ld have parted with it fur any
money, and it will take at least ten dollars to replace it, which is
hard, bein' a poor widder, and as strong a linen tick as ever you see,
that I made myself, and that my blessed husband died on, and helped me
pick the geese with his own hands; and I never thought, when I took you
to board, that ever _that_ bed would be sacrificed by it,--for 'twas on
your account, you are ware, it was took last night and done for."

"And you think I ought to pay for the bed!" said Penn, as much
astonished as if Silas Ropes had sent in his bill, "To 1 coat tar and
feathers, $10.00."

"They said I must look to you," whined the visitor; "and if you don't
pay fur't, I don't know who will, I'm shore! for none of them have sot
at my board, and drinked of my coffee, and e't of my good corn dodgers,
and slep' in my best bed, all for four dollars fifty a week, washing and
ironing throwed in, and a poor widder at that!"

"Mrs. Sprowl," said Penn, laughing, ill as he was, "have the kindness
not to tell any one that I am here, and as soon as I am able to do so, I
will pay you for your excellent feather-bed."

"Thank you,--very good in you, I'm shore!" said the worthy creature,
brightening. "And if there's anything else among your things you can
spare."

"I'll see! I'll see!" said Penn, wearily. "Leave me now, do!"

"But if you had a few dollars, this morning, towards the bed," she
insisted, "for my son----" She almost betrayed herself; being about to
say that Lysander had arrived, and must have money; but she coughed, and
added, in a changed voice, "is a wanderer on the face of the 'arth."

Penn, however, reflecting that she would have more encouragement to keep
his secret if he held the reward in reserve, replied, that he could not
possibly spare any money before collecting what was due him from the
trustees of the Academy. Her countenance fell on hearing this; and,
reluctantly abandoning the object of her mission, she took her leave,
and went home to her hopeful son.

X.

_THE WIDOW'S GREEN CHEST._

Mr. Villars had spoken truly when he said Penn's persecutors would not
rest here. In fact, Mr. Ropes, and three of his accomplices, were even
now on the way to Mrs. Sprowl's abode, to make inquiries concerning the
schoolmaster.

That lone creature had scarcely reached her own door when she saw them
coming. Now, though Penn was not in the house, her son was. Great,
therefore, was her trepidation at