Jessie was among the first who were admitted to the Grade of Honor. Ronald and Otis, after some delay, worked their way into the Grade of Fidelity, but did not rise higher. Kate, as has been already stated, rose to the higher grade on the last day when promotions were made, for that term.

Abby Leonard did not remain long in Highburg, after her father’s failure. After the first day, it was evident to all that she was troubled and humbled, and those who had been inclined to exult over her downfall, now began to pity her. But a message calling her home soon came, and she was apparently not sorry to get away from a place which had become so unpleasant to her. Only a few of her associates knew of her intention to go, until she had left town.

CHAPTER XVII.
TIDINGS.

Jessie heard nothing from her brother Sam, until about a fortnight after her interview with him at Round Hill Pond, when Marcus called her attention to the following paragraph in a Boston newspaper:

“A Fight.—The police were called last night to quell a fight in a notorious dance cellar in North Street, which for a time threatened serious consequences. There were several bloody heads in the crowd, but the only person seriously injured was a Vermont youth, sixteen or seventeen years old, who, it is said, being crazed with liquor, joined in the melee, attacking both parties with equal vigor. His name is said to be Hapley. His injuries are so serious that he was sent to the hospital.”

There could be scarcely a doubt as to who this youth was, and Jessie proposed to hasten at once to the relief of her wayward brother. Her friends, however, prevailed upon her to abandon this purpose, Marcus promising to write forthwith to Mr. Preston, Oscar’s father, who lived in Boston, and ask him to make inquiries in regard to the injured boy. Marcus accordingly wrote to his uncle, and in a few days received the following reply:

“Boston, May 17, 185–.

“My dear Nephew:—Your favor of the 15th came to hand, and it afforded me much pleasure to comply with your request. I called at the hospital this morning, and saw the young man who was injured in the fight. He acknowledged he was the brother of the young lady who lives with you, and said if he had followed her advice he never should have been in this scrape. He was not hurt so badly as was at first supposed, and is getting along very well. The doctor says he will be discharged in a few days. He did not seem inclined to say much, but he wished me to inform his sister that he was not intoxicated at the time of the assault, and that he took no part in the fight, but was only looking on. He says he drank nothing that night but a glass of lager beer. I advised him to leave the city, as soon as he was able, and to go back to Vermont; but he said he had no home there, and no friends to look to for assistance. I then tried to persuade him to avoid bad associates, and to seek steady and respectable employment, if he remained in the city. I also gave him my card, and told him that if he would call on me, after he was discharged, I would try to help him procure employment. You may assure his sister that if I can do anything to save him from ruin, it shall be most gladly done.

“I am glad to hear so favorable a report from Oscar. I can never repay you and your mother and aunt for the obligation you have laid me under, in doing what you have done for that boy. He has persevered so long, that I think his reform will be permanent. We have concluded to let him spend a week or two of his vacation with us, if you can spare him as well as not. If he comes, send him as soon as you please after the term closes. We should be very glad to have you and your mother or Aunt Fanny come with him, if you can leave home.

“Please tell Oscar that Jerry, his runaway cousin, has got home. He was wrecked at sea, and given up for lost, and has experienced any amount of startling adventures and hair-breadth escapes. His story is quite an interesting one, but it is so long that I will not attempt to give it here. Oscar will learn all the particulars when he comes home. Jerry says he has had enough of going to sea, and means to settle down on the land, now. He arrived here last week, after an absence of about fifteen months, and started for his home the same night.