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| author | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 04:36:17 -0700 |
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| committer | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 04:36:17 -0700 |
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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/11213-0.txt b/11213-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..ec8a7f2 --- /dev/null +++ b/11213-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,1864 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 11213 *** + +[Illustration] + +BROTHERLY LOVE; + +SHEWING + +That as merely human it may not always be depended upon. + +BY + +MRS. SHERWOOD + +AND HER DAUGHTER, + +MRS. STREETEN. + + + +1851. + + + + +THE BROTHERS; + +OR, + +BE NOT WISE IN YOUR OWN CONCEIT. + + +It was at that time of year when leaves begin to lose their green hue, +and are first tinctured with a brown shade that increases rather than +decreases their beauty, that Mr. and Mrs. Mortimer received a letter +from a brother of Mrs. Mortimer's, at Portsmouth, requiring such +immediate attention that it was thought advisable that the answer should +be given in person and not in writing, and without a day's loss of time. +So it was determined that Mr. and Mrs. Mortimer should leave their home, +even as soon as the following morning, to visit their brother at +Portsmouth, and that they then should settle the business for which they +went as quickly as possible, that their absence from home need not be +prolonged unnecessarily, nor indeed for any length of time. It did not +take long to arrange this part of the affair, and what packing was +requisite was also done quickly, but the point which required most +attention and thought was, what was to become of Marten and his young +brother Reuben while their papa and mamma were away. "I have never left +them before," said their mamma, "and I feel somewhat anxious about their +being left now." + +"Anxious, dear mamma," exclaimed Marten, who had overheard the remark. +"Anxious," he repeated, "why I am a great boy now, and I shall soon be a +man, when I shall have to take care of myself altogether; and if I +cannot take care of myself for a week, what is to become of me when I +am grown up? Indeed, mamma, I think you forget how old I am. I was +thirteen on the 21st of April." + +"Tirteen," lisped little Reuben--"Marten tirteen--April--Oh, Marten very +old mamma--very, very wise;" and Reuben opened his eyes quite wide and +looked so very earnestly in his mother's face, that one would have +thought he was trying to read therein what she could mean about being +anxious as to leaving Marten,--the Marten who appeared so very old and +so very wise to him,--to take care of himself for a few days without his +parents protection. "Thirteen," repeated Mrs. Mortimer, "thirteen no +doubt seems very, aye very old, to you Reuben, for you are not yet half +that age; but I am more than three times that age," she added, smiling, +"and that you know must make me very, very much wiser than Marten, and +now once again I say I am anxious about leaving you without your father +or myself, and I should be more anxious than I am if I did not believe +it is our duty to go at once to Portsmouth; and that it being right for +us to go, I can leave you, my boys, in God's care, who is the tenderest +of fathers to his children." + +"But mamma," asked Marten, "why do you fear for me? Am I not steady, +mamma? Do not I like to do what you and papa tell me to do? Am I ever +obstinate or rebellious to you? Indeed, mamma, I feel quite grieved; I +think it is unjust to mistrust me, mamma, really I do." + +"If you feared for yourself, I should have less fear for you, Marten," +replied Mrs. Mortimer, "for I know well that the heart of man is by +nature prone to sin, and that our thoughts and desires while we are on +earth are like our natures, full of imperfections. Temptations are ever +before us--they press upon us every minute, and it is not in our own +strength we can resist or overcome even one of them, and while this +life lasts we are not safe, unless we acknowledge their powerful +influence and trust in the Divine Spirit alone to be able to withstand +them." + +"I have not been thought a disobedient boy till now," said Marten +somewhat sulkily. "I think my usual conduct should plead for me." + +"Every child has temptations, Marten," replied his mamma, "and every +well behaved child, though not a pious one, resists them: and in truth +these temptations are so numerous, that one scarcely thinks of them, +unless we witness the conduct of a spoiled baby, as shame prevents grown +up persons giving way to many things. But I want you to see that in this +life we are in a state of constant trial, and as St. Paul says, if it +were only for this life, a Christian is of all men most miserable; for +added to these outward temptations, which assail all mankind daily and +hourly, the Christian knows he must resist inward temptations, which +perhaps are known to none but himself and his God. These temptations are +more pressing than other temptations, on account of their peculiar +nature: for the one, if indulged in, brings the displeasure or frowns of +the world--the other, as I said before, is perhaps unknown to all human +beings but oneself." + +"Well, but mamma," said Marten impatiently, "I do know all this, for you +have taught it me before. It is not like as if I had to learn the thing +now for the first time. I think you are too severe, mamma, indeed I do; +and when you come back, I believe you will say so. Trust me, mamma, and +do not be anxious about me. I shall do very well, and I promise to take +good care of Reuben. I will see to his lessons, and do my own, and he +shall sleep with me while you are away, and I will attend carefully to +him and never leave him, and when I am learning my Latin, he can be in +the room with me, and we shall do very well together, I promise you. So +trust me, mamma, without anxiety of any sort." + +"I will trust you," replied Mrs. Mortimer smiling kindly, "but not with +yourself Marten, for I see clearly you have a lesson to learn, my boy, +and I hope you will learn it shortly, without much trouble to yourself. +You think you are going to fulfil all your duties in your own strength, +as they ought to be fulfilled. You will see that you cannot. Could human +nature, unassisted by the Divine nature, have done so, then what need +would there have been for the Son of God to have taken our form and +purified our nature in himself? By grace alone are we saved, for there +is none good--no, not one; but as God is holy, we must be holy, ere we +can dwell with Him, and the work of the Divine Spirit is to make us +pure; and while we are in the flesh, to uphold us in the right and +straight road, till being made one with God our sanctification is +accomplished. Now then is our hour of temptation. Marten--and believe +me, my boy, if you attempt to withstand that temptation in your own +strength, you are like one putting fire to tow, and expecting it will +escape conflagration." + +Marten made no reply, for he was tired of the subject; but after Mrs. +Mortimer had left the room, he said to Reuben--"Well, we shall see what +we shall see, and mamma shall acknowledge I am right after all." So the +carriage came to the door next morning betimes, and Mr. and Mrs. +Mortimer got into it, and Marten and Reuben stood in the coach drive to +hold the gate open for the carriage to pass through; and the great dog +Nero stood by them very much excited, not knowing whether to go with the +carriage or to stay with the boys. + +"Be sure you see Nero has a run every day, Marten," said Mr. Mortimer, +as the carriage passed through the gate--"that dog wants plenty of +exercise." + +"Oh! don't fear, papa, I shall not forget him," replied Marten, running +a step or two after the carriage; "and mamma, I will attend to your +doves--you had forgotten to speak about them, had you not, mamma? I will +remember them and Nero too, papa, and Reuben also. Yes, I will attend to +all--I shall have plenty of time for all. Have you anything more you +wish done, papa?" and Marten was obliged to stop speaking, as the +carriage was now going on rapidly, and he found he could not talk and +keep up with it at the same time. + +"No, no, Marten," replied Mr. Mortimer laughing--"No, no, my boy--you +have got more on your hands now than will suffice you: so off with you +home, and take care that when we return we do not find the doves flown, +Nero lost, or Reuben with black eye or bruised leg, and yourself in some +unlucky plight, my boy. Now go home, and God bless and watch over you, +my sons. We hope it will not be long before we return," and he waved his +hand to bid good bye. Marten had run himself out of breath, so he was +not able to answer his father, and he was not sorry to stand still an +instant or two to watch the carriage out of sight, and give time for +Reuben to overtake him, for the child could not keep up with his +brother's quick running. And even now Marten might have read this +lesson, had he been wise enough so to do that already, he had been led +away by temptation to forget his brother, and that though he had done +so, Nero had been more faithful than himself; for Nero, though he could +have outran Marten, yet would not forsake the child, but restrained his +impatience that he might keep near the little one, who ever needed a +protector by his side, for the child was young, and his mother had +perhaps reared him too delicately. + +Reuben had never before been separated from his mamma, and he was half +inclined to cry, and perhaps fret at her absence; but Marten, who was a +very kind brother, and really loved the child tenderly, contrived so to +divert his attention that he soon forgot his troubles. + +Marten was so bent upon behaving well during his mamma's and papa's +absence and of fulfilling every duty, that though Reuben wished to stay +out all morning and play, his brother would not allow it, but persuaded +him to go in with him and say his lessons, as if his mamma had been at +home. But Marten had taken upon himself much more than was required of +him by his parents, and it was not without difficulty, even on the first +day, determined as he was upon the point, that he could fulfil all his +intentions, for Marten had not taken into consideration that if he +thoroughly devoted himself to Reuben, he could not spend his time in +learning his own lessons, which usually occupied the best hours of the +morning. The doves could be fed whilst Reuben was by his side--indeed +Reuben could be very useful in this matter, for he had been accustomed +to visit the aviary daily with his mamma, and the pretty birds knew him +and were not as afraid of him as they were of his big brother Marten. So +Reuben fed the doves himself, and stroked their soft feathers, and +washed out their little tin in which the water was put for them to +drink; and he placed the food for them in its right corner, and he swept +out the floor of the aviary, for he was small enough to stand upright +within it, and he knew how to do it without frightening the birds. So +far all was well, and all was well too whilst Reuben was saying his +lessons; but when Marten wanted to study his Latin exercise, the child +was so restless and troublesome, that it was only by speaking very +decidedly to him--indeed almost crossly--that Marten could get a moment +to himself. + +But even then Marten had to shut up his book somewhat hastily, for +Reuben began to cry for his mamma, who never spoke sharply to him, and +was always ready to attend to the little one by a kind look or tender +word. + +Marten was, however, so satisfied with himself in having accomplished +all his plans for the day, that he did not see how he had given way to +temptation in being cross when provoked; and as he put Reuben to bed, +for he chose to do it himself, he could not help saying aloud, "I wish +mamma could have followed me unseen all day: how pleased she would have +been with me, for I have done all I meant to do, even though I was +tempted more than once to leave something undone." + +The next morning Marten arose, perhaps not quite so earnest in his +intentions as the day before, but still there was only a slight +disinclination to fulfil all his duties--so slight, indeed, that he +would have been very angry if any one had spoken to him about it, and +hinted at the truth. In this frame of mind, though most things were +done, some few were slurred over, particularly the Latin Exercise and +Grammar, for Marten's papa had not set him any task, and had even said +Marten might have a holiday during his absence; and at any other time +the boy would have been glad of this indulgence, but now he fancied +himself so good, that he believed he could do everything, and everything +well. + +"I will do an exercise to-morrow, Reuben," said Marten. "Papa does not +expect any done, and if I have one for every other day to shew him, he +will be very much pleased, I know." + +Reuben, as may be supposed, could not make a suitable reply to this; for +all he understood about it was, that Marten was going out with him +instead of staying at home to do that troublesome Latin. So Reuben was +pleased and Marten was thoughtless, and out together they went and +enjoyed themselves not a little, in the pleasant autumn weather. + +Thus hours passed on, and the third day brought a letter from Mrs. +Mortimer, which was not quite satisfactory, for it said that the +business which took her and her husband from home could not be easily +settled, and they feared they would be detained a whole fortnight at +Portsmouth. Mrs. Mortimer, however, was not uneasy about her boys, for +she knew that the servants, with whom she had left them, were quiet +steady persons, who would not allow them to do what was wrong without +speaking to them; and then Reuben was such an universal favourite, that +she felt sure no one would be wilfully unkind to him. But above all, +Mrs. Mortimer trusted her children with Him who "knoweth our frame and +remembereth we are but dust." Psal. ciii. 14. + +Mrs. Mortimer had been absent about a week, and Marten was still in +ignorance of the weakness of human nature, at least as far as he was +himself personally concerned, when one morning Reuben came running to +him in great distress, to say that the doves were missing--his mamma's +own pretty birds that she loved so much; and Reuben, whose tears were +somewhat too ready, began to cry, for he feared, poor child, the cat had +eaten them, or some other misfortune equally distressing had befallen +them. + +"Was the door of the aviary open?" asked Marten. "Are you sure it was +open, Reuben? or did you open it yourself?" + +"It was open," said Reuben, "wide, wide open--so wide, Marten;" and he +made his brother understand that he had gone inside without stirring it +the least little bit. + +"It was open, you say," replied the elder boy, "but how could that be? +You or some one have been careless, very careless, Reuben; for it is +certain the birds could not open it for themselves." Reuben was about to +cry again, but Marten soothed him, for all at once Marten remembered +that the careless--very careless person was none other than himself; for +on the day before, whilst Reuben was sweeping out the aviary, Marten had +called him hurriedly, and though the child had once proposed to return, +his brother had kept him by his side for some trifling purpose, and so +they had both forgotten the aviary door was open. However, the doves +were gone, and they must be reclaimed, if alive, but if dead--what a sad +story would there be for Mrs. Mortimer. So the books were put by, and +the two boys went out in search of the birds, and Reuben, who understood +their ways, took the precaution to carry with him the box in which their +food was usually placed. On this occasion there was a nice piece of cake +put into the box, which was to be crumbled for the doves, and Reuben +knew that they liked cake as well as he did himself, and more especially +the kind of cake which cook had given him. + +Have you ever heard of a person who it is said once looked for a needle +in a pottle of hay? for if so, you may picture to yourself the feelings +of Marten when he started to find the ringdoves. But perhaps you will +say, anyhow, the needle would lie still, unless the man who was +searching for it should shake the straw too roughly, and throw it out, +therefore the space of its concealment, being a limited space, supposing +the pottle the very largest ever made, there would be a chance in time +of its discovery, but not so the case of the birds. They had wings to +fly with, and miles of lovely blue sky to fly through, and green +branches to rest on, and harvest fields to alight in, that is if they +were in the land of the living; but, perhaps, after all, mistress pussy +had destroyed them, and their pretty feathers, perhaps their only +relics left, might be so scattered by the wind, that already they might +be yards and yards separated from each other. With these sad forebodings +clouding his brow, Marten set off with Reuben on his search, feeling +that it was a hopeless one, and not one word did the boy utter to all +Reuben's lamentations as they crossed the meadow which was spread in +front of their house towards a little wood, which was the home of many a +bird of the pigeon or dove species, and therefore Marten thought would +be the most likely place to go first to look after the strayed ones. +Think, then, what must have been his joy as they entered the second +meadow not far from the stile, absolutely to behold the ringdoves, his +mamma's own ringdoves walking upon the grass cooing and billing, and +turning about their soft eyes in this direction and the other, as if +half afraid of the freedom they had acquired for themselves. As to +Reuben, he was so pleased, that the little foolish fellow clapped his +hands and shouted for joy, which so alarmed the doves, that they took to +their wings and soared high, but flutteringly in the air, as if in their +fright they did not know what they ought to do for their own safety. +Marten was very angry with Reuben for his folly--very angry indeed, and +I hardly know what it was he said; only this I do know, that he took the +box of cake from the child's hand, and bade him stand at a particular +spot--about twenty yards or so, in a direction farthest from the wood, +and from the stile leading to their home; "and there," he added, "remain +till I tell you you may stir, if you are so stupid as not to know that +clapping your hands and shouting loud will frighten any birds, +particularly timid ones like doves--tame doves, especially, who have +strayed from their home." + +Marten looked so cross, that Reuben did not even like to cry, for he +felt he had been very silly; so the poor little fellow stood where his +brother had bade him stand, half afraid to breathe, and quite afraid of +moving--lest by any noise he should again drive away the doves, and +Marten should again be angry. And there we will leave him to speak of +how his brother set himself to work to reclaim his mother's birds. + +I have said before that he had some cake in a box in his hand, and +having tossed off his hat--lest by any accident it should fall off when +he was stooping forwards, he threw himself upon the grass his full +length, and as he rested on his right hand; with his left he sprinkled +some of the cake he had with him on the ground, to attract the doves +near to him, in the hope he would catch one; and the second, he rightly +guessed, would not then be long out of his power. Marten relied on the +tame habits of the doves, who had been accustomed not only to eat out of +his brother's hands, but also from his mother's, and occasionally of +late from his own; but it is a different thing feeding birds in their +own aviary, and when they have escaped half wild to their native haunts. +And now, whilst the boy stretched upon the ground, was wholly occupied +in the earnest desire of reclaiming the wanderers, Reuben's attention +after awhile was diverted by seeing that some one was approaching +towards them from a hill, in a direction farthest from their home. This +person was riding at no slow pace, and as I said before, as his road led +him down hill, he seemed not to spare his horse; meeting the wind, as +Reuben thought gloriously, and passing along at a pace, the child +considered more glorious still. "When I am a man," the little fellow +said to himself, "I will ride so, I will have a horse, and I will ride +very very fast,--yes,--that I will." + +Now it seemed that the rider from the elevated road could look over the +meadows below, and probably having good eyes, for they certainly were +young and sharp ones, he soon spied out Marten and Reuben, and as it +came out afterwards that Marten was the person he sought after, he +caused his pony to leap over a small ditch that was in his way, and then +guiding it to a gate he dismounted and fastened the animal to the post +by its bridle. In leaping the ditch his hat had fallen off, and making +signs to a large Newfoundland dog that had accompanied him, the noble +animal was by him directed to lie down near the horse and take charge of +the hat, whilst his master stepped lightly along the grass in the +direction where Marten lay extended, so occupied about the doves as to +regard nothing that was passing round him. The new comer was a youth of +about Marten's own age, the only child of a gentleman who lived about +four miles from Marten's father, and the most constant companion that +Marten possessed. His name was Edward Jameson, and he shall himself say +the cause of his present visit. Reuben knew Edward well, and he +recognized him before he had tied his pony to the gate post, but he had +not seen the fine Newfoundland dog before, and Reuben was so fond of +dogs. The little fellow remembered that Marten had forbidden him to +leave the tree or to speak, but he could not keep his small feet from +moving up and down restlessly, nor could he scarce command himself not +to call out and tell his brother of Edward's arrival. But Edward wanted +to see what Marten was doing in the very odd attitude he had taken, so +he crept noiselessly on, his head turned somewhat sideways to Reuben, +and his hand held up threateningly to the child, for he saw he had been +recognised, and he was afraid of some hasty word, which would cause +Marten to start up, and then he feared he should not surprise his +friend. Edward was able to get quite close to Marten, and even to touch +him before Marten was aware of his presence; and he stepped up so +quietly, that the doves were so little frightened, that they hardly +stopped a moment from picking up the crumbs. + +"Why Marten, old fellow, what are you doing here?" asked Edward. "Whose +doves are those, I say? are they your mother's? have you let them +loose--Eh?" Edward spoke softly, but not so softly that he did not cause +Marten to start at the unexpected sound of his voice; still, as the +birds were at some little distance, and were accustomed to the human +voice, they scarcely were alarmed, and hardly moved a step or two away +from the crumbs scattered for them, and Marten recovering himself +quickly, said--"Oh! Edward, do help me to catch these doves: they have +escaped from their aviary, and my mother will be so vexed if they fly +away." + +"To be sure I will," replied Edward; "but my boy, who is in the habit +of feeding them, for that person would best know how to catch them I +should say." + +"My mother feeds them herself chiefly," said Marten, "and Reuben +sometimes attends to them when she is engaged." + +"Well, set Reuben to decoy them now, for I am in a hurry and have got +something to say to you as quickly as possible, and it is very +important. Anyhow, the child can watch them whilst you are attending to +me." + +So Reuben was called from his station at the tree, and Marten gave him +directions what he was to do; and the now little important one lay down +on the grass, as Marten had done before him; and as might have been +expected, the doves, accustomed to his baby voice and small figure, soon +drew nearer and nearer to him, so that when the conference was over +between the two elder boys, Reuben was able proudly to shew not one, +but both doves, so wrapped up in his pinafore, that though they +fluttered about a little, they were quite secure. "Come here a step or +two from the child," said Edward, "and don't think of those troublesome +birds just now, but tell me at once, can you come and pay me a visit for +a couple of days? my cousins William Roscoe and Jane and Mary are +expected at our house to night on their way to London. You know William +Roscoe, Marten, and what a fine fellow he is and I have asked my father +and mother, and they have allowed me to get as many young ones together +as the short time would allow, and we are to have splendid fun. Won't +you come, Marten? I promise you a glorious time of it, if you will but +come." + +[Illustration] + +"My father is from home," replied Marten thoughtfully, "and so is my +mother, but I don't think that matters, Edward: they have never refused +my visiting you, and I do not think they would now. Indeed, I am sure +they would not, if they were at home, but what am I to do with Reuben? I +have taken charge of Reuben whilst mamma is away, and what can I do +about him?" + +"About Reuben," returned Edward? "can't the servants take care of him at +home? he will do very well at home, and be very contented, I know." + +"But I have undertaken the charge of him," said Marten, "and I should +not like, after what I have said, to leave him, even for a couple of +days. I must either bring him with me, Edward, or stay at home with +him--indeed, I must." + +"Well, then, bring the little fellow," replied Edward kindly; "anything +so as you come, Marten; and remember there will be plenty of girls +invited, for Jane and Mary Roscoe, and Reuben can surely play with them, +and they will take care of him, no doubt. So bring him, by all means, if +that is the only hindrance; but still, I say, you would do better to +leave him at home with the servants; however, that's your business, not +mine. I reckon on you to-morrow, about eleven o'clock--to stay all +night, next day, and the night following, if you like; so good bye, till +then. I have half the country to ride over to beat up my recruits;" and +without waiting another word from his friend, Edward ran across the +meadow, snatched up his hat from where the faithful dog was carefully +guarding it, sprang upon his pony, and then once again leaping the +ditch, he cantered off at a pace so rapid, he was soon lost to Marten's +sight. + +How pleased was Reuben to shew his brother that he had caught the doves, +and Marten was also pleased: for any how he need not distress himself +about them, as they were secured, but he thought it advisable to take +them under his own charge, as he considered he could hold them firmer +than the little one. And now the boys ran home as quickly as they could, +and the pretty birds were shut up in their aviary, and Marten hastened +to the kitchen to find the house-maid, who was called nurse, as she had +been Reuben's nurse before she had changed her occupation in the family, +the child no longer requiring a personal attendant. In the kitchen +Marten learnt that she was gone out into the garden to gather some herbs +for the cook, and thither he followed her to tell her that his friend +Edward Jameson had been with him, and what had been the purport of his +visit. + +"Nurse," said Marten, when he found her, "I am come to ask you to get +mine and Reuben's things ready to-night, for I am going to take him with +me to spend a couple of days at Mr. Jameson's; and there will be company +there in the evenings, so we must have our best things, nurse, and will +you be so kind as to see after the doves, and tell Thomas to loosen +Nero's chain every day, that he may have a good scamper over the +fields, for papa says he should have plenty of exercise." + +"Stop, stop, master Marten," replied nurse, "what is all this about? +your things and master Reuben's, do you say, are to be got ready for two +day's visit--and the doves fed? am I to find them before I feed them, +master Marten?" and nurse laughed. + +"They are found, nurse," answered the boy, "and they are now safe in the +aviary, and I will take care the door shall not be opened again while +mamma is away. I mean to put a padlock on, nurse, so you see no one can +let them out, and I shall keep the key myself." + +"Oh! master Marten, master Marten!" said nurse, laughing again--"I see, +if it depended upon you, we should all be in a bad way, and so the poor +birds are to be locked up, are they: and master Reuben is not to be +allowed to go into the aviary to talk to them, as the little one loves +to do--and all for what? Give me a steady ruler, if you please--not such +as you, master Marten--a fine head of a family you will make, if one may +judge of your boasted management of the doves in the first part of the +story, and then the leaving the aviary door open and finishing with +locking them up and keeping the key yourself. Well for their +happiness--mistress will soon be at home to attend to them herself; but +what are you going to do with the child, my own darling? I can't have +any tricks played with him, I tell you." + +"Tricks, nurse," repeated Marten passionately. "What? do you mean to say +I would play tricks with my own brother? No one loves Reuben, I am sure, +better than I do, unless it is mamma. What do you mean, nurse?" + +"What do you mean, then, master Marten, by saying you are going to take +the child amongst strangers, neither me nor his mamma being with him, +and he never accustomed to strangers--and company in the house too--I +don't half like it--and I know I feel half inclined to say he shan't +go." + +"And pray under whose charge was he left?" asked Marten. "Your's or +mine, nurse? I should like to know." + +"It was much of a muchness," replied the good woman. "Missis said to +you, take care of your brother; but missis knew I loved the sweet +darling too dearly to require even half a word on the subject. And +supposing he does go with you, master Marten, who is to put the dear +child to bed at nights? I must insist, indeed I must, that you see to it +yourself. I know how frightened he will be amongst strangers at bed +time." + +"To be sure I will, nurse," said Marten, glad to see the good woman was +so far giving in to his wishes. "I promise not only to sleep with him, +but to take him to bed myself and stay with him till he is asleep." + +"Well, well, master Marten," exclaimed nurse impatiently--"Well, well, +don't undertake too much and then do nothing; and I must say again," she +continued warming with her subject, "that the child had better be left +at home where there are plenty to look after him, and not be carried off +to that strange house, away from us all." + +"Oh! me go with Marten, nurse, dear nurse! me go with Marten!" said +little Reuben imploringly, for the child had just joined them in time to +hear nurse's last remark. "Oh! Reuben so like to go with Marten." + +"You don't know what is best for you, silly one," replied nurse, "nor +who is your truest friend either, but your little head is bent upon +being a man soon, and you must ever be trying to do what your brother +does. But, master Marten, how can you play or go about with master +Jameson, and yet attend to this child too?" + +"Oh! I can take care of Reuben, and yet have plenty of time for myself, +nurse, I am sure," said Marten. + +"That's according," answered nurse, "for if you are always giving your +company to this little one here, and she patted Reuben on the back, he +will keep you smartly to it whenever he is awake, I promise you. Won't +you, my pet? Are you not a weary little fellow, darling?" she added, as +she stooped to kiss him, "that is when you can get folks to be wearied +with you." + +"No, nurse," answered the child stoutly;--"no--me not weary--me not +tired--me don't want to go to bed." + +"Bless your pretty tongue," exclaimed nurse; "but here, take this +parsley to cook, and say it is the finest double parsley I can find, +there's a darling." + +As Reuben ran away on his errand, nurse addressed herself to Marten in +a kind motherly manner, for nurse was not a young woman, and she was +also a pious one. "Master Marten," she said, "I am sure you will be kind +to the little one--you always are--for I must say you are one of the +very best brothers I know, and that is saying a deal for you--for I +believe there are many good brothers and sisters in the world, and yet, +pardon your old nurse, young master, when she tells you you are doing +wrong, though I think your intention is good. Look to your own heart, +master Marten, and ask yourself why are you dragging this poor child +after you to Mr. Jameson's. I was in the room with Missis when she was +speaking to you the day before she left, and I heard what she said about +temptation, and how we are tempted every hour in the day. You did not +believe her, master Marten, and you do not believe her now, and you are +going to try temptation to the very utmost, and you think you will stand +it, and I know you won't, for I remember what my dear lady said, that no +one can resist temptation in their own strength. This is the reason why +I don't like my baby to go with you, but if you, my dear young master, +will just think over what your mamma said, and ask for the approval of +your Saviour and the direction of his Holy Spirit in all things--why +then, as I said before, I will trust my darling with you any where, for +I know that you love him dearly, and would not willingly hurt a hair of +his precious little head." + +"Nurse," exclaimed Marten indignantly, "one would imagine I had been +very unkind to Reuben whilst mamma has been away; now I don't think it +is fair, and if I were to leave my brother at home and stay out a couple +of days enjoying myself, papa and mamma might both justly think I had +neglected him; No, I have undertaken the care of him till their return, +and I mean to fulfil my undertaking: and I must say, unless you have any +unkindness to charge me with, I consider you have no business to speak +to me as you have done." And Marten walked away with a heart determined +to resist the wise advice of nurse. + +And now nurse had nothing for it but to get the things ready for the +boys the next day, for nurse knew that Marten was always allowed, if +convenient, to go to Mr. Jameson's when invited, and as the houses were +about four miles apart, she also knew he was in the habit of staying +there all night, if asked so to do. As regards Reuben, he too had been +there once or twice to stay with his mamma, but nurse considered very +wisely, that it was a very different thing, a child of the little one's +age going from home with or without his mamma; but still she could not +interfere more than she had done, for Reuben had certainly been put +under his brother's care. She did, however, try to persuade the little +one that he would be better at home with her, but any person who knows +the ways of children might easily guess nurse might as well have spoken +to a post as to Reuben, for all the good she did, for the boy began to +cry, and begged so hard to go with his brother to play with the big boys +at Mr. Jameson's, that she thought it as well to say no more on the +subject. + +And now I must pass over some hours till the time came for John to drive +the boys over in the pony carriage to Mr. Jameson's. Marten could have +walked the four miles very well, or he could have rode there on his own +pony, but Reuben could not have walked half so far, and thus it +happened, that as John had something to do he could not leave undone, it +was quite twelve o'clock before the three arrived at Mr. Jameson's +house, and thus it chanced that they were almost the last comers of the +party of children invited to meet the Roscoes. + +It was a lovely day, and as warm as any summer day, though the autumn +was just setting in, and such a group of young children were at play on +the grass plat, near the house, that the like Marten nor Reuben had +never seen before. It was such a very pretty sight, that John quite +forgot to give out of the carriage the parcel nurse had made of the +young gentlemen's clothes; and the consequence was, he had all the +trouble to come back half a mile of the road, when he suddenly bethought +himself of his forgetfulness. But as to the pretty sight John saw, I +wish I could draw you a picture of it; if I could I would, I promise +you, and I would put it in this very page for you to see. Fancy, then, a +beautifully soft velvet lawn, in front of a large handsome house, upon +which lawn the sun shines warmly but kindly, and the blue sky looks +most pleasingly there and here, broken by white clouds that relieve the +eye without obscuring the light. At the farthest end of the lawn from +the house were some fine trees, under the shelter of which two girls +were playing at battledore and shuttlecock, and very well they played +too. A little nearer this way, that is where John and the carriage +stood, in the direction of the house, was a young child seated on the +turf holding a dog, whilst two other children were trying to make it +jump to catch a flower, one held in her hand. There was also a big boy +on a pony talking to a great girl, who was lying on the grass; but the +prettiest group of girls were standing or kneeling round a pet lamb +which they were decking with wreaths of flowers. They none of them wore +bonnets nor walking dresses, and even the boy on the pony was without a +hat. Why they had all agreed to uncover their heads, I cannot say +exactly, but I know they had been having some joke about it before the +young Mortimers arrived; and the great girl on the turf had even then +got her brother's cap and had hidden it somewhere, and it was to ask her +about it he had ridden up to her on his pony, as she rested on the +grass. + +[Illustration] + +"Oh! they are all girls but one," exclaimed Marten in a disappointed +tone, "and I am afraid I shall not find the boys easily, and I hate +playing with girls." + +"As much as we girls dislike playing with rude boys, master Mortimer," +said Jane Roscoe, advancing forwards and replying to Marten's speech, +which had really been addressed to John; "but understand we are the +fairies of this lawn--this is our territory, and my aunt Jameson has +bestowed it upon us. We take tribute if you intrude on our premises, so +either be off to your own mates, or lay down your cap as owning our sway +as ladies and queens of the lawn." + +"I am sure I would rather go to your brother, or Edward, Miss Roscoe," +replied Marten, "if you would but tell me where I should find them." + +"No doubt near the stables, or at the dog kennels," she answered pertly, +"so you had better go, for I tell you we don't want boys amongst us; we +have had some trouble in ridding ourselves of them just now." + +"And if they are all like you, I am sure I for one don't want to stay," +thought Marten; and he took Reuben's hand to seek his friends, where the +young lady had so uncourteously directed him to find them. + +And here, before I would follow Marten to find his young friends, I +would wish to remark that it is such girls as Jane Roscoe who make rude +boys, and such young women that make rude men. Boys and men generally +take their manners from the females with whom they associate, and when +one sees a very rude boy, it does not speak well for his sisters at +home, or at least for the young ladies with whom he may happen to be +most intimate. As to regular schoolboys, they are rude, because +schoolboys in general are famed for bad manners, and young gentlemen +seem to like to bring this odium on schools, fancying rudeness is +manliness, when in reality it is a decided sign of the contrary. Think +of the bravest men that have been known, that is bravest in their own +persons, and I will venture to say they have been gentle and courteous +in female society, for they know and feel they can dare to be so, as +their credit for manly daring is known and acknowledged by every one. +Take one of your rough ones, and I for one set him down as a mere bully, +that hides his cowardice under blustering words. But I have wandered +somewhat from my point, for I was saying rude girls make rude boys, as +shewn in the case of Jane Roscoe; and civil girls make civil boys, as +evinced in her sister Mary, as I am going to relate. + +"Me want to go to the pretty lamb," said Reuben, hanging heavily on his +brother:--"Me go to the lamb--me don't like horses." + +"But you shall see the great big Newfoundland, Reuben, that you admired +so much yesterday," said his brother. "Should you not like to see the +large black dog?" + +"Reuben wants to go to lamb," replied the child, and he resolutely stood +still. "Pretty lamb, Reuben, go to lamb now." + +"You can't go to the lamb, Reuben," said his brother impatiently, "so +you must be content to go with me to see the large black dog. I am not +going to give up my cap to any one, I promise you; so come on now, and +don't keep me staying here all day." + +But Reuben, as nurse had said, was a weary little fellow when bent upon +any thing, and now he was bent upon going to play with the lamb, so he +was determined not to move, or if he did it should only be in the +direction of the lawn. Marten was, however, almost as determined to go +the other way, on account of Jane Roscoe, and for a moment there seemed +a doubt which boy should carry the day. The elder had the most strength, +and he was inclined to use it, for Miss Roscoe had offended him, and +lifting the child from the ground he was about to run off with him in +the direction of the stables, when Reuben, not accustomed to opposition +of this description, set up a loud cry of passion, which at once drew +the attention of all near to himself and his brother. + +"There," exclaimed Jane, "what are you teasing the little one so for? +why not let him have his own way and come amongst us, if he will?" + +"Well, go," said Marten angrily, "go, Reuben, if you like; but I tell +you I will not come with you." + +But this was not what Reuben desired, and he stood at a little distance +from his brother looking, I am sorry to say, very naughty and selfish, +for he was really wishing Marten to give up his own desires to attend to +and humour his; and so now he stood moving neither one way nor another, +his face turned towards the lamb so finely bedecked with flowers. His +cry, however, had aroused the young girls from their occupation, and +Mary Roscoe, whom one would have supposed had been really kissing the +lamb, so close was her face to it, when Marten had first seen her; +sprang from her knees, and running across the lawn to the gravel path, +now stooped down to Reuben, and looking him kindly in the face--"Little +boy," she said, "what did you cry for? what did you want? tell me, +little boy, and I will see what I can do. I am a fairy, little boy. We +are all fairies on that turf, and I will take you with me to fairy land +and shew you some fairy wonders." + +Reuben at once and without hesitation put his hand in hers, saying--"Me +go see pretty lamb me go with you--me will go." + +"Then come along," said Mary, and turning her head over her shoulder +towards Marten, she added, "I will take care of him; so you may go to +Edward and William if you like, and I dare say you will like it better +than playing with girls." + +"Oh! thank you, Miss Mary, thank you," replied Marten most gratefully to +the kind little girl, "thank you, I am so much obliged to you." + +But Marten spoke aloud, and thus drew Reuben's attention to the fact +that he was going to be left with strangers, and once more he raised a +cry as much of passion as of fear. So Marten, to soothe him, made a step +towards the lawn with the child, though Mary still held his hand, +giving a private sign to Marten that he might slip away on the first +opportunity. + +"Your tribute, your tribute," exclaimed Jane Roscoe: "not one step upon +the grass, Master Mortimer, without giving up your cap as a sign you own +us 'The ladies of the lawn.' Give it up, I command, or stay where you +are." + +"Will you give it me again in a minute or two, as I come back," asked +Marten? + +"Ask Frank Farleigh there if he has got his," said Jane. "You shall have +yours when he has found his, that is if we can hide it as securely." + +"Then you may get it as you can," retorted Marten rudely, stepping upon +the grass, and on Jane's springing after him setting off on a race as +fast as he could across the lawn, in utter defiance of the young girls. +A cry was raised instantly, and all the children left their sports to +pursue the boy, who had thus boldly defied their power; and lucky was +it for him that he was agile and could twist and turn in his course as +rapidly as a hare. But when there is at least twelve to one and a clear +space, the raced has little chance, and thus it came about that the boy +in self defence was forced to fly towards the stables as the only place +of safety, having no leisure even to think that he was leaving his +brother amongst strangers, proving himself unable to withstand +temptation, even during one short hour of his visit. Marten, too, had +raised a war between himself and the young girls of the party, which was +not likely to be settled peacefully during the time of their stay at +Mrs. Jameson's, and thus he had, to a certain sense, separated himself +either from Reuben or from the bigger boys, without intending to do so +for the two parties, as might be foreseen by any experienced eye, were +of too different a sort to get on hourly together, as their tastes and +amusements were utterly at variance. + +As my story is intended to shew that temptations hourly assail us, and +that in our own strength we cannot often resist them, else wherefore did +Our Lord teach his disciples to pray that they might not be led into +temptation, but because he knew that man of himself never turns away +from the forbidden fruit. I shall not here speak much of how after a +good run hither and thither, Marten at last found Edward and his +companions in an open field, most of the horses and dogs from the +stables being collected together, and such a scene of excitement going +on that the boy had no leisure to think of anything that was not passing +before his eye; and therefore, as Reuben did not appear, he, like the +rest being unseen, was forgotten. In excuse for Marten I must say that +he first ran to the stables, and there learnt from a boy whom he found +there, that Master Jameson had had permission that morning from his papa +to have out one or two of the horses and ponies, on condition that +Chambers, the old coachman, and Rogers, the groom, were present with the +young gentlemen, and that every obedience were paid to their directions, +so that if they saw anything wrong they might enforce attention to their +requests. + +As many of the young gentlemen too had ridden over on their ponies to +Mr. Jameson's, there were a goodly collection of horses assembled +together, and the races that ensued, and the leaping over low fences +that followed, so quickly passed away the time that when the first bell +rang, announcing that dinner would shortly be served, Marten was quite +astonished to find that it was nearly three o'clock, and that almost two +hours had passed since he had seen his brother. But now, as the boys +were taking the horses and dogs to the stables, he hastened towards the +house as fast as he could, for he saw the lawn was tenant-less, and +knowing the way to the room where he usually slept when at Mrs. +Jameson's, he hurried up the stairs only to find that his things had +been placed there, and that Reuben's little parcel had been taken +elsewhere and was probably where the child also was, for no Reuben was +to be seen. As Marten could meet with no servant, he ran along the +gallery trying to distinguish amongst the many voices he heard on all +sides that of his brother's, but in vain, so many were the sounds that +reached his ear, and as he did not like to open any of the doors, or +push those farther open that were not quite closed, he raised his voice +and called aloud "Reuben, Reuben, I want you--Reuben come to me in the +passage--here I am--come to me Reuben." + +To Marten's annoyance, instead of his brother replying to his call, Jane +Roscoe stepped out into the gallery, exclaiming--"Oh! it is you, is it? +Whom do you want? What are you come here for? these are the girl's +rooms! those are our bedrooms, and this is our sitting room. Are you +come to make an apology for your rudeness this morning? If so, I will +call the rest out to hear what you have to say." + +"I want my brother, Miss Roscoe," replied Marten, trying to speak +civilly. "May I go into your sitting room, or would you have the +goodness to tell him to come to me here." + +"I shall do no such thing," answered Miss Jane, "you may get him as you +can, though I do not know how you will manage to do that either; for +Mary has taken such a fancy to the little fellow, that she will not give +him up easily." + +"Would you tell me if Reuben is content?" asked Marten, "for if so I +would rather leave him with Miss Mary." + +"Just pop your head inside that door," said the rude girl, "and judge +for yourself, that is, if you dare to do so--for your brother is there, +and Mary and a dozen more girls. Do you dare?" she inquired mockingly, +"come let me see you do it, then." + +"Dare," repeated Marten indignantly, "and why should I not dare--I want +my brother." + +"Do it then," said Jane, "if you are not a coward, which I strongly +suspect you are;" and when was a spirited boy of thirteen so urged on +that had the prudence to know where to stop with propriety to himself. +Marten, choking with rage, did advance to the door pointed out, and put +his head inside, and there, on beholding a group of young ladies of all +ages, from eight to fourteen, and no little brother, and finding all +eyes turned upon himself as an impertinent intruder, he drew his head +back quickly, and was met with a loud laugh from Jane, which so annoyed +him, that without stopping to think, he ran off to his own room as fast +as he could. The voice of Mary Roscoe however reached him as he ran +along the gallery, uttering these words: "I'll take care of Reuben, +Master Marten--I'll take care of Reuben, he is very happy." And so +Marten allowed himself to be content, and as he knew dinner would +shortly be ready, he lost no more time, but set to dress himself in his +best as quickly as he could. Mr. and Mrs. Jameson did not dine with the +young people, but Mrs. Jameson came in and walked round the table, and +spoke to most of the young ladies and gentlemen, and asked after their +papas and mammas, and she said she hoped they would be good children and +enjoy themselves very much, and in the evening she and Mr. Jameson would +come in to see them at play. She told Jane Roscoe she expected her and +Mary to take care of the young ladies and see that they had everything +they wanted, and she said much the same to her son and William Roscoe +about the boys. + +There was a very long dining table laid out, and, as might be expected, +all the boys got together at the end where Edward sat, and all the +girls got round Jane Roscoe, for it must be remembered that hostilities +had begun in the morning between the boys and girls, and Jane was not +the kind of girl to make peace, or desire to make peace and conduct +herself as would be becoming a young lady. Frank Farleigh, indeed, +crossed the barrier, and once again demanded his cap from his sister, +but he pleaded in vain, and I do not know how the matter would have been +settled if good-natured Mary Roscoe had not proposed that it should be +considered as a forfeit, and that the cap should be cried with the other +forfeits in the evening games. "And I promise you it shall be hardly +won," cried Jane, and Frank's sister then whispered to her as if they +were settling what Frank was to do for it, and then Jane laughed--her +teasing laugh--and if Frank did give his sister a most cruel schoolboy +pinch, I can't but say she had only herself and her rude companion to +thank for it. "I don't care," he said, as he joined the boys, "I can +wear that old cap of Edward's, and when I go home they _must_ give it +back to me." + +During this time Marten was looking about for Reuben, and soon he saw +that the little fellow was seated by Mary Roscoe, as happy as possible, +for Mary was a kind-hearted girl, and loved every thing and every body, +and every body loved her, and now she was taking care that the child was +helped before herself, and with what he liked, and when she met Marten's +eye, she kissed Reuben very earnestly, and called him a sweet darling +and her own pet, and she asked the little one if he did not love Mary. +Reuben returned the kiss and looked so smilingly up at Marten, that his +brother could not but be contented, and having thanked Mary most +heartily for her very great kindness, he was only too glad to get away +once more to where the boys were seated. Poor Marten was not aware, and +I do not exactly see how he should have been aware, that the easy +kindness of Mary Roscoe was but too likely now to bring his brother into +trouble, for Mary did not like to refuse the little fellow any thing; +and as the child was hungry and more than ready for the meal, for it was +past his usual dinner hour, I am obliged to confess he ate greedily of +the good things set before him, one after another without moderation or +discernment, pudding following meat, and cheese after pudding, and fruit +after that, till quantity and diversity were so mingled together, that +it was a wonder the babe endured himself as well as he did. He was, +however, so satisfied and even cloyed, that towards the end of the time +he contented himself with a taste of this and that, and under the easy +rule of Miss Mary, the remnants of his desert were transferred to his +pockets, to serve to regale him at some future moment. I have said that +Marten could not have been aware of this foolish weakness of Mary +Roscoe, but Marten was not free of blame in the affair, for he had +started wrongly as regarded Reuben, and in his self conceit he had +placed himself in circumstances where the temptations that surrounded +him were more than his nature unaided could resist. Marten would not +listen to those who would have taught him that our blessed Saviour +verily took not on him the nature of angels, but he took on him the seed +of Abraham, wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto +his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in +things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the +people, for in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able +to succour those that are tempted. Heb. ii. 16, 17, 18. But we shall +soon see from Marten's story a verification of the words of St. Paul +addressed to the children of God. "Wherefore let him that thinketh he +standeth, take heed lest he fall. There hath no temptation taken you but +such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not suffer you +to be tempted above that ye are able; but will, with the temptation, +also make a way to escape that ye may be able to bear it." 1 Cor. x. 12, +13. + +And now,--to return to Reuben, he had ate and ate so much, that I am +almost ashamed even to think of it; and silly Mary Roscoe, who should +have put a bridle on his little mouth, never once thought of doing so, +and how should she, for she had never had one on her own? till the poor +child felt so uncomfortable that he was half ready to cry--for, added to +the over quantity he had contrived to swallow, he was very weary, for he +was but a young one, and he had been out in the air all the morning and +undergoing more active exercise than even he was accustomed to go +through, for he had moved about at the direction of others, and not by +his own voluntary will. So feeling uneasy, he was just about to raise a +cry, which I believe would have recalled Marten to a sense of his duty, +when the whole troop of children rose from table to amuse themselves as +best they liked till six o'clock, when tea was to be served in a large +room for them, and the evening was to be finished in games of whatever +description they chose, Mr. and Mrs. Jameson having promised to be +present. + +Marten just stopped to see Mary Roscoe lead off his brother, who +accompanied her very contentedly, and then I am obliged to own he +thought no more of the little fellow for such a length of time, that we +who take an interest in poor little Reuben must banish Marten from our +thoughts and follow the child, the poor little victim of his brother's +self conceit. The young ladies on leaving the dining room ascended the +stairs and went to the room with which Marten had so daringly put his +head in the morning, and here they divided into groups of two or three, +as chance might be, and a chattering began, the like of which could +never be heard again, unless under the like circumstances. It seems a +cruel thing to try to put down any of the nonsense, and perhaps worse +than nonsense, that was then and there talked; and I would not do so if +I did not hope it would prove a warning to some girls that persons do +listen to their conversation sometimes when they fancy no one hears, and +that those same persons do think them very silly and ignorant, and +occasionally wrong. And first, I will take a party of three girls, who +all went to the same school, and these three, I am sorry to say, were +talking of their governess and teachers in a way they ought never to +have done. It was not Mrs. Meredith and Miss Williams, and Miss Smith, +but it was "Meredith, that cross old thing," and "pretty little Smith," +and that "detestable Williams." And then one asked the other if she +remembered how funnily Fanny Adams had managed in the affair, of +laughing at the French Master, how six of them had been sent up to their +bedrooms in disgrace, and when that detestable Williams came in and +found them still laughing, how she scolded them all, and how Fanny Adams +put some Eau-de-Cologne to her eyes, which nearly blinded her, and made +her eyes water very much, and so deceived Miss Williams that she +pardoned her, though all the rest were left in disgrace. + +And here, because there was no better disposed person to speak to these +poor girls upon their light and improper discourse, I would just say one +word:--My dear school boys and school girls, our Saviour says, "Love thy +neighbour as thyself." Let me then ask you, do you in any way follow +this kind command when you so treat your teachers and governors? Think +you, for an instant, of the labour, the anxiety, the perpetual +self-denial, the patience required by an instructor of childhood, even +when the children do their best; but when deceit, hypocrisy, and +hardness of heart is also added to the giddiness and thoughtlessness of +youth, what must be the teacher's suffering? + +Remember that our Lord himself was subject to his parents. Luke ii. 57. +Though what could they, poor human creatures, have taught him? Then +follow, as a loving child should do, his holy example, and remember his +precept, of "love thy neighbour as thyself," and inquire of yourself how +would I like to be treated as I treat my governess or tutor? + +But perhaps you would wish to listen to another couple of girls, who +soon drew a larger party round them, and what folly were they about, +you would ask? Why, one child, who was very vain about her figure, must +needs get a piece of string, or tape, and begin to measure her +companion's wrist, thumb, neck, waist, and height, saying--"Twice round +the thumb, once round the wrist, twice round the wrist, once round the +neck, twice round the neck, once round the waist, and twice round the +waist, once the height." As Louisa Manners well knew of old that this +measurement suited herself, she was always disposed to try any young +girl by her rule, knowing well her own turn would come, and that she +would be able to appear with satisfaction to herself; and here again I +would say, was our Lord's precept followed, of love thy neighbour as +thyself? did Louisa desire a rival? This couple, as I said, soon drew a +party round them, and after the measurement, which lasted some time and +led to a discussion of dress, most of the frocks and sashes coming in +for notice, one of the three school girls, mentioned at first, named +some new step in dancing, just introduced at her school the last dancing +day, and then such a practising and trying of this step commenced +amongst the young ladies as made a pretty sight to look on, the young +ladies being all nicely dressed, and for the nonce thinking more of +their occupation than of themselves. + +In the meanwhile Reuben had been supplied with something that served the +purpose of a plaything by Mary Roscoe, and being seated in a corner of +the room away from harm or interference, the little fellow shortly +became so drowsy, that before long, notwithstanding the noise and +chattering about him, his head drooped on his bosom, and he was so sound +asleep that he was unconscious of his uncomfortable position. He had +slept full a quarter of an hour when he was discovered by one of the +elder girls, who proposed that they should lift him from his seat and +take him to a bed in an adjoining chamber, where he would be more +comfortable. And here I must again remark, for want of some one else to +do so, that of the twelve or fourteen girls there assembled, there was +not one present who would have been unkind to the little fellow +intentionally; but yet I am afraid, that with the exception of the +good-natured Mary Roscoe, there was hardly one who would have put +themselves out of the way on his account, or have given up a pleasure or +amusement of even five or ten minutes to comfort the boy, who ought in +truth never to have been amongst them, so little had he been accustomed +to the ways of other children, even of his own age. + +Reuben slept on, and that so soundly, that when tea was ready he was not +awake, and he would probably have been wholly forgotten if the young +ladies on their way down stairs had not made so much noise by the door +of his room, that startled and alarmed, he began to cry violently, and +his good friend Mary could not easily appease him. However, the child +was really refreshed from his sleep, and the kind girl having washed his +face and hands herself, and smoothed his pretty curling hair, led him +down with her to the room where the tea was served, and provided him +with all he wanted, and withal with such a large lump of sugar, the like +of which he had never perhaps, not even in his dreams, possessed before. +Whoever has read of Mrs. Indulgence in "The Infant's Progress" may have +some idea of Mary's management of Reuben, but if the little one could +have spoken or reasoned on the point, how heartily would he have said +that he pined for his own dear mamma's judicious kindness and controul, +under which he used to sport all day happy and joyful as a butterfly on +a bright summer's morning. + +After tea, which did not last very long, the tables were cleared away +and the plays began--the elder children, as might be expected, taking +the lead, and for awhile all was order and propriety. Fortunately for +the young ones they had no lights near them from which they could be in +danger, for the lamp hung from the ceiling and the fire was allowed to +go out in the grate. The tables, as I said before, were moved away, and +the seats were piled one above another so that a good space was left in +the room for the games, and only two chairs were kept for Mr. and Mrs. +Jameson, who had sent word to say they were coming down to see the +sport, and as they were very fond of a dance, they expressed a wish +that the evening's amusement should begin in that way. + +The boys were somewhat annoyed at this, as they wanted more active +games, and Frank Farleigh absolutely proposed to change the dance to +leap-frog; however, as Mrs. Jameson wished for dancing, no one was bold +enough openly to speak against it, and Miss Farleigh and Jane Roscoe, +who were intimate friends, played a duet together very nicely, to which +the rest danced. + +And now it was that Mary Roscoe first felt the annoyance she had +incurred by her kindness to Reuben, for the child did not wish to leave +her, and seeing all were dancing, or jumping to the music as he thought, +he believed he could do the same, and clinging to her she found that to +appease him she must take him for her partner, and thus this really +good-natured girl was unable to dance with any pleasure to herself, as +the little one was unable to make his way alone. However, Mary was +truly kind-hearted, and not one cloud was on her fair brow when the +dance was finished, and she told her little partner to sit down amidst +the piled up chairs at one end of the room. But as nurse had said Reuben +was a weary little fellow, and Mary little knew the truth, if she +thought she was so easily to get rid of him, for the child was half +alarmed at the numbers of strange faces thronging around him; he was not +well, too, with the many sweet things and fruits he had eaten, and now +it was approaching his usual bed-time, and though he had had a sleep, +yet he had been roused from it suddenly and improperly, fed with sweet +cake since, and any experienced person present might know that shortly +the child would get so excited in the scene before him, it would be no +easy matter to soothe or calm him. + +Now it happened that Marten, feeling exceedingly obliged to Mary for +her kindness to his brother, and equally disliking her sister, and Miss +Farleigh and some of the other young ladies, was very anxious to dance +with Mary, to thank her for her kindness to Reuben, but he little +thought that by doing so, the child finding both his friends together +must insist upon being with them, and the second set of quadrilles was +danced by poor Mary as the first had been, the little fellow clinging to +her, for both Marten and Mary were afraid of a burst of tears if they +opposed the child in this matter. Marten, however, spoke somewhat +sharply to him, saying he was teasing Miss Mary, and if they allowed him +to dance this time, he must promise to sit still afterwards, and not be +troublesome again. Reuben knew that he must obey his brother, so when +that dance was finished he went and sat himself down, as directed, +though his young heart was very sad, as he longed to be jumping about +with the other children. Mary was now able to enjoy herself, and I do +not hesitate to say she was very glad to get rid of Reuben and be at +liberty to run about where she would, for she was a happy girl, and this +evening she was the happiest of the happy, for she was a favourite of +all. + +After the dancing had continued some time, a game was fixed upon, which +game being one that kept the children seated, they soon got tired of it, +and blindman's buff was proposed and entered into with great spirit, +though, as will presently be seen, this spirit, for want of some less +indulgent to controul it, became at last almost unbearable. + +It was whilst Edward Jameson was blindfolded that the first rudeness +began, for Miss Jane seized hold of a newspaper and began rustling it +so about Edward's head, that being blindfolded he became so annoyed by +it, that he began to toss his arms about, making such rushes hither and +thither, that the girls had to run away, lest they should be struck. +Whilst Jane was teasing Edward, one of the boys seized hold of the +handkerchief that blindfolded him, and another boy made a thrust at him +in front, and it was only a wonder that Mr. and Mrs. Jameson, who were +sitting by, did not speak to the children, to advise a little more +quietness in the play. But there were a party of young girls whispering +together behind Jane, and when Edward turned in her direction, though +she escaped, he fell amongst these girls, and, as might be expected, +such a romping scene ensued, as may often be seen at blindman's buff. +Just at this moment a servant came in to say a gentleman had called on +some business, and both Mr. and Mrs. Jameson left the room together, to +see this gentleman. They were scarcely gone before the noise increased +to such an extent, that one or two of the servants came to the parlour +door; and well was it, as we shall shew presently, that they did so, but +Mr. and Mrs. Jameson being gone to another part of the house, were not +disturbed by the sounds. So, as I said, Edward found himself amongst the +group of young girls, who all struggled to get away from him; and then +such a scene of running and screaming, and shouting and romping +followed, as the like of which I have no desire to see. Every one ran, +and