CHAPTER XXXIII. CONCLUSION
The restitution which Squire Haynes was compelled to make stripped himof more than half his property. His mortification and chagrin was sogreat that he determined to remove from Rossville. He gave no intimationwhere he was going, but it is understood that he is now living in thevicinity of Philadelphia, in a much more modest way than at Rossville.
To anticipate matters a little, it may be said that John was recentlyexamined for college, but failed so signally that he will not again makethe attempt. He has shown a disposition to be extravagant, which, unlesscurbed, will help him run through his father's diminished property at arapid rate whenever it shall come into his possession.
The squire's handsome house in Rossville was purchased by HenryMorton--I must still be allowed to call him thus, though not his realname. He has not yet taken up his residence there, but there is reasonto believe that ere long there will be a Mrs. Morton to keep him companytherein.
Not long since, as he and Frank lay stretched out beneath athick-branching oak in the front yard at the farm, Mr. Morton turned toour hero and said, "Are you meaning to go to college when your fathercomes home, Frank?"
Frank hesitated.
"I have always looked forward to it," he said, "but lately I have beenthinking that I shall have to give up the idea."
"Why so?"
"Because it is so expensive that my father cannot, in justice to hisother children, support me through a four years' course. Besides, youknow, Mr. Morton, we are four hundred dollars in your debt."
"Should you like very much to go to college, Frank?"
"Better than anything else in the world."
"Then you shall go."
Frank looked up in surprise.
"Don't you understand me?" said Mr. Morton.
"I mean that I will defray your expenses through college."
Frank could hardly believe his ears.
"You would spend so much money on me!" he exclaimed incredulously. "Why,it will cost a thousand dollars."
"Very well, I can afford it," said Mr. Morton. "But perhaps you objectto the plan."
"How good you are to me!" said Frank, impulsively seizing his friend'shand. "What have I done to deserve so much kindness?"
"You have done your duty, Frank, at the sacrifice of your inclinations.I think you ought to be rewarded. God has bestowed upon me more than Ineed. I think he intends that I shall become his almoner. If youdesire to express your gratitude, you can best do it by improving theadvantages which will be opened to you."
Frank hastened to his mother to communicate his brilliant prospects. Herjoy was scarcely less than his.
"Do not forget, Frank," she said, "who it is that has raised up thisfriend for you. Give Him the thanks."
There was another whose heart was gladdened when this welcome newsreached him in his tent beside the Rappahannock. He felt that whilehe was doing his duty in the field, God was taking better care of hisfamily than he could have done if he remained at home.
Before closing this chronicle I must satisfy the curiosity of my readersupon a few points in which they may feel interested.
The Rossville Guards are still in existence, and Frank is still theircaptain. They have already done escort duty on several occasions, andonce they visited Boston, and marched up State Street with a precisionof step which would have done no discredit to veteran soldiers.
Dick Bumstead's reformation proved to be a permanent one. He is Frank'smost intimate friend, and with his assistance is laboring to remedy thedefects of his early education. He has plenty of ability, and, now thathe has turned over a new leaf, I have no hesitation in predicting forhim a useful and honorable career.
Old Mrs. Payson has left Rossville, much to the delight of her grandsonSam, who never could get along with his grandmother. She still wears forbest the "bunnit" presented her by Cynthy Ann, which, notwithstandingits mishap, seems likely to last her to the end of her natural life. Shestill has a weakness for hot gingerbread and mince pie, and, thoughshe is turned of seventy, would walk a mile any afternoon with such aninducement.
Should any of my readers at any time visit the small town of Sparta, andencounter in the street a little old lady dressed in a brown cloakand hood, and firmly grasping in her right hand a faded blue cottonumbrella, they may feel quite certain that they are in the presence ofMrs. Mehitabel Payson, relict of Jeremiah Payson, deceased.
Little Pomp has improved very much both in his studies and his behavior.He now attends school regularly, and is quite as far advanced as mostboys of his age. Though he is not entirely cured of his mischievouspropensities, he behaves "pretty well, considering," and is a great dealof company to old Chloe, to whom he reads stories in books lent him byFrank and others. Chloe is amazingly proud of Pomp, whom she regards asa perfect prodigy of talent.
"Lor' bress you, missus," she remarked to Mrs. Frost one day, "he readsjest as fast as I can talk. He's an awful smart boy, dat Pomp."
"Why don't you let him teach you to read, Chloe?"
"Oh, Lor', missus, I couldn't learn, nohow. I ain't got no gumption. Idon't know noffin'."
"Why couldn't you learn as well as Pomp?"
"Dat ar boy's a gen'us, missus. His fader was a mighty smart nigger, andPomp's took arter him."
Chloe's conviction of her own inferiority and Pomp's superior abilityseemed so rooted that Mrs. Frost finally gave up her persuasions.Meanwhile, as Chloe is in good health and has abundance of work, she hasno difficulty in earning a comfortable subsistence for herself and Pomp.As soon as Pomp is old enough, Frank will employ him upon the farm.
While I am writing these lines intelligence has just been received fromFrank's substitute at the seat of war. He has just been promoted to acaptaincy. In communicating this he adds: "You may tell Frank that I amnow his equal in rank, though his commission bears an earlier date. Isuppose, therefore, I must content myself with being Captain Frost, Jr.I shall be very glad when the necessities of the country will permit meto lay aside the insignia of rank and, returning to Rossville, subsideinto plain Henry Frost again. If you ask me when this is to be, I canonly say that it depends on the length of our struggle. I am enlistedfor the war, and I mean to see it through! Till that time Frank mustcontent himself with acting as my substitute at home. I am so wellpleased with his management of the farm that I am convinced it is doingas well as if I were at home to superintend it in person. Express to Mr.Waring my gratitude for the generous proposal he has made to Frank. Ifeel that words are inadequate to express the extent of our obligationsto him."
Some years have passed since the above letter was written. The war ishappily over, and Captain Frost has returned home with an honorablerecord of service. Released from duty at home, Frank has exchanged thefarm for the college hall, and he is now approaching graduation, oneof the foremost scholars in his class. He bids fair to carry out thepromise of his boyhood, and in the more varied and prolonged campaignwhich manhood opens before him we have reason to believe that he willdisplay equal fidelity and gain an equal success.
Frank's Campaign; Or, The Farm and the Camp Page 33
