Walter Harland | Page 9

voice she
enquired if I had slept well. I gave an evasive reply, for I did not like to
tell her what a restless, miserable night I had passed. When the
breakfast things were cleared away, my mother seated herself by my
side, and said: "Upon reflection, my son, I have decided that you had
best not return to Mr. Judson." These were joyful words to me, for I
had feared my mother would decide otherwise, and I had never
disobeyed her, but it would have been hard, very hard for me to obey
had she wished me to return to my employer. Little Flora was, if
possible, more pleased than myself at the decision; with a low cry of
joy, she threw her arms around my neck, saying "Oh! Walter, I am so
glad that Mamma will not send you back to that old man." Poor child,
she had never before been separated from her brother, and she had
sadly missed her playmate during the past year. "Although," continued
my mother "you may not have been free from blame, I think Mr.
Judson acted very wrong. If, as I trust, is the case, you have told me the
truth, I consider you blameable in two points only, first, in neglecting
your work in the absence of your employer, and, secondly, in allowing
yourself to use disrespectful language to him." While my mother was
yet speaking, the door opened and Farmer Judson entered the room,
without the ceremony of knocking, and began talking (as was his
custom when angry) in a very loud and stormy voice, "Pray be seated,
Mr. Judson," said my mother, "and when you become a little more
composed I shall be pleased to listen to anything you may wish to say."
He did not take the proffered seat, but muttered something about
"people putting on airs," and turning sharply upon me, he said, "I hain't

got no more time to waste talkin, so get your hat and come back to your
work and no more about it." I did not move, but waited for my mother
to speak,--with a voice of much composure, she replied to him, saying:
"I have decided, Mr. Judson, that Walter had best not return to you. Till
last evening I have never from him heard the first word of complaint;"
in a straight forward manner she then repeated what I had said upon my
return home. "My son informs me," added my mother, "that in more
than one instance he has endured blows from you, and for very little
cause; had I before been aware of this he should have left you at once;
for my boy is not a slave to be driven with the lash. I have no doubt that
his conduct may in many instances have been blameable. I am sorry
that he allowed himself at the last to speak disrespectfully to you, but
you must be aware that his provocation was great, and we must not
look for perfection in a boy of thirteen. Considering all things, I think
he had best remain no longer in your employ; for to subject him longer
to a temper so capricious as yours, would be, I fear, to injure his
disposition."
Mr. Judson was unable to gainsay one word my mother had said, and to
conceal his mortification got into a towering passion, and used some
very severe language which deeply wounded my mother's feelings. As
he strode angrily from the room he said, "You need not expect anything
else but to come to beggary if you keep a great fellow like that lazin'
round in idleness, and I, for one, shall not pity you, depend on't." With
these words he left the house, closing the door after him with a loud
bang. It was indeed a welcome relief when he left us alone. My little
sister had crept close to me the moment the angry Farmer entered the
room, where she remained: trembling with fear till he was fairly out of
hearing, when she exclaimed, "I hope that ugly old man will never
come here again. Wasn't you afraid, Mamma?"
"No, dear," replied my mother, with a smile; "and let us hope if ever he
does visit us again he will be in a better temper."
I wished at once to set about looking for another situation; but my
mother advised me to remain at home and rest for a time. Little Flora
was delighted when she found that I was to remain at home, for a time

at least.
CHAPTER VI.
Not far from our humble dwelling stood the residence of Dr. Gray, the
village physician. His only child was a son of nearly the same age as
myself, and we had been firm friends from the days of early