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| committer | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 01:29:24 -0700 |
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diff --git a/20808-h/20808-h.htm b/20808-h/20808-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..de11611 --- /dev/null +++ b/20808-h/20808-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,14349 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of Three People, by Pansy. + </title> + <style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ +<!-- + p {margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + text-indent: 1.25em; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + img {border: 0;} + .tnote {border: dashed 1px; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; padding-bottom: .5em; padding-top: .5em; + padding-left: .5em; padding-right: .5em;} + ins {text-decoration:none; border-bottom: thin dotted gray;} + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; + } + hr { width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; + } + + table {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;} + + body{margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + } + + .pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + /* visibility: hidden; */ + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: smaller; + text-align: right; + } /* page numbers */ + + .blockquot{margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 10%; text-align: justify;} + .blockquot2{margin-left: 15%; margin-right: 15%; text-align: justify;} + .blockquot3{margin-left: 25%; margin-right: 25%; text-align: justify;} + + .bbox {border: solid 2px; margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; padding-bottom: .5em; padding-top: .5em; + padding-left: .5em; padding-right: .5em;} + + .center {text-align: center;} + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + + .caption {font-weight: bold;} + + .figcenter {margin: auto; text-align: center;} + + .figleft {float: left; clear: left; margin-left: 0; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: + 1em; margin-right: 1em; padding: 0; text-align: center;} + + .unindent {margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + .right {text-align: right;} + // --> + /* XML end ]]>*/ + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Three People, by Pansy + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Three People + +Author: Pansy + +Release Date: March 13, 2007 [EBook #20808] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THREE PEOPLE *** + + + + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Emmy and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + + + +<h1>THREE PEOPLE</h1> + +<h3>BY</h3> + +<h2>PANSY</h2> + +<div class='center'> +AUTHOR OF "LOST ON THE TRAIL," "TIP LEWIS AND<br /> +HIS LAMP," "ESTER RIED," "FOUR GIRLS AT CHAUTAUQUA,"<br /> +"CHAUTAUQUA GIRLS AT HOME," ETC.<br /><br /><br /><br /> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 60px;"> +<img src="images/emblem.png" width="60" height="75" alt="Emblem" title="Emblem" /> +</div> + +<div class='center'> +<br /><br /><br />BOSTON<br /> +LOTHROP, LEE & SHEPARD CO.<br /></div> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" summary="Pansy"> +<tr><td align='center'><img src="images/leaf.png" width="18" height="15" alt="leaf" title="leaf" /> +</td><td align='center'><b>PANSY</b></td><td align='center'><img src="images/leaf.png" width="18" height="15" alt="leaf" title="leaf" /> +</td></tr> +</table></div> + + +<div class='center'><small>TRADE-MARK</small><br /> + +<small>Registered in U. S. Patent Office.</small><br /> + +<br /><br /><br /><br /> +<small>Entered according to the Act of Congress, by</small><br /> +<span class="smcap"><small>Western Tract and Book Society</small></span>,<br /> +<small>In the Office of the Congressional Librarian, District of</small><br /> +<small>Columbia, 1871</small>.<br /> +<br /> + +<span class="smcap"><small>Copyright, 1899, by Isabella M. Alden.</small></span></div> + +<hr style='width: 25%;' /> + +<div class='center'><small><b>THREE PEOPLE.</b></small></div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[4]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 267px;"> +<img src="images/frontis.jpg" width="267" height="400" alt=""Are you a total abstainer?"—Page 60." title=""Are you a total abstainer?"—Page 60." /> +<span class="caption">"Are you a total abstainer?"—<a href='#Page_60'><i>Page 60.</i></a></span> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CONTENTS.</h2> + + + + + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" summary="Contents"> +<tr><td align='left' colspan="2"><span class="smcap">Chapter</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>I.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Some Babies</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_5'>5</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>II.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">John Birge's Opportunity</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_15'>15</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>III.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Wolfie</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_26'>26</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>IV.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Brain Work</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_37'>37</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>V.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Tode's Ambition</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_49'>49</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>VI.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">New Ideas</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_57'>57</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>VII.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Two T's</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_67'>67</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>VIII.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Which Shall Prosper, This or That?</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_77'>77</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>IX.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Take it Away</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_89'>89</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>X.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Habakkuk</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_100'>100</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XI.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Business and Bottles</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_113'>113</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XII.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Stepping Stone</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_128'>128</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XIII.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Tode's Real Estate</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_145'>145</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XIV.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Signs and Wonders</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_162'>162</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XV.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Exit Tode Mall</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_178'>178</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XVI.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Pledges and Partnerships</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_195'>195</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XVII.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Translations</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_211'>211</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XVIII.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Wine is a Mocker</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_223'>223</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XIX.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Three People Meet Again</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_242'>242</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XX.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Mrs. Jenkins' Tommy</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_255'>255</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XXI.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Midnight Work</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_270'>270</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XXII.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Poor Pliny</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_289'>289</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XXIII.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Judgments</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_305'>305</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XXIV.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">A Double Crisis</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_322'>322</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XXV.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Steps Upward</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_336'>336</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XXVI.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Theodore's Inspiration</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_349'>349</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XXVII.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Dawn and Darkness</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_364'>364</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XXVIII.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Death and Life</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_383'>383</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XXIX.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Some More Babies</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_398'>398</a></td></tr> +</table></div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[5]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>THREE PEOPLE</h2> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER I.</h2> + +<h3>SOME BABIES.</h3> + + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 30px;"> +<img src="images/tquote.png" width="30" height="55" alt=""T" title=""T" /> +</div> + +<div class='unindent'><br /><big>IE</big> the sash a very little looser, nurse, +and give the loops a more graceful fall; +there—<i>so</i>. Now he's a beauty! every +inch of him." And Mrs. Hastings moved backward +a few steps in order to get the full effect.</div> + +<p>A beauty he was, certainly; others beside his +mother would have admitted that. What baby +fresh from a bath, and robed in the daintiest and +most perfect of baby toilets, with tightly curling +rings of brown hair covering the handsome +head; with great sparkling, dancing blue eyes, +and laughing rosebud mouth; with hands and +feet and body strung on invisible wires, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[6]</a></span> +quivering with life and glee, was ever other than +a beauty?</p> + +<p>The whole house was in commotion in honor +of the fact that Master Pliny L. Hastings, only +son and heir of the great Pliny Hastings, Senior, +of Hastings' Hall, had "laughed and cried, +and nodded and winked," through the entire +space of three hundred and sixty-five days and +nights, and actually reached the first anniversary +of his birthday.</p> + +<p>A remarkable boy was Pliny Hastings. He +didn't know yet that his father was a millionaire, +but he must have surmised it, for, as far back as +he could remember, his bits of sleeves had been +looped with real pearls; rosewood and lace and +silk and down had united to make his tiny bed; +he had bitten his first tooth through on a sphere +of solid gold—and all the wonderful and improbable +contrivances for royal babyhood that +could be bought or imagined, met together in +that grand house on the Avenue for this treasured +bit of humanity.</p> + +<p>On this particular day baby was out in all his +glory; he had made the circuit of the great +parlors, stopping on his way to be tossed toward +the ceiling, in the arms of first one uncle and +then another. He had been kissed and cuddled +by all the aunties and cousins, until his cheeks +were rosy with triumph; and, finally, he had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[7]</a></span> +been carried, shouting with glee, high up on his +father's shoulder, down to the dining-room, and +occupied the seat of honor at the long table, +where he crowed, and laughed, and clapped his +hands over every plum that found its way into +his dainty mouth. This conduct was interspersed, +however, by sundry dives and screams +after the coffee urn and the ice pitcher, and various +unattainable things—for there were unattainable +things, even for Pliny Hastings. Oh, +the times and times in his young life that he +had cried for the beautiful round moon, and got +it not! And even gaslight and firelight had hitherto +eluded his eager grasp; but he had learned +no lessons from his failures, and still pitched +and dived after impossibilities in the most insane +fashion. To-day he looked with indifference +on the gold-lined silver cup bearing his +name and age, and wanted the great carving fork +instead. He cared not a whit that the sparkling +wine was poured, and glasses were touched, and +toasts drank on his account; but a touch of +wisdom must have come over his baby brain, +for he made a sudden dash at his father's glass, +sending the red wine right and left, and shivering +the frail glass to fragments; he did more than +that, he promptly seized on one of the sharpest +bits, and thereby cut a long crooked gash in +the sweet chubby finger, and was finally borne,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[8]</a></span> +shrieking and struggling, from the room, his +little heart filled with mingled feelings of terror +and rage. So much for Baby Hastings and his +birthday.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>In a neat white house, no more than a mile +away from this great mansion, there was another +baby. It was just when Pliny Hastings was +hurried away to the nursery that this baby's +mother folded away papers, and otherwise tidied +up her bit of a nursery, then pushed a little +sewing chair in front of her work table, and +paused ere she sat down to give another careful +tuck to the blanketed bundle, which was cuddled +in the great rocking chair, fast asleep. +Then she gathered the doubled up fist into her +hand, and caressed it softly, while she murmured: +"Bless his precious little heart! he +takes a splendid nap for his birthday, so he +does."</p> + +<p>"Ben," this to the gentleman who was lounging +in another rocker, reading the paper, "does +it seem possible that Bennie is a year old to-day? +I declare, Ben, we ought to have got him +a present for his birthday."</p> + +<p>The father looked up from his paper with a +good-natured laugh. "Seems to me he's rather +youthful to begin on that tack, isn't he?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[9]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Oh, Ben, no! I want every one of his +birthdays to be so nice and pleasant. Do, papa, +come here and see how nice he looks, with his +hair all in a curl."</p> + +<p>Thus appealed to, Mr. Phillips came over to +the arm-chair, and together they stood looking +down on the treasured bit of flesh and blood.</p> + +<p>"Our eldest born," the mother said, softly.</p> + +<p>"And youngest, too, for the matter of that," +answered Mr. Phillips, gaily.</p> + +<p>His wife laughed. "Ben, there isn't the least +bit of sentiment in you, is there? Now they +are having a wonderful time to-day in the grand +corner house on the Avenue, the Hastings' house, +you know, and it's all because their baby is a +year old to-day, and he isn't a bit nicer than ours."</p> + +<p>"Their baby's father is worth a million."</p> + +<p>"I don't care if he is worth a billion, that +don't make their baby any sweeter. Say, Ben, +I just wish, for the fun of it, we had some little +cunning thing for his birthday present."</p> + +<p>Mr. Phillips seemed to be very much amused. +"Well," he said, still laughing, "Which shall it +be, a razor or a jack-knife?"</p> + +<p>His wife actually shuddered. "Ben!" she +said, with a reproachful face, "how <i>can</i> you say +such dreadful things? What if he should grow +up and commit suicide?"</p> + +<p>"What if I had a boy, and he should grow to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[10]</a></span> +be a man, and another man should tread on his +toes, and he should knock the other man down, +and the other man should die, and they should +hang my boy," rattled off Mr. Phillips in anything +but a grave tone.</p> + +<p>"Little woman, that's what I should call looking +into the future, isn't it?"</p> + +<p>A knock at the door interrupted them, and +Roxie, the tidy little maid of all work, who had +been out for an afternoon, appeared to them, +talking rapidly.</p> + +<p>"If you please, ma'am, I'm a quarter late, +and could you please to excuse me; the clock +around the corner doesn't go, and Kate she didn't +know the time; and Mrs. Meeker said would +you please accept her love and these grapes in +a basket. She says they're the finest of the lot, +and you needn't mind sending of it home, 'cause +she'll let little Susie step around after it."</p> + +<p>This mixture set Mr. Phillips off into another +of his hearty laughs; but when they were alone +again, he seized one of the great purple clusters, +and flinging himself on the floor in front of the +baby, exclaimed:</p> + +<p>"I'll tell you what we'll do, little wife: we'll +present one of these to the boy, and then you +and I will eat it in honor of his birthday, unless, +indeed, there may be some bad omen in this, +even. You know the juice of the grape may,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[11]</a></span> +under certain circumstances, become a dangerous +article?"</p> + +<p>Mrs. Phillips laughed carelessly as she nestled +in the little sewing chair, and prepared to enjoy +the grapes. "No," she said, gaily; "grapes +are very harmless omens to me. I'm not the +least afraid that Baby Benny will ever be a +drunkard."</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>There used to be in Albany, not many years +ago, a miniature "Five Points," and one didn't +have to go very far up what is now Rensselaer +Street to find it, either. There were tenement +houses, which from attic to basement swarmed +with filthy, ragged, repulsive human life.</p> + +<p>In one of the lowest and meanest of these +many cellars, on the very day, and at the identical +hour, in which Master Pliny Hastings held +high carnival at his father's table, and Baby +Benny Phillips nestled and dreamed among the +soft pillows of his mother's easy chair, a little +brother of theirs, clad in dirt and rags, crawled +over the reeking floor, and occupied himself in +devouring eagerly every bit of potato skin or +apple paring that came in his way. Was there +ever a more forlorn looking specimen of a +baby! It was its birthday, too—there are more +babies in the world than we think for whose<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[12]</a></span> +birthdays might be celebrated on the same day. +But this one knew nothing about it—dear me! +neither did his mother. I doubt if it had once +occurred to her that this poor bit of scrawny, +dirty, terrible baby had been through one whole +year of life. And yet, perhaps, she loved her +boy a little—her face looked sullen rather than +wicked. On the whole, I think she did, for as +she was about to ascend the stairs, with the sullen +look deepening or changing into a sort of +gloomy apprehension, she hesitated, glanced +behind her, and finally, with a muttered +"Plague take the young one," turned back, and, +catching him by the arm of his tattered dress, +landed him on the topmost step, in a mud-puddle! +but she did it because she remembered +that he would be very likely to climb into the +tub of soapsuds that stood at the foot of the +bed, and so get drowned.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Ryan came up her cellar stairs at the +same time, and looked over at her neighbor, +then from her to her forlorn child, who, however, +enjoyed the mud-puddle, and finally commenced +a conversation.</p> + +<p>"How old is that young one of yours?"</p> + +<p>"Pretty near a year—why, let me see—what +day is it?—why, I'll be bound if he ain't <i>just</i> a +year old this very day."</p> + +<p>"Birthday, eh? You ought to celebrate."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[13]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Humph," said the mother, with a darkening +face, "we shall likely; we do most generally. +His loving father will get drunk, and if he don't +pitch Tode head over heels out here on the +stones, in honor of his birthday, I'll be thankful. +Tode Mall, you stop crawling out to that gutter, +or I'll shake you within an inch of your life!"</p> + +<p>This last, in a louder and most threatening +tone, to the ambitious baby. But poor Tode +didn't understand, or forgot, or something, for +while his mother talked with her companion, +out he traveled toward the inviting gutter again, +and tumbled into it, from whence he was carried, +dripping and screaming, by his angry mother, +who bestowed the promised shake, and added +a vigorous slapping, whereat Tode kicked and +yelled in a manner that proved him to be without +doubt a near relative of Master Pliny Hastings +himself. Three brothers they were, Messrs. +Pliny, Bennie and Tode, opening their wondrous +eyes on the world on precisely the same day of +time, though under such different circumstances, +and amid such different surroundings, that +I doubt if it looked equally round to them all. +Besides, they hadn't the least idea each of the +existence of the other; but no matter for that, +they were brothers, linked together in many a +way.</p> + +<p>Perhaps you wouldn't have had an idea that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[14]</a></span> +their fathers were each occupied in the same +business; but such was the case. Pliny L. +Hastings, the millionaire, owned and kept in +motion two of the hotels in a western city +where the bar-rooms were supplied with marble +counters, and the customers were served from +cut-glass goblets, resting on silver salvers. Besides +he was a wholesale liquor dealer, and kept +great warehouses constantly supplied with the +precious stuff. Bennie Phillips' good-natured +father was a grocer, on a modest and unpretending +scale; but he had a back room in his +store where he kept a few barrels of liquor +for medicinal purposes, and a clerk in attendance. +Tode Mall's father kept an unmitigated +grog-shop, or rum hole, or whatever name +you are pleased to call it, without any cut glass +or medicinal purposes about it, and sold vile +whisky at so much a drink to whoever had sunk +low enough to buy it. So now you know all +about how these three baby brothers commenced +their lives.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[15]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 75px;"> +<img src="images/deco1.png" width="75" height="36" alt="Decoration" title="Decoration" /> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER II.</h2> + +<h3>JOHN BIRGE'S OPPORTUNITY.</h3> + + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 19px;"> +<img src="images/o.png" width="19" height="55" alt="O" title="O" /> +</div> + +<div class='unindent'><br /><big>NE</big> day it rained—oh, terribly. Albany is +not a pleasant city when it rains, and Rensselaer +Street is not a pleasant street. That +was what John Birge thought as he held his +umbrella low to avoid the slanting drops, and +hurried himself down the muddy road, hurried +until he came to a cellar stairs, and then he +stopped short in the midst of rain and wind, +such a pitiable sight met his eye, the figure of a +human being, fallen down on that lowest stair in +all the abandonment of drunkenness.</div> + +<p>"This is awful!" muttered John Birge to himself. +"I wonder if the poor wretch lives here, +and if I can't get him in."</p> + +<p>Wondering which, he hurried down the stairs, +made his way carefully past the "poor wretch" +and knocked at the door. No answer. He +knocked louder, and this time a low "come in"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[16]</a></span> +rewarded him, and he promptly obeyed it. A +woman was bending over a pile of straw and +rags, and an object lying on top of them; and a +squalid child, curled in one corner, with a wild, +frightened look in his eyes. The woman turned +as the door opened, and John Birge recognized +her as his mother's washerwoman.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Mr. Birge," she said, eagerly, "I'm too +thankful for anything at seeing you. This woman +is going so fast, she is; and what to do I +don't know."</p> + +<p>Mr. Birge set down his umbrella and shook +himself free of what drops he could before he +approached the straw and rags; then he saw +that a woman lay on them, and on her face the +purple shadows of death were gathering.</p> + +<p>"What is it?" he asked, awe-struck. "What +is the matter?"</p> + +<p>"Clear case of murder, I call it. Her man is +a drunkard, and a fiend, too, leastways when he's +drunk he is—and he's pitched her down them +there stairs once too often, I reckon. I was goin' +to my work early this morning, and I heard her +groaning, so I come in, and I just staid on ever +since. Feelings is feelings, if a body does have +to lose a day's work to pay for 'em. She lies +like that for a spell, and then she rouses up and +has an awful turn."</p> + +<p>"Turn of what? Is she in pain?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[17]</a></span></p> + +<p>"No, I reckon not; it's her mind. She knows +she's going, and it makes her wild, like. Maybe +you can talk to her some, and do her good—there, +she sees you!"</p> + +<p>A pair of stony, rather than wild, eyes were +suddenly fixed on Mr. Birge's face. He bent +over her and spoke gently.</p> + +<p>"My poor woman, what can I do for you?"</p> + +<p>"Nothing at all," she said, stolidly. "My +heart's broke, and that's the end of it. It don't +make no difference what comes next, I'm done +with it."</p> + +<p>"But, my poor friend, are you ready for what +is coming to you?"</p> + +<p>"You mean I'm dying, I s'pose. Yes, I know +that, and it makes no kind of difference. I've +had enough of living, the land knows. Things +can't be worse with me than they are here."</p> + +<p>And now John spoke eagerly.</p> + +<p>"But don't you know that they can be better, +that there is a home and rest and peace waiting +for you, and that the Lord Jesus Christ wants +you?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know anything about them things. +I might, I s'pose, if I'd been a mind to. It's +too late now, and I don't care about that, either. +Things <i>can't</i> be worse, I tell you."</p> + +<p>"It's <i>not</i> too late; don't ruin yourself with +that folly. The Lord is all powerful. He can<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[18]</a></span> +do <i>anything</i>. He doesn't need <i>time</i> as men do. +He can save you <i>now</i> just as well as he could +last year. All you have to do is to ask him; he +will in no wise cast out; he 'is able to save to +the <i>uttermost</i>.' Believe on him, and the work is +all done."</p> + +<p>It is impossible to tell the eager energy with +which these words were poured forth by the +man who saw that the purple shadows were +creeping and the time was short; but the same +stony look still settled on the listener's face, and +she repeated with the indifference of despair—</p> + +<p>"It's no use—my time is gone—it don't matter. +My heart's broke, I tell you, and I don't care."</p> + +<p>"He <i>will</i> save you if you will let him; he +wants to. I can't tell you how much he has +promised to hear the very faintest, latest call. +Say 'Lord Jesus forgive me' with all your heart, +and the work is done."</p> + +<p>A sudden change swept over the sick stolid +face, a gleam of interest in the dreary eyes, and +she spoke with eagerness.</p> + +<p>"Do you say he can do everything?"</p> + +<p>"<i>Everything.</i> 'Whatever ye ask in my name, +<i>believing</i>, ye shall receive.' These are his own +words."</p> + +<p>"Does he believe in rum?"</p> + +<p>"No!" promptly replied the startled, but +strongly temperate John Birge.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[19]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Then I'll pray," was the quick response. +"I never prayed in my life, but I will now; +like enough I can save him yet. You folks +think he can hear everything that's said, don't +you?"</p> + +<p>Strangely moved as well as startled, her visitor +answered her only by a bow. The shaking +hands were clasped, and in a clear firm voice the +sick woman spoke:</p> + +<p>"O Lord, don't let Tode ever drink a drop of +rum!"</p> + +<p>Then the little boy crouching in the corner, +rose up and came quickly over to his mother.</p> + +<p>"Keep away, Tode," said the woman at the +foot of the bed, speaking in an awe-stricken +voice. "Keep away, don't touch her; she ain't +talking to you."</p> + +<p>Not so much as a glance did the mother +bestow upon her boy, but repeated over and +over again the sentence, "O Lord, don't let Tode +ever touch a drop of rum."</p> + +<p>"Is that the way?" she asked, suddenly turning +her sharp bright eyes full on Mr. Birge.</p> + +<p>"Is that the way they pray? are them the +right kind of words to use?"</p> + +<p>"My poor friend," began he, but she interrupted +him impatiently.</p> + +<p>"Just tell me if that's the name you call him +by when you pray?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[20]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Yes," he said. "Only won't you add to +them, 'And forgive and save <i>me</i> for Jesus' sake.'"</p> + +<p>"Never mind me," she answered, promptly. +"'Tain't of no consequence about me, never has +been; and I haven't no time to waste on myself. +I want to save him. 'O Lord, don't let Tode +ever touch a drop of rum.'"</p> + +<p>"He doesn't need time," pleaded her visitor. +"He can hear both prayers at once. He can +save both you and Tode in a second of time; +and he loves you and is waiting."</p> + +<p>This was her answer:</p> + +<p>"O Lord, don't let Tode ever touch a drop of +rum."</p> + +<p>All that woman's soul was swallowed up in +the one great longing. Unable longer to endure +the scene in silence, John Birge dropped on his +knees and said:</p> + +<p>"Lord Jesus, hear this prayer for her boy, and +save this poor woman who will not pray for herself."</p> + +<p>The words seemed to arrest her attention.</p> + +<p>"What do <i>you</i> care?" she added, at length.</p> + +<p>"The Lord Jesus cares. He died to save you."</p> + +<p>Then John Birge repeated his prayer, adding +a few simple words.</p> + +<p>The little silence that followed was broken by +the repetition of the poor woman's one solemn +sentence:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[21]</a></span></p> + +<p>"O Lord, don't let Tode ever touch a drop of +rum."</p> + +<p>"And save me," added John Birge.</p> + +<p>"And save me"—her lips took up the sentence—"for +Jesus' sake."</p> + +<p>"For Jesus' sake."</p> + +<p>The next time she added these words of her +own accord; and again and again was the solemn +cry repeated, until there came a sudden changing +of the purple shadows into solemn ashy gray, +and with one half-murmured effort, "not a drop +of rum" and "for Jesus' sake," the voice was +forever hushed.</p> + +<p>The neighbor watcher was the first to break +the stillness.</p> + +<p>"Well, I never in all my life!" she ejaculated, +speaking solemnly. "For the land's sake! I +wish every rum-seller in the world could a heard +her. Well, her troubles is over, Mr. Birge. +Now, what's to be done next?"</p> + +<p>"Is she anything to you, Mary, except an +acquaintance?"</p> + +<p>"I'm thankful to say she ain't. If she had been +I'd expect to die of shame for letting her die in +this hole. She's a neighbor of mine, at least I +live around the corner; but I don't know much +about her, only that her man comes home drunk +about every night, and tears around like a wild +beast."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[22]</a></span></p> + +<p>Which last recalled to John's remembrance +the reason of his being in that room.</p> + +<p>"Is that her husband lying out there?" he +asked, nodding toward the door.</p> + +<p>"Yes, it is. Been there long enough to know +something by this time, I should think, too."</p> + +<p>"It seems to me the first thing to be done is +to get him in here; it isn't decent to leave him +in this storm."</p> + +<p>"It's decenter than he deserves, in my opinion, +enough sight," Mary muttered.</p> + +<p>Nevertheless they went toward the door, and +with infinite pains and much fearful swearing +from the partially roused man, they succeeded +in pushing and pulling and dragging him inside +the cellar on the floor, when he immediately +sank back into heavy sleep.</p> + +<p>"Isn't he a picture of a man, now?" said the +sturdy Mary, with a face and gesture of intense +disgust.</p> + +<p>"I would rather be he than the man who sold +him the rum," her companion answered, solemnly. +"Well, Mary, have you time to stay here +awhile, or must you go at once?"</p> + +<p>"I'll <i>take</i> time, sir. Feelings is feelings, if I +be poor; and I can't leave the boy and all, like +this."</p> + +<p>"Very well. You shall not suffer for your +kind act. I'll go at once to notify the Coroner<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[23]</a></span> +and the proper authorities, and meantime my +mother will probably step around. Shall I have +this fellow taken to the station?"</p> + +<p>"No," said Mary, with another disgusted look +at the drunken man. "Let the beast sleep it +out; he's beyond hurting anybody, and <i>she</i> +wouldn't want him sent to the station."</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>"It was the most solemnly awful sight I ever +saw," said John Birge, telling it all over to his +friend McElroy. "I never shall forget that +woman's prayer. It was the most tremendous +temperance lecture I ever heard."</p> + +<p>"Is the woman buried?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, this afternoon. They hurry such matters +abominably, McElroy. Mother saw, though, +that things were decent, and did what she could. +We mean to keep an eye on the boy. He has +great wild eyes, and a head that suggests great +possibilities of good or evil, as the case may be. +We would like to get him into one of the +Children's Homes, and look after him. I meant +to go around there this very evening and see +what I could do. What do you say to going +with me now?"</p> + +<p>"Easy enough thing to accomplish, I should +think. I presume his father will be glad to get +rid of him; but it's storming tremendously, is it +not?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[24]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Pretty hard. It does four-fifths of the time +in Albany, you know. Wouldn't you venture?"</p> + +<p>"Why, it strikes me not, unless it were a case +of life and death, or something of that sort. I +should like to assist in rescuing the waif, but +won't it do to-morrow?"</p> + +<p>"I presume so. We'll go to-morrow after +class, then. Well, take the rocking chair and +an apple, and make yourself comfortable. I say, +McElroy, when I get into my profession I'll +preach temperance, shall not you?"</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>Rain and wind and storm were over by the +next afternoon; the sun shone out brilliantly, +trying to glorify even the upper end of Rensselaer +Street through which the two young men +were sauntering, in search of the waif on whom +John Birge meant to keep an eye.</p> + +<p>"I'm strangely interested in the boy," Birge +was saying. "That prayer was something so +strange, so fearfully solemn, and the circumstances +connected with my stumbling upon them +at all were so sad. I was sorry after I left that +I had not tried to impress upon the little fellow's +mind the solemn meaning of his mother's last +words. I half went back to have a little talk +with him, but then I thought there would be +sufficient opportunity for that in the future. +Here, this is the cellar. Be careful how you<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[25]</a></span> +tread, these steps are abominable. Hallo! +Why, what on earth!"</p> + +<p>They descended the stairs; they knocked at +the door, but they received no answer; they +tried the door, it was locked; they looked in at +the rickety window, the miserable stove, the rags, +even the straw, were gone—no trace of human +residence was to be seen.</p> + +<p>It does not take long to move away from +Rensselaer Street. Tode and his father were +gone; and neither then nor afterward for many +a day, though John Birge and his companion +made earnest search, were they to be found. +The "sufficient opportunity" was gone, too, and +young Birge kept no eye on the boy; but there +was an All-seeing eye looking down on poor +Tode all the while.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 75px;"> +<img src="images/deco2.png" width="75" height="32" alt="Decoration" title="Decoration" /> +</div> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[26]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER III.</h2> + +<h3>WOLFIE.</h3> + + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 28px;"> +<img src="images/m.png" width="28" height="55" alt="M" title="M" /> +</div> + +<div class='unindent'><br /><big>R. HASTINGS</big> started on a journey. It +was midwinter, so he muffled himself in +overcoat and furs, and carried his great +fur-lined traveling cloak, all nicely rolled and +strapped, ready for extra occasions.</div> + +<p>He was not in the very best humor when the +night express reached Albany, and he had finally +changed his quarters from the Central to the +Hudson River Railroad. His arrangements had +not been made for spending the night on the +train at all; his plan was to be fairly settled +under the blankets in a New York hotel by this +time, but there had been detention after detention +all along his route. So the great man settled +himself with what grace he could, and unstrapped +the fur-lined cloak, and made other +preparations for passing a night in the cars, his +face, meanwhile, wearing an ominous frown.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[27]</a></span></p> + +<p>It was not so much the sitting-up all night +that troubled him, for Mr. Hastings was in excellent +health, and an excellent traveler, and +really did not so much mind the fatigue; but +he was a man accustomed to carrying out his +plans and intentions to the very letter, and it +jarred upon him to have even snow and ice audacious +enough to interfere.</p> + +<p>There were other travelers that night who had +no fur-lined cloaks. One in particular, who sat +near the stove, and made such good use of the +dampers that Mr. Hastings had no use for his +cloak, even after unstrapping it, but flung it into a +great furry heap on the nearest seat behind him, +and knew not then, nor ever, that the insignificant +little act was one of the tiny links in the +chain of circumstances that were molding Tode +Mall's life.</p> + +<p>Tode Mall started on a journey that very +evening. He didn't pack his valise, nor take his +overcoat, nor ride to the depot in a carriage. In +fact, his father kicked him out of the cellar like a +foot-ball, and bade him good-by in these words:</p> + +<p>"There! get out. And don't let me ever see +a sight of your face again."</p> + +<p>Tode rolled over once in the snow, then got +up and shook himself, and made prompt answer:</p> + +<p>"All right! I'm agreed."</p> + +<p>He then stuffed his hands into the ragged<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[28]</a></span> +pockets of his ragged jacket, and marched off +up town, and because he happened to roll over +and come up with his face turned in the direction +of the depot, is the only known reason why +he walked <i>up</i> town instead of <i>down</i>.</p> + +<p>Apparently he didn't take his father's late +treatment very much to heart.</p> + +<p>"He's drunk," he said, philosophically. "That's +what's the matter with him. In about two hours +he'll be over this part of the carouse and be +snoring, then I'll slip back all right, if I don't +freeze beforehand. Ain't it cold, though. I +must travel faster than this."</p> + +<p>On he went aimlessly, reached the depot +presently, and followed the crowd who crossed +the river, for no better reason than that a great +many people seemed to be going that way. +Following a portion of this same crowd brought +him at last to a platform of the departing train, +just as the steam-horse was giving a premonitory +snort, and the official called out for the +second time:</p> + +<p>"All aboard!"</p> + +<p>"No, we ain't exactly," said Tode. "But it +wouldn't take long to get aboard if that is what +you want, particularly if you've got a fire in +there."</p> + +<p>And he peered curiously in at the drowsy +passengers. It was just at this point that Mr.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[29]</a></span> +Hastings threw his furry cloak away from him, +and settled among his other wraps for a night's +rest. The action caught Tode's eye.</p> + +<p>"My! ain't that fellow comfortable?" chuckled +he to himself. "Got a wolf there that he don't +appear to need. If he'd lend it to me I <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'would'nt'">wouldn't</ins> +mind keeping him company for a spell. S'pose +I try it?"</p> + +<p>And suiting the action to the word he pushed +open the door, and walked boldly forward among +the sleepy people, halted at the stove, and while +the delicious sense of warmth crept slowly over +him he kept one eye on Mr. Hastings until he +felt sure, just as the train got fairly into motion, +that the gentleman had fairly commenced his +nap, then he slid himself into the empty seat, +and used his hands and his wits in so disposing +of the "wolf" that it would cover his cuddled +up body completely, and at the same time look +like nothing but an innocent cloak thrown carelessly +on the seat; and he chuckled as distinctly +as he dared when he heard the conductor's voice +calling "tickets" to the sleepy people, and presently +the door opened, and shut with a slam, +and the silence that followed showed that he +considered his business with that car finished.</p> + +<p>"He didn't ask Wolfie for his ticket," giggled +Tode. "I reckon he don't know he's alive, no +more don't the man that thinks he owns him.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[30]</a></span> +I say now, what if he gets a cold streak, and +wants to borrow Wolfie for himself after a spell? +Poh!" he added after a minute, "it's easy enough +to get out the way I came in; but it will be time +enough to do it when I <i>have</i> to. I ain't going +to keep doing it all night. I vote for <i>one</i> good +warm nap, I do—so here goes."</p> + +<p>And Tode went straightway to the land of +dreams. The night wore on, the restless traveler +near the stove dozed and wakened and attended +to the dampers, thereby all unknowingly +contributing his mite to Tode's warm journey. +The train halted now and again at a station, and +a few sleepy people stumbled off, and a few wide-awake +ones came on, but still seats were comparatively +plenty and no one disturbed the fur cloak. +In the course of time Tode's sleep grew less +sound; he twisted around as much as his limits +would allow, and punched an imaginary bed-fellow +with his elbow, muttering meanwhile:</p> + +<p>"Keep still now. Which of you is joggling?"</p> + +<p>The joggling continued, and at last the boy +twisted and punched himself awake and into a +sitting posture, and finally the look of unmixed +astonishment with which he took in his surroundings, +gave way to one of unmistakable fun.</p> + +<p>"Here's a go!" he at last informed himself. +"I've come a journey and no mistake; made a +night of it sure as I live. Lucky I waked up<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[31]</a></span> +first of this crowd. If somebody had sat down +on Wolfie now by mistake, there might have +been trouble. Guess I'll look about me."</p> + +<p>He shook himself free from the cloak and +sauntered out on the platform. The gray dawn +was just glimmering over the frozen earth, the +world looked snowy and icy and desolate. On +swept the train, and not a familiar object met his +eye. Did Tode feel dreary and homesick, lost in +the whizzing strangeness, sorry he had come? +Did he want to shrink away from sight and +sound? Did he feel that he would give anything +in the world to be landed at that moment somewhere +near Broadway in Albany? Not a bit of it! +Nothing of the sort entered his brain. <i>He</i> feel +homesick! Why his home was anywhere and +nowhere. Since that day, years ago, when his +mother died, he had had less of a home than +even before. Sometimes he slept on the cellar +floor with his father, but oftener in the street, in +a stable, or curled in a barrel when he had the +good fortune to find one—<i>anywhere;</i> but never +in all his life had he spent such a comfortable +night as this last had been. But his father? Oh +dear, you don't know what fathers can become +to their children, if you think he missed him. +Please remember his last act had been to kick +his son out of a cellar into the snow; but Tode +bore him no ill-will for this or any other atten<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[32]</a></span>tion. +Oh no, nor good-will either. Why, his +father was simply less than nothing to him. So +this morning, without an idea as to what he was +going to do next, he stood and watched himself +being whirled into New York, with no feeling +save one of extreme satisfaction at the success +of his last night's plan, and alert only to keep +out of the reach of the conductor. The car door +slammed behind him, and he turned quickly, as +two gentlemen came out. One of them eyed +him closely, and finally addressed him.</p> + +<p>"Who are you with, my lad?"</p> + +<p>Tode chuckled inwardly at this question, but +added promptly enough,</p> + +<p>"A man in there," nodding his head toward +the car which contained Mr. Hastings.</p> + +<p>"Humph! the man must be crazy to let his +servant travel in such a suit as that in this bitter +weather."</p> + +<p>This remark was addressed to his companion +as the two passed into the next car. Tode +chuckled outright this time; he had a new +idea.</p> + +<p>"That's the talk," he informed himself. "I'm +his servant; just it prezackly—much obliged. +I hadn't thought of that arrangement before, but +I like the plan first rate. Maybe Wolfie and I +will get another night or so together by the +means."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[33]</a></span></p> + +<p>So now he had two items of business on hand, +dodging the conductor and keeping an eye on +his traveling companion. The first he managed +to accomplish by dint of always passing out at +one end of the car just as that official was entering +at the other, aided in his scheme by the fact +that it was not yet light, and also that they were +fairly in the city. But the last was an extremely +difficult matter. A dozen times, as he breathlessly +pushed and elbowed his way through the +hurrying crowd, did he think that he had hopelessly +lost sight of his guide, and as often did he +catch another glimpse of him and push on. At +last a car, not too full for Mr. Hastings to crowd +himself into, rewarded his signal, and Tode +plunged after him as far as the platform. There +he halted. There were many passengers and +much fare to collect, so our young scamp had +enjoyed quite a ride before his turn came.</p> + +<p>"Fare," said the conductor at last, briefly and +sharply, right at his elbow.</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir," answered Tode as promptly. +"Only it's pretty cold and windy."</p> + +<p>"Pay your fare," shouted the conductor.</p> + +<p>"Oh bless me—yes, to be sure."</p> + +<p>And Tode fumbled in both pockets, drawing +out bits of strings and balls of paper and ends +of candles, everything but pennies; then looked +up with an innocent face.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[34]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Why, as true as you live, I haven't got a +cent."</p> + +<p>"Then what are you doing here?"</p> + +<p>"Why riding, to be sure. It's enough sight +nicer than walking this windy day. Your driver +stopped for everybody that held up his hand. I +saw him, so when I was invited kind of, how +did I know I'd have to pay?"</p> + +<p>The demure, innocent, childlike air with which +Tode rattled off this story can not be described. +The conductor laughed.</p> + +<p>"You're either <i>very</i> green or <span class="smcap">very</span> old," he +said at last. "And I'm not sure which. Where +do you want to go?"</p> + +<p>"Oh I ain't a bit particular. You needn't go +out of your way on my account. I'll ride right +along with you, and look at the sights."</p> + +<p>Which accommodating spirit seemed greatly +to amuse the other platform riders; and as the +car stopped at that moment for passengers, the +conductor turned away with a laugh, and left +Tode to enjoy his ride in peace.</p> + +<p>On they went, and in spite of driving snow +and sleet, Tode managed to make the acquaintance +of the driver, and get considerable amusement +out of his trip, when he suddenly broke +off in the midst of a sentence, and cleared the +steps with a bound. Mr. Hastings had left the +car and crossed the street. Then commenced<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[35]</a></span> +another chase, around the corner, down one +block, up another, on and on, until Tode, panting +and breathless, brought up at last before a +grand hotel, inside which Mr. Hastings vanished. +Tode pushed boldly forward, shied behind a fat +gentleman who ran against them in the hall, +and remained hidden long enough to overhear +the following conversation:</p> + +<p>"Why, Mr. Hastings! How do you do? +When did you arrive?"</p> + +<p>"By the morning train, sir. All full here?"</p> + +<p>"Well, comfortably so. Make room for you +without a doubt. Stop here?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir. Always do."</p> + +<p>"Remain long?"</p> + +<p>"No, return on Friday. Waiter, this way, +sir."</p> + +<p>Tode drew a long breath of relief, and dodged +out.</p> + +<p>"Well," said he, with a satisfied air, "I'm +thankful to say I've got that man landed at last +where he'll be likely to stay for some time. +He's Mr. Hastings, is he? It's convenient to +know who one belongs to. Now I must trudge +off and do a little business on my own account, +seeing we 'return on Friday.' First let's take a +look at the name of this place where I've decided +to leave him, and this street is—yes, I see. <i>Now</i> +I'm all right—trust me for finding my way here<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[36]</a></span> +again. Don't you be one mite worried, Brother +Hastings, I'll be around in time."</p> + +<p>And Tode disappeared around a corner, +whistling merrily.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 60px;"> +<img src="images/deco3.png" width="60" height="27" alt="Decoration" title="Decoration" /> +</div> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[37]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER IV.</h2> + +<h3>BRAIN-WORK.</h3> + + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 27px;"> +<img src="images/w.png" width="27" height="55" alt="W" title="W" /> +</div> + +<div class='unindent'><br /><big>HAT</big> Tode <i>didn't</i> do during those three +days' tarry in New York could be told +almost better than what he did. No +country novice visiting the great city for the +first time could have begun to crowd in the +sights and scenes that revealed themselves to +Tode's eager, wide-open eyes, in the same space +of time.</div> + +<p>The boy had the advantage of most such, in +that he had not much to eat, and nowhere to +eat it; also that he was in the habit of sleeping +nowhere in particular, consequently these matters +took up very little of his time. However +he fared well, better than usual. He carried a +package for an over-loaded man for a short distance, +thereby earning ten cents, which he immediately +expended in peanuts, and became peanut +merchant for the time being. So by dint of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[38]</a></span> +changing his business ten or a dozen times, and +being always on the alert, and understanding +pretty thoroughly the art of economy, he managed +his lodging and three meals a day, and was +richer by twenty-five cents on the morning when +he prepared to take his departure than he was +when he arrived in the city, a fact of which few +people who have been spending several days in +New York can boast.</p> + +<p>Tode's fancy for attaching himself to Mr. +Hastings still continued in full force, and +brought him bright and early on Friday morning +around to the hotel, where he had last seen +him. Not one minute too early, however, and +but for Mr. Hastings' own tardiness too late. +He had just missed a car, and no other was in +sight. Tode took in the situation at a glance, +and hopped across the street.</p> + +<p>"Carry your baggage, sir?"</p> + +<p>Mr. Hastings had a valise, a package, a cane, +an umbrella, and the great fur-lined cloak. He +appreciated Tode's assistance.</p> + +<p>"Yes," he said. "Take this, and this."</p> + +<p>Away they went down town to head off +another car, which was presently signaled.</p> + +<p>"Jump in, boy, and be ready to help me at +the other end, if you're a mind to," said Mr. +Hastings, graciously, noticing the wistful look +on the boy's face, and thinking he wanted a ride.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[39]</a></span></p> + +<p>Tode obeyed in great glee; he considered this +a streak of luck. He sat beside Mr. Hastings +and watched with great satisfaction while that +gentleman counted out double fare. For the +first time, Tode thought they had assumed +proper positions toward each other. Of course +Mr. Hastings ought to pay his fare since he +belonged to him.</p> + +<p>Arrived at the depot, and Mr. Hastings' baggage +properly disposed of, himself paid, and +supposed to be dismissed, Tode was in a quandary. +Here was the train, and on it he meant +to travel; but how to manage it was another +question. It was broad daylight; sleep and +Wolfie couldn't serve him now. He stuffed his +hands into his pocket, and studied ways and +means; eyes bent on the ground, and the +ground helped him, rather a bit of pasteboard +did. He picked it up, and read, first in bewilderment +then in delight: "New York to Castleton." +A ticket! all properly stamped, and paid +for, undoubtedly. Did Tode hesitate, have great +qualms of conscience, consider what he ought +to do, how to set about to find the owner? He +never once thought of any thing. Poor Tode +hardly knew so much as that there were such +articles as consciences, much less that he had +anything to do with them. Somebody had lost +his ticket, and <i>he</i> had found it, and it was pre<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[40]</a></span>cisely +what he wanted. Once at Castleton, it +would be an easy matter to get to Albany. He +thrust the precious card into his pocket, swung +himself on the train, and selected his seat at +leisure. Tode had never been to Sabbath-school, +had never in his life knelt at the family altar and +been prayed for. There are boys, I fear me, +who having been shielded by both these things, +placed in like position would have followed his +example.</p> + +<p>The seat he selected was as far as possible +removed from the one which Mr. Hastings occupied. +It was no part of Tode's plan to be +discovered by that gentleman just at present. +On the whole, this part of his journey was voted +"tame." He had to sit up in his seat, and show +his ticket like any one else; and it required no +skill at all to forget to jump off at Castleton, and +so of necessity be carried on. He sauntered over +in Mr. Hastings' vicinity once, and heard an +important conversation.</p> + +<p>"Can you tell me, sir," inquired that gentleman +of his next neighbor, "whether by taking +the midnight train at Albany I shall reach Buffalo +in time to connect with a train on the Lake +Shore Road?"</p> + +<p>"You will, sir; but it is a slow train. By +keeping right on now you can connect with the +Lake Shore Express."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[41]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I know; but I have business that will detain +me in Albany."</p> + +<p>"So have I," muttered Tode, well pleased +with the arrangement, and went back to his seat.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>"Halloo, Tode! where you been?" called out +a sixteen-year old comrade from a cellar grocery +window, as Tode turned out of Broadway that +same evening.</p> + +<p>"Been traveling for my health. Say, Jerry, +seen anything of father lately?"</p> + +<p>"He's gone off on a frolic. Went night before +last—bag and baggage."</p> + +<p>"Where did he go?"</p> + +<p>Jerry shook his head.</p> + +<p>"More than I know. Doubt if he knew himself +about the time he started; but he'll bring +up all right after a spell, likely."</p> + +<p>Landed in Albany, the only home he knew, +Tode had his first touch of loneliness and depression. +The cellar was closed, his father gone, +no one knew where nor for how long an absence, +nor even if he meant to return at all. Tode was +cold and dreary. Up to this time he had followed +out his whim of belonging to the owner +of the fur cloak, merely <i>as</i> a whim, with no +definite purpose at all; but now, queerly enough, +parted with the man with whom he had journeyed, +and over whom he kept so close a watch<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[42]</a></span> +during these four days, he had a feeling of +loneliness as if he had lost something—he begun +to wish he did belong to him in very truth. +Suppose he did, worked for him say, and earned +a warm place to sleep in of nights—this was the +hight of his present ambition. The warm place +to sleep suggested to him the good night's rest +under the cloak, and also the fact that there was +another bitter night shutting down rapidly over +the earth, and that he had no spot for shelter.</p> + +<p>"I'll push on," he said at last, in a decisive +tone. "I'd as lief go to Buffalo as anywhere +else—the thing is to get there; but then I can +get <i>on</i> the cars, and get <i>off</i> at Buffalo if I can, +and before if I <i>have</i> to."</p> + +<p>This matter settled, his spirits began to rise at +once; and by the time Mr. Hastings and he +crowded their way through the midnight train, +the cars contained no such gleeful spirit as +Tode Mall's.</p> + +<p>More skill was needed than on the preceding +journey, for the fur-lined cloak was thrown over +the back of the seat fronting him this time, and +Mr. Hastings sat erect and wide awake, and +looked extremely cross.</p> + +<p>"I have the most extraordinary luck," he was +telling a man, as Tode entered. "Nothing but +delay and confusion since I left home. Never +had such an experience before."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[43]</a></span></p> + +<p>But the car was warm and the air was heavy, +and Mr. Hastings' erect head began to nod in +a suspicious manner. Tode watched and waited, +and was finally rewarded. The gentleman made +deliberate preparations for a nap, and was soon +taking it.</p> + +<p>Now for the young scamp's trial of skill! He +slipped into the vacant seat—he curled himself +into a ball—he pulled and twitched softly and +dextrously at the fur cloak, to make it come +down and lie over him in such a manner that it +would look like pure accident; and at last he was +settled for the night. He felt the soft, delicious, +furry warmth once more, and he hugged his +friend and fairly shook with delight and triumph.</p> + +<p>"Oh, ho! Ha! Hum!" he chuckled. "How +<i>are</i> you, Wolfie? How've you been? You and +me is friends, we is. We're travelers, we are. +Now, we'll have a tall sleep. Ain't this just the +jolliest thing, though?"</p> + +<p>Then Tode went to sleep. By and by he felt +a jerking. He roused up, the car lamps were +burning dim. Mr. Hastings was pulling at his +cloak and eyed <i>him</i> severely, but Tode innocently +and earnestly helped him to right it, and +treated its tumble over on to <i>him</i> as a very +natural accident. The train was at a stand-still. +Tode thought best to find out his whereabouts. +He went out to the platform.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[44]</a></span></p> + +<p>"What station is this?" he inquired of a boy +who, like himself, was peering into the darkness.</p> + +<p>"Oh, this is a way-station. We'll be in Syracuse +in about half an hour. We've got to +change cars there."</p> + +<p>"We don't if we're going to Buffalo," answered +Tode, in a business-like tone. He knew +nothing whatever about the matter.</p> + +<p>"Yes we do, too. Got to wait an hour. I +just asked the conductor."</p> + +<p>Tode walked in and took his seat; he saw +his way clear. Presently came the conductor, and +halted before him. Tode's hand sought his pocket.</p> + +<p>"How much to Syracuse?" he questioned; +and being naturally told the rate of fare from +their last stopping place to Syracuse, he counted +it out and sat back at his leisure.</p> + +<p>At Syracuse Mr. Hastings went into the hotel +to get his breakfast. Tode walked the piazza +and whistled for his; besides he had something +to do. He didn't see his way clear, but +the more difficult the way grew the more delightful +it looked to Tode, and the more determined +was he to tread it. The hour sped on. +Mr. Hastings' breakfast was concluded. He +was in the depot now talking with an acquaintance. +Tode was just behind him thinking still.</p> + +<p>"All aboard!" shouted the official. "Passengers +for Buffalo this way!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[45]</a></span></p> + +<p>And Mr. Hastings caught up valise, bundle, +umbrella, cane, and vanished—all those, but the +fur-lined cloak lay innocently cuddled in a warm +heap on the seat. Tode seized upon it in an +instant and hugged it close.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Wolfie, Wolfie!" he chuckled, "You're +the best friend I got in the world. You went +and got left on my account, didn't you?"</p> + +<p>It was but the work of a moment to hustle +himself and his prize into the train—<i>not</i> into +the car that Mr. Hastings had taken—and once +more they were off.</p> + +<p>When they were fairly under way he presented +himself before the astonished eyes of +Mr. Hastings with this brief sentence:</p> + +<p>"Here he is, sir, safe and sound."</p> + +<p>"Here who is?"</p> + +<p>"Wolfie, sir. You left him lying on a seat +in Syracuse, and I got him and jumped on."</p> + +<p>"Why, is it possible I left my cloak? Why, +bless me! I never did such a careless thing before +in my life; and so you jumped on, and +have got carried off by the means. Well, sir, +you're an honest boy; and now what shall I +give you to make it all right?"</p> + +<p>"I want to get to Buffalo like sixty," answered +Tode, meekly. "And I haven't a cent +to my name."</p> + +<p>"You do, eh? And you would like to have<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[46]</a></span> +me pay your fare? Well, that's not an unreasonable +demand, seeing this is a very valuable +cloak."</p> + +<p>And Mr. Hastings counted out the fare to +Buffalo and a few pennies over; and Tode +thankfully received it, and went out and sat +down in a corner and whistled.</p> + +<p>Imagine Mr. Hastings' astonishment when, +soon after he had made his last change of cars +and was speeding homeward on the Lake Shore +Road, Tode appeared to him.</p> + +<p>"Well!" was his exclamation, "what are you +doing here? This isn't Buffalo."</p> + +<p>"No, sir; but a fellow sometimes has to get to +Buffalo before he can get to Cleveland, you know."</p> + +<p>"Oh, you're bound for Cleveland, are you? +And who pays your way this time?"</p> + +<p>"Well, sir," said Tode, gravely, "I'm traveling +with you."</p> + +<p>"What?"</p> + +<p>"I <i>am</i>. I've been from Albany to New York +with you, and I left you at the hotel, and I came +after you on Friday, and carried your valise and +things to the cars, and came up to Albany with +you, and waited for you until the midnight train, +and came on to Syracuse with you, and waited +while you got your breakfast—and here I am."</p> + +<p>Unbounded amazement kept Mr. Hastings +silent. Presently he asked, incredulously:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[47]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Who paid your fare all this time?"</p> + +<p>"Wolfie, principally."</p> + +<p>"Who?"</p> + +<p>"Wolfie," pointing to the cloak. "I hid under +him, and cuddled up, and he made it all +right with the conductor."</p> + +<p>Mr. Hastings' face was a study—astonishment, +indignation and fun each struggling for +the mastery. At last his face broadened, and +his eyes twinkled, and he leaned back in his +seat and indulged in a long, loud, hearty laugh. +Tode's eyes twinkled, but he waited decorously +for the laugh to subside.</p> + +<p>"This is the most ridiculous thing I ever +heard of in my life," began the gentleman when +he could speak.</p> + +<p>"So you're traveling with <i>me</i>, are you? And +what do you propose to do when you get to +Cleveland?"</p> + +<p>"Mean to work for you, sir."</p> + +<p>"Upon my word! How do you know I shall +need your help?"</p> + +<p>"You've needed it several times on this journey," +said Tode, significantly.</p> + +<p>Whereupon Mr. Hastings laughed again.</p> + +<p>"You'll do," he said at length. "I don't see +that you need any help from me. I should say +that you are thoroughly capable of taking care +of yourself."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[48]</a></span></p> + +<p>Tode shrugged his shoulders.</p> + +<p>"I'm a stranger on this road," he answered, +gravely. "Just as you was on the Central and +them roads, I suppose."</p> + +<p>"And you think inasmuch as you took care +of me during the time I spent on <i>your</i> roads, I +ought to return the favor now we are on <i>mine</i>." +This with a strong emphasis on that word +"<i>mine</i>."</p> + +<p>"Well, sir, I don't know that I ever did so +foolish a thing in my life, but then you must be +considered as a remarkable specimen. Conductor, +could you do me the favor to pass this +youngster through to Cleveland?"</p> + +<p>Mr. Hastings spoke with easy assurance. +Tode didn't know how nearly he had touched +the truth when he hinted at the great man's +power on <i>that</i> road.</p> + +<p>"Certainly, sir," answered the obliging conductor, +"if it will be a favor to you."</p> + +<p>"All right, sir. Now, young man, help yourself +to a seat, and I shall expect to be most +thoroughly cared for during the rest of this +journey."</p> + +<p>Tode obeyed with great alacrity, and gave +himself a great many little commendatory nods +and pats for the successful way in which he +had managed the whole of this delicate and difficult +business.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 75px;"> +<img src="images/deco4.png" width="75" height="36" alt="Decoration" title="Decoration" /> +</div> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[49]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER V.</h2> + +<h3>TODE'S AMBITION.</h3> + + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 28px;"> +<img src="images/m.png" width="28" height="55" alt="M" title="M" /> +</div> + +<div class='unindent'><br /><big>R. HASTINGS'</big> elegant carriage was drawn +up at a safe distance from the puffing iron +animal who had just screeched his way +into the depot. The coachman on the box managed +with dextrous hand the two black horses +who seemed disposed to resent the coming of +their puffing rival, while with his hand resting +on the knob of the carriage door, looking right +and left for somebody, and finally springing forward +to welcome his father, was Master Pliny +Hastings, older by fourteen years than when +that dinner party was given in honor of his birthday.</div> + +<p>"Tumble up there with the driver," was Mr. +Hastings' direction to Tode, who stood and +looked with open-eyed delight on carriage, +horses, driver, <i>everything</i>, while father and son +exchanged greeting.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[50]</a></span></p> + +<p>Pliny <i>did</i> wait until the carriage door was +closed before he burst forth with:</p> + +<p>"Father, where on earth did you pick up that +bundle of rags, and what did you bring him +home for?"</p> + +<p>"He brought me, I believe," answered Mr. +Hastings, laughing at the droll remembrance. +"At least I think you'll find that's his version +of the matter."</p> + +<p>"What are you going to do with him?"</p> + +<p>"More than I know. I'm entirely at his disposal."</p> + +<p>"Father, how queer you are. What's his +name?"</p> + +<p>"Upon my word I don't know. I never +thought to inquire. You may question him to +your heart's content when you get home. There +is a funny story connected with him, which I +will tell you sometime. Meantime let me rest +and tell me the news."</p> + +<p>"He is a very smart specimen, Augusta," explained +Mr. Hastings to his wife that evening, +when she looked aghast at the idea of harboring +Tode for the night.</p> + +<p>"A remarkable boy in some respects, and I +fancy he may really become a prize in the way +of a waiter at one of the hotels. These fellows +who have brought themselves up on the street +do sometimes develop a surprising aptitude for<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[51]</a></span> +business, and I am greatly mistaken if this one is +not of that stamp. I'll take him off your hands +in the morning, Augusta, and he can't demoralize +Pliny in one evening. Besides," he added +as a lofty afterthought, "if my son can be injured +by coming in contact with evil in any +shape, I am ashamed of him."</p> + +<p>In very much the same style was Tode introduced +at one of the grand hotels the next morning.</p> + +<p>"The boy is sharp enough for <i>anything</i>," explained +Mr. Hastings to the landlord. "I don't +believe you will find his match in the city. Suppose +you take him in, and see what you can do +for him?"</p> + +<p>The landlord eyed the very ragged, and very +roguish, and very doubtful looking personage +thus introduced with a not particularly hopeful +face; but Mr. Hastings was a person to be +pleased first and foremost under all circumstances, +so the answer was prompt.</p> + +<p>"Well, sir, if you wish it we will give him a +trial, of course; but what can we set him at in +that plight?"</p> + +<p>"Um," remarked Mr. Hastings, thoughtfully, +"I hadn't thought of that. Oh well, he means +to earn some better clothes at once. Isn't that +so, my lad?"</p> + +<p>Tode nodded. He hadn't thought of such a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[52]</a></span> +thing—his aim was still only a warm place to +sleep in; but he immediately set down better +clothes as another hight to be attained.</p> + +<p>"Meantime, Mr. Roberts, hasn't Tom some +old clothes that he has outgrown? This fellow +is shorter than Tom, I should think. He'll +work for his board and clothes, of course, for +the present. Can you make it go, Mr. Roberts?"</p> + +<p>Mr. Roberts thought he could, and as Mr. +Hastings drew on his gloves he remarked to that +gentleman aside:</p> + +<p>"I've taken a most unaccountable interest in +the young scamp. He's a <i>scamp</i>, no mistake +about that, and he'll have to be looked after +very closely. But then he's sharp, sharp as +steel; just the sort to develop into a business +man with the right kind of training, such as he +will receive here. The way in which he wheedled +me into bringing him home with me was a +most astonishing proceeding. I shall have to +tell you all about it when we are more at leisure. +Good-morning, sir."</p> + +<p>And Mr. Hastings bowed himself out.</p> + +<p>By noon Tode was fairly launched upon his +new life, and made such good use of his eyes +and ears that in some respects he knew more +about the business than did the new errand boy +who had been there for a week. For the first +time in his life he was going to earn his living.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[53]</a></span></p> + +<p>Mr. Hastings was correct in his opinion. Tode +was sharp; yet he was after all, not unlike a piece +of soft putty, ready to be molded into almost +any shape, ready to take an impression from +anything that he chanced to touch. If the +people who dined at that great hotel on the +Avenue during those following weeks could +have known how the chance words which they +let drop, and in dropping forgot, were gathered +up by that round-eyed boy, how startled they +would have been! There was one memory +which stood out sharply in Tode's life—it was +of his mother's death. The boy had never in his +fifteen years of life heard but one prayer, that +was his mother's, it was for him: "O Lord, +don't let Tode ever drink a drop of rum." He +had very vague ideas in regard to prayer, very +bewildering notions concerning the Being to +whom this prayer was addressed; but he knew +what rum was—he had excellent reason to know; +and he knew that these words of his mother's +had been terribly earnest ones—they had burned +themselves into his brain. He remembered his +mother as one who had given him what little care +and kindness he had ever received. Finally he +had a sturdy, positive, emphatic will of his own, +which is not a bad thing to have if one takes +proper care of it. So without any sort of idea +as to the right or wrong of the matter, with<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[54]</a></span> +perfect indifference as to whether this thing came +under either head, he had sturdily resolved that +he would never, no never, so long as he lived, +drink a drop of rum. In this resolution he had +been strengthened by the constant jeers and +gibes and offerings of his father not only but of +his boon companions.</p> + +<p>There are natures which grow stronger by +opposition. Tode had one of these; so the +very forces which would have met to ruin nine +boys out of ten, came and rallied around him to +strengthen his purpose. So Tode, having been +brought up, or rather having come up, thus far +in one of the lowest of low grog-shops, had +steadily and defiantly adhered to his determination. +It was seven years since his mother's +prayer had gone up to God; Tode, only seven +at that time, but older by almost a dozen years +than are those boys of seven who have been +tenderly and carefully reared in happy homes, +had taken in the full force of that one oft-repeated +sentence and had lived it ever since.</p> + +<p>Behold him now, the caterpillar transformed +into the butterfly. He had shuffled off the +grog-shop, and fluttered into one of the brightest +of Cleveland hotels. The bright-winged +moth singes itself in the brilliant gaslight sometimes +where the caterpillar never comes.</p> + +<p>Queer thoughts came into Tode's head with<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[55]</a></span> +that suit of new clothes with which he presently +arrayed himself. Not particularly new, either. +Tom Roberts was in college, and they were his +cast-off attire, worn before he, too, in his way +became a butterfly; and he would not have been +seen in them—no, nor have had it enter into the +mind of one of his college mates that he ever +<i>had</i> been seen in them, for a considerable sum +even of spending money.</p> + +<p>Different eyes have such different ways of +looking at the same thing. Tode will never +forget how that suit of clothes looked to <i>his</i> +eyes, nor how, when arrayed in them, he stood +before his bit of glass, and took a calm, full, deliberate +survey of himself. To be sure, Tom +being a chunk and Tode being long limbed, +notwithstanding Mr. Hastings' supposition to +the contrary, pants and jacket sleeves were +somewhat lacking in length; moreover there +was a patch on each knee, and you have no idea +how nice those patches looked to Tode. Why, +bless you! he was used to seeing great jagged, +unseemly holes where these same neat patches +now were. Also he had on a shirt! A real, +honest white shirt; and so persistently does one +improvement urge upon us the necessity of +another in this world, that Tode had already +been obliged to doff his shirt once in order +to bring his face and hair into something like<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[56]</a></span> +propriety, that the contrast might not be too +sharp.</p> + +<p>There was a stirring of new emotions in his +heart. Perhaps he then and there resolved to +be a genius, to be the president, or at least the +governor; perhaps he did, but he only gave his +thoughts utterance after this fashion:</p> + +<p>"Jemima Jane! Do you tell the truth, you +young upstart in the glass there? Be you Tode +Mall, no mistake? Well now, for the land's +sake, a fellow <i>does</i> look better in a shirt, that's +as true as whistling. I mean to have a shirt of +my own, I do now. S'pose these are mine after +I earn 'em. Oh, ho; <i>me</i> earn a shirt for myself. +Ain't that rich now? What you s'pose Jerry +would think of that, hey, old fellow in the glass? +Well, why not? Like enough I'll earn a pair +of boots some day. I will now, true's you live; +it's real jolly. I wonder a fellow never thought +of it before. Oh I'll be some; I'll have a yellow +bow one of these days for a cravat, see if I +don't!"</p> + +<p>And this was the hight and end and aim of +Tode's ambition.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 75px;"> +<img src="images/deco1.png" width="75" height="36" alt="Decoration" title="Decoration" /> +</div> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[57]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER VI.</h2> + +<h3>NEW IDEAS.</h3> + + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 30px;"> +<img src="images/cqutoe.png" width="30" height="55" alt=""C" title=""C" /> +</div> + +<div class='unindent'><br /><big>OME,"</big> said Pliny Hastings, halting before +the hotel, and addressing his companion, +"father said if it snowed hard when school +was out to come in here to dinner."</div> + +<p>"Well, go ahead, then," answered his friend, +gaily. "Father didn't tell me so, and I suppose +I must go home."</p> + +<p>"Oh bother—come on and get some dinner +with me; then when the pelting storm is over +we'll go up together."</p> + +<p>So the two came into the great dining-room, +and Tode came briskly forward to help them. +Tode had been in his new sphere for more than +three weeks, and already began to pride himself +on being the briskest "fellow in the lot."</p> + +<p>Pliny Hastings ordered dinner for two with +an ease and promptness that proved him to be +quite accustomed to the proceeding; and Tode +dodged hither and thither, and finally hovered +near, and looked on with admiring eyes as the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[58]</a></span> +two ate and drank, and talked and laughed. +Thus far in his life Tode had been, without being +aware of it, a believer in "blood descent," +distinct spheres in life, and all that sort of nonsense. +He was a boy to be sure, but it had +never so much as occurred to him that he could +be even remotely connected with such specimens +of boyhood as were before him now. +Not that they were any better than he. Oh no, +Tode never harbored such a thought for a moment; +but then they were different, that he saw, +and like many another unthinking mortal, he +never gave a thought to the difference that home, +and culture, and Christianity must necessarily +make. But what nonsense am I talking! Tode +didn't know there <i>were</i> any such words, but then +there <i>are</i> people who <i>do</i>, and who reason no +better than did he.</p> + +<p>While he looked and enjoyed, Pliny was +seized with a new want, and leaned back in his +chair with the query:</p> + +<p>"Where's Tompkins? Oh, Mr. Tompkins, +here you are. Can you make Ben and me +something warm and nice this cold day?"</p> + +<p>Mr. Tompkins paused in his rush through +the room.</p> + +<p>"In a very few minutes, Master Hastings, I +will be at your service. Let me see—could you +wait five minutes?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[59]</a></span></p> + +<p>Pliny nodded.</p> + +<p>"Very well then. Tode, you may come below +in five minutes, and I shall be ready."</p> + +<p>Tode went and came with alacrity, and stood +waiting and enjoying while the two drained their +glasses.</p> + +<p>There was a little wet sugar left in the bottom +of Pliny's glass, and he, catching a glance +from Tode's watchful eye, suddenly held it forth, +and spoke in kindly tone:</p> + +<p>"Want that, Todie?"</p> + +<p>Tode, a little taken aback, shook his head in +silence.</p> + +<p>"You don't like leavings, eh? Get enough +of the real article, I presume. How do they +make this? I dare say you know, now you are +at headquarters?"</p> + +<p>Tode shook his head again.</p> + +<p>"Belongs to the trade," he answered, with an +air of wisdom.</p> + +<p>"Oh it does. Well how much of it do you +drink in a day?"</p> + +<p>"Not a drop."</p> + +<p>"Bah!"</p> + +<p>Tode didn't resent this incredulous tone. He +was used to being doubted; moreover he knew +better than did any one else that there was no +special reason for trusting him, so now he only +laughed.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[60]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Come, tell us, just for curiosity's sake, I'd +like to know how much your queer brain will +bear. I won't tell of you."</p> + +<p>"You won't believe me," answered Tode +coolly, "so what's the use of telling you."</p> + +<p>"I will, too, if you'll tell me just exactly. +This time I'll believe every word."</p> + +<p>"Well then, not a drop."</p> + +<p>"Why not?" queried Pliny, still incredulous. +"Don't you like it?"</p> + +<p>"Can't say. Never tasted it."</p> + +<p>"Weren't you ever where there was any liquor +before?"</p> + +<p>"Slightly!" chuckled Tode over the remembrance +of his cellar life, and knowing by a sort +of instinct that these two had never been inside +of such a place in their lives.</p> + +<p>Pliny continued his examination:</p> + +<p>"Don't you like the smell of it?"</p> + +<p>"First-rate."</p> + +<p>"Then why don't you take it?"</p> + +<p>"Ain't a going to."</p> + +<p>"But <i>why?</i>"</p> + +<p>And then for the first time his companion +spoke:</p> + +<p>"Are you a total abstainer?"</p> + +<p>"What's them?"</p> + +<p>Both boys stopped to laugh ere they made +answer.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[61]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Why people who think it wicked to 'touch, +taste or handle,' you know. Say, Pliny, did +you know there's quite an excitement on the +subject up our way? Old Mousey is round +trying to get all the folks to promise not to sell +Joe any more brandy."</p> + +<p>"Stuff and nonsense!" oracularly pronounced +Pliny, quoting the unanswerable argument of +his elders.</p> + +<p>"Fact. And folks say Joe has been drunk +more times in a week since than he ever was +before."</p> + +<p>"Of course, that's the way it always works, +trying to <i>make</i> folks do what they won't do. +Joe ought to be hung, though. What does a +fellow want to be a fool for and go and get +drunk? But say, Todie, why don't you drink a +drop?"</p> + +<p>"I ain't <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'agoing'">a going</ins> to," was Tode's only answer.</p> + +<p>The two friends looked at each other curiously.</p> + +<p>"You're green," said Pliny, at last.</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Tode, promptly, "maybe; so's +the moon."</p> + +<p>Whereat the two laughed and strolled away.</p> + +<p>"Isn't he a queer chap?" they said to each +other as they went out into the snow.</p> + +<p>Meantime Tode looked after them for a moment +before he began briskly to gather up the +remains of the feast. Tode had some new ideas.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[62]</a></span> +He had formerly lived a stratum below the temperance +movement; it had scarce troubled his +father's cellar; so he had to-day discovered that +there were others besides his mother who prayed +their sons not to drink a drop of rum. Also +that a young man who went and got drunk was +considered a fool by elegant young men, such +as he had just been serving. Also, and sharpest, +these two evidently thought him "green." +If they had said a thief or scamp Tode would +have laughed, but "green!" that touched.</p> + +<p>"I'll show them a thing or to, maybe," he +said, defiantly, as he seized a pile of plates and +vanished.</p> + +<p>Now our three babies, nurtured severally in the +lace-canopied crib, in the plump-cushioned rocking-chair, +in the reeking cellar corner, had come +together from their several "spheres" and held +their first conversation. Other hungry people +came for their dinner and Tode served them, +and was very attentive to their wants and their +words. A busy life the boy led during these +days—a brisk, bustling life, which kept him in +a state of perpetual delight. There was something +in his nature which answered to all this +rush and systematic confusion of business, and +rejoiced in it. He liked the air of method and +system which even the simplest thing wore; he +liked the stated hours for certain duties; the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[63]</a></span> +set programme of employment laid out for +each; the set places for every thing that was +to be handled; the very bells, as with their different +tongues they called him hither and thither +to different duties, were all so much music to +him. He did not know why he chuckled so +much over his work; why, at the sound of one +of his bells, he gave that quick spring which was +so rapidly earning him a reputation for remarkable +promptness; but in truth there was that in +the boy which met and responded to all these +things. Every bit of the clock-work machinery +filled him with a kind of glee.</p> + +<p>There was another reason why Tode enjoyed +his hotel life. He had discovered himself to be +an epicure, and an amazing quantity of the good +things of this life fell to his share—no, hardly +that—but disappeared mysteriously from shelf +and jar and box, and only grave, innocent-looking +Tode could have told whither they went. +Mince-pies, and cranberry-pies, and lemon-pies, +and the whole long catalogue of pies, were equal +favorites of his, and huge pieces of them had a +way of not being found. Poor Tode, his training-school +had been a sad one; the very first principle +of honesty was left out of his street education, +and the only rule he recognized was one +which would assist him in not being discovered. +So he eluded sharp eyes and hoodwinked sharp<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[64]</a></span> +people; he commended himself for being a cute, +and, withal, a lucky fellow. On the whole, although +Tode was certainly clad in decent garments, +and slept in a comfortable bed, and was +to all outward appearances earning a respectable +living, I can not say that I think he was really +improving. There were ways and means of +leading astray in that hotel, to which even his +street life had not given him access; and if anybody's +brain ever appeared ripe for mischief of +any sort, it was certainly Tode Mall's. Any +earthly friend, if he had possessed one, would +have watched his course just now with trembling +terror, and made predictions of his certain +downfall. But Tode had no friend in all that +great city; not one who ever gave him a second +thought. Christian men came there often, and +were faithfully served by the boy whose soul +was very precious in their Master's eyes, but +his servants never thought to speak a word to +the soul for the Master. Why should they?—it +was a hotel, and they had come in to get +their dinner; that duty accomplished and they +would go forth to attend the missionary meeting, +or the Bible meeting, or the tract meeting, +or some other good meeting; but those and the +hotel dinner were distinct and separate matters, +and the little Bibleless heathen, who served them +to oysters and coffee, went on his way, and they<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[65]</a></span> +went theirs. But God looked down upon them +all. As the days passed, the three boys, whose +lives had been cast in such different molds, met +often. Pliny Hastings liked exceedingly to come +to the hotel for his dinner, and, loitering around +wherever best suited his fancy, await his father's +carriage. This was very much pleasanter than +the long walk alone; and he liked to bring Ben +Phillips with him—first, because he was in some +respects a generous-hearted boy, and liked to +bestow upon Ben the handsome dinners which +he knew how to order; and secondly, because +he was a pompous boy, and liked to show off +his grandeur to his simple friend. Was there +another reason never owned even to each other, +why these two boys loved to come to that place +rather than to their pleasant homes? Did it lie +in the bottom of those bright glasses filled with +"something nice and warm," which Pliny never +forgot to order? Sometimes little Mrs. Phillips +worried, and good-natured Mr. Phillips laughed +and "poohed" at her fancies. Sometimes Mr. +Hastings sharply forbade his son's visits to his +favorite hotel, and the next windy day sent him +thither to dine. Sometimes his fond mother +thought his face singularly flushed, and wondered +why he suffered so much from headache; +but only Tode who had come up in the atmosphere, +and knew all about it, cool, indifferent<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[66]</a></span> +Tode, looked with wise eyes upon the two boys, +and remarked philosophically to himself:</p> + +<p>"Them two fellows will get drunk some day, +fore they know what they're up to."</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 75px;"> +<img src="images/deco2.png" width="75" height="32" alt="Decoration" title="Decoration" /> +</div> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[67]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER VII.</h2> + +<h3>TWO T'S.</h3> + + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 19px;"> +<img src="images/e.png" width="19" height="55" alt="E" title="E" /> +</div> + +<div class='unindent'><br /><big>VIL</big> days had fallen upon Tode. He stood +before the window with an unmistakable +frown on his face. The demon "Ambition" +had taken possession of him, and metamorphosed +him so that he didn't know himself. +The Hastings' carriage passed in its elegant +beauty, and as Tode gazed his frown deepened. +Not that he wanted to be seated among the +velvet cushions with Mrs. Hastings and Miss +Dora. Oh no, he still belonged to that other +sphere; but he did long with a burning, absorbing +passion to be seated on the box, not with +the driver, but alone, himself <i>the</i> driver, above +all others. Oh to be able to grasp those reins, +to guide and direct those two proud-stepping +horses, to wind in and out of the crowded street, +to drive where no other dared to go, to extricate +the wheels very skillfully from among the +bewildering confusion, to be a prince among<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[68]</a></span> +drivers! He could do it, he <i>knew</i> he could, if +only he had the chance; but how was that to be +had? Poked up here, carrying plates and cups, +and cleaning knives, wouldn't help him to that +longed-for place, Tode said, and drummed crossly +on the window pane. Already he was changed +in the short space of six weeks. The clothes +clean, and whole, the clean warm bed, the plentiful +supply of food, had become every-day affairs +to him, and were now just nothing at all +in comparison with those prancing horses, and +his desire to get dominion over them. Sad results +had come of this new desire; all his list +of duties had dropped suddenly into entire insignificance, +and he had taken to leaving black +stains on the knives, and rivers of water on the +plates, and being just exactly as long as he +chose to be in doing everything. Mr. Roberts +was getting out of sorts with him, and things +were looking very much as though he would +soon be discharged, and permitted to gaze after +the black horses with no troublesome interruptions +such as came to him at this present moment.</div> + +<p>"Bother the coffee and the old fellow who +wants it. I hope it will be hot enough to scald +him. I'll drink it half up on the way in, anyhow," +muttered Tode, as he turned slowly and +reluctantly from the window, whence he could<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[69]</a></span> +see Jonas just getting into a delightful snarl +among the wheels. Jonas was Mr. Hastings' +coachman. Three gentlemen were waiting for +coffee and oysters; two friends talking and laughing +while they ate; one, sitting apart from the +others, eating with haste and with a preoccupied +air. Tode having served them, fell into his accustomed +habit of hovering near, ready for service, +and making use of his ears. Curious yet +respectful glances were cast now and again at +the preoccupied stranger; and when he paid his +bill and departed in haste, the two broke into +a conversation concerning him.</p> + +<p>"Richest man in this city," remarked one of +them, swallowing an immense oyster. "Made +it all in ten years, too. Came here a youngster +twenty-five years ago; had exactly twenty-five +cents in the world."</p> + +<p>"How did he make his money?" queried his +friend.</p> + +<p>Whereat Tode drew nearer and listened more +sharply. He was immensely interested. He +was certainly a youngster, and twenty-five cents +was the exact amount of money he possessed.</p> + +<p>"I heard a man ask him just that question +once, and he answered, book-fashion. He's a +precise sort of a fellow, and it makes me think +of Ben Franklin, or some of those fellows who +ate and drank and slept by rule.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[70]</a></span></p> + +<p>"'Well, sir,' he said, drawing himself up in a +proud way that he has. 'Well, sir, the method +is very simple. I made it a point to live up to +three maxims: Do everything exactly in its +time. Do everything as well as possible. Learn +everything I possibly can about everything that +can be learned.'"</p> + +<p>The two laughed immensely over these directions, +then swallowed their last drops of coffee +and departed, leaving Tode in an ecstasy of glee. +He had learned how to secure the management +of those horses; they were not beyond his reach +after all. If so great things were attainable +merely from the following out of those simple +rules, why then the position of coachman was +attainable to him.</p> + +<p>"Easy enough thing to do," he said, as he +freshened the tables for new comers. "It's +just going straight ahead, pitching into what +you've got to do, and doing it first-rate, and finding +out about everything under the sun as fast +as you can. I can do all <i>that</i>."</p> + +<p>And having reduced the synopsis of all success +to language that best suited his style, Tode +straightened the cloths and brought fresh napkins, +and gave an extra touch to the glittering +silver, and managed to throw so much practice +from his newly acquired stock in trade into his +movements, that Mr. Roberts, passing through<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[71]</a></span> +the room, said within himself: "That queer +scamp is improving again. I believe I'll hold +on to him a while longer." So sunshine came +back to Tode. Not that he gave up the horses—not +he, it was not his way to give up; but he +had bright visions in the dim distant future of +himself seated grandly on a stylish coach box, +and he whistled for joy and pushed ahead.</p> + +<p>The very next afternoon Tode was sent on an +errand to the Hastings mansion. It wasn't often +he got out in the daytime, so he made the most +of his walk; and the voice was fresh and cheery +which floated up to Pliny Hastings as he tossed +wearily among the pillows in his mother's room.</p> + +<p>"Is that Tode? Yes, it is, I hear his voice. +Dora, ring the bell, I want to have him come +up here."</p> + +<p>"My son—" began Mrs. Hastings.</p> + +<p>"Oh now, mother, do let a fellow breathe. +I've staid poked up here until I'm ready to fly, +and he's just as cute as he can be. Ring the +bell, Dora."</p> + +<p>Dora obeyed, and in a very few minutes thereafter +Tode was ushered into the elegance of +Mrs. Hastings' sitting-room.</p> + +<p>"<i>You</i> sick," he said, pausing in his work of +gazing eagerly about him to bestow a pitying +glance on Pliny's pale face. "Jolly! that's awful +stupid work, ain't it? What's the matter?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[72]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I should think it was," Pliny answered, +laughing a little though at Tode's tone. "I've +a confounded sick headache, that's what's the +matter."</p> + +<p>"Pliny!" Mrs. Hastings said, rebukingly.</p> + +<p>"Oh bother, mother! Excruciating headache +then, if that suits you better. Tode, have you +seen Ben to-day?"</p> + +<p>"Not a sign of him. Couldn't think what +had become of you two. You're as thick as +hops, ain't you?"</p> + +<p>Pliny glanced uneasily at his mother, but a +summons to the parlor relieved him, and the +three were left alone. Dora returned to her +writing, and her small fingers glided swiftly over +the page. Tode watched her with wondering +and admiring eyes.</p> + +<p>"Be you writing?" he exclaimed at last.</p> + +<p>"Why, yes," said Dora. "Don't you see I +am?"</p> + +<p>"How old be you?"</p> + +<p>"I'm eleven years old. You never studied +grammar, did you?"</p> + +<p>"And you know how to write?"</p> + +<p>"Why, yes," said Dora again, this time laughing +merrily. "I've known how more than a +year."</p> + +<p>Tode's answer was grave and thoughtful:</p> + +<p>"I'm fifteen."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[73]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Are you, though?" said Pliny. "That's +just my age."</p> + +<p>"And can't <i>you</i> write?" questioned Dora.</p> + +<p>"Me?" said Tode, growing gleeful over the +thought. "I shouldn't think I could."</p> + +<p>"Aren't you ever going to learn?"</p> + +<p>"Never thought of it. Is it fun? No, I don't +suppose I'll ever learn. Yes, I will, too. You +learn me, will you?"</p> + +<p>"How could I? Do you mean it? Do you +truly want to learn? Dear me! I never could +teach you; mamma wouldn't allow it."</p> + +<p>For an answer Tode stepped boldly forward, +deterred by no feeling of impropriety, and looked +over the little lady's shoulder at the round fair +letters.</p> + +<p>"What's that?" he asked, pointing to the first +letter of a sentence.</p> + +<p>"That is T; capital T. Why, that's the very +first letter of your name."</p> + +<p>"I don't see anything capital about it; it +twists around like a snake. What do you curl +it all up like that for?"</p> + +<p>"Why, that's the way to make it. Mamma +says I make a very pretty letter T, and it's a +capital because—because—Oh, Pliny, why is it +a capital?"</p> + +<p>"Because it is," answered Pliny, promptly.</p> + +<p>"Oh yes," said Tode, quickly. "Course<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[74]</a></span> +that's the reason. Queer we didn't think of it." +Then to Dora. "Let's see you snarl that thing +around."</p> + +<p>Dora quickly and skillfully obeyed.</p> + +<p>"Do it again, and don't go so like lightning. +How can a fellow tell what you're about?"</p> + +<p>So more slowly, and again and again was the +feat repeated until at last Tode seized hold of +the pen as he said:</p> + +<p>"Let me have a dab at the fellow; see if I +can draw him."</p> + +<p>"Why, you do it real well. Really and truly +he does, Pliny," said the delighted Dora.</p> + +<p>"But do you know there are two t's?" she +added, turning again to her pupil. "One has a +cross to it, just so. You make a straight mark +with a little crook to it; then you cross it, <i>so</i>."</p> + +<p>Pliny from his sofa chuckled and exclaimed +over this explanation: "A straight mark with a +little crook to it. Oh, ho!" But the others +were absorbed, and bent eagerly over their +paper, and thus the horrified Mrs. Hastings +found them on her return from the parlor, the +offshoot from a cellar rum hole bending his +curly head close beside <i>her daughter's!</i></p> + +<p>She exclaimed in indignant astonishment:</p> + +<p>"Dora Hastings!"</p> + +<p>And eager, innocent Dora hastened to make +answer:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[75]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Mamma, he can make the two t's; the capital +and the other, you know; and he has them +both on this piece of paper. Just see, mamma."</p> + +<p>"Say, now," interrupted Tode, "I've decided +to do them all. You learn me, will you? I'm +to come up here every night after this with the +seven o'clock mail. Just you make a letter on +a paper for me, the big fellow, and the little one, +you know, and I'll work at it off and on the +next day, and have it ready for you at night. +Will you do it? Come now."</p> + +<p>Pliny raised himself on one elbow, his face +full of interest:</p> + +<p>"Take a figure, Tode, with your letters; figures +are a great deal sharper than letters. I'll +make one a night for you."</p> + +<p>"All right," said Tode. "I don't mind working +in a figure now and then. A fellow might +need to use 'em."</p> + +<p>"Mamma," said Dora, "may I? I should so +love to; it would be real teaching, you know. +He is fifteen years old, and he don't know how +to write, and it won't take one little minute of +my time. Oh please yes, mamma."</p> + +<p>What <i>could</i> the elegant Mrs. Hastings say? +What was there to say to so simple, original, +yet so absurd a request? Still she was annoyed, +and looked it, but she did not speak it, and Tode +was not sensitive to looks, or words either, for<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[76]</a></span> +that matter, and moved with a brisker, more +business-like step back to the hotel, and someway +felt an inch taller, for was he not to have a +new letter and a figure every evening, and did +he not know how to make two t's?</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 60px;"> +<img src="images/deco3.png" width="60" height="27" alt="Decoration" title="Decoration" /> +</div> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[77]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER VIII.</h2> + +<h3>WHICH SHALL PROSPER, THIS OR THAT?</h3> + + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 18px;"> +<img src="images/t.png" width="18" height="55" alt="T" title="T" /> +</div> + +<div class='unindent'><br /><big>HE</big> Rev. John Birge stood before the +window in his cosy little study, and drummed +disconsolately and dismally on the +pane. Without there was a genuine carnival +among the elements, a mingling of snow and +rain, which became ice almost as it fell, and +about which a regular northeast wind was blustering. +The Rev. John looked, and drummed, +and knitted his brows, and finally turned abruptly +to little Mrs. John, who sat in the smallest +rocking-chair, toasting her feet on the hearth.</div> + +<p>"Now, Emma, isn't it strange that of all the +evenings in the week Thursday should be the +one so constantly stormy? This is the third +one in succession that has been so unpleasant +that very few could get out."</p> + +<p>This sentence was delivered in a half-impatient, +half-desponding tone; and Mrs. John took +time to consider before she answered, soothingly:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[78]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Well, you will have the satisfaction of feeling +that those who come out this evening love +the prayer-meeting enough to brave even such +a storm as this, and of remembering that there +are many others who would brave it if they +dared."</p> + +<p>But the minister was not to be beguiled into +comfort; he gave an impatient kick to an envelope +that lay at his feet, and continued his +story.</p> + +<p>"I haven't a <i>thing</i> prepared suitable for such +an evening as this. My intention was to have +a short, practical, personal talk, addressed almost +entirely to the unconverted; and I shall have +Deacon Toles and Deacon Fanning, and a few +other gray-haired saints, who don't need a word +of it, to listen to me. I had in mind just the +persons that I hoped to reach by this evening's +service, and that makes it all the more discouraging +to feel almost absolutely certain that not +one of them will be out to-night. I certainly +do not see why it is that the one evening of the +week, which as Christians we try to give to +God, should be so often given up to storm."</p> + +<p>Mrs. John could not see her husband's face +this time, it had been turned again to the window +pane; but there was that in the tone of his +voice which made her change her tactics.</p> + +<p>"It <i>is</i> a pity and a shame," she said, in de<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[79]</a></span>mure +gravity, "that Thursday evening of all +others should prove stormy. Do you think it +can be possible that our Heavenly Father knows +that so many of his people have made it an +evening of prayer? Or if he does, can't he +possibly send some poor little sinner to meeting, +if it be his will to do so, as well as those +saints you spoke of?"</p> + +<p>The minister did not reply for a little. Presently +he turned slowly from the window and +met his wife's gaze; then he laughed, a low, +half-amused, half-ashamed laugh. He could afford +to do so, for be it known this was a new +order of things in the minister's household. +Truth to tell, it was the little wife who became +out of sorts with the weather, with the walking, +with the people, and had to be reasoned, or +coaxed, or petted into calm by the grave, earnest, +faithful, patient minister; and his rebellious +spirit had been slain to-night by the use of +some of his own weapons, hurled at him indeed +in a pretty, graceful, feminine way, but he recognized +them at once, and could afford to laugh. +Afterward when he had buckled his overshoes +and buttoned his overcoat, and prepared to +brave the storm in answer to the tolling bell, +he came over to the little rocking-chair.</p> + +<p>"My dear," he said, "we will kneel down and +have a word of prayer, that our Father will<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[80]</a></span> +have this meeting in his care, and bring good +out of seeming ill."</p> + +<p>And as they knelt together they had changed +places again, and the minister's wife looked up +with a kind of wistful reverence to the calm, +earnest face of her husband.</p> + +<p>"It storms like the mischief," Mr. Roberts +said on this same evening, as he closed the door +with a bang, and a shrug of his shoulders. +"Very few people will venture out this evening. +Tode, if you want an hour or two for a frolic, +now is your time to take it. After you have +been up with the mail you can go where you +like until the train is due."</p> + +<p>Here was fun for Tode. This would give him +two full hours, and he had at least two dozen +schemes for filling up the time; but it chanced +that wind and sleet and cold were too much +even for him.</p> + +<p>"Jolly!" he said. "What a regular old stunner +<i>that</i> was," as a gust of wind nearly blew +him away; and he clapped both hands to his +head to see if his cap had withstood the shock.</p> + +<p>"This ain't just the charmingest kind of an +evening that ever I was out. I'd tramp back to +our hotel quicker, only a fellow don't like to +spend his evening just exactly where he does all +the others when it's a holiday. I wonder what's +in here? They're singing like fun, whatever<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[81]</a></span> +'tis. I mean to peek in—might <i>go</i> in; no harm +done in taking a look. 'Tain't anyways likely +that it blows in there as it does out here. Tode +and me will just take a look, we will."</p> + +<p>And he pushed open the door and slipped +into the nearest seat by the fire just as the singing +was concluded, and the Rev. John Birge +began to read; and the words he read were +about that strange old story of the great company +and the lack of food, and the lad with the +five barley loaves and two small fishes, and the +multitude that were fed, and the twelve baskets +of fragments that remained—story familiar in +all its details to every Sabbath-school scholar in +the land, but utterly new to Tode, falling on his +ear for the first time, bearing all the charm of +a fairy tale to him. There was just one thing +that struck this ignorant boy as very strange, +that a company of men and women, some of +them gray-headed, should spend their time in +coming together that stormy evening, and reading +over and talking about so utterly improbable +a tale. He listened eagerly to see what might +be the clew to this mystery.</p> + +<p>"We are wont to say," began Mr. Birge, +"that the age of miracles is past; yet if we +knew in just what mysterious, unknown paths +God leads the children of this day to himself, +I think some of their experiences would seem<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[82]</a></span> +to us no less miraculous than is this story +which we are considering to-night."</p> + +<p>No clew here to the mystery; only a number +of words which Tode did not understand, and +something about God, which he could not see +had anything to do with the fairy story. I +wonder if we Christian people ever fully realize +how utterly ignorant the neglected poor are of +Bible truth. One more ignorant in the matter +than was Tode can hardly be imagined. He +knew, to be sure, that there was a day called +Sunday, and that stores and shops as a general +rule were closed on that day, just why he would +have found very difficult to explain. He knew +that there were such buildings as churches, and +that these were opened on these same Sundays, +and that well-dressed people went into them, +but they had nothing whatever to do with <i>him</i>. +Oh no, neither had Sunday nor churches. He +knew in a vague general way that there was a +Being called God, who created all things, and +that the aforesaid well-dressed people were in +some way connected with him; but it chanced, +oh, bitter chance, that there had never come to +him the slightest intimation that God in Christ +was busy looking up the homeless, the friendless, +the forsaken ones of earth, and bidding +them find home and friend and joy in him. +The meeting continued with but one other in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[83]</a></span>terruption. +Midway in the services the door +opened somewhat noisily, and with many a +rustle and flutter Mrs. Hastings and Miss Dora +made their way from out the storm and found +shelter in the quiet chapel. This was just as +Deacon Fanning asked a question.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Birge, don't you think this little story +is to teach us, among other things, that God +can take the very few, weak, almost worthless +materials that we bring him, and do great things +with them?"</p> + +<p>"I think we may learn that precious truth +from the story," answered Mr. Birge. "And I +never feel saddened and discouraged with the +thought that I have nothing with which to feed +the multitudes, that this story does not bring +me comfort. God doesn't need even our five +barley loaves, but stoops to use them that we +may feel ourselves workers together with him."</p> + +<p>What queer talk it was! Tode had never +heard anything like it in his life.</p> + +<p>Then Deacon Toles had something to say.</p> + +<p>"Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, just expresses +our feelings, I think, sometimes. 'There is +a lad here which hath five barley loaves, and +two small fishes; but what are they among so +many?' Andrew was gloomy and troubled +even while talking face to face with Jesus. Not +disposed to think that the Master could do any<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[84]</a></span>thing +with so little food as that, it's just the +way I feel every now and then. 'Lord, here +we are, a handful of people, and we have fragments +of the bread of life in our hearts: but +what are we among so many?'"</p> + +<p>"Yet the Lord fed the five thousand despite +Andrew's doubts," chimed in the pastor. "May +we not hope and pray that he will deal thus +graciously with us?"</p> + +<p>Tode could make nothing of it all, and was +half inclined to slip out and go on his way; but +the same dear Savior who had so long ago fed +the five thousand had his All-seeing Eye bent +on this one poor boy, and had prepared a crumb +for him.</p> + +<p>There arose from the seat near the door an +old gray-haired man. His dress was very plain +and poor, his manner was uncultured, his language +was ungrammatical. There were those +who were disposed to think that so illiterate a +man as old Mr. Snyder ought not to take up +the valuable time. However old Mr. Snyder +prayed, and Tode listened.</p> + +<p>"O, dear Jesus," he said, "the same who was +on the earth so many years ago, and fed the +hungry people, feed us to-night. We are poor, +we want to be rich; take us for thy children; +help us to come to thee just as the people used +to do when thou didst walk this very earth, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[85]</a></span> +ask for what we want. We need a friend just +like Jesus for our own—a friend who will love +us always, who will take care of us always, who +will give us everything we need, and heaven by +and by. We know none are too poor or too +bad for thee to take and wash in thy blood, and +feed with thy love which lasts forever. Give us +faith to trust thee always, to work for thee here, +and to keep looking ahead to that home in +heaven, which thou hast got all ready for us +when we die. Amen."</p> + +<p>There were those present who did not quite +see the connection of this prayer with the topic +of the evening. There were those who thought +it very commonplace and rather childish in language. +But how can we tell what strange, bewildering +thoughts it raised in the heart of our +poor Tode?</p> + +<p>Was there really such a somebody somewhere +as that man talked about, who would +make people rich, or anyhow give them all they +needed; who would take care of them, no matter +how poor or how bad; who would even +take care of them in that awful time when they +had to die, and all this just for the asking? If +there were any truth in it why didn't folks ask, +and have it all? But then if there wasn't, what +did these folks all mean?</p> + +<p>"They don't look like fools; now that's a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[86]</a></span> +fact," said Tode, meditatively, and was in great +bewilderment.</p> + +<p>The meeting closed. Mrs. Hastings rustled +up to the minister.</p> + +<p>"So sorry to have intruded upon you, Mr. +Birge, but the gale was so unusually severe. +Dora and I were making our way to the carriage, +which was but a very short distance +away, and just as we reached your door there +came a fearful gust of wind and we were obliged +to desist."</p> + +<p>While Mr. Birge was explaining that to come +to prayer-meeting was not considered an intrusion, +Dora turned to Tode. Now Tode had in +mind all day a burning desire to tell Dora that +he had made all the twenty-six letters of the +alphabet, just twenty-six times on twenty-six +old envelopes that he had gathered together +from various waste-baskets, and could "make +every one of 'em to a dot." But instead of all +this he said:</p> + +<p>"Say, do you believe all this queer talk?"</p> + +<p>"What do you mean, Tode?"</p> + +<p>"Why this about the youngster, and his +fishes and bread, and such lots of folks eating +'em, and more left when they got done +than there was when they begun. Likely story, +ain't it?"</p> + +<p>Dora's eyes were large and grave.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[87]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Why, Tode, it's in the Bible," she said, reverently.</p> + +<p>Tode knew nothing about reverence, and next +to nothing about the Bible.</p> + +<p>"What of that?" he said, defiantly. "It's +queer stuff all the same; and what did that old +man mean about his friend, and taking care of +folks, everybody, good or bad, and feeding 'em, +and all that?"</p> + +<p>"It's about Jesus, Tode. Don't you know; +he died, you see, for us, and if we love him he'll +take care of us, and take us to heaven. Sometimes +do you think that you'll belong to him, +Tode? I do once in a while."</p> + +<p>"I don't know anything what you're talking +about," was Tode's answer, more truthful than +grammatical.</p> + +<p>"Why, give your heart to him, you know, +and love him, and pray, and all that. But, +Tode, won't you run around to Martyn's and +order the carriage for us? John was to wait +there until we came, and I guess he'll think we +are never coming."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Hastings repeated the direction, and +Tode vanished, brushing by in his exit the very +man who had prayed at his dying mother's +bedside years before, and who had intended to +keep an eye on him. As he slid along the icy +pavements the boy ruminated on what he had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[88]</a></span> +heard, and especially on that last explanation, +"Why, give your heart to him, you know, and +love him, and pray, and all that." To whom, +and how, and where, and when? What a perfectly +bewildering confusion it all was to Tode.</p> + +<p>"I'll be hanged if I can make head or tail to +any of it," he said aloud.</p> + +<p>Then he whistled, but after a moment his +whistle broke off into a great heavy sigh. +Someway there was in Tode's heart a dull ache, +a longing aroused that night, and which nothing +but the All-seeing, All-pitying Love could ever +soothe.</p> + +<p>"There were fourteen people in prayer-meeting," +the Rev. John informed his wife. "The +two deacons of whom I spoke, and several other +good men. I couldn't make use of my lecture +at all, for there were none present but professing +Christians, save and except Mrs. Pliny +Hastings, who apologized for <i>intruding!</i>"</p> + +<p>And then the husband and wife laughed, a +half-amused, half-sorrowful laugh.</p> + +<p>After a moment Mr. Birge added:</p> + +<p>"There <i>was</i> a rather rough-looking boy there; +strayed in from the storm, I presume. I meant +to speak with him, but Mrs. Hastings annoyed +me so much that it escaped my mind until he +brushed past me and vanished."</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 75px;"> +<img src="images/deco4.png" width="75" height="36" alt="Decoration" title="Decoration" /> +</div> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[89]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER IX.</h2> + +<h3>"TAKE IT AWAY!"</h3> + + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 28px;"> +<img src="images/m.png" width="28" height="55" alt="M" title="M" /> +</div> + +<div class='unindent'><br /><big>ODE</big> rang the bell at Mr. Hastings', and +waited in some anxiety as to whether he +should get a glimpse of Miss Dora. He +had some momentous questions to ask her. +Fortune, or, in other words, Providence, favored +him. While he waited for orders, Dora +danced down the hall with a message.</div> + +<p>"Tode, papa says you are to come in the +dining-room and wait; he wants to send a note +by you."</p> + +<p>"All right," said Tode, following her into the +brightly lighted room, and plunging at once +into his subject.</p> + +<p>"Look here, what did you mean the other +night about hearts, and things?"</p> + +<p>"About what?"</p> + +<p>"Why, don't you know? Down there to the +meeting."</p> + +<p>"Oh! Why I meant <i>that;</i> just what I said. +That's the way they always talk at a prayer-<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[90]</a></span>meeting +about Jesus, and loving him, and all +that."</p> + +<p>"Was that a prayer-meeting where we was +t'other night?"</p> + +<p>"Why yes, of course. Tode, have you got +the letters and figures all made?"</p> + +<p>"Do you go every time?"</p> + +<p>"What, to prayer-meeting? What a funny +idea. No, of course not. It stormed, you know, +and we had to go in somewhere. Wasn't it an +awful night?"</p> + +<p>"Who is Jesus, anyhow?"</p> + +<p>"Why, he is God. Tode, how queer you act. +Why don't you ask Mr. Birge, or somebody, if +you want to know such things. Mamma says +he is awful."</p> + +<p>"Awful!"</p> + +<p>"Yes, awful good, you know. He's the minister +down there at that chapel. Wasn't it a +funny looking church? Ours don't look a bit +like that. Tode, where do you go to church?"</p> + +<p>"My!" said Tode, with his old merry chuckle. +"That's a queer one. <i>I</i> don't go to church nowhere; +never did."</p> + +<p>"You ought to," answered Miss Dora, with a +sudden assumption of dignity. "It isn't nice +not to go to church and to Sunday-school. <i>I</i> +go. Pliny doesn't, because he has the headache +so much. Shall I show you my card?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[91]</a></span></p> + +<p>And she produced from her pocket a dainty +bit of pasteboard, and held it up.</p> + +<p>"There, that's our verse. The whole school +learn it for next Sunday. Then we shall have a +speech about it."</p> + +<p>A sudden shiver ran through Tode's frame as +he read the words printed on that card:</p> + +<p>"The eyes of the Lord are in every place, +beholding the evil and the good."</p> + +<p>He knew very little about that All-seeing +Eye, but it came upon him like a great shock, +the picture of the eye of God reaching everywhere, +beholding the <i>evil</i>. He felt afraid, and +alone, and desolate. He did not know what +was the matter with him, he had felt so strangely +troubled and unhappy since that evening of +the meeting. Almost the tears came into his +eyes as he stood there beside Dora, looking +down at that terrible verse.</p> + +<p>"Take it away," he said, suddenly, turning +from the bit of pasteboard. "I don't want his +eyes looking at me."</p> + +<p>"You can't help it," Dora answered, with +great emphasis. "There are more just such +verses, 'Thou God seest me;' and oh, plenty +of them. And he certainly <i>does</i> see you all +the time, whether you want him to or not."</p> + +<p>"Well stop!" said Tode, with a sudden gruffness +that Dora had never seen in him before.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[92]</a></span> +"I don't want to hear another bit about it, nor +your verse, nor anything—not a word. I wish +you had let me alone. I don't believe it, anyhow, +nor I won't, nor I ain't a going to—so."</p> + +<p>At that moment Mr. Hastings' note came, +and miserable Tode went on his way. <i>How</i> +miserable he was; the glimmering lamps along +the gloomy streets seemed to him eyes of fire +burning into his thoughts; the very walls of his +darkened room, when he had reached that retreat, +seemed to glow on every side with great +terrible, all-seeing eyes. Over and over again +was that fearful sentence repeated: "The eyes +of the Lord are in every place, beholding the +evil." Just then he stopped. He had suddenly +grown so vile in his own eyes that it seemed to +him that there was nothing good left to behold; +he tumbled and tossed on his narrow bed; he +covered himself, eyes, head, all, in the bed-clothes; +but it was of no use, that piercing +Eye saw into the darkness and through all the +covering—and oh, Tode was afraid!</p> + +<p>He was a brave, fearless boy; no darkness +had ever before held any terrors for him. I am +not sure that he would not have whistled contemptuously +over a whole legion of supposed +ghosts. He was entirely familiar with, and +quite indifferent to, that most frightful of all +human sights, a reeling, swearing drunkard;<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[93]</a></span> +but this was quite another matter, this great +solemn eye of God, which he felt to-night for +the first time, looking steadily down upon him, +never forgetting him for a moment, never by +any chance turning away and giving him time +to go to sleep. Tode didn't know why he felt +this terrible new feeling; he didn't know that +the loving, pitying Savior had his tender eyes +bent on him, and was calling him, that God had +used that powerful thrust from the Spirit to +wound his sinful heart; he knew nothing about +it, save that he was afraid, and desolate and very +miserable. Suddenly he sprung up, a little of +his ordinary determination coming back to him.</p> + +<p>"What's the use," he muttered, "of a fellow +lying shivering here; if I can't sleep, I might +as well give it up first as last I'll go down to +the parlor, and whistle 'Yankee Doodle,' or +something else until train time."</p> + +<p>But his hand trembled so in his attempt to +strike a light, that he failed again and again. +Finally he was dressed, and went out into the +hall. Mr. Roberts opened his own door at that +moment, and seeing the boy gave him what he +thought would be a happy message:</p> + +<p>"Tode, you can sleep over to-night. Jim is +on hand, and you may be ready for the five +o'clock train."</p> + +<p>No excuse now for going down stairs, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[94]</a></span> +the wretched boy crept back to his room; <i>utterly</i> +wretched he felt, and he had no human +friend to help him, no human heart to comfort +him. He wrapped a quilt about him and sat +down on the edge of his bed to calculate how +long his bit of candle would probably burn, and +what he <i>should</i> do when he was left once more +in that awful darkness. On his table lay a half-burnt +lamp lighter. He mechanically untwisted +it, and twisted it up again, busy still with that +fearful sentence: "The eyes of the Lord are in +<i>every</i> place." The lighter was made of a bit of +printed paper, and Tode could read. The letters +caught his eye, and he bent forward to decipher +them; and of all precious words that +can be found in our language, came these home +to that troubled youth: "Look unto me and +be ye saved, all—" Just there the paper was +burned. No matter, be ye <i>saved</i>, that was what +he wanted. He felt in his inmost soul that he +needed to be saved, from himself, and from +some dreadful evil that <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'seeemed'">seemed</ins> near at hand. +Now how to do it? The smoke-edged bit of +paper said, "Look unto me." Who was that +blessed <i>Me</i>, and where was he, and how could +Tode look to him?</p> + +<p>Quick as lightning the boy's memory went +back to that evening in the chapel, and the wonderful +story of one Jesus, and the gray-haired<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[95]</a></span> +man in the corner, who stood up and shut his +eyes, and spoke to Jesus just as if he had been +in the room. Perhaps, oh, <i>perhaps</i>, the All-seeing +Eye belonged to him? No, that could not +be, for that card said, "The eyes of the Lord," +and Tode knew that meant God, but you see he +knew nothing about that blessed Trinity, the +three in One. Then he remembered his question +to Dora: "Who is Jesus, anyhow?" and +her answer: "Why, he is God." What if it +should in some strange way all mean God? +Couldn't he try? Suppose he should stand up +in the corner like that old man, and shut his +eyes and speak to Jesus? What harm could it +do? A great resolution came over him to try +it at once. He went over to the corner at the +foot of his bed with the first touch of reverence +in his face that perhaps it had ever felt. He +closed his eyes and said aloud: "O Jesus, save +me." Over and over again were the words repeated, +solemnly and slowly, and in wonderful +earnestness: "O Jesus, save me." Gradually +something of the terror died out of his tones, +and there came instead a yearning, longing +sound to his voice, while again and yet again +came the simple words: "O Jesus, save me."</p> + +<p>After a little Tode came quietly out of his +corner, deliberately blew out his light and went +to bed, not at all unmindful of the All-seeing<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[96]</a></span> +Eye; but someway it had ceased to burn. He +felt very grave and solemn, but not exactly +afraid, and a new strange feeling of some loving +presence in his room possessed his heart, and +the thought of that name Jesus brought tears +into his eyes, he didn't know why. He didn't +know that there was such a thing as being a +Christian; he didn't know that he had anything +to do with Christ; he didn't know that he was +in the least different from the Tode who lay +there but an hour before only. Yes, that solemn +Eye did not make him afraid now; and +with an earnest repeatal of his one prayer, which +he did not know <i>was</i> prayer, "O Jesus, save +me," Tode went to sleep.</p> + +<p>But I think that the recording angel up in +heaven opened his book that night and wrote a +new name on its pages, and that the ever-listening +Savior said, "<i>I</i> have called him by his name; +he is mine."</p> + +<p>In the gray glimmering dawn of the early +morning Tode stood out on the steps, and +waited for the rush of travelers from the train. +They came rushing in, cold and cross, many of +them unreasonable, too, as cold and hungry +travelers so often are; but on each and all the +boy waited, flying hither and thither, doing his +utmost to help make them comfortable; being +apparently not one whit different from the bust<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[97]</a></span>ling +important boy who flew about there every +morning intent upon the same duties, and yet +he had that very morning fallen heir to a glorious +inheritance. True, he did not know it yet, +but no matter for that, his title was sure.</p> + +<p>The days went round, and Sunday morning +came. Now Sunday was a very busy day at +the hotel. Aside from the dreadful Sunday +trains that came tearing into town desecrating +the day, the whole country seemed to disgorge +itself, and pleasure-seekers came in cliques of +twos and fours for a ride and a warm dinner on +this gala day. Tode had wont to be busy and +blithe on these days, but on this eventful Sabbath +morning it was different. Gradually he +was becoming aware that some strange new +feelings possessed his heart. He had continued +the repeatal of the one prayer, "O Jesus, save +me;" going always to the corner at the foot of +his bed, and closing his eyes to repeat it. And +now he was conscious of the fact that he had +little thrills of delight all over him when he +said these words, and a new, strange, sweet +sense of protection and friendship stole over +him from some unknown source. Now a longing +possessed him to know something more +about Jesus. He had heard of him at only one +place, that chapel. Naturally his thoughts +turned toward it. He knew it would be open<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[98]</a></span> +on that day, and "Who knows," said ignorant +Tode to himself, "but they might happen to say +something about him to-day." In short, Tode, +knowing nothing about "Remember the Sabbath +day, to keep it holy," never having so much as +heard that there <i>was</i> a fourth commandment, +wanted to go to church. And wanting this +very much, knew at the same time that it was +an extremely doubtful case, utterly unlikely +that he should be allowed to go.</p> + +<p>He brushed his hair before his bit of glass, +and buttoned on his clean collar, all the time in +deep thought. A sudden resolution came to +him, that old man had said Jesus would give us +everything we wanted or needed or something +like that.</p> + +<p>"I'll try it," said Tode, aloud and positively. +"'Tain't no harm if it don't do no good, and +'tain't nobody's business, anyhow."</p> + +<p>And with these strangely original thoughts +on the subject of prayer, he went into his corner, +but once there the reverent look with +which he nowadays pronounced that sacred +name spread over his face as he said, "O Jesus, +I want to go to that church, and I s'pose I +can't." This was everything Tode was conscious +of wanting just at present, so this was all +he said, only repeating it again and again.</p> + +<p>Then when he went down stairs he marched<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[99]</a></span> +directly to headquarters, and made known his +desires.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Roberts, I want this forenoon to myself. +Can I have it?"</p> + +<p>"You do," answered Mr. Roberts, eyeing him +thoughtfully. "Well, as such requests are rare +from you, and as Jim's brother is here to help, I +think I may say yes."</p> + +<p>"A queer, bright, capable boy," Mr. Roberts +thought, looking after Tode as he dashed off +down town. "Going to make just the man for +our business. I must begin to promote him +soon."</p> + +<p>As for Tode he was in high glee.</p> + +<p>"What brought that Jim's brother over to help +to-day?" he asked himself. "I'd like to know +<i>that</i> now. I believe I do, as sure as I'm alive, +that <i>he</i> heard every word, and has been and +fixed it all out. I most know he has, 'cause +things didn't ever happen around like this for +me before."</p> + +<p>The pronoun "he" did not refer to Jim's +brother, and was spoken with that touch of awe +and reverence which had so lately come to Tode. +And I think that the words were recorded up in +heaven, as having a meaning not unlike the acknowledgment +of those less ignorant disciples, +"Lord, I believe."</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 75px;"> +<img src="images/deco1.png" width="75" height="36" alt="Decoration" title="Decoration" /> +</div> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[100]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER X.</h2> + +<h3>HABAKKUK.</h3> + + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 18px;"> +<img src="images/t.png" width="18" height="55" alt="T" title="T" /> +</div> + +<div class='unindent'><br /><big>HE</big> church toward which Tode bent his +eager steps was quite filled when he reached +it, but the sexton made a way for him, and +he settled into a seat with a queer, awkward +sense of having slipped into a spot that was not +intended for such as he; but the organ tones +took up his attention, and then in a moment a +burst of music from the congregation, among +the words of which he could catch ever and +anon that magic name Jesus. So at least they +were going to sing about him. Yes, and talk to +him also, for Mr. Birge's prayer, though couched +in language quite beyond Tode's reaching, yet +closed with the to him wonderful sentence, +"We ask in the name and for the sake of Jesus +our Redeemer." When he opened the great +book which Tode knew was the Bible, the boy +was all attention; something more from the +Bible he was anxious to hear. He got out his +bit of pencil and a crumpled twist of paper, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[101]</a></span> +when Mr. Birge announced that he would read +the fourth Psalm, Tode bent forward and carefully +and laboriously made a figure four and the +letters S A M in his very best style, and believed +that he had it just right. Then he listened +to the reading as sometimes those do not +who can glibly spell the words. Yet you can +hardly conceive how like a strange language it +sounded to him, so utterly unfamiliar was he +with the style, so utterly ignorant of its meaning. +Only over the last verse he had almost +laughed.</div> + +<p>"I will both lay me down in peace and sleep; +for thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety."</p> + +<p><i>Didn't</i> he know about that? The awful +night, those dreadful eyes, and the peace in +which he laid down and slept at last.</p> + +<p>"Oh, ho," he said to himself, "some other +fellow has had a time of it, too, I guess, and put +it in the Bible. I'm glad I've found out about +it just as I did."</p> + +<p>Tode didn't mean to be irreverent. You +must continually bear in mind the fact that he +didn't know the meaning of the word; that he +knew nothing about the Bible, nor dreamed +that the words which so delighted him were +those of inspiration, sounding down through +the ages for the peace and comfort of such as +he.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[102]</a></span></p> + +<p>Presently Mr. Birge announced his text, reading +it from that same great book, and Tode's +heart fluttered with delighted expectation as he +heard the words, "Jesus of Nazareth passeth +by." The <i>very</i> name! and of all news this, +that he passes by. Oh, Tode <i>wanted</i> so to see +him, to hear about him. He sat erect, and his +dark cheek flushed with excitement as he listened +eagerly to every word. And the Spirit +of the Master had surely helped to indite that +sermon, for it told in its opening sentences the +simple story, entirely new to Tode.</p> + +<p>"A little more than eighteen hundred years +ago, very near a certain city, might have been +seen a large concourse of people, differently circumstanced +in life, many of them such as had +been healed of the various diseases with which +they had long been afflicted. This throng were +following a person upon whose words they +hung, and by whose power many of them had +been healed. As they passed by the roadside +sat a blind man begging. He, hearing the +crowd, asks what it is. They answer, 'Jesus of +Nazareth passeth by.'"</p> + +<p>Thus, through the beautiful and touching +story, he dwelt on each detail, giving it vivid +coloring, bringing it almost before the very eyes +of the eager boy, who drank in every word.</p> + +<p>The truth grew plain to his mind, that this<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[103]</a></span> +Jesus of Nazareth once on earth had now gone +back to heaven, and yet, oh beautiful mystery, +still was here; and he heard for the first time +that old, old story of the scoffed and spit upon, +and bleeding and dying Savior; heard of his +prayer even in dying for the cruel ones who +took his life. So simply and so tenderly was +the story told, that when the minister exclaimed: +"Oh what a loving, sympathizing, forgiving +Savior is ours!" Tode, with his eyes blinded +by tears, repeated the words in his heart, and +felt "amen."</p> + +<p>Then came the explanation of his passing by +us now, daily, hourly, calling us in a hundred +ways, and then—a few sentences written, it +would seem, expressly for Tode's own need:</p> + +<p>"Sometimes," said the minister, "he passes +by, speaking to the soul with some passage from +the Word. Did you never wonder that some +portion, some little sentence from the Bible, +should so forcibly impress your mind, and so +cling to you? Perhaps you tried to drive it +away so much did it trouble you, but still it +hovered around, and seemed to keep repeating +itself over and over to your heart. Be not deceived. +This was Jesus of Nazareth passing by, +waiting for you to say, 'Jesus, thou Son of +David, have mercy on me.'"