I was tempted to do it. But I at
first said 'No.' When I heard that my son was making a home for himself
here, I again was tempted to do it. But I said, 'No.' I could not sell
myself.

"Then there came a letter from Brother Josiah. It said: 'I have another
son. We have named him Benjamin, after you. We have named you as his
godfather.'

"Then I sat down on the side of the bed in my room, and the tears fell.

"'_We have named him Benjamin_'--how those words went to my heart!"

"It was the first time that you ever heard of me, wasn't it, uncle?"

"Yes, yes; it makes me happy to hear you say that. And you will never
forget me, will you, Ben?"

"Never, uncle, if I live to be eighty years old! But, uncle, you sold
the pamphlets!"

"Yes. When I read your name in Josiah's letter I felt a weight lifted
from my mind. I said to myself that I would part with myself--that is,
the pamphlets--for you."

"Did you sell them for me, uncle?"

"Yes, I sold them for you, Benjamin."

"What was the man's name that bought them, uncle?"

"I hoped that you would ask me that. His name was Axel. Repeat it, Ben."

"Axel."

"It is a hard name to forget."

"I shall never forget it, uncle."

"Ben, you may go to London sometime."

"We are all poor now."

"But you have _personality_, and people who look out for others are
needed by others for many things. Maybe they will sometime send you
there."

"Who, uncle?"

"Oh, I don't know. But if ever you should go to London, go to all the
old bookstores, and what name will you look for?"

"Axel, uncle."

"Ben, those are not books; they are myself. I sold myself when I sold
them--I sold myself for you. Axel, Ben, Axel."

Little Ben repeated "Axel," and wondered if he would ever see London or
meet with his uncle in those pamphlets which the latter claimed to be
his other self.

"Axel," he repeated, pinching Baby Jane's cheek. Baby Jane laughed in
the sunlight on the blue sea when she saw the excitement in Ben's face.

The tide was coming in, the boat was rocking, and Ben said:

"We must go home now, for Jenny's sake."

CHAPTER X.

THE STONE WHARF, AND LADY WIGGLEWORTH, WHO FELL ASLEEP IN CHURCH.

Did little Ben's trumpet and gun indicate that he would become a
statesman whose cause would employ armies? We do not know. The free will
of a boy on the playground is likely to present a picture of his leading
traits of character. In old New England days there was a custom