human
Ah! It is not for myself that I beg. Brother Francis’s hands fell resignedly on his knees.
gpt
It is for those poor boys, to keep them, Robert, from going to hell--from hell in this world and in the next. To think of it makes me always sorrowful--it makes a beggar of me--a willing beggar.
human
But where shall I get so much money? exclaimed Francis, helplessly.
gpt
It will take a million dollars to do what we ought to do. You are a great man, Robert; tell me, how shall I find it?
human
I can’t tell you how to find it; I can tell you how to make it.
gpt
How?
human
Go into the sugar business.
gpt
Then I must leave God’s business.
human
Francis, if you will pardon me, I think for a clever man you are in some respects a great fool. I am not joking. What I have often said about your going into the sugar business, I repeat. You would be worth ten thousand dollars a year to me, and I will pay you that much any day.
gpt
I cannot leave God’s business, Robert. I must work for him and pray to him for the money. Sometime it will come.
human
Then tell Uncle John to raise your wages,
gpt
Robert, will you not sometime give me a letter to introduce me to the great banker who comes here, Hamilton?
human
He will not give you anything.
gpt
He has so much money; how can he possibly need it all?
human
You forget, Francis, that nobody needs money so much as those that have it.
gpt
Ah!
human
Hamilton may have no more money than I have, and you don’t ask me for a million dollars.
gpt
It is not necessary to ask you. You know I need it. If you could give it to me, you would.
human
If I gave you a million dollars how should I ever get it back?
gpt
God will pay you back.
human
Yes, but when? That is a good deal of money to lend to God.
gpt
It is a good deal.
human
When do I get it back, and how?
gpt
He will surely pay you, Robert; God pays over there.
human
That won’t do--over there. It isn’t honest.
gpt
Not honest?
human
You are offering deferred dividends, Francis. What would my stockholders say if I tried that kind of business? Gad, they would drag me into court.
gpt
Ah, yes! But, Robert; you pay for to-day: he pays for eternity.
human
In a proposition of that kind, Francis, it seems to me the question of guarantees is exceedingly important. You good men are safe enough; but where would the bad men come in on your eternal dividends?
gpt
You are not with the bad men, Robert. Your heart is not bad. You are, perhaps, cruel----
human
But generous. Sometime God will give you a chance.
gpt
You mean, sometime I will give God a chance.
human
No, Robert, what I say I mean--sometime, God will give you a chance.
gpt
Robert! We’ve been waiting thirty minutes,
human
I am just coming.