I
SACOWATER
FAR,farup,inthebosomofNewHampshire’sgranitehills,theSacohasitsbirth。Asthemountainrillgathersstrengthittakes\"ThroughBartlett’svalesitstunefulway,OrhidesinConway’sfragrantbrakes,Retreatingfromtheglareofday。\"
Nowitleavesthemountainsandflowsthrough\"greenFryeburg’swoodsandfarms。\"Inthecourseofitsfrequentturnsandtwistsandbends,itmeetswithmanyanotherstream,andsendsit,fullerandstronger,alongitsrejoicingway。Whenithasjourneyedmorethanahundredmilesandisnearingtheocean,itgreetstheGreatOssipeeRiverandacceptsitscrystaltribute。
Then,initsturn,theLittleOssipeejoinsforces,andtheriver,nowasplendidstream,flowsonwardtoBonnyEagle,toModerationandtoSalmonFalls,whereitdashesoverthedamlikeayoungNiagaraandhurtles,inafoamytorrent,throughtheraggeddefilecutbetweenloftybanksofsolidrock。
Wideningoutplacidlyforamoment’srestinthesunnyreachesnearPleasantPoint,itgathersitselfforanewplungeatUnionFalls,afterwhichitspeedilymergesitselfinthebayandisfreshwaternomore。
AtoneofthefallsontheSaco,thetwolittlehamletsofEdgewoodandRiverboronestletogetheratthebridgeandmakeonevillage。Thestreamisawonderofbeautyjusthere;amirrorofplacidlovelinessabovethedam,atawny,roaringwonderatthefall,andamad,white—fleckedtorrentasitdashesonitswaytotheocean。
Theriverhasseenstrangesightsinitstime,thoughthehistoryofthesetwotinyvillagesisquiteunknowntothegreatworldoutside。Theyhavebeenborn,waxedstrong,andfallenalmosttodecaywhileSacoWaterhastumbledovertherocksandspentitselfinitsimpetuousjourneytothesea。
Itrememberstheyellow—moccasinedSokokisastheyissuedfromtheIndianCellarandcarriedtheirbirchencanoesalongthewoodedshore。Itwasinthoseyearsthatthesilver—skinnedsalmonleapedinitscrystaldepths;theotterandthebeavercreptwithsleekwetskinsuponitsshore;andthebrowndeercamedowntoquenchhisthirstatitsbrinkwhileattwilightthestealthyformsofbearandpantherandwolfweremirroredinitsglassysurface。
Timesped;menchainedtheriver’sturbulentforcesandorderedittogrindatthemill。Thenhousesandbarnsappearedalongitsbanks,bridgeswerebuilt,orchardsplanted,forestschangedintofarms,white—paintedmeetinghousesgleamedthroughthetreesanddistantbellsrangfromtheirsteeplesonquietSundaymornings。
Allatoncemyriadsofgreathewnlogsvexeditsdownwardcourse,slenderlogslinkedtogetherinlongrafts,andhugelogsdriftingdownsinglyorinpairs。Menappeared,runninghitherandthitherlikeants,andgoingthroughmysteriousoperationsthereasonforwhichtherivercouldneverguess:butthemill—wheelsturned,thegreatsawsbuzzed,thesmokefromtavernchimneysroseintheair,andtherattleandclatterofstage—coachesresoundedalongtheroad。
Nowchildrenpaddledwithbarefeetintheriver’ssandycovesandshallows,andloverssatonitsalder—shadedbanksandexchangedtheirvowsjustwheretheshufflingbearwaswonttocomedownanddrink。
TheSacocouldrememberthe\"coldyear,\"whentherewasablackfrosteverymonthofthetwelve,andthoughalmostallthecornalongitsshoresshrivelledonthestalk,thereweretwofarmswherethevaporfromtheriversavedthecrops,andalltheseedforthenextseasoncamefromthefavoredspot,tobeknownas\"Egypt\"fromthatdayhenceforward。
Strange,complexthingsnowbegantohappen,andtheriverplayeditsownpartinsomeofthese,forthereweredisastrousfreshets,thesuddenbreaking—upofgreatjamsoflogs,andthedrowningofmenwhowereengulfedinthedarkwhirlpoolbelowtherapids。
