lory. I had made one
or two rather fast and, I fear me, not over-reputable acquaintances of my
own age, with whom I enjoyed the festival to the utmost. Then I returned
to school, and autumn came, and then winter. At this time I felt
fearfully lonely. I yearned for my mother with a longing beyond words,
and was altogether home-sick.

I was seated one Saturday afternoon, busily working in the drawing-class
under a little old Englishman named Dr. Hunt, when there came the
startling news that a gentleman had come to take me home! I could hardly
believe my senses. I went down, and was presented to a man of about
thirty, of extremely pleasant and attractive appearance, who told me that
his name was Carlisle, that he was a friend of my father's, and that I
was at once to return with him to Philadelphia. I wonder that I did not
faint with joy. Mr. Carlisle was a man of very remarkable intelligence,
kindness, and refinement. Nearly sixty years have passed since then, and
yet the memory of the delightful impression which he made on me is as
fresh as ever. My trunk was soon packed; we were whirled away to Boston,
and went to a hotel, he treating me altogether like a young gentleman and
an equal.

It had been the dream and hope and wild desire of my life to go to the
Lion Theatre in Boston, where circus was combined with roaring maritime
melodramas, of which I had heard heavenly accounts from a few of my
schoolmates. And Mr. Carlisle took me there that evening, and I saw
"Hyder Ali." Never, never in my life before did I dream that dramatic
art, poetry, and _mimesis_ could attain to such ideal splendour. And
then a sailor came on the stage and sang "Harry Bluff," and when he came
to the last line--

"And he died like a true Yankee sailor at last,"

amid thundering hurrahs, it seemed to me that romance could go no
farther. I do not think that Mr. Carlisle had any knowledge of boys,
certainly not of such a boy as I was, but I am sure that he must have
been amply repaid for his kindness to me in my delight. And there were
acrobatic performances, such as I had never seen in my life, and we
returned to the hotel and a grand supper, and I was in heaven.

The next morning Mr. Carlisle put into my hand, with great delicacy, such
a sum as I had never before possessed, telling me that I "would need it
for travelling expenses." All the while he drew me out on literature. On
the Long Island Sound steamer he bade me noti