"Have you been to Deacon Pitkin?"
"Yes, but the deacon says he's just put out what money he had, and can'taccommodate me."
"It's hard!" said Mrs. Stanton, with sad brevity.
"Yes, it is hard!" assented Job. "I did hope the Lord would show us away of deliverance, but it seems likely that the sorrow must come uponus."
"How meanly Major Sturgis and that man Richmond have behaved! I can'thelp feeling that they will be come up with sooner or later," said Mrs.Stanton, who, mild as she generally was, could not help feelingexasperated.
"I do think they've been inconsiderate," Job admitted.
"'Inconsiderate'! Their conduct has been contemptible. The major don'tneed the money. He could just as well let us stay here."
While this conversation was going on Ben and his friend Bradley wereapproaching the little cottage.
Full of joyful memories, Ben lifted the latch and walked into thepresence of his uncle and aunt. Nothing but his return could have chasedthe mournful expression from their faces.
"Why, it's Ben come back!" exclaimed his aunt, joyfully.
"Well, I declare, so it is!" answered Job Stanton, hurrying forward andgrasping the hand of his boy after his aunt had embraced him.
"How you've grown, Ben!" said his aunt, admiringly.
"Yes, Aunt Clarissa, I've grown four inches," said Ben, proudly. "ButI've brought a friend with me.--Jake, come in."
And then Bradley was introduced to Job and his wife, and was cordiallywelcomed by both.
"You're lucky to come while we've got a home to welcome you to," saidJob, his face again saddening.
"Why, Uncle Job, you're not thinking of selling the house, are you?"
Then the whole story came out.
Ben listened attentively, and when his uncle had finished he said, "ThatRichmond is a first-class rascal."
"And I'd like to give him a first-class kick," said Bradley,indignantly.
"That wouldn't mend matters," said Job, shaking his head. "It wouldn'tpay off the mortgage."
"You say the mortgage amounts to five hundred dollars, Uncle Job?"
"Yes. Then there's six months' interest, at six per cent., makes fifteendollars more."
"When do you expect Major Sturgis to call?"
"This morning. It's almost time for him."
"I met Sam on my way here," said Ben. "He told me I'd come just in thenick of time. I didn't know what he meant, but I know now."
"The major offers to buy the house, paying me two hundred and fiftydollars over and above the note."
"Why, that's robbery!" said Ben, indignantly.
"So it is, Ben; but what can I do?"
"I think," said Ben, smiling, "you'd better borrow five hundred andfifteen dollars of your rich nephew."
"What do you mean, Ben?" asked Job, in surprise.
"I mean this, Uncle Job--that I'll lend you the money to pay up thisshark."
"You don't mean to say you've got money enough?" ejaculated Uncle Job.
"Yes, I do, uncle, and a little over. I'll prove it to you."
He produced a wallet, from which he drew out five one-hundred-dollarbills and three fives.
"Take them, uncle, and ask me questions afterward, for I see through thewindow that the major is coming."
Indeed, a knock was heard directly, and Job, answering it himself,ushered in the stately figure of Major Sturgis.
The major looked around him in surprise, finding more persons than heexpected to see.
"Don't you remember Ben, Major Sturgis?" asked Job.
"When did you come home, Benjamin," asked the major, taken by surprise.
"I have just arrived, sir."
"Tired of California, eh?"
"For the present, yes, sir."
"I think my son Sam wishes to see you. He thinks of offering you aplace."
Ben bowed and smiled. He understood what sort of a place Sam was likelyto offer.
"Well, Mr. Stanton," asked the major, pompously, "have you decided toaccept my offer for the house?"
"No, major. Your offer is too small."
"You are quite at liberty to look around for a higher bid, or rather youwere. Now it is too late."
"Just so, major. On the whole I don't think I want to sell."
"'Don't want to sell'?" repeated the major, frowning; "you will have tosell."
"Why will Uncle Job have to sell?" demanded Ben, irritated by themajor's tone.
"Young man," said the major, grandly, "this is not a matter with whichyou have anything to do. Your uncle and I can arrange it betweenourselves."
"Still, I shall advise Uncle Job to pay the mortgage, though he wasswindled into agreeing to it."
"I apprehend," sneered the major, "he will have some difficulty inpaying me five hundred and fifteen dollars."
"I guess I can manage to do it, major," said Job, mildly.
"I don't believe you," said the major, hastily.
"Have you got the mortgage with you?" asked Job.
"Yes; here it is."
"And here is your money," said the shoemaker, producing the bills.
Major Sturgis received them in amazement bordering upon stupefaction,and counted them over three times.
"I guess they're all right," said Job.
"Where did you get them?" inquired the major, unable to control hiscuriosity.
"I guess that doesn't matter so long as they're good," answered Job."Still, I've no objection to tellin' you that it's Ben's money that he'skindly lent to me."
"Did you bring this from California?" asked the major, turning to ourhero.
"Yes, sir," answered Ben.
"Have you any more?"
"I've got enough more, so that I don't expect to need the situation Samthought of offering me."
