CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

A VACATION JOURNEY.

PAGE
The last bell—The man who was too late—Underway—Going down the harbor—Whistler—How he came by his name—Mr. Preston—Ella and Emily—Supper—Scrabbling and rudeness—An overheard remark—How American voracity strikes a foreigner—Whistler’s resolution—Turning in—The berths—The boot-black—Lying awake—Morning naps—The river—Pleasant scenery—Breakfast at the tavern—The stage-coach ride—Cross Roads—Clinton—The journey’s end,[17]

CHAPTER II.

LOOKING ABOUT.

The Davenport family—Whistler’s cousins—Surveying the premises—The house—The shop—Tools—Clinton’s skill—The barn—Rye—Verdancy—The swine—Clinton’s fowls—How he managed them—The patch of corn—A partnership proposed—The other side of the account—The kitchen garden—Working on shares—The secret of Clinton’s success—His studies—The ducks and their home—Geography of Brookdale—Map of the town,[28]

CHAPTER III.

Clinton’s chamber—The furniture—The writing-desk—The library—The schooner—Pictures—Lessons suspended—Plans about work—Morning—Milking—A talk about the cows—Daisy’s uneasiness—Conversation suspended—Breakfast—Impromptu rhymes—Clinton’s favorite song—The turkeys and hens—Weeding—Witch-grass—Difficulty of exterminating it—An imagined moral—A habit of Whistler’s father—The toad—A cruel act—Ending his misery—Whistler’s thoughtlessness—Toads not poisonous—The good they do—How the boys serve them—Tame toads—How they eat—“Spitting fire” a vulgar notion—How the toad disposes of his old coat—Clinton’s authority for his statement—The morning’s work completed,[41]

CHAPTER IV.

AN AFTERNOON’S EXCURSION.

A walk—The Prestons—A strawberry party—The swamp—Ella’s timidity—Snakes—Foolish prejudices—Poison ivy—The woodbine—Difference between them—How Whistler fastened it in his mind—The law of the association of ideas—A poison vine found—Temerity and timidity—Susceptibility to poison—Poison dogwood—Its effects—Description of the plant—Poisonous plants do not bear beautiful flowers—The strawberry patch—Poor picking—The boys go further—Woods and hills—Bald Peak—A fine view—How far one can see in Boston—The other side of the hills—The report of a gun—A solitary place—A sportsman—Scaring the game—A rough salutation—An ill-favored fellow—A few questions—The man’s lameness—His account of himself—A favor asked—A difficulty—A secret divulged—Clinton’s promise—A threat—They separate—What Clinton knew about the man—Driving the cows home,[56]

CHAPTER V.

THE ACCIDENT.

A rainy day—The hay-cutter—Blood—A mutilated finger—The missing piece—The first outburst of grief—The tip replaced—Sympathy—The doctor—Encouraging words—The case of instruments—Sewing the piece on—Whistler’s heroic endurance of pain—Praise—Directions—The fire—A sad loss—The missing horse—The work of a villain—Suspicions—Tom Walker—The public security diminished—A visit to the ruins—The two babies—A good retort—How the finger got along—Writing home—An unpleasant duty—An intimation of carelessness—Whistler’s sensitiveness—Clinton’s defence—His device for making the hay-cutter safe—Its successful operation—The letter mailed—Going to bed—Some speculations about Dick Sneider—Suspicions—A restless night,[74]

CHAPTER VI.

A LITERARY ENTERPRISE.

Whistler’s wounded finger—Threshing—A dialogue wanted—A proposal—The picnic—Declamation—Hunting for a subject—Poor success—A new idea—The dialogue completed—The story on which it was founded—The quarrel—A surprise—The master’s reproof—The mutual flogging—Satisfaction—Forced reconciliation—The “kiss of peace”—Laughter and shame—Arrangements for a rehearsal—Spouting Hollow—A talk with Mr. Davenport about the dialogue—He reads it—The boys’ suspense—His opinion of its literary merits—His objections to it—The fighting scene—Moral influence of such spectacles—Difference between written descriptions and stage performances of obnoxious scenes—Errors of the teacher—The general effect bad—Chagrin and disappointment—An unguarded remark—Whistler’s spirit aroused—Another trial—A subject found—The task finished—The rehearsal,[89]

CHAPTER VII.

THE INCENDIARY.

Driving a nail—How to prevent splitting—Wetting nails—Mr. Walker’s arrival—News—The stolen horse found—The suspected rogue—Clinton’s disclosures—Mr. Walker’s temper—A furious outbreak—Mrs. Davenport’s interference—Mitigating circumstances—Whistler’s courage reviving—Clinton’s threat—The folly of flying into a passion—Tears—Mr. Davenport—His regrets—Whistler’s generous confession—One of Clinton’s failings—His defence—Want of reflection—Thinking an action right does not make it so—Searching questions—Compulsory promises—They are binding, if right in themselves—Wrong promises not binding—The rule applied—Clinton convicted—Consequences of not thinking—A volunteer defence—The heads of the “brief”—The judgment softened—The lost horse—The lesson,[107]

CHAPTER VIII.

