Year: 1859

Widow Roland stood with her hand
upon the head of her boy He was a
bright-eyed, robust, heathy-looking
fellow, with face of marked intclli-
gencc, and genial, goodnatured cx-
preston of countenance. He had a
bundle in his hand, and close by was
small trunk, all lashed up ready for
travel.


Mark" spoke the widow, "you
are the only child have in the world
the only being have left to whom
my hopeful love can cling"


The boy drew more closely to his
mother, but did not speak. He hid
his face, that she might not sec the
tears that came TO his eyes.


Thus far, my son." the widow re-
snmcd keeping down her own tears,
" | have done for You the best that
conld. | have taught you what
thought was right, and have been
more than repaid by your loving kind
ness towards me- But now you are
going to leave me. 1t is, perhaps,
hard for us to part, but it is for
the best good. You must begin TO
prepare for the business of life, and
work out your own support. since the
means Of supporting us both are not
within my reach. Before | bound you
to Mr.. Hammond, | assured myself
that he was an excellent mana man
upright, kind-hcartcd, and strictly
moral So you will not fail to find a
good example in your master. Now,
Mark, | have one very important ques-
ton to ask of you. Do You know
what kind of man You wish to be
when you grow up?"


Yes, mother" the boy replied.


-\nd what kind is it %


\ good man.


And you would be respected, and
beloved, and honorcd by all who know
you ?" added the mother.


lcs--ycs.'


"Then. my child, let this be the rule
of your life until that time If you
are ever tempted to take step not in
the ordinary course of your duty, stop
and ask yourself this simple question
HUI il heip make me pkat / teiA 10 be !!
And then You may ask-Wouid my
mother advise me to do it would
not have you mean or penurious, but
still there is proper care to be exer-
cised over whatever sums of money
may come into your possession. Re-
member that there are two kinds of
pleasure-therc is a pleasure which
fades away with the excitement which
produces it and there is u pleasure
which conduces to our lasting good,
and thus remains to us beyond the
mere hour Of its birth. Boyou under
stand me, my son 7"


Yes, Mother ...


"Then | shall not fear for my boy"


In little while the stage rolled mp
and stopped before the door, and the
stout driver put on the trunk and
bound it in its place. Mr.. Roland
kissed his mother, received her bless
ing. heard one short prayer from her
lips, and then hurried into the stage,
and hid his face away in his hands.
Late in the afternoon he reached a
large village, and was set down at
the door of a fine house. He Won
dcred if he was to live in such dwell
ling. 1t was larger and handsomer
than any house in the town whence he
had come, and he was beginning to
fear that he should never feel at home
in such a place, when his mcditations
Were cut short by the appearance OF
middle-aged man, who had just come
out upon the piazza, and who asked if
this was Mark Roland.


Mark recognized Mr.. Hammond, as
he had seen him at his mothers house
once, and he replied that he was the
boy. His trunk was carried into the
house, and he was then conducted to
the dining-room, where the family
were Just ready to sit down to supper.
He was introduced to Mrs. Hammond
and to the large children, and also to
two other apprentices, who were about
his own age He could eat but little,
so he had more time to look about
him, and observe the countenances of
those with whom he was to live. He
liked the looks of Mrs. Hammond, and
he felt sure that she must be kind and
aflectionatc. And then there was
little girl, whom the hostess called
Caddy, but whose real name he after
wards found to be Caroline, that he
thought lie should like very much.
She was younger than he was, and a
great deal smaller, but she looked
good, and kind, and pleasant, and he
wondered if she would ever learn to
love him as his own sweet sister loved
him before she died.