The day for Charlie’s departure at last arrived.

Kinch, who had been up since two o’clock in the morning, was found by Caddy at the early hour of five waiting upon the door-step to accompany his friend to the wharf.  Beside him lay a bag, in which there appeared to be some living object.

“What have you got in here?” asked Caddy, as she gave the bag a punch with the broom she was using.  “It’s a present for Charlie,” replied Kinch, opening the bag, and displaying, to the astonished gaze of Caddy, a very young pig.

“Why,” said she, laughing, “you don’t expect he can take that with him, do you?”

“Why not?” asked Kinch, taking up the bag and carrying it into the house.  “It’s just the thing to take into the country; Charlie can fatten him and sell him for a lot of money.”

It was as much as Mrs. Ellis could do to convince Charlie and Kinch of the impracticability of their scheme of carrying off to Warmouth the pig in question.  She suggested, as it was the exclusive property of Kinch, and he was so exceedingly anxious to make Charlie a parting gift, that she should purchase it, which she did, on the spot; and Kinch invested all the money in a large cross-bow, wherewith Charlie was to shoot game sufficient to supply both Kinch and his own parents.  Had Charlie been on his way to the scaffold, he could not have been followed by a more solemn face than that presented by Kinch as he trudged on with him in the rear the porter who carried the trunk.

“I wish you were not going,” said he, as he put his arm affectionately over Charlie’s shoulder, “I shall be so lonesome when you are gone; and what is more, I know I shall get licked every day in school, for who will help me with my sums?”

“Oh, any of the boys will, they all like you, Kinch; and if you only study a little harder, you can do them yourself,” was Charlie’s encouraging reply.

On arriving at the boat, they found.  Mrs. Bird waiting for them; so Charlie hastily kissed his mother and sisters, and made endless promises not to be mischievous, and, above all, to be as tidy as possible.  Then tearing himself away from them, and turning to Kinch, he exclaimed, “I’ll be back to see you all again soon, so don’t cry old fellow;” and at the same time thrusting his hand into his pocket, he drew out a number of marbles, which he gave him, his own lips quivering all the while.  At last his attempts to suppress his tears and look like a man grew entirely futile, and he cried heartily as Mrs. Bird took his hand and drew him on board the steamer.

As it slowly moved from the pier and glided up the river, Charlie stood looking with tearful eyes at his mother and sisters, who, with Kinch, waved their handkerchiefs as long as they could distinguish him, and then he saw them move away with the crowd.

Mrs. Bird, who had been conversing with a lady who accompanied her a short distance on her journey, came and took her little protege by the hand, and led him to a seat near her in the after part of the boat, informing him, as she did so, that they would shortly exchange the steamer for the cars, and she thought he had better remain near her.