And the face of my Louis, transfigured by his thought, shone with a light that seemed to come from afar.  I loved so well to hear him preach, that when Mr. Davis’ health became too precarious for him to occupy the pulpit longer, I was glad to hear Louis say he would accept the place tendered by Mr. Davis and by all the people of our town.  I say all the people, although perhaps there were a few who, liking to be busy and failing to look for anything better, occupied themselves with the small talk which made sometimes great noise without really touching anybody; but we did not count this in life’s cost, and were not affected by it.

Louis treated all with uniform kindness, and taught them the lessons they could not fail to appreciate, though, as he had said, some of the seed must fall on barren ground.  It is not to be supposed that the mill-owners were glad to lose the work of the children, for it was worth much and cost little; but since they were not powerful enough to establish monarchical government, they were forced to submit, and they submitted gracefully, too, from the policy which, as Louis had said, whispered “He has money,” and they might sometime desire favor at his hands.

It seemed to me sometimes that Louis’ money would not last as long as his life; but when I said something of the kind, he answered: 

“Yes, yes, Emily; we shall not be embarrassed financially, for we consult needs, and these you know are small compared to wants.  A little ready money will go a long way; we shall not suffer from interest nor from high rates of taxation here; give yourself no uneasiness.”

When the school was started we were surprised, as well as pleased, to receive calls from some of our good people, who desired to have their children go to the Home School as pupils.  They felt moved to take this step from two considerations; one, the more thorough education which the children would receive; and the other, an interest felt in our work, and a desire to help the school to become one of the best.

They proposed paying a tuition fee, to which we all consented, reserving to ourselves the right of taking those who might desire to attend and not be able to pay; and through their really generous contributions in this way, when Burton Brown came to assume the duties of a schoolmaster, there was a fund sufficient to pay him well for his services.

We named this the Turner Fund, although Jane insisted it should be Demond.

John desired to donate his gift from Aunt Hildy to the Turner Fund, but Louis objected, saying: 

“John, you have no right to do this; you need to get a house for yourself before you help others.  It would not be right to take your money, and we cannot accept it.”

Matthias says: 

“’Pears like I kin tote ober to de ‘Plot’ an’ tinker roun’ thar wid de chilun.  John’s done boun’ I shan’t do no moah work, an’ I can’t stop still no how, for it ’pears like I’m dead ’fore de time.”