PERHAPS my little reader thinks that if he were a boy like Ben he would have no trouble after he reached such a happy home as Wood Cottage. But that is a mistake. When little children or grown-up people start on the narrow pathway they meet many foes who try to hinder them and make them unhappy. First there is Satan himself, who does not honor the blood of Jesus, and who tries to make those unhappy who do. And then we find that though our sins are all forgiven, and there is no judgment for us, yet our sinful hearts are still with us, and unless we are watchful, Satan will tempt us to grieve the Savior.
Now I will tell you of some kinds of difficulties little boys and girls have to contend with.
Ben had lived very much as he pleased, or rather as best he could, in the old days when his parents were absent; and his thoughts were generally taken up with how to find bread for Kit and himself. Suddenly he was placed in a new home with kind friends, and food and clothes provided, and after a few days he almost longed to get roving about for himself again. Not that he really wanted to get away to Peters Street, but sometimes he cast a wistful eye back to the days when he brought home his coppers so proudly, and had little Kit "all to himself.”
Have we never after a change of circumstances looked back a little regretfully to the past scenes, though they were shady ones, when there was some little peculiar joy that made up for the trial? Yes, many of us have!
Kit was glad the first week or two to sit on her mother's knee, for she felt weak and weary, and it was a new pleasure for her to feel strong and loving arms around her. Ben, who was weeding the garden, could see them through the open door; and he would say to himself a little bitterly-"Kit doesn't want me now.”
But it was only sometimes he felt jealous, for there were happy busy mornings when Ben made himself useful chopping sticks, carrying in coal, cleaning windows, weeding and tidying up the garden, and Kit would sit in her little chair and watch him and say, from time to time, "You is the bestest boy for work, Ben.”
After his work was done he would put on the two children's sun hats, and take them away into the meadows to gather daisies; and then all three would be very happy together. Mrs. Gray said she found him a great help, and she didn't know what she would do without him, for he ran all her errands, and was "so handy on a washing day.”
A short distance along the road was a row of small houses, and Mrs. Gray knew by sight many of the people who lived there. One family named Snow had very often attracted her notice. It consisted of a father and mother and eight children. A very unruly family they were, but the fact gave the mother little concern. She took things "easy," and contented herself with putting the children out of doors when they "bothered" her, or giving an occasional whipping all round when needed. She didn't believe in much punishment, and therefore passed over falsehoods and small thefts and fits of temper, as necessary faults with children. "They would come out all right some day," she said.
The elder ones kept as much as possible out of her sight in play hours, and she did not know half the mischief they did. There was one of the elder boys named Jim, who teased Ben a great deal.
Jim found out that Ben had been a very poor boy, and had earned his living by selling matches, and it was a grand opportunity for him to turn tormentor.
He would take off his cap to Ben as he passed him in the road, and say-"Have you got any matches to sell today, I'm wanting a light for my pipe.”
And then when Ben reddened and looked angry, he would make a low bow, and say-"I beg your honor's pardon, I must have made a mistake; I see you are a grand gentleman with a new suit on.”
This sort of thing was very hard for Ben to bear; he had never been mocked at before. And one day, after Jim had been speaking in this way, Ben said to Kit-
"I'm going to pay him back, Kit. I'll give him something he'll never forget.”
“What will you give him, Ben, dear; something nice to make him sorry?" she asked.
"That's the trouble," muttered Ben, moodily. "I oughtn't to fight now. I've promised not to. And of course I want to please Jesus, but I can't bear it.”
Kit put her arms round the boy's neck and kissed him, and the anger melted away from his face.
"P'haps Jim will soon turn into a good boy," she said. "Let us ask Jesus to make him sorry.”
"That's the best way after all," answered Ben.
It was a bright sunny morning when Ben parted with Kit at the gate, and started for school for the first time.
"Be sure and watch for me when I come home," he said. Kit promised, and off he ran waving to her and the mother as long as he could.
Jim Snow attended the same school, and as he had been learning to read for three or four years, he was in one of the higher classes. After the teacher had examined Ben, he placed him at the top of the infant class. But he patted his head kindly and said, "You look a sharp boy, study hard and I will put you up higher.”
Ben would not have thought so much about being in the low class, for he was very anxious to get on, but when he raised his eyes, there was Jim looking through the glass partition of the next classroom at him, sneering and putting out his tongue and causing the others to laugh.
Ben tried not to look at or heed him, though he felt the insult very keenly.
