It was the first of January,—­a clear, cold day.  A pleasant fire burned in the little stove.  Mr. Cameron sat at one side, reading the evening paper; Mrs. Cameron at the other, knitting a stocking for Paul.  A large, comfortable-looking cat was dozing tranquilly on the hearth-rug.  Paul, who had been seated at the table, rose and lighted a candle.

“Where are you going, Paul?” asked Aunt Hester.

“Up-stairs for a moment.”

Paul speedily returned, bearing in his hand a small blue bank-book, with his name on the cover.

He took out his pencil and figured a few minutes.

“Uncle Hugh,” said he, looking up, “when I get a hundred dollars more, I shall have enough to pay father’s debt.”

“Principal and interest?”

“Yes, principal and interest; reckoning the interest for a year to come.”

“I did not suppose you had so much money, Paul.  You must have been very economical.”

“Yes, Uncle Hugh more so than I have wanted to be, oftentimes; but whenever I have been tempted to spend a cent unnecessarily, I have always called to mind my promise made to father on his deathbed, and I have denied myself.”

“You have done well, Paul.  There are few who would have had the resolution to do as you have.”

“Oh yes, Uncle Hugh,” said Paul, modestly, “I think there are a great many.  I begin to feel repaid already.  In a few months I shall be able to pay up the whole debt.”

At this moment a knock was heard at the door.  Mr. Cameron answered the summons.

“Does Mr. Paul Prescott live here?” inquired a boy.

“Yes.  Do you want to see him?”

“Here is a letter for him.  There is no answer.”

The messenger departed, leaving the letter in Mr. Cameron’s hand.

Somewhat surprised, he returned to the sitting-room and handed it to
Paul.

Paul opened it hastily, and discovered inclosed, a bank-note for one hundred dollars.  It was accompanied with a note from his employer, stating that it was intended as a New Year’s gift, but in the hurry of business, he had forgotten to give it to him during the day.

Paul’s face lighted up with joy.

“Oh, Uncle Hugh!” he exclaimed, almost breathless with delight.  “Don’t you see that this will enable me to pay my debt at once?”

“So it will, Paul.  I wish you joy.”

“And my father’s memory will be vindicated,” said Paul, in a tone of deep satisfaction.  “If he could only have lived to see this day!”

A fortnight later, Paul obtained permission from his employer to be absent from the office for a week.  It was his purpose to visit Cedarville and repay ’Squire Conant the debt due him:  and then, to go across the country to Wrenville, thirty miles distant, to see Aunt Lucy Lee.  First, however, he ordered a new suit of a tailor, feeling a desire to appear to the best advantage on his return to the scene of his former humiliation.  I must not omit to say that Paul was now a fine-looking young fellow of nineteen, with a frank, manly face, that won favor wherever he went.