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LONDON DKAN AKD MONDAY, THREADKEEDLE-STREBT ; AND A. K. NEWMAN & Co. LEADENHALL.STREET. 1834. V-*' f / / 'y/t e> ^ /, »Ji»V / y 7^ :w' ■ -rt' \ HUGH LATIMER; f^' OR, TUK SCHOOL-BOYS^ FRIENDSHIP. ** What is the matter, that you sit away from the fire, moping in that dark comer, Hugh?" said Mrs. Latimer to her son; a fine, tall youth, of twelve years old. "No- thing," replied Hugh, without rais- ing his eyes, which w^ere quite fiill of tears, from the book he wa3 studying. " F It, my dear child, you cannot see where you are sitting; come here, and tell your mother wlmhas ^^ifSended you.* ''^"S-. %r\ ■J ,-w-*' 4 HUGH LATIMER. " Dear mother^ I do not like to tell you," returned Hugh, without moving from his former position. ^' I fear," resumed Mrs. Latimer, "that you do not like going to school; but you should remember, if your lessons are more difficult than those you learned when under my care, that time will reward you for the pains you now take." "I like learning very well, but not learning at that school," replied her son. "And why not?" " Dearest » mother, I cannot tell you, but I shall always hate it." " I am afraid you are a very idle, wayward boy," said his mother; " I had not expected this, after the many promises you made me that HUGH LATIMER. 5 you would attend the better to your studies." ^^ It is not learning that I dislike/' said Hugh, as he again turned his eyes towards his suspected lessons. Mrs. Latimer was vexed that her son should appear so obstinate; and turning to his uncle, an old veteran soldier, who was seated by the fire, leaning on a crutch, she said, "I cannot think what is the matter with Hugh ; I fear he has played truant, or joined his school-fellows in some mischief; and that it is the chas- tisement which he n^ltt'^' ^^^ ^^ is anticipating with so many tears/' When Hugh found that his mo- ther suspected him of misc6ii$ict. Ma grief redoubled, and he sobbed B3 M' 6 HUGH LATIMER. " Leave the boy to me, sister/' said old Mark Latimer ; ^^ if lie has done any thing amiss, I am sure he will tell his poor uncle." Shortly after, Mrs. Latimer left the room, and the soldier, who had been, for some time, watching his nephew's changing countenance, called him to his side. "Latimer, have you committed any fault? now tell me, truly; for you know when you speak the truth you need not fear punishment from your kind mother, much more from me. »> idoi " I have done nothing wrong that I know of," replied his nephew. " Why do you cry, then? if it is no crime you have committed, you need not be ashamed of telling me." .,#t- HUGH L4TJMER. 7 Latimer looked wistfully up in his uncle's face: "Uncle, I do, in- deed, love you and my mother dear- ly; but I do not like to live in a shop." Mr. Latimer now looked surprised, and jrather angry. " And pray, sir, what are your reasons for despising that which maintains you and your mother?" Hugh looked very foolish, but, af* ter a short silence, he replied "Be- fore I went to that hateful school, I did not know the difference between my mother's keeping a fH^Dj^j or liv- ing in any other house. I used to be as happy as the day was long; sitting on the little counter, and watching my mother wait on the cMtoniers ; but now, I would ratteeir 8 HiTGH LATIMER. die, than live iu a shop.-*-I hate the very sight of it.'* " Then, I suppose," returned his uncle, very seriously, *"that you hate your poor mother, and me; I am glad, however, that you had the grace not to tell her the cause of your tears. Pray, who taught you these distinctions of rank?" "Oh! uncle, all the boys laugh at me, and mock me. — ^Th% call me a beggar's brat, because I am on the foundation of the school, and my mother does not pay a large sum of mone]|i|rea'i'ly for my learning, as thoir parents do. When I come into the play-grotinds, they whis^ per amongst themselves so loud^ that I hear theith, ^Here comes old Mother Latimer's son! the Wi>man * ; HUGH LATIMER. 9 who sells threads, needles, and tape. Instead of sending him amongst gentlemen^ she had better bind him ^prentice to a tailor ; then he can be supplied with thread from the shop/ Oh! uncle, I am so wretched, I hate my life," , " My dear boy,'* said his uncle, "these trials are somewhat severe for a child; and there are too many men, who have not fortitude enough to perform their duty, because they are sneered at by the weak and fool- ish. But, Hugh Latimer, if you pursue virtue, and stedf%stly adhete to the paths of truth, even if you were a beggar's brat, you would, by this course, gain the esteem of the good and sensible part of inankind, and need not fear the ridicule of -■ ¥4 10 HUGH LATIMER. » ^ c ■ those who wantonly commit crime, because they think that their rank shields them.'* ^^ But, dear uncle, will not you take me from that hajbefiil school?" '4^Certainly not. A friend, by great interest, got you placed on the foundation of Mr. Vemotfs free- school, and your poor mother can scarcely afford to clothe, much less to pay the expenses of schooling for you. Now, Latimer, let me ask you one question: Which would you prefer, to gain your living in this shop, or as a gentleman?" "As a gentleman!"- returned Hugh, indignant at the idea of the shop. * *^ Then," resumed his uncle^ " yi^ must subdue this false%ride ; HUGH LATIMER, 11 crime, r rank ot you lool?'* id, by [ on the s free- ler can ach less ling for e ask would 4ride; and as those who laugh at you will neither keep company with you, nor provide for your wants, would you not be very foolish to give up an advantage to please them?" Now Hugh looked very simple, and hardly knew what answer to make ; he stood by his uncle's side, with his arms folded, and h|& eyes bent on the ground. "Come," said his good uncle; "I see you repent of your folly; bring your stool, and, whilst your mother is absent, I will give you a short sketch of the hardships that your brave father and I had to go through, long before we were your Ifip^K gladly took his seat by his unel#pj§ide; and after pausing a 12 HUGH LATJMER. few minutes, Mark Latimer re- lated the following story:— wy ^^ Your grandfather was a farmer in Essex, and I have heard him say^ of a good family, reduced in cir- cumstances; yet, though poor, he contrived to maintain his family respectably. But misfortunes are incidental to every station of life* One bitter frosty night, when we were all in bed, and asleep, a fire broke out in my father's premises ; nor could its dreadful progress be stopped till every thing was con- sumed. All the unthreshed corn, the produce of which was to have^^ been our whole year's support, and to have paid my poor father'^s rent, was entirely lost: but, what was filr HUGH LATIMER. 13 5r re- farmer im say^ in cir- oor, he femily aes are of life- rhen we ), a fire •emises ; ;ress be as con- id corn, to liave^ >rt, and fr's rent, was iar worse, he was so shockingly burnt in striving to save his children and property from the devouring ele- ment, that he was carried on a hur- dle to the next village, and never survived that dreadful night. ^^ Hugh Latimer 1 I, like you, was but a child; but I shall never forget^ the screams of my pdor mother, when she found her husband was a corpse, and herself and children ex- posed naked to the piercing cold« "Some kind neighbours took us in for the night ; but as all the little property my father had been saving for years, as a provision for his chil- ^dren, was lost in the flames, we had no expectation but of going to the poor-house. Fortunately for us, my Ler*s landlord was a kind-heartf d c >w . H HUGH LATIMEU. man. He was so good as to raise a few pounds amongst his friends, to clothe us, and to bury my poor father. He likewise gave my mo- ther a small hovel on his estate, rent free, to live in. "There were five of us, and I, who was the eldest of the party, but a boy of eleven years of age; yet, with these hands, I contrived to earn the scanty pittance of bread for my distressed mother and family; and if I saw a smile upon her sorrowfal countenance, I was more, than re- paid. I not only worked the live- long day, but often till midnight, wheaiv the moon was clear, in dig-^ ging pe^t off the cold moors. " When I had reached my ms^i teenth year, I entirely supported Myi HUGH LATIMER. m family, with the assistance of your dear father, whom I loved with al- most parental affection, for he was many years younger than myself. You complain, Latimer, who have never known the want of bread, or necessary comfort. — I have known a few potatoes serve us from week*s end to week's end; yet T never once murmured, though I might have gone to service, and, by that means, have lived well; but I preferred staying at home with my mother, and my half-famished brothers and sisters, who looked up to me, as to a father. "Like you, I was proud, and thc^ght I remained independant wbifet I worked in the open fields, fll^iir father had great ^latural abili- 16 HUGH LATIM£R. ties, and a spirit that would have done honour to any station. Some one showed him how to join letters together; and in the dark winter nights^ when we could not see to work, he not only taught himself to read, but me to write. Ah! my child! you want for no comfort, if you are poor. We never had a fire by which to warm our half-frozen limbs. The poor girls used to get up at four o'clock of a cold winter's morning, to spin, by the feeble light of a lamp ; and I, though I abhorred the employment, mended the shoes, and botched the clothes of the neigh- bouring peasants. This was the life I led, till I was nineteen years q| age; when my unremitting toil^s^ put a Stop to, and the dear being^||te|| , 'mm HUGH LATIMEK. 