Thehouse was finished, and the satisfaction which it afforded to the young exiles cannot be expressed in words. Noddy had exercised his ingenuity in the construction of a fireplace, a chimney, and a table. The stern-lights of the Roebuck furnished the windows of the principal apartment; while single panes of glass, obtained from the assorted cargo of the vessel, admitted the light to the sleeping-rooms. They had knives, forks, spoons, dishes, and cooking utensils in abundance. Everything they wanted was at hand; and in this respect they differed from all the Crusoes of ancient and modern times.
The miscellaneous cargo of the schooner supplied the house with all the comforts and many of the luxuries of civilization; and if Noddy had been familiar with the refinements of social life, he would probably have added the "modern improvements" to the mansion. If the house had been an elegant residence on Fifth Avenue or Blackstone Square, the occupants could not have enjoyed it more. Day after dayNoddy added some new feature of comfort, until he was as proud of the dwelling as though he had been the architect of St. Peter's.
The work was done, and they had nothing to do but sit down under their "own vine and fig-tree," and enjoy themselves. They had provisions and water enough to last them six months. But Noddy had discovered that idleness was the sum of all miseries; and after he had thoroughly explored the island, and amused himself for a few days among the novelties of the place, he realized that work was a positive luxury. Even patient, plodding labor, without any excitement, was better than doing nothing.
Though there had been a storm, the Roebuck still held together; and the most profitable employment that presented itself was bringing off the rest of the cargo from the wreck; and everything which it was possible for him to move was transferred to the shore. He built a storehouse of sail-cloth, in which all the merchandise and provisions were carefully secured, though it was not probable that any considerable portion of it would ever be of any value to the islanders.
Noddy had built a fence around the grave of Captain McClintock, and on a smooth board had cut the name and age of the deceased. Every day Mollie visited the spot, and placed fresh flowers on the green sod. The sharp pangs of her great affliction had passed away, and she was cheerful, and even hopefulof the future, while she fondly cherished the memory of her father.
The islands which were just visible in the distance were a source of interest and anxiety to the sailor-boy and his gentle companion. Noddy had carefully examined them through the spy-glass a great many times; and once he had seen a large canoe, under sail, with a ponderous "out-rigger" to keep it from upsetting; but it did not come near the home of the exiles. This proved that the other islands were inhabited, and he was in constant dread of a visit from the savages. He put all the pistols he had found in the cabin in readiness for use, and practised firing at a mark, that he might be able to defend himself and his fair charge if occasion required. They did not come, and there were no signs on the island that they ever visited it, and he hoped to avoid the necessity of fighting them.
There were plenty of fish in the waters which surrounded the island, and Noddy had no difficulty in catching as many of them as he wanted. There were no animals to be seen, except a few sea-fowl. He killed one of these, and roasted him for dinner one day; but the flesh was so strong and so fishy that salt pork and corned beef were considered better.
A two months' residence on the island had accustomed both the boy and the girl to the novelties of the situation; and though, as might be reasonably expected, they were anxious to return to the greatworld from which they had been banished, they were tolerably contented with the life they led. Noddy was continually planning some new thing to add to the comfort of their daily life, and to provide supplies for the future. As in many large cities, a supply of pure water was a question, of momentous importance to him, and he early turned his attention to the subject. He made spouts of canvas for the "mansion" and the storehouse, by which the water, when it rained, was conducted to barrels set in the ground, so as to keep it cool. This expedient promised a plentiful supply, for the rains were heavy and frequent, and the quality was much better than that of the water casks.
When all the necessary work had been accomplished, and when the time at last hung heavily on his hands, Noddy began to consider the practicability of a garden, to keep up the supply of peas, beans, and potatoes, of which a considerable quantity had been obtained from the wreck. Mollie was delighted with the idea of a "farm," as she called it, and the ground was at once marked off. Noddy went to work; but the labor of digging up the soil, and preparing it for the seed, was very hard. There was no excitement about this occupation, and the laborer "punished" himself very severely in performing it; but work had become a principle with him, and he persevered until an incident occurred which suspended further operations on the garden, and gave him all the excitement his nature craved.
"What's that, Noddy?" said Mollie, one day, when he was industriously striving to overcome his dislike to plodding labor.
