From the very first evening of his arrival, he had maintained the habit of secret devotion in his room; a habit which his chum though not a professor of religion always respected. Soon after his connection with the school, he invited the boys to form a meeting for social worship.
For weeks six young men, all professors of religion, met in the Academy out of school hours, and sung, and read, and prayed together. One day Richard was on his way to the room when he overtook a gay youth, and invited him to the meeting. Out of curiosity he consented, another and another followed, until these were so many, that they adjourned to the vestry by the advice of the Pastor, where he took charge of it.
[CHAPTER X.]
DICK'S VISIT TO MAINE.
BUT, going back a few months, during the winter vacation at the Academy, Dick persuaded his parents to allow him to go to Maine for the purchase of a cow.
He was now nearly fourteen years of ages was tall and stout; but his father needed much arguing, both from Dick and his mother, before he gave his consent.
"What do you know about the selection of a good cow?" the minister asked.
"I have read the Agricultural reports, father, and the Farmers' journals, about the good points in a milker. I can learn the rest."
"But you will have to carry the money about you; what if you should be robbed?"
"I'll venture that," answered Dick, his eyes twinkling. "I shall take your oldest carpet-bag, with a few clothes in it; I shall carry my money in that. When I go into the boat, I shall throw it under the seat. No one will imagine it contains any thing of value or I should take better care of it."