THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES He found Donald's hamper under his bed. Page 10. GNILB'S *THE WAT TO BE EAPPY," "NORMAN ANT) AT) A," "LITTLE JOE AND HIS STRAWBERRY FLAKT,* "BUXCH OP GRAPES." PHILADELPHIA: J. P. SKELLY & CO., NC. 21 SOUTH SEVP:NTH STKEET, (Second Story.) 1870. PACK, I. A DISCOVERY 5 II. THE ESTRANGEMENT 19 III. A TALK 31 IV. GROWING WORSE 45 V. THE LITTLE CRUSADER 54 VI. THE SECRET REVEALED 69 622704 DONALD'S HAMPER. I. A DISCOVERY. SUPPOSE most little boys and girls know what it is to have a friend, I do not mean a grown-up friend, but a little boy or girl friend of their own age, to whom they tell their secrets, and whom they think the most delightful little per- sonage in the world. It is very pleasant to have such a little friend, is it not? Then I hope you do not 6 DONALD S HAMPER. quarrel. " Bear and forbear," is a good motto for all little folks who Lave little friends ; and if it was oftener kept in mind, your friendships would last longer, I think. It is selfishness that often destroys the strongest friendships. Yes, I ain afraid I must say that it was selfishness that made Walter Leigh look so very unhappy as he paced the shady shrubbery- walk of JBeechwood House School one Saturday afternoon, and thought how badly his friend Donald Mackay had treated him. I will tell what had happened between these two young friends, and you will see whether I am not right in thinking that Walter, though he had A DISCOVERY. 7 no idea of it, was a very selfish, exacting little boy. Both. Walter Leigh and Donald Mackay had been at school about a year ; they had come about the same time, they were in the same class, they slept in the same bedroom, sat close together at meals, and everybody said they were very great friends. But the day before the Saturday to which I have referred Donald had re- ceived a hamper /rora his guardian, lie very seldom had hampers, but was always very liberal in dividing the contents with his companions. Yet on this particular occasion he had not shown quite so much alacrity in dis- posing of his treasures, but carried the 8 DONALD'S HAMPER. basket upstairs to open it there. However, as a Luge cake and a quantity of gingerbread were soon brought down and divided, the boys thought nothing more about it, and devoured their shares with great eagerness. Xot so Walter. He ate his cake, it is true ; he would not have been a boy if he had refused it ; but he was offended that he had not, as usual, been called to assist at the opening of the basket. There was some mystery about it. and he secretly resolved to find out what it was. The hamper would hold more than the cake and gingerbread, and he buspected there was something else A DISCOVERY. y which Donald was keeping for his private eating. " If so, I'll not have uch a pig for my friend," he inwardly resolved, as he remembered how fairly and equally he had always shared everything with Donald; " but I'll find it out." But how? was the question. "I might ask him whether he had emptied his basket ; but no, I won't, he would think I was asking for some- thing more ; and I wouldn't do that for the world. I know what I'll do ; he has got a host of impositions which will keep him in the school-room after tea when the other fellows go to the playground, I'll rush up here like lightning and have a hunt for the 10 DONALD'S HAMPER wretched old basket ; and if I find it, won't I just see what is in it ?" I am afraid Walter must have been some relation of the celebrated indi- vidual, Paul Pry, or at least a pupil of his, for he carried out his inquisi- tive plan just as he had intended, and, as he imagined, solved the mystery. Donald's hamper he found under his bed, it was only slightly fastened, and he easily undid it. Yes, there was something left ; inside the hamper there was a littk basket covered with tissue paper, which smelt delicious. " Some strawberries, I'll be bound,' 1 exclaimed Walter, as he opened one corner to see. " Xo, better still some splenaid ripe peaches. Well done, A DISCO\ EEY. 11 Master Donald ! you are keeping a nice feast for yourself ; no wonder the hamper was n^t to be unpacked down- stairs ! But see if I don't tell all the world what a monstrous great pig they've got in the house ; just see if I won't !" Thus boiling over with indignation, o o he returned to the school-room, where Donald and two or three other boys were busy at their tasks. Luckily one of the masters was present, or he would have let loose his anger at once ; he was turning to go into the play- ground that he might publish Donald's misdemeanor there, when he sudden- ly remembered that it would be im- possible for him to say a word about i2 DONALD'S HAMPER. his discovery without revealing at the same time the manner in which it had been made, which certainly would not be considered by any means creditable to himself. Thus forced to hold his tongue, both to Donald and his com- panions, he had no way of showing his displeasure than by coldness towards his former friend, which Donald, of course was at a loss to account for. By degrees his anger cooled down, and he began to feel very unhappy ; he almost wished he had let the basket alone, since the discovery he had made only served to convince him that Donald did not really care for him as much as he had im- A DISCOVERY. 13 agined, or as much as lie cared for Donald. It was in this uncomfortable state of mind that he was roaming about the garden of Beech wood House on the day in question, Saturday afternoon. What a dreary, wretched half-holiday it seemed !. He missed his friend, for Saturday afternoon had always been their great *-ime for fun, and he did not know what to do with himself alone. He wondered Donald did not come to look for him, half-hoped and half feared that he would ; for while in his heart he longed for his play- fellow, he felt that his pride would not permit him to be friendly to him ; for had he not resolved to have no- 2 14 DONALD'S HAMPER. thing more to do with him, and did lie ever break his word ? Still it certainly was strange that Donald did not come near him all that afternoon. What jould he be doing ? Eating I is peaches, no doubt, in some corner all by himself. How Walter wished he knew where ! He should so like 1^ catch him in the act. How small he would look ! And what would he say for himself? In these very uncomfortable mu- sings the afternoon wore away. YvVi- ter thought it was interminable ; but the tea-bell rang at last to his great relief, and he joined the rest of the boys as they were trooping into the school. Donald was in his usual seat A DISCOVERY. 