START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK NOW OR NEVER*** E-text prepared by Al Haines NOW OR NEVER Or, The Adventures of Bobby Bright. A Story for Young Folks by OLIVER OPTIC Author of _The Boat Club_, _All Aboard_, _In Doors and Out_, etc. Boston: Lee and Shepard, Publishers. New York: Lee, Shepard & Dillingham, 49 Greene Street 1872 TO MY NEPHEW, CHARLES HENRY POPE. This Book IS AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATED. PREFACE The story contained in this volume is a record of youthful struggles, not only in the world without, but in the world within; and the success of the little hero is not merely a gathering up of wealth and honors, but a triumph over the temptations that beget the pilgrim on the plain of life. The attainment of worldly prosperity is not the truest victory, and the author has endeavored to make the interest of his story depend more on the hero's devotion to principles than on his success in business. Bobby Bright is a smart boy; perhaps the reader will think he is altogether too smart for one of his years. This is a progressive age, and any thing which Young America may do need not surprise any person. That little gentleman is older than his father, knows more than his mother, can talk politics, smoke cigars, and drive a 2:40 horse. He orders "one stew" with as much ease as a man of forty, and can even pronounce correctly the villanous names of sundry French and German wines and liqueurs. One would suppose, to hear him talk, that he had been intimate with Socrates and Solon, with Napoleon and Noah Webster; in short, that whatever he did not know was not worth knowing. In the face of these manifestations of exuberant genius, it would be absurd to accuse the author of making his hero do too much. All he has done is to give this genius a right direction; and for politics, cigars, 2:40 horses, and "one stew," he has substituted the duties of a rational and accountable being, regarding them as better fitted to develop the young gentleman's mind, heart, and soul. Bobby Bright is something more than a smart boy. He is a good boy, and makes a true man. His daily life is the moral of the story, and the author hopes that his devotion to principle will make a stronger impression upon the mind of the young reader, than even the most exciting incidents of his eventful career. WILLIAM T. ADAMS. DORCHESTER, Nov. 15, 1856. CONTENTS. CHAP. I.--In which Bobby goes a fishing, and catches a Horse. CHAP. II.--In which Bobby blushes several Times, and does a Sum in Arithmetic. CHAP. III.--In which the Little Black House is bought, but not paid for. CHAP. IV.--In which Bobby gets out of one Scrape, and into another. CHAP. V.--In which Bobby gives his Note for Sixty Dollars. CHAP. VI.--In which Bobby sets out on his Travels. CHAP. VII.--In which Bobby stands up for certain "Inalienable Rights." CHAP. VIII.--In which Mr. Timmins is astonished, and Bobby dines in Chestnut Street. CHAP. IX.--In which Bobby opens various Accounts, and wins his first Victory. CHAP X.--In which Bobby is a little too smart. CHAP. XI.--In which Bobby strikes a Balance, and returns to Riverdale. CHAP. XII.--In which Bobby astonishes sundry Persons, and pays Part of his Note. CHAP. XIII.--In which Bobby declines a Copartnership, and visits B---- again. CHAP. XIV.--In which Bobby's Air Castle is upset, and Tom Spicer takes to the Woods. CHAP. XV.--In which Bobby gets into a Scrape, and Tom Spicer turns up again. CHAP. XVI.--In which Bobby finds "it is an ill wind that blows no one any good." CHAP. XVII.--In which Tom has a good Time, and Bobby meets with a terrible Misfortune. CHAT. XVIII.--In which Bobby takes French Leave, and camps in the Woods. CHAP. XIX.--In which Bobby has a narrow Escape, and goes to Sea with Sam Ray. CHAP. XX.--In which the Clouds blow over, and Bobby is himself again. CHAP. XXI.--In which Bobby steps off the Stage, and the Author must finish "Now or Never." CHAPTER I. IN WHICH BOBBY GOES A FISHING, AND CATCHES A HORSE. "By jolly! I've got a bite!" exclaimed Tom Spicer, a rough, hard-looking boy, who sat on a rock by the river's side, anxiously watching the cork float on his line. "Catch him, then," quietly responded Bobby Bright, who occupied another rock near the first speaker, as he pulled up a large pout, and, without any appearance of exultation, proceeded to unhook and place him in his basket. "You are a lucky dog, Bob," added Tom, as he glanced into the basket of his companion, which now contained six good-sized fishes. "I haven't caught one yet." "You don't fish deep enough." "I fish on the bottom." "That is too deep." "It don't make any difference how I fish; it is all luck." "Not all luck, Tom; there is something in doing it right." "I shall not catch a fish," continued Tom, in despair. "You'll catch something else, though, when you go home." "Will I?" "I'm afraid you will." "Who says I will?" "Didn't you tell me you were 'hooking jack'? "Who is going to know any thing about it?" "The master will know you are absent." "I shall tell him my mother sent me over to the village on an errand." "I never knew a fellow to 'hook jack,' yet, without getting found out." "I shall not get found out unless you blow on me; and you wouldn't be mean enough to do that;" and Tom glanced uneasily at his companion. "Suppose your mother should ask me if I had seen you." "You would tell her you have not, of course." "Of course?" "Why, wouldn't you? Wouldn't you do as much as that for a fellow?" "It would