"Where?" asked he, dropping his shovel, for the manner of his companion betrayed no little alarm.
"On the water," replied she, pointing in the direction of the islands which had given them so much anxiety.
"It is a native canoe loaded with savages," said Noddy, hastening to the house for his spy-glass and pistols.
He examined the canoe long and attentively. It was only four or five miles distant, and looked like quite a large boat.
"They are coming here," said Noddy.
"O, what shall we do?" exclaimed the timid maiden, recalling all she knew about cannibals and fierce savages found on the South Sea Islands.
"Perhaps they will not come here," added Noddy; but it was more to cheer up his friend, than from any hope he cherished of avoiding the issue.
"I hope they will not. What do you think they will do to us, if they do?"
"I think I can manage them, Mollie. Don't be alarmed."
"How many are there in the canoe?"
"A dozen or fifteen, I should think," replied he, after he had again examined the object with the glass.
"What can you do with so many as that?" asked she, in despair.
"They are savages, you know; and they are afraid of powder. If I should shoot one of them, the rest would run away."
"Can't we hide?"
"That will do no good. They would certainly find us. The best way is to face the music."
"And they will steal all our things, Noddy."
"I won't let them steal anything," said he, examining his pistol.
"I hope you won't have to shoot any of them. It would be awful to kill the poor creatures."
"I won't fire if I can help it. They are all looking this way, and I'm sure they can see the house and the tent."
"What shall we do?" cried Mollie, who certainly felt that the end of all things had come.
"We can do nothing; and we may as well take it easy. I can't tell what to do now; but I think I will go down and hide the boat, for they may carry that off."
Mollie went with him to the inlet, and the boat was moved up among the bushes where the savages would not be likely to find it. The wind was light, and the great canoe advanced but slowly. The menon board of her appeared to be watching the island with as much interest as its occupants regarded the approach of the intruders.
Off the reef the big canoe came up into the wind, and the savages appeared to be debating what they should do next. They could see the remains of the wrecked schooner now; and the question appeared to be, whether they should visit that or the shore. But she soon filled away again, and passed through the opening in the reef. Noddy had three pistols, all of which he put in his belt, and finished this hostile array by adding a huge butcher-knife to the collection. He looked formidable enough to fight a whole army; but he intended only to make a prudent display of force. Mollie thought it was rather ridiculous for a small boy like him to load himself down with so many weapons, which could not avail him, if a conflict became necessary, against sixteen savages, full grown, and accustomed to fighting. But Noddy was general-in-chief of the forces, and she did not remonstrate any further than to beg him to be prudent.
The canoe slowly approached the shore. Those in her seemed to be familiar with the land, for they steered directly up the little inlet which Noddy had chosen as his landing-place. The "lord of the isle," as our sailor-boy felt himself to be, moved down to the shore, followed by Mollie. The savages could now be distinctly seen. They were horribly tattooed,and they did not look very friendly. As the canoe touched the shore, they sprang to their feet, and Noddy's calculations were set at nought by the discovery that several were armed with guns.
One of them stepped on shore. There was a broad grin on his ugly face, which was intended for a conciliatory smile. The savage walked towards Noddy with his hand extended, and with his mouth stretched open from ear to ear, to denote the friendly nature of his mission. The boy took the hand, and tried to look as amiable as the visitor; but as his mouth was not half so large, he probably met with only a partial success.
"Americals?" said the savage, in tones so loud that poor Mollie was actually frightened by the sound.
He spoke in a nasal voice, as a man does who has a cold in the head; but the lord of the isle was surprised and pleased to hear even a single word of his mother tongue. He pointed impressively to the American flag, which had been hoisted on a pole, as he had seen Captain McClintock do when he had a slight difficulty with a custom-house officer at Barbadoes, and politely replied that he and Mollie were Americans.
"Big heap thigs," added the savage, pointing to the tent filled with stores and merchandise.
"They are mine," said Noddy.
"Americals—yes."
"What do you want?"
"Big wreck," said the visitor, pointing over to the schooner. "Big lot mel ol the other islal."
"Americans?" asked Noddy, clearly understanding the speaker, whose enunciation was principally defective in the substitution of l's for n's.
