M 
 

 
 THE LIBRARY 
 
 OF 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY 
 OF CALIFORNIA 
 
 LOS ANGELES
 
 Winnie catching the Snow-flakes- 
 
 Vc.l. VI., p. io:
 
 THE
 
 THE WOODLA WN SERIES. 
 
 Bertie and the Gardeners : 
 
 OB, 
 
 THE WAY TO BE HAPPY. 
 
 BT 
 
 MRS MADELINE LESLIE. 
 
 AUTHOR or "AUNT HATTIE'S LIBRARY FOR BOYS AHD 
 GIRLS," ETC. 
 
 CHICAGO: 
 
 HENRY A. SUMNER & COMPANY 
 1880.
 
 Entered according to Act of Congress, in the yew 1808, ><f 
 
 A . K . BAKER, 
 U the ClTk'ti Office of the District Court of MaBMchiuetU.
 
 TO 
 
 HARRY, NELLIE, AND WILLIE SAMPSON; 
 
 ALSO, 
 To the Memory of their Deceased Brothers and Slater, 
 
 BERTIE, FRANKEY AND EMMA, 
 
 THESE LITTLE BOOKS ARE AFFECTIONATELY 
 INSCRIBED. 
 
 If the perusal prompt them and other readers to imitate 
 
 the virtues of our hero in his efforts to be good, and 
 
 to do good, the wishes of the author 
 
 will be realized. 
 
 t. 
 
 622692
 
 BERTIE; OR, THE WOODLAWN SERIES. 
 
 BT MBS. MADELINE T.iMiT.rK- 
 
 I. BERTIE'S HOME. 
 
 II. BERTIE AND THE CARPENTER*. 
 
 III. BERTIE AND TUK MASONS. 
 
 IV. BERTIE AND THE PLUMBERS. 
 Y. BERTIE AND THE PAINTERS. 
 71. BERTIE AND THE GARDENERS.
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER L 
 THE NEW FARMER, .... 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 THE SICK WORKMAN, . . .21 
 
 CHAPTER in. 
 THE MERBY GARDENER, ... 80 
 
 CHAPTEB IV. 
 VISITORS TO WOODLAWN, . . 40
 
 Vlll CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 THE SORROWING FATHER, ... 51 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 CLEARING THE CREEK, ... 64 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 PAT'S VISIT HOME, .... 74 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 LETTER FROM PAT, .... 84 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 BERTIE'S SPELLING MATCH, . . 97 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 BMTIB'S PRESENTS, .... 107
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER XI. 
 THE HEART AND HAND, . . . 118 
 
 CHAPTEB XII. 
 
 VIOLETS AND VIOLETTA, . . . 127 
 
 CHAPTEB XIII. 
 BERTIE'S REWARD, .... 138 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 BERTIE AND THE NEWSBOY, . . 148 
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 THE LAST CHAPTER, .... 155
 
 i\(t 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 THE NEW FARMER. 
 
 was nearly completed ; and Mr. 
 Curtis now set to work in ear- 
 nest, clearing the grounds of 
 the rubbish, in order to make the ter- 
 races and lay out his avenue in front. 
 Those who have read the other
 
 12 BERTIE AND THE GARDENERS 
 
 books about Bertie, will know that 
 two wide avenues, enclosed by hand- 
 some iron gates, had been already 
 made ; one winding along on the 
 shores of Lake Shawsheen, the other 
 entering from a higher point which 
 led through a grove toward the house 
 where the enchanting view of lawn 
 and water burst at once on the vision. 
 But in the vicinity of the house, no 
 grading had been done, on account of 
 the vast amount of bricks, lime, mor- 
 tar-bins, wood and chips lying scat- 
 tered in every direction.
 
 THE NEW FARMER. 13 
 
 The house, elegant in proportion 
 and finish, stood about a hundred 
 rods in front of a high, grassy mound, 
 upon the top of which a cluster of 
 chestnut-trees cast a pleasant shade. 
 
 The rich, green turf on the lawn 
 which sloped to the lake, was dotted 
 with magnificent old trees undis- 
 turbed for a century. Back of the 
 house, or rather beyond the barn, 
 was another swell or mound, which 
 like the first, was so regular in its 
 form as almost to excite the belief 
 that it was artificial. Indeed, from
 
 14 BERTIE AND THE GARDENERS. 
 
 the fact that two tomahawks were 
 found buried in the spot where the 
 barn stood, Mr. Curtis inferred that 
 it might have been used for the 
 grand council of the Indian tribe, 
 and that here they buried all hostili- 
 ties. 
 
 " Certainly," Mrs. Curtis remarked, 
 " this was a pleasant view to take of 
 it," and as there was no one to dis- 
 pute the fact, the larger mound was 
 called " Peace Mountain." 
 
 Mr. Curtis, or the Squire, as the 
 Oxford villagers called him, was now
 
 THE NEW FARMER 15 
 
 in his element. Every pleasant 
 morning he might be seen, his wife 
 leaning on his arm, walking over the 
 premises, planning the improvements 
 to be made, and often Bertie and 
 Winifred accompanied them. 
 
 When the weather was not so clear, 
 the gentleman and his son hurried 
 from one part of the grounds to the 
 other, directing Tom Grant, or meas- 
 uring with a ten-foot pole. 
 
 There was a nice sunny plat con- 
 taining sixteen acres back of Peace 
 Mountain, which had been ploughed
 
 16 BERTIE AND THE GARDENERS. 
 
 i 
 
 earlier in the season, to be in readi- 
 ness next year for a garden and or- 
 chard. Besides this there were to 
 be heart-shaped and diamond-shaped 
 figures and circlets cut in the lawn, 
 near the house, for flowers of every 
 hue 
 
 It was now October, and the most 
 must be made of the fine weather. 
 Ploughing and preparing the ground 
 for agricultural purposes, was what 
 the farmers in the neighborhood 
 were accustomed to, and therefore 
 help was easily to be obtained.
 
 THE NEW FARMER. 17 
 
 Through the summer, Mr. Curtis 
 had borne in mind that he should 
 need a skilful farmer to till his land, 
 one who understood the science as 
 well as the art of farming to the best 
 advantage. He greatly approved 
 Thomas Grant's industry, and the 
 zeal he manifested in all that con- 
 cerned his master's interests ; but he 
 feared the man was so attached to the 
 old ways of managing land, that he 
 would be unwilling to avail himself 
 of the improved implements of agri- 
 culture, or the new-fangled notions,
 
 18 BERTIE AND THE GARDENERS. 
 
 as he called mowing-machines, horse- 
 rakes, sowing-machines, etc., etc. 
 
 But one noon, while his oxen were 
 eating their dinner, Mr. Curtis found 
 him sitting under the shade of a tree, 
 examining with great interest the 
 latest report of the State Agricultural 
 Society. 
 
 Turning to a picture of a Devon 
 cow, he exclaimed : 
 
 " Well, Squire, if Adam carried 
 such cows as that with him when he 
 went outside of Eden, I think he 
 might have set up another paradise
 
 THE NEW FARMEB. 19 
 
 To my thinking, Squire, nothing can 
 beat that cow." 
 
 Mr. Curtis threw himself on the 
 grass, wishing to test Tom's ideas of 
 farming ; and after conversing half 
 an hour, resolved to hire him for his 
 farmer. 
 
 But still it was necessary for the 
 gentleman to employ a gardener, one 
 
 who loved flowers and had a taste for 
 
 
 
 landscape gardening. 
 
 " I must advertise, Cecilia," he said 
 one day to his wife ; " I want exactly 
 the right kind of a man. for there is a
 
 20 BERTIE AND THE GARDENERS. 
 
 great opportunity to improve and 
 beautify the place." 
 
 While his papa and mamma were 
 talking, Bertie sat on a cricket before 
 a wooden chair which he had bor- 
 rowed of Mrs. Taylor from the kitchen. 
 Winnie was by his side, and he was 
 teaching her to make a penny spin 
 around so that it looked like a ball.
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 THE SICK WORKMAN. 
 
 EITHER Mr. nor Mrs. Curtis 
 noticed that their son listened 
 to the conversation ; but he 
 did, and remembered it. 
 The next day he harnessed White- 
 foot into his donkey carriage as soon 
 as he had read his chapter, with his 
 mamma, and drove away with all 
 speed to Woodlawn.
 
 22 BERTIE JLND THE GARDENERS. 
 
 Mr. Fuller and most of the work- 
 men had left ; but Joe Allen and his 
 father were busy in the conserva- 
 tory which they were just finishing. 
 It was a beautiful building, the centre 
 much higher than the rest, to be filled 
 with climbing roses, vines, etc.; the 
 sides sloped off until they were only 
 high enough to allow free entrance 
 at the doors. It was finished in a 
 highly ornamental manner, and in the 
 distance resembled a heathen pagoda. 
 This was Joe's first effort at archi- 
 tecture ; and he was proud of it. When
 
 THE SICK WORKMAN. 23 
 
 he left Oxford he was going directly 
 to Mr. Bryant's with whom his kind 
 friend Mr. Curtis had made arrange 
 ments for him to study and perfect 
 himself in his chosen pursuit. 
 
 Joe was not at work when Bertie 
 found him ; he was giving directions 
 to the man who had brought a load 
 of marble blocks for the walks. 
 
 The little fellow found he would be 
 busy for some time ; so he sauntered 
 on to the back of the building till he 
 came to the painter Mr. Dodge, who 
 was engaged in setting some panes
 
 24 BERTIE AND THE GARDENERS. 
 
 of glass which had been broken. He 
 smiled directly when he saw Bertie , 
 but he did not speak, and presently 
 the child noticed he was very pale. 
 Occasionally he put his handkerchief 
 to his mouth ; and the little fellow 
 was frightened when he saw that it 
 was spotted with blood. 
 
 " Oh, dear ! " he exclaimed, " you 
 are sick. You must go home, and 
 send for the Doctor." 
 
 " I confess I don't feel like moving 
 a mountain this morning." answered 
 Dodge, with a sickly laugh ; " I'm on
 
 THE SICK WORKMAN. 25 
 
 my last job at painting. Did you 
 know it ? " 
 
 " What do you mean ? " 
 " I wasn't brought up to be a paint- 
 er ; and it doesn't agree with me." 
 " What did you do before ? " 
 " Oh, I turneo^ my hand to any- 
 thing ! I took up painting because 
 it paid best at the time, and I had my 
 mother and sister to support." 
 " What shall you do then "? " 
 " I don't know." He laid down hig 
 putty knife and leaned back, wiping 
 his mouth agajn.
 
