When the children were a little older, Georgie became a heavy expense in one respect:  he took no care of his clothes; consequently, he shone frequently in new ones, with was not the case with Eddie.  The boys grew apace.  Eddie was an increasing comfort, Georgie an increasing solicitude.  It was always sufficient to say, in answer to Eddie’s petitions, “I would rather you would not do it” —­meaning swimming, skating, picnicking, berrying, circusing, and all sorts of things which boys delight in.  But no answer was sufficient for Georgie; he had to be humored in his desires, or he would carry them with a high hand.  Naturally, no boy got more swimming skating, berrying, and so forth than he; no body ever had a better time.  The good Brants did not allow the boys to play out after nine in summer evenings; they were sent to bed at that hour; Eddie honorably remained, but Georgie usually slipped out of the window toward ten, and enjoyed himself until midnight.  It seemed impossible to break Georgie of this bad habit, but the Brants managed it at last by hiring him, with apples and marbles, to stay in.  The good Brants gave all their time and attention to vain endeavors to regulate Georgie; they said, with grateful tears in their eyes, that Eddie needed no efforts of theirs, he was so good, so considerate, and in all ways so perfect.

By and by the boys were big enough to work, so they were apprenticed to a trade:  Edward went voluntarily; George was coaxed and bribed.  Edward worked hard and faithfully, and ceased to be an expense to the good Brants; they praised him, so did his master; but George ran away, and it cost Mr. Brant both money and trouble to hunt him up and get him back.  By and by he ran away again—­more money and more trouble.  He ran away a third time—­and stole a few things to carry with him.  Trouble and expense for Mr. Brant once more; and, besides, it was with the greatest difficulty that he succeeded in persuading the master to let the youth go unprosecuted for the theft.

Edward worked steadily along, and in time became a full partner in his master’s business.  George did not improve; he kept the loving hearts of his aged benefactors full of trouble, and their hands full of inventive activities to protect him from ruin.  Edward, as a boy, had interested himself in Sunday-schools, debating societies, penny missionary affairs, anti-tobacco organizations, anti-profanity associations, and all such things; as a man, he was a quiet but steady and reliable helper in the church, the temperance societies, and in all movements looking to the aiding and uplifting of men.  This excited no remark, attracted no attention—­for it was his “natural bent.”

Finally, the old people died.  The will testified their loving pride in Edward, and left their little property to George —­because he “needed it”; whereas, “owing to a bountiful Providence,” such was not the case with Edward.  The property was left to George conditionally:  he must buy out Edward’s partner with it; else it must go to a benevolent organization called the Prisoner’s Friend Society.  The old people left a letter, in which they begged their dear son Edward to take their place and watch over George, and help and shield him as they had done.