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〃Mother；〃 he said； 〃you have a wonderful hand。 And father made
no mistake
when he won you。 But are you sure he has always been so
inerrant？〃
〃Harold；〃 she exclaimed； a little stiffly； 〃what do you mean？
His life is an open book。〃
〃Oh；〃 he answered； 〃I don't mean anything bad； mother dear。
I know the governor's life is an open booka ledger； if you
like；
kept in the best bookkeeping hand； and always ready for
inspectionevery page correct； and showing a handsome balance。
But isn't it a mistake not to allow us to make our own mistakes；
to learn for ourselves； to live our own lives？ Must we be
always working for 'the balance；' in one thing or another？
I want to be myselfto get outside of this everlasting；
profitable 'plan'to let myself go； and lose myself for a while
at leastto do the things that I want to do； just because
I want to do them。〃
〃My boy；〃 said his mother； anxiously； 〃you are not going to do
anything
wrong or foolish？ You know the falsehood of that old proverb
about
wild oats。〃
He threw back his head and laughed。 〃Yes； mother；〃 he answered；
〃I know it well enough。 But in California； you know； the wild
oats are
one of the most valuable crops。 They grow all over the hillsides
and
keep the cattle and the horses alive。 But that wasn't what I
meantto sow
wild oats。 Say to pick wild flowers； if you like； or even to
chase
wild geeseto do something that seems good to me just for its
own sake；
not for the sake of wages of one kind or another。 I feel like a
hired man；
in the service of this magnificent mansionsay in training for
father's place as majordomo。 I'd like to get out some way；
to feel freeperhaps to do something for others。〃
The young man's voice hesitated a little。 〃Yes； it sound like
cant；
I know； but sometimes I feel as if I'd like to do some good in
the world；
if father only wouldn't insist upon God's putting it into the
ledger。〃
His mother moved uneasily； and a slight look of bewilderment
came into her face。
〃Isn't that almost irreverent？〃 she asked。 〃Surely the righteous
must have their reward。 And your father is good。 See how much
he gives to all the established charities； how many things he has
founded。
He's always thinking of others； and planning for them。 And
surely；
for us； he does everything。 How well he has planned this trip
to Europe for me and the girlsthe court…presentation at Berlin；
the season on the Riviera； the visits in England with the
Plumptons and
the Halverstones。 He says Lord Halverstone has the finest
old house in Sussex； pure Elizabethan； and all the old customs
are
kept up； toofamily prayers every morning for all the domestics。
By…the…way； you know his son Bertie； I believe。〃
Harold smiled a little to himself as he answered： 〃Yes； I fished
at
Catalina Island last June with the Honorable Ethelbert；
he's rather a decent chap； in spite of his ingrowing mind。
But you？mother； you are simply magnificent！ You are
father's masterpiece。〃 The young man leaned over to kiss her；
and went up to the Riding Club for his afternoon canter in the
Park。
So it came to pass； early in December； that Mrs。 Weightman and
her two daughters sailed for Europe； on their serious pleasure
trip；
even as it had been written in the book of Providence； and John
Weightman；
who had made the entry； was left to pass the rest of the winter
with
his son and heir in the brownstone mansion。
They were comfortable enough。 The machinery of the massive
establishment
ran as smoothly as a great electric dynamo。 They were busy
enough； too。
John Weightman's plans and enterprises were complicated； though
his
principle of action was always simpleto get good value for
every expenditure and effort。 The banking…house of which he was
the chief；
the brain； the will； the absolutely controlling hand； was so
admirably
organized that the details of its direction took but little time。
But the scores of other interests that radiated from it and were
dependent upon itor perhaps it would be more accurate to say；
that contributed to its solidity and successthe many
investments；
industrial； political； benevolent； reformatory； ecclesiastical；
that had made the name of Weightman well known and potent in
city；
church； and state； demanded much attention and careful steering；
in order that each might produce the desired result。 There were
board meetings of corporations and hospitals； conferences in
Wall Street and at Albany； consultations and committee meetings
in
the brownstone mansion。
For a share in all this business and its adjuncts John Weightman
had his son in training in one of the famous law firms of the
city；
for he held that banking itself is a simple affair； the only real
difficulties of finance are on its legal side。 Meantime he
wished
the young man to meet and know the men with whom he would have to
deal
when he became a partner in the house。 So a couple of dinners
were given in the mansion during December； after which the father
called the son's attention to the fact that over a hundred
million dollars
had sat around the board。
But on Christmas Eve father and son were dining together without
guests；
and their talk across the broad table； glittering with silver and
cut glass； and softly lit by shaded candles； was intimate； though
a little
slow at times。 The elder man was in rather a rare mood； more
expansive and
confidential than usual； and； when the coffee was brought in and
they were left alone； he talked more freely of his personal plans
and hopes
than he had ever done before。
〃I feel very grateful to…night；〃 said he； at last； 〃it must be
something in
the air of Christmas that gives me this feeling of thankfulness
for
the many divine mercies that have been bestowed upon me。 All the
principles by which I have tried to guide my life have been
justified。
I have never made the value of this salted almond by anything
that
the courts would not uphold； at least in the long run； and
yetor wouldn't
it be truer to say and therefore？my affairs have been
wonderfully prospered。 There's a great deal in that text
'Honesty is
the best'but no； that's not from the Bible； after all； is it？
Wait a moment； there is something of that kind； I know。〃
〃May I light a cigar； father；〃 said Harold； turning away to hide
a smile；
〃while you are remembering the text？〃
〃Yes； certainly；〃 answered the elder man； rather shortly； 〃you
know
I don't dislike the smell。 But it is a wasteful； useless habit；
and therefore I have never practised it。 Nothing useless is
worth while；
that's my mottonothing that does not bring the reward。
Oh； now I recall the text； 'Verily I say unto you they have their
reward。'
I shall ask Doctor Snodgrass to preach a se