Down the River; Or, Buck Bradford and His Tyrants

o late; for they, like myself, had not retired until after midnight. The first thing that came to my mind in the morning was th

rom the crime-of saving him from himself, rather than from the penalty of the offence, fo

is conscience. Squire Fishley did not appear till the family were just ready to sit down at the table. He looked sleepy, stupid, and ashamed of himself, and Mrs. Fishley

he felt that I could unfold a tale which was not exactly consistent with his religious pretensions. But, in spite of all I knew, I did not regard him as a hypocrite. I did not know enough about him to enable me to reach so severe a judgment. The sham

said Captain Fishley. "Buck, you ma

ets up," added Mrs. Fishley, who always had something to say, on every possib

as only half burned. The right hand lower corner had apparently been wet, so that it resisted the action of the fire, and appeared to rise in judgment against the mail robber. The piece contained

fice. Ham whistled Yankee Doodle, which was patriotic enough, but out of place even in the shop, and sauntered leisu

Miss Larrabee; and her anxiety was

ked Ham, suspending his whistle, and looking

e for last night," rep

yours

tter from Et

rd anything ab

her for it," added Miss Larrabee, who thought the matter was o

So many letters come here, tha

times; and he said it would come in last nig

eplied Ham, taking a pile of lett

ve the conduct of Ham. He resumed his whistle, and examined th

suspending the patriotic air l

!" exclaimed the unhappy spinster

hav

's again, and went thro

d then, for variety's sake, whistled

re was one comin'; and he said it would be here by to-day, for sart

them all over; but I don't rem

come afore now," persist

es, from A to Z. He did not find it, and Miss Larrabee was in despair. She had mad

letter. He wouldn't play no sech trick on me. Them m

, it didn't," adde

post-office. 'Tain't like him to say he'd do a thing,

stmaster looked the letters over very carefully; but, as there was none for the lady, he couldn't find any

t all ready to go and see Jim's folks; but I can't go because I hai

heir letters, and then they have to go to the

't like him to make mistakes. Do you

about it, only that t

body's made up her mind to go, it

ries in regard to the responsibility of the parties, suggested that his b

ion. "I shan't be gone more'n a month, and when I come back I'll hand it to you. That letter must come to-day

gone to the dead-letter of

, if the letter is lost. Why, Ethan's got mor

aptain Fishley, as he took out the mo

am was as glad to have her go as she was to go. I could not help watching him very closely after his father and the squire left the store, to observe how he carried hi

ck Bradford?" demanded he, as I sto

after I had cherished so many kind feelings towards him, though I

e you an

on't owe m

account, and I'm going to pay it too," he added,

on the hearth to blow up the fire with my breath. Captain Fishley and the squire had left the store, and Ham and I were alone. I heard my youngest tyrant come from behind the counter; but I did not think anything of it. While I was kneeling on the hearth, and blowing up the fail

he was not without a presentiment of the consequences of his rash act. I do not profess to be an angel in the quality of my temper, and I was as mad as

lled he, as he pushed me back with

owhide from a bundle of them on a barre

r what you gave me l

in another place; and, rushing upon him, I

" demanded Captain Fishley, retur

rasp, and before I could make any successful demonstration, he laid the weapon about m

ke my son!" said he, br

ck me,"

eserved it. Now go to the b

. I was overpowered; and, with my legs