VIII
The battle royal between Nathan’s father and mother had been caused by something of graver import to my friend than any mere family adjustment between Forge and Gridley over osculatory assault upon a little girl. It had been caused by a decision voiced earlier that Sunday evening by Johnathan that he was determined to take Nat from school and put him to work.
Nathan was now past fourteen and legally entitled to his “papers” and educational “freedom.” John had been compelled to work ten hours a day at fourteen, turning his money over to his father. Nathan should do the same. And Mrs. Forge had objected, not so much for Nathan’s sake, as because it was Johnathan’s proposition.
Old Caleb Gridley, although holding a seventy-dollar court judgment over Johnathan, had never been able to collect his money. He had made John’s life a burden. So John had it in mind to suggest that Nathan be given a job in the tannery and work out his father’s debt.
Nathan, conceded the smartest boy who attended the Academy, was ultimately set to work at four dollars a week. Johnathan bought his peace with his conscience by generously returning his son twenty-five cents a week to be “squandered” in any way the boy chose.