Dick did not dig any more bait; in fact he was careful to put away his
poles and lines, because, as he said to his mother, if he expected to go
into the business harness now he would have little time for fishing.
That evening was a long one to him.
He thought it would never come time to retire; and after he snuggled
down in bed it seemed as if he could not settle to sleep, so many things
kept popping up in his mind to engage his attention.
But morning came at last.
Dick was up early, and started to dig some more ground in the garden,
for the last planting of vegetables, beans and late corn.
"At any rate," he said at breakfast, as he leaned back and looked at his
mother happily, "the hours are not early in a bank, so that I shall have
plenty of time to do the chores around, and even look after my part of
the garden before going to work."
"There will not be a great deal to do from now on that I cannot manage,
my boy. I shall want you to keep your mind principally on your business,
and, whatever it may be, do it with your whole soul. I expect to live to
see you at the top rung of the ladder some day, Dick. You have your
father's perseverance, and the desire to do everything as well as any
person could possibly do it. I do not fear for your future," she said,
proudly.
About ten o'clock Dick started out.
He was trembling a little as he kissed his mother, and there was a tear
of sympathy in her eye when she waved him goodbye as he turned around
down the road to look back.
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