Madeline Leslie

“ He waited until the horses had reached the wall close to the road, watching with a pleased curiosity the ingenuity of the child who was working them.
"How do you do, Richard?" he asked. "It seems to me you have a new method of ploughing. You do not work on the ten hour system, I see."
Dick tossed back his curls. He wanted to wipe the perspiration from his face, but his hands were too dirty. "I like farming," he said with a merry laugh; "but I never knew before why farmers wiped their faces on their shirt sleeves," suiting the action to the words. ”

“ Jones, after a glance at his friend, burst into a hearty laugh, in which the boy joined with perfect good humor.
"What is your name?" was the next question.
"Richard Monroe Stuart, sir."
"How old are you?"
"Twelve last March."
"Have you ever decorated a church before?"
"No, sir; and I don't expect to decorate it this year. Mother says it takes tall men with ladders, to do that. I only want to supply the evergreens. I'll do it as cheap as any body, sir."
"Where do you live, Richard?"
"I live in Annesley, sir. They always call me Dick at home." ”

“ It was hard at first for Richard to take his mind from his work, and fix it upon his studies. He was up in the morning as soon as it was light, to feed the horse and cow and groom them, to feed the pig, and milk, and sweep out the barn floor. Then after breakfast and family prayers he was off to work in the garden till mother rang the bell for him to dress for school. Sometimes he had to go on an errand for her, or his father, and hurry Eddy and little Lyman along, so that by the time he was seated behind his desk, he was often sleepy. ”

“ CHAPTER II. DICK AT HOME.
"I'D give a hundred dollars if my boy had been here to see Dick," said Mr. Follinsby. "He'll make his mark in the world. He's got the true grit."
"I'd give ten thousand if I had one like him," said the other. "The idea of Christmas decorations on this hot day!" And he ha-ha'd, till the ceiling rang with his mirth.
"We shall hear of Mr. Richard Monroe Stuart again; or I'm mistaken," he added presently.
In the mean time Dick, who had accompanied a neighbor to the city, hurried back to the main street to be in time to ride home with him in the covered wagon. ”

“ He held it tightly in his hand, walking back and forth until it was time for him to meet the neighbor at the stable, and then with a smile concluded to give it back to his mother again.
Once more inside the wagon, he pulled from under the cushion a small paper bundle, and taking out a cake said, as he ate it with a relish—
"Nobody makes such good ginger snaps as mother does."
At home there were three boys younger than Dick all of whom were daily taking lessons of industry and thrift, as well as lessons in practical godliness. ”

“ The people are poor; and so they can't give much salary. If I get the job, I'm going to buy a new buffalo robe. We've needed one for the sleigh a good while."
"Whew!" ejaculated Mr. Jones. "Will it ever be cold enough to need buffaloes?"
Dick laughed aloud, mentally resolving to tell his mother what a very pleasant man Mr. Jones was.
"I don't know what Mr. Jones will do," said Mr. Follinsby; "but if I were the chairman of the Committee, you should have the job. I approve of boys who tell their mothers every thing." ”

“ Mrs. Stuart's mending prevented her helping him at this time; but she sat near and watched his progress. After he had retired, she took the basket of selected pieces, and finished the handsomest one yet made, in fifteen minutes.
"Let me help you plan your work," she said the next morning, after her wreath had been greatly admired.
"Eddy and perhaps Lyman, too, can help you pick over your evergreen during the day. Put the pieces ready to wind in a pile by themselves. This evening we will have a bee, and make up as many wreaths as we can." ”

“ Jones."
"That is Mr. Jones," remarked Mr. Follinsby, waving his hand toward the gentleman.
"Are you the chairman of the Committee on decorating the St. Stevens' church?"
This question was so wholly unexpected by Mr. Jones, who supposed the boy had come to ask charity; or perhaps to seek a place as errand boy in his store, that for one moment he did not answer, but sat eyeing the lad with a perplexed smile, then he said:
"Hem! Yes, I'm the one."
"Have you engaged your evergreens for Christmas, sir?"
"For Christmas? Ha! Ha! Ha! We haven't begun to think of Christmas yet, my little fellow." ”

“ Having proved conclusively that he could plough the garden, Dick plead with his father to allow him to hire another horse and plough the field for corn and potatoes.
"The very idea is absurd, Richard, very few men can drive a pair of horses, and plough at the same time." ”

“ Dick went on, "and those fowls are for all of us."
He pointed to the table where lay two turkeys weighing nine pounds each, and a pair of chickens.
"Wonders will never cease," said his mother, laughing heartily. "You don't mean that you bought all these things for twenty dollars."
"Please come in where it's warm; and I'll tell you all about it."
"I meant all the time to buy a turkey for Christmas dinner, and I went to the market to see how much it would cost. There were crowds and crowds of them; but they were very high. As I came out I saw a man getting into a pung. ”

