"Why?"

"So that I can find work and help father along. You see, I should be
four years in college, and three years studying a profession, and
all that time my brother and sister would be growing older and more
expensive, and father would be getting into debt."

Uncle Godfrey's brow wore a perceptible frown.

"Tell me who has put this idea into your head?" he said. "I am sure
it isn't your father."

"No one put it into my head, Uncle Godfrey. It's my own idea."

"Humph! old heads don't grow on young shoulders, evidently. You are
a foolish boy, Grant. With a liberal education you can do something
for your family."

"But it is so long to wait," objected Grant.

"It will be a great disappointment to me to have you give up going
to college, but of course I can't force you to go," said his uncle,
coldly. "It will save me three hundred dollars a year for four
years-I may say for seven, however. You will be throwing away a
grand opportunity."

"Don't think I undervalue the advantage of a college training,
uncle," said Grant, eagerly. "It isn't that. It's because I thought
I might help father. In fact, I wanted to make a proposal to you."