THE LIBRARY 
 
 OF 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY 
 OF CALIFORNIA 
 
 Rare Book Room 
 GIFT OF 
 
 John W, Beckman 
 
4 
 
Etrtiia JSoos. JFronttsptm. 
 
 
 "Any thing the matter, ray lad," said the friendly officer. 
 
 p. 20. 
 
THE 
 
 WEST INDIA BOYS. 
 
 BY THE AUTHOR OF 
 
 MISS KATY'S LITTLE MAID." 
 
 1*JSW*. 
 
 \i 
 
 - 
 
 Receive the kingdom of God as a little child." 
 
 PHILADELPHIA : 
 AMERICAN SUNDAY-SCHOOL UNION, 
 
 No. 1122 CHESTNUT STREET. 
 
 NEW YORK: 599 BROADWAY. 
 
Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1863, by the 
 AMERICAN SUNDAY-SCHOOL UNION, 
 
 in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States for 
 the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. 
 
God has unconscious ministers : 
 
 The lily crown'd with dew, 
 The lamb, the vine, the morning mist, 
 
 Have all their message true. 
 The little child's unstudied waya 
 
 May lift our thoughts above, 
 And prompt the Christian's heart to faith, 
 
 Simplicity and love. 
 
 But lily, lamb, or little child 
 
 No holiness can claim j 
 The earth is cursed, the soul is lost, 
 
 But for our Saviour's name. 
 And yet we welcome all the aids 
 
 Which round our path abide, 
 To turn our thoughts to Scripture truth 
 
 And point to Christ our Guide. 
 
 1* 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER I. PAGE 
 
 ON BOARD SHIP 9 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 UNCLE DIVINE 15 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 MR. PENFOLD'S OFFICE 24 
 
 <* 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 LODGINGS 35 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 ANXIOUS WAITING 47 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 ADRIFT 59 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 " WANTED" 65 
 
 7 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. PAGB 
 
 CHINA 79 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 A LETTER... 87 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 THE KNIFE... 98 
 
 CHAPTER XI. 
 JOY..., .. 108 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 THE SICK-ROOM.., ....*."... . 120 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 A RESTING-PLACE 128 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 A MOTHER 134 
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 CONCLUSION... ,. 139 
 
THE 
 
 WEST INDIA BOYS. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 ON BOARD SHIP. 
 
 ALONE on the wide sea, a good ship 
 Was speeding its way. Above, the sky 
 was all glowing with the glory of the 
 Betting sun ; below, the waves were 
 shining like molten gold. The hardy 
 sailors had seen this beautiful sight too 
 often to care to look upon it now. 
 Hither and thither they went, all about 
 the rolling ship, as composedly and 
 steadily as if they were at work in the 
 narrow street of some dusty city. 
 
 (9) 
 
10 THE WEST INDIA BOYS. 
 
 A party of passengers, too, were busy 
 in idle chat, utterly unmindful of the 
 grandeur of the scene, and of the real 
 though invisible presence of the Great 
 Creator, in the midst of his handiwork. 
 
 Leaning over the side of the vessel 
 were two persons, who were lost in ad 
 miration of the glories of sea and sky. 
 One was a lad, who would gladly have 
 been thought sixteen years of age, 
 though he was at least two years 
 younger. Raynor Thall's dark eye was 
 very bright with pleasure, as he glanced 
 now at the glistening waters, now at 
 the teacher by his side. 
 
 This teacher was neither gray-haired, 
 nor imposing in stature. He wore 
 neither a long, sweeping coat, nor wise- 
 looking spectacles. He spoke English 
 with tolerable correctness, but with an 
 accent that had about it a sweet charm. 
 
THE WEST INDIA BOYS. 11 
 
 which it is impossible to describe. To 
 appreciate it, one must hear it. He 
 was dressed in a suit of light-blue cloth, 
 made with a kilt, somewhat in Scotch 
 fashion. Over his shoulders fell a 
 shower of golden curls, which floated 
 and fluttered in the evening breeze. 
 His blue eyes were large and gentle, 
 and his flexible mouth seemed fitted to 
 speak words of love. Now we have a 
 full description of Benny Thall, one of 
 the little teachers whom God scatters 
 through the world, to give his older 
 children lessons in faith, simplicity and 
 love. 
 
 We all remember how our Saviour 
 took a little child, and, placing him in 
 the midst of his disciples, said, " Except 
 ye be converted, and become as little 
 children, ye cannot enter into the king 
 dom of Heaven." Every day he is 
 
12 THE WEST INDIA BOYS. 
 
 doing the same thing now, if we will but 
 hear his voice, and learn the wisdom so 
 pleasantly taught us. 
 
 Already Raynor Thall had "passed 
 from death unto life." Already it was 
 his chief desire to do the will of God, 
 and to love and lean upon that Saviour, 
 for whose sake he trusted his name was 
 written in Heaven. The "little leaven" 
 was working within him, but not yet 
 had it penetrated and purified every 
 part of his character. It might be that 
 long years of sorrow and conflict were 
 in store for him, ere his proud and wil 
 ful spirit would have the loving gentle 
 ness of a little child. 
 
 Raynor had left his home in the 
 West Indies with indignation burning 
 in his heart. After being for two years 
 a widower, Mr. Thall was about to take 
 unto himself a young and pretty wife, 
 
THE WEST INDIA BOYS. 13 
 
 a proceeding of which Raynor had 
 openly expressed his disapprobation. 
 Under these circumstances, the father 
 had consented to Raynor' s making a 
 long promised visit to his uncle, his 
 mother's only brother. Raynor insisted 
 upon having Benny for the companion 
 of his journey, and Mr. Thall reluc 
 tantly consented. 
 
 Raynor was cut off from the wise 
 counsel of his father, but he had with 
 him a teacher from whom he might 
 well learn the very lessons he needed 
 most. Would he prove a willing pupil, 
 gathering much wisdom from his un 
 conscious guide ? 
 
 The golden glory faded from the sky, 
 and night and stillness enwrapped the 
 good ship. On, on it went, no eye but 
 the All-seeing to track its steady course. 
 On it went, nearing the haven. Soon, 
 2 
 
14 THE WEST INDIA BOYS. 
 
 very soon, the sailor would set his foot 
 on his native shore. 
 
 Each human soul is like that lone 
 ship on the silent sea. Some haven we 
 are nearing. Will glad greetings await 
 us on " the Shining Shore ?" Are we 
 " Homeward Bound ?" Will our dying 
 lips breathe this glad song ? 
 
 " Into the harbour of Heaven we now glide, 
 
 We 're home at last ; 
 Softly we drift on its bright silver tide, 
 
 We 're home at last ; 
 Glory to God ! all our dangers are o' er, 
 We stand secure on the glorified shore. 
 Glory to God ! we will shout evermore, 
 
 We're home at last." 
 
THE WEST INDIA BOYS. 15 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 UNCLE DEVINE. 
 
 OUR West India boys had been safely 
 landed on the dock of an Atlantic city. 
 The party of travellers, who had had 
 them in charge, saw them safely at a 
 hotel, and then were whirled away in 
 the swift cars, towards a distant inland 
 town. 
 
 As the ship made port in the even 
 ing, Raynor thought it best to pass the 
 night at the hotel, and seek his uncle 
 in the morning. He stated his views 
 with such dignity and decision, that his 
 escort supposed his plan was probably 
 the best, under circumstances of which 
 they were ignorant. 
 
16 THE WEST INDIA BOYS. 
 
 A good night's rest on land, after the 
 tossing of the restless ocean ! There is 
 a world of comfort in that single sen 
 tence ! Say what you will about being 
 "rocked in the cradle of the deep," it 
 is delightful to have a motionless floor 
 under you, and a nice, wide bed of 
 your own, after even three or four 
 nights on board ship. 
 
 Raynor and Benny had enjoyed some 
 of this sound, refreshing sleep, and now 
 were making ready for breakfast. Ray 
 nor had been dressing his little brother. 
 This was a new business for Raynor, 
 and yet he had fairly coaxed every 
 button through its appropriate button 
 hole, and dexterously pinned on a clean 
 collar. Benny had not uttered a word 
 of complaint, though he had been han 
 dled more as if he were a wooden 
 
THE WEST INDIA BOYS. 17 
 
 image, than a creature of flesh and 
 blood, capable of feeling and suffering. 
 
 "What shall I do with your hair?" 
 said Raynor, in despair. As he spoke, 
 he strove to twine round his unskilful 
 finger the long, light lock he held in 
 his hand. 
 
 Benny's small, round face seemed in 
 a cloud of golden glory, for Raynor's 
 thorough combing had set every hair at 
 variance with its neighbour. Truly, it 
 was a puzzling question, but Benny did 
 not find it hard to answer. 
 
 " Cut it off! Cut it off! That will 
 be the best way," said Benny. 
 
 "What! All your pretty curls?" 
 was the doubting reply, while Raynor 
 still held the single tress he had re 
 duced to comparative order. 
 
 " Yes ! All ! Every one ! I 'm going 
 to be a great boy, now. I shan 't want 
 
 2* 
 
18 THE WEST INDIA BOYS. 
 
 them," said Benny, valorously handing 
 his brother the scissors. 
 
 Snip ! Snip ! went the scissors, now T 
 close to Benny's white skin, now some 
 inches away. Raynor was not the most 
 skilful of barbers, and yet he seemed 
 well pleased with his work. On he 
 went, turning the little fellow's head 
 round, from time to time, to see how its 
 two sides were likely to correspond. 
 " Mated, not matched," they certainly 
 were. 
 
 There lay the heap of golden curls, 
 and there stood Benny, a wonderful 
 monument of the youthful barber's art. 
 Eaynor had not used a "pumpkin to 
 cut by, and keep all even," as they did 
 in the olden times in New England, but 
 the boys were satisfied, and there was 
 no one at hand to differ from them. 
 
 A few strokes of a wet brush com- 
 
THE WEST INDIA BOYS. 19 
 
 pleted Benny's toilet, and then the 
 brothers went down stairs together. 
 
 It was a pleasure to Raynor to be in 
 the large dining-room of the hotel quite 
 his own master. The waiters in his 
 neighbourhood had no reason to com 
 plain of want of exercise, that morning. 
 
 Breakfast over, Raynor left his trunk 
 at the hotel, as the most gentlemanly 
 course, and, taking his brother by the 
 hand, he set off in search of his uncle. 
 Raynor had no doubt of a cordial re 
 ception, for the frequent letters which 
 had passed between his mother and this 
 pet only brother, had been of a partic 
 ularly free and affectionate character. 
 He had doubtless received Mr. Thall's 
 announcement of the intended visit of 
 his nephews, though sufficient time had 
 not elapsed for them to receive an as 
 surance of welcome before starting. 
 
20 THE WEST INDIA BOYS. 
 
 The house of Mr. Devine was in a 
 handsome, well-known street, and the 
 boys had no difficulty in finding it at 
 once. The brown-stone front looked 
 dreary enough. Every shutter was 
 closed, and a convincing " to let," on 
 the door, assured the children that here, 
 at least, they should not find the friend 
 they sought. 
 
 As the boys stood irresolutely on the 
 door-step, a policeman happened to pass. 
 " Anything the matter, my lad ?" said 
 the friendly officer. 
 
 " We came to see our uncle, Mr. 
 Peter Devine, but this paper says the 
 house is to let, and we don't know 
 where to look for him, as we are stran 
 gers in the city," said Raynor, in his 
 own manly, direct way. 
 
 " Mr. Peter Devine, child ! Why, he 
 has been dead these four weeks ! An 
 
THE WEST INDIA BOYS. 21 
 
 old bachelor ; walked with a cane. Mr. 
 Peter Devine. Rich, he was. He left 
 his money to the Societies, I've heard 
 say. Did you expect to stop with him? 
 Where 's your baggage ?" The officer 
 did not forget his usual way of making 
 sure that he heard the truth. 
 
 " Our trunk is at the hotel. We got 
 in from the West Indies, last evening, 
 and so thought we would wait to see 
 our uncle in the morning," said Raynor. 
 
 "You can't see him in tins world, 
 my boy. Have you any other friends 
 in the city ?" said the policeman. 
 
 " I have a letter to Mr. Joshua Pen- 
 fold, a business acquaintance of my 
 father's." As Raynor spoke, he was 
 trying to subdue the choking in his 
 throat, which threatened to overthrow 
 the manliness which was his especial 
 pride. 
 
22 THE WEST INDIA BOYS. 
 
 " Got it with you ?" persevered the 
 policeman, intent upon convincing him 
 self that the boy was truthful. 
 
 Eaynor drew out his pocket-book, 
 and produced the letter. 
 
 "All right. Joshua Penfold. All 
 right. I'll put you into an omnibus, 
 that will take you straight to his office." 
 
 Before Raynor had time to think 
 what he was to say to this stranger, he 
 found himself in an omnibus, rolling 
 rapidly towards Mr. Peiifold's place of 
 business. 
 
 Benny had kept tight hold of Ray- 
 nor's hand, but continued silent. He 
 had no uneasiness as to their future, but 
 was wholly taken up with the idea that 
 his uncle was dead, and he would not be 
 able to put his arm round his neck, as 
 he had planned, and tell him he meant 
 to love him like his own dear father. 
 