be a lie." "A lie! Humph!" "I wouldn't lie for any fellow," replied Bobby, stoutly, as he pulled in his seventh fish, and placed him in the basket. "Wouldn't you?" "No, I wouldn't." "Then, let me tell you this; if you peach on me I'll smash your head." Tom Spicer removed one hand from the fish pole and, doubling his fist, shook it with energy at his companion. "Smash away," replied Bobby, coolly. "I shall not go out of my way to tell tales; but if your mother or the master asks me the question, I shall not lie." "Won't you?" "No, I won't." "I'll bet you will;" and Tom dropped his fish pole, and was on the point of jumping over to the rock occupied by Bobby, when the float of the former disappeared beneath the surface of the water. "You have got a bite," coolly interposed Bobby, pointing to the line. Tom snatched the pole, and with a violent twitch, pulled up a big pout; but his violence jerked the hook out of the fish's mouth, and he disappeared beneath the surface of the river. "Just my luck!" muttered Tom. "Keep cool, then." "I will fix you yet." "All right; but you had better not let go your pole again, or you will lose another fish." "I'm bound to smash your head, though." "No, you won't." "Won't I?" "Two can play at that game." "Do you stump me?" "No; I don't want to fight; I won't fight if I can help it." "I'll bet you won't!" sneered Tom. "But I will defend myself." "Humph!" "I am not a liar, and the fear of a flogging shall not make me tell a lie."' "Go to Sunday school--don't you?" "I do; and besides that, my mother always taught me never to tell a lie." "Come! you needn't preach to me. By and by, you will call me a liar." "No, I won't; but just now you told me you meant to lie to your mother, and to the master." "What if I did? That is none of your business." "It is my business when you want me to lie for you, though; and I shall not do it." "Blow on me, and see what you will get." "I don't mean to blow on you." "Yes you do." "I will not lie about it; that's all." "By jolly! see that horse!" exclaimed Tom, suddenly, as he pointed to the road leading to Riverdale centre. "By gracious!" added Bobby, dropping his fish pole, as he saw the horse running at a furious rate up the road from the village. The mad animal was attached to a chaise, in which was seated a lady, whose frantic shrieks pierced the soul of our youthful hero. The course of the road was by the river's side for nearly half a mile, and crossed the stream at a wooden bridge but a few rods from the place where the boys were fishing. Bobby Bright's impulses were noble and generous; and without stopping to consider the peril to which the attempt would expose him, he boldly resolved to stop that horse, or let the animal dash him to pieces on the bridge. "Now or never!" shouted he, as he leaped from the rock, and ran with all his might to the bridge. The shrieks of the lady rang in his ears, and seemed to command him, with an authority which he could not resist, to stop the horse. There was no time for deliberation; and, indeed, Bobby did not want any deliberation. The lady was in danger; if the horse's flight was not checked, she would be dashed in pieces; and what then could excuse him for neglecting his duty? Not the fear of broken limbs, of mangled flesh, or even of a sudden and violent death. It is true Bobby did not think of any of these things; though, if he had, it would have made no difference with him. He was a boy who would not fight except in self-defence, but he had the courage to do a deed which might have made the stoutest heart tremble with terror. Grasping a broken rail as he leaped over the fence, he planted himself in the middle of the bridge, which was not more than half as wide as the road at each end of it, to await the coming of the furious animal. On he came, and the piercing shrieks of the affrighted lady nerved him to the performance of his perilous duty. The horse approached him at a mad run, and his feet struck the loose planks of the bridge. The brave boy then raised his big club, and brandished it with all his might in the air. Probably the horse did not mean any thing very bad; was only frightened, and had no wicked intentions towards the lady; so that when a new danger menaced him in front, he stopped suddenly, and with so much violence as to throw the lady forward from her seat upon the dasher of the chaise. He gave a long snort, which was his way of expressing his fear. He was evidently astonished at the sudden barrier to his further progress, and commenced running back. "Save me!" screamed the lady. "I will, ma'am; don't be scared!" replied Bobby, confidently, as he dropped his club, and grasped the bridle of the horse, just as he was on the point of whirling round to escape by the way he had come. "Stop him! Do stop him!" cried the lady. "Whoa!" said Bobby, in gentle tones, as he patted the trembling horse on his neck. "Whoa, good horse! Be quiet! Whoa!" The animal, in his terror, kept running backward and forward; but Bobby persevered in his gentle treatment, and finally soothed him, so that he stood quiet enough for the lady to get out of the chaise. "What a miracle that I am alive!" exclaimed she when she realized that she stood once more upon the firm earth. "Yes, ma'am, it is lucky he didn't break the chaise. Whoa! Good horse! Stand quiet!" "What a brave little fellow you are!" said the lady, as soon as she could recover her breath so as to express her admiration of Bobby's bold act. "O, I don't mind it," replied