CHAPTER IV.
THE PRESENT.
Arthur left home early Monday morning. It was a cold, dreary daywithout, and a dreary one within to Mrs. Hamilton. She had no unoccupiedmoments in which to sit down, and pore over her troubles; but amid allher cares and labors, the pleading, sorrowful face of her boy would risebefore her, like an accusing angel. She feared she had shown him toolittle sympathy in his sufferings, and had too much repressed themanifestation of his feelings. She seemed to herself, as herimagination followed her weeping boy, a cruel, heartless mother; andagain only in prayer could she find relief and peace, and even then, aweight still rested upon her spirits.
A few days after Arthur's departure, an idea occurred to Mrs. Hamiltonwhich she was sure would give him pleasure. This was to send him Rover,to keep as his own. But would the children be willing to part with theirpet and playfellow? And if they were, would Mr. Martin give his consent?
That very evening she proposed it to the children, and she was pleasedto find how willing they were to make some sacrifice for their littlebrother's sake. Even Emma, who loved so dearly to play with him, andride on the sled after him, seemed ready to part with him when she foundit would make Arthur happy. Yet it was with a mournful voice, she toldhim, as she patted him and stroked his long ears,
"You must be a good doggie, Rover, and make my brother Arthur happy. Hebe good brother, and you must be good doggie too. Won't you, Rover, goodfellow?"
Mrs. Hamilton wrote to Mr. Martin stating Arthur's fondness for the dog,and that if he had no objections, they should like to give him to Arthurfor his own; but added, that she did not wish to do so unless perfectlyagreeable to him. She was quite surprised to see Mr. Martin coming in atthe door on the second morning after the letter was sent. He said he hadcome within three miles on business, and thought he would just rideround, and take the dog.
"I fear you may find him troublesome, sir," said Mrs. H., "for mychildren have allowed him to take great liberties with them."
"Not a bit! Not a bit!" said the old gentleman; "to be sure my wifedon't take to dogs overmuch, but you see, the boy is a little home-sick,and we want him to feel more contented, if we can; so I was very glad totake the dog. He is a noble fellow, on my word. How old is he?"
"Two next Spring," said Mrs. H., "and he is a very kind, faithfulcreature, I assure you. We all love him very much."
Emma and Charlie, who had just comprehended that the stranger-gentlemanwas going to take away the dog, began to look very grave indeed. Emmawas no martyr, to suffer calmly for conscience' sake, much less littlewhite-headed Charlie, who obstinately asserted with a most heroic air,that "nobody should tarry off _his_ doggie."
"But your dear brother Arthur is all alone, and he cries at night whenhe goes to bed, because he has no brother nor sister there, not even apussie or a dog. He won't cry if Rover is with him. Don't you want Roverto go?"
"Esmaam I do; but I want Rover to stay here with me too."
"But he can't make Arthur happy then. Arthur, poor, dear Arthur, willhave nobody to comfort him."
"Rover _must_ go," said Emma, sorrowfully; "but I wish there weretwo Rovers, one for Arthur, and one for me."
It was a pretty sight to see these children put their fat, little armsround Rover's neck, and hug him over and over again, and kiss his roughface with their rosy mouths, and let their sunny curls lie among hisshaggy locks. Great tears rolled down Emma's cheeks as the dog went outof the door; but though Emma was no martyr, she was a warm-hearted,generous little girl, and she did not want to keep the dog away fromArthur, though so sorry to part with it.
"We have got you and I, and two kitties, haven't we Charlie," said she,"and sister Mary and brother John."
"And your mother beside, who I hope is worth counting," said Mrs.Hamilton. "You can spare Rover very well, I think."
After Arthur left home on that dark, cheerless Monday morning, he feltvery sorry indeed that he had made any complaint to his mother; for heknew that by doing so, he had given her trouble, instead of being acomfort and help to her, in the midst of her sorrows. Besides, he hadbroken his resolution; for he had most firmly resolved not to complain;he had yielded to the strong impulse of the moment, and now he wasafraid he never should gain self-control. But there was nothing to bedone, but to make stronger efforts to be contented and useful in his newhome. He humbly asked God to enable him to do better, and to pardon theweakness of the past.
Whenever a little boy desires with his whole soul to do right, and praysto God for strength, he will certainly find he can, however difficult itmay seem at first. God, our kind heavenly Father, has promised to giveus his Holy Spirit if we ask Him for it in sincerity; and however youngyou are, or weak, or ignorant; however far away from earthly friends, orhuman sympathy, He will hear the softest word you utter, the faintestbreathing of a silent prayer, and will come into your soul and bless it.That glorious spirit is infinite. It gives life to the archangel hosts;it blesses the weakest, and lowliest child.
