Martin became the stay and comfort of his aunt in her old age; and the joy which he was the means of giving to her heart was like a deep and placid river which never ceases to flow.  Ah! there is a rich blessing in store for those who tenderly nurse and comfort the aged, when called upon to do so; and assuredly there is a sharp thorn prepared for those who neglect this sacred duty.  Martin read the Bible to her night and morning; and she did nothing but watch for him at the window while he was out.  As Martin afterwards became an active member of the benevolent societies with which his partner was connected, he learned from sweet experience that “it is more blessed to give than to receive,” and that “it is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting.”  Dear young reader, do not imagine that we plead in favour of moroseness or gloom.  Laugh if you will, and feast if you will, and remember, too, that “a merry heart is a continual feast;” but we pray you not to forget that God himself has said that a visit to the house of mourning is better than a visit to the house of feasting:  and, strange to say, it is productive of greater joy; for to do good is better than to get good, as surely as sympathy is better than selfishness.

Martin visited the poor and read the Bible to them; and in watering others he was himself watered, for he found the “Pearl of Great Price,” even Jesus Christ, the Saviour of the world.

Business prospered in the hands of Martin Rattler, too, and he became a man of substance.  Naturally, too, he became a man of great importance in the town of Bilton.  The quantity of work that Martin and Mr. Jollyboy and Barney used to get through was quite marvellous; and the number of engagements they had during the course of a day was quite bewildering.

In the existence of all men, who are not born to unmitigated misery, there are times and seasons of peculiar enjoyment.  The happiest hour of all the twenty-four to Martin Rattler was the hour of seven in the evening; for then it was that he found himself seated before the blazing fire in the parlour of the Old Hulk, to which Aunt Dorothy Grumbit had consented to be removed, and in which she was now a fixture.  Then it was that old Mr. Jollyboy beamed with benevolence, until the old lady sometimes thought the fire was going to melt him; then it was that the tea-kettle sang on the hob like a canary; and then it was that Barney bustled about the room preparing the evening meal, and talking all the time with the most perfect freedom to any one who chose to listen to him.  Yes, seven p.m. was Martin’s great hour, and Aunt Dorothy’s great hour, and old Mr. Jollyboy’s great hour, and Barney’s too; for each knew that the labours of the day were done, and that the front door was locked for the night, and that a great talk was brewing.  They had a tremendous talk every night, sometimes on one subject, sometimes on another;