 26 BERTIE AND THE GARDENERS. 
 
 " I know you're sick," Bertie urged 
 anxiously, " and I'm going to call my 
 papa." 
 
 "No, don't! I've had such turns 
 before ; but they do make me weak 
 as a baby." 
 
 But the child was alarmed, and had 
 already gone. When he returned the 
 painter had risen and was slowly 
 walking toward the house on his way 
 to his boarding place. 
 
 " My son." said Mr. Curtis, " call 
 Whitefoot and harness him into the 
 carriage as quick as you can."
 
 THE SICK WORKMAN. 27 
 
 " Sit down on the boards, Dodge, 
 until he brings the donkey round. 
 Bertie tells me you think painting 
 disagrees with you." 
 
 " Yes, sir, I am sure it does. 1 
 half promised my mother never to do 
 another day's work at it ; but when 
 Torrey was hurt I couldn't refuse Mr. 
 Fuller ; he's been a good friend to 
 me in times past." 
 
 " What would you choose for an 
 employment ? " 
 
 " Out door work, sir, was what I 
 was brought "up to. I shall try to get
 
 28 BERTIE AND THE GARDENERS. 
 
 something at that. There's nothing 
 more healthy for the lungs than being 
 over horses and cattle." 
 
 V 
 
 The gentleman noticed that the ef- 
 fort of talking seemed to give the 
 man pain, and instantly checked him 
 from saying more. 
 
 " You must stop at once," he urged 
 in a firm voice. " Such warnings as 
 that," pointing to the blood-stained 
 handkerchief, " are not to be trifled 
 with. I shall send a physician to see 
 you ; and I will talk with you again." 
 
 A.t noon Mr. Curtio found that the
 
 THE SICK WORKMAN. 29 
 
 woman who boarded Mr. Dodge 
 couldn't keep him while he was sick ; 
 and arrangements were made at once 
 to remove him to the chamber in 
 Mrs. Taylor's farm-house which Pat 
 rick Riley had left. 
 
 The next day he was so much 
 worse that his mother was sent for ; 
 and thus an acquaintance commenced 
 which continued for life.
 
 CHAPTER HI. 
 
 THE MERRY GARDENER. 
 
 RS. DODGE was the widow of 
 a clergyman. At her hus- 
 band's death she was left des- 
 titute ; and until Albert was 
 able to labor for her support, she 
 kept school, filling up every moment 
 out of school hours, in sewing for the 
 slop-shops. 
 
 In this way she injured her health, 
 
 (10)
 
 THE MERRY GARDENER. 31 
 
 and her son insisted she should hire 
 a couple of rooms, take his sister 
 from an uncle's where she was not 
 happy, and keep house for him. 
 
 Her health was now entirely re- 
 stored, and she had resolved to adver- 
 tise for a situation as housekeeper, 
 and thus relieve her son of the 
 burden of her own and her daugh- 
 ter's support. 
 
 The longer Mrs. Curtis knew Mrs. 
 Dodge, the better she was convinced 
 that she was exactly the person to re- 
 lieve her of her household care.
 
 32 BERTIE AND THE GARDENERS. 
 
 They sent to the city for Nelly the 
 daughter, and found she was old 
 enough to be of service as a chamber 
 girl. Nancy was to retain her old place 
 as nurse, so that only a cook was need 
 ed to make the corps complete. 
 
 It was not long before Albert was 
 able to return to the city. He was 
 delighted that his mother and 'sister 
 were provided for, and kept Mr. and 
 Mrs. Taylor laughing from morning 
 till night ; and yet Mr. Curtis sus- 
 pected there was something on his 
 7nind that troubled him.
 
 THE MERRY GARDENER. 33 
 
 The night before he was to leave 
 he requested an interview with the 
 Squire, when with some embarrass- 
 ment he said : 
 
 "Bertie told me to-day that you 
 were looking for a gardener. If I 
 can fit myself for the business by next 
 spring, will you let me try it 1 " 
 
 " Do you know any thing about 
 flowers ?" 
 
 " I worked one winter for a gentle- 
 man who cultivated flowers and fruit 
 for sale. He had violets and carna- 
 tion-pinks and roses, and in other
 
 34 BERTIE AND THE GARDENERS. 
 
 houses he had strawberries and mush- 
 rooms, and lettuce. I think as far as 
 I went I learned the business thor- 
 oughly." 
 
 " Capital ! and do you understand 
 about laying out grounds 1 I mean 
 small plats for flowers." 
 
 " I can't say, sir, how I should 
 please you or the lady ; but I could 
 draw you a plan of what I've been 
 wanting to see in front of the house. 
 Perhaps you could judge something 
 by that." 
 
 Mr. Curtis sat thinking for a time,
 
 THE MERRY GARDENER. 35 
 
 and then Albert said with his old, 
 merry twinkle : 
 
 " I'd like first rate to work for you, 
 Squire ; and I suppose mother would 
 like to have me where she can look 
 after me a little. I needn't promise, 
 I'd try to do my best, for you know 
 that already. I'd work for consider- 
 able less wages for the sake of being 
 near Bertie." 
 
 " But your Mission School ! what 
 will become of that 1 " 
 
 Albert's face grew serious. " That's 
 the only thing I regret, in leaving the
 
 36 BERTIE AND THE GARDENERS. 
 
 city," he said. " There's so much to 
 be done for the poor children wander- 
 ing about the streets, I am sorry to 
 leave my school ; but the doctor says 
 my life depends on quitting my pres- 
 ent business." 
 
 As Mr. Curtis still seemed absorbed 
 in thought, the young man added 
 presently : " If you give me any en 
 couragement I shall go back to Hantz 
 where I once worked. Before you 
 (vould need me in the spring I could 
 learn something if I tried." 
 
 " Does Bertie know of your wish 1 "
 
 THE MERRY GARDENER. 37 
 
 "No, sir, I was afraid you'd con- 
 sent to try me just to please him ; and 
 I want you to feel yourself that I'm 
 worth trying." 
 
 This was said with a laugh. 
 
 " Well," answered the gentleman, 
 " I'll think of it, and possibly I may 
 give you an answer in the morning. 
 But, as you are . going to leave 
 the city, you mustn't give up trying 
 to do good. Workmen are needed in 
 the country as well as the city." 
 
 It was Mr. Curtis' intention to move 
 into his new house the first week in
 
 38 BERTIE AND THE CiARDENEKS. 
 
 November. Upholsterers were al 
 ready engaged inside in fitting carpets, 
 
 and making ready for the furniture to 
 
 
 be removed from their city home. 
 
 Mrs. Dodge, therefore, was going 
 to give up her rooms, sell her plain 
 furniture, and be ready to return as 
 soon as possible. She knew nothing 
 of her son's application to Mr. Curtis 
 and felt considerable anxiety on his 
 account. Her delight, therefore, may 
 be imagined when after they were 
 seated in the cars on their return to 
 the city he informed her that the
 
 THE MERRY GARDENER. 39 
 
 Squire had engaged him for a gar- 
 dener, and thus they would all be 
 together once more.
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 VISITORS TO WOODLAWN. 
 
 SUPPOSE some of my young 
 
 readers will be glad to know 
 
 \ 
 
 thatTorrey reco-,?red entirely 
 from his accident, and had 
 returned to his painting in the 
 <?ity. Perhaps there was no one of 
 the workmen, aside from the Aliens, 
 who parted with Bertie with so 
 much regret as he did, for there was
 
 VISITORS TO WOODLAWN. 41 
 
 no one who owed him so much for 
 his kindness. 
 
 When the little fellow called to 
 bid him good-by and to send a book 
 by Mrs. Torrey to Edgar, the man 
 caught his hand, exclaiming : 
 
 " I'm getting to like all children 
 for your sake. At any rate nobody 
 will ever hear me say again that chil- 
 dren are a bother." 
 
 "Tell Edgar, please," urged the 
 boy, " that I'm so glad to hear he is 
 patient ; and that the doctors think 
 there is hope he will be well. Papa 
 
 Lt*
 
 42 BERTIE AND THE GARDENERS. 
 
 
 
 says he can stay there as long as he 
 wishes, without any pay. I mean to 
 ask Miss Lerow to go with me and 
 see him when I'm in the city next time." 
 
 Mrs. Torrey promised to go to 
 the girls' ward the first time she vis- 
 ited Edgar and ask for Susy Hunt 
 and the tame linnet. The bird had 
 arrived safely at the Hospital and 
 proved a great amusement to the 
 patients. Miss Lerow wrote a short 
 note in answer, which I shall copy. 
 
 " DEAR BERTIE : This morning 
 when I carried <he cage into Mrs
 
 VISITORS TO WOODLAWN. 43 
 
 Ayer's ward there was great rejoic- 
 ing. Susy and Marianne, that bright 
 eyed girl you spoke to near the door, 
 laughed aloud and clapped their 
 hands, and exclaimed: 
 
 '"Bertie didn't forget. He did 
 send his bird. Oh, Miss Lerow will 
 you please thank him, and say we 
 like it ever so much ! ' 
 
 " Mrs. Ayers says, ' Tell that blessed 
 little boy I'll take the best care of his 
 linnet. Tell him the cage is hung on 
 the hook where all the children can 
 Bee it; and the pretty creature is
 
 44 BERTIE AND THE GARDENERS. 
 
 chirping as merrily as if it had always 
 been here.' 
 
 " So, my dear little friend, you will 
 be pleased that your self-denying act 
 has given pleasure to so many suffer- 
 ing children, and that they think of 
 you with gratitude, Your friend, 
 CARRIE LEROW." 
 
 One pleasant afternoon Bertie and 
 his sister were riding through the 
 street, when a handsome carriage 
 came slowly toward them. 
 
 " There's Whitefbot, and that dear 
 little boy Mr. Carpenter told us about,"
 
 VISITORS TO WOODLAWN. 45 
 
 exclaimed a young girl, who was no 
 other than Emma Blagden. 
 
 The donkey trotted on until the 
 two carriages met, when a pleasant 
 voice called out : 
 
 ;' Stop a minute, please. Is your 
 name Herbert Curtis ? " 
 
 " Yes, ma'am." 
 
 " How do you do , Whitefoot ? " 
 exclaimed the young girl, springing 
 to the ground and throwing her arms 
 around the donkey's neck. 
 