“ Charley goes as steady as an old sheep; and if I can hire Mr. Fuller's one day I aren't afraid to try."
"Well," was the reluctant reply.
"I wish father'd sell Old Charley and get a better horse," Dick went on, when the gentleman had left the room. "He's such an awkward looking creature. He never goes out of the gate head first unless he goes backward."
"That is because he likes to see what is going on behind him," suggested his mother laughing.
"Charley is a good creature," added Mr. Stuart returning. "He has served well in his day and generation. ”

“ Brown, he returned home, and soon went back to school where he remained till the end of his year.
Of his subsequent career, and his success in professional life, perhaps I shall speak in another volume. I can only say here, that the principles of his childhood, his love to the Saviour, his trust in the dealings of Providence, grew stronger as he advanced in years; while the same habits of industry and thrift, the sweetness and mirthfulness which had made him a favorite, gained for him warm and enduring friends, when he most needed them. ”

“ I'll be sure to be back, sir, the first of November."
He made a bow which would not have disgraced a drawing room, and was retiring when Mr. Jones held out his hand:
"Good bye, Dick," he said, "You've got a good mother, I'm sure."
"Yes, sir," the boy answered, his blue eyes dancing with pleasure. "She's the best woman in the world." He held out his hand to Mr. Follinsby, and said, "Thank you, sir," once more and went away. ”

“ Stuart, if you will give me four spoonsful of real cream, I'll make an ointment."
He poured some liquid from a bottle and gave the mixture a good stir, making a thick, nice salve. This he spread over the soft linen the mother had provided, and bound around the foot.
"You will have to give up farming for a week or two," said the Doctor laughing. "Perfect rest and daily applications of the ointment are all that will be necessary. Next time, Dick, I advise you to wear shoes." ”

“ A cold sleet had been driving against the windows all the morning and his parents could not consent to his riding so far in an open sleigh.
Poor Dick could think and talk of nothing but his decorations. He had obtained permission of Miss Wheeler to be absent from school on necessary business, on condition that he made up his lessons. ”

“ Soon after seven a neighbor came in having driven his horse and sleigh into the barn floor. Dick's eyes twinkled at the introduction he received.
"Mr. Manly, Mr. Stuart; Mr. Stuart's a minister's son, from Massachusetts come to buy a cow. He's a professor,—attends school in New Hampshire,—going to stay with us a spell."
"You must stop with me part of the time," urged Mr. Manly after a searching gaze in Richard's face.
At home and among his mates Dick was always called good company ”

“ It was twenty dollars, besides twenty which I gave for the evergreen I bought. There's your money, father, all in new bills; and here's a buffalo robe for your Christmas present."
"Will you please come to the kitchen, mother, for yours."
"I heard you say you wanted a new hod, and so I bought you one, and some knives for the table. There's half a dozen, good steel too."
"My dear boy," said his mother. "I didn't expect any thing. You should have bought for yourself."
Dick undid a bundle and distributed a tooth-brush to each member of the family, except baby. For him he had a sugar horse. ”

“ Follinsby put his hand in his pocket, and drew out his porte-monnaie.
"Suppose, Dick," he said, "that I give you enough to buy a hod now. It's inconvenient to do without one."
A flush of honest pride flew into Dick's checks, and even mounted to his forehead. ”

“ Then with, a curious smile, which his mother would have well understood, he walked into the kitchen where the Deacon sat tipped back in his chair, talking with a neighbor, and asked:
"Have you done with that bushel basket, sir? I want it to carry away my corn."
"Why don't you use the one I put there?" inquired the Deacon, his face growing red. "It's exactly the size of the other."
"Yes, sir, but 'tisn't half so handy to carry; besides it doesn't fill up near so quick. You say, sir, they're exactly alike in measure; so I suppose you'd just as lief I'd use one as the other." ”

“ He told of his Rarey experience; of his declamations at school; of his speculations in poultry; of the state of religion in the different denominations, of the great salaries received by famous singers in church. He stated that he sung in church himself, and after some urging consented to end the evening by singing a hymn.
A little before nine the visitor began to grow restless, hitching his chair back and forth, and looking at the clock. At last Mr. Brown took the hint and said:
"Wont you stop, neighbor. ”

“ He betook himself to his study at an early hour and midnight very often found his lamp still burning. His wife was competent to manage the affairs of the little household, and he wisely left them to her, often wondering, however, how she made the small salary cover even their frugal expenses. ”

“ 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. ”