This day, behold! the angel band
Have crown’d thee Lord of all.
Every day of the following week was passed among their relatives, till the last day of the old year arrived. The boys had then but one day to remain at home; and on this day the rain poured down in torrents. To a reflecting mind, there is something in this period, which fills the heart with a tender sorrow; the youthful party, however, were as yet strangers to any great concern either for the past or future. Howard alone began to feel; his mind was unusually matured, for one of his age; and his character resembled his mother’s in many respects; an extreme delicacy of sentiment marked all his thoughts—and an intuitive sense of pain his actions: he never witnessed the dejection of another, but he was sure to imbibe a portion of their grief. The indigent widows who were his mother’s pensioners, had always a ready friend in him; and from quite a little child, he never beheld a poor ragged boy or girl, that he did not wish to give them some of his little clothes:—and one day, seeing a poor beggar come into the hall, he ran before any one was aware of it, and took from the side-board, a loaf of bread, and carrying it in his little apron, threw it into the beggar’s lap. This disposition continued, and now in his twelfth year, he is constantly doing little acts of kindness to all within his reach. Is it to be wondered at, that such a boy, ensures to himself the good will of all who know him?
At length New Year’s day came: this was passed at home, with uncles, and aunts, and cousins, a goodly number. After the day was over, and the guests had all returned to their homes, Howard and George lingered round the fire, and their mother took the opportunity to give them directions for their conduct during the New Year, upon which they had entered. It was such advice, as every pious, and judicious parent, should give to her sons, when on the eve of parting from them. She bade them call to mind the past year, and think how often they had offended against God; how many times they had broken his commandments; how often they had acted contrary to the advice of their parents, and teachers, by breaking the Sabbath, and by other acts of folly; which, however trivial in their eyes, would not be overlooked by God, “who is the searcher of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”
In this manner the hours wore away, and bed time arrived; the trunks were already packed to be ready for the morning stage, which was to convey the boys back to the school, twelve miles distant from town: next morning, a loud rap at the door of their sleeping apartment, aroused Howard and George, from most delicious slumbers; and the bright sun darting his beams into the windows, admonished them to arise.
Breakfast being over, and the trunks in readiness in the hall, Harry was summoned: after loitering, and holding mamma by the hand as long as she would permit them, the boys gave her a hasty kiss, and ran out of the parlour into Dr. Barrington’s office—and embracing him, were off. Harry followed with the trunks, and they were shortly seated in the very same stage-coach, which, the week before, had brought them to town. Howard’s eyes were suffused with tears, and George looked grave. They however began to think of all the pleasures they had enjoyed. George pleased himself with the thought of how much he would have to tell the boys at school; and Howard thought, if the next day should be clear, he would walk over to old Squire Hobson’s farm, and see his poor tenant, William Jones, who was in a deep decline. He had his pocket full of medicines for him, that the Doctor had recommended, but which he was too poor to purchase. These his father had allowed him to take from his own stock that he always kept for the indigent. Howard had beside, a large roll of flannel in his trunk, which his mamma had placed there for William Jones’s two youngest children; and Howard also thought to himself, how sweet it will be to carry my nice New Testament to the farmer’s, and read to poor William.
The stage now stopped at the door of the village pastor’s house; and the next morning the boys entered upon their studies, in the school-room adjoining: nor were they unmindful of that God to whom their mother had directed their thoughts, as the source of all their blessings for time and eternity.
THE END.
Transcriber’s Notes: