Risen from the Ranks | Page 6

shan't trouble myself much about him. I didn't like his looks when I
first set eyes on him. I suppose old Mother Anderson will like him. She
couldn't abide my smoking, and he won't trouble her that way."
"So; he's too mean to buy the cigars."
"He said he couldn't afford it."
"That's what it comes to. By the way, Clapp, when shall we take
another ride?"
"I can get away nest Monday afternoon, at three."
"All right. I'll manage to get off at the same time. We'll go to Whiston
and take supper at the hotel. It does a fellow good to get off now and
then. It won't cost more than five dollars apiece altogether."
"We'll get the carriage charged. The fact is, I'm little low on funds."
"So am I, but it won't matter. Griffin will wait for his pay."
While Harry's character waa being so unfavorably discussed, he was
taking a walk by himself, observing with interest the main features of
his new home. He had been here before with Professor Henderson, but
had been too much occupied at that time to get a very clear idea of
Centreville, nor had it then the interest for him which it had acquired
since. He went upon a hill overlooking the village, and obtained an
excellent view from its summit. It was a pleasant, well-built village of
perhaps three thousand inhabitants, with outlying farms and
farm-houses. Along the principal streets the dwellings and stores were
closely built, so as to make it seem quite city-like. It was the shire town

of the county, and being the largest place in the neighborhood, country
people for miles around traded at its stores. Farmers' wives came to
Centreville to make purchases, just as ladies living within a radius of
thirty miles visit New York and Boston, for a similar purpose.
Altogether, therefore, Centreville was quite a lively place, and a town
of considerable local importance. The fact that it had a weekly paper of
its own, contributed to bring it into notice. Nor was that all. Situated on
a little hillock was a building with a belfry, which might have been
taken for a church but for a play-ground near by, which indicated that it
had a different character. It was in fact the Prescott Academy, so called
from the name of its founder, who had endowed it with a fund of ten
thousand dollars, besides erecting the building at his own expense on
land bought for the purpose. This academy also had a local reputation,
and its benefits were not confined to the children of Centreville. There
were about twenty pupils from other towns who boarded with the
Principal or elsewhere in the town, and made up the whole number of
students in attendance--about eighty on an average.
Standing on the eminence referred to, Harry's attention was drawn to
the Academy, and he could not help forming the wish that he, too,
might share in its advantages.
"There is so much to learn, and I know so little," he thought.
But he did not brood over the poverty which prevented him from
gratifying his desire. He knew it would do no good, and he also
reflected that knowledge may be acquired in a printing office as well as
within the walls of an academy or college.
"As soon as I get well settled," he said to himself, "I mean to get some
books and study a little every day. That is the way Franklin did. I never
can be an editor, that's certain, without knowing more than I do now.
Before I am qualified to teach others, I must know something myself."
Looking at the village which lay below him, Harry was disposed to
congratulate himself on his new residence.
"It looks like a pleasant place," he said to himself, "and when I get a

little acquainted, I shall enjoy myself very well, I am sure. Of course I
shall feel rather lonely just at first."
He was so engrossed by his thoughts that he did not take heed to his
steps, and was only reminded of his abstraction by his foot suddenly
coming in contact with a boy who was lying under a tree, and pitching
headfirst over him.
"Holloa!" exclaimed the latter, "what are you about? You didn't take
me for a foot-ball, did you?"
"I beg your pardon," said Harry, jumping up in some confusion. "I was
so busy thinking that I didn't see you. I hope I didn't hurt you."
"Nothing serious. Didn't you hurt yourself?"
"I bumped my head a little, but it only struck the earth. If it had been a
stone, it might have been different. I had no idea there was any one up
here except myself."
"It was very kind of you to