I must now beg leave to introduce my young readers to Frank, for his
amiable and grateful conduct deserves to be recorded, as an example to
those who may have the power of imitating it. He was an orphan, about
two years older than Henry. His father, who was a sailor, had been lost
at sea, and his poor mother, overcome with grief at this melancholy
event, survived him only a few months, leaving her little boy to the
care of her sister. The latter was a kind, good-hearted woman, who,
though she had five children of her own, received the boy (then only
two years old) and reared him with the greatest tenderness. She,
however, was unfortunate also, for when Frank was about six years old,
she lost her husband, on whose industrious exertions the family chiefly
depended for support. Her own children were yet too young to go to
service, and it was with the greatest difficulty that she procured them
a scanty supply of the coarsest provisions. Her neighbours, knowing her
distressed condition, advised her to send Frank to the workhouse, and
thus rid herself of one incumbrance. This, however, she strenuously
refused to do, saying, that while they had a morsel of bread, he should
share it with them.
Her kindness was not lost on the grateful heart of Frank: it made so
deep an impression, that he strove, on all occasions, to evince his
affection to her and his cousins, all of whom, except the youngest,
were girls.
For nearly two years the poor widow had to contend with all the
hardships of poverty, when Providence, as if to reward her kindness
to the little boy, made him the instrument of future comfort to her.
Frank’s quiet and obliging conduct had attracted the notice of Henry’s
father, who, finding that his morals corresponded with the idea he
had formed of them, fixed on him, as a proper assistant to his little
boy in the before-mentioned employments. Frank was a diligent and
good-natured boy, and Henry proved an indulgent and generous master
to him; so that the poor little boy was enabled to assist his aunt
a little with his weekly earnings, which Henry paid out of his own
pocket-money. Nor was this all, for Frank’s good behaviour induced
Henry’s mother to enquire into the circumstances of the family, which
she greatly ameliorated, by affording the poor woman employment suited
to her abilities. My little friend Mary, also, contributed to the
comforts of the poor children, by making for them, in the holidays,
such little articles of dress as she could afford to purchase. Yet the
greatest benefit conferred on this poor family, was reserved to my
young master. He contrived, every evening, to devote a small portion
of time in teaching Frank to read, write, and cipher; and the poor
boy took so much pains to learn, that it was rather a pleasure than a
trouble to teach him. But what most of all delighted Henry was, that
Frank never failed teaching his cousins the lesson he had learned
the preceding day; so that six children, instead of one, profited by
Henry’s instructions. My young master did not discover this for some
time, but when he did, he procured the good boy books, and other things
necessary for this laudable undertaking, in which he succeeded so
well, that the three eldest girls were able to read fluently, and to
repeat and understand their catechism. And now Frank’s only ambition
was to see them neatly dressed, and fit to appear at church, whither
they constantly went, though in very mean attire; for their mother was
sensible that the want of good clothes was not a sufficient excuse for
the neglect of any part of their duty.
The poor woman’s circumstances were so much improved since she had been
employed by Henry’s mother, that she had refused to receive Frank’s
wages, desiring him to lay them by, to procure decent apparel for
himself. Frank did not urge her to use his little stock, but he did not
reserve it for himself: he now saw, in idea, the accomplishment of his
favourite project. Think then, my young readers, how delighted he must
have been, when he had, for many weeks, saved his wages, without making
known the purpose to which he intended applying them, to receive,
at once, the means of gratifying a wish so dear to his heart. This,
then, was the use Frank made of his guinea. His cousins appeared the
following Sunday, in neat, plain clothes of his purchasing, while he
accompanied them in habiliments no otherwise distinguished than by the
industry which had been displayed in patching them: a garb, however,
in which, under these circumstances, he certainly appeared to greater
advantage than he could have done in the richest clothing.
Henry’s father, who was informed of Frank’s generous conduct, did not
fail to reward it. Perhaps it may be imagined that he gave him new
clothes: no, he rewarded him in a manner more congenial to his own
sentiments and the boy’s disposition, by taking the widow’s eldest
daughter into his family; where, under the superintendance of his
housekeeper, she was likely to become a good servant, and consequently
a useful member of society.