“God bless you for that word, Josiah!” exclaimed George, in a feeble voice, as he sank back exhausted on the pillow. “How little have I deserved this kindness from you. Oh, may I never be tempted to forfeit your esteem for the future!”
“After this worthy resolution, friend George,” said Josiah, playfully putting his finger on his patient’s lips, “I must insist on silence, for it cannot be very prudent for thee to converse on any subject in thy present weak state.”
George smiled at this restraint on his tongue; but he very patiently submitted to the young Quaker’s request.
Most sincerely did George promise amendment for the future; and Josiah was not backward in assisting him in the arduous task of self-improvement.
Whilst watching by his sick pillow, for George was confined to his bed many weeks, Shirley read to him passages from the best of our moral works, and daily portions of the divine gospels, whilst, in his simple language, he set before him the dreadful consequences which generally followed disobedience to parents, and keeping company with vicious people.
Every day added to young Hope’s mental improvement; but his health remained in so precarious a state, that a decline was apprehended, and Mr. Hope granted Josiah’s earnest request to let his son remain with them till he should have gained sufficient strength to return to school.
Indeed, George had grown so fond of Josiah, that he could not feel happy a moment out of his company. Often, when Shirley was busily employed in his studies, George would silently watch his mild sweet countenance, till he felt the tears tremble in his eyes, when he recalled the unworthy treatment the noble youth had experienced at his hands.
Yet, though he deeply repented of the past, George could never summon up courage enough to inform Josiah of his baseness in destroying his trees. A hundred times a day he was on the point of declaring his guilt; but false pride always hindered him from confessing so degrading an action.
As the spring advanced, he would rise early in the morning, and work with Josiah in the garden, and help little Rachel to feed her rabbits, and plant and tie up the flowers; and these small jobs he did with greater alacrity, hoping that the earnestness with which he performed any little office towards the re-embellishment of the garden would, in some measure, atone for the wanton mischief he had been guilty of in the summer; but he never entered the garden without a secret sigh, or saw Josiah labouring to restore it to its former beauty, without bitter feelings of self-condemnation.
Pat Lary came every day to inquire after the young Squire’s health, and George never shook hands with the honest creature without the keenest remorse, while Simpson, who had been the author of all his vices, was heard to say in the village, “that it was a pity young Shirley saved him from being drowned; for he was a wicked lad, and he was sure he would never come to a good end.”