Under Fire: A Tale of New England Village Life

land village, showing everywhere ple

eton, in this line, is a large woolen factory that employs about three hundred hands. There are also a number of minor industries,

t thrive. At the time of which I am writing it did not thrive to any great extent; still, it was there, and sh

overseers of certain departments of the mill, who, by virtue of their positions, which b

usually the case, by the drawing together of the well to do, the influential, and the better educated

rich. His father was a shoemaker, and earned only a small sum weekly; but throu

idered, a young man-and, indeed, he really did possess more of that enviable bearing than most boys at the age of sixte

s companions with whom he had grown up, played, and studied side by

uble with me? If so, where does it lie? Surely I stood among the very first in my class at school-far ahead of Matthew De Vere and his sister, and some of the others who treat

fore I left school, and that wasn't my fault. I taught him a lesson, though, that I think he will remember, and ever since th

ey should slight me, and it shall not be. I will work my way up and make them acknowledge me if it t

was in a feverish state of suspense, wondering whether he wo

e gradually built himself up in the store; but should luck now go against him, he would be practically separated from many of his school companions, and separation meant

yet?" asked Dave, a few days bef

n anything of it.

erday. I don't see wh

t out, Dave," replied Fred, with

ere is plenty of t

lieve it to be so-tried hard-but it looked to him,

even by the smallest spark may at some time become a glowing blaze. But his fea

thful locks especial attention, as all boys of his age do whenever they go

n the two boys arrived. After the latter had disposed of their coats and hats, and had taken a final lo

will help entertain them; and here is Fred," she added, extending her hand to him. "I am very glad you came. I

was not lessened by this remark. However, he managed

n your birthday, for you are looking your best. I h

h Fred had managed very well, as indeed he ought to have done, for he

Grace. "But there is Nellie all alone on the sofa. Come with me and take a seat beside her; you two m

so that you couldn't come," said Ne

stay away," he replied,

not?" she inquired, try

" he answered; "and yet I hardly dared to anticipa

to flatter, I do believe!

arranged my own program, you and I would occupy about the same positions as we do

"without saying anything to me. I must scold her;" and she partially cover

t, and I hope you won't scold her very hard, as this is her birthday; but bef

he had never heard of his dancing, but the first part of the opening one was to be a march,

extended his hand, adding, with an air of assurance, "I se

ngaged for that," she returned

e?" he asked, flushing with

my engagement

," he rejoined, and walked away wi

t he had the good sense to take no apparent notice of i

h some degree of pleasure at the utter failure he felt sure our hero would make. In this again he was doomed to disappointment; for to his surprise and

resent. Dave looked on with amazement, and N

ll?" she asked, as they walked around the roo

"I only hope I managed to get through without exhausting your patience. I

a dance more; but I am awfully curious to know where

with me, too," thought Fred, with a

who spent the summer at my home, taug

never had any

hat wa

lent teacher, and you as good a sc

and others came up and congratulated Fred u

its kind in country towns. This particular event has been briefly referred to, because, as a consequence of it, s