CHAPTER XXXII.
Welcome pure thoughts, welcome ye silent groves. These guests, these courts my soul most dearly loves: Now the winged people of the sky shall sing My cheerful anthems to the gladsome spring.
QUOTED BY IZAAK WALTON, AS BY SIR HARRY WOTTON.
No reason seemed now to exist for Holden's impatience to depart, yethe longed for the quiet of his hut on the island. The excitement ofhis feelings, which, while it acted as a stimulus, sustained him,had passed away, and the ordinary consequences of overtasking naturefollowed. Besides, he had lived so long in solitude, that any othermode of life was to him unnatural, and especially the roar and tumultof a populous place, disturbed him. The loudest sounds to which hehad been accustomed were the rippling of the tide on the beach, or thesigh of the wind, and the songs of birds; and the difference betweenthem and the noises he now heard, formed a contrast equally harsh anddiscordant. But by no word did he betray his wish. Both Mr. and Mrs.Pownal were desirous to delay the departure of himself and son, and itseemed to him ingratitude to act in any respect in opposition to theinclinations of persons to whom he was so greatly indebted.Several days, therefore, passed after the happening of the eventsrecapitulated in the last chapter, and yet he remained in New York.But his feelings could not escape the observation of his son. Betteracquainted than their host and hostess with the peculiarities of hisfather, he seized an opportunity to speak of the necessity of a speedyfarewell.
"You are right, I do not doubt, Thomas," said Mr. Pownal, in reply tothe observation of the young man, "and yet I never felt so loth to letyou go. While with me you seem still in some wise to belong to me, andI feel a reluctance to lose you out of my sight."
"Do you think it possible," exclaimed young Pownal--whom his father,out of a sentiment of delicacy towards his friends, had insistedshould be called by the name of his preserver, he had so long borne,for which reason we shall continue to use it--"do you think itpossible I can ever forget how deeply I am indebted, that I shall evercease to love you with all the affection of a son, on whom you havelavished every possible kindness?"
"No; I have no fear of that. It is only the pain of parting from whichI shrink. As we grow older we cling with the greater tenacity, and,perhaps, selfishness, to the enjoyments that are left. But this willnever do. I must think more of you, and less of myself. I have somequestions to ask, and something besides to say before you leave forHillsdale, and this is as good an opportunity, probably, as we shallhave, so take a seat by me, and we will enter upon business."
Pownal, who hitherto had remained standing, now took a seat bythe side of his benefactor, and waited for him to continue theconversation.
"Are you satisfied," inquired Mr. Pownal, "with your situation atHillsdale?"
"Perfectly," replied the young man. "My time has passed very happilythere."
"I meant it," continued Mr. Pownal, "only as an interlude. I sentyou thither for the purpose of making you better acquainted with thebranches of our business, intending to leave it to your choiceeither to remain or return to the city, and resume your place in thecounting-house. I confess, the latter would suit me better, becauseyou would be nearer to me; but consult your inclinations, and I shallbe satisfied."
"My dear sir," said Pownal, with some little hesitation, "you arealways kind, and since you leave it to my choice, I hope it will notoffend you if I say, that for the present I should prefer to remain atHillsdale."
"It is not at all surprising that you should wish to be with yourfather, whom, in so wonderful a manner, you have discovered," answeredMr. Pownal. "I am delighted with him, and his noble qualities must berestored to the world. We must find means to induce him to conquer hisrepugnance to society and its habits."
"I hope for such a result," said the young man, "but he is evidentlynow uneasy and pining for solitude."
"'Time and I against any two,' says the Spanish proverb. I'll be boundwe will metamorphose him yet. Do you think the business at Hillsdaleis capable of much extension?"
"I am sure of it. It may easily be doubled, and safely. I will giveyou my reasons for the opinion now, if you wish."
"Never mind for the present. It after all can make no difference inwhat I am about to say. I have been looking at your balance-sheet, andmust say that, for a first year's business, you have done remarkablywell. You have made very few bad debts, the sales are large, andprofits satisfactory. You have the merchant in you, Thomas, and I musttry to secure you for us beyond the power of loss. How would you liketo become a member of the firm?"
"Sir," said Pownal, "your goodness overpowers me. No father could bemore generous. You will do with me as you please. But what say yourpartners?"
"I have consulted with them, and they are of the same opinion asmyself, and desire your admission. I have drawn up the terms, which,I hope, will please you, on this slip of paper, and that you may startto a little better advantage, have directed a small sum to be carriedto your credit on the books, which you will also find jotted down onthe paper."
"How can I thank you, sir?" said Pownal, receiving the paper, andpreparing, without examining it, to place it in his pocket.
"But that is not like a merchant," exclaimed Mr. Pownal smiling, "toaccept of a contract without looking at it. Read it, Thomas, and seeif you wish to suggest any change."
"I am willing to trust my interests, my life, to you, sir, and it isunnecessary. But it is your command and I obey you."
