On the Sabbath after James’s return to the seminary he was at public worship, when the contribution- box was passed through the audience. Whether James’s sympathy for the lonely bit in his pocket got the better of his judgment, or whether it was the generosity of his soul (we suspect it was the latter), he dropped the ninepence into the box, thereby creating as great an emptiness as possible in his pocket. He was now upon an equality with the widow of the Scriptures, who cast her two mites (all she had) into the treasury of the Lord.

James and his cousins boarded themselves during the fall term, adopting Wright’s milk diet at first, thereby reducing their expenses a very little, though not much.

“Just thirty-one cents each, per week,” remarked James, after the trial of that method of living four weeks. He had kept a careful account, and now found the result to be as indicated.

“I feel as if it had not cost us more than that,” answered Henry. “My physical constitution is reduced quite as much as our expenses, I think.” He said this humorously in part, although he was not much captivated with their mode of living.

“That which costs the least is not always the cheapest,” remarked William, whose opinions coincided with those of his brother. “I feel as if we were having pretty cheap living;” and he emphasized the word cheap in his peculiar way.

“Well, I feel as if I had been living on the fat of the land,” responded James. “I think I could handle you both,” he added, laughingly.

“There’s no doubt of it,” replied Henry; “you would grow fat on sawdust pudding, only have enough of it; but this sticking to one article of diet right along don’t suit me.”

“You are one of the philosophers who maintain that ‘variety is the spice of life,’ in eating as well as in pleasure, I suppose,” answered James. “For my part, one thing at a time will do for me, if it is only good enough.”

“I don’t know of one thing alone that is good enough for me,” remarked Henry. “I go for increasing our expenses a little. We can go up to fifty cents a week without damaging anybody.”

“That’s what I think,” added William. “I think I can be pretty well satisfied with that.”

“Just as you choose, boys; I can make way with nineteen cents’ worth of luxuries more, in case of necessity,” replied James. “Sawdust pudding or plum pudding is all the same to me; I can thrive on either.”

“Now, Jim,” said Henry, very philosophically, “I believe, after all, that you are as anxious as we are for better living, only you don’t want to own it, and back down. You are the last fellow to back out of anything.” Henry was about right in his remark. James was not at all unwilling to adopt a more expensive fare, although his iron will would carry him through his work with almost any sort of diet. His health was so robust, and his power of endurance so great, that he could eat much or little, apparently, and thrive.

The upshot of this interview was, that James assented to the increase of expenses to fifty cents per week, each. Milk was continued chiefly as their diet, but other things were added for variety. The last half of the term their board cost them fifty cents per week.

James had never spoken with the principal about becoming a teacher, although he was intending to do it. But Mr. Branch opened the subject about the middle of the term. He well knew the poverty of James, and took additional interest in him for that reason. He felt that a youth of his talents ought to acquire an education; and he could see no better way of accomplishing it than by teaching school in the winter.

“How would you like to try your hand at school keeping, James?” inquired Mr. Branch.