he, blushing like a rose in June. "Did he run away with you?" "No; my father left me in the chaise for a moment while he went into a store in the village, and a teamster who was passing by snapped his whip, which frightened Kate so that she started off at the top of her speed. I was so terrified, that I screamed with all my might, which frightened her the more. The more I screamed, the faster she ran." "I dare say. Good horse! Whoa, Kate!" "She is a splendid creature; she never did such a thing before. My father will think I am killed." By this time, Kate had become quite reasonable, and seemed very much obliged to Bobby for preventing her from doing mischief to her mistress; for she looked at the lady with a glance of satisfaction, which her deliverer interpreted as a promise to behave better in future. He relaxed his grasp upon the bridle, patted her upon the neck, and said sundry pleasant things to encourage her in her assumed purpose of doing better. Kate appeared to understand Bobby's kind words, and declared as plainly as a horse could declare that she would be sober and tractable. "Now, ma'am, if you will get into the chaise again, I think Kate will let me drive her down to the village." "O, dear! I should not dare to do so." "Then, if you please, I will drive down alone, so as to let your father know that you are safe." "Do." "I am sure he must feel very bad, and I may save him a great deal of pain, for a man can suffer a great deal in a very short time." "You are a little philosopher, as well as a hero, and if you are not afraid of Kate, you may do as you wish." "She seems very gentle now;" and Bobby turned her round, and got into the chaise. "Be very careful," said the lady. "I will." Bobby took the reins, and Kate, true to the promise she had virtually made, started off at a round pace towards the village. He had not gone more than a quarter of a mile of the distance when he met a wagon containing three men, one of whom was the lady's father. The gestures which he made assured Bobby he had found the person whom he sought, and he stopped. "My daughter! Where is she?" gasped the gentleman, as he leaped from the wagon. "She is safe, sir," replied Bobby, with all the enthusiasm of his warm nature. "Thank God!" added the gentleman, devoutly as he placed himself in the chaise by the side of Bobby. CHAPTER II. IN WHICH BOBBY BLUSHES SEVERAL TIMES, AND DOES A SUM IN ARITHMETIC. Mr. Bayard, the owner of the horse, and the father of the lady whom Bobby had saved from impending death, was too much agitated to say much, even to the bold youth who had rendered him such a signal service. He could scarcely believe the intelligence which the boy brought him; it seemed too good to be true. He had assured himself that Ellen--for that was the young lady's name--was killed, or dreadfully injured. Kate was driven at the top of her speed, and in a few moments reached the bridge, where Ellen was awaiting his arrival. "Here I am, father, alive and unhurt!" cried Ellen, as Mr. Bayard stopped the horse. "Thank Heaven my child!" replied the glad father, embracing his daughter. "I was sure you were killed." "No, father; thanks to this bold youth, I am uninjured." "I am under very great obligations to you, young man," continued Mr. Bayard, grasping Bobby's hand. "O, never mind, sir;" and Bobby blushed just as he had blushed when the young lady spoke to him. "We shall never forget you--shall we, father?" added Ellen. "No, my child; and I shall endeavor to repay, to some slight extent, our indebtedness to him. But you have not yet told me how you were saved." "O, I merely stopped the horse; that's all," answered Bobby, modestly. "Yes, father, but he placed himself right before Kate when she was almost flying over the ground. When I saw him, I was certain that he would lose his life, or be horribly mangled for his boldness," interposed Ellen. "It was a daring deed, young man, to place yourself before an affrighted horse in that manner," said Mr. Bayard. "I didn't mind it, sir." "And then he flourished a big club, almost as big as he is himself, in the air, which made Kate pause in her mad career, when my deliverer here grasped her by the bit and held her." "It was well and bravely done." "That it was, father; not many men would have been bold enough to do what he did," added Ellen, with enthusiasm. "Very true; and I feel, that I am indebted to him for your safety. What is your name, young man?" "Robert Bright, sir." Mr. Bayard took from his pocket several pieces of gold, which he offered to Bobby. "No, I thank you, sir," replied Bobby, blushing. "What! as proud as you are bold?" "I don't like to be paid for doing my duty." "Bravo! You are a noble little fellow! But you must take this money, not as a reward for what you have done, but as a testimonial of my gratitude." "I would rather not, sir." "Do take it, Robert," added Ellen. "I don't like to take it. It looks mean to take money for doing one's duty." "Take it, Robert, to please me;" and the young lady smiled so sweetly that Bobby's resolution began to give way. "Only to please me, Robert." "I will, to please you; but I don't feel right about it." "You must not be too proud, Robert," said Mr. Bayard, as he put the gold pieces into his hand. "I am not proud, sir; only I don't like to be paid for doing my duty." "Not paid, my young friend. Consider that you have placed me under an obligation to you for life. This money is only an expression of my own and my daughter's feelings. It is but a