nd when she went
away Ralph and his new acquaintances were warm friends.

"They are not stuck up a bit, mother," said the young bridge tender, as he
returned to the cottage after seeing them off.

"No, they are very kind-hearted as well as rich," returned Mrs. Nelson.
"Would Westville had more of such."

"What a difference between such folks and the Pagets and the Steiners. Why,
Mrs. Steiner and her daughter Maud wouldn't look at us if they stumbled
over us on the street, and neither would Mrs. Paget when she was alive."

"Well, we must remember that we do not belong to fashionable society,
Ralph. We belong to the poorer classes."

"So we do, but that doesn't make it right for some folks to look at us as
if we were the dust under their feet. I shall not forget the Carringtons'
kind ways, nor the beautiful present they made me," and Ralph fell to
examining the gold watch and chain anew.

It was truly a valuable gift, and the boy was more than delighted. He
resolved to wear it only when he needed a time-piece or when he was
"dressed up." It was too good to have about his old clothes constantly.

Ralph's remaining time as bridge tender went swiftly by, and on the day set
by the committee he was paid off by Squire Paget, and Dan Pickley was duly
installed in his place.

"What are you going to do now?" asked the squire, as he handed over Ralph's
salary.

"I don't know yet," returned the boy.

"Guess you'll find it rather hard to find work around Westville."

"I don't know. I haven't had any chance of looking around."

"Well, I'm sorry for you," went on Squire Paget, hypocritically. "I don't
like to see any one out of work."

"Really! It was yourself got me out of the job!" retorted Ralph.

"No, it wasn't, Nelson; it was your own hasty temper. If you hadn't
attacked Percy--but let that pass----"

"Percy was in the wrong--I shall always say so----" interrupted Ralph.

"There you go!" snarled the squire. "I was going to offer you a situation
on one of my canal boats, but I shan't do it now. You don't deserve it."

"I do not want any situation from you," replied the boy, with a sudden
show of spirit. "I would rather find my own employment."

"Going to be pig-headed, eh?"

"You can call it what you please. You did not treat me fairly, and I guess
I can get along without your aid."

And without another word Ralph pocketed his pay, and walked off.

"A regular young tartar!" mused the squire, as he gazed afte