Caravans,withmenageriesofwildbeasts,crossedthebridgenoweveryyear。AninfuriatedelephantliftedthesideoftheoldEdgewoodTavernbarn,andthewildlaughteroftheroisteringrum—drinkerswhoweretantalizingtheanimalsfloateddowntotheriver’sedge。Theroarofalion,tearingandchewingthearmofoneofthebystanders,andthecheersofthethrongwhenapluckycaptainofthelocalmilitiathrustastakedownthebeast’sthroat,——thesesoundsdisplacedtheformerwar—whoopoftheIndiansandtheringoftheaxeinthevirginforestsalongtheshores。
Thereweredays,andmoonlightnights,too,whenstrangesightsandsoundsofquiteanothernaturecouldhavebeennotedbytheriverasitflowedunderthebridgethatunitedthetwolittlevillages。
IssuingfromthedooroftheRiverboroTownHouse,andwindingdownthehill,throughthelongrowofteamsandcarriagesthatlinedtheroadside,cameaprocessionofsingingmenandsingingwomen。Convincedofsin,butentrancedwithpromisedpardon;
spirituallyintoxicatedbytheglowingeloquenceofthelatter—dayprophettheywereworshipping,thebandof\"Cochranites\"marcheddownthedustyroadandacrossthebridge,dancing,swaying,wavinghandkerchiefs,andshoutinghosannas。
Godwatched,andlistened,knowingthattherewouldbeotherprophets,trueandfalse,inthedaystocome,andotherprocessionsfollowingthem;andtheriverwatchedandlistenedtoo,asithurriedontowardstheseawithitsstoryofthepresentthatwassometimetobethehistoryofthepast。
WhenJacobCochranewasleadinghisoverwrought,ecstaticbandacrosstheriver,WaitstillBaxter,thenachild,waswatchingthestrange,noisycompanyfromthewindowofalittlebrickdwellingonthetopoftheTown—HouseHill。
Herstepmotherstoodbesideherwithayoungbabyinherarms,butwhenshesawwhatheldthegazeofthechildshedrewheraway,saying:\"Wemustn’tlook,Waitstill;yourfatherdon’tlikeit!\"
\"Whowasthebigmanatthehead,mother?\"
\"HisnameisJacobCochrane,butyoumustn’tthinkortalkabouthim;heisverywicked。\"
\"Hedoesn’tlookanywickederthantheothers,\"saidthechild。
\"Whowasthemanthatfelldownintheroad,mother,andthewomanthatkneltandprayedoverhim?Whydidhefall,andwhydidshepray,mother?\"
\"ThatwasMasterAaronBoynton,theschoolmaster,andhiswife。
Heonlymadebelievetofalldown,astheCochranitesdo;thewaytheycarryonisadisgracetothevillage,andthat’sthereasonyourfatherwon’tletuslookatthem。\"
\"IplayedwithaniceboyovertoBoynton’s,\"musedthechild。
\"ThatwasIvory,theironlychild。Heisagoodlittlefellow,buthismotherandfatherwillspoilhimwiththeircrazyways。\"
\"Ihopenothingwillhappentohim,forIlovehim,\"saidthechildgravely。\"Heshowedmeahumming—bird’snest,thefirsteverIsaw,andthelittlest!\"
\"Don’ttalkaboutlovinghim,\"chidedthewoman。\"Ifyourfathershouldhearyou,he’dsendyoutobedwithoutyourporridge。\"
\"Fathercouldn’thearme,forIneverspeakwhenhe’sathome,\"
saidgravelittleWaitstill。\"AndI’musedtogoingtobedwithoutmyporridge。\"
II
THESISTERS
THEriverwasstillrunningunderthebridge,butthecurrentoftimehadsweptJacobCochraneoutofsight,thoughnotoutofmind,forhehadlefthereandthereadiscipletopreachhisstrangeanduncertaindoctrine。Waitstill,thechildwhoneverspokeinherfather’spresence,wasayoungwomannow,themistressofthehouse;thestepmotherwasdead,andthebabyagirlofseventeen。
Thebrickcottageonthehilltophadgrownonlyalittleshabbier。DeaconFoxwellBaxterstillslammeditsdoorbehindhimeverymorningatseveno’clockand,withoutanysuchcheerfulconventionsasgood—byestohisgirls,walkeddowntothebridgetoopenhisstore。
Theday,properlyspeaking,hadopenedwhenWaitstillandPatiencehadlefttheirbedsatdawn,builtthefire,fedthehensandturkeys,andpreparedthebreakfast,whiletheDeaconwasgrainingthehorseandmilkingthecows。Suchminor\"chores\"
