d up the gun, called out:

"Here! you 've broken the trigger, throwing it down so. You may carry
it back yourself now, I won't."

"I shan't carry it back," replied Oscar; "you say he lent it to you,
and you may take care of it now."

Oscar went back to his uncle's, leaving Jerry and the gun to keep each
other company. Not feeling in a very pleasant mood, Oscar did not go
into the house, but loitered around the barn, avoiding the family as
much as he could. Pretty soon he saw Clinton driving up, and he
stepped inside of the barn, as he did not care about speaking with him.
Clinton stopped however, when opposite to the barn, and called to him.

"What would you give for a letter from home?" said Clinton, when Oscar
made his appearance.

"I don't know--why, have you got one for me?" inquired Oscar, with
remarkable coolness.

"That's for you, I guess," said Clinton, handing him a letter. "I 've
been over to the post-office, and as I happened to see a letter
directed to you, I thought I would take it along with me."

"That's right, I'm glad you did," said Oscar, taking the letter. "Much
obliged to you for your trouble," he added, as Clinton drove off.

Oscar now went into the barn, and, seating himself upon a stool, opened
and read his letter. It was from his mother. She acknowledged the
receipt of his letter, and expressed much gratification at hearing that
he was well and enjoying himself. His father, she wrote, thought he
had better return home, and resume his place at school, from which he
had been absent nearly three months. The term would close in about a
month, and he wanted Oscar to be prepared to enter the High School at
that time. Then followed various little messages from the children,
directions about his journey home, &c. In closing, she requested him
to return that week, that he might be ready to go to school the
following Monday.

Oscar was not very much pleased with the contents of the letter. He
did not expect to be recalled so suddenly. He had hoped that, at any
rate, he should not be sent to school again that term. But, his plans
and hopes were all overturned by this letter. He went into the house,
and told the news to his aunt, who expressed regret that he was to
leave so soon.

By-and-bye Jerry came home, but he brought the same scowl upon his face
that Oscar left with him up in the woods. Oscar, too, was as "stuffy"
as ever. No words passed between the two, and each seemed be