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"He urged me a good deal and tried to press the money into my hand, but I kept saying:"
"'No, sir, I thank you just the same; I'd rather not take it.'"
"After this he seemed pleasanter than before. He told me he lived in Providence; and then I said, 'My mother has a cousin there. He is Professor in the college; and I hear that he is very rich. His name is Mr. Grath.'"
"'Ah! Is he your cousin? I know him very well. I was at a dinner party at his house last week. Perhaps you'll go to Providence some time. If you do, you must call on me; my name is Blake. Any body will tell you where Governor Blake lives.'"
"That is really an adventure, Dick," said his mother.
"Yes, and I mean to call. He reminded me of it again, when he got out; and he shook hands as hearty as could be, and wished me great success."
"When I went to the place where Mr. Jones told me to carry the evergreen,—the vestry back of the church, I found ever so many people there, ladies and boys. As soon as they saw me with some wreaths on my neck and on my arms, they cried out:"
"'Oh! here is our young hero We are all ready for you. You're just in time.'"
"The boys helped me bring the wreaths from the sleigh. They said they were beautiful,—the handsomest they'd ever had.
"'I have only ten yards of wound evergreen here.' I said. 'I want to know how much you need; and I'll have it here in a few minutes.'"
"I saw some on my way, and found how much I could buy it for. So when they told me, I drove Charley right back, and bought it with the money father lent me. Just as I was going in, I heard one lady say:"
"'I knew he'd be sure to bring it in season. Father told me about his coming to the store one of the hottest days in August.'"
"I carried in all they wanted; and they thanked me over and over for being in season. If I'd gone yesterday, mother, the vestry would have been locked up."
"I put up Charley then, and gave the man his blanket to cover him; and I didn't leave till I'd seen his rack full of hay."
"I staid in the stable-office a little while to warm myself; and I wanted to count how much I had made. 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.
"I bought the cap and gloves for myself," 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. He was grumbling awfully. I went up to him and found he'd got turkeys and chickens; but they were not very fat and he couldn't sell them.
"'How much do you ask?' I said."
"'Just what I can get,' he answered real cross. 'I'm twenty miles from home and the rain is coming on heavy.'"
"I picked out the best two turkeys and two chickens which I could find; and I said—"
"'I'll give you a dollar and a half for those.'"
"'Clear out!'" he screamed. "'I'll carry 'em home first.'"
"So I cleared out and went to the other end of the market. In half an hour I came back. 'Haven't you gone yet?' I asked laughing."
"'Come,' says he, 'I can't wait here. I'll sell dirt cheap.'"
"So I said again, 'I'll give you a dollar and a half for those I've picked out.'"
"'I aren't quite a fool yet,' he answered growling. 'I 'spose you think I haven't cut my eye teeth.'"
"I went back into the market out of the rain; but I didn't look for a turkey. I knew the man would let me have 'em if I waited long enough. When I went back again I saw him standing in his pung waiting for me.
"'Boy! boy!' he shouted, 'Here! This way a minute.'"
"I didn't hurry much."
"'I shall freeze and so will my horse,' he said growling again."
"'You may have the lot for a dollar and a half.'"
"'I've concluded not to give so much now,' I told him. 'I'll pay you a dollar for 'em.'"
He waited a minute. It was growing real dark and then he snatched 'em out of the pung.
"'There take 'em,' says he. 'It's just giving 'em away.'"
"I took out the dollar and gave it to him and thanked him, and took the blanket off his horse, and tucked it round his knees so that he might be warm.
"'Which way are you going, youngster?' he asked."
"'I'm going twelve miles to Annesley. I've got a horse in the stable on Blossom street.'"
"'Jump in, then,' says he; 'and I'll carry the stuff there. I go right past the stable.'"
"We only rode a little way; but I got him to laughing, and he said he wished I'd ride all the way home with him. He added 'if you are only twelve, you've got your eye teeth cut, no mistake; I've allus heard that ministers had smart chaps.' He shook hands real hearty when I left him.'"
Mr. Stuart threw back his head and laughed heartily.
