As to our principal. That scene of anger and brutality ended his praying for me. He read prayers, but I never heard them. His influence over me for good or evil was ended. How could such a man as that preach to us of pity to the weak, of kindness, of charity, of mutual forbearance!
Johnny became a general favorite, a hero among us, and I never saw our teacher meet him without a smile or pleasant word, and I am sure that Johnny had many a treat without knowing the giver; for he often found sweets and cake in his coat pockets in the morning and wondered how they got there.
In spite of the rigid rules, the blank walls, the coarse solid food; in spite of the harsh bully of a man over us and the spy lurking at our heels, our time passed pleasantly. The rest of our masters were kind and considerate. I soon fell into the ways of my associates and although our rules were so precise, I soon became accustomed to them. I studied because I enjoyed it and for another reason. Not a day passed in which I did not often think of Mr. Percy. I would find myself asking, “What would he say if he could see me, if he could know my thoughts, know of my progress, what would he think of me!” I would imagine him in his home, or riding, driving, how he looked and talked. He was my other life and I could but feel from the interest he had shown in me that I was his. I guided myself in all my ways by what I thought he would like and this I now see had a wonderful influence over me. His gentleness, his intelligence, his nobility of character inspired me and had I been inclined to idleness, or injurious habits the remembrance of him would have checked me, for the thought of failing in his anticipation of me gave me pain.
To go back a little. As I awoke the next morning after my arrival, I thought of Mr. Percy and soon I was writing my first letter to him. It was the first real letter that I had ever attempted. My teacher on the plains, had daily instructed me in writing and composition, and had caused me to write some imaginary letters which he corrected. I now wrote as I thought and just as I felt. Mr. Percy had never criticised me in a way to make me feel any embarrassment. So I had no fear, besides it was a labor of love and respect. I told him of my journey, my surprise on seeing the hills, of my arrival and first view of things. The letter was ready on the appearance of the bearer. He took it and made his salaam, while I burdened him with many salaams to all the servants.
The next day there came a letter written on the day of my departure, the first of a great number that I received from Mr. Percy all of which I have kept, forming several volumes that are among my treasures. The letter ran thus:
“My Dear Charles:—
You cannot know how lonesome I have been since you left. This shows how much I think of you and what you are to me. I trust you had a pleasant journey, and arrived safely. I have no doubt you found everything strange, for it must be a new life to you. There will be some things disagreeable to you as there is to every one of us in whatever circumstances we may be placed. The world is far from being perfect, and as we ourselves lack so much, we should always be ready to make allowances for others. The best way is to do the best we can, take the bitter with the sweet, and endure bravely what we cannot cure. I am anxious for the return of the bearer to hear from him about you, and also to receive a letter which I am sure you have sent by him. Wishing you every blessing and success, I am your very desolate and devoted friend,
R. Percy.”
In a few days another letter came:
“The bearer has returned and I am so glad to hear such a good report of you and of your position. He is ready again and again to give his account of the ‘Chota Sahib,’ and I often see him surrounded by everybody in the compound and know he is telling of his journey up the hills and no doubt much about you. I was this morning behind one of the trees in the garden and overheard him say to the mali, “One day the ‘Chota Sahib’ will become a ‘Barra Sahib,’ so you see there is some hope for you.””