in the left box, all 'dead-heads.' We played the tablo of the cabin all right an' it was fine; the fellows what was blacked up stood mighty still. Then we was puttin' on the spectac'lar where Liza Harris makes her 'scape 'cross the river on the ice. I was doin' Haley an' was directin'. Our dog Pluto was my blood-houn', an' he wouldn't chase Liza, 'cause she's our colored cook what feeds him, an' we'd tried him. He wouldn't foller her, hardly, he's so fat and lazy won't chase nothin' but cats. He'll set on his tail an' howl, though, when he hears music sad music, mostly. I knew it and I made use of it. I set a screen up by the pianer and tied Pluto behind it an' 'gaged sister Emily to play one of her loud lessons at the right time. I knew that would make the dog howl. Pa says it's 'nough to make Rome howl. I gave the sign to both of 'em. Emily played an' counted an' Pluto howled, good and plenty, just's tho' he was chasin' so' thin'. Liza come on with her baby, what was Emily's chiner doll. She come on from the kitchen an' made for the river. I worked three days on the river. I sawed off two- by-fours into blocks an' chalk'd 'em all over, just like 126 A STREAK OF YELLOW ice, an' I set 'em the length of my step apart, clean across stream. I never noticed it, but that yellow cat follered Liza. Willie Walker sat on a front seat, an' when he seen her he hollered, 'Get onto the blood- houn', will yer !' and everybody laughed. Pluto saw the cat an' the cat saw him, an' she ran acrost the stage with her brush up and upset all the ice in the Ohio River. Pluto tugged hard to get at her, pulled the screen over onto my girl's ma, barked, an' made rushes at the cat." "Let me tell some," said Sam, anxious to get into the narrative. "Yes, I guess it's fairly Sammy's turn now," said Arabella. "I I wish I could just finish this," said Ben. "That's most of it, already," said Sam. "We'd give the cook ten cents and a old pair of gaiters to do it. She'd been acrost three times all right in the 'hearsal, but 'twa'n't so easy when the ice was scat' red. She made a bad mess of it. She stept onto one of 'em floatin' cakes an' reached out 'tother gaiter for the next one, but just touched her toe to it. She slipt an' fell. Such a spill you never seen ! She fell in the river, an' Ben called out, 'Swim out, Lize ! Swim out don't get up !' She tried to do it, an' made her legs an' arms go just's though she's doin' it just like a crab. She held her baby up so 't wouldn't drown. Emily saw then its head was broke off, an' she cried out loud, fairly squalled. That yellow cat jumped up on the cook's back for safety/' "To keep out of the water, I suppose," interposed Arabella. THE HEATHEN GET A BENEFIT 127 "No, to get away from Ben's dog. She arched up her back an' spit ,ugly at Pluto, an' the folks laughed an' hollered until some of 'em cried. Ben rushed over to pick the screen off'n his girl an' her ma, to be a hero. It caught in their hair, somehow, an' Ben nearly sna'ch'd his girl's ma bald-headed. He jerked her wig clean off. I was pullin' the curt'in, to part Pluto from the cat, an' it wouldn't work. It was stuck off its wheel, I guess. Every- body yelled again, louder an' louder. Ben's buf'lo- robe whiskers fell down when he started bawlin', an' such a rackit I never heard afore. Ben's ma couldn't stop him, or Emily either. It made Pluto excited, worse'n ever, an' he tore loose an' rushed upon the stage, an' wound 'round Liza an' the cat with his laryat draggin'. Liza ast me if she could get up now, an' I said she could, but she couldn't. She was wound up in the rope, an' we couldn't tell whether Pluto, Liza, or the cat had the best of it. I never seen folks laugh so loud. Ben's pa said he nearly split, an' said we owed him for a busted 'spender. Ben was never so mad afore. He wouldn't let his ma put a hand on him. He just stood, an' stomped, an' bellered. Emily was just as mad, only worse. Their ma stepped out to the stage an' said she guessed 'twas her duty to 'nounce that, owin' to some things not on the pro-grum, she felt 'bliged to 'clare the 'formance at an end. She smiled when she done it. Ben's pa sent him an' Emily to bed, an' they was stompin' an' yell in' all the way upstairs, and the folks all heard 'em. When I come away I heard 128 A STREAK OF YELLOW some one saying' so'thin' about their gettin' 'rain checks.' ' "I'm sure the people had the worth of their money," observed Arabella. "Well, we kept it, anyway," said Ben. "Ben's best girl wouldn't speak to him in Sunday- school, though," said Sam. "I guess it's all ended 'tween 'em." CHAPTER XVIII THE ROBBER CAUGHT I'd rather bring up a boy o' mine in a big city than in a small village every time. There's some decent things to en- tertain him and some good boys for him to chum with in a city. In a country town it's different. Sam Boggs, Jr. The Foreign Missions' fund was ahead just one dollar and ten cents by reason of the performance, and Benny was permitted to drop the money into the missions box with his own hand, and in the presence of Sammy. The boys thought they would be ashamed to keep the money for anything else but the heathen, and as Mrs. Hopkins constantly re- ferred to the performance as something "utterly heathenish," they saw some appropriateness in it. At the end of the month Arabella emptied the box with a view to banking its contents. She count- ed the cash and found there was just one dollar and ten cents in all. She knew the box had been robbed. There had been four regular meetings of the society since she last deposited the funds, and she had at- tended three of them. The ladies had contributed as freely as ever, and she had given a dime each time herself. She questioned Simmons about it, and he protested he had never known where the box was kept, even. He said he had caught Jud Boggs and 13 A STREAK OF YELLOW three other boys playing cards in one of the horse sheds they had broken into, and "mebbe Jud had se- cured his father's key to the church and robbed the box." He thought Jud Boggs was none too good to do it, and he'd seen people who said he smoked cigarettes, and any boy who'd smoke cigarettes would steal. Arabella was almost ready to agree with him, and was disposed to suspect Jud. She reasoned that Jud knew how much the entertainment netted and that he would be cute enough to leave at least that sum in the box ; that he was playing poker, and un- doubtedly was using the money in the game. She wondered how long he had been gambling and whether or not he had stolen before. Possibly his employer had suspected him of stealing and the fact accounted for his being no longer employed inside the store. She determined to know the truth. Try as best she could she was unable to secure an inter- view with Adoniram. He avoided her as he would a rattlesnake, and she construed this as an evidence of guilt, although he had always done so. Two weeks passed and a dark Friday night came. Arabella was supposed to have gone home, but changed her plans after starting it looked so much like rain and returned to her room. She noticed the key to the kindergarten was missing from the nail where she usually placed it, and concluded she had carelessly left it in the door. She went down and asked Sammy if he would accompany her to the class-room, and he kindly consented. They had turn- ed upon the walk leading to the side entrance, when THE ROBBER CAUGHT 13! they saw some one unlock the door and enter the kindergarten. "It looks 'zactly like Jud," said Sammy. "It's about his size." "Yes," said Arabella, "I think it is. I forgot that I was expecting him. If you don't mind I'll let you go back now, and I'll ask your brother to walk home with me. We may want to stay beyond your bed time. There, that's a little man; don't be jealous, you know I like you the best." Sammy was not expecting this, and showed con- siderable disappointment, but yielded and started for home. Arabella remained outside for a few mo- ments, keeping close up under the windows. Then she quietly opened the door, that had purposely been left slightly ajar, entered the kindergarten in the dark, and took a position near the door leading to the audience-room. She heard the intruder driving small nails, with the back of a knife she thought; heard him close a drawer and come toward her. He had a chair to assist in climbing the gate, and as he jumped over and turned to raise the chair behind him, Arabella caught him around the body, held his arms fast to his sides, and said : "Jud Boggs, I have known you were up to this for some time. Now I shall expect a clean and full ex- planation and shall accept no falsehoods." Jud struggled to get loose, but all his efforts were in vain. He said he had business of his own in the church and would permit no one to question him about it, or to interfere with him either. He said something about losing a gold pin the day he helped 132 A STREAK OF YELLOW save Rose Wilson ; but when Arabella said he could much easier look for it in the light than in the dark, and that he had not even struck a match in his search, he saw he had not had much time in which to frame an excuse. The more he tried the worse he floundered. Arabella gave assurances that she was his friend and should detain him only for his good, and that it might be far better for him to remain without re- straint and hear what she had to say than to break away and leave her. Jud promised to stay and hear what she had to say for her rudeness. "Come and sit with me then," said she. "I must detain you some time and must talk freely. I will not light a lamp, as I consider it is best our presence here shall be unknown. I will use plain words. I know three things about you, Jud, that I wish were not true. I know you to be a liar, a gambler, and a thief. It's a terrible arraignment, and no doubt you feel like resenting it. I do not believe you to be hardened, depraved, or beyond redemption. You are a kind-hearted boy, easily influenced, and have yielded. I have wanted to talk with you about it for some time, ever since I first saw you and knew you smoked cigarettes, but you have avoided me for some reason." "I don't smoke cigarettes any more, not since I read that book that had your name in it." "I know you gave them up some time ago and that you are now smoking a briar-wood pipe," was the re- sponse to this. "You seem to know all about me." THE ROBBER CAUGHT 133 "I know you can make a frank, honest, splendid man of yourself if you will begin at once begin now and here. You cannot delay the start long, in my judgment. The fact of your giving up cigar- ettes shows you have will power, and sufficient to resist when your companions continue smoking the deadly things." "And do you know about the other boys, too, same as you know about me, Miss Somers ?" "I know considerable about some of them, but I do not care to talk of them or to dwell on the past. I want to talk of the future. I want to know what you propose to do to change your own and the con- dition of other young men in Batesville." Adoniram was loath to believe Arabella really knew much about him or his chums ; he thought she was guessing, or "bluffing," merely to draw him out, and insisted upon knowing just what she knew. He was fully satisfied a little later, and as he be- came so he broke down completely and cried like a child. He opened his heart to Arabella, declared she was the only person on earth who had ever taken an interest in him, who had ever offered to help him, or who had given him a word of encouragement; said his father had always flogged him for the least little things he did and many times for things he had not done, and until he fairly hated him; that his mother had been too busy to care for him much, and told how everybody in town had seemed anxious to pick on him because he was a minister's son. In the course of the talk he said : 134 A STREAK OF YELLOW "There's nothing a fellow can do in this town, Miss Somers. It's dead the dullest, dryest, tamest old hole in all creation ; never anything going on, no place to go, no excitement, not even life enough for a Fourth of July celebration. There isn't a ball ground or a race track within the county that I know of; there isn't a shuffle-board, bowling-alley noth- ing to do anything with. The old men play croquet down by the Liberty pole, that hasn't had a flag on it for three years, not since Lee's surrender; and some others pitch quoits down by the blacksmith's shop ; but there's nothing for boys. There's no place to fish within ten miles, and no swimming hole within five miles, and the hook-and-ladder company has disbanded and the wagon is held by Fisher as security for repairs. There's no place for a boy to go but to church and to a church picnic once a year, where we have to hear some one preach an hour, sing an hour, and pray some before we can eat. When we played hide-and-seek around the horse- sheds they put doors on them and locked them up. The teacher forbade us the use of the school ground after hours, and the curfew rings at eight-thirty to shut off our 'pom-pull-away.' If we played harmless tricks, that is, if I did, I was sure to be whipped for it. No shows ever come to town, there's no place for them. A circus came once, the only one that ever did come, and I ran away and went to it, stole under, and was thrashed for it. Will you please tell me, Miss Somers, what on earth there is in Batesville for a boy?" THE ROBBER CAUGHT 135 This was a view of the situation Arabella had not even thought of, and the more she looked at it the more charitable she became, until she found herself deeply in sympathy with the young man. Jud made a clean breast of it and acknowledged everything enough to have insured his imprisonment if acknowl- edged in court, and he realized it. Arabella dwelt upon this phase of the situation at length, but always reached the same conclusion. Only those directly wronged should know it, full restitution should be made, and a new life should at once be entered upon. Jud was to go straight to Mr. Hooker, tell him everything, make arrangements, if possible, to con- tinue in his employ until the amount of the pecula- tions were made good, and beg his full forgiveness and an opportunity to prove the reformation was genuine. Jud said he had only stolen from the missionary box since the day Arabella suggested just how it might be done without any one's knowing it, and since Hooker placed him back upon the wagon, where he had no opportunity to steal from him. He thought five dollars would more than cover it, and anyhow he would be glad to pay back that much. He began playing cards nearly a year before, but had played poker for money only since his promotion from the wagon. He had been a constant loser, and mostly to Deaney, whom he declared to be a "card shark," and who had learned the game while selling papers in Rochester. It was eleven o'clock when Arabella and Jud left the kindergarten. The money had been returned to I3 6 A STREAK OF YELLOW the mission box, each had pledged secrecy to the other, preliminary plans had been made for the or- ganizing of a young men's club, Jud had promised to bring Deaney, Babcock, and Brewer with him to the class-room to meet Arabella and talk it over, and the details of the confession to Hooker were outlined. That was the happiest night Arabella ever spent in the parsonage, although she laid awake with new thoughts and new schemes the greater portion of it. CHAPTER XIX A FULL CONFESSION If you have a prop'sition to spring upon a man you're in luck to catch him when he's feelin' good. I've seen a miser give a whole dollar for a new meetin'-house just after he'd had a tooth pulled. Sam Boggs, Jr. \ Hiram Hooker was talking over with Arabella the incident of his granddaughter's rescue from the bap- tistry, when he said : "I have wanted to reward those Boggs boys in some way, but I do not know how to reward one without doing something equally as good for the other, and my conscience won't let me do anything for that boy Jud. He's a bad boy, Miss Somers, and I have known it for some time, but I've not had the heart to say so to his father. The Doctor doesn't seem to have success in dealing with his boys." "I have also known it for some time," said Ara- bella, "ever since I went to the parsonage to live, and it has been more strikingly revealed to me of late. I have only known for a day or two that he has been stealing from you, and I concluded that you knew it and that was why you placed him back upon the wagon." "And pray tell how have you learned all this ?" I 3 8 A STREAK OF YELLOW "Jud has made a full confession to me, Mr. Hook- er, and, although I am pledged to secrecy regarding it and he is seeking an opportunity to confess to you and beg your mercy, I think it is my duty to talk with you concerning it. There are other bad boys in Batesville, Mr. Hooker, and a proposition is in- volved that seems to me far more vital than the guilt of Judson Boggs and how it is to be dealt with. That is, what are we going to do for the young men of Batesville?" Then, before she fairly realized it, Arabella was giving Mr. Hooker a detailed account of her resi- dence in the parsonage, with her personal observa- tions there ; of the visit to "Red Jacket's Roost," the robbery of the missions fund, Jud's full confession, and of the plans already formulating for something to entertain, instruct, and save the growing boys of the place. Hooker was so interested that he never once in- terrupted the speaker, and he found himself squarely in line before she had finished. "By George!" said he, "there's that vacant hall over the store. The Odd Fellows couldn't hold to- gether in the town, and it hasn't been used for two years and probably wouldn't be for the next two. It's over the corner. It has a covered outside stairway, as you know; it has plenty of light, the walls are good, the floors are deadened, and there are recep- tion-rooms and coat-rooms everything that's right for a young men's club. They could use the lodge- room for a gymnasium if they wanted to. If you'll take this thing in hand, Miss Somers, I'll give the A FULL CONFESSION 139 use of that upper floor for for two years, or five years, or indefinitely; and I'll give a hundred to- ward fitting it up." "How about Jud ?" asked Arabella. "Oh, I'll manage that all right. I see that you feel he is penitent and anxious to turn over a new leaf. Please say nothing about our talk until he has seen me." "That's as much my desire as it is your own," was Arabella's assurance.. In a few days an opportunity presented for Jud to have a word with Mr. Hooker, and an interview was arranged for the evening, and in the merchant's home. When the time came and they were alone in the library, Jud said : "I come to you, Mr. Hooker, to bare my breast to you; to tell you a clean story and to throw myself upon your mercy. I am a liar, a gambler, and a thief that is, I have been all these, but I am deter- mined to never be either again." With this as a starter he related the history of his shortcomings, including the incident with Mrs. Cross when he was frustrated in one attempt to steal, but did lie; the story of the robbery of the mission box, and everything. He had nothing he wished to con- ceal, and so assured his employer. Mr. Hooker appeared to be surprised, but finally acknowledged he knew about his peculations in the store, and said that was the reason why he had been placed back upon the wagon. Jud had figured up, as near as he could, and the easiest from his losses at poker, that he had stolen 14 A STREAK OF YELLOW something more than thirty and something less, he thought, than forty dollars; and although he had shown himself to be absolutely unworthy of confi- dence, he begged to be permitted to retain his place until the sum had been made good to his employer. The two talked plainly for two hours, and Mr. Hooker was not sparing in good advice or whole- some warnings and illustrations. Jud set up no extenuating claims and nothing was said about the plans formulated with Arabella. Mr. Hooker took Jud's hand and said : "Judson, you are a boy of ability and good parts, and have shown some manliness in this. I am going to give you a chance. I am going to offer it to you in a way that will test your mettle. I am going to take you back into the store on probation. You can readily realize that if there are discrepancies in the accounts you will at once be under suspicion. If you behave yourself and prove yourself worthy of confidence you will be fully trusted and will be given promotions your abilities deserve. I will keep you one year at your present salary, and if at the end of the year you have proved true to your resolutions, you may consider you have paid me one dollar each week and that your debt is cancelled and your pen- alty complied with. Then, if you care to remain with me, you will have a substantial increase in salary. You will have a friend in me so long as you care to do right. You may come back inside on Monday. It is my judgment that this talk and the facts you have related concerning yourself remain a secret between us. Batesville is a small place and it A FULL CONFESSION 141 would take some time for you to live down prejudice here, while correct living is slow of recognition. Your conscience has punished you, and I hope suffi- ciently." Jud told Mr. Hooker there was just one other person who knew all about it, but he was sure she desired to and would keep it a secret. "There never was a woman in Batesville like that Miss Somers," said Hooker. "There's no telling what she would do if. she had money. I hear some of the gossips going on about her because she has such a liking for boys, but they get a piece of my mind every time I hear any of it. She's not going to run away with any of the boys she's taken an interest in ; and as for that man Fairbanks, she's too much sense to think twice of him, and I'll wager now she has some good object in permitting him to walk home from church with her. If this town is wise it will stop talking about a woman like that." Jud wished to tell some of the good things he knew about Miss Somers, but only said in parting: "She's a woman I'll fight for so long as I live." CHAPTER XX THE YOUNG MEN^S CLUB I guess some men reform because it gives them an oppor- tunity to tell folks what splendid spec'mens of depravity they once were, and what heroes they've become by leavin' their old haunts an' vices. Sam Boggs, Jr. The four young men and Arabella were having frequent sessions now, sometimes in her room at the parsonage and sometimes in the kindergarten. They were making plans for organizing a young men's association, writing the constitution and by-laws, and deciding upon furnishings and equipment for its rooms. The boys had never been so interested in anything in all their lives. Mr. Hooker met with them once or twice and took upon himself the re- sponsibility of presenting the matter to the five pas- tors of the village. They were upon -the subject of a name when Joe Brewer said : "I don't believe in calling it a 'Young Men's Christian Association/ as no one of us four makes a profession of Christianity; and besides that, Earl Fairbanks is a Christian, and if he's a good one I don't want to be one. He's everlastingly telling folks in public he was once a gambler. He's always describing gilded palaces of sin, the allurements of the saloon and the dance-hall; the glittering glories THE YOUNG MEN*S CLUB 143 of glass chandeliers; bespangled, bejeweled, and gaudily-painted fairies ; pictures of nude women and other bewildering enticements of the gaming halls; telling how he was early led into them, how he spent his substance in them, and, after such descriptions, advising other young men to steer clear of them. I never wanted to go into a saloon until I'd heard him telling how gorgeously they were fitted up to catch young men. I think a boy with any gumption at all in him, who never thought of such a thing before, would surely go if he once heard Fairbanks tell about them. I couldn't keep from thinking of them and longing to see the inside of one of them after I had. The first time I went to Rochester I found myself hunting for 'a gilded palace of sin' most of the time. No power could keep me out after hearing Fairbanks." ' 'Twas the same way with me, too," said Deaney. "When I ran away and went to Rochester I was mighty glad to sell papers because it gave me a chance to get into the places I'd heard Fairbanks de- scribe, and I got into several that didn't have much gilding on, I can tell you. I got the gambling fever, too; first began shooting craps with the gang and then to playing cards, and comforted myself that I might some day have a chance to tell about it, just as Fairbanks does. I can't bear him now, though, not a little bit." "I can't bear him, either," said Milt Babcock. "He seems to think himself just a little better Chris- tian than any one else because he was once so bad, 144 A STREAK OF YELLOW and has seen so much of the inside of sin. No, let's call it anything else but a 'Christian association.' ' "I am willing to give my guarantee that Mr. Fair- banks will never relate any part of that story again," said Arabella. "He sees now what a great mistake it was and has promised to never refer to the dark side of his life hereafter. He has taken a deep interest