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diff --git a/44178-0.txt b/44178-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d50a4a9 --- /dev/null +++ b/44178-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,1346 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 44178 *** + + [Illustration: _page 11._ + + --"may Heaven bless & direct you"! + + _London, Published by Harvey & Darton, 56 Gracechurch Street, + 10th Dec. 1822._] + + + + + THE FRIENDS; + + OR, + + THE TRIUMPH OF INNOCENCE + + OVER + + _FALSE CHARGES_. + + A Tale, + FOUNDED ON FACTS. + + "TIME AT LAST SETS ALL THINGS EVEN." + + LONDON: + PRINTED FOR HARVEY AND DARTON, + GRACECHURCH-STREET. + + 1822. + + + + + THE FRIENDS, &c. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + + +In one of the pleasant villages in the beautiful county of Kent, was +situated a boarding-school of considerable celebrity. It had, for many +years, been distinguished for possessing an excellent master, in the +person of the Rev. Dr. Harris, who, by his amiable manners and sound +knowledge, had obtained the friendship of the surrounding gentry; while +his fatherly interest in behalf of the affairs of the poor, caused him +to be universally beloved. He was curate of the parish, as well as +school-master; and his parishioners and scholars were alike the objects +of his tender regard and anxious solicitude. + +His family consisted of a wife and two daughters, who were equally +respected by all who had the pleasure of their acquaintance. Mrs. +Harris was, indeed, every way worthy of her amiable partner; and her +greatest pleasure consisted in doing good. Although frequently herself +in a very weak state of health; yet, neither the inclemency of the +weather, nor the distance, deterred her from going, in person, to +visit, to comfort, and to assist those of her fellow-creatures who +were in distress. It was quite enough for her to know that any of her +poorer neighbours were in want, to command her immediate aid; and, by +thus setting them a good Christian example, she was better enabled +to assist her amiable husband in enforcing the mild and wholesome +doctrines of religion. + +Her lovely daughters, too, Juliana and Eliza, were of sufficient ages +to be her companions in these charitable visits; and their hearts +panted for the power to do good, and longed to receive and to deserve +such blessings as were bestowed, with grateful lips, upon their beloved +mother, whenever she passed the cottages of the poor. They pitied +their wants and sufferings, and participated and rejoiced in their +happiness; and frequently expressed a desire for riches, to enable them +to relieve their misfortunes. Upon such occasions, Mrs. Harris never +failed to impress upon their young minds this valuable truth: that +wealth does not always afford the best means of doing good. She used to +say, that those children who sincerely wish to do an act of charity, +seldom want the means of doing something to relieve the necessities +and soothe the afflictions of those who are pining in wretchedness; +for even a kind consoling word, with a very little personal attention, +was often esteemed more valuable, and even proved to be more useful, +than money, to those whose spirits as well as bodies were pressed down +by distress. Added to this advice, this excellent lady seldom let an +opportunity pass of enforcing the most strict and pious attention to +their religious duties. Her motto was: + + "Teach me to feel another's woe, + To hide the fault I see: + That mercy I to others show, + That mercy show to me." + +The school was at the extremity of the village, and attached to the +parsonage-house. The situation was retired and beautiful. At a little +distance stood the village church, in all its ancient simplicity, +except that it had, for some years, been nearly covered with ivy; the +most pleasing decoration that it is possible for Nature to bestow upon +a country place of worship. Its green and glossy leaf, whether viewed +by the soft glow of moon-light, or by the broad glare of sun-shine, is +always an object of admiration. + +The number of scholars was about forty; and in this, as in other +schools, boys of various dispositions were to be found. Some possessed +all the good temper and vivacity that could be wished; and their +faults were seldom of so serious a nature as to demand more than a +slight reproof: while others were morose, passionate, envious, and +disobliging; imposing upon their younger school-fellows at every +opportunity, and perplexing those of their own age by frequent +interruptions in their sports and lessons. + +Amongst the number of those who were generally beloved by their +school-fellows, were Henry Wardour and George Harrington, the sons +of two respectable tradesmen, who were partners in a very lucrative +business in London. George had been so unfortunate as to lose his mamma +when he was scarcely five years of age; and as he was the only child, +Mrs. Wardour, who had always entertained great esteem for his parents, +requested of his papa to allow her the pleasure of instructing him with +her son Henry. To an offer so kind and advantageous, Mr. Harrington +could have no objection; but fearing that the task would become +irksome, and be too great an exertion for his friend, he endeavoured +to persuade her from her purpose; when she replied: "The trouble, Sir, +I beg you will not think about: it will be nothing. While teaching my +own son, I shall feel a pleasure in imparting the same instruction +to yours. Besides, I promised my dear friend Mrs. H. when on her +death-bed, that I would be a parent to her son; therefore, Sir, I beg +you will grant my request." Mr. Harrington consented, and deferred his +plan of sending George to a preparatory school; and he was admitted at +once into the house of Mrs. Wardour. + +Henry, who was about eight months older than his friend, looked upon +this arrangement with unusual joy. As he had no brother, George had +hitherto been his frequent play-fellow; and the knowledge that he was +now about to live in the same house, to eat, drink, sleep, and play +with him, gave him a pleasure which he had never before felt. + +Thus, from so early an association, their friendship became deeply +rooted; and as Mrs. Wardour was a lady well qualified for the task she +had imposed upon herself, the lads made considerable progress in their +education, and continued to do so until they were eleven or twelve +years of age, when their kind preceptress was attacked with a severe +sickness. In this state she had continued upwards of a month, when her +husband, seeing no immediate prospect of her recovery, and fearing the +lads might lose all the learning they had received while under her +care, prevailed upon her to let them be sent to school. To this she at +length consented; and the school of Dr. Harris having been strongly +recommended, they were put under the superintendence of that gentleman. + +Before leaving home, however, their parents gave them their parting +blessing; and Mr. Wardour, pressing them affectionately by the hand, +told them they were now about to begin a little world for themselves: +"therefore," said he, in an earnest and impressive manner, "may Heaven +bless and direct all your actions, so that you may grow up to be +honest, brave, and good men. And remember well what I now say: if ever +I hear that you are quarrelsome, you will displease me much; but if I +find that you are unjust in your dealings towards your school-fellows, +I shall punish you severely. Above all, be friends to one another." +With this advice, and a determination to attend to it, our little +friends bid their parents farewell. + +The dispositions of Henry and George were somewhat different, and yet +they continued to be sincere friends. Henry was mild, good-natured, +and patient. George was good-natured, but hasty and passionate; and +though Mrs. Wardour took great pains to impress upon his youthful +mind the danger he was continually in, from not being able to control +his temper, she never succeeded in teaching him that mildness so +much admired in her own son. But in every other respect he was truly +amiable; and if, in his passion, he was ever led into any serious +error, he never failed to beg pardon of those whom he had offended, and +always made every amends in his power. + +By this failing in George's temper, Henry was