Indeed he was rather an uncommon boy, having, along with more than the usual amount of activity even for a boy, a tenderness of heart altogether rare in boys.

He was as familiar with the domestic animals and their ways of feeling and acting as Annie herself.

Anything like cruelty he detested; and yet, as occasion will show, he could execute stern justice.

With the world of men around him, he was equally conversant.

He knew the characters of the simple people wonderfully well; and _took to_ Thomas Crann more than to any one else, notwithstanding that Thomas would read him a long lecture sometimes.