</p> + +<p>Was ever anything so wonderful! How could<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[104]</a></span> +Mr. Birge have found out about it—that dreadful +night—and the one verse saying itself over +and over again! Then to think that it was +Jesus himself calling and waiting. Could it be +possible—was he really calling <i>him?</i> And the +tears which had been gathering in Tode's eyes +dropped one by one on his hand.</p> + +<p>Presently, as he listened, the minister's tones +grew very solemn.</p> + +<p>"There are none before me to-day who can +say, 'He never came to me.' Sinner, he is near +you now, near enough to hear your voice, near +enough to answer your call. Will you call +upon him? Will you let him help you? Will +you take him for your Savior? Will you serve +him while you live on earth that you may live +in heaven to serve him forever?"</p> + +<p>From Tode's inmost soul there came answers +to these solemn questions: "I will, I will, I +will."</p> + +<p>And there went out from the church that Sabbath +day one young heart who felt himself +cured of his blindness by that same Jesus of +Nazareth; who felt himself given up utterly to +Jesus, body and soul and life; and without a +great insight as to what that solemn consecration +meant, he yet took in enough of it to feel +a great peace in his heart.</p> + +<p>"There goes a Christian man, if ever there<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[105]</a></span> +was one." This said a gentleman to his companion, +speaking of another who had passed +them.</p> + +<p>Tode overheard it, and stood still on the +street.</p> + +<p>"A Christian," said he to himself, quoting +from a sentence in Mr. Birge's sermon. "A +Christian is one who loves and serves the Lord +Jesus Christ with his whole heart." Then +aloud. "I wonder, I do wonder now, if I am +a Christian? Oh, what if I was!" A moment +of earnest thought, then Tode held up his head +and walked firmly on. "I <i>mean</i> to be," he said, +with a ring in his voice that meant decision.</p> + +<p>Tode was dusting and putting in order a +lately vacated room one morning. He was +whistling, too; he whistled a great deal these +days, and felt very bright and happy. He +picked up three leaves which had evidently +been torn from an old book; reading matter +was rather scarce with him, and he stopped the +dusting to discover what new treasure might be +awaiting him here. He spelled out, slowly and +carefully, the name at the top: "H-a-b-a-k-k-u-k."</p> + +<p>"Queerest name for a book ever I heard of," +he muttered. "Words must have been scarce, +I reckon. Let's see what it reads about. School +book, like enough; if 'tis I'll get it all by heart."</p> + +<p>And Tode sat down upon the edge of a chair<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[106]</a></span> +to investigate. The story, if story it were, commenced +abruptly to him.</p> + +<p>"Scorn unto them," being the first words on +the page. He read on: "They shall deride +every stronghold; for they shall heap dust and +take it."</p> + +<p>"My! what curious talk," said Tode. "What +ever is it coming at? I can't make nothing +out of it."</p> + +<p>Nevertheless he read on; only a few lines +more and then this sentence: "Art thou not +from everlasting, O Lord my God, mine Holy +One?"</p> + +<p>A sudden look of intelligence and delight +flushed over Tode's face; and springing up he +rushed into the hall and down the stairs, nearly +tumbling over Mr. Ryan in his haste.</p> + +<p>Mr. Ryan was a good-natured boarder, and +on very friendly terms with Tode.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Mr. Ryan!" burst forth Tode. "What +is this reading on these leaves?"</p> + +<p>"Why, Tode, what's up now; forgot how to +read?"</p> + +<p>"Oh bother, no; but I mean where did it +come from. It's tore out of a book, don't you +see?"</p> + +<p>"Piece of a Bible," answered Mr. Ryan, giving +the leaves a careless and the boy a searching +glance. "What is there so interesting about it?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[107]</a></span></p> + +<p>"What's it got such a queer name for? What +does H-a-b-a-k-k-u-k spell, and what does it +mean?"</p> + +<p>"That's a man's name, I believe."</p> + +<p>"Who was he, and what about him?"</p> + +<p>"More than I know, my boy. Never heard of +him before that I know of. What do you care?"</p> + +<p>It was Tode's turn to bestow a searching +glance.</p> + +<p>"Got a Bible of your own?" he asked at last.</p> + +<p>"Oh yes, I own one, I believe."</p> + +<p>"And never read it! Bah, what good does +it do you to have books if you don't read 'em? +Now I'm going to find out about this 'H-a-b-a-k-k-u-k,' +and then I shall know more than +you do."</p> + +<p>Mr. Ryan laughed a little, but withal seemed +somewhat embarrassed. Tode left him and +sped back to his dusting.</p> + +<p>"Queer chap that," muttered Mr. Ryan. "I +don't know what to make of him."</p> + +<p>And a little sense of what might be termed +shamefacedness stole over him at the thought +that this ignorant boy prized more highly his +three leaves of a Bible, picked out of the waste-basket, +and possibly was going to know more +about it than he, Edgar Ryan, had gleaned from +his own handsomely bound copy, wherein his +Christian mother had written years ago his own<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[108]</a></span> +loved name. Mr. Ryan, the cultivated young +lawyer, took down his handsome Bible from the +shelf of unused books as soon as he had reached +his office, dusted it carefully, and turned over +the leaves to discover something about Habakkuk.</p> + +<p>As for Tode, he literally poured over his +three leaves. Very little of the language did +he understand—the great and terrible figures +were utterly beyond his knowledge; yet as he +read them once, and again and again, something +of the grandeur and sublimity stole into his +heart, helped him without his knowledge, and +now and then a word came home, and he caught +a vague glimpse of its meaning. "Thou art of +purer eyes than to behold evil." That was +plain; that must mean the great All-seeing +Eyes, for Tode knew enough of human nature +to have much doubt as to whether any human +eyes were pure. But then those unsleeping +eyes <i>did</i> behold evil—saw. Oh, Tode could +conceive better than many a Sabbath-school +scholar can just how much evil there was to +behold. How was that? Ah! Tode's brain +didn't know, couldn't tell; but into his heart +had come the knowledge that between all the +evil men and women in this evil world, and those +pure eyes of an angry God, there stood the +blood-red cross of Christ.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[109]</a></span></p> + +<p>There were many guests to be waited on; the +tables were filling rapidly. Tode was springing +about with eager steps, handling deftly coffee, +oysters, wine, anything that was called for—bright, +busy, brisk as usual. As he set a cup of +steaming coffee beside Mr. Ryan's plate, that +gentleman glanced up good-humoredly and addressed +him.</p> + +<p>"Well, Tode, how is Habakkuk?"</p> + +<p>"First-rate, sir, only there's some queer things +in it."</p> + +<p>"I should think there was!" laughed Mr. +Ryan, spilling his coffee in his mirth. "Rather +beyond you, isn't it?"</p> + +<p>"Well, <i>some</i> of it," said Tode, hesitatingly. +"But it all means <i>something</i>, likely, and I'm +learning it, so I'll have it on hand to find out +about one of these days, when I find a lawyer +or somebody who can explain it, you know."</p> + +<p>This last with a twinkle of the eye, and a +certain almost noiseless chuckle, that said it was +intended to hit.</p> + +<p>"You're learning it!" exclaimed Mr. Ryan, +undisguised astonishment mingling with his +amusement.</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir. Learn a figure a day. It's all +marked off into figures, you know, sir."</p> + +<p>"Well, of all queer chaps, you're the queerest!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[110]</a></span></p> + +<p>And Mr. Ryan went off into another laugh as +Tode sped away to a new corner. By the time +he was ready for a second cup of coffee, Mr. +Ryan was also ready with more questions.</p> + +<p>"Well, sir, what's to-day's figure?"</p> + +<p>"For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge +of the glory of the Lord, as the waters +cover the sea," repeated Tode, promptly and +glibly.</p> + +<p>"Indeed! and what do you make out of +that?"</p> + +<p>"It makes itself; and that's something that's +going to be one of these days."</p> + +<p>"Oh, and what does the 'glory of the Lord' +mean, Tode?"</p> + +<p>"<i>I</i> don't know; expect <i>he</i> does, though," answered +Tode, simply and significantly.</p> + +<p>Mr. Ryan didn't seem inclined to continue +that line of questioning.</p> + +<p>"Well," he said, presently, "let's turn to an +easier chapter. What's to-morrow's figure?"</p> + +<p>"Don't know. I might look though, if you +wanted to hear." And Tode drew his precious +three leaves from his vest pocket.</p> + +<p>"Oh, you carry Habakkuk about with you, +do you? Well, let's have the figure by all +means, only pass me that bottle of wine first."</p> + +<p>But Tode's face paled and his limbs actually +shook.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[111]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I can't do it," he said at last.</p> + +<p>"You can't! Why, what's up?"</p> + +<p>"Just look for yourself, sir. It's the figure +15." And he thrust the bit of leaf before the +gay young lawyer, and pointed with his finger +to the spot.</p> + +<p>Of all words that could have come before his +eyes just then, it seemed strange indeed that +these should be the ones:</p> + +<p>"Woe unto him that giveth his neighbor +drink!"</p> + +<p>"Pshaw!" said Mr. Ryan at last, with a little +nervous laugh. "Don't be a goose, Tode. Take +your paper away and pass me the wine."</p> + +<p>"I can't, sir," answered Tode, earnestly. "I +promised him to-day, I did, that I was going to +do it all just as fast as I found it out."</p> + +<p>"Promised who? What are you talking about?"</p> + +<p>"Promised the Lord Jesus Christ, sir. I told +him this very day."</p> + +<p>"Fiddlesticks. You don't understand. This +refers to drunkards."</p> + +<p>"It don't say so," answered Tode, simply.</p> + +<p>"Yes, it does. Don't it say, 'and makes him +drunk?'"</p> + +<p>"It says and makes him drunk <i>also</i>," Tode +said, with a sharp, searching look.</p> + +<p>Mr. Ryan laughed that short nervous laugh +again.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[112]</a></span></p> + +<p>"You ought to study law, Tode," was all <i>he</i> +said. Then after a moment. "I advise you to +attend to business, and let Habakkuk look after +himself. Jim, pass that wine bottle this way."</p> + +<p>This to another attendant who was near at +hand, and Tode moved away to attend to other +wants, and to turn over in his mind this new +and startling thought.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 75px;"> +<img src="images/deco2.png" width="75" height="32" alt="Decoration" title="Decoration" /> +</div> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[113]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XI.</h2> + +<h3>BUSINESS AND BOTTLES.</h3> + + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 19px;"> +<img src="images/h.png" width="19" height="55" alt="H" title="H" /> +</div> + +<div class='unindent'><br /><big>E</big> was still thinking when the busy work of +the day was done—thinking anxiously +about the same thing.</div> + +<p>"It's <i>there</i>, plain as day," he said, in a perplexed +tone, sitting down on the corner of the +bed, and running his fingers distractedly through +his hair. "'Woe unto him that giveth his +neighbor drink, that puttest thy bottle to him.' +That's it, word for word, and that's the Bible, +and I do it, why fifty times a day; and I've got +to if I stay here. That's a fact, no getting +around it. 'Tain't my bottle, though, it's Mr. +Roberts', and back of him it's Mr. Hastings'. +I do declare!" And Tode paused, overwhelmed +with this new thought.</p> + +<p>"Whatever do them two men mean now, I'd +like to know?" he continued, after a moment. +"Don't make no kind of difference, though; +that's <i>their</i> lookout, I reckon. It's <i>me</i> that puts<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[114]</a></span> +the bottle to the neighbors' lips, time and time +again. No gettin' around that. They ain't my +neighbors, though. I ain't got no neighbors, +them are folks that lives next door to you. +Well, even then, there's Mr. Ryan, he's next +door to mine, and there's young Holden and +that peanut man, they're next door on t'other +side, and there's Mr. Pierson, he's next door +below. Why, now, I've got neighbors thick as +hops, nearer than most folks have, and I put the +bottle to their lips every day of my life, every +single one of 'em."</p> + +<p>Silence for a little, and then another phase of +the question.</p> + +<p>"Well, now, where's the use? If <i>I</i> didn't +hand the bottle to 'em, why Jim <i>would;</i> and +they'd get it all the same, so where's the difference? +That's none of my business," Tode answered +himself sharply, and with a touch of +the feeling which means, "Get thee behind me, +Satan." "It don't say 'woe to Jim,' and I ain't +got nothing to do with him; it don't say that +if it's got to be done anyhow, I may as well do +it as any other fellow. It just says '<i>woe</i>' right +out, sharp and plain; and I know about it, and +I do it, that's the point. Stick to that point, +Tode Mall, you blockhead, you. If you're arguing +a thing, why don't you <i>argue</i>, and not +slip and slide all over creation."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[115]</a></span></p> + +<p>Ah, Tode, if only wiser heads than yours +would remember that important item.</p> + +<p>"Well," said this young logician, rising at +last from the edge of his bed, and heaving a bit +of a sigh as he did so, "the long and short of +it is, it can't be done—never, any more; and +then there comes a thing that has got to be done +right straight, and I've got to go and do it, and +that's the worst of it, and I don't know what to +do next, that's a fact; but that's neither here +nor there."</p> + +<p>With this extremely lucid explanation of his +decision and his intentions, Tode put on his hat +and went to the post-office.</p> + +<p>Thus it happened that when Mr. Hastings +mail had been delivered as usual, the boy hesitated, +and finally asked with an unusual falter +in his voice:</p> + +<p>"Can I see Mr. Hastings a minute?"</p> + +<p>"Well, sir," said that gentleman, whirling +around from his table, and putting himself in a +lounging attitude. "Well, sir, what can I do +for you this evening? Anything in the line of +business?"</p> + +<p>This he said with the serio-comic air which +he seemed unable to avoid assuming whenever +he talked with this traveling companion of his.</p> + +<p>Tode plunged at once into the pith of the +matter.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[116]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Yes, sir, I've come to talk about business. +I've got to leave your hotel, and I thought I'd +better come and let you know."</p> + +<p>"Indeed! Have you decided to change your +occupation? Going to study law or medicine, +Tode?"</p> + +<p>"I haven't made up my mind," said Tode. +"I've just got to the leaving part."</p> + +<p>"Bad policy, my boy. Never leave one good +foothold until you see just where to put your +foot when you spring."</p> + +<p>"Ho!" said Tode, "I have stepped in a bog +and sunk in; now I've got to spring, and trust +to luck for getting on a stone."</p> + +<p>Mr. Hastings leaned back in his chair and +laughed.</p> + +<p>"You'll do," he said at length. "But seriously, +my boy, what has happened at the hotel? +I heard good accounts of you, and I thought +you were getting on finely. Does Jim leave +all the boots for you to black, or what is the +matter? You musn't quarrel with a good business +for trifles."</p> + +<p>"It's not Jim nor boots, sir, it's bottles."</p> + +<p>"Bottles!"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir, bottles. I'm not going to put 'em +to my neighbors any more; and I don't see +what any of you mean by it. Like enough, +though, you never noticed that figure?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[117]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Are you sure you know what you are talking +about, Tode?" inquired Mr. Hastings, with +a curious mixture of amusement and dignity. +"Because I certainly do not seem able to follow +your train of thought."</p> + +<p>"Why, that Habakkuk; he's the one who +says it, sir. But then you know it's in the +Bible, and I've made up my mind not to +do it."</p> + +<p>"Ah, I begin to understand. So you came +up here to-night for the purpose of delivering a +temperance lecture for my benefit. That was +kind, certainly, and I am all ready to listen. +Proceed."</p> + +<p>Never was sarcasm more entirely lost. Tode +was as bright and sharp as ever, and had never +been taught to be respectful.</p> + +<p>"No, sir," he answered, promptly, "I didn't +come for that at all. I came to tell you that I +had got to quit your business; but if you want +to hear a temperance lecture there's Habakkuk; +he can do it better than anybody <i>I</i> know of."</p> + +<p>Mr. Hastings' dignity broke once more into +laughter.</p> + +<p>"Well, Tode," he said at last, "I'm sorry +you're such a simpleton. I had a higher opinion +of your sharpness. I think Mr. Roberts +meant to do well by you. Who has been filling +your head with these foolish ideas?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[118]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Habakkuk has, sir. Only one who has said +a word."</p> + +<p>There was no sort of use in talking to Tode. +Mr. Hastings seemed desirous of cutting the +interview short.</p> + +<p>"Very well," he said, "I don't see but you +have taken matters entirely into your own +hands. What do you want of me?"</p> + +<p>"Nothing, sir, only I—" And here Tode +almost broke down; a mist came suddenly before +his eyes, and his voice seemed to slip away +from him. The poor boy felt himself swinging +adrift from the only one to whom he had ever +seemed to belong. A very soft, tender feeling +had sprung up in his heart for this rich man. +It had been pleasant to meet him on the street +and think, "I belong to him." The feeling was +new to the friendless, worse than orphan boy, +and he had taken great pride and pleasure in +it; so now he choked, and his face grew red as +at last he stammered:</p> + +<p>"I—I like you, and—" Then another pause.</p> + +<p>Mr. Hastings bowed.</p> + +<p>"That is very kind, certainly. What then?"</p> + +<p>"Would you let me bring up the mail for you +evenings just the same? I wouldn't want no +pay, and I'd like to keep doing it for you."</p> + +<p>Mr. Hastings shook his head.</p> + +<p>"Oh no, I wouldn't trouble a man of your<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[119]</a></span> +position for the world. Jim, or some other <i>boy</i>, +will answer my purpose very well. Since you +choose to cut yourself aloof from me when I +was willing to befriend you, why you must +abide by your intentions, and not hang around +after me in any way."</p> + +<p>Tode's eyes flashed.</p> + +<p>"I don't <i>want</i> to hang around you," he began +as he turned to go. Then he stopped again; +he was leaving the house for the last time. +This one friend of his was out of sorts with +him, wouldn't let him come again; and the little +Dora, who had showed him about making +all the letters and figures, he was to see no +more. All the tender and gentle in his heart, +and there was a good deal, swelled up again. +There were tears in his eyes when he looked +back at Mr. Hastings with his message.</p> + +<p>"Would you please tell your little girl that +I'm glad about the letters and figures, and I'll +never forget 'em; and—and—if I can ever do +some little thing for you I'll do it."</p> + +<p>Someway Mr. Hastings was growing annoyed. +He spoke in mock dignity.</p> + +<p>"I shall certainly remember your kindness," +he said, bowing low. "And if ever I should be +in need of your valuable assistance, I shall not +hesitate to send for you."</p> + +<p>So Tode went out from the Hastings' man<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[120]</a></span>sion +feeling sore-hearted, realizing thus early in +his pilgrimage that there were hard places in +the way. He walked down the street with a +troubled, perplexed air. What to do next was +the question. That is, having settled affairs +with Mr. Roberts, and slept for the last time in +his little narrow bed, whither should he turn his +thoughts and his steps on the morrow? Tode +had been earning his living, and enjoying the +comforts of a home long enough to have a sore, +choked feeling over the thought of giving them +up. A sense of desolation, such as he had not +felt during all his homeless days, crept steadily +over him; and as he walked along the busy +street, with his hands thrust drearily into his +pockets, he forgot to whistle as was his wont.</p> + +<p>Mr. Stephens was hastening home from his +office with quick business tread. He was just +in front, and instinctively the boy quickened +his step to keep pace with the rapid one. Tode +knew him well, had waited on him at table when +there came now and then a stormy day, and +he sought the hotel at the dining hour instead +of his own handsome home. He halted presently +before a bookstore and went in. Tode +lounged in after him. Already the old careless +feeling that he might as well do that as any +thing had begun to control him again. Mr. +Stephens made his purchase, gave a bill in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[121]</a></span> +payment and waited for his change, and from +his open pocket-book, all unknown to him, +there fluttered a bit of paper, and lodged +at Tode's feet. Tode glanced quickly about +him, nobody else saw it. Mr. Stephens was +already deep in conversation with an acquaintance, +and might have dropped a dozen bits of +paper without knowing it. The paper might be +of value, and it might not. Tode composedly +put his foot over it, put his hands in his pockets, +and stood still. Mr. Stephens departed. There +was a bit of brown paper on the floor. Tode +stooped and carefully picked that and the other +crumpled bit up, and busied himself apparently +in wrapping something carefully up in the +brown paper. Then he waited again. Presently +a clerk came toward him.</p> + +<p>"Well, sir, what will you have?"</p> + +<p>"Shoe-strings," answered Tode, gravely.</p> + +<p>"We don't keep them in a bookstore, my +boy."</p> + +<p>"Oh, you don't. Then I may as well leave." +And Tode vanished.</p> + +<p>"Who's the wiser for that, I'd like to know?" +he asked himself aloud as soon as the door was +closed. Then he started for the hotel in high +glee. He stopped under a street lamp to discover +what his treasure might be, and behold, +it was a ten dollar bill! Now indeed Tode was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[122]</a></span> +jubilant; a grand addition that would make to +his little hoard, and visions of all sorts of +wished for treasures danced through his brain. +His spirits rose with every step; he sung and +whistled and danced by turns. Had this strange +boy then forgotten the errand which had taken +him out that evening? Not by any means. +He went directly to the office as soon as he +reached the house and made known to Mr. +Roberts his intention of leaving him. He +stood perfectly firm under Mr. Roberts' questioning +persuasions and rather tempting offers. +He squarely and distinctly gave his reasons for +leaving, and endured with a good-natured smile +the laugh and the jeers that were raised at his +expense. He endured as bravely as he could +whatever there was to endure for conscience' +sake that evening, and finally went up to his +room triumphant—triumphant not only in that, +but also over the fact that he had successfully +stolen a ten dollar bill. Oh, Tode, Tode! And +yet there was the teaching of all his life in favor +of that way of getting money, and he knew +almost nothing against it. He had only three +leaves of a Bible; he had never heard the +eighth commandment in his life. He knew in +a vague general way that it was wrong, not perhaps +to steal, but to be <i>found</i> stealing. Just +why he could not have told, but he knew pos<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[123]</a></span>itively +this much, that it generally fared ill with +a person who was caught in a theft, but his +ideas were very vague and misty; besides he +did not by any means call himself a thief. He +had not gone after the money, it had come to +him. He was very much elated, and as he +went about making ready for sleep he discussed +his plans aloud.</p> + +<p>"I'll go into business, just as sure as you +live, I will. I'll keep a hotel myself; I'll begin +to-morrow; I'll have cakes and pies and crackers +and wine. Oh bless me, no, I can't have wine, +but coffee. <i>Jolly</i>, I can make tall coffee, I can, +and that's what I'll have <i>prezactly</i>. This ten +dollar patch will buy a whole stock of goodies, +and I won't clerk it another day, <i>see</i> if I do."</p> + +<p>By and by he quieted down, so that by the +time his candle was blown out and he was settled +for the night, graver thoughts began to +come.</p> + +<p>"'Tain't right to steal," he said aloud. "I +know 'tain't right, 'cause a fellow always feels +mean and sneaking after it, and 'cause he's so +awful afraid of being found out. When I've +done a nice decent thing, I don't care whether +I'm found out or not; but then I didn't steal. +I didn't go into his pocket-book, it blew down +to me—no fault of mine; all I did was just +to pick a piece of paper off the floor, no harm<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[124]</a></span> +in that. How did <i>I</i> know it was worth anything? +What's the use of me thinking about +it anyhow? He'll never miss it in the world; +he's rich—my! as rich as the President."</p> + +<p>Tode turned uneasily on his pillow, shut his +eyes very tight, and pretended to himself that +he was asleep. No use, they flew open again. +He began to grow indignant.</p> + +<p>"I hope I'll never have another ten dollars as +long as I live, if it's got to make all this fuss!" +he said in a disgusted tone. "I wish I'd never +picked up his old rag—I don't like the feeling +of it. I didn't steal it, that's sure; but I've got +it, and I wish I hadn't."</p> + +<p>"The eyes of the Lord are in every place, +beholding the evil and the good." That verse +again, coming back to him with great force, +beholding the evil and the good. Which was +this? Was it good? Tode's uneducated, undisciplined +conscience had to say nay to this. +Well, then, was it evil?</p> + +<p>"I feel mean," he said, reflectively. "As +mean as a thief, pretty near. I wouldn't like to +have anybody know it. I wouldn't tell of it for +anything. S'pose I go down there to that +prayer-meeting and tell it. Would I do <i>it?</i> +No, <i>sir</i>—'cause why? I'm ashamed of it. But +then I didn't <i>steal</i> it; I didn't even know it was +money. Oh bah! Tode Mall, don't you try to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[125]</a></span> +pull wool over your own eyes that way. Didn't +you s'pose it was, and would you have took +the trouble to get it if you hadn't s'posed so? +Come now. And then see here, I wouldn't +have anybody know about it; and after all +there's them eyes that are in every place, looking +right at me. 'Tain't right, that is sure and +certain. I didn't steal it, but I've got it, and it +ain't mine, and I oughtn't to have it. I could +have handed it back easy enough if I'd wanted +to. So I don't see but it looks about as mean +as stealing, and feels about as mean, and maybe +after all it's pretty much the same thing. Now +what be I going to do?"</p> + +<p>And now he tumbled and tossed harder than +ever. That same miserable fear of those pure +eyes began to creep over him again, accompanied +by a dreary sense of having lost something, +some loving presence and companionship +on which he had leaned in the darkness.</p> + +<p>"I'll never do it again," he said at last, with +solemn earnestness. "I <i>never will</i>, not if I starve +and freeze and choke to death. I'll let old rags +that blow to me alone after this, I will."</p> + +<p>Then, after a moment's silence, he clasped +his hands together and said with great earnestness:</p> + +<p>"O Lord Jesus, forgive me this once, and I'll +never do it again—never."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[126]</a></span></p> + +<p>After that he thought he could go to sleep +but the heavy weight rested still on his heart. +He was not so much afraid of those solemn +eyes as he was sorry. An only half understood +feeling of having hurt that one friend of his +came over him.</p> + +<p>"What be I going to do?" he said aloud and +pitifully. "I <i>am</i> sorry—I'm sorry I did it, and +I'll never do it again."</p> + +<p>Still the heavy weight did not lift. Presently +he flounced out of bed, and lighted his candle +in haste.</p> + +<p>"I'll burn the mean old rag up, I will, so," +he said with energy. "See if I'm going to lie +awake all night and bother about it. I ain't going +to use it, either. I don't believe I've got +any right to, 'cause it ain't mine."</p> + +<p>By this time the ten dollar bill was very near +the candle flame. Then it was suddenly drawn +back, while a look of great perplexity appeared +on Tode's face.</p> + +<p>"If it ain't mine what right have I got to +burn it up, I'd like to know? I never did see +such a fix in my life. I can't use it, and I +can't burn it, and the land knows I don't want +to keep it. Whatever be I going to do? I +wish he had it back again; that's where it ought +to be. What if I should—well, now, there's no +use talking; but s'pose I ought to, what then?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[127]</a></span></p> + +<p>And there stood the poor befogged boy, +holding the doomed bill between his thumb and +finger, and staring gloomily at the flickering +candle. At last the look of indecision vanished, +and he began rapid preparations for a +walk.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 60px;"> +<img src="images/deco3.png" width="60" height="27" alt="Decoration" title="Decoration" /> +</div> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[128]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XII.</h2> + +<h3>THE STEPPING STONE.</h3> + + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 18px;"> +<img src="images/t.png" width="18" height="55" alt="T" title="T" /> +</div> + +<div class='unindent'><br /><big>HUS</big> it was that Mr. Stephens, sitting in his +private room running over long rows of +figures, was startled, somewhere near midnight, +by a quick ring of the door-bell. His +household were quiet for the night, so he went +himself to answer the ring, and encountered +Tode, who thrust a bit of paper toward him, +and spoke rapidly.</div> + +<p>"Here, Mr. Stephens, is your ten dollars. I +didn't steal it, but it blew to me, and I kept it +till I found I couldn't, and then I brought it."</p> + +<p>"What is all this about?" asked bewildered +Mr. Stephens. "Come in, my boy, and tell me +what is the matter."</p> + +<p>And presently Tode was seated in one of the +great arm-chairs in Mr. Stephens' private room.</p> + +<p>"Now, what is it, my lad, that has brought +you to me at this hour of the night?" questioned +that gentleman.</p> + +<p>"Why, there's your money," said Tode,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[129]</a></span> +spreading out the ten dollar bill on the table +before them. "You dropped it, you see, in the +bookstore, and I picked it up. It blew to me, +I didn't steal it, leastways I didn't think I did; +but I don't know but it's just about as bad. +At any rate I've brought it back, and there +'tis."</p> + +<p>"Why!" said Mr. Stephens, "is it <i>possible</i> +that I dropped a bill?" And he drew forth his +pocket-book for examination. "Yes, that's a +fact. Really, I deserve to lose it for my carelessness. +And so you decided to bring it back? +Well, I'm glad of that; but how came you to +do it?"</p> + +<p>"Oh," said Tode, "I couldn't sleep. The +eyes of the Lord, you know, were looking at +me, and I tumbled about, and thought maybe +it wasn't right, and pretty soon I knew it wasn't, +and then I asked the Lord Jesus to forgive me, +and I didn't feel much better; and then I got +up and thought I'd burn the mean thing up in +the candle, and then I thought I musn't, 'cause +it wasn't mine; and by that time I hated it, and +didn't want it to be mine; and then after awhile +I thought I ought to bring it to you, but I +didn't want to, but I thought I ought to, and +there 'tis."</p> + +<p>Mr. Stephens watched the glowing face of +his visitor during this recital, and said nothing.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[130]</a></span> +After he finished said nothing—only suddenly +at last:</p> + +<p>"Where do you live, my boy?"</p> + +<p>"I live at one of the hotels—no, I don't, I +don't live no where. I did till to-night, and to-night +I sleep there, and after that I don't belong +nowhere."</p> + +<p>"Have you been employed in a hotel?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir."</p> + +<p>"Why do you leave?"</p> + +<p>"'Cause I can't be putting bottles to my +neighbors any longer. You know what Habakkuk +says about that, I suppose?"</p> + +<p>Tode was ignorant, you see. He made the +strange mistake of supposing that every educated +man was familiar with the Bible. Again +Mr. Stephens said nothing. Presently, with a +little tremble to his voice, he asked another +question:</p> + +<p>"Have you given yourself to the Lord Jesus, +my boy?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir," Tode answered, simply.</p> + +<p>"That is good. Do you know I think you +have pleased him to-night? You have done +what you could to right the wrong, and done it +for his sake."</p> + +<p>And now Tode's eye shone with pleasure. +After a moment's silence he asked:</p> + +<p>"What are you going to do with me, sir?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[131]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Do with you? I am going to be much +obliged to you for returning my property."</p> + +<p>"Yes, but I didn't do it straight off, and at +first I meant to keep it."</p> + +<p>"Which was bad, decidedly, and I don't think +you will do it again. Can you write?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir," Tode answered him, proudly.</p> + +<p>"You may write your name on that card for +me."</p> + +<p>Tode obeyed with alacrity, and wrote in +capitals, because he had a dim notion that capitals +belonged especially to names:</p> + +<p> +T O D E M A L L.<br /> +</p> + +<p>"What are you going to do for a living after +this?" further questioned Mr. Stephens, thoughtfully +fingering the ten dollar bill.</p> + +<p>"Going to keep a hotel of my own."</p> + +<p>"Oh, you are? In what part of the town?"</p> + +<p>"Don't know. Down by the depot somewhere, +I reckon."</p> + +<p>Mr. Stephens folded the ten dollar bill and +put it in his pocket. Tode rose to go.</p> + +<p>"Now, my friend," said Mr. Stephens, "shall +you and I kneel down and thank the Lord Jesus +for the care which he has had over you to-night, +and for the help which he has given you?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir," answered Tode, promptly, not +having the remotest idea what kneeling down +meant, but he followed Mr. Stephens' move<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[132]</a></span>ment, +and was commended to God in such a +simple, earnest prayer that he had never heard +before. He went out from the house in a sober +though happy mood. He felt older and wiser +than he did when he entered; he had heard a +prayer offered for him, and he had been told +that the Lord Jesus was pleased with his attempt +to do right. Instead of going home he went +around by the depot, and bestowed searching +glances on each building as he passed by. Directly +opposite the depot buildings there were +two rum-shops and an oyster-saloon.</p> + +<p>"This spot would do," said Tode, thoughtfully, +halting in front of the illest looking of the +rum-shops. "If I can set up right here now, +why I'll do it."</p> + +<p>A very dismal, very forbidding spot it seemed +to be, and why any person should deliberately +select it as a place for commencing business +was a mystery; but Tode had his own ideas on +the subject, and seemed satisfied. He looked +about him. The night was dark save for street +lamps, and there were none reflecting just where +he stood. There was a revel going on down in +the rum-cellar, but he was out of the range of +their lights; elsewhere it was quiet enough. It +was quite midnight now, and that end of the +city was in comparative silence.</p> + +<p>What did Tode mean to do next? and why<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[133]</a></span> +was he peering about so stealthily to see if any +human eye was on him? Surely with so recent +a lesson fresh in mind, he had not already forgotten +the All-seeing Eye? Was he going to +offend it again? He waited until quite certain +that no one was observing him, then he went +around to the side of an old barrel and kneeled +down, and clasped his hands together as Mr. +Stephens had done, and he said: "O Lord +Jesus, if I come down here to live I'll try to do +right all around here, every time." Then he +rose up and went home to his room and his +bed. He had been down in the midnight and +selected the spot for his next efforts, and consecrated +it to the Lord. Another thing, he had +found out how people did when they talked with +God. After that Tode always knelt down to +pray.</p> + +<p>It was not yet eight o'clock when Tode, his +breakfast eaten, his bundle packed, himself +ready to migrate, sat down once more on the +edge of that bed, and began to calculate the +state of his finances. He had been at work in +the hotel for his board and clothing; but then +there had been many errands on which he had +run for those who had given him a dime, or, now +and then, a quarter, and his expenditures had +been small; so now as he counted the miscellaneous +heap, he discovered himself to be the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[134]</a></span> +honest owner of six dollars and seventy-eight +cents.</p> + +<p>"That ain't so bad to start on," he told himself, +complacently. "A fellow who can't begin +business on that capital, ain't much of a fellow. +I wonder now if ever I'll take a peak at this +little room of mine again; 'tain't a bad room; +I'll have one of my own just like it one of these +days. I'll have a square patch of carpet just +that size, red and green and yellow, like that, +and I'll have a patchwork quilt like this one; +who'll make it for me though? Ho, I'll find +somebody. I wonder who'll sleep in this bed +of mine after this? Jim won't, 'cause Jim sleeps +with his brother. I reckon it's fun to have a +brother. Maybe there'll be some fellow here +that I can come and see now and then. Well, +come Tode, you and I must go, we must, there's +business to be done."</p> + +<p>So the boy rose up, put away his money carefully, +slung his bundle over his shoulder, took a +last, long, loving look at the familiar surroundings, +coughed once or twice, choked a little, rubbed +his eyes with the sleeve of his jacket, and +went out from his only home. On the stairs +he encountered Jim.</p> + +<p>"Jim," said he, "I'm going now; if you only +<i>wouldn't</i>, you know."</p> + +<p>"Wouldn't what?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[135]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Give your neighbor drink."</p> + +<p>"Pooh!" said Jim, "<i>You're</i> a goose; better +come back and be decent."</p> + +<p>"Good-by," was Tode's answer, as he vanished +around the corner. He went directly to +the spot opposite the depot, which he had selected +the night before, and descended at once +to the cellar.</p> + +<p>"Want to rent that stone out down there, +between your building and the alley?" he +questioned of the ill-looking man, who seemed +to be in attendance.</p> + +<p>"Um, well, no, I reckon not; guess you'd +have a time of getting it away."</p> + +<p>"Don't <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'wan't'">want</ins> to get it away; it's just in the +right spot for me."</p> + +<p>"What, for the land's sake, do you mean to do?"</p> + +<p>"I mean to set up business right out there on +that stone."</p> + +<p>This idea caused a general laugh among the +loungers in the cellar; but Tode stood gravely +awaiting a decision.</p> + +<p>"What wares might you be going to keep, +youngster?" at last queried one of the red-nosed +customers.</p> + +<p>"Cakes and coffee."</p> + +<p>"Oh, ho!" exclaimed the proprietor, eyeing +him keenly. "And whisky, too, I wouldn't be +afraid to bet."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[136]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Not a bit of it; you keep enough of that +stuff for you and me, too."</p> + +<p>"And where might you be going to make +your coffee?"</p> + +<p>"I ain't going to make it until I get a place +to put it," was Tode's brief reply.</p> + +<p>"Do you want to rent that stone, or not, +that's the question? and the quicker you tell +me, the quicker I'll know."</p> + +<p>"Well, how much will you pay for it?"</p> + +<p>"Just as little as I can get it for." This +caused another laugh from the listeners.</p> + +<p>"You're a cute one," complimented the owner. +"Well, now, seeing it's you, you can have it on +trial for two dollars a week, I reckon."</p> + +<p>"I reckon it will be after this when I do," +said Tode, turning on his heel.</p> + +<p>"Hold up. What's the matter? Don't the +terms suit? Why that's <i>very</i> reasonable!"</p> + +<p>"All right. Then rent it to the first chap +who'll take it for two dollars; but <i>I</i> ain't acquainted +with him."</p> + +<p>"How much <i>will</i> you give then?"</p> + +<p>"How much will you take?"</p> + +<p>"Well, now, I like to help the young, so I'll +take a dollar a week."</p> + +<p>"Not from me," said Tode, promptly.</p> + +<p>"Do hear the fellow! As generous as I've<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[137]</a></span> +been to him, too. Well, come, now, its your +turn to make an offer."</p> + +<p>"I'll give you fifty cents a week, and pay you +every Saturday night at seven o'clock."</p> + +<p>"It's a bargain," exclaimed the man, striking +his hand down on the counter, till the dirty +glasses jingled. There was a further attempt +to discover the intention of the new firm, but +Tode made his escape the moment the bargain +was concluded, and went off vigorously to work +to get the old barrel out of his premises. Then +he departed, and presently made his appearance +again with an old dry-goods box, which he +brought on a wheelbarrow, and deposited +squarely on the stone. Off again, and back +with boards, hammer and nails. And then ensued +a vigorous pounding, which, when it was +finished, was productive of three neat fitting +shelves inside the dry-goods box.</p> + +<p>"Jolly," he said, eyeing his work triumphantly +and his fingers ruefully, "I'm glad I own +a hotel instead of a carpenter's shop. I wonder +now which I did pound the oftenest, them nails +or my thumb? Ain't my shelves some though? +So much got along with; now for my next +move. I wonder where the old lady lives what's +going to lend her stove for my coffee? Must be +somewhere along here, because I couldn't go +far away from my place of business after it,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[138]</a></span> +specially if all my waiters should happen to be +out when the rush comes. I may as well start +off and hunt her up."</p> + +<p>Just next to the oyster-saloon was a little +old yellow house. Thither Tode bent his +steps, and knocked boldly at the door. No +reply.</p> + +<p>"Not at home," he said, shaking his head as +he peeped in at the curtainless window. "No +use of talking about you then. <i>You</i> won't +do, 'cause you see my old lady must be at +home. I can't be having her run off just at +the busiest time."</p> + +<p>There were two doors very near together, and +our young adventurer tried the next one. It +was quickly opened, and a very slatternly young +woman appeared to him with a baby in her +arms, and three almost babies hanging to various +portions of her dress.</p> + +<p>"Does Mr. Smith live here?" queried Tode.</p> + +<p>The woman shook her head and slammed the +door.</p> + +<p>"That's lucky now," soliloquized Tode; "because +he <i>does</i> live most everywhere, and I don't +want to see him just about now—fact is, it +would never do to have them nine babies tumbling +into my coffee and getting scalded."</p> + +<p>He trudged back to a little weather-worn, +tumble-down building on the other side of his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[139]</a></span> +new enterprise, and knocked. Such a dear little +old fat woman in a bright calico dress, and +with a wide white frill to her cap, answered his +knock. He chuckled inwardly, and said at +once: "I guess you're the woman what's going +to let me boil my coffee on your stove, and +warm a pie now and then, ain't you?"</p> + +<p>"Whatever is the lad talking about?" asked +the bewildered old lady.</p> + +<p>"Why—" said Tode, conscious that he had +made a very unbusiness-like opening, and he +begun at the beginning, and told her his +story.</p> + +<p>"Well now, I never!" said the woman, sinking +into a chair. "No, I never did in all my life! +And so you left that there place, because you +wasn't going to give bottles to your neighbors +no longer, and now you're going into business +for yourself? Well, well, the land knows I +wish there wasn't no bottles to put to 'em—and +then they wouldn't be put, you know; and if +there's anything I <i>do</i> pray for with all my might +and main, next to prayin' that my two boys would +let the bottles alone—which I'm afraid they +don't, and more's the pity—it's that the bottles +will all get clean smashed up one of these days, +in His own good time you know."</p> + +<p>Tode turned upon her an eager, questioning +look.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[140]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Who do you pray to?" he asked, abruptly.</p> + +<p>"Why, bless the boy! I ain't a heathen, you +know, to bow down to wood and stone, the +work of men's hands, and them things as it +were. I pray to the dear Lord that made me, +and died for me too, and, for the matter of that, +lives for me all the time."</p> + +<p>A bright color glowed in Tode's cheek, and a +bright fire sparkled in his eye.</p> + +<p>"I know him," he said, briefly and earnestly.</p> + +<p>"Now, do you, though?" said the little old +lady, as eager and earnest as himself, "and do +you pray to him?"</p> + +<p>Tode gravely bowed his head.</p> + +<p>"Then I'll let you have my stove and my +coffee-pot, and my oven, and welcome, and I'll +look after the coffee and the pies now and then +myself. I'll give you a lift as sure as I have a +coffee-pot to lend. Like enough you're one of +the Lord's own, and have been sent right +straight here for me to give a cup of cold water +to, you know, or to look after your coffee for +you, and it's all the same, you know, so you do +it in the name of a disciple."</p> + +<p>Will Tode ever forget the feeling of solemn +joy with which he finally turned away from the +dear little old lady's door? He had really +talked with one of those who knew the Lord, +and he was to see her every day, two or three<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[141]</a></span> +times a day, and perhaps she knew things that +he did not; about Habakkuk—like enough. +"She knew about that bottle business as well +as I did," he said gleefully, as he flew back +to his dry-goods box. Such delightful arrangements +as he made with her, too!—elegant +cakes she was to make him, better than +any that could be bought at the baker's he was +sure, though he had called there on his way for +the dry-goods box, and made what he considered +a very fine bargain with him. Altogether +it was a very busy day; he had never flown +around more industriously at the hotel than he +did on this first day of business for himself. He +dined on crackers and cheese, and missed, as little +as he could help, the grand dinner which would +have been sure to fall to his share at his old +quarters, and which he hardly understood that +he had given up for conscience' sake. "There +now," he said, with a final chuckle of satisfaction, +just as the twilight was beginning to fall, +"I'm fixed all snug and fine—by to-morrow +morning, bright and early, I'll be ready for business!" +Then suddenly he dived his hands +into his pockets, and gave a low, long, perplexed +whistle—then gave vent to his new idea in +words:</p> + +<p>"Where in the name of all that's funny and +ridiculous, be I going to spend the time 'tween<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[142]</a></span> +this and to-morrow morning? Just as true as +you're alive and hearty, Tode Mall, I never once +thought of that idea till this blessed minute—did +you?</p> + +<p>"Whatever is to be did! I've slept, to be +sure, in lots of places, on the steps, and in barrels, +and I ain't no ways discomflusticated; but +then, you see, after a fellow has slept on a bed +for a spell, why, he has a kind of a hankering +<i>after</i> a bed to sleep on some more. Hold on, +though! why don't I board? That's the way +men do when they go into business. Tode, +you're green, <i>very</i> green, I'm afraid, not to think +of that before. Course I'll board! I'll go right +<ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'sraight'">straight</ins> down to the old lady, and order rooms."</p> + +<p>But the old lady shook her head, and looked +troubled. "You see," said she, "I ain't got +but one bed for spare, and I've got a boy. I've +got two of 'em; but they don't sleep at home, +only my youngest; he comes a visiting sometimes, +and if he should come and find a stranger +sleeping in his bed, why, he'd feel kind of +homesick, I'm afraid, and I want Jim to feel that +this is the best home that ever was, I do."</p> + +<p>Tode bestowed a very searching look on the +earnest little old woman in answer to this, and +then spoke rapidly:</p> + +<p>"I shouldn't wonder one bit if you was our +Jim's mother down at the Euclid House—that's<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[143]</a></span> +where I lived, and that's where he lives, only he +don't sleep there—he sleeps with his brother +Rick, down at the livery stable. Now, ain't +they your two boys?"</p> + +<p>"They are so!" the old lady answered, speaking +as eagerly as he had done.</p> + +<p>"And so you know them! Well, now, <i>don't</i> +things work around queer?" Then she shut +the door and locked it, and came over to Tode +so close that her cap frills almost touched his +curly head, before she whispered her next sentence:</p> + +<p>"Now, I know you will tell me just the truth. +Do them two boys of mine touch the bottles +for themselves?"</p> + +<p>How gently and pitifully Tode answered the +poor mother! "I guess they do, a little—all +the fellows do, except just me—they don't +think it's any harm."</p> + +<p>"I knew it, I knew it!" she said, pitifully. +"Their father would, and <i>they</i> will."</p> + +<p>Then, after a moment, she rallied.</p> + +<p>"But I don't give up hope for 'em, not a bit, +and I ain't going to so long as I can pray for +'em. Now I'll tell you what we'll do. The +Lord has sent you to help me, I do guess—I +asked him if I couldn't have somebody just to +give me a lift with them. You'll have Jim's +room, and when he comes you'll be just nice<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[144]</a></span> +and comfortable together, seeing you know +each other. Rick, he never comes home for +all night, 'cause he can't get away. And then +you'll help me keep an eye on Jim, and say +a word to him now and then when you can, +and pray for him every single day—will you +now?"</p> + +<p>So when the night closed in, Tode's bundle +was unpacked, and his clothes hung on Jim's +nails, and once again he had a home.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 75px;"> +<img src="images/deco4.png" width="75" height="36" alt="Decoration" title="Decoration" /> +</div> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[145]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XIII.</h2> + +<h3>TODE'S REAL ESTATE.</h3> + + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 19px;"> +<img src="images/b.png" width="19" height="55" alt="B" title="B" /> +</div> + +<div class='unindent'><br /><big>Y</big> next evening business had fairly commenced. +The first day's sales were encouraging +in the extreme, the more so that +Tode had rescued two boys from the vortex on +his left, and persuaded them into taking a cup +of his excellent coffee instead of something +stronger. Among the accomplishments that +he acquired at the Euclid House was the art +of making delicious coffee, an art which bid +fair to do him good service now. He set a +very inviting looking table. A very coarse, +but delightfully clean white cloth, hid the roughness +and imperfections of the dry-goods box; +and his stock of crockery, consisting of three +cups and saucers, three large plates, and three +pie plates, purchased at the auction rooms, +were disposed of with all the skill which +his native tact and his apprenticeship at the +Euclid House had taught him. After mature +deliberation he had bargained for and rolled<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[146]</a></span> +back the barrel, made it stationary with the +help of a nail or two, and mounting it was +ready for customers. He had them, too—one +especially, whose appearance filled him with +great satisfaction. With the incoming of the +four o'clock train Mr. Stephens appeared, stopped +in surprise on seeing his new acquaintance, +asked numerous questions, and finally remarked +that he had been gone all day, and might as +well take his lunch there and go directly to the +store. So Tode had the very great pleasure of +seeing him drink two cups of his coffee, eat +three of his cakes, and lay down fifty cents in +payment thereof. Never was there a more satisfied +boy than he, when at dusk he packed his +cakes into a basket procured for the purpose, +covered them carefully with the table-cloth, +tucked the coffee-pot in at one end, and marched +whistling away toward home. He had been +gone since quite early in the morning, had procured +his own breakfast and dinner, according +to previous arrangement, but was going home +to tea.</div> + +<p>It is doubtful if there will ever anything look +nicer to Tode than did <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'tha'">that</ins> little clean room, and +that little square table, with its bit of a white +patched table-cloth, and its three plates and +three knives, and its loaf of bread, and its very +little lump of butter; a little black teakettle<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[147]</a></span> +puffed and steamed its welcome, and a very +funny little old brown ware teapot stood waiting +on the hearth. There was that in this poor +homeless boy's nature that took this picture in, +and he felt it to his very heart. It was better +a hundred times than the glitter and grandeur +of the Euclid House, for didn't he know perfectly +well that the little brown teapot on the +hearth was waiting for <i>him</i>, and had anything +ever waited for <i>him</i> before?</p> + +<p>"Now we are all ready," chirped the old lady, +cheerily, as Tode set down his basket and took +off his cap. "Come Winny," and straightway +there appeared from the little room of the kitchen +a new character in this story of Tode's life, +one whom the boy had never heard of before, +and at whom he stared as startled as if she had +suddenly blown up to them, fairy-like, from out +the wide mouth of the black teakettle.</p> + +<p>"This is my Winny," explained she of the +frill cap. "This is Jim's and Rick's sister. Dear +me! I don't believe I ever thought to tell you +they had a sister. She was to school when you +was bobbing back and forth yesterday and to-day, +and she was to bed when you came home +last night."</p> + +<p>"Well she's here now," interrupted Winny. +"Ready to be looked at, which she's likely to +be, I should think. Let's have tea."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[148]</a></span></p> + +<p>Tode had been very uncertain as to whether +he liked this new revelation of the family; but +one word in the mother's sentence smoothed his +face, and he sat down opposite the great gray +eyes of the grave, self-possessed looking Winny +with a satisfied air.</p> + +<p>"Now," said the mother, looking kindly on +him, "I've always asked a blessing myself at my +table, because Jim and Rick they don't neither +of 'em lean that way, but if you would do it I +think it would be all right and nice."</p> + +<p>Tode looked bewildered a moment; then +adopted the very wise and straightforward course +of saying:</p> + +<p>"I don't know what 'asking a blessing' means."</p> + +<p>"Don't you, now? Why it's to say a little +prayer to God before you eat—just to thank +him, you know."</p> + +<p>A little gleam of satisfaction shone in Tode's +eyes.</p> + +<p>"Do good people do that?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"Why, yes—all the folks I ever lived with +when I was a girl. Deacon Small's family, and +Esquire Edward's family, and all, used to."</p> + +<p>"Every time they eat?"</p> + +<p>"Every single time."</p> + +<p>"That's <i>nice</i>," said Tode, heartily. Whereat +the gray eyes opposite looked wonderingly at +him. "I like that. Now, what do they say?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[149]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Oh they just pray a little simple word—just +to say thank you to the Lord, you know."</p> + +<p>"And do you want me to do it?"</p> + +<p>"Well, I think it would be nice and proper +like, if you felt like it."</p> + +<p>Reverently Tode closed his eyes, and reverently +and simply did he offer his thanksgiving.</p> + +<p>"O Lord, we thank you for this bread and +butter and tea."</p> + +<p>Then he commenced at once on the subject +of his thoughts. Conversation addressed to +Winny.</p> + +<p>"Do you go to school?"</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>"What kind of a place is school?"</p> + +<p>"Nice enough place if you want to learn, +stupid if you don't."</p> + +<p>"Do you want to learn?"</p> + +<p>"Some."</p> + +<p>"Well, what do you learn?"</p> + +<p>"Reading, spelling, writing, geography, arithmetic, +and grammar."</p> + +<p>"My! What are <i>all</i> them things?"</p> + +<p>"Don't you know what reading is?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, I know them first three; but what's +the long words?"</p> + +<p>"Well, geography is about the earth."</p> + +<p>"Earth? What do you mean, dirt?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[150]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Some—and some water, and some hills, and +rivers, and cities, and mountains."</p> + +<p>"But you can see all them things."</p> + +<p>"Well, it tells you more than you can see."</p> + +<p>"And what's t'other?"</p> + +<p>"Arithmetic is about figures. What are you +asking me so many questions for?—didn't you +ever go to school?"</p> + +<p>"Never did in all my life, not an hour. Now +go on about the figures."</p> + +<p>"Well, all about them—how to add and multiply, +and subtract and divide, and fractions."</p> + +<p>"Never heard of one of 'em," said Tode, with +a little sigh. "What be they all for?"</p> + +<p>"Why so you can buy things and sell them, +and keep accounts, and everything."</p> + +<p>"Then I ought to know 'em, 'cause that's +what I'm doing. Do you know 'em?"</p> + +<p>"I'm studying arithmetic, and I'm as far as +fractions."</p> + +<p>"Will you show 'em to me?"</p> + +<p>"Mother," said Winny, turning despairing +eyes on the attentive old lady, "he's such a +funny boy. I don't know what to make of him."</p> + +<p>"He wants to study and learn, deary, don't +you see?"</p> + +<p>"I think that's just as nice as can be," she +added, turning to Tode. "Winny, she's a great +scholar, keeps to the head of her class all the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[151]</a></span> +time, most, and she studies evenings, and you +could get out your book, and she would show +you all about things, couldn't you, deary?"</p> + +<p>"I don't care," said Winny, listlessly. "Yes, +I might if he wants to learn, and if he won't +bother me too much."</p> + +<p>Tode's cheeks were all aglow. He had awakened +lately to the fact that there was a great deal +in this world that he didn't understand, that he +wanted to know about; and without a doubt but +that this wise-eyed girl knew it all, and that he +should learn it all, and that he should learn it +from her in a little while. He went to work +with alacrity. Examination came first—that is, +it came after the dishes were washed. Then Tode +displayed his reading powers, which really <i>were</i> +remarkable when one considered that he could +hardly tell himself how he happened to learn, +but which sank into insignificance by the side +of Winny's clear-toned, correct, careful reading. +Tode listened in amazement and delight.</p> + +<p>"That sounds just like mine," he said at last, +drawing in his breath as she finished.</p> + +<p>In return for which graceful compliment, +which had the merit of being an unconscious +one, Winny condescended to compliment him +on the manner in which his letters, large and +small, were gotten up.</p> + +<p>"They ought to be nice," Tode explained,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[152]</a></span> +"the way I worked at 'em! It took me a week +off and on, to make that K crook in and out, and +up and down, as it ought to. Dora Hastings, +she told me about 'em, and made the patterns. +You don't know Dora Hastings, do you?"</p> + +<p>"No, I never heard of her; but these are not +patterns, they are copies; and there is no such +word as ''em,' which you keep using so much. +Our teachers told us so to-day."</p> + +<p>"What's the reason there isn't?"</p> + +<p>"Well, because there <i>isn't;</i> it's '<i>them</i>' and +not ''em' at all. And you use a great many +words that they wouldn't allow you to if you +went to school."</p> + +<p>"Well then," said Tode, with unfailing good +nature, "don't <i>you</i> let me say 'em then—no, I +mean '<i>them</i>.' You're the school misses, and I'm +your school. Go on about the other things."</p> + +<p>It was a busy evening. Arithmetic, except +so much as had been required to count his small +income, proved to be a sealed book to Tode; +but the energy with which he began at the beginning, +and tried to learn every word in it, was +quite soothing to the heart of the young teacher.</p> + +<p>The little mother sat at the end of the table, and +sewed industriously on the clothes that she had +washed and ironed during the day; but when a +queer little old clock in the corner struck nine, +she bit off her thread and fastened her needle<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[153]</a></span> +on the yellow cushion, and interrupted the students.</p> + +<p>"Now, deary, let's put away our work. You've +made a first-rate beginning, but it's time now to +read your piece of a chapter, and then we'll +have a word of prayer and get to our beds, so +we can all be up bright and early in the morning."</p> + +<p>Tode closed his book promptly, and looked +on with eager satisfaction while Winny produced +an old worn, much-used Bible—a whole +Bible! and composedly turned over its pages +with the air of one who was quite accustomed +to handle the wonderful book.</p> + +<p>"Where shall I read to-night, mother?" she +asked.</p> + +<p>"Well, deary, suppose you read what John +says about the many mansions that they're getting +ready for us."</p> + +<p>"John didn't say it, mother," answered Winny, +gravely. "Jesus said it himself."</p> + +<p>"Yes, deary, but John heard him say it, and +wrote it down for us."</p> + +<p>So Tode listened, and heard for the first time +in his life these blessed words:</p> + +<p>"Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe +in God, believe also in me. In my Father's +house are many mansions; if it were not so, I +would have told. I go to prepare a place for<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[154]</a></span> +you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I +will come again, and receive you unto myself; +that where I am, there ye may be also."</p> + +<p>Thus on, through the beautiful verses, until +this:</p> + +<p>"And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, +that will I do."</p> + +<p>"There, deary," said Winny's mother, "that +will do. I want to stop there and think about +it. Whenever I get more than usual trouble in +my heart about Rick and Jim, I want to hear +this chapter down to there, '<i>Whatsoever</i> ye shall +ask,' and it gives me a lift, like, and then I pray +away."</p> + +<p>Could you imagine how you should feel if +you had learned to love the Lord, and were as +old as Tode was, and then should hear those +words for the first time?</p> + +<p>The tears were following each other down his +cheeks, and dropping on his hand.</p> + +<p>"Who does he mean?" he asked, eagerly. +"Whose mansions be they that he's getting +ready?"</p> + +<p>"Why, bless you, one of them is mine, and +there'll be one ready for everybody who loves +<i>him</i>."</p> + +<p>Tode's voice sank to a husky whisper.</p> + +<p>"Do you think there's one getting ready for +me?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[155]</a></span></p> + +<p>"There's no kind of doubt about it, not if +you love the Lord Jesus. I suppose as soon as +ever you made up your mind to love him the +Lord said, 'Now I must get a place ready for +Tode, for he's decided that he wants to come up +here with me.'"</p> + +<p>Wiser brains than Tode's would doubtless +have smiled at the old lady's original and perhaps +untheological way of interpreting the truth; +but he drank it in, and drew nearer to the true +meaning of it than perhaps he would had it +been learnedly explained.</p> + +<p>"I never thought about it before in my life," +he said, gravely. "And so that's heaven? And +there ain't any trouble there I heard Mr. Birge +say once in his preaching."</p> + +<p>"Not a speck of trouble of any shape nor +kind, nor nobody's wicked nor cross, and no +bottles there, Tode, not a bottle."</p> + +<p>"How do you know?"</p> + +<p>"'Cause it says so right out, sharp and plain. +'No drunkard shall inherit the kingdom of +heaven.' That's Bible words, and you and I +know that where there's bottles, and folks give +them to their neighbors, why there'll be drunkards."</p> + +<p>Tode nodded his head in solemn assent. Yes, +he knew that better perhaps than his teacher. +Then he asked:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[156]</a></span></p> + +<p>"And what more about heaven?"</p> + +<p>"Oh deary me! there's verses and verses +about streets of gold, and harps, and thrones, +and singing. Oh my! <i>such</i> singing as you never +dreamed about, and we to be the singers, you +know; and I couldn't begin to tell you about +it all; and <i>you</i> never heard any of them verses? +Well now, I <i>am</i> beat. Well I always pick 'em +all out and read 'em Sunday. I like to make +Sunday a kind of a holiday, you know, so I +read 'em and study 'em, and try to picture it all +out; but then you see I can't, because the Bible +says that eyes haven't seen nor ears heard, and +we can't <i>begin</i> to guess at the fine things prepared +for us."</p> + +<p>"Well now," broke in Tode, his lips hurrying +to tell the thought that had been filling his +mind for some minutes, "why don't everybody +go there? I heard about that awful place +where some folks go. Mr. Birge told about +it in some of his preaching. Now what's that +for? Why don't they all go to heaven?"</p> + +<p>The little old lady heaved a deep sigh.</p> + +<p>"Sure enough, why don't they?" she said at +last. "And the curious part of it is, that it's +just because they <i>won't</i>. They don't have to +pay for it; they don't have to go away off after +it; they don't have to die for it, because they've +got to die anyhow; and they know it's dreadful<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[157]</a></span> +to die all alone; and they know that every single +thing that the Lord Jesus wants of them is +to love him, and give him a chance to help +them—and the long and short of it is, they +<i>won't do it</i>."</p> + +<p>"That's <i>awful</i> silly," ejaculated Tode.