small sum, but I hope you will permit me to do something more for you, when you need it. You will regard me as your friend as long as you live." "Thank you, sir." "When you want any assistance of any kind, come to me. I live in Boston; here is my business card." Mr. Bayard handed him a card, on which Bobby read, "F. Bayard & Co., Booksellers and Publishers, No. ---- Washington Street, Boston." "You are very kind, sir." "I want you should come to Boston and see us too," interposed Ellen. "I should be delighted to show you the city, to take you to the Athenaeum and the Museum." "Thank you." Mr. Bayard inquired of Bobby about his parents, where he lived, and about the circumstances of his family. He then took out his memorandum book, in which he wrote the boy's name and residence. "I am sorry to leave you now, Robert, but I have over twenty miles to ride to-day. I should be glad to visit your mother, and next time I come to Riverdale, I shall certainly do so." "Thank you, sir; my mother is a very poor woman, but she will be glad to see you." "Now, good by, Robert." "Good by," repeated Ellen. "Good by." Mr. Bayard drove off, leaving Bobby standing on the bridge with the gold pieces in his hand. "Here's luck!" said Bobby, shaking the coin. "Won't mother's eyes stick out when she sees these shiners? There are no such shiners in the river as these." Bobby was astonished, and the more he gazed at the gold pieces, the more bewildered he became. He had never held so much money in his hand before. There were three large coins and one smaller one. He turned them over and over, and finally ascertained that the large coins were ten dollar pieces, and the smaller one a five dollar piece. Bobby was not a great scholar, but he knew enough of arithmetic to calculate the value of his treasure. He was so excited, however, that he did not arrive at the conclusion half so quick as most of my young readers would have done. "Thirty-five dollars!" exclaimed Bobby, when the problem was solved. "Gracious!" "Hallo, Bob!" shouted Tom Spicer, who had got tired of fishing; besides, the village clock was just striking twelve, and it was time for him to go home. Bobby made no answer, but hastily tying the gold pieces up in the corner of his handkerchief, he threw the broken rail he had used in stopping the horse where it belonged, and started for the place where he had left his fishing apparatus. "Hallo, Bob!" "Well, Tom?" "Stopped him--didn't you?" "I did." "You were a fool; he might have killed you." "So he might; but I didn't stop to think of that. The lady's life was in danger." "What of that?" "Every thing, I should say." "Did he give you any thing?" "Yes;" and Bobby continued his walk down to the river's side. "I say, what did he give you, Bobby?" persisted Tom, following him. "O, he gave me a good deal of money." "How much?" "I want to get my fish line now; I will tell you all about it some other time," replied Bobby, who rather suspected the intentions of his companion. "Tell me now; how much was it?" "Never mind it now." "Humph! Do you think I mean to rob you?" "No." "Ain't you going halveses?" "Why should I?" "Wasn't I with you?" "Were you?" "Wasn't I fishing with you?" "You did not do any thing about stopping the horse." "I would, if I hadn't been afraid to go up to the road." "Afraid?" "Somebody might have seen me, and they would have known that I was hooking jack." "Then you ought not to share the money." "Yes, I had. When a fellow is with you, he ought to have half. It is mean not to give him half." "If you had done any thing to help stop the horse, I would have shared with you. But you didn't." "What of that?" Bobby was particularly sensitive in regard to the charge of meanness. His soul was a great deal bigger than his body, and he was always generous, even to his own injury, among his companions. It was evident to him that Tom had no claim to any part of the reward; but he could not endure the thought even of being accused of meanness. "I'll tell you what I will do, if you think I ought to share with you. I will leave it out to Squire Lee; and if he thinks you ought to have half, or any part of the money, I will give it to you." "No, you don't; you want to get me into a scrape for hooking jack. I see what you are up to." "I will state the case to him without telling him who the boys are." "No, you don't! You want to be mean about it. Come, hand over half the money." "I will not," replied Bobby, who, when it became a matter of compulsion, could stand his ground at any peril. "How much have you got?" "Thirty-five dollars." "By jolly! And you mean to keep it all yourself?" "I mean to give it to my mother." "No, you won't! If you are going to be mean about it, I'll smash your head!" This was a favorite expression with Tom Spicer, who was a noted bully among the boys of Riverdale. The young ruffian now placed himself in front of Bobby, and shook his clinched fist in his face. "Hand over." "No, I won't. You have no claim to any part at the money; at least, I think you have not. If you have a mind to leave it out to Squire Lee, I will do what is right about it." "Not I; hand over, or I'll smash your head!" "Smash away," replied Bobby, placing himself on the defensive. "Do you think you can lick me?" asked Tom, not a little embarrassed by this exhibition of resolution on the part of his companion. "I don't think any thing about it; but you don't bully me in that kind of style." "Won't I?" "No." But Tom did not immediately put his threat in