Part 9 (1/2)
”He went away. Then my loneliness increased, and my longing to come to America. I could sell my valuables, and among them the pamphlets, and this would give me money wherewith to make the great change.”
”You sold them, uncle?”
”When I thought of Brother Josiah, I was tempted to do it. But I at first said 'No.' When I heard that my son was making a home for himself here, I again was tempted to do it. But I said, 'No.' I could not sell myself.
”Then there came a letter from Brother Josiah. It said: 'I have another son. We have named him Benjamin, after you. We have named you as his G.o.dfather.'
”Then I sat down on the side of the bed in my room, and the tears fell.
”'_We have named him Benjamin_'--how those words went to my heart!”
”It was the first time that you ever heard of me, wasn't it, uncle?”
”Yes, yes; it makes me happy to hear you say that. And you will never forget me, will you, Ben?”
”Never, uncle, if I live to be eighty years old! But, uncle, you sold the pamphlets!”
”Yes. When I read your name in Josiah's letter I felt a weight lifted from my mind. I said to myself that I would part with myself--that is, the pamphlets--for you.”
”Did you sell them for me, uncle?”
”Yes, I sold them for you, Benjamin.”
”What was the man's name that bought them, uncle?”
”I hoped that you would ask me that. His name was Axel. Repeat it, Ben.”
”Axel.”
”It is a hard name to forget.”
”I shall never forget it, uncle.”
”Ben, you may go to London sometime.”
”We are all poor now.”
”But you have _personality_, and people who look out for others are needed by others for many things. Maybe they will sometime send you there.”
”Who, uncle?”
”Oh, I don't know. But if ever you should go to London, go to all the old bookstores, and what name will you look for?”
”Axel, uncle.”
”Ben, those are not books; they are myself. I sold myself when I sold them--I sold myself for you. Axel, Ben, Axel.”
Little Ben repeated ”Axel,” and wondered if he would ever see London or meet with his uncle in those pamphlets which the latter claimed to be his other self.