</p> + +<p>"Silly! Why, there ain't anything else in +all this big world that anywhere near comes +up to it for silliness. Why, don't you think," +and here her voice took a lower and more +solemn tone, and the wide cap frill trembled +with earnestness. "<i>Don't</i> you think, there's +men and women who believe that every word +in that Bible over there is true, and they know +there's such a verse as that we just heard, +'Whatsoever ye shall ask in my name that <i>will</i> +I do;' and there's tired folks who know the +Bible says, 'Come unto me all ye that are +weary, and I <i>will</i> give you rest;' and there's +folks full of trouble who know it says, 'Cast +thy burden on the Lord, and he <i>will</i> sustain +thee;' and there's folks chasing up and down +the world after a good time who know it says, +'In thy presence is fullness of joy,' and 'At thy +right hand there are pleasures for evermore;' +and there's folks working night and day to be +rich who know it says, 'I am the true riches,' +and, 'The silver and the gold are his,' and just +as true as you live they won't kneel down and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[158]</a></span> +<i>ask</i> him for any of these things! Now <i>ain't</i> that +curious?"</p> + +<p>"I should think he'd get kind of out of patience +with them all," Tode answered, earnestly, +"and say, 'Let 'em go, then, if they're determined +to.'"</p> + +<p>The old lady shook her head emphatically.</p> + +<p>"No, he loves them you see. Do you suppose +if my Winny and my boys should go wrong, +and not mind a word I say, I could give 'em up +and say, 'Let them go then?' No indeed! I'd +stick to 'em till the very last minute, and I'd +coax 'em, and pray over 'em day and night—and +<i>my love</i>, why it's <i>just</i> nothing by the side +of his. Why he says himself that his love is +greater than the love of a woman; so you see +he sticks to 'em all, and wants every one of +them."</p> + +<p>Tode resolved this thought in his mind for a +little, then gave vent to his new idea.</p> + +<p>"Then I should think folks ought to be coaxing +'em, folks that love <i>him</i>, I mean. If he +loves all the people and wants them, and is trying +to get them, why then I should think all his +folks ought to be trying, too."</p> + +<p>"That's it!" said the old lady, eagerly. "That's +it exactly. He tells us so in the Bible time and +time again. 'Let him that heareth say come.' +Now you and me have heard, and according to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[159]</a></span> +that it's our business to go right to work, and +say 'come' the very first time we get a chance. +But, deary me! I do believe in my heart that's +half the trouble, folks won't do it; his own +folks, too, that have heard, and have got one of +the mansions waiting for 'em. He's given them +all work to do helping to fill the others, and +half the time they let it go, and tend to their +own work, and leave him to do the coaxing all +alone."</p> + +<p>"Mother," interrupted Winny, impatiently +drumming on the corner of the Bible, "I +thought you said it was bedtime. I could have +learned two grammar lessons in this time."</p> + +<p>The mother gave a gentle little sigh.</p> + +<p>"Well, deary, so it is," she said. "We'll +just have a word of prayer, and then we'll go."</p> + +<p>Tode in his little room took his favorite position, +a seat on the side of the bed, and lost +himself in thought. Great strides the boy had +taken in knowledge since tea time. Wonderful +truths had been revealed to him. Some faint +idea of the wickedness of this world began to +dawn upon him. All his life hitherto had been +spent in the depths, and it would seem that if +he were acquainted with anything it must be +with wickedness, yet a new revelation of it had +come to him. "Ye <i>will</i> not come unto me, +that ye might have life." He did not know that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[160]</a></span> +there was such a verse in the Bible; but now +he knew the fact, and it gave this boy, who had +come out of a cellar rum-hole, and had mingled +during his entire life with just such people as +swarm around cellar rum-holes, a more distinct +idea of the total depravity of this world than he +had ever dreamed of before. It gave him a solemn +old feeling. He felt less like whistling +and more like going very eagerly to work than +he ever had before.</p> + +<p>"There's work to do," he said to himself. +"He's got a mansion ready for me it seems. I +won't ever want other folk's nice homes any +more as long as I live, 'cause it seems I've got +a grander one after all than they can even think +of; but then there's other mansions, and he +wants people to come and fill them, and he let's +us help." Then his voice took a more joyful +ring, like that of a strong brave boy ready for +work. "There's work to do, plenty of it, and +I'll help—I'll help fill <i>some</i> of them."</p> + +<p>"The poor homeless boy," said the warm-hearted +little mother down stairs. "Deary me, +my heart does just go out to him. And to +think that he owns one of them mansions, and +never knew it! Well, now, he shan't ever want +for a home feeling on this earth if I can help it. +I do believe he's one of the Lord's own, and we +must feel honored, Winny dear, because we're<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[161]</a></span> +called to help him. Don't you think he's a +good warm-hearted boy, deary?"</p> + +<p>"Oh yes," Winny said, indifferently. "But, +mother, he does use such shocking grammar."</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 75px;"> +<img src="images/deco1.png" width="75" height="36" alt="Decoration" title="Decoration" /> +</div> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[162]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XIV.</h2> + +<h3>SIGNS AND WONDERS.</h3> + + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 18px;"> +<img src="images/t.png" width="18" height="55" alt="T" title="T" /> +</div> + +<div class='unindent'><br /><big>ODE</big> bustled into the house half an hour +earlier than usual. Before him he carried +a great sheet of pasteboard.</div> + +<p>"Where's Winny?" he asked, sitting down +on the nearest chair, out of breath with his haste. +"I've got an idea, and she must help me put it +on here."</p> + +<p>"Winny's gone to the store, deary, for some +tea. Whatever brought you home so early? +Isn't business brisk to-day?"</p> + +<p>"It was until it came on to rain, and I had to +put things under cover, and then I had my idea, +and I thought I'd run right home and tend to +it."</p> + +<p>The door opened and Winny came in, tugging +her big umbrella. Instinct, it could not +have been education, prompted Tode to take +the dripping thing from her and put it away.</p> + +<p>"What on earth is that?" Winny said, paus<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[163]</a></span>ing +in the act of taking off her things to examine +the pasteboard.</p> + +<p>"That's my sign—leastways it will be when +your wits and my wits are put together to make +it. I got some colored chalk round the corner +at the painters, and he showed me how to use +'em."</p> + +<p>"Tode, you said you would remember not to +use ''em' and 'leastways' any more."</p> + +<p>"So I will one of these days. I keep remembering +all the time. Say, won't that make a +elegant sign? I never thought of a sign in my +life till Pliny Hastings he came along to-day. +Did you ever see Pliny Hastings?"</p> + +<p>"No. Tode, I <i>do wish</i> you would begin to +study grammar this very evening. You're enough +to kill any body the way you talk."</p> + +<p>"Oh bother the grammar, I'm telling you +about Pliny Hastings. He came along, and +says he, 'Halloo, Tode, here you are as large as +life in business for yourself. You ought to have +a sign,' says he. 'What's your establishment +called?' And you may think I felt cheap as +long as I lived at the Euclid house, to have no +kind of a name for my place. I thought then +I'd have a name and a sign before this time to-morrow. +So when I went for my dinner I +bought this pasteboard, and I been studying the +thing out all this afternoon between the spells<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[164]</a></span> +of arithmetic, and I've got it all fixed now, and +I've got another idea come of that I never see +how one thing starts another. There's going to +come a piece of pasteboard off this end, 'cause +you see it's too long, and I'm going to have a +circle out of that."</p> + +<p>"A circle. What for?"</p> + +<p>"Oh you'll see when we get to it. But now +don't you want to know what my sign is?"</p> + +<p>"I suppose I'll have to know if I'm to help +you, whether I want to or not."</p> + +<p>"Well, I had to study on that for quite a spell. +You see I want a name for my house, and then +my own name right under it, 'cause I like to +see a man stand by his business, name and all; +and then I want every body to know I stand up +for temperance. I thought of 'Cold Water +House,' but then you see it <i>ain't</i> a cold water +house, cause coffee is my principal dish. Then +I thought of 'Coffee House,' but there's a coffee +house not more than two blocks away from +my place, and they keep plenty of whisky +there, and <i>that</i> wouldn't do. And I thought +and <i>thought</i>, and by and by it came to me. I +wouldn't have no 'House' at all about it, 'cause +after all is said and done it's just a <i>box;</i> and I +concluded to have a out-and-out temperance +sign. I'll print a great big NO, so big you can +see it across the street, and then we'll make two<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[165]</a></span> +great big black bottles, like they keep rum in, +standing by the 'No.' And then, says <i>I</i>, everybody +will know where to find <i>me</i> on <i>that</i> question."</p> + +<p>Even grave Winny laughed over this queer +idea.</p> + +<p>"I can't make bottles any more than I can +fly away," she said at last "And neither can +you."</p> + +<p>"I shan't say that till I've tried it about a +month, <i>anyhow</i>," Tode answered, positively. "I +never <i>did</i> like to give up a thing before I began +it."</p> + +<p>The white cap frill nodded violently over this +sentiment</p> + +<p>"That's the way to talk," said the little mother. +"There's more giving up of good things +before they're begun than there ever is afterward, +I do believe."</p> + +<p><i>Such</i> an evening as they had! Winny, in +spite of her discouraging words, entered into +the work with considerable heartiness; and the +slate first, and afterward pieces of brown paper +covered over with grotesque images of black +bottles, looking most of them, it must be confessed, +like anything else in the world. Finally +the sympathetic mother came to the rescue. +She mounted a high chair to reach the topmost +shelf in her little den of a pantry, where were<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[166]</a></span> +congregated the few bottles that had ensued +from a quarter of a century of housekeeping. +One after another was taken down and anxiously +examined, until at last, oh joyful discovery! the +label of one showed the picture of an unmistakable +bottle, over which a picture of the inventor +of the bitters which it was supposed to contain +was fondly leaning, as if it were his staff of +life. The young artists greeted it with delight, +and with it for a model produced such delightful +results that by half-past eight the sign shone +out in blue and black and red chalks.</p> + +<p>"Now for my circle," said Tode, seizing upon +the piece of pasteboard which had been cut off. +A large plate from the pantry did duty in the +absence of sufficient geometrical knowledge, +and the circle was quickly produced. Then did +Tode's skill at making figures shine forth. In +the bright red chalks did he quickly produce a +circle of the nine figures around his pasteboard +circle.</p> + +<p>"Now what is all that for, I <i>should</i> like to +know?" Winny asked, looking on half interestedly, +half contemptuously.</p> + +<p>"I'm just going to show you. You see, the +lesson you gave me to-day is the addition table, +and that addition table is a tough, ugly job, I +can tell you. Well, I pelted away at it till dinner +time, and I guess by that time I knew al<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[167]</a></span>most +as much as I did before I begun it; and I +went to Jones' after my dinner, and Mr. Jones +he wanted me to take a note for him to a man +at the bank, just around the corner from there, +you know. Well I went, and the man I took +the note to was busy counting money. He +wouldn't look at me, but just counted away +like lightning. I never see anything like it in +my life, the way he did fly off them bills. It +wasn't a quarter of a minute when he said to a +man who stood waiting, 'Nine hundred and seventy-eight +dollars, sir. All right.' Now just +think of counting such a pile of money as that +in about the time it would take me to count +seventy-eight cents? Well, I come back, and I +pitched into the addition table harder than ever, +because, I thinks to myself, there's no telling +but that I may have some money to count one +of these days, and I guess I'll get ready to +count it. But it was tough work. All at once, +while I was looking at my pasteboard, and wondering +what I should do with this end, it came +to me. Now I'll explain. You see them nine +figures around there? Well, thinks I, now +there ain't but nine figures in this world, 'cause +Pliny Hastings he told me that once, and I've +noticed it lots of times since, that you may +talk about just as many things as you're a mind +to, and you'll just be using them same nine fig<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[168]</a></span>ures +over and over again, with a nothing thrown +in now and then, you know. Now, then, s'pose +I begin at this one, and I say, 'one and two is +three, and three is six, and four is ten.'"</p> + +<p>"For pity's sake say 'are ten,'" interposed +Winny.</p> + +<p>"Why?"</p> + +<p>"Because it's right. Go on."</p> + +<p>"Well, now, I could remember just as quick +again if you'd give a fellow a reason for it. +Well, and four are ten, and so all around to +the nine. Well, I say that, and say it, and <i>say +it</i>, till it goes itself, and then I begin at two, and +say two and three is—no, <i>are</i> five, and on round +to the nine, only this time I take in the one at the +other end. Understand? Well, after I've learned +that I begin with the three, and go around to the +two, and so on with them all; and then I mix +them up and say them every which way, and +after I've put them a few different ways, let's +see you give me a line of figures that I can't add!"</p> + +<p>"That is so," said Winny, at last, speaking +slowly and admiringly. "It is a very good way +indeed. Tode, I shouldn't wonder if you would +know a great deal after awhile."</p> + +<p>"Well now," answered Tode, gleefully, "I call +this a pretty good evening's work, painted a +sign and made a new arithmetic, enough sight +easier than the other, so far as it goes; and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[169]</a></span> +you've helped me, so now I'll help you, turn +about is fair play. Bring out your grammar, and +let's see what it looks like, and to-morrow I'll +go into the second-hand bookstore and hunt +one up. Then I'll pitch in and learn everything +I come to."</p> + +<p>He was true to his word, and thereafter grammar +was added to the numerous studies to which +he gave all his leisure time. Perhaps no motto +could have been given Tode that would have +helped him so much in this matter of study as +did the one which he had overheard and adopted +for his own: "Learn everything I possibly can +about everything that can be learned." He was +obeying its instructions to the very letter.</p> + +<p>Sunday morning dawned brightly upon him. +The first Sunday in his new business. The air +was balmy with the breath of spring.</p> + +<p>"Oh, oh," said Tode, drawing long breaths +and inhaling the perfume of swelling buds and +springing blades, "I just wish I could go to +church to-day, I do. Wouldn't it be nice now +to put on my clean shirt, and make myself +look nice and spry, and step around there to +Mr. Birge's church and hear another preach? +I'd like that first-rate; but now there's no use in +talking. 'Do everything exactly in its time,' +that's one of my rules, and I'm bound to live +up to them; and it's time now for me to go to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[170]</a></span> +my business. I'll go to church this evening, I +will. I ought to be glad that folks don't want +coffee and cakes much of evening, instead of +grumbling about having to give 'em some this +morning."</p> + +<p>Now it so happened, in the multiplicity of +things which the new acquaintances had to talk +over, that Sunday and church-going had not +been discussed; and owing to the fact that Tode +did not breakfast with the family, no knowledge +of his intentions came to them, and no knowledge +of that old command, "Remember the +Sabbath day, to keep it holy," came to him. +True, he knew that stores and shops were closed +quite generally on the Sabbath, but hotels were +not, the Euclid House had never been, and +Tode, without reasoning about it at all, had imbibed +the idea that it was because they kept +things to eat and drink. Now these were the +very things which he kept, and people must eat +and drink on Sundays as well as on any other +days, so of course it was his duty to supply them.</p> + +<p>So he put a clean white cloth on the dry-goods +box in honor of this new bright day, arranged +everything in the most tempting manner +possible, and waited for customers. They +came thick and fast. The Sabbath proved fair +to be as busy a day at the dry-goods box as it +used to be at the Euclid House. One disap<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[171]</a></span>pointment +Tode had. When he trudged down +to the little house to have his great empty coffee-pot +replenished, it was closed and locked.</p> + +<p>"Course," he said, nodding approvingly, +"they've gone to church. I might a known +they wouldn't wash and iron and go to school +Sunday. I ought to remembered and took away +my coffee. Well, never mind, I'll just run around +to the Coffee House and get my dish filled, and +that will make it all right."</p> + +<p>So many customers came just at tea time +that he found it impossible to go home to tea, +but took a cup of his own coffee and a few of +his cakes, and chuckled meantime over the fact +that he was the only individual who could take +his supper from that dry-goods box without +paying for it.</p> + +<p>It was just as the bells were ringing for evening +service that he joyfully packed his nearly +emptied dishes into the basket, shook the +crumbs from his little table-cloth, folded it carefully, +and rejoiced over the thought that he had +done an excellent day's work, and could afford +to go to church. The brown house was closed +again, so he left his basket under a woodpile in +the alley-way, and made all possible speed for +Mr. Birge's church. Even then the opening +services were nearly concluded, but he was in +time for the Bible text, and that text Tode never<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[172]</a></span> +forgot in his life. The words were, "Remember +the Sabbath day, to keep it holy."</p> + +<p>I can not describe to you the poor boy's +bewildered astonishment as he listened and +thought, and gradually began to take in something +of the true meaning of those earnest +words. Mr. Birge was very decided in his opinions, +very plain in his utterances. Milk wagons, +ice wagons, meat wagons, and the whole +long catalogue of Sabbath-breaking wagons, to +say nothing of row-boats and steamboats, and +trains of cars, were dwelt upon with unsparing +tongue—nay, he went farther than that, and expressed +his unmistakable opinion of Sabbath-breaking +ice-cream saloons and coffee saloons; +then down to the little apple children, and candy +children, and shoestring children, who haunt the +Sabbath streets. Tode listened, and ran his +fingers through his hair in perplexity.</p> + +<p>"It must come in <i>somewhere</i>," he said to himself +in some bewilderment. "I don't quite keep +a coffee house, and I don't—why, yes I do, sell +apples every now and then; and as to that, I +suppose I keep a coffee <i>box</i>. What if it ain't a +house? I wonder now if it ain't right? I +wonder if there's lots of things that look right +before you think about them, that ain't right +after you've turned 'em over a spell? And I +wonder how a fellow is going to know?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[173]</a></span></p> + +<p>Then he gave his undivided attention to the +sermon again; and went home after the service +was concluded, with a very thoughtful face. +Jim was there making a visit, but Tode only +nodded to him, and went abruptly to the little +shelf behind the stove in the corner, and took +down the old Bible.</p> + +<p>"Grandma, where are the commandments +put?" he asked eagerly, addressing the old lady +by the title which he had bestowed on her very +early in their acquaintance.</p> + +<p>"Why they're in Exodus, in the twentieth +chapter."</p> + +<p>"And where's Exodus?"</p> + +<p>"Ho!" said Jim. "You know a heap, Tode, +don't you?"</p> + +<p>Tode turned on him a grave anxious face.</p> + +<p>"Do you know about them? Well, just you +come and find them for me, that's a good fellow. +I'm in a powerful hurry."</p> + +<p>Thus appealed to, Jim, nothing loth to display +his wisdom, sauntered toward the table, +and speedily found and patronizingly pointed +out the commandments. Tode read eagerly +until he came to those words, "Remember the +Sabbath day, to keep it holy." Then he read +slowly and carefully, "Six days shalt thou labor, +and do all thy work: but the seventh day is the +Sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[174]</a></span> +not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy +daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, +nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within +thy gates."</p> + +<p>Three times did Tode's astonished eyes go +over this commandment in all its length and +breadth; then he looked up and spoke with deliberate +emphasis,</p> + +<p>"This beats all creation! And the strangest +part of it is that you didn't tell me anything +about it, grandma."</p> + +<p>"Whatever is the boy talking about?" said +grandma, wheeling her rocker around to get a +full view of his excited face; and then Tode +gave a synopsis of the evening sermon, and the +history of his amazement, culminating with this +first reading of the fourth commandment.</p> + +<p>"And so you've been at your business all +day!" exclaimed the astonished old lady. "Why, +for the land's sake, I thought you had gone off +to some meeting away at the other end of the +city."</p> + +<p>"I never once knew the first thing about this +in the Bible. How was I going to know it was +a mean thing to do?" questioned Tode, with increasing +excitement. "And it was the best day +I've had, too, and that makes it all the meaner."</p> + +<p>And his voice choked a little, and his head +went suddenly down on his arm.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[175]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Well, now, I wouldn't mind, deary," spoke +the old lady in soothing tones, after a few moments +of silence. "If you didn't know anything +about it, of course you wasn't to blame. 'Tisn't +as if you had learned it in Sunday-school, and +all that, and I wouldn't mind about the business. +Like enough you'll have more days just as brisk +as Sunday."</p> + +<p>"It isn't that," Tode answered, disconsolately, +lifting his head. "It's all them Sundays that +I've been and wasted, when I might have gone +to meeting. Been righter to go than to stay +away, it seems; and it's thinking about lots +of other things that's wrong maybe, just like +this, and a fellow not knowing it."</p> + +<p>And as he spoke he listlessly turned over the +leaves of the old Bible, until his eye was arrested +by the words, "Thou shalt guide me with +thy counsel."</p> + +<p>"That's exactly it," he told himself. "I've +got to have a Bible. I'll get one little enough +to go into my jacket pocket, and then, says I, +we'll see if I can't find out about things. And +after this I'm to shut up box and go to church, +am I? Well, that's one good thing, anyhow."</p> + +<p>Presently he and Jim climbed up to the little +room over the kitchen. No sooner were they +alone than Tode commenced on a subject that +had puzzled him.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[176]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I say, Jim, how comes it that you knew all +about those things and never told <i>me?</i> That's +treating a fellow pretty mean, I think. I always +shared the peanuts and things I got with you."</p> + +<p>"See here," answered Jim, in open-eyed wonder; +"what are you driving at?"</p> + +<p>"Why, <i>things</i> that you know and never told +me. Here your mother has got a Bible, and +you know verses in it, and know about heaven, +and all, and you never told me a word."</p> + +<p>Jim sat down on the foot of the bed and +laughed, long and loud and merrily.</p> + +<p>"I don't know, Tode, whether you're cracked, +or what is the matter with you," he said at last, +when he could speak, "but I never heard a fellow +mixing up peanuts and heaven before."</p> + +<p>Tode was someway not in a mood to be +laughed at, so he gave vent somewhat loftily to +a solemn truth.</p> + +<p>"Oh well, if you're a mind to think that the +peanuts is of the most consequence after all, +why I don't know as I object."</p> + +<p>And then the boy deliberately knelt down and +began his evening prayer. He was too ignorant +to know that there were boys who thought it +unmanly to pray. It never occurred to him to +omit his kneeling. As for Jim he felt himself +in a very strange position. He kicked his heels +against the bedpost for awhile, but presently he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[177]</a></span> +grew ashamed of that, and contented himself +with very noisily making ready for bed. Tode, +when he rose, was in a softened mood, and as +he blew out the light said:</p> + +<p>"I wish you knew how to pray, Jim. I do, +honestly, it's so nice."</p> + +<p>"Praying and brandy bottles don't go together," +answered his companion, shortly.</p> + +<p>"No more they don't," said Tode, emphatically. +"I had to quit that business myself."</p> + +<p>If some of our respectable brandy-drinking, +brandy-selling deacons <i>could</i> have heard those +two ignorant boys talk!</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 75px;"> +<img src="images/deco2.png" width="75" height="32" alt="Decoration" title="Decoration" /> +</div> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[178]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XV.</h2> + +<h3>EXIT TODE MALL.</h3> + + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 19px;"> +<img src="images/o.png" width="19" height="55" alt="O" title="O" /> +</div> + +<div class='unindent'><br /><big>N</big> went the brisk and busy days; the soft +air of summer was upon them, and still +the business at the dry-goods box flourished, +and was taking on fresh importance with +every passing day. The people were almost +numberless who grew into the habit of stopping +at the little box, to be waited on by the +briskest and sharpest of boys to delicious coffee +and cookies, or as the days grew warmer +to a glass of iced lemonade, or a saucer of +glowing strawberries. The matter was putting +on the semblance of a partnership concern, for +the old lady rivaled the bakery with her cookies, +both as regarded taste and economy; and in +due course of time Winny caught the infection, +studied half a leaf of an old receipt-book which +came wrapped around an ounce of alum, and +finally took to compounding a mixture, which<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[179]</a></span> +being duly baked and carefully watched by the +mother's practiced eye, developed into distracting +little cream cakes, which met with most +astonishing sales.</div> + +<p>Meantime there were many spare half hours +in the course of the long days, which were devoted +to the puzzling grammar and arithmetic, +and gradually light was beginning to dawn over +not only the addition but the subtraction table; +or, more properly speaking, the addition circle. +Tode nightly chuckled over his invention as +he started from a new figure and raced glibly +around to the climax, thereby calling forth the +unqualified approbation of Winny, not unmixed +now and then with a certain curious air of admiration +at his rapid strides around the mystic +circle. In fact, things were progressing. Tode +began to pride himself on making change correctly +and rapidly; began to wonder, supposing +he had a one hundred dollar bill to change, +could he do it as rapidly <i>almost</i> as that man at +the bank? Began to grow very ambitious, and +in looking through his arithmetic in search of +nouns and verbs, chanced to alight on the word +"interest;" read about it, plied Winny with +questions, some of which she could answer and +some not, went for further information to the +older brother who was at work at the livery +stable. The result of all of which was that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[180]</a></span> +our rising young street vagrant opened an account +at the savings bank, and had money at interest! +By the way, his trip to the livery stable +revived his slumbering ambition in regard to +horses, and thenceforth he spent his regular +"nooning" in that vicinity, or mounted on one +of the coach boxes with the "brother," who +chanced to be one of the finest drivers on the +list. Not a very commendable locality in which +to spend his leisure, you think? That depends——. +Tode's happened, fortunately, to be much +the stronger mind of the two; and besides, you +remember the guide which mounted guard in his +jacket pocket. He found it in accordance not +only with one of the famous rules, viz: "Learn +everything that <i>is</i> to be learned about everything +that I possibly can," but also in accordance +with his inclination to learn to drive; so +learn he did, although his desire to become Mr. +Hastings' coachman had merged itself into a +desire to own a complete little coffee house like +the one around the corner from him, with veritable +shelves and drawers, and a till to lock his +money in.</p> + +<p>You think it a wonder that Tode never fell +back into his old wretched street vagrant rum-cellar +life. Well, I don't know. What was +there to fall back to? I can't think it so charming +a thing to be kicked around like a football, to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[181]</a></span> +be half the time nearly frozen, and all the time +nearly starved, that people should tumble lovingly +back into the gutter from which they have +once emerged, unless indeed one resigns his will +to the keeping of that demon who peoples the +most of our gutters, which thing, you remember, +Tode did not do. Besides, be it also remembered +that the loving Lord had called this +boy, and made ready a mansion in the Eternal +City for him, and is it so strange a thing that +the Lord can keep his <i>own?</i></p> + +<p>It chanced one day that two coffee drinkers +at his stand lingered and talked freely about a +certain lecture that was to be delivered before +the——. Tode didn't catch what society, and +didn't care; but he did learn the fact that Mr. +Birge was to be the speaker. Now there had +come into this boy's heart a strong love for Mr. +Birge; he had never spoken to him in his life, +but for all that Tode knew him well, nodded +complacently to himself whenever he chanced +to meet Mr. Birge on the street, and always +pointed him out as his minister. Very speedily +was his resolution taken to attend this lecture. +He didn't know the subject, and indeed that was +a matter of very slight moment to him. Whatever +was the subject he felt sure of its being a +fine one, since Mr. Birge had chosen it. Well +he went, and as the lecture was delivered before<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[182]</a></span> +one of the benevolent societies of the city, the +subject was the broad and strong one, "Christian +Giving." Tode came home with some new +and startling ideas. He burst into the little +kitchen where the mother sat placidly knitting +her stockings, and the daughter sat knitting +her brows over her arithmetic lesson, and pronounced +his important query:</p> + +<p>"Winny, what's tenths?"</p> + +<p>"What's what?"</p> + +<p>"Tenths. In counting money, you know, or +anything. How much is tenths?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, you haven't got to that yet; it is away +over in the arithmetic."</p> + +<p>"But, I tell you, I've <i>got</i> to get at it right +away—it's necessary. I don't want it in the +arithmetic; I want to do it."</p> + +<p>Which was and always <i>would</i> be the marked +difference between this boy's and girl's education. +She learned a thing because it was in the book; +he learned a thing in order to use it.</p> + +<p>"What do you want of tenths, anyhow? Why +can't you wait until you get there?"</p> + +<p>"'Cause things that they ought to be helping +to do can't wait till I've got there. I need to +use one of them right away. Come, tell me +about them."</p> + +<p>"Well," said Winny, "where's your slate? +Here are six-tenths, made so—6/10."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[183]</a></span></p> + +<p>Tode looked with eager yet bewildered eyes. +What had that figure six on top of that figure +ten, to do with Mr. Birge's earnest appeal to all +who called themselves by the name of Christian +to make one-tenth of their money holy to the +Lord?</p> + +<p>"What's one-tenth then?" he said at last, +hoping that this was something which would +look less puzzling.</p> + +<p>"Why, <i>this</i> is one tenth." And Winny made +a very graceful one, and a neat ten, and drew a +prim bewildering little line between them.</p> + +<p>"That is the way to write it. Ten-tenths +make a whole, and one-tenth is written just as +I've shown you."</p> + +<p>"But, Winny," said Tode, in desperation, +"never mind writing it. I don't care <i>how</i> they +write it; tell me how they <i>do</i> it."</p> + +<p>"How to <i>do</i> it! I don't know what you +mean. Ten-tenths make a whole, I tell you, +and one-tenth is just one-tenth of it, and that's +all there is about it."</p> + +<p>"The whole of what, Winny?"</p> + +<p>"The whole of anything. It takes ten-tenths +to make a whole one."</p> + +<p>Poor puzzled Tode! What strange language +was this that Winny talked? Suppose he hadn't +a whole one after all, since it took ten-tenths to +make it, and he couldn't even find out what <i>one</i><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[184]</a></span> +of them was. Suppose he should never have a +whole one in his life, ought he not then to give +anything to help on all those grand doings which +Mr. Birge told about?</p> + +<p>"I don't understand a bit about it," he said +at last, in a despairing tone.</p> + +<p>"Well, I knew you wouldn't," Winny answered, +touches of triumph and complaisance +sounding in her voice. "You musn't expect to +understand such hard things until you get to +them."</p> + +<p>And now the dear old mother, who had never +studied fractions out of a book in her life, came +suddenly to the rescue.</p> + +<p>"Have you been reading about the tenths in +your Bible, deary?" she asked, with winning +sympathy.</p> + +<p>"No, I didn't know they were there till to-night, +but I've been hearing about them, how +the folks always used to give one-tenth, and +Mr. Birge made it out that we ought to now, +but I don't know what it is."</p> + +<p>The old lady dived down into her work-basket +and produced a little blue bag full of buttons, +of all shapes and sizes.</p> + +<p>"Let's you and me see if we can't study it +out," she said, encouragingly. "You just count +out ten of the nicest looking of them white +buttons, and lay them along in a row."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[185]</a></span></p> + +<p>Tode swiftly and silently did as directed, and +waited for light to dawn on this dark subject. +The old lady bent with thoughtful face over the +table, and looked fixedly at the innocent buttons +before she commenced.</p> + +<p>"Now suppose," she said, impressively, "that +every single one of them buttons was a five +dollar bill."</p> + +<p>"My!" said Tode, chuckling, in spite of himself, +at the magnitude of the conception, but +growing deeply interested as his teacher proceeded.</p> + +<p>"And suppose the money was <i>all</i> yours. +Well, now, it's in ten piles, <i>ain't</i> it? Well, suppose +you take one of them piles away, and make +up your mind to give it all to the Lord. Now, +deary, I've studied over this a good deal to see +what I ought to give, and it's my opinion that +if you did that you'd be giving your tenth. +Now, Winny, haven't we got at it—ain't that +so?"</p> + +<p>"Of course," said Winny, leaving her book +and coming around to attend to the buttons. +"Isn't that exactly what I said? One, two, +three, four. You have got ten-tenths here to +make the whole, and one of them is one-tenth."</p> + +<p>"Humph!" said Tode, "You might have +said it, but it didn't sound like it one mite, and +don't yet. I don't see as there's any ten-<i>tenths</i><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[186]</a></span> +there at all; there's ten <i>buttons</i>, leastways five +dollar bills."</p> + +<p>"That's because you are not far enough advanced +to understand," answered Winny, going +loftily back to her seat.</p> + +<p>"But see here," said Tode. "Suppose I had +a lot of money, say—well, a hundred dollars, +all in ones and twos, you know—<i>then</i> how could +I manage?"</p> + +<p>"Make ten piles of it, deary, don't you see? +Put just as much in one pile as another, and +then you'd have it."</p> + +<p>Tode gave the subject a moment's earnest +thought; then he gave a quick clear whistle.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I see—all I've got to do is to keep my +money in exactly ten piles; no matter how +much I get never make another, but pile it on +to them ten, serve each one alike, and then just +understand that one of 'em ain't mine at all, +but belongs to the Lord, and that's all."</p> + +<p>"That's all," said the little old lady, with +trembling eagerness. "And don't it look reasonable, +like?"</p> + +<p>"I should think it did," Tode answered, in a +tone which said he had settled a very puzzling +question for all time.</p> + +<p>When he went to his room that evening he +took out from the mass in his pocket a crumpled +bit of paper, and looked at some writing on<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[187]</a></span> +it. It read: "Genesis xxviii. 22." Mr. Birge +had spoken of that verse, and Tode had marked +it down. Now he carefully sought out the verse +and carefully read it over several times; then he +got down on his knees and prayed it aloud: +"And of <i>all</i> that thou shalt give me, I will +surely give the tenth unto thee."</p> + +<p>It was later in the season, quite midsummer, +when the Rev. Mr. Birge, rushing eagerly down +town past Tode's place of business, suddenly +came to a halt. The place was unique and inviting +enough, graceful awning floating out over +the box, covered with its white cloth, fresh fruits +on tins of ice, fresh cakes covered with snowy +napkins, dainty bouquets of flowers, gleaming +here and there, iced lemonade waiting to be +poured into sparkling glasses—everything faultlessly +pure and clean; but it was none of these +things that halted Mr. Birge, nor yet the "No +Bottles" which still spoke eloquently of the owner's +principles, but the name—TODE MALL! +The Rev. Mr. Birge had heard that singular combination +of names but once in his life, and then +under circumstances he had never forgotten. He +stood irresolute a moment, then turned back +and came under the little awning. Tode's face +glowed with pleasure as he flung aside his grammar +and came briskly forward to wait on his +distinguished guest.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[188]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I'll take a glass of lemonade, if you please," +began Mr. Birge, preparing to feel his way cautiously +into the heart of this bright eyed boy, +and find if he was indeed the one whose mother +had prayed for him but once in her life, and +that on her dying bed.</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir," answered Tode, promptly, giving +the glasses little gleeful chinks as he singled out +the clearest.</p> + +<p>"I see you keep a temperance establishment. +I'm glad of that. I didn't expect to find a place +in this quarter of the city where a temperance +man could get any <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'refreshement'">refreshment</ins>."</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir, that's why I came down here to do +business, 'cause there was nothing but rum all +around here, and I thought it was time they had +the other side of the story; and things <i>are</i> improving +some. The man that kept the saloon +right next to me drank himself to death, and +broke down, and the man that moved in is going +to keep Yankee notions instead of whisky."</p> + +<p>By a few skillfully put questions Mr. Birge +satisfied himself that the brisk young person +who talked about "doing business" and his +small acquaintance of the Albany cellar were +one and the same; and by this time, drink as +slowly as he could, the lemonade was exhausted. +So, bound to be a valuable customer, he tried +again.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[189]</a></span></p> + +<p>"What nice things do you keep hidden under +that dainty napkin? Cakes, eh? Suppose I +take one. Do they go well with lemonade?"</p> + +<p>"First-rate, sir." And Tode's face was radiant +with pleasure as he saw not only one but +three of Winny's delicious cream cakes disappear.</p> + +<p>Then Mr. Birge took out his pocket-book. +It was no part of his intention just then and +there to betray any previous knowledge of the +boy's history; the little scene in that life drama +which he had helped enact was too solemn and +sacred, too fraught with what might be made +into tender memories, to be given by a stranger +into the hands of a rough and probably hardened +boy; he could keep it to tell gently to this +poor fellow in the quiet of some softly-lighted +room, when he should have gained an influence +over him for good, for he was a fisher of boys +as well as men, this good man; and he told +himself that the Lord had thrown this self-same +boy into his path again, to give him a chance +to do the work which a few hours' delay had +robbed him of years ago; and Mr. Birge knew +very well that opportunities to do the work +which had been let slip, nine years before, came +rarely to any man. And he was glad, and he +was going to be very wary and wise, therefore +he drew forth his pocket-book.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[190]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Now what am I to pay you for this excellent +lunch?"</p> + +<p>"Nothing, sir." And Tode's cheeks fairly +blazed with joy.</p> + +<p>"Nothing!" answered the astonished customer.</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir, <i>nothing</i>. I don't charge my minister +anything for lunch. Like to have you come +every day, sir."</p> + +<p>"Your minister!"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir. Didn't you know you was my +minister?" chuckled Tode. "Bless me, <i>I</i> know +it, I tell <i>you</i>—known it this long time."</p> + +<p>And then ensued a lively conversation, question +and answer following each other in quick +succession; and Mr. Birge went through a great +many phases of feeling in a brief space of time. +First came a great throb of joy. The boy is safe +the mother's prayer is answered—good measure, +pressed down, running over—not only a temperance +boy to the very core, but a Christian; +then a quick little thrill of pain—oh, his work +was done, but his duty had been left undone; +the Lord had gathered in this stray waif, but <i>he</i> +was not the servant. Then, first great astonishment, +and afterward humble, <i>very</i> humble thanksgiving. +So then he was the servant after all; +the Lord had called him in to help, and the +work was begun on that stormy night, that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[191]</a></span> +night over which he had grumbled, and had +doubting, questioning thoughts. Oh, there +were a great many lessons to learn during that +long conversation, and the minister smiled +presently to himself over the memory of how +he took it for granted that because the little +yellow-haired boy had run away from his intended +care nine years before, he had therefore +run away from God; smiled to remember how +carefully he was going to approach this rough, +hardened boy. "Oh well," he said to himself, +as he turned from the shade of the awning, +compelled by the press of customers to defer +further conversation, "I shall learn after a time +that although the Lord is gracious and forbearing, +and kindly gives me the work to do +here and there for him, he can when he chooses +get along entirely without the help of John +Birge."</p> + +<p>Nevertheless he did not yet make known the +fact of his early acquaintance with Tode—not +so much now that he wanted to keep it to help +in melting the boy's heart, as that he had come +to realize that Tode's mother was already his +one tender memory, and that everything about +that death-bed scene, if remembered at all, must +be fraught with pain; so he still kept the story +until some quiet time when they should be in a +pleasant room alone. But this meeting was a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[192]</a></span> +great thing for Tode. From that day forth Mr. +Birge realized fully that he was the boy's minister. +He began at once to work carefully for +him. Thursday evening Tode learned to close +business at an early hour, and betake himself to +the Young People's Meeting. He was toled +into the Sabbath-school—more than that, he +coaxed Winny in, a feat which her mother had +never succeeded in performing.</p> + +<p>It was some time in September that a new +duty and a new privilege dawned upon him, that +of publicly uniting himself with the people of +God. Tode never forgot the solemn joy which +thrilled his soul at that time, when it was made +known to him that this privilege was actually +his. There came a wondrously beautiful October +Saturday, and Tode stood by the window in +Mr. Birge's study. It was just at the close of a +long conversation. On the morrow the boy +was to stand up in the church and take the +solemn vows upon him, and his face was grave +yet glad.</p> + +<p>"By the way," said Mr. Birge, "yours is a +very singular name. Fortunate that it is, or I +never would have found you again; but it must +be a contraction of something."</p> + +<p>"Why yes," answered Tode, hesitatingly. He +didn't know what contraction meant. "My name +was once, when I was a <i>very</i> little youngster,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[193]</a></span> +<i>Theodore;</i> but I never knew myself in that way."</p> + +<p>"Theodore! A grand name—it belonged to +a brother of mine once before he was called to +receive 'the new name.' I like it; and Theodore +the name goes down on my record. How +do you spell the other? Are you sure that's +all right?"</p> + +<p>"M-a—" began our friend, then stopped to +laugh. "Why no—I'll be bound that ain't my +name, either. It's Mallery, that's what it is; no +Mall about it."</p> + +<p>Mr. Birge turned and surveyed his caller leisurely, +with a quiet smile on his face.</p> + +<p>"It seems to me, Master Theodore Mallery, +that you are sailing under false colors," he said +at last. "What have you to do with Tode Mall?"</p> + +<p>Tode laughed.</p> + +<p>"Well they nicknamed me so, and I suppose +it stuck, and it seems like me; but my name +truly is Theodore S. Mallery."</p> + +<p>"Then of course I shall write it so." And +after he had written it Mr. Birge came over and +took the boy's hand.</p> + +<p>"It is a pleasant idea," he said. "Let us take +the new name, a picture of the new life which +begins to-morrow, when you say before the +world, as for me I will serve the Lord. Be very +careful of the new name, dear brother; don't +stain it with any shadow of evil."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[194]</a></span></p> + +<p>Tode walked home slowly and thoughtfully +in the gathering twilight, strange new thoughts +stirring in his heart. He felt older and graver +and wiser. He went round by his business +stand; he took his knife from his pocket and +carefully pried out the tacks which held his +pasteboard sign; then he held it up in the +waning light, and looked earnestly at the letters, +his face working with new thoughts. But the +only outward expression which he gave to these +thoughts was to say as he rolled up the pasteboard:</p> + +<p>"I must have a new sign. Good-by, Tode +Mall, I'm done with you forever. After this I'm +Theodore S. Mallery."</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 60px;"> +<img src="images/deco3.png" width="60" height="27" alt="Decoration" title="Decoration" /> +</div> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[195]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XVI.</h2> + +<h3>PLEDGES AND PARTNERSHIPS.</h3> + + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 18px;"> +<img src="images/t.png" width="18" height="55" alt="T" title="T" /> +</div> + +<div class='unindent'><br /><big>HERE</big> was a little bit of a white house, +cunning and cozy, nestled in among the +larger ones, on a quiet, pleasant street of the +city. It was a warm June day, and the side door +was open, which gave one a peep into a dainty +little dining-room. There was a bright carpet +on the floor, a green-covered table between the +windows, with books and papers scattered about +on it in the way which betokens use and familiarity +instead of show. The round table was +set for three, and ever and anon a dear little old +woman bustled in from the bit of a kitchen and +added another touch to the arrangements for +dinner. A young miss of perhaps sixteen was +curled in a corner of the lounge, working rapidly +and a little nervously with slate, and pencil, +and brain. The side gate clicked, and a young +man came with quick decided tread up the +flower-bordered walk. The student raised her +eyes and found her voice:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[196]</a></span></div> + +<p>"Oh, Theodore! for pity's sake see what is +the matter with this example? I've worked it +over so many times that the figures all dance +together, and don't seem to mean anything."</p> + +<p>"What is it? Algebra?" And the young +man laid his cap on the table, tossed the curls +back from his forehead, and sat down beside +her.</p> + +<p>"Yes, it's algebra, and I'm thoroughly bewildered. +Do you believe I ever <i>will</i> know much +about it, Theodore?"</p> + +<p>"Why, certainly you will. You're a good +scholar now, if you wouldn't get into such a +flurry, and try to add and multiply and divide all +at once. See here, you've used the wrong terms +twice, and that is the sum and substance of +your entire trouble."</p> + +<p>Winny looked a little perplexed and a little +annoyed, and then laughed.</p> + +<p>"Have patience with your bundle of stupidity, +Theodore," she said, half deprecatingly. "I +may do you credit yet some day, improbable as +it looks."</p> + +<p>And then the dear old lady, who had been +trotting back and forth at intervals, now ushered +in a teapot and called them to dinner; and they +three sat down, and heads were reverently +bowed while the young man reverently said: +"Our Father, we return thee thanks for these,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[197]</a></span> +and all the unnumbered blessings of this day. +May we use the strength which thou dost +give us to thine honor and thy praise." And +the old lady softly said, "Amen."</p> + +<p>I do not know that you have ever heard the +dear old lady's name, but it was McPherson—Mrs. +McPherson. Of course you remember +Winny, and the young man was the person who +used to be familiarly known by the name of +Tode Mall, but it was long since it had occurred +even to him that he was ever other than +Theodore Mallery, the enterprising young proprietor +of that favorite refreshment-room down +by the depot; for the dry-goods box had disappeared, +so also had the cellar rum-hole. There +was a neat building down there, the name, +"Temperance House," gleamed in large letters +from the glass of both windows, and "Theodore +S. Mallery" shone over the door. Within all +was as neat and complete as care and skill and +grace could make it; and that it was a favorite +resort could be seen by standing for a few moments +to watch the comers and goers at almost +any hour in the day.</p> + +<p>Theodore came down the street with his peculiar +rapid tread, glanced in to see if his brisk +little assistant was in attendance, then went +across the street and around the corner to a +grocery near at hand.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[198]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Mr. Parks," he said, speaking as one in the +habit of being full of business and in haste, "can +you cash this note for me? Good afternoon, +Mr. Stephens," to that gentleman, who stood in +a waiting attitude.</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Mr. Parks, promptly, "if you will +count this roll of bills for me. I'm one of +those folks that I've read about who 'count for +confusion,' I guess. Anyhow, these come different +every time."</p> + +<p>"With pleasure, sir," answered Theodore, seizing +upon the bills with alacrity, and fluttering +them through his fingers with the rapidity of +thought. "Ninety-eight—seventy-three," he announced +after a few seconds of flutter and rustle.</p> + +<p>"Are you sure?"</p> + +<p>"Quite." And again he ran over the notes, +and announced the same result.</p> + +<p>"Thank you," said Mr. Parks, with a relieved +air. And as Theodore gathered up his bills and +vanished, the old gentleman looking after him +said:</p> + +<p>"That's a smart chap, Mr. Stephens. I don't +know his match anywhere around this city. +True as steel every time, and just as sharp as +steel any day."</p> + +<p>"Yes," answered Mr. Stephens, quietly. "I +have heard of the young man before, and know +something of his character."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[199]</a></span></p> + +<p>Two hours afterward Theodore was reading a +letter. It commenced:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<div class="right"> +"<span class="smcap">Private Office</span>, }<br /> +"June 16, 18—.}<br /> +</div> + +"<i>My Dear Young Friend:</i><br /> + +<p>"It is something over four years since you +came to me one night with my ten-dollar bill, +since which time my eyes have been on you. I +did not present you with the bill then and there, +as I was tempted to do. I am not one of the +croakers who think it sinful to reward honesty. +God rewards every day our efforts toward the +right; but I think the reward can come too +suddenly when man takes it into his own hands. +I stayed my hand. I determined instead to +keep you in view, and keep the helping hand +stretched out, unseen by you; but ready to come +to your aid in time of need. No such a time +has come to you. The Lord evidently took +you for his own, and gave his angels charge +concerning you. I have watched and waited. +I know all about your character, young man, +and more about your education than you think.</p> + +<p>"As I said, your time of need, for which I +have been waiting, has not come, but mine has. +I need just such a young man as you—one who +will be prompt, active and efficient. You know +my place of business, and that I make few +changes. I do not like the business you have<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[200]</a></span> +chosen. Keeping an eating saloon is a respectable +employment, always provided that the business +is respectably conducted, which yours has +been. I do not doubt that you have done much +good. You have fought the giant enemy of +this present time nobly and well. But the business +is not suited to your capacity, by which I +mean that your capacity overruns the business. +Your pet enemy needs fighting, not only with +strong principles but with money, and a certain +kind of business power, both of which I can put +you in the way to gain more rapidly.</p> + +<p>"In short, if you choose to come to me as +one of my confidential clerks, on a salary which +I will name when I see you, and which shall +rise as you rise, I shall be glad to talk with you +this evening at eight o'clock. If you have no +idea of making a change in business; if your +present occupation suits you, I will not trouble +you to make me any reply other than to return +this communication to me through the post-office, +and we will quietly let the matter drop.</p> + +<div class='right'> +<span style="margin-right: 8em;">"Yours truly,</span><br /> +"<span class="smcap">John S. S. Stephens.</span>"<br /> +</div> +</div> + +<p>Our young man caught his breath and held it +in for a moment after reading this remarkable +epistle. Yes, he knew Mr. Stephens' place of +business very well indeed; it was the largest +and finest mercantile house in the city; and to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[201]</a></span> +be fairly launched forth in his employ, with a +reasonable prospect of suiting him, was to be a +possible millionaire. And to think that that +fearful ten-dollar bill, which had made his cheeks +burn so many, <i>many</i> times, was the means that +had brought him such a letter as this. "All +things work together for good to them—" Oh +yes, he knew that verse, and believed it, too. +But what a strange idea that Mr. Stephens +should have been watching him, should have +known so much about his affairs, and instinctively +he ran over his life to see what things he +could have done differently had he known that +Mr. Stephens was watching. Then his face +flushed as he thought of the All-seeing Eye +that had been fixed on him night and day; then +he held his head erect, and reminded himself +that whatever Mr. Stephens might have seen to +condemn, God knew his heart, knew that through +many failures and constant blunders he had +been honestly trying to follow his guide. But +how strange that Mr. Stephens should suppose +him fitted for a clerkship in his store. He tried +to decide what would be expected of him, what +he ought to know in order to be fitted for the +position. Prices and positions of goods? About +these he knew nothing, nor did his want of +knowledge in this respect particularly disturb +him; he knew perfectly well that he had a quick<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[202]</a></span> +eye and a quick memory, and a remarkably convenient +determination to learn everything that +could be learned in as short a space of time as +possible. Book-keeping? How fortunate it +was that he should have happened into Joe +Brower's father's store just as Joe's father was +giving his son a lesson in book-keeping, and +that then and there had arisen <i>his</i> determination +to study book-keeping, and that he had commenced +it; and at first with a little of Joe's +help, and then with a good deal of his father's, +and finally with no help at all, he conquered it. +Then what an extraordinary thing it was that +he should have gone home to tea a little earlier +than usual that evening three years ago, and so +surprised Winny in the act of wiping away two +tears, and found that they were shed because +the dear mother couldn't possibly pay for the +desire of Winny's heart, namely: French lessons; +and that after much discussion and ex-postulation +he should have been allowed to consecrate +one of the ten piles, in which he always +kept his money, to French lessons, and that he +had begun at first for pure fun, and ended by +working hard over the lessons, Winny, on her +part, laboring earnestly to repeat in the evening +just what she had learned during the day, until +now after the lapse of three years he knew perfectly +well that while he would undoubtedly<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[203]</a></span> +make a Frenchman wild with his attempts at +pronunciation, yet the French letter would have +to be very queerly written that he could not +translate, and the message an exceedingly +crooked one that he could not render into +smoothly written French. But how did Mr. +Stephens know all these things? Well, never +mind. Only, he said with energy, there are +some more things that I <i>will</i> know if I have the +good fortune to get near that German clerk of +his, and Winny shall have her chance at German +yet.</p> + +<p>Callers found their usually brisk host almost +inattentive during the remainder of that afternoon. +About five o'clock he dispatched a note, +addressed "J. H. McPherson, Euclid House," +and astonished and delighted his young waiter +by an unusually early putting up of shutters, +and of putting things generally to rights for the +night. In fact, it was not more than seven +o'clock when Jim McPherson arrived and found +his old-time companion alone and in waiting.</p> + +<p>"Halloo! What's up?" was his greeting.</p> + +<p>"You received my note?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, and have been dying of curiosity ever +since to know what the 'important business intimately +connected with' myself, could be about +I thought at one time though, that I wasn't going +to get away. All creation appeared to want<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[204]</a></span> +to take supper with us to-night. What are you +all shut up so early for?"</p> + +<p>"Business. Jim, I have just the chance for +you to get away from there."</p> + +<p>"How?"</p> + +<p>"Well," and then his companion launched +forth in an account of his afternoon letter, and +the prospects which were opening before him, +and also his idea of the prospects which were +opening before Jim. When he ceased, the said +Jim gazed at him in silence for a moment, and +then said:</p> + +<p>"And you offer me an out-and-out partnership?"</p> + +<p>"Out-and-out. You can come right in here +and take the business just as it is, furniture and +fixtures of all sorts, and from this time forth +until we change our minds I'll pay half the expenses +and share the profits. That is—well, +there's only one proviso."</p> + +<p>"I thought there must be something somewhere. +What is it?"</p> + +<p>"You know, Jim, this is a temperance business."</p> + +<p>"Of course. What's your proviso?"</p> + +<p>"You must sign the pledge."</p> + +<p>"Stuff and nonsense."</p> + +<p>"Very well, if that's your final answer we will +drop the subject."</p> + +<p>"But, Tode, that's perfectly silly. Can't you<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[205]</a></span> +trust a fellow unless he puts his name to a piece +of paper like a baby? I don't drink, and I won't +sell rum here. What more do you want?"</p> + +<p>"<ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'Wan't'">Want</ins> you to say so on paper."</p> + +<p>"What for?"</p> + +<p>"To gratify me perhaps. It isn't a great deal +to do. If you mean what you say you can have +no serious objection to doing so."</p> + +<p>"Yes, but I have. I don't approve of signing +away my liberty in that style."</p> + +<p>"Who has been saying that to you?" asked +Theodore, gravely.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps I said it myself."</p> + +<p>"I think not. I believe <i>you</i>, personally, have +more sense."</p> + +<p>Whereat Jim laughed and looked a little +ashamed.</p> + +<p>"No matter," he said at last, "I ain't going +to sign a pledge for anybody, but I'm willing to +get out of that business. I don't like making +drunkards any better than you do, and I should +have quit before if I could have seen any chance +just on mother's account, but I never expected +an offer like this."</p> + +<p>To all of which Theodore made answer only +by setting himself comfortably back in his arm-chair, +pushing a fruit-basket toward his companion, +and saying:</p> + +<p>"Have a pear, Jim?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[206]</a></span></p> + +<p>Then the talk drifted on to pears and peaches, +and divers other fruits, until Jim said:</p> + +<p>"Come, let's talk business."</p> + +<p>Theodore opened his eyes large, and looked +inquiring.</p> + +<p>"I thought we were done with business," he +said, innocently.</p> + +<p>"Do you really mean that you withdraw your +offer unless I will sign the pledge?"</p> + +<p>"Why certainly. I thought you understood +that to be my proviso."</p> + +<p>"But, Tode, don't you think that is forcing a +fellow?"</p> + +<p>"Not at all. You are perfectly free, of course, +to do as you please. If you please to decline a +good offer, merely because you won't promise +not to drink what you say you don't drink, and +not to sell what you say you don't want to sell, +why that is your own matter, of course, and I +can not help myself."</p> + +<p>Jim mused a little.</p> + +<p>"Well, you see," he said presently, "I do +now and then take a drop of wine, not enough +to amount to much, and I'm in no danger of +doing it very often, for I honestly don't care +much for it."</p> + +<p>"No. What then?"</p> + +<p>"Why, I'd have to stop that, of course, if I +signed your pledge."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[207]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Of course. What then?"</p> + +<p>"Why, then," and here Jim broke down and +laughed, and finally added: "Tode, I wish you +were not such an awful fanatic about this."</p> + +<p>"But since I am, what is to be done?"</p> + +<p>Silence fell between the two for a time, until +Jim said with a little touch of disgust:</p> + +<p>"Tode, you're as set in your way as a stone +wall."</p> + +<p>"All right. What is the conclusion of the +whole matter?"</p> + +<p>"Oh fudge! bring on your pledge and give +us a pen."</p> + +<p>Instantly a drawer from a side table was drawn +energetically out, and pen, ink, and a veritable +pledge were placed before the young man. A +few quick dashes of the pen, and "James H. +McPherson" stood out in plain relief under the +strongly worded total abstinence pledge.</p> + +<p>His companion waited with flushing cheek +and eager eyes until the last letter was written; +then he sprang up with an energy that set the +arm-chair upside down, and uttered a vehement:</p> + +<p>"Good! Jim, oh Jim, I could shout for joy. +I have fairly held my breath for fear you would +not reach the point."</p> + +<p>Jim laughed.</p> + +<p>"What a fanatic you are!" he said in a tone<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[208]</a></span> +of assumed carelessness. "How do you know +I won't break it to-morrow?"</p> + +<p>"I know perfectly well. If I had not I +should not have been so anxious to have you +sign to-night. You happen to be as set in +<i>your</i> way as an acre of stone fences."</p> + +<p>More talk ensued—eager, future plannings. +Those two young men, very unlike in many respects, +yet assimilated on a few strong points. +Theodore had constantly kept a hold on his early +friend—at first because of the dear old mother, +and finally because his stronger nature drawing +out and in a measure toning Jim's, the two had +grown less apart than seemed at first probable.</p> + +<p>It wanted but twenty minutes to eight when +the young men left the room where important +business not only for time, but, as it came to +pass, for eternity, had been settled, and hurried, +the one to the Euclid House, and the other +around the corner toward the great dry-goods +house on the main business street. He stopped +first though at the cozy little white house, moved +with eager steps up the walk, flung open the +side door, and spoke in tones full of suppressed +excitement to the old lady, who was nodding over +her large print Testament, Jim's birthday gift.</p> + +<p>"Grandma, I have a present for you." And +a crisp paper was produced and laid on the page +of the open Bible. A glance showed it to be a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[209]</a></span> +temperance pledge—another look, a start, a filling +of the dim old eyes with tears as the beloved +name, James H. McPherson, swam before +her vision, and true to her faith her loving voice +gave utterance to her full heart:</p> + +<p>"'While they are yet speaking I will hear.' +I was just speaking to him again, don't you +think, about that very thing. Oh the Lord +bless him and help him. Now, deary, we won't +be content with this, will we?"</p> + +<p>Theodore shook his head emphatically.</p> + +<p>"He must come over <i>entirely</i> to the Lord's +side," he said, smiling, "now that he has come +half way."</p> + +<p>The city clock was giving the last stroke of +eight as Theodore was ushered into the private +office of Mr. Stephens. That gentleman arose +to greet him with a smile of satisfaction, and +then ensued another business talk, and the drift +of it can be drawn from these concluding sentences:</p> + +<p>"Well, sir," from Mr. Stephens to Theodore, +as the latter arose to go, "how soon may I expect +you? How long is it going to take you to +get your business in shape to leave? We need +help as soon as possible."</p> + +<p>"I will be on hand to-morrow morning, sir."</p> + +<p>"What! ready for work? How is it possible +that you have dispatched matters so rapidly?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[210]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Why," said Theodore, "from two o'clock +until eight gives one six good hours in which to +dispatch business."</p> + +<p>And Mr. Stephens, as they went down the +great store together, smiled again and said to +himself:</p> + +<p>"I don't believe I have mistaken my man."</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 75px;"> +<img src="images/deco4.png" width="75" height="36" alt="Decoration" title="Decoration" /> +</div> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[211]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XVII.