Year: 1872

thy having taken her departure soon after the
return of the latter. Mrs. Mansfield was ex-
ceedingly kind and considerate to him, and
CeciPs affection for him knew no bounds.
Those two having no other companions, teach
er and pupil were constantly together, and in
leisure hours would walk, ride, shoot and fish
in company, the boys cheerful careless talk
diverting the mind Of the other from the sad
thoughts which were prone to oppress it.
Richard warmly reciprocated the attachment
of his pupil, who was very intelligent, amia-
BILE, manly little fellow, and after a time, in
some of their hours of confidential talk, he
revealed to him some stray glimpses of his
history, exciting his eager interest and SYM
pathy, though carefully repressing the main
point on which his story hung. Cecil would
repeat these conversations to his grandmother,
whose benevolent heart always warmed to-
ward any one who had suffered trouble or
misfortune, and who, in some unaccountable
way had felt drawn toward Richard from the
very first, so that in her intercourse with him
she quite laid aside the stateliness and dignity
that usually characterized her manner toward
strangers, and he began to feel after awhile as
if he must be related to her, she treated Cecil
and himself so much alike.


"Mr. Powell" Cecil said to him one day,
"do you know, I've great favor to ask you.
want you to teach me how to swim"


"When the warm weather comes will teach
you," replied his tutor.


Cecil now looked eagerly forward to the
summer, which was near at hand. The very
first warm day that came, he reminded Rich
ard of his promise, and asked if he would 60
with him to the river after school.


IfMrs Mansfield consents, I am willing"
was the reply. :......-,...


Accordingly in the afternoon Cecil obtained
his grandmother's permission, and, accompa-
MED by Richard, set out for the river. There
was sheltered nook where the water lay calm
and smooth as in a pond, and this spot Rich
ard selected as the fttest place to begin his
instruction in.


Cecil was an apt scholar, and before many
days learned to strike out boldly and venture
into the deepest part of the river. He was so
fearless that Richard had no apprehensions
concerning him, and soon would sit on the
bank and muse himself reading or sketching
while his pupil went into the water alone


Boys, even the best and most tractable of
boys, will get themselves into trouble occasion.
ally. Mrs. Mansfield had frequently charged
Cecil never to 60 to the river to swim unless &C.
companied by his tutor, and the latter, aware
of this prohibition, always madeit a rule to
go with him every day, knowing that the ex-
ercise was source to the boy both of pleas
ure and of health.


One day however, Richard had bad head.
ache, and the lessons being over, retired to
his room to lie down. Cecil had not the con-
science to ask him to 60 out with him, know
ing how badly he felt; but in secret he chafed
at the disappointment, and began to think it
very hard that his tutors headache should be
the cause of depriving him of his usual amuse-
ment.


ri don't see why I can't 60 alone, I am
sure" he thought to himself. 81 don't believe
Grandmamma would mind, if she once saw
that could take care Of myself can swim
as we'll as anybody now, 80 why shouldn't l
try it?'


Duty and inclination fought battle in his
mind, and the latter finally prevailed. He
stuffed towel into his jacket-pocket, that it
might not betray his destination, and then
making his exit through the back door quietly
started for the river. It cannot be denied
that he had some twinges Of conscience by the
way, but he stifed then with the reflection
that, after all, it was only groundless anxiety
and apprehension on his grandmother's part
that made her unwilling to trust him, and that
she would overlook his disobedience when she
found that it resulted in no harm.


When he reached the river he decided to
go good deal farther up the bank than usual,
partly because he had been for some time
anxious to try new field for his efforts, part
ly because he fancied himself more secure from
discovery farther from home. Richard had
always objected to this place because the cur.
rent ran stronger and deeper here than it did
below, and an unguarded swimmer, in ven
turing too far out, might not be able to resist
its force, and might lose his strength before
he was able to reach the shore.


The wisdom ofextreme youth, however, US
ually rises superior to reason, and Cecil either
forgot this objection, or did not consider it Of
sufficient weig ght to deter him from his present
purpose. He accordingly undressed, and
plunging into the water, was soon enjoying
himself with his all his might.


He had been in the water some time when
he became aware of darkness gathering around
him, and looking up, saw that the sky had be-
come nearly entirely concealed by angry-look-
ing clouds. A damp chilly wind was rising
too, and the river was getting rough and tur-
bid. Somewhat alarmed by these tokens of a
coming storm, Cecil Immediately turned and
commenced striking out for the point whence
he had started.


1t was not many moments, however, before
he discovered that the strength of the current
was almost too much for him, and that his pro.
gress shore-ward was unpleasantly show. He
remembered all his teacher had said about
never allowing oneself to get frightened when
swimming, and keeping his gaze steadily fixed
on the desired point he pushed bravely on,
battling the resisting waves with all his strength
which, unfortunately, was already somewhat
exhausted by various performances Of diving,
plunging and other aquatic feats in which he
had been indulging.


And now the clouds thickened and the
wind increased, and blew right in Cecils face,
and the poor boy grew weaker and weaker,
and the shore looked farther and farther off,
He gave up all hope of reaching his first start
ing point, and directed his course toward a
portion of the bank that jutted out into the
river nearer at hand. His breath grew short
and his limbs felt numb, and he began to
shiver with cold and fear. The recollection
of his disobedience flashed through his mind,
and with 1t horrible apprehension that per-
haps its punishment was about to overtake
him, in the shape of fearful death.


At least he would not die without an effort
to obtain succor and gathering all his strength
for the attempt, he raised his voice in shrek
after shrek for help. But the last one was
faint broken cry. that sounded far.off and in.