, Harry, take these; when you get over to Wire's, money will keep
you from starving. It will almost anywhere, for that matter."

"How good you are!" exclaimed Harry, as he took the four quarters.
"You have been a father to me, and one of these days I shall be able
to pay you this money back again."

"Don't trouble yourself about that. Keep it; and I wish I had a
hundred times as much to give you."

"I shall never forget you, Mr. Nason. I shall be a man one of these
days, and we shall meet again."

The supper bell rang, and they separated. Harry felt the spirit of a
man stirring within him. He felt that the world had cast him off, and
refused him a home, even in the poorhouse. He was determined to push
his way through life like a hero, and he nerved himself to meet
whatever hardships and trials might be apportioned to him.

After supper he went to his room, gathered up the few articles of
clothing which constituted his wardrobe, and tying them up in a
bundle, concealed them in a hollow stump back of the barn.

At eight o'clock he went to bed as usual. He felt no desire to sleep,
and would not have dared to do so if he had. He heard the old kitchen
clock strike ten. The house was still, for all had long ago retired to
their rest, and he could hear the sonorous snores of the paupers in
the adjoining rooms. His heart beat quick with anxiety. It was a
novel position in which he found himself. He had been accustomed to do
everything fairly and "above board," and the thought of rising from
his bed and sneaking out of the house like a thief was repulsive to
him. But it was a good cause, in his estimation, and he did not waste
much sentiment upon the matter. A conspiracy had been formed to cheat
him of his hopes and of his future happiness, and it seemed right to
him that he should flee from those with whom he could not successfully
contend.

Carefully and stealthily he crept out of bed, and put on his best
clothes, which were nothing to boast of at that, for there was many a
darn and many a patch upon the jacket and trousers. Stockings and
shoes were luxuries in which Harry was not indulged in the warm
season; but he had a pair of each, which he took under his arm.

Like a mouse he crept down stairs, and reached the back door of the
house without having disturbed any of its inmates. There were no locks
on the poorhouse doors, for burglars and thieves never invaded the
home of the stricken, forsaken paupers.

The door