won't you?"
(pushing a plate toward him.) "I like it better than all the French stuff
that was ever made, and Mabel keeps me liberally supplied. You look
awfully down in the mouth, Ramsay, as though you'd enjoy howling like the
lone wolf on far Alaska's shore, if you were sure nobody was looking.
Suppose you tell me what has impaled you. Is it love, money, or
indigestion, old fellow?"

The words were light, but the tone hearty and kind; and, thus encouraged,
Mr. Ramsay laid bare his woes, Mr. Ketchum listening attentively, and
saying, when he had finished, "I know; I know. When I thought I had lost
Mabel once, I carried the universe around on a sore back all day, and then
my heart would get up on its hind legs and yelp half the night; and there
have been other times when I got caught in the machinery, and I know how
it hurts, I think of those times often. They grind a man down to the quick,
and send the chaff flying: they teach him valuable lessons. I remember I
started out in life with two violent prejudices,--one against Jews, and
the other against Roman Catholics. Well, in the greatest strait I have
ever known, the Christian that came to my relief was a Jew in a town of
seven thousand people; and when I had the smallpox a Sister of Charity
took me to the hospital and nursed me, when every one had deserted me and
left me to die or live without any meddling from them to bias me in my
decision. After that I said to myself, 'Job Ketchum, if the Lord can make
and stand as great a fool as you have been, he can make plenty of good
Jews and Roman Catholics, and if they have got his hall-mark they can do
without your valuable endorsement; and when smelting-day comes I reckon
you'll find that the Protestant quartz won't pan out _all_ the silver that
has been put in the earth's veins. You needn't go around blushing for
David and Thomas ?Kempis any longer, my son. Take a holiday.' My advice to
you, Ramsay, is to keep a stiff upper lip. Perhaps the buzz-saw has only
got your clothes, and you will be all right when you cut loose; but if it
has got _you_, all you can do is to stand and take it, and if you can
remember who set it going it will be better for you."

The last phrase Mr. Ketchum got out in a shamefaced way, as if very much
ashamed of it, as indeed he was; but Mr. Ramsay was the better for the
talk, and, though not "a readin' man," had easily understood the
illuminated characters in this page of human experience. He bri