no one knew whither they were going, and it so chanced that some ran +in the direction of where Reuben had been seated by Marten, amidst the +piled-up chairs. The child, who had been sitting there sometime, and who +did not understand the game, for he had never seen it before, was +doubtful whether to be frightened or not; but as Edward, whom he knew so +well, and who was always kind to him, was the pursuer, and as the +children were laughing, he thought he might laugh too, and not liking +sitting still when all were running and jumping round him, he slid down +from his high seat and joined the group that had fled to that end of the +room from Edward. As ill luck would have it, Edward turned in that +direction somewhat suddenly, and there was a loud cry of one and all to +run, and instantly all did run, Reuben too obeying the call, and setting +off as fast as his little legs would let him. + +As might have been expected, the elder children escaped, and Edward +caught the boy, whom he instantly named, and tearing off the +handkerchief from his eyes, he was going to tie it round those of +Reuben, when Marten interposed, and said "he would not understand the +game." Edward was, however, tired of being blinded and of being +buffetted about, and not thinking how very young Reuben was, for he knew +very little about children, as he had no little brothers nor sisters of +his own, he only said he had caught the child, and that it was but fair +he should be blinded, as he was caught and had absolutely prevented him +from catching one of the others when they were close to him. As Reuben +himself thought it was manly to be blinded, and believed all he had to +do was to run about with the handkerchief round his head, he was very +anxious to do as Edward had done, and Mary, to whom he pleaded for +permission so to do, blinded him herself, and as she tied the +handkerchief round him she said, "Now, young gentlemen, don't hurt the +little fellow, pray be gentle with him, for he's very young." + +Mary then took his hand, and leading him into the centre of the room +she slightly directed him where to go. It must be understood that Reuben +knew no one in the room but Marten, Edward, and Mary, and as he did not +know the rules of the game, the elder boys and girls, soon wearied of +the little fellow running hither and thither, for they did not wish to +hurt the child, and so they ceased for awhile their boisterous play; +but, as might be expected, this would not last long, and Marten stepping +forwards on the little one laying hold of some boy near him, said, "My +brother does not know any one here by name, is it not enough that he has +caught some one? He does not know, I am sure, who his hand is upon, even +if he were unblinded." + +"Oh! it is a boy," replied Reuben. "Me know it is a boy, and a large +boy. Yes, it is a large boy." + +"That is enough, is it not?" asked Marten, looking round, "surely +that's enough;" and he unbound Reuben, telling; the child he had done +very well. + +No one seemed inclined to dispute the point, for all saw the child was +too young to play with them; and William Stewart, the boy caught, and +who was desirous of being blindfolded, was quite pleased to have the +handkerchief tied round his head, and now the play became more +boisterous than ever, owing to the cessation before, and probably all +would have gone on well if little Reuben, elated by his brother's +telling him he had done very well, had not chosen to join in the play, +saying over and over again to any one who would listen to him, "Me knew +it was a boy--a large boy--me knew it was a boy--me said a large +boy--yes, me felt his coat--me knew it was a large boy." This too might +have passed, and the child might have repeated his story over and over +again without much harm if he could have got a listener, or he even +might have been content without one, if he had not fancied he understood +the game as well as the oldest present, so he entered into it with all +his little spirit, and intruded his small person where others could not +go--now here, now there, till excited and heated and confused by those +around him flying in all directions, he was thrown down, and as he did +not fall alone, the poor little fellow was rather severely hurt. And now +in that one moment of downfall was assembled all the troubles of the +day,--weary, excited, hurt, and overfed, he began to cry, and that so +violently, that those who lifted him up trusted to his being not really +injured by the very noise he made in his distress. Marten and Mary ran +to him, but they were as strangers to him, for his eyes were dimmed by +tears, and his ears closed by his own wailings; and luckily for all +three one of the servants, for, as I said before, they had come to see +the young people at play, and who was a motherly kind of woman, advanced +into the room and offered to take the charge of the child and comfort +him before she put him to bed. Marten was most thankful for this offer, +and you may be sure Mary was not sorry to part with the sobbing boy, and +thus Marten put it out of his own power to keep his voluntary boast to +Nurse at home about sleeping with his brother, for when the riotous +evening closed, for it was a very riotous evening, Reuben had been +asleep some hours, and in a quarter of the house appropriated to the use +of the young ladies where beds were as plentiful as requisite on an +occasion like the present. Marten then had nothing for it but to beg +Mary to see after his brother, which the young lady as thoughtlessly +promised to do, and then he accompanied his young companions to that +department of the house appropriated to the use of the boys, where, as +might be expected after a little more rude sport, he fell into a sleep +so profound and long, that every thought of Reuben was banished from his +mind. And now, to return to the poor baby, the victim of mismanagement, +or of his brother's self-conceit. Sobbing and roaring he was carried or +dragged up stairs, undressed, and put to bed, where the extreme violence +of his grief proved its own relief, for he fell asleep with the tear in +his eye, and long long after the cause of sorrow was forgotten, his sobs +might be heard proclaiming that the effect even now had not passed away. +By and bye, however, the calm of sleep restored him more to himself +again, and before the motherly woman who had taken pity on him left the +chamber, he was sleeping the refreshing sleep of childhood. + +As the young people had gone to bed so late the evening before, for it +was quite twelve o'clock, and the next day was also to be a day of +indulgence, it was nearly half-past eight before Marten awoke, and what +with one thing and another it was quite nine before he had an +opportunity of asking any one after Reuben, or indeed of discovering +that no one knew anything of the little one farther than that he had +awoke at his usual hour, seven o'clock; that the kind woman who had +attended him the night before had helped to wash and dress him, and +having told him to be quiet, lest he should awake the children asleep in +his bed room, she left him as she thought safe in the young ladies' +sitting room, to amuse himself as best he might. Two hours nearly had +passed since then, and no further information could be obtained of the +little boy; but he was gone, that was certain for he was nowhere to be +found in any part of Mr. Jameson's large house. It so happened that +breakfast had commenced, and Marten and some of the bigger boys had +nearly finished the meal before all the young ladies came down, and as +Mary Roscoe chanced to be late, for this good natured girl had been +helping others as usual, Marten did not discover the absence of his +brother till she entered the room and seated herself at the table. Then +he stepped round to her and asked if Reuben would soon be down. "Oh! +dear little fellow," exclaimed Mary, starting up, "He did not sleep in +my room, so I know nothing about him; but now I will run to find him to +bring him to breakfast. I dare say he has overslept himself, or I should +have heard of him before now." + +"If you are speaking of the little boy who cried so bitterly at +blindman's buff, Mary," said a Miss Lomax, "he was put to sleep in a +little bed by himself in our room. Maria and myself noticed how soundly +he slept through all the noise we made when we went to our rooms, but +when we got up this morning the little fellow was gone, and we wondered +who had drest him and taken him away so quietly as not to disturb us." + +"Oh! then I'll find him in a minute," said Mary, "if he has been drest +so long he must be sadly in want of his breakfast, poor little darling," +and Mary was half way up stairs before she had finished her speech. + +And now how shall I describe what a fearful state the whole house was in +before ten minutes more had passed away: the child was lost, the fearful +question of where and how he might be found was on everybody's lips. +Poor Marten, it was dreadful to see his terror and grief, and Mary, oh! +how negligent Mary felt herself, for had she not assisted greatly to his +loss by taking him from his brother, and had she not promised that +brother the evening before to see him in his bed and look after him, +which she had forgotten to do. Jenkins, too, the motherly female who had +so kindly attended the little one the night before, how did she blame +herself for not taking the child with her after she had dressed him, +when she was obliged to go to her work, which was much increased that +morning by the state in which the young people had left the room, the +scene of the last night's revels. + +And here I would make a remark, which I must beg no one to reject, +without well weighing the idea. The most amiable females of the party +assembled at Mrs. Jameson's, Mary Roscoe and Jenkins, who had put +themselves most out of their way, and had really acted the kindest by +the child, were those who felt the most in the affair, and most blamed +themselves for their own conduct, whereas if all had tried their best, +as they did, the little fellow would have ever had some kind heart +beside him to soothe and comfort him, and some one might have +anticipated his uneasiness at finding himself alone amongst strangers. +Anyhow they would not have been as strangers to him, for he afterwards +acknowledged, on being questioned, that had Miss Mary been sleeping in +the room, he should not have done as he did. But now to my remark, those +who strive to do best have the most tender consciences, and the more one +strives after right the more scrupulous and tender does the conscience +become, and the more does it aspire after noble feelings and honourable +thoughts and actions. This is a work of the Divine Spirit and of no +mortal power, and it is a training for glory, purifying our hearts for a +divine home, obtained for us through our Saviour's death and +righteousness, and in familiar language we will liken it after this +manner. Supposing two children stand side by side in the open street, +one is the child of a king, nicely drest and delicately clean, as would +be expected from his noble birth and expectation, the other is the +little hedge-side vagrant, to whose young face water or cleansing has +probably been unknown. Imagine, then, ought passing these two children, +which could pollute their persons, what would be their feelings? the one +might even laugh at the filth or mud that bespattered him, the other +would shrink with loathing or disgust, and would not be easy or +comfortable till every effort was taken to remove the stain. And we are +children of the King of kings, we are washed and clothed by Him, and +the more our garments are fitted for our future station, the fairer are +our inward persons; the more do we feel annoyed and grieved by any foul +spot, which could sully their purity and disfigure their beauty. My +young readers remember this, and smile no more at sin; aye, and shun +carefully its stains that would pollute you, and when they do alight +upon you, remember whose blood alone it is can purge away their +slightest trace. + +Poor Mary had no breakfast that morning, nor no comfort nor rest either, +for after searching for the child all over the house, she must needs +look for him in the gardens, the pleasure grounds, the lawn, behind each +tree and shrub, and even in the stables and offices, but no Reuben was +to be met with, and the dear little girl, when wearied out with +searching sat down to weep and lament herself, starting up occasionally +when some fresh place came to her mind, and running to it, but to meet +with disappointment and increased alarm. But Mary was not alone in the +search, for both Mr. and Mrs. Jameson were full of anxiety respecting +the child, and trusty men were sent in all directions to look after the +lost one; and when Mr. Jameson spoke to his lady on the imprudence of +having invited so young a child, she replied, that having given +permission to their son to ask a certain number of young people, she had +not attended to him when he named the bidden guests, taking it for +granted that a boy of thirteen would prefer companions of his own size +to a child of Reuben's tender age. And now it came out from Edward how +Marten had refused to come without his brother, and that Mr. and Mrs. +Mortimer were from home, and this, as might be expected, added not a +little to the distress of Mr. and Mrs. Jameson, for hitherto they had +thought the child had visited them with the permission of his parents, +and now that they heard that those parents were at Portsmouth, they were +more and more uneasy, and they blamed themselves not a little for having +been so indulgent in their direction to Edward. "But, indeed," said Mrs. +Jameson, "one could not have foreseen these circumstances, and when I +saw little Reuben seated by Mary at the dinner table, though I wondered +at his presence, yet he seemed so happy I believed all was right with +him." But the lesson was not lost upon Mr. and Mrs. Jameson, nor on +Edward, and I am happy to say, in future the latter was more ready to +ask advice of his parents than before this affair, for he too was very +uneasy about Reuben. As to Marten, without thinking of his hat, on +learning that the child could not be found in the house nor in the +pleasure grounds, he told one of the men who was sent with him by Mr. +Jameson, that he should go home as fast as he could to see if his +brother might not have made his way there, or at least be met with upon +the road. The distance from one house to the other was, as I said +before, four miles, and though poor Marten had little expectation that +the tender child could find his way so far, even if he knew the right +road, yet he understood the little one so well, that he felt convinced +he would at least attempt to get to his home, so that he considered it +useless to look for him in any other direction. And now we must leave +the unhappy and alarmed brother to speak of little Reuben, who was left, +as we mentioned, by Jenkins in the sitting-room with a few toys near +him. Never had Reuben been so left to himself before, but still for a +short time, though it was for a very short time he was content, then +came a wish for his breakfast, and with it the remembrance that if his +mamma had been with him he would even then be in her dressing-room. She +would be listening to his prattle, or he would be occupied in doing +something for her which he considered was useful, but which in reality +she could herself have done with half the time that she was obliged to +give to her baby boy. The thoughts of his mamma made the forlorn one +cry, and call upon her name, but no one heard his sobs or saw his tears, +and with it came a recollection of the sorrows of yesterday, and he +suddenly thought "Where is Marten? Where can Marten be? Is he gone? Has +he left Reuben?" The idea was not to be borne by the poor child in a +state of quietness, he rose from his seat, dropped his toys from his +lap, and without looking back he went to the door, which being ajar he +opened wider and passed through into the gallery. His friends, he +believed, had left him; they were at home. His mamma, too, he thought, +might be there with his papa and Marten, and, anyhow, he was sure Nurse +was there, Nurse who loved him so, and whom he loved so dearly. So down +the stairs stepped the sorrowing baby, holding the banisters with both +small hands, for it was necessary for him in descending the steps to +have both feet at one time on each, and noiselessly almost did he +proceed, for his fairy tread made no sound, and his sobs were tried to +be suppressed, in the earnest determination to attempt to find his way +to his home. And now he reached the last step, and lightly did he run +across the hall to the great door, which was open, and with some +difficulty, for there were more steps; he arrived at the carriage drive +between the house and lawn, whereon he had seen the lamb the day +before. + +And now would I could picture the little one, as he stood in his short +red frock, blown by the breeze which showed his dimpled knee, for his +white sock did not extend much above his shoe. His arms, neck, and head +were without covering, and his pretty curls played around his face in +graceful confusion. Calling on his mamma and upon Marten, he took the +carriage drive towards the gates, so far not having a doubt he was in +the direction of his home, and unseen by any one, he passed through a +small gate into the high road. Here he might have been puzzled which way +to take, if it had not been for a clump of eight elm trees on the left +hand road, and he had often heard John and Marten talk of those elm +trees, for they were called the "Nine Elms," and yet Marten had said +there were only eight now, and whenever he had gone to Mr. Jameson's +with his papa and mamma, and John who drove them, John had kept the +carriage waiting under the elms, and he used to put Reuben out of the +carriage amidst the trees, to run in and out amongst them, touching one +after the other, whilst John taught him to count them, saying one, two, +three, four, and so on. So Reuben knew he must pass the elm trees, and +as he was just awake, and the morning fresh and pleasant, his small feet +carried him along some way nicely, and even swiftly, and for a few +minutes, they were not many, all seemed promising, and the inexperienced +one believed he should soon be at his home. After the clump of trees, +the baby so confidently considered he was in the right way, that when he +came to a place where two roads joined the one up which he had ran, he +never looked about him, fancying they must both go to his home, and not +yet being weary, he took, as might be feared, the wrong turn, and soon +he heard distinctly the roaring of a cascade, much famed in those parts, +as it dashed over the rocks in the direction in which he was going Now +Reuben knew the sound of the cascade, for he had lived near it all his +young life, and he knew it was not far from his home; but he did not +consider that he never passed it on his way from his father's house to +Mr. Jameson's, but still, not mistrusting the road he was going, he ran +along till he suddenly found by a turn of the lane, that he was in full +front of the stream. The child however was not disconcerted by this, and +the fresh air meeting him, and for the moment raising his spirits, he +stepped on over the loose stones brought down at different times by the +waters, boldly, and even gaily, though his course was impeded by the +unevenness of the way. He must have stepped on some distance, when all +of a sudden he was unable to proceed farther along the path, by the +jutting out of a rock into the stream, for the water was pouring down +rapidly and more profusely than was general, for there had been heavy +rains in the mountains, and thus the bed of the torrent was fully +covered, its width being very inconsiderable beneath the rock. The spot +was one wholly unknown to the child, and surely it was a terrible sight +to meet the eye of a babe, who hitherto had not known what it was to be +left without a mother's or nurse's care. The place was in the heart of a +mountain gorge, famed for its rare beauty, and the cascade came dashing +from the rocks, which were very bold and picturesque in the little creek +or gully where the child stood. The water, as I said, was pouring down +white with foam, and majestically pursuing its course, shaking the +earth around with its terrible roarings. + +Fancy our little forlorn one then standing under the shelter of the +rock, which, hanging over him in rough masses, threatened to fall an +crush his baby form, the stream rushing impetuously at his feet, and one +little place beneath the rock, in fact part of the rock itself being +somewhat elevated from the bed of the stream below, forming his only +secure and dry resting place. I have said before, he had no covering on +fit for walking attire, his arms, neck, and head being fully exposed to +the breezes which now blew cruelly on his young figure, so that he could +scarcely keep his feet, and glad was he to creep under the shelter of +the threatening rock. There he stood looking around him in wild despair, +for he had raised his voice to cry for pity, and its infant tones were +not heard amidst the roaring waters; again and again he looked round +him, but no help was there, and he trembled more from fear than cold. He +was frightened at the roaring waters, for they seemed to him to be +approaching, and wholly overcome with fear and wretchedness, and quite +incapable of contending against his unhappy situation, he crouched +beneath the threatening rock, too miserable to shed a tear. "Mamma, +mamma," he said,--"Mamma, mamma," and that weak cry was repeated again +and again, though no human ear could hear his sorrows or soothe his +cries. Poor baby, what availed it then? your earthly father was the +tenderest of parents--he could not have foreseen this trouble, and +therefore he could not have been armed against it, but your heavenly +Father's eye was on you, little one, and his eyes are ever on infants, +the loveliest beings of his creation, and he who spared Nineveh, +because there were in that wicked city more than six score thousand +souls, who knew not their right hands from their left, still watches +over his babies now, for has he not said of "Such is the kingdom of +heaven." + +But observe the little one, what makes his cry of 'Mamma, Mamma,' cease? +the babe has heard a sound, a pleasant sound, and he forgets his +trouble. It is the sweet song of a bird upon a branch of a tree on the +rock above him, and the bird likes the morning air and the sound of the +waters, and he is singing his song of joy, and Reuben listened to him +and was pleased, and then the little bird hopped down from his high +perch and came lower and lower till he was quite close to the child, so +close that the little one held out his hand, which frightened away the +pretty bird, and Reuben was once more alone again, and commenced his cry +of "Mamma, Mamma, come to Reuben, Mamma." But the bird had come to the +rock because it had seen some bright berries on the bushes there, and +before it had began its song it had pecked off one or two with its bill, +or perhaps it might have been that other birds had pecked them off, and +then rejected them, or the wind might have blown them from the parent +bush; be that as it may, there were about as many as a dozen red berries +scattered on the ground, where the little bird had hopped, and Reuben +had seen them in looking at the bird, and now he began to collect them, +looking here and there to find some more, and he thought if he put them +into a nice heap together, their bright red colour would draw thither +another singing bird to visit him. So he collected his berries, and +tried to pile them together, and thus more time passed, for whilst doing +so, every little thing seemed to divert his attention--a skeleton leaf, +a small flower, a smooth pebble, a drop of water sparkling in the +sunshine, all attracted his infant eye, and thus, as we might say, his +heavenly Father watched over the boy and soothed him from the real +sorrows of his situation, till the time of his deliverance was at hand. +And are we not children of a large growth? are not our sorrows soothed +and relieved by our Creator's mercies? and are not innocent pleasures +and consolations put in the way of every child of God? and it is our own +fault, yes, our own fault, and very much are we to blame when we reject +the blessings of consolations offered us. "When our Saviour left us, he +promised to send us a comforter to abide with us for ever." John xiv. +16; and as the Divine Spirit never fails in his fulfilment of his +promises, be assured, you mourners, if you are not comforted, it is +because you will not accept the consolation offered to you; for he has +said, "I will not leave you comfortless, for he shall dwell with you, +and shall be in you." John xiv. 17 and 18. + +But why does little Reuben suddenly move his curls from off his cheek? +why does he listen, as he never listened before? and why does a merry +little laugh escape his lips? and then he listens again, and now he does +not laugh, but springing to his feet, with arms extended, he calls out +"Nero, Nero." It is not that Nero hears that baby voice, it is not that +the noble dog responds to the call, for the soft sound is lost amidst +the roar of the waters; but he who fed Elijah by the means of ravens, +and taught the dove to bear the olive leaf to Noah, has guided hither to +the child a sure and safe conductor to his home. Look, look there! +across the stream stands Nero. Nero let out by Thomas for a wild run for +exercise as directed first by Mr. Mortimer, and then by Marten; there +he stood, his eyes red with eagerness, his tongue protruding, and +panting and impatient as not knowing where next to turn his agile +bounds. But not for another moment did this hesitation continue, for +Reuben ran to the edge of the rock, both arms extended, and scarcely +able for the breeze to keep his little feet firm upon the ground. "Nero, +Nero," he cried, and almost ere his lips had closed, after the appeal, +the noble dog, with a glorious bound sprang from stepping-stone to +stepping-stone across the stream, and had overwhelmed the boy with his +caresses. What mattered it to Reuben, that his kind friend in his joy at +their meeting had absolutely overturned the child upon the ground? What +cared he for that? It was Nero, his own Nero, his Nero from home, and +Reuben did so love him, and Nero returned his love so warmly, and +they were always so happy together, and there was no danger to be feared +for Reuben, whilst the faithful animal was by him, which he had power to +ward off. Reuben had recognised the dog's bark even amidst the waters +roar, and that had made him laugh, for he never doubted that Nero would +come to him shortly. And now I don't know how to tell how the rest +happened, for in truth Reuben never could explain how things went on, +particularly after the arrival of Nero, and there was no other living +thing in that solitude but the child and dog. All that Reuben could +recollect afterwards was, that he was cold and hungry, and that he +wished to get home, and that Nero, too, seemed even more anxious than +himself to get home, but Reuben dared not cross the stream, and Nero +seemed almost as unwilling as himself to take the child across, and yet +the faithful creature would not leave the boy for more able assistance. +Reuben was frightened at the threatening rock above his head, and yet he +knew not how to leave it, for he had run on far enough to lose the way +to the lane which led to Mr. Jameson's, and he was frightened at all +around, and shivering and hungry, for he had tasted no food that +morning. + +[Illustration] + +At last, finding all his efforts useless to tempt the little one across +the stream, a new idea seemed to strike the sensible dog, for Nero was +very sensible. He seemed all of a sudden to bethink himself that there +might be another road home; and taking hold of Reuben's dress in his +mouth, he attempted to draw him along the road the child had come. Now +to this the little one was rather inclined, for he believed it would +take him home, but on attempting to walk he found that he had hurt his +foot before he had reached the rock, and that the cold air had made it +stiff and painful. Poor Reuben was going to cry, and then I do not know +what would have happened if Nero, finding out that something was wrong, +had not seated himself beside the child on the ground to comfort him; +and in so doing, reminded Reuben that Marten always told Nero to sit on +the ground before he told his brother to get on the dog's back for a +ride, for Reuben often took a ride on Nero's back. And now, then, fancy +the child seated upon Nero, who rose at once gently from the ground, and +with great care and stateliness commenced his progress homewards. It is +said that a white elephant will not allow any one to ride upon him who +is not of royal descent, and then the king of beasts steps on with full +consciousness of the honour of his kingly burthen; but what could his +pride be, compared with that of Nero's, as the faithful creature +stepped on and on with his infant rider? It was not, after all, so slow +a progress as might have been imagined, and as it is believed the dog +followed the scent of the child's footsteps, he naturally went up the +lane the little one had trod that morning. On arriving where the road +divided, Nero was, however, no longer at a loss, for he knew which +direction his own home lay, and Nero was not likely to be tempted +elsewhere than home, for if he could have reasoned he would have said, +in as strong terms as nurse herself could have used, that Reuben had +better be at home than anywhere else whilst he was so young. Nero, as I +said, now knew the road, for he had often accompanied the different +members of Mr. Mortimer's family when they went to visit Mr. Jameson's, +and how carefully, on account of his young rider, did he step on his way +towards home. + +And now I could say a great deal upon the fidelity of Nero, the +trustfulness of Reuben, and the useful lesson the little one was +learning; but I am anxious to speak of Marten and nurse, and all those +who loved the child and trembled for his loss. And yet I cannot talk of +their distress, the deep deep remorse of Marten, his full and complete +acknowledgment of his own carelessness and ignorance of himself, so that +nurse could not even say one word to him, though her tears and sobs were +a deep reproach. No, I cannot speak of this, I would rather tell of how +in the midst of all this trouble, tears were changed to smiles, and even +laughter took the place of sobs, when Reuben came riding into the court +yard tired, cold, and hungry, it is true, but no little important at his +wonderful adventure. And then came such kisses and caresses, such +warming by the kitchen fire, such a comfortable breakfast for the +child, such luxuries for the dog, which Reuben was allowed to bestow; +and then such runnings hither and thither to inform all the kind +searchers all was right with the child, and such congratulations, that I +should never have done, if I attempt but to repeat one half of them; so +let me conclude in these words of the apostle, "Let no man say when he +is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, +neither tempteth he any man. But every man is tempted when he is drawn +away of his own lust and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it +bringeth forth sin; and sin when it is finished, bringeth forth death." +James i. 13, 14, 15. But our Saviour has declared, "I will ransom them +from the power of the grave. I will redeem them from death. Oh! death, I +will be thy plague: Oh! grave, I will be thy destruction." Hosea xiii. +14. + +By this little narrative we are taught that whoever fills himself up +with the belief that he is wise and clever, will be apt, like Marten, to +fall into some sort of trouble, which he did not look forward to. All +the wisdom of man lies in knowing that unless he is guided in all his +actions by his heavenly Father, he is sure to go wrong, let his age or +condition be what it may. If little Reuben had been really lost or hurt, +very severe indeed would have been the punishment of Marten for his +conceit, but God in his tender love let him off for his fright only; +which, however, we doubt not, was sharp enough to make him remember the +lesson all his life. + +It is well for poor sinful men, women, and children, however, that they +have a brother, even the Lord the Saviour in his human person, who +cannot forget them as Marten forgot Reuben, no, not for one moment. + + + + +POPULAR JUVENILE BOOKS, + +Of established reputation, which may be safely placed into the hands of +Children, blending Amusement with Instruction. + +DARTON'S HOLIDAY LIBRARY. + +_A Series of Shilling Volumes for the Young_, + +BY APPROVED AUTHORS. + +No. 1.--MARY LEESON, by Mary Howitt. Illustrated by J. Absolon. + +No. 2.--TAKE CARE OF NO. 1, or Good to Me includes Good to Thee, by S.E. +Goodrich, Esq. (the Original Peter Parley). Illustrated by Gilbert. + +No. 3.--HOW TO SPEND A WEEK HAPPILY, by Mrs. Burbury. With +Illustrations. + +No. 4.--POEMS FOR YOUNG CHILDREN, by "Adelaide," one of the amiable +Authoresses of "Original Poems." With Illustrations. + +No. 5.--THE YOUNG LORD, by Camilla Toulmin; and VICTORINE DUROCHER, by +Mrs. Sherwood. With Illustrations. + +No. 6.--PAULINE. A Tale from the German. With Illustrations. + +No. 7.--HOUSEHOLD STORIES. With Illustrations. + +Nos. 8 and 9.--IN-DOOR AND OUT-DOOR SPORTS. + +No. 10.--STORIES OF ENTERPRISE AND ADVENTURE; or, EXCITEMENT TO READING. +Illustrated with Wood Engravings, from designs by Absolon. + +No. 11.--The BOOK OF RIDDLES, ETC. + +CRITICAL REMARKS. + +"The Volumes of DARTON'S HOLIDAY LIBRARY which have reached us, comprise +a most interesting Series of Books for Young People, written by some of +our most Popular Authors, and all having a tendency towards the +formation of correct principles and habits in the minds of the Young. +They blend amusement with instruction in the most delightful manner. We +cordially recommend them as by far the best books of their class." + + + + +Neatly bound in cloth, + +FIRST LINES OF BOTANY, + +BY W. BERNHARD TEGETMEIER. + +"This little work is a complete compendium of botanical science, written +in a very clear and effective manner, and embodying the most popular +classification of plants. It is a work that may be consulted by the old +as well as the young with great advantage, and to those who are fond of +gardening it will be of great practical use." + +SPECIMEN FROM PAGE 57. THE CONVOLVULUS TRIBE. + +"181. The common bind-weed of our hedges may be taken as the +representative of this very natural tribe of plants, distinguished by +their _twining habit_, and by the peculiar _plaited manner_ in which the +corolla is folded in the bud." + +"182. The calyx consists of five sepals, two of which are outside the +remainder; there are five stamens, and a superior pistil, containing +three or four cells, with about two seeds in each." + +QUESTIONS APPENDED AT THE FOOT. + +"181. What are the marks distinguishing the convolvulus tribe?" + +"182. Describe the remaining parts of the flower?" + +JUST PUBLISHED, PRICE NINEPENCE EACH,--THE + +CATECHISM OF MODERN HISTORY; + +Also, New Editions of the following Catechisms, + +BY THE REV. T. WILSON: + +Catechism of the History of England. Catechism of Bible History. +Catechism of English Grammar. Catechism of Astronomy. Catechism of +Geography. Catechism of Music. First Catechism of Common Things. + +Second Catechism of Common Things. Third Catechism of Common Things. +First Catechism of Natural Philosophy. Second Catechism of Natural +Philosophy. Third Catechism of Natural Philosophy. Catechism of Botany. +Two Parts. Catechism of Biography. Two Parts. + +"The Catechisms of the Rev. T. Wilson stand foremost in the rank of this +mode of teaching, and the series fills a hiatus in this department of +literature. They embody a vast amount of information in every branch of +science, and are well worthy the attention of Schoolmasters, Pupil +Teachers, and Governesses." + + + + +THE CHILD'S BOOK OF FACTS, + +Comprising the First, Second, and Third Catechisms of Common Things. + +BY THE REV. T. WILSON. + +"This work may he regarded as a sequel to the 'Mother's Question Book,' +which the author has, in his style and method, followed as a model. It +presents an immense quantity of interesting facts to the young mind, and +affords information of the most useful kind rendered clear and +simple."--_Journal of Education_. + +SPECIMEN OF THE QUESTIONS. + +"What is meant by the terms art and science?" "What are the principal of +the arts?" "How are they distinguished?" + +Neatly and strongly bound in cloth, + +LESSONS ON NATURAL PHILOSOPHY, FOR CHILDREN, + +BY THE REV. T. WILSON. + +"These Lessons consist of initiatory information upon the Phenomena of +Nature, the Mechanical Powers, Astronomy, Geography, Light and Heat, +Electricity, Attraction, Chemistry, Magnetism, and include a great +variety of valuable matter, condensed and simplified in a very clever +manner by the author."--_Monthly Magazine_. + +SPECIMEN OF THE ABOVE. + +"When you open a door, what is the weight that you move?" + +"When you throw a ball, what becomes of it?" + +"What makes the weight go down to the bottom of a clock?" + +GUTTA PERCHA, & ITS USES TO MAN. + +WITH COLOURED PLATES. + +Foolscap 4to. and Wrapper printed in Gold, price 1s. + + + + +JUVENILE AND EDUCATIONAL. + +Strongly bound in cloth, in 18mo., + +THE MOTHER'S QUESTION BOOK; + +OR, + +CHILD'S FIRST GUIDE TO KNOWLEDGE, + +COMPRISING THE FIRST, SECOND, AND THIRD MOTHER'S CATECHISMS, + +BY THE REV. DAVID BLAIR. + +"The name of Dr. Blair is identified with elementary knowledge; and +these, the genuine productions of his pen, are well worthy the attention +of the parent and teacher."--_Educational Magazine_. + +SPECIMEN OF THE ABOVE FROM PAGE 52.--"Q. What are the objects of all +manufactures?" + +"A. To make the necessaries and conveniences of life; as clothing, +tools, and furniture." + +"Q. Of what is clothing made?" + +"A. Clothing is made of wool, flax, cotton, silk, or leather; and there +are great manufactures of each of these." + +"Q. Of what are tools made?" + +"A. Of wood, iron, steel, and brass." + +"Q. Of what is furniture made?" + +"A. Of oak and deal, with brass ornaments, with beds of cotton or linen, +and hair mattresses or feather beds." + +THE EARLY EDUCATOR, + +OR, + +FIRST LESSONS IN USEFUL KNOWLEDGE: + +BY WM. MARTIN. + +"Mr. Martin has been long and deservedly celebrated as being one of the +first improvers of the systems of modern education, and his numerous +publications prove him to be not merely a theorist, but a thorough +practical teacher; a great advantage to those who prepare books for the +young."--_Morning Herald._ + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Brotherly Love, by Mrs. Sherwood + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 11213 *** diff --git a/11213-h.zip b/11213-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..b7b4b34 --- /dev/null +++ b/11213-h.zip diff --git a/11213-h/11213-h.htm b/11213-h/11213-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..e97afd9 --- /dev/null +++ b/11213-h/11213-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,2671 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"> + +<html> +<head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" + content="text/html; charset=us-ascii"> + <meta name="GENERATOR" + content="Mozilla/4.04 [en] (Win95; U) [Netscape]"> + + <title>The Project Gutenberg eBook of Brotherly Love;, by Mrs. + Sherwood.</title> + <style type="text/css"> + <!-- + * { font-family: Times;} + P { text-indent: 1em; + margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; } + H1,H2,H3,H4,H5,H6 { text-align: center; } + HR { width: 33%; + margin-top: 1em; + margin-bottom: 1em;} + BODY{margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%;} + .linenum {position: absolute; top: auto; left: 4%;} /* poetry number */ + .note {margin-left: 2em; margin-right: 2em; margin-bottom: 1em;} /* block indent */ + .pagenum {position: absolute; left: 92%; right: 100%; font-size: 8pt; justify: right;} /* page numbers */ + // --> + </style> +</head> + +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Brotherly Love, by Mrs. Sherwood + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Brotherly Love + Shewing That As Merely Human It May Not Always Be Depended Upon + +Author: Mrs. Sherwood + +Release Date: February 21, 2004 [EBook #11213] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: US-ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BROTHERLY LOVE *** + + + + +Produced by Loriba Barber and PG Distributed Proofreaders + + + + + +</pre> + + + + <h1>Brotherly Love;</h1> + + <center> + <img src="image002.jpg" + alt="Page 2 Image" + height="760" + width="600"> + </center> <br> + + + <h1>BROTHERLY LOVE;</h1> + + <center> + <h3><b>SHEWING</b></h3> + </center> + + <center> + <h3><b>That as merely human it may not always be depended + upon.</b></h3> + </center> + + <center> + + </center> + + <h3>BY</h3> + + <h2>MRS. SHERWOOD</h2> + + <center> + <b>AND HER DAUGHTER,</b> + </center> + + <center> + + </center> + + <center> + <h2>MRS. STREETEN</h2> + </center> + + <center> + LONDON: BARTON AND CO., 58, HOLBORN HILL + </center> + + <center> + 1851. + </center> + + <center> + + </center> + + <center> + <img src="image005.jpg" + alt="Page 5 Image" + height="760" + width="600"> + </center> + + <center> + + </center> + + <center> + <b>BROTHERLY LOVE;</b> + </center> + + <center> + <b>SHEWING</b> + </center> + + <center> + <b>That as merely human it may not always be depended + upon.</b> + </center> + + <center> + + </center> + + <center> + <b>BY</b> + </center> + + <center> + <b>MRS. SHERWOOD</b> + </center> + + <center> + <b>AND HER DAUGHTER,</b> + </center> + + <center> + <b>MRS. STREETEN.</b> + </center> + + <center> + LONDON: DARTON AND CO., 58, HOLBORN HILL. + </center> + + <center> + 1851. + </center> + + <center> + <hr style="width: 65%;"> + <a name="THE_BROTHERS"></a> + </center> + + <h2>THE BROTHERS;</h2> + + <center> + <b>OR,</b> + </center> + + <center> + <b>BE NOT WISE IN YOUR OWN CONCEIT.</b> + </center> + + <p>It was at that time of year when leaves begin to lose their + green hue, and are first tinctured with a brown shade that + increases rather than decreases their beauty, that Mr. and Mrs. + Mortimer received a letter from a brother of Mrs. Mortimer's, + at Portsmouth, requiring such immediate attention that it was + thought advisable that the answer should be given in person and + not in writing, and without a day's loss of time. So it was + determined that Mr. and Mrs. Mortimer should leave their home, + even as soon as the following morning, to visit their brother + at Portsmouth, and that they then should settle the business + for which they went as quickly as possible, that their absence + from home need not be prolonged unnecessarily, nor indeed for + any length of time. It did not take long to arrange this part + of the affair, and what packing was requisite was also done + quickly, but the point which required most attention and + thought was, what was to become of Marten and his young brother + Reuben while their papa and mamma were away. "I have never left + them before," said their mamma, "and I feel somewhat anxious + about their being left now."</p> + + <p>"Anxious, dear mamma," exclaimed Marten, who had overheard + the remark. "Anxious," he repeated, "why I am a great boy now, + and I shall soon be a man, when I shall have to take care of + myself altogether; and if I cannot take care of myself for a + week, what is to become of me when I am grown up? Indeed, + mamma, I think you forget how old I am. I was thirteen on the + 21st of April."</p> + + <p>"Tirteen," lisped little Reuben--"Marten tirteen--April--Oh, + Marten very old mamma--very, very wise;" and Reuben opened his + eyes quite wide and looked so very earnestly in his mother's + face, that one would have thought he was trying to read therein + what she could mean about being anxious as to leaving + Marten,--the Marten who appeared so very old and so very wise + to him,--to take care of himself for a few days without his + parents protection. "Thirteen," repeated Mrs. Mortimer, + "thirteen no doubt seems very, aye very old, to you Reuben, for + you are not yet half that age; but I am more than three times + that age," she added, smiling, "and that you know must make me + very, very much wiser than Marten, and now once again I say I + am anxious about leaving you without your father or myself, and + I should be more anxious than I am if I did not believe it is + our duty to go at once to Portsmouth; and that it being right + for us to go, I can leave you, my boys, in God's care, who is + the tenderest of fathers to his children."</p> + + <p>"But mamma," asked Marten, "why do you fear for me? Am I not + steady, mamma? Do not I like to do what you and papa tell me to + do? Am I ever obstinate or rebellious to you? Indeed, mamma, I + feel quite grieved; I think it is unjust to mistrust me, mamma, + really I do."</p> + + <p>"If you feared for yourself, I should have less fear for + you, Marten," replied Mrs. Mortimer, "for I know well that the + heart of man is by nature prone to sin, and that our thoughts + and desires while we are on earth are like our natures, full of + imperfections. Temptations are ever before us--they press upon + us every minute, and it is not in our own strength we can + resist or overcome even one of them, and while this life lasts + we are not safe, unless we acknowledge their powerful influence + and trust in the Divine Spirit alone to be able to withstand + them."</p> + + <p>"I have not been thought a disobedient boy till now," said + Marten somewhat sulkily. "I think my usual conduct should plead + for me."</p> + + <p>"Every child has temptations, Marten," replied his mamma, + "and every well behaved child, though not a pious one, resists + them: and in truth these temptations are so numerous, that one + scarcely thinks of them, unless we witness the conduct of a + spoiled baby, as shame prevents grown up persons giving way to + many things. But I want you to see that in this life we are in + a state of constant trial, and as St. Paul says, if it were + only for this life, a Christian is of all men most miserable; + for added to these outward temptations, which assail all + mankind daily and hourly, the Christian knows he must resist + inward temptations, which perhaps are known to none but himself + and his God. These temptations are more pressing than other + temptations, on account of their peculiar nature: for the one, + if indulged in, brings the displeasure or frowns of the + world--the other, as I said before, is perhaps unknown to all + human beings but oneself."</p> + + <p>"Well, but mamma," said Marten impatiently, "I do know all + this, for you have taught it me before. It is not like as if I + had to learn the thing now for the first time. I think you are + too severe, mamma, indeed I do; and when you come back, I + believe you will say so. Trust me, mamma, and do not be anxious + about me. I shall do very well, and I promise to take good care + of Reuben. I will see to his lessons, and do my own, and he + shall sleep with me while you are away, and I will attend + carefully to him and never leave him, and when I am learning my + Latin, he can be in the room with me, and we shall do very well + together, I promise you. So trust me, mamma, without anxiety of + any sort."</p> + + <p>"I will trust you," replied Mrs. Mortimer smiling kindly, + "but not with yourself Marten, for I see clearly you have a + lesson to learn, my boy, and I hope you will learn it shortly, + without much trouble to yourself. You think you are going to + fulfil all your duties in your own strength, as they ought to + be fulfilled. You will see that you cannot. Could human nature, + unassisted by the Divine nature, have done so, then what need + would there have been for the Son of God to have taken our form + and purified our nature in himself? By grace alone are we + saved, for there is none good--no, not one; but as God is holy, + we must be holy, ere we can dwell with Him, and the work of the + Divine Spirit is to make us pure; and while we are in the + flesh, to uphold us in the right and straight road, till being + made one with God our sanctification is accomplished. Now then + is our hour of temptation. Marten--and believe me, my boy, if + you attempt to withstand that temptation in your own strength, + you are like one putting fire to tow, and expecting it will + escape conflagration."</p> + + <p>Marten made no reply, for he was tired of the subject; but + after Mrs. Mortimer had left the room, he said to + Reuben--"Well, we shall see what we shall see, and mamma shall + acknowledge I am right after all." So the carriage came to the + door next morning betimes, and Mr. and Mrs. Mortimer got into + it, and Marten and Reuben stood in the coach drive to hold the + gate open for the carriage to pass through; and the great dog + Nero stood by them very much excited, not knowing whether to go + with the carriage or to stay with the boys.</p> + + <p>"Be sure you see Nero has a run every day, Marten," said Mr. + Mortimer, as the carriage passed through the gate--"that dog + wants plenty of exercise."</p> + + <p>"Oh! don't fear, papa, I shall not forget him," replied + Marten, running a step or two after the carriage; "and mamma, I + will attend to your doves--you had forgotten to speak about + them, had you not, mamma? I will remember them and Nero too, + papa, and Reuben also. Yes, I will attend to all--I shall have + plenty of time for all. Have you anything more you wish done, + papa?" and Marten was obliged to stop speaking, as the carriage + was now going on rapidly, and he found he could not talk and + keep up with it at the same time.</p> + + <p>"No, no, Marten," replied Mr. Mortimer laughing--"No, no, my + boy--you have got more on your hands now than will suffice you: + so off with you home, and take care that when we return we do + not find the doves flown, Nero lost, or Reuben with black eye + or bruised leg, and yourself in some unlucky plight, my boy. + Now go home, and God bless and watch over you, my sons. We hope + it will not be long before we return," and he waved his hand to + bid good bye. Marten had run himself out of breath, so he was + not able to answer his father, and he was not sorry to stand + still an instant or two to watch the carriage out of sight, and + give time for Reuben to overtake him, for the child could not + keep up with his brother's quick running. And even now Marten + might have read this lesson, had he been wise enough so to do + that already, he had been led away by temptation to forget his + brother, and that though he had done so, Nero had been more + faithful than himself; for Nero, though he could have outran + Marten, yet would not forsake the child, but restrained his + impatience that he might keep near the little one, who ever + needed a protector by his side, for the child was young, and + his mother had perhaps reared him too delicately.</p> + + <p>Reuben had never before been separated from his mamma, and + he was half inclined to cry, and perhaps fret at her absence; + but Marten, who was a very kind brother, and really loved the + child tenderly, contrived so to divert his attention that he + soon forgot his troubles.</p> + + <p>Marten was so bent upon behaving well during his mamma's and + papa's absence and of fulfilling every duty, that though Reuben + wished to stay out all morning and play, his brother would not + allow it, but persuaded him to go in with him and say his + lessons, as if his mamma had been at home. But Marten had taken + upon himself much more than was required of him by his parents, + and it was not without difficulty, even on the first day, + determined as he was upon the point, that he could fulfil all + his intentions, for Marten had not taken into consideration + that if he thoroughly devoted himself to Reuben, he could not + spend his time in learning his own lessons, which usually + occupied the best hours of the morning. The doves could be fed + whilst Reuben was by his side--indeed Reuben could be very + useful in this matter, for he had been accustomed to visit the + aviary daily with his mamma, and the pretty birds knew him and + were not as afraid of him as they were of his big brother + Marten. So Reuben fed the doves himself, and stroked their soft + feathers, and washed out their little tin in which the water + was put for them to drink; and he placed the food for them in + its right corner, and he swept out the floor of the aviary, for + he was small enough to stand upright within it, and he knew how + to do it without frightening the birds. So far all was well, + and all was well too whilst Reuben was saying his lessons; but + when Marten wanted to study his Latin exercise, the child was + so restless and troublesome, that it was only by speaking very + decidedly to him--indeed almost crossly--that Marten could get + a moment to himself.</p> + + <p>But even then Marten had to shut up his book somewhat + hastily, for Reuben began to cry for his mamma, who never spoke + sharply to him, and was always ready to attend to the little + one by a kind look or tender word.</p> + + <p>Marten was, however, so satisfied with himself in having + accomplished all his plans for the day, that he did not see how + he had given way to temptation in being cross when provoked; + and as he put Reuben to bed, for he chose to do it himself, he + could not help saying aloud, "I wish mamma could have followed + me unseen all day: how pleased she would have been with me, for + I have done all I meant to do, even though I was tempted more + than once to leave something undone."</p> + + <p>The next morning Marten arose, perhaps not quite so earnest + in his intentions as the day before, but still there was only a + slight disinclination to fulfil all his duties--so slight, + indeed, that he would have been very angry if any one had + spoken to him about it, and hinted at the truth. In this frame + of mind, though most things were done, some few were slurred + over, particularly the Latin Exercise and Grammar, for Marten's + papa had not set him any task, and had even said Marten might + have a holiday during his absence; and at any other time the + boy would have been glad of this indulgence, but now he fancied + himself so good, that he believed he could do everything, and + everything well.</p> + + <p>"I will do an exercise to-morrow, Reuben," said Marten. + "Papa does not expect any done, and if I have one for every + other day to shew him, he will be very much pleased, I + know."</p> + + <p>Reuben, as may be supposed, could not make a suitable reply + to this; for all he understood about it was, that Marten was + going out with him instead of staying at home to do that + troublesome Latin. So Reuben was pleased and Marten was + thoughtless, and out together they went and enjoyed themselves + not a little, in the pleasant autumn weather.</p> + + <p>Thus hours passed on, and the third day brought a letter + from Mrs. Mortimer, which was not quite satisfactory, for it + said that the business which took her and her husband from home + could not be easily settled, and they feared they would be + detained a whole fortnight at Portsmouth. Mrs. Mortimer, + however, was not uneasy about her boys, for she knew that the + servants, with whom she had left them, were quiet steady + persons, who would not allow them to do what was wrong without + speaking to them; and then Reuben was such an universal + favourite, that she felt sure no one would be wilfully unkind + to him. But above all, Mrs. Mortimer trusted her children with + Him who "knoweth our frame and remembereth we are but dust." + Psal. ciii. 14.</p> + + <p>Mrs. Mortimer had been absent about a week, and Marten was + still in ignorance of the weakness of human nature, at least as + far as he was himself personally concerned, when one morning + Reuben came running to him in great distress, to say that the + doves were missing--his mamma's own pretty birds that she loved + so much; and Reuben, whose tears were somewhat too ready, began + to cry, for he feared, poor child, the cat had eaten them, or + some other misfortune equally distressing had befallen + them.</p> + + <p>"Was the door of the aviary open?" asked Marten. "Are you + sure it was open, Reuben? or did you open it yourself?"</p> + + <p>"It was open," said Reuben, "wide, wide open--so wide, + Marten;" and he made his brother understand that he had gone + inside without stirring it the least little bit.</p> + + <p>"It was open, you say," replied the elder boy, "but how + could that be? You or some one have been careless, very + careless, Reuben; for it is certain the birds could not open it + for themselves." Reuben was about to cry again, but Marten + soothed him, for all at once Marten remembered that the + careless--very careless person was none other than himself; for + on the day before, whilst Reuben was sweeping out the aviary, + Marten had called him hurriedly, and though the child had once + proposed to return, his brother had kept him by his side for + some trifling purpose, and so they had both forgotten the + aviary door was open. However, the doves were gone, and they + must be reclaimed, if alive, but if dead--what a sad story + would there be for Mrs. Mortimer. So the books were put by, and + the two boys went out in search of the birds, and Reuben, who + understood their ways, took the precaution to carry with him + the box in which their food was usually placed. On this + occasion there was a nice piece of cake put into the box, which + was to be crumbled for the doves, and Reuben knew that they + liked cake as well as he did himself, and more especially the + kind of cake which cook had given him.</p> + + <p>Have you ever heard of a person who it is said once looked + for a needle in a pottle of hay? for if so, you may picture to + yourself the feelings of Marten when he started to find the + ringdoves. But perhaps you will say, anyhow, the needle would + lie still, unless the man who was searching for it should shake + the straw too roughly, and throw it out, therefore the space of + its concealment, being a limited space, supposing the pottle + the very largest ever made, there would be a chance in time of + its discovery, but not so the case of the birds. They had wings + to fly with, and miles of lovely blue sky to fly through, and + green branches to rest on, and harvest fields to alight in, + that is if they were in the land of the living; but, perhaps, + after all, mistress pussy had destroyed them, and their pretty + feathers, perhaps their only relics left, might be so scattered + by the wind, that already they might be yards and yards + separated from each other. With these sad forebodings clouding + his brow, Marten set off with Reuben on his search, feeling + that it was a hopeless one, and not one word did the boy utter + to all Reuben's lamentations as they crossed the meadow which + was spread in front of their house towards a little wood, which + was the home of many a bird of the pigeon or dove species, and + therefore Marten thought would be the most likely place to go + first to look after the strayed ones. Think, then, what must + have been his joy as they entered the second meadow not far + from the stile, absolutely to behold the ringdoves, his mamma's + own ringdoves walking upon the grass cooing and billing, and + turning about their soft eyes in this direction and the other, + as if half afraid of the freedom they had acquired for + themselves. As to Reuben, he was so pleased, that the little + foolish fellow clapped his hands and shouted for joy, which so + alarmed the doves, that they took to their wings and soared + high, but flutteringly in the air, as if in their fright they + did not know what they ought to do for their own safety. Marten + was very angry with Reuben for his folly--very angry indeed, + and I hardly know what it was he said; only this I do know, + that he took the box of cake from the child's hand, and bade + him stand at a particular spot--about twenty yards or so, in a + direction farthest from the wood, and from the stile leading to + their home; "and there," he added, "remain till I tell you you + may stir, if you are so stupid as not to know that clapping + your hands and shouting loud will frighten any birds, + particularly timid ones like doves--tame doves, especially, who + have strayed from their home."</p> + + <p>Marten looked so cross, that Reuben did not even like to + cry, for he felt he had been very silly; so the poor little + fellow stood where his brother had bade him stand, half afraid + to breathe, and quite afraid of moving--lest by any noise he + should again drive away the doves, and Marten should again be + angry. And there we will leave him to speak of how his brother + set himself to work to reclaim his mother's birds.</p> + + <p>I have said before that he had some cake in a box in his + hand, and having tossed off his hat--lest by any accident it + should fall off when he was stooping forwards, he threw himself + upon the grass his full length, and as he rested on his right + hand; with his left he sprinkled some of the cake he had with + him on the ground, to attract the doves near to him, in the + hope he would catch one; and the second, he rightly guessed, + would not then be long out of his power. Marten relied on the + tame habits of the doves, who had been accustomed not only to + eat out of his brother's hands, but also from his mother's, and + occasionally of late from his own; but it is a different thing + feeding birds in their own aviary, and when they have escaped + half wild to their native haunts. And now, whilst the boy + stretched upon the ground, was wholly occupied in the earnest + desire of reclaiming the wanderers, Reuben's attention after + awhile was diverted by seeing that some one was approaching + towards them from a hill, in a direction farthest from their + home. This person was riding at no slow pace, and as I said + before, as his road led him down hill, he seemed not to spare + his horse; meeting the wind, as Reuben thought gloriously, and + passing along at a pace, the child considered more glorious + still. "When I am a man," the little fellow said to himself, "I + will ride so, I will have a horse, and I will ride very very + fast,--yes,--that I will."</p> + + <p>Now it seemed that the rider from the elevated road could + look over the meadows below, and probably having good eyes, for + they certainly were young and sharp ones, he soon spied out + Marten and Reuben, and as it came out afterwards that Marten + was the person he sought after, he caused his pony to leap over + a small ditch that was in his way, and then guiding it to a + gate he dismounted and fastened the animal to the post by its + bridle. In leaping the ditch his hat had fallen off, and making + signs to a large Newfoundland dog that had accompanied him, the + noble animal was by him directed to lie down near the horse and + take charge of the hat, whilst his master stepped lightly along + the grass in the direction where Marten lay extended, so + occupied about the doves as to regard nothing that was passing + round him. The new comer was a youth of about Marten's own age, + the only child of a gentleman who lived about four miles from + Marten's father, and the most constant companion that Marten + possessed. His name was Edward Jameson, and he shall himself + say the cause of his present visit. Reuben knew Edward well, + and he recognized him before he had tied his pony to the gate + post, but he had not seen the fine Newfoundland dog before, and + Reuben was so fond of dogs. The little fellow remembered that + Marten had forbidden him to leave the tree or to speak, but he + could not keep his small feet from moving up and down + restlessly, nor could he scarce command himself not to call out + and tell his brother of Edward's arrival. But Edward wanted to + see what Marten was doing in the very odd attitude he had + taken, so he crept noiselessly on, his head turned somewhat + sideways to Reuben, and his hand held up threateningly to the + child, for he saw he had been recognised, and he was afraid of + some hasty word, which would cause Marten to start up, and then + he feared he should not surprise his friend. Edward was able to + get quite close to Marten, and even to touch him before Marten + was aware of his presence; and he stepped up so quietly, that + the doves were so little frightened, that they hardly stopped a + moment from picking up the crumbs.</p> + + <p>"Why Marten, old fellow, what are you doing here?" asked + Edward. "Whose doves are those, I say? are they your mother's? + have you let them loose--Eh?" Edward spoke softly, but not so + softly that he did not cause Marten to start at the unexpected + sound of his voice; still, as the birds were at some little + distance, and were accustomed to the human voice, they scarcely + were alarmed, and hardly moved a step or two away from the + crumbs scattered for them, and Marten recovering himself + quickly, said--"Oh! Edward, do help me to catch these doves: + they have escaped from their aviary, and my mother will be so + vexed if they fly away."</p> + + <p>"To be sure I will," replied Edward; "but my boy, who is in + the habit of feeding them, for that person would best know how + to catch them I should say."</p> + + <p>"My mother feeds them herself chiefly," said Marten, "and + Reuben sometimes attends to them when she is engaged."</p> + + <p>"Well, set Reuben to decoy them now, for I am in a hurry and + have got something to say to you as quickly as possible, and it + is very important. Anyhow, the child can watch them whilst you + are attending to me."</p> + + <p>So Reuben was called from his station at the tree, and + Marten gave him directions what he was to do; and the now + little important one lay down on the grass, as Marten had done + before him; and as might have been expected, the doves, + accustomed to his baby voice and small figure, soon drew nearer + and nearer to him, so that when the conference was over between + the two elder boys, Reuben was able proudly to shew not one, + but both doves, so wrapped up in his pinafore, that though they + fluttered about a little, they were quite secure. "Come here a + step or two from the child," said Edward, "and don't think of + those troublesome birds just now, but tell me at once, can you + come and pay me a visit for a couple of days? my cousins + William Roscoe and Jane and Mary are expected at our house to + night on their way to London. You know William Roscoe, Marten, + and what a fine fellow he is and I have asked my father and + mother, and they have allowed me to get as many young ones + together as the short time would allow, and we are to have + splendid fun. Won't you come, Marten? I promise you a glorious + time of it, if you will but come."</p> + + <center> + <img src="image034.jpg" + alt="Page 34 Image" + height="780" + width="600"> + </center> + + <p>"My father is from home," replied Marten thoughtfully, "and + so is my mother, but I don't think that matters, Edward: they + have never refused my visiting you, and I do not think they + would now. Indeed, I am sure they would not, if they were at + home, but what am I to do with Reuben? I have taken charge of + Reuben whilst mamma is away, and what can I do about him?"</p> + + <p>"About Reuben," returned Edward? "can't the servants take + care of him at home? he will do very well at home, and be very + contented, I know."</p> + + <p>"But I have undertaken the charge of him," said Marten, "and + I should not like, after what I have said, to leave him, even + for a couple of days. I must either bring him with me, Edward, + or stay at home with him--indeed, I must."</p> + + <p>"Well, then, bring the little fellow," replied Edward + kindly; "anything so as you come, Marten; and remember there + will be plenty of girls invited, for Jane and Mary Roscoe, and + Reuben can surely play with them, and they will take care of + him, no doubt. So bring him, by all means, if that is the only + hindrance; but still, I say, you would do better to leave him + at home with the servants; however, that's your business, not + mine. I reckon on you to-morrow, about eleven o'clock--to stay + all night, next day, and the night following, if you like; so + good bye, till then. I have half the country to ride over to + beat up my recruits;" and without waiting another word from his + friend, Edward ran across the meadow, snatched up his hat from + where the faithful dog was carefully guarding it, sprang upon + his pony, and then once again leaping the ditch, he cantered + off at a pace so rapid, he was soon lost to Marten's sight.