Page:The Poor Rich Man, and the Rich Poor Man.djvu/101

Rh feebly moved towards the cart, expressed, more than words could.

"Where can he sleep, father?! whispered William, anticipating some little home perplexities.

"I don't know, my son; but mother will contrive."

"Oh, so she will—mother always does contrive every thing for everybody."

Most, most happy are those children who have William's confidence in the willing, active benevolence of their parents. The Aikins had hit on the right and only sure mode of teaching goodness.

"Who upon 'arth has Harry Aikin brought home with him?" exclaimed Uncle Phil, who, as Aikin's cart halted before the door, sat at the window, as usual, trotting the baby on his knee. Susan Aikin was busy at her needle, and did not look up till Anne exclaimed—

"It's some poor gentleman, mother!"

She then rose, and seeing her husband aiding the stranger, and William standing with the door wide open, his kind heart shining through his bright face, she opened the inner door, drew Charlotte's rocking-chair to the fire, threw a dry stick into the stove, and received the stranger with that expression of cheerful, sincere hospitality, which what is called high breeding only imitates.

"Sarvent, sir," said Uncle Phil, who would have been nowise disconcerted if Aikin had brought home a regiment. "Make your manners, Phil."

Little Phil crowed out his welcome, while Aunt Lottie warmed a cup of her particularly nice gruel, acordial she saw the poor man wanted.

Aikin took his wife aside to explain the