execution, and Bobby would not be the aggressor; so he stepped one side to pass his assailant. Tom took this as an evidence of the other's desire to escape, and struck him a heavy blow on the side of the head The next instant the bully was floundering in the soft mud of a ditch; Bobby's reply was more than Tom had bargained for, and while he was dragging himself out of the ditch, our hero ran down to the river, and got his fish pole and basket. "You'll catch it for that!" growled Tom. "I'm all ready, whenever it suits your convenience," replied Bobby. "Just come out here and take it in fair fight," continued Tom, who could not help bullying, even in the midst of his misfortune. "No, I thank you; I don't want to fight with any fellow. I will not fight if I can help it." "What did you hit me for, then?" "In self-defence." "Just come out here, and try it fair?" "No;" and Bobby hurried home, leaving the bully astonished, and discomfited by the winding up of the morning's sport. CHAPTER III. IN WHICH THE LITTLE BLACK HOUSE IS BOUGHT BUT NOT PAID FOR. Probably my young readers have by this time come to the conclusion that Bobby Bright was a very clever fellow--one whose acquaintance they would be happy to cultivate. Perhaps by this time they have become so far interested in him as to desire to know who his parents were, what they did, and in what kind of a house he lived. I hope none of my young friends will think any less of him when I inform them that Bobby lived in an old black house which had never been painted, which had no flower garden in front of it, and which, in a word, was quite far from being a palace. A great many very nice city folks would not have considered it fit to live in, would have turned up their noses at it, and wondered that any human beings could be so degraded as to live in such a miserable house. But the widow Bright, Bobby's mother, thought it was a very comfortable house, and considered herself very fortunate in being able to get so good a dwelling. She had never lived in a fine house, knew nothing about velvet carpets, mirrors seven feet high, damask chairs and lounges, or any of the smart things which very rich and very proud city people consider absolutely necessary for their comfort. Her father had been a poor man, her husband had died a poor man, and her own life had been a struggle to keep the demons of poverty and want from invading her humble abode. Mr. Bright, her deceased husband, had been a day laborer in Riverdale. He never got more than a dollar a day, which was then considered very good wages in the country. He was a very honest, industrious man, and while he lived, his family did very well. Mrs. Bright was a careful, prudent woman, and helped him support the family. They never knew what it was to want for any thing. Poor people, as well as rich, have an ambition to be something which they are not, or to have something which they have not. Every person, who has an energy of character, desires to get ahead in the world. Some merchants, who own big ships and big warehouses by the dozen, desire to be what they consider rich. But their idea of wealth is very grand. They wish to count it in millions of dollars, in whole blocks of warehouses; and they are even more discontented than the day laborer who has to earn his dinner before he can eat it. Bobby's father and mother had just such an ambition, only it was so modest that the merchant would have laughed at it. They wanted to own the little black house in which they resided, so that they could not only be sure of a home while they lived, but have the satisfaction of living in their own house. This was a very reasonable ideal, compared with that of the rich merchants I have mentioned; but it was even more difficult for them to reach it, for the wages were small, and they had many mouths to feed. Mr. Bright had saved up fifty dollars; and he thought a great deal more of this sum than many people do of a thousand dollars. He had had to work very hard and be very prudent in order to accumulate this sum, which made him value it all the more highly. With this sum of fifty dollars at his command, John Bright felt rich; and then, more than ever before, he wanted to own the little black house. He felt as grand as a lord; and as soon as the forty-nine dollars had become fifty, he waited upon Mr. Hardhand, a little crusty old man, who owned the little black house, and proposed to purchase it. The landlord was a hard man. Every body in Riverdale said he was mean and stingy. Any generous-hearted man would have been willing to make an easy bargain with an honest, industrious, poor man, like John Bright, who wished to own the house in which he lived; but Mr. Hardhand, although he was rich, only thought how he could make more money. He asked the poor man four hundred dollars for the old house and the little lot of land on which it stood. It was a matter of great concern to John Bright. Four hundred dollars was a "mint of money," and he could not see how he should ever be able to save so much from his daily earnings. So he talked with Squire Lee about it, who told him that three hundred was all it was worth. John offered this for it, and after a month's hesitation, Mr. Hardhand accepted the offer, agreeing to take fifty dollars down and the rest in semi-annual payments of twenty-five dollars each, until the whole was paid. I am thus particular in telling my readers about the bargain, because this debt which his father contracted was the means of making a man