“Why, both of you have been crying! What has happened?”
“Nothing, mother; only Uncle Ben has been telling us a very sad story about a handsome sailor boy, who was killed at sea by a whale,” replied Frank.
“Who told you the story—Uncle Ben?” asked Mrs. Lee, very much surprised.
“Yes, mother,” replied Flora. “He is a real nice man, and not a bit cross when you don’t bother him.”
The children told their father and mother all about the events of the afternoon, and how kind Uncle Ben had been to them. Mr. Lee was very much pleased, as well as surprised, for he looked upon Uncle Ben just as nearly all the people of Riverdale did—as a hard and cross man.
But after what the children had told him, he felt very kindly towards the old man, and wanted to do something for him, so that he need not have to work so hard. He went to see Uncle Ben the next day, and told him how pleased the children had been with him.
A few months after this event Mr. Lee, with the help of his friends, got the place of Postmaster of Riverdale for Uncle Ben, and the old man sold his farm and moved into the village. This place gave him money enough to live without hard work. He had got it by being kind to the children, and after this he tried very hard to be kind to every body.
So you see how much good Flora did by going to Uncle Ben in the right way. She had conquered his cold heart, and the old man, feeling how much he owed to the children, became a great favorite among them.
Many a time, after Uncle Ben had sent off the mail, the children gathered together in the Post Office, to hear an interesting story of the sea; and even the old folks were glad to listen to them.
