The passing of each day became a painful task to him.

To Minnetaki he wrote three times each week, and three times each week the little maiden at Wabinosh House wrote long, cheering letters to her brother--though they came to Wabi only about twice a month, because only so often did the mail-carrier go out from the Post.
It was at this time in his lonely school life that Wabigoon became acquainted with Roderick Drew.

Roderick, even as Wabi fancied himself to be just at this time, was a child of misfortune.

His father had died before he could remember, and the property he had left had dwindled slowly away during the passing of years.

Rod was spending his last week in school when he met Wabigoon.