It has improved
lately, and next week he goes to Manchester to sing in oratorio. He will
bring a hundred pounds or more back with him."
"Then at last he is satisfied and happy."
"Happy as the day is long. He is wasteful though, in money matters, and
too ready to give the men he knows a sovereign if they are in trouble.
And it is just wasting yourself to talk to him about wasting money. I
told him yesterday that I had heard Ben Shuttleworth had been showing a
sovereign Mr. Harry gave him and that he ought not to waste his money,
and he said some nonsense about saved money being lost money, and that
spending money or giving it away was the only way to save it. Harry
takes no trouble and Medway, the new preacher, says, Henry Hatton lifts
up your heart, if he only smiles at you."
"So he does, mother--God bless him!"
"Well, John, I can't stop and talk with thee all day, it isn't likely;
but thou art such a one to tempt talk. I must be off to do something.
Good-bye, dear lad, and if thy trouble gets hard on thee and thou wants
a word of human love, thy mother always has it ready and waiting for
you--so she has!"
John watched his mother out of sight; then he locked his desk and went
about her commission.
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