Paul Prescott's Charge

by Jr. Horatio Alger

  XXXV.

  CONCLUSION.

  At the very moment that Paul was driving through the village street,Mr. Nicholas Mudge entered the Poorhouse in high spirits. Certainlyill-fortune must have befallen some one to make the good man soexhilarant.

  To explain, Mr. Mudge had just been to the village store to purchasesome groceries. One of his parcels was tied up in a stray leaf of arecent New York Daily, in which he discovered an item which he feltsure would make Aunt Lucy unhappy. He communicated it to Mrs. Mudge,who highly approved his design. She called the old lady from the commonroom.

  "Here, Aunt Lucy," she said, "is something that will interest you."

  Aunt Lucy came in, wondering a little at such an unusual mark ofattention.

  Mrs. Mudge immediately commenced reading with malicious emphasis aparagraph concerning a certain Paul Prescott, who had been arrestedfor thieving, and sentenced to the House of Reformation for a term ofmonths.

  "There," said Mrs. Mudge, triumphantly, "what do you say to yourfavorite now? Turned out well, hasn't he? Didn't I always say so? Ialways knew that boy was bad at heart, and that he'd come to a bad end."

  "I don't believe it's the same boy," declared Aunt Lucy, who wasnevertheless unpleasantly affected by the paragraph. She thought itpossible that Paul might have yielded to a powerful temptation.

  "Perhaps you think I've been making it up. If you don't believe it lookat the paper for yourself," thrusting it into Aunt Lucy's hands.

  "Yes," said the old lady. "I see that the name is the same; but, forall that, there is a mistake somewhere. I do not believe it is the sameboy."

  "You don't? Just as if there would be more than one boy of that name.There may be other Prescotts, but there isn't but one Paul Prescott,take my word for it."

  "If it is he," said Aunt Lucy, indignantly, "is it Christianlike torejoice over the poor boy's misfortune?"

  "Misfortune!" retorted Mrs. Mudge with a sneer; "you call it amisfortune to steal, then! I call it a crime."

  "It's often misfortune that drives people to it, though," continued theold lady, looking keenly at Mrs. Mudge. "I have known cases where theydidn't have that excuse."

  Mrs. Mudge colored.

  "Go back to your room," said she, sharply; "and don't stay here accusingme and Mr. Mudge of unchristian conduct. You're the most troublesomepauper we have on our hands; and I do wish the town would provide foryou somewhere else."

  "So do I," sighed the old lady to herself, though she did not think fitto give audible voice to her thoughts.

  It was at this moment that Paul halted his chaise at the gate, andlightly jumping out, fastened his horse to a tree, and walked up to thefront door.

  "Who can it be?" thought Mrs. Mudge, hastily adjusting her cap, andtaking off her apron.

  "I don't know, I'm sure," said Mr. Mudge, unsuspiciously.

  "I declare! I look like a fright."

  "No worse than usual," said her husband, gallantly.

  By this time Paul had knocked.

  "Good-morning, sir," said Mrs. Mudge, deferentially, her respect excitedby Paul's dress and handsome chaise.

  "Is Mrs. Lee in?" inquired Paul, not caring to declare himself, yet, tohis old enemy.

  "Yes," said Mrs. Mudge, obsequiously, though not overpleased to findthat this was Aunt Lucy's visitor; "would you like to see her?"

  "If you please."

  "What can he want of the old lady?" thought Mrs. Mudge, as she went tosummon her.

  "A visitor for me?" asked Aunt Lucy, looking at Mrs. Mudge somewhatsuspiciously.

  "Yes; and as he's come in a carriage, you'd better slick up a little;put on a clean cap or something."

  Aunt Lucy was soon ready.

  She looked wonderingly at Paul, not recognizing him.

  "You are not very good at remembering your old friends," said Paul, witha smile.

  "What!" exclaimed Aunt Lucy, her face lighting up with joy; "are youlittle Paul?"

  "Not very little, now," said our hero, laughing; "but I'm the same Paulyou used to know."

  Mrs. Mudge, who through the half open door had heard this revelation,was overwhelmed with astonishment and confusion. She hurried to herhusband.

