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I was not unfaithful to my trust。 Nor was it for such infidelity that I was removed。 No！ But it was discovered that I was a Sandemanian； a Glassite； as in derision I was called。 The annual meeting of the trustees came round。 There was a large Mechanics' Fair in Tamworth at the time； and an Agricultural Convention。 There was no horse…race at the convention； but there were two competitive examinations in which running horses competed with each other； and trotting horses competed with each other； and five thousand dollars was given to the best runner and the best trotter。 These causes drew all the trustees together。 The Rev。 Cephas Philpotts presided。 His doctrines with regard to free agency were considered much more sound than mine。 He took the chair；in that pretty observatory parlor； which Polly had made so bright with smilax and ivy。 Of course I took no chair； I waited； as a janitor should； at the door。 Then a brief address。 Dr。 Philpotts trusted that the observatory might always be administered in the interests of science； of true science； of that science which rightly distinguishes between unlicensed liberty and true freedom； between the unrestrained volition and the freedom of the will。 He became eloquent； he became noisy。 He sat down。 Then three other men spoke； on similar subjects。 Then the executive committee which had appointed me was dismissed with thanks。 Then a new executive committee was chosen； with Dr。 Philpotts at the head。 The next day I was discharged。 And the next week the Philpotts family moved into the observatory； and their second girl now takes care of the instruments。
I returned to the cure of souls and to healing the hurt of my people。 On observation days somebody runs down to No。 9； and by means of Shubael communicates with B。 M。 We love them； and they love us all the same。
Nor do we grieve for them as we did。 Coming home from Pigeon Cove in October with those nice Wadsworth people； we fell to talking as to the why and wherefore of the summer life we had led。 How was it that it was so charming？ And why were we a little loath to come back to more comfortable surroundings？ 〃I hate the school；〃 said George Wadsworth。 〃I hate the making calls；〃 said his mother。 〃I hate the office hour；〃 said her poor husband； 〃if there were only a dozen I would not mind； but seventeen hundred thousand in sixty minutes is too many。〃 So that led to asking how many of us there had been at Pigeon Cove。 The children counted up all the six families；the Haliburtons； the Wadsworths； the Pontefracts； the Midges； the Hayeses； and the Inghams； and the two good…natured girls； thirty…seven in all；and the two babies born this summer。 〃Really；〃 said Mrs。 Wadsworth； 〃I have not spoken to a human being besides these since June； and what is more； Mrs。 Ingham； I have not wanted to。 We have really lived in a little world of our own。〃
〃World of our own！〃 Polly fairly jumped from her seat； to Mrs。 Wadsworth's wonder。 So we hadlived in a world of our own。 Polly reads no newspaper since the 〃Sandemanian〃 was merged。 She has a letter or two tumble in sometimes； but not many； and the truth was that she had been more secluded from General Grant and Mr。 Gladstone and the Khedive； and the rest of the important people； than had Brannan or Ross or any of them！
And it had been the happiest summer she had ever known。
Can it be possible that all human sympathies can thrive； and all human powers be exercised； and all human joys increase； if we live with all our might with the thirty or forty people next to us； telegraphing kindly to all other people； to be sure？ Can it be possible that our passion for large cities； and large parties； and large theatres； and large churches； develops no faith nor hope nor love which would not find aliment and exercise in a little 〃world of our own〃？
CRUSOE IN NEW YORK
PART I
I was born in the year 1842； in the city of New York； of a good family； though not of that country； my father being a foreigner of Bremen； who settled first in England。 He got a good estate by merchandise； and afterward lived at New York。 But first he had married my mother； whose relations were named Robinson； a very good family in her countryand from them I was named。
My father died before I can rememberat least； I believe so。 For； although I sometimes figure to myself a grave； elderly man； thickset and wearing a broad… brimmed hat； holding me between his knees and advising me seriously； I cannot say really whether this were my father or no； or； rather； whether this is really some one I remember or no。 For my mother； with whom I have lived alone much of my life； as the reader will see； has talked to me of my father so much； and has described him to me so faithfully； that I cannot tell but it is her description of him that I recollect so easily。 And so； as I say； I cannot tell whether I remember him or no。
He never lost his German notions； and perhaps they gained in England some new force as to the way in which boys should be bred。 At least； for myself； I know that he left to my mother strict charge that I should be bound 'prentice to a carpenter as soon as I was turned of fourteen。 I have often heard her say that this was the last thing he spoke to her of when he was dying； and with the tears in her eyes； she promised him it should be so。 And though it cost her a world of troubleso changed were times and customsto find an old…fashioned master who would take me for an apprentice； she was as good as her word。
I should like to tell the story of my apprenticeship； if I supposed the reader cared as much about it as I do； but I must rather come to that part of my life which is remarkable； than hold to that which is more like the life of many other boys。 My father's property was lost or was wasted； I know not how； so that my poor mother had but a hard time of it； and when I was just turned of twenty…one and was free of my apprenticeship； she had but little to live upon but what I could bring home； and what she could earn by her needle。 This was no grief to me； for I was fond of my trade； and I had learned it well。 My old master was fond of me； and would trust me with work of a good deal of responsibility。 I neither drank nor smoked； nor was I over…fond of the amusements which took up a good deal of the time of my fellow…workmen。 I was most pleased when； on pay…day； I could carry home to my mother ten； fifteen； or even twenty dollarscould throw it into her lap； and kiss her and make her kiss me。
〃Here is the oil for the lamp； my darling；〃 I would say； or； 〃Here is the grease for the wheels〃； or； 〃Now you must give me white sugar twice a day。〃 She was a good manager； and she made both ends meet very well。
I had no thought of leaving my master when my apprenticeship was over； nor had he any thought of letting me go。 We understood each other well； he liked me and I liked him。 He knew that he had in me one man who was not afraid of work； as he would say； and who would not shirk it。 And so； indeed； he would often put me in charge of parties of workmen who were much older than I was。
So it was that it happened； perhaps some months after I had become a journeyman； that he told