We must allow, that the thought of becoming at some time a member ofthe firm, wherein he had received his mercantile education, had passedbefore through the mind of Pownal, but the conditions upon which hewas now admitted were favorable beyond his most sanguine expectations.The sum of money, too, carried to the credit of his account as acapital, on which to commence, deserved a better name than that ofa small sum, which the opulent merchant had called it. Pownal sawhimself now at once elevated into a condition, not only to supply thewants of his father and himself, but to warrant him to cherish hopesfor the success of other plans that lay very near his heart. As thethought of Anne Bernard occurred to him, and he reflected upon thegoodness of his generous benefactor, it seemed, to his ingenuous mind,as if he were half guilty of a wrong in withholding any part of hisconfidence from Mr. Pownal, and he felt strongly tempted to admit himinto the inner sanctuary of his soul. But a feeling natural in suchcases, and the consideration that he was not perfectly sure hisaffection was returned by Anne, restrained him, and he contentedhimself with repeating his thanks for a generosity so much exceedinghis hopes.
"Nay," said the merchant, "I must be the judge of these things. Thismay do to begin with. When you are married I will double it."
The tell-tale cheeks of Pownal excited the suspicions of the oldgentleman, whose eyes were fastened on him as he spoke.
"Ah, ha!" cried he, laughing, "have I found you out, Thomas? I do notbelieve, on the whole, the bribe will be necessary. I understand nowyour enthusiasm about the beauties of Hillsdale. But never blush.There's no harm in possessing good taste. I was in love twenty timesbefore I was your age. When shall the wedding be, eh?"
"My dear sir," said Pownal smiling, "it will be time enough yearshence, to think of these things. In a matter of this kind, I know ofno better example to follow, than your own."
"No, no, no, Thomas, do not imitate me there; I postponed my happinesstoo long, and were I to commence life again, I should not crawl withsuch a snail's pace towards it as formerly. But I have no fear of youor that my joints will be too stiff to dance on the joyful occasion."
The parting was such as might be expected between persons broughttogether under circumstances so singular, where on the one side therewas a sense of obligation, it was a pleasure to cherish, and on theother, the yet higher gratification of conferring happiness. As Holdenwrung the hand of Mr. Pownal who accompanied them to the vessel, thatwas to take them home, he invoked, in his enthusiastic way, ablessing upon his head. "The Almighty bless thee," he exclaimed, "withblessings of Heaven above, and bl
essings of the deep that lieth under.May thy bow abide in strength, and the arms of thy hands be madestrong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob."
Knowing how little his father prized the things of this world. Pownalhad not communicated to him before their departure the liberal conductof the noble merchant they had just left, but now, in a conversationone day, in which they reviewed the past, and, notwithstanding theSolitary's faith in the speedy coming of a mighty change, speculatedon the future, he disclosed the last evidence of the affection of hispreserver. Holden listened with a gratified air, for how could he beotherwise than pleased that the worth and amiable qualities of hisson, had awakened so deep an interest in the heart of another, butreplied,
"It was well meant, but unnecessary. Thou hast no need of the gold andsilver of others."
The young man, supposing his father had reference to his peculiarreligious notions, was silent, for it was a subject which could not beadverted to without great delicacy, and danger of vehement bursts ofenthusiasm.
"Thou comprehendest me not," said Holden. "I say thou art in nowant of the dross with which men buy, to their grief and shame, thedeluding vanities of the world."
"If it is your wish, father, I will return the gift," said Pownal,"though I know it will hurt the generous heart of the giver."
"I interpose not. No voice calleth me thereto. But my meaning is stilldark, and I know not whether it is best to admit thee fully to mycounsels. Yet, thus much mayest thou now know, and more shalt thouknow hereafter, that thy father is no pauper, to crave the wealth ofothers, and that his poverty is voluntary. The body is kept poor, thatdivine grace may the more readily enrich the soul."
"Believe me, sir, I do not wish to intrude into anything which it isyour desire to keep secret."
"There is nothing secret that shall not be revealed," exclaimedHolden, catching at the last word, "but everything in its own order.Let it satisfy thee, therefore, my son, to know for the present thatthy father hath but to stretch forth his hand and it shall be filled,but to knock and it shall be opened. But this is not the day, nor formy own sake, should the clock of time ever strike the hour, when thatwhich was thrown away shall be taken again, that which was despisedshall be valued. Yet because of thee may I not lawfully withhold thehand, and as I gaze upon thy fair young face, thou seemest one whosespirit is so balanced that what men call prosperity will not hurtthee. But affection is blind, and my heart may deceive me, andtherefore will I wait until He speaks who cannot lead astray ordeceive."
It was partly to himself, and partly to his son, that the Solitaryspoke, nor was Pownal at all certain that he comprehended his meaning.He had at first fancied, his father was offended at his acceptance ofthe rich merchant's bounty, but he soon saw that Holden regarded moneytoo little to consider the mere giving or receiving of it as of muchconsequence. Upon further reflection, and a consideration of themanner in which his father had lived for so many years, the idea whichyet seemed shadowed forth by his language, that he was possessed ofproperty, appeared utterly chimerical. He was therefore disposed toattach to his father's words some mystical sense, or to suppose thathe imagined himself in possession of a secret, by means of whichhe could command the wealth he scorned. Of course the young manconsidered such anticipations as visionary as the immediate comingof that millenium for which the longing eyes of the enthusiast dailylooked forth.
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