Andy Grant's Pluck Read online

  CHAPTER III.

  ANDY LEAVES THE ACADEMY.

  "You need to raise three thousand dollars, I believe, Neighbor Grant?"began the squire.

  "Yes, squire."

  "Three thousand dollars is a good deal of money."

  "I realize that," said Mr. Grant, sadly.

  "I was about to say it is a good deal to raise on the security of thefarm."

  "The farm cost me six thousand dollars."

  "It would fetch only five thousand now. It wouldn't fetch that at aforced sale."

  "But for my losses, I wouldn't consider an offer of less than sixthousand."

  "Of course, you are attached to it, and that gives it a fancy value inyour eyes."

  "It is good land and productive. Then, it is well situated, and thebuildings are good."

  "Well, tolerable," said the squire, cautiously. "However, that's neitherhere nor there. You want three thousand dollars, and I have agreed tolet you have it. I will take a mortgage for two years, the interestbeing, as usual, six per cent."

  "Two years?" repeated Farmer Grant, uneasily.

  "Yes. I am not sure that I can spare the money longer than two years. Igive you that time to pay it off."

  "But it will be impossible for me to pay it off in two years. In fact,it will take all my income to live and pay the interest."

  "Of course that isn't my lookout."

  "Do you mean that you will foreclose in two years?"

  "Not necessarily. I may not need the money so soon. Besides, you mayfind some one else to take it off my hands."

  "Can't you say five years, squire?" pleaded the farmer.

  Squire Carter shook his head.

  "No; you can take it or leave it. I am not at all anxious to take themortgage, and if my terms are not agreeable, we will consider thenegotiations at an end."

  "I won't make any difficulty, squire; I accept your terms."

  "That is sensible. I can't, for my part, see how five years would havebeen more favorable to you than two."

  "My son Andrew is sixteen. By the time he is twenty-one he might helpme."

  "There's not much chance of that--unless he marries a fortune," said thesquire, jocosely. "I suppose you will keep him at home to help you onthe farm?"

  "We haven't talked the matter over yet. I will consult his wishes as faras I can. He can't earn much money on the farm. What are you going to dowith your son?"

  "Conrad will probably be a merchant, or a banker," said the squire,pompously.

  "With your means you can select any path in life for him."

  "True; as my son he will have a great advantage. Well, as our businessis arranged, I will leave you. If you will call at Lawyer Tower's officeto-morrow at noon the papers can be drawn up, and I will give you acheck for the money."

  "Thank you, squire. I will meet the appointment."

  "If you don't want Andrew to work on the farm I will turn over his casein my mind and see if I can get him a position."

  "Thank you. I should be glad to have him well started in some businesswhere he can raise himself."

  As the term of the academy was so nearly completed, Andy went back withhis father's permission, to remain till vacation. He sought an interviewat once with Dr. Crabb, the principal, and informed him of thenecessity he was under of leaving the institution.

  "I am really sorry, Andrew," said the doctor. "You are one of my bestpupils. I am not sure but the best. There is scarcely one that I wouldnot sooner lose. I shall be willing to take you for half price--that is,for one hundred and fifty dollars--till you are ready for college."

  "Thank you, Dr. Crabb," replied Andy, gratefully. "You are very kind,but even that sum my father, in his changed circumstances, would beunable to pay. Besides, it would be quite out of my power to go tocollege even if I were prepared."

  "It is a thousand pities," said the principal, with concern. "If youmust leave, you must. I am not sure but I should be willing to take yougratuitously."

  "Thank you; but I feel that I ought to go to work at once to help myfather. It is not enough that I free him from expense."

  "No doubt you are right. I respect you for your determination. You neednot hesitate to apply to me at any time in the future if you see any wayin which I can be of service to you."

  "I think it will help me if you will give me a letter of recommendation,which I can show to any one from whom I seek employment."

  "I will give you such a letter with great pleasure;" and the doctor,sitting down at his desk, wrote a first-class recommendation of hisfavorite pupil.

  There was general regret in the academy when it was learned that Andymust leave them. One little boy of twelve--Dudley Cameron, a specialfavorite of Andy--came to him to ask if there was no way by which hecould manage to stay.

  "No, Dudley! I am too poor," said Andy.

  "If I write to papa and ask him to send you a thousand dollars, will youstay?" asked the little boy, earnestly.

  "No, Dudley; you mustn't do anything of the kind. Even if your fatherliked me as well as you do, and would give me the money, I could nottake it. I must go to work to help my father."

  "You will write to me sometimes, Andy?"

  "Yes; I will be sure to do that."

  The little fellow's warm-hearted offer, and the expressions of sympathyand regret on the part of his schoolmates, cheered Andy. It was pleasantto think that he would be missed.

  On the closing day he received the first prize for scholarship from thehands of Dr. Crabb.

  "You will take my best wishes with you, Andy," said the venerableprincipal. "Let me hear from you when you have made any businessarrangement."

  The farewells were said, and Andy set out on his return home.

  He was leaving the old life behind him. A new one lay before him, butwhat it was to be he could not foresee.

  He reached Arden in due course and set out to walk home. He had barelystarted when he heard his name called.

  Looking around, he saw Conrad Carter, the squire's only son, on hisbicycle.

  "So you've come home from the academy?" said Conrad, curiously.

  "Yes," answered Andy, briefly.

  He never could bring himself to like Conrad, who made himself offensiveand unpopular by his airs of superiority. Indeed, there was no boy inArden so thoroughly disliked as Conrad.

  "You'll have a pretty long vacation," went on Conrad, with a significantlaugh.

  "Yes, I suppose so."

  "Oh, well, it's the best thing for you. I thought it foolish when yourfather sent you off to the academy. If the Arden grammar school is goodenough for me it is good enough for you."

  "There is nothing to prevent your going to the academy."

  "I know that. My father could afford it, even if it cost a good dealmore. You wanted to go to college, didn't you?"

  "Yes."

  "It was very foolish for a poor boy like you."

  "Of course your age and experience make your opinion of value," saidAndy, with a sarcasm which he did not care to conceal.

  "I advise you not to be too independent," returned Conrad, displeased."Are you going to work on the farm?"

  "I may till I get a situation."

  "I'll speak to father. He might take you for an errand boy."

  "I don't think that place would suit me."

  "Why not?"

  "I want to go into some mercantile establishment and learn business."

  "That's what I am going to do when I get through school. Of course thereis no hurry in my case."

  "I suppose not."

  "I suppose you know that my father has taken a mortgage on your father'sfarm?"

  "Yes, I know that."

  "If your father can't pay the mortgage when it is due, father will haveto take the farm."

  Andy made no answer, but thought Conrad more disagreeable than ever. Byway of changing the conversation, he said:

  "That's a new bicycle, isn't it?"

  "Yes; I got tired of the old one. This is a very expensive one.Wouldn
't you like to own a bicycle?"

  "Yes."

  "Of course, you never will."

  "Then I must be content without one."

  "Well, I must leave you. I'll come around soon and see you ride a horseto plow."

  As Conrad sped away on his wheel, Andy said to himself:

  "I shouldn't like to be rich if it made me as disagreeable as Conrad."