Try Again; Or, the Trials and Triumphs of Harry West. A Story for Young FolksOptic, Oliver
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Try Again; Or, the Trials and Triumphs of Harry West. A Story for Young Folks
Optic, Oliver
Conduct of life -- Juvenile fiction; Orphans -- Juvenile fiction
The ostlers took their meals at the house of Major Phillips, which
stood at one side of the stable yard. Harry did not like Mrs. Phillips
very well; she was cross, and the men said she was a "regular Tartar."
But he was resolved to keep the peace. He afterwards found it a
difficult matter; for he had to bring wood and water, and do other
chores about the house, and he soon ascertained that she was
determined not to be pleased with anything he did. He tried to keep
his temper, however, and meekly submitted to all her scolding and
grumbling.
Thus far, while Harry has been passing through the momentous period of
his life with which we commenced his story, we have minutely detailed
the incidents of his daily life, so that we have related the events of
only a few days. This is no longer necessary. He has got a place, and
of course one day is very much like every other. The reader knows him
now--knows what kind of boy he is, and what his hopes and expectations
are. The reader knows, too, the great moral epoch in his history--the
event which roused his consciousness of error, and stimulated him to
become better; that he has a talisman in his mind, which can be no
better expressed than by those words he so often repeated, "She hoped
he would be a good boy." And her angel smile went with him to
encourage him in the midst of trial and temptation--to give him the
victory over the foes that assailed him.
We shall henceforth give results, instead of a daily record, stopping
to detail only the great events of his career.
We shall pass over three months, during which time he worked
diligently and faithfully for Major Phillips. Every day had its trials
and temptations; not a day passed in which there were none. The habit
of using profane language he found it very hard to eradicate; but he
persevered; and though he often sinned, he as often repented and tried
again, until he had fairly mastered the enemy. It was a great triumph,
especially when it is remembered that he was surrounded by those whose
every tenth word at least was an oath.
He was tempted to lie, tempted to neglect his work, tempted to steal,
tempted in a score of other things. And often he yielded; but the
remembrance of the little angel, and the words of the good Book she
had given him, cheered and supported him as he struggled on.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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