ascarryingwaterfromthewell,splittingkindling,choppingpine,orbringingwoodintothekitchen,werelefttoWaitstill,whohadastrongback,or,ifshehadnot,hadneverbeenunwiseenoughtomentionthefactinherfather’spresence。Thealmanacday,however,whichopenedwithsunrise,hadnothingtodowiththerealhumanday,whichalwaysbeganwhenMr。Baxterslammedthedoorbehindhim,andreacheditshighnoonofdelightwhenhedisappearedfromview。
\"He’sopeningthestoreshutters!\"chantedPatiencefromtheheightsofakitchenchairbythewindow。\"Nowhe’stakenhiscaneandbeatenofftheBoyntonpuppythatwassittingonthestepsasusual,——Idon’tmeanIvory’sdog\"(herethegirlgaveaquickglanceathersister),\"butRodman’slittleyellowcur。
RodmanmusthavecomedowntothebridgeonsomeerrandforIvory。Isn’titodd,whenthatdoghasalltheotherstorestepstositupon,heshouldchoosefather’s,wheneveryboneinhisbodymusttellhimhowfatherhateshimandthewholeBoyntonfamily。\"
\"FatherhasnorealcausethatIeverheardof;butsomedogsneverknowwhenthey’vehadenoughbeating,norsomepeopleeither。\"saidWaitstill,speakingfromthepantry。
\"Don’tbegloomywhenit’smybirthday,Sis!——Nowhe’sopenedthedoorandkickedthecat!AllisreadyforbusinessattheBaxterstore。\"
\"Iwishyouweren’tquitesofreewithyourtongue,Patty。\"
\"Somebodymusttalk,\"retortedthegirl,jumpingdownfromthechairandshakingbackhermopofred—goldcurls。\"I’llputthishateful,childish,roundcombinandoutjustoncemore,thenitwilldisappearforever。Thisveryafter—noonupgoesmyhair!\"
\"Youknowitwillbeofnouseunlessyoubraiditveryplainlyandneatly。Fatherwilltakenoticeandmakeyousmoothitdown。\"
\"Fatherhasn’tlookedmesquareinthefaceforyears;besides,myhairwon’tbraid,andnothingcanmakeitquiteplainandneat,thankgoodness!Letusbethankfulforsmallmercies,asJedMorrillsaidwhenthelightningstruckhismother—in—lawandskippedhiswife。\"
\"Patty,Iwillnotpermityoutorepeatthosetavernstories;
theyarenotseemlyonthelipsofagirl!\"AndWaitstillcameoutofthepantrywithashadowofdisapprovalinhereyesandinhervoice。
Pattyflungherarmsroundhersistertempestuously,andpulledoutthewavesofherhairsothatitsoftenedherface。——\"I’llbegood,\"shesaid,\"andoh,Waity!let’sinventsomesortofcheaphappinessforto—day!Ishallneverbeseventeenagainandwehavesomanytroubles!
Let’sputoneofthecowsinthehorse’sstallandseewhatwillhappen!Orlet’sspreadupourbedswiththeheadatthefootandputthechestofdrawersontheothersideoftheroom,orlet’smakecandy!Doyouthinkfatherwouldmissthemolassesifweonlyuseacupful?Couldn’twestrainthemilk,butleavethechurningandthedishesforanhourortwo,justonce?Ifyousay’yes’Icanthinkofsomethingwonderfultodo!\"
\"Whatisit?\"askedWaitstill,relentingatthesightofthegirl’seager,roguishface。
\"PIERCEMYEARS!\"criedPatty。\"Sayyouwill!\"
\"Oh!Patty,Patty,Iamafraidyouaregivenovertovanity!I
daren’tletyouweareardropswithoutfather’spermission。\"
\"Whynot?Lotsofchurchmemberswearthem,soitcan’tbeamortalsin。Fatherisagainstalladornments,butthat’sbecausehedoesn’twanttobuythem。You’vealwayssaidIshouldhaveyourmother’scoralpendantswhenIwasoldenough。HereIam,seventeentoday,andDr。PerrysaysIamalreadyawell—favoredyoungwoman。Icanpullmyhairovermyearsforafewdaysandwhentheholesareallmadeandhealed,evenfathercannotmakemefillthemupagain。Besides,I’llneverweartheearringsathome!\"
\"Oh!mydear,mydear!\"sighedWaitstill,withahalf—sobinhervoice。\"IfonlyIwaswiseenoughtoknowhowwecouldkeepfromtheselittledeceits,yethaveanylibertyorcomfortinlife!\"
\"Wecan’t!TheLordcouldn’texpectustobearallthatwebear,\"
