“Robert, have you seen anything of your uncle?”
“No, aunt.”
“I suppose he’s over at the tavern as usual,” said the womandespondently. “He drinks up about all he earns, and there’s littleenough left for us. I hope you won’t follow in his steps, Robert.”
“You may be sure I won’t, Aunt Jane,” said the boy, noddingemphatically. “I wouldn’t drink a glass of rum for a hundred dollars.”
“God keep you in that resolution, my dear boy! I don’t want my sister’sson to go to