CHAPTER VII. MR ALLEN'S PROPOSITION.

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 176, 30 October 1886, Page 7 (Supplement)

CHAPTER VII. MR ALLEN'S PROPOSITION.

" 1 do mean to be a good man— I vntlfre a pood man," resolved Louie Dun bar, with a grave, earnest face, as he finished* perus ing Margaret Houghtop'a simple,' girlish letter, so full of sincere interest and hearty goodwill ; while the possession of that beautiful book of poems sent a thrill of delight over him such as he had never before experienced. After thoroughly examining it and reading again His letter, he put them both away with that other book and his mother's ring, and henceforth numbered it among his most sacred treasures, while he mentally registered a vow that if he should live to Bee Margaret Houghton return to America, he would indeed be worthy to be recognised as her friend.; he would, bend every energy toward becoming a wise and good, as well as a rich man, " Louis, what are you going to do this summer?" Mr Allen aeked him on the lastday of spring term, when, the examination over, he Had done great credit to both himself and his teacher. .. "I suppose I shall remain with Mr Browne there seems to be nothing else for me to do," the boy responded, thoughtfully, but with a regretful sigh, as if his soul were longing for something more congenial than strawberry fields and humdrum farm life. " I do not believe you could do better for this pummer," Mr Allen returned ; " but I have been thinking you might improve your condition somewhat after that, a farmer's life is a good and honourable one, but I believe you ought to be fitted for something different. Now, I have ft/proposition to make fo you.", , .' , ,, " All right, sir, ' Louis answered, looking up with a smile and Speaking, eagerly. ■ ■- "I do not infcendj'Vresqmed . hia friend, ":to •■ retain my i position, ; hereinafter the close of ,>hi8-»ohoolfye8r.>'»I^contemplate opening' a law cbfBce^ipi^tUe^ciifcy inext , fall.' :I shall ineed ik/boyrfeper|ormBinallservices■for me and^sBiet^mfrM Ifehall not^; however,i Jbe|»blei'to jpay : very, ;jnuch ; atn^at^notojrerjaf:coupjejOf dollars