in the plan to organize a club and has been around with a subscription paper already. I think you will find he knows considerable about athletics, and especially gymnasium work, and that he can be of valuable assistance to us. He has made up a list of things he thinks we should have in the gym- nasium, and says by all means we should have a bowling-alley at one side and some 'shuffle-boards/ whatever they may be." "Well, if that's the case, I like him better already," said Brewer. "We might call it the 'Fairbanks Club,' " said Deaney. "No, if we're going to name it after a person I am sure I would prefer the 'Hooker Club,' " said Jud. Babcock said he thought that sounded too much like 'Hookey Club,' but said he would like to honor Mr. Hooker in some way, he'd been so generous in the matter. It was finally decided the name should be plainly and simply "The Young Men's Club." It was organized and was in full operation by the time the first snow fell, and Earl Fairbanks was elected presi- dent and director, offices he held without salary. He was an unmarried man and preferred to spend his THE YOUNG MEN S CLUB 145 evenings at the club rather than anywhere else, un- less it was in Arabella's company. Classes were organized in gymnasium work, and the younger boys had regular hours of their own and participated with as much zeal as did their seniors. The old men loved to drop in to see what was going on, and were soon planning for a club of their own. The girls seemed jealous, and expressed the belief that their interests were being overlooked. Arabella gave promise that one afternoon should be set aside for them in the gymnasium and that she would endeavor later on to organize the young women of all denomi- nations into an association that should combine pleasure and charity. Fairbanks was a good singer and had been edu- cated in music. He organized a singing-school and drilled a male quartette that included Jud Boggs, Milt Babcock, and John Howard, all of whom were directly or indirectly affiliated with the Baptist Church. The quartette was frequently called upon, and always cheerfully responded, to sing at special services, at funerals, social entertainments of various kinds, and in the club-room. Doctor Boggs was the only pastor Mr. Hooker interviewed who was wholly and absolutely opposed to the club idea. Arabella was fearful his attitude would be hostile and so had not revealed any of the plans to him. In talking with Mr. Hooker upon the subject he expressed the belief that children should spend all their evening hours at home and could always find recreation enough within their own door yards if they only thought so. He had always given 146 A STREAK OF YELLOW his boys a half holiday on Saturdays and permitted them some other liberties, but congratulated himself that he generally knew where they were, and the boys generally told where they were going. If they were all as truthful as Adoniram was in saying where he was going the Sunday afternoon he played poker at Red Jacket's Roost, the Doctor could not rely implicitly upon these advance assur- ances. Just what he expected his boys to do at home to amuse themselves was not clearly apparent. For their reading matter he held that the Bible, carefully edited stories from the Bible, and Pilgrim's Progress were sufficient. There had never been a Mother Goose or Robinson Crusoe in the house. Cinderella, Puss in Boots, and the Arabian Nights were re- garded as so many devices of the evil one. As for toys, there were none, excepting, perhaps, such as were made at home, like Roger Williams's string of empty spools. What on earth there was for a flesh- and-blood boy to do in the Boggs household but sit in a corner and suck his thumb, or read the Bible and look wise, Mr. Hooker could not see, Arabella could not see, and no one else could see who had made observations there. The staid old game of authors was barred, and tiddle-de-winks would have been considered sacrilegious. The study naturally had no attractions for them. Out of a family of ten children just three of the offspring remained in the parental nest, and for the only reason that they were not old enough to fly away. All the older boys left home before they were fifteen and the two girls THE YOUNG MEN S CLUB 147 before they were seventeen. The pastor and his wife, for the life of them, could not tell why their children had not turned out better. They were none of them very bad, it is true, but not one of them had made anything like the success in life they had antici- pated. There was not a church-goer in the lot, and both of the girls married ungodly men, one a trainer and breeder of fast horses and the other a bucket- shop proprietor. Two of the boys had gone West and never wrote home, so their parents could not even locate them. As for the others, they led happy- go-lucky lives, roving about considerably, never accumulating anything, knowing little or nothing about business, and caring nothing at all for the church. There is not much wonder that the head of such a family antagonized the organization of a young men's club, as he did from the very start from the time he first heard of it. He broached the subject to Arabella the evening of the day Hooker talked with him, and said : "As for Judson, I have no further jurisdiction over him. He has gone for himself, and if he desires to join such an organization, knowing my wishes, he can do so. He will never have my consent, if he asks it. I know his disposition too well to say abso- lutely he cannot belong. He would leave home, just as Charles Spurgeon did, and go where my jurisdic- tion could not reach him. Sammy is young enough yet, thank Providence, to come under his parent's control. He cannot be a member of the club or visit its rooms, and that must be clearly understood. I4 8 A STREAK OF YELLOW We do not wish our boys to think there is any place better than their own home, and the so-called amuse- ments are not necessary to their happiness." The week the club's doors were opened Doctor Boggs preached a strong sermon against worldly pleasures and advised the parents of his congrega- tion to keep their sons from "the institution of the Devil" that was being organized in their midst. It made him many enemies and came near splitting his congregation. Some of the men, who went to church occasionally because their wives were mem- bers, and who were liberal contributors, staid away entirely for a while and refused to contribute for the Doctor's support or the church expenses. Some others, whose religion was not strong enough to sus- tain them through one dark night, left their sittings vacant while they attended other churches. Doctor Boggs realized all that was taking place, but rather gloried in it, so certain was he that he was in the right, and that time would clearly reveal the fact. He loved to discuss the question with Arabella, and was not always wise in choosing the time and place. Frequently these conversations were had at the table, when the boys always sided with the young woman, and Mrs. Boggs was inclined to. This so worked upon the pastor that he gradually came to regard the boarder as an evil influence in his household, and he determined it was best to get rid of it. It was just before the Christmas holidays that he screwed up his courage sufficiently to tell Arabella he feared her influence over his boys, and as her works were contrary to his teachings and beliefs, he THE YOUNG MEN S CLUB 149 felt obliged to ask her to seek quarters elsewhere. Arabella was expecting as much, and had already partially fortified herself against the evil day. She had conditionally engaged accommodations in the residence of the Howards. Doctor Boggs made a few moves as though he desired to deprive the young woman of the use of the class-room, but found her so deeply intrenched in the hearts of her pupils and their mothers that it would be a losing game, and so abandoned it. Time and time again he sought Deacon Somers and talked the matter over with him, and every time the deacon came to town nearly every one else poured his ears full of the wonderful works of his daughter. It kept the good old farmer pretty busy on a gridiron. At times he knew not whether his daughter was an angel or a witch, a doer of evil deeds or a real reformer. He was not a little troubled and per- plexed. Doctor Boggs was resolute and stubborn, and would not yield an ell in his opinions. Arabella was diplomatic and patient. She made excuses for her pastor, admitted the club was an experiment, and kept up her work in the church and society with ever-increasing vigor. Mr. Hooker was not a member of any church, but his wife was a Baptist, and as they had no boys and their only daughter had developed a noble woman, Mrs. Hooker rather sided with her pastor, but would say little owing to her husband's attitude and interests. Hooker tried to hold things even in the town. His business had made him diplomatic and by pursuing ISO A STREAK OF YELLOW diplomatic policies he had thus far kept all formid- able rivals out of the field. It was natural, therefore, that he should work in harmony with Miss Somers to preserve the equilibrium of the community and to keep the Baptist Church from going to pieces. The two disarmed many a critic, kept many of the reg- ular contributors in line, and looked for opportuni- ties to better the club and its members, to make it an institution for good and to bring just recognition to it. They were strongly supported in this work by Fairbanks, who was inclined to be a trifle head- strong, but who seemed to lead well. There was no longer any question that some one was leading him. CHAPTER XXI ARRIVAL OF A LION People will brag in broad daylight that they haven't any cur'osity in their make-up who'll go around ten blocks after dark to find out what your new bonnet cost. Sam Boggs, Jr. Doctor Boggs's oldest brother was a missionary to China under the auspices of the American Baptist Missionary Union, and three of his children, born abroad, had been sent back to America to be edu- cated. Wealthy Baptists in the New England States assumed the responsibility, and the children were adopted into homes where there were many luxuries and extravagances, and where they were freely indulged in them. Word reached the Doctor that the oldest of his brother's children, Abram Talcott Boggs, a lad the age of his Adoniram, was coming to spend the Christmas holidays in his household. None of the Batesville Boggses had ever seen any of the missionary's family, and great delight, as well as much curiosity, was evinced in advance of the boy's coming. Indeed, the news had been pretty generally spread throughout the village, and the curiosity became general. There were not a few who wondered whether or not a missionary's boy born in China would look any different from a I5 2 A STREAK OF YELLOW minister's boy born in the United States. Many were curious to see a boy who had traveled so far; many expressed great sympathy for him because he was so early deprived of a mother's love to be cast into the hands of strangers, while sundry others were curious for divers reasons. As Arabella was going home to spend Christmas week, Mrs. Boggs obtained her consent that Abram Talcott might occupy her room. The day before Christmas a swell young man and three large trunks came on the stage from Chili Station, and the outfit was safely landed at the par- sonage. You could easily guess such an event did not frequently occur in Batesville. The census of the main street could be taken by a count of heads displayed at windows and in doorways, from Hooker's corner to the pastor's residence, as the stage rolled by. At the parsonage everything was in readiness for a hospitable welcome. A woman had been in all the morning helping Mrs. Boggs to clean, and dust, and scour, and bake. The family was sure a poor missionary's boy would be delighted with them and would be surprised at their comfortable surround- ings. Doctor Boggs had on his best broadcloth coat and his highest stock; Mrs. Boggs wore her only black silk and her whitest, hand-embroidered apron; Roger Williams's face was so clean it shone, and his mother carried a dampened cloth around with her to insure its remaining so up to the very last minute; Sammy had on a new store suit, and ARRIVAL OF A LION 153 Jud remained fifteen minutes over time to catch a glimpse of the newcomer. Abram Talcott was a surprise. A first view proved their efforts were fully warranted. He was attired in a top coat of light-colored corduroy with a brown velvet collar, doeskin trousers, derby hat, pair of patent leathers, and real kid gloves. The moment his coats were unbuttoned a fob with a big seal attached came into view. The boys thought for sure he had a watch, but to be more sure Jud acted rest- less and wondered what time it was getting to be. Abram drew out a fine gold watch and told him to the second. Jud asked the privilege of looking at it, and he admired it greatly. He envied his cousin far more than he dared to express. The members of the family seemed spell-bound as they inspected the visitor from top to toe before permitting him to remove his outer garments and take a place at the table, when his belated dinner was served him. Jud reluctantly tore away, while the others sat and watched the marvel eat, and pressed him to his food. Sammy was chummy from the start; said he'd helped Miss Somers carry up her trunks and unpack them and he'd be delighted to be of any use. He stood and eyed his cousin while he ate, and managed to feel of his gloves, rub the velvet collar with his hand, try on his hat all behind his back and to tell him something about his chum, Benny, and their show. After the meal the Doctor, Sam and Abram car- ried the heavy trunks up to the front room and un- strapped them. Abram said he felt tired from travel 154 A STREAK OF YELLOW and guessed he would leave them for a while, but Sammy and the Doctor offered to help him, and Mrs. Boggs came up just then to tender her services. Abram opened the wonder boxes and handed the contents to his assistants, who spread them upon the bed, the floor, and everywhere, seemingly fearful all would not be revealed to them. The pastor and his wife rolled big eyes and winked big winks at each other many times as they handled silk-lined garments and silk underwear. They had never handled such before. Sammy was perfectly bewil- dered; he never dreamed such nice things could be made for a boy. Roger Williams showed his inter- est by desiring to handle many of the curiosities, and to keep him quiet and to give her a better opportun- ity to be useful, his mother humored him. If they had been as many sample cases from a boy's outfit- ting establishment they could not have held more wearing apparel. There were six full suits of clothes, besides seven pairs of white duck trousers, odd vests and a rain coat. What on earth a boy wanted of white duck trousers in the winter time Mrs. Boggs could not imagine. Abram said he brought them to wear at the balls. There were fencing suits, foot-ball suits, masks, foils, boxing-gloves, foot-balls, eight pairs of shoes some patent leathers, some canvas, and some with big spikes in their soles. There were stacks and stacks of underwear and things Abe called "pajamases," neckties of many shapes and hues, and perfumery and toilet articles galore. Mrs. Boggs counted and tried to remember, but when she ARRIVAL OF A LION 155 told the neighbors about it some of them thought she was "too excited," or was "too anxious to show off," and that she must have counted wrong. There were hockey sticks and skates that were loose, and some packages that looked like skates done up, and these Abram tried hard to keep out of Sammy's sight. A traveler from the fabled store- houses of Arabia never had so many things curious for his delighted spectators. Every time Mrs. Boggs had a lady caller during the week, and Abe was not in, she would take her up to the front room and show her the curiosities and talk of them and her wonderful nephew. Mrs. Boggs's lady callers were numerous that week. Abram had lots of things he said ought to go direct to the bath-room; but Mrs. Boggs said the only bath-room they had was a wash tub; that she always gave up her kitchen every Saturday night to it, and the men folks all took their baths then, and he could join with them, if he liked. It was a little hard for Abram to get accustomed to the parsonage and the ways of his relatives, but he repeatedly insisted that everything was "deucedly jolly," everybody "awfully clevah," and that he was having a "bang-up" time. Doctor Boggs had asked his nephew to go down to the store with him, that he might show him off; Mrs. Boggs had invited him to go with her over to the "Hopkinses," where the sewing circle met, for a like purpose; Jud had invited him to the club, and Sammy had secured the privilege of sleeping with him before he had been in the parsonage one hour. 156 A STREAK OF YELLOW Abram had asked about foot-ball and hockey, and whether there were to be games in town during Christmas week; had asked who was the champion boxer, the best fencer, and who did the most fancy things on skates ; when the next dancing-party was coming off; if the boys all wore pumps and swallow- tails, and what shows were billed all in the same hour. Mrs. Boggs told him the only entertainments ahead were the Christmas tree in the Methodist Church that very night; the dedication of the Free Methodist Church on Thursday night, and the bap- tism of several young girls and his cousin Adoniram in the Baptist Church, the night after Christmas. Abram told Sammy a little later he didn't care much for the "doins' " his mother had told about, but that he had some new skates he'd like to try mighty well if there was any skating; that he had learned new fancy tricks and could spin some on his toes. When Sammy answered that there was never any good skating in Batesville, only a little sometimes down on "Duck Pond," where Harmon's Creek widened out in the woods, he seemed sadly disappointed. The next day was the day of the Christ-child, and it dawned bright and beautiful. All the world appeared to be singing the anthem of peace and good-will. It was the happiest Christmas morning the Boggs household had ever seen, and Doctor Boggs, for once in his life, seemed in full accord and harmony with the spirit of the day. He was up early with the boys, and was as eager, anxious and curious as any to explore the well-filled stock- ings that fringed the mantle-piece in the sitting- ARRIVAL OF A LION 157 room. Mrs. Boggs, too, was in tune, and she was on hand early, and held the yawning Roger in her arms before the fireplace. Abram had brought pres- ents for every member of the family, and had been permitted to assign them to the respective stockings after all others had been the rounds. As can easily be imagined, there was considerable curiosity to know what his packages contained. Roger Williams, who had never before been per- mitted such things, received a new rattle-box, a rab- bit stuffed with candy, and a rubber dollie the first and second from Abram and the last-named from Arabella. Jud and Sammy each drew a pair of New England skates, with long steel runners set in pieces of yellow wood, half-round, well-strapped. Sam had guessed them when the trunks were unpacked. The uncle was remembered with a fine morocco leather portfolio for his sermons, and the aunt with a pair of tortoise-shell opera glasses, things she had about as much use for as she had for wings. Jud found a solid gold watch and chain deep in his stocking, and in the center of the watch dial was a small, clear, and perfect portrait of little Rose Wilson. He knew the gift was from the girl's grandfather, his employer, and that it was given in recognition of his services at the time of the accident to Rose. Sammy found a big envelope that con- tained a piece of paper with a spread eagle upon it. It said there had been deposited to his credit, in Henry Wilson's private bank, the sum of one hun- dred dollars, to draw interest that was to be com- IS 8 A STREAK OF YELLOW pounded semi-annually, principal and interest to be his when he became of age. His father told him it was from Mr. Hooker and because he took Rose Wilson from the baptistry. Jud's delight knew no bounds, but Sammy did not fully comprehend a gift that was to come to him when he was a man, and was more downcast than elated. He was not at all pleased, either, with the color of his skates, but when Abe told him that could easily be remedied at any paint shop he felt better about it. He decided upon red. Jud was the more overjoyed because he was sure Mr. Hooker was pleased with his efforts to do his very best since being taken back into the store. He said as much when he called upon his employer that morning to express his thanks. It was a memorable day in the life of the resolute young man. CHAPTER XXII PUNISHMENT AND RETALIATION If, while disobeying a parent, a boy is nearly drownded, half frightened to death, or all but killed, it seems unjust that he should be flogged as soon's he shows up at home. If any one should double up on me in that manner I'd retaliate. Sam Boggs, Jr. i As the baptistry in the Baptist Church was kept full of water in the summer time, to prevent it from checking and leaking, so was it kept dry in winter time, that freezing water might not swell and destroy it. The baptismal services in the Batesville church were more frequent in winter than in sum- mer, as is quite apt to be the case in rural communi- ties, and this necessitated the filling of the reservoir whenever the ordinance was to be observed in cold weather. It was no little task to do this, and the Boggs boys realized it, for they always had it to do. Doctor Boggs also realized it, and so adopted the method of "bunching his hits," as it were holding the candidates in waiting until a class was organized sufficiently large to warrant the extraordinary labor. The Christmas class was composed chiefly of young ladies, although Judson Boggs had recently declared his assurances of a full redemption and was to be led by his father into the baptismal font. The store l6o A STREAK OF YELLOW was to be closed all day on Christmas, and Jud, assisted by his brother Sam, was to spend part of the afternoon filling the great tank for the ceremony of the following evening. Jud was happy this time to render the service, although he declared it seemed to him much like making the arrangements for his own funeral. The boys were to have the use of Hooker's deliv- ery, were to fill big barrels with water at the town pump, and, after driving to the side window nearest the baptistry, were to pour the water through a trough, especially constructed for the purpose, into its receptacle. They knew just how many barrels it would take, and always counted as they filled them ; sometimes counted the pailfuls, and even the strokes of the wheezy old pump handle as they took turns at the various stunts incident to the task. They had wished and wished again their father were a Metho- dist and believed a wash-basin of water would answer the purpose, or that the river Jordan flowed through Batesville, or that all baptisms might come in summer, or that there would be less of them. Sometimes the boys had been obliged to heat water in a great iron kettle to take the chill off the water in the tank, when some elderly person was to be bap- tized or some one easily afflicted with the ague. They had also sometimes been obliged to build and keep up a fire in the church stove nearest the plat- form, to keep the baptismal font from freezing over. "Persimmons Bill," the sexton, declared these duties did not devolve upon him and were not specified in PUNISHMENT AND RETALIATION l6l his contract, and he refused point-blank to even pro- vide the kindlings for the extra fires. Doctor Boggs was fearful the Christmas festivi- ties and the excitement over the arrival of his nephew might cause his sons to forget their after- noon duty, so he reminded them of it, over and over, again. Benny Hopkins dropped in after dinner to see all the presents, and when he saw the new skates he said he'd heard there was "bully skating" down on Duck Pond, and he was going. Abram heard this and declared he was going, too ; said it was mighty hard luck for Sammy not to have Christmas Day to himself; he'd always had it, and would bet if Sam took it some one else would help fill the "wash tub" for the "ducking" and that nothing would be said about it. He argued that it might be the only chance Sam would have to try his new skates all winter. Sammy was sorely tempted; said he believed there were plenty of Baptists idle who would be willing to help Jud, and he'd take chances on it if they'd sneak with him and not let any one see them when they went. Abe and Sam stole to the front room and down the front stairs and out that way; they crossed over to Hopkins's orchard, where Ben met them, and were soon out of sight. They found many others on the ice when they reached the pond. Sammy's skates fitted exactly and cut the ice "as slick 's a razor," although he wished many times he'd stopped at the wagon shop and changed their color. When he saw his cousin astonishing the natives with his tricks spreading the eagle, cutting circles back- 1 62 A