ut when
Bobby reckoned it up, and found it was less than one cent, even the
wretched miser seemed ashamed of himself, and changed the subject of
conversation.

He did not dare to say anything saucy to the widow this time. He had
lost his power over her, and there stood Bobby, who had come to look
just like a young lion to him, coward and knave as he was.

The business was all settled now, and Bobby spent the rest of the week
in getting ready for his great enterprise. He visited all his friends,
and went each day to talk with Squire Lee and Annie. The little maiden
promised to buy a great many books of him, if he would bring his stock
to Riverdale, for she was quite as much interested in him as her
father was.

Monday morning came, and Bobby was out of bed with the first streak of
dawn. The excitement of the great event which was about to happen had
not permitted him to sleep for the two hours preceding; yet when he
got up, he could not help feeling sad. He was going to leave the
little black house, going to leave his mother, going to leave the
children, to depart for the great city.

His mother was up before him. She was even more sad than he was, for
she could see plainer than he the perils that environed him, and her
maternal heart, in spite of the reasonable confidence she had in his
integrity and good principles, trembled for his safety.

As he ate his breakfast, his mother repeated the warnings and the good
lessons she had before imparted. She particularly cautioned him to
keep out of bad company. If he found that his companions would lie and
swear, he might depend upon it they would steal, and he had better
forsake them at once. This was excellent advice, and Bobby had
occasion at a later period to call it to his sorrowing heart.

"Here is three dollars, Bobby; it is all the money I have. Your fare
to Boston will be one dollar, and you will have two left to pay the
expenses of your first trip. It is all I have now," said Mrs. Bright.

"I will not take the whole of it. You will want it yourself. One
dollar is enough. When I find Mr. Bayard, I shall do very well."

"Yes, Bobby, take the whole of it."

"I will take just one dollar, and no more," replied Bobby, resolutely,
as he handed her the other two dollars.

"Do take it, Bobby."

"No, mother; it will only make me lazy and indifferent."

Taking a clean shirt, a pair of socks, and a handkerchief in his
bundle, he was ready for a start.

"Good by, m