Chapter XXXIII. Conclusion

by Horatio Alger

　　The restitution which Squire Haynes was compelled to makestripped him of more than half his property. His mortificationand chagrin was so great that he determined to remove fromRossville. He gave no intimation where he was going, but it isunderstood that he is now living in the vicinity of Philadelphia,in a much more modest way than at Rossville.To anticipate matters a little, it may be said that John wasrecently examined for college, but failed so signally that hewill not again make the attempt. He has shown a disposition to beextravagant, which, unless curbed, will help him run through hisfather's diminished property at a rapid rate whenever it shallcome into his possession.The squire's handsome house in Rossville was purchased by HenryMorton--I must still be allowed to call him thus, though not hisreal name. He has not yet taken up his residence there, but thereis reason to believe that ere long there will be a Mrs. Morton tokeep him company therein.Not long since, as he and Frank lay stretched out beneath athick-branching oak in the front yard at the farm, Mr. Mortonturned to our hero and said, "Are you meaning to go to collegewhen your father comes home, Frank?"Frank hesitated."I have always looked forward to it," he said, "but lately I havebeen thinking that I shall have to give up the idea.""Why so?""Because it is so expensive that my father cannot, in justice tohis other children, support me through a four years' course.Besides, you know, Mr. Morton, we are four hundred dollars inyour debt.""Should you like very much to go to college, Frank?""Better than anything else in the world.""Then you shall go."Frank looked up in surprise."Don't you understand me?" said Mr. Morton."I mean that I will defray your expenses through college."Frank could hardly believe his ears."You would spend so much money on me!" he exclaimedincredulously. "Why, it will cost a thousand dollars.""Very well, I can afford it," said Mr. Morton. "But perhaps youobject to the plan.""How good you are to me!" said Frank, impulsively seizing hisfriend's hand. "What have I done to deserve so much kindness?""You have done your duty, Frank, at the sacrifice of yourinclinations. I think you ought to be rewarded. God has bestowedupon me more than I need. I think he intends that I shall becomehis almoner. If you desire to express your gratitude, you canbest do it by improving the advantages which will be opened toyou."Frank hastened to his mother to communicate his brilliantprospects. Her joy was scarcely less than his."Do not forget, Frank," she said, "who it is that has raised upthis friend for you. Give Him the thanks."There was another whose heart was gladdened when this welcomenews reached him in his tent beside the Rappahannock. He feltthat while he was doing his duty in the field, God was takingbetter care of his family than he could have done if he remainedat home.Before closing this chronicle I must satisfy the curiosity of myreaders upon a few points in which they may feel interested.The Rossville Guards are still in existence, "and Frank is stilltheir captain. They have already done escort duty on severaloccasions, and once they visited Boston, and marched up StateStreet with a precision of step which would have done nodiscredit to veteran soldiers.Dick Bumstead's reformation proved to be a permanent one. He isFrank's most intimate friend, and with his assistance is laboringto remedy the defects of his early education. He has plenty ofability, and, now that he has turned over a new leaf, I have nohesitation in predicting for him a useful and honorable career.Old Mrs. Payson has left Rossville, much to the delight of hergrandson Sam, who never could get along with his grandmother. Shestill wears for best the "bunnit" presented her by Cynthy Ann,which, notwithstanding its mishap, seems likely to last her tothe end of her natural life. She still has a weakness for hotgingerbread and mince pie, and, though she is turned of seventy,would walk a mile any afternoon with such an inducement.Should any of my readers at any time visit the small town ofSparta, and encounter in the street a little old lady dressed ina brown cloak and hood, and firmly grasping in her right hand afaded blue cotton umbrella, they may feel quite certain that theyare in the presence of Mrs. Mehitabel Payson, relict of JeremiahPayson, deceased.Little Pomp has improved very much both in his studies and hisbehavior. He now attends school regularly, and is quite as faradvanced as most boys of his age. Though he is not entirely curedof his mischievous propensities, he behaves "pretty well,considering," and is a great deal of company to old Chloe, towhom he reads stories in books lent him by Frank and others.Chloe is amazingly proud of Pomp, whom she regards as a perfectprodigy of talent."Lor' bress you, missus," she remarked to Mrs. Frost one day, "hereads jest as fast as I can talk. He's an awful smart boy, datPomp.""Why don't you let him teach you to read, Chloe?""Oh, Lor', missus, I couldn't learn, nohow. I ain't got nogumption. I don't know noffin'.""Why couldn't you learn as well as Pomp?""Dat ar boy's a gen'us, missus. His fader was a mighty smartniggar, and Pomp's took arter him."Chloe's conviction of her own inferiority and Pomp's superiorability seemed so rooted that Mrs. Frost finally gave up herpersuasions. Meanwhile, as Chloe is in good health and hasabundance of work, she has no difficulty in earning a comfortablesubsistence for herself and Pomp. As soon as Pomp is old enough,Frank will employ him upon the farm.While I am writing these lines intelligence has just beenreceived from Frank's substitute at the seat of war. He has justbeen promoted to a captaincy. In communicating this he adds: "Youmay tell Frank that I am now his equal in rank, though hiscommission bears an earlier date. I suppose, therefore, I mustcontent myself with being Captain Frost, Jr. I shall be very gladwhen the necessities of the country will permit me to lay asidethe insignia of rank and, returning to Rossville, subside intoplain Henry Frost again. If you ask me when this is to be, I canonly say that it depends on the length of our struggle. I amenlisted for the war, and I mean to see it through! Till thattime Frank must content himself with acting as my substitute athome. I am so well pleased with his management of the farm that Iam convinced it is doing as well as if I were at home tosuperintend it in person. Express to Mr. Waring my gratitude forthe generous proposal he has made to Frank. I feel that words areinadequate to express the extent of our obligations to him."Some years have passed since the above letter was written. Thewar is happily over, and Captain Frost has returned home with anhonorable record of service. Released from duty at home, Frankhas exchanged the farm for the college hall, and he is nowapproaching graduation, one of the foremost scholars in hisclass. He bids fair to carry out the promise of his boyhood, andin the more varied and prolonged campaign which manhood opensbefore him we have reason to believe that he will display equalfidelity and gain an equal success.