THE WEST INDIA BOYS. 23 
 
 " How glad mother will be to see her 
 brother!" thought Benny. This con 
 soling reflection so far dispersed the sad 
 thoughts of the child, that he was soon 
 ready to be amused by the strange 
 sights and sounds of the busy city. 
 His little head was in perpetual motion, 
 bobbing now this way, now that way, 
 as he was borne past alluring shop win 
 dows, and foot-passengers in every pos 
 sible costume. Of course, Ray nor was 
 called upon to share all this curious de 
 light, and was so implored to "look 
 here!" and "look there!" that he had 
 but just made up his mind what to say 
 to Mr. Penfold, when the omnibus came 
 to a halt, on the very spot which the 
 policeman had indicated. 
 
24 THE WEST INDIA BOYS. 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 MR. PENFOLD. 
 
 MR. PENFOLD' s office was by no means 
 the centre of importance in the great 
 building where it was located. Up 
 three pairs of stairs Raynor climbed, find 
 ing, at every landing, a hand still point 
 ing him onward, if he would see Joshua 
 Penfold. The glass door of Mr. Pen- 
 fold's quarters was reached at last. 
 There was no such thing as catching a 
 glimpse of the gentleman, before facing 
 him fairly. The faded, green baize cur 
 tain, veiled him from curious eyes. 
 
 Raynor knocked decidedly, as much 
 to give himself courage, as to inspire 
 
THE WEST INDIA BOYS. 25 
 
 Benny with the notion that he felt 
 quite at home in that dark, dirty entry. 
 
 " Come in !" said a gruff voice. 
 
 Mr. Penfold was sitting at his desk. 
 He did not get up to give the boys the 
 benefit of a full view of his person, but, 
 peering above the* sheet of paper he 
 held in his hand, they saw a small, 
 round, red face, brightened by a pair of 
 spectacles, through which looked as 
 keen gray eyes as ever scrutinized a 
 new-comer. 
 
 " Mr. Penfold, I suppose," said Ray- 
 nor, going forward, in a gentlemanly 
 way. " My name is Raynor ThalL 
 You have had some business dealings 
 with my father, I believe. Here is a 
 letter for you, from him." 
 
 Raynor presented his letter, and Mr. 
 Penfold opened and read it, without 
 another word. 
 
 3 
 
26 THE WEST INDIA BOYS. 
 
 It would have been a useless courtesy 
 to ask the boys to sit down, as Mr. 
 Penfold's stool was the only seat in the 
 room. 
 
 The letter was very short; Raynor 
 could see that, from where he stood; 
 yet Mr. Penfold read it over and over, 
 as if to be sure to master the contents. 
 
 " Well, boy ! you want to find your 
 uncle," said Mr. Penfold, at last. 
 
 " He is dead, and they have put up 
 6 to let' on his house. We have been 
 there," said Raynor, in a voice more 
 tremulous than he could have wished. 
 
 " Then I don 't see what good I can 
 do you. I can't look up your dead 
 uncle," said Mr. Penfold, rather sharply. 
 
 Raynor hushed his wounded pride, 
 and asked : " My father's letter, what 
 does it say ?" 
 
THE WEST INDIA BOYS. 27 
 
 MR. PENFOLD : 
 
 Dear Sir: The bearer, my son Raynor, is a 
 stranger in your city ; if he should have any diffi 
 culty in finding his uncle, Mr. Peter Devine, I 
 have given him this note, asking your assistance 
 in pointing out the residence of Mr. Devine, who 
 is a well-known citizen of your metropolis. Ex 
 cuse my presuming on our slight acquaintance to 
 ask this favour. Yours, truly, 
 
 S. D. THALL. 
 
 Mr. Penfold read the letter aloud, 
 then carefully folded it, and put it back 
 into the envelope. 
 
 " I never knew Mr. Devine. I could 
 not help you as much as the directory 
 could. But, since the man is dead, I 
 don't see that I, or it, can do you any 
 good. Were you going to stay with 
 this Mr. Devine ?" 
 
 " We came from the West Indies, ex 
 pecting to spend some time with him," 
 said Raynor. 
 
28 THE WEST INDIA BOYS. 
 
 "Why didn't you stay at home?" 
 said Mr. Penfold. 
 
 Eaynor blushed up to his eyes, as he 
 answered, " My father is going to be 
 married, and we came to stay awhile 
 with Mr. Devine, who was my mother's 
 brother." 
 
 " Did he know you were coming ?" 
 said the questioner. 
 
 " My father wrote to him, but we did 
 not wait to hear from him. We did not 
 think about his dying," said Raynor, 
 with some embarrassment. 
 
 " Not a runaway ! The letter proves 
 that. Turned adrift, more likely," said 
 Mr. Penfold to himself, while he in 
 wardly entertained thoughts not par 
 ticularly favourable to Mr. Thall. 
 
 "You had better write at once to 
 your father, and tell him how matters 
 stand here ; or, perhaps it would be as 
 
THE WEST INDIA BOYS. 29 
 
 well to take ship and go right back 
 where you came from." As Mr. Pen- 
 fold spoke, he looked into Raynor' s face 
 more penetratingly than before. 
 
 Go back just in time for the mar 
 riage ! Go back, when he was sure that 
 his father thought his absence, for 
 awhile, at least, would be desirable ! 
 Raynor could not for a moment think 
 of such a step. He would at least 
 write, and ask what course he had bet 
 ter take. " I will write to my father as 
 
 soon as I get back to the House," 
 
 said Raynor, trying to be manly. " If 
 I had known the contents of that let- 
 ter, I should not have brought it here, 
 as I see you can be of no service to me." 
 
 " So ! So ! Maybe you've not wasted 
 your time," said Mr. Penfold. " You 
 are staying at a hotel, then. I suppose 
 you have plenty of money. That's a 
 
 3* 
 
30 THE WEST INDIA BOYS. 
 
 dear way of living. No half-price ibr 
 children, if they go to the table. Four 
 dollars a day, at least, for the two ; that 
 runs up fast." 
 
 " Do they charge as much as that ?" 
 said Raynor, anxiously, 
 
 " That they do, and strangers, boys 
 especially, won 't be likely to have long 
 credit. How much have you with you ?" 
 
 There was something in Mr. Penfold's 
 way half friendly and half impertinent, 
 but Raynor could not choose but answer 
 his questions. 
 
 " Only twenty-five dollars," said Ray 
 nor, opening his pockei>book, and show 
 ing his funds, all in gold. 
 
 " You 'd better leave the hotel, at 
 once," said Mr. Penfold, decidedly. 
 
 " I shouldn 't know where to go," said 
 Raynor, looking very young and inex 
 perienced, as he spoke. 
 
THE WEST INDIA BOYS. 31 
 
 " I'll find you suitable lodgings. It 
 is as well you came to me, though you 
 don't see it in that light," said Mr. Pen- 
 fold. "Now you had better go and 
 write to your father. Or stop, you may 
 write here, at my desk, if you want to, 
 and I'll see that the letter gets into the 
 office. They are apt to be careless at 
 those hotels." 
 
 Raynor mounted the high stool. He 
 was not ashamed of his hand-writing, 
 nor had he reason to be ; yet he hesi 
 tated to put his pen to the paper. How 
 should he tell his father that he was 
 friendless in the great city, so far from 
 his home ? 
 
 Raynor's letter was short and cold, 
 simply stating the fact of his uncle's 
 death, and asking what he was to do, 
 under the circumstances. 
 
 Raynor was folding the letter, when 
 
32 THE WEST INDIA BOYS. 
 
 Benny, for the first time, spoke. " Give 
 my best love to dear father, and tell 
 him this is a beautiful place, but uncle 
 is dead, and we could not love him as 
 our dear father, as we meant to. Tell 
 him about this kind gentleman, too." 
 
 As Benny spoke, he walked straight 
 up to Mr. Penfold, and laid his little, 
 soft hand in that of the keen-eyed 
 stranger. 
 
 Benny had been studying Mr. Pen- 
 fold's face, in his own quiet, unconscious 
 way, and this was the result. 
 
 Mr. Penfold's fingers did not grasp 
 Benny's, but another great, red hand 
 came down upon his. "Now I've 
 caught you !" said Mr. Penfold. " I 've 
 shut your little hand up in my box." 
 
 "You'll let me out," said Benny, 
 looking up, trustfully. 
 
 " How do you know I will ? Maybe 
 
THE WEST INDIA BOYS. 33 
 
 I am a dreadful man, and eat up little 
 boys," said Mr. Penfold, showing his 
 teeth alarmingly. 
 
 "You won't eat me" said Benny, 
 drawing near to the man with the teeth, 
 and laying fearlessly hold of his full 
 trowsers. 
 
 "Well, I believe I won't eat you," 
 said Mr. Penfold, with a kindly look at 
 Benny. "But Raynor had better be 
 have himself, or I can't promise about 
 him." 
 
 " He always behaves himself," said 
 Benny, confidently. 
 
 " Well, we '11 see what kind of a let 
 ter he has been writing." Mr. Penfold 
 put out his hand for the letter, as if 
 his reading it were a matter of course, 
 though it had by no means been the in 
 tention of the writer that he should. 
 
 Raynor silently gave the letter to 
 
34 THE WEST INDIA BOYS. 
 
 Mr. Penfold ; then, taking Benny by the 
 hand, he said : " You will see that it 
 is safely put in the office, sir. I shall 
 be much obliged to you for that, as I 
 am a stranger." 
 
 " About the lodgings ?" said Mr. Pen- 
 fold, without looking at the letter. 
 
 "I'll see you in the morning. 
 
 House, you say? Well, I'll find you 
 there." " 
 
 Kay nor only bowed as he took leave, 
 but Benny put out his hand. This 
 time it had a hearty shake, and Benny's 
 " good-bye " was cordially returned. 
 
THE WEST INDIA BOYS. 35 
 
 CHAPTER IY. 
 
 LODGINGS. 
 
 KAYNOR had no fears lest Mr. Penfold 
 should not be true to his appointment. 
 In spite of his bluntness and curiosity, 
 he was evidently interested in the boys, 
 and inclined to take them under his 
 protection. 
 
 Raynor had been for an hour at the 
 window, watching for the carriage which 
 was to bear him to his new quarters. 
 Carriage after carriage had driven up 
 to the hotel, but no Mr. Penfold had 
 alighted from any of them. 
 
 A knock at Raynor's door called him 
 from his post of observation, and sent 
 
36 THE WEST INDIA BOYS. 
 
 Benny on a "hop-skip-and-jump" to see 
 who the new-comer could be. 
 
 "Mr. Penfold! I'm so glad!" said 
 Benny, seizing the great, red hand, 
 which was hanging at Mr. Penfold's 
 side. The hand was not withdrawn, 
 and Benny led the stranger up to Ray- 
 nor, as triumphantly as if he had been 
 the captive of his own bow and spear. 
 
 "All packed! That's right!" said 
 Mr. Penfold, seeing the trunk, ready 
 strapped, and placed near the door. 
 "Here, Max!" 
 
 Mr. Penfold put his head into the 
 entry, as he spoke the last words. 
 
 Thus summoned, a clumsy German 
 appeared, and took up the trunk. 
 
 " You puts it in the vagin ;" said Mr. 
 Penfold, trying to adapt his language to 
 the person addressed. 
 
 The German gave an appreciative 
 
THE WEST INDIA BOYS. 37 
 
 grant, and then disappeared, with the 
 trunk on his shoulders. 
 
 " Now, boys ! Hats on ! Forward, 
 march !" said Mr. Penfold, obeying his 
 own orders with great promptness. 
 Raynor and Benny followed his exam 
 ple, but, midway down the entry, the 
 captain ordered a halt, and suddenly 
 asked Kaynor whether he had " settled 
 up, paid his bill, and left all clear?" 
 
 " Certainly, sir," said Raynor, in his 
 most dignified style. 
 
 "I'll look at the bill, and see that it 
 is all right." Mr. Penfold put out his 
 hand as he spoke. 
 
 Raynor was forced to produce his 
 pocket-book, and give up the receipt 
 for inspection. 
 
 " Correct ! Ehem ! Dear living for 
 boys !" were Mr. Penfold's comments, as 
 he returned the slip of paper to Raynor. 
 
38 THE WEST INDIA BOYS. 
 
 Mr. Penfold seemed inclined to lead 
 his procession along the street single- 
 file, and with strict military regulations, 
 so far as conversation was concerned. 
 Benny, however, had too much to say, 
 and too many questions to ask about all 
 he saw, for any such plan to be carried 
 out, unless by special orders. Mr. Pen- 
 fold had kept silence many a time amid 
 the attacks of the most talkative peo 
 ple, but he was not proof against Ben 
 ny's winning ways, and the two were 
 soon walking side by side, chatting most 
 confidentially. Raynor, meanwhile, si 
 lently brought up the rear. 
 
 Out of the noisy thoroughfare, along 
 quiet streets they passed, Raynor won 
 dering whether he was to find his new 
 home in each fresh row of pleasant 
 dwellings. 
 
THE WEST INDIA BOYS. 39 
 
 Straight on went Mr. Penfold, look 
 ing neither to the right nor the left. 
 
 The blocks of stately buildings were 
 all left behind, and the boys found them 
 selves in a wide street, bordered by in 
 numerable little shops, where more 
 thread and needles and small fancy ar 
 ticles seemed to be on sale than could 
 be wanted in all the city. Yet, some 
 body must buy, or those patient shop 
 keepers would not be, day after day, 
 behind those counters. They must be 
 kept alive by bread and butter, earned 
 just where these people were always to 
 be found. 
 
 At the window of one of these shops, 
 Benny made a decided stand. "Oh, 
 Mr. Penfold, just stop a moment!" he 
 exclaimed. " There 's such a beautiful 
 dog in here a dog with a squeak to 
 him. I wish I could make it go !" 
 
