“I don’t want you to,” said Fred.
“Why,” said I, in astonishment; “are we not good friends?”
“O, yes, good friends as ever,” said Fred; “but you’re not very likely to find two fortunes close together; and I think it’s better for every one to go alone.”
“Then why couldn’t I start at the same time you do, and go a different way?”
“That would do,” said Fred. “I’m going to start to-morrow morning.” And he walked to the line, and felt of the handkerchief.
“I can take mother’s traveling-bag,” said I. “That will be handier to carry than a bundle tied up.”
“Take it if you like,” said Fred; “but I believe there’s luck in an old-fashioned handkerchief. In all the pictures of boys going to seek their fortunes, they have their things tied up in a handkerchief, and a stick put through it and over their shoulder.”
I did not sympathize much with Fred’s belief in luck, though I thought it was possible there might be something in it; but the bundle in the handkerchief seemed to savor a little more of romance, and I determined that I would conform to the ancient style.
“Does your father know about it?” said I.