The widow Bright, though she had worried and fretted night and day
about the money which was to be paid to Mr. Hardhand on the first of
July, had not told her son any thing about it. It would only make him
unhappy, she reasoned, and it was needless to make the dear boy
miserable for nothing; so Bobby ran home all unconscious of the
pleasure which was in store for him.

When he reached the front door, as he stopped to scrape his feet on the
sharp stone there, as all considerate boys who love their mothers do,
before they go into the house, he heard the angry tones of Mr.
Hardhand. He was scolding and abusing his mother because she could not
pay him the twenty-five dollars.

Bobby's blood boiled with indignation, and his first impulse was to
serve him as he had served Tom Spicer, only a few moments before; but
Bobby, as we have before intimated, was a peaceful boy, and not
disposed to quarrel with any person; so he contented himself with
muttering a few hard words.

"The wretch! What business has he to talk to my mother in that style?"
said he to himself. "I have a great mind to kick him out of the house."

But Bobby's better judgment came to his aid; and perhaps he realized
that he and his mother would only get kicked out in return. He could
battle with Mr. Hardhand, but not with the power which his wealth gave
him; so, like a great many older persons in similar circumstances, he
took counsel of prudence rather than impulse.

"Bear ye one another's burdens," saith the Scripture; but Bobby was not