Dave Porter at Oak Hall. Stratemeyer Edward
guess I must be dreaming!" came from the boy. "Won't you please pinch me! This almost knocks me flat!"
"Never mind; you'll get over it in time."
"But to go to a first-class school and to college! Mr. Wadsworth, I'll do my best, and if I ever get the chance to pay you back, I'll do it—and with interest too!" And Dave's face showed that he meant every word he uttered.
"It will be pay enough to see you make something of yourself, Dave."
"Where did you think of sending him first?" questioned Caspar Potts.
"I was going to send my son to Oak Hall, located back of the village of Oakdale, in the State of Massachusetts. It is an institution presided over by Dr. Hasmer Clay. Perhaps you remember him. He was in our class for a short time."
"Ah, yes, I remember him. He wrote a short history of the Colonization of New England, and another history of the New England Indians."
"That's the man. I felt that I could trust my son in his care, and so I feel it would be a good place for Dave. Oak Hall prepares its students for any of the leading colleges," added Oliver Wadsworth.
"It is a boarding school, then?" said Dave.
"Yes. The term begins on the first Monday in September, so you will have ample time here in which to get ready for school."
"Is it a large place, may I ask?"
"I believe the school accommodates about a hundred pupils. I was up there once and thought it delightfully situated, on a small hill, with a river behind it, at the bottom of a great playground. The place takes its name from the great number of oaks which grow in that vicinity. I'll write a letter to Dr. Clay to-morrow, telling him that I am going to send you, and I'll ask him for one of his circulars. Then you'll learn all you want to know about the place."
"Thank you; I'd like to know something about where I am going."
"When the proper time comes, I'll give you a complete outfit for school, and I shall also provide you with necessary spending money," continued Oliver Wadsworth. "I shall not give you too much, because I don't think it is good for any boy."
"I don't want a cent more than I need," answered Dave, earnestly. "I don't want you to spend too much on me. But, oh, Mr. Wadsworth, you are good, no two ways about it."
After this, the matter was talked over for fully an hour longer. Mrs. Wadsworth joined in the discussion and so did Jessie.
"I am glad you have accepted my husband's offer," said the lady to Dave.
"I don't see how anybody could refuse," returned the boy. "I can hardly believe it yet! I thought I'd have to stick to the farm for years!"
"Mind, I want you to come out at the top of the class," put in Jessie. "If you'll do that, I'll treat you like a real brother."
"I'll do my best," answered Dave, soberly.
CHAPTER VI
OFF FOR OAK HALL
It soon became noised around Crumville that Oliver Wadsworth had taken in old Caspar Potts to live with him, and that the rich manufacturer was going to send Dave to a boarding school.
"I must congratulate you on your luck," said Ben Basswood to Dave, when they met. "Going to a first-class school will be fine, and you ought to have lots of fun."
"I'm going to study, not for the fun of it, Ben."
"Oh, you know what I mean. Of course you'll study your lessons. But at such a school they have baseball and football, and a gymnasium, and all that. I wish I was going."
"Why can't you go? I'd like to have somebody there that I knew."
"Can't do it—at least not for the present. But perhaps father will let me go later. And, Dave, they are saying that you were a regular hero, saving Jessie Wadsworth's life at the risk of your own. Didn't you get burnt at all?"
"Got a few blisters on the palm of my hand, that's all. Anybody could have done as much."
"Yes, but everybody wouldn't think to act so quickly. The hired man went for a pail of water, didn't he?"
"Yes."
"And Jessie might have burnt up while he was getting it. I reckon you deserve what you are receiving, Dave," concluded Ben.
The next week was a busy one for Dave, who worked on the farm from sunrise to sunset, getting everything in proper shape for another tenant. In the meantime Caspar Potts packed up his few belongings and had them transferred to the Wadsworth residence. Later on a farmer was found to take the farm, at a yearly rental which was satisfactory to all concerned.
Having been referred to Mr. Wadsworth, Aaron Poole called on the manufacturer for his interest money, and the upshot of the visit was that Oliver Wadsworth took over the mortgage on the farm.
"You won't make anything on that deal, Wadsworth," said Aaron Poole, after the transaction had come to an end.
"I do not expect to make anything," was the quiet answer. "But I fancy Professor Potts will make something, later on."
"Maybe he will and maybe he won't," was Aaron Poole's tart reply, and then, as there was nothing more to say, he withdrew.
At the end of a week a letter and a circular were received from Dr. Hasmer Clay. In the letter the master of Oak Hall stated that he would be pleased to receive Mr. Wadsworth's protégé as a pupil, and the circular told about the institution and the course of study.
"That must certainly be a fine place," was Dave's comment, after reading the circular and looking at the several pictures which it contained.
"What about the courses of study?" asked Oliver Wadsworth of Caspar Potts.
"Excellent, sir. I don't know that they could be improved upon. I fancy Dave will be able to enter the class next to the highest, and if so it will not be long before he will be ready to go to college."
It was decided that Dave needed a little "brushing up" in one or two studies, and as soon as he felt strong enough to do so, Caspar Potts gave him daily instruction. He had always been a good pupil and his progress was, therefore, rapid.
When Dave left the farm he was given a comfortable room on the second story of the Wadsworth mansion. It was prettily furnished, and Jessie made for him a table scarf which he admired greatly. He was also given some clothing and other necessities by Mr. Wadsworth, and when dressed up made as neat and handsome an appearance as any lad in Crumville.
"Now, you are going to be a regular member of the family," said Jessie, as she gave him a warm smile.
"I'm afraid yet that it is all a dream," said Dave, with a little laugh. "I can't really make myself believe that it's all true."
"You'll know it's true when you get to grinding away at your books."
"Oh, that won't bother me," answered Dave, with a smile.
One day when Dave was on an errand to the post office he met Nat Poole, the lordly son of the man who had held the mortgage on the farm. The young fellow was loudly dressed, and was smoking a cigarette.
"Say, you're Dave Porter, ain't you?" questioned Nat Poole, as he strode up to Dave.
"I am, and I believe you are Nat Poole," was the quiet answer.
"You've struck it rich since you moved to Wadsworth's place," sneered Nat Poole.
"I have struck it rich, for which I am thankful."
"Wadsworth must be a softy to take you in."