Was ever such a radiant young hero turned loose into the world?
And now, over and above his other glories, he had me to crown all.

The graceful curve of my chain on his waistcoat gave that garment quite a distinguished appearance, and the consciousness of a silver watch in his pocket made him hold his head even higher than usual.
"He is a beauty!" again he broke out, "exactly the kind I like most.
I'll take ever such a lot of care of him." And so saying, he began to swing me at the end of the chain, till I suddenly came sharply into collision with the door of the cab.
"Hullo," exclaimed my young master, "that won't do.

I'll put him away now.

It _was_ good of you, father." With that we reached the railway station, and in the bustle that ensued I was for the time forgotten.
Charlie's trunks were duly labelled for Randlebury, and then came the hardest moment of all, when father and son must part.
"I wonder if you'll be altered, Charlie, when I see you again." "Not for the worse I hope, anyhow," replied the boy, laughing.
"Tickets, please!" demanded the guard.
"There goes the bell," said Charlie, pulling me out of his pocket.
"They're very punctual.

Hullo, we're off! Good-bye, father." "Good-bye, boy, and God bless you." And there was a close grasp of the hand, a last smile, a hasty wave from the window; and then we were off.
How many grown-up men are there who cannot recall at some time or other this crisis in their lives, this first good-bye from the home of their childhood, this stepping forth into the world with all that is familiar and dear at their backs, and all that is strange and unknown and wonderful stretching away like a vast landscape before them?
How many are there who would not give much to be back once more at that threshold of their career; and to have the chance of living over again the life they began there with such bright hopes and such careless confidence?
Ah, if some of them could have seen whither that flower-strewn path was to lead them, would they not rather have chosen even to die on the threshold, than take so much as the first step forth from the innocent home of childhood! But I am wandering from my story.