CHAPTER XXVIII.
A MINISTER'S GOOD FORTUNE.
"I have another call to make, Rodney," said Mr. Pettigrew, as they wereon their way back to the hotel, "and I want you to go with me."
"I shall be glad to accompany you anywhere, Mr. Pettigrew."
"You remember I told you of the old minister whose church I attended asa boy. He has never received but four hundred dollars a year, yet hehas managed to rear a family, but has been obliged to use the strictesteconomy."
"Yes, I remember."
"I am going to call on him, and I shall take the opportunity to makehim a handsome present. It will surprise him, and I think it will be thefirst present of any size that he has received in his pastorate of overforty years.
"There he lives!" continued Jefferson, pointing out a very modestcottage on the left hand side of the road.
It needed painting badly, but it looked quite as well as the ministerwho came to the door in a ragged dressing gown. He was venerablelooking, for his hair was quite white, though he was only sixty fiveyears old. But worldly cares which had come upon him from the difficultyof getting along on his scanty salary had whitened his hair and deepenedthe wrinkles on his kindly face.
"I am glad to see you, Jefferson," he said, his face lighting up withpleasure. "I heard you were in town and I hoped you wouldn't fail tocall upon me."
"I was sure to call, for you were always a good friend to me as well asmany others."
"I always looked upon you as one of my boys, Jefferson. I hear that youhave been doing well."
"Yes, Mr. Canfield. I have done better than I have let people know."
"Have you been to see your uncle? Poor man, he is in trouble."
"He is no longer in trouble. The mortgage is paid off, and as far asSquire Sheldon is concerned he is independent."
"Indeed, that is good news," said the old minister with beaming face."You must surely have done well if you could furnish money enough toclear the farm. It was over a thousand dollars, wasn't it?"
"Yes, thirteen hundred. My young friend, Rodney Ropes, and myselfmanaged it between us."
"I am glad to see you, Mr. Ropes. Come in both of you. Mrs. Canfieldwill be glad to welcome you."
They followed him into the sitting room, the floor of which wascovered by an old and faded carpet. The furniture was of the plainestdescription. But it looked pleasant and homelike, and the papers andbooks that were scattered about made it more attractive to a visitorthan many showy city drawing rooms.
"And how are all your children, Mr. Canfield?" asked Jefferson.
"Maria is married to a worthy young man in the next town. Benjamin isemployed in a book store, and Austin wants to go to college, but I don'tsee any way to send him, poor boy!" and the minister sighed softly.
"Does it cost much to keep a boy in college?"
"Not so much as might be supposed. There are beneficiary funds fordeserving students, and then there is teaching to eke out a poor youngman's income, so that I don't think it would cost over a hundred andfifty dollars a year."
"That isn't a large sum."
"Not in itelf, but you know, Jefferson, my salary is only four hundreddollars a year. It would take nearly half my income, so I think Austinwill have to give up his hopes of going to college and follow in hisbrother's steps."
"How old is Austin now?"
"He is eighteen."
"Is he ready for college?"
"Yes, he could enter at the next commencement but for the financialproblem."
"I never had any taste for college, or study, as you know, Mr. Canfield.It is different with my friend Rodney, who is a Latin and Greekscholar."
The minister regarded Rodney with new interest.
"Do you think of going to college, Mr. Ropes?" he asked.
"Not at present. I am going back to Montana with Mr. Pettigrew. Perhapshe and I will both go to college next year."
"Excuse me," said Jefferson Pettigrew. "Latin and Greek ain't in myline. I should make a good deal better miner than minister."
"It is not desirable that all should become ministers or go to college,"said Mr. Canfield. "I suspect from what I know of you, Jefferson, thatyou judge yourself correctly. How long shall you stay in Burton?"
"I expect to go away tomorrow."
"Your visit is a brief one."
"Yes, I intended to stay longer, but I begin to be homesick after theWest."
"Do you expect to make your permanent home there?"
"I can't tell as to that. For the present I can do better there thanhere."
The conversation lasted for some time. Then Jefferson Pettigrew rose togo.
"Won't you call again, Jefferson?" asked the minister hospitably.
"I shall not have time, but before I go I want to make you a smallpresent," and he put into the hands of the astonished minister four fiftydollar bills.
"Two hundred dollars!" ejaculated the minister. "Why, I heard you onlybrought home a few hundred."
"I prefer to leave that impression. To you I will say that I am worth agreat deal more than that."
"But you mustn't give me so much. I am sure you are too generous foryour own interest. Why, it's munificent, princely."
"Don't be troubled about me. I can spare it. Send your boy to college,and next year I will send you another sum equally large."
"How can I thank you, Jefferson?" said Mr. Canfield, the tears cominginto his eyes. "Never in forty years have I had such a gift."
"Not even from Squire Sheldon?"
"The squire is not in the habit of bestowing gifts, but he pays a largeparish tax. May I--am I at liberty to say from whom I received thisliberal donation?"
"Please don't! You can say that you have had a gift from a friend."
"You have made me very happy, Jefferson. Your own conscience will rewardyou."
Jefferson Pettigrew changed the subject, for it embarrassed him to bethanked.
"That pays me for hard work and privation," he said to Rodney as theywalked back to the tavern. "After all there is a great pleasure inmaking others happy."
"Squire Sheldon hadn't found that out."
"And he never will."
On the way they met the gentleman of whom they had been speaking. Hebowed stiffly, for he could not feel cordial to those whom had snatchedfrom him the house for which he had been scheming so long.
"Squire Sheldon," said Jefferson, "you were kind enough to inviteRodney and myself to supper some evening. I am sorry to say that we mustdecline, as we leave Burton tomorrow."
"Use your own pleasure, Mr. Pettigrew," said the squire coldly.
"It doesn't seem to disappoint the squire very much," remarkedJefferson, laughing, when the great man of the village had passed on.
"It certainly is no disappointment to me."
"Nor to me. The little time I have left I can use more pleasantly thanin going to see the squire. I have promised to supper at my uncle'stonight--that is, I have promised for both of us."
Returning to New York, Jefferson and Rodney set about getting ready fortheir Western journey. Rodney gave some of his wardrobe to Mike Flynn,and bought some plain suits suitable for his new home.
While walking on Broadway the day before the one fixed for his departurehe fell in with Jasper Redwood.
"Have you got a place yet Ropes?" asked Jasper.
"I am not looking for any."
"How is that?" asked Jasper in some surprise.
"I am going to leave the city."
"That is a good idea. All cannot succeed in the city. You may find achance to work on a farm in the country."
"I didn't say I was going to the country."
"Where are you going, then?"
"To Montana."
"Isn't that a good way off?"
"Yes."
"What are you going to do there?"
"I may go to mining."
"But how can you afford to go so far?"
"Really, Jasper, you show considerable curiosity about my affairs. Ih
ave money enough to buy my ticket, and I think I can find work when Iget out there."
"It seems to me a crazy idea."
"It might be--for you."
"And why for me?" asked Jasper suspiciously.
"Because you might not be willing to rough it as I am prepared to do."
"I guess you are right. I have always been used to living like agentleman."
"I hope you will always be able to do so. Now I must bid you good by, asI am busy getting ready for my journey."
Jasper looked after Rodney, not without perplexity.
"I can't make out that boy," he said. "So he is going to be a commonminer! Well, that may suit him, but it wouldn't suit me. There is nochance now of his interfering with me, so I am glad he is going to leavethe city."