—- ■ w. ~~~~»~> m&m& ' *PI ■ ;■;■■ (v->H^o^-^ f- UNIVERSITY OF N.C. AT CHAPEL HILL 00022226985 Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2012 with funding from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill http://archive.org/details/noworneveroradveopti NOW OR NEVER THE ADVENTURES BOBBY BRIGHT A STORY TOR YOUNG FOLKS. Bl OLIVER OPTIC ACTHOB OF "THE BOAT CLUB," "ALL ABOABD ** is yooKH a«d ovi, v arc BOSTON LEE AND SHEPARD PUBLISHERS CHARLES T. DILLINGHAM NEW YORK Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1S55, by WILLIAM T. ADAMS, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the District of Massachusetts Copyright, 1SS4, B* WILLIAM T. ADAMS. TO MY NEPHEW CHARLES HENRY POPE, W$& Bock IS AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATED, PREFACE. The story contained in this volume is a re bl >w on you." " Yes you do." 16 NOW OB NET-3U; CS, " I will not lie about it ; that's all." " By jolly ! see that horse ! " exclaimed Tom, sud- denly, as he pointed to the road leading to Riverdale centre. ** By gracious ! " added Bobby, dropping his fish pole, as he saw the horse running a- a furious rate up the road from the village. The mad animal was attached to a chaise, in which was seated a lady, whose frantic shrieks pierced the soul of our youthful hero. The course of the road was by the river's side for nearly half a mile, and crossed the stream at a wooden bridge but a few rods from the place where the boys were fishing. Bobby Bright's impulses were noble and generous ; and without stopping to consider the peril to which the attempt would expose him, he boldly resolved to stop that horse, or let the animal dash him to pieces on the bridge. " Now or never ! " shouted he, as he leaped from the rock, and ran with all his might to the bridge. The shrieks of the lady rang in his ears, and seemed to command him, with an authority which he could noi T3« JU)1 FN TUBES OF BOBBY BRIGHT. m resist, to stop tlie horse. There was no time for de- dter&tion ; and, indeed, Bobby did not want any de- liberation. 1 he lady was in danger ; if the horse's flight was not checked, she would be dashed is pieces ; an 1 what then could excuse him for neglect- ing his duty ? Not the fear of broken limbs, of mangled ilesh, or even of a sudden and violent death. It is true Bobby did not think of any of these things ; though, if he had, it would have made no difference with him. He was a boy who would not Sght except in self defence, but he had the courage X) do a deed which might have made the stoutest K-art tremble with terror. Grasping a broken rail as he leaped over the fence, be planted himself in the middle of the bridge, which was not more than half as wide as the road at each end of it, to await the coming of the furious animal. On 'ie came, and the piercing shrieks of the affrighted lilj nerved him to the performance of ' his penlou 1 hs horse approached him at a mad run, and his drt struck the loose planks of the bridge. Tue crave boy then, raised his big club, and brandished it witk 2* i£ NOW OK NEVES, ; 0£, all his might in the air. Probably the horse did not mean any thing very bad ; was only frightened, and had no wicked intentions towards the lady ; so that H'hen a new clanger menaced him in front, he stopped suddenly, and with so much violence as to throw the lAy forward from her seat upon the dasher of the chaise. He gave a long snort, which was his way oi expressing his fear. He was evidently astonished al '.he sudden barrier to his further progress, and com- menced running back. *' Save me ! " screamed the lady. " I will, ma'am ; don't be scared ! " replied Bobby> onfidently, as he dropped his club, and grasped the iridic of the horse, just as he was on the point of whirling round to escape by the way he had come. *' Stop him ! Do stop him ! " cried the lady. " Whoa ! " said Bobby, in gentle tones, as he patted the trembling horse on his neck. " Whoa, goo« horse ! Be quiet ! Whoa ! " 'I he animal, in his terror kept running backward jnd forward^ but Bobby persevered in his gentl; treat nent, and finally soothed him, so that he stooi Quiet enough for the lady to get out of the chaise THE ADVENTURES OF BOBBY BRIGHT. 19 " What a miracle that I am alive! " exclaimed she when •she lealized that she stjod once more upon the Una earth. " Yes, ma'am, it is lucky he didn't break the chaise Wtoa ! Good horse ! Stand quiet ! " "What a brave little fellow you are!" said the lady, as soon as she. could recover her bieath so as to express her admiration of Bobby's bold act. " O, I don't mind it," replied he, blushing like a rose in June. '* Did he run away with you ? " " No ; my father left me in the chaise for a moment while he went into a store in the village, and a team- fter who was passing by snapped his whip, which frightened Kate so that she started off at the top of her speed. I was so terrified, that I screamed with all my might, which frightened her the more. The more I screamed, the faster she ran." " I dare say. Good horse ! Whoa, Kate! " " She is a splendid creature ; she never did such a '/Ling before. My father will think I am killed." Fy this time, Kate had become quite reasonable, and seemed very much obliged to Bobby for prevent- ing her from dring mischief to her mistress; for sha 20 NOW OR NEVER ; OR, looked at the lady with a glance of satisfaction, -wnich her deliverer interpreted as a promise to behave beUer in future. He relaxed his grasp upon the bridle, patted her upon the neck, and said sundry pleasant things to encourage her in her assumed purpose of doing better. Kate appeared to understand Bobby's kind words, and declared as plainly as a horse could declare that she would be sober and tractable. '* Xow, ma'am, if you will get into the chaise again, I think Kate will let me drive her down to the vil- lage." " O, dear ! I should not dare to do so." " Then, if you please, I will drive down alone, so as to let your father know that you are safe." " Do." " I am sure he must feel very bad, and I may save iim a greal deal of pain, for a man can suffer a great leal in a very short time." "You ore a little philosopher, as well as a hero, and if you are not afraid of Kate, you may do as you irish " She seems very gentle now ; " and Bobby turned THE ADVENTURES OF BOBBY BRIGHT. 2\ a Be very careful," said the lady. " I will." Bobby took the reins, and Kate, true to tue prom> se she had virtually made, started off at a round pat* towards the village. He had not gone more than a quarter of a mile of the distance when he met a wagon containing threo men, one of whom was the lady's father. The ges- tures which he made assured Bobby he had found the person whom he sought, and he stopped. " My daughter ! Where is she ? " gasped the gen* tleman, as he leaped from the wagon. " She is safe, sir," replied Bobby, with all th« enthusiasm of his warm nature. " Thank God ! " added the gentleman, devoutly as ae placed himself in the chaise by the side of B© b?. 22 now or never; oh, CHAPTER II. Iff WB.ICH BOBBY BLUSHES SEVERAL TIMES, AND DOES A SUM IN ARITHMETIC. Mr. Bayard, the owner of the horse, and the father of the lady whom Bcbby had saved from im- pending death, was too much agitated to say much, even to the bold youth who had rendered him such a signal service. He could scarcely believe the in- telligence which the boy brought him ; it seemed too good to be true. He had assured himself that Ellen — for that was the young lady's name — was killed, or dreadfully injured. Kate was driven at the top of her speed, ana m a few moments reached the bridge, where Ellen was awaiting his arrival. " Here I am, father, alive and unhurt ! " criei Ellen, as Mr. Bayard stopped the horse. " Thank Heaven my child ! " replied the glad THE ADVENTURES OE BOBBY BRIGHT. 23 father, embracing his daughter. "I was sure yoc; we/e killed." " No, father ; thanks to this bold youth, I an. im- mjured." " I am under very great obligations to you, young dian," continued Mr. Bayard, grasping Bobby's hand. " O, never mind, sir ; " and Bobby blushed just as lie had blushed when the young lady spoke to him. - l We shall never forget you — shall we, father ? " added Ellen. " No, my child ; and I shall endeavor to repay, to seme slight extent, our indebtedness to him. But you have not yet told me how you were saved." " O, I merely stopped the horse ; that's all," an- swered Bobby, modestly. " Yes, father, but he placed himself right before Kate when she was almost flying over the ground. When I saw him, I was certain that he would lose his life, or be horribly mangled for his boldness," interposed Ellen. " It was a daring deed, /oung man, to place your- self before an affrighted horse in that nanner," said Mr. Bayard. " I didn't mind it. sir." 24 NOW OR NETEE ; OR. " And then he flourished a big club, almost as Kg as he is himself, in the air, which made Kate pause in her mad career, when my deliverer heie grasped he? ^y the bit and held her." " It was well and bravely done/' " That it was, father ; not many men would have been bold enough to do what he did," added Ellen, with enthusiasm. " Very true ; and I feel that I am indebted to him fur your safety. What is your name, young man? " " Robert Bright, sir." Mr. Bayard took from his pocket several pieces of gold, which he offered to Bobby. " No, I thank you, sir," replied Bobby, blushing. " What ! as proud as you are bold ? " *• 1 don't like to be paid for doing my duty." " Bravo ! You are a noble little fellow ! But you mus' take this money, not as a reward for what you have done, but as a testimonial of my gratil ude." " I would rather not, sir." " Do take it, Robeit," added Ellen. " I don't like to take it. It looks mean to tak« money for do>ng one's duty." THE ADYENTITBES OF BOBBT BRIGHT 23 44 Take it, Robert, to please me;" and the young i&dy smiled so sweetly that Bobby's resolution beg?n to give way. " Only to please me, Robert." " I will, to please you ; but I don't feel right about it." " You must not be too proud, Robert," said Mr. Bayard, as he put the gold pieces into his hand. " I am not proud, sir ; only I don't like to be paid for doing my duty." "Not paid, my young friend. Consider that joe have placed me under an obligation to you for life. This money is only an expression of my own and m^ daughter's feelings. It is but a small sum, but I hope you will permit me to do something more foi you, when you need it. You will regard me as yous friend as long as you live." " Thank you, sir." " When you want any assistance of any kind, come to me. I live in Boston ; here is my business card." Mr. Bayard handed him a card, on which Bobbj read, " F. Bayard & Co., Booksellers and Pub'^ghera, No. — Washington Street, Boston." ** You are very kind, sir." It now on never; or, *' ( want you should come to Boston and see ai too," interposed Ellen. "I should be delighted to fchow you the city, to take you to the Athenaeum and ths Museum." "Thank you." Mr. Bayard inquired of Bobby a tout his parents, where he lived, and about the circumstances of his family. He then took out his memorandum book, in tvhich he wrote the boy's name and residence. ** I am sorry to leave you now, Robert, but I have over twenty miles to ride to-day. I should be glad to visit your mother, and next time I come to River- dale, I shall certainly do so." " Thank you, sir ; my mother is a very poor woman, but she will be glad to see you." "Now, good by, Robert." " Good by," repeated Ellen. "Good by." Mr. Bayard drove off, leaving Bobby standing 5n the bridge with the gold pieces in his hand. "Here's luck!" said Bobb), shaking the coin. u Won't mother's eyes stick out when she sees these ghiner8? Ther* 1 are no such shiners in the rivei is these. THE ADVENTURES OF BOBBY BRIGHT. 2? Uobby was astonished, and the more he gazed a he gold pieces, the more bewildered he became. Ha nad never held so much money in his hand before, There were three large coins and one smaller one. He turned them over and over, and finally ascertained that the large coins were ten dollar pieces, and the smaller one a five dollar piece. Bobby was not a great scholar, but he knew enough of arithmetic to calculate the value of his treasure. He was so excited, however, that he did not arrive at the conclusion half bo quick as most of my young readers would have done. " Thirty-five dollars ! " exclaimed Bobby, when the problem was solved. " Gracious ! " " Hallo, Bob ! " shouted Tom Spicer, who had got tired of fishing ; besides, the village clock was just striking twelve, and it was time for him to aro home. Bobby made no answer, but hastily tying the gold pieces up in the corner of his handkerchief, he threw the broken rail he had used in stopping the horw where it belonged, and started for the place where h« had left his fishing apparatus. 28 now or never; on, * Hallo, Bob!" " Well, Tom ? " " Stopped him — didn't you ? " " I did." " You were a fool ; he might have killed you." " So he might ; but I didn't stop to think of that Fne lady's life was in danger." " What of that ? " " Every thing, I should say." *' Did he give you any thing ? " " Yes ; " and Bobby continued his walk down to the river's side. " I say, what did he give you, Bobby ? " persisted Tom, following him. " O, he gave me a good deal of money." " How much ? " " I want to get my fish line now ; I will tell yon all about it some other time," replied Bobby, wha rather suspected the intentions of his companion. " Tell me now ; how much was it ? " " Never mind it now." " Humph ! Do you think I mean to rob you ? " "Nc." THE ADVENTURES OF BOBBY BRIGHT. 23 " Ain't you going halveses ? " » Why should I ? " " Wasn't I with you ? " " Were you ? " " Wasn't I fishing with you ? " " You did not do any thing about stopj ing thl noise." " I would, if I hadn't been afraid to go up to the load." " Afraid ? " " Somebody might have seen me, and they would have known that I was hooking jack." %< Then you ought not to share the money." " Yes, I had. When a fellow is with you, he ought to have half. It is mean not to give him half." " If you had done any thing to help stop the horse, I would have shared with you. But you didn't." " What of that>" Bcouy was particularly sensitive in regard to the charge of meanness. His soul was a great deal big- ger than his body, and he was always generous, even to his own injury, among his companions. It wae svident to him that Tom had no claim to any part of 3* 50 NOW OH XEVEE ; OK, the reward; but he could not endure the thought even of being accused of meanness. " 1*11 tell you what I will do, if you think I ought to share with you. I will leave it out to Squire Lee ; and if he thinks you ought to have half, or any pari of the money, I will give it to you." " No, you don't ; you want to get me into a scrape for hooking jack. I see what you are up to." " I will state the case to him without telling hira who the boys are." " No, you don't ! You want to be mean about it. Come, hand over half the money." " 1 will not," replied Bobby, who, when it became a matter of compulsion, could stand his ground at any peril. 