Since he had been able, he had, every year, hired a substantial carriage and taken his entire family for a visit to his aged mother in the country. These were occasions of jubilee to the reunited household. Mr. Cowles often said he went back to the city strengthened for any duty after feeling his mother's trembling hand resting on his head, while she pronounced her fervent blessing.
It was Harrison's duty in this well-ordered family to cut kindlings, carry coal, go to market, sweep the steps and side-walk, or perform any of those multitudinous duties always necessary in a family of six. These services had formerly been rendered by John, who now assisted his father at the store.
In order to have time for a morning review of his lesson, our hero arose early, so as to get through as much of his work as possible before breakfast. Then he was by no means unmindful of his personal appearance; and he liked to rub the door-plate, sweep and scrub the steps before he should be likely to be recognized by any of his acquaintance who might chance to pass. Then he could dress for school, and go to market habited like a gentleman.
When Mrs. Danforth first noticed this trait in her son, she was much distressed by it. She knew that he must be aware that he was uncommonly attractive in his appearance, but she did not wish him to attach any importance to the fact. She feared that he might be led on by it, as his father had been, to consider honest labor beneath him. Yes, as she reflected more upon the subject, she could see that of late Harrison had appeared less humble, more proud and self-reliant. She prayed earnestly that God would protect her boy from sin, that he might see the folly of attaching importance to mere outward appearance, and that his heart might be kept pure and humble like that of a child.
Perhaps the peculiar circumstances of her own lot made her over sensitive on this point, certainly it is a duty to be neat and tasteful in dress, if we do not devote too much time and thought to it.
Her Heavenly Father answered her prayer, though in a manner that she dreamed not of.
About a fortnight later she returned home in a close carriage, about a week before the time for which she had engaged was expired. The good physician, whose acquaintance she first made in Ella's sick room, soon followed, and peremptorily ordered her to take her bed saying it was as true of nurses as of doctors that they made the worst patients in the world.
When Harrison returned from school he found his mother in a high fever, and was greatly alarmed to perceive that she did not appear to recognize him. Mrs. Cowles, who had a moment before left the room, found him standing by the bed side, large tears rolling down his cheeks. She endeavored to soothe him; but the poor boy could not shake off the fear that his beloved mother was to be removed from him by death.
Fortunate, indeed, was Mrs. Danforth, to be placed in the midst of such kind friends. Everything was done for her comfort as tenderly and cheerfully as if she had been a mother or a sister. Then, Harrison seemed suddenly gifted with the skill and experience in nursing for which his mother had been so distinguished. He could scarcely be persuaded to go from the room, and never left her to sleep. He lay upon a couch at her side, and at her slightest call was on his feet, wide awake, ready to administer to her comfort.
Ladies whom she had nursed constantly sent baskets of provisions,—dainty little dishes to tempt her appetite,—while others came in person to inquire for her, and to sit for a few hours by her bed side.