"I forgot to tell you," said Dick, "that when I carried my bill to Mr. Jones, he was just going to dinner, and he made me go with him. He lives a little way from the State House and his parlors were fixed up big. Now I'll eat some hasty pudding and go to bed."
"I AM disappointed," said Mr. Stuart coming into the house one warm day the following spring. "Mr. Fuller has sold his oxen, and can't plough my land this year."
"Let me plough the garden, father," exclaimed Dick. "I'm sure old Charley and I can do it."
"You," repeated the minister smiling. "I think that would be an odd sight."
"May I try, father? It wont do any hurt for me to try."
A few days later Mr. Stuart was returning from a call on a sick parishioner, when he saw a number of men standing near the wall which separated his garden from the main road. Wondering what had called the people together, he hurried toward them.
Standing in the midst of the ploughed ground was Dick talking to old Charley, who it seemed had been inclined to be refractory, and who had been dealt with after the Rarey fashion.
This method of taming refractory horses was much talked of at the time, and though Dick had never seen it actually put in force, he had seen and studied the illustrations in a popular pictorial.
Accordingly when Charley was fastened to the plough; and when after being politely requested to move along, he did not budge an inch, but only looked around at his young master with disdain, Richard thought it a good opportunity to show him that he must submit.
When Mr. Stuart came in sight, he had been thrown to his knees twice by the wonder working strap, and now seemed quite subdued.
After patting his head and speaking a few encouraging words, Dick once more fastened the chains to his harness, and the old fellow walked off as steadily as one could desire; the spectators meanwhile shouting and clapping their hands.
"A smart chap, your son is, Parson," remarked one stout farmer laughing. "'Twas as good as a show to see him manage the dumb creature."
"I'm afraid Dick will get hurt some of these days," said his father, "he is so fearless."
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."
"You thought I couldn't plough with one horse," urged the boy glancing archly in his father's face. "I wish you'd let me try. I saw how Mr. Kingsbury managed. He put the reins round his neck. 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. I couldn't get another that would stand as he does. Why he'd stand at the gate of one of my parishioners all day if I wished it."
"But we want a horse to go, father, and not to stand. Charley stops short when we come to a hill. I'm curing him of it, though."
Dick went the same evening to engage Mr. Fuller's horse, and the next morning his mother heard him going softly down the stairs a few minutes after four.
At half past five a gentleman, just arrived from New York by the express train, was hurrying to his home a short distance beyond the minister's house, when he saw a novel sight.
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. "Father thought it was absurd for me to try," he went on; "I want to show him I can plough with a span and without a driver too."
Richard pulled the rein as it hung about his neck and the horses started on the next furrow. Though he had no idea at the time that the gentleman watching him had any thing more than mere curiosity, yet subsequent events proved that this morning's work had a great effect on his future life.
THE next winter the teacher of the advanced school did not prove satisfactory. Mrs. Stuart urged that Dick ought to be sent to an Academy, where he could attend to the higher branches. Her husband agreed with her; but where was the money to come from to pay his expenses?
"It does seem best," the minister said one evening when they had together asked God to lead them in the path of duty; "and if it is best the means will be provided."
"I can wear my cloak another winter," said the mother, cheerfully. "That will save ten dollars towards it."
Mr. Stuart rose and walked the room, his hands joined behind him as was his habit when meditating. At last he said:
"By a little extra effort, I can finish a series of articles for our religious paper. One of the Editors pressed me for them when I was in the city."
"Dick is such a good boy and has done so much for us I want to give him an education. That is all I expect to give my children."
In consequence of these plans, Richard was sent to an Academy in a neighboring state where he remained a year. He boarded in the family of a deacon, who had a large farm, but whose health did not permit him to work upon it. He was often in the habit of hiring the young men connected with the Academy to pick apples; husk corn, or do other chores not interfering with their lessons.
The Deacon was very strict in his religious opinions. At home Richard had always been in the habit of joining with the family in singing a hymn at morning and evening devotions, and on Sabbath evening each one selected his or her favorite hymn and tune, which were sung in turn. Richard had a very fine treble voice, which had been carefully trained. He greatly missed the singing at prayers, and suggested to his roommate that they should sing on Sunday night in their chamber.
