He rang the bell.
The summons was answered by the servant, the only one employed in Mrs.
Brandon"s modest establishment.
"Is Mrs. Brandon at home?" asked Ben.
"Yes," answered the girl. "Will you walk in?"
Ben stepped into the entry, and the girl opened the door of the room in which Mrs. Brandon was seated.
Mrs. Brandon looked up.
She saw standing at the door a well-grown lad of sixteen, with a face browned by long exposure to the sun and air. It was six years since she had seen Ben; but in spite of the changes which time may have wrought, a mother"s heart is not easily deceived. A wild hope sprang up in her heart. She tried to rise from her chair, but her excite was so great that her limbs refused their office.
"Mother!" exclaimed Ben, and, hurrying forward he threw his arms around his mother"s neck.
"G.o.d be thanked!" she exclaimed, with heartfelt grat.i.tude. "I have missed you so much, Ben."
Ben"s heart reproached him as he saw the traces of sorrow upon his mother"s face, and felt that he had been the cause.
"Forgive me, mother!" he said.
"It is all forgotten now. I am so happy!" she answered, her eyes filled with joyful tears.
They sat down together, and Ben began to tell his story. In the midst of it his father entered. He stopped short when he saw Ben sitting beside his mother.
"It is Ben come back," said his mother, joyfully.
Mr. Brandon did not fall on his son"s neck and kiss him. That was not his way. He held out his hand, and said, "Benjamin, I am very glad to see you."
In the evening they talked together over the new plans which Ben"s return suggested.
"You must stay with us, Ben," said his mother. "I cannot part with you now."
"I am getting old, Benjamin," said his father. "I need help in my business. You must stay and help me, and by and by you shall have the whole charge of it."
"I am afraid I don"t know enough," said Ben. "I haven"t studied any since I left home. I don"t know as much as I did when I was ten."
"You shall study at home for a year," said his father. "The teacher of the academy shall give you private lessons. You can learn a great deal in a year if you set about it."
To this arrangement Ben acceded. He is now studying at home, and his abilities being excellent, and his ambition excited, is making remarkable progress. Next year he will a.s.sist his father. Mr. Brandon seems to have changed greatly. He is no longer stern and hard, but gentle and forbearing, and is evidently proud of Ben, who would run a chance of being spoiled by over-indulgence, if his hard discipline as a street boy had not given him a manliness and self-reliance above his years. He is gradually laying aside the injurious habits which he acquired in his street life, and I confidently hope for him a worthy and useful manhood.
From time to time Ben visits New York, and renews his intimacy with his Cousin Charles, who returns his warm affection. Charles, in turn, spends the summer at Cedarville, where they are inseparable.
So we bid farewell to Ben, the Luggage Boy, hoping that he may be able to repay his mother in part for the sorrow which his long absence occasioned her, and that she may live long to enjoy his society. To my young readers, who have received my stories of street life with so much indulgence, I bid a brief farewell, hoping to present them ere long the sixth volume of the Ragged d.i.c.k Series, under the t.i.tle of
RUFUS AND ROSE;
Or,
THE FORTUNES OF ROUGH AND READY.
FAMOUS ALGER BOOKS.
RAGGED d.i.c.k SERIES. By HORATIO ALGER, JR. 6 vols. 12mo. Cloth.
RAGGED d.i.c.k.
ROUGH AND READY.
FAME AND FORTUNE.
BEN THE LUGGAGE BOY.
MARK THE MATCH BOY.
RUFUS AND ROSE.
TATTERED TOM SERIES. By HORATIO ALGER, JR. 4 vols. 12mo. Cloth.
FIRST SERIES.
TATTERED TOM.
PHIL THE FIDDLER.
PAUL THE PEDDLER.
SLOW AND SURE.
TATTERED TOM SERIES. 4 vols. 12mo. Cloth. SECOND SERIES.
JULIUS.
SAM"S CHANCE.
THE YOUNG OUTLAW.
THE TELEGRAPH BOY.
CAMPAIGN SERIES. By HORATIO ALGER, JR. 3 vols.
FRANK"S CAMPAIGN.
CHARLIE CODMAN"S CRUISE.
PAUL PRESCOTT"S CHARGE.
LUCK AND PLUCK SERIES. By HORATIO ALGER, JR. 4 vols. 12mo.
Cloth. FIRST SERIES.
LUCK AND PLUCK.
STRONG AND STEADY.
SINK OR SWIM.
STRIVE AND SUCCEED.
LUCK AND PLUCK SERIES. 4 vols. 12mo. Cloth. SECOND SERIES.