very confusing, but by degrees order was
reduced out of chaos to my understanding, and I learned to take a keen
interest in the points submitted to me for my decision. At first I felt
some humiliation in perceiving that my opinion was consulted merely
from form and courtesy,--or, more roughly, because the law required it.
I was forced to laugh and shake my head and acknowledge that I was not
capable of judging. I had hoped that I knew enough to be of service
sometimes, and the consciousness of my ignorance spurred me to
determined exertions to overcome the deficiency. Contrary to our
compact, I read and studied at home books relating to financial and
economical matters; I concealed railway reports in my muff, and tried
various artifices to acquire knowledge unbeknown to Mr. Chelm. But it
was chiefly to his kindness and unwearying attention that I owed the
proficiency I gradually acquired; and I think it was as genuine a
pleasure to him as to me, when at last I was able, with a moderate
degree of confidence, to choose for myself between two lines of conduct.
I often asked myself what I should have done had I attempted to act
alone from the start.

But it was not long before another interest incident to and growing out
of this began to occupy my thoughts and time. The bulk of my daily mail
was increased by subscription lists and circulars soliciting my
assistance to every kind of charity and enterprise. People whom I had
never seen, came to the house to ask aid for struggling talent. I was
importuned with begging letters from victims to all sorts of distress.
Zealous philanthropists wrote that they had taken the liberty of putting
down my name as a member of their societies, and that the annual
assessment was now due and payable. Here again I had recourse to the
counsel of Mr. Chelm, whose experience, as I have hinted, radiated
beyond the limits of his lucrative practice, and who was not only
liberal toward the poor, but familiar with their needs. From him I
obtained a variety of hints and suggestions that enabled me to give my
money and time intelligently, and also to refuse them without remorse. I
was very glad of this new duty, which easily became a great pleasure
despite my occasional disgust at the impertinence of some applicants
when it was discovered that I was ready to subscribe freely. I was not
however satisfied with the easy work of giving, but soon passed from the
passive act of signing cheques to active work