ch it on his head. Sometimes he would
walk on his hands, with his legs wriggling in the air, or turn a double
somersault, or jump incredible distances across the extended arms of
the Simpson twins; and his bosom swelled with pride when the girls
exclaimed, "Isn't he splendid!" although he often heard his rival murmur
scornfully, "SMARTY ALECK!"--a scathing allusion of unknown origin.

Squire Bean, although he did not send the boy to school (thinking, as
he was of no possible importance in the universe, it was not worth
while bothering about his education), finally became impressed with his
ability, lent him books, and gave him more time to study. These were all
he needed, books and time, and when there was an especially hard knot to
untie, Rebecca, as the star scholar of the neighborhood, helped him to
untie it.

When he was sixteen he longed to go away from Riverboro and be something
better than a chore boy. Squire Bean had been giving him small wages
for three or four years, and when the time of parting came presented him
with a ten-dollar bill and a silver watch.

Many a time had he discussed his future with Rebecca and asked her
opinion.

This was not strange, for there was nothing in human form that she could
not and did not converse with, easily and delightedly. She had ideas
on every conceivable subject, and would have cheerfully advised the
minister if he had asked her. The fishman consulted her when he couldn't
endure his mother-in-law another minute in the house; Uncle Jerry
Cobb didn't part with his river field until he had talked it over with
Rebecca; and as for Aunt Jane, she couldn't decide whether to wear her
black merino or her gray thibet unless Rebecca cast the final vote.

Abijah wanted to go far away from Riverboro, as far as Limerick Academy,
which was at least fifteen miles; but although this seemed extreme,
Rebecca agreed, saying pensively: "There IS a kind of magicness about
going far away and then coming back all changed."

This was precisely Abijah's unspoken thought. Limerick knew nothing of
Abbie Flagg's worthlessness, birth, and training, and the awful stigma
of his poorhouse birth, so that he would start fair. He could have gone
to Wareham and thus remained within daily sight of the beloved Emma
Jane; but no, he was not going to permit her to watch him in the process
of "becoming," but after he had "become" something. He did not propose
to take any risks after all these years of silen