CHAPTER XVIII.
TOM'S OLD HOME.
Leaving Tom for a time, we will cross the continent, and, a littleearlier in point of time, look in upon Mark Nelson and his family attheir humble home in New Hampshire.
For years Mr. Nelson had been struggling to provide a comfortable livingfor his wife and children. The struggle was not an easy one. His smallfarm was sterile, and yielded grudgingly its annual crops. Then themortgage held by Squire Hudson imposed a burden of interest very hard tomeet. Each half year sixty-six dollars must be raised somehow to satisfythe squire's demand. Though a rich man, with ready money in plenty, henever failed to call for his money on the very day it was due. Once ortwice he had granted a delay of a day or two; but his manner was sounpleasant that the farmer, except from dire necessity, was hardlylikely to ask a renewal of the favor.
The six months immediately following Tom's departure from home were notfavorable to his father. There was a drought of considerable duration,which made the crops smaller than usual, and thus materially decreasedthe farmer's income. When the semi-annual interest became due, with themost energetic effort Mark Nelson had got together but thirty-sixdollars towards it, leaving a deficit of thirty dollars.
"I feel anxious about to-morrow, Mary," he said, as the little familysat together the night before in the plain sitting-room. "I have neverbeen so much behindhand before with the interest."
"How much do you lack, Mark?" asked Mrs. Nelson.
"Thirty dollars."
"That is a good deal of money," said his wife, gravely.
"Yes; I don't know where to raise it. If Squire Hudson were only alittle considerate. But he isn't, and, even if he were, I am afraidthere is no prospect of my raising the money at present."
"You may get some money from Tom soon," suggested Sarah.
"I can't rely upon that. Tom will doubtless send when he is able, for heunderstands my circumstances, and is a thoughtful boy; but it is goingto take time for him to earn a surplus--enough to send on."
"He may find a big nugget," said Walter, the second boy, who eagerlyread the letters from California which from time to time appeared in theweekly paper.
"He _may_, but the chances are against it."
"I was reading in last week's paper about a man finding a nugget worthover two thousand dollars."
"Such nuggets are as rare as large prizes in a lottery, I suspect," saidMark Nelson, who had a large share of plain common-sense.
Walter looked rather disappointed, having made up his mind that Tomwould certainly find a big lump of gold, and come home rich.
"Don't you think Tom will find some gold?" he asked.
"Yes, I have no doubt he will gather some gold-dust. I have no doubt,too, that he will earn more than he or I can do at home; but I haven'tmuch faith in these extraordinary pieces of good luck."
"Still, Tom _may_ find a nugget," persisted Walter.
"Yes, he _may_, and I shall be very glad if he does; but we must notbuild too many air-castles on that chance."
"I wish I could see the dear boy again," sighed his mother, looking upfrom the stocking she was laboriously darning.
"So do I," said Walter. "He would have a lot to tell us."
"California seems so far away," resumed Mrs. Nelson, "and he has no onethere to look after him, and mend his clothes--"
"And darn his stockings," said Walter, smiling.
"If he walked all the way across the continent," said Sarah, "I don'tbelieve he would have larger holes in his stockings than you have,Walter."
"Oh, well, I exercise a good deal," said Walter. "Ask father if Idon't."
"Walter will be more successful as a farmer than as a scholar," said Mr.Nelson. "He helps me a good deal."
"Tom was a good scholar," said Sarah, "and he was always ready to worktoo. Walter will never astonish or electrify the world by his learning."
"I don't want to," said her brother. "It isn't in my line."
"That's true enough."
"Don't tease Walter," said Mrs. Nelson. "He helps your father a gooddeal, and he is not a dunce."
"Thank you, mother, for taking my part. Sarah is going to be astrong-minded woman. I should not wonder if she came out as a lectureron 'Woman's Rights' some time. I think I see her, with a pair ofiron-bowed spectacles on her nose, and her back hair tied up in a bigknot, flinging her arms about, and--"
"That'll do, Walter," said Sarah. "It is an unusually powerful effortfor you. I have no desire to lecture on 'Woman's Rights,' though I thinkthey ought to have them all the same."
"I guess you'll get yours. You'll make your husband stand round, if youever get one."
Sarah laughed good-naturedly, and retorted, "I shall pity your wife, ifshe has to darn your stockings."
The next day about dinner-time Squire Hudson walked up to the frontdoor, and knocked. His approach was witnessed, not without trepidation,for he was not an easy creditor.
The squire looked about him searchingly as he entered. He suspected thatthe interest was not ready, and the farmer's grave face confirmed hissuspicions. That he was glad of this of course Mark Nelson did notdream, for he was not aware of his creditor's deep-laid plans.
"A fine day!" said the squire, with suavity. "I hope you are well, Mrs.Nelson."
"Pretty well, thank you, sir."
"Have you heard from Tom lately?"
"Yes; he had just reached California."
"Then of course he could not say anything of his prospects?"
"It was too soon."
"You must miss him a good deal--all of you."
"I am thinking of him all the time," said Mrs. Nelson.
"To be sure, that is natural in a mother. But if the boy does well, thatwill repay you hereafter."
"If I only felt sure he would do well."
"Oh, he is young and industrious. He will be sure to make his way. He'lllike it too. Why, my Sinclair envies him the chance of leaving home. Hewanted to go with him."
"Sinclair would not like to go in the same way as Tom, with the prospectof having to work hard after he got there," said Mark Nelson.
"To be sure not, neighbor Nelson. My boy has never been brought up towork. My circumstances--ahem!--have not made it necessary."
"Sinclair is fortunate in having a rich father," said the farmer.
"So I tell him," said the squire, complacently. "His fortune is alreadymade."
"What are you going to do with him, squire?"
"Oh, I shall make a professional man of him,--a lawyer, most likely,"said the rich man, complacently. "I can give him a suitable income tillhe gets into a paying practice."
"That will be a good many years," thought Sarah, "unless Sinclair worksharder than he has lately at school;" but the shrewd young lady keptthis thought to herself.
One by one wife and children left the room, for it was well understoodthat the squire came on business, and would be likely to desire aprivate interview with the farmer. They went into the kitchen, closingthe door behind them, and awaited anxiously the result of theinterview.
"I do hope Squire Hudson will be considerate," said Mrs. Nelson,anxiously.
"I am afraid he won't be, mother," said Sarah. "He is a hard man."
"Sinclair puts on no end of airs," said Walter. "By the way he strutsround you would think he owned the whole town. You had better set yourcap for him, Sarah, for he will be rich some day."
"I would rather be an old maid than marry him," said Sarah, decidedly.
"Very likely your wish will be gratified," said her brother.
Mrs. Nelson did not smile at this sally, for her mind was too full ofanxiety.
The Young Miner; Or, Tom Nelson in California Page 18