Although Frank was to rise earlier than usual, the next morning; yet his parents unconsciously suffered his bed hour to pass by. They were engaged in conversation with him; impressing on his mind the importance of resolution and self-control, and endeavouring to acquaint him with the temptations and trials to which he would be exposed, among such a number of boys; many of whom, probably, had not been as carefully educated as himself; and who might have some bad habits and propensities, which Frank, without watchfulness on his part, would be in danger of imitating. At last, Mr. Courtland looked at his watch, and was surprised to find it almost ten o'clock.
When Frank went to his own room, his mother followed him. 'I will lock your trunk to-night, Frank, and tie up your travelling bag, and place all your things in readiness, for fear you should over-sleep yourself in the morning.'
'No I shan't, mother; I am not in the least sleepy, and feel as if I should not get to sleep till daylight.'
'This excitement will cause you to be very drowsy, after you have once been asleep,' said she.
'I have one more thing to put in your trunk,' added his mother; 'which I expect you to value very much, and take the greatest care of. You know you wished for a talisman the other night; here is one, whose power to preserve you from what I regard as the greatest danger, to which you are exposed, will I think prove effectual.'
'A real talisman! why, father told me there were no such things, except in fiction; where did you get it? will it really preserve me from harm as long as I keep it? Is there a charm in it?'
'You can judge for yourself as soon as you look at it. It is from moral harm; from the danger of temptation, to do what you know to be wrong, that I expect it to preserve you;—this is the harm from which I have ever been most anxious to guard you,—this is the harm which I most dread, when you are removed from my care and inspection.'
The talisman was contained in a small box. Frank took it out of his mother's hand, opened it and looked at it steadily for a moment, and then exclaimed, 'O, it is beautiful: it will, it will, mother, preserve me.'
'Keep it safe, my son; consult it every night, when you go to bed; it will inform you if the day has been passed with innocence and improvement; if you can regard it with pleasure, you have nothing to fear; but if otherwise, attend to its admonitions;—do not let it appeal to you in vain.'