TWO YEARS LATER.
More than two years have elapsed. In the fine old home at Brookline,
Sam and Arthur are sitting out on the lawn. Both have changed. Arthur
looks stronger and better than when Sam first made his acquaintance,
His thin face is more full, his pallor has been succeeded by a faint
tinge of color, and he looks contented and happy. But the greatest
change has come over Sam. He is now a young man of eighteen,
well-formed and robust, handsomely dressed, with a face not only
attractive, but intelligent. These two years have improved him
greatly, as we shall see.
"I can hardly realize that Charlie is to graduate next week," said
Arthur.
"He was a sophomore when I first met him," said Sam. "How little I
thought that the meeting would be so important to me!"
"And to me!" said Arthur. "You have up idea how lonely I felt before
you came."
"You have an idea how ignorant I was at that time," said Sam.
"You didn't know much, to be sure," said Arthur, smiling. "I remember
how I had to drill you in the multiplication table."
"My spelling was rather weak," said Sam.
"I should say it was; it was original, at least," said Arthur. "To
tell the truth, I was rather dismayed when I found how little you
knew. But you have made it up bravely."
"Yes," said Sam, complacently, "I think have; but still you are ahead
of me."
"Not in all things. You write a much better hand than I."
"I am afraid it is my only accomplishment," said Sam.
"But not your only acquisition. You are a good English scholar. I
don't mind telling you, however, that in the first three months I
never expected you would be."
"I used to have the headache pretty often about that time," said Sam.
"Yes; I sympathized with you at first, till I began to suspect that it
was all put on."
"It was harder for me to apply myself than you, Arthur. My street life
made it so. It was only by degrees that I got the habit of
application."
"It was a good thing for me that I had to assist you. It gave me an
object in life. Besides, it made me work harder myself in order to
continue able to do it. I used to get low-spirited, and feel that I
was of no use in the world."
"You don't feel so now," said Sam, with a look of affection; for
Arthur seemed to him like a dear, younger brother, whom it was his
duty to care for and protect.
"Oh, no," said Arthur, cheerfully. "I am much better and stronger now.
And that leads me to a little secret which affects both you and me.
Would you like to hear it?"
"Yes, Arthur."
"Father is going to take both of us into the office, to learn
business. I shall only be there about half the day, but you will have
full hours. How will you like that?"
"It is the very thing I would like above all others," said Sam, with
animation. "I want to be doing something. I want to earn my own
living. When are we to go into the office?"
"On the first of September."
"Not till then?"
"No; we are to spend the summer at the White Mountains. Late in August
Charlie will sail for Europe, where he is to travel for a year, and we
two are to be disposed of as I have told you."
"It was a lucky day for me, Arthur, when I became your companion. But
for that I might have been the same shiftless fellow I was before, fit
for nothing except to run errands or sell newspapers."
"Are you sure you are fit for anything better now?" asked Arthur,
mischievously.
"I hope so," said Sam. "Time will show."
The arrangement indicated was carried out. Sam, through his bright,
sunny disposition, had become a favorite with all the Browns, who,
besides, felt grateful to him for the good effect his companionship
had had upon Arthur's health and happiness. It had long been
understood between Charlie and his father that Sam was eventually to
be taken into the office, and promoted as rapidly as his abilities
would justify. He was allowed a liberal salary, and continued a member
of Mr. Brown's family.