44 How much have you got ? " " Thirty-five dollars." " By jolly ! And you mean to keep it all your iclfr" 44 I mean to give it to my mother." i4 No, you won't! If you are going to be mean about it, I'll smash your head ! " This was a favorite expression with Torn Spicer THE ADVENTURES OF BOBBY BR] OUT. 3] irho was a noted bully among the ooys of Kiverdale. The young ruffian now placed himself in front -if B.bjy, and shook his clinched fist in his face. " Hand over." 44 No, I won't. You have no claim to any part of the money ; at least, I think you have not. If you have a mind to leave it out to Squire Lee, I wvll do •vhat is nght about it." *' Not I ; hand over, or I'll smash your head ! " " Smash away," replied Bobby, placing himse«f en the defensive. " Do you think you can lick me ? " asked Tom not a little embarrassed by this exhibition of resolution on the part of his companion. " 1 don't think any thing about it ; but you don't bully me in that kind of style." " Won't I ? " -No." But Tom did not immediately put bis threat in e i ecntion, vnd Bobby would not be the aggressor ; z tfea tS WOW OR never; or, bold and manly conduct of the boy. He changed hu tone and manner at once. " You have no money for me, marm ? " said he t edging towards the dooi. " No, sir ; I am sorry to say that I have been able to save only five dollars since I paid you last ; but I hope " " Never mind, marm, never mind ; I shall not trouble myself to come here again, where I am liable to be kicked by this ill-bred cub. No, marm, I shall not come again. Let the law take its course." " O, mercy ! See what you have brought upon us, Bobby," exclaimed Mrs. Bright, bursting into tears. " Yes, marm, let the law take its course." " O Bobby ! Stop a moment, Mr. Hardhand ; do itop a moment." " Not a moment, marm. We'll see ; " and Mr. Hardhani placed his hand upon the latch string. Bobby felt very uneasy, and very unhappy at that moment. His passion had subsided, and he realized chat he had done a great deal of mischief by his -Im- ps tuous conduct. Theo the remembrance of his morning adventure THE ADVENTURES OF BC tSBY BRIGHT 49 on the bridge came like a flash of sunshine to his mind, and he eagerly drew from his pocket the hand- kerchief in which he had deposited the precious gold, - doubly precious now, because it would enable him to retrieve the error into which he had fallen, and do iomething towards relieving his mother's embarrass- ment. With a trembling hand he untied the knot which secured the money. ** Here, mother, here is thirty-five dollars ; " and le placed it in her hand. «* Why, Bobby ! " exclaimed Mrs. Bright. " Pay him, mother, pay him, and I will tell you all about it by and by." " Thirty-five dollars ! and all in gold! Where did you get it, Bobby ? " '* Never mind it now, mother." Mr. Hardhand's covetous soul had already grasped the glittei mg gold ; and removing his hand from the latch string, he approached the widow. " I shall be able to pay you forty dollars now," said Mrs. Bright, taking the five dollars she had sarenJ from hei pocket. " Yes, marm." 6 50 NOW Old NEVElt; OK, Mr HardhanJ cook the money, and seating timseli at the talle, indorsed the amount on the back of tha note. " You owe me sixty more," said he, maliciously, as ha returned the note to his pocket book. " It must be paid immediately." " You must not be hard with me now, when I have paid more than you demanded." " I don't wish to come here again. That boy's impudence has put me all out of conceit with you and your family," replied Mr. Hardhand, assuming the most benevolent look he could command. "Theie was a time when I was very willing to help you. 1 have waited a great while for my pay for this house ; a great deal longer than I would have waited for ai v body else.'' " Your interest has always been paid punctually/ suggested the widow, modestly. " That's true ; but very few people would have waited as long as I have for the principal. I wanted to help you — " " By gracious ! " exclaimed Bobby, interrupting nim. THE A.DVENTUKES OF BOBBY BRIGHT. 51 ' Don't be saucy, my son, don't," said Mrs. Bright, fearing a repetition of the former scene. " He wanted to help us ! " ejaculated Bobby. It was a very absurd and hypocritical express k n on the part of Mr. Hardhand ; for he never wanted to help any one but himself; and during the whole period of his relations with the poor widow, he had oppressed, insulted, and abused her to the extent of his capacity, or at least as far as his interest would permit. He was a malicious and revengeful man. He did not consider the great provocation he had given Bob- by for his violent conduct, but determined to be re- venged, if it could be accomplished without losing any part of the sixty dollars still due him. He was a wicked man at heart, and would not scruple to turp the widow and her family out of house and home. Mrs. Bright knew this, and Bobby knew it too ; ind they felt very uneasy about it. The wretch still had the power to injure them, and he would lee it without compunction. 44 Yes, young man, I wanted to help you, and yon Bee what 1 get for it — contempt and insults! Ycu 52 NOW OR NEVEK J OR, will heai from me again in a day or two. Pet bips you will change your tune, you young repro« ttkte!" •* Perhaps I shall," replied Bobby, without much 4is:retion. " And you too, marm ; you uphold him in his treat- ment jf me. You have not done your duty to him. You have been remiss, marm ! " continued Mr. Hard- hand, growing bolder again, as he felt the power he wielded. " That will do, sir ; you can go ! " said Bobby, springing from his chair, and approaching Mr. Hard- hand. " Go, and do your worst ! " " Humph ! you stump me — do you ? " " I would rather see my mother kicked out of the nouse than insulted by such a dried-up old curmud- geon as you are. Go along ! " "Now, don't, Bobby," pleaded his mother. " I am going ; and if the money is not paid by twelve o'clock to-morrow, the law shall lake its course ; " and Mr. Hardhand rushed out of the house, slamming the door violently after him. ** O Bobby, what have you done?" exclaimed THE ADVENTURES OF BOBBY BRIGHT. 53 tflrs. Bright, when the hard-hearted creditor nad departed. ** I could not help it, mother ; don't cry. I cannot bear to hear you insulted and abused ; and I thought when I heard him do it a year ago, that I couldn't ptand it again. It is too bad." " But he will turn us out of the house ; and what shall we do then ? " " Don't cry, mother; it will come round all right. I have Hends who are rich and powerful, and who will help us." "You don't know what you say, Bobby. Sixty dollars is a great deal of money, and if we should sA\ all we have, it would scarcely bring that." " Leave it all to me, mother ; I feel as though I could do something now. I am old enough to make money." ** What can you do ? " " Now or never ! " replied Bobby, whose mind had wandered from the scene to the bisy world, whew fortunes are made and lost v'very day. '■ Now oi oever ! " muttered he agsin. 5* 64 NOW OR NEVER , OR, *' But Bobby, you have not told me where you got ill ihat gold." " Dinner is ready, I see, anc. I will tell yon while *re cat." Bobby had been a fishing, and to be hungry is a •art of the fisherman's luck ; so he seated himself at the table, and gave his mother a full account of all help mother.' fl4 NOW OK never; or, " Bravo ! you are a good lad. What do yoT» mean to do ? " " 1 was thinking I should go into the book busi- ness." " Indeed ! " and Squire Lee was much amused by the matter-of-fact manner of the young aspirant. " I was talking with a young fellow who went through the place last spring, selling books. He told me that some days he made three or four dollars, and that he averaged twelve dollars a week." " He did well ; perhaps, though, only a few of them make so much." " I know I can make twelva dollars a week," re- plied Bobby, confidently, for that something within him made him feel capable of great things. * I dare say you can. You have energy and per- severance, and people take a liking to you." " But I wanted to see you about another matter. To speak out at once, I want to borrow sixty dollars of you ; " and Bobby blushed, and seemed very much era'^arrassed by his own boldness. " Sixty dollars ! " exclaimed the squire." " I knew you would think me impudent," replied our hero, his heart sinking within him. THE ADVENTURES OF BOBBY EBIGHT. 64 " But I don't, Bobby. You want this money to gfc i to business with — to buy your stock of books ? " " 0, no, sir ; I am going to apply to Mr. Bay?rd for that." " Just so ; Mr. Bayard is the gentleman whose daughter you saved ? " " Yes, sir. I want this money to pay off Mr. Hard- hand. We owe him but sixty dollars now, and he has threatened to turn us out, if it is not paid by to- morrow noon." " The old hunks ! " Bobby briefly related to the squire the events of the morning, much to the indignation and disgust of the honest, kind-hearted man. The courageous boy detailed more clearly his purpose, and doubted not he should be able to pay tht loan in a few months. " Very well, Bobby, here is the money ; " and the ■squire took it from his wallet, and gave it to him. " Thank you, sir. May Heaven bless you ! I shall certainly pay you." " Don't worry about it, Bobby. Pay it when yoc get ready." " I will give you my note, and " 56 NOW OR never; or, The ..quire laughed heartily at this, and told htm, that, as he was a minor, his note was not good fol b,tw thing. " Ydu shall see whether it is, or not," returned Bobby. " Let me give it to you, at least, so that we can tell how much I owe you from time to time." " You shall have your own way." Annie Lee, as much amused as her father at Bobby's big talk, got the writing materials, and the little merchant in embryo wrote and signed the note. " Good, Bobby ! Now promise that you will come and see me every time you come home, and tell me how you are gettino- along." 4C I will, sir, with the c-rerghtlessl; plunged her into a new difficulty. " Come, cheer up, mother ; it is all r ^at," said Bobby in his usual elastic and gay tones ; ind at the same time he took the sixty dollars from * is pocket and handed it to her. " There is the n »ney, and you will be forever quit of Mr. Hardhand to norrow " " What, Bobby ! Why, where did you g it all this money? " asked Mrs. Bright, utterly astonL^ed. In a few words the ambitious boy told L Is story, and then informed his mother that he was ,.*oing to Boston the next Monday morning, to commc ?e busi- aess for himself. " Why, what can you do, Bobby ? " " I>o ? I can do a great many things ; ' and he unfolded his scheme of becoming a little u» k mej- ehant. " You are a courageous fellow ! Who w-» d hav* hcught of such a thing ? " " I should, and did." " But you are not old enough." 70 NOW OR NEVER ; OK, " O, yes, I am." '* You had better wait a while. " " Now or never, mother ! You see I havt g.veu asy note, and my paper will be dishonored, if I ane Dot up and doing." " Your paper ! " said Mrs. Bright, with a smile. " That is what Mr. Wing, the boot manufacturer, cells it." " You needn't go away to earn this money; 1 can pay it myself " " This note is my affair, and I mean to pay it my- self with my own earnings. No objections, mother." Like a sensible woman as she was, she did not make any objections. She was conscious of Bobby's talents ; she knew that he had a strong mind of his own, and could take care of himself. It is true, she feared the influence of the great world, and especially of the great city, upon the tender mind of her son ; but if he was never tempted, he would never be a conqueror over the foes that beset him. She determir ed to do her whole duty towards him; and she carefully pointed out to him the sins and the Tiorai erty in a few moments." 44 1 will wait, then," said Bobby, seating himself on a stool by the counter. Pretty soon the civil gentleman left the store to go to dinner, and Timmins, a little timid about provok- ing the young lion, cast an occasional glance of hatred at him. He had evidently found that 44 Country " was an embryo American citizen, and that he was a fira THE ADVENTURES OF BOBBY BRIGHT. 83 believer in the self-evident truths of the Declaration of Independence. Bobby bore no ill will towards the spruce clerk ready as he had been to defend his " certain inalien- able rights." " You do a big business here," suggested Bobby, m a conciliatory tone, and with a smile on his face which ought to have convinced the uncourteous clerk that he meant well. " Who told you so ? " replied Timmins, gruffly. " I merely judged from appearances. You have a big store, and an immense quantity of books." " Appearances are deceitful," replied Timmins ; and perhaps he had been impressed by the fact from his experience with the lad from the country. *' That is true," added Bobby, with a good-natured smile, which, when interpreted, might have meant," I took you for a civil fellow, but I have been very much mistaken." " You will find it out before you are many Java older." " The book business is good just now. isn't it ? " continued Bobby, without clearly comprehending 'in meaning of the other's last remark. 84 now or never; or. " Humph ! What's that to you ? " " O, I intend to go into it myself.'* " Ha, ha, ha ! Good ! You do ? " " I do," replied Bobby, seemingly unconcerned at file taunts of the clerk. " I suppose you want to get a place here," sneered f immins, alarmed at the prospect. " But let me tell fou, you can't do it. Bayard has all the help he irants ; and if that is what you come for, you can ^aove on as fast as you please." " I guess I will see him," added Bobby quietly. "No use." * 4 No harm in seeing him." As he spoke he took up a book that lay on the lounter, and began to turn over the leaves. " Put that book down ! " said the amiable Mr. Timmins. " I won't hurt it,' 1 replied Bobby, who had just fixed his eye upon some very pretty engravings in th« rolume. " Put it down ! " repeated Mr. Timmins, in a loud mperative tone. " Certainly I will, if you say so," said Bobby, wha 1HE ADVENTURES OF BOBBY BRIGHT. 85 though not much intimidated by the harsh ton ^8 of the clerk, did not know the rules of the store, and deemed it prudent not to meddle. " I do say so ! " added Mr. Timmins, magnificently; •' and what's more, you'd better mind me, too." Bobby had minded, and probably the stately little clerk would not have been so bold if he had not. Some people like to threaten after the danger is over. Then our visitor from the country espied some little blank books lying on the counter. He had already made up his mind to have one, in which to keep his accounts ; and he thought, while he was waiting, that he would purchase one. He meant to do thinga me- thodically ; so when he picked up one of the blank books, it was with the intention of buying it. "Put that book down!" said Mr. Timmins, en- couraged in his aggressive intentions by the previous docility of our hero. " I want to buy one." " No, you don't : put it down." " What is the price of these ? " asked Bobby, res- olutely. " None of your business ! " H 65 now or never; oh, " Is that the way you treat your customers * " isked Bobby, with a little sternness in his looks and tanee. *• I say I want to buy one." " Put it down ! " " But I will not ; I say I want to buy it/' " No, you don't ! " " What is the price of it ? " " Twenty-five cents," growled Timmins, which wan just four times the retail price. " Twenty-five cents ! That's high." " Put it down, then." " Is that your lowest price ? " asked Bobby, who waE as cool as a cucumber. " Yes, it is ; and if you don't put it down, 1*11 kick fou out of the store." " Will you ? Then I won't put it down." Mr. Timmins took this as a " stump ; " his ire waa up, and he walked round from behind the counter to execute his threat. I must say I think Bobby was a little forward, an<£ I would have my young readers a little more pliant with small men like Timmins. There are always med enough in the world who are ready and willing to THE ADVENTURES OF BOBBY BB.IGHT. 8 ijuai.tA on any provocation ; and it is always best not Co provoke them, even if they are overbearing and in- solent, as Mr. Timmins certainly was. *' Hold on a minute before you do it," said Bobby, with, the same provoking coolness. " I want to buy this book, and I am willing to pay a fair price for it. But I happen to know that you can buy them up in River-dale, where I came from, for six cents." "No matter," exclaimed the indignant clerk, seiz- ing Bobby by the coat collar for the purpose of eject- ing him; " you shall find your way into the street." Now, Bobby, as I have before intimated, was an embryo American citizen, and the act of Mr. Timmins geemed like an invasion of his inalienable rights. No time was given him to make a formal declaration of rights in the premises ; so the instinct of self-pres- ervation was allowed to have free course. Mr. Timmins pulled and tugged at his :oat collar, and Bobby hung back like a mule ; ai id for an instant there was quite a spirited scene. ** Hallo ! Timmins, what does this mean ? " said a *oice, at which the valiant little clerk instantly let gc feis hold. &$ wow ob neyeb; ob. CHAPTER VIII. IH WHICH MR. TIMMINS IS ASTONISHED, A*l BOBBT DINES IN CHESTNTTT STREET. It was Mr. Bayard. He had finished his business with the gentleman by his side, and hearing the noise of the scuffle, had come to learn the occasion of It. " This impudent young puppy wouldn't let the books alone ! " began Mr. Timmins. " I threatened to turn him out if he didn't; and I meant to make good my threat. I think he meant to steal some- thing." Bobby was astonished and shocked at this bol I im- putation ; but he wished to have his case judged on its own merits ; so he turned his face away, th; t Mr. Bayard might not recognize him. " I wanted to buy one of these blank book* ' add- ed Bobby, picking up the one he had droppeV mi th< or in the struggle. THE ADVENTURES OF BOBBY BRIGHT. 