</p> + + <p>How pleased was Reuben to shew his brother that he had + caught the doves, and Marten was also pleased: for any how he + need not distress himself about them, as they were secured, but + he thought it advisable to take them under his own charge, as + he considered he could hold them firmer than the little one. + And now the boys ran home as quickly as they could, and the + pretty birds were shut up in their aviary, and Marten hastened + to the kitchen to find the house-maid, who was called nurse, as + she had been Reuben's nurse before she had changed her + occupation in the family, the child no longer requiring a + personal attendant. In the kitchen Marten learnt that she was + gone out into the garden to gather some herbs for the cook, and + thither he followed her to tell her that his friend Edward + Jameson had been with him, and what had been the purport of his + visit.</p> + + <p>"Nurse," said Marten, when he found her, "I am come to ask + you to get mine and Reuben's things ready to-night, for I am + going to take him with me to spend a couple of days at Mr. + Jameson's; and there will be company there in the evenings, so + we must have our best things, nurse, and will you be so kind as + to see after the doves, and tell Thomas to loosen Nero's chain + every day, that he may have a good scamper over the fields, for + papa says he should have plenty of exercise."</p> + + <p>"Stop, stop, master Marten," replied nurse, "what is all + this about? your things and master Reuben's, do you say, are to + be got ready for two day's visit--and the doves fed? am I to + find them before I feed them, master Marten?" and nurse + laughed.</p> + + <p>"They are found, nurse," answered the boy, "and they are now + safe in the aviary, and I will take care the door shall not be + opened again while mamma is away. I mean to put a padlock on, + nurse, so you see no one can let them out, and I shall keep the + key myself."</p> + + <p>"Oh! master Marten, master Marten!" said nurse, laughing + again--"I see, if it depended upon you, we should all be in a + bad way, and so the poor birds are to be locked up, are they: + and master Reuben is not to be allowed to go into the aviary to + talk to them, as the little one loves to do--and all for what? + Give me a steady ruler, if you please--not such as you, master + Marten--a fine head of a family you will make, if one may judge + of your boasted management of the doves in the first part of + the story, and then the leaving the aviary door open and + finishing with locking them up and keeping the key yourself. + Well for their happiness--mistress will soon be at home to + attend to them herself; but what are you going to do with the + child, my own darling? I can't have any tricks played with him, + I tell you."</p> + + <p>"Tricks, nurse," repeated Marten passionately. "What? do you + mean to say I would play tricks with my own brother? No one + loves Reuben, I am sure, better than I do, unless it is mamma. + What do you mean, nurse?"</p> + + <p>"What do you mean, then, master Marten, by saying you are + going to take the child amongst strangers, neither me nor his + mamma being with him, and he never accustomed to strangers--and + company in the house too--I don't half like it--and I know I + feel half inclined to say he shan't go."</p> + + <p>"And pray under whose charge was he left?" asked Marten. + "Your's or mine, nurse? I should like to know."</p> + + <p>"It was much of a muchness," replied the good woman. "Missis + said to you, take care of your brother; but missis knew I loved + the sweet darling too dearly to require even half a word on the + subject. And supposing he does go with you, master Marten, who + is to put the dear child to bed at nights? I must insist, + indeed I must, that you see to it yourself. I know how + frightened he will be amongst strangers at bed time."</p> + + <p>"To be sure I will, nurse," said Marten, glad to see the + good woman was so far giving in to his wishes. "I promise not + only to sleep with him, but to take him to bed myself and stay + with him till he is asleep."</p> + + <p>"Well, well, master Marten," exclaimed nurse + impatiently--"Well, well, don't undertake too much and then do + nothing; and I must say again," she continued warming with her + subject, "that the child had better be left at home where there + are plenty to look after him, and not be carried off to that + strange house, away from us all."</p> + + <p>"Oh! me go with Marten, nurse, dear nurse! me go with + Marten!" said little Reuben imploringly, for the child had just + joined them in time to hear nurse's last remark. "Oh! Reuben so + like to go with Marten."</p> + + <p>"You don't know what is best for you, silly one," replied + nurse, "nor who is your truest friend either, but your little + head is bent upon being a man soon, and you must ever be trying + to do what your brother does. But, master Marten, how can you + play or go about with master Jameson, and yet attend to this + child too?"</p> + + <p>"Oh! I can take care of Reuben, and yet have plenty of time + for myself, nurse, I am sure," said Marten.</p> + + <p>"That's according," answered nurse, "for if you are always + giving your company to this little one here, and she patted + Reuben on the back, he will keep you smartly to it whenever he + is awake, I promise you. Won't you, my pet? Are you not a weary + little fellow, darling?" she added, as she stooped to kiss him, + "that is when you can get folks to be wearied with you."</p> + + <p>"No, nurse," answered the child stoutly;--"no--me not + weary--me not tired--me don't want to go to bed."</p> + + <p>"Bless your pretty tongue," exclaimed nurse; "but here, take + this parsley to cook, and say it is the finest double parsley I + can find, there's a darling."</p> + + <p>As Reuben ran away on his errand, nurse addressed herself to + Marten in a kind motherly manner, for nurse was not a young + woman, and she was also a pious one. "Master Marten," she said, + "I am sure you will be kind to the little one--you always + are--for I must say you are one of the very best brothers I + know, and that is saying a deal for you--for I believe there + are many good brothers and sisters in the world, and yet, + pardon your old nurse, young master, when she tells you you are + doing wrong, though I think your intention is good. Look to + your own heart, master Marten, and ask yourself why are you + dragging this poor child after you to Mr. Jameson's. I was in + the room with Missis when she was speaking to you the day + before she left, and I heard what she said about temptation, + and how we are tempted every hour in the day. You did not + believe her, master Marten, and you do not believe her now, and + you are going to try temptation to the very utmost, and you + think you will stand it, and I know you won't, for I remember + what my dear lady said, that no one can resist temptation in + their own strength. This is the reason why I don't like my baby + to go with you, but if you, my dear young master, will just + think over what your mamma said, and ask for the approval of + your Saviour and the direction of his Holy Spirit in all + things--why then, as I said before, I will trust my darling + with you any where, for I know that you love him dearly, and + would not willingly hurt a hair of his precious little + head."</p> + + <p>"Nurse," exclaimed Marten indignantly, "one would imagine I + had been very unkind to Reuben whilst mamma has been away; now + I don't think it is fair, and if I were to leave my brother at + home and stay out a couple of days enjoying myself, papa and + mamma might both justly think I had neglected him; No, I have + undertaken the care of him till their return, and I mean to + fulfil my undertaking: and I must say, unless you have any + unkindness to charge me with, I consider you have no business + to speak to me as you have done." And Marten walked away with a + heart determined to resist the wise advice of nurse.</p> + + <p>And now nurse had nothing for it but to get the things ready + for the boys the next day, for nurse knew that Marten was + always allowed, if convenient, to go to Mr. Jameson's when + invited, and as the houses were about four miles apart, she + also knew he was in the habit of staying there all night, if + asked so to do. As regards Reuben, he too had been there once + or twice to stay with his mamma, but nurse considered very + wisely, that it was a very different thing, a child of the + little one's age going from home with or without his mamma; but + still she could not interfere more than she had done, for + Reuben had certainly been put under his brother's care. She + did, however, try to persuade the little one that he would be + better at home with her, but any person who knows the ways of + children might easily guess nurse might as well have spoken to + a post as to Reuben, for all the good she did, for the boy + began to cry, and begged so hard to go with his brother to play + with the big boys at Mr. Jameson's, that she thought it as well + to say no more on the subject.</p> + + <p>And now I must pass over some hours till the time came for + John to drive the boys over in the pony carriage to Mr. + Jameson's. Marten could have walked the four miles very well, + or he could have rode there on his own pony, but Reuben could + not have walked half so far, and thus it happened, that as John + had something to do he could not leave undone, it was quite + twelve o'clock before the three arrived at Mr. Jameson's house, + and thus it chanced that they were almost the last comers of + the party of children invited to meet the Roscoes.</p> + + <p>It was a lovely day, and as warm as any summer day, though + the autumn was just setting in, and such a group of young + children were at play on the grass plat, near the house, that + the like Marten nor Reuben had never seen before. It was such a + very pretty sight, that John quite forgot to give out of the + carriage the parcel nurse had made of the young gentlemen's + clothes; and the consequence was, he had all the trouble to + come back half a mile of the road, when he suddenly bethought + himself of his forgetfulness. But as to the pretty sight John + saw, I wish I could draw you a picture of it; if I could I + would, I promise you, and I would put it in this very page for + you to see. Fancy, then, a beautifully soft velvet lawn, in + front of a large handsome house, upon which lawn the sun shines + warmly but kindly, and the blue sky looks most pleasingly there + and here, broken by white clouds that relieve the eye without + obscuring the light. At the farthest end of the lawn from the + house were some fine trees, under the shelter of which two + girls were playing at battledore and shuttlecock, and very well + they played too. A little nearer this way, that is where John + and the carriage stood, in the direction of the house, was a + young child seated on the turf holding a dog, whilst two other + children were trying to make it jump to catch a flower, one + held in her hand. There was also a big boy on a pony talking to + a great girl, who was lying on the grass; but the prettiest + group of girls were standing or kneeling round a pet lamb which + they were decking with wreaths of flowers. They none of them + wore bonnets nor walking dresses, and even the boy on the pony + was without a hat. Why they had all agreed to uncover their + heads, I cannot say exactly, but I know they had been having + some joke about it before the young Mortimers arrived; and the + great girl on the turf had even then got her brother's cap and + had hidden it somewhere, and it was to ask her about it he had + ridden up to her on his pony, as she rested on the grass.</p> + + <center> + <img src="image049.jpg" + alt="Page 49 Image" + height="795" + width="600"> + </center> + + <p>"Oh! they are all girls but one," exclaimed Marten in a + disappointed tone, "and I am afraid I shall not find the boys + easily, and I hate playing with girls."</p> + + <p>"As much as we girls dislike playing with rude boys, master + Mortimer," said Jane Roscoe, advancing forwards and replying to + Marten's speech, which had really been addressed to John; "but + understand we are the fairies of this lawn--this is our + territory, and my aunt Jameson has bestowed it upon us. We take + tribute if you intrude on our premises, so either be off to + your own mates, or lay down your cap as owning our sway as + ladies and queens of the lawn."</p> + + <p>"I am sure I would rather go to your brother, or Edward, + Miss Roscoe," replied Marten, "if you would but tell me where I + should find them."</p> + + <p>"No doubt near the stables, or at the dog kennels," she + answered pertly, "so you had better go, for I tell you we don't + want boys amongst us; we have had some trouble in ridding + ourselves of them just now."</p> + + <p>"And if they are all like you, I am sure I for one don't + want to stay," thought Marten; and he took Reuben's hand to + seek his friends, where the young lady had so uncourteously + directed him to find them.</p> + + <p>And here, before I would follow Marten to find his young + friends, I would wish to remark that it is such girls as Jane + Roscoe who make rude boys, and such young women that make rude + men. Boys and men generally take their manners from the females + with whom they associate, and when one sees a very rude boy, it + does not speak well for his sisters at home, or at least for + the young ladies with whom he may happen to be most intimate. + As to regular schoolboys, they are rude, because schoolboys in + general are famed for bad manners, and young gentlemen seem to + like to bring this odium on schools, fancying rudeness is + manliness, when in reality it is a decided sign of the + contrary. Think of the bravest men that have been known, that + is bravest in their own persons, and I will venture to say they + have been gentle and courteous in female society, for they know + and feel they can dare to be so, as their credit for manly + daring is known and acknowledged by every one. Take one of your + rough ones, and I for one set him down as a mere bully, that + hides his cowardice under blustering words. But I have wandered + somewhat from my point, for I was saying rude girls make rude + boys, as shewn in the case of Jane Roscoe; and civil girls make + civil boys, as evinced in her sister Mary, as I am going to + relate.</p> + + <p>"Me want to go to the pretty lamb," said Reuben, hanging + heavily on his brother:--"Me go to the lamb--me don't like + horses."</p> + + <p>"But you shall see the great big Newfoundland, Reuben, that + you admired so much yesterday," said his brother. "Should you + not like to see the large black dog?"</p> + + <p>"Reuben wants to go to lamb," replied the child, and he + resolutely stood still. "Pretty lamb, Reuben, go to lamb + now."</p> + + <p>"You can't go to the lamb, Reuben," said his brother + impatiently, "so you must be content to go with me to see the + large black dog. I am not going to give up my cap to any one, I + promise you; so come on now, and don't keep me staying here all + day."</p> + + <p>But Reuben, as nurse had said, was a weary little fellow + when bent upon any thing, and now he was bent upon going to + play with the lamb, so he was determined not to move, or if he + did it should only be in the direction of the lawn. Marten was, + however, almost as determined to go the other way, on account + of Jane Roscoe, and for a moment there seemed a doubt which boy + should carry the day. The elder had the most strength, and he + was inclined to use it, for Miss Roscoe had offended him, and + lifting the child from the ground he was about to run off with + him in the direction of the stables, when Reuben, not + accustomed to opposition of this description, set up a loud cry + of passion, which at once drew the attention of all near to + himself and his brother.</p> + + <p>"There," exclaimed Jane, "what are you teasing the little + one so for? why not let him have his own way and come amongst + us, if he will?"</p> + + <p>"Well, go," said Marten angrily, "go, Reuben, if you like; + but I tell you I will not come with you."</p> + + <p>But this was not what Reuben desired, and he stood at a + little distance from his brother looking, I am sorry to say, + very naughty and selfish, for he was really wishing Marten to + give up his own desires to attend to and humour his; and so now + he stood moving neither one way nor another, his face turned + towards the lamb so finely bedecked with flowers. His cry, + however, had aroused the young girls from their occupation, and + Mary Roscoe, whom one would have supposed had been really + kissing the lamb, so close was her face to it, when Marten had + first seen her; sprang from her knees, and running across the + lawn to the gravel path, now stooped down to Reuben, and + looking him kindly in the face--"Little boy," she said, "what + did you cry for? what did you want? tell me, little boy, and I + will see what I can do. I am a fairy, little boy. We are all + fairies on that turf, and I will take you with me to fairy land + and shew you some fairy wonders."</p> + + <p>Reuben at once and without hesitation put his hand in hers, + saying--"Me go see pretty lamb me go with you--me will go."</p> + + <p>"Then come along," said Mary, and turning her head over her + shoulder towards Marten, she added, "I will take care of him; + so you may go to Edward and William if you like, and I dare say + you will like it better than playing with girls."</p> + + <p>"Oh! thank you, Miss Mary, thank you," replied Marten most + gratefully to the kind little girl, "thank you, I am so much + obliged to you."</p> + + <p>But Marten spoke aloud, and thus drew Reuben's attention to + the fact that he was going to be left with strangers, and once + more he raised a cry as much of passion as of fear. So Marten, + to soothe him, made a step towards the lawn with the child, + though Mary still held his hand, giving a private sign to + Marten that he might slip away on the first opportunity.</p> + + <p>"Your tribute, your tribute," exclaimed Jane Roscoe: "not + one step upon the grass, Master Mortimer, without giving up + your cap as a sign you own us 'The ladies of the lawn.' Give it + up, I command, or stay where you are."</p> + + <p>"Will you give it me again in a minute or two, as I come + back," asked Marten?</p> + + <p>"Ask Frank Farleigh there if he has got his," said Jane. + "You shall have yours when he has found his, that is if we can + hide it as securely."</p> + + <p>"Then you may get it as you can," retorted Marten rudely, + stepping upon the grass, and on Jane's springing after him + setting off on a race as fast as he could across the lawn, in + utter defiance of the young girls. A cry was raised instantly, + and all the children left their sports to pursue the boy, who + had thus boldly defied their power; and lucky was it for him + that he was agile and could twist and turn in his course as + rapidly as a hare. But when there is at least twelve to one and + a clear space, the raced has little chance, and thus it came + about that the boy in self defence was forced to fly towards + the stables as the only place of safety, having no leisure even + to think that he was leaving his brother amongst strangers, + proving himself unable to withstand temptation, even during one + short hour of his visit. Marten, too, had raised a war between + himself and the young girls of the party, which was not likely + to be settled peacefully during the time of their stay at Mrs. + Jameson's, and thus he had, to a certain sense, separated + himself either from Reuben or from the bigger boys, without + intending to do so for the two parties, as might be foreseen by + any experienced eye, were of too different a sort to get on + hourly together, as their tastes and amusements were utterly at + variance.</p> + + <p>As my story is intended to shew that temptations hourly + assail us, and that in our own strength we cannot often resist + them, else wherefore did Our Lord teach his disciples to pray + that they might not be led into temptation, but because he knew + that man of himself never turns away from the forbidden fruit. + I shall not here speak much of how after a good run hither and + thither, Marten at last found Edward and his companions in an + open field, most of the horses and dogs from the stables being + collected together, and such a scene of excitement going on + that the boy had no leisure to think of anything that was not + passing before his eye; and therefore, as Reuben did not + appear, he, like the rest being unseen, was forgotten. In + excuse for Marten I must say that he first ran to the stables, + and there learnt from a boy whom he found there, that Master + Jameson had had permission that morning from his papa to have + out one or two of the horses and ponies, on condition that + Chambers, the old coachman, and Rogers, the groom, were present + with the young gentlemen, and that every obedience were paid to + their directions, so that if they saw anything wrong they might + enforce attention to their requests.</p> + + <p>As many of the young gentlemen too had ridden over on their + ponies to Mr. Jameson's, there were a goodly collection of + horses assembled together, and the races that ensued, and the + leaping over low fences that followed, so quickly passed away + the time that when the first bell rang, announcing that dinner + would shortly be served, Marten was quite astonished to find + that it was nearly three o'clock, and that almost two hours had + passed since he had seen his brother. But now, as the boys were + taking the horses and dogs to the stables, he hastened towards + the house as fast as he could, for he saw the lawn was + tenant-less, and knowing the way to the room where he usually + slept when at Mrs. Jameson's, he hurried up the stairs only to + find that his things had been placed there, and that Reuben's + little parcel had been taken elsewhere and was probably where + the child also was, for no Reuben was to be seen. As Marten + could meet with no servant, he ran along the gallery trying to + distinguish amongst the many voices he heard on all sides that + of his brother's, but in vain, so many were the sounds that + reached his ear, and as he did not like to open any of the + doors, or push those farther open that were not quite closed, + he raised his voice and called aloud "Reuben, Reuben, I want + you--Reuben come to me in the passage--here I am--come to me + Reuben."</p> + + <p>To Marten's annoyance, instead of his brother replying to + his call, Jane Roscoe stepped out into the gallery, + exclaiming--"Oh! it is you, is it? Whom do you want? What are + you come here for? these are the girl's rooms! those are our + bedrooms, and this is our sitting room. Are you come to make an + apology for your rudeness this morning? If so, I will call the + rest out to hear what you have to say."</p> + + <p>"I want my brother, Miss Roscoe," replied Marten, trying to + speak civilly. "May I go into your sitting room, or would you + have the goodness to tell him to come to me here."</p> + + <p>"I shall do no such thing," answered Miss Jane, "you may get + him as you can, though I do not know how you will manage to do + that either; for Mary has taken such a fancy to the little + fellow, that she will not give him up easily."</p> + + <p>"Would you tell me if Reuben is content?" asked Marten, "for + if so I would rather leave him with Miss Mary."</p> + + <p>"Just pop your head inside that door," said the rude girl, + "and judge for yourself, that is, if you dare to do so--for + your brother is there, and Mary and a dozen more girls. Do you + dare?" she inquired mockingly, "come let me see you do it, + then."</p> + + <p>"Dare," repeated Marten indignantly, "and why should I not + dare--I want my brother."</p> + + <p>"Do it then," said Jane, "if you are not a coward, which I + strongly suspect you are;" and when was a spirited boy of + thirteen so urged on that had the prudence to know where to + stop with propriety to himself. Marten, choking with rage, did + advance to the door pointed out, and put his head inside, and + there, on beholding a group of young ladies of all ages, from + eight to fourteen, and no little brother, and finding all eyes + turned upon himself as an impertinent intruder, he drew his + head back quickly, and was met with a loud laugh from Jane, + which so annoyed him, that without stopping to think, he ran + off to his own room as fast as he could. The voice of Mary + Roscoe however reached him as he ran along the gallery, + uttering these words: "I'll take care of Reuben, Master + Marten--I'll take care of Reuben, he is very happy." And so + Marten allowed himself to be content, and as he knew dinner + would shortly be ready, he lost no more time, but set to dress + himself in his best as quickly as he could. Mr. and Mrs. + Jameson did not dine with the young people, but Mrs. Jameson + came in and walked round the table, and spoke to most of the + young ladies and gentlemen, and asked after their papas and + mammas, and she said she hoped they would be good children and + enjoy themselves very much, and in the evening she and Mr. + Jameson would come in to see them at play. She told Jane Roscoe + she expected her and Mary to take care of the young ladies and + see that they had everything they wanted, and she said much the + same to her son and William Roscoe about the boys.</p> + + <p>There was a very long dining table laid out, and, as might + be expected, all the boys got together at the end where Edward + sat, and all the girls got round Jane Roscoe, for it must be + remembered that hostilities had begun in the morning between + the boys and girls, and Jane was not the kind of girl to make + peace, or desire to make peace and conduct herself as would be + becoming a young lady. Frank Farleigh, indeed, crossed the + barrier, and once again demanded his cap from his sister, but + he pleaded in vain, and I do not know how the matter would have + been settled if good-natured Mary Roscoe had not proposed that + it should be considered as a forfeit, and that the cap should + be cried with the other forfeits in the evening games. "And I + promise you it shall be hardly won," cried Jane, and Frank's + sister then whispered to her as if they were settling what + Frank was to do for it, and then Jane laughed--her teasing + laugh--and if Frank did give his sister a most cruel schoolboy + pinch, I can't but say she had only herself and her rude + companion to thank for it. "I don't care," he said, as he + joined the boys, "I can wear that old cap of Edward's, and when + I go home they <i>must</i> give it back to me."</p> + + <p>During this time Marten was looking about for Reuben, and + soon he saw that the little fellow was seated by Mary Roscoe, + as happy as possible, for Mary was a kind-hearted girl, and + loved every thing and every body, and every body loved her, and + now she was taking care that the child was helped before + herself, and with what he liked, and when she met Marten's eye, + she kissed Reuben very earnestly, and called him a sweet + darling and her own pet, and she asked the little one if he did + not love Mary. Reuben returned the kiss and looked so smilingly + up at Marten, that his brother could not but be contented, and + having thanked Mary most heartily for her very great kindness, + he was only too glad to get away once more to where the boys + were seated. Poor Marten was not aware, and I do not exactly + see how he should have been aware, that the easy kindness of + Mary Roscoe was but too likely now to bring his brother into + trouble, for Mary did not like to refuse the little fellow any + thing; and as the child was hungry and more than ready for the + meal, for it was past his usual dinner hour, I am obliged to + confess he ate greedily of the good things set before him, one + after another without moderation or discernment, pudding + following meat, and cheese after pudding, and fruit after that, + till quantity and diversity were so mingled together, that it + was a wonder the babe endured himself as well as he did. He + was, however, so satisfied and even cloyed, that towards the + end of the time he contented himself with a taste of this and + that, and under the easy rule of Miss Mary, the remnants of his + desert were transferred to his pockets, to serve to regale him + at some future moment. I have said that Marten could not have + been aware of this foolish weakness of Mary Roscoe, but Marten + was not free of blame in the affair, for he had started wrongly + as regarded Reuben, and in his self conceit he had placed + himself in circumstances where the temptations that surrounded + him were more than his nature unaided could resist. Marten + would not listen to those who would have taught him that our + blessed Saviour verily took not on him the nature of angels, + but he took on him the seed of Abraham, wherefore in all things + it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might + be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to + God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people, for in + that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to + succour those that are tempted. Heb. ii. 16, 17, 18. But we + shall soon see from Marten's story a verification of the words + of St. Paul addressed to the children of God. "Wherefore let + him that thinketh he standeth, take heed lest he fall. There + hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man; but + God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above + that ye are able; but will, with the temptation, also make a + way to escape that ye may be able to bear it." 1 Cor. x. 12, + 13.</p> + + <p>And now,--to return to Reuben, he had ate and ate so much, + that I am almost ashamed even to think of it; and silly Mary + Roscoe, who should have put a bridle on his little mouth, never + once thought of doing so, and how should she, for she had never + had one on her own? till the poor child felt so uncomfortable + that he was half ready to cry--for, added to the over quantity + he had contrived to swallow, he was very weary, for he was but + a young one, and he had been out in the air all the morning and + undergoing more active exercise than even he was accustomed to + go through, for he had moved about at the direction of others, + and not by his own voluntary will. So feeling uneasy, he was + just about to raise a cry, which I believe would have recalled + Marten to a sense of his duty, when the whole troop of children + rose from table to amuse themselves as best they liked till six + o'clock, when tea was to be served in a large room for them, + and the evening was to be finished in games of whatever + description they chose, Mr. and Mrs. Jameson having promised to + be present.</p> + + <p>Marten just stopped to see Mary Roscoe lead off his brother, + who accompanied her very contentedly, and then I am obliged to + own he thought no more of the little fellow for such a length + of time, that we who take an interest in poor little Reuben + must banish Marten from our thoughts and follow the child, the + poor little victim of his brother's self conceit. The young + ladies on leaving the dining room ascended the stairs and went + to the room with which Marten had so daringly put his head in + the morning, and here they divided into groups of two or three, + as chance might be, and a chattering began, the like of which + could never be heard again, unless under the like + circumstances. It seems a cruel thing to try to put down any of + the nonsense, and perhaps worse than nonsense, that was then + and there talked; and I would not do so if I did not hope it + would prove a warning to some girls that persons do listen to + their conversation sometimes when they fancy no one hears, and + that those same persons do think them very silly and ignorant, + and occasionally wrong. And first, I will take a party of three + girls, who all went to the same school, and these three, I am + sorry to say, were talking of their governess and teachers in a + way they ought never to have done. It was not Mrs. Meredith and + Miss Williams, and Miss Smith, but it was "Meredith, that cross + old thing," and "pretty little Smith," and that "detestable + Williams." And then one asked the other if she remembered how + funnily Fanny Adams had managed in the affair, of laughing at + the French Master, how six of them had been sent up to their + bedrooms in disgrace, and when that detestable Williams came in + and found them still laughing, how she scolded them all, and + how Fanny Adams put some Eau-de-Cologne to her eyes, which + nearly blinded her, and made her eyes water very much, and so + deceived Miss Williams that she pardoned her, though all the + rest were left in disgrace.</p> + + <p>And here, because there was no better disposed person to + speak to these poor girls upon their light and improper + discourse, I would just say one word:--My dear school boys and + school girls, our Saviour says, "Love thy neighbour as + thyself." Let me then ask you, do you in any way follow this + kind command when you so treat your teachers and governors? + Think you, for an instant, of the labour, the anxiety, the + perpetual self-denial, the patience required by an instructor + of childhood, even when the children do their best; but when + deceit, hypocrisy, and hardness of heart is also added to the + giddiness and thoughtlessness of youth, what must be the + teacher's suffering?</p> + + <p>Remember that our Lord himself was subject to his parents. + Luke ii. 57. Though what could they, poor human creatures, have + taught him? Then follow, as a loving child should do, his holy + example, and remember his precept, of "love thy neighbour as + thyself," and inquire of yourself how would I like to be + treated as I treat my governess or tutor?</p> + + <p>But perhaps you would wish to listen to another couple of + girls, who soon drew a larger party round them, and what folly + were they about, you would ask? Why, one child, who was very + vain about her figure, must needs get a piece of string, or + tape, and begin to measure her companion's wrist, thumb, neck, + waist, and height, saying--"Twice round the thumb, once round + the wrist, twice round the wrist, once round the neck, twice + round the neck, once round the waist, and twice round the + waist, once the height." As Louisa Manners well knew of old + that this measurement suited herself, she was always disposed + to try any young girl by her rule, knowing well her own turn + would come, and that she would be able to appear with + satisfaction to herself; and here again I would say, was our + Lord's precept followed, of love thy neighbour as thyself? did + Louisa desire a rival? This couple, as I said, soon drew a + party round them, and after the measurement, which lasted some + time and led to a discussion of dress, most of the frocks and + sashes coming in for notice, one of the three school girls, + mentioned at first, named some new step in dancing, just + introduced at her school the last dancing day, and then such a + practising and trying of this step commenced amongst the young + ladies as made a pretty sight to look on, the young ladies + being all nicely dressed, and for the nonce thinking more of + their occupation than of themselves.</p> + + <p>In the meanwhile Reuben had been supplied with something + that served the purpose of a plaything by Mary Roscoe, and + being seated in a corner of the room away from harm or + interference, the little fellow shortly became so drowsy, that + before long, notwithstanding the noise and chattering about + him, his head drooped on his bosom, and he was so sound asleep + that he was unconscious of his uncomfortable position. He had + slept full a quarter of an hour when he was discovered by one + of the elder girls, who proposed that they should lift him from + his seat and take him to a bed in an adjoining chamber, where + he would be more comfortable. And here I must again remark, for + want of some one else to do so, that of the twelve or fourteen + girls there assembled, there was not one present who would have + been unkind to the little fellow intentionally; but yet I am + afraid, that with the exception of the good-natured Mary + Roscoe, there was hardly one who would have put themselves out + of the way on his account, or have given up a pleasure or + amusement of even five or ten minutes to comfort the boy, who + ought in truth never to have been amongst them, so little had + he been accustomed to the ways of other children, even of his + own age.</p> + + <p>Reuben slept on, and that so soundly, that when tea was + ready he was not awake, and he would probably have been wholly + forgotten if the young ladies on their way down stairs had not + made so much noise by the door of his room, that startled and + alarmed, he began to cry violently, and his good friend Mary + could not easily appease him. However, the child was really + refreshed from his sleep, and the kind girl having washed his + face and hands herself, and smoothed his pretty curling hair, + led him down with her to the room where the tea was served, and + provided him with all he wanted, and withal with such a large + lump of sugar, the like of which he had never perhaps, not even + in his dreams, possessed before. Whoever has read of Mrs. + Indulgence in "The Infant's Progress" may have some idea of + Mary's management of Reuben, but if the little one could have + spoken or reasoned on the point, how heartily would he have + said that he pined for his own dear mamma's judicious kindness + and controul, under which he used to sport all day happy and + joyful as a butterfly on a bright summer's morning.</p> + + <p>After tea, which did not last very long, the tables were + cleared away and the plays began--the elder children, as might + be expected, taking the lead, and for awhile all was order and + propriety. Fortunately for the young ones they had no lights + near them from which they could be in danger, for the lamp hung + from the ceiling and the fire was allowed to go out in the + grate. The tables, as I said before, were moved away, and the + seats were piled one above another so that a good space was + left in the room for the games, and only two chairs were kept + for Mr. and Mrs. Jameson, who had sent word to say they were + coming down to see the sport, and as they were very fond of a + dance, they expressed a wish that the evening's amusement + should begin in that way.</p> + + <p>The boys were somewhat annoyed at this, as they wanted more + active games, and Frank Farleigh absolutely proposed to change + the dance to leap-frog; however, as Mrs. Jameson wished for + dancing, no one was bold enough openly to speak against it, and + Miss Farleigh and Jane Roscoe, who were intimate friends, + played a duet together very nicely, to which the rest + danced.</p> + + <p>And now it was that Mary Roscoe first felt the annoyance she + had incurred by her kindness to Reuben, for the child did not + wish to leave her, and seeing all were dancing, or jumping to + the music as he thought, he believed he could do the same, and + clinging to her she found that to appease him she must take him + for her partner, and thus this really good-natured girl was + unable to dance with any pleasure to herself, as the little one + was unable to make his way alone. However, Mary was truly + kind-hearted, and not one cloud was on her fair brow when the + dance was finished, and she told her little partner to sit down + amidst the piled up chairs at one end of the room. But as nurse + had said Reuben was a weary little fellow, and Mary little knew + the truth, if she thought she was so easily to get rid of him, + for the child was half alarmed at the numbers of strange faces + thronging around him; he was not well, too, with the many sweet + things and fruits he had eaten, and now it was approaching his + usual bed-time, and though he had had a sleep, yet he had been + roused from it suddenly and improperly, fed with sweet cake + since, and any experienced person present might know that + shortly the child would get so excited in the scene before him, + it would be no easy matter to soothe or calm him.</p> + + <p>Now it happened that Marten, feeling exceedingly obliged to + Mary for her kindness to his brother, and equally disliking her + sister, and Miss Farleigh and some of the other young ladies, + was very anxious to dance with Mary, to thank her for her + kindness to Reuben, but he little thought that by doing so, the + child finding both his friends together must insist upon being + with them, and the second set of quadrilles was danced by poor + Mary as the first had been, the little fellow clinging to her, + for both Marten and Mary were afraid of a burst of tears if + they opposed the child in this matter. Marten, however, spoke + somewhat sharply to him, saying he was teasing Miss Mary, and + if they allowed him to dance this time, he must promise to sit + still afterwards, and not be troublesome again. Reuben knew + that he must obey his brother, so when that dance was finished + he went and sat himself down, as directed, though his young + heart was very sad, as he longed to be jumping about with the + other children. Mary was now able to enjoy herself, and I do + not hesitate to say she was very glad to get rid of Reuben and + be at liberty to run about where she would, for she was a happy + girl, and this evening she was the happiest of the happy, for + she was a favourite of all.</p> + + <p>After the dancing had continued some time, a game was fixed + upon, which game being one that kept the children seated, they + soon got tired of it, and blindman's buff was proposed and + entered into with great spirit, though, as will presently be + seen, this spirit, for want of some less indulgent to controul + it, became at last almost unbearable.</p> + + <p>It was whilst Edward Jameson was blindfolded that the first + rudeness began, for Miss Jane seized hold of a newspaper and + began rustling it so about Edward's head, that being + blindfolded he became so annoyed by it, that he began to toss + his arms about, making such rushes hither and thither, that the + girls had to run away, lest they should be struck. Whilst Jane + was teasing Edward, one of the boys seized hold of the + handkerchief that blindfolded him, and another boy made a + thrust at him in front, and it was only a wonder that Mr. and + Mrs. Jameson, who were sitting by, did not speak to the + children, to advise a little more quietness in the play. But + there were a party of young girls whispering together behind + Jane, and when Edward turned in her direction, though she + escaped, he fell amongst these girls, and, as might be + expected, such a romping scene ensued, as may often be seen at + blindman's buff. Just at this moment a servant came in to say a + gentleman had called on some business, and both Mr. and Mrs. + Jameson left the room together, to see this gentleman. They + were scarcely gone before the noise increased to such an + extent, that one or two of the servants came to the parlour + door; and well was it, as we shall shew presently, that they + did so, but Mr. and Mrs. Jameson being gone to another part of + the house, were not disturbed by the sounds. So, as I said, + Edward found himself amongst the group of young girls, who all + struggled to get away from him; and then such a scene of + running and screaming, and shouting and romping followed, as + the like of which I have no desire to see. Every one ran, and + no one knew whither they were going, and it so chanced that + some ran in the direction of where Reuben had been seated by + Marten, amidst the piled-up chairs. The child, who had been + sitting there sometime, and who did not understand the game, + for he had never seen it before, was doubtful whether to be + frightened or not; but as Edward, whom he knew so well, and who + was always kind to him, was the pursuer, and as the children + were laughing, he thought he might laugh too, and not liking + sitting still when all were running and jumping round him, he + slid down from his high seat and joined the group that had fled + to that end of the room from Edward. As ill luck would have it, + Edward turned in that direction somewhat suddenly, and there + was a loud cry of one and all to run, and instantly all did + run, Reuben too obeying the call, and setting off as fast as + his little legs would let him.</p> + + <p>As might have been expected, the elder children escaped, and + Edward caught the boy, whom he instantly named, and tearing off + the handkerchief from his eyes, he was going to tie it round + those of Reuben, when Marten interposed, and said "he would not + understand the game." Edward was, however, tired of being + blinded and of being buffetted about, and not thinking how very + young Reuben was, for he knew very little about children, as he + had no little brothers nor sisters of his own, he only said he + had caught the child, and that it was but fair he should be + blinded, as he was caught and had absolutely prevented him from + catching one of the others when they were close to him. As + Reuben himself thought it was manly to be blinded, and believed + all he had to do was to run about with the handkerchief round + his head, he was very anxious to do as Edward had done, and + Mary, to whom he pleaded for permission so to do, blinded him + herself, and as she tied the handkerchief round him she said, + "Now, young gentlemen, don't hurt the little fellow, pray be + gentle with him, for he's very young."</p> + + <p>Mary then took his hand, and leading him into the centre of + the room she slightly directed him where to go. It must be + understood that Reuben knew no one in the room but Marten, + Edward, and Mary, and as he did not know the rules of the game, + the elder boys and girls, soon wearied of the little fellow + running hither and thither, for they did not wish to hurt the + child, and so they ceased for awhile their boisterous play; + but, as might be expected, this would not last long, and Marten + stepping forwards on the little one laying hold of some boy + near him, said, "My brother does not know any one here by name, + is it not enough that he has caught some one? He does not know, + I am sure, who his hand is upon, even if he were + unblinded."</p> + + <p>"Oh! it is a boy," replied Reuben. "Me know it is a boy, and + a large boy. Yes, it is a large boy."</p> + + <p>"That is enough, is it not?" asked Marten, looking round, + "surely that's enough;" and he unbound Reuben, telling; the + child he had done very well.</p> + + <p>No one seemed inclined to dispute the point, for all saw the + child was too young to play with them; and William Stewart, the + boy caught, and who was desirous of being blindfolded, was + quite pleased to have the handkerchief tied round his head, and + now the play became more boisterous than ever, owing to the + cessation before, and probably all would have gone on well if + little Reuben, elated by his brother's telling him he had done + very well, had not chosen to join in the play, saying over and + over again to any one who would listen to him, "Me knew it was + a boy--a large boy--me knew it was a boy--me said a large + boy--yes, me felt his coat--me knew it was a large boy." This + too might have passed, and the child might have repeated his + story over and over again without much harm if he could have + got a listener, or he even might have been content without one, + if he had not fancied he understood the game as well as the + oldest present, so he entered into it with all his little + spirit, and intruded his small person where others could not + go--now here, now there, till excited and heated and confused + by those around him flying in all directions, he was thrown + down, and as he did not fall alone, the poor little fellow was + rather severely hurt. And now in that one moment of downfall + was assembled all the troubles of the day,--weary, excited, + hurt, and overfed, he began to cry, and that so violently, that + those who lifted him up trusted to his being not really injured + by the very noise he made in his distress. Marten and Mary ran + to him, but they were as strangers to him, for his eyes were + dimmed by tears, and his ears closed by his own wailings; and + luckily for all three one of the servants, for, as I said + before, they had come to see the young people at play, and who + was a motherly kind of woman, advanced into the room and + offered to take the charge of the child and comfort him before + she put him to bed. Marten was most thankful for this offer, + and you may be sure Mary was not sorry to part with the sobbing + boy, and thus Marten put it out of his own power to keep his + voluntary boast to Nurse at home about sleeping with his + brother, for when the riotous evening closed, for it was a very + riotous evening, Reuben had been asleep some hours, and in a + quarter of the house appropriated to the use of the young + ladies where beds were as plentiful as requisite on an occasion + like the present. Marten then had nothing for it but to beg + Mary to see after his brother, which the young lady as + thoughtlessly promised to do, and then he accompanied his young + companions to that department of the house appropriated to the + use of the boys, where, as might be expected after a little + more rude sport, he fell into a sleep so profound and long, + that every thought of Reuben was banished from his mind. And + now, to return to the poor baby, the victim of mismanagement, + or of his brother's self-conceit. Sobbing and roaring he was + carried or dragged up stairs, undressed, and put to bed, where + the extreme violence of his grief proved its own relief, for he + fell asleep with the tear in his eye, and long long after the + cause of sorrow was forgotten, his sobs might be heard + proclaiming that the effect even now had not passed away. By + and bye, however, the calm of sleep restored him more to + himself again, and before the motherly woman who had taken pity + on him left the chamber, he was sleeping the refreshing sleep + of childhood.</p> + + <p>As the young people had gone to bed so late the evening + before, for it was quite twelve o'clock, and the next day was + also to be a day of indulgence, it was nearly half-past eight + before Marten awoke, and what with one thing and another it was + quite nine before he had an opportunity of asking any one after + Reuben, or indeed of discovering that no one knew anything of + the little one farther than that he had awoke at his usual + hour, seven o'clock; that the kind woman who had attended him + the night before had helped to wash and dress him, and having + told him to be quiet, lest he should awake the children asleep + in his bed room, she left him as she thought safe in the young + ladies' sitting room, to amuse himself as best he might. Two + hours nearly had passed since then, and no further information + could be obtained of the little boy; but he was gone, that was + certain for he was nowhere to be found in any part of Mr. + Jameson's large house. It so happened that breakfast had + commenced, and Marten and some of the bigger boys had nearly + finished the meal before all the young ladies came down, and as + Mary Roscoe chanced to be late, for this good natured girl had + been helping others as usual, Marten did not discover the + absence of his brother till she entered the room and seated + herself at the table. Then he stepped round to her and asked if + Reuben would soon be down. "Oh! dear little fellow," exclaimed + Mary, starting up, "He did not sleep in my room, so I know + nothing about him; but now I will run to find him to bring him + to breakfast. I dare say he has overslept himself, or I should + have heard of him before now."</p> + + <p>"If you are speaking of the little boy who cried so bitterly + at blindman's buff, Mary," said a Miss Lomax, "he was put to + sleep in a little bed by himself in our room. Maria and myself + noticed how soundly he slept through all the noise we made when + we went to our rooms, but when we got up this morning the + little fellow was gone, and we wondered who had drest him and + taken him away so quietly as not to disturb us."</p> + + <p>"Oh! then I'll find him in a minute," said Mary, "if he has + been drest so long he must be sadly in want of his breakfast, + poor little darling," and Mary was half way up stairs before + she had finished her speech.</p> + + <p>And now how shall I describe what a fearful state the whole + house was in before ten minutes more had passed away: the child + was lost, the fearful question of where and how he might be + found was on everybody's lips. Poor Marten, it was dreadful to + see his terror and grief, and Mary, oh! how negligent Mary felt + herself, for had she not assisted greatly to his loss by taking + him from his brother, and had she not promised that brother the + evening before to see him in his bed and look after him, which + she had forgotten to do. Jenkins, too, the motherly female who + had so kindly attended the little one the night before, how did + she blame herself for not taking the child with her after she + had dressed him, when she was obliged to go to her work, which + was much increased that morning by the state in which the young + people had left the room, the scene of the last night's + revels.</p> + + <p>And here I would make a remark, which I must beg no one to + reject, without well weighing the idea. The most amiable + females of the party assembled at Mrs. Jameson's, Mary Roscoe + and Jenkins, who had put themselves most out of their way, and + had really acted the kindest by the child, were those who felt + the most in the affair, and most blamed themselves for their + own conduct, whereas if all had tried their best, as they did, + the little fellow would have ever had some kind heart beside + him to soothe and comfort him, and some one might have + anticipated his uneasiness at finding himself alone amongst + strangers. Anyhow they would not have been as strangers to him, + for he afterwards acknowledged, on being questioned, that had + Miss Mary been sleeping in the room, he should not have done as + he did. But now to my remark, those who strive to do best have + the most tender consciences, and the more one strives after + right the more scrupulous and tender does the conscience + become, and the more does it aspire after noble feelings and + honourable thoughts and actions. This is a work of the Divine + Spirit and of no mortal power, and it is a training for glory, + purifying our hearts for a divine home, obtained for us through + our Saviour's death and righteousness, and in familiar language + we will liken it after this manner. Supposing two children + stand side by side in the open street, one is the child of a + king, nicely drest and delicately clean, as would be expected + from his noble birth and expectation, the other is the little + hedge-side vagrant, to whose young face water or cleansing has + probably been unknown. Imagine, then, ought passing these two + children, which could pollute their persons, what would be + their feelings? the one might even laugh at the filth or mud + that bespattered him, the other would shrink with loathing or + disgust, and would not be easy or comfortable till every effort + was taken to remove the stain. And we are children of the King + of kings, we are washed and clothed by Him, and the more our + garments are fitted for our future station, the fairer are our + inward persons; the more do we feel annoyed and grieved by any + foul spot, which could sully their purity and disfigure their + beauty. My young readers remember this, and smile no more at + sin; aye, and shun carefully its stains that would pollute you, + and when they do alight upon you, remember whose blood alone it + is can purge away their slightest trace.</p> + + <p>Poor Mary had no breakfast that morning, nor no comfort nor + rest either, for after searching for the child all over the + house, she must needs look for him in the gardens, the pleasure + grounds, the lawn, behind each tree and shrub, and even in the + stables and offices, but no Reuben was to be met with, and the + dear little girl, when wearied out with searching sat down to + weep and lament herself, starting up occasionally when some + fresh place came to her mind, and running to it, but to meet + with disappointment and increased alarm. But Mary was not alone + in the search, for both Mr. and Mrs. Jameson were full of + anxiety respecting the child, and trusty men were sent in all + directions to look after the lost one; and when Mr. Jameson + spoke to his lady on the imprudence of having invited so young + a child, she replied, that having given permission to their son + to ask a certain number of young people, she had not attended + to him when he named the bidden guests, taking it for granted + that a boy of thirteen would prefer companions of his own size + to a child of Reuben's tender age. And now it came out from + Edward how Marten had refused to come without his brother, and + that Mr. and Mrs. Mortimer were from home, and this, as might + be expected, added not a little to the distress of Mr. and Mrs. + Jameson, for hitherto they had thought the child had visited + them with the permission of his parents, and now that they + heard that those parents were at Portsmouth, they were more and + more uneasy, and they blamed themselves not a little for having + been so indulgent in their direction to Edward. "But, indeed," + said Mrs. Jameson, "one could not have foreseen these + circumstances, and when I saw little Reuben seated by Mary at + the dinner table, though I wondered at his presence, yet he + seemed so happy I believed all was right with him." But the + lesson was not lost upon Mr. and Mrs. Jameson, nor on Edward, + and I am happy to say, in future the latter was more ready to + ask advice of his parents than before this affair, for he too + was very uneasy about Reuben. As to Marten, without thinking of + his hat, on learning that the child could not be found in the + house nor in the pleasure grounds, he told one of the men who + was sent with him by Mr. Jameson, that he should go home as + fast as he could to see if his brother might not have made his + way there, or at least be met with upon the road. The distance + from one house to the other was, as I said before, four miles, + and though poor Marten had little expectation that the tender + child could find his way so far, even if he knew the right + road, yet he understood the little one so well, that he felt + convinced he would at least attempt to get to his home, so that + he considered it useless to look for him in any other + direction. And now we must leave the unhappy and alarmed + brother to speak of little Reuben, who was left, as we + mentioned, by Jenkins in the sitting-room with a few toys near + him. Never had Reuben been so left to himself before, but still + for a short time, though it was for a very short time he was + content, then came a wish for his breakfast, and with it the + remembrance that if his mamma had been with him he would even + then be in her dressing-room. She would be listening to his + prattle, or he would be occupied in doing something for her + which he considered was useful, but which in reality she could + herself have done with half the time that she was obliged to + give to her baby boy. The thoughts of his mamma made the + forlorn one cry, and call upon her name, but no one heard his + sobs or saw his tears, and with it came a recollection of the + sorrows of yesterday, and he suddenly thought "Where is Marten? + Where can Marten be? Is he gone? Has he left Reuben?" The idea + was not to be borne by the poor child in a state of quietness, + he rose from his seat, dropped his toys from his lap, and + without looking back he went to the door, which being ajar he + opened wider and passed through into the gallery. His friends, + he believed, had left him; they were at home. His mamma, too, + he thought, might be there with his papa and Marten, and, + anyhow, he was sure Nurse was there, Nurse who loved him so, + and whom he loved so dearly. So down the stairs stepped the + sorrowing baby, holding the banisters with both small hands, + for it was necessary for him in descending the steps to have + both feet at one time on each, and noiselessly almost did he + proceed, for his fairy tread made no sound, and his sobs were + tried to be suppressed, in the earnest determination to attempt + to find his way to his home. And now he reached the last step, + and lightly did he run across the hall to the great door, which + was open, and with some difficulty, for there were more steps; + he arrived at the carriage drive between the house and lawn, + whereon he had seen the lamb the day before.</p> + + <p>And now would I could picture the little one, as he stood in + his short red frock, blown by the breeze which showed his + dimpled knee, for his white sock did not extend much above his + shoe. His arms, neck, and head were without covering, and his + pretty curls played around his face in graceful confusion. + Calling on his mamma and upon Marten, he took the carriage + drive towards the gates, so far not having a doubt he was in + the direction of his home, and unseen by any one, he passed + through a small gate into the high road. Here he might have + been puzzled which way to take, if it had not been for a clump + of eight elm trees on the left hand road, and he had often + heard John and Marten talk of those elm trees, for they were + called the "Nine Elms," and yet Marten had said there were only + eight now, and whenever he had gone to Mr. Jameson's with his + papa and mamma, and John who drove them, John had kept the + carriage waiting under the elms, and he used to put Reuben out + of the carriage amidst the trees, to run in and out amongst + them, touching one after the other, whilst John taught him to + count them, saying one, two, three, four, and so on. So Reuben + knew he must pass the elm trees, and as he was just awake, and + the morning fresh and pleasant, his small feet carried him + along some way nicely, and even swiftly, and for a few minutes, + they were not many, all seemed promising, and the inexperienced + one believed he should soon be at his home. After the clump of + trees, the baby so confidently considered he was in the right + way, that when he came to a place where two roads joined the + one up which he had ran, he never looked about him, fancying + they must both go to his home, and not yet being weary, he + took, as might be feared, the wrong turn, and soon he heard + distinctly the roaring of a cascade, much famed in those parts, + as it dashed over the rocks in the direction in which he was + going Now Reuben knew the sound of the cascade, for he had + lived near it all his young life, and he knew it was not far + from his home; but he did not consider that he never passed it + on his way from his father's house to Mr. Jameson's, but still, + not mistrusting the road he was going, he ran along till he + suddenly found by a turn of the lane, that he was in full front + of the stream. The child however was not disconcerted by this, + and the fresh air meeting him, and for the moment raising his + spirits, he stepped on over the loose stones brought down at + different times by the waters, boldly, and even gaily, though + his course was impeded by the unevenness of the way. He must + have stepped on some distance, when all of a sudden he was + unable to proceed farther along the path, by the jutting out of + a rock into the stream, for the water was pouring down rapidly + and more profusely than was general, for there had been heavy + rains in the mountains, and thus the bed of the torrent was + fully covered, its width being very inconsiderable beneath the + rock. The spot was one wholly unknown to the child, and surely + it was a terrible sight to meet the eye of a babe, who hitherto + had not known what it was to be left without a mother's or + nurse's care. The place was in the heart of a mountain gorge, + famed for its rare beauty, and the cascade came dashing from + the rocks, which were very bold and picturesque in the little + creek or gully where the child stood. The water, as I said, was + pouring down white with foam, and majestically pursuing its + course, shaking the earth around with its terrible + roarings.</p> + + <p>Fancy our little forlorn one then standing under the shelter + of the rock, which, hanging over him in rough masses, + threatened to fall an crush his baby form, the stream rushing + impetuously at his feet, and one little place beneath the rock, + in fact part of the rock itself being somewhat elevated from + the bed of the stream below, forming his only secure and dry + resting place. I have said before, he had no covering on fit + for walking attire, his arms, neck, and head being fully + exposed to the breezes which now blew cruelly on his young + figure, so that he could scarcely keep his feet, and glad was + he to creep under the shelter of the threatening rock. There he + stood looking around him in wild despair, for he had raised his + voice to cry for pity, and its infant tones were not heard + amidst the roaring waters; again and again he looked round him, + but no help was there, and he trembled more from fear than + cold. He was frightened at the roaring waters, for they seemed + to him to be approaching, and wholly overcome with fear and + wretchedness, and quite incapable of contending against his + unhappy situation, he crouched beneath the threatening rock, + too miserable to shed a tear. "Mamma, mamma," he said,--"Mamma, + mamma," and that weak cry was repeated again and again, though + no human ear could hear his sorrows or soothe his cries. Poor + baby, what availed it then? your earthly father was the + tenderest of parents--he could not have foreseen this trouble, + and therefore he could not have been armed against it, but your + heavenly Father's eye was on you, little one, and his eyes are + ever on infants, the loveliest beings of his creation, and he + who spared Nineveh, because there were in that wicked city more + than six score thousand souls, who knew not their right hands + from their left, still watches over his babies now, for has he + not said of "Such is the kingdom of heaven."</p> + + <p>But observe the little one, what makes his cry of 'Mamma, + Mamma,' cease? the babe has heard a sound, a pleasant sound, + and he forgets his trouble. It is the sweet song of a bird upon + a branch of a tree on the rock above him, and the bird likes + the morning air and the sound of the waters, and he is singing + his song of joy, and Reuben listened to him and was pleased, + and then the little bird hopped down from his high perch and + came lower and lower till he was quite close to the child, so + close that the little one held out his hand, which frightened + away the pretty bird, and Reuben was once more alone again, and + commenced his cry of "Mamma, Mamma, come to Reuben, Mamma." But + the bird had come to the rock because it had seen some bright + berries on the bushes there, and before it had began its song + it had pecked off one or two with its bill, or perhaps it might + have been that other birds had pecked them off, and then + rejected them, or the wind might have blown them from the + parent bush; be that as it may, there were about as many as a + dozen red berries scattered on the ground, where the little + bird had hopped, and Reuben had seen them in looking at the + bird, and now he began to collect them, looking here and there + to find some more, and he thought if he put them into a nice + heap together, their bright red colour would draw thither + another singing bird to visit him. So he collected his berries, + and tried to pile them together, and thus more time passed, for + whilst doing so, every little thing seemed to divert his + attention--a skeleton leaf, a small flower, a smooth pebble, a + drop of water sparkling in the sunshine, all attracted his + infant eye, and thus, as we might say, his heavenly Father + watched over the boy and soothed him from the real sorrows of + his situation, till the time of his deliverance was at hand. + And are we not children of a large growth? are not our sorrows + soothed and relieved by our Creator's mercies? and are not + innocent pleasures and consolations put in the way of every + child of God? and it is our own fault, yes, our own fault, and + very much are we to blame when we reject the blessings of + consolations offered us. "When our Saviour left us, he promised + to send us a comforter to abide with us for ever." John xiv. + 16; and as the Divine Spirit never fails in his fulfilment of + his promises, be assured, you mourners, if you are not + comforted, it is because you will not accept the consolation + offered to you; for he has said, "I will not leave you + comfortless, for he shall dwell with you, and shall be in you." + John xiv. 17 and 18.