STREAK OF YELLOW wards as easily as forwards, and spinning on his toes, he wouldn't have missed it for anything. The ice was not very thick, and was "Injun rubber" in places. Late in the day, when the crowd had thinned out and some of the more venturesome remained, the boys began to stump each other to cross the ice where it was yielding and wavy. As might have been expected, it broke through and five of the skaters were precipitated into the pond. Sammy was one of the five. Ben and Abram were more fortunate. They hurried with others to a nearby fence, secured rails, and shoved them out toward the unfortunates, whose heads were barely above water. The rails were multiplied and were crossed over until a bridge was formed, upon which Abe ventured and rescued the younger lads, one by one. All skates were taken off, the five drenched boys were covered with some of the clothing of the dry ones, and the procession filed in toward Bates- ville. The sun was fast sinking, and the air was growing keener and colder every moment as the boys covered the two miles to town. They entered the first house that showed a hot chimney, and here the wet ones were partially warmed, but not dried. Doctor Boggs had been anxiously awaiting the arrival of his wayward son. The family had long since dined. Sammy was not long in doubt as to the welcome he was to receive. "You may step right around into the study, my young man," said the father, "and you, Abram Talcott, can go in and interview your aunt." The nephew was scolded a little by Mrs. Boggs, PUNISHMENT AND RETALIATION 163 was given his supper, and was then glad to retire to his room. Sammy, despite his wet garments and the fact that he was shivering with cold, was led directly to the "altar of duty." His father declared him to be the most wayward and perverse child in the world, the most thoughtless and heedless, and the most exasperating. He would accept no ex- cuses there could be none; would not wait for explanations none would be adequate ; but declared only a severe whipping might have the effect of strengthening the memory so there would be no repetition of the offense. Sammy tried to tell how sorely he had been tempted and how thoroughly he had been punished already by being nearly drowned ; tried to explain that the fright and experience would be a sufficient lesson to keep him from a like sin. It was all to no purpose. The father was prepared for his part of the programme and would make no changes. He had "been obliged to hire 'that Williams boy' to assist Judson in filling the bap- tistry," and nothing but the punishment of the way- ward son could even up. Sammy remonstrated, rebelled, and fought ter- ribly, as never before, but the flogging was all the harder for it. He called his father bad names, and swore at him, and cried so loud his mother and Abram heard him way in the dining-room. Abe was all wrought up over it. He couldn't eat much himself, and guessed Sammy would be sent straight- way to bed without anything to eat, so he crammed his pockets full of crackers and ginger snaps and determined to give them to his cousin. Sam's 1 64 A STREAK OF YELLOW mother followed him upstairs that she might take care of his wet clothing and reason with him. As soon as she left, Abe hunted for him and located him by his sobs and moans, and led him up to his bed, where he tried his best to comfort him. As Sammy lay and sobbed and filled the bed with crumbs, between the sobbing and the crackers he related many of his trials and unhappy experiences to his cousin, and concluded that his father was mad because he didn't drown, and he wished himself he had. Abram, already sympathetic, became indig- nant and revengeful ; said it was a shame and a dis- grace a blot on the fair and honorable name of Boggs. He sat up and tried to read a novel he had bought on the cars, but made little headway. Then he turned to asking Sammy questions, much pre- ferring to hear him talk than cry. He asked about "Miss Bella" some more, about the Rose Wilson incident, the club, the show, and many other things. When he began to undress he espied a large brass key hanging from a nail in the door-casing. "What's this key to?" said he, taking it in his hand. "It's the key to the class-room," said Sammy. "Where's the class-room?" "It's part of our church right on at the back." "Where's the tank you have to fill?" "It's in the church, under the pulpit." "How do they empty their tub?" "Their what?" "Their tub that they rinse 'em in," said Abe. PUNISHMENT AND RETALIATION 165 "They pull out a plug what's down under the church," said Sam. "How do you reach the plug?" "Through a trap-door in the wood-room." "How do you reach the wood-room ?" "Right through the class-room." "Revenge is sweet and retaliation is good for the soul !" cried Abe ; "and I'll stump you to go with me and pull the stopper out of their old bath tub." Sammy laughed at the mere idea, grew excited, and pounded his pillow over it. "Do you really mean it?" he asked. "I certainly do," said Abe; "it would be good enough for them." Sam laughed some more and said he'd not take the dare, even though his father might hear of it and nearly kill him for it ; said he'd go when the others were all in bed. Abe said it would be best to wait a while, until no one was stirring. Sam was sleepy and showed signs of it, and the outing and keen air made Abram distrustful of himself. For fear he might go to sleep if he went to bed, Abe dressed again, put on his overcoat to keep warm, put some matches and two wax tapers that stood in a holder on the dresser in one of the pockets, and tried to read some more. The novel failed to interest him. He had a plot now far more interesting. His first problem was an outfit for Sammy, as the boy's cloth- ing was drying by the kitchen stove downstairs. He worked his wits considerably in planning an expedi- tion costume for his Sir Knight, some six years his junior. While Sammy slept he laid out the ward- 1 66 A STREAK OF YELLOW robe. When completed it was composed of a heavy sweater, a pair of thick trousers turned up and pinned up, two pairs of foot-ball stockings, one over the other; a coat with sleeves pinned up, a hat that was padded with folded strips of newspaper inside the sweat-band ; a pair of canvas running-shoes, and a pair of boxing-gloves for mittens. Abe laughed out loud every time he thought of putting Sammy into the outfit, and he was sure, with all his varied experiences at boarding-school, he had never before planned anything half as funny. When the lights around town had nearly all gone out Abe aroused his bed-fellow, but not without difficulty. Sammy got up groggy, and could not fairly open his eyes until Abe had adorned him with the sweater and trousers. Then he caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror, and from that time on was wide awake. When the younger knight's coat-of-mail was on, including the boxing-gloves, Abe had to sit down a minute to laugh. "I look worse than Ben doin' Haley," said Sam. "You look like Sancho Tansy' going with his chief to fight the wind-mills," said Abe. The two started out, creeping carefully down the .front stairs and out the door. It was a crisp and starry night, just the kind for a romance. Sam led the way, woozy in his clothes, and dragging his feet along like a man with rheumatism in his legs. They reached the class-room, entered all right, and reach- ed the wood-room, and then lighted a taper, raised the trap, and descended, carrying Simmons' s axe PUNISHMENT AND RETALIATION 167 with them. They crawled along carefully to the "spigot," and found it had been driven in for keeps. They did not wish to make a noise, so they struck it gently at first, all around, and a little harder as they circled it with blows. Abe thought he could see it start a bit, then he thought he could see stars a big bit, as a jet spurted out at the side and hit him in the eye. He seemed anxious to retaliate, and struck the bung with the axe a good hard blow. It flew against the end of the boarded basement. The water caught Sammy amidships. He tripped in his clothes, fell, and was soaked as thoroughly as he was in Duck Pond. Abe told him not to care, that the clothes were his'n, and they were paid for, and he'd stand the damages. He helped Sam to his feet, found his mittens for him, and the two retraced their steps, cleverly hiding all evidences of their visit as they went. When they reached their room they knew they had not been missed. Abe hung up the wet clothes in the closet, way back, and covered them so no one would find them. The boys laid awake and talked it over, and laughed over it until after midnight. They wondered whether Sam's pa would discover the loss before the time came for the "duck- ing," and whether Sam would be obliged to help fill the tank on the morrow. Sam was gamey said he didn't care if he did have to do it; he was glad they'd taken chances on it. Judson was late in coming to supper the next night, and had not taken his place at the table before his father said : 1 68 A STREAK OF YELLOW "Adoniram, how many times must I caution you about seeing that the plug is in tight before you fill the baptistry? I have just been to the church to make ready for the services and I couldn't find a drop of water." "I did see to it, father. The very first thing we did was to move about a cord of wood old 'Persim- mons Bill' had piled over that trap door, and go down and drive in that plug. I took an axe to it, and after I'd driven it in Buck Williams hit it once or twice, good and hard, until I feared he'd split it." "That wasn't the trouble. I found the plug all right, and it's as good as ever. You certainly couldn't have driven it in very hard, though. We are in a predicament. Some of the candidates come in from the country ; it's too late to get more water, too late to notify them; they will come with their friends and will be greatly disappointed. We will be obliged to postpone it, nevertheless." "As far as I am concerned, I'd just as soon wait," said Jud. "I'm almost willing to wait until it's warm weather, when I can be immersed out-of-- doors and in some flowing stream." "I agree with Jud," said Abram. "I was bap- tized in Narragansett Bay and in the month of June. It wasn't just like the Jordan, but it seemed to me more like the way Jesus was baptized." "It's more like the picture of it in pa's study," said Sam. "It's only a symbol," said Doctor Boggs. "It is symbolical of the washing away of sin is a public confession of our faith, and the ceremony is per- PUNISHMENT AND RETALIATION 169 formed after the manner in which our Saviour was baptized." "Oh, yes, I admit that," said Abe ; "but I like to have the conditions and the scenery as nearly like the original as the mere act itself. I guess if John the Baptist had been obliged to cut some ice in December, or fill a tank from a town pump, he would have hit upon some different symbol. I like water well enough, because I can swim and learned to duck under years ago, but I don't like this tank idea at all." "There's no plug to a river, that's sure," said Sammy as he winked an eye at Abe. The Doctor dropped the subject for fear of the influence a continued discussion might have on the boys, and that night he told Mrs. Boggs he thought it would be quite as well for Sammy to sleep apart from Abram Talcott, and he did. The baptismal services were postponed for a fortnight. Sammy's skates changed their color the following day. CHAPTER XXIII CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS Chris'mas trees and Chris'mas cheer are nothin' to the poor wait who stands outside in the blindin' snow, and hasn't 'nough voice left to locate him. Sam Boggs, Jr. \ It was a notable holiday week in Batesville. Jud introduced Abram at the club, where the young man felt perfectly at home from the first, and par- ticipated freely in the exercises. He was a senior now in Worcester Academy, and was preparing for Brown University; was a thoroughly-trained and all-around athlete, and knew all that the books, in- structors, and practice could give of gymnasium work. He had medals for fencing and boxing. The second evening he brought down a portion of his wardrobe and exhibited the medals to a delighted audience. After that nothing would satisfy the old- er club members but a glove contest. Fairbanks had talked considerably of his skill at boxing, when there was no one around to offer him a challenge; but after seeing the medals he did not talk as much, and seemed anxious to leave the subject whenever any one approached it in his presence. The young men of the club, however, persistently urged him to a con- test with Abram, and he persistently declared him- CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS Ijl self out of form and in no shape to go against an amateur with medals. Then for two or three days Fairbanks put in all the time he could get in glove practice, just as though he might yield later on to the pressure made upon him. He tired out all the young men he had been training in the manly art, and then hinted to Jud that he could bring on his cousin, if the young man thought himself in condition to stand punishment and humiliation. Abram said he was ready for anything that had sport in it, and it didn't take long for the news to get around town that something special would be doing at the club; that it was likely that Fairbanks would be in shape to stand up before Abram. The club-rooms were crowded upon the evening named, many of the older male inhabitants being in attendance. Some fel- lows crowded in who had never been admitted be- fore; men who could be counted at the cock-fights that secretly took place between Scottville and Bates- ville birds. These crowded close to the ropes, and used all the peculiar language incident to the prize- ring. Fairbanks was not large in stature, but was heav- ier than Abe by several pounds. The two put on the soft gloves, chose seconds, referee, and timer, and stepped inside the space roped off in the center of the gymnasium. A purely scientific exhibition was promised. Fairbanks depended upon his extra weight, and rushed his antagonist pretty hard at the start, while Abe awaited his opportunities to display the science of the art. Just when the local cham- pion appeared to have the best of it the visitor would 1 7 2 A STREAK OF YELLOW land a telling blow in a manner to surprise and stag- ger him, and to bring most enthusiastic cheering from the men nearest the ropes, who appeared the most fully to understand Abe's tactics and the value of his strategy. Fairbanks was thoroughly out- classed in skill, and when the young man touched him up easily at times when he felt sure of a point, he showed some signs of anger. Abe laughed freely and proceeded to make short work of it. The harder Fairbanks pounded the easier Abe warded off his blows and the more certain was he to plant the gloves where Fairbanks was tenderest. At the end of the fifth round the president and general director was forced to retire with a black-and-blue eye, thor- oughly worsted. From that hour Abe was a lion in Batesville. The old and young vied with each other in shower- ing attentions upon him; the club was crowded nightly to witness his exhibitions, and he was re- garded a veritable wonder for his years. It stimu- lated interest in the club, until the pastors generally became a little doubtful as to the effect it might have upon the services of the churches, and particularly the special services that were to follow the holidays. Abram had been drilled considerably in elocution, and Jud schemed to have him called out for an ex- hibition of oratory. The young man thrilled his auditors by his rendition of "Horatio at the Bridge, ' and thereafter was called out nightly, and was forced to respond to encores. A ladies' night was arranged, and he was naturally the star performer. Arabella came from home and met the wonderful CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS 173 cousin, and was as delighted as any in the audience with his display of physical and mental talents. Sammy Boggs was the only boy in Batesville who was absolutely barred from these delights. Benny's description of them only made him the more unhap- py. He was indeed draining the gall of the very dregs of bitterness over his fate. He became thor- oughly dissatisfied with his home and surroundings, and was sure no one cared for him and that his lot, already hard, was to become gradually harder. The boy brooded over his ill-luck, became embittered, soured, and moody. Cold weather alone prevent- ed his running away from home. His father seemed even more severe than before, and was whipping him for mere trifles. He longed for Arabella's return, and regarded her and Ben as his only friends on earth. One day he decided to leave home forever, and walked out as far as Deacon Somers's, where Arabella got her arms about him, comforted him, and dissuaded him. She did not tell him of her arrange- ments to leave the parsonage. Of course she hitched up a horse and drove him back to town, and had a number of pretty excuses as to why she had detained him so long excuses that undoubtedly kept him from a severe whipping. Sammy wished a thousand times the club had never been organized, and fully as many times that his cousin had never come to visit them. If his father had only been a missionary and he had fallen into Abram's luck, with all the clothes and things, and happy days in school, and knowledge of the world, and athletic training, and money to spend, J 74 A STREAK OF YELLOW he thought he would be far more fortunate. Every- thing seemed against him ; the world was cruel, and Benny appeared to be drifting away from him, now that the club was so attractive. He longed for school to begin, that he might go somewhere and do some of the things other boys did. Mrs. Boggs received a sweet note from Arabella, expressing many regrets that she felt obliged to leave the parsonage; but she yielded gracefully to the wishes of her pastor and had made arrangements to live with the Howards. She hoped Doctor Boggs would some day realize she had meant to do no harm in the household. The teacher spoke of her love for the mistress of the parsonage, for Roger, and for Sammy, and expressed the hope they might see each other often. Sammy caught his mother crying, and as he was constantly in the mood, he went to comfort her and learned, for the first time, of Arabella's decision and how deeply his mother had become attached to his friend. His mother had never seemed affectionate to him before ; she had rather appeared cold and in- different, a woman of cares but not of sorrows. When Sammy broke down and cried the two opened their hearts to each other deeper than ever before, and Sammy learned for sure his mother did pos- sess much sympathy for him and had never sanc- tioned the severe punishments he had received. All this knowledge but added to his growing grievances and made him the more depressed. He fairly hated his father now; thought he had not only de- prived him of all pleasure, but had also caused the CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS 175 removal of his dearest and best friend, and was shortening the days of the one who should hold this relation to him his mother. If others were happy that Christmas week, Sammy Boggs was not. He saw little of Arabella, or Benny, or any of his old- time friends, and was left practically alone to lament his fortune and grieve over the fact of his existence. Oh, if a kind Providence would only make smooth a boy's pathway at such a time! Oh, if fathers and mothers would only understand ! CHAPTER XXIV THE FREE METHODIST WATCH-MEETING If a person invites you to ride and 'pears to mean it, there's no use hangin' back and spitin' yourself. The ride might save your back and legs from terrible pain, and might also save your temper. Sam Boggs, Jr. The Free Methodists gained a permanent footing in Batesville after a year of proselyting and special effort, and had erected a large brick, barn-like struc- ture in the very heart of the village. The dedication of the new church was an event of Christmas week. It was the first brick building in the village, and Doctor Boggs suggested the material had been wise- ly chosen, as the noise the "shouting fanatics" made would certainly raise the roof and split the siding of a wooden structure. They were jubilant over their new church-home, and the week was not ended before citizens in the neighborhood declared the church and its members were public nuisances. Bill Taylor, naturally noisy, was one of the loudest shouters, and in his new zeal was working his vocal organs overtime. When Abram heard him he said he thought he was a greater blowhard than a whale. The Free Methodists gave him employment in the construction of the church, and it quickened his faith and gave him something new to brag about. THE FREE METHODIST WATCH-MEETING 177 Like the other churches of the place, the Free Methodists had decided upon special revival serv- ices, and the series was to be opened with a "great pentecostal watch-meeting" to usher in the new year. They went so far as to have hand-bills scat- tered through the town, that said nothing of the ef- fort that would be made to raise the church debt, but that did announce, in big red letters, the "Great Downpouring of the Divine Spirit that was Going to Shake the Dry Bones of Batesville Sinners !" and that contained the foot-line, "Everybody Invited!" Abram had heard them shout some from a dis- tance, and expressed a desire to go. Sammy ob- tained the consent of his mother to accompany him. Mrs. Boggs said she had made arrangements to leave the baby with Mrs. Hopkins and she was going, and "was going to sit way up forward, right amongst them, to know what there was to that power business." The boys left the house early, and Abe induced Sammy to steal away with him up to the club for a while, until things "had begun to warm up" at the church. It proved a most unfortunate visit for Sammy, as it added so much to his discontent and increased his spirit of unrest. The club was a revelation to him, and he was completely carried away with everything he saw and that Abe explained to him. When he saw his cousin give exhibitions with the Indian clubs, the dumb-bells, upon the parallel bars, the swings and rings and the bowling-alley, his envy knew no bounds. Ten o'clock came and he was as wide awake as he ever was in his life. Benny and I7 8 A STREAK OF YELLOW his father came in, and Ben said they were going over "to hear 'em shout," and Sam said he was going and hoped they might all sit together. Abram had hard work in breaking away, but finally induced Milt Babcock and Deaney to go along with him. Mr. Hopkins became interested in a game of check- ers, and permitted Ben to go with the boys. At the church they had some difficulty in getting a seat to- gether, but one of the ushers finally found one about half-way up the right aisle. The seats were exceed- ingly plain and were painted a yellow hue and were grained. Sammy didn't like the color at all, and said he'd bet a cookie something would happen be- fore the new year came in. Things were indeed "warming up" when the boys entered. There were three ministers, with powerful lungs, up on the platform, and they were yelling for money. "There's an even hundred of the indebtedness left," cried one. "Who'll take the last dollar?" A woman said she would, and then some one took the next-to-the-last, and while they were shouting and singing and hollering "Amen" all over the church, excited people stood up one by one and pledged each a dollar, until the hundred was raised. When the ministers knew the debt was cleared off they exhorted the brethren to the altar for the "pentecostal downpour." Such a gathering and such yelling and clapping of hands, and such queer antics Abram and the boys had never wit- nessed. The people groaned, moaned, hugged each other, kissed each other, and fell over each other and had hysterics. Abe said he thought they had the THE FREE METHODIST WATCH-MEETING 179 jim-jams. He stood up once and saw a woman who had the power throw her baby away, and he saw his aunt catch it before it struck the seat just in front of her. He told Deaney about it, and he passed it along. Sam and Ben sat farthest inside, and when it reached them they stood upon the seat to see if there'd be another baby thrown. Bill Taylor was praying at the altar. He must have been peeking through his fingers, for he saw the boys. He came and called them down in a sort of pompous way. A few minutes after that an excited man, who was known to be less than half-witted, started to climb an iron post that stood near the plat- form. He said he was "goin' up to glory !" Bill Taylor saw him and pulled him back, saying, "Not that way, brother; you might tip over that lamp." There was a kerosene lamp in a bracket on the post. When the boys saw the scuffle, and saw the half- witted man was madder than a March hare over his recall, they stood up again to watch the scrap. Tay- lor appeared anxious to get out of it. He saw Sam and Benny on the seat, and came again, swelled up bigger than a trust octopus, and called them down again, and said it must be the last time. A hundred other people were standing up and other boys were on the seats, but