by Oliver Optic
CHAPTER I.
THE IDEA SUGGESTED.
"There are no such peaches this side of New Jersey; and you can't getthem, for love or money, at the stores. All we have to do is, to fillour pockets, and keep our mouths closed--till the peaches are ripeenough to eat," said Robert Shuffles, the older and the larger of twoboys, who had just climbed over the high fence that surrounded the finegarden of Mr. Lowington.
"What will Baird say if he finds it out?" replied Isaac Monroe, hiscompanion.
"Baird," the gentleman thus irreverently alluded to, was the principalof the Brockway Academy, of which Shuffles and Monroe were pupils in theboarding department.
"What will he say when he finds out that the King of the Tonga Islandspicks his teeth with a pitchfork?" added Shuffles, contemptuously. "Idon't intend that he shall find it out? and he won't, unless you tellhim."
"Of course, I shall not tell him."
"Come along, then? it is nearly dark, and no one will see us."
Shuffles led the way down the gravelled walk, till he came to a brook,on the bank of which stood the peach tree whose rich fruit had temptedthe young gentlemen to invade the territory of Mr. Lowington with intentto plunder.
"There they are," said the chief of the young marauders, as he pausedbehind a clump of quince bushes, and pointed at the coveted fruit."There's no discount on them, and they are worth coming after."
"Hark!" whispered Monroe. "I heard a noise."
"What was it?"
"I don't know. I'm afraid we shall be caught."
"No danger; no one can see us from the house."
"But I'm sure there's some one near. I heard something."
"Nonsense! It was only a dagger of the mind, such as Baird talks about,"answered Shuffles, as he crawled towards the peach tree. "Come, Monroe,be quick, and fill your pockets."
This peach tree was a choice variety, in whose cultivation the owner hadbeen making an elaborate experiment. Mr. Lowington had watched it andnursed it with the most assiduous care, and now it bore about a dozenremarkably large and beautiful peaches. They were not quite ripe enoughto be gathered, but Shuffles was confident that they would "mellow" inhis trunk as well as on the tree. The experiment of the cultivator hadbeen a success, and he had already prepared, with much care and labor, apaper explanatory of the process, which he intended to read before thePomological Society, exhibiting the fruit as the evidence of thepracticability of his method. To Mr. Lowington, therefore, the peacheshad a value far beyond their intrinsic worth.
Shuffles gathered a couple of the peaches, and urged his companion touse all possible haste in stripping the tree of its rich burden.
"Hallo, there! What are you about?" shouted some one, who hastened tomake his presence known to the plunderers.
Monroe began to retreat.
"Hold on!" interposed Shuffles. "It's no one but Harry Martyn."
"He can tell of us just as well as anybody else."
"If he does, he will catch it."
"What are you doing?" demanded Harry Martyn,--who was a nephew of Mr.Lowington, and lived with him,--as he crossed the rustic bridge thatspanned the brook.
"Don't you see what I'm doing?" replied Shuffles, with an impudentcoolness which confounded Harry.
"Stop that, Shuffles!" cried Harry, indignantly. "My uncle wouldn't taketen dollars apiece for those peaches."
"That's more than he'll get for them," added Shuffles, as he reached upand gathered another peach.
"Stop that, I tell you!" said Harry, angrily, as he stepped up, in amenacing attitude, before the reckless marauder.
"Shut up, Harry! You know me, and when I get all these peaches, I've gotsomething to say to you."
Shuffles was about to gather another of the peaches, when Harry, hisindignation overcoming his prudence, grasped his arm, and pulled himaway from the tree.
"What do you mean, Harry Martyn?" exclaimed Shuffles, apparentlyastonished at the temerity of the youth. "I can't stop to lick you now;but I'll do it within twenty-four hours."
"Well, don't you touch those peaches, then."
"Yes, I will touch them. I intend to have the whole of them; and if yousay a word to your uncle or any one else about it, I'll pulverize thathead of yours."
"No, you won't! You shall not have those peaches, anyhow," replied theresolute little fellow, who was no match, physically, for Shuffles.
"If you open your mouth----"
"Hallo! Uncle Robert! Help, help! Thieves in the garden!" shouted Harry,who certainly had no defect of the lungs.
"Take that, you little monkey!" said Shuffles, angrily, as he struck thelittle fellow a heavy blow on the side of the head with his fist, whichknocked him down. "I'll fix you the next, time I see you."
Shuffles consulted his discretion rather than his valor, now that thealarm had been given, and retreated towards the place where he hadentered garden.
"What's the matter, Harry?" asked Mr. Lowington, as he rushed over thebridge, followed by the gardener and his assistants, just as Harry waspicking himself up and rubbing his head.