of Bobby, as will be seen in his subsequent history. John Bright paid the first fifty dollars; but before the next instalment became due, the poor man was laid in his cold and silent grave. A malignant disease carried him off, and the hopes of the Bright family seemed to be blasted. Four children were left to the widow. The youngest was only three years old, and Bobby, the oldest, was nine, when his father died. Squire Lee, who had always been a good friend of John Bright, told the widow that she had better go to the poorhouse, and not attempt to struggle along with such a fearful odds against her. But the widow nobly refused to become a pauper, and to make paupers of her children, whom she loved quite as much as though she and they had been born in a ducal palace. She told the squire that she had two hands, and as long as she had her health, the town need not trouble itself about her support. Squire Lee was filled with surprise and admiration at the noble resolution of the poor woman; and when he returned to his house, he immediately sent her a cord of wood, ten bushels of potatoes, two bags of meal, and a firkin of salt pork. The widow was very grateful for these articles, and no false pride prevented her from accepting the gift of her rich and kind-hearted neighbor. Riverdale centre was largely engaged in the manufacturing of boots and shoes, and this business gave employment to a large number of men and women. Mrs. Bright had for several years "closed" shoes--which, my readers who do not live in "shoe towns" may not know, means sewing or stitching them. To this business she applied herself with renewed energy. There was a large hotel in Riverdale centre, where several families from Boston spent the summer. By the aid of Squire Lee, she obtained the washing of these families, which was more profitable than closing shoes. By these means she not only supported her family very comfortably, but was able to save a little money towards paying for the house. Mr. Hardhand, by the persuasions of Squire Lee, had consented to let the widow keep the house, and pay for it as she could. John Bright had been dead four years at the time we introduce Bobby to the reader. Mrs. Bright had paid another hundred dollars towards the house, with the interest; so there was now but one hundred due. Bobby had learned to "close," and helped his mother a great deal; but the confinement and the stooping posture did not agree with his health, and his mother was obliged to dispense with his assistance. But the devoted little fellow found a great many ways of helping her. He was now thirteen, and was as handy about the house as a girl. When he was not better occupied, he would often go to the river and catch a mess of fish, which was so much clear gain. The winter which had just passed, had brought a great deal of sickness to the little black house. The children all had the measles, and two of them the scarlet fever, so that Mrs. Bright could not work much. Her affairs were not in a very prosperous condition when the spring opened; but the future was bright, and the widow, trusting in Providence, believed that all would end well. One thing troubled her. She had not been able to save any thing for Mr. Hardhand. She could only pay her interest; but she hoped by the first of July to give him twenty-five dollars of the principal. But the first of July came, and she had only five dollars of the sum she had partly promised her creditor. She could not so easily recover from the disasters of the hard winter, and she had but just paid off the little debts she had contracted. She was nervous and uneasy as the day approached. Mr. Hardhand always abused her when she told him she could not pay him, and she dreaded his coming. It was the first of July on which Bobby caught those pouts, caught the horse, and on which Tom Spicer had "caught a Tartar." Bobby hastened home, as we said at the conclusion of the last chapter. He was as happy as a lord. He had fish enough in his basket for dinner, and for breakfast the next morning, and money enough in his pocket to make his mother as happy as a queen, if queens are always happy. The widow Bright, though she had worried and fretted night and day about the money which was to be paid to Mr. Hardhand on the first of July, had not told her son any thing about it. It would only make him unhappy, she reasoned, and it was needless to make the dear boy miserable for nothing; so Bobby ran home all unconscious of the pleasure which was in store for him. When he reached the front door, as he stopped to scrape his feet on the sharp stone there, as all considerate boys who love their mothers do, before they go into the house, he heard the angry tones of Mr. Hardhand. He was scolding and abusing his mother because she could not pay him the twenty-five dollars. Bobby's blood boiled with indignation, and his first impulse was to serve him as he had served Tom Spicer, only a few moments before; but Bobby, as we have before intimated, was a peaceful boy, and not disposed to quarrel with any person; so he contented himself with muttering a few hard words. "The wretch! What business has he to talk to my mother in that style?" said he to himself. "I have a great mind to kick him out of the house." But Bobby's better judgment came to his aid; and perhaps he realized that he and his mother would only get kicked out in return. He could battle with Mr. Hardhand, but not with the power which his wealth gave him; so, like a great many older persons