“I thank you, Morris; I thank you, very much; but I cannot think of accepting such assistance from you; I know that even you and your family must have suffered something from this long frost; and I cannot take the gift.”

“Law, Miss Hannah,” interrupted the honest fellow, “I never presumed to think of such a piece of impertinence as to offer it to you as a gift!  I only make free to beg you will take it as an advance on account of young Ishmael’s wages, as he’ll be sure to earn; for, bless you, miss, work is a-pouring in on top of me like the cataract of Niagara itself!  And I shall want all his help.  And as I mayn’t have the money to pay him all at once, I would consider of it as a favor to a poor man if you would take this much of me in advance,” said the professor.

Now whether Hannah was really deceived by the benevolent diplomacy of the good professor or not, I do not know; but at any rate her sensitive pride was hushed by the prospect held out of Ishmael’s labor paying for the provisions, and—­as she had not tasted meat for three weeks and her very soul longed for a savory “rasher,” she replied: 

“Oh, very well, Morris, if you will take the price out of Ishmael’s wages, I will accept the things and thank you kindly too; for to be candid with so good a friend as yourself, I was wanting a bit of broiled bacon.”

“Law, Miss Hannah!  It will be the greatest accommodation of me as ever was,” replied the unscrupulous professor.

Ishmael understood it all.

“Indeed, professor,” he said, “I think Israel Putnam would have approved of you.”

“Well, young Ishmael, I don’t know; when I mean well, my acts often work evil; and sometimes I don’t even mean well!  But it wasn’t to talk of myself as I came here this morning; but to talk to you.  You see I promised to go over to Squire Hall’s and do several jobs for him to-morrow forenoon; and to-morrow afternoon I have got to go to old Mr. Truman’s; and to-morrow night I have to lead the exercises at the colored people’s missionary meeting at Colonel Mervin’s.  And as all that will be a long day’s work I shall have to make a pretty early start in the morning; and of course as I shall want you to go with me, I shall expect you to be at my house as early as six o’clock in the morning!  Can you do it?”

“Oh, yes, professor,” answered Ishmael, so promptly and cheerfully that Morris laid his hand upon the boy’s head and smiled upon him as he said, addressing Hannah: 

“I take great comfort in this boy, Miss Hannah!  I look upon him a’most as my own son and the prop of my declining years; and I hope to prepare him to succeed me in my business, when I know he will do honor to the profession.  Ah, Miss Hannah, I feel that I am not as young as I used to be; in fact that I am rather past my first youth; being about fifty-two years of age; professional duties wear a man, Miss Hannah!  But when I look at this boy I am consoled!  I say to myself, though I have no son, I shall have a successor who will do credit to my memory, my teachings, and my profession!  I say, that, fall when it may, my mantle will fall upon his shoulders!” concluded Jim with emotion.  And like all other great orators, after having produced his finest effect, he made his exit.