8S " All stuff! " ejaculated Timmins. " He is an ira« pudent, obstinate puppy ! In my opinion he meant to steal that book." " I asked him the price, and told him I wanted to buy it, - ' added Bobby, still averting his face. " Well, I told him ; and he said it was too high.*' " He asked me twenty-five cents for it." " Is this true, Timmins ? " asked Mr. Bayard, Bternly. "No, sir! I told him fourpence," replied Timmins boldly. " By gracious ! What a whopper ! " exclaimed Bobby, startled out of his propriety by this mon- strous lie. " He said twenty-five cents ; and I told him I could buy one up in Riverdale, where I came from, for six cents. Can you deny that ? " " It's a lie ! " protested Timmins. " Riverdale," said Mr. Bayard. M Are you from Riverdale, boy? " " Yes, sir, I am ; and if you will look on youi memorandum book you will find my name there." " Bless me ! I am sure I have seen that face before,* 1 exclaimed Mr. Bayard, as he grasped the hand o/ a* 90 NOW OR NEVER ; OR, B~bby, much to the astonishment and consternation of Mr. Timmins. You are " " Robert Bright, sir." " Mv brave little fellow ! I am heartily glai to gee you ; " and the bookseller shook the hand he held with hearty good will. " I was thinking of you only a little while ago." " This fellow calls me a liar," said Bobby, point- ing to the astonished Mr. Timmins, who did not know what to make of the cordial reception which " Country " was receiving from his employer. " Well, Robert, we know that he is a liar; this is not the first time he has been caught in a lie. Tim- mins, your time is out." The spruce clerk hung his head with shame and mortification. " I hope, sir, you will " he began, but pride or fear stopped him short. " Don't be hard with him, sir, if you please," said Bobby. " I suppose I aggravated him." Mr. Bayard looked at the gentleman who stood oy his side, and a smile of approbation lighted up hi* face. THE A.DVENTUBES OF BOBBY BRIGHT. 9. " Generous as he is noble ! Butler, this is the boj that saved Ellen." " Indeed ! He is a little giant ! " replied Mr Butltr, grasping Bobby's hand. Even Timmins glanced with something like admi* ration in his looks at the youth whom he had so lately despised. Perhaps, too, he thought of tha* Scripture wisdom about entertaining angels unawares* He was very much abashed, and nothing but his siLy pride prevented him from acknowledging his error and begging Bobby's forgiveness. " I can't have a liar about me," said Mr. Bayard. " There may be some mistake," suggested Mr Butler. " I think not. Robert Bright couldn't lie. So brave and noble a boy is incapable of a falsehood. Besides, I got a letter from my friend Squire Lee by this morning's mail, in which he informed me of my young friend's coming." Mr. Bayard took from his pocket a bundle of letters, and selected the squire's from among them. Opening it, he read a passage which had a direct bearing upon the case bef >re him. •2 NOW OK NEVER ; OK, " ' I do not know what Bobby's faults are, " — thi letter said, — " 4 but this I do know : that Bobby would rather be whipped than tell a l:e. He is noted through the place for his love of truth.' — That is pretty strong testimony ; and you see, Bobby, — tnat's what the squire calls you, — your reputation has preceded you." Bobby blushed, as he always did when he waa praised, and Mr. Timmins was more abashed than ever. " Did you hear that, Timmins? Who is the liar now ? " said Mr. Bayard, turning to the culprit. " Forgive me, sir, this time. If you turn me off now, I cannot get another place, and my mother de- pends upon my wages." " You ought to have thought of this before." " He aggravated me, sir, so that I wanted to pay him utf." " As to that, he commenced upon me the moment 1 came into the store. But don't turn him off, if yon please, sir," said Bobby, who even now wished no harm to his discomfited assailant. " He will cU bettei hereafter : won't you, Timmins ?" THE ADVENTURES OF BOBBY BRIGHT 93 Thus appealed to, Timmins, though he did not rei- Mh. so direct an inquiry, and from such a source, was rorapeUed to reply in the affirmative ; and Mr. Bay- ard graciously remitted the sentence he had passed against the offending clerk. "Now, Robert, you will come over to my house and dine with me. Ellen will be delighted to see you." " Thank you, sir," replied Bobby, bashfully, " I have been to dinner " — referring to the luncheon he had eaten at Brighton. " Pat you must go to the house with me." " I should be very glad to do so, sir, but I came on lu^>iss. I will stay here with Mr. Timmins till fci jome back." The truth is, he had heard something about the fine houses of the city, and how stylish the people were, and he had some misgivings about venturing into guch a strange and untried scene as the parloi of a Boston merchant. " Indeed, you must come with me. Ellen would ftever forgive you or me, if you do not come." ••I would rather rest here till ycu return/' rephwj 34 now or never; ob, Bobby, still willing to escape the fire house and thi fine folks. " I walked from Riverdale, sir, and I an rather tired." '* Walked!" exclaimed Mr. Bayard. "Had you no money ? " *' Yes, sir, enough to pay my passage ; but Dr. Franklin says that 'a penny saved is a penny earned/ and I thought I would try it. I shall get rested by the time you return." " But you must go with me. Timmins, go and get a carriage." Timmins obeyed, and before Mr. Bayard had fin- ished asking Bobby how all the people in Riverdale were, the carriage was at the door. There was no backing out now, and our hero waa Dbliged to get into the vehicle, though it seemed alto- gether too fine for a poor boy like him. Mr. Bayard and Mr. Butler (whom the former had invited to dine with him) seated themselves beside him, and the driver was lirected to set them down at No. — , Chestnut Street, where they soon arrived. Thojgh my readers would, no doubt, be very much amused to learn how carefully Bobby trod the velvi»! THE ADVENTURES OF BOBBY ERIGBT. 9L carpets, how he staied with wonder at the drapery curtains, at the tall mirrors, the elegant chandeliers, and the fantastically shaped chairs and tables thai adorned Mr. Bayard's parlor, the length of our sto- ry does not permit us to pause over these trivial matters, When Ellen Bayard was informed that her little deliverer was in the house, she rushed into the parloi like a hoiden school girl, grasped both his hands, kissed both his rosy cheeks, and behaved just as though she had never been to a boarding school in her life. She had thought a great deal about Bobby since that eventful day, and the more she thought of him, the more she liked him. Her admiration of him was not of that silly, sentimental character which moon- struck young ladies cherish towards those immaculate young men who have saved them from drowning in a horse pond, pulled them back just as they were tum- bling over a precipice two thousand five hundred feet lif.gh, or rescued them from a house seven stories high, bearing them down a ladder seventy-five odd feet long. The fact was, Bobby was a boy of thirteen 96 NOW OR NEVER ; OR, and there was no chance for much sentiment; so tha young lady's regard was real, earnest, and lifelike. Ellen said a great many very handsome things ; bu I am sure she never thought of such a thing as that he would run away with her, in case her papa was un- necessarily obstinate. She was very glad to see him, and I have no doubt she wished Bobby might be her brother, it would be so glorious to have such a noble little fellow always with her. "Bobby managed the dinner much better than h« iiad anticipated ; for Mr. Bayard insisted that he snould sit down with them, whether he ate any thing or not. But the Rubicon passed, our hero found that he had a pretty smart appetite, and did full justice to the viands set before him. Is is true the silver forks, the napkins, the finger bowls, and other articles of luxury and show, to which he had been entirely unac- customed, boohercd him not a little ; but he kept perfectly cool, and carefully observed how Mr. Butler, who sat next to him, handled the " spoon fork," what He did with the napkin and the finger bowl, so that, I will venture to say, not one in ten would have sus- pected he had not spent his life in' the parlor of a ;jm7- Uonnairt. THE ADVENTURES OF BOBBY BRIGHT. 91 Dinner over, the party returned to the parlor, rhere Bobhy unfolded his plan for the future. To make his story intelligible, he was obliged to tell them all about Mr. Hardhand. " The old wretch ! " exclaimed Mr. Bayard. " But, Robert, you must let me advance the sixty dollars, to pay Squire Lee." " No, sir ; you have done enough in that way. I have given my note for the money." " Whew ! " said Mr. Butler. " And 1 shall soon earn enough to pay it." " No doubt of it. You are a lad of courage an<7 energy, and you will succeed in every thing you undertake." " I shall want you to trust me foi a stock of books on the strength of old acquaintance," continued Bobby, who had now grown quite bold, and felt as much at home in the midst of the costly furniture, as ke did in the " living room " of the old black house. " You shall have all the books you want." " I will pay for them as soon as I return. The truth is, Mr. Bayard, I mean to be independent. I didn't want to take that thirty-five dollars, though I 9 98 XOW OB NEVER ; OB, dcn't know what Mr. Hardhand would have done U us, if I hadn't." " Ellen said I ought to have given you a hundred, and I think so myself." " I am glad you didn't. Too much money makes us fat and lazy." Mr. Bayard laughed at the easy self-possession of the lad — at his big talk ; though, big as fa was, it meant something. When he proposed to go to the store, he told Bobby he had better stay at the house and rest himself. " No, sir ; I want to start out to-morrow, and I must get ready to-day." " You had better put it off till the next day ; you will feel more like it then." " Now or never," replied Bobby. " That is my motto, sir. If we have any thing to do, now is al- ways the best time to do it. Dr. Franklin says, * Never put off till to-morrow what you can do to day.' " " Right, Robert ! you shall have your own way I wish my cleiks would adopt some of Dr. Franklin's wise saws. 1 should be a great deal better off in tha course of a year if they would-" THE ADVENTURES OF BOBBY BRKJHr. tf$ CHAPTER IX. IN WH1CB BOBBY OPENS VARIOUS ACr >UNT8, AWE WINS HIS FIRST VICTORY. " Now, Bobby, I understand your plan," said Mr. Bayard, when they reached the store ; " but the de- tails must be settled. Where do you intend to go ? " " I hardly know, sir. I suppose I cen sell bookj almost any where." " Very true ; but in some places much better than in others." Mr. Bayard mentioned a large town about eighteeu miles from the city, in which he thought ft good trade might be carried on, and Bobby at once decided to adopt the suggestion. " You can make this place your head quaiters fof the week ; if books do not sell well right in cne village, why, you can go out a little way, ior th« eountry in the vicinity is peopled fcy ^utcUigenf [00 now or never; or, fr-rmers, wlio are well off, and who can affort to buy '«ooks." " I was thinking of that ; but what shall I take rith me, &ir ? " " There is a new book just published, called 'The Wayfarer,' which is going to have a tremendous run. It has been advertised in advance all over the country, bc that you will find a ready sale for it. You will get it there before any one else, and have the market all to yourself." " The Wayfarer ? I have heard of it myself." " You shall take fifty copies with you, and if you find that you shall want more, write, and I will send them." " But I cannot carry fifty copies." " You must take the cars to B , and have a trunk or box to carry your books in. I have a stout trunk down cellar which you shall have." " I will pay for it, sir." " Never mind that, Bobby ; and you will want a •mall valise or carpet bag to carry your books from house to house. I will lend you one." " You are very kind, sir ; I did not mean to oak THE ADVENTURES OF BOBBY BRIGHT. 10 1 any favors of you except to trust me for the booki until my return." " All right, Bobby." Mr. Bayard called the porter and ordered him to bring up the trunk, in which he directed Mr. Timmins to pa~k fifty " Wayfarers." " Now, how much will these books cost me apiece ? " asked Bobby. " The retail price is one dollar ; the wholesale price is one third off; and you shall have them at what ihey cost me." " Sixty-seven cents," added Bobby. " That will give me a profit of thirty-three cents on each book." " Just so." " Perhaps Mr. Timmins will sell me one of those blank books now ; for I like to have things down in black and white." " I will furnish you with something much bettei than that ; " and Mr. Bayard left the counting room. In a moment he returned with a handsome pocke! memorandum book, which he presented tc the little merchant. 0* 102 N.6 will sometimes get into a passion. Now, you pro- voked him." " Indeed, ma'am, I hadn't the least idea of saying THE ADVENTURES OF BOBBY BRIGHT. l!tfi any thing uncivil," pleaded Bobby. " I studied to be as polite as possible." " I dare say. You were too important, too pomp- ous, for a boy to an old gentleman like uncle, who is really one of the best men in the world. Now, if you hadn't studied to be polite, you would have done very well." " Indeed, ma'am, I am a poor boy, trying to make a little money to help my mother. 1 am sure I meant no harm." " I know you didn't. So you are selling book.-, to help your mother ? " " Yes, ma'am." She inquired still further into the little merchant*! history, and seemed to be very much interested in him. In a frolic, a few days before, Bobby learned from her, Colonel Whiting had agreed to pay any penalty she might name, the next time he got into a passion, " Now, young man, what book have you to sell ? '* asked the lady. " ' The Wayfarer.' " " How many have you in your valiso : 5? 11 2 NOW OR NEVER ; OR, " Eight." " Very well ; now, uncle, I decree, as the penal tj Df your indiscretion, that you purchase the whole stock." " I submit." " ' The "Wayfarer* promises to be an excellent book : and I can name at least half a dozen persons who will thank you for a copy, uncle." Colonel Whiting paid Bobb) eight dollars, who left the contents of his valise op the centre table, and tben departed, astounded at his good fortune, ani folly reao ved nerer to be to^> sravh him. The consciousness of that M something witLii him " inclined him to be a little too familiar with hia elders ; but then it gave him confidence in himjelf, and imparted courage to go forward in the accomplishment of his mission. His interview with Colonel Whiting and the gentle but plain rebuke of hio niece had set him right, and he realized that, while he was doing a man's work, he was still a boy. He had now a clearer perception of what is due to the position sad dignity of those upon whom fortune has ^rnile \. Bobby wanted to be j mar, and it is not strange that he should son:tt'm» i fin^y Le was a man. He had an idea, too, that * Ji a.ei. bi; 6orn free ai } ill tscvr on xetzp ; os, equal:" and he could not exactly see why a nabo\ was entitled to any more respect and consideration than a poor man. It was a lesson he was compelled to learn, though some folks live out their lifetimes without ever finding out th<*.t. " 'Tis wealth, good sir, makes honorable men." Some people think a rich man is no better than a poor man, except so far as he behaves himself better. It is strange how stupid some people are ! Bobby had no notion of cringing to any man, and he felt as independent as the Declaration of Independ- ence itself. But then the beautiful lady had told him that he was pert and forward ; and when he thought it over, he was willing to believe she was right. Colonel Whiting was an old man, compared with himself; and he had some faith, at least in theory, in the Spartan virtue of respect for the aged. Prob- ably the nabob of B would have objected to being treated with respect on account of his age ; and Bobby would have been equally unwilling to acknowl- edge that he treated him with peculiar respect on account of his wealth or position Perhaps the little merchant had an instinctive per THE ADVENTUK !S OF BOBBY BRIGHT. 