Chapter VIII. Discouraged and Encouraged

by Horatio Alger

　　In a small village like Rossville news flies fast. Even thedistinctions of social life do not hinder an interest being feltin the affairs of each individual. Hence it was that Mr. Frost'sdetermination to enlist became speedily known, and various werethe comments made upon his plan of leaving Frank in charge of thefarm. That they were not all favorable may be readily believed.Country people are apt to criticize the proceedings of theirneighbors with a greater degree of freedom than is commonelsewhere.As Frank was on his way to school on Saturday morning, his namewas called by Mrs. Roxana Mason, who stood in the doorway of asmall yellow house fronting on the main street."Good morning, Mrs. Mason," said Frank politely, advancing to thegate in answer to her call."Is it true what I've heard about your father's going to the war,Frank Frost?" she commenced"Yes, Mrs. Mason; he feels it his duty to go.""And what's to become of the farm? Anybody hired it?""I am going to take charge of it," said Frank modestly."You!" exclaimed Mrs. Roxana, lifting both hands in amazement;"why, you're nothing but a baby!""I'm a baby of fifteen," said Frank good-humoredly, though hiscourage was a little dampened by her tone."What do you know about farming?" inquired the lady, in acontemptuous manner. "Your father must be crazy!""I shall do my best, Mrs. Mason," said Frank quietly, but withheightened color. "My father is willing to trust me; and as Ishall have Mr. Maynard to look to for advice, I think I can getalong.""The idea of putting a boy like you over a farm!" returned Mrs.Roxana, in an uncompromising tone. "I did think your father hadmore sense. It's the most shiftless thing I ever knew him to do.How does your poor mother feel about it?""She doesn't seem as much disturbed about it as you do, Mrs.Mason," said Frank, rather impatiently; for he felt that Mrs.Mason had no right to interfere in his father's arrangements."Well, well, we'll see!" said Mrs. Roxana, shaking her headsignificantly. "If you'll look in your Bible, you'll read about'the haughty spirit that goes before a fall.' I'm sure I wish youwell enough. I hope that things'll turn out better'n they're liketo. Tell your mother I'll come over before long and talk with herabout it."Frank inwardly hoped that Mrs. Roxana wouldn't put herself to anytrouble to call, but politeness taught him to be silent.Leaving Mrs. Mason's gate, he kept on his way to school, but hadhardly gone half a dozen rods before he met an old lady, whosebenevolent face indicated a very different disposition from thatof the lady he had just parted with."Good morning, Mrs. Chester," said Frank cordially, recognizingone of his mother's oldest friends."Good morning, my dear boy," was the reply. "I hear your fatheris going to the war.""Yes," said Frank, a little nervously, not knowing but Mrs.Chester would view the matter in the same way as Mrs. Mason,though he felt sure she would express herself less disagreeably."And I hear that you are going to try to make his place good athome.""I don't expect to make his place good, Mrs. Chester," said Frankmodestly, "but I shall do as well as I can.""I have no doubt of it, my dear boy," said the old lady kindly."You can do a great deal, too. You can help your mother bylooking out for your brothers and sisters, as well as supplyingyour father's place on the farm.""I am glad you think I can make myself useful," said Frank,feeling relieved. "Mrs. Mason has just been telling me that I amnot fit for the charge, and that discouraged me a little.""It's a great responsibility, no doubt, to come on one so young,"said the old lady, "but it's of God's appointment. He willstrengthen your hands, if you will only ask Him. If you humblyseek His guidance and assistance, you need not fear to fail.""Yes," said Frank soberly, "that's what I mean to do.""Then you will feel that you are in the path of duty. You'll beserving your country just as much as if you went yourself.""That's just the way I feel, Mrs. Chester," exclaimed Frankeagerly. "I want to do something for my country.""You remind me of my oldest brother," said the old ladythoughtfully. "He was left pretty much as you are. It was aboutthe middle of the Revolutionary war, and the army neededrecruits. My father hesitated, for he had a small familydepending on him for support. I was only two years old at thetime, and there were three of us. Finally my brother James, whowas just about your age, told my father that he would do all