40 THE WEST INDIA BOYS. 
 
 Mr. Penfold was not a judge of toys. 
 He could not share in Benny's delight 
 at the black and white mastiff, who was 
 ready to " squeak," as Benny had said, 
 if but some skilful thumbs and fingers 
 could get hold of him. Yet, in front 
 of the shop Mr. Penfold stopped, and 
 looked round as if to be sure that Ray- 
 nor was close at hand. 
 
 In the door-way stood Max, evidently 
 on the look-out for the party, but, as 
 soon as they came in sight, he mysteri 
 ously disappeared into the back shop, 
 and was not seen again that morning. 
 
 " May I just go in and look at the 
 doggy?" said Benny, emboldened by 
 the decided halt. 
 
 "Yes! We'll all go in. Here's our 
 place," said Mr. Penfold. " Come, Ray- 
 nor, I suppose you '11 be glad to go right 
 up stairs, and get settled, at once." 
 
THE WEST INDIA BOYS. 41 
 
 Raynor was in the midst of his over 
 whelming astonishment, when a woman 
 came out of the door through which 
 Max had disappeared. 
 
 She, too, was German. Her broad, 
 flat face, bright blue eyes, and fair hair, 
 told their own story. She had none of 
 the shyness of Max, however, to keep 
 her from making use of what English 
 she knew. 
 
 Mr. Penfold ! Goot morget ! Glad 
 dese boys to see. I will up stairs, show 
 you. All is ready. Come !" 
 
 The woman put out her hand to 
 Benny as she spoke, and smiled so 
 pleasantly upon him that he was sure 
 he had found a friend. Raynor sur 
 veyed the great braids of yellow hair 
 that were coiled on the back of her 
 head. He scanned her neat plaid, stuff 
 dress, and her white, gatherless apron, 
 
 4* 
 
42 THE WEST INDIA BOYS.. 
 
 of stout linen, with as much dissatis 
 faction as if there were really any fault 
 to be found with them. Benny, mean 
 while, walked as contentedly at her side 
 as if she had been a duchess. 
 
 Mr. Penfold did not trouble himself 
 to look at the boys. He was making 
 his own observations on the neatness 
 of the little sitting-room, back of the 
 shop, and sniffing approvingly the steam 
 of some savoury stew that was cooking 
 in the kitchen adjoining. An onion 
 stew ; Eaynor was sure it was, and it 
 was plain, from his expression, that his 
 taste and Mr. Penfold's did not coincide 
 in this, better than in some other mat 
 ters. 
 
 Eaynor could hardly believe it pos 
 sible that these were the lodgings Mr. 
 Penfold had selected for him, Raynor 
 Thall! Yet, so it must be. Up the 
 
THE WEST INDIA BOYS. .43 
 
 narrow staircase he was led, and then 
 ushered into a small bed-room, the very 
 picture of homeliness and neatness com 
 bined. There stood his trunk, the 
 straps unfastened, as if it were at home, 
 though its owner did not feel himself so. 
 
 " Here, Raynor. Here 's your room. 
 I was lucky to get you in here. It 
 popped into my head after you went 
 out, yesterday. Mrs. Waller and I are 
 old friends. I knew her before she 
 knew Max," said Mr. Penfold. 
 
 Raynor made no reply. He remem 
 bered the elegance of his father's house, 
 and was inclined to say that this was 
 no suitable place for him. Mr. Penfold 
 did not appear to see Raynor's look of 
 dissatisfaction, but Mrs. Waller's plea 
 sant face was suddenly overclouded. 
 She glanced round the room, as if to 
 find out the offending item. Then pat- 
 
44 THE WEST INDIA BOYS. 
 
 ting the soft bed, she said, " You like 
 fedders not?" 
 
 " I never tried a feather bed. I dare 
 say I shall like it very well," said Ray 
 nor, endeavouring to be polite 
 
 Benny looked questioningly at Ray- 
 nor. He saw something was amiss, but 
 could not think what it could be. 
 Jumping on to the bed, he sank deep 
 into its centre, and, looking out from 
 his valley, he exclaimed : " It 's so nice, 
 Raynor ! I am sure you will like fed 
 ders r Raynor could not help smiling. 
 
 " I dare say Raynor will be pleased 
 with everything," said Mr. Penfold, 
 " and Benny will find a warm nest any 
 where." 
 
 " Yes, Mr. Penfold actually stooped 
 down and kissed Benny as he spoke! 
 Then, as if half ashamed of what he 
 had done, he nodded to Raynor and 
 
THE WEST INDIA BOYS. 45 
 
 left the room. Mrs. Waller folio wed, 
 and the brothers were alone. 
 
 Benny at once discovered that the 
 trunk, with its long straps, was a capi 
 tal horse, and was soon off on some 
 imaginary journey, while Raynor was 
 left to his own thoughts. Those thoughts 
 were far from pleasant. Raynor felt 
 angry with Mr. Penfold for choosing 
 such lodgings for him ; angry with his 
 father for allowing him to leave home, 
 and half angry with Benny for being 
 so contented with his new quarters and 
 new friends. 
 
 " It will be only for a little while," 
 Raynor at length said to himself. 
 " When my father's letter comes, he 
 will provide a suitable place for us, or 
 we shall go home." 
 
 Go home ! That was a cheering 
 thought to Raynor. lie was already 
 
46 THE WEST INDIA BOYS. 
 
 weary of independence, and would 
 gladly have been a child again, in his 
 father's house. At that moment he 
 would have sat down to table much 
 more readily with the new Mrs. Thall ? 
 than with Mrs. Waller and Max. 
 
THE WEST INDIA BOYS. 47 
 
 CHAPTER Y. 
 
 ANXIOUS WAITING. 
 
 RAYNOR THALL had been accustomed, 
 from childhood, to have negro servants 
 about him, and had never been in any 
 way thrown into the society of white 
 people who lacked education and refine 
 ment. On Max "Waller and bis wife he 
 looked with secret disdain, fancying 
 that he was made of a material far su 
 perior to any employed in their compo 
 sition. The idea of associating with 
 them, from day to day, on terms of any 
 thing like equality, was terrible to him. 
 He made up his mind at once, that go 
 down to dinner he could not. He 
 would certainly rather go without a 
 
48 THE WEST INDIA BOYS. 
 
 meal, than take it in such company. 
 When, therefore, Mrs. Waller knocked 
 at his door, to say that dinner was 
 ready, he gave Benny's hair a hasty 
 brushing, and sent him off with the 
 German woman, while he remained to 
 unpack the trunk, not feeling like eai> 
 ing, just then, he said. 
 
 Eaynor's absence did not seem to de 
 stroy either the appetites or the cheer 
 fulness of the party below, for he could 
 hear the rattling of dishes, as in fre 
 quent circulation, mingled with the 
 constant sound of voices in pleasant 
 chat. 
 
 Presently Benny's little feet were 
 heard coming up the stairs. " Do come, 
 Kaynor," he said. "There is such a 
 nice pudding. I am sure you would 
 like it." 
 
 Raynor had felt symptoms of a gnaw- 
 
THE WEST INDIA BOYS. 49 
 
 ing faintness coming over him for the 
 last quarter of an hour, and so had his 
 own reasons for letting Benny lead him 
 down to the " sitting-room," where the 
 family were gathered. 
 
 " Mr. Raynor, you sits here," said 
 Mrs. Waller, politely giving him a seat. 
 " You know Max. This Pierre is, who 
 has the room by you." 
 
 Raynor silently took the offered 
 chair, and bowed to the person to whom 
 he was introduced. 
 
 Pierre was a little, thin, dark man, 
 with a few black curls bordering on the 
 bald centre of his round head. He had 
 but to speak to show that he was a 
 Frenchman, as yet imperfectly ac 
 quainted with our language. His hands 
 were small, and kept with care, though 
 too deeply stained in several places to 
 be cleansed by the faithful washing 
 
50 THE WEST INDIA BOYS. 
 
 they had lately undergone. His eyes 
 were black and full of intelligence, and 
 he looked from Raynor to Benny, as if 
 somewhat puzzled to know how they 
 came to be in his company. 
 
 Benny was seated at Mrs. Waller's 
 side, his face perfectly beaming with 
 satisfaction, as she bent over him with 
 kind, motherly care, providing for his 
 wants, and giving him hints as to his 
 behaviour. " How can Benny be so at 
 home, here !" thought Ray nor. ." He is 
 a child, he don 't mind what I do." 
 
 Raynor had not been without instruc 
 tion in Holy Scripture. His mind had 
 been imbued with its leading truths. 
 The text " Except ye be converted, 
 and become as little children, ye cannot 
 enter into the kingdom of Heaven," 
 flashed through Raynor's mind. Would 
 not a right feeling make him forget all 
 
THE WEST INDIA BOYS. 51 
 
 distinctions, and feel warm and kind to 
 those around him ? Had not God made 
 every member of this humble family ? 
 Were they not all dear to Him ? At 
 the last great day of account, what dif 
 ference would there be betwixt Raynor 
 Thall and Max Waller ? He would try 
 to be like Benny, forgetful of all differ 
 ence of worldly circumstances, and be 
 loving and kind in heart and manner. 
 
 While these thoughts passed through 
 Raynor's mind, the saucer of pudding 
 was standing untouched before him. 
 
 " You will eat not ?" said Mrs. Wal 
 ler, her face all full of anxious inquiry. 
 
 "I am going to begin, now," said 
 Raynor, " and you shall see I have not 
 lost my appetite." 
 
 Mrs. Waller's face was in a moment 
 bright with smiles. Raynor's changed 
 
52 THE WEST INDIA BOYS. 
 
 manner was like the publication of a 
 truee after war. 
 
 The little Frenchman scrutinized 
 Raynor more narrowly than before ; 
 then shook his head, as if quite uncer 
 tain what to think of his new fellow- 
 lodger. 
 
 This uncertainty continued in the 
 minds of the whole family for many 
 days. At times Raynor was cold and 
 haughty in his whole deportment, then 
 he would break out into a genial, kind 
 way, like sunshine after storm. Pierre 
 and the Wallers little understood that 
 this was the struggle between the boy's 
 own proud nature, and his desire to be 
 the follower of the meek and lowly 
 Jesus. 
 
 Apart from this conflict, it was not 
 strange that Raynor was variable, and 
 by no means a pleasant companion. 
 
THE WEST INDIA BOYS. 53 
 
 Long before it was possible for him to 
 receive an answer to the letter which 
 he had written to his father, he began 
 to visit the Post Office, daily, in quest 
 of a reply. Disappointment succeeded 
 disappointment, until Raynor fairly 
 dreaded to hear the unvarying "nothing 
 for you !" which followed his eager in 
 quiries. Benny, meanwhile, having no 
 anxiety for the future, was full of joy. 
 Max suffered him to fumble among his 
 stores of buttons, and to make the black 
 and white dog " squeak," to his heart's 
 content. Mrs. Waller watched over the 
 child as tenderly as if he had been her 
 own, and, save the occasional pain at 
 seeing Raynor so worried, Benny was 
 in continual glee. 
 
 "Why can't I enjoy myself, too? 
 There is enough in the city for me to 
 see, to make every day pass pleasantly 
 
54 THE WEST INDIA BOYS. 
 
 while I am waiting for my letter." So 
 Raynor would say to himself. Yet he 
 had not the child-like confidence in 
 God, which would have made him leave 
 all his future in the hands of his Heav 
 enly Father, while he cheerfully ac 
 cepted the little joys of the present 
 hour. So the anxious days and weeks 
 crept by. 
 
 The money in Raynor's pocket-book 
 grew less and less. He denied himself 
 every unnecessary indulgence, and, in 
 deed, hardly spent a cent, from the time 
 he paid Mrs. Waller, on one Saturday 
 night, until the next came round. 
 
 The twenty-five dollars were all gone, 
 at last, and no letter had yet arrived. 
 Mr. Penfold had not been seen at the 
 Wallers since the day he had placed 
 the children there. 
 
 What was to be done ? Raynor re- 
 
THE WEST INDIA BOYS. 55 
 
 solved to put on the best possible face, 
 under his difficulties. He met Mrs. 
 Waller on the landing, as he went up 
 to bed, on Saturday night. 
 
 "I am expecting a letter from my 
 father, containing money. It has not 
 come, so I shall not be able to pay you 
 now," said Raynor, in as calm a man 
 ner as he could command. 
 
 " We can wait. We want it not, yet," 
 said Mrs. Waller, kindly. 
 
 As Eaynor entered his door, he saw 
 Pierre coming up stairs. He must have 
 heard the conversation. This was an 
 annoyance to Raynor, and he slammed 
 the door of his room most impatiently. 
 
 To and fro in the small bed-chamber 
 walked Raynor, biting his lips and 
 clenching his hands, as if to bid defi 
 ance to some invisible enemy. 
 
56 THE WEST INDIA BOYS. 
 
 A pair of wide-open blue eyes were 
 looking at him from the bed. " What 
 is the matter, Raynor? Are you sick?" 
 said Benny. 
 
 "Sick! No!" said Raynor. "But 
 there 's matter enough. Father has for 
 gotten all about us. He don 't write to 
 us, and my money is all gone, and I 
 don't see what to do! There! I've 
 told you all, and now I 'm sorry. Don 't 
 feel bad, Benny." 
 
 "I don't feel bad," said Benny, 
 cheerily. "I know father hasn't for 
 gotten about us. Why, we are his boys 
 and he loves us ! And then, if you 
 want money, why don't you ask God 
 for it?" 
 