 " Oh, you stupid creature not to 
 know your old mistress ! " she went
 
 46 BERTIE AND THE GARDENERS. 
 
 on, as the animal took no notice oi 
 her caresses. 
 
 " I'ril very glad to see you," Bertie 
 began, his eyes sparkling with pleas- 
 ure. " Will you please go and see 
 mamma 1 " 
 
 " Have you moved into the ne\* 
 house yet," inquired the lady who 
 had asked them to stop. 
 
 " No, ma'am. Mamma is over there 
 though ; and she would be very glad 
 
 to see you, and thank you for sending 
 
 
 me the bird." 
 
 " Oh, yes ! " cried Emma. " Where
 
 TISITORS TO WOODLAWN. 47 
 
 is the linnet ? I dare say she'd know 
 me." 
 
 " I'm sorry ; but I lent my bird to 
 a little girl in the hospital. It does 
 amuse the children there so much 
 to watch it." 
 
 " Did you tire of it, then ? " 
 
 " Oh, no, indeed ! I like it dearly ; 
 but they have to be in their cots, you 
 know ; and it makes them feel better 
 to have something to look at." 
 
 ; ' Shall we waive ceremony and 
 call at Woodlawn ? " asked the lady 
 of her husband.
 
 48 BERTIE AND THE GARDENERS. 
 
 "Just as you say," answered the 
 gentleman smiling. 
 
 " Well, Bertie, if you think your 
 mamma is not too much engaged, we 
 will call for a few moments. You 
 may drive Whitefoot on, and we will 
 follow." 
 
 " Oh, mamma ! Mr. Carpenter 
 didn't tell half the beauties of the 
 scenery,'' exclaimed Emma, gazing 
 from the carriage window ; " and we 
 thought that he exaggerated. Only 
 look at the water glistening through 
 the trees ; and then the reflection of
 
 VISITORS TO WOODLAWN. 49 
 
 that weeping willow in the lake is so 
 perfect." 
 
 Bertie drove quickly to the front 
 door, and lifting Winnie from her 
 seat, ran into the house to announce 
 the visitors. 
 
 It was a pleasant call, though a 
 short one, the only seats being the 
 stairs. Then Bertie persuaded his 
 sister to stay with Nancy, who was 
 washing windows; and he took 
 mamma in his donkey carriage and 
 accompanied their new friends over 
 the nicely gravelled road to the lake.
 
 50 BERTIE AND THE GARDENERS. 
 
 There were a pair of swans, now, 
 which had grown so tame that they 
 would sail up close to the shore and 
 pick up the crumbs the children 
 threw to them.
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 THE SORROWING FATHER. 
 
 N another volume of this series, 
 I have told you about Mr. Ca- 
 hart who brought the stone 
 steps from the granite quarry. 
 He had a son who gave him great 
 trouble, and whom he promised that 
 that he would send to Oxford for 
 Bertie to take to his mamma, hoping 
 
 she would do him good. 
 (CD
 
 52 BERTIE AND THE GA.RDENERS. 
 
 Every day for a long time the little 
 fellow expected the boy would come 
 up the avenue at Woodlawn. But 
 nothing had ever been seen or heard 
 from him ; and now more than a 
 month had passed. 
 
 One lovely afternoon during the 
 pleasant season called the Indian sum- 
 mer, Mr. Curtis invited his wife, Be'r- 
 tie and Winnie to ride with him to 
 the quarry where he wished to pay 
 the balance of his bill, part of which 
 Bertie had paid Mr. Cahart. 
 
 The lady gladly consented and told
 
 THE SORROWING FATHER. 53 
 
 Nancy to dress the children as soon 
 as possible. 
 
 The country never had looked so 
 delightful to Mrs. Curtis as now that 
 the fields were dressed in their gay, 
 autumn attire. Their road lay through 
 rich woods of maple, birch and oak, 
 brilliant in their red and yellow hues. 
 
 Mrs. Curtis could scarcely express 
 her delight. 
 
 ' Oh, there is a branch so perfect ! 
 I must have tfrat ! " or, " Lawrence, 
 it's too bad to trouble you again ; but 
 it does seem wicked to pass so many
 
 t/4 BEKTIE AND THE GARDENERS. 
 
 beauties. They would look so lovely 
 in our new house." 
 
 And Lawrence, the most indulgent 
 of husbands, would check up his gay 
 horses, and spring from the carriage 
 and break off branch after branch as 
 she directed. 
 
 Herbert had inherited all his moth- 
 er's love for the beauties of nature, as 
 well as her enthusiasm. His cheeks 
 glowed and his blue eyes sparkled as 
 she piled her treasures in his lap, 
 charging him to guard them with 
 care.
 
 THE SORROWING FATHER. 55 
 
 At length they reached the town 
 and drove at once to the hotel, 
 where Mr. Curtis left them, prom- 
 ising to return in fifteen or twenty 
 minutes. 
 
 The air was so fine that Mrs. Curtis 
 preferred to sit in the carriage, which 
 she could easily do as the hostler 
 stood at the horses' heads. 
 
 The children were chatting gayly 
 when a loud geeing.was heard ; and 
 presently an ox-team was seen slowly 
 approaching from the direction of the 
 granite quarry.
 
 5H BERTIE AND THE GARDENERS. 
 
 " Oh, mamma ! " said Bertie greatly 
 excited, " there's Mr. Cahart. I do 
 hope he will stop and speak to me. 
 I want to know why his son did 
 not come to Woodlawn as he prom- 
 ised." 
 
 The child leaned as far as he could 
 from the carriage, hoping to attract 
 attention ; but the man did not once 
 glance toward him. His face looked 
 very sober, as if his heart were sore. 
 
 Just as the great load of granite 
 was opposite the carriage Bertie 
 shouted in an excited tone :
 
 THE SORROWING FATHEE. 57 
 
 " Mr. Cahart ! Oh, Mr. Cahart ! 
 Please stop ! I want to see you ! " 
 
 Mrs. Curtis was surprised at the 
 effect of her son's voice on the man. 
 He started, gazed about him, and 
 then spying the little fellow in the 
 carriage, came quickly toward them, 
 seizing the small hand Bertie so cor- 
 dially held out, and exclaiming with 
 great energy : 
 
 "Aye, aye, boy, I'm powerful glad 
 to see you ! " 
 
 " This is my mamma," explained 
 Bertie. " We came to pay Mr. Ful-
 
 58 BERTIE AND THE GARDENERS. 
 
 ler's bill, and I hoped I should see 
 you somewhere ; but why didn't you 
 
 
 
 let your son come to see us \ " 
 
 Mr. Cahart's face worked convul- 
 sively. For a moment he seemed 
 unable to articulate one word ; but 
 presently recovering himself he said, 
 with a gasp : 
 
 " I've never set eyes on that boy 
 since." 
 
 " Why, I'm so sorry, where is he ? " 
 " Run off." 
 
 " Oh, dear ! how could he do so ?" 
 " Did you never find where he had
 
 THE SORROWING FATHER. 59 
 
 gone ? " inquired Mrs. Curtis in a 
 deeply sympathizing tone. 
 
 " I followed him to the city, ma'am, 
 found he'd sailed the morning before, 
 in company with one of his mates, the 
 worst boy in town." 
 
 The last words were accompanied 
 by a groan. 
 
 " Where was the vessel bound ? " 
 asked the lady. 
 
 " For the West Indies, ma'am. 
 She's due next week; but I'm afeard 
 that during the voyage my boy has 
 learned nothing but wickedness in
 
 50 BERTIE AND THE GARDENERS. 
 
 company with those rough, swearing 
 sailors." 
 
 Mrs. Curtis thought this so prob- 
 able that she could not think of a 
 word to comfort the poor father's 
 heart, and Bertie could only gaze sor- 
 rowfully in his face. 
 
 The man turned away, and made a 
 step towards his oxen, but then came 
 back and said abruptly : 
 
 " I never shall forget your boy, 
 ma'am. His words led me to the Bi- 
 ble. Bad as wife and I have taken 
 on since our only child ran away
 
 THE SORROWING FATHER. 61 
 
 from us, we should have been a great 
 deal worse but for the words of com- 
 fort we found in God's book." 
 
 " I am truly rejoiced to hear you 
 say that," exclaimed Mrs. Curtis, 
 warmly. " If you have learned to 
 pray, you will find comfort in leaving 
 your child in the hands of the al- 
 mighty Friend whose eye has followed 
 him in all his wanderings. Re- 
 member the heart of our Saviour 
 yearns over the creatures for whom 
 he has shed his blood." 
 
 " Thank you, ma'am," faltere/1 the
 
 62 BERTIE AND THE GARDENERS. 
 
 
 
 man, his eyes growing dim. " I wish 
 
 wife could have heard you talk ; but 
 . ~ 
 
 I shall tell her every word I can re- 
 member. I don't mind saying to you, 
 that wife and I were never so nigh 
 each other as since we began to pray. 
 There used to be high words between 
 us, I accusing her of humoring the 
 boy ; and she calling me a hard old 
 tyrant. But each of us sees now 
 that we were both in the wrong. If 
 we'd taught him the Bible from the 
 first, he would have stuck to it. 
 There's the promise, ' Train up a
 
 THE SORROWING FATHER. 63 
 
 child in the way he should go, and 
 when he is old he will not depart 
 from it.' " 
 
 At this moment Mr. Curtis was 
 seen hurrying toward them ; and Mr. 
 Cahart with a " God bless your boy ; 
 ma'am," turned abruptly away.
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 CLEARING THE CREEK. 
 
 JLBERT DODGE, the new gar- 
 * 
 
 dcner passed ten days while 
 he was recruiting his health, 
 in visiting gardens and green 
 houses, trying to improve his taste 
 and gain all the information in his 
 power. He had agreed with Mr. 
 Curtis to return to Oxford as soon as 
 the family were settled at Woodlawn
 
 CLEARING THE CREEK. 65 
 
 and remain as long as the weatliei 
 would allow out-door work. When the 
 frost forbade further improvements, 
 he was to leave and spend three 
 months in the employ of Hantz, the 
 celebrated florist. 
 
 But one morning the very last of 
 October, as Mr. Curtis was sauntering 
 along near the lake, absorbed in a 
 project he had just formed, the daily 
 coach stopped before the gate, and 
 who should spring from it but Albert 
 Dodge. 
 
