“We are great fellows!” said Isaac. “Here we are talking about where we will build, and what we will build, fixing our yard, boarding our men, making all our calculations, and nobody has even asked what she’s going to cost. That’s neither according to reason nor Scripture.”
“Speaking about Scripture,” said Charlie, “just brings to my mind one thing, that, now we are all together, I must speak about. Here are three of us that have professed religion, and Isaac, I know, respects it.”
“To be sure I do. I wouldn’t have any Murch blood in me if I didn’t.”
“Well, here we are, laying plans, as I may say, for life, just starting out to do for ourselves, and we haven’t one of us done anything for the Lord, or the support of his gospel.”
“I should think,” replied Fred, “that if we build this vessel, we shall have about load enough to carry. When we are twenty-one we shall be called upon.”
“I think it would be a great deal better not to wait to be called upon. When we were so hard put to it, while father was paying for this island, and had to live mostly on clams and sea-fowl, before we got any news from the Ark, and didn’t know as we ever should, he, in his poverty, paid something for the support of the gospel. I think, when we are not pressed in any way, only pressing ourselves, we ought to do something.”
“So do I,” replied John. “Don’t you know, Fred, how hard we worked to make that garden, and cut the hay on Griffin’s Island, just to let Ben and Sally know that we had hearts and consciences, knew when we were well used, and who our friends were? I would like to show my heavenly Father the same thing.”
“That’s the talk, John,” said Isaac. “I’ll do my part.”
“So will I,” said Fred, “and I’m ashamed I said what I did; but you know I always was meaner than the rest of you.”
“I don’t know any such thing,” said John. “You’ve had your parents to help, while we’ve had all we’ve earned, and all our clothes given us. I didn’t mean we should give much, nor all alike, but we’ll make a beginning. By and by, perhaps, we can do more.”