Part 15 (1/2)

”I ain't been well, sah,” answered the colored man, and his face fell for a moment. ”It's been dat awful lonesome lik I thinks I was a gwine to die sometimes.”

”Never mind, Aleck, we'll cheer you up some day,” came from Tom.

”I guess I ought to be at a boahdin' school, or a collidge,” went on Aleck. ”Perhaps I'll go back to Putnam Hall-if de cap'n will take me.”

”Oh, he'll take you back fast enough,” answered Sam. ”But why not try for a place at Brill?”

”Yo' collidge? Would da hab me dar, yo' t'ink?”

”Perhaps. They have some colored help.”

”Den say, won't you put in a good word fo' me, all ob yo'?” asked Aleck, earnestly. ”I'd gib most anyt'ing fo' to be wid yo', 'deed I would!” and his eyes rolled from one lad to another.

”We'll keep that in mind, Aleck,” answered d.i.c.k. ”But you can be with us this summer-at least part of the time.”

”I'se glad ob dat, Ma.s.sa d.i.c.k. I'se jess been a-pinin' an' a-pinin' fo'

you boys!”

The boys slept soundly, and did not get up until late. They spent the best part of the day in roaming around the farm, and in writing letters to the girls, telling of their safe arrival home.

”I'll tell you what I'd like to do,” said Tom, that afternoon. ”I'd like to invite the Lanings and the Stanhopes down here to spend the Fourth of July. We might have a sort of house party.”

”Great!” shouted Sam. ”Just the thing-if they'll come.”

”Let us sound dad and Uncle Randolph and Aunt Martha on the subject,”

added d.i.c.k.

The matter was talked over, and the boys readily secured permission to have their friends at the farm for the best part of a week. The invitations were issued immediately, for the national holiday was but ten days off.

”I know what I'd like to do, after they are gone,” said d.i.c.k. ”I'd like to take our tent and go camping up the river for a week or two, just for the novelty of it. We could fish and swim, and take it easy, and have lots of sport.”

”Suits me down to the ground,” answered Tom. ”We'll do it-unless something better turns up.”

”I was going to suggest an automobile tour,” said Sam. ”Uncle Randolph has the new car and it is certainly a dandy.”

”Well, maybe we can take the tour, too,” answered d.i.c.k. ”The summer vacation will be pretty long.”

”We could run up to Cedarville,” said Tom.

”Sure-right to the Lanings' home,” added d.i.c.k, giving Tom a poke in the ribs.

”Oh, sure-and over to the Stanhopes' place, too.”

Having sent their letters the boys waited anxiously for replies. On Sat.u.r.day the answers came, and they read the communications with deep interest.

”Hurrah! Nellie and Grace are coming, with their mother!” cried Tom.

”And Dora is coming with them,” said d.i.c.k.

”What about Mrs. Stanhope?” asked Sam.