CONTENTS.

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CHAPTER I.

THE PAGES.

PAGE.
The stage coming—A sharp pair of eyes—Rover’s greeting—The two passengers—Warm greetings—Oscar—Ronald’s opinion of him—His judgment corrected—The farm—Capt. Page’s last voyage—How the farm was managed—The boarders—Ronald—His early orphanage—A temporary home—Marcus’s proposal—Its success—The little savage tamed—Oscar’s bearing—His good purposes—Difficulties—The secret—A lesson to learn—Oscar’s career,[19]

CHAPTER II.

THE NEW-COMER.

The lion of the day—Oscar’s plans—A few days’ leisure—The flock of sheep—Other attractions—Willing idleness—The agreement in relation to Oscar—An inducement to industry—Oscar’s work laid out—Fair play enjoined—Lord of the woodshed—Volunteers—Keeping the pile good—Cutting hay and roots—Feeding the stock—Special pets—Taking care of the horses—Milking the cows—Sundry jobs—Studies—Play-time—Daily lessons,[32]

CHAPTER III.

A BOY’S INFLUENCE.

Kate and the boys—Indian ink prickings—Ear boring—Smartings—Exhibiting the marks—Doing as other boys do—The beauty of Indian ink art—A relic of heathenism—Why the ancients marked themselves—No moral guilt incurred by the boys—Soap and water of no avail—What Oscar said—A doubtful star—Unsuspected listeners—Sam Hapley—His family—The mortgage—A sad change—Influence of large boys—Power of example—An illustration—A good purpose,[43]

CHAPTER IV.

UP THE MOUNTAIN.

An abandoned project—A party for Prescott’s Peak—Anecdotes of Rover—Other knowing dogs—Ronald’s story—Was it a lie?—A cast-off snake’s skin—Black snakes—The pond—Mysterious operations—Setting the water afire—The experiment explained—Fire-damps—Steamboats engulfed in flames—The Mountain—Old Gooden—His adventure with a steel trap—How he lived—His family—The cabin—The spruce gum trade—A foolish habit—The top of the mountain—The view—A monument proposed—The stones—The pole—The descent—Something left behind—A generous and a mean spirit—Ronald’s return—Wearing veils—The reproof—The veil restored—Difficulties of the descent—The lost cap—“Tit for tat”—The cap reclaimed—Arrival home,[55]

CHAPTER V.

THE BLOTTED WRITING-BOOK.

A welcome announcement—Marcus as teacher—Favors solicited—Demonstrations of joy—A sudden change—Ronald’s explanation—The blotted writing-book—Punishment—Resistance and escape—An omitted particular—Assault and battery—How Marcus proposed to settle the matter—Mrs. Page’s misgivings—The case discussed—Nature of school government—An interview with the teacher—Her version of the affair—Ronald’s impudence—The writing-book examined—A discovery—The disgrace of expulsion—The teacher’s terms of settlement—Ronald rejects them—Motives urged—Unhappiness—The last resort—A motive that cannot be resisted—Going to school—Outside annoyances—The confession—The teacher’s response—Her confession—The unknown offender—Ronald subdued,[75]

CHAPTER VI.

LETTER-WRITING.

How Oscar discharged his duties—His lessons—Unanswered letters—A bad way—The day devoted to letter-writing—“Yes” and “No”—Why Marcus spoke of the subject—Wandering thoughts—A strange bird—A day dream—The proud conquest—A perilous descent—The prize secured—The dream ended—The newspaper—Scribbling—Apologies—The eagle becomes a hawk—Marcus astonished—Oscar’s excuses—A ride lost—Finds himself a prisoner—A light dinner—The task finished—A plan to encourage letter-writing—Kate’s achievements in that line—A domestic post office—The plan unfolded—A vote taken—Choosing a name—Rules adopted,[92]

CHAPTER VII.

THE RAIN POWER.

The letter-box—The first mail—The invitation—A storm predicted—The water boils away—The prediction fulfilled—Sorry mishaps—Fretfulness—Selfishness—The rain not needless—Quantity not excessive—A few calculations—Wonderful results—Annual fall of rain—Rainy regions—Little and often better than much and seldom—Object of the tropical rains—How the water forms clouds—Evaporation—Effects of heat—Why vapor rises—Visible vapors—Office of the winds—Why the rain falls—Snow and hail—Snow crystals—The Sahara—South American deserts—Poetry—Bryant’s “Rain Dream,”[110]

CHAPTER VIII.

INSUBORDINATION.