Taylor, for some reason, didn't call them down. He seemed to have it in for Sam and Ben. They were his meat and he didn't dare tackle anything his size. Along about midnight, when nearly every one around the altar was having the power, and some were keeled over and many were exhausted, a sister 180 A STREAK OF YELLOW named Gerkins seemed to have more vitality than all the others. She danced up and down the right aisle, and begged every one she could reach to come to the altar. Finally she stopped opposite the seat con- taining the boys. She extended her fat arms and cried out with a screechy voice : "Oh ! how I'd love to take these dear boys right in my arms, right up to the mercy seat !" There were five of the boys, and when they con- templated the spectacle they would make in going to the mercy seat in that fashion, they smiled. "You needn't laugh, young men," said Sister Gerkins, "It's God's way. He needs you. Won't you come ? Won't you let me take you ?" Abram turned to Deaney, and said he'd be carried up if the rest of them would, and Deaney laughed and the other boys wanted to know what he was laughing at, and he passed it along, and all laughed. "Come, boys, come with me!" sang out the en- thusiastic woman. Then she grasped Abram's coat at the shoulder, just as though she was going to lift him bodily, and she did try it. While she tugged at him she cried, louder than ever : "Come, break away from the Devil! God wants you !" Abe shrugged his shoulders, as though he wanted to break away. He looked up at Sister Gerkins, and said loud enough for all the boys to hear : "The Devil won't let go !" It was too much for the boys. They could hold in no longer. They all burst out laughing, and one THE FREE METHODIST WATCH-MEETING 181 of the ushers came and separated Mrs. Gerkins and Abe, and led the five from church. The next morning Bill Taylor was around town telling how that "wicked Boggs boy" raised a row in his church, and the news spread like wild-fire. Doctor Boggs first heard of it in Besley's meat market, then at the grocery store. It mortified him and angered him at the same time, and the more he contemplated that his boy a minister's son, son of the pastor of a rival church had been guilty of dis- turbing a religious service, the more he realized the enormity of the disgrace and the more determined was he that his Sammy should pay some adequate penalty. This was his plain Christian duty. He hur- ried home, red in the face, and went to the peach tree for new sprouts before going into the house. Sammy was found and was summoned to the whip- ping-post. The pastor knew there could be no miti- gating circumstances; there could be no mistake in the report. His boy had been expelled from a church service for bad conduct, and the bare fact was cue enough for him. Sammy admitted that he was called out of church, but claimed the fault was not his own. He also ad- mitted that Bill Taylor caught him standing on the seat. The bare admissions were sufficient for the outraged father. He would listen to no explana- tions. He could see but one possible side to it. Sammy was obliged to remove his coat this time, and he was most unmercifully flogged, until Mrs. Boggs rushed into the study and stood between her husband and her son. She was mad enough to tear 1 82 A STREAK OF YELLOW her husband's hair out, and said if any human being could attend such a "pow-wow" as that watch-meet- ing without laughing or doing something out of the way, he was a saint; if her husband was going to continue to beat his children when his reason was dethroned and his anger so apparent she would take the children and leave him. It was the second time she had planted a firm foot down, and the planting had every indication of earnestness. Sammy was led from the study by his mother, and he muttered imprecations and oaths against his father as he went. He told his mother all about the affair at the church, how he had stood up to see her catch babies on the fly, and how they all laughed when Satan would not loose his hold of Abram. The new year didn't start right in the Boggs house- hold, and Sammy was sure the measly color of the church pews had much to do with it. Doctor Boggs concluded everything would be better when his brother's "spoiled child" left town. Abram left town the day after, and the stage ran the same gauntlet of curious eyes as it passed down the street and around Hooker's corner on its way to Chili Station. CHAPTER XXV A SPLIT IN THE CHURCH 'Tain't best to be a fanatic. Life's too short, and besides every one's on to you and anxious to avoid you. It's better to be mod'rate and take more chances for doin' good in the world. Sam Boggs, Jr. The Young Men's Club closed its doors for two weeks following its New Year's reception, and at the suggestion of Fairbanks and Miss Somers, that its work might not interfere with the week of prayer and special revival services in the churches. This action was quite unexpected, but was fully noted by the church-going portion of the population, while most of the pastors expressed their appreciation in a public way. When the special services were begun in the Baptist Church a noted revivalist came to assist Doctor Boggs. He was fond of music, and insisted that music should constitute a goodly por- tion of the special programme. In this he was warmly supported by Fairbanks, who tendered the services of his trained male quartette, that was a direct product of the club and its organization. Doctor Boggs protested somewhat, but the quartette had only been in evidence one evening when the pastor was forced to acknowledge its drawing pow- ers and its effectiveness. Thereafter the church was 1 84 A STREAK OF YELLOW crowded nightly to its capacity; the meetings were extended for a third week, and the converts were more numerous than ever before in the history of the church. There was a wonderful awakening among the young people, and despite his well-known hostility to the club, Doctor Boggs was permitted to welcome many of the young men of the club to his membership, and to lead them into the baptismal waters. Townspeople gave Miss Somers, Fairbanks and the evangelist more credit for this result than they were willing to give the pastor, although the latter was a forceful speaker and a most fervent man in prayer. Mrs. Boggs took a deep interest in the special services, and did not miss but two of them during the series, and only absented herself then out of con- sideration for Sammy, whose nightly duty was to remain at home to look after the house and his infant brother. Arabella had taken up her residence with the Howards', and on account of her many duties Sammy saw but little of her. To make his misery more complete, his father forbade him to return from school by way of the kindergarten, and thus shut off the daily meetings with his friend that had been so enjoyable, and to which he had looked for- ward during the day time with such pleasant antici- pations. It was a gloomy time for Sammy Boggs. At a season when other hearts were being warmed, his own heart was fast cooling and hardening. When others were rejoicing and praising God for new hopes and aspirations, he was sitting in the dark A SPLIT IN THE CHURCH 185 shadows of an endless night, was counting his last friend as lost and was contemplating a separation from familiar scenes, and looking with forebodings upon a doubtful future. In the solitude of the home, while his baby brother slept, he brooded over his ill-luck until his griefs became a disease. No man was ever more sick than he. He lost all inter- est in his school-work, and his teacher and parents expressed the fear that he was losing his memory. He appeared to care for nothing, and was seldom seen to smile. Arabella, alone, read the cause for the change in him, and laid all manner of schemes for seeing him and talking with him. She made a confidant of his teacher, solicited her aid in Sammy's behalf, and this dear woman tried her very best to get inside the boy's heart, to win his confidence, and to ease his unrest. She made but little headway. An incident at the school assisted the two women materially in their efforts to awaken life and interest in the disheartened boy. The school-house caught on fire, and although the damage was slight, it gave them an idea, and they worked Sammy Boggs into it. There was no protection against fire in the town; they would at least provide some protection for the school buildings. They took Sammy into their council, told him what they wished to accom- plish, and as a result of frequent meetings, rubber fire buckets were purchased and a fire brigade was organized. The subscription lists were circulated by Mark Fisher, of the upper school, and by Sammy Boggs, of the lower school, and when the buckets came and were installed in racks in the hallways, 1 86 A STREAK OF YELLOW these two became captains of the companies formed upon the two floors of the building. Fire drills were inaugurated, and Captains Boggs and Fisher vied with each other in raising the efficiency of their respective companies. On special occasions the brigade gave exhibition drills for the general public and extinguished imaginary fires, or improvised fires, and sometimes the citizens offered prizes for the better company. These exhibitions always took place upon the school play grounds, and, so long as the novelty lasted, Sammy Boggs seemed like a new boy with revived spirits. The novelty, however, was not long-lived, for Sammy's company won all the prizes, there were no new worlds to conquer, and the school-house did not again take fire. Then the buckets remained long unused in the hallways. The new life that had been inoculated into the Baptist Church promised to be an element of disinte- gration a little later. The difficulty all arose over the question of church music. The singing through- out the quarter of a century of Dr. Boggs's pastorate had been by the congregation. Nothing but the rendition of the more familiar hymns in the hymnal had ever been attempted. The congregation had now been treated to something more pretentious. The male quartette had rendered the newer gospel hymns with telling effect and had sung some high- class compositions at the club, proving its ability to render the more modern music that was fast creep- ing into the churches. There was a new inspiration in Batesville. Things were looking up and some one had stirred A SPLIT IN THE CHURCH 187 them up. Hooker and Jud Boggs gave the credit to Arabella Somers and declared it was her residence in Boston that had given her the inspiration. It was she who induced Fairbanks to go to Buffalo to purchase a second-hand printing outfit and to em- bark upon the journalistic sea, and volume one, num- ber one, of the Batesville Banner had made its bow to the public. It contained articles that half the town knew were written by Miss Somers. One of them was in advocacy of the building of a steam railway through the place, and urged citizens to take an interest in the project, and farmers to be liberal in the matter of granting right-of-way ; another was calculated to awaken an interest in the question of adequate protection from fires. It was but natural that, when everything else was putting on modern airs, the spirit of enterprise should enter the churches. It was but a natural evolution that some of the congregation of the Baptist Church should begin to advocate modern music. Some wanted the male quartette with a violin accompaniment; some wanted a mixed choir with the male quartette as a feature, while others were even ambitious enough to talk of a great organ with all the other modern attractions. This talk started a new spirit of rivalry among the leading churches. Each wanted some new and attractive features, and there were few in the congregations who were satisfied with things as they were. The older members, who had worshipped satisfactorily for years with the old, scouted innovations and shuddered at the expense the new would certainly bring. Doctor Boggs was 1 88 A STREAK OF YELLOW fully satisfied with his church surroundings and with the progress being made under his pastorate. In a material, as well as in a spiritual, way the church had gone forward. True, the church edifice had been painted but once during the long period, but it had been painted the once, and had been reshingled, and that was to his credit. He was perfectly willing some of these necessary things should be done, but would not sanction the doing of unnecessary things, and certainly would not permit wholesale modifications. He set a foot squarely down upon all plans to change the church music, and even went so far as to preach against it. During this discourse, so characteristic of the man, he said : "Good singing is of divine origin and should go hand in hand with the preaching of. the Gospel, but it is only expressed in the sympathetic tones of an entire congregation, however diversified. It may not be performed with that exquisitely insipid ele- gance which characterizes a quartette choir, or a male quartette with a violin attached to it, but it has some vital power and personal profit in it that makes sacred song of value in the church. What do hon- est Christians care for incomprehensible demi-semi- quavers of operatic fancies, anthems, oratorios, arias, screechy solos that no one can understand, chants that mean nothing rendered by a few at one end of the sanctuary? Christianity is not selfish; it com- prehends the many. Church music is not for the few. Old-fashioned Christians feel that when secu- lar days with their exhausting toils are past, Heaven vouchsafes to them, creatures of an immortality, as A SPLIT IN THE CHURCH 189 well as unto beasts of the field and birds of the air, the privilege of making melodious the blessed day of rest. Thus they come before the Lord with sing- ing, that they may pour forth their own notes of gladness inartificial it may be, but sincere never- theless. The old hymns are good enough and the old methods are good enough for those who are truly born again through grace. God give us all the gift of song!" The discourse created more talk and comment than any Doctor Boggs had ever delivered. Fair- banks was such a musical enthusiast and was so prominently mixed up in the agitation he could not refrain from commenting upon it and taking issue with it in the Banner. Had the Doctor been a giant and with a mighty maul and wedge split his church into two parts, nearly even, he could not have more effectively divided his congregation. The factions became pronounced, the gulf widened, and the breach looked serious. Neither faction would back down or retire from the field, as that would leave the other faction in possession of the church property. The older and more conservative element stood by the pastor ; the newer and more progressive, that in- cluded the larger portion of the young people, stood by Fairbanks and in favor of a choir and newer music. It was the main topic in all the lesser serv- ices of the church, was discussed in covenant meet- ings and was prayed over in prayer meetings. Sides were lined up as though preparing for a pitched battle. The reform faction grew so fierce in its demands that it insisted nothing but a younger pas- 19 A STREAK OF YELLOW tor with more liberal ideas would save the church. They began a crusade against Doctor Boggs, began making lists and counting noses. The conservatives rallied around the pastor; declared truth, justice, and religion were all with them, and that, so long as God was on their side, they would fight, pray, and sing along the old lines. In all this controversy Arabella Somers remained neutral. She constantly and persistently endeav- ored to effect a compromise that would preserve the church and keep the congregation from scattering. The gossips, who thought she exhibited a fondness for Fairbanks, counted her with the "reformers," but the "reformers" themselves contradicted the reports. Hooker, as in all other things, held to the middle-of- the-road, and thus worked harmoniously with the young woman. To make matters worse, Doctor Boggs was taken sick, and a bright young man from Colgate University came on as a supply. He was keen and clever, and the "reformers" took every ad- vantage of the fact and rallied around him. They piloted him into the club, where he heard Fairbanks's quartette and the violin, and expressed himself as greatly delighted with the music. Then they raised the clamor, louder and louder, for a younger pastor, a man with new sermons and more vigor. The very fact of Doctor Boggs's illness was used as an argu- ment for his dismissal it was an evidence of age creeping on apace. Some of the antis spread the stories of the Doctor's severe punishments of his children, of his scattered family, of his whipping of Sammy in the Taylor, and Townsend, and Duck A SPLIT IN THE CHURCH IQI Pond cases. They spared him in nothing, even going so far as to solicit Sammy's help in their plans. They coaxed the lad into admissions that proved exceedingly unfortunate for him and that served to render his home life far less endurable thereafter but it was always thus in a church fight. CHAPTER XXVI THE CHURCH FIRE It's a good thing to always keep your head, even under ex- citement. If it's lost, then mebbe your only chance is gone to show the people what a great, and wise, and beautiful head you really had. Sam Boggs, Jr. The progressive faction won its first victory when it secured a majority vote of the trustees in favor of the painting of the church. It was in the month of April, and the painters had begun their work, and the "priming coat," a sickly sort of yellow ochre, was already well over the steeple. Sammy Boggs had no sooner gazed upon the work than he pre- dicted some dire calamity to the edifice. His ears had been filled at home with the details of the church quarrel, and he was certain now it was going to terminate disastrously. He even went so far as to communicate his fears to his father, who said he would not be surprised if God, in some manner, vis- ited punishment upon the heads of the "extravagant reformers." Others who heard of the boy's prophecy of evil because of the color of the paint only laughed, and said Sammy Boggs was a "Yellow Kid," any- way, and there are those now living who believe this is the first instance where the term was ever used and that it is the true origin of the expression. Be this THE CHURCH FIRE 193 as it may, Sammy was not obliged to live long to have his prophecy fulfilled. A great storm was hanging over the valley, the heavens were dark and ominous, the thunderings grew constantly more distinct, and the flashes of lightning more numerous and brilliant. The kinder- garten was dismissed early, Arabella had gone to her dinner, and the church painters had left their swinging scaffolds. The very buckets of heaven seemed to have turned over in the downpour of rain that struck the village just at the noon hour. The peals of thunder were now boisterous, and the light- ning played sharply in the vicinity. The teachers had dismissed school, but held the children within the building to await the passing of the storm. They were at the windows when a jagged thunderbolt came out of the leaden northern sky and zig-zagged toward the spire of the Baptist Church. A moment later the steeple was in flames. "Attention, Company A !" shouted Sammy Boggs as he rushed into the hallway to secure the church keys from "Persimmons Bill," who was also janitor of the school building. The members of Company A and a goodly number of volunteers followed Sammy. They secured the fire buckets and ran to the burning church, crying "Fire! Fire!" as they ran. Sam was first to reach the front door, un- locked it, and made for the baptistry. He knew it was full of water, and he raised the cover and began filling the buckets to pass to members of his com- pany. Simmons limped along after the boys and began ringing the bell immediately upon his arrival, 194 A STREAK OF YELLOW and this brought many men upon the scene. A line of boys and men was formed leading from the bap- tistry out through the vestry and up the stairs to the belfry. The volunteers extended down a second aisle of the church and passed back the empty buckets. In this way an endless chain was made that kept an almost constant stream of water play- ing upon the flames and that checked their progress at the belfry level. The rain put out the fire upon the outside and the bucket brigade and volunteers put out the fire upon the inside, but not until the steeple had been charred and ruined. Every one present declared the entire structure would have burned had it not been for the thoughtfulness and generalship of Sammy Boggs. The storm was of short duration. A few minutes past one o'clock Sammy reached home, wet as a drowned rat, and all dirt, perspiration, and fairly exhausted. His father evidently had not located the fire, and had paid little if any attention to it. He must have heard the church bell, but the church bells were usually rung on such occasions, and no special importance was attached to it. He called Sammy direct to the study. "You're a pretty picture. Where have you been ?" he demanded. "I've been to the fire; I'd think you'd know it," was the response. "Well, just look at you, your school clothes spoiled ; I want you to know there are grown folks enough in this town to take care of the fires. You never seem to learn anything. Here it is past your THE CHURCH FIRE 195 school time, you've not had your dinner, and you have your clothes to change." "I don't see as your helping things much," was Sammy's reply to this. "I thought I was doing something you would be glad to have me do, but mebbe you wanted the dummed thing to burn." "I don't care what burned, you had no business there," returned the irate father. Sammy recalled what his father had said about God's just punishment of the extravagant element in the church, and reasoned that his father wanted the church to burn, and was mad because he'd tried to save it. Doctor Boggs whipped the poor boy as hard as ever, and Sammy rebelled harder than ever before. He told his father he would surely tell his church enemies about his whipping, just why he was whipped, and how mad their pastor was when doing it; how angry he seemed to be because the church was saved. He said it was the last time he'd ever be licked by such an unreasonable man, and he would leave home that very day and never return until he was of age. All this caused him to be whipped the harder. "Persimmons Bill" had come to the parsonage for some advice as to what had best be done at the church ; Mrs. Haldane had come over to congratu- late Mrs. Boggs on having such a son; Benny had reached the parsonage to extend his congratulations, and Arabella was just coming through the gate, when Sammy rushed out of the study door, and I9 6 A STREAK OF YELLOW picked up a rock and stood ready to throw it at his father, from whom he had just broken away. "I ought to kill you with it !" cried he, as he drew back his arm, evidently intending- to throw it. "Persimmons Bill" caught his arm and took the stone from his hand. "The old fool licked me 'cause I helped save his church," said Sam. Then Mrs. Boggs, Arabella, Mrs. Haldane, and Benny all rushed for the study. Mrs. Boggs had heard the news of the fire and of her son's splendid achievement. She ran to her husband, who stood in the door, and throwing up her hands cried : "Great heavens, Samuel Boggs, have you gone crazy ?" "If it hadn't been for that boy the church would have burned to the ground," said Simmons. Then Mrs. Haldane, Arabella and Benny all began at once to tell of Sammy's great deed, of his quick wits in thinking of the baptistry, of the alert- ness of his company in reaching the fire and extin- guishing it. In the confusion and excitement they failed to note the fact that Sammy had left the scene. Doctor Boggs was completely overcome, and seemed to fully realize, the position he had all too hastily placed himself in. He feared the censure of the church and community. Although he had never done it before, he was willing now to acknowledge his error to the boy and seek a reconciliation ; would ask his forgiveness and try and make all as nearly right as possible. He told this to Arabella, who reasoned with him kindly and pointed out his error THE CHURCH FIRE 197 with words that had no malice in them. The Doctor sent Arabella to call the boy, but when she searched and inquired for him he was nowhere to be found; no one had seen him since Simmons stayed his angry hand. Arabella went up to his room, but he was not there, although there were certain evidences he had been there. His spelling book was open on the table and the stub of a lead pencil was upon the front fly leaf. Sammy had written a message and Ara- bella took up the book and quickly read it. It was as follows: "Dear Miss Bella, Mama and Roger; "I can't live here no longer. I am going away until I am a man. Then I will come back to see you, but not till then. I will be a good boy. When this you see, remember me. I love you three. "SAMMY BOGGS." Arabella realized that the boy had carried out his threat to leave home, and she knew his resolute dis- position. She sat upon his bed for a moment and cried as though her heart would break; then she