liation of a severe
punishment, and the jeers of his companions, who would never let him
hear the last of his abortive attempt.

At last a way occurred to him. He would write a letter, and place it in
the hands of some one going to Philadelphia, to be posted in the latter
city. This would give no clue to his present home, and would answer the
purpose of relieving his mother's anxiety.

Late in the afternoon, Ben went into a stationery store on Nassau
Street.

"Will you give me a sheet of paper, and an envelope?" he asked,
depositing two cents on the counter.

The articles called for were handed him.

"Can I write a letter here?" inquired Ben.

"You can go round to that desk," said the clerk; "you will find pen and
ink there."

Ben, with some difficulty, composed and wrote the following letter, for
it was the first he had ever had occasion to write:--

"DEAR MOTHER,--I hope you will not feel very bad because I have left
home. Father punished me for what I did not do, and after that I was
not willing to stay; but I wish I could see you. Don't feel anxious
about me, for I am getting along very well, and earning my own living.
I cannot tell you where I am, for father might find out, and I do not
want to come back, especially after that advertisement. I don't think
my going will make much difference to father, as he has only offered
one dollar reward for me. You need not show this letter to him. I
send you my love, and I also send my love to Mary, though she used to
tease me sometimes. And now I must bid you good-by.

"From your affectionate son,

"BEN."

After completing this letter Ben put it in the envelope, and directed it
to

"MRS. RUTH BRANDON,

"_Cedarville,_

"_Pennsylvania._"

It may be explained that the Mary referred to was an elder sister, ten
years older than Ben, against whom he felt somewhat aggrieved, on
account of his sister's having interfered with him more than he thought
she had any right to do. She and Ben were the only children.

If I were to express my opinion of this letter of Ben's, I should say
that it was wanting in proper feeling for the mother who had always been
kind and gentle to him, and whose heart, he must have known, wo