</h2> + +<h3>TRANSLATIONS.</h3> + + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 18px;"> +<img src="images/t.png" width="18" height="55" alt="T" title="T" /> +</div> + +<div class='unindent'><br /><big>HERE</big> was an evening party at the house +of the Rev. John Birge. Not one of those +grand crushes, where every body is cross +and warm and uncomfortable generally, but a +cozy little gathering of young ladies and gentlemen, +people whom the minister desired to see +come into more social contact with each other. +Among the number was Miss Dora Hastings. +Dora still continued to come to Sunday-school, +although she had arrived at that mysterious age +when young ladies are apt to be too old for anything +reasonable; but Dora, for some unaccountable +reason, so at least her mother thought, +clung to her little girl habits, and went to Sunday-school; +so she chanced to be numbered +among the guests at Mr. Birge's party. Pliny +was also invited but had chosen not to come, so +Ben Phillips had supplied his place as escort, +and stood now chatting with her when a new +arrival was announced.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[212]</a></span></div> + +<p>Mrs. Birge came to the end of the room where +Dora stood, and with her a young gentleman.</p> + +<p>"Dora," she said, "permit me to introduce a +young friend of mine—Mr. Mallery, Miss Hastings."</p> + +<p>Now it so happened that although Theodore +had been for years a member of the same Sabbath-school +with this young lady, and had seen +her sitting in the Hastings' pew in church on +every Sabbath day, still this was the first time +that he had met her face to face, near enough to +speak to her, since that evening so long ago +when they conversed together on a momentous +subject. Theodore's knowledge of the world +and social distinctions had increased sufficiently +to make him extremely doubtful concerning the +young lady's reception, but Dora was cordial +and frank, and said, "Good evening, Mr. Mallery," +as she would have greeted any stranger, +and set him at once at his ease.</p> + +<p>Ben Phillips good-naturedly held out his +hand, and said, "How d'ye do, Tode?" and +made room for him to enter the circle. It was +a curious evening to the young man, the first in +that mysterious place called "society." Probably +the young ladies and gentlemen fluttering +through the rooms had not the faintest idea how +closely they were being watched and studied by +one pair of earnest eyes.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[213]</a></span></p> + +<p>Theodore's ambition for a yellow cravat had +long since given place to more important things—given +place so utterly that the subject of dress +had been almost entirely passed over. Before +this evening waned he was thoroughly conscious +of his position. He discovered that his +clothes were oddly fitted and oddly made; that +his boots were rough and coarse; that his hands +were gloveless; that even his hair was as curiously +arranged as possible. He discovered +more than this—to many of the gay company +he was evidently a laughing-stock; a few of the +more reckless ones deliberately and openly +made sport of him. Ben Phillips, who had +been cordial enough at first, found himself on +the unpopular side, and ignored the almost +stranger for the remainder of the evening. In +vain did Mr. Birge try quietly to bring him inside +the circle. Those of his guests who were +too cultured to make merry at the expense of +this foreign element which had come among +them, yet seemed not to have sufficient courage +to welcome him to their midst; those with +whom he sat down frequently at the table of +their common Lord seemed neither to know +nor to desire to know him here; and Mr. Birge's +effort to assimilate the different elements of his +congregation seemed likely to prove a disastrous +failure. A merry company were gathered<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">[214]</a></span> +around Dora Hastings. She held a book in her +hand, and was struggling with the translation +of a sentiment written therein in French, and +judging from the bursts of laughter echoing +from the group the attempt was either a real or +pretended failure. Theodore stood at a little +distance from them, perfectly able to hear what +was said, yet as utterly alone as he would have +been out in the silent street.</p> + +<p>"What terrible stuff she is reading," he said +to himself. "I wonder if she really <i>can not</i> +read it, or if she has any idea of what it is." +As if to answer his wondering, Dora turned +suddenly toward him.</p> + +<p>"We'll appeal for help," she said, gaily. +"Mr. Mallery, do come to the rescue. My +French is defective or the translation is incorrect, +probably the latter."</p> + +<p>Another burst of laughter followed this appeal; +but Theodore, taking a sudden resolution, +stepped promptly forward.</p> + +<p>"I conclude," he said, glancing at the book, +and then looking steadily around him, "that +you really do not take in the meaning of this +sentence, any of you?"</p> + +<p>"I am sure I do not," answered Dora, gaily. +"It is about 'everlasting eyes,' I think, or some +such nonsense; but what little I once knew +about French, and little enough it was, I assure<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">[215]</a></span> +you, has utterly gone from me, so have compassion +on our ignorance if you can."</p> + +<p>Without further comment Theodore, with +quiet dignity, read the sentence: "The eyes of +the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil +and the good." As he finished his eye caught +Dora's; her face was flushed and eager.</p> + +<p>"You are right," she said, promptly. "We +none of us understood the sentence, or we +could never have indulged in foolish jesting +over so solemn a truth."</p> + +<p>Ben Phillips gave vent to his astonishment in +words:</p> + +<p>"Tode, how on earth did you learn French?"</p> + +<p>Dora laughed lightly.</p> + +<p>"He studied, I presume," she said, merrily. +"And that you know is what <i>you</i> never would +do, Ben. Mr. Mallery, suppose you come and +decipher for me the motto underneath the +French scene in the further parlor."</p> + +<p>And taking Tode's offered arm the daughter +of the <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'millioniare'">millionaire</ins> moved down the long parlor +by his side. Mr. Birge, coming at that moment +from the dining-room, passed the two, then +turning back sought his wife to say:</p> + +<p>"The experiment has succeeded. Theodore +is promenading with Dora Hastings."</p> + +<p>"The <i>splendid</i> girl!" said Mrs. Birge, energetically. +"I knew she would."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">[216]</a></span></p> + +<p>Meantime Theodore had resolved on a bold +stroke for the Master.</p> + +<p>"Do you remember anything connected with +that verse, Miss Hastings?" he asked, as the +two entered the almost deserted back parlor.</p> + +<p>"Indeed I do," Dora answered, eagerly. "I +never forgot it, and your earnest questions about +it, and I could tell you so little."</p> + +<p>"I found out a great deal about it, though, +taking the information that you gave me for a +starting point, and I have reason to thank God +that you ever showed me your little card. But +do you know anything more of the matter now, +experimentally I mean?"</p> + +<p>Dora's voice trembled a little as she answered:</p> + +<p>"I think—I—sometimes I hope I do. I am +trying to learn a little, stumbling along slowly, +with oh <i>so</i> many drawbacks; and do you know +I think my interest in these things dates back to +that stormy evening in prayer-meeting, when +you asked me such queer questions? At least +I thought them queer then."</p> + +<p>No more standing aloof during that evening +for Theodore Mallery. It mattered little how +his clothes were cut or of what material they +were made; so long as Dora Hastings walked +through the rooms and chatted familiarly with +him, not a girl present but stood ready to follow +her example.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">[217]</a></span></p> + +<p>Later in the evening Dora said to him, hesitatingly +and almost timidly:</p> + +<p>"Mr. Mallery, I don't like you to think that +I was making sport of that Bible verse. I truly +know almost nothing about French, and I didn't +take, the sense of it in the least until you read it."</p> + +<p>There was another thing that the young man +was very anxious to know, and that was whether +her motive was mischief or kind intent when +she called on him; and like the straightforward +individual that he was, he asked her:</p> + +<p>"What possessed you to suppose I could +read it?"</p> + +<p>"Oh," said Dora, innocently, "I knew you +were a French scholar, because Mr. Birge told +me so."</p> + +<p>Someway it was an immense satisfaction to +Theodore to know that Dora's intention had +not been to make light of his supposed ignorance. +As he went home in the moonlight he +laughed a little, and indulged himself in his old +habit of soliloquizing.</p> + +<p>"It's just the matter of fine boots and gloves, +and a few things of that sort. I did decide +once this evening to push the thing through, +and make my way up in spite of gloves and +boots and broadcloth, and I would now but for +one thing. In fact I <i>have;</i> we braved it through +together. That one girl is worth all the rest of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">[218]</a></span> +them, and she came to the rescue fairly and +squarely. If she had failed me I would have +showed the whole of them a few things, but she +didn't, and there's no occasion for making it +such a martyrdom for any of them hereafter. On +the whole, I believe I'll manage to get dear old +Grandma McPherson other work besides tailoring +after this. There is no earthly reason why +I shouldn't dress as respectable as any body. I +don't know but I owe it to Mr. Stephens to do +so. Yes, sir, I've changed my mind—boots and +broadcloth shall be my servants hereafter."</p> + +<p>Keeping in mind this new resolution, Theodore +secured the first leisure moment, and inquired +of Mr. Stephens what route to take.</p> + +<p>"Going to have a new suit of clothes?" questioned +that gentleman in a tone of polite indifference, +not at all as though he had watched and +waited for the development of that very idea. +"Well, let me see. I think Barnes & Houghton +will serve you quite as well as any. They are +on—wait, I will give you their address."</p> + +<p>The hour which Theodore had chosen was +not a fashionable one at the great establishment +of Barnes & Houghton, and he found some +half dozen clerks lounging about, with no more +important occupation than to coax some fun +out of any material which chanced to fall in +their way.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">[219]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I want to look at some business suits," began +Theodore, addressing the foremost of them, +with a slight touch of hesitancy and embarrassment. +It was new business to him.</p> + +<p>"Then I'd advise you to look at them by all +means; always do as you want to when you +can as well as not, my boy," was the answer +which he received, spoken in a tone of good-humored +insolence, and not a clerk moved.</p> + +<p>"Would you like a white vest pattern, or perhaps +you would prefer velvet?" queried a foppish +little fellow. And Theodore, who was +sharper at that style of talk than any of them, +and was rapidly losing his embarrassment, replied +in a tone of great good humor:</p> + +<p>"I never pick out my goods until I see them; +but then perhaps the vest you have on is for +sale? Are you the show-block?"</p> + +<p>This question, put with great apparent innocence, +produced a peal of laughter, for the vest +in question was rather too stylish to be in keeping +with the wearer's surroundings and business.</p> + +<p>An older clerk now interposed.</p> + +<p>"Show him something, Charlie—that's a good +fellow."</p> + +<p>"Can't," said Charlie, from his seat on the +counter, "I'm too busy; besides I don't believe +we could suit him. We haven't anything in the +style his clothes are cut. There's a man right<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">[220]</a></span> +around the corner whose father made coats +for Noah's grandsons; hadn't you better go to +him?"</p> + +<p>"I say," put in he of the stylish vest, "can't +you call in some other time, when business isn't +quite so pressing? You see we're just about +driven to death this morning."</p> + +<p>Just how far this style of treatment would +have been carried, or just how long Theodore +would have borne it, can not be known, for +with the conclusion of the last sentence every +clerk came suddenly to a standing posture, and +two of them advanced courteously to meet a +new-comer, at the same moment that a gentleman +with iron gray hair, and whom Theodore +took to be one of the proprietors, emerged from +a private office, and came forward on the same +errand, and the young man nearly laughed outright +when he recognized in the new-comer Mr. +Stephens. The two gentlemen were shaking +hands.</p> + +<p>"Glad to see you again, Mr. Stephens," said +he of the iron gray hair. "How can we serve +you this morning?"</p> + +<p>"Nothing for me personally, thank you." +And then Mr. Stephens turned to Theodore.</p> + +<p>"Do you find what you wish, Mallery? Mr. +Houghton, let me make you acquainted with +this young friend of mine—Mr. Mallery, Mr.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">[221]</a></span> +Houghton. This young man, Mr. Houghton, +is one of my confidential clerks, a very highly +valued one, and any kindness that you can show +him will be esteemed as a personal favor to me."</p> + +<p>Mr. Houghton bowed his iron gray head very +low.</p> + +<p>"Very happy to have Mr. Mallery's patronage; +trusted they could suit him. Had he +looked at goods? What should they have the +pleasure of showing him this morning? Cummings, +show Mr. Mallery into the other room, +and serve him to the best of your ability."</p> + +<p>And what shall be said of the half dozen +clerks? Amazement, confusion and consternation +were each and all vividly depicted on their +faces. Mr. Stephens' clerk! a highly valued +clerk! Mr. Stephens, of all men in the city, +the last to be offended! Disgrace and dismissal +stared them in the face. For a little minute +Theodore was tempted—half a dozen dignified +words now, and he understood Mr. Stephens' +position well enough to know that these same +clerks would not be likely to offend in the same +place again. One little moment, the next he +turned on his heel and followed Cummings, the +aforesaid Charlie, whose face was blazing, into +the next room. A word, though, of private +exhortation could not be amiss.</p> + +<p>"You blundered, you see, this time," he said<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">[222]</a></span> +to Cummings, still good-naturedly. "Wouldn't +it be well not to judge a fellow <i>always</i> by the +cut of his coat?"</p> + +<p>"You're a brick!" burst forth the amazed +Cummings. "I expected to be blown higher +than a kite, and get my walking ticket besides. +You're the best-natured fellow I ever saw."</p> + +<p>"You're mistaken again, my friend. I lost +my good nature almost entirely, and came within +a word of telling the whole story; only one +little thing hindered me."</p> + +<p>"What was it?"</p> + +<p>"Why I was reading in a very old book, just +before I came out this morning, and one sentence +read: 'Whatsoever ye would that men +should do to you, do ye even so to them,' and +I thought to try it."</p> + +<p>"Humph!" said Cummings.</p> + +<p>But no descendant of the royal line could +have been served more royally than was our +friend Mallery at that house, by that young +man, then and thereafter.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 75px;"> +<img src="images/deco1.png" width="75" height="36" alt="Decoration" title="Decoration" /> +</div> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">[223]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XVIII.</h2> + +<h3>"WINE IS A MOCKER."</h3> + + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 18px;"> +<img src="images/t.png" width="18" height="55" alt="T" title="T" /> +</div> + +<div class='unindent'><br /><big>HEODORE,</big> or "Mallery," which was the +name grown most familiar to him, was +rushing down town belated and in haste. +The business which had called him out had +taken longer than the time which had been assigned +to it, and in consequence the next appointment +was likely to suffer. At the corner +he paused and considered. "Let me see—if I +go down this block, and up the track to the +next corner, I shall save—one, two, three, four +blocks. Yes, it will pay; I'll do it." On he +went, struck the track presently, and moved +rapidly along the iron walk. An unusual sight +suddenly presented itself to his eyes, that of +a carriage and two powerful horses coming +around the curve, and making a carriage drive +of the railway track. It took but a moment of +time to discover three things, viz: that it was +the Hastings' carriage, that the coachman was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">[224]</a></span> +beyond a doubt too much intoxicated to know +what he was about, and that the Buffalo Express +was due at the distant depot in just two minutes, +and must pass over the very track on +which that carriage was trundling along. The +perspiration came and stood in beads on the +young man's pale face; but there was time for +no other show of emotion—he must think and +work rapidly if at all. "Could he <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'posibly'">possibly</ins> get +those horses across to the other track in time?" +No, for there was a perfect network of tracks +just here, no place for a carriage at all, and a +puffing engine directly ahead, liable to start at +any instant, and ready to frighten the horses, +who would probably rear, plunge, back, do <i>anything</i> +but what he wished of them. There was +a wretched gully on this side and a fence, but +the fence was low, and the gully wide enough +to receive the carriage if it could be forced +down the embankment. During this planning +Mallery was running with all speed toward the +carriage, and then the depot bell began to +ring, and the roar and puff of the coming train +could be distinctly heard. The horses began +to plunge, and make ready to break into a fierce +run right into the jaws of the coming monster, +when a firm hand grasped their bridles. Jonas +had just sense enough left to try to resist this +proceeding, and Mallery saw, with a throb of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">[225]</a></span> +thankfulness, the whip drop from his unsteady +hand, thus preventing the horses from being +lashed into greater fury; then he applied all +the strength of his arms and his knowledge of +horses to the dangerous experiment of backing +them down into the gully. They snorted +and plunged, and were bent on going forward, +and were steadily, and as it seemed with super-human +strength, forced backward; and as the +carriage crashed down the hill the very rearing +of the horses drew Theodore's feet from the +outer rail, and the train came thundering by. +And now the affrighted horses seemed more +than ever bent on rushing forward to destruction, +while the long train shot onward. Mallery, +while he battled with them, became conscious +that from the raised window of the carriage +a young face, deathly in pallor, was bent +forward watching the conflict, and he renewed +the determination to save that life thus resting, +so far as human help was concerned, in his +hands. Jonas had dropped the reins, and sat +aghast, and sobered with terror. Now the long +train had vanished, the puffing engine on the +other track had gathered up its forces and followed +after, and Theodore, by a dint of coaxing, +soothing and commanding the terror-stricken +animals, had succeeded in subduing them in +part, and guiding the carriage up the bank and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">[226]</a></span> +quite across the network of tracks; then gathering +the reins in his hand he came to the carriage +window and spoke, using in his excitement +the name familiar to him in the days +when she had given him his first lessons in +writing.</div> + +<p>"There is no cause for further alarm, Dora. +I will see that you reach home in safety."</p> + +<p>Not one word to him did Dora utter; but she +clasped her trembling hands, and said with +white lips:</p> + +<p>"Thank God."</p> + +<p>And the young man added reverently and +meaningly: "Amen."</p> + +<p>Then he sprang to the driver's seat, and uttered +two short firm words to the cowed and +sober driver.</p> + +<p>"Get down!"</p> + +<p>Never was a command more promptly obeyed. +There were five minutes yet before the next +train would be due, time enough to make his +way carefully along the uncertain road built +only for iron horses; but the peril had been too +recent for the young man not to make eager +haste, nor did he draw a long full breath of relief +until the last hated rail had been crossed and +the corner turned on the broad smooth avenue. +It was a nervous sort of a drive even then, for +the horses had a torrent of pent-up strength, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227">[227]</a></span> +had not so entirely recovered from their terror +but that they were listening to every sound, +looking right and left for suspicious objects, and +apparently on the <i>qui vive</i> for an excuse for +running away. How Theodore blessed Rick, +and the livery stable, and the man who fifty +years before had taken for his motto: "Learn +everything you possibly can about everything +that can be learned," as with skillful hand he +guided the fidgety span carefully and safely +through the maze of cart and carriage and omnibus +wheels that lined the streets. And even +then and there he laughed a half-nervous, half-amused +laugh, as he passed the Euclid House, +and saw one of the waiters looking out at him +from a dining-room window; at the thought +that that first burning ambition of his life was +at last gratified, and he was actually occupying +the coveted position of driver for the Hastings' +carriage. The contrasts which his life presented +again struck him oddly, a few moments after, +when Mr. Hall, waiting to cross the street, recognized +and touched his hat to him, with a wondering, +curious glance. Mr. Hall was an elder +in their church and superintendent of their Sabbath-school, +and Theodore had himself cashed a +draft for him in Mr. Stephens' private office not +two hours before. He laughed a little now at +the thought of Mr. Hall's bewilderment over<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">[228]</a></span> +his sudden change of business; and then presently +laughed again at the thought that there +should be anything incongruous in his, Tode +Mall that was, turning coachman. At last the +carriage turned into the beautiful elm-lined carriage +drive that led to the Hastings' mansion, and +drew up presently with a skillful flourish at the +side door. The same John for whom Theodore +used occasionally to run of errands for two +cents a trip came forward, and stared furiously +as the young man threw him the reins and +opened the carriage door.</p> + +<p>Dora's composure had lost itself in a fit of +trembling, and her teeth chattered so that she +could not speak as he led her up the broad +flight of steps. They were all in the hall—Mr. +Hastings, hat in hand, just departing for the +stables; Mrs. Hastings, in a state of transit from +dining-room to drawing-room; and Pliny lounging +on a sofa, his head done up in wet bandages. +He sprang to his feet, however, when Theodore +advanced still supporting his companion, and +questioned eagerly:</p> + +<p>"What the dickens is to pay?"</p> + +<p>That gentleman chose to make things more +comfortable before he answered. He <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'unceremoneously'">unceremoniously</ins> +appropriated sofa and cushions for +the almost fainting girl, and said, peremptorily:</p> + +<p>"Bring a glass of water. Mr. Hastings, that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">[229]</a></span> +fan if you please. Don't be alarmed, Mrs. Hastings, +she will be all right in a few moments."</p> + +<p>Then there was no resisting the storm of +questions that followed, and he told the story as +briefly as possible, only trying to impress one +thought, that liquor was at the bottom of what +had so nearly been a tragedy. Dora revived +sufficiently to impress the fact that but for <i>him</i> +she would not have been there to speak; and +Mr. Hastings, in his excitement and exasperation +against poor Jonas, whose quarter paid for the +liquor which had almost brought death into their +home, and would help to swell Mr. Hastings' +own cash account on this Saturday evening, +recognized in this deliverer of his child poor, +ignorant, degraded Tode Mall, and forgot the +lapse of time and possible changes of position, +and seeking to do him honor, and do a safe +thing for his family at the same time, spoke +hurriedly:</p> + +<p>"Where is that villain of a coachman? I'll +discharge him this very hour. You must be a +good driver, Tode, or you never could have got +here alive with <i>those</i> horses after such a time. +Don't you want the position of coachman?"</p> + +<p>"Papa," said Dora, sitting erect, and with +scarlet cheeks, "Mr. Mallery is Mr. S. S. Stephens' +confidential clerk!"</p> + +<p>Then the great man turned and looked on his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">[230]</a></span> +ex-waiter at the Euclid House—the erect, well-built, +well-dressed young man, standing hat in +hand, with a curious blending of dignity and +amusement on his face, and actually stammered, +and muttered something about "not noticing, +not thinking, not meaning, and everlasting obligations," +in the midst of which the ex-coachman +glanced at his watch, noticed the lateness +of the hour in some dismay, signaled from the +window a passing car, and hurriedly made his +escape.</p> + +<p>This lengthy and unexpected interruption +made a grievous tangle in his day's work. Arrived +at the store he flew about in eager haste, +and then rushed with more than usual speed to +the bank. Just five minutes too late; the last +shutter was being closed as he reached the steps. +"The first failure!" he said to himself in a disappointed +tone. "But it can hardly be said to +be my fault this time." His next engagement +was an appointment to dine with Mr. Stephens +at four o'clock, and with that, too, he was a little +behind time.</p> + +<p>"Well, sir," said Mr. Stephens, meeting him +in the hall, "as sure as I'm alive you are five +minutes behind time! I begin to be encouraged. +It seems that you <i>are</i> a compound of +flesh and blood after all."</p> + +<p>Theodore smiled faintly; his peril was too<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">[231]</a></span> +recent for him to have regained his usual demeanor.</p> + +<p>"Here is your mail," he said, passing over a +handful of letters and papers. "By being ten +minutes late I was enabled to get the latest +news, and I see there is a Lyons letter among +them."</p> + +<p>"Ah," said Mr. Stephens, "that is fortunate +for Lyons. Suppose we step into the library, +Mallery, and see what they say for themselves."</p> + +<p>So the two passed into the business room +and ran over the contents of the letter in question, +as well as several others, conversing together +in a manner which showed that the younger +man had a marked knowledge of the other's +business affairs, and that his opinions were listened +to as if they carried weight with them.</p> + +<p>"But the mail was not what detained me," +said Theodore, presently. "And Mr. Stephens, +I was too late for the bank."</p> + +<p>"Well, it will do to-morrow, will it not?" +queried the elder gentleman, composedly.</p> + +<p>"Oh yes, sir, it will <i>do;</i> but then you know +it is not the way in which we do business."</p> + +<p>Mr. Stephens laughed.</p> + +<p>"I used to consider myself the most prompt +and particular man living," he said, gaily; "but +I believe you are going to make one several +notches above me. I am really curious to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">[232]</a></span> +know what has thrown you out of your orbit +this afternoon."</p> + +<p>Theodore's face flushed.</p> + +<p>"I have been permitted to prevent a murder +this afternoon, even after a father had furnished +the weapons for his daughter's destruction," he +said, speaking sharply. He was very savage on +that question of intemperance.</p> + +<p>"Horrible!" said Mr. Stephens, looking aghast. +"Mallery, what <i>do</i> you mean?"</p> + +<p>And then followed a recital of the afternoon's +adventures. Had Theodore Mallery been the +hero of a first-class novel he would have remained +modestly and obstinately silent about a +matter in which he had taken so prominent a +part, but being very like a flesh and blood young +man, it did not occur to him to hesitate or stammer—in +fact he thought he had succeeded in +doing a good brave deed, and he was very glad +and thankful. Presently they left the library +and went toward the parlor.</p> + +<p>"Do you know I have another guest to-day?" +asked Mr. Stephens, as they went down the hall +together. "A Mr. Ryan, a lawyer. I think +you are not acquainted with him."</p> + +<p>"Ryan!" said Theodore, looking puzzled and +racking his memory. "The name sounds familiar, +but—oh!" and then he laughed, "Edgar +Ryan?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233">[233]</a></span></p> + +<p>"The same. Do you know him?"</p> + +<p>"Why, yes, sir. I used to know him very +well; served him every day at the Euclid +House."</p> + +<p>"Did you indeed! Well, I know very little +about him, save that his father was a good friend +to me once."</p> + +<p>When Mr. Stephens presented his confidential +clerk to Mr. Ryan there was a start, a look +of bewilderment and confused recollection, accompanied +by a sudden roguish twinkle of recognition, +and then the polished lawyer became +oblivious to the existence of "Tode Mall," and +"Habakkuk," and "bottles," and greeted "Mr. +Mallery" in a manner that became a guest of +Mr. Stephens, toward Mr. Stephens' honored +clerk. Then they all went out to dinner. And +the dinner progressed finely until the coffee and +dessert were served, and Mr. Stephens had dismissed +the waiters and prepared for a half-way +business talk; then suddenly his clerk gave a +quick nervous push from him of the plate on +which quivered a tiny mound of jelly, its symmetry +destroyed by just one mouthful, and the +crimson blood rolled to his very forehead. His +confusion was too apparent and continued to +admit of being overlooked, and Mr. Stephens +asked, with a mixture of curiosity and anxiety:</p> + +<p>"What is the trouble, Mallery?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234">[234]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Mr. Stephens," said Theodore, earnestly +with just a little tremble of pain in his voice, +"you have made me disregard for the first time +in my life the only prayer that my mother ever +prayed for me."</p> + +<p>Mr. Stephens, who knew the story of his life, +looked bewildered and troubled, and said gently; +"I don't understand, Theodore;" while Mr. +Ryan's eyes had the roguish twinkle in them +again, because he did understand.</p> + +<p>Theodore silently inclined his head toward +the rejected plate.</p> + +<p>"Oh," said Mr. Stephens, looking relieved, +"do you object to the wine jelly? Why, my +dear boy, isn't that almost straining a point? +I don't understand the art of interfering with +cookery."</p> + +<p>"This is an excellent opportunity for me," +began Mr. Ryan. "I've been wishing enlightenment +for a long time on an abstruse question +connected with the temperance theory. +Mr. Mallery, you are a stanch upholder of the +cause, I believe. May I question you?"</p> + +<p>Theodore had regained his composure, and +was quietly sipping his coffee.</p> + +<p>"You may, sir, certainly," he said, playfully. +"I believe nothing is easier than to ask questions. +Whether I can answer them or not is, +of course, another matter."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235">[235]</a></span></p> + +<p>Mr. Ryan laughed.</p> + +<p>"But you used to be, or that is—well, something +leads me to think that you are one of the +Bible temperance men. Are you not?"</p> + +<p>Theodore fixed a pair of full, earnest, unashamed +eyes on the questioner's face before he +said:</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir, I entirely agree with Habakkuk on +that subject to-day as in the past."</p> + +<p>"Well then," said Mr. Ryan, dashing into +the subject, "I'm in need of enlightenment. +Isn't there a story in the Bible about a certain +wedding, at which our Savior countenanced the +use of wine not only by his presence, but by +actually furnishing the wine itself by his own +miraculous power?"</p> + +<p>"There <i>is</i> such a story," said Theodore, continuing +to quietly sip his coffee.</p> + +<p>"Well, how do you account for it?"</p> + +<p>"I suppose, sir, you know how great and +good men account for it?" questioned Theodore.</p> + +<p>"Oh yes, I know the story by heart, about +two kinds of wine—one intoxicating, the other +<i>not</i>, and that this wine at the marriage feast was +of the non-intoxicating sort; but that at best is +only supposition, not argument. I have as +good a right to suppose it <i>was</i> intoxicating as +you have to suppose it was not."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236">[236]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Have you?" said Theodore, with elevated +eyebrows. "In that we should differ."</p> + +<p>"Then that is the very point upon which I +need enlightenment," answered Mr. Ryan, with +a good-humored laugh. "Won't you please +proceed?"</p> + +<p>"I presume you grant, sir, that it is not superstition +but <i>certainty</i> that there <i>were</i> two kinds +of wine in those days," said Theodore.</p> + +<p>"Oh yes. I'll accept that as fact."</p> + +<p>"Well, then, as I am not a Greek nor Hebrew +scholar, and I understand that you are, I +will simply remind you of the very satisfactory +and generally accepted statements of learned +men concerning the two words used in those +languages to express two distinct kinds of +liquid, which words were not, I am told, used +interchangeably. Then I should like to pass at +once to simpler, and, for unlearned people like +myself, more practical arguments. Do you lawyers +allow your authors to interpret themselves, +sir?"</p> + +<p>"Certainly."</p> + +<p>"Which is precisely what we do with the +Bible. In a sense, the same Jesus who made +wine of water at the marriage feast, is the author +of the Bible, and if he is divine there must +be no discrepancy in its pages. Now I find that +this same Bible says, 'Wine is a mocker,' 'Look<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237">[237]</a></span> +not upon the wine when it is red,' 'Woe to him +that giveth his neighbor drink,' and a long array +of similar and more emphatic expressions. Now +how am I to avoid thinking either that Jesus +of Nazareth was a mere man, and a very inconsistent +one at that, or else that the wine at the +marriage supper was <i>not</i> the wine with which +we are acquainted, and which we will not use +at all until 'it giveth its color in the cup and +moveth itself aright?'"</p> + +<p>Mr. Ryan laughed still good-humoredly, and +said:</p> + +<p>"Have you committed to memory the entire +Bible as well as Habakkuk, Mallery? But I +can quote Scripture, too. Doesn't your Bible +read, 'Give wine to those that be of heavy +hearts?'"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir; and, according to our translation, +the same article is used as a symbol of God's +wrath: 'For thus saith the Lord God of Israel, +Take the wine cup of this fury at my hand.' +Does that look probable or reasonable? It +talks, moreover, about 'wine that maketh glad +the heart of man,' and I leave it to your judgment +whether we know anything about any +such wine as that?"</p> + +<p>"But, Mallery," interposed Mr. Stephens, "I +want to question you now myself. I am a genuine +temperance man I have always supposed. I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238">[238]</a></span> +accord with everything that you have said on +the subject, and still I don't believe I see the +connection between wine drinking and using +the article as a condiment, or in my cakes and +jellies."</p> + +<p>"Well, sir," said Theodore, turning toward +him brightly, "the same Bible reads: 'If meat +maketh my brother to offend, I will eat no more +meat while the world stands;' and if we are to +interpret the Bible according to its spirit, why +doesn't it read with equal plainness; 'If wine +maketh my brother to offend—'"</p> + +<p>"But you surely do not think that an appetite +for wine drinking can be cultivated from an +innocent jelly?"</p> + +<p>Theodore looked in grave surprise at his +questioner as he said:</p> + +<p>"That remark proves, sir, that you were not +brought up in the atmosphere which surrounded +my younger days, and also that you were never +one of the waiters at the Euclid House; but +that it takes much less than that to cultivate, or +worse, to arouse an already cultivated appetite, +I believe all trustworthy statements that have +ever been made on the subject will bear me +witness. Mr. Ryan, if you were a reformed +drunkard, seated at this table, would you dare +to eat that wine jelly?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239">[239]</a></span></p> + +<p>Mr. Ryan spoke dryly, laconically, but distinctly:</p> + +<p>"No."</p> + +<p>Theodore turned to Mr. Stephens again.</p> + +<p>"'And the second is like unto it,'" he said, +speaking low and gently. "'Thou shalt love +thy neighbor as thyself.'"</p> + +<p>"But my neighbor isn't here," answered Mr. +Stephens, playfully. "At least not the reformed +drunkard of whom you speak; if he were I +would be careful."</p> + +<p>"But if you meet him on the street to-night," +answered Theodore, in the same manner, "don't, +I beg of you, say anything to him about his evil +habits, because he may ask you if you neither +touch, taste nor handle the accursed stuff; and +while you are trying to stammer out some excuse +for your condiments, he might suggest to +you that you use the poison in your way and he +uses it in his, and there is many a brain that can +not see the difference between the two; in which +case it seems to me to become the old story, +'If meat maketh my brother to offend.'"</p> + +<p>Mr. Stephens laughed.</p> + +<p>"He ought to have been a lawyer instead of a +merchant. Don't you think so, Ryan?" he asked, +glancing admiringly at the flushed young face.</p> + +<p>"I told him so several years ago," said Mr. +Ryan.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_240" id="Page_240">[240]</a></span></p> + +<p>Theodore was roused and excited; he could +not let the subject drop.</p> + +<p>"I can conceive of another reason why a good +man should not harbor such serpents in disguise," +he said, in the pleasant, half-playful tone +which the conversation had latterly assumed.</p> + +<p>"Let us have it by all means," answered Mr. +Stephens. "I am court-martialed, I perceive +and may as well have all the shots at once."</p> + +<p>"Why, sir, what possible right can you have +to beguile an innocent youth like myself to your +table, and tempt his unsuspecting ignorance +with a quivering bit of jelly which, had he +known its ingredients, such are his principles +and his resolves, and I may add such is his horror +of the fiend, that he would almost rather +have had his tongue plucked out by the roots +than to have touched it?"</p> + +<p>The sentence, began playfully, was finished in +terrible earnestness, with trembling voice and +quivering lip. There was no concealing the +fact that this subject in all its details was a +solemn one to him. Mr. Stephens watched for +a moment the flushed earnest face. This man +without wife or children, without home other +than his wealth and his housekeeper furnished +him, was fast taking his confidential clerk into +his inner heart. He looked at him a moment, +then glanced down at the table. Mr. Ryan's<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_241" id="Page_241">[241]</a></span> +dish of jelly and his own still remained untouched. +He spoke impulsively:</p> + +<p>"Ryan, are you partial to that ill-fated dish +beside you?"</p> + +<p>"Not at all," answered that gentleman, laughingly. +"I have conceived quite a horror for the +quivering, suspicious-looking lump."</p> + +<p>Then Mr. Stephens' hand was on the bell.</p> + +<p>"Thompson," he said to the servant who answered +his summons, "you may remove the +jellies." And the brisk waiter looked startled +and confused as he proceeded to obey the order.</p> + +<p>"They are all right," explained Mr. Stephens, +kindly, "only we have decided to dispense with +them." And as the door closed upon the retreating +servant the host added, turning to Theodore:</p> + +<p>"I will dispense with them as regards my table +from this time forth. This is my concession +to your beloved cause."</p> + +<p>Such a bright glad look of thanks and admiration +and love as his young clerk bestowed +upon him in answer to this Mr. Stephens never +forgot.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 75px;"> +<img src="images/deco2.png" width="75" height="32" alt="Decoration" title="Decoration" /> +</div> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_242" id="Page_242">[242]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XIX.</h2> + +<h3>THE "THREE PEOPLE" MEET AGAIN.</h3> + + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 13px;"> +<img src="images/i.png" width="13" height="55" alt="I" title="I" /> +</div> + +<div class='unindent'><br /><big>t</big> is not to be supposed, because nothing +has been said of intervening days, that the +events recorded in the last two chapters followed +each other in quick succession. In reality, +when Theodore Mallery bought his first +suit of ready-made clothing he had been but a +very short time in his new place of business, but +when the perilous railroad carriage drive was taken +with the Hastings' carriage he had been Mr. +Stephens' confidential clerk for three years, and +was as much trusted and as promptly obeyed +as was Mr. Stephens himself. He allowed a +reasonable length of time to elapse after that +momentous drive, and then one evening availed +himself of Dora Hastings' cordial invitation to +call. This was an attempt which he had never +made before. Although he had gone somewhat +into society since that memorable first evening<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_243" id="Page_243">[243]</a></span> +at his pastor's house, yet the society in which he +had grown most familiar, namely: that connected +with his beloved church and Sabbath-school, +was not the society in which Miss Hastings +more generally mingled. This and her frequent +and prolonged absences from the city, +combined, perhaps, with other and minor causes, +were the reasons why they had not again met +socially; and, beyond an occasional bow as they +passed each other in the church aisle, they had +been as strangers to each other; this until the +dangerous ride taken together. Then, as I +said, after a little Theodore rang at the Hastings' +mansion, had a peep of Dora sitting at +the window, a peep of Mr. Hastings composedly +pacing the length of the room, and after waiting +what seemed to him an unreasonably long +time for answer to his card, was courteously +informed that the family were "not at home!" +This was the great man's gratitude for the preservation +of his daughter's life! He <i>was</i> grateful—was +willing to make the young man his +coachman, and to pay him in money; but he +was not willing to receive him in his parlor on +an equal social footing, for who knew better +than he from what depths of poverty and degradation +the young upstart had sprung! Theodore +did not look very grave; he even laughed +as he turned and ran lightly down the granite<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_244" id="Page_244">[244]</a></span> +steps; and he was pleased but not surprised +when a few days thereafter he met Dora on the +square, and she stopped and frankly and distinctly +disclaimed any complicity in her father's +uncourteous act, or sympathy with his feelings. +And there once more the matter dropped.</div> + +<p>On this evening, four weeks after the call, +Theodore was walking rather rapidly toward +his home; he had been spending the evening +with Jim McPherson; the old stand had been +enlarged and beautified, until now it was a very +marvel of taste and elegance. Jim had evidently +found his level or his hight. Theodore still +retained his interest in the business, and guided +it skillfully by a word of advice now and then. +This evening of which I speak had been an +eventful one. After a running commentary on +the business in general, and the business of +that day in particular, the talk had turned into +another channel, and went on after this fashion:</p> + +<p>"Do you know you are a kind of a standing +marvel to me?" Theodore questioned.</p> + +<p>"No," answered Jim, laughing. "Hadn't an +idea of such a thing. I knew that you had +been a <i>walking</i> marvel to me ever since I first +laid eyes on you at the Euclid House; but +I thought <i>I</i> was a commonplace kind of an +individual who astonished nobody. Enlighten +me."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_245" id="Page_245">[245]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Why," said Theodore, "you're such a square +out-and-out honorable business man; as particular +to be honest in trifles as in greater sums; +as careful to render just exactly every man his +due as it is possible to be."</p> + +<p>"And that surprises you, does it? Much +obliged." And Jim spoke in a laughing tone, +but with a bright flush on his face.</p> + +<p>"No, the marvel doesn't come in there," his +companion had returned with gravity; "but in +the fact that one so particular with his fellow-man +should ignore or forget the obligations +under which he is bound to render account for +every day's work in the sight of God."</p> + +<p>"How do you know that I do forget?"</p> + +<p>"Because I know you to be <i>so</i> honest and +honorable, that if you gave this matter thought +and weight, its reasonableness would so press +itself upon you that you would not even <i>try</i> to +shake it off."</p> + +<p>"How do you know that I <i>do</i> try?"</p> + +<p>"My dear friend," said Theodore, tenderly, +"how can I help knowing when I know so well +the love of Christ for you, his yearning over +you, and the fact that your mother's prayers +are constantly going up for you, and yet that +you still slight such love?"</p> + +<p>"But how do you know that last to be a +fact?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_246" id="Page_246">[246]</a></span></p> + +<p>"My dear Jim, if you were not you would +be a praying man, a Christian."</p> + +<p>"And I still ask, how do you know that I am +not? Is my life so at variance with the principles +of the gospel that you can not doubt it?"</p> + +<p>Theodore turned eager, searching eyes upon +his friend's face, and questioned tremulously:</p> + +<p>"<i>Are</i> you a praying man, Jim?"</p> + +<p>"I do hope and trust that I am."</p> + +<p>The reply came in firm, clear tones, with a +sort of undertone of solemn triumph in them; +and Theodore rose suddenly, and going around +to his side clasped hands with him in token of +a new bond of fellowship, and his voice was +husky as he said:</p> + +<p>"My dear brother, forgive me for taking for +granted that your position on this subject was +unchanged because you did not choose to tell +me so; but why did you not? Oh, if I <i>could</i> +tell you how I have longed and prayed for this."</p> + +<p>"I know it," said Jim, holding the proffered +hand in a hearty grasp. "I have been wrong in +that respect; but I felt so weak, so doubtful at +times, so afraid of making blunders, that I +thought it best to keep quiet, and if my life +could not speak for me then it would be because +there was nothing to speak. But I was +at prayer-meeting last evening; sat over in the +seat by the door. I heard what you said, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_247" id="Page_247">[247]</a></span> +I came to the conclusion that the Lord had +lighted my candle for me, and that I had +hidden it away under a bushel as if I were +ashamed of it; and I have been planning all +day how to bring it out from the shadow and +have it shine."</p> + +<p>You may imagine that the rest of that evening +was blessed to those two young men. +Those of you who by experience know any +thing about it will understand how Theodore +believed that he could never hear words more +blessed than those which Jim spoke to him as +they shook hands for good-night.</p> + +<p>"Least of all, my dear fellow, should I have +hid the story from you, for from the first to the +last you have been the means, under God, of +my finding him; and, Mallery, one of the longest +strides I ever took toward the 'strait gate' was +that evening when you almost <i>made</i> me sign +the pledge. Oh, we have a new name to our +roll. Did I tell you? Mr. Ryan."</p> + +<p>"Not the lawyer?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, the lawyer. Boards at the Euclid +House, you know; signed at our last meeting. +<i>You</i> had something to do with that, hadn't you? +He said something to me in that queer way he +has about meeting Habakkuk not long ago, and +finding that he had added the whole Bible to +his bottle argument."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_248" id="Page_248">[248]</a></span></p> + +<p>And so it was that Theodore did not go yet +after all, but sat down again to discuss this new +delight.</p> + +<p>And thus it came to pass that he was walking +rapidly down town at rather a late hour, +and overtook two persons who were stumbling +and muttering along the now nearly deserted +street.</p> + +<p>"Poor wretches," he said to himself; "poor +miserable wretches! I wonder whether the rum-hole +that sent them out in this condition was +gilded and glittering, or was a veritable cellar +stripped of its disguise? This is what I used +to fear for Jim, the splendid fellow! I never +half did him justice. What a boy, though, not +to tell his mother. I wonder who the dear old +saint will take up for her 'most special subject' +now? Jim and Rick both gathered in. It will +be Winny with twofold earnestness now, I presume. +Oh, the mansions are filling up, and I +thank God that he is letting me help to fill them. +But who will I take now?"</p> + +<p>"Le me lone," interrupted one of the poor +drunkards, giving his companion a vigorous +push, "I can walk without your help, I guess; +pity if I couldn't!"</p> + +<p>"Suppose," continued Theodore to his inner +self; "suppose I should take that poor fellow +who is leaning against the post? God's mercy<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_249" id="Page_249">[249]</a></span> +is great enough for him. I want somebody to +bring as a thank-offering for Jim and Rick—yes, +and for Mr. Ryan, too. I believe I'll +choose him. I'll find out who he is, and follow +him up, with the Lord's help, until he chooses +one of the many mansions for himself. How +shall I go to work to discover who he is and +where he belongs? I really doubt his knowledge +of either subject just at present."</p> + +<p>Then the man embracing the post spoke for +the first time.</p> + +<p>"What you s'pose ails this confounded lamp-post? +Won't stand still; whirls round like a +wind-mill or a church-steeple, or suthin. B'lieve +it's drunk, sure's you live."</p> + +<p>Something in the manner, in the tones, thick +and foolish and unnatural though they were, +brought Theodore to a full stop before the poor +fellow, and caused him to look eagerly in the +upturned face, while the blood surged violently +through his veins.</p> + +<p>"Drunk!" returned the less intoxicated companion, +contemptuously. "You're drunk yourself, +that's what's the matter. You better come +on now and let that lamp-post stay where it is. +I ain't going to drag you both home, I reckon."</p> + +<p>Meantime Theodore laid a firm steady hand +on the arm of the drunken man, and spoke in a +low quiet tone, "Pliny," for he had too surely<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_250" id="Page_250">[250]</a></span> +recognized the voice, and knew now beyond +the shadow of a doubt that the "poor wretch" +in question was Pliny Hastings, and that his +drunken companion was the old friend of his +boyhood, Ben. Phillips. So these three, whose +lives had commenced on the same day of time, +had crossed each other's paths once more. With +very little effort he persuaded the poor bewildered +fellow to desert his whirling post, and +a carriage returning empty from the midnight +train came at his call, and the three were +promptly seated therein, and the order given by +Theodore, No.—Euclid Avenue. A strange +ride it was for him. His companions sang and +yelled and quarreled by turns, until at last the +sleepy stage came upon them, and this but for +one thing was a relief. It had been no part of +his plan to be seen by any dweller in the Hastings' +mansion that night; but if this man was +to be an utterly helpless log how could he help +it? However, he comforted himself with the +thought that a servant was probably in waiting, +and that they could get him quickly and quietly +to his room. So when the carriage rolled up +the avenue and halted before the door, he sprang +out, and once more rang the bell and awaited +admittance to Hastings' Hall. He had not long +to wait; he heard the night-latch click sharply, +and a moment thereafter the door swung open,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_251" id="Page_251">[251]</a></span> +and he confronted not a servant but Dora, looking +nearly as white and quite as grave as she +had on the day of the ride.</p> + +<p>"Dora!" he said, in his surprise and alarm. +"Why, is it you? Where is your father?"</p> + +<p>"Papa is in his room. Is it Pliny, Mr. Mallery?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Theodore, gently. "Don't be +alarmed, Miss Hastings, he is not injured; he—it +is—"</p> + +<p>Dora interrupted him.</p> + +<p>"I understand but too well, Mr. Mallery. Is +he unconscious—asleep, or what?"</p> + +<p>"Asleep," answered Theodore, briefly, feeling +that words were worse than useless.</p> + +<p>"Then could you—could we <i>possibly</i> get him +to his room without the knowledge of any one? +If we <i>only could</i>."</p> + +<p>"We will try," the brief reply breathing sympathy +and pity in every tone. "Have you a +servant whom you can trust?"</p> + +<p>Dora shook her head in distress.</p> + +<p>"There isn't a servant up but John, and papa +rang for him not five minutes ago."</p> + +<p>"Never mind then—I know the driver; he is +trustworthy. Be prepared to show us the way +to his room, Miss Hastings."</p> + +<p>Swift and quiet were their movements. The +driver, one of the wisest of his set, seemed to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_252" id="Page_252">[252]</a></span> +comprehend the situation by instinct, and trod +the halls and stairs as though his feet had been +shod in velvet. He was a strong man, too, and +between them they carried the slight effeminate +form with ease and laid him upon the elegant +bed in his elegant room, he still sleeping the +heavy drunken sleep which Dora had learned +to know so well.</p> + +<p>She stood now in the hall with compressed +lips and one hand pressing the throbbing veins +in her forehead, waiting while Theodore turned +down and shaded the gas, and arranged the +sleeper's head in a more comfortable position +on the pillow. He had with a brief low-spoken +sentence dismissed his helper the moment they +had deposited their burden on the bed. Presently +he came out into the hall, and closing the +door behind him followed Dora lightly and +swiftly down the stairs. Not a word passed +between them until he stood with his hand on +the night-latch; then he said:</p> + +<p>"Can I serve you in any way to-night, Miss +Hastings?"</p> + +<p>The reply was <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'irrevelant'">irrelevant</ins> but very earnest:</p> + +<p>"Mr. Mallery, I do not know how to thank +you for this night's kindness."</p> + +<p>"There is no need of thanks," he said, gently. +"Take heart of grace, Miss Hastings. God +helping us we will save him yet. I had selected<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_253" id="Page_253">[253]</a></span> +him for my subject of special pleading before I +knew who he was."</p> + +<p>Dora's white lips quivered a little.</p> + +<p>"Then there are two to pray for him!" she +said, eagerly.</p> + +<p>"Yes, and 'if two of you shall agree'—you +know. Good-night."</p> + +<p>He had one more hard task to perform. The +carriage was waiting, and the other drunken +son must be conveyed to his father's house. A +few moments of rapid driving brought them to +the modest white house, with its green blinds, +one of them with the slats turned so that the +pale tearful watcher at the window could see +the carriage, and before Theodore had time to +ring the door was unbolted, and this time it was +a gray-haired father who received them. Grim +and silent was he, but ever and anon as they +were passing up the stairs they heard a low +heart-rending moan from the poor mother, who +had left the window and buried her head among +the cushions of the sofa. Theodore knew nothing +about the sweet sleeping baby who had +nestled so cozily in the great rocking-chair +twenty-three years before; but the mother did, +and had lived to understand that had her precious +baby Benny slept the sleep that knows no +waking when in his infancy, it would have been<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_254" id="Page_254">[254]</a></span> +infinitely better than the stupor of body and +brain that held him now.</p> + +<p>"Young man," said Mr. Phillips, as they +reached the outer door again, "I don't know +who you are, but I am thankful that you have +saved us from any further disgrace by bringing +him home. God grant that this night's work +may be a warning to you, and that you may +never need such disgraceful help for yourself."</p> + +<p>He evidently mistook Theodore for one of +the boon companions of his son. The driver, +overhearing the remark, chuckled softly, and +remarked to himself: "That's a good one! He's +mistook his chap this time, I could tell him;" +but Theodore bowed in respectful silence, and +felt a consuming pity for that heavily stricken +father.</p> + +<p>As he entered the carriage the driver volunteered +some information.</p> + +<p>"That man sells rum himself, in his grocery +over there across the street, and he fought +against the 'no license' petition like a wild tiger +last fall."</p> + +<p>"Drive me home now, please," said Theodore +aloud, in answer to this; and to himself he +said, as he sank wearily among the cushions: +"Then I pray God to have mercy on him, and +not make his judgment heavier than he can +bear."</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 60px;"> +<img src="images/deco3.png" width="60" height="27" alt="Decoration" title="Decoration" /> +</div> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_255" id="Page_255">[255]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XX.</h2> + +<h3>MRS. JENKINS' TOMMY.</h3> + + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 18px;"> +<img src="images/t.png" width="18" height="55" alt="T" title="T" /> +</div> + +<div class='unindent'><br /><big>HERE</big> came a low tapping on the green +baize door of Mr. Stephens' private office. +"Come," said Mr. Stephens from within, +and a clerk entered.</div> + +<p>"Is Mr. Mallery in, sir? There is a queer +looking personage in the store who insists upon +seeing him."</p> + +<p>"Mallery," said Mr. Stephens, turning his +head slightly, and addressing an individual farther +back behind a high desk, "are you engaged?"</p> + +<p>"Nine seventy-two—one moment, Mr. Stephens—nine +eighty-one, nine ninety, one thousand. +Now, sir, what is it?" and in a moment +thereafter Mr. Mallery emerged. The clerk repeated +his statement.</p> + +<p>"Very well," said Theodore, "I'll be out in +one moment." He still held the package of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_256" id="Page_256">[256]</a></span> +one thousand dollars which he had just counted +in his hand. "There is your money, Mr. Stephens," +he said, laying it down as the outer +door closed on them.</p> + +<p>"All right, is it?"</p> + +<p>"All right."</p> + +<p>"What have you done with the rest?"</p> + +<p>"Locked it up."</p> + +<p>"And the key?"</p> + +<p>"In my pocket. Do you wish it, sir?"</p> + +<p>"No," said Mr. Stephens, smiling. "Did you +ever forget anything in your life, Theodore? +I did not think you had time to turn a key before +you came out."</p> + +<p>"I turned it nevertheless," answered Theodore, +significantly. "You know I don't trust +that young man, sir."</p> + +<p>"Not yet?"</p> + +<p>"No, sir."</p> + +<p>"Well, I hope and trust that time will prove +you wrong and me right."</p> + +<p>"I hope so, certainly," answered Theodore, +dryly.</p> + +<p>"But you don't believe it." And Mr. Stephens +laughed a little as he added: "Now, +Mallery, if you <i>should</i> happen to be mistaken +this time!"</p> + +<p>Theodore answered him only by a grave +smile as he went out of the room. It was a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_257" id="Page_257">[257]</a></span> +busy spot outside—clerks and cash boys were +flying hither and thither, and customers were +many and impatient. Making his way through +the crowd, bowing here and there to familiar +faces, Theodore sought for the person who +awaited him.</p> + +<p>"A queer looking personage," the clerk had +said, and over by one of the windows stood a +meek-faced old woman, attired in a faded dress +and shawl, and a rather startling bonnet as regarded +shape. She looked as if she might be +waiting or watching for somebody—at least she +was not looking around with the air of a purchaser, +and she was being rudely jostled every +moment by thoughtless people or hurried clerks. +Theodore resolved to discover for himself if this +were the one in waiting, and advanced to her +side.</p> + +<p>"Can I do anything for you, madam?" he +asked, with as respectful a tone as he would +have used to Miss Hastings herself.</p> + +<p>The woman turned a pair of startled eyes +upon him; then seeming to be reassured, asked +suddenly:</p> + +<p>"Be you Mr. Mallery?"</p> + +<p>"That is my name. What can I do for you?"</p> + +<p>The old lady dropped him a very low, very +odd little courtesy ere she answered:</p> + +<p>"And I'm the widow Jenkins, and I've come<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_258" id="Page_258">[258]</a></span>—well, +could I possibly see you alone for a bit +of a moment? My head is kind of confused +like with all this noise and running about; them +little boys act as if they was most crazy anyhow, +hopping about all over. I didn't know +they allowed no playing in these big stores; +but then you see I'm from the country, and +things is queer all around; but if I only could +see you all alone I wouldn't take a mite hardly +of your time."</p> + +<p>"You may come with me," answered Theodore, +not stopping to explain the mystery of +the cash boys, and show how very little like +play their hopping about was after all. He led +the way to a room opening off the private office, +and giving the old lady one of the leathern +arm-chairs, stood before her, and again inquired +kindly:</p> + +<p>"Now what can I do for you?"</p> + +<p>"Well," began Mrs. Jenkins, her voice trembling +with eagerness, "it's about my Tommy. +He's the only boy I've got, and I'm a widow, +and he lives at the Euclid House—works there, +you know, and sleeps there, and all; and he's a +good-natured, coaxy boy; he kind of wants to +do just as everybody says; and he's promised +me time and again that he wouldn't drink a +mite of their stuff that they live on there, and +he doesn't mean to, but they offer it to him, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_259" id="Page_259">[259]</a></span> +the other boys they laugh at him, and kind of +lead him along—and the long and short of it is, +the habit is coming on him, Mr. Mallery, coming +on fast. I've coaxed Tommy, and he means +all right, only he don't do it; and I've been +down there to Mr. Roberts, and talked to him, +and he's just as smooth as glass, and the difference +between him an' Tommy is that he don't +mean it at all, not a word of it, any of the time. +I see it in his eyes, and I've tried to coax Tommy +away from there, but he thinks he can't +find anything else to do, and they are good to +him there, and he's kind of bent on staying, +and I've done every blessed thing I could think +of, and now I am at my wits' ends."</p> + +<p>And the voluble little woman paused long +enough to wipe two glistening tears from her +withered cheeks, while her listener, roused and +sympathetic, asked in earnest tones:</p> + +<p>"And what is it you would like to have me +do? Tommy is in danger, that is evident. I +do not wonder that you are alarmed, and I am +ready to help you in any possible way. Have +you any plan in view in which you would like +my assistance?"</p> + +<p>Before Mrs. Jenkins answered she bestowed a +look of undisguised admiration on the earnest +face before her, as she said:</p> + +<p>"They told me you'd do it. Jim said—says<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_260" id="Page_260">[260]</a></span> +he, 'if that man can't help you no man can, and +if he <i>can</i> he will. He told my Katie that last +night, and I made up my mind to come right +straight to you." And then she dashed eagerly +into the important part of her subject. "I've +laid awake nights, and I've thought and thought, +and planned. Now that Mr. Roberts, he's a +slippery man, and when you talk to him he says +he's under orders, and he does just as he is directed. +Now, according to my way of thinking, +it ain't no ways likely that Mr. Hastings +goes and orders him to feed them boys on rum. +But then it flashed on me last night about that +Mr. Hastings—why he must be a good kind of +a man, he give five hundred dollars to the Orphans' +Home only last week."</p> + +<p>"He ought to," interrupted Mallery. "He +helps to manufacture the orphans."</p> + +<p>"Well, that's true, too; but then like enough +he don't stop and think what he is about—that's +the way with half the folks in this world, anyhow; +he may be willing to kind of help to keep +them boys from ruin, and save his rum at the +same time, and I was just thinking if somebody +would just go and have a good kind plain talk +with him, like enough he would promise to send +Mr. Roberts word not to let them boys have any +more drink, and that would help along the other +boys as well as mine."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_261" id="Page_261">[261]</a></span></p> + +<p>Theodore could scarcely restrain a smile at +the poor woman's simple faith in human nature; +he almost dreaded to explain to her how utterly +improbable he felt it to be that Mr. Hastings +would listen to any such plea as the one proposed.</p> + +<p>"Why don't you go to him?" he questioned +suddenly, as the eager eyes were raised to his +awaiting his answer.</p> + +<p>"Oh <i>dear me!</i>" she answered in consternation, +"I should be flustered all out of my +head entirely. I never spoke to such a man +in my life. I shouldn't know what to say +at all, and it wouldn't do any good if I did. Jim, +he said if you couldn't do it nobody need try."</p> + +<p>"Jim overestimates my powers in this direction +as in all others," Theodore said, smiling. +"I have perhaps less influence with Mr. Hastings +than with any other person, and I haven't +the slightest hopes that—" And here he stopped +and listened to his thoughts. "After all," +they said to him, "perhaps you misjudge the +man—perhaps he really does not think what an +injury he is doing to those boys simply by his +good-natured carelessness. Suppose you should +go to him and state the case plainly? You really +have some curiosity to see how he will meet +the question; besides, it will at least be giving +him a chance to do what is right if the trouble<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_262" id="Page_262">[262]</a></span> +arises from carelessness; and, moreover, how +can you be justified in disappointing this poor +old mother? At least it would do no harm to +gratify her, if it did no good."</p> + +<p>"Well," he said aloud, "I will make the attempt, +although I am afraid it will be a failure; +but we will try it. I will see Mr. Hastings at +the earliest possible moment, and will do what I +can; but, in the meantime, are you doing <i>all</i> +you can for your boy? Do you take him to +God in prayer every day?"</p> + +<p>The mother's eyes drooped, a little flush crept +into the faded cheek, a little silence fell between +them, until at last she said with low and faltering +voice:</p> + +<p>"That's a thing I never learned to do. I +don't know how to do it for myself."</p> + +<p>"Then you must remember that there is one +all-important thing which you have left undone. +My mother's prayer saved me from a drunkard's +life. I know of no more powerful aid +than that."