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diff --git a/10888-0.txt b/10888-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..f7696bd --- /dev/null +++ b/10888-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,1259 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 10888 *** + +[Illustration: ARTHUR AND HIS DOG.] + +ARTHUR HAMILTON, +AND HIS DOG. + + +_Written for the Massachusetts Sabbath School Society, and +approved by the Committee of Publication_. + + + +1851. + + + + +ARTHUR HAMILTON. + + + +CHAPTER I. + + +LEAVING HOME. + +One pleasant October evening, Arthur Hamilton was at play in front of +the small, brown cottage in which he lived. He and his brother James, +were having a great frolic with a large spotted dog, who was performing +a great variety of antics, such as only well-educated dogs understand. +But Rover had been carefully initiated into the mysteries of making a +bow while standing on his hind legs, tossing pieces of bread off his +nose, putting up his fore-paws with a most imploring look, and piteous +whine, which the boys called "begging for money," and when a chip had +been given him, he uttered a most energetic bow-wow-wow, which they +regarded as equivalent to "thank you, sir," and walked off. + +While they were thus amusing themselves, their mother was sitting on the +rude piazza which ran along the front of the cottage, now looking at the +merry children, and then thoughtfully gazing at the long shadows which +were stretching across the road. Mrs. Hamilton was a woman of wonderful +strength, and energy, both of body and mind; and she had been sustained +for many years by the Christian's hope; but there was now a heavy burden +resting on her soul, which even her native energy and Christian trust +were unable to remove. She had known many days of worldly prosperity, +since she had resided in that little cottage; but of late, trials had +multiplied; and days and nights of heart-crushing sorrow had been +appointed unto her. He who should have shared life's trials and +lightened their weight, had proved recreant to his trust, and was now +wandering, she knew not whither; and poverty was staring the deserted +family in the face. Debts had accumulated, and though Mrs. Hamilton had +done all that could be done to meet the emergency, though she had +labored incessantly, and borne fatigue and self-denial, with a brave and +cheerful spirit, it had been found necessary to leave the home so dear +to her,--the home where she had been brought a fair and youthful bride; +where she had spent many happy years, and which was endeared to her by +so many sweet and hallowed, as well as painful, associations. Every foot +of the green meadow, the orchard on the hill, and the pasture lying +beyond, was dear to her; and it was painful to see them pass into other +hands. But that heaviest of all the trials which poverty brings to the +mother's heart, was hers also. The conviction had been forced upon her, +that she must separate the children, and find other homes for such as +were old enough to do any thing for themselves. This necessary +separation had now taken place. Her eldest son had gone to a distant +southern state, carrying with him, his mother's prayers and blessings; +and a strong arm, and stout heart, with which to win himself a name and +a place in his adopted home. John, the second, still remained with her, +assisting, by his unceasing toil, to earn a supply for their daily +wants. Henry, the third son, a bright-eyed youth of sixteen, had +attracted the notice of his pastor, and by his advice and assistance, +had been placed on the list of the beneficiaries of the American +Education Society, and was now at an Academy, preparing for College. +James was living with a farmer in the neighborhood, and was now on the +green with Arthur. These changes had already taken place, and now, could +she part with Arthur,--her sweet-tempered, gentle Arthur? That was the +question which agitated and saddened her. An offer had been made her, by +Mr. Martin, who lived in an adjoining town, and whom she knew to be an +excellent man. He wished to take Arthur, and keep him till he was +twenty-one; would clothe him, send him to school, and treat him as one +of his own family; training him to habits of industry and economy. Could +she hope any thing better for her darling boy? There was a younger +brother and two sisters still remaining at home, and embarrassed as she +was, ought she not to be grateful for such an opening, and thankfully +avail herself of it? Such was the view another might take of the +subject, but to her it was unspeakably painful to think of the +separation. Arthur was ten years old; but he was a modest and timid boy, +whose sensitive nature had led him to cling more closely to his mother's +side than his bolder and more active brothers. + +Mrs. Hamilton knew that this was no time for the indulgence of +sentiment; she knew that _duty_ must be done, even though every +chord of her heart quivered with agony. After much consideration and +earnest prayer, she had concluded to let him go, and the thought of +sending him away from her, and all he loved, among entire strangers, was +what made her so sorrowful. She strove to calm herself by the +reflection, that she had done what seemed to be right, and by +remembering the blessed promises of God's Holy Word to the fatherless, +and to all those who put their trust in Him. With a cheerful voice, she +called the boys, telling James it was time for him to go home, as +Captain L., with whom he lived, was a very particular man, and would be +displeased if he staid out beyond the proper time. Mrs. Hamilton's sons +had been trained to obedience, and James never thought of lingering and +loitering for half an hour, as I have seen some boys do, after being +told to go. He just gave Rover a good pat on the back, and saying a +hasty "good-night" to his mother and Arthur, he ran home. + +Arthur was alone with his mother, and she told him of the arrangement +she had made for him, and the reasons for it. Arthur was quite overcome +at the idea of a separation from the mother he loved so dearly, and +exclaimed-- + +"Oh, mother, don't send me away from home, I can earn something, and +will work very hard if you will only let me stay. Please mother, let me +stay with you!" + +"It is quite as painful to me, Arthur," said his mother, "to part from +you, as it can be to you; but I think it is best for you; and I am sure +you will not increase my trials by complaining. Be a brave boy, Arthur, +and learn to submit cheerfully to what God sends upon you. Trust in Him, +and he will bless you wherever you are. Always remember He watches over +you, and loves you. I think Mr. and Mrs. Martin will be kind to you, and +I hope you will make yourself very useful to them. They are quite aged, +and a pair of young hands and feet can be of great service to them. +Always do cheerfully whatever they wish of you, even if not quite so +agreeable at the moment. Always be respectful in your manners to them, +and to all others with whom you come in contact, and try to make them +happier. A little boy may do a good deal to make others happy, or +unhappy. I hope you will try to do what is right at all times, and I +doubt not you will be contented and happy there, after you become +accustomed to it." + +Arthur had dried his tears, but his heart was heavy as he laid down in +his bed that night, and when he was alone, his sobs burst forth afresh. +It seemed to him very cruel to send him among strange people, and he +thought he should rather go without much to eat or wear, than to leave +home. + +About ten days after, John carried Arthur to Mr. Martin's. Mrs. Hamilton +had made his clothes look as neat and tidy as possible, by thoroughly +washing and mending them, (for she could not afford to get any new +ones), and John had made him a nice box, in which they were all +carefully placed. + +Arthur tried to be a brave boy, as his mother wished; but he could not +eat his breakfast that