17 whom I had unrepiningly worked, were swept away from me by the small pox. "My mother died first, and then the tender girls ; for we had not the means to provide them with the common necessaries of life. " I thought my heart would have broken quite, the first time my bro- ther Hugh and I sat down alone> m our now miserable hovel. "All my labours then seemed light; all the cares that I had en- dured, nothing. Oh! how I missed, in that dreary moment, the cheerfdl prating of the dear girls, over their spinning-wheels. Even the port^ half-starved cat, looked so forlorii and miserable, that the sight of her renewed our sorrow. c3 18 HUGH L4TIMER. " Your father, too, wept bitterly; at length, starting up, he cried, ^ I cannot live thus; Mark, there is a regiment of soldiers passing through the village, on their way for embark* ation, — I will be a soldier.* " He rushed out of the house ; I followed to persuade him not to go ; but could not overtake him until he 'had enlisted; — a few moments after- wards saw me follow his example." "Then my father was a soldier!" exclaimed Latimer eagerly starting ^p. " He was; and as brave a one as ever went into battle. It is useless to tell you all the trials we went through, in our profession ; the life of a common soldier, on actual ser- vice in a foreign country, is a con- HUGH LATIMBR. 19 tinned series of privation, suffering, and hardship, too dreadful to be de- scribed. "After many years of hard ser- vice, both in Germany and Spain, we both attained the rank of ser- geant. My brother, like his brave commander, the Earl of Peterbo* rough, possessed a daring courage ; he thrice saved the life of that great * nobleman, at the imminent risk of - his own ; and wa^ presented with a commission as a reward for his ser- vices. ^ " Here he had new mortifications to encounter ; the officers, consider- ing him beneath them in birth, would not associate with him; but your father had ambition, and a spi- rit that^ had he lived, would have 20 HUGH LATIMER. H made his way in spite of opposition. Such a spirit his son ought to possesss.'* Here Hugh blushed deeply; and his uncle continued:— " From those who looked down on him, your father kept himself proud- ly aloof; and in the performance of his duty, he held in contempt the sneers of his less high-minded com- rades. ^^ It was in Spain that he married your mother, who was the daughter of a lieutenant in our company ; and her father never forgave her for the choice she had made. You were bom in the camp, amidst the hor- rors of war; and, whilst yet a little wailing infant, your mother had thie anguish of beholding her husband HUGH LATIMER. 21 brought into the tent' a mangled corpse. I thought she would have died ; but the human frame is firmer under the pressure of misfortunes, than udder the inroads of disease. Our officers, in compassion to Mrs. Latimer's situation, raised a sub- scription amongst themselves, which enabled her to return to England; and, with the help of a small pen- sion, she was glad to open this shop to keep herself and her ungrateful little boy from starving." The tears sprung to the eyes of Hugh Latimer, who was not a lit- tle affected by the sad story of his father's sufferings. "And when did you, my dear uncle, leave the army?" n 22 HUGH L/\T1M£U. 'f Not till after the battle of Al- manza^ in which I lost my leg, and was thereby rendered unfit for ser- vice. I have little doubt but that I might have gained a commission, had I thought fit to persevere ; but after the death of my brother, I was careless of what became of me. Like you, my dear boy, I was too proud to bear the insolence of those who actually were my inferiors in merit: You see what my false pride has brought me to ; instead of living thus poorly with your dear mother, I might have been the means of supporting you both in plenty, and have gloried in beholding my little Hugh equal his regretted father in worth." And he shall do so, yet," cried Si HUGH LATIM£R. 23 Hugh Latimer, flinging his arms round the veteran's neck ; and wip- ing away the tears which, in spite of himself, glistened in Mark Lati- mer's eyes. "You supported my father in his youth, and I will learn night and day, that I may be able to maintain my dear uncle in his old age.** "Bless you! bless you 1 my boy; and a good and gracious God will add his to my feeble blessing, if you do your duty, and walk uprightly in that station of life to which it has pleased his Almighty providence to call you," replied his uncle, folding Latimer to his heart. At this moment, his mother en- tered the room, when Latimer, fling- ing himself into her arms, kissed 24 HUGH LATIMER. her a thousand times^ exclaiming^ " Dearest mother, 1 will be a good boy; I will never repine at going to school again.'* Mrs. Latimer embraced him tenderly. "I suppose, brother, I have to thank you for the change in my little boy's sentiments?" A melancholy smile passed over the veteran's fine features, as he re- sumed his pipe, and Hugh returned to his tasks with double diligence. The next morning Latimer was one of the first at school; as he passed through the play-ground, he was greeted, as usual, by the boarders, with, "Well, Latimer: how many yards of tape have you cut this morning?" — "How many balls of worsted have you wound?" ^ HUGH LATIMER. 25 ^* How many pounds of plums have you weighed up?" — ^^ Whilst another with, what he meant to be, wit, said with a sly glance — " and how many have you eat?" — ^^ Why child," cried a third, — " you can hardly have had time to learn your lessons, as the old woman, your mo- ther, keeps no shopboy." " Oh, you forget," said Mat* Jackson, "that limping old jockey, with his fur cap, and his fierce dark eyes." At this insult, on the wounds his uncle had received in the service of his country, the indignation of Lati^ mer could no longer be restained; and darting forward, he knocked the^ boy down, — a roar of laughter im- mediately burst from his comrades. 26 HUGH LAT1M£R. " Master Jackson," exclaimed Latimer, — " you are beneath con- tempt, and I am sorry that I have defiled my hands with striking you.'' Now Jackson was a great coward ; and though he could sneer, he dared not fight, and on this score, he was glad to pocket all his aflfronts, and slowly rising from the ground, he wiped away, with the greatest un- concern, the dirt off the knees of histrowsers. " Never mind, Mat," cried a tall- er boy, " the fellow would be glad of your buying a farthing cake of his beggarly mother.'* ^ - " Nay," returned Hugh, ^4f she were indeed a beggar, the poorest descendant of the noble house of *)6 HUGH LATIMER. 27 Latimer, shall be superior to a Smith, or a Jackson!" "Ha! ha, ha," reiterated his in- sulting compeers, " see what a long pair of ears our ass has got," — " i wonder," said Smith, " where the child learned these quality airs ; not certainly, whilst he waited behind his mother's counter." " There, Smith," replied Jackson, " I wonder how you can waste your words on the little plebeian; why do not you leave to his own sub- lime meditations, the noble descend- ant of the house of Latimer?" Just then the school-bell rang, and the scholars hurried to their re- spective forms. Whilst in school, Latimer heard one of the boys whisper to another 28 HtJGH LATIMER. that sat next him— "Do you see that handsome boy who is talking to Mr. Vernon? his uncle brought him here yesterday, to be a parlour boarder. They say he is heir to a great fortune." The other boy raised his eyes, and Hugh could not refrain from the like curiosity; they fell on a tall gentlemanly youth of his own age; the noble expression of whose open and beautiful countenance, more forcibly declared his rank, than the wealth that he heard he was en^ titled to — "Happy boy," thought Hugh, " how will you be courted, and admired; not sneered at, and insulted, as I am!" Latimer had never been repri- manded for neglecting his lessons. HUGH LVTIMER. 