was of a
kind that did not permit that. But he would always have shared with
me whatever he had. I have had it in mind to do the same by his
children. I have sold half the farm--the western half--your half and
Lawrence's. There is four thousand dollars in cash for each of you,
and four thousand on a mortgage for each of you at six per cent.
You had better draw out of school-teaching as soon as possible and
study law--if that is still what you most want to do.

Your aunt is well and sends her love. We are both looking forward
to seeing you and Lawrence at Christmas.

Your affectionate uncle,

ROBERT UPTON.

A flood of warm emotion poured through Irving; his eyes filled. He had
sometimes thought his uncle selfish and narrow--and all the time he had
been working towards this!

Irving wrote his reply; he wrote also to Lawrence. Then he took his
letters down to the Study building, to post them so that they might go
out with the night mail. On his way he passed the Barclay house; it was
all brightly lighted, the sound of laughter and of gay boy voices rang
out through the open windows; the notes of a piano then subdued them,
and there burst out a chorus in the sonorous measured sweep of "Wacht am
Rhein."

Irving stood for a few moments and listened; his exultant heart was
responsive to that shouted song. Fellows who could sing like that, he
thought, must have trodden disappointment under heel.

An hour later, when Irving sat in his room, the boys who had been
entertained at the Barclays' came tramping up the stairs. They were
still singing, but they stopped their song before they entered the
dormitory. Irving met them to say good-night--first Dennison and then
Morrill and then Louis Collingwood.

"Have you heard the new song Wes has got off, Mr. Upton?" asked
Dennison.

"No, what's that?"

"Hit it up, Wes."

"Oh, choke it off." Collingwood grinned uneasily.

"Go on, Wes,--strike up. We'll all join in."

"Wait till I get my banjo--you don't mind, do you, Mr. Upton?"

"No. I'd like to hear it."

So Westby hastened to his room and returned, bearing the instrument; and
all the other boys gathered round, except Collingwood, who stood
sheepishly off at one side. Westby twanged the strings and then to the
accompaniment began,--

"Across the broad prairies he came from the west,
With fire in his eye and with brawn on his chest;
His arms they wer