morning. Every mouthful seemed to choke him; and +when he bade his mother and the children good-bye, the tears would come +fast and thick into his eyes, in spite of all he could do to prevent it. +Tears were in his mother's eyes too, but she spoke cheerfully. + +"Well, Arthur," said she, "it will be only six weeks to Thanksgiving, +and Mr. Martin has promised you shall come home then; and how glad we +shall all be to see you!" + +It was a sunny, autumn morning. The white frost lay on the grass and the +fences, and the north-wind was chilly, as the boys drove on. Rover +persisted in following them, and finally Arthur begged John to take him +in, and carry him over. Rover was delighted, and laid himself down in +the bottom of the wagon, and looked affectionately into Arthur's face. + +"Poor Rover," said he, "you will miss me I know; and I shall miss you a +great deal more. I wonder if Mr. Martin has a dog?" + +"I guess not," said John, "for he took no notice of Rover, and every +body who likes dogs speaks to Rover, because he is so large and +handsome. I am afraid you will be homesick at first over there, but we +must do the best we can, for these are hard times. I don't see how we +can do any thing more than pay the rent this year, after all my summer's +work; for the dry weather ruined the potatoes, and corn won't bring more +than fifty cents a bushel; and how we are to live, I don't see. I am not +afraid for myself, but it is too bad for mother, and the little ones; +so, if you are homesick, you must try to get over it again, and not come +back, or let mother know it, for she has just as much trouble as she can +bear already." + +"Oh, no," said Arthur, "I won't be homesick, I _will_ be a brave +boy, as mother calls it, and never complain, let what will come; but I +do wish we were not so poor." + +"I don't know," said John, "I think poor folks that work hard, enjoy +about as much as anybody, after all. It isn't a disgrace to be poor, if +we are only honest, and do what is right; and you know the minister said +last Sabbath, that Jesus Christ when he lived on the earth was a poor +man, and worked with his hands for a living. He won't despise the poor +now he has gone into heaven again; for he will remember how he was poor +once. Mother says, nothing will break her heart but living to see us do +some wicked deed, and that she could not survive that. We must be +careful not to break her heart, musn't we, Arthur?" + +So the lads rode on till noon; and when the sun shone out warmly, the +forest-trees looked more magnificent in its golden light, than King +Solomon in all his glory. There was the crimson-leaved maple, and the +yellow beach, and the variegated oak, mingled with the fresh green +hemlocks and pines. There was something in the quiet, and deep stillness +of the woods, which made the boys silent, as they rode through; they +felt the influence of its exceeding beauty, though they could not have +expressed it in words; for God always speaks to us through his works, +and if we will listen to the voice, our hearts will be softened, and +pleasant and profitable thoughts will arise. + +It was two in the afternoon, when John and Arthur reached Mr. Martin's. +He was not at home, but Mrs. Martin received them kindly, saying, "she +expected they would come that day." She was a grave-looking old lady, +who wore spectacles, and the inquisitive manner in which she looked over +the top of them into Arthur's face, quite frightened the little fellow, +and he could only reply in very low monosyllables to the questions she +asked him; so John gave her such information as she desired. Mrs. Martin +showed them the small chamber in which Arthur was to sleep, and John +carried up the wooden box, and put it down in one corner. After staying +half an hour, John thought he must go. A sense of the loneliness of his +situation among strangers, where no one familiar voice would be heard, +and not one familiar object seen, came over the heart of poor Arthur +with such force at this moment, that he burst into a flood of tears, +exclaiming-- + +"Oh, don't leave me here, John! don't leave me, I cannot stay." Brushing +the tears from his own eyes, John drew the sobbing child out into the +yard, saying, as he put his arms affectionately about his neck,-- + +"But Arthur, what do you think mother would say to see you coming back +with me? How it would distress her! Indeed you _must_ stay, and try +to be contented. I think it looks like a pleasant place here. This is a +very pretty yard, and yonder is a large garden; I dare say Mr. Martin +will let you have a bed in it next spring." + +"But it is living here all alone, which I dread," said Arthur. + +"You know mother says we are never all alone," said John. "God will be +with you, and if you try to be a good contented boy, he will approve of +your conduct, and love you. Only six weeks too, remember, till you come +home. Just think how soon they will be gone!" + +Rover had been gazing wistfully into Arthur's face, as if he wondered +what was going on that made them all so sober, and now he gently laid +his paw upon his hand. Arthur caressed him fondly, saying-- + +"Oh, Rover, dear good fellow, how I wish I could have you for company." + +"I wish you could," said John, "but I don't think it would be right to +leave him, for Mr. Martin might not wish to have him." + +John now untied his horse, saying, + +"Try to be contented for mother's sake, dear Arthur." + +Many years after, when John was a middle-aged man, he told me that +nothing in his whole life had made him feel worse than leaving little +Arthur behind him, that day. "I can see the poor little fellow now," +said he, "just as he looked standing at the gate, weeping bitterly." + +Rover refused at first to leave Arthur, but John lifted him into the +wagon, and drove off. + +It was a lonely evening to Arthur. There was no frolic with Rover and +the children on the green; no kind mother's voice to call him in; no +affectionate good-night kiss for the little stranger. Mr. and Mrs. +Martin were very kind-hearted people, but they had little sympathy with +a child, and made no conversation with him. There was no hardship +imposed on Arthur; indeed they required less of him than he had been +accustomed to doing at home, and had he been a courageous, light-hearted +boy like his brother James, he would soon have been very happy in his +new home. But we have said he was shy and sensitive; like a delicate +plant he needed sunshine to develope his nature, and shrank from the +rough chilling blast. + +None, who has not experienced it, can know any thing of the suffering +such a child endures when deprived of the sweet influences of home. Such +an one often appears dull and stupid to a careless observer, when there +is throbbing under that cold exterior, a heart of the keenest +sensibility. Let the bold, healthy, active boy be sent from home, if +necessary; a little hardship, and a little struggling with the rougher +elements of life, will perchance but strengthen and increase his +courage, and prepare him for the conflicts and struggles of after years; +but oh, fond mother, keep that delicate, timid child which nestles to +thy side with such confiding trust, which trembles at the voice of a +stranger, and shrinks like the mimosa, from a rude and unfamiliar touch, +under thine own sheltering roof-tree, for a time at least; there seek to +develope and strengthen his delicate nature into more manly strength and +vigor; there judiciously repress excessive sensibility, and increase +confidence in himself and others; if it can possibly be avoided, do not +expose him, while a child, to the tender mercies of those who do not +understand his peculiar temperament, and who, however kind their +feelings, cannot possess his confidence. + +We need not dwell on the first weeks of Arthur's stay at Mr. Martin's. +They thought him a little homesick, but presumed he would soon get over +it; he performed the little tasks they exacted of him with great +alacrity, and was quite a favorite with Mrs. Martin, who said he was the +most quiet, and well-behaved child she ever saw. At first, Arthur +thought of nothing but home, and home-scenes; but he struggled bravely +to rise above sad and sorrowful thoughts, and to be contented. "They +shall never hear me complain," he said to himself, "and dear mother too +shall never know how bad I feel. I want to do my duty, and be a +_brave_ boy." + +Every fortnight a letter came from home, and though Arthur read it with +streaming eyes, it was a precious treasure. He would read them over and +over, till he seemed to hear his mother's voice once more, and feel her +loving hand upon his head. He answered them; but wrote only a few words, +saying, he was well, and the other common place remarks children usually +write. He was not happy, but he was calmer now, and did not _every_ +night cry himself to sleep. The visit at home, was a bright, cheering +spot, to which he often looked forward; and as week after week passed +away, slowly indeed, he rejoiced in the certainty that that +long-looked-for period was getting nearer and nearer, and _would_ +come at last. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + + +THANKSGIVING. + +Thanksgiving! dear, delightful Thanksgiving! What a happy sound in all +childish ears! What visions of roast turkeys, plum puddings, and pumpkin +pies rise before us at the name! What hosts of rosy cheeks, sparkling +eyes, nicely-combed little heads, and bounding feet; what blazing fires +and warm parlors; what large stuffed rocking-chairs, with +comfortable-looking grandpapas and grandmamas in them; what huge bundles +of flannel, out of which, plump blue-eyed babies roll; what stuffed +hoods and cloaks, from which little boys and girls emerge; and better +than all, what warm hearts brimming with affection; what sweet songs of +joyful praise; what untold depths of "sacred and home-felt delight," +belong to thee, dear, glad, Thanksgiving-day! + +Let us look in at Mrs. Hamilton's on Thanksgiving eve. Every thing in +her little sitting-room is just as clean as it can possibly be; the fire +burns brightly, and the blaze goes dancing and leaping merrily up the +chimney, diffusing throughout the room an aspect of cheerfulness. Henry, +"the student," as John calls him, is at home; for of course it is +vacation in his school; and his mother looks with pride on the manly +form and handsome face of this her favorite boy, who has certainly grown +taller and handsomer since his last visit at home, in her eyes at least; +and who is now entertaining himself by teaching his pet, Emma, (a little +girl of four,) to repeat the Greek alphabet, and whose funny +pronunciation of Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta, &c., is received with peals +of laughter by the other children. + +"We will make a famous Greek scholar of you yet," said Harry, "who +knows, darling Em, but you may be a great poetess before you die? But +you won't be a blue stocking, I hope!" + +"My stockings are _red_," said the unconscious Emma; "mother don't +make me _blue_ stockings," sticking out her little feet by way of +confirming the fact. + +Charlie, the baby, as he is called, now almost three years old, has +donned his new red flannel dress, and white apron, in honor of the day. +James is cracking butternuts in one corner, and a well-heaped milk-pan +is the trophy of his persevering toil. Lucy, the eldest sister, has come +home, and she and Mary are deep in some confidential conversation the +opposite side of the room, stopping every now and then to listen, as if +expecting to hear some pleasant sound. Among them all, the mother moves +with a beaming face and quiet step, completing the arrangements of the +table, which is standing at the backside of the room, covered by a snowy +cloth, and decorated with the best plates, and china cups and saucers, +the relics of more prosperous days. + +"Hurra, they've come! they've come!" said James, tossing down his +hammer, and bounding over the pan of nuts; "that's our wagon, I know." + +All are at the door. 'Tis they! Yes, 'tis John and Arthur, our dear +little Arthur home again! How they all seize upon and kiss him! How the +mother holds him to her heart with tearful eyes! Ah, this is joy; such +joy as can be purchased only by separation and suffering. Who that +looked now on Arthur's beaming eye, and glowing cheek, could dream that +they had been clouded by sorrow, or dimmed by tears? + +Of all the happy groups that were assembled in our old Commonwealth that +night, few we think were happier than this. Rover was by no means a +silent witness of the joy. He would not leave Arthur's side a moment, +and constantly sought to attract his notice. Arthur had been always very +fond of Rover, almost more so than the other children, though he was a +great favorite with all, and Rover had missed him since he went away +almost as much as Arthur had missed Rover; so it was a joyful re-union +on both sides. He was a large dog, of the Newfoundland breed, with +shaggy hair. He had beautiful white spots, and long, silky ears, and was +a very good-natured dog. He would let Charlie get on his back, and ride +him all about the yard; and the boys had made a little sled to which +they fastened Rover, and Emma, well wrapped up in her hood and cloak, +with her woolen mittens on, would have quite long rides after him; +sometimes in the yard, and sometimes in the street. + +How much the children had to talk about that night; how many stories to +tell Arthur, and questions to ask him in return! Arthur had decided +beforehand not to make any complaint, or to say he was unhappy, or +homesick; and indeed in the pleasure of being at home again, he almost +forgot he had ever been unhappy. He was to stay till Monday morning, and +to him those four days seemed a long period of enjoyment, quite too long +to be saddened yet by the thoughts of separation. The night settled down +on the inmates of the cottage, and sweet sleep sealed up all eyes; even +those of the weary mother. The year had brought many trials, and some +heavy ones, but there was in spite of them all, much to be thankful for, +especially that all her beloved children had been preserved to her, and +were so healthy, so promising, and so likely to prove blessings to her. +Ah, how long afterwards did she recall that merry evening, and those +beaming faces, with a heavy heart! + + + + +CHAPTER III. + + +THE SEPARATION. + +Thanksgiving is over! Its dinner, its frolics, its boisterous mirth, are +all in the past! It is Sabbath evening. A sadness seems to hang about +the party. Lucy had returned to her aunt, with whom she lived. James was +to go home that evening. Henry and Arthur in the morning. They with John +and their mother, sat thoughtfully around the fire; the younger children +were in bed; little was said by any one, but Mrs. Hamilton, wishing to +have a more private interview with Arthur, took him to her room. There +she questioned him about his new home more particularly. To her +amazement, the moment she spoke of his returning, he burst into a flood +of tears. Poor Arthur! he meant to be brave, and to hide his troubles, +but now that his heart had been warmed by the light of affection and +home-joy, the idea of going back was terrible to him. He could not +deceive, or keep back any thing. With passionate earnestness, he +besought his mother to let him stay at home. + +"I will only eat a potatoe and a piece of bread, if you will let me +stay, mother; indeed I won't be much of a burden to you, but oh, dear +mother, don't send me back there," cried he, sobbing as if his heart +would break. + +This was a sad trial for Mrs. Hamilton, and she paused to think what was +right, and to ask for guidance from on high. It seemed to her that +Arthur's dissatisfaction arose from his own weakness of spirit, rather +than from anything really disagreeable in his situation. They were kind +to him; he was not over-worked; could attend a good school; and would it +not be an injury to him, to indulge