m, he took out from a small drawer, where he kept
his choicest treasures, the sketch of the underground picnic party that
Paul had drawn down in the mine, and given him while they were
imprisoned together in the darkness. It was soiled and a little torn,
but every spot of grime upon it was a memento of that terrible
experience; and though the picture was of recent origin, associations
were already clustered so thickly about it that to Derrick it was a
priceless treasure.

Showing it to his mother, he asked what she thought of it.

"I think it is capital!" she exclaimed.

Then Derrick told her the story of the sketch, of Paul's longing to be
an artist, and his dread of going into the mine again. He ended by
saying, "Now, mother, when I go to Philadelphia to prepare for college,
can't Polly go with me and study to be an artist? He won't be very
expensive, and I'm sure we're going to have money enough for all."

"Of course he can, Derrick. I would much rather you had a companion than
to go alone, and I know you two will enjoy much together, and be of
great help to each other. As for the money, dear, I would rather remain
poor all my life than not have you willing to share whatever you have
with those who need it. The longer you live, Derrick, the more fully you
will realize that the greatest pleasure to be gained from money is by
spending it for the happiness of others."

So it was settled that Derrick and Paul should go to Philadelphia
together, and Paul made such haste to get strong, so as to hear the
whole story, that it had to be told to him that very evening.

By the next morning, when Mr. Halford called upon the Sterlings to
receive their answer to his offer, they had already in imagination spent
so much of the money they expected to receive from him that it would
have been impossible for them to say anything but "Yes," even if they
had wanted to.

Mr. Halford was greatly pleased with the plans made for Derrick and
Paul, and promised to look out for them in Philadelphia, secure a
pleasant boarding-place for them, and see that they got into the best
schools in the city. He said they ought to start as soon as possible,
for the autumn terms were about to begin. Before he left he handed Mrs.
Sterling a check for a larger amount of money than she had ever in her
life possessed. He said she might find it convenient for immediate use
while the necessary steps for the transfer of the little Crawford County
farm to th