Conclusion
"Ben," said Mr. Baldwin, "let us talk over your plans. Do you wish
to remain at the store, or would you like to get a better education?"
"I would get a better education if I could afford it, sir."
"You can afford it on an income of a thousand dollars a year."
"A thousand dollars a year!" exclaimed Ben.
"That is the income I shall allow you. Out of this you will be expected
to pay all of your expenses."
"How can I thank you, sir? Would you object to my giving Aunt
Jane a part of the money?"
"Yes, I shall object."
Ben's countenance fell.
"But, Uncle Matthew," he said, "I don't like to live in luxury, while
Aunt Jane is straitened."
"Your feelings do you credit, my boy; but I mean to take care of
your Aunt Jane myself. She is my niece, and you--I am not sure
whether you are related to me at all, but I want you to call me
Uncle Matthew all the same."
"I shall like to, sir. No uncle could be kinder."
"That is well," said the old gentleman. "You know, Ben, I have
no one else to care for. Now, do you think your Aunt Jane will
be willing to move to Boston?"
"I am sure she will like it."
"Then I shall hire or buy a comfortable house, install her as
mistress, require you to live with me while you are attending
school, and tyrannize over you all."
There was a bright smile on the old man's face. He was looking
forward to the new life with anticipations of a happiness and comfort
which had long been strangers to him.
"How happy we shall all be, Uncle Matthew! Even Aunt Jane will
forget to look on the dark side."
"I hope so, Ben. I think we can be happy together."
"There is one thing I forgot to tell you," he said later. "I shall
expect you to pay your board out of your income, you know. If
you fail to make regular payments, we shall have to bundle you
out."
"I will remember," said Ben, smiling.
By arrangement Ben went up to Milltown alone to tell his aunt
the news. He entered the little house with a sober face.
"I see you bring bad news, Benjamin," said Mrs. Bradford
mournfully.
"You will have to leave the house, Aunt Jane."
"And go to the poorhouse! I knew it would turn out that way," and
Mrs. Bradford put her handkerchief to her eyes.
"What's the matter?" asked Tony.
"My poor child," said his mother, "we are going to the poorhouse."
"Is that so, Ben?" asked Tony soberly.
Ben shouted with laughter. He could not hold back the truth.
"Aunt Jane," he said, "you always will anticipate the worst. Why
don't you wait and hope?"
"What is the use, Benjamin?"
"Because it makes us happier, and often brings good fortune. Aunt
Jane, you see before you a rich man."
"You're only a boy," said Tony. "You ain't a man at all."
"My income is a thousand dollars a year!"
"Is it possible, Benjamin?" ejaculated Mrs. Bradford, in amazement.
"It is more than that; it's true. You are coming to Boston to live, and
I am going to board with you."
"The boy's crazy!" exclaimed Mrs. Bradford.
"Then there is a method in my madness, Aunt Jane. But I won't keep
you in suspense any longer. Uncle Matthew isn't dead at all. He's
taken a fancy to me, and is going to allow me an income of a
thousand dollars a year. He will take care of you and Tony, too. He
is going to hire or buy a house in Boston, and we are all going to live
together. What do you say to that? Will you go, or do you prefer to
go to the poorhouse?"
Mrs. Bradford made up her mind at once to go to Boston. No one
had ever seen her so cheerful as she was for the remainder of the
day.
Not to dwell upon details, in less than a month the little family was
installed in a comfortable house in Boston. Tony had commenced
attending school near-by, and Ben had been admitted to the Latin
School, where he began to prepare for college in earnest. Porter &
Jones were sorry to lose him, but agreed that he had chosen wisely in
abandoning business for a school.
Ben is now an undergraduate at Harvard College, with a high rank
for scholarship. He has not decided upon his future course; but it
is possible that his uncle may purchase an interest for him, at
graduation, in the firm where he served as a boy.
I cannot close without recording, with satisfaction, the great
improvement that has taken place in Sam Archer. Always a bright
and smart boy, in adversity he has gotten rid of his disagreeable
traits and developed a business capacity which promises well for
his future success. Ben has done him many favors, and the two
are excellent friends. Of Mr. Archer nothing has been heard. It
is rumored that he is living in an obscure town in France, on the
proceeds of his defalcation. Sam promises to redeem the name
which his father has sullied.
Uncle Matthew is several years older than when we first met him, but
happiness has had the effect of making him look younger. He
probably has several years of life yet before him. He is attached to
his niece and Tony, who is now a bright schoolboy of twelve; but
his chief attachment is to Ben, whose college career he follows with
pride and satisfaction.
THE END