"you 'think -you willi likr'to "cbm&wweri or"| .that, I qhtiU be glad to have you, for I feel that Tdah thifct yoW'*ttfoV&ugtily\ *Yo4' can g6> on, 'with, ..your* studies, with "me,? (and? I wftl dfyall th>t 1 can to help yog to,acquire a ; 7 aad'if\w^th experience, . you tKltik '-'y da , wotild' I ike * 'to ,' ,jb*eeonie a ' laWyGtVtrio T 'I m% be able 1 to fit' yWroWthe b'ar:s il'warityou to.thin* this over carefully^!* ? UD [»tt»6r, and when you are pure of your decision, come and make it known to me. - ." , ' " I r bellevel Shall like' what you propose very much, air," Louis eaid, his face as , bright a?,a'naw dollar at the prospect spie id out b,eforo him., , , Do not d6cide rashly," my boy," replied his ' teacher,' smiling -at hi <j s enthusiasm., ' •' You have a good place here with M: Browq ; he, i8 tond of you; and no doubt will do^ well by you if, you remain with him. ' The remuneration I offer you will be very small at first,' hardly enough for your support'; but I could arrange for you to e,leop in my office, which would save you the expense of a lodging, and the rest we could, manage some way. But, J Louis, I want {you to have an education, and I am afraid if you were left to yonrself, you will i reflect, it, until it is too late " Allsummer long, at morniug and evening, do iriatter what he was doing, this offer ot Mr Allen'* was constantly in Louis's uaind. He'h'ud had' a sip at the v chalice of knowledge, and he was thirsting for more He hdd begun to prisce wisdom even above \ve»k.h. Two dollars a week would, indeed, be very little to earn ; he certainly would not grow rich very rapidly, at rate, but he realised a need which he had never felt before, i*nd he knerir he should never ho worthy to be Margaret Houghton'a friend when, by aod by, bhe should return from Europe, polished and educated, unless he seized every opportunity to store his mind and tic himself fora position which would enable t him to meet her upon an equal footing. Besides all this, he had begun to love ? t Study tor learning's sake. < Mr .Allen's teaching had given him a mental impetus?, and he knew he should, never be satisfied with himself until he was fitted to mingle with refined and cultivated people. " I shall go with Mr Allen to Boston," he at last decided, and then applied himself with tenfold diligence to the business of .nuking all the money he could before the tune ot the contemplated change. He had grown both tall and strong since coming into the country, and in spHe of the ; hard work that he had done, he felt lika a I young giant for strength. | He was now nearly fifteen years of age, | and as fine and manly a young fellow as one I would eare to see. His waving chestnut hair lay in glossy masses above a broad, intelligent forehead j his bright, brown eyes met yours with a frankness and honesty of express-ion which prepossessed you in his favour at once, while a winning, genial smile lighted up his whole faae 'whenever he spoke, showing that a warni, kind heart lay beneath hie attractive exterior. '•I am loth to part with you Louis, my boy," eaid. Farmer Brown, regretfully, wben the youth told him of hie decision to go to the city with Mr Allen ; *' but you will be in excellent hands, and I approve your plan heartily." 'You must always regard us as your friends," he added, " andc*une to us whenever you can. I've no children, you know, and I've grown to look upon you almost as belonging to me during the two years you have been with us. I shall watch y u daring your future with a great deal of interest, and if you make a brilliant mark in the world no one will be more proud of you than I." He presented him with a handsome new suit and twenty-five dollars in money besides what he already owed him, nnd Mrs Brown gave him a good, serviceable silver watch, and with motherly interest looked after his supply of underwear. " It'll be a good time-keeper for you until you can afford to have a better one/'she said, when giving him the watch, " and Louis, be sure you let it tick off some good deed done every day of your life, for the deeds of this world make the blessing or the curse of the next. Don't forget it, dear, and Heaven bless you 1" Louis resolvei b.9 would not forget, and thought that no boy in the world had ever received greater kindness than these good friends had bestowed upon him. " What are you going to do with your mon6y ?" the farmer asked the day before he was to leave him. " Leave it in your care etill sir, if you are willing to be troubled with it. 1 know it could not be in safer hands." " All right. I shall be glad to take care of it for you. I will continue the eix per cent, interest the same as I have done, and if you allow it to accumulate you'll have a snug sum bv the time you are twenty-one. I must say, I think it pretty thrifty in a boy of your age to save up three hundred dollars in a little more than two years." " I do not think the credit all belongs to me, sir," Louia answered. "You have been very kind to me, and have given me every opportunity to earn, and I am very grateful to you." The boy's first eix months in the city were rather uneventful ones. He slept in Mr Allen's office, or rather ii a tiny room leading from it, and took his meals with Mrs Jo nee, who 'Said she would be glad of the two dollars a week, which his employer paid him for his board. Thi-3 arrangement made it a little hard for him, as the woman lived a long distance from the office, but she was having more trials than ever, since her husband seemed to become less and less capable of supporting his family, thus making her burdens far heavier than before; consequently Louis was glad that he could contribute even his email mite, if it would help to relieve her in any way. His duties consisted in keeping the office in order, taking care of the fire, receiving calls and business notices during Mr Allen's absence, and running of errands for him. He was not kept so busy but that he had plenty of time for study, and he improved this most faithfully, while he often copied for the young lawyer eo neatly and yapidly as to win high praise and encouragement. When spring opened Mr Allen's prospects had so improved that he' increased Louis's wages to four dollars a week, and the boy felt more than satisfied, for his kind friend was doing his utmost to advance him in his studies, and he realised that, he was making rapid progress. Botlf decided to continue their work and remain in the city throughout the summer. • *' I have not made money fast enough to entitle me |to a vacation this year," Mr Allen, remarked to Louis when his brother lawyer's began to. flit to the mountains and sea shore. ** I ehall stay quietly here and catch what business I cau j but you shall (to to Farmer Brown's for a couple of weeks if you like. I know he would be glad .to have you," V * * < ' ' But' Louis said>no— 'he preferred to remain with his friend and go on with his lessons, adding, with * sly. twinkle in his, bright eyes f "v> •>.', <~ ■•-'/., < c '., ; •* I'm sure, it yaw have not made enough* tb^en^tle^you ,to-V yaoatiop., I certainly -havolnot." ',? \ia\4t, i^v ?cV'' " i ") ; : ■ : s'A .;- - *?„■$ $ ouj, «Wi ;a«" ! ambitious >8,ever,

1 ; -Her wouldrHko 1 nothing: better than^to, go through pollega bat-he kn$w Itfieie' fwefrelsoria&ub diilicultie in toe way. ' * J , * > ? > > ' " Why cannot I have a regular college ' courp© by k "my8elf?j' he apkpfi?, utter thinking the matter oVer for a "while! 4 ' What do you mean by that. Lou?e ?" " You have been through college, lu*ven*fc you ?"' 'f Yes, I graduated at Yale .a few yewf» ago."- y ' " .' ' - - > "Then why cannot jwt put mo through juefcthe course that you' have had? "I am, 'willinfr to studyhard, for I realise the need and advantage of a good education j ¥ but I do not see mj'' way clear to giving four year?! of nay' life to study .alone,, to aay tiothinw of the money that would be needecL 'fofit:' 1 ' . * , " Many a boy; with loss ability, than, you. posseW, haa worked his way through college," replied Mr Allen, '- thoughtfully j then he added: "I 3hould like nothing; better than to teach you, for you are sach an opt and appreciative pupil j but you could not have your decree — that can dnly be obtained by going through a university .course." " T shall not care no much for the degree — the knowledge ia what I wish for particularly," Louis returned. " If I had a father who was able to send me to college, I should bo only too glad to avail myself of the opportunity ; but, fince I have my own way to fight through the world, -I believe I must give up the degree and pick up what education I can in other 'way a." *' Very well ; perhaps you have decided wisely. I am ready to do whatever I can tohelp you, and I will instruct you aa thoroughly as I am able : only I warn you beforehand that it will be hard work foe you." "I like hard work," Louis replied, undauntedly. %t I like to grapple with any- * thing that requires the use of all my powers; that is, "# he added, with a smile, ( ' "if there is a prospect of my coming oft conqueror. I think it is grand to find yourself face to face with a difficulty and then fight your way, inch by inch, above it." Mr Allen looked into tho boy's glowing face, and said to him&elf : "That boy has the spirit of a hero within him ; he will do something brilliant in the world yet." (To be Continued )