Page:The Granite Monthly Volume 1.djvu/19

 PAYING THE MORTGAGE.

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��ished up every sum. I bought a gram- mar, too, and a geography."

"Have you studied alone?"

"Yes. sir, there wan't any other way

for me."

"Do you read books?"

"Yes, sir, all I can get; and Cameron

Bassett forgot his usual reserve, as he

was led to speak of the hopes and desires

which had made him what he was. "You

see, sir, I had it all to do myself, except

what Mrs. Bradshaw helped me. She

didn't know how much I owed her. I

never told her. I meant to, but I didn't.

When she died I was sorry I hadn't. I

wish she knew." "Perhaps she does know. God knows,

and he is the one most interested. Do

you read the Bible?"

"Yes, sir, the first book I ever read was a Testament Mrs. Bradshaw gave me. She said 'twas best of all."

"But you have never come to hear the preaching and praying and singing Sun- days."

"No, sir, perhaps I don't rightly un- derstand about it. Sunday was my rest- ing and studying day, and there didn't anybody ask me to go to meeting."

"May God forgive us," ejaculated the clergyman fervently. "Let me help you now. You are welcome to the use of any of my books, and I shall be glad to give you any assistance in my power. What books have you read?"

" I've read about Hugh Miller, and I thought I had as good a chance for learn- ing as he had."

" You have, and I hope you will be as

grand and famous as he was."

" I don't expect that. He had more that belonged to him ;" and the young man tapped his forehead with his finger. " But I'll do what I can. If you'll allow me to take a book, I will, sir."

A book was selected, a few parting words exchanged ; and Mr. Eldridge sat down to reflect upon the strange occur- rences of the day. He was both depress- ed and encouraged; while he felt con- demned for his neglect of one whom an- other had remembered. He counted again the money left in his keeping;

��counted also the cost at which he could supply the amount required to balance the mortgage. He must wear a thread- bare coat still longer, and deny himself the purchase of some much coveted books; yet he did not regret his decision.

The next day Aunt Jane appeared bringing her small hoard which, howev- er, was not needed.

" Then I'll lend it to Elsie to pay up on the taxes, and she can make out the money to pay me back fore winter's through," said the good woman, joyous- ly. " It's all come round just right. But you hain't told me how you got the money to pay up the mortgage, nor how you calkerlate it's goin' to be paid back."

" I have made no calculations in regard to that, and you must excuse me if I de- cline telling you anything further about it."

"I will; and on [the whole I don't want you to. I'll just think the Lord done it, and thank him for my ignorance. There's good things happenin' all round. I'm goin' to have somebody to be in the house with me nights this winter, so 'twill seem more like livin', and then there'll be somebody to do lor. I guess my neighbors'll come in for a share of help. There's helpful and on-helpful times, Mr. Eldridge, and it's likely to me we've had ora-helpful ones long enough for just now. Peter Greenleaf s gone, so you'll have to wait for him to come back ; but there won't be no harm done while he's gone. He's missed his calculations once."

Possibly he feared this ; for he remain- ed away but two days, and on his return went directly to the cottage of Elsie Dun- lap, fully resolved not to leave it until he had obtained her promise to marry him the following week. He was not to be thwarted by a young girl's caprice, and, moreover, he fancied that he really lov- ed his fair debtor. He carried with him a gift, which it is but justice to say would have propitiated many disposed to be un- relenting ; yet he experienced some em- barrassment when he found himself in her presence.

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