The little fellow's heart swelled within him as he walked home, and some of the boys in the classroom ran by him crying, "Baby, baby.”
"I should like to show them I'm no baby," he said to himself, as he unconsciously clenched his fist.
A minute after, as he neared the cottage gate, Jim overtook him. Ben's anger rose as the boy asked if he would like to be carried home, as he was in the baby class; he surely was not able to walk alone.
"Be off, and stop your nonsense," said Ben, "or I will pay you back.”
Jim went on with his teasing talk, and Ben, forgetting all his good resolutions, flew at him. Of course, Jim returned the blow, and blow for blow was given, and for a minute the boys fought.
Ben was strong and fearless, but Jim was the bigger, though he was not nearly so brave, and he might have given in, but a cry from the gate of Wood Cottage recalled Ben to his senses, and at the same moment a hand was laid on his shoulder. A lady stood before the boys, saying, "Shame on you both, are you not afraid to stand fighting there with the eye of God looking upon you? and you are too big to strike such a little boy," she said, looking at Jim.
Ben's eyes turned towards the gate where Kit was standing with a distressed face. She had stopped screaming when they left off fighting, and now her arms were spread out appealingly to Ben.
Jim slunk off, muttering angry words. He was rather glad to escape, for his courage had nearly forsaken him, but, as he turned to go, Ben saw that his lip was bleeding.
Remorse set in directly; all his anger was gone, and Ben was miserable. He would have given all that he had now to live the last ten minutes over again. But that could not be; and Ben must reap what he had sown. He stood irresolute. The lady was beside him.
"Where do you live?" she asked, kindly. Something in the boy's sad face interested her, red and heated as it was with the last few minutes' work. That work had left its effect in Ben's face, and he held his handkerchief to a scratch on his neck.
Ben glanced down the road where Kit stood waiting anxiously.
"There," he answered, pointing with his hand, "but I've a good mind to run away and never come back; I would in a minute if it wasn't for that little girl standing there. She would be awfully sorry, but I'm not fit to live in a place like that. You see, I can't keep my temper down.”
The lady put her hand on his shoulder, and drew him along with her towards Kit as she said "There is One who would help you, little boy, if you would ask Him.”
The tears rolled down Ben's cheeks.
"That's the worst bit of all," he answered.
"How so, my boy?”
"Because He's been-so-good, and I've tried to do what He wants me to, and now I've spoiled it all.”
They had reached the cottage gate, and Kit had slipped her hand into Ben's, and looked up wonderingly into the lady's face, while she drew some frightened sobs.
"Tell your mother I'm sorry, very sorry, Kit. I'll come back to you soon," said Ben, as he put Kit's hand gently on one side. "But I can't come in now;" and he nodded to the lady. He took a few quick steps forward, and was out of reach but not out of hearing as both cried after him, "Don't go away," and the stranger added, "Be a brave little soldier for Jesus, and don't run away.”
But Ben, though he hesitated a moment, went on with rapid steps towards the country. Soon he began to run, and, after a few minutes, they lost sight of him. Then they went inside the cottage and found Mrs. Gray hushing baby Harry to sleep. She laid him down and then turned with surprise to hear what Mrs. Frankham had to tell of Ben and his fight with Jim Snow.
"I hope you will excuse me for intruding upon you," she said, "but I am really sorry for the little fellow. I believe he was teased by the big boy, for I had been watching them for some minutes; his temper got the better of him, but I think he is very grieved about it.”
Mrs. Gray thanked Mrs. Frankham for coming in, and then told her all she knew of Ben's history, and how he had only been with her for a short time.
"He is a very wise little fellow, and so kind and willing. We are very fond of him, and should be sorry, indeed, if any harm came to him. But I think he'll come back, for the love he bears our Kittie," she said.
"Him said he'd come back," cried Kit, with quivering lips and eyes brimful of tears.
"So he will, dear. Don't fret," said her mother, "it isn't good for you.”
Before Mrs. Frankham left, she said that when passing again she would like to call and speak a word to the little fellow, for she felt sure he was trying to do right from what he had said to her.
"You have taught him about the Lord Jesus, Mrs. Gray?”
"I sometimes think he has taught me more, for many a word he has said about Jesus has gone deep into my heart.”
"Poor little fellow, he will be sorry; we have such a foe to contend with. Tell him, for me, that if he loves the Savior he must take Him as his Captain, and He will give him strength to stand as a good soldier, and not to yield to Satan and be overcome.”