The Errand Boy; Or, How Phil Brent Won Success

with his step-mother and her son, when a snow-ball, moist and hard, struck him just

ntent upon discovering who had committed this out

old gentleman in spectacles, who appeared to have some d

eman who had taken such an unwarrantable liberty with him.

eemed to proceed from behind the st

he surmounted the wall, in time to see a boy of about his own age

d wrathfully. "I thought it was

ulated on discovery, ran the faster, but while fear winged his steps, anger proved the more eff

" demanded Phil angrily, as he seize

d Jonas, struggling ine

wball?" demanded Phil, in a tone that sh

etting the better of his prudence. "Did it hurt y

ard as a cannon-ball," returned Phil grimly

nas, beginning to see that

e," said Phil, as he forcibly drew Jonas back till he lay upon the sn

to murder me?" shrieked J

ace," said Phil, continuin

tell my mother," ejaculated

l her why I did

face an effectual scrubbing, and did not desist until he

up!" said

t, his mean features worki

er for this!

me!" said Phil

eanest boy in

e that to the opinion

ell my

e and t

me, and Phil did not

street and plod angrily ho

s. Brent always stands up for her precious son, who is as like her a

d his story. So he delayed half an hour and then walked slowly up to the side door. He opened the door, brushed off th

that Mrs. Brent-he never called her mother-was out, but a thin, acid, measured voice

Brent, c

ed the sit

th a sharp visage, cold eyes and firmly compressed

ulking form of Jonas, with whom

. Brent," said

ent acidly, "are you not ash

be," said Philip, bracing

rutality," continued Mrs. Brent, pointing

asize these words, u

smiling, for to him

sharply. "I am not surprised at

n that I have trea

you con

ss it. The brutality you speak

orted Mrs. Bren

the wolf and the

as it happened," said Phil. "Did he tell you that he

ow at you playfully and you s

all was hard enough to stun me if it had hit me a little h

elieve him, mother!" sa

do?" demanded Mrs.

he snow and washed hi

, with evident hostility. "I am not sure but the poor boy wil

ay as to his attack upon m

you have very muc

chimed in Jonas

his step-broth

h now and then, Jonas?"

ng endured your insolence. You think because I am a woman you can be insolent with impunity, but you will find yourself mistaken. It is time that you

leave you all his m

father!" answered