replaced the book and pencil, thinking he could not have gone far and might possibly be overtaken in an hour or two. She sent the callers in many direc- tions, but they all returned, saying no one had seen him or heard from him. She told Fairbanks of the note and solicited his aid. Sammy had never talked about leaving home, but that he said he should go first to Chili Station and then to Rochester, and when she told this to Fairbanks he borrowed a horse and drove to the Station, making inquiries as he went. He came back after dark without the boy or 198 A STREAK OF YELLOW any trace of him. The news of the fire, of Sammy's whipping, and of his disappearance spread rapidly. Doctor Boggs was denounced and censured as never before, and threats were even made against his per- son. The town was all wrought up over it. The progressive faction in the church straightway made a handle of it. If the pastor was not otherwise unworthy, this last unnatural and inhuman act had furnished cause sufficient for his removal, and they were sure now of victory. The more active of the pastor's opponents lost no time or occasion to repeat the story of Sammy's punishment, of how he was driven from home because he saved the church, and the story grew a bit more tragic and exaggerated every time it was told. Doctor Boggs was penitent and prostrated. He shut himself up in his room and persistently refused to see any one but his wife, his son Judson, and Arabella. These tried to com- fort him, and Arabella lost no time in informing the turbulent community of his sad condition. The regular prayer meeting was without the Doctor's leadership that week and was adjourned early after Deacon Haldane had offered a most fervent prayer for the recovery of the pastor, the unity of his people, Divine light sufficient for times of dark- ness and trial, and thanks for the preservation of the house of worship. Fairbanks was only restrained from publishing in the Banner an account of Sammy Boggs's whipping and departure, with comments, through the kindly intervention of Arabella. She wrote the account of the fire herself, and gave the captain of Company A THE CHURCH FIRE 199 all credit for the saving of the church, and added comments upon the necessity for adequate fire pro- tection in the village. There was not one word regarding the disappearance of Sammy Boggs in the article, and she felt certain that was just as well, for no doubt the boy would be located within a few days. Doctor Boggs, however, caused a somewhat lengthy card to be inserted in the paper, saying he would be glad of any information that would lead to the location of his son, acknowledging his mistake in a public manner, and begging his enemies and friends to bear with him in his hour of deep afflic- tion, "as his punishment was most severe and had served to open his eyes to several of his personal mistakes." It was a card of humiliation, and many argued that, no matter what he might do thereafter, he could never regain the confidence and respect of the community ; that it was a crushing mistake, and the acknowledgment of weakness would surely kill his future usefulness, if he had any promise of it. This would undoubtedly have proved true but for the per- sistent and well-directed efforts of Arabella, Jud and Mr. Hooker, who, in season and out of season, strove to disarm the pastor's opponents of thefir weapons. There were no services in the church the follow- ing Sabbath; but a week later the Rev. Dr. Samuel E. Boggs preached a powerful sermon upon child- training, acknowledged his mistakes, and declared there was rarely, if ever, any occasion calling for the administration of corporal punishment. He could 200 A STREAK OF YELLOW think of no occasion that would demand it of Chris- tian parents. He was in a position to give advice from his own experience, and said he had never been so much in the wrong as when he opposed harmless amusements for children. The club, instead of being an instrument of the Devil, had wrought such an apparent change in the young men of Batesville as to make his opposition to it absolutely untenable. Hereafter he was not going to stand aloof from it, but was going to stand by it, participate in its pleasures and benefits, and try to assist in any good work it had to do. He believed in healthy progress and hoped his congregation would get into harmony with the spirit of progress that was pervading the town. He begged the older and more conservative members of his church to yield something of their opinions, and begged the younger and more pro- gressive to move forward cautiously and to take counsel of their elders. He was in a conciliatory mood, and great tears rolled down his cheeks as he spoke.- As for himself, he said, he would never again oppose the introduction of quartette singing in his church when the members of the quartette were professing Christians, or their hearts were in harmony with the expressions of their lips; and he had assurances from those who favored the quartette that the congregation was never to be deprived of its ancient privileges, and would be given opportunity to render the good old-fashioned hymns the same as usual. When the Doctor had concluded the dis- course Fairbanks was first to gain his feet. He THE CHURCH FIRE 2OI rushed to the platform, took his pastor by the hand, and cried aloud, "God bless you !" He then turned to the congregation and said, "You will all please arise and sing with me, 'Praise God from whom all blessings flow.' ' The congregation sang as never before. CHAPTER XXVII SAMMY, LEAVES HOME Most brilliant gems are of'en picked from the meanest of mud. I once found the two best people in the world on an old canal boat. Since then I don't judge things entirely by their settin's, and I don't b'lieve it's safe to do it. Sam Boggs, Jr. After his chastisement Sammy went straight to his room, wrote his farewell letter, took an extra pair of stockings from the commode drawer and tucked them inside his waist. He had left his school jacket upon a chair in the study, where he removed it at his father's demand, so he took down his Sun- day coat and slipped it on, stole down the front stairs and out the door. Here he stopped and hesitated for a moment, retraced his steps in part, and entered the parlor. He wanted to kiss mother and Roger and say good-by to them, but knew that would reveal his plan and possibly thwart his purpose. He con- tented himself instead by taking their pictures from the big family album, and he wound the stockings around them and tucked them close to his heart in- side his bosom. Then he passed out the door again, crossed over into Hopkins's orchard, and followed exactly the same route out of town that he, Abram and Benny had taken the ill-starred Christmas Day they visited Duck Pond. He kept in the woods as SAMMY LEAVES HOME 203 much as possible, going north and east in the direc- tion of Rochester, and avoiding the highways. He could see the church spires of Chili as he crossed the New York Central tracks, and the sun was fast sink- ing behind them. He sat down and watched the section men at their work, and thought he might ride with them upon the hand-car as far as the big city; but when they gathered up their tools and tin pails and placed their car upon the rails they started off in the opposite direction. Then he entered a farmer's lane and followed the returning cattle as far as an old straw-stack. Here again he paused and thought. He crept into the south side of the stack, that seemed the warmest ; pulled out some of the cleanest straw and made a bed where the cattle had fed and the swine had slept, laid down and pulled more straw out for his coverlet, and went to sleep. It was dark and the stars were all out when he wakened, so he decided to go without supper, although he had not tasted food since breakfast. He would try to sleep and forget his hunger and would get an early start the next morning. It was a long, lonely and thoughtful night for Sammy, and through it he learned that it is nearly as hard to sleep on an empty stomach as it is to do an honest piece of work under like conditions. He counted stars and laid plans nearly all the night through. He decided he would take the name of Sammy Smith, it was so common; would represent himself an orphan seeking work at first and a home later on, when farther distant from Batesville. He comforted himself with the thought he was not the first in the 204 A STREAK OF YELLOW family to thus leave home, and if his parents did not worry over him more than they did over the others, his going would give them little unrest. At daybreak he crawled out, nearly starved, and started upon his journey northward. He passed the buildings of the farmer who owned his lodging- place, for he was too timid to stop and ask for a breakfast. His hunger grew as he walked on, and as is the case with other roving animals, it made him bold. When he saw a woman step out of a farm- house door and blow a horn he knew she was calling the men from their chores about the barn, and he guessed there was something warm to eat in that kitchen. He sauntered up to the back door, where a big, burly man, with a large crop of hair on his head and face, stood washing his hands at a wooden rain trough. "Good-morning," said Sammy; "can you tell me how far it is to Rochester ?" "Why, you hevn't started fer there this mornin ? , hev ye ?" asked his whiskers. "Yep, if I can't get nothin' to do this side of there." "Wall, it's a heap sight further'n a lad your size kin walk in a day," said the farmer. "I don't s'pose you'd mind givin' a hungry kid a drink of water," said Sam, with much hesitation. "A hungry kid better have food if he's goin' to walk so fur. Water sploshes about and rattles some when a feller's trav'lin' empty. You step into the house there and get a little so'thin' to wash down with the water." SAMMY LEAVES HOME 205 Sam stepped in, and the bewhiskered giant fol- lowed him. "I want yer to fill this boy up full, Miranda, so's he kin do a heap of trav'lin' afore night. I don't want any of them mule-killers to be foolin' round here long, or to be close by, neither." "I ain't no mule-killer, if that's me he means," said Sam as they all sat down to breakfast. "You can't fool me," drawled the head of the household. "I kin tell a canal kid as fur as I can see him. You're all a lot of thieves, an' liars, an' I wouldn't trust one of ye as fur's I could throw a beef critter by the tail. I wouldn't be s'prised if ye'd had two squar' meals already this mornin', but it's all the same to me. I want yer to fill up an' shake jist as much dust from yer heels as yer kin afore night." Sam protested he was not a "canal kid," that he had never seen a canal in his life and didn't know what one looked like, and "didn't s'pose there was any canal nearby." He proved beyond any shadow of a doubt by the way he ate and the amount he ate that the farmer was wrong in one guess. "There ain't any canal so very near," said the farmer, "but I needn't tell you the Erie's only twenty miles away. You chaps are purty good on your legs an' you sometimes git too fur in the back country an' make things purty lively for us honest folks. We had one 'sperience with a canal chap, didn't we, ma ; and we brought him over from Spencerport to steal us nearly blind." Miranda and the farm help thought the landlord 206 A STREAK OF YELLOW was doing the stranger great injustice, and so ex- pressed themselves. The wife prevailed upon her husband to give the "poor orphan" a chance, and after the photos of Mrs. Boggs and Roger had been passed around the table, the farmer promised to keep the lad on trial for a week; but said he must work with him and never get out of his sight in the day time, and must sleep with one of the men in the barn at night. After the squarest meal Samuel Boggs had ever eaten, and the first this particular "Sammy Smith" had partaken of, he was invited to pick up an empty jug and follow the farmer to the woods lot, where he was engaged in clearing. They had worked a brief half hour, the farmer at cutting and Sammy at piling brush, when Sam complained of thirst. "I'll go and show yer the way ter the spring onct," said the farmer as he picked up the big brown jug. "I guess I kin find it if you'll point the way an' tell me some," said Sam. The farmer pointed and directed, and Sam took the jug from his hand and started for the spring. He found the natural fountain easy enough, dipped up some of the delicious water in his hat, and took several long draughts. He did not wait to fill the jug; and the farmer, then only partially trustful, would be waiting still if he looked to Sammy Smith for his water supply, and he would now be about as dry as an Egyptian mummy. Sam climbed the fence at the spring and was soon out of sight in the woods. He shook the dust rapidly for the first mile, but then settled down to a slower gait, and traveled SAMMY LEAVES HOME 207 northward until nearly noon. He decided he was far enough away from home now to travel as other people did, and he sought the highway, where he could make better progress. When the sun was highest he laid down under some bushes at the road side and fell asleep. He was awakened by the passing of a team and the rattling of a heavy wagon, and as he rubbed his eyes he asked the farmer driving the distance to Spencerport, and the direction. The conversation of the morning had put some new ideas into his head. He knew the Erie Canal went through Rochester, for he had heard Jud and the boys tell about it; and he knew from the farmer who gave him his breakfast that it also went through Spencer- port, some ten miles away. Much to his joy, he was invited to ride along for company by the farmer. It is not easy riding upon a load of grain where there are no springs under the wagon-box or the seat, but it was so comfortable for Sam, with his swollen feet and tired limbs, that he slept upon the bags for more than half the distance, and breathed the air through an old felt hat that served to keep the sun from his already burning face. Sam assisted the farmer in unloading the wheat at the elevator, and the man was kind enough to give him a supper at a cheap tavern where there was much tobacco smoke and some drunkenness. The boy slept in the wagon under a mill shed that night, and slept soundly. The third day he followed the tow-path and inquired for work of every east-bound craft. An "independent double-header," loaded with lumber, was snubbed 208 A STREAK OF YELLOW near the bank, that the mules might be changed, and when the captain was not looking Sam jumped aboard and went down the hatch of the boat nearest the berme bank. The captain found him in the cook's quarters a little later, when they were under way, and agreed to take him as far as Rochester if he would "stand by and help unload" after their arrival. Sam promised, and the cook marveled at the new hand's appetite as he stowed away griddle cakes and bacon at dinner that day. It was dark when the double-header passed through the great cut-stone aqueduct spanning the Genesee River, and the traveler first realized he was at the goal of all his transient dreams the city of Rochester. He slept in a bunk of the canal boat that night, and the forenoon of the fourth day out he worked his hands full of slivers in shoving lum- ber to pay for his passage, board and lodging. The canal was exceedingly interesting to Sam, and there was much about the happy-go-lucky life afloat that attracted him. He went to the offices and stables of the towing and packet companies and applied for work. He learned at the company's stables that drivers remained with their teams and were never more than a day's journey away from the starting point they would go out one day only to return the next while the "independents" carried their relays with them and the drivers covered the entire distance the tow covered. He wanted to travel far, and so looked for the independents, that were few in num- ber in the days of expanding enterprise and corpor- ate organization following the great civil war. He SAMMY LEAVES HOME 209 hung around the stables the remainder of the day and permitted no individual owner to pass east- bound with his tow without making inquiry for passage and work. Late in the day he met a boy who was limping, and who said he'd "been fired from a freighter that was tied up just below the city." Sam asked the name of the tow and the captain. "They's Cap Larkin's 'Gold Spoon' and 'Gold Horn/ " said the boy. They're tied about a mile down. The Cap's all right when he's sober, but he don't know enough to jump out a mule when he's bin drinkin'. He never passes down Rochester but he goes to the joints an' helps the proprietor to lift schooners over the bar some. He unloads several afore he quits the job ginerally. The old man's shy a steersman an' the boys have tied up the twins for the night waitin' fer him to git sober 'nough to take a helm in the mornin'." Sam hastened his pace, and soon came upon the tow described. Six mules were feeding from their trough just off the tow-path, and a boy was near them. There were broad yellow bands running around the boats, and the names were painted in black letters upon their sterns "The Golden Spoon" and "The Golden Horn." Sam did not like the yellow bands or the "yellow names" and said he'd bet the boats had never paid and the crew generally had bad luck. "Where ye headed?" asked the boy of Sammy. "Nowheres in partic'lar," answered Sam. "What's yer name?" 210 A STREAK OF YELLOW "Sam Smith; an' what's yourn?" "Bill Briggs ; but the boss calls me 'ShufF mostly that's the short for 'Shuffle Heels/ I s'pose." "Where's the boss?" "Drunk aboard the 'Spoon.' What'd you want to know fer?" "I want work; want to work my way east." "Whereto?" "Anywhere, I don't care where; New York, I guess." "Did yer ever scuM?" "Ever what?" "Steer ; twist her nose ; handle the rudder ?" "No, I never done any of them things." "Did yer ever heel-and-toe it?" "What?" "Did yer ever skin mules with a black snake?" "I never skinned a mule with anythin'," answered Sam. "I mean did yer ever drive on the path?" said "Shuff" Briggs. "I never did ; but that's what I want to do. "If yer never did, yer no good," said "Shuff" as he tried to drown a mule with one flood of tobacco juice. "The Cap won't take yer; he just shoved off a greeny an hour ago. He wants a feller like me, what knows mules an' can make time. He don't want no white-livered chap." Sammy said he didn't have a white liver ; that he was willing to learn and was mighty anxious to get a place; that his father and mother were both dead and he'd been kicked around a good deal. SAMMY LEAVES HOME 21 1 The statement touched a sympathetic chord in Billy Briggs's heart. He said he'd never had any father or mother either, so far as he knew, and he guessed he'd been kicked around harder'n most boys thirteen years old; and he'd been kicked harder on the canal than other boys who'd stayed at it. He told Sammy he would get a supper and bed for him that night anyway, and in the morning he could talk with Cap- tain Larkins. The next morning the Captain stormed the castles early, routed out everybody at daylight, cussed and swore considerably because they'd been "hitched to the bank" so long, and said they'd have to cover some water that day or he'd know the reason why. He was shy a boy and would have to have one or do some "mule poundin' " himself, the other hands were so set against the path. "Shuff" told him of Sammy, and the Captain looked into Sam's eyes and felt of his leg muscles and said he'd try him. They were under way at 5 o'clock, and while "Shuff" Briggs was "shoving the rabbits," Sam was up for- ward with Mrs. Larkins receiving his first lesson in canal navigation. The woman told him all she knew about handling a pair from a driver's standpoint, or moving point. She had pulled off her shoes and done stunts with the whip many a time when they were short a boy, and knew what she was talking about. She talked of mules, and locks, and snubbin' posts, and lights; and told Sam just what to do in passing another tow, how to divide the drag at the double locks and how to get them through a single 212 A STREAK OF YELLOW and a thousand things more than the pupil thought he could possibly remember. When it came time to "jump out" the fresh mules, Sam went on the tow-path with "Snuff" and took lessons from him until they had been locked down twice. Then "Shuff" told him he better go aboard and get some rest, as the Cap'n was liable to give him a turn on the "Fairport level." "Shuff" was quite correct in this, and Sammy handled the team and tow line in fine form for at least one-half the distance covering the "level." After that he was given the easier stunts on straight stretches where there were no locks and all was clear sailing for the mules. All went well until near the close of the second day. They had passed Lock Berlin and Clyde, "Shuff" driving, and were approaching the Montezuma marshes, when Sam took three fresh mules and started upon what was represented as an easy shift. The air was spring-like, the frogs were carolling their evening songs, and the mosquitoes, the first crop of the year, were swarming the tow- path and threatening to eat up Sam and the mules. The animals, usually patient and always thick- skinned, showed many signs of restlessness and dis- comfort, and Sam had difficulty in keeping them at their work and keeping the tow-line taut. The guide mule stopped and kicked viciously at Sammy once when he approached to goad him onward. A packet- boat hove in sight ahead, with three splendid horses on the line at a good trot. The horses had passed, when the mules became frightened at a flapping piece of bunting on the packet's bow. They whirled SAMMY LEAVES HOME 213 around and fouled in their traces as they did so, and the guide mule lost his footing, tumbled over, and rolled into the canal, dragging the other mules with him. Two of the animals were rescued, but "Old Dock," the favorite of the tow, and a mule with a history from Albany to Buffalo, was drowned. Captain Larkins was at the helm and saw the acci- dent. He swore like a pirate, swung his arms and acted like a madman. He sent Sam to his bunk and said he wasn't fit to drive geese to water, to say noth- ing about mules, and he could leave the tow at Syra- cuse, or sooner if he liked. Sammy lay in a hammock that was swung in the stable that night, and slept but little. The accident had given him a severe headache, his bones also ached, and he was never before so lonely, homesick, tired and discouraged. He wished many times he had suffered the fate of "Old Dock" ; he longed to be back in Batesville as many times as he counted stars or as the mules stamped to keep off the pesky mosquitoes. Long before the sun was up he had concluded no luck could come to him or to any one else aboard a double-header with yellow stripes and yellow names, and that immediately after breakfast he would go ashore and seek employment of some eastbound craft of better color. He carried out this plan, and after walking as far as Port Byron he secured passage to Syracuse. Nearly every tow he passed called out to him, "Say, boy, are you the chap that drowned 'Old Dock' ?" The news of ill luck on the Erie Canal traveled as fast as packets could go in those days. 214 A STREAK OF YELLOW Sam hired out to the captain of an independent freighter in Syracuse. It was plying between that city, Utica and Binghamton, over the Chenango feeder from Utica. It was a respectable tow, and a kind and cheerful captain was in charge, who never swore at his help or the mules, and who was almost constantly whistling or singing. His wife kept as neat and clean a cabin as ever floated on the Erie or Chenango. Everything placed before the crew to eat was wholesome and good and well cooked; the bunks were soft and the sheets and slips were clean and white. Sam became much attached to Captain Stoner and his wife at the very outset, and thought he would like to remain with them as long as he lived. Mrs. Stoner washed out his clothing and gave him a towel and a cake of soap, and winked to him as she pointed a thumb toward the water before he went to his bunk the first night. His trousers were mended and the buttons were all on tight when he dressed the next morning. He had not sailed a day before he "accidentally" opened the door of the canary's cage and let out the songster of yellow hue. The bird soon came back to its mistress, lighted on her hair, and refused to accept his freedom. Sam didn't blame him, but hoped many times the bird would bring no harm to the tow or its crew, and no ill luck to him. Later that day, just as he expected, the bad news came. Mrs. Stoner told him they did not own the boats, that they did not own anything on the canal, and it was their last trip ; they were going to pack up in Binghamton and were going to Pennsylvania, SAMMY LEAVES HOME 21$ where the Captain's brother was an engineer in a great coal mine and where he had secured a place for the Captain as his assistant. They expected to leave for Wilkesbarre on the following Monday, just as soon as they could take their things out of stor- age. Sam thought he could have learned as much from the "yellow bird." From that hour he was inexpressibly sad, and he began begging