  "Wonders will never cease!" she exclaimed, holding up both hands. "Ifthat doesn't turn out to be Paul Prescott. Of course he's up in theworld, or he wouldn't dress so well, and ride in such a handsomecarriage."

  "You don't say so!" returned Mr. Mudge, who looked as if he had heard ofa heavy misfortune.

  "Yes, I do; I heard him say so with his own lips. It's a pity you showedthat paragraph to Aunt Lucy, this morning."

  "That you showed, you mean," retorted her husband.

  "No, I don't. You know it was you that did it."

  "Hush; they'll hear."

  Meanwhile the two friends were conversing together happily.

  "I'm so glad you're doing so well, Paul," said Aunt Lucy. "It was alucky day when you left the Poorhouse behind you."

  "Yes, Aunt Lucy, and to-day is a lucky day for you. There's room for twoin that chaise, and I'm going to take you away with me."

  "I should enjoy a ride, Paul. It's a long time since I have taken one."

  "You don't understand me. You're going away not to return."

  The old lady smiled sadly.

  "No, no, Paul. I can't consent to become a burden upon your generosity.You can't afford it, and it will not be right."

  "O," said Paul, smiling, "you give me credit for too much. I mean thatyou shall pay your board."

  "But you know I have no money."

  "No, I don't. I don't consider that a lady is penniless, who has anincome of three hundred dollars a year."

  "I don't understand you, Paul."

  "Then, perhaps you will understand this," said our hero, enjoying theold lady's astonishment.

  He drew from his pocket a roll of bills, and passed them to Aunt Lucy.

  The old lady looked so bewildered, that he lost no time in explainingthe matter to her. Then, indeed, Aunt Lucy was happy; not only becauseshe had become suddenly independent, but, because after years ofcoldness and estrangement, her brother had at last become reconciled toher.

  "Now, Aunt Lucy," resumed Paul, "I'll tell you what my plans are. Youshall get into the chaise with me, and go at once to New York. I thinkAunt Hester will be willing to receive you as a boarder; if not, I willfind you a pleasant place near by. Will that suit you?"

  "It will make me very happy; but I cannot realize it. It seems like adream."

  At this moment Mrs. Mudge entered the room, and, after a moment'sscrutiny, pretended to recognize Paul. Her husband followed close behindher.

  "Can I believe my eyes?" she exclaimed. "Is this indeed Paul Prescott? Iam very glad to see you back."

  "Only a visit, Mrs. Mudge," said Paul, smiling.

  "You'll stop to dinner, I hope?"

  Paul thought of the soup and dry bread which he used to find souninviting, and said that he should not have time to do so.

  "We've thought of you often," said Mr. Mudge, writhing his harshfeatures into a smile. "There's scarcely a day that we haven't spoken ofyou."

  "I ought to feel grateful for your remembrance," said Paul, his eyestwinkling with mirth. "But I don't think, Mr. Mudge, you always thoughtso much of me."

  Mr. Mudge coughed in some embarrassment, and not thinking of anything inparticular to say, said nothing.

  "I am going to take from you another of your boarders," said Paul. "Canyou spare Aunt Lucy?"

  "For how long?" asked Mrs. Mudge.

  "For all the time. She has just come into possession of a littleproperty,--several hundred dollars a year,--and I have persuaded her togo to New York to board."

  "Is this true?" exclaimed Mrs. Mudge in astonishment.

  "Yes," said the old lady, "God has been bountiful to me when I leastexpected it."

  "Can I be of any service in assisting you to pack up, Mrs. Lee?"asked Mrs. Mudge, with new-born politeness. She felt that as a lady ofproperty,
Aunt Lucy was entitled to much greater respect and deferencethan before.

  "Thank you, Mrs. Mudge," said Paul, answering for her.

  "She won't have occasion for anything in this house. She will get asupply of new things when she gets to New York."

  The old lady looked very happy, and Mrs. Mudge, in spite of her outwarddeference, felt thoroughly provoked at her good fortune.

