of ten years' rent for inconvenient flats and houses
rose in his memory and urged him to buy land and build for himself.
This finally resulted in the following letter to the old friend to whom
he always went in any financial emergency, and from whom he never came
empty handed away:

DEAR MR. GRAY: An experience of a good many years has convinced me
that the best way to deal with one's fellow-creatures, and
particularly with one's friends, is directly and candidly. This is
one of the several considerations which lead me to write to you now
asking you whether it be within your power (and also whether it be
your willingness) to help me buy a home in Chicago. Julia has been
at me for a year to ask this of you. I have hesitated to do so in
the fear that the application might seem to be an attempt to take
advantage of your friendship for me--a friendship manifested in many
ways and covering a period of many years. Perhaps, however, we can
now look at the matter more as a business proposition than would
have been possible a year or two ago, for I am at last in a position
to pay interest promptly on a considerable amount of money. To be
more explicit, the sum of One Hundred and Fifty Dollars ($150) is
set aside monthly by the Record toward what Mr. Lawson calls my
"building fund," which sum the Record is prepared to guarantee and
pay to anybody making me the loan of money necessary to secure the
home I want.

I am very anxious for a habitation of my own. The desire is one that
gives me no peace, and I see no other way to its fulfilment than
through the liberality of any friend, or friends, with money to
lend. Before setting my heart upon any locality, or upon any
particular spot, it is wise that I should know whether and where the
assistance I need can be had. My first application is to you, and I
make it timidly, for, as I have said, it is very distasteful to me
to do that which may look like imposing upon friendship. In case you
found it possible and feasible to aid me, I should want you to come
to Chicago and take a look over the field with Julia and me.

We are fairly well. With every cordial regard,

Yours affectionately,

EUGENE FIELD.
Buena Park, September 16th, 1893.

There had ever been but one response from Mr. Gray to such an appeal as
this from his quondam ward, and Field was not disappointed this time.
But _l'homme propose et Dieu dispose_; and