Chapter VIII: Journal

Little hints of innocent delights—How he spends his
evenings—Private fast-day—Height and weight—Remarkable
dream—Wonderful baby—Lecture—Public fast-day—Music—Works
nearly all night—Consequences of lending an umbrella—Brother’s
wedding—Lonesomeness—Summary of journal—Rigid account of
receipts and expenditures—Simplicity of Walter Aimwell’s
life—Nobleness of its results—Visits Master Brooks—Permission
to go to muster—Does not go—Travels—Twenty-one years of
age—Freedom presents—Devotes a certain portion of all future
income to benevolent objects—Goes down to “the Castle” on the
ice in the harbor—Visits Sarah Mugford—Martial music—Church
music—Invitation to Bangor—Summary for 1844—More manuscript
accepted—Doing nothing—Separates from a tried friend and is
lonesome—Receives a copy of his new book—Is invited to write
another—Lays out a plan—Takes lessons in phonography—Takes
lessons in French—Is editor of Christian Reflector for a
while—Extracts from editorials—A troublesome accident—Visits
the State of Maine—Picking up useful knowledge, 147

CHAPTER IX.

THE YOUNG EDITOR.

A call from a stranger—Consultations, calculations, and
contracts—Leaves Mr. Damrell—A good printer—Summary for
1845—Takes the whole of “The Rambler”—Invited to join in the
conduct of a monthly magazine—Declines—Starts one himself—Too
much labor and responsibility—Unfavorable changes in the
business world—Accidents and disappointments—A naughty
boy—Summary for 1848—Suffers for others’ errors—Why he was not
a clergyman—Other business men fail, but he determines he will
not—Noble struggles—Outlives the storm—Summary for 1849—Parts
with a favorite office-boy—The boy becomes a pastor—His
testimony about Walter Aimwell, 171

CHAPTER X.

THE BEGINNING OF THE END.

Walter Aimwell in the world but not of it—Hard for him to
think any evil till actions proved it—His own ways—Ways
of some with whom he was connected in business—Success in
spite of obstacles—The body overtasked—The sudden attack—The
physician’s opinion—Sale of the “Rambler”—More leisure—Cannot
be idle—Pleasant item in his reading—“Thoughts for the
Thoughtless”—Gift to his mother—“Boy’s own Guide”—Another gift
for his mother—Removes from Melrose—Cottage in Winchester—Its
best glory gone, 178

CHAPTER XI.

THE AIMWELL STORIES.

Visit from Mr. Bullard—Boy’s Book of Morals and Manners—Walter
Aimwell’s love of the young—Writes a story for them—Extension
of “Clinton”—Published at Christmas—Received with universal
praise—Determines to write a series of twelve volumes—A
lesson—Preparatory study and manner of working—Suspension of
labors—Oscar—Ella—Whistler—Another attack—Public and private
praises—No relaxation of endeavor—A boy in the family—A boy’s
criticism—Letter to a lady—Letter to a boy—Marcus—Boy’s letter
to Walter Aimwell—Walter Aimwell’s reply—Jessie—“Our Little
Ones in Heaven”—Unwritten volumes—Jerry the last of the Aimwell
Stories, 195