fine
scholarship, exemplary deportment, and a good character, in school and
out, he was a boy of little consequence in the eyes of Oscar.

"I wish you were _worthy_ to wear one of Benny's old jackets," replied
Mrs. Preston. "If you were half as good a boy as he is, I would not
complain. But you need not be afraid that anybody will mistake you for
him, even if you _do_ wear a patched garment."

"I believe you think Ben. Wright is a little angel," said Oscar, who
never liked to hear his humble but diligent classmate praised.

"I think he has some traits that you would do well to imitate," replied
his mother.

"I shall think I am imitating him, when I get that thing on," added
Oscar, in a contemptuous manner, alluding to the jacket.

"There, that will do, Oscar," replied Mrs. Preston, "You've said enough
about the jacket; don't let me hear another word of complaint. I took
a great deal of pains to mend it neatly, and it looks well enough for
you or any other boy. You may put it on to-morrow morning, and don't
you leave off wearing it till I tell you to."

Oscar nodded his head in a way that seemed to say, "You 'll see how
long I wear it;" but his mother did not observe the motion. He had a
short and easy way of getting rid of garments that he disliked.
Somehow other they were sure to waste away in a much faster manner than
those he had a fancy for; or, perhaps they would be rendered suddenly
useless, by some mysterious accident. But he would never admit that
their period of usefulness had been purposely shortened, though
suspicions of this kind were occasionally hinted.

Soon after this, Mr. Preston entered the room, and took a seat by the
fire He pulled out his watch to wind it up, as was his custom just
before bed-time, when Oscar said:

"Father, I wish you would buy me a watch. Frank King, and Bill
Andrews, and Charlie Grant, and almost all the large boys that I know,
have got watches, and I should think I might have one too; why can't I,
father?"

"What do they do with watches?" inquired Mr. Preston.

"Why, what does anybody do with them? They carry them to tell the time
of day, of course," replied Oscar.

"And to make a display of watch-chain," added his father.

"No, that isn't it," replied Oscar; "but it's convenient to have a
watch with you. You don't know how I 'm plagued to tell what time it
is, sometimes. It would make me a good deal more punctual, if I had
one. I was late to school t