Chapter I: Preface

--------------

THE object of this book is to portray the character of the MANLY BOY—a character that never fails to inspire love and esteem, if only it be natural and genuine. That a youth may still be a real boy in his tastes, his pursuits, and his feelings,—as every young lad certainly ought to be,—and yet exhibit something of true manliness in his spirit and deportment, will, it is hoped, be made manifest to the youngest mind, in the story of WHISTLER.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

ADVERTISEMENT.

--------------

“PRECEPTS MAY LEAD, BUT EXAMPLES DRAW.”

--------------

“THE AIMWELL STORIES” are designed to portray some of the leading phases of juvenile character, and to point out their tendencies to future good and evil. This they undertake to do, by describing the quiet, natural scenes and incidents of every-day life, in city and country, at home and abroad, at school and upon the play-ground, rather than by resorting to romantic adventures and startling effects. While their main object is to persuade the young to lay well the foundations of their characters, to win them to the ways of virtue, and to incite them to good deeds and noble aims, the attempt is also made to mingle amusing, curious, and useful information with the moral lessons conveyed. It is hoped that the volumes will thus be made attractive and agreeable, as well as instructive, to the youthful reader.

Each volume of the “Aimwell Stories” will be complete and independent of itself, although a connecting thread will run through the whole series. The order of the volumes, so far as completed, is as follows:

I. OSCAR; OR, THE BOY WHO HAD HIS OWN WAY.
II. CLINTON; OR, BOY-LIFE IN THE COUNTRY.
III. ELLA; OR, TURNING OVER A NEW LEAF.
IV. WHISTLER; OR, THE MANLY BOY.
V. MARCUS; OR, THE BOY-TAMER. (_In Preparation._)

------------------------------------------------------------------------

CONTENTS.

--------------

CHAPTER I.

A VACATION JOURNEY.

PAGE

The last bell—The man who was too 17
late—Underway—Going down the
harbor—Whistler—How he came by his
name—Mr. Preston—Ella and
Emily—Supper—Scrabbling and
rudeness—An overheard remark—How
American voracity strikes a
foreigner—Whistler’s
resolution—Turning in—The berths—The
boot-black—Lying awake—Morning
naps—The river—Pleasant
scenery—Breakfast at the tavern—The
stage-coach ride—Cross
Roads—Clinton—The journey’s end,

CHAPTER II.

LOOKING ABOUT.

The Davenport family—Whistler’s 28
cousins—Surveying the premises—The
house—The shop—Tools—Clinton’s
skill—The barn—Rye—Verdancy—The
swine—Clinton’s fowls—How he managed
them—The patch of corn—A partnership
proposed—The other side of the
account—The kitchen garden—Working on
shares—The secret of Clinton’s
success—His studies—The ducks and
their home—Geography of Brookdale—Map
of the town,

CHAPTER III.

Clinton’s chamber—The furniture—The 41
writing-desk—The library—The
schooner—Pictures—Lessons
suspended—Plans about
work—Morning—Milking—A talk about the
cows—Daisy’s uneasiness—Conversation
suspended—Breakfast—Impromptu
rhymes—Clinton’s favorite song—The
turkeys and
hens—Weeding—Witch-grass—Difficulty of
exterminating it—An imagined moral—A
habit of Whistler’s father—The toad—A
cruel act—Ending his misery—Whistler’s
thoughtlessness—Toads not
poisonous—The good they do—How the
boys serve them—Tame toads—How they
eat—“Spitting fire” a vulgar
notion—How the toad disposes of his
old coat—Clinton’s authority for his
statement—The morning’s work
completed,