exclaimedPatty,\"withoutourtryingonceinawhiletohaveagoodtimeinourownway。Weneverdoathingthatweareashamedof,orthatothergirlsdon’tdoeverydayintheweek;onlyourpleasuresalwayshavetobetakenbehindfather’sback。It’sonlymethat’severwrong,anyway,foryouarealwaysanangel。It’saburningshameandyouonlytwenty—oneyourself。I’llpierceyourearsifyousayso,andletyouwearyourowncoraldrops!\"
\"No,Patty;I’veoutgrownthoselongingsyearsago。Whenyourmotherdiedandleftfatherandyouandthehousetome,mygirlhooddied,too,thoughIwasonlythirteen。\"
\"Itwasonlyyourinsidegirlhoodthatdied,\"insistedPattystoutly,\"TheoutsideisasfreshasthepaintonUncleBarty’snewell。You’vegottheloveliesteyesandhairinRiverboro,andyouknowit;besides,IvoryBoyntonwouldtellyousoifyoudidn’t。Comeandboremyears,there’sadarling!\"
\"IvoryBoyntonneverspeaksawordofmylooks,norawordthatfatherandalltheworldmightn’thear。\"AndWaitstillflushed。
\"Thenit’sbecausehe’sshyandsilentandhassomanytroublesofhisownthathedoesn’tdaresayanything。Whenmyhairisonceupandthecoralpendantsareswinginginmyears,IshallexpecttohearsomethingaboutMYlooks,Icantellyou。Waity,afterall,thoughweneverhavewhatwewanttoeat,andneveradecentdresstoourbacks,norayoungmantocrossthethreshold,Iwouldn’tchangeplaceswithIvoryBoynton,wouldyou?\"HerePattysweptthehearthvigorouslywithaturkeywingandaddedafewcorncobstothefire。
Waitstillpausedamomentinhertaskofbread—kneading。\"Well,\"
sheansweredcritically,\"atleastweknowwhereourfatheris。\"
\"Wedo,indeed!Wealsoknowthatheisthoroughlyalive!\"
\"Andthoughpeopledotalkabouthim,theycan’tsaythethingstheysayofMasterAaronBoynton。Idon’tbelievefatherwouldeverrunawayanddesertus。\"
\"Ifearnot,\"saidPatty。\"Iwishtheangelswouldputtheideaintohishead,though,ofcourse,itwouldn’tbetheangels;
they’dbeaboveit。Itwouldhavetobethe’OldDriver,’asJedMorrillcallstheEvilOne;butwhoeverdidit,theresultwouldbethesame:weshouldbedeserted,andlivehappilyeverafter。
Oh!tobedeserted,andleftwithyoualoneonthishilltop,whatjoyitwouldbe!\"
Waitstillfrowned,butdidnotinterferefurtherwithPatty’sintemperatespeech。Sheknewthatshewassimplyservingasanescape—valve,andthatafterthesteamwas\"letoff\"shewouldbemorerational。
\"Ofcourse,wearemotherless,\"continuedPattywistfully,\"butpoorIvoryisworsethanmotherless。\"
\"No,notworse,Patty,\"saidWaitstill,takingthebread—boardandmovingtowardsthecloset。\"Ivoryloveshismotherandsheloveshim,withallthemindshehasleft!ShehasthebestbloodofNewEnglandflowinginherveins,andIsupposeitwasagreatcomedownforhertomarryAaronBoynton,cleverandgiftedthoughhewas。NowIvoryhastoprotecther,poor,daft,innocentcreature,andhideherawayfromthegossipofthevillage。Heissurelythebestofsons,IvoryBoynton!\"
\"Sheisaterriblecareforhim,andliketospoilhislife,\"
saidPatty。
\"Therearecaresthatswelltheheartandmakeitbiggerandwarmer,Patty,justastherearecaresthatshrivelitandleaveittiredandcold。
LovelightensIvory’safflictionsbutthatissomethingyouandI
havetodowithout,soitseems。\"
\"IsupposelittleRodmanissomecomforttotheBoyntons,evenifheisonlyten。\"Pattysuggested。
\"Nodoubt。He’sagoodlittlefellow,andthoughit’sratherhardforIvorytobeburdenedfortheselastfiveyearswiththesupportofachildwho’snonearerkinthanacousin,stillhe’sofuse,mindingMrs。BoyntonandthehousewhenIvory’saway。
Theschool—teachersaysheiswonderfulathisbooksandlikelytobeagreatcredittotheBoyntonssomedayorother。\"
\"You’veforgottonameouronegreatblessing,Waity,andI
believe,anyway,you’retalkingtokeepmymindofftheearrings!\"