THE FOREST PICNIC.

An early turn out—Morning work—Starting for the picnic—The church—The rendezvous—The procession—The forest road—The falls—The grove—A talk about Oscar—His letter—Account of his history—Games and amusements—Preparations for speaking—The log cabin—Its interior—The exercises—The dialogue of “The Rival Speakers”—A dispute—They both begin—Interruptions—Ludicrous imitations—A coincidence—More beginnings and interruptions—Coaxings—How the Irishman and his wife divided the house—Tom’s withdrawal—Sam’s impudence—His breakdown—Inglorious retreat—The authors’ suspense—Their triumph—The intermission—Congratulations—Mr. Walker—His commendation—His apology—How the boys received it—Burdens removed—Injuries sink deeper than apologies—The dinner—Speeches—Going a blueberrying—The ride home—Five miles of talk—Silence—What Clinton was thinking of—His question proposed—Why it was not proposed sooner—Mr. Davenport’s explanation—A distinction—Sam’s character—Clinton satisfied—Arrival home,[122]

CHAPTER IX.

THE MIDNIGHT ATTACK.

A shrunken arm—Importance of exercise—An exciting discovery—Slaughter of the fowls—An ungracious crow—Curiosity excited—Speculations—Depredations of skunks—Lack of vigilance—A bounty offered—Burying the dead—Something about skunks—The trap—The wolf and deer—Chased by a wolf—The wolf and the sheep—Bears—A trip to the logging camp—Uncle Tim’s story—Depredations in the cornfield—The trap unsuccessful—Watching for the beast—His tragic end—Bruin and the boy—A juvenile hero—A neighborly visit—Wild-cats—Two kinds—A fight with a wild-cat—A walk to Mr. Preston’s—His opinion of the affair—Ella’s timidity—Quizzing—The nooning—Clinton not much affected by his loss—How a man may gain by his losses—Mr. Davenport’s experience—Our happiness not dependent on money—Our stewardship—Clinton’s money not his own—Debt due his parents—Their legal claim upon his earnings—Man’s dependence—Clinton’s pecuniary loss—His accounts—His profits—Setting the trap,[143]

CHAPTER X.

THE HOMEWARD TRIP.

Why the wild-cat was not caught—A long storm—The dissected map—How it was made—A pleasant and profitable diversion—Preparations for going home—The trap returned—Whistler’s attachment for his Brookdale friends—The hour of parting—The ride to the Cross Roads—The stage coach—The train—The locomotive—Clinton’s knowledge of steam engines—View from the car windows—A talk about a cross engineer—Bad and good traits—The engineer’s responsibility—Who takes the credit, and who the blame—Some of the engineer’s duties—High speed—What a locomotive might do without a master—A runaway engine, and how it was stopped—Another runaway—A frightful race—Fortunate termination—Tediousness of railroad travelling—Attention attracted by the train—The boys on the water—The dog, horse, sheep, cow, &c.—Arrival at Boston—Ralph,[166]

CHAPTER XI.

THE CITY HOME.

Morning—First impressions—Bouncer—Whistler’s frolic and talk with him—Bouncer’s message to Clinton—The view from the windows—Blocks of buildings—Description of Whistler’s home—His chamber—How it was furnished—Whistler’s father—A loud summons—A quiet joke—The dining-room—Breakfast—Conversation—Boston sights—Three strange rules for a country boy—Clinton’s perplexity—Whistler’s attempt to relieve him—Mr. Davenport’s early “greenness”—His brother’s rebukes—His reply—Clinton’s decision—City greenhorns—Whistler and the cows—A good rejoinder—Ettie’s queer question—A talk about cows—Mr. Davenport’s twofold motive—The golden mean,[179]

CHAPTER XII.

ROMANCE AND REALITY.

A day’s ramble about town—Strange sights and sounds—Fatigue—The alarm of fire—Where it came from—General indifference to it—The fire engine—The boys at home—Ettie and her dissected map—Queer transformations—Description of the fire-alarm telegraph—The signal stations—The central office—How the bells are struck—Its value—Mr. Davenport’s questions—His fatigue—A comparison between city and country workers—Whistler’s anticipated farm—Playful retort—Romance of the farm—All men not made for farmers—Other pursuits necessary—The great mistake—A dry but important subject—Clinton’s choice of a profession—Why he would like to be a merchant—Romantic notions of mercantile life—The other side—Practical application—The summing up—A few first principles of political economy—A legal opinion without a fee,[191]

CHAPTER XIII.

