“Well,” said the Captain, “he thinks he shall, if Hesper is willing.”
“If I am willing!”
“Yes, Mose says that if every one else gives their consent, and you are unhappy about it, he will not go.”
“Why Mose!” said Hesper, “I thought you knew me better.”
“You never think of yourself,” said Mose, “but when I think of father’s poor health and mother’s sickness, and the children to take care of through this long winter, I feel as though I ought not to go, for then all the burden and care will rest upon you, and though you are a patient little thing you are not able to bear it.”
“Never mind that, Mose, if you have a good chance, don’t lose it. Leave all the rest with the Lord.”
Capt. Clark turned his face towards the stream as she said this. If any one had been watching him they would have seen him brush away a tear. He was a very benevolent man, and he always said, that there was something in the love which this brother and sister bore one another, that touched his heart.
“Hesper,” said he, “you are right. Tell him to go—it will be both for his health and interest, and you can safely trust to the Lord for the rest. I can also assure you, that as far as I am concerned, you have one friend who will never see you suffer. Now I will leave you to talk the subject over together.” And he walked away down the path, towards the mill.
“Well,” said Mose, “now for my story. Capt. Clark has talked with me very often of late. He said he thought I was working too hard, and asked me if there was anything else I would rather do. I did not tell him for some time, because I had tried to forget it myself and be patient; but to-day he found me poring over my old geography, and then he asked me how I would like to visit foreign countries. Before I thought, I told him all, and he said I should go to sea if I wished—that his new ship would be ready in the course of a few weeks, and if I decided to go, he would ensure me an easy place and good wages. O Hesper! it made my heart leap right up within me; but then I remembered I had not a cent to fit myself out with, and therefore I could not answer him.”
“What is the matter, Mose?” said he, “I should think you would be right glad of such a chance.”