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reception； but when we were alone together in the sitting…room； and he
began slowly to unfold the letter； I understood it all。 I caught a sight of my
mother's handwriting in the superscription； and there was nothing left to
tell me。
My grandfather held the letter a few seconds irresolutely； and then
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commenced reading it aloud； but he could get no further than the date。
〃I can't read it； Tom；〃 said the old gentleman； breaking down。 〃I
thought I could。〃
He handed it to me。 I took the letter mechanically； and hurried away
with it to my little room； where I had passed so many happy hours。
The week that followed the receipt of this letter is nearly a blank in my
memory。 I remember that the days appeared endless； that at times I could
not realize the misfortune that had befallen us； and my heart upbraided me
for not feeling a deeper grief； that a full sense of my loss would now and
then sweep over me like an inspiration； and I would steal away to my
chamber or wander forlornly about the gardens。 I remember this； but little
more。
As the days went by my first grief subsided； and in its place grew up a
want which I have experienced at every step in life from boyhood to
manhood。 Often； even now； after all these years； when I see a lad of twelve
or fourteen walking by his father's side； and glancing merrily up at his face；
I turn and look after them； and am conscious that I have missed
companionship most sweet and sacred。
I shall not dwell on this portion of my story。 There were many tranquil；
pleasant hours in store for me at that period； and I prefer to turn to them。
One evening the Captain came smiling into the sitting…room with an
open letter in his hand。 My mother had arrived at New York； and would be
with us the next day。 For the first time in weeks…years； it seemed to me…
something of the old cheerfulness mingled with our conversation round
the evening lamp。 I was to go to Boston with the Captain to meet her and
bring her home。 I need not describe that meeting。 With my mother's hand
in mine once more； all the long years we had been parted appeared like a
dream。 Very dear to me was the sight of that slender； pale woman passing
from room to room； and lending a patient grace and beauty to the
saddened life of the old house。
Everything was changed with us now。 There were consultations with
lawyers； and signing of papers； and correspondence； for my father's affairs
had been left in great confusion。 And when these were settled； the
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evenings were not long enough for us to hear all my mother had to tell of
the scenes she had passed through in the ill…fated city。
Then there were old times to talk over； full of reminiscences of Aunt
Chloe and little Black Sam。 Little Black Sam； by the by； had been taken by
his master from my father's service ten months previously； and put on a
sugar…plantation near Baton Rouge。 Not relishing the change； Sam had run
away； and by some mysterious agency got into Canada； from which place
he had sent back several indecorous messages to his late owner。 Aunt
Chloe was still in New Orleans； employed as nurse in one of the cholera
hospital wards； and the Desmoulins； near neighbors of ours； had purchased
the pretty stone house among the orange…trees。
How all these simple details interested me will be readily understood
by any boy who has been long absent from home。
I was sorry when it became necessary to discuss questions more nearly
affecting myself。 I had been removed from school temporarily； but it was
decided； after much consideration； that I should not return； the decision
being left； in a manner； in my own hands。
The Captain wished to carry out his son's intention and send me to
college； for which I was nearly fitted； but our means did not admit of this。
The Captain； too； could ill afford to bear the expense； for his losses by the
failure of the New Orleans business had been heavy。 Yet he insisted on the
plan； not seeing clearly what other disposal to make of me。
In the midst of our discussions a letter came from my Uncle Snow； a
merchant in New York； generously offering me a place in his counting…
house。 The case resolved itself into this： If I went to college； I should have
to be dependent on Captain Nutter for several years； and at the end of the
collegiate course would have no settled profession。 If I accepted my
uncle's offer； I might hope to work my way to independence without loss
of time。 It was hard to give up the long…cherished dream of being a
Harvard boy； but I gave it up。
The decision once made； it was Uncle Snow's wish that I should enter
his counting…house immediately。 The cause of my good uncle's haste was
this…he was afraid that I would turn out to be a poet before he could make
a merchant of me。 His fears were based upon the fact that I had published
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in the Rivermouth Barnacle some verses addressed in a familiar manner
〃To the Moon。〃 Now； the idea of a boy； with his living to get； placing
himself in communication with the Moon； struck the mercantile mind as
monstrous。 It was not only a bad investment； it was lunacy。
'We adopted Uncle Snow's views so far as to accede to his proposition
forthwith。 My mother； I neglected to say； was also to reside in New York。
I shall not draw a picture of Pepper Whitcomb's disgust when the news
was imparted to him； nor attempt to paint Sailor Ben's distress at the
prospect of losing his little messmate。
In the excitement of preparing for the journey I didn't feel any very
deep regret myself。 But when the moment came for leaving； and I saw my
small trunk lashed up behind the carriage； then the pleasantness of the old
life and a vague dread of the new came over me； and a mist filled my eyes；
shutting out the group of schoolfellows； including all the members of the
Centipede Club； who had come down to the house to see me off。
As the carriage swept round the corner； I leaned out of the window to
take a last look at Sailor Ben's cottage； and there was the Admiral's flag
flying at half…mast。
So I left Rivermouth； little dreaming that I was not to see the old place
again for many and many a year。
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CHAPTER Twenty…Two
Exeunt Omnes
With the close of my school…days at Rivermouth this modest chronicle
ends。
The new life upon which I entered； the new friends and foes I
encountered on the road； and what I did and what I did not； are matters
that do not come within the scope of these pages。 But before I write Finis
to the record as it stands； before I leave it…feeling as if I were once more
going away from my boyhood…I have a word or two to say concerning a
few of the personages who have figured in the story； if you will allow me
to call Gypsy a personage。
I am sure that the reader who has followed me thus far will be willing
to hear what became of her； and Sailor Ben and Miss Abigail and the
Captain。
First about Gypsy。 A month after my departure from Rivemouth the
Captain informed me by letter that he had parted with the little mare；
according to agreement。 She had been sold to the ring…master of a
travelling circus （I had stipulated on this disposal of her）； and was about to
set out on her travels。 She did not disappoint my glowing anticipations； but
became quite a celebrity in her way…by dancing the polka to slow music on
a pine…board ball…room constructed for the purpose。
I chanced once； a long while afterwards； to be in a country town where
her troupe was giving exhibitions； I even read the gaudily illumined show…
bill； setting forth the accomplishments of Zuleika； the famed Arabian Trick
Pony…but I failed to recognize my dea