But on Christmas Eve father and son were dining together without guests, and their talk across the broad table, glittering with silver andcut glass, and softly lit by shaded candles, was intimate, though a little slow at times.The elder man was in rather a rare mood, more expansive and confidential than usual; and, when the coffee was brought in and they were left alone, he talked more freely of his personal plans and hopes than he had ever done before.
"I feel very grateful to-night," said he, at last; "it must be something in the air of Christmas that gives me this feeling of thankfulness for the many divine mercies that have been bestowed upon me.All the principles by which I have tried to guide my life have been justified.
I have never made the value of this salted almond by anything that the courts would not uphold, at least in the long run, and yet--or wouldn't it be truer to say and therefore?--my affairs have been wonderfully prospered.There's a great deal in that text 'Honesty is the best'--but no, that's not from the Bible, after all, is it?
Wait a moment; there is something of that kind, I know.""May I light a cigar, father," said Harold, turning away to hide a smile, "while you are remembering the text?""Yes, certainly," answered the elder man, rather shortly; "you know I don't dislike the smell.But it is a wasteful, useless habit, and therefore I have never practised it.Nothing useless is worth while, that's my motto--nothing that does not bring the reward.
Oh, now I recall the text, 'Verily I say unto you they have their reward.'
I shall ask Doctor Snodgrass to preach a sermon on that verse some day.""Using you as an illustration?""Well, not exactly that; but I could give him some good materials from my own experience to prove the truth of Scripture.I can honestly say that there is not one of my charities that has not brought me in a good return, either in the increase of influence, the building up of credit, or the association with substantial people.Of course you have to be careful how you give, in order to secure the best results--no indiscriminate giving--no pennies in beggars' hats! It has been one of my principles always to use the same kind of judgment in charities that I use in my other affairs, and they have not disappointed me.""Even the check that you put in the plate when you take the offertory up the aisle on Sunday morning?""Certainly; though there the influence is less direct; and I must confess that I have my doubts in regard to the collection for Foreign Missions.
That always seems to me romantic and wasteful.You never hear from it in any definite way.They say the missionaries have done a good deal to open the way for trade; perhaps--but they have also gotten us into commercial and political difficulties.Yet I give to them--a little--it is a matter of conscience with me to identify myself with all the enterprises of the Church; it is the mainstay of social order and a prosperous civilization.But the best forms of benevolence are the well-established, organized ones here at home, where people can see them and know what they are doing.""You mean the ones that have a local habitation and a name.""Yes; they offer by far the safest return, though of course there is something gained by contributing to general funds.A public man can't afford to be without public spirit.But on the whole I prefer a building, or an endowment.There is a mutual advantage to a good name and a good institution in their connection in the public mind.
It helps them both.Remember that, my boy.Of course at the beginning you will have to practise it in a small way; later, you will havelarger opportunities.But try to put your gifts where they can be identified and do good all around.You'll see the wisdom of it in the long run.""I can see it already, sir, and the way you describe it looks amazingly wise and prudent.In other words, we must cast our bread on the waters in large loaves, carried by sound ships marked with the owner's name, so that the return freight will be sure to come back to us."The father laughed, but his eyes were frowning a little as if he suspected something irreverent under the respectful reply.
"You put it humorously, but there's sense in what you say.Why not?
God rules the sea; but He expects us to follow the laws of navigation and commerce.Why not take good care of your bread, even when you give it away?""It's not for me to say why not--and yet I can think of cases--"The young man hesitated for a moment.His half-finished cigar had gone out.He rose and tossed it into the fire, in front of whichhe remained standing--a slender, eager, restless young figure, with a touch of hunger in the fine face, strangely like and unlike the father, at whom he looked with half-wistful curiosity.
"The fact is, sir," he continued, "there is such a case in my mind now, and it is a good deal on my heart, too.So I thought of speaking to you about it to-night.You remember Tom Rollins, the Junior who was so good to me when I entered college?"The father nodded.He remembered very well indeed the annoying incidents of his son's first escapade, and how Rollins had stood by him and helped to avoid a public disgrace, and how a close friendship had grown between the two boys, so different in their fortunes.
"Yes," he said, "I remember him.He was a promising young man.
Has he succeeded?"
"Not exactly--that is not yet.His business has been going rather badly.
He has a wife and little baby, you know.And now he has broken down,--something wrong with his lungs.The doctor says his only chance is a year or eighteen months in Colorado.I wish we could help him.""How much would it cost?""Three or four thousand, perhaps, as a loan.""Does the doctor say he will get well?""A fighting chance--the doctor says."
The face of the older man changed subtly.Not a line was altered, but it seemed to have a different substance, as if it were carved out of some firm, imperishable stuff.