After all, he was only a
boy; and who was he, to set himself up against the wise and great? But
then like a stab, came again the thought which drove him always--the
thought of the people, suffering and starving! Truly it was better to
die than to live in a world in which there was so much misery and
oppression! That was the truth, he would rather die than let these
things go on unopposed. And so there could be no turning back-there
was nothing for him save to do what he could.
Where should he begin? He thought of Mr. Hickman--a most unpromising
person to work with. Samuel had been afraid of him from the first time
he had seen him.
Then he thought of Mr. Wygant; should he begin with him? This brought
to his mind something which had been driven away by the rush of
events. Miss Gladys! How would she take these things? And what would
she think when she learned about her father's wickedness?
A new idea came to Samuel. Why should he not take Miss Gladys into his
confidence? She would be the one to help him. She had helped him with
Sophie; and she had promised to help with Master Albert. And surely it
was her right to know about matters which concerned her family so
nearly. She would know what was best, so far as concerned her own
father; he would take her advice as to how to approach him.
He went to the house and asked for Sophie.
"Tell Miss Gladys that I want to see her," he said; "and that it's
something very, very important.
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