They commenced with the hymn:
"Jesus lover of my soul."
And then proceeded to another:
"Salvation, oh the joyful sound."
When they were interrupted by a loud voice at the foot of the stairs.
"Boys, boys! What are you doing up there?"
"We're singing the praises of God," answered Richard opening the door.
"Well, you must stop. I can't have any such noise in my house. It's Sunday; and I'm not used to it."
After this unusual strictness, Richard looked of course for a corresponding uprightness of character. Brought up as he had been, and with his eyes wide open to what passed around him he noticed some traits which in his opinion were not exactly consistent. For instance, in the fall when the immense orchard was stripped of its apples, the boy observed that there was one basket kept for measuring those to sell and another to send to the store when there was any thing to be bought.
Soon alter the corn was gathered into immense heaps and carried into the barn floor.
"Would you like the job of husking, Richard?" the deacon asked.
"Yes, sir. How much will you give a bushel?"
"The usual price is three cents."
"I'll do it, sir. I'll begin now. I have ten minutes before school."
"Score the number of bushels on the barn door," added the deacon.
Catching up the small basket, Dick ran to the barn, and filled it half full of ears. When he came home he went to finish the bushel before dinner. It was only by improving his odd minutes that he could do the work without neglecting his lessons. He smiled when he saw that the small basket had been taken away and a large one substituted.
He filled it and said nothing. Then he went on husking as fast as he could, waiting for the dinner bell, throwing the ears into a pile. He did the same after school at night,—until he had accumulated a good many bushels. 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."
Richard looked straight into the Deacon's eye; but there was a comical smile playing around his mouth which told the other that his trick had been discovered. He hemmed a little, before he answered:
"Certainly! certainly!" and then turned the subject at once. So Richard husked two hundred bushels: of corn, and made, as nearly as he could calculate, about two dollars by a change of baskets.
While in New Hampshire Dick sung regularly with the choir, as he had done at home. He also took a class in Sunday school, though he would have preferred being a pupil. But as there was a want of competent teachers he reluctantly consented, if his mates would join him to act as teacher, though it soon became by his management a class for mutual instruction. The preparation for this exercise, aided as it was by books from the Pastor's library, freely offered for the benefit of the young men, was perhaps his favorite employment of the week. First he read the passage with some commentary; then he looked out in the Bible atlas, any place mentioned and found whatever he could in relation to it; and last of all, he examined Robinson's researches in the holy land in search of any thing in connection with the subject.
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.
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."
"I consent," said his father laughing; "but it's a mystery to me how you have learned so much of the world."
It was near the close of a cold winter's day, that Richard left the cars at Newark, and started on foot for the back country where he had heard cows were very cheap. He had his half-filled carpet-bag in his hand and was trudging through the snow in the middle of the street, feeling, I will not deny it, rather homesick. He was only a boy after all, fondly nurtured in a sweet home. He was alone in a strange land. He knew not where he should find a place to sleep. One thing Dick did know. He was sure that he had not gone beyond the notice of his heavenly Father.
"I can't be lost," he said half aloud, "while He sees me, and He knows that I need help," and up his heart flew on wings of faith and love to the throne above the skies.
"I want to do what is right," he said. "Dear Lord, lead me in the way, and help me in my business, so I can return home in safety."
His heart felt lighter after this, and he trudged on sometimes through drifts over the half broken road, for near a mile. It was growing quite dusky, and still no house in sight.
"I wont be afraid," said Dick to himself. "God knows just where I am, and how much I want some supper." To keep up his spirits he began to sing:
"The Lord my Shepherd is."
Presently he heard the sound of sleigh bells, coming swiftly toward him. He turned in the direction, and stood still. Soon he saw a man with a heavy beard, alone in a pung. His heart beat wildly.
"Shall I speak? He may be a robber."
The man had checked his horse and was staring hard at him.
"Wont you ride, stranger?" asked a friendly voice.
"Thank you, sir, I will."
"I reckon you aren't from these parts," said the man after a more careful survey of his companion.