15 next to Walter's, and looked at liim with his usual bright smile as he came in. ' What have you been doing all the afternoon?" he inquired, when grace had been said, and they were hard at work despatching huge piles of bread and butter. " I came to look for you about half-an-hour ago, and nobody knew where you were." " I've been in the shrubbery all the afternoon," replied Walter, shortly; " you could have found me there." "I've been reading to the two small Percies," answered Donald ; " they were dull, and so I stayed with them most of the afternoon." ''And the rest of the time you 16 DONALD'S HAMPER. were munching your peaches, I sup- pose," thought Walter to himself; but he did not utter his thoughts aloud, and Donald, thinking he was not in a very good temper, did not pursue the conversation. Tea over, there was a general rush to the door, and from thence to the play-ground, all being anxious not to lose a moment of the half-hour that remained to them before the bell called them in-doors. Donald instinctively placed his arm within Walter's, and was drawing him off towards one of their favorite nooks, when the latter shook himself roughly free, declaring he had something to do in-doors, rushed back into the A DISCOVERY. 17 house, and straight up to his bed- room. " I will find out, once for all, whether I'm right or wrong," he exclaimed, passionately, at the same time pulling the unfortunate hamper from its place of concealment and opening it. "Yes, sure enough, they're every one gone : who would have believed he could have been. such a such a ," and Walter paused in his search for a sufficiently expressive word, which, however, would not turn up ; and he proceeded to renew his resolution of breaking for ever with his friend, saying, half aloud, " It's not that I care one atom for the peaches, he might eat dozens a* IS DONALD'S HAMPER. and dozens for all I care ; but to think of his sitting up here gob- bling away all by himself, a dozen I'm sure there must have been, at the very least 1" THB ESTRANGEMENT. 19 II. THE ESTRANGEMENT. the meanwhile Donald was sorely perplexed at his friend's manner. Whether he had unwit- tingly offended him, or whether Wal- ter himself was up to some mischief, Donald was at a loss to determine ; he waited for some time in hopes he would come out again, but in vain ; he saw no more of him till the/ both went to bed. He then renewed his attempts to make him talk, but rarely succeeded 20 DOXALD'S in extracting more than a mono- o syllable from Lira ; and after having asked him many times in vain to tell him what was the matter, he got into Led and fell asleep, hoping he would wake up in a more agreeable frame of mind the next morning. Walter, on the other hand, lay awake a whole hour, a long time, indeed, for him, pondering his friend's manner. "Surely, "he said to him- self, " if he had been such a pig he would feel a little uncomfortable for fear we should find it out ; but he looks just as happy and contented as if he'd nevei done a wrono; thin^ o o in his Lie. It's very odd very strange. I suppose he thinks we THE ESTRANGEMENT. 21 can't know anything of his having the peaches ; well, I almost wish I didn't. It's a horrid bore to have to cut him, but do it I must, for a fellow that could do that is not fit to be my friend." Walter forgot just then that his conduct in peeping into Donald's hamper was not the most honorable in the world, and that if Donald knew what he had done he might, perhaps, return the compli- ment. For a day or two the quarrel if such it may be called did not go much further. Donald was greatly distressed at his friend's coldness, and tried various ways to win him over ; but Walter remained cold and dis- 22 DONALD'S HAMPER. tant as ever, and Donald's patience he could never boast of having very much failed altogether. "If Walter did not care to have him tor a friend it was all the same to him, he was sure he should be no loser by it." So he said, and so he tried to think ; and to let Walter see that he could do very well without him, he began to be very intimate with another boy who had lately come to school. Henry Noble was the son of rich parents, and as he had generally plenty of pocket-money at his dis- posal, and laid it out readily for his friends as well as himself, he soon became a great favorite, and many ot the boys thought Donald fortu- THE ESTRANGEMENT. 23 indeed in having made such a friend. And so the terra passed away, and the holidays were fast approaching. Walter wondered what Donald would do then, for as he was an orphan, and had no home to go to, he had hitherto been always very glad to accept Mrs. Leigh's proposal that he should spend the vacation with her son. Walter knew quite well that he would get no invitation this time, for he had taken care to tell his mother that they were no longer friends ; and though, for his own sake, he could not O ' help regretting it, he rather rejoiced to thifllr that Donald would be served out for b'ls misconduct. 24 DONALD'S HAMPER. But in this amiable desire lie was destined to be disappointed. The day before the breaking-up he was saunter- ing down one of the garden- walks alone, and, to tell the truth, not very happy, for this quarter had seemed a long and dreary one to him, and the thought of the holidays was nothing like so pleasant as formerly, when the great enjoyment had been to play the host with Donald in his father's house, in short, he was wishing over and over again that this uncomforta- ble affair had never happened : of course his pride prevented his ever admitting to himself that it was pos- sible that, after all, he might have been mistaken, when he heard his THE ESTRANGEMENT. 