</p> + + <p>But why does little Reuben suddenly move his curls from off + his cheek? why does he listen, as he never listened before? and + why does a merry little laugh escape his lips? and then he + listens again, and now he does not laugh, but springing to his + feet, with arms extended, he calls out "Nero, Nero." It is not + that Nero hears that baby voice, it is not that the noble dog + responds to the call, for the soft sound is lost amidst the + roar of the waters; but he who fed Elijah by the means of + ravens, and taught the dove to bear the olive leaf to Noah, has + guided hither to the child a sure and safe conductor to his + home. Look, look there! across the stream stands Nero. Nero let + out by Thomas for a wild run for exercise as directed first by + Mr. Mortimer, and then by Marten; there he stood, his eyes red + with eagerness, his tongue protruding, and panting and + impatient as not knowing where next to turn his agile bounds. + But not for another moment did this hesitation continue, for + Reuben ran to the edge of the rock, both arms extended, and + scarcely able for the breeze to keep his little feet firm upon + the ground. "Nero, Nero," he cried, and almost ere his lips had + closed, after the appeal, the noble dog, with a glorious bound + sprang from stepping-stone to stepping-stone across the stream, + and had overwhelmed the boy with his caresses. What mattered it + to Reuben, that his kind friend in his joy at their meeting had + absolutely overturned the child upon the ground? What cared he + for that? It was Nero, his own Nero, his Nero from home, and + Reuben did so love him, and Nero returned his love so warmly, + and they were always so happy together, and there was no danger + to be feared for Reuben, whilst the faithful animal was by him, + which he had power to ward off. Reuben had recognised the dog's + bark even amidst the waters roar, and that had made him laugh, + for he never doubted that Nero would come to him shortly. And + now I don't know how to tell how the rest happened, for in + truth Reuben never could explain how things went on, + particularly after the arrival of Nero, and there was no other + living thing in that solitude but the child and dog. All that + Reuben could recollect afterwards was, that he was cold and + hungry, and that he wished to get home, and that Nero, too, + seemed even more anxious than himself to get home, but Reuben + dared not cross the stream, and Nero seemed almost as unwilling + as himself to take the child across, and yet the faithful + creature would not leave the boy for more able assistance. + Reuben was frightened at the threatening rock above his head, + and yet he knew not how to leave it, for he had run on far + enough to lose the way to the lane which led to Mr. Jameson's, + and he was frightened at all around, and shivering and hungry, + for he had tasted no food that morning.</p> + + <center> + <img src="image116.jpg" + alt="Page 119 Image" + height="779" + width="600"> + </center> + + <p>At last, finding all his efforts useless to tempt the little + one across the stream, a new idea seemed to strike the sensible + dog, for Nero was very sensible. He seemed all of a sudden to + bethink himself that there might be another road home; and + taking hold of Reuben's dress in his mouth, he attempted to + draw him along the road the child had come. Now to this the + little one was rather inclined, for he believed it would take + him home, but on attempting to walk he found that he had hurt + his foot before he had reached the rock, and that the cold air + had made it stiff and painful. Poor Reuben was going to cry, + and then I do not know what would have happened if Nero, + finding out that something was wrong, had not seated himself + beside the child on the ground to comfort him; and in so doing, + reminded Reuben that Marten always told Nero to sit on the + ground before he told his brother to get on the dog's back for + a ride, for Reuben often took a ride on Nero's back. And now, + then, fancy the child seated upon Nero, who rose at once gently + from the ground, and with great care and stateliness commenced + his progress homewards. It is said that a white elephant will + not allow any one to ride upon him who is not of royal descent, + and then the king of beasts steps on with full consciousness of + the honour of his kingly burthen; but what could his pride be, + compared with that of Nero's, as the faithful creature stepped + on and on with his infant rider? It was not, after all, so slow + a progress as might have been imagined, and as it is believed + the dog followed the scent of the child's footsteps, he + naturally went up the lane the little one had trod that + morning. On arriving where the road divided, Nero was, however, + no longer at a loss, for he knew which direction his own home + lay, and Nero was not likely to be tempted elsewhere than home, + for if he could have reasoned he would have said, in as strong + terms as nurse herself could have used, that Reuben had better + be at home than anywhere else whilst he was so young. Nero, as + I said, now knew the road, for he had often accompanied the + different members of Mr. Mortimer's family when they went to + visit Mr. Jameson's, and how carefully, on account of his young + rider, did he step on his way towards home.</p> + + <p>And now I could say a great deal upon the fidelity of Nero, + the trustfulness of Reuben, and the useful lesson the little + one was learning; but I am anxious to speak of Marten and + nurse, and all those who loved the child and trembled for his + loss. And yet I cannot talk of their distress, the deep deep + remorse of Marten, his full and complete acknowledgment of his + own carelessness and ignorance of himself, so that nurse could + not even say one word to him, though her tears and sobs were a + deep reproach. No, I cannot speak of this, I would rather tell + of how in the midst of all this trouble, tears were changed to + smiles, and even laughter took the place of sobs, when Reuben + came riding into the court yard tired, cold, and hungry, it is + true, but no little important at his wonderful adventure. And + then came such kisses and caresses, such warming by the kitchen + fire, such a comfortable breakfast for the child, such luxuries + for the dog, which Reuben was allowed to bestow; and then such + runnings hither and thither to inform all the kind searchers + all was right with the child, and such congratulations, that I + should never have done, if I attempt but to repeat one half of + them; so let me conclude in these words of the apostle, "Let no + man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot + be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man. But every + man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lust and + enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin; + and sin when it is finished, bringeth forth death." James i. + 13, 14, 15. But our Saviour has declared, "I will ransom them + from the power of the grave. I will redeem them from death. Oh! + death, I will be thy plague: Oh! grave, I will be thy + destruction." Hosea xiii. 14.</p> + + <p>By this little narrative we are taught that whoever fills + himself up with the belief that he is wise and clever, will be + apt, like Marten, to fall into some sort of trouble, which he + did not look forward to. All the wisdom of man lies in knowing + that unless he is guided in all his actions by his heavenly + Father, he is sure to go wrong, let his age or condition be + what it may. If little Reuben had been really lost or hurt, + very severe indeed would have been the punishment of Marten for + his conceit, but God in his tender love let him off for his + fright only; which, however, we doubt not, was sharp enough to + make him remember the lesson all his life.</p> + + <p>It is well for poor sinful men, women, and children, + however, that they have a brother, even the Lord the Saviour in + his human person, who cannot forget them as Marten forgot + Reuben, no, not for one moment.</p> + <hr style="width: 65%;"> + <a name="POPULAR_JUVENILE_BOOKS"></a> + + <h2>POPULAR JUVENILE BOOKS,</h2>Of established reputation, + which may be safely placed into the hands of Children, blending + Amusement with Instruction. + + <p><b>DARTON'S HOLIDAY LIBRARY.</b></p> + + <p><i>A Series of Shilling Volumes for the Young</i>,</p> + + <p>BY APPROVED AUTHORS.</p> + + <p>No. 1.--MARY LEESON, by Mary Howitt. Illustrated by J. + Absolon.</p> + + <p>No. 2.--TAKE CARE OF NO. 1, or Good to Me includes Good to + Thee, by S.E. Goodrich, Esq. (the Original Peter Parley). + Illustrated by Gilbert.</p> + + <p>No. 3.--HOW TO SPEND A WEEK HAPPILY, by Mrs. Burbury. With + Illustrations.</p> + + <p>No. 4.--POEMS FOR YOUNG CHILDREN, by "Adelaide," one of the + amiable Authoresses of "Original Poems." With + Illustrations.</p> + + <p>No. 5.--THE YOUNG LORD, by Camilla Toulmin; and VICTORINE + DUROCHER, by Mrs. Sherwood. With Illustrations.</p> + + <p>No. 6.--PAULINE. A Tale from the German. With + Illustrations.</p> + + <p>No. 7.--HOUSEHOLD STORIES. With Illustrations.</p> + + <p>Nos. 8 and 9.--IN-DOOR AND OUT-DOOR SPORTS.</p> + + <p>No. 10.--STORIES OF ENTERPRISE AND ADVENTURE; or, EXCITEMENT + TO READING. Illustrated with Wood Engravings, from designs by + Absolon.</p> + + <p>No. 11.--The BOOK OF RIDDLES, ETC.</p> + + <p><b>CRITICAL REMARKS.</b></p> + + <p>"The Volumes of DARTON'S HOLIDAY LIBRARY which have reached + us, comprise a most interesting Series of Books for Young + People, written by some of our most Popular Authors, and all + having a tendency towards the formation of correct principles + and habits in the minds of the Young. They blend amusement with + instruction in the most delightful manner. We cordially + recommend them as by far the best books of their class."</p> + <hr style="width: 65%;"> + <a name="Neatly_bound_in_cloth"></a> <br> + Neatly bound in cloth, + + <p><b>FIRST LINES OF BOTANY,</b></p> + + <p>BY W. BERNHARD TEGETMEIER.</p> + + <p>"This little work is a complete compendium of botanical + science, written in a very clear and effective manner, and + embodying the most popular classification of plants. It is a + work that may be consulted by the old as well as the young with + great advantage, and to those who are fond of gardening it will + be of great practical use."</p> + + <p>SPECIMEN FROM PAGE 57. THE CONVOLVULUS TRIBE.</p> + + <p>"181. The common bind-weed of our hedges may be taken as the + representative of this very natural tribe of plants, + distinguished by their <i>twining habit</i>, and by the + peculiar <i>plaited manner</i> in which the corolla is folded + in the bud."</p> + + <p>"182. The calyx consists of five sepals, two of which are + outside the remainder; there are five stamens, and a superior + pistil, containing three or four cells, with about two seeds in + each."</p> + + <p>QUESTIONS APPENDED AT THE FOOT.</p> + + <p>"181. What are the marks distinguishing the convolvulus + tribe?"</p> + + <p>"182. Describe the remaining parts of the flower?"</p> + <hr width="100%"> + <br> + + + <p><i>JUST PUBLISHED, PRICE NINEPENCE EACH,--</i></p> + + <p><b>THE CATECHISM OF MODERN HISTORY;</b></p> + + <p>Also, New Editions of the following Catechisms,</p> + + <p>BY THE REV. T. WILSON:</p> + + <p>Catechism of the History of England. Catechism of Bible + History. Catechism of English Grammar. Catechism of Astronomy. + Catechism of Geography. Catechism of Music. First Catechism of + Common Things.</p> + + <p>Second Catechism of Common Things. Third Catechism of Common + Things. First Catechism of Natural Philosophy. Second Catechism + of Natural Philosophy. Third Catechism of Natural Philosophy. + Catechism of Botany. Two Parts. Catechism of Biography. Two + Parts.</p> + + <p>"The Catechisms of the Rev. T. Wilson stand foremost in the + rank of this mode of teaching, and the series fills a hiatus in + this department of literature. They embody a vast amount of + information in every branch of science, and are well worthy the + attention of Schoolmasters, Pupil Teachers, and + Governesses."</p> + <hr style="width: 65%;"> + <br> + + + <p><b>THE CHILD'S BOOK OF FACTS,</b><br> + Comprising the First, Second, and Third Catechisms of Common + Things.</p> + + <p>BY THE REV. T. WILSON.</p> + + <p>"This work may he regarded as a sequel to the 'Mother's + Question Book,' which the author has, in his style and method, + followed as a model. It presents an immense quantity of + interesting facts to the young mind, and affords information of + the most useful kind rendered clear and simple."--<i>Journal of + Education</i>.</p> + + <p>SPECIMEN OF THE QUESTIONS.</p> + + <p>"What is meant by the terms art and science?" "What are the + principal of the arts?" "How are they distinguished?"</p> + <hr width="100%"> + <br> + + + <p>Neatly and strongly bound in cloth,</p> + + <p><b>LESSONS ON NATURAL PHILOSOPHY, FOR CHILDREN,</b></p> + + <p>BY THE REV. T. WILSON.</p> + + <p>"These Lessons consist of initiatory information upon the + Phenomena of Nature, the Mechanical Powers, Astronomy, + Geography, Light and Heat, Electricity, Attraction, Chemistry, + Magnetism, and include a great variety of valuable matter, + condensed and simplified in a very clever manner by the + author."--<i>Monthly Magazine</i>.</p> + + <p>SPECIMEN OF THE ABOVE.</p> + + <p>"When you open a door, what is the weight that you + move?"</p> + + <p>"When you throw a ball, what becomes of it?"</p> + + <p>"What makes the weight go down to the bottom of a + clock?"</p> + + <p>GUTTA PERCHA, & ITS USES TO MAN.</p> + + <p>WITH COLOURED PLATES.</p> + + <p>Foolscap 4to. and Wrapper printed in Gold, price 1s.</p> + <hr style="width: 65%;"> + + <h2>JUVENILE AND EDUCATIONAL.</h2>Strongly bound in cloth, in + 18mo., + + <p><b>THE MOTHER'S QUESTION BOOK;</b></p> + + <p><b>OR,</b></p> + + <p><b>CHILD'S FIRST GUIDE TO KNOWLEDGE,</b></p> + + <p>COMPRISING THE FIRST, SECOND, AND THIRD MOTHER'S + CATECHISMS,</p> + + <p>BY THE REV. DAVID BLAIR.</p> + + <p>"The name of Dr. Blair is identified with elementary + knowledge; and these, the genuine productions of his pen, are + well worthy the attention of the parent and + teacher."--<i>Educational Magazine</i>.</p> + + <p>SPECIMEN OF THE ABOVE FROM PAGE 52.--"Q. What are the + objects of all manufactures?"</p> + + <p>"A. To make the necessaries and conveniences of life; as + clothing, tools, and furniture."</p> + + <p>"Q. Of what is clothing made?"</p> + + <p>"A. Clothing is made of wool, flax, cotton, silk, or + leather; and there are great manufactures of each of + these."</p> + + <p>"Q. Of what are tools made?"</p> + + <p>"A. Of wood, iron, steel, and brass."</p> + + <p>"Q. Of what is furniture made?"</p> + + <p>"A. Of oak and deal, with brass ornaments, with beds of + cotton or linen, and hair mattresses or feather beds."</p> + <hr width="100%"> + <br> + + + <p><b>THE EARLY EDUCATOR,</b></p> + + <p><b>OR,</b></p> + + <p><b>FIRST LESSONS IN USEFUL KNOWLEDGE:</b></p> + + <p>BY WM. MARTIN.</p> + + <p>"Mr. Martin has been long and deservedly celebrated as being + one of the first improvers of the systems of modern education, + and his numerous publications prove him to be not merely a + theorist, but a thorough practical teacher; a great advantage + to those who prepare books for the young."--<i>Morning + Herald.</i></p> + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Brotherly Love, by Mrs. Sherwood + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BROTHERLY LOVE *** + +***** This file should be named 11213-h.htm or 11213-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/1/2/1/11213/ + +Produced by Loriba Barber and PG Distributed Proofreaders + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Brotherly Love + Shewing That As Merely Human It May Not Always Be Depended Upon + +Author: Mrs. Sherwood + +Release Date: February 21, 2004 [EBook #11213] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BROTHERLY LOVE *** + + + + +Produced by Loriba Barber and PG Distributed Proofreaders + + + + +[Illustration] + +BROTHERLY LOVE; + +SHEWING + +That as merely human it may not always be depended upon. + +BY + +MRS. SHERWOOD + +AND HER DAUGHTER, + +MRS. STREETEN. + + + +1851. + + + + +THE BROTHERS; + +OR, + +BE NOT WISE IN YOUR OWN CONCEIT. + + +It was at that time of year when leaves begin to lose their green hue, +and are first tinctured with a brown shade that increases rather than +decreases their beauty, that Mr. and Mrs. Mortimer received a letter +from a brother of Mrs. Mortimer's, at Portsmouth, requiring such +immediate attention that it was thought advisable that the answer should +be given in person and not in writing, and without a day's loss of time. +So it was determined that Mr. and Mrs. Mortimer should leave their home, +even as soon as the following morning, to visit their brother at +Portsmouth, and that they then should settle the business for which they +went as quickly as possible, that their absence from home need not be +prolonged unnecessarily, nor indeed for any length of time. It did not +take long to arrange this part of the affair, and what packing was +requisite was also done quickly, but the point which required most +attention and thought was, what was to become of Marten and his young +brother Reuben while their papa and mamma were away. "I have never left +them before," said their mamma, "and I feel somewhat anxious about their +being left now." + +"Anxious, dear mamma," exclaimed Marten, who had overheard the remark. +"Anxious," he repeated, "why I am a great boy now, and I shall soon be a +man, when I shall have to take care of myself altogether; and if I +cannot take care of myself for a week, what is to become of me when I +am grown up? Indeed, mamma, I think you forget how old I am. I was +thirteen on the 21st of April." + +"Tirteen," lisped little Reuben--"Marten tirteen--April--Oh, Marten very +old mamma--very, very wise;" and Reuben opened his eyes quite wide and +looked so very earnestly in his mother's face, that one would have +thought he was trying to read therein what she could mean about being +anxious as to leaving Marten,--the Marten who appeared so very old and +so very wise to him,--to take care of himself for a few days without his +parents protection. "Thirteen," repeated Mrs. Mortimer, "thirteen no +doubt seems very, aye very old, to you Reuben, for you are not yet half +that age; but I am more than three times that age," she added, smiling, +"and that you know must make me very, very much wiser than Marten, and +now once again I say I am anxious about leaving you without your father +or myself, and I should be more anxious than I am if I did not believe +it is our duty to go at once to Portsmouth; and that it being right for +us to go, I can leave you, my boys, in God's care, who is the tenderest +of fathers to his children." + +"But mamma," asked Marten, "why do you fear for me? Am I not steady, +mamma? Do not I like to do what you and papa tell me to do? Am I ever +obstinate or rebellious to you? Indeed, mamma, I feel quite grieved; I +think it is unjust to mistrust me, mamma, really I do." + +"If you feared for yourself, I should have less fear for you, Marten," +replied Mrs. Mortimer, "for I know well that the heart of man is by +nature prone to sin, and that our thoughts and desires while we are on +earth are like our natures, full of imperfections. Temptations are ever +before us--they press upon us every minute, and it is not in our own +strength we can resist or overcome even one of them, and while this +life lasts we are not safe, unless we acknowledge their powerful +influence and trust in the Divine Spirit alone to be able to withstand +them." + +"I have not been thought a disobedient boy till now," said Marten +somewhat sulkily. "I think my usual conduct should plead for me." + +"Every child has temptations, Marten," replied his mamma, "and every +well behaved child, though not a pious one, resists them: and in truth +these temptations are so numerous, that one scarcely thinks of them, +unless we witness the conduct of a spoiled baby, as shame prevents grown +up persons giving way to many things. But I want you to see that in this +life we are in a state of constant trial, and as St. Paul says, if it +were only for this life, a Christian is of all men most miserable; for +added to these outward temptations, which assail all mankind daily and +hourly, the Christian knows he must resist inward temptations, which +perhaps are known to none but himself and his God. These temptations are +more pressing than other temptations, on account of their peculiar +nature: for the one, if indulged in, brings the displeasure or frowns of +the world--the other, as I said before, is perhaps unknown to all human +beings but oneself." + +"Well, but mamma," said Marten impatiently, "I do know all this, for you +have taught it me before. It is not like as if I had to learn the thing +now for the first time. I think you are too severe, mamma, indeed I do; +and when you come back, I believe you will say so. Trust me, mamma, and +do not be anxious about me. I shall do very well, and I promise to take +good care of Reuben. I will see to his lessons, and do my own, and he +shall sleep with me while you are away, and I will attend carefully to +him and never leave him, and when I am learning my Latin, he can be in +the room with me, and we shall do very well together, I promise you. So +trust me, mamma, without anxiety of any sort." + +"I will trust you," replied Mrs. Mortimer smiling kindly, "but not with +yourself Marten, for I see clearly you have a lesson to learn, my boy, +and I hope you will learn it shortly, without much trouble to yourself. +You think you are going to fulfil all your duties in your own strength, +as they ought to be fulfilled. You will see that you cannot. Could human +nature, unassisted by the Divine nature, have done so, then what need +would there have been for the Son of God to have taken our form and +purified our nature in himself? By grace alone are we saved, for there +is none good--no, not one; but as God is holy, we must be holy, ere we +can dwell with Him, and the work of the Divine Spirit is to make us +pure; and while we are in the flesh, to uphold us in the right and +straight road, till being made one with God our sanctification is +accomplished. Now then is our hour of temptation. Marten--and believe +me, my boy, if you attempt to withstand that temptation in your own +strength, you are like one putting fire to tow, and expecting it will +escape conflagration." + +Marten made no reply, for he was tired of the subject; but after Mrs. +Mortimer had left the room, he said to Reuben--"Well, we shall see what +we shall see, and mamma shall acknowledge I am right after all." So the +carriage came to the door next morning betimes, and Mr. and Mrs. +Mortimer got into it, and Marten and Reuben stood in the coach drive to +hold the gate open for the carriage to pass through; and the great dog +Nero stood by them very much excited, not knowing whether to go with the +carriage or to stay with the boys. + +"Be sure you see Nero has a run every day, Marten," said Mr. Mortimer, +as the carriage passed through the gate--"that dog wants plenty of +exercise." + +"Oh! don't fear, papa, I shall not forget him," replied Marten, running +a step or two after the carriage; "and mamma, I will attend to your +doves--you had forgotten to speak about them, had you not, mamma? I will +remember them and Nero too, papa, and Reuben also. Yes, I will attend to +all--I shall have plenty of time for all. Have you anything more you +wish done, papa?" and Marten was obliged to stop speaking, as the +carriage was now going on rapidly, and he found he could not talk and +keep up with it at the same time. + +"No, no, Marten," replied Mr. Mortimer laughing--"No, no, my boy--you +have got more on your hands now than will suffice you: so off with you +home, and take care that when we return we do not find the doves flown, +Nero lost, or Reuben with black eye or bruised leg, and yourself in some +unlucky plight, my boy. Now go home, and God bless and watch over you, +my sons. We hope it will not be long before we return," and he waved his +hand to bid good bye. Marten had run himself out of breath, so he was +not able to answer his father, and he was not sorry to stand still an +instant or two to watch the carriage out of sight, and give time for +Reuben to overtake him, for the child could not keep up with his +brother's quick running. And even now Marten might have read this +lesson, had he been wise enough so to do that already, he had been led +away by temptation to forget his brother, and that though he had done +so, Nero had been more faithful than himself; for Nero, though he could +have outran Marten, yet would not forsake the child, but restrained his +impatience that he might keep near the little one, who ever needed a +protector by his side, for the child was young, and his mother had +perhaps reared him too delicately. + +Reuben had never before been separated from his mamma, and he was half +inclined to cry, and perhaps fret at her absence; but Marten, who was a +very kind brother, and really loved the child tenderly, contrived so to +divert his attention that he soon forgot his troubles. + +Marten was so bent upon behaving well during his mamma's and papa's +absence and of fulfilling every duty, that though Reuben wished to stay +out all morning and play, his brother would not allow it, but persuaded +him to go in with him and say his lessons, as if his mamma had been at +home. But Marten had taken upon himself much more than was required of +him by his parents, and it was not without difficulty, even on the first +day, determined as he was upon the point, that he could fulfil all his +intentions, for Marten had not taken into consideration that if he +thoroughly devoted himself to Reuben, he could not spend his time in +learning his own lessons, which usually occupied the best hours of the +morning. The doves could be fed whilst Reuben was by his side--indeed +Reuben could be very useful in this matter, for he had been accustomed +to visit the aviary daily with his mamma, and the pretty birds knew him +and were not as afraid of him as they were of his big brother Marten. So +Reuben fed the doves himself, and stroked their soft feathers, and +washed out their little tin in which the water was put for them to +drink; and he placed the food for them in its right corner, and he swept +out the floor of the aviary, for he was small enough to stand upright +within it, and he knew how to do it without frightening the birds. So +far all was well, and all was well too whilst Reuben was saying his +lessons; but when Marten wanted to study his Latin exercise, the child +was so restless and troublesome, that it was only by speaking very +decidedly to him--indeed almost crossly--that Marten could get a moment +to himself. + +But even then Marten had to shut up his book somewhat hastily, for +Reuben began to cry for his mamma, who never spoke sharply to him, and +was always ready to attend to the little one by a kind look or tender +word. + +Marten was, however, so satisfied with himself in having accomplished +all his plans for the day, that he did not see how he had given way to +temptation in being cross when provoked; and as he put Reuben to bed, +for he chose to do it himself, he could not help saying aloud, "I wish +mamma could have followed me unseen all day: how pleased she would have +been with me, for I have done all I meant to do, even though I was +tempted more than once to leave something undone." + +The next morning Marten arose, perhaps not quite so earnest in his +intentions as the day before, but still there was only a slight +disinclination to fulfil all his duties--so slight, indeed, that he +would have been very angry if any one had spoken to him about it, and +hinted at the truth. In this frame of mind, though most things were +done, some few were slurred over, particularly the Latin Exercise and +Grammar, for Marten's papa had not set him any task, and had even said +Marten might have a holiday during his absence; and at any other time +the boy would have been glad of this indulgence, but now he fancied +himself so good, that he believed he could do everything, and everything +well. + +"I will do an exercise to-morrow, Reuben," said Marten. "Papa does not +expect any done, and if I have one for every other day to shew him, he +will be very much pleased, I know." + +Reuben, as may be supposed, could not make a suitable reply to this; for +all he understood about it was, that Marten was going out with him +instead of staying at home to do that troublesome Latin. So Reuben was +pleased and Marten was thoughtless, and out together they went and +enjoyed themselves not a little, in the pleasant autumn weather. + +Thus hours passed on, and the third day brought a letter from Mrs. +Mortimer, which was not quite satisfactory, for it said that the +business which took her and her husband from home could not be easily +settled, and they feared they would be detained a whole fortnight at +Portsmouth. Mrs. Mortimer, however, was not uneasy about her boys, for +she knew that the servants, with whom she had left them, were quiet +steady persons, who would not allow them to do what was wrong without +speaking to them; and then Reuben was such an universal favourite, that +she felt sure no one would be wilfully unkind to him. But above all, +Mrs. Mortimer trusted her children with Him who "knoweth our frame and +remembereth we are but dust." Psal. ciii. 14. + +Mrs. Mortimer had been absent about a week, and Marten was still in +ignorance of the weakness of human nature, at least as far as he was +himself personally concerned, when one morning Reuben came running to +him in great distress, to say that the doves were missing--his mamma's +own pretty birds that she loved so much; and Reuben, whose tears were +somewhat too ready, began to cry, for he feared, poor child, the cat had +eaten them, or some other misfortune equally distressing had befallen +them. + +"Was the door of the aviary open?" asked Marten. "Are you sure it was +open, Reuben? or did you open it yourself?" + +"It was open," said Reuben, "wide, wide open--so wide, Marten;" and he +made his brother understand that he had gone inside without stirring it +the least little bit. + +"It was open, you say," replied the elder boy, "but how could that be? +You or some one have been careless, very careless, Reuben; for it is +certain the birds could not open it for themselves." Reuben was about to +cry again, but Marten soothed him, for all at once Marten remembered +that the careless--very careless person was none other than himself; for +on the day before, whilst Reuben was sweeping out the aviary, Marten had +called him hurriedly, and though the child had once proposed to return, +his brother had kept him by his side for some trifling purpose, and so +they had both forgotten the aviary door was open. However, the doves +were gone, and they must be reclaimed, if alive, but if dead--what a sad +story would there be for Mrs. Mortimer. So the books were put by, and +the two boys went out in search of the birds, and Reuben, who understood +their ways, took the precaution to carry with him the box in which their +food was usually placed. On this occasion there was a nice piece of cake +put into the box, which was to be crumbled for the doves, and Reuben +knew that they liked cake as well as he did himself, and more especially +the kind of cake which cook had given him. + +Have you ever heard of a person who it is said once looked for a needle +in a pottle of hay? for if so, you may picture to yourself the feelings +of Marten when he started to find the ringdoves. But perhaps you will +say, anyhow, the needle would lie still, unless the man who was +searching for it should shake the straw too roughly, and throw it out, +therefore the space of its concealment, being a limited space, supposing +the pottle the very largest ever made, there would be a chance in time +of its discovery, but not so the case of the birds. They had wings to +fly with, and miles of lovely blue sky to fly through, and green +branches to rest on, and harvest fields to alight in, that is if they +were in the land of the living; but, perhaps, after all, mistress pussy +had destroyed them, and their pretty feathers, perhaps their only +relics left, might be so scattered by the wind, that already they might +be yards and yards separated from each other. With these sad forebodings +clouding his brow, Marten set off with Reuben on his search, feeling +that it was a hopeless one, and not one word did the boy utter to all +Reuben's lamentations as they crossed the meadow which was spread in +front of their house towards a little wood, which was the home of many a +bird of the pigeon or dove species, and therefore Marten thought would +be the most likely place to go first to look after the strayed ones. +Think, then, what must have been his joy as they entered the second +meadow not far from the stile, absolutely to behold the ringdoves, his +mamma's own ringdoves walking upon the grass cooing and billing, and +turning about their soft eyes in this direction and the other, as if +half afraid of the freedom they had acquired for themselves. As to +Reuben, he was so pleased, that the little foolish fellow clapped his +hands and shouted for joy, which so alarmed the doves, that they took to +their wings and soared high, but flutteringly in the air, as if in their +fright they did not know what they ought to do for their own safety. +Marten was very angry with Reuben for his folly--very angry indeed, and +I hardly know what it was he said; only this I do know, that he took the +box of cake from the child's hand, and bade him stand at a particular +spot--about twenty yards or so, in a direction farthest from the wood, +and from the stile leading to their home; "and there," he added, "remain +till I tell you you may stir, if you are so stupid as not to know that +clapping your hands and shouting loud will frighten any birds, +particularly timid ones like doves--tame doves, especially, who have +strayed from their home." + +Marten looked so cross, that Reuben did not even like to cry, for he +felt he had been very silly; so the poor little fellow stood where his +brother had bade him stand, half afraid to breathe, and quite afraid of +moving--lest by any noise he should again drive away the doves, and +Marten should again be angry. And there we will leave him to speak of +how his brother set himself to work to reclaim his mother's birds. + +I have said before that he had some cake in a box in his hand, and +having tossed off his hat--lest by any accident it should fall off when +he was stooping forwards, he threw himself upon the grass his full +length, and as he rested on his right hand; with his left he sprinkled +some of the cake he had with him on the ground, to attract the doves +near to him, in the hope he would catch one; and the second, he rightly +guessed, would not then be long out of his power. Marten relied on the +tame habits of the doves, who had been accustomed not only to eat out of +his brother's hands, but also from his mother's, and occasionally of +late from his own; but it is a different thing feeding birds in their +own aviary, and when they have escaped half wild to their native haunts. +And now, whilst the boy stretched upon the ground, was wholly occupied +in the earnest desire of reclaiming the wanderers, Reuben's attention +after awhile was diverted by seeing that some one was approaching +towards them from a hill, in a direction farthest from their home. This +person was riding at no slow pace, and as I said before, as his road led +him down hill, he seemed not to spare his horse; meeting the wind, as +Reuben thought gloriously, and passing along at a pace, the child +considered more glorious still. "When I am a man," the little fellow +said to himself, "I will ride so, I will have a horse, and I will ride +very very fast,--yes,--that I will." + +Now it seemed that the rider from the elevated road could look over the +meadows below, and probably having good eyes, for they certainly were +young and sharp ones, he soon spied out Marten and Reuben, and as it +came out afterwards that Marten was the person he sought after, he +caused his pony to leap over a small ditch that was in his way, and then +guiding it to a gate he dismounted and fastened the animal to the post +by its bridle. In leaping the ditch his hat had fallen off, and making +signs to a large Newfoundland dog that had accompanied him, the noble +animal was by him directed to lie down near the horse and take charge of +the hat, whilst his master stepped lightly along the grass in the +direction where Marten lay extended, so occupied about the doves as to +regard nothing that was passing round him. The new comer was a youth of +about Marten's own age, the only child of a gentleman who lived about +four miles from Marten's father, and the most constant companion that +Marten possessed. His name was Edward Jameson, and he shall himself say +the cause of his present visit. Reuben knew Edward well, and he +recognized him before he had tied his pony to the gate post, but he had +not seen the fine Newfoundland dog before, and Reuben was so fond of +dogs. The little fellow remembered that Marten had forbidden him to +leave the tree or to speak, but he could not keep his small feet from +moving up and down restlessly, nor could he scarce command himself not +to call out and tell his brother of Edward's arrival. But Edward wanted +to see what Marten was doing in the very odd attitude he had taken, so +he crept noiselessly on, his head turned somewhat sideways to Reuben, +and his hand held up threateningly to the child, for he saw he had been +recognised, and he was afraid of some hasty word, which would cause +Marten to start up, and then he feared he should not surprise his +friend. Edward was able to get quite close to Marten, and even to touch +him before Marten was aware of his presence; and he stepped up so +quietly, that the doves were so little frightened, that they hardly +stopped a moment from picking up the crumbs. + +"Why Marten, old fellow, what are you doing here?" asked Edward. "Whose +doves are those, I say? are they your mother's? have you let them +loose--Eh?" Edward spoke softly, but not so softly that he did not cause +Marten to start at the unexpected sound of his voice; still, as the +birds were at some little distance, and were accustomed to the human +voice, they scarcely were alarmed, and hardly moved a step or two away +from the crumbs scattered for them, and Marten recovering himself +quickly, said--"Oh! Edward, do help me to catch these doves: they have +escaped from their aviary, and my mother will be so vexed if they fly +away." + +"To be sure I will," replied Edward; "but my boy, who is in the habit +of feeding them, for that person would best know how to catch them I +should say." + +"My mother feeds them herself chiefly," said Marten, "and Reuben +sometimes attends to them when she is engaged." + +"Well, set Reuben to decoy them now, for I am in a hurry and have got +something to say to you as quickly as possible, and it is very +important. Anyhow, the child can watch them whilst you are attending to +me." + +So Reuben was called from his station at the tree, and Marten gave him +directions what he was to do; and the now little important one lay down +on the grass, as Marten had done before him; and as might have been +expected, the doves, accustomed to his baby voice and small figure, soon +drew nearer and nearer to him, so that when the conference was over +between the two elder boys, Reuben was able proudly to shew not one, +but both doves, so wrapped up in his pinafore, that though they +fluttered about a little, they were quite secure. "Come here a step or +two from the child," said Edward, "and don't think of those troublesome +birds just now, but tell me at once, can you come and pay me a visit for +a couple of days? my cousins William Roscoe and Jane and Mary are +expected at our house to night on their way to London. You know William +Roscoe, Marten, and what a fine fellow he is and I have asked my father +and mother, and they have allowed me to get as many young ones together +as the short time would allow, and we are to have splendid fun. Won't +you come, Marten? I promise you a glorious time of it, if you will but +come." + +[Illustration] + +"My father is from home," replied Marten thoughtfully, "and so is my +mother, but I don't think that matters, Edward: they have never refused +my visiting you, and I do not think they would now. Indeed, I am sure +they would not, if they were at home, but what am I to do with Reuben? I +have taken charge of Reuben whilst mamma is away, and what can I do +about him?" + +"About Reuben," returned Edward? "can't the servants take care of him at +home? he will do very well at home, and be very contented, I know." + +"But I have undertaken the charge of him," said Marten, "and I should +not like, after what I have said, to leave him, even for a couple of +days. I must either bring him with me, Edward, or stay at home with +him--indeed, I must." + +"Well, then, bring the little fellow," replied Edward kindly; "anything +so as you come, Marten; and remember there will be plenty of girls +invited, for Jane and Mary Roscoe, and Reuben can surely play with them, +and they will take care of him, no doubt. So bring him, by all means, if +that is the only hindrance; but still, I say, you would do better to +leave him at home with the servants; however, that's your business, not +mine. I reckon on you to-morrow, about eleven o'clock--to stay all +night, next day, and the night following, if you like; so good bye, till +then. I have half the country to ride over to beat up my recruits;" and +without waiting another word from his friend, Edward ran across the +meadow, snatched up his hat from where the faithful dog was carefully +guarding it, sprang upon his pony, and then once again leaping the +ditch, he cantered off at a pace so rapid, he was soon lost to Marten's +sight. + +How pleased was Reuben to shew his brother that he had caught the doves, +and Marten was also pleased: for any how he need not distress himself +about them, as they were secured, but he thought it advisable to take +them under his own charge, as he considered he could hold them firmer +than the little one. And now the boys ran home as quickly as they could, +and the pretty birds were shut up in their aviary, and Marten hastened +to the kitchen to find the house-maid, who was called nurse, as she had +been Reuben's nurse before she had changed her occupation in the family, +the child no longer requiring a personal attendant. In the kitchen +Marten learnt that she was gone out into the garden to gather some herbs +for the cook, and thither he followed her to tell her that his friend +Edward Jameson had been with him, and what had been the purport of his +visit. + +"Nurse," said Marten, when he found her, "I am come to ask you to get +mine and Reuben's things ready to-night, for I am going to take him with +me to spend a couple of days at Mr. Jameson's; and there will be company +there in the evenings, so we must have our best things, nurse, and will +you be so kind as to see after the doves, and tell Thomas to loosen +Nero's chain every day, that he may have a good scamper over the +fields, for papa says he should have plenty of exercise." + +"Stop, stop, master Marten," replied nurse, "what is all this about? +your things and master Reuben's, do you say, are to be got ready for two +day's visit--and the doves fed? am I to find them before I feed them, +master Marten?" and nurse laughed. + +"They are found, nurse," answered the boy, "and they are now safe in the +aviary, and I will take care the door shall not be opened again while +mamma is away. I mean to put a padlock on, nurse, so you see no one can +let them out, and I shall keep the key myself." + +"Oh! master Marten, master Marten!" said nurse, laughing again--"I see, +if it depended upon you, we should all be in a bad way, and so the poor +birds are to be locked up, are they: and master Reuben is not to be +allowed to go into the aviary to talk to them, as the little one loves +to do--and all for what? Give me a steady ruler, if you please--not such +as you, master Marten--a fine head of a family you will make, if one may +judge of your boasted management of the doves in the first part of the +story, and then the leaving the aviary door open and finishing with +locking them up and keeping the key yourself. Well for their +happiness--mistress will soon be at home to attend to them herself; but +what are you going to do with the child, my own darling? I can't have +any tricks played with him, I tell you." + +"Tricks, nurse," repeated Marten passionately. "What? do you mean to say +I would play tricks with my own brother? No one loves Reuben, I am sure, +better than I do, unless it is mamma. What do you mean, nurse?" + +"What do you mean, then, master Marten, by saying you are going to take +the child amongst strangers, neither me nor his mamma being with him, +and he never accustomed to strangers--and company in the house too--I +don't half like it--and I know I feel half inclined to say he shan't +go." + +"And pray under whose charge was he left?" asked Marten. "Your's or +mine, nurse? I should like to know." + +"It was much of a muchness," replied the good woman. "Missis said to +you, take care of your brother; but missis knew I loved the sweet +darling too dearly to require even half a word on the subject. And +supposing he does go with you, master Marten, who is to put the dear +child to bed at nights? I must insist, indeed I must, that you see to it +yourself. I know how frightened he will be amongst strangers at bed +time." + +"To be sure I will, nurse," said Marten, glad to see the good woman was +so far giving in to his wishes. "I promise not only to sleep with him, +but to take him to bed myself and stay with him till he is asleep." + +"Well, well, master Marten," exclaimed nurse impatiently--"Well, well, +don't undertake too much and then do nothing; and I must say again," she +continued warming with her subject, "that the child had better be left +at home where there are plenty to look after him, and not be carried off +to that strange house, away from us all." + +"Oh! me go with Marten, nurse, dear nurse! me go with Marten!" said +little Reuben imploringly, for the child had just joined them in time to +hear nurse's last remark. "Oh! Reuben so like to go with Marten." + +"You don't know what is best for you, silly one," replied nurse, "nor +who is your truest friend either, but your little head is bent upon +being a man soon, and you must ever be trying to do what your brother +does. But, master Marten, how can you play or go about with master +Jameson, and yet attend to this child too?" + +"Oh! I can take care of Reuben, and yet have plenty of time for myself, +nurse, I am sure," said Marten. + +"That's according," answered nurse, "for if you are always giving your +company to this little one here, and she patted Reuben on the back, he +will keep you smartly to it whenever he is awake, I promise you. Won't +you, my pet? Are you not a weary little fellow, darling?" she added, as +she stooped to kiss him, "that is when you can get folks to be wearied +with you." + +"No, nurse," answered the child stoutly;--"no--me not weary--me not +tired--me don't want to go to bed." + +"Bless your pretty tongue," exclaimed nurse; "but here, take this +parsley to cook, and say it is the finest double parsley I can find, +there's a darling." + +As Reuben ran away on his errand, nurse addressed herself to Marten in +a kind motherly manner, for nurse was not a young woman, and she was +also a pious one. "Master Marten," she said, "I am sure you will be kind +to the little one--you always are--for I must say you are one of the +very best brothers I know, and that is saying a deal for you--for I +believe there are many good brothers and sisters in the world, and yet, +pardon your old nurse, young master, when she tells you you are doing +wrong, though I think your intention is good. Look to your own heart, +master Marten, and ask yourself why are you dragging this poor child +after you to Mr. Jameson's. I was in the room with Missis when she was +speaking to you the day before she left, and I heard what she said about +temptation, and how we are tempted every hour in the day. You did not +believe her, master Marten, and you do not believe her now, and you are +going to try temptation to the very utmost, and you think you will stand +it, and I know you won't, for I remember what my dear lady said, that no +one can resist temptation in their own strength. This is the reason why +I don't like my baby to go with you, but if you, my dear young master, +will just think over what your mamma said, and ask for the approval of +your Saviour and the direction of his Holy Spirit in all things--why +then, as I said before, I will trust my darling with you any where, for +I know that you love him dearly, and would not willingly hurt a hair of +his precious little head." + +"Nurse," exclaimed Marten indignantly, "one would imagine I had been +very unkind to Reuben whilst mamma has been away; now I don't think it +is fair, and if I were to leave my brother at home and stay out a couple +of days enjoying myself, papa and mamma might both justly think I had +neglected him; No, I have undertaken the care of him till their return, +and I mean to fulfil my undertaking: and I must say, unless you have any +unkindness to charge me with, I consider you have no business to speak +to me as you have done." And Marten walked away with a heart determined +to resist the wise advice of nurse. + +And now nurse had nothing for it but to get the things ready for the +boys the next day, for nurse knew that Marten was always allowed, if +convenient, to go to Mr. Jameson's when invited, and as the houses were +about four miles apart, she also knew he was in the habit of staying +there all night, if asked so to do. As regards Reuben, he too had been +there once or twice to stay with his mamma, but nurse considered very +wisely, that it was a very different thing, a child of the little one's +age going from home with or without his mamma; but still she could not +interfere more than she had done, for Reuben had certainly been put +under his brother's care. She did, however, try to persuade the little +one that he would be better at home with her, but any person who knows +the ways of children might easily guess nurse might as well have spoken +to a post as to Reuben, for all the good she did, for the boy began to +cry, and begged so hard to go with his brother to play with the big boys +at Mr. Jameson's, that she thought it as well to say no more on the +subject. + +And now I must pass over some hours till the time came for John to drive +the boys over in the pony carriage to Mr. Jameson's. Marten could have +walked the four miles very well, or he could have rode there on his own +pony, but Reuben could not have walked half so far, and thus it +happened, that as John had something to do he could not leave undone, it +was quite twelve o'clock before the three arrived at Mr. Jameson's +house, and thus it chanced that they were almost the last comers of the +party of children invited to meet the Roscoes. + +It was a lovely day, and as warm as any summer day, though the autumn +was just setting in, and such a group of young children were at play on +the grass plat, near the house, that the like Marten nor Reuben had +never seen before. It was such a very pretty sight, that John quite +forgot to give out of the carriage the parcel nurse had made of the +young gentlemen's clothes; and the consequence was, he had all the +trouble to come back half a mile of the road, when he suddenly bethought +himself of his forgetfulness. But as to the pretty sight John saw, I +wish I could draw you a picture of it; if I could I would, I promise +you, and I would put it in this very page for you to see. Fancy, then, a +beautifully soft velvet lawn, in front of a large handsome house, upon +which lawn the sun shines warmly but kindly, and the blue sky looks +most pleasingly there and here, broken by white clouds that relieve the +eye without obscuring the light. At the farthest end of the lawn from +the house were some fine trees, under the shelter of which two girls +were playing at battledore and shuttlecock, and very well they played +too. A little nearer this way, that is where John and the carriage +stood, in the direction of the house, was a young child seated on the +turf holding a dog, whilst two other children were trying to make it +jump to catch a flower, one held in her hand. There was also a big boy +on a pony talking to a great girl, who was lying on the grass; but the +prettiest group of girls were standing or kneeling round a pet lamb +which they were decking with wreaths of flowers. They none of them wore +bonnets nor walking dresses, and even the boy on the pony was without a +hat. Why they had all agreed to uncover their heads, I cannot say +exactly, but I know they had been having some joke about it before the +young Mortimers arrived; and the great girl on the turf had even then +got her brother's cap and had hidden it somewhere, and it was to ask her +about it he had ridden up to her on his pony, as she rested on the +grass. + +[Illustration] + +"Oh! they are all girls but one," exclaimed Marten in a disappointed +tone, "and I am afraid I shall not find the boys easily, and I hate +playing with girls." + +"As much as we girls dislike playing with rude boys, master Mortimer," +said Jane Roscoe, advancing forwards and replying to Marten's speech, +which had really been addressed to John; "but understand we are the +fairies of this lawn--this is our territory, and my aunt Jameson has +bestowed it upon us. We take tribute if you intrude on our premises, so +either be off to your own mates, or lay down your cap as owning our sway +as ladies and queens of the lawn." + +"I am sure I would rather go to your brother, or Edward, Miss Roscoe," +replied Marten, "if you would but tell me where I should find them." + +"No doubt near the stables, or at the dog kennels," she answered pertly, +"so you had better go, for I tell you we don't want boys amongst us; we +have had some trouble in ridding ourselves of them just now." + +"And if they are all like you, I am sure I for one don't want to stay," +thought Marten; and he took Reuben's hand to seek his friends, where the +young lady had so uncourteously directed him to find them. + +And here, before I would follow Marten to find his young friends, I +would wish to remark that it is such girls as Jane Roscoe who make rude +boys, and such young women that make rude men. Boys and men generally +take their manners from the females with whom they associate, and when +one sees a very rude boy, it does not speak well for his sisters at +home, or at least for the young ladies with whom he may happen to be +most intimate. As to regular schoolboys, they are rude, because +schoolboys in general are famed for bad manners, and young gentlemen +seem to like to bring this odium on schools, fancying rudeness is +manliness, when in reality it is a decided sign of the contrary. Think +of the bravest men that have been known, that is bravest in their own +persons, and I will venture to say they have been gentle and courteous +in female society, for they know and feel they can dare to be so, as +their credit for manly daring is known and acknowledged by every one. +Take one of your rough ones, and I for one set him down as a mere bully, +that hides his cowardice under blustering words. But I have wandered +somewhat from my point, for I was saying rude girls make rude boys, as +shewn in the case of Jane Roscoe; and civil girls make civil boys, as +evinced in her sister Mary, as I am going to relate. + +"Me want to go to the pretty lamb," said Reuben, hanging heavily on his +brother:--"Me go to the lamb--me don't like horses." + +"But you shall see the great big Newfoundland, Reuben, that you admired +so much yesterday," said his brother. "Should you not like to see the +large black dog?" + +"Reuben wants to go to lamb," replied the child, and he resolutely stood +still. "Pretty lamb, Reuben, go to lamb now." + +"You can't go to the lamb, Reuben," said his brother impatiently, "so +you must be content to go with me to see the large black dog. I am not +going to give up my cap to any one, I promise you; so come on now, and +don't keep me staying here all day." + +But Reuben, as nurse had said, was a weary little fellow when bent upon +any thing, and now he was bent upon going to play with the lamb, so he +was determined not to move, or if he did it should only be in the +direction of the lawn. Marten was, however, almost as determined to go +the other way, on account of Jane Roscoe, and for a moment there seemed +a doubt which boy should carry the day. The elder had the most strength, +and he was inclined to use it, for Miss Roscoe had offended him, and +lifting the child from the ground he was about to run off with him in +the direction of the stables, when Reuben, not accustomed to opposition +of this description, set up a loud cry of passion, which at once drew +the attention of all near to himself and his brother. + +"There," exclaimed Jane, "what are you teasing the little one so for? +why not let him have his own way and come amongst us, if he will?" + +"Well, go," said Marten angrily, "go, Reuben, if you like; but I tell +you I will not come with you." + +But this was not what Reuben desired, and he stood at a little distance +from his brother looking, I am sorry to say, very naughty and selfish, +for he was really wishing Marten to give up his own desires to attend to +and humour his; and so now he stood moving neither one way nor another, +his face turned towards the lamb so finely bedecked with flowers. His +cry, however, had aroused the young girls from their occupation, and +Mary Roscoe, whom one would have supposed had been really kissing the +lamb, so close was her face to it, when Marten had first seen her; +sprang from her knees, and running across the lawn to the gravel path, +now stooped down to Reuben, and looking him kindly in the face--"Little +boy," she said, "what did you cry for? what did you want? tell me, +little boy, and I will see what I can do. I am a fairy, little boy. We +are all fairies on that turf, and I will take you with me to fairy land +and shew you some fairy wonders." + +Reuben at once and without hesitation put his hand in hers, saying--"Me +go see pretty lamb me go with you--me will go." + +"Then come along," said Mary, and turning her head over her shoulder +towards Marten, she added, "I will take care of him; so you may go to +Edward and William if you like, and I dare say you will like it better +than playing with girls." + +"Oh! thank you, Miss Mary, thank you," replied Marten most gratefully to +the kind little girl, "thank you, I am so much obliged to you." + +But Marten spoke aloud, and thus drew Reuben's attention to the fact +that he was going to be left with strangers, and once more he raised a +cry as much of passion as of fear. So Marten, to soothe him, made a step +towards the lawn with the child, though Mary still held his hand, +giving a private sign to Marten that he might slip away on the first +opportunity. + +"Your tribute, your tribute," exclaimed Jane Roscoe: "not one step upon +the grass, Master Mortimer, without giving up your cap as a sign you own +us 'The ladies of the lawn.' Give it up, I command, or stay where you +are." + +"Will you give it me again in a minute or two, as I come back," asked +Marten? + +"Ask Frank Farleigh there if he has got his," said Jane. "You shall have +yours when he has found his, that is if we can hide it as securely." + +"Then you may get it as you can," retorted Marten rudely, stepping upon +the grass, and on Jane's springing after him setting off on a race as +fast as he could across the lawn, in utter defiance of the young girls. +A cry was raised instantly, and all the children left their sports to +pursue the boy, who had thus boldly defied their power; and lucky was +it for him that he was agile and could twist and turn in his course as +rapidly as a hare. But when there is at least twelve to one and a clear +space, the raced has little chance, and thus it came about that the boy +in self defence was forced to fly towards the stables as the only place +of safety, having no leisure even to think that he was leaving his +brother amongst strangers, proving himself unable to withstand +temptation, even during one short hour of his visit. Marten, too, had +raised a war between himself and the young girls of the party, which was +not likely to be settled peacefully during the time of their stay at +Mrs. Jameson's, and thus he had, to a certain sense, separated himself +either from Reuben or from the bigger boys, without intending to do so +for the two parties, as might be foreseen by any experienced eye, were +of too different a sort to get on hourly together, as their tastes and +amusements were utterly at variance. + +As my story is intended to shew that temptations hourly assail us, and +that in our own strength we cannot often resist them, else wherefore did +Our Lord teach his disciples to pray that they might not be led into +temptation, but because he knew that man of himself never turns away +from the forbidden fruit. I shall not here speak much of how after a +good run hither and thither, Marten at last found Edward and his +companions in an open field, most of the horses and dogs from the +stables being collected together, and such a scene of excitement going +on that the boy had no leisure to think of anything that was not passing +before his eye; and therefore, as Reuben did not appear, he, like the +rest being unseen, was forgotten. In excuse for Marten I must say that +he first ran to the stables, and there learnt from a boy whom he found +there, that Master Jameson had had permission that morning from his papa +to have out one or two of the horses and ponies, on condition that +Chambers, the old coachman, and Rogers, the groom, were present with the +young gentlemen, and that every obedience were paid to their directions, +so that if they saw anything wrong they might enforce attention to their +requests. + +As many of the young gentlemen too had ridden over on their ponies to +Mr. Jameson's, there were a goodly collection of horses assembled +together, and the races that ensued, and the leaping over low fences +that followed, so quickly passed away the time that when the first bell +rang, announcing that dinner would shortly be served, Marten was quite +astonished to find that it was nearly three o'clock, and that almost two +hours had passed since he had seen his brother. But now, as the boys +were taking the horses and dogs to the stables, he hastened towards the +house as fast as he could, for he saw the lawn was tenant-less, and +knowing the way to the room where he usually slept when at Mrs. +Jameson's, he hurried up the stairs only to find that his things had +been placed there, and that Reuben's little parcel had been taken +elsewhere and was probably where the child also was, for no Reuben was +to be seen. As Marten could meet with no servant, he ran along the +gallery trying to distinguish amongst the many voices he heard on all +sides that of his brother's, but in vain, so many were the sounds that +reached his ear, and as he did not like to open any of the doors, or +push those farther open that were not quite closed, he raised his voice +and called aloud "Reuben, Reuben, I want you--Reuben come to me in the +passage--here I am--come to me Reuben." + +To Marten's annoyance, instead of his brother replying to his call, Jane +Roscoe stepped out into the gallery, exclaiming--"Oh! it is you, is it? +Whom do you want? What are you come here for? these are the girl's +rooms! those are our bedrooms, and this is our sitting room. Are you +come to make an apology for your rudeness this morning? If so, I will +call the rest out to hear what you have to say." + +"I want my brother, Miss Roscoe," replied Marten, trying to speak +civilly. "May I go into your sitting room, or would you have the +goodness to tell him to come to me here." + +"I shall do no such thing," answered Miss Jane, "you may get him as you +can, though I do not know how you will manage to do that either; for +Mary has taken such a fancy to the little fellow, that she will not give +him up easily." + +"Would you tell me if Reuben is content?" asked Marten, "for if so I +would rather leave him with Miss Mary." + +"Just pop your head inside that door," said the rude girl, "and judge +for yourself, that is, if you dare to do so--for your brother is there, +and Mary and a dozen more girls. Do you dare?" she inquired mockingly, +"come let me see you do it, then." + +"Dare," repeated Marten indignantly, "and why should I not dare--I want +my brother." + +"Do it then," said Jane, "if you are not a coward, which I strongly +suspect you are;" and when was a spirited boy of thirteen so urged on +that had the prudence to know where to stop with propriety to himself. +Marten, choking with rage, did advance to the door pointed out, and put +his head inside, and there, on beholding a group of young ladies of all +ages, from eight to fourteen, and no little brother, and finding all +eyes turned upon himself as an impertinent intruder, he drew his head +back quickly, and was met with a loud laugh from Jane, which so annoyed +him, that without stopping to think, he ran off to his own room as fast +as he could. The voice of Mary Roscoe however reached him as he ran +along the gallery, uttering these words: "I'll take care of Reuben, +Master Marten--I'll take care of Reuben, he is very happy." And so +Marten allowed himself to be content, and as he knew dinner would +shortly be ready, he lost no more time, but set to dress himself in his +best as quickly as he could. Mr. and Mrs. Jameson did not dine with the +young people, but Mrs. Jameson came in and walked round the table, and +spoke to most of the young ladies and gentlemen, and asked after their +papas and mammas, and she said she hoped they would be good children and +enjoy themselves very much, and in the evening she and Mr. Jameson would +come in to see them at play. She told Jane Roscoe she expected her and +Mary to take care of the young ladies and see that they had everything +they wanted, and she said much the same to her son and William Roscoe +about the boys. + +There was a very long dining table laid out, and, as might be expected, +all the boys got together at the end where Edward sat, and all the +girls got round Jane Roscoe, for it must be remembered that hostilities +had begun in the morning between the boys and girls, and Jane was not +the kind of girl to make peace, or desire to make peace and conduct +herself as would be becoming a young lady. Frank Farleigh, indeed, +crossed the barrier, and once again demanded his cap from his sister, +but he pleaded in vain, and I do not know how the matter would have been +settled if good-natured Mary Roscoe had not proposed that it should be +considered as a forfeit, and that the cap should be cried with the other +forfeits in the evening games. "And I promise you it shall be hardly +won," cried Jane, and Frank's sister then whispered to her as if they +were settling what Frank was to do for it, and then Jane laughed--her +teasing laugh--and if Frank did give his sister a most cruel schoolboy +pinch, I can't but say she had only herself and her rude companion to +thank for it. "I don't care," he said, as he joined the boys, "I can +wear that old cap of Edward's, and when I go home they _must_ give it +back to me." + +During this time Marten was looking about for Reuben, and soon he saw +that the little fellow was seated by Mary Roscoe, as happy as possible, +for Mary was a kind-hearted girl, and loved every thing and every body, +and every body loved her, and now she was taking care that the child was +helped before herself, and with what he liked, and when she met Marten's +eye, she kissed Reuben very earnestly, and called him a sweet darling +and her own pet, and she asked the little one if he did not love Mary. +Reuben returned the kiss and looked so smilingly up at Marten, that his +brother could not but be contented, and having thanked Mary most +heartily for her very great kindness, he was only too glad to get away +once more to where the boys were seated. Poor Marten was not aware, and +I do not exactly