There was a general silence after Squire Green's departure. Hiram Walton looked gloomy, and the rest of the family, also.
``What an awful mean man the squire is!'' Tom broke out, indignantly.
``You're right, for once,'' said Mary.
In general, such remarks were rebuked by the father or mother; but the truth of Tom's observation was so clear, that for once he was not reproved.
``Squire Green's money does him very little good,'' said Hiram Walton. ``Rich as he is, and poor as Iam, I would rather stand in my shoes than his.''
``I
should think so,'' said his wife. ``Money isn't everything.''
``No;
but it is a good deal. I have suffered too much from the want of it to despise it.''
``Well, Hiram,'' said Mrs. Walton, ``you know that the song says, `There's a good time coming.' ''
``I've waited for it a long time, wife,'' said the farmer, soberly.
``Wait a little longer,'' said Mrs. Walton, quoting the refrain of the song.
He smiled faintly.
``Children, it's time to go to bed,'' said Mrs. Walton.
``Mayn't I sit up a little longer?'' pleaded Mary.
``
`Wait a little longer,' mother,'' said Tom laughing, as he quoted his mother's words against her.
``Ten minutes only, then.''
Before ten minutes were over, there was great and unexpected joy in the little house.
Suddenly the outer door opened, and, without the slightest warning to any one, Harry walked in.
``Where did you come from, Harry?'' asked Mary.
``Dropped down from the sky,'' said Harry, laughing.
``Has the professor been giving exhibitions up there?'' asked Tom.
``I've discharged the professor,'' said Harry, gayly.
``I'm my own man now.''
``And you've come home to stay, I hope,'' said his mother.
``Not long, mother,'' said Harry. ``I can only stay a few days.''
``What a bully overcoat you've got on!'' said Tom.
``The professor gave it to me.''
``Hasn't he got one for me, too?''
Harry took off his overcoat, and Tom was struck with fresh admiration as he surveyed his brother's inside suit.
``I
guess you spent all your money on clothes,'' he said.
``I
hope not,'' said Mrs. Walton, whom experience had made prudent.
``Not quite all,'' said Harry, cheerfully. ``How much money do you think I have brought home?''
``Ten dollars,'' said Tom.
``Twenty,'' said Mary.
``What do you say to fifty dollars?''
``Oh, what a lot of money!'' said Mary.
``You have done well, my son,'' said Mr. Walton.
``You must have been very economical.''
``I
tried to be, father. But I didn't say fifty dollars was all I had.''
``You haven't got more?'' said his mother, incredulously.
``I've got a hundred dollars, mother,'' said Harry.
``Here are fifty dollars for you, father. It'll pay your note to Squire Green, and a little over. Here are thirty dollars, mother, of which you must use ten for yourself, ten for Mary, and ten for Tom. I want you all to have some new clothes, to remember me by.''
``But, Harry, you will have nothing left for yourself.''
``Yes, I shall. I have kept twenty dollars, which will be enough till I can earn some more.''
``I
don't see how you could save so much money, Harry,'' said his father.
``It was partly luck, father, and partly hard work. I'll tell you all about it.''
He sat down before the fire, and they listened to his narrative.