Captain and Mrs. Stoner to take him with them; promised to work faithfully and to give them all his earn- ings promised everything that a boy could promise. He cried as he begged, and when he presented the picture of his mother and Roger and told how his mother followed his father to the tomb, and how Roger had been taken away he knew not where, Mrs. Stoner cried and said she was willing to take the responsibility if the Captain was. The two easily prevailed upon the big-hearted Captain, and ten days later the three were settled in a comforta- ble cabin in a mining camp of the Reading Company, and the Captain was installed as assistant engineer in the power house. Sam concluded the canary bird was, after all, too wee a bit of yellow to cause much harm. The bird went with them into the new home. The operation of a great anthracite coal mine and its machinery was at first wonderfully fascinating to Sammy, but the problem of what part he was to play in the great field of operations was puzzling not only to him but to his new foster parents as well. They did not desire him to work with the rough and un- couth boys in the breaker-house, but realized he must have something to do. 2l6 A STREAK OF YELLOW Sam visited the breaker-house every day and watched the lads at their work; thought he was no better than they were, was sure he could do the work as well as any, and so sought and obtained employ- ment. He was to work ten hours a day, was to receive six cents an hour, and was to give one-half his wages to Mrs. Stoner in payment for his board and lodging. As dreary and dark and monotonous as this life might seem to others, Sammy Boggs's home surroundings were so cheerful, clean and com- fortable that he never made complaint and seldom, if ever, thought of exchanging them for the old life at home. Captain Stoner always accompanied him to the cabin at night, and the two whistled or sang as they approached the door, and Mrs. Stoner usually joined with them as she caught the words of the song, or tried to whistle as she caught their tune. Sometimes she came part way to meet them, and always had a kind word and often a bit of fruit or cake for each. The two seemed like real parents to Sam, and did all those things he thought ideal par- ents should do for their children. His clothes were always carefully looked after, his room was always put in apple-pie order, and Mrs. Stoner regularly deposited his surplus money in the bank to his credit. On Sundays he went to church and Sabbath-school with her, and in the afternoons of spring and sum- mer time the three would take little excursions in the beautiful valley. Mrs. Stoner had great pity for the orphan boy, and carefully refrained from asking him about his home and his parents, fearing such questions might make him sad and discontented. SAMMY LEAVES HOME 217 She made black satin frames for the photos of Mrs. Boggs and Roger, and fastened them up by his small mirror. With such happy days a year rolled around quickly, and the only change for Sammy was an increase of a penny an hour in his pay, and the priv- ilege of attending night-school during the winter months. He declared himself completely happy now, and was doing everything in his power to please his employer, his boss and the kind people who were indeed father and mother to him. All happiness, however, seems destined to have a break or an ending somewhere, and this was destined to end all too soon. CHAPTER XXVIII UNSATISFACTORY TIDINGS If you are truly in love and are writing a friend, the letter will reveal the sincerity of your affections. You can't get far from the subject that's first and foremost in your heart, your thoughts fingers and pen so persistently connect with it. Sam Boggs, Jr. Under the new order of things time dragged less heavily in Batesville and a year passed rapidly. The changes were many and marked. A railroad sur- veying party had run the lines for a new steam road and the right-of-way had all been secured. Under this impulse the town was growing fast ; there were new industries, new enterprises, new mercantile establishments, and hardly a sufficient number of new houses to accommodate the families these brought. The depot site had been acquired, an elevator was in process of erection, the farmers in the vicinity had organized a creamery company and were building next to the elevator, and Fairbanks had installed a new power press and added four col- umns to the size of the Banner. The club had doubled its membership within the year, and had stimulated the Odd Fellows to reorganize and the Free Masons to talk of a lodge. The common coun- cil met regularly each week and talked of street im- UNSATISFACTORY TIDINGS 219 provements, street lamps, water supply, and had redeemed the hook and ladder truck from Fisher and passed an ordinance relieving citizens from the poll tax who would join the fire company. The fire company was flourishing. Signs of a new and pro- gressive era, of a sure awakening, were everywhere visible in the village. The old residents were aroused, and houses that had not known paint since the days they were built in the forties were resplend- ent in new colors. The Baptist parsonage was one of these, and its third and outer coat was an ivory white. Citizens generally caught the spirit of enter- prise, and in no one was the change more apparent than in Doctor Boggs. He was no more like him- self than the parsonage was like its old self. He preached progress and talked it constantly, but cau- tioned citizens to go ahead steadily rather than to encourage any unnatural boom. The Doctor seemed wonderfully changed in person. He was younger and far more sociable; would romp and play with the children upon the streets; visited the club fre- quently, and was counted the most popular pastor, if not the most popular man, in town. On all pleas- ant days he could be seen drawing Roger Williams around in a red cart, playing horse or steam engine. The child was perfectly delighted in his father's company, and the fact was commented upon by every one, and the other children naturally envied Roger and vied with each other in securing recog- nition and little attentions from the Doctor. Arabella had given over the kindergarten to an understudy and had engaged as principal of the pub- 220 A STREAK OF YELLOW lie schools. Fairbanks had a new horse and carriage and was more attentive to her than ever. He relieved Deacon Somers of the responsibility of com- ing for his daughter every Friday night and return- ing her to the Howard's every Sunday evening, and he seemed perfectly delighted in doing it. Jud Boggs was getting on nicely in the store, and had been elected a deacon in his father's church. He was popular in the club and his influence for good in the community was marked by all. Benny Hop- kins was having shows and theatricals the same as usual, proving his experience with "Uncle Tom" had not visibly dampened his ardor. In all these changes, when everything seemed so lovely and every one so happy, it was but natural for Arabella, Mrs. Boggs, Benny and the Doctor to miss Sammy the more and to long for his return. They always spoke of him to each other and wondered if he would not soon come back. Mrs. Boggs cried a great deal over the boy, and prayed time and time again that kind hearts might care for him and that a Heavenly Father might direct his steps toward home. When she and Arabella were by themselves they always had their little crying spells, and the young woman would clear up first and try hard to comfort her companion. Arabella was the only one who had a promise from Sammy. He had repeatedly told her if he ever did leave home he would write to her at least once every year ; said if she didn't receive a letter from him that often she might know he was dead. The last part of the assurance the teacher would reveal to no one, but every one in town knew UNSATISFACTORY TIDINGS 221 of the promise itself before the year had passed. Arabella could go no place but some one would ask her, "Have you heard from Sammy yet?" No one can imagine how anxious she was to give the inquir- ing ones some tidings of the boy; how heavy her heart was when the year had gone and no letter had come from him. She was unwilling to believe him dead and was charitable enough to think he had merely forgotten his promise. Frequently she drove with Fairbanks after school, and always in the direc- tion of Chili Station, and the two scanned closely every boy they met, to see if he was Sammy Boggs. A year and a month passed by, when Arabella found a large, fat letter in her box at the post-office. She knew it was from Sammy before Lena Gibbons handed it to her. The address read: "Mis Bela Somers, care John Howard, Batesville, N. Y." The writing was plain and even and Arabella knew from it Sammy was attending school and was making progress. The envelope was postmarked "N. Y. & Buffalo R. P. O., May 10," and the recipient knew it had been mailed at some station or upon a train. She hastily tore it open with a hair-pin and looked for the date line. There was none, and Arabella ran her eyes quickly over the lines, to see if they told where the writer was. She obtained no satisfaction in this respect. Then she sat down on the post- office steps and read the long letter through twice, wiping away tears frequently as she read. It was a characteristic boy's letter, and about as satisfactory as they all are. There was not one thing in it to show where he was, where he had been, what he was 222 A STREAK OF YELLOW doing or going to do, or what his intentions were it gave no possible clue that could be followed by those at home. Arabella attributed this to careless ness rather than to intent, but the others did not agree with her in this. The boy spoke of a canal and of a mine, but what canal and what mine could only be guessed. They were located, without much doubt, somewhere between Buffalo and New York city, as the postmark indicated ; but that was a wide territory and a number of railways connected the points. There was nothing in the letter to give hope the writer was to return home before he was of age, and about the only satisfaction the reader gleaned from it was the fact that Samuel Boggs, Jr., was alive and well and was making some progress in his studies. In full it was as follows : "DEAR FRIEND : I am well and hope these few lines will find you the same. I have been well and have only had little ill luck since I left home, but the worst has just come to me. We are going out West now, Joe and me, and how far I cannot tell. I was on the canal some and because I hired to boats with yellow streaks and yellow names on them I drowned a mule, the best one what they had, and got fired. I hired to Captain Stoner and the strikers shot him on Sunday. It nearly killed Mrs. Stoner and its made me lumpy ever since- They are the best folks I ever knew. They were father and mother to me. I have lived with them a year and worked in the big breaker-house and went to nite school. "Mrs. Stoner is going to New York to live with a sister. Joe Stoner fears the mob and has come here to hide from them and to see the Captain's wife go way. Mrs. Stoner hugs me and cries over me and says if she only had money she would always keep me with her. She is the right sort and I cry every time I think of going West and leaving her. She has kept all my things well and did nice things for me in the house all the time- The Wyomin mob come to the house painted up and UNSATISFACTORY TIDINGS 223 with white cloth over their heads and shot Captain right in the door before our eyes. They said they would burn the house down over our heads if we were hidin' the Captain's brother, that's Joe Stoner, inside. We told them Joe was not there, but they come in and looked just the same. . Joe had gone to town with the guard the bosses had and they all had pistols. We brought the Captain's body here and buried it. The poor woman I thought she would die when we did it. I never seen anyone take on so. Them red devils would have killed Joe and the others if they had stayed. They burned the breaker-house and the engine-house and stoned men nearly to death. They did the same down the valley where others would not join them. "The Captain wouldn't walk out and stop the engine when they told him to. They said he was a scab and they would fix him for it. Joe would not join them, either, said he was his own master, and would work just as he pleased. They were madder at Joe and the Captain than at any others because if they had stopped the engine could not go and we all would have to stop. The men in our mine all wanted to stay in. The red devils got some of them drunk at nite and they was bad as any. The dogs was too many for the sheep. Joe had been round a mine all his life. He is a single man and is going to take me West with him to the mines and we are going to be rich. I will buy you all nice things then and I will be like Abe and have three trunks, and lots of clothes and things. I have seventy-three dollars all ready all my own. Mrs. Stoner saved it in the bank for me. She has put all my things in a sachall, has give me a new Bible and she cried all the time she was doing it. I hope she will have good luck in New York. She has give the canary away. When Joe and I get rich she is going to live with us. We are going to send for her in a palice car. I asked her to take my money, all of it, but she would not take a red, not one, not for the funeral even. Joe is a good man, but not like the Captain. He swears and smokes and the Captain don't. The Captain was always sing- ing or whistling and so was Mrs. Stoner. She only cries now. I wish you knew her- I tell her you could help her so she wouldn't cry so much. She and him was the best folks I ever knew. I just read this last to her and she's crying again harder than ever and I guess I will have to stop. I feel mean to leave her, but she says it won't be long when she will come to see us. 224 A STREAK OF YELLOW "How is Ben? Does he have shows any more? I can see him playing Halie in my sleep and sometimes I wake up lafing. Have you been to the roost lately? We go West tomorrow, just after Mrs. Stoner goes away. I hate to say good-by to her for sure. Her things went today. My sachall is awful heavy, but Joe says we can tag 'em through and it will be all right. They are all mended and clean and Mrs. Stoner has put in some cakes, and some perfume and she sprinkled everything nearly with tears and took a long time putting them in. I will miss her, but she is going to write to Joe and me. Joe is awful uneasy to go. I guess he is afraid of the mob- Kiss ma and baby for me. Tell them I love them and their pictures is the last thing Mrs. Stoner put in the sachall. I hope pa will not whip Roger as he done me. It does no good. Don't worrie about me. I am all right and will come home when I am rich. Write soon. "Your friend, "SAMUEL BOGGS." The tears streamed down Arabella's cheeks as she read. She looked the letter over, up and down, held the individual sheets between herself and the sun and looked for a water-mark, for something anything that might give a trace that could be followed and that possibly would lead to his location. She wished to wire him at once to come home; to write him in such a way as to insure his return. She could sim- ply guess his location. He was undoubtedly some- where in eastern Pennsylvania, because he had been working in a "breaker-house," and that was a part of an anthracite coal mine. But no matter where he had been or where he was when he wrote, he was going to start at once for that boundless, mysterious region known as "out West," and was going to seek work at some mine, possibly down in a mine. Oh, how her heart ached as she contemplated the boy's UNSATISFACTORY TIDINGS 225 hardships in a rough mining camp and the possibili- ties of his being killed some hundreds of feet under- ground ! She feared the result the news would have upon Mrs. Boggs, who was already mourning for her son as though he were dead. She decided it was best to tell others of the letter they might discover more in it than she could ; that it was better to give Mrs. Boggs a full reading than to attempt to keep back any portion of it. She started straight for the parsonage. Mrs. Boggs saw her as she entered the gate, and when Arabella held up the envelope she ran toward her and cried : "Tell me, is it from Samuel? Is he alive and well? Is he coming home?" When Arabella said it was indeed from Sammy, but that it gave little satisfaction other than that he was alive, the mother nearly fainted. The two sat down upon the porch, and Arabella read the letter aloud, repeating in many places where Mrs. Boggs asked, "What's that?" "What did he say there?" and so forth, and while her head rested upon the reader's shoulder and she was supported by her right arm. When the end was reached the two embraced and nearly cried their eyes out. Fairbanks published the letter in the Banner, so many were eager to read it, and one of his sub- scribers who read it brought in a copy of the Phila- delphia Ledger giving an account of the strike riots in the Wyoming district of Pennsylvania and of the killing of Captain Stoner and two other employes of the Sunset Mine by the mob. Then Arabella, Fair- banks and Jud tried every way they could think of 226 A STREAK OF YELLOW to locate Mrs. Stoner, in hopes she might reveal to them the destination of Joe and Sammy. All the intelligent replies they received only said Mrs. Stoner had gone to New York, to live with a sister, and might as well have said she had gone to darkest Africa. They advertised in the New York papers "for information that would reveal the address of Mrs. Stoner, wife of Captain Stoner, who was killed in the strike riot at the Sunset Mine in Pennsyl- vania," but it was all to no purpose no one read the advertisements who could or would give the desired information. Doctor Boggs wrote to the Baptist ministers of the Wyoming district, and from one received some information that greatly pleased him. The man wrote that he knew Captain Stoner and his wife well; that they attended his church regularly and were splendid Christian people; that an orphan boy about ten years of age, named Sammy Smith, lived with them; that the boy always came to Sabbath- school, and knew more of the Bible and Bible stories, and answered more questions asked by his teacher and the superintendent than all other boys of the school combined ; that he was a bright and cheerful boy, and seemed greatly attached to the Captain and Mrs. Stoner. This letter ended in the same unsatis- factory way as all the others, namely, that the boy had gone West with the captain's brother, probably in search of gold or silver. Arabella endeavored to console herself and the others with the thought that her next letter would UNSATISFACTORY TIDINGS 227 surely give more satisfactory information; she argued Sammy would be anxious to hear from home and might write again soon and give his address. Then she could portray to him on paper the true conditions existing at home and he would surely return. In this reasoning she was doomed to bitter disappointment. Months passed, and a year, and another and another. Annual letters came regularly in the month of April, but there was never anything in them by which the boy could be located or traced. One said : "I send this by a miner who is returning to the States, and I have asked him to mail it east of the Mississippi." Another had a postmark that was so faint a glass could not make it legible, but it con- tained the information, "We are starved out and are pulling up stakes for some more promising diggin's beyond the Rockies." The third repeated the his- tory of two men just about to move again, but gave no names of places, or mines, or men that would serve to reveal their location. Each of the letters contained the "Don't worry about me" sentence and spoke of considerable ill luck, but were all written in the same hopeful strain that is characteristic of the adventurer, of the miner in whose breast there ever burns the candle of hope the constant, yearning, impelling hope that gold and riches are just beyond, just outside the reach of his grasping, eager fingers. From them Arabella knew to a certainty Sammy Boggs intended to carry out his purpose of remain- ing away until he was of age, if he should be 228 A STREAK OF YELLOW fortunate enough to live until that time. It was a cold, sad and cheerless deduction, and the more so since Doctor Boggs had located all his other children and there had taken place a general and complete reconciliation. CHAPTER XXIX FOLLOWING A YELLOW VEIN It isn't best to f oiler one thing to the ends of the earth just 'cause your mind's set on it. You might be so mad when you come to the jumpin' off place you'd jump. It's a chance you'd get satisfaction chasin' so'thin' else part of the time. Sam Boggs, Jr. After the final farewells were spoken to Mrs. Stoner, Joe and Sammy started for the western mines, first going to Pittsburg and then to St. Louis. In the latter city they heard of the rich galena mines that were being discovered in southwestern Mis- souri, and they joined a party of prospectors and miners who were going overland to Joplin. They were twelve days and nights upon this journey, and they saw many of the sad reminders of the great Civil War as they passed through desolated villages and despoiled farms. The two secured ready and profitable employment at the mines, Joe in setting up and operating new machinery and Sammy as an assistant in the assay house of a great smelter, where he learned much regarding the characteristics of galena ores, their properties and values, and the methods for separating minerals. The companions lived in a rude shanty and in a community that afforded few of the advantages of civilization. 