see how he should have been aware, that the easy +kindness of Mary Roscoe was but too likely now to bring his brother into +trouble, for Mary did not like to refuse the little fellow any thing; +and as the child was hungry and more than ready for the meal, for it was +past his usual dinner hour, I am obliged to confess he ate greedily of +the good things set before him, one after another without moderation or +discernment, pudding following meat, and cheese after pudding, and fruit +after that, till quantity and diversity were so mingled together, that +it was a wonder the babe endured himself as well as he did. He was, +however, so satisfied and even cloyed, that towards the end of the time +he contented himself with a taste of this and that, and under the easy +rule of Miss Mary, the remnants of his desert were transferred to his +pockets, to serve to regale him at some future moment. I have said that +Marten could not have been aware of this foolish weakness of Mary +Roscoe, but Marten was not free of blame in the affair, for he had +started wrongly as regarded Reuben, and in his self conceit he had +placed himself in circumstances where the temptations that surrounded +him were more than his nature unaided could resist. Marten would not +listen to those who would have taught him that our blessed Saviour +verily took not on him the nature of angels, but he took on him the seed +of Abraham, wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto +his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in +things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the +people, for in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able +to succour those that are tempted. Heb. ii. 16, 17, 18. But we shall +soon see from Marten's story a verification of the words of St. Paul +addressed to the children of God. "Wherefore let him that thinketh he +standeth, take heed lest he fall. There hath no temptation taken you but +such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not suffer you +to be tempted above that ye are able; but will, with the temptation, +also make a way to escape that ye may be able to bear it." 1 Cor. x. 12, +13. + +And now,--to return to Reuben, he had ate and ate so much, that I am +almost ashamed even to think of it; and silly Mary Roscoe, who should +have put a bridle on his little mouth, never once thought of doing so, +and how should she, for she had never had one on her own? till the poor +child felt so uncomfortable that he was half ready to cry--for, added to +the over quantity he had contrived to swallow, he was very weary, for he +was but a young one, and he had been out in the air all the morning and +undergoing more active exercise than even he was accustomed to go +through, for he had moved about at the direction of others, and not by +his own voluntary will. So feeling uneasy, he was just about to raise a +cry, which I believe would have recalled Marten to a sense of his duty, +when the whole troop of children rose from table to amuse themselves as +best they liked till six o'clock, when tea was to be served in a large +room for them, and the evening was to be finished in games of whatever +description they chose, Mr. and Mrs. Jameson having promised to be +present. + +Marten just stopped to see Mary Roscoe lead off his brother, who +accompanied her very contentedly, and then I am obliged to own he +thought no more of the little fellow for such a length of time, that we +who take an interest in poor little Reuben must banish Marten from our +thoughts and follow the child, the poor little victim of his brother's +self conceit. The young ladies on leaving the dining room ascended the +stairs and went to the room with which Marten had so daringly put his +head in the morning, and here they divided into groups of two or three, +as chance might be, and a chattering began, the like of which could +never be heard again, unless under the like circumstances. It seems a +cruel thing to try to put down any of the nonsense, and perhaps worse +than nonsense, that was then and there talked; and I would not do so if +I did not hope it would prove a warning to some girls that persons do +listen to their conversation sometimes when they fancy no one hears, and +that those same persons do think them very silly and ignorant, and +occasionally wrong. And first, I will take a party of three girls, who +all went to the same school, and these three, I am sorry to say, were +talking of their governess and teachers in a way they ought never to +have done. It was not Mrs. Meredith and Miss Williams, and Miss Smith, +but it was "Meredith, that cross old thing," and "pretty little Smith," +and that "detestable Williams." And then one asked the other if she +remembered how funnily Fanny Adams had managed in the affair, of +laughing at the French Master, how six of them had been sent up to their +bedrooms in disgrace, and when that detestable Williams came in and +found them still laughing, how she scolded them all, and how Fanny Adams +put some Eau-de-Cologne to her eyes, which nearly blinded her, and made +her eyes water very much, and so deceived Miss Williams that she +pardoned her, though all the rest were left in disgrace. + +And here, because there was no better disposed person to speak to these +poor girls upon their light and improper discourse, I would just say one +word:--My dear school boys and school girls, our Saviour says, "Love thy +neighbour as thyself." Let me then ask you, do you in any way follow +this kind command when you so treat your teachers and governors? Think +you, for an instant, of the labour, the anxiety, the perpetual +self-denial, the patience required by an instructor of childhood, even +when the children do their best; but when deceit, hypocrisy, and +hardness of heart is also added to the giddiness and thoughtlessness of +youth, what must be the teacher's suffering? + +Remember that our Lord himself was subject to his parents. Luke ii. 57. +Though what could they, poor human creatures, have taught him? Then +follow, as a loving child should do, his holy example, and remember his +precept, of "love thy neighbour as thyself," and inquire of yourself how +would I like to be treated as I treat my governess or tutor? + +But perhaps you would wish to listen to another couple of girls, who +soon drew a larger party round them, and what folly were they about, +you would ask? Why, one child, who was very vain about her figure, must +needs get a piece of string, or tape, and begin to measure her +companion's wrist, thumb, neck, waist, and height, saying--"Twice round +the thumb, once round the wrist, twice round the wrist, once round the +neck, twice round the neck, once round the waist, and twice round the +waist, once the height." As Louisa Manners well knew of old that this +measurement suited herself, she was always disposed to try any young +girl by her rule, knowing well her own turn would come, and that she +would be able to appear with satisfaction to herself; and here again I +would say, was our Lord's precept followed, of love thy neighbour as +thyself? did Louisa desire a rival? This couple, as I said, soon drew a +party round them, and after the measurement, which lasted some time and +led to a discussion of dress, most of the frocks and sashes coming in +for notice, one of the three school girls, mentioned at first, named +some new step in dancing, just introduced at her school the last dancing +day, and then such a practising and trying of this step commenced +amongst the young ladies as made a pretty sight to look on, the young +ladies being all nicely dressed, and for the nonce thinking more of +their occupation than of themselves. + +In the meanwhile Reuben had been supplied with something that served the +purpose of a plaything by Mary Roscoe, and being seated in a corner of +the room away from harm or interference, the little fellow shortly +became so drowsy, that before long, notwithstanding the noise and +chattering about him, his head drooped on his bosom, and he was so sound +asleep that he was unconscious of his uncomfortable position. He had +slept full a quarter of an hour when he was discovered by one of the +elder girls, who proposed that they should lift him from his seat and +take him to a bed in an adjoining chamber, where he would be more +comfortable. And here I must again remark, for want of some one else to +do so, that of the twelve or fourteen girls there assembled, there was +not one present who would have been unkind to the little fellow +intentionally; but yet I am afraid, that with the exception of the +good-natured Mary Roscoe, there was hardly one who would have put +themselves out of the way on his account, or have given up a pleasure or +amusement of even five or ten minutes to comfort the boy, who ought in +truth never to have been amongst them, so little had he been accustomed +to the ways of other children, even of his own age. + +Reuben slept on, and that so soundly, that when tea was ready he was not +awake, and he would probably have been wholly forgotten if the young +ladies on their way down stairs had not made so much noise by the door +of his room, that startled and alarmed, he began to cry violently, and +his good friend Mary could not easily appease him. However, the child +was really refreshed from his sleep, and the kind girl having washed his +face and hands herself, and smoothed his pretty curling hair, led him +down with her to the room where the tea was served, and provided him +with all he wanted, and withal with such a large lump of sugar, the like +of which he had never perhaps, not even in his dreams, possessed before. +Whoever has read of Mrs. Indulgence in "The Infant's Progress" may have +some idea of Mary's management of Reuben, but if the little one could +have spoken or reasoned on the point, how heartily would he have said +that he pined for his own dear mamma's judicious kindness and controul, +under which he used to sport all day happy and joyful as a butterfly on +a bright summer's morning. + +After tea, which did not last very long, the tables were cleared away +and the plays began--the elder children, as might be expected, taking +the lead, and for awhile all was order and propriety. Fortunately for +the young ones they had no lights near them from which they could be in +danger, for the lamp hung from the ceiling and the fire was allowed to +go out in the grate. The tables, as I said before, were moved away, and +the seats were piled one above another so that a good space was left in +the room for the games, and only two chairs were kept for Mr. and Mrs. +Jameson, who had sent word to say they were coming down to see the +sport, and as they were very fond of a dance, they expressed a wish +that the evening's amusement should begin in that way. + +The boys were somewhat annoyed at this, as they wanted more active +games, and Frank Farleigh absolutely proposed to change the dance to +leap-frog; however, as Mrs. Jameson wished for dancing, no one was bold +enough openly to speak against it, and Miss Farleigh and Jane Roscoe, +who were intimate friends, played a duet together very nicely, to which +the rest danced. + +And now it was that Mary Roscoe first felt the annoyance she had +incurred by her kindness to Reuben, for the child did not wish to leave +her, and seeing all were dancing, or jumping to the music as he thought, +he believed he could do the same, and clinging to her she found that to +appease him she must take him for her partner, and thus this really +good-natured girl was unable to dance with any pleasure to herself, as +the little one was unable to make his way alone. However, Mary was +truly kind-hearted, and not one cloud was on her fair brow when the +dance was finished, and she told her little partner to sit down amidst +the piled up chairs at one end of the room. But as nurse had said Reuben +was a weary little fellow, and Mary little knew the truth, if she +thought she was so easily to get rid of him, for the child was half +alarmed at the numbers of strange faces thronging around him; he was not +well, too, with the many sweet things and fruits he had eaten, and now +it was approaching his usual bed-time, and though he had had a sleep, +yet he had been roused from it suddenly and improperly, fed with sweet +cake since, and any experienced person present might know that shortly +the child would get so excited in the scene before him, it would be no +easy matter to soothe or calm him. + +Now it happened that Marten, feeling exceedingly obliged to Mary for +her kindness to his brother, and equally disliking her sister, and Miss +Farleigh and some of the other young ladies, was very anxious to dance +with Mary, to thank her for her kindness to Reuben, but he little +thought that by doing so, the child finding both his friends together +must insist upon being with them, and the second set of quadrilles was +danced by poor Mary as the first had been, the little fellow clinging to +her, for both Marten and Mary were afraid of a burst of tears if they +opposed the child in this matter. Marten, however, spoke somewhat +sharply to him, saying he was teasing Miss Mary, and if they allowed him +to dance this time, he must promise to sit still afterwards, and not be +troublesome again. Reuben knew that he must obey his brother, so when +that dance was finished he went and sat himself down, as directed, +though his young heart was very sad, as he longed to be jumping about +with the other children. Mary was now able to enjoy herself, and I do +not hesitate to say she was very glad to get rid of Reuben and be at +liberty to run about where she would, for she was a happy girl, and this +evening she was the happiest of the happy, for she was a favourite of +all. + +After the dancing had continued some time, a game was fixed upon, which +game being one that kept the children seated, they soon got tired of it, +and blindman's buff was proposed and entered into with great spirit, +though, as will presently be seen, this spirit, for want of some less +indulgent to controul it, became at last almost unbearable. + +It was whilst Edward Jameson was blindfolded that the first rudeness +began, for Miss Jane seized hold of a newspaper and began rustling it +so about Edward's head, that being blindfolded he became so annoyed by +it, that he began to toss his arms about, making such rushes hither and +thither, that the girls had to run away, lest they should be struck. +Whilst Jane was teasing Edward, one of the boys seized hold of the +handkerchief that blindfolded him, and another boy made a thrust at him +in front, and it was only a wonder that Mr. and Mrs. Jameson, who were +sitting by, did not speak to the children, to advise a little more +quietness in the play. But there were a party of young girls whispering +together behind Jane, and when Edward turned in her direction, though +she escaped, he fell amongst these girls, and, as might be expected, +such a romping scene ensued, as may often be seen at blindman's buff. +Just at this moment a servant came in to say a gentleman had called on +some business, and both Mr. and Mrs. Jameson left the room together, to +see this gentleman. They were scarcely gone before the noise increased +to such an extent, that one or two of the servants came to the parlour +door; and well was it, as we shall shew presently, that they did so, but +Mr. and Mrs. Jameson being gone to another part of the house, were not +disturbed by the sounds. So, as I said, Edward found himself amongst the +group of young girls, who all struggled to get away from him; and then +such a scene of running and screaming, and shouting and romping +followed, as the like of which I have no desire to see. Every one ran, +and no one knew whither they were going, and it so chanced that some ran +in the direction of where Reuben had been seated by Marten, amidst the +piled-up chairs. The child, who had been sitting there sometime, and who +did not understand the game, for he had never seen it before, was +doubtful whether to be frightened or not; but as Edward, whom he knew so +well, and who was always kind to him, was the pursuer, and as the +children were laughing, he thought he might laugh too, and not liking +sitting still when all were running and jumping round him, he slid down +from his high seat and joined the group that had fled to that end of the +room from Edward. As ill luck would have it, Edward turned in that +direction somewhat suddenly, and there was a loud cry of one and all to +run, and instantly all did run, Reuben too obeying the call, and setting +off as fast as his little legs would let him. + +As might have been expected, the elder children escaped, and Edward +caught the boy, whom he instantly named, and tearing off the +handkerchief from his eyes, he was going to tie it round those of +Reuben, when Marten interposed, and said "he would not understand the +game." Edward was, however, tired of being blinded and of being +buffetted about, and not thinking how very young Reuben was, for he knew +very little about children, as he had no little brothers nor sisters of +his own, he only said he had caught the child, and that it was but fair +he should be blinded, as he was caught and had absolutely prevented him +from catching one of the others when they were close to him. As Reuben +himself thought it was manly to be blinded, and believed all he had to +do was to run about with the handkerchief round his head, he was very +anxious to do as Edward had done, and Mary, to whom he pleaded for +permission so to do, blinded him herself, and as she tied the +handkerchief round him she said, "Now, young gentlemen, don't hurt the +little fellow, pray be gentle with him, for he's very young." + +Mary then took his hand, and leading him into the centre of the room +she slightly directed him where to go. It must be understood that Reuben +knew no one in the room but Marten, Edward, and Mary, and as he did not +know the rules of the game, the elder boys and girls, soon wearied of +the little fellow running hither and thither, for they did not wish to +hurt the child, and so they ceased for awhile their boisterous play; +but, as might be expected, this would not last long, and Marten stepping +forwards on the little one laying hold of some boy near him, said, "My +brother does not know any one here by name, is it not enough that he has +caught some one? He does not know, I am sure, who his hand is upon, even +if he were unblinded." + +"Oh! it is a boy," replied Reuben. "Me know it is a boy, and a large +boy. Yes, it is a large boy." + +"That is enough, is it not?" asked Marten, looking round, "surely +that's enough;" and he unbound Reuben, telling; the child he had done +very well. + +No one seemed inclined to dispute the point, for all saw the child was +too young to play with them; and William Stewart, the boy caught, and +who was desirous of being blindfolded, was quite pleased to have the +handkerchief tied round his head, and now the play became more +boisterous than ever, owing to the cessation before, and probably all +would have gone on well if little Reuben, elated by his brother's +telling him he had done very well, had not chosen to join in the play, +saying over and over again to any one who would listen to him, "Me knew +it was a boy--a large boy--me knew it was a boy--me said a large +boy--yes, me felt his coat--me knew it was a large boy." This too might +have passed, and the child might have repeated his story over and over +again without much harm if he could have got a listener, or he even +might have been content without one, if he had not fancied he understood +the game as well as the oldest present, so he entered into it with all +his little spirit, and intruded his small person where others could not +go--now here, now there, till excited and heated and confused by those +around him flying in all directions, he was thrown down, and as he did +not fall alone, the poor little fellow was rather severely hurt. And now +in that one moment of downfall was assembled all the troubles of the +day,--weary, excited, hurt, and overfed, he began to cry, and that so +violently, that those who lifted him up trusted to his being not really +injured by the very noise he made in his distress. Marten and Mary ran +to him, but they were as strangers to him, for his eyes were dimmed by +tears, and his ears closed by his own wailings; and luckily for all +three one of the servants, for, as I said before, they had come to see +the young people at play, and who was a motherly kind of woman, advanced +into the room and offered to take the charge of the child and comfort +him before she put him to bed. Marten was most thankful for this offer, +and you may be sure Mary was not sorry to part with the sobbing boy, and +thus Marten put it out of his own power to keep his voluntary boast to +Nurse at home about sleeping with his brother, for when the riotous +evening closed, for it was a very riotous evening, Reuben had been +asleep some hours, and in a quarter of the house appropriated to the use +of the young ladies where beds were as plentiful as requisite on an +occasion like the present. Marten then had nothing for it but to beg +Mary to see after his brother, which the young lady as thoughtlessly +promised to do, and then he accompanied his young companions to that +department of the house appropriated to the use of the boys, where, as +might be expected after a little more rude sport, he fell into a sleep +so profound and long, that every thought of Reuben was banished from his +mind. And now, to return to the poor baby, the victim of mismanagement, +or of his brother's self-conceit. Sobbing and roaring he was carried or +dragged up stairs, undressed, and put to bed, where the extreme violence +of his grief proved its own relief, for he fell asleep with the tear in +his eye, and long long after the cause of sorrow was forgotten, his sobs +might be heard proclaiming that the effect even now had not passed away. +By and bye, however, the calm of sleep restored him more to himself +again, and before the motherly woman who had taken pity on him left the +chamber, he was sleeping the refreshing sleep of childhood. + +As the young people had gone to bed so late the evening before, for it +was quite twelve o'clock, and the next day was also to be a day of +indulgence, it was nearly half-past eight before Marten awoke, and what +with one thing and another it was quite nine before he had an +opportunity of asking any one after Reuben, or indeed of discovering +that no one knew anything of the little one farther than that he had +awoke at his usual hour, seven o'clock; that the kind woman who had +attended him the night before had helped to wash and dress him, and +having told him to be quiet, lest he should awake the children asleep in +his bed room, she left him as she thought safe in the young ladies' +sitting room, to amuse himself as best he might. Two hours nearly had +passed since then, and no further information could be obtained of the +little boy; but he was gone, that was certain for he was nowhere to be +found in any part of Mr. Jameson's large house. It so happened that +breakfast had commenced, and Marten and some of the bigger boys had +nearly finished the meal before all the young ladies came down, and as +Mary Roscoe chanced to be late, for this good natured girl had been +helping others as usual, Marten did not discover the absence of his +brother till she entered the room and seated herself at the table. Then +he stepped round to her and asked if Reuben would soon be down. "Oh! +dear little fellow," exclaimed Mary, starting up, "He did not sleep in +my room, so I know nothing about him; but now I will run to find him to +bring him to breakfast. I dare say he has overslept himself, or I should +have heard of him before now." + +"If you are speaking of the little boy who cried so bitterly at +blindman's buff, Mary," said a Miss Lomax, "he was put to sleep in a +little bed by himself in our room. Maria and myself noticed how soundly +he slept through all the noise we made when we went to our rooms, but +when we got up this morning the little fellow was gone, and we wondered +who had drest him and taken him away so quietly as not to disturb us." + +"Oh! then I'll find him in a minute," said Mary, "if he has been drest +so long he must be sadly in want of his breakfast, poor little darling," +and Mary was half way up stairs before she had finished her speech. + +And now how shall I describe what a fearful state the whole house was in +before ten minutes more had passed away: the child was lost, the fearful +question of where and how he might be found was on everybody's lips. +Poor Marten, it was dreadful to see his terror and grief, and Mary, oh! +how negligent Mary felt herself, for had she not assisted greatly to his +loss by taking him from his brother, and had she not promised that +brother the evening before to see him in his bed and look after him, +which she had forgotten to do. Jenkins, too, the motherly female who had +so kindly attended the little one the night before, how did she blame +herself for not taking the child with her after she had dressed him, +when she was obliged to go to her work, which was much increased that +morning by the state in which the young people had left the room, the +scene of the last night's revels. + +And here I would make a remark, which I must beg no one to reject, +without well weighing the idea. The most amiable females of the party +assembled at Mrs. Jameson's, Mary Roscoe and Jenkins, who had put +themselves most out of their way, and had really acted the kindest by +the child, were those who felt the most in the affair, and most blamed +themselves for their own conduct, whereas if all had tried their best, +as they did, the little fellow would have ever had some kind heart +beside him to soothe and comfort him, and some one might have +anticipated his uneasiness at finding himself alone amongst strangers. +Anyhow they would not have been as strangers to him, for he afterwards +acknowledged, on being questioned, that had Miss Mary been sleeping in +the room, he should not have done as he did. But now to my remark, those +who strive to do best have the most tender consciences, and the more one +strives after right the more scrupulous and tender does the conscience +become, and the more does it aspire after noble feelings and honourable +thoughts and actions. This is a work of the Divine Spirit and of no +mortal power, and it is a training for glory, purifying our hearts for a +divine home, obtained for us through our Saviour's death and +righteousness, and in familiar language we will liken it after this +manner. Supposing two children stand side by side in the open street, +one is the child of a king, nicely drest and delicately clean, as would +be expected from his noble birth and expectation, the other is the +little hedge-side vagrant, to whose young face water or cleansing has +probably been unknown. Imagine, then, ought passing these two children, +which could pollute their persons, what would be their feelings? the one +might even laugh at the filth or mud that bespattered him, the other +would shrink with loathing or disgust, and would not be easy or +comfortable till every effort was taken to remove the stain. And we are +children of the King of kings, we are washed and clothed by Him, and +the more our garments are fitted for our future station, the fairer are +our inward persons; the more do we feel annoyed and grieved by any foul +spot, which could sully their purity and disfigure their beauty. My +young readers remember this, and smile no more at sin; aye, and shun +carefully its stains that would pollute you, and when they do alight +upon you, remember whose blood alone it is can purge away their +slightest trace. + +Poor Mary had no breakfast that morning, nor no comfort nor rest either, +for after searching for the child all over the house, she must needs +look for him in the gardens, the pleasure grounds, the lawn, behind each +tree and shrub, and even in the stables and offices, but no Reuben was +to be met with, and the dear little girl, when wearied out with +searching sat down to weep and lament herself, starting up occasionally +when some fresh place came to her mind, and running to it, but to meet +with disappointment and increased alarm. But Mary was not alone in the +search, for both Mr. and Mrs. Jameson were full of anxiety respecting +the child, and trusty men were sent in all directions to look after the +lost one; and when Mr. Jameson spoke to his lady on the imprudence of +having invited so young a child, she replied, that having given +permission to their son to ask a certain number of young people, she had +not attended to him when he named the bidden guests, taking it for +granted that a boy of thirteen would prefer companions of his own size +to a child of Reuben's tender age. And now it came out from Edward how +Marten had refused to come without his brother, and that Mr. and Mrs. +Mortimer were from home, and this, as might be expected, added not a +little to the distress of Mr. and Mrs. Jameson, for hitherto they had +thought the child had visited them with the permission of his parents, +and now that they heard that those parents were at Portsmouth, they were +more and more uneasy, and they blamed themselves not a little for having +been so indulgent in their direction to Edward. "But, indeed," said Mrs. +Jameson, "one could not have foreseen these circumstances, and when I +saw little Reuben seated by Mary at the dinner table, though I wondered +at his presence, yet he seemed so happy I believed all was right with +him." But the lesson was not lost upon Mr. and Mrs. Jameson, nor on +Edward, and I am happy to say, in future the latter was more ready to +ask advice of his parents than before this affair, for he too was very +uneasy about Reuben. As to Marten, without thinking of his hat, on +learning that the child could not be found in the house nor in the +pleasure grounds, he told one of the men who was sent with him by Mr. +Jameson, that he should go home as fast as he could to see if his +brother might not have made his way there, or at least be met with upon +the road. The distance from one house to the other was, as I said +before, four miles, and though poor Marten had little expectation that +the tender child could find his way so far, even if he knew the right +road, yet he understood the little one so well, that he felt convinced +he would at least attempt to get to his home, so that he considered it +useless to look for him in any other direction. And now we must leave +the unhappy and alarmed brother to speak of little Reuben, who was left, +as we mentioned, by Jenkins in the sitting-room with a few toys near +him. Never had Reuben been so left to himself before, but still for a +short time, though it was for a very short time he was content, then +came a wish for his breakfast, and with it the remembrance that if his +mamma had been with him he would even then be in her dressing-room. She +would be listening to his prattle, or he would be occupied in doing +something for her which he considered was useful, but which in reality +she could herself have done with half the time that she was obliged to +give to her baby boy. The thoughts of his mamma made the forlorn one +cry, and call upon her name, but no one heard his sobs or saw his tears, +and with it came a recollection of the sorrows of yesterday, and he +suddenly thought "Where is Marten? Where can Marten be? Is he gone? Has +he left Reuben?" The idea was not to be borne by the poor child in a +state of quietness, he rose from his seat, dropped his toys from his +lap, and without looking back he went to the door, which being ajar he +opened wider and passed through into the gallery. His friends, he +believed, had left him; they were at home. His mamma, too, he thought, +might be there with his papa and Marten, and, anyhow, he was sure Nurse +was there, Nurse who loved him so, and whom he loved so dearly. So down +the stairs stepped the sorrowing baby, holding the banisters with both +small hands, for it was necessary for him in descending the steps to +have both feet at one time on each, and noiselessly almost did he +proceed, for his fairy tread made no sound, and his sobs were tried to +be suppressed, in the earnest determination to attempt to find his way +to his home. And now he reached the last step, and lightly did he run +across the hall to the great door, which was open, and with some +difficulty, for there were more steps; he arrived at the carriage drive +between the house and lawn, whereon he had seen the lamb the day +before. + +And now would I could picture the little one, as he stood in his short +red frock, blown by the breeze which showed his dimpled knee, for his +white sock did not extend much above his shoe. His arms, neck, and head +were without covering, and his pretty curls played around his face in +graceful confusion. Calling on his mamma and upon Marten, he took the +carriage drive towards the gates, so far not having a doubt he was in +the direction of his home, and unseen by any one, he passed through a +small gate into the high road. Here he might have been puzzled which way +to take, if it had not been for a clump of eight elm trees on the left +hand road, and he had often heard John and Marten talk of those elm +trees, for they were called the "Nine Elms," and yet Marten had said +there were only eight now, and whenever he had gone to Mr. Jameson's +with his papa and mamma, and John who drove them, John had kept the +carriage waiting under the elms, and he used to put Reuben out of the +carriage amidst the trees, to run in and out amongst them, touching one +after the other, whilst John taught him to count them, saying one, two, +three, four, and so on. So Reuben knew he must pass the elm trees, and +as he was just awake, and the morning fresh and pleasant, his small feet +carried him along some way nicely, and even swiftly, and for a few +minutes, they were not many, all seemed promising, and the inexperienced +one believed he should soon be at his home. After the clump of trees, +the baby so confidently considered he was in the right way, that when he +came to a place where two roads joined the one up which he had ran, he +never looked about him, fancying they must both go to his home, and not +yet being weary, he took, as might be feared, the wrong turn, and soon +he heard distinctly the roaring of a cascade, much famed in those parts, +as it dashed over the rocks in the direction in which he was going Now +Reuben knew the sound of the cascade, for he had lived near it all his +young life, and he knew it was not far from his home; but he did not +consider that he never passed it on his way from his father's house to +Mr. Jameson's, but still, not mistrusting the road he was going, he ran +along till he suddenly found by a turn of the lane, that he was in full +front of the stream. The child however was not disconcerted by this, and +the fresh air meeting him, and for the moment raising his spirits, he +stepped on over the loose stones brought down at different times by the +waters, boldly, and even gaily, though his course was impeded by the +unevenness of the way. He must have stepped on some distance, when all +of a sudden he was unable to proceed farther along the path, by the +jutting out of a rock into the stream, for the water was pouring down +rapidly and more profusely than was general, for there had been heavy +rains in the mountains, and thus the bed of the torrent was fully +covered, its width being very inconsiderable beneath the rock. The spot +was one wholly unknown to the child, and surely it was a terrible sight +to meet the eye of a babe, who hitherto had not known what it was to be +left without a mother's or nurse's care. The place was in the heart of a +mountain gorge, famed for its rare beauty, and the cascade came dashing +from the rocks, which were very bold and picturesque in the little creek +or gully where the child stood. The water, as I said, was pouring down +white with foam, and majestically pursuing its course, shaking the +earth around with its terrible roarings. + +Fancy our little forlorn one then standing under the shelter of the +rock, which, hanging over him in rough masses, threatened to fall an +crush his baby form, the stream rushing impetuously at his feet, and one +little place beneath the rock, in fact part of the rock itself being +somewhat elevated from the bed of the stream below, forming his only +secure and dry resting place. I have said before, he had no covering on +fit for walking attire, his arms, neck, and head being fully exposed to +the breezes which now blew cruelly on his young figure, so that he could +scarcely keep his feet, and glad was he to creep under the shelter of +the threatening rock. There he stood looking around him in wild despair, +for he had raised his voice to cry for pity, and its infant tones were +not heard amidst the roaring waters; again and again he looked round +him, but no help was there, and he trembled more from fear than cold. He +was frightened at the roaring waters, for they seemed to him to be +approaching, and wholly overcome with fear and wretchedness, and quite +incapable of contending against his unhappy situation, he crouched +beneath the threatening rock, too miserable to shed a tear. "Mamma, +mamma," he said,--"Mamma, mamma," and that weak cry was repeated again +and again, though no human ear could hear his sorrows or soothe his +cries. Poor baby, what availed it then? your earthly father was the +tenderest of parents--he could not have foreseen this trouble, and +therefore he could not have been armed against it, but your heavenly +Father's eye was on you, little one, and his eyes are ever on infants, +the loveliest beings of his creation, and he who spared Nineveh, +because there were in that wicked city more than six score thousand +souls, who knew not their right hands from their left, still watches +over his babies now, for has he not said of "Such is the kingdom of +heaven." + +But observe the little one, what makes his cry of 'Mamma, Mamma,' cease? +the babe has heard a sound, a pleasant sound, and he forgets his +trouble. It is the sweet song of a bird upon a branch of a tree on the +rock above him, and the bird likes the morning air and the sound of the +waters, and he is singing his song of joy, and Reuben listened to him +and was pleased, and then the little bird hopped down from his high +perch and came lower and lower till he was quite close to the child, so +close that the little one held out his hand, which frightened away the +pretty bird, and Reuben was once more alone again, and commenced his cry +of "Mamma, Mamma, come to Reuben, Mamma." But the bird had come to the +rock because it had seen some bright berries on the bushes there, and +before it had began its song it had pecked off one or two with its bill, +or perhaps it might have been that other birds had pecked them off, and +then rejected them, or the wind might have blown them from the parent +bush; be that as it may, there were about as many as a dozen red berries +scattered on the ground, where the little bird had hopped, and Reuben +had seen them in looking at the bird, and now he began to collect them, +looking here and there to find some more, and he thought if he put them +into a nice heap together, their bright red colour would draw thither +another singing bird to visit him. So he collected his berries, and +tried to pile them together, and thus more time passed, for whilst doing +so, every little thing seemed to divert his attention--a skeleton leaf, +a small flower, a smooth pebble, a drop of water sparkling in the +sunshine, all attracted his infant eye, and thus, as we might say, his +heavenly Father watched over the boy and soothed him from the real +sorrows of his situation, till the time of his deliverance was at hand. +And are we not children of a large growth? are not our sorrows soothed +and relieved by our Creator's mercies? and are not innocent pleasures +and consolations put in the way of every child of God? and it is our own +fault, yes, our own fault, and very much are we to blame when we reject +the blessings of consolations offered us. "When our Saviour left us, he +promised to send us a comforter to abide with us for ever." John xiv. +16; and as the Divine Spirit never fails in his fulfilment of his +promises, be assured, you mourners, if you are not comforted, it is +because you will not accept the consolation offered to you; for he has +said, "I will not leave you comfortless, for he shall dwell with you, +and shall be in you." John xiv. 17 and 18. + +But why does little Reuben suddenly move his curls from off his cheek? +why does he listen, as he never listened before? and why does a merry +little laugh escape his lips? and then he listens again, and now he does +not laugh, but springing to his feet, with arms extended, he calls out +"Nero, Nero." It is not that Nero hears that baby voice, it is not that +the noble dog responds to the call, for the soft sound is lost amidst +the roar of the waters; but he who fed Elijah by the means of ravens, +and taught the dove to bear the olive leaf to Noah, has guided hither to +the child a sure and safe conductor to his home. Look, look there! +across the stream stands Nero. Nero let out by Thomas for a wild run for +exercise as directed first by Mr. Mortimer, and then by Marten; there +he stood, his eyes red with eagerness, his tongue protruding, and +panting and impatient as not knowing where next to turn his agile +bounds. But not for another moment did this hesitation continue, for +Reuben ran to the edge of the rock, both arms extended, and scarcely +able for the breeze to keep his little feet firm upon the ground. "Nero, +Nero," he cried, and almost ere his lips had closed, after the appeal, +the noble dog, with a glorious bound sprang from stepping-stone to +stepping-stone across the stream, and had overwhelmed the boy with his +caresses. What mattered it to Reuben, that his kind friend in his joy at +their meeting had absolutely overturned the child upon the ground? What +cared he for that? It was Nero, his own Nero, his Nero from home, and +Reuben did so love him, and Nero returned his love so warmly, and +they were always so happy together, and there was no danger to be feared +for Reuben, whilst the faithful animal was by him, which he had power to +ward off. Reuben had recognised the dog's bark even amidst the waters +roar, and that had made him laugh, for he never doubted that Nero would +come to him shortly. And now I don't know how to tell how the rest +happened, for in truth Reuben never could explain how things went on, +particularly after the arrival of Nero, and there was no other living +thing in that solitude but the child and dog. All that Reuben could +recollect afterwards was, that he was cold and hungry, and that he +wished to get home, and that Nero, too, seemed even more anxious than +himself to get home, but Reuben dared not cross the stream, and Nero +seemed almost as unwilling as himself to take the child across, and yet +the faithful creature would not leave the boy for more able assistance. +Reuben was frightened at the threatening rock above his head, and yet he +knew not how to leave it, for he had run on far enough to lose the way +to the lane which led to Mr. Jameson's, and he was frightened at all +around, and shivering and hungry, for he had tasted no food that +morning. + +[Illustration] + +At last, finding all his efforts useless to tempt the little one across +the stream, a new idea seemed to strike the sensible dog, for Nero was +very sensible. He seemed all of a sudden to bethink himself that there +might be another road home; and taking hold of Reuben's dress in his +mouth, he attempted to draw him along the road the child had come. Now +to this the little one was rather inclined, for he believed it would +take him home, but on attempting to walk he found that he had hurt his +foot before he had reached the rock, and that the cold air had made it +stiff and painful. Poor Reuben was going to cry, and then I do not know +what would have happened if Nero, finding out that something was wrong, +had not seated himself beside the child on the ground to comfort him; +and in so doing, reminded Reuben that Marten always told Nero to sit on +the ground before he told his brother to get on the dog's back for a +ride, for Reuben often took a ride on Nero's back. And now, then, fancy +the child seated upon Nero, who rose at once gently from the ground, and +with great care and stateliness commenced his progress homewards. It is +said that a white elephant will not allow any one to ride upon him who +is not of royal descent, and then the king of beasts steps on with full +consciousness of the honour of his kingly burthen; but what could his +pride be, compared with that of Nero's, as the faithful creature +stepped on and on with his infant rider? It was not, after all, so slow +a progress as might have been imagined, and as it is believed the dog +followed the scent of the child's footsteps, he naturally went up the +lane the little one had trod that morning. On arriving where the road +divided, Nero was, however, no longer at a loss, for he knew which +direction his own home lay, and Nero was not likely to be tempted +elsewhere than home, for if he could have reasoned he would have said, +in as strong terms as nurse herself could have used, that Reuben had +better be at home than anywhere else whilst he was so young. Nero, as I +said, now knew the road, for he had often accompanied the different +members of Mr. Mortimer's family when they went to visit Mr. Jameson's, +and how carefully, on account of his young rider, did he step on his way +towards home. + +And now I could say a great deal upon the fidelity of Nero, the +trustfulness of Reuben, and the useful lesson the little one was +learning; but I am anxious to speak of Marten and nurse, and all those +who loved the child and trembled for his loss. And yet I cannot talk of +their distress, the deep deep remorse of Marten, his full and complete +acknowledgment of his own carelessness and ignorance of himself, so that +nurse could not even say one word to him, though her tears and sobs were +a deep reproach. No, I cannot speak of this, I would rather tell of how +in the midst of all this trouble, tears were changed to smiles, and even +laughter took the place of sobs, when Reuben came riding into the court +yard tired, cold, and hungry, it is true, but no little important at his +wonderful adventure. And then came such kisses and caresses, such +warming by the kitchen fire, such a comfortable breakfast for the +child, such luxuries for the dog, which Reuben was allowed to bestow; +and then such runnings hither and thither to inform all the kind +searchers all was right with the child, and such congratulations, that I +should never have done, if I attempt but to repeat one half of them; so +let me conclude in these words of the apostle, "Let no man say when he +is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, +neither tempteth he any man. But every man is tempted when he is drawn +away of his own lust and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it +bringeth forth sin; and sin when it is finished, bringeth forth death." +James i. 13, 14, 15. But our Saviour has declared, "I will ransom them +from the power of the grave. I will redeem them from death. Oh! death, I +will be thy plague: Oh! grave, I will be thy destruction." Hosea xiii. +14. + +By this little narrative we are taught that whoever fills himself up +with the belief that he is wise and clever, will be apt, like Marten, to +fall into some sort of trouble, which he did not look forward to. All +the wisdom of man lies in knowing that unless he is guided in all his +actions by his heavenly Father, he is sure to go wrong, let his age or +condition be what it may. If little Reuben had been really lost or hurt, +very severe indeed would have been the punishment of Marten for his +conceit, but God in his tender love let him off for his fright only; +which, however, we doubt not, was sharp enough to make him remember the +lesson all his life. + +It is well for poor sinful men, women, and children, however, that they +have a brother, even the Lord the Saviour in his human person, who +cannot forget them as Marten forgot Reuben, no, not for one moment. + + + + +POPULAR JUVENILE BOOKS, + +Of established reputation, which may be safely placed into the hands of +Children, blending Amusement with Instruction. + +DARTON'S HOLIDAY LIBRARY. + +_A Series of Shilling Volumes for the Young_, + +BY APPROVED AUTHORS. + +No. 1.--MARY LEESON, by Mary Howitt. Illustrated by J. Absolon. + +No. 2.--TAKE CARE OF NO. 1, or Good to Me includes Good to Thee, by S.E. +Goodrich, Esq. (the Original Peter Parley). Illustrated by Gilbert. + +No. 3.--HOW TO SPEND A WEEK HAPPILY, by Mrs. Burbury. With +Illustrations. + +No. 4.--POEMS FOR YOUNG CHILDREN, by "Adelaide," one of the amiable +Authoresses of "Original Poems." With Illustrations. + +No. 5.--THE YOUNG LORD, by Camilla Toulmin; and VICTORINE DUROCHER, by +Mrs. Sherwood. With Illustrations. + +No. 6.--PAULINE. A Tale from the German. With Illustrations. + +No. 7.--HOUSEHOLD STORIES. With Illustrations. + +Nos. 8 and 9.--IN-DOOR AND OUT-DOOR SPORTS. + +No. 10.--STORIES OF ENTERPRISE AND ADVENTURE; or, EXCITEMENT TO READING. +Illustrated with Wood Engravings, from designs by Absolon. + +No. 11.--The BOOK OF RIDDLES, ETC. + +CRITICAL REMARKS. + +"The Volumes of DARTON'S HOLIDAY LIBRARY which have reached us, comprise +a most interesting Series of Books for Young People, written by some of +our most Popular Authors, and all having a tendency towards the +formation of correct principles and habits in the minds of the Young. +They blend amusement with instruction in the most delightful manner. We +cordially recommend them as by far the best books of their class." + + + + +Neatly bound in cloth, + +FIRST LINES OF BOTANY, + +BY W. BERNHARD TEGETMEIER. + +"This little work is a complete compendium of botanical science, written +in a very clear and effective manner, and embodying the most popular +classification of plants. It is a work that may be consulted by the old +as well as the young with great advantage, and to those who are fond of +gardening it will be of great practical use." + +SPECIMEN FROM PAGE 57. THE CONVOLVULUS TRIBE. + +"181. The common bind-weed of our hedges may be taken as the +representative of this very natural tribe of plants, distinguished by +their _twining habit_, and by the peculiar _plaited manner_ in which the +corolla is folded in the bud." + +"182. The calyx consists of five sepals, two of which are outside the +remainder; there are five stamens, and a superior pistil, containing +three or four cells, with about two seeds in each." + +QUESTIONS APPENDED AT THE FOOT. + +"181. What are the marks distinguishing the convolvulus tribe?" + +"182. Describe the remaining parts of the flower?" + +JUST PUBLISHED, PRICE NINEPENCE EACH,--THE + +CATECHISM OF MODERN HISTORY; + +Also, New Editions of the following Catechisms, + +BY THE REV. T. WILSON: + +Catechism of the History of England. Catechism of Bible History. +Catechism of English Grammar. Catechism of Astronomy. Catechism of +Geography. Catechism of Music. First Catechism of Common Things. + +Second Catechism of Common Things. Third Catechism of Common Things. +First Catechism of Natural Philosophy. Second Catechism of Natural +Philosophy. Third Catechism of Natural Philosophy. Catechism of Botany. +Two Parts. Catechism of Biography. Two Parts. + +"The Catechisms of the Rev. T. Wilson stand foremost in the rank of this +mode of teaching, and the series fills a hiatus in this department of +literature. They embody a vast amount of information in every branch of +science, and are well worthy the attention of Schoolmasters, Pupil +Teachers, and Governesses." + + + + +THE CHILD'S BOOK OF FACTS, + +Comprising the First, Second, and Third Catechisms of Common Things. + +BY THE REV. T. WILSON. + +"This work may he regarded as a sequel to the 'Mother's Question Book,' +which the author has, in his style and method, followed as a model. It +presents an immense quantity of interesting facts to the young mind, and +affords information of the most useful kind rendered clear and +simple."--_Journal of Education_. + +SPECIMEN OF THE QUESTIONS. + +"What is meant by the terms art and science?" "What are the principal of +the arts?" "How are they distinguished?" + +Neatly and strongly bound in cloth, + +LESSONS ON NATURAL PHILOSOPHY, FOR CHILDREN, + +BY THE REV. T. WILSON. + +"These Lessons consist of initiatory information upon the Phenomena of +Nature, the Mechanical Powers, Astronomy, Geography, Light and Heat, +Electricity, Attraction, Chemistry, Magnetism, and include a great +variety of valuable matter, condensed and simplified in a very clever +manner by the author."--_Monthly Magazine_. + +SPECIMEN OF THE ABOVE. + +"When you open a door, what is the weight that you move?" + +"When you throw a ball, what becomes of it?" + +"What makes the weight go down to the bottom of a clock?" + +GUTTA PERCHA, & ITS USES TO MAN. + +WITH COLOURED PLATES. + +Foolscap 4to. and Wrapper printed in Gold, price 1s. + + + + +JUVENILE AND EDUCATIONAL. + +Strongly bound in cloth, in 18mo., + +THE MOTHER'S QUESTION BOOK; + +OR, + +CHILD'S FIRST GUIDE TO KNOWLEDGE, + +COMPRISING THE FIRST, SECOND, AND THIRD MOTHER'S CATECHISMS, + +BY THE REV. DAVID BLAIR. + +"The name of Dr. Blair is identified with elementary knowledge; and +these, the genuine productions of his pen, are well worthy the attention +of the parent and teacher."--_Educational Magazine_. + +SPECIMEN OF THE ABOVE FROM PAGE 52.--"Q. What are the objects of all +manufactures?" + +"A. To make the necessaries and conveniences of life; as clothing, +tools, and furniture." + +"Q. Of what is clothing made?" + +"A. Clothing is made of wool, flax, cotton, silk, or leather; and there +are great manufactures of each of these." + +"Q. Of what are tools made?" + +"A. Of wood, iron, steel, and brass." + +"Q. Of what is furniture made?" + +"A. Of oak and deal, with brass ornaments, with beds of cotton or linen, +and hair mattresses or feather beds." + +THE EARLY EDUCATOR, + +OR, + +FIRST LESSONS IN USEFUL KNOWLEDGE: + +BY WM. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Brotherly Love + Shewing That As Merely Human It May Not Always Be Depended Upon + +Author: Mrs. Sherwood + +Release Date: February 21, 2004 [EBook #11213] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: US-ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BROTHERLY LOVE *** + + + + +Produced by Loriba Barber and PG Distributed Proofreaders + + + + + +</pre> + + + + <h1>Brotherly Love;</h1> + + <center> + <img src="image002.jpg" + alt="Page 2 Image" + height="760" + width="600"> + </center> <br> + + + <h1>BROTHERLY LOVE;</h1> + + <center> + <h3><b>SHEWING</b></h3> + </center> + + <center> + <h3><b>That as merely human it may not always be depended + upon.</b></h3> + </center> + + <center> + + </center> + + <h3>BY</h3> + + <h2>MRS. SHERWOOD</h2> + + <center> + <b>AND HER DAUGHTER,</b> + </center> + + <center> + + </center> + + <center> + <h2>MRS. STREETEN</h2> + </center> + + <center> + LONDON: BARTON AND CO., 58, HOLBORN HILL + </center> + + <center> + 1851. + </center> + + <center> + + </center> + + <center> + <img src="image005.jpg" + alt="Page 5 Image" + height="760" + width="600"> + </center> + + <center> + + </center> + + <center> + <b>BROTHERLY LOVE;</b> + </center> + + <center> + <b>SHEWING</b> + </center> + + <center> + <b>That as merely human it may not always be depended + upon.</b> + </center> + + <center> + + </center> + + <center> + <b>BY</b> + </center> + + <center> + <b>MRS. SHERWOOD</b> + </center> + + <center> + <b>AND HER DAUGHTER,</b> + </center> + + <center> + <b>MRS. STREETEN.</b> + </center> + + <center> + LONDON: DARTON AND CO., 58, HOLBORN HILL. + </center> + + <center> + 1851. + </center> + + <center> + <hr style="width: 65%;"> + <a name="THE_BROTHERS"></a> + </center> + + <h2>THE BROTHERS;</h2> + + <center> + <b>OR,</b> + </center> + + <center> + <b>BE NOT WISE IN YOUR OWN CONCEIT.</b> + </center> + + <p>It was at that time of year when leaves begin to lose their + green hue, and are first tinctured with a brown shade that + increases rather than decreases their beauty, that Mr. and Mrs. + Mortimer received a letter from a brother of Mrs. Mortimer's, + at Portsmouth, requiring such immediate attention that it was + thought advisable that the answer should be given in person and + not in writing, and without a day's loss of time. So it was + determined that Mr. and Mrs. Mortimer should leave their home, + even as soon as the following morning, to visit their brother + at Portsmouth, and that they then should settle the business + for which they went as quickly as possible, that their absence + from home need not be prolonged unnecessarily, nor indeed for + any length of time. It did not take long to arrange this part + of the affair, and what packing was requisite was also done + quickly, but the point which required most attention and + thought was, what was to become of Marten and his young brother + Reuben while their papa and mamma were away. "I have never left + them before," said their mamma, "and I feel somewhat anxious + about their being left now."</p> + + <p>"Anxious, dear mamma," exclaimed Marten, who had overheard + the remark. "Anxious," he repeated, "why I am a great boy now, + and I shall soon be a man, when I shall have to take care of + myself altogether; and if I cannot take care of myself for a + week, what is to become of me when I am grown up? Indeed, + mamma, I think you forget how old I am. I was thirteen on the + 21st of April."</p> + + <p>"Tirteen," lisped little Reuben--"Marten tirteen--April--Oh, + Marten very old mamma--very, very wise;" and Reuben opened his + eyes quite wide and looked so very earnestly in his mother's + face, that one would have thought he was trying to read therein + what she could mean about being anxious as to leaving + Marten,--the Marten who appeared so very old and so very wise + to him,--to take care of himself for a few days without his + parents protection. "Thirteen," repeated Mrs. Mortimer, + "thirteen no doubt seems very, aye very old, to you Reuben, for + you are not yet half that age; but I am more than three times + that age," she added, smiling, "and that you know must make me + very, very much wiser than Marten, and now once again I say I + am anxious about leaving you without your father or myself, and + I should be more anxious than I am if I did not believe it is + our duty to go at once to Portsmouth; and that it being right + for us to go, I can leave you, my boys, in God's care, who is + the tenderest of fathers to his children."</p> + + <p>"But mamma," asked Marten, "why do you fear for me? Am I not + steady, mamma? Do not I like to do what you and papa tell me to + do? Am I ever obstinate or rebellious to you? Indeed, mamma, I + feel quite grieved; I think it is unjust to mistrust me, mamma, + really I do."</p> + + <p>"If you feared for yourself, I should have less fear for + you, Marten," replied Mrs. Mortimer, "for I know well that the + heart of man is by nature prone to sin, and that our thoughts + and desires while we are on earth are like our natures, full of + imperfections. Temptations are ever before us--they press upon + us every minute, and it is not in our own strength we can + resist or overcome even one of them, and while this life lasts + we are not safe, unless we acknowledge their powerful influence + and trust in the Divine Spirit alone to be able to withstand + them."</p> + + <p>"I have not been thought a disobedient boy till now," said + Marten somewhat sulkily. "I think my usual conduct should plead + for me."</p> + + <p>"Every child has temptations, Marten," replied his mamma, + "and every well behaved child, though not a pious one, resists + them: and in truth these temptations are so numerous, that one + scarcely thinks of them, unless we witness the conduct of a + spoiled baby, as shame prevents grown up persons giving way to + many things. But I want you to see that in this life we are in + a state of constant trial, and as St. Paul says, if it were + only for this life, a Christian is of all men most miserable; + for added to these outward temptations, which assail all + mankind daily and hourly, the Christian knows he must resist + inward temptations, which perhaps are known to none but himself + and his God. These temptations are more pressing than other + temptations, on account of their peculiar nature: for the one, + if indulged in, brings the displeasure or frowns of the + world--the other, as I said before, is perhaps unknown to all + human beings but oneself."</p> + + <p>"Well, but mamma," said Marten impatiently, "I do know all + this, for you have taught it me before. It is not like as if I + had to learn the thing now for the first time. I think you are + too severe, mamma, indeed I do; and when you come back, I + believe you will say so. Trust me, mamma, and do not be anxious + about me. I shall do very well, and I promise to take good care + of Reuben. I will see to his lessons, and do my own, and he + shall sleep with me while you are away, and I will attend + carefully to him and never leave him, and when I am learning my + Latin, he can be in the room with me, and we shall do very well + together, I promise you. So trust me, mamma, without anxiety of + any sort."</p> + + <p>"I will trust you," replied Mrs. Mortimer smiling kindly, + "but not with yourself Marten, for I see clearly you have a + lesson to learn, my boy, and I hope you will learn it shortly, + without much trouble to yourself. You think you are going to + fulfil all your duties in your own strength, as they ought to + be fulfilled. You will see that you cannot. Could human nature, + unassisted by the Divine nature, have done so, then what need + would there have been for the Son of God to have taken our form + and purified our nature in himself? By grace alone are we + saved, for there is none good--no, not one; but as God is holy, + we must be holy, ere we can dwell with Him, and the work of the + Divine Spirit is to make us pure; and while we are in the + flesh, to uphold us in the right and straight road, till being + made one with God our sanctification is accomplished. Now then + is our hour of temptation. Marten--and believe me, my boy, if + you attempt to withstand that temptation in your own strength, + you are like one putting fire to tow, and expecting it will + escape conflagration."</p> + + <p>Marten made no reply, for he was tired of the subject; but + after Mrs. Mortimer had left the room, he said to + Reuben--"Well, we shall see what we shall see, and mamma shall + acknowledge I am right after all." So the carriage came to the + door next morning betimes, and Mr. and Mrs. Mortimer got into + it, and Marten and Reuben stood in the coach drive to hold the + gate open for the carriage to pass through; and the great dog + Nero stood by them very much excited, not knowing whether to go + with the carriage or to stay with the boys.</p> + + <p>"Be sure you see Nero has a run every day, Marten," said Mr. + Mortimer, as the carriage passed through the gate--"that dog + wants plenty of exercise."</p> + + <p>"Oh! don't fear, papa, I shall not forget him," replied + Marten, running a step or two after the carriage; "and mamma, I + will attend to your doves--you had forgotten to speak about + them, had you not, mamma? I will remember them and Nero too, + papa, and Reuben also. Yes, I will attend to all--I shall have + plenty of time for all. Have you anything more you wish done, + papa?" and Marten was obliged to stop speaking, as the carriage + was now going on rapidly, and he found he could not talk and + keep up with it at the same time.</p> + + <p>"No, no, Marten," replied Mr. Mortimer laughing--"No, no, my + boy--you have got more on your hands now than will suffice you: + so off with you home, and take care that when we return we do + not find the doves flown, Nero lost, or Reuben with black eye + or bruised leg, and yourself in some unlucky plight, my boy. + Now go home, and God bless and watch over you, my sons. We hope + it will not be long before we return," and he waved his hand to + bid good bye. Marten had run himself out of breath, so he was + not able to answer his father, and he was not sorry to stand + still an instant or two to watch the carriage out of sight, and + give time for Reuben to overtake him, for the child could not + keep up with his brother's quick running. And even now Marten + might have read this lesson, had he been wise enough so to do + that already, he had been led away by temptation to forget his + brother, and that though he had done so, Nero had been more + faithful than himself; for Nero, though he could have outran + Marten, yet would not forsake the child, but restrained his + impatience that he might keep near the little one, who ever + needed a protector by his side, for the child was young, and + his mother had perhaps reared him too delicately.</p> + + <p>Reuben had never before been separated from his mamma, and + he was half inclined to cry, and perhaps fret at her absence; + but Marten, who was a very kind brother, and really loved the + child tenderly, contrived so to divert his attention that he + soon forgot his troubles.</p> + + <p>Marten was so bent upon behaving well during his mamma's and + papa's absence and of fulfilling every duty, that though Reuben + wished to stay out all morning and play, his brother would not + allow it, but persuaded him to go in with him and say his + lessons, as if his mamma had been at home. But Marten had taken + upon himself much more than was required of him by his parents, + and it was not without difficulty, even on the first day, + determined as he was upon the point, that he could fulfil all + his intentions, for Marten had not taken into consideration + that if he thoroughly devoted himself to Reuben, he could not + spend his time in learning his own lessons, which usually + occupied the best hours of the morning. The doves could be fed + whilst Reuben was by his side--indeed Reuben could be very + useful in this matter, for he had been accustomed to visit the + aviary daily with his mamma, and the pretty birds knew him and + were not as afraid of him as they were of his big brother + Marten. So Reuben fed the doves himself, and stroked their soft + feathers, and washed out their little tin in which the water + was put for them to drink; and he placed the food for them in + its right corner, and he swept out the floor of the aviary, for + he was small enough to stand upright within it, and he knew how + to do it without frightening the birds. So far all was well, + and all was well too whilst Reuben was saying his lessons; but + when Marten wanted to study his Latin exercise, the child was + so restless and troublesome, that it was only by speaking very + decidedly to him--indeed almost crossly--that Marten could get + a moment to himself.</p> + + <p>But even then Marten had to shut up his book somewhat + hastily, for Reuben began to cry for his mamma, who never spoke + sharply to him, and was always ready to attend to the little + one by a kind look or tender word.</p> + + <p>Marten was, however, so satisfied with himself in having + accomplished all his plans for the day, that he did not see how + he had given way to temptation in being cross when provoked; + and as he put Reuben to bed, for he chose to do it himself, he + could not help saying aloud, "I wish mamma could have followed + me unseen all day: how pleased she would have been with me, for + I have done all I meant to do, even though I was tempted more + than once to leave something undone."</p> + + <p>The next morning Marten arose, perhaps not quite so earnest + in his intentions as the day before, but still there was only a + slight disinclination to fulfil all his duties--so slight, + indeed, that he would have been very angry if any one had + spoken to him about it, and hinted at the truth. In this frame + of mind, though most things were done, some few were slurred + over, particularly the Latin Exercise and Grammar, for Marten's + papa had not set him any task, and had even said Marten might + have a holiday during his absence; and at any other time the + boy would have been glad of this indulgence, but now he fancied + himself so good, that he believed he could do everything, and + everything well.</p> + + <p>"I will do an exercise to-morrow, Reuben," said Marten. + "Papa does not expect any done, and if I have one for every + other day to shew him, he will be very much pleased, I + know."