"Four Americals; big storm; come in boat."
"Do you hear that, Mollie?" exclaimed Noddy. "He says that four Americans came to the other island in a boat."
"They must be some of the crew of the Roebuck."
"Big wreck; log time; fild it low," said the savage, pointing to the schooner again.
They had been looking for the wreck from which the four men had been saved, but had not been able to find it before.
"Whale ship over there," added he. "Take four mel off."
"Is she there now?" asked Noddy, breathless with interest.
"Go sool—to-morrow—lext week."
This was not very definite; but the way to his native land seemed to be open to him, and he listened with deep emotion to the welcome intelligence.
"Can we go over there?" asked Noddy, pointing to his companion.
"Go with we."
"We will."
"Big heap thigs," added the savage, pointing to the storehouse again. "Walt to trade?"
"Yes; what will you give for the lot?" asked Noddy, facetiously.
"Big heap thigs," replied the man, not comprehending the wholesale trade.
It was of no use to attempt to bargain with these people; they had no money, and they could help themselves to what they pleased. Noddy gave them heavy articles enough to load their boat, for he felt that he had no further use for them, if there was a whale ship at the other island. He questioned the savage very closely in regard to the vessel, and was satisfied that he spoke the truth. The welcome intelligence that a portion of the Roebuck's crew had been saved, rendered the exiles the more anxious to visit the island.
The savages all landed and gazed at Mollie with the utmost interest and curiosity. Probably they had never before seen an American girl. But they were respectful to her, and she soon ceased to be afraid of them. She laughed with them, and soon became quite intimate with the whole party. They treated her like a superior being; and certainly her pretty face and her gentle manners were quite enough to inspire them with such an idea.
The savages had loaded their goods into the canoe, and were ready to return. The man who spoke English offered them a passage in his craft; butNoddy decided that it would be better and safer for them to go over in their own boat. He proceeded to secure all his valuables, including all his own money and that he had saved from the state-room of the captain, which he concealed about his clothes. The boat was well loaded with such articles as he thought would be useful to Mollie, or would sell best when a chance offered. He had quite a cargo, and the savages began to be impatient before his preparations were completed.
While he was thus employed, Mollie gathered fresh flowers, and paid her last visit, as she supposed, to the grave of her father. She wept there, as she thought of leaving him in that far-off, lonely island; but she was consoled by the belief that her father's spirit dwelt in the happy land, where spring eternal ever reigns.
The boat was ready; she wiped away her tears, and stepped on board. Both of them felt sad at the thought of leaving the island; but home had hopes which reconciled them to the change.
Noddyshook out the sail of the boat, and pushing her off, followed the canoe. Though the exiles had been on the island but little over two months, they had become much attached to their new home, and it was with a feeling of sadness that they bade adieu to it. The house and other improvements had cost Noddy so much hard labor that he was sorry to leave them before he had received the full benefit of all the comfort and luxury which they were capable of affording.
"Don't you think we ought to live on the island for a year or so, after all the work we have done there?" said Noddy, as the boat gathered headway, and moved away from the shore.
"I'm sure I should be very happy there, if we had to stay," replied Mollie, "But I don't think I should care to remain just for the sake of living in the house you built."
"Nor I; but it seems to me just as though I had done all the work for nothing."
"You worked very hard."
"But I enjoyed my work, for all that."
"And you think you did not win anything by it," added she, with a smile.
"I don't think that. I used to hate to work when I was at Woodville. I don't think I do hate it now."
"Then you have won something."
"I think I have won a great deal, when I look the matter over. I have learned a great many things."
Noddy had only a partial appreciation of what he had "won," though he was satisfied that his labor had not been wasted. He had been happy in the occupation which the necessities of his situation demanded of him. Many a boy, wrecked as he had been, with no one but a weak and timid girl to support him, would have done nothing but repine at his hard lot; would have lived "from hand to mouth" during those two months, and made every day a day of misery. Noddy had worked hard; but what had he won? Was his labor, now that he was to abandon the house, the cisterns, the stores, and the garden,—was it wasted?
Noddy had won two months of happiness.
He had won a knowledge of his own powers, mental and physical.
