It was hard to tell his affectionate little brother that he had been so very angry with him for his supposed injury, that he had purposely destroyed the wagon from which he had expected so much pleasure; but Herbert, though often hasty and passionate, was an honest boy, and he answered frankly,—
“I have done very wrong to-day, Henry. I supposed that you had taken my kite without leave, and had carelessly spoiled it, and I felt so angry that I tossed the wagon upon the ground and broke it; but, if you will forgive me, I will make you a much larger and better one to-morrow.”
Henry readily expressed his forgiveness, and Herbert, of his own accord, sought his father and told him “the other side of the story.”
For some time the little incident of the kite was well remembered, and served as a warning to Herbert to be less hasty in judging evil of others; but as the recollection of it faded from his mind, he was frequently led into the same error, and often had cause to repent of his rash decisions.
Among his schoolfellows was the son of a poor widow, who had, until lately, labored hard with the neighboring farmers to aid his mother in the support of her little family. His admittance into the school occasioned considerable surprise among the scholars, who had hitherto regarded him as on a footing with their fathers’ workmen, rather than on an equality with themselves; and there were some who were wicked and foolish enough to wonder what business William Camden had to attend the best school in the neighborhood, and where he got the money to pay for his tuition.
The greater part, however, were pleased that he could have so good an opportunity for acquiring knowledge, and were surprised to find that he had already made great progress in many branches which they were pursuing.
Herbert Archer seemed particularly pleased with the studiousness and good behavior of the widow’s son, and with the consent of his parents frequently aided him in various ways, by presents of suitable books and other things necessary to his advancement.
There was one circumstance, however, in regard to William for which Herbert found it difficult to account. He was frequently absent from school for whole days, and when his companions inquired the cause, he would answer indefinitely that his time had been much occupied. The teacher expressed no displeasure on these occasions, which had the effect of assuring the scholars that all was right, until one unfortunate day, when a boy, who had appeared to regard William with contempt and dislike from his first entrance into the school, made a discovery which he eagerly communicated to the other pupils, hoping thereby to convince them that his opinion was well founded.
“Who would like to know the reason why William Camden stays from school so often?” he exclaimed, as he entered the school-room, where many of the boys were assembled.
A large group immediately gathered around him, and he continued in a sarcastic, contemptuous tone,—