with a small farm of his own

    "I hope it contained good news."     "On the contrary it contained bad news. My parents are dead, but I have an old uncle and aunt living. When I left Burton he was comfortably fixed, with a small farm of his own, and two thousand dollars in bank. Now I hear that he is in trouble. He has lost money, and a knavish neighbor has threatened to foreclose a mortgage on the farm and turn out the old people to die or go to the poorhouse."     "Is the mortgage a large one?"     "It is much less than the value of the farm, but ready money is scarce in the town, and that old Sheldon calculates upon. Now I think of going to Burton to look up the matter."     "You must save your uncle, if you can, Mr. Pettigrew."     "I can and I will. I shall start for Boston this afternoon by the Fall River boat and I want you to go with me."     "I should enjoy the journey, Mr. Pettigrew."     "Then it is settled. Go home and pack your gripsack. You may be gone three or four days." Chapter 24 A Change Of Scene     "Now," said Mr. Pettigrew, when they were sitting side by side on the upper deck of the Puritan, the magnificent steamer on the Fall River line. "I want you to consent to a little plan that will mystify my old friends and neighbors."     "What is it, Mr. Pettigrew?"     "I have never written home about my good fortune; so far as they know I am no better off than when I went away."     "I don't think I could have concealed my success."