THE STORY ENDS.
Three letters came to me the next morning. I was rather surprised at
this, because I did not expect to get letters after I found myself at
home; or, at least, with my family. The first of these was handed to me
by Rectus. It was from his father. This is the letter:
"MY DEAR BOY:" (This opening seemed a little
curious to me, for I did not suppose the old
gentleman thought of me in that way.) "I shall not
be able to see you again before you leave for
Willisville, so I write this note just to tell you
how entirely I am satisfied with the way in which
you performed the very difficult business I
intrusted to you--that of taking charge of my son
in his recent travels. The trip was not a very
long one, but I am sure it has been of great
service to him; and I also believe that a great
deal of the benefit he has received has been due
to you." (I stopped here, and tried to think what
I had done for the boy. Besides the thrashing I
gave him in Nassau, I could not think of
anything.) "I have been talking a great deal with
Sammy, in the last day or two, about his doings
while he was away, and although I cannot exactly
fix my mind on any particular action, on your
part, which proves what I say" (he was in the same
predicament here in which I was myself), "yet I
feel positively assured that your companionship
and influence have been of the greatest service to
him. Among other things, he really wants to go to
college. I am delighted at this. It was with much
sorrow that I gave up the idea of making him a
scholar: but, though he was a good boy, I saw that
it was useless to keep him at the academy at
Willisville, and so made up my mind to take him
into my office. But I know you put this college
idea into his head, though how, I cannot say, and
I am sure that it does not matter. Sammy tells me
that you never understood that he was to be
entirely in your charge; but since you brought him
out so well without knowing this, it does you more
credit. I am very grateful to you. If I find a
chance to do you a real service, I will do it.
"Yours very truly,
"SAMUEL COLBERT, SR."
The second letter was handed to me by Corny, and was from her mother. I
shall not copy that here, for it is much worse than Mr. Colbert's. It
praised me for doing a lot of things which I never did at all; but I
excused Mrs. Chipperton for a good deal she said, for she had passed
through so much anxiety and trouble, and was now going to settle down
for good, with Corny at school, that I didn't wonder she felt happy
enough to write a little wildly. But there was one queer resemblance
between her letter and old Mr. Colbert's. She said two or three
times--it was an awfully long letter--that there was not any particular
thing that she alluded to when she spoke of my actions. That was the
funny part of it. They couldn't put their fingers on anything really
worth mentioning, after all.
My third letter had come by mail, and was a little old. My mother gave
it to me, and told me that it had come to the post-office at Willisville
about a week before, and that she had brought it down to give it to me,
but had totally forgotten it until that morning. It was from St.
Augustine, and this is an exact copy of it:
"My good friend Big Little Man. I love you. My
name Maiden's Heart. You much pious. You buy
beans. Pay good. Me wants one speckled shirt.
Crowded Owl want one speckled shirt, too. You send
two speckled shirts. You good Big Little Man. You
do that. Good-bye.
"MAIDEN'S HEART, Cheyenne Chief.
"Written by me, James R. Chalott, this seventh day
of March, 187-, at the dictation of the
above-mentioned Maiden's Heart. He has requested
me to add that he wants the speckles to be red,
and as large as you can get them."
During the morning, most of our party met to bid each other good-bye.
Corny, Rectus and I were standing together, having our little winding-up
talk, when Rectus asked Corny if she had kept her gray bean, the
insignia of our society.
"To be sure I have," she said, pulling it out from under her cloak. "I
have it on this little chain which I wear around my neck. I've worn it
ever since I got it. And I see you each have kept yours on your
watch-guards."
"Yes," I said, "and they're the only things of the kind we saved from
the burning 'Tigris.' Going to keep yours?"
"Yes, indeed," said Corny, warmly.
"So shall I," said I.
"And I, too," said Rectus.
And then we shook hands, and parted.
THE END.
Scribner's New Books for Young People
1901 and 1902
By the author of "Wild Animals I Have Known"
LIVES OF THE HUNTED
=By Ernest Seton-Thompson. Profusely illustrated
by the author. Square 12mo, $1.75 net.=
The most important work of Mr. Seton-Thompson since his "WILD ANIMALS I
HAVE KNOWN," fully equalling that most popular book in size, and
resembling it closely in character, solidity, illustration and general
worth.
It includes all the animal stories Mr. Seton-Thompson has written since
his last book together with several that have never appeared in serial
form. It is more fully and richly illustrated than any previous book
with his own inimitable drawings. There will be many full page
illustrations, and nearly every type page will be ornamented with the
delightful marginal sketches characteristic of this artist's latest
works.
* * * * *
THE IMP AND THE ANGEL
=By Josephine Dodge Daskam, author of "Sister's
Vocation," "Smith College Stories," etc. Profusely
illustrated. $1.25 net.=
In her portrayal of the "Imp," the seven-year-old hero of this series of
seven stories, Miss Daskam has added a most captivating character to the
gallery of child fiction.