 This young man, as I have already* 
 
 6
 
 66 BERTIE AND THE GARDENERS. 
 
 described, had such a merry face that 
 fe\v could meet him without a warmth 
 in the region of the heart. Certainly 
 his new master could not, and advanc- 
 ing cordially he held out his hand, 
 exclaiming : 
 
 " I was just thinking of you, and 
 wishing you were at hand to help me 
 plan a little. I want to do something 
 with this brook." 
 
 " I came on purpose to offer a sug- 
 gestion, sir. I've been here and 
 there on an exploring tour ; and I am 
 happy to say I have found no place
 
 CLEARING THE CREEK. 67 
 
 which has so many natural advantages 
 as ours" 
 
 He laid some stress on the word ; 
 his eye twinkling, and then added : 
 
 " It is my intention to make myself 
 so important to you, that you will 
 never part with me. I already feel 
 almost as much interest in Woodlawn 
 as if the deeds stood registered in the 
 name of Albert Dodge." 
 
 " I'm glad of it," answered the 
 Squire, laughing, " and to prove my 
 confidence in your ability, I will ask 
 you what I shall do with this little
 
 68 BERTIE AND THE GARDENERS. 
 
 creek ; it spreads itself out very awk- 
 wardly just at this point where it 
 ought to be most graceful." 
 
 " I have it, sir," said Dodge after a 
 careful survey. " I should clear the 
 stream which runs muddy in this 
 place by throwing pebbles to the bot- 
 tom ; widen it twenty feet more ; make 
 a pretty little egg-shaped island in the 
 centre, upon which I should plant a 
 few shrubs and perhaps a weeping 
 willow, which would thrive admirably 
 in this wet soil." 
 
 " Good ! good ! It shall be done !
 
 CLEARING THE CREEK. 69 
 
 When shall you be ready to go - to 
 work?" 
 
 " To-day, if Grant can come with 
 his oxen. I can postpone one visit I 
 wish to make till winter." 
 
 The next morning Bertie came rid- 
 ing to the spot on Whitefoot's back. 
 Buck and Bright were there, the wag- 
 on backed down to the very edge of 
 the water, while Star and Spot were 
 , dragging off a load of mud scraped or 
 scooped up from the bed of the shal- 
 low brook. 
 
 " Where is papa ? " inquired Ber-
 
 70 BERTIE AND THE GARDENERS. 
 
 tie, after he had sat awhile watching 
 the operations. 
 
 " Gone with the new gardener to 
 buy some trees," answered Tom, 
 laughing. " The Squire's up to all 
 sorts of improvements. Shouldn't 
 wonder a mite if he should take down 
 yonder mountain to give him a view 
 of the city." 
 
 " I think this will be very pretty 
 when it's done," remarked the child. 
 
 " How long did they say they should 
 be gone ? " 
 
 ' Didn't say in my hearing. Ber-
 
 CLEARING THE CREEK. 71 
 
 % 
 
 tie I wish you'd ask the Squire if he'd 
 like a load of beach pebbles, 'cause if 
 he does, I'll bring him a load to-mor- 
 row morning. Those are the kind to 
 make this water run clear." 
 
 " Oh, there they are ! " shouted the 
 boy, trotting off to meet them. "Have 
 you bought the trees, Papa ? " 
 
 " Yes, and brought them home, 
 don't you see them \ " 
 
 " What, those little things 1 " 
 
 " Willows grow very fast, my son. 
 They will thrive better than if they 
 were larger."
 
 72 BERTIE AND THE GARDENERS. 
 
 " But, papa, how can we get to the 
 island ? Shall we have a bridge ? " 
 
 " You must ask Dodge, Bertie. 
 He is the author of this plan." 
 
 " I'll tell you what would be better 
 than a bridge," explained Dodge, 
 laughing. " You must learn to row 
 a boat ; and then you can land at any 
 place, you know. But our island is 
 more for ornament than for profit. 
 We dou't expect to have a settlement 
 there." 
 
 " Why wouldn't it be pretty to have 
 a little house for the swans on it ?
 
 CLEARING THE CREEK. 73 
 
 Joe Allen told me they could be 
 taught to come on shore for their 
 feed." 
 
 u We will consider that proposal, 
 my dear, when the island is in exist- 
 ence," answered papa ; " in the 
 meantime you may think of a pretty 
 name for it."
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 PAT'S VISIT HOME. 
 
 HOPE my readers have become 
 so much interested in Pat Riley 
 that they will be as glad to 
 hear from him as Bertie was. 
 We left him, as you know, in Mrs. 
 Taylor's back chamber, making, tops 
 for the children. TTI a few days he 
 was able to go down stairs. The first 
 use he made of his liberty was to 
 
 (74;
 
 PAT'S VISIT HOME. 75 
 
 make a reel for Mrs. Taylor to wind 
 her yarn on. 
 
 Wishing to keep the boy employed, 
 the good woman had borrowed a reel 
 of a neighbor, and set him to work 
 winding thread. The contrivance 
 greatly delighted him. He examined 
 it with the utmost care, pushing it up 
 and down, to fit it for a larger or 
 smaller skein, much to the amuse- 
 ment of the good woman. 
 
 " Did you never see one before ? " 
 she asked, smiling. 
 
 " No, ma'am, but it's very nice."
 
 76 BERTIE AND THE GARDENERS. 
 
 No more was said on the subject, 
 and she never noticed that he exam- 
 ined it again ; but the third day after 
 he was released from the chamber 
 he followed her one day into the pan- 
 try, and presented her a new one 
 made by his own hands. 
 
 " You wont have to borrow again," 
 he said, his face all in a glow of 
 pleasure. " I'm going to try it now. 
 I saved one skein on purpose." 
 
 Mrs. Taylor carried it out and ex- 
 hibited it in triumph to the family. 
 
 " Did you do it all yourself ? "
 
 PAT'S VISIT HOME. 77 
 
 asked Mr. Curtis, smiling his appro- 
 bation. 
 
 " Yes, sir ; but I had seen the one 
 up stairs. I made more holes though, 
 'cause that was too 'large for some 
 skeins and not large enough for 
 others." 
 
 " You are a genius, Pat. I have 
 no doubt you '11 succeed, now that 
 you 've resolved to try your best." 
 
 The day before he left for the 
 school, Pat asked Mrs. Taylor's per- 
 mission to go and bid his father good- 
 by. It was some weeks since the old
 
 78 BERTIE AND THE GARDENERS. 
 
 man had been there, though he prom 
 ised to come in a day or two. The 
 good woman consented, though she 
 told him the air was rather chilly for 
 a boy who had been so sick. 
 
 On his way he passed the spot 
 where Bertie had first talked with 
 him. He stopped and sat on the top 
 of the stone wall, where he had lis- 
 tened to the first kind words he ever 
 remembered to have heard addressed 
 to him. I trust no little boy or girl 
 who reads this will think the worse 
 of him, when I tell them that his
 
 PAT'S VISIT HOME. 79 
 
 \ 
 breast began to heave, and the tears 
 
 gushed to his eyes. 
 
 " I wouldn't be ' thieving Pat ' 
 again," he said, doubling his fist, " no, 
 not for not for " At this moment 
 his eye rested on the handsome new 
 edifice at Woodlawn; and he added 
 with an impressive gesture, " no, not 
 for the Squire's new house. I 'd 
 rather starve again and have mammy 
 push me down stairs or anything 
 rather than go sneaking round hiding 
 behind the walls, and feeling so 
 ashamed to look any body in the face.
 
 80 BERTIE AND THE GARDENERS. 
 
 No, no. I'll stick to the new Patrick, 
 as Mrs. Taylor tells about, let what 
 will come, I '11 never lie to Bertie, and 
 go back to my old ways." 
 
 He felt stronger and better after 
 this resolve, and walked on rapidly 
 until he reached the tree into which 
 he had climbed to watch for Bertie. 
 The sight of his old home just beyond, 
 had excited him a good deal ; and he 
 laughed at the recollections of his 
 fear that the Squire had sent Joe 
 Allen to take him to jail. 
 
 Then he stepped up to the door
 
 PAT'S VISIT HOME. 81 
 
 and looked within. All seemed de- 
 serted. A few half-burnt brands had 
 broken and fallen apart on the wide, 
 old-fashioned hearth, the low wooden 
 chair usually occupied by his father 
 was vacant ; a piece of crust, mouldy 
 with age, lay on the table, and a 
 broken pipe beside it. 
 
 Pat stood a moment gazing around, 
 his face growing every moment more 
 sad, then suddenly ran up the old 
 creaking stairs to his own chamber. 
 
 " She's done it. I knew she would," 
 he exclaimed, angrily. " She always
 
 82 BERTIE AND THE GARDENERS. 
 
 did everything she could to spite 
 me!" 
 
 He picked from the dirty floor two 
 or three tail feathers of a tiny yellow 
 bird which he had saved from the 
 jaws of a cat, though not until it had 
 received it's death wound ; and which 
 after a fashion of his own he had 
 stuffed. 
 
 This, almost his only treasure, his 
 drunken step-mother had deliberately 
 pulled to pieces, scattering the feath- 
 ers on the floor. 
 
 One tiny feather he put into his
 
 PAT'S VISIT HOME. 83 
 
 pocket as a memorial of the life which 
 had forever passed, and then hurried 
 away from scenes which recalled such 
 bitter memories. 
 
 " Dad is gone," he exclaimed aloud, 
 walking a short distance from the 
 house, then turning back for another 
 last gaze ; " and perhaps I shall nev- 
 er see him again."
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 LETTER FROM PAT. 
 
 JEFORE this he had been glad 
 to meet no one ; but now he 
 felt a keen desire to ascertain 
 where his father had gone ; 
 and resolved to return by the way of 
 Tom Grant's, though a flurry of snow 
 filled the air, and inquire whether 
 Mr. Riley had been seen of late. 
 Mrs. Grant, Tom's mother, was get-
 
 LETTER FROM PAT, 85 
 
 ting dinner, while Jerry was at work 
 cutting wood in the back yard. The 
 old lady knew how hard Pat had tried 
 to reform, and greeted him in a most 
 cordial manner. 
 
 " Why, Patrick ! " she exclaimed, 
 catching hold of his arm, " Come 
 right in out of the snow. So ycr 
 going off to school, I hear my son 
 say, well it's a lucky chance for ye, 
 and I wish ye well. Sit right down 
 now. Thomas will be at home soon, 
 and he'll be glad to see ye." 
 