25 name mentioned by a voice the other side of the hedge. It was two of his school-fellows, and he listened all eagerness to hear what they were saying about him. Then Donald's name caught his ear, and he heard the second boy say, " Well, if I were Mackay, I'd like it a precious deal better than going to stay with young Leigh ; his father's place may be grand, but Noble's quite a different sort of fellow, as merry and good tempered as the day is long never takes offence so that anybody can get on with him. But Leigh we all know is snappish, and thinks no end of himself and his rights ; and I si are say his old mother and sij 26 DONALD'S HAMPER. sisters are as high and mighty a3 he is." Walter heard no more, for he rushed away before the last words were well uttered, and never stopped till he had reached the house. It did not improve his temper that he hap- pened to meet on his way Donald and Henry Noble walking arm-in-arm, deep in consultation. They looked so bright and happy, and he felt so very miserable, that he would rather have met any one but them just then. He was glad enough when he reached his own room, and could fling himself on the bed and give vent to his feelings in a good cry. Never had boy been BO deeply injured before, never had THE ESTRANGEMENT. 27 any one. been so miserably deceived in his friend ! He bad at least expected that Donald would feel miserable at the sudden rupture with bis old play- fellow, and to see him now as merry and bright as if nothing bad happened was intolerable. It was quite plain that he coifl never have really cared for him, or he would not have been so ready to transfer his affection to another boy. Walter's pride had received a blow that it could not easily endure. He had fancied that he was conferring a considerable favor on Donald in choosing him for his friend, because Donald was an orphan and poor, whi1 Q he was the only son of a rich land* 23 DONALD'S HAMPER, owner ; and yet Donald did not seem to care in the least that he had forfeited his friendship. It was very provoking, too, that he had happened to find a friend who could invite him home for the holidays, so that his misconduct would not even cost him that treat. No, it was evident that of the two Walter had suffered the most by their quarrel ; indeed, as far as he could see, Donald was none the worse for it. Then he began to think of the dis- agreeable things the two boys had said about himself. Of course, they were not true, nothing could be more ahsiiH. than to fancy they were ; but it was certainly disagreeable to have THE ESTRANGEMENT. ZJ such things said about one, and he was determined to pay them out for it. His mother and sisters, too ! it was too bad. He would cut the boys for ever. Such were "Walter's miserable thoughts the night before he went home, and when he went down-stairs again his face certainly bore unmis- takable marks of the storm that had been going on within : he looked, as one of the boys expressed it, " as if lie hated all the world, and thought that all the world hated him." A most miserable state of things, truly ! And what had caused all these unkind thoughts and speeches, all this jealousy and heart-burning ? Nothing 3* SO DONALD'S HAMPER. in the world but a suspicion which Walter ought never to have enter- tained. Oh, we ought to' be very careful how we act upon such slight suspicions, how we pronounce judg- ment upon one another, lest in the end v/e find out that it has been ourselves who have been in the wrong 1 A TALK. 31 III. A TALK. |JHE next day there was a great bustle and skirmisli at Beech- wood House, and all the boys went home for their holidays. Walter Leigh had a long journey before him and started early. It was a comfort to get away from Beechwood, where he had lately been BO miserable, and he hoped that in leaving school he should also get rid of his unpleasant feelings. But in this he was mistaken. Many 32 DONALD'S HAMPER. things at Lome reminded him again and again of Donald; and his sisters, dearly as they loved him, could not take that keen interest in his pursuits that Donald used to feel. So after the first few days had passed away lie began to feel very dull, and al- most thought he should be glad when the holidays were over : but then he remembered how miserable he had been at school, and wished that some- thing would happen to prevent his going back again. Walter's favorite place at home, where he spent all the time that he was not out of doors, was a little room which was the property of his eldest sister, who, being an invalid A TALK. 33 and not able to mix with, the rest of the family, passed the greater part of every day there. Kate Leigh was much older than Walter, who was the youngest of the family, and indeed she was in all respects much older than most girls of her age. Sickness often makes people thoughtful and wise beyond their years ; and while it had done this for Kate, it had not also dried up hei warm affections and made her selfish, as it unfortunately does with some. No, Kate was the most contented, the happiest being in the family ; and I suppose this is why Walter so often chose to settle himself with his book in a corner of her little domain. 34 DONALD'S HAMPER. One wet day he was there as usual, and having spent some time in la- menting over the weather, which was dark and lowering, had finally suh- sided into peace and quietness over a new fairy tale to her great relief; for Kate was never idle, and though she seldom showed it, she had a peculiar dislike to being disturbed till her morning duties were accomplished. Two hours passed away quietly, and then Walter gave a groan, and flinging his book on the table, with the announcement that that was done, wondered what he was to do with himself all the rest of the day. Kate looked up and smiled, then pushing away her writing materials she took A TALK. 35 out her work and proposed that they should have a talk. Walter's brow brightened, and he flung himself back in his chair to o be in readiness to do his part. " All right," he said; "what shall we talk about, Kate?" " Why, about school, to be sure," she answered; "you've told me no- thing about it this time, and gener- ally you are so full of it, you can