</p> + +<p>Very grave and sorrowful looked the poor +mother; evidently she knew nothing about the +compassionate Savior, who was ready and willing +to help her bear her burden. Well for her +that the young man in whom she trusted leaned +on an arm stronger than his own. The mother +had one more request to make of him.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_263" id="Page_263">[263]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Could you <i>possibly</i> go to see my Tommy?" +she asked, with glistening eyes. "If you only +could know him, and kind of coax him, he +would take a notion to you like enough, and +then he would go through fire and water to +please you; he's always so when he takes notions, +Tommy is."</p> + +<p>Theodore promised again, and finally walked +with the old lady down the long bewildering +store to the very door, and bowed her out, she +meantime looking very happy and hopeful.</p> + +<p>Being familiar of old with the habits of the +Euclid House, Theodore chose next day the +hour when he judged that Tommy would be +most at leisure, and sought him out. The landlord +was a trifle grayer, decidedly more portly, +but was in other respects the same smooth-tongued, +affable host that he was when Tode +Mall ran hither and thither to do his bidding. +Theodore attempted nothing with him further +than to beg a few minutes' chat with Tommy. +He was directed to the identical little room with +its patch of red and yellow carpet, upon which +he found Tommy seated, mending a hole in his +jacket pocket.</p> + +<p>"So you're a tailor, are you?" asked Theodore, +cheerily, seating himself familiarly on one +corner of the little bed, and having a queer +feeling come over him that the room belonged<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_264" id="Page_264">[264]</a></span> +to him, and that Tommy was quite out of place +sitting on his piece of carpet.</p> + +<p>The young tailor looked up and laughed +good-humoredly.</p> + +<p>"Queer tailor I'd make!" he said, gaily. +"Mother, she does them jobs for me generally, +but this is a special occasion. I've lost ten +cents and a jack-knife to-day, and I reckoned it +was time for me to go to work."</p> + +<p>"I used to live here," said Theodore, confidentially. +"This was my room. I used to +have the table in that corner though, and I've +always intended to come back here and have a +look at the old room, but I never have until +this afternoon."</p> + +<p>Tommy suspended his work, and took a good +long look at his visitor before he asked his next +question.</p> + +<p>"Be you the chap who made the row about +the bottles?"</p> + +<p>"The very chap, I suspect," answered Theodore, +laughing.</p> + +<p>Tommy sewed away energetically before he +exploded his next remark.</p> + +<p>"I wish you had <i>rowed</i> them out of this +house, I vum I do. Mother, she don't give me +no peace of my life with talkings and cryings, +and one thing and another, and a fellow don't +know what to do."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_265" id="Page_265">[265]</a></span></p> + +<p>The subject was fairly launched at last quite +naturally, and what was better still, by Tommy +himself; and then ensued a long and earnest +conversation—and in proof that the visit had +been productive of one effect that the mother +had hoped for and prophesied, Tommy stood +up and fixed earnest, admiring eyes on his visitor +as he was about to leave, and said eagerly:</p> + +<p>"There isn't much a fellow couldn't do to +please you if he should set out."</p> + +<p>"And how much to please the dear mother, +whose only son he is?" answered Theodore, +quickly.</p> + +<p>Tommy's eyes drooped, and his cheeks grew +very red.</p> + +<p>"I do mean to," he said at last. "I mean to +all over, every day; but the fellows giggle and—and—well +I don't know, it all gets wrong before +I think."</p> + +<p>On the whole Theodore understood his subject +very well—a good-natured, well-meaning, +easily-tempted boy, not safe in a house where +liquor was sold or used, <i>certainly</i> not safe where +it was freely offered and its refusal laughed +at. He even hesitated about going to Mr. Hastings', +so sure was he that even with the most +favorable results from the call, Tommy would +be unsafe in the Euclid House; but then there +were other boys who might be reached in this<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_266" id="Page_266">[266]</a></span> +way, and there was his promise to the old lady, +and there was besides his eager desire to see +what Mr. Hastings would do or say. On the +whole he decided to go.</p> + +<p>"I <i>do</i> manage to have the most extraordinary +errands to this house," he soliloquized, while +standing on the steps of Hastings' Hall awaiting +the answer to his ring. "I wonder how +circumstances will develop this evening?"</p> + +<p>He had not long to wait; he had taken the +precaution to write on his card under his name, +"Special and important business," and Mr. +Hastings stared at it and frowned, and finally +ordered his caller to be admitted to his library. +It was in all respects a singular interview. Mr. +Hastings was at first stiffly, and afterward ironically +polite; listened with a sort of sneering +courtesy to all that the young man had to say +concerning Tommy and his companions, and +when Theodore paused for a reply delivered +himself of the following smooth sentences:</p> + +<p>"This is really the most extraordinary of your +many extraordinary ideas, Mr. Mall—I beg your +pardon (referring to the card which he held in +his hand), Mallery, I believe your name is +<i>now</i>. I did not suppose I was expected to turn +spy, and call to account every drop of wine +that chances to be used in my buildings; it +would be such utterly new business to me that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_267" id="Page_267">[267]</a></span> +I feel certain of a failure, and <i>we business</i> men, +Mr. Mall, do not like to fail in our undertakings. +You really will have to excuse me from +taking part in such a peculiar proceeding. If +we have such a poor weak-minded boy in our +employ as you describe, I feel very sorry for +him, and would recommend his mother to take +him home and keep him in her kitchen."</p> + +<p>Theodore arose immediately, and the only +discourteous word that he permitted himself to +utter to Dora's father was to say with marked +emphasis:</p> + +<p>"Thank you, Mr. Hastings, I will suggest your +advice to Mrs. Jenkins; and as she is a feeble +old lady, I presume if her son becomes a drunkard +and breaks her heart you will see that his +sisters are comfortably provided for in the Orphans' +Home. Good-evening, sir."</p> + +<p>"Don Quixote!" Mr. Stephens called him, +laughing immensely as his clerk related the +story of his attempt and failure.</p> + +<p>"I only gave him a chance to carry out some +of his benevolent ideas, and save a capable waiter +at the same time," answered Theodore, dryly. +"But he is evidently too much engrossed with his +Orphans' Home to be alive to his own interests."</p> + +<p>"So you contemplate a speedy removal of +Tommy from the Euclid House, do you?" said +Mr. Stephens, reflectively.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_268" id="Page_268">[268]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Yes, sir. Just as soon as I can secure him +a position elsewhere."</p> + +<p>"Can McPherson take him?"</p> + +<p>"Hardly. He has a case now not unlike +Tommy's in which he is deeply interested, and +which occupies all his leisure time."</p> + +<p>"Can you make him useful here?" said Mr. +Stephens, thoughtfully, balancing his pen on +his finger.</p> + +<p>"Useful? No, sir, I fear not—at least not +just at present."</p> + +<p>"Can you keep him busy then?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir, certainly."</p> + +<p>"Then send for him," said Mr. Stephens, +briefly, resuming his writing.</p> + +<p>Theodore turned suddenly and bestowed a +delightful look on his employer as he said eagerly:</p> + +<p>"If there were only a few more people actuated +by your principles we should need fewer +Orphans' Homes."</p> + +<p>"Confound that fellow and his impudence!" +said the irate Mr. Hastings, as he finished detailing +an account of Tommy's exit from the +Euclid House under the supervision and influence +of Mr. Mallery.</p> + +<p>Pliny glanced up from his dish of soup, and +opened his eyes wide in pretended surprise.</p> + +<p>"One would suppose, sir, that you were not<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_269" id="Page_269">[269]</a></span> +particularly grateful to the fellow for his rescue +of your daughter from an untimely grave," he +said, demurely.</p> + +<p>"Untimely fiddlestick!" was Mr. Hastings' +still more irritable reply. "He thinks he is a +hero, and presumes upon it to intrude himself +in a most insufferable manner. I have no doubt +Jonas would have got along without any of his +interference."</p> + +<p>Dora's face flushed and then paled, but the +only remark she made was:</p> + +<p>"Papa, you ought to have been there to see."</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 75px;"> +<img src="images/deco4.png" width="75" height="36" alt="Decoration" title="Decoration" /> +</div> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_270" id="Page_270">[270]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XXI.</h2> + +<h3>MIDNIGHT WORK.</h3> + + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 30px;"> +<img src="images/tquote.png" width="30" height="55" alt=""T" title=""T" /> +</div> + +<div class='unindent'><br /><big>ING-A-LING-LING,"</big> said Mr. Stephens' +door-bell just before midnight. Mr. +Stephens glanced up in surprise from +the paper which he was studying and hesitated +a moment. Who could be ringing his bell at +that late hour? Presently he stepped out into +the hall, slipped the bolt and admitted Theodore +Mallery. The young man followed his +employer into the brightly-lighted library; it +was the same room, with the same furnishings +that it had worn that evening when he, a forlorn, +trembling boy, had made his first call, +and at midnight, on Mr. Stephens.</div> + +<p>"What unearthly business brought you out +at this hour?" said the wondering Mr. Stephens.</p> + +<p>"Premonitions of evil," answered Theodore, +laughing. "Do you believe in them?" And +he glanced about the familiar room, and dropped +himself into the great arm-chair, where he +remembered to have seated himself once at least +before.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_271" id="Page_271">[271]</a></span></p> + +<p>"What is the matter with this room?" he +asked, as his eyes roved over the surrounding. +"Something looks different."</p> + +<p>"I have been having a general clearing out +and turning around of furniture since you were +in—moved the books and rubbish out of that +corner closet for one thing, and prepared it for +those closed ledgers. Good place, don't you +think?"</p> + +<p>"Has it strong locks?" asked Theodore, glancing +around to the closet in question.</p> + +<p>"Splendid ones, and is built fire-proof."</p> + +<p>Theodore took in both the lock and the fact +that the key was in it.</p> + +<p>"An excellent place for them," he answered. +"Is there anything in it now?"</p> + +<p>"No, empty. What brought you here, Mallery? +I hope you have no more work for me to +do to-night. I was just thinking of my bed."</p> + +<p>"A very little, sir. I have those papers ready +for your signature, and it occurred to me if +you could add that to-night I could get them +off by the early mail."</p> + +<p>"What an indefatigable plodder you are to +get those papers ready so soon, and an unmerciful +man besides to make me go over them +to-night. What will ten or a dozen hours signify?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know," answered Theodore, gravely.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_272" id="Page_272">[272]</a></span> +"Great results have arisen from more trivial +delays than ten or a dozen hours." Then he +looked straight before him, apparently at the +mirror, but really at the closet door. It was +closed when he looked before; it was very +slightly ajar now. Wind? No, there <i>was</i> no +wind within reach; it was a surly November +night, and doors and windows were tightly +closed.</p> + +<p>"Then there is really no escape for me?" +yawned Mr. Stephens, in an inquiring tone.</p> + +<p>"None whatever," answered Theodore, playfully. +"It won't take you half an hour, sir, and +you know it is a very important matter, involving +not only ourselves but others."</p> + +<p>"True," said Mr. Stephens, more gravely. +"Well, pass them along."</p> + +<p>And while Theodore obeyed the order, and +appeared engrossed in the papers, he was really +watching that closet door. It certainly moved, +very slightly and noiselessly, and it certainly +was not the wind, for the wind had no eyes, and +at least one very sharp eye was distinctly discernible +in the mirror, peering out at them +from that door! The owner of the eyes seemed +to have forgotten the long mirror, and Theodore's +convenient position for seeing what +passed behind him. Whose eye was it? and +why was the possessor of it shut up in that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_273" id="Page_273">[273]</a></span> +closet? Theodore watched it stealthily and +sharply. It grew bolder, and the door was +pushed open a little more, a <i>very</i> little, just +enough to reveal the shape of the forehead and +a few curls of black hair. Then suspicion became +certainty—they belonged to the young +man whom he had disliked and distrusted +since the day in which he had first entered +the employ of Mr. Stephens, six months before. +Very strange and just a little unreasonable +had seemed his distrust. Mr. Stephens +had tried sober argument and good-humored +raillery by turns to convince his confidential +clerk that he was prejudiced. All to no purpose. +Theodore could give no tangible reasons +for his unwavering opinion; but his early living +by his wits, among all sorts of people, had so +sharpened his ideas that he felt almost hopelessly +certain that a villain was being harbored +among them. Now while he tried to answer +coherently Mr. Stephens' questions, he was +thinking hard and nervously what was to be +done. What was the man's object in hiding at +midnight in his employer's house? Was Mr. +Stephens' life in danger? Was the man a murderer, +or simply a thief? What did he know +of their private affairs? What had Mr. Stephens +in his house that proved a special temptation? +How should he get all these questions<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_274" id="Page_274">[274]</a></span> +answered? The hot blood surged to his very +temples as he remembered Mr. Stephens' departure +from the store that very afternoon with +twenty thousand dollars for deposit. What if +for some reason the deposit had not been made, +and was still in Mr. Stephens' possession—in +this very room perhaps! He remembered with +a shiver that the young man in question was in +the private office during the making up of the +money package, and that Mr. Stephens talked +freely before him, that they had gone out together, +that Mr. Stephens had directed his clerk +to walk down to the bank with him while he +gave certain orders for the next day's business. +Should he risk a bold question and so discover +the truth in regard to the deposit, and perhaps +at the same time discover to the thief its present +whereabouts? He saw no other way, and +feeling that he had little time to lose plunged +into the question.</p> + +<p>"By the way, Mr. Stephens, was the deposit +all right?"</p> + +<p>Mr. Stephens glanced up quickly.</p> + +<p>"What possessed you to ask that troublesome +question?" he said, laughingly.</p> + +<p>"Natural curiosity, sir. Were you in time?"</p> + +<p>"I am almost afraid to answer you," said Mr. +Stephens, still laughing, "lest you will put me +under lock and key at once as a person sus<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_275" id="Page_275">[275]</a></span>pected +of insanity. If I must confess, though, +I stopped with Winters ten minutes to introduce +him to the new librarian at the reading-room, +and thereby <i>just</i> lost my chance at the +bank."</p> + +<p>Theodore promptly controlled the shiver that +ran through his frame. Winters, in the closet +there, probably knew the facts, and all others +connected with the money, as well as Mr. Stephens +did. He spoke in his usual tone.</p> + +<p>"What did you do with the money, sir? It +was not in the safe when I closed it for the +night?"</p> + +<p>"That I suppose is the very wickedest of all +my wicked deeds. I was too thoroughly tired, +besides being too hurried, to tramp back to the +store. I came near intrusting the bundle to +Winters to take back, but I had respect for +your ugly prejudices, and concluded to make +a safe of my own house for one night."</p> + +<p>For an instant Theodore hesitated. Should +he risk the possibility of giving the inmate of +the closet the information which he did not already +possess by asking what had been done +with the money? His precaution was in vain. +Mr. Stephens continued his confession:</p> + +<p>"I've locked it up though, <i>double</i> locked it +indeed, over in that iron box, and put the key +belonging to the box on the shelf in that closet<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_276" id="Page_276">[276]</a></span> +and locked <i>them</i> up. Shall I bury that key in +the cellar now?"</p> + +<p>Now indeed Theodore's face paled. <i>Could</i> +anything be more fearfully arranged? He +asked but one more question:</p> + +<p>"Where <i>is</i> the key now?"</p> + +<p>"<i>Here</i> in my pocket; and I declare I'll deliver +it over to you for safe keeping. I shall feel +ten degrees less wicked."</p> + +<p>Theodore reached out his hand mechanically +for the key, and turned it over in cold fingers. +Then a skeleton key had been used, for there +was the key in the lock at this moment. Winters +must have been startled into his retreat by +some sudden noise, and have forgotten to remove +the evidence of his perfidy. Rapidly +were several schemes turned over in his mind. +Should he walk over that way and attempt to +lock the closet? No, for then in view of all +the conversation that had just occurred Winters +was sharp enough to know that he had been +discovered, and desperate enough, Theodore +believed, to do anything. There was room +enough in the closet for two, or indeed three +men, and perhaps the villain had accomplices. +Could he propose to Mr. Stephens that they +carry the strong box to his private room? No, +for that would give the thief a chance to escape +if he chose through the library window; the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_277" id="Page_277">[277]</a></span> +same thing might occur if he enticed Mr. Stephens +from the room and told him the story. +Winters might suspect, was undoubtedly armed +and ready for any desperate action. All these +thoughts flashed through Theodore's brain while +Mr. Stephens was reading down one page, and +ere the leaf was turned he had decided on his +plan of action.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Stephens," he said, speaking in his usual +tone, and rising as he spoke, "I have a little +matter of business just around the corner from +here, which I think I will attend to while you +are reading those papers."</p> + +<p>Mr. Stephens glanced up and laughed.</p> + +<p>"I will recommend you for one of the night +police," he said, gayly. "You have business at +all hours of the night in all imaginable places."</p> + +<p>Meantime Theodore had been taking in the +position of the strong box, and decided that he +could get a nearer view of it without exciting +the suspicion of Winters in the closet. It was, +as he feared, unlocked and empty! Now at all +hazards the thief must not be suffered to escape.</p> + +<p>"I will take your night-key, Mr. Stephens," +said Theodore, quietly, "and let myself in without +ringing on my return."</p> + +<p>A moment more and he stood alone on the +granite steps. The night was still and gloomy, +the moon gave only a fitful glimmering now<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_278" id="Page_278">[278]</a></span> +and then as it peeped from between heavy +clouds, the air was sharp and piercing, but the +young man on the steps felt in a white heat as +he waited in breathless anxiety for the advent +of a policeman.</p> + +<p>One thing he had determined upon, not to +leave the steps where he stood guard over the +gray-haired unsuspicious man inside. There +was no telling how soon Winters might weary +of his cramped quarters, and attempt to escape +by first shooting his employer. Would the policeman +never come? He heard steps and +voices in the distance.</p> + +<p>"Come out here, old moon, and give a fellow +a little light on the subject. What you pouting +about, I'd like to know? You haven't got to +blunder along home in the dark. This is the +most extraordinary street I ever saw anyhow; +it keeps whirling round and turning somersaults, +instead of walking straight ahead like a +respectable street."</p> + +<p>The voice that uttered these disjointed sentences +was only too well known to Theodore. +He stepped down one step and spoke in a low +tone:</p> + +<p>"Pliny, what does this mean? Where are +you going?"</p> + +<p>"Going round like a top, first on my head and +then on my heels. How are you?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_279" id="Page_279">[279]</a></span></p> + +<p>Poor Theodore! the plot thickened. What +should he do with this poor drunkard? Could +he endure to let him stagger to his home to +that waiting sister in this condition? A shrill, +sharp, merry whistle broke at this moment on +his ear; that voice he knew too, and waited +until its owner came up; then addressed him +still in low tones:</p> + +<p>"Tommy, where are you going?"</p> + +<p>"Going home—been to a fire—whole block +burned down by the square, Mr. Stuart's house +and—"</p> + +<p>Theodore checked his voluble information.</p> + +<p>"Have you seen anything of McPherson?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir; he was at the fire too. Just whisked +around the corner below here to go to his rooms. +We came up together."</p> + +<p>Theodore's listening ear caught the sound of +an approaching policeman, and he hastened his +plans. Pliny had sunk down on the steps and +was muttering to himself in drunken, broken +sentences.</p> + +<p>"Tommy," said Theodore, addressing that +individual, "there are empty carriages coming +around the corner; the train is in. Will you +take this young man in a carriage, drive to +McPherson's door, and tell him to drive to my +rooms with you, and make this gentleman comfortable +till I come? Can I trust you, Tommy?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_280" id="Page_280">[280]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Yes, <i>sir</i>, every time," Tommy answered, +proudly.</p> + +<p>The policeman came up.</p> + +<p>"What's all this?" he asked, gruffly.</p> + +<p>Theodore turned to him and spoke a few words +in a low rapid tone, and he moved hastily away. +Then Theodore came back to Pliny.</p> + +<p>"Will you go and spend the night with me at +my rooms, Pliny?" he asked, gently.</p> + +<p>"Well," said Pliny, trying to rouse himself +from his half stupor, "I <i>did</i> promise Doralinda +Mirinda that I'd come home, but seeing the +street has taken such a confounded notion to +go round and round, why I guess she will excuse +me and I'll oblige you."</p> + +<p>"This boy will call a carriage for you and +make you comfortable, and I will be with you +as soon as possible. I have a little business +first."</p> + +<p>He gave a little shiver of relief as he saw +Pliny stagger quietly away with Tommy. All +this time, and indeed it was but a <i>very</i> little +time, although it seemed hours to the young +man whose every nerve was in a quiver, his ear +had been strained ready for the slightest sound +that might occur in the room over which he +was keeping guard; but the utmost quiet +reigned. Winters evidently suspected nothing, +and was biding his time. "The villain means<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_281" id="Page_281">[281]</a></span> +to escape hanging if he can," muttered Theodore, +under his breath.</p> + +<p>And now the dim moonlight showed the tall +forms of three policemen approaching. He advanced +and held a brief whispered conversation +with them, then the four ascended the steps. +Theodore applied his night-key, and with cat-like +tread they moved across the hall, and the +library door swung noiselessly open. They +were fairly inside the room before Mr. Stephens, +intent upon his papers, observed them. When +he did he sprang to his feet, with a face on +which surprise, bewilderment and consternation +contended for the mastery. "Theodore," he +gasped, rather than said; and it was Mr. Stephens' +sorrow ever after that for one little moment +he believed that his almost son had proved +false to him. The next the whole story stood +revealed. From the moment that Mr. Stephens +uttered his exclamation all attempt at quietness +was laid aside. A policeman strode across the +room, flung wide the closet door, and said to +the cowed and shivering mortal hiding therein, +"You are my prisoner, sir," and from his pocket +produced the handcuffs and proceeded to adjust +them, while another disarmed him. Theodore +went over and stood beside the gray-haired +startled man.</p> + +<p>"Don't be alarmed, sir," he said, gently and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_282" id="Page_282">[282]</a></span> +quietly; "the danger is quite over now. His +pockets must be searched," this to the policeman. +"He has twenty thousand dollars about +him somewhere that belong to us."</p> + +<p>"My boy," said Mr. Stephens, tremulously, +and with utmost tenderness in his tones, "what +does all this mean? How did you learn of it?"</p> + +<p>"By a special providence, I believe, sir," answered +Theodore, reverently.</p> + +<p>Meantime the packages of money were found +and in order.</p> + +<p>"Have you special directions, sir, in regard +to the prisoner?" questioned the policeman.</p> + +<p>Mr. Stephens broke away from Theodore's +restraining arm and went toward Winters.</p> + +<p>"My poor, poor boy," he said, compassionately, +"how <i>could</i> you do it?"</p> + +<p>Winters' eyes expressed nothing but malignancy +as he muttered between shut teeth:</p> + +<p>"Because I <i>hate</i> you, and that upstart who +hoodwinks you."</p> + +<p>Theodore came forward with quiet dignity.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Stephens," he said, laying a gently detaining +hand on the gentleman's arm, "let me +manage the rest of the business for you, you +are excited and weary. Secure the man in safe +and comfortable quarters for the night," he +added, turning to the policeman, "and you will +hear from Mr. Stephens in the morning."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_283" id="Page_283">[283]</a></span></p> + +<p>Five minutes more and Theodore and Mr. +Stephens were left alone in the library.</p> + +<p>"No explanations to-night," said Theodore, +with an attempt at playfulness, as the other +turned toward him with eager questioning eyes. +"I withdraw my prohibition, sir, as regards +the papers, and will permit you to retire at +once."</p> + +<p>"One word, Theodore, about the point that +troubles me the most What shall we do with +the poor young man?"</p> + +<p>Theodore's face darkened.</p> + +<p>"The very utmost that the law allows," he +said, sternly. "He deserves it all. If you desire +my advice on that point I should say—"</p> + +<p>Mr. Stephens interrupted him, laying a quiet +hand on his arm and speaking gently:</p> + +<p>"My boy, suppose you and I kneel down +here and pray for him?"</p> + +<p>All the heat and anger died out of Theodore's +face. He remembered the midnight interview +which took place years before in that very room, +when Mr. Stephens was the judge and he himself +the culprit. He remembered that at that +time Mr. Stephens had knelt down and prayed +for <i>him</i>. Reverently now he knelt beside the +noble-hearted man, and heard him pour out his +soul in prayer for the "poor boy" who had +tried so hard to injure him. When they arose<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_284" id="Page_284">[284]</a></span> +he turned quiet smiling eyes on his young friend +as he said:</p> + +<p>"My dear boy, can you advise me now?"</p> + +<p>"You do not need advice, sir," said Theodore, +speaking somewhat huskily and with a reverent +touch in his voice. "Follow the dictates of +your own noble soul in this as in everything, +and you will be sure to do the best thing."</p> + +<p>It was two o'clock when Theodore applied his +own night-key and entered his front door. The +gas was still lighted in the back parlor, and +thither he went. It was not the back parlor +that belonged to the little cottage house near +the depot; not the same house at all, but one +larger and finer, and on a handsomer street. +The back parlor was nicely, even luxuriously, +furnished with that dainty mixture of elegance +and home comfort which betokens a refined and +cultivated taste. Winny had grown into a tall +young lady with coils of smooth brown hair in +place of the crisp locks of her childhood. Her +crimson dress set off her clear dark complexion +to advantage. The round table was drawn directly +under the gaslight, and she sat before +it surrounded by many beautiful books and +writing material. She glanced up at Theodore's +entrance, and he addressed her in grave business-like +tones:</p> + +<p>"Winny, do you know it is two o'clock?<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_285" id="Page_285">[285]</a></span> +You should not study so late at night under +any circumstances."</p> + +<p>"You should not perambulate the streets +until morning, and then you would have no +knowledge of my misdemeanors," answered +Winny in exactly the same tone, and added: +"What poor drunken wretch have you and +Jim in train to-night?"</p> + +<p>"Is Jim here?" said Theodore, eagerly.</p> + +<p>"Yes, and has been for an hour. He stumbled +up stairs with a poor victim who was unable +to walk, and domiciled him in your room. +Remarkable company you seem to keep, Mr. +Mallery. Who is the creature?"</p> + +<p>"The heir of Hastings' Hall," said Theodore, +briefly and sadly.</p> + +<p>Winny looked both startled and shocked</p> + +<p>"Oh, Theodore! not Pliny Hastings?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, Pliny Hastings. The admiration of +half the young ladies in the city, and they are +industriously helping him to be what he is. +Good-night, Winny. Don't, for pity's sake, +study any later," and Theodore ran lightly up +stairs and entered his own room on tiptoe. +The room was utterly unlike Tode Mall's early +dream. No square of red and green and yellow +carpet adorned the spot in front of the bed—instead +a soft thick carpet of mossy green +covered the floor, and Theodore had pleased<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_286" id="Page_286">[286]</a></span> +himself in gathering many a dainty trifle with +which to beautify this one room that he called +home. To-night the drop-light was carefully +shaded, and in the dimness Theodore had to +look twice before he distinguished McPherson +mounted on guard in the rocking-chair beside +the bed, while on it lay, sunken in heavy sleep, +Pliny Hastings.</p> + +<p>"Well!" was Theodore's brief greeting.</p> + +<p>"Yes!" was Jim's equally laconic reply.</p> + +<p>"What did you think had become of me that +I could not attend to my own business?" asked +Theodore, dropping wearily into the nearest +chair.</p> + +<p>"Tommy said you were putting three policemen +in jail, or something."</p> + +<p>"It was <i>something</i>, sure enough," answered +Theodore, smiling faintly; and then he gave a +rapid and condensed account of the midnight +scene, interrupted by many exclamations of +horror and amaze from his listener.</p> + +<p>"Had you much trouble in this quarter?" he +asked presently, going to the bedside and looking +long and earnestly at Pliny.</p> + +<p>"Very little. Tommy had some difficulty +before they reached me; but he is a plucky little +chap, and was firmly resolved upon carrying +out your instructions to the letter, so he gained +the day. Isn't it remarkable that he should<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_287" id="Page_287">[287]</a></span> +have been the one to assist in the rescue of Mr. +Hastings' son?"</p> + +<p>"Isn't it?" said Theodore, emphatically. "And +Mr. Hastings would not lift one finger to assist +in <i>his</i> rescue."</p> + +<p>"What in the world are you going to do +next?" said Jim. "In this case I mean," nodding +his head toward Pliny.</p> + +<p>"Going to keep on doing, and when I have +done all that I can, give myself up to patient +waiting and hopeful praying," was Theodore's +solemn answer.</p> + +<p>When he spoke again it was in a slightly +hesitating tone, with a glance at his watch.</p> + +<p>"There is just one thing more which ought +to be done to-night, Jim."</p> + +<p>"All right," said Jim, promptly. "There's +no special use in going to bed to-night, or rather +this morning. Too late to pay, so bring on +your business. What comes next?"</p> + +<p>"They ought to know at Hastings' Hall where +this young man is."</p> + +<p>"Ho!" said Jim, with an astonished and incredulous +air, "I don't imagine there will be +many sleepless eyes in that house if they don't +hear of his whereabouts until he appears again. +I fancy they are too much accustomed to it."</p> + +<p>"There is one member of the family who will +wait for him, nevertheless."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_288" id="Page_288">[288]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Who?"</p> + +<p>"His sister. He remembered it himself, as +bad as he was."</p> + +<p>Jim looked searchingly at the half-averted +face of his friend for a moment; then seeming +to have come to some conclusion, arose and +began to don his overcoat.</p> + +<p>"Then if I understand you, Mallery, you +think that his sister ought to be apprised of his +safety, and you judge it would be well, if possible, +to do so without disturbing any other members +of the family?" This he said after having +waited a moment in vain for his friend to speak +again.</p> + +<p>Theodore turned toward him, and eagerly +grasped his hand as he spoke:</p> + +<p>"You understand everything, my dear fellow, +better than I can tell it. God bless you for +your kindness and thoughtfulness."</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 75px;"> +<img src="images/deco1.png" width="75" height="36" alt="Decoration" title="Decoration" /> +</div> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_289" id="Page_289">[289]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XXII.</h2> + +<h3>POOR PLINY!</h3> + + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 18px;"> +<img src="images/t.png" width="18" height="55" alt="T" title="T" /> +</div> + +<div class='unindent'><br /><big>HE</big> surliness of that November night broke +into dazzling sunlight the next morning, +and the sun was nearly two hours high +when Pliny Hastings rolled himself heavily over +in bed, uttered a deep groan, and awoke to the +wretchedness of a new day of shame and misery +and self-loathing.</div> + +<p>For he loathed himself, this poor young man +born and reared in the very hotbed of temptation, +struggling to break the chain that he had +but recently discovered was bound around him, +making resolutions many and strong, and gradually +awakening to the knowledge that resolutions +were flimsy as paper threads compared +with the iron bands with which his tyrant held +him. After the groan, he opened his eyes, and +staring about him in a bewildered way, tried to +take in his unfamiliar surroundings.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_290" id="Page_290">[290]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Where in the name of wonders am I now?" +he said at last and aloud. Whereupon Theodore +came to the bedside and said, "Good-morning, +Pliny."</p> + +<p>"What the mischief!" began Pliny, then he +stopped; and as memory came to his aid, added +a short, sharp, "Oh!" and relapsed into silence.</p> + +<p>"Are you able to get up and go down to +breakfast with me?" questioned Theodore. And +then Pliny raised himself on his elbow, and +burst forth:</p> + +<p>"I say, Mallery, why didn't you just leave +me to my confounded fate? I should have +blundered home somehow, and if that long-suffering +sister of mine had chanced to fail in her +plans, why my precious father would have discovered +my condition and kicked me out of +doors, for good. He has threatened to do it—and +that is the way they all do anyhow. Isn't +it, Mallery? <i>make</i> drunkards, and when their +handiwork just begins to do them credit, kick +them out."</p> + +<p>"I think it would be well for you to get up +and dress for breakfast," was Theodore's quiet +answer.</p> + +<p>"Why don't you give it up, Mallery?" persisted +Pliny, making no effort to change his position. +"Don't you see it's no sort of use; no +one was ever more possessed to be a fool than I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_291" id="Page_291">[291]</a></span> +am. What have all my everlasting promises +amounted to but straws! I tell you, my father +designed and planned me for a drunkard, and I'm +living up to the light that has been given me."</p> + +<p>"I see it is quite time you were ready for +breakfast, Pliny. I am waiting, and <i>have</i> been +for two hours, and I really haven't time to +waste, while you lie there and talk nonsense. +Whatever else you do, don't be foolish enough +to cast all the blame of your misdeeds on your +father."</p> + +<p>Pliny turned fiercely. "Who else is there to +blame, I should like to know?" he asked, savagely. +"Didn't he give me the sugar to sip +from the bottom of his brandy glass in my +babyhood? Haven't I drank my wine at his +table, sitting by his side, three times a day for +at least fifteen years? Haven't I seen him frown +on every effort at temperance reform throughout +the country? Haven't I seen him sneer at +my weak, feeble efforts to break away from the +demon with which he has constantly tempted +me? If he didn't rear me up for a drunkard, +what in the name of heaven <i>am</i> I designed for +after such a training?"</p> + +<p>"Pliny," said Theodore, speaking low and +with great significance, "for what do you suppose +<i>my</i> father designed and reared <i>me?</i>"</p> + +<p>One evening, months before, Theodore had,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_292" id="Page_292">[292]</a></span> +in much pain and shrinking, told the whole sad +story of his early life to Pliny, told it in the +vague hope that it might some day be a help to +him. Now, as he referred to it, Pliny answered +only with a toss and a groan, and then was entirely +silent. At last he spoke again in a quieter, +but utterly despairing tone.</p> + +<p>"Mallery, you don't know anything about +it. I tell you I was <i>born</i> with this appetite; I +inherited it, if you will; it is my father's legacy +to me, and the taste has been petted and fostered +in every imaginable way; you need not +talk of my manhood to me. I have precious +little of that article left. No mortal knows it +better than I do myself; I would sell what little +I have for a glass of brandy this minute."</p> + +<p>Theodore came over to him and laid a quiet +hand on the flushed and throbbing temples. "I +know all about it, my friend;" he said, gently. +"I know more about this thing in some respects +than you do; remember the atmosphere in +which I spent my early boyhood; remember +what <i>my</i> father is. Oh, I know how hard it is +so well, that it seems to me almost impossible +for one in his own strength to be freed; but, +Pliny, why <i>will</i> you not accept a helper? One +who is mighty to save? I do solemnly assure +you that in him you would <i>certainly</i> find the +strength you need."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_293" id="Page_293">[293]</a></span></p> + +<p>Pliny moved restlessly, and spoke gloomily, +"You are talking a foreign language to me, +Mallery. I don't understand anything about +that sort of thing, you know."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I know. But, what has that to do with +it? I am asking you why you <i>will</i> not? How +is it possible that you can desire to be released +from this bondage; can feel your own insufficiency, +and yet will not accept aid?"</p> + +<p>"And I am telling you that I don't understand +anything about this matter."</p> + +<p>"But, my dear friend, is there any sense to +that reply? If you wished to become a surveyor, +and I should assure you that you would +need to acquire a knowledge of a certain branch +of mathematics in order to perfect yourself, +would you coldly reply to me that you knew +nothing about that matter, and consider the +question settled? You certainly would not, if +you had any confidence in me."</p> + +<p>Pliny turned quickly toward him.</p> + +<p>"You are wrong in that last position, at +least," he said, eagerly. "If I have confidence +in any living being, I have in you, and certainly +I have reason to trust you. The way in which +you cling to me, patiently and persistently, +through all manner of scrapes and discouragements, +is perfectly marvelous! Now, tell me +why you do it?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_294" id="Page_294">[294]</a></span></p> + +<p>Theodore hesitated a moment before he answered, +gravely:</p> + +<p>"If you want to know the first cause, Pliny, +it is because I pledged you to my Redeemer, as +a thank-offering for a gracious answer to my +prayers, which he sent me, even when I was unbelieving; +and the second is, because, dear +friend, I love you, and <i>can not</i> give you up."</p> + +<p>Pliny lay motionless and silent, and something +very like a tear forced itself from between +his closed eyelids.</p> + +<p>"Pliny, will you utterly disappoint me?" +said Theodore at last, breaking the silence. +"Won't you promise me to seek this Helper of +mine?"</p> + +<p>"How?"</p> + +<p>"Pray for his aid; it will surely be given. +You trust me, you say; well, I promise you of +a certainty that he stands ready to receive you. +Will you begin to-day, Pliny?"</p> + +<p>"You will despise me if I tell you why I can +not," Pliny said, hesitatingly, after a long, and, +on Theodore's part, an anxious silence.</p> + +<p>"No, I shall not;" he answered, quickly.</p> + +<p>"Tell me."</p> + +<p>"Well then, it is because, whatever else I +may have been, I have never played the <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'hyocrite'">hypocrite</ins>, +and I have sense enough left to know that +the effort which you desire me to make, will not<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_295" id="Page_295">[295]</a></span> +accord with an engagement which I have this +very evening."</p> + +<p>"What is it?"</p> + +<p>"To accompany Ben Phillips to the dance at +the hotel on the turnpike, nine miles from here. +I'm as sure that I will drink wine and brandy +to-night, as I am that I lie here, in spite of all +the helps in creation, or out of it. So what's +the use?"</p> + +<p>"Will you give me one <i>great</i> proof of your +friendship, Pliny?" was Theodore's eager question.</p> + +<p>"I'll give you 'most anything quicker than +I would any other mortal," answered Pliny, +wearily.</p> + +<p>"Then will you promise me not to go with +Phillips this evening?"</p> + +<p>"Ho!" said Pliny, affecting astonishment. "I +thought you were a tremendous man of your +word?"</p> + +<p>"There are circumstances under which I am +not; if I promise to commit suicide, I am justified +in saner moments in changing my mind."</p> + +<p>"I didn't exactly promise either," said Pliny, +thoughtfully. "I had just brains enough left +for that. Well, Mallery, I'll be hanged if I +haven't a mind to promise you; I'm sure I've +no desire to go, it's only that confounded way I +have of blundering into engagements."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_296" id="Page_296">[296]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I'm waiting," said Theodore, gravely.</p> + +<p>"Well, I <i>won't</i> go."</p> + +<p>"Thank you;" this time he smiled, and +added:</p> + +<p>"How about the other matter, Pliny?"</p> + +<p>"That is different;" said Pliny, restlessly. +"Not so easily decided on. I don't more than +half understand you, and yet—yes, I know theoretically +what you want of me. Theodore, I'll +think of it."</p> + +<p>A little quickly checked sigh escaped Theodore; +he must bide his time, but a great point +had been gained. There came a tapping at the +chamber door. Theodore went forward and +opened it, and Pliny, listening, heard a clear, +smoothly modulated voice ask:</p> + +<p>"Will your friend take breakfast with you, +Theodore, and have you any directions?"</p> + +<p>"No special directions," answered Theodore, +smiling. "Is that a hint that we are woefully +late, Winny? It is too bad; we will be down +very soon now."</p> + +<p>"I'm a selfish dog, with all the rest," Pliny +said, sighing heavily, as he went around making +a hurried toilet. "How is it that you have any +time to waste on a wretch like myself? Did +you ever have your head whirl around like a +spinning wheel, Mallery?"</p> + +<p>"I sent a note to Mr. Stephens early this<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_297" id="Page_297">[297]</a></span> +morning, saying I should not be at the store +until late. Try ice water for your head, Pliny." +This was Theodore's reply to the last query.</p> + +<p>The dainty little breakfast room, all in a glow +of sunlight, and bright with ivy and geranium, +looked like a patch of paradise to Pliny Hastings' +splendor-wearied eyes. Winny presided at +the table in a crimson dress—that young lady +was very fond of crimson dresses—and fitted +very nicely into the clear, crisp, fresh brightness +of everything about her. Pliny drank the +strong coffee that she poured him with a relish, +and though he shook his head with inward disgust +at the sight or thought of food, gradually +the spinning-wheel revolved more and more +slowly, and ere the meal was concluded, he was +talking with almost his accustomed vivacity to +Winny. He hadn't the least idea that she had +stood in the doorway the evening before, and +watched him go stumbling and grumbling up +the stairs. Theodore glanced from one bright +handsome face to the other, and grew silent and +thoughtful.</p> + +<p>"Where is your mother?" he said at last, +suddenly addressing Winny.</p> + +<p>"She is lying down, nearly sick with a headache. +I feel troubled about mother; she doesn't +seem well. I wish you would call on your way +down town, Theodore, and send the doctor up."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_298" id="Page_298">[298]</a></span></p> + +<p>Pliny noted the look of deep anxiety that instantly +spread over Theodore's face, and the +many anxious questions that he asked, and grew +puzzled and curious. What position did this +young man occupy in this dainty little house? +Was he adopted brother, friend, or only boarder? +Why was he so deeply interested in the mother? +Oh he didn't know the dear little old lady +and her story of the "many mansions," nor the +many dear and tender and motherly deeds that +she had done for this boarder of hers, and how, +now that he was in a position to pay her with +"good measure, pressed down and running +over," he still gave to her respectful, loving, almost +adoring reverence. Pliny had not been a +familiar friend of Theodore's in the days when +the latter had heated his coffee at the old lady's +little kitchen stove, and the stylish Winny had +made distracting little cream cakes for his saloon. +Indeed the friendship that had sprung +up between these two was something singular +to them both, and had been the outgrowth of +earnest efforts on Theodore's part, and many +falls and many repentings on Pliny's.</p> + +<p>"What a delightful home you have," Pliny +said, eagerly, as the two young men lingered +together in the hall; and then his face darkened +as he added: "It is the first table I have sat +down to in many a day without being tempted<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_299" id="Page_299">[299]</a></span> +on every side by my faithful imp, starting up in +some shape or other, to coax me to ruin. I +tell you, Mallery, you know nothing about it."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I do," Theodore answered, positively. +"And I know you're in dire need of help. +Come home with me to dinner, will you?"</p> + +<p>Pliny shook his head.</p> + +<p>"Can't. Some wretched nuisance and her +daughter are to dine with us, and I promised +mother I would be at home and on duty. I +must go up directly, and there is a car coming. +Theodore, don't think me an ungrateful fool. I +know what I think of myself and of you, and +if ever I <i>am</i> anything but a drunkard, why—Never +mind, only may the God in whom you +trust bless you forever." And this warm-hearted, +whole-souled, hot-brained, sorely-tempted +young man wrung his friend's hand with an +almost convulsive grasp, and was gone.</p> + +<p>Theodore looked after him wistfully. Winny +came to the window while he still stood looking +out; he turned to her suddenly.</p> + +<p>"Winny, enter the lists with me, and help me +fight rum and his allies, and save the young man."</p> + +<p>"How?" said Winny, earnestly.</p> + +<p>"Every way. Help me to meet him at every +time, to save him from himself, and, worst and +hardest of all, to save him from his family. I +would like to ask you to pray for him."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_300" id="Page_300">[300]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Very well," answered Winny, gravely, returning +his searching look with one as calm. +"Why don't you then?"</p> + +<p>"Because I have reason to fear that you do +not pray for yourself."</p> + +<p>This time she colored violently, but still spoke +steadily:</p> + +<p>"Suppose I do not. Can't I possibly pray +for any one else?"</p> + +<p>"You <i>can</i>, certainly, if you will; but the +question is, will you?" And receiving no sort +of reply to this question, Theodore turned away +and prepared to go down town.</p> + +<p>The Hastings' family had filed out to the +dining-room after the orthodox fashion—Mr. +Hastings leading out the fashionable Boston +stranger, Mrs. De Witt, and Pliny following +with her elegant daughter. All traces of last +night's dissipation had been carefully petted and +smoothed away from the young man's face and +dress, and he looked the very impersonation of +refined manhood. As for Dora no amount of +care and anxiety on her mother's part could +transform her into a fashionable young lady—no +amount of persuasion could induce her to +follow fashion's freaks in the matter of dress, +unless they chanced to accord with her own +grave, rather mature, taste. So on this November +day, while Miss De Witt was glowing<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_301" id="Page_301">[301]</a></span> +and sparkling in garnet silk and rubies, Dora +was pale and fair in blue merino, and soft full +laces; and in spite of plainness and simplicity, +or perhaps by the help of them, was queenly +and commanding still. The table was dazzling +and gorgeous, with silver and cut glass and +flowers. Pliny established his lady and devoted +himself to her wishes, eating little himself, and +declining utterly at least half of the dishes that +were offered. Brandy peaches, wine jellies, custards +flavored with wine, fruits with just a touch +of brandy about them, how they flitted and +danced about him like so many imps, all allies +of that awful demon <i>rum</i>, and all seeming bent +on his destruction. Pliny's usually pale face +was flushed, and his nerves were quivering. +How much he wanted every one of these spiced +and flavored dainties only his poor diseased appetite +knew; how thoroughly dangerous every +one of them was to him only his troubled, +tempted conscience knew. He heartily loathed +every article of simple unflavored food; he absolutely +longed to seize upon that elegant dish of +brandy peaches, and devour every drop of the +liquid to quench his raging thirst. Still he +chatted and laughed, and swallowed cup after +cup of coffee, and struggled with his tempter, +and tried to call up and keep before him all his +numerous promises to that one true friend who<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_302" id="Page_302">[302]</a></span> +had stood faithfully beside him through many +a disgraceful downfall.</p> + +<p>"What an abstemious young gentleman!" +simpered Miss De Witt, as for the fourth time +Pliny briefly and rather savagely declined the +officious waiter's offer of wine custard. "Don't +you eat any of these frivolous and demoralizing +articles? Mrs. Hastings, is your son one of the +new-lights? I have really been amused to see +how persistently he declines all the tempting +articles of peculiar flavor. <i>Is</i> it a question of +temperance, Mr. Hastings? I'm personally interested +in that subject. I heard your star +speaker, Mr. Ryan, hold forth last evening. +Did you hear him, Mr. Hastings?"</p> + +<p>"I did not," answered Pliny, laconically, remembering +how far removed from a temperance +lecture was the scene in which he had mingled +the evening before. He was spared the trouble +of further answer by his father's next remark.</p> + +<p>"It is a remarkable recent conversion if Pliny +has become interested in the temperance question," +he said, eyeing him curiously. "I really +don't know but total abstinence is a good idea +for weak-minded young men who can not control +themselves."</p> + +<p>Pliny flushed to his very forehead, and answered +in a sharp cutting tone of biting sarcasm:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_303" id="Page_303">[303]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Elderly gentlemen who seem to be similarly +weak ought to set the example then, sir."</p> + +<p>This bitter and pointed reference to his father's +portly form, flushed face, and ever growing +fondness for his brandies, was strangely unlike +Pliny's courteous manner, and how it might +have ended had not Miss De Witt suddenly determined +on a conquest, I can not say.</p> + +<p>"Look, look!" she suddenly exclaimed, clapping +her hands in childish glee. "The first +snow-storm of the season. Do see the great +flakes! Mr. Hastings, let me pledge your +health, and your prospect of a glorious sleigh +ride," and she rested jeweled fingers on the +sparkling glass before her.</p> + +<p>Pliny's head was throbbing, and the blood +seemed racing in torrents through his veins. +He turned a stern, fierce look upon the lady by +his side, muttered in low hoarse tones, "Pledge +me for a glorious fool as I am," drained his +glass to the very bottom, and abruptly left the +table and the room. And Miss De Witt was +serenely and courteously surprised, while the +embarrassed mother covered her son's retreat as +best she might, and Dora sat white and silent. +On the table in Pliny's room lay a carefully-worded +note of apology and explanation from +Pliny to Ben Phillips. It was folded and ready +for delivery. Pliny dashed up to his room,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_304" id="Page_304">[304]</a></span> +seized upon the note and consigned it to the +glowing coals in the grate, then rang his bell +furiously and left this message in its stead:</p> + +<p>"Tell Phillips when he calls that I'm going, +and he'll find me at Harcourt's."</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 75px;"> +<img src="images/deco2.png" width="75" height="32" alt="Decoration" title="Decoration" /> +</div> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_305" id="Page_305">[305]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XXIII.</h2> + +<h3>JUDGMENTS.</h3> + + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 19px;"> +<img src="images/o.png" width="19" height="55" alt="O" title="O" /> +</div> + +<div class='unindent'><br /><big>NLY</big> a few of the clerks had assembled as +yet at the great store. It was still early +morning, and the business of the day had +not commenced when young McPherson rushed +in, breathless, and in his haste nearly overturned +a clerk near the door; then he stopped, panting +as he questioned:</div> + +<p>"Is Mr. Mallery in?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir; he's always in. It's my opinion +he sleeps in the safe," added his informant, in +discontented under tone. Theodore's promptness +was sometimes a great inconvenience to +the sleepy clerks.</p> + +<p>"I want him immediately. Where is he?"</p> + +<p>"In the private office, sir. We have sent for +him," said Tommy, coming forward with the +air of one who was at least a partner. Two +minutes more and Theodore was beside him.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_306" id="Page_306">[306]</a></span></p> + +<p>"There's been an accident," explained Jim, +rapidly, "and you are very much needed."</p> + +<p>"Where, and for what?"</p> + +<p>"At the Euclid House. Pliny Hastings and +Ben Phillips, they were thrown from their carriage. +Hastings asked for you at once."</p> + +<p>Theodore glanced behind him and issued a +few brief directions.</p> + +<p>"Tommy, bring my hat. Edwards, keep +these keys in your safe until Mr. Stephens +comes. Holden, tell Mr. Jennings when he +calls that the bill of sale is made out, and shall +be ready for him at noon. Tommy, you may +take the letters that are on my desk to the post-office. +Now, McPherson, I am ready. Give +me the particulars. Is it serious?"</p> + +<p>"I fear so. What few particulars we know +is that they tried to drive across the track with +the Express coming at full speed. The horses +took fright, of course, backed into the gully, and +both gentlemen were thrown some distance. +Why they were not killed, or how they escaped +being dashed in pieces by the train, is a wonderful +mystery."</p> + +<p>"What insane spirit prompted them to attempt +crossing the track at such a time?"</p> + +<p>"The spirit of rum. They were both intoxicated."</p> + +<p>His listener uttered an exclamation fraught<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_307" id="Page_307">[307]</a></span> +with more dismay than he had before expressed, +and asked his next question in a low, troubled +tone:</p> + +<p>"Where were they going?"</p> + +<p>"Going home. They had been out on that +South road, nine miles from the city, to attend a +dance; had danced and drank by turns all night, +and were dashing home between five and six in +the morning. So Harcourt says, and he is good +authority, for he was right behind them, returning +from the same place, and in not much better condition +than they until the accident sobered him."</p> + +<p>Poor Theodore! he had had particulars +enough; his heart felt like lead. How <i>could</i> +he hope, or work, or pray, any more? They +walked in absolute silence to the corner, signaled +a car, and made as rapid progress as possible. +Only two questions more did Theodore +venture:</p> + +<p>"Did you say Pliny asked for me?"</p> + +<p>"Yes—or, no, not exactly asked for you, but +kept constantly talking about you in a wild sort +of way, referring to some promise or pledge of +his own, we judged, for he kept saying: 'I +never deliberately broke my word to him before,' +and then adding in a pitiful tone: 'He +will have nothing to do with me now; he will +never believe me again,' I think the doctor +fears that his brain is injured."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_308" id="Page_308">[308]</a></span></p> + +<p>It was some moments before Theodore could +trust his voice to speak; and then he said, inquiringly:</p> + +<p>"His parents have been apprised of the accident, +of course?"</p> + +<p>"Why, no," answered Jim, in a startled tone. +"At least I doubt it. Nobody seemed to think +of it. The fact is, Theodore, we were all frightened +out of our wits, and needed your executive +ability. I had been down at the depot to +see if my freight had come, and arrived on the +scene just after the accident occurred. I had +just brains enough left to have both gentlemen +taken to the hotel and come for you."</p> + +<p>Arrived at the Euclid House the two young +men went up the steps and through the halls so +familiar to both of them, and sought at once +the room where Pliny had been placed. Two +physicians were busy about him, but they drew +back thoughtfully as Pliny, catching a glimpse +of the new-comer, uttered an eager exclamation.</p> + +<p>"It's no use," he said, wildly, as Theodore +bent over him. "No use, you see; the imps +have made up their mind to have me, and they'll +get me, body and soul. I'm bound—I can't +stir. I promised you—oh yes, I can promise—I'm +good at that—they don't mind that at all; +but when it comes to performing then they +chain me."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_309" id="Page_309">[309]</a></span></p> + +<p>"That is the way he has raved ever since +the accident," said the elder physician, addressing +Theodore. "It is an indication of a disordered +brain. Are you the young man whom +he has been calling? We were in hopes you +could quiet him."</p> + +<p>"Does the disorder arise from liquor," said +Theodore, sadly.</p> + +<p>"Oh no, not at all; at least it is not the immediate +cause. Can you control him, do you +think?"</p> + +<p>Theodore bent over him; he was still repeating +wildly, "They'll get me, body and soul," when +a cool hand was laid on his burning forehead, +and a quiet, firm voice spoke the words: "Pliny, +they <i>shall not</i> get you. Do you understand? +They <i>shall not</i>." And at that forlorn and apparently +hopeless hour the young man's faith arose. +Some voice from that inner world seemed to +reach his ear, and repeat his own words with +strong meaning: "No, they <i>shall</i> not."</p> + +<p>The physicians, who had hoped a great deal +from the coming of this young man, about +whom the thoughts of their patient seemed to +center, had not hoped in vain. He grew quieter +and gradually sank into a sort of stupor, which, +if it were not very encouraging, seemed less +heart-rending than the wild restlessness of the +other state.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_310" id="Page_310">[310]</a></span></p> + +<p>Then Theodore bethought himself again of +the Hastings' family. No, they had not been +sent for, everybody had thought about it, but +nobody had acted. Mr. Roberts was not at +home, and the two doctors had been busy about +more necessary business.</p> + +<p>"It must be attended to immediately," Theodore +said. "Which of you gentlemen is Mr. +Hastings' family physician?"</p> + +<p>"Neither of us," answered the elder gentleman, +laconically. "<i>I</i> don't even know who his +family physician is."</p> + +<p>"Dr. Armitage is," added the younger, from +his position at the foot of the bed. "And he is +out of town."</p> + +<p>"That's lucky," was the sententious comment +of the old doctor.</p> + +<p>"Why?" asked Theodore, fixing earnest, +searching eyes on his face.</p> + +<p>"Because Dr. Armitage uses rum, <i>rum</i>, <span class="smcap">rum</span>, +everywhere and always: and ten drops of it +would be as certain death to this young man, in +his present state, as a dose of prussic acid +would."</p> + +<p>"Who is the elder of those two physicians?" +questioned Theodore of one of the waiters as +they left the room together.</p> + +<p>"That's Dr. Arnold, just the greatest man in +this city folks think, and the young fellow is<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_311" id="Page_311">[311]</a></span> +Dr. Vincent, a student once, and now a partner +of Dr. Arnold."</p> + +<p>Theodore mentally hoped, as he recognized +the familiar names, that Dr. Armitage's absence +would be indefinitely prolonged. He glanced +into the room where Ben Phillips lay. He was +insensible, and had been from the first. Two +more physicians were in attendance there, but +seemed to be doing nothing, and shook their +heads very gravely in answer to Theodore's inquiring +look. Mr. Phillips had been seen down +town, near the freight office, and thither Jim had +gone in search of him. There seemed to be +nothing for Theodore but to go to Hastings' +Hall himself. He shrank from it very much—nothing +but messages of evil, or scenes of danger, +seemed to connect him with this house.</p> + +<p>"They will learn to look on me as the very +impersonation of evil tidings," he said, nervously, +as he awaited admittance. His peremptory +ring was promptly answered by John.</p> + +<p>"Was Mr. Hastings in?"</p> + +<p>No, he was not; he and Mrs. Hastings had +accompanied Mrs. and Miss De Witt to the +house of a friend, nine miles distant, and were +to be absent two days. In spite of himself Theodore +felt a sense of relief.</p> + +<p>"Then tell Miss Hastings I would like to see +her at once," was his direction.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_312" id="Page_312">[312]</a></span></p> + +<p>John stared.</p> + +<p>"It was very early. Miss Hastings had not +yet left her room. If Mr. Mallery could—"</p> + +<p>Theodore interrupted him.</p> + +<p>"Tell her I must see her at once, or as soon +as possible." And at this opportune moment +Dora came down the stairs. Theodore advanced +to meet her, and feeling almost certain of the +character with which he had to deal, came to +the point at once without hesitation or circumlocution.</p> + +<p>"I am not the bearer of good news this +morning, Miss Hastings. There has been an +accident, and Pliny is injured, not seriously we +hope. He is at the Euclid House. Would you +wish to go to him at once?"</p> + +<p>Dora's face had grown paler, but she neither +exclaimed nor fainted, and answered him +promptly and firmly.</p> + +<p>"I will go to him at once. Mr. Mallery, our +carriage is away, will you signal a car for me? +I will be ready in five minutes. But tell me this +much. Ought I to send for my father and +mother?"</p> + +<p>"I fear you ought," said Theodore, gently.</p> + +<p>She turned at once, and issued brief, rapid +and explicit orders to the waiting John, and in +less than five minutes they were in the car. +On the way down Theodore gave her what<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_313" id="Page_313">[313]</a></span> +meager knowledge he possessed concerning the +accident, withholding the bitter cause of it all, +which, however, he saw she too readily guessed. +As they passed Dr. Armitage's house he said: +"Dr. Armitage is not at home." And she answered +emphatically: "I am glad of it." Then +he wondered if she were glad for the same reason +he was. At noon Mr. and Mrs. Hastings +arrived, and before the day was done the other +anxious watchers had reason heartily to wish +that their coming had been longer delayed. +Evidently Dora had not inherited her self-control +from her mother, or if she had Mrs. Hastings +had not a tithe of it remaining, and her +nervousness added not a little to the wildness +of the suffering patient. Mr. Hastings on his +part seemed anxious and angry, both in one. +He said to Dora savagely that he hoped it +would teach the reckless fellow a lesson that he +would never forget, and resented with haughty +silence Dr. Arnold's sententious reply, that "it +was likely to do just that." Then he openly +and unhesitatingly regretted Dr. Armitage's absence, +sent twice to his home to learn concerning +his whereabouts, and was not improved in +temper by learning that he was lying ill at +Buffalo; and, finally, with much hesitancy and +visible annoyance, that would have provoked +to withdrawal a younger and less eminent<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_314" id="Page_314">[314]</a></span> +man, committed the case into Dr. Arnold's +hands. The doctor skillfully evaded the questions +that were trembling on Mrs. Hastings' lips +and hungering in Dora's eyes concerning the +nature and extent of Pliny's injuries, which fact +led Theodore to be very much alarmed, and yet +he was totally unprepared for the abrupt answer +which he received when he first found a chance +to ask the question in private.</p> + +<p>"He hasn't a chance in a hundred; brain is injured; +is morally certain to have a course of fever, +and he has burned his system so thoroughly with +poison that he has no rallying power."</p> + +<p>It was late in the afternoon before the doctor, +after issuing very strict and careful orders, left +his patient for a few hours. Mr. Hastings +turned at once to Theodore, and spoke in the +haughty, half-sarcastic tone which he always +assumed toward him.</p> + +<p>"Now, young man, I don't know how you +became mixed up with this sad accident; some +people have a marvelous faculty for getting +mixed up with troubles. Neither do I know to +what extent you have attempted to serve me; +but if you have put yourself out in any way for +me or mine, I am duly grateful, and stand ready, +as you very well know, to liquidate your claims +with a check whenever you are prepared to receive +it."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_315" id="Page_315">[315]</a></span></p> + +<p>In justice to Mr. Hastings, be it said that he +had drank a glass of brandy just before this insulting +speech, and its fumes were already busy +with his brain. Theodore made no sort of reply; +his heart was too heavy with a sickening dread +of what was to come to be careful about maintaining +his own dignity—and, indeed, Mr. Hastings +gave him very little time, for he immediately +added: "And now, as the doctor has ordered +absolute quiet, it is advisable for all who are not +useful, to absent themselves from the sick-room. +Therefore, it would perhaps be well for you to +retire at once."