The Tin Box and What it Contained

Mead's store, where he had bee

nodded pl

you here, Harry," he said

uld like to se

now what I pay-ei

four q

make an exception in your case, if you w

he did not know of what groc

g. He had not got a place, to be sure, but he had earned thirty-two cents. This was n

l-worn suit, walking with some difficulty, with the help of a stout cane. He looke

ed, the old m

minute

complaint that most boys are wanting in respect to old age, but this charge could not

d man to be very poor, it

ere Mr. Ross lives?

uppose you mea

at they call him. Hi

much surprise

en there before,

m getting old, and my only daughter died las

oss will be very glad t

I'm sure P

ay, sir, if you wish,"

it isn't too much trou

ble at all,"

very obliging boy.

y Gil

r parent

hat is, we expect he is. He was a sea captai

ll off?" asked the old man,

for a stranger, but credited him with

I earned four dollars a week-at the grocery store. Mr. M

unlucky

ll try hard to get s

ike an indu

ke to

do yo

d be pointed out across the fields, th

inting it out; "but, perha

, I can

te of Colonel Ross, and Harry felt t

se and displeasure, saw Harry opening the gate fo

e asked, in a tone far fro

d the old man, fixing his

s, and I am the son of

h an air of

old man, surveying his young kinsman with an in

ted Philip, in mingled

er's uncle, come all the wa

the face of his young antag

o be claimed as a kinsman by a shabby, old tramp. It was upon his

r at home?" as

answered Philip, deliberately t

h a shrewd glance of intelligence

young guide, "will you come with

lied with

servant, who, on seeing t

ikes of you," and was about

ovoked with the girl's ill manners. "Tell Mrs. Ross that

he girl, abashed. "I ho

, and I'll tell Mrs.

the old man, who seemed to have

see you again, if you are g

boy," and the old man bega

ake anything," sai

he would have declined compensation

much obliged to y

e, let us see what sort of recept

es Mrs. Ross sail

ld man, heartily; "it's a

r having seen you," sa

for I've been living away out in Illinoy. I'm yo

the old man's shabby attire with somethin

her was two years younger than I, and born in August. I didn

t in a man of your age c

o

nd I wanted to be near some one that was akin to me, so I'

o support him, I suppose. He looks as poor as poverty.

cle in the poorhouse; but, so far away as Illinois, it would not have

l Ross about it, Mr. Wi

to supper, and

kins. I'm your Uncle O

d with you yet for that," she answered. "You can come ups

I will," sai

esire to get her shabby uncle well out of the way, and have a chance fo

be found. For years, when Mrs. Ross was a girl, she and her mother were mainly supporte

ury, liked to think about, and for years she had not

time. He had come in good faith, when bereft of his daughter, to renew acquaintance with his niece, never dreaming how unwelcome