"No, sir, I'm from Massachusetts. I'm a stranger here. I came to buy a cow for my father, who is a clergyman. Do you know any for sale about here?"
"Well," said the man laughing, "I reckon any o' my neighbors'd sell if they could get their price. But to-morrow'll be time enough to talk about it. We're most home now. Wife'll have supper ready."
Tears gushed to Dick's eyes, though they were not often seen there. How kindly had his heavenly Father provided for him. He almost wished to hug the kind man. One mile more was soon passed; but not before Dick had told much of his personal history and of his own wishes for the future, to all of which the man listened with intense interest.
They drove at last up to a one story white house large on the ground floor and chambers in the attic. The curtains were drawn up, and a bright wood fire blazing inside. How pleasant it all looked to poor Dick. At the sound of the bells a woman's face appeared at the windows.
"Walk right in, Mr.—" he hesitated.
"My name is Richard Stuart."
"Mr. Stuart, wife," said the man, "I'll be in directly."
"Let me help you," urged Richard. "I'm used to that sort of work."
"No, not to-night. Walk right up to the fire, and make yourself at home."
"Where did you happen to meet Mr. Brown?" asked the wife after a cordial grasp of welcome to the stranger.
"About two miles back. He was very kind to bring me home. I didn't know the way to a tavern."
"'Twouldn't have been like Thomas Brown to leave a stranger by the road side," she said laughing. Then she busied herself pouring a pan of steaming hot biscuit upon a plate, and setting the yellow earthen teapot on the table. Mr. Brown and a young man, his son, came in just as she had completed the arrangements, and after a vigorous washing said, "Draw up now;" and he took his seat at the table.
They sat quiet for a minute looking at Dick, who blushed furiously. At last Mr. Brown said, "I didn't know but you'd say grace. I reckon you're a professor."
Richard instantly folded his hands and asked God's blessing on the food before them.
Every one then took hold in earnest of the business of eating; and Dick perceiving from a dish being pushed toward him that he was expected to help himself, did so. Biscuit and butter and maple molasses, gingerbread and sugar cookies, blackberry preserve and pumpkin pie, and crullers, made a most tempting repast to the hungry traveller.
When they rose from the table the men tipped their chairs back and began to ask questions of Dick, while Mrs. Brown cleared the table, and washed the dishes, occasionally adding a word. In an hour or two the boy had given his new friends a brief history of his life at home, and the occasion of his journey.
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; but never had his conversational powers been appreciated and admired as this evening.
With an occasional question and a "You don't say, now!" from one and another, the boy went on from agricultural to educational subjects, and back again. 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. Mr. Stuart'll be likely to conduct worship, I reckon. We'll be glad to have you join us."
"I'll stay then," answered Mr. Manly, letting his chair rest on the floor.
Richard's heart beat so fast that he could scarcely breathe. "How can I pray before these strangers?" he asked himself. But without one doubt that a minister's son, who could discuss so many subjects with perfect ease would wish to conduct the service, Mr. Brown asked his wife to bring the Bible, and pushed the candle nearer the youth.
"I'll try at any rate," was Dick's resolve. "I wont deny my Lord."
He selected the ninety-first psalm, but before he read sung the hymn commencing:
"Majestic sweetness sits enthronedUpon the Saviour's brow."
To this Mr. Manly beat time loudly with his foot on the floor.
Richard's voice trembled as he began:
"O God, we are strangers who have met here; but thou knowest our hearts, and whether we love thee."
"Amen!" shouted Mr. Manly.
This response so disconcerted the poor boy, unused to such interruptions, that, he was obliged to begin his prayer again. He had repeated his first words when the visitor called out in a more earnest tone—
"Hallelujah!"
The perspiration started in groat drops all over Richard's face. He paused a minute. There was no help for it, he must begin again. This time he went on a little farther, when a loud shout—
"Praise the Lord!" set to flight every proper thought. He said, "amen," and arose from his knees, in a singular state of mind, between laughing and crying.
The limits of my true history of Richard Stuart, only allow me to add in brief, that having accomplished the object of his journey in a most satisfactory manner; and having made friends for life of good Mr. and Mrs. 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.