 " I must be going in a minute,"
 
 86 BERTIE AND THE GARDENERS. 
 
 Pat answered, twirling his hat, I only 
 wanted to know when you've seen 
 Daddy. I've been to the old place, 
 and there's no sign of anybody living 
 in it." 
 
 " Haven't ye heard? Well, I s'pose 
 ye haven't. Yer daddy's cleared out, 
 bag and baggage. I don't s'pose he 
 had to hire much of a team, either, 
 to carry off what was left at the old 
 place ; but he took his pipe and a 
 change of clothes ; and I don't be- 
 lieve there is enough left in the 
 shanty, to make it dangerous to leave
 
 LETTER FROM PAT. 87 
 
 the door open o' nights. Folks aa 
 heard him talk, do say he was clear 
 discouraged with yer mammy's drink- 
 ing and quarrelling ; and he's gin her 
 up entirely. But I can't tell nothing 
 how that is." 
 
 " Do you know where he's gone \ " 
 asked Pat. 
 
 " La, no ; I don't s'pose he knew 
 hisself. He had a stick over his 
 shoulder, and his bundle hung on the 
 end on't, and that's all I can tell ye." 
 
 The hoy turned without a word, 
 and walked away. He knew now
 
 88 BERTIE AND THE GARDENERS. 
 
 why his father came to the farm again 
 50 soon after his first visit ; and why 
 he consented so easily that the Squire 
 should send him to school. He had 
 resolved to quit his old home forever. 
 
 All this he told Mrs. Taylor that 
 night, and ended with a sigh. 
 
 " I don't suppose he and I shall 
 ever see each other again. He w.asn't 
 so bad till mammy carne." 
 
 About a week after he reached the 
 school, his teacher wrote Mr. Curtis, 
 
 " Patrick Riley arrived here a few 
 days after the term commenced, and
 
 LETTER FROM PAT. 
 
 has conducted himself in such a man- 
 ner as to win the approbation of all 
 his teachers. I agree with you, that 
 he will make a smart man ; and from 
 present appearances, I hope also, a 
 useful one. I mentioned to him that 
 I intended to write you, and was grat- 
 ified to notice that he is not destitute 
 of gratitude for all you have done to 
 improve his condition. He requested 
 me to express his thanks, also to your 
 son, who he says first awoke in him 
 a desire to become an honest boy, 
 and likewise to Mrs. Taylor. Pat-
 
 90 BERTIE AND THE GARDENERS. 
 
 rick is taking hold of hjs lessons with 
 a will, and hopes to write you soon. 
 Respectfully yours, 
 
 JOHNATHAN HAVEN." 
 
 This letter was read with great in- 
 terest by all the family ; but there 
 was no one who rejoiced so much at 
 Pat's good conduct as Bertie. 
 
 Mrs. Curtis was greatly affected 
 the night following to hear the little 
 boy thank God for helping Pat to be 
 good and obey the commandments. 
 
 About a fortnight later, Whitefoot 
 stopped at the village post office, and
 
 LETTER FROM PAT. 91 
 
 Bertie jumped from his carriage and 
 ran in with a package of letters foi 
 the mail. 
 
 " Look here ! " exclaimed the girl, 
 who delivered letters, " Is this for 
 you?" 
 
 The child glanced at it, laughing 
 and blushing. It was a curious 
 shaped epistle, almost square, with- 
 out an envelope, the name being a 
 rough imitation of printing, and 
 spelled Birty Kertis, Oxford ; care 
 Squier Kertis. 
 
 " I think it must be intended for
 
 92 BERTIE AND THE GARDENERS. 
 
 you," said the girl, with an arch 
 glance. " It is post-marked Lexing- 
 ton." 
 
 " Oh, yes, it's mine ! " exclaimed 
 the boy. " It's from Pat Riley, I 
 guess he wrote it himself." 
 
 It was indeed from Patrick. I do 
 not think my readers could decipher 
 it, if I copied the curious spelling, I 
 shall, therefore, give it as Mrs. Curtis, 
 after considerable study, read it to 
 Bertie. 
 
 " DEAR FRIEND : There's a big 
 boy here as knows how to write tip-
 
 LEWER FROM PAT. 93 
 
 top. I and Tip (that's his name) are 
 the most popular boys in school. 
 He's agreed to write this letter for 
 me, 'cause I want ye to know how 
 I'm getting on; and there's something 
 I want to tell ye awful bad, 'cause I 
 know ye'll like it. You was the first 
 one that ever spoke encouraging to 
 me, and I'll never forget it of ye as 
 long as I know myself, nor then 
 either. I'm going to try and be a 
 Squire like your pa ; and then I'll 
 take all the little thieving fellows I 
 can find, and help 'em to be good.
 
 94 BERTIE AND THE GARDENERS. 
 
 Rich folks don't know how hard 'tis 
 for ptior ones to keep from stealin' 
 when their stomach is as flimpsy as a 
 rag. I know how to pity 'em, for 
 when mammy locked me up till I'd 
 agree to steal again, there was such a 
 gnawing and gnawing, that I should 
 have give in, if it hadn't been for 
 you. 
 
 " Every time, I'd say to myself, I 
 can't stand it no longer ; then I'd see 
 you a sitting in your donkey carriage, 
 looking at me with such sorry eyes. 
 
 " But that isn't what I was going
 
 LETTER FROM PAT. 95 
 
 to tell yer ; and Tip is getting tired 
 writing such a lot of stuff. I've be- 
 gun to be a soldier, I don't wear any 
 uniform except a little blue star on 
 my coat ; but everybody knows by 
 this, that I'm trying to fight against 
 all my old habits. It's hard work I 
 tell you. Tisn't as if I was at Mrs. 
 Taylor's, with everybody helping me, 
 and nothing to make me cross. 
 There's lots of bad boys here, who 
 wont join the company of soldiers, 
 and they do everything they can to 
 hinder and bother us. I'm most
 
 96 BERTIE AND THE GARDENERS. 
 
 afraid to tell yer one thing, for fear 
 ye'll think Tip and I are better than 
 we are. We've begun to pray God 
 to help us, and it does come a sight 
 easier to do as we oughter. 
 
 " If ever ye see anything of my 
 poor old father, I'd like him to know 
 that I pray for him whenever I do 
 for myself. I shouldn't wonder if I 
 should get so I could forgive mammy 
 sometime Perhaps she didn't know 
 any better. 
 
 Your true friend, 
 
 PATRICK RILE*."
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 BERTIE'S SPELLING MATCH. 
 
 ARLY in November, Mr. Cur 
 tis removed his family to 
 Woodlawn; and Bertie com- 
 menced attending school. It 
 was too far for him to walk, and now 
 he found Whitefoot a greater conve- 
 nience than ever. Close by the 
 schoolhousc lived a farmer by the 
 name of Camp, who readily agreed 
 
 7 197)
 
 98 BERTIE AND THE GARDENERS. 
 
 with Mr. Curtis to allow the donkey 
 to stand in his barn during school 
 hours. 
 
 Miss Esther Taylor, his former 
 teacher, welcomed him back with 
 great pleasure, for she had learned to 
 love him like a brother. His health 
 had now greatly improved by so much 
 exercise in the open air, and he re- 
 solved to study hard through all the 
 winter months. 
 
 I suppose there arc many children 
 more forward in their lessons than he 
 was ; but he had laid a good founda-
 
 BERTIE'S SPELLING MATCH. 99 
 
 tion for an education. He could read 
 correctly, and with expression, and 
 had begun Colburn's Mental Arithme- 
 tic. In geography he had only 
 learned the general divisions of the 
 globe, and had begun to draw upon 
 his slate, islands, lakes, capes, penin- 
 sulas, etc., which greatly helped him 
 to understand the explanations in his 
 book. 
 
 In spelling, Bertie was rather back- 
 ward, -not being quick to learn the 
 sounds of which the word was com- 
 posed.
 
 100 BERTIE AND THE GARDENERS. 
 
 Miss Taylor was resolved her pu- 
 pils should excel in arithmetic and 
 spelling. In order to excite their am- 
 bition she allowed them twice a week 
 to have what is called a spelling- 
 match. 
 
 Two boys or two girls among the 
 best spellers were chosen alternately 
 by vote of the scholars, and these 
 called out from among their mates the 
 names of those they wished on their 
 side. Of course each one wished the 
 best spellers, in order that his side 
 might win the prize, and as pocr
 
 BERTIE'S SPELLING MATCH. 101 
 
 Bertie generally failed, he was left 
 out. 
 
 After this had occurred two or three 
 times, the little fellow began to feel 
 mortified ; and one night said to his 
 mamma, 
 
 " Will you please buy me a satchel ? 
 I'm going to bring home my spelling- 
 book every night ; and I can't carry 
 it very well on White foot's back, with- 
 out it's in a satchel." 
 
 Mrs. Curtis left the room, and pres 
 ently returned with a small leathet 
 bag, to which a strap was attached.
 
 102 BERTIE AND THE GARDENERS. 
 
 " Will this dp ] " she asked. 
 
 u Oh, yes, mamma! that is just 
 what I wanted." 
 
 After this, mamma, and papa, and 
 Mrs. Dodge, and Nellie, and Bertie, 
 and Nancy had a great many spelling* 
 matches, the rule being that every one 
 who pronounced the word must do so 
 with the greatest distinctness, so that 
 every letter as far as possible should 
 be articulated. 
 
 Before the winter was past, Bertie's 
 dislike to his spelling-book was wholly 
 conquered, and he was called as often
 
 BERTIE'S SPELLING MATCH. 103 
 
 as any scholar to try for the prize in 
 the spelling-match. 
 
 This was the first winter the chil- 
 dren had ever passed in the country. 
 When the snow began to fall, Win- 
 nie was delighted, and went out to 
 catch the flakes on a piece of paper. 
 
 Their house was of a June tempera- 
 ture, while the new conservatory fur- 
 nished bouquets and cut flowers in 
 abundance. 
 
 It was not the intention of Mr. and 
 Mrs. Curtis to keep aloof from the 
 villagers. Indeed, by this time, the
 
 104 BERTIE AND TUB GARDENERS. 
 
 Oxford people well understood that , 
 the Squire and his wife were ready to 
 befriend them whenever they were iu 
 distress. 
 
 The gentleman taught a class in the 
 Sabbath School, composed of married 
 ladies who had never before been 
 members. 
 
