“Tell Captain Morris to have it gilded at Portland when he goes there. It can’t be done, you know, in Watertown. There, it’s done at last!”
The old man drew back and surveyed his handiwork with some little pride as he gave it a last finishing touch with a chisel.
Then he smoothed off the rough edges and lifted it into Will’s arms.
It was quite a bulky object, but Will professed to be able without difficulty to convey it to its destination.
He carried it carefully by the doorway so as not to injure the broad-spreading antlers and walked down the street in the direction of the harbor.
His young mind was busy forming plans of how he should best secure work and rescue his parents from the poverty that threatened them.
“I will put school days and play days aside,” he said, resolutely, “and begin life in earnest.”
Mark him well, reader, this boy with honest face and manly bearing and noble determination to win his way in the world, for ere this story ends he is destined to meet with many strange and varied adventures.