Among his companions there was not one Joseph liked so well as Dexter Russel, a boy near his own age, who resided in the same block. This child, the son of watchful Christian parents, was a lad of ardent temperament and quick passions, but of generous, noble impulses, and perfectly truthful. If, as often happened, he had been guilty of breaking his teacher's rules, when questioned concerning it:
"Dexter, did you whisper? Did you take a book without permission?"
His cheek would flush, and his eye be cast down, but he would reply frankly,—
"Yes, I did."
Joseph and Dexter had each of them a hard India-rubber ball, with which they sometimes amused themselves out of school-hours.
One afternoon, Miss Sanborn, having an engagement, hurried to her boarding-place, the moment her little ones were dismissed, leaving some of the boys in the street near the schoolroom.
"Don't go home yet," exclaimed Dexter. "Let's play awhile."
Joseph readily agreed, and each taking out his ball, they commenced throwing them upon the pavement, eager to see who could catch it, when it bounded, and keep it from falling longer than the other.
"Go away from here!" called out the druggist, coming to the door. "That's a dangerous game so near the windows."
The boys ran farther along, but presently, in the excitement of the play, ran back again laughing in great glee as they followed their balls.