too frequently a +sufferer; for he was always obliged to give up whatever play-things +the other wished for, which he generally did with readiness and good +temper, although he was oldest of the two. But this was only the case +when they were very young; for, from the time that they had left home, +and had been put under the care of Dr. Harris, they were, if possible, +greater friends than ever; and George had so far succeeded in mastering +his temper, as seldom to be in a passion, and never with his friend +Henry. He still, however, possessed that nobleness and high spirit, +which mostly checked him in doing a wrong action, and always prompted +him to interfere in behalf of any of his school-fellows whom he thought +were unjustly treated; in which he was ably seconded by his friend +Henry. + +In personal appearance there was little similarity. Henry was weak, +pale, and delicate: George, strong, fresh-coloured, and vigorous. Many +a time had Mrs. Wardour watched over her weakly but truly beautiful +boy, with an anxious eye, fearing that she should never be able to rear +him to manhood. But since he had been with Dr. Harris, his health had +much improved. His face, which had before been pale, was now tanned +with the heat of the sun; and the fresh country air had given an +additional brightness to his fine dark eyes: while the healthy round +face, and plump appearance of George, seemed to improve in a like +degree. + +In short, these boys, by their politeness and good-nature, rather than +by their appearance, were beloved by all their school-fellows, except +a few of the malicious, envious dispositions, who only disliked them +because they sometimes resisted their impositions, and detected their +falsehoods. + +With their master's family they were also more intimate; and though Dr. +Harris never made any distinction, or showed any partiality to one boy +more than to another, yet it was not so with his two daughters, Juliana +and Eliza. They had their favourites; and though Henry and George were +nearly the last comers, and had not been more than three months in the +school, they had so won upon the young ladies, (who were nearly of the +same age as themselves,) by their cheerfulness, and polite attention in +gathering pretty flowers, cleaning their bird-cages, &c. as to be their +decided favourites. + +Mrs. Harris had also entertained a regard for Henry, from the moment +she first saw him, as he strongly resembled a late son of hers, who +was unfortunately drowned when about his age. + +And it was well for Henry that he possessed so many friends; for in +the difficulties he afterwards had to contend with, he stood in great +need of them; and as my little readers are now pretty well acquainted +with their characters, they shall hear in what those difficulties +consisted. But before entering upon the principal circumstances in this +little history, it will be necessary to acquaint my young friends with +a trifling affair that took place about a month or six weeks after the +arrival of Henry and George. By their interference upon this occasion, +they put an end to an evil, a species of _fagging_, which had been +practised unknown to the master; while they at the same time roused +the bad dispositions of some of the elder boys, as will be seen in the +sequel. + + + + +CHAP. II. + + +It had been a custom in Dr. Harris's school to admit an aged woman, +once a week, to call with cakes, lozenges, and other sweetmeats; and as +she was very poor, each lad was allowed, and indeed expected, to lay +out a penny with her. This they did very willingly, not merely because +she generally had a good assortment of those things which little boys +are fond of, but because she was cheerful, civil, and obliging; and +frequently took in good part, the tricks they so often played upon +her. She used also to bring her grand-daughter Emma with her, for +the purpose of taking the money, and carrying her basket, which was a +pleasing duty to this little girl, for she dearly loved her grandmother. + +This well-intended plan of compelling the boys to spend their money in +the school-room, though of benefit to Dame Higgins, (for that was her +name,) at length caused a violent irruption, by giving the elder boys +an opportunity of imposing upon the younger ones; when, if they had +been allowed to have spent their half-pence in the village, they might +have evaded the impost which was laid upon them. The old woman used to +arrive regularly every Wednesday and Saturday afternoons, which were +half-holidays; and Dr. Harris, fearing that if all were admitted at one +time, she might be confused, had ordered that they should proceed by +rotation, but only six at a time; consequently, the biggest boys always +entered first, and then waited at the other door till the rest came +out with their cakes, fruit, or sweetmeats. Now, so much power had the +elder boys, (particularly Brown, Greene, and Walker,) over the rest, +that they regularly exacted from them either a plum, a cake, a pear, or +something of what they had purchased. + +Soon after Henry and George had arrived at the school, and they were +passing through the door which led into the play-ground, with their +cakes, they were stopped, amongst the rest, and asked by Walker for a +bit of something; and as they saw most of the boys gave one thing or +other, and being themselves good-natured, they readily bestowed their +portion; and this was repeated for three or four weeks. + +About this time little Ned Hooper, a lad much liked by most of the +boys for his mirth and good humour, came up to George, with a tear in +his eye, and said, "Look here! see what these fellows have left me, +out of what I bought: they have taken above half," added he, showing +a few lozenges, "and all because I said they ought to be ashamed of +themselves for so doing." + +"Ashamed, indeed!" cried George, with indignation; "and are those all +they have left you?" + +"Yes; and they had as many from me last week, but I did not say any +thing about it," said Ned. + +"Why did you give them any this week, if they had so many from you the +week before?" asked Henry. + +"Because I am not strong enough to prevent them, or they should not +have one from me. But it is so with all us little boys. They take some +of our gingerbread or fruit from us every week." And he then walked +away crying. + +Some of the other boys who stood round, confirmed what little Ned had +said, and told George and Henry that they would be obliged to submit +to the same, as long as those _tyrants_ were in the school; for they +had taken from them ever since they had been there. They then went +and fetched little Ned, who had just finished the lozenges they had +left him, and then cheerfully joined in the play as though nothing had +happened. + +Not so our two young friends, who were much hurt to see their little +school-fellows imposed upon; and endeavoured to find out some plan by +which they might put an end to so shameful a practice. They at first +thought of offering them a certain quantity from amongst all the boys; +but afterwards determined upon stopping it altogether, by a combination +amongst their school-fellows. "For why," said George, in an animated +tone, "should one boy be allowed to act unjustly towards another, +merely because he is older or stronger? It is 'might overcoming right;' +and therefore I think we should be justified in resisting these +_tyrants_, as they are properly called, by every means in our power." + +They then joined the rest at play, having resolved to make them +acquainted with their determination before the next arrival of Dame +Higgins. + +This opportunity soon offered; for about four o'clock the same +afternoon, Greene, Walker, Brown, and those with whom they generally +associated, left the school to take a walk through the town. Henry +observed all the boys whom he had seen at the door, when they passed +with their cakes, leave the play-ground; and mentioned to his friend +George, that it would be a good time to ask their school-fellows +whether they would join in their resistance. Henry, therefore, +collected them together; and George informed them that he had a plan +to submit, how they might preserve their cakes from the _tyrants_; +which occasioned an expression of great joy among the little boys, who +thought they saw in their two new school-fellows, worthy and trusty +champions. + +"What is it?" "How shall we do it?" was asked by many an anxious and +eager boy, who had long wished to have some one whom they might look +up to as their leader. + +"Why, we were thinking," said George, "that it is a shameful thing for +so many of us to submit to be robbed by so small a number of boys, +merely because they are a little bigger than ourselves; and therefore +Henry and I have determined to refuse giving another cake or sweetmeat, +provided you will support us." + +"We will, we will," they cried. "And they shall soon find out they are +not to rob us when they please," cried little Ned. "But how do you +intend to do it," he asked, laying hold of George's hand. + +"Why to-morrow," said he, "Dame Higgins will be here again; and I have +no doubt but that the same demand will be made of us as heretofore; but +Henry and myself, with some others, will immediately follow them, and +when they make their request, we will refuse to comply, and hold them +at bay till the rest arrive, when we will boldly resist, and force our +way into the play-ground." + +To this plan their school-fellows readily assented, and promised not to +say a word about it, for fear they should make the _tyrants_ acquainted +with their intention. They then went to their sports, which were not +unfrequently interrupted in their progress by the consideration of +their forthcoming resistance. + +At length the important day arrived, which, as usual, brought Dame +Higgins to the school. The morning had passed in rather a confused +manner; and a constant buzzing and whispering was heard throughout +the little assembly. "I don't mind a thrashing," said little Ned, in +a whisper to George, "if I can preserve my cakes, and disappoint +those greedy fellows." He had no sooner uttered the words, than the +well-known voice of Dame Higgins was heard, and his determination was +put to the test; for the elder boys hastened, as usual, to her basket, +purchased what they wanted, and took their stations at the next door. +Henry, George, and Ned, accompanied by three of the most resolute +boys, immediately followed, and, as was agreed upon, refused to give a +single sweetmeat; they were therefore stopped in their passage through +the room, when they were happily joined by their comrades. They now +determined to force their way through, and had just made a grand rush, +when, to their surprise and mortification, Dr. Harris appeared before +them. They shrunk back with amazement: Greene and his companions +through shame, and Henry and his friends from fear. + +The Doctor seeing their confusion, called upon Greene, who was the +eldest boy, to explain the cause of it; but Greene was silent. "What +is the reason of this disturbance?" he again asked. "I insist upon +knowing. Some one tell me immediately." + +Henry, who was not at all desirous of informing Dr. Harris of the +affair, would now willingly have made his retreat, had not little Ned, +with some others, stepped forward at the time, which reminded him it +was their cause, and not his own, that he was to plead. The master +now mentioned his name, and demanded of him the cause of the riot. He +therefore plainly stated the case, and told every thing connected +with it; and when he had finished, many a little boy took courage to +tell his piteous tale, of what he had lost by the tyranny of the elder +scholars, and begged their master would prevent it in future. + +"As to the cakes," said little Ned, (taking off the hairy cap he used +to wear, and looking at Dr. Harris as seriously as his little merry +face would allow,) "as to the cakes, I'll be bound to say, there are as +many in their boxes as would fill a cake-shop." + +The boxes were immediately searched, and although not quite so many +were found as little Ned supposed, yet there were sufficient to +convince their master of the truth of the statement he had just heard. +He therefore gave them a severe punishment, in the presence of the +little boys whom they had been so long in the habit of ill-treating; +and distributed all the apples, sweetmeats, and other things which he +found, including about seven hundred marbles, to the joyous crowd, who +were congratulating each other upon their victory. + + + + +CHAP. III. + + +Henry and George now stood very high in the estimation of the great +majority of their school-fellows. They were caressed, honoured, and +looked upon as their first boys; while Greene and his friends were +treated with contempt and derision. They had no longer the power to +command and overawe the rest, with a blow or a black look. Their power +had ceased; but, unfortunately, the chastisement they had received, +instead of convincing them of their error, had only roused their evil +dispositions; and they now anxiously looked for an opportunity to +avenge the punishment they had received, through the interference of +Henry Wardour, against whom, in particular, they had an inveterate +spite. Nor did they long wish in vain; for, in a very short time, +another occurrence took place, of a far more serious nature, and which +had nearly thrown Henry into a severe illness. It was nothing less +than a suspicion of theft. His bed-fellow, whose name was Scott, when +he arose one morning, discovered that his box had been broken open, +and his purse, which had contained a new sovereign and two or three +shillings, had been emptied of its contents, and then replaced under +his Sunday clothes. Scott missed the money while looking for some +trifling article in his box; and having mentioned the thing, the boys +collected round him to hear his account of the matter. There were also +some boys who came out of another room up stairs, and among them Greene +and Walker, who, having heard what Scott had to say, at once declared, +that it was impossible for any one but the boy who slept in the same +room, to have stolen the money. + +George, who heard this direct charge against his friend Henry, +instantly fired up, and, in his passion, flew upon Greene, who had +made the charge, and struck him; when a scuffle ensued, the noise of +which brought out Dr. Harris, who, upon hearing an account of the loss +from Scott, told him that he was very likely to have mislaid the money +somewhere; and that he had no doubt but that, if he made search for +it, he would soon find it. George, with whom he was extremely angry +for his rashness in striking Greene, was immediately ordered into the +school-room, and punished by having a long lesson given him to learn. +Before he went, he turned round to Dr. Harris, and said that he was +sorry for having struck Greene; but he should have been ashamed of +himself, if he had stood quietly by, and heard his friend accused in +his absence, of so shameful a crime. "I am sure," he added, with his +usual vehemence, his face reddening, and his hand closely clenched, +"that Henry is not guilty; and Greene ought to be ashamed of himself, +for making such a charge against him." + +Greene, who stood behind the other boys wiping his face, which was a +little bruised by the blow he had received, then said, "that he should +not be surprised if Master George himself had had something to do in +it; for he seemed very much offended by what he had said." + +"You are a mean-spirited fellow," said George; "and----" + +"Silence! silence, boys!" cried Dr. Harris. "How dare you make such +accusations against each other! The money may have been mislaid, and +will, no doubt, be found. I desire that a strict search may be made: +until that is done, let me not hear another word about it. I never had +a thief in my school; and if I ever find a boy out in such practices, +he shall meet with the severest punishment I can inflict." + +Every eye was now anxiously looking out for Henry Wardour, who had +obtained leave of Mrs. Harris, to accompany her daughters, to gather +some flowers at the gardeners, and to go on another little errand or +two. For so much was Henry beloved by this good lady, that she had +made him her little messenger; and whenever she wanted to send any +thing into the town, he was sure to be the lad chosen so carry it. Dr. +Harris was made acquainted with his absence this morning, but wished +for his return, that he might question him as to this unpleasant affair. + +The business, however, which Henry had been sent upon, detained him +until after school had commenced; and, having hastened with his +breakfast, and brushed