Harriet Martineau

“ He was still fuming and stamping, Hugh gazing at him the while in wonder and fear.
"There stands your defender, Lamb," said Firth, "thinking he never saw a boy in a passion before. Come, have done with it for his sake: be a man, as he is. Here, help me to fill up this hole—both of you. Stamp down the earth, Lamb. Tread it well—tread your anger well down into it. Think of this little friend of yours here—a Crofton boy only yesterday!"
Lamb did help to fill the hole, but he did not say a word—not one word to anybody, till the dinner-bell rang. ”

“ Your holidays begin to-day. You have nothing to do but to get well now, and make yourself at home at my house, and be merry with Agnes. Now shall we go, while the sun shines? Here is your mother all cloaked up in her warm things."
"O, mother! Agnes is come," cried Hugh.
This was no news; for it was his mother who had guessed what companion he would like to have. She now showed her large warm cloak, in which Hugh was to be wrapped; and his neck was muffled up in a comforter.
"But how am I to go?" asked Hugh, trembling with this little bustle.
"Quietly in your bed," said his uncle. ”

“ Hugh was so thankful for his father’s kindness in giving him a companion of his own age, and so pleased to show Holt little Harry, and the leads, and the river, and his shelf of books, and Covent Garden Market, and other wonders of London, that any unpleasant feelings that the boys had ever entertained towards each other were quite forgotten, and they grew more intimate every day. It touched Hugh’s heart to see how sorry Holt was for every little trial that befel him, on coming home, altered as he was. Agnes herself did not turn red oftener, or watch more closely to help him than Holt did. ”

“ Dale involuntarily sat up, and looked back, over the top of the reeds, at the boys who were brook-leaping.
“Would you like to know who it was that did it, Dale?”
“Yes, if you like to tell; but— And if he treats you ill, after the way you used him, he cannot expect you should consider him so— Besides, I am your best friend; and I always tell you everything!”
“Yes, that you do. And he has treated me so shamefully to-day! And I have nobody to speak to that knows. You will promise never—never to tell anybody as long as you live.” ”

“ A school-master can judge only by what he sees. Mr. Tooke does not know yet that you could have done your theme better than you did—as your mother would have known. When he finds you can do better, he will not praise such a theme again. Meantime, how you can boast of his praise, if you think it unjust, is the wonder to me."
"So it is to me now. I wish I had never asked to do that theme at all," cried Hugh, again stretching himself to get rid of his shame. "But why did Mr. Tooke order me to be caned? Why did he not make Lamb and Holt pay me what they owe? ”

“ Firth thought he could only learn not to expect, anywhere out of the bounds of home, what he thought justice. He must, of course, try himself to be just to everybody; but he must make up his mind in school, as men have to do in the world, to be misunderstood—to be wrongly valued; to be blamed when he felt himself the injured one; and praised when he knew he did not deserve it.
"But it is so hard," said Hugh.
"And what do people leave home for but to learn hard lessons?" ”

“ Mrs Watson called his attention to Hugh; and Hugh stood up and made his bow. His face was red, as much with anger as timidity, when he recognised in him the passenger who had sat beside the coachman.
“Perhaps, Mr Carnaby,” said Mrs Watson, “you will find something for this young gentleman to do, when he has had his supper, while the rest are learning their lessons. To-morrow he will have his own lessons; but to-night—”
“There is always the multiplication-table,” replied Mr Carnaby. “The young gentleman is partial to that, I fancy.” ”

“ Uncle, they are going to cut off my leg.”
“Not your leg, I hope, Hugh. You will not be quite so lame as that: but I am afraid you must lose your foot.”
“Was that what Mr Tooke meant by the surgeon’s relieving me of my pain?”
“Yes, it was.”
“Then it will be before night. Is it quite certain, uncle?”
“Mr Annanby thinks so. Your foot is too much hurt ever to be cured. Do you think you can bear it, Hugh?”
“Why, yes, I suppose so. So many people have. It is less than some of the savages bear. What horrid things they do to their captives,—and even to some of their own boys! And they bear it.” ”

“ I was just going to spoil the only good thing I ever did for anybody in my life. But it is spoiled—completely spoiled. I shall never be able to trust myself again. It is all by mere accident that it is not all over now. If Holt had not come that very instant, my secret would have been out, and I could never have got it back again! I could never have looked Tooke in the face any more. I don't know that I can now; for I am as wicked as if I had told."
Dale came back presently, fanning himself with his cap. As he plunged into the reeds, and threw himself down beside Hugh, he cried,
"I did it! ”

“ Did not you come off well with your theme? I heard somebody say you were quite enough set up about it."
"Where is the use of doing a thing well, if nobody cares about it?" said Hugh. "I don't believe anybody at Crofton cares a bit about me—cares whether I get on well or ill—except Dale. If I take pains and succeed, they only laugh at me."
"Ah! you don't understand school and school-boys yet," replied Firth. "To do a difficult lesson well is a grand affair at home, and the whole house knows of it. But it is the commonest thing in the world here. ”

“ Hugh shook his head.
"You will find in every school in England," continued Firth, "that it is not the way of boys to talk about feelings—about anybody's feelings. That is the reason why they do not mention their sisters or their mothers—except when two confidential friends are together, in a tree, or by themselves in the meadows. But, as sure as ever a boy is full of action—if he tops the rest at play—holds his tongue, or helps others generously—or shows a manly spirit without being proud of it, the whole school is his friend. You have done well, so far, by growing more and more sociable ”

“ But there is only one Friend that one is quite sure to get strength from,—the same who has given strength to all the brave people that ever lived, and comfort to all sufferers. When the greatest of all sufferers wanted relief, what did he do?"
"He went by himself, and prayed," said Agnes.
"Yes, that is the way," observed Hugh, as if he knew by experience.
Mr. Shaw presently came, to say that tea was ready.
"I am too big a baby to be carried now," cried Hugh, gaily. "Let me try if I cannot go alone."
"Why,—there is the step at the parlour door," said Mr. Shaw, doubtfully. ”

“ Well, I was in despair, one day, at the thought that I should have to wash, and clean my teeth, and brush my hair, and put on every daily article of dress, every morning, as long as I lived. There was nothing I disliked so much; and yet it was the thing that must be done every day of my whole life."
"Did you tell anybody?" asked Hugh.
"No; I was ashamed to do that: but I remember I cried. You see how it turns out. Grown people, who have got to do everything by habit, so easily as not to think about it, wash and dress every morning, without ever being weary of it. ”

“ I can never do things like other people.”
“Some things. You can never play cricket, as every Crofton boy would like to do. You can never dance at your sisters’ Christmas parties.”
“Oh! Mamma!” cried Agnes, with tears in her eyes, and the thought in her mind that it was cruel to talk so.
“Go on! Go on!” cried Hugh, brightening. “You know what I feel, mother; and you don’t keep telling me, as Aunt Shaw does (and even Agnes sometimes) , that it wont signify much, and that I shall not care, and all that; making out that it is no misfortune hardly, when I know what it is, and they don’t.” ”

“ That is the way all boys have to get on. They must make their own way."
"If ever little Harry comes to Crofton," said Hugh, more to himself than to Phil, "I will not leave him in the lurch,—I will never be ashamed of him. Pray," said he, turning quickly to Phil, "are you ashamed of me still?"
"Oh, no," protested Phil. "You can shift for yourself,—you can play, and do everything like other boys, now. You——"
He stopped short, overcome with the sudden recollection that Hugh would never again be able to play like other boys,—to be like them in strength, and in shifting for himself. ”

“ Proctor. "But those who have suffered much themselves know a better way. The best way is not to deny any of the trouble or the sorrow, and not to press on the sufferer any comforts which he cannot now see and enjoy. If comforts arise, he will enjoy them as they come."
"Now then, go on," said Hugh. "What else?"
"There will be little checks and mortifications continually—when you see boys leaping over this, and climbing that, and playing at the other, while you must stand out, and can only look on. And some people will pity you in a way you don't like; and some may even laugh at you." ”