"They were stealing your peaches, and I tried to stop them," repliedHarry. "They have taken some of them now."
Mr. Lowington glanced at the favorite tree, and his brow lowered withanger and vexation. His paper before the "Pomological" could beillustrated by only nine peaches, instead of thirteen.
"Who stole them, Harry?" demanded the disappointed fruit-grower.
The nephew hesitated a moment, and the question was repeated with moresternness.
"Robert Shuffles; Isaac Monroe was with him, but he didn't take any ofthe peaches."
"What is the matter with your head, Harry?" asked his uncle, when heobserved him rubbing the place where the blow had fallen.
"Shuffles struck me and knocked me down, when I called out for you."
"Did he? Where is he now?"
"He and Monroe ran up the walk to the back of the garden."
"That boy shall be taken care of," continued Mr. Lowington, as he walkedup the path towards the point where the marauders had entered. "TheAcademy is fast becoming a nuisance to the neighborhood, because thereis neither order nor discipline among the students."
The thieves had escaped, and as it would be useless to follow them, Mr.Lowington went back to the house; but he was too much annoyed at theloss of his splendid peaches, which were to figure so prominently beforethe "Pomological," to permit the matter to drop without further notice.
"Did he hurt you much, Harry?" asked Mr. Lowington as they entered thehouse.
"Not much, sir, though he gave me a pretty hard crack," answered Harry.
"Did you see them when they came into the garden?"
"No, sir? I was fixing my water-wheel in the brook, when I heard them atthe tree. I went up, and tried to prevent Shuffles from taking thepeaches. I caught hold of him, and pulled him away. He said he couldn'tstop to lick me then, but he'd do it within twenty-four hours. Then hehit me when I called for help."
"The young scoundrel! That boy is worse than a pestilence in anyneighborhood. Mr. Baird seems to have no control over him."
Suddenly, and without any apparent reason, Mr. Lowington's compressedlips and contracted brow relaxed, and his face wore its usual expressionof dignified serenity. Harry could not understand the cause of thissudden change; but his uncle's anger had passed away. The fact was, thatMr. Lowington happened to think, while his indignation prompted him toresort to the severest punishment for Shuffles, that he himself had beenjust such a boy as the plunderer of his cherished fruit. At the age offifteen he had been the pest of the town in which he resided. His fatherwas a very wealthy man, and resorted to many expedients to cure the boyof his vicious propensities.
Young Lowington had a taste for the sea, and his father finally procureda midshipman's warrant for him to enter the navy. The strict disciplineof a ship of war proved to be the "one thing needful" for thereformation of the wild youth; and he not only became a steady youngman, but a hard student and an accomp
lished officer. The navy made a manof him, as it has of hundreds of the sons of rich men, demoralized byidleness and the absence of a reasonable ambition.
When Mr. Lowington was thirty years old, his father died, leaving toeach of his three children a quarter of a million; and he had resignedhis position in the navy, in order to take care of his property, and tolead a more domestic life with his wife and daughter than the disciplineof the service would permit.
He had taken up his residence in Brockway, the early home of his wife.It was a large town on the sea shore, only a few miles from themetropolis of New England, thus combining all the advantages of a homein the city and in the country. For several years he had been happy inhis peaceful retirement. But not wealth, nor even integrity and piety,can bar the door of the lofty mansion against the Destroyer of the race.His wife died of an hereditary disease, which gave no indication of itspresence till she had passed her thirtieth year. Two years later, hisdaughter, just blooming into maturity, followed her mother down to thesilent tomb, stricken in her freshness and beauty by the same insidiousmalady.
The husband and father was left desolate. His purest and fondest hopeswere blighted; but, while he was submissive to the will of the Father,who doeth all things well, he became gloomy and sad. He was not seen tosmile for a year after the death of his daughter, and it was three yearsbefore he had recovered even the outward semblance of his formercheerfulness. He was rich, but alone in the world. He continued toreside in the home which was endeared to him by the memories of hisloved and lost ones.
When his wife's sister died in poverty, leaving two children, he hadtaken them to his home, and had become a father to them. Harry Martynwas a good boy, and Josephine Martyn was a good girl; but they were nothis own children. There was something wanting--an aching void which theycould not fill, though Mr. Lowington was to them all that could be askedor expected of a parent.
Mr. Lowington busied himself in various studies and experiments; butlife had ceased to be what it was before the death of his wife anddaughter. He wanted more mental occupation; he felt the need of greateractivity, and he was tempted to return to the navy, even after hisabsence of ten years from the service; but this step, for many reasons,was not practicable. At the time when his garden was invaded by thevandal students from the Brockway Academy, he was still thinking what hecould do to save himself from the inglorious life of ease he wasleading, and, at the same time, serve his country and his race.