SIGHT-SEEING.

School—The tramp begun—Dogs—The dog-cart—The image dealer—The released bird—An unnecessary piece of information—How received—The invitation—The birds—A surprise—The Common—A beautiful scene—The fountain—View of it—Its various jets—Vast quantity of water required to feed it—Changing the jet—The great elm—A new acquaintance—A proposal accepted—The State House—A journey to its top—The lantern—A magnificent view—The descent—Clinton’s wanderings in unknown regions—A discovery—How he happened to get turned round—Safe arrival—A laugh over the adventure—The distracted Quaker—The bewildered boy,[206]

CHAPTER XIV.

SCHOOL TRIALS.

Whistler’s first day at school—Unhappy recollections—A severe disappointment—Interview with his father—Why Whistler did not get into the high school—He is acquitted of blame—His reluctance to return to his old school—His character as a scholar—A failure the first day—Mortification—A commission from the teacher—Its acceptance—Clinton’s puzzle—The drawings commenced—A difficult task—Whistler’s ambition aroused—Clinton’s visit to the school—An insulting nickname proposed for a new scholar—Whistler’s interference in his behalf—He is himself attacked—His self-control—What David had to take—A kind word from Whistler—A challenge—How Whistler treated it—The young bully’s cowardice exposed—The school exercises—The principal’s story—The sick boy—His first appearance at school—A mean assailant—A gallant defender—The story brought home to the school—The verdict of the scholars on the conduct of the boys—Who the real dunce is—Difference between learning easily and studying hard—Who the most promising scholar is—Juvenile dulness of famous men—School dismissed,[224]

CHAPTER XV.

LESSONS IN PHYSIOLOGY.

The drawings finished—A short school lecture—Sitting and standing—The proper position—Two illustrations—The sitting position illustrated—Curious mechanism of the backbone—How it becomes distorted—Effect of stooping upon the lungs—An experiment or two—Keeping the arms on a level—Ettie’s kitten—Whistler’s joke—The kitten missed—The search—Whistler’s sad discovery—Policy of keeping it secret—A good rule remembered—A wise decision—Confession—Whistler’s thoughtlessness—Ettie’s grief,[243]

CHAPTER XVI.

THE PRESTON FAMILY.

A request—A rule of the house—The Preston children—Oscar and Whistler—Marcus—Plans for Oscar’s benefit—A letter from Brookdale—Dick Sneider arrested—The wild-cat—Jumping at a conclusion—Unexpected meeting of Clinton and Oscar—A good resolution—Going to the academy—Marcus invited to become a teacher—Showing favors to relatives—Ronald—Marcus the making of him—Bad French—Ronald’s roguery—Getting into a tight place—Alarming and ludicrous predicament—His release—The visit to Montpelier—Ronald in handcuffs—A sorry joke—Fortunate escape—Another boy in another kind of handcuffs—The advertisement for a boy—An amusing answer—Fetters of ignorance—The other applicants—A neat letter—A recognition—A chance acquaintance—Favorable impressions—A pleasant visit,[256]

CHAPTER XVII.

A WATER EXCURSION.

A sailing party—A damper—Permission obtained—A struggle—Noble self-denial—Commendation—Planning a reward—The guests invited—Henry—The birthday present—The yacht—Starting—Collisions—Beating out—The steamship—Fine views—Life-preservers—Dodging the boom—A narrow escape—The cabin—The table—Berths—The cook-room—Castle Island—Homeward-bound ship—Long Island Light—Extra clothing—Dinner—Sudden departures from the table—The ocean—The screw steamer—George’s Island—Fort Warren—The sea wall—Landing—Entrance to the fort—The enclosure—Ascending the parapets—Cost of the fortress—Its entire command of the harbor—Places for the guns—Interior of the fortress—How the guns are worked—Rooms for the soldiers—Strength of the fortress—How it might be taken—A wish—The sail back—Defence of the “Echo”—An impudent schooner—The skipper’s disgust—A nautical insult—Landing,[272]

CHAPTER XVIII.

LAST DAY OF THE VISIT.

The group around the fire—No tidings from Jerry—What Whistler had learned—The three hardest words—Candid confession of a great general—Confessing errors requires bravery—Another fact learned—The boys’ petition for shorter lessons—Whistler’s refusal to sign it—His motives impugned—Boyish intolerance—Effects of the petition on the teacher—Its disrespectful tone—Character of the signers—Public reading of their names—A secret honorably kept—Clinton’s opinion of the city—Opportunities—Too much assistance—How strong characters are produced—The learned blacksmith—The learned shoemaker—What can be done in one hour a day—The extract—A higher aim than success—Character—How it is formed—Compared to a cable—Conclusion,[294]