“Are you so reduced?”
“I have no money, except what I earn here.”
“Would you go home if you could?”
“My father would not receive me. He is angry on account of the money I took. But it didn’t do me any good. I was swindled out of it.”
“I am going to take you home,” said Walter, resolutely. “It isn’t fit that you should be in such a business. I will undertake to reconcile your father.”
“I haven’t money to pay my fare.”
“I have plenty. I have succeeded in getting back a good share of my property, and am going back to the Essex Classical Institute to finish preparing for college. If you would like it, I will pay your expenses there one year. You won’t be the worse off for another year’s schooling.”
“You are a good fellow, Cousin Walter,” said Joshua, stirred at last to gratitude. “I should like it much better than going back to Stapleton.”
Walter bought Joshua some new clothes, and together they returned to the East. Mr. Drummond at first refused to receive his son, but when Walter revealed his own good fortune, and offered to support his cousin at school for a year, his sternness relaxed, and reconciliation took place, much to the delight of Mrs. Drummond, who, bad as Joshua had behaved, could not forget her only son. I am glad to say that Joshua was improved by his trials. He acquitted himself fairly at school, and is now employed in his father’s store, Mr. Drummond, at Walter’s solicitation, paying him ten dollars a week for his services, besides, of course, board. Let us hope he will continue to do well.