A SON OF SATSUMA
=Or, with Perry in Japan. By Kirk Munroe. 12mo,
$1.00 net=
A vigorous story for boys dealing with one of the most romantic episodes
in the history of our country. From the beginning Japan has been a land
of mystery. It was Commodore Perry who solved the mystery of the ages,
and in this thrilling story, the spirit as well as the history of this
great achievement, is ably set forth.
HANS BRINKER
=Or, The Silver Skates. By Mary Mapes Dodge. With
100 illustrations by Allen B. Doggett. 12mo,
$1.50=
In order to give a still wider circulation to Mrs. Dodge's celebrated
American classic for young readers, the publishers have reduced the
price of the New Amsterdam edition from $2.50 to $1.50, retaining all of
Mr. Doggett's illustrations. No handsomer or more appropriate gift book
for boy or girl can be found than this story of life in Holland, the
vitality and popularity of which seem to increase year by year.
THE STORY OF MANHATTAN
=By Charles Hemstreet, author of "Nooks and
Corners of Old New York." Illustrated. 12mo, $1.00
net=
Mr. Hemstreet becomes in this charming young people's work the annalist
as well as the antiquary of the city of his affection. He recounts its
picturesque history with a most sympathetic pen. No New York boy or girl
can gain elsewhere so readily and pleasantly the familiarity with the
city they should know most about.
FIRST ACROSS THE CONTINENT
=By Noah Brooks. Fully illustrated. $1.50 net.=
The absorbing story of the famous Lewis and Clark exploration of the
vast northwestern territory acquired under the Louisiana purchase is
here compiled with a special view of interesting young readers. The
journey up the Missouri, over the Rockies, and down the Columbia to the
Pacific, together with descriptions of the Indian tribes of the region
makes fascinating material.
LEM--A NEW ENGLAND BOY
=His Adventures and Mishaps. By Noah Brooks.
Illustrated by H. C. Edwards. $1.00 net.=
Boy life in a New England village forty or fifty years ago has never
been portrayed more faithfully or more vividly than in this wholesome
tale of Lem Parker and his chums. Full of fun and adventure, the story
has that atmosphere of reality that makes the strongest appeal to boys.
THE OUTCASTS
=By W. A. Fraser, author of "Mooswa." Illustrated
by Arthur Heming. $1.25 net.=
Another inimitable animal book by the author and artist of "Mooswa." It
is the story of the strange friendship between a buffalo and a wolf, and
the author's wonderful insight into the workings of the minds of animals
is here used with extraordinary charm.
THE OUTLAWS OF HORSE-SHOE HOLE
=A Story of the Montana Vigilants. By Francis
Hill. Illustrated by R. F. Zogbaum. $1.00 net.=
A stirring book for boys and men by a new writer of the fascinating life
of the western frontier a decade or two ago. The book is full of the
traditional romantic spirit of good old western yarns and yarners.
* * * * *
Three New Books by G. A. HENTY
Each Illustrated, 12mo, $1.25 _net_
AT THE POINT OF THE BAYONET
=A Story of the British Conquest of India=
WITH ROBERTS TO PRETORIA
=A Story of the Boer War=
TO HERAT AND CABUL
=A Story of the First Afghan War=
"Wherever English is spoken one imagines that Mr.
Henty's name is known. Mr. Henty is no doubt the
most successful writer for boys, and the one to
whose new volumes they look forward every
Christmas with most pleasure."--_Review of
Reviews._
* * * * *
Three Famous Books for Boys by JAMES BALDWIN
New Editions of these Standard Books, each, 12mo, $1.50
THE STORY OF THE GOLDEN AGE
=With a series of full-page illustrations by Howard Pyle=
THE STORY OF SIEGFRIED
=With a series of full-page illustrations by Howard Pyle=
THE STORY OF ROLAND
=With a series of full-page illustrations by R. B. Birch=
In these books Mr. Baldwin presents respectively
the legends relating to the Trojan War, the great
Siegfried myth of Northern Europe, and the
mediæval romance of Roland and Charlemagne,
bringing before the reader, with great spirit,
with scholarly accuracy and with unfailing taste
these heroic figures and the times in which their
adventures are supposed to have occurred.
* * * * *
CHARLES SCRIBNER'S SONS, NEW YORK CITY
* * * * *
Transcriber's Notes:
Obvious punctuation errors repaired.
The word "won't" is spelled "wont" consistently in the original. This
was retained.
Page 26, word "with" added to text. (done with dinner)
Page 95, "depot" changed to "dépôt" to conform to rest of text. (at the
dépôt)
Page 259, "Canavaral" changed to "Canaveral". (Cape Canaveral)