s delicious! Where are your
feelings, my boy? Why don't you cry?"

"Charming picture, General! Charming! but my handkerchief is fresh, and
I must save it. I may have a cold before night."

"Well, now, Toll, what's the thing to be done?"

"What do you say to soup-kitchens for the poor? They don't cost so very
much, and you get your name in the papers."

"Soup-kitchens be hanged! That's Mrs. Belcher's job. Besides, I don't
want to get up a reputation for helping the poor. They're a troublesome
lot and full of bother; I don't believe in 'em. They don't associate you
with anybody but themselves. What I want is to be in the right sort of a
crowd."

"Have you thought of a hospital?"

"Yes, I've thought of a hospital, but I don't seem to hanker after it.
To tell the truth, the hospitals are pretty well taken up already. I
might work into a board of directors by paying enough, I suppose, but it
is too much the regular thing. What I want is ministers--something
religious, you know."

"You might run a church-choir," suggested Talbot, "or, better than that,
buy a church, and turn the crank."

"Yes, but they are not quite large enough. I tell you what it is, Toll,
I believe I'm pining for a theological seminary. Ah, my heart! my heart!
If I could only tell you, Toll, how it yearns over the American people!
Can't you see, my boy, that the hope of the nation is in educated and
devoted young men? Don't you see that we are going to the devil with our
thirst for filthy lucre? Don't you understand how noble a thing it would
be for one of fortune's favorites to found an institution with his
wealth, that would bear down its blessings to unborn millions? What if
that institution should also bear his name? What if that name should be
forever associated with that which is most hallowed in our national
history? Wouldn't it pay? Eh, Toll?"

Mr. Talbot laughed.

"General, your imagination will be the death of you, but there is really
nothing impracticable in your plan. All these fellows want is your
money. They will give you everything you want for it in the way of
glory."

"I believe you; and wouldn't it be fun for the General? I vow I must
indulge. I'm getting tired of horses; and these confounded suppers don't
agree with me. It's a theological seminary or nothing. The tides of my
destiny, Toll--you understand--the tides of my destiny tend in that
direction, and I resign my bark to their sway. I'm going to be a
founder, and I fe