Page:Anna Chapin--Half a dozen boys.djvu/144

126 were so anxious to escape being hurt. Was that quite worthy of my boy?”

“I suppose I’m cowardly and selfish,” said Fred rather bitterly. “What else?”

“A thoroughly wretched little boy,” answered Bess quickly. “I am not scolding you, Fred; only trying to help you. Now answer me frankly; if you had come down to see the boys, even if you did find it hard, wouldn’t you have been happier now than you are as it is?”

“I suppose so,” admitted Fred reluctantly. “But, truly, I didn’t mean to be hateful.”

“Neither does the soldier who runs away from his place, but he isn’t as brave a man as the one who stays. But, Fred, you can do these very boys a world of good, if you only try in the right way.”

How?”

“This way. If they can see you going about with them, patient and uncomplaining in your great trouble, it will teach them to bear their little ones in the same way. If they see you bright and cheerful, the old jolly Fred they used to know and love, they will feel there is something worth living for besides school and