2b ception of expediency — that he should sell more books by being less familiar: at any rate he deter- mined never again to use the flowery speeches he had arranged for the upper crust. He had sold a dozen books ; and possibly this fact made him more willing to compromise the matter than he would otherwise have been. This was, after all, the great matter for congratulation, and with a light heart he hurried back to the railroad station to pro- cure another supply. We cannot follow him into every house where his calling led him. He was not always as fortunate as in the instances we have mentioned. Sometimes all his arguments were unavailing, and after he had spent half an hour of valuable time in setting forth the merits of " The Wayfarer," he was compelled to retire without having effected a sale. Sometimes, too, he was rudely repulsed ; hard epithets were applied to "dim; old men and old women, worried out by the continued calls of pedlers, sneered at him, or shut the loor in his face ; but Bobby was not disheartened. He persevered, and did not allow these little trials tc Ciscompose or discourage him. 11* i26 now or never; or, By one o'clock on the first day of his service he had sold eighteen books, which far exceeded even hif most sanguine expectations. By this time he began to feel the want of his dinner; but there was no tavern or eating house at hand, and he could not think of leaving the harvest to return to the railroad station ; so he bought a sheet of gingerbread and a piece of cheese at a store, and seating himself near a brook by the side of the road, he bolted his simple meal, as boys are very apt to do when they are ex- cited. When he had finished, he took out his account book, and entered, "Dinner, 10 cents." Resuming his business, he disposed of the remaining six books in his valise by the middle of the afternoon, and was obliged to return for another supply. About six o'clook he entered the house of a me- chanic, just as the family were sitting down to tea. He recommended his book with so much energy, that the wife of the mechanic took a fancy to him, and not only purchased one, but invited him to tea. Bobby accepted the invitation, and in the course o/ Ihe meal, the good lady drew from him :he detail* THE ADVENTURES OF BOBBY BRIGHT. 127 of Lis history, which he very modestly related, foi though he sometimes fancied himself a man, he wag not the boy to boast of his exploits. His host was bo much pleased with him, that he begged him to spend the night with them. Bobby had been think- ing how and where he should spend the night, and the matter had given him no little concern. He lid not wish to go to the hotel, for it looked like a very smart house, and he reasoned that he should have to pay pretty roundly for accommodations there. These high prices would eat up his profits, and he serious- ly deliberated whether it would not be better for him to sleep under a tree than pay fifty cents for a lodg- ing. If I had been there I should have told him that a man loses nothing in the long run by taking good care of himself. He must eat well and sleep well, in order to do well and be well. But I suppose Bobby would have told me that it was of no use to pay a quarter extra for sleeping on a gilded bedstead, since the room would be so dark he could not see the gilt even if he wished to do so. I could not bave said any thing to such a powerful argument , so I am 128 NOW OR NEVER ; OR, rery glad the mechanic's wife set the matter at rest by offering him a bed in her house. He spent a very pleasant evening with the family, who made him feel entirely at home, they were so k ; nd and so plain spoken. Before he went to bed, he entered under the book account, " By twenty-six Wayfarers, sold this day, $26.00." He had done a big day's work, much bigger than he could hope to do again. He had sold more than one half of his whole stock, and at this rate he should be out of books the next day. At first he thought he would send for another lot ; but he could not judge yet what his average daily sales would be, and finally concluded not to do so. What he had might last till Friday or Saturday. He intended to £o home on the latter day, and he could bring them with him on his return without expense. This was considerable of an argument for a boy to manage ; but Bobby was satisfied with it, and went to 3leep, wondering what his mother, Squire Lee. and Annie were thinking of about that time. After breakfast the next morning he resumed his ravels. He was as enthusiastic as ever, and pressed THE ADVENTURES OF BOBBY BRIGHT. 1 2S * The Wayfarer" with so much earnestness that he sold a book in nearly every house he visited. People geemed to be more interested in the little merchant than in his stock, and taking advantage of this kind •feeling towards him, he appealed to them with so much eloquence that few could resist it. The result of the day's sales was fifteen copies, which Bobby entered in the book account with the most intense satisfaction. He had outdone the boy who had passed through Riverdale, but he had little hope that the harvest would always be so abundant. He often thought of this boy, from whom he hac 3 obtained the idea he was now carrying out. That boy had stopped over night at the little black house, and slept with him. He had asked for lodging, and offered to pay for it, as well as for his supper and breakfast. Why couldn't he do the same ? He liked the suggestion, and from that time, whereve? he happened to be, he asked for lodging, or the meal he required, and he always proposed to pay for what he had, but very few would take any thing. On Friday noon he had sold out. Returning to the railroad station, he found that the train would not :30 now or nevib; ok, leave for the city for an hour ; so he improved the time in examining and balancing his accounts. The bo^k sales amounted to just fifty dollars, and aftei his ticket to Boston was paid for, his expenses would amount to one dollar and fifty cents, leaving a bal- ance in his favor of fifteen dollars. He was over- joyed with the result, and pictured the astonishment with which his mother, Squire Lee, and Annie would listen to the history of his excursion. After four o'clock that afternoon he entered the store of Mr. Bayard, bag and baggage. On his ar- rival in the city, he was considerably exercised in mind to know how he should get the trunk to his destination. He was too economical to pay a cart- man a quarter ; but what would have seemed mean in a man was praiseworthy in a boy laboring for a noble end. Probably a great many of my young readers ia Bobby's position, thinking that sixteen dollars, whicn our hero had in his pocket, was a mint of money, would have been in favor of being a little magnifi- cent — of taking a carnage and going up-town in state. Bobby had not the least desire to "'swell;" so fcj THE ADVENTURES OF BOEIBY BRIGH1. 13* settled the matter by bargaining v.ith a little ragged fellow to help him carry the trunk to Mr. Bayard's etore for fourpence. "How do you do, Mr. Timmins?" said Bobby to the spruce clerk, as he deposited the trunk upon the floor, and handed the ragged boy the four- pence. ' " Ah, Bobby ! " exclaimed Mr. Timmins. " Have *-ou sold out ? " " All clean. Is Mr. Bayard in ? " " In the office. But how do you like it ? " " First rate." *' Well, every one to his taste ; but I don't see how any one who has any regard for his dignity can stick himself into every body's house. I couldn't do it, I know." " I don't stand for the dignity. " ** Ah, well, there is a difference in folks." " That's a fact," replied Bobby, as he hurried to the office of Mr. Bayard, leaving Mr. Timmins to sun himself in his own dignity. The bookseller was surprised to see him so socn^ out he gave him a cordial reception. 132 now oe never; de, " I didn't expect you yet," said he. " Wnj cU fon come back ? Have you got sick of the busi- ness ? " " Sick of it ! No, sir." " What have you come back for then ? " " Sold out, sir." " Sold out ! You have done well ! " " Better than I expected." " I had no idea of seeing you till to-morrow night ; and I thought you would have books enough to begin the next week with. You have done bravely." " If I had had twenty more, I could have sold them before to-morrow night. Now, sir, if you please, I will pay you for those books — thirty-three dollars and fifty cents." " You had better keep that, Bobby. I will trust you as long as you wish." " If you please, sir, I had rather pay it ; " and the little merchant, as proud as a lord, handed over the amount. " I like your way of doing business, Bobby. Noth- ng helps a man's credit so much as paying promptly. Now tell me some of your adventures — or we wilJ THE ADTFNTURES OF BOBBY BRIGHT. 13J reserve them till this evening, for I am sure Elltn will be delighted to hear them." : I think I shall go to Riverdale this afternoon. The cars leave at half past five." " Very well ; you have an hour to spare." Bobby related to his kind friend the incidents of his excursion, including his interview with Colonel Whiting and his niece, which amused the bookseller very much. He volunteered some good advice, which Bobby received in the right spirit, and with a deter- mination to profit by it. At half past five he took the cars for home, and before dark was folded in his mother's arms. The little black house seemed doubly dear to him now that he had been away from it a few days. His mother and all the children were so glad to see him that it seemed almost worth his while to go away ioi th.6 \ le&sure of meeting them on his ret trn 13 134 NOW OB NEVE*: O*, CHAPTER XII. r* WHICH BOBBY ASTONISHES SUNDRY PEBSOKQ AND PAYS PART OF HIS NOTE. " Now tell me, Bobby, how you have made out,' said Mrs. Bright, as the little merchant seated him- self at the supper table. " You cannot have done much, for you have only been gone five days." " I have done pretty well, mother," replied Bobby, mysteriously ; " pretty well, considering that I an only a boy." " I didn't expect to see you till to-morrow night." " I sold out, and had to come home." " That may be, and still you may not have dor e much." " 1 don't pretend that I have done much." " How provoking you are ! Why don't you telJ me, Bobby, what you have done * " " Wait a minute, mother, tiL I have dene mj THE ADVENTURES OF BOBBY BRIGHT. 135 tmnper, and then I will show you the footings in raj Ledger." 44 Your ledger ! " • Yes, my ledger. I keep a ledger now." 44 You are a great man, Mr. Robert Bright," laughed Lis mother. 44 I suppose the people took their hata off when they saw you coming." 44 Not exactly, mother." 4k Perhaps the governor came out to meet you when he heard you was on the road." 4k Perhaps he did ; I didn't see him, however This apple pie tastes natural, mother. It is a great luxury to get home after one has been travelling." 44 Very likely." 44 No place like home, after all is done and said. Who was the fellow that wrote that song, mother? " 44 1 forget; the paper said he spent a great many years in foreign parts. My sake ! Bobby ; one would think by your talk that you had been away from hjme for a year." 44 It seems like a year," said he, as he transferred another quarter of the famous apple pie to his plate 136 NOW OR NEVER j OR, M I miss home very much. I don't more tnan half like being among strangers so much." " Jt is your own choice ; no one wants you to go awa} from home." *' I must pay my debts, any how. Don't I owfl Squire Lee sixty dollars ? " '•' But 1 can pay that." " It is my affair, you see." ** If it is your affair, then I owe you sixty dol- lars." tk No, you don't ; I calculate to pay my board no'vr. ] am old enough and big enough to do something." i 4 You have done something ever since you was old enough to work." " Not much ; I don't wonder that miserable old hunker of a Hardhand twitted me about it. By the way, have you heard any thing from him ? " 41 Not a thing." " He lias got enough of us, I reckon." " You mustn't insult him, Bobby, if you happen tc ler.' him " " Never fear me." •* You know the Bible says we must love ouj T~- ADVENTURES OF BOBBY BRIGHT. I3f enemies, and pray for them that despitelully use u« and persecute us." 44 I should pray that the Old Nick might gel him." "No, Bobby; I hope you haven't forgot all youi Sunday school lessons." 44 I was wrong, mother," replied Bobby, a little moved. " I did not mean so. I shall try to think as well of him as I can ; but I can't help thinking, if all the world was like him, what a desperate hard time we should have of it." 44 We must thank the Lord that he has gifen ub so many good and true men." " Such as Squire Lee, for instance," added Bobby, as he rose from the table and put his chair back against the wall. " The squire is fit to be a king ; and though I believe in the Constitution and che Declaration of Independence, I wouldr t mind st,eing a crown upon his head." 44 He will receive his crown in du« firae," reptied Mis. Bright, piously. 44 The squire r " 44 Tne ?rown of rejc icing, I mean.' - -, 138 now or never; or, "Just so ; the squire is a nice man; and I kno# mother just l.ke him." « Who ! " " Mr. Bayard ; they are as near alike as tw» peas." " I am dying to know about your journey." * Wait a minute, mother, till we clear away the supper things ; " and Bobby took hold, as he had been accustomed, to help remove and wash the dishes. " You needn't help now, Bobby." " Yes, I will, mother." Some how our hero's visit to the city did not seem to produce the usual effect upon him ; for a great many boys, after they had been abroad, would have scorned to wash dishes and wipe them. A week in town has made many a boy so smart that you couldn't touch him with a ten foot pole. It starches them up bo stiff that sometimes they don't know their own mothers, and deem it a piece of condescension to Bpeak a word to the patriarch in & blue frock who ha j he honor of supporting them in childhood. Bobby was none of this sor f Wr lam' it that ha THE ADVENTURES Of' BOBBY BRIGHT. 13S had a haoit of talking big — that is, of talking abuui business affairs in a style a little beyond his years. But he was modest to a fault, paradoxical as it may seem. He was always blushing when any bodf Bpoke a pretty thing about him. Probably the cir- cumstances of his position elevated him above the fcphere of the mere boy ; he had spent but little time in play, and his attention had been directed at all times to the wants of his mother. He had thought a great deal about business, especially since the visit of the boy who sold books to the little black house. Some boys are born merchants, and from their ear- liest youth have a genius for trade. They think ol little else. They "play shop" before they weai jackets, and drive a barter trade in jackknives, whis- tles, tops, and fishing lines long before they get into their teens. They are shrewd even then, and obtain a taste for commerce before they are old enough to know the meaning of the word. We saw a boy in school, not long since, give the value of eighteen cents for a little stunted quince — boys have a taste for raw quinces, strange as it maj teem. Undoubtedly he had no talent, for trade, aruj 140 NOW OR NEVER ; OR, would make a very indifferent tin pedler. Cur hero was shrewd. He always got the best end of the bar- gain ; though, I am happy to say, his integrity wai too unyielding to let him cheat his fellows. We have made this digression so that my young readers may know why Bobby was so much given tc big talk. The desire to do something worthy of a good son turned his attention to matters above his sphere ; and thinking of great things, he had come to talk great things. It was not a bad fault, after all. Boys need not necessarily be frivolous. Play is a good thing, an excellent thing, in its place, and is as much a part of the boy's education as his grammar and arithmetic. It not only develops his muscles, but enlarges his mental capacity ; it not only fills with excitement the idle hours of the long day, but it sharpens the judgment, and helps to fit the boy for the active duties of life. It need not be supposed, because Bobby had .'o turn his attention to serious things, that he was not fond of fun ; that he could not or did not play. At a game of round ball, he was a lucky fellow who ae« ruuei b ; m upon his side ; for the same energy which THE ADVENTURES OF BOBBT BKJ tfHT. l4l made him a useful son rendered Mm a desirable ha^d in a difficult game. When the supper things were all removed, the dishes washed and put away, Bobby drew out his pocket memorandum book. It was a beautiful article, and Mrs. Bright was duly astonished at its gilded leaves and the elegant workmanship. Very likely her first impulse was to reprove her son for such a piece of reckless extravagance ; but this matter was set right by Bobby's informing her how it came into his possession. " Here is my ledger, mother," he said, handing her the book. Mrs, Bright put on her spectacles, and after bestow- ing a careful scrutiny upon the memorandum book, turned to the accounts. " Fifty books ! " she exclaimed, as she read the first entry. " Yes, mother ; and I sold them all." " Fifty dollars ! " *' But I had to pay for the books out of that." •' To be sure you had ; but I suppose you made as much as ten cents a piece on them, and that would be- — let me see ; ten times fifty " i42 now or never; r, M But I m;.de more than that, I hope." " How much ? " The proud young merchant referred her to tho profit and loss acccunt, which exhibited a balance of fifteen dollars. " Gracious ! Three dollars a day ! " " Just so, mother. Now I will pay you the dollar I borrowed of you when I went away." " You didn't borrow it of me." " But I shall pay it." Mrs. Bright was astonished at this unexpected and gratifying result. If she had discovered a gold mine in the cellar of the little black house, it could not have afforded her so much satisfaction ; for this money was the reward of her son's talent and energy. Her own earnings scarcely ever amounted to more than three or four dollars a week, and Bobby, a boy of thirteen, had come home with fifteen for five days' work. She could scarcely believe the evidence of her own senses, and she ceased to wonder that he talked big. It was nearly ten o'clock when the widow and her ion went to bed, so deeply were they interested in discussing our here's affairs. He had ntended tl THE ADVENTURES OF BOBBY BRIGHT. 