He had won a valuable experience in adapting means to ends, which others might be years in obtaining.
He had won a vast amount of useful information from the stubborn toil he had performed.
He had won the victory over idleness and indifference, which had beset him for years.
He had won a cheerful spirit, from the trials and difficulties he had encountered.
He had won a lively faith in things higher than earth, from the gentle and loving heart that shared his exile, for whom, rather than for himself, he had worked.
His labor was not lost. He had won more than could be computed. He had won faith and hope, confidence in himself, an earnest purpose, which were to go through life with him, and bless him to the end of his days, and through the endless ages of eternity. He had worked earnestly; he had won untold riches.
The wind was tolerably fresh after the boats passed the reef, and in two hours they were near enough to a large island to enable the young voyagers to see the objects on the shore. But they followed the canoe beyond a point of the land; and, after a run of several miles more, they rounded another point, and discovered the tall masts of a ship, at anchor in a small bay.
"It may be many months before we can get home. This ship may have to cruise a year or two before she obtains her full cargo of oil."
"I hope not."
"But we may find some way to get home. I have all the money I saved from the vessel, and we can pay our passage home."
The money reminded the orphan girl of her father, and she mused upon the past. The boat sped on its way, and in a short time reached the ship.
"Hallo, Noddy!" shouted Mr. Lincoln, as the boat approached. "And Mollie too!"
The mate was overjoyed to see them, and to find that they had been saved from the wreck. He leaped into the boat, took Mollie in his arms, and kissed her as though she had been his own child. He grasped the hand of Noddy, and wrung it till the owner thought it would be crushed in his grip.
"I was sure you were lost," said Mr. Lincoln.
"And we were sure you were lost," replied Noddy.
"How did it happen? The cabin was full of water when we left the schooner."
"You didn't wait long, Mr. Lincoln."
"We couldn't wait long. The sea made a clean breach over the wreck. Only four of us were saved; the rest were washed away, and we never saw anything more of them!"
Noddy and Mollie were conducted to the deck of the whale ship, where they were warmly welcomed by the captain and his officers. The three sailors who had been saved from the wreck of the Roebuck were rejoiced to see them alive and well. In thepresence of the large group gathered around himself and Mollie, Noddy told his story.
"Captain McClintock was lost, then?"
"Yes," replied Noddy, breaking through the crowd, for he did not like to tell the particulars of his death in poor Mollie's presence.
At a later hour he found an opportunity to inform his late shipmates of the manner in which the corpse of the captain had been found, and of its burial on the island. In return, Mr. Lincoln told him that he had cast off the boat a moment after the schooner struck the reef. The men who happened to be on the quarter-deck with him had been saved; the others were not seen after the shock. With the greatest difficulty they had kept the boat right side up, for she was often full of water. For hours they had drifted in the gale, and in the morning, when the storm subsided, they had reached the island.
They had been kindly treated by natives, who were partially civilized by their intercourse with vessels visiting the island, and with which they carried on commerce, exchanging the products of the island for guns, ammunition, and other useful and ornamental articles. The savages knew that, if they killed or injured any white men, the terrible ships of war would visit them with the severest punishment.
"What ship is this?" asked Noddy, when the past had been satisfactorily explained by both parties.
"The Atlantic, of New Bedford," replied themate. "She is full of oil, and is homeward bound."
"Good!" exclaimed Noddy. "I suppose I have nothing further to do in this part of the world, and I may as well go in her."
"This hasn't been a very profitable cruise to me," added Mr. Lincoln.
"Well, I suppose there is no help for it; and I hope you will have better luck next time."
"I don't grumble; these things can't always be helped. We were lucky to escape with our lives, and we won't say a word about the wages we have lost."
"Perhaps you won't lose them," added Mollie; and there was a slight flush on her fair cheeks, for her pride and her filial affection were touched by the reflection that these men had suffered from her father's infirmity.
The captain of the whale ship was entirely willing to take the exiles as passengers; and Noddy told him he had saved a great many articles, which might be of service to him. The next day, when the vessel had taken in her water, she sailed for the beautiful island. Outside the reef she lay to, and the boats were sent on shore to bring off such of the goods as would be useful on the voyage.
