He was an intelligent lad--active in mind, and pure in his moral principles.

But like his mother, sensitive, and inclined to avoid observation.

Like her, too, he had a proud independence of feeling, that made him shrink from asking or accepting a favor, or putting himself under an obligation to any one.

He first became aware of his mother's true condition, when she took him from school, and explained the reason for so doing.

At once his mind rose into the determination to do something to aid his mother.