in similar circumstances, he took counsel of prudence rather than impulse. "Bear ye one another's burdens," saith the Scripture; but Bobby was not old enough or astute enough to realize that Mr. Hardhand's burden was his wealth, his love of money; that it made him little better than a Hottentot; and he could not feel as charitably towards him as a Christian should towards his erring, weak brother. Setting his pole by the door, he entered the room where Hardhand was abusing his mother. CHAPTER IV. IN WHICH BOBBY GETS OUT OF ONE SCRAPE, AND INTO ANOTHER. Bobby was so indignant at the conduct of Mr. Hardhand, that he entirely forgot the adventure of the morning; and he did not even think of the gold he had in his pocket. He loved his mother; he knew how hard she had worked for him and his brother and sisters; that she had burned the "midnight oil" at her clamps; and it made him feel very bad to near her abused as Mr. Hardhand was abusing her. It was not her fault that she had not the money to pay him. She had been obliged to spend a large portion of her time over the sick beds of her children, so that she could not earn so much money as usual; while the family expenses were necessarily much greater. Bobby knew also that Mr. Hardhand was aware of all the circumstances of his mother's position, and the more he considered the case the more brutal and inhuman was his course. As our hero entered the family room with the basket of fish on his arm, the little crusty old man fixed the glance of his evil eye upon him. "There is that boy, marm, idling away his time by the river, and eating you out of house and home," said the wretch. "Why don't you set him to work, and make him earn something?" "Bobby is a very good boy," meekly responded the widow Bright. "Humph! I should think he was. A great lazy lubber like him, living on his mother!" and Mr. Hardhand looked contemptuously at Bobby. "I am not a lazy lubber," interposed the insulted boy with spirit. "Yes, you are. Why don't you go to work?" "I do work." "No, you don't; you waste your time paddling in the river." "I don't." "You had better teach this boy manners too, marm," said the creditor, who, like all men of small souls, was willing to take advantage of the power which the widow's indebtedness gave him. "He is saucy." "I should like to know who taught you manners, Mr. Hardhand," replied Bobby, whose indignation was rapidly getting the better of his discretion. "What!" growled Mr. Hardhand, aghast at this unwonted boldness. "I heard what you said before I came in; and no decent man would go to the house of a poor woman to insult her." "Humph! Mighty fine," snarled the little old man, his gray eyes twinkling with malice. "Don't Bobby; don't be saucy to the gentleman," interposed his mother. "Saucy, marm? You ought to horsewhip him for it. If you don't, I will." "No, you won't!" replied Bobby, shaking his head significantly. "I can take care of myself." "Did any one ever hear such impudence!" gasped Mr. Hardhand. "Don't, Bobby, don't," pleaded the anxious mother. "I should like to know what right you have to come here and abuse my mother," continued Bobby, who could not restrain his anger. "Your mother owes me money, and she don't pay it, you young scoundrel!" answered Mr. Hardhand, foaming with rage. "That is no reason why you should insult her. You can call _me_ what you please, but you shall not insult my mother while I'm round." "Your mother is a miserable woman, and--" "Say that again, and though you are an old man, I'll hit you for it. I'm big enough to protect my mother, and I'll do it." Bobby doubled up his fists and edged up to Mr. Hardhand, fully determined to execute his threat if he repeated the offensive expression, or any other of a similar import. He was roused to the highest pitch of anger, and felt as though he had just as lief die as live in defence of his mother's good name. I am not sure that I could excuse Bobby's violence under any other circumstances. He loved his mother--as the novelists would say, he idolized her; and Mr. Hardhand had certainly applied some very offensive epithets to her--epithets which no good son could calmly bear applied to a mother. Besides, Bobby, though his heart was a large one, and was in the right place, had never been educated into those nice distinctions of moral right and wrong which control the judgment of wise and learned men. He had an idea that violence, resistance with blows, was allowable in certain extreme cases; and he could conceive of no greater provocation than an insult to his mother. "Be calm, Bobby; you are in a passion," said Mrs. Bright. "I am surprised, marm," began Mr. Hardhand, who prudently refrained from repeating the offensive language--and I have no doubt he was surprised; for he looked both astonished and alarmed. "This boy has a most ungovernable temper." "Don't you worry about my temper, Mr. Hardhand; I'll take care of myself. All I want of you is not to insult my mother. You may say what you like to me; but don't you call her hard names." Mr. Hardhand, like all mean, little men, was a coward; and he was effectually intimidated by the bold and manly conduct of the boy. He changed his tone and manner at once. "You have no money for me, marm?" said he, edging towards the door. "No, sir; I am sorry to say that I have been able to save only five dollars since I paid you last; but I hope--" "Never mind, marm, never mind; I shall not trouble myself to come here again, where I am liable to be kicked by this