CHAPTER XXV.
SQUIRE CARTER'S RELATIVES.
Andy was kind-hearted, and the boy's evident sorrow appealed to him. Hewent forward and placed his hand on the boy's shoulder.
"What is the matter?" he asked.
"I went to the baker's to buy some bread for mother, and the baker tellsme that the quarter is a bad one."
"Let me look at it."
The coin had a dull appearance and a greasy feeling. It wasunquestionably counterfeit.
"Yes, it is bad," said Andy. "Is your mother poor?"
"Very poor," answered the boy. "This quarter was all the money she had,and now we shall have no supper."
"Whom do you mean by 'we'?"
"My little brother and myself."
Andy intended at first simply to give the boy a good coin for the badone, but he saw that there was a call for something more.
"Do you live near here?" he asked.
"Yes, sir; just across the street."
"I will go back with you to the baker's, and then I will go with you tosee your mother. Perhaps I can help her."
The boy put his hand confidingly in Andy's, and the two went a littledistance to the baker's.
"Now make your purchases," said Andy.
"If you have brought back that bad quarter I won't take it," announcedthe baker, sharply.
"I will pay you," said Andy, quietly.
"Then it's all right. The boy brought me a very bad quarter. I have tolook sharp, for a good many bad coins are offered me."
Andy produced a genuine silver piece, and the bread was handed to theboy, with the change.
The boy looked at it hesitatingly.
"It is yours," he said to Andy.
"No, I have changed quarters with you. I will keep the bad one."
Again he looked at the boy, and again the resemblance to some familiarface puzzled him.
"What is your name?" he asked.
"Ben Carter."
Carter! That explained it. The boy looked like Conrad Carter, though hehad a pleasanter expression.
"Have you an Uncle Philemon?" he inquired.
"How did you know?" asked the boy, in surprise.
"Because you look like Conrad Carter."
"He is my cousin."
"And you are poor?"
"Yes."
"Your uncle is considered rich."
"I know he is, but he won't do anything for mother."
Andy was now all the more desirous of seeing the boy's family.
"I know your uncle," he said. "Do you think he knows you are so poor?"
"Yes, for mother has written to him."
By this time they had reached the place which Ben called home.
"Go upstairs and I will follow," said Andy.
They went up two flights, and the boy opened a door at the top of thelanding.
There was a woman not far from forty in the room. On her face was a lookof settled sorrow. At her knee was a small boy five years of age. Shelooked at Andy inquiringly.
"Mother," said Ben, "here is the bread. I couldn't have bought it, forthe quarter was bad, if this boy had not given me another quarter."
"This young gentleman," corrected the mother.
"No, Mrs. Carter; I am a boy, and I prefer to be called so. I came upwith Ben, for I find that he is related to Squire Carter, of Arden, whomI know very well."
"You know Philemon Carter?"
"Yes; he lives in Arden. That is my birthplace."
Mrs. Carter's countenance fell.
"Philemon Carter was my husband's brother," she said; "but there islittle friendship between us."
"He is reputed rich."
"And we are poor. I see you wonder at that. When my husband's fatherdied, Philemon was executor. It was understood that he was worthtwenty-five thousand dollars. Yet of this amount my poor husbandreceived but one thousand. I may be uncharitable, but I have always feltthat Philemon cheated us out of our rightful share."
"I should not be surprised. I never liked Squire Carter. He alwaysseemed to me to be a selfish man."
"He has certainly acted selfishly toward us."
"Does he know of your poverty?"
"Yes. Only two weeks since, in a fit of despair, I wrote to him forhelp. Here is his answer."
She handed a letter to Andy. He instantly recognized the handwriting ofthe magnate of Arden.
"Shall I read it?" he asked.
"Yes, do so, and let me know what you think of it."
This was the letter:
"SOPHIA: I have received your letter, and am surprised that you should expect me to help support you. You are my brother's widow, it is true, but your destitution is no fault of mine. My brother was always shiftless and unpractical, and to such men good luck never comes. He might at any rate have insured his life, and so made comfortable provision for you. You cannot expect me to repair his negligence. You say you have two boys, one eleven years of age. He is certainly able to earn money by selling papers or tending an office.
"As for myself, I am not a rich man, but have always been careful to meet my expenses and provide for the future. I, too, have a son, Conrad, whom I think it my duty to educate and start in life. Any money I might send you would be so much taken from him. I advise you to apply to some charitable society if you need temporary assistance. It will be much better than to write me begging letters. Yours truly,
"PHILEMON CARTER."
"This is a very cold-blooded letter," said Andy, indignantly. "He mightat least have inclosed a five-dollar bill."
"He inclosed nothing. I shall never apply to him again."
"Philemon Carter is considered to be one of the richest men in Arden. Heis taxed for twenty-five thousand dollars, and is probably worth doublethat sum. People wonder where he got all his money."
"A part of it is my husband's rightful share of the estate, I have nodoubt."
"Can you do nothing about it?"
"How can I? I am poor and have no influential friends. He denieseverything."
"I will think of that, Mrs. Carter. I know a lawyer down town who maysome time look into the matter for you. In the meanwhile, is there anyspecial work you can do?"
"Before I was married I was for a time a typewriter."
"I will see if I can hear of a situation of that kind. The lawyer Ispoke of may require an operator."
"I would thankfully accept such a position."
"Does Ben earn anything?"
"He makes a little selling papers."
"He ought to be going to school at his age."
"If I could get any work to do I would send him."
"Mrs. Carter, will you accept a little help from me?"
Andy drew a five-dollar bill from his pocketbook and tendered it to thewidow.
"But," she said, "can you spare this? It is a large sum, and you areonly a boy, probably not earning much."
"I am a boy, but I am handsomely paid for my services. Besides, I havegood friends to whom I can apply if I run short of money."
"Heaven bless you!" said Mrs. Carter, earnestly. "You cannot tell howmuch good this money will do me. This morning I was utterly discouraged.I felt that the Lord had forsaken me. But I was mistaken. He has raisedup for me a good friend, who--"
"Hopes to be of a good deal more service to you. I must leave you now,but I shall bear you in mind, and hope soon to be the bearer of goodtidings. I will take down your address, and call upon you again soon.Will you allow me to offer you a suggestion?"
"Certainly."
"Then send out and buy some meat. This dry bread is not sufficient foryou. Don't be afraid to spend the money I leave with you. I will seethat you have more."
As Andy left Mrs. Carter's humble home he felt more than ever the coldand selfish character of the man who, himself living luxuriously,suffered his brother's family to want.