XVII

CONCLUSION

Beechnut stayed at the home of Mr. Henley for a number of years, but at last a time came when it seemed to him that he must go out into the world and seek his fortune. When he had formed his plans he spoke about them one day to Mr. Henley, who had returned to Franconia shortly before from a long journey. It was arranged that they should talk the matter over in detail that evening, and after supper Mr. Henley sent Frank to ask Beechnut to come to his room as soon as he was through with his work.

"May I come too?" said Frank.

"Yes," replied his father, "I have no objection."

So in about half an hour Frank and Beechnut came in together. The room contained Mr. Henley's library and had bookshelves all around the sides. There was a large table in the center with a great many papers on it. Mrs. Henley was sitting beside the fire sewing. On the other side of the fire was a chair for Beechnut. Frank sat down oh a rug in front of the hearth.

"Well," said Mr. Henley, when Beechnut had taken his seat in the chair provided for him, "you tell me you wish to leave us and begin life for yourself. I suppose you have thought of the subject a good deal and have pretty clearly in mind what would suit you best. You can do almost anything you please. When you first came to us, you deposited some money with me. That has been at interest ever since, and nearly the whole amount of your wages has been added to it and has also been earning interest. You are now quite rich for a boy of your age. If you choose, you can go to college. You have enough, with what you can earn as you go along, to get through college and study a profession. How old are you?"

"Eighteen," was Beechnut's answer.

"Considering the progress you have made in various studies," said Mr. Henley, "you could probably fit yourself for college in another year."

Beechnut did not reply immediately to this suggestion.

"Or, if you prefer to go into a store," continued Mr. Henley, "I can get you a situation in New York. I know several of the best establishments in the city that would be glad to have you."

Beechnut was still silent.

"Perhaps you have some other plan which you have thought of for yourself," suggested Mr. Henley. "What is your idea about, the matter?"

"I think," responded Beechnut, "if you approve of it, I would like to go to one of the large seacoast towns and learn to be a ship carpenter."

"Well," said Mr. Henley, pausing and hesitating as he spoke, "well, a shipbuilder's trade is a very good trade. But then I think you can get along without going to such rough work as a trade. You will find it rather hard to swing an adz or a calking mallet all your days."

"Yes, sir," acknowledged Beechnut, "but I would hope not to have to work hard with my own hands very long. I would work till I knew enough about the trade to build first-class ships, and then, as I have some money for capital, I could perhaps get contracts in New York to build ships. In time I could come to own two or three small vessels, or shares in them, and these I could send to sea, and the profits on them would enable me to build or buy more. Then, at last, if I prospered, I could go to New York and have an office there and attend to my vessels when they came in from their voyages."

"That is a good plan," said Mr. Henley, "provided you are able to carry it out, and I rather think you are."

"If I went through college," said Beechnut, "I should spend all my money and have nothing to begin the world with. Besides, when I came from college, I might fail to get into business in my profession. It is too great a risk for me to run."

"But you run the same risk in your other plan," responded Mr. Henley. "You may fail to get into business in navigation."

"Yes," said Beechnut, "but if I do not succeed in getting ships of my own, I can certainly go on building ships for other people and enjoy the work. A good ship carpenter is well paid, too."

"That is true," Mr. Henley agreed; "it is an excellent trade."

So it was settled that Beechnut should go and enter a shipyard to learn the shipbuilding business. His affairs at Mr. Henley's were soon wound up, he bade all his friends good-by, and in another week was busy at work with a chalk line and a saw among the oak planks and timbers in a great Kennebec shipyard.

As may well be imagined, Beechnut was very industrious and faithful in his business, and he made rapid progress in learning his trade. He soon became master of its mechanical side, and then the owners of the yard, finding that he had considerable mathematical knowledge, transferred him to the office where he was employed in making the plans of the ships that were to be built.

In process of time, the firm of shipbuilders began to send Beechnut to New York to transact business for them. Thus he became acquainted with a great many merchants and shipmasters. He was economical and prudent in his way of living, and his money was all the time accumulating. At last, when he became of age, he had enough capital to join with a New York merchant in building a small vessel. His knowledge of ship construction was very complete and he had a knack for selecting the best workmen, so that he was able to produce a vessel worth much more than it cost him, and he sold it as soon as it was launched at a considerable profit.

Beechnut went on more and more prosperously every year. He resided most of the time in New York, though he went back and forth a good deal between the city and the shipyards where the vessels which he had charge of were building. He had deserved success, and his ability and industry and other good qualities won their natural reward, not only of wealth, but of happiness in his chosen work.