Quincy did not speak for some time. Finally he said, “Uncle Ike, the Town Hall in Fernborough is but one mile from the centre of the city of Cottonton. That city is peopled, principally, with low-paid cotton mill operatives. Their employers, as a rule, are more intent on dividends than the moral or physical condition of their help. Accidents are common in the mills, many are broken down in health by overwork, and those who become mothers are forced by necessity to resume work in the mills before their strength is restored.”
Uncle Ike shut his teeth with a snap. “That's worse than hoarding money as I've done. Mine may, as you say, do good in the future, but theirs is degrading human beings at the present. I wish I could do something for them, especially the mothers. It's a shame they have to suffer.”
“You can do something, Uncle Ike. My suggestion is, that you leave the bulk of your fortune to build a hospital in Fernborough, but provide in your will that the mill operatives of Cottonton, or all its poorer inhabitants, if you so wish it, shall be entitled to free treatment therein.”
“I'll do it,” cried Uncle Ike. “As soon as I get settled at 'Zeke's, I'll send for Squire Rundlett to come and make out my will. You've taken a big load off my mind, Mr. Sawyer.”
As Quincy was mounting Obed's Hill slowly, for it was very steep, he thought to himself—“Getting Uncle Ike to do something practical towards helping others was much better than talking theoretical religion to him.”
When he reached the Hawkins House, Andrew was getting ready to drive to Cottonton to meet the three o'clock express from Boston.
“There's a friend of ours coming down on that train, Andrew—a young man named Merry.” He took out his note book, wrote a few lines, and passed the slip with some money to Andrew.
“You get that—have it covered up so no one can see what it is, and leave it in the barn when you get back.”
Quincy told his wife about Arthur Scates and Uncle Ike.
“I'm going to take Uncle Ike to Mr. Gay's church to-morrow,” he added, “but I didn't say anything about it to-day. I'm not going to give him time to invent excuses.”