this excessive love for home, and +yield to his entreaties? Would he ever be a man, with courage to face +the storms of life, if she, with a woman's weakness, allowed her +feelings to prevail over her judgment? It must not be. She must be firm +for his sake; cruel as it seemed, it was real kindness, and she trusted +he would soon be contented. If not, she could then change her +determination if she wished. So she told him once more, that duty and +not present enjoyment was to be consulted; that she still thought it was +best for him to stay at Mr. Martin's, and she still believed he would +find contentment and peace there, in doing his duty. She did not upbraid +him, but told him very tenderly, she wished him to acquire more strength +of purpose, and to gain the habit of controlling his feelings. If he did +not, he could never be happy or useful, and it would be sad indeed to +grow up a weak, timid and useless being, who had not strength of +character enough to pursue what was right, if difficulties lay in the +path. "Whenever you are lonely and sad," said she, "think of me, and how +much pleasure you are giving me by staying and doing your duty. Think of +your Father in heaven, who watches over you, and will be well-pleased +when you try to subdue your faults. Never forget to ask Him for strength +to do right, and He will give it, if you ask in sincerity. Remember +always that He has placed us in the world to become his children, and +grow holy; and it is often through trial, we are made better. You will +be a better boy if you conquer your weakness, and become cheerful and +contented, than you could have been, had no sacrifice been required of +you. My dear child, I do believe God will bless you, and enable you to +conquer." + +With such words Mrs. Hamilton sought to soothe and strengthen her child, +while her own heart was throbbing with painful emotions. She could not +sleep that night, for her heart yearned over her darling boy, and she +longed to fold him under the shelter of a loving home. She felt that she +needed in her own heart more of that perfect submission to God's will +which she enjoined on others, and it was only by earnest and humble +prayer that she could calm her troubled spirit, and feel trust and +confidence that all was for the best. But she had found prayer to be a +balm for the wounded spirit in many an hour of suffering, and she now +realized the sweetness of that inestimable privilege. + + "Oh not a gift or blessing + With this can we compare; + The power which he hath given, + To pour our souls in prayer." + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + + +THE PRESENT. + +Arthur left home early Monday morning. It was a cold, dreary day +without, and a dreary one within to Mrs. Hamilton. She had no unoccupied +moments in which to sit down, and pore over her troubles; but amid all +her cares and labors, the pleading, sorrowful face of her boy would rise +before her, like an accusing angel. She feared she had shown him too +little sympathy in his sufferings, and had too much repressed the +manifestation of his feelings. She seemed to herself, as her +imagination followed her weeping boy, a cruel, heartless mother; and +again only in prayer could she find relief and peace, and even then, a +weight still rested upon her spirits. + +A few days after Arthur's departure, an idea occurred to Mrs. Hamilton +which 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 their +pet and playfellow? And if they were, would Mr. Martin give his consent? + +That very evening she proposed it to the children, and she was pleased +to find how willing they were to make some sacrifice for their little +brother's sake. Even Emma, who loved so dearly to play with him, and +ride on the sled after him, seemed ready to part with him when she found +it would make Arthur happy. Yet it was with a mournful voice, she told +him, as she patted him and stroked his long ears, + +"You must be a good doggie, Rover, and make my brother Arthur happy. He +be good brother, and you must be good doggie too. Won't you, Rover, good +fellow?" + +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 Arthur +for his own; but added, that she did not wish to do so unless perfectly +agreeable to him. She was quite surprised to see Mr. Martin coming in at +the door on the second morning after the letter was sent. He said he had +come within three miles on business, and thought he would just ride +round, and take the dog. + +"I fear you may find him troublesome, sir," said Mrs. H., "for my +children have allowed him to take great liberties with them." + +"Not a bit! Not a bit!" said the old gentleman; "to be sure my wife +don'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 to +take 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, faithful +creature, I assure you. We all love him very much." + +Emma and Charlie, who had just comprehended that the stranger-gentleman +was going to take away the dog, began to look very grave indeed. Emma +was no martyr, to suffer calmly for conscience' sake, much less little +white-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 when +he goes to bed, because he has no brother nor sister there, not even a +pussie or a dog. He won't cry if Rover is with him. Don't you want Rover +to 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, will +have nobody to comfort him." + +"Rover _must_ go," said Emma, sorrowfully; "but I wish there were +two Rovers, one for Arthur, and one for me." + +It was a pretty sight to see these children put their fat, little arms +round Rover's neck, and hug him over and over again, and kiss his rough +face with their rosy mouths, and let their sunny curls lie among his +shaggy locks. Great tears rolled down Emma's cheeks as the dog went out +of 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 from +Arthur, 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 felt +very sorry indeed that he had made any complaint to his mother; for he +knew that by doing so, he had given her trouble, instead of being a +comfort and help to her, in the midst of her sorrows. Besides, he had +broken his resolution; for he had most firmly resolved not to complain; +he had yielded to the strong impulse of the moment, and now he was +afraid he never should gain self-control. But there was nothing to be +done, but to make stronger efforts to be contented and useful in his new +home. He humbly asked God to enable him to do better, and to pardon the +weakness of the past. + +Whenever a little boy desires with his whole soul to do right, and prays +to God for strength, he will certainly find he can, however difficult it +may seem at first. God, our kind heavenly Father, has promised to give +us his Holy Spirit if we ask Him for it in sincerity; and however young +you are, or weak, or ignorant; however far away from earthly friends, or +human sympathy, He will hear the softest word you utter, the faintest +breathing 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, he +could restrain his tears and turn his thoughts away from his own +troubles, and indeed from himself entirely. He had a few books, and he +became fond of reading them. Sometimes Mrs. Martin would ask him to read +aloud, and though she seldom wished to hear any thing but newspapers, +that was a diversion of his thoughts. Arthur had a clear, pleasant +voice, and read very well for a child of his age; and every time he read +aloud, he was improving himself in this part of education. Another +pleasant change was, going to school. Arthur had dreaded this very much, +because all the scholars would be strangers to him, and he had never +been to school without older brothers and sisters with him. Being so shy +and timid, he did not form acquaintances so readily as some boys; but in +two or three weeks, he had become quite friendly with some, particularly +Theodore Roberts. Theodore was two years older than Arthur, but recited +in the same classes. He passed Mr. Martin's on his way to school, and +usually called for