29 during the half year he had been at school ; but always got the praises of the second master, under whose care he was. Mr. Manby was an excellent young man, and rewarded his scholars according to their me- rit, having been himself educated on the foundation of that school. Latimer happened to say his les- sons that day extremely well, and Mr. Manby, as he left the school, turned to the young gentlemen of his class, saying, — " I wish, gentle- men, that you would follow the ex- ample of Latimer; he is the best boy in the third form."—" Y-e-s," exclaimed the head boy of that form, with so strong a sneer, that the insult passed through the whole class. — " Never mind, Latimer,'* d3 30 HUGH LATIMER. said the good usher, (who too well understood their meaning), as he closed the door after him — " you do your duty ; and I am happy to say, that you are an ornament to this school." Directly the masters were gone, the whole group burst into an in- sulting laugh — and Jackson said, loud enough for the rest to hear — '^ Shall we hang him up, by cot- ton, thread, or tape? but I fear the ornament is too heavy to be sus- pended by any thing but rope-yarn." Their tasks being completed, the great bell summoned the happy boys to the play-ground ; but Hugh felt too wretched to play, and too low spirited to return home directly ; seating himself, therefore, under a^ ,■>.'*■ HUGH LATIMER. 3t tree, apart from the rest, he wa^ohed the groups of boys that leapf d ex- ultingly past him, some wit^^ oops, some with balls^ and some engaged in the active sport of leap-frog; whilst others, older and more mer- cenary, were employed in changing away trinkets and trifles, which their kind friends had given them at parting; this was a practice Hugh thought so contemptible, that no persuasion could ever induce him to join in it. Whilst his eyes wan- dered from boy to boy, he felt some one pull his sieve, and on turning round, he was not 9, little surprised to see the handsome youth he had noticed in school.— " My name is. Montrose Grahame," said the young gentleman, holding out his hand at 32 HUGH LATIMER. the same time; — "I have shaken hands with all the gentlemen in the school but you; and I would rather be friends with you, than with any of the rest." "Not when you know me/' re- plied Hugh, drawing back. "And why not?" returned the other — "How! — do you mean to refuse my hand?" I am poor — 1 am not a gentle- replied Latimer^ a deep blush suflfusing his cheeks. "You have no knowledge of Montrose Grahame, if you think that poverty could alter his opinion." The eyes of Latimer kindled with pleasure. "Master Grahame, I have beea in this school nearly half a yeari*. (( man !" HUGH LVTIMER. 33 and you are the first person that ever spoke kindly to me, or with- out insult." "Then I will be your friend,** cried the impetuous Montrose, — " I will fight for you; I will make them treat you with the respect that I am sure you deserve." Latimer shook his head. "You know I heard what Mr* Manby said of you, as he quitted the school-room." "You likewise heard the sneers of my gentlemen compeers," re- turned Latimer. " I did, and should like to know their reasons." Hugh fixed his eyes on the ground, and remained silent. " Have not I told you, I shall 34 HUGH L.ATIi\l£U. not love you the less for being poor?" said Montrose tenderly. "I do not doubt your goodness," replied Hugh sorrowfully: "you might not mind poverty, but your rank is high; and, before those in the same station as yourself, you might not like to own acquaintance with a boy, whose mother keeps a small shop: and, Montrose Gra- hame, the blood of a Latimer is too proud to be reckoned a disgrace to any one." " You shall never be reckoned so by me," returned the other; "I honour you for your spirit, I love you for your independence; from this moment we are friends, on the word and the hand of a Grahame." Latimer, the happy Latimer, re-^ HUGH LATIMER/ 33 turned with wanlath the friendly pressure of the high-spirited boy, and that day he returned home^ ex- ulting in his good fortune, forget^ ting all his former mortifications, in the delightful idea of having founds at last, a friend. Weeks and months passed away, and Montrose Grahame and Hugh Latimer became inseparable com* panions ; together they pursued their studies, together drew plans of fu- ture glory; whilst both being boys of high carriage, their comrades dared not so easily aflFront them, though they gave them the nick name, amongst themselves, of Ba- laam and his Ass. Now Montrose felt these things more keenly than Latimer; he ;^6 HUGH LATIM£H. hated to be laughed at; an insult addressed to him^ was followed by a word and a blow; but the blow was generally struck first, and his anger spake afterwards, and, though truly noble, he had many faults. He loved Latimer, and shielded him from ill-usage, but when engaged in conversation with gentlemen of his own rank, he felt a secret mor- tification in the lowly station of his young friend, and though he was far too generous to show it openly, he did not feel it the less. One afternoon, which was a holi- day ; as Montrose and Latimer were walking up and down the play ground, arm in arm together, their attention was suddenly drawn to a black youth, who entered the bounds HUGH LATIMEU. 37 with a basket of cakes on hid head. *^Who buy, who buy? — Little massa^ buy cake of poor Blackey?" It happened to be the hour when the day-scholars generally dispersed to their respective homes, and they were gathered together in an idle ring, discussing the manner in which they intended spending the afternoon, prepatory to their leav- ing the play-ground. Idleness has well been denominated the root of all evil: the minds of young peo- ple, when unoccupied, are too apt to waste their energies in unprofitable thoughts, which often lead to the commission of mischievous and cruel actions. The black youth had scarcely en- 38 HUGH LATIMKK. tered the ground, before he was sur- rounded by a group of these idlers, who unfeelingly remarked on the dingy colour of his skin, and asked him a thousand trifling, and imper- tinent questions. One foolishly said, that "He ought to go to school, to learn gram- mar:" another, "That a magpie could speak better English:'* but Jackson, more alert than the rest, cried out, "Come, boys, we have no money to lay out this afternoon, so let's expel him." Then springing suddenly past the negro, he dexterously struck the arm which upheld the basket he carried on his head, and the whol© contents were instantly strewed on the ground; cakes, plums, and HUGH LATIMKK. 39 oranges, were scattered promiscu- ously into the dirt; and those which fell on the grass, were seized upon and instantly demolished by the un- thinking beings, who never paused to consider the cruelty and disho- nesty of their conduct. What was sport to them, was agonizing to the feelings of the poor negro. He stood for some moments stupified with amazement, gazing with vacant eyes upon the wreck of his property trampled thus wan- tonly beneath* their feet. At length the full sense of his misfortune sud- denly rushed upon his mind; utter- ing a wild and piercing cry, he sank down upon the ground, and burying his head between his knees, wept aloud. 40 HUGH LATJMER. Some of the young gentlemen, whose hearts were not yet steeled to this pathetic appeal to their humanity, appeared sorry for the mischief they had done, and weite ashamed of their past conduct ; but the promoters of this cruel frolic, not in the least abashed, now tried, by every method they could suggest, to induce the negro to leave the play-ground ; but the poor fellow was so overwhelmed with grief, that he appeared perfectly deaf to their arguments ; and when they had recourse to threats, he only redoubled his lamentations. " Who has been so cruel as to ill- treat this poor black?" cried Mon- trose, advancing with Latimer to the scene of action. — "Surely, HUGH LATIMER. 41 gentlemen, you cannot have been guilty of such a base, and cowardly action?" '^It can be no business of your's," cried Jackson, reddening ; "we have not been ill-treating you : so I think you had better look tb your own affairs, and not trouble your head with what does not con- cern either you or your minion." " You are mistaken, sir," returned Montrose, his indignation burning on his cheek — " humanity compels me to take part with an unfortu- nate and suffering fellow-creature. How hard must be that heart," he continued with increasing warmth, ^' who could wantonly augment his sorrows! Is it not enough that he is an exile from his country, and^ e3 42 HUGH LATIMER. perhaps, under the controul of a tyrannical master; but that you, unworthy and unfeeling that you were, should maliciously add ano- ther pang to his heart, and increase the miseries of his hard fate? Let those who have been foremost in perpetrating this base, unmanly ac- tion, look well to themselves. My arm is strong, and his wrongs may not go unpunished." Fearing that Grahame should re- alize his threat, the culprits, one by one, stole away from the spot, leav- ing the black with his brave de- fender, and Hugh Latimer. "Where do you live, my poor fellow?" said the latter, gently touching the ne||ro on the shoulder; but the black cotild not answer his ^, HUGH LATIMER. 