His heavenly Father understood his heart if his earthly parent did not, and
this all-wise guardian, knowing how very hard it was going to be for the
child in this new home, enabled him to find friendship that was really warm
and true.

Slipping noiselessly from beneath the covers--for the night had been
cold--Edwin went to the window through which the morning sun was streaming,
and there he saw a scene that thrilled him with delight. Lying asleep upon
the walk in the warmest spot that could be found was a large Newfoundland
dog. Clad in his heavy coat of shaggy fur and surrounded by a bed of green,
he was indeed a pleasing picture. There had been several dogs at the
poorhouse of which Edwin had been especially fond, but there had been none
so beautiful as the one upon the walk below. The bees, too, were busy
gathering among the flowers the honey for their winter's supply, and
hopping about here and there over the lawn were the little "jumper-men."

As Edwin from his elevation beheld the part of God's creation that he had
already chosen for his friends, his loneliness was quite forgotten. He was
still gazing down upon the scene when his mother appeared in the doorway
and with cruel words ordered him to hasten below to the kitchen. Little did
she know that her child was finding in the animal kingdom the friendship
that she had denied him, and she would not have cared had she known.

During the day and those that followed, Edwin endeavored in every possible
way to help his mother, but his understanding so little about her ways and
the names and uses of the simplest articles about the house seemed only to
increase his troubles and hardships. And as slaps and bruises such as the
dog had not known were his portion, the unfortunate child endeavored,
whenever it was possible to do so, to hide from sight, but he always tried
to be ready to give heed to the slightest order. But even this