Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1870-07-29
bles and top from his pocket and flung
them into the water.

bles and top from his pocket and aunl
them into the water.
"There," said be, ''now [ shall give VI
nonsense and show the master, and shov
every body what I can do. I'm thirteer
years old and shall soon be a man, and
must look out for myself, as the master
says am clever and have got good abili
ties; I feel it--that I do?''
He walked on, still talking to himself
presently he burst out
''What does uncle hate me for should
like to know? What harm have [ done
him? What's he always thrashing me
for? Why don't be let me alone %
Again he went on, every now and then
lettering to think
81 wish" said he, turning his pockets
inside out. II only wish | had some
money there"
With this fresh wish on bis lips, be
went into the dirty cottage of his uncle.
1t was homestead that did anything but
credit to its occupants. The floor was un-
swept, the hearth covered with coke and
potato pcelings; the remnants Of dinner
of the meanest kind were scattered over
the table. The boy felt disgusted. He
looked at his aunt, sitting in dirty cot
tage gown and discolored cap in the Chin
ney corner, and compared her to the school
masters suffering sister, who ever looked
SO neat and clean.
The passion for change and improve
ment that had silently been taking place
in Harry's breast was momentarily becom-
ing more developed. All at once he said
to his aunt:
"Aunt can you give me some money
ever so little p
Money p she looked at him in sur
prise. ''What do you want with money!"
"Never you mind only see though if l
lon't pay you back some day, and plenty
If it,"
A violent blow from behind sent the
10Y reeling against the wall There stood
lis savage uncle with his fist doubled aud
"I'll teach you to ask for money" said
le, and other blows and fierce abuses fol-
owed.
The boy started forward into the centre
If the room and gazed with steady bold
ness into the tyrant's face and said:
"You have done nothing but i'll use me
since my father died. I have never done
you any harm. and I shan't bear any more
Of it,"
The blacksmith caught up heavy stick.
"Will you not"
"No, will not; so take care what you
are about"
"rll break your spirit, or I'll break
every bone in your body"
"You won't do either"
"We'll try that"
The blacksmith rushed forward to grasp
Harry by the collar and Harry sprung to
meet him with wild resistance. They
stood foot to foot and hand to hand, wrest-
ling for the mastery, when the door open
ed and the schoolmaster entered. Instinc-
tive reverence for the good man the black
smith paused, and the boy broke from him
trembling violently and now subdued to
tears.
II am sorry to see this" said the mas
ter, "What is the matter?"
The blacksmith muttered something,
and his wife took the stick from his hand.
"They are always quarreling," said she.
"What have I donew exclaimed Har-
ry; "but it don't matter, master; like
you-you have been good to me and |
shall think Of it; but as for him-I hate
him and despise him. and have nothing
to thank him for; and after this day will
never see his face again nor eat of his
bread F"
In an instant the lad was gone.
Some hours after the master returned
home and the first thing he did was tc
take his strap from the table and put it in
the fire.
His sister smiled but said nothing.
Afterwards they conversed together re-
specting the poor boy, and the master ex
pressed some uneasy apprehensions as ht
repeated Harry's words on going off,
Those apprehensions increased when it be
came known through the village that Har
ry Bonner was missing, and could not b.
found
AT dark the villagers were traversint
the road with lights-the old upper road
which, viewed from the lower cliffs. ap
peared but as lofty terrace cut on tn
green mountain side.