ly (if with some surprise) to Tom's thanksgiving. They
were not an ill-disposed set of people, but wanted thoughtfulness in
their every-day life; that sort of thoughtfulness which gives order to a
home, and makes a wise and holy spirit of love the groundwork of order.

From that first day Tom never went back in the regard he began then to
win. He was useful to his aunt, and patiently bore her hasty ways, until
for very shame she left off being hasty with one who was always so meek
and mild. His uncle sometimes said he was more like a girl than a boy,
as was to be looked for from being brought up for so many years by a
woman; but that was the greatest fault he ever had to find with him; and
in spite of it, he really respected him for the very qualities which are
most truly "manly;" for the courage with which he dared to do what was
right, and the quiet firmness with which he bore many kinds of pain. As
for little Annie, her friendship and favour and love were the delight of
Tom's heart. He did not know how much the others were growing to like
him, but Annie showed it in every way, and he loved her in return most
dearly. Dick soon found out how useful Tom could be to him in his
lessons; for though older than his cousin, Master Dick was a regular
dunce, and had never even wished to learn till Tom came; and long before
Jack could be brought to acknowledge it, Dick maintained that "Tom had a
great deal of pluck in him, though it was not of Jack's kind."

Now I shall jump another year, and tell you a very little about the
household twelve months after Tom had entered it. I said above that his
aunt had learned to speak less crossly to one who was always gentle
after her scoldings. By-and-by her ways to all became less hasty and
passionate, for she grew ashamed of speaking to any one in an angry way
before Tom; he always looked so sad and sorry to hear her. She has also
spoken to him sometimes about his mother; at first because she thought
he would like it; but latterly because she became really interested to
hear of her ways; and Tom being an only child, and his mother's friend
and companion, has been able to tell her of many household arts of
comfort, which coming quite unconscious of any purpose, from the lips of
a child, have taught her many things which she would have been too proud
to learn from an older person. Her husband is softened by the additional
cleanliness and peace of his home. He does not now occasionally take