e and calls me plain 'Gray,' like Judge Merlin does."

"Uncle Reuben," said Ishmael, with feeling, "I am very anxious to
advance myself in the world, very ambitious of distinction; but if I
thought worldly success would or could estrange me from the friends of
my boyhood, I would cease to wish for it. If I must cease to be true, in
order to be great, I prefer to remain in obscurity. Give me your hand,
Uncle Reuben, and call me Ishmael, and know me for your boy."

"There, then, Ishmael! I'm glad to find you again! God bless my boy! But
law! what's the use o' my axing of him to do that? He'll do it anyways,
without my axing!" said Reuben, pressing the hand of Ishmael. "And now,"
he added, "will you be round to the Farmer's this evening to see Hannah
and the young uns?"

"Yes, Uncle Reuben; but first I must go and let Mrs. Walsh know that you
have brought her little girls back. I suppose she will think it best to
leave them with her aunt until the day of trial."

"It will be the safest place for 'em! for besides the old lady being
spunky, I shall be there to protect 'em; for I mean to stay till that
same said trial and hear you make your fust speech afore the judge, and
see that woman righted afore ever I goes back home again, ef it costs me
fifty dollars."

"I'm afraid you will find it very expensive, Uncle Reuben."

"No, I won't, sir--Ishmael, I mean; because, you see, I fotch up a lot
o' spring chickens and eggs and early vegetables, and the profits I
shall get offen them will pay my expenses here at the very least," said
Reuben, as he arose and stood waiting with hat in hand for Ishmael's
motions.

Ishmael got up and took his own hat and gloves.

"Be you going round to see the schoolmist'ess now, sir--Ishmael, I
mean?"

"Yes, Uncle Reuben."

"Well, I think I'd like to walk round with you, if you don't mind. I
kind o' want to see the little woman, and I kind o' don't want to part
with you just yet, sir--Ishmael, I mean."

"Come along, then, Uncle Reuben; she will be delighted to see her
children's kind protector, and I shall enjoy your company on the way."

"And then, sir--Ishmael, I mean--when we have seen her, you will go back
with me to the Farmer's and see Hannah and the little uns and spend the
evening long of us?"

"Yes, Uncle Reuben; and I fancy Mrs. Walsh will go with us."

"Sartain, sure, so she will, sir--Ishmael, I mean."

It was too late to find her at the schoolhouse, as it would be sure t