43 questions for weeping. "Come, dry your tears, Blackey," he con- tinued, "we are your friends, and should be very sorry to increase your present distress." The black raised his large eyes, red and bloodshot with weeping, mournfully to Hugh's face — " Alas ! Alas! good massa, poor Blackey has no friend." The tears rushed into the eyes of Montrose as the un- fortunate negro again renewed his pathetic lamentations. " How I wish I had not spent my week's allowance in such nonsense as I did yesterday!" he said: " you told me, Hugh, I should soon repent of my folly. Can you lend me any money?" " I have but six-pence," returned 44 nUGH LATIMKU. r> m Hugh, producing the sum as he spoke from his pocket; ^^it will go but a short way in replenishing this poor creature's basket ; but if it were a guinea, he should be equally wel- come to it." Then, turning to the black, who had wiped away his tears, he said — " Here is a trifle for you, Blackey : I wish it were more, with all my heart." "No! no! — good little Massa — Pedro no take money. — Massa sorry, Miassa cry for poor black boy. He love kind hearts better than silver." "The generosity of this poor creature," said Montrose, greatly affected, "ought to be a lesson to those who have so cruelly ill-treated him." Then, turning to the negro, HUGH LATIMER. 45 he said, — "Pedro, whom do you serve?" " Massa Isaac, Jew, — live there," returned Pedro, pointing down the street: "me no go home. He beat with great stick, give no eat — speak hard words, and make poor Blackeycry;*' and here the unhappy negro again burst into tears. " I have thought of an excellent plan!" cried the impetuous Mon- trose: "I will take this poor lad with me to my uncle. Colonel Gra- hame, and ask him to indemnify him for the loss he has sustained. He is too good a man, and loves me too well, to refuse so reasonable a re- quest." — ^Then, motioning Latimer and the negro to follow him, he was on the point of leaving the schod-i 46 HUGH LATIMER. bounds, when Hugh laid his hand on his arm, and forcibly detained him — " Consider, my dear friend, what you are about. If you leave the school-bounds without a note from one of the ushers, you will be se- verely reprimanded by Mr. Vernon : and you have too many enemies among the boarders, for your con- duct to pass unnoticed." " A fig for Mr. Vernon, his rod, and his bounds!" returned Mon- trose, putting his hand on the top of the rails which enclosed the play- ground, and springing lightly over: " if I can alleviate this poor fellow's distress, ^ I will not mind his anger. Come, Latimer! come, Pedro! follow your leader." . HIGH LATIMEH. 47 And away ran the ardent boy as quickly as his legs could carry him down the opposite street, followed by the negro and Latimer, who would not desert him, though he feared the result which must ac- crue from his daring infringement of the rules of the school. At length, pausing before a large mansion in one of the principal streets, Montrose gave a quick dou- ble rap at the door. "That is my young master's knock, I'll answer for him," said the old porter, as he unclosed the door. "Is my uncle at home?" asked Montrose eagerly. " Yes, Master Grahame — to you* Bttt I should not think he hag 48 HUGH LATIMER. any great desire to see the strange people with you: and I shall not admit them, till I receive farther orders from my master." " But indeed you will, George," returned Montrose impatiently, " or I shall complain to my uncle of your impertinence, in daring to cate- chise his nephew. Let me pass directly." Before George could reply to this sally, a door opened in the hall, and a fine looking middle-aged man, whose gentlemanly deport- ment and military carriage bro- claimed him to be Colonel Gra- hame, came out to meet them. ^^What is the meaning of this unusual noise, George?" he said in a stern voice; ^^and who are the HUGH LATIMER. 49 Strangers, you are parlying with at the door?'' " Please your honour," returned George, whose consequence seemed gently oflFended by the appearance of his young master's associates, " your nephew insists on my admit-- ting to your honour's presence that black ragamu£9n, and some shabby boy he has picked up in the streets ; and I would not comply with his request, without further orders from you." - The Colonel's surprise scarcely appeared less than his domestic's, at beholding his nephew and heir in such strange company. " Montrose!" he said very gravely, surveying the group before him; " what is the reason of your hasty F 50 HUGH LATIMER. visit this afternoon? what has put you in such a desperate heat? and who are these strangers you have brought with you?" " To the first part of your ques- tion, uncle, I answer, humanity! — this poor black is the object of it: and that young gentleman is my friend." "Very well, so far," returned the Colonel, smiling at the energy with which his nephew spoke ; " but whose permission had you to leave the school this afternoon?" ^'' The sanction of my own heart," replied Montrose; raising his fine eyes to his uncle's face; "and a firm belief in Colonel Grahame's generosity." "My dear boy," said his uncle, HUGH LATIMEK. 51 grasping his hand^ '' these reasons may have satisfied you, and speak highly for the benevolence of your intentions; but I fear it will prove a very unsatisfactory one to your master. You ought not to perform one duty by sacrificing another. Had you stated your motives for leaying the school to Mr. Vernon, I am sure he would not have denied your request." " You are right, my dear uncle," returned Montrose, blushing and looking down. " I should have done so ; but was so circumstanced, I could not do it, without informing against my school-fellows; and I would rather incur the danger of a thousand floggings, than have be- come an informer." 52 HUGH LATIMER. He then proceeded to inform his uncle of the whole particulars, and his reasons for bringing the black home, and concluded by saying — " I am sure, dear uncle, for my sake, you will give the poor fellow the value of his basket again." "You shall do it yourself, my generous boy," returned the cglo- nel, not a little pleased at this bene- volent trait in his nephew^s charac- ter — then, going to his desk, took out a couple of sovereigns; •^Here, • Montrose, take these: give the poor black what you please, and divide the rest between yourself and your young friend." " I know which Latimer will prefer," said Montrose, putting, as he spoke, both into Pedro's hand. HUGH LATIiMEU. 53 Words would fail to express the lively joy felt by the poor negro, when he found himself thus unex- pectedly relieved from all his terrors ; His tears burst out afresh, and he wept and laughed alternately, in his excess of gratitude, " This poor fellow seems to pos- sess a feeling heart/' said the Colo- nel, greatly moved by his emotion. — "From what country are you, Blackey?" '^Africa, massa;" replied the ne- gro, making a low bow, in his un- ' taught, but expressive manner, "From what part of Africa?" "The Coast of Coramondel — from the great river," returned the black, his eyes flashing as, perhaps, the recollections of his country F 3 54 HUGH LATIMER. awakened a thousand bitter feelings in bis breast. " And how did you come to Eng- land?" asked Colonel Grahame. " O, in de great ship. All asleep, white men come, — ^burn hut,^ — take away, — quite little child! — Serve many massas — see many country- go to France, — massa Isaac bring to England." " Then is he a cruel master to you, Blackey?" ^^ Iss, iss, — ^beat much, give little eat, — call Black, dog! Pedro hate massa, — Pedro cry," returned the negro, in a sorrowful tone. " Me love kind massa — me no hate good man." ^' Montrose," said his uncle, after a few minutes* reflection, ^*if I HUGH LVTIMER. 55 were to take this poor negro into my service, would you be kind to him?" *^ Uncle! dear uncle!" cried the delighted boy, his blue eyes filling with tears as he spoke; "you could not please me better. Let hihi be my servant; he will feed my dog, and take care of my pony, and work in my nice little garden, while I ara %t school; and when I return for t - holidays, I will teach him to read and write ; and I know my friend Hugh will assist me." "Who is this friend of yours?'* said the Colonel, who had been for some minutes attentively surveying the mild, dignified countenance of Hugh Latimer; "I never had the pleasure of seeing him before." 