; but the struggle of duty with parsimony rendered his
gifts all the more worthy.

Joe Flint had several times violated his solemn resolution to drink no
more ardent spirits; but Harry, who was his friend and confidant,
encouraged him, when he failed, to try again; and it was now nearly a
year since he had been on a "spree."

Our hero occasionally heard from Rockville; and a few months before
the event we are about to narrate he had spent the pleasantest week of
his life with Julia Bryant, amid those scenes which were so full of
interest to both of them. As he walked through the woods where he had
first met the "little angel"--she had now grown to be a tall girl--he
could not but recall the events of that meeting. It was there that he
first began to live, in the true sense of the word. It was there that
he had been born into a new sphere of moral existence.

Julia was still his friend, still his guiding star. Though the freedom
of childish intimacy had been diminished, the same heart resided in
each, and each felt the same interest in the other. The correspondence
between them had been almost wholly suspended, perhaps by the
interference of the "powers" at Rockville, and perhaps by the growing
sense of the "fitness of things" in the parties. But they occasionally
met, which amply compensated for the deprivations which propriety
demanded.

But I must pass on to the closing event of my story--it was Harry's
severest trial, yet it resulted in his most signal triumph.

Edward Flint was always short of money. He lived extravagantly, and
his increased salary was insufficient to meet his wants. When Harry
saw him drive a fast horse through the streets on Sundays, and heard
him say how often he went to the theatre, what balls and parties he
attended--when he observed how elegantly he dressed, and that he wore
a gold chain, a costly breastpin and several rings--he did not wonder
that he was "short." He lived like a prince, and it seemed as though
eight dollars a week would be but a drop in the bucket in meeting his
expenses.

One day, in his extremity, he applied to Harry for the loan of five
dollars. Our hero did not like to encourage his extravagance, but he
was good-natured, and could not well avoid doing the favor, especially
as Edward wanted the money to pay his board. However, he made it the
occasion for a friendly remonstrance, and gave the spendthrift youth
some excellent advice. Edward was vexed at the lecture; b