The arrival of Uncle John was soon heralded through the house, and a warm greeting extended to him.  He usually visited the city thrice a year on business, and on such occasions made his brother’s house his stopping-place.  He lived in the town of Brookdale, where he had a family; but he was engaged in the lumber business, and generally spent the winter months in the forests of Maine, with large gangs of loggers, who were employed to cut down trees, and convey them to the banks of the streams, where they were floated down to the mills in the spring freshets.  These forests are far from any settlement, and the lumber-men live in log-huts, in a very independent and care-for-nobody sort of way.  Oscar had often heard his uncle describe their manner of life, and, to him, there was something quite fascinating about it.  He thought he should like the logging business very much—­all but the working part of it; he was afraid that would spoil the whole, for his Uncle John always represented it as being pretty hard work.

Oscar had four cousins in Brookdale, the children of his Uncle John, none of whom he had ever seen.  He had many questions to ask about them, in the course of which he expressed a wish that he might visit them.  His uncle replied that he should like to take him home with him, and, as he was sick, he thought the journey might do him good.  He afterwards talked with Oscar’s parents about the matter, and they finally concluded to let him go, hoping that a few weeks in the country would improve his health.

NOTE.—­The following are the solutions of the puzzles, &c., in Benjamin’s letter, contained in this chapter.  The first puzzle is the name of Oscar Preston, enigmatically expressed. 2.  Make an impression. 3.  It is a bad habit. 4.  A ditch. 5.  Mistake. 6.  Monosyllable. 7.  A pillow. 8.  The wind. 9.  “Over the hills and far away.” 10.  Bolt it. 11.  An icicle. 12.  Against your inclination. 13.  It is a cataract (cat erect).

CHAPTER XIV.

THE JOURNEY.

Oscar’s valise was well packed for his journey, and many were the injunctions given him by his mother, in regard to his conduct during his absence from home.  The morning for his departure soon came, and, in company with his uncle, he proceeded to the depot, and took the cars for Portland.  It was a mild spring morning, near the close of May.  Oscar secured a seat by a window, from which he could see the country they passed through; while his uncle, to whom the journey was no novelty, seated himself by his side, and was soon absorbed in his morning newspaper.

The keen relish with which Oscar set out upon his long ride gradually wore off, and he began to feel weary long before the train reached its destination.  It was just noon when they arrived at Portland; and as it was too late to reach Brookdale that day, Oscar’s uncle concluded to stop there until the next morning.  They proceeded to a hotel, where they booked their names, and were shown to a chamber.  After dinner, Mr. Preston took Oscar to walk, and showed him some of the most notable places about town.  But the latter felt too tired to walk about a great deal, and spent most of the afternoon in the hotel, while his uncle was off attending to some business.