matter how
humble he be, need despair of being useful to his fellows. They 've got
many a lesson out of history to give a people who are just as ambitious,
just as encroaching, and twice as warlike as the Athenians, about not
neglecting private morality in the search after national greatness.
What is the lecturer but the pioneer to the preacher? In clearing away
ignorance and superstition, ain't he making way for the army of truth
that's coming up? Now I tell you, sir, that ain't a thing to be ashamed
of!"

Layton was silent; not convinced, it is true, but restrained, from
respect for the other's ardor, from venturing on a reply too lightly.
Quackinboss, after a brief pause, went on:--

"Well, it is possible what I said about the profit riled you. Well,
then, don't take the dollars; or take them, and give them, as some
of our Western men do, to some object of public good,--if you 're rich
enough."

"Rich enough! I'm a beggar," broke in Layton, bitterly, "I 'm at this
instant indebted to you for more than, perhaps, years of labor may
enable me to repay."

"I put it all down in a book, sir," said Quackinboss, sternly, "and I
threw it in the fire the first night you read out Homer to me. I said to
myself, 'You are well paid, Shaver, old fellow. You never knew how your
heart could be shaken that way, and what brave feelings were lying there
still, inside of it.'"

"Nay, dear friend, it is not thus I 'm to acquit my debt Even the
moneyed one--"

"I tell you what, Layton," said Quackinboss, rising, and striking the
table with his clenched fist, "there's only one earthly way to part us,
and that is by speaking to me of this. Once, and forever, I say to you,
there's more benefit to a man like me to be your companion for a week,
than for _you_ to have toiled, and fevered, and sweated after gold, as I
have done for thirty hard years."

"Give me a day or two to think over it," said Layton, "and I 'll tell
you my resolve."

"With all my heart! Only, I would ask you not to take my showing of its
goodness, but to reason the thing well out of your own clear head.
Many a just cause is lost by a bad lawyer; remember that" And thus the
discussion ended for the time.

The following morning, when they met at breakfast, Lay-ton took the
other's hand, and said,--

"I 've thought all night of what you 've said, and I accept,--not
without many a misgiving as regards myself, but I accept."

"I'd not take ten thousand dollars fo