his clothes, he immediately entered the school, +when all eyes were directed towards him. Henry being a very bashful +lad, could not bear this unusual stare; and fearing, at the same time, +that Dr. Harris had been saying something about his long absence, he +blushed deeply, as he hung his hat upon the peg and took his seat. + +Walker, who sat at the further end of the same desk, seeing Henry +somewhat confused, cried out, loud enough for some of the boys to hear +him, "Look at him!" When George, who sat near, turned round, and said, +"Well, what do you see?" "Why, guilt in his face," added Greene. + +This conversation would probably have continued, had not Dr. Harris, +who had hitherto been engaged at his desk, suddenly arose from his +seat, and walked down the school; when, observing Henry in his place, +he, with a smile on his countenance, beckoned him to follow to his +desk, which Henry immediately obeyed, though with a trembling step. + +This was a moment of great interest. Every eye was attracted to the +top of the school; and a tear of joy stood in George's eye, as he saw +Dr. Harris affectionately take his friend by the hand, and whisper +something to him. It was at this moment too, that every boy in the +school took upon himself to translate the looks and actions of Henry +and his master. They observed every change in Henry's countenance, with +an anxiety equal to the love they bore him; for very few, if any of his +school-fellows, for a moment thought him guilty of the charge brought +against him by Greene; although four or five of them, whose jealousy +had been roused by the general respect in which Henry was held, and +who still remembered their own disgrace by his interference, readily +seconded the accusation, in the hope that, by so doing, they would +lessen the esteem which Mrs. Harris and her daughters appeared to have +for him. The _tyrants_, indeed, were noted as the enemies of Henry and +George; and this charge coming from, and being strenuously supported by +this party, led the rest of the boys to examine their probable motive. + +During this long interview with Dr. Harris, Henry was alternately +depressed and surprised. At one moment a tear would be seen to +start in his eye, and at another he seemed about to appeal to his +school-fellows, when he was soothed by the kindness of his master, who +told him to calm his fears, and return to his seat for the morning, +assuring him of his assistance to clear up the matter. + +As Henry walked down the school, with a dejected countenance, his eye +instinctively turned toward his friend George, who had been anxiously +observing him during the whole time his master had been conversing with +him. It seemed to George to say, "I am charged with a serious fault, +and I shall stand in need of all the help you can afford me;" and a +careless observer might, in a moment, have seen, by the friendly and +benignant smile upon George's face, that he would surely have it. + +During the whole of the morning's school-hours, Henry found it +impossible to attend to his lessons. His mind was so absorbed in the +approaching examination, which his master had told him should take +place directly after twelve o'clock, that his sums were all done wrong, +and his copies badly written. Nor was he the only boy in the school who +was in this state of mind. His friend George felt for him, and appeared +as anxious about it, as though he himself had been charged with the +theft. The last words of Mr. Wardour occurred to his thoughts: "Above +all, be friends to one another;" and the impressive manner in which it +was said, was still fresh upon his memory. "Be friends to one another!" +he exclaimed to himself: "ay, I will be _his_ friend, because I am sure +he is mine; and because I am sure, also, that he is innocent of this +suspected robbery." + +Little Ned too was restless all the morning, and longed for the time to +arrive, when Henry would once more be enabled to put the _tyrants_ to +the blush. His little merry heart was, for once, depressed; but he had +strong hopes that it would all end in the discomfiture of Greene and +his friends. + +Doctor Harris had as yet refrained from stating the circumstance to his +family; but as the hour was near at hand when he determined to have +a general search, he thought it best to make them acquainted with it, +though with little hopes of gaining any information from them. When +Mrs. Harris heard the tale, she treated it with indifference, and said +that she had no doubt but that the money would be forthcoming; for it +was her opinion, that some of the boys had taken it merely to tease +Scott, whom she stated to be rather too fond of hoarding. The daughters +thought the same, and were quite unhappy to think that their little +favourite should be suspected. Juliana, indeed, was about to hasten to +the school-room, in the hope of affording him some consolation, but was +requested by her papa to remain where she was. + +At length the school broke up; and, by the command of Dr. Harris, +search was made in every part, not merely amongst the boys, but also +amongst the servants; but, unfortunately, without finding the new +coin. The boys were now all assembled with the family, and Dr. Harris +commenced his examination, by asking Scott when he last saw his money. +"Last Sunday morning, Sir," he replied; "and Henry was with me at the +time." This Henry corroborated, by saying it was true, and that he saw +him put it in his purse again; when Greene stepped forward and said, +that he believed no person but Henry knew of Scott's possessing this +new coin; and that he, therefore, was the only person that could have +taken it. + +At this direct charge Henry stood for some time amazed; and then +bursting into a flood of tears, vehemently protested against the truth +of his assertion, and dared him to the proof; when Walker, who stood +close by Greene and Scott, said, "It is of no use for you to deny it, +Master Wardour, as I know those that can prove they saw you take the +money." Henry was for a moment speechless; when George said it was +false, and demanded, with more than common earnestness, that he would +bring forth his accusers, and let him meet them face to face. + +This request was repeated by the rest of the boys, who feared they +might have said something, in an unguarded moment, which Walker had +construed into an assertion of Henry's guilt. Dr. Harris also requested +Walker to name the person who saw him take the money; when he replied, +that he knew no more than what Greene had told him, who said he saw +Henry steal it. + +Mrs. Harris now stepped forward, and earnestly entreated Greene, in +common justice, if he had any proof that Henry took the money, or +knew any thing of it, that he would instantly make it appear. At this +Greene was a good deal confused; and after first of all acknowledging +that he had said so, he then as plainly said that he knew nothing +about it, but was _sure_ that nobody else could have taken the money. +Mrs. Harris, who was a sincere lover of justice, possessing too a +great deal of discrimination, inveighed in very strong terms against +charging a boy with theft, and casting aspersions upon his character, +without any foundation whatever. "He has now been a considerable time +in the school," she added, turning to her husband, "without ever having +created any suspicion of his honesty, or without doing the slightest +act upon which to ground such a charge. Besides, I have frequently +trusted him with money to fetch various articles for me, and he has +always acted with the strictest honesty; and," raising her voice, "I +will myself be bound for his innocence upon this occasion, for there is +not a more honest lad in the school; and it is my belief, that some of +those who throw out hints of suspicion against Master Wardour, are much +more likely, from their general character, to have robbed Scott than he +is." + +Greene now slunk behind the rest of the boys; and in consequence of +this tone being taken by this excellent lady, Walker apologized for +having accused Henry of so great a crime, and added, that he should +never again believe what Greene said. + +"You may go, Master Henry," said Dr. Harris, in the kindest manner +possible, "and I have no doubt that the thief will be found out; and +then those who have accused you will have cause to be ashamed of +themselves." + +George, little