His story was quickly told. His mother was long since dead, and his
father had written on his dying bed the letter that commended the boy--
so soon to be orphaned--to the pity and care of his grandparents. The
sisters trembled and changed color at the story of the boy's hardships
on the way to Fairtown; and they plied him with questions and sandwiches
in about equal proportions after he told of the frequent dinnerless days
and supperless nights of the journey.
That evening when the boy was safe in bed--clean, full-stomached, and
sleepily content the sisters talked it over. The Reverend John Hapgood,
in his will, had cut off his recreant son with the proverbial shilling,
so, by law, there was little coming to Ralph. This, however, the sisters
overlooked in calm disdain.
"We must keep him, anyhow," said Rachel with decision.
"Yes, indeed,--the dear child!"
"He's twelve, for all he's so small, but he hasn't had much schooling.
We must see to that--we want him well educated," continued Rachel, a
pink spot showing in either cheek.
"Indeed we do--we'll send him to college! I wonder, now, wouldn't he
like to be a doctor?"
"Perhaps," admitted the other cautiously, "or a minister."
"Sure enough--he might like that better; I'm going to ask him!" and she
sprang to her feet and tripped across the room to the parlor-bedroom
door.
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