OD FORTUNE.

"I have another call to make, Rodney," said Mr. Pettigrew, as they were
on their way back to the hotel, "and I want you to go with me."

"I shall be glad to accompany you anywhere, Mr. Pettigrew."

"You remember I told you of the old minister whose church I attended as
a boy. He has never received but four hundred dollars a year, yet he
has managed to rear a family, but has been obliged to use the strictest
economy."

"Yes, I remember."

"I am going to call on him, and I shall take the opportunity to make
him a handsome present. It will surprise him, and I think it will be the
first present of any size that he has received in his pastorate of over
forty years.

"There he lives!" continued Jefferson, pointing out a very modest
cottage on the left hand side of the road.

It needed painting badly, but it looked quite as well as the minister
who came to the door in a ragged dressing gown. He was venerable
looking, for his hair was quite white, though he was only sixty five
years old. But worldly cares which had come upon him from the difficulty
of getting along on his scanty salary had whitened his hair and deepened
the wrinkles on his kindly face.

"I am glad to see you, Jefferson," he said, his face lighting up with
pleasure. "I heard you were in town and I hoped you wouldn't fail to
call upon me."

"I was sure to call, for you were always a good friend to me as well as
many others."

"I always looked upon you as one of my boys, Jefferson. I hear that you
have been doing well."

"Yes, Mr. Canfield. I have done better than I have let people know."

"Have you been to see your uncle? Poor man, he is in trouble."

"He is no longer in trouble. The mortgage is paid off, and as far as
Squire Sheldon is concerned he is independent."

"Indeed, that is good news," said the old minister with beaming face.
"You must surely have done well if you could furnish money enough to
clear the farm. It was over a thousand dollars, wasn't it?"

"Yes, thirteen hundred. My young friend, Rodney Ropes, and myself
managed it between us."

"I am glad to see you, Mr. Ropes. Come in both of you. Mrs. Canfield
will be glad to welcome you."

They followed him into the sitting room, the floor of which was
covered by an old and faded carpet. The furniture was of the plainest
description. But it looked pleasant and homelike, and the papers and
books that were scattered about made it more attractive to a visitor
than man