It has always been my opinion that I should have been speedily restored to the bosom of my family but for Christy , and but for him I should assuredly have run away before the second week was out . He kept me , and in the hour of my disgrace stood by me like a man and a brother . One afternoon , inspired by a spirit of benevolence , enthusiastic but short-sighted , I collected several poor children in the barn , and regaled them on cake and figs , helping myself freely to the treasures of the pantry without asking leave , meaning to explain afterward . Being discovered before the supplies were entirely exhausted , the patience of the long-suffering matron gave out , and I was ordered up to the garret to reflect upon my sins , and the pleasing prospect of being sent home with the character of the worst child ever known . My sufferings were deep as I sat upon a fuzzy little trunk all alone in the dull garret , thinking how hard it was to do right , and wondering why I was scolded for feeding the poor when we were expressly bidden to do so . I felt myself an outcast , and bewailed the disgrace I had brought upon my family . Nobody could possibly love such a bad child ; and if the mice were to come and eat me then and there -- à la Bishop Hatto -- it would only be a relief to my friends . At this dark moment I heard Christy say below , ` She meant it kindly , so I would n't mind , Fanny ; ' and then up came my boy full of sympathy and comfort . Seeing the tragic expression of my face , he said not a word , but , sitting down in an old chair , took me on his knee and held me close and quietly , letting the action speak for itself . It did most eloquently ; for the kind arm seemed to take me back from that dreadful exile , and the friendly face to assure me without words that I had not sinned beyond forgiveness . I had not shed a tear before , but now I cried tempestuously , and clung to him like a shipwrecked little mariner in a storm . Neither spoke , but he held me fast and let me cry myself to sleep ; for , when the shower was over , a pensive peace fell upon me , and the dim old garret seemed not a prison , but a haven of refuge , since my boy came to share it with me . How long I slept I do n't know , but it must have been an hour , at least ; yet my good Christy never stirred , only waited patiently till I woke up in the twilight , and was not afraid because he was there . He took me down as meek as a mouse , and kept me by him all that trying evening , screening me from jokes , rebukes , and sober looks ; and when I went to bed he came up to kiss me , and to assure me that this awful circumstance should not be reported at home . This took a load off my heart , and I remember fervently thanking him , and telling him I never would forget it . I never have , though he died long ago , and others have probably forgotten all about the naughty prank . I often longed to ask him how he knew the surest way to win a child 's heart by the patience , sympathy , and tender little acts that have kept his memory green for nearly thirty years . Cy was a comrade after my own heart , and for a summer or two we kept the neighbourhood in a ferment by our adventures and hair-breadth escapes . I think I never knew a boy so full of mischief , and my opportunities of judging have been manifold . He did not get into scrapes himself , but possessed a splendid talent for deluding others into them , and then morally remarking , ` There , I told you so ! '
His way of saying ` You dars ` nt do this or that ' was like fire to powder ; and why I still live in the possession of all my limbs and senses is a miracle to those who know my youthful friendship with XXXXX .
Cy afternoon evening figs garret hour right storm twilight years