Walter Sherwood's Probation Read online

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  WALTER SHERWOOD'S PROBATION

  By Horatio Alger, Jr.

  Author of "Facing the World," "Hector's Inheritance," "Helping Himself,""Jack's Ward," Etc., Etc.,

  CHAPTER I

  WALTER SHERWOOD'S LETTER

  "Here's a letter for you, Doctor Mack," said the housekeeper, asshe entered the plain room used as a library and sitting-room by heremployer, Doctor Ezekiel Mack. "It's from Walter, I surmise." This was afavorite word with Miss Nancy Sprague, who, though a housekeeper, pridedherself on having been a schoolmistress in her earlier days.

  "Indeed, Nancy. Let me see it. Walter is really getting attentive. Hislast letter came to hand only two days since. He hasn't forgotten hisold guardian."

  "Oh, no, sir. He'll never do that. He has a predilection for his oldhome. His heart is in the right place."

  "Just so. I wish I felt as sure about his head."

  Doctor Mack adjusted his spectacles, for he was rising sixty, and hiseyes required assistance, and opened the letter. As he read it hisforehead contracted, and he looked disturbed. A perusal of the lettermay help us to understand why. It ran as follows:

  "DEAR GUARDIAN: You will be surprised at hearing from me so soon again,but I am really forced to write. I find college life much more expensivethan I supposed it would be. A fellow is expected to join two or threesocieties, and each costs money. I know you wouldn't have me appearmean. Then the students have been asked to contribute to a fund for theenlargement of the library, and almost every day there is a demand formoney for one object or another. As it is nearly the end of the term,I calculate that with a check for an extra hundred dollars I can getalong. I am awfully sorry to ask for it, but it will come out ofthe money father left me, and I am sure he would wish me to keep upappearances, and not fall behind the rest of the boys.

  "I stand fairly well in my studies, and I expect to be stroke oar ofthe college boat club. Besides this, I have been elected catcher of thecollege baseball club. I am thought to excel in athletic sports, andreally enjoy my college life very much. Please send me the check byreturn of mail. Affectionately yours, WALTER."

  Doctor Mack laid the letter on the table, and slowly removed the glassesfrom his nose.

  "One hundred dollars!" he repeated. "That is the second extra check hehas written for, this term. Then his regular term bills will come due intwo weeks. He is spending more than three times as much as I did when incollege. Forty years have made a difference, no doubt, but not so greata difference as that. I hope the boy isn't falling into extravaganthabits. I care for that more than for the money. His father left a goodfortune, of which fact he is unfortunately aware, but I don't mean thatit shall spoil him. Now, what shall I do. Shall I send him the check ornot?"

  Doctor Mack leaned back in his chair, and thought busily. He feltanxious about his ward, who had entered college early and was now onlyseventeen. Walter Sherwood was a boy of excellent talent and popularmanners, but he was inclined to be self-indulgent and had a largecapacity for "enjoyment." His guardian had fondly hoped that he wouldlead the class in scholarship, but instead of this he was only doing"fairly well" in his studies. To be sure, he excelled in athleticsports, but, as Doctor Mack reflected, this was not generally consideredthe chief aim in a college course, except by some of the studentsthemselves.

  "I wish I knew just how Walter is making out," thought the doctor. Then,after a pause, he resumed, with a sudden inspiration: "Why shouldn'tI know? I'll go over to Euclid to-morrow with out giving Walter anyintimation of my visit, and see for myself."

  It may be stated here that Walter Sherwood was a member of the sophomoreclass in Euclid College, situated in the town of the same name. Ifthe reader does not find Euclid in a list of American colleges, it isbecause for special reasons I have thought it best to conceal the realname of the college, not wishing to bring the Institution into possibledisrepute. There are some who might misjudge the college, because itcontained some students who made an unprofitable use of their time.

  "Nancy," said Doctor Mack at the supper-table, "you may pack a hand-bagfor me. I shall start on a journey to-morrow morning."