Shuffles had robbed his garden of some of his choicest fruit; had struckhis nephew a severe blow on the head, and threatened to inflict stillgreater chastisement upon him in the future. Mr. Lowington was justlyindignant; and his own peace and the peace of the neighborhood demandedthat the author of the mischief should be punished, especially as he wasan old transgressor. It was absolutely necessary that something shouldbe done, and the retired naval officer was in the right frame of mind todo it. Just then, when he was wrought up to the highest pitch ofindignation, his anger vanished. Shuffles at sixteen was the counterpartof himself at fifteen.
This was certainly no reason why the hand of justice should be stayed.Mr. Lowington did not intend to stay it, though the thought of his ownjuvenile depravity modified his view, and appeased his wrath. He put onhis hat and left the house. He walked over to the Academy, and beingshown to the office of the principal, he informed him of thedepredations committed in his garden.
"Who did it, Mr. Lowington?" demanded the principal, with properindignation in his tones and his looks.
"Shuffles."
"I need not have asked. That boy gives me more trouble than all theothers put together," added Mr. Baird, with an anxious expression. "Andyet what can I do with him?"
"Expel him," replied Mr. Lowington, laconically.
"I don't like to do that."
"Why not?"
"It would be an injury to me."
"Why so?"
"It would offend his father, who is a person of wealth and influence.When Shuffles came to Brockway ten other boys came with him. He wasexpelled from another institution, which so incensed his father that heinduced the parents of ten others to take their sons out, and send themto me. If I expel Shuffles, I shall lose about a dozen of my students,and I can't afford to do that."
"But must the neighborhood suffer from his depredations?"
"I will talk with the boy; I will keep him in his room for a week."
"I'm afraid the boy needs severer measures. If this were the first, oreven the third time, I would, not say so much."
"My dear sir, what can I do?"
"The boy needs strict discipline. If I were still in the navy, and hadhim aboard my ship, I could make a man of him."
"I don't think anything can be done."
"Something must be done, Mr. Baird. My garden shall not be robbed withimpunity."
"I will do what I can, Mr. Lowington."
But the owner of the stolen fruit was by this time satisfied thatnothing would be done. The principal of the Brockway Academy had notforce nor influence enough to control such a boy as Shuffles. Mr.Lowington took his leave, determined to apply to another tribunal forthe correction of the evil. That night the peach thieves were arrested,and put in the lock-up. The next day they were tried, found guilty, andsentenced to pay a fine and costs, which Mr. Baird promptly paid. Withina week Mr. Lowington's stable was burned to the ground. Shuffles wasseen near the building just before the fire broke out; but it could notbe proved that he was the incendiary, though no one doubted the fact. Hewas arrested, but discharged on the examination.
"You see how it is, Mr. Lowington," said the principal of the Academy,as the two gentlemen met after the examination. "It would have beenbetter for you if you had not prosecuted the boy for stealing thepeaches."
"I don't think so," replied Mr. Lowington. "I must do my duty, withoutregard to consequences; and you will pardon me if I say you ought to dothe same."
"If I expel the boy he would burn the house over my head."
"Then you think he burned my stable?"
"I don't know; it cannot be proved that he did."
"I have no doubt of the fact. I have no ill will against the boy. I onlydesire to protect myself and my neighbors from his depredations."
"I think you were very unfortunate in the method you adopted, Mr.Lowington," replied the principal of the Academy. "It has reacted uponyourself."
"Shall this boy steal my fruit and burn my buildings with impunity?"added Mr. Lowington, with considerable warmth.
"Certainly not."
"I applied to you for redress, Mr. Baird."
"I told you I would talk with the boy."
"Such a reprobate as that needs something more than talk."
"What would you do with him, sir?" demanded Mr. Baird, earnestly.
"I hardly know. I should certainly have expelled him; but that, while itprotects the Academy, does not benefit the boy."
"It would only harden the boy."
"Very likely; and his remaining will harden a dozen more by hisinfluence. Mr. Baird, I shall be obliged to take my nephew out of yourinstitution," added Mr. Lowington, seriously.
"Take him out?"
"I must, indeed."
"Why so?" asked Mr. Baird, who was touched in a very tender place.
"Because I am not willing to keep him under the influence of such anexample as this Shuffles sets for his companions. As the matter nowstands, the young rascal has more influence in the Academy than youhave. You cannot manage him, and you dare not expel him. The boy knowsthis, and he will not leave his advantage unused."
"I hope you won't take Harry out of the school," said Mr. Baird.
"I must."
"Others may do the same."
"I cannot help it; with my view of the matter, they can hardly dootherwise."