think of nothing else. How do all the boys go on, and what's become of your old friend, Donald Mackay?" Walter's face grew decidedly more gloomy-looking, and he answered " I dont like Beech wood nearly. BO much as I did. I say, do you 36 DONALD'S HAMPER. think papa would let me go some- where else? I'm sick of the placo -and the boys, and I don't believe I shall ever get on well there." Kate looked up surprised. "Why, Walter, what's wrong?" the inquired, quickly ; " last Easter everything was perfection ; what has happened to change your opinion so suddenly?" Walter was silent ; but Kate pressed for an answer, and by degrees drew from him a full accourft of his quarrel with his friend, given in somewhat strong language, and with plenty of expressions of indignation against poor Donald. She- heard him to the end without A TALK. 37 interrupting liim ; but wlien ne asked whether she did not think he had done right in cutting a boy who had behaved so abominably, she could not help laughing, and replied, sho could not say she thought Donald's crime so very unpardonable. Of course, she should have liked him better if he had shared his peaches with the others, but she hardly thought his fault was worth quarrelling about. "Oh, Kate," exclaimed Walter, impatiently, " you are not a boy, and you never can understand boys' affairs a bit ! I did not want his peaches ; but I say it was a nasty, horrid thing to do to eat them all himself 1" S3 DONALD'S HAMPER. "Very horrid !" said Kate, looking very much amused at his vehemence. 14 But, Walter, we all do horrid things sometimes, things we should not like our best friends to know anything about ; can you not forgive Donald as you would wish to be forgiven if you were to do anything of the sort ?" " If ! Kate, how can you imagine j I should be such a pig ? But then, you see, that is not the worst of it. He used to pretend to like me so much ; now it could have been nothing but pretence, for he did not care one atom when I let him see I meant to have nothing to do with him." Kate shook her head. 11 Walter, you are speaking yery A TALK. 39 positively ; but I do not see how you can tell that he did not care. He may have felt it very much for aught you know. It is hardly likely he would let you see." " But, Kate, he made friends with that Henry Noble directly, almost. I never saw anybody go on in such a way. I declare, I think, it is a horrid shame!" " Suppose, Walter," said Kate, after a few minutes' silence, " that after all Donald did not eat all those peaches himself ; you may have been mistaken, you know." " I am sure he did ; and anyhow that does not alter the case. It's quite plain he does not care for my friend- 40 DONALD'S HAMPER. ship, so he won't get it again in a Lurry. Why do you shake your head BO, Kate? you surely don't want me to be trying to make friends with him again, do you?" " Don't you wish he was your friend still ? now honestly, don't you, Walter?" said his sister, fixing her "blue eyes on his, as if she would read his thoughts ; but he turned away muttering that he did not want a friend who cared nothing for him. " Walter, Walter, you are quite wrong ; you are indeed," said Kate, earnestly ; " you don't know that he does not care for you. I believe he did. and that it is your fault if he does not now. It is a great mistake Don't you wish he was your friend still. Page 40. A TALK. 41 to throw away friends in this way, as you will find to your cost when you grow up." Walter looked sullen and did not answer, so she continued, " Walter, dear, if you expect your friends never to do anything you dislike you will be always disap- pointed ; and if you only make friends of those who like you and seek your friendship, I strongly suspect you will not have many friends." " Then you think I am so disagree- able that very few people will like me ? Thank you, Kate ; you are very kind." " I did not say so, Walter ; but do you not see, that if you expect all 4* 42 DONALD'S HAMPER. your friends to like you and admire you, your friendship would be of a very selfish kind, only made for your own gratification, not with any wish to help or be useful to others ? This is why you are disappointed in Donald, I think : you expected him to think your friendship of immense value, and he did not seem to do so ; so your pride was hurt, and you gave him up." " Kate, it is too bad to think I am all to blame, and Donald not at all,' 1 said Walter, half inclined to cry. " Would it be a very great comfort to you to think Donald in the wrong, too?" inquired his sister, laughing. " You see I know nothing of his A TALK. 43 share in this 'business, except what you have told me, and so I can't judge." 11 1 do think he was wrong," per- sisted Walter, doggedly. " Well, suppose he was, suppose he had injured you terribly, still it should make no difference to you ; 'forgive and ye shall be forgiven.' Even while we were yet sinners, and so His enemies, Christ died for us. Come," she added, smiling, "try and forgive poor Donald Mackay for having thought he might be able to live without your friendship ; it is not such a very dreadful crime, after all." Walter still looked gloomy, and though she renewed the subject many 44 DONALD'S HAMPER. times, all slie could extract from him was a promise that lie would think about it when he went back to school. GROWING WORSE. 45 IV. GROWING WORSE. |HE Christmas holidays cam'e to an end ; the 20th of Jan- uary came, and Walter returned to school. It was a cold wretched day, the snow lay thickly on the ground when the carriage that conveyed him from the station stopped at the door of Beechwood School. It looked very dreary, he thought much more dreary even than when he left it, and his spirits went down, down, very low indeed. 46 DONALD'S HAMPER. "We seldom think how much wo may do by a single sentence, or even by the tone of voice in which we pro- nounce that sentence, and yet, if we did but think about it, how often have mistakes and misunderstandings arisen from these apparently little causes. Now it so happened that both Wal- ter and Donald had been thinking o a great deal on their way back to school, and strangely enough their meditations had terminated in very much the same way. Walter had been thinking over what his sister had said to him, and, after a con- siderable struggle with himself, had determined, that if Donald seemed GROWING WORSE. 