Arthur. They walked about half a mile, partly through +a wood, to reach the school-house; a little brown building, with only +one room in it. Theodore was a bold, generous-hearted boy, and his +influence over Arthur was very good; while Arthur's gentler nature and +more refined manners were of service to Theodore, who was not very +particular about little things. + +One night, as Theodore and Arthur were coming home from school, they +stopped 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 little +distance, whisking his bushy tail, and watching them with his large, +bright eyes. They found a large store of nuts in the hollow tree, and +Theodore 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 squirrel +is too cunning to starve." + +"But it isn't right to take them, Theodore. Just think how many hours +the little fellow worked, and how hard he tugged to get them all in +here, and they are _his_ now, I'm sure; he has a good right to +them, and I wouldn't any sooner rob him of his nuts, than I would a man +of 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 done +it, I wouldn't have liked to play with you so well as I did before, for +I should think you were a cruel boy, and I couldn't love you." + +"You are a curious fellow," said Theodore, with another loud laugh. Such +lessons were not lost on Theodore, for though he had had very little +instruction in morals or manners, he had a heart in the right place +under 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 want +to get home early." + +This made Arthur think of _his_ sisters, and it was with rather a +heavy heart he entered the yard. Mr. Martin stood near the door, and as +Arthur 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 think +it is?" Rover, who knew the sound of Arthur's voice began to bark +loudly, and in a moment the door was opened, and he was in Arthur's +arms. Never was there a more joyful meeting between old friends. Arthur +was so excited that he laughed and cried at once, and said all kinds of +wild 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 indeed +the poor dumb animal seemed to express as much affection and delight, as +if 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, "Very +much, indeed, sir, and you are very good to get him for me. But may he +stay 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 it +must have been hard for them to give him up. His heart was touched by +this generosity and he resolved to become worthy of it, and to strive to +do 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 his +dark eyes sparkle so, and his pale cheek look so bright. + +And did the children at home regret making this sacrifice for their +little brother's sake? If any little reader asks this question, we fear +they have never tried the experiment of giving up something they loved, +to make another happy. If they had, they would know, what great delight +there was in it; what a warm, delicious feeling it spreads throughout +the heart. "It _is_ more blessed to give than to receive," and +happy as Arthur was in receiving this precious present, they were still +happier in having given it. As Mrs. Hamilton was undressing Emma that +night, 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 he +got home from school; and how happy he is to-night! Dear child! I can +see just how bright and happy he looks, as he strokes Rover, and talks +to 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 glad +when we have made another happy; and I am glad you have had an +opportunity of learning early how pleasant it is to make sacrifices for +others." + +"The darkest lot is not all gloom," thought she as she sat down by her +little table and began to sew. "Poverty can teach many sweet lessons, +and give us many rich enjoyments." And her eyes filled with tears; but +they were sweet, refreshing tears. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + + +BRIGHTER DAYS. + +Arthur was never lonely now; for Rover was constantly at his side, +except in school, and he always went to the school-room door with him in +the morning, and often when Arthur came out of school at night, he would +find Rover standing by the door, waiting for him. A happy dog was Rover, +in his new home. Mrs. Martin fed him with her own hand, and many a nice +dainty did he get, which he was not accustomed to. Arthur was such a +sweet-tempered, obliging boy, so ready to obey her, and had such gentle, +respectful manners, that the good old lady was glad to make Rover happy +for his sake. Obliging little boys almost always find that those they +live with, are obliging too; while quarrelsome boys usually find it +their fortune to fall among quarrelsome companions; for good temper and +bad temper are both contagious and infect all those who come in contact +with them. + +On bright, cold winter mornings, after eating his nice breakfast, Rover +would scamper off to school with Arthur. He was in too fine spirits to +walk by his side, so he would bound off before him, plunging into the +snow drifts up to his neck; then bound back again, with a short quick +bark, shaking himself from the feathery snow; and away again for another +merry race. If he was separated for an hour from Arthur, he would leap +up at his return, and almost overwhelm him with his rough embraces. But +this seldom happened out of school hours, for let Arthur go where he +would, to the barn, the brook, of an errand, or on a visit to his friend +Theodore, there Rover was sure to follow. Arthur would sometimes take +him into his room at night and let him lie there, but Mrs. Martin did +not approve of this, but as she was always up by day-light, she would +open the door and Rover would go scampering up the stairs ready for a +great frolic on Arthur's bed. + +As the school continued, Arthur became attached to his teacher and was +quite a favorite with his schoolmates. "_Little_ Arthur Hamilton" +he was always called by them, not because there were not many other boys +smaller than he, but from his gentleness and timid softness, he seemed +one to be protected by them; and the roughest boy never thought of +pushing and striking _him_. + +Arthur made a visit of two days at home in the spring vacation. His +mother's heart was cheered by the visible improvement in her boy; and +she told him he had done much to make her happy, by rising above his +weakness and gaining the victory over his besetting sin. "Nothing," she +told him, "could ever grieve his mother's heart like seeing her children +do wrong; nothing ever make her so happy as their doing right." + +Henry was still at the Academy, hoping to enter College the ensuing +Commencement; Lucy with her aunt; and James at Captain L's. Arthur did +not see them, but he had a pleasant visit with the rest. He went to all +his favorite places of resort; the orchard, the "old pasture," and the +little brook in the meadow. He led Charlie in one hand, and Emma in the +other out on the green grass in the lot, and picked for them the pretty +wild-flowers which were springing up everywhere among it, while Rover +ran along by their side, or bounded off in a merry frolic. They were all +glad to see Rover once more, and never was a dog so petted and caressed, +as he was on this visit to his old friends. + +When Arthur returned home, he found that the spring had brought a +variety of labors with it. Mr. Martin was a farmer, and there were many +things to do, suited to his age and strength. He did all that was +required of him with alacrity, but he often found at night that his +limbs were very weary when he lay down in bed. Mr. Martin soon found he +could not endure so much as most boys of his age; but said he to his +wife, + +"Out-of-door work will do him good, and make him hearty; a woman never +can bring up a boy properly!" + +Mrs. Hamilton also hoped that exercise in the open air would give tone +and vigor to his somewhat delicate system, and develope his slender +frame into manly strength and symmetry. She wished nothing better for +her sons than to become intelligent, industrious, and honest farmers; +and such with God's blessing she hoped Arthur would in time be. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + + +SAD NEWS. + +It was a hot Saturday in August, when Henry Hamilton left school to go +home and spend the Sabbath with his mother. This he frequently did, as +it was but ten miles distant, and such a walk was only pastime to the +vigorous youth, now glowing with health and strength in every vein. On +this day however, the walk appeared unusually long to him; and he sat +down twice by the road-side to rest himself. This was very uncommon; +but he said nothing of fatigue when he reached home about sunset. He met +them with his usual cheerful smile, and had a laugh and pleasant words +for the children as they crowded round him. Of all Mrs. Hamilton's +children, Henry was the most sanguine and light-hearted, and when at +home, he was always the life of the family circle. He was sincerely +desirous of gaining a thorough education, and of doing credit to his +patrons and friends, and he hoped to be permitted to accomplish much +good in the world, when he had acquired his profession. There was much +enthusiasm in his character, and much of generous impulse; yet they were +modified by Christian principle. Henry was a sincere Christian. There +was little of noisy pretension, or loud profession; but in his soul was +a deep and abiding sense of obligation to God; a supreme desire to do +his will, and a fervent love to his fellow-men. To a remarkably fine +person, was added an intellect of uncommon quickness and discrimination, +and his teachers spoke in high commendation of his progress. We have +said he was the favorite son of his mother; and if a thrill of pride +passed through her heart as she gazed on his beaming face, if she +garnered up in her inmost soul many precious dreams of a brilliant +future, who can wonder? Who shall blame her? + +It is now many years since "the dust fell on that sunny brow," but I +well remember Henry Hamilton--"handsome Henry Hamilton"--and seldom +indeed since have I seen a more striking form and face. There was a +frank, joyous expression beaming forth from his dark eyes, and his mouth +had always a sweet smile playing about it; there was a high intellectual +forehead, indicating thought, though it was half hidden by the sunny, +brown curls which clustered about it, and gave a youthful look to even +this portion of his face. His tall, well-developed figure was the +perfection of manly symmetry, and his musical laugh was ever ringing out +freely and unconsciously. His temperament was just the reverse of +Arthur's. Bold, courageous, self-relying, he hoped all things, and +feared nothing that man could do; by nature too, he was quick and +passionate, yet full of affection and all generous impulses. Such was +Henry Hamilton, now eighteen years of age--the pride of his family--the +favorite of all who knew him. + +The night of his return home, he became violently ill, and no remedies +appeared to relieve his sufferings. I will not pain my young readers +with a recital of his agonies. They were most intense; and on the third +day after he was attacked, at six o'clock in the afternoon, he went from +an earthly to a heavenly home; from the bosom of his mother, to the +bosom of his God! There were few intervals of sufficient ease, to allow +of conversation. During these, he expressed entire confidence in the +Saviour, and perfect submission to the will of God, though death then +was most unexpected to him. He also expressed regret that he had done +so little for God, and besought a friend who stood by his bedside, to be +faithful to his Christian vows. + +The last struggle was a fearful one; but his mother supported him in her +arms to the last; and to her his last look was given,--a look of sweet +affection, trust, and gratitude. + +I stood beside his dead body an hour after the spirit had left it. I had +never before, and have never since, seen one so beautiful in death. The +last rays of the setting sun streamed softly in at an open window, and +one sweet ray fell upon his head. It was a bright halo,--a glorious +crown, for that sleeping dust to wear. The fair, wide brow, the rich, +dark curls, the softly-closed eyelids, the beautiful mouth, had never +been so lovely. All was life-like,--radiant. There was an expression of +heavenly joy I have never seen in a sleeper since. I had not seen him in +his mortal agony, and now it seemed impossible he could have ever +suffered. Can this be death, thought I?--Ah, there is a stillness too +deep for life! Those closed lips do not move; those eyes do not open; +there is no lingering breath, no beating heart! It is only dust. The +spirit _has_ fled! Beautiful sleeper! There shall be no waking of +thy precious dust till the resurrection morning! + +Others came in, and I left the room, reluctantly, for it was pleasant to +me to be near one I had loved in life. I went into the sitting-room, +several neighbors were moving about, but the mother was not there. I +found her in the piazza; she was calm, but oh, who could fathom the +depths of her anguish? Who but He who formed the soul with all its +mysterious capacities for suffering? + +The red light lay on the western hills, and they were very beautiful in +their summer greenness, stretching along the horizon in wavy outlines; +the summer sky above was beautiful, and so were the quiet fields, and +the ancient trees standing breathlessly silent in that glorious +twilight. Rays of heaven were blending with all that was loveliest on +earth; but though the mother's eye was fixed upon the scene, it was +evident she did not see it, nor feel its healing power. What wonder? The +agony was too recent,--the blighting of all her hopes too sudden for +resignation and peace to come into her soul at once. The heavy blow had +fallen, and her heart was crushed! No tear was in her eye, no trembling +in her voice, as she replied to questions; but a face more expressive of +utter woe I have seldom seen. What word of consolation could a mortal +speak at such an hour? "The heart knoweth its own bitterness," and a +stranger may not inter-meddle with its griefs. Let it be alone with God! + +James was sent the next morning to bear the heavy tidings to Arthur, and +to bring him home to see the precious dust committed to its kindred +dust. + +Arthur was stunned by the suddenness of the blow. He rode back with +James, scarcely speaking a word. He could not feel that Henry was +_dead_; it seemed like some fearful dream from which he must rouse +himself. But when he saw his mother, and felt himself pressed in +speechless agony to her heart, his tears burst forth in torrents. +Childhood can weep over its sorrows; it is only later griefs that refuse +the healing balm of tears. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + + +THE GATHERING. + +It was thought best to lay Henry's beloved form in the earth on the day +following his death. It was one of those intensely warm, sultry days, +August often brings. Not a leaf stirred upon the trees, not a cloud +dimmed the sky. One by one, neighbors and friends dropped in, with +noiseless step. Hushed voices and stifled sobs alone were heard in the +house of death. Many, very many had loved Henry, and many looked with +tearful eyes on his peaceful form. The life-like glow had passed away +from his sweet face, the marks of the destroying angel were more clearly +visible, but there was a soft repose, still beautiful to look upon, +diffused over every feature. Aged men and women who had known him from a +child, sobbed as they gazed on one so young, so gifted, snatched away +from life. The pastor who had baptized him when an infant, and one from +the adjoining town were there. Both had known Henry, and both had loved +him. Both spoke with tearful eyes and quivering lip of his worth and +loveliness. Holy words of prayer were spoken,--the bereaved mother and +weeping children were commended to God, the only refuge in this hour of +darkness, and fervent intercessions were offered, united with grateful +thanksgivings for all that had been enjoyed in the past, and for all the +cheering hopes which brightened the future. The hymn + + "Why should we mourn departing friends, + Or shake at death's alarms?" + +was read and sung. + +Once more the children were all together under the roof where they had +often met; all save the son whose home was now in a sunnier clime. But +how unlike was this to their last joyful gathering! Hours of rejoicing, +and hours of mourning, ye are strangely blended in the experience of +human hearts. + +The little village burying-ground was not far distant. A grave was +opened there, for him who but one short week ago was as full of life, of +bounding vigor and of high hopes, as the strongest there. + + "Oh, had it been but told you then, + To mark whose lamp was dim; + From out the ranks of these young men + Would ye have singled _him_? + + "Whose was the sinewy arm that flung + Defiance to the ring? + Whose shout of victory loudest rung? + Yet not for glorying. + + "Whose heart in generous thought and deed, + No rivalry could brook? + And yet distinction claiming not; + There lies he,--go and look! + + "Tread lightly, comrades! we have laid + His dark locks on his brow; + Like life, save deeper light and shade,-- + We'll not disturb them now!" + +Of all who stood by that open grave, none wept so passionately as little +Arthur. He could not control his emotions, and it was in vain that +friends tried to soothe him. Poor child! did a sad presentiment of +coming evil pass over his soul? + +"Slowly and sadly they laid him down," and "slowly and sadly" they +returned home; that home now so vacant, so desolate! There let us leave +them; sorrowing, but "not sorrowing as those without hope." It is on +just such scenes as these, that the light of Christian Faith shines with +a pure and holy radiance, cheering the bereaved heart, and speaking +sweet words of reunion, of immortality, of glory "which fadeth not +away." + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + + +MORE TRIALS. + +The next day Arthur returned to Mr. Martin's. His affectionate heart was +saddened, and every pleasure seemed to have lost its charm. But the +griefs of childhood quickly pass away; and Arthur in a few days became +calm and cheerful. A close observer, however, might have seen a deeper +shade of thoughtfulness in his eyes, and a softer tone in his always +gentle voice. He went to school again, and mingled in his quiet way, +with the sports of his companions. Theodore could not be spared from +home-duties to attend school in the summer months, and Arthur saw much +less of him than formerly. They would meet occasionally after tea, and +with Rover by their side, stroll down by the stream which wound in +fanciful little curves about the lot; or would play at ball, on the +green before the house. Arthur seemed less inclined than usual for noisy +sports, and Theodore sometimes thought he was a sad, stupid playfellow. +One evening about five weeks after Henry's funeral, Mrs. Martin said to +her husband,-- + +"It seems to me, Arthur is not well to-day. He has complained a great +deal of his head, and his face looks flushed and feverish." + +"I haven't noticed him to-day," replied Mr. Martin, "but he certainly is +not a healthy boy, and I am afraid never will be." + +The next morning, Arthur refused to eat; and before night a burning +fever had evidently seized upon him. A physician was called, who said at +once,-- + +"He is a very sick child; his head is so hot, I fear a brain fever. You +had better send for his mother, for mothers I find are generally the +best nurses. He's a fine little fellow, and we must try to save him." + +Mr. Martin went himself for Mrs. Hamilton the next morning. It was +indeed heavy tidings that he bore. Was God about to strip her of all she +loved? Her little, tender-hearted Arthur was a precious child, and must +he be taken too? But she quietly prepared to go to him. That was +manifestly her first duty. There was no time for the indulgence of +grief, though heavy forebodings weighed upon her heart. + +When Mrs. Hamilton reached the bedside of her child, she found him +delirious, and was shocked to see he did not know her. He was much +sicker than she expected to find him, and her heart sunk within her. + +"Is there no hope, Doctor?" she asked, with a quivering lip. + +"Certainly there is a chance for a boy of his age; but he is a very sick +child, Mrs. Hamilton. Twill be a hard struggle for life, and it is +impossible to tell what will be the result." + +Day after, day, night after night, the mother bent over the sick-bed of +her child; her heart sickening with alternations of hope and fear. +Sometimes the pulse would lessen, and the medicine seem to affect him +favorably, and she would hope her prayers had been heard, and that life +and not death was to be his fate; then the fever would rage with renewed +violence, and his little frame would be convulsed with pain. At no time +did he appear to know who was with him, or have the slightest gleam of +consciousness. + +He talked but little, and that incoherently; like one in a dream. Those +were long, sad hours to the anxious mother's heart. "How I lived through +those days and weeks of anguish, I know not," she afterwards said, "but +strength was given me according to the day." + +And where was Rover, faithful, affectionate Rover, in these mournful +days? The poor animal moaned and howled perpetually. He would it through +the whole day and night, upon the stairs leading to Arthur's room, +endeavoring to gain admittance, and when driven away, would contrive to +return to his post, watching with intense eagerness those who entered or +left the room; continually making that dismal moaning which a dog in +distress usually does. It was heartrending to hear him. One day, they +allowed him to enter the room, hoping it might quiet him; he jumped upon +the bed instantly, and disturbed the suffering child so much that he was +never permitted to go in again. Poor Arthur! he no longer had a smile or +caress even for Rover, the companion of his lonely hours, the sharer of +his exile! He did not even notice him, except by raising his hand to +keep him off. + +After three weeks of severe suffering, a change came over the beloved +child. The physician thought it barely possible that such a crisis might +terminate favorably, and had prescribed powerful stimulants, but it was +soon evident that he was rapidly sinking in spite of them. He suffered +no longer, but the shadows of the grave were gathering upon his face, +and it was not probable he would survive till morning. But Mrs. Hamilton +did not wish any one to sit up by his bedside except herself. "They were +wearied," she said, "by watching; she should not sleep if others +watched, and if any thing was needed, she would call them." So she +passed the night alone with her sweet boy. In after years, I have often +heard her speak of it. It was one of those glorious moonlight October +nights. The loveliest of landscapes lay before her eye as she stood by +the window, and gazed out upon the scene. Green hills, with intersecting +valleys, forest trees lifting their tops toward the sky, wide-spreading +pasture lands, and, threading its way among them, a little +mountain-stream, bright and pure as innocence itself; all these were +visible, and over all, lay that holy moonlight bathing each object in +its spiritual radiance. Who would imagine, to look on the earth on such +a night, that it could be filled with sin and suffering, that those +glorious skies bent over breaking hearts, and opening graves? The scene +was full of calming influences, and the heart of the mother as she +gazed, was soothed and elevated. She felt the presence of God who had +made the universe; and she knew that while he guided those glorious orbs +in their courses, he also felt compassion and love for her poor +suffering heart. _He_ had afflicted her, and He, in his infinite +power and love, knew so much better than she what was best and good, +that it was pleasant to commit all her interests into his hands. + +Her older son, her bright, beloved boy, had gone she believed to mingle +his songs in a purer worship than that of earth, and would she call him +back from glory? As she lifted her eyes up to the serene heavens, she +almost fancied she heard his voice, saying, "He doeth all things well, +do not fear to trust him." And when she returned to her dying child, it +was with a feeling of sweet confidence. "I will not fear to trust him, +even with this darling child. His gentle spirit was not fitted for +earthly strifes; now it shall expand in an atmosphere of perfect love. +'The Lord gave him, the Lord taketh him away; blessed be his name.'" + +The dying boy breathed gently, and looked as if in a sweet sleep, +sometimes a smile would play around his mouth, as if he were in a +pleasant dream. There was no perceptible change till nearly morning, +then Mrs. Hamilton called Mr. and Mrs. Martin. They stood in tearful +silence round his bed, (for they loved Arthur almost as a child), +watching his shortened breathing. There was no pain, no sigh, but as the +morning light gleamed across the eastern hill, the spirit passed away. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + + +THE SECOND GATHERING. + +Once more the family stood together under the cottage roof; once more +the neighbors and friends one by one, silently passed in; once more a +coffin stood upon the table, and aged men and women, and middle-aged and +children looked into it with weeping eyes; once more stifled sobs were +heard; once more that mother with her children sat in the inner room; +but not all; all were not there. The pale weeping boy was no longer +clinging to his mother's side. He slept; and tears would never dim his +eyelids more. + +Sweet, gentle Arthur; _his_ dust was now fair to look upon. He had +never been a beautiful child, but his face wore a sweet and mild +expression in life, and it was serene and sweet in death. Once more, the +voice of prayer was heard, and the sweet hymn was sung; once more they +walked to the place of graves; and he, who just eight weeks before had +stood weeping there, was now gently laid down to sleep "that sleep, +which knows not waking" till "the trump of God shall sound." + + "Unvail thy bosom, faithful tomb! + Take this new treasure to thy trust; + And give these sacred relics room + To slumber in the silent dust." + +Once more, slowly and sadly, the stricken family went to their home, now +still more vacant--still more desolate! Once more Christian faith shed +its soul-cheering light into the aching heart; once more the sorrowing +found "there was balm in Gilead, and a physician there." + + + + +CHAPTER X. + + +ROVER, WHERE IS HE? + +The day little Arthur was laid in the grave, Rover was seen to stand in +Mr. Martin's yard, as the body of his young master was carried out; and +when Mr. and Mrs. Martin returned home and found Rover was not there, +they supposed he had gone with the procession, and had remained behind +at his old home, and therefore they felt no anxiety about him. At Mrs. +Hamilton's when the question was asked, "Where is Rover?" some one +replied, "he staid at Mr. Martin's probably; nothing has been seen of +him here." + +He would now be more fondly cherished than ever by the brothers and +sisters of his beloved master; and they resolved to send for him as soon +as possible and bring him back. He had been such a fond and faithful +friend to dear little Arthur, and had contributed so much to his +enjoyment the last year of his life, that henceforth he would be +associated with the image of that dear, dead brother, and would have for +them a tender and mournful interest. When they sent for him, nothing +could be found of the poor creature; no one had seen him, nor did long +and protracted search discover any tidings or traces of him. Had he +wandered off into the woods on that mournful day, and laid down and died +of grief? Had he been stolen and carried off? Had he been accidentally +destroyed? No one could tell. No one ever knew. But now, after long +years have passed away, with the memory of little Arthur Hamilton is +associated that of the faithful Rover; and an allusion to the dear child +so early called away, is sure to bring up the remembrance of Rover, and +of his mysterious end. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + + +THE TWO GRAVES. + +It is twenty-two years since Henry and Arthur Hamilton were buried in +that little grave-yard. Last spring, passing by the spot, I got out of +the carriage and entered the quiet little enclosure. I well remembered +where they lay, after this lapse of years, and without difficulty found +the spot. Two small white stones had been erected, and I sat down on the +grass and spent an half hour in gentle musing, and in half-sad, +half-pleasing memories. Once more the manly form and beaming face of +Henry Hamilton rose before me, and I seemed to hear his clear, ringing +laugh. I thought of all his sanguine hopes and earnest plans for +usefulness; how eagerly he had striven to excel in study; how warmly he +had sympathized with the suffering and sorrowful; how joyfully he had +entered into the recreations of the happy; and then I thought of the +sudden blighting of all those warm affections, those passionate desires. +But were they blighted? Rather, was not all that was good and lovely in +him, still existing and perfecting? Was he not still loving, +sympathizing, rejoicing? True, that outward form was now dust beneath my +feet, and it was sad that any thing so beautiful should have passed away +from before our eyes; but the warmly-beating soul with all its noble +longings, and rich aspirations, had not perished with it. When, oh when, +shall we learn that we and those we love, are immortal beings? When +shall we learn that death does not destroy, only remove them and us? + +The grass had sprung up thick and green over little Arthur's grave, and +the sweet morning sunlight lay quietly upon it. One little blue violet +had opened its pretty leaves, and lay there smiling. I was about to pick +it, to keep as a little memorial of the spot and the hour, but it seemed +so full of life; so fit a companion for the precious dust beneath, I +would not shorten its existence, but left it to wither there. + +My tears flowed; for little Arthur was a child I had dearly loved; but +yet I knew not why I should mourn his early death. The God who had +watched over him here, was still watching over him, and we need not fear +to trust that loving Friend. Death is not terrible in itself; it is sin +that makes it fearful. If we were pure and holy, we should be happy +here, or in another world, just where God thought best to place us; but +we are sinful, and we need pardon and redemption from sin, before we can +look calmly and fearlessly upon the grave. Jesus Christ has told us how +ready he is to forgive sin; how much he has suffered that we might be +forgiven, and to every human being, even to the youngest who reads this +page, he is saying, "Come unto me ye that are weary and heavy laden and +I will give you rest." + + + +THE SOUL'S RETURN. + + Return, my soul, unto thy rest, + From vain pursuits and maddening cares; + From lonely woes that wring thy breast, + The world's allurements, toils and snares. + + Return unto thy rest, my soul, + From all the wanderings of thy thought; + From sickness unto death made whole, + Safe through a thousand perils brought. + + Then to thy rest, my soul, return, + From passions every hour at strife; + Sin's works, and ways, and wages spurn, + Lay hold upon eternal life. + + God is thy rest;--with heart inclined + To keep his word, that word believe; + Christ is thy rest;--with lowly mind, + His light and easy yoke receive. + + +THE END. + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Arthur Hamilton, and His Dog, by Anonymous + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 10888 *** |