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Helping Himself; Or, Grant Thornton's Ambition
Helping Himself; Or, Grant Thornton's Ambition
CHAPTER I – THE MINISTER’S SON
“I wish we were not so terribly poor, Grant,” said Mrs. Thornton, in a discouraged tone.
“Is there anything new that makes you say so, mother?” answered the boy of fifteen, whom she addressed.
“Nothing new, only the same old trouble. Here is a note from Mr. Tudor, the storekeeper.”
“Let me see it, mother.”
Grant took a yellow envelope from his mother’s hand, and drew out the inclosure, a half sheet of coarse letter paper, which contained the following lines:
“July 7, 1857.
REV. JOHN THORNTON:
DEAR SIR: Inclosed you will find a bill for groceries and other goods furnished to you in the last six months, amounting to sixty-seven dollars and thirty-four cents ($67.34). It ought to have been paid before. How you, a minister of the Gospel, can justify yourself in using goods which you don’t pay for, I can’t understand. If I remember rightly, the Bible says: ‘Owe no man anything.’ As I suppose you recognize the Bible as an authority, I expect you to pay up promptly, and oblige,
Yours respectfully, THOMAS TUDOR.”
Grant looked vexed and indignant. “I think that is an impudent letter, mother,” he said.