Part 26 (1/2)

”No, it will not give you back your money, but it may give you back a son purified and prepared to take an honorable position in society.”

”No, no; he's bad, bad!” said the stricken father. ”What did he care for the labor and toil it took to save up that money?”

”I hope the loss of the money will not distress you, Mr. Graham.”

”Well, no, not exactly,” said Ebenezer, hesitating. ”I shall have to take some money from the savings bank to make up what that graceless boy has stolen.”

It was clear that Ebenezer Graham would not have to go to the poorhouse in consequence of his losses.

”I can hardly offer you consolation,” said George Melville, ”but I suspect that you will not be called upon to pay any more money for your son.”

”I don't mean to!” said Ebenezer, grimly.

”Going away as he has done, he will find it necessary to support himself, and will hardly have courage to send to you for a.s.sistance.”

”Let him try it!” said Ebenezer, his eyes snapping.

”He may, therefore, being thrown upon his own resources, be compelled to work hard, and that will probably be the best thing that can happen to him.”

”I hope he will! I hope he will!” said the storekeeper. ”He may find out after a while that he had an easy time at home, and was better paid than he will be among strangers. I won't pay any more of his debts. I'll publish a notice saying that I have given him his time, and won't pay any more debts of his contracting. He might run into debt enough to ruin me, between now and the time he becomes of age.”

George Melville considered that the storekeeper was justified in taking this step, and said so.

While they were on the train, Ebenezer got measurably reconciled to his loss, and his busy brain began to calculate how much money he would save by ceasing to be responsible for Eben's expenses of living and prospective debts. Without this drawback, he knew he would grow richer every year. He knew also that notwithstanding the sum it had just cost him, he would be better off at the end of the year than the beginning, and to a man of his character this was perhaps the best form of consolation that he could have.

Suddenly it occurred to Mr. Graham that he should need a clerk in place of his son.

”Now that Eben has gone, Herbert,” he said, ”I am ready to take you back.”

This was a surprise, for Herbert had not thought of the effect upon his own business prospects.

”I have got a place, thank you, Mr. Graham,” he said.

”You don't call trampin' round huntin' and fis.h.i.+n' work, do you?” said Ebenezer.

”It is very agreeable work, sir.”

”But it stands to reason that you can't earn much that way. I wouldn't give you twenty-five cents a week for such doings.”

”Are you willing to pay me more than Mr. Melville does?” asked Herbert, demurely, smiling to himself.

”How much does he pay you now?” asked Ebenezer, cautiously.

”Six dollars a week.”

”Six dollars a week!” repeated the storekeeper, in incredulous amazement. ”Sho! you're joking!”

”You can ask Mr. Melville, sir.”