Noddy and Mollie had an opportunity to visit their island home once more; and, while the former assisted the men in selecting and loading the goods, the latter gathered fresh flowers, and for the last time strewed them on the grave of her father.
The "big heap thigs" was very much reduced by the visit of the boats; but there was still enough left to reward the natives who had befriended the young islanders for the service they had rendered. According to the captain's estimate,—which was rather low,—he took about four hundred dollars' worth of goods from the island. Mollie, as her father's heir, was the owner of the property, subject to Noddy's claim for salvage. With Mr. Lincoln's aid the accounts were settled. Mollie insisted upon paying the mate and the three seamen their wages up to the time they would reach their native land. This, with their own passage, consumed nearly the whole sum.
Besides the property saved from the island, there were about sixteen hundred dollars in gold and silver, and the valuable nautical instruments of Captain McClintock, making a total of over two thousand dollars. Though the disposition of this property was properly a subject for the maritime courts to settle, Mr. Lincoln and the officers of the ship talked it over, and decided that one half belonged to Mollie, in right of her father, and the other half to Noddy, as salvage,—which is the part of property saved from a wrecked imperilled ship, awarded to those who save it.
Noddy at first positively objected to this decree, and refused to take a dollar from the poor orphan girl; but when the captain told him that a court would probably award him a larger share, and whenMollie almost cried because he refused, he consented to take it; but it was with a determination to have it applied to her use when he got home. The whale ship filled away when the goods had been taken on board, and weeks and months she stood on her course, till the welcome shores of their native land gladdened the sight of the exiled children. Mollie had been a great favorite with the officers and crew during the voyage, and many of them were the wiser and the better for the gentle words she spoke to them. The captain sold the nautical instruments, and the money was divided according to the decision of the council and officers. Noddy was now the possessor of about twelve hundred dollars, which was almost a fortune to a boy of twelve. It had been "work and win" to some purpose, in spite of the disastrous conclusion of the voyage.
Thecaptain of the whale ship very kindly took the young voyagers to his own house until their affairs were settled up. He had dealt fairly and justly by them in all things, and both were grateful to him for the interest he had manifested in their welfare.
"What are you going to do now, Noddy?" asked Mollie, after the instruments had been sold and the proceeds paid over to them.
"I'm going to Woodville, now, to face the music," replied Noddy. "I suppose they will take me to the court-house; but I have made up my mind to submit to the penalty, whatever it may be, for setting the boat-house afire."
"Fanny has told all about it before this time, you may be certain," added Mollie, to whom he had related the story of the fire.
"I hope she has not; for I think I am the guilty one. She wouldn't have set the fire if it hadn't beenfor me. I am going to stand right up to it, and take the consequences, even if they send me to prison; but I hope they won't do that."
"I'm sure they won't. But, Noddy, suppose Miss Fanny has not told the truth yet. Will you still deceive your kind friends? You told me you had been made over new since you left Woodville, and I know you have. You said you meant to live a good life, and not lie, or steal, or get angry, or do anything that is bad."
"Well, I mean so, Mollie. I intend to stick to it. They won't know anything about that. They won't believe anything I say."
"They must believe you. I'll go with you, Noddy!" exclaimed she, smiling at the happy thought. "I will tell them all about you."
"That will be jolly; and the sooner we go the better."
Their good friend the captain found a gentleman who was going to New York, and they accompanied him, though Noddy felt abundantly able to take care of himself and his fair charge. They arrived the next morning, and took an early train for Woodville.
Noddy conducted Mollie down the road to the lawn in front of the house. His heart bounded with emotion as he once more beheld the familiar scenes of the past. As he walked along he pointed out to his interested companion the various objects whichwere endeared to him by former associations. He talked because he could not help it; for he was so agitated he did not know whether he was on his head or his heels. He heard a step on one of the side paths. He turned to see who it was, and Bertha Grant rushed towards him.
"Why, Noddy! It that you?" cried she, grasping him with both hands. "I am so glad to see you!"
"You'd better believe I'm glad to see you again," said he, trying to keep from crying.
The poor fellow actually broke down, he was so much affected by the meeting.
"I didn't expect to see you again for years, after the letter you wrote me."
