And the same day he wrote and posted a letter to Mr. Middleton.
The intervening two weeks between that day and Christmas were spent by Ishmael, as usual, in work and study. He made up the whole year's accounts for Reuben Gray, and put his farm books in perfect order. While Ishmael was engaged in this latter job, it occurred to him that he could not always be at hand to assist Reuben, and that it would be much better for Gray to learn enough of arithmetic and bookkeeping to make him independent of other people's help in keeping his accounts.
So when Ishmael brought him his books one evening and told him they were all in order up to that present day, and Reuben said:
"Thank you, Ishmael! I don't know what I should do without you, my lad!" Ishmael answered him, saying very earnestly:
"Uncle Reuben, all the events of life are proverbially very uncertain; and it may happen that you may be obliged to do without me; in which case, would it not be well for you to be prepared for such a contingency?"
"What do you mean, Ishmael?" inquired Gray, in alarm.
"I mean—had you not better learn to keep your books yourself, in case you should lose me?"
"Oh, Ishmael, I do hope you are not going to leave us!" exclaimed Reuben, in terror.
"Not until duty obliges me to do so, and that may not be for years. It is true that I have taken the Rushy Shore schoolhouse, which I intend to open on the third of January; but then I shall continue to reside here with you, and walk backward and forward between this and that."
"What! every day there and back, and it such a distance!"