47 anxious to do so, it might be as well to renew his friendship, and try and forget the past. Donald, on his part, was returning to school alone, for Noble, his new friend, was not coming back again ; and when he thought how much he should miss him, he began to wonder whether his first friend, Walter Leigh, would be disposed to be friendly again, He half hoped he would ; surely in a month he must have forgotten whatever little offence he had received, and would be willing to be friends again? Of course, Donald said to himself, it would not do to appear too anxious, but he would watch and be ready ; if Walter should appear 48 DONALD'S HAMPER. willing to renew their friendship, so much the better Donald had arrived at Beech wood before Walter, and was therefore among the crowd of boys who ran out to greet the new arrival, when Walter appeared. Poor Walter, he was cold and tired, heartsick and homesick, and it was hardly to be wondered at that his greetings were not of the most cordial nature. But, unfortunately, Donald was not gifted with much penetration or discernment, and as he had said to himself, " I shall be able to see at once whether he means to make it up," the cold shake-hand and short answer his warm salutations received effectu- GROWING "WORSE. 49 ally quashed all his hopes of a recon- ciliation. The rest of the evening he was cold and reserved ; and Walter, notic- ing this, gave up all thoughts of making him his friend again. So af- fairs returned to their former unpleas- ant condition. But Walter's nature was too hot and fiery for him to remain long in this passive state. Last term Donald was protected by his popular friend, Harry Noble ; but now he was alone, and Walter was determined to make him repent of having been contented to do without the friendship of so im- portant a person as himself. It was easy for him to do this, 50 DONALD'S HAMPER. for he had many ways of securing the good opinion of his companions, which Donald, being poor, did not possess ; and having once established himself in their good graces, he used the influence thus obtained to injure poor Donald. Sly hints and sneers soon began to make some of the boys cast doubtful glances at the poor fellow ; and Donald began to be more than ever puzzled to account for all this. He knew he had, somehow or other, offended Walter, but he was at a loss to understand what dreadful crime he had committed to cause the whole school to avoid him and dis- trust him. Day by day things grew worse GEOWINO- WOESE. 51 instead of better, and he began to grow very unhappy. Ha longed for his friend Harry, and consoled him- self by writing long letters to him, which Harry answered, assuring him it must be some mistake, and advising him to go straight to Leigh, and ask him what he meant by it. While he was considering whether he should follow this advice he re- ceived a letter from his guardian, which changed the current of his thoughts, and somewhat cheered his spirits. His guardian was a gentleman whom he had never seen, who resided in the north of England, and troubled him- self very little about his ward beyond 52 DONALD'S HAMPER, paying his school-fees, and occasion- ally sending a hamper of good things. So, usually, Donald did not care much to hear from him ; but this time his letter contained good news. It in- formed him that his little brother, Alick, who had been at a preparatory school at Bristol, was shortly to be sent to Beechwood ; and though it was now two years since Donald had seen Alick, the bare idea of having somebody who would love him as a matter of course, and whom he could love in return, was so delighful that he went almost wild with joy. In due time Alick arrived, and the boys, as boys do, began to make comments upon him. Some said GROWING WORSE 53 he was just like Donald, and would Lave no more spirit than he had ; but others, who judged more impar- tially, thought he was a merry, in- dependent, little rogue, who would get on in the world ; and I think they were right. 54 DOXALD'S HAMPER. V. THE LITTLE CRUSADER. |T may be said Alice Mackay was not a commonplace child. He had evidently come into the world to do something. You could see that as soon as you looked at him. He did nothing without a purpose. If lie joined a game, he played with a will ; or if he had a lesson to learn, you could see at once he intended to learn it. He was not one of those listless, lazy children, who seem to dream all day as well as night ; who LITTLE CRUSADER. 55 Lave no energy, no decision, no any- thing about them. He was not particularly handsome, but he had a round, sensible, childish face, with a pair of laughing blue eyes, and a roguish mouth : and Donald thought he was perfect. He had been half afraid that, coming as he did from a small school, where he had been only taught by governesses, Alick would be shy and frightened; but lie soon discovered he had no ground for fear on that point Alick had no such thing as fear in his composition, and before a week was over had made himself perfectly at home in his new school Before long he had made many 56 DONALD'S HAMPER. friends among the younger boys, but his brother was his chief adviser and confidant. Alick looked up to him with that reverential admiration which little boys often feel for their elder brothers ; and Donald was especially delighted with this affectionate hom- age. But the quick little fellow was not long in making a discovery which deeply grieved his loving, little heart He had been playing with two of his echool-fellows in the play-ground one morning, and a trifling dispute had arisen about the rules of their game. Alick at once proposed to refer the matter to the judgment of Donald, who was playing at cricket at the other end of the play-ground ; but to LITTLE CRUSADER. 