Marco Paul's Voyages and Travels; Vermont

nfes

ne that was seldom used by the family, except in sickness. It stood in a corner of the room not far from the head of Ma

t chair this evening, according to his usual

een helping James in the

did not help him much,--I

?" asked

he is very accommoda

ay, which is unaccommo

row his knife to cut me a cane from some apple-t

knife of your own

arco, "but mi

ed Forester. "What's

ause the joint is r

rusty?" ask

and left it there, and there happened to come a rain in the night and rusted i

James supposed that you would leave his

arco, "that was

asked him for it dist

said

uld be done to James, for being so unaccommodating. He did not know but that he would report him

moment, "That makes me think of a stor

o's

ppeared to be turning over the leaves, for a moment, to find a

ng in the parlor, and began to complain bitterly of her sister Mary. Her sister Mary was

refused to lend you her

am sure she di

ying with it hersel

e, "she is ironin

again. Don't tell her I sent you, but ask her yourself, whether

in; presently she returned with the same answer

aid her mother, "for now I supp

er, you mean

to punish you. I don't s

o blame, for her not being w

do kindnesses, and if she has any unwillingness to lend any thing to you, it must be that you have create

ng, it appeared that Mary had lent her doll to Anne a few days before, and that when she wanted it again, Anne was unwilli

orester," said Marco. "And I did not know

ed and put up

ory there," said Marco. "You mad

"I did. Don't it fit y

rco. "I don't see why he cou

his knife; don't you suppose

ld do any thing for you, of course, because you pa

orester. "There was the man at the mill to-day, who said that

Marco, "I no

it was very much to his

said

how I have acted with his property before. I have always taken a great deal of pains to use it carefully, to bring it back to its place safely, to get the water out, if there was any in it, and

by a matter of pol

ake people unwilling to lend me their things. And I think there must

d Marco, "that I don't

n as you can. Besides, you have done him injustice this evening. You represented him as refusing you his knife because he was unaccommodating and selfish, whereas it was on

that it was so

rusty," resumed Forester. "Perh

asked

old of the blade with a pair of nippers, or something of the kind, and open it; and then, by working it to and fro a few time

one in that cas

blade out entirely. By this means we can clean it of its rust, and then put it in again with a new rivet. If you

pause, "it is time for me to go down, unles

ed him to make his confession. He really wished to make it,--but he did not know how to begin. He wished that his cousin would ask him something about it, or introduce the subject in some

rco, "I'm very

Forester took the lamp and

rester," s

said F

go ju

ed. There was a high foot-board at the foot of the bed

ing that you wan

essed and embarrassed, and moved

onfess to me or not? If there is, do just as you choose about it. I like to have you confess what

to tell you about my going

e you gone?"

l the forenoon,

d you concluded to confess it of your

bed and looked his cousi

Forester, how

the house, for fear that father would see you, as he was out in the yard, pruning trees. Then you went down to the river and sat on a log under some bushes, fishing. After a while you spied an old log canoe, drifting down the river, and the other boys waded out and got it. Then you all got into it and paddled about

sin could have obtained so early and such complete information. After Forester had concluded, he p

and I am sorry that you did, for I mean

d that he had made full confession. "You made up your mind to do it," said he, "and you did begin, and it was the beginning which re

," said Marco. "I suppose it must

en either of the boys, or heard any th

d me yourself," said Marco

retend that I was going away, and then just go

o,--"I don't really s

I went to visit a sick man and help him make his wil

see how you kn

Forester, "but I want to ask you a little more about the af

what he thought that they were doing, and what induced him to go and see them, and how he was prevented from coming back as he had intended. Th

f on this expedition; for, bad as it was for Marco to allow himself to be drawn away by such temptations, it would have

ecome a boy of firm moral principle. Now it is a rule with me, generally, not to punish a boy for what he confesses of his own accord. Still, I think it probable it would be better for you to have some punishment for this. It would help to make a strong impression upon your mind, and make it much more easy for you to

he thought he should feel better to be punished. So Forester reflected upon the subject, and at nine o'clo

t to be?"

to require you to sit still at your desk, with nothing to do. You see it will be a

fact much more severe than he had imagined. He got very tired indeed, long before the forenoon was out. He

of all sorts of pranks and roguery, was less disposed to place confidence in others till he knew the confidence was deserved, than Forester himself was, who had less experience. And when he knew that Forester had gone away, leaving Marco alone, he doubted a little whether he would remain industriously at his work. While he was thinking of this, he heard a slight noise which Marco made with his feet a

returns, but if possible don't let him see you. Say nothing to me a

saw him. James managed the affair very adroitly, for he kept himself entirely out of sight except in one instance, and that was when the boys fell into the water. He then rushe