quire Lee
about it, who told him that three hundred was all it was worth. John
offered this for it, and after a month's hesitation Mr. Hardhand
accepted the offer, agreeing to take fifty dollars down, and the rest
in semi-annual payments of twenty-five dollars each until the whole
was paid.

I am thus particular in telling my readers about the bargain, because
this debt which his father contracted was the means of making a man of
Bobby, as will be seen in his subsequent history.

John Bright paid the first fifty dollars; but before the next
instalment became due, the poor man was laid in his cold and silent
grave. A malignant disease carried him off, and the hopes of the
Bright family seemed to be blasted.

Four children were left to the widow. The youngest was only three
years old, and Bobby, the oldest, was nine, when his father died.
Squire Lee, who had always been a good friend of John Bright, told the
widow that she had better go to the poorhouse, and not attempt to
struggle along with such fearful odds against her. But the widow nobly
refused to become a pauper, and to make paupers of her children, whom
she loved quite as much as though she and they had been born in a
ducal palace. She told the squire that she had two hands, and as long
as she had her health, the town need not trouble itself about her
support.

Squire Lee was filled with surprise and admiration at the noble
resolution of the poor woman; and when he returned to his house, he
immediately sent her a cord of wood, ten bushels of potatoes, two bags
of meal, and a firkin of salt pork.

The widow was very grateful for these articles, and no false pride
prevented her from accepting the gift of her rich and kind-hearted
neighbor.

Riverdale Centre was largely engaged in the manufacturing of boots and
shoes, and this business gave employment to a large number of men and
women.

Mrs. Bright had for several years "closed" shoes--which, my readers
who do not live in "shoe towns" may not know, means sewing or
stitching them. To this business she applied herself with renewed
energy. There was a large hotel in Riverdale Centre, where several
families from Boston spent the summer. By the aid of Squire Lee, she
obtained the washing of these families, which was more profitable than
closing shoes.

By these means she not only supported her family very comfortably, but
was able to save a little money towards paying for the house.
Mr. Hardhand, by the pers