230 A STREAK OF YELLOW Sammy had no congenial friends of like age, and was constantly thrown in with rough men, many of them foreigners who could speak little or no English and who had slight acquaintance with soap, water, or other things conducive to cleanliness. He longed for his pleasant home surroundings at the Sunset, and thought he would even be willing to take chances with his father could he but make a change now. Joe was equally discontented, and declared he would not live there a year for all the galena ore the Ozarks contained, and although they had preferred places above ground, their wages were high and there were few opportunities to spend money, they talked constantly of something better. They argued that money was not all that made life desirable, and if they were to live apart from civilization they might as well go farther west and take a gold miner's chances to acquire wealth in a short period of time. Then, if successful, they could return to civilization and have more of life in which to enjoy its blessings. By keeping up an agitation of this sort Joe in- duced five of his friends at the mine to join him in an expedition to Colorado. The men had much hesitancy in taking Sammy with them, but he was strong and hardy and Joe would not consent to his being left behind. They went to Kansas City, and there purchased an outfit and joined a waeon train composed of adventuresome men and women seek- ing homes and fortunes in the far West. The pro- gress of the party across the plains was slow, but was far more satisfactory and fortunate than that of FOLLOWING A YELLOW VEIN 231 some of their predecessors. In fact, the trail they followed was strewn with evidences of misfortune that had overtaken those who had gone before. There were carcasses of animals, broken-down wagons, graves containing rude markers, and before they reached the Rockies they beheld the notable ground where savages had blocked the progress of an entire wagon-train, and had captured or killed all members of the party. These things, however, did not daunt them. They have never checked, more than for the mere moment, the ceaseless flow of western immigration. Upon reaching Idaho Springs in Colorado the Joplin party separated from the train, set up a camp, and decided to prospect in Gilpin County, from whence came reports of rich returns from surface workings. They found Gilpin County swarming with prospectors, and nearly every foot of hillside and valley staked out by some one with pick and shovel, pan or rocker. Joe was the only one of the party who was almost absolutely sure of a living in the country. His knowledge of machinery gave him this advantage, and after weeks of fruitless search for paying dirt, he obtained employment at the Osborn site, at the junction of Fall River and Clear Creek, where a small water-power mill was being erected. Here the winter was spent amidst the dreariest of sur- roundings, the two working upon the mill's con- struction during the short days and spending the long nights in the rude shanty they called "home." There was not a woman in the camp all that dreary 232 A STREAK OF YELLOW winter. Chinamen did the housework and the cook- ing, talked "pigeon English," and gambled away their wages the same day they received them. In January Joe was taken sick with a low fever and was obliged to leave his work, and Sammy was his faith- ful nurse. The boy kept the cabin at an even tem- perature, made the surroundings as cheerful as possi- ble, administered the medicines, and did everything that an untrained attendant could do. He was always cheerful, inspiring, and hopeful, and when the fever departed and the patient gave signs of a sure recovery the boy was taken sick and was not able to return to the mill for fully two weeks after Joe's return. The machinist declares until this day he never would have been able to return but for the tender and able nursing of his younger companion. In the following spring, when the melting snows were swelling the streams and were leaving great patches of bare, brown earth upon the mountain sides, Hi Foster, of the Joplin party, came to the Junction and gave Joe and Sammy wonderful descriptions of the Gold Bird mines, where he and his companions were employed. A one- fourth in- terest in the property was for sale, the owner having disgraced himself in camp by cheating at cards, and Foster desired Joe and Sammy to join them in ac- quiring the interest. The outlook was so promising that the two accepted the invitation, gave up their work at the Junction, and connected themselves and their small earnings with the Gold Bird outfit. The Joplin party was thus reunited. The members of it gave every dollar they possessed, and promised to FOLLOWING A. YELLOW VEIN 233 give some thousands besides, for the one-quarter interest. For the next three years the Gold Bird owners lived in clover. The mine yielded handsomely, and Joe and Sam were accumulating snug fortunes, placing their money in the banks of Denver. They had work above ground in the engine and shaft house, had easy hours, and often talked of the happy surprises they were soon to make Mrs. Stoner and those at home. Men can seldom be content with prosperity. So it proved with the owners of the Gold Bird. A majority were clamoring for new and better machinery in the mill and for the erection of a costly smelting plant. These held out all the familiar arguments to their associates too great expense in carrying ores to the smelter of another company, too great cost in the reduction of ore, excessive tolls, and unnecessary waste. They desired to get rich faster. The majority had its way, and the Joplin syndicate, owning its little quarter, was forced to yield. The same old history was then repeated. Accumulated earnings went for the new smelter and new machinery ; the method for treating the ores was changed and here the first great mistake was made; the cost of operating the new plant soon became greater than the daily returns from the prop- erty. The management was changed, but not for the better. The directors quarrelled and the owners became divided into warring factions. At the end of eighteen months of the new ownership, the com- pany found itself hopelessly in debt ; what promised to be endless litigation was begun, the mine closed 234 A STREAK OF YELLOW down, and Joe and Sam, as well as their Joplin friends, were without a dollar or a square foot of paying property. The Gold Bird had the record of producing three-quarters of a million dollars up to this time, but the bad management and the twelve quarrelling owners had dissipated the money and had obligated themselves some thousands in addi- tion. Of course the mines, mill, and smelter passed into new hands to satisfy these claims, and the sav- ings of Joe Stoner and Samuel Boggs went into the black gulf with the rest. In four and one-half years they had gone from poverty to riches and from riches to poverty and had nothing but experience as an item of gain. They had grown considerably older, and both hoped considerably wiser. Their beautiful air castles were all in ruins, but they con- soled each other as best they could and did not lose heart entirely. They decided they would regain their fortunes in the same field where they had lost them, and started again upon the uncertain search for the yellow metal. Sam Boggs wished many times gold had a different color, but was always hopeful the very life of the little party. Why follow the two in this serious but legitimate business? Thousands of others strong, hardy men, men of heroic mould and iron nerves have had similar experiences; have gone from camp to camp, endured hardships and undergone sickness, wounds, and privations, and met death itself hoping on, hoping ever the golden goal is just beyond. FOLLOWING A YELLOW VEIN 235 The two tramped from camp to camp, from one mining district to another; prospected, worked on shares, followed rumors of rich washings, and with all their wanderings only found scanty fare and miserable lodgings, often no lodgings worthy of the name, where they were exposed to cold rains and chilling winds. For three long, weary years they followed the ever-fleeing Goddess in this manner, only securing sufficient employment or enough of the yellow metal to give them the absolute necessities of life. When everything else failed them their knowl- edge of machinery generally brought them employ- ment, and when they knew not what else to do, they sought camps where new mills or smelters were being erected and where skilled employment was in demand. The last year of their roving companion- ship was spent in California, where they worked for a great corporation at Dutch Flats, building flumes and constructing plants for hydraulic mining. The work was hard, riches came slowly, and one day Joe gave up the battle. He told Sam he was going to 'Frisco and was going to seek employment as an engineer. Sam begged him to try his fortunes farther in the gold fields, and alone; said he might have known at the outset he could never have good luck in hunting for a yellow metal ; perhaps, after all, he had been a "Jonah" that should have long ago been cast from the ship by the land sailors from Joplin. He had thought this thousands of times before, but had not had courage to express it. He knew he could take care of himself could he but reach 'Frisco, and he begged the privilege. Joe 236 A STREAK OF YELLOW finally yielded, and decided to remain where he was for a time and to start Sam out for himself upon the unknown sea. The young man secured transporta- tion upon an ore train going to the Oakland smelt- ers, and the friends shook hands, gave promises, and parted, not knowing they would ever meet again. Sam's feelings upon this trip can only be im- agined, they can never be described. He was glad to go by himself, even in an unknown land, without a friend to protect or a mortal hand to guide, for he realized he was going toward civilization, where there were women and children, and churches, and schools, and the thought gave him courage and new hope. He resolved, over and over, never again to search for gold it was a yellow streak at best, growing thin, uncertain, and the more delusive as he followed it. He recalled how good luck came to him at the "Sunset," where, as a mere boy, he broke up the lumps of jet black coal, and how his fortune grew in Joplin, where he handled the metal of leaden hue. The first view of San Francisco upon its many hills the inner bay in the foreground, so full of shipping from all parts of the globe ; the Golden Gate leading into the great ocean beyond ; the busy, bust- ling, steaming, belching, moving panorama Sam Boggs will never forget. It was to the tired wan- derer like a picture of paradise. He was now a young man, full grown, practically without educa- tion, but possessed of a large, stout frame; was inured to hardships, and had a resolute purpose to FOLLOWING A YELLOW VEIN 237 achieve something of success before returning to his own. He found scores of places in the great city open to bright, intelligent, educated young men, but he was not qualified to fill them. He felt himself wholly without knowledge that fitted him for earning a living in the city, and grew despondent as he sought and obtained mere manual labor sufficient to keep body and soul together. While working along the docks he fell in with a sailor who had an interest in a vessel engaged in coast-wise trade. The man in- duced Sam to ship as an oiler, promising him rapid advancement and a share in the ship's earnings upon certain conditions that would be revealed to him upon the first cruise out. He was assured of ample opportunity to read and study and was happy over the prospect. Two days later the vessel steamed out into the Pacific and headed northward. Sam was not long in discovering his mistake as to the craft or its mission. From what he could learn below decks he was sure the boat was engaged in illegal traffic and that the crew depended more upon its ability to evade the officials of two governments, to debauch the natives of the Alaskan islands and mainland, upon knavery and trickery, than upon any legitimate means to gain a livelihood. The boat was fitted out for pelagic sealing, and Sam Boggs calculated the crew was as tough a lot of salt sea pirates as ever followed the fortunes of Captain Kidd. He had gone to but one meal in the crew's mess when he decided to desert at the first oppor- tunity. The opportunity was soon given, for the 238 A STREAK OF YELLOW craft steamed into the mouth of the Columbia River and tied up to the docks of the Ristoria Company. Here the crew proceeded to place aboard trading supplies they dared not ship at 'Frisco miserable whiskey, poor tobacco, opium, and other stupefying drugs in sufficient quantities to ruin an army. When she gave the signal and cleared, Sam was not on board. He stood, however, and watched her black hull disappear in the distance. Then he loitered about the docks watching the curious boats and their crews, anxious to do some work that would pay for a square, honest meal. A trim-built schooner of light draft, whose deck looked as clean as a newly- scoured pan, was being loaded with almost all kinds of merchandise. Sam accosted the captain, a hardy Scotchman, and asked that he might lend a hand in payment for a dinner. The captain said his ship was nearly loaded, but he never refused an honest man a meal, and if he would wait until "Bonnie Mary" blew the horn he would see if there was room for a stranger at the board, who would be welcome to such as they had. He could give no work to a hungry man, but would give the meal first, then if it was worth it the satisfied man could "do a wee bit of labor" in turn. Sam liked this talk from the sturdy sailor, and concluded he was of different mould from the men he had last associated with. He endeavored to lend a hand at the outset, but the captain would not permit it, although he and a man who looked like his twin brother worked away with the roustabouts like beavers on a dam. The captain put his thumbs to his mouth, and the long whistle FOLLOWING A YELLOW VEIN 239 brought a trim and buxom lassie in white apron and cap up the hatch to the deck. The captain held up four ringers and cried, "Lay the cloth for four, lassie." The lassie curtsied and disappeared. Sam then surveyed the craft from stem to stern, and although he was not a sailor and knew little or noth- ing of a ship, he could not help admiring the lines of the vessel, her clean masts and spars, the neatness and order that was everywhere visible. The sails, already loosened, were white and without a rent; every rope not in use was coiled with wonderful pre- cision upon the deck, and there were potted plants in boxes at the stern and near the narrow cabin win-* dows, that had dainty white curtains parted with ribbons. The schooner was so much larger and handsomer than Mrs. Stoner's floating home on the Chenango Canal, that Sam did not wish to compare the two, although there was much about the "Scotia" to make him think of the canal and of the kind captain and wife who had taken him in and had been father and mother to him. When "Bonnie Mary" blew the horn, Sam was sitting upon a box, and the tears were streaming down his face. The captain motioned to him and noticed his reddened eyes as he led the way over the deck and down the hatchway to the cabin, and expressed the hope that any sadness might not keep back a good appetite. That cabin was the sweetest place Sam Boggs had ever been in. It was not large, but everything was so arranged that it seemed ample for twice as many occupants. The table was spread with a clean, white cloth, and four blue bowls of steaming soup awaited 240 A STREAK OF YELLOW the toilers and their guest, while pleasant odors were wafted to them from the kitchen. Sam gave his true name to the Captain, so hard was it for him to lie in such honest company. "This is my daughter, Mary MacDonald, and this is my brother, Donald MacDonald, and I am Robert MacDonald," said the host. "We have the honor of the company of Sam- uel Boggs." At this the brother and the daughter shook Sam's hand heartily, and all stood up until the Captain had said grace. It was the first time Sam had heard a blessing asked at table since the evening Captain Stoner offered his last audible prayer on earth. The blessing and the surroundings made Sam thoughtful and sad beyond measure, and while everything served by "Bonnie Mary" was as good as food could be, the young man could not keep back the tears. Before the dessert had been served Sam asked the pardon of his hosts for being so simple and childish; said he had been so touched by the kind- ness that it brought memories of home, and mother and friends. This touched the captain's heart, and he cried, and big Donald forced a laugh that ended in tears. When "Bonnie Mary" came in with the dumplings and cream and saw they were all crying, for no special cause, she stood aside with the tray and said she'd wait "until the squall was over." This was like a sudden burst of sunshine through the storm, and the three big lubbers wiped their eyes and finished the dinner in better spirits. When they filed up the stairs the children of Scotland were sing- ing the familiar words of "Auld Lang Syne." CHAPTER XXX ON BOARD THE "SCOTIA." When you loan a man somethin' you should loan him the best you've got of the thing he asks for. Otherwise he'll be sure to think you're workin' off somethin' on him you can't use and that you 'spect he can't. The same rule holds good when you're makin' a gift. Sam Boggs, Jr. \ Sam told the MacDonalds they could make their own terms if they would but take him along with them, and after considerable coaxing and the passing around of badly-soiled photographs of his mother and infant brother, "Bonnie Mary" added her vote and voice to the young man's cause and the victory followed easily. After the decision, Sam sat down and wrote a short letter home, addressing it to Ara- bella. It was the most satisfactory letter he had written during all the years, for it told how they could get into communication with him. "We are going to Alaska and will be back late in the fall," wrote the wanderer. "A letter addressed to me at Astoria, Oregon, care of Schr. Scotia, Captain Mac- Donald, will catch me upon my return." It was a happy day in Batesville when this infor- mation was received, and the news of it spread rap- idly. Before midnight at least six persons had written or started letters to the traveler. 242 A STREAK OF YELLOW Doctor Boggs wrote from an overflowing heart a cheerful, hopeful, fatherly letter, telling of the tears that had been shed and the prayers that had been poured out for his preservation, guidance and safe return. He wrote of the changed conditions in the family and of a splendid reunion that had been held and that only lacked the presence of the seventh son to make it a perfect gathering of kindred souls on earth. Arabella was given credit for this and other blessings the family, the church, and the com- munity had enjoyed. In the letter were two sen- tences that puzzled Sammy. They read: "I have preached from the texts you blue-penciled in my flexible Bible. You do not know how often they have brought you to my mind, neither can you real- ize the good they have done me." The mother wrote particularly of the home and family a dear, sweet letter, bubbling over with love and tenderness. She wrote much of Roger Williams, of what a fine boy he had grown to be, of his pro- gress in school, and his enthusiasm for the club and out-door sports ; of his desire to obtain an education, how certain he was God had called him to the min- istry, and how anxious she was means might be pro- vided, in some manner, for the purpose. Arabella wrote of her wedding, of the changes in the school and the village; told what Sam's old schoolmates were doing, and dwelt at considerable length upon the beauty, accomplishments, and graces of the girl he rescued from the baptistry. "I am going to mail you a photo of her under separate cover," she wrote, "that you can see what your ON BOARD THE SCOTIA 243 splendid bit of heroism preserved to earth. I think it is a face to inspire any young man to deeds of heroism." She followed this with others, telling of the wonderful change in Doctor Boggs, of what he said from the pulpit regarding corporal punishment, of his fondness for children, his visits to the club, and of how chummy he and Roger were. In one she wrote: "There are no switches in the study now; none have been there since you went away. Roger is never whipped. He is ruled by love, and although he is full of mischief, he is the brightest and best boy in town, and what is better than all else, he declares he is going to be a Baptist minister." Ben wrote a letter of twelve full pages. He told of his work in school and about the changes that had taken place in Batesville; described the celebration that was had when the first passenger train bearing the "moguls of the road" came in ; wrote of the new gas and water works, the fire department and what pleased him most the new theatre. He named the plays he had seen, but said he had given up the show business as a profession and was going to be a news- paper man and get into politics some, as soon as he was out of Cornell. He was led toward the news- paper field through Arabella Somers' influence, for every one in town gave her and her articles in the Banner all credit for the changed conditions in the village. If she could accomplish so much in a small field, what could he not accomplish in a larger field ? "Your brother Roger is a buster," wrote Ben. "He and my brother Charlie are worse than we ever were, but I haven't heard that Roger has been 244 A STREAK OF YELLOW flogged any for it. They are constantly up to some deviltry nothing so very bad but they surely dis- count all the other kids in town. A few nights ago they fastened a tick-tack on old lady Townsend's window and she caught them at it. It made me think of the time she caught you jerking her door bell. She reported on Roger, but Charlie tells me your father only said he guessed they 'better not do it again, Mrs. Townsend is getting so old and child- ish.' Your dad has taken a tumble to himself since you went away. I want to tell you the worst one on those kids. They made sling-shots and went around together shooting at people's windows, at birds, at dogs and cats, at marks and things, all over town. Where do you suppose they got their ammu- nition? Well, that's the worst part of it. It scan- dalized your father terribly, and people will never stop talking about it. You remember the baptismal robes that hung in the 'haunted closet,' as you called it? Roger saw your mother mending one of them, and saw that the sausage-link sinkers that went around the bottom contained buck-shot. He told Charlie about it. The two watched their chance, stole into the study when your father was out, took some sharpened lead-pencils from his desk, crept into the closet, and bored holes through every last link in one of the biggest robes, and I guess they worked out the very last buck-shot. Anyhow, they had am- munition enough for a day or two. "Elder Brewster, pastor of the Congregational Church over at Churchville, wrote your father that a respectable colored woman desired to unite with ON BOARD THE SCOTIA 245 his church, who insisted that immersion was the only correct style of baptism, and that she must be im- mersed and in a running stream. He said the woman was very heavy, would go something over two hundred and fifty, and he would be pleased to have the loan of a baptismal gown, if your father's assortment contained one large enough. He also invited your father to come and assist him, and said he would arrange to have the doings on a Sunday afternoon, so as not to interfere with his regular services. Your father went to the 'haunted closet' and to the hook where the biggest robe hung, took it down, packed it in a basket, and sent it down to Elder Brewster. Every one for ten miles 'round heard the big woman was going to be baptized in the river and wanted to see it done. There were a thou- sand or more on the banks when the time came. Your father accepted Elder Brewster's invitation and took robes and waders for both of them along with him. He rode over with Fairbanks, who had been asked to assist in the singing, as they wanted to make the services as impressive as possible. I rode with Jud and the rest of the quartette. When all was ready the fat woman went down to the water and two of her sisters went with her to take the blanket that was wrapped around her. Your father and Elder Brewster waded out into the stream first, to read the Scriptures, say something to the people, to note the strength of the current, and to get Elder Brewster a little used to water, I guess. Then, too, mebbe they thought they'd be stronger when the first chill was off. Then they walked up to where 246 A STREAK OF YELLOW the candidate was standing, passed the Bible up to one of the deacons, extended each a hand to the sister, and led her out between them. The water was cold and she drew heavy breaths at first. The edges of her robe wouldn't sink, for some reason, and as they went deeper the thing puffed up around her like a balloon, and the farther they waded the bigger the balloon grew. Fairbanks and the quar- tette had started singing This is the way I long have sought, and mourned because I found it not.' and most every one on the banks had joined them. Your father and Elder Brewster were looking into the skies and were piping like meadow-larks; some say like loons, but that's a slander. You know how water magnifies things? The Black River does it, the same as others. Some ladies who stood nearest blushed and turned their faces away. The crowd became restless, the singing stopped in spite of Fair- banks, and some one shouted. That started a big laugh. Elder Brewster saw first what was up and he tried to tuck it down. Then your father did some tall tucking, too. He took both hands to it, wet the edge of the robe and tried to make it sink. He was succeeding well, when the candidate discov- ered he had loosened his hold of her and that her only support was that frail, weazy, dried-up little Brewster. She screamed and grabbed for your father, and as she did it, she lost her footing, fell, and dragged little Brewster under with her. I never saw such a scramble. Brewster came up first and had to fight some to get loose from the bunting and to gain his feet. Your father caught the woman ON BOARD THE "SCOTIA" 247 then and succeeded in getting her head above water ; but he couldn't do much, she floundered around so and made such a fuss. After Brewster had brushed his locks out of his eyes, and turned the water out of both his ears, and wiped his face with a soaked handkerchief, he went to your father's assistance. Deacon Haldane and two of the brothers drove the deacon's horse out into the river, a short ways down stream, to render aid and to catch any one who might come their way. They weren't needed, though, for the pastors succeeded in placing the candidate upon her feet without them. She was terribly excited, was blowing hard, was mad and hystericky, and refused, point blank, to be again immersed, and in the orthodox way. They all caught on behind Deacon Haldane' s buggy and held on until the deacon's mare reached the bank. You can imagine how the crowd acted. Every one most blames your father. He never examined the robe he loaned Elder Brewster at all, and Brewster didn't know better than to give it to the candidate just as he had received it. I guess your father was absent- minded when he went to the closet or he would have noticed how light the garment was. Of course it was the very one Roger and Charlie had extracted the buck-shot from. Roger will make a pippin of a preacher, don't you think?" Near the end of the letter, Ben wrote : "We are all dying to see you, and if you will let me know when you are coming home I will order out the band for you. I am leader of the band now, and we play at picnics and celebrations all around the 248 A STREAK OF YELLOW country. We played at Bill Taylor's funeral last week. The Odd Fellows buried him, and it made the shouting Methodists madder than hornets because we were hired. They wouldn't let us inside the church. There was a mighty big turn-out. Everybody seemed pleased to see Bill Taylor planted. I never knew a man to be so popular after he had died who had been so ornery and unpopular all his life. The band came out in new uniforms that day, and some of the boys think that's what drew the crowd ; your father says the people wanted to make sure Taylor was laid at rest, and that was the cause of it. Taylor grew worse after you left. He talked all the time about your being driven away from home, and one would have supposed he was your only friend. He didn't do anything but mind other people's business and find fault. My dad's an Odd Fellow and I poked fun at him because they took Taylor into the lodge. He says Taylor was 'one of the old originals' and was 'elevated' some- where else in the first place, and when they reorgan- ized they couldn't refuse him. I guess they were afraid to turn him down for fear he would tell every one about their goat, and other secrets. Ma says the Odd Fellows gave him a decent burial just to show the people what they could do. Mrs. Tay- lor goes about town telling every one her husband died of the 'yaller jaunders.' You always said you'd bet he had a yellow streak through him somewheres, and from her diagnosis of his final ailment I con- clude you were right about it. ON BOARD THE SCOTIA 249 "Jud is head-push at the store now and is a part- ner. Hooker relies entirely upon him. He is wear- ing whiskers, and would make a first rate Haley in an Uncle Tom company. Say, pard, you ought to see the sweet bunch of loveliness you pulled out of the church tank. She's the finest specimen of fem- ininity in this town, but she won't have a thing to do with any of us fellows. I guess she's saving her sweetness for you, eh ?" Jud wrote a brotherly letter, covering nearly the same ground the others had, but going more into details regarding changes at the store and in his own fortunes. When the "Scotia" arrived back in Astoria in December that year, there was a large mail awaiting Samuel Boggs. The young man carried it from the post-office to the cabin of the vessel in a basket, and Mary MacDonald assisted him in sorting it according to the dates the letters bore and the per- sons writing. The lassie also undid the photos, and as she stood the portrait of Rose Wilson against the water pitcher and noticed the blush in Sam's cheeks, she left the cabin, biting her lips, and went up on deck that she might not seem further ''to intrude with her presence." The letters were read on the installment plan, and the ship's usual cargo had nearly all been unloaded before the last one was finished. They each and all begged the young man to return hom'e and seemed to bear the confidential assurance that he would start at once, just as soon as the reading of the particular entreaty was ended. 