 Mrs. Taylor, who was one of the 
 class, often remarked she would arise 
 long before light rather than to lose 
 the opportunity of hearing the Bible 
 explained in the simple, practical 
 way the Squire performed the service,
 
 BERTIE'S SPELLING MATCH. 105 
 
 It was a happy day for the good 
 pastor of Oxford when Mr. Curtis 
 purchased his farm at Woodlawu. 
 From their first introduction, the 
 hearts of these truly Christian persons 
 were drawn toward each other. 
 They were working in the same cause 
 to win souls to the Saviour whom they 
 loved One was rich, and the other 
 comparatively poor ; but both had 
 consecrated themselves and all that 
 they possessed, to the Saviour, who 
 had bought them with his precious 
 blood ; and both desired so to live and
 
 106 BERTIE AND THE GARDENERS. 
 
 to train their families, that when lying 
 on the bed of death, they might say 
 with Paul, " I have fought a good 
 fight ; I have finished my course ; I 
 have kept the faith ; henceforth there 
 is laid up for me a crown of right- 
 
 eousness."
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 BERTIE'S PRESENTS. 
 
 HRISTMAS Day dawned clear 
 and cold. As soon as it was 
 
 Kja- light enough to see across the 
 
 u 
 
 \J chamber Bertie crept from his 
 
 bed toward the window, where on 
 one of the knobs belonging to the 
 shutters, he could see a huge stock- 
 ing tied by a string, and stuffed to its 
 utmost capacity. 
 
 (191)
 
 108 BERTIE AND THE GARDENERS. 
 
 The little fellow laughed heart ily 
 as he felt of the stocking, to ascer 
 tain what was within it. Then he 
 jumped on a chair, trying to take 
 the sock down, but with a sudden 
 thought, 
 
 " Winnie would like to see me 
 take the things out," he leaped into 
 bed again, and began in his childish 
 way to guess what presents he had 
 received, and who they were from. 
 
 " I wonder whether I shall have a 
 new Bible," he said half aloud, " I 
 had a Bible last year from mamma ;
 
 BERTIE'S PRESENTS. 109 
 
 but no, I don't think she'll give me 
 another, because she said she hoped 
 
 that one would last me for a long 
 
 t 
 
 time." 
 
 Presently he heard some little feet 
 pattering along the hall, and then 
 Winnie's hright face peeped into the 
 room. 
 
 " Dit up, Bertie," she said, laugh- 
 ing, and showing all her white teeth, 
 " Dit up, and have a merry Tismus." 
 
 " Oh, Winnie darling, I hope you'll 
 have many merry Christmases ! Now 
 let's go and see papa and mamma,
 
 110 BERTIE AND THE GARDENERS. 
 
 and then when Nancy has dressed 
 you, I'll show you my presents." 
 
 " Law ! " exclaimed Nancy, raising 
 her hands, " you don't mean to say 
 you haven't taken down your stock- 
 ing. What would Saint Nick say ] " 
 
 " I know who Saint Nick, is," 
 Bertie answered, with a merry laugh, 
 " It's mamma, I saw her last year 
 come creeping softly into my room in 
 the city, and hang it up. I'd rather 
 have mamma than anybody, because 
 she knows what I would like." 
 
 * Well, dear, hurry and dress.
 
 BERTIE'S PRESENTS. Ill 
 
 \ 
 
 Your mamma isn't awake yet; and 
 then you can show us your pres- 
 ents." 
 
 " Did you give me anything, 
 nurse?" 
 
 " I ! what a question ! " she ex- 
 claimed, in pretended horror. 
 
 " But I think you did, because 
 when I went to the nursery of a sud 
 den last night, you threw your apron 
 over something you was working, 
 and you looked ever so queer." 
 
 " Why, Bertie, I never thought you 
 watched me so, I must be careful
 
 112 BERTIE AND THE GARDENERS. 
 
 what I do. Well, supposing I did, 
 what should you like best I " 
 
 "A ball for Winnie and I to play 
 in the house with. One that would 
 not break (he windows, I mean." 
 
 Nurse laughed and looked wise, 
 and then left the room. Soon after 
 Bertie finished dressing, and ran to 
 wish mamma and papa a " Merry 
 Christmas." 
 
 "Well, my son, has* St. Nick, 
 crept down your chimney 1 " asked 
 papa directing an arch glance at his 
 wife.
 
 BERTIE'S PRESENTS. 1 1 JJ 
 
 " My St. Nick, has," was the boy's 
 answer, as he kissed his mamma. 
 
 " What was in the stocking, then ? 
 I think it's very strange no one 
 hung a stocking for me." 
 
 " What is that over yonder, Law- 
 rence ? " asked the lady, laughing. 
 
 "Ah, a stocking for me ! that is 
 more than I expected. Well, now 
 I'm satisfied that's a joke ; and I shall 
 find nothing in it but paper." 
 
 " I'll run and get mine, and then 
 we'll look over our presents together," 
 said Bertie, in great glee. 
 
 / 
 
 B
 
 114: BERTIE AXD THE GARDENERS. 
 
 Winnie now came in bringing a doll 
 almost as large as herself. It was 
 made of kid, with a porcelain face, 
 and had dresses which could be 
 taken off or put on at pleasure. This 
 was given her by Mrs. Dodge and the 
 clothes by Nelly. 
 
 With a loud shout Bertie pulled out 
 a small box in which was a ginger- 
 bread man riding on a donkey. " I 
 know where that came from very 
 quick," he said. " It smells just like 
 Mrs. Taylor's gingerbread. Oh, isn't 
 it funnv ? "
 
 BERTIE'S PRESENTS. 115 
 
 " It -is a very striking resemblance 
 of you and Whitefoot," remarked pa- 
 pa, trying to, look grave, at which 
 everybody laughed heartily. 
 
 Next came a small package tied 
 with red cord, which contained 
 what do you imagine "? Why, a night- 
 cap, with cook's compliments. 
 
 It was found to be a perfect fit, and 
 mamma told him it would keep his 
 hair from being so snarled in the 
 morning. 
 
 A pretty ball, just such as Bertie 
 had caught a glimpse of under Nau
 
 116 BERTIE AND THE GJLRDENEHS. 
 
 cy's apron was next brought to view, 
 which so much delighted him that he 
 dropped the stocking _ and began to 
 toss it at once. 
 
 There was a gift from Miss Lerow 
 of a beautiful pair of reins, knit of 
 bright worsted and ornamented with 
 little bells. But what pleased him 
 perhaps more than everything else, 
 was a jack-knife from Edward Torrey 
 with the words, " To the forgiving 
 boy," marked on the inside of the 
 pasteboard box. 
 
 Old Mrs. Grant had not forgotten
 
 BERTIE'S PRESENTS. 117 
 
 to add her gift, which was a pair of 
 warm mittens, done up with a nice, 
 knit comforter from Mary Jerrold 
 Monsey. 
 
 Altogether it was a great success, 
 and everybody felt very happy.
 
 CHAPTER XI. 
 
 THE HEART AND HAND. 
 
 don't you open your stock- 
 
 lit 
 
 ing, papa ? inquired Bertie, 
 when he saw the gentleman 
 about to leave his chamber/ 
 " I'll leave that to mamma," he said 
 laughing. 
 
 ' ; But really, Lawrence," she an- 
 swered, " you might see for yourself. 
 You'll regret it if you don't." 
 
 ("8)
 
 THE HEAHT AND HAXD. 119 
 
 " Oh, of course, Cecilia, and spoil 
 your joke ! " He hesitated a moment, 
 but catching a glimpse of Bertie's anx- 
 ious face, he turned back suddenly, 
 and took down the stocking from the 
 hook. 
 
 Putting his hand cautiously into 
 the top, as if he were afraid of being 
 bitten, at which the children shouted 
 with laughter, he pulled forth a nicely 
 rolled package, the outside of which 
 he most carefully examined with his 
 fingers. 
 
 " Very fine ! " he exclaimed, with
 
 120 BERTIE AND THE GARDENERS. 
 
 a quick glance at his wife. " It is a 
 doughnut, I presume." 
 
 " Doughnuts are not to be despised 
 when they are given to express affec- 
 tion," she answered, gravely. 
 
 " Well," he said, laying the pack- 
 age on his knees, " I'll sec what else 
 there is. I may find a solitary raisin 
 enveloped in a pound or two of paper." 
 
 " Oh, papa, you're too funny ! " 
 shouted Bertie. 
 
 " Quick, Lawrence, the bell will 
 ring for breakfast presently." 
 
 He drew cautiously from the stock-
 
 THE HEART AND HAND. 121 
 
 ing a small box, tied and sealed with 
 wax. 
 
 "All very grand," be began, with a 
 shrug of the shoulders, when his wife 
 caught it from his hands. 
 
 " Open the other, first," she said. 
 
 He tore off the paper, and presently 
 came to a note addressed to " Law- 
 rence Curtis^ Esq." in a beautifully 
 neat hand. Opening it cautiously, 
 he glanced at the bottom, and saw 
 the names of his entire class, when 
 his countenance changed at once. 
 
 " Really," he said, " I had no idea
 
 122 BERTIE AND THE GARDENERS. 
 
 of this," reading aloud, "'Will our 
 dear teacher please accept the en- 
 closed slippers as a trifling token of 
 our gratitude?' 
 
 " They are beautiful ! very tasteful ; 
 exactly what I wanted ! I must have 
 ' them made up at once. Oh ! here is 
 the cash for that purpose ! Well, my 
 friends, I'm very grateful. Now I'm 
 encouraged to try again," taking up 
 the box, and quizzically glancing 
 into the blushing face before him. 
 
 It contained a watch-chain of ex 
 quisite workmanship, manufactured
 
 THE HEART AND HAND. 123 
 
 of hair and gold, attached to which 
 was an ornament in the shape of a 
 heart, and a key in the form of a hand. 
 
 " My heart and my hand are all I 
 have to give," she whispered, kissing 
 his forehead, while a tear glistened in 
 her eye. " The chain was made from 
 the hair you cut from my head when 
 I was so very sick." 
 
 He raised the precious token to his 
 lips, exclaiming with great tenderness, 
 " I shall wear it as long as I live. 
 What would the world be to me, Ce- 
 cilia, without your heart and hand ? "
 
 BERTIE AND THE GARDENERS. 
 
 There was a service in the church 
 at ten, and at noon all the really aged 
 people in the parish had been invited 
 to a dinner at Woodlawn. 
 