57 this his companions decidedly ob- jected. "Ask your brother! Why, he's the biggest cheat in the world, as every- body can tell you," exclaimed Lewis Thornton ; and Hugh Newman re- plied, "I'd as soon think of asking the first beggar I met in the streets !" " What do you mean? How dare you talk in that way?" burst out Alick, as soon as he could find words to speak. "Donald a cheat! you are both of you cheats, and sneaks, too, or you would not dare to talk like that!" "Not dare !" said Lewis, scornfully; " and why T not, I wonder ? I tell you 58 DONALD'S HAMPER. everybody knows it. Go and ask Melville, or Somers, or Camden, and Bee what they'll say." " I won't I won't ask anybody but Donald's own self," exclaimed Alick, passionately ; " I'll go and ask him this very minute;" and he broke from them and dashed away not heed- ing their remark that Donald was *' very likely indeed to pronounce him- self a cheat and a sneak." Their laughter only made him more angry, and never stopped till he reached his brother, who looked very much as- tonished to see him so excited, for it was the first time in his life lie had seen him really angry and passionate. LITTLE CKUSADER. 59 " What is the matter, Alick?" he inquired ; " have you been fighting, or have you got into a scrape with one of the masters?" Alick was too much out of breath to answer him at once. " Come away, Donald/' he said at last; "come away from those horrid boys ; I want to speak to you all alone." " What's up ?" again inquired Donald, allowing himself at the same time to be drawn away from his companions, and following his little brother to the quiet, shady walk before mentioned. But Alick would not speak till he was sure he waa quite out of hearing ; then, flinging 60 DONALD'S HAMPER. himself down on the grass, he looked up anxiously in his brother's face, and said, " Donald, is it really true that the boys don't like you, and call you a cheat, and all sorts of horrid things?" . " I don't know what they call me, Alick ; they have never favored me with the information, but of course I know quite well that they do not like me." But why, Donald, why? Do tell me, what have you done to offend them all?" " That is just what I don't know, Alick ; but of course there are some boys whom nobody likes; and some whom everybody likes ; there is no LITTLE CRUSADER. 61 accounting for tastes : that they don't like me is quite certain; but it's equally certain that I don't care one bit whether they like me or not." Alick's large blue eyes were fixed wonderingly on his brother's face, which had flushed to a deeper red than usual, as if to belie his words ; but he did not speak. It took some time for that little warm heart to imagine how any one could be indifferent as to the love of others, or possibly be contented to be disliked by all the world. Ha felt sure that he should be miserable if he thought nobody loved him, and he strongly doubted whether Donald was as contented as he appeared. " They must be horrid boys not to G2 DONALD'S HAMPER. like you, Donald," he said, " when you have done nothing at all to hurt them. But never mind ; don't be sorry; / shall always love you very much indeed." It was on Donald's lips to say that he did not mind in the least ; but his little brother's loving words, and the pressure of his hand as he looked up in his face, gave him a choking sensa- tion in his throat, and effectually pre- vented the bitter words from being spoken. He began to think he did care more than he had thought before, and some- thing seemed to say in his heart, " Oh ! if Walter would be friends ftgain !" Alick's love was very sweet LITTLE CRUSADER. tx> but he was so little he could never bo the companion Walter had been. "I wish," said Alick, quite uncon- scious that he was uttering what was in his brother's mind; "I wish that big boy Walter liked you, he has got such a nice face ; don't you think so, Donald?" " Alick," said Donald, confidential- ly, " if you won't tell anybody, I'll tell you something." " Oh, I won't tell . a creature," answered the little fellow, delighted at the idea of being taken into his brother's confidence; " I can keep a secret capitally, Donald." So with his arm resting on the little one's shoulder, Donald poured out the 64 DOXALD'S HAMPER. whole history of his friendship with Walter ; of the coolness which had so suddenly arisen, and of the many slights and disagreeable speeches by which Walter was injuring him. Alick listened with a very grave look on his round, merry face, and Donald thought how very pleasant it was to have such a patient, sympa- thising listener ; but when the tale was finished, he was astonished to find that his little brother WPS ready with all sorts of plans for getting him out of the scrape, and by no means in- clined to let things alone. "Do let me go and ask Walter why he does not like you as much as he used to do," was his first proposal ; LITTLE CRUSADER. 65 and when Donald perseveringly refused his consent to such a plan, he was no less ready with others. " It is no use at all, we shall never be friends again," he said, desponding- ly, as the bell rang to call them in to afternoon school ; but Alick replied resolutely, ' l I will find it out, I'm determined I will!" Following out this determination, but mindful of his promise not to repeat anything Donald had told irm, little Alick lay awake for more than an. /iour plotting and scheming how peace could be made. He had never had such an important piece of business on his hands before, and he felt quite overwhelmed with the responsibility. 6* 66 DONALD'S HAMPEE. But Alick's was not a spirit to 1)6 daunted by difficulties. " I said I would find it out, and I will ;" he repeated to himself; and so full was his mind of his plans that for the first time since he had come to school his lessons were imperfectly repeated, and he consequently got into considerable disgrace. This troubled him a good deal, but Jt did not divert him from his object. Ko sooner were his lessons over than T ie flew to the two boys who had been his companions yesterday, and by dint of ingenious cross-questioning, en- deavored to find out why they thought all the boys disliked his brother. They were amused at his eagerness, and LITTLE CRUSADER. 