Risen from the Ranks | Page 8

much else. I
can speak and understand it pretty well."
"How I wish I had had your advantages," said Harry. "How did you
like your French schoolmates?"

"They wouldn't come near me at first. Because I was an American they
thought I carried a revolver and a dirk-knife, and was dangerous. That
is their idea of American boys. When they found I was tame, and
carried no deadly weapons, they ventured to speak with me, and after
that we got along pretty well."
"How soon do you expect to go to college?"
"A year from next summer. I suppose I shall be ready by that time. You
are going to stay in town, I suppose?"
"Yes, if I keep my place."
"Oh, you'll do that. Then we can see something of each other. You
must come up to my room, and see me. Come almost any evening."
"I should like to. Do you live in Dr. Barton's family?"
"No, I hope not."
"Why not?"
"Oh, the Doctor has a way of looking after the fellows that room in the
house, and of keeping them at work all the time. That wouldn't suit me.
I board at Mrs. Greyson's, at the south-east corner of the church
common. Have you got anything to do this evening?"
"Nothing in particular."
"Then come round and take a look at my den, or sanctum I ought to call
it; as I am talking to a member of the editorial profession."
"Not quite yet," said Harry, smiling.
"Oh, well that'll come in due time. Will you come?"
"Sha'n't I be disturbing you?"
"Not a bit. My Greek lesson is about finished, and that's all I've got to

do this evening. Come round, and we will sit over the fire, and chat like
old friends."
"Thank you, Oscar," said Harry, irresistibly attracted by his bright and
lively acquaintance, "I shall enjoy calling. I have made no
acquaintances yet, and I feel lonely."
"I have got over that," said Oscar. "I am used to being away from home
and don't mind it."
The two boys walked together to Oscar's boarding-place. It was a large
house, of considerable pretension for a village, and Oscar's room was
large and handsomely furnished. But what attracted Harry's attention
was not the furniture, but a collection of over a hundred books, ranged
on shelves at one end of the room. In his father's house it had always
been so difficult to obtain the necessaries of life that books had
necessarily been regarded as superfluities, and beyond a dozen volumes
which Harry had read and re-read, he was compelled to depend on such
as he could borrow. Here again his privileges were scanty, for most of
the neighbors were as poorly supplied as his father.
"What a fine library you have, Oscar!" he exclaimed.
"I have a few books," said Oscar. "My father filled a couple of boxes,
and sent me. He has a large library."
"This seems a large library to me," said Harry. "My father likes reading,
but he is poor, and cannot afford to buy books."
He said that in a matter-of-fact tone, without the least attempt to
conceal what many boys would have been tempted to hide. Oscar noted
this, and liked his new friend the better for it.
"Yes," he said, "books cost money, and one hasn't always the money to
spare."
"Have you read all these books?"

"Not more than half of them. I like reading better than studying, I am
afraid. I am reading the Waverley novels now. Have you read any of
them?"
"So; I never saw any of them before."
"If you see anything you would like to read, I will lend it to you with
pleasure," said Oscar, noticing the interest with which Harry regarded
the books.
"Will you?" said Harry, eagerly. "I can't tell you how much obliged I
am. I will take good care of it."
"Oh, I am sure of that. Here, try Ivanhoe. I've just read it, and it's
tip-top."
"Thank you; I will take it on your recommendation. What a nice room
you have!"
"Yes, it's pretty comfortable. Father told me to fix it up to suit me. He
said he wouldn't mind the expense if I would only study."
"I should think anybody might study in such a room as this, and with
such a fine collection of books."
"I'm rather lazy sometimes," said Oscar, "but I shall turn over a new
leaf some of these days, and astonish everybody. To-night, as I have no
studying to do, I'll tell you what we'll do. Did you ever pop corn?"
"Sometimes."
"I've got some corn here, and Ma'am Greyson has a popper. Stay here
alone a minute, and I'll run down and get it."
Oscar ran down stairs, and speedily returned with