  "Where to, sir, if I may make so bold as to inquire?"

  "I think of going to Euclid."

  "To see Master Walter?"

  "Exactly."

  "You haven't heard any bad news, I hope?" said the housekeeperanxiously.

  "Oh, no."

  "Then he isn't sick?"

  "Quite the contrary. He is quite strong and athletic, I should judge,from his letter."

  "He will be glad to see you, sir."

  "Well, perhaps so. But you know, Nancy, young people don't miss theirparents and guardians as much as they are missed at home. They haveplenty of excitement and society at college."

  "Yes, sir, that's true, but I'm sure Master Walter won't forget his oldhome. If you have room for some cookies I will put some into the bag.Walter is fond of them."

  "No, I think you needn't do It, Nancy, He has a good boarding-house, andno doubt he gets all the cakes he wants. By the way, I want to take theboy by surprise, so don't write and let him know I'm coming."

  "No, sir, I won't."

  This was exactly what the housekeeper had intended to do, for shepresumed upon her long service in the family to write a few linesoccasionally to the boy whom she had known from the age of six.

  "Of course I shall be pleased to give him any message from you."

  "Thank you, Doctor Mack. Tell him if he catches cold I can send himsome camomile. Camomile tea is excellent in such cases. My mother andgrandmother used it all their lives."

  "You seem to forget that I am a doctor, Nancy. Not that I object tocamomile tea--in its place--though I can truly say that I never hankeredafter it."

  "How long will you be gone, doctor?"

  "I can't say exactly. You see, Euclid is nearly two hundred miles off.and I don't know whether I can make connections."

  "Oh, well, don't hurry! No doubt Walter will want to keep you with himas long as possible."

  "I don't feel so sure of that," thought the doctor shrewdly. "Boys arenot usually so fond of the society of their guardians, though I don'tdoubt Walter has a sincere regard for me. He is a warm-hearted boy."

  Doctor Mack was no longer in active practice. Three years before he hadselected an assistant--a young Doctor Winthrop--in whom his patientshad come to feel confidence, so that when he wanted to go away for a fewdays there was no serious objection. Unlike some elderly practitioners,Doctor Mack did not feel in the least jealous of his young assistant,but was very glad to note his popularity.

  "If any one calls for me, Nancy," he said, "say that I am away for a dayor two and they can't do better than go to Doctor Winthrop."

  "There are some that like you best, sir."

  "No doubt, no doubt! They're used to me, you know. There's a good dealin that. Any that please can wait for me, but my advice to them is to goto Doctor Winthrop."

  Nancy packed the doctor's hand-bag, putting in a change of linen, a comband brush, an extra pair of socks and a couple of handkerchiefs. Then,seeing that there was plenty of room, she slipped in a small box ofcookies and a little camomile. The doctor discovered them soon after hestarted on his journey, and with a smile tossed the camomile out of thewindow, while he gave the cookies to a poor woman who was traveling witha couple of small children in the same car as himself. So that NancySprague's thoughtfulness was not wholly lost, though the intendedrecipient did not benefit by it.

  Doctor Mack had to wait over at a junction for three hours, owing tosome irregularities of the trains, and did not reach Euclid till rathera late hour in the after
noon. He went to the Euclid Hotel, and enteredhis name,

  E. MACK, Albany,

  without adding M.D., and substituting Albany for the small village,thirty miles away, where he made his home.

  "Strategy, doctor, strategy!" he said to himself, "I have come to spyout the land, and must not make myself too conspicuous. I am traveling,as it were, incognito."

