uch mild
rebukes as the foregoing, that they made little impression upon his
mind. The boys, who all slept in one chamber, soon retired for the
night; but Oscar took no further notice of the occurrences of the
evening, except to apply the nickname of "mammy's little tell-tale" to
George--a title of contempt by which he often addressed his little
brother.

I am afraid that the title of "tell-tale" was not wholly undeserved by
George. True, he often had just cause of complaint; but he was too
ready to bring whining accusations against his brothers and sisters,
for every trifling thing. He complained so much that his mother could
not always tell when censure was deserved. It had become a habit with
him, and a dozen times a day he would go to her, with the complaint
that Oscar had been plaguing him, or Ella had got something that
belonged to him, or Ralph would not do this or that.

George, who was the youngest of the children, was at this time seven
years old; Ralph was two years and half older, and Oscar, who was the
oldest son, was about half way between thirteen and fourteen. They had
two sisters. Alice, the oldest, was fifteen years of age, and Eleanor,
or Ella, as she was commonly called, was about eleven.

The father of these boys and girls was a shop-keeper in Boston. His
business required so much of his attention, that he was seldom with his
family, except at meal-times and nights. Even in the evening he was
usually at the shop; but when it so happened that he could remain at
home after tea, it was his delight to settle himself comfortably down
in the big rocking chair, in the well-lighted sitting-room, and to muse
and doze, while Alice sang, and played upon the piano-forte. He had so
many other cares, that he did not like to be troubled with bad reports
of his children's conduct, This was so well understood by all the
family, that even George seldom ventured to go to him with a complaint.
The management of domestic affairs was thus left almost entirely with
Mrs. Preston, and she consulted her husband in regard to these matters
only when grave troubles arose.

I have thus briefly introduced to my readers the family, one of whose
members is to form the principal subject of the following pages.

CHAPTER II.

OSCAR IN SCHOOL.

The school which Oscar attended was held in a large and lofty brick
building, a short distance from the street on which he lived. His
brothers attended the same school,