In this emergency Major Norton, a farmer and capitalist, offered to
provide Joe with board and clothes and three months' schooling in the
year in return for his services. As nothing else offered, Joe
accepted, but would not bind himself for any length of time. He was
free to go whenever he pleased.

Now there were two disagreeable things in Joe's new place. The first
was the parsimony of Major Norton, who was noted for his stingy
disposition, and the second was the overbearing manners of Oscar, who
lost no opportunity to humiliate Joe and tyrannize over him so far as
Joe's independent spirit would allow. It happened, therefore, that
Joe was compelled to work hard, while the promised clothing was of
the cheapest and shabbiest description. He was compelled to go to
school in patched shoes and a ragged suit, which hurt his pride as he
compared himself with Oscar, who was carefully and even handsomely
dressed. Parsimonious as his father was, he was anxious that his
only boy should appear to advantage.

On the very day on which our story begins Oscar had insulted Joe in a
way which excited our hero's bitter indignation.

This is the way it happened:

Joe, who was a general favorite on account of his good looks and
gentlemanly manners, and in spite of his shabby attire, was walking
home with Annie Raymond, the daughter of the village physician, when
Oscar came up.

He was himself secretly an admirer of the young lady, but had never
received the least encouragement from her. It made him angry to see