Her husband laid his hand upon his shoulder. "Thou knowest, lad, there is the little grave out yonder. Thee should'st have his place in our hearts and home. Would'st thee be content to bide, John?"
John Randolph looked at his friends with shining eyes. "You have done me good for life!" he said, "but the world calls me, I must go. I mean to work my way through college, and be a physician, Mr. Makepeace."
"So! so! Well, we mustn't stand in the way, Ruth. Thee'll make a good one, John. But how art thee going to manage it, lad?"
"The Steel Works in Marlborough pay good wages. I mean to get a place there if I can, and study in the evenings."
"Why, John, lad, the Steel Works shut down yesterday afternoon."
For an instant the brave spirit quailed, only for an instant. "Then I must find something else," he said quietly.
"It's a bad season, John, and the times are hard." Joseph Makepeace thought for a moment. "There's friend Harris up the river. What dost thee think, Ruth?"
"Why, he wants men to pile wood," exclaimed his wife. "Thee would'st not set John at that!"
"Lincoln split rails," said John with a smile, "why should not I pile them? It's clean work, and honest, Mrs. Makepeace."
"He has a logging camp in the winter. Thee would'st have good pay then,
John."