Ned, and a great number of his school-fellows, now +crowded round Henry, congratulating him upon his victory, as they +were all anxious to see him fairly acquitted of the charge. Eliza +and Juliana also joined the little throng, and, by their caresses, +endeavoured to rally him into his usual good spirits, which they +continued to do for some days after. As, however, no discovery was +made about the money, he felt himself very uneasy, and could not but +think that many of the boys looked upon him as a thief; especially +as insinuations were sometimes thrown out by the elder boys, which +made him very miserable; and those who had first accused him, would +frequently ask, in his hearing, "Who stole Scott's money?" + + + + +CHAP. IV. + + +A fortnight had now nearly elapsed, and the affair began, in some +measure, to wear off. Indeed, it was seldom mentioned, except by those +boys who appeared, from the commencement, so desirous of obtaining a +verdict against Henry. His school-fellows, generally, were anxious to +play with him, and endeavoured to rouse his spirits by every means in +their power. They never commenced a new game, but he was solicited +to join them; and they never went for a walk, but he was anxiously +requested to accompany them. All their endeavours however, were +fruitless: they could not make him what he was before this charge was +brought against him. He evidently had something preying upon his mind; +for instead of being one of the most lively boys in the school--one who +had hitherto shown a desire to join in any good-natured frolic--he was +now become quite serious, and even melancholy. In vain did his friend +George use every exertion: he who before could have persuaded him to +any thing, and to whose advice he had always paid a great regard, now +entreated him, in vain, to cheer his drooping spirits. Mrs. Harris, +with her two daughters, also endeavoured to laugh him out of what they +called his sulky mood; but he replied, that he could not help it; that +he should never again be happy till it was discovered who it was +that stole Scott's money; and that its being lost while he was his +bed-fellow, certainly threw a suspicion upon him that he could not get +over, and to labour under which made him truly miserable. + +Dr. Harris felt a great deal of uneasiness about the matter, not merely +because he saw Henry labouring under so serious a charge, but that an +affair of such a nature should remain so long undetected, and that +he should hitherto have been foiled in his attempts to clear up the +mystery. In this state he continued, when, one morning, after he had +returned from his usual early walk, and was crossing the lawn that +led from the school to the parsonage-house, he observed a poor woman, +rather shabbily dressed, looking in at the school-room window. Not +appearing to find the object of her search, she was turning towards +the house, when she encountered the person of the Doctor. + +"Who are you looking for, good woman?" asked he. + +"I--I want," apparently somewhat disturbed by meeting the master, "I +want to see one of the little boys, Sir," she said, curtsying very low. + +"What little boy do you want? and what do you want him for?" + +"I don't know his name, Sir; but he wears a short blue jacket and +nankeen trowsers, and a white hat, Sir. He has black hair, and he is a +very handsome boy, Sir." + +"Is his name Henry," said Dr. Harris. + +"I think that was the name the other lad called him by, Sir; for there +was another fresh-coloured little gentleman came to the cottage with +him." + +"What did they come to your cottage about, my good woman?" + +"Oh, Sir, I and my poor dear sick husband ought to be very thankful for +the help they gave us. And I now want to see them, to thank them for +their goodness, and to tell them that my husband will, by God's mercy, +be able to go to work very soon. That's all I wanted, Sir," she said, +again curtsying, though with some degree of alarm; for she feared that +her peeping about for the boys might have offended Dr. Harris. + +"What did they do for your sick husband then?" asked Dr. Harris. "I do +not think they had the power of rendering you much assistance." + +"Oh yes, Sir, they had," she replied: "Master Henry gave us, +altogether, sixteen shillings. And I am sure, that if he had not +helped us, we should all have been starved. But the Lord is always very +good, and sends something to those who are in want." + +At this recital Dr. Harris felt amazed; and the circumstance of Scott's +money being lost, immediately recurred to his memory. "It must be so," +he said to himself: "these boys, anxious to do a service to this poor +family, have taken Scott's money from his box, where I suppose they +thought it was lying useless, and appropriated it to relieving their +wants.--Step in doors, my good woman," he said, as he hastened across +the lawn: "step in: I wish to ask you a few questions." + +Martha Watson, (for that was the name of this poor woman) now repented +having come to the school at all, as she feared, from the anxiety in +Dr. Harris's face, that the boys might get scolded for coming to the +cottage without leave of their master; and she followed him to the +house with a faltering step. + +The servant having opened the door, Dr. Harris led the way into a +little room, which was his study, and desired Martha Watson to enter, +when he closed the door, and they both sat down. "Where do you live, +pray?" asked the Doctor. + +"In one of those poor cottages, Sir, in the lane that leads on to the +common." + +"You say these boys gave you sixteen shillings: I wish you would tell +me what it was that first induced them to come to your cottage, and +every thing you know about them." + +Martha Watson now felt very uneasy, and anxiously asked whether they +had done any thing wrong, which she the more feared, as she had not +seen them for some time past. Dr. Harris begged of her to answer his +question, and assured her that there was no cause for her alarm. + +She then related to him the following circumstance: "About a month ago, +Sir, as my little son Jack, who is about six years old, was coming from +Farmer Miles's, with a pitcher full of milk, and making all the haste +he could to get home with it for his daddy's supper, these two young +gentlemen were hastening off the common, and in their hurry to turn the +corner of the lane, they did not see little Jack, but ran against him. +So, Sir, they ran so violently, that they knocked him down, spilled the +milk, broke the pitcher into a hundred pieces, and cut poor Jack's arm, +which bled very much indeed." + +"They did not do him a very serious injury, I hope," said the Doctor. + +"No, Sir; only cut his arm a little. Finding, however, that Jack was +afraid to go home alone, they came with him to our cottage, when they +told me the whole affair, and said how sorry they were they had spilt +the milk and broke the pitcher; and did all they could to pacify little +Jack. When they found how poor we were, and saw my dear husband sick in +bed, they asked me many questions: how long he had been ill, what money +we had, and many others; and when I told them that he had kept his bed +for five weeks, and was not then able to get up; and that we had no +money, but the little I and my eldest girl could earn in the fields, +they talked together a little while, and the young gentleman in the +white hat said, that he would see me again in about an hour, and pay +me for the pitcher and the milk, and give me something for my husband." + + [Illustration: Henry & George visiting the poor Cottager. + + _See page 56_] + +"Did they return then in about an hour?" said Dr. Harris. + +"No, Sir; they did not call again till next morning, when they asked me +whether my poor husband was better, and how Jack's arm was. One of them +pulled out of his pocket a guinea, and----" + +"A guinea!" exclaimed Dr. Harris, interrupting the woman: "are you +positive it was a guinea?" + +"I am sure it was a golden coin, Sir; because they asked me to change +it. But that was impossible, for I had no money at all in the house." + +"Well, my good woman, and what did they do then?" asked Dr. Harris, +evidently much agitated. + +"Why, Sir, finding I had no money, they went into the town and got the +golden coin changed, and gave me ten shillings of it. In a few days, +Sir, they came again, and gave me six more