do something, and were
not afraid of it. There, that 's the way to sweep clean--so--and so,"
and Mr. Preston continued his explanations and illustrations, until he
had swept the entire floor.

"There, now, does n't that look better?" he added, after he had
finished sweeping. "If a thing is worth doing at all, it is worth
doing well--that's the true doctrine, Oscar. I hope you won't get in
the habit of making half-way work with whatever you undertake. If I
never expected to do anything but sweep chimneys or dig clams for a
living, I would do it thoroughly and faithfully. Of all things, I
despise a lazy, slovenly workman."

It was a very common thing with Oscar to slight his work, when he could
not get rid of it entirely. This was partly the result of a want of
interest in it, and partly the result of habit. The child who performs
a task reluctantly, will not be very likely to do it well.

The day before Thanksgiving, as Oscar was on his way to the store,
after dinner, he met Alfred Walton.

"You 're just the chap I 'm after, Oscar," said Alfred; "I'm going out
to Cambridge, all alone in a wagon, and I want you to go with me.
Come, jump in and go, won't you?"

This was a tempting invitation to Oscar, but he did not see how he
could accept it. He was needed at the store more than ever, that
afternoon, but it was too bad to lose such a fine chance to enjoy
himself. Alfred was in a hurry, and could not stop long for him to
consider the matter. So he concluded to run home, and ask his father's
permission, while Alfred went and got the horse ready. But when he got
home, his father had left. He found Ralph, however, who readily agreed
to take his place at the store, for the afternoon; and on the strength
of this arrangement, he hurried to the hotel and rode off with Alfred.

It was a mild, pleasant afternoon, and the boys had a fine ride.
Alfred had been among horses so much, that he understood their
management pretty well, and was a very good driver. He prided himself
on his ability to turn a neat corner, and to steer through the
narrowest and most crooked passage-ways, such as abound in the
contracted and crowded streets of a city. When they reached the broad
avenues of Cambridge, he allowed Oscar to take the reins awhile, at his
request.

Alfred's step-father had been out to Cambridge, in the forenoon of the
same day, and had purchased a horse at the cattle-market which is held
weekly at that place.