56 HUGH LATIMER. Montrose remained silent. "What! both tongue-tied? I sup- pose/' continued the Colonel, with a good-natured smile, " the young gentleihan is not ashamed of his name?" " I should not deserve to be a » ■ member of a poor, but worthy fa mily, if I were," replied Latimer, stifling the sigh which rose to his lips: '^ after the striking instance of generosity, that I have just wit- nessed, I should not think Colonel Grahame was a man to despise any one on the score bf poverty." " God forbid!" returned the Co- lonel, slightly colouring: "I may have been guilty of such folly in my youth ; but I have since learned to consider those whom Providence HUGH LATIMER. 57 has wisely ordained to move in a lower sphere of life, in a more just and benevolent point of view. My young friend," he continued, kindly taking his hand, "what is your name?" " Hugh Latimer, sir." The Colonel started, and sur- veyed the youth with intense inter- est: — " What was your father?" "A soldier." ** In what regiment did he serve?'* " I have forgotten," returned Hugh; ^*but my uncle, Mark, could tell you. Be was, however, u lieutenant in one of the regiments commanded by the brave Lord Pe- terborough, and was killed at the taking of Barcelona.' " I served in Spain at the same 58 HUGH LATIMER. period/' said the Colonel^ with a sigh: "I was not present in that action. I have heard your father mentioned as a brave and deserving officer; and I dare say, had he lived, he would have risen high in his profession. — Is your mother living?" Hugh hesitated: then, as if ashamed of his weakness, firmly replied — "Yes, sir: she keeps the little shop at the corner of this street, to maintain herself and me, and to afford an asylum to my un- cle, in his old ag^ a veteran soldier, who lost his leg at the battle of Almanza." The Colonel seemed, for a few minutes, lost in thought: at length taking the hand of Latimer, he HUGH LATIMER. 69 placed it in that of Montrose, and pressed them both affectionately together in his own, — "Continue, Montrose," he said, "to love this young gentleman ; and never return for a holiday without bringing him with you." " I only wanted this permission to. render me quite happy," said Montrose. " Now, my dear boy, you had better return to school," said the Colonel, "and apologise to your master, for quitting it without his permission. I \4ft accompany you as far as Isaac's, the Jew's, and try if I can release poor Pedro." The Colonel's benevolent appli- cation was successful; and, for a few pounds, the Jew consented to 60 HtJGH LAT1M£R release him from his engagements to him ; and before the young friends reached the play-grounil, they had the satisfaction of knowing that Pedro was transferred into the Co- lonel's service. As they walked up the stately avenue of trees that led to the school^ the young friends were ^o well pleased with their success in their late adventure, that they quite forgot the storm which awaited them there; till they rece'ved, from a young gentleman in tne first form, a formal messagdWom Mr. YemoU) to attend him in the hall. "So/ said Montrose, with af- fected gaiety, "my dear Latimer, we are fairly caught." Before they could obey this pe- HUGH LATIMER. 61 remptory summons, all the real cul- prits thronged eagerly round them, exclaiming in a breath, " Don't tell of me." "Don't say 'twas I." "Remember, Latimer, I did not upset the basket, I only ate the cakes when they were down." " Contemptible cowards !" re- turned Montrose; "you did not scruple to commit a base action, but you care not who bears the punish- ment." And, trying to compose his agitated countenance, he took Latimer's arm, and entered the hall. Mr. Vernon ^db seated at the upper end of the hall, in his great arm-chair, (which was fashioned somewhat after the same pattern as the celebrated Dr. Busby's,) his right hand resting on that instru- G 62 HUGH LATIMER. ment of punishment^ which he was reputed to wield so unsparingly against all delinquents, and which was an object of terror to all in his vicinity. After surveying the two young friends for some minutes, with a stern countenance, he addressed himself to Montrose; who, con- scious of his own integrity, tried to assume a courage which he did not actually feel. " Mr. Grahame, who gave you leave to quit the bounds of the school this afternoon?" "No one, sir."|| "Then how dared you disobey the positive orders you have received from me, never to quit them with- out my permission, or a note from Mr.Manby?" om HUGH LATIMER. 63 r " For reasons, sir, which I cannot mention," returned Montrose, mo- destly, but firmly : " I acknowledge I was not acting rightly, when I quitted the play-ground without your leave ; but hope, as this is my first offence, your forgiveness will be extended to me." " Not till you can give a better reason for your conduct," replied Mr. Vernon. I have no other reason to give." Sir, you are uttering a false- hood," returned his offended master. " Latimer, you T#re in Master Gra- hame's company, and were with him during his absence: what in- duced him to disobey my commands, and break through the eatablished rules of the school?" a iC 64 HUGH L4TIME11. " Indeed, sir, I cannot tell you ; I have given my word of honour not to mention the affair. My friend has acted imprudently; but did you know the motives which influenced his conduct, I am certain you would pardon his transgression." " You are, truly, a pretty pair," rejoiijfed Mr. Vernon; "if you had not fcen guilty of some great of- fencg^^mi Ivould have no reason for concealing your actions. You, La- timer, are a day-scholar, and your time is consequently your own after the school-hours Se over; but Mr. Grahame I shall most certainly punish." " I will never submit to such a disgraceful mode of chastisement," cried Montrose, stepping indig- HUGH LATIMER. 65 nantly back, while the colour mounted to his before pallid cheek. Mr. Manby now came forward, to intercede in his behalf; he stated that it was the first offence of the kind his pupil had committed, and he earnestly recommended Mr. Ver non to pardon him; but Mr. Ver- non was a strict disciplinarian, and would not grant his request. '' If I let Grahame ofl^ «ufl he, " it will be the signal for every boy to commit the like offence with im- punity, and I might search for my scholars half over the city; while they would accuse me of injustice for inflicting on them a punishment I withheld from him. When they witness his disgrace, it will make them more careful for the future.'* g3 66 HUGH LATIMER. Young Grahame's eyes were slow- ly filling with tears, but he stood immoveable, with his arms folded across his breast, and his glance fixed sadly on the ground. Latimer flung himself at Mr. Vernon's feet, and implored him, with tears, to forgive his friend. "Oh! sir, if it is absolutely ne- cessary to punish one of us, punish me, in his stead; this disgrace will break his heart." " That would not be justice," said the inflexible master; "Montrose has deserved chastisement, and he shall receive it." *^0h! sir, if you should ever become acquainted with the real motive that induced him to commit this fault, you would be very, very an HUGH LATIMER 67 sorry for it," said Latimer, with increasing agitation. "But rather than my friend should be punished unjustly, I will tell you the whole truth." "And by so doing, forfeit my friendship for ever," rejoined Mon- trose. "Cease, Latimer, to plead my cause; I would rather endure this disgraceful punishment, than forfeit my word." Just then, a martial step sounded in the hall, and the next moment Colonel Grahame stood by Mr. Ver- non's side; and, in spite of the en- treaties of his enthusiastic nephew, informed him of the whole trans- action. Mr. Vernon was so pleased with an explanation so satisfactory to all 68 HUGH LATIMER. parties, that he instantly pardoned Montrose, and, at his earnest request, promised not to chastise the real de- linquents beyond an additional task on the morrow ; and the happy boys, released from all their fears, re- turned to spend the evening toge- ther with Colonel Grahame, who lavished so many praises on Latimer, that Montrose laughingly said, that Hugh was in a fair way of stealing his uncle's heart from him. Thus time rolled onward, and the two friends daily advanced in learn- ing and merit. Latimer felt a proud conviction that if his circumstances were poor, his mind was rich in worth; that every new attainment he acquired, instead of rendering his condition more despicable in his HUGH LATIMER. 