Max had a most pleasant surprise when the mail was distributed on that
first morning after his arrival at the Naval Academy. Till his name was
called, he had hardly hoped there would be anything for him, and then as
a letter was handed him, and he recognized upon it his father's
well-known writing, his cheek flushed and his eyes shone.
A hasty glance at his mates showed him that each seemed intent upon his
own affairs,--no one watching him,--so he broke the seal and read with
swelling heart the few sentences of fatherly advice and affection the
captain had found time to pen before the _Dolphin_ weighed anchor the
previous evening. He knew the homesickness that would assail his son on
that first day of separation from himself and all composing the dear
home circle, and was fain to relieve it so far as lay in his power.
Max read the letter twice, then, refolding, slipped it into his pocket
to read again and ponder upon when he could find a moment of leisure and
freedom from observation.
More firmly convinced than ever, if that were possible, was the lad
that his was the best, kindest, and dearest of fathers.
"And if I don't do him credit and make him happy and proud of his
first-born, it shall not be for want of trying," was his mental resolve.
It was fortunate for Max that his father had been seen and admired by
the cadets, who one and all thought him a splendid specimen of naval
officer, and were therefore well disposed toward his son.
Then Max himself had such a bright, intelligent face and genial manner,
was so ready to assist or oblige a comrade in any right and honorable
way that lay in his power, so very conscientious about obeying rules and
doing his duty in everything, and brave in facing ridicule, insolence,
and contempt, when the choice was between that and wrong-doing, that no
one of them could help respecting him, whether willing to acknowledge it
or not.
At first the "plebes," or boys in the same class (the fourth), who had
entered in June of the same year, showed a disposition to treat him, as
well as the other "Seps,"--as the lads entering in September are
styled,--with scorn, as knowing less than themselves; but that soon
changed under the exhibition Max was able to make of all he had learned
from his father during the weeks on board the _Dolphin_, showing himself
perfectly at home in "rigging-loft work," rowing, and swimming, and by
no means slow in taking to great-gun exercise, infantry tactics, and
field artillery.
Nor was he less ready in the art of swinging a hammock. His father had
not neglected that part of his education, and Hunt and others who had
hoped for some fun in watching his maiden effort had to own themselves
defeated and disappointed. Max was as expert at that as the oldest
member of the class.
So the "plebes" soon dropped their air of conscious superiority and
presently began to treat him as an equal; a change which he reported to
his father with evident satisfaction. He wrote frequently and with much
openness to that father, telling of his duties and pleasures and asking
advice in any perplexity as freely as he could have asked it of any one
near his own age, and with full confidence in the wisdom and the
affection for him which would dictate the reply.
Nor was he disappointed; almost every day a letter came from the
captain, breathing strong fatherly affection, giving commendation,
encouragement, and the best of advice; also telling everything about the
doings and happenings in the family that was not related by Mamma Vi or
one of Max's sisters, who not unfrequently added a note to papa's larger
letter.
All those letters, like the first, were highly prized by the recipient
and read and reread in leisure moments till he could have repeated their
contents almost word for word; and every perusal increased the lad's
desire and determination to be and do all those dear ones--especially
his father--could wish; also to please and honor him to whose service
he had consecrated his life and all his powers.
Max was not perfect, but he was honest and true, and sincerely desirous
to do right.
He was much interested in the accounts received of the visits of
his father and the others to the scenes of revolutionary events in
Pennsylvania and New Jersey, and, though far from regretting his choice
of a profession, could not help wishing he could have made one of the
party.
One day, after he had spent some weeks in the Academy, he was
disappointed in his expectation of receiving a letter; none came the
next day; but then it occurred to him that the _Dolphin_ was probably on
her homeward way and he would soon get a letter from Woodburn, telling
of the arrival there of all belonging to the dear home circle.
And he was right; a package of letters came presently giving an account
of the events of the last days spent in Philadelphia, the return voyage,
and the joy of the arrival at their own beautiful and happy home.
Ah, as Max read, how he longed to be with them! Yet the concluding
sentences of his father's letter restored him to contentment with things
as they were.
The captain had just received and read the report of his boy's conduct
and academic standing for his first month and was much pleased with it.
He made that very clear to the lad, calling him his dear son, his joy
and pride, and telling him that until he was a father himself he could
never know the joy and happiness such a report of a son's behavior and
improvement of his opportunities could give.
"Ah," thought the boy, "I'll try harder than ever since it gives such
pleasure to my kindest and best of fathers. How glad I am to have the
chance! How thankful I ought to be! I doubt if there was ever a more
fortunate boy than myself."
Max and his room-mate, Hunt, liked each other from the first, and seldom
had the slightest disagreement.
According to the rules they took turns, week about, in keeping their
room in order, each trying to outdo his mate in the thoroughness with
which he attended to all the minutiæ of the business.
They were good-natured rivals too in other matters connected with the
course of instruction they were going through: gymnastic exercises,
fencing and boxing, and the drill called fire-quarters, in which the
whole battalion is formed into a fire-brigade, and when the fire-bell is
sounded each cadet hastens to his proper place in the troop, and the
steam fire-engine and hose-carriages belonging to the Academy are
brought out and used as they would be in case some building were in
flames and the cadets were called upon to assist in extinguishing the
blaze.