Marcus’s theory of government—How it worked with Oscar—Apprehended failure—A consultation—A forbidden intimacy—Tobacco—The letter—Ten arguments against tobacco, and one for it—An ineffectual remonstrance—Mrs. Page’s decision—Oscar plainly dealt with—His demeanor—The circus bill—The excitement suddenly allayed—Objections to the circus—Oscar’s opinion—A caution—Arrival of the circus—Oscar visits the grounds—Who he met there—The donkey race—Otis—A recognition—An unfortunate exposure—Alfred Walton—An offer—Oscar declines—Solicitations and motives—He is pressed into the tent—Late return home—Is called to account—Punishment—A prisoner on parole—Inviolability of the parole—The Turkish soldiers—Oscar’s promise—Repentings,[131]

CHAPTER IX.

CORRESPONDENCE.

The “Letter-writing Society”—A letter from Oscar to Marcus—An explanation—A secret trouble—A good purpose—Marcus to Oscar—The explanation examined—The blame not wholly removed—The secret—Self-government—The several steps—An illustration—How Mr. Ease is snubbed—The victory—Self-denial the law of life—Power of habit—A proposal from Otis—A criticism by Kate—The critic criticised—Advantage of not taking things upon trust—Kate convicted—An apology—Something about “the old maid”—One of her letters—The four dogs,[151]

CHAPTER X.

A WOUNDED CONSCIENCE.

Ellen Blake—A place wanted—A suggestion—Mrs. Page decides to take Ellen—The school prizes—Another blotted writing-book—Lewis Daniels—His singular conduct—The teacher’s suspicions—What she said to Lewis—His reply—Guilt betrayed—His confession—A singular reason for blotting his book—Another sin confessed—A mystery cleared up—Stings of conscience—Seeking peace by new sins—The teacher’s forgiveness—A duty to Ronald—A duty to God—Prayer—Lewis confesses his fault to Ronald—Anger checked—The penitent forgiven—The examination—Ronald takes two prizes,[163]

CHAPTER XI.

INDOOR AMUSEMENTS.

A disappointment—Amusements—The new play—“Conglomeration”—A queer medley of words—The sentences read—Rare sport—The “Hay-Mow Debating Society”—Questions discussed—A riddle—A puzzle—Turk and Christian puzzle—A prolific word of seven letters—Angles—Oscar’s puzzle—Half of nine—The Arabs and their dinner—The carpenter’s dispute—Story of Audley, the miser—A hard bargain—Results of arithmetical progression—The figure 9—Its wonderful properties—Multiplying by 5—Magic Squares—Other diversions,[174]

CHAPTER XII.

THE NEWSPAPER.

How the newspaper originated—Its name—How it was managed—The first number—Disappointed correspondents—A surprise number—How it was got up—A transcript of the third number—Lines to Ronald—An exercise for scholars—Nothing insignificant—I can’t—To correspondents—News items—Small beginnings—Vanity, a fable—Rover’s communication—The snow—A cunning fellow—Gleanings,[193]

CHAPTER XIII.

MASTER PAGE.

The new satchel—Otis homesick—Ronald’s impatience—The academy commences—Incidents of the first day—Oscar a monitor—Why Otis and Ronald were not seated together—Lewis Daniels—The boy who didn’t care for Marcus—Ronald’s nickname—Jessie Hapley—Why she went to the academy—“Trying to be somebody”—Abby Leonard—Eating chalk and drinking vinegar—Mr. Upton’s sickness—Marcus principal pro tem.—An alarming proposal—He accedes to it—His experience as principal—The troublesome boys—Marcus re-seats them—The snow image—Charlie Wilder—A statue in snow—What is required to make a statue—Drawing—A specimen by Charlie—His wish gratified—An anonymous note—Interdicted keys—Oscar at fault—The rebuke—Ronald’s mischievousness—Snapping nut shells—His punishment—His seat changed—An increase of lessons proposed—Required for his mental discipline, and to keep him out of mischief—Otis in school—A hard sum—What Marcus told Georgiana—Why the same direction would not answer for Otis—The difference in scholars—The stimulus of shame successfully applied[201]

CHAPTER XIV.

THE TROUBLESOME SCHOLAR.

