I should have give in, if it
hadn't been for you.

"Every time, I'd say to myself, I can't stand it no longer; then
I'd see you a-sitting in your donkey carriage, looking at me with
such sorry eyes.

"But that isn't what I was going to tell yer; and Tip is getting
tired writing such a lot of stuff. I've begun to be a soldier, I
don't wear any uniform except a little blue star on my coat; but
everybody knows by this, that I'm trying to fight against all my
old habits. It's hard work I tell you. 'Tisn't as if I was at
Mrs. Taylor's, with everybody helping me, and nothing to make me
cross. There's lots of bad boys here, who won't join the company
of soldiers, and they do everything they can to hinder and bother
us. I'm most afraid to tell yer one thing, for fear ye'll think
Tip and I are better than we are. We've begun to pray God to help
us, and it does come a sight easier to do as we oughter.

"If ever ye see anything of my poor old father, I'd like him to
know that I pray for him whenever I do for myself. I shouldn't
wonder if I should get so I could forgive mammy sometime. Perhaps
she didn't know any better.

"Your true friend,

"PATRICK RILEY."

CHAPTER IX.

BERTIE'S SPELLING MATCH.

Early in November, Mr. Curtis removed his family to Woodlawn; and
Bertie commenced attending school. It was too far for him to walk, and
now he found Whitefoot a greater convenience than ever. Close by the
schoolhouse lived a farmer by the name of Camp, who readily agreed
with Mr. Curtis to allow the donkey to stand in his barn during
school hours.

Miss Esther Taylor, his former teacher, welcomed him back with great
pleasure, for she had learned to love him like a brother. His health
had now greatly improved by so much exercise in the open air, and he
resolved to study hard through all the winter months.

I suppose there are many children more forward in their lessons than
he was; but he had laid a good foundation for an education. He could
read correctly, and with expression, and had begun Colburn's Mental
Arithmetic. In geography he had only learned the general divisions of
the globe, and had begun to draw upon his slate, islands, lakes,
capes, peninsulas, etc., which greatly helped him to understand the
explanations in his book.

In spelling, Bertie was rather backward, not