</p> + + <p>Reuben, as may be supposed, could not make a suitable reply + to this; for all he understood about it was, that Marten was + going out with him instead of staying at home to do that + troublesome Latin. So Reuben was pleased and Marten was + thoughtless, and out together they went and enjoyed themselves + not a little, in the pleasant autumn weather.</p> + + <p>Thus hours passed on, and the third day brought a letter + from Mrs. Mortimer, which was not quite satisfactory, for it + said that the business which took her and her husband from home + could not be easily settled, and they feared they would be + detained a whole fortnight at Portsmouth. Mrs. Mortimer, + however, was not uneasy about her boys, for she knew that the + servants, with whom she had left them, were quiet steady + persons, who would not allow them to do what was wrong without + speaking to them; and then Reuben was such an universal + favourite, that she felt sure no one would be wilfully unkind + to him. But above all, Mrs. Mortimer trusted her children with + Him who "knoweth our frame and remembereth we are but dust." + Psal. ciii. 14.</p> + + <p>Mrs. Mortimer had been absent about a week, and Marten was + still in ignorance of the weakness of human nature, at least as + far as he was himself personally concerned, when one morning + Reuben came running to him in great distress, to say that the + doves were missing--his mamma's own pretty birds that she loved + so much; and Reuben, whose tears were somewhat too ready, began + to cry, for he feared, poor child, the cat had eaten them, or + some other misfortune equally distressing had befallen + them.</p> + + <p>"Was the door of the aviary open?" asked Marten. "Are you + sure it was open, Reuben? or did you open it yourself?"</p> + + <p>"It was open," said Reuben, "wide, wide open--so wide, + Marten;" and he made his brother understand that he had gone + inside without stirring it the least little bit.</p> + + <p>"It was open, you say," replied the elder boy, "but how + could that be? You or some one have been careless, very + careless, Reuben; for it is certain the birds could not open it + for themselves." Reuben was about to cry again, but Marten + soothed him, for all at once Marten remembered that the + careless--very careless person was none other than himself; for + on the day before, whilst Reuben was sweeping out the aviary, + Marten had called him hurriedly, and though the child had once + proposed to return, his brother had kept him by his side for + some trifling purpose, and so they had both forgotten the + aviary door was open. However, the doves were gone, and they + must be reclaimed, if alive, but if dead--what a sad story + would there be for Mrs. Mortimer. So the books were put by, and + the two boys went out in search of the birds, and Reuben, who + understood their ways, took the precaution to carry with him + the box in which their food was usually placed. On this + occasion there was a nice piece of cake put into the box, which + was to be crumbled for the doves, and Reuben knew that they + liked cake as well as he did himself, and more especially the + kind of cake which cook had given him.</p> + + <p>Have you ever heard of a person who it is said once looked + for a needle in a pottle of hay? for if so, you may picture to + yourself the feelings of Marten when he started to find the + ringdoves. But perhaps you will say, anyhow, the needle would + lie still, unless the man who was searching for it should shake + the straw too roughly, and throw it out, therefore the space of + its concealment, being a limited space, supposing the pottle + the very largest ever made, there would be a chance in time of + its discovery, but not so the case of the birds. They had wings + to fly with, and miles of lovely blue sky to fly through, and + green branches to rest on, and harvest fields to alight in, + that is if they were in the land of the living; but, perhaps, + after all, mistress pussy had destroyed them, and their pretty + feathers, perhaps their only relics left, might be so scattered + by the wind, that already they might be yards and yards + separated from each other. With these sad forebodings clouding + his brow, Marten set off with Reuben on his search, feeling + that it was a hopeless one, and not one word did the boy utter + to all Reuben's lamentations as they crossed the meadow which + was spread in front of their house towards a little wood, which + was the home of many a bird of the pigeon or dove species, and + therefore Marten thought would be the most likely place to go + first to look after the strayed ones. Think, then, what must + have been his joy as they entered the second meadow not far + from the stile, absolutely to behold the ringdoves, his mamma's + own ringdoves walking upon the grass cooing and billing, and + turning about their soft eyes in this direction and the other, + as if half afraid of the freedom they had acquired for + themselves. As to Reuben, he was so pleased, that the little + foolish fellow clapped his hands and shouted for joy, which so + alarmed the doves, that they took to their wings and soared + high, but flutteringly in the air, as if in their fright they + did not know what they ought to do for their own safety. Marten + was very angry with Reuben for his folly--very angry indeed, + and I hardly know what it was he said; only this I do know, + that he took the box of cake from the child's hand, and bade + him stand at a particular spot--about twenty yards or so, in a + direction farthest from the wood, and from the stile leading to + their home; "and there," he added, "remain till I tell you you + may stir, if you are so stupid as not to know that clapping + your hands and shouting loud will frighten any birds, + particularly timid ones like doves--tame doves, especially, who + have strayed from their home."</p> + + <p>Marten looked so cross, that Reuben did not even like to + cry, for he felt he had been very silly; so the poor little + fellow stood where his brother had bade him stand, half afraid + to breathe, and quite afraid of moving--lest by any noise he + should again drive away the doves, and Marten should again be + angry. And there we will leave him to speak of how his brother + set himself to work to reclaim his mother's birds.</p> + + <p>I have said before that he had some cake in a box in his + hand, and having tossed off his hat--lest by any accident it + should fall off when he was stooping forwards, he threw himself + upon the grass his full length, and as he rested on his right + hand; with his left he sprinkled some of the cake he had with + him on the ground, to attract the doves near to him, in the + hope he would catch one; and the second, he rightly guessed, + would not then be long out of his power. Marten relied on the + tame habits of the doves, who had been accustomed not only to + eat out of his brother's hands, but also from his mother's, and + occasionally of late from his own; but it is a different thing + feeding birds in their own aviary, and when they have escaped + half wild to their native haunts. And now, whilst the boy + stretched upon the ground, was wholly occupied in the earnest + desire of reclaiming the wanderers, Reuben's attention after + awhile was diverted by seeing that some one was approaching + towards them from a hill, in a direction farthest from their + home. This person was riding at no slow pace, and as I said + before, as his road led him down hill, he seemed not to spare + his horse; meeting the wind, as Reuben thought gloriously, and + passing along at a pace, the child considered more glorious + still. "When I am a man," the little fellow said to himself, "I + will ride so, I will have a horse, and I will ride very very + fast,--yes,--that I will."</p> + + <p>Now it seemed that the rider from the elevated road could + look over the meadows below, and probably having good eyes, for + they certainly were young and sharp ones, he soon spied out + Marten and Reuben, and as it came out afterwards that Marten + was the person he sought after, he caused his pony to leap over + a small ditch that was in his way, and then guiding it to a + gate he dismounted and fastened the animal to the post by its + bridle. In leaping the ditch his hat had fallen off, and making + signs to a large Newfoundland dog that had accompanied him, the + noble animal was by him directed to lie down near the horse and + take charge of the hat, whilst his master stepped lightly along + the grass in the direction where Marten lay extended, so + occupied about the doves as to regard nothing that was passing + round him. The new comer was a youth of about Marten's own age, + the only child of a gentleman who lived about four miles from + Marten's father, and the most constant companion that Marten + possessed. His name was Edward Jameson, and he shall himself + say the cause of his present visit. Reuben knew Edward well, + and he recognized him before he had tied his pony to the gate + post, but he had not seen the fine Newfoundland dog before, and + Reuben was so fond of dogs. The little fellow remembered that + Marten had forbidden him to leave the tree or to speak, but he + could not keep his small feet from moving up and down + restlessly, nor could he scarce command himself not to call out + and tell his brother of Edward's arrival. But Edward wanted to + see what Marten was doing in the very odd attitude he had + taken, so he crept noiselessly on, his head turned somewhat + sideways to Reuben, and his hand held up threateningly to the + child, for he saw he had been recognised, and he was afraid of + some hasty word, which would cause Marten to start up, and then + he feared he should not surprise his friend. Edward was able to + get quite close to Marten, and even to touch him before Marten + was aware of his presence; and he stepped up so quietly, that + the doves were so little frightened, that they hardly stopped a + moment from picking up the crumbs.</p> + + <p>"Why Marten, old fellow, what are you doing here?" asked + Edward. "Whose doves are those, I say? are they your mother's? + have you let them loose--Eh?" Edward spoke softly, but not so + softly that he did not cause Marten to start at the unexpected + sound of his voice; still, as the birds were at some little + distance, and were accustomed to the human voice, they scarcely + were alarmed, and hardly moved a step or two away from the + crumbs scattered for them, and Marten recovering himself + quickly, said--"Oh! Edward, do help me to catch these doves: + they have escaped from their aviary, and my mother will be so + vexed if they fly away."</p> + + <p>"To be sure I will," replied Edward; "but my boy, who is in + the habit of feeding them, for that person would best know how + to catch them I should say."</p> + + <p>"My mother feeds them herself chiefly," said Marten, "and + Reuben sometimes attends to them when she is engaged."</p> + + <p>"Well, set Reuben to decoy them now, for I am in a hurry and + have got something to say to you as quickly as possible, and it + is very important. Anyhow, the child can watch them whilst you + are attending to me."</p> + + <p>So Reuben was called from his station at the tree, and + Marten gave him directions what he was to do; and the now + little important one lay down on the grass, as Marten had done + before him; and as might have been expected, the doves, + accustomed to his baby voice and small figure, soon drew nearer + and nearer to him, so that when the conference was over between + the two elder boys, Reuben was able proudly to shew not one, + but both doves, so wrapped up in his pinafore, that though they + fluttered about a little, they were quite secure. "Come here a + step or two from the child," said Edward, "and don't think of + those troublesome birds just now, but tell me at once, can you + come and pay me a visit for a couple of days? my cousins + William Roscoe and Jane and Mary are expected at our house to + night on their way to London. You know William Roscoe, Marten, + and what a fine fellow he is and I have asked my father and + mother, and they have allowed me to get as many young ones + together as the short time would allow, and we are to have + splendid fun. Won't you come, Marten? I promise you a glorious + time of it, if you will but come."</p> + + <center> + <img src="image034.jpg" + alt="Page 34 Image" + height="780" + width="600"> + </center> + + <p>"My father is from home," replied Marten thoughtfully, "and + so is my mother, but I don't think that matters, Edward: they + have never refused my visiting you, and I do not think they + would now. Indeed, I am sure they would not, if they were at + home, but what am I to do with Reuben? I have taken charge of + Reuben whilst mamma is away, and what can I do about him?"</p> + + <p>"About Reuben," returned Edward? "can't the servants take + care of him at home? he will do very well at home, and be very + contented, I know."</p> + + <p>"But I have undertaken the charge of him," said Marten, "and + I should not like, after what I have said, to leave him, even + for a couple of days. I must either bring him with me, Edward, + or stay at home with him--indeed, I must."</p> + + <p>"Well, then, bring the little fellow," replied Edward + kindly; "anything so as you come, Marten; and remember there + will be plenty of girls invited, for Jane and Mary Roscoe, and + Reuben can surely play with them, and they will take care of + him, no doubt. So bring him, by all means, if that is the only + hindrance; but still, I say, you would do better to leave him + at home with the servants; however, that's your business, not + mine. I reckon on you to-morrow, about eleven o'clock--to stay + all night, next day, and the night following, if you like; so + good bye, till then. I have half the country to ride over to + beat up my recruits;" and without waiting another word from his + friend, Edward ran across the meadow, snatched up his hat from + where the faithful dog was carefully guarding it, sprang upon + his pony, and then once again leaping the ditch, he cantered + off at a pace so rapid, he was soon lost to Marten's sight.</p> + + <p>How pleased was Reuben to shew his brother that he had + caught the doves, and Marten was also pleased: for any how he + need not distress himself about them, as they were secured, but + he thought it advisable to take them under his own charge, as + he considered he could hold them firmer than the little one. + And now the boys ran home as quickly as they could, and the + pretty birds were shut up in their aviary, and Marten hastened + to the kitchen to find the house-maid, who was called nurse, as + she had been Reuben's nurse before she had changed her + occupation in the family, the child no longer requiring a + personal attendant. In the kitchen Marten learnt that she was + gone out into the garden to gather some herbs for the cook, and + thither he followed her to tell her that his friend Edward + Jameson had been with him, and what had been the purport of his + visit.</p> + + <p>"Nurse," said Marten, when he found her, "I am come to ask + you to get mine and Reuben's things ready to-night, for I am + going to take him with me to spend a couple of days at Mr. + Jameson's; and there will be company there in the evenings, so + we must have our best things, nurse, and will you be so kind as + to see after the doves, and tell Thomas to loosen Nero's chain + every day, that he may have a good scamper over the fields, for + papa says he should have plenty of exercise."</p> + + <p>"Stop, stop, master Marten," replied nurse, "what is all + this about? your things and master Reuben's, do you say, are to + be got ready for two day's visit--and the doves fed? am I to + find them before I feed them, master Marten?" and nurse + laughed.</p> + + <p>"They are found, nurse," answered the boy, "and they are now + safe in the aviary, and I will take care the door shall not be + opened again while mamma is away. I mean to put a padlock on, + nurse, so you see no one can let them out, and I shall keep the + key myself."</p> + + <p>"Oh! master Marten, master Marten!" said nurse, laughing + again--"I see, if it depended upon you, we should all be in a + bad way, and so the poor birds are to be locked up, are they: + and master Reuben is not to be allowed to go into the aviary to + talk to them, as the little one loves to do--and all for what? + Give me a steady ruler, if you please--not such as you, master + Marten--a fine head of a family you will make, if one may judge + of your boasted management of the doves in the first part of + the story, and then the leaving the aviary door open and + finishing with locking them up and keeping the key yourself. + Well for their happiness--mistress will soon be at home to + attend to them herself; but what are you going to do with the + child, my own darling? I can't have any tricks played with him, + I tell you."</p> + + <p>"Tricks, nurse," repeated Marten passionately. "What? do you + mean to say I would play tricks with my own brother? No one + loves Reuben, I am sure, better than I do, unless it is mamma. + What do you mean, nurse?"</p> + + <p>"What do you mean, then, master Marten, by saying you are + going to take the child amongst strangers, neither me nor his + mamma being with him, and he never accustomed to strangers--and + company in the house too--I don't half like it--and I know I + feel half inclined to say he shan't go."</p> + + <p>"And pray under whose charge was he left?" asked Marten. + "Your's or mine, nurse? I should like to know."</p> + + <p>"It was much of a muchness," replied the good woman. "Missis + said to you, take care of your brother; but missis knew I loved + the sweet darling too dearly to require even half a word on the + subject. And supposing he does go with you, master Marten, who + is to put the dear child to bed at nights? I must insist, + indeed I must, that you see to it yourself. I know how + frightened he will be amongst strangers at bed time."</p> + + <p>"To be sure I will, nurse," said Marten, glad to see the + good woman was so far giving in to his wishes. "I promise not + only to sleep with him, but to take him to bed myself and stay + with him till he is asleep."</p> + + <p>"Well, well, master Marten," exclaimed nurse + impatiently--"Well, well, don't undertake too much and then do + nothing; and I must say again," she continued warming with her + subject, "that the child had better be left at home where there + are plenty to look after him, and not be carried off to that + strange house, away from us all."</p> + + <p>"Oh! me go with Marten, nurse, dear nurse! me go with + Marten!" said little Reuben imploringly, for the child had just + joined them in time to hear nurse's last remark. "Oh! Reuben so + like to go with Marten."</p> + + <p>"You don't know what is best for you, silly one," replied + nurse, "nor who is your truest friend either, but your little + head is bent upon being a man soon, and you must ever be trying + to do what your brother does. But, master Marten, how can you + play or go about with master Jameson, and yet attend to this + child too?"</p> + + <p>"Oh! I can take care of Reuben, and yet have plenty of time + for myself, nurse, I am sure," said Marten.</p> + + <p>"That's according," answered nurse, "for if you are always + giving your company to this little one here, and she patted + Reuben on the back, he will keep you smartly to it whenever he + is awake, I promise you. Won't you, my pet? Are you not a weary + little fellow, darling?" she added, as she stooped to kiss him, + "that is when you can get folks to be wearied with you."</p> + + <p>"No, nurse," answered the child stoutly;--"no--me not + weary--me not tired--me don't want to go to bed."</p> + + <p>"Bless your pretty tongue," exclaimed nurse; "but here, take + this parsley to cook, and say it is the finest double parsley I + can find, there's a darling."</p> + + <p>As Reuben ran away on his errand, nurse addressed herself to + Marten in a kind motherly manner, for nurse was not a young + woman, and she was also a pious one. "Master Marten," she said, + "I am sure you will be kind to the little one--you always + are--for I must say you are one of the very best brothers I + know, and that is saying a deal for you--for I believe there + are many good brothers and sisters in the world, and yet, + pardon your old nurse, young master, when she tells you you are + doing wrong, though I think your intention is good. Look to + your own heart, master Marten, and ask yourself why are you + dragging this poor child after you to Mr. Jameson's. I was in + the room with Missis when she was speaking to you the day + before she left, and I heard what she said about temptation, + and how we are tempted every hour in the day. You did not + believe her, master Marten, and you do not believe her now, and + you are going to try temptation to the very utmost, and you + think you will stand it, and I know you won't, for I remember + what my dear lady said, that no one can resist temptation in + their own strength. This is the reason why I don't like my baby + to go with you, but if you, my dear young master, will just + think over what your mamma said, and ask for the approval of + your Saviour and the direction of his Holy Spirit in all + things--why then, as I said before, I will trust my darling + with you any where, for I know that you love him dearly, and + would not willingly hurt a hair of his precious little + head."</p> + + <p>"Nurse," exclaimed Marten indignantly, "one would imagine I + had been very unkind to Reuben whilst mamma has been away; now + I don't think it is fair, and if I were to leave my brother at + home and stay out a couple of days enjoying myself, papa and + mamma might both justly think I had neglected him; No, I have + undertaken the care of him till their return, and I mean to + fulfil my undertaking: and I must say, unless you have any + unkindness to charge me with, I consider you have no business + to speak to me as you have done." And Marten walked away with a + heart determined to resist the wise advice of nurse.</p> + + <p>And now nurse had nothing for it but to get the things ready + for the boys the next day, for nurse knew that Marten was + always allowed, if convenient, to go to Mr. Jameson's when + invited, and as the houses were about four miles apart, she + also knew he was in the habit of staying there all night, if + asked so to do. As regards Reuben, he too had been there once + or twice to stay with his mamma, but nurse considered very + wisely, that it was a very different thing, a child of the + little one's age going from home with or without his mamma; but + still she could not interfere more than she had done, for + Reuben had certainly been put under his brother's care. She + did, however, try to persuade the little one that he would be + better at home with her, but any person who knows the ways of + children might easily guess nurse might as well have spoken to + a post as to Reuben, for all the good she did, for the boy + began to cry, and begged so hard to go with his brother to play + with the big boys at Mr. Jameson's, that she thought it as well + to say no more on the subject.</p> + + <p>And now I must pass over some hours till the time came for + John to drive the boys over in the pony carriage to Mr. + Jameson's. Marten could have walked the four miles very well, + or he could have rode there on his own pony, but Reuben could + not have walked half so far, and thus it happened, that as John + had something to do he could not leave undone, it was quite + twelve o'clock before the three arrived at Mr. Jameson's house, + and thus it chanced that they were almost the last comers of + the party of children invited to meet the Roscoes.</p> + + <p>It was a lovely day, and as warm as any summer day, though + the autumn was just setting in, and such a group of young + children were at play on the grass plat, near the house, that + the like Marten nor Reuben had never seen before. It was such a + very pretty sight, that John quite forgot to give out of the + carriage the parcel nurse had made of the young gentlemen's + clothes; and the consequence was, he had all the trouble to + come back half a mile of the road, when he suddenly bethought + himself of his forgetfulness. But as to the pretty sight John + saw, I wish I could draw you a picture of it; if I could I + would, I promise you, and I would put it in this very page for + you to see. Fancy, then, a beautifully soft velvet lawn, in + front of a large handsome house, upon which lawn the sun shines + warmly but kindly, and the blue sky looks most pleasingly there + and here, broken by white clouds that relieve the eye without + obscuring the light. At the farthest end of the lawn from the + house were some fine trees, under the shelter of which two + girls were playing at battledore and shuttlecock, and very well + they played too. A little nearer this way, that is where John + and the carriage stood, in the direction of the house, was a + young child seated on the turf holding a dog, whilst two other + children were trying to make it jump to catch a flower, one + held in her hand. There was also a big boy on a pony talking to + a great girl, who was lying on the grass; but the prettiest + group of girls were standing or kneeling round a pet lamb which + they were decking with wreaths of flowers. They none of them + wore bonnets nor walking dresses, and even the boy on the pony + was without a hat. Why they had all agreed to uncover their + heads, I cannot say exactly, but I know they had been having + some joke about it before the young Mortimers arrived; and the + great girl on the turf had even then got her brother's cap and + had hidden it somewhere, and it was to ask her about it he had + ridden up to her on his pony, as she rested on the grass.</p> + + <center> + <img src="image049.jpg" + alt="Page 49 Image" + height="795" + width="600"> + </center> + + <p>"Oh! they are all girls but one," exclaimed Marten in a + disappointed tone, "and I am afraid I shall not find the boys + easily, and I hate playing with girls."</p> + + <p>"As much as we girls dislike playing with rude boys, master + Mortimer," said Jane Roscoe, advancing forwards and replying to + Marten's speech, which had really been addressed to John; "but + understand we are the fairies of this lawn--this is our + territory, and my aunt Jameson has bestowed it upon us. We take + tribute if you intrude on our premises, so either be off to + your own mates, or lay down your cap as owning our sway as + ladies and queens of the lawn."</p> + + <p>"I am sure I would rather go to your brother, or Edward, + Miss Roscoe," replied Marten, "if you would but tell me where I + should find them."</p> + + <p>"No doubt near the stables, or at the dog kennels," she + answered pertly, "so you had better go, for I tell you we don't + want boys amongst us; we have had some trouble in ridding + ourselves of them just now."</p> + + <p>"And if they are all like you, I am sure I for one don't + want to stay," thought Marten; and he took Reuben's hand to + seek his friends, where the young lady had so uncourteously + directed him to find them.</p> + + <p>And here, before I would follow Marten to find his young + friends, I would wish to remark that it is such girls as Jane + Roscoe who make rude boys, and such young women that make rude + men. Boys and men generally take their manners from the females + with whom they associate, and when one sees a very rude boy, it + does not speak well for his sisters at home, or at least for + the young ladies with whom he may happen to be most intimate. + As to regular schoolboys, they are rude, because schoolboys in + general are famed for bad manners, and young gentlemen seem to + like to bring this odium on schools, fancying rudeness is + manliness, when in reality it is a decided sign of the + contrary. Think of the bravest men that have been known, that + is bravest in their own persons, and I will venture to say they + have been gentle and courteous in female society, for they know + and feel they can dare to be so, as their credit for manly + daring is known and acknowledged by every one. Take one of your + rough ones, and I for one set him down as a mere bully, that + hides his cowardice under blustering words. But I have wandered + somewhat from my point, for I was saying rude girls make rude + boys, as shewn in the case of Jane Roscoe; and civil girls make + civil boys, as evinced in her sister Mary, as I am going to + relate.</p> + + <p>"Me want to go to the pretty lamb," said Reuben, hanging + heavily on his brother:--"Me go to the lamb--me don't like + horses."</p> + + <p>"But you shall see the great big Newfoundland, Reuben, that + you admired so much yesterday," said his brother. "Should you + not like to see the large black dog?"</p> + + <p>"Reuben wants to go to lamb," replied the child, and he + resolutely stood still. "Pretty lamb, Reuben, go to lamb + now."</p> + + <p>"You can't go to the lamb, Reuben," said his brother + impatiently, "so you must be content to go with me to see the + large black dog. I am not going to give up my cap to any one, I + promise you; so come on now, and don't keep me staying here all + day."</p> + + <p>But Reuben, as nurse had said, was a weary little fellow + when bent upon any thing, and now he was bent upon going to + play with the lamb, so he was determined not to move, or if he + did it should only be in the direction of the lawn. Marten was, + however, almost as determined to go the other way, on account + of Jane Roscoe, and for a moment there seemed a doubt which boy + should carry the day. The elder had the most strength, and he + was inclined to use it, for Miss Roscoe had offended him, and + lifting the child from the ground he was about to run off with + him in the direction of the stables, when Reuben, not + accustomed to opposition of this description, set up a loud cry + of passion, which at once drew the attention of all near to + himself and his brother.</p> + + <p>"There," exclaimed Jane, "what are you teasing the little + one so for? why not let him have his own way and come amongst + us, if he will?"</p> + + <p>"Well, go," said Marten angrily, "go, Reuben, if you like; + but I tell you I will not come with you."</p> + + <p>But this was not what Reuben desired, and he stood at a + little distance from his brother looking, I am sorry to say, + very naughty and selfish, for he was really wishing Marten to + give up his own desires to attend to and humour his; and so now + he stood moving neither one way nor another, his face turned + towards the lamb so finely bedecked with flowers. His cry, + however, had aroused the young girls from their occupation, and + Mary Roscoe, whom one would have supposed had been really + kissing the lamb, so close was her face to it, when Marten had + first seen her; sprang from her knees, and running across the + lawn to the gravel path, now stooped down to Reuben, and + looking him kindly in the face--"Little boy," she said, "what + did you cry for? what did you want? tell me, little boy, and I + will see what I can do. I am a fairy, little boy. We are all + fairies on that turf, and I will take you with me to fairy land + and shew you some fairy wonders."</p> + + <p>Reuben at once and without hesitation put his hand in hers, + saying--"Me go see pretty lamb me go with you--me will go."</p> + + <p>"Then come along," said Mary, and turning her head over her + shoulder towards Marten, she added, "I will take care of him; + so you may go to Edward and William if you like, and I dare say + you will like it better than playing with girls."</p> + + <p>"Oh! thank you, Miss Mary, thank you," replied Marten most + gratefully to the kind little girl, "thank you, I am so much + obliged to you."</p> + + <p>But Marten spoke aloud, and thus drew Reuben's attention to + the fact that he was going to be left with strangers, and once + more he raised a cry as much of passion as of fear. So Marten, + to soothe him, made a step towards the lawn with the child, + though Mary still held his hand, giving a private sign to + Marten that he might slip away on the first opportunity.</p> + + <p>"Your tribute, your tribute," exclaimed Jane Roscoe: "not + one step upon the grass, Master Mortimer, without giving up + your cap as a sign you own us 'The ladies of the lawn.' Give it + up, I command, or stay where you are."</p> + + <p>"Will you give it me again in a minute or two, as I come + back," asked Marten?</p> + + <p>"Ask Frank Farleigh there if he has got his," said Jane. + "You shall have yours when he has found his, that is if we can + hide it as securely."</p> + + <p>"Then you may get it as you can," retorted Marten rudely, + stepping upon the grass, and on Jane's springing after him + setting off on a race as fast as he could across the lawn, in + utter defiance of the young girls. A cry was raised instantly, + and all the children left their sports to pursue the boy, who + had thus boldly defied their power; and lucky was it for him + that he was agile and could twist and turn in his course as + rapidly as a hare. But when there is at least twelve to one and + a clear space, the raced has little chance, and thus it came + about that the boy in self defence was forced to fly towards + the stables as the only place of safety, having no leisure even + to think that he was leaving his brother amongst strangers, + proving himself unable to withstand temptation, even during one + short hour of his visit. Marten, too, had raised a war between + himself and the young girls of the party, which was not likely + to be settled peacefully during the time of their stay at Mrs. + Jameson's, and thus he had, to a certain sense, separated + himself either from Reuben or from the bigger boys, without + intending to do so for the two parties, as might be foreseen by + any experienced eye, were of too different a sort to get on + hourly together, as their tastes and amusements were utterly at + variance.</p> + + <p>As my story is intended to shew that temptations hourly + assail us, and that in our own strength we cannot often resist + them, else wherefore did Our Lord teach his disciples to pray + that they might not be led into temptation, but because he knew + that man of himself never turns away from the forbidden fruit. + I shall not here speak much of how after a good run hither and + thither, Marten at last found Edward and his companions in an + open field, most of the horses and dogs from the stables being + collected together, and such a scene of excitement going on + that the boy had no leisure to think of anything that was not + passing before his eye; and therefore, as Reuben did not + appear, he, like the rest being unseen, was forgotten. In + excuse for Marten I must say that he first ran to the stables, + and there learnt from a boy whom he found there, that Master + Jameson had had permission that morning from his papa to have + out one or two of the horses and ponies, on condition that + Chambers, the old coachman, and Rogers, the groom, were present + with the young gentlemen, and that every obedience were paid to + their directions, so that if they saw anything wrong they might + enforce attention to their requests.</p> + + <p>As many of the young gentlemen too had ridden over on their + ponies to Mr. Jameson's, there were a goodly collection of + horses assembled together, and the races that ensued, and the + leaping over low fences that followed, so quickly passed away + the time that when the first bell rang, announcing that dinner + would shortly be served, Marten was quite astonished to find + that it was nearly three o'clock, and that almost two hours had + passed since he had seen his brother. But now, as the boys were + taking the horses and dogs to the stables, he hastened towards + the house as fast as he could, for he saw the lawn was + tenant-less, and knowing the way to the room where he usually + slept when at Mrs. Jameson's, he hurried up the stairs only to + find that his things had been placed there, and that Reuben's + little parcel had been taken elsewhere and was probably where + the child also was, for no Reuben was to be seen. As Marten + could meet with no servant, he ran along the gallery trying to + distinguish amongst the many voices he heard on all sides that + of his brother's, but in vain, so many were the sounds that + reached his ear, and as he did not like to open any of the + doors, or push those farther open that were not quite closed, + he raised his voice and called aloud "Reuben, Reuben, I want + you--Reuben come to me in the passage--here I am--come to me + Reuben."</p> + + <p>To Marten's annoyance, instead of his brother replying to + his call, Jane Roscoe stepped out into the gallery, + exclaiming--"Oh! it is you, is it? Whom do you want? What are + you come here for? these are the girl's rooms! those are our + bedrooms, and this is our sitting room. Are you come to make an + apology for your rudeness this morning? If so, I will call the + rest out to hear what you have to say."</p> + + <p>"I want my brother, Miss Roscoe," replied Marten, trying to + speak civilly. "May I go into your sitting room, or would you + have the goodness to tell him to come to me here."</p> + + <p>"I shall do no such thing," answered Miss Jane, "you may get + him as you can, though I do not know how you will manage to do + that either; for Mary has taken such a fancy to the little + fellow, that she will not give him up easily."</p> + + <p>"Would you tell me if Reuben is content?" asked Marten, "for + if so I would rather leave him with Miss Mary."</p> + + <p>"Just pop your head inside that door," said the rude girl, + "and judge for yourself, that is, if you dare to do so--for + your brother is there, and Mary and a dozen more girls. Do you + dare?" she inquired mockingly, "come let me see you do it, + then."</p> + + <p>"Dare," repeated Marten indignantly, "and why should I not + dare--I want my brother."</p> + + <p>"Do it then," said Jane, "if you are not a coward, which I + strongly suspect you are;" and when was a spirited boy of + thirteen so urged on that had the prudence to know where to + stop with propriety to himself. Marten, choking with rage, did + advance to the door pointed out, and put his head inside, and + there, on beholding a group of young ladies of all ages, from + eight to fourteen, and no little brother, and finding all eyes + turned upon himself as an impertinent intruder, he drew his + head back quickly, and was met with a loud laugh from Jane, + which so annoyed him, that without stopping to think, he ran + off to his own room as fast as he could. The voice of Mary + Roscoe however reached him as he ran along the gallery, + uttering these words: "I'll take care of Reuben, Master + Marten--I'll take care of Reuben, he is very happy." And so + Marten allowed himself to be content, and as he knew dinner + would shortly be ready, he lost no more time, but set to dress + himself in his best as quickly as he could. Mr. and Mrs. + Jameson did not dine with the young people, but Mrs. Jameson + came in and walked round the table, and spoke to most of the + young ladies and gentlemen, and asked after their papas and + mammas, and she said she hoped they would be good children and + enjoy themselves very much, and in the evening she and Mr. + Jameson would come in to see them at play. She told Jane Roscoe + she expected her and Mary to take care of the young ladies and + see that they had everything they wanted, and she said much the + same to her son and William Roscoe about the boys.</p> + + <p>There was a very long dining table laid out, and, as might + be expected, all the boys got together at the end where Edward + sat, and all the girls got round Jane Roscoe, for it must be + remembered that hostilities had begun in the morning between + the boys and girls, and Jane was not the kind of girl to make + peace, or desire to make peace and conduct herself as would be + becoming a young lady. Frank Farleigh, indeed, crossed the + barrier, and once again demanded his cap from his sister, but + he pleaded in vain, and I do not know how the matter would have + been settled if good-natured Mary Roscoe had not proposed that + it should be considered as a forfeit, and that the cap should + be cried with the other forfeits in the evening games. "And I + promise you it shall be hardly won," cried Jane, and Frank's + sister then whispered to her as if they were settling what + Frank was to do for it, and then Jane laughed--her teasing + laugh--and if Frank did give his sister a most cruel schoolboy + pinch, I can't but say she had only herself and her rude + companion to thank for it. "I don't care," he said, as he + joined the boys, "I can wear that old cap of Edward's, and when + I go home they <i>must</i> give it back to me."</p> + + <p>During this time Marten was looking about for Reuben, and + soon he saw that the little fellow was seated by Mary Roscoe, + as happy as possible, for Mary was a kind-hearted girl, and + loved every thing and every body, and every body loved her, and + now she was taking care that the child was helped before + herself, and with what he liked, and when she met Marten's eye, + she kissed Reuben very earnestly, and called him a sweet + darling and her own pet, and she asked the little one if he did + not love Mary. Reuben returned the kiss and looked so smilingly + up at Marten, that his brother could not but be contented, and + having thanked Mary most heartily for her very great kindness, + he was only too glad to get away once more to where the boys + were seated. Poor Marten was not aware, and I do not exactly + see how he should have been aware, that the easy kindness of + Mary Roscoe was but too likely now to bring his brother into + trouble, for Mary did not like to refuse the little fellow any + thing; and as the child was hungry and more than ready for the + meal, for it was past his usual dinner hour, I am obliged to + confess he ate greedily of the good things set before him, one + after another without moderation or discernment, pudding + following meat, and cheese after pudding, and fruit after that, + till quantity and diversity were so mingled together, that it + was a wonder the babe endured himself as well as he did. He + was, however, so satisfied and even cloyed, that towards the + end of the time he contented himself with a taste of this and + that, and under the easy rule of Miss Mary, the remnants of his + desert were transferred to his pockets, to serve to regale him + at some future moment. I have said that Marten could not have + been aware of this foolish weakness of Mary Roscoe, but Marten + was not free of blame in the affair, for he had started wrongly + as regarded Reuben, and in his self conceit he had placed + himself in circumstances where the temptations that surrounded + him were more than his nature unaided could resist. Marten + would not listen to those who would have taught him that our + blessed Saviour verily took not on him the nature of angels, + but he took on him the seed of Abraham, wherefore in all things + it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might + be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to + God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people, for in + that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to + succour those that are tempted. Heb. ii. 16, 17, 18. But we + shall soon see from Marten's story a verification of the words + of St. Paul addressed to the children of God. "Wherefore let + him that thinketh he standeth, take heed lest he fall. There + hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man; but + God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above + that ye are able; but will, with the temptation, also make a + way to escape that ye may be able to bear it." 1 Cor. x. 12, + 13.</p> + + <p>And now,--to return to Reuben, he had ate and ate so much, + that I am almost ashamed even to think of it; and silly Mary + Roscoe, who should have put a bridle on his little mouth, never + once thought of doing so, and how should she, for she had never + had one on her own? till the poor child felt so uncomfortable + that he was half ready to cry--for, added to the over quantity + he had contrived to swallow, he was very weary, for he was but + a young one, and he had been out in the air all the morning and + undergoing more active exercise than even he was accustomed to + go through, for he had moved about at the direction of others, + and not by his own voluntary will. So feeling uneasy, he was + just about to raise a cry, which I believe would have recalled + Marten to a sense of his duty, when the whole troop of children + rose from table to amuse themselves as best they liked till six + o'clock, when tea was to be served in a large room for them, + and the evening was to be finished in games of whatever + description they chose, Mr. and Mrs. Jameson having promised to + be present.</p> + + <p>Marten just stopped to see Mary Roscoe lead off his brother, + who accompanied her very contentedly, and then I am obliged to + own he thought no more of the little fellow for such a length + of time, that we who take an interest in poor little Reuben + must banish Marten from our thoughts and follow the child, the + poor little victim of his brother's self conceit. The young + ladies on leaving the dining room ascended the stairs and went + to the room with which Marten had so daringly put his head in + the morning, and here they divided into groups of two or three, + as chance might be, and a chattering began, the like of which + could never be heard again, unless under the like + circumstances. It seems a cruel thing to try to put down any of + the nonsense, and perhaps worse than nonsense, that was then + and there talked; and I would not do so if I did not hope it + would prove a warning to some girls that persons do listen to + their conversation sometimes when they fancy no one hears, and + that those same persons do think them very silly and ignorant, + and occasionally wrong. And first, I will take a party of three + girls, who all went to the same school, and these three, I am + sorry to say, were talking of their governess and teachers in a + way they ought never to have done. It was not Mrs. Meredith and + Miss Williams, and Miss Smith, but it was "Meredith, that cross + old thing," and "pretty little Smith," and that "detestable + Williams." And then one asked the other if she remembered how + funnily Fanny Adams had managed in the affair, of laughing at + the French Master, how six of them had been sent up to their + bedrooms in disgrace, and when that detestable Williams came in + and found them still laughing, how she scolded them all, and + how Fanny Adams put some Eau-de-Cologne to her eyes, which + nearly blinded her, and made her eyes water very much, and so + deceived Miss Williams that she pardoned her, though all the + rest were left in disgrace.</p> + + <p>And here, because there was no better disposed person to + speak to these poor girls upon their light and improper + discourse, I would just say one word:--My dear school boys and + school girls, our Saviour says, "Love thy neighbour as + thyself." Let me then ask you, do you in any way follow this + kind command when you so treat your teachers and governors? + Think you, for an instant, of the labour, the anxiety, the + perpetual self-denial, the patience required by an instructor + of childhood, even when the children do their best; but when + deceit, hypocrisy, and hardness of heart is also added to the + giddiness and thoughtlessness of youth, what must be the + teacher's suffering?</p> + + <p>Remember that our Lord himself was subject to his parents. + Luke ii. 57. Though what could they, poor human creatures, have + taught him? Then follow, as a loving child should do, his holy + example, and remember his precept, of "love thy neighbour as + thyself," and inquire of yourself how would I like to be + treated as I treat my governess or tutor?</p> + + <p>But perhaps you would wish to listen to another couple of + girls, who soon drew a larger party round them, and what folly + were they about, you would ask? Why, one child, who was very + vain about her figure, must needs get a piece of string, or + tape, and begin to measure her companion's wrist, thumb, neck, + waist, and height, saying--"Twice round the thumb, once round + the wrist, twice round the wrist, once round the neck, twice + round the neck, once round the waist, and twice round the + waist, once the height." As Louisa Manners well knew of old + that this measurement suited herself, she was always disposed + to try any young girl by her rule, knowing well her own turn + would come, and that she would be able to appear with + satisfaction to herself; and here again I would say, was our + Lord's precept followed, of love thy neighbour as thyself? did + Louisa desire a rival? This couple, as I said, soon drew a + party round them, and after the measurement, which lasted some + time and led to a discussion of dress, most of the frocks and + sashes coming in for notice, one of the three school girls, + mentioned at first, named some new step in dancing, just + introduced at her school the last dancing day, and then such a + practising and trying of this step commenced amongst the young + ladies as made a pretty sight to look on, the young ladies + being all nicely dressed, and for the nonce thinking more of + their occupation than of themselves.</p> + + <p>In the meanwhile Reuben had been supplied with something + that served the purpose of a plaything by Mary Roscoe, and + being seated in a corner of the room away from harm or + interference, the little fellow shortly became so drowsy, that + before long, notwithstanding the noise and chattering about + him, his head drooped on his bosom, and he was so sound asleep + that he was unconscious of his uncomfortable position. He had + slept full a quarter of an hour when he was discovered by one + of the elder girls, who proposed that they should lift him from + his seat and take him to a bed in an adjoining chamber, where + he would be more comfortable. And here I must again remark, for + want of some one else to do so, that of the twelve or fourteen + girls there assembled, there was not one present who would have + been unkind to the little fellow intentionally; but yet I am + afraid, that with the exception of the good-natured Mary + Roscoe, there was hardly one who would have put themselves out + of the way on his account, or have given up a pleasure or + amusement of even five or ten minutes to comfort the boy, who + ought in truth never to have been amongst them, so little had + he been accustomed to the ways of other children, even of his + own age.</p> + + <p>Reuben slept on, and that so soundly, that when tea was + ready he was not awake, and he would probably have been wholly + forgotten if the young ladies on their way down stairs had not + made so much noise by the door of his room, that startled and + alarmed, he began to cry violently, and his good friend Mary + could not easily appease him. However, the child was really + refreshed from his sleep, and the kind girl having washed his + face and hands herself, and smoothed his pretty curling hair, + led him down with her to the room where the tea was served, and + provided him with all he wanted, and withal with such a large + lump of sugar, the like of which he had never perhaps, not even + in his dreams, possessed before. Whoever has read of Mrs. + Indulgence in "The Infant's Progress" may have some idea of + Mary's management of Reuben, but if the little one could have + spoken or reasoned on the point, how heartily would he have + said that he pined for his own dear mamma's judicious kindness + and controul, under which he used to sport all day happy and + joyful as a butterfly on a bright summer's morning.</p> + + <p>After tea, which did not last very long, the tables were + cleared away and the plays began--the elder children, as might + be expected, taking the lead, and for awhile all was order and + propriety. Fortunately for the young ones they had no lights + near them from which they could be in danger, for the lamp hung + from the ceiling and the fire was allowed to go out in the + grate. The tables, as I said before, were moved away, and the + seats were piled one above another so that a good space was + left in the room for the games, and only two chairs were kept + for Mr. and Mrs. Jameson, who had sent word to say they were + coming down to see the sport, and as they were very fond of a + dance, they expressed a wish that the evening's amusement + should begin in that way.</p> + + <p>The boys were somewhat annoyed at this, as they wanted more + active games, and Frank Farleigh absolutely proposed to change + the dance to leap-frog; however, as Mrs. Jameson wished for + dancing, no one was bold enough openly to speak against it, and + Miss Farleigh and Jane Roscoe, who were intimate friends, + played a duet together very nicely, to which the rest + danced.</p> + + <p>And now it was that Mary Roscoe first felt the annoyance she + had incurred by her kindness to Reuben, for the child did not + wish to leave her, and seeing all were dancing, or jumping to + the music as he thought, he believed he could do the same, and + clinging to her she found that to appease him she must take him + for her partner, and thus this really good-natured girl was + unable to dance with any pleasure to herself, as the little one + was unable to make his way alone. However, Mary was truly + kind-hearted, and not one cloud was on her fair brow when the + dance was finished, and she told her little partner to sit down + amidst the piled up chairs at one end of the room. But as nurse + had said Reuben was a weary little fellow, and Mary little knew + the truth, if she thought she was so easily to get rid of him, + for the child was half alarmed at the numbers of strange faces + thronging around him; he was not well, too, with the many sweet + things and fruits he had eaten, and now it was approaching his + usual bed-time, and though he had had a sleep, yet he had been + roused from it suddenly and improperly, fed with sweet cake + since, and any experienced person present might know that + shortly the child would get so excited in the scene before him, + it would be no easy matter to soothe or calm him.</p> + + <p>Now it happened that Marten, feeling exceedingly obliged to + Mary for her kindness to his brother, and equally disliking her + sister, and Miss Farleigh and some of the other young ladies, + was very anxious to dance with Mary, to thank her for her + kindness to Reuben, but he little thought that by doing so, the + child finding both his friends together must insist upon being + with them, and the second set of quadrilles was danced by poor + Mary as the first had been, the little fellow clinging to her, + for both Marten and Mary were afraid of a burst of tears if + they opposed the child in this matter. Marten, however, spoke + somewhat sharply to him, saying he was teasing Miss Mary, and + if they allowed him to dance this time, he must promise to sit + still afterwards, and not be troublesome again. Reuben knew + that he must obey his brother, so when that dance was finished + he went and sat himself down, as directed, though his young + heart was very sad, as he longed to be jumping about with the + other children. Mary was now able to enjoy herself, and I do + not hesitate to say she was very glad to get rid of Reuben and + be at liberty to run about where she would, for she was a happy + girl, and this evening she was the happiest of the happy, for + she was a favourite of all.</p> + + <p>After the dancing had continued some time, a game was fixed + upon, which game being one that kept the children seated, they + soon got tired of it, and blindman's buff was proposed and + entered into with great spirit, though, as will presently be + seen, this spirit, for want of some less indulgent to controul + it, became at last almost unbearable.</p> + + <p>It was whilst Edward Jameson was blindfolded that the first + rudeness began, for Miss Jane seized hold of a newspaper and + began rustling it so about Edward's head, that being + blindfolded he became so annoyed by it, that he began to toss + his arms about, making such rushes hither and thither, that the + girls had to run away, lest they should be struck. Whilst Jane + was teasing Edward, one of the boys seized hold of the + handkerchief that blindfolded him, and another boy made a + thrust at him in front, and it was only a wonder that Mr. and + Mrs. Jameson, who were sitting by, did not speak to the + children, to advise a little more quietness in the play. But + there were a party of young girls whispering together behind + Jane, and when Edward turned in her direction, though she + escaped, he fell amongst these girls, and, as might be + expected, such a romping scene ensued, as may often be seen at + blindman's buff. Just at this moment a servant came in to say a + gentleman had called on some business, and both Mr. and Mrs. + Jameson left the room together, to see this gentleman. They + were scarcely gone before the noise increased to such an + extent, that one or two of the servants came to the parlour + door; and well was it, as we shall shew presently, that they + did so, but Mr. and Mrs. Jameson being gone to another part of + the house, were not disturbed by the sounds. So, as I said, + Edward found himself amongst the group of young girls, who all + struggled to get away from him; and then such a scene of + running and screaming, and shouting and romping followed, as + the like of which I have no desire to see. Every one ran, and + no one knew whither they were going, and it so chanced that + some ran in the direction of where Reuben had been seated by + Marten, amidst the piled-up chairs. The child, who had been + sitting there sometime, and who did not understand the game, + for he had never seen it before, was doubtful whether to be + frightened or not; but as Edward, whom he knew so well, and who + was always kind to him, was the pursuer, and as the children + were laughing, he thought he might laugh too, and not liking + sitting still when all were running and jumping round him, he + slid down from his high seat and joined the group that had fled + to that end of the room from Edward. As ill luck would have it, + Edward turned in that direction somewhat suddenly, and there + was a loud cry of one and all to run, and instantly all did + run, Reuben too obeying the call, and setting off as fast as + his little legs would let him.</p> + + <p>As might have been expected, the elder children escaped, and + Edward caught the boy, whom he instantly named, and tearing off + the handkerchief from his eyes, he was going to tie it round + those of Reuben, when Marten interposed, and said "he would not + understand the game." Edward was, however, tired of being + blinded and of being buffetted about, and not thinking how very + young Reuben was, for he knew very little about children, as he + had no little brothers nor sisters of his own, he only said he + had caught the child, and that it was but fair he should be + blinded, as he was caught and had absolutely prevented him from + catching one of the others when they were close to him. As + Reuben himself thought it was manly to be blinded, and believed + all he had to do was to run about with the handkerchief round + his head, he was very anxious to do as Edward had done, and + Mary, to whom he pleaded for permission so to do, blinded him + herself, and as she tied the handkerchief round him she said, + "Now, young gentlemen, don't hurt the little fellow, pray be + gentle with him, for he's very young."</p> + + <p>Mary then took his hand, and leading him into the centre of + the room she slightly directed him where to go. It must be + understood that Reuben knew no one in the room but Marten, + Edward, and Mary, and as he did not know the rules of the game, + the elder boys and girls, soon wearied of the little fellow + running hither and thither, for they did not wish to hurt the + child, and so they ceased for awhile their boisterous play; + but, as might be expected, this would not last long, and Marten + stepping forwards on the little one laying hold of some boy + near him, said, "My brother does not know any one here by name, + is it not enough that he has caught some one? He does not know, + I am sure, who his hand is upon, even if he were + unblinded."</p> + + <p>"Oh! it is a boy," replied Reuben. "Me know it is a boy, and + a large boy. Yes, it is a large boy."</p> + + <p>"That is enough, is it not?" asked Marten, looking round, + "surely that's enough;" and he unbound Reuben, telling; the + child he had done very well.</p> + + <p>No one seemed inclined to dispute the point, for all saw the + child was too young to play with them; and William Stewart, the + boy caught, and who was desirous of being blindfolded, was + quite pleased to have the handkerchief tied round his head, and + now the play became more boisterous than ever, owing to the + cessation before, and probably all would have gone on well if + little Reuben, elated by his brother's telling him he had done + very well, had not chosen to join in the play, saying over and + over again to any one who would listen to him, "Me knew it was + a boy--a large boy--me knew it was a boy--me said a large + boy--yes, me felt his coat--me knew it was a large boy." This + too might have passed, and the child might have repeated his + story over and over again without much harm if he could have + got a listener, or he even might have been content without one, + if he had not fancied he understood the game as well as the + oldest present, so he entered into it with all his little + spirit, and intruded his small person where others could not + go--now here, now there, till excited and heated and confused + by those around him flying in all directions, he was thrown + down, and as he did not fall alone, the poor little fellow was + rather severely hurt. And now in that one moment of downfall + was assembled all the troubles of the day,--weary, excited, + hurt, and overfed, he began to cry, and that so violently, that + those who lifted him up trusted to his being not really injured + by the very noise he made in his distress. Marten and Mary ran + to him, but they were as strangers to him, for his eyes were + dimmed by tears, and his ears closed by his own wailings; and + luckily for all three one of the servants, for, as I said + before, they had come to see the young people at play, and who + was a motherly kind of woman, advanced into the room and + offered to take the charge of the child and comfort him before + she put him to bed. Marten was most thankful for this offer, + and you may be sure Mary was not sorry to part with the sobbing + boy, and thus Marten put it out of his own power to keep his + voluntary boast to Nurse at home about sleeping with his + brother, for when the riotous evening closed, for it was a very + riotous evening, Reuben had been asleep some hours, and in a + quarter of the house appropriated to the use of the young + ladies where beds were as plentiful as requisite on an occasion + like the present. Marten then had nothing for it but to beg + Mary to see after his brother, which the young lady as + thoughtlessly promised to do, and then he accompanied his young + companions to that department of the house appropriated to the + use of the boys, where, as might be expected after a little + more rude sport, he fell into a sleep so profound and long, + that every thought of Reuben was banished from his mind. And + now, to return to the poor baby, the victim of mismanagement, + or of his brother's self-conceit. Sobbing and roaring he was + carried or dragged up stairs, undressed, and put to bed, where + the extreme violence of his grief proved its own relief, for he + fell asleep with the tear in his eye, and long long after the + cause of sorrow was forgotten, his sobs might be heard + proclaiming that the effect even now had not passed away. By + and bye, however, the calm of sleep restored him more to + himself again, and before the motherly woman who had taken pity + on him left the chamber, he was sleeping the refreshing sleep + of childhood.</p> + + <p>As the young people had gone to bed so late the evening + before, for it was quite twelve o'clock, and the next day was + also to be a day of indulgence, it was nearly half-past eight + before Marten awoke, and what with one thing and another it was + quite nine before he had an opportunity of asking any one after + Reuben, or indeed of discovering that no one knew anything of + the little one farther than that he had awoke at his usual + hour, seven o'clock; that the kind woman who had attended him + the night before had helped to wash and dress him, and having + told him to be quiet, lest he should awake the children asleep + in his bed room, she left him as she thought safe in the young + ladies' sitting room, to amuse himself as best he might. Two + hours nearly had passed since then, and no further information + could be obtained of the little boy; but he was gone, that was + certain for he was nowhere to be found in any part of Mr. + Jameson's large house. It so happened that breakfast had + commenced, and Marten and some of the bigger boys had nearly + finished the meal before all the young ladies came down, and as + Mary Roscoe chanced to be late, for this good natured girl had + been helping others as usual, Marten did not discover the + absence of his brother till she entered the room and seated + herself at the table. Then he stepped round to her and asked if + Reuben would soon be down. "Oh! dear little fellow," exclaimed + Mary, starting up, "He did not sleep in my room, so I know + nothing about him; but now I will run to find him to bring him + to breakfast. I dare say he has overslept himself, or I should + have heard of him before now."</p> + + <p>"If you are speaking of the little boy who cried so bitterly + at blindman's buff, Mary," said a Miss Lomax, "he was put to + sleep in a little bed by himself in our room. Maria and myself + noticed how soundly he slept through all the noise we made when + we went to our rooms, but when we got up this morning the + little fellow was gone, and we wondered who had drest him and + taken him away so quietly as not to disturb us."</p> + + <p>"Oh! then I'll find him in a minute," said Mary, "if he has + been drest so long he must be sadly in want of his breakfast, + poor little darling," and Mary was half way up stairs before + she had finished her speech.</p> + + <p>And now how shall I describe what a fearful state the whole + house was in before ten minutes more had passed away: the child + was lost, the fearful question of where and how he might be + found was on everybody's lips. Poor Marten, it was dreadful to + see his terror and grief, and Mary, oh! how negligent Mary felt + herself, for had she not assisted greatly to his loss by taking + him from his brother, and had she not promised that brother the + evening before to see him in his bed and look after him, which + she had forgotten to do. Jenkins, too, the motherly female who + had so kindly attended the little one the night before, how did + she blame herself for not taking the child with her after she + had dressed him, when she was obliged to go to her work, which + was much increased that morning by the state in which the young + people had left the room, the scene of the last night's + revels.</p> + + <p>And here I would make a remark, which I must beg no one to + reject, without well weighing the idea. The most amiable + females of the party assembled at Mrs. Jameson's, Mary Roscoe + and Jenkins, who had put themselves most out of their way, and + had really acted the kindest by the child, were those who felt + the most in the affair, and most blamed themselves for their + own conduct, whereas if all had tried their best, as they did, + the little fellow would have ever had some kind heart beside + him to soothe and comfort him, and some one might have + anticipated his uneasiness at finding himself alone amongst + strangers. Anyhow they would not have been as strangers to him, + for he afterwards acknowledged, on being questioned, that had + Miss Mary been sleeping in the room, he should not have done as + he did. But now to my remark, those who strive to do best have + the most tender consciences, and the more one strives after + right the more scrupulous and tender does the conscience + become, and the more does it aspire after noble feelings and + honourable thoughts and actions. This is a work of the Divine + Spirit and of no mortal power, and it is a training for glory, + purifying our hearts for a divine home, obtained for us through + our Saviour's death and righteousness, and in familiar language + we will liken it after this manner. Supposing two children + stand side by side in the open street, one is the child of a + king, nicely drest and delicately clean, as would be expected + from his noble birth and expectation, the other is the little + hedge-side vagrant, to whose young face water or cleansing has + probably been unknown. Imagine, then, ought passing these two + children, which could pollute their persons, what would be + their feelings? the one might even laugh at the filth or mud + that bespattered him, the other would shrink with loathing or + disgust, and would not be easy or comfortable till every effort + was taken to remove the stain. And we are children of the King + of kings, we are washed and clothed by Him, and the more our + garments are fitted for our future station, the fairer are our + inward persons; the more do we feel annoyed and grieved by any + foul spot, which could sully their purity and disfigure their + beauty. My young readers remember this, and smile no more at + sin; aye, and shun carefully its stains that would pollute you, + and when they do alight upon you, remember whose blood alone it + is can purge away their slightest trace.