Arthur found that by making a great effort, a _very_ great one, hecould restrain his tears and turn his thoughts away from his owntroubles, and indeed from himself entirely. He had a few books, and hebecame fond of reading them. Sometimes Mrs. Martin would ask him to readaloud, and though she seldom wished to hear any thing but newspapers,that was a diversion of his thoughts. Arthur had a clear, pleasantvoice, and read very well for a child of his age; and every time he readaloud, he was improving himself in this part of education. Anotherpleasant change was, going to school. Arthur had dreaded this very much,because all the scholars would be strangers to him, and he had neverbeen to school without older brothers and sisters with him. Being so shyand timid, he did not form acquaintances so readily as some boys; but intwo or three weeks, he had become quite friendly with some, particularlyTheodore Roberts. Theodore was two years older than Arthur, but recitedin the same classes. He passed Mr. Martin's on his way to school, andusually called for Arthur. They walked about half a mile, partly througha wood, to reach the school-house; a little brown building, with onlyone room in it. Theodore was a bold, generous-hearted boy, and hisinfluence over Arthur was very good; while Arthur's gentler nature andmore refined manners were of service to Theodore, who was not veryparticular about little things.
One night, as Theodore and Arthur were coming home from school, theystopped to look at a squirrel's nest in a hollow tree, just in the wood.A pretty striped squirrel was running up and down a tree at a littledistance, whisking his bushy tail, and watching them with his large,bright eyes. They found a large store of nuts in the hollow tree, andTheodore proposed they should take them out.
"Oh no, no!" said Arthur, "would you have the poor squirrel starve?"
"Oh, he'll find enough to eat, never fear," said Theodore, "a squirrelis too cunning to starve."
"But it isn't right to take them, Theodore. Just think how many hoursthe little fellow worked, and how hard he tugged to get them all inhere, and they are _his_ now, I'm sure; he has a good right tothem, and I wouldn't any sooner rob him of his nuts, than I would a manof his money!"
"La, what a fuss you make about it;" said Theodore with a loud laugh,"but since you feel so bad, I'll let his squirrelship alone, this time."
"Thank you," said Arthur, "and now, Theodore, I must say if you had doneit, I wouldn't have liked to play with you so well as I did before, forI should think you were a cruel boy, and I couldn't love you."
"You are a curious fellow," said Theodore, with another loud laugh. Suchlessons were not lost on Theodore, for though he had had very littleinstruction in morals or manners, he had a heart in the right placeunder his rough outside.
"We'll begin our stone house to-night, if you'll come in, Theodore,"said Arthur, as they reached Mr. Martin's gate.
"No, I can't stop to-night. Sister Susan is coming to see us, and I wantto get home early."
This made Arthur think of _his_ sisters, and it was with rather aheavy heart he entered the yard. Mr. Martin stood near the door, and
asArthur passed him, he said,
"I have got a present in the house for you!"
"A present for _me_, sir!" said Arthur,
"Yes, for you; and something you'll like too, I guess. What do you thinkit is?" Rover, who knew the sound of Arthur's voice began to barkloudly, and in a moment the door was opened, and he was in Arthur'sarms. Never was there a more joyful meeting between old friends. Arthurwas so excited that he laughed and cried at once, and said all kinds ofwild things to Rover, who in his turn, kept caressing his young master,and telling him in his way, how glad he was to see him again. And indeedthe poor dumb animal seemed to express as much affection and delight, asif he had had a tongue to say in words, how much he loved him.
"How do you like your present, my boy?" said Mr. Martin.
Arthur could hardly speak for emotion, but in a moment he replied, "Verymuch, indeed, sir, and you are very good to get him for me. But may hestay here with me?"
"Yes, he is your dog now, Arthur; they have given him to you at home;they seem to set a great deal by him too, there."
Arthur well knew how dearly they all loved Rover, and he felt sure itmust have been hard for them to give him up. His heart was touched bythis generosity and he resolved to become worthy of it, and to strive todo something to make the family happy in return.
Rover seemed to impart new life to Arthur. He had now something to love,and something that loved him; and though it was only a poor dumb animal,it filled the vacant place in his heart. Never had Mrs. Martin seen hisdark eyes sparkle so, and his pale cheek look so bright.
And did the children at home regret making this sacrifice for theirlittle brother's sake? If any little reader asks this question, we fearthey have never tried the experiment of giving up something they loved,to make another happy. If they had, they would know, what great delightthere was in it; what a warm, delicious feeling it spreads throughoutthe heart. "It _is_ more blessed to give than to receive," andhappy as Arthur was in receiving this precious present, they were stillhappier in having given it. As Mrs. Hamilton was undressing Emma thatnight, the latter said, "Mother, do you think Arthur has got Rover yet?"
"Oh yes, some hours ago, I hope. I dare say he found him there when hegot home from school; and how happy he is to-night! Dear child! I cansee just how bright and happy he looks, as he strokes Rover, and talksto him!"
"Oh, I am glad he is gone, mother, for this dear brother was all alone."
"So I glad," echoed Charlie, who was snugly tucked into the trundle-bed."Yes," said their mother, kissing them both, "it always makes us gladwhen we have made another happy; and I am glad you have had anopportunity of learning early how pleasant it is to make sacrifices forothers."
"The darkest lot is not all gloom," thought she as she sat down by herlittle table and began to sew. "Poverty can teach many sweet lessons,and give us many rich enjoyments." And her eyes filled with tears; butthey were sweet, refreshing tears.