67 provoked him very much by laughing at his questions, instead of answering them ; for, in fact, they could not answer them, having no reason what- ever to give for their dislike, which had merely sprung from the unkind things which Walter had said. So great a matter had that little lire kindled. He tried again many times, but at last began almost to despair. Leigh was too big a boy to notice him, and Alick began to think that nobody else knew anything about the quarrel. Still he could defend his brother when he heard him abused, as he frequently did ; and his vehemence in Donald's cause so amused his school-fellows 68 DONALD'S HAMPER. that they called him " the little cru- sader." Alick gloried in his surname, and declared he always would fight for the right, and defend the weak against the strong, as the old knights swore to do, and he did not care if they laughed at him ; it would not hurt him, and it seemed to amuse them. Many of the boys applauded this speech, and one of them, Charley Melville, whispered to his next school- fellow, that " if Mackay major had only had half of that youngster's pluck, Leigh would have had to bold bis tongue long ago." SECRET REVEALED. 69 VI. THE SECRET REVEAL. ED |T was again the autumn, nearly a year since Donald had re- ceived his unfortunate hamper. The midsummer holidays were over, and the boys had settled to their work again, when one morning the news spread through the school that two of the boys had got the measles. "Who is it?" was asked; and then it appeared that the lucky ft Sows, as they were considered, wei ) two little brothers, Hugh and Freddy Percy. Of course they were put to bed 70 DONALD'S HAMPER. in the sick-room and were g^eatl} envied by their companions, because, by being -ill they escaped their les- sons. But measles is not always such. a pleasant thing, and these two little boys, who were naturally delicate and sickly, did not find it such a very delightful affair. In two or three days the sick-room had other inmates. Walter Leigh soon sickened, and then Charley Melville, and finally Donald Mackay. 1 A great bore," Walter pronounced it when Donald was added to the number. " We were precious com- fortable before, and now there's thia sulky fellow coming to hinder all our flic." SECEET REVEALED. 7] " He won't hinder mine," replied Melville, as he rolled up the skin of an orange which he had just been devouring, and discharged it with a good aim at Walter's face. " But that little brat, his brother, will be always running in and out. You know he's had the measles, and BO, of course, he'll be allowed to come here," said Walter, fretfully. " Never mind, I like the young'un," said Charley, while Freddy Percy exclaimed, ' ; Oh, yes, he's the nicest fellow in the school." " Well, I hope you'll keep him to yourself, then," replied Walter, gloomily ; " there'll be a horrid up- roar if you two get together." 72 DONALD'S HAMPER. "I Lope so," said Charley, who seemed determined to torment Wal- ter ; "I like an uproar, especially when I've got a headache : so I shall be woefully disappointed if the young animal does not make his appearance when the bell rings. "Hallo! Walter, don't go to sleep, I want to talk." " What a bore you are, Melville !" said Leigh, who really was moie feverish than his companion. " I will go to sleep if I choose." " Well, you won't mind my talk- ing, then, for as I haven't a book, it's quite out of the question for me to be quiet. Or suppose we sing; you, Percy, begin, and I'll join in ai the chorus." SECRET EEVEALED. 73 But this proposal was negatived by Dawson, the old servant who acted as sick-nurse ; and Melville, with a heart-rending sigh, resigned himself to the task which every one feels to be a duty when confined to bed of counting the bunches of grapes on the paper of the wall opposite to him. This kept him quiet for some time; but at last declaring that he had counted them at least a thou- sand times without arriving twice at the same conclusion, he imitated Walter's example and soon fell asleep. lie was not disappointed in the hope he had expressed that the 11 young animal," as he called Alick, would come up when the bell rang. 74 POXALD'S HAMPER. Henceforth as long as Donald con- tinued to be a prisoner in the sick- room, all the child's playtime was spent there. He was a great favor- ite with Dawson, or he would have been hardly likely to obtain leave to come up so often ; but as she said to Dr. Vines, the head-master, "Mas- ter Alick was not like other boys, he could manage to be quiet when he was told, which was more than she would say for any of the other young gentlemen." So he was un- disturbed, and boasted not a little of the favor he enjoyed. Freddy Percy was his greatest chum among the boys ; he had taken to him from the first, chiefly because SECRET REVEALED. 75 Donald liad advised him to make friends with him ; but also because both the little brothers, and Freddy especially, were among the few who still liked his brother. And now all his most treasured story-books were brought up for Freddy's amuse- ment; and when the child's head ached so much that he could not read, Alick would perch himself on the foot of the bed and read aloud for his benefit. Thib habit of his did not, however, give universal satisfaction. Like most people who are conscious they have injured any one, Walter was always on the watch to find fault with Donald, and his unoffending little brother, and 76 DONALD'S HAMPER. be now inveighed most vehemently against Alick for disturbing them all with his stupid stories. " Did he think they were all a parcel of babies that he brought them up a heap of fairy tales?" Charley Melville's protection was invaluable to Alick, who did not at all relish hearing his dear fairy tales epoken of so contemptuously. Walter was really more in awe of him than of any boy in the school, and he began to be half afraid that Melville sus- pected that he had treated Donald very badly. If not, why was it that Mel- ville was always snubbing him and petting Donald and Alick ? In fact, Walter was very uncomfor- SECRET EEVEALLD. 