143 call upon Squire Lee that night, but the time passed away so rapidly that he was obliged to defer it till the next day. After breakfast the following morning, he hastened tc pay the intended visit. There was a tumult of fttranga emotions in his bosom as he knocked at the squire's door. He was proud of the success he had achieved, and even then his cheek burned under the anticipated commendations which his generous friend would bestow upon him. Besides, Annie would be glad to see him, for she had expressed such a desire w hen they parted on the Monday preceding. I don't think that Bobby cherished any silly ideas, but the sympathy of the little maiden fell not coldly or unwel- comely upon his warm heart. In coming from the house he had placed his copy of " The Wayfarer " under his arm, for Annie was fond of reading ; and ob the way over, he had pictured to himself the pleasure she would derive from reading kis book. Of course he received a warm welcome from the Bquire and his daughter. Each of them had bestowed more than a thought upon the little wanderer as h« went from he use to house, and more than ones they !aad conversed togetner about him. '44 now ok never; q*. ""• Veil, Bobby, how is trade in the book line?* asked the squire, after the young pilgrim had been cordially greeted. " Pretty fair," replied Bobby, with as much indif- ference as he could command, though it was hard even to seem indifferent then and there. " Where have you been travelling ? " « In B ." " Fine place. Books sell well there ? " " Very well ; in fact, I sold out all my stock by noon yesterday." " How many books did you carry ? " « Fifty." " You did well." «* I should think you did ! " added Annie, with an enthusiasm which quite upset all Bobby's assumed indifference. " Fifty books ! " " Yes. Miss Annie ; and I have brought you a copy of the book I have been selling ; I thought you w:uld like to read it. It is a splendid work, and will be the book of the season." " I shall be delighted to read it," replied Annie, taking the proffered volume. "It looks real good," sue continued, as sbo turned over the l^avea. THE ADVENTUBES OF BOBBY BRIGHT. 142 '* It is first rate ; I have read it through." "It was very kind of you to think of me when yon have so much business on vour mind," added she ; with a roguish smile. * 4 1 shall never have so much business on my mind that I cannot think of my friends," replied Bobby, m gallantly and so smartly that it astonished himself. " I was just thinking what I should reao. ^cxt ; I am so glad you have come." " Never mind her, Bobby ; all she wanted was tla book," interposed Squire Lee, laughing. " Now, pa ! " ** Then I shall bring her one very often." ** You are too bad, pa," said Annie, who, like most young ladies just entering their teens, resented any imputation upon the immaculateness of human love, or human friendship. " I have got a little money for you, Squire Lee," continued Bobby, thinking it time the subject was changed. He took out his gilded memorandum book, whose elegant appearance rather startled the squire, and from its " treasury department " extracted the littlf 13 146 noav or never; or, "•oil of bills, representing an aggregate of ten dollars which 1 e had carefully reserved for his creditor. "•Never mind that, Bobby," replied the squiift, u You will want all your capital to do business with 3 k ' I must pay my debts before 1 think of any thing else." " A very good plan, Bobby, but this is an excep- tion to the general rule." " No, sir, I think not. If you please, 1 insist upon paying you ten dollars on my note." " 0, well, if you insist, I suppose I can't help my- self." " I would rather pay it, I shall feel so much better.' " You want to indorse it on the note, I suppose." That was just what Bobby wanted. Indorsed on the note was the idea, and our hero had often passer! that expression through his mind. There was some- thing gratifying in the act to a man of business integ- rity like himself; it was discharging a sacred obliga- tion, — he had already come to deem it a sacred duty to pay one's debts, — and as the squire wrote the in- dorsement across the back of the note, he felt more ike a hero than ev^r before. THE AD VENTURES OF BOBBY BRIGHT. 147 " ' Pay as you go ' is an excellent idea ; John Ran- dolph called it the philosopher's stone," added Squire Lee, as he returned the note to his pocket book. " That is what I mean to do just as soon as I can.*' " You will do, Lobby. " The young merchant spent nearly the whole fore- noon at the squire's, and declined an invitation to dinner only on the plea that his mother would wait !b? him, 148 ncw ok never: or. CHAPTER XIII. tH WHfCB BOBBY DECLINES A COPARTNERSHIP WD VISITS B AGAIN. After dinner Bobby performed his Saturday if^er- noon chores as usual. He split wood enough to last for a week, so that his mother might not miss him too much, and then, feeling a desire to visit his favorite resorts in the vicinity, h? concluded to go a fishing. The day was favorable, the sky being overcast and the wind very light. After digging a little box of worms in the garden back of the house, he shouldered his fish pole ; and certainly no one would have sus- pected that he was a distinguished travelling mer- chant. He was fond of fishing, and it is a re-mark- able coincidence that Daniel Webster, and many othei famous men, have manifested a decided passion for this exciting sport. No doubt a fondness for angling is a peculiarity of genius ; and if being an exper* THE ADVENTURES OF BC BBT BRIGHT. 14b fishermin makes a great man, then our hero was a great man. He had scarcely seated himself on his favorite reck, and dropped his line into the water, before he saw Tom Spicer approaching the spot. The bully hid never been a welcome companion. There was no sympathy between them. They could never agree, for their views, opinions, and tastes were always con- flicting. Bobby had not seen Tom since he left him to crawl out of the ditch on the preceding week, and he had good reason to believe that he should not be regarded with much favor. Tom was malicious and revengeful, and our hero was satisfied that the blow which had prostrated him in the ditch would not be forgotten till it had been atoned for. He was prepared, there- fore, for any disagreeable scene which might occur. There was another circumstance also which ren- dered the bully's presence decidedly unpleasant at this time — an event that had occurred during his absence, the particulars of which he had received from his mother. Tom's father, who was a poor man, and addicted to 13* *?0 NOW OR NEVER; OR, Intemperance, had lost ten dollars. He nad brought it home, and, as he affirmed, placed it in one of th«j bureau drawers. The next day it could not be fo :nd. Spicer, for some reason, was satisfied that lorn had »aken it ; but the boy stoutly and persistently denied it. No money was found upon him, however, and it did not appear that he had spent any at the stores in Riverdale Centre. The affair created some excitement in the vicinity, for Spicer made no secret of his suspicions, and pub- licly accused Tom of the theft. He did not get much sympathy from any except his pot companions ; for there was no evidence but his bare and unsupported statement to substantiate the grave accusation. Tom had been in the room when the money was placed in the drawer, and, as his father asserted, had watched him closely while he deposited th > bills under the clothing. No one else could have taken it. These were the proofs. But people generally believed that Spicer had carried no money home, especially as it was known that he was intoxicated on the night in question ; and that the alleged theft was only a ruse to satisfy certain importunate creditors. THE ADVENTURES OF BOBBY BRIGHT. 151 Every body knew that Tom was bad enough to fiteal. even from his father ; from which my readers can understand that it is an excellent thing to have a good reputation. Bobby knew that he would lie and *&3e profane language ; that he spent his Sundays by the- river, or in roaming through the woods ; and that he played truant from school as often as the fear of the rod would permit ; and the bo- that would do all these things certainly would steal if he got a good chance. Our hero's judgment, therefore, of the cas-e was not favorable to the bully, and he would have thanked him to stay away from the river while he was there. " Hallo, Bob ! Plow are you ? " shouted Tom, when he had come within hailing distance. " Very well," replied Bobby, rathei coolly. " Been to Boston, they say." « Yes." " Well, how did you like it ? " continued Tom si 6? seated himself on the rock near our hero. ** First rate." " Been to work there } M «Na" 152 NOW OH JTEYER : OB, M What have you been doing? " Travelling about.'* " What doing ? " " Selling books." ** Was you, though ? Did you sell any ? " " Yes, a few." * 4 How many ? " " O, about fifty." " You didn't, though — did you? How much did you make ? " " About fifteen dollars." " By jolly ! You are a smart one, Bobby. There are not many fellows that would have done that." " Easy enough," replied Bobby, who was not a little surprised at this warm commendation from one whom he regarded as his enemy. "You had to buy the books first — didn't you ? " asked Tom, who began to manifest a deep interest in the trade. * Of course ; no one will give you the nooks." " What do you pay for them ? " " I buy them so as to make a profit on them," an swered Bobby, who, like a discreet merchant, was not disposed to be too communicative. THE ADVENTURES OF BOBBY EKIGHT. 15c " That business would suit me first rate." i4 It is pretty hard work." ** I don't care for that. Don't you believe I rmild du something in this line r " M I don't know ; perhaps you could." ** Why not, as well as you ? " This was a hard question ; and, as Bobby did not wish to be uncivil, he talked about a big pout he hauled in at that moment, instead of answering it. He was politic, and deprecated the anger of the bully ; so, though Tom plied him pretty hard, he did not re- ceive much satisfaction. " You see, Tom,'-' said he, when he found that his companion insisted upon knowing the cost of the books, " this is a publisher's secret ; and I dare say they would not wish every one to know the cost of books. We sell them for a dollar apiece." *' Humph ! You needn't be so close aD^ut it. I'll bet I can find out." *' I have no doubt you can ; only, you see, I don", ivant to tell what I am not sure they would be will* mg I should tell." Tom took a slate pencil from his pocket, and 1 54 yow OR nfver ; OR, fommented ciphering on the smooth rock upon whica he eat. ' You say you sold fifty books? " " Yes." " Well ; if you made fifteen dollars out of fifty, that is thirty cents apiece." Bobby was a little mortified when he perceived that he had unwittingly exposed the momentous secret. He had not given Tom credit for so much sagacity as he had displayed in his inquiries ; and as he had fairly reached his conclusion, he was willing he should have the benefit of it. " You sold them at a dollar apiece. Thirty from a hundred leaves seventy. They cost you seventy cents each — didn't they:" " Sixty-seven," replied Bobby, yielding the point. " Enough said, Bob ; 1 am going into that busi« ness, any how." " I am willing." " Of course you are ; suppose we go together," suggested Tom, who had not used all this conciliation without having a purpose in view. 44 We could do nothing together." THE ADVENTURES OF BOBBT BRIGHT. 155 •' I should like to get out with you just once, only to see how it is done." •* You can find out for yourself, as I did." •' Don't be mean Bob." " Mean ? I am not mean." " I don't say you are. We have always been good friends, you know." Bobby did not know it ; so he looked at the other with a smile which expressed all he meant to say. " You hit me a smart dig the other day, I know ; but I don't mind that. I was in the wrong then, and I am willing to own it," continued Tom, with an appearance of humility. This was an immense concession for Tom to make, and Bobby was duly affected by it. Probably ic was the firet time the bully had ever owned he was in the wrong. " The fact is, Bob, I always liked you ; and you know I licked Ben Dowse for you." " That was two for yourself and one for me ; be« tides, I didn't want Ben thrashed." 41 But he deserved it. Didn't he tell the miatei you were whispering in school?" 166 now or never; or, u I was whispering ; so he told the truth." " It was mean to blow on a fellow, though." M The master asked him if I whispered to him ; of eourse he ought not to lie about it. But he told of you at the same time." "I know it ; but I wouldn't have licked him on my own account." "Perhaps you wouldn't." " I know I wouldn't. But, I say, Bobby, whew do you buy your books ? " " At Mr. Bayard's, in Washington Street." " He will sell them to me at the same price - won't he ? " " I don't know." " When are you going again ? " " Monday." " Won't you let me go with you, Bob ? " " Let you ? Of course you can go where yon please ; it is none of my business." Bobby did not like the idea of having such a co partner as Tom Spicer, and he did not like to tel him so If he did, he would have to give his reason* for dt-clining the proposition, and that would maki Tom mad, and perhaps provoke him to quarrel. THE ADVEXTUKES OF BOBBY BRIGHT 15' The fish bit well, and in an hour's time Bobb) had a mess. As he took his basket and walked home, the young ruffian followed him. He could not get rd ~f him till he reached the gate in front of the littlj black house ; and even there Tom begged him to stop a few moments. Our hero was in a hurry, and in the easiest manner possible got rid of this as- pirant for mercantile honors. We have no doubt a journal of Bobby's daily life would be very interesting to our young readers ; but the fact that some of his most stirring adventures are yet to be related admonishes us to hasten forward more rapidly. On Monday morning Bobby bade adieu to his mother again, and started for Boston. He fully ex- pected to encounter Tom on the way, who, he was afraid, would persist in accompanying him on his tour. As before, he stopped at Squire Lee's to bid him and Annie good by. The lit'le maiden had read " The Wayfarer " more than half through, and was very enthusiastic in her expression of the pleasure she derived from it. She promised to send it over to his house when she had U 158 NOW OR NEVER ; OK, finished it, and hoped he would bring his stock to Rrverdale, so that she might again zeplenish ^91 library. Bobby thought of something just then, and the thought brought forth a harvest on the following Saturday, when he returned. When he had shaken hands with the squire and was about to depart, he received a piece of news which gave him food for an hour's serious reflection. " Did you hear about Tom Spicer ? " asked Squire Lee. " No, sir ; what about him ? " "Broken his arm." " Broken his arm ! Gracious ! How did it hap- pen ? " exclaimed Bobby, the more astonished because he had been thinking of Tom since he had left home. " He was out in the woods yesterday, where boys should not be on Sundays, and, in climbing a tree after a bird's nest, he fell to the ground." " I am sorry for him," replied Bobby, musing. " So am I ; but if he had been at home, or at church, where he should have been, it would not Uave happened. If I had any boys, I would loch them up in tlvur chambers if I could not keep thew at home Sundays." THE ADVENTURES OF BOBBY BKIGHT. 