"That is as I supposed," said Dr. Henry. "It is a wonder you got off as well as you did. Can't you bend it at all?"
"Only a very little," replied Eben, showing how much.
"I see. And how is your general health? Are you growing pretty strong again?"
"Yes, sir; as far as that goes, I am picking up every day. I managed to get to church yesterday, though it tired me a good deal, and to-day I went over to the mill."
"Don't over-exert yourself at first. That is always bad economy. Well, and what are you going to do when you get well? Go back to the mill again?"
"No, sir, I am afraid not," replied Eben, sadly. "You see a person needs the use of all his limbs to be a miller. I am very sorry, for I was growing to like the business and had great hopes of getting on, but I must bear it as well as I can," he added, sighing.
"Why do you do that?" asked Dr. Henry, bluntly, but kindly. "Why don't you cast your burden on the Lord, and let him bear it for you?"
"I do try to," said Eben. "I have no doubt I shall be reconciled to everything in time, doctor, but it does come hard at first."
"No doubt it does, and he means it should. When he chastises us, he means to hurt us, I suppose. But now, Eben, I want to talk to you about a plan of my own. Mr. Antis told me that day I met you on the train that you had a great desire to study medicine. Is that still so?"
"Yes, indeed, sir!" replied Eben. "It was for that reason, more than any other, that I wanted so much to keep on in the mill. I was earning good wages, and I thought I might manage to lay by something, so that in time I could afford to study."