第1章

I

SACOWATER

FAR，farup，inthebosomofNewHampshire’sgranitehills，theSacohasitsbirth。Asthemountainrillgathersstrengthittakes\"ThroughBartlett’svalesitstunefulway，OrhidesinConway’sfragrantbrakes，Retreatingfromtheglareofday。\"

Nowitleavesthemountainsandflowsthrough\"greenFryeburg’swoodsandfarms。\"Inthecourseofitsfrequentturnsandtwistsandbends，itmeetswithmanyanotherstream，andsendsit，fullerandstronger，alongitsrejoicingway。Whenithasjourneyedmorethanahundredmilesandisnearingtheocean，itgreetstheGreatOssipeeRiverandacceptsitscrystaltribute。

Then，initsturn，theLittleOssipeejoinsforces，andtheriver，nowasplendidstream，flowsonwardtoBonnyEagle，toModerationandtoSalmonFalls，whereitdashesoverthedamlikeayoungNiagaraandhurtles，inafoamytorrent，throughtheraggeddefilecutbetweenloftybanksofsolidrock。

Wideningoutplacidlyforamoment’srestinthesunnyreachesnearPleasantPoint，itgathersitselfforanewplungeatUnionFalls，afterwhichitspeedilymergesitselfinthebayandisfreshwaternomore。

AtoneofthefallsontheSaco，thetwolittlehamletsofEdgewoodandRiverboronestletogetheratthebridgeandmakeonevillage。Thestreamisawonderofbeautyjusthere；amirrorofplacidlovelinessabovethedam，atawny，roaringwonderatthefall，andamad，white—fleckedtorrentasitdashesonitswaytotheocean。

Theriverhasseenstrangesightsinitstime，thoughthehistoryofthesetwotinyvillagesisquiteunknowntothegreatworldoutside。Theyhavebeenborn，waxedstrong，andfallenalmosttodecaywhileSacoWaterhastumbledovertherocksandspentitselfinitsimpetuousjourneytothesea。

Itrememberstheyellow—moccasinedSokokisastheyissuedfromtheIndianCellarandcarriedtheirbirchencanoesalongthewoodedshore。Itwasinthoseyearsthatthesilver—skinnedsalmonleapedinitscrystaldepths；theotterandthebeavercreptwithsleekwetskinsuponitsshore；andthebrowndeercamedowntoquenchhisthirstatitsbrinkwhileattwilightthestealthyformsofbearandpantherandwolfweremirroredinitsglassysurface。

Timesped；menchainedtheriver’sturbulentforcesandorderedittogrindatthemill。Thenhousesandbarnsappearedalongitsbanks，bridgeswerebuilt，orchardsplanted，forestschangedintofarms，white—paintedmeetinghousesgleamedthroughthetreesanddistantbellsrangfromtheirsteeplesonquietSundaymornings。

Allatoncemyriadsofgreathewnlogsvexeditsdownwardcourse，slenderlogslinkedtogetherinlongrafts，andhugelogsdriftingdownsinglyorinpairs。Menappeared，runninghitherandthitherlikeants，andgoingthroughmysteriousoperationsthereasonforwhichtherivercouldneverguess：butthemill—wheelsturned，thegreatsawsbuzzed，thesmokefromtavernchimneysroseintheair，andtherattleandclatterofstage—coachesresoundedalongtheroad。

Nowchildrenpaddledwithbarefeetintheriver’ssandycovesandshallows，andloverssatonitsalder—shadedbanksandexchangedtheirvowsjustwheretheshufflingbearwaswonttocomedownanddrink。

TheSacocouldrememberthe\"coldyear，\"whentherewasablackfrosteverymonthofthetwelve，andthoughalmostallthecornalongitsshoresshrivelledonthestalk，thereweretwofarmswherethevaporfromtheriversavedthecrops，andalltheseedforthenextseasoncamefromthefavoredspot，tobeknownas\"Egypt\"fromthatdayhenceforward。

Strange，complexthingsnowbegantohappen，andtheriverplayeditsownpartinsomeofthese，forthereweredisastrousfreshets，thesuddenbreaking—upofgreatjamsoflogs，andthedrowningofmenwhowereengulfedinthedarkwhirlpoolbelowtherapids。

Caravans，withmenageriesofwildbeasts，crossedthebridgenoweveryyear。AninfuriatedelephantliftedthesideoftheoldEdgewoodTavernbarn，andthewildlaughteroftheroisteringrum—drinkerswhoweretantalizingtheanimalsfloateddowntotheriver’sedge。Theroarofalion，tearingandchewingthearmofoneofthebystanders，andthecheersofthethrongwhenapluckycaptainofthelocalmilitiathrustastakedownthebeast’sthroat，——thesesoundsdisplacedtheformerwar—whoopoftheIndiansandtheringoftheaxeinthevirginforestsalongtheshores。

Thereweredays，andmoonlightnights，too，whenstrangesightsandsoundsofquiteanothernaturecouldhavebeennotedbytheriverasitflowedunderthebridgethatunitedthetwolittlevillages。

IssuingfromthedooroftheRiverboroTownHouse，andwindingdownthehill，throughthelongrowofteamsandcarriagesthatlinedtheroadside，cameaprocessionofsingingmenandsingingwomen。Convincedofsin，butentrancedwithpromisedpardon；

spirituallyintoxicatedbytheglowingeloquenceofthelatter—dayprophettheywereworshipping，thebandof\"Cochranites\"marcheddownthedustyroadandacrossthebridge，dancing，swaying，wavinghandkerchiefs，andshoutinghosannas。

Godwatched，andlistened，knowingthattherewouldbeotherprophets，trueandfalse，inthedaystocome，andotherprocessionsfollowingthem；andtheriverwatchedandlistenedtoo，asithurriedontowardstheseawithitsstoryofthepresentthatwassometimetobethehistoryofthepast。

WhenJacobCochranewasleadinghisoverwrought，ecstaticbandacrosstheriver，WaitstillBaxter，thenachild，waswatchingthestrange，noisycompanyfromthewindowofalittlebrickdwellingonthetopoftheTown—HouseHill。

Herstepmotherstoodbesideherwithayoungbabyinherarms，butwhenshesawwhatheldthegazeofthechildshedrewheraway，saying：\"Wemustn’tlook，Waitstill；yourfatherdon’tlikeit！\"

\"Whowasthebigmanatthehead，mother？\"

\"HisnameisJacobCochrane，butyoumustn’tthinkortalkabouthim；heisverywicked。\"

\"Hedoesn’tlookanywickederthantheothers，\"saidthechild。

\"Whowasthemanthatfelldownintheroad，mother，andthewomanthatkneltandprayedoverhim？Whydidhefall，andwhydidshepray，mother？\"

\"ThatwasMasterAaronBoynton，theschoolmaster，andhiswife。

Heonlymadebelievetofalldown，astheCochranitesdo；thewaytheycarryonisadisgracetothevillage，andthat’sthereasonyourfatherwon’tletuslookatthem。\"

\"IplayedwithaniceboyovertoBoynton’s，\"musedthechild。

\"ThatwasIvory，theironlychild。Heisagoodlittlefellow，buthismotherandfatherwillspoilhimwiththeircrazyways。\"

\"Ihopenothingwillhappentohim，forIlovehim，\"saidthechildgravely。\"Heshowedmeahumming—bird’snest，thefirsteverIsaw，andthelittlest！\"

\"Don’ttalkaboutlovinghim，\"chidedthewoman。\"Ifyourfathershouldhearyou，he’dsendyoutobedwithoutyourporridge。\"

\"Fathercouldn’thearme，forIneverspeakwhenhe’sathome，\"

saidgravelittleWaitstill。\"AndI’musedtogoingtobedwithoutmyporridge。\"

II

THESISTERS

THEriverwasstillrunningunderthebridge，butthecurrentoftimehadsweptJacobCochraneoutofsight，thoughnotoutofmind，forhehadlefthereandthereadiscipletopreachhisstrangeanduncertaindoctrine。Waitstill，thechildwhoneverspokeinherfather’spresence，wasayoungwomannow，themistressofthehouse；thestepmotherwasdead，andthebabyagirlofseventeen。

Thebrickcottageonthehilltophadgrownonlyalittleshabbier。DeaconFoxwellBaxterstillslammeditsdoorbehindhimeverymorningatseveno’clockand，withoutanysuchcheerfulconventionsasgood—byestohisgirls，walkeddowntothebridgetoopenhisstore。

Theday，properlyspeaking，hadopenedwhenWaitstillandPatiencehadlefttheirbedsatdawn，builtthefire，fedthehensandturkeys，andpreparedthebreakfast，whiletheDeaconwasgrainingthehorseandmilkingthecows。Suchminor\"chores\"

ascarryingwaterfromthewell，splittingkindling，choppingpine，orbringingwoodintothekitchen，werelefttoWaitstill，whohadastrongback，or，ifshehadnot，hadneverbeenunwiseenoughtomentionthefactinherfather’spresence。Thealmanacday，however，whichopenedwithsunrise，hadnothingtodowiththerealhumanday，whichalwaysbeganwhenMr。Baxterslammedthedoorbehindhim，andreacheditshighnoonofdelightwhenhedisappearedfromview。

\"He’sopeningthestoreshutters！\"chantedPatiencefromtheheightsofakitchenchairbythewindow。\"Nowhe’stakenhiscaneandbeatenofftheBoyntonpuppythatwassittingonthestepsasusual，——Idon’tmeanIvory’sdog\"（herethegirlgaveaquickglanceathersister），\"butRodman’slittleyellowcur。

RodmanmusthavecomedowntothebridgeonsomeerrandforIvory。Isn’titodd，whenthatdoghasalltheotherstorestepstositupon，heshouldchoosefather’s，wheneveryboneinhisbodymusttellhimhowfatherhateshimandthewholeBoyntonfamily。\"

\"FatherhasnorealcausethatIeverheardof；butsomedogsneverknowwhenthey’vehadenoughbeating，norsomepeopleeither。\"saidWaitstill，speakingfromthepantry。

\"Don’tbegloomywhenit’smybirthday，Sis！——Nowhe’sopenedthedoorandkickedthecat！AllisreadyforbusinessattheBaxterstore。\"

\"Iwishyouweren’tquitesofreewithyourtongue，Patty。\"

\"Somebodymusttalk，\"retortedthegirl，jumpingdownfromthechairandshakingbackhermopofred—goldcurls。\"I’llputthishateful，childish，roundcombinandoutjustoncemore，thenitwilldisappearforever。Thisveryafter—noonupgoesmyhair！\"

\"Youknowitwillbeofnouseunlessyoubraiditveryplainlyandneatly。Fatherwilltakenoticeandmakeyousmoothitdown。\"

\"Fatherhasn’tlookedmesquareinthefaceforyears；besides，myhairwon’tbraid，andnothingcanmakeitquiteplainandneat，thankgoodness！Letusbethankfulforsmallmercies，asJedMorrillsaidwhenthelightningstruckhismother—in—lawandskippedhiswife。\"

\"Patty，Iwillnotpermityoutorepeatthosetavernstories；

theyarenotseemlyonthelipsofagirl！\"AndWaitstillcameoutofthepantrywithashadowofdisapprovalinhereyesandinhervoice。

Pattyflungherarmsroundhersistertempestuously，andpulledoutthewavesofherhairsothatitsoftenedherface。——\"I’llbegood，\"shesaid，\"andoh，Waity！let’sinventsomesortofcheaphappinessforto—day！Ishallneverbeseventeenagainandwehavesomanytroubles！

Let’sputoneofthecowsinthehorse’sstallandseewhatwillhappen！Orlet’sspreadupourbedswiththeheadatthefootandputthechestofdrawersontheothersideoftheroom，orlet’smakecandy！Doyouthinkfatherwouldmissthemolassesifweonlyuseacupful？Couldn’twestrainthemilk，butleavethechurningandthedishesforanhourortwo，justonce？Ifyousay’yes’Icanthinkofsomethingwonderfultodo！\"

\"Whatisit？\"askedWaitstill，relentingatthesightofthegirl’seager，roguishface。

\"PIERCEMYEARS！\"criedPatty。\"Sayyouwill！\"

\"Oh！Patty，Patty，Iamafraidyouaregivenovertovanity！I

daren’tletyouweareardropswithoutfather’spermission。\"

\"Whynot？Lotsofchurchmemberswearthem，soitcan’tbeamortalsin。Fatherisagainstalladornments，butthat’sbecausehedoesn’twanttobuythem。You’vealwayssaidIshouldhaveyourmother’scoralpendantswhenIwasoldenough。HereIam，seventeentoday，andDr。PerrysaysIamalreadyawell—favoredyoungwoman。Icanpullmyhairovermyearsforafewdaysandwhentheholesareallmadeandhealed，evenfathercannotmakemefillthemupagain。Besides，I’llneverweartheearringsathome！\"

\"Oh！mydear，mydear！\"sighedWaitstill，withahalf—sobinhervoice。\"IfonlyIwaswiseenoughtoknowhowwecouldkeepfromtheselittledeceits，yethaveanylibertyorcomfortinlife！\"

\"Wecan’t！TheLordcouldn’texpectustobearallthatwebear，\"

exclaimedPatty，\"withoutourtryingonceinawhiletohaveagoodtimeinourownway。Weneverdoathingthatweareashamedof，orthatothergirlsdon’tdoeverydayintheweek；onlyourpleasuresalwayshavetobetakenbehindfather’sback。It’sonlymethat’severwrong，anyway，foryouarealwaysanangel。It’saburningshameandyouonlytwenty—oneyourself。I’llpierceyourearsifyousayso，andletyouwearyourowncoraldrops！\"

\"No，Patty；I’veoutgrownthoselongingsyearsago。Whenyourmotherdiedandleftfatherandyouandthehousetome，mygirlhooddied，too，thoughIwasonlythirteen。\"

\"Itwasonlyyourinsidegirlhoodthatdied，\"insistedPattystoutly，\"TheoutsideisasfreshasthepaintonUncleBarty’snewell。You’vegottheloveliesteyesandhairinRiverboro，andyouknowit；besides，IvoryBoyntonwouldtellyousoifyoudidn’t。Comeandboremyears，there’sadarling！\"

\"IvoryBoyntonneverspeaksawordofmylooks，norawordthatfatherandalltheworldmightn’thear。\"AndWaitstillflushed。

\"Thenit’sbecausehe’sshyandsilentandhassomanytroublesofhisownthathedoesn’tdaresayanything。Whenmyhairisonceupandthecoralpendantsareswinginginmyears，IshallexpecttohearsomethingaboutMYlooks，Icantellyou。Waity，afterall，thoughweneverhavewhatwewanttoeat，andneveradecentdresstoourbacks，norayoungmantocrossthethreshold，Iwouldn’tchangeplaceswithIvoryBoynton，wouldyou？\"HerePattysweptthehearthvigorouslywithaturkeywingandaddedafewcorncobstothefire。

Waitstillpausedamomentinhertaskofbread—kneading。\"Well，\"

sheansweredcritically，\"atleastweknowwhereourfatheris。\"

\"Wedo，indeed！Wealsoknowthatheisthoroughlyalive！\"

\"Andthoughpeopledotalkabouthim，theycan’tsaythethingstheysayofMasterAaronBoynton。Idon’tbelievefatherwouldeverrunawayanddesertus。\"

\"Ifearnot，\"saidPatty。\"Iwishtheangelswouldputtheideaintohishead，though，ofcourse，itwouldn’tbetheangels；

they’dbeaboveit。Itwouldhavetobethe’OldDriver，’asJedMorrillcallstheEvilOne；butwhoeverdidit，theresultwouldbethesame：weshouldbedeserted，andlivehappilyeverafter。

Oh！tobedeserted，andleftwithyoualoneonthishilltop，whatjoyitwouldbe！\"

Waitstillfrowned，butdidnotinterferefurtherwithPatty’sintemperatespeech。Sheknewthatshewassimplyservingasanescape—valve，andthatafterthesteamwas\"letoff\"shewouldbemorerational。

\"Ofcourse，wearemotherless，\"continuedPattywistfully，\"butpoorIvoryisworsethanmotherless。\"

\"No，notworse，Patty，\"saidWaitstill，takingthebread—boardandmovingtowardsthecloset。\"Ivoryloveshismotherandsheloveshim，withallthemindshehasleft！ShehasthebestbloodofNewEnglandflowinginherveins，andIsupposeitwasagreatcomedownforhertomarryAaronBoynton，cleverandgiftedthoughhewas。NowIvoryhastoprotecther，poor，daft，innocentcreature，andhideherawayfromthegossipofthevillage。Heissurelythebestofsons，IvoryBoynton！\"

\"Sheisaterriblecareforhim，andliketospoilhislife，\"

saidPatty。

\"Therearecaresthatswelltheheartandmakeitbiggerandwarmer，Patty，justastherearecaresthatshrivelitandleaveittiredandcold。

LovelightensIvory’safflictionsbutthatissomethingyouandI

havetodowithout，soitseems。\"

\"IsupposelittleRodmanissomecomforttotheBoyntons，evenifheisonlyten。\"Pattysuggested。

\"Nodoubt。He’sagoodlittlefellow，andthoughit’sratherhardforIvorytobeburdenedfortheselastfiveyearswiththesupportofachildwho’snonearerkinthanacousin，stillhe’sofuse，mindingMrs。BoyntonandthehousewhenIvory’saway。

Theschool—teachersaysheiswonderfulathisbooksandlikelytobeagreatcredittotheBoyntonssomedayorother。\"

\"You’veforgottonameouronegreatblessing，Waity，andI

believe，anyway，you’retalkingtokeepmymindofftheearrings！\"

\"Youmeanwe’veeachother？No，Patty，Ineverforgetthat，dayornight。’Tisthatmakesmewillingtobearanyburdenfatherchoosestoputuponus。——Nowthebreadisset，butIdon’tbelieveIhavethecouragetoputaneedleintoyourtenderflesh，Patty；Ireallydon’t。\"

\"Nonsense！I’vegotthewaxedsilkallreadyandchosentheright—sizedneedleandI’llpromisenottojumporscreechmorethanIcanhelp。We’llmakeatinylead—pencildotrightinthemiddleofthelobe，thenyouplacetheneedleonit，shutyoureyes，andJABHARD！Iexpecttofaint，butwhenI’cometo，’wecandecidewhichofuswillpulltheneedlethroughtotheotherside。Probablyitwillbeyou，I’msuchacoward。Ifithurtsdreadfully，I’llhaveonlyonepiercedto—dayandtaketheotherto—morrow；andifithurtsverydreadfully，perhapsI’llgothroughlifewithoneear—ring。AuntAbbyColewillsayit’sjustoddenoughtosuitme！\"

\"You’llnevergothroughlifewithonetongueattherateyouuseitnow，\"chidedWaitstill，\"foritwillneverlastyou。Come，we’lltakethework—basketandgooutinthebarnwherenoonewillseeorhearus。\"

\"Goody，goody！Comealong！\"andPattyclappedherhandsintriumph。\"Haveyougotthepencilandtheneedleandthewaxedsilk？Thenbringthecamphorbottletoreviveme，andthecoralpendants，too，justtogivemecourage。Hurryup！It’steno’clock。Iwasbornatsun—rise，soI’m’goingon’eighteenandcan’twasteanytime！\"

III

DEACONBAXTER’SWIVES

FOXWELLBAXTERwasordinarilycalled\"OldFoxy\"bytheboysofthedistrict，andalso，itistobefeared，bythemengatheredforeveningconferenceatthevarioustaverns，oratoneoftherivalvillagestores。

Hehadasmallfarmoffifteenortwentyacres，withapasture，awoodlot，andahay—field，buttheprincipalsourceofhisincomecamefromtrading。Hissignboretheusuallegend：\"WESTINDIA

GOODSANDGROCERIES，\"andprobablythemostprofitablearticlesinhisstockwererum，molasses，sugar，andtobacco；buttherewerechestsofrice，tea，coffee，andspices，barrelsofporkinbrine，aswellaspilesofcottonandwoolenclothontheshelvesabovethecounters。Hisshopwindow，seldomdustedorsetinorder，heldafewclaypipes，someglassjarsofpeppermintorsassafraslozenges，blacklicorice，stick—candy，andsugargooseberries。Thesedaintieswereseldomrenewed，foritwasonlyaveryboldchild，oronewithanungovernableappetiteforsweets，whowouldhavespenthispennyatFoxyBaxter’sstore。

Hewasthoughtasharpandshrewdtrader，buthishonestywasneverquestioned；indeed，theonlytraitinhischaracterthatevercameupforgeneraldiscussionwashisextraordinary，unbelievable，colossalmeanness。Thissoeclipsedeveryotherpassionintheman，andloomedsobulkilyandinsistentlyintheforeground，thathadhecherishedasecondvicenoonewouldhaveobservedit，andifhereallydidpossessacasualvirtue，itcouldscarcelyhavereareditsheadinsuchuglycompany。

Itmightbesaid，todefendthefairnameoftheChurch，thatMr。

Baxter’sdeaconhooddidnotincludeveryactiveserviceinthecourtsoftheLord。Hehad\"experiencedreligion\"atfifteenandmadeprofessionofhisfaith，butallwell—brought—upboysandgirlsdidthesameinthosedays；theirparentssawtothat！Ifchangeofconvictionorbackslidingoccurredlateron，thatwasnottheirbusiness！Attheripeageoftwenty—fivehewasselectedtofillavacancyandbecameadeacon，thinkingitmightbegoodfortrade，asitwas，forsomeyears。Hewasveryactiveatthetimeofthe\"Cochranecraze，\"sinceanydefenceofthecreedthatincludedlivelydetectiveworkandincessantspyingonhisneighborswasparticularlyinhisline；butformanyyearsnow，thoughhehadbeenregularinattendanceatchurch，hehadneverofficiatedatcommunion，andhisdiaconalserviceshadgraduallylapsedintothepassingofthecontribution—box，ataskofwhichheneverwearied；itwassuchakeenpleasuretomakeotherpeopleyieldtheirpenniesforagoodcause，withoutaddinganyofhisown！

DeaconBaxterhadnowbeenawidowerforsomeyearsandthecommunityhadalmostrelinquishedtheideaofhisseekingafourthwife。Thiswasamatterofsomeregret，fortherewasageneralfeelingthatitwouldbeagoodthingfortheBaxtergirlstohavesomeonetohelpwiththehouseworkandactasabufferbetweenthemandtheirgrimandirascibleparent。Asforthewomenofthevillage，theyweremortifiedthattheDeaconhadbeenabletosecurethreewives，andrefusedtobelievethattheuniverseheldanywhereacreaturebenightedenoughtobecomehisfourth。

Thefirst，beitsaid，wasamereignorantgirl，andheabeardlessyouthoftwenty，whomaynothaveshownhistruequalitiessoearlyinlife。Sheborehimtwosons，anditwasamatterofcommentatthetimethatshecalledthem，respectively，JobandMoses，hopingthattheenduranceandmeeknessconnectedwiththesenamesmightsomehowhelpthemintheirfuturerelationswiththeirfather。Pneumonia，coupledwithprofounddiscouragement，carriedheroffinafewyearstomakeroomforthesecondwife，Waitstill’smother，whowasofdifferentfibreandgreatlyhissuperior。Shewasafine，handsomegirl，theorphandaughterofup—countrygentle—folks，whohaddiedwhenshewaseighteen，leavingheraloneintheworldandpenniless。

Baxter，afterafewdays’acquaintance，droveintothedooryardofthehousewhereshewasavisitorand，showingherhistwocurly—headedboys，suddenlyaskedhertocomeandbetheirstepmother。Sheassented，partlybecauseshehadnothingelsetodowithherexistence，sofarasshecouldsee，andalsobecauseshefellinlovewiththechildrenatfirstsightandforgot，asgirlswill，thatitwastheirfatherwhomshewasmarrying。

Shewasaspluckyandcleverandspiritedasshewashandsome，andshemadeabravefightofitwithFoxy；longenoughtobringadaughterintotheworld，tonameherWaitstill，andstartheralittlewayonherlifejourney，——thenshe，too，gaveupthestruggleanddied。Typhoidfeveritwas，combinedwithcompletelossofillusions，andakindofdespairingrageathavingmadesocompleteafailureofherexistence。

Thenextyear，Mr。Baxter，beingunusuallybusy，offeredamanagoodyoungheiferifhewouldjogaboutthecountryalittleandpickhimupahousekeeper；alikelywomanwhowould，ifsheprovedenergetic，economical，andamiable，beeventuallyraisedtotheproudpositionofhiswife。Ifshewasyoung，healthy，smart，tidy，capable，andagoodmanager，abletomilkthecows，harnessthehorse，andmakegoodbutter，hewouldgiveadollarandahalfaweek。Thewomanwasfound，and，incredibleasitmayseem，shesaid\"yes\"whentheDeacon（whoseardorwaskindledathavingpaidthreemonths’wages）proposedaspeedymarriage。Thetwoboysbythistimehadreachedtheageofdiscretion，andoneofthemevincedthefactbypromptlyrunningawaytopartsunknown，nevertobeheardfromafterwards；whiletheother，arecklessandunhappylad，wasdrownedwhilerunningonthelogsintheriver。OldFoxyshowedlittleoutwardsignofhisloss，thoughhehadbroughttheboysintotheworldsolelywiththeviewofhavingoneofthemworkonthefarmandtheotherinthestore。