“Suppose, Al, that you could go right out and start right in with school at the university—it has a preparatory course—and work your way along, what would you say?”
“You mean, jump right in now, this year?”
He nodded.
“But it’s all I can do to board and clothe myself by working hard in the mill. I couldn’t by any means work hard enough to pay for going through a school.”
“How much would you be willing to—oh, Al, you’re all wrong about the cost. I tell you, old fellow, you can get through a year at my place on a hundred dollars: board, tuition—”
“What’s that?”
“Teaching and room and heat. All the rest of your expenses won’t amount to over fifty dollars, if you’re careful.”
I gazed on him, open-mouthed, for I thought he was laughing at me.
“Say—you aren’t kidding me, are you? All that is straight—about being so—so cheap?”
“Why, yes, it’s all true enough. I think you can manage it too, Al. I’ll do my best to speak a word for you. Get ready to go in three weeks, no matter how much money you have. I think you’ll be able to get some outside work to do at the university, to work your way through and meet expenses.”