 Raynor was silent a moment. He 
 would have given much for the trust 
 that made Benny so sure that his 
 
THE WEST INDIA BOYS. 57 
 
 earthly father still loved them, and 
 even more for that faith which had 
 prompted the question of the child. 
 
 " Well, well. Go to sleep, Benny. I 
 dare say you are right," was Raynor's 
 reply. 
 
 Benny put his head down on the pil 
 low, and sank into as sweet a sleep as 
 if there were no such thing in the world 
 as care. 
 
 That night Raynor sat up late, 
 writing another letter to his father. 
 The first might have miscarried; he 
 would trust yet a little longer. When 
 Raynor knelt for his evening prayer, he 
 had many sins to confess. He had been 
 so impatient, so unreasonable of late, 
 so anxious for the future, so little re 
 membering the sure Protector who was 
 ever watching over him. He did not 
 
58 THE WEST INDIA BOYS. 
 
 ask for the money he needed ; he had 
 yet to learn much of that faith which 
 takes God even at his word, and seeks 
 from him not only daily bread, but 
 whatsoever is needed " as well for the 
 body as the soul." 
 
THE WEST INDIA BOYS. 59 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 ADRIFT. 
 
 FOUR more weeks had passed away, 
 and as yet there had been no letter 
 for Raynor. Saturday night had come 
 again. 
 
 " I am very sorry I cannot pay you, 
 Mrs. Waller," said Raynor, holding him 
 self very stiffly, while an unbidden tear 
 glistened in his young eyes. 
 
 " We have the money. Mr. Penfold 
 has us paid. He said ' make comfort- 
 able the boys, and all would be recht,' " 
 said Mrs. Waller, with more than her 
 usual kindness of manner. " Dear lit 
 tle Benny ! It seem anybody must to 
 
60 THE WEST INDIA BOYS. 
 
 love him ! Mr. Raynor, will you have 
 little fire in your room, in morgen ?" 
 
 The good woman evidently pitied her 
 lodger, and was anxious to do some 
 thing special to show her sympathy. 
 
 " Mr. Penfold paid you !" said Ray 
 nor, without answering her question. 
 "I'll see him on Monday." 
 
 On Monday morning Raynor was 
 early at Mr. Penfold's office. The little 
 man was there, bending over his papers 
 as busily as ever. He put up his spec 
 tacles when he saw that Raynor was 
 his visitor, and really met the boy with 
 unmistakable cordiality. 
 
 " You paid our board for us !" said 
 Raynor, bluntly. " I did not think you 
 would be so kind. I hope I shall be 
 able to pay you. My father has not 
 written. I don't like to think so but 
 
THE WEST INDIA BOYS. 61 
 
 I can't think why he don't write. He 
 wouldn 't forsake us ! 
 
 " Shame on him ! Shame on him ! He 
 lias just set you adrift ! I thought so, 
 from the first!" said Mr. Penfold, 
 warmly. " Marrying makes men inhu 
 man. I never married ! I never mean 
 to! How's the little boy? Does he 
 know about it ? How does he take it ?" 
 
 " He will not believe that father has 
 given us up. He loves them all at Mrs. 
 Waller's, and is very happy." 
 
 "That's what it is to be a child! 
 Pity more of us were not children !" 
 said Mr. Penfold. 
 
 Raynor thought of the Christian 
 spirit which gives to the character all 
 that is beautiful in childhood, but he felt 
 he was far, far from that genuine temper 
 of love and trust. Even now he was 
 filled with burning indignation against 
 
62 THE WEST INDIA BOYS. 
 
 his father, and of shame that strangers 
 should know how he was cast off. 
 
 "What shall I do, Mr. Penfold? 
 Things can 't go on so ! I shall have to 
 earn my living, some way," said Eay- 
 nor, speaking very rapidly. 
 
 " That 's right ! That sounds manly !" 
 said Mr. Penfold, warmly. "You've 
 got your home, for the present. I've 
 nobody to claim what I earn, so I can 
 see after you till you can do for your 
 self. Mind you don 't let the little fel 
 low want for anything. The weather 
 is getting cold. I must tell Mrs. Waller 
 to see that he is dressed warm enough." 
 
 " She has been working for him for 
 several days, and has a warm suit done 
 for him," said Raynor, blushing. "I 
 knew what she was doing, but I could 
 not say a word to her about it. It made 
 me feel, oh ! so ashamed !" Raynor 
 
THE WEST INDIA BOYS. 63 
 
 leaned on the desk, and covered his 
 face with his hands. 
 
 " She is none the worse off for what 
 she has done. Why, I make no doubt- 
 she has been using up something out of 
 that great chest she brought from Ger 
 many. Why, those Germans seem to 
 think, when they come here, they are 
 coming to a wilderness, where you could 
 not buy a yard of stout cloth for love 
 or money. Such stores of homespun 
 as they load up their chests with ! You 
 like Mrs. Waller, don't you ?" 
 
 Ray nor remembered his pride, that 
 had so set him against the good woman, 
 and he answered, " Not half as well as 
 I ought. She is as kind to Benny as if 
 she had nursed him all her life. But 
 Mr. Penfold, what can I do ?" 
 
 " You must look about and find some 
 thing to do." 
 
64 THE WEST INDIA BOYS. 
 
 The door opened at this moment, and 
 three strangers came in. " There, Bay- 
 nor, you will have to go now/' said Mr. 
 Penfold. " Keep a bright look-out, and 
 you'll find what you are to do, before 
 long." 
 
THE WEST INDIA BOYS. 65 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 "WANTED." 
 
 THE free Reading-room in street 
 was open, as usual, one dull November 
 morning. Comfortable men of 'business 
 had stopped in to learn the news before 
 getting into the hurry and turmoil of 
 "down-town." Young men, out of a 
 place, were whiling away their spare 
 hours, looking over the late magazines. 
 Here and there a clumsy fellow, in his 
 working dress, was passing his finger 
 slowly up and down the columns, on 
 which were fixed his puzzled, anxious 
 eyes. 
 
 Securely fastened in their places were 
 the morning papers. Round them gath- 
 
 6* 
 
66 THE WEST INDIA BOYS. 
 
 ered eager groups, looking over each 
 other's shoulders, and quietly elbowing 
 nearer and nearer to the open sheets. 
 In one of these groups stood a slender 
 lad, about fourteen years of age. Close 
 to the reading-stand he had secured a 
 position, while others were able to see 
 over his head. Not on the news from 
 the seat of war, not on stocks or ex 
 changes, not on stinging editorials, did 
 he fix his eyes. No item, however in 
 teresting, could win from him a mo 
 ment's attention, unless he could see 
 the significant word " Wanted," over 
 it. Coachmen and teachers, agents 
 for quack-medicines, and incompara 
 ble books, seamstresses and cooks, 
 five hundred saddlers and four hun 
 dred ship-carpenters, might all hope to 
 find pay and employment, by promptly 
 answering the various advertisements. 
 
THE WEST INDIA BOYS. 67 
 
 Of this there could be no doubt, but no 
 one made known his need of a boy, 
 quite unaccustomed to work of all kind/ 
 and who could boast no other stock in 
 trade than such an English education 
 as could be acquired by very irregular 
 attendance at a moderately good school, 
 for the last five years. 
 
 From stand to stand went Raynor, 
 slowly making his round, until he had 
 fairly mastered the " wan teds " in every 
 daily journal. On a slip of paper he 
 
 J 
 
 had made a minute of such advertise 
 ments as might in any way suit his pur 
 pose. 
 
 The first, and most promising on the 
 list, was an advertisement for " a young 
 clerk, of good character, anxious to 
 learn the wholesale shoe and leather 
 business." 
 
 After much difficulty, Raynor found 
 
68 THE WEST INDIA BOYS. 
 
 the great building where he was told to 
 apply. The very air of the long room 
 into which he stepped, on opening the 
 door, seemed to stifle him, but that was 
 not half as bad as the contemptuous 
 manner in which his application was 
 treated. His whole story was forced 
 out of him, by way of a "character," 
 and then he was advised to take him 
 self off, as soon as possible, as it was 
 not likely that a boy whose father did 
 not care for him would be of much use 
 to anybody else. 
 
 In spite of this discouraging begin 
 ning, Raynor went regularly through 
 his whole list. His perseverance did 
 not insure success. Just such a boy as 
 he was, nobody seemed to want. 
 
 Thoroughly disheartened, Raynor 
 went home at evening, having con- 
 
THE WEST INDIA BOYS. 69 
 
 sumed the whole day in his fruitless 
 search. 
 
 Max Waller could not bear to speak 
 English. He never uttered a word of 
 it, when signs would answer the same 
 purpose, and it was astonishing how sel 
 dom he was obliged to open his mouth. 
 His customers soon learned to under 
 stand his peculiarity, and were often 
 amused at his ready ways of avoiding 
 making himself heard in broken Eng 
 lish. Raynor and Max had gotten on 
 very slowly in their acquaintance. Our 
 young friend was therefore much sur 
 prised, when Max met him at the door, 
 on his return from his day of annoy 
 ances. 
 
 " Goot ! Goot !" said the honest Ger 
 man, taking him by the hand, and de 
 livering him up to Mrs. Waller, much 
 as if he had been a led horse. The 
 
70 THE WEST INDIA BOYS. 
 
 "sitting-room" was lighted, and the 
 supper-table laid with its usual neat 
 ness. Pierre was " drawing pictures " 
 for Benny, on the slate, while Mrs. Wal 
 ler had been sitting near them, with 
 her sewing. 
 
 Pierre might have been a Michael 
 Angelo or Kaphael, for all Benny cared, 
 at that moment. The most celebrated 
 painter in the world could not have 
 kept his attention, when Raynor's face 
 appeared at the door. Benny sprang 
 into his brother's arms, saying, "You 
 didn't come home! You didn't have 
 any dinner ! I saved some of mine for 
 you, but Mrs. Waller made me eat it. 
 She has yours, all nice and warm, for 
 you, and we wouldn't have tea till you 
 came home. Pierre has made me beau 
 tiful pictures. He draws almost as well 
 as you do. Come and see." 
 
THE WEST INDIA BOYS, 71 
 
 Raynor looked with much indiffer 
 ence at the cows and horses on the 
 slate, though they were admirably done. 
 He felt too weary and disappointed to 
 interest himself in the little fellow's 
 pleasure. 
 
 Benny's hand passed over the slate, 
 in a minute, and horses and cows van 
 ished. " You don 't like them, but you 
 would like Pierre's ship. Please make 
 another ship, Pierre. La Gloire, with 
 the banners all flying, just as you made 
 it fop me." 
 
 " Not yets, Benny. Not yets," said 
 Mrs. Waller. " We must tea have. 
 Raynor must to eat, recht soon." 
 
 On Raynor's plate was not an as- 
 sorted dinner, each little mess of meat 
 or vegetables dried into a separate, 
 tasteless crustiness, by standing for 
 hours in a stove-oven. Before him was 
 
72 THE WEST INDIA BOYS. 
 
 a freshly-broiled bird, and Mrs. Waller's 
 kind eyes sparkled as she saw how 
 keenly the boy enjoyed it. 
 
 After supper, Pierre brought down a 
 set of prettily-carved chess-men, and 
 proposed to teach Kaynor the game. 
 Raynor shook his head. He did not 
 feel like playing games. 
 
 " Take pinch tabac ?" said Pierre, 
 offering to Raynor the snuff-box, which 
 was his own peculiar consolation. Ray 
 nor could not help smiling, as he re 
 fused the well-meant courtesy. The 
 little Frenchman was evidently doing 
 his best, by way of a comforter. 
 
 Mrs. Waller was keeping her work 
 carefully in her lap. Raynor could see 
 that she was putting in a new bosorn 
 to one of his shirts, and strove to hide 
 her labour of love. The boy's proud 
 heart was touched. The very people 
 
THE WEST INDIA BOYS. 73 
 
 upon whom he had looked down, in his 
 fancied superiority, were full of delicate 
 kindness to him in his misfortunes. 
 God had sent him friends, where he had 
 the least right or reason to expect them. 
 How he longed to tell them all the an 
 noyances and disappointments of his 
 weary day. His burden would seem 
 lighter, if he could but share it. 
 
 " Where have you been to-day ?" said 
 Benny, as if reading his brother's 
 thoughts. 
 
 Mrs. Waller looked up inquiringly, 
 and Pierre laid down the boat he was 
 whittling for Benny. 
 
 "It will worry you to hear," said 
 Raynor, gazing doubtfully into the little 
 face, turned up to his. 
 
 " Nothing worries me. Somebody 
 always takes care of good little boys. 
 
 7 
 
74 THE WEST INDIA BOYS. 
 
 We don't have to worry. Do we, Mrs. 
 Waller ?" said Benny. 
 
 Mrs. Waller could not trust herself 
 on such a subject in English. She ten 
 derly drew Benny to her side, arid 
 nodded her agreement with him, while 
 she sang one of her simple German 
 hymns, of which we give a translation. 
 
 God's little lambs may skip and play, 
 
 Without one anxious care, 
 Their gentle Shepherd leads the way 
 
 To pastures green and fair. 
 Nor wolf, nor cold, nor scorching heat 
 
 Shall do these lambs despite, 
 By day He guides their willing feet, 
 
 And watches them by night. 
 
 " You tell ! You tell ! We all want 
 to hear, don 't we ?" said Benny, looking 
 first at Raynor, then at Mrs. Waller and 
 Pierre. 
 
 " If Mr. Raynor likes, we would like. 
 
