Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1876-09-22
NO. 225.

same time, however, with characteristic
weakness, concealng from him the source
of his sons disease. One error leads
surely to another. and this worthy woman.
who IN other respects was strong-minded
and sensible enough, treated her frst.born
with such mistaken indulgence that, al
though she was conscious OF doing wrong
in concealing the. state of matters from
his father, she still, with blind and cul-
pable stupidity. went on dcceiving herself
with the idea that ''puir laddie must have
his play. and laying the everyday fiat
tering JUNCTION to her soul that no evil con-
sequences could ensue.
The reverend pateJamilias premptori-
y ordered Quentin a iortnight's devotion
to Greek verbs, and made him promise
that he should not, during his hours of
recreation, venture to use the boat until
he should think him worthy to be restored
to favor and confidence, which promise
Quentin dutitully kept. But how many
promises are made but to be broken, and
broken SO adroitly that the letter of the
promise is not in the least infringed upon
Whether it was piece of wilfulness on
the part of Quentin, or an afterthought
prompted more by ignorance OF meta
physics than an evil heart, | know not;
but Quentin returned to the water again,
without literally breaking his fathers COM
mand. although, since he had conscience,
1t could scarcely have testified very loudly
to the integrity of his courses. The fol-
lowing dialogue, which took place be-
tween him and Alec on the day immedi-
ately preceding Pryse's supernatural visi-
tation, will manifest his intentions. They
were sitting in a snug 'lookout- house,
composed of an empty barrel and guam
tlty OF hay and broken branches, the
whole perched securely near the top of a
handsome larch tree. The tree was tall
and symmetrical as the main-mast of a
frlgate. and had been taken possession of
In due form by Quentin some time before
and furnished in this manner, ostensibly
for the purpose of reading up for the ap-
preaching "bursary" competition at the
university; really in order to revel in the
unreal world OF his own creating, which
monopolized all his energies now, and
occasionally to study astronomy from an
aerial point of view. Indeed, latterly the
poor lad had made considerable progress
in the latter studies; for idleness. at least,
was not one of his faults. Whatever
iancy seized upon him. he invested the
object OF it with kind of glory and at
traction that melted him to earnest en-
deavors instead of awakening slothful
feelings. Give worthy object and his
spontaneous appreciation OF it. and he
might safely be trusted to prosecute 1t
with energy and success. On the evening
in question he conducted his friend to this
retreat, in order to exchange condolences.
After scrambing to the "lookout." Quen-
tin, who was bursting to unbosom himself
as much as if overwhelmed with the cares
OF nation. broke out with "Alec /"
Alec--"Weel, ladde."
Quentin-"D'ye ken at I'm forbidden
the boatie ?"
"Alec-"Av, ken. She'll win roun'."
Quentin-"W;T roun'! What mean yePn
Alec-"The boatie maun hae a rest.
She's owerdone; your daddie, honest
man, is feared lest she come tae grief
atore ye're fit to navigate her across the
Atlantic, and SO he maun lay her up for
repairs. heerd him speer father anent
her."
Quentin-"What said he ?"
Aec-"lle said she cost him five pun
sterln' ten year ago. but that moo"
Qaentin-'Ay, ay. ken. He'd as lief
sell her fasten's as burn the thinner o her;
but ye medina lanch at me, Gallant; ye're
over wise to live lang, reckon
Alec-"rm no lauchin father telrt me
at yc suld burn a thay buiks, for at
they re like roarin' lions gaein' aboot seekin
whom they may devoor; at they're the
breath of the bottomless pit; and, gin We
gang on stickin' till them, ye'll be like
rollin' stane at gathers nae moss, unsta-
bic in a thy ways"
Quentin-"Ay, ay, ye come o. worthy
father! Man, what fine minister yes
max! ye'd gar the clachan ring on saic-
rament Thursday; belize YEN wear the
bands afore your mother. moo. Harken
till me-but maybe ye're grown so douce.
We wadna grant pur. feekless body like
me favor. Ye ken your mothers big
wash-tub ?"
Alec-"Oo, ay; what's comm moo;
wunner P" (s0tto Uoce).
Quentin-'I had gran sail in her yes
treen; she swung roun' wee, but she
only wants guidu' to max her a bonny
ship. Tomorrow my father will be away
vees.tin', and intend doing my exerceese
the nicht, and settin' sail the morn, and
gin We wad like to come and shove her off,
and tax your turn, Id be muckle beholden
till ye."
Alec-"The Lord preserve us, laddie
Ye wadna dae sic a gaicket thingPn
Quentin --"Ay, wul l, though. Will
ye stead me p'
Aiec.-"Na. na, ladde. l wadna be
your friend to dae sic an evil thing. Sup
posin' We got droont, folks wud ca me
we're gettin' auld moo, and
suld hae mair discretion"
"Quentin.-"Ay, ye're getting auld.
and pawky too (with spirit) Ye're a
runnin commentary on the Scriptures
your held Is fu' O. holy lere."
''Quentin, my dear chiel." sorrowfully
Alec, whiles man must e'en
understand his best freen' and hairt's dear
brither whan he's gaein' a wrang gait"
900, ay, there yere at your homiies
again." quoth crusty Quentin, "but let's
win doom"
On regaining terra frma, Quentin,
sezed!with sudden conjunction for his un-
kind language to his oldest playmate,
grasped his hand and said: "Ye'll forgie
me, AleeP dinna mean onything to
hurt ye; yell no tell p
Mo- incautiously replied Alec; glad
at even this show of concession on his
friends part.
,.I'b.n I'm oka-a aou ~pc