  I will not dwell upon the journey to New York. Aunt Lucy, thoughsomewhat fatigued, bore it much better than she had anticipated. Mr. andMrs. Cameron entered very heartily into Paul's plans, and readily agreedto receive Aunt Lucy as an inmate of their happy and united household.The old lady felt it to be a happy and blessed change from thePoorhouse, where scanty food and poor accommodations had been madeharder to bear by the ill temper of Mr. and Mrs. Mudge, to a home whoseatmosphere was peace and kindness.

  *****

  And now, dear reader, it behooves us to draw together the differentthreads of our story, and bring all to a satisfactory end.

  Mr. and Mrs. Mudge are no longer in charge of the Wrenville Poorhouse.After Aunt Lucy's departure, Mrs. Mudge became so morose and despotic,that her rule became intolerable. Loud complaints came to the ears of'Squire Newcome, Chairman of the Overseers of the Poor. One fine morninghe was compelled to ride over and give the interesting couple warningto leave immediately. Mr. Mudge undertook the charge of a farm, but hishabits of intoxication increased upon him to such an extent, that he wasfound dead one winter night, in a snow-drift, between his own house andthe tavern. Mrs. Mudge was not extravagant in her expressions of grief,not having a very strong affection for her husband. At last accounts,she was keeping a boarding-house in a manufacturing town. Some timesince, her boarders held an indignation meeting, and threatened toleave in a body unless she improved her fare,--a course to which she wasobliged to submit.

  George Dawkins, unable to obtain a recommendation from Mr. Danforth, didnot succeed in securing another place in New York. He finally prevailedupon his father to advance him a sum of money, with which he went toCalifornia. Let us hope that he may "turn over a new leaf" there, andestablish a better reputation than he did in New York.

  Mr. Stubbs is still in the tin business. He is as happy as the day islong, and so are his wife and children. Once a year he comes to New Yorkand pays Paul a visit. This supplies him with something to talk aboutfor the rest of the year. He is frugal in his expenses, and is ableto lay up a couple of hundred dollars every year, which he confides toPaul, in whose financial skill he has the utmost confidence.

  I am sure my boy readers would not forgive me for omitting to tell themsomething more about Ben Newcome. Although his mirthful spirit sometimesled him into mischief, he was good-hearted, and I have known him do manyan act of kindness, even at considerable trouble to himself. It will beremembered that in consequence of his night adventure, during whichhe personated a ghost, much to the terror of Mr. Mudge his fatherdetermined to send him to a military school. This proved to be awise arrangement. The discipline was such as Ben needed, and he soondistinguished himself by his excellence in the military drill. Soonafter he graduated, the Rebellion broke out, and Ben was at once, inspite of his youth, elected Captain of the Wrenville company. At thebattle of Antietam he acquitted himself with so much credit that hewas promoted to a major. He was again promoted, and when Richmond wasevacuated, he was one of the first officers to enter the streets of theRebel capital, a colonel in command of his regiment. I have heard onhigh authority, that he is considered one of the best officers in theservice.

  Mr. and Mrs. Cameron are still living. They are happy in the success andincreasing prosperity of Paul, whom they regard as a son. Between themand Aunt Lucy he would stand a very fair chance of being spoiled, if hisown good sense and good judgment were not sufficient to save him fromsuch a misfortune. Paul is now admitted to a small interest in the firm,which entitles him to a share in the profits. As Danforth and Co. havedone a very extensive business of late years, this interest brings himin a very handsome income. There is only one cause of difference betweenhim and the sexton. He insists that Uncle Hugh, who is getting infirm,should resign his office, as he is abundantly able to support the wholefamily. But the good sexton loves his duties, and will continue todischarge them as long as he is able.

  And now we must bid farewell to Paul. He has battled bravely with thedifficulties and discouragements that beset him in early life, hehas been faithful to the charge which he voluntarily assumed, and hisfather's memory is free from reproach. He often wishes that his fathercould have lived to witness his prosperity? but God has decreed itotherwise. Happy in the love of friends, and in the enjoyment of allthat can make life desirable, so far as external circumstances have thatpower, let us all wish him God speed!