</p> + +<p>Theodore bowed gravely, and immediately +left the room. Dora immediately followed him—her +cheeks were glowing, and her eyes were +unusually bright.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Mallery," she began—speaking in a +quick, excited tone—"I beg you will not consider +yourself grossly insulted. Papa does not +mean—does not know——" and she stopped in +pitiful confusion.</p> + +<p>Theodore spoke gently—"I am not offended, +Miss Dora—your father is excited, and withal +does not understand me. But do not think that +I have deserted Pliny, or can desert him. And +we will give ourselves continually to prayer concerning +him. Shall we not?"</p> + +<p>The first tears that Dora had shed that day<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_316" id="Page_316">[316]</a></span> +rolled down her cheeks; but she only answered:</p> + +<p>"I thank you <i>very</i> much," and vanished.</p> + +<p>Deprived thus suddenly of the privilege of +doing for and watching over his friend, Theodore +bethought himself of the other sufferer, and +sought the room where he had been carried. +He tapped lightly at the door, but received no +answer, and afraid to make further demonstrations, +lest he might disturb the sick one, he +turned away. But a waiter just at that moment +flung open the door, and to his amazement, +Theodore saw that the room was empty!</p> + +<p>"Where is Mr. Phillips?" he inquired, in surprise.</p> + +<p>"They have taken him home, sir. Didn't +you know it?"</p> + +<p>"No, I did not," answered Theodore, shortly, +and turned quickly away. In spite of himself, a +bitter feeling of almost rebellion possessed him.</p> + +<p>"He is able to be carried home," he muttered, +"while his partner in trouble must toss in delirium—and +<i>he</i> was much the most to blame this +time, I have no doubt!"</p> + +<p>No sooner had these sullen thoughts been +uttered than he was startled at them, and +ashamed of himself. He struggled to regain a +right feeling toward the more fortunate man, +and punished himself by determining to go at +once to Mr. Phillips' residence, and inquire in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_317" id="Page_317">[317]</a></span> +person for his son, instead of returning to the +store and sending a message, as he had at first +intended. A flushed-faced, swollen-eyed servant +answered his ring, and to his inquiry as to how +Mr. Phillips was, answered:</p> + +<p>"Well, sir, he's doing the best he can."</p> + +<p>"Can I see him?" asked Theodore, wondering +at the strangeness of the answer.</p> + +<p>"I guess so—or I'll see. Come in!" and she +flung open the parlor door and left him. In a +few minutes the elder Mr. Phillips entered. He +recognized Theodore at once, though the two +had met but once in their lives. The look of +unreconciled pain on his face settled into a +sterner form as he encountered Theodore, and +he spoke with a marked sternness—"Young +man! were you with my son last night? Are +you one of those who helped lead him astray?"</p> + +<p>"I thank God I am not!" answered Theodore, +fervently, yet in gentle tone. Even though +he believed that the young man's father had +been one of the most potent influences in the +ruin of his son, yet the present was no time to +have it appear.</p> + +<p>"I called to see if I could in any way serve +you, and to know if I might see your son."</p> + +<p>"Thank you—there is nothing more to do—but +you can see him!" The voice that uttered +those hopeless words was husky with suppressed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_318" id="Page_318">[318]</a></span> +tears, and yet, as he opened a door at his right, +motioned Theodore forward, and abruptly left +the room, the sad and solemn truth had not so +much as glimmered on the young man's mind. +Not until he had fairly entered and nearly +crossed the back parlor, were his feet arrested +by the presence of death. Even then he could +not believe it possible that God had called for +the soul, and it had gone. He stood still and +looked on the straight motionless figure, covered +with its drapery of white. He advanced and +looked reverently upon the face that only yesterday +he had seen bubbling with life and fun. +The icy seal was surely there, the features had +felt that solemn, mysterious touch, and grown +sharper and more clearly defined under it. Nothing +in his life had ever come to Theodore with +such sudden and fearful surprise. Pliny, then, +was the one still hovering this side, and the +other gone. What an awful death! "Murdered," +he said, with set lips and rigid face. +"Just murdered! That is the proper term. +Why could they not be hung like other murderers? +Was it because their crime was committed +by degrees, instead of at one fatal +blow?" He could not trust himself to stand +looking on that still face, and pursue these +thoughts further. He turned quickly away, +and mechanically opened the family Bible,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_319" id="Page_319">[319]</a></span> +in hope of something to steady his fierce, +almost frightful, thoughts. He opened to the +family record—saw the familiar name Benjamin +Phillips—born Nov. 17th, 18—. The date was +familiar too—the date of his own birthday—year, +month, even day. How strange the coincidence! +Pliny's birthday too—he had long +known that; now here were the trio. Three +young men launched upon life in the same day +of time! How <i>very</i> different must have been +the circumstances of each! He glanced about +the pleasant room; he could imagine with what +lavish love and tender care this young man's +early years had been surrounded—he knew +something of the high hopes which had centered +in him. He knew all about the elegance +and grandeur of Pliny's home—he had vivid +memories of the horrors of his own. Now here +they were, Pliny struggling wildly with his disordered +brain—this one—where? Who had +made them to differ? Was this the repeatal of +the old, old sentence: "The iniquities of the +fathers shall be visited upon the children?" +But then what a father had <i>his</i> been to him, and +yet how full of signal blessing and wonderful +success had his life been! Then sounding +sweetly through his brain came the sentence: +"When my father and my mother forsake me, +then the Lord will take me up." Had the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_320" id="Page_320">[320]</a></span> +gracious Lord, then, come to him, and thrice +filled what a father's place should have been? +And was he but showing these fathers, who had +dared to take the responsibility upon themselves, +and while they fed and petted and loved +the poor bodies, starved and seared the souls, +what <i>their</i> love, when put in defiance to <i>His</i>, +could do? Being utterly deserted of human +love, had it been better for him than this misguided, +unsanctified, distorted love had been to +these two young men? Aye; for they had +kept the parents' place—assumed the responsibilities, +and yet ignored the most solemn of +them all. Moved by a powerful, all-controlling +emotion, Theodore sank on his knees beside +the silent form, and cried out in an agony of +prayer—"Oh, <i>my</i> Father, thou hast taken this +soul away beyond the reach of prayer or entreaty—bind +up the broken hearts that this thy +judgment has caused. Thou doest all things +well. But oh, I pray thee, spare that other—save +<i>his</i> life yet a little—give him time. Oh, be +<i>thou</i> his Father, and lead him even as thou hast +led me. Hear this cry, I beseech thee, for the +sake of thy Son!"</p> + +<p>Then he went softly and reverently from the +room and the house of mourning. There stood +two others beside that still head when it was pillowed +in the coffin—the stricken father and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_321" id="Page_321">[321]</a></span> +mother. They stood and dropped tears of utter +agony on the face of their first-born and only +son. Did a vision come to them of the time +when they had leaned lovingly over the sleeping +baby in the great rocking-chair, standing empty +there in the corner? Did they remember how +merrily they had laughed, as they assured each +other that they had no fear of "Baby Ben" +becoming a drunkard? Oh, if they <i>had</i> feared, +and prayed, "Lead him not into temptation," +and made earnest effort to answer their own +prayers, would the end have been as it was?</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 60px;"> +<img src="images/deco3.png" width="60" height="27" alt="Decoration" title="Decoration" /> +</div> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_322" id="Page_322">[322]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XXIV.</h2> + +<h3>A DOUBLE CRISIS.</h3> + + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 18px;"> +<img src="images/t.png" width="18" height="55" alt="T" title="T" /> +</div> + +<div class='unindent'><br /><big>HEODORE</big> was at his post in the private +office deep in business when his next hasty +summons came. Pliny was raving and +repeating his name incessantly, and Dr. Arnold +had said that he must come immediately or the +consequences would be fatal.</div> + +<p>"I shall remain all night if I am permitted to +do so," Theodore explained to Mr. Stephens +while he was putting bills and notes under lock +and key. "And in the morning—"</p> + +<p>"In the morning get rest if you can," interrupted +Mr. Stephens. "At all events, do not +worry about the store. Remain with the poor +boy just as much as you can while he lives. I +will see that all goes right here. McPherson is +coming in to help me; he has his new clerk +under splendid training."</p> + +<p>Theodore looked the thanks that his heart<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_323" id="Page_323">[323]</a></span> +was too heavy to speak. Mr. Hastings glanced +up grimly as he entered Pliny's room, twenty +minutes afterward, but did not choose to speak. +Nobody noticed the omission—for eyes and +thoughts were too entirely engrossed with the +sufferer. And then commenced a hand-to-hand +encounter with death. Day by day he relentlessly +pursued his victim, and yet was mercifully +kept at bay. The fever burned fiercely, and the +faithful, watchful doctors worked constantly and +eagerly. Theodore was constantly with his +friend. When the delirium ran high this was +absolutely necessary, for while Pliny did not +seem to recognize him, yet he was calmer in his +presence. Mr. Hastings had ceased to demur or +grumble—indeed, sharp and persistent anxiety +and fear had taken the place of all other feelings. +Pliny had disappointed him, had angered him, +had disgraced him at times, yet he reigned an +idol in his father's heart.</p> + +<p>During all these anxious days and nights Dr. +Arnold's face had been grave and impassive, +and his voice had failed to utter a single encouraging +word. But one night he said, peremptorily:</p> + +<p>"There are too many people, and there is too +much moving around in this room every night. +I want every single one of you to go to bed and +to sleep, except this young man. You can stay,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_324" id="Page_324">[324]</a></span> +can you not?" This with a glance toward Theodore, +who bowed in answer. "Well, then, you +are the only watcher he needs, and the sooner +the rest of you retire the better it will be for the +patient."</p> + +<p>Mr. Hastings rebelled utterly.</p> + +<p>"There was no occasion for depending upon +strangers," he said, haughtily. "Any or all of +the family were ready to sit up; and besides, +there were scores of intimate friends who had +offered their aid."</p> + +<p>And the doctor, quite as accustomed to having +his own way as Mr. Hastings could possibly +be, answered, testily:</p> + +<p>"But the family and the 'scores of intimate +friends' are just the beings that I don't want to-night, +and this 'stranger' has proved himself a +very faithful and efficient nurse during the last +few weeks, and <i>he</i> is the one <i>I'm</i> going to leave +in charge."</p> + +<p>He carried his point, of course. Dr. Arnold +always did. When the door was closed on the +last departure he came with very quiet tread to +Theodore's side, and spoke in subdued tones.</p> + +<p>"This night is a matter of life and death with +us; he needs the most close and careful watching; +above all, he needs absolute quiet and the +absence of all nervousness. There will be a +change before morning—a very startling one<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_325" id="Page_325">[325]</a></span> +perhaps. It is for this reason I have banished +the family. I trust <i>you</i>, you see."</p> + +<p>"I don't trust myself," answered Theodore, +huskily, yet making a great effort to control his +voice.</p> + +<p>"It is more to the point that <i>I do</i> just at present; +the next eight hours will be likely to determine +whether it has all been in vain. I will +give you very careful directions, and I will be in +twice during the night, although I am absolutely +powerless now; can do no more than you +will be able to do yourself. Meantime that +friend of yours, McPherson I think his name +is, will be on guard in the room next to this, +ready to answer your lightest call. Indeed, you +may open the door between the two rooms, but +on no account speak or move unless absolutely +necessary. This heavy sleep will grow lighter +<i>perhaps</i>. Now, I want your fixed attention." +Then followed very close and careful directions—what +to do, and, above all, what <i>not</i> to do.</p> + +<p>"Doctor, tell me one word more," said Theodore, +quivering with suppressed emotion. +"How do <i>you</i> think it will end?"</p> + +<p>"I have hardly the faintest atom of hope," +answered this honest, earnest man. "If, as I +said, after midnight this sleep grows heavier, +and you fail to catch the regular breathing, you +may call the family. I think no human sound<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_326" id="Page_326">[326]</a></span> +will disturb him after that; but if, on the contrary, +the breathing grows steadier, and occasionally +he moves a little, then I want you fairly +to hold your breath, and then we may begin to +hope, provided nothing shall occur to startle +him; but I will be in by twelve or a little after."</p> + +<p>The doctor went away with lightest tread, and +Theodore opened the door of communication +with the next room, met the kind, sympathetic +eyes of Jim resting on him, returned his grave, +silent bow, and felt sustained by his presence, +then went back to his silent, solemn work. +Close by the bedside, and thus, his head resting +on one hand, his eyes fixed on the sleepless face, +his heart going up to God in such wordless +agony of entreaty as he had never felt before, +passed the long, long hours. "The eyes of the +Lord are in every place." How this watcher +blessed God for that promise now! His, then, +were not the only watcher's eyes bent on that +white face; but He who knew the end from the +beginning—aye, who held both beginning and +end in the hollow of his hand, was watching too. +More than that, the loving Redeemer, who had +shed his blood for this poor man's soul, who +loved it to-night with a love passing all human +knowledge, was the other watcher. So Theodore +waited and prayed, and the burden of his +prayer was, "Lord, save him." Ten, eleven,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_327" id="Page_327">[327]</a></span> +twelve o'clock, still that solemn silence, still that +wordless prayer. No doctor yet "I would +not leave you if it were not absolute necessity," +he had said. "Life or death in another family, +with more for human knowledge to do than +there is here, takes me away; but I will be back +as soon after twelve as possible." Would he +<i>never</i> come? It was ten minutes after twelve +now, still no change—or, was there? Could he +catch the breathing as distinctly now? Was +the sleep heavier? Ought he to call the family? +Oh, compassionate Savior! must they give him +up? Had not his been the prayer of faith? +And yet the breathing was certainly distinct, the +pulse was steady—a half hour more, one or two +little sighs had escaped the sleeper; other than +that death-like stillness reigned. <i>Was</i> he better +or worse? Oh for the doctor's coming! +Suddenly Pliny gave a quick restless movement, +then lay quiet; and then for the first time in +long, long days, spoke in natural yet astonished +tones:</p> + +<p>"Theodore!" Then with a sudden nervous +tremor and a startled tone: "What is it? +What is it?"</p> + +<p>Theodore knew that great beads of perspiration +stood on his forehead, but his voice sounded +natural and controlled as he stood with cup and +spoon beside the bed.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_328" id="Page_328">[328]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Hush, Pliny, you have had the headache, +it is night. Swallow that and go to sleep."</p> + +<p>Like a weary, submissive child Pliny obeyed; +and Theodore, trembling in every limb so that +he dropped rather than sat down in his chair, +again watched and waited. A shadow fell between +him and the light and his raised eyes met +the doctor's. He had come in through the +room where Jim was waiting. He came with +noiseless tread to the bedside, and the instant +his practiced eyes fell on the sleeping face they +lighted up with a quick, glad look. Moving +silently back to the door again he signaled Theodore +to come to him, while as silently Jim +slipped by and took his place. Rapidly the +story of the night was rehearsed.</p> + +<p>"Well," said the doctor, with smiling eyes, "I +believe we have now to 'thank God and take +courage.' Can you follow the rest of my instructions +as implicitly as you have these? I +would remove this strain on your nerves if I +dared, but it is a fearfully important night, and +you see I can trust you."</p> + +<p>"I can do it," said Theodore, with a curious +ring of joy in his softly voice. "I can do <i>anything +now</i>."</p> + +<p>And the rest of that night was given not +only to faithful watching and nursing, but to +thankful prayer, and to solemn promises that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_329" id="Page_329">[329]</a></span> +his spared life should be more than ever his +special charge, his constant care, until one of +those "many mansions" should be set apart +as his.</p> + +<p>It was four weeks after this eventful night. +Pliny was bolstered back among the pillows in +the rocking-chair, resting after a walk half way +across his room. It was a clear, sharp winter +morning, but there was freshness and sunshine +in Pliny's room. Both Theodore and Dr. Vincent +were his companions. Theodore was making +his morning call, and the young doctor was +waiting to see what effect the morning walk +would have upon the invalid, who was so slowly +and feebly rallying back to life. Mrs. Hastings +and Dora had gone to Hastings' Hall, where +they were now able to spend a small part of +each day. The conversation between the two +gentlemen, faintly helped along by Pliny, was +interrupted by the entrance of Mr. Hastings, +and with him a stranger to Theodore, but he +was greeted by Pliny as Dr. Armitage, whereupon +Theodore made him an object of close +scrutiny, and discovered that his face not only +bore traces of the frequent use of liquor, but +stood near enough to learn from his breath that +he had so early in the morning indulged in a +glass of brandy. He came forward with an easy, +half-swaggering air, bestowed an indifferent<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_330" id="Page_330">[330]</a></span> +glance on Theodore, and a supercilious one on +Dr. Vincent, and addressed Pliny.</p> + +<p>"Well, young gentleman, you've had a hard +pull, they tell me, as well as myself. Fortunately +I could consult with <i>myself</i> or I should +have died. How is it with you?"</p> + +<p>"I had better advisers than myself," answered +Pliny, smiling.</p> + +<p>"Wants building up," said the doctor, turning +abruptly from the son to the father. "Never'll +gain strength in this way—ought to have begun +tonics three weeks ago. Well, we'll do what we +can to repair the mischief. Port wine is as good +as anything to begin on. You may order a +bottle brought up, if you please."</p> + +<p>As Mr. Hastings rang the bell and gave the +order, Pliny stole a glance of mingled entreaty +and dismay at Theodore and Dr. Vincent. The +latter immediately advanced, and respectfully +addressed the old doctor.</p> + +<p>"I beg your pardon, sir; but if you will study +the patient's pulse a moment you will observe +that his nerves are not in a condition to bear +liquors of any sort."</p> + +<p>Dr. Armitage answered him first by a prolonged +stare before he said:</p> + +<p>"I studied pulse and nerves, and things of +that sort, before you were born, young man."</p> + +<p>"That may be," answered Dr. Vincent, firmly,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_331" id="Page_331">[331]</a></span> +"but Dr. Arnold and myself have been studying +this gentleman's for the past six weeks, +and in a fearful state they have been, I assure +you. You must remember that you have hardly +seen him as yet, and have not examined the +case."</p> + +<p>By this time the wine had arrived, and Dr. +Armitage, while he busied himself in pouring +out a glassful, assumed an air of jocoseness and +said:</p> + +<p>"Perhaps you would not object to opening a +private class instruction in <i>nerves</i> and the like, +by which means I might gain some information, +and you prove a benefactor to your race." Then +to Pliny: "Now, sir, drink that, and it will put +new life into you." And the tempting glass +was held exasperatingly near poor Pliny's weak +and fearfully-tempted hand. Theodore, standing +close beside him, saw the great beads of perspiration +gathering on his white forehead, and +fairly <i>felt</i> the quiver of excitement that shook +his frame. To save Pliny from taking the glass, +and entirely uncertain as to what he should do +next, he mechanically reached out his hand for +it. Dr. Armitage evidently regarded him as an +ally, and at once resigned it, saying, with his +eyes still fixed on Pliny: "Drink it slowly and +enjoy it. I'm sure I don't wonder that you are +wasted to a skeleton."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_332" id="Page_332">[332]</a></span></p> + +<p>Pliny's pleading eyes sought Theodore's, and +he spoke in a low, husky whisper:</p> + +<p>"Finish this business quick in some way, or +I shall drink it—I know I shall."</p> + +<p>Dr. Vincent had drawn near and caught the +import of the whisper. With a very quiet manner, +but also with exceeding quickness, he took +the glass and deliberately poured it into the +marble basin near which he stood, and the fragrant +old wine instantly gurgled down innumerable +pipes, and was harmless forever. Dr. Armitage's +red face took a purplish tint, and he +turned fiercely to the man who dared to meddle +with his orders.</p> + +<p>"Do you know what you are about?" he +shouted rather than said. "Are you aware that +I am the family physician at Hastings' Hall?"</p> + +<p>"I am aware of it," was Dr. Vincent's quiet +and composed reply. "And it makes no sort +of difference to me, so long as I remember that +Dr. Arnold has had this particular case in +charge from the first, and his orders are distinct +and explicit, and I am here to see that they are +obeyed, which thing I shall do even if I have to +send the entire contents of that bottle in the +same direction that part of it has traveled. At +the same time I am sorry to be <i>compelled</i> to lay +aside the courtesy due from one physician to +another."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_333" id="Page_333">[333]</a></span></p> + +<p>At this most opportune moment the door +opened quietly and Dr. Arnold entered. He +went at once to Pliny's side, and placed his finger +on the throbbing wrist, as he said with an +inquiring glance about the room:</p> + +<p>"It strikes me you are all forgetting the need +of quiet and freedom from excitement. This +pulse is racing." Then for the first time noticing +Dr. Armitage, he addressed him courteously. +"Good morning, Doctor, you are on +your feet again, are you? I congratulate you. +Meantime Dr. Vincent and myself have been +doing your work here for you to the best of +our abilities."</p> + +<p>In answer to which Dr. Armitage drew himself +up with an air of extreme hauteur, and +said, addressing Mr. Hastings:</p> + +<p>"The time has come, sir, for you to choose +between this gentleman and myself. If you +desire any further service of him then I will +consider your name withdrawn from my list."</p> + +<p>Dr. Arnold elevated his eyebrows, evidently +astonished that even Dr. Armitage should be +guilty of so gross a violation of propriety, while +Dr. Vincent drew near and in rapid undertone +related the cause of the disturbance. Dr. Arnold +at first frowned, and then as the story progressed +nodded approvingly.</p> + +<p>"Quite right, quite right; he should not have<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_334" id="Page_334">[334]</a></span> +touched the stimulus under any circumstances +whatever. Dr. Armitage, I am persuaded that +even you would have frowned on the idea had +you watched this case through in all its details."</p> + +<p>Dr. Armitage did not so much as vouchsafe +him a glance, but kept his angry eyes still fixed +on Mr. Hastings as he said:</p> + +<p>"I repeat my statement. This matter must +be decided at once. You have but to choose +between us."</p> + +<p>Now this really placed Mr. Hastings in an +extremely awkward dilemma. Dr. Armitage +was not only his family physician, but the two +had had all sorts of business dealings together of +which only they two knew the nature; but then, +on the other hand, Mr. Hastings believed that +Dr. Arnold had saved the life of his son. He +knew that life was in a very feeble, dangerous +state even now, and he actually feared that Dr. +Armitage occasionally drank brandy enough +to bewilder his brain, and at such times perhaps +was hardly to be trusted, and yet he could not +dismiss him.</p> + +<p>"Really," he stammered, "I—we—this is +a very disagreeable matter. I <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'regreet'">regret</ins> exceedingly—" +And just here relief came to him +from an unexpected quarter. Pliny roused himself +to speak with something of his old spirit.</p> + +<p>"You two gentlemen seem to ignore my ex<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_335" id="Page_335">[335]</a></span>istence +or overlook it somewhat. I believe I +am the unfortunate individual who requires the +service of a physician. Dr. Armitage, I have +no doubt that my father will continue to look +upon you as his guardian angel, physically +speaking; but as for me, I'm inclined to continue +at present under charge of the pilot who +has steered me safely thus far."</p> + +<p>"That being the case," said Dr. Arnold, briskly, +"I will resume command at once, and order +every single one of you from the room, except +you, Dr. Vincent, if you have time to remain +and administer an anodyne, and you, young +man, must go directly back to bed."</p> + +<p>Mr. Hastings promptly opened a side door +and invited Dr. Armitage to a few moments' +private conversation, and Theodore departed, +jubilant over the turn affairs had taken, and +fully determined that Dr. Vincent should be <i>his</i> +family physician.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 75px;"> +<img src="images/deco4.png" width="75" height="36" alt="Decoration" title="Decoration" /> +</div> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_336" id="Page_336">[336]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XXV.</h2> + +<h3>STEPS UPWARD.</h3> + + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 30px;"> +<img src="images/cqutoe.png" width="30" height="55" alt=""C" title=""C" /> +</div> + +<div class='unindent'><br /><big>AN</big> you take another boarder, grandma?"</div> + +<p>This was the question with which Theodore +startled the dear old lady, while she and +Winny still lingered with him at the breakfast +table. Jim had eaten in haste, and hurried +away to his daily-increasing business. But +Theodore had seemed lost in thought, and for +some little time had occupied himself with trying +to balance his spoon on the edge of his +cup, instead of eating his breakfast. At last he +let the spoon pitch into the cup with a decisive +click, and asked the aforesaid question. Grandma +McPherson, looking a little older, it is true, +than on the blessed day in which "Tode Mall" +first sought her out, but still having the look of +a wonderfully well preserved old lady, in an +immaculate cap frill, a trifle finer than in the +days of yore, and a neat black dress, presided +still at the head of her table. She dropped her<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_337" id="Page_337">[337]</a></span> +knife, at Theodore's question, and gave vent to +her old-time exclamation: "Deary me, what +notion has the dear boy got now?"</p> + +<p>"He has an Inebriate Asylum in view, mother, +and wants to engage you for physician, and +your daughter for matron."</p> + +<p>This was Winny's grave explanation. Theodore +did not even smile. She had unwittingly +touched too near the subject of his thoughts.</p> + +<p>"Don't tease the boy, Winny dear," said the +little gentle mother; then she turned her kind, +interested eyes on him, and waited for his explanation.</p> + +<p>"The fact is, I want to get Pliny away from +home," he said, anxiously. "You have no idea +of the temptations that constantly beset him +there. I don't think it is possible for him to sit +down to his father's table at any time without +being beset by what the poor fellow calls his +imps."</p> + +<p>"What a world it is, to be sure," sighed +Grandma McPherson, "when a boy's worst enemy +is his own father. Well, deary, I'm ready +to help you fight the old serpent to the very +last, and so I am sure is Winny. What is your +plan?"</p> + +<p>"He thinks of coming into the store—he can +have poor Winter's place for the present. At +least, Mr. Stephens has made him that offer.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_338" id="Page_338">[338]</a></span> +He seems to feel the necessity of doing something, +if for no other purpose than to use up his +time."</p> + +<p>Winny glanced up quickly. "Is that all his +splendid collegiate education is going to amount +to?" she asked, wonderingly, and possibly with +a little touch of scorn in her voice. "A clerk +in Mr. Stephens' store! I thought he was going +to study law?"</p> + +<p>"He has used up his brain-power too thoroughly +to have any hope of carrying out these +plans—at least at present," answered Theodore, +sadly. "But, after all, I think we may consider +his life not <i>quite</i> a failure, if he should become +such a man as Mr. Stephens. Well, grandma, +my plan is, that he could room with me, and so +make you no extra work in that direction, and, +if you <i>could</i> manage the other part, I believe it +would be a blessed thing for Pliny."</p> + +<p>"Oh, we can manage that all nicely! Can't +we, Winny dear? You are willing to try it, I +know!"</p> + +<p>"Oh, <i>certainly</i>, mother—anything to be on +the popular side—only I think we might hang +out a sign, and have the advantage of a little +notoriety in the matter."</p> + +<p>There was this alleviating circumstance connected +with Winny: She didn't mean a single +one of the sharp and rather unsympathetic<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_339" id="Page_339">[339]</a></span> +things that she said—and those that met her +daily had come to understand this and interpret +her accordingly. So Theodore arose from the +table, greatly relieved in mind, and not a little +gratified, that daughter, as well as mother, was +willing to co-operate with him. Thus it was +that Pliny found himself domiciled that very +evening in Theodore's gem of a room—his favorite +books piled with Theodore's on the table, +his dressing-case standing beside Theodore's on +the toilet-table opposite.</p> + +<p>"This is jolly!" he said, eagerly, surveying +with satisfied eye all the neat appointments of +the room, when at last everything had been arranged +in accordance with his fastidious taste.</p> + +<p>"I declare I feel as if I had been made over +new, or was somebody else altogether—ready to +begin life in decent, respectable earnest!"</p> + +<p>And then he suddenly dropped into the arm-chair +at his side, and buried his face in his +hands.</p> + +<p>"Well now!" said Theodore, cheerily. "That's +rather an April change, when one considers that +it is only January. My dear fellow, what spell +has come over you?"</p> + +<p>"I was reminded of Ben—I don't know how +or why just then—except that thoughts of him +are constantly coming to haunt, and sometimes +almost madden me. Oh, Mallery! that is a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_340" id="Page_340">[340]</a></span> +past that can never, <i>never</i> be undone!" He +spoke in a hollow, dreary tone, and his slight +form, enfeebled by disease, was quivering with +emotion; yet what could his friend say? How +try to administer comfort for such a grief as +that? He remained entirely silent for a few +moments, then offered the only consolation that +he could bear.</p> + +<p>"The past is not yours, Pliny, but in a sense +the present and future are. Let us have it such +a future that it can be looked back upon with +joy, when you and I have become gray-haired +men. Now, Pliny, it is late. Will you join me +in my Bible reading—since you and I are a +family, can not we have family worship?"</p> + +<p>Pliny arose quickly. "I will not disturb +your meditations," he said, a little nervously. +"But you know my taste don't run in that line."</p> + +<p>Then he began a slow, monotonous walk up +and down the room. Theodore opened his +Bible without further entreaty or comment; but +as Pliny watched the grave face, he could not +fail to notice the disappointed droop of his +friend's features, and the line of sadness that +gathered about his sensitive mouth. Suddenly +Pliny came to a stand-still, and finally went abruptly +to Theodore's side.</p> + +<p>"Dear old fellow!" he said, impulsively—laying +his hand with a familiar, almost caressing,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_341" id="Page_341">[341]</a></span> +movement on the arm of the other—"Would +it afford you an unparalleled satisfaction if I +should settle quietly down there, and read in +that big book with you?"</p> + +<p>Theodore looked up with a faint smile, and +returned steadily the look from those handsome +blue eyes as he said—</p> + +<p>"More than I can tell you."</p> + +<p>"Then hang me if I don't do it! Mind, I +don't see in what the satisfaction consists, but +that is not necessary, I suppose, in order to +make my act meritorious. Now, here goes!" +Down he dropped into a chair, and resolutely +took hold of one side of the large handsome +Bible. Theodore reveled in Bibles; he had +them of numerous sizes and of great beauty; +he had not forgotten the time when he had +none at all, and after that how precious two +leaves of the Sacred Book became to him. After +the reading, he linked his arm in Pliny's, and +said in so winning and withal so natural and +matter-of-course a tone, "It will be very pleasant +to have a companion to kneel with me—I +have always felt a desire for one," that Pliny +did not choose to decline. So the young man, +reared in a Christian city, surrounded by hundreds +of Christian men and women, felt himself +personally prayed for, for the first time in his +life.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_342" id="Page_342">[342]</a></span></p> + +<p>The rest of that winter was a busy one—full +of many and bewildering cares. Besides his +pressing duties at the store—and they daily +grew more pressing, as the responsibilities of +the business were thrown more and more upon +him—Theodore had undertaken to be a constant +shield and guard to the constantly tempted +young man.</p> + +<p>No one who has not tried it knows or <i>can</i> +know how heavy is such a weight. Daily the +sense of it grew upon Theodore; not for an +hour did he dare relax his vigilance; he was +perfectly overwhelmed with the countless snares +that lay in wait <i>everywhere</i> to tempt to ruin. +Not a journey to or from the store, not a trip +to any part of the city or any errand whatever, +but was fraught with danger, and evening parties +and receptions and concerts were absolute +terrors to Theodore; nor was it a light task to +arrange his affairs in such a manner as to be always +ready for any whim that chanced to possess +Pliny's brain—and when that was arranged, +it was sometimes equally difficult to discover +a pretext for his constant attendance, in order +that Pliny's sensitive blood might not arise in +opposition to this surveillance. However, the +plans, most carefully and prayerfully formed, +were not to be lightly resigned, and with one +new excuse after another, and with Mr. Ste<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_343" id="Page_343">[343]</a></span>phens +always for his aid, Theodore managed +to get successfully through the winter—or, if +not successfully, at least with but few drawbacks. +And of these—oh, strange and bitter thought!—the +Hastings family were the worst.</p> + +<p>On his visits to his father's house, Pliny had +to go alone. Mr. Hastings had been sore opposed +to the new arrangements, both as regarded +business and boarding, from the very +first, and, though he could not conquer Pliny's +determination, had managed to make it very +uncomfortable for him; had chosen also to lay +the principal blame of the entire arrangement—where, +indeed, it belonged—on Theodore, and +glowered on him accordingly. So Theodore +staid away from the great house altogether, and +struggled between his desire to keep Pliny +away from that direst of all temptations, and +his desire not to interfere with the filial duties +which Pliny ought to have had, even though no +such ideas possessed him. Twice during the +winter Pliny took from his father's hand the +glass of sparkling wine, and thereby roused +afresh the demon who was only slumbering +within him—he came out from the grand mansion +disgusted, frightened at his broken resolves, +and yet, towering above every other feeling, +was the awful desire to have more of the +poison; and what would have been the closing<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_344" id="Page_344">[344]</a></span> +scene of that visit home, but for one thing, +Pliny in his sane moments next day shuddered +to think. The one thing was, that Theodore, +first worried, and then alarmed at his friend's +long stay, finally started in search of him, and +took care that their ride down town should be +in the same car, and by coaxings and beguilings, +and also by force of a stronger will, enticed +him home, and petted him tenderly through +the fiery headache which the one glass and the +tremendous excitement had induced.</p> + +<p>The second visit was the more dangerous, +and fraught with direr consequences. Theodore +was unexpectedly detained by pressing business, +and Pliny seized upon that unfortunate evening +in which to go home; and he reeled back to his +room at midnight, just sense enough left to find +his way home, with the aid of a policeman.</p> + +<p>Theodore sat up during the rest of that long, +weary night, and bathed the throbbing temples, +and soothed as best he could the crazed brain, +and groaned in spirit, and prayed in almost +hopeless agony; yet, while he prayed, his faith +arose once more, and once more the assurance +seemed to come to him that Christ had not died +for this soul in vain.</p> + +<p>There was one important matter that occurred +during the winter. Over the doors of Mr. +Stephens' dry-goods establishment had hung for<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_345" id="Page_345">[345]</a></span> +a dozen years the sign: "Stephens & Co.," the +"Co." standing for a branch house in Chicago. +It was a glowing April morning in which Theodore +and Pliny, both a little belated by a business +entanglement of bills and figures that had +taken half the night to set straight, were rushing +along with rapid strides. They had left the +street-car at the corner, and the hight of their +present ambition was to reach the store before +the city clock struck again, which thing it seemed +on the point of doing, when suddenly both +came to a halt and stared first at the store opposite, +and then at each other in speechless amazement. +The familiar sign was gone, and in its +place there glittered and sparkled in the crisp +air and early sunshine a new one—</p> + +<div class='center'> +"STEPHENS, MALLERY & CO."<br /> +</div> + +<div class='unindent'>Theodore rubbed his eyes, and stared in speechless +wonder, while Pliny gave vent to his emotions +in lucid ejaculatory sentences:</div> + +<p>"Well! upon my word and honor!—As sure +as I'm alive!—If that don't beat me!"</p> + +<p>Meantime Theodore dashed abruptly across +the road and entered the store, Pliny following +more leisurely, still staring at the magic sign. +The clerks all bowed and smiled most broadly +as the junior partner passed down the store;<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_346" id="Page_346">[346]</a></span> +but that gentleman was too excited to notice +them closely, and hurried into the private office. +Mr. Stephens came forward on his entrance, his +face all aglow with smiles, and cordially held +out his hand.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Stephens!" gasped Theodore, "how—what?" +and then, utterly overcome, sank into +one of the office-chairs, and covered his face +with his hands.</p> + +<p>"My dear boy," said Mr. Stephens, with an +outward calmness and an inward chuckle, "what +is the matter with you this morning?"</p> + +<p>"What does it mean, sir? How came you +to? How could you?"</p> + +<p>"Lucid questions, my boy! I stand for one +pronoun, but who is <i>it?</i>"</p> + +<p>"<i>You</i> know, Mr. Stephens. The sign! The +name!"</p> + +<p>"As for the sign, my dear fellow, it announces +the name of the firm, as heretofore. I hope my +partner will pardon me for keeping my name +first. The new name means a great deal to me. +It has meant a great deal in past days, and I +mean it shall mean a great deal more in many +ways. Are you answered, my friend?"</p> + +<p>Then followed a long, long talk—eager and +excited on Theodore's part; earnest and serious +on Mr. Stephens'—the substance of which was +that the young clerk had been entered as full<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_347" id="Page_347">[347]</a></span> +partner in the extensive and ever-increasing business, +or at least was to be so entered as soon as +what Mr. Stephens called the trivialities of the +law had been attended to.</p> + +<p>"You told me a few days ago that you had +fully decided to make the mercantile business +yours for life, and as I thought I could offer +you as good advantages as you could find elsewhere, +I couldn't resist the temptation to give +you a bit of a surprise," explained Mr. Stephens, +as Theodore still looked bewildered. "I hope +you are not offended at my rudeness?" This +he added gravely, but with a little roguish twinkle +in his eyes.</p> + +<p>"But, Mr. Stephens, how can it be? Why I +I haven't a cent of money in the world to put +in the firm. It is utterly unjust to yourself," +explained Theodore, in distressed tones.</p> + +<p>"I am not so sure of that first statement, my +boy;" and now both eyes and face expressed a +business-like gravity. "I remember, if you do +not, that I am twenty thousand dollars better +off to-day than I should have been but for your +courage and unparalleled presence of mind. +Moreover, you have more funds than you seem +to be aware of. Do you remember a certain +ten-dollar bill which you brought to me one +midnight? Well, I held that bill in my hand, +intending to present it to you to assist you in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_348" id="Page_348">[348]</a></span> +setting up business for yourself; but on learning +that your intentions were to open a hotel, I concluded +to await the development of affairs and +invest otherwise. After I became conversant +with your peculiar ideas concerning hotels, I +discovered that you needed no assistance from +me. But that ten dollars I invested sacredly +for you, and a more remarkable ten dollars +never came into my hands. Everything that I +have touched through it has turned to gold. +Your bank-book is in the left hand private +drawer of my secretary. So, young man, you +can investigate the state of your funds whenever +you choose, and bestow whatever portion of +them upon the new firm that your wisdom suggests."</p> + +<p>Theodore still remained with his elbow leaning +on the table, and his face shaded with his +hand. After a little silence Mr. Stephens came +around to him and placed two hands trembling +with earnestness on his slightly bowed +head, and spoke in gentler tones than he had +used heretofore.</p> + +<p>"Above and beyond all these things, my dear +boy, you are the only son I ever had, and you +have well and faithfully filled a son's place to +me. May I not do what I will for my own?"</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 75px;"> +<img src="images/deco1.png" width="75" height="36" alt="Decoration" title="Decoration" /> +</div> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_349" id="Page_349">[349]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XXVI.</h2> + +<h3>THEODORE'S INSPIRATION.</h3> + + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 35px;"> +<img src="images/nquote.png" width="35" height="55" alt=""N" title=""N" /> +</div> + +<div class='unindent'><br /><big>EW YORK</big> postmark—that's from Ingolds +& Ferry, I suppose. Chicago, +that must be from Southy, and this is +Ned's scrawling hand; now for the fourth—Albany. +Who the mischief writes me from Albany?"</div> + +<p>This was Mr. Stephens' running commentary +on his letters. He broke the seal of the Albany +one, and glanced at its contents.</p> + +<p>"Um," he said, meditatively, leaning his elbow +on the table and his chin on his hand. "Now +to whom shall I send this appeal? I don't +know of any one. Mallery?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir," answered Theodore from behind +the screen.</p> + +<p>"Do you know of any one who could go to +Albany in December and give—stop, I know +myself. Yes, that's an idea."</p> + +<p>"You certainly know more than I do then," +answered Theodore, laughing. "What do you +happen to be talking about, sir?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_350" id="Page_350">[350]</a></span></p> + +<p>"How soon can you give me ten minutes of +your valuable time?"</p> + +<p>"At once, if you so desire," and the young +man emerged into the main office, and came +forward to the desk.</p> + +<p>"Read that, then," answered Mr. Stephens, +tossing him the Albany letter.</p> + +<p>"A temperance lecture, eh, before the Association; +that's good," said Theodore, running +his eye rapidly over the few lines of writing. +"Mr. Ryan would be a capital man to send +them. Don't you think so, sir? But then it's +in December. Ryan will not have returned from +Chicago by that time, I fear; but then there's +Mr. Williams, he is a fine speaker and—"</p> + +<p>"I tell you I've found a man," interrupted +Mr. Stephens; "the very man. Theodore, you +must deliver that temperance lecture yourself."</p> + +<p>"What a preposterous idea!" And before +Theodore proceeded further he gave himself up +to a burst of merriment; then he added: "I +thought you a wiser man than that, sir. Why, +I have never peeped in public."</p> + +<p>"Don't you take part in the Wednesday meetings +every evening, and lead three out of four +of the Saturday evening ones, and speak in +the Young Men's Association meetings every +month?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir, certainly; but those are religious<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_351" id="Page_351">[351]</a></span> +meetings, entirely different matters, and I—why, +Mr. Stephens, I never thought of such a +thing!"</p> + +<p>"I have often. I tell you, Theodore, you +have talents in that direction. You think and +feel deeply on this matter of intemperance. If +you don't understand it thoroughly in all its +bearings, I'm sure I don't know who does, and +you speak fluently and logically on any subject. +Of course there must be a first time, and Albany +is as good a place as any. This old friend +of mine who has written for a speaker, will treat +you like a prince, and there is plenty of time for +preparation; the meeting is not until the 22d of +December, and this is only October. My heart +is very much set on this, my boy."</p> + +<p>But Theodore could not do much besides +laugh; he burst into another merry peal as he +said:</p> + +<p>"My dear sir, I <i>can't</i> jump into the person +of a full-fledged orator in a month, not even to +please <i>you</i>."</p> + +<p>"I'll send in your name and acceptance," was +Mr. Stephens' positive answer. "There is no +reason why you should grow into the character +of a quiet, rusty merchant like myself. I mean +to send you adrift now and then. Besides, you +owe it to the cause, I tell you; you could do +incalculable good in that way."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_352" id="Page_352">[352]</a></span></p> + +<p>But Theodore was not to be persuaded. The +most that Mr. Stephens could win from him was +permission to delay answering the letter a few +days, and the promise that meantime he would +make the matter a subject of prayerful consideration.</p> + +<p>"Meantime there is another matter on hand," +said Mr. Stephens, turning promptly, as was his +custom, from one item of business to another. +"Information derived from Hoyt demands either +your or my immediate presence in their establishment. +You understand the state of their +affairs, do you not?"</p> + +<p>"Perfectly. Am I to attend to that business?"</p> + +<p>"Well, it would be a great relief to me if you +could. I hate the cars."</p> + +<p>"Very well, sir; I can go of course. What +time shall I start?"</p> + +<p>"What time <i>can</i> you start?"</p> + +<p>Theodore glanced at his watch.</p> + +<p>"The Express goes up in forty minutes. +Shall I take that train?"</p> + +<p>Mr. Stephens smiled, and made what sounded +like an irrelevant reply:</p> + +<p>"Your executive ability is perfectly refreshing, +Theodore, to a man of my gray hairs and +crushing weight of business."</p> + +<p>Theodore seemed to consider the reply suffi<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_353" id="Page_353">[353]</a></span>ciently +explicit, and in forty minutes afterward, +valise in hand, swung himself on the Express +train just as it was leaving the depot. Mr. Stephens' +last remark to him had been, "Remember, +my boy, to think of that matter carefully, +and be prepared to give me a favorable answer; +my heart is set on it." And Theodore had +laughed and responded, "If I have an inspiration +during my absence I may conclude to gratify +you."</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>This all happened on an October day. The +rest of the winter that was in progress during +that last chapter, and the long, bright summer, +had rolled away, and now another winter was +almost ready to begin its work. The summer +had been a quiet one aside from business cares +and excitements. Pliny still retained his boarding +place in the quiet asylum that had opened +to him when his own home had proved so dangerous +a place. Dora Hastings had spent the +most of the summer with her parents, traveling +East and North, but Pliny had remained bravely +at his post struggling still with his enemy, but +still persisting in carrying on the warfare alone. +This one matter was a sharp trial to Theodore's +faith; indeed he felt himself growing almost +impatient.</p> + +<p>"Why <i>must</i> it be that <i>he</i> should halt and hes<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_354" id="Page_354">[354]</a></span>itate +so long!" he exclaimed in a nervous and +almost a petulant tone, as he paced up and down +the back parlor one evening, after having had a +talk with the little mother. "I am sure if ever +I had faith for any one in the world I had for +him."</p> + +<p>"Have you got it now?" she asked him, +gently. "It appears to me as if you were +pretty impatient—kind as if you thought you +had prayed prayers enough, and it was high +time they were answered."</p> + +<p>Theodore looked surprised and disturbed, +and continued his walk up and down the room +for a few moments in silence; then he came +over to the arm-chair where she sat, and resting +his hand on her arm, spoke low and gently:</p> + +<p>"You probe to the very depth, dear friend. +Thank you for your faithfulness. I see I must +commence anew, and pray, 'Lord, I believe; +help thou mine unbelief.'"</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>Well, the Express train whizzed past half a +dozen minor stations, and halted at last at the +place of Theodore's destination. Circumstances +favored him, and the business that brought him +thither was promptly dispatched. Then a consultation +with his time-table and watch showed +him a full hour of unoccupied time. He cast +about him for some way of occupying it agree<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_355" id="Page_355">[355]</a></span>ably. +Just across the street was a pleasant +building, and a pleasant sign, "General News +Depot and Reading Room." Thither he went. +The collection of books was unusually large and +choice, Theodore selected a book of reference +that he had long been desiring to see and took +a seat. Several gentlemen were present, engaged +in reading.</p> + +<p>Presently the quiet was interrupted by the +entrance of a middle-aged gentleman, to whom +the courteous librarian immediately addressed +himself.</p> + +<p>"Good-afternoon, Mr. Cranmer. Can I serve +you to a book?"</p> + +<p>"No, sir," responded the new-comer, promptly. +"I don't patronize this institution, you know, +sir."</p> + +<p>Theodore glanced up to see what sort of a +personage this could be who was so indifferent +to his privileges. He looked the gentleman in +every sense, refined, cultivated and intellectual. +At the same moment one of the other readers +addressed him.</p> + +<p>"Why the mischief don't you, Cranmer? +Have you read every book there is in the world, +and feel no need of further information?"</p> + +<p>"Not by any manner of means; but I'm a +temperance man myself."</p> + +<p>"What on earth has that to do with it?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_356" id="Page_356">[356]</a></span></p> + +<p>And Theodore found himself wondering and +listening intently for the answer.</p> + +<p>"A great deal in this establishment. The +truth is, if we had no drunkards we'd have no +books."</p> + +<p>"What's the meaning of your riddle, Cranmer?" +queried an older and graver gentleman, +who had been intently poring over a ponderous +volume.</p> + +<p>"Don't you know how the thing is done?" +said Cranmer, turning briskly around toward +the new speaker. "They use the license money +of this honorable and respectable old town to +replenish the library!"</p> + +<p>"I don't see what that has to do with temperance," +promptly retorted the young man +who had begun the conversation. "Using the +money for a good purpose doesn't make drunkards. +To what wicked use would <i>you</i> have the +funds put?"</p> + +<p>"I would keep the potter's field in decent order, +and defray the funeral expenses of murderers +and paupers. That would be putting +liquor money to a legitimate use, making it defray +its own expenses," returned Mr. Cranmer, +composedly.</p> + +<p>"Well but, Cranmer," interposed the old gentleman, +"explain your position. It isn't the +money belonging to the poor drunken wretches<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_357" id="Page_357">[357]</a></span> +that we use for the library, it's only what we +make the scamps pay for the privilege of doing +business."</p> + +<p>"For the privilege of making drunkards," retorted +Mr. Cranmer. "Here, I'll explain my +position by illustrating. As I was coming up +just now I met old Connor's boy; he was coming +up here, too. The poor fellow is hungering +and thirsting after books. He has been at work +over hours to my certain knowledge, for six +weeks, to earn his dollar with which to join +this Library Association. He just accomplished +the feat last night, and was rushing over +here, dollar in hand, and joy in his face. Just +as he reached the door old Connor stumbled +and staggered along with his jug in his hand, +of course. 'Here you,' he said to the boy, +'what you hiding under your arm? And what +you about, anyhow? Mischief, I'll be bound. +Here give it to me whatever 'tis.' Now, gentlemen, +I stood there, more shame to me, and +saw that poor wretch of a father deliberately +take that hard-earned dollar away from his boy. +I saw the boy go crying off, and the father stagger +to that rum hole across the street, get his +jug filled, and pay that dollar! Now when +that respectable rum-seller comes to pay his +license money, he is as likely to bring that stolen +dollar as any other—and they are all stolen<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_358" id="Page_358">[358]</a></span> +in the first place from wives and children; and +when this <i>splendid</i> Library Association, which +is an honor to the town, buys its next books, it +buys them with money stolen from the Jimmy +Connors of the world. That's my opinion in plain +English, and I don't propose to pay my dollar in +supporting any such anti-temperance institution."</p> + +<p>Theodore had listened attentively to this conversation, +and his blood was roused and boiling. +He turned quickly away from the long line of +splendid books, and addressed Mr. Cranmer.</p> + +<p>"I entirely agree with your position, sir," he +said, earnestly. "And I do not see how it is +possible for any strictly temperance man to feel +otherwise."</p> + +<p>"Good for you, young man," responded Mr. +Cranmer, warmly. "I like especially to see a +<i>young</i> man sound and square on this subject."</p> + +<p>"Well, now, I call that straining at a gnat +and swallowing a camel," remarked a gentleman +who had heretofore taken no part in the +conversation. "I'm a temperance man myself, +always have been, but I consider that carrying +the thing to a ridiculous extreme."</p> + +<p>At this point Theodore, much to his regret, +heard the train whistle, and was obliged to leave +the question unsettled; but the first remark he +made to Mr. Stephens on his return, after business +was disposed of, was:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_359" id="Page_359">[359]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Well, sir, I found my inspiration."</p> + +<p>"Ah, ha!" said Mr. Stephens. "Glad of that. +What is your text?"</p> + +<p>"The amazing consistency of the so-called +temperance world," answered Theodore, dryly.</p> + +<p>It was this combination of circumstances that +led him to take his seat one wintry morning in +a Buffalo train, himself ticketed through to Albany. +There was still five minutes before the +train would start; and while he chatted with +Jim who had come to see him off, the opening +door revealed the portly form of Mr. Hastings, +muffled to the throat in furs, and with the identical +"Wolfie" thrown over his arm—newly +lined indeed in brilliant red, but recognized in +an instant by its soft peculiar fur, and familiar +to Theodore as the face of an old friend. Instantly +his memory traveled back to the scenes +connected with that long-ago and well-remembered +journey when "Wolfie" proved such a +faithful friend to him. His face flushed at the +thought of it, and yet the corners of his mouth +quivered with laughter. He flushed at the +memory of the wretched little vagrant that he +was at that time, and he laughed at the recollection +of "Wolfie's" protecting folds and the new +and delicious sense of warmth that they imparted +to him. What a curious world it was. There +sat Mr. Hastings in front of him now, as he had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_360" id="Page_360">[360]</a></span> +sat then, a trifle older, more portly, but in all +essential respects the same haughty, handsome +gentleman. But what mortal could recognize +in himself the little wretched vagabond known +familiarly as "Tode Mall!" He tried to travel +backward and imagine himself that young scamp +who stole his passage from Albany to Buffalo, +at which thought the blood rolled again into +his face, and he felt an instinctive desire to go +at once and seek out the proper authorities and +pay for that surreptitious ride. Moreover, he +resolved that being an honest man now it was +his duty so to do, and that it should be the first +item of business to which he would attend after +leaving the cars. Then he glanced about +him to see if he could establish his identity +with the little ragged boy. A gentleman with +gray hair and gold spectacles bowed and addressed +him.</p> + +<p>"Good-morning, Mr. Mallery. Going East +far?"</p> + +<p>This was the merchant whose store joined +their own. He knew nothing about "Tode +Mall," but he held intimate business relations +with the junior partner of the great firm. Even +Mr. Hastings bowed stiffly. Mr. Stephens' partner +and the small boy who traveled in his company +years before were two different persons +even to him. At one of the branch stations<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_361" id="Page_361">[361]</a></span> +that gentleman left the train, much to Theodore's +regret, as he had a curious desire to follow +him once more in his journeyings and note +the contrasts time had made. Arrived in Albany, +he looked with curious eyes on the familiar +and yet unfamiliar streets. Every five +minutes he met men whom he had known well +in his boyhood. He recognized them instantly +now. They did not look greatly changed to +him, yet not a living soul knew him. He went +into establishments from which he had been unceremoniously +ordered, not to say kicked, years +before, and presented their business card, "Stephens, +Mallery & Co.," and was treated by those +same business men with the utmost courtesy +and cordiality. He went down some of the old +familiar haunts, and could not feel that they had +much improved. He met a bloated, disfigured, +wretched looking man, and something in the +peculiar slouching gate <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'seeemed'">seemed</ins> familiar to him. +He made inquiries, and found him to be the +person whom he had half surmised, the old-time +friend of his boyhood, Jerry, the only one +who had had a word of half comfort to bestow +on him when he landed in Albany that eventful +night after his trip with Mr. Hastings, homeless +and desolate. Jerry stared at him now, a drunken, +sleepy stare, and then instinctively stood +aside to let the gentleman pass, never dreaming<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_362" id="Page_362">[362]</a></span> +that they had rolled in the same gutter many a +time. Does it seem strange to you that during +all these years Theodore had not long ere this +returned to this old home of his and sought out +that wretched father? Sometimes it seemed +very strange to him. Don't imagine that he +had not given it long and serious thought, but +he had shrunken from it with unutterable terror +and dismay; he had no loving, tender memories +of his father—nothing but cruelty and drunkenness +and sin by which to remember him. +Still oftentimes during these later years he +had told himself that he ought to seek out his +father; he ought to make some effort to reclaim +him. He had prayed for him constantly, +fervently, had poured out his whole soul in that +one great desire; still he knew and remembered +that "faith without works is dead." He had +made some effort, had written earnest appeals +hot from his heart, to which he had received +no sort of a reply. He had written to one and +another in Albany, prominent names that he +remembered, clergymen of the city as he learned +their addresses, begging for some assistance in +the search after his father. Each and all of +these attempts had proved failures. To some +of his letters he had received answers, courteous, +Christian answers, and the gentlemen had lent +him their time and aid, but to no purpose.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_363" id="Page_363">[363]</a></span> +Apparently the name and place of the poor, low +rum-seller had faded from the memory of the +Albanians. He had disappeared one night after +a more tremendous drunken row than usual, and +had never been seen or heard of since. This +was all. And Theodore, baffled and discouraged, +had yet constantly meant to come to the +search in person, and as constantly had shrunken +from setting out, and delayed and excused +himself until the present time. Now, however, +he intended to set about it with vigor. "No +matter what he is, nor how low he has sunken, +he is <i>my father</i>, and as such I owe him a duty; +and I must constantly remember that it is not +he of whom I have bitter memories, but rum, +rum! rum!!" This he told himself with firmly +set lips, and a white, determined face.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 75px;"> +<img src="images/deco2.png" width="75" height="32" alt="Decoration" title="Decoration" /> +</div> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_364" id="Page_364">[364]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XXVII.</h2> + +<h3>DAWN AND DARKNESS.</h3> + + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 18px;"> +<img src="images/t.png" width="18" height="55" alt="T" title="T" /> +</div> + +<div class='unindent'><br /><big>WEDDLE HALL</big> was reasonably full. +The citizens of Albany had turned out +well to do their townsman honor, howbeit +they did not know that he had tumbled about +in their gutters and straggled about their streets +up almost to the verge of young manhood. +Theodore had felt many misgivings since that +day when he suddenly and almost unexpectedly +to himself pledged his word to address an Albany +audience on this evening; but he had +three things to assist him. First, he was thoroughly +and terribly in earnest; secondly, he +was entirely posted on all the arguments for +and against this mammoth subject of temperance—he +had studied it carefully and diligently; +and, finally, he always grew so tremendously +indignant and sarcastic over the +monstrous wrong, and the ridiculous and in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_365" id="Page_365">[365]</a></span>consistent +opinions held by the masses, that in +ten minutes after he commenced talking about +it he would have forgotten his audience in his +massive subject, even though the President and +his Cabinet had been among them. So on this +particular evening, his blood roused to the boiling +point through brooding over the wrongs +that had come to him by the help of this fiend, +he spoke as he had no idea that he <i>could</i> speak. +Had Mr. Stephens been one of his auditors his +face might have glowed with pride over his +protege. Had Mr. Birge been present to listen +to the eloquent appeal his heart might have +thanked God that the little yellow-haired boy +who stood in solemn awe and took in the +meaning of his mother's only prayer, had lived +to answer it so fully and grandly in the city of +his birth.</div> + +<p>After the address there was a pledge circulated. +Theodore was the first to write his name +in bold, firm letters, and he remarked to the +chairman as he wrote: "This is the fifteenth +pledge that I have signed. I am prouder every +time I write my name in one." There were +many signers that evening, among them several +whose tottering steps had to be steadied as they +came forward. Then presently there came a +pretty girl, leading with gentle hand the trembling +form of an old man; both faces looked<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_366" id="Page_366">[366]</a></span> +somewhat familiar to Theodore, yet he could +not locate them.</p> + +<p>"Who are those two?" he said, as the little +girlish white hand steadied the feeble fingers of +the old man.</p> + +<p>"That is an interesting case. The girl has +been the salvation of the old man; he is her +grandfather. They belonged to a miserable set, +the lowest of the low, but there seemed to be +something more than human about the child. +Her father was killed in a drunken broil, and +her mother lay drunk at the time, and died +soon after; but she clung to this old man, followed +him everywhere, even to rum holes. She +got mixed in with a mission Sabbath-school +about that time, started down in that vile region +where she lived; that was a great thing, too; it +was sustained principally by an earnest young +man by the name of Birge—and, by the way, I +have heard that he has since become a minister +and is preaching in Cleveland."</p> + +<p>"He is my pastor," answered Theodore, while +his eyes sparkled.</p> + +<p>"Is it possible! Well, now, if that isn't a +remarkable coincidence!"</p> + +<p>Theodore knew of some more coincidences +quite as remarkable, but he only said:</p> + +<p>"And what further about this child?"