One day not long afterwards Mrs. Carr was sitting in her little sitting room, sewing. She had plenty of leisure for this work now, for Mr.
Graham had undertaken to attend to the post-office duties himself. It was natural that she should think of her absent boy, from whom she had not heard for a long time.
"When shall I see him again?" she thought, wearily.
There was a knock at the outer door.
She rose to open it, but, before she could reach it, it flew open, and her boy, taller and handsomer than ever, was in her arms.
"Oh, Herbert!"
It was all she could say, but the tone was full of joy.
"How I have missed you!"
"We will be together now, mother."
"I hope so, Herbert. Perhaps you can find something to do in Wayneboro, and even if it doesn"t pay as well--"
"Mother," interrupted Herbert, laughing, "is that the way to speak to a rich boy like me?"
"Rich?"
"Yes, mother, I bring home twelve thousand dollars."
Mrs. Carr could not believe it at first, but Herbert told his story, and she gave joyful credence at last.
Eben did not receive as warm a welcome, but finally his father was propitiated, and agreed to give his son employment in his own store.
He"s there yet. His hard experience in the West has subdued his pride, and he has really "turned over a new leaf," as he promised Herbert. His father will probably next year give him a quarter interest in the firm, and the firm"s name will be
"EBENEZER GRAHAM & SON."
Herbert and his mother have moved to Boston. Our hero is learning business in the counting room of Mr. Compton. They live in a pleasant house at the South End, and Mr. Melville, restored to a very fair measure of health, is boarding, or, rather, has his home with them. He is devoting his time to literary pursuits, and I am told that he is the author of a brilliant paper in a recent number of the North American Review. Herbert finds some time for study, and, under the guidance of his friend and former employer, he has already become a very creditable scholar in French, German and English literature. He enjoys his present prosperity all the better for the hardships through which he pa.s.sed before reaching it.
THE END