THE WEST INDIA BOYS. 75 
 
 Pierre is good to boys," said Mrs. Wal 
 ler. 
 
 Thus encouraged, Raynor gave a full 
 account of the mischances of the day. 
 
 Benny drew closer and closer to his 
 side as he went on. Eaynor did not 
 see his eyes filling with tears, and was 
 utterly surprised when a sudden sob on 
 the part of the child closed up the ac 
 count of his anxious interviews. 
 
 " Why, Benny ! I ought not to have 
 told all this before you !" said Raynor, 
 catching up his brother in his arms. 
 
 Sob after sob came from Benny, and 
 Raynor was puzzled how to comfort him. 
 
 " God loves Benny. God will take 
 care !" said Mrs. Waller, wiping her own 
 eyes. 
 
 "I don't cry for Benny!" said the 
 little fellow, lifting his head. "God 
 will take care of Benny, and Raynor 
 
76 THE WEST INDIA BOYS. 
 
 too. But but people were cross to 
 Raynor and and " Here the child 
 began to cry again. After a moment he 
 lifted his head and said, " Why don 't 
 you write more letters to father, Ray 
 nor ? He never got the ones you sent." 
 
 " I shall write no more letters to fa 
 ther !" said Raynor, with bitter decision. 
 
 " Poor father ! Benny must write to 
 tell him how his boys do/' said the 
 child, with unshaken trust. " You shall 
 read my letter, when I get it ; that will 
 be nice, won 't it ?" 
 
 Raynor could not bear to cloud the 
 momentary sunshine which had come 
 over Benny's face, so he answered, 
 evasively, " I should like to read a nice 
 long letter to you ; but come, I '11 go up 
 to bed with you, now." 
 
 Benny kissed Pierre and Mrs. Waller 
 "good-night," as affectionately as if they 
 
THE WEST INDIA BOYS. 77 
 
 were the dear friends of his infancy, 
 and then suffered himself to be led up 
 stairs. 
 
 " I am sorry I made you feel badly/' 
 said Raynor, after Benny was in bed. 
 " I didn 't mind anything much. That 
 is, I don't mind it now. Everybody is 
 very kind to us, here. God has given 
 us good friends, and I am sure he will 
 take care of us, Benny ; but you know 
 I am a big boy, and I want to work. I 
 shall try, until I find something to do, 
 but you must not ask me every day 
 where I have been. You are too little 
 to understand about such things. When 
 you are older, you will know. You will 
 see that what I say is best." 
 
 " Yes. I won't ask," said Benny. " I 
 am sure God will take care of us." 
 
 Ray nor held the soft little hand that 
 lay in his, until Benny was fast asleep. 
 
78 THE WEST INDIA BOYS. 
 
 Then the elder brother knelt at the bed 
 side, and poured out his full heart in 
 prayer. He had taken home the lesson 
 he had been giving the child. He could 
 not now tell why these troubles had 
 come upon him. God had sent them 
 for some wise purpose, which perhaps 
 he should one day know. He would 
 not ask, but bear them patiently, com 
 forting himself with the assurance that 
 God was certainly his friend. Never 
 had Raynor Thall drawn so near to 
 God, as that night when he knelt so 
 long in his silent, solitary room. 
 
THE WEST INDIA BOYS. 79 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 CHINA. 
 
 RAYNOR'S long days out in search of 
 employment made the more welcome 
 the kind reception he ever met on his 
 return. He soon learned to have a 
 smile for Benny, and a tale of some 
 wonderful dogs and horses he had seen 
 in his walks, to turn off the child's at 
 tention from the real subject of his 
 brother's thoughts. After Benny was 
 fast asleep, Raynor relieved his mind 
 by telling Mrs. Waller and Pierre of his 
 vain efforts, and various rebuffs. 
 
 After one particularly trying day, 
 Pierre said, quickly, "You go out no 
 
80 THE WEST INDIA BOYS. 
 
 more. I will teach you. In the even 
 ing. You see. Go no more." 
 
 That night found Pierre with one of 
 Mrs. Waller's white saucer,s laid on the 
 table before him, while in front of Ray- 
 nor was another. Each had a small 
 brush in his hand. Patiently, very pa 
 tiently, Pierre was teaching Ray nor to 
 trace with a steady movement a simple 
 pattern on the dish before him. Again 
 and again the red lines were rubbed out, 
 before Pierre was at all satisfied with 
 his pupil's success. At length the 
 teacher clapped his hands, and fairly 
 frisked round the room, in default of 
 English to express his hearty approval. 
 
 Raynor went no more out to seek 
 employment. All day long he was busy 
 with his brush and saucer, tracing new 
 designs, to be subjected to Pierre's criti 
 cism, in the evening. 
 
THE WEST INDIA BOYS. 81 
 
 Several weeks passed in this way, be 
 fore Pierre ventured to take Kaynor 
 with him to his place of daily labour. 
 Raynor was silent, as he walked through 
 the busy streets. He was too anxious 
 to care to talk. Pierre's eyes sparkled, 
 and there was a sprightliness about his 
 movements that was extraordinary in a 
 man of his age. He actually skipped 
 along the road, in his glee, while Ray 
 nor strode on demurely at his side. 
 
 At a large and splendid China store 
 they stopped. Passing through a glass 
 door, they were at once in the midst of 
 a splendid display of vases, and dishes 
 of the most beautiful forms and ex 
 quisite colouring. At another time, 
 Raynor would have been glad to linger 
 and admire, but now he passed on with 
 a palpitating heart. Pierre led the way 
 to a stair-case, at the other end of the 
 
82 THE WEST INDIA BOYS. 
 
 store. Up many flights of stairs they 
 climbed, until they came to a light, up 
 per room, where a number of men were 
 busily engaged at a long shelf or table. 
 Raynor silently took a seat at the table, 
 beside Pierre, and was soon as busy as 
 the rest. 
 
 On the long table in front of the win 
 dows were placed various drawings and 
 models, while each workman held in his 
 hand some dish, on which he was copy 
 ing the design from the pattern before 
 him. One man was renewing the co 
 louring of a landscape on the side of a 
 beautiful vase. Another was carefully 
 executing a coat of arms in the centre 
 of a porcelain plate. Eaynor was sur 
 prised to see several of the men paint 
 ing fine China in lines of a dark, reddish 
 brown. He remarked to Pierre, in a 
 low voice, that he wondered that was 
 
THE WEST INDIA BOYS. 83 
 
 such a favourite colour, as it did not 
 strike him as pretty. 
 
 " Dat comes out of de oven bright 
 gold," said Pierre, smiling. "Dark 
 when he goes in, he shines when he 
 been baked." 
 
 " Gold !" said Raynor, to himself. 
 " Gold !" Was Raynor reminded of the 
 humble friends whom he had despised, 
 who had been to him the true gold 
 when his troubles were thick around 
 him? Would he ever learn that the 
 best treasures are sometimes hidden 
 under the most homely exterior ? 
 
 Raynor's work was simple, but he 
 bestowed upon it as much pains as if it 
 were the most difficult of patterns. 
 Pierre watched him, from time to time, 
 with satisfaction, and when the dish 
 was done at last, the Frenchman rose 
 
84 THE WEST INDIA BOYS. 
 
 from his seat, and disappeared with it 
 in his hand. 
 
 Raynor was very anxious during 
 Pierre's absence. He knew that Pierre 
 had taken it to the person who had the 
 charge of this part of the establishment, 
 and that in a few moments he should 
 know whether he would be likely to 
 find employment here. 
 
 A young man near Raynor hummed 
 a few notes of a tune, as he surveyed 
 for the moment his own completed 
 work. The tune at once suggested to 
 Raynor the words of a familiar hymn, 
 which had been a favourite with his 
 mother. 
 
 "When troubles assail, and dangers affright, 
 Though friends should all fail, and foes all unite, 
 Yet one thing secures us, whatever betide, 
 The Scripture assures us, the Lord will provide!" 
 
 The Lord will provide ! This thought 
 
THE WEST INDIA BOYS. 85 
 
 calmed Baynor's anxiety at once. He 
 could not tell whether he was to be suc 
 cessful in this attempt, but he would 
 lean trustfully on his Heavenly Father, 
 and calmly await the result. 
 
 Kaynor's neighbour had no idea that 
 he was doing either good or harm. He 
 but suffered to pass his lips a few notes 
 of a sacred melody, and lo ! the tiny 
 seed had already sprung up and borne 
 its blessed fruit, in the stirring of a 
 cheerful faith in Raynor's heart. The 
 songs we idly sing, the words we care 
 lessly speak, may be like the Devil's 
 whispers, promptings to evil; or they 
 may be even as angel voices, encou 
 raging some human soul in its upward 
 path. 
 
 Pierre's face was perfectly beaming 
 on his return. The little, dark man, in 
 his worn-out coat, looked almost beau- 
 
 8 
 
86 THE WEST INDIA BOYS. 
 
 tiful in Raynor's eyes, for he was a 
 friend, bearing good tidings. 
 
 Yes, Raynor Thall had the promise 
 of daily employment at Pierre's side, 
 employment for which he was to receive 
 good and regular wages. The boy was 
 not only delighted, he was deeply grate 
 ful, not only to his Heavenly Friend, 
 but to the humble man who had shown 
 such a hearty interest in his welfare. 
 
THE WEST INDIA BOYS. 87 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 A LETTER. 
 
 BENNY missed his brother sadly, after 
 having had him so long for a constant 
 companion. He, however, hit upon a 
 new source of amusement. He became 
 the author of numerous letters. Not that 
 Benny knew how to write. He could 
 not even print letters, as many children 
 can, but that did not interfere with his 
 enjoyment. He would sit for hours, 
 with a pencil in his hand, tracing ir 
 regular lines on a piece of paper, while 
 he spoke aloud what he supposed him 
 self to be writing. Many a time he 
 laughed heartily at some of his commu 
 nications, and often Mrs. Waller, from 
 
88 THE WEST INDIA BOYS. 
 
 the other side of the room, echoed his 
 merriment. 
 
 It was to his "father" that Benny 
 was always writing, giving him the most 
 faithful pictures of his daily life, telling 
 him of all his little joys, and sometimes 
 of the little trials which crept into even 
 his sunny lot. These letters were duly 
 delivered to Raynor, every evening, to 
 be put into an envelope on which Ray- 
 nor assured him was written his father's 
 exact address, in his very best hand. 
 Every morning Benny's precious letter 
 was scattered to the winds, on Raynor's 
 way to his work, and every evening 
 another tiny billet was thrust into the 
 ever-ready envelope. 
 
 " How can you keep on writing, when 
 you get no answers to your letters ?" 
 said Raynor to Benny, as the little 
 fingers were putting perhaps the thir- 
 
THE WEST INDIA BOYS. 89 
 
 tieth letter into the unfaithful place of 
 deposit. 
 
 " He will answer by-and-by. He is 
 a good father," answered Benny, with a 
 kind of sober decision, which seemed to 
 say, " I have made up my mind, and 
 you can't shake me." 
 
 Raynor thought of his own doubtful, 
 wavering prayers to our merciful Father 
 in Heaven, and silently yearned for the 
 child-like trust which could so wait and 
 persevere, without a single misgiving. 
 
 Mrs. Waller had been making Raynor 
 a warm, winter suit. His old clothes 
 were left on a chair, in the boys' room. 
 Benny had been enjoying himself by 
 thrusting his hands into the deep pocket 
 on one side of the pantaloons, when it 
 suddenly struck him to try the other. 
 This pocket was not empty. Raynor 
 had accidentally left something in it. 
 
 8* 
 
90 THE WEST INDIA BOYS. 
 
 It was a piece of paper. Benny looked 
 carefully at it. He could not be mis 
 taken. Raynor had forgotten that day 
 to take his letter to his father ! Benny 
 was inclined for a moment to be much 
 displeased at this breach of trust, but 
 was comforted by the thought that he 
 could write letters and play put them 
 in the Post Office, all day. 
 
 Pierre had not gone out with Raynor. 
 He did not feel well, he said, and should 
 take a holiday. A queer holiday, Benny 
 thought it. 
 
 Pierre had bound up his head in flan 
 nel, and then wrapping a comforter 
 round him, he sat down by a hot little 
 box-stove, to enjoy himself, in his own 
 room. Sundry pains in the muffled 
 head threatened to spoil Pierre's holi 
 day. The little Frenchman made light 
 of these symptoms, and tried to per- 
 
THE WEST INDIA BOYS. 91 
 
 suade Benny that he had hit upon a 
 very nice way for a grown-up man, who 
 did not care to run about and play, to 
 spend a day at home. 
 
 " Pierre, you shall be the Postmaster," 
 said Benny, who was privileged to go 
 about the house, wherever he pleased. 
 " I will come and drop my letter into 
 your pocket. You mustn't catch my 
 hand, now, Pierre, as you do sometimes." 
 
 Benny demurely dropped his letter 
 in the pocket, and took it out several 
 times, and then, growing tired of the 
 fun, he said, " Come, let us write some 
 letters, you and I. I'll tell what to 
 say, and you put down. I'll get my 
 pencil." 
 
 While Benny had gone to seek his 
 treasure in Mrs. Waller's work-basket, 
 Pierre looked at the envelope he idly 
 
92 THE WEST INDIA BOYS. 
 
 held in his hand. It bore the full ad 
 dress of Raynor's father. 
 
 " I wouldn't mind putting in a letter 
 of my own, giving that father a talk 
 about his boys," thought Pierre. 
 
 " Now you write/' said Benny, put 
 ting his pencil and a bit of paper into 
 Pierre's hands. 
 
