“Thank you, heartily, sir. But I must warn you that you have undertaken no light task. We shall have to dispose of many thou——”
“We will make them vanish,” broke in the minister, “like half-pence in the hands of a conjuror.”
“I know,” said “Cobbler” Horn, with a smile, “that you ministers are well able to dispose of the money.”
“Yes, I suppose we are. But, dear friend, let it be understood, at the outset, that I can be no party to your defrauding yourself.”
“It is all the Lord’s money,” said “the Golden Shoemaker.”
“Yes; but, if you employ it for Him, He means you to have your commission.”
“Oh, as to that, a very little will serve. My wants are few.”
“My dear friend,” remonstrated the minister, “are you not in danger of falling into a mistake? God has given you the power to acquire a great deal of the good of this world; and I don’t think it would be right for you not to make a pretty complete use of your opportunities. Though you should be ever so generous to yourself, and live a very full and abundant life, you will still be able to give immense sums of money away; and such a life would fit you all the better to serve God in your new sphere.”
“You think that, do you, sir?” asked “Cobbler” Horn, evidently impressed.
“I certainly do.”