ay the world was planned,
some to be rich and some to be poor--Think how rich King Solomon was!
And your dear father!--some to work and some not, with changes round
about once in a while, like in my case, and crosses and trials and
temptations belonging to every state, and the love of God and a quiet
heart possible in every state. And I've always had such respect for
moneyed people and their refined ways.... But if you want me to start in
now and do differently from what I've been doing, I tell you truly, I
don't know how I'm going to do it, Tom. I'd rather not have the money at
all."

"You won't have it, Nell, dear. You've only to keep on, and you won't
have it."

"All right. Then I'll go back to work and never happier in my life. I'm
strong and able, I've got years of work in me. And if you think I've
grown so devoted to all these frills that I couldn't give them up,
you'll see!"

"Of course I haven't the faintest right to control your use of your
money--"

"But of course you have, Tom,"--her tone changed at once, and was
eagerly humble,--"every right. You can take it away from me any moment
you please. Who has a right, I should like to know, if not you?"

"Well, then, Nell, I'm going to make a suggestion. What you have said
shows me that simple advice would be of no use in this case. Don't
think, girl, that I don't get at your way of seeing the matter. If I
appear cold toward it, if I don't seem to sympathize, it's because the
logical results would land you in a hole from which I'd feel a call by
and by to try to pull you out. See?--As a promise to keep inside of your
income would apparently embitter life to you, I won't ask for it, merely
suggesting the fitness of trying to observe such a restriction. Even as
regards your power to throw it away, there'll be a lot more of it to
throw if you respect your capital. However, the money is yours, to do
exactly what you please with, but this I ask: empower me to turn some
part of it into an annuity, unalienable and modestly sufficient."

"An annuity? What's that?"

"A sum of money so fixed that you receive the interest as long as you
live and have no power over the sum itself. It's not yours to use, to
transfer or yet to bequeath. In your case the one safe investment, the
single way I see to keep you out of the poorhouse."

"Do you say so! All right, Tom; do what you think best. But see here.
Whatever you arrange for me that way, you've got to arrange for Hattie,