</p> + + <p>Poor Mary had no breakfast that morning, nor no comfort nor + rest either, for after searching for the child all over the + house, she must needs look for him in the gardens, the pleasure + grounds, the lawn, behind each tree and shrub, and even in the + stables and offices, but no Reuben was to be met with, and the + dear little girl, when wearied out with searching sat down to + weep and lament herself, starting up occasionally when some + fresh place came to her mind, and running to it, but to meet + with disappointment and increased alarm. But Mary was not alone + in the search, for both Mr. and Mrs. Jameson were full of + anxiety respecting the child, and trusty men were sent in all + directions to look after the lost one; and when Mr. Jameson + spoke to his lady on the imprudence of having invited so young + a child, she replied, that having given permission to their son + to ask a certain number of young people, she had not attended + to him when he named the bidden guests, taking it for granted + that a boy of thirteen would prefer companions of his own size + to a child of Reuben's tender age. And now it came out from + Edward how Marten had refused to come without his brother, and + that Mr. and Mrs. Mortimer were from home, and this, as might + be expected, added not a little to the distress of Mr. and Mrs. + Jameson, for hitherto they had thought the child had visited + them with the permission of his parents, and now that they + heard that those parents were at Portsmouth, they were more and + more uneasy, and they blamed themselves not a little for having + been so indulgent in their direction to Edward. "But, indeed," + said Mrs. Jameson, "one could not have foreseen these + circumstances, and when I saw little Reuben seated by Mary at + the dinner table, though I wondered at his presence, yet he + seemed so happy I believed all was right with him." But the + lesson was not lost upon Mr. and Mrs. Jameson, nor on Edward, + and I am happy to say, in future the latter was more ready to + ask advice of his parents than before this affair, for he too + was very uneasy about Reuben. As to Marten, without thinking of + his hat, on learning that the child could not be found in the + house nor in the pleasure grounds, he told one of the men who + was sent with him by Mr. Jameson, that he should go home as + fast as he could to see if his brother might not have made his + way there, or at least be met with upon the road. The distance + from one house to the other was, as I said before, four miles, + and though poor Marten had little expectation that the tender + child could find his way so far, even if he knew the right + road, yet he understood the little one so well, that he felt + convinced he would at least attempt to get to his home, so that + he considered it useless to look for him in any other + direction. And now we must leave the unhappy and alarmed + brother to speak of little Reuben, who was left, as we + mentioned, by Jenkins in the sitting-room with a few toys near + him. Never had Reuben been so left to himself before, but still + for a short time, though it was for a very short time he was + content, then came a wish for his breakfast, and with it the + remembrance that if his mamma had been with him he would even + then be in her dressing-room. She would be listening to his + prattle, or he would be occupied in doing something for her + which he considered was useful, but which in reality she could + herself have done with half the time that she was obliged to + give to her baby boy. The thoughts of his mamma made the + forlorn one cry, and call upon her name, but no one heard his + sobs or saw his tears, and with it came a recollection of the + sorrows of yesterday, and he suddenly thought "Where is Marten? + Where can Marten be? Is he gone? Has he left Reuben?" The idea + was not to be borne by the poor child in a state of quietness, + he rose from his seat, dropped his toys from his lap, and + without looking back he went to the door, which being ajar he + opened wider and passed through into the gallery. His friends, + he believed, had left him; they were at home. His mamma, too, + he thought, might be there with his papa and Marten, and, + anyhow, he was sure Nurse was there, Nurse who loved him so, + and whom he loved so dearly. So down the stairs stepped the + sorrowing baby, holding the banisters with both small hands, + for it was necessary for him in descending the steps to have + both feet at one time on each, and noiselessly almost did he + proceed, for his fairy tread made no sound, and his sobs were + tried to be suppressed, in the earnest determination to attempt + to find his way to his home. And now he reached the last step, + and lightly did he run across the hall to the great door, which + was open, and with some difficulty, for there were more steps; + he arrived at the carriage drive between the house and lawn, + whereon he had seen the lamb the day before.</p> + + <p>And now would I could picture the little one, as he stood in + his short red frock, blown by the breeze which showed his + dimpled knee, for his white sock did not extend much above his + shoe. His arms, neck, and head were without covering, and his + pretty curls played around his face in graceful confusion. + Calling on his mamma and upon Marten, he took the carriage + drive towards the gates, so far not having a doubt he was in + the direction of his home, and unseen by any one, he passed + through a small gate into the high road. Here he might have + been puzzled which way to take, if it had not been for a clump + of eight elm trees on the left hand road, and he had often + heard John and Marten talk of those elm trees, for they were + called the "Nine Elms," and yet Marten had said there were only + eight now, and whenever he had gone to Mr. Jameson's with his + papa and mamma, and John who drove them, John had kept the + carriage waiting under the elms, and he used to put Reuben out + of the carriage amidst the trees, to run in and out amongst + them, touching one after the other, whilst John taught him to + count them, saying one, two, three, four, and so on. So Reuben + knew he must pass the elm trees, and as he was just awake, and + the morning fresh and pleasant, his small feet carried him + along some way nicely, and even swiftly, and for a few minutes, + they were not many, all seemed promising, and the inexperienced + one believed he should soon be at his home. After the clump of + trees, the baby so confidently considered he was in the right + way, that when he came to a place where two roads joined the + one up which he had ran, he never looked about him, fancying + they must both go to his home, and not yet being weary, he + took, as might be feared, the wrong turn, and soon he heard + distinctly the roaring of a cascade, much famed in those parts, + as it dashed over the rocks in the direction in which he was + going Now Reuben knew the sound of the cascade, for he had + lived near it all his young life, and he knew it was not far + from his home; but he did not consider that he never passed it + on his way from his father's house to Mr. Jameson's, but still, + not mistrusting the road he was going, he ran along till he + suddenly found by a turn of the lane, that he was in full front + of the stream. The child however was not disconcerted by this, + and the fresh air meeting him, and for the moment raising his + spirits, he stepped on over the loose stones brought down at + different times by the waters, boldly, and even gaily, though + his course was impeded by the unevenness of the way. He must + have stepped on some distance, when all of a sudden he was + unable to proceed farther along the path, by the jutting out of + a rock into the stream, for the water was pouring down rapidly + and more profusely than was general, for there had been heavy + rains in the mountains, and thus the bed of the torrent was + fully covered, its width being very inconsiderable beneath the + rock. The spot was one wholly unknown to the child, and surely + it was a terrible sight to meet the eye of a babe, who hitherto + had not known what it was to be left without a mother's or + nurse's care. The place was in the heart of a mountain gorge, + famed for its rare beauty, and the cascade came dashing from + the rocks, which were very bold and picturesque in the little + creek or gully where the child stood. The water, as I said, was + pouring down white with foam, and majestically pursuing its + course, shaking the earth around with its terrible + roarings.</p> + + <p>Fancy our little forlorn one then standing under the shelter + of the rock, which, hanging over him in rough masses, + threatened to fall an crush his baby form, the stream rushing + impetuously at his feet, and one little place beneath the rock, + in fact part of the rock itself being somewhat elevated from + the bed of the stream below, forming his only secure and dry + resting place. I have said before, he had no covering on fit + for walking attire, his arms, neck, and head being fully + exposed to the breezes which now blew cruelly on his young + figure, so that he could scarcely keep his feet, and glad was + he to creep under the shelter of the threatening rock. There he + stood looking around him in wild despair, for he had raised his + voice to cry for pity, and its infant tones were not heard + amidst the roaring waters; again and again he looked round him, + but no help was there, and he trembled more from fear than + cold. He was frightened at the roaring waters, for they seemed + to him to be approaching, and wholly overcome with fear and + wretchedness, and quite incapable of contending against his + unhappy situation, he crouched beneath the threatening rock, + too miserable to shed a tear. "Mamma, mamma," he said,--"Mamma, + mamma," and that weak cry was repeated again and again, though + no human ear could hear his sorrows or soothe his cries. Poor + baby, what availed it then? your earthly father was the + tenderest of parents--he could not have foreseen this trouble, + and therefore he could not have been armed against it, but your + heavenly Father's eye was on you, little one, and his eyes are + ever on infants, the loveliest beings of his creation, and he + who spared Nineveh, because there were in that wicked city more + than six score thousand souls, who knew not their right hands + from their left, still watches over his babies now, for has he + not said of "Such is the kingdom of heaven."</p> + + <p>But observe the little one, what makes his cry of 'Mamma, + Mamma,' cease? the babe has heard a sound, a pleasant sound, + and he forgets his trouble. It is the sweet song of a bird upon + a branch of a tree on the rock above him, and the bird likes + the morning air and the sound of the waters, and he is singing + his song of joy, and Reuben listened to him and was pleased, + and then the little bird hopped down from his high perch and + came lower and lower till he was quite close to the child, so + close that the little one held out his hand, which frightened + away the pretty bird, and Reuben was once more alone again, and + commenced his cry of "Mamma, Mamma, come to Reuben, Mamma." But + the bird had come to the rock because it had seen some bright + berries on the bushes there, and before it had began its song + it had pecked off one or two with its bill, or perhaps it might + have been that other birds had pecked them off, and then + rejected them, or the wind might have blown them from the + parent bush; be that as it may, there were about as many as a + dozen red berries scattered on the ground, where the little + bird had hopped, and Reuben had seen them in looking at the + bird, and now he began to collect them, looking here and there + to find some more, and he thought if he put them into a nice + heap together, their bright red colour would draw thither + another singing bird to visit him. So he collected his berries, + and tried to pile them together, and thus more time passed, for + whilst doing so, every little thing seemed to divert his + attention--a skeleton leaf, a small flower, a smooth pebble, a + drop of water sparkling in the sunshine, all attracted his + infant eye, and thus, as we might say, his heavenly Father + watched over the boy and soothed him from the real sorrows of + his situation, till the time of his deliverance was at hand. + And are we not children of a large growth? are not our sorrows + soothed and relieved by our Creator's mercies? and are not + innocent pleasures and consolations put in the way of every + child of God? and it is our own fault, yes, our own fault, and + very much are we to blame when we reject the blessings of + consolations offered us. "When our Saviour left us, he promised + to send us a comforter to abide with us for ever." John xiv. + 16; and as the Divine Spirit never fails in his fulfilment of + his promises, be assured, you mourners, if you are not + comforted, it is because you will not accept the consolation + offered to you; for he has said, "I will not leave you + comfortless, for he shall dwell with you, and shall be in you." + John xiv. 17 and 18.</p> + + <p>But why does little Reuben suddenly move his curls from off + his cheek? why does he listen, as he never listened before? and + why does a merry little laugh escape his lips? and then he + listens again, and now he does not laugh, but springing to his + feet, with arms extended, he calls out "Nero, Nero." It is not + that Nero hears that baby voice, it is not that the noble dog + responds to the call, for the soft sound is lost amidst the + roar of the waters; but he who fed Elijah by the means of + ravens, and taught the dove to bear the olive leaf to Noah, has + guided hither to the child a sure and safe conductor to his + home. Look, look there! across the stream stands Nero. Nero let + out by Thomas for a wild run for exercise as directed first by + Mr. Mortimer, and then by Marten; there he stood, his eyes red + with eagerness, his tongue protruding, and panting and + impatient as not knowing where next to turn his agile bounds. + But not for another moment did this hesitation continue, for + Reuben ran to the edge of the rock, both arms extended, and + scarcely able for the breeze to keep his little feet firm upon + the ground. "Nero, Nero," he cried, and almost ere his lips had + closed, after the appeal, the noble dog, with a glorious bound + sprang from stepping-stone to stepping-stone across the stream, + and had overwhelmed the boy with his caresses. What mattered it + to Reuben, that his kind friend in his joy at their meeting had + absolutely overturned the child upon the ground? What cared he + for that? It was Nero, his own Nero, his Nero from home, and + Reuben did so love him, and Nero returned his love so warmly, + and they were always so happy together, and there was no danger + to be feared for Reuben, whilst the faithful animal was by him, + which he had power to ward off. Reuben had recognised the dog's + bark even amidst the waters roar, and that had made him laugh, + for he never doubted that Nero would come to him shortly. And + now I don't know how to tell how the rest happened, for in + truth Reuben never could explain how things went on, + particularly after the arrival of Nero, and there was no other + living thing in that solitude but the child and dog. All that + Reuben could recollect afterwards was, that he was cold and + hungry, and that he wished to get home, and that Nero, too, + seemed even more anxious than himself to get home, but Reuben + dared not cross the stream, and Nero seemed almost as unwilling + as himself to take the child across, and yet the faithful + creature would not leave the boy for more able assistance. + Reuben was frightened at the threatening rock above his head, + and yet he knew not how to leave it, for he had run on far + enough to lose the way to the lane which led to Mr. Jameson's, + and he was frightened at all around, and shivering and hungry, + for he had tasted no food that morning.</p> + + <center> + <img src="image116.jpg" + alt="Page 119 Image" + height="779" + width="600"> + </center> + + <p>At last, finding all his efforts useless to tempt the little + one across the stream, a new idea seemed to strike the sensible + dog, for Nero was very sensible. He seemed all of a sudden to + bethink himself that there might be another road home; and + taking hold of Reuben's dress in his mouth, he attempted to + draw him along the road the child had come. Now to this the + little one was rather inclined, for he believed it would take + him home, but on attempting to walk he found that he had hurt + his foot before he had reached the rock, and that the cold air + had made it stiff and painful. Poor Reuben was going to cry, + and then I do not know what would have happened if Nero, + finding out that something was wrong, had not seated himself + beside the child on the ground to comfort him; and in so doing, + reminded Reuben that Marten always told Nero to sit on the + ground before he told his brother to get on the dog's back for + a ride, for Reuben often took a ride on Nero's back. And now, + then, fancy the child seated upon Nero, who rose at once gently + from the ground, and with great care and stateliness commenced + his progress homewards. It is said that a white elephant will + not allow any one to ride upon him who is not of royal descent, + and then the king of beasts steps on with full consciousness of + the honour of his kingly burthen; but what could his pride be, + compared with that of Nero's, as the faithful creature stepped + on and on with his infant rider? It was not, after all, so slow + a progress as might have been imagined, and as it is believed + the dog followed the scent of the child's footsteps, he + naturally went up the lane the little one had trod that + morning. On arriving where the road divided, Nero was, however, + no longer at a loss, for he knew which direction his own home + lay, and Nero was not likely to be tempted elsewhere than home, + for if he could have reasoned he would have said, in as strong + terms as nurse herself could have used, that Reuben had better + be at home than anywhere else whilst he was so young. Nero, as + I said, now knew the road, for he had often accompanied the + different members of Mr. Mortimer's family when they went to + visit Mr. Jameson's, and how carefully, on account of his young + rider, did he step on his way towards home.</p> + + <p>And now I could say a great deal upon the fidelity of Nero, + the trustfulness of Reuben, and the useful lesson the little + one was learning; but I am anxious to speak of Marten and + nurse, and all those who loved the child and trembled for his + loss. And yet I cannot talk of their distress, the deep deep + remorse of Marten, his full and complete acknowledgment of his + own carelessness and ignorance of himself, so that nurse could + not even say one word to him, though her tears and sobs were a + deep reproach. No, I cannot speak of this, I would rather tell + of how in the midst of all this trouble, tears were changed to + smiles, and even laughter took the place of sobs, when Reuben + came riding into the court yard tired, cold, and hungry, it is + true, but no little important at his wonderful adventure. And + then came such kisses and caresses, such warming by the kitchen + fire, such a comfortable breakfast for the child, such luxuries + for the dog, which Reuben was allowed to bestow; and then such + runnings hither and thither to inform all the kind searchers + all was right with the child, and such congratulations, that I + should never have done, if I attempt but to repeat one half of + them; so let me conclude in these words of the apostle, "Let no + man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot + be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man. But every + man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lust and + enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin; + and sin when it is finished, bringeth forth death." James i. + 13, 14, 15. But our Saviour has declared, "I will ransom them + from the power of the grave. I will redeem them from death. Oh! + death, I will be thy plague: Oh! grave, I will be thy + destruction." Hosea xiii. 14.</p> + + <p>By this little narrative we are taught that whoever fills + himself up with the belief that he is wise and clever, will be + apt, like Marten, to fall into some sort of trouble, which he + did not look forward to. All the wisdom of man lies in knowing + that unless he is guided in all his actions by his heavenly + Father, he is sure to go wrong, let his age or condition be + what it may. If little Reuben had been really lost or hurt, + very severe indeed would have been the punishment of Marten for + his conceit, but God in his tender love let him off for his + fright only; which, however, we doubt not, was sharp enough to + make him remember the lesson all his life.</p> + + <p>It is well for poor sinful men, women, and children, + however, that they have a brother, even the Lord the Saviour in + his human person, who cannot forget them as Marten forgot + Reuben, no, not for one moment.</p> + <hr style="width: 65%;"> + <a name="POPULAR_JUVENILE_BOOKS"></a> + + <h2>POPULAR JUVENILE BOOKS,</h2>Of established reputation, + which may be safely placed into the hands of Children, blending + Amusement with Instruction. + + <p><b>DARTON'S HOLIDAY LIBRARY.</b></p> + + <p><i>A Series of Shilling Volumes for the Young</i>,</p> + + <p>BY APPROVED AUTHORS.</p> + + <p>No. 1.--MARY LEESON, by Mary Howitt. Illustrated by J. + Absolon.</p> + + <p>No. 2.--TAKE CARE OF NO. 1, or Good to Me includes Good to + Thee, by S.E. Goodrich, Esq. (the Original Peter Parley). + Illustrated by Gilbert.</p> + + <p>No. 3.--HOW TO SPEND A WEEK HAPPILY, by Mrs. Burbury. With + Illustrations.</p> + + <p>No. 4.--POEMS FOR YOUNG CHILDREN, by "Adelaide," one of the + amiable Authoresses of "Original Poems." With + Illustrations.</p> + + <p>No. 5.--THE YOUNG LORD, by Camilla Toulmin; and VICTORINE + DUROCHER, by Mrs. Sherwood. With Illustrations.</p> + + <p>No. 6.--PAULINE. A Tale from the German. With + Illustrations.</p> + + <p>No. 7.--HOUSEHOLD STORIES. With Illustrations.</p> + + <p>Nos. 8 and 9.--IN-DOOR AND OUT-DOOR SPORTS.</p> + + <p>No. 10.--STORIES OF ENTERPRISE AND ADVENTURE; or, EXCITEMENT + TO READING. Illustrated with Wood Engravings, from designs by + Absolon.</p> + + <p>No. 11.--The BOOK OF RIDDLES, ETC.</p> + + <p><b>CRITICAL REMARKS.</b></p> + + <p>"The Volumes of DARTON'S HOLIDAY LIBRARY which have reached + us, comprise a most interesting Series of Books for Young + People, written by some of our most Popular Authors, and all + having a tendency towards the formation of correct principles + and habits in the minds of the Young. They blend amusement with + instruction in the most delightful manner. We cordially + recommend them as by far the best books of their class."</p> + <hr style="width: 65%;"> + <a name="Neatly_bound_in_cloth"></a> <br> + Neatly bound in cloth, + + <p><b>FIRST LINES OF BOTANY,</b></p> + + <p>BY W. BERNHARD TEGETMEIER.</p> + + <p>"This little work is a complete compendium of botanical + science, written in a very clear and effective manner, and + embodying the most popular classification of plants. It is a + work that may be consulted by the old as well as the young with + great advantage, and to those who are fond of gardening it will + be of great practical use."</p> + + <p>SPECIMEN FROM PAGE 57. THE CONVOLVULUS TRIBE.</p> + + <p>"181. The common bind-weed of our hedges may be taken as the + representative of this very natural tribe of plants, + distinguished by their <i>twining habit</i>, and by the + peculiar <i>plaited manner</i> in which the corolla is folded + in the bud."</p> + + <p>"182. The calyx consists of five sepals, two of which are + outside the remainder; there are five stamens, and a superior + pistil, containing three or four cells, with about two seeds in + each."</p> + + <p>QUESTIONS APPENDED AT THE FOOT.</p> + + <p>"181. What are the marks distinguishing the convolvulus + tribe?"</p> + + <p>"182. Describe the remaining parts of the flower?"</p> + <hr width="100%"> + <br> + + + <p><i>JUST PUBLISHED, PRICE NINEPENCE EACH,--</i></p> + + <p><b>THE CATECHISM OF MODERN HISTORY;</b></p> + + <p>Also, New Editions of the following Catechisms,</p> + + <p>BY THE REV. T. WILSON:</p> + + <p>Catechism of the History of England. Catechism of Bible + History. Catechism of English Grammar. Catechism of Astronomy. + Catechism of Geography. Catechism of Music. First Catechism of + Common Things.</p> + + <p>Second Catechism of Common Things. Third Catechism of Common + Things. First Catechism of Natural Philosophy. Second Catechism + of Natural Philosophy. Third Catechism of Natural Philosophy. + Catechism of Botany. Two Parts. Catechism of Biography. Two + Parts.</p> + + <p>"The Catechisms of the Rev. T. Wilson stand foremost in the + rank of this mode of teaching, and the series fills a hiatus in + this department of literature. They embody a vast amount of + information in every branch of science, and are well worthy the + attention of Schoolmasters, Pupil Teachers, and + Governesses."</p> + <hr style="width: 65%;"> + <br> + + + <p><b>THE CHILD'S BOOK OF FACTS,</b><br> + Comprising the First, Second, and Third Catechisms of Common + Things.</p> + + <p>BY THE REV. T. WILSON.</p> + + <p>"This work may he regarded as a sequel to the 'Mother's + Question Book,' which the author has, in his style and method, + followed as a model. It presents an immense quantity of + interesting facts to the young mind, and affords information of + the most useful kind rendered clear and simple."--<i>Journal of + Education</i>.</p> + + <p>SPECIMEN OF THE QUESTIONS.</p> + + <p>"What is meant by the terms art and science?" "What are the + principal of the arts?" "How are they distinguished?"</p> + <hr width="100%"> + <br> + + + <p>Neatly and strongly bound in cloth,</p> + + <p><b>LESSONS ON NATURAL PHILOSOPHY, FOR CHILDREN,</b></p> + + <p>BY THE REV. T. WILSON.</p> + + <p>"These Lessons consist of initiatory information upon the + Phenomena of Nature, the Mechanical Powers, Astronomy, + Geography, Light and Heat, Electricity, Attraction, Chemistry, + Magnetism, and include a great variety of valuable matter, + condensed and simplified in a very clever manner by the + author."--<i>Monthly Magazine</i>.</p> + + <p>SPECIMEN OF THE ABOVE.</p> + + <p>"When you open a door, what is the weight that you + move?"</p> + + <p>"When you throw a ball, what becomes of it?"</p> + + <p>"What makes the weight go down to the bottom of a + clock?"</p> + + <p>GUTTA PERCHA, & ITS USES TO MAN.</p> + + <p>WITH COLOURED PLATES.</p> + + <p>Foolscap 4to. and Wrapper printed in Gold, price 1s.</p> + <hr style="width: 65%;"> + + <h2>JUVENILE AND EDUCATIONAL.</h2>Strongly bound in cloth, in + 18mo., + + <p><b>THE MOTHER'S QUESTION BOOK;</b></p> + + <p><b>OR,</b></p> + + <p><b>CHILD'S FIRST GUIDE TO KNOWLEDGE,</b></p> + + <p>COMPRISING THE FIRST, SECOND, AND THIRD MOTHER'S + CATECHISMS,</p> + + <p>BY THE REV. DAVID BLAIR.</p> + + <p>"The name of Dr. Blair is identified with elementary + knowledge; and these, the genuine productions of his pen, are + well worthy the attention of the parent and + teacher."--<i>Educational Magazine</i>.</p> + + <p>SPECIMEN OF THE ABOVE FROM PAGE 52.--"Q. What are the + objects of all manufactures?"</p> + + <p>"A. To make the necessaries and conveniences of life; as + clothing, tools, and furniture."</p> + + <p>"Q. Of what is clothing made?"</p> + + <p>"A. Clothing is made of wool, flax, cotton, silk, or + leather; and there are great manufactures of each of + these."</p> + + <p>"Q. Of what are tools made?"</p> + + <p>"A. Of wood, iron, steel, and brass."</p> + + <p>"Q. Of what is furniture made?"</p> + + <p>"A. Of oak and deal, with brass ornaments, with beds of + cotton or linen, and hair mattresses or feather beds."</p> + <hr width="100%"> + <br> + + + <p><b>THE EARLY EDUCATOR,</b></p> + + <p><b>OR,</b></p> + + <p><b>FIRST LESSONS IN USEFUL KNOWLEDGE:</b></p> + + <p>BY WM. MARTIN.</p> + + <p>"Mr. Martin has been long and deservedly celebrated as being + one of the first improvers of the systems of modern education, + and his numerous publications prove him to be not merely a + theorist, but a thorough practical teacher; a great advantage + to those who prepare books for the young."--<i>Morning + Herald.</i></p> + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Brotherly Love, by Mrs. Sherwood + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BROTHERLY LOVE *** + +***** This file should be named 11213-h.htm or 11213-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/1/2/1/11213/ + +Produced by Loriba Barber and PG Distributed Proofreaders + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Brotherly Love + Shewing That As Merely Human It May Not Always Be Depended Upon + +Author: Mrs. Sherwood + +Release Date: February 21, 2004 [EBook #11213] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BROTHERLY LOVE *** + + + + +Produced by Loriba Barber and PG Distributed Proofreaders + + + + +[Illustration] + +BROTHERLY LOVE; + +SHEWING + +That as merely human it may not always be depended upon. + +BY + +MRS. SHERWOOD + +AND HER DAUGHTER, + +MRS. STREETEN. + + + +1851. + + + + +THE BROTHERS; + +OR, + +BE NOT WISE IN YOUR OWN CONCEIT. + + +It was at that time of year when leaves begin to lose their green hue, +and are first tinctured with a brown shade that increases rather than +decreases their beauty, that Mr. and Mrs. Mortimer received a letter +from a brother of Mrs. Mortimer's, at Portsmouth, requiring such +immediate attention that it was thought advisable that the answer should +be given in person and not in writing, and without a day's loss of time. +So it was determined that Mr. and Mrs. Mortimer should leave their home, +even as soon as the following morning, to visit their brother at +Portsmouth, and that they then should settle the business for which they +went as quickly as possible, that their absence from home need not be +prolonged unnecessarily, nor indeed for any length of time. It did not +take long to arrange this part of the affair, and what packing was +requisite was also done quickly, but the point which required most +attention and thought was, what was to become of Marten and his young +brother Reuben while their papa and mamma were away. "I have never left +them before," said their mamma, "and I feel somewhat anxious about their +being left now." + +"Anxious, dear mamma," exclaimed Marten, who had overheard the remark. +"Anxious," he repeated, "why I am a great boy now, and I shall soon be a +man, when I shall have to take care of myself altogether; and if I +cannot take care of myself for a week, what is to become of me when I +am grown up? Indeed, mamma, I think you forget how old I am. I was +thirteen on the 21st of April." + +"Tirteen," lisped little Reuben--"Marten tirteen--April--Oh, Marten very +old mamma--very, very wise;" and Reuben opened his eyes quite wide and +looked so very earnestly in his mother's face, that one would have +thought he was trying to read therein what she could mean about being +anxious as to leaving Marten,--the Marten who appeared so very old and +so very wise to him,--to take care of himself for a few days without his +parents protection. "Thirteen," repeated Mrs. Mortimer, "thirteen no +doubt seems very, aye very old, to you Reuben, for you are not yet half +that age; but I am more than three times that age," she added, smiling, +"and that you know must make me very, very much wiser than Marten, and +now once again I say I am anxious about leaving you without your father +or myself, and I should be more anxious than I am if I did not believe +it is our duty to go at once to Portsmouth; and that it being right for +us to go, I can leave you, my boys, in God's care, who is the tenderest +of fathers to his children." + +"But mamma," asked Marten, "why do you fear for me? Am I not steady, +mamma? Do not I like to do what you and papa tell me to do? Am I ever +obstinate or rebellious to you? Indeed, mamma, I feel quite grieved; I +think it is unjust to mistrust me, mamma, really I do." + +"If you feared for yourself, I should have less fear for you, Marten," +replied Mrs. Mortimer, "for I know well that the heart of man is by +nature prone to sin, and that our thoughts and desires while we are on +earth are like our natures, full of imperfections. Temptations are ever +before us--they press upon us every minute, and it is not in our own +strength we can resist or overcome even one of them, and while this +life lasts we are not safe, unless we acknowledge their powerful +influence and trust in the Divine Spirit alone to be able to withstand +them." + +"I have not been thought a disobedient boy till now," said Marten +somewhat sulkily. "I think my usual conduct should plead for me." + +"Every child has temptations, Marten," replied his mamma, "and every +well behaved child, though not a pious one, resists them: and in truth +these temptations are so numerous, that one scarcely thinks of them, +unless we witness the conduct of a spoiled baby, as shame prevents grown +up persons giving way to many things. But I want you to see that in this +life we are in a state of constant trial, and as St. Paul says, if it +were only for this life, a Christian is of all men most miserable; for +added to these outward temptations, which assail all mankind daily and +hourly, the Christian knows he must resist inward temptations, which +perhaps are known to none but himself and his God. These temptations are +more pressing than other temptations, on account of their peculiar +nature: for the one, if indulged in, brings the displeasure or frowns of +the world--the other, as I said before, is perhaps unknown to all human +beings but oneself." + +"Well, but mamma," said Marten impatiently, "I do know all this, for you +have taught it me before. It is not like as if I had to learn the thing +now for the first time. I think you are too severe, mamma, indeed I do; +and when you come back, I believe you will say so. Trust me, mamma, and +do not be anxious about me. I shall do very well, and I promise to take +good care of Reuben. I will see to his lessons, and do my own, and he +shall sleep with me while you are away, and I will attend carefully to +him and never leave him, and when I am learning my Latin, he can be in +the room with me, and we shall do very well together, I promise you. So +trust me, mamma, without anxiety of any sort." + +"I will trust you," replied Mrs. Mortimer smiling kindly, "but not with +yourself Marten, for I see clearly you have a lesson to learn, my boy, +and I hope you will learn it shortly, without much trouble to yourself. +You think you are going to fulfil all your duties in your own strength, +as they ought to be fulfilled. You will see that you cannot. Could human +nature, unassisted by the Divine nature, have done so, then what need +would there have been for the Son of God to have taken our form and +purified our nature in himself? By grace alone are we saved, for there +is none good--no, not one; but as God is holy, we must be holy, ere we +can dwell with Him, and the work of the Divine Spirit is to make us +pure; and while we are in the flesh, to uphold us in the right and +straight road, till being made one with God our sanctification is +accomplished. Now then is our hour of temptation. Marten--and believe +me, my boy, if you attempt to withstand that temptation in your own +strength, you are like one putting fire to tow, and expecting it will +escape conflagration." + +Marten made no reply, for he was tired of the subject; but after Mrs. +Mortimer had left the room, he said to Reuben--"Well, we shall see what +we shall see, and mamma shall acknowledge I am right after all." So the +carriage came to the door next morning betimes, and Mr. and Mrs. +Mortimer got into it, and Marten and Reuben stood in the coach drive to +hold the gate open for the carriage to pass through; and the great dog +Nero stood by them very much excited, not knowing whether to go with the +carriage or to stay with the boys. + +"Be sure you see Nero has a run every day, Marten," said Mr. Mortimer, +as the carriage passed through the gate--"that dog wants plenty of +exercise." + +"Oh! don't fear, papa, I shall not forget him," replied Marten, running +a step or two after the carriage; "and mamma, I will attend to your +doves--you had forgotten to speak about them, had you not, mamma? I will +remember them and Nero too, papa, and Reuben also. Yes, I will attend to +all--I shall have plenty of time for all. Have you anything more you +wish done, papa?" and Marten was obliged to stop speaking, as the +carriage was now going on rapidly, and he found he could not talk and +keep up with it at the same time. + +"No, no, Marten," replied Mr. Mortimer laughing--"No, no, my boy--you +have got more on your hands now than will suffice you: so off with you +home, and take care that when we return we do not find the doves flown, +Nero lost, or Reuben with black eye or bruised leg, and yourself in some +unlucky plight, my boy. Now go home, and God bless and watch over you, +my sons. We hope it will not be long before we return," and he waved his +hand to bid good bye. Marten had run himself out of breath, so he was +not able to answer his father, and he was not sorry to stand still an +instant or two to watch the carriage out of sight, and give time for +Reuben to overtake him, for the child could not keep up with his +brother's quick running. And even now Marten might have read this +lesson, had he been wise enough so to do that already, he had been led +away by temptation to forget his brother, and that though he had done +so, Nero had been more faithful than himself; for Nero, though he could +have outran Marten, yet would not forsake the child, but restrained his +impatience that he might keep near the little one, who ever needed a +protector by his side, for the child was young, and his mother had +perhaps reared him too delicately. + +Reuben had never before been separated from his mamma, and he was half +inclined to cry, and perhaps fret at her absence; but Marten, who was a +very kind brother, and really loved the child tenderly, contrived so to +divert his attention that he soon forgot his troubles. + +Marten was so bent upon behaving well during his mamma's and papa's +absence and of fulfilling every duty, that though Reuben wished to stay +out all morning and play, his brother would not allow it, but persuaded +him to go in with him and say his lessons, as if his mamma had been at +home. But Marten had taken upon himself much more than was required of +him by his parents, and it was not without difficulty, even on the first +day, determined as he was upon the point, that he could fulfil all his +intentions, for Marten had not taken into consideration that if he +thoroughly devoted himself to Reuben, he could not spend his time in +learning his own lessons, which usually occupied the best hours of the +morning. The doves could be fed whilst Reuben was by his side--indeed +Reuben could be very useful in this matter, for he had been accustomed +to visit the aviary daily with his mamma, and the pretty birds knew him +and were not as afraid of him as they were of his big brother Marten. So +Reuben fed the doves himself, and stroked their soft feathers, and +washed out their little tin in which the water was put for them to +drink; and he placed the food for them in its right corner, and he swept +out the floor of the aviary, for he was small enough to stand upright +within it, and he knew how to do it without frightening the birds. So +far all was well, and all was well too whilst Reuben was saying his +lessons; but when Marten wanted to study his Latin exercise, the child +was so restless and troublesome, that it was only by speaking very +decidedly to him--indeed almost crossly--that Marten could get a moment +to himself. + +But even then Marten had to shut up his book somewhat hastily, for +Reuben began to cry for his mamma, who never spoke sharply to him, and +was always ready to attend to the little one by a kind look or tender +word. + +Marten was, however, so satisfied with himself in having accomplished +all his plans for the day, that he did not see how he had given way to +temptation in being cross when provoked; and as he put Reuben to bed, +for he chose to do it himself, he could not help saying aloud, "I wish +mamma could have followed me unseen all day: how pleased she would have +been with me, for I have done all I meant to do, even though I was +tempted more than once to leave something undone." + +The next morning Marten arose, perhaps not quite so earnest in his +intentions as the day before, but still there was only a slight +disinclination to fulfil all his duties--so slight, indeed, that he +would have been very angry if any one had spoken to him about it, and +hinted at the truth. In this frame of mind, though most things were +done, some few were slurred over, particularly the Latin Exercise and +Grammar, for Marten's papa had not set him any task, and had even said +Marten might have a holiday during his absence; and at any other time +the boy would have been glad of this indulgence, but now he fancied +himself so good, that he believed he could do everything, and everything +well. + +"I will do an exercise to-morrow, Reuben," said Marten. "Papa does not +expect any done, and if I have one for every other day to shew him, he +will be very much pleased, I know." + +Reuben, as may be supposed, could not make a suitable reply to this; for +all he understood about it was, that Marten was going out with him +instead of staying at home to do that troublesome Latin. So Reuben was +pleased and Marten was thoughtless, and out together they went and +enjoyed themselves not a little, in the pleasant autumn weather. + +Thus hours passed on, and the third day brought a letter from Mrs. +Mortimer, which was not quite satisfactory, for it said that the +business which took her and her husband from home could not be easily +settled, and they feared they would be detained a whole fortnight at +Portsmouth. Mrs. Mortimer, however, was not uneasy about her boys, for +she knew that the servants, with whom she had left them, were quiet +steady persons, who would not allow them to do what was wrong without +speaking to them; and then Reuben was such an universal favourite, that +she felt sure no one would be wilfully unkind to him. But above all, +Mrs. Mortimer trusted her children with Him who "knoweth our frame and +remembereth we are but dust." Psal. ciii. 14. + +Mrs. Mortimer had been absent about a week, and Marten was still in +ignorance of the weakness of human nature, at least as far as he was +himself personally concerned, when one morning Reuben came running to +him in great distress, to say that the doves were missing--his mamma's +own pretty birds that she loved so much; and Reuben, whose tears were +somewhat too ready, began to cry, for he feared, poor child, the cat had +eaten them, or some other misfortune equally distressing had befallen +them. + +"Was the door of the aviary open?" asked Marten. "Are you sure it was +open, Reuben? or did you open it yourself?" + +"It was open," said Reuben, "wide, wide open--so wide, Marten;" and he +made his brother understand that he had gone inside without stirring it +the least little bit. + +"It was open, you say," replied the elder boy, "but how could that be? +You or some one have been careless, very careless, Reuben; for it is +certain the birds could not open it for themselves." Reuben was about to +cry again, but Marten soothed him, for all at once Marten remembered +that the careless--very careless person was none other than himself; for +on the day before, whilst Reuben was sweeping out the aviary, Marten had +called him hurriedly, and though the child had once proposed to return, +his brother had kept him by his side for some trifling purpose, and so +they had both forgotten the aviary door was open. However, the doves +were gone, and they must be reclaimed, if alive, but if dead--what a sad +story would there be for Mrs. Mortimer. So the books were put by, and +the two boys went out in search of the birds, and Reuben, who understood +their ways, took the precaution to carry with him the box in which their +food was usually placed. On this occasion there was a nice piece of cake +put into the box, which was to be crumbled for the doves, and Reuben +knew that they liked cake as well as he did himself, and more especially +the kind of cake which cook had given him. + +Have you ever heard of a person who it is said once looked for a needle +in a pottle of hay? for if so, you may picture to yourself the feelings +of Marten when he started to find the ringdoves. But perhaps you will +say, anyhow, the needle would lie still, unless the man who was +searching for it should shake the straw too roughly, and throw it out, +therefore the space of its concealment, being a limited space, supposing +the pottle the very largest ever made, there would be a chance in time +of its discovery, but not so the case of the birds. They had wings to +fly with, and miles of lovely blue sky to fly through, and green +branches to rest on, and harvest fields to alight in, that is if they +were in the land of the living; but, perhaps, after all, mistress pussy +had destroyed them, and their pretty feathers, perhaps their only +relics left, might be so scattered by the wind, that already they might +be yards and yards separated from each other. With these sad forebodings +clouding his brow, Marten set off with Reuben on his search, feeling +that it was a hopeless one, and not one word did the boy utter to all +Reuben's lamentations as they crossed the meadow which was spread in +front of their house towards a little wood, which was the home of many a +bird of the pigeon or dove species, and therefore Marten thought would +be the most likely place to go first to look after the strayed ones. +Think, then, what must have been his joy as they entered the second +meadow not far from the stile, absolutely to behold the ringdoves, his +mamma's own ringdoves walking upon the grass cooing and billing, and +turning about their soft eyes in this direction and the other, as if +half afraid of the freedom they had acquired for themselves. As to +Reuben, he was so pleased, that the little foolish fellow clapped his +hands and shouted for joy, which so alarmed the doves, that they took to +their wings and soared high, but flutteringly in the air, as if in their +fright they did not know what they ought to do for their own safety. +Marten was very angry with Reuben for his folly--very angry indeed, and +I hardly know what it was he said; only this I do know, that he took the +box of cake from the child's hand, and bade him stand at a particular +spot--about twenty yards or so, in a direction farthest from the wood, +and from the stile leading to their home; "and there," he added, "remain +till I tell you you may stir, if you are so stupid as not to know that +clapping your hands and shouting loud will frighten any birds, +particularly timid ones like doves--tame doves, especially, who have +strayed from their home." + +Marten looked so cross, that Reuben did not even like to cry, for he +felt he had been very silly; so the poor little fellow stood where his +brother had bade him stand, half afraid to breathe, and quite afraid of +moving--lest by any noise he should again drive away the doves, and +Marten should again be angry. And there we will leave him to speak of +how his brother set himself to work to reclaim his mother's birds. + +I have said before that he had some cake in a box in his hand, and +having tossed off his hat--lest by any accident it should fall off when +he was stooping forwards, he threw himself upon the grass his full +length, and as he rested on his right hand; with his left he sprinkled +some of the cake he had with him on the ground, to attract the doves +near to him, in the hope he would catch one; and the second, he rightly +guessed, would not then be long out of his power. Marten relied on the +tame habits of the doves, who had been accustomed not only to eat out of +his brother's hands, but also from his mother's, and occasionally of +late from his own; but it is a different thing feeding birds in their +own aviary, and when they have escaped half wild to their native haunts. +And now, whilst the boy stretched upon the ground, was wholly occupied +in the earnest desire of reclaiming the wanderers, Reuben's attention +after awhile was diverted by seeing that some one was approaching +towards them from a hill, in a direction farthest from their home. This +person was riding at no slow pace, and as I said before, as his road led +him down hill, he seemed not to spare his horse; meeting the wind, as +Reuben thought gloriously, and passing along at a pace, the child +considered more glorious still. "When I am a man," the little fellow +said to himself, "I will ride so, I will have a horse, and I will ride +very very fast,--yes,--that I will." + +Now it seemed that the rider from the elevated road could look over the +meadows below, and probably having good eyes, for they certainly were +young and sharp ones, he soon spied out Marten and Reuben, and as it +came out afterwards that Marten was the person he sought after, he +caused his pony to leap over a small ditch that was in his way, and then +guiding it to a gate he dismounted and fastened the animal to the post +by its bridle. In leaping the ditch his hat had fallen off, and making +signs to a large Newfoundland dog that had accompanied him, the noble +animal was by him directed to lie down near the horse and take charge of +the hat, whilst his master stepped lightly along the grass in the +direction where Marten lay extended, so occupied about the doves as to +regard nothing that was passing round him. The new comer was a youth of +about Marten's own age, the only child of a gentleman who lived about +four miles from Marten's father, and the most constant companion that +Marten possessed. His name was Edward Jameson, and he shall himself say +the cause of his present visit. Reuben knew Edward well, and he +recognized him before he had tied his pony to the gate post, but he had +not seen the fine Newfoundland dog before, and Reuben was so fond of +dogs. The little fellow remembered that Marten had forbidden him to +leave the tree or to speak, but he could not keep his small feet from +moving up and down restlessly, nor could he scarce command himself not +to call out and tell his brother of Edward's arrival. But Edward wanted +to see what Marten was doing in the very odd attitude he had taken, so +he crept noiselessly on, his head turned somewhat sideways to Reuben, +and his hand held up threateningly to the child, for he saw he had been +recognised, and he was afraid of some hasty word, which would cause +Marten to start up, and then he feared he should not surprise his +friend. Edward was able to get quite close to Marten, and even to touch +him before Marten was aware of his presence; and he stepped up so +quietly, that the doves were so little frightened, that they hardly +stopped a moment from picking up the crumbs. + +"Why Marten, old fellow, what are you doing here?" asked Edward. "Whose +doves are those, I say? are they your mother's? have you let them +loose--Eh?" Edward spoke softly, but not so softly that he did not cause +Marten to start at the unexpected sound of his voice; still, as the +birds were at some little distance, and were accustomed to the human +voice, they scarcely were alarmed, and hardly moved a step or two away +from the crumbs scattered for them, and Marten recovering himself +quickly, said--"Oh! Edward, do help me to catch these doves: they have +escaped from their aviary, and my mother will be so vexed if they fly +away." + +"To be sure I will," replied Edward; "but my boy, who is in the habit +of feeding them, for that person would best know how to catch them I +should say." + +"My mother feeds them herself chiefly," said Marten, "and Reuben +sometimes attends to them when she is engaged." + +"Well, set Reuben to decoy them now, for I am in a hurry and have got +something to say to you as quickly as possible, and it is very +important. Anyhow, the child can watch them whilst you are attending to +me." + +So Reuben was called from his station at the tree, and Marten gave him +directions what he was to do; and the now little important one lay down +on the grass, as Marten had done before him; and as might have been +expected, the doves, accustomed to his baby voice and small figure, soon +drew nearer and nearer to him, so that when the conference was over +between the two elder boys, Reuben was able proudly to shew not one, +but both doves, so wrapped up in his pinafore, that though they +fluttered about a little, they were quite secure. "Come here a step or +two from the child," said Edward, "and don't think of those troublesome +birds just now, but tell me at once, can you come and pay me a visit for +a couple of days? my cousins William Roscoe and Jane and Mary are +expected at our house to night on their way to London. You know William +Roscoe, Marten, and what a fine fellow he is and I have asked my father +and mother, and they have allowed me to get as many young ones together +as the short time would allow, and we are to have splendid fun. Won't +you come, Marten? I promise you a glorious time of it, if you will but +come." + +[Illustration] + +"My father is from home," replied Marten thoughtfully, "and so is my +mother, but I don't think that matters, Edward: they have never refused +my visiting you, and I do not think they would now. Indeed, I am sure +they would not, if they were at home, but what am I to do with Reuben? I +have taken charge of Reuben whilst mamma is away, and what can I do +about him?" + +"About Reuben," returned Edward? "can't the servants take care of him at +home? he will do very well at home, and be very contented, I know." + +"But I have undertaken the charge of him," said Marten, "and I should +not like, after what I have said, to leave him, even for a couple of +days. I must either bring him with me, Edward, or stay at home with +him--indeed, I must." + +"Well, then, bring the little fellow," replied Edward kindly; "anything +so as you come, Marten; and remember there will be plenty of girls +invited, for Jane and Mary Roscoe, and Reuben can surely play with them, +and they will take care of him, no doubt. So bring him, by all means, if +that is the only hindrance; but still, I say, you would do better to +leave him at home with the servants; however, that's your business, not +mine. I reckon on you to-morrow, about eleven o'clock--to stay all +night, next day, and the night following, if you like; so good bye, till +then. I have half the country to ride over to beat up my recruits;" and +without waiting another word from his friend, Edward ran across the +meadow, snatched up his hat from where the faithful dog was carefully +guarding it, sprang upon his pony, and then once again leaping the +ditch, he cantered off at a pace so rapid, he was soon lost to Marten's +sight. + +How pleased was Reuben to shew his brother that he had caught the doves, +and Marten was also pleased: for any how he need not distress himself +about them, as they were secured, but he thought it advisable to take +them under his own charge, as he considered he could hold them firmer +than the little one. And now the boys ran home as quickly as they could, +and the pretty birds were shut up in their aviary, and Marten hastened +to the kitchen to find the house-maid, who was called nurse, as she had +been Reuben's nurse before she had changed her occupation in the family, +the child no longer requiring a personal attendant. In the kitchen +Marten learnt that she was gone out into the garden to gather some herbs +for the cook, and thither he followed her to tell her that his friend +Edward Jameson had been with him, and what had been the purport of his +visit. + +"Nurse," said Marten, when he found her, "I am come to ask you to get +mine and Reuben's things ready to-night, for I am going to take him with +me to spend a couple of days at Mr. Jameson's; and there will be company +there in the evenings, so we must have our best things, nurse, and will +you be so kind as to see after the doves, and tell Thomas to loosen +Nero's chain every day, that he may have a good scamper over the +fields, for papa says he should have plenty of exercise." + +"Stop, stop, master Marten," replied nurse, "what is all this about? +your things and master Reuben's, do you say, are to be got ready for two +day's visit--and the doves fed? am I to find them before I feed them, +master Marten?" and nurse laughed. + +"They are found, nurse," answered the boy, "and they are now safe in the +aviary, and I will take care the door shall not be opened again while +mamma is away. I mean to put a padlock on, nurse, so you see no one can +let them out, and I shall keep the key myself." + +"Oh! master Marten, master Marten!" said nurse, laughing again--"I see, +if it depended upon you, we should all be in a bad way, and so the poor +birds are to be locked up, are they: and master Reuben is not to be +allowed to go into the aviary to talk to them, as the little one loves +to do--and all for what? Give me a steady ruler, if you please--not such +as you, master Marten--a fine head of a family you will make, if one may +judge of your boasted management of the doves in the first part of the +story, and then the leaving the aviary door open and finishing with +locking them up and keeping the key yourself. Well for their +happiness--mistress will soon be at home to attend to them herself; but +what are you going to do with the child, my own darling? I can't have +any tricks played with him, I tell you." + +"Tricks, nurse," repeated Marten passionately. "What? do you mean to say +I would play tricks with my own brother? No one loves Reuben, I am sure, +better than I do, unless it is mamma. What do you mean, nurse?" + +"What do you mean, then, master Marten, by saying you are going to take +the child amongst strangers, neither me nor his mamma being with him, +and he never accustomed to strangers--and company in the house too--I +don't half like it--and I know I feel half inclined to say he shan't +go." + +"And pray under whose charge was he left?" asked Marten. "Your's or +mine, nurse? I should like to know." + +"It was much of a muchness," replied the good woman. "Missis said to +you, take care of your brother; but missis knew I loved the sweet +darling too dearly to require even half a word on the subject. And +supposing he does go with you, master Marten, who is to put the dear +child to bed at nights? I must insist, indeed I must, that you see to it +yourself. I know how frightened he will be amongst strangers at bed +time." + +"To be sure I will, nurse," said Marten, glad to see the good woman was +so far giving in to his wishes. "I promise not only to sleep with him, +but to take him to bed myself and stay with him till he is asleep." + +"Well, well, master Marten," exclaimed nurse impatiently--"Well, well, +don't undertake too much and then do nothing; and I must say again," she +continued warming with her subject, "that the child had better be left +at home where there are plenty to look after him, and not be carried off +to that strange house, away from us all." + +"Oh! me go with Marten, nurse, dear nurse! me go with Marten!" said +little Reuben imploringly, for the child had just joined them in time to +hear nurse's last remark. "Oh! Reuben so like to go with Marten." + +"You don't know what is best for you, silly one," replied nurse, "nor +who is your truest friend either, but your little head is bent upon +being a man soon, and you must ever be trying to do what your brother +does. But, master Marten, how can you play or go about with master +Jameson, and yet attend to this child too?" + +"Oh! I can take care of Reuben, and yet have plenty of time for myself, +nurse, I am sure," said Marten. + +"That's according," answered nurse, "for if you are always giving your +company to this little one here, and she patted Reuben on the back, he +will keep you smartly to it whenever he is awake, I promise you. Won't +you, my pet? Are you not a weary little fellow, darling?" she added, as +she stooped to kiss him, "that is when you can get folks to be wearied +with you." + +"No, nurse," answered the child stoutly;--"no--me not weary--me not +tired--me don't want to go to bed." + +"Bless your pretty tongue," exclaimed nurse; "but here, take this +parsley to cook, and say it is the finest double parsley I can find, +there's a darling." + +As Reuben ran away on his errand, nurse addressed herself to Marten in +a kind motherly manner, for nurse was not a young woman, and she was +also a pious one. "Master Marten," she said, "I am sure you will be kind +to the little one--you always are--for I must say you are one of the +very best brothers I know, and that is saying a deal for you--for I +believe there are many good brothers and sisters in the world, and yet, +pardon your old nurse, young master, when she tells you you are doing +wrong, though I think your intention is good. Look to your own heart, +master Marten, and ask yourself why are you dragging this poor child +after you to Mr. Jameson's. I was in the room with Missis when she was +speaking to you the day before she left, and I heard what she said about +temptation, and how we are tempted every hour in the day. You did not +believe her, master Marten, and you do not believe her now, and you are +going to try temptation to the very utmost, and you think you will stand +it, and I know you won't, for I remember what my dear lady said, that no +one can resist temptation in their own strength. This is the reason why +I don't like my baby to go with you, but if you, my dear young master, +will just think over what your mamma said, and ask for the approval of +your Saviour and the direction of his Holy Spirit in all things--why +then, as I said before, I will trust my darling with you any where, for +I know that you love him dearly, and would not willingly hurt a hair of +his precious little head." + +"Nurse," exclaimed Marten indignantly, "one would imagine I had been +very unkind to Reuben whilst mamma has been away; now I don't think it +is fair, and if I were to leave my brother at home and stay out a couple +of days enjoying myself, papa and mamma might both justly think I had +neglected him; No, I have undertaken the care of him till their return, +and I mean to fulfil my undertaking: and I must say, unless you have any +unkindness to charge me with, I consider you have no business to speak +to me as you have done." And Marten walked away with a heart determined +to resist the wise advice of nurse. + +And now nurse had nothing for it but to get the things ready for the +boys the next day, for nurse knew that Marten was always allowed, if +convenient, to go to Mr. Jameson's when invited, and as the houses were +about four miles apart, she also knew he was in the habit of staying +there all night, if asked so to do. As regards Reuben, he too had been +there once or twice to stay with his mamma, but nurse considered very +wisely, that it was a very different thing, a child of the little one's +age going from home with or without his mamma; but still she could not +interfere more than she had done, for Reuben had certainly been put +under his brother's care. She did, however, try to persuade the little +one that he would be better at home with her, but any person who knows +the ways of children might easily guess nurse might as well have spoken +to a post as to Reuben, for all the good she did, for the boy began to +cry, and begged so hard to go with his brother to play with the big boys +at Mr. Jameson's, that she thought it as well to say no more on the +subject. + +And now I must pass over some hours till the time came for John to drive +the boys over in the pony carriage to Mr. Jameson's. Marten could have +walked the four miles very well, or he could have rode there on his own +pony, but Reuben could not have walked half so far, and thus it +happened, that as John had something to do he could not leave undone, it +was quite twelve o'clock before the three arrived at Mr. Jameson's +house, and thus it chanced that they were almost the last comers of the +party of children invited to meet the Roscoes. + +It was a lovely day, and as warm as any summer day, though the autumn +was just setting in, and such a group of young children were at play on +the grass plat, near the house, that the like Marten nor Reuben had +never seen before. It was such a very pretty sight, that John quite +forgot to give out of the carriage the parcel nurse had made of the +young gentlemen's clothes; and the consequence was, he had all the +trouble to come back half a mile of the road, when he suddenly bethought +himself of his forgetfulness. But as to the pretty sight John saw, I +wish I could draw you a picture of it; if I could I would, I promise +you, and I would put it in this very page for you to see. Fancy, then, a +beautifully soft velvet lawn, in front of a large handsome house, upon +which lawn the sun shines warmly but kindly, and the blue sky looks +most pleasingly there and here, broken by white clouds that relieve the +eye without obscuring the light. At the farthest end of the lawn from +the house were some fine trees, under the shelter of which two girls +were playing at battledore and shuttlecock, and very well they played +too. A little nearer this way, that is where John and the carriage +stood, in the direction of the house, was a young child seated on the +turf holding a dog, whilst two other children were trying to make it +jump to catch a flower, one held in her hand. There was also a big boy +on a pony talking to a great girl, who was lying on the grass; but the +prettiest group of girls were standing or kneeling round a pet lamb +which they were decking with wreaths of flowers. They none of them wore +bonnets nor walking dresses, and even the boy on the pony was without a +hat. Why they had all agreed to uncover their heads, I cannot say +exactly, but I know they had been having some joke about it before the +young Mortimers arrived; and the great girl on the turf had even then +got her brother's cap and had hidden it somewhere, and it was to ask her +about it he had ridden up to her on his pony, as she rested on the +grass. + +[Illustration] + +"Oh! they are all girls but one," exclaimed Marten in a disappointed +tone, "and I am afraid I shall not find the boys easily, and I hate +playing with girls." + +"As much as we girls dislike playing with rude boys, master Mortimer," +said Jane Roscoe, advancing forwards and replying to Marten's speech, +which had really been addressed to John; "but understand we are the +fairies of this lawn--this is our territory, and my aunt Jameson has +bestowed it upon us. We take tribute if you intrude on our premises, so +either be off to your own mates, or lay down your cap as owning our sway +as ladies and queens of the lawn." + +"I am sure I would rather go to your brother, or Edward, Miss Roscoe," +replied Marten, "if you would but tell me where I should find them." + +"No doubt near the stables, or at the dog kennels," she answered pertly, +"so you had better go, for I tell you we don't want boys amongst us; we +have had some trouble in ridding ourselves of them just now." + +"And if they are all like you, I am sure I for one don't want to stay," +thought Marten; and he took Reuben's hand to seek his friends, where the +young lady had so uncourteously directed him to find them. + +And here, before I would follow Marten to find his young friends, I +would wish to remark that it is such girls as Jane Roscoe who make rude +boys, and