the mansion-第2章
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the chief；
the brain； the will； the absolutely controlling hand； was so
admirably
organized that the details of its direction took but little time。
But the scores of other interests that radiated from it and were
dependent upon itor perhaps it would be more accurate to say；
that contributed to its solidity and successthe many
investments；
industrial； political； benevolent； reformatory； ecclesiastical；
that had made the name of Weightman well known and potent in
city；
church； and state； demanded much attention and careful steering；
in order that each might produce the desired result。 There were
board meetings of corporations and hospitals； conferences in
Wall Street and at Albany； consultations and committee meetings
in
the brownstone mansion。
For a share in all this business and its adjuncts John Weightman
had his son in training in one of the famous law firms of the
city；
for he held that banking itself is a simple affair； the only real
difficulties of finance are on its legal side。 Meantime he
wished
the young man to meet and know the men with whom he would have to
deal
when he became a partner in the house。 So a couple of dinners
were given in the mansion during December； after which the father
called the son's attention to the fact that over a hundred
million dollars
had sat around the board。
But on Christmas Eve father and son were dining together without
guests；
and their talk across the broad table； glittering with silver and
cut 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
yetor 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 mottonothing 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 resultsno
indiscriminate givingno 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； perhapsbut they have also gotten us
into
commercial and political difficulties。 Yet I give to thema
littleit 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 have
larger 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 notand 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 which
he remained standinga 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 exactlythat 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 chancethe 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。
〃A fighting chance；〃 he said； 〃may do for a speculation； but it
is
not a good investment。 You owe something to young Rollins。
Your grateful feeling does you credit。 But don't overwork it。
Send him three or four hundred； if you like。 You'll never
hear from it again； except in the letter of thanks。 But for
Heaven's sake
don't be sentimental。 Religion is not a matter of sentiment；
it's a matter of principle。〃
The face of the younger man changed now。 But instead of becoming
fixed and graven； it seemed to melt into life by the heat of
an inward fire。 His nostrils quivered with quick breath；
his lips were curled。 〃Principle！〃 he said。 〃You mean
principaland
interest too。 Well； sir； you know best whether that is religion
or not。
But if it is； count me out； please。 Tom saved me from going to
the devil；
six years ago； and I'll be damned if I don't help him to the best
of
my ability now。〃
John Weightman looked at his son steadily。 〃Harold；〃 he said at
last；
〃you know I dislike violent language； and it never has any
influence with me。 If I could honestly approve of this
proposition of yours； I'd let you have the money； but I can't；
it's extravagant and useless。 But you have your Christmas check
for
a thousand dollars coming to you to…morrow。 You can use it as
you please。
I never interfere with your private affairs。〃
〃Thank you；〃 said Harold。 〃Thank you very much！ But there's
another
private affair。 I want to get away from this life； this town；
this house。
It stifles me。 You refused last summer when I asked you to let
me
go up to Grenfell's Mission on the Labrador。 I could go now；
at least as far as the Newfoundland Station。 Have you changed
your mind？〃
〃Not at all。 I think it is an exceedingly foolish enterprise。
It would interrupt the career that I have marked out for you。〃
〃Well； then； here's a cheaper proposition。 Algy Vanderhoof wants
me to
join him on his yacht withwell； with a little partyto cruise
in
the West Indies。 Would you prefer that？〃
〃Certainly not！ The Vanderhoof set is wild and godlessI do not
wish to
see you keeping company with fools who walk in the broad and easy
way that
leads to perdition。〃
〃It is rather a hard choice；〃 said the young man； with a short
laugh；
turning toward the door。 〃According to you there's very little
differencea fool's paradise or a fool's hell！ Well； it's one
or
the other for me； and I'll toss up for it to…night： heads； I
lose；
tails； the devil wins。 Anyway； I'm sick of this； and I'm out of
it。〃
〃Harold；〃 said the older man （and there was a slight tremor in
his voice）；
〃don't let us quarrel on Christmas Eve。 All I want is to
persuade you to
think seriously of the duties and responsibilities to which God
has
called youdon't speak lightly of heaven and hellremember；
there is
another life。〃
The young man came back and laid his hand upon his father's
shoulder。
〃Father；〃 he said； 〃I want to remember it。 I try to believe in
it。
But somehow or other； in this house； it all seems unreal to me。
No dou
