Walter Sherwood's Probation by Jr. Horatio Alger (good romance books to read txt) π
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- Author: Jr. Horatio Alger
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Without a word, but looking intensely mortified, Ben took his hat and slunk out of the room.
When he had gone Walter said: βScholars, I want to ask of you a favor. Ben is mortified by what has happened. I wish you would all abstain from reminding him of it. In that case the lesson he has received may do him good.β
The next day Ben Buffum stayed at home, and did not show himself on the street till evening. When he found that no one spoke to him of the affair he took courage to go to school the day after. Walter overtook him on the way and hailed him in a friendly manner with: βWe will forget all about that little affair day before yesterday, Ben. You are pretty strong.β
βI couldn't do nothin' against you.β
βNo, because I have taken lessons in boxing.β
βI'd like to box.β
βIf you'll come round and see me this evening, Ben, I'll give you the first lesson.β
The scholars were very much surprised to see Ben and the teacher walking to school together, and were further surprised at the wonderful change for the better that took place in the once rebellious pupil.
CHAPTER XLI
CONCLUSION
Mrs. Deborah Simpkins, a near neighbor of Doctor Mack, was an ill-natured gossip, and had always disliked Walter because he once interfered to prevent a boy of hers from abusing a young companion. One day about two months later she put on her bonnet and with a smile of malicious satisfaction walked over to the doctor's house.
βHow do you do, Mrs. Sprague?β she said. βI thought I'd run over and have a chat with you.β
βCome in, Mrs. Simpkins,β said Nancy, civilly, but not cordially, for she did not like her visitor.
βI've got something unpleasant to tell you,β went on the widow, as she sat down in a rocker. βI'm awful sorry.β
βAre you?β said Nancy, dryly. βWhat's it all about?β
βI got a letter from my niece Sophrony, out in Iowa, yesterday, and she sent me a cuttin' from an old paper. It's somethin' awful!β
βIs it?β
βYes, and it's about Walter Sherwood!β continued Mrs. Simpkins, triumphantly.
βHe hasn't met with an accident, has he?β inquired Nancy, turning pale.
βIt's wuss than that!β answered the widow, nodding her head ominously.
βWorse than an accident?β
βYes; leastways, I call it so.β
βLet me hear it, then, Mrs. Simpkins.β
βHere 'tis; you can read it for yourself.β
This was the paragraph:
βA young man named Walter Sherwood was arrested yesterday, charged with stealing a valuable mare belonging to Colonel Richard Owen. We understand his trial is to take place this morning.β
βWhen is the paper dated?β asked Nancy, who did not appear so much overcome as her visitor expected.
βOver two months since. Walter Sherwood is probably in jail now. I feel for you and the doctor,β said Mrs. Simpkins, in a tone far from sympathetic, fixing her beadlike eyes on the housekeeper.
βThat's very good of you, but, as we got a letter from Walter yesterday, there ain't no call to be troubled.β
βDid he write from the jail?β
βDon't be a fool, Mrs. Simpkins! He wrote from the town of Shelby, where he has been teaching a classic school, and he inclosed the program of the exhibition. Perhaps you would like to look at it.β
Mrs. Simpkins took the paper, and looked intensely disappointed as she saw that Nancy had only told the truth.
βHe teach school! A boy like him!β she ejaculated.
βYes, Mrs. Simpkins, and it's been a great success. They want him to go back next year, but the doctor prefers to have him finish out his college course. We're expecting him home every day.β
There was a noise heard as of the front door opening, and a moment later Walter was in the room.
βOh, Walter!β exclaimed Nancy, overjoyed, in her excitement throwing her arms around his neck. βI'm so glad to see you!β
βAnd I am glad to see you, Nancy, How's my guardian?β
βHe's well, and will be home soon.β
βGood afternoon, Mrs. Simpkins,β said Walter, politely.
βMrs. Simpkins has just been telling me that you were in jail for horse-stealing,β said Nancy. βShe is much pleased to find it all a mistake.β
Walter laughed.
βI am still more pleased,β he remarked. βI find school-teaching much pleasanter.β
βI guess I must be goin',β said Mrs. Simpkins, hurriedly.
When Doctor Mack returned he welcomed Walter with a joy not inferior to that of his housekeeper.
βAnd so you have succeeded?β he said.
βYes; the trustees of the Shelby Classical School want me to come back, as my predecessor has accepted a position in New York. But I think I had better return to college and finish out my course. I have a thousand dollars saved up, and a little more, and I think with economy I can pay my own way for the remainder of the course.β
βIt won't be necessary, Walter.β
βBut, as my property is lostββ
βYou must forgive me, Walter, for deceiving you, but you have just as much property as everβindeed, more, as you only drew one hundred dollars in the past year.β
βBut, doctor, why, then, did you lead me to think otherwise?β
βIt wasn't altogether a falsehood. About a hundred dollars had been lost in an investment, and I made that a pretext for withdrawing you from college. I saw that you were wasting your time and acquiring expensive habits, so I thought the best remedy would be a year of active life, in which you would be thrown upon your own resources.β
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