Peanuts and candy , ginger-snaps and car-rides were unavailing ; even foot-ball could not reunite the broken friendship , and to this day I recollect the pang that entered my little heart when I lost my faith in the loyalty of my first boy . The second attachment was of quite a different sort , and had a happier ending . At the mature age of ten , I left home for my first visit to a family of gay and kindly people in -- well why not say right out ? -- Providence . There were no children , and at first I did not mind this , as every one petted me , especially one of the young men named Christopher . So kind and patient , yet so merry was this good Christy that I took him for my private and particular boy , and loved him dearly ; for he got me out of innumerable scrapes , and never was tired of amusing the restless little girl who kept the family in a fever of anxiety by her pranks . He never laughed at her mishaps and mistakes , never played tricks upon her like a certain William , who composed the most trying nicknames , and wickedly goaded the wild visitor into all manner of naughtiness . Christy stood up for her through everything ; let her ride the cows , feed the pigs , bang on the piano , and race all over the spice mill , feasting on cinnamon and cloves ; brought her down from housetops and fished her out of brooks ; never scolded , and never seemed tired of the troublesome friendship of little Torment . In a week I had exhausted every amusement and was desperately homesick . 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 XXXXX seemed not a prison , but a haven of refuge , since my boy came to share it with me .
Christy afternoon cinnamon garret ginger-snaps housetops naughtiness pang right week