paid off the money borrowed from Professor Henderson,
and owned the paper without incumbrance.

"A pretty good year's work, Harry," said Ferguson, cheerfully.

"Yes," said Harry; "but we'll do still better next year."

CHAPTER XXXVI.

CONCLUSION.

I have thus traced in detail the steps by which Harry Walton ascended
from the condition of a poor farmer's son to the influential position
of editor of a weekly newspaper. I call to mind now, however, that
he is no longer a boy, and his future career will be of less interest
to my young readers. Yet I hope they may be interested to hear,
though not in detail, by what successive steps he rose still higher
in position and influence.

Harry was approaching his twenty-first birthday when he was waited
upon by a deputation of citizens from a neighboring town, inviting
him to deliver a Fourth of July oration. He was at first disposed,
out of modesty, to decline; but, on consultation with Ferguson,
decided to accept and do his best. He was ambitious to produce a
good impression, and his experience in the Debating Society gave him
a moderate degree of confidence and self-reliance. When the time
came he fully satisfied public expectation. I do not say that his
oration was a model of eloquence, for that could not have been
expected of one whose advantages had been limited, and one for whom I
have never claimed extraordinary genius. But it certainly was well
written and well delivered, and very creditable to the young orator.
The favor with which it was received may have had something to do in
influencing the people of Centreville to nominate and elect him, to
the New Hampshire Legislature a few months later.

He entered that body, the youngest member in it. But his long
connection with a Debating Society, and the experience he had gained
in parliamentary proceedings, enabled him at once to become a useful
working Member. He was successively re-elected for several years,
during which he showed such practical ability that he obtained a
State reputation. At twenty-eight he received a nomination for
Congress, and was elected by a close vote. During all this time he
remained in charge of the Centreville "Gazette," but of course had
long relinquished the task of a compositor into his brother's hands.
He had no foolish ideas about this work being beneath him; but he
felt that he could employ his time more profitably in other ways.
Under his judicious management, the