eat out of
his brother's hands, but also from his mother's, and occasionally of
late from his own; but it is a different thing feeding birds in their
own aviary, and when they have escaped half wild to their native haunts.
And now, whilst the boy stretched upon the ground, was wholly occupied
in the earnest desire of reclaiming the wanderers, Reuben's attention
after awhile was diverted by seeing that some one was approaching
towards them from a hill, in a direction farthest from their home. This
person was riding at no slow pace, and as I said before, as his road led
him down hill, he seemed not to spare his horse; meeting the wind, as
Reuben thought gloriously, and passing along at a pace, the child
considered more glorious still. "When I am a man," the little fellow
said to himself, "I will ride so, I will have a horse, and I will ride
very very fast,--yes,--that I will."

Now it seemed that the rider from the elevated road could look over the
meadows below, and probably having good eyes, for they certainly were
young and sharp ones, he soon spied out Marten and Reuben, and as it
came out afterwards that Marten was the person he sought after, he
caused his pony to leap over a small ditch that was in his way, and then
guiding it to a gate he dismounted and fastened the animal to the post
by its bridle. In leaping the ditch his hat had fallen off, and making
signs to a large Newfoundland dog that had accompanied him, the noble
animal was by him directed to lie down near the horse and take charge of
the hat, whilst his master stepped lightly along the grass in the
direction where Marten lay extended, so occupied about the doves as to
regard nothing that was passing round him. The new comer was a youth of
about Marten's own age, the only child of a gentleman who lived about
four miles from Marten's father, and the most constant companion that
Marten possessed. His name was Edward Jameson, and he shall himself say
the cause of his present visit. Reuben knew Edward well, and he
recognized him before he had tied his pony to the gate post, but he had
not seen the fine Newfoundland dog before, and Reuben was so fond of
dogs. The little fellow remembered that Marten had forbidden him to
leave the tree or to speak, but he could not keep his small feet from
moving up and down restlessly, nor could he scarce command himself not
to call out and tell his brother of Edward's arrival. But Edward wanted
to see what Marten was doing in