CHAPTER V.

BRIGHTER DAYS.

Arthur was never lonely now; for Rover was constantly at his side, except in school, and he always went to the school-room door with him in the morning, and often when Arthur came out of school at night, he would find Rover standing by the door, waiting for him.  A happy dog was Rover, in his new home.  Mrs. Martin fed him with her own hand, and many a nice dainty did he get, which he was not accustomed to.  Arthur was such a sweet-tempered, obliging boy, so ready to obey her, and had such gentle, respectful manners, that the good old lady was glad to make Rover happy for his sake.  Obliging little boys almost always find that those they live with, are obliging too; while quarrelsome boys usually find it their fortune to fall among quarrelsome companions; for good temper and bad temper are both contagious and infect all those who come in contact with them.

On bright, cold winter mornings, after eating his nice breakfast, Rover would scamper off to school with Arthur.  He was in too fine spirits to walk by his side, so he would bound off before him, plunging into the snow drifts up to his neck; then bound back again, with a short quick bark, shaking himself from the feathery snow; and away again for another merry race.  If he was separated for an hour from Arthur, he would leap up at his return, and almost overwhelm him with his rough embraces.  But this seldom happened out of school hours, for let Arthur go where he would, to the barn, the brook, of an errand, or on a visit to his friend Theodore, there Rover was sure to follow.  Arthur would sometimes take him into his room at night and let him lie there, but Mrs. Martin did not approve of this, but as she was always up by day-light, she would open the door and Rover would go scampering up the stairs ready for a great frolic on Arthur’s bed.

As the school continued, Arthur became attached to his teacher and was quite a favorite with his schoolmates. “Little Arthur Hamilton” he was always called by them, not because there were not many other boys smaller than he, but from his gentleness and timid softness, he seemed one to be protected by them; and the roughest boy never thought of pushing and striking him.

Arthur made a visit of two days at home in the spring vacation.  His mother’s heart was cheered by the visible improvement in her boy; and she told him he had done much to make her happy, by rising above his weakness and gaining the victory over his besetting sin.  “Nothing,” she told him, “could ever grieve his mother’s heart like seeing her children do wrong; nothing ever make her so happy as their doing right.”