69 eyes, reconciled him to it. He learned to be cheerful and agreeable, even to those who had oppressed him; and in ceasing to regard their migenerous sarcasms, he ceased to feel them. He studied to forgive the faults of his fellow creatures, and he pitied their weakness, while he diligently strove to avoid falling into the same temptations, by making their foolish example serve as a warning to him- self; which rendered it au easier task to control every disposition in his own heart to commit evil. His good uncle, not content with laying down lessons of morality, enforced his precepts with quota- tions from Holy writ, and Hugh naver omitted reading a chapter 70 HUGH LATIMER. t from the Bible to his uncle morning and evening; and the comfort he derived from this sacred service, was a balm for every wound, and made him feel an ardent desire to attain to the greatest height of moral and spiritual excellence. One evening, when reading aloud to his mother and uncle, the xiii. chapter of St. Matthew, his uncle made him pause at the 57th verse. "Hugh," said he, "oblige me by reading that verse, and the two foregomg ones, a second time;" and his nephew read in a clear voice — " Is not this the carpenter's son? is not his mother called Mary, and his brethren, James,> and Joses, and Simon, and Judas?- " And his sisters, are not they HUGH LATIMER. 71 by with us? whence^ then, hath this man all these things? " And they were oflfended in him." Mark Latimer laid his hand on the book, and, looking stedfastly in his nephew's face, said, ^^Hugh, what do these verses recal to your mind?" ^^My own weakness and folly, dear uncle, in repining over my situation; when the Son of God, the creator of the whole earth, con- descended to take no higher station, while in this world, than the son of a poor carpenter." " And for what purpose, do you imagine, he chose to take upon him- self so lowly a condition?" ^^ Surely, my dear uncle," cried Hugh, his eyes sparkling, and his 72 HUGH LATIMER. countenance becoming suddenly ani- mated, "it was done to convince men of the sinful folly of despising the poor, and paying homage to riches, instead of virtue." ' "You are right, my boy," re- turned Mark Latimer. — " It was to enforce the same lesson of humility that he condescended to wash the feet of his disciples; shewing them, by that action, that the moral worth of the soul was confined to no sta- tion in life ; and that virtue would alone bestow a nobility of mind, which would be perfected, through him, in another world. — Without this treasure, a man's riches and station avail him nothing. A good king is called the father of his peo- ple, and is universally beloved hy HUGH LATIMER. 9 73 his subjects; while a bad king is hated, and called a tyrant, though he finds sycophants to fawn upon him and execute his commands; But a bad man is never loved; — no, not even by his own children. They may fear him ; but it is a pu- nishment attached to the guilty, to be despised, even by those who are weak enough to imitate them, and wicked enough to flatter their bad actions. Walk stedfastly in the right path, my son ; turn neither to the right nor to the left; but do the thing which is upright and just, and you will win the approbation of heaven, and be in favour with all »» men. ^^ It was surely the same feeling, /Uncle, which tempted the Jews to H* *■ I /4 HUGH LATIMER. despise their Lord for being a car- penter's son, that induced my school- fellows to insult me, because my mother kept a shop?" "Yes, Latimer; and should any reverse of fortune reduce them to the same situation, they would then feel the weakness and folly of their present conduct. A man must pos- sess a great ,mind, and have a true bcnse of religion, before he can be modest in prosperity, and resigned in adversity to the will of Provi- dence. Should you ever, by perse- verance and industry, recover that situation in life which we lost through unavoidable misfortunes, always bear in mind your present station, and never set too much value on riches, which have oijce. X. HUGH LATIMER. 5 and can again, take to themselves wings and flee away." " I hope, dear uncle/' said Hugh, " that I shall never forget the good advice you have given me. — I wish it may please God to enable me to earn a competence to support you and my dear mother in your old age; — I do not desire more." Shortly after Latimer's conversa- tion with his uncle, he was doomed to undergo a more severe trial than he had yet experienced. — ^A young gentleman, of the name of Sinclair, the son of a rich baronet in the country, was placed at the same school, and made one in the same class with the two friends. John Sinclair was a boy of the most extraordinary parts, and very k 76 HUGH LATIMER. \:\ X gentlemanly and prepossessing in his manners ; but so proud of his ancient family, that he felt very indignant at being placed beneiSiell^ Hugh Lati- mer, whom he said, openly, be- longed to the canaille y and was not fit company for a gentleman; and he much wondered that Montrose Grahame should make a friend and constant companion of one so far beneath him. Montrose, at first, was greatly oifended at these remarks ; and high words, and even blows, had been exchanged on the occasion, but un- known to Latimer. It so happened, that Montrose and Sinclair were bed-fellows ; and the latter had travelled abroad with his father, and had visited Rome, and desc mag] the I dwel antic ten c the wishi satio] boy (j atho was clair J Latin amon Mont old fa Foi woulc HUGH LATIMEU. 77 and Paris, and Venice, and could describe in glowing colours the magnificient views in Switzerland, the awful terrors of Vesuvius, and dwell on the august monuments of antiquity, which Montrose had of- ten contemplated in idea, and, with the enthusiasm of his character, wished to behold; and the conver- sation of Sinclair possessed, for a boy of his romantic turn of thought, a thousand charms. By degrees, he was seen oftener leaning on Sin- clair's arm than conversing with Latimer; and it was whispered among his young comrades, that Montrose Grahame was tired of his old favourite. For some time, Hugh Latimer would not open his eyes to the h3 78 HUGH LATIMER change in his friend's manners to- wards him — that friend whom he had loved, and regarded in the light of a brother, — for whom he would have suffered any punish- ment, and borne any insult, rather than have swerved one moment in the fidelity they had so often vowed to each other: could it, indeed, be true that Montrose Grahame, his Montrose, had ceased to love him? Every day increased the apparent coolness between these before-inse- parable companions. Latimer's heart ached in secret, and his eyes were often full of tears; he grew thin, and the colour faded from his cheek, Mr. Manby, who was much at- tached to Latimer, and justly appre- ciated the worth of his character. HUGH LATIMER. 79 perceived this alteration in his ap- pearance with concern; and guessing the cause^ he pitied the mental suf- ferings which, he knew, a boy of his keen feelings must endure, at the unmerited neglect of his young friend. One afternoon, as Latimer took up his hat to leave the schqt)l-room, (for he had no motive now to detain him in the play-ground, and Mon- trose was walking to and fro in the cathedral cloisters, with his arm thrown carelessly round Sinclair's neck,) Mr. Manby tapped him on the shoulder, and asked him to take tea with him at his lodgings^ and he would give him a pretty pot of geranium, for his mother's little irlour- window ; as he knew she 80 HUGH LATIMEB. was fond of flowers. Latimery sur- prised at his master's particular no- tice, readily accepted his invitation, and they walked together towards the river; for Mr. Manby lodged in a pleasant house, fronting the clearest stream imaginable, which commanded ^ fine view of the adja- cent country from the windows. It was a lovely evening in June, and the new-mown hay in the oppo- site meadows smelt deliciously ; and as Latimer stood by the window, looking out on the beautiful pros- pect, he could not help thinking how many happy hours he and his false-hearted friend had spent in those fields together, and his eyes slowly filled with tears. ^^My young friend, are you ill?" HUGH LATIMER. 81 said Mr. Manby, remarking the sudden change in Latimer's coun- tenance. " No, sir," returned Hugh, with a heavy sigh ; '" I was only think- ing of the past, and contrasting the happy moments I have enjoyed in these fields with my present miser- able ones." ^ "But, my dear Latimer," said Mr, Manby, " what makes you un- happy? You are sadly changed of late, and do not attend to your stu- dies with the ardour which you used to do." "Oh! sir," returned Hugh, with increasing agitation, "if you had a friend whom you loved as tenderly as your own brother, and saw him forsake vou for another, without 82 HUGH LATIMEli. any apparent cause, it would render you unhappy, and make your heart ache, as mine does at this moment. I am now a solitary individual among a host of strangers, with no one to share my studies, or enter into my feelings or pursuits, or even give me a friendly welcome. I cannot eVen vent my indignation on the author of my sufferings, for I love him still." Hugh turned away to conceal the tears which were fast trickling down his cheeks. " Continue to love him, my dear boy. He is at present led away by bad example; but, I am certain, when Montrose sees his error, he will be very sorry for the uneasiness he has occasioned you." HUGH LATIMER. 