Part 23 (1/2)

Mrs. Allen and the whole family held a consultation as to what should be done with Bolax while they were in Florida.

”I want to board at St. Thomas', Papa; the boys have such fun, I know I'd have a good time there; I was the youngest day scholar last year and all the seniors liked me.”

”My dear child,” said his father, ”if fun be all your aim in boarding at a college, you can have all you want of that at home at less cost. I fear there is too much of your 'fun' going on in our colleges and very little solid education.”

”That's just what I've been thinking,” observed Mrs. Allen, ”and I've made up my mind to send Bolax to my uncle, who is President of the College at L'Islet, Canada; that is, my dear, if you don't object.”

”I do most emphatically object to having my son go so far from home.”

”But,” argued Mrs. Allen, ”the boy will be better cared for under the patronage of a relative than he would be in the most expensive of our Colleges here. My uncle has frequently written to me, telling of the excellent methods and strict discipline of his school, which he has placed under the care of Christian Brothers.”

As they were speaking, Dr. Carroll and Lucy came into the room.

”What would you advise about our boy, Doctor?” asked Mr. Allen.

”On what subject?” said the Doctor.

”We are thinking of placing Bolax at college, and his mother wants to send him to her uncle in Canada.”

”Canada is very far away,” objected Aunt Lucy, ”why not let him remain with us, as we are to live in your house during your absence.”

”Now, Lucy, you ought to think it high time that a boy nearly thirteen years of age should be above coddling,” remarked the Doctor, ”that is what you and Hetty have done all his life and it is time to stop it. The boy is not working up to his ability here. Composition and music are the only branches in which he receives a high average, these require little or no exertion on his part, but in all other studies his average is low.

I really feel a change would benefit him, we might make the trial, should it prove unsatisfactory, it will be easy to take him home again.”

After debating for and against the Canadian project, Mr. Allen was at last persuaded to give his consent, and preparations were made for Bo's trip to Canada. Boy-like he was elated at the idea of traveling, especially when he heard he was to undertake the journey alone. When he told his companions about it, they opened their eyes in amazement, and some of their mothers wondered how such a harum-scarum could be trusted so far on the trains.

[Ill.u.s.tration: BOLAX WHEN HE WENT TO COLLEGE.]

”Mamma, can't I give a farewell spread for my chums?” ”Yes, dear; have them all here on Friday evening. I will get up a nice supper, and Uncle Carroll will show his magic lantern with moving pictures.” ”Oh, bully for you Ma, dear.” ”Bully! What did I say about slang, my child?” ”Oh, Ma, dear, all the fellows at St. Thomas' use those words, you've got to have something to say when you are pleased, or mad, or surprised--one dear old priest up there says 'Thunder and mud!' when a boy gives a particularly stupid answer at a recitation.”

”Oh, well, my son, that is just a funny expression. I don't mind your adopting it, since as you say, you must have some 'expressions.'”

The last evening at home had come. Bo's trunk was packed and the family had a.s.sembled in the dining room to have a nice old-fas.h.i.+oned supper.

Their boy was going away, but the grand harmony of the evening was not destroyed. Uncle Carroll sang merry songs, Aunt Lucy played on her guitar, Bolax gave his best pieces on the piano, in fact, they had a regular concert.

Somehow, Bolax felt that he had never loved his parents as he did now; he thought his mother's face so matronly, yet so gentle, was the sweetest face he ever saw. He bid ”good-night” quite bravely, but found it hard to suppress his sobs as he clung to his mother's neck, for our light-hearted boy was tender and loving as a girl.

Early next morning the house was astir. Hetty packed a basket of lunch filled with everything she knew the boy liked. Farewells were spoken, the carriage drove up and Mr. Allen accompanied his son to New York, where he placed him on the train bound for Quebec.

L'ISLET, P. Q., CANADA, September 15th.

_My Dear Papa_: I hope you are well, and that business will soon steer towards prosperity. When you left me in the car, I had to wait about three minutes, then I felt the train start.

As it gained speed, we darted through about fifty little tunnels, and between stone walls.

When we got into Connecticut, we pa.s.sed a series of little bays, which I afterwards found out were the inlets of the sound. We made our first stop at Meriden, where a crowd of New England girls got on the train; they wore neat golf suits and carried golf sticks. I thought how nice Cousin Madge would look in such clothes. None of them were pretty, but all were as neat as new pins. All along the railroad was to be seen ”ads” of pills, bicycles, soap and sarsaparilla.

As we pulled into Hartford, we pa.s.sed the Pope Manufacturing Company, but it does not resemble the fine pictures they have in their ”ads.”