my home.

CHAPTER V.

When I thus returned unexpectedly to my home my mother was at once
aware, from my downcast appearance, that something was wrong, and when
she questioned me I related the difficulty with Mr. Judson exactly as it
took place. My mother listened attentively till I had finished, and then
only said, "you are too much excited to talk of the matter at present;
after a night's rest you will be better able to talk with more calmness,
so we will defer any further conversation upon the subject until
to-morrow morning."

It was a mild evening in June, and slipping out of the house, I went to
my favorite tree in the yard, and, as I lay at full length beneath its
wide-spreading boughs, which were bright with the rays of the full round
moon, my mind was busy with many anxious thoughts. My anger had by this
time cooled down, and when left thus alone I began to question if I had
acted right in returning to my home; hard as Mr. Judson was to please,
he always paid me my wages punctually, and I feared I had done wrong in
thus depriving my kind mother of the assistance which my earnings (small
as they were) afforded her. But when I called to mind the Farmer's harsh
and unkind treatment, I felt that to remain longer with him was out of
the question; for during the whole year I remained with him, I could not
remember one word of encouragement or kindness, and, to a boy of
thirteen, a kind and encouraging word is worth much. Surely thought I,
every one is not like Farmer Judson, and can I not find some place
where, if I do my best to please, I shall not be continually scolded and
blamed; and, after retiring to rest, I lay awake, revolving all these
thing's in my boyish mind till I mentally decided that, come what would,
I _could not_ return to the Farmer. It was far into the hours of night
before I slept, and then my sleep was harassed by frightful dreams, in
all of which Farmer Judson acted a prominent part. From my earliest
recollection, the counsels and pious example of my mother had exercised
a powerful influence upon my mind and character. She was naturally
cheerful and hopeful, and her heart had long been under the influence of
a deep and devoted piety, which exhibited itself in her every-day life.
She never allowed herself to be too much cast down by the petty
annoyances of life. I am an old man now, and the silver threads are
beginning to mingle in my hair, but I can yet see my mother as I saw her
the