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e from his long day's work； and always passing to and fro； swinging his staff； bullying the street…rats who were playing tag among the trees； and inspiring a wholesome awe among those hiding in the shadows； lounged some guardian of the peace awaiting the hour when he could drive the inmates to the sidewalk and shut the gates behind them with a bang。
Here on one of these same straight…backed wooden seats one September nighta night when the air was heavy with a blurred haze； through which the lamps peered as in a fog； and the dust lay thick upon the leavessat our Oliver。
Outside the squareall about the iron fence； and surging past the big equestrian statue； could be heard the roar and din of the great citythat maelstrom which now seemed ready to engulf him。 No sound of merry laughter reached him； only rumbling of countless wheels； the slow thud of never…ending； crowded stages lumbering over the cobbles； the cries of the hucksters selling hot corn； and the ceaseless scrapings of a thousand feet。
He had sat here since the sun had gone down watching the crowds； wondering how they lived and how they had earned their freedom from such cares as were now oppressing him。 His heart was heavy。 A long…coveted berth； meaning self…support and independence and consequent relief to his mother's heart； had been almost within his grasp。 It was not the place he had expected when he left home。 It was much more menial and unremunerative。 But he had outlived all his bright hopes。 He was ready now to take anything he could get to save him from returning to Kennedy Square； or what would be still worse from asking his mother for a penny more than she had given him。 Rather than do this he would sweep the streets。
As he leaned forward on the bench； his face in his hands； his elbows on his knees； his thoughts went back to his father's house。 He knew what they were all doing at this hour； he could see the porches crowded with the boys and girls he loved； their bright voices filling the night…air； Sue in the midst of them； her curls about her face。 He could see his father in the big chair reading by the lamp； that dear old father who had held his hands so tenderly and spoken with such earnestness the day before he had left Kennedy Square。
〃Your mother is right；〃 Richard had said。 〃I am glad you are going； my son； the men at the North are broader…minded than we are here； and you will soon find your place among them。 Great things are ahead of us； my boy。 I shall not live to see them； but you will。〃
He could see his mother； too； sitting by the window； looking out upon the trees。 He knew where her thoughts lay。 As his mind rested on her pale face his eyes filled with tears。 〃Dear old mother；〃 he said to himself〃I am not forgetting； dear。 I am holding on。 But oh； if I had only got the place to…day； how happy you would be to…morrow。〃
A bitter feeling had risen in his heart； when he had opened the letter which had brought him the news of the loss of this hoped…for situation。 〃This is making one's way in the world； is it？〃 he had said to himself with a heavy sigh。 Then the calm eyes of his mother had looked into his again； and he had felt the pressure of the soft hand and heard the tones of her voice：
〃You may have many discouragements； my son； and will often be ready to faint by the way； but stick to it and you will win。〃
His bitterness had been but momentary； and he had soon pulled himself together； but his every resource seemed exhausted now。 He had counted so on the situationthat of a shipping…clerk in a dry… goods storepromised him because of a letter that he carried from Amos Cobb's friend。 But at the last moment the former clerk； who had been laid off because of sickness； had been taken back； and so the weary search for work must begin again。
And yet with everything against him Oliver had no thought of giving up the struggle。 Even Amos Cobb would have been proud of him could he have seen the dogged tenacity with which he clung to his purposea tenacity due to his buoyant； happy temperament； or to his devotion to his mother's wishes； or （and this is more than probable） to some drops of blood； perhaps； that had reached his own through his mother's veinsthe blood of that Major with the blue and buff coat； whose portrait hung in the dining…room at home； and who in the early days had braved the flood at Trenton side by side with the Hero of the Bronze Horse now overlooking the bench on which Oliver sat； or it may be of that other ancestor in the queue whose portrait hung over the mantel of the club and who had served his State with distinction in his day。
Whatever the causes of these several effects； the one dominating power which now controlled him was his veneration for his mother's name and honor。 For on the night succeeding Amos Cobb's visit after she had dropped upon her knees and poured out her heart in prayer she had gone into Oliver's bedroom； and shutting the door had told him of the mortgage； of his father's embarrassment； and the danger they suffered of losing the farmtheir only hope for their old ageunless success crowned Richard's inventions。 With his hand fast in hers she had given him in exact detail all that she had done to ward off this calamity； recounting； word by word； what she had said to the Colonel； lowering her voice almost to a whisper as she spoke of the solemn promise she had made himinvolving her own and her husband's honorand the lengths to which she was prepared to go to keep her obligations to the bank。
Then； her hand still clasping his； the two sitting side by side on his bed； his wondering； startled eyes looking into hersfor this world of anxiety was an unknown world to himshe had by slow stages made him realize how necessary it was that he； their only son； and their sole dependence； should begin at once to earn his daily bread； not only on his own account but on hers and his father's。 In her tenderness she had not told him that the real reason was his instability of purpose； fearing to wound his pride； she had put it solely on the ground of his settling down to some work。
〃It is the law of nature； my son；〃 she had added。 〃Everything that lives must WORK to live。 You have only to watch the birds out here in the Square to convince you of that。 Notice them to…morrow； when you go out。 See how busy they are； see how long it takes for any one of them to get a meal。 You are old enough now to begin to earn your own bread； and you must begin at once； Ollie。 Your father can no longer help you。 I had hoped your profession would do this for you； but that is not to be thought of now。〃
Oliver； at first； had been stunned by it all。 He had never before given the practical side of life a single thought。 Everything had gone along smoothly from his earliest remembrance。 His father's house had been his home and his protection； his room with its little bed and pretty hangings and all its comforts a room cared for like a girl'shad always been open to him。 He had never once asked himself how these things came about； nor why they continued。 These revelations of his mother's therefore were like the sudden opening of a door covering a vault over which he had walked unconsciously and which now； for the first tim