CONTENTS.
| CHAPTER I. | |
| CLINTON AND HIS HOME. | |
| Page. | |
| Description of Brookdale—The house where Clintonlived—Specimens of his ingenuity—His habit of findingout how to do things—Annie—Clinton’s mother—Keepingducks—Clinton’s poultry—Keeping accounts—Hisprofits—Obstinate Specky—Ducks bad mothers—Theduck-house—No school—Studying at home—Clintonat work—A mysterious “but,” | [13] |
CHAPTER II. | |
| JERRY AND OSCAR. | |
| Digging a duck-pond—Bantering—A talk about work—Goingto the pond—Clinton’s hesitation—Afraidof being laughed at—Ridicule—He yields—Bathing—Amerry time—Unpleasant thoughts—A sail proposed—Clinton’sremonstrance—His return home—Hiscompanions’ sport—Aground—Laughing at mischief—Characterof Jerry and Oscar—Dangers ahead, | [30] |
CHAPTER III. | |
| TEMPTATION. | |
| The little ducks—Their house and pond—Their firstducking—An exciting scene—The beautiful and theridiculous—Winter wheat—Hard work—A welcomeproposal—The Cross-Roads—Clinton’s errand—Oscarand Jerry—Gunning—The closed store—Anothersuccessful temptation—The river—The Falls—Thewood-road—The cigars—Temptation again—WhyClinton yielded—A new sensation—Starting forhome—Another new sensation, not so pleasant—Arrivalhome—Sickness—Telling half the truth—Parentalsympathy—What conscience said—Good-night, | [43] |
CHAPTER IV. | |
| CRIME. | |
| The icicle—How evil habits are formed—Stealing pears—Discoveryand flight—A call from Mr. Upham—Aserious matter—A talk about punishment—The culpritsdiscovered—The flogging of Oscar and Jerry—Itseffects—Fire in the woods—Mr. Upham’s loss—Hissuspicions—The warrant—Arrest of Oscar andJerry—Mr. Preston’s feelings—Arrival at Squire Walcott’s—Adreary hour, | [61] |
CHAPTER V. | |
| THE EXAMINATION. | |
| The Justice of the Peace—Oscar’s arraignment—Hisfeelings—The Squire’s advice—Reading of the complaint—Oscar’splea—The witnesses—Mr. Preston’sopinion of the evidence—Decision reserved—Jerry’sexamination—His confession—Oscar’s recall—Hissurprise—Bonds required, but not obtained—Oscarand the constable—A sad journey—The jail—Theregistry—Oscar’s cell—His supper—His father’s arrivalat Brookdale—The case settled—Release fromjail, | [73] |
CHAPTER VI. | |
| JERRY AND CLINTON. | |
| Mr. Preston’s absence—Jerry’s conduct—The rabbits—Disobedience—Itsresults—Fate of the rabbits—Lonesomenessof Jerry—His secret intimacy with Clinton—Adull scholar—Playing truant—A bad predicament—Aplan of escape—Clinton to be a party—Hisobjections—The real one not given—Coaxing andentreaty—Indecision—Tampering with sin—Theforged excuse—Its success, | [87] |
CHAPTER VII. | |
| DISCLOSURES. | |
| How to conquer a hard lesson—Can and can’t—An importantlesson—Clinton’s great mistake—His miserableposition—The social party—Master Eaton andMrs. Preston—Inquiries about Jerry—Unpleasant discoveries—Amystery—Suspicions—Foreboding ofevil—Clinton’s guilt betrayed—Shame and grief—Arequest—The confession—Master Eaton’s opinion ofthe case—His advice—Jerry’s perplexity, | [101] |
CHAPTER VIII. | |
| CONFESSION. | |
| A peep at Clinton’s home—A talk about him—His returnfrom school—Sober looks—Whittling—Story ofa whittler—Clinton unburdens his mind—Parentaladmonitions—A father’s prayer—Clinton’s punishment—Alighter heart, | [115] |
CHAPTER IX. | |
| THE RUNAWAY. | |
| A visit from Mrs. Preston—Jerry’s theft and departure—Hismother’s grief—Mr. Davenport’s advice—Hestarts in pursuit—His return—Feelings towards Jerry—Temptationnot to be courted, | [125] |
CHAPTER X. | |
| THE JOURNEY. | |
| A long walk—The tavern—The bar-room—Jerryquestioned—A good supper—Sleep—An early call—Thestage ride—Waterville—The depot—A longride by railroad—Thoughts of home—Portland—Travellingby night—Arrival at Boston—Baggagechecks—Carriages—Bare ground—HaymarketSquare by gas-light—Hunting up quarters—The Hotelclerk—Jerry booked—A lofty bed-room, | [132] |