 "No, I'll give you whole leaf," said 
 Pierre. Pierre got up as he spoke, and, 
 rummaging among his odd collection of 
 valuables, found the queer little port 
 folio in which his writing materials 
 were all put away together. His tiny 
 bottle of ink was produced, and then, 
 on the thinnest of French paper, Pierre 
 commenced his letter, Benny dictating. 
 
 " Say 
 
 " DEAR PAPA : 
 
 " I forgot to tell you yesterday Mrs. Waller had 
 done Raynor's new clothes. He'll wear an apron 
 
THE WEST INDIA BOYS. 93 
 
 while lie paints, to keep them clean. I wear a 
 blue apron now, made out of one of Mrs. Waller's. 
 Pierre is writing for me. Pierre says he has a 
 holiday, but he looks very queer. His head is 
 done up in a red shirt. Max sold a great many 
 pins yesterday. He can 't think what made peo 
 ple want so many pins. We had fried fish for 
 breakfast. It was very good. I like onions, don 't 
 you ? Max does, and so does Pierre, and so does 
 Mrs. Waller, but Raynor don't. Raynor is teach 
 ing me to sing ' the Lord will provide/ I guess 
 you'll answer this letter." 
 
 " He will. He will," said Pierre, with 
 a sly twinkle in his eyes. " There, now, 
 run away, and come see me by by." 
 
 Benny went out obediently, and was 
 soon busy playing horse with the chair 
 on which Mrs. Waller was contentedly 
 rocking. 
 
 Pierre seemed in the mood for letter 
 writing. He had a good deal to add to 
 Benny's composition, and in a some- 
 
94 THE WEST INDIA BOYS. 
 
 what different strain. A strange mix 
 ture it was, of French and English, but 
 he did not see anything funny about 
 it. It came right from his queer, kind 
 heart. 
 
 In his own small, foreign hand, he 
 carefully copied the address on Benny's 
 envelope. This done, Pierre sealed up 
 the letter with evident satisfaction. 
 
 Another sheet of thin paper had to 
 be scribbled over, and placed in the 
 worn envelope, before Pierre was ready 
 to admit the little fellow, whose fat fist 
 had more than once knocked for admis 
 sion. 
 
 " Pierre wrote my letter to-day. You 
 forgot it this morning," was Benny's 
 evening salutation to Raynor. There 
 was triumph as well as reproach in his 
 tone. 
 
 Raynor was a little flurried as he 
 
THE WEST INDIA BOYS. 95 
 
 took out the thin sheet. It might be 
 dangerous for Benny to have such a 
 way of writing his letters. But the 
 scrawls reassured Raynor, and he put 
 the envelope in his pocket, without a 
 suspicion that Pierre had done anything 
 more than make that senseless scrib 
 bling for Benny's diversion. 
 
 Pierre was in a particularly merry 
 mood that evening. He said, after all, 
 he had had a good holiday. In truth, 
 he seemed much better than in the 
 morning, though he adhered strictly to 
 his costume for such festal occasions. 
 Herb-tea had been abundantly fur 
 nished to Pierre, during the day, and 
 at every sip he had chuckled at the 
 thought of the document he held in his 
 pocket. 
 
 Pierre had not been trained in any 
 
96 THE WEST INDIA BOYS. 
 
 very definite ideas of right and wrong. 
 According to his creed, a little deceit 
 was quite excusable, when it was to 
 bring about a good end. Poor Pierre 
 had never been taught that the slightest 
 deceit is great loss to the soul, and great 
 gain to the " father of lies," even Satan, 
 our terrible enemy. It was a w r onder 
 that Pierre was as good as he was, with 
 the few advantages he had enjoyed. 
 Raynor might have given him many a 
 hint about the better path, but Raynor 
 had never thought that he might return 
 Pierre's kindness by trying to do him 
 good. Yet, Raynor was, after all, very 
 useful to Pierre. The Frenchman could 
 see that the lad was striving to subdue 
 his proud and hasty temper, and endea 
 vouring faithfully to fulfil the humble 
 duties of his lot. 
 
THE WEST INDIA BOYS. 97 
 
 Every true Christian must let his light 
 shine, whether he knows it or not. 
 
 Raynor's light was dim and flicker 
 ing, but it was still alive, and might yet 
 increase more and more, unto the per 
 fect day. 
 
98 THE WEST INDIA BOYS. 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 THE KNIFE. 
 
 MR. PENFOLD thought himself a very 
 shrewd man of business. He quite 
 prided himself on the bargains he had 
 made, and the difficulties he had over 
 come, during forty years of active life. 
 Among his various transactions, none 
 had pleased him better than establish 
 ing the Thalls, as lodgers, in good Mrs. 
 Waller's humble home. Mr. Penfold 
 had actually made a minute on paper 
 of the advantages thus gained. His 
 memorandum was as follows : 
 
 I. Good care for the little fellow. II. Take 
 down big boy's notions. III. Keep both safe 
 from bad company. IY. Have them under my 
 
THE WEST INDIA BOYS. 99 
 
 own eye, without their knowing it. V. Cheap 
 place, in case I have to pay their board myself. 
 VI. Kind folks, if nobody should ever claim the 
 boys ' y wouldn 't turn them out if anything should 
 happen to me. VII. Help Max and his wife on 
 a little, as long as boys or I can pay board. N. B. 
 Good transaction. Took place Sept. 16. J. P. 
 
 Mr. Penfold seemed to have business 
 very often, of late, in the neighbour 
 hood of Max Waller's shop, and not 
 unfrequently he had various purchases 
 to make of the German himself. When 
 ever he was near, or at Mrs. Waller's, 
 he must always have a chat with Benny. 
 A pleasant chat to both parties, it gen 
 erally proved, and ended now and then 
 by Benny's thrusting some new treasure 
 deep into his pocket, while his face was 
 beaming with thanks to the giver. 
 
 Benny had such a visit from Mr. 
 Penfold, one morning, and was left the 
 
100 THE WEST INDIA BOYS. 
 
 happy possessor of a real knife, to be 
 all his own. There were two sharp 
 blades, for Benny reassured himself of 
 the fact, every few minutes, during the 
 day. Before evening, two of his fingers 
 had gone into a state of retirement, one 
 in the depths of a cotton bandage, and 
 the other was somehow enabled to fill 
 the thumb of one of Max's old gloves. 
 Benny considered these wounds highly 
 honourable, and hastened to exhibit 
 them to Raynor, as soon as he returned 
 at night. 
 
 " How did you cut yourself, Benny ?" 
 said Raynor, with more severity than 
 pity in his manner. 
 
 " With my new knife, Mr. Penfold 
 gave me. My new knife" said Benny, 
 producing his treasure, and proceeding 
 to open the blades in a free way that 
 was rather alarming, considering what 
 
THE WEST INDIA BOYS. 101 
 
 had happened to the two disabled fin 
 gers. 
 
 " Give me the knife !" said Kay nor. 
 
 Benny gave it up at once. Kay nor 
 quietly closed the blades, and put the 
 knife into his own pocket. " You are 
 too little to have a knife," said the elder 
 brother, with more care for Benny's 
 fingers than for his feelings. 
 
 " It is my knife ! Mr. Penfold gave 
 it to me !" said Benny, his face flushing, 
 and his chest swelling, while the tears 
 rushed to his eyes. "Give me my knife." 
 
 "It must be my knife, till you are 
 old enough to use it properly," said 
 Kaynor, decidedly. " I will put it away, 
 and keep it for you till you are a big 
 boy." 
 
 " I'm a big boy now !" said Benny, 
 indignantly. "I have my hair cut 
 short, like yours, and my trowsers have 
 
 9* 
 
102 THE WEST INDIA BOYS. 
 
 got pockets, and see how thick my shoes 
 are !" 
 
 The momentary satisfaction occa 
 sioned by the remembrance of these 
 honours came near putting Benny into 
 a good humour, but at that moment 
 Kaynor buttoned up his pocket in a de 
 cided manner, that seemed to invite him 
 to a continuance of the conflict. 
 
 "I will have my knife!" screamed 
 Benny, flying at the pocket, with his 
 cheeks glowing with anger. 
 
 "Naughty boy! You must go up 
 stairs, if you don't behave yourself!" 
 said Raynor, with what he meant to be 
 great dignity. 
 
 The manner did not strike Mrs. Wal 
 ler favourably, but she prudently kept 
 silence. 
 
 " I won 't go up stairs ! I won 't ! I 
 won't!" shouted Benny, giving Ray- 
 
THE WEST INDIA BOYS. 103 
 
 nor's chair some threatening kicks with 
 those very thick shoes. 
 
 " Then I shall have to carry you," 
 said Raynor. In another moment, 
 Benny, struggling and screaming, was 
 borne from the room. 
 
 In the midst of the feather bed he 
 was deposited, and then Raynor went 
 out, turning the key of the room in the 
 lock, to make sure of the safety of the 
 little delinquent. 
 
 Raynor did not feel like going back 
 to the sitting-room, just then. He was 
 conscious of being more excited than 
 he cared to own. He took two or three 
 turns in the narrow entry before he 
 could make up his mind to go down 
 stairs. No one spoke to him, when he 
 took his seat at table, until Mrs. Waller 
 said, " Shall I take Benny's supper to 
 him?" 
 
104 THE WEST INDIA BOYS. 
 
 " No, I thank you !" was Raynor's 
 only reply. 
 
 Mrs. Waller was particular, every 
 time anybody was helped, to put some 
 thing on a plate beside her, so that be 
 fore the meal was over, the culprit 
 seemed to have in store for him a true 
 Benjamin's portion. 
 
 As soon as supper was done, Raynor 
 went up stairs, with the full plate in his 
 hand. He knocked at the door. A 
 pleasant voice called out, " Who 's 
 there ?" 
 
 " It is I. Your brother Raynor. Are 
 you a good boy now ?" was the reply. 
 
 "Yes, I'm sorry. Come in!" said 
 Benny. 
 
 Benny had not moved from the spot 
 where he had been dropped. When 
 Raynor opened the door, the little fel 
 low lifted up his red and swollen face 
 
THE WEST INDIA BOYS. 105 
 
 to be kissed, saying, " Please kiss me, 
 Eaynor. I am sorry I was a naughty 
 boy. I won't do so again." 
 
 Eaynor stooped down, and the little 
 arms were twined round his neck, and 
 the wet cheek pressed close to his. 
 "Love me, Ray nor. I want to be a 
 good boy," said Benny. 
 
 " I do love you, and I have not been 
 happy, at all, at supper without you," 
 said Raynor, kissing the child very ten 
 derly. " Here, I have brought up your 
 supper for you. Mrs. Waller put it on 
 the plate. I believe she thought you 
 were going to be very hungry." 
 
 Benny forthwith began to eat his sup 
 per, putting now and then into Raynor's 
 mouth what he considered a choice mor 
 sel. These same morsels had a far bet 
 ter relish than, the food that Raynor had 
 forced himself to take down stairs, and 
 
106 THE WEST INDIA BOYS. 
 
 they soon came so often, that the 
 brothers were at last actually taking 
 supper together, as pleasantly as pos 
 sible. 
 
 " Now, Raynor, will you put me to 
 bed ? I 'rn tired, and want to go to sleep," 
 said Benny, when the meal was over. 
 
 Raynor undressed the child, his 
 strong hands moving with unusual gen 
 tleness. 
 
 When Benny came to say his prayers, 
 he put his arm round Raynor and said, 
 " Kneel down with me, won 't you ? I 
 love you, Raynor." 
 
 Side by side the brothers knelt, while 
 the younger spoke his simple petitions. 
 There was real earnestness in the way 
 he spoke, " Please Lord forgive Benny 
 all he has done naughty, and help him 
 to be a good boy." It seemed, too, to 
 Raynor, that there was more than 
 
THE WEST INDIA BOYS. 107 
 
 wonted tenderness in the "God bless 
 Raynor," which closed the simple 
 prayer. 
 
 Benny went to sleep with his arms 
 round Raynor's neck. Many and search 
 ing were the thoughts that passed 
 through Raynor's mind, as he lay there, 
 with those loving arms about him. 
 When should he be as a child, to his 
 Heavenly Father ? When should he so 
 truly believe in his forgiveness, and 
 turn to him in grateful love ? 
 
 Verily, there is deep wisdom in those 
 words, "Except ye be converted, and 
 become as little children, ye cannot en 
 ter into the kingdom of Heaven." 
 
108 THE WEST INDIA BOYS. 
 
 CHAPTER XL 
 
 JOY. 
 
 MR. PENFOLD was going to take Benny 
 to the museum. He was brimful of joy, 
 nay, his cup was running over, and every 
 body in the house must have a share in 
 his gladness. He actually stood at the 
 door of the shop, and told the passers- 
 by, in the abundance of his delight, that 
 good Mr. Penfold was going to take him 
 to the museum. Care-worn men, and 
 shabby dressed women, went on their 
 way with a bright smile for a moment 
 lighting their anxious faces, as Benny 
 made his triumphant announcement. 
 
 We cannot make a child keep his joy 
 to himself. He must have somebody to 
 
THE WEST INDIA BOYS. 109 
 
 share it with him, or it is a poor, half 
 joy, after all. Here the chubby little 
 fellows give their elders a lesson it were 
 well for us to learn. Let us try to make 
 others happy with what we enjoy ; and, 
 above all, when we have found a friend 
 who will wipe all our tears away, let us 
 lead the sorrowful of earth to him! 
 When we have the promise of a glad 
 home among the heavenly angels, let us 
 not be content to go silently and sel 
 fishly thither. Let us hold out our 
 hands, and beckon to those around us, 
 to go with us and share our joy. 
 