77 table in his present quarters, and was longing to get down among his other school-fellows, witb whom he flattered himself he was \huch more popular. One day it was the first day Wal- ter was allowed to get up he was sitting with Melville by the window watching the boys in the play-ground, when they heard Ahck's rather heavy footstep on the stairs. It sounded heavier than usual, and he was coming o up much more slowly than usual, ad if he was carrying some heavy burden. " That fellow must be bringing us a cart-load of fairy tales to-day," re- marked Walter ; " what an infatuation he has for that sort of rubbish 1" 7* 78 DONALD'S HAMPER. " Whatever he has he has dropped them all," answered Melville, as a heavy thump was heard outside the door. The next moment the door was flung w r ide open by Alick, whose little face was crimson with his efforts to lug a heavy hamper up-stairs, and through the lorg passage to the sick- room. " Here's a spree !" he cried, as he pushed his burden into the room, and stood surveying it with folded arms. "Who'll have it? Guess who it's for?" " For me ! for me !" sounded from all the boys except Donald. Poor fellow, he did not dream of its being SECRET REVEALED. 79 for liirn; such things seldom came to him. " It's for Leigh," s ^d Alick. " And now may we see you unpack it ? The Doctor said I might bring it up here, and I thought it would be such fun." "Of course you may," said Lei^h. " You didn't imagine I was going to to wait to unpack it till I got out of this room, did you ?" Oh, the delight of unpacking a hamper from home ! what boy does not know it far better than I can describe it? Leigh's hamper was much like other hampers ; it contained one huge cake and a multitude of smaller cakes, pots of preserve, a pair of chickens, some eggs, and a little 80 DONALD'S HAMPER. basket, which brought a^very strange color into Walter's cheeks. Had Kate put it there on purpose to remind him of the past? He almost thought she must have ; for there it was, a little round basket, full of apricots. He thought at first they were peaches ; but still the basket and all looked so like, could she have done it on purpose ? Leaving that question for the pre- sent, the boys proceeded to make further acquaintance with the good things. To do Walter justice he was very liberal with his possessions, and none of the boys hesitated to benefit by his generosity. The little basket he decided to keep SECRET REVEALED. 81 for the present ; the apricots would be delicious after dinner. Having shared equally all the other things, he thought he would keep the best part of the apricots for himself and Melville : of course the others must have one a-piece, but they could not expect more. Accordingly, after dinner each boy had one apricot, and the rest were stowed away for the present, Walter thinLing he had been very generous, and drawing a very favorable contrast in his own mind between himself and Donald. Alas, pride must have a fall ! and Walter's self-complacency was all at once upset by a few words that fell from little Percy. 82 DONALD'S HAMPER. " Oh, delicious it is !" he remarked to his brother, as he sucked the apricot-stone.; "it's nearly as good as Donald's peaches." " Donald's peaches ! what are you talking about?" inquired little Alick. " Has Donald had some peaches lately ? He never told me." " Oh, not lately ! it was last year. Freddy and I were ill, and shut up here all alone, and Donald brought us such a splendid basket of peaches : there were twelve, but he would not touch one not one ; so Freddy and I ate them all, and we planted some of the stones, but somehow or other the trees never came up. Wasn't it good of him?" SECRET EEVEALED. 83 " First-rate !" said Melville ; while Alick's eyes danced with delight. But Walter's face was hidden behind a book in which at the moment he hap- pened to be deeply interested. Donald said nothing he was not yet well enough to sit up, and the boys fancied he was asleep, for his eyes were shut ; but certainly he was awake only a minute before, and he did not fall asleep so suddenly. I will not tell you what Walter's thoughts were like that evening after he got into bed ; if you have ever treated any one unkindly, and found out afterwards that you have made a great mistake, you will know some- thing of his feelings. But if you have 8-1 DONALD'S HAMPER. hitherto never indulged in unjust sus- picions of those who have never wronged you, let me beg you not to follow Walter's example. You will want to know if Walter did not try to make friends with Don- ald again, and I am glad to say that after a long struggle with himself he did go to him and confess how wrongly he, had acted, so that, to the delight of little Alick, peace was restored between them. Donald always said that it was Alick's doing, for his own indignant feelings had at first made him half inclined to reject Walter's apology, and it was more to please his little brother than himself that he had consented to be friends again. SECRET REVEALED. 85 Donald left school about the same time as Walter ; and then, for a time, their friendship was interrupted. Don- ald went out to India, and lived there till his health gave way, and he was obliged to corne home, and, as neither of the boys were fond of letter- writing, they heard nothing of each other for many years. I must just tell you how they met again. It was a warm evening, late in the summer time, when Walter was passing quickly through a crowded market-place in London. The heaps of ripe fruit, and the little group of children who were looking at it with longing eyes, reminded him of his boyish days, and, quick as lightning, 1 86 DONALD'S HAMPER. his thoughts went back to a certain basket of peaches which had once caused him so many miserable hours. ' Just then a voice fell on his ear, . saying, " What are your peaches to- day, my good woman?" It sounded very familiar to him, and involuntarily he turned round to see Donald Mackay standing close beside him. It was a very happy meeting to them both. Walter carried off his friend to dinner with him ; but Donald persisted in bringing his peaches with him, " for the sake," he said " of auld lang syne." THE END. This book is DUE on the last date stamped below |lOm-ll, '50(2555)470 SIGNAL LIBRARY FACILITY P Z7 Donald ! s hamper . [I ||| || ||[||||| A1D71 475484 2 PZ7 A1D71