e poor Steadmans had inherited,
the mere delusion had given a certain dignity, and an almost grace of
bearing to them, not to be hidden by their laborers' habits and speech.
Abel talked of different parts of the States with a hungry curiosity; he
never had been out of ---- County, I found.

"Nothing enlarges a man's mind like knocking about a bit," I said. "You
could easily make a trip down to the Gulf. Most of these lads hereabouts
that I meet have been down to New Orleans as raftsmen."

"Oh, _they_! Raftsmen? To be sure, to be sure. What would one see of
society in that way? Who would recognize you as other than a common
river-dog? Some day I mean to travel as a gentleman should."

Then stopped abruptly, and turned the conversation to the capital,
questioning me with regard to the District of Columbia, growing rapid
and eager as he found that I was familiar with the localities, and
showing a singular accuracy of information himself about them. About one
range of country, especially, he was curious,--the plantations in the
neighborhood of Washington, particularly certain belonging to a family
named Shepler, which were the finest, by the way, in the District.
Finding that I knew them, he made me describe the homestead,
negro-quarters, woods, and water-courses. I was puzzled at his
curiosity; but the lad was full of vagaries, I saw, and indulged him.

"The heirs are minors," I said, in conclusion. "I happen to know the
property; for my brother had a claim to prosecute against it, and sent
me to see the face of the country."

He grew suddenly reserved at that, drawing within his shell, and dropped
the subject instantly. Soon after, he took up an old violin.

"Shall I play for you?" he asked.

My ears shivered in anticipation, but I assented. He held the bow
firmly, playing a simple air or two with much genuine pathos, but in
ignorance of the art, of course. I said as much, adding,--

"Training, Steadman! training! You must have it to achieve anything
permanently good."

"Of course; I never doubted that. But I know what is in me. Some day the
world will understand."

The vanity was so unconscious and childish that it ceased to be
offensive.

I began to feel an interest in these boys, but most in the poor
overworked mother. I had picked up, in my scrambling life, enough
knowledge of medicine to judge of her case. The next morning, after
consulting Matthew, I made a thorough examination into the cause of her
di