Brotherly Love | Page 3

you, my sons. We hope it will not be long before
we return," and he waved his hand to bid good bye. Marten had run

himself out of breath, so he was not able to answer his father, and he
was not sorry to stand still an instant or two to watch the carriage out of
sight, and give time for Reuben to overtake him, for the child could not
keep up with his brother's quick running. And even now Marten might
have read this lesson, had he been wise enough so to do that already, he
had been led away by temptation to forget his brother, and that though
he had done so, Nero had been more faithful than himself; for Nero,
though he could have outran Marten, yet would not forsake the child,
but restrained his impatience that he might keep near the little one, who
ever needed a protector by his side, for the child was young, and his
mother had perhaps reared him too delicately.
Reuben had never before been separated from his mamma, and he was
half inclined to cry, and perhaps fret at her absence; but Marten, who
was a very kind brother, and really loved the child tenderly, contrived
so to divert his attention that he soon forgot his troubles.
Marten was so bent upon behaving well during his mamma's and papa's
absence and of fulfilling every duty, that though Reuben wished to stay
out all morning and play, his brother would not allow it, but persuaded
him to go in with him and say his lessons, as if his mamma had been at
home. But Marten had taken upon himself much more than was
required of him by his parents, and it was not without difficulty, even
on the first day, determined as he was upon the point, that he could
fulfil all his intentions, for Marten had not taken into consideration that
if he thoroughly devoted himself to Reuben, he could not spend his
time in learning his own lessons, which usually occupied the best hours
of the morning. The doves could be fed whilst Reuben was by his
side--indeed Reuben could be very useful in this matter, for he had
been accustomed to visit the aviary daily with his mamma, and the
pretty birds knew him and were not as afraid of him as they were of his
big brother Marten. So Reuben fed the doves himself, and stroked their
soft feathers, and washed out their little tin in which the water was put
for them to drink; and he placed the food for them in its right corner,
and he swept out the floor of the aviary, for he was small enough to
stand upright within it, and he knew how to do it without frightening
the birds. So far all was well, and all was well too whilst Reuben was

saying his lessons; but when Marten wanted to study his Latin exercise,
the child was so restless and troublesome, that it was only by speaking
very decidedly to him--indeed almost crossly--that Marten could get a
moment to himself.
But even then Marten had to shut up his book somewhat hastily, for
Reuben began to cry for his mamma, who never spoke sharply to him,
and was always ready to attend to the little one by a kind look or tender
word.
Marten was, however, so satisfied with himself in having accomplished
all his plans for the day, that he did not see how he had given way to
temptation in being cross when provoked; and as he put Reuben to bed,
for he chose to do it himself, he could not help saying aloud, "I wish
mamma could have followed me unseen all day: how pleased she
would have been with me, for I have done all I meant to do, even
though I was tempted more than once to leave something undone."
The next morning Marten arose, perhaps not quite so earnest in his
intentions as the day before, but still there was only a slight
disinclination to fulfil all his duties--so slight, indeed, that he would
have been very angry if any one had spoken to him about it, and hinted
at the truth. In this frame of mind, though most things were done, some
few were slurred over, particularly the Latin Exercise and Grammar,
for Marten's papa had not set him any task, and had even said Marten
might have a holiday during his absence; and at any other time the boy
would have been glad of this indulgence, but now he fancied himself so
good, that he believed he could do everything, and everything well.
"I will do an exercise to-morrow, Reuben," said Marten. "Papa does not
expect any done, and if I have one for