ill-bred cub. No, marm, I shall not come again. Let the law take its course." "O, mercy! See what you have brought upon us, Bobby," exclaimed Mrs. Bright, bursting into tears. "Yes, marm, let the law take its course." "O Bobby! Stop a moment, Mr. Hardhand; do stop a moment." "Not a moment, marm. We'll see;" and Mr. Hardhand placed his hand upon the latch string. Bobby felt very uneasy, and very unhappy at that moment. His passion had subsided, and he realized that he had done a great deal of mischief by his impetuous conduct. Then the remembrance of his morning, adventure on the bridge came like a flash of sunshine to his mind, and he eagerly drew from his pocket the handkerchief in which he had deposited the precious gold,--doubly precious now, because it would enable him to retrieve the error into which he had fallen, and do something towards relieving his mother's embarrassment. With a trembling hand he untied the knot which secured the money. "Here, mother, here is thirty-five dollars;" and he placed it in her hand. "Why, Bobby!" exclaimed Mrs. Bright. "Pay him, mother, pay him, and I will tell you all about it by and by." "Thirty-five dollars! and all in gold! Where did you get it, Bobby?" "Never mind it now, mother." Mr. Hardhand's covetous soul had already grasped the glittering gold; and removing his hand from the latch string, he approached the widow. "I shall be able to pay you forty dollars now," said Mrs. Bright, taking the five dollars she had saved from her pocket. "Yes, marm." Mr. Hardhand took the money, and seating himself at the table, indorsed the amount on the back of the note. "You owe me sixty more," said he, maliciously, as he returned the note to his pocket book. "It must be paid immediately." "You must not be hard with me now, when I have paid more than you demanded." "I don't wish to come here again. That boy's impudence has put me all out of conceit with you and your family," replied Mr. Hardhand, assuming the most benevolent look he could command. "There was a time when I was very willing to help you. I have waited a great while for my pay for this house; a great deal longer than I would have waited for anybody else." "Your interest has always been paid punctually," suggested the widow, modestly. "That's true; but very few people would have waited as long as I have for the principal. I wanted to help you--" "By gracious!" exclaimed Bobby, interrupting him. "Don't be saucy, my son, don't," said Mrs. Bright, fearing a repetition of the former scene. "_He_ wanted to help us!" ejaculated Bobby. It was a very absurd and hypocritical expression on the part of Mr. Hardhand; for he never wanted to help any one but himself; and during the whole period of his relations with the poor widow, he had oppressed, insulted, and abused her to the extent of his capacity, or at least as far as his interest would permit. He was a malicious and revengeful man. He did not consider the great provocation he had given Bobby for his violent conduct, but determined to be revenged, if it could be accomplished without losing any part of the sixty dollars still due him. He was a wicked man at heart, and would not scruple to turn the widow and her family out of house and home. Mrs. Bright knew this, and Bobby knew it too; and they felt very uneasy about it. The wretch still had the power to injure them, and he would use it without compunction. "Yes, young man, I wanted to help you, and you see what I get for it--contempt and insults! You will hear from me again in a day or two. Perhaps you will change your tune, you young reprobate!" "Perhaps I shall," replied Bobby, without much discretion. "And you too, marm; you uphold him in his treatment of me. You have not done your duty to him. You have been remiss, marm!" continued Mr. Hardhand, growing bolder again, as he felt the power he wielded. "That will do, sir; you can go!" said Bobby, springing from his chair, and approaching Mr. Hardhand. "Go, and do your worst!" "Humph! you stump me--do you?" "I would rather see my mother kicked out of the house than insulted by such a dried-up old curmudgeon as you are. Go along!" "Now, don't, Bobby," pleaded his mother. "I am going; and if the money is not paid by twelve o'clock to-morrow, the law shall lake its course;" and Mr. Hardhand rushed out of the house, slamming the door violently after him. "O Bobby, what have you done?" exclaimed Mrs. Bright, when the hard-hearted creditor had departed. "I could not help it, mother; don't cry. I cannot bear to hear you insulted and abused; and I thought when I heard him do it a year ago, that I couldn't stand it again. It is too bad." "But he will turn us out of the house; and what shall we do then?" "Don't cry, mother; it will come round all right. I have friends who are rich and powerful, and who will help us." "You don't know what you say, Bobby. Sixty dollars is a great deal of money, and if we should sell all we have, it would scarcely bring that." "Leave it all to me, mother; I feel as though I could do something now. I am old enough to make money." "What can you do?" "Now or never!" replied Bobby, whose mind had wandered from the scene to the busy world, where fortunes are made and lost every day. "Now or never!" muttered he again. "But Bobby, you have not told me where you got all that gold." "Dinner is ready, I see, and I will tell you while we
{'title': 'Now or Never; Or, The Adventures of Bobby Bright: A Story for Young Folks by Optic', 'source': 'Project Gutenberg', 'lang': 'en'}