“ He ran away from the laughing boys, and went quite to the opposite corner of the playground, where a good number of his school-fellows were playing ball under the orchard wall. Hugh ran hither and thither, like the rest, trying to catch the ball; but he never could do it; and he was jostled, and thrown down, and another boy fell over him; and he was told that he knew nothing about play, and had better move off.
He did so, with a heavy heart, wondering how he was ever to be like the other boys, if nobody would take him in hand, and teach him to play, or even let him learn. ”

“ Well: your papa and I love you all, in the same way. We get up with pleasure to our business—your father to his shop, and I to my work-basket—because it is the greatest happiness in the world to serve those we love."
Hugh said nothing; but still, though pleased, he did not look quite satisfied.
"Susan and cook are far more useful to me than any of you children," continued his mother, "and yet I could not work early and late for them, with the same pleasure as for you."
Hugh laughed; and then he asked whether Jane was not now as useful as Susan. ”

“ They had played some time, Hugh acting a naughty boy who could not say his Latin lesson to the usher, and little Harry punishing him with far more words than a real usher uses on such an occasion, when they heard Agnes calling them from above their heads. She was leaning over from the leads, begging Hugh to come up to her,—that very moment. Harry must be left below, as the leads were a forbidden place for him. So Harry went to Jane, to see her dish up greengage plums which he must not touch: and Hugh ran up the stairs. ”

“ Holt still look puzzled, and Hugh laughed, saying,
"Why, Holt, you must know very well. We ask them whether they cannot get work."
"Work!" cried Holt.
"Yes," said Mr. Tooke. "The fathers and uncles of both of you work for what money they have; and so do I; and so does every man among our neighbours who is satisfied with his condition. As far as I see, you must get the money you want in the same way."
"Work!" exclaimed Holt again.
"How is he to get work?" asked Hugh.
"That is where I hope to assist him," replied Mr. Tooke. "Are you willing to earn your half-crown, Holt?" ”

“ He had observed how fond of one another Dale and Hugh had become; and he thought he would plague Dale a little. He therefore summoned him, and desired him to go, and bring him a switch, to cane these boys with.
"I have broken my cane; so bring me a stout switch," said he, "Bring me one out of the orchard; one that will lay on well—one that will not break with a good hard stroke;—mind what I say—one that will not break."
"Yes, sir," replied Dale, readily; and he went as if he was not at all unwilling. Holt shivered. Hugh never moved. ”

“ He complained to Hugh of the difficulty of knowing what it was right to do. He had been angry on Hugh's account chiefly; and he still thought it was very unjust to hinder their lessons, when they wished not to be idle: and yet they were all treating him as if he had done something worse than the boys with the mask. Hugh thought all this was true; but he believed it was settled among school-boys (though Holt had never had the opportunity of knowing it) that it was a braver thing for boys to bear any teasing from one another than to call in the power of the master to help. ”

“ I know my father works as hard as anybody, and he is not rich; and I know the same of several of his friends. So it is hardly likely that such a lazy dunce as Lamb should be rich, unless he has a fortune here at home; and if he had that, I do not believe he would take the trouble of going so far, to suffer by the heat."
"I should not mind the heat," sighed Hugh, "if I could go. You must write to me, Holt, all about India. Write me the longest letters in the world; and tell me everything you can think of about the natives, and Juggernaut's Car." ”

“ Have you heard yet anything real and true about the new usher?"
"No," replied Phil. "But I have no doubt it is really Mr. Crabbe who is coming; and that he will be here after Christmas. Why, Hugh, you look just the same as usual!"
"So I am, just the same, except under this thing," pointing to the hoop, or basket, which was placed over his limb, to keep off the weight of the bed-clothes. "I am not hurt anywhere else, except this bruise;" and he showed a black bruise on his arm, such as almost any school-boy can show, almost any day.
"That's nothing," pronounced Phil. ”

“ How are they ever to learn manners, if they are not made to give way to young ladies while they are young? Boys are sure to be rude enough, at any rate. Their sisters should know better than to spoil them.”
While poor Agnes’ hardships were ending with a lecture, Hugh was chattering away, not at all aware that he had treated his sister much as Phil had treated him on his going to Crofton. If any one had told him that he was tyrannical, he would have been as much surprised as he had been at Phil’s tyranny over him. ”