BRIGHTER DAYS.
Arthur was never lonely now; for Rover was constantly at his side,
except in school, and he always went to the school-room door with him in
the morning, and often when Arthur came out of school at night, he would
find Rover standing by the door, waiting for him. A happy dog was Rover,
in his new home. Mrs. Martin fed him with her own hand, and many a nice
dainty did he get, which he was not accustomed to. Arthur was such a
sweet-tempered, obliging boy, so ready to obey her, and had such gentle,
respectful manners, that the good old lady was glad to make Rover happy
for his sake. Obliging little boys almost always find that those they
live with, are obliging too; while quarrelsome boys usually find it
their fortune to fall among quarrelsome companions; for good temper and
bad temper are both contagious and infect all those who come in contact
with them.
On bright, cold winter mornings, after eating his nice breakfast, Rover
would scamper off to school with Arthur. He was in too fine spirits to
walk by his side, so he would bound off before him, plunging into the
snow drifts up to his neck; then bound back again, with a short quick
bark, shaking himself from the feathery snow; and away again for another
merry race. If he was separated for an hour from Arthur, he would leap
up at his return, and almost overwhelm him with his rough embraces. But
this seldom happened out of school hours, for let Arthur go where he
would, to the barn, the brook, of an errand, or on a visit to his friend
Theodore, there Rover was sure to follow. Arthur would sometimes take
him into his room at night and let him lie there, but Mrs. Martin did
not approve of this, but as she was always up by day-light, she would
open the door and Rover would go scampering up the stairs ready for a
great frolic on Arthur's bed.
As the school continued, Arthur became attached to his teacher and was
quite a favorite with his schoolmates. "_Little_ Arthur Hamilton"
he was always called by them, not because there were not many other boys
smaller than he, but from his gentleness and timid softness, he seemed
one to be protected by them; and the roughest boy never thought of
pushing and striking _him_.
Arthur made a visit of two days at home in the spring vacation. His
mother's heart was cheered by the visible improvement in her boy; and
she told him he had done much to make her happy, by rising above his
weakness and gaining the victory over his besetting sin. "Nothing," she
told him, "could ever grieve his mother's heart like seeing her children
do wrong; nothing ever make her so happy as their doing right."
Henry was still at the Academy, hoping to enter College the ensuing
Commencement; Lucy with her aunt; and James at Captain L's. Arthur did
not see them, but he had a pleasant visit with the rest. He went to all
his favorite places of resort; the orchard, the "old pasture," and the
little brook in the meadow. He led Charlie in one hand, and Emma in the
other out on the green grass in the lot, and picked for them the pretty
wild-flowers which were springing up everywhere among it, while Rover
ran along by their side, or bounded off in a merry frolic. They were all
glad to see Rover once more, and never was a dog so petted and caressed,
as he was on this visit to his old friends.
When Arthur returned home, he found that the spring had brought a
variety of labors with it. Mr. Martin was a farmer, and there were many
things to do, suited to his age and strength. He did all that was
required of him with alacrity, but he often found at night that his
limbs were very weary when he lay down in bed. Mr. Martin soon found he
could not endure so much as most boys of his age; but said he to his
wife,
"Out-of-door work will do him good, and make him hearty; a woman never
can bring up a boy properly!"
Mrs. Hamilton also hoped that exercise in the open air would give tone
and vigor to his somewhat delicate system, and develope his slender
frame into manly strength and symmetry. She wished nothing better for
her sons than to become intelligent, industrious, and honest farmers;
and such with God's blessing she hoped Arthur would in time be.