With the short hair Billy also acquired an air of confidence which made him look more like other boys, and he was no longer singled out as a butt for their rough jokes. He learned very fast, and his love for drawing helped to make him popular; for on stormy days, when the boys could not go out at recess, it was a great pleasure to have Billy draw pictures for them. His greatest pleasure was to draw on the blackboard, and his sketches, done with a bold, free hand, often gave as much pleasure to the teacher as they did to the pupils.
Before long came the time for Sam to go with his grandparents to their country home. Such good friends had the two boys become, that a separation would have been very hard for both. They were so unlike that each had a good influence on the other. Sam, full of spirit and health, would much rather spend his time out of doors than in learning his lessons, while Billy liked nothing better than to sit indoors, working hard at his drawing, or conscientiously studying his lessons, that he might keep up with the other children who had not been deprived of the use of their eyes.
Mr. Ledwell, who looked out so well for every one, proposed to Billy’s mother that she should live in a little house on his grounds that had been built for his gardener’s family. The present gardener, however, had no family, and lived with the other men employed on the place, and the house would make a cosey, comfortable home for Billy and his mother.
The latter by this time had obtained the situation she so much desired,—which was to look after homeless children. Her duty was to take these little waifs to homes that were willing to receive them, and to see that the little ones were happy and well cared for after being placed. This, of course, took her away from home all through the day, and she often returned tired from her day’s work. Giving so much motherly care to the neglected ones, who needed it so sadly, prevented her from giving her own boy the care he ought to have, and a pleasant way out of the difficulty was found by having good Mrs. Hanlon come down to the little cottage and take care of it and of Billy. In this way Billy was not neglected, and his mother could earn money for their support.
It was a happy day for the two boys when they alighted at the little station of Seaport. It was quite a distance to Sam’s grandpapa’s place, so they drove there in one of the station carriages. Billy noticed how glad all were to see Sam. Everybody seemed to know him, and to have a pleasant word for him, from the station master down to the colored porter. Sam was just as glad to see them, too, and asked after their families and how they had been through the long, cold winter.
It made Billy very happy to see how much everybody loved Sam, and for every kind word and look given to his friend he was more gratified than if he had received them himself. The grateful boy never forgot for a moment how kindly and generously his friend had received him when he was blind and forsaken.
As they passed the different houses in the village, Sam was kept busy in hailing old acquaintances and hearing their cordial “Glad to see you back again.”
They passed the engine-house, and there on the sidewalk in front of it lay Jack the Fire-Dog. Although he had never seen him before, Billy knew him even before Sam’s keen eyes discovered him. At the boys’ call the dog pricked up his ears and gazed searchingly at them; then, with all the power of his eloquent eyes and wagging tail, he tried to express his joy at meeting these old friends.
Of course the boys couldn’t go by without stopping for a moment,—no human boys could do that. So out they piled in a hurry, and before the carriage had come to a stop they were hugging and caressing their faithful friend. “Does he look anything as you thought he did, Billy?” asked Sam.
“Yes, just, only a great deal handsomer. Do you suppose he knows I am a seeing boy now, Sam?” asked Billy, anxiously.