tly new life seemed to infuse itself
through my frame; my circulation revived, my nerves were strung again,
and my drooping heart resumed its usual healthy throb. Little did my
master think of the difference this winding up made to my health and
comfort.

"Now you're happy!" said the chain, as we found ourselves once more in
the drawer.

"Yes; I'm all right now, I'm glad to say," said I. "What's going to
happen to us to-morrow?" I asked presently.

"We're going to be given to the boy, and he's going to school;" so the
silver chain told me. "Nice time we shall have of it, I expect."

After that he went to sleep, and I fell to counting the seconds, and
wondering what sort of life I was destined to lead.

About an hour after I heard two voices talking in the room.

"Well," said one, and I recognised it at once as my master's, "the
packing's all finished at last."

"Ah, Charles," said the other, and it seemed to be a woman's voice
speaking amid tears, "I never thought it would be so hard to part with
him."

"Tut, tut!" said the first, "you mustn't give way, Mary. You women are
so ready to break down. He'll soon be back;" but before my master had
got to the end of his sentence he too had broken down.

For a long time they talked about their boy, their fine boy who had
never before left his parents' roof, and was about now to step out into
the treacherous world. How they trembled for him, yet how proudly and
confidently they spoke of his prospects; how lovingly they recalled all
their life together, from the days when he could first toddle about,
down to the present.

Many tears were mingled with their talk, and many a smothered sob
bespoke a desperate effort to subdue their common sorrow. At last they
became quieter, then I heard my master say,--

"I positively have never shown you the watch I got for him," and with
that he opened the drawer and produced me.

"Oh, Charles," cried the mother, "how delighted he will be, and what a
capital watch it is!"

And she looked at me affectionately for a long time, for her son's sake,
smiling through her tears, and then put me back.

Need I say that as these two knelt together that night, their only son
was not forgotten in their prayers?

So ended the first day of my adventures.

CHAPTER TWO.

HOW I WAS PRESENTED TO A BOY, AND OF A CERTAIN JOURNEY WE TOOK TOGETHER.

Very early next morning, when my hands scarcely pointed to five o'clock,
the little h