The Wreck of the South Pole and Other Strange Tales — page 121: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

II4 Why He Took Him Along. days. I like it. I am.not very affectionate, but a boy I do like, and a boy’s love I would rather have than any- thing else, for a boy’s love is honest and genuine. You know just how far you can depend upon him. If he likes you, he will seek your company; if you lose your wealth or friends, it makes no difference to him; he will stick to you. What a pity it is there are no more boys in the world! For, take them as they are, rich or poor, dressed in broadcloth or rags, a genuine boy is something to tie to. SATURDAY, June 17. To-day the fisherman came around again with his bread and mail. Among the letters was one for Roy, and the writing I noticed looked very much like a note I saw once with “Daisy” signed to it. Wonder if it is from her? We are living a very quiet life now. We hunt and fish and botanize. Roy is getting along famously at the latter. Besides, we do some reading, have finished “Pickwick,” ‘“Tvanhoe”’ and “Alhambra,” and are now half way through “David Copperfield.” I, having read it before, prefer the character of David, but Roy is fascinated with J. Steerforth. Well, isn’t it all right? Steerforth had many noble qualities. He sinned, it is true, but—let us do as he asked, and think of him at his best! I asked Roy if the character of Agnes reminded him of any one, and expected him as usual to bring up the name of that girl of his, Daisy. But he simply said “No!” And that re- minds me, he hasn’t mentioned her name since that night Gomicbook (Elo)