"Been cast away, Miss Bertha, and lived two months on an island where nobody lived," blubbered Noddy.
"Who is this little girl with you? Is this Mollie, of whom you spoke in your letter?"
"Yes, Miss Bertha, that's Mollie; and she is the best girl in the world, except yourself."
"I'm very glad to see you, Mollie," said Bertha, taking her hand, and giving her a kind reception. "Now, come into the house."
Bertha, finding Noddy so completely overcome by his emotions, refrained from asking him any more questions, though she was anxious to hear the sad story of the shipwreck. Mr. Grant had not yet goneto the city, and he received the returned exiles as though they had been his own children.
"I've come back, Mr. Grant, to settle up old affairs, and you can send me to the court-house or the prison now. I did wrong, and I am willing to suffer for it."
"I have told them all about it, Noddy," interrupted Miss Fanny, blushing. "I couldn't stand it after you went away."
"It was my fault," said Noddy. "I said so then, and I say so now."
"We won't say anything about that until after breakfast. We are very glad you have come back; and we don't care about thinking of anything else, at present," said Mr. Grant.
Breakfast was provided for the wanderer and his friend, and Mollie was soon made quite at home by the kind attentions of Bertha and Fanny. When the meal was ended, Noddy insisted upon "settling up old affairs," as he called it. He declared that the blame ought to rest on him, and he was willing to suffer. Mr. Grant said that he was satisfied. Fanny was to blame, and she had already been severely punished for her fault.
"You will not send poor Noddy to prison—will you?" interposed Mollie. "He is a good boy now. He saved my life, and took care of me for months. You will find that he is not the same Noddy, he used to be. He is made over new."
"I'm glad to hear that," replied Mr. Grant. "But Noddy, did you really think I intended to send you to jail?"
"Yes, sir; what was the constable after me for, if not for that?"
"It's a mistake, and I told you so in Albany. Didn't I say you would be a rich man?"
"You did, sir; but I thought that was only to catch me. All of them said something of that sort. I knew I couldn't be a rich man, because my father never had a cent to leave me. That's what they told me."
"But you had an uncle."
"Never heard of him," replied Noddy, bewildered at the prospect before him.
"Your father's only brother died in California more than a year ago. He had no family; but an honest man who went with him knew where he came from; and Squire Wriggs has hunted up all the evidence, which fully proves that all your uncle's property, in the absence of other heirs, belongs to you. He left over thirty thousand dollars, and it is all yours."
"Dear me!" exclaimed Noddy, utterly confounded by this intelligence.
"This sum, judiciously invested, will produce at least fifty thousand when you are of age. I have been appointed your guardian."
"I don't think I'm Noddy Newman after this," added the heir, in breathless excitement.
"I know you are not," added Bertha, laughing. "Your real name is Ogden Newman."
"How are you, Ogden?" said Noddy, amused at his new name.
"I suppose Noddy came from Ogden," said Mr. Grant.
"If that's what's the matter, I don't see what you wanted to take me to court for."
"As you have come to years of discretion, you might have had the privilege of naming your own guardian; and we were going to take you to the court for that purpose. As you were not here to speak for yourself, I was appointed. If you are not satisfied, the proceedings can be reviewed."
"I'm satisfied first rate," laughed Noddy. "But you said something about sending me off."
"My plan was to send you to the Tunbrook Military Institute, where Richard is, and make a man of you."
"I should like that—perhaps."
"You gave me a great deal of trouble to find you; and I did not succeed, after all," added Mr. Grant.
"I didn't know what you was after. If I had, I shouldn't have been in such a hurry. But I guess it was all for the best. I've been at work, Miss Bertha, since I went away," said Noddy, turning to his teacher and friend.
"Did you win?"
"I rather think I did," replied he, depositing his twelve hundred dollars on the table. "That's rather better than being a tinker, I reckon, Miss Bertha."
"O, if you had seen him work. He did things which a great man could not have done," said Mollie, with enthusiasm. "And he's real good, too. He'll never do anything wrong again."
"We must hear all about it now, Ogden," continued Mr. Grant.
"Who?"
"Ogden; that's your name now."