15$ '* Poor Tom ! " mused Bobby, recalling the conver- sation he had had with him on Saturday, and then wishing that he had been a little more pliant with Lim, " It is too bad ; but I must say I am more sony fcr his poor mother than I am for him," added the Bquire. " However, I hope it will do him good, and be a lesson he will remember as long as he lives." Bobby bade the squire and Annie adieu again, and resumed his journey towards the railroad station. His thoughts were busy with Tom Spicer's case. The reason why he had not joined him, as he ex- pected and feared he would, was now apparent He pitied him, for he realized that he must endure a great deal of pain before he could again go out ; but he finally dismissed the matter with the squire's sage reflection, that he hoped the calamity would be e good lesson to him. The young merchant did not walk to Boston this time, for he had come to the conclusion that, iv the six hours it would take him to travel to the city en foot, the profit on the books he could sell would be more than enough to pay his fare, to say nothing >f the fatigue and the expense of ?hoe leather. i*i»> NOW OK NEVER, Ok, fiefbre noon he was at B again, as busy ai ever in driving his business. The experience of the former week was of great value to him. He visited people belonging to all spheres in society, and, though he was occasionally repulsed or treated with incivility, he was not conscious in a single instance of offending *uy person's sense of propriety. He was not as fortunate as during the previous week, and it was Saturday noon before he had sold out the sixty books he carried with him. The net profit for this week was fourteen dollars, with which he was abundantly pleased. Mr. Bayard again commended him in the warmest terms for his zeal and promptness. Mr. Timmins was rven more civil than the last time, and when Bobby asked the price of Moore's Poems, he actually offered to sell it to him for thirty-three per cent, less than the retail price. The little merchant was on the peint of purchasing it, when Mr. Bayard inquired what he wanted. " I am going to buy this book," cj/LcU Bobby •* Moore's Poems ? " « Yes, air." THE ADVENTURES OF BOBBY BRIGHT. 161 Mr. Bayard took from a glass case an eleganily bound copy of the same work — morocco, full gilt -- and handed it to our hero. " I shall make you a present of this. Are you an admirer of Moore ? " " No, sir ; not exactly — that is, I don't know much ab». at it ; but Annie Lee does, and 1 want to get the book for her." fiobby's cheeks reddened as he turned the leaves of the beautiful volume, putting his head down to the page to hide his confusion. "Annie Leer" said Mr. Bayard with a quizzing smile. " I see how it is. Rather young, Bobby.'* " Her father has been very good to me and to my mother ; and so has Annie, for that matter. Squire Lee would, be a great deal more pleased if I should make Annie a present than if I made him one. I feel grateful to him, and I want to let it out some how." •• That's right, Bobby ; always remember youi friends. Timmins, wrap up this book." Bobby protested with all his might; but the book 14* .62 now or never; ob, seller ins/sted that he should give Annie this beautiftu edition, and he was obliged to yield the point. That evening he was at the little black house again, ai?d his mother examined his ledger with a great deal of pride and satisfaction. That evening, too, anothei ten dollar? was indorsed on the note, and Annie F@- roved thst elesrant copy of Moore's Pc^sm TH.K ADVENTURES OF BOBBY BRIGHT. 16* CHAPTER XIV. IJf WHICH BOBBY'S AIR CASTLE IS UPSET ANI TOM SPICER TAKES TO THE WOODS. During the next four weeks Bobby visited various places in the vicinity of Boston ; and at the end of that time he had paid the whole of the debt he owed Squire Lee. He had the note in his memorandum book, and the fact that he had achieved his first great purpose afforded him much satisfaction. Now he owed no man any thing, and he felt as though he nould hold up his head among the best people in the world. The little black house was paid for, and Bobby was proud that his own exertions had released his mother from her obligation to her hard creditor. Mr. Hard- hand could no longer insult and abuse her. The apparent results which Bobby had accom- piished, hcwever, were as nothing compared with 1^4 NOW OE NEVEB | OJt, •ne leal results. He had developed those energies af. character which were to make km, not only s great business man, but a useful member of society. Besides, there was a moral grandeur, in his humble achievements which was more worthy of consideration than the mere worldly success he had obtained. Mo- tives determine the character of deeds. That a boy of thirteen should display so much enterprise and energy was a great thing ; but that it should be dis- played from pure, unselfish devotion to his mother was a vastly greater thing. Many great achievements are morally insignificant, while many of which the world never hears mark the true hero. Our hero was not satisfied with what he had done, and far from relinquishing his interesting and profit- able employment, his ambition suggested new and wider fields of success. As one ideal, brilliant and glorious in its time, was reached, another more bril- liant and more glorious presented itself, and demanded to be achieved. The little black house began to appear rusty and inconvenient ; a coat of white paint would marvellously improve its appearance ; a set of nice Paris-green blinc 1 s would make a palace of it ; and a THE ADVENTURES OF BOBBY HEIGHT. 165 neat fence around it would positively transfoim ths Dlace into a paradise. Yet Bobby was audacious enough to think of these things, and even to promise himself that they should be obtained. In conversation with Mr. Bayard a few days be- fore, that gentleman had suggested a new field of ' O DO labor ; and it had been arranged that Bobby should visit the State of Maine the following week. On the banks of the Kennebec were many wealthy and im- portant towns, where the intelligence of the people created a demand for books. This time the little merchant was to take two hundred books, and be absent until they were all sold. On Monday morning he started bright and eany for the railroad station. As usual, he called upon vSquire Lee, and informed Annie that he should proba- bly be absent three or four weeks. She hoped no accident would happen to him, and that his journey would be crowned with success. Without being sentimental, she was a little sad, for Bobby was a great friend of hers. That elegant copy of Moore's Poems had been gratefully received, and she was sc fond )f the bard's beautiful and touching melodies *66 NOW OR NEYEE ; OR, that ahe could never read any of them without tl ink- ing of ih.3 brave little fellow who had given her the volume • which no one will consider very remarkable, even in a little miss of twelve. After he had bidden her and her father adieu, he usumed his journey. Of course he was thinking with all his might ; but no one need suppose he was wondering how wide the Kennebec River was, or how many books he should sell in the towns upon its banks. Nothing of the kind ; though it is enough even for the inquisitive to know that he was thinking of something, and that his thoughts were very inter- esting, not to say romantic. " Hallo, Bob ! " shouted some one from the road side. Bobby was provoked ; for it is sometimes very un- comfortable to have a pleas xnt train of thought inter- rupted. The imagination is buoyant, ethereal, and elevates poor mortals up tu the stars sometimes. It was so with Bobby. He was building up some kind of an air castle, and had got up in the clouds amidst the fog and moonshine, and that aggravating >oi(J€ brought him down, slap, upon terra firma. THE ADVENTURES OF BOBBY BRIGHT. 16*1 He looked up and saw Tom Spicer seated unon the fence. In his hand he held a bundle, and had evi dently been waiting some time for Bobby's coming. He had recovered from the illness caused by his broken arm, and people said it had been a good les- son for him, as the squire hoped it would be. Bobby had called upon him two or three times during his confinement to the house ; and Tom, either truly re- pentant for his past errors, or lacking the opportunity *t that time to manifest his evil propensities, had stoutly protested that he had " turned over a new leaf,'* and meant to keep out of the woods on Sunday, stop lying and swearing, and become a good boy. Bobby commended his good resolutions, and told him he would never want friends while he was true to himself. The right side, he declared, was always th best aide. He quoted several instances of men, whose lives he had read in his Sunday school books, to show how happy a good man may be in prison, or when all the world seemed to forsake him. Tom assured him that he meant to reform and be a good boy ; and Bobby told him that when any one cr^tnt to turn over a new leaf, it was " now or never.' 1 68 NOW OB NEVER; I'a It he put it off, he would only grow worse, and the longer the good work was delayed, the more difficult i 4 would be to do it. Tom agreed to all this, and waa »ure he had reformed. For these reasons Bobby had come to regard Tom with a feeling of deep interest. He considered him a3, in some measure, his disciple, and he felt a per- sonal responsibility in encouraging him to persevere in his good work. Nevertheless Bobby was not ex- actly pleased to have his fine air castle upset, and to be tipped out of the clouds upon the cold, uncompro- mising earth again ; so the first greeting he gave Tom was not as cordial as it might have been. " Hallo, Tom ! " he replied, rather coolly. " Been waiting for you this half hour." " Have you ? " '* Yes ; ain't you rather late ? " "■ No ; I have plenty of time, though none to sr are," answered Bobby ; and this was a hint that he must not detain him too long. 41 Come along then." " Where are you going, Tom? " asV id Bobby, a lit* tie surprised at these words. THE ADVENTURES OF BOBBY BRIGHT. 169 "To Bcston." " Are you ? " 4i I am ; that's a fact. You know I spoke to yot ibout going into the book business." 44 Not lately." " But I have been thinking about it all the time." " What do your father and mother say ? " 44 0, they are all right." 44 Have you asked them ? " 44 Certainly I have ; they are willing I should go with you." 44 Why didn't you speak of it then? " 44 I thought I wouldn't say any thing till the time came. You know you fought shy when I spoke about it before." And Bobby, notwithstanding the interest he felt in his companion, was a little disposed to 44 fight shy" now. Tom had reformed, or had pretended to do so ; but he was still a raw recruit, and our hero was some- «hat fearful that he would run at the first fire. Tc the good and true man life is a constant battle. Temptation assails him at almost every point ; perili ind snares beset him at every step of his mortal pil 170 now oe never; or, grimagv, so that every day he is called upon tc ^ird en his armor and fight the g^od fight. Bobby was no poet ; but he had a good idea of this every-day strife with the foes of error and sin that crossed his path. It was a practical conception, but it was truly expressed under the similitude of a battle. There was to be resistance, and he could comprehend that for his bump of combativeness took cognizance of the suggestion. He was to fight ; and that was an idea that stood him in better stead than a whole library of ethical subtil ties. Judging Tom by his own standard, he was afraid he would run — that he wouldn't " stand fire." He had not been drilled. Heretofore, when temptation beset him, he had yielded without even a struggle, and fled from the field without firing a gun. To go out into the great world was a trying event for the raw recruit. He lacked, too, that prestige of success which is worth more than numbers on the field of battle. Tom had chosen for himself, and he could not send him back. He had taken up 'he line of march, let it ead him where it might THE ADVENTURES OF BOBBY BRIGHT. 1 7 i. " March on ! in legions death and sin Impatient wait thy conquering hand ; The foe without, the foe within — Thy youthful arm must both withstand." Bobby had great hopes of him. lie felt that h.8 could not well get rid of him, and he saw that it was policy for him to make the best of it. " Well, Tom, where are you going : " asked Bobby, after he had made up his mind not to object to the companionship of the other. " I don't know. You have been a good friend to me lately, and I had an idea that you would give me a lift in this business." " I should be very willing to do so ; out what can I do for you ? " " Just show me how the business is done ; that's ail I want." " Your father and mother were willing you should come — were they not r " Bobby had some doubts about this point, and with good reason too. He had called at Tom's house, the da; before, and they had gone to church together; but neither he nor nis parents had said a word abou* his going to Boston. 172 now or neteb; oe, " Wlier did they agree to it ? " " Last night," replied Tom, after a moment's he» tation. "All right then; but I cannot promise you tha Mr. Bayard will let you have the books." " I can fix that, I reckon," replied Tom, confi- dently. " I will speak a good word for you, at any rate." " That's right, Bob." "I am going down into the State of Maine thia time, and shall be gone three or four weeks." " So much the better ; I always wanted to go down that way." Tom asked a great many questions about the busi- ness and the method of travelling, which Bobby's superior intelligence and more extensive experience enabled him to answer to the entire satisfaction of the other. When they were within half a mile of the railroad station, they heard a carriage driven at a rapid iate approaching them from the direction of Riverdale. Tom seemed to be uneasy, and cast frequent glance* oehind him. In a moment the vehicle was within a THE ADVENTURES OF BOBBY BRIGHT. 1 7o 6hort distance of them, and he stopped short in the road to scrutinize the persons in it. ** By jolly ! " exclaimed Tom ; " my father ! " " What of it r " asked Bobby, surprised by the strange behavior of his companion. Tom did not wait to reply, but springing over tne fence, fled like a deer towards some woods a short dis- tance from the road. Was it possible ? Tom had run away from home. His father had not consented to his going to Boston, and Bobby was mortified to find that his hopeful dis- ciple had been lying to him ever since they left River- dale. But he was glad the cheat had been exposed. " That was Tom with you — wasn't it r " asked Mr. Spicer, as he stopped the foaming horse. " Yes. sir ; but he told me you had consented that he should go with me," replied Bobby, a little dis- turbed by the angry glarce of Mr. Spicer's fiery eyes. " He lied ! the ; T oung villain ! He will catch it foi this." " 1 would not ha\e let him come with me only for that. I asked him twice over if you were wiJkng, uid he said you were." 15* 174 now or never; oe, " You ought to have known better than to belie\« nirn," interposed the man who was with Mr. Spicer. Bobby had some reason for believing him. Tha fact that Tom had reformed ought to have entitled him to some consideration, and our hero gave him the full benent of the declaration. To have explained this would have taken more time than he could spare ; be- sides, it was " a great moral question," whose impor- tance Mr. Spicer and his companion would not be likely to apprehend ; so he made a short story of it, and resumed his walk, thankful that he had got rid of Tom. Mr. Spicer and his friend, after fastening the horse to the fence, went to the woods in search of Tcm. Bobby reached the station just in time to take ihi csrs, sad in a moment was on his way to the eit?. XBE ADYENTUBES OF BOSBY BBIGHT. 