  CHAPTER II

  DR. MACK GETS SOME INFORMATION

  The Euclid Hotel was distant about half a mile from the collegebuildings. It would hardly have paid expenses but for the patronage itreceived from the parents and friends of the students, who, especiallyon public occasions, were drawn to visit Euclid, and naturally put up atthe hotel. Then the students, tired, perhaps, of the fare at the collegecommons, dropped in often and ordered a dinner. So, take it all inall, Euclid Hotel benefited largely by the presence of the college. Nostudents, however, were permitted to board there, as it was thoughtby the college professors that the atmosphere of the hotel would bedetrimental to college discipline and the steady habits they desired toinculcate in the young men under their care.

  "I wonder," thought Doctor Mack, after supper was over, "whether I hadbetter go round to the college and make an evening call on Walter?"

  He was tempted to do so, for he was fond of his young ward and wouldhave enjoyed seeing him. But then he wished, unobserved, to judge forhimself whether Walter was making good use of his privileges, and thismade it injudicious for him to disclose his presence in the collegetown.

  He strolled out into the tavern yard, and observed a young man engagedin some light duties.

  "Good evening, sir," said the young man, respectfully.

  "Good evening, I suppose you are connected with the hotel?"

  "Yes, sir; but I would rather be connected with the college."

  "Then you have a taste for study?"

  "Yes, sir. I began to prepare for college, and had made some progressin Latin and Greek, when my father died, and that put an end to myprospects."

  "That was a pity. Has it destroyed your taste for study?"

  "No, I spend an hour after I am through work in keeping up my Latin andGreek, but of course I make slow progress."

  "Naturally. Now I have no doubt there are many students who do notappreciate their privileges as much as you do."

  "I know it, sir. There are pretty lively boys in college. Have you a sonthere?"

  "No."

  "I didn't know but what you might have."

  "What do you mean by lively?"

  "I mean they care more to have a good time than to get on in theirstudies."

  "What do they do?"

  "Well, some of them belong to societies, and have a good time wheneverthey meet. Frequently they give little suppers at the hotel here, andkeep it up till a late hour."

  "Do the faculty know of this?"

  "They may surmise something, but they don't interfere. Of course, itpays Mr. Daniels, the landlord, for he charges a good round sum, and,as there is no other place for the boys to go, they must pay it. There'sgoing to be a supper here to-night."

  "Indeed!"

  "It is given by one of the sophomores, Walter Sherwood."

  "What name did you mention?" asked Doctor Mack, startled.

  "Walter Sherwood. Do you know him?"

  "I know a family by the name of Sherwood," answered Doctor Mack,evasively. "What sort of a young man is he?"

  "I don't call him a young man. He is only seventeen or eighteen--one ofthe youngest members of the class. He is very popular among his mates--aregular jolly boy he is."

  "Does he stand well in his scholarship?"

  The young man laughed.

  "I don't think he troubles himself much about studies," he replied,"from all I hear; but he is pretty smart, learns easily, and manages tokeep up respectably."

  Doctor Mack's heart sank within him. Was this the best that could besaid about his ward, the son of his old friend?

  "Do you think he is dissipated?" he asked, uneasily.

  "Not that I ever heard. He is fond of having a good time, and drinkswine at his suppers, but he isn't what you would call intemperate. Hewould do better work in college if he wasn't so rich."

  "So he is rich, then?"

  "He must be, for he spends a good deal of money. Pendleton, one of hisclassmates, told me that he spent more money than any one in the class."

  "That is why he needs so many extra checks," thought the guardiansoberly.

  "I am sorry he doesn't make better use of his privileges," he saidaloud.

  "Yes, sir, it is a pity. If he didn't care so much for a good time hemight stand at the head of his class--so Pendleton thinks."

  "If he were a poor boy, now, you think the result would be different?"asked Doctor Mack, thoughtfully.

  "Yes, sir, I have no doubt of it."

  "When does the supper commence?"

  "At half-past eight o'clock."

  "How long will it keep up?"

  "Till near midnight. The landlord makes it a point to have them closebefore twelve. I hope they won't disturb you, sir."

  "Are they likely to make much noise?"