shillings." + +"Did they ever call after that time?" + +"Once, Sir, which was about ten days ago; and as I have not seen them +since, I made free to call here this morning; because I am sure they +would be glad to hear that my poor dear husband was getting better, +and would soon be able to work. If the young gentlemen had not been so +kind to us, I don't know what we should have done. I am afraid my poor +husband must have died for want of proper things. But the Lord will +reward them for their kindness; and I am sure they are good boys." + +Dr. Harris congratulated the cottager upon the restoration of her +husband to health, and said that Mrs. Harris should visit her family; +and that he would also tell Henry and George that she had called to +thank them; but that it was not convenient for her to see them just +then. Having again asked her where she resided, he bade her good +morning, and she immediately returned home. + +When Martha Watson had gone, Dr. Harris joined his family at the +breakfast-table, and related the whole of the affair to them, adding +his conviction of Henry's guilt, and that he was sorry to find he had +been so deceived by him. George too, he said, was equally guilty; for +he had been a party in giving away the stolen property. "I shall write +to their parents this evening," he added; "for I am at a loss to know +how to punish such duplicity and wickedness." + +Mrs. Harris and her daughters, although staggered by the statement +which the Doctor had made to them, suggested the propriety of calling +in Henry and George. "For," said Mrs. Andrews, "although it looks very +suspicious, I never can believe them guilty until it is plainly proved." + +"I think this is sufficient proof," he said, rather angrily; for he +felt vexed to think of the trouble this affair would give to their +parents. + +"True; so it is, my dear," answered his wife, "if not contradicted; but +I hope that they will be able to give such an explanation as will be +satisfactory to us all." + +"And that I am sure they will," said Eliza, rising from her chair; "and +pray, papa, let me call them in." + +The servant at this moment entered the room to take away the +breakfast-things, when Dr. Harris desired her to send in Master Wardour +and Master Harrington. + +The boys had but just taken their seats in the school-room, when the +servant summoned them into the parlour. Henry, who still continued in +the same desponding mood, felt gratified by hearing that he was wanted +there; but it was only a momentary pleasure. He at first thought he +might be wanted to accompany Eliza and Juliana to the garden, or be +commissioned by Mrs. Harris to go into the town for her; but when he +found that George was also wanted, and that they were to go together, +he felt convinced of some fresh trouble; for he was not the same +cheerful boy he used to be. Fear seemed to have taken possession of +his whole frame; when George, thinking he observed a tear starting in +his eye, grasped his hand with the warmth of sincere friendship, and +cheered him up by saying, "Now for it, Henry: it is all settled, and we +are wanted to hear the good news;" and they went, hand in hand, into +the parlour. + +After making their obedience, they walked up to the table; and Dr. +Harris, with a look somewhat more stern than usual, said, "Henry, do +you know a woman named Martha Watson, who lives near the common?" + +"Yes, Sir," said George, "I know her: a very poor woman." + +"I asked Henry," said Dr. Harris; "and I expect that he will answer me." + +But poor Henry, from some cause or other, was, at the moment, unable +to reply. George, therefore, seeing his friend at a loss, immediately +gave the answer; and Henry, recovering his self-possession, now gave +a direct answer to every question that the worthy master put to him, +and proceeded to explain how they became possessed of so much money. +"George and I," he said, "were one day walking through the town, when +we met a gentleman on horseback, who had lately seen our parents in +London. He told us that he was going to call upon us at the school; but +as he had met us, that would do as well. He then gave us a new coin, +which is called a sovereign; and after staying with us about a quarter +of an hour, he shook hands with us, and rode off." + +"And the same evening," added George, "we had the misfortune to run +over little Jack Watson, and break his pitcher. We then thought it our +duty to see him safe home, and to pay for the pitcher and milk. When +we got to the cottage, we saw the poor man stretched on a wretched +straw mattress, where he said he had been above a month; and the tear +rolled down his cheek when he looked round the room, and saw five +little children, who were all anxiously waiting for the milk which we +had been so unfortunate as to knock out of little Jack's hand. Indeed, +Sir," George continued, "we never before saw so much wretchedness; and +Henry said, that as we had plenty to eat and drink, and pocket-money +besides, we might as well get the new coin changed, and give them some +of it, saying, he wished we had more. I agreed to give nearly all my +share; and the next morning we went to the cottage, and gave most of +the money to the poor people." + +"But why did you not tell me or Mrs. Harris of this distressed +cottager, and also that you had had so much money given to you, Henry?" + +"Because, Sir, you had given strict orders that no boy should enter a +place of sickness, for fear of bringing away a fever. We should not +have gone there; but we had hurt poor Jack, and he was afraid to go +home, after having lost all the milk. He said his mother would not +believe him, if he told her that some one had broken the pitcher." + +The plain and unassuming manner in which the boys told their tale, +threw an unusual cheerfulness round the whole family. Dr. Harris felt +himself satisfied with the account which they had given; while Mrs. +Harris and her daughters were overjoyed to find that the boys could +give an explanation so very creditable to their feelings. "It is not," +said the lady, when the boys had left the room, "because my belief in +their ability to give an explanation is confirmed, that I feel this +satisfaction; but that they should have shown themselves so susceptible +of the finest feelings of our nature. That they should have pitied and +relieved the wants of their suffering fellow-creatures; and that, too, +without ostentation or parade, convinces me, at once, that neither of +them would be guilty of the charge made against Henry. And I sincerely +wish that some light may be speedily thrown upon this unpleasant and +mysterious affair, or I shall have great cause to fear the consequences +with regard to his health." + +Dr. Harris then left the table for the school-room, heartily concurring +in every word that his amiable lady had uttered. Upon entering, he +found the boys in deep consultation; for, immediately upon the return +of Edward and George, they were questioned by their school-fellows as +to the result of so long an interview. George, who would, from modesty, +have readily refrained from stating a circumstance so creditable +to himself, as well as to his friend, had he not feared a wrong +construction would have been put upon his silence, immediately related +the whole of what had passed in the parlour. The majority of the boys +felt a little disappointed that nothing more conclusive had transpired; +not perceiving, that boys who were capable of giving away their money +in the manner that Henry and George had done, were unlikely to rob +another of the little he possessed. + +Greene and a few others, however, with a malignity that spoke an +interested motive, did not fail to turn this statement into ridicule. +Greene in particular, who had displayed great anxiety and uneasiness +during the absence of Henry and George, at the conclusion of the tale +which the boys had requested George to relate, burst into loud and +excessive laughter, and exclaimed, "This is one of the finest tales I +ever heard. Is it likely, in the first place, that any gentleman would +give them a sovereign? Did any of you ever receive so much at one +time; and that, too, from a poor traveller? And is it likely that, if +they had had it given to them, as they wish us to believe, that they +would have parted with it in the manner they say they have? It is all +a made-up story. I don't