chapter of my story, my naturally high temper rose above control, and
I left Farmer Judson's and returned to my home.




CHAPTER V.


When I thus returned unexpectedly to my home my mother was at once
aware, from my downcast appearance, that something was wrong, and when
she questioned me I related the difficulty with Mr. Judson exactly as it
took place. My mother listened attentively till I had finished, and then
only said, "you are too much excited to talk of the matter at present;
after a night's rest you will be better able to talk with more calmness,
so we will defer any further conversation upon the subject until
to-morrow morning."

It was a mild evening in June, and slipping out of the house, I went to
my favorite tree in the yard, and, as I lay at full length beneath its
wide-spreading boughs, which were bright with the rays of the full round
moon, my mind was busy with many anxious thoughts. My anger had by this
time cooled down, and when left thus alone I began to question if I had
acted right in returning to my home; hard as Mr. Judson was to please,
he always paid me my wages punctually, and I feared I had done wrong in
thus depriving my kind mother of the assistance which my earnings (small
as they were) afforded her. But when I called to mind the Farmer's harsh
and unkind treatment, I felt that to remain longer with him was out of
the question; for during the whole year I remained with him, I could not
remember one word of encouragement or kindness, and, to a boy of