other," said he, kissing her and taking her hand. "I shall
try and come home on Saturday, so as to be with you on Sunday."

Then kissing the children, who had not yet got up, and to whom he had
bidden adieu the night before, he left the house. He had seen the
flood of tears that filled his mother's eyes, as he crossed the
threshold; and he could not help crying a little himself. It is a sad
thing to leave one's home, one's mother, especially, to go out into
the great world; and we need not wonder that Bobby, who had hardly
been out of Riverdale before, should weep. But he soon restrained the
flowing tears.

"Now or never!" said he, and he put his best foot forward.

It was an epoch in his history, and though he was too young to realize
the importance of the event, he seemed to feel that what he did now
was to give character to his whole future life.

It was a bright and beautiful morning--somehow it is always a bright
and beautiful morning when boys leave their homes to commence the
journey of life; it is typical of the season of youth and hope, and it
is meet that the sky should be clear, and the sun shine brightly, when
the little pilgrim sets out upon his tour. He will see clouds and
storms before he has gone far--let him have a fair start.

He had to walk five miles to the nearest railroad station. His road
lay by the house of his friend, Squire Lee; and as he was approaching
it, he met Annie. She said she had come out to take her morning walk;
but Bobby knew very well that she did not usually walk till an hour
later; which, with the fact that she had asked him particularly, the
day before, what time he was going, made Bobby believe that she had
come out to say good by, and bid him God speed on his journey. At any
rate, he was very glad to see her. He said a great many pretty things
to her, and talked so big about what he was going to do, that the
little maiden could hardly help laughing in his face.

Then at the house he shook hands with the squire and shook hands again
with Annie, and resumed his journey. His heart felt lighter for having
met them, or at least for having met one of them, if not both; for
Annie's eyes were so full of sunshine that they seemed to gladden his
heart, and make him feel truer and stronger.

After a pleasant walk, for he scarcely heeded the distance, so full
was he of his big thoughts, he reached the railroad station. The cars
had not yet arrived, and would not for half an hour.