Between Noddy and Mollie the story was told; and there was hardly a dry eye in the room when the parts relating to the yellow fever and the funeral of Captain McClintock were narrated. Noddy told the burden of the story; but he was occasionally interrupted by Mollie, who wanted to tell how her friend watched over her and her father when they were sick with the fever, and what kindness and consideration he had used in procuring and burying the remains of her father. Noddy only told facts; she supplied what she regarded as very important omissions.
When the narrative was finished, Mr. Grant, and Bertha were willing to believe that Noddy had been made over new; that he had worked, morally as well as physically, and won, besides the treasure on the table, good principles enough to save him from theerrors which formerly beset him; had won a child's faith in God, and a man's confidence in himself. The whole family were deeply interested in Mollie; they pitied and loved her; and as she had no near relatives, they insisted upon her remaining at Woodville.
"This is your money, Ogden, and I suppose I am to invest it with the rest of your property," said Mr. Grant.
"No, sir;" replied Noddy, promptly. "You know how I got that money, and I don't think it belongs to me. Besides, I'm rich, and don't want it. Mollie must have every dollar of it."
"Bravo, Noddy," exclaimed Mr. Grant. "I approve of that with all my heart."
"Why, no, Noddy. You earned it all," said Mollie. "One hundred dollars of it was yours before the wreck."
"I don't care for that. Mr. Grant shall take care of the whole of it for you, or you may take it, as you please."
Mollie was in the minority, and she had to yield the point; and Mr. Grant was instructed to invest all she had, being the entire net proceeds of what was saved from the wreck.
After the story had been told, all the young people took a walk on the estate, during which Noddy saw Ben and the rest of the servants. The old man was delighted to meet him again, and the others werehardly less rejoiced. The boat-house had been rebuilt. It was winter, and every craft belonging to the establishment was housed.
In the spring, Noddy, or Ogden, as he was now called, was sent to the Tunbrook Institute; while Bertha found a faithful pupil, and Fanny a devoted friend, in Mollie.
Three months at Woodville convinced Mr. Grant and Bertha that the change in Noddy was radical and permanent. Though not now required to work, he was constantly employed in some useful occupation. He was no longer an idler and a vagabond, but one of the most industrious, useful, and reliable persons on the estate.
He did not work with his hands only. There was a work for the mind and the heart to do, and he labored as perseveringly and as successfully in this field as in the other. At Tunbrook he was a hard student, and graduated with the highest intellectual honors. From there he went to college.
The influence of those scenes when the yellow fever was raging around him, when the stormy ocean threatened to devour him, and perhaps more than all others, when he stood at the open, grave of Captain McClintock, was never obliterated from his mind. They colored his subsequent existence; and when he came to choose a profession, he selected that of a minister of the gospel.
The Rev. Ogden Newman is not, and never willbe, a brilliant preacher; but he is a faithful and devoted "shepherd of the sheep." The humble parish over whose moral and spiritual welfare he presides is not more rejoiced and comforted by his own ministrations than by the loving words and the pure example of the gentle being who now walks hand in hand with him in the journey of life, cheered by his presence and upheld by his strong arm, as she was in the days of the storm and the pestilence. Mollie McClintock is Mrs. Ogden Newman; and as together they work, together they shall win.
Boys playing tennis
Girls playing golf
Transcriber's Notes:Obvious punctuation errors repaired.Page 28, a line of repeated text was deleted. The original text read:except so far as their words went to convince hismistress of his guilt. What would she do to him?mistress of his guilt. What would she do to him?Page 220, a line of repeated text was deleted. The original text read:"Come, Mollie," said he, in a gentle, subduedtone, at the fore-scuttle.tone; at the fore-scuttle.The remaining corrections made are indicated by dotted lines under the corrections. Scroll the mouse over the word and the original text willappear.
Obvious punctuation errors repaired.
Page 28, a line of repeated text was deleted. The original text read:
except so far as their words went to convince hismistress of his guilt. What would she do to him?mistress of his guilt. What would she do to him?
Page 220, a line of repeated text was deleted. The original text read:
"Come, Mollie," said he, in a gentle, subduedtone, at the fore-scuttle.tone; at the fore-scuttle.
The remaining corrections made are indicated by dotted lines under the corrections. Scroll the mouse over the word and the original text willappear.