Part 36 (1/2)
Gordon was out of the room. His young visitor had been an extensive reader, and displayed a good deal of general information. Moreover, he expressed himself intelligently and modestly, and deepened the favorable impression which he had already succeeded in making.
I should like to call the attention of my young readers to the fact that Frank was now reaping the advantage of the time he had devoted to study and the cultivation of his mind.
A boy who starts in life with a fair education always stands a better chance than one who is poorly provided in that respect.
It is true that many of our prominent public men have started with a very scanty supply of book-learning, but in most cases it has only transferred the labor of study to their maturer years.
President Andrew Johnson did not learn to read and write until after he had attained his majority, but he made up his early deficiencies later.
Abraham Lincoln, when nearly thirty, devoted his leisure hours to mastering the problems in Euclid, and thus trained and strengthened his mental faculties so that he was enabled to grapple with the difficult problems of statesmans.h.i.+p in after years.
Henry Wilson commenced attending an academy after he had reached the age of twenty-one.
The fact is, no boy or man can be too well equipped for his life-work.
I hope my boy readers will not skip the paragraphs above, for they can learn from them a useful lesson.
When Mrs. Gordon returned, she placed in Frank's hands a small sum of money, saying:
”Allow me to repay my debt, with many thanks.”
”You are quite welcome,” answered our hero.
He had too much tact to refuse the money, but quietly put it into his pocket.
”Helen,” said Mr. Percival, ”I would like a word with you. We will leave our young friend here alone for five minutes.”
”Certainly, father.”
The two went into an adjoining room, and Mr. Percival commenced by asking:
”How do you like this boy, Helen?”
”Very much. He seems to have been brought up as a gentleman.”
”He has. Till a short time since he supposed himself the heir to a fortune.”
”Indeed!” said Mrs. Gordon, with curiosity.
Briefly, Mr. Percival rehea.r.s.ed the story which Frank had told him.
”What a shame!” exclaimed Mrs. Gordon, indignantly. ”His stepfather ought to be punished:”
”That may come in time. Wickedness does not always prosper. But as regards our young friend, I have a plan in view.”
”What is it, father?”
”I find he has an excellent education, having been nearly ready for college when the crisis in his fortunes came. I have been thinking whether we could not find a place for him in this house. My eyes, you know, are so weak that they are often strained by attention to my correspondence and reading. I have an idea of engaging Frank Courtney as a sort of private secretary, upon whom I can at any time call. Of course, he would have his home in the house.”
”There will be no difficulty about that. Our family is small, and we have plenty of vacant rooms. But, father, will he be qualified to undertake the duties you have designed for him? He is very young.”