Max and his chum had become quite expert at that exercise, when one
night they were roused from sleep by the sound of the fire-bell, and
springing up and running to their window saw that a dwelling several
squares from the Academy was in flames.
"It's a real fire this time!" cried Hunt, snatching up a garment and
beginning a very hurried toilet, Max doing the same, "and now we'll have
a chance to show how well we understand the business of putting it out."
"And we must try to do credit to our training here in the Academy,"
added Max.
An hour or more of great excitement and exertion followed, then, the
fire extinguished, the brigade returned to the Academy, and the lads to
their sleeping-room, so weary with their exertions that they were very
soon sound asleep again.
The experiences of that night furnished Max with material for an
interesting letter to his father and the rest of the home folks.
"I didn't know the cadets were taught how to put out fires," remarked
Grace, when her father had finished reading aloud, to his wife and
children, Max's story of the doings of the cadets on that night.
"Yes," the captain said, "that is an important part of their education.
There are a great many things a cadet needs to know."
"I suppose so, papa," said Lulu, "and though Maxie doesn't say much
about his own share in the work, I feel very sure he did his part. And
aren't you proud of him--your eldest son?"
"I am afraid I am," replied her father, with a smile in his eyes. "It
may be all parental partiality, but my boy seems to me one of whom any
father might well be proud."
"And I am quite of your opinion, my dear," said Violet. "I am very proud
of my husband's son--the dear, good, brave fellow."
But the captain's eyes were again upon the letter, his face expressing
both interest and amusement.
"What is it, Levis?" she asked; "something more that you can share with
the rest of us?"
"Yes," he returned; then read aloud:
"That was Friday night, and this is Saturday evening. This afternoon
Hunt and I were allowed to go into the city. We were walking along one
of the side streets, and came upon a man who was beating his horse most
unmercifully.
"The poor thing was just a bag of bones, that seemed to have nothing but
skin over them, and was hitched to a cart heavily loaded with earth and
stones; its head was down, and it looked ready to drop, while the savage
wretch (not worthy to be called a man) was beating it furiously, and
cursing and swearing in a towering passion; men and boys gathering
around, and some calling him to stop.
"But he didn't pay the smallest attention, till the poor beast spoke--at
least the voice seemed to come from its mouth--'Aren't you ashamed to be
beating me so, and swearing at me, too, when you've starved me till I
haven't strength to drag even myself another step?'
"At that the man stopped both his beating and swearing, and stood
looking half scared out of his wits. The crowd, too, looked
thunderstruck; and presently one fellow said, 'It's the story of Balaam
and his ass over again. There must be an angel somewhere round,'
glancing from side to side as he spoke, in a way that almost made me
laugh, angry as I was at the human brute, or rather the inhuman
scoundrel, who had been treating the poor creature so cruelly.
"Others looked too, but didn't seem to be able to see the angel.
"Hunt, standing close at my side, gave a low whistle. 'What, upon
earth?' he said. 'Oh, there must be a ventriloquist somewhere in the
crowd. I'd like to know who he is. Wouldn't you, Max?'
"Do you really think that's the explanation?' I asked. 'Certainly,' he
answered, in a tone as if he was rather disgusted at my stupidity. 'How
else could you account for the seeming ability of that wretched animal
to talk?'
"'I can't think of any other explanation,' I answered, 'but I hope that
inhuman wretch of a driver doesn't know anything about ventriloquists,
and so will be afraid to ill-use the poor creature any more.' 'I hope
so, indeed,' he said. 'See, the crowd are stroking and patting it, and
yonder comes a man with a bucket of water, and another with a panful of
oats. The ventriloquist has done some good.'
"'I'm glad of it,' I replied. Then, looking at my watch, I saw that it
was time for us to go back to the Academy.
"Hunt told the story to some of the other fellows that evening, and
there was great wonderment about the ventriloquist, and a good many
wished they could have a chance to see him and some of his tricks. Some
of them remarked, in a wondering way, that I seemed very indifferent
about it, and then I told them of Cousin Ronald and his doings at Ion,
which interested them very much, and several said they would like
greatly to make his acquaintance and see and hear what he could do.
Isn't it good, papa, that they have never once suspected me?"
"Well," exclaimed Lulu, "Max used his talent to do good that time.
Didn't he, papa?"
"He did, indeed," replied the captain. "I hope that poor horse will, as
a consequence, receive better treatment in future."
"I'm so glad Maxie could frighten the man so and make him stop treating
it so dreadfully," remarked Grace, with a sigh of relief. "I never
thought before that that talent of his was good for anything but to make
fun for folks."
"The ability to afford amusement to others is a talent not to be
despised," said her father; "for innocent mirth often does good like a
medicine; but power to rescue even a dumb beast from ill-treatment is
still more to be coveted, and I shall be glad indeed if Max will use his
gift in that way whenever opportunity offers."