America," said he, musing, his head resting against the wall; "I wish I
was in the grave with my two sisters and mother, rather than here to
witness the slavery, corruption, and vice of America." The remainder of
his musings were lost in the sighs and emotions that proceeded from his
manly bosom.




CHAPTER XIV.

THE FRUITS OF THE CROSS.


Paul was now a free man, the term of apprenticeship having expired. It
was his right now, according to the terms of the implied contract, not
only to receive support and clothing, but wages; and Mr. Prying was very
willing to keep him in the house and give him a man's wages; but this
conflicted with Amanda's plan and that of her advisers; consequently,
Paul was reluctantly obliged to part with the society of his sister
Bridget, who had yet a part of her term to serve, and to look out among
the neighboring farmers for a situation. This he soon found in a
gentleman's family named Clarke, who was very glad to receive such a
modest and intelligent young man into his family. This Mr. Clarke was
not a farmer by profession, but a lawyer, and editor of a daily journal
in the capital of Vermont, and only spent a few days in the summer and
fall with his family at the farm. Paul's chief occupation was to attend
young Master Clarke in his sports of fishing, fowling, and riding on
horseback. The duties of his present situation afforded Paul not only
time and leisure to keep up his accustomed religious exercises, but, in