I wrote four days ago and haven't got any answer yet."

"Where did you write to?"

"To Gresham, of course," answered Phil, in surprise.

"You don't mean to say you hain't heard of their leavin' Gresham?" said
Reuben, in evident astonishment.

"Who has left Gresham?"

"Your mother--leastwise, Mrs. Brent--and Jonas. They cleared out three
weeks ago, and nobody's heard a word of them since--that is, nobody in
the village."

"Don't you know where they've gone?" asked Phil, in amazement.

"No. I was goin' to ask you. I s'posed, of course, they'd write and let
you know."

"I didn't even know they had left Gresham."

"Well, that's what I call cur'us. It ain't treatin' you right accordin'
to my ideas."

"Is the house shut up?"

"It was till two days ago. Then a brother of Mrs. Brent came and opened
it. He has brought his wife and one child with him, and it seems they're
goin' to live there. Somebody asked him where his sister and Jonas were,
but they didn't get no satisfaction. He said he didn't rightly know
himself. He believed they was travelin'; thought they might be in
Canada."

Phil looked and felt decidedly sober at this information. He understood,
of course, now, why his letter had not been answered. It looked as if he
were an outcast from the home that had been his so long. When he came to
New York to earn a living he felt that he was doing so voluntarily,
and was not obliged to do so. Now he was absolutely thrown upon his own
resources, and must either work or starve.

"They've treated you real mean," said Reuben.

"I never did like Mrs. Brent, or Jonas either, for that matter.

"Where are you working?"

Phil answered this question and several others which his honest country
friend asked, but his mind was preoccupied, and he answered some of the
questions at random. Finally he excused himself on the ground that he
must be getting back to the store.

That evening Phil thought seriously of his position. Something must be
done, that was very evident. His expenses exceeded his income, and he
needed some clothing. There was no chance of getting his wages raised
under a year, for he already received more pay than it was customary to
give to a boy. What should he do?

Phil decided to lay his position frankly before the only friend he had
in the city likely to help him--Mr. Oliver Carter. The old gentleman
had been so friendly and kind that he felt that he would not at any
rate repulse him. After he ha