sleep and dream of joys that were in store for him.

CHAPTER XXXVI.

AN INTERESTING CEREMONY.

The little sleepy town of Nyack had hardly waked up on the following
morning, when the news of Tite's arrival was rung in it's ears.
Marvelous stories, too, were told concerning the amount of money he had
brought home, and the different countries he had visited. The inn-keeper
declared at the breakfast table, intending that Mrs. Chapman should hear
it, that he could say of his own knowledge, that the young gentleman had
brought gold enough home to build a castle, have a coach of his own, and
live like a gentleman in the city all the rest of his life.

"Has he really brought home so much money?" enquired Mrs. Chapman,
raising her eyes and looking at Bright with an air of astonishment. "The
young gentleman never mentioned it last night. Well, after all, there's
nothing like young gentlemen of his class seeking their fortunes away
from home. To say the least, it will give the young gentleman a fixed
position in society."

"Yes, my dear," rejoined Chapman, "I always had a good opinion of the
young gentleman. I always knew he would distinguish himself if he had a
chance--"

"Good opinions are always plenty enough," interrupted the schoolmaster,
who was a boarder at Bright's that week, "when a man has money and don't
need good opinions."

Chapman made no reply. Indeed he was not prepared for such a thrust from
so poor a fellow as the schoolmaster. He understood, however, what was
meant by it, for he had gone into court only a few weeks before and
given such testimony as showed himself a knave and a hypocrite, though
it saved Hanz Toodleburg from ruin.

Mattie noticed the impression made on her mother by what Bright had
said, but preserved a dignified silence. She felt that she had gained
the price due to her constancy, had risen above the vanities and
temptations designed to distract and mislead her, and by following the
dictates of her own clear judgment would soon secure both happiness and
fortune.

Breakfast was scarcely over at Hanz Toodleburg's before the neighbors,
one after another, began to drop in to shake Tite by the hand, and
welcome him home, and say "God bless you." Many of them brought little
presents, to show how true and heart-felt was the friendship they bore
him. And when he went down into the village he found himself surrounded
by friends, all anxious to shake his hand, and to welcome him back,