Part 13 (1/2)
CHAPTER XIII
PIERRE TAKES THE HELM
Silently Pierre received the news He neither treue way he realized that ever since that day long ago when Henri St
Amant had first presented this possibility to hishiency And now the blow had fallen, and it was he whoprop on which she hts that he scarcely sensed the presence of the faithful old priest alked beside hi over the boy, and out of the chaos of grief, rean to form the aloud ”That will give us soht be well”
It was the quiet voice of Monsieur le Cure
”Forgive otten----”
”Do not reproach yourself, ently ”I did not accoht help if I could”
He laid his hand on the boy's shoulder
Pierre glanced into his eyes gratefully
”About the selling of the home--you think it would be wise?” he asked
”It seems to me now to be the best plan; but I should wish to consider the ave a final decision Advice iven too hastily”
”You see,” continued Pierre, still fore crop of silkworms is too hard for e it one season, and we ht even do it two; but to feel we ht of If we are to take up sericulture permanently we in of profit we are able to make we are not in a position to do that WhenOf course I have Josef, but he can do only the lightest part of the work I alad to do my share, more than my share; but I a as e If our crop of cocoons should fail soh my lack of skill or because of some unavoidable calamity, we should be without ht fills me with fear
Help me, Father You are older than I Give ht, or only a coward?”
”To face the truth is never cowardly, Pierre,” answered the priest ”You reason well, my son To take upon yourself in future the care you have borne this year is far too much for a lad It is a work for several able-bodied men That you and your mother and Marie have been able to do it even this once is little short of a miracle Of course you have each thrown your entire heart and strength into it Then, too, the season has been ideal No calamities have befallen your crop Nevertheless e the silkwore; a thousand possible accidents which at any moment may sweep away your income Such a reverse would be a dire catastrophe to you and your fahtfully ”But if you were to sell the place,” he went on a second later, ”ould you do? Surely the suenerous one--a thing we can hardly expect in war time--would not be sufficient for you all to live upon”
”I should not try to live here,” answered Pierre pro befell my father and o with me to America”
”America!”
”It is not so far away”
”It is at the other side of the world!” asserted the sihed
”No, indeed, Father America is but a shi+p's journey away Besides we have relatives there My mother's people are all at Paterson, New Jersey My plan would be to take part of the e to Aes, and take care of my mother and sister”
Monsieur nodded silently