The Apple Dumpling and Other Stories for Young Boys and Girls | Page 3

softly?"
"No," said his Father, "you must not see her now; you must be very still
indeed. I see, my dear boy, that you have been rewarded for good
conduct in school; I am glad that I have so good a son. And now, Henry,
I know you love your Mother so much, that you will promise me to be
very still, and wait patiently until she is able to see you." As he said this,
he drew Henry close to him, and smoothed down his long curling hair,
and kissed his cheek.
Henry threw his arms around his Father's neck, and promised him; and

then, putting away his medal, he went softly, on tiptoe, up to his
play-room, and shutting the door, began to work at a ship that he was
rigging. He did not get on very fast, for he could not help thinking of
his dear Mother, and wishing he could see her. She had hemmed all the
sails of the ship for him, and he was going to name it the "Eliza," after
her.
The next morning Susan, the old nurse, knocked very early at the door
of the room where Henry slept. "Master Henry," said she, "what do you
think happened last night?"
"What did?" said Henry, sitting up in the bed; "is my Mother better?"
"Yes, she is better," replied Susan, "but do guess what has come.
Something that you have wished for very often. Something you can
play with, and take care of, and love more than you love your dog
Hector."
"Is it alive?" said Henry.
"Yes," replied Susan, "it is alive, and in your Mother's room."
"Can it be a brother--a real live brother?" cried Henry, jumping out of
bed, and running up to Susan.
"Yes, it is a brother--a real live brother!" said Susan, laughing.
"I've got a brother! I've got a brother--a real brother!" shouted Henry,
running up and down the room, clapping his hands, jumping over the
chairs, and making a terrible noise, for in his joy he hardly knew what
he was about.
"Oh, hush, Master Henry!" said Susan. "What a crazy little fellow! your
Mother is still very ill. Now dress yourself quickly and quietly, and you
shall see your little brother."
Henry trembled with joy, and in his haste he put his feet into the arms
of his jacket, and his arms into the legs of his trousers; but after a while

he managed to get them on right, and though he washed his face and
hands in a minute, and brushed his hair with the back of the brush, yet
he did not look so bad as you might suppose.
He went very softly into his Mother's room. It was darkened, and he
could not see very well. He went up to the side of the bed. His Mother
smiled, and said, "Come here, my son." Her face was pale, but it had a
very happy look, for in her arms, sweetly sleeping, was the little
brother that Henry had longed for. He had a sister, who was nearly his
own age, but he had always wished for a brother, and the brother had
come at last.
"Dear Mother, may I help you take care of my little brother?" said
Henry; "you know I am strong enough to hold him. I would not let him
fall for the world."
"Yes, dear boy," replied his Mother; "when he is a little older, I shall
have a great deal of comfort in trusting this dear little brother with you.
It is more necessary now than ever, my son, that you should try always
to be good, and to set a good example before your brother. He will be
sure to do just as you do. If you are a good boy, you will be a good man;
and how happy you will be, when you are grown up, to think that your
good example will have made your brother a good boy, and a good man
too. Now kiss me, and go and get your breakfast."
Henry kissed his Mother, and told her of his good conduct in school, at
which she was very glad, and then stooping down, he kissed the soft
cheek of the little sleeping baby, and went gently out of the room.
In a few weeks his Mother got quite well, and Charles (that was the
baby's name) began to laugh and play with his brother. Henry was
never so happy as when he was with little Charley. He always put him
to sleep at night. The dear little fellow would clasp his little hand tight
round one of Henry's fingers, and fall to sleep in his bed, while his
brother sang to him.
One day when Charles was about four years old, he