250 A STREAK OF YELLOW There were letters from Mrs. Stoner and Joe in the collection. Mrs. Stoner's was full of expressions of love and the same motherly advice she had always given; spoke of hardships endured; but through it all was the same tone of Christian forti- tude and resignation that had characterized her beautiful life. Joe was up on Puget Sound at a place called Tacoma, and was assisting Hi Foster, of the Joplin party, in the erection of a saw mill near the head of the large and beautiful inlet. Sam took an afternoon and half a night to answer the correspondence. He wrote one letter for those at home, declaring it would have to answer for all. It only gave an account of his life with the Mac- Donalds and covering the trip to Alaska. It was full of kind words for the honest Scotch traders and of their splendid treatment of him; told how they practiced Christianity in their dealings with the Eskimos, the fishermen, the seal hunters, and with each other; how they observed the Sabbath and all religious days, and of how he and "Bonnie Mary" had tried to keep up their studies on ship board. He could not say too much of the "Scotia's" crew and the beautiful country their trim little schooner had visited. He told how the inhabitants of the isolated northern towns would await the coming of the ship and always welcome it; how they would bring from hiding the very choicest skins and furs they had kept back from other traders and saved for the honest merchants, who gave fair 'goods and just measure of value in return. Only a portion of the letter was of special interest. It read : ON BOARD THE SCOTIA 251 "We had been as far as Chilkoot, had visited Juneau upon our return, had beaten our way across the Lynn Canal, and were in the narrows of Cross Sound, with sails set, awaiting a breeze, when a steam craft bore toward us. I took the glass from Captain Robert, who said the boat was out of any usual course for a steamer and was evidently mak- ing straight for us with some message, but flew no signal. As it came near I easily made her out to be the 'Cormorant/ the piratical sealer I wrote you about, and so told the captain. It was a dark and hazy day, and I expressed a fear to the captain that the steamer's crew meant us no good ; that they were wicked enough to rob our ship, murder us all, and sink the 'Scotia/ or do any other piece of wicked- ness known to the high seas. The captain was agreed with me, and, with the little wind in our favor, he put the ship about and steered for shallow water. Chicagoff Island, with its rugged cliffs, lay near us, and we scanned our chart closely for shal- low water, where the poacher could not reach us and where our Winchesters would keep off any of her crew who might venture toward us in small boats. Our little schooner crawled along slowly, and we cast the lead frequently and took in sail as the line only showed eight feet of water, barely enough to float us. Then we took in all sail and cast anchor. The 'Cormorant' did not dare follow us, but it hove to and cast anchor, as though awaiting a better opportunity to secure our stores. We worked out of the Sound that night, but kept close in toward Kruzof and Sitka, keeping a close watch astern and 252 A STREAK OF YELLOW scanning the chart for places of safety. Of course no one slept. We saw nothing more of that foul bird of the seas, but while making the return visit to Sitka the captain of a coastwise steamer gave us the information that he had sighted the 'Cormorant' hard aground in Cross Sound, but that he knew of no man in his crew, or in the crew of any honest trader, who would wish to go to the assistance of the miserable seal robbers. "The second day out of Sitka we ran into a severe storm, the worst, the MacDonalds said, they had met in their experience, and we sailed into the lee of Coronation Island for safety, and anchored near the shore. I am greatly interested in Coronation Island now, as I believe it holds a splendid fortune for me. Donald and I went ashore in the dory the next morning. It was Sunday. We wandered up over the rocks some and I dug up with my hands a beautiful little specimen of a fir tree, the name of which none of us can give, not even the Captain. While digging I had occasion to remove some loose rock that had doubtless rolled down or been washed down from some point above. It was dark and heavy and I guessed it bore galena. When I broke it apart I was sure of it. It was as fine a specimen as I ever saw. I handed it to 'Mac' and asked him what he thought of it. He knew nothing about it, said he had picked up several similar pieces on his way up and noticed their weight, but thought little of it; he said the captain had mined galena some in the old country, and he might know. I climbed higher and secured even finer specimens, all I could ON BOARD THE SCOTIA 253 carry, the finest surely I had ever handled. We hurried back to the ship, and Captain Robert was the most excited man you ever heard about. He said if it wasn't Sunday he would go with us to prospect the hills that very hour. Well, would you think it? The Captain would not let one of us go ashore that day. He conducted more religious services than ever, and two or three times I caught him praying around the ship, and each time he had a chunk of my galena ore in his hands. Mary gave me one of her flower pots and I planted the young fir in it and it is doing finely, only I must soon get it into a larger box. It is a handsome thing and I'm going to try and save it. Monday morning the Captain had us out before daylight, and we went over several square rods of Coronation Island be- fore breakfast. Donald simply went along for com- pany. He was something of a nuisance, as he would pick up bits of rock every five minutes and bring them to us to look at. The large rocks looked to me like so many great piles of galena ore against the sky that Monday morning. I followed up a ravine, where there were many detached portions of rock bearing the mineral, and when I reached the moun- tain itself I found a finer outcropping than the Ozark Hills of Missouri ever contained. When the Captain came up and saw it, he hugged me for joy. We three men, with our hands joined, couldn't reach across that vein. We were an hour late for breakfast, but were too happy to eat, anyway, and Mary forgave us. We remained there for ten days, and with the aid of gunny sacks placed at least a 254 A STREAK OF YELLOW ton of ore each day aboard the 'Scotia.' We found deep water where we could anchor near the rocks and we used everything we could think of for a bridge. We expect to sail for the 'Frisco smelters tomorrow, that we may test the ore. Four prom- ising claims are staked out and all have agreed to share and share alike in any profits. The Mac- Donalds say I shall stand on an equal footing with them in recognition of my discovery. I will write of results after the smelter tests are made. I have named the biggest vein, the one I discovered far up the ravine, the 'Rose Wilson.' That name ought to bring good luck, don't you think so?" CHAPTER XXXI A SYMPATHETIC CAPTAIN If you think, as men are apt to think, your own trade, or profession, or avocation, is one you should advise your boys not to follow, it will be well to look through the books for names of illustr'ous men who've followed the very same thing. Sam Boggs, Jr. Sam wrote the promised letter from 'Frisco, and it said the smelter returns more than met their ex- pectations and that they were fitting out to return ,to the island, to make further explorations and to develop the "Rose Wilson" property. They had purchased wire cable and an upright engine, and proposed to set up an automatic conveyor, to carry the ore from the mine to the water's edge ; had writ- ten Joe and sent specifications of mine and dock tim- bers they desired and of the lumber needed for the camp; had given the date of their probable depart- ure from San Francisco Bay, and had calculated the time it would take the schooner to reach the Sound with a fair wind. They had invited Stoner to join their company, realizing the advantage a practical machinist and mechanic would be to them. In the letter was a New York draft for two hundred dol- lars, which, the writer said, was to be used in the education of Roger Williams. The greater portion 256 A STREAK OF YELLOW of the letter was addressed personally to Roger and was as follows : "Ever since meeting the MacDonalds, my dear brother, I have longed for an education. Captain 'Mac' is a graduate of Edinburgh University, and is the most polished gentleman and the best posted man on all subjects I ever met. He is a great reader and keeps a fine assortment of books on ship board. I can hardly tell whether he loves philosophy, or astronomy, or the sciences best. He has a good glass aboard, and many a night when we were in Alaskan waters, I have known of his being up on deck in perfect revery as he studied the splendid skies of that region. He went to sea for his health, and naturally went with his brother, Donald, who is a sailor. The Captain is an enthusiast in anything he undertakes, and he knows more about handling a ship now than Donald does, and that accounts for his being called 'Captain.' He declares that one view of the heavens some particular view has more than repaid him for coming to this shore. He is strong and well now, but says he has no intention of going back to Scotland so long as Donald can make a living with the schooner. When I told him my father is a minister, and that you are going to be one, he said his father was, too a Presbyterian and a collegian. He has almost talked me into it, and every time I say my education is too poor, he asks if 'Bonnie Mary' is doing nothing for me and if I am following the course of study he has mapped out. My, if I knew one-quarter as much as he does, I would surely be a preacher, but I could never learn. A SYMPATHETIC CAPTAIN 257 He has had wonderful sympathy for me ever since I told him about it, and seems to love to keep refer- ing to it. I guess we all catch about the same view of it. He has told me, as many as three times over, of the great men who have been preachers or preachers' sons, and I have tried hard to remember, to write you. He insists we are in a class by our- selves and deserve much better estimates than we generally receive; says we have been abused for generations ; that most people expect us to be angels, absolutely perfect something high above other boys and the very next moment they make us out to be just like other boys, only worse. They make us angels only that they can slowly pull the quills from our wings and keep us in wretched torment as long as possible, and when they are through with us, we look worse than plucked turkey buzzards. In small towns, he says, the populace keeps us con- stantly under suspicion, and he's been made to feel like a criminal when he wasn't one, many a time. I like the captain better for it. He tells me we have no occasion for hanging our heads, and that it's a distinct honor to be ministers' sons, and, if I get anything out of the mine, I'm going to have great pleasure in helping to educate one minister's son I know of, for the ministry. Can you think whom I refer to? I feel differently upon this subject than I did before meeting the Captain. "Emerson's ancestors were ministers back five families, says the Captain. James Russell Lowell was brought up in a minister's home. I have been reading some of his books and he was a fine fellow. 258 A STREAK OF YELLOW Holmes, the poet, began writing in his father's par- sonage. I hope his father's study was more attrac- tive to him than my father's was to me; but that's a tender subject, and I always feel of the place where I sit down when I think of it. Arabella writes me you don't have to do it. I guess that's why you have decided to preach. Henry Ward Beecher is a preacher's son and I have learned to like him mighty well. The Captain names Addison, Goldsmith. Coleridge, Cowper, Young, Tennyson, and a lot more, as being sons of ministers. He went through the list of philosophers, and tells me Dugald, Stew- art, Reid, Abercrombie, and Bentham are in our class. The other night he was reading some of Macaulay's Essays to us, and when he finished he said, 'There's a pretty smart preacher's boy for you,' and then he added, 'Yes, and there's Swift and Thackeray and Kingsley and Matthew Arnold,' and he said many more I cannot now recall. He has named to me a lot of men now living who are min- ister's sons and who are famous in one line or another. Don't you think we ought to be proud over it? Are you not glad you are called into the service of the Great King? It's too late for me to think of it, but do you think you can estimate what my pleasure will be in trying to help educate you for it ? I ask God every day to grant me this bless- ing. I thank Him that our father is a minister, and since I have learned to love water so much I rejoice that he is a Baptist. I'd rather he'd be that than anything else, unless it's a Presbyterian. I am a member of the 'Scotia' Presbyterian Church now, A SYMPATHETIC CAPTAIN 259 and Mary MacDonald and I constitute the choir, the Captain preaches, and Donald and the cat make up the lay membership." The letter contained the disappointing informa- tion that the writer expected to spend the remainder of his life upon the Pacific coast, where the oppor- tunities for a young man seemed greater, and es- pecially so to him, if the mine should bring the re- turns it promised. It gave no information what- ever as to when he expected to return home, in fact said nothing upon the subject. For the next two years Sam Boggs was a miner on Coronation Island and his bunk-mate was Joe Stoner. The development work had progressed far enough during this period to prove there were for- tunes stored in the rugged hills. They had already considerable wealth in the shape of rich ore piled upon the dock that Joe had constructed. There was no yellow metal in the mass and Sam was delighted over the fact. The partners needed money, how- ever, to place the ore upon the market ; needed ves- sels to bear it to the smelter, and saw how necessary capital was to their enterprise. The "Scotia" was far too small, and the smelter was too far distant for the making of money with conditions and appli- ances as they were. Thus the road to wealth seemed long and uncertain, unless new capital could be drawn into the enterprise. Joe had heard that capi- talists interested in mines were going to erect a smelter upon Puget Sound, probably at Seattle, and he imparted this information to his companions. He and Sam were selected to go with the Captain to 260 A STREAK OF YELLOW investigate, and after the "Scotia" was loaded with all the ore she could carry, the three started for 'Frisco by way of the Sound. They missed "Bonnie Mary's" good cooking upon the journey ; but where anticipations are high, appetites are usually keen, and the men drew cuts at each meal to see who should prepare the next, and they managed to stick the Captain at nearly every draw, and so lived pretty much on the "top shelf" all the time. CHAPTER XXXII PLANTING A REMINDER When you know you can't leave a great name behind you, and you're too modest to erect your own maus'leum, why not plant a tree ? It will afford more comfort to future gen' rations than your tomb possibly could, and it won't expose your van- ity half as much. Sam Boggs, Jr. It had been an open winter in western New York and there were many signs of an early spring. March came in like a lamb, and although large flakes of snow were falling that melted the moment they came in contact with earth, there was balm in the atmosphere, warmth in the sun that was fre- quently playing peek-a-boo from behind leaden clouds, and Jack Frost was loosing his icy grip upon the ground. Roger Williams came home from school and stomped in through the front door, and hurried through the dining-room without shaking the damp snow from his coat or removing his hat or mittens. The other members of the family were at table, and when the big boy re-entered the room and stormed through it and out again, carrying a long-handled spade, Mrs. Boggs became curious and followed him as far as the door, opened it a bit, and peeked out. The head of the family shrugged his shoulders, blew on his thumbs, and suggested that considerable cold 262 A STREAK OF YELLOW air was gaining an entrance, but the inquisitive woman did not take the hint until she saw her son turn and retrace his steps. "If I were you I would pass around the house with an implement of that kind," said the Doctor to Roger, as he came in. "It will save your mother's curiosity and some stove-wood besides." "Who is the man and what is he doing in our yard?" asked the mother as she resumed her place at table. "I don't know who he is," replied Roger. "I never saw him before, but he has on the finest seal- skin coat and cap I ever saw." "What did he say to you?" was the mother's next question. "He asked me if I could bring him a spade." "What's he digging up?" asked the Doctor. "He isn't digging anything up, he's planting something some kind of an evergreen tree. I asked him why he did it, and he told me he was born in this house, and now that he's a man he thought he'd like to leave a tree as a living reminder of the fact. He asked if I thought my mother would mind showing him the room where he was born." "Anything else?" asked the mother. "He said he hoped there'd be no objection to his planting the tree, and I told him it was church prop- erty, and if his father was once pastor of our church I could see no objection." "What did he say to that?" asked Jud, who was just becoming interested. PLANTING A REMINDER 263 "He only sighed, and said his father used to be our pastor." "I didn't see him look toward the house once," observed Mrs. Boggs, "but he kept his back this way all the time. What does he look like?" "He looked to me like the picture of John the Baptist that hangs in the study," said Roger. "He has dark whiskers and long, curly hair, and hand- some big brown eyes. Two or three times he said he hoped the tree would live, hoped I would tend it, because he'd brought it a long way." "Praise God ! I knew it. It's our Samuel !" cried the mother as she jumped from her chair and rushed out the door. Chairs tipped over and napkins fell as the others followed her. Mrs. Boggs did not stop for the damp snow or wet ground, nor did she close the door behind her. The tree-planter turned as she called his name, and the two rushed wildly together, and Mrs. Boggs was nearly smothered in that magnificent seal-skin, as though in the embrace of an Alaskan bear. Sam's cap dropped to the ground as he showered kisses upon his mother's cheeks and forehead. Then, with arms around each other, they walked into the parsonage, where the others were standing, dumbfounded, with tears streaming from their eyes. The home-coming of a prodigal is a thing sacred to the immediate family, and because it is a difficult thing to portray the joy of such an occasion, it is best to draw the curtain of sanctity about the scene and leave it unprofaned. 264 A STREAK OF YELLOW After dinner, Sam Boggs told of his more recent experiences, and all during the following week he was obliged to relate them over and over again. He told them to Mrs. Fairbanks as he held and admired her bouncing baby boy ; to Mr. Hooker and the Wil- sons, in the residence of the last-named, where a beautiful young woman kept her eyes constantly riveted upon him as he proceeded with the narra- tive; to groups of townspeople as they hovered about the big stove in the general store. Sam dis- liked to tell of the unpleasant things and avoided them as much as possible, and was modest in speak- ing of himself. He loved to tell of the Stoners and the MacDonalds, and to describe the beauties of southeastern Alaska. A new company had been formed to operate the mines on Coronation Island, and it had ample means in its treasury. The four original owners Joe had been let in on even terms sold a one-half interest in the properties for $150,000, with the understand- ing that $100,000 of the money should be used in the development of the mines. The remaining $50,000 was divided evenly among the original owners, and Sam had his share with him in the shape of New York drafts the morning he planted the Coronation fir in the parsonage yard. The young man left instructions at the Wilson bank to have the money standing to his credit there placed to the credit of his brother Roger, to be used in his education. He added one thousand dollars to it for the same purpose, and during his stay did many things to insure the comfort of his parents, PLANTING A REMINDER 265 whose locks were now silvery white. On May first he started upon his return for Seattle, where a smelter was in process of erection that his company expected to use in the reduction of its ores, and where he was to have offices as secretary and treasurer of the new corporation. The "Rose Wilson" mine yielded handsomely for its owners. The MacDonalds, Joe Stoner, and Sam Boggs fast became leading and influential men in the thriving city of Seattle. Joe had won a place in "Bonnie Mary's" heart after a long and persistent chase, and after their wedding Mrs. Stoner came West to live with them, and never for a moment had fears that she was in the way, or was not wel- come to an equal share of every blessing they en- joyed. She never ceased calling Joe and Sam her boys, and they never ceased their kindly attentions or gentle ministrations to her. Joe was interested with the MacDonalds in their extensive lumbering operations, and was also a partner of Hi Foster in the Tacoma mill. Hi took naturally to politics, and at an early day his associates and friends upon the Sound took a keen interest in his ambitions and de- clared that sometime they would make him gov- ernor or would land him in the United States Senate Five years after the planting of the fir there was a brilliant wedding in Batesville the most brilliant in the history of the model young city. The cere- mony was performed in the Baptist Church by the Rev. Samuel E. Boggs,. D. D., assisted by the Rev. Roger Williams Boggs. Benjamin F. H. Hopkins was best man and A. Judson Boggs was master of 266 A STREAK OF YELLOW ceremonies. Henry Wilson gave the bride away and Mrs. Arabella Fairbanks, who insisted it was her right, had entire charge of the floral decorations in the church and in the residence of the Wilson's, where the reception was held and where the splendid array of presents was greatly admired. She was discreet enough to omit any shade of yellow from the decoration scheme. As Arabella and Sam draped back the bride's veil at the conclusion of the ceremony, Jud was overheard to say, as he looked at a pretty face upon the dial of his watch, "condum- itall, I wish I had been younger and had reached the baptistry first!"