the mansion-第2节
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ledger。〃
His mother moved uneasily； and a slight look of bewilderment
came into her face。
〃Isn't that almost irreverent？〃 she asked。 〃Surely the righteous
must have their reward。 And your father is good。 See how much
he gives to all the established charities； how many things he has
founded。
He's always thinking of others； and planning for them。 And
surely；
for us； he does everything。 How well he has planned this trip
to Europe for me and the girlsthe court…presentation at Berlin；
the season on the Riviera； the visits in England with the
Plumptons and
the Halverstones。 He says Lord Halverstone has the finest
old house in Sussex； pure Elizabethan； and all the old customs
are
kept up； toofamily prayers every morning for all the domestics。
By…the…way； you know his son Bertie； I believe。〃
Harold smiled a little to himself as he answered： 〃Yes； I fished
at
Catalina Island last June with the Honorable Ethelbert；
he's rather a decent chap； in spite of his ingrowing mind。
But you？mother； you are simply magnificent！ You are
father's masterpiece。〃 The young man leaned over to kiss her；
and went up to the Riding Club for his afternoon canter in the
Park。
So it came to pass； early in December； that Mrs。 Weightman and
her two daughters sailed for Europe； on their serious pleasure
trip；
even as it had been written in the book of Providence； and John
Weightman；
who had made the entry； was left to pass the rest of the winter
with
his son and heir in the brownstone mansion。
They were comfortable enough。 The machinery of the massive
establishment
ran as smoothly as a great electric dynamo。 They were busy
enough； too。
John Weightman's plans and enterprises were complicated； though
his
principle of action was always simpleto get good value for
every expenditure and effort。 The banking…house of which he was
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