83 .»• roceeded: ^^ These young people have not, by nature, bad hearts; their late behaviour is the result of early pre- judices, engrafted on their minds by those attendants who have had the HUGH LATIMER. 135 care of them when very young. I feel it my duty to convince them of their folly. I w^ould teach them to value their fellow-creatures ac- cording to their merit, and not wholly for the outside show of titles and riches. I have been talking very seriously to them, and I think the young ladies are rather touched by my lectures." "For this reason, my excellent benefactor, I will stay," returned Hugh, "in spite of every mortifi- cation." " Latimer, they, themselves, will thank you for your forbearance, be- fore they leave my house," said the Colonel : " but come, my dear boy, breakfast waits for us." And taking Latimer's hand, he 136 HUGH LATIMER. led him to the breakfast-parlour, where his young guests were al- ready assembled. They arose, and received Hugh with chilling polite- ness, in a manner even condescend- ing, which would have been flat- tering to him, had he not been aware of the real motives which dictated it. Nor did they once al- ter this line of conduct towards him : if he mingled in their sports, they seemed unconscious of his presence, diflfering nothing in ease of manner or playful freedom with each other. If he ventured any remark on their reading, or pursuits, he always re- ceived a polite answer, but so dis- tant, and accompanied with such haughty coldness, that it went more deeply to the heart of the feeling HUGH LATIMER. 137 Latimer^ who sometimes thought he could perceive a change in his friend's manner; but this was in- 1 deed fancy. Once, and only once^ one of the young ladies insulted him. Colonel Grahame had chosen a little drama for them to get up, and perform on the new year's day, and he had ar- ranged the characters according to the abilities of his youthful visitors, and not according to their rank. This gave great oflfence to Miss Laura, who said in a low voice to her sister: — "There is but one cha- racter Latimer ought to perform, and that is the servant." Now Latimer, who was sitting at no great distance, studying his part, heard this speech; and slowly n3 138 HUGH LATIMER. raising his eyes from his book, he fixed them calmly on the young lady's face, and said mildly: — "My father was a servant, Miss Sin- clair ; and I hope, one day, to fol- low in his steps; he sealed his ser- vices to his king with his blood, and died fighting for his country." Laura coloured deeply, and se- cretly wished she had not wounded Latimer's feelings so cruelly. The evening after this, the chil- dren all went up stairs into the drawing-room to play at blind-man's buff; and though the furniture had been removed to accommodate them, there was, on account of the intense cold that had set in, with frost and snow, a very large fire. As Latimer was in general shut HUGH LATIMER. 139 out from their sports, he sat apart from the joyous party, on a stool by the side of the fire, trying, by the help of the broad light, to decypher the characters in his Homer; yet, as the ladies ran giddily past him,^ he several times gently put back, with his hand, the full muslin frocks they wore, as the motion given to them by exercise, once or twice nearly wafted them between the bars of the stove; but when he happened to touch Laura's dress, she drew herself back with an air of ineflfable haughtiness, and whisk- ing her frock past him, as if in con- tempt, exclaimed in a petulant tone : "I vdsh people would mind their own business, and by all means keep their hands to themselves." ]40 HUGH LATIMER. Latimer returned no answer to this speech, but, sighing deeply, turned again to his book. Just then, Montrose ran down stairs to speak to a schoolfellow at the door, and Hugh was left alone in the room with the visitors; but finding that his observations only raised their displeasure, he turned himself entirely away from the scene, and soon, transported in idea to the walls of Troy, forgot, in the interest its fate aw^akened, his own recent mortifications. His attention was now very sud- denly roused by a dreadful shriek: that which he had cautioned the young ladies against, had actually taken place. Miss Laura's frock had caught fire, and the unhappy girl i HUGH LATIMER. 141 was completely enveloped in flames. The children, unable to lend her the least assistance, mingled their cries with her's, and ran screaming down stairs. Latimer, always cool in danger, with his usual presence of mind, begged the suffering girl to stand still where she was ; and snatching a large woollen cloth from a side table, he succeeded in wrapping it round her from head to foot; but he could not extinguish the flames until his own hands and face were shockingly burnt ; all his nice chesnut curls were completely singed off his head, and his eyes and eye- lids so scorched by the fire, that he lost the use of his sight for several days afterwards. <'-"* 142 HUGH LATIMER. The moment the Colonel heard of the accident, he rushed up stairs, followed by Montrose and the ter- rified children, expecting nothing less than to behold Laura a black* ened corpse upon the floor: but when, on entering the room, he found her safe, and poor Latimer the greatest sufferer, he could not contain his admiration, but, turning to the children, exclaimed, "See, my young friends ! this despised La- timer has saved the life of your sister, perhaps at the expence of his own." Latimer could no longer distin- guish objects, but following the sound of Colonel 6rahame*s voice, he flung hmself into his arms; whilst the young Sinclairs, forget- ting their former prejudices, clung HUGH LATIMER. 143 9» '5 weeping round him, kissing his hands, and calling him their dear, dear Latimer; and thanking him a thousand times for having saved the life of their sister Laura. Colonel Grahame, alarmed at the situation of Hugh, seeing he was complb^.ely unconscious of surround- ing objects, carried him in his arms to bed, and lost no time in sending for medical assistance. The whole of Laura's clothes were nearly de- stroyed by the flames ; but her hands and arms had alone received any injury; whilst pfeor Latimer's face and head were so dreadfully burnt, that he was dangerously ill, and for many days was blind and delirous ; and the Colonel became very appre- hensive for his life. 144 HUGH LATIMER. When, however, he recovered the use of sight and reason, the first object that struck him was Mon- trose seated on one side of his bed, and John Sinclair on the other. Montrose shed tears of joy, when he found Latimer recognized him; whilst Sinclair, holding out his hand, said — "Mr. Latimer, I have in- jured you, and, with sincere repent- ance for the past, I entreat your forgiveness." The features of Latimer bright- ened as he grasped the outstretched hand of the young gentleman. ** Forget the past," said Latimer; " it cannot now be recalled ; and let me assure you, that the present mo- ment amply compensates for any uneasiness your conduct occasioned HUGH LATIMER. 145 me. Perhaps," he added, with a sigh, " had I been in your situation, I might have acted as you did," " Never 1" returned Sinclair, the tears springing to his eyes. '^You far surpass me in generosity; I won- der now how I could remain so blind to your worth. To know you for half a year, and hate youi — for what? for being superior to myself." *^ Believe me, Mr. Sinclair," said Latimer, tend6rly pressing his hand, ^^ worth consists neither in rank nor riches, though it adds a lustre to both." "I need no further conviction of the truth of your words, than your own conduct," returned Sinclair. *^For your sake, dear Latimer, I will never again act so ungenerously a 146 HUGH LATIMEH. to any individual whom I may fool- ishly consider beneath my notice." And Sinclair kept his resolution; he from that day treated Latimer with the greatest respect and affec- tion ; and his example was followed by the other children, to the no small satisfaction of Colonel Gra- hame and Montrose. At the termina- tion of their visit, which took place before Hugh could leave his bed, they each presented him with a handsome present, to keep in re- membrance of them ; and Laura de- clared, she should always remem- ber, with gratitude, the service he had so generously rendered her. The day after their departure, as the Colonel and Montrose were seated by Latimer's bedside, the HUGH L^riMER. 147 former pointed to a very plain sword which was suspended over the man- tle-piece, and smiling, bade Hugh ^uess to whom that shabby, oldr fashioned weapon once belonged. Hugh, remembering that the Co- lonel was descended from a family renowned for their great exploits in arms, supposed this weapon had been wielded by some mighty hand^ and answered the Colonel's question with the enthusiasm so natural to youth — "I suppose, to a hero!" "It did, indeed,** returned the Colonel; "but that hero, Hugh Latimer, was thy father 1" " How!" exclaimed Hugh, spring- ing up in his bed, and catching ea- gerly hold of the Colonel's arm.: " did you then know my father?" 