 Through the busy streets of the city, 
 Benny went skipping at Mr. Penfold's 
 side. His beaming face seemed to make 
 bright his very path, and strangers 
 turned to look upon him as flowers 
 bend to seek the sunshine. 
 
 What a dreary world this would be, 
 10 
 
110 THE WEST INDIA BOYS. 
 
 if the children were all left out ! Beth 
 lehem must have been a sad, sad spot 
 indeed, when it was suddenly sown with 
 little graves, and no prattling two year 
 old child made music at his mother's 
 side. We are so used to having the 
 wee, happy things about us, that we 
 hardly think to thank God for them, as 
 among our choicest blessings. 
 
 Ah ! if Christians would only be like 
 the little children a fount of joy for 
 all the world and why should they 
 not? Why may they not go on their 
 way as cheerily as Benny, at Mr. Pen- 
 fold's side ? Safe in the hands of that 
 great Protector, they need fear no evil 
 they need have no anxious cares. 
 God's true children should cast sun 
 shine wherever they go, even as Benny's 
 bright face made glad the hearts of pass 
 ing strangers. 
 
THE WEST INDIA BOYS. Ill 
 
 A weary, weary time it had seemed 
 to Mr. Penfold, since he was a boy ; but 
 .with Benny's hand in his, he was begin 
 ning to feel young again. By the time 
 they reached the door of the museum, 
 he was in almost as great a glee as his 
 little companion. 
 
 " That can't be Joshua Penfold ! " said 
 one of his business acquaintances. " No, 
 no ! I never saw him out of his office 
 on a week-day. He never would have 
 chucked that little fellow under the 
 chin so ; and then, going to the museum ! 
 It can't be." 
 
 Yes, it was Joshua Penfold, and a 
 pleasant afternoon he seemed likely to 
 have of it. Why, he had not talked 
 so much for many a day. He had to 
 tell Benny all about the wax figures, 
 and, before he knew it, he was giving a 
 history of one of the scenes to quite an 
 
112 THE WEST INDIA BOYS. 
 
 audience of the " small fry/' who had 
 collected around him. Benny was full 
 of admiration for the various waxen 
 worthies shut up in glass cases, and had 
 perfect confidence in their being faithful 
 likenesses of the original. He made Mr. 
 Penfold smile, by saying, " that General 
 Jackson's cheeks looked just like Pierre's, 
 and Queen Victoria was almost as pretty 
 as Mrs. Waller." 
 
 There was a great crowd in the region 
 of the bears. Mr. Penfold had turned 
 for a moment to speak to an acquaint 
 ance, and just then a rough party, push 
 ing by, carried Benny along with them, 
 and he was wholly separated from his 
 kind protector. 
 
 It was in vain that Mr. Penfold forced 
 his way hither and thither ; he could 
 not find his little charge. Far from the 
 bears and their admirers, Benny was 
 
THE WEST INDIA BOYS. 113 
 
 borne by the moving mass, while Mr. 
 Penfold asked questions of his neigh 
 bours, and became very unpopular, as 
 " the little red-faced man, who was in 
 everybody's way." Benny, meanwhile, 
 gave himself no anxiety as to the result 
 of his adventure. He managed to get 
 on the outside edge of the crowd, so 
 that, as it moved on, he kept near the 
 cases, full of stuffed birds and beasts of 
 every clime. Benny tried to fancy he 
 was in the ark, seeing the dumb com 
 panions of Noah's voyage. The hum 
 of the restless, talking crowd, he thought 
 was like the noise of the waves, and he 
 became so much pleased with the fancy, 
 that he almost forgot it was not real. 
 If, now and then, a misgiving crossed 
 Benny's mind, it was quickly checked 
 by the thought that Mr. Penfold would 
 
 take care of him. He would come for 
 10* 
 
114 THE WEST INDIA BOYS. 
 
 him, when he wanted him to go home. 
 So the afternoon passed away. The 
 evening came on, and but increased the 
 crowd that was gathered to see the 
 wonders of the museum. Worn out by 
 fatigue and excitement, Benny at last 
 resolved to sit down in a niche, between 
 two great glass-cases, and there wait till 
 Mr. Penfold should take him by the 
 hand to lead him home. 
 
 Against the wall the little fellow 
 leaned, while on, on, moved the eager, 
 curious visitors, making a kind of Babel 
 with their mingled talk. Benny's head 
 soon dropped on his bosom, and, hidden 
 safely away, he fell into a sound sleep. 
 
 Mr. Penfold had grown tired of push 
 ing hither and thither, asking for a little 
 curly-headed boy, in a full suit of plaid 
 homespun. Nobody had seen any such 
 
THE WEST INDIA BOYS. 115 
 
 child ; at least, nobody had any news to 
 tell of him. 
 
 At one of the doors of exit, Mr. Pen- 
 fold established himself, while at the 
 other he stationed a friendly policeman, 
 to watch for his charge. Benny could 
 not slip out unobserved. That was a 
 comfort. It was hard work for Mr. 
 Penfold to keep his ground, but he did, 
 and every child who passed under the 
 gas-light, by his door, was subjected to 
 his careful scrutiny. 
 
 Silence and dimness were stealing 
 over the museum, and yet Mr. Penfold 
 lingered round the door. He could not 
 go away. He could not go without 
 Benny ! Perhaps the child had thrown 
 himself on the protection of some stran 
 ger, and had been at home all the time 
 that Mr. Penfold was haunting the mu- 
 
116 THE WEST INDIA BOYS. 
 
 seum, like a will o' the wisp flitting over 
 a marsh. 
 
 Straight for Mrs. Waller's went Mr. 
 Penfold, cheering himself all the way 
 with the hope that prompted the sudden 
 change in his movements. 
 
 Of course, no Benny was found at 
 Mrs. Waller's ; but, instead, there were 
 four indignant friends, who were in- 
 'clined to think Mr. Penfold an unwor 
 thy bachelor, not fit to be trusted with 
 the care of a child. 
 
 Raynor was for having the streets 
 filled with criers, who were to keep 
 everybody awake, shouting "lost child!" 
 till Benny was found. 
 
 Max started out at once, on an inde 
 pendent search, with no Other guide but 
 his nose, and no other means of finding 
 the object of his search, than an una 
 vailing inquiry for " the poy, Penny" an 
 
THE WEST INDIA BOYS. 117 
 
 inquiry which produced more laughter 
 than it won assistance. 
 
 Mrs. Waller tried bravely to keep up 
 courage by assuring everybody that he 
 would certainly be found ; but her voice 
 was very husky, and at length she 
 dropped into a chair, and threw her 
 apron over her head, to take a good cry. 
 Pierre but for a moment expressed his 
 indignation at Mr. Penfold, for letting 
 go of the child's hand under any circum 
 stances, and then he hooked his arm 
 with Mr. Penfold's and made straight 
 for the museum; Kaynor following, in 
 a most unhappy state of mind. 
 
 Pierre at once demanded admission 
 to get the little boy that was locked in 
 by mistake. Though his English was 
 poor, he made himself understood, and 
 his tone was so confident that the doors 
 were opened, and his bright eyes went 
 
118 THE WEST INDIA BOYS. 
 
 peering into every cranny. At last he 
 came upon Benny, sleeping as soundly 
 as if he were stretched on Mrs. Waller's 
 feather bed, instead of being curled up 
 in a little heap, amid the darkness of 
 the deserted museum ! 
 
 " I thought you would come for me, 
 Mr. Penfold. I guess I've been asleep !" 
 said Benny, shutting his eyes to avoid 
 the glare of the gas-light, turned full 
 upon him. 
 
 Benny seemed to think the whole 
 affair had been managed admirably, 
 and with the ride home, in Pierre's 
 arms, by moonlight, as a particularly 
 pleasant part of the proceeding. 
 
 When Mr. Penfold was in the silence 
 of his own room, that night, he thought 
 much of his little companion ; and some 
 how his heart seemed softened and 
 touched by the querulous joy, and im- 
 
THE WEST INDIA BOYS. 119 
 
 plicit trust of the child. So it is often 
 with a world-worn man, to whom the 
 preacher speaks in vain. God's " little 
 ones," have that ministry among us. 
 Would that all would listen to their 
 teaching ! 
 
 Did Mr. Penfold remember how Ben 
 ny's face had been turned to him, from 
 time to time, in the midst of his joy ? 
 Had he marked the expression, half 
 gladness, half gratitude, that had beamed 
 from every feature ? Did Mr. Penfold 
 so turn to his heavenly Friend in thank 
 fulness for all his blessings ? Were his 
 pleasures such that he dared to thank 
 God for them, and in the use of them ? 
 
 That pleasure is not likely to lead us 
 astray, for which we involuntarily look 
 up to our dear Lord in grateful love. 
 When our glad hearts seek our Father's 
 face, that face beams upon us a smile 
 of holy approval. 
 
120 THE WEST INDIA BOYS. 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 THE SICK-ROOM. 
 
 SOME people seem to think that there 
 are no children worth caring for, be 
 sides their own, and that the present 
 gratification of those same youngsters 
 is the only earthly thing of importance. 
 So it had proved, on the afternoon of 
 Benny's visit to the museum. Some 
 body's Jacky or Johnny, just out of a 
 sick-bed, and still weak and excitable 
 from scarlet fever, had been taken to 
 the museuni, instead of being made 
 quietly happy at home. An abundant 
 supply of the foul air of the sick-room 
 had been brought with Master Jacky or 
 
THE WEST INDIA BOYS. 121 
 
 Johnny, as a present to the healthy lit 
 tle people he might chance to meet. 
 
 Children suffering from contagious 
 disorders, and children who lie and 
 swear, are somewhat alike, in one re 
 spect; they are dangerous companions, 
 and had better be kept by themselves, 
 until they can be let out without doing 
 other people harm. 
 
 This good rule not having been fol 
 lowed for Benny's advantage, the poor 
 child had to pay the penalty for some 
 body's imprudence. Tossing with fever, 
 and his face all on fire, he lay for many 
 days a sufferer, while the whole family 
 was plunged in anxiety and distress. 
 
 Eaynor watched over Benny with un 
 wearied faithfulness, until a severe sore 
 throat placed him at the side of his lit 
 tle brother. There they lay, in utter 
 
 helplessness, while their humble friends 
 11 
 
122 THE WEST INDIA BOYS. 
 
 ministered to their wants, and antici 
 pated their slightest wish. 
 
 Benny was best satisfied when his 
 hand was clasped in Kaynor's. A little 
 fluttering thing it was, stirring with an 
 uncertain movement, like that of a bird 
 just about to wing its way to the sunny 
 skies. Ray nor trembled as the hot 
 fingers quivered in his. Soon, very 
 soon, that hand might be lying all too 
 still and cold, while the Benny that he 
 had loved would be far away. 
 
 Raynor's thoughts were sad and trou 
 bled. How would his father bear the 
 news of his darling's death ? Now, for 
 the first time for many months, a flood 
 of old memories came over the mind of 
 Ray nor. Benny climbing his father's 
 knee, privileged to search every pocket, 
 and explore purse and wallet without 
 reproof. He could see again the home 
 
THE WEST INDIA BOYS. 123 
 
 of his childhood, where the sad father 
 had a smile only for his boys. Could 
 it be that their father had ceased to love 
 them ? Could any stranger have taken 
 their place in his heart ? Could he fail 
 to mourn, should he hear that his little 
 Benny was no more? Had Eaynor 
 been right in taking the responsibility 
 of cutting off all intercourse with his 
 father? Why had he not, like the 
 child, continued to trust and write, and 
 write and trust, cheerfully awaiting an 
 answer ? Ray nor saw revealed the 
 pride of his heart, the stubbornness of 
 his will, which had made him too ready 
 to believe that his father had ceased to 
 care for him. " But Mr. Penfold thought 
 so," whispered a self-justifying spirit. 
 " Mr. Penfold did not know my father. 
 He had never seen him happy with his 
 boys," was the just reply of the awakened 
 
124 THE WEST INDIA BOYS. 
 
 conscience. How could he ever meet 
 that father's face, and tell him Benny 
 died among strangers, still loving and 
 trusting the father whom Raynor had 
 been willing to believe an unnatural 
 monster ? 
 
 fc Raynor ! Raynor !" whispered Ben 
 ny, putting his hot lips close to Ray- 
 nor's cheek. 
 
 " What, darling !" said Raynor, with 
 more than usual tenderness. 
 
 " Raynor, perhaps you and I will die. 
 That would be so nice, to die together, 
 and go to see mother. And father would 
 come by-and-by, and tell me why he 
 didn 't answer my letters, and we should 
 all be so happy, just as we used to be 
 in the old home. Don't you want to 
 die, Raynor ? I do." 
 
 " Don 't talk so, Benny," said Raynor, 
 shuddering. " Dear Benny, I want you 
 
THE WEST INDIA BOYS. 125 
 
 to live, and see father in this world. I 
 want to take you back to him, and tell 
 him you have always loved him and 
 trusted him." 
 
 " But I could see him in Heaven, and 
 mother, too," said Benny. The little 
 fellow tried to sing a stanza of a fa 
 vourite hymn, but his voice failed, and 
 he only added, in a whisper, " I should 
 see Jesus, in Heaven, and the beautiful 
 angels. I want to die, Kaynor." 
 