\"Youmeanwe’veeachother?No,Patty,Ineverforgetthat,dayornight。’Tisthatmakesmewillingtobearanyburdenfatherchoosestoputuponus。——Nowthebreadisset,butIdon’tbelieveIhavethecouragetoputaneedleintoyourtenderflesh,Patty;Ireallydon’t。\"
\"Nonsense!I’vegotthewaxedsilkallreadyandchosentheright—sizedneedleandI’llpromisenottojumporscreechmorethanIcanhelp。We’llmakeatinylead—pencildotrightinthemiddleofthelobe,thenyouplacetheneedleonit,shutyoureyes,andJABHARD!Iexpecttofaint,butwhenI’cometo,’wecandecidewhichofuswillpulltheneedlethroughtotheotherside。Probablyitwillbeyou,I’msuchacoward。Ifithurtsdreadfully,I’llhaveonlyonepiercedto—dayandtaketheotherto—morrow;andifithurtsverydreadfully,perhapsI’llgothroughlifewithoneear—ring。AuntAbbyColewillsayit’sjustoddenoughtosuitme!\"
\"You’llnevergothroughlifewithonetongueattherateyouuseitnow,\"chidedWaitstill,\"foritwillneverlastyou。Come,we’lltakethework—basketandgooutinthebarnwherenoonewillseeorhearus。\"
\"Goody,goody!Comealong!\"andPattyclappedherhandsintriumph。\"Haveyougotthepencilandtheneedleandthewaxedsilk?Thenbringthecamphorbottletoreviveme,andthecoralpendants,too,justtogivemecourage。Hurryup!It’steno’clock。Iwasbornatsun—rise,soI’m’goingon’eighteenandcan’twasteanytime!\"
III
DEACONBAXTER’SWIVES
FOXWELLBAXTERwasordinarilycalled\"OldFoxy\"bytheboysofthedistrict,andalso,itistobefeared,bythemengatheredforeveningconferenceatthevarioustaverns,oratoneoftherivalvillagestores。
Hehadasmallfarmoffifteenortwentyacres,withapasture,awoodlot,andahay—field,buttheprincipalsourceofhisincomecamefromtrading。Hissignboretheusuallegend:\"WESTINDIA
GOODSANDGROCERIES,\"andprobablythemostprofitablearticlesinhisstockwererum,molasses,sugar,andtobacco;buttherewerechestsofrice,tea,coffee,andspices,barrelsofporkinbrine,aswellaspilesofcottonandwoolenclothontheshelvesabovethecounters。Hisshopwindow,seldomdustedorsetinorder,heldafewclaypipes,someglassjarsofpeppermintorsassafraslozenges,blacklicorice,stick—candy,andsugargooseberries。Thesedaintieswereseldomrenewed,foritwasonlyaveryboldchild,oronewithanungovernableappetiteforsweets,whowouldhavespenthispennyatFoxyBaxter’sstore。
Hewasthoughtasharpandshrewdtrader,buthishonestywasneverquestioned;indeed,theonlytraitinhischaracterthatevercameupforgeneraldiscussionwashisextraordinary,unbelievable,colossalmeanness。Thissoeclipsedeveryotherpassionintheman,andloomedsobulkilyandinsistentlyintheforeground,thathadhecherishedasecondvicenoonewouldhaveobservedit,andifhereallydidpossessacasualvirtue,itcouldscarcelyhavereareditsheadinsuchuglycompany。
Itmightbesaid,todefendthefairnameoftheChurch,thatMr。
Baxter’sdeaconhooddidnotincludeveryactiveserviceinthecourtsoftheLord。Hehad\"experiencedreligion\"atfifteenandmadeprofessionofhisfaith,butallwell—brought—upboysandgirlsdidthesameinthosedays;theirparentssawtothat!Ifchangeofconvictionorbackslidingoccurredlateron,thatwasnottheirbusiness!Attheripeageoftwenty—fivehewasselectedtofillavacancyandbecameadeacon,thinkingitmightbegoodfortrade,asitwas,forsomeyears。Hewasveryactiveatthetimeofthe\"Cochranecraze,\"sinceanydefenceofthecreedthatincludedlivelydetectiveworkandincessantspyingonhisneighborswasparticularlyinhisline;butformanyyearsnow,thoughhehadbeenregularinattendanceatchurch,hehadneverofficiatedatcommunion,andhisdiaconalserviceshadgraduallylapsedintothepassingofthecontribution—box,ataskofwhichheneverwearied;itwassuchakeenpleasuretomakeotherpeopleyieldtheirpenniesforagoodcause,withoutaddinganyofhisown!
