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"I have no doubt she found it and took it," said she.

The old gentleman groaned assent.

"Farewell, then," said he, "to any help from that source. They will destroy the paper, and hide the box. They have it -- there is hardly a doubt of it."

"I now see," said George, "why she has been hanging round the house evenings, peering in at the windows, and watching us -- especially you, sir."

"Yes, I have no doubt she has been watching me when I have taken out the box, or any of my little curiosities or relics, to see where they were kept."

"Very likely -- the miserable creature!" said Eliza.

"But they are pretty effectually broken up now," said George. "I hope they will find a steady home at the poor-house for the next twelve months."

"I do," said Mr. Warren. "And now that the papers are gone, I must do what I can by my own testimony to avert from Jims the lasting disgrace they would inflict upon him. I will go before a justice, and make my oath to the fact of the death of his mother here, and the circumstances of our giving away her child to Annie Sue."

They all came to think this would be highly important in the case; and it was agreed that, as the weather was mild, and no one could tell what a change might spring up in any half day of the month of March -- windy and stormy March -- they would go that very day, after an early dinner.

* * * * * *

"Jims, did you and Roxy and Dan steal one of my red roosters last night, you young villain, hey?"

This was Captain Bunce, with his hand fiercely and ruffianly hold of the youngster's collar. Jims hung his head and trembled as only the guilty tremble.

"Why don't you speak!" thundered the Captain.

"I havn't ate your rooster."

"No, but didn't you steal him, and Dan cut off his head, and Roxy pick off his feathers, say?"

"Well," said Jims, "old Bill and aunt Prescott's got the scurvy eating your c--d salt beef, and -- what shall we do?"

"I'll teach you, you scamp; and it isn't the first time either, is it, you've felt the rod, hey?"

"No!" said the boy, looking up with an imploring look into his face. But the Captain seized hold of a maple rod within his reach, and as few fathers ever do, he chastised the young thief, who cringed and cried with pain, and promised by all in heaven, earth and hell he would never do so any more, "no, not if I starve to death."

"Starve! you young reptile -- Who's starving you?"

"Nobody, nobody!" said the young liar.

"Oh, Dan! Dan!" cried Roxy, "do go out and stop him -- the old rascal's hiding Jims to death."

Dan, who was complicated in this transaction, raised himself slowly up from a half sleeping state on the floor of the old musty mansion, and hearing the outcry, went outside. He looked on for a little time, and waxing indignant, although not personally Jims' friend, he cried out, "Halloa there, Captain, what's to pay!"

The Captain deigned no answer. It is not in human nature to stand calmly by and see a fellow-creature, who is even guilty, intolerably abused; and Dan, who instinctively comprehended the cause of the punishment, and his own exposure to the Captain's ill will, approached with such a threatening demonstration of his two gigantic fists that the Captain, casting the boy headlong from him, turned himself fiercely on his new assailant, and commanding him to go about his business, dealt him over the shoulders a fierce cut with the same, though now broken rod. But this was the signal of his own overthrow. Dan, who was uncommonly sober, and who when sober was yet a stout man, rushed on Mm with a terrible blow -- one that if leveled on the head of Alanson Boyce had almost consigned him to perpetual silence. The Captain, now unsupported by Dick, had no chance of escaping it. He sunk to his knees under the blow, and fairly rolled to the ground. Dan, who of all other men in the establishment was the least humane and merciful, fell upon him, and would have beaten him terribly in this condition, had not Jims and Roxy grappled him and pulled him away.

The Captain soon got again on his feet, and shaking his fists at them as they retired, swore that he would yet pay them soundly for it, if it cost him his life!

Jims was severely flogged. He had never before received so terrible a punishment. Smarting with the pain, he ran into the house and cried piteously. He tore off his coat, and unrolling his shirt at the neck and from his arms, he bathed himself in water, and sought help from every one of the inmates, who gathered around him and tried to comfort him. Mag took him up in her lap, big boy as he was, and held him while Mrs. Rice got off his stockings, and they bathed his limbs. Dan brought in a great handful of snow and held it on his neck and shoulders. Tucker brought an oiled rag, taken off from his wife's burns, and put it on his chest, and the widow Prescott sent word to him to lift up his heart to God!

By-and-bye, as he became easier, they laid him on the bed by the side of Bill, who, as well as Ebenezer Cowles, was down with the scurvy, consequent on steadily feeding for a long time on the Captain's "prime beef," and in the course of one or two hours he fell asleep.