“I am going to tell you something that may not be pleasant for you to hear, and I want you to promise me that you will bear with it for my sake.”
“What is it?” she asked, with a look of pain on her face.
“Will you promise?” he persisted.
“Yes,” she said, very slowly, but with emphasis. “I’ll promise to be reconciled to anything that is for your good.”
“Well,” he said after a short pause, “I have come to a decision. I am going to New York, and I am going within forty-eight hours.”
The tears came to her eyes, but she bravely repressed them, and arising, took Herbert in her arms and gave him a motherly kiss.
“Bless you, my son,” she said, “and go ahead and do what you believe is for the best.”
From that time until the moment of his departure Herbert was kept busy in completing his arrangements for moving to the metropolis. His chief business was in completing his work for the current issue of the Banner. When the other persons who were connected with the paper heard of his prospective departure they were very much disappointed because Herbert was a general favorite in the office. The young man himself was so agitated at the thought of leaving those with whom he had been in contact so long and so pleasantly that he could scarcely get through with his routine work.
The morning for his departure dawned at last, and he started for the train with a gripsack in one hand and an umbrella in the other. His mother accompanied him, and on the way gave him a great deal of homely advice regarding his future life in the big city. It was understood that he should go on with his work and if it should prove successful that later on he would send for his mother and thereafter both of them would make their home in New York. In the meantime he promised to send her part of his earnings every week, and in spite of her protests, made the amount the major part of his salary. On the way to the train they passed the home of John Black. Mary Black was just coming out of the doorway, and when she saw the mother and son, joined them on the way to the station.
“I wish you God-speed, Herbert,” she said, with undoubted sincerity; “and if you see anything of Arthur it will be a real charity for you to inform us of the fact. Mother and father are very much distressed over his absence.”