  "Well, sir, they make speeches, and do a good deal of singing. Then,college songs are naturally noisy."

  "Yes, so I hear."

  "What is the number of your room?"

  "Number nine."

  "Why, you are nearly opposite the room where they will have theirsupper. I am afraid you won't stand much chance of sleeping early."

  "Oh, never mind! I shall get an idea of what a college supper is like."

  "So you will. If you open the transom over your door you will have thefull benefit of all that goes on."

  "That will suit me very well," thought Doctor Mack.

  "If you would like to be farther away, the landlord would no doubtchange your room."

  "Oh, no," said the doctor hastily. "It will suit me very well for onceto listen to college songs and get an idea of how college boys enjoythemselves."

  "A very sensible old gentleman!" thought James Holden. "Some men of hisage would make a fuss."

  A little before the time when the students were expected to arriveDoctor Mack shut himself up in his room, taking care to open thetransom. He had ascertained from the young man, his informant, thatsupper had been engaged for twelve, and that the price charged per platewas two dollars and a half, all to be paid by Walter Sherwood.

  "That makes thirty dollars," he reflected. "No wonder Walter writesfor extra checks. I wonderin this thirty dollars is to figure as acontribution to the library?"

  From his window he could see the students as they approached the hotel.Finally he caught sight of Walter, with a college friend on each sideswith whom he was chatting gaily.

  "What a change!" thought Doctor Mack. "It seems only yesterday thatWalter started for college, a bashful, unformed boy, full of goodresolutions, and determined to distinguish himself in scholarship. Nowhe has become a gay butterfly. And, what is worse, he has learned todeceive his old guardian, and his chief aim seems to be to have a goodtime. What can I do to change his course?"

  The good doctor's face assumed a thoughtful look.

  "I can tell better after what I shall hear to-night," he said tohimself.

  It was not long before the guests were all assembled and the feast wasto begin.

  Some one rapped for attention, and then Doctor Mack recognized the voiceof his young ward.

  "Gentlemen," he said, "I am glad to welcome you to this festal board.After spending ten or a dozen hours in hard study"--laughter andapplause--"we find it pleasant to close our books, to relax our learnedbrows"--more laughter--"and show our appreciation of the good things oflife. As Horace, your favorite, says"--I won't insult you by offering totranslate his well-known words--_"dulce est desipere in loco_. That iswhat has brought us here to-night We want to _desipere in loco._"

  "So we do! Good for you!" exclaimed one and another.

  "I regret," Walter continued, "that all the professors
have declined myurgent invitation to be present on this occasion. Professor Griggs"--theprofessor of mathematics--"said he would not break away from his regulardiet of logarithms and radicals." Great laughter. "I have expresslyrequested Mr. Daniels to provide no logarithms to-night. They don'tagree with my constitution."

  "Nor with mine!" "Nor with mine!" echoed one and another.

  "I shall expect you all, after the banquet, to do something for thegeneral entertainment. I stipulate, however, that none of the companyaddress us in Latin or Greek."--"We won't!" "We won't!"--"Sufficient forthe recitation-room is the evil thereof. But I have spoken long enough.There are times when silence is golden, and one of those times is athand. Brethren, the feast awaits you! Pitch in!"

  The speaker took his seat, and then there was a noise of clinkingglasses, and knives and forks came to the front. The banquet had begun.

  CHAPTER III

  A COLLEGE BANQUET

  There was a rattling of knives and forks, a clink of glasses, and a buzzof conversation. Doctor Mack was able to hear considerable of it.There were anecdotes of the professors, accounts of narrow escapes from"flunking" in the recitation-room, and remarks by no means complimentaryto some of the text-books in use in college. It was evident that thecollegians assembled cared more for a good time than for study. Yetthese seemed to be the chosen associates of his ward, the doctorreflected.

  As the feast proceeded, he grew more sober. He felt that college life,however much it was doing for the faithful students, was only fosteringself-indulgence in his ward.