DeaconBaxterhadnowbeenawidowerforsomeyearsandthecommunityhadalmostrelinquishedtheideaofhisseekingafourthwife。Thiswasamatterofsomeregret,fortherewasageneralfeelingthatitwouldbeagoodthingfortheBaxtergirlstohavesomeonetohelpwiththehouseworkandactasabufferbetweenthemandtheirgrimandirascibleparent。Asforthewomenofthevillage,theyweremortifiedthattheDeaconhadbeenabletosecurethreewives,andrefusedtobelievethattheuniverseheldanywhereacreaturebenightedenoughtobecomehisfourth。
Thefirst,beitsaid,wasamereignorantgirl,andheabeardlessyouthoftwenty,whomaynothaveshownhistruequalitiessoearlyinlife。Sheborehimtwosons,anditwasamatterofcommentatthetimethatshecalledthem,respectively,JobandMoses,hopingthattheenduranceandmeeknessconnectedwiththesenamesmightsomehowhelpthemintheirfuturerelationswiththeirfather。Pneumonia,coupledwithprofounddiscouragement,carriedheroffinafewyearstomakeroomforthesecondwife,Waitstill’smother,whowasofdifferentfibreandgreatlyhissuperior。Shewasafine,handsomegirl,theorphandaughterofup—countrygentle—folks,whohaddiedwhenshewaseighteen,leavingheraloneintheworldandpenniless。
Baxter,afterafewdays’acquaintance,droveintothedooryardofthehousewhereshewasavisitorand,showingherhistwocurly—headedboys,suddenlyaskedhertocomeandbetheirstepmother。Sheassented,partlybecauseshehadnothingelsetodowithherexistence,sofarasshecouldsee,andalsobecauseshefellinlovewiththechildrenatfirstsightandforgot,asgirlswill,thatitwastheirfatherwhomshewasmarrying。
Shewasaspluckyandcleverandspiritedasshewashandsome,andshemadeabravefightofitwithFoxy;longenoughtobringadaughterintotheworld,tonameherWaitstill,andstartheralittlewayonherlifejourney,——thenshe,too,gaveupthestruggleanddied。Typhoidfeveritwas,combinedwithcompletelossofillusions,andakindofdespairingrageathavingmadesocompleteafailureofherexistence。
Thenextyear,Mr。Baxter,beingunusuallybusy,offeredamanagoodyoungheiferifhewouldjogaboutthecountryalittleandpickhimupahousekeeper;alikelywomanwhowould,ifsheprovedenergetic,economical,andamiable,beeventuallyraisedtotheproudpositionofhiswife。Ifshewasyoung,healthy,smart,tidy,capable,andagoodmanager,abletomilkthecows,harnessthehorse,andmakegoodbutter,hewouldgiveadollarandahalfaweek。Thewomanwasfound,and,incredibleasitmayseem,shesaid\"yes\"whentheDeacon(whoseardorwaskindledathavingpaidthreemonths’wages)proposedaspeedymarriage。Thetwoboysbythistimehadreachedtheageofdiscretion,andoneofthemevincedthefactbypromptlyrunningawaytopartsunknown,nevertobeheardfromafterwards;whiletheother,arecklessandunhappylad,wasdrownedwhilerunningonthelogsintheriver。OldFoxyshowedlittleoutwardsignofhisloss,thoughhehadbroughttheboysintotheworldsolelywiththeviewofhavingoneofthemworkonthefarmandtheotherinthestore。