"I was fireman in the Lake Mills. Good job. Lost it when they closed down last winter."
"What have you been doing since?"
"Anything I could get."
"Are you a married man?"
The question affected the other strangely. He trembled all over, put his head between his knees, and out of his heart's anguish flowed the words, "I had a wife. She's dead—of consumption. I had a little girl. She's dead, too. Thank God!" exclaimed the man, with a change from a sob to a curse. "Thank God!—and curses on all rich men who had it in their power to prevent the hell on earth for other people, and which they will feel for themselves in the other world!"
Philip did not say anything for some time. What could any man say to another at once under such circumstances? Finally he said:
"What will you do with money if I give you some?"
"I don't want your money," replied the man.
"I thought you did a little while ago."
"It was the mill-owner's money I wanted. You're the preacher, ain't you up at Calvary Church?"