1 7fl CHAPTER XV. IN tYHICII BOP.BY GETS INTO A SCRAPE, AND TOli SPICER TUBNS UP AGAIN. Bobby had a poorer opinion of human nature than ever before. It seemed almost incredible to him that words so fairly spoken as these of Tom Spicer could be false. He had just risen from a sick bed, where he had had an opportunity for long and serious reflec- tion. Tom had promised fairly, and Bobby had every reason to suppose he intended to be a good boy. But his promises had been lies. He had never in- tended to reform, at least not since he had got off his bed of pain. He was mortified and disheartened Rt the failure of this attempt to restore him to him- •elf. Like a great many older and wiser persons than himself, he was p~one to judge the whole human family by a single individual. He d : .1 not come t# 176 now or never; or % believe that every man was a rascal, but, in more gen eral terms, that there is a great deal more rascality in this world than one would be willing to belie\e. With this sage reflection, he dismissed Tom from his mind, which very naturally turned again to the air castle which had been so ruthlessly upset. Then 'tis opinion of " the rest of mankind " was reversed ; and he reflected that if the world were only peopled by angels like Annie Lee, what a pleasant place it would be to live in. She could not tell a lie, she could not use bad language, she could not steal, or do any thing else that was bad ; and the prospect was decidedly pleasant. It was very agreeable to turn frjra Tom to Annie, and in a moment his air eastle was built again, and throned on clouds of geld and purple. I do not know what impossible things he imagined, or how far up in the clouds he wouiu have gone, if the arrival of the train at the city had not interrupted his thoughts, and pitched him down opon the earth again Bobby was not one of that impracticable class of persons who do nothing but dream ; for he felt tl at &e had a mission to perform which dreaming could THE ADVENTURES OF BOBBY BRIGHT. 17< aot accomplish. However pleasant it may be to think of the great and brilliant things which one will do, to one of Bobby's practical character it was even more pleasant to perform them. We all dream great things, imagine great things ; but he who stops there dv>es not amount to much, and the world can weli spare him, for he is nothing but a drone in the hive. Bobby's fine imaginings were pretty sure to bring out s. " now or never," which was the pledge of action, and the work was as good as done when he ha you." lHE ADVENTURES OF BOBBY BRIGHT. 1 7SI " But you lied to me on the road this morning " Tom winced ; under ordinary circumstances he would have resented such a remark by " clearing away" for a fight. But he had a purpose to accom- plish, and he knew the character of him with whom he had to deal. " I am sorry I did, now," answered Tom, with every manifestation of penitence for his fault. " I didn't want to lie to you ; and it went against my conscience to do so. But I was afraid, if I told you my father refused, up and down, to let me go, that you wouldn't he willing I should come with you." " I shall not be any more willing now I know alJ about it," added Bobby, in an uncompromising tone. " Wait till you have heard my story, and then you won't blame me." " Of course you can go where you please ; it is none of my business ; but let me tell you, Tom, in the beginning, that I won't go with a *Mlow who has run away from his father and mother." " Pooh ! What's the use of talking in that way?" Tom was evidently disconcerted by this decided itand of his companion. He knew that his bump of 180 NOW OK NEVER; OR, firmness was well developed, and whate-er he said ae meant. "You had better return home, Tom. Boys that run away from home don't often amount :o much Take my advice, and go home," added Bobby. " To such a home as mine ! " said Tom, gloomil3 r . M If 1 had such a home as yours, I would not have left it." Bobby got a further idea from this remark of the (rue state of the case, and the consideration moved him, Tom's father was a notoriously intemperate man, and the boy had nothing to hope for from his precept or his example. He was the child of a drunkard, and as much to be pitied as blamed for his vices. His home was not pleasant. He who pre- sided over it, and who should have made a paradise of it, was its evil genius, a demon of wickedness, who blasted its flowers as fast as they bloomed Tom had seemed truly penitent both during his illness and since his recovery. His one gieat desire now Mas to get away from home, for 1 une to him was a place of torment. Bobby suspected a..! this, and in his great heart he pitied his companion. He did not know what to do. THE ADVENTURES OF BOBBY BB.I3HT. 181 " I am sorry for you, Tom," said he, after he had itmsidered the matter in this new light ; " but ] don't see what I can do for you. I doubt whether it would be right for me to help you run away from your parents." " I don't want you to help me run away. I have done that already." " But if I let you go with me, it will be just iLe same thing. Besides, since you told me those •ies this morning, I haven't much confidence in you." " I couldn't help that." " Yes, you could. Couldn't help lying ? " " What could I do ? You would have gone right back and told my father." " Well, we will go up to Mr. Bayard's store, and then we will see what can be done." " I couldn't stay at home, sure," continued Tom* as they walked along together, 's My father even talked of binding me out to a trade." " Did he ? ,f Bobby stopped short in the street ; for it was evi- dent that, as this would r?move him from his unhappy 16 182 now or xever; ok. home, and thus effect all be professed to desire, he cad some other purpose in view. " What are you stopping for, Bob ? " " I think you better go back, Tom." " Not I ; I won't do that, whatever happens." " If your fathei will put you to a trade, what more do you want ? " ' I won't go to a trade, any how." Bobby said no more, but determined to consult with Mr. Bayard about the matter ; and Tom was soon too busily engaged in observing the strange sights and sounds of the city to think of any thing else. When they reached the store, Bobby went into Mr. Bayard's private office and told him all about the affair. The bookseller decided that Tom had run away more to avoid being bound to a trade than be* cause his home was unpleasant ; and this desision Beemed to Bobby all the more just because he knew that Tom's mother, though a drunkard's wife, was a very good woman. Mr. Bayard further decided that Bobby ought not to permit the runaway to be the eumpanion of his journey. He also considered it hi] *HE ADVENTURES OF BOBBY BRIGHT. l&S duty to write to Mr. Spiccr, informing him c f hia Ben's arrival in the city, and clearing Bobby from any agency in his escape. While Mr. Bayard was writing the letter, Bobby went out to give Tom the result of the consultation. The runaway received it with a great show of emo- tion, and begged and pleaded to have the decision reversed. But Bobby, though he would gladly have done any thing for him which was consistent with his duty, was firm as a rock, and positively refused to have any thing to do with him until he obtained his father's consent ; or, if there was any such trouble as he asserted, his mother's consent. Tom left the store, apparently " more in sorrow than in anger." His bullying nature seemed to be east out, and Bobby could not but feel sorry for him. Duty was imperative, as it always is, and it must be done " now or never." During the day the little merchant attended to the packing of his stock, and to such other preparations as were required for his journey. He must take the Bteamer that evening for Bath, and when the time foi fcis departure arrived, he wai attended to the wharf i8* MOW OR NEVER; OR, by Mr. Bayard and Ellen, with whom he hid passed Ihe afternoon. The bookseller assisted him in pro- curing his ticket and berth, and gave him such in- structions as his inexperience demanded. The last bell rang, the fasts were cast off, ar_d th* greai wheels of the steamer began to turn. Our hero, who had never been on the water in a steamboat, 01 indeed any thing bigger than a punt on the river at home, was much interested and excited by his novel position. He seated himself on the promenade deck, and watched with wonder the boiling, surging waters astern of the steamer. How powerful is man, the author of that mighty machine that bore him so swiftly over the deep blue waters ! Bobby was a little philosopher, as we have before had occasion to remark, and he was decidedly of the opinion that the steamboat was a great institu- tion. When he had in some measure conquered h"iH amazement, and the first ideas of sublimity which ths steamer and the sea were calculated to excite in « poetical imagination, he walked forward tc take a closer survey of the machinery After all, there wan 8om?.hing rather comical in the affair. The steam THE AUYENTURES OF fcGbLI BSiGHI. 13» hissed and sputtered, and the great walking beam kept flying up and ck»wn ; and the sum total of Bob- by's philosophy was, that it was funny these things should make the boat go so like a race horse over tha water. Then he took a look into the pilot house, and it seemed more funny that turning that big wheel should steer the boat. But the wind blew rather fresh at the forward part of the boat, and as Bobby's philoso- phy was not proof against it, he returned to the promenade deck, which was sheltered from the sever- ity of the blast. He had got reconciled to the whole thing, and ceased to bother his head about the big wheel, the sputtering steam, and the walking beam ; bo he seated himself, and began to wonder what all the people in Riverdale were about. " All them as hasn't paid their fare, please walk up to the cap'n's office and s-e-t-t-1-e ! " shouted a col- ored boy, presenting himself just then, and furiously iiuging a large hand bell. " I h*ve just settled," said Bobby, alluding to his comfortable seat. But the illusion was so indefinite to the colored 16* 186 now on xever; oe, boy'that he thought himself insulted. He did not appear to be a very amiable boy, for his fist was doubled up, and with sundry big oaths, he threatened to annihilate the little merehant for his insolence. " I didn't say any thing that need offend you," re- plied Bobby. " I meant nothing." "You lie! You did!" He was on the point of administering a blow with his fist,, when a third party appeared on the ground, and without waiting to hear the merits of the case, struck the negro a blow which had nearly floored him. Some of the passengers now interfered, and the colored boy was prevented from executing vengeance on the assailant. " Strike that fellow and you strike me ! " sail ha who had struck the blow. " Tom Spicer ! " exclaimed Bobby, astonished and rhagiined at tho presence of the runaway. IHE ADVENTURES 0; BOBBY BBIGBT, 185 CHAPTER XVI. IK WHICH BOBBY FINDS u IT IS AS ILL WIND THAT BLOWS NO ONE ANY GOOD." A gentleman, who was sitting near Bobby when be made the remark winch the colored boy had mis- understood, interfered to free him from blame, and probably all unpleasant feelings might have been saved, if Tom's zeal had been properly directed. As it was, the waiter retired with his bell, vowing ven- geance upon his assailant. " How came you here, Tom ? " asked Bobby, when the excitement had subsided. " You don't get rid of me so easily," replied Tom, laughing. Bobby called to mind the old adage that " a bad ,)enny is su~e to return ; " and, if it had not been a rery uncivil remark, he would have said it. " I didn't expect to see you again at present," n6 observed, hardly knowing what to say or do. 188 now or never; or, " I suppose not ; but as I didn't mean you should expect me, I kept out of sight. Only for that darkey you wouldn't have found me out so soon. I like you, Bob, in spite of all you have done to get rid of me, and I wasn't a going to let the darkey thrash you." " You only made matters worse." " That is all the thanks I get for hitting him hi you." " I am sorry you hit him ; at the sam-e time I sup- pose you meant to do me a service, and I thank you, not for the blow you struck the black boy, but for your good intentions." " That sounds better. I meant well, Bob." •' I dare say you did. But how came you here? " " Why, you see, I was bound to go with you any how or at least to keep within hail of you. You told me, you know, that you were going in the steam- boat ; and after I left the shop, what should I see but a big picture of a steamboat on a wall. It paid, ' Bath, Gardiner, and Hallowell,' on the bill ; and I knew that was where you meant to go. So this afternoon I hunts round and finds the steamboat. ] thought I never should have fourd it ; but here I am." THE ADVENTURES 0¥ BOBBY BRIGHT. 1 3*f " What are you going to do r " " Going into the book business," replied Tom, vh\ I smile. " Where are j'our books? " " Down stairs, in the cellar of the steamboat, 01 whatever you call it." " Where did you get them ? " " Bought 'em, of course." " Did you ? Where ? " " Well, I don't remember the name of the street now. I could go right there if I was in the city, though." " Would they trust you ? " Tom hesitated. The lies he had told that morning bad done him no good — had rather injured his cause; &nd, though he had no principle that forbade lying, he questioned its policy in the present instance. " I paid part down, and they trusted me part." " How many books you got? " "Twenty dollars worth. I paid eight dollan down." "You did? Where did you gst the eight do?" law?" 190 now oe never; or, Bobby remembered the money Tom's father had los* several weeks before, and immediately connected that circumstance with his present ability to pay so large a sum. Tom hesitated again, but he was never at a loss for an answer. " My mother gave it to me." " Your mother ? " " Yes, sir!" replied Tom, boldly, and in that pe- culiarly bluff manner which is almost always good evidence that the boy is lying. " But you ran away from home." "That's so ; but my mother knew I was coming." " Did she ? " " To be sure she did." " You didn't say so before." " I can't tell all I know in a minute." " If I thought your mother consented to your com- ing, I wouldn't say another word." " Well, she did ; you may bet your life on that." " And your mother gave you ten dollars ? " " Who said she gave me ten dollars s " asked Tow a little sharply. TI1K ADVENTURES OF BOBBY BRIGHT. lUi Thht was just the sum his father had lost, and Bobby had unwittingly hinted his suspicion. " Ycu must have had as much as that if you pail eigb : on your books. Your fare to Boston and youi steamboat fare must be two dollars more." *' I know that ; but look here, Bob ; " and Tom took from his pocket five half dollars and exhibited th mi to his companion. " She gave me thirteen dollars." Notwithstanding this argument, Bobby felt almost sure that the lost ten dollars was a part of his capital. '* I will tell you my story now, Bob, if you like. You condemned me without a hearing, as Jim Guthrie said when they sent him to the House of Correction /or getting drunk." tk Go ahead." The substance of Tom's story was, that his fathei drank so hard, and was such a tyrant in the house, that he could endure it no longer. His fa/hei and mother did not agree, as any one might h'we sus- pected. His mother, encouraged by the svccess of Bobby, thought that Tom might do somethirg of th« kind, and she had provided him the money f> buy ha ock of books 132 NOW OK NEVER ; OR, Bobby had not much confidence in this story. Re bid been deceived once ; besides, it was not con- sistent with his previous narrative, and he had not be- fore hinted that he had obtained his mother's consent. But Tom was eloquent, and protested that he had reformed, and meant to do well. He declared, by aJ' ciiat was good and great, Bobby should never have reason to be ashamed of him. Our little merchant was troubled. He could nol now get rid ">f Tom without actually quarrelling vith him, or running away from him. He did not wish to do the former, and it was not an easy matter to do the latter. Besides, there was hope that the runaway would do well : and if he did, when he carried the profits of his trade home, his father would forgive him. One thing was certain; if he returned to Riverdale he would be what he had been before. For these reasons Bobby finally, but very reluc- tantly, consented that Tom should remain with him, resolving, however, that, if he did not behave him- self, he would leave him at once. Before morning he had another reason. "When the tteamer got out into the open bay, Bobby was sea- THE ADVENTURES OF BOBBY BRIGHT. 