148 HUGH LAT1M£R. The Colonel sighed — " I did, my young friend ; we were for some time in the same regiment: Listen to me, Latimer." The Colonel paused for a few minutes, and then continued. "When I was young, I very much resembled Montrose, both in person and character, without pos- sessing his generosity of heart and feeling. Like him, I ardently wished to be a soldier, and my father, at last, reluctantly yielded to my wishes. Chance threw me into the very same regiment and company with your father. I was very proud, and he was my superior officer, and I could not brook to be under the command of one, whom I considered every way beneath me; and I was mean enough to join with the other ./■ HUGH LATIMER. 149 officers in annoying him in every manner that I possibly could. I could not help admiring him for his talents, though I despised him on account of that origin which ought to have been reckoned a glory to him: but, Latimer, if your father was poor, he far surpassed me in greatness of mind; he never conde- fec 3 led to take the least notice of my behaviour towards him. Lord Peterborough was singularly at- tached to your father, ii^rho had twice saved his life ; and that noble officer, seeing the contempt in which his gallant soldier was held, merely from having risen from the ranks to the station he then held, instead of being subaltern by purchase, gave us a public reproof one day for our 3 150 HUGH LATIMER. foUy^ by taking the arm of Latimer, and walking for some time to and fro, before his tent, conversing with him in the most easy and familiar terms. Most of the senior officers were very much aflFected by this proof of their brave general's greatness of mind, and many went up to Lati- mer and shook hands with himy and congratulated him on his good for- tune. " As for me, so far from following their example, I sought every op- portunity of quarrelling with your father; and, on one occasion, meet- ing him accidentally, I so far forgot myself, as to strike him. "He caught my hand: ^ Young man,' he said, ^are not you aware HLGH LATIMER. 151 that you have forfeited your life by this rash action? I am your com- manding officer.' " I stood motionless. y" 'Thank God, there is no other witness of your folly : I forgive you ; go, and sin no more.' "I sank, overwhelmed with athou- sand remorsefal feelings, at his feet. He raised me in his arms, and, from that moment, we were friends : we mutually asked some memorial in token of our amity and forgiveness, and he exchanged his sword with me. A few months after, I was promoted into another regiment, just before the taking of Barcelona, and when the news arrived of that fortunate event, it was saddened by the intelligence of your brave fa- 152 HUGH LATIMER. ther's death: I mourned for him, Hugh, as a brother, and I shall ever prize that sword for his sake; and, from regard to his memory, I will ever love and befriend his no less worthy son." "Dear Colonel Grahame," said Hugh with glistening eyes, " am I at all like my father?" The Colo- nel smiled. " In person, * Hugh, most strikingly; but in spirit, he was quick, impetuous, and enter- prising; had he lived, he would have been a general." Here Hugh could not help ex- pressing his earnest desire to be a soldier. The Colonel shook him by the hand, as he said, " Apply your- self to your studies^ Latimer, and we will talk of that hereafter." HUGH LATIMER. 153 ■J In process of time, these two young gentlemen stood at the head of the school ; and their friendship, thus closely connected in boyhood, became prove'*'' ial among the scho- lars, as tney approached towards manhood. Hugh had just completed his eighteenth year, when Lord Peter- borough passing through that city, amongst other objects of interest, expressed a wish to see the free school. Mr. Vernon's pride was gratified by the request, and all the classes were drawn up in due form, to re- ceive their noble visitor. Hugh Latimer, as the head scho- lar, delivered a speech in Latin on the occasion, and pronouncing it 154 HUGH LAT1M£H. / with great spirit and elegance, Lord Peterborough so grec^tly admired the speaker, that, turning to the mayor of the city, who accompanied him, he asked whose son he was. ^^He is the only son of a poor widow in our city, my Lord," re- turned the mayor. "Her husband was killed in the wars in Spain, and, I have heard, had the honour of serving under your Lordship." " His face brin*^ s forcibly to my recollection the circumstance of a very brave officer," replied his Lord- ship. Then, turning to Latimer, he said, ^^ What is your name, young gentleman?" Latimer bowed very low, partly out of great respect and partly to hide his glowing cheeks — *^ Hugh Latimer, my Lord." HVGH LATIMEU. 165 Id " Your father was a soldier?" "Who served under the brave Lord Peterborough," replied Hugh, bowing yet lower. "You are, then, the son of the gallant officer who thrice saved the life of Peterborough, and, the last time, at the expence of his own? Give me your hand, young man; and, from this moment, consider me your friend." Then tapping Hugh on the shoul- der, he said in ^ lower voice, " An hour hence, meet me at the hotel in the market-place, and I will try if Mordant* can reward your father's Services in you." This was said for Latimer's ear * The family name of Lord Peterborough. 156 HUGH LATIMER. alone, but his fellow-students Had caught a part of the speech, and they wondered that so great a noble- man as Lord Peterborough should notice such a poor fellow as Hugh Latimer. Even Montrose was curi- ous to know the result. Begging Mr. Vernon's leave for an hour's ab- sence, he ran home and informed his uncle what had passed at the school. The Colonel was not less anxious to know the result of Latimer's inter- view with his old commander, and taking down his hat and cane, he ac- companied Montrose to Mrs. Lati- mer's house. The Colonel sat down in the little inner parlour, determined to wait for his return, without giving a hint of the probable good fortune that HUGH LATIMER. 157 1 awaited Hugh, as he thought Lati- mer would like to communicate the joyful tidings himself. Mark Latimer was delighted in having an opportunity of fighting his battles over again with the Colo- nel, and was giving a very pathetic account of the loss of his leg, and the defeat at Alamanza, when the door suddenly burst open, and Hugh Latimer sprang into the room ; and, without observing Montrose or his uncle, flung himself weeping into his mother's arms. "Joy! joy! dear mother! Re- joice with me, my unck!" he ex- claimed, first embracing one, and then the other. " I have seen — ^have spoken — have shook hands with the brave Lord Peterborough. He has i -d^ 158 HUGH LATIMER. not only called me his friend, but has made me the happiest fellow alive!" "What of the renowned Lord Peterborough?" said Mark Latimer, his eyes glistening with unusual brilliancy. '^ Why, boy, you rave — Where can you have seen ray noble commander?" " I have only this moment parted from him," cried the delighted La- timer. " Oh! we shall be so happy! my mother need no longer keep this shop ; and you, uncle, may be com- fortable in your old age. I am to be a soldier; he has promised me a pair of colours. And this, uncle, is for you." He put into the veteran's hand a sealed paper, which, on openingi,- he ' # s. .'^'■ .•'r. HUGH LATIMER. 159 found to contain a deed of gift of fifty pounds, to be paid yearly, as long as either he or Mrs. Latimer lived. After having thus given vent to his feelings, Hugh was not a little surprised to find hi5 friend, the Colonel, and his nephew, had wit- nessed the overflowings of his heart, and he blushed deeply. Colonel Grahame folded him to his heart. " My dear Latimer, you need never blush for your feelings on the present happy occasion, they do you great honour. Well have you deserved your good fortune, and may you ever continue to de- serve it. The brave Mordant has but anticipated my intentions, and since a double commission v* ould be sn .:•'■ 160 ^'v-> HUGH LATIMiyi. :■ N of no service to you, I will be at the expence of your equipment, and send you forth into the world as befits a gentleman." ^^The Colonel kept his word. The t^d yOung friends entered the army vtpgfetiier;\they ser^d in the same regiitient, fought in the same battles, and bled in the same cause. Mon- trose, after many gallant actions j was made Lord Grahame; and his friend Latimer, rising by degrees to the height of his profession,-^ re- ceived the badge of knighthood from the hand of his Sovereign. FIKIS. UKAV AND MVMOAY, PRiNTHItS, THRlAnNBHOLV-STRBKT. I ft- >?«-«5^ ^'^j^L^ nr>{^. '^-l^-t. Cyut 4 >