 " You must talk not, Benny," said 
 Mrs. Waller, coming in, arid laying her 
 cool hand on his hot forehead. She 
 put a cup of cold water to his parched 
 lips. He drank, and then fell back into 
 a drowsy state, half stupor, half sleep. 
 
 Kaynor could not sleep ; he could not 
 
 even lie still. He tossed to and fro, a 
 
 prey to fear and regret. He had not 
 
 the full faith which would have made 
 
 11* 
 
126 THE WEST INDIA BOYS. 
 
 him not only willing to die, but sure of 
 being welcomed to the Heavenly king 
 dom, for the sake of the All-sufficient 
 Saviour. Not on the perfect Christ, 
 but on his own sinful self, dwelt his sad 
 thoughts. He knew that he deserved 
 chastisement, and trembled lest he was 
 to see before him the cold, silent form 
 of his dead brother, and to hear the re 
 proaches of that father who could listen 
 no more to the prattling voice of his 
 youngest child. 
 
 " 0, Lord, suffer me to live, to confess 
 my fault," prayed Raynor. " Let me 
 see my father's face once more, and ask 
 his forgiveness for all the harsh, jealous, 
 angry thoughts I have cherished to 
 wards him." 
 
 Raynor dared not pray in words that 
 Benny's life might be spared, but the 
 deep yearning of his heart was to see 
 
THE WEST INDIA BOYS. 127 
 
 the little fellow once more in health, 
 and to restore him to his father's arms. 
 He knew that here trial and temptation 
 awaited him, and above there was a 
 certainty of eternal joy for such little 
 trusting souls. He did not ask to have 
 him stay in this world of sin and sor 
 row, but his tears fell, and his heart 
 throbbed its agonized remonstrance, at 
 the very thought of parting from his 
 dear little companion. 
 
 Far, very far, was Kaynor yet from 
 the model which Christ set in the midst 
 of his disciples, and pointed out for 
 their careful imitation. His soul must 
 be moulded and fashioned, and enlight 
 ened by divine grace, ere he could 
 leave his sins and cares to the Lord, 
 and, with the faith and trust of a little 
 child, long to " fall asleep in Jesus." 
 
128 THE WEST INDIA BOYS. 
 
 CHAPTEK XIII. 
 
 A RESTING PLACE. 
 
 THE church bells were not ringing 
 out a joyous peal ! There was no sound 
 of drums and trumpets, as on a day of 
 national jubilee. Yet, in at least one 
 humble home, there was a gladness 
 which made every heart light. Benny 
 was better ! Max had been trying, in 
 his best English, to tell the good news 
 to the milkman, who never failed to ask 
 for the little boy, whose face had been 
 to him as a murmured blessing on his 
 morning rounds. Pierre was writing 
 one of his queer letters to Mr. Thall, 
 telling him, with French extravagance, 
 that he was "ravished with joy, en- 
 
THE WEST INDIA BOYS. 129 
 
 chanted, delirious with delight," to be 
 able to give him such good news. Mrs. 
 Waller was making savory broth for 
 the invalid, while Raynor sat beside 
 him, his heart running over with deep 
 gratitude to the God who had mercifully 
 spared his treasure. Benny, meanwhile, 
 did not realize that he was the object 
 of so much interest. He was willing to 
 live, though he had wished to die. His 
 joyous spirit found food for satisfaction 
 in all the circumstances of life, sent him 
 by his Heavenly Father. 
 
 Benny was sitting in a low chair, 
 wrapped up in Pierre's gayly-flowered 
 dressing-gown. His tiny feet were thrust 
 into Max's warm mittens, while his head 
 rested on one of Mrs. Waller's best linen 
 pillow-cases, woven by her mother in the 
 fatherland. 
 
 The blue eyes looked larger than ever, 
 
130 THE WEST INDIA BOYS. 
 
 and more earnest and loving. Now, 
 they were fixed on Ray nor, as Benny 
 said, " Will you write me a little note 
 to Papa, to-day ? I can tell you just 
 what I want to say." Raynor had a 
 letter of his own to write to his father 
 that day a penitent, trustful letter. 
 He would, however, first make the child 
 happy, by granting his request. This 
 time the pen and the brown envelope 
 should be faithful. The father should 
 know how truly and confidently his lit 
 tle son had clung to him through months 
 of apparent desertion. 
 
 Raynor had taken his pen in hand, 
 and was just writing the " dear father," 
 by way of a commencement. Down 
 stairs, Max was arranging the wares in 
 his window, in the most attractive man 
 ner. Hesitatingly he held in his hand a 
 stock of horn combs, undecided whether 
 
THE WEST INDIA BOYS. 131 
 
 or not to put them next to the box of 
 gay-coloured sewing-silks. The combs 
 were left in a most unattractive heap, 
 on the top of the sewing-silks. 
 
 Mr. Penfold had stepped into the 
 store, accompanied by a lady and gen 
 tleman. 
 
 " How is Benny this morning ? " said 
 Mr. Penfold, with unusual excitement 
 in his manner. 
 
 "Goot! Goot! Besser!" said Max. 
 "Augusta ! Augusta ! " appealing help 
 lessly to his wife, to express the various 
 symptoms of improvement which had 
 so filled the whole household with joy. 
 
 Mrs. Waller came forth, the bowl of 
 broth in her hand. " It is the fater ! 
 It is the mutter ! " exclaimed Mrs. Wal 
 ler, her big blue eyes filling*up with 
 tears of joy. " I know ! I know ! Come ! 
 come ! " 
 
132 THE WEST INDIA BOYS. 
 
 It was not hard to trace, in Mr. Thall's 
 face, the features of Kaynor, though on 
 a larger scale. There, too, was much 
 of the same expression of pride and de 
 lineation, mingled with Benny's gentle 
 sweetness, lingering round the expres 
 sive mouth. 
 
 It was easy to see that it was Mrs. 
 Thall who was leaning upon her hus 
 band's arm. With almost an own mo 
 ther's eagerness, she pressed after Mrs. 
 Waller. 
 
 The good woman threw open the door 
 of the room where the brothers were 
 sitting together. 
 
 " My dear, dear boys !" said the father. 
 
 In another moment Benny was clasped 
 to his father's bosom, while Kaynor's 
 arms were about him. 
 
 " Forgive me ! forgive me ! dear fa 
 ther ! " said Kaynor, lifting his stream- 
 
THE WEST INDIA BOYS. 133 
 
 ing eyes to the pale countenance of Mr. 
 Thall. 
 
 Benny spoke not a word, but he 
 nestled close in their strong arms, and 
 pressed his cheek to the fond face that 
 was leaning down to his. Joy, deep 
 joy, filled his heart, and spoke in every 
 feature. 
 
 12 
 
13d THE WEST INDIA BOYS. 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 A MOTHER. . 
 
 MRS. THALL was sitting lovingly at 
 Raynor's side, speaking in low, sweet 
 tones. " And was it to avoid me, that 
 you wished to leave your home, Raynor ? 
 Did you believe that I could love a 
 father who would grow cold to his boys, 
 those boys of whom he had so fondly 
 and proudly told me ? How I promised 
 myself to be a true mother to you ! 
 How I planned to win Benny's little 
 heart, and make you love me, because 
 I so truly loved you ! How I grieved 
 when I found that you had gone, gone 
 far away, where I could not know you, 
 
THE WEST INDIA BOYS. 135 
 
 could not strive to make you good and 
 happy ! But I could pray for you. We 
 could love you and pray for you, your 
 father and I. Yes, it was for our dear, 
 a,bsent boys we prayed. It was of them 
 we talked. It was for them we planned 
 and hoped, and hoped and planned and 
 prayed. A little visit to their uncle, 
 we thought, would be quite enough for 
 them, and then we would go for them, 
 and bring them back to their own home, 
 and be to them the truest and best of 
 parents. But God saw otherwise. He 
 had another plan for them and us. Be 
 fore we had time to receive a single let 
 ter from you, we were on our way 
 northward, to seek you and bring you 
 back. A storm overtook us. Our ves 
 sel was dashed to pieces, and we should 
 have been lost, but for a French ship 
 
136 THE WEST INDIA BOYS. 
 
 that took us on board, and carried ua 
 safely to Bordeaux. There your poor 
 father lay long in the delirium of fever, 
 caused by the suffering and distress of 
 the wreck. Even in his wanderings, it 
 was of his boys that he talked, his 
 darling boys. It was for them he mur 
 mured his broken prayers. To them 
 he stretched out his arms ; then wept 
 that he could not fold them to his bo 
 som. Again and again I wrote to Mr. 
 Devine, hoping, still hoping, to tell your 
 dear sick father that I had a letter from 
 the children he so fondly loved. 
 
 " No word, no line came to cheer him. 
 When the weary months had passed 
 away, and his feeble limbs began to gain 
 their strength, he was sure he should 
 gain faster, if he were but on the way 
 to meet his boys. We started, and by 
 
THE WEST INDIA BOYS. 137 
 
 slow, short stages we moved on, till we 
 were at last on the good steamer that 
 was to bring us to you. He was right. 
 Every mile that brought us nearer these 
 shores saw new colour coming into his 
 cheeks, and now he looks so well, and 
 oh, so happy !" 
 
 " I'm so happy, too !" said Benny, his 
 face all beaming with joy and love. 
 
 "And I I am not worthy to be so 
 blessed," said Kaynor. " I have been a 
 poor, jealous, proud, stubborn boy. Can 
 you, will you love me ? May I call you 
 mother?" 
 
 " My Raynor ! Your father's Raynor ! 
 I know you. You are not all pride and 
 stubbornness. I know your true, kind, 
 upright heart. I know how you strug 
 gle as a Christian child with the tempt 
 ers that assail you. Love you ? Yes, 
 indeed, I will. I do love you. Then 
 12* 
 
138 THE WEST INDIA BOYS. 
 
 you will call me mother ? I will try to 
 deserve the sacred name. I will try so 
 to lead you Heavenward, that I may 
 some time see you rejoicing with your 
 own blessed, sainted mother in the king 
 dom of our Father." 
 
THE WEST INDIA BOYS. 139 
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 CONCLUSION. 
 
 WE need not follow Raynor and 
 Benny on their return to their West 
 Indian home. We are sure that love 
 and joy will be their companions. 
 There is no happiness on earth like that 
 which God gives to a family united in 
 the bonds of Christian love. Whether 
 they have poverty or riches, a sure glad 
 ness is theirs, a gladness which is of 
 the nature of the joy of the angels in 
 Heaven. 
 
 It was a mortification to Pierre to 
 find that all h's precious letters had 
 been wasted, and that it was not through 
 his cunning plan that the brothers were 
 
140 THE WEST INDIA BOYS. 
 
 restored to their father's arms and home. 
 Yet the kind Frenchman was unselfishly 
 glad to witness their re-union. Pierre 
 took not " a red-flannel holiday," but a 
 real day of leisure, in which to bid the 
 boys good-bye and see them safely on 
 board the gallant ship which was to bear 
 them over the sea. His bright eyes 
 sparkled through tears as he took his 
 last look on his young friends, and he 
 checked his own regrets by the remem 
 brance that his loss was their gain. 
 Often, as Pierre fashioned some graceful 
 design, amid his days of toil, his heart 
 was cheered by the remembrance of the 
 affection of Raynor and Benny, and it 
 was a glad day for him when he re 
 ceived a real letter, fairly printed by 
 Benny's own hand, a letter full of grate 
 ful love to the dear friends at Mrs. 
 Waller's. 
 
THE WEST INDIA BOYS. 141 
 
 The West Indian boys had taught 
 Pierre to respect the faith in which they 
 were trained, a faith which allows no 
 object for the soul's deep worship but 
 the one true God, a faith which enjoins 
 truth, humility and love. 
 
 As for Max, he never told anybody, 
 either in English or German, what he 
 felt about parting with his lodgers, but 
 stored away among his choicest trea 
 sures were some of Benny's scraps of 
 scribbled paper, and the mittens which 
 had served him for slippers, in his days 
 of convalescence. 
 
 Mrs. Waller had too truly a woman's 
 heart not to grieve for "her own 
 Benny." Before many months, how 
 ever, one of the best of human com 
 forters came to Mrs. Waller's home, in 
 the shape of a little, round-faced baby, 
 named Max Waller, after its father, 
 
142 THE WEST INDIA BOYS. 
 
 and doomed, in due time, to hear sun 
 dry stories, of which Benny Thall would 
 be the unvarying hero. 
 
 Mr. Penfold had been the silent wit- 
 ness of the meeting between the father 
 and the children. The father whom he 
 had doubted and condemned had been 
 true and constant and loving. The 
 proud and wilful son had been welcomed 
 without a single reproach, while the 
 dear, trustful child, Benny, had found 
 joy and rest in his father's bosom. 
 
 The scene was not lost on Mr. Pen- 
 fold. He, too, had a Father, a Heavenly 
 Friend, whom he had doubted and for 
 saken. Would that Father receive him, 
 should he turn unto him in true peni 
 tence of heart ? " Our Father who art 
 in Heaven," is the prayer that our Sa 
 viour has fashioned for the lips of sinful 
 men ; so thought Mr. Penfold, and, as a 
 
THE WEST INDIA BOYS. 143 
 
 lost and wandering son, he sought the 
 face of the great God of Heaven. 
 
 No earthly forgiveness is so full, so 
 free, so loving, as that which our Lord 
 and Saviour joyfully grants to his re 
 pentant children. 
 
 " As far as the east is from the west, 
 so far hath he removed our transgres 
 sions from us. Like as a father pitieth 
 his children, so the Lord pitieth them 
 that fear him."