193 tick. He retired to his berth with a dreadful head- ache , as he described it afterwirds, it seemed just aa though that great walking beam was smashing up and cown right in the midst of his brains. He had Eever felt so ill before in his life, and was very sure, in his inexperience, that something worse than mere seasickness ailed him. He told Tom, who was not in the least affected, how he felt; whereupon the runaway blusteied round, got the steward and the captain into the cabin, and was very sure that Bobby would die be- fore morning, if we may judge by the fuss he made. The captain was angry at being called from the pilot house for nothing, and threatened to throw Tom overboard if he didn't stop his noise. The steward, however, was a kind-hearted man, and assured Bobby that passengers were often a great deal sicker than he was ; but he promised to do something for his re- lief, and Tom went with him to his state room for the desired remedy. The potion was nothing more nor less than a table spoonful of brandy, which Bobby, who had conscientious scruples about drinking ardent spirits, 17 194 NOW OR NEVER J OS, at lirst refused to take. Then Tom argued ths point, and the sick boy yielded. The dose madf Lim sicker yet, and nature came to his relief, and la 5 little while he felt better. Tom behaved like a good nurse ; he staid by his fiicnd till he went to sleep, and then " turned in " upon a settee beneath his berth. The boat pitihzd and tumbled about so in the heavy sea that Bobby did nut sleep long, and when he woke he found Tom ready to assist him. But our hero felt better, and entreated Tom to go to sleep again. lie made the best of his unpleasant situation. Sleep was not to be wooed, and he tried to pass away the dreary hours in thinking of Riverdale and the clear ones theis. His mother was asleep, and Annie was asleep ; and that was about all the excitement he could get up even on the home question. He could not build castles in the air, for seasickness and castle building do not agree. The gold and purple clouds would bs black in spite of him, and the aerial structure he e&* uayed to build would pitch and tumble about, foi all the world, just like a steamboat in a heavy sea. A.s aften as he gc t fairly into it, he was violently roiled THE ADVENTURES OP BOBBY BB.IGHT. 195 out, and in a twinkling found himself in his narrow berth, awfully seasick. He went to sleep again at last, and the long nigh passed away. When he woke in the morning, he ft It tolerably well, and was thankful that he had got out of that scrape. But before he could dress himself, he heard a terrible racket on deck. The steam whistle \*as shrieking, the bell was banging, and he heard the hoarse bellowing of the captain. It was certain that something had happened, or was about to hap- pen. Then the boat stopped, rolling heavily in the sea. Tom was not there ; he had gone on deck. Bobby was beginning to consider what a dreadful thing a wreck was, when Tom appeared. " What's the matter ? " f,sked Bobby, with some appearance of alarm. " Fog," replied Tom. " It is so thick you can cat with a hatchet." " Is that all ? " " That's 3nough.' " Wh^re are we?" ** That is just what the pilot would like to kno^f. 196 NOW OE NEVEB ; OB, They can't see ahead a bit, and don't know wheTfl «re are." Bobby wsnt on deck. The ocean rolled beneath them, but there was nothing but fog to be seen above and around them. The lead was heaved every few moments, and the steamer crept slowly along till it was found the water shoaled rapidly, when the cap- tain ordered the men to let go the anchor. There they were ; the fog was as obstinate as a mule, and would not " lift." Hour after hour they waited, for the captain was a prudent man, and woulc not risk the life of those on board to save a fe^ hours' time. After breakfast, the passengers begar to display their uneasiness, and some of them called the captain very hard names, because he would not go on. Almost every body grumbled, and made them- selves miserable. " Nothing to do and nothing to read," growled a nicely-dressed gentleman, as he yawned and stretched himself to manifest his sensation of ennui. "Nothing to lead, eh?" thought Bobby. "We will soon supply that want." Calling Tom, they went down to the main deck, vhere the baggage had been placed. THE ADVENTUBE8 OF BOBBY BRIGHT. 191 * Now's our time," said he, as he proceeded to un- lock one of the trunks that contained his books. u Now or never." 44 I am with you," replied Tom, catching the iiea» The books of the latter were in a box, and he wag obliged to get a hammer to open it ; but with Bobbj 's assistance he soon got at them. 44 Buy 4 The Wayfarer,' " said Bobby, when he re- turned to the saloon, and placed a volume in the hands of the yawning gentleman. " Best book of the season ; only one dollar." 44 That I will, and glad of the chance," replied the gentleman. 4 ' I would give five dollars for any thing,', if it were only the ' Comic Almanac' " Others were of the same mind. There was no present prospect that the fog would lift, and before dinner time our merchant had sold fifty copies of 44 The Wayfarer." Tom, whose books were of an in- ferior description, and who was inexperienced as a salesman, disposed of twenty, which was more than half of his stock. The fog was a godsend to both of them, and they reaped a rich harvest from the oc- casion, for almost all the passengers seemed willing 17* 198 now on never; or, to spend their money freely for the means of occupy- ing the heavy hours, and driving away that dreadful ennui which reigns supreme in a fog-bound steamer. About the middle of the afternoon, the fog blew over, and the boat proceeded on her voyage, and bo- fore sun&st our young merchants wero safely landed atBfctfe. THE ADVENTURES OF BOBBY BRIGHT. lib CHAPTER XVII. IK WHICH TOM HAS A GOOD TIME, AND BOBBY MEE18 WITH A TERRIBLE MISFORTUNE. Rath afforded our young merchants an excellent market for their wares, and they remained there the rest of the week. They then proceeded to Bruns- wick, where their success was equally flattering. Thus far Tom had done very well, though Bobby nad frequent occasion to remind him of the pledges he had given to conauct himself in a proper manner. He would swear now and then, from the force of habit ; but invariably, when Bobby checked him, he promised to do better. At Brunswick Tom sold the last of his bocks, and was in possession of about thirty dollars, twelve of which, he owed the publisher who had furnished his stock. This money seemed to burn in his pocket. He Lad the means of having a good time, and it v;en1 ZOO NOW OR NEVER ; . E, hard with him to plod along as Bobby did, cartful to save every penny he could. " Come, Rob, let's get a horse and chaise and have a ride— -what do you say?" proposed Tom, on the day he finished selling his books. " I can't spare the time or the money," replied Bobby, decidedly. 44 What is the use of having money if we can't spend it ? It is a first rate day, and we should have a good time." " I can't afford it. I have a great many books to sell." 44 About a hundred ; you can sell them fast enough." " I don't spend my money foolishly." " It wouldn't be foolishly. I have sold out, and 1 am bound to have a little fun now." 44 You never will succeed if you do business in mat way." 44 Why not ? " 41 You will spend your money as fast as you get it." " Fooh ! we can get a horse and chaise for the after* ttODn for two dollars. That is not much." " Considerable, I should say. Lat if you begin, TIIE ADVENTURES OF B0BBF BBIGHT. 2U« there is no knowing where to leave off. I make it a rule not to spend a single cent foolishly, and if \ don't begin, I shall never do it." " I don't mean to spend all I get ; only a little no* and then," persisted Tom. '* Don't spend the first dollar for nonsense, and then you won't spend the second. Besides, w'-ien I have any money to spare, I mean to buy books with it for my library." " Humbug ! Your library ! " " Yes, my library ; I mean to have a library one of these days." " I don't want any library, and I mean to spend some of my money in having a good time ; and if you won't go with me, I shall go alone — that's all." " You can do as you please, of course ; but I ad- vise you to keep your money. You will want it to buy another stock of books." " I shall have enough for that. What do you say? will you go vith me or not? " " No, I will not." " Enough said ; ther. I shall go alone, or get some fellow to go with me.' 102 NOW OE NEVEE ; OB, " Consider well before you ' go," pleaded Bobbv who had sense enough to see that Tom's proposed "good time" would put back, if not eutireiy prevent^ (he reform he was working out. lie then proceeded to reason with him in a ^ ery earnest and feeling manner, telling him he would not only spend all his money, but completely unfit himself for business. "What he proposed to do was nothing more nor less than extravagance, and it would lead him to dissipation and ruin. " To-day I am going to send one hundred dollars to Mr. Bayard," continued Bobby ; " for I am afraid to have so much money with me. I advise you to send your money to your employer." " Humph ! Catch me doing that ! I am bound to have a good time, any how." " At least, send the money you owe him." " I'll bet I won't." " Well, do as you please ; I have said all I have to say." " You are a fool, Bob ! " exclaimed Tom, who had evidently used Bobby as much as he wished, and no longer cared to speak soft words to him. THE ADVENTURES OF BOBBY B1IGHT. 205 " Perhaps I am ; but I know better than to spend my money upon fast horses. If you will go, I can't help it. I am sorry you are going astray." " What do you mean by that, you young monkey ? M gaid Tom, angrily. This was Tom Spicer, the bully. It sounded like him ; and with a feeling of sorrow Bobby resigned the hopes he had cherished of making a good boy of him. " We had better part now," added our hero, sadly. " I'm willing." " I shall leave Brunswick this afternoon for the towns up the river. I hope no harm will befall you Good by, Tom." " Go it ! I have heard your preaching about long enough, and I am more glad to get rid of you than you are to get rid of me." Bobby walked away towards the house where he had left the trunk containing his books, while Tom made his way towards a livery stable. The boys had been in the place for several days, and had made some acquaintances ; so Tom had no difficulty in procuring ft companion for his proposed ride. 204 now or never; or, Our hero wrote a letter that afternoon to Mr. Bay- ard, in which he narrated all the particulars of hia journey, his relations with Tom Spicer, and the s ic- cess that had attended his labors. At the ban* oe procured a hundred dollar note for his small bills, and enclosed it in the letter. He felt sad about Tom. The runaway had done so well, had been so industrious, and shown such a tractable spirit, that he had been very much encour- aged about him. But if he meant to be wild again, — for it was plain that the ride was only " the beginning of sorrows," — it was well that they should part. By the afternoon stage our hero proceeded to Gar- diner, passing through several smaller towns, which did not promise a very abundant harvest. His usual success attended him; for wherever he went, people seemed to be pleased with him, as Squire Lee had de- clared they would be. His pleasant, honest face was a capital recommendation, and his eloquence seldom failed to achieve the result which eloquence has ever achitved from Demosthenes down to the present day. Our limits do not permit us to follow hir\ in tH Vis peregrinations from town to town, and from h.» is* tc THE ADVENTURES OF BOBBY BICIGHT. 203 house ; so we pass over the next fortnight, at the or.d of which time we find him at Augusta. He had sold all his books but twenty, and had that day remitted eighty dollars more to Mr. Bayard. It was Wednes- day, and he hoped to sell out so as to he able to take the next steamer for Boston, which Wc.s advertised to sail on the following day. He had heard nothing from Tom since their part- ing, and had given up all expectation of meeting him again ; but that bad penny maxim proved true once more, for, as he was walking through one of the streets of Augusta, he had the misfortune to meet him — and this time it was indeed a misfortune. " Hallo, Bobby ! " shouted the runaway, as famil- iarly as though nothing had happened to disturb the harmony of their relations. " Ah, Tom, I didn't expect to see you again," re- plied Bobby, not very much rejoiced to meet his late companion. " I suppose not ; but here I am, as good as new Have you sold out ? *' " No, not quite." " How many have yen left ? " 18 Z()6 NOW OE NEVEE ; OB, " About twenty; but I tbougbt, Tom, you would have returned to Boston before this time." " No ; " and Tom did not seem to be in very good spirits. " Where are you going now ? " " I don't know. I ought to have taken your ad- lics, Bobby." This was a concession, and our hero began to feel F)me sympathy for his companion — as who does not vhen the erring confess their faults ? " I am sorry you did not." " I got in with some pretty hard fellows down there to Brunswick," continued Tom, rather sheep- ishly. "And spent all your money," added Bobby, who could readily understand the reason why Tom had put on his humility again. " Not all." u How much have you left ? " « ! Not much," replied he, evasively. "I don't know what I shall do. I am in a strange place, and have no friends." Boboy's sympathies were aroused, and witLou THE ADVENTURES OF BOBBY BRIGHT. 201 > reflection, he promised to be a friend in his e»> tremity. " I will stick by you this time, Bob, come whai will. I will do just as you say, now." Our merchant was a little flattered by this unr©= served display of confidence. He did not give weight enough to the fact that it was adversity alone which made Tom so humble. He was in trouble, and gave him all the guarantee he could ask for his future good behavior. He could not desert him now he was in difficulty. " You shall help me sell my books, and then wa will return to Boston together. Have you money enough left to pay your employer ? " Tom hesitated ; something evidently hung heavily upon his mind. " I don't know how it mil be after I have paid m^ expenses to Boston," he replied, averting his face. Bobby was perplexed by this e\asive answer; bu^ as Tom seemed so reluctant to go into details, h« reserved his inquiries for a more convenient season. " Now, Tom, you take the houses on that side of the street, ar.d I will take those upon this side. Yos shall ha\e the profits on all you sell " 208 now or never; or, "You are a first rate fellow, Bob; and I onlj whh I had done as you wanted me to do." " Can't be helped now, and we will do the next best thing," replied Bobby, as he left his companion to enter a house. Tom did very well, and by the middle of the after- noon they had sold all the books but four. " Th* Wayfarer " had been liberally advertised in that vi- cinity, and the "^rk was in great demand. Bobby's heart grew lighter as the volumes disappeared from his valise, and already he had begun to picture the scene which would ensue upon his return to the little black house. How glad his mother would be to see him, and, he dared believe, how happy Annie would be as she listened to the account of his journey in the State of Maine ! Wouldn't she be astonished when he told her about the steamboat, about the fog, and about the wild region at the mouth of the 3eautiful Kennebec ! Poor Bobby ! the brightest dream often ends in sadness ; and a greater trial than any he had been caJled upon to endure was yet in store for nim As he walked a'.cng, thinking of Riverdale and id THE ADVENTURES OP BOBBY BRIGHT. 209 Lo~wd ones, Tom came out of a grocery store where h« had just sold a book. " Here, Bob, is a ten dollar bill. I believe I have told ter books for you," said Tom, after they had walked -some distance. "You had better keep the kioney ,.ow; and while I think of it, you had bettei