“But I wasn’t in any hurry about it, because I didn’t know just how it would be with you, and whether you would keep your armour bright, and stand in the day of trial. So I waited, and went to Singleton, and talked with Mr Caldwell, and came home feeling pretty well; and all the more when I heard from your mother how she and you felt about your taking up your father’s work. Still I was not in any hurry, for I thought you were not losing your time. You seemed to be learning, what many a minister gets into trouble for not knowing, how business is done, and how far a little money may be made to go. And I thought, if it were just a notion of yours to be a minister, because you had thought so much of your father, and to please your mother, you would find it out pretty soon, and get into other business. But I knew, if the Lord had called you to the work, you wouldn’t be tired waiting, and you weren’t losing time.
“Well, I have thought of it, and planned for it considerable, one way and another; and, lately, I have begun to think that I shall not have much more time for planning or doing either. This summer, I have seemed to see my way clear. There are not many women in the world like your mother, I can tell you, David; and she will know how to go to work better than I can tell her. So I have made up my mind to leave what I have got to her. The time you have been working to keep the family together has not been lost, so far. But, when your mother don’t need you, you will be free to help yourself. I thought first I would leave you money enough to take you through college, and all that; but, as far as I have had a chance to judge, those who have had to work hard to get an education, have come out best in the end. Your mother will know what to do, as one thing follows another in your life, better than I could put it down on paper. She’ll help you all you need, I am not afraid; and if the Lord shouldn’t have called you to His work after all, I would rather your mother had the property I have worked for than that you should have it to put into other business. I hope it will come all round right in the end.
“There is a good deal more I wanted to say to you, but I don’t seem to know just how to put it down on paper as I want to, so I shall not try. When you read this, I shall be where your father is; and I pray the Lord to lead you in the way you should go, and make you a faithful minister of His word, as he was. Amen.”
There was nothing said for several minutes, after she had ceased reading; then she only said:
“And so, now, children, you see what it was that our old friend wished.”
“Mr Caldwell must have known it all along,” said Philip. “Well, he told me there was not much chance of Davie’s accepting my offer. I should think not!”
“Are you sorry?” asked Violet.
“I am not sure. I must think about it.”
“I sha’n’t seem to care so much about being a rich man now,” said Jem, “since Davie is provided for.”
“There are plenty more of us, Jem,” said Ned.