know where Scott's money is; but I think, if +it has been given to the poor cottagers, he ought to have the credit of +it." + +Several of the boys then joined him in the loud laugh with which he +concluded this base insinuation. Poor Henry was again driven back into +his low-spiritedness, and gave, first a look of contempt at Greene, +and then cast his eyes upon George, as his only refuge and support +against this fresh and unexpected attack. It is difficult to say how +Greene would have fared, had not Dr. Harris at this moment entered +the school; for George was never more indignant, nor never felt a +greater inclination to tell Greene what he thought of his cowardly +conduct, than he did at this moment. Little Ned, however, did not fail +to whisper in his ear as he passed, that which was at all times an +unwelcome sound: "Who stole the cakes?" said he, loud enough for the +rest of the boys to hear. Greene looked vexed, and went to his seat. + +Some time passed away, and nothing transpired to clear up this +mysterious affair; while the few enemies that Henry had in the school +appeared to increase, from the construction which Greene and some +others had put upon George's explanation concerning the money. Henry, +unable to bear up against the stigma, not only grew melancholy, but +began to lose his appetite, and looked very thin and ill. Mrs. Harris +really felt somewhat alarmed, and said every thing she could to comfort +him; but, alas! it was all in vain. Scott also, to do him justice, did +every thing in his power to relieve him, but without avail; and Henry +began to think he should fall a victim to a false accusation, for he +had no sleep by night, nor ease by day. + +Dr. Harris now proposed to send for his father, which he did; and +he arrived in a few days. Dr. H. made him acquainted with the whole +affair, from first to last; and Henry was sent for into the parlour. +His father was shocked at his appearing in such ill health, and +the agony of his feelings was intense at the cause of his illness. +He entreated him, by the love he bore towards him and his mother, +to confess the truth. "If, my dear boy," he said, "you have, in an +unguarded moment, been led into an error, the only reparation is openly +to confess it. In that case I will pay the boy the money, and you shall +receive my forgiveness." + +Henry assured him that he knew nothing at all of the money--that it +made him very unhappy indeed--that he had had no sleep for the last +three or four nights--and that he had lost his appetite; when, throwing +his arms round his father's neck, he burst into an agony of tears, and +could only exclaim, "I am innocent! I am innocent!" + +Mrs. Harris having pacified Henry, said that it would perhaps be best +for Mr. Wardour to take him home for a short time; but to this Henry +himself objected, as he knew very well that there were boys who would +turn that to his disadvantage. His father, therefore, procured him +some medicine, to calm his spirits and allay the slight fever which he +appeared to have; and then went to transact some business at a short +distance from the village, promising to see him again in a few days, +and determining, in his own mind, to take Henry home with him, should +nothing transpire in the mean time to free him from this accusation. + + + + +CHAP. V. + + +The time had now arrived when Henry was to be freed from his troubles, +and to obtain a satisfactory victory over malignity and base design. +On the evening after his father had taken leave of him, and when he, +in company with his friend George, was sitting at his bed-room window, +admiring the beauties of the setting sun, and enjoying the calmness of +the surrounding scenery, an unusual noise was heard upon the stairs. +Henry instantly rose from his seat and opened the door, when in rushed +little Ned, breathless, and almost speechless. He had his hairy cap in +his hand, and had contrived to run one of his legs through his long +pin-afore, as he made his way up the stairs. His face was far more red +than usual, and full of anxiety. + + [Illustration:--its all found out!--the thief is found out. + + _page 75._] + +"What is the matter, Ned?" said Henry as he entered: "you seem in a +hurry." + +"In a hurry!" Ned replied, gasping for breath: "in a hurry! Why, it's +all found out!" said he, waving his cap over his head. + +"What is found out?" asked George, laughing heartily at Ned's grotesque +appearance. "Look at your leg through your pin-afore." + +"Never mind," said he: "Kitty will mend that. But it is all found out! +the _thief_ is found out." As he uttered these words, he seized Henry +by the hand, who, with George and himself, hastened down stairs, Ned +repeating all the way, "It's all found out! _I_ have found him out!" +He dragged them both into the school-room, where most of the boys were +assembled. Dr. Harris, who was disturbed by the noise, also followed; +and, upon his entering, Ned called out, with a loud voice, "I charge +you, Charles Greene, with stealing Scott's money, and will prove it!" + +Greene started, as though he had seen something unnatural. "I,--I," was +all he could articulate, and he turned as white as possible. + +"Yes," says Ned, "I have just been into Dame Birch's, the pie-woman, +who said that you had then been to pay the money you owed her, and that +she was very glad she had got clear of you." + +He then related to Dr. Harris, the conversation he had had with the +pie-woman about ten minutes before. "As I was walking to the shop, +Sir," he said, "I saw Greene take his leave, when he was busily +thrusting something into his pockets, I went into the shop, and Mrs. +Birch told me that Greene had just paid her the remainder of his debt. +I asked what debt it was; and she told me that it had been owing a long +time: that, about a month ago, he went there and changed a sovereign, +and paid her eight shillings out of fourteen he owed her; and that he +wished the whole of the sovereign had belonged to himself, but it did +not; for one of the other boys was to have half, as he had been with +him when he had found it." + +Greene, who had by this time in some measure recovered from his first +shock, here interrupted Ned by saying, "I never told her so: I said +my father gave it to me, which he did. He told me that my uncle from +London had called and left it for me." + +Ned declared he had told Dr. Harris the truth, and every word that Dame +Birch had said, except that she added, "I believe I should never have +got the money, if I had not threatened to go to his master." + +Dame Birch was now sent for, and confirmed what little Ned had stated; +and in answer to a question from Dr. Harris, why she allowed the boys +to get so much in debt? said, that she could not help it with Greene, +for he would have what he chose; but that it was not all for cakes: +part of it was payment for two squares of glass, which he broke when +fighting, one day, with another boy. + +During the interview, Henry and George, and one or two of their +school-fellows, hastened to Mr. Greene's house, (for he fortunately +lived at a short distance from the village,) to have his son's account +either confirmed or denied. On their reaching the door, they knocked +with great authority; and upon the servant's opening it, they demanded +to see his master immediately, as they had some very important business +with him. The servant informed Mr. Greene of their visit, and he came +out of the parlour and demanded what business they could have with him; +when George said, "Sir, we have taken the liberty to call upon you, to +know whether you gave your son Charles a sovereign about a month ago. + +"Gave him what?" said the old gentleman: "gave him a sovereign! Not I, +indeed: I hope I know better what to do with my money. His mother might +have given him six-pence or so; but we should never think of giving him +any thing like a sovereign." + +He then returned into the parlour, and they heard him ask Mrs. Greene, +if she knew of Charles's having a sovereign about a month ago, when she +answered, "No, my dear." + +This was quite satisfactory to Henry and his friends; and without +waiting any further ceremony, they started off for the school. + +In the mean time Greene, having ascertained that they were gone to his +father's to make enquiry, had confessed that it was he who had stolen +the money out of Scott's box; and when