CHAPTER XI. | |
| BOSTON. | |
| A fine prospect—What next?—Oscar at sea—Breakfast—Thewaiters—Crowded streets—Novel sights—Anomnibus incident—Shipping—The ferry-boat—PeopleJerry met—The wharf—No boys wanted—Theoutward-bound brig—An unexpected chance—Goingto sea in a hurry—Jerry’s thoughtlessness, | [147] |
CHAPTER XII. | |
| THE SAILOR-BOY. | |
| Going down the harbor—The ocean—Jerry’s first lessonin nautical duties—Four-footed passengers—Seasickness—Repentings—Bob’strick—Jerry’s tormentors—Goingto bed—The forecastle—First nightat sea—A rough morning-call—Scrubbing decks—Breakfast—Destinationof the brig—An “Irishman’shurricane”—Mother Carey’s chickens—Routine ofwork at sea—Iron discipline—A nap at the watch—Insolencecured—Dangerous associates, | [158] |
CHAPTER XIII. | |
| MARY. | |
| Jerry missed at home—What Mary thought had becomeof him—A letter—Disappointment—Clinton’s visits—Thesnow-image—A painful contrast—Mary’ssickness—The doctor—Strange talk—Delirium—Recognition—Inquiriesabout Jerry—Mary’s vision—Thelast scene—The burial—Heaven, | [174] |
CHAPTER XIV. | |
| THE FORESTS. | |
| March—Clinton’s good conduct—An excursion proposed—Preparations—Theoutfit—An early start—Theirdestination—The forests—Plenty of wood—Its scarcity in Europe—Greatstumps—A variety of trees—Theiruses—Virtues of birch—Incident in Mr. Davenport’sschool days—The oil of birch—Curious propertiesof the birch tree—Uncle Tim’s clearing, | [186] |
CHAPTER XV. | |
| THE CLEARING. | |
| Uncle Tim’s premises—His log house and barn—Dinner—UncleTim’s account of his settlement in thewoods—A table turned into an arm-chair—Splints—Holesin the floor—The river—A sagacious dog—Billand Jim—The barn—The crops—A great fire-place—Supper—Avisit to the river—A talk withthe boys—The settle—“I’ll try”—Uncle Tim’s stories—Thethree brothers—An alarm—A bad, butlaughable predicament—Good done by a bear—Goingto bed, | [198] |
CHAPTER XVI. | |
| THE LOGGERS. | |
| The journey resumed—Dreary scenes—Camping in thewoods—Welcome sounds—The loggers’ quarters—Mr.Jones—Situation of the camp—Description of thecabins—Their interior—Return of the loggers fromwork—Supper—Exchange of provisions—Night inthe camp—Going to work—The three gangs—Clinton’srambles—Private marks on the logs—Eveningstories—Log driving—Jams—How they are started—Afearful scene—Narrow escape—The greatboom—How the logs are got out, | [215] |
CHAPTER XVII. | |
| A TALK IN THE WOODS. | |
| Starting for home—A logger’s life—Mr. Davenport’sopinion of it—Hard work and small pay—Mr.Jones’s history—The two boys—Contrast betweentheir early habits—Henry Jones’s fatal error—Itsconsequences—A moose discovered—Its appearance—Fasttravelling—Antlers of the moose—A moose-yard—Huntingmoose—A moose at bay—Homeagain, | [232] |
CHAPTER XVIII. | |
| WORK AND PLAY. | |
| Early spring—A dull season for boys—Clinton in theshop—He makes a settle—The motto—Winterover—Work on the farm—Taking care of the garden—Abargain—Contest with weeds and bugs—Secretsof Clinton’s success—Going to the post-office—Aboyish dispute—Play-ground rhymes—Theirantiquity—The two letters—Curiosity excited—Aletter from Jerry—Unpleasant question—Consultingthe map, | [245] |
CHAPTER XIX. | |
| BITTER FRUITS. | |
| Letter from Clinton’s uncle—Willie’s disappointment—Aninteresting case—Oscar’s career, after his releasefrom jail—Joins a band of juvenile thieves—His arrest—Imprisonment—Denialof guilt—A dark future—Friendlymessages—A wag of Bouncer’s tail—Abad beginning seldom makes a good ending—Workingand thinking—A newspaper—Oscar’s convictionand sentence—The Reform School—Its inmates—Thefour classes—Class of “Truth and Honor”—Dailyorder of business—Employment—Theprobability of Oscar’s reforming—Clinton’s characterretrieved—Conclusion, | [260] |