hecould to support the family, and father concluded to go. Wedidn't have a farm, for father was a carpenter. My brother workedfor neighboring farmers, receiving his pay in corn andvegetables, and picked up what odd jobs he could. Then mother wasable to do something; so we managed after a fashion. There weretimes when we were brought pretty close to the wall, but Godcarried us through. And by and by father came safely home, and Idon't think he ever regretted having left us. After awhile thegood news of peace came, and he felt that he had been abundantlyrepaid for all the sacrifices he had made in the good cause."Frank listened to this narrative with great interest. It yieldedhim no little encouragement to know that another boy, placed insimilar circumstances, had succeeded, and he just felt that hewould have very much less to contend against than the brother ofwhom Mrs. Chester spoke"Thank you for telling me about your brother Mrs. Chester," hesaid. "It makes me feel more as if things would turn out well.Won't you come over soon and see us? Mother is always glad to seeyou.""Thank you, Frank; I shall certainly do so. I hope I shall notmake you late to school.""Oh, no; I started half an hour early this morning."Frank had hardly left Mrs. Chester when he heard a quick stepbehind him. Turning round, he perceived that it was Mr. Rathburn,his teacher."I hurried to come up with you, Frank," he said, smiling. "Iunderstand that I am to lose you from school.""Yes, sir," answered Frank. "I am very sorry to leave, for I amvery much interested in my studies; but I suppose, sir, you haveheard what calls me away.""Your father has made up his mind to enlist.""Yes, sir.""And you are to superintend the farm in his absence?""Yes, sir. I hope you do not think me presumptuous in undertakingsuch a responsibility?"He looked up eagerly into Mr. Rathburn's face, for he had a greatrespect for his judgment. But he saw nothing to discourage him.On the contrary, he read cordial sympathy and approval."Far from it," answered the teacher, with emphasis. "I think youdeserving of great commendation, especially if, as I have heard,the plan originated with you, and was by you suggested to yourfather.""Yes, sir."The teacher held out his hand kindly. "It was only what I shouldhave expected of you," he said. "I have not forgotten your essay.I am glad to see that you not only have right ideas of duty, buthave, what is rarer, the courage and self-denial to put them inpractice."These words gave Frank much pleasure, and his face lighted up."Shall you feel obliged to give up your studies entirely?" askedhis teacher."I think I shall be able to study some in the evening.""If I can be of any assistance to you in any way, don't hesitateto apply. If you should find any stumbling-blocks in yourlessons, I may be able to help you over them."By this time they had come within sight of the schoolhouse."There comes the young farmer," said John Haynes, in a tone whichwas only subdued lest the teacher should hear him, for he had nodisposition to incur another public rebuke.A few minutes later, when Frank was quietly seated at his desk, apaper was thrown from behind, lighting upon his Virgil, which layopen before him. There appeared to be writing upon it, and withsome curiosity he opened and read the following:"What's the price of turnips?"It was quite unnecessary to inquire into the authorship. He feltconfident it was written by John Haynes. The latter, of course,intended it as an insult, but Frank did not feel much disturbed.As long as his conduct was approved by such persons as histeacher and Mrs. Chester, he felt he could safely disregard thetaunts and criticisms of others. He therefore quietly let thepaper drop to the floor, and kept on with his lesson.John Haynes perceived that he had failed in his benevolentpurpose of disturbing Frank's tranquillity, and this, I am sorryto say, only increased the dislike he felt for him. Nothing is sounreasonable as anger, nothing so hard to appease. John even feltdisposed to regard as an insult the disposition which Frank hadmade of his insulting query."The young clodhopper's on his dignity," he muttered to himself."Well, wait a few months, and see if he won't sing a differenttune."Just then John's class was called up, and his dislike to Frankwas not diminished by the superiority of his recitation. Thelatter, undisturbed by John's feelings, did not give a thought tohim, but reflected with a touch of pain that this must be hislast Latin recitation in school for a long time to come.