"But you see, sir, what the effect of this step must be."
"Mr. Baird, I must be frank with you. You have declined to expelShuffles, while you know that his influence is bad. You asked me whatyou
should do? and I told you. Now, you prefer to retain Shuffles, butyou must lose others. Permit me to say that you should do your dutywithout regard to consequences."
"I cannot afford to lose my scholars."
"Your position is a difficult one. I grant, Mr. Baird; but withoutdiscipline you can do nothing for yourself or the boys."
Mr. Lowington went home, Harry was taken from the Academy, and a dozenparents and guardians followed the example of the advocate fordiscipline. Mr. Baird was in despair. The institution was falling topieces for the want of discipline. The principal had not the nerve toenforce order, even with the limited means within his reach. He went tosee Mr. Lowington and begged him to assist in stemming the tide whichwas setting against the Brockway Academy. The retired naval officerbecame deeply interested in the subject of school discipline in general,especially in its connection with the education of rich men's sons givento insubordination. He pitied poor Mr. Baird in his perplexities, for hewas a good man and an excellent teacher.
In the mean time Shuffles grew worse instead of better. Finding that hecould have his own way, that the principal was no match for him, hisinfluence for evil was stronger than Mr. Baird's for good. The worthyschoolmaster had finally resolved to expel his troublesome student,when Mr. Lowington one day surprised him by offering to buy out theAcademy at a price far exceeding its value. He gladly accepted the offeras the best solution of the problem, and the naval officer becameprincipal of the Brockway Academy.
Mr. Lowington did not expel the refractory pupil at once. He waited foran overt act; but Shuffles found the anaconda of authority tighteningupon him. He attempted to vindicate himself before his fellow-studentsby setting fire to a haystack on the marsh, belonging to the newprincipal. A searching investigation followed, and Shuffles wasconvicted. Mr. Lowington wrote to the boy's father, announcing hisexpulsion. Mr. Shuffles went to Brockway full of wrath, and threatenedthe new head of the institution with the loss of a large number of hisscholars if he disgraced his son by expelling him. If the boy had donewrong,--and he supposed he had,--let him be talked to; let him beconfined to his room for a day or two; but he must not be expelled; itwas a disgrace to the boy.
The principal was as firm as a rock, and Mr. Shuffles was calm when hefound that threats were unavailing. Mr. Lowington pointed out to hisvisitor the perils which lay in the path of his son. Mr. Shuffles beganto be reasonable, and dined with the principal. A long and earnestconsideration of the whole matter took place over the dessert. The fiatof expulsion was revoked, and young Shuffles was turned over to theex-naval officer, with full power to discipline him as he thought best.Mr. Lowington had converted the father, and he hoped he should be ableto convert the son.
After dinner, Mr. Shuffles went down the bay with his host in the yacht.On the way they passed the school ship Massachusetts, to which boys aresentenced by the courts for crime and vagrancy, and on board of whichthey are disciplined and educated. Mr. Lowington explained theinstitution to his guest.
"An excellent idea," said Mr. Shuffles.
"It is just the place for your son," replied Mr. Lowington.
"But it is for criminals."
"Very true."
"Robert is not a criminal."
"If he is not now, he soon will be, if he continues in his presentcourse. If I had him on shipboard, I could make a man of him."
"Then I wish you had him on shipboard."
"Perhaps I may yet," replied the principal, with a smile. "I did notpurchase the Academy with the intention of becoming a pedagogue, in theordinary sense of the word. I have no intention of remaining in it."
"I hope you will."
"I have been thinking of fitting up a vessel like the school ship, thatrich men's sons may have the benefit of such an institution without thenecessity of committing a crime. I could do more for the boys in a monthon board ship than I could in a year at Brockway."
This was the first mention which Mr. Lowington made of his plan, thoughhe had been considering it for several weeks. Mr. Shuffles hoped thatthis idea of a nautical academy would be reduced to practice; for he nowfelt that it was just what his son needed. The project was discussedduring the rest of the trip.
The history of the scheme, from its inception, need not be followed indetail. Many persons were consulted in regard to it; there were plentyto approve, and plenty to disapprove; but in October the keel of a fourhundred ton ship was laid down. The object of this marine institutionwas thoroughly explained, and before the ship was ready for launchingthere were applications for every berth on board of her.
The idea was exceedingly popular among the boys, all of whom wereanxious to be students on board, especially as it was already hintedthat the ship would visit Europe. To parents it held out for their sonsall the benefits of a sea voyage, with few of its disadvantages. Itwould furnish healthy exercise and a vigorous constitution to itspupils.
In March of the following year the ship was at anchor in Brockwayharbor, ready to receive her juvenile crew.