He came up to his home by and by, and found his sister Martha in a chair outside the door, busied with some sewing. He sat down on a step near and watched her swift-moving hand in silence for some minutes, with his eyes on her work and his thoughts a long way off.
“Has mother come back?” he asked, at length.
“Yes, Tom,” replied Martha, with a little sigh, “but she didn’t succeed in getting any work. I do not see how we are going to get along. I think I shall try to see if I can get something to do.”
“I was thinking of that, too,” said Tom. “There’s a man here to-day who wants hands to go twenty miles out. He wanted me, but I told him ‘No.’”
Martha stitched away in silence.
“I’d go,” said Tom, suddenly, “but there’s the school; I could not give that up.”
“Not for Jesus, Tom?” asked Martha, looking round with a little smile.
“Would it be for Jesus, Martha,” said Tom, earnestly, “to give up school and go to work, neglecting my education meanwhile?”
“Think about it, Tom, and remember what Paul did for Jesus.”
Tom did think. The conversation ceased between them entirely, and the fresh spring breezes came from the South, laden with the breath of flowers, and passed gently by the two seated before the cabin door, one of them so busy with his decision.