CHAPTER III.
Charlie's Trials.
Charlie started for school with a heavy heart.

Had it not been for his impending doom of service in Mr.Thomas's family, he would have been the happiest boy that ever carried a school-bag.
It did not require a great deal to render this young gentleman happy.

All that was necessary to make up a day of perfect joyfulness with him, was a dozen marbles, permission to wear his worst inexpressibles, and to be thoroughly up in his lessons.

To-day he was possessed of all these requisites, but there was also in the perspective along array of skirmishes with Aunt Rachel, who, he knew, looked on him with an evil eye, and who had frequently expressed herself regarding him, in his presence, in terms by no means complimentary or affectionate; and the manner in which she had intimated her desire, on one or two occasions, to have an opportunity of reforming his personal habits, were by no means calculated to produce a happy frame of mind, now that the opportunity was about to be afforded her.
Charlie sauntered on until he came to a lumber-yard, where he stopped and examined a corner of the fence very attentively.

"Not gone by yet.