Chapter 17—Good Bargains

nued,energetically.“There,myhearties(youlikeseaslang,soI'llgiveyouabit)now,Iwantyoutopromisenottoreadanymorestuffforamonth,andI'llagreetosupplyyouwithwholesomefare.” “Oh,mother,notasingleone?”criedWill. “Couldn'twejustfinishthose?”pleadedGeordie. “Theboysthrewawayhalf-smokedcigarsandyourbooksmustgoafterthem.Surelyyouwouldnotbeoutdonebythe'oldfellows,'asyoucallthem,orbelessobedienttolittleMumthantheyweretoRose.” “Coursenot!Comeon,Geordie,”andWilltookthevowlikeahero.Hisbrothersighedandobeyed,butprivatelyresolvedtofinishhisstorytheminutethemonthwasover. “Youhavelaidoutahardtaskforyourself,Jessie,intryingtoprovidegoodreadingforboyswhohavebeenlivingonsensationstories.Itwillbelikegoingfromraspberrytartstoplainbreadandbutterbutyouwillprobablysavethemfromabiliousfever,”saidDr.Alec,muchamusedattheproceedings. “Irememberhearinggrandpasaythataloveforgoodbookswasoneofthebestsafeguardsamancouldhave,”beganArchie,staringthoughtfullyatthefinelibrarybeforehim. “Yes,butthere'snotimetoreadnowadaysafellowhastokeepscratchingroundtomakemoneyorhe'snobody,”cutinCharlie,tryingtolookworldly-wise. “ThisloveofmoneyisthecurseofAmerica,andforthesakeofitmenwillsellhonourandhonesty,tillwedon'tknowwhomtotrust,anditisonlyageniuslikeAgassizwhodarestosay,'Icannotwastemytimeingettingrich,'”saidMrs.Jessiesadly. “Doyouwantustobepoor,mother?”askedArchie,wondering. “No,dear,andyouneverneedbe,whileyoucanuseyourhandsbutIamafraidofthisthirstforwealth,andthetemptationsitbrings.O,myboys!ItrembleforthetimewhenImustletyougo,becauseIthinkitwouldbreakmyhearttohaveyoufailassomanyfail.ItwouldbefareasiertoseeyoudeadifitcouldbesaidofyouasofSumner'Nomandaredofferhimabribe.'” Mrs.Jessiewassoearnestinhermotherlyanxietythathervoicefalteredoverthelastwords,andshehuggedtheyellowheadscloserinherarms,asifshefearedtoletthemleavethatsafeharbourforthegreatseawheresomanylittleboatsgodown.Theyoungerladsnestledclosertoher,andArchiesaid,inhisquiet,resoluteway, “IcannotpromisetobeanAgassizoraSumner,motherbutIdopromisetobeanhonestman,pleaseGod.” “ThenI'msatisfied!”andholdingfastthehandhegaveher,shesealedhispromisewithakissthathadallamother'shopeandfaithinit. “Idon'tseehowtheyevercanbebad,sheissofondandproudofthem,”whisperedRose,quitetouchedbythelittlescene. “Youmusthelphermakethemwhattheyshouldbe.Youhavebegunalready,andwhenIseethoseringswheretheyare,mygirlisprettierinmysightthanifthebiggestdiamondsthatevertwinkledshoneinherears,”answeredDr.Alec,lookingatherwithapprovingeyes. “I'msogladyouthinkIcandoanything,forIperfectlyachetobeusefuleveryoneissogoodtome,especiallyAuntJessie.” “Ithinkyouareinafairwaytopayyourdebts,Rosy,forwhengirlsgiveuptheirlittlevanities,andboystheirsmallvices,andtrytostrengtheneachotherinwell-doing,mattersaregoingastheyought.Workaway,mydear,andhelptheirmotherkeepthesesonsfitfriendsforaninnocentcreaturelikeyourselftheywillbethemanliermenforit,Icanassureyou.”