such young women that make rude men. Boys and men generally +take their manners from the females with whom they associate, and when +one sees a very rude boy, it does not speak well for his sisters at +home, or at least for the young ladies with whom he may happen to be +most intimate. As to regular schoolboys, they are rude, because +schoolboys in general are famed for bad manners, and young gentlemen +seem to like to bring this odium on schools, fancying rudeness is +manliness, when in reality it is a decided sign of the contrary. Think +of the bravest men that have been known, that is bravest in their own +persons, and I will venture to say they have been gentle and courteous +in female society, for they know and feel they can dare to be so, as +their credit for manly daring is known and acknowledged by every one. +Take one of your rough ones, and I for one set him down as a mere bully, +that hides his cowardice under blustering words. But I have wandered +somewhat from my point, for I was saying rude girls make rude boys, as +shewn in the case of Jane Roscoe; and civil girls make civil boys, as +evinced in her sister Mary, as I am going to relate. + +"Me want to go to the pretty lamb," said Reuben, hanging heavily on his +brother:--"Me go to the lamb--me don't like horses." + +"But you shall see the great big Newfoundland, Reuben, that you admired +so much yesterday," said his brother. "Should you not like to see the +large black dog?" + +"Reuben wants to go to lamb," replied the child, and he resolutely stood +still. "Pretty lamb, Reuben, go to lamb now." + +"You can't go to the lamb, Reuben," said his brother impatiently, "so +you must be content to go with me to see the large black dog. I am not +going to give up my cap to any one, I promise you; so come on now, and +don't keep me staying here all day." + +But Reuben, as nurse had said, was a weary little fellow when bent upon +any thing, and now he was bent upon going to play with the lamb, so he +was determined not to move, or if he did it should only be in the +direction of the lawn. Marten was, however, almost as determined to go +the other way, on account of Jane Roscoe, and for a moment there seemed +a doubt which boy should carry the day. The elder had the most strength, +and he was inclined to use it, for Miss Roscoe had offended him, and +lifting the child from the ground he was about to run off with him in +the direction of the stables, when Reuben, not accustomed to opposition +of this description, set up a loud cry of passion, which at once drew +the attention of all near to himself and his brother. + +"There," exclaimed Jane, "what are you teasing the little one so for? +why not let him have his own way and come amongst us, if he will?" + +"Well, go," said Marten angrily, "go, Reuben, if you like; but I tell +you I will not come with you." + +But this was not what Reuben desired, and he stood at a little distance +from his brother looking, I am sorry to say, very naughty and selfish, +for he was really wishing Marten to give up his own desires to attend to +and humour his; and so now he stood moving neither one way nor another, +his face turned towards the lamb so finely bedecked with flowers. His +cry, however, had aroused the young girls from their occupation, and +Mary Roscoe, whom one would have supposed had been really kissing the +lamb, so close was her face to it, when Marten had first seen her; +sprang from her knees, and running across the lawn to the gravel path, +now stooped down to Reuben, and looking him kindly in the face--"Little +boy," she said, "what did you cry for? what did you want? tell me, +little boy, and I will see what I can do. I am a fairy, little boy. We +are all fairies on that turf, and I will take you with me to fairy land +and shew you some fairy wonders." + +Reuben at once and without hesitation put his hand in hers, saying--"Me +go see pretty lamb me go with you--me will go." + +"Then come along," said Mary, and turning her head over her shoulder +towards Marten, she added, "I will take care of him; so you may go to +Edward and William if you like, and I dare say you will like it better +than playing with girls." + +"Oh! thank you, Miss Mary, thank you," replied Marten most gratefully to +the kind little girl, "thank you, I am so much obliged to you." + +But Marten spoke aloud, and thus drew Reuben's attention to the fact +that he was going to be left with strangers, and once more he raised a +cry as much of passion as of fear. So Marten, to soothe him, made a step +towards the lawn with the child, though Mary still held his hand, +giving a private sign to Marten that he might slip away on the first +opportunity. + +"Your tribute, your tribute," exclaimed Jane Roscoe: "not one step upon +the grass, Master Mortimer, without giving up your cap as a sign you own +us 'The ladies of the lawn.' Give it up, I command, or stay where you +are." + +"Will you give it me again in a minute or two, as I come back," asked +Marten? + +"Ask Frank Farleigh there if he has got his," said Jane. "You shall have +yours when he has found his, that is if we can hide it as securely." + +"Then you may get it as you can," retorted Marten rudely, stepping upon +the grass, and on Jane's springing after him setting off on a race as +fast as he could across the lawn, in utter defiance of the young girls. +A cry was raised instantly, and all the children left their sports to +pursue the boy, who had thus boldly defied their power; and lucky was +it for him that he was agile and could twist and turn in his course as +rapidly as a hare. But when there is at least twelve to one and a clear +space, the raced has little chance, and thus it came about that the boy +in self defence was forced to fly towards the stables as the only place +of safety, having no leisure even to think that he was leaving his +brother amongst strangers, proving himself unable to withstand +temptation, even during one short hour of his visit. Marten, too, had +raised a war between himself and the young girls of the party, which was +not likely to be settled peacefully during the time of their stay at +Mrs. Jameson's, and thus he had, to a certain sense, separated himself +either from Reuben or from the bigger boys, without intending to do so +for the two parties, as might be foreseen by any experienced eye, were +of too different a sort to get on hourly together, as their tastes and +amusements were utterly at variance. + +As my story is intended to shew that temptations hourly assail us, and +that in our own strength we cannot often resist them, else wherefore did +Our Lord teach his disciples to pray that they might not be led into +temptation, but because he knew that man of himself never turns away +from the forbidden fruit. I shall not here speak much of how after a +good run hither and thither, Marten at last found Edward and his +companions in an open field, most of the horses and dogs from the +stables being collected together, and such a scene of excitement going +on that the boy had no leisure to think of anything that was not passing +before his eye; and therefore, as Reuben did not appear, he, like the +rest being unseen, was forgotten. In excuse for Marten I must say that +he first ran to the stables, and there learnt from a boy whom he found +there, that Master Jameson had had permission that morning from his papa +to have out one or two of the horses and ponies, on condition that +Chambers, the old coachman, and Rogers, the groom, were present with the +young gentlemen, and that every obedience were paid to their directions, +so that if they saw anything wrong they might enforce attention to their +requests. + +As many of the young gentlemen too had ridden over on their ponies to +Mr. Jameson's, there were a goodly collection of horses assembled +together, and the races that ensued, and the leaping over low fences +that followed, so quickly passed away the time that when the first bell +rang, announcing that dinner would shortly be served, Marten was quite +astonished to find that it was nearly three o'clock, and that almost two +hours had passed since he had seen his brother. But now, as the boys +were taking the horses and dogs to the stables, he hastened towards the +house as fast as he could, for he saw the lawn was tenant-less, and +knowing the way to the room where he usually slept when at Mrs. +Jameson's, he hurried up the stairs only to find that his things had +been placed there, and that Reuben's little parcel had been taken +elsewhere and was probably where the child also was, for no Reuben was +to be seen. As Marten could meet with no servant, he ran along the +gallery trying to distinguish amongst the many voices he heard on all +sides that of his brother's, but in vain, so many were the sounds that +reached his ear, and as he did not like to open any of the doors, or +push those farther open that were not quite closed, he raised his voice +and called aloud "Reuben, Reuben, I want you--Reuben come to me in the +passage--here I am--come to me Reuben." + +To Marten's annoyance, instead of his brother replying to his call, Jane +Roscoe stepped out into the gallery, exclaiming--"Oh! it is you, is it? +Whom do you want? What are you come here for? these are the girl's +rooms! those are our bedrooms, and this is our sitting room. Are you +come to make an apology for your rudeness this morning? If so, I will +call the rest out to hear what you have to say." + +"I want my brother, Miss Roscoe," replied Marten, trying to speak +civilly. "May I go into your sitting room, or would you have the +goodness to tell him to come to me here." + +"I shall do no such thing," answered Miss Jane, "you may get him as you +can, though I do not know how you will manage to do that either; for +Mary has taken such a fancy to the little fellow, that she will not give +him up easily." + +"Would you tell me if Reuben is content?" asked Marten, "for if so I +would rather leave him with Miss Mary." + +"Just pop your head inside that door," said the rude girl, "and judge +for yourself, that is, if you dare to do so--for your brother is there, +and Mary and a dozen more girls. Do you dare?" she inquired mockingly, +"come let me see you do it, then." + +"Dare," repeated Marten indignantly, "and why should I not dare--I want +my brother." + +"Do it then," said Jane, "if you are not a coward, which I strongly +suspect you are;" and when was a spirited boy of thirteen so urged on +that had the prudence to know where to stop with propriety to himself. +Marten, choking with rage, did advance to the door pointed out, and put +his head inside, and there, on beholding a group of young ladies of all +ages, from eight to fourteen, and no little brother, and finding all +eyes turned upon himself as an impertinent intruder, he drew his head +back quickly, and was met with a loud laugh from Jane, which so annoyed +him, that without stopping to think, he ran off to his own room as fast +as he could. The voice of Mary Roscoe however reached him as he ran +along the gallery, uttering these words: "I'll take care of Reuben, +Master Marten--I'll take care of Reuben, he is very happy." And so +Marten allowed himself to be content, and as he knew dinner would +shortly be ready, he lost no more time, but set to dress himself in his +best as quickly as he could. Mr. and Mrs. Jameson did not dine with the +young people, but Mrs. Jameson came in and walked round the table, and +spoke to most of the young ladies and gentlemen, and asked after their +papas and mammas, and she said she hoped they would be good children and +enjoy themselves very much, and in the evening she and Mr. Jameson would +come in to see them at play. She told Jane Roscoe she expected her and +Mary to take care of the young ladies and see that they had everything +they wanted, and she said much the same to her son and William Roscoe +about the boys. + +There was a very long dining table laid out, and, as might be expected, +all the boys got together at the end where Edward sat, and all the +girls got round Jane Roscoe, for it must be remembered that hostilities +had begun in the morning between the boys and girls, and Jane was not +the kind of girl to make peace, or desire to make peace and conduct +herself as would be becoming a young lady. Frank Farleigh, indeed, +crossed the barrier, and once again demanded his cap from his sister, +but he pleaded in vain, and I do not know how the matter would have been +settled if good-natured Mary Roscoe had not proposed that it should be +considered as a forfeit, and that the cap should be cried with the other +forfeits in the evening games. "And I promise you it shall be hardly +won," cried Jane, and Frank's sister then whispered to her as if they +were settling what Frank was to do for it, and then Jane laughed--her +teasing laugh--and if Frank did give his sister a most cruel schoolboy +pinch, I can't but say she had only herself and her rude companion to +thank for it. "I don't care," he said, as he joined the boys, "I can +wear that old cap of Edward's, and when I go home they _must_ give it +back to me." + +During this time Marten was looking about for Reuben, and soon he saw +that the little fellow was seated by Mary Roscoe, as happy as possible, +for Mary was a kind-hearted girl, and loved every thing and every body, +and every body loved her, and now she was taking care that the child was +helped before herself, and with what he liked, and when she met Marten's +eye, she kissed Reuben very earnestly, and called him a sweet darling +and her own pet, and she asked the little one if he did not love Mary. +Reuben returned the kiss and looked so smilingly up at Marten, that his +brother could not but be contented, and having thanked Mary most +heartily for her very great kindness, he was only too glad to get away +once more to where the boys were seated. Poor Marten was not aware, and +I do not exactly see how he should have been aware, that the easy +kindness of Mary Roscoe was but too likely now to bring his brother into +trouble, for Mary did not like to refuse the little fellow any thing; +and as the child was hungry and more than ready for the meal, for it was +past his usual dinner hour, I am obliged to confess he ate greedily of +the good things set before him, one after another without moderation or +discernment, pudding following meat, and cheese after pudding, and fruit +after that, till quantity and diversity were so mingled together, that +it was a wonder the babe endured himself as well as he did. He was, +however, so satisfied and even cloyed, that towards the end of the time +he contented himself with a taste of this and that, and under the easy +rule of Miss Mary, the remnants of his desert were transferred to his +pockets, to serve to regale him at some future moment. I have said that +Marten could not have been aware of this foolish weakness of Mary +Roscoe, but Marten was not free of blame in the affair, for he had +started wrongly as regarded Reuben, and in his self conceit he had +placed himself in circumstances where the temptations that surrounded +him were more than his nature unaided could resist. Marten would not +listen to those who would have taught him that our blessed Saviour +verily took not on him the nature of angels, but he took on him the seed +of Abraham, wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto +his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in +things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the +people, for in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able +to succour those that are tempted. Heb. ii. 16, 17, 18. But we shall +soon see from Marten's story a verification of the words of St. Paul +addressed to the children of God. "Wherefore let him that thinketh he +standeth, take heed lest he fall. There hath no temptation taken you but +such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not suffer you +to be tempted above that ye are able; but will, with the temptation, +also make a way to escape that ye may be able to bear it." 1 Cor. x. 12, +13. + +And now,--to return to Reuben, he had ate and ate so much, that I am +almost ashamed even to think of it; and silly Mary Roscoe, who should +have put a bridle on his little mouth, never once thought of doing so, +and how should she, for she had never had one on her own? till the poor +child felt so uncomfortable that he was half ready to cry--for, added to +the over quantity he had contrived to swallow, he was very weary, for he +was but a young one, and he had been out in the air all the morning and +undergoing more active exercise than even he was accustomed to go +through, for he had moved about at the direction of others, and not by +his own voluntary will. So feeling uneasy, he was just about to raise a +cry, which I believe would have recalled Marten to a sense of his duty, +when the whole troop of children rose from table to amuse themselves as +best they liked till six o'clock, when tea was to be served in a large +room for them, and the evening was to be finished in games of whatever +description they chose, Mr. and Mrs. Jameson having promised to be +present. + +Marten just stopped to see Mary Roscoe lead off his brother, who +accompanied her very contentedly, and then I am obliged to own he +thought no more of the little fellow for such a length of time, that we +who take an interest in poor little Reuben must banish Marten from our +thoughts and follow the child, the poor little victim of his brother's +self conceit. The young ladies on leaving the dining room ascended the +stairs and went to the room with which Marten had so daringly put his +head in the morning, and here they divided into groups of two or three, +as chance might be, and a chattering began, the like of which could +never be heard again, unless under the like circumstances. It seems a +cruel thing to try to put down any of the nonsense, and perhaps worse +than nonsense, that was then and there talked; and I would not do so if +I did not hope it would prove a warning to some girls that persons do +listen to their conversation sometimes when they fancy no one hears, and +that those same persons do think them very silly and ignorant, and +occasionally wrong. And first, I will take a party of three girls, who +all went to the same school, and these three, I am sorry to say, were +talking of their governess and teachers in a way they ought never to +have done. It was not Mrs. Meredith and Miss Williams, and Miss Smith, +but it was "Meredith, that cross old thing," and "pretty little Smith," +and that "detestable Williams." And then one asked the other if she +remembered how funnily Fanny Adams had managed in the affair, of +laughing at the French Master, how six of them had been sent up to their +bedrooms in disgrace, and when that detestable Williams came in and +found them still laughing, how she scolded them all, and how Fanny Adams +put some Eau-de-Cologne to her eyes, which nearly blinded her, and made +her eyes water very much, and so deceived Miss Williams that she +pardoned her, though all the rest were left in disgrace. + +And here, because there was no better disposed person to speak to these +poor girls upon their light and improper discourse, I would just say one +word:--My dear school boys and school girls, our Saviour says, "Love thy +neighbour as thyself." Let me then ask you, do you in any way follow +this kind command when you so treat your teachers and governors? Think +you, for an instant, of the labour, the anxiety, the perpetual +self-denial, the patience required by an instructor of childhood, even +when the children do their best; but when deceit, hypocrisy, and +hardness of heart is also added to the giddiness and thoughtlessness of +youth, what must be the teacher's suffering? + +Remember that our Lord himself was subject to his parents. Luke ii. 57. +Though what could they, poor human creatures, have taught him? Then +follow, as a loving child should do, his holy example, and remember his +precept, of "love thy neighbour as thyself," and inquire of yourself how +would I like to be treated as I treat my governess or tutor? + +But perhaps you would wish to listen to another couple of girls, who +soon drew a larger party round them, and what folly were they about, +you would ask? Why, one child, who was very vain about her figure, must +needs get a piece of string, or tape, and begin to measure her +companion's wrist, thumb, neck, waist, and height, saying--"Twice round +the thumb, once round the wrist, twice round the wrist, once round the +neck, twice round the neck, once round the waist, and twice round the +waist, once the height." As Louisa Manners well knew of old that this +measurement suited herself, she was always disposed to try any young +girl by her rule, knowing well her own turn would come, and that she +would be able to appear with satisfaction to herself; and here again I +would say, was our Lord's precept followed, of love thy neighbour as +thyself? did Louisa desire a rival? This couple, as I said, soon drew a +party round them, and after the measurement, which lasted some time and +led to a discussion of dress, most of the frocks and sashes coming in +for notice, one of the three school girls, mentioned at first, named +some new step in dancing, just introduced at her school the last dancing +day, and then such a practising and trying of this step commenced +amongst the young ladies as made a pretty sight to look on, the young +ladies being all nicely dressed, and for the nonce thinking more of +their occupation than of themselves. + +In the meanwhile Reuben had been supplied with something that served the +purpose of a plaything by Mary Roscoe, and being seated in a corner of +the room away from harm or interference, the little fellow shortly +became so drowsy, that before long, notwithstanding the noise and +chattering about him, his head drooped on his bosom, and he was so sound +asleep that he was unconscious of his uncomfortable position. He had +slept full a quarter of an hour when he was discovered by one of the +elder girls, who proposed that they should lift him from his seat and +take him to a bed in an adjoining chamber, where he would be more +comfortable. And here I must again remark, for want of some one else to +do so, that of the twelve or fourteen girls there assembled, there was +not one present who would have been unkind to the little fellow +intentionally; but yet I am afraid, that with the exception of the +good-natured Mary Roscoe, there was hardly one who would have put +themselves out of the way on his account, or have given up a pleasure or +amusement of even five or ten minutes to comfort the boy, who ought in +truth never to have been amongst them, so little had he been accustomed +to the ways of other children, even of his own age. + +Reuben slept on, and that so soundly, that when tea was ready he was not +awake, and he would probably have been wholly forgotten if the young +ladies on their way down stairs had not made so much noise by the door +of his room, that startled and alarmed, he began to cry violently, and +his good friend Mary could not easily appease him. However, the child +was really refreshed from his sleep, and the kind girl having washed his +face and hands herself, and smoothed his pretty curling hair, led him +down with her to the room where the tea was served, and provided him +with all he wanted, and withal with such a large lump of sugar, the like +of which he had never perhaps, not even in his dreams, possessed before. +Whoever has read of Mrs. Indulgence in "The Infant's Progress" may have +some idea of Mary's management of Reuben, but if the little one could +have spoken or reasoned on the point, how heartily would he have said +that he pined for his own dear mamma's judicious kindness and controul, +under which he used to sport all day happy and joyful as a butterfly on +a bright summer's morning. + +After tea, which did not last very long, the tables were cleared away +and the plays began--the elder children, as might be expected, taking +the lead, and for awhile all was order and propriety. Fortunately for +the young ones they had no lights near them from which they could be in +danger, for the lamp hung from the ceiling and the fire was allowed to +go out in the grate. The tables, as I said before, were moved away, and +the seats were piled one above another so that a good space was left in +the room for the games, and only two chairs were kept for Mr. and Mrs. +Jameson, who had sent word to say they were coming down to see the +sport, and as they were very fond of a dance, they expressed a wish +that the evening's amusement should begin in that way. + +The boys were somewhat annoyed at this, as they wanted more active +games, and Frank Farleigh absolutely proposed to change the dance to +leap-frog; however, as Mrs. Jameson wished for dancing, no one was bold +enough openly to speak against it, and Miss Farleigh and Jane Roscoe, +who were intimate friends, played a duet together very nicely, to which +the rest danced. + +And now it was that Mary Roscoe first felt the annoyance she had +incurred by her kindness to Reuben, for the child did not wish to leave +her, and seeing all were dancing, or jumping to the music as he thought, +he believed he could do the same, and clinging to her she found that to +appease him she must take him for her partner, and thus this really +good-natured girl was unable to dance with any pleasure to herself, as +the little one was unable to make his way alone. However, Mary was +truly kind-hearted, and not one cloud was on her fair brow when the +dance was finished, and she told her little partner to sit down amidst +the piled up chairs at one end of the room. But as nurse had said Reuben +was a weary little fellow, and Mary little knew the truth, if she +thought she was so easily to get rid of him, for the child was half +alarmed at the numbers of strange faces thronging around him; he was not +well, too, with the many sweet things and fruits he had eaten, and now +it was approaching his usual bed-time, and though he had had a sleep, +yet he had been roused from it suddenly and improperly, fed with sweet +cake since, and any experienced person present might know that shortly +the child would get so excited in the scene before him, it would be no +easy matter to soothe or calm him. + +Now it happened that Marten, feeling exceedingly obliged to Mary for +her kindness to his brother, and equally disliking her sister, and Miss +Farleigh and some of the other young ladies, was very anxious to dance +with Mary, to thank her for her kindness to Reuben, but he little +thought that by doing so, the child finding both his friends together +must insist upon being with them, and the second set of quadrilles was +danced by poor Mary as the first had been, the little fellow clinging to +her, for both Marten and Mary were afraid of a burst of tears if they +opposed the child in this matter. Marten, however, spoke somewhat +sharply to him, saying he was teasing Miss Mary, and if they allowed him +to dance this time, he must promise to sit still afterwards, and not be +troublesome again. Reuben knew that he must obey his brother, so when +that dance was finished he went and sat himself down, as directed, +though his young heart was very sad, as he longed to be jumping about +with the other children. Mary was now able to enjoy herself, and I do +not hesitate to say she was very glad to get rid of Reuben and be at +liberty to run about where she would, for she was a happy girl, and this +evening she was the happiest of the happy, for she was a favourite of +all. + +After the dancing had continued some time, a game was fixed upon, which +game being one that kept the children seated, they soon got tired of it, +and blindman's buff was proposed and entered into with great spirit, +though, as will presently be seen, this spirit, for want of some less +indulgent to controul it, became at last almost unbearable. + +It was whilst Edward Jameson was blindfolded that the first rudeness +began, for Miss Jane seized hold of a newspaper and began rustling it +so about Edward's head, that being blindfolded he became so annoyed by +it, that he began to toss his arms about, making such rushes hither and +thither, that the girls had to run away, lest they should be struck. +Whilst Jane was teasing Edward, one of the boys seized hold of the +handkerchief that blindfolded him, and another boy made a thrust at him +in front, and it was only a wonder that Mr. and Mrs. Jameson, who were +sitting by, did not speak to the children, to advise a little more +quietness in the play. But there were a party of young girls whispering +together behind Jane, and when Edward turned in her direction, though +she escaped, he fell amongst these girls, and, as might be expected, +such a romping scene ensued, as may often be seen at blindman's buff. +Just at this moment a servant came in to say a gentleman had called on +some business, and both Mr. and Mrs. Jameson left the room together, to +see this gentleman. They were scarcely gone before the noise increased +to such an extent, that one or two of the servants came to the parlour +door; and well was it, as we shall shew presently, that they did so, but +Mr. and Mrs. Jameson being gone to another part of the house, were not +disturbed by the sounds. So, as I said, Edward found himself amongst the +group of young girls, who all struggled to get away from him; and then +such a scene of running and screaming, and shouting and romping +followed, as the like of which I have no desire to see. Every one ran, +and no one knew whither they were going, and it so chanced that some ran +in the direction of where Reuben had been seated by Marten, amidst the +piled-up chairs. The child, who had been sitting there sometime, and who +did not understand the game, for he had never seen it before, was +doubtful whether to be frightened or not; but as Edward, whom he knew so +well, and who was always kind to him, was the pursuer, and as the +children were laughing, he thought he might laugh too, and not liking +sitting still when all were running and jumping round him, he slid down +from his high seat and joined the group that had fled to that end of the +room from Edward. As ill luck would have it, Edward turned in that +direction somewhat suddenly, and there was a loud cry of one and all to +run, and instantly all did run, Reuben too obeying the call, and setting +off as fast as his little legs would let him. + +As might have been expected, the elder children escaped, and Edward +caught the boy, whom he instantly named, and tearing off the +handkerchief from his eyes, he was going to tie it round those of +Reuben, when Marten interposed, and said "he would not understand the +game." Edward was, however, tired of being blinded and of being +buffetted about, and not thinking how very young Reuben was, for he knew +very little about children, as he had no little brothers nor sisters of +his own, he only said he had caught the child, and that it was but fair +he should be blinded, as he was caught and had absolutely prevented him +from catching one of the others when they were close to him. As Reuben +himself thought it was manly to be blinded, and believed all he had to +do was to run about with the handkerchief round his head, he was very +anxious to do as Edward had done, and Mary, to whom he pleaded for +permission so to do, blinded him herself, and as she tied the +handkerchief round him she said, "Now, young gentlemen, don't hurt the +little fellow, pray be gentle with him, for he's very young." + +Mary then took his hand, and leading him into the centre of the room +she slightly directed him where to go. It must be understood that Reuben +knew no one in the room but Marten, Edward, and Mary, and as he did not +know the rules of the game, the elder boys and girls, soon wearied of +the little fellow running hither and thither, for they did not wish to +hurt the child, and so they ceased for awhile their boisterous play; +but, as might be expected, this would not last long, and Marten stepping +forwards on the little one laying hold of some boy near him, said, "My +brother does not know any one here by name, is it not enough that he has +caught some one? He does not know, I am sure, who his hand is upon, even +if he were unblinded." + +"Oh! it is a boy," replied Reuben. "Me know it is a boy, and a large +boy. Yes, it is a large boy." + +"That is enough, is it not?" asked Marten, looking round, "surely +that's enough;" and he unbound Reuben, telling; the child he had done +very well. + +No one seemed inclined to dispute the point, for all saw the child was +too young to play with them; and William Stewart, the boy caught, and +who was desirous of being blindfolded, was quite pleased to have the +handkerchief tied round his head, and now the play became more +boisterous than ever, owing to the cessation before, and probably all +would have gone on well if little Reuben, elated by his brother's +telling him he had done very well, had not chosen to join in the play, +saying over and over again to any one who would listen to him, "Me knew +it was a boy--a large boy--me knew it was a boy--me said a large +boy--yes, me felt his coat--me knew it was a large boy." This too might +have passed, and the child might have repeated his story over and over +again without much harm if he could have got a listener, or he even +might have been content without one, if he had not fancied he understood +the game as well as the oldest present, so he entered into it with all +his little spirit, and intruded his small person where others could not +go--now here, now there, till excited and heated and confused by those +around him flying in all directions, he was thrown down, and as he did +not fall alone, the poor little fellow was rather severely hurt. And now +in that one moment of downfall was assembled all the troubles of the +day,--weary, excited, hurt, and overfed, he began to cry, and that so +violently, that those who lifted him up trusted to his being not really +injured by the very noise he made in his distress. Marten and Mary ran +to him, but they were as strangers to him, for his eyes were dimmed by +tears, and his ears closed by his own wailings; and luckily for all +three one of the servants, for, as I said before, they had come to see +the young people at play, and who was a motherly kind of woman, advanced +into the room and offered to take the charge of the child and comfort +him before she put him to bed. Marten was most thankful for this offer, +and you may be sure Mary was not sorry to part with the sobbing boy, and +thus Marten put it out of his own power to keep his voluntary boast to +Nurse at home about sleeping with his brother, for when the riotous +evening closed, for it was a very riotous evening, Reuben had been +asleep some hours, and in a quarter of the house appropriated to the use +of the young ladies where beds were as plentiful as requisite on an +occasion like the present. Marten then had nothing for it but to beg +Mary to see after his brother, which the young lady as thoughtlessly +promised to do, and then he accompanied his young companions to that +department of the house appropriated to the use of the boys, where, as +might be expected after a little more rude sport, he fell into a sleep +so profound and long, that every thought of Reuben was banished from his +mind. And now, to return to the poor baby, the victim of mismanagement, +or of his brother's self-conceit. Sobbing and roaring he was carried or +dragged up stairs, undressed, and put to bed, where the extreme violence +of his grief proved its own relief, for he fell asleep with the tear in +his eye, and long long after the cause of sorrow was forgotten, his sobs +might be heard proclaiming that the effect even now had not passed away. +By and bye, however, the calm of sleep restored him more to himself +again, and before the motherly woman who had taken pity on him left the +chamber, he was sleeping the refreshing sleep of childhood. + +As the young people had gone to bed so late the evening before, for it +was quite twelve o'clock, and the next day was also to be a day of +indulgence, it was nearly half-past eight before Marten awoke, and what +with one thing and another it was quite nine before he had an +opportunity of asking any one after Reuben, or indeed of discovering +that no one knew anything of the little one farther than that he had +awoke at his usual hour, seven o'clock; that the kind woman who had +attended him the night before had helped to wash and dress him, and +having told him to be quiet, lest he should awake the children asleep in +his bed room, she left him as she thought safe in the young ladies' +sitting room, to amuse himself as best he might. Two hours nearly had +passed since then, and no further information could be obtained of the +little boy; but he was gone, that was certain for he was nowhere to be +found in any part of Mr. Jameson's large house. It so happened that +breakfast had commenced, and Marten and some of the bigger boys had +nearly finished the meal before all the young ladies came down, and as +Mary Roscoe chanced to be late, for this good natured girl had been +helping others as usual, Marten did not discover the absence of his +brother till she entered the room and seated herself at the table. Then +he stepped round to her and asked if Reuben would soon be down. "Oh! +dear little fellow," exclaimed Mary, starting up, "He did not sleep in +my room, so I know nothing about him; but now I will run to find him to +bring him to breakfast. I dare say he has overslept himself, or I should +have heard of him before now." + +"If you are speaking of the little boy who cried so bitterly at +blindman's buff, Mary," said a Miss Lomax, "he was put to sleep in a +little bed by himself in our room. Maria and myself noticed how soundly +he slept through all the noise we made when we went to our rooms, but +when we got up this morning the little fellow was gone, and we wondered +who had drest him and taken him away so quietly as not to disturb us." + +"Oh! then I'll find him in a minute," said Mary, "if he has been drest +so long he must be sadly in want of his breakfast, poor little darling," +and Mary was half way up stairs before she had finished her speech. + +And now how shall I describe what a fearful state the whole house was in +before ten minutes more had passed away: the child was lost, the fearful +question of where and how he might be found was on everybody's lips. +Poor Marten, it was dreadful to see his terror and grief, and Mary, oh! +how negligent Mary felt herself, for had she not assisted greatly to his +loss by taking him from his brother, and had she not promised that +brother the evening before to see him in his bed and look after him, +which she had forgotten to do. Jenkins, too, the motherly female who had +so kindly attended the little one the night before, how did she blame +herself for not taking the child with her after she had dressed him, +when she was obliged to go to her work, which was much increased that +morning by the state in which the young people had left the room, the +scene of the last night's revels. + +And here I would make a remark, which I must beg no one to reject, +without well weighing the idea. The most amiable females of the party +assembled at Mrs. Jameson's, Mary Roscoe and Jenkins, who had put +themselves most out of their way, and had really acted the kindest by +the child, were those who felt the most in the affair, and most blamed +themselves for their own conduct, whereas if all had tried their best, +as they did, the little fellow would have ever had some kind heart +beside him to soothe and comfort him, and some one might have +anticipated his uneasiness at finding himself alone amongst strangers. +Anyhow they would not have been as strangers to him, for he afterwards +acknowledged, on being questioned, that had Miss Mary been sleeping in +the room, he should not have done as he did. But now to my remark, those +who strive to do best have the most tender consciences, and the more one +strives after right the more scrupulous and tender does the conscience +become, and the more does it aspire after noble feelings and honourable +thoughts and actions. This is a work of the Divine Spirit and of no +mortal power, and it is a training for glory, purifying our hearts for a +divine home, obtained for us through our Saviour's death and +righteousness, and in familiar language we will liken it after this +manner. Supposing two children stand side by side in the open street, +one is the child of a king, nicely drest and delicately clean, as would +be expected from his noble birth and expectation, the other is the +little hedge-side vagrant, to whose young face water or cleansing has +probably been unknown. Imagine, then, ought passing these two children, +which could pollute their persons, what would be their feelings? the one +might even laugh at the filth or mud that bespattered him, the other +would shrink with loathing or disgust, and would not be easy or +comfortable till every effort was taken to remove the stain. And we are +children of the King of kings, we are washed and clothed by Him, and +the more our garments are fitted for our future station, the fairer are +our inward persons; the more do we feel annoyed and grieved by any foul +spot, which could sully their purity and disfigure their beauty. My +young readers remember this, and smile no more at sin; aye, and shun +carefully its stains that would pollute you, and when they do alight +upon you, remember whose blood alone it is can purge away their +slightest trace. + +Poor Mary had no breakfast that morning, nor no comfort nor rest either, +for after searching for the child all over the house, she must needs +look for him in the gardens, the pleasure grounds, the lawn, behind each +tree and shrub, and even in the stables and offices, but no Reuben was +to be met with, and the dear little girl, when wearied out with +searching sat down to weep and lament herself, starting up occasionally +when some fresh place came to her mind, and running to it, but to meet +with disappointment and increased alarm. But Mary was not alone in the +search, for both Mr. and Mrs. Jameson were full of anxiety respecting +the child, and trusty men were sent in all directions to look after the +lost one; and when Mr. Jameson spoke to his lady on the imprudence of +having invited so young a child, she replied, that having given +permission to their son to ask a certain number of young people, she had +not attended to him when he named the bidden guests, taking it for +granted that a boy of thirteen would prefer companions of his own size +to a child of Reuben's tender age. And now it came out from Edward how +Marten had refused to come without his brother, and that Mr. and Mrs. +Mortimer were from home, and this, as might be expected, added not a +little to the distress of Mr. and Mrs. Jameson, for hitherto they had +thought the child had visited them with the permission of his parents, +and now that they heard that those parents were at Portsmouth, they were +more and more uneasy, and they blamed themselves not a little for having +been so indulgent in their direction to Edward. "But, indeed," said Mrs. +Jameson, "one could not have foreseen these circumstances, and when I +saw little Reuben seated by Mary at the dinner table, though I wondered +at his presence, yet he seemed so happy I believed all was right with +him." But the lesson was not lost upon Mr. and Mrs. Jameson, nor on +Edward, and I am happy to say, in future the latter was more ready to +ask advice of his parents than before this affair, for he too was very +uneasy about Reuben. As to Marten, without thinking of his hat, on +learning that the child could not be found in the house nor in the +pleasure grounds, he told one of the men who was sent with him by Mr. +Jameson, that he should go home as fast as he could to see if his +brother might not have made his way there, or at least be met with upon +the road. The distance from one house to the other was, as I said +before, four miles, and though poor Marten had little expectation that +the tender child could find his way so far, even if he knew the right +road, yet he understood the little one so well, that he felt convinced +he would at least attempt to get to his home, so that he considered it +useless to look for him in any other direction. And now we must leave +the unhappy and alarmed brother to speak of little Reuben, who was left, +as we mentioned, by Jenkins in the sitting-room with a few toys near +him. Never had Reuben been so left to himself before, but still for a +short time, though it was for a very short time he was content, then +came a wish for his breakfast, and with it the remembrance that if his +mamma had been with him he would even then be in her dressing-room. She +would be listening to his prattle, or he would be occupied in doing +something for her which he considered was useful, but which in reality +she could herself have done with half the time that she was obliged to +give to her baby boy. The thoughts of his mamma made the forlorn one +cry, and call upon her name, but no one heard his sobs or saw his tears, +and with it came a recollection of the sorrows of yesterday, and he +suddenly thought "Where is Marten? Where can Marten be? Is he gone? Has +he left Reuben?" The idea was not to be borne by the poor child in a +state of quietness, he rose from his seat, dropped his toys from his +lap, and without looking back he went to the door, which being ajar he +opened wider and passed through into the gallery. His friends, he +believed, had left him; they were at home. His mamma, too, he thought, +might be there with his papa and Marten, and, anyhow, he was sure Nurse +was there, Nurse who loved him so, and whom he loved so dearly. So down +the stairs stepped the sorrowing baby, holding the banisters with both +small hands, for it was necessary for him in descending the steps to +have both feet at one time on each, and noiselessly almost did he +proceed, for his fairy tread made no sound, and his sobs were tried to +be suppressed, in the earnest determination to attempt to find his way +to his home. And now he reached the last step, and lightly did he run +across the hall to the great door, which was open, and with some +difficulty, for there were more steps; he arrived at the carriage drive +between the house and lawn, whereon he had seen the lamb the day +before. + +And now would I could picture the little one, as he stood in his short +red frock, blown by the breeze which showed his dimpled knee, for his +white sock did not extend much above his shoe. His arms, neck, and head +were without covering, and his pretty curls played around his face in +graceful confusion. Calling on his mamma and upon Marten, he took the +carriage drive towards the gates, so far not having a doubt he was in +the direction of his home, and unseen by any one, he passed through a +small gate into the high road. Here he might have been puzzled which way +to take, if it had not been for a clump of eight elm trees on the left +hand road, and he had often heard John and Marten talk of those elm +trees, for they were called the "Nine Elms," and yet Marten had said +there were only eight now, and whenever he had gone to Mr. Jameson's +with his papa and mamma, and John who drove them, John had kept the +carriage waiting under the elms, and he used to put Reuben out of the +carriage amidst the trees, to run in and out amongst them, touching one +after the other, whilst John taught him to count them, saying one, two, +three, four, and so on. So Reuben knew he must pass the elm trees, and +as he was just awake, and the morning fresh and pleasant, his small feet +carried him along some way nicely, and even swiftly, and for a few +minutes, they were not many, all seemed promising, and the inexperienced +one believed he should soon be at his home. After the clump of trees, +the baby so confidently considered he was in the right way, that when he +came to a place where two roads joined the one up which he had ran, he +never looked about him, fancying they must both go to his home, and not +yet being weary, he took, as might be feared, the wrong turn, and soon +he heard distinctly the roaring of a cascade, much famed in those parts, +as it dashed over the rocks in the direction in which he was going Now +Reuben knew the sound of the cascade, for he had lived near it all his +young life, and he knew it was not far from his home; but he did not +consider that he never passed it on his way from his father's house to +Mr. Jameson's, but still, not mistrusting the road he was going, he ran +along till he suddenly found by a turn of the lane, that he was in full +front of the stream. The child however was not disconcerted by this, and +the fresh air meeting him, and for the moment raising his spirits, he +stepped on over the loose stones brought down at different times by the +waters, boldly, and even gaily, though his course was impeded by the +unevenness of the way. He must have stepped on some distance, when all +of a sudden he was unable to proceed farther along the path, by the +jutting out of a rock into the stream, for the water was pouring down +rapidly and more profusely than was general, for there had been heavy +rains in the mountains, and thus the bed of the torrent was fully +covered, its width being very inconsiderable beneath the rock. The spot +was one wholly unknown to the child, and surely it was a terrible sight +to meet the eye of a babe, who hitherto had not known what it was to be +left without a mother's or nurse's care. The place was in the heart of a +mountain gorge, famed for its rare beauty, and the cascade came dashing +from the rocks, which were very bold and picturesque in the little creek +or gully where the child stood. The water, as I said, was pouring down +white with foam, and majestically pursuing its course, shaking the +earth around with its terrible roarings. + +Fancy our little forlorn one then standing under the shelter of the +rock, which, hanging over him in rough masses, threatened to fall an +crush his baby form, the stream rushing impetuously at his feet, and one +little place beneath the rock, in fact part of the rock itself being +somewhat elevated from the bed of the stream below, forming his only +secure and dry resting place. I have said before, he had no covering on +fit for walking attire, his arms, neck, and head being fully exposed to +the breezes which now blew cruelly on his young figure, so that he could +scarcely keep his feet, and glad was he to creep under the shelter of +the threatening rock. There he stood looking around him in wild despair, +for he had raised his voice to cry for pity, and its infant tones were +not heard amidst the roaring waters; again and again he looked round +him, but no help was there, and he trembled more from fear than cold. He +was frightened at the roaring waters, for they seemed to him to be +approaching, and wholly overcome with fear and wretchedness, and quite +incapable of contending against his unhappy situation, he crouched +beneath the threatening rock, too miserable to shed a tear. "Mamma, +mamma," he said,--"Mamma, mamma," and that weak cry was repeated again +and again, though no human ear could hear his sorrows or soothe his +cries. Poor baby, what availed it then? your earthly father was the +tenderest of parents--he could not have foreseen this trouble, and +therefore he could not have been armed against it, but your heavenly +Father's eye was on you, little one, and his eyes are ever on infants, +the loveliest beings of his creation, and he who spared Nineveh, +because there were in that wicked city more than six score thousand +souls, who knew not their right hands from their left, still watches +over his babies now, for has he not said of "Such is the kingdom of +heaven." + +But observe the little one, what makes his cry of 'Mamma, Mamma,' cease? +the babe has heard a sound, a pleasant sound, and he forgets his +trouble. It is the sweet song of a bird upon a branch of a tree on the +rock above him, and the bird likes the morning air and the sound of the +waters, and he is singing his song of joy, and Reuben listened to him +and was pleased, and then the little bird hopped down from his high +perch and came lower and lower till he was quite close to the child, so +close that the little one held out his hand, which frightened away the +pretty bird, and Reuben was once more alone again, and commenced his cry +of "Mamma, Mamma, come to Reuben, Mamma." But the bird had come to the +rock because it had seen some bright berries on the bushes there, and +before it had began its song it had pecked off one or two with its bill, +or perhaps it might have been that other birds had pecked them off, and +then rejected them, or the wind might have blown them from the parent +bush; be that as it may, there were about as many as a dozen red berries +scattered on the ground, where the little bird had hopped, and Reuben +had seen them in looking at the bird, and now he began to collect them, +looking here and there to find some more, and he thought if he put them +into a nice heap together, their bright red colour would draw thither +another singing bird to visit him. So he collected his berries, and +tried to pile them together, and thus more time passed, for whilst doing +so, every little thing seemed to divert his attention--a skeleton leaf, +a small flower, a smooth pebble, a drop of water sparkling in the +sunshine, all attracted his infant eye, and thus, as we might say, his +heavenly Father watched over the boy and soothed him from the real +sorrows of his situation, till the time of his deliverance was at hand. +And are we not children of a large growth? are not our sorrows soothed +and relieved by our Creator's mercies? and are not innocent pleasures +and consolations put in the way of every child of God? and it is our own +fault, yes, our own fault, and very much are we to blame when we reject +the blessings of consolations offered us. "When our Saviour left us, he +promised to send us a comforter to abide with us for ever." John xiv. +16; and as the Divine Spirit never fails in his fulfilment of his +promises, be assured, you mourners, if you are not comforted, it is +because you will not accept the consolation offered to you; for he has +said, "I will not leave you comfortless, for he shall dwell with you, +and shall be in you." John xiv. 17 and 18. + +But why does little Reuben suddenly move his curls from off his cheek? +why does he listen, as he never listened before? and why does a merry +little laugh escape his lips? and then he listens again, and now he does +not laugh, but springing to his feet, with arms extended, he calls out +"Nero, Nero." It is not that Nero hears that baby voice, it is not that +the noble dog responds to the call, for the soft sound is lost amidst +the roar of the waters; but he who fed Elijah by the means of ravens, +and taught the dove to bear the olive leaf to Noah, has guided hither to +the child a sure and safe conductor to his home. Look, look there! +across the stream stands Nero. Nero let out by Thomas for a wild run for +exercise as directed first by Mr. Mortimer, and then by Marten; there +he stood, his eyes red with eagerness, his tongue protruding, and +panting and impatient as not knowing where next to turn his agile +bounds. But not for another moment did this hesitation continue, for +Reuben ran to the edge of the rock, both arms extended, and scarcely +able for the breeze to keep his little feet firm upon the ground. "Nero, +Nero," he cried, and almost ere his lips had closed, after the appeal, +the noble dog, with a glorious bound sprang from stepping-stone to +stepping-stone across the stream, and had overwhelmed the boy with his +caresses. What mattered it to Reuben, that his kind friend in his joy at +their meeting had absolutely overturned the child upon the ground? What +cared he for that? It was Nero, his own Nero, his Nero from home, and +Reuben did so love him, and Nero returned his love so warmly, and +they were always so happy together, and there was no danger to be feared +for Reuben, whilst the faithful animal was by him, which he had power to +ward off. Reuben had recognised the dog's bark even amidst the waters +roar, and that had made him laugh, for he never doubted that Nero would +come to him shortly. And now I don't know how to tell how the rest +happened, for in truth Reuben never could explain how things went on, +particularly after the arrival of Nero, and there was no other living +thing in that solitude but the child and dog. All that Reuben could +recollect afterwards was, that he was cold and hungry, and that he +wished to get home, and that Nero, too, seemed even more anxious than +himself to get home, but Reuben dared not cross the stream, and Nero +seemed almost as unwilling as himself to take the child across, and yet +the faithful creature would not leave the boy for more able assistance. +Reuben was frightened at the threatening rock above his head, and yet he +knew not how to leave it, for he had run on far enough to lose the way +to the lane which led to Mr. Jameson's, and he was frightened at all +around, and shivering and hungry, for he had tasted no food that +morning. + +[Illustration] + +At last, finding all his efforts useless to tempt the little one across +the stream, a new idea seemed to strike the sensible dog, for Nero was +very sensible. He seemed all of a sudden to bethink himself that there +might be another road home; and taking hold of Reuben's dress in his +mouth, he attempted to draw him along the road the child had come. Now +to this the little one was rather inclined, for he believed it would +take him home, but on attempting to walk he found that he had hurt his +foot before he had reached the rock, and that the cold air had made it +stiff and painful. Poor Reuben was going to cry, and then I do not know +what would have happened if Nero, finding out that something was wrong, +had not seated himself beside the child on the ground to comfort him; +and in so doing, reminded Reuben that Marten always told Nero to sit on +the ground before he told his brother to get on the dog's back for a +ride, for Reuben often took a ride on Nero's back. And now, then, fancy +the child seated upon Nero, who rose at once gently from the ground, and +with great care and stateliness commenced his progress homewards. It is +said that a white elephant will not allow any one to ride upon him who +is not of royal descent, and then the king of beasts steps on with full +consciousness of the honour of his kingly burthen; but what could his +pride be, compared with that of Nero's, as the faithful creature +stepped on and on with his infant rider? It was not, after all, so slow +a progress as might have been imagined, and as it is believed the dog +followed the scent of the child's footsteps, he naturally went up the +lane the little one had trod that morning. On arriving where the road +divided, Nero was, however, no longer at a loss, for he knew which +direction his own home lay, and Nero was not likely to be tempted +elsewhere than home, for if he could have reasoned he would have said, +in as strong terms as nurse herself could have used, that Reuben had +better be at home than anywhere else whilst he was so young. Nero, as I +said, now knew the road, for he had often accompanied the different +members of Mr. Mortimer's family when they went to visit Mr. Jameson's, +and how carefully, on account of his young rider, did he step on his way +towards home. + +And now I could say a great deal upon the fidelity of Nero, the +trustfulness of Reuben, and the useful lesson the little one was +learning; but I am anxious to speak of Marten and nurse, and all those +who loved the child and trembled for his loss. And yet I cannot talk of +their distress, the deep deep remorse of Marten, his full and complete +acknowledgment of his own carelessness and ignorance of himself, so that +nurse could not even say one word to him, though her tears and sobs were +a deep reproach. No, I cannot speak of this, I would rather tell of how +in the midst of all this trouble, tears were changed to smiles, and even +laughter took the place of sobs, when Reuben came riding into the court +yard tired, cold, and hungry, it is true, but no little important at his +wonderful adventure. And then came such kisses and caresses, such +warming by the kitchen fire, such a comfortable breakfast for the +child, such luxuries for the dog, which Reuben was allowed to bestow; +and then such runnings hither and thither to inform all the kind +searchers all was right with the child, and such congratulations, that I +should never have done, if I attempt but to repeat one half of them; so +let me conclude in these words of the apostle, "Let no man say when he +is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, +neither tempteth he any man. But every man is tempted when he is drawn +away of his own lust and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it +bringeth forth sin; and sin when it is finished, bringeth forth death." +James i. 13, 14, 15. But our Saviour has declared, "I will ransom them +from the power of the grave. I will redeem them from death. Oh! death, I +will be thy plague: Oh! grave, I will be thy destruction." Hosea xiii. +14. + +By this little narrative we are taught that whoever fills himself up +with the belief that he is wise and clever, will be apt, like Marten, to +fall into some sort of trouble, which he did not look forward to. All +the wisdom of man lies in knowing that unless he is guided in all his +actions by his heavenly Father, he is sure to go wrong, let his age or +condition be what it may. If little Reuben had been really lost or hurt, +very severe indeed would have been the punishment of Marten for his +conceit, but God in his tender love let him off for his fright only; +which, however, we doubt not, was sharp enough to make him remember the +lesson all his life. + +It is well for poor sinful men, women, and children, however, that they +have a brother, even the Lord the Saviour in his human person, who +cannot forget them as Marten forgot Reuben, no, not for one moment. + + + + +POPULAR JUVENILE BOOKS, + +Of established reputation, which may be safely placed into the hands of +Children, blending Amusement with Instruction. + +DARTON'S HOLIDAY LIBRARY. + +_A Series of Shilling Volumes for the Young_, + +BY APPROVED AUTHORS. + +No. 1.--MARY LEESON, by Mary Howitt. Illustrated by J. Absolon. + +No. 2.--TAKE CARE OF NO. 1, or Good to Me includes Good to Thee, by S.E. +Goodrich, Esq. (the Original Peter Parley). Illustrated by Gilbert. + +No. 3.--HOW TO SPEND A WEEK HAPPILY, by Mrs. Burbury. With +Illustrations. + +No. 4.--POEMS FOR YOUNG CHILDREN, by "Adelaide," one of the amiable +Authoresses of "Original Poems." With Illustrations. + +No. 5.--THE YOUNG LORD, by Camilla Toulmin; and VICTORINE DUROCHER, by +Mrs. Sherwood. With Illustrations. + +No. 6.--PAULINE. A Tale from the German. With Illustrations. + +No. 7.--HOUSEHOLD STORIES. With Illustrations. + +Nos. 8 and 9.--IN-DOOR AND OUT-DOOR SPORTS. + +No. 10.--STORIES OF ENTERPRISE AND ADVENTURE; or, EXCITEMENT TO READING. +Illustrated with Wood Engravings, from designs by Absolon. + +No. 11.--The BOOK OF RIDDLES, ETC. + +CRITICAL REMARKS. + +"The Volumes of DARTON'S HOLIDAY LIBRARY which have reached us, comprise +a most interesting Series of Books for Young People, written by some of +our most Popular Authors, and all having a tendency towards the +formation of correct principles and habits in the minds of the Young. +They blend amusement with instruction in the most delightful manner. We +cordially recommend them as by far the best books of their class." + + + + +Neatly bound in cloth, + +FIRST LINES OF BOTANY, + +BY W. BERNHARD TEGETMEIER. + +"This little work is a complete compendium of botanical science, written +in a very clear and effective manner, and embodying the most popular +classification of plants. It is a work that may be consulted by the old +as well as the young with great advantage, and to those who are fond of +gardening it will be of great practical use." + +SPECIMEN FROM PAGE 57. THE CONVOLVULUS TRIBE. + +"181. The common bind-weed of our hedges may be taken as the +representative of this very natural tribe of plants, distinguished by +their _twining habit_, and by the peculiar _plaited manner_ in which the +corolla is folded in the bud." + +"182. The calyx consists of five sepals, two of which are outside the +remainder; there are five stamens, and a superior pistil, containing +three or four cells, with about two seeds in each." + +QUESTIONS APPENDED AT THE FOOT. + +"181. What are the marks distinguishing the convolvulus tribe?" + +"182. Describe the remaining parts of the flower?" + +JUST PUBLISHED, PRICE NINEPENCE EACH,--THE + +CATECHISM OF MODERN HISTORY; + +Also, New Editions of the following Catechisms, + +BY THE REV. T. WILSON: + +Catechism of the History of England. Catechism of Bible History. +Catechism of English Grammar. Catechism of Astronomy. Catechism of +Geography. Catechism of Music. First Catechism of Common Things. + +Second Catechism of Common Things. Third Catechism of Common Things. +First Catechism of Natural Philosophy. Second Catechism of Natural +Philosophy. Third Catechism of Natural Philosophy. Catechism of Botany. +Two Parts. Catechism of Biography. Two Parts. + +"The Catechisms of the Rev. T. Wilson stand foremost in the rank of this +mode of teaching, and the series fills a hiatus in this department of +literature. They embody a vast amount of information in every branch of +science, and are well worthy the attention of Schoolmasters, Pupil +Teachers, and Governesses." + + + + +THE CHILD'S BOOK OF FACTS, + +Comprising the First, Second, and Third Catechisms of Common Things. + +BY THE REV. T. WILSON. + +"This work may he regarded as a sequel to the 'Mother's Question Book,' +which the author has, in his style and method, followed as a model. It +presents an immense quantity of interesting facts to the young mind, and +affords information of the most useful kind rendered clear and +simple."--_Journal of Education_. + +SPECIMEN OF THE QUESTIONS. + +"What is meant by the terms art and science?" "What are the principal of +the arts?" "How are they distinguished?" + +Neatly and strongly bound in cloth, + +LESSONS ON NATURAL PHILOSOPHY, FOR CHILDREN, + +BY THE REV. T. WILSON. + +"These Lessons consist of initiatory information upon the Phenomena of +Nature, the Mechanical Powers, Astronomy, Geography, Light and Heat, +Electricity, Attraction, Chemistry, Magnetism, and include a great +variety of valuable matter, condensed and simplified in a very clever +manner by the author."--_Monthly Magazine_. + +SPECIMEN OF THE ABOVE. + +"When you open a door, what is the weight that you move?" + +"When you throw a ball, what becomes of it?" + +"What makes the weight go down to the bottom of a clock?" + +GUTTA PERCHA, & ITS USES TO MAN. + +WITH COLOURED PLATES. + +Foolscap 4to. and Wrapper printed in Gold, price 1s. + + + + +JUVENILE AND EDUCATIONAL. + +Strongly bound in cloth, in 18mo., + +THE MOTHER'S QUESTION BOOK; + +OR, + +CHILD'S FIRST GUIDE TO KNOWLEDGE, + +COMPRISING THE FIRST, SECOND, AND THIRD MOTHER'S CATECHISMS, + +BY THE REV. DAVID BLAIR. + +"The name of Dr. Blair is identified with elementary knowledge; and +these, the genuine productions of his pen, are well worthy the attention +of the parent and teacher."--_Educational Magazine_. + +SPECIMEN OF THE ABOVE FROM PAGE 52.--"Q. What are the objects of all +manufactures?" + +"A. To make the necessaries and conveniences of life; as clothing, +tools, and furniture." + +"Q. Of what is clothing made?" + +"A. Clothing is made of wool, flax, cotton, silk, or leather; and there +are great manufactures of each of these." + +"Q. Of what are tools made?" + +"A. Of wood, iron, steel, and brass." + +"Q. Of what is furniture made?" + +"A. Of oak and deal, with brass ornaments, with beds of cotton or linen, +and hair mattresses or feather beds." + +THE EARLY EDUCATOR, + +OR, + +FIRST LESSONS IN USEFUL KNOWLEDGE: + +BY WM. MARTIN. + +"Mr. Martin has been long and deservedly celebrated as being one of the +first improvers of the systems of modern education, and his numerous +publications prove him to be not merely a theorist, but a thorough +practical teacher; a great advantage to those who prepare books for the +young."--_Morning Herald._ + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Brotherly Love, by Mrs. Sherwood + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BROTHERLY LOVE *** + +***** This file should be named 11213.txt or 11213.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/1/2/1/11213/ + +Produced by Loriba Barber and PG Distributed Proofreaders + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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