the East."

"Do you favor his going, then, Mark?"

"Not against your will, Mary. Indeed, I should not feel justified in
increasing the mortgage upon our little property against your wish. That
concerns us all."

"I don't think so much of that. I am so afraid Tom would get sick in
California. What would become of the poor boy in that case?"

"That is a mother's thought. I think Tom would find friends, who would
not let him suffer. He is a manly, attractive boy, though he is ours,
and I think he is well calculated to make his way."

"That he is," said his mother proudly. "No one can help liking Tom."

"Then you see he is likely to find friends. Were he such a boy as
Sinclair Hudson, I should feel afraid that he would fare badly, if he
stood in need of help from others. Sinclair is certainly a very
disagreeable boy."

"Yes, he is; and he isn't half as smart as Tom."

"A mother's vanity," said Mark Nelson, smiling. "However, you are right
there. I should consider it a misfortune to have such a cross-grained,
selfish son as Sinclair. Squire Hudson, with all his wealth, is not
fortunate in his only child. There is considerable resemblance between
father and son. I often wish that some one else than the squire held the
mortgage on our farm."

"You don't think he would take advantage of you?"

"I don't think he would be very lenient to me if I failed to pay
interest promptly. He has a grudge against me, you know."

"That is nonsense," said Mrs. Nelson, blushing, for she understood the
allusion.

"I am glad he doesn't ask me to give him a mortgage on you, Mary."

"He has forgotten all that," said Mrs. Nelson. "I am no longer young and
pretty."

"I think you more attractive than ever," said the husband.

"Because you are foolish," said his wife; but she was well pleased,
nevertheless. Poor as her husband was, she had never dreamed of
regretting her choice.

"Be it so; but about this affair of Tom--what shall I say to him in the
morning?"

Mrs. Nelson recovered her gravity instantly.

"Decide as you think right, Mark," she said. "If you judge that Tom had
better go I will do my best to become reconciled to his absence, and set
about getting him ready."

"It is a great responsibility, Mary," said Mark slowly; "but I accept
it. Let the boy go, if he wishes. He will leave our care, but we can
trust him to the care of his heavenly Father, who will be as near to him
in California as at home."

Thus Tom's fut