-stone--The
intruder removed.

CHAPTER XX.

DOWNWARD PROGRESS.

Oscar's dread of going to school--Unsuccessful pleas--Oscar at
school--His indifference to his studies--A "talent for missing"--A
reproof--Kicking a cap--Whistler's generosity--Benny Wright--Oscar's
bad conduct--Regarded as incorrigible--The tobacco spittle--Oscar's
denial--Betrayed by his breath--A successful search--The teacher's
rebuke--The new copy--Its effect--A note for Oscar's father--What it led
to--Concealment of real feelings--Bridget's complaint--The puddle on the
kitchen floor--Oscar's story--Conflicting reports--A new flare-up--The
truth of the matter--Bridget's departure--Examination day--The
medals--The certificate for the High School--A refusal--Bitter fruits of
misconduct.

CHAPTER XXI.

NED MIXER.

Vacation--Associates--Edward Mixer--His character--Loitering around
railroad depots--An excursion into the country--The railroad
bridge--Fruit--A fine garden--Getting over the fence--Looking for birds'
nests--Disappearance of Edward and Alfred--A chase--Escape of the
boys--Hailing each other--Edward's account of the adventure--A grand
speculation--Pluck--Secrecy--Curiosity not gratified--Arrival of Oscar's
uncle--The officer's interview with Mr. Preston--The real character and
history of Ned--Timely warning--Oscar's astonishment--What he knew
concerning Ned--A hint about forming new acquaintances--Oscar's
removal from city temptations decided on--A caution and
precaution--Departure--Ned's arrest and sentence--The "grand speculation"
never divulged.

Illustrations.

WINTER SCENE ON BOSTON COMMON . . . . . . FRONTISPIECE

VIGNETTE . . . . . . . . . TITLE-PAGE

PLAYING SCHOOLMASTER.

THE ASSAULT.

BRIGHT AND HER FAMILY.

THANKSGIVING MARKET SCENE.

TIGER'S COUNTENANCE.

THE OVERTURN.

AFLOAT ON THE ICE.

A QUEER NAME.

THE DOUBLE FACE.

THE CAT-ERECT.

MAP OF BROOKDALE.

THE DINNER IN THE WOODS.

MARY AND THE PICTURE-BOOK.

THE STAGE-COACH.

HUNTING FOR BIRDS' NESTS.

OSCAR.

CHAPTER I.

A KITCHEN SCENE.

Bridget, the Irish servant girl, had finished the house-work for the
day, and sat down to do a little mending with her needle. The fire in
the range, which for hours had sent forth such scorching blasts, was
now burning dim; for it was early in October, and the weather was mild
and pleasant. The floor was swept, and the various articles belonging
in the room were arranged in thei