</p> + +<p>"Why, I really think she became a Christian,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_367" id="Page_367">[367]</a></span> +then and there, young as she was—not more +than five or six. After that she followed up her +grandfather more closely than ever. People +have seen her kneel right down in the street, +and ask God to 'make grandpa come home +with her right away.' The old man gave up his +rum after a time, though no one ever thought +he would. He has since been converted, and +they two are the most active temperance reformers +that we have in the city. They are +at every meeting, and are constantly signing +pledges and leading up others to do so."</p> + +<p>"What are their names?"</p> + +<p>"He is Grandfather Potter—used to be +known as 'old Toper Potter;' and she is known +throughout the city as 'Little Kitty McKay.'"</p> + +<p>"Why! she lived—" exclaimed Theodore; +then he stopped. What possible use could +there be in telling the chairman of this great +meeting that "little Kitty McKay" lived in the +attic of a certain house on Rensselaer Street at +the same time that he lived in the basement; +that her father was killed on the same night in +which his mother died, and that in consequence +of the fight and the murder, both of which took +place in his father's rum cellar, he and his father +had hurriedly decamped in the night, and wandered +aimlessly for two years, thereby missing +Mr. Birge's little mission school?<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_368" id="Page_368">[368]</a></span></p> + +<p>"What did you say, sir?" said the chairman, +bending deferentially toward the distinguished +orator of the evening.</p> + +<p>"She lived in Albany during this time, did +you say?"</p> + +<p>"Oh yes, sir; she has never been out of this +city."</p> + +<p>And then, leaving the chairman to wonder +what that could possibly have to do with the +subject, Theodore bent eagerly forward. Two +men were taking slow steps down the central +aisle, trying to urge on the irresolute steps of +the third—and the third one was Jerry! They +were trying to get him forward to the pledge +table. Would they succeed? It looked extremely +doubtful. Jerry was shaking his head +in answer to their low entreaties, and trying to +turn back. Theodore arose suddenly, ran lightly +down the steps, and advanced to his side.</p> + +<p>"Jerry," he said, in distinct, low tones, "come; +you used to be a good friend of mine, and I +want you to do a good turn for me now, and +sign this pledge."</p> + +<p>Jerry turned bleared, rum-weakened eyes on +him, and said in a thick, wondering voice:</p> + +<p>"Who the dickens be you?"</p> + +<p>"I'm an old friend of yours. Don't you +know me? I used to be Tode Mall. Don't +you remember? Come, take my arm; you<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_369" id="Page_369">[369]</a></span> +and I have walked arm in arm down Broadway +many a time; let us walk together now down +this aisle and sign the pledge together."</p> + +<p>For all answer Jerry turned astounded eyes +upon the speaker, and muttered in an under tone:</p> + +<p>"You be hanged! 'Tain't no such—yes, 'tis—no +'tain't—'tis, too—them's his eyes and his +nose! I'll be shot if it ain't Tode Mall himself!"</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Theodore, "I'm myself positively, +and I want you to come with me and sign +that pledge. I signed it years ago, and with +God's help it has made a man of me. It will +help you, Jerry. Come."</p> + +<p>Great was the rustle of excitement in the hall +as the notorious Jerry presently moved down +the aisle leaning on the arm of the orator, and +it began to be whispered through the crowd +that he was once a resident of Albany, and actually +a friend of that "dreadful Jerry Collins!" +Many and wild were the surmises concerning +him; but Theodore, all unconscious and indifferent, +glowed with thankful pride as he steadied +the pen in the trembling hand, and saw +poor Jerry's name fairly written under the solemn +pledge. On the morrow the eager search +for the missing father was continued, aided by +Jerry and by several others as it gradually began +to dawn upon their minds who the father +was, and who and what the son had become.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_370" id="Page_370">[370]</a></span> +Utterly in vain! Had the earth on some dark +night opened suddenly and silently and swallowed +him, he could not, it would seem, have +passed more utterly from mortal knowledge +than he had. As the search grew more fruitless +Theodore's anxiety deepened. He prayed +and mourned over that lost father, and it was +with an unutterably sad heart that he finally +dropped as a worthless straw the last seeming +clew and gave him up.</p> + +<p>There was one other sacred duty to perform. +When the orphan son left Albany one winter +morning there stood in one of the marble shops +of the city, ready to be set up with the first +breath of spring, a plain and simple tombstone +bearing for record only these two words, "Dear +Mother," and underneath this seemingly inappropriate +inscription, understood only by himself, +"Before they call I will answer, and while +they are yet speaking I will hear." The day +was unusually cold in which Theodore, on his +homeward journey, was delayed at a quiet little +town. The Express train, due at three o'clock, +had been telegraphed three hours behind time, +and he took his way somewhat disconsolately to +a dingy little hotel to pass the intervening hours +as best he might. "Strange!" he muttered +drearily, "that I should have been delayed just +here, only forty miles from home, with not a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_371" id="Page_371">[371]</a></span> +single earthly object of interest to help pass the +hours away." He went forward to the forlorn +little parlor, where a few sticks of wet wood +were sizzling and smoking, and vainly trying to +burn in a little monster of a stove over in one +corner. Theodore flung himself into a seat in +front of this attempt at a fire, kept his overcoat +on for the sake of warmth, and looked about +him for some entertainment. He found it +promptly. Thrown over the back of a chair +in the opposite corner was a great fur overcoat, +with a brilliant red lining, and an unmistakable +something about it that distinguished it from all +other overcoats in the world. Theodore knew +at a glance that it belonged to Mr. Hastings. +He started up and went toward it, smiling and +saying within himself: "Is this furry creature +my good or evil genius, this time, I wonder?" +Then he went out to the horrible bar-room to +make inquiries. The clerk knew nothing about +Mr. Hastings; had never heard his name as he +knew of. There was a man there, a stranger—had +been for two days; he was sick, and +they had put him to bed, and they were doing +what they could for him. He had seemed +unable to give his name or his residence. Paralysis, +or something of that sort, he believed +the doctor called it. It had begun with a kind +of a fit. Yes, that fur overcoat belonged to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_372" id="Page_372">[372]</a></span> +him. Theodore requested to be shown immediately +to the stranger's room. Alone, helpless, +speechless, in the dingiest and most comfortless +of rooms, he found Mr. Hastings! He +went forward with eager, pitying haste, and +spoke to the poor man—no answer, only a pitiful +contortion of the face, and a hopeless attempt +to raise the useless hand. Clearly there +was work enough for the next three hours! +With the promptness, not only natural in him, +but added to by long habit, Theodore went to +work. Under his orders the room assumed very +speedily a different aspect; the attending physician +was sent for and consulted with; he was a +dull little man, but appeared to know enough to +say that he didn't know what to do for the sick +man. "It was a curious case; he had never +seen its like before."</p> + +<p>"Then why haven't you telegraphed for his +own physician and friends?" questioned Theodore, +indignantly.</p> + +<p>"Why, bless your heart, sir!" exclaimed the +proprietor of the hotel, "where would you have +us telegraph, and to whom? He came here +and fell down in a fit, and hasn't spoken since; +and he had no baggage nor papers about him, +so far as I can find, for it was precious little he +would let me look. I assure you we have done +our best," he added, in an injured tone.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_373" id="Page_373">[373]</a></span></p> + +<p>Theodore apologised for his suspicious words; +and failing to get even a nod from the sick man, +to show that he understood his eager questions, +acted on his own responsibility, and made all +haste to the telegraph office. There he dispatched +separate messages to Mrs. Hastings +and Pliny, adding to Pliny's the words, "Bring +a doctor." To Mr. Stephens he said, "Unavoidably +detained." Then one, utterly on his +own private responsibility, to Dr. Arnold, "Will +you come to C—— by first train? A case of +life and death." After that there was nothing +to do but wait. Another sick-bed! Theodore +sat down beside it in solemn wonderment over +the incidents, many and varied, that were constantly +bringing him in contact with this man +and his family. The great troubled eyes of the +sick man followed his every movement, and he +could not resist the impression that at last they +seemed to recognize him and take in some +thought of hope. It seemed terrible, this living +death, this unutterable silence, and yet those +staring eyes, he did not know whether it was a +hopeful indication or otherwise, but at last +they closed and the sufferer seemed to sleep +heavily. Wearily passed the hours; he chose +not to leave his charge to meet the two o'clock +train, but sent a carriage and waited in nervous +torture for the whistle of the train. At last<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_374" id="Page_374">[374]</a></span> +there was a sound of arrival, and eager voices +of inquiry below. He left in charge the stupid +little doctor, who was doing his utmost to keep +awake, and went down stairs. They were all +there, frightened and inquiring—Mrs. Hastings, +Dora, Pliny, and, oh joy! Dr. Arnold himself! +Theodore threw open the door of the dingy +parlor.</p> + +<p>"Come in, please all of you," he said, in a +tone of gentle authority; "and be as quiet as +possible." Nevertheless they all talked at once.</p> + +<p>"Is it a fever?" Mrs. Hastings asked, shivering +and cowering in a frightened way over the +wretch of a stove.</p> + +<p>"What is it, Mallery?" Pliny asked in the +same breath; while even the taciturn doctor +questioned, "What is the meaning of my imperative +summons?"</p> + +<p>For them all Theodore had prompt answers.</p> + +<p>"No, madam"—to Mrs. Hastings—"Not a +fever, I think. Pliny, I hardly know what it is—the +doctor in attendance seems equally ignorant. +Dr. Arnold, if you will come with me, +and these friends will wait a few moments, perhaps +I can bring them an encouraging report."</p> + +<p>In this commotion only Dora kept white, silent +lips, nerved herself as best she could for +whatever this night was to bring forth, and +waited. Theodore could not resist going over<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_375" id="Page_375">[375]</a></span> +to her for an instant. She turned quickly to +him, and laid a small quivering hand on his +arm—</p> + +<p>"Mr. Mallery, I know <i>you</i> will tell me <i>the +truth!</i>"</p> + +<p>"The <i>entire</i> truth, Miss Dora, just as soon +as I know it. I do not know how much the +danger is; yet, meantime, flee to the Strong for +strength. Will you come, Dr. Arnold?"</p> + +<p>Pliny followed, and the three moved silently +up to the quiet chamber. Dr. Arnold stood +quietly before the sleeper—felt his pulse, bent +his head and listened to the beating heart, +touched with practiced fingers the swollen veins +in his temples, then stood up and turned toward +the waiting gentlemen.</p> + +<p>"Well, doctor?" said Theodore, with nervous +impatience, while Pliny fairly held his breath to +hear the answer; it came distinct and firm from +the doctor's lips—not harshly, but with terrible +truthfulness:</p> + +<p>"He is entirely beyond human aid, Mr. Mallery!"</p> + +<p>Then the room seemed to Pliny suddenly to +reel and pitch forward, and both doctors were +busy, not with the father, but the son.</p> + +<p>What a fearful night it was! Pliny's shattered +nervous system was not strong enough to +endure the shock. Mrs. Hastings went from<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_376" id="Page_376">[376]</a></span> +one fainting fit to another, with wild shrieks of +anguish between—but all sound that escaped +Dora, when Theodore gently and tenderly told +her "<i>the</i> truth," was, "Oh, God, have mercy!" +and the rest of that night she spent at her father's +bedside, on her knees.</p> + +<p>It was high noon before his heavy slumber +changed to that unending sleep, but the change +came—without word or sound or the quiver of +a muscle—suddenly, touched by its Maker's +hand, the busy heart <i>stopped</i>.</p> + +<p>"Can you get through the rest of this fearful +scene without me?" Dr. Arnold asked in +the afternoon when all was over. "I must go +home. I have had three telegrams this morning. +Dr. Armitage is ill again, and his wife has +sent for me. I will try to make all arrangements +for you in the city, if you think you can +get along."</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Theodore, "I can manage. Pliny +is up again, you know. But, doctor, tell me +what this sickness was. What was the cause +of the sudden death?"</p> + +<p>"Rum!" said the doctor, in short, stern tones. +"That is, an over-dose of brandy was the immediate +cause of the fit, and the continued use of +stimulants through many years the cause of the +paralysis. It is just another instance of a rum +murder—that's hard language, but it's true<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_377" id="Page_377">[377]</a></span>—and +the son is fearfully predisposed to follow in +his father's footsteps. I fear for him."</p> + +<p>"Pliny has overcome that predisposition at +last, I hope and trust. I think he is safe now."</p> + +<p>"They are never safe, I think sometimes, +until they are in their graves," answered the +doctor, moodily.</p> + +<p>"Or in the 'Everlasting Arms,'" returned +Theodore, reverently. But while this conversation +was in progress, there was a more dangerous +one going on up-stairs. Mrs. Hastings had +recovered from her swoons, but was lying in +a state of semi-exhaustion in her room. She +raised her head languidly as she heard Pliny's +step, and gave her orders for the night.</p> + +<p>"Pliny, you will have to take the room that +opens into this, for the night. I am too nervous +to be left alone. Dora is going to have the +room on the other side of the hall. She doesn't +mind it in the least, she says. I wish I had her +nerves; and, Pliny, I feel that distressing faintness +every few minutes. You may order a bottle +of wine brought up, then pour out a glass +and set it on that light stand by my bedside; +then do try to have the house quiet—the utter +inconsiderateness of some people is surprising!"</p> + +<p>Had Theodore been less occupied, or been at +that moment within hearing, he would have +contrived to have these orders countermanded,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_378" id="Page_378">[378]</a></span> +or at least carried out by some one besides +Pliny; but he was making final arrangements +with the doctor in regard to meeting him on +the next morning's train, so he knew nothing +about that fatal bottle of wine.</p> + +<p>"There is barely time for us to reach the +cars," said Theodore, hurriedly, the next morning, +not turning his head from his valise to look +at the new-comer, but knowing by the step that +it was Pliny.</p> + +<p>"I am sorry that we shall have to hurry your +mother and sister so. How are you feeling? +Did you get any rest last night, my poor fellow?"</p> + +<p>"Feeling like a spinning-wheel going round +backward and tipping over every now and then," +Pliny answered, in a thick, unnatural voice, and +then Theodore let valise and bundle and keys +drop to the floor together, and turned a face +blanched with horror and dismay upon his +friend. There was no disguising the fearful fact—Pliny +had been drinking, and even then did +not know in the least what he was about, or what +was expected from him. Removed by just a +flight of stairs from his father's corpse, having +the charge of his mother on one side, and his +young sister on the other, he yet had forgotten +it all, and lost himself in rum. Poor, wretched +Pliny! Poor Theodore as well! Which way +should he turn? What do or say next? How<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_379" id="Page_379">[379]</a></span> +could he help yielding to utter despair? There +were circumstances about it that he did not +know of; he knew nothing yet about that bottle +of wine, nor how Pliny had trembled before it; +how he had walked his floor and struggled with +the evil spirit; how he had even dropped upon +his knees and tried to pray for strength; how +he had even lain down at last, considering the +tempter vanquished; how it was not until he +was called toward morning to minister to his +mother's needs, and she had said, as she set +down the wine-glass:</p> + +<p>"How deathly pale you look, Pliny! Take +a swallow of wine; it will strengthen you, and +we all need to keep up our strength for this +fearful day. Just try it, dear—I know it will +help you!"</p> + +<p>Then, indeed, had Pliny's courage failed him; +he took the glass from his mother's offering +hand, and drained its contents. After that you +might as soon have tried to chain a tiger with a +silken thread as to save Pliny when once that +awful appetite had been again aroused. Wine +was as nothing to him, but he was in a regularly +licensed hotel, and there was plenty of +liquid fire displayed in a respectable and proper +manner in the bar-room. Thither he went, +and speedily put himself in such a state that +he whistled and yelled and sang while his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_380" id="Page_380">[380]</a></span> +father's coffin was being carried down stairs.</p> + +<p>Now, what was Theodore to do? He flung +himself into a chair opposite his bed, where +Pliny had just sense enough left to throw himself, +and tried to think. Dora first—this knowledge, +or if that were not possible, at least this +sight, must be spared her. But there was no +time to spare—he resolutely put down the heavy +bitter feelings at his heart, and thought hard +and fast. Then he hastened down stairs. "I +want two carriages instead of one," he said to +the landlord, who long ere this had felt a dawning +of the importance and wealth of this company +that he was entertaining, and was all attention.</p> + +<p>The second carriage was obtained, and Pliny, +with the aid of the little doctor, who had proved +himself kind-hearted and discreet, was gotten +into it.</p> + +<p>"Where is Pliny?" queried Mrs. Hastings, +as, after much trouble and delay, she stood ready +for Theodore's offered arm.</p> + +<p>"He has gone ahead with the baggage," was +Theodore's brief explanation. Then he hurried +them so that there was no time for further questioning, +though Mrs. Hastings found chance to +say that, "It was a very singular arrangement—that +she should suppose his mother and sister +were of more importance than the baggage."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_381" id="Page_381">[381]</a></span> +The train was in when they reached the depot; +but the faithful little doctor had obeyed Theodore's +instructions to the very letter—seating +Pliny in the rear car, and checking baggage and +purchasing tickets for the entire party. When +they were seated and moving, Theodore left the +ladies and sought out Pliny. He occupied a +full seat, and was asleep. With a relieved sigh, +Theodore returned to the mother and daughter—evaded +the questions of the former as best he +could, speaking of headache and faintness, both +of which troubles Pliny undoubtedly had—but +the great truthful eyes of Dora sought for, and +found the truth in his.</p> + +<p>"<i>Don't</i> despair," he said to her, gently, even +while his own heart was heavy with something +very like that feeling. "The Lord knows all +about it. He <i>will not</i> forsake us."</p> + +<p>It was not to be supposed that a car ride of +scarcely two hours would steady poor Pliny's +brain. Theodore had thought of that, and prepared +for saving him any unnecessary disgrace. +McPherson, sitting in the little office back of his +"Temperance House" that morning, saw a boy +approaching with a telegram for him. It read:</p> + +<div class='blockquot3'> +"Meet the 10.20 Express with a <i>close</i> carriage.<br /> +<br /> +<div class='right'> +"<span class="smcap">Theodore Mallery</span>."<br /></div> +</div> + +<p>So, when the train steamed into the depot, +the first person whom Theodore saw was the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_382" id="Page_382">[382]</a></span> +faithful Jim. A few hurried words between +them explained matters, and Pliny was quietly +helped by Jim and Mr. Stephens into the close +carriage and whirled away before Theodore had +possessed himself of all of Mrs. Hastings' extra +shawls and wraps.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 60px;"> +<img src="images/deco3.png" width="60" height="27" alt="Decoration" title="Decoration" /> +</div> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_383" id="Page_383">[383]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XXVIII.</h2> + +<h3>DEATH AND LIFE.</h3> + + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 18px;"> +<img src="images/t.png" width="18" height="55" alt="T" title="T" /> +</div> + +<div class='unindent'><br /><big>HERE</big> had been a grand and solemn funeral. +A long line of splendid coaches +had followed the millionaire to his last resting-place. +Rosewood and silver and velvet and +crape had united to do him honor. Many +stores in the city were closed because Mr. Hastings +had extensive business connections with +them. The hotels were closed because Mr. +Hastings owned three of the largest; the Euclid +House was shuttered and bolted, and long +lines of heavy crape floated from the numerous +doors. Many hats had been uplifted, many +gray heads bared, while the closing words of +the solemn burial service were once more repeated, +and then the mourners had returned to +their places, and the long line of carriages had +swept back, and the city had taken down its +shutters and opened its doors again, and the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_384" id="Page_384">[384]</a></span> +world had rushed onward as before. Only in +that one home—there the desolation tarried. +Through all the trouble and the pain Theodore +had been with them constantly. That first +day he had accompanied them home of necessity, +their rightful protector being still in his +drunken sleep. Arrived there, they needed help +and comfort even more than they had before. +There were friends by the hundreds, but Theodore +could not fail to see that while Mrs. Hastings +appeared incapable of directing, and indeed +very indifferent as to what was done, Dora +turned steadily and constantly to him for advice +and assistance. Pliny was prevailed upon to go +at once to his room, and was very soon asleep. +When the wretched stupor of sleep had worn +itself out upon him, and left the fearful headache +to throb in his temples, Theodore was at his +side, grave and sad and silent, but patient still, +and gentle as a woman. Only a few words +passed between them, Pliny speaking first in a +cold, hard tone.</div> + +<p>"Go away, Mallery, and let me alone—everything +is over. All I ask of you is to send me +a bottle of brandy, and never let me see your +face again."</p> + +<p>Theodore's only answer was to dip his hand +again into cool water, and pass it gently over +the burning temples; then he said:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_385" id="Page_385">[385]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I think it would be well to lie still, Pliny. +They do not need you below at present, and +your head is very hot."</p> + +<p>Pliny pushed feebly with his hand.</p> + +<p>"Go away, Mallery, I can not endure the sight +of you. It is all over, I say. I will never try +again."</p> + +<p>Very quietly and steadily went the firm, cool +hand across his forehead, and the voice that +answered him was quiet and firm.</p> + +<p>"No, I shall <i>not</i> leave you, dear friend, and +all is <i>not</i> over. You are going to try harder +than ever before, and I am <i>never</i> going to give +you up—<span class="smcap">never</span>!"</p> + +<p>Silence for a little, then Pliny said:</p> + +<p>"Then don't leave me, Theodore, not for an +<i>instant</i>, <i>day or night</i>—promise."</p> + +<p>And Theodore, ignoring all the strangeness +of his position, promised, and remained in the +house, the watcher-guard and helper of more +than Pliny.</p> + +<p>Not for an instant did he lose sight of his +friend; through all the trying ordeal of the +following days he was constantly present. Even +in Pliny's private interviews with his mother, +Theodore hovered near, and his was the first +face that Pliny met when he came to the door +to issue any orders. It was Theodore's hand +that held open the carriage door when the son<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_386" id="Page_386">[386]</a></span> +came to follow his father to his final resting-place, +and it was Theodore's arm that was +linked in his when he walked down the hall +on his return.</p> + +<p>These were sad things to Theodore in another +way. Despite all Mr. Hastings' coldness +to him, he had never been able to lose sight of +the memory of those days, now long gone by, +in which the rich man had in a sense been his +protector and friend. He could not forget that +it was through <i>him</i> that his first step upward +had been taken. Aside from his mother, Mr. +Hastings was perhaps the first person for whom +he felt a touch of love. He could not forget +him—could not cease to mourn for him.</p> + +<p>There was, only a week after this, another +funeral. There was no long line of coaches, +and no display of magnificence this time—only +a quiet, slow-moving procession following the +unplumed hearse. Only one store in the city +was closed, and not a hundred people knew for +whom the bell tolled that day; but did ever +truer mourners or more bleeding hearts follow +a coffin to its final resting-place than were those +who gathered around that open grave, and saw +the body of Grandma McPherson laid to rest +for awhile, awaiting the call of the great Maker, +when he should bid it come up to meet its glorified +spirit, and dwell in that wonderful <i>Forever!</i><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_387" id="Page_387">[387]</a></span></p> + +<p>The messenger came suddenly to her, in the +quiet of a moonlight night, when all the household +were asleep; and none who saw her in the +morning, with that blessed look upon her face, +that told of earth receding and heaven coming +in, could doubt but that when in the silent +night she heard the Master whisper, "Come up +higher," she made answer, "Even so, Lord +Jesus."</p> + +<p>So they laid her in the silent city on the hill, +very near the spot where, by and by, there towered +and blazed Mr. Hastings' monument; but +when they set up <i>her</i> white headstone they +marked on it the blessed words: "So he giveth +his beloved sleep."</p> + +<p>But oh, that home left without a mother—the +dear, loving, toiling, patient, self-sacrificing +mother!</p> + +<p>"Dear old lady," were the words in which +Theodore had most often thought of her, and I +find on thinking back that I have constantly +spoken of her thus, but in reality she was not +old at all; her early life of toil and privation +and sorrow had whitened her hair and marked +heavy lines as of age on her face. Her quaint +dress gave added strength to this impression, +and Theodore when he first met her was at that +age when all women in caps and spectacles are +old, so "Grandma" she had always been to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_388" id="Page_388">[388]</a></span> +him, but they only wrote "sixty-three" on her +coffin.</p> + +<p>They were sitting together, Theodore and +Pliny, the first evening they had spent alone +since the changes had come to them. They +were in their pleasant room which must soon +be vacated, for the guiding presence that had +made of them a family was wanting now. They +had not been talking, only the quietest common-places—neither +of them seemed to have words +that they chose to utter. They were sitting in +listless attitudes, each occupying a great arm-chair, +which they called "study-chairs." Theodore +with his hands clasped at the back of his +head, and Pliny with his face half hidden in his +hands. The latter was the first to break the +silence.</p> + +<p>"Mallery, you are <i>such</i> a wonderment to me! +What is there about me that makes you cling +so? I thought it was all over during that awful +time. I don't know how you can help despising +me, but you don't know how it was. +Oh, Theodore, I tried, I struggled, I <i>meant</i> to +keep my promise, and even at such a time as +that the sight of my enemy conquered me. +Now, <i>what</i> am I to do? There is no hope for +me at all. I have no trust, no confidence in +myself."</p> + +<p>"That at least would be hopeful if it were<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_389" id="Page_389">[389]</a></span> +strictly true," Theodore answered, earnestly. +"But, Pliny, it is not <i>quite</i> true. If you utterly +distrusted yourself, <i>so</i> utterly that you would +stop trying to save yourself alone, and accept +the All-powerful Helper's aid, I should be at +rest about you forever."</p> + +<p>Contrary to his usual custom, Pliny had no +answer ready, seemed not in the least inclined +to argue, and so Theodore only dropped a little +sigh and waited. It was not despair with him +during these days—his faith had reached high +ground. "Ask, and ye <i>shall</i> receive," had come +home to him with wonderful force just lately, +while he waited on his knees; he felt that he +should never let go again for a moment. Still +there seemed nothing now for him to do, nothing +but that constant watching and constant +praying; and he had only lately come to realize +how much these two things meant. Presently, +sitting there in the silence, he bethought himself +of Winny in her desolation.</p> + +<p>"Pliny," he said, suddenly, "shall not you +and I go down and try to help poor Winny +endure her loneliness? Do you know she is +utterly alone? Rick's wife is in her room with +the child, and Rick and Jim just went down the +walk together."</p> + +<p>Pliny seemed nothing loth, and the two descended +to the dear little parlor where so many<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_390" id="Page_390">[390]</a></span> +happy hours had been passed. Winny had +turned down the gas to its lowest ebb, and was +curled into a corner of the sofa, giving up to +the form of grief in which she most indulged—utter, +white silence. She sat erect as the two +young men entered, and Theodore turned on +the gas; Pliny took the other corner of the sofa, +and Theodore the chair opposite them. He +looked from one to the other of the white worn +faces. What utter misery was expressed on +both! A great longing came over him to comfort +them. But what comfort could he offer for +such troubles as theirs, save the one thing that +both rejected? He gave voice to his thoughts +almost without intending it, with no other feeling +than that his great pity and desire for them +were beyond his control.</p> + +<p>"How much, <i>how very much</i>, you two people +need the same help! What utter nothingness +any other aid is. I have not the heart to offer +either of you the mockery of human sympathy," +he spoke in gentle, sad tones, and straight +way was startled with himself for speaking at +all. Winny turned her great gray solemn eyes +on her companion in the other corner.</p> + +<p>"Do <i>you</i> feel the need of help?" she asked, +gravely. "Heaven knows I <i>do</i> feel the need of +something I don't possess. I am utterly shipwrecked. +I don't know which way to turn. I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_391" id="Page_391">[391]</a></span> +do, if I only would turn that way. Mother had +help all her life long—help that you and I know +nothing about. Do you doubt that?"</p> + +<p>"No, I <i>don't</i>," answered Pliny, solemnly.</p> + +<p>"Then why can't we have it if we both need +it, and can get it for the asking? Mother prayed +for you as well as for me. The very last night +of her life I heard her. I know what she prayed +for is so. I'm tired of struggling. I've been +at it, Theodore knows, for a great many years. +If mother were here to-night I would say to +her: 'Mother, I'm not going to struggle any +more; I'm going to give myself up,' and that +would make her happy—oh, too happy for +earth. Well, I'm going to, anyway. I'm sick +of myself; I want to get away from myself; I +need help. You've struggled, too; I know by +myself. Suppose we both give up. Suppose +we both kneel down here this minute, and say +that we are tired of ourselves, and ashamed of +ourselves and we want Christ. Theodore will +say it for us. Will you do it, Mr. Hastings?"</p> + +<p>She had spoken rapidly and with the same +energy that characterized all her words, but +with solemn earnestness. Pliny bowed his head +on his two hands, while utter silence reigned; +and Theodore, wonder-struck over the turn +that the conversation had taken, yet had breath +enough left to say<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_392" id="Page_392">[392]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Lord Jesus, help them, help them. Oh, remember +Calvary and the 'many mansions,' and +help them both. Let the decision be now." +This prayer he repeated and re-repeated. Then +suddenly Pliny arose.</p> + +<p>"If ever any one on earth needed help and +strength it is I," he said, hoarsely. "Yes, I <i>want</i> +to give up if I can," and he dropped upon his +knees.</p> + +<p>In an instant Winny was kneeling, and Theodore's +whole soul was being poured out in +prayer for those two. A moment and then +Pliny, in low, hoarse voice said:</p> + +<p>"Lord, help me; I am sinking in deep waters." +And Winny added: "Savior of my +mother, I am sick of sin; take me out of myself +and into thee."</p> + +<p>When they arose Theodore stole quietly from +the room and left them alone. He went up +to his own closet and prayed such prayer of +thanksgiving as was recorded in heaven that +night, and the angels around the throne had +great joy.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>Not yet were the shocks and changes coming +to these households over. Not two weeks had +the millionaire been sleeping his last sleep, +when there burst like a bombshell on the business +world the startling news that his millions<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_393" id="Page_393">[393]</a></span> +had vanished into vapor, or perhaps it would be +speaking more properly to say into poison. +Strange, wild speculations, that the acute, far-sighted +business man would never have touched +for a moment had he been himself, had been +entered into while his brain was struggling with +the fumes of brandy. Notes had been signed, +sales had been made and debts contracted upon +an enormous scale; in short, the whole business +was in a bewildering entanglement.</p> + +<p>"There won't be five thousand dollars left +out of the whole immense property," said Edgar +Ryan, one of the lawyers in charge, at the +close of a confidential conversation with Theodore, +and Theodore, like the rest of the world, +stood for a little stunned and aghast over this +new calamity.</p> + +<p>"I never saw such a tangle in all my days," +continued Ryan, earnestly. "The amount of +property shipwrecked is almost incredible. The +man was never intoxicated in his life, and yet it +may be truthfully said of him that he has let +rum swallow all his millions. I tell you, Mallery, +you and Habakkuk were undoubtedly correct."</p> + +<p>Theodore turned and walked soberly and wearily +away. He had not the heart just then to +smile over the memory of anything. There +followed weary, anxious, harassing days—days<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_394" id="Page_394">[394]</a></span> +in which Pliny remained doggedly behind the +counter, and Theodore almost entirely ignored +the store, and gave himself up to following the +footsteps of appraisers and auctioneers and policemen, +and in trying to shield Mrs. Hastings +and Dora, for the red flag floated out from the +grand mansion proudly known for years as +Hastings' Hall. Oh change! Can anything in +all time be compared in swiftness and sharpness +and terror to that monster who swoops down +upon our hearts and homes, and almost in the +twinkling of an eye leaves them desolate? Oh +heaven! With all its glories and its joys, can +anything in all the bright description equal in +peace and rest and comfort that one precious +sentence which admits of no thought of change: +"And they shall reign forever and ever?"</p> + +<p>There were plans innumerable to be made and +acted upon. Rick and his wife had gone back +ere this to their Western home. Winny had +steadily refused their urgent petitions to accompany +them, and worked faithfully on in her honored +position in one of the great graded schools. +She and Jim had taken board together in a quiet +house as far removed from the dear old home +as possible. Mrs. Hastings had promptly accepted +the invitation of her husband's brother +in Chicago. The invitation had also been extended +to Dora, and she had as promptly de<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_395" id="Page_395">[395]</a></span>clined +it. Her strong, independent nature asserted +itself here. She would not go to live +a dependent in her uncle's home. She would +not teach music, for which she pronounced herself +unfitted by nature and education; but she +would take the boys' room next to Winny's +in the aforesaid graded school, and share the +quiet little room in the boarding house, whither +Winny had carried many of her household treasures.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>It was all settled at last, and when Mrs. Hastings +was ticketed and checked for Chicago under +the escort of one of the firm who was going +thither, and the young ladies were quietly +domiciled in their new and pleasant room, Pliny +and Theodore came to the first breathing place +they had found for many a day, and felt absolutely +forlorn and disconsolate. They were together +in the store, the last clerk had departed, +and their loneliness only served to add to their +sense of gloom.</p> + +<p>"Well," said Pliny, closing the ledger with a +heavy sigh, "if we had a local habitation we'd +go to it now, wouldn't we?"</p> + +<p>"Probably," answered Theodore, drumming +on the counter with his fingers. "Where <i>are</i> +we going to live, Pliny, anyway?"</p> + +<p>"More than I know," was Pliny's gloomy<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_396" id="Page_396">[396]</a></span> +answer. "In the street for all I seem to care +just at present."</p> + +<p>And then the office door clicked behind them, +and Mr. Stephens appeared.</p> + +<p>"I thought you were gone, sir," said Pliny, +rising in surprise.</p> + +<p>"No, I was waiting your movements. Come, +young gentlemen, I want you both to come +home with me. There is no use in remonstrating, +my boy," he added, laying his hand on +Theodore's shoulder, as the latter would have +spoken. "I have had your and Pliny's rooms +ready for you this week past, and have only +waited until you were at leisure to take possession. +I keep bachelor's hall, you know, and if +ever a man needed something new and fresh +about him I do. So do as I want you to for +once, just to see how it will seem."</p> + +<p>There was much talk about the matter, argument +and counter argument; but in the end Mr. +Stephens prevailed, as in reality he generally +did, when he set his heart upon a thing, despite +his statements that Theodore kept him under +complete control. Before another week closed +the two young men were cozily settled in their +new quarters, and really feeling as much at home +as though half their lives had been spent there.</p> + +<p>There was one other matter which came to +Theodore as a source of great satisfaction.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_397" id="Page_397">[397]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Mallery," Mr. Stephens had said to him one +morning when they were quite alone in the private +office, "have you any special interest in the +Hastings' place?"</p> + +<p>Theodore hesitated a little, and then answered +frankly enough:</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir, I certainly have. There are many +associations connected with that house that will +always endear it to me."</p> + +<p>"Then you may be interested to know that I +have become the purchaser of it; and if at any +time, for any reason, you should wish to make +special disposition of it, it shall always be in a +state to await your orders. Real estate is valuable +property, and as good a way as any in +which to dispose of surplus funds."</p> + +<p>Theodore came out from behind the screen to +try to offer some word of thanks, but Mr. Stephens +had pushed open the green baize door +and vanished.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 75px;"> +<img src="images/deco4.png" width="75" height="36" alt="Decoration" title="Decoration" /> +</div> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_398" id="Page_398">[398]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XXIX.</h2> + +<h3>SOME MORE BABIES.</h3> + + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 28px;"> +<img src="images/m.png" width="28" height="55" alt="M" title="M" /> +</div> + +<div class='unindent'><br /><big>RS. JENKINS'</big> Tommy stood on the sidewalk +in front of the store, in a nicely fitting +new suit, white vest and kid gloves. +It was not yet the middle of the afternoon, but +the great store was closed and shuttered and +barred. A gentleman came briskly down the +street and halted before the young man, with a +surprised look on his face as he questioned:</div> + +<p>"How now, Tommy, what's to pay? It isn't +possible your firm has failed and foreclosed? +What are you all bolted and barred at this time +of day for?"</p> + +<p>Tommy arched his eyebrows.</p> + +<p>"Have you been out of town, sir?" he asked, +in a tone which plainly said, "It isn't possible +that you've been <i>in</i> town and not heard the +cause of this closed store?"</p> + +<p>"Just so," answered the good-natured gentle<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_399" id="Page_399">[399]</a></span>man. +"I've been West, and I want to see +Messrs. Stephens and Mallery in a twinkling."</p> + +<p>"Can't do it," said Tommy, promptly, and +with the air of a policeman. "They are otherwise +engaged, both of them—all three of +them, I may say. Mr. Hastings is in it, too. +There's been a double wedding. Haven't you +heard of it, sir?"</p> + +<p>"Not a word," answered his listener, with +commendable gravity. "They've been as whist +as mice. Tell us all about it."</p> + +<p>"Well, sir, it was to-day at twelve o'clock, in +the First Church—Dr. Birge's, you know. He +married 'em. Splendid ceremony, too! and they +looked—well, they all looked just grand, I tell +you!"</p> + +<p>"Don't doubt it in the least, Tommy, but who +the mischief were they?"</p> + +<p>"Why, Mr. Mallery and Miss Hastings, and +Mr. Hastings and Miss Winny McPherson, and +they're both of our firm, you know; at least +Mr. Hastings he's our confidential clerk now, +and we all say that he'll be partner one of these +days, as sure as guns. We all went to the wedding, +every one of us, cash boys and all; then +we all went to Mr. Stephens', and had just the +grandest kind of a dinner with the brides and +grooms. And Dr. Birge and Mr. Ryan they +toasted them."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_400" id="Page_400">[400]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Wine or brandy?" interposed the gentleman, +slily.</p> + +<p>"Neither!" answered indignant Tommy, with +flashing eyes and glowing cheeks. "They had +pure water, ice water. They don't have any +wine or brandy in that house nor in our firm, I +can tell you, sir."</p> + +<p>"Good for you, Tommy—stand up for your +principles. Well, what came next after you +were all toasted and ice-watered? Is Mrs. Hastings, +senior, in town? Dear me, how long is it +since she went away?"</p> + +<p>"It's pretty near three years. No, she isn't +in town. She's in feeble health, and they're +going out there to Chicago to see her, the whole +tribe of them. They take the four o'clock Express, +and we're all going to the cars with them, +about a dozen carriages. It's time they were on +hand, too. I had to come down to the store after +a package that was left here, and there they are +this minute; and so you see, sir, you can't see +either Mr. Stephens or Mr. Mallery in a twinkling. +I ride in the eighth carriage." And at +this point Tommy's shining boots bounded +away.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>After the visit to Chicago was concluded, +interspersed by several pleasant side trips, the +bridal party separated one bright June morning<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_401" id="Page_401">[401]</a></span> +at the Cleveland depot, Pliny and his wife preparing +to settle down in their new home, while +Mr. and Mrs. Mallery went on to New York. +Theodore had been there perhaps a dozen times +since he took that first surreptitious trip with +Mr. Hastings, but in these visits he had always +been a hurried business man, with little leisure +or taste for retrospect. Now, however, it was +different, and traversing the streets with his wife +leaning on his arm, he had a fancy for going +backward, and painting pictures from the past +for her amusement. The hotel to which he had +escorted Mr. Hastings on that day had advanced +with the advancing tide, and was just now in +the very zenith of its prosperity. Thither he +found his way, and led Dora up the broad steps +and down the splendid halls, and finally booked +his name, "Theodore S. Mallery and wife," and +tried in vain, while he issued his orders with the +air of one long accustomed to the giving of orders, +to conceive of himself and that ridiculous +little wretch who squeezed in among the gentlemen +on that long ago morning to discover, +if perchance he could, what his traveling companion's +name might be, as one and the same.</p> + +<p>"Now, I am going to show you some of the +wretchedness that abounds in this elegant city," +he said to his wife one morning as he dismissed +the carriage after an hour's exciting drive, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_402" id="Page_402">[402]</a></span> +proposed a walk. "It is a remarkable city in that +respect. I am never struck with the two extremes +of humanity as I am when in New +York."</p> + +<p>"I was thinking only this morning," Dora +answered, "how very few wretched people I had +met in the streets."</p> + +<p>"Wait a bit; see if in ten minutes from this +time you are not almost led to conclude that +there is nothing left in this world but wretchedness +and filth and abomination."</p> + +<p>They turned suddenly around the corner of +a pleasant street, and as if they were among +the shifting scenes of a panorama, the entire +foreground had changed. Wretchedness! that +word no more described the horrors of their surroundings +than could any other that came to +Dora's mind. The scene beggared description. +"Swarms of horrors!" she called them in +speaking of the people afterward. Just now +she clung silent and half frightened to her husband's +arm. He, too, became silent, and appeared +occupied solely in guarding his wife +and shielding her from disagreeable collisions. +Suddenly he uttered an exclamation of delight:</p> + +<p>"Look, Dora! this is the building of which +I have read but have never seen. I have not +had time to come so far down before this. Can<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_403" id="Page_403">[403]</a></span> +you imagine a more delightful oasis in this desert +of filth and pollution?"</p> + +<p>There it stood, the great, <i>clean</i>, splendid building! +towering above its vile and rickety neighbors. +And in bright, clear letters, that seemed +to Theodore to be written in diamonds, gleamed +the name; far down the street it caught the eye, +"Home for Little Wanderers."</p> + +<p>Dora looked and smiled and caught her +breath, and then the tears dropped one by one +on her husband's sleeve. It almost seemed like +the voice of an angel speaking to the world +from out of that moral darkness.</p> + +<p>"Oh, if I had known that day when I was in +New York of such a spot as this in all the +world, what a different world it would have +looked to me. The idea that there could be a +home <i>anywhere</i> in all the universe, or beyond it, +for such as I had never occurred to me." Theodore +spoke in low, earnest tones, full of deep +and solemn feeling.</p> + +<p>"But, Theodore," said Dora, gently, "if you +<i>had</i> known of this home, or any like it, and +gone thither instead of to Cleveland on that +day, where would you have been now, and what +would have become of me?"</p> + +<p>Theodore smiled down on his fair young +bride, and drew the hand that rested on his arm +a little closer as he answered:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_404" id="Page_404">[404]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I am quite content, my darling. I am not +complaining of the guiding Hand that led me +home. I have surely reason to be utterly and +entirely satisfied with my lot in life; but there +are not many boys such as I was who find +little blue-eyed maidens to bring precious little +Bible cards to them, and so write lessons on +their hearts that will tell for all time—yes, and +for all eternity."</p> + +<p>"There are not many Dr. Birges and Mr. +Stephenses," said Dora, emphatically. And Theodore's +response was quite as emphatic:</p> + +<p>"Very few indeed! If there were only <i>more</i>. +But, Dora, isn't it a grand enterprise? Let us +go in. I have always intended to go through +the mission; but, you see, I waited for <i>you</i>."</p> + +<p>They went up the broad, pleasant flight of +steps. The children, hundreds of them, were at +dinner. Such an array of clean, and, for the +most part, pleasant faces! Such a wonderful +dinner as it must have been to them! Dora's +face glowed and her eyes sparkled as she +watched them. Then they all went together to +the great, light, pleasant chapel, with its hanging +baskets, and its white flower urns, and its +creeping vines, and fragrant blossoms; its grand +piano on the platform as perfect in finish and as +sweet of tone as if it were designed to chime +with the voices of more favored childhood.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_405" id="Page_405">[405]</a></span> +Dora's bright eye took in the scene in all its details +with great delight and satisfaction, but she +did not feel the solemn undertone of thanksgiving +that rang in Theodore's heart. How could +she? What did she know in detail of the contrast +between the present and the past lives of +these children? And who knew better than +he the awful scenes from which they had been +rescued! How they marched to the sound of +the quickstepping music! How their voices +rang out in songs such as the angels might +have loved to join! It was a sort of jubilee +day with them, and there were many visitors +and many speeches, and much entertainment. +As he looked and listened, Theodore +had constantly to brush away the starting tears. +Presently Mr. Foote came with brisk step and +smiling face toward the spot where Theodore +and his wife were sitting.</p> + +<p>"You are interested in the children, I know, +sir," he said, confidently. "Come forward +please, and give us a brief speech. The children +will like to hear one who shows his love +for them beaming in his face."</p> + +<p>Theodore answered promptly:</p> + +<p>"No, sir, I will not detain them; they have +had speeches enough. Besides, my heart is +quite too full for talking." At the same time +he arose. "I would like to write my speech,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_406" id="Page_406">[406]</a></span> +though, if you please, sir. Have you pen and +ink convenient?" And he went forward with +the leader to the desk. A few quick dashes of +the pen over a blank from his check-book, and +he stood pledged for five hundred dollars for +"Howard Mission."</p> + +<p>"How much I have to thank Dr. Birge for +preaching that glorious sermon on the 'tenths,' +and dear grandma for teaching me with her +white buttons the meaning of the same," he said +to Dora as they made their way out from that +beautiful haven into the reeking street. "How +every single impulse for good counts back to +some influence touched long ago by an unconscious +hand! I wonder if the Christian world +has an idea of what it is doing?"</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>They tarried but a few hours in Albany, long +enough to visit that quiet grave with its simple +tribute, "Dear Mother." And there again came +to Theodore's heart sad memories of his father. +Oh, if his body <i>only</i> lay there in quiet rest underneath +those grasses; if he could have the +privilege of setting up <i>his</i> headstone, and marking +it with a word of respectful memory; if he +could have but the <i>faint hope</i> of a meeting place +for them all in that city beyond, what more +could he ask in life? And yet who could tell? +Perhaps it was even so; perhaps there had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_407" id="Page_407">[407]</a></span> +come even to his father an eleventh hour? The +"arm of the Lord was not shortened" that it +could not save where and when and how he +would. And there had been prayers, constant +and fervent, sent up for him; and perhaps the +eleventh hour was yet to come; he might be +still in this world of hope. Theodore's heart +swelled at the thought.</p> + +<p>"My darling," he said, turning toward the +young face looking up to his, and full of tender +sympathy, "he may be living yet—my poor father, +you know. We will never cease to pray +that if he is still on earth God will have mercy. +We will pray together, will we not?"</p> + +<p>And then both remembered that other father, +about whose grave June roses were blossoming +to-day, for whom they could pray nevermore; +and so though she laid her hand in his in token +of sympathy, she made no answer on account +of fast falling tears.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>"For our <i>own</i> room, Dora, in lieu of many +pictures let us have some of these exquisite +illuminated texts. I like them <i>so</i> much; and +we can never tell how much good they may do +a servant or a chance passer through. There +are some in particular that I want to select." +This Theodore said to his wife as they stood together +in a picture store.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_408" id="Page_408">[408]</a></span></p> + +<p>"There! I want that one above all others," +and he held it up for her admiration. It <i>was</i> a +beauty; the letters were exquisitely formed, and +the words were: "The eyes of the Lord are in +every place, beholding the evil and the good." +Then they chose, "Peace be to this house"—this +for the hall. And another favorite, "Hitherto +hath the Lord helped us."</p> + +<p>"This is yours, Dora," Theodore said, presently, +laying before her a delicately shaded sentence +on tinted board, "The Lord bless thee +and keep thee." And she smilingly answered: +"Then this for you," "He shall keep thee in all +thy ways."</p> + +<p>And so their homes were filled with lessons +from the great guide-book, speaking silently on +every hand.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>It might have been something like three years +after this date that the Buffalo Express was behind +time one day. Pliny Hastings was at the +depot in a state of impatient waiting. I do not +know that it occurred to him that he had been +in precisely that spot and condition one evening +years ago. The whistle of the train rang out +at last, and Pliny stepped back near the restive +horses, ready for emergencies. He swung open +the carriage door as Theodore Mallery advanced +from the train.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_409" id="Page_409">[409]</a></span></p> + +<p>"You're a pretty man to be late <i>to-day</i> of all +days in the world," was Pliny's greeting, in a +sort of good-humoredly impatient tone.</p> + +<p>"Scold the engineer, not me," responded Theodore, +in the same manner. "I fretted inwardly +all the way from C——. All well at home?"</p> + +<p>And then the two gentlemen entered the +carriage, Theodore waiting to give the order, +"Home, Jacob." And he had not a thought of +the ill-favored urchin who had once tumbled up +on the driver's seat of a carriage similar to this +one, and peered down curiously at the boy Pliny +inside. He even did not remember that he +made a resolution to become the driver some +day of a pair of horses like those behind which +he was luxuriously riding, so utterly do we +grow away from our intentions and ambitions.</p> + +<p>The carriage swept around the fine old curve +and stopped at the side door of Hastings' Hall +that was. The place had a familiar look, but +the present inmates disliked the old aristocratic +sounding name, and in view of the wide green +lawn and the noble shade trees had named it +simply "Elm Lawn." Dinner was waiting for +the master of the house, and it was a birthday +dinner, too, in honor of the first anniversary of +that great day to another heir of the grand old +house. He was sleeping now, tucked into a +great easy chair, while his lace-curtained crib<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_410" id="Page_410">[410]</a></span> +was given up to a younger, tinier baby, who +sucked his thumb and did <i>not</i> sleep. Both babies +frowned and choked and sneezed over their +respective father's kisses or whiskers, or both. +Both appeared in all their glory at the dinner +table; and all the bright happy company were +in blissful ignorance of a scene so nearly similar +that had occurred when the supposed young +heir of Hastings' Hall reached the close of his +first year. Yet this <i>was</i> different, for Mr. Stephens +asked a blessing on this bright glad +scene, and Dr. Birge returned thanks for the +joy and beauty of the day, and the health and +hopes of these two babies were remembered in +glasses of sparkling water.</p> + +<p>And the supposed heir of other days was the +fond proud father of the precious crowing bundle +now pulling at his beard. What cared he +for Hastings' Hall? It was a fine old place +enough, and he had enjoyed coming there every +day of his life; but his own bright home was +just around the corner, and contained more life +and joy and beauty than did all Cleveland. So +he thought.</p> + +<p>"What have you named your babies?" questioned +a chance caller.</p> + +<p>"This is Master Pliny Hastings Mallery at +your service," responded Theodore, tossing his +boy aloft until he tried to reach the ceiling and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_411" id="Page_411">[411]</a></span> +yelled with glee. While Winny, after glancing +at her husband's face and noting his moved +look, answered simply: "We call ours Baby +Ben."</p> + +<p>After Dr. and Mrs. Birge, and he who called +himself Grandfather Stephens, had departed, +they went, these two fathers, to the room above, +where the babies cuddled and slept, and the loving +mothers watched and talked. They all +went over and stood by the crib and the easy +chair.</p> + +<p>"Let us have a special celebration of this +day," said Theodore. "Let us consecrate these +two boys anew to the beloved Giver of all our +blessedness."</p> + +<p>Then they all knelt down, each husband encircling +with one arm the form of his honored +wife, and resting the other hand on the forehead +of his darling, and Theodore first, then +Pliny, laid their hearts' dearest treasures at the +feet of their common Lord.</p> + +<p>"We are very happy," Dora said, when +they had risen, still clinging to her husband's +hand.</p> + +<p>"Very happy," answered Theodore, clasping +tenderly the dear true hand. "And it is a happiness +that will continue whatever comes, so +we remain always at the feet of the Master and +keep our treasures there."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_412" id="Page_412">[412]</a></span></p> + +<p>Pliny was looking at the babies, with a face +full of humble tenderness.</p> + +<p>"We have quite given them up to <i>Him</i>," he +said, in an earnest, solemn tone. "Now let us +pray that he will consecrate them <i>peculiarly</i> to +the sacred cause of temperance."</p> + +<p>And Theodore and the two mothers said: +"Amen."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>THE PANSY BOOKS</h2> + +<h3>BY MRS. G. R. ALDEN ("PANSY")</h3> + +<hr style='width: 25%;' /> + +<div class='center'>12mo Cloth $1.50 per volume</div> + +<hr style='width: 25%;' /> + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Pansy Books"> +<tr><td align='left'><b>As in a Mirror</b></td><td align='left'><b>Mag and Margaret</b></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><b>Aunt Hannah, Martha, and John</b> </td><td align='left'><b>Making Fate</b></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><b>The Browns at Mt. Hermon</b></td><td align='left'><b>Man of the House</b></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><b>By Way of the Wilderness</b></td><td align='left'><b>Mara</b></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><b>Chautauqua Girls at Home</b></td><td align='left'><b>Mrs. Solomon Smith Looking On</b></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><b>Chrissy's Endeavor</b></td><td align='left'><b>A New Graft on the Family Tree</b></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><b>Christie's Christmas</b></td><td align='left'><b>One Commonplace Day</b></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><b>David Ransom's Watch</b></td><td align='left'><b>Overruled</b></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><b>Doris Farrand's Vocation</b></td><td align='left'><b>Pauline</b></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><b>Eighty-seven</b></td><td align='left'><b>The Pocket Measure</b></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><b>An Endless Chain</b></td><td align='left'><b>The Prince of Peace</b></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><b>Ester Ried</b></td><td align='left'><b>The Randolphs</b></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><b>Ester Ried Yet Speaking</b></td><td align='left'><b>Ruth Erskine's Crosses</b></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><b>Ester Ried's Namesake</b></td><td align='left'><b>Ruth Erskine's Son</b></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><b>Four Girls at Chautauqua</b></td><td align='left'><b>A Seven-fold Trouble</b></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><b>Four Mothers at Chautauqua</b></td><td align='left'><b>Spun from Fact</b></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><b>The Hall in the Grove</b></td><td align='left'><b>Stephen Mitchell's Journey</b></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><b>Her Associate Members</b></td><td align='left'><b>Those Boys</b></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><b>Household Puzzles</b></td><td align='left'><b>Three People</b></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><b>Judge Burnham's Daughters</b></td><td align='left'><b>Tip Lewis and His Lamp</b></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><b>Julia Ried</b></td><td align='left'><b>Twenty Minutes Late</b></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><b>King's Daughter</b></td><td align='left'><b>Unto the End</b></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><b>Links in Rebecca's Life</b></td><td align='left'><b>Wanted</b></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><b>Little Fishers and their Nets</b></td><td align='left'><b>What They Couldn't</b></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><b>The Long Way Home</b></td><td align='left'><b>Wise and Otherwise</b></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><b>Lost on the Trail</b></td><td align='left'><b>Yesterday Framed in To-day</b></td></tr> +</table></div> + + +<div class='center'><br />For sale by all booksellers, or sent postpaid on receipt <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original text omits this word">of</ins> +price by the publishers</div> + +<h3>LOTHROP, LEE & SHEPARD CO., Boston</h3> + + + +<div class='bbox'> +<h3><a name="THE" id="THE"></a>THE</h3> +<h2>FAMOUS PEPPER BOOKS</h2> + +<h3>By <span class="smcap">Margaret Sidney</span></h3> + + +<div class='center'> +I N O R D E R O F P U B L I C A T I O N<br /> +<br /> +Cloth 12mo Illustrated $1.50 each<br /> +</div> +<hr style="width: 25%;" /> +<div class='center'><br />Five Little Peppers and How they Grew.</div> + +<p>This was an instantaneous success; it has become a genuine child classic.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br />Five Little Peppers Midway.</div> + +<p>"A perfect Cheeryble of a book."—<i>Boston Herald.</i></p> + + +<div class='center'><br />Five Little Peppers Grown Up.</div> + +<p>This shows the Five Little Peppers as "grown up," with all the +struggles and successes of young manhood and womanhood.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br />Phronsie Pepper.</div> + +<p>It is the story of Phronsie, the youngest and dearest of all the Peppers.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br />The Stories Polly Pepper Told.</div> + +<p>Wherever there exists a child or a "grown-up," there will be a welcome +for these charming and delightful "Stories Polly Pepper told."</p> + + +<div class='center'><br />The Adventures of Joel Pepper.</div> + +<p>As bright and just as certain to be a child's favorite as the others in the +famous series. Harum-scarum "Joey" is lovable.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br />Five Little Peppers Abroad.</div> + +<p>The "Peppers Abroad" adds another most delightful book to this +famous series.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br />Five Little Peppers at School.</div> + +<p>Of all the fascinating adventures and experiences of the "Peppers", none +will surpass those contained in this volume.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br />Five Little Peppers and Their Friends.</div> + +<p>The friends of the Peppers are legion and the number will be further +increased by this book.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br />Ben Pepper.</div> + +<p>This story centres about Ben, "the quiet, steady-as-a-rock boy," while the +rest of the Peppers help to make it as bright and pleasing as its predecessors.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br />Five Little Peppers in the Little Brown House.</div> + +<p>Here they all are, Ben, Polly, Joel, Phronsie, and David, in the loved +"Little Brown House," with such happenings crowding one upon the +other as all children delightedly follow, and their elders find no less +interesting.</p> + +<hr style='width: 25%;' /> + +<h3>LOTHROP, LEE & SHEPARD CO., <span class="smcap">Boston</span></h3> +</div> + + +<p> <br /><br /></p> + +<div class='bbox'> +<h2>Pansy Books</h2> + +<h2><i>at</i></h2> + +<h2>Popular Prices</h2> + +<div class="blockquot2">¶ These ten favorite books have +been furnished with new frontispieces +by good artists, and are +issued at a list price of $.50 each:</div> + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Pansy Books"> +<tr><td align='left'>Ester Ried</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Four Girls at Chautauqua</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Tip Lewis and His Lamp</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Three People</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Chautauqua Girls at Home</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Julia Ried</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Ruth Erskine's Crosses</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>The King's Daughter</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Judge Burnham's Daughters</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Wise and Otherwise</td></tr> +</table></div> + + + +<div class='center'><br />Lothrop, Lee & Shepard Co.<br /> +Boston<br /></div> +</div> +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> + +<div class='tnote'><h3>Transcriber's Notes</h3> +<p>Obvious punctuation errors repaired.</p> +<p>This text uses the archaic spelling of "height" as "hight." This was retained.</p> + +<p>One instance each of "foot-ball" and "football" was retained.</p> +<p>The remaining corrections made are indicated by dotted lines under the corrections. +Scroll the mouse over the word and the original text will <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'apprear'">appear</ins>.</p> +</div> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Three People, by Pansy + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THREE PEOPLE *** + +***** This file should be named 20808-h.htm or 20808-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/2/0/8/0/20808/ + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Emmy and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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