they returned, he was surrounded +by all the boys, who were upbraiding and taunting him with his villany. +His own friends too were against him; and, from shame and agitation of +mind, he looked most wretchedly. + +It is impossible to describe the scene which now took place in the +school-room. Henry, whose mind was relieved from the depression +occasioned by this disgraceful charge, was caressed and congratulated +by every boy in the school. Mrs. Harris kissed him affectionately, +and said she felt confident of his innocence from the first, and had +never despaired of its being made evident. Juliana and Eliza were also +amongst the first to bestow their approbation upon his conduct. George +and little Ned were delighted beyond measure to see their friend once +more made happy, and hoped soon to have him as the chief in their +youthful sports. + +But it was far different with Greene, who now felt all the wretchedness +of one convicted of theft, and detected in basely attaching the +disgraceful charge to an innocent and praiseworthy lad. He had taken +his seat at the extremity of the school-room, and was hiding his face +in his hands; and though a boy of wonderful spirits and strong nerve, +was now bathed in tears, and sobbing aloud. Dr. Harris, who had been +giving him a very severe lecture, still stood over him, impressing upon +him the necessity of retiring into his room, to seek from God that +forgiveness in prayer and repentance, which, he too much feared, would +not be easily obtained from his offended and disgusted school-fellows. +He now, therefore, arose, and made his way towards the door, in doing +which he had again to encounter the execrations and pointed fingers of +the boys, who cried, as he passed them, "Go, thou thief!" and followed +him until they saw him enter the house. + +Henry, however, was the only lad who did not upbraid him; for, though +Greene had behaved in so disgraceful a manner towards him, he could not +but feel distressed to see him appear almost brokenhearted. He still +remembered, in the midst of his joy, that but a few hours had elapsed +since he felt all the wretchedness of one _supposed_ to be guilty of +theft. "What then," he said to himself, "must be the feelings of +him who stands _convicted_ of the crime, and therefore has not the +consciousness of innocence to support him? I cannot find in my heart to +upbraid him," he said, as he took George and Ned by the hand and led +them across the lawn. + +They continued their walk until bed-time, when they returned, and Henry +again experienced the sweets of a good night's rest, the sure reward of +integrity. + + [Illustration: "What shall I do?" "I will leave the School" + + _page 85_] + +Greene, on the contrary, was now distressed beyond measure: his night +was restless and unrefreshing; and as the time was fast approaching +when he must again face his master and his school-fellows, remorse and +dread had taken possession of his mind, and he felt as if he had not +strength to dress himself. "What shall I do?" he exclaimed, as he +again threw himself across the bed: "I cannot enter the school-room, +nor face my school-fellows; for I know they must despise me. I, who +have hitherto taken the lead in the school, and have done as I chose +with the boys, am now to be pointed at and spurned by the least in +the place. I will leave the school directly," he added, rising from +the bed, and making another attempt to dress: "I will leave the +school directly, and hasten to my uncle's in London." With this rash +determination he concluded, when, taking up his jacket, he discovered, +upon the back of it, that which had before escaped his notice, the +words "THIEF" and "LIAR," in large characters. This fresh assault +cut him to the heart. He dropped the coat, and fell upon his knees +at the foot of the bed, praying aloud to his Maker for forgiveness, +and promising never to offend in the like manner again. He concluded +by exclaiming, in great agitation: "Where shall I find a friend to +plead for me? and to whom, among my school-fellows, can I now look for +support?" + +"To me! to me!" cried Henry, who was passing his chamber at the time, +and whose kind heart overflowed with pity at the distressed bewailings +of this repentant boy. "I will be your friend, and seek forgiveness +from your school-fellows. Though you have grossly injured me, I cannot, +must not bear malice. Dr. Harris tells us we should forget and forgive." + +"And do _you_ forgive me, Henry?" he exclaimed: "can you forgive one +who has acted so basely towards you?" + +"I can and do," he answered, "and will beg of Dr. Harris to forgive you +also." He then seized him by the hand, and, half undressed as he was, +with his coat under his arm, and his eyes swollen with crying, he drew +him to the school-room, where Dr. Harris had just taken his seat. As +he made his way towards the desk, the boys were greatly surprised, and +wondered when they heard Henry ask Dr. Harris to forgive him. "I found +him, Sir," continued Henry, "upon his knees, asking forgiveness of the +Almighty, and making promises of future amendment. I therefore, as far +as I am concerned, heartily forgive him, and I hope, Sir, you will do +the same." + +Dr. Harris then addressed Greene in his most impressive manner, +telling him that he was glad to find he was made sensible of his +error; and was also happy to see him so full of contrition: adding, +"that, as it is the sincere wish of Henry, to whom you ought to be +for ever grateful, I am willing to think no more of this matter. But +it is not to me, so much as to your school-fellows, you need look for +forgiveness; and to them you ought to apply, as being the parties +offended." + +Henry then took him down the school, and by his earnest entreaties and +pathetic address, obtained his pardon. + +Greene now retired, and in a short time returned to his lessons, +somewhat happier than when he arose, but still depressed by shame. + +The next day Mr. Wardour returned, and had the felicity to find his son +restored to health and happiness. When he heard of his acquittal, and +of his noble conduct in obtaining pardon for Greene, he pressed him +to his bosom, and almost shed tears of joy. He then exhorted him to be +always grateful for this providential discovery of his innocence, and +to let all the future actions of his life be governed by the same noble +principles as he had followed upon this trying occasion. After making +a present to George and little Ned, for their friendly conduct towards +his son, he obtained a holiday for the whole school, and took his leave. + +Mr. Greene, upon hearing of his son's conduct, would have severely +punished him, had not Dr. Harris assured him of his contrition, and +begged of him to inflict no further chastisement than he had already +received from his little school-follows. He therefore contented himself +with making Scott a handsome present. + +Mrs. Harris and her daughters had been lately busy in relieving the +family of poor Martha Watson, whom the late circumstances had brought +under their notice. The husband, by this good lady's well-timed +attendance, had now recovered his health, and had gone to work, while +the children were clothed and made decent in their appearance; and +their mother never failed to bless the names of Henry and George, and +to thank that Providence which had directed them to her cottage. + +Greene still continued in a gloomy state, when he was happily relieved +from it by his uncle prevailing upon his father to let him go a voyage +to the East Indies with him; and, in less than a month, he departed +from that place, which had now become irksome to him; but not without +first being well convinced, that "_honesty is the best policy_." + +Henry and George still continued to be beloved by their school-fellows; +and each remained happy in the possession of a good conscience. + + +THE END. + + +Harvey, Darton, and Co. 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Price + 6d. + + The STORY of ELLEN and MARY; or, the Advantage of Humility. With + Copper-plates. Price 1s. + + + + +Transcriber's Note: + +Some punctuation has been silently altered. + +The following words have been changed. + + dètermined is now determined + Goerge is now George + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Friends, by Unknown + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 44178 *** |