udent man, and when the proposal was made
him by the two proprietors to join them in the enterprise, he was
disinclined to do so. They were irreligious men, stirring, energetic
workers, but devoid of interest in "things unseen," and therefore
could not be expected to care for the present and future moral
condition of the settlement. Yet we should do them the justice to say
that they were not indifferent to the religious welfare of their
village, only that, not being religious men, they would not take the
matter in charge themselves; they needed a leader, both to plan and to
set a wholesome example, and this was one reason for their asking Mr.
Palmer to become a partner. This reason was a weighty one with him;
but before deciding the question, he consulted with Mr. Payson.

Laying the whole matter before him, he asked,--

"What do you think of my engaging in this thing?"

"I do hope," he answered, "that, if you can make it pecuniarily
successful, you will become a town owner. I should feel that I had a
pillar to lean upon in all my endeavors for the social and religious
good of this people, and it seems to me that there can be no risk in
it; we have everything here to make a town,--water-power, timber,
limestone quarries for building material, abundance of clean prairie
land for agricultural purposes, and sooner or later a railroad must
pass very near here, as it is on the great travelled route to the
important points west and north. Emigration is coming in well; we have
a religious meeting established, and I hope soon we shall have a
school."

"That is the way it seems to me," said Mr. Palmer; "and it appears
also, that I might do a great deal of good by using aright the power a
town owner might have."

So he decided to make the investment. But mishap after mishap occurred
to thwart the enterprises of the town owners; and while their expenses
were large, the returns were so small that Mr. Palmer came to the
preacher one day, and with emotion said,--

"Mr. Payson, I fear I shall have to disappoint you about the money I
promised to let you have for the building of your cottage."

This was a heavy blow to the missionary, and his friend knew too well
that it would be, for Mr. Payson had set his heart on having a
comfortable home provided for his family when they should arrive. Many
a pleasant bit of correspondence had passed between himself and wife
on the subject of the pretty white cottage, on the eighty-acre lot