“Do you know what kind of a certificate is required?”

“Yes, sir,” replied Oscar, who had read the advertisement in the paper that morning.

“The certificate must say that you are a boy of good character, and that your teacher believes you are qualified for admission to the High School,” continued the master.  “Now I want to ask you if you think I can honestly say that of you?”

Oscar hung his head in shame, but made no reply.  It had turned out just as he feared it would.

“It is very hard to refuse such a request,” continued the teacher; “but, really, if I should give you the certificate, I am afraid it would do you no good, while it might do me some harm, for I don’t like to have my scholars rejected.  I cannot honestly say that I think you are qualified for the High School; and besides your conduct has been such of late, that I do not see how I could give you a very high recommendation.  I would advise you to give up the idea of applying for admission.  I am very sorry it is so, but that will not help the matter.”

What could Oscar say to this?  He said nothing, but his looks betrayed the deep mortification he felt, and moved his teacher to pity, while he denied his request.  Nor was this the end of Oscar’s troubles.  He had got to face his father, and to confess to him that he was found unworthy even to be a candidate for the school for which he had so long been preparing.  In doing this, he smoothed over the matter as well as he could; but at best it was a bitter thing to him, and thus he began to experience some of the sad but natural effects of his own misconduct.

CHAPTER XXI.

NED MIXER.

The long summer vacation had now commenced.  Oscar wished to spend it at Brookdale, but his parents did not seem much inclined to yield to his wishes.  They had not yet fully determined what to do with him; whether to send him to a private school, when the vacations were over, or to put him to work in some shop or store.  Meanwhile, Oscar was idling away his time about the streets, and devoting all his energies to the pursuit of amusement.  His favorite place of resort continued to be the hotel where Alfred Walton lived.  Here he found congenial spirits in Alfred, and Andy the speller, and the several drivers and hostlers, with whom he was on intimate terms.  Here, too, he often met with strangers who took his fancy.

At this time, a boy named Edward Mixer was boarding at the hotel.  He had lately come to Boston from another city, and Oscar and Alfred were soon captivated by his free and easy manners, and his sociable qualities.  He was between fifteen and sixteen years old, and represented that he was travelling about, to see the world.  He said he had plenty of money, and should have a great deal more, when he became of age.  He was fashionably dressed, and Oscar and Alfred felt proud of his acquaintance, and were soon on terms of intimacy with him.