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