And the night fell and the “peace that passeth all understanding” entered therein and there abode.
CHAPTER VIII.
THE legacy left him by Mr. Black amounted to no less than a hundred pounds, which seemed to Tom a vast sum. Mr. Redfearn was sole executor of the will. Tom took possession of the books,—a few choice Latin authors, the Greek Testament, and many educational works. He selected, besides, a few articles of furniture, of which he made a present to Mrs. Garside; he did not forget Moll o’ Stuarts. Out of the proceeds of the portion of the furniture which he sold, there was just enough to pay for a mourning suit of good broadcloth for himself, and strangely ill at ease he felt when first he beheld himself arrayed in the glossy doeskin. But after the funeral, he had only to wear it on Sundays, when most people who could manage it by hook or crook contrived to wear decent suits, mainly of black,—black was the general, if not “the only wear.” The reason is not far to seek. Among the working-classes the better suit is a very distinct garment from what are called emphatically “wartday clo’es,” and is seldom worn except on Sunday, and at funerals.
There remained the hundred pounds, and the question was not easy of answer, what should he do with it? Under the will, Mr. Redfearn had power to apply the money for Tom’s advancement in life, even before his majority when it was to pass into his uncontrolled disposition. Tom cudgelled his brain so much and so vainly as to the ultimate application of this immense sum that he came to be thankful he could not, as yet, touch the bulk, or he would have been tempted to throw it into the river. He did not get much help from Mr. Redfearn.
“Yo’ see, Tom,” said his guardian, “a hundred pounds is a very awk’ard sum o’ money. It’s summat like a gooise, which is too much o’ a meal for one, an’ not enuff for two. Nah this legacy o’ yo’rs is summat i’th’ same fashion. It’s too much to go on th’ spree wi’, an’ ha’ done wi’ it, an’ off yo’r mind, so to speeak, and it’s too little to set up i’ business on yo’r own account,—at leastwise i’ ony business ’at’s likely to suit thee. Yo’ might start i’th’ grocery line, to be sure, but I doubt th’ little childer ’ud be feart to come into th’ shop if they seed six feet of brawn and muscle behind th’ counter. Besides they say it tak’s a very light hand to weigh grocer’s stuff aat to ony profit. I can think o’ nowt else. You might go into th’ public line on yo’r furtin in a smallish way, an’ there’s one thing ’at’s i’ yo’r favour, yo’d nooan want a chuckor aat.”
Tom shook his head emphatically: “Nay,” he said, “I will never make my living by giving my brother strong drink to his hurt.”
Redfearn laughed, “they’ll call yo’ ‘Parson Tom’ in a bit, lad. But happen yo’r i’th’ reight on it. For one gooid word yo’ can find to say for drink yo’ can find a hundred to say agen it, an’ then start afresh an’ tack another hundred to it. Folk will have it, but them as get’s th’ leeast has th’ best share, an’ I’ll nivver be one to set a young lad i’ th’ way o’ temptation. But has ta thowt o’ onything thi sen?”
Tom shook his head. “I’ve thought till I’m almost stalled of the thought of the money.”
“Well, there’s no hurry, that’s one comfort. Th’ brass ’ll nooan get less so long as it’s ith’ bank, that’s a sure thing. An’ yo’re not be out o’ your indentures yet. Tak’ yo’r time i’ makin’ up your mind, an’ remember ’at it’s th’ easiest thing i’ th’ world to put good money into business, but it’s quite another thing getting it back after yo’n once let go yo’r how’d.”
On one point Tom was quite resolved. So soon as his apprenticeship should be at an end, and sooner if might be, he would be his own master. He would not live and die a weaver, nor yet be content even to live and die a slubber. Other men had conquered Fate and he was resolved that by God’s help, he, too could and would. Why, the whole valley in which he did his daily task abounded with men who could tell of early privations, of years of patient unremitting toil, of Spartan endurance, of privations self-imposed and cheerfully borne, and of a notable success crowning and rewarding in middle life, the efforts of their youth and manhood’s prime. And Tom felt that he had him the makings of a man and though he had, as yet, unbosomed the inner workings of his soul to man nor woman, being, indeed more given to seek commune with himself rather than another, yet was his mind firmly fixed either to make a spoon or spoil a horn, as the saying goes. But how?