When Major Sturgis left the cottage his grand air had passed off, and helooked disappointed and mortified. Sam's spirits, too, were perceptiblydashed when he learned that the boy he disliked had been successful inCalifornia.
"That settles the major," said Ben. "This afternoon I will see what Ican do in the case of Richmond."
"You can't do anything, Ben," said his aunt. "Leave him to thereproaches of his own conscience."
"He hasn't got any conscience, Aunt Clarissa," said Ben.--"Jake, willyou ride over with me to the next town this afternoon?"
"I shall be glad to, Ben."
Ben went at once to the office of an able lawyer, engaged his services,and put the matter into his hands. The result was, that John Richmondreceived a note by messenger summoning him to the lawyer's office. He atfirst tried to bluster, then to temporize, but the lawyer was stern andthreatened to exhaust the resources of the law in behalf of his clients.Like most bullies, Richmond was a coward, and ended by giving a note forthe full amount, with interest, at thirty days.
"You had better leave this note with me," said the lawyer to Ben; "Iwill collect it when due."
And he did. With a crestfallen air John Richmond had to confess himselfdefeated in his mean attempt at swindling, for he had obtained UncleJob's indorsement with the deliberate intention of leaving him to paythe note, supposing that the old man would be too timid to do anythingabout it.
Ben remained in Hampton a week. During that time he bought thethree-acre lot adjoining--the major having given up the purchase whenhis plan of getting possession of Job Stanton's little property fellthrough--and gave it to his uncle. This made Job feel like a rich man,and he only accepted it on Ben's assurance that he had plenty moremoney.
At the end of a week Ben received a letter from Richard Dewey, informinghim that he proposed to go into business for himself in the city of NewYork, and was anxious to engage Ben as a clerk. This offer was too goodto refuse. So Ben, a month later, found himself in a responsiblebusiness position. As his employer within a few months came intopossession of his wife's large fortune, which her guardian wasreluctantly obliged to surrender, he was not hampered by lack ofcapital, but within a year had his business securely established.
Ten years have passed. Ben is now junior partner, and enjoys a highreputation for business ability. A year since he married his cousinJennie, and in so doing has made a wise choice. He lives in the city,but Uncle Job and his wife still live in Hampton, though Job is nolonger compelled to work for a livelihood. He has given up his shop, andconfines himself to the cultivation of his small tract of land. Thoughnow seventy, his eye is not dim nor his natural force abated.
Major Sturgis is dead, and Sam, it is understood, has wasted aconsiderable portion of the handsome property that was left him. It isquite possible that he may end in poverty and destitution, and be forcedat last to work for a living. This he would regard as a misfortune, butit will probably be a blessing in disguise, for the necessity of honestlabor is generally a salutary restraint.
Bradley has gone back to California. His son in now with him, and bothare prosperous. Richard Dewey and his wife are rich and happy (the twodo not always go together), and have four children, the second of whom,a boy, is named Benjamin Stanton Dewey, in honor of our hero.
I have endeavored to ascertain what became of our Mongolian friend, KiSing, but without entire success. My impression is, that he started alaundry in San Francisco, made enough money for a Chinaman to retireupon, and went back to his native land to live in competence, the happyhusband of a high-born Chinese maiden with incredibly small feet.Doubtless, he has more than once retailed to wondering ears the accountof his adventures and perils when he, as well as Ben, visited California"in search of fortune."
THE END.
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[Transcriber's Note: The advertisement for "Famous Alger Books" has beenmoved from its position before the main text to the rear of the book. Inaddition, the following corrections have been made to the original text.
In Chapter V, an apostrophe following "I don't see anything that lookslike a cabin," has b
een changed to a quotation mark.
In Chapter VI, "Here's the cord, Tom, Tie his hands and feet" has beenchanged to "Here's the cord, Tom, tie his hands and feet".
In Chapter IX, "these follows have tied me hand and foot" has beenchanged to "these fellows have tied me hand and foot"; a missing periodhas been inserted after ""It'll do as far as it goes, Mosely," saidBradley"; a superfluous quotation mark has been removed following"echoed Tom Hadley from the other tree."
In Chapter XII, "I thought that too, Ben?" has been changed to "Ithought that too, Ben."; an apostrophe preceding "there was an oldfarmer, Deacon Pitkins" has been changed to a quotation mark.
In Chapter XIII, "My legs get cramped when I am on horsback too long."has been changed to "My legs get cramped when I am on horseback toolong."
In Chapter XVI, a superfluous quotation mark has been removed preceding"There's some of us want to see you."
In Chapter XVIII, a missing quotation mark has been added preceding "Wewill make your share equal to that of the luckiest miner among us."
In Chapter XXI, a missing quotation mark has been added preceding "Herfortune amounts to one hundred and fifty thousand dollars, does itnot?"; a missing period has been inserted after "muttered the merchant".
In Chapter XXXI, "So Uncle Joe took off his leather apron" has beenchanged to "So Uncle Job took off his leather apron".