Under Fire: A Tale of New England Village Life

d and deserted him, he was at a loss to know what to say or what move to make. His

thoughts and make out his situation; then, muttering some half

mb by the sight that greeted his eyes. He closed the door, and, taking

as at a loss to know why Fred should be in such a state. Was he not one of the most exemplary bo

to question the boy, who on going from the cool air to a warm roo

n a lounge, and gave him such profes

d has thereby paralyzed his nerves and deadened his brain. In the former case the liquor can be thrown from the stomach, and th

f the vile poison before it had time to stupefy him to any great extent. Nevertheless the dose wa

e lounge for an hour or so, h

at he could hardly walk, but the cool air benefited him so much that when he reached home he managed to get

ith a severe headache, and

re wound his conduct would inflict upon his mother and father, and how they would grieve over it-when he thought what the people of the town would say, and remembered that he had actually called in this lame

once, by Mr. Rexford's manner, that he did not know what had happened the previous night, and this afforded him a sl

Mr. Rexford was a stern man, having little charity for the faults of others. That his cl

age, and never be seen again where he had so disgraced himself. Could he only go to some new place, among strangers, and commence life

hat it would be both unmanly and

occurrence had taken place, and here try, by the strictest discipline, a

riendship since that time-of his treachery and meanness the night before, in getting him to call at Dr. Dutton's while intoxicated, and

r would have produced such an effect upon him, and so h

truth would at some time come to light, if he said nothing about it, whereas, should he bring forward his suspicion as an excuse for getting tipsy, the

ous den at all, and much more for allowing himself to be persuaded

that something was troubling him, that keen eyed John Rexford observed i

h an idea was enough to arouse his suspicion, for he was wholly wrapped up in his business. He could not l

is not broad, intelligent, liberal, and sympathetic,

dance, they know not how to enjoy it. Neither do they possess

The life beyond is something to which they have given little thought. They have starved their nobler nature that is nourished on higher

for if others did not know of what was on his mind, surely the doctor's family did. He knew t

er motherly nature pitied him sincerely, for she saw plainly written in his face the sorrow that he so keenly felt. Bless

rt, which was plainly reflected in his face and exhibited in his demeanor. Fred's regard for her, I think we may safely infer, was much stronger and of a finer type than the

ar of the facts concerning Fred. His version of them was a highly colored one; but of course he made no allusion to the adulteration of the liquor. He claimed that he ind

spread nearly through the

s post, while

cions of the real cause of the occurrence, but simply told the facts. The boys quickly replied that they considered it a

elt ashamed of himself, and was bound to suffer for his foo

, and seeing whether it is right and best. If it is not, I won't do it for anybody's friendship. This will also teach me to keep away from suspicious places, and to

ccurrence. He immediately called Fred into the counting room, and sternl

story, stating that he drank but one glass of beer, an

im where Fred got the money to spend for such a purpose-intimating that perhaps it came from his own cash drawer. The

him adrift. But he wished to make the most of his opportunity, and to impress the boy, and

the present on probation; but he warned the boy that he must keep a sharp lookout, as

n he had expected. And it was far more satisfactory to him than the prev

directly home, where he found his father

hing since the night before; still she knew nothing of the cause of this. His father had received som

; but taking his seat by the side of his mother, and where he could look both parent

versation which had occurred

bitterly, on hearing from the lips of her own child-on whom her hopes and p

ared that this was but the beginning of a dissipated life. Still, he could hardly look for that from a boy whom

of the latter's jealousy, both parents looked upon the whole matter in a very different light. Mr. Worthington was extremely indignant, and expressed his determination to

for him to say and do nothing about the affair, further than to mention that Matthew was with him. He requested his father to adopt the same course. Mrs. Wort

bartender had drugged him, both villains would instantly have denied it, and would, doubtless, have thrown the lie upon young Worthington, thus making him appear more at disadvantage than before. Besi

nds he is not suspected, he will finally tell it as a joke, contrasting his cunning with the stupidity of his victi

appened, they felt proud to think that he had told the whole

to any trouble, they would not only retain the confidence of their parents,