Harrison Clark—A threat—His career—Assault upon his teacher—Trial and sentence—One good trait—Harrison’s mother—His conduct towards Marcus—Kindness repelled—Coughing—Objections to it—Can be controlled—Harrison’s impertinence—Bears in town—Preparations for a hunt—Warlike appearances—Going off at recess—Requests denied—Harrison’s flight—Ineffectual attempt to bring him back—The hunting party—Turkey Hill—Forming a ring—Testing the connection—The advance—Closing up the circle—Reports of muskets—The two bears—Dragging the trophies home—How they were disposed of—Harrison at school again—His coolness—Detained after school—How he enjoyed the hunt—Frankness—Marcus mildly points out Harrison’s misconduct—Two ways of meeting the evil—Severity and kindness—Failure of both—Candid admissions—Expulsion—Its evils—A talk about Harrison’s mother—A frank warning—The question—Subdued bearing—Harrison’s decision—Confession of his fault—His sincerity severely tested—The offence forgiven—The boy saved,[222]

CHAPTER XV.

SAM HAPLEY.

A neglected farm—Out of fuel—Going to the woods—The pipe and jug—Parting admonitions—A scene in the woods—Going home—Effects of the cider—Green wood and the rheumatism—The cows and their dinner—Benny absent—Sam’s assault upon him—His father’s anger—Origin of the trouble—A scuffle between Sam and his father—Sam bound and flogged—The outcry—Interference—Marcus intercedes—A rude repulse—Sam released—Marcus expostulates—He is silenced—Sam’s disappearance—Absent for a week—His return—His arrest—Searching for stolen property—It is found—A sad shock to Jessie—Her self-control—Growing recklessness of Mr. Hapley—A visit to Sam—His confession—His flight—Adventures on the road—Mack, the thief—Housebreaking—The alarm—Sam’s escape—Mack caught—How Sam was tracked—Preparations for the trial—What the judge thought of the case—The sentence,[242]

CHAPTER XVI.

MERRY DAYS AND SAD ONES.

A merry Christmas—Who got the start?—Presents for Oscar—Letters—Loss of the brig “Susan”—Jerry missing—The Christmas festival—Declamations and dialogues—Tableaux and music—The Christmas tree—Its fruit—Santa Claus—His speech—Gathering the fruit—Refreshments—New Year’s morning—Sad news from Benny Hapley—Marcus his Sabbath school teacher—His interest in Benny—His sadness—A pleasant surprise—A present from Harrison—His gratitude—A visit to Benny—His prediction—Anticipations of heaven—Mr. Hapley’s agony—His promise to Benny—Benny’s coldness—Growing dark—A mysterious light—Parting kisses—One for Sam—The spirit takes its flight—Effects of the scene upon Marcus—His new purposes,[263]

CHAPTER XVII.

ADVERSITY.

Mr. Hapley signs the pledge—Empties his liquors—A desperate struggle—Opinions of the neighbors—Mr. Todd’s prediction—How it was treated—What Mr. Todd was supposed to be after—Uncharitableness—Difficulty of acquiring self-government in mature life—Mazeppa and the wild horse—Mr. Hapley’s relapse—Loss of self-confidence and self-respect—A visit to the rum-shop—His prolonged absence—A terrible snow storm—Henry despatched for Marcus—Marcus goes in search of Mr. Hapley—The search abandoned—Morning—The frozen horse and rider—The snow grave—Poverty—Jessie’s trials—The administrator’s advice—Jessie’s plans—Her self-sacrificing spirit—Words of comfort—Henry’s brave words—He finds a new home—Jessie provided for—Mrs. Hapley returns to her father’s,[280]

CHAPTER XVIII.

THE DIALOGUE.

Rivalry among the academy students—The motto on the blackboard—Praiseworthy motives—The student’s true motive—Ronald’s request—The plan for a dialogue—How Marcus proposed to help Ronald—The work completed—Dialogue of “Head and Foot”—Speech of John Head—A severe examination—How the boys were put through their paces—One pace not exhibited—An explosion—What is Congressional usage—The prizes—Their unequal distribution—How the boys proposed to equalize matters—John’s prize volume—Master Foot called up—The complimentary address—The presentation—Dinner-pot suggestions—Curious resemblances—Foot doubts his claim to the testimonial—A bet—Head smells a rat, but concludes not to back out—The cabbage fastened upon him—The wager won—Master Foot’s generosity—Master Head’s magnanimous response—The treat—View of the testimonial,[294]

CHAPTER XIX.

CLOSE OF THE TERM.

Oscar’s disappointment—No letter from home—An agreeable surprise—A successful examination—The exhibition—The prizes—The surprise party—Presentation to Mr. Upton—The “Academy Offering”—Its history—Mr. Upton’s acceptance of the gift—Another surprise—The writing-desk—Harrison’s address to Marcus—The reply—A secret well kept—Gratitude of Oscar’s parents—The inscription in Oscar’s prize volume,[308]