It was evident that in respect to popularity among these boys, the star of Rich was in the ascendant, and before nine o'clock the next morning they had brought the rest of the school to the same opinion.
First impressions go a great way with all persons, especially with the young. Had Rich gone deliberately to work to win the hearts of his future scholars, he could have devised no method so effectual as this unconscious manifestation of his true nature in their presence.
"The first thing for me to do, Perk," said Rich, "is to look up a boarding-place; till that is done I shall stay here."
"No, you won't stay here; you are not going to stop here; you are going home with me to stop, to-night, at my boarding-place, and I think you will conclude to remain there."
When they reached the house, Perk introduced Rich to the mistress of it, who he at the same time informed him was his aunt.
A few minutes after they sat down to supper, her son came, in whom Rich recognized Dan Clemens, one of the boys Perk had introduced to him at the tavern. Hotels were not in fashion in that section of Maine.
After the repast they went to Perk's room. The first thing that attracted the attention of Rich was a large picture hung over the mantle-piece.
"I should like to know, Perk, where you got that."
"Stole it out of Mort's desk. I was afraid if I didn't he'd give it to you; but I told him of it, and he gave it to me afterwards. Isn't that something to call up old friends and old associations?" It was the original sketch of James Trafton as a negro, drawn at midnight by Morton in Radcliffe.