 " I want to have a regular house- 
 warming," Mr. Curtis had said to his 
 wife. " I want to warm it with the 
 good will of all our villagers." So it 
 was decided that the old people should 
 come to dinner, the married persons 
 and children to tea, and the young 
 people of both sexes in the evening. 
 
 I wish I could paint a picture of 
 the happy faces that gathered around
 
 THE HEART AND HAND. 125 
 
 the festal bt/ard during that lovely 
 Christmas Day. There was the good 
 pastor and his family improving this 
 pleasant occasion to speak a word 
 here and there as it was needed 
 among their flock. There were Mr. 
 and Mrs. Hunt, leading Susy who had 
 just returned from the hospital. There 
 was Thomas Grant, his face red as a 
 beet, gallanting a very sensible look- 
 ing girl who was soon to become his 
 wife. There were swarms of laddies 
 and lasses, kept in constant good 
 humor by Albert Dodge, who had re-
 
 126 BERTIE AND THE GARDENERS. 
 
 turned to Oxford for the occasion 
 There were groups of children headed 
 by Bertie, playing all sorts of games, 
 or gathering in a circle around the 
 Squire, who t f :ld them funny stories. 
 
 " You have learned the secret of 
 living," remarked the Pastor, when 
 he came to take leave. " In pro- 
 moting the happiness and welfare of 
 those abou^ us we ensure our own." . 
 
 " That is the rule by which my wife 
 is training our boy," answered the gen- 
 tleman. " No other house-warming 
 could have pleased us so well as this."
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 VIOLETS AND VIOLETTA. 
 
 HEN spring came, Bertie went 
 one morning into his mamma's 
 chamber with a bunch of the 
 earliest violets. 
 The curtains were dropped before 
 the large bay window, and though it 
 was not cold a pleasant fire crackled 
 in the open grate. 
 " Why, mamma, are you sick 1 "
 
 128 BERTIE AND THE GARDENERS. 
 
 Bertie asked, running 'quickly to the 
 side of the bed. 
 
 " Have you seen papa ? " said mam- 
 ma, smiling. " He went out to tell 
 you I have a present for you." 
 
 " No, mamma, I didn't sec him." 
 
 She turned down the sheet and 
 showed him a tiny baby lying by her 
 side, trying to suck its own little rosy 
 ringer. 
 
 Bertie was so astonished he could 
 not speak. 
 
 " It's your little sister, my son, and 
 if papa consents, you may call her
 
 VIOLETS AND VIOLETTA. 129 
 
 Violetta in memory of these pretty 
 flowers." 
 
 " Oh, mamma ! I'm so glad ! I 
 love babies so dearly. Isn't she a 
 darling ? " 
 
 At this moment Mrs. Dodge came 
 into the room. " Well, Bertie," she 
 began, " your mamma has a pretty 
 surprise for you. What do you think 
 Winnie will say ? " 
 
 " She'll think it's a doll, mamma. 
 Oh, may I bring her in ? " 
 
 He ran to the door, and met papa 
 with Winnie in his arms.
 
 130 BERTIE AND THE GARDENERS. 
 
 Papa looked very smiling and hap- 
 py as he walked to the side of the bed. 
 
 Baby had fallen asleep now, and 
 was so quiet Bertie could hardly be- 
 lieve she was alive. 
 
 Winnie's eyes grew larger and 
 larger as she gazed, until at last she 
 gave a spring almost out of her papa's 
 arms upon the bed. 
 
 Mamma screamed, and Mrs. Dodge 
 came forward quickly ; but papa had 
 caught her again and held her firm. 
 
 " It's your little sister," he ex- 
 plained ; " but you must go now and
 
 VIOLETS AND VIOLETTA. 131 
 
 stay with Nellie, for Nancy wants the 
 new baby to sleep." 
 
 " Let me take it a minute. Please, 
 mamma, I wont break it. I wont, 
 certain," pleaded the child. 
 
 " Some day," said mamma, and then 
 she turned so pale that Mrs. Dodge 
 hurried them all out of the chamber 
 before mamma could ask whether the 
 little spring flower should be named 
 Violctta. 
 
 With his treasures safe in the 
 house, Mr. Curtis, with his gardener, 
 went to work with renewed zeal to
 
 132 BERTIE AND THE GARDENERS. 
 
 beautify his grounds. His heart was 
 full of gratitude to the kind Being 
 who had given him so many blessings ; 
 and his delight was to be of benefit to 
 those around him. No one really in 
 need was ever turned from his door ; 
 while many, like Susy Hunt and Ed- 
 gar Torrey, received the benefit of his 
 donations. 
 
 " The Squire's son will be the father 
 over again." said Mr. Taylor to the 
 clergyman, " there's nothing pleases 
 him so much, as to give him a chance 
 to make somebody happy."
 
 VIOLETS AND VIOLETTA. 133 
 
 " Yes," was the reply, " and 1 never 
 see him without recalling to re- 
 membrance the words: ' It is more 
 blessed to give than to receive." 1 
 
 The fall previous all the rubbish 
 about the place had been cleared 
 away, the pieces of board and shav- 
 ings, except what had been given to 
 the poor, being carried to the shed 
 adjoining the barn. The turf around 
 the house had of course been a 
 good deal cut up by the teams, and 
 Mr Curtis resolved to have new sods 
 immediately laid down, not only on
 
 134 BERTIE AND THE GARDENERS. 
 
 the terraces, but as far as the turf 
 was broken. 
 
 This was quite a curiosity to Ber- 
 tie, who followed Albert to the field 
 where the men were cutting out pieces 
 of turf about one foot in width and 
 two feet in length ; then back again 
 to see that they were laid smoothly 
 upon the well prepared ground, and 
 nicely hammered down with large 
 flat, wooden mallets. 
 
 With his exercise in the open air, 
 Albert had lost something of bis flesh; 
 but his spirits were never better ; and
 
 VIOLETS AND VIOLETTA. 135 
 
 in his management of men, Mr. Cur- 
 tis thought he had never known his 
 equal His gay good humor seemed 
 to inspire all in his employ with new 
 life, while his firm, clear manner of 
 giving orders convinced them that he 
 intended to be obeyed. 
 
 It was often a severe trial to Bertie 
 to leave for school just as the men 
 were engaged in some job which he 
 particularly wished to see ; -but mam- 
 ma explained that if he wished to be 
 a useful man he must lay in a stock of 
 knowledge while he was young.
 
 136 BERTIE AND THE GARDENERS. 
 
 One morning Mr. Curtis proposed 
 to go to a nursery of trees near the 
 city for the purchase of currant, 
 gooseberry, blackberry and other 
 bushes, together with a variety of or- 
 namental shrubs. 
 
 Bertie's curiosity was greatly ex- 
 cited to visit such a place, which he 
 fancied must be almost like Eden. 
 
 His mamma shook her head, saying : 
 
 " You have had a long vacation, 
 my dear. School is the first duty now." 
 
 The little fellow's lip quivered ; and 
 for a moment he looked quite vexed ;
 
 VIOLETS AND VIOLETTA. 137 
 
 but while his parents with anxious 
 hearts waited to see whether he would 
 submit cheerfully to parental au- 
 thority, his brow cleared, and he 
 exclaimed : 
 
 " You always do know best, mam- 
 ma. I should admire to go ; but I 
 
 5 
 
 dare say papa will take me some time.' 
 Papa smiled, but said nothing. 
 
 Mamma drew her son to her side, and 
 
 kissed her approval of his conduct. 
 In five minutes he was trotting 
 
 Whitefoot out of the yard, his smiles 
 
 % 
 
 as bright, and his brow sererfe as ever
 
 CHAPTER Xin. 
 
 BEKTIE'S REWARD. 
 
 T noon, Bertie was obliged to 
 hurry through his lunch, in 
 order to be back in time for 
 the afternoon session, which 
 commenced at one o'clock, so that it 
 often happened that he did not see 
 his father till night. 
 
 When he came into the house, he 
 
 
 
 was eagc* to tell his mamma that at
 
 BERTIE'S REWARD. 139 
 
 last he had attained the honor of be- 
 ing at the head of the arithmetic 
 class. He supposed of course his 
 father had gone to the city, and did 
 not therefore enquire for him. He 
 only said : 
 
 * Please, mamma, don't tell papa 
 when he comes home, because I want 
 to tell him myself." 
 
 " No, I promise," answered mam- 
 ma, smiling. 
 
 At the supper-table, his delight was 
 great, therefore, when he found that 
 instead of going to the city, Mr. Cur-
 
 HO BERTIE AND THE GARDENERS. 
 
 tis had been to the town where the 
 quarry of granite was. 
 
 " I concluded," said papa, with a 
 curious smile, " that it would be a 
 pleasure to go to the nursery in com- 
 pany with a boy who put aside his 
 own wishes in order to please his 
 mother. Dodge must get his ground 
 ready, and wait till Saturday for his 
 trees. 
 
 " Oh, papa ! papa ! ! " shouted the 
 boy, dancing with delight. " I mean 
 to be always good, you and mamma 
 are so very kind."
 
 BERTIE'S REWARD. 141 
 
 This was Thursday ; on Saturday 
 morning at an early hour the Squire 
 and his son were on their way to the 
 nursery. 
 
 They drove Duke in the carriage 
 to the depot station, and left him in a 
 stable close by, so that he would be 
 ready as soon as they returned from 
 the city. Bertie was in the gayest 
 of spirits. He sat by the window, 
 watching the farmers at work in the 
 fields, ploughing, harrowing, or mak- 
 ing furrows for putting the seed into 
 their land. He enjoyed all this
 
 142 BERTIE AND THE GARDENERS. 
 
 vastly, because he understood how it 
 ought to be done. 
 
 He was so absorbed in watching 
 these operations as they whizzed along 
 past one farm and then another, that 
 he quite forgot the pleasant errand on 
 which he was bound. But suddenly 
 he was recalled to the present by a 
 plaintive voice asking, "Have a 
 paper, sir? 'This morning's paper, 
 sir, and all the telegram news." 
 
 Mr Curtis was absorbed in thought, 
 and took no notice of the newsboy ; 
 but there was something in the sad
 
 BERTIE'S REWARD. 143 
 
 voice, which awoke Bertie's quick 
 sympathies. 
 
 " Papa ! papa !" he repeated, pull- 
 ing his father's arm, " wont you please 
 buy a paper ? See how many the boy 
 has left." 
 
 " I've too much on my mind to care 
 
 
 
 for newspapers, dear." 
 
 Bertie raised himself till he could 
 speak in his father's ear. 
 
 " Please, papa, sec how sick he 
 looks. Can't you buy one ] " 
 
 The gentleman opened his pocket* 
 book, and gave his son fifty cents.
 
 144 BERTIE AND THE GARDENERS. 
 
 " Use it as you please," he said, 
 softly. 
 
 All this time the newsboy had been 
 making change for a coarse, rough- 
 looking man who sat opposite, who 
 was obliged to squirt a whole mouth- 
 ful of tobacco juice out of his mouth, 
 before he could say, 
 
 " Give me a Erald," and then 
 another mouthful to add, " Don't 
 cheat, now, you young rascal." 
 
 When the right change had been 
 given, and the man was settled to his 
 paper, the newsboy turned back to
 
 BERTIE'S REWARD. 145 
 
 the boy whose eyes had expressed so 
 much sympathy. 
 
 Bertie asked his papa if it would be 
 
 i 
 too much trouble to change seats, and 
 
 then he asked, 
 
 " Do you sell many papers 1 " 
 
 " Sometimes." 
 
 "What do you do with the money ? " 
 
 " I give it to mother. It doesn't 
 half support us, though, and now 
 she's going to die." 
 
 As the newsboy said this, a great 
 sob seemed to choke him. Mr. Cur- 
 
 
 
 tis, whose eyes were fixed full on his
 
 146 BERTIE AND THE GARDENERS. 
 
 face, saw the little fellow resolutely 
 suppress his emotion, and his sympa 
 thies were enlisted at once. 
 
 " Where does your mother live ? " 
 he inquired. 
 
 " Close by the depot in the city." 
 
 " Go and sell all the papers you 
 can, and then come back here." 
 
 " Yes, sir," with a grateful glance 
 at Bertie. 
 
 The cars, however, had run into the 
 depot, and the passengers were begin- 
 ning to alight, before they saw any- 
 thing more of the newsboy. Bertie
 
 BERTIE'S REWARD. 147 
 
 was begging his father to wait a little 
 longer, when some one touched his 
 arm ; and there was the boy strug- 
 gling up from behind. 
 
 " I've sold 'em all," he began, 
 eagerly. 
 
 " Show me where your mother 
 lives," Mr. Curtis said, when they 
 stepped to the platform 
 
 " Yes, sir." 
 
 These were all the words spoken, 
 but a beautiful ray of gratitude shot 
 from the poor boy's eyes.
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 BERTIE AND THE NEWSBOY. 
 
 steps brought them to 
 an old block, where their 
 young guide stopped. 
 
 " May I run in and tell 
 mother you're coming. She's so very 
 sick, sir." 
 
 " Yes, but be as quick as you can. 
 I must catch the next train to E "
 
 BERTIE AND THE NEWSBOY. 149 
 
 Before they had time to miss him, 
 the boy returned, his face very, very 
 sad. 
 
 Bertie instinctively caught his 
 hand, as they followed him to the 
 humble chamber. 
 
 A woman lay there in the last 
 stages of consumption. On a table 
 near her was a cup, a tumbler, and a 
 spoon, all empty. 
 
 " You are in distress," said Mr. 
 Curtis, in a soothing tone ; " tell me 
 what you need." 
 
 " Nothing for myself. I shall soon
 
 150 BERTIE AND THE GARDENERS. 
 
 be where want and sorrow shall never 
 enter ; but it is hard to leave my boy 
 alone." 
 
 " Is he your only child ? " 
 
 " The only one left of five. He 
 will soon be an orphan." 
 
 Mr. Curtis stood a moment gazing 
 about as if trying to judge from the 
 surroundings something of the char- 
 acter of the inmates, when he caught 
 a glimpse of Bertie. 
 
 The boy's eyes were fixed on his 
 face with such an eager, wistful gaze, 
 as if he wondered his father did not
 
 BERTIE AND THE NEWSBOY. 151 
 
 offer relief, that he resolved at once 
 to befriend the orphan. 
 
 " You say," he began, " that you 
 hope soon to be in heaven. Cannot 
 you cast your care for your child on 
 your heavenly Father ? " 
 
 " I have tried to ; but sometimes 
 my faith is weak. He has been taught 
 his duty to God. I" 
 
 A fit of coughing interrupted her, 
 after which, Mr. Curtis hastened to 
 say: 
 
 " I will be a friend to your boy. I 
 must leave you now ; but here is a
 
 152 BERTIE AND THE GARDENERS. 
 
 sum of money, you will need for im- 
 mediate wants. I will try and call 
 again before night. In the meantime, 
 what is your name ? " 
 
 " Martha Washburn." 
 
 They hurried away, reached the 
 cars just in time, found exactly what 
 they wished, smoke trees, tartarian 
 honeysuckles, azalias, etc., etc., or- 
 dered them to be ready for Mr. 
 Grant's team Monday noon, and then 
 went back to the city. 
 
 Bertie enjoyed everything. The 
 long rows of trees, the neat lines of
 
 BERTIE AND THE NEWSBOY. 153 
 
 6ushes ; but his heart was full of 
 Jimmy Washburn. His little hand 
 nestled itself into his father's, and 
 every chance he had to speak, he re- 
 peated, 
 
 " Oh, papa ! I do love you. I do 
 thank you so much. How glad that 
 poor woman looked when you told her 
 you would take care of her boy." 
 
 Mr. Curtis told his wife afterward 
 that he kept thinking, as he saw Ber- 
 tie's flushed, eager face, of the text, 
 " of such is the kingdom of heaven," 
 and prayed that God might keep his
 
 154 BERTIE AND THE GARDENERS. 
 
 heart like that of his pure-minded 
 boy. 
 
 Before he left the city, he made ar- 
 rangements for Jamie's admission to 
 a mission school, where he would be 
 well educated, and then sent to a home 
 in the great West. Then they hur- 
 ried to Woodlawn to receive a warm 
 welcome from mamma, Winnie, and. 
 a smile from little Violetta.
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 THE LAST CHAPTER. 
 
 Y young reader, I hope ere 
 this you have come to love 
 our little Bertie, and are sorry 
 that this is the last chapter 
 
 of the last volume about him and 
 
 his sister Winnie. 
 
 * 
 
 I love Bertie dearly, and should 
 like to tell you much more about 
 him; but in the short space that is 
 
 (156)
 
 156 BERTIE AND THE GARDENERS. 
 
 left I can only relate a few words 
 of his after life. 
 
 Suppose 1 were to say that he be- 
 came a liar, a thief and a Sabbath- 
 breaker, would you believe me 1 You 
 could not, because you have seen 
 that he loved God and feared sin. 
 You know how he grieved when he 
 disobeyed his parents ; and how ear- 
 nestly he confessed his fault to his 
 heavenly Father. You know how he 
 tried to conquer his impatience, and 
 to be a dutiful, loving child You 
 know how earnestly he endeavored to
 
 THE LAST CHAPTER. 157 
 
 win every one around him to be good; 
 and how anxious he was to make 
 others happy. Have I convinced you 
 that in order to be happy yourself, 
 you must make others so ? If I have, 
 I shall be well paid for writing the 
 history of Bertie and his friends. 
 
 Perhaps you will remember that he 
 was not over fond of study when he 
 first began to attend school ; but when 
 his mamma explained to him that in 
 order to become a useful member of 
 society, as his father was, he must 
 learn to read, write and spell, which
 
 158 BERTIE AND THE GARDENERS. 
 
 were the first-steps toward acquiring 
 a good education, he made it a duty 
 to learn, every lesson thoroughly, so 
 that by the time he was sixteen years 
 
 old he was prepared to enter college. 
 
 , 
 
 In the meanwhile Winnie had 
 come into her teens, and little Vio- 
 letta was no longer the baby ; for 
 there were a pair of beautiful twin 
 brothers at Woodlawn, " as near 
 alike," Mrs. Dodge declared, " as two 
 peas in a pod." 
 
 In the quiet, country town of Ox- 
 ford Mrs. Curtis had gained health
 
 THE LAST CHAPTER. 159 
 
 and strength. Of course, with so many 
 little ones, her family cares had great- 
 ly increased, but with faithful Nancy 
 in the nursery, she found time for 
 visiting the poor and distressed, all of 
 whom felt well assured that no one 
 in need of help would be refused aid 
 from the kind family at Woodlawn. 
 
 On a cold, windy December night, 
 the inhabitants of Oxford were start- 
 led by cries of " Fire ! fire ! " What 
 was their horror to see the flames 
 coming from the large barn over the 
 lake. With one accord men, women
 
 ItiO BERTIE AND THE GARDENERS. 
 
 and children rushed from all parts of 
 the town to offer aid in extinguishing 
 the fire. It was, indeed, not the barn, 
 but only an immense stack of hay 
 behind it. Mr. Curtis, with the aid 
 of his men, soon succeeded in extin- 
 guishing the flames ; but the neigh- 
 bors, once aroused, could not be 
 persuaded that all the dear family 
 were safe, until they had caught a 
 glimpse of every member. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Curtis were deeply 
 affected at the kind solicitude mani- 
 fested for their safety ; and when
 
 THE LAST CHAPTER. 161 
 
 they tried, with tearful eyes, to ex- 
 press it, Mr. Taylor answered for the 
 rest: 
 
 " Don't talk of thanking us for 
 wanting to preserve one of God's 
 greatest blessings to us. Oxford 
 would be a sorry place enough with- 
 out our dear ones at Woodlawn. 
 No, my friends, we all feel that you 
 belong to us, from the Squire down 
 to the tiny babes in the cradle. 
 We're thankful you didn't need our 
 aid to-night to put out the fire ; yet 
 if you ever do, there isn't a man, 
 
 11
 
 BERTIE AND THE GARDENERS. 
 
 woman or child in Oxford, but would 
 be proud to render it, for there isn't 
 one who hasn't received some good 
 at your hands." 
 
 When the hearty speech was ended, 
 Bertie went around among the people, 
 shaking hands and thanking them 
 earnestly for their kindness ; and 
 then they quietly returned to their 
 homes.
 
 This book is DUE on the last 
 date stamped below 
 
 10m-U,'50 (2555)470 
 
 AJNGELES
 
 iif 
 
 00051494 
 
 P26 
 Bl?be