CHAPTER I
MRS. CARTER RECEIVES A LETTER
"Is that the latest style?" inquired James Leech, with a sneer,
pointing to a patch on the knee of Herbert Carter's pants.
Herbert's face flushed. He was not ashamed of the patch, for he knew
that his mother's poverty made it a necessity. But he felt that it was
mean and dishonorable in James Leech, whose father was one of the rich
men of Wrayburn, to taunt him with what he could not help. Some boys
might have slunk away abashed, but Herbert had pluck and stood his
ground.
"It is my style," he answered, firmly, looking James boldly in the
face.
"I admire your taste, then," returned James, with a smooth sneer.
"Then, you had better imitate it," retorted Herbert.
"Thank you," said James, in the same insulting tone. "Would you lend
me your pants for a pattern? Excuse me, though; perhaps you have no
other pair."
"For shame, James!" exclaimed one or two boys who had listened to the
colloquy, stirred to indignation by this heartless insult on the part
of James Leech to a boy who was deservedly a favorite with them all.
Herbert's fist involuntarily doubled, and James, though he did not
know it, ran a narrow chance of getting a good whipping. But our young
hero controlled himself, not without some difficulty, and said: "I
have one other pair, and these are at your service whenever you
require them."
Then turning to the other boys, he said, in a changed tone: "Who's in
for a game of ball?"
"I," said one, promptly.
"And I," said another.
Herbert walked away, accompanied by the other boys, leaving James
Leech alone.
James looked after him with a scowl. He was sharp enough to see that
Herbert, in spite of his patched pants, was a better scholar and a
greater favorite than himself. He had intended to humiliate him on the
present occasion, but he was forced to acknowledge that he had come
off second best from the encounter. He walked moodily away, and took
what comfort he could in the thought that he was far superior to a boy
who owned but two pairs of pants, and one of them patched. He was
foolish enough to feel that a boy or man derived importance from the
extent of his wardrobe; and exulted in the personal possession of
eight pairs of pants.
This scene occurred at recess. After school was over, Herbert walked
home. He was a little thoughtful. There was no disgrace in a patch, as
he was sensible enough to be aware. Still, he would have a little
preferred not to wear one. That was only natural. In that point, I
suppose, my readers will fully agree with him. But he knew very well
that his mother, who had been left a